Tag Archives: Paranomal

Half-Blood by Jennifer L. Armentrout – a Review

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Half-Blood by Jennifer L. Armentrout – a Review

 

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Description:
The Hematoi descend from the unions of gods and mortals, and the children of two Hematoi pure bloods have godlike powers. Children of Hematoi and mortals–well, not so much. Half-bloods only have two options: become trained Sentinels who hunt and kill daimons or become servants in the homes of the pures.

Seventeen-year-old Alexandria would rather risk her life fighting than waste it scrubbing toilets, but she may end up slumming it anyway. There are several rules that students at the Covenant must follow. Alex has problems with them all, but especially rule #1:Relationships between pures and halfs are forbidden. Unfortunately, she’s crushing hard on the totally hot pure-blood Aiden. But falling for Aiden isn’t her biggest problem–staying alive long enough to graduate the Covenant and become a Sentinel is.

If she fails in her duty, she faces a future worse than death or slavery: being turned into a daimon, and being hunted by Aiden. And that would kind of suck.

 

 

Review:

Half-Blood by Jennifer L. Armentrout is the first book in her Covenant series.  I have read almost everything by Armentrout, but I never read Covenant; which is now a rerelease.  Alexandra (Alex) is a half-blood, born of a pure-blood “Hematoi” mother and a human father. Half-bloods only have two options: become trained Sentinels who hunt and kill daimons or become servants in the homes of the pures. Alex was schooled at Covenant, until her mother decided to run from Covenant with her daughter, with them hiding for three years.  One day, Alex finds her mother has been killed by daimons, and she escapes; and while on the run, she is saved by the Sentinels, and returned to Covenant.

When her uncle and stepfather want to relegate her to being a servant; it is Aiden (her sentinel friend) who convinces them that Alex has a lot of potential, especially since she managed to kill a couple of daimons while on the run, which impressed him. Aiden offers to teach Alex, volunteering to train her, during the summer, giving her the chance to be allowed to stay in the Covenant; both the uncle & stepfather agree.  

Alex learns from her stepfather that her mother is still alive, but she is now a daimon, which she has a hard time believing that.  In the middle of the night, she leaves the Covenant, to find her mother. She and her friend Caleb are kidnapped by the daimons, and discovers that her mother is now one of the daimon leaders.  In order to save Caleb, Alex will end up killing her mother, who was trying to change her to a daimon.  Aiden and the sentinels manage to find Alex and Caleb, and bring them back to Covenant; as she realizes that the implications of her actions needed to change her ways.  Alex will learn some truths about why her mother left three years ago; as she has more abilities that she never knew, since Seth (Apollyon) has a bond to her.   Alex has slowly fallen for Aiden, but knows that a relationship between pure-blood and half-blood is forbidden. Alex learns more about Seth, but she only cares about Aiden.

Half-Blood is an exciting and different kind of paranormal story line revolving around Pures and Half-Blood, and the enemy, daimons.  I really liked Alex, even though early on she a bit wild; but the last half, she improved a lot.  I liked her and Aiden together, but I wondered where this will go in the next book, since Seth is now a bigger part to the story.  Once again, Jennifer L. Armentrout has me waiting for the next book. 

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

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Cloak & Silence by Sherrilyn Kenyon – a Review

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Cloak & Silence by Sherrilyn Kenyon – a Review

cloak & silence

Links to order Cloak & Silence:
Amazon / Barnes & Noble /  Kobo

Description:
Setting: Ichidian Universe

SPOILER ALERT If you haven’t read Born of Silence, there are spoilers contained below.

One of the fiercest soldiers the Phrixians have ever produced, Maris Sulle has been an outsider from the moment he was born different from the rest of his family. He grew up with a secret that cost him everything—his birthright, his family, and his military career. In all his life, he’s only had one love, and he has sacrificed his own happiness to see his best friend reunited with the woman he loves. But now that his good deed is done, he feels lost and adrift. Even though they do their best to include him in their new family, Maris is once again on the outside looking in.

Ture has spent his life hiding from everyone around him—his family, the world, you name it—while trying desperately to fit in. Badly hurt by everyone he’s ever known, he trusts no one except his own best friend. And honestly, he can’t understand why he trusts her. Nor can he believe her when she describes a loyalty between friends the likes of which he’s never seen.

But when Ture is in his darkest hour, he’s saved by a hero he thought only existed in novels. A man who is every bit as scarred and mistrusting as he is—one who has no interest in being dragged into another relationship with anyone.

Having spent his life as a living study of doomed relationships, Maris is well aware of the courtship and fiasco that invariably follows. Still, there is something about Ture he can’t resist. Something that won’t let him walk away when he knows he should.

But when old enemies return to threaten them both, they either have to stand together or die alone.

 

Review;

All I can say is Sherrilyn Kenyon is forever amazing me with her writing and storytelling ability.  I absolutely loved Cloak and Silence and how she wrote this particular story.  You see, this is the first time I’ve ever read a story where the two main characters are male, and wasn’t sure what to expect from her with this one.  I shouldn’t have worried, because true to her nature, she wrote a beautiful story and had me hooked like a fish on a line after the first chapter. 

We previously meet Maris and Ture in Born of Silence, and it was from that point I was intrigued by them. Even though Maris and Ture had limited scenes together in that one, you saw something brewing there and by the end of the book it appeared they were together.  From that point on I wondered if we’d see more of them in their own book, or just as secondary characters in a future book.  I’m really glad Ms. Kenyon decided to listen to her fans and write this one.  She did an amazing job as the story just flowed from beginning to end.  The emotions between not only Maris and Ture, but also between friends, and the love and romance that takes place is very convincing and believable.  It’s no wonder I love this author, you feel and see the love she has for her characters in the way she writes their story.  

In Cloak and Silence, Ms. Kenyon does a wonderful job writing both Maris and Ture’s characters.  She wrote this story with dignity and class, and made my heart break for the cruelty shown towards both Maris and Ture for their sexual  orientation. She never once sugar coated anything, but instead gave us the reality of what their lives were like and will continue to be like.  I enjoyed the slow buildup to the romance between Maris and Ture.  Both had reservations because of their backgrounds but truly liked the other and knew they wanted each other.  Their interactions are funny and sweet at times, while other times are very serious and heartfelt.  She created a wonderful balance within their relationship.

Another aspect of the book I liked was seeing the friendships Maris has with past characters and how he brings Ture into that circle of friends.  This group of friends has a bond that is unbreakable and we see it in how they come together to help each other out no matter what. They would lay down their lives for one another no questions asked, and now Ture is part of that family. They may not be family by blood, but they are family none the less.  Ms. Kenyon has a knack for writing these kinds of friendships and relationships in all of her series.  It’s these moments in her stories that either have me howling with laughter, gasping in shock or screaming in outrage over whatever is going on.  In Cloak and Silence it wasn’t any different. There were many times she had me near tears over heartbreaking conversations, or in fits of laughter over the shenanigans taking place.  Never a dull moment in one of Kenyon’s books.

One final aspect I enjoyed in Cloak and Silence was finally learning more about Maris’ species, the Phrixians.  It was interesting to learn that they are amphibious by nature and shift appearances in water.  I loved the scene where Ture first sees Maris in his true form.  Maris expects revulsion and disgust to show in Ture’s gaze, but instead he’s floored to see wonder and acceptance.  The way Maris and Ture accept the other for who and what they are is wonderful to see.  Too many times society judges people by their differences.  It was a breath of fresh air to see how Maris and Ture are accepted by their friends and ‘true family’ no mater there differences. We get to see just how tight these friends are when Darling has a heart to heart with Maris towards the end of the book, when Darling realizes Maris is afraid of what he has with Ture.  The conversation that takes place is touching, real and you feel Darlings words to Maris deep down in your heart.  Ms. Kenyon definitely has a way with words and knows just the correct way to phrase them to evoke the most emotion out of her readers. 

Cloak and Silence was brilliantly written. If you enjoy a quick read filled with emotion, laughter and tears and of course danger then this one’s for you.  Kenyon truly out does her self with this one. She takes two characters who believe they are destined to be alone for the rest of their lives, constantly battling against the world, only to find each other and see that maybe they can have it all. With the help of their friends, against all odds, they are able to survive the battles that come at them and make it out the other end.  The emotion, conversations and romance is this book are real and heartfelt and like I said earlier, hook the reader like a fish on a line.  You can’t help but cheer on Maris and Ture and want to jump into the battle yourself and dish out a little beat down to the League Assassins who are gunning for Maris.  The fight scene in the end is well written and kept me on the edge of my seat every step of the way.  I enjoyed this book from beginning to end and was sad when I got to the last page. I wanted Maris and Ture’s story to continue.  My fingers are crossed that I see more of this amazing couple in the next League book Born of Fury which is Hauk’s book.  If the little snippet at the end of Cloak and Silence is any indication about what to expect, all I can say is we will be in for one bumpy and crazy ride with Hauk.

Until next time, happy reading    

Reviewed by Marcie

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A Highlander of Her Own

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“A Highlander of her Own” is the 4th book in the Daughters of the Glen series by Melissa Mayhue.  Once again, as it seems be with Melissa Mayhue, I really enjoyed this book.  The only thing missing out of this book was we didn’t get to see the others in the present time.   But nevertheless, it was great to spend more time with Rosalyn and her family.  Great to see Sallie again, having her 4th child. Lol  too bad though, Sallie would have been a great character for the future.  But I am sure she will continue to be part of future stories, especially those spent in Scotland.

“A Highlander of her Own” begins in Texas present present time with Ellie Denton, as her world has spiraled out of control. She has a strange new birthmark, animals talking to her, and her mother’s ex-husband laying claim to the family ranch that she wanted for herself.  But Ellie doesn’t that the birthmark is her connection to her Faerie ancestors, which Pol gave to the other women, upon Mairi’s request. Life is about to change for Ellie.

At the same time back in Scotland, 1304, Caden MacAlister is having his own problems, with his brother held for ransom, the laird missing,  he sees a mysterious woman in his stables.  Knowing the history of his family and the Fae, Caden thinks Ellie was sent by the Fae for one of his brothers, as he has no desire to be involved with anything sent by the Fae.

This book was different then the others.  Ellie Denton  turns out to be a great heroine.  I really enjoyed everything about Ellie.  Not so much when she was in Texas, but definitely when she traveled to the past to Scotland and the MacKiernan’s.  I loved her with Caden, but at times he would annoy me, being so determined to push Ellie to his brothers.  Loved the way she interacted so well with everyone, even the help (anna).  Another reason this book was so different, yet very enjoyable, was Ellie’s ability to converse with animals.  I enjoyed and laughed at times with her conversations with Missy and Baby.  However, what kinds of names for dogs are Missy and Baby?…cmon.  lol  Missy maybe, but Baby?  Baby was a big dog, he went to rescue Caden, then went back to Ellie for help.  He most certainly wasn’t a baby. Lol  ok enough of that.

The book was well written and kept your interest throughout.  The betrayals, rescues of Colin, Blane and introducing new characters, such as Dair and Simeon. I really liked Dair from the start, not so his sister and brother. Simeon we shall see. I loved the way Sallie gave her knives to Ellie to use, and how she eventually did use them.  But Caden stubbornness, Ellie’s confusion of what she thought would happen, was a bit annoying (not too much), as it finally took Rosalyn to take matters into her own hands.  Great ending, great plan by Rosalyn to get everyone united in helping to force Caden and Ellie together finally.  I do have to say, I wasn’t totally happy about the ending. I understand for Ellie’s sake, they needed closure, some kind of revenge for Ray Stanton.  But to end the book that way, I would have preferred more like the first three books.

I enjoyed this book.  It was an easy read, a fun read and this series does have great romantic couples or should we say…soul mates. I fully understand why everyone who reads this series loves it.  This is perfect escapism  Next I start A Highlander Destiny, which I know is Jesse’s book.

Barb

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