*I received a digital ARC copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.
rating: 4.5
Hell And Back is the next book in the series after Hell Is*I received a digital ARC copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.
rating: 4.5
Hell And Back is the next book in the series after Hell Is Here, which is after Hell Is Coming. It is fantastic. It definitely didn't disappoint, and it was one heck of a ride! In this book, we follow Leia after she was thrown in the depths. We see the torture she goes through before she is finally released, and from there on, her life only gets harder. She has to contend with the fact of who the King is and who he isn't any longer. She has to work for him and in the process, gain a bloodlust and possibly false sense of loyalty for the King. She has more than one battle: she has yet to fully understand her demon, she has to find out a way to succeed in her mission, and she has to survive with herself in tact. Because everyone knows that Hell is no place of faith, hope, and anything other than pain and misery.
Just like in the first two books, I love the characters. I love how Leia is portrayed and how close we get to her in this book. I feel like I can predict her reactions now because of how well I feel I know her. I also love how strong she is. She may not be the same after all she's gone through, but if anything, she's stronger and has a better overall understanding which I'm sure will help her in the long run. Honestly, I admire her so much for not breaking, for not losing herself in the midst of Hell's deceit, torture, and addicting bloodlust. Hell has hardened her, but not so much that she isn't still Leia, because she is: she's still kind, caring, strong, and loving (which was shown mostly through her caring of Alice, but also her mother). She just doesn't cry or despair over the horrors of Hell anymore because she's gotten used to it. You're bound to accept the darker parts of Hell after living in them for however long Leia's been there so far.
Which brings me to her mother. How Leia's mom has any humanity left in her after all those centuries she's spent in Hell being tortured and subjected to such cruelness, I have no idea. But it's easy to see where Leia gets her strength from. Leia's mom is an assassin, which means she can definitely hold her own, but she still has heart. I expected her to be so different from how Leia remembered her, since she's been in Hell for so long, but to be honest, she's still the same. In a way. She forgets emotions, caring, love, but with Leia there, she has a light again. And the part of her she buried in order to survive in Hell starts to appear again. She's also pretty badass, just saying.
King Eblis is.... well, he's as cruel as one would expect Hell's King to be. He lies, deceives, tortures, and he's so far into the darkness he has no humanity left. And while at times he can play the part of a caring person, it's only ever to help him succeed in his games. I definitely loved him in the end though, where Leia and him had a moment, before Alice makes herself known (I can't really explain the situation because of spoilers, sorry!).
Speaking of the end, it played out so much better than what I had been conjuring up! It was... brilliant! The adrenaline, the rage, the hope, it was all so addicting and I easily lost myself in the book. I mean, I was easily hooked and lost in the story, but at that point, I was so far in I forgot I was reading a book in the first place.... I know. I'm weird. And I'll admit, I predicted what would happen with the whole Leia-must-kill-Eblis situation, like what she would end up doing. But the rest I didn't see coming until moments before that. It's great!
And now I'm being random but, to be honest, I want more of Lucas. It's obvious at times how much Leia misses him, and that makes me want them together again because she deserves some happiness, you know? And so I hope we get more of him in the next book.
Overall, Hell And Back is a brilliantly written book. I love the characters, the writing, the world, the situations, and how easy it is to fall into the story. So yeah, I recommend this to everyone....more
Hell Is Here is the second book in the Watchers series, and it’s all about Leia going to Hell*I received a digital copy from the author.
Rating: 4.5/5
Hell Is Here is the second book in the Watchers series, and it’s all about Leia going to Hell (because she sold her soul), and having to complete a seemingly impossible mission for a chance to get her soul back. Or, well it actually starts with her waiting around for the Crossroads Demon to collect her, and so she spends her time hunting demons and getting into old habits. She also visits Josh, however they aren’t nearly as close as they used to be and Josh is obviously the darker twin, which leaves her worried, even while Leia tries her best to survive in Hell. When the demon finally comes to collect her soul, though, he offers her a choice, a chance to get her soul back if she does something for him, or stay in Hell for all eternity. Naturally she agreed to the chance of getting her soul back, and so they come up with a shaky plan and then she’s in Hell, trying to make that plan a reality.
Leia is overwhelmed and unsure of how to get where she needs to be, and being in Demon form, she also has to worry about not giving in and losing control. She meets a little girl who she finds out was born in one of the deeper, darker parts of Hell that she names Alice though, and suddenly she has a guide. A friend. And Alice, although having never known kindness or love before, is a kind soul who can only give. She can do wrong, she was born in Hell after all, but she only helps Leia and the two form a bond. I came to admire Alice for her strength, for her bravery and for her loyalty. She’s an admirable character. She sticks by Leia, convinces Leia to leave her when she has to, and still stays standing after all the horrors she’s been through in Hell.
Hell is brutal. That’s probably not even that great of a word to describe it. It’s a red hued world filled with nasty, horrible demons of all sorts, types, colours, shapes, and sizes. There’s so many different demons, and yet each were horrifying and most probably made of what nightmares originate from. The descriptions were cringe worthy, so were the demons and their actions. It was brutal to see the way Leia was treated, how the others were treated and how they acted. It’s a ‘dog eat dog world’ as Edward would say, where demons steal, eat each other, rape their meals, and have the unfortunate curse of never being able to die. They always regenerate. I have to say though, that I really love the world. It was raw, brutal, horrifying, and most definitely brilliantly written. As harsh as Hell is, I loved the author’s vision and the way he wrote Hell.
The torture scenes were horrific, and hard to read, yet not hard at all. They flowed so well that you just got sucked in, and while you hated and was disgusted by the torture, you couldn’t help but keep reading. Like I said, it’s a brutal world. It just made me reevaluate Leia’s strength though, as she kept moving. She didn’t stop and cry, or curl up in a ball only to be miserable and get tossed in depression. No. She got back up after healing (she had help) and kept on with her mission.
Overall, I loved reading Hell Is Here and I’m definitely excited for the next installment. The ending shot a twist our way and then Leia was back to being tortured and wow! I just can’t wait to see where the author brings us next....more
Death Wish is an intriguing young adult book infused with secrecy, romance, and a dash of mystery that keeps the pages turning. In it, we follow ScarDeath Wish is an intriguing young adult book infused with secrecy, romance, and a dash of mystery that keeps the pages turning. In it, we follow Scarlett as she goes off on her own for the summer to try and understand the actions that her sister took. Along the way, she finds love, friendship, and most importantly, herself.
This book has beautiful, lyrical writing that you just can't help but get lost in. There are multiple places within the novel where you will be sucked in by the flow of well crafted words and poetic musings, where you just can't get enough. I was left wanting more of that lyrical flow, more of that deep musing and poetic wording. Those parts of the novel are my favourite. The author did a wonderful job with each scene, those especially. I felt a deep connection, like she knew just what to write to hit me where it would leave an impression.
"I would once again sit astride a surfboard on surging, rollicking, crashing waves. Not by choice -I was deeply frighted of the sea; always had been- but out of heart-crushing need. To answer the question that had echoed in every beat of my heart for the past two months-" (3%).
*Read my full review here *I received a free digital version from a giveaway a while back....more
*I received a free digital version from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Reading from Frank's view and seeing first hand how much pain he's*I received a free digital version from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Reading from Frank's view and seeing first hand how much pain he's in was incredible. You could really feel how much it hurt him that Rachel was gone, and that he felt it was all his fault. Especially since he created a form of her in his mind that he has conversations with, almost like us and our demons in our heads. Sometimes she's nice and much like she was while alive, but mostly she's telling him what's he's doing wrong and reminding him of what he's done. Personally, I think it's because he blames himself, and so thoroughly that he made her presence in his mind just to remind himself of what he's been the cause of. Despite hat, he can't stop thinking of her and how she's doing in Hell. He practically spent the entirety of the story thinking about her and if there are ways he can save her. He was so desperate he made a deal with a demon! The demon's not a bad guy though (anymore), so it's fine. And that's how he got wrapped into stopping demons from making all humans soulless and finding an arc angel feather for information on Rachel.
Just like with all N.P Martin's books, I love the action, the descriptions, the world, and the writing flow. Everything works out so well and the demons are downright disturbing sometimes!
I honestly can't wait for more books in the Watchers series!...more
*I received a digital copy from the author from a giveaway. Rating: 4.5/5
Leia and her twin brother Josh grew up in foster homes due to their mother *I received a digital copy from the author from a giveaway. Rating: 4.5/5
Leia and her twin brother Josh grew up in foster homes due to their mother and father being killed by demons. No one believed Leia as she made her statement as a little seven year old though, and so she learned to keep her mouth shut. However, ever since turning eighteen, she sees things: the demons and their true faces even when they're walking around in human bodies (which are called meat suits). She thinks she's gone crazy. After following a trail her mother left her and scouring for answers, Leia's world is rocked and hanging by a thread. Her brother's missing, her foster mom is dead, and all she has left is the hope that an uncle she never met will help her fight demons and save her brother.
If that doesn't sound even a little intriguing, then you obviously won't like this book as much as I did.
I've actually had this in my possession for some months, and I have no idea why I waited so long to get to it. This book is amazing! It's an action packed, fast paced, and full of supernatural creatures! It has great characters, awesome action, and a fantastic world!
And so I'll start with the characters.
Leia is a great character. She's strong, brave (so much so that she always gets face to face with danger), and yeah, she makes stupid choices at times, but she never gives up. She tries to, but she is always thrust right back into the action and realizes that she has too much to lose and she can't stop now. She has a clear voice and I was rooting for her the entire novel. I can understand her character, why she couldn't kill Kasey, why she let herself be tricked at times, because I feel like we really got to know her and that really helped. I can't wait to see how she develops in the next book!
Now Frank. After learning about his existence due to the trail her mother left her, Leia goes to stay with her uncle Frank. He's a really great character as well. He's strong, brave, kind, and while he doesn't always show it in the best ways (he's fairly awkward and anti-social around people, having been living in a secluded cabin for who knows how long all on his own with his only company a dog), he definitely cares about Leia. He helps train her and toughen her up, and I really loved seeing their relationship develop. And while at times anger and secrets were on the verge of breaking their relationship, Leia always came back because Frank is the only chance she has at getting her brother back, and Frank always let her because she's family and he cares about her.
Now, onto the world. It was infested with supernatural beings and I love it! There were clubs owned by demons in the 'Perv District', as they call it, abandoned houses where serial killer Vampires lurked in the basement, and even a place where vampires got high on human blood. It was weird, strange, and most definitely intriguing! All the normal places in our world, but instead of humans there were demons. Is that not a great world to read about? And I mean, obviously there were still humans, but the world seemed to almost be run by the supernatural, as they were everywhere and I love it! It was well written and I definitely enjoyed every little bit of it.
Overall I love Hell Is Coming and I recommend this book to everyone, especially if you love paranormal, action packed, fantasy books....more
Doyle Hawthorne is a 21-year-old college student who sets out with his best f*This will also be posted on Booklikes, and Coffee & Books.
Rating: 4.5/5
Doyle Hawthorne is a 21-year-old college student who sets out with his best friend Chuck Johnson to search for his biological grandfather. Along the way they uncover more then they ever could have bargained for and realize a darker entity lives among them.
Of Royal Descent is full of action, deceit, love, bravery, humour, and the best of all: Zombies. What more could you ask for? This is the perfect combination of everything I love in a novel. The author knew what she was doing when writing this, no doubt.
The writing flows well and kept me immersed in the story as it was so easy to fall into. The way Zombies are described, their origin, and what they are to everyone else around them is so intriguing and not something I've read before. Especially how they act and the process of turning into one once the disease has been activated.
Now, characters. I love them all. Well, okay maybe not Bradbury. He's horrible to everyone and he takes darkness to a whole new level. But other then him they are all easy to love. I especially love Doyle and Chuck's friendship. They have such a great bond, and Chuck stays by Doyle's side the entire time even when Doyle was an ass and it's just great. I just really love how bonded they are, how much they care. They aren't afraid to tell each other they care. In fact, all of the characters are ones with large hearts (with the exception of Bradbury, MZs [mindless zombies], and soldiers under Bradbury's orders). They all help in some way and you can tell they only want what's best for the people around them.
Of Royal Descent is now one of my favourite books, and I hope to get my hands on the second book soon. So I recommend this to everyone. As long as you don't mind violence. Or slightly sexual scenes (it's never explicit or too bad). But yes, please read Of Royal Descent. I'm sure most of you will love it!...more
It's not bad, but the flow isn't great. It's odd right from the beginning, and I get the feeling that the character doesn't care about much, and I DNF
It's not bad, but the flow isn't great. It's odd right from the beginning, and I get the feeling that the character doesn't care about much, and I don't care about that or him. The tone and writing is disconnected, and I just can't keep reading. I don't see it going anywhere, and it's not at all what I thought it would be.
*I received a free digital version from a giveaway on Library Thing.
DNF @30%
I like the book well enough. It's interesting, different, and in a genre *I received a free digital version from a giveaway on Library Thing.
DNF @30%
I like the book well enough. It's interesting, different, and in a genre I love. However, there were multiple problems for me, and they started within the first paragraph of the first page.
We started with Eldirc leading his men to a castle to slaughter a King and his men so Eldric could take his throne back. In the first few paragraphs, the author takes every chance to describe Eldric's appearance, which made the setting lack detail and also bored me. I don't care that his teeth are so white that the moon reflects off them and I certainly don't care that his skin is almost silver against the black rock of the cave. Aside from that, we get his tragic backstory all at once. We don't know Eldric, he was just introduced and so we don't really care enough to be able to empathize with him yet. So I didn't really care about his story or his determination.
And then there's Brynn. She's the typical damsel in distress. From what I read about her, she can't defend herself, she's shy, she depends on others, and she never breaks the rules. She's naive too. She gave me a headache. Well, not her, but the situations and how she reacted.
Overall, it's interesting, but I couldn't bring myself to keep reading, unfortunately....more
*I received the ebook version of this from a giveaway on LibraryThing. **This will also be posted on Booklikess.
Rememberers was not what I expecte*I received the ebook version of this from a giveaway on LibraryThing. **This will also be posted on Booklikess.
Rememberers was not what I expected it to be. I expected it to be more of the fantasy genre. Instead, it's all about religion, science, psychology, terrorists, demons, God and Adam & Eve. We mainly follow Kallie, a nineteen-year-old college student who experiences daily feelings of deja vu, and who ends up immersed in the world of religion and the evil that goes with the good. She also ends up being of interest to two catholic figures and an ICE agent. So obviously, nothing is as it seems.
First though, I just want to say one thing about the religion: I was often bored while reading the religion parts. Mainly because much was repeated, but also because it happened so often I just found myself eager for that part to be over. And it's not like I have anything against religion; my grandparents are highly religious and strongly believe in God. But there was just so much of it. And I get that religion plays a huge part for the novel, but reading many things over and over again just in different words did not appeal to me. Other then that, though, Rememberers proved to be an interesting read.
I really like the idea behind the Rememberers and their powers. I especially love how there are past lives and they way that plays a part in the story. Reading about Kallie and seeing her perspectives change and her mind grow stronger was just so fascinating, especially because she can tear into those dang demons for three hours straight. I mean, it's action, and I love me some action. I also love how we got to go into minds other than Kallie's though, so we could make up our own theories about what these other people plan do to with her. I actually enjoyed reading about her interactions with certain people, because we readers know some of the characters she hangs out with don't have good intentions, and she herself doesn't know. So to see her try and piece it together, to see her friends piece it together, is interesting because we get to see how their minds work. All in all, I really like the writing and the way it all mapped out.
The characters (the religious figures, anyway) were not what I would have expected. It was good though. I think my favourite character would have to be Johnny Swag (because that last name, yo), because he's so dark and creepy and scarily brilliant. If he were a real person that I knew, I would probably be terrified of him, considering what he is capable of. And I know he wasn't in his right mind (if you've read Rememberers, you'll know what I'm taking about) but still, to be how he is and not see any wrong... It was just really fascinating to see him plan and take action.
I don't have much else to say. I would recommend this to those who don't mind religious talk, or books that are based on religion....more
I expected epic action, romance, and strength. What I got was a slave who complained about starving all the time even when he ate a lot more DNF @ 20%
I expected epic action, romance, and strength. What I got was a slave who complained about starving all the time even when he ate a lot more than I expected, Queens and Lords who can control people, and multiple escape chances not taken.
I was bored. It didn't hook me or make me want to continue on....more
Apex Rising is an action packed fantasy novel full of magic, revenge, battles, bravery, deceit, strength, and even romance (though thankfully, not mucApex Rising is an action packed fantasy novel full of magic, revenge, battles, bravery, deceit, strength, and even romance (though thankfully, not much).
*I won the ebook version of this in a LibraryThing giveaway. **This will also be posted on Booklikes and Coffee & Books.
Broken People follows Dale and*I won the ebook version of this in a LibraryThing giveaway. **This will also be posted on Booklikes and Coffee & Books.
Broken People follows Dale and his quest to complete this mysterious mission of utter importance. Along the way, whilst he and his partner Cole wait for the right day to strike, complications arise and both are thrust into the world of The Golden Lady and The Nightingale Circus.
What I love about Broken People is how most of the characters, if not all, are human but not at the same time. The title describes them perfectly. They're broken people, made of flesh and bone and add in a little metal and they're no longer complete. It's all so normal to them, though, having to go in every once in a while to change their parts or make adjustments. It's fascinating. Especially how Rake and Spinner can do practically everything. What they did to Cole was both tragic and brilliant simultaneously.
And while you find yourself not exactly liking Dale at first, seeing as he seems rather selfish and cold in the beginning, you can't help but like him and maybe even love him by the time the book is at its end. The Golden Lady and him, their interactions always made me smile because I could just tell from the beginning what would transpire between the two. However, while you knew it was coming and knew it to be true in the way they act towards each other, there was never really much explained or done to have made their feelings change. They were business partners, and then they care and haven't really acted any differently. I just would have preferred more between them, to explain why they decided to have feelings for the other. Other then that, that characters are great.
The writing is great too. It flows well and the circus was well described, with its inner workings and how it's controlled. I loved the magic element and the acts and just how well it was described. I could visualize most, if not all that was happening and it was fascinating. I also love the action. I mean, who doesn't?
But anyway, I really enjoyed reading Broken People, and I recommend this to all you lovers of magic, action, romance, and broken people [see what I did there? d:]....more
**spoiler alert** *I won the ebook version from a giveaway on BookLikes. ** This review will also be posted on Booklikes.
First, I just want to say that**spoiler alert** *I won the ebook version from a giveaway on BookLikes. ** This review will also be posted on Booklikes.
First, I just want to say that I love how all of the characters in this military Sci-fi novel (with 3 novellas all in one), no matter who they are, are strong. They all sacrifice things in their lives to fight for what they believe is right, [the drones sacrifice their whole lives, basically] even when they know not all of their actions are the best. And they all are courageous, being able to take the truth and still move on, as Andrew and Orem said a lot, “Truth is the best defence, and offence,”, and fighting a war that could have ended a lot sooner. They are strong enough to realize what they have to do when the time comes, to stand up to their enemies, and to merge together in the end to save lives.
I also really like how the author isn't afraid to kill off important characters though, like Orem and Andrew, and how there was nothing romantic in the writing expect for that one kiss Matt and Kara shared, and how there is a lot of action. I mean, I know it's a war and actin is to be expected, but other books I have read like this did not have as much action, and I love action. So this satisfied me. Like, there was action everywhere, and it was pretty fast-paced and there was a lot death, and it was just seriously brilliant.
For me, this is definitely worth a re-read, and I don't re-read books often. Anyone who likes action, distopian, or sci-fi novels are sure to enjoy this tale immensely....more
*This will also be posted on Booklikes, and Coffee & Books.
Rating: 4.5/5
This is brilliant. The writing in The Wisdom of a Cobbler is infused with new*This will also be posted on Booklikes, and Coffee & Books.
Rating: 4.5/5
This is brilliant. The writing in The Wisdom of a Cobbler is infused with new lessons and motivational words in every chapter. It's a light read, yet heavy if you plan on taking the lessons to heart, which I did.
Each new character has a lesson to learn, a different dream to follow, and the way Vernon helps them go after their dreams is brilliant. He has so much knowledge and we learn what confidence and belief can do for us. The best part though, is that it all feels so real and you can easily put yourself in the characters' shoes and imagine how such words of Vernon would affect you had he spoken them to you instead.
I recommend this to everyone. Not all will like it, I know that, but this is a piece of art, and everyone should experience it themselves....more
*I won the ebook ARC version of this in a giveaway on Booklikes. **This will also be posted on Booklikes.
Loose Changeling follows a young woman named *I won the ebook ARC version of this in a giveaway on Booklikes. **This will also be posted on Booklikes.
Loose Changeling follows a young woman named Nicole whose world is changing and becoming rather insane. First she finds out her husband is cheating on her, then a strange mouse keeps bothering her, a strange man claiming to be a divorce lawyer shows up, and then sh*t gets real.
I love how quickly the action gets started, how soon all the troubles arise and come into place. I love the flow of the writing and the story, and how much Nicole's character developed and changed. I like the mysterious aspects and the danger and the thrill, and how you get so immersed in the story you find yourself rooting for Nicole and then realize you're trying to solve the mysteries as well.
I also really like the characters. They grow so much and they're just overall very likeable. I would share more, but what I have in mind only consists of spoilers.... Just know that they're likeable and grow a whole lot in the duration of the story. It's like watching you're child grow up. I'm just kidding, I don't actually know how that feels. But you get the point. I hope.
Anyway, although I liked the book and enjoyed the characters and action, what I wasn't a huge fan of was the love triangle. I get that Nicole and Owen are divorcing, but her feelings for Kailen seem too quick to form. After everything they went through together on their journey, there wasn't really any explanation for her to fall for him. At least to me there wasn't. I just wish their feelings were slower to develop, and that there was more to it to make said feelings form.
Overall, I liked Loose Changeling and I can't wait for the second book! I would recommend this to anyone who likes to read books containing fantasy, action, romance, and great character development....more
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