Book Review ~ Tyger Tyger

Tyger Tyger (Goblin Wars #1)
By Kersten Hamilton
Published By Clarion Books

Summary (Goodreads):Teagan Wylltson's best friend, Abby, dreams that horrifying creatures--goblins, shape-shifters, and beings of unearthly beauty but terrible cruelty--are hunting Teagan. Abby is always coming up with crazy stuff, though, so Teagan isn't worried. Her life isn't in danger. In fact, it's perfect. She's on track for a college scholarship. She has a great job. She's focused on school, work, and her future. No boys, no heartaches, no problems.

     Until Finn Mac Cumhaill arrives. Finn's a bit on the unearthly beautiful side himself. He has a killer accent and a knee-weakening smile. And either he's crazy or he's been haunting Abby's dreams, because he's talking about goblins, too . . . and about being The Mac Cumhaill, born to fight all goblin-kind. Finn knows a thing or two about fighting. Which is a very good thing, because this time, Abby's right. The goblins are coming.

Kersten Hamilton is the author of several picture books and many middle grade novels. When she's not writing, she hunts dinosaurs in the deserts and badlands outside of Albuquerque, New Mexico, where she lives. This is her first novel for young adults. For more about Kersten, please visit www.kerstenhamilton.com.

Dislikes/Likes: I enjoyed this book I felt it was fast paced and had enough going on to keep my attention. At the same time though I didn't feel any connection to the characters. I thought their journey/adventure in Mag Mell was a dark, creepy, entertaining read. It was a different twist on fairytale lore that I was not as familiar with.  I also didn't like the jumping forward in time just to spend the next couple of pages telling what happened in that missing time.  I would prefer to just stay in that time while it is happening and then jump forward afterwards.

Overall: I enjoyed Kersten Hamilton's take on a fairytale, it wasn't all light and sparkles, and while there was some romantic tension it didn't overwhelm the rest of the story.  It's a testament to the authors writing that even though I felt nothing for the characters I still enjoyed the story and look forward to reading more of her writing.


Rating: 3.5

Book Review ~No Mercy

No Mercy (Were-Hunter/Dark-Hunter #19)
By Sherrilyn Kenyon
Published By St. Martin's Press

Summary (Goodreads): Live fast, fight hard and, if you have to die, then take as many of your enemies with you as you can. That is the Amazon credo and it was one Samia lived and died by. Now in contemporary New Orleans, the immortal Amazon warrior is about to learn that there’s a worse evil coming to slaughter mankind than she’s ever faced before. 

Shapeshifter Dev Peltier has stood guard at the front of Sanctuary for almost two hundred years and in that time, he’s seen it all. Or so he thought. Now their enemies have discovered a new source of power--one that makes a mockery of anything faced to date. 

The war is on and Dev and Sam are guarding ground zero. But in order to win, they will have to break the most cardinal of all rules and pray it doesn’t unravel the universe as we know it.

Dislike: I'm at the point in this series where I wish it was more Urban Fantasy than Paranormal Romance.  There seems to be so much more to explore with the good vs. evil battle, Stryker's on going obsession with breaking their curse, and the whole Nick/Malachi story.  I wouldn't mind if there was a couple in the story just not have them be the main story. None of this has to do with this story just an observation of mine. 

On this story: There was not enough Were for me considering this was a WereHunter story. Other than when they were on their mini quest there really was no shifting in this book. It felt more like a DarkHunter book with some Weres as background characters.  There was also a lot that seemed left out, unless I missed it we were never really told why Dev is a void for Sam. Also, what was it that Savitar did at the end when he gave Sam and Aimee those jolts (this one is more I missed something).

Likes: Other than the above I really liked this story. Dev has always been one of my favorites in this series with all his snarky comments whenever someone would enter Sanctuary. Finding out his family background and why he doesn't feel like he fits in.  It was also nice to get to know the more about the Dogs of War. Samia is a great character and a good fit with Dev. Her background story and how she came to be the warrior/darkhunter  she is  was a heartbreaking insightful look into this character.

Overall: This was a great read and added to the series. Finding out about more of the Dogs than just Sam left me wanting more. Not sure how I'm going to wait through 6 Nick books before we get his DarkHunter book  and some resolution to his story. 

Rating: 4

Follow Friday and Blog Hop

Follow Friday is a weekly meme hosted by Parajunkee. This weeks question:

What is/was your favorite subject in school? I didn't really have one. I was bored a lot in school. I guess if I had to pick it would be my yearbook class Jr and Sr yrs. I did all the computer work, typing, editing and just making it all fit.

The Book Blogger Hop is a place just for book bloggers and readers to connect and share our love of the written word! This meme is hosted by Crazy For Books.


What book are you most looking forward to seeing published in 2011? Why are you anticipating that book?
For new books I would have to say "The Near Witch" By Victoria Schwab 
For series with new book I would say the Seven Realms #3 The Gray Wolf Throne By Cinda Williams Chima. I really love this series so far.


Leave a message letting me know so stopped by so I can return the visit.

Book Review ~ The Exiled Queen

**Spoiler Alert: If you have not read The Demon King yet you may not want to read this.**

The Exiled Queen (Seven Realms #2)
By Cinda Williams Chima
Published By Hyperion Book

Summary (Goodreads): You can't always run from danger...

Haunted by the loss of his mother and sister, Han Alister journeys south to begin his schooling at Mystwerk House in Oden’s Ford. But leaving the Fells doesn’t mean danger isn’t far behind. Han is hunted every step of the way by the Bayars, a powerful wizarding family set on reclaiming the amulet Han stole from them. And Mystwerk House has dangers of its own. There, Han meets Crow, a mysterious wizard who agrees to tutor Han in the darker parts of sorcery—but the bargain they make is one Han may regret.

Meanwhile, Princess Raisa ana’Marianna runs from a forced marriage in the Fells, accompanied by her friend Amon and his triple of cadets. Now, the safest place for Raisa is Wein House, the military academy at Oden's Ford. If Raisa can pass as a regular student, Wein House will offer both sanctuary and the education Raisa needs to succeed as the next Gray Wolf queen.

The Exiled Queen is an epic tale of uncertain friendships, cut-throat politics, and the irresistible power of attraction.

Dislikes: I don't like when characters just disappear. I'm sure we'll find out more in the next book but Crow was a major part of Han's storyline and then after a huge scene with him, Han, and the Bayar's he was not mentioned again.  I also dislike Micah as the villain. It's not a role that suits him well and does not seem believable, especially when his father and even his sister seem to do it better. He and his friends just seemed very childish throughout this book so for example, when he claimed he had killed the assassins by himself  I found myself thinking "yeah right".

Likes:  I loved the mess Han got himself into, how many bosses can you have before it comes back to bite you? The relationship between him, Dancer, and Cat was interesting to watch grow, and had some nice twists to it that I should have seen coming but didn't. I also enjoyed the influx of new characters from the schools. The teachers and advisers really added a lot to this story and I'm still unsure which side some of them are on and who can really be trusted.  As heartbreaking as it was at time,  Raisa and Amon's relationship was another storyline that was well done. How their bond affected their relationship and the choices they have had to make about their future because of it.

Overall:  With the power/political struggles that seem to be  coming to a head, I can't wait to see how having them all back in the Fells affects their relationships and the decisions they're going to have to make.  I'm really loving this series and can't wait for the third book to come out later this year.  

Rating: 5

In My Mailbox

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by the Kristi over at The Story Siren. The idea of In My Mailbox is to bring books to the attention of our blog readers and to encourage interaction with other blogs.. The idea of In My Mailbox is to bring books to the attention of our blog readers and to encourage interaction with other blogs.


Not a lot this week, I'm still getting through books from previous weeks :)


Library:
13 to Life By Shannon Delany
White Cat By Holly Black
Incarceron By Catherine Fisher


Won:
Sapphique By Catherine Fisher received from Jenny @ Supernatural Snark 


Bought: 
XVI By Julia Karr


So what did you get this week?

Follow Friday and Blog Hop

Follow Friday is a weekly meme hosted by Parajunkee. This weeks question:

Who do you cheer for? I go for the hometown team. I watch Red Wings hockey and U of M college football. I'll watch the other Detroit teams if nothing else is on and I want background noise.

The Book Blogger Hop is a place just for book bloggers and readers to connect and share our love of the written word! This meme is hosted byCrazy For Books.

Book Review ~ The Demon King

The Demon King (Seven Realms #1)
By Cinda Williams Chima
Published By Hyperion Book

Summary (Goodreads): This novel marks the first giant step in a momentous sci-fi journey orchestrated by Cinda Williams Chima, the author of the popular Warrior Heir series. Its two chief protagonists are ex-thief Han Alister, an impoverished commoner, and Raisa ana'Helena, the headstrong Princess Heir of the Fells. The Demon King brings them together, creating part of a volatile mix of action, magic, and danger. Empathetic characters; wizardly attacks.


Dislikes: There was not a lot about this book I disliked. It was a little slow getting into it but once the action started I was hooked. I will say I'm over the weak minded, fluff queens. I understand this was necessary for this story and without her Raisa would have been a completely different person. While I love great villains, Mac Gillen and his squadron of goons were just vile nasty characters.


Likes:  The characters were well done.  I enjoyed the interactions between Han, Dancer, and the rest of the clan members, especially Lucius and Willo. I thought Raisa was a good counterbalance to her mother and this made her a very likable character. The world the author built was also done well and provided something for everyone, from the Spirit lands where the clans live and the Vale where the village/towns and palace is located. 


Overall: I really loved this book and thought it was a great start to a new series. From the world to the characters it fits into the epic fantasy nicely for me. The twists and turns that happen as the story went along were well placed to keep the story interesting and keep you reading until the end.  The characters are now on a journey that is going to bring them all together and I'm looking forward to reading the second book to find out what happens.


Rating: 5

Book Review ~ The Betrayal of Maggie Blair

The Betrayal of Maggie Blair
By Elizabeth Laird
Published By Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Release Date 4/18/2011
Received via netGalley for review

Summary (netGalley):In seventeenth-century Scotland, saying the wrong thing can lead to banishment—or worse. Accused of being a witch, sixteen-year-old Maggie Blair is sentenced to be hanged. She escapes, but instead of finding shelter with her principled, patriotic uncle, she brings disaster to his door.

Betrayed by one of her own accusers, Maggie must try to save her uncle and his family from the king’s men, even if she has to risk her own life in the process. 

Originally published in the UK, this book has a powerful blend of heart-stopping action and thought-provoking themes.

Dislikes: This book wasn't what I was expecting after reading the description. I was thinking more along paranormal lines to lead to the accusation of witchcraft. Instead this book is more about the religious struggles in 17th century Scotland, Church vs. State. While this did not detract from the book, I did have to switch gears while reading. The main problem I had with this book, even though it is about religious persecution, it was over done and preachy at times. There were a lot of scriptures and psalms as part of the dialog and I felt there were times that the author could have just stated that they started singing a song instead of giving us three paragraphs of the psalm. I also felt Annie was a little over used in the story.  It would have been more enjoyable to me if there had been more than one person that seemed to be causing all the problems throughout the book.

Likes: Even without the paranormal, I still found it to be an interesting read. I always enjoy historicals set in Scotland and Ireland and this was no exception. Maggie was a great lead character. She had such a  naivety of the world around her and yet still had a strong sense of loyalty to those that she loved and what she felt was right. I also liked how even though there were times along her journey were there was a possibility of a romance, that could have solved all of her problems, the author chose not to go that route and instead let Maggie find herself throughout the book. 

Overall: Even though it won't be what a lot of people are expecting, it is still a well written, interesting read. Maggie's journey, from being forced to flee the only home she has ever know to trying to rescue the only family she has left, was a heartbreaking and yet uplifting story right up to the very end. 

Rating: 3.5

Mini Book Review ~ A Tale Dark & Grimm

A Tale Dark & Grimm
By Adam Gidwitz
Published By Dutton Juvenile

Summary (Goodreads): Brooklyn schoolteacher Adam Gidwitz offers imaginative new slants on children's classics in this new collection inspired by nine Grimm Brothers fairy tales. Never before have Hansel and Gretel had an adventure like this!


Overall: This book was very well paced and ended up being a quick read. I enjoyed how the author took several Grimm stories and mashed them together with Hansel and Gretel to make a disturbing, bloody, yet enjoyable read. I was unfamiliar with all the stories used, but the original Hansel and Gretel, so I did not have a problem with the changes made to fit the authors needs.  
The parts where the author interjects to give his warnings and two cents did get a bit tedious after the first couple of times but overall did not ruin the reading experience.


Rating: 4

Follow Friday and Blog Hop

Follow Friday is a weekly meme hosted by Parajunkee. This weeks question:
What makes up your non human family?

Ours is very small, we have a cat and a turtle.





The Book Blogger Hop is a place just for book bloggers and readers to connect and share our love of the written word! This meme is hosted byCrazy For Books
.Why Do you read the genre that you do? What draws you into it?

I read all different genre so for me it just has to be a good story with great characters. When I'm reading it usually to get away from everything else for a minute so I don't want to be bombarded by real life stuff while I'm trying to get away.

Book Review ~ The Candidates

The Candidates (Delacroix Academy #1) 
By Inara Scott
Published By Hyperion Book

Summary (Goodreads): Dancia Lewis is far from popular. And that's not just because of her average grades or her less-than-glamorous wardrobe. In fact, Dancia's mediocrity is a welcome cover for her secret: whenever she sees a person threatening someone she cares about, things just...happen. Cars skid. Structures collapse. Usually someone gets hurt. So Dancia does everything possible to avoid getting close to anyone, belieiving this way she can supress her powers and keep them hidden.

But when recruiters from the prestigious Delcroix Academy show up in her living room to offer her a full scholarship, Dancia's days of living under the radar may be over. Only, Delcroix is a school for diplomats' kids and child geniuses--not B students with uncontrollable telekinetic tendencies. So why are they treating Dancia like she's special? Even the hottest guy on campus seems to be going out of his way to make Dancia feel welcome.

And then there's her mysterious new friend Jack, who can't stay out of trouble. He suspects something dangerous is going on at the Academy and wants Dancia to help him figure out what. But Dancia isn't convinced. She hopes that maybe the recruiters know more about her "gift" than they're letting on. Maybe they can help her understand how to use it...But not even Dancia could have imagined what awaits her behind the gates of Delcroix Academy.

Dislikes: I think this is one of those books where my age seems to come into play. I've been out of high school as long as the main character has been alive. I don't mind stories that take place in schools as long as something is happening. This book was missing that, it seemed to be mostly classes and lunch, followed by track and homework with a little bits of Dancia's issues with her powers thrown in.  

Likes: I liked the characters, especially Dancia and Jack.  I loved the interactions between the two of them and their struggle to deal with their powers and how they work. The love triangle wasn't overdone so that was a nice surprise as well. The story did pick up in the second half and once the story of the academy and what it's real purpose was revealed.

Overall: This was a well paced book and a quick easy read. Even the parts that weren't as interesting to me were still well written. I am interested to see what happens going forward with Dancia and her power and also her relationships, both love and friendship.

Rating: 3.5

In My Mailbox

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by the Kristi over at The Story Siren. The idea of In My Mailbox is to bring books to the attention of our blog readers and to encourage interaction with other blogs.. The idea of In My Mailbox is to bring books to the attention of our blog readers and to encourage interaction with other blogs.


Everyone must have decided that since it was a new year to return all their library books. Instead of coming in a couple at a time, as normal, they all seemed to show up at once:)


Library:
The Red Pyramid By Rick Riordan
Claire de Lune By Christine Johnson
Voices of Dragons By Carrie Vaughn
Guardian of the Gate By Michelle Zink
The Exiled Queen By Cinda Williams Chima
The Ghost & The Femme Fatale By Cleo Coyle writing as Alice Kimberly
A Tale Dark & Grimm By Adam Gidwitz
M is for Magic By Neil Gaiman
Crusade By Nancy Holder & Debbie Viguie


Received for review (from author)
A Heartbeat Away By Michael Palmer


Won:
No Mercy By Sherilyn Kenyon 
Thanks to Roxanne @ Fan-tastic Books 

Book Review ~ Blue Moon

Blue Moon (Immortals #2)
By Alyson Noel

Published By St. Martins Griffin


Summary (Goodreads): Eager to learn everything she can about her new abilities as an Immortal, Ever turns to her beloved Damen to show her the way. But just as her powers are increasing, Damen’s are waning.  In an attempt to save him, Ever travels to the magical dimension of Summerland, where she learns the secrets of Damen’s tortured past; a past which he has always kept hidden from her. But in her quest to cure Damen, Ever discovers an ancient text that details the workings of time. Now Ever must chose between turning back the past and saving her family from the accident that claimed their lives—or staying in the present and saving Damen, who grows sicker every day.


This review is going to be different from my normal reviews. 


I never thought I would be reading this book. I read Evermore and it was just okay for me.  I owned it and actually traded it in at a used book store thinking I was not going to continue the series so I didn't need it.  Then I started blogging and reading blogs.  With the new book coming out, I kept seeing posts talking about how great this series was and how much love it was getting.  At that point I was kinda thinking maybe I should give the second book a try, but still not sure.  I saw this book at the library and decided, why not.
I'm glad I did. While it still wasn't my favorite book  I've ever read, it was an enjoyable, easy read that kept me interested until the end.  I did have some problems with the ending. I didn't like how Ever was so sure of her feelings about Roman through the whole book, even though it differed from everyone else's, and then threw it all away at the end and seemed to follow blindly just to create the situation needed to set up the next book.  It also seemed rushed and I felt that the issue with Ava was just thrown away in a sentence and went against what we knew about this character until this point.
I am  looking forward to reading the next book to find out what happens and see if some of the issues I had with this book are resolved or left as is.


Rating: 4

Book Review ~ World's End

World's End (Age of Misrule #1) 
By Mark Chadbourn
Published By Pyr

Summary (Goodreads):When Jack Churchill and Ruth Gallagher encounter a terrifying, misshapen giant beneath a London bridge they are plunged into a mystery which portends the end of the world as we know it. All over the country, the ancient gods of Celtic myth are returning to the land from which they were banished millennia ago. Following in their footsteps are creatures of folklore: fabulous bests, wonders and dark terrors As technology starts to fail, Jack and Ruth are forced to embark on a desperate quest for four magical items – the last chance for humanity in the face of powers barely comprehended.


Dislikes: While there always seemed to be something going on, even if it was just a theological debate, there were times when the story got a little slow and I would end up putting the book down. There are three others helping Jack and Ruth on their quest, referred to as the Brothers & Sisters of Dragons. Another of the five, Laura, I disliked through the whole book. While all five have problems and have built up defenses due to them, she takes it to another level. She just has a really nasty personality and no matter what the author did throughout the book to show redeeming qualities it didn't work for me. I found whenever the book was focused on her I would skim until it was back to someone else.  This also presented a problem with the small amount of romance in the story because she was part of it. 


Likes: Besides Laura I really enjoyed the rest of the characters in this story. Church (Jack) makes a great lead character, with all his flaws and guilt over the death of his girlfriend, he still manages to lead this group and is really the glue that seems to keep them all together.  I enjoyed the mixture of the Celtic mythology with the Pagan and Christian religions.  The author did a excellent job weaving them all together and show how things overlap in all the different religions, they just have different names or ways of referring to them. The quest itself. The five must  find four artifacts left by the Danann before they left Earth the first time to the humans. The Sword, the Spear, the Chalice (cauldron), and the Stone.  Only when they find these items will they be able to call back the Danann to help defeat the Fomorri that have found their way back to Earth.


Overall: I really enjoyed this book. Even when I put it down it wasn't long before I was picking it back up to find out what happened next. I'm looking forward to the next book to see what happens now that the Danann and the Fomorri are back on Earth and the next part of the journey for the Brothers/Sisters of Dragons. 


Rating: 4 

Book Review ~ Lust

Lust (The Sins & The Virtues Book 1)
By Charlotte Featherstone
Published By Spice
Received from netGalley for review

Summary (netGalley): Seven sins... Seven virtues... Untold desires.

Of old, humans and Faeries have dwelt side by side in parallel realms. Only the canniest mortals recognize the alluring creatures that often walk—and lie—among them.

The righteous Fae of the Seelie Court cherish an ancient quarrel with their Dark counterparts: a curse born of anger and deceit. The Unseelie Court will perish unless one of its princes can win a woman’s love—honestly, without coercion...and love her wholly in return.

To halt the slow demise of his people, Prince Thane— the embodiment of Lust—infiltrates the Georgian court to seduce his mortal inverse. Noblewoman Chastity Lennox is purity incarnate—a sensual prize well worth winning. But Thane’s carnal quest proves more challenging than he ever dreamed.

No other has ever been able—or willing—to resist his erotic charms. Chastity’s resolve is maddening...and intriguing. It makes him want her all the more. But how best to seduce one who truly seems above temptation? Discover her greatest weakness and become the intoxicating essence of her deepest, most forbidden desires....

Dislikes: I wanted to like this more than I did. The story started out, with a prologue, telling how the curse was placed on the UnSeelie court by the Seelie Queen. We than move forward hundreds of years and are introduced to Niall, the UnSeelie King, and son of the Seelie Queen, who is trying to figure out how to break the curse and save his court. Unfortunately this isn't his book.  I didn't dislike Thane, the keeper of Lust, but he didn't interest my as much as Niall did. Another problem I had was some of the sex scenes. I don't have a problem with these if they are part of the story but there were times when scenes seemed to be recycled. We would have the initial interaction between Thane and Chastity and then it would be replayed by one or both of them and we would get the same scenes all over again. I didn't feel it was needed or move the story forward. 

Likes: I really liked the premise of this series. The UnSeelie King and six Princes, cursed with the seven sins and the only way to break the curse is to find the seven women born with the opposing seven Virtues and have them willingly join them at their court. As I stated above, I really liked Niall's character and I'm interested to find out more about how he has dealt with not only his mother cursing him and his court but deciding to leave him behind and take only his twin brother. Also, the four sisters that we meet and were born with the Virtues are interesting characters, I enjoyed finding out how each lives with their virtue and how it has affected their lives. 

Overall:  I could find myself becoming disinterested if it is just six more books that are the same setup as this. I think as long as the author is able to change up the stories enough to make them their own and still move them forward I will continue this series just to find out what happens.

Rating: 3

Book Giveaway Winner

Congratulations to the winner of my first giveaway: Delirious By Daniel Palmer,  chrllffn09 . An email has been sent to the winner.  Winner was picked using Random.Org


Thanks to everyone who took part and I look forward to doing another giveaway soon.