Firebolt (The Dragonian) by Adrienne Woods Review

Series: The Dragonian #1
Publish: September 19th 2014 by Fire Quill
Format: ebook, 394 pages
Rating: 5 / 4

Synopsis: Dragons. Right. Teenage girls don’t believe in fairy tales, and sixteen-year old Elena Watkins was no different.
Until the night a fairy tale killed her father.
Now Elena’s in a new world, and a new school. The cutest guy around may be an evil dragon, a Prince wants Elena’s heart, and a long dead sorcerer may be waking up to kill her. Oh. And the only way Elena’s going to graduate is on the back of a dragon of her own. Teenage girls don’t believe in fairy tales. Now it’s time for Elena to believe – in herself.

Review:
  I’m not much of a fun of books about dragons, but the beautiful cover and the synopsis got my attention. The story’s not really what I was expecting, it was even better.

  I was expecting a medieval setting, instead we get world that is a more advanced but still full of magic and fairytale like creatures. It is a beautiful and colorful world, perfect for the mysteries and excitement the book presents. The author writing style is great and the story flows easily. The whole installment narrated by Elena who is new to this magical place so we experience every little detail alongside with her. Her reactions and emotions come through spectacularly. It’s strange how easily magic and technology work together in Paegeia, but if we break down the story, the bare core of it a simply fairytale where the heroic prince who saves the day is replaced with Elena.

  Beside the beautiful world the book has a fantastic cast, too. Elena, the heroine, has no clue about magic and dragons so everything is quite a shock to her. The acceptance comes slow and hard and however much hers is the most realistic reaction I ever read about, sometimes she acts so dumb and infuriatingly hysteric. Then in no time she accommodates to her new life and genuinely tries to understand her new surroundings. That is until the first hardship, when she returns to the dumb, hysteric girl from the beginning of the book, some instance she even acts as a brat. So even if she portrays the most realistic reaction from someone who just finds out about the supernatural world I was expecting a stronger and more resilient main character.
  Becky and Sam, her room-mates personalities aren’t constant trough the story. My first impression about Becky was that she is a quirky, scatter-brained, mouthy and more of a laid back person, later she shows a more badass but also entitled side of herself. Sam transforms from strong and free-spoken to a skittish and gentler character. But they have a really strong friendship and they quickly include Elena in it, too. They are also extremely loyal, understanding and have a rebel spirit. Then there is Lucian, the quintessential prince charming with more determination and stubbornness than anyone. He is a stereotype through and through. I wasn’t too happy about his advances but as my other reviews show I usually like the dark ones.
  Blake stays an enigma and acts like somebody with multiple personalities. There are also a lot of interesting secondary characters, whom add to the book complexity.

  I have two big problems with the story. One is the pacing or at least the pacing of Elena change. In the first ¾ of the book she struggles to adjust to her new life then in a blink of an eye she starts to plan her grandiose world saving mission. It’s too fast change for my taste. The other is a minor detail which is the fact that a lot of “mystery” or secret is really obvious and predictable. You can guess almost everything from the clouded stories if you play attention. Unfortunately it has the potential to ruin the further books. So I’m hoping for a twist in the installment.

  Despite the little kinks I really enjoyed the story. It is well constructed, exciting, interesting and has a little bit of everything a fantastic fairytale needs. Looking forward to Thunderlight.

By Viki

Yield the Night (Steel & Stone) by Annette Marie Review

Series: Steel & Stone #3
Publish: March 27th 2015 by Annette Marie
Format: ebook, 278 pages
Rating: 5 / 5

Synopsis: After surviving a round-trip to hell, Piper figures she can survive anything. After all, she just lived through the devastating loss of her Consul apprenticeship and a torturous stint at boarding school. How much worse could it get?
Well, she wasn’t expecting a group of crazy radicals to burn her home to the ground and take her prisoner.
The Gaians, a.k.a. the crazy radicals, plan to rid Earth of daemons and they need Piper’s help. In exchange for her cooperation, they promise her the answer to all her problems: magic. With her own magic, she could reclaim her apprenticeship, the only future she’s ever wanted. But her magic comes at price — it could kill her.
With the life she’s always known crumbling around her and her future slipping from her grasp, she needs Ash’s help one more time. But the greatest danger of all lies within her, and no matter what she does, she may lose everything — including him.

Review:
  The story starts a couple of months after where Bind the soul ended and as the previous books, starts with a dose of disappointment for Piper and quite a much action.

  We know the Gaians from Chase the dark and now they are back. Let me tell you Piper didn’t luck out in the parent department. With an emotionless, workaholic dad and a mother with a childlike delusion and a naivety what leads to overly grandiose and misplaced plans of world domination, it’s a miracle Piper hasn’t got a few screw loose. Okay as Piper states in the story to the Gaians have a couple of great idea but they also portray it through notions similar to the ones that led to the Third World War in their history. They also want to squash everything they don’t know or fear, even if they don’t have a chance. This part is typical in dystopian stories and I really don’t like it, so it’s true for the Gaians too. What pissed me of even more was Piper’s mother’s willingness to sacrifice her so called ‘destined to be together’ daughter. Unfortunately their angle doesn’t get a solution so I think they going to cause more problems.
  In the story we see into the Overworld, so we get to know all the planes there are in this magical world. There are a lot of beautiful descriptions about the places our heroes visit.
  After a while our trio reunites and their dynamic is back but not as intensely as in the first book and there is a couple of reasons for that.
  Piper is more confident in herself but her life turns so complicated through the course previous installments that her emotional stability becomes questionable. There are much more emotion in this story but is works spectacularly. We find fewer action scenes but a lot of answers for unanswered questions. Again a completely different atmosphere.
  Piper and Ash relationship reaches its peak and finally blooms, not with the best conclusion but they are so cute together its melt the heart. There is still hope for their happy ending.
  Ash’s sister is the biggest obstacle between them. She is really mean, manipulative and more like Samael than Ash wants to admit. As Piper states it they don’t know each other as much as they think, at least Ash still sees the little girl she once was. I hated her especially the way she tried to chase Piper away. She usually strikes where it hurts the most, breaking Piper even more with every jab.

  There is a lot of beautiful scenarios and otherworldly being in this book what proves the author has a really colorful imagination.
  This story isn’t that fast paced and has a little less action but its emotional depth gives that little plus I was missing in the previous books, thanks to this I gave it a 5.
  Originally I thought it’s going to be the last book in the series but it quickly became obvious that it’s not. I don’t really mind that there is gonna be a fourth book but I think Ash and Piper deserve a HEA especially after how this one ended. I’m curious about the next story since we already got three books with completely different undertone but the same plot thread.

By Viki

Bind the Soul (Steel & Stone) by Annette Marie Review

Series: Steel & Stone #2
Publish: January 9th 2015 by Annette Marie
Format: ebook, 304 pages
Rating: 5 / 4

Synopsis: The most important rule for an Apprentice Consul is simple: Don't get involved with daemons. Well, Piper is planning to break that rule — big time.
After a near-deadly scandal with the Sahar Stone, she has the chance to return to the only life she's ever wanted. All she has to do to keep her Apprenticeship is forget about Ash and Lyre. Ash might be enigmatic and notoriously lethal, and Lyre might be as sinfully irresistible as he is irritating, but they’re not bad for a couple of daemons.
There's just one problem: Ash is missing.
Really, she shouldn't risk her future for him. He lied. He betrayed her. But he also saved her life, damn it. Wherever he is, he's in trouble, and if she doesn't save his sorry butt, who will? But with every dangerous secret she unravels, each one darker than the last, she slips deeper into Ash's world — a world with no escape for either of them.

Review:
  I loved the first book so I purchased the second and third installment in the series as soon as possible. The author doesn’t disappoint in this book either. However in the second story she shows us another side of the world she built. In Chase the dark we see how the Earth side of things work while Bind the soul plays mostly on the Underworld’ side. Or more like in a little pocket of it.

  The story starts with Piper and Lyre desperate search for Ash, whom wellbeing they worry about quite much. So our favorite trio is not together, what stays a common motive through the book. Actually it’s more like a Piper only mission. Sure Ash and Lyre show up here and there but until the last third of the book they don’t have much of a role. In this story there are a lot more dark elements than in the previous one. We get a glimpse how Ash grows up through Piper hardships, and thanks to this can understand a little better. Since the whole story is narrated from Piper point of view so it’s helps a lot to understand and relate to other characters.
  The story is not as fast paced either but has plenty of actions and complications enough to keep the reader’s attention. Piper is still struggling with her lack of magic and her father changed a bit either so he is no help at all. The fact that she gets a lot of new information about her dual magic and her capability to wield the Sahar stone just makes her work harder. So it’s safe to say she didn’t get more confident and content with what she has. Samael torture just gets her spirit lower and lower in a short period of time. Fortunately she is really stubborn and feels a deep loyalty toward Ash what helps her fight back. Before that in her desperation she shows her uglier and more manipulative side, too. Even her naivety shows, mainly toward daemons or mostly Mysis. However he bursts her bubble relatively fast. What I really liked were the subtle but noticeable romantic notions between Piper and Ash. These little scenes are quite cute, pure and honest but both of them try to deny them. There are still a lot of things they have to work out in that department.
  While Lyre doesn’t have a substantial role in the story, Ash is present quiet much. Although he truly feels like a secondary character some of the times. As I mentioned earlier we get an explanation about his actions and guarded personality. It also turns out that he is really honorable and would be a spectacular leader. On the other hand the connection between him and Piper that formed in the first installment starts to show more and more, you can clearly see how it gets stronger and how much trust he lies with Piper.
  There are a couple of new characters too but I don’t think either of them would be good. I had hopes for Mysis after his initial introduction but it turned out real fast how manipulative, condescending and power hungry truly is he.

  Overall this book has a completely different undertone than the first; I think it’s admirable ho the writer created an entirely different atmosphere with the same world, topic and cast. There is a lot of good, funny, heartbreaking and action packed part in it and I really liked it. I was hoping for a bit more positive or happier ending than we got. I can’t wait to read the next installment.

By Viki

Daughter of the Blood (The Black Jewels) by Anne Bishop Review

Series: The Black Jewels #1
Publish: March 1st 1998 by Roc
Format: ebook, 416 pages
Rating: 5 / 4

Synopsis: The Dark Kingdom is preparing itself for the fulfillment of an ancient prophecy the arrival of a new Queen, a Witch who will wield more power than even the High Lord of Hell himself. But this new ruler is young, and very susceptible to influence and corruption; whoever controls her controls the Darkness. And now, three sworn enemies begin a ruthless game of politics and intrigue, magic and betrayal...and the destiny of an entire world is at stake....

Review:
  I usually read books that are recently released, but some of the times I find little jewels from the past like this one, most of the time they are high fantasy and quite edgy. I found this book after finishing Murderer of crows, one of the authors other books. I really liked her style so I searched for her other works and I got The Black Jewels series.

  Anne Bishop has a unique talent to create interesting and original worlds for her stories and she did it with this book to. Although in this case we get an extremely complicated and dark world and it takes quite a while to really get an understanding about how the society works. So you don’t get a clear picture about the structure of it until almost the end of the book and even then you only see the life of the higher ups in the hierarchy. It’s an amazing world but incredibly deprived and most of the time disgusting. During reading it I often thought that there isn’t as many pervert, ugly and abusive people in the whole world as in this book. Even so I just couldn’t stop reading it. The story simply sucked me in and it was impossible to stop reading it. I can’t call the story beautiful because there is too much graphic negativity in it but it’s certainly fascinating and well developed. There is so much sexuality in it, savagely and vividly described but in case of the more crude words Bishop uses symbolism.
  The whole story is built around a really twisted, pleasure based politics but not the good kind of pleasure. They use it as a punishment, and all of the leaders have a sadistic, pervert and arrogant personality, so in my opinion their world is doomed.
  One of the strangest thing about it, that despite the fact that the story’s told from a couple point of view, maybe even from too many, but neither of them is Jaenelle side, yet we get a full picture. We don’t get into her head so it’s harder to connect with her but with a bit of persistence you got there. It’s a new solution at least for me, and I think it’s harder this way to give a balanced and complete story. Well the author executed it perfectly. So yeah, maybe there is a couple of unnecessary point of view in there which makes it feel like that the story has too much different angle, but as I mentioned previously in the end the writer balanced it out perfectly. But it’s true in the beginning this kind of multi- leveled plot makes hard to follow the storyline.

  Daughter of blood is a quite long book and covers a relatively long period of time, namely years if I remember correctly. Overall I would say that the whole first book of the series is about character introduction and world building, but there is a little bit action too.
  However I had a serious problem with it. There is a list of jewels and a short description about some of the titles in story, but honestly a world map or even just a detailed characterization about the people from different realms would have helped more in regard of following and understanding the story. It’s a minor oversight on the writer part.
  Thanks to the multiple POV there is a lot of important character. Almost all of them is dark, intense, and original and has a strong presence. Sure some of them are terribly arrogant and power hungry but the main characters still loveable despite their shortcomings. My favorite was Daemon with even with his cruel and mean moments. I think he has perfectly justifiable reasons for his actions. I think I would have loved Lucivar too, but unfortunately he has a really short appearance and in the end his accusations pissed me of.
  I surprisingly liked the book. It’s very well done even more so since this was the author debut novel. But I have to mention that you need a really strong and resilient mind if you want to read it since there are a lot of taboo and cringe worthy elements in it. The story is very dark, savage and harsh. The writer is extremely talented and has a twisted imagination, but I like her style. I’m certainly going to read the next book.

By Viki

Chase the Dark (Steel & Stone) by Annette Marie Review

Series: Steel & Stone #1
Publish: October 17th 2014 by Annette Marie
Format: ebook, 304 pages
Rating: 5 / 4.5

Synopsis: Piper Griffiths wants one thing in life: To become a Consul, a keeper of the peace between humans and daemons. There are precisely three obstacles in her way.
The first is Lyre. Incubus. Hotter than hell and with a wicked streak to match. His greatest mission in life is to get Piper into bed and otherwise annoy the crap out of her. The second is Ash. Draconian. Powerful. Dangerous. He knows too much and reveals nothing. Also, disturbingly attractive — and scary. Did she mention scary?
The third is the Sahar Stone. Top secret magical weapon of mass destruction. Previously hidden in her Consulate until thieves broke in, went on a murder spree, and disappeared with the weapon.
And they left Piper to take the fall for their crimes.
Now she’s on the run, her dreams of becoming a Consul shattered and every daemon in the city gunning to kill her. She’s dead on her own, but there’s no one she can trust — no one except two entirely untrustworthy daemons... See problems one and two.

Review:
  This is the first book from the author that I read so I didn’t really know what to expect. Especially since the synopsis kind of suggests a story that starts in the middle of the action. And it’s really starts with a BANG but not like you would expect. First we get a proper introduction of the more important characters and the world.

  For one I think the slightly dystopian setting is a bit misplaced here because it hasn’t got much of an importance in regard of the story, but helps to explain the new world structure, so can be believable. And I actually liked how the author justified some elements in her story.
  It plays a bit further future from us and a lot of things could be possible she described about their history, at least the non supernatural part of it.
  The story itself quite fast paced and full of action and a bit of humor. We get to know about the structure of the society, how things work and actually it’s easy to understand and follow. Oh, also the way how the people and the government relate to daemon kind is believable. The existing hierarchy, however much it’s infuriates people, is more realistic as it is than it would be otherwise.

  To this exciting story the fantastic characters add a decidedly positive flare.
  Piper is a strong, determined and badass character, who works extra hard to satisfy others expectations, however much it is a losing battle. She has the shortcomings, mainly her blind yearning for magic. She thinks being able to wild magic would be the solution of all her problems and because of this she makes a couple of stupid mistakes and has a few self-pitying session. Those are her more pathetic moments. But I think she is extremely strong and admirable since she still can stand her own without magic. I like it about her. She is quite resourceful when it needed, not as overconfident and judgmental than other prefects and haemons. Thanks to this she forms a freaking amazing team with Ash and Lyre. I loved the dynamic and interactions between the three of them. I just hope that the budding love triangle gets nipped before it has time to really bloom. I don’t like love triangles. Her relationship with her father, who is the main source of her disappointments, is really heartbreaking. But after things she done to save and please him, he doesn’t deserve her attention anymore.
  Lyre is the team ‘peacekeeper’. He is an incubus and tries to lighten the mood in the hard moments which they have quite a lot. He is loyal to Ash but I think, he has a soft spot and feelings for Piper. Doesn’t really have a lot of chance thanks to the girl love history but certainly tries a lot. He is the light to Ash’s dark, they are like completely opposites in almost everything, in appearance and personality, but here and there we see his darker side, too. I like him but he is more like an overprotective and annoying older brother, than a love interest.
  Ash is the brooding, dark star. He is really strong, powerful and has a real understanding about how things go and what’s right but you can feel that he carries an enormous burden. The source of this however stays a mystery; it’s his upbringing, loyalties, his true form or even his past actions. We don’t really get to know. He does a lot of questionable things but doesn’t ask for permission or forgiveness, he is sure of himself and stands beside what he believes in, be it right or wrong.
  I am rooting for him in the love interest department since in this kind of books I like the brooding and dark types, the bad boys.

  After a while the bad guys’ identity becomes quite obvious. There are a lot of good scenes in the book and it flows so fluidly I couldn’t put it down, finished it in no time. I absolutely loved Piper fighting scenes in the ring and in the end of the story, too. She proves herself time and time again, it becomes obvious that she is good and stands a chance in the daemon world, even without magic, but unfortunately her hype doesn’t last long. I hope in the next book she gains a little bit of confidence. I loved the book and can’t wait to read the next installment.

By Viki

Infinity Bell (House Immortal) by Devon Monk Review

Series: House Immortal #2
Publish: March 3rd 2015 by Roc
Format: ebook, 368 pages
Rating: 5 / 4.5

Synopsis: Matilda Case isn’t normal. Normal people aren’t stitched together, inhumanly strong, and ageless, as she and the other galvanized are. Normal people’s bodies don’t hold the secret to immortality—something the powerful Houses will kill to possess. And normal people don’t know that they’re going to die in a few days.
Matilda’s fight to protect the people she loves triggered a chaotic war between the Houses and shattered the world’s peace. On the run, she must find a way to stop the repeat of the ancient time experiment that gifted her and the other galvanized with immortality. Because this time, it will destroy her and everything she holds dear.
Caught in a cat-and-mouse game of lies, betrayal, and unseen foes, Matilda must fight to save the world from utter destruction. But time itself is her enemy, and every second brings her one step closer to disaster....

Review:
  After getting over the minor gross details in House Immortal I got sucked into the series, so it wasn't even a question to read the second book. Especially after the cliffhanger. We get a wider picture of the original and quite complex world the story played in. There is a lot of new element in this book and is really exiting, too mainly because it doesn't spend that much time explaining the world mechanics. However I still think that it wouldn't be a functional world structure but that dosen't important in case of the book.

  The wonderful cast returned and there are a coule of new character, too. Matilda is still a really strong and badass heroine dispite the fact that she lived a really sheltered life. Her character developes in some regard, but we get to know her more naive side too. Especially when it's about his brother. She wants to protect the people and its good but her blind faith in Quinten is ine of her stupidest mistake. However at the end she starts to think for herself and that is a positive inprovement. Her relationship with Abraham blooms in this story, not in tha space I expected and after the last chapter of the book I have serious doubts about their future. My heart broke for her, but still hope for a happy ending.
  Abraham didn't change a bit, but we get to know a bit more about his real personality. He proves time and time again that he is a true leader, but not a uppity. Dispite this he still stays a mystery, and don't even start with his change in the end.
  For me this book is not perfect because of Quinten, I absolutly hated him. He is one of the most megalomanic and even egoistic character I ever read about. He was supposed to be so smart but didn't think that if you change a monumental event in the past the present will completly change. Oh and he even blamed Matilda for a lot of things, he didn't have a right. In Matilda place I would have leaved him behind.

  The cliffhanger in the end simply killed me and broke my heart. I really looking forward the next book and hope for the best. I think the author built a fantatic world and impressed me with her uniqe idea, made me thinking of trying her other series again.

By Viki

A Curse Unbroken (Weird Girls) by Cecy Robson Review

Series: Weird Girls #5
Publish: March 10th 2015 by Loveswept
Format: ebook, 296 pages
Rating: 5 / 3.5

Synopsis: The preternatural world is changing. After a massive magical throwdown tore apart the established order, the dark elements are rebuilding their ranks unopposed. Celia Wird’s world is changing, too. She’s the mate of the pureblood were Aric, and his Warriors are honor-bound to protect her family as she and her sisters recover from unimaginable horrors.
Celia hesitates to reveal the true extent of the Wird sisters’ trauma, but they aren’t the only ones keeping secrets: Aric and the werewolf Elders are tracking a stone that grants limitless power. So is a tough coven of witches. Then Misha, a master vampire with his own plans for the stone, sends Celia after it. Can she and the vamps beat both the weres and the witches to the treasure before it falls into the wrong hands?
Fearing for Celia’s safety, Aric begs her to stay out of the hunt. What they don’t realize is that they’re the ones being hunted. But Celia’s ready to prove that she’s not easy prey.

Review:
  I was in live with the series from the first book first page. Celia story really captured my heart. So I was waiting for the time when she gets her happy ending. Finally we get to that point. However tha fact that Celia and Aric can be happy together is one of the only positive thing in this book for me. And sorry but I'm seriously dissapointed in this story. I think Celia part of the series shold've ended in the last book if not earlier. And not because I don't like it but I feel thats the point where it could've been ended with a bang. With this book I think the storyline, idea is overused. I didn't feel the importance or the function of it in relation of the whole story.

  There isn't any substantial plot behind the events. Everything is basicly about creating a rift between Celia and Aric, a rift they already overcome a couple of time in previous books. And everything was really pedictable practicly from the very beginning. I think it's irritating when for the readers it's obvious what happening and who is behind it but the characters are blind to it and hoplessly trying to find out what's the problem. That's my biggest problem with the book beside the complet lack of story.

  Most of the characters are the same, there are a couple of new one but nobody really important. I still love Celia but in this book we get to know a new side of her. Altought she gets injured to much for me but she doesn't let us down. Oh and the best part in the book is Celia and the magic rock relationship. Because of this I laughed a lot.
  Aric finally pulled himself together and started to fight for Celia. He is a little bit overprotective and overly jealous but he is with Celia at least.
  The other sisters however changed a lot and not in the good way. Especially Taran, whom I never liked but in this book I completly hated. She became an annoying girl who don't have a shred of self respect. Since she got much more attention than in former books it was even more exasperating. I know that she went trough a lot of ordeal but I just can't relate to her.

  All in all three things saved the book for me, Celia personality, her relationship and interactions with Shah and the happy ending (Finally!). I'm sorry that it's ended but I don't think that there would have been another story in this particular idea.

Chosen Thief (Forever Evermore) by Scarlett Dawn Review

Series: Forever Evermore #4
Publish: March 8th 2015 by Escape
Format: ebook, 197 pages
Rating: 5 / 4

Synopsis: Caroline Jules knows death is imminent. She’s only 22, but as an inmate of Death Row in the most secure Mystical jail, what else could her future hold?
Caro has no idea. Her solitary, transient life is about to get flipped on its head when it is revealed that she is the new Prodigy Elemental, and she has responsibilities and ties that she can’t ever escape. Caro is attempting to run from a brutal past, but the Rulers have other plans for this thief’s future.
But the transition from a self-contained existence to life with the other Prodigies, the Kings and Queens, and even the Elders was never going to be easy, and Caro has secrets she’s loath to share. Suddenly she has friends, mentors, lovers — and they all want to know more about her than she is willing to reveal.
Will Caro ever escape the darkness of all she is, or will she fall deeper into the life that has been chosen for her?

Review:
  Scarlett Dawn is one of my favorite author and I love the Forever Evermore series so I think I strated the book with quite high expectations. It's good, I really enjoyed it but it's nowhere near as good as the first two book in the series. But lets start in the beginning.

  The story takes place in the same world as the first trilogy just a 20 or so years later. Same world, same problems and some of the same characters. Althought the main focus is on a completly new character, Caro and a new kind of Elemental. Ok, not new but I don't remember it being mentioned previously. And I think the most important difference is the atmosphere, mood that the story generates. There isn't that much heartwrenching and overwhelming emotion and event. We get to know the Mystical world from a different perspective. It's like the same and completly different than Lilly's story.
  There isn't too much action in the plot, still I can't say that the story is missing it. It's how the story builds up, gets to the real starting point. The whole thing is a bit laid back and kind of slow, but it's working and I really enjoyed it. We get to know the new characters, part of the backstory and a couple of things about how the previous characters lifes changed. The information about Lilly, Ezra, Pearl and Jack I was really looking forward to but it's one of the things I was dissapointed in. They became rigid and we don't get to see the dynamism the had in the first three book. I missed that. Otherwise they are still as badass as they were.

  Now for the new 'elements' mainly the characters. Caro is a special kind of Elemental, and we don't really get to know about her ability. Based on the synopsis and a couple of reviews I read before getting the book I was expevting her to be a badass and unstoppable character. She is badass and strong but not in the way I originally thought. I like her personality and her flaws, she is more human than the heartless killer the synopsis suggests at least in this book. I think she has two sides the volnerable, lonley girl and the aforementiond heartless killer. One of her sides we don't get to see, yet. The author keeps her past a mystery and it pissed me of because there are shady references to the past and we don't know what are they talking about. It is annying. As for her personal life, tath is really complicated. There are more than one possible outcome, the question is who will she choose. I corious and don't quite agree with her decisions in that aspect of her life so far. We will see.
  Sin is another new character, who play puite an important part in Caro life. Their connection is confusing but they are really good together. I loved their antics. They act entirely differnt when they are in the same room. Caro is more carefree and funny around him. They have a special relationship.
  Oh and we get to know the new Prodigies, where is a serious lack of capability for leadership. There is Brann, the snob man-whore, but at least he is strong and has brain. Aria is lacking in self respect and London is a perfect bait if you running from wild animals. They have room to learn. I don't like them as much as I liked the previous quartet but during the story they grow upon you.
  Last but not least there is Leric, whom I don't know how to relate yet. He is inscrutable, I think he has some kind of ulterior motive but I'm not sure because sometimes he acts in favor of Caro and the others.

  As for a footnote I don't understand the importance of the first chapter. For me Isa involvement was a bit far-fetched. I just can't understand why was it needed from the story perspective. Especially since Caro being bisexual doesn't play a part in the plot after the first chapter. So Isa part was unnecessary aspect.

  I still like the series and looking forward to the next book. I hope we get to know a little bit much about Caro past and about her powers. I just hope that the idea behind the world stay enjoyable unlike other long serieses.

Night Broken (Mercedes Thompson) by Patricia Briggs Review

Series: Mercedes Thompson #8
Publish: March 11th 2014 by Ace
Format: ebook, 352 pages
Rating: 5 / 5+

Synopsis: An unexpected phone call heralds a new challenge for Mercy. Her mate Adam’s ex-wife is in trouble, on the run from her new boyfriend. Adam isn’t the kind of man to turn away a person in need—and Mercy knows it. But with Christy holed up in Adam’s house, Mercy can’t shake the feeling that something about the situation isn’t right.
Soon, her suspicions are confirmed when she learns that Christy has the farthest thing from good intentions. She wants Adam back and she’s willing to do whatever it takes to make it happen, including turning Adam’s pack against Mercy.
Mercy isn’t about to step down without a fight, but there’s a more dangerous threat circling. Christy’s ex is more than a bad man—in fact, he may not be human at all. As the bodies start piling up, Mercy must put her personal troubles aside to face a creature with the power to tear her whole world apart.

Review:
  I'm a hard core Mercy Thompson fan so it was a no brainer that I would read this book. But when I saw the cover and the synopsis .....well, that sealed the deal.

  Night Broken is the eight installment in the fantastic Mercedes Thompson series. My favourite supernatural creatures are shifters and I have to admit that this book has one of the best shifter based world. Especially , since there are a lot of other creatures in it too, but the shifters still stay in the limelight. I love how the books discusse the other paranormal races problems, too but it is always the shifters, mainly Mercy who solves their problems. And the most interesting part in this series that there isn't an underlying thread, connection between the books, but every intsallment is about different story, still the books strongly fit together. Probably because of the excellente characters.

  I really was looking forward to reading this book, I was curious about how Chrissy reappearence will distirbe the balance in the book. However, I'm a bit disappointed because I really expected more drama from it. I mean, Mercy simply doesn't react to anything that bitch does. She is the bigger person and all tis just evidence for the stability of her and Adam relationship, but still a girl can dream. Beside this little disturbance the first part of the book is little on the slow side, but interesting and gives the whole book a kind of intensity. I liked the plot and how things turned out at the end. There is everything in it that an incredible urban fantasy needs: excitement, a little mystery, romance, action and all of this merged together perfectly. And even there is a few new pieces from Mercy myterious history. There is a lot of original idea showcased in this book which makes it even more enjoyable to read it. Despite the fact that Night Broken is a bit slower than the other books in the series, it is one of the best, too.

  Patricia Briggs contuines her phenomenal work with character developement, the already fantastic characters just became more and more detailed during the series. I love Mercy personality. She is far from perfect but willing to learn and work on her methods. She starts to learn more about the Pack politics, no matter how hard it is.She is really loyal, presistent, smart, quite confident in her capabilities and in this book she shows an incredible amount of restraint. I admire her self restrain but still hoped she is going to say enough is enough and pits Chrissy in her place.
  Mercy and Adam are one of my favourite book couple, they somehow balance out each other and they have a really mature relationship. They support each other but Adam has a couple of really stupid decision in the book. These could have destroy them, fortunately their marriage is resilient enough.
  There is a lot of surprise from the the secondary characters, too. Firts there is Chrissy, who is quite the annoying and selfish bitch, still almost everyone supported her opposed to Mercy. Her presence just undermined Mercy authority even more. However Honey surprised me in a good way.

  In the end everything back to normal and Mercy prived her strenght in every way. This book is a bit more relationship based and more emotional than the others but worth the time. The only problem it is another year before the nex installment.

Bloodmagic (Blood Destiny) by Helen Harper Review

Series: Blood Destiny #2
Publish: December 29th 2012 by Helen Harper
Format: ebook, 156 pages
Rating: 5 / 4

Synopsis: After escaping the claws of Corrigan, the Lord Alpha of the Brethren, Mack is trying to lead a quiet lonely life in Inverness in rural Scotland, away from anyone who might happen to be a shapeshifter. However, when she lands a job at an old bookstore owned by a mysterious elderly woman who not only has a familiar passion for herbal lore but also seems to know more than she should, Mack ends up caught in a maelstrom between the Ministry of Mages, the Fae and the Brethren.
Now she has to decide between staying hidden and facing the music, as well as confronting her real feelings for the green eyed power of Corrigan himself.

Review:
  The second book in the Blood destiny series starts roughly six moths after where Bloodfire ended. I was really excited when I started it because the first one was simply fantastic, but in the end I was a bit dissapointed.

  The characters and the writing style is still the same and I sill like it but there is a huge hole in the book. In my opinion there isn't a story behind the happenings. Sure there is a lot of action and badass fighting, new developments and emotions but nothing realy connecting and more important main thread than in the previous one. Because of this and the lenghtof the book when I finished I felt like I lost half of the book somewhere along the way. Kinda ended in the middle of the action. And I had high hopes, I don't like when I have to be dissapointed. It was unfortunate. This huge missing piece was my main problem with the book, I liked the way things were working in the first book, but in this everything chaneged. There is a jumble of everything supernatural in it. Mack pisses of everybody who counts, meddel with the fae, with magic and with the shifters even more. And I missed the shifters. Sure there are shifters in it, mainly Corrigan I just don't get why, doesn't really have a place in the story. They just show up out of the blue. Don't get me wrong I accept every minute I can get from Corrigan, but their part of the story is out of place is this book. So there is everything in it, a confusing mix of otherworld and the whole thing is rushed. It is good for making a great foundation for the following books but nothing else.But I still liked it. When you have a great main character and an interesting world and a talented writer, it is almost impossible to write a bad book. I look at it like a bridge or a companion novella.

  I loved Mack how she was in the first book. She isn't worst in this just a bit more emotional and maybe reckless. After leaving the pack she became pennyless and really lonely, oh and a bit paranoid, too. But her fighter spirit saves her again and again. Her biggest problem in this installment she cares too easily and can't give up somebody even if it means she becames the target. She gets new abilitis and those just complicates her life. Honestly I laughed a lot because of her reactions. There are a lot of changes in her personality and I can't decide yet if it is good or bad that she started to mellow.
  Then there is that so called sexual tension between her and Corrigan, it is still there and finally they started to realize it, too. I'm rooting for them they are cute together.
Unfortunately, Corrigan lost a little of his shine for me. He is a bit slow realizing the true and looks a bit dumb because of it. An beside that his obsession with Mack starts to seem unhealty. Okay, I still like him but come on get yourself together and man up. Just like in the first book.
  There are quite a few new characters but we still doesn't get to know them deeper. However, in this book I doesn't rmind it that much I did it in Bloodfire. Solus isn't really lieabel, at least I doesn't like him. And the others just keep dragging Mack down.

  I'm goingto continue the series despite my initial dissaponitment. I hope Corrigan and Mack romance ging to fire up a bit and the story gets back to the right tracks. I really like the general conception of the book I hoping for the best.

Poison Promise (Elemental Assassin) by Jennifer Estep Review

Series: Elemental Assassin #11
Publish: July 22nd 2014 by Pocket Books
Format: ebook, 400 pages
Rating: 5 / 4

Synopsis: Gin Blanco is hard-nosed, sexy, and lethal. Nicknamed “The Spider,” she’s a stone elemental assassin who brings her unique mix of magic and tact to every assignment, no matter the target.
There’s a new drug on the streets of Ashland, and its name “Burn” sums up the potent effect it has on its users. When one of her restaurant employees is threatened by dealers of the drug, Gin steps in to set things straight...

Review:
  Here is the eleventh book in Jennifer Estep phenomenal Elemental Assassin series. So far I read everything form the author and I think that she really good at writing urban fantasy. I didn't really expected this much installment in the series especially after reading the fifth book. For me it started on a rocky road, I liked the general idea but it took a while, a couple of books, it too became one of my favourite. But since then I always look foraward to reading new installment. The course of the series it developed a lot, story and character wise too.

  It's amazing how easy it is to fall back into the story and that the author still can show us something new and that the story is still exciting and original. There is an ongoing development in the books that helps this. And I think the fact that there is 2 or 3 new book piblished in the series every year helps, too. The reader don't have to wait a year between them. It's a quite accomplishment from a writer especially since she has/had another ongoing series. I think because of this there is not that much reharsing in the book than usually in others and I really like this fact. I hate when half of the book is about what happened in the previous ones. If you want to now read them first and don't strat with the eleventh one.
  I really like Jennifer Estep's writing style and how she can twist thing you thought are already finished but suddenly something happens and it turns out there are still mystery behind it. Also she is quite a talented writer when it's about character building.
  The story as always is told by Gin and despite the fact that nowdays almost every book is narrated from at least two point of view, the book still can hold it's place.

  As all of the previous books there is a crazy dinamic in the plot and everything happens really fast still it's not so hard to follow. The whole installment is full of surpriese and dispite the little predictable details, like that Gin is going to come out on top in the end, it is still exciting and fresh. A lot of thing is unforeseeable because there isn't a main arc in it like there was in the first 5. You simply don't know what is going to happen. Sure I was expecting the infamous M.M.Monroe appearance since the author drawn it out quite a while beside that however it is a mystery. I was hoping that M.M. Monroe isn't as bad as Mab were. Unfortunately we get a more maniac version of her, not good at all.
  After Gin satisfied her revenge every book started to became more emotional and more about Gin and the other characters feelings and sometimes their background. However, it's looks like the series is returnig to the beginnings in plot wise. I mean we got another mastermind criminal who still lives after a whole book with Gin. Oh and Gin desperatly needed a more focused goal. I don' have any idea how long the series is going to be but right no the author is contracted for 12 books. In taht case I think the final showdown with M.M. Monroe is going to be a bit rushed. I see a lot of potential in it.

  Gin has a kind of personality I love. Strong, sarcastic, independent and a real fighter. Still I think after she defeated Mab she simply lost herself. And beside this she started to be more and more emotional and in the course of the 3-4 book she started to feel tired. She can't bethe cold blooded killer she once was and I think she is strating to exhauset herself. It is not helping either that her friends and family slowly leave her behind but they still expect the help and problem solving from her. She reache rock bottom in the seventh installment when Owen left her and since then she is barely keeping her head above water. Book after book it feels more emotionally exhausting for her and all of that is wonderfully portrayed and I can really feel them. I love her but I think her so called retirement is more spending than she thought. She should take more time for herself. Fortunately, Owen came to his senses and since then their relationship is really solid and balanced. I think it is strange how can Owen be so important in Gin life, yet we know so little about him, he stays in the background in a way. However it seems Owen the only constant in her life and he is the only one who doesn't leave her behind.
  I never liked Bria and this book didn't changed my opinion. I started to simply hate her. She always were judgmental with Gin but in this book she became cruel and mean with her. Gin made many sacrifices but Bria couldn't cope with them, respect them. She only sees the cold blooded killer and she acts like somebody who desn't even want to try and get to know the real Gin. It's really bugs me, especially since Finn, her boyfriend isn't better crime wise and she doesn't have any problem with that. It doesn't matter Gin how much tries to warm up to the idea that her sister still lives, Bria makes it immosibble since most of the time she simply just avoiding Gin. Except when she needs something from her criminal sister. Oh, and I was a bit dissapointed in Finn, too. He is starting to leave behind Gin, too. Don't get me wrong all of them was written perfectly. I just don't like Bria selfish and judgmental personality.

  Over all Poison Promise is a fantastic instalment in an interesting and exciting series. I can't wait the next book, but I'm a little afraid that the end is near. However I don't know what would be best a couple of new books or to finally give Gin a little bit of a peace. She deserves it.

Bloodfire (Blood Destiny) by Helen Harper Review

Series: Blood Destiny #1
Publish: December 27th 2012 by Helen Harper
Format: ebook, 246 pages
Rating: 5 / 5

Synopsis: Mack might be, to all intents and purposes, a normal looking human, but she lives with a pack of shapeshifters in Cornwall in rural England after being dumped there by her mother when she was just a young child. She desperately wants to be accepted by her surrogate family, not least because a lot of them hate her for merely being human, but for some reason her blood just won't allow the transformation to occur.
With a terrible temper to match her fiery red hair, Mack is extraordinarily useful in a fight, and when her pack alpha is brutally and abruptly murdered, she swears vengeance. Unfortunately, his murder also draws in the Brethren - the leaders of the shapeshifter world - who will slaughter everyone in Mack's small rural pack if they discover her true identity. Unfortunately Corrigan, the green-eyed muscle-bound Lord Alpha of the Brethren, doesn't let much slip by him...

Review:
  This is the first book I ever read from Helen Harper but I's sure I'm going to look for her works from now on. I have it on my to read list for a while now, but for some reason I didn't read it yet. However, the other day I stubled upon it again and started it. I'm glad I did, because it is an excellente story and I found a lot of similarities with one of my favourite series. I quckly became a fan.

  The story starts after a devasting event in the pack life and from there everything start to spiral out of control at least for Mack. There is already a lot of threat for her life but suddenly these multiply. There is a great chance that her true identity is gets exposed but she is too determined to get revenge so she is willing to risk it. The whole mystery about Joh murderer is strongly interwined with Mack history and secrets. However, while Mack part of the suspense is quite predictable the other part isn't. Thanks to this there is a really strong balance in the plot. I really liked the book, it was a little strenge in parts but in the good way. Everything takes olace in the British Islands with a little supernatural twist. I think the autor idea about the paranormal world is quite godd, but in this book it mainly focuses on the shifter population and doesn't really talks about other species. Otherwise I like the general background of the story. There is a tangled web of lies and secrets in the shadows what makes difficult everybody lifes.
  The plot is well spaced and gradually unfolds. A well written book with interesting characters, exciting world and an action packed plot. The whole story is told by Mack who gives us a hazy picture since she isn't quite sure what's going on either.

  There is a lot of interesting character in the book but we only get a clear picture about Mack. She is my cup of tea. Strong, snarky, fiery and generally a trouble maker. She is raised by the pack and they are the only family she knows, but since she is human her mere existence is a therat for the pack. She needs to keep a low profile for a while but foe some reason she simply can't do it. No matter how much she tries. Everywhere she goes trouble follows. I really like her personality but it is a bit strange that nobody ever quetioned tha fact that she is a better fighter than most shifters when is is just a human. Beside this her bloodfire thingy is a little hazy, it takes a while to really unterstand the meaning of it. This ridiculous disregard of clues from their part is easily forgivable because it doesn't take away from the story.
  Corrigan is the only one who sees the signs of her power he just can't put together the right picture. However he is a really observant and in my opinion quite likable character. Sexy, strong and smart and for some reason Mack got his attention from the beginning, too much of his attention. I love the interactions between the two and I think there is a hidden attraction somewhere behind their fighting. He knows perfectly which buttons to push and not just with Mack, everybody. I like him, I hope there is going to be something more between him and Mack.
  I like most of the pack, well expect Anton, but unfortunately we doesn't get to know them enough. There is a lack of deeper introduczion for them. They all love Mack in different ways. Most of them is kind and loyal.

  It is a beautiful and interesting story, but it is missing something, something I can't quite put my hands on. Still I loved it. I can't wait to finish the second book, since there is a lot of place for development in every way, but for a first book it's perfect. It's spieced with a lot of surprising twist and turn most of them I couldn't perdict and I liked it. It is a fresh and a phenomenal book. Perfect for everybody who likes urban fantasy.

Magic Breaks (Kate Daniels) by Ilona Andrews Review

Series: Kate Daniels #7
Publish: July 29th 2014 by Ace
Format: ebook, 400 pages
Rating: 5 / 4.5

Synopsis: As the mate of the Beast Lord, Curran, former mercenary Kate Daniels has more responsibilities than it seems possible to juggle. Not only is she still struggling to keep her investigative business afloat, she must now deal with the affairs of the pack, including preparing her people for attack from Roland, a cruel ancient being with god-like powers. Since Kate’s connection to Roland has come out into the open, no one is safe—especially those closest to Kate.
As Roland’s long shadow looms ever nearer, Kate is called to attend the Conclave, a gathering of the leaders from the various supernatural factions in Atlanta. When one of the Masters of the Dead is found murdered there, apparently at the hands of a shapeshifter, Kate is given only twenty-four hours to hunt down the killer. And this time, if she fails, she’ll find herself embroiled in a war which could destroy everything she holds dear. . .

Review:
  Finally, after almost a whole year waiting here is the next installment in the Kate Daniels series. There are only 5 or so 'long' series that I follow and this is one of those and probably my favourite one. My only problem is that there is whole year long waiting between books. It's a fantastic story but in this and the previous book I started to notice really small changes in the general direction of the plot, I don't say that these changes are bad just different. I'm curious where it's headed.

  In the beginning of the series there were different main stories, what didn't really related and behind those run Kate own background story. Where Kate parentage and abilities were a bit hidden from the readers and gradually came to light through the first 5 book. I really liked those because there was a sense of mytery behind the whole, otherwise interesting, exciting and adventurous plot. However in the sixth installment everything became clear and started to focus on Kate mission, the one she got from Voron. This is true for Magic breaks, too. Don't get me wron I still love the series, mainly because of the characters and the world the story is playing, but between the pack politics and the problems with Kate father there is too much drama for me. It's still interesting and action packed but if you doesn't pay attention you can miss something importat and became a little confused in the end. I loved a bit more when Kate came and after a minimal investigating work, she fought her way through the bad guys. Beside this little detail story wise everything else stayed the way I love it or became better. Although I think the plot is bit rushed here and there and drawn out in the beginning but that can be easily overlooked.Oh and another thing, for some reason the writer duo started to use mor detailed retrospections, which I think is not necessary since anybody who wants to read the book will stast with the first and not the seventh.

  Kate is my all time favourite female character.I love her personality, she is a real badass. Sure there are quite a few obstacle in her way and most of them pack related since she doesn't really know how to handle those problems, still her head is always held high and if it necessary she pulls her killer persona out and put everybody in their place. She has a hard and not quite friendly childhood, she became a trained killer and due to this she was a little emotionally closed of in the beginning. Well until Curran and Julie, sure she cared about people that she didn't show it. Since her family came into the picture however, Kate started to change. And in this book this change reached a whole new level. I would say that Kate shows the most emotion in here. In my opinion Kate character developed a lot and became more human . I just love her more.
  Curran is still supporting Kate in everything she needs. Their love is really strong and beautiful. Unfortunately, he isn't present most of the book, I missed him really much. But when he is there he is one of the most caring and protective man, but he has a hard edge, if somebody gets in his way there is no telling what is gonna happen. I always liked him but after this book I absolutely love him. There is a huge and surprisisng decision on his part, which just strengthen his relationship with Kate.

  There is a lot of surprise in this book, mostly from the pack side. They, as a whole, don't really like Kate, they don't think that she is a capable leader mainly because she isn't a shifter. And they show their disapproval every chance they get. Sure there are a few invidual, who know and suport Kate and I love them. One of my favourite character is Dreke from the very beginning. But in the last two book there was a lot of changes supportive charavcter wise, too. For example some of them took a whole one-eighty or just simply became irrevelant. Some of them dissapeared from the limelight. I miss Julie. Howeve I can't wait to see Hugh die. He transformed from the feared warlord to a maniac with an unhealty obsession with Kate. He just simply annoying.

  In the end of the book we we can see a lot of surprises. There is a part in the plot I'm a little dissapointed in. I won't say in which because it plays a huge part in the whole but I expected a bit more from it. Especially based on the previous books. I'm dissapointed in the how but not in the outcome. I think it is a more acceptable than what I was expecting. I love how it turned out and can't wait for the next book. I got an absolutely fantastic, beautiful and magical story again.

Mortal Enchantment (Mortal Enchantment) by Stacey O'Neale Review

Series: Mortal Enchantment #1
Publish: May 20th 2014 by Phoenix Reign
Format: ebook, 183 pages
Rating: 5 / 4

Synopsis: In Kalin Matthew's world, elementals control the forces of nature. They are divided into four courts: air, woodland, fire, and water. At sixteen she will leave the life she's built with her mortal mother. Kalin will move to Avalon to rule with her father—the elemental king of the air court. Along the way, she's attacked by a fire court assassin and saved by Rowan, a swoon-worthy elemental with a questionable past.
Worst of all, she learns her father is missing.
To rescue him, Kalin will have to work with a judgmental council and a system of courts too busy accusing each other of deceit to actually be able to help her. But, they aren’t her biggest challenge. With the Midwinter’s Ball only five days away, Kalin must take over her father’s duties, which includes shifting control of the elements—power Kalin has yet to realize.
As Rowan attempts to train her, a war looms between the four courts. If Kalin fails, her father will die and the courts will fall, but the betrayal she’s about to uncover may cost her even more...

Review:
  I didn't read anything from the author before so I didn't know what to expect. But since it has a beautiful cover, intresting title and an exciting synopsis it wasn't a question whether or not to read it.

  The book has an entire new picture about the fae world, characters, something quite original in parts if you ask me. Sure there are similarities with other other book worlds about the fae but still there are a lot of new motif in it and I really like it. It is rare to find a book with elements you didn't see before. My personal favourite idea is change with the seasons. Despite the fact that it is original, there are really strange things in it too. Things I couldn't understand why the characters do it or live like it. But all in all I love the world the author built for the story.

  As for the characters, Kalin wasn't my favourite in the beginning. She is really childish, whiny but she is just sixteen so it understanable. She sees sexual references in every little and innocent thing Rowan tells her, she acts like a twelve years old little girl, who just got her first kiss. After a while it became annoying mainly because even if there is an alleged attraction between the two main character I just could't feel the chemistry. So for me the romantic part was a little bit dull. And if it's not enough there is a part when she became crazy paranoid too. Fortunately, when she realized the real weigth of her actions and responsibility, she kind of grew upa and started to act more mature like and with more determination.
  And there is Rowen. First of all, I didn't read the companion novell, which is about Rowan before the first book happenings. Thanks to the fact that a didn't read it there is a couple of more surprising fact in ths story for me. There is a kind of suspense about Rowen and his secrets. Especially since thy whole story is told by Kalin viewpoint so the reader doesn't know what Rowan is thinking. Sure whe know how he looks like, that he is hot, loyal and a talented fighter. He is struggling between his responsibilities and his desires and with Kalin presence it became harder for him. But he doesn't tell anybody about his difficulties, he is a secretive person.
  We can read about a lot of other characters, and while their personalty and place in the plot is really detailed, they are not that important.

  Ultimately it is an interesting and action packed story, with unexpected turns, a little romance and a huge surprise element in the end. I liked it and can't wait to read the next installment. I hope the autor will clarify a few question I still have.