Monthly Archives: June 2012

Jennifer Estep – The Mythos Academy Giveaway

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Jennifer Estep Mythos Academy Giveaway

In promoting her latest release of Dark Frost in her Mythos Academy series, Jennifer Estep has graciously offered a giveaway to one lucky member of The Reading Cafe.  The prize is the entire book set of The Mythos Academy series.  Contest rules are below.

Jennifer Estep will be back to The Reading Cafe in August for a full feature on her adult series.., Elemental Assassin.  At that time, we will be having an interview with Jennifer.  You have over a month to prepare any questions you may have on Jennifer’s Mythos Academy or her Elemental Assassin series, for when we welcome her back.

****GIVEAWAY RULES****

1.  To qualify, you must be a member at The Reading Cafe.  If you are not a member, please register using the Log-in at the top of the page, or by using one of the social log-ins on the right side.

2.  Giveaway open to continental USA only.

3.  Please leave a comment on either the Touch of Frost or Dark Frost threads.

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Dark Frost by Jennifer Estep – a Review

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Dark Frost by Jennifer Estep – a Review

Dark Frost by Jennifer Estep is the third book (May 29, 2012 release) in her Mythos Academy series.  There is also a prequel (First Frost novella).  I found Dark Frost to be an excellent and enjoying read.  This is the best book of the series.  The story picks up where Kiss of Frost leaves off.

Gwen Frost is our heroine, and continues to have a hard time of it.  However, in this book she comes into her own, with her powers, and with her relationship with Logan.  Throughout the book, their relationship is hot and cold, but mainly due each unable to trust each other with their past and/or abilities.   

Carson, Daphne, Gwen and Logan are together right from the start, as the action begins almost immediately. The day before they are to return to school, they must all fulfill an assignment at the museum, and it seems most of the students from Mythos Academy also waited for the last day.  They are all attacked by the Reapers, who are searching for the Helheim Dagger.  Gwen, Logan, Daphne and Carson were in the weapon room, as the fight started.  They were able to use some of those weapons to stop the Reapers, but not before some deaths occurred.  Carson was close to death, and in a very emotional moment was saved by Daphne, who discovered her powers. 

Before they escaped, Gwen came face to face with her nemesis Loki’s Champion, who eventually also escapes.  Gwen is determined to find out who she is, so that she can avenge her mother’s death.  Gwen takes it upon herself to investigate the possible whereabouts of the dagger before the Reapers come back to find it. It is the Helheim Dagger that is instrumental in freeing Loki from his prison.  The story was very exciting throughout, and we learned a lot more in this book.   

Gwen has been flawed somewhat early on, but in this book she is smart, brave and uses her ability wisely to enable her to find the clues, and she makes a wonderful heroine.  The last half of the book is non stop, as we discover who Loki’s champion is; Daphne powers, much to her dislike; Logan’s fears that stopped him from totally trusting Gwen; Gwen’s full powers come forth and Preston returns. 

One of the best things in the story was seeing the Fenrir wolf come back, and how Gwen becomes close to the wolf, who will also play a big part at the end.  The wild ending with all hell breaking loose, and lives at risk, had some suprises.  There are so many questions as we race to the finish…Will Gwen find the Helheim dagger before the Reapers? Will Lokie return to create chaos? Will Logan and Gwen finally come together?  How will Gwen handle the truth about her powers?

Jennifer Estep does a wonderful job with this book, and continuing the storyline flawlessly.  Dark Frost is action filled, and if you are a fan of the Mythos Academy series, you will not be disappointed.  This book was very good and exciting.

Reviewed by Barb

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INDUSTRIAL MAGIC (WOTO #4) by Kelley Armstrong-a WOTO challenge review

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INDUSTRIAL MAGIC (WOTO #4) by Kelley Armstrong-a review

INDUSTRIAL MAGIC (Women of the Otherworld #4) by Kelley Armstrong

INDUSTRIAL MAGIC is the 4th full-length novel in Kelley Armstrong’s Women of the Otherworld series, and once again, not one of my favorite storylines. I love Kelley Armstrong’s books and series, but there were a few in this particular series that I did not enjoy and for some reason those involving Paige and Lucas did not top my list. Perhaps it was the ‘lack’ of the wolves (including Clay, Elena, Jeremy,Nick, Antonio etc) or the lack of sexual energy surrounding  Paige and Lucas, but if I think back, it is probably the copious amount of background information and the numerous characters involved with each Paige/Lucas/Cabel storyline. I am still recommending Kelley’s Women of the Otherworld series, including Industrial Magic, but a couple of the storylines were difficult.

We first met Paige and Lucas in Dime Store Magic (WOTO #3) when Lucas agreed to represent Paige during her custody struggle for Savannah and her banishment from the Witches Coven. Industrial Magic focuses on the Cabel side of the family including Lucas’s family and Savannah’s extended biological family from her father’s side. Cabels are family run, and controlled and aligned with the most powerful sorcerers and to compare these Cabels to the Mafia or Mob, would not be a far stretch. But someone or something is murdering the young Cabal sons and heirs, and as Lucas is his father’s reluctant heir, he and Paige are now deeply involved with the investigations.

Several new characters are introduced, as I had said before, but there are a couple that we will see many times in future novels and storylines. Jaime Vegas is a clairvoyant and necromancer, and Eve Levine is part witch/part demon and, Savannah’s deceased mother. There are demons, shamans, vampires, wolves, sorcerers, witches and of course, the lowly suffering humans. Quite frankly I thought about pulling out my power point and designing a graph to keep track of the familial connections.

Regrettably, Kelley will be releasing her final full-length novel in the Women of the Otherworld series in July-THIRTEEN. But, on the plus side, Kelley has also said she will be re-releasing some of her short stories and novellas, as well as writing some continuing short storylines to keep her fans happy e.g V Plates -released in May 2012 (narrated by Nick).

Each month beginning March 1st, 2012, The Reading Cafe has accepted a challenge by the host site Moonlightgleam to post a review from each of Kelley Armstrong’s 13 full-length novels in her Women of the Otherworld series. WE hope you have enjoyed catching up with Kelley’s books. Next month we will be reviewing HAUNTED  and  THIRTEEN-Kelly’s new release and final instalment in the WOTO series. *sniff*

reviewed by Sandy

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BOUND TO SEDUCTION (Firebrand #1) by Elisabeth Naughton-a new release review

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BOUND TO SEDUCTION (Firebrand #1) by Elisabeth Naughton-a new release review

BOUND TO SEDUCTION (Firebrand Series #1) by Elisabeth Naughton

BOUND TO SEDUCTION is the premiere novella and May 29, 2012 release in Elisabeth Naughton’s new Firebrand series of novels. Elisabeth introduces a passionate storyline of slavery, seduction and the cost of one man’s freedom.

Mira Dawson is tired of rejection. Although she is beautiful and talented, the men in her life never want to stay around. And she wanted someone in her life. With her sights set on Devin Sloan, a fellow employee, Mira goes on the hunt for the elusive Firebrand Opal-said to contain magical and unique properties that will ensure all of your fantasies. But with possession, comes a heavy price. Heeding the warning, Mira’s quest for a relationship will take on an entire different direction when a gorgeous man suddenly appears in her doorway asking her heart’s desire.

Tariq is an enslaved warrior, a Djinn Prince of the Marid Tribe, a brother to Ashur and Nasir, and commander of his father’s armies. But a near fatal error has cost him his freedom. For the past 10 years, Tariq has been bound by Zoraida, a powerful sorceress. Using the Firebrand Opal, Zoraida controls and bids Tariq corrupt the human souls by granting their wishes. Used as a pleasure slave, Tariq must fulfill the fantasies of those who command the Firebrand Opal in the human realm. But when the beautiful Mira Dawson calls forth the power of the Opal, Tariq knows that he will never allow Zoraida to gain access to Mira’s soul.

The attraction between Tariq and Mira is immediate and Mira becomes aware that what she desires most will have to be taught by the mysterious stranger who calls to her soul. When Tariq pulls away too quickly, it is Mira whose heart will break until she discovers the true reason for the sudden withdrawal. But with each caress of the Firebrand Opal, Mira will learn what it is to love an immortal Djinn warrior and the cost to each to save the life of the man who she will call her own. With the help of a Djinn lore historian, Mira is determined to put an end to Tariq’s enslavement and put the Prince of the Marid back into the command of his army.

BOUND TO SEDUCTION is a short story written to introduce the premise behind Elisabeth Naughton’s new Firebrand series. With the introduction of Tariq’s brothers, Elisabeth has offered a peak into the future storylines of those bound by the Firebrand Opal. A wonderful start, a great premise and I am looking forward to her next novel in the series in August 2012-Slave to Passion-Nasir’s story.

reviewed by Sandy

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Touch of Frost by Jennifer Estep

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Touch of Frost by Jennifer Estep

Touch of Frost by Jennifer Estep, is a fun introductory novel into the world of Mythos Academy. The main character Gwendolyn Frost is a gypsy teenager sent to a school specializing in training those with magical abilities such as Valkyries, Spartans, Vikings, Amazons, Gypsies, and other warriors.  The book did stay away from witches, vampires, and werewolves, which made it a refreshing take on Young Adult fantasy.

It is Gwen’s first year at Mythos Academy and she tries to find her place in a new mythological world she knows little about. It is a typical high school with popular mean girls, band geeks, and jocks but they are descendents of mythical warriors and have magical abilities.

Gwen has the ability to touch people and objects and know their history and the feelings associated with them.  This comes in handy after the most popular girl in school is murdered and a powerful magical object, the Bowl of Tears, is stolen at the Academy. Gwen is compelled to solve the mystery of what happened because of the recent loss of her mother, a police detective. Her mother was killed while helping the innocent and Gwen feels the same drive.

As she discovers more about the murder, she also learns more about the mythologies of her world and her role in them.  She ends up literally bumping into a bad boy Spartan Logan on numerous occasions and Daphne, a Valkyrie, teams up with Gwen to find the killer and thief on campus. Gwen starts out as an average girl, an outsider and ends up a hero.

I did not include many spoilers, because they are important to the plot and would make reading Touch of Frost less enjoyable!  Did I enjoy the book?  Well,…..it is written for young adults.  I had to release my inner teenager and embrace this world. May I add, I am SO glad that I am not a teenager anymore!  I personally don’t like seeing bad boys glamorized, dear Logan really likes to count his female conquests on campus.  Gwen is a great heroine who learns about her powers and uses them for good.  I let my two teenage daughters read the book and they both gave it two thumbs up, so I guess that is what counts!  I will continue to read Jennifer Estep‘s adult novels and my girls will continue to read the Mythos Academy novels.   

 Reviewed by Jules

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