Book Shelf: One Dark Throne (Three Dark Crowns #2) by Kendare Blake

The battle for the crown has begun, but which of the three sisters will prevail?

With the unforgettable events of the Quickening behind them and the Ascension Year underway, all bets are off. Katharine, once the weak and feeble sister, is stronger than ever before. Arsinoe, after discovering the truth about her powers, must figure out how to make her secret talent work in her favor without anyone finding out. And Mirabella, the elemental sister once thought to be the certain Queen Crowned, faces attacks like never before—ones that put those around her in danger she can’t seem to prevent.

Fennbirn’s deadliest queens must confront the one thing standing in their way of the crown: each other.

More info Goodreads.....


Review:  

One Dark Throne is the second novel in Kendare Blake’s Three Dark Crowns series and is an explosive and eventful follow up to its predecessor that brings new developments and dangers to this passionate world of magic and treachery.

As the Ascension Year continues, sisters Katherine, Mirabella and Arsinoe continue to battle for the crown. Poisoner, Elemental and Naturalist; each Queen has her own strengths and weaknesses but as various secrets begin to impact the ongoing fight for control, what once seemed like a certain outcome is now far from. Weakling Kathrine suddenly has strength and cunning no one expected and previous favourite Mirabella is struggling with the idea of killing her sisters. As the battle rages on both physically and mentally, who will be crowned the Queen of Fennbirn is anyone’s guess and the casualties will be more than few…..

Three Dark Crowns was an unexpected favourite of mine in 2016 but despite my excitement to read its sequel, it has taken me a little while to get around to reading One Dark Throne. Partly due to there being so many books to read and partly due to my nerves; I knew this novel was going to be action packed and full of purpose. I wanted to read it in the right frame of mind and with the next instalment set for release shortly, I decided now was the time to dive in.

Drawing readers back into the world of Fennbirn, Kendare Black picks up where the last novel left off with sisters Katherine, Mirabella and Arsinoe vying for the crown and needing to kill each other in order to obtain it. One Dark Throne is a darkly dangerous world of deception, betrayal and death. Featuring a brutal concept where three sisters must kill each other in order to become Queen Crowned there’s no lack of trickery, duplicity and manipulation throughout the novel.

Written in the third person, there are a number of characters featured in the story, although sisters Katherine, Mirabella and Arsinoe are still our focal point, alongside Arsinoe’s best friend Jules. The other supporting characters including suitors, confidants and clan members offer insight into the overall complexity of the land of Fennbin and help to detail the story over a broader spectrum. Kendare Blake has created a vivid and darkly brutal world where trust and love are often lost amongst self-preservation and power.

Given that the overall storyline within this series features three young women fighting to kill each other, Kendare Blake does a good job in painting her heroines in colours of grey. There is no outright villain amongst the sisters—they are all flawed, complex personalities who wish to survive and please; having been groomed since girlhood to step into their roles as killers and rulers.

As the reader, you’ll find yourself emphasising with Mirabella, Katherine and Arsinoe as they takes drastic actions. After being betrayed by someone she cared about, Katherine is the most drastically changed, having managed to claw her way back and become more ruthless than ever. Katherine is determined to become reigning Queen and has the least amount of qualms about killing her sisters out of the three, while Mirabella and Arsinoe struggle with the idea of murdering each other. As the kinder and perhaps softer of the trio, the connection developing between Mirabella and Arsinoe is a sweet inclusion to the story.

Full of danger and deception, but also adorable moments of romance and heartbreaking loss, One Dark Throne is a fantastic sequel and has me eager to begin the next novel straight away. I can’t wait to see what Kendare Blake does next!

Rating:
Source: Bought by me
Publisher: Pan Macmillan
Format: Paperback
Release Date: September 21st 2017
Purchase: Bookworld | Booktopia | The Book Depository | Amazon
Final Thoughts: A great sequel; I can't wait to begin the next one!

Waiting on Wednesday #241

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking The Spine where you can spotlight an upcoming release that you're eagerly anticipating.

This week I'm waiting on.....  

99 Percent Mine by Sally Thorne

Releases on: January 29th 2019

Add on Goodreads!

Crush: a strong and often short-lived infatuation, particularly for someone beyond your reach…

… If Darcy Barrett hadn’t met her dream man when she was eight years old, the rest of the male population wouldn’t be such a let-down. No one measures up to Tom Valeska, aka the best man on Earth, not in looks, brain or heart. Even worse is the knowledge that her twin brother Jamie saw him first, and claimed him forever as his best friend.

Tom’s off limits and loyal to her brother, 99%. One percent of Tom has had to be enough for Darcy, and her adoration has been sustained by his shy kindness. And if she’s honest, his tight t-shirts.

Now Darcy’s got three months left to get her life together before her twin insists on selling the tumble-down cottage they inherited from their grandmother. By night, she’s working in a seedy bar, shooting down lame pickups from bikers. By day, she’s sewing underwear for her best friend and wasting her award-winning photography skills on website shots of pens and novelty mugs. She’s enjoying living the messy life, and a glass of wine or ten… until that one night, when she finds a six-foot-six perfect package on her porch.

Tom’s here, he’s bearing power tools—and he’s single for the first time in a decade.

As a house flipper extraordinaire, Tom has been dispatched by Jamie to give the cottage a drastic facelift that will result in a ton of cash. Darcy doesn’t appreciate Tom’s unsentimental approach to knocking down walls, and he really, really doesn’t approve of her current burnout boyfriend. They can’t be in the same room together without sparks flying- and it’s not the faulty wiring. One bedroom wall separates them at night, and even that’s looking flimsy.

Will Tom ever see Darcy as anything other than a little-sister obstacle to get around? And can she stand up to her most formidable opponent—her twin? This time around, she’s determined to make Tom Valeska 99 percent hers, and he’s never managed to say no to her yet…

Thoughts:

Sally Thorne's debut novel The Hating Game became an absolute favourite of mine as soon as I read it and the fact Thorne has another novel coming out? I'm in heaven. 99 Percent Mine jumped to the top of my must-have list as soon as I saw the cover and having read the description, I can't wait to read this even more. The only problem; I don't want to wait until January to read it! I want it now *pouts*

Do you like the sound of 99 Percent Mine?

And what are you waiting on this week?

Book Shelf: Hunting Prince Dracula (Stalking Jack the Ripper #2) by Kerri Maniscalco

In this New York Times bestselling sequel to Kerri Maniscalco's haunting #1 debut Stalking Jack the Ripper, bizarre murders are discovered in the castle of Prince Vlad the Impaler, otherwise known as Dracula. Could it be a copycat killer...or has the depraved prince been brought back to life?

Following the grief and horror of her discovery of Jack the Ripper's true identity, Audrey Rose Wadsworth has no choice but to flee London and its memories. Together with the arrogant yet charming Thomas Cresswell, she journeys to the dark heart of Romania, home to one of Europe's best schools of forensic medicine...and to another notorious killer, Vlad the Impaler, whose thirst for blood became legend.

But her life's dream is soon tainted by blood-soaked discoveries in the halls of the school's forbidding castle, and Audrey Rose is compelled to investigate the strangely familiar murders. What she finds brings all her terrifying fears to life once again.

More info on Goodreads..... 


Review: 

Hunting Prince Dracula is the second novel in Kerri Maniscalo’s Stalking Jack the Ripper series and is an outstanding follow up to its predecessor that proves Maniscalo is far from a one trick pony with another bewitching and engaging mystery that this time draws readers into the heart of Romania and into the history of the infamous “Dracula”.

After the horror of discovering the true identity of Jack the Ripper, Audrey Rose Wadsworth is hoping that her trip abroad to Romania to study forensic medicine will help with her grief as well as distance her from the gruesome murders she investigated. Yet, murder seems to be following Audrey Rose for as soon as she and friend Thomas Cresswell arrive in Romania they are witness to another brutal death when a young man is impaled with a stake during their train journey. As whispers of the ancient Vlad the Impaler and his rumoured rise from the dead sweep across the countryside, Audrey Rose and Thomas find themselves caught up in another murder mystery, but with the death count continuing to increase will Audrey Rose be able to stop the killer before they come for her?

On the back of her stunning debut, Kerri Maniscalo thrills once more with Hunting Prince Dracula, another deftly told story full to the brink with adventure, mystery, sizzling romance and edge of your seat discoveries. I continue to be impressed by Maniscalo’s precise and flawless writing that is intelligent and sharp. Fantastically explored and woven together, Hunting Prince Dracula is a rich novel authentically told that weaves together myths and legends with actual history in such a fun and engaging way.

It’s very evident that Maniscalo continues to put a lot of thought and effort not only into the storyline she creates, but the setting and ambience witnessed throughout the novel as well. As our heroes find themselves in Romania, the vivid and distinct landscape and scenery comes to life, offering readers a beguiling world to exist within. There’s so much danger within the novel with various murders taking place and with our main characters unable to help themselves—they have to get involved and conduct their own investigations—readers are guaranteed plenty of entertaining and at times hilarious results.

As with Stalking Jack the Ripper, Audrey Rose is once more an engaging and highly likable protagonist to follow. She’s sharp and intelligent and has a quick thinking mind. Audrey Rose isn’t afraid to get down and dirty; getting right into the thick of things as she and companion (and best friend) Thomas continue to study forensic science alongside a varying cast of classmates while also managing to find time to sneak around the glorious castle they’re inhabiting to discover its secrets and determine who is responsible for the murders shaking the region.

I honestly love following Audrey Rose and Thomas and cannot get enough of their back and forth banter throughout the story. Thomas is cheeky in the most perfect of ways and Audrey Rose manages to hold her own against him, being the perpetrator of many ingenious quips and ideas. Theirs is a slow building romance on a foundation of friendship, respect and comradery that is also so electric and sizzling. Audrey Rose and Thomas truly are partners in all things and I love that they see themselves as equals. Of course I’m also adoring the stolen kisses and admissions Karri Maniscalo is writing between them amidst their sleuthing and cannot get enough of this.

With so many characters possibly our murderer, Maniscalo manages to keep you wondering until the very end. There are red herrings and misconceptions woven into the storyline to keep you on your toes and with this instalment coming to an end, I can’t wait to join Audrey Rose and Thomas again in what I’m sure will be another thrilling adventure!

Rating:
Source: Purchased by me
Publisher: Jimmy Patterson
Format: Paperback
Release Date: September 4th 2018
Purchase: Bookworld | Booktopia | The Book Depository | Amazon
Final Thoughts: Another brilliant novel, I CANNOT WAIT until I can read the next one!

Release Bitz: How to Choose a Guy in 10 Days (Chick Flick Club #1) by Lila Monroe

Happy release day to How to Choose a Guy in 10 Days by Lila Monroe! I'm thrilled to help celebrate it's release. Yesterday my 4 star review went live and today I have some wonderful teasers to share.

___________________________________

The only thing more hilarious than the movies is… real life?! Fall in love with the hot new romantic comedy series from USA Today bestselling author, Lila Monroe!

Stylist Gemma Jones is competing for a once-in-a-lifetime promotion. All she has to do is take some fashion-backward guy from geek to GQ-worthy. The only problem? The man in question is her hairy manwhore of a next-door neighbor. AKA Bigfoot.

Zach Morrison has zero interest in being Gemma’s makeover mannequin. Sure, it’s fun getting his smart-mouthed neighbor all riled up, but after cashing out of his tech start-up and going through an ugly break-up, he’s taking a permanent vacation. If he wants to wear sweatpants and sleep on a mattress in the corner of an empty apartment—

OK. Maybe he needs a little push in the right direction. But as Gemma races the clock to win her bet, she finds that Bigfoot’s been hiding a few things under his baggy flannel shirts. Like abs of steel, and a surprisingly big...

Heart. He has a big heart.

Soon, sparks are flying between this unlikely couple, but can Zach embrace a fresh start - however manscaped it might be? And will Gemma beat out her Instabitch rival for the top spot - and keep the truth about their bet from Zach?

Find out in the hot and hilarious new romance from “the reigning queen of rom-com”, USA Today bestselling author Lila Monroe. 

Add on Goodreads or check out my review!

Purchase: 

Amazon | Kobo | iBooks

Combining her love of writing, sex and well-fitted suits, Lila Monroe wrote her first serial, The Billionaire Bargain, in 2015. She weaves sex, humor and romance into tales about hard-headed men and the strong and sassy women who try to tame... love... tame them.

Visit Lila:

Website | Goodreads | Twitter | Facebook | Newsletter

Book Shelf: How to Choose a Guy in 10 Days (Chick Flick Club #1) by Lila Monroe

The only thing more hilarious than the movies is… real life?! Fall in love with the hot new romantic comedy series from USA Today bestselling author, Lila Monroe!

Stylist Gemma Jones is competing for a once-in-a-lifetime promotion. All she has to do is take some fashion-backward guy from geek to GQ-worthy. The only problem? The man in question is her hairy manwhore of a next-door neighbor. AKA Bigfoot.

Zach Morrison has zero interest in being Gemma’s makeover mannequin. Sure, it’s fun getting his smart-mouthed neighbor all riled up, but after cashing out of his tech start-up and going through an ugly break-up, he’s taking a permanent vacation. If he wants to wear sweatpants and sleep on a mattress in the corner of an empty apartment—

OK. Maybe he needs a little push in the right direction. But as Gemma races the clock to win her bet, she finds that Bigfoot’s been hiding a few things under his baggy flannel shirts. Like abs of steel, and a surprisingly big...

Heart. He has a big heart.

Soon, sparks are flying between this unlikely couple, but can Zach embrace a fresh start - however manscaped it might be? And will Gemma beat out her Instabitch rival for the top spot - and keep the truth about their bet from Zach?

Find out in the hot and hilarious new romance from “the reigning queen of rom-com”, USA Today bestselling author Lila Monroe. 

More info on Goodreads....


Review:

How to Choose a Guy in 10 Days is Lila Monroe’s latest release and is a fun and romantic rom-com perfect for readers who love romances bubbly and humourful.

Stylist Gemma Jones is competing for the promotion of a lifetime. Up against a fellow colleague, all she needs to do is completely make over a style-poor individual to win a bet. Easy, right? Wrong! When her competition picks Gemma’s hairy, manwhore next door neighbour as her client, Gemma knows she’ll have her work cut out for her. After the breakup from hell, Zach Morrison has been happy wallowing in booze and women. He’s happy to sit around in sweat pants all day and sleep on a mattress on the floor of his apartment. After cashing in his tech company, it’s not like money is a problem. Which is why he has absolutely no interest in being Gemma’s makeover project, even if he does secretly love riling up his smart mouthed neighbour. Gemma is determined to give Zach a fresh new look, as much for him as for her, but as the beard comes off and the abs come out, Gemma quickly realises there’s more to Zach than the worn clothing and attitude; he’s actually a good guy, one she may just be falling for…..

How to Choose a Guy in 10 Days caught my attention with its title, a play on the movie How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days. As a lover of the movie I have to say my interest was piqued but as soon as I begun reading the novel I found myself falling in love with it entirely based on its own merits. How to Choose a Guy in 10 Days is such a fun and flirty novel that really is effortless reading. It’s light but engaging and features a bubbly heroine and a grumpy (in the beginning!) love interest who undertakes a very entertaining makeover.

Written primarily through Gemma’s perspective with a chapter here and there from Zack’s POV thrown in for good measure, How to Choose a Guy in 10 Days is a neighbours to lovers tale perfect for romance lovers like myself. Gemma is a vibrant but kind person at her core. She lives for changing her clients lives one outfit at a time and her fun nature shines through throughout the story. She’s easy to follow and get behind while Zack is sexy in his own way.

Gemma and Zack have lovely chemistry and suit each other well. The light banter between them and the fun times they share build their relationship to its physical point which is neither overbearing or too little; it was just sexy. Solid sex scenes, moments of sweetness and hilarity within their relationship make their romance fun.

As the beginning of a series called Chick Flick Club that is set to feature Gemma’s friends Zoey and Eve who we meet in this first instalment, How to Choose a Guy in 10 Days is a light but enjoyable rom-com. Worth reading; I’ll be keeping my eye out for Zoey’s tale but next!

Rating:
Source: Sent for review by Give Me Books Promotions and the author (Thank you guys!)
Publisher: Lila Monroe Books
Format: Kindle ebook
Release Date: September 24th 2018
Purchase: Amazon | Kobo
Final Thoughts: A fun read, I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the series.

Free Ebooks

Hi guys and welcome to my latest batch of freebies I've discovered! There's a lot of great books here for you to check out.

Chosen Rye

Council of Consorts

Fire's Daughter 

The Watchmaker's Daughter

Once Upon A Curse: 17 Dark Faerie Tales

Dragon Shadow

Mind Machines

Death's Queen

Love/Hate

Target

Alix 

Descendants

The Conduit

The Hunted One

Dating an Alien Pop Star

By Vengeance Guided

Hope you managed to snag something new to read--I now I did!

Book Shelf: Ruthless Magic (Conspiracy of Magic #1) by Megan Crewe

In the contest to keep their magic, the only options may be die... or kill.

Each year, the North American Confederation of Mages assesses every sixteen-year-old novice. Some will be chosen. The rest must undergo a procedure to destroy their magical ability unless they prove themselves in the mysterious and brutal Mages' Exam.

Disadvantaged by her parents' low standing, Rocío Lopez has dedicated herself to expanding her considerable talent to earn a place in the Confederation. Their rejection leaves her reeling—and determined to fight to keep her magic.

Long ashamed of his mediocre abilities, Finn Lockwood knows the Confederation accepted him only because of his prominent family. Declaring for the Exam instead means a chance to confirm his true worth.

Thrown into the testing with little preparation, Rocío and Finn find themselves becoming unlikely allies—and possibly more. But the Exam holds secrets more horrifying than either could have imagined. What are the examiners really testing them for? And as the trials become increasingly vicious, how much are they willing to sacrifice to win?

The first in a new series by USA Today bestselling author Megan Crewe, Ruthless Magic combines the magic of Harry Potter with the ferocity of The Hunger Games alongside a poignant romance. Fans of Cassandra Clare and Holly Black, look no further for your next urban fantasy fix. 

More info on Goodreads.... 


Review: 

Ruthless Magic is Megan Crewe’s latest release and is a blend of Harry Potter and The Hunger Games, introducing readers to a magical world of deception, action and high stakes competition where not everyone will make it out alive.

Though they live in the same society, mages Finn Lockwood and Rocío Lopez couldn’t be more different. Finn comes from a family of privilege, whose ties to the mages governing body, North American Confederation of Mages, runs deep. Too bad Finn doesn’t seem to have inherited any of his family’s power or ability. Rocío on the other hand is a supremely gifted mage, but her family’s lowly stature mean she is often overlooked and ostracised. Wanting to prove their worth above all measure, Finn and Rocío’s greatest hope is in securing a coveted position with the Confederation to study and train in magic. Yet when Rocío is rejected and Finn’s selection is only due to his family’s position, both teens decide to declare for the Exam, a mysterious test offering them a second chance. Neither teen is prepared for the secrets and dangers that come with the Exam but as they become unlikely allies in a series of deadly trials, Finn and Rocío quickly discover that nothing is what it seems and their examiners may be testing them for a future neither of them is prepared to enter into…..

Heading into Ruthless Magic I wasn’t sure what it expect. The only novel I had read by Megan Crewe in the past was her debut novel upon its release and I wasn’t really a fan. That being said, I was willing to give Ruthless Magic a go…..and I was delightfully surprised by how much I enjoyed the novel. If ever there was an example of how far an author had come with their writing style and abilities over a number of years, it was Ruthless Magic.

Unfolding through the back and forth perspectives of both Finn and Rocío, Ruthless Magic allows readers a well-rounded look at the society they live in. Finn and Rocío really are from the very opposite ends of the spectre so we as the readers are immersed in both sides of this magical world—if only for a brief time. With the majority of the novel taking place whilst the novices are within the Exam, readers will only have a small glimpse into the overall world within Ruthless Magic before finding them drawn into a very Hunger Games-esq competition where competitors try to outsmart and outlast each other through a series of trials that increase in danger with each round.

Both main characters Finn and Rocío are quite likable and develop well throughout the story as their circumstances change. During their time in the Exam they both come to reassess their thoughts and beliefs about the world they live in; especially Finn who having come from wealth has been very sheltered and isn’t aware of what is lacking in his society. Discovering some of the double standards and hypocrisy leave the teens determined to be the voice of change against an unjust system.

There’s a lot of potential within Ruthless Magic. Civil unrest is a real possibility as our main characters vow to fight a corrupt system. How they plan to tackle this remains to be seen, but I’m keen to see what Megan Crewe has planned for the series and her world next.

Rating:
Source: Sent for review by publisher via Netgalley (Thank you guys!)
Publisher: Another World Press
Format: Kindle ebook via Netgalley
Release Date: May 30th 2018
Purchase: The Book Depository | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Final Thoughts: Better than I anticipated; I'm keen to read more.

Waiting on Wednesday #240

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking The Spine where you can spotlight an upcoming release that you're eagerly anticipating.

This week I'm waiting on.....  

Soulbinder by Sebastien de Castell 

Releases on: October 4th 2018

Add on Goodreads!

The fourth book in the page-turning SPELLSLINGER fantasy series.

Kellen and his murderous squirrel cat, Reichis, are on their own. They've heard rumour of a mythical monastery, known as the Ebony Abbey. It's a place that outsiders can never find - but Kellen is getting desperate. He's been told that the monks inside the Ebony Abbey know more about the Shadowblack than anyone else - and that they even know how to cure it.

Then Kellen and Reichis are separated and for the first time, Kellen must face the world alone - and venture deeper into shadow magic than he ever knew he could.

Perfect for fans of The Dark Tower, Firefly, Guardians of the Galaxy, Terry Pratchett, Ben Aaronovitch and Jim Butcher.

Thoughts:
The Spellbinder series by Sebastien de Castell has quickly become one of my favourites. I absolutely adore everything about it and devour each novel as quickly as possible. I cannot wait until this forth installment releases as I'm dying to join Kellen and Reichis again!

Have you read this series? If not I highly recommend!

And what are YOU waiting on this week?

 

Book Shelf: Immortal Fire (Red Winter Trilogy #3) by Annette Marie

Once, Emi believed the heavenly gods were righteous and wise, while the earthly yokai spirits were bloodthirsty and evil. But with a traitorous deity poised to destroy her world, and the yokai standing as humanity's only defense, the lies of her upbringing have toppled to reveal a far more terrifying reality.

Despite the looming threat, Emi can't escape her greatest distraction: Shiro, the fox yokai who has so deftly claimed her heart for his own. Soon—too soon—she will have to break the curse that binds his magic and memories. And once the ancient power inside him awakens, the yokai she loves will be changed forever.

As the earthly gods gather to wage war against the heavens, Emi and Shiro must gamble everything to turn the tide against their immortal, all-powerful foes. Together, they will find a way to save her world—even if it means losing each other.

More info on Goodreads.....


Review:

Immortal Fire is the thrilling third and final novel in Annette Marie’s Red Winter Trilogy and brings the series to a passionate and spectacular conclusion that was as fast paced and thrilling as it was romantic.

As a traitorous deity stands to bring mankind to its knees, Emi and her yokai companions continue on their quest to free the last of the imprisoned earth gods before it's too late. Yet even though the solstice approaches and her time on earth nearing its end, it is Shiro who continues to monopolize the majority of Emi's thoughts. Soon he will have to break the curse that binds the last of his powers and memories and more than anything Emi fears loosing the cheeky kitsune who has stolen her heart. As the earthly gods prepare to wage war against the gods of the heavens, Emi and those closest to her may have to make the biggest sacrifices imaginable in order to defeat their foes.

After the adventure rich journey Emi has been on throughout the series, Immortal Fire brings the trilogy to a close with a heart pounding, occasionally soul-crushing ending that will have readers gasping in its final moments. This is one thrilling conclusion that will keep you entranced until the very end with its twists and unexpected developments—I just loved it!

Beautifully written, the Red Winter Trilogy has been a fantastic series to read. I honestly feel that it encompasses so many perfect elements of Japanese fantasy and mythology and has been woven together with tangible and likable characters, moments of passionate romance and friendship and excited fight sequences. I’m quite surprised more people have not found themselves bewitched by this fantastically written world Annette Marie has created.

From beginning to end, Emi has been such a solid protagonist to follow. The final few chapters of Immortal Fire more than any other point in the series highlight how true this is, but I think each novel has also made it fairly evident Emi was evolving substantially. From her initial mentality on how she viewed the world and her role as kamigakari to her actions and willingness to take chances and make sacrifices, Emi truly did grow a lot. She was always a likable character, but she became even more so as the series progressed. As the reader you honestly wanted everything to work out right for her and to see her find a way to a happy ending. Emi fought so hard even when things became quite dire and there seemed like there would be only one outcome that would see her give her own life for victory—you have to love a heroine like that!

One of the largest ongoing themes within the story and a focal point of the overall storyline has been Shiro and in particular his developing romance with Emi. As we've recently come to discover the truth behind Shiro's past, Immortal Fire sees Emi facing a lot of hard choices and needing to put the greater good over what her heart wants. Emi and Shiro are absolutely delightful together and I just adore the chemistry and connection between them that has blossomed over the series. It's impossible not to feel the electricity between them and I think Annette Marie just wrote their relationship perfectly. Human and god. Miko and Kitsune...Emi and Shiro are just beautiful and adorable together and have been throughout the whole series. 

Exciting from beginning to end, Immortal Fire is a powerful conclusion to what has been an absolutely brilliant series. Annette Marie has created a beautiful fantasy world within this series and brings it to an ending that is perfect. Plenty of surprises will keep readers on their toes and as Immortal Fire builds to an epic battle with all the characters I have come to love involved, I am very satisfied with how this trilogy ends. 

Annette Marie has created something special with this series and I highly recommend it to those who have not yet had the pleasure of reading it--you won't be sorry! This is a Japanese infused adventure that will bewitch readers from beginning to end. 

Rating:
Source: Purchased by me through Kindle Unlimited
Publisher: Dark Owl Fantasy Inc.
Format: Kindle ebook
Release Date: April 11th 2017
Purchase: The Book Depository | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo
Final Thoughts: A fantastic series I highly recommend!

Owl Post #218

Inspired by The Story Siren's In My Mailbox, Owl Post allows us bloggers to showcase the books we've bought, won or received throughout the week and is hosted by Brodie over at Eleusinian Mysteries. We all know that the Owl Post is the fastest way to send and receive mail and they certainly make me happy every time they drop a book off.  

Hello book lovers and welcome to another Owl Post :)

    I Bought:

 - Risen by Cole Gibsen I read Risen a number of months ago via Netgalley (I still need to post my review!) and really enjoyed it. I had to have a paperback copy for my collection and can't wait for more!   - Kiss of the Royal by Lindsey Duga  I think this novel looks really good myself and I'm looking forward to reading it!

And that's me this week.
Hopefully the owls brought you some great books too!  

 

Book Shelf: Stalking Jack the Ripper (Stalking Jack the Ripper #1) by Kerri Maniscalco

Presented by James Patterson's new children's imprint, this deliciously creepy horror novel has a storyline inspired by the Ripper murders and an unexpected, blood-chilling conclusion...

Seventeen-year-old Audrey Rose Wadsworth was born a lord's daughter, with a life of wealth and privilege stretched out before her. But between the social teas and silk dress fittings, she leads a forbidden secret life.

Against her stern father's wishes and society's expectations, Audrey often slips away to her uncle's laboratory to study the gruesome practice of forensic medicine. When her work on a string of savagely killed corpses drags Audrey into the investigation of a serial murderer, her search for answers brings her close to her own sheltered world.

The story's shocking twists and turns, augmented with real, sinister period photos, will make this dazzling, #1 New York Times bestselling debut from author Kerri Maniscalco impossible to forget. 

More info on Goodreads.....


Review:

Kerri Maniscalco’s debut novel Stalking Jack the Ripper is an absolutely sensational novel that introduces readers to a powerfully told adventure rich in history and featuring a strong willed protagonist, electric chemistry and a murder mystery you will be dying to get to the bottom of.

There’s a killer stalking the streets of Whitechapel, London and seventeen year old Audrey Rose Wadsworth is determined to get to the bottom of it! As the daughter of a lord, Audrey Rose leads a life of privilege but it’s not the social teas and silk finery that she longs for; it’s the stolen moments alongside her Uncle in his laboratory studying forensic medicine. When her Uncle is brought in to offer assistance in a series of gruesome murders being carried out in London, Audrey Rose finds herself drawn into the mystery surrounding the violent deaths and begins to wonder if the killer is closer to home than she wishes possible…..

It’s no secret that Stalking Jack the Ripper has been a wildly enjoyed novel since its release and having finally gotten around to reading Kerri Maniscalco’s debut myself, I can certainly see why. Stalking Jack the Ripper was simply superb! This novel captured my imagination from the opening chapter and I was thoroughly entranced by this vivid and wonderfully depicted world of 19th century London as Maniscalo weaves together the history of infamous serial killer Jack the Ripper with her own harrowing storyline.

Kerri Maniscalo brings heroine Audrey Rose and the world she inhabits to life with precise and often grisly attention to detail. I found myself immersed in Audrey Rose’s world and felt that Maniscalo did a fantastic job with the setting and atmosphere within the story. Detailed but authentic and realistic descriptions of corpses and the brutality shown by Jack the Ripper heightens the senses and offers a really enthralling ambience to the novel. It’s impossible not to become lost in the scene and the events currently taking place.

Protagonist Audrey Rose was someone who I really enjoyed following. Living in a day where women of her class were expected to be shy and demure, she was curious and inquisitive. I felt that Audrey Rose was intelligent and determined and I loved that she took an initiative and dared to be more than what societies opinion of her was. Her determination and attitude really appealed to me and I thoroughly enjoyed joining her on her journey to help her Uncle determined who was Jack the Ripper.

Amidst the mystery and unease of the killings, author Kerri Maniscalo also manages to include just the perfect enough amount of romantic entanglement within the story in the form of Thomas Creswell, a student of Audrey Rose’s Uncle and someone who managed to get under our heroines skin. Thomas really was charming in his arrogant way and the banter and flirtations exchanged between Audrey Rose and he made for some fabulous reading. The chemistry is undeniable and as their relationship continues to build I can only imagine where Maniscalo plans to take them together.

Racing towards a shocking ending, Stalking Jack the Ripper was a delectable and addictive novel. Kerri Maniscalo seems to hit every nail on the head and as this novel comes to an end, I'm ready to begin Audrey Rose and Thomas's next story, Hunting Count Dracula straight away! Fantastic reading!

Rating:
Source: Purchased by me
Publisher: Jimmy Patterson
Format: Paperback
Release Date: September 5th 2017
Purchase: Bookworld | Booktopia | The Book Depository | Amazon
Final Thoughts: I LOVED this and am about to jump straight into the sequel!

Blog Tour: Seventh Born by Monica Sanz- Teasers & Giveaway

Welcome to the Blog Tour for Seventh Born by Monica Sanz thanks to YA Bound Book Tours!

Yesterday I posted my 4 star review of Seventh Born and today I have some teasers and a giveaway to share. I highly enjoyed this novel and cannot wait for more!

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Abomination. Curse. Murderer. All names hurled at eighteen-year-old Seraphina Dovetail. As the seventh-born daughter to a witch, she’s the cause of her mother losing her powers and, in turn, her life.

Abandoned as a child, Sera dreams of becoming an inspector and finding her family. To do that, she must be referred into the Advanced Studies Program at the Aetherium’s Witchling Academy. Her birth order, quick temper, and tendency to set things on fire, however, have left her an outcast with failing marks…and just what Professor Nikolai Barrington is looking for.

The tall, brooding, yet exceedingly handsome young professor makes her a proposition: become his assistant and he’ll give her the referral she needs. Sera is quickly thrust into a world where witches are being kidnapped, bodies are raised from the dead, and someone is burning seventhborns alive. As Sera and Barrington grow ever closer, she’ll discover that some secrets are best left buried…and fire isn’t the only thing that makes a witch burn.

Add on Goodreads or check out my review!

Purchase:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | The Book Depository

Monica Sanz has been writing from the moment she could string together a sentence. Her stories have come a long way from mysterious portals opening in the school cafeteria, transporting classmates to distant worlds. A classic by the name Wuthering Heights is responsible for that. She's been lost to dark romances and brooding fictional men ever sense. Now she writes about grumpy professors, cursed ringmaster, tortured soul collectors, and the girls they fall in love with. Monica’s books have received many accolades on the social writing website Wattpad. She’s accumulated over six million reads, eighty thousand votes, and fifteen thousand comments since posting her books on the website. She is also a member of the Wattpad4, a group of writers who host weekly Twitter chats on the subjects of writing and publishing.

Visit Monica:

 Website | Goodreads | Twitter | Facebook 

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Book Shelf: Seventh Born (The Witchling Academy #1) by Monica Sanz

Abomination. Curse. Murderer. All names hurled at eighteen-year-old Seraphina Dovetail. As the seventh-born daughter to a witch, she’s the cause of her mother losing her powers and, in turn, her life.

Abandoned as a child, Sera dreams of becoming an inspector and finding her family. To do that, she must be referred into the Advanced Studies Program at the Aetherium’s Witchling Academy. Her birth order, quick temper, and tendency to set things on fire, however, have left her an outcast with failing marks…and just what Professor Nikolai Barrington is looking for.

The tall, brooding, yet exceedingly handsome young professor makes her a proposition: become his assistant and he’ll give her the referral she needs. Sera is quickly thrust into a world where witches are being kidnapped, bodies are raised from the dead, and someone is burning seventhborns alive. As Sera and Barrington grow ever closer, she’ll discover that some secrets are best left buried…and fire isn’t the only thing that makes a witch burn.

More info on Goodreads......


Review:

Seventh Born by Monica Sanz is a well written and highly enjoyable novel that will bewitch readers with its tangible characters, murder mystery and haunting ambiance.

Eighteen year old witch Serephina Dovetail is an outcast amongst her people. As the seventh daughter born and the cause of her mother’s death at her birth, Sera is used to being seeing as cursed. She been called an abomination, ostracised and treated with cruelty but as a student of the Aetherium Witchling Academy, Sera is determined to get into the Advanced Studies Program and become an inspector. Yet to do so, she needs a referral and given how people perceive her, Sera is sure no one will take a chance on her. Until she is approached by Professor Nikolai Barrington, a young, handsome but brooding teacher at the Aetherium Witchling Academy who approaches Sera with a proposition; he will give Sera the referral she so desperately craves in exchange for her assistance on a case he is working on. Faced with no other options, Sera agrees but as she and Professor Barrington delve into the case of murdered seventh born women, painful memories of her past begin to resurface and soon Sera will have to accept that the monsters that haunt her may not be as dead and buried as she thought….

I have to say, I thoroughly enjoyed Seventh Born. I’m not sure exactly what I was expecting when I began this novel but whatever it was Seventh Born definitely exceeded my expectations. Beginning the novel, I was immediately entranced by this magical world of mystery and discovery that was set in a Victorian-era-esq world. Though author Monica Sanz never mentions the specific time period in which the story is set, her use of language and propriety paints a clear picture of what society is like when Seventh Born takes place.

Mixing elements of mystery, magic and danger, I really liked the world Monia Sanz has created within Seventh Born. I found the concept of seventh born witches to be intriguing and feel Sanz went into the perfect amount of detail to describe the persecution and treatment they had experienced throughout the years. I do feel like we’ve only discovered the tip of the iceberg where the Aetherium Witchling Academy was concerned although I did really like what I’ve seen so far.

Seventh Born is depicted through the vivid voice of protagonist Serphina “Sera” Dovetail, someone I really enjoyed following. Monica Sanz makes it clear early on in the novel that Sera has painful secrets about her past and as the novel progresses the atrocities she experienced are revealed. Sera is a scared individual, both figuratively and literally, but I do feel this actually gives her so much more substance as a character. Sera is a determined and capable young woman and I felt for her as she struggled to harness her abilities. Sera has been treated so cruelly by so many people and as a result her ability to trust are lacking. I highly enjoyed seeing her begin to come into her own though and can't see where she does.

The driving force of the storyline is the series of gruesome murders Sera and her Professor Barrington investigate and while I appreciated the way this was explored and depicted, I’d be lying if I didn’t acknowledge the relationship that is developing between Sera and Barrington. They are adorable! Theirs is the kind of slow burning romance that is a subtle undertone to the overall story that burns through the novel. Barrington is gruff and brooding but the soft moments of tender touches and kind gestures really make me swoon. Sera and Barrington really have such potential to soar and as things hopefully continue to heat up and develop, I for one can wait to see where their relationship progresses to.

Building to an exciting and thrilling ending that leaves me dying for more, Seventh Born was a very promising start to what I’m sure will be a wonderful series. Moncia Sanz has very much piqued by interest with this series and I cannot wait for more of Sera and Barrington. I’m already hankering to get my hands on their next tale!

Rating:
Source: Sent for review by YA Bound Book Tours and the author (Thank you guys!)
Publisher: Entangled: Teen
Format: Kindle ebook
Release Date: September 4th 2018
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | The Book Depository
Final Thoughts: I absolutely loved this novel and can't wait for more!

Veronica Roth Book Talk & Signing = Disappointment

Note: These are my thoughts and opinions alone. You have the right to have your own beliefs and may disagree with my thoughts if you see fit. 

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As a reader and a blogger I’ve had the pleasure of meeting many amazing homegrown and international authors. I’ve traveled interstate, spent hours on trains and waited in lines until my feet felt like they would drop off. And you know what? I’ve never minded. It’s been worth it. Every. Single Time. Until now.....

On Tuesday I left work early and traveled towards the city to the Seymour Centre to see Veronica Roth, an event organized by the Sydney Writers Festival as part of their YA celebrations but despite my excitement and anticipation, I found it to be such a disappointing experience.

Veronica herself was an absolute delight to hear speak. She was animated and funny and very eloquent in her answers to the questions she was asked. I can’t fault her or the interviewer Amelia Lush kept the talk fun and enjoyable....but the experience after the Q&A was what truly left me feeling disheartened. 

Having paid $20 for my ticket ($40 if you count the one for my mother who traveled with me the hour and a half on the train and who was sick as a dog) I was expecting to get my books signed. I’d logged them on the train and having seen the event was promoted by the organizers as a talk and signing afterwards I was super excited about meeting Veronica and getting my babies signed.

So in saying that, I expected there would be a line. I expected to wait. It’s the name of the game and I’ll never complain about waiting in line alongside other devoted readers to see an author. I’ve personally had some wonderful times and discussions with other fans as we excitedly waited to see our beloved author. I knew other fans would be in the same position as me and didn’t want anything more or less than them.

What disappointed me about my experience at this Seymour Centre signing was that there was an excessive number of people standing in line (for what I’m sure was HOURS) and who were told they would only be able to get ONE book signed. As I've mentioned waiting in line wasn't something I expected to be concerned about this, but I feel like this talk and signing was done very wrong and this is why.....

This was a TICKETED event, meaning SWF sold tickets and knew how many people were attending. Given the amount of people who attended, they would have known BEFOREHAND the limitations that would rise when Veronica has to sign.

I cannot commend the brave and determined fans who stood in line and dutifully waited until they were able to get their one book signed enough. Given that I still had a long train ride home and had to work the next morning I simply couldn’t stay personally which in a sense broke my heart. I was really excited to meet Veronica and as such I truly don’t feel it was fair for this event to be held the way it was.

I feel like in this instance the industry and even the publication house did fans a dishonor with this event. Instead of selling tickets to a big crowd who would then be forced to line up for their single signed book, why couldn’t a number of smaller events be held? I understand authors have time limitations and given that Veronica comes from overseas I can only imagine how much she was already scheduled to do but surely there could have been a way to avoid this occurrence.

Given that book signings are a privilege not a right, I am beyond grateful for each and every author, traditionally published or independently published who have taken the time to hold signings. Yet the disappointment I felt over this event will stay with me for some time.

Perhaps it was a money grab as I do somewhat believe it to be—perhaps it was not—but either way this Veronica Roth event was a huge disappointment for me and I feel could have been handled better from many aspects as far as I was concerned.

Though it will not stop me from attending future talks and signings in the future, I felt the need to share my thoughts with my followers and other readers about my experience. Hopefully the future events I attend with be somewhat better and not leave me so disappointed and disheartened.