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The Orchid Throne by Jeffe Kennedy – Review, Excerpt & Giveaway

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The Orchid Throne by Jeffe Kennedy – Review, Excerpt & Giveaway

 

 

 

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Description:
A PRISONER OF FATE

As Queen of the island kingdom of Calanthe, Euthalia will do anything to keep her people free—and her secrets safe—from the mad tyrant who rules the mainland. Guided by a magic ring of her father’s, Lia plays the political game with the cronies the emperor sends to her island. In her heart, she knows that it’s up to her to save herself from her fate as the emperor’s bride. But in her dreams, she sees a man, one with the power to build a better world—a man whose spirit is as strong, and whose passion is as fierce as her own…

A PRINCE AMONG MEN

Conrí, former Crown Prince of Oriel, has built an army to overthrow the emperor. But he needs the fabled Abiding Ring to succeed. The ring that Euthalia holds so dear to her heart. When the two banished rulers meet face to face, neither can deny the flames of rebellion that flicker in their eyes—nor the fires of desire that draw them together. But in this broken world of shattered kingdoms, can they ever really trust each other? Can their fiery alliance defeat the shadows of evil that threaten to engulf their hearts and souls?

 

 

Review:

The Orchid Throne by Jeffe Kennedy is the first book in her new Forgotten Empire series.  We meet our heroine, Euthalia (Lia) the Queen of Calanthe, as her maids prepare her daily ritual in meeting with island residents or political cronies.   Lia keeps herself safe from the Emperor and his cronies who watch over her from afar.  When her father dies, Lia assumed the throne of her flower island, and has been successful in keeping the emperor distant, since she is fated to be his virgin bride.  All Lia cares about is keeping Calanthe safe from the evil emperor, and at the same time hide her ability to use magic, which the emperor frowns on.

Conri, our hero, is the former Crown Prince of Oriel, and a former slave imprisoned by the evil emperor, when his land was overthrown.  Conri and his friends, managed to escape, and he becomes known as the Slave King, building his army to fight the Emperor.  Conri is told by his wizard, Ambrose (who was a great character),  that he needs to get help from the Queen of Calanthe, as she has a powerful ring that would help them defeat the emperor; but prophecy says he needs to wed the queen to be able to use the Orchid ring.

As we learn all of this early on, the POV of both Lia and Conri went back and forth, being somewhat confusing,  and definitely dragging a bit.  I understand in many first books of a fantasy series, the author tries to fit as much information to introduce the world building.    I thought about 30% of the beginning was slow at times, until Conri arrived on Calanthe to try and deal with the Queen, only to be put in prison.  Once the two of them meet and the banter between them escalates, we now become totally vested; making us happy as the rest of the book was a pleasure to read. 

What follows is a slow build romance between two unlikely people that are pushed together despite the odds, and once they get past their dislike of each other, it was fun to watch them act the parts and then eventually join together in order to defeat the enemy.  But first they had to convince themselves, as well as consummate their marriage, which was more fun then anticipated. 

To my surprise, this turned out to be an enjoyable read, once we got past the early beginning.  The Orchid Throne centers around Conri and Lia, and the upcoming battle to defeat the powerful emperor, who will surely be coming for them, as he certainly couldn’t be happy that he lost his virgin bride.  To tell too much more would be spoilers, as you really need to learn all about Conri and Lia and see them evolve.  Be warned though…it ends in a cliffhanger, as the battle has yet to begun.   If you like fantasy romance, captivating couple and an evil villain and don’t mind a slow start to introduce you to this world, then I suggest you read The Orchid Throne.   I know I will be reading the next book.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

“Arise, Your Highness. The realm awaits the sun of Your presence.”
The ritual words cut through the thick smoke of the nightmare, bringing me awake with a start. A bad omen that I hadn’t come out of the dreams on my own—and a sign that gave the images the power to linger in my mind, stains refusing to be scrubbed clean.
The wolf fought its chains, howling in hoarse rage, shedding fire and ash.
The sea churned, bloodred and crimson dark, bones tossed in the waves, white as foam.
The tower fell into a pile of golden rubble, then to fine sand, the grains sliding against one another with soul- grinding whispered screams.
I loathe dreaming, where I have even less control than in the waking world. Calanthe Herself sings sweetly to me of the seas, the plants, and the creatures that walk Her soil. But outside our fragile island, the abandoned lands beyond cry like frightened children in the night. I can’t help them. It’s all I can do to protect Calanthe, and most days I de- spair of being able to do even that.
Still, with no one else to hear them, they call to me in chaotic images, the nightmares dashing me from one dark
scenario to the next. No matter how the dreams plague me, I usually wake when the light of the rising sun reddens my eyelids. I keep my eyes closed, pretending to anyone who checks on me that I’m still asleep. Pulling the pieces of my composure together, I listen to the morning song of Calanthe. The birds sitting high in the canopy to catch the first warming rays of the sun show me the sky. The fish swimming in the sea speak of clean water and plentiful food. Even the trees, the flowers, the small insects in the soil all hum to me of their lives.

All reassure me of the balance, that Calanthe, at least, is peaceful and vital.

Only I and the land I’m tied to exist in that time after sleep and before true waking, in what I call the dream- think, an almost enchanted bubble where I belong en- tirely to Calanthe. The emperor does not own me. The crying lands he’s orphaned are silent. My ladies have not yet woken me to wrenching reality and the trials of the day ahead.
Dreams always seem to me a terrible price to pay for the succor of sleep. Neither my naturalists nor my physi- cians seem to be able to explain the purpose of such dreams. And of course, Anure killed all the wizards, so I have none to tell me if magic can answer those nighttime screams. So without answers, and like the exorbitant tithes I’m forced to send to the emperor, I do pay the price, and nightly. The dreamthink is my reward, my time with Calanthe. A gift arising from waking Ejarat of the earth welcoming the return of Her husband, Sawehl of the sun. In the dreamthink, in Calanthe’s sweet communion, I can believe the old gods are with us still, that they haven’t abandoned us. That I have reason to hope.
“Euthalia, wake up. We’re ready,” Tertulyn whispered in my ear. My first lady-in-waiting, doing her duty as al-ways. She couldn’t know she’d woken me from the night- mare instead of the dreamthink. Or that starting my day this way meant it would be certainly cursed.

No one believes in omens or curses anymore. Or hope, for that matter. In this, too, I am alone.
Euthalia is a mouthful, but no one calls me that except for Tertulyn so it doesn’t matter. Only Emperor Anure has the rank to address me by my given name, and I avoid con- versation with His Imperial Nastiness to the best of my ability. Tertulyn has called me by my name since we were children, but only when no one can overhear, as etiquette demands.
As if she’d whispered them into my ear along with my name, the concerns of the realm immediately flooded my mind. The emperor’s emissary should have returned in the night and would want an audience with me—something I’d been dreading, as he never brought good news. Rumors had spread of slave uprisings, possibly even rebellion, as unlikely as that would be, that had the emperor both an- gry and insecure in his power. The worst possible combi- nation in a man like him.
If I believed a rebellion could succeed, I would rejoice in the battle to come. But I had no hope of that. No one could defy Anure’s vast power and ability to destroy the least whimper of resistance, as all those kingless and queenless lands testified, crying their hopelessness to me every night.
No, such rumors meant the Imperial Tyrant would only tighten his fist—one that already strangled us nearly to death. The prospect of worse to come made me inexpress- ibly weary, and I hadn’t even gotten out of bed yet.
Nevertheless, I had to face the day. A realm awaited the sun of my presence, after all.

I opened my eyes and pasted a serene smile on my lips.Tertulyn—already wigged, gowned, and decked in fresh flowers—stood a decorous three steps back from my bed, hands folded over her heart. All equally polished and lovely as morning dew, my five junior ladies awaited in a ring around her. They’d all been up since well before dawn to dress themselves before attending me. And yet their eyes sparkled as brightly as the birds that had shown me the sun on the sea, pretty painted lips curved in delighted smiles. Though I was only twenty-six, they made me feel old.
If a witch offered me a magic potion to remove the last ten years and restore my youth—and the innocent belief I’d had then, that my life would be a good one—I’d down it without question. Even if it meant my death the next day. No, that was a lie. I would never shirk my duty to Calanthe, not even for such a fantasy. Not without an heir
to take my place. No matter how old and tired I felt.


 

 


JEFFE KENNEDY is an award-winning, bestselling author who writes fantasy, fantasy romance, and contemporary romance. She serves on the Board of Directors for SFWA as a Director at Large. 

Her most recent works include Prisoner of the Crown and the upcoming Exile of the Seas, from her high fantasy trilogy from Rebel Base books, The Chronicles of Dasnaria, in the same world as her award-winning fantasy series The Twelve Kingdoms and The Uncharted Realms. She is a hybrid author, and also self-publishes a fantasy series, Sorcerous Moons. Her books have won the RT Reviewers’ Choice Best Fantasy Romance of 2015, been named Best Book of June 2014, and won RWA’s prestigious RITA® Award. 

She lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico, with two Maine coon cats, plentiful free-range lizards and a very handsome Doctor of Oriental Medicine.

Jeffe can be found online at her website: JeffeKennedy.com, every Sunday at the SFF Seven blog, on Facebook, on Goodreads and on Twitter @jeffekennedy.

Author website: JeffeKennedy.com
The SFF Seven blog: https://sffseven.blogspot.com/ on Sundays
Author Twitter: https://twitter.com/jeffekennedy
Author Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jeffe.kennedy
Author Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1014374.Jeffe_Kennedy
SMP Romance Twitter: @SMPRomance or @heroesnhearts
SMP Romance Website: https://heroesandheartbreakers.com/

 

Jeffe Kennedy’s publisher is  offering a paper copy of The Orchid Throne to ONE (1) lucky commenter at The Reading Cafe.

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The Krinar Code by Emma Castle – a Review

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The Krinar Code by Emma Castle – a Review

 

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Description:
She isn’t supposed to fall in love with him… He’s one of the aliens who invaded Earth.

Harper King is like most humans—she works hard at her job and does her best not to think too much about the Krinar. 

The mysterious aliens took over her planet five years ago, and since then, rumors have surrounded them… whispers of super strength and speed, incredible beauty, and advanced technology. 

Harper should hate them, since her parents died the day they invaded, but something about the infamous Krinar fascinates her. 

Little does she know that the sinfully gorgeous drifter who rescues her from a bar fight will give her the close encounter she’s always dreamed of.

Sef is supposed to be infiltrating a human resistance group, not seducing sweet little human females. But from the moment he sets eyes on Harper, he knows he must have her and will do anything to possess her. Using his human disguise, he lures Harper into his arms and his bed. When it’s far too late for her to escape him, he reveals that he’s a Krinar, one of the powerful and terrifying aliens she’s always wanted to meet. 

He gives her a choice: to save her brothers, she must give herself to him—heart, body, and soul.

Will she choose her dark, seductive alien lover to save her family? Or will she resist the secret desires of her own heart in order to be free?

 

 

Review:

The Krinar Code by Emma Castle continues The Krinar World series. We first meet Sef in The Krinar Eclipse (he’s Soren’s twin brother) he’s been altered to look more human, he’s been assigned to find, infiltrate and eliminate any resistance fighters that he comes across. But what he finds instead, is a beautiful thing woman on the wrong side of a human males fist!!! 

Tending to her, he realises he may have just found a new toy!!! Krinar are rarely monogamous, but after seeing his brother happy with his “charl” that’s beloved or soulmate in his language, Sef wonders if it’s a one off.

Harper is a hard working human. By day she works in a garage as the mechanic, and in the evenings she works in the bar adjoined to the garage. The bar belongs to her family (her brothers usually run it) she helps out when she can, or when the brothers need her to fill in. Her brothers are resistant fighters. They have been ever since first contact was made, there were pockets of fighting, but no one is a match for the Krinar. 

After saving Harper from a bar full of angry men, he tends to her bruised face. He’s annoyed that she doesn’t have protection. But seducing this tasty human shouldn’t be his priority, he needs to finds the resistance fighters in this area. But one taste won’t hurt, will it? 

Finding out Seth is in fact a dreaded and feared Krinar, and it’s Sef both Seth is bad enough, but when he tells Harper that he knows her brothers are part of the resistance fighters, they will be found and they will be ended!!!! But he’s willing to negotiate…… be his for as long as he wants her, no resistance, her body is to be his and his alone, then he will forget he’s seen her brothers. 

Harper likes Sef, but to be forced…. her choice has been taken away, so it becomes a battle of wills, he may have her body ….. but her heart and soul!!! Never!!!! 

Again it’s a short story from the author. (Same author just another Pen name) We get a little more information on both the resistance and the Krinar people. They think they are entitled to this planet, they find the resistance an irritation, but it’s growing, so things must be done. Enter our hero (another arrogant Krinar) Sef. (Twin to Soren) 

I liked Harper, her dyslexia was handled well (too many authors can come across as unfeeling or condescending) she loved her family and there wasn’t nothing she wouldn’t do to save them. 

We get a little more on the Krinar people. Cramming a lot of information into a novella is always difficult, how much to add, add too much and it just seemed jumbled. Could it be made longer? I think so, there was so much more we could have heard about. I like this world, and I’ll have to come back and visit it soon?

Reviewed by Julie B

Copy supplied for review

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The Krinar Eclipse by Lauren Smith – a Review

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The Krinar Eclipse by Lauren Smith – a Review

 

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Description:
Bianca Wells, the President’s daughter, experiences a close encounter with the aliens who invaded Earth five years ago. 

The Krinar are powerful, attractive, but also mysterious. There is one in particular she can’t get out of her head—the seductive Krinar Ambassador named Soren. With his hauntingly beautiful eyes and god-like body, he invades her dreams, spinning sensual encounters that leave her aching and breathless. But he, like the others of his kind, is dangerous. With impossible speed and strength, wielding incredible intelligence and advanced technology, the Krinar control this planet and every human on it. Bianca should want nothing to do with Soren. A single touch from him might cause an interstellar war. But after one scorching, forbidden kiss, she’ll risk everything to be with him.

Soren came to Earth to ensure the survival of his people, but now he has one desire: to possess the brave and irresistible Bianca. Knowing he could destroy peaceful relations with the humans if anyone sees him with her, he takes matters into his own hands, rescuing her from an assassin. After one “big-bang” of a kiss, he knows he can’t let her go home. She belongs to him, and he will break every rule in his carefully controlled world to keep her.

After their forbidden night of passion, Bianca enters Soren’s dark, seductive world. But her new life as Soren’s woman puts a target on her back, and her status as First Daughter only makes things worse. As enemies surface all around them, Bianca realizes she will have to trust Soren with her heart, even if it means giving up her freedom.

 

 

Review:

The Krinar Eclipse by Lauren Smith is a new series for me, so I opened up the kindle and jumped in ….. 

Bianca is the presidents daughter, and Instead of celebrating her birthday with a car, she’s being told by her father that they are being “invaded”, at first Bianca thinks it’s all a joke, until a being enters the room, without using the door!!!! 

The Krinar are here, and they aren’t going anywhere ……. 

We jump five years the Krinar have total control of the planet…..

Ambassador Soren has watched this planet for a very long time. And when it was time for his people to act, Soren was one of the first aliens to make contact. They were more powerful than any of the humans, it wasn’t going to take much effort to subdue them. This planet had so much to offer, and so the Krinar decide to take it back …… 

Thousands of years ago, the Krinar had tinkered with the lifeforms on Earth. They mixed the original DNA with Krinar DNA, so technically we are part alien!! 

Bianca can’t believe it, Soren is back in her dreams and now her life. Why won’t he look at her in that cold clinical way he did five years ago? Why is he looking at her in a hot and naughty way? They know they shouldn’t be together (but that doesn’t stop her from dreaming about him) and if it does, then wars will break out. Is it really worth it? He’s gorgeous, but women are just playthings to the Krinar. 

In all of his 8,000 years of living, no one has stirred him as much as Bianca does, he fools himself into thinking he’s keeping an eye on her (she is the presidents daughter after all) to keep her safe from the resistance (they target sympathisers) But ever since he met her five years ago, he’s thought of her at odd moments, and now he has to interact with her again. He’s not sure if he can resist the young lady she has become. He’d wants nothing more than to sink into her body and her blood. But to do so would break the treaty and start a war that would possibly destroy this fragile planet. 

So do Soren and Bianca risk war? Will she be able to walk away when he is done with her? Will he be able to give her up? And what about the resistance fighters? Will they be able to drive the Krinar off this planet? 

Being just a novella, there is a lot packed into this story. Could it have been longer? Yes, it could’ve easily been a novel. A few things needed fleshing out, but being a short story, some of those things had to be sacrificed. I found it easy to dislike Soren (he came across as arrogant at first) and to roll my eyes at Bianca. But in the end….. I liked the book. 

Apparently this is an ongoing world where other authors contribute. I haven’t read any of the other books. It was a different approach (earth being manipulated thousands of years ago, to host a new life form) and I liked the idea. 

Reviewed by Julie

Copy supplied for review

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Master of the World by Edward Willett – Review & Giveaway

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Master of the World by Edward Willett – Review & Giveaway

 

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Description:
Shawna Keys has fled the world she only recently discovered she Shaped, narrowly escaping death at the hands of the Adversary who seized control of it…and losing her only guide, Karl Yatsar, in the process.

Now she finds herself alone in some other Shaper’s world, where, in her first two hours, she’s rescued from a disintegrating island by an improbable flying machine she recognizes from Jules Verne’s Robur the Conqueror, then seized from it by raiders flying tiny personal helicopters, and finally taken to a submarine that bears a strong resemblance to Captain Nemo’s Nautilus. Oh, and accused of being both a spy and a witch.

Shawna expects–hopes!–Karl Yatsar will eventually follow her into this new steampunky realm, but exactly where and when he’ll show up, she hasn’t a clue.

In the meantime, she has to navigate a world where two factions fanatically devoted to their respective leaders are locked in perpetual combat, figure out who the Shaper of the world is, find him or her, and obtain the secret knowledge of this world’s Shaping. Then she has to somehow reconnect with Karl Yatsar, and escape to the next Shaped world in the Labyrinth…through a Portal she has no idea how to open

 

 

Review:

Master of the World by Edward Willett is the 2nd book in his Worldshaper series.  When we left off in the first book (Worldshaper), Shawna Keys, our heroine, managed to escape the Adversary, who was trying to kill her; she entered a portal into another shaper’s world, and unfortunately, the man who has been helping her deal with being a shaper (Karl) was missing, leaving Shawna all alone.

As she enters another portal where she hoped to find Karl, Shawna finds herself kidnapped and in a world that is shaped into a steampunk Jules Vern style.  Shawna will be rescued by another group that brings her to a land that is run by a Prince, who wants Shawna’s help to defeat Rubar, another leader.  Shawna must find out which of the two men is really the Shaper of the World, in order to get his help to find Karl.

What follows is an interesting concept utilizing a world shaped by the books of Jules Verne, and Shawna trying to keep herself alive, as well as to learn how to handle her own shaper abilities.  She will spend time with both leaders, and in trying to discover who is the true master of the world.   She will sneak away to Rubar and hope that he is the Shaper.  This is a difficult review to write, as there are so many details and characters, and to tell too much would ruin the storyline. 

Master of the World was a detailed, at times exciting, and entertaining story line.  As I had noted in my first book review, this is a very different type of fantasy.  Because of the many details relating a lot to Jules Verne, it lost me along the way causing parts that were slow and somewhat redundant; the world building was interesting.  If you enjoy a steampunk fantasy, then I suggest you read this series, but please start with the first book, Worldshaper.   

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

Edward Willett’s publisher is  offering a paper copy of MASTER OF THE WORLD to ONE (1) lucky commenter at The Reading Cafe.

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Lies of Descent by Troy Carrol Bucher – a Review

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Lies of Descent by Troy Carrol Bucher – a Review

 

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Description:
The Fallen Gods’ War drove the remnants of a victorious army across the ocean in search of a new homeland. A thousand years later, the lifeless continent of Draegora is largely forgotten, a symbol for the regiments that remain. Demons to some. Protectors to others. The power of their god-touched blades has forged a nation, though many resent their absolute control.

Riam and Nola are unknowing descendants of the old world. When it’s discovered they carry enough Draegoran blood to serve in the regiments, they are dragged away from their families to begin training. If they survive, they will be expected to enforce the laws of the covenant, to fight the Esharii tribesmen who raid along the border, and to be judge, jury, and executioners for those accused of crimes.

For Riam, who welcomes his escape from an abusive father, the power to protect those who cannot defend themselves is alluring. For Nola, who wishes to return home, it is a betrayal by all she holds dear.

Neither is given a choice…and neither may ever get the chance to serve.

Lies of Descent begins an epic trilogy of fallen gods, betrayal, and magic–where dark motives often dwell within the true and just, and where the things most feared sometimes lead to salvation.

 

 

Review:

Lies of Descent by Troy Carrol Bucher is the 1st book The Fallen Gods War trilogy. As stated in the description above, The Fallen Gods war drove a victorious army across the ocean for a new homeland, but a thousand years later, Draegora has fallen apart and two factions, Draegoriana and Eshari are still determined to destroy each other .

We meet our young hero, Riam, who after watching his hated father get killed, is taken away by a Draegoran warrior to begin training to be able to fight Eshari tribesmen, as he has the ‘blood’.  Which means that he has ties to other Draegoran descendants, and has possible powers. 

Riam will meet a young girl, Nola, who has also been violently taken from her family.  She too has the blood, and will also go to training.  However, in a short time they are attacked by Eshari warriors, and though Riam escaped, Nola is taken.

What follows is a slow and at times exciting journey, with POV’s between Riam and Nola, as they both go difficult and separate directions.  Both Dragegoran and Eshari see in the Riam or Nola their abilities that could help either group fight and win the war.   This is a difficult review to write, as this world building at times is confusing, and telling too much would be spoilers.  I did like Riam and Nola, and found it interesting in the different roads they each travelled.

Lies of Descent was well written by Bucher, as it was an epic fantasy about fallen gods, magic in dark violent world.  If you like epic fantasies, I suggest you read Lies of Descent.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

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Final Contact by M.A. Abraham – Review & Giveaway

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Final Contact by M.A. Abraham – Review & Giveaway

 

 

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Description:
Kyllan, the Tribunal Elder, is not happy with the idea of taking the mother ship to Earth to save the remaining Sirens that have asked for help. There is no help for it. He has given his word to the Siren Queen and she will hold him to it. First, they must make a few stops along to way, to right some wrongs.

Kyllan couldn’t have foreseen the trouble a simple trip that should have only taken a couple days to make could cause, but then again the people on Earth had never been easy to deal with. What makes it more complicated is that there is an Earth Warship on its way to Mars and perhaps even to Tantalus.

Word has spread amongst those that are being persecuted on Earth and they are reaching out to Kyllan for help in their most desperate hours. The gifted, like Adele, are being exterminated and, those that are not are being used in brutal, inhumane fashions. He is tempted to turn his back and walk away, leaving them to their plight, but cannot find it in his heart to say no. This triggers a private war between the members of his crew along with their allies on Earth, and a crime lord on Earth. It is time for the Tribunes Waterford and Vasalon to shine, which they do in stellar fashion. The Tantalarians are not alone in their fight though, for neither the Sirens nor those on Earth that are being saved intend to be left out of the game.

Will they manage to win the battle waging on the surface of Earth? And will they get back to Tantalus in time to protect their own planet?

 

 

Review:

Final Contact by M.A. Abraham is the 6th and final book in her Tantalus series. We have been leading up to this book for awhile, and Abraham does a wonderful job with this fantastic conclusion.  As you already know from previous books, this Sci-Fi series revolves around three species (Tantalarian, Humans, and Sirens) working together on the planet, Tantalus.

Kyllan, is the Tribunal Elder, and he is in deep preparation with other Tribunes (Vasalon and Waterford) to begin the rescue trip to save humans and sirens, as well as watching for the oncoming dangerous Mercenary ship coming from Mars.

What was at first a simple trip to pick up the remaining Sirens on Mars to bring to the live on Tantalus, becomes a larger rescue attempt.   Kyllan and his team plan to head for Earth to rescue not only some more Sirens, and many gifted humans, who are being terminated or tortured.   One of those psychic humans is Errol, who is willing to give up his own life to save his human cohorts, and he will go a long way to help Kyllan & Vasalon to stop the evil man behind the destruction and the murder or many humans.

What follows is an excellent, enthralling, exciting story line that will lead us to the conclusion of this series. If you have not read this series, to tell too much more, would be spoilers.  Final Contact was non-stop adventure from start to finish, and it was fun to watch how well the Tantalarians handle the dangerous people on Earth, as well as those on the ships coming to Mars or Tantalus.  You really need to read this series to understand many of the characters, and the evil trying to uproot Tantalus.

M.A. Abraham did a fabulous job with this conclusion, which was very satisfying.    Again, if you have not read this series, I do suggest you start with the first book to be able to understand this world.  Final Contact was a great finish to this series, and I am happy to say there will be a spinoff in the future.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy supplied for review

 

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Red Zone by Janet Elizabeth Henderson – Review

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Red Zone by Janet Elizabeth Henderson – Review

 

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Description:
In a world where everything you see and hear is recorded by an implant in your brain, Friday Barnes has seen something she shouldn’t. And now everyone either wants her dead or to steal what’s locked in her memory banks. She has no choice but to take poison that will block recall of the information, but it will also kill her in four days if she can’t reach the antidote. She’ll need the help of a ruthless mercenary if she has any chance at survival. 

The last thing Striker wants to do is draw attention to his team and their special abilities. Helping Friday will do exactly that. She’s hard-headed, smart, and a walking dead woman. But when he discovers what’s in her head, there’s no way he’s going to leave her behind. They’re in a race against time to save both the information and Friday, but Striker has secrets of his own that could kill them all.

 

 

Review:

Red Zone by Janet Elizabeth Henderson is a Sc-Fi book (not read one in a while), and the first book in her new Red Zone series.    This reads a little like Johnny Mnemonic and Total Recall. 

In the future your brain let’s you download and store EVERYTHING you see and hear, and Friday overheard something that she really shouldn’t have!!! Taking a poison to stop the “downloading the hardware” in her brain, she now needs to cross “The Red Zone” to get the antidote, otherwise she’s dead in four days….. and the best man for the job is Striker. 

He’s a mercenary/smuggler, and a good one, but his team have secrets and abilities that he doesn’t want found out. And helping Friday will bring both Striker and his team under scrutiny, but how can he not? The secrets that she holds in her brain are too important to ignore. And as the story unfolds, Friday becomes important to his team as well as Striker. 

So what’s Friday seen? Who wants it and Friday erased? 

What is the secret Striker is so hard to hide from everyone? 

Will they cross the Red Zone in time? 

A well thought out story, and nicely written, the characters were really well thought out. The camaraderie between Striker and his team, the chemistry between Friday and Striker, very descriptive and narrated well. 

I did have a few small issues …. I felt more background was needed with Striker and his team, and maybe a little more on why the Red Zone is called The Red Zone!!! 

Reviewed by Julie B.

Copy provided by Publisher

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The Darkest Star by Jennifer L. Armentrout – a Review

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The Darkest Star by Jennifer L. Armentrout – a Review

 

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Description:
When seventeen-year-old Evie Dasher is caught up in a raid at a notorious club known as one of the few places where humans and the surviving Luxen can mingle freely, she meets Luc, an unnaturally beautiful guy she initially assumes is a Luxen…but he is in fact something much more powerful. Her growing attraction for Luc will lead her deeper and deeper into a world she’d only heard about, a world where everything she thought she knew will be turned on its head…

 

Review:

The Darkest Star by Jennifer L. Armentrout is the first book in her new YA Origin series, which is a spinoff of her wonderful Lux series. I am a huge fan of Armentrout’s Lux series, and was thrilled to find out that she was returning to this world. I totally loved reading The Darkest Star, and so happy to be back home again.

Evie Dasher, our heroine, is convinced to go with her friend Heidi to Foretoken, a notorious club that Luxens and Humans can mix, but at seventeen, Evie is forbidden to go there.  While at the club, the place is raided, and she meets the club’s owner, Luc.  

Luc is extremely handsome, not to mention very powerful.  Much to Evie chagrin, Luc seems to know everything about her, and all she knows is that he is a Luxen.  Luc helps her escape the club, but her life is about the change, as he plans on being a big part of her life going forward.

Evie will find out her mother knows Luc, and as time moves on, other people close to her know him too.  In a short time, Evie finds herself attracted to the beautiful Luc, and meets some of his friends. She learns some of the truths from her mother about who her father really was. Why does Luc know everything about Evie? What are the secrets that some are hiding from her?

What follows is a wonderful story, where a rogue Luxen is killing some students, creating dissention in the school between those against the aliens, and those on their side.  The danger escalates putting Evie in danger, as the villain is someone from the days before the war. 

In time, Evie will learn all the truths and secrets about her life, and about Luc.  Though I understand her refusal to believe the truths, she was a bit stubborn early on, but in time she allows herself to open her heart to Luc, and accept the truth about her past, and forgive those who kept those secrets.

Armentrout does a fantastic job of grabbing our attention early on, and never letting go.  She keeps us on our toes, as she slowly reveals different twists or revelations that catch us by surprise.  The Darkest Star was an exciting, fast paced, intense & intriguing story that was also fun, with a sweet slow build romance between Evie and Luc. Evie will learn and see for herself just how powerful Luc really is.

I loved Evie and Luc, and also was thrilled to get to see some of our old favorites such as Daemon and Archer.  I also like some of the new characters, such as Evie & Luc’s friends.  It was great that we get to learn more about the Origins that was barely hinted in the previous series.

The Darkest Star was fantastic YA thriller, wonderful déjà vu sweet romance, and though the story ended satisfactory, there are so many questions still to be answered.  I cannot wait for the next book, and what Jennifer L. Armentrout has in store for us. Thank you Jennifer for bringing us back to this world.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

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