Monthly Archives: July 2012

THE DRAGON BOX by Katie W. Stewart- a review

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The Dragon Box by Katie W Stewart-a review

The Dragon Box by Katie W. Stewart

The summer holidays in North America have begun. The kids are underfoot and already crying about being bored. So every once in awhile, The Reading Cafe will post a review of a book we think your child(ren) would like to read. Today, we are offering THE DRAGON BOX by Katie W Stewart.

THE DRAGON BOX is a middle-grade novel recommended for ages 8-12 years. Focusing on the imagination of a child, Katie W Stewart takes us into a world of science fiction and fantasy, where every boy dreams of fighting with dragons, witches, ogres and goblins.

Like many children his age, 11 year old James, doesn’t want to participate in his weekly scheduled footy ball games, so he fakes an injury. Knowing her son isn’t happy, James’s mother asks him to retrieve a book from old man Mack’s house next door and against his better judgment James reluctantly heads over to the ‘crazy’ professor’s house. But one quick look into the house and James is in awe. There are gadgets and machines of all sorts, waiting for someone to play. But it isn’t until Mack gives James a ‘dragon box’ does the real adventure begin.

Something similar to “Dungeons and Dragons’ or perhaps a computer game, the Dragon Box takes James and Mack through a game-like scenario where James controls the events. Mack has designed the ‘Dragon Box’, and the characters within are all representations of the people in James and Mack’s life.

As the game unfolds, Mack must teach James to use the magic that is his to control. And as each level is successfully completed, a new and more dangerous level presents. Throughout the storyline, James must use his imagination and strategize about his next move. But not until his final move, does real life interject. Praying against all odds, that everyone he knows and loves is alive, James crosses between worlds, hoping to see the one person he knows, that could very well change his life.

THE DRAGON BOX is a wonderful story. And like many Young Adult storylines, The Dragon Box is not just for the young, but also the young at heart. There is adventure, science-fiction and fantasy all rolled into a storyline that is sure to put a smile on your face.

Reviewed by Sandy

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WICKED NIGHTS (Angels of the Dark 1) by Gena Showalter

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WICKED NIGHTS (Angels of the Dark #1) by Gena Showalter

Wicked Nights is the first book ( June 2012 release)  in Gena Showalter’s Angels of the Dark series.  It is a spin off of her Lords of the Underworld series.

Zacharel, whom we first meet in Darkest Seduction (LOTU), is the leader of an army of angels who are in jeopardy of losing their wings.  Their cold, callous ways have them all on the verge of being thrown out of the heavens.  Needless to say, these aren’t your typical angels. 

Anabelle Miller has been institutionalized for the last four years of her life.  Accused of the brutal murder of her parents.  No one believes her when she tells them a monster killed her parents.  She endures frequent attacks by demons, that only she can see.  She not only endures demon attacks, but the attention of an unscrupulous doctor inside the institution.

Zacharel and his army are summoned to dispense of a horde of demons who are attacking the institution in which Ana is being held.  When he gives chase to one of the demons, he encounters Anabelle, strapped to a gurney.  He is immediately intrigued with this human, which is something entirely new to him.  Once he witness the unscrupulous doctor’s intentions towards Ana, he decides to rescue her.

Zacharel has suffered such a horrible loss, that he has closed off all emotion to everyone and everything.  He has been alone for centuries, and takes no pleasure for himself. He kills his targets swiftly and moves on.  But, when he takes Ana into his protection, he finds his, literally, cold exterior thawing.  They set out on a journey to find out why Ana is being targeted by demons on a constant basis.  He involves his warrior angels, whom, to say is a motley crew, is an understatement.  Once they discover Demon High Lord, Unforgiveness is the one calling for the attacks, it gets very interesting.  Seems Unforgiveness targeted Ana and bound himself to her.  And the reason for the binding shocks the hell out of you. 

Zacharel and Ana’s relationship is a slow, sweet surprise.  Once he realizes how much he loves her, he will stop at nothing to keep her safe and undo what Unforgiveness has done.  One of the reasons Zacharel is on the verge of losing his wings is his callousness towards humans.  Ana changes that.  And ends up saving him.  In the end Zacharel vows to be the leader he needs to be in order to save the members of his army.

I really liked this book.  The battle in the end is not what I expected, but I loved it just the same.  Several of the Lords of the Underworld show up to help, along with a minor goddess and a harpy or two.  Once you find out the loss that Zacharel has suffered, your heart will break.  Ana is very strong and very independent.  And I can’t wait to get to know the other angels.  I can only imagine the hell they’ve been through and can’t wait to see them find their salvation.  I will say, that in my opinion, religion (for lack of a better term), or maybe faith would be a better description, is played on heavily in this book.  It is not thrown in your face, but it is subtly used to force Zacharel to realize the right, true way of things.  There is a lot I would like to tell you about this book but I don’t want to spoil it for anyone.  Like I said, once you realize Unforgiveness’ link, it’s a definite “wow” moment, and the actions played out from there are great!! If you are a fan of the Lords of the Underworld, you will definitely like this book.  If you aren’t a LOTU fan, you’ll like it anyway.  😉

Reviewed by Vickie M.

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An Interview with Kylie Griffin

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An Interview with Kylie Griffin

 

The Reading Cafe is happy to have the wonderful Kylie Griffin as our guest today.

Kylie today has released her second book in her awesome Light Blade series…Alliance Forged, which we reviewed yesterday

Let’s begin our super fun interview with Kylie.

 

 

Hi Kylie.  Thank you for taking the time to answer some questions today. We are always looking forward to reading about the author behind the book.

Kylie: Barb, what auspicious timing with it being my release day for ALLIANCE FORGED, so it’s wonderful to be here – thanks for inviting me! 🙂

TRC: We will start will some background information.

Kylie: Fire away!

TRC:  🙂 Will you please tell us about yourself?

Kylie: I’m a primary school teacher in a small two-teacher school here in a small village in north western New South Wales, Australia. My alter ego, Kylie Griffin, writes futuristic/fantasy/paranormal romances for Berkley.

Outside these two jobs I like to think I’m an easy going, happy person who has an equally shared obsession for cats and dragons.

(I celebrated getting my first book contract by getting a dragon tattooed on my forearm  not everyone’s cup of tea, and it shocked quite a few people, my family included, but it was such a huge milestone for me and this seemed appropriate). 🙂

I also enjoy pottering about in my garden and being out with nature when I’m not chained to my laptop. Oh, and I’m a bit of a chocoholic.

 

TRC: You have three cats, named Splat, Pandaemonium and Furball. Please tell us how you came up with those names.

Kylie: Splat & Panda are sisters. Furball is a cousin. They’re all long furred cats.
As a kitten Panda used to tear around the house like she was possessed and her antics would set the other two off, so she had a bit of a reputation for causing havoc, hence the name. Splat’s a tortoise shell and her tri-colored markings look like someone’s splattered paint on her, thus Splat. Furball is a long-furred tabby and when he was a kitten he was just a ball of fuzz. Fluffy sounds too girly so I had to think of something more masculine – Furball was the result.

TRC: Have you always liked to write?  Tell us your process in writing a novel.

Kylie: The earliest memory I have of writing stories was a fan-fic rip off of Star Wars as an 11 year old. Since then I’ve always felt the compulsion to write. Something. Anything. I have many, many unfinished manuscripts dating right back to high school sitting in crates in my office. One day I might sabotage the core ideas and finish writing them.

I’m a pantster – I write the story as I go, often directed very much by the characters – but I’ve had to learn how to semi-plot (I explain why in a later question). I usually know the beginning scene of my book and how I want the story to finish but not a lot in-between.

So, if you can imagine the main plot points as the tops of hills on a very foggy morning, I start on one, descend into the fog and make my way through it to another hill and so on, until I reach my final destination. The journey isn’t mapped out particularly well, I may take some deviations along the way but I do end up at the place I wanted to go. Eventually. 🙂

I try to set myself a daily word count and write seven days a week until the book is finished (anywhere between 90 000 -100 000 words). Some days are easier than others to get the word count out *grin*. I usually edit my work as I go so I have a fairly clean copy that I send out to some beta readers (one is a writer like me, the other two are readers). They comment on my work. I edit some more then send my work off to my editor. And usually amongst all that I teach, juggle revisions, copy edits for another book, and promotion and marketing.

TRC: How were you notified that Vengeance Born was to be published? What was your reaction when you saw your first published book?

Kylie: I entered the West Houston RWA Emily contest for unpublished authors with VENGEANCE BORN (or Bloodborn as it was known then). I won the paranormal section then the Best of the Best section. The prize was Leis Pederson from Berkley Publishing critiquing a partial manuscript. She liked VENGEANCE BORN enough to request the full manuscript then on Oct.16th 2010 I received an email from her offering to buy the book and the next in the series. An ecstatic moment to say the least.

As for seeing my book in print for the very first time – it was an incredibly emotional moment, something I’d spent almost 20 years working towards achieving. Leis sent me my author copies a few weeks before the release date. When I realised what was inside the box I opened it right there in my local post office.

Taking out the first print book was a moment I’ll never forget. It was like finding the Holy Grail. I smoothed my hand over the cover, flipped through it to see the words I’d labored over in actual print, then promptly burst into tears. Lucky the post office staff knew me and that I’d been waiting for this delivery, otherwise my outburst might have resulted in a call for some professionals in white coats. LOL

TRC: Will you tell us about the premise of the Light Blade series? How did you come up with the idea for this series, and how longdid it take for you to write this book?

Kylie: I’ll answer these questions in reverse order. ALLIANCE FORGED took five months in total – four months to complete the first draft and then another to let it sit and then edit.

Much of my fantasy writing up until the Light Blade series were stories based around human characters, human relationships, human conflicts and I wanted to try something that involved a non-human element. It’s as simple as that. At the time I was writing VENGEANCE BORN vampires, werewolves, and shifters dominated the market, and the stories were set in a contemporary world or very urban fantasy based. Creating a fantasy world with different races (al la Lord of the Rings style) really appealed to me.

But why demons? No idea. LOL All I can tell you is they’re not styled or based on any familiar mythology. While the series isn’t epic fantasy in its purest form, it does have similar elements. The world is entirely fictional, there are different races (not just humans), the plots employ typical themes such as a quest, a guiding deity, struggles against an opposing force, the threat of world domination, revenge and redemption, but readers also get to focus on a romance between the main characters of each book.

The demons, who are known as the Na’Reish, regularly venture into human territory on raids. The purpose for the raids is two-fold – to acquire human slaves, and from these slaves some will become blood-slaves, a convenient food source for the demons.

The humans have a warrior caste known as the Light Blade warriors – the paladin-like protector of their society. They’re able to use kinetic power to kill by channeling it through touch or via any blade or weapon. They’re a cross between holy knights and law enforcement, serving the Lady, the human’s religious deity, the one they believe responsible for Gifting them with their powers. They uphold the Blade Council’s laws and Her tenets and protect anyone who needs help.

The third race are the Na’Chi, a demon-human hybrid, who possess all the qualities of their demon ancestors yet are reviled by the other races for their mixed heritage.

The Light Blade series revolves around three different races coming to terms with their shared history – good, bad and ugly – and learning how to survive or at least get on with one another. So far, three mixed race couples play integral roles in this process, and, they also happen to fall in love in their respective stories *grin*.

If you’d like to know more about these characters I’ve written posts about Annika, Kalan, Varian, Kymora and some secondary characters for my blog (under the heading CAST OF CHARACTERS, you can also search using the label ‘character/s’).

TRC: How many books do you have planned for the Light Blade series?

Kylie: I’m contracted to write three for Berkley Sensation, but I have four other secondary characters clamoring for their stories to be told. Here’s hoping they’ll eventually reach a bookshelf. 🙂

TRC:  Can you please give us a brief description of Alliance Forged, which is being released today?

Kylie: ALLIANCE FORGED

Book #2 of the Light Blade series

There is no mercy in the demon realm. No escape. In this place of desperation and conflict, anyone who is not purebred is virtually powerless. Until a blind priestess lays claim to a half-breed warrior, body and soul…

Hunted and marked for death by Na’Reish demons for their half-blood heritage, the Na’Chi are searching for a new home—something an alliance offered by the human leader could provide. With both races divided by prejudice, when Light Blade rebels brutally attack the Na’Chi, the alliance seems doomed to fail.

Varian, leader of the Na’Chi, a hybrid race of gifted warriors, is cursed with the darker impulses of his demon heritage. Controlling the part of himself that craves the high of the battle is a struggle he’s afraid he’ll lose—until he meets Kymora Tayn, a priestess driven to serve her deity. While he’s unwilling to trust anyone outside his people, he finds himself drawn to Kymora’s strength and passionate nature, and discovers she has the power to calm the darkness inside him.

When the Na’Reish raid human territory for blood-slaves and kickstart a war, the key to the survival of both races—Na’Chi and human— is an alliance. However, when Kymora is kidnapped, pitting human against human, Varian realizes he must embrace his darker half, not only to save the alliance…but also the woman he loves.

TRC: You look at yourself as a Sci Fi, Fantasy, Paranormal. What drew you to that genre?

Kylie: I believe I might have been a changeling at birth because not a single other person in my family likes or has a passion for this genre.

I grew up watching TV or reading anything in this genre. Star Wars, Star Trek, Dr.Who, Battlestar Galactica, Buck Rogers, Andre Norton, Anne McCaffrey, David Eddings, C.J.Cherryh, Mercedes Lackey…the list could go on! Instead of playing with dolls like my sister, or good guys and bad guys outside with my friends or any other normal kid game, I’d engineer and organise complex empire wars with magical armies or turn a tree into a spaceship and use it to explore an alien world.

I just find the idea of something totally unknown or other-worldly fascinating. So inspirational, so creative. The genre is escapism at its best.

TRC: Do you have any thoughts of future series you would like to try?

Kylie: Absolutely! I’ve two science fiction romance series with Bk#1 in each already written, another fantasy romance series (again, Bk#1 is already written) and I’m dying to rewrite a post-apocalyptic series I’ve had sitting in a crate for years. These are all projects my agent and I are talking over with my editor, so I can’t give any real details yet. 🙂

TRC: Where do you like to do your writing?  What do you feel is the hardest part of writing and publishing a novel.

Kylie: When the weather is good I like to take my laptop out to the back area of my house. It’s an enclosed entertainment area for BBQ’s & I’ve a lovely outdoor setting I can use while getting fresh air, sun and hear the sounds of the bush around me. Otherwise I have an office/library I can work in.
For me, the hardest part of writing and publishing a novel is synopsis writing. I’m a die-hard pantster at heart – I begin writing and the story & characters just evolve – but having signed a contract I’m required to submit a synopsis to my editor. That means I have to know where the story is heading. So, I’ve had to learn how to semi-plot. My editor knows I’m a pantster and I have a little leeway in what’s produced for the synopsis and what I finally produce. As long as I don’t totally veer away from the main storyline, she’s happy. 🙂

TRC: On your website, you mention some of the authors you love to read, many of them are also our favorites.  You are a teacher, volunteer firefighter, member of the State Emergency Services, and you write. How do you find time to read?

Kylie: Sometimes I ask myself this same question! LOL

With teaching, I’ve been at it 20 years now, so most of my processes are streamlined. With my emergency services work I train once a week with my units. Call outs are sporadic. There can be nothing for a while then there might be a rush of them, and at all times of the day and night. I just roll with them and attend as I can. My other volunteer work fits in around the teaching & emergency service work (and writing, of course).

As for reading, BP (before being published), I used to have the evenings, odd weekend or time during the school holidays to read. AC (after contracting) my time to read was severely curtailed. The writing came first. That came as a bit of a shock and I think I went into withdrawal!

What I’ve learned to do is read in chunks (hard when you’ve been so used to reading a whole book in one sitting) but it’s the only way to stay sane and feed that craving. LOL Once I finish writing my latest contracted book I like to go on a bit of a reading binge/break and this really helps recharge me.

TRC: What’s next for you?

Kylie: Well, I’ve just finished ALLEGIANCE SWORN (Bk#3 in the
Light Blade series). Over the next few months I’ll be completing the revisions process for it. The book is tentatively scheduled for an April 2013 release date.

ALLEGIANCE SWORN

Book #3 of the Light Blade series

There is no mercy in the demon realm. No escape. In this place of desperation and conflict, anyone who is not purebred is virtually powerless. Until a demon leader seeks to unify the races…

With the alliance of the humans and the half-blood Na’Chi forged, the demon Na’Reish prepare for war by seizing human blood-slaves. Captured during a rescue mission-gone-wrong, Light Blade warrior Arek Barial finds himself claimed by a Na’Reishi female who offers him an unexpected choice.

Raised in the elite ranks of a society she abhors, Imhara Kaal lives a dangerous double life as a Na’Reish Clan-leader and an advocate for a caste-free life that honors the Old Ways. Openly rebelling against the Na’Reish would mean her death, unless she can find an emissary willing to present her petition to the human Blade council.

But Arek isn’t about to blindly follow a demon—despite the intense attraction growing between them. And while hatred for the Na’Reish is all he has ever known, Arek must learn to trust Imhara, or risk the destruction of all three races…

Also coming out in April 2013 will be the mass market version of VENGEANCE BORN.

LIGHTNING ROUND

Favorite Vacation Spot: New Zealand – I’ve been back there a good seven or eight times over the last 15 years. Not only do I have lots of friends across the ditch (the affectionate term we use for the Tasman Sea), the scenery is awesome. I think if Australia disappeared or never existed I’d choose to live in NZ.

Favorite Food: sweet – chocolate, savory – baked dinner, fruit – mango.

Favorite Author:

Now that’s just so unfair – do I have to pick just one? Hmm, Nalini Singh.

TRC:  Love your shirt  🙂

 

 

 

Favorite Movie: Lord of the Rings trilogy. Amazing movies! I usually have a back to back marathon of the series at least once a year.

Last book that you read: AFTERLIFE Joey W.Hill (another awesome author!).

Who is your favorite fictional character (not your own): Judd, the ex-Psy Arrow from CARESSED BY ICE by Nalini Singh.

TRC: Thank you Kylie for this fantastic interview, and answering our questions. The Reading Café wishes you the best of luck with Alliance Forged and your Light Blade series.  Keep us informed about your upcoming releases. We look forward to working with you again.

Kylie: Thank you, Barb, for having me. Great interview, I had a hoot of a time answering it! If anyone has any questions about the books or something I’ve chatted about her, please just ask. I’d be more than happy to answer them. 🙂

If you want to know more about Kylie, below are the links where you can find her.

Website: http://www.kyliegriffin.com
Blog: www.kyliegriffinromance.blogspot.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kylie-Griffin-paranormal-romance/152760788151938
Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/KylieGriffin1
GoodReads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4882841.Kylie_Griffin
Shelfari: http://www.shelfari.com/Kylie_Griffin-author
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Alliance-Forged-Novel-Light-Blade/dp/0425256014/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1324459468&sr=1-1
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/alliance-forged-kylie-griffin/1107000571?ean=9780425256015&itm=1&usri=alliance+forged+kylie+griffin
Books-a-million:  http://www.booksamillion.com/p/Alliance-Forged/Kylie-Griffin/9780425256015?id=5244581890012
The Book Depository: http://www.bookdepository.com/Alliance-Forged-Kylie-Griffin/9780425256015
Fishpond: http://www.fishpond.com.au/Books/Alliance-Forged-Kylie-Griffin/9780425256015?cf=3&rid=7378568&i=1&keywords=alliance+forged
IndieBound: http://www.indiebound.org/book/9780425256015
Penguin: http://us.penguingroup.com/nf/Book/BookDisplay/0,,9780425256015,00.html#

****GIVEAWAY****

Kylie has graciously offered to give one member of The Reading Café a chance to win a copy of Alliance Forged.  There will also be a second prize of an Alliance Forged Totebag, with magnets. 

1.  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 our social log-ins.

2.  If you are using a social log-in e.g. Twitter, please leave your email address along with your comment.

3.  Please post a comment and say hello to Kyllie

4.  Giveaway open INTERNATIONALLY (wherever The Book Depository delivers)

5.  Contests runs from July 3-6, 2012.

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Terry Goodkind Contest Winner Announcement

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Terry Goodkind Contest Winner Announcement

The Reading Cafe would once again like to thank the wonderful Terry Goodkind for allowing us to be part of his promotion of The First Confessor, which will be released today. 

The contest provided by Terry and his team, including Revel Studios, did an awesome job creating such a wonderful prize….Limited Collectors Edition “The First Confessor” Package.

For those of you who may be interested, the overall consensus on everyone’s favorite book was as expected mixed. But, Faith of the Fallen had the most votes, with Wizard’s First Rule and Confessor following, though most of the Sword of Truth books were mentioned.
“Your Life is Yours Alone…Rise up and Live It!”

Thank you to all of Terry’s super fans, who entered the contest, which unfortunately has only one winner.  Now without further ado.

The Winner of the “The First Confessor” Limited Collectors Edition Package is:

Congratulations JoAnne!

 

SWORD OF TRUTH MARATHON

In honor of Terry Goodkind and his many novels, The Reading Cafe will be having
a Sword of Truth Marathon from July 24 to August 5, 2012.  We will post one book review per night for 13 straight nights.  We will start with Wizards First Rule and end with The First Confessor.  The marathon will be late night (10:00pm est) posts, and fans can come to read the review and discuss their own thoughts on the books. We hope to see all of Terry’s fans back to discuss the Sword of Truth series.

 

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Alliance Forged by Kylie Griffin – a Review

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Alliance Forged by Kylie Griffin – a Review

Alliance Forged by Kylie Griffin is the second book of her Light Blade series, and it is going to be rerleased tomorrow, July 3rd. If you remember from my review of Vengeance Born, the Light Blade series is fantasy romance.  Griffin does a masterful job of creating this worldbuilding, of Humans (Light Blade), Na’Reish (demons), and Na’Chi (half human/demons).  The story picks up shortly after Vengeance Born left off, when Kalan,  the Chosen of the Light Blade, forces his command of the Council and Soldiers, by allowing Na’Chi to be part of their alliance, and his commitment to Annika, a NaChi, as his mate.  In order to win the ungoing war with the Na’Reish, the two sides need to join hands to work together to defeat the enemy. 

But prejudice is still a big issue for many to accept the Na’Chi as friends.  Alliance Forged is a dual story, showing how prejudice threatens to divide the Light Blade soldiers, with friends turning against each other.  Those that are willing to work with the strong Na’Chi and those who refuse to accept them as allies.    The other part is the romance between two unlikely pairings, but one that you saw the start of in Vengeance Born.

Kymora is Kalan’s sister, she is the priestess, the Temple Elect.  Kymora, who is also blind, speaks for the Lady, who is the human’s deity. Kymora is such a wonderful character.  She cares about others, and you marvel at how she can get around her blindness. She uses her gift, being able to sense aura’s and has worked to perfect that gift.  Kymora believes she has a destiny that the Lady expects her to fulfill, and that is to bring the Na’Chi and Humans together to help save them all.

Varian is the leader of the Na’Chi. We met Varian in Vengeance Born, when he led his people to follow Annika and Kalan when they returned to Sacred Lake.  That was when Varian and Kymora met, and soon thereafter, an uneasy alliance was born.  In this book, Kymora is working with the Na’Chi to teach them how to live with humans, and help them.  She befriends Varian, who isn’t an easy person to deal with.  Varian takes it upon himself to protect his people, and half of his inner self is full demon, that he brings out during battles.  Varian has a hard time keeping this dangerous angry part of him in control.   He begins to realize that Kymora soothes his anger, and he finds unfamiliar feelings, he doesn’t know how to handle when he is around her.  Kymora, finds herself content and happy around Varian, and she was very aggressive with him, trying to entice him to act on his feelings, until he could no longer resist.  Varian has always believed he would never have someone love him; that his people respected him as a leader, but did not want to be his friend. 

This is an amazing love story, to watch Kymora break the shield around Varian, and how they both explored their growing love, something neither had experienced.  Very nicely done, as I really enjoyed this romance, as it was totally different, and very nice to see. 

The ending was very exciting with the rebels fighting the alliance taking things too far, bringing danger to their own people, and sides have to be chosen.  The climatic ending is a race against time to save their own, and during this battle, Varian opens his heart to his true love.  A great story, and wonderful ending.  The battle is still on the horizon, with the humans/na’chi to possibly face the uncoming Na’reish demons.  The third book will be about Arek, who played a big part early on in this book, and in the first one.  I already cannot wait for his story, and to find out what will happen to him, as well as the war upcoming.  Great book and series by Kylie Griffin.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy supplied by Publisher

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Sovereign Hope by Frankie Rose

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Sovereign Hope by Frankie Rose

Blurb from Website:

Everyone has a soul

Some are just worth more than others

Farley Hope was seventeen when her mother disappeared. In the last six months not much has changed, except that her eighteenth birthday came and went and still no sign of Moira. Her life is just as complicated as it always was: since her father died in a car crash before she was even born, she’s officially parentless, and to top it all off she’s still suffering from the hallucinations. Mind-splitting, vivid hallucinations- the kind prone to induce night terrors and leave you whimpering under your covers like a baby.

The last thing on her mind is boys. Farley is on break from St. Judes’ when she meets Daniel. It’s not some casual run in at a party, or even a blind date with friends, though. Daniel is the guy stalking her in his 1970′s Dodge Charger; the guy standing at her  window in the LA lunch hour traffic, determined  on dragging her out of her truck.

The moment Farley lays eyes on Daniel, everything changes. However, regrettably for Farley, her life isn’t set to change for the better. She is drawn into a world that will shake apart everything she thought she ever knew. There are truths out there that she must learn: who her father really was, and what it means to have his blood flowing through her veins; that a person’s soul is their only real currency, and there are people who would do anything to take hers; that loving someone can hurt so much more than hating them; but, most importantly, when your future is predestined, there is little you can do to change it.

Farley Hope is prophesied.

Her coming has been awaited for hundreds of years.

She is destined to end the tyranny of the Soul Reavers.

To do so she must die.

Review:

Sovereign Hope is the debut novel and the first book in Frankie Rose’s Hope Series.  When I read the description of this story, I figured another one of those teenage girls in distress, since it did not look like the lately normal YA dystopian theme.

The action in the book started pretty quickly, and even though at the beginning, you may not understand what is happening..neither does the heroine, you are pulled totally into the story. I was totally surprised, and pleasantly I might add, how Frankie Rose was able to maintain your interest throughout the book.

The story is about Farley Hope, and Rose has made her into a wonderful heroine. Farley is only 18, her world has turned upside down; her mother is missing; no one takes her seriously about her hallucinations, but the worst is yet to come.  Farley has such a great sense of humor, her thoughts and comments throughout the book, even in the worst situations, will make you love her all the more.  But make no mistake, Farley is a capable and tough heroine.  She will face life threatening danger many times, and she will hold firm, and maintain her toughness, despite her wanting to crawl under the covers. 

Farley meets Daniel, a surly and distant young man, whom she immediately finds herself attracted too, but his demeanor always finds a way to push her back.  Daniel saves her life from strange men trying to hurt her, and Farley can get no answers as to what is going on, other then her weird hallucinations.  She only tells her best friend, Tess about them, but no one really believes her. Looking for her mother, she meets Agatha, a friend of Daniel’s, and Farley is pulled into a world she never imagined.  Her life will never be the same, if she survives it. 

Farley is taken to an underground compound to keep her safe, and she learns why she is now hunted from Agatha, as Daniel refuses to tell her anything.  The Reavers are immortals, who take souls of others.  They cannot be killed, and Agatha and Daniel are part of group trying to stop them.  Farley discovers she is part of a prophecy that can destroy the Reavers, hence why she is now the hunted. 

The relationship between Farley and Daniel grows, as he knows about the prophecy and his need to protect her from the dangers, therefore he fights his feelings and is determined to keep his distance from her. Farley has a hard time understanding why Daniel is so belligerent at times with her.  But as each day goes by, they are both feeling the attraction to each other.  It is a slow, and at times frustrating romance, because of the dangers involved.  But it is their romance, that will help them both survive.

This is an intense, action filled, and at times dark story, but Rose does such a wonderful job releasing the tension with so many light and humorous parts.  This is most certainly a split personality of a story, tense/dark and fun/light. Rose has done a wonderful job in her debut novel in creating this world, the addicting story, villains, and her characters are excellent.  I for one cannot wait for the next book.  Well done, Frankie Rose.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy Provided by Author

 

TRC Note:  Frankie Rose will be visiting The Reading Cafe on July 14th for an interview.  Don’t miss it.

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Vengeance Born by Kylie Griffin

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Vengeance Born by Kylie Griffin

Vengeance Born by Kylie Griffin, is the first book in her Light Blade series.  This is a book about two couples, one a half demon and the other a human warrior. Vengeance Born is a Fantasy Romance, and totally different then most romance stories.  It is a story of two unlikely people, who come together to help each other survive a deadly situation.  It is a story of trust, prejudice and how love can change anything. 

Annika, is a half-breed of human and demon; who is also a healer, and has lived all her life in a demon world, run by her demon father who hated her. In her world, the demons (Na Reish), use humans as blood-slaves, but half-human half-demon (Na Chi) children are looked upon with hatred.  Annika thinks of herself as the only Na Chi, as others were killed at birth.  She was kept alive by her father, the King, to torture her as revenge.  Annika dreams of escaping, and grasping a chance at possible freedom, she helps an imprisoned human Light Blade warrior to escape, with the promise of helping her.

Kalan, the Light Blade, agrees to help Annika, but he distrusts her as he knows she is a demon, and he has been brought up to hate all demons. Annika used her healing powers to help Kalan, and then helps him escape his imprisonment.  The beginning of the story is about their escape, running for their lives from the Na’Reish warriors who are searching for them. Kalan, is an honorable man, as well as a strong and handsome warrior.  He finds it difficult to trust Annika, and has a hard time hiding his dislike for what she is.  At times he finds himself sympathetic to the life she has lived, as they learn more about each other during their travel to the human land.  Annika is truly a warm and giving person, but has known what it’s like to be hated all of her life.  She too does not trust Kalan, but is used to that type of behavior towards her.  At times, you find yourself cringing at the treatment others have towards Annika, and even Kalan, does the same with his preconceived notions.  But slowly, Kalan begins to see another side, and the distrust and hatred, begins to change to friendship. 

Griffin does a wonderful job, of showing us the improbability of a friendship coming out of this, not to mention a romance.  It is done so well, and very slowly.  Both learn to open their hearts and learn to love, though for Annika, it is difficult transition, as she knows nothing of love and acceptance.  It was also very well done showing Annika’s need for blood, and how she trained herself to only use animal blood, since her father tortured her as a child to kill for blood. Kalan begins to learn about Annika, and the difficult life she has lived, and you see the change in him as time goes on. Kalan is a good and kind leader of his people, and what he learns from Annika goes a long way to trying to help his people change their prejudices, which will take a long time.   

Griffin also has created some excellent characters in the Light Blade series, whom we will continue to learn about them as this series continues.  I really liked Kymora, and Arek has a lot of potential as a possible hero, and we know Varian will soon get his story.  Of course, in any fantasy, even in romance, there are villains, and this book has them. 

Vengeance Born is an excellent book by Kylie Griffin, and I really enjoyed reading this book.  The romance is so different then the norm, and it is very gratifying.  Prejudice plays a major part, and though this book has a happy ending, it is far from over.  The series will continue, with much anger, hatred and prejudice still to be fought, not to mention the war between the demons and humans.  Up next, Alliance Forged.

Reviewed by Barb

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