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R6: SSS BYOB (Bring Your Own Book) (4)
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by
Theo
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May 16, 2015 07:14PM
Another great job, team! The next roll is just a few hours away.
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Rolled a 3Spot 74
Week 9: Roll 2Spot 74
Read a #4 in a series, a #7 in a series, or a book with a multi-colored cover
Team Choices
Denise: The Darkest Part of the Forest (Multi-Colored) Denise's Review
Mika: Think of England (Multi-Colored) Mika's Review
Sue: Prey (#4) Sue's Review
Theo: The Darkest Whisper (#4) Theo's Review
Spot 74Read:
Finisehd: 5/20/15
Rating: 3 stars
Review: As with the first three books in the series, The Darkest Whisper spotlights one of the Lords of the Underworld as he falls for a woman. This time, it's Sabin's turn. The keeper of Doubt has always had trouble with women, what with his demon constantly reminding them of their deepest worries and fears, but in Egypt he may have finally met his match. The Harpy, Gwen, a descendant of Lucifer, had been kidnapped by the Hunters as part of a program to breed half Hunter/half Immortal children. When the Lords come across them during a search for more artifacts, Sabin and Gwen connect instantly, but it can't be that easy. They both need to overcome their demons, both literally and figuratively, oh, and also continue the fight against the Hunters, search for the artifacts, and figure out where all those half Hunter/half Immortal kids ended up. There's build-up for other characters as well, Paris is seriously grieving, Aeron is being watched, and we even get Gideon's POV.
Spot 74:
Multicolor
Mod
I'm also using the alternate, reading
.
Mod
Spot: 74
Read:
The Darkest Part of the Forest by Holly Black (Alternate: Multi-colored)Finished: 18 May 2015
Rating: *****
Review:
Holly Black and I were off to a bit of a rocky start - the couple of her books I'd read before this one were okay, but there always seemed to be something missing. Not in this one. Turns out "third time's the charm" really does apply sometimes. In this enchanting faerie tale everything just came together perfectly: characters, story, writing style, pacing, and so on. There's magic woven through every page. A wonderful, spellbinding read.
@Denise, I liked it, but it wasn't her best work IMO.
Spot 74:
Read:5/18
Rating:3.75 stars
Review: I am absolutely in love with KJ Charles writing, I think I've read all her work but one. This one started off drab to me. I did not feel like the two guys had any connection at all. I loved the plot a lot, it was really good to see who were actually involved in the heinous crime. I kept having it set up in my mind like Clue, who did what in what room, with what weapon. I enjoyed Daniel a lot, he was funny, confident, but still had the vulnerability about himself. Archie was nice as well, he was a damn powerhouse!
Spot 74:read:
Finished:5/20/2015
Rating:****
Review: I really like this fast paced series.The players draw you into the story,just like you are part of the pride....
Sometimes playing cat and mouse is no game...Play? "Right." My Pride is under fire from all sides, my father's authority is in question and my lover is in exile. Which means I haven't laid eyes on Marc's gorgeous face in months. And with a new mother "and" an I-know-everything teenager under my protection, I don't exactly have time to fantasize about ever seeing him again.
Then our long-awaited reunion is ruined by a vicious ambush by strays. Now our group is under attack, Marc is missing and I will need every bit of skill and smarts to keep my family from being torn apart. Forever.
Another roll bites the dust, but never fear, we'll start again in a few hours. Great job, team!
Theo wrote: "Another roll bites the dust, but never fear, we'll start again in a few hours. Great job, team!"You are very motivating as a captain!!!
Mod
Week 10: Roll 1Spot 78
Read a #7 in a series, a #8 in a series, or a book that has no people on the cover
Team Choices
Denise: The Sanctuary Sparrow (#7) Denise's Review
Mika: Alone on Earth (No People) Mika's Review
Sue: Midnight's Kiss (#8) Sue's Review
Theo: Archangel's Shadows (#7) Theo's Review
Spot 78Read:
Finished: 5/23/15
Rating: 3 stars
Review: After the excitement of Archangel's Legion, this was more of a slow-burn as we focus on the building romance between hunter Ashwini and vampire Janvier. When a desiccated dog body is found, Guild Director, Sara, thinks she has found a case to ease Ash back into work after her injuries during the battle against Lijuan, but when a human body in a similar condition is found, things may not be as simple as they first seemed. There's also a new drug on the streets with devastating effects to the vampire population. And while Ash and Janvier are the central couple of this installment, we also learn more about vampire/tiger/creature, Naasir. There's also interactions with all of the standard characters, including more development with the strange Legion who joined Team Raphael in the nick of time during the previous book.
Mod
Spot: 78
Read:
The Sanctuary Sparrow by Ellis Peters (Chronicles of Brother Cadfael #7)Finished: 22 May 2015
Rating: ****
Review:
A young minstrel fleeing a vicious mob accusing him of murder and robbery seeks sanctuary in Shrewsbury Abbey. None but Cadfael and a servant girl from the victim's household truly believe in his innocence - can the true criminal be found before the young man's period of grace runs out?
As always a quick, enjoyable mystery read, though I found the perpetrator quite easy to figure out in this one.
Spot78:
Read:5/22
Rating: 3.5 stars
Review: I'm so disappointed in this book. It irritated me that the author would go this route. She chose this new adult romance to me. I disliked Riley, I thought she city's have been way tougher. Seriously, Susan Fanetti didn't see no other way to get them together but by this dumb ass move. Ugh I'm pissed.
Spot 78Read:
Finished:5/22/2015
Rating:****
Review: This is the latest book in this series. I really like this series.Though it is a series, each story can stand alone...
Ever since their scorching affair ended years ago, Julian, the Nightkind King, and Melisande, daughter of the Light Fae Queen, have tried to put the past behind them—and distance between them. But when a war breaks out between Julian and Justine, a powerful Vampyre of the Nightkind council, they find themselves thrown together under treacherous circumstances…
Kidnapped as leverage against Julian, Melly is convinced that her former lover won’t be rushing to her rescue. But when Julian gives himself up to save her, they both end up Justine’s captives. Armed only with their wits and their anger, Melly and Julian must work together to escape. But will they be able to ignore their complicated history, or will the fiery passion that once burned them blaze again?
Week 10: Roll 2Spot 81
Read a stand-alone, #1 in a series, a #8 in a series, or a book that takes place in Scotland
Team Choices
Denise: Thief's Magic (#1) Denise's Review
Mika: The Good Boy (#1) Mika's Review
Sue: Don't Look Back (Stand-Alone) Sue's Review
Theo: God Save the Queen (#1) Theo's Review
Mod
Spot 81Read:
Finished: 5/27/15
Rating: 3 stars
Review: In an alternate modern-day Britain, where the bubonic plague caused the aristocracy to become infected with the Prometheus Protein, every aristocrat has become a monster. Vampires are most prevalent in England, France and Spain, while werewolves rule the colder climates in places like Scotland and Russia. There’s also goblins, caused by too much inbreeding in the ruling class. There’s a lot of distrust between the Aristos and the humans they rule, so hybrid children were bred to protect and serve their royal parents. Our heroine, Xandra Vardan, is one such Halvie, the product of her vampire father, a duke, and a human courtesan. She serves as a member of the Royal Guard, entrusted with the safety of the royal family, which include Queen Victoria, a vampire, who has been ruling for 175 years. Everything seems to be going well until her sister Dede goes missing. The quest to figure out exactly what has become of Dede will lead Xandra to uncover many secrets, including a major one about herself. This steampunk world has an interesting mix of Victoria sensibilities and modern inventions, that creates a rich backdrop for the action. Also, for all the Parasol Protectorate fans out there, while Vex MacLaughlin is no Conall Maccon, he’s still a swoon-worthy Scottish werewolf for our heroine.
Going with #1
Spot 81Read:
Finished:5/25/2015
Rating:*****
Review: Rarely do ever give a book a 5 star rating but this is one....The story line grabs you from the beginning and doesn't let you go....And the ending is something you never expected...
Samantha is a stranger in her own life. Until the night she disappeared with her best friend, Cassie, everyone said Sam had it all-popularity, wealth, and a dream boyfriend.
Sam has resurfaced, but she has no recollection of who she was or what happened to her that night. As she tries to piece together her life from before, she realizes it's one she no longer wants any part of. The old Sam took "mean girl" to a whole new level, and it's clear she and Cassie were more like best enemies. Sam is pretty sure that losing her memories is like winning the lottery. She's getting a second chance at being a better daughter, sister, and friend, and she's falling hard for Carson Ortiz, a boy who has always looked out for her-even if the old Sam treated him like trash.
But Cassie is still missing, and the facts about what happened to her that night isn't just buried deep inside of Sam's memory-someone else knows, someone who wants to make sure Sam stays quiet. All Sam wants is the truth, and if she can unlock her clouded memories of that fateful night, she can finally move on. But what if not remembering is the only thing keeping Sam alive?
Spot 81:
Read:5/25
4 stars
Review: I think this was a good introduction from this author. She did really well on the character development. I loved Mac, he was witty and sweet. I thought his support system was amazing. I liked Jordan, off back he had this protector thing going on for Mac.
Mod
Spot: 91
Read:
Thief's Magic by Trudi Canavan (Millenium's Rule #1)Finished: 26 May 2015
Rating: ****
Review:
The first book in accomplished fantasy author Trudi Canavan's newest series whisks the reader away to an intriguing new universe with its very own take on the nature of magic. The book follows two POV characters from very different backgrounds: Tyen is a student of archaelogy and sorcery in a world where magic is used freely to power machines of all kinds, but is now dwindling due to such heavy use. In Rielle's world, on the other hand, magic use is stricly regulated and restricted to priests, who persecute anyone else attempting to use it. I liked both these characters and their stories so far immensely and am very much looking forward to seeing how their tales will eventually connect. While I'm not yet quite as much in love with this new world as I was with the Black Magician books, the series opener was very promising and I'm eagerly awaiting its sequel.
And we're done (for a few hours at least)!
Mod
.
Awesome roll, Mika! Sorry I'm so late getting on. Sometimes work gets in the way of my fun...
Week 11: Roll 1Spot 87
Read a #7 in a series, a #8 in a series, or a book by an author whose first, middle, or last name starts with an F
Team Choices
Denise: The Devil's Novice (#8) Denise's Review
Mika: Russian Prey (#8) Mika's Review
Sue: Born of Defiance (#8) Sue's Review
Theo: Halfway to the Grave (Author F) Theo's Review
Spot 87Read:
Finished: 5/30/15
Rating: 3 stars
Review: Ever since learning that she is half vampire (the product of her mother being raped by a newly-made vampire), Cat Crawfield has taken it upon herself to rid the world of them and she's been doing an okay job: sixteen less vampires in the world. But when she meets Bones, it seems she has finally met her match. Instead of killing her, though, he offers her a job: to help him kill vampires. After extensive training, and a new (slutty) wardrobe, Cat is ready. But the more time she spends with Bones, the less sure she is about her 'vampires are all evil' theory, although there are plenty of evil vampires to take out, and maybe even some evil humans as well. I was a big fan of Buffy the Vampire Slayer during my college days, and the character of Bones reminded me a lot of Spike and his relationship with a beautiful, but brutal vampire slayer. A fun read.
Mod
Spot: 87
Read:
The Devil's Novice by Ellis Peters (Chronicles of Brother Cadfael #8)Finished: 29 May 2015
Rating: ****
Review:
A young man from a noble family living close by enters Shrewsbury Abbey as a novice. His extreme eagerness to be allowed to take his final vows as swiftly as possible in combination with the disruptive nightmares that plague his sleep leads Cadfael and many others to wonder about his motives for choosing the monastic life. Only shortly before he made his decision, it turns out, a priest vanished without a trace after spending a night at the family's home. Are the two connected? Not one of the best entries in the series, but an enjoyable read nonetheless.
Spot 87:
Read:5/29
Rating: 3.75 stars
Review: Keegan's story was good. I would have liked to see his relationship with Vince develop way more before they had sex. Vince who supposedly can't "feel" things feel in love for the first time in his 40 something odd years of living. I liked them as characters, and it's great to see their respective friends make cameos in the book. I love Nikolai, he had definitely changed in the series to come.
Spot:87Read:
Finished:5/30/2015
Rating:*****
Review: This is a series by one of my fave writers. And Ms Kenyon hit a homerun again.... I just loved this fastpaced story and couldn't put it down...
Born an Outcast, Talyn Batur has spent the whole of his life fighting against the prejudice of his people. An Andarion without a father is not something anyone wants to be.
But when his companion’s brother draws him into a plot against the Andarion crown, he finds himself torn between the loyalty to their planetary government that his mother has beaten into him and his own beliefs of justice and right.
Now, he must decide for himself to remain a pawn of their government or to defy everything and everyone he’s ever known to stand up to tyranny. It’s a gamble that will either save his life or end it. And when old enemies align with new ones, it’s more than just his own life at risk. And more than just his homeworld that will end should he fail.
We are getting very close to the end and currently we are tied for third. I will send you good rolling vibes in my dreams tonight, Mika! And as always, great job team!
Week 11: Roll 2Spot 90
Read a stand-alone, a #9 in a series, or a book with a blue cover
Team Choices
Denise: The Vow on the Heron (#9) Denise's Review
Mika: Winter Kill (Blue Cover) Mika's Review
Sue: Imaginary Girls (Blue Cover) Sue's Review
Theo: The Glass Castle (stand-alone) Theo's Review
Spot 90Read:
Finished: 6/3/15
Rating: 4 stars
Review: To say that Jeanette Walls had an unconventional childhood is an understatement. Within the first few pages of her memoir, she recounts her first memory: catching on fire. She was three years old and cooking hot dogs on the stove unsupervised (her mother was in the next room painting). From the perspective of someone who didn’t just survive her childhood, but was somehow able to rise above her background of poverty and neglect, the author tells her story with grace and a lack of sentimentality. She doesn’t excuse her parents, but she doesn’t turn them into monsters either. It’s shocking and heartbreaking to read about two adults who desperately want to do something great with their lives, but ultimately only succeed in destroying themselves and their children.
Mod
Spot 90:
Read:6/2
Rating:4 stars
Review: Typical Josh Lanyon, tons of mystery & shallow on the romance. I actually liked the way this couple came about. I think in all the books I've read by him, this is the quickest couple to start something. I liked Rob alot, he was funny, and secure about himself. As usual with J.L books we have one of the guys that's a little to cerebral which was Adam Darling. The mystery part was good. I didn't like him throwing all that Tucker information out and leaving us blind. Can't wait to book two.
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The Challenge Factory
Books mentioned in this topic
The Vow on the Heron (other topics)Imaginary Girls (other topics)
Imaginary Girls (other topics)
Winter Kill (other topics)
The Vow on the Heron (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Jean Plaidy (other topics)Ellis Peters (other topics)
Trudi Canavan (other topics)
Ellis Peters (other topics)
Holly Black (other topics)
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