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?