Tag Archives: urban fantasy

Chosen Ones by Veronica Roth – a Review

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Chosen Ones by Veronica Roth – a Review

 

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Description:
A decade ago near Chicago, five teenagers defeated the otherworldly enemy known as the Dark One, whose reign of terror brought widespread destruction and death. The seemingly un-extraordinary teens—Sloane, Matt, Ines, Albie, and Esther—had been brought together by a clandestine government agency because one of them was fated to be the “Chosen One,” prophesized to save the world. With the goal achieved, humankind celebrated the victors and began to mourn their lost loved ones.

Ten years later, though the champions remain celebrities, the world has moved forward and a whole, younger generation doesn’t seem to recall the days of endless fear. But Sloane remembers. It’s impossible for her to forget when the paparazzi haunt her every step just as the Dark One still haunts her dreams. Unlike everyone else, she hasn’t moved on; she’s adrift—no direction, no goals, no purpose. On the eve of the Ten Year Celebration of Peace, a new trauma hits the Chosen: the death of one of their own. And when they gather for the funeral at the enshrined site of their triumph, they discover to their horror that the Dark One’s reign never really ended.

 

 

Review:

Chosen Ones by Veronica Roth is the first book in her The Chosen Ones series.  Having just finished reading the book, I was happy about how it all ended; thinking it read very well as a standalone; however now I see it is a series, which I will be reading, but I am curious how Roth will continue.

We meet our 5 heroes, who 10 years earlier, were the Chosen Ones who as teenagers, defeated an evil enemy called the ‘Dark One’,  terrorizing the world with death and destruction.  They were idolized by the world, and now they gather for the 10th anniversary celebration of when they saved the world.  Matt was always considered the leader, with Sloane, Albie, Esther and Ines as part of the team. Part 1 of the book revolves around how all 5 are coping, with each reacting differently.  Matt and Esther enjoy the accolades and are happy in the social media world.  Albie has PSTD and has a hard time, and Ines tries to keep her life private. The story centers mostly on Sloane, as she still suffers from panic attacks from when she had been captured by the Dark One, but though she comes across as angry and sarcastic, she is a tough, smart and independent badass. 

Before the celebration, they government calls them in to review a possible new weapon, which will cause one of the 5 to kill himself.  At the funeral ceremony, everything changes, as Matt, Esther and Sloane are pulled into another parallel universe, which is the start of Part 2.  The three of them learn that they have been chosen to help this universe fight off another evil villain, and unless they find a way to kill him, they will never return home to their own universe.  In this world, which is a little similar to their own, but filled with magic.  The leaders of this new universe are desperate for help, and work on training them on using magical siphons to enhance their powers, to enable them to be ready when they need to fight the new Dark One.

Part 2 ups the ante, with more excitement, new characters, parallel dimension and a different enemy, who has built an army of walking dead.  Whereas, Matt and Esther relish learning how to use the magic, Sloane tends to be on her own, learning everything about this world; she has never been happy, and comes across as secretive and impulsive. But when push comes to shove, she will be the one who will do anything to protect her friends, and she makes a horrifying discovery that totally changes the game.  I really did like Mox, someone she meets at a museum and a bar, as well as his friend, Ziva.  

In Part 3, Sloane will step up to discover the truth, and use her own unused powers to stop and fight the Dark One, as we raced to the wild climax in the last 1/3 of the book.  Roth does pull a few surprise twists. Extremely exciting, intense, action filled, with us holding our breaths, as we discover who the real culprit is.   I cannot tell too much more, as it would be spoilers and ruin it for you. 

Chosen Ones was very well written by Veronica Roth, which had a satisfying ending. The world building in this multidimensional world was very good; as well as exciting and actually a fun read. Now that I know there is going to be another book, I look forward to see what Roth has in store for us. 

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

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THE STONE WARRIORS Series 1-4 by D.B. Reynolds-Review Tour

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THE STONE WARRIORS Series 1-4 by D.B. Reynolds-Review Tour

Dragan
The Stone Warriors Book 4
by D.B. Reynolds
Genre: Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy

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It was a time when gods walked the earth, when armies fought not for bits of land, but for the very existence of humanity. On such a battlefield, five formidable warriors stood against an evil greater than any the earth had ever seen. But evil is not an honorable foe. Betrayed by someone they trusted, the warriors were cursed, one by one, tossed into the maelstrom of time, imprisoned in stone, their freedom resting on nearly impossible conditions. Until…. Dragan Fiachna, heir to the curse of royal blood, a horror hiding behind a beautiful face…. you shall remain locked in stone until a maiden, untested and pure, shall find grace in your beast and safety in your nightmare.

Dragan Fiachna, born to a life of loneliness, cast into stone by a sorcerer’s curse and imprisoned forever in darkness. He is freed at last, only to discover his enemy still lives and is plotting the death of millions in his quest to rule this new world.

Maeve Collins, brilliant, courageous, and compassionate enough to believe a stone statue can have a soul. Shocked when her beautiful winged man breaks free, horrified at the torment he’s endured, she dedicates herself to reuniting him with the warriors he calls family.

But she never planned on falling in love.

Racing across half the country in search of the only man who can stop their foe from fulfilling his merciless scheme, Dragan and Maeve discover they’ve unwittingly stolen the one artifact that can defeat their enemy. And he wants it back. Pursued by assassins, they fight their way to Dragan’s brothers, only to discover the war for this world has already begun….

REVIEW: Dragan, reading these back cover I assumed he was a beast in manners and looks, but far from it, he saw himself as a beast, his parents gave him away to be a protector, a warrior. The people who looked after him as a child, did just that, there was duty only, no love. And even as a man, he knew only duty, women would want only his body, a s nothing else…..

Maeve is a total computer geek, online haves and programming is her way of life, the solitary life suits her. And the house she lives in, well that’s big enough to get lost in. Her favourite room, well that’s the one with her big stone warrior in it, a huge wingspan she sits under when she talks to him…..

As always the curse is broken by a woman, and a specific curse at that…… “Dragan Fiachna, heir to the curse of royal blood, a horror hiding behind a beautiful face…. you shall remain locked in stone until a maiden, untested and pure, shall find grace in your beast and safety in your nightmare.”

She spoke to him about anything and everything, until one day the stone cracks, and Dragan is free….She’s a little wary at first, not believing he’s the statue in the room she often sat.

We have all the stone warriors freed now, and like the previous books, Maeve and Dragan make their way to Nick (or Nico) Dragan is unaware if his warrior brothers are alive, but hopes they are.

We have battles along the way, we have a few mysteries that may result in a few more books? and we have the evil. Sorcerer alive and wanting revenge. You see not only did Maeve free the warrior (he had him locked in that room, making sure Nicodemus would never find him) but she stole a valuable tool that could defeat the sorcerer. And he definitely wants that back.

I have to admit, I was expecting a beauty and the beast story, (that will teach me for taking the back cover too literal!) a huge statue with wings (thinking gargoyle).

The descriptions of the battles were awesome, I think the author might have watched or played a few online games to get a few pointers ?

And now we have a sneak preview of the next story (which I’m hoping we get) Nicodemus and the mysterious Antonia ?

Copies supplied for review

? Reviews by Julie B

 

________________

Gabriel
The Stone Warriors Book 3
Genre: Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy

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It was a time when gods walked the earth, when armies fought not for bits of land, but for the very existence of humanity. On such a battlefield, five formidable warriors stood against an evil greater than any the earth had ever seen. But evil is not an honorable foe. Betrayed by someone they trusted, the warriors were cursed, one by one, tossed into the maelstrom of time, imprisoned in stone, their freedom resting on nearly impossible conditions. Until. . . .

Gabriel Halldor. . . one of the fiercest warriors the world has ever seen, but his tremendous skill can’t save him from a sorcerer’s curse. Trapped in stone and left lying in darkness for thousands of years, he is, at long last, brought into the sunlight of a Japanese garden, where a young girl comes to sit at his feet and read him stories as she grows to womanhood.

Hana Himura. . . beloved granddaughter of a Japanese mob boss, raised to the life of a warrior. When death comes for her grandfather, he sends her to the one guardian courageous enough to protect her from a sorcerer who will stop at nothing to have her.

Raphael. . . the most powerful vampire lord on earth, and the only man who can save Gabriel and Hana from an enemy who would enslave them both.

Running from the certain death that awaits them in Japan, Hana and Gabriel flee to Malibu and the vampire lord her grandfather called friend. Raphael is magic and power combined, and Gabriel and Hana will need both if they’re going to survive long enough to defeat their enemy and light the flame of desire that’s been simmering between them for years.

••••••••••••

REVIEW:Now, this one I really liked. A more complex book, it really had me hooked…..

“URBAN GABRIEL HALLDOR, a berserker on the battlefield, a monster who drinks his enemy’s blood and wears his flesh like the finest cloth . . . you shall remain locked in stone until a woman’s tears shall soak into your skin, and her pleas for safety reach you in the chaos of battle.” That was Gabriel’s curse. Gabriel doesn’t use his first name.

A beserker old, loving the battle and the cries of his fallen enemies. He lived to serve Nicodemus and to battle along side his three brothers (Damian, Kato and Dragan) but there was something beside the berserker, long ago, Gabriel had been turned into a vampire, with the help of Nico, he kept it on lockdown, his brothers never knowing of his anger and shame.

Hana has always known of Gabriel, the beautiful statue in the garden, she’s often sit at his feet and feel safe. And she’d know that one day he’d save her. Hana is a rare breed, she can amplify power, so she’s a power source that many would kill to obtain. Trained as a warrior by her grandfather, Hana has always known and been aware of magic. And when her home is attacked, she knows exactly where to go…..

The pair set off to find the only person her grandfather trusted, but by the time they get to Raphael’s home, Gabriel isn’t in great shape.

Raphael is a master vampire (or Lord in this series) and he has his story in several other books (Vampires in America) when meeting him for the first time, Hana was extremely wary of him, Raphael has power, it emanates from his very pores.
Giving sanctuary to both Gabriel and Hana, it allows them to catch their breath and rest.

Is Sotiris the sorcerer still causing havoc? (Hmmmm can’t tell you) And where does Nicodemus fit into the scheme of things? The hatred between Raphael and Nico is volatile to say the least, (I’m going to have to go and read the previous series now!!)

We catch up with previous characters from previous books, the interaction is very comical, the love for one another is very evident.

So we have a feud that has carried on for a millennia, a stone warrior with a side order of vampire! A woman whose a conduit and can magnify a witch/sorcerers powers. And chemistry that just burns the pages ?

Can’t wait to read Dragan (next book) and maybe Nicodemus can find a feisty female to keep him in line.

?

___________

Kato
The Stone Warriors Book 2
Genre: Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy

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It was a time when gods walked the earth, when armies fought not for bits of land, but for the very existence of humanity. On such a battlefield, five formidable warriors stood against an evil greater than any the earth had ever seen. But evil is not an honorable foe. Betrayed by someone they trusted, the warriors were cursed, one by one, tossed into the maelstrom of time, imprisoned in stone, their freedom resting on nearly impossible conditions. Until . . .

Kato Amadi . . . born of darkest sorcery, unstoppable on the battlefield, his magic is as deadly as his blade. But not even magic could save him from vicious betrayal. Trapped for millennia in darkness and silence, he is freed at last, only to find himself in the middle of a battle against the very beasts of hell he was created to destroy.

Grace Van Allen is a scholar of ancient languages who toils in the dim recesses of a museum basement with only a beautiful stone warrior to keep her company. But when Grace calls upon her silent warrior to help her translate an obscure new language, she breaks the ancient curse holding him prisoner . . . and frees three deadly demons to rampage through her city.

Tracking demons is what Kato was born to do, but he’ll need Grace’s help. And when they discover that Kato’s enemy is still alive and still plotting against him, their hunt takes a dangerous turn, one that might just prove fatal for both of them . . .

••••••••••

REVIEW: Grace loves her job, translating ancient texts. Reading about life many years ago. Her only companion a beautiful statue. Then one night she whispers to her stone companion that she needs help…..

Kato needs to help the beauty who summoned him. He’s watched her for years now, talking to him, and gazing up at him. The words the evil sorcerer Sotiris threw at him “ Kato Amadi, son of the Dark Witch, who for all his deadly skills on the field of battle, could neither read nor write the language of men . . . you shall remain locked in stone until a scholar of the written word shall plead for your help in understanding the wisdom of the ancients.“ came back to haunt him, was she the scholar he was suppose to help? And why now? But he knew why, the scroll she was trying to decipher was more dangerous than she was aware of.

Grace is in shock, one minute she’s finishing writing out the scroll, next, a thing appears from nowhere and is about to attack her. But a warrior saves her……

We then go on a ride, both Kato and Grace need to work together.

Kato has always been use to being just a vessel, not a man, nothing. So at first he finds it hard to connect with Grace, he finds her compelling, but so use to being berated, that he finds it hard to accept her way of speaking. He’s a Dark Witch’s son, but that didn’t mean he was cherished, he was used to fill his mother back up once she depleted her magic.Grace adjusts pretty quick to the work Kato has dragged her into. She tries not to show pity to Kato (that will get him to shut down pretty quick) And then there is the attraction that is simmering between them. But Kato knows it would only be brief, he has to know what happened to his brothers.

It’s a fast action book, lots of chasing, lots of twists and turns. A murder at the beginning of the book made no sense at first. We also catch up with previous characters from the last book. And then there his Kato’s mother!!! Do we meet up with her? Is there an epic magical battle? Well to find that out, you’ll have to read the book.

I liked this one better than the last. (Damian) The characters seemed to flow better, and there seemed to be more story. And I do love a wounded soul, and Kato is pretty much a wounded soul.

So if you like your magic and muscle, then this books is for you ?

?

_____________

Damian
The Stone Warriors Book 1
Genre: Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy

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It was a time when gods walked the earth, when armies fought not for bits of land, but for the very existence of humanity. On such a battlefield, five formidable warriors stood against an evil greater than any the earth had ever seen. But evil is not an honorable foe. Betrayed by someone they trusted, the warriors were cursed, one by one, tossed into the maelstrom of time, imprisoned in stone, their freedom resting on nearly impossible conditions. Until . . .

Damian Stephanos honed his skills in battles fought with magic as much as swords. Caught by a deadly spell that left him trapped for centuries in darkness and obscurity, he is finally freed, only to discover that his enemy still lives. Determined to find him—and to free his brothers in arms—he first must fulfill his blood debt to the woman who released him from his torment. Unfortunately, being so close to this enticing female is another type of torment altogether . . .

Cassandra “Casey” Lewis is a hunter. Possessing the rare ability to sense magic, she spends most of her time shadowing arcane collectors, and more often than not, stealing the dangerous artifacts she pursues. Her job is risky, especially when she’s stealing from one of the most powerful sorcerers alive. But having a gorgeous warrior by her side is a definite bonus. He’s great in a fight . . . and in other places, too.

Following a trail of dead bodies, the two of them must join forces to track down the sorcerer who cursed Damian, and who now plans to turn an ordinary magical device into a deadly weapon. Risking everything, including their hearts, they’re about to discover that trusting each other might be the hardest thing of all.

•••••••••

REVIEW: Read the back cover I was expecting Gargoyles. What I got was better. Magic and adventure, with a LARGE amount of sex (a little too much in places)

Cassandra or Casey as she likes to be called, is sort of an FBI agent, but not a normal one. She has an ability that makes her a little different. She can track down magical items. She usually follows the trail, and if need be, obtain the item (sometimes theft is involved) And she’s been doing this for a while now, her boss Nick gives her a job, and Casey runs with it. She’s never really questioned it, (it was nice to have someone who believed her and utilises her skills.)

On the trail of a talisman, Casey has it, and is now being chased, and by hellhounds no less….

Damian has been a statue for a very long time, cursed and forced to watch life go by as a statue, for the last hundred years had watched the world go by on top of a building, he’s seen everything go by, but not able to interact. Well not until one night a wounded woman touches him, and asks for his help, it seems to have lifted the curse. He’s not sure how or why, or even why in this time period, but he’s going to find her, thank her and offer his services to help her.
He’s also wondering where everyone he knows is.

Both Damian and Casey need to learn to trust one another if they are to work together. They have no problem in the bedroom, but outside that’s a different matter.

This is a spin off from the Vampires in America series, and to be honest, I don’t think you need to read it. There are a few references to people and I’m assuming it’s to do with the previous series.

It’s a fast paced action book. We have a bad guy that’s looking for a talisman, and with it the power to bring modern civilisation to its knees. Sotiris has magic at his fingertips, and I have a feeling he’s been around a very long time. The chase and fight scenes are very good. Some of the conversation between Damian and Casey felt a little stilted.

It’s very detailed, and the characters are all very well rounded.
Chemistry between the main characters needed a little work.
But I liked the interaction between Casey and her boss, and Nick and Damian.
But as I said, a little too much sex, was it a filler? Maybe, but turn it into a novella if you are struggling (well that’s my opinion)

It’s a five book series (I think) so I’m looking forward to seeing if the next book is as good.

?

 

D. B. Reynolds is the RT and Epic Award-Winning author of the Vampires in America series of paranormal romance, and an Emmy-nominated television sound editor. D. B. currently lives in a flammable canyon near the Malibu coast, and when she’s not writing her own books, she can usually be found reading someone else’s. You can visit D. B. at her website Dbreynolds.com

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Spartan Destiny by Jennifer Estep – Review & Giveaway

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Spartan Destiny by Jennifer Estep – Review & Giveaway

 

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Description:
This Spartan makes her own destiny . . .

Most kids at the Colorado branch of Mythos Academy know me as Rory Forseti, the daughter of Reaper assassins. Secretly, I’m a member of Team Midgard, a group of students and adults tasked with stopping Covington, the evil leader of the Reapers of Chaos. For me, the mission is a deeply personal one, since Covington is also the man who murdered my parents.

When my friends and I get a lead on a powerful artifact that Covington wants to steal, we think we finally have a chance to thwart the Reapers and stop them for good. Team Midgard comes up with a plan, but everything goes sideways, and I’m suddenly in the fight of my life.

My worst fears might have come true, but I know what my Spartan destiny is—to save my friends, or die trying . . .

 

 

Review:

Spartan Destiny by Jennifer Estep is the 3rd book in her Mythos Academy: Colorado series. As I have noted previously, I am a big fan of the original Mythos Academy series, and have been enjoying this spin off. 

Rory Forseti, our heroine (and cousin of Gwen Frost) is a Spartan warrior, who has many strengths and powers. Rory is a member of the Midgard (part of the Protectorate, who fight the bad Reapers), and the team works together to stop the Reapers, and save some of artifacts that Covington (villain) and Drake are always after.   Covington is the evil leader of the Reapers of Chaos, having also killed Rory’s parents, and will stop at nothing to retrieve all artifacts, especially the Narcissus Heart. 

In Spartan Destiny, Rory and her wonderful team (Ian, Zoe, Mateo, Takeda, Rachel, etc), find themselves in death defying situations quite often, as the Reapers, led by Covington and Drake, try to steal some powerful and destructive artifacts, starting with Fafnir’s Dagger.  We learn early that Rory has replaced many of the powerful artifacts with duplicates, to help prevent Covington in finding them.  The intense action throughout the book was amazing, as I was on the edge of my seat throughout the non-stop action; with Rory trying to stop the creatures created by the artifacts. 

What follows is an ultra-exciting, non-stop action adventure that never let up from start to finish.  The last half of the book was so intense as we raced to the finish, with Rory’s life on the line.  Rory and her sword Babs, had to find a way to save her friends, who were forced to turn on her by Covington using his artifacts.  Besides the great secondary characters that are part of her team, and her aunt, I loved the Gryphons that come to help her.  

Spartan Destiny was an amazing story that held me holding my breath a number of times.  I can’t say enough about Jennifer Estep and her writing.  This was a fantastic, exciting, intense, wild and wonderful story.  If you have not read this series, you need to start with the first book before reading this one.  I do fear that this could be the end of the series, as it was a satisfying conclusion, but I hope Jennifer continues, as I do love this series.   

Reviewed by Barb

Copy supplied for Review

 

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Blood Magic / Kindred Magic by Melody Raven-Reviews

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Blood Magic / Kindred Magic (Dangerous Magic) by Melody Raven-reviews

 

BLOOD MAGIC
(Dangerous Magic #1 )
by Melody Raven
Genre: contemporary, adult, paranormal, sci-fi, urban fantasy

ONLY 99¢ Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk / Amazon.au /

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date November 5, 2019

I’m not a wicked witch, but I’m not a good person either. How I came to be the newest recruit to the Dangerous Magic Division of Homeland Security is beyond me. It’s the first time I’ve ever tried to work with the law instead of against it, and, believe me, good doesn’t come naturally for me.

But between a psychic who has no idea how to use her powers and a partner who cares more about rules than actually getting the job done, I feel like I’m the glue holding this team together.

All of my new colleagues have their own secrets, but we’re going to have to get along if we’re supposed to help the humans of the world survive. When the pretty simple missions we’re assigned start pointing to a bigger plan, every single one of my well honed instincts tart screaming at me that something is wrong.

Because I start to suspect something sinister has infected our new team. Something dark and deadly and we’re only going to be able to stop it if we work together. But how can humanity trust us to save them if we can’t even trust each other?

••••••••••

REVIEW: BLOOD MAGIC is the first instalment in Melody Raven’s contemporary, paranormal DANGEROUS MAGIC sci-fi, urban fantasy series focusing on a powerful witch Sonia Shaw-a spin of from the author’s NEW BREED series.

Told from first person perspective (Sonia) BLOOD MAGIC follows Sonia Shaw, a witch of immense but unstable powers, as she embarks on a new career as a member of the Dangerous Magic Division of Homeland Security. With the Vopura, a new breed of alien vampire, slowly taking over the supernatural element, Sonia finds herself partnered with Carter Blackburn, a paranormal of unknown origins, but a man who has reason to hate our story line heroine. With the introduction of Carter’s fiancée Amy, Sonia struggles to accept the woman at face value. What ensues is Carter and Sonia’s search for a nest of Vopura, and the search for the truth when Sonia becomes the target of someone hoping to take them down.

BLOOD MAGIC is a story of betrayal and vengeance; of secrets and magic; of power and control. Melody Raven pulls the reader into a fast paced, entertaining and energetic tale; an introductory story line that allows the reader a peak into a rag-tag group of magical beings whose job it is to control the uncontrollable.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

________

KINDRED MAGIC
(Dangerous Magic #2)
by Melody Raven
Genre: contemporary, adult, paranormal, sci-fi, urban fantasy

ONLY 99¢ Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk / Amazon.au /

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date December 26, 2019

I thought he was gone forever. But now the love of my life is back from the dead and has no idea who I am.

Between trying to prove that a demon has taken over his body and being assigned an arrogant movie star who has sold his sold for fame and fortune, I’m not getting a lot of rest and relaxation.

Just another day at Dangerous Magic Division..

•••••••

REVIEW: KINDRED MAGIC is the second instalment in Melody Raven’s contemporary, adult DANGEROUS MAGIC paranormal, sci-fi, urban fantasy series focusing on a powerful witch Sonia Shaw-a spin of from the author’s NEW BREED series. KINDRED MAGIC should not be read as a stand alone as it picks up immediately after the events of book one Blood Magic; there is an ongoing premise throughout.

Told from first person perspective (Sonia Shaw) and third person (Carter Blackburn) KINDRED MAGIC continues to follow witch Sonia Shaw as she is contracted to work in the DMD (Dangerous Magic Department) of Homeland Security. With the recent and complicated death of her lover Ian, and the betrayal by Carter’s girlfriend Amy, Sonia and Carter are barely able to acknowledge one another as Sonia was the person to reveal the truth. When Sonia is tasked with protecting a man who sold his soul to the proverbial devil, our heroine will soon discover that the soul marker has been bought by someone she knows.

Meanwhile, the return of the recently deceased forces Sonia to rethink what happened and why as Sonia’s estranged but powerful father Gideon Shaw has also returned, and with it too many unanswered questions that threaten Sonia’s peace of mind. Carter Blackburn is determined to prove Sonia is not the woman she proclaims herself to be, a determination that places Sonia in the direct line of fire.

KINDRED MAGIC is a fast paced, character driven, exciting and suspenseful story of family, betrayal, secrets and lies. The premise is entertaining and engaging; the characters are powerful, magical, enchanting and tragic. KINDRED MAGIC ends on a cliff hanger-you have been warned.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

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Shattered Bonds by Faith Hunter – Review & Giveaway

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Shattered Bonds by Faith Hunter – Review & Giveaway

 

 

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Description:
Jane Yellowrock is a shapeshifting skinwalker, and vampire killer-for-hire, but her last battle with an ancient arcane enemy has brought her low. She seeks retreat in the Appalachian Mountains to grieve the loss of her friends, and to heal–or to die–from the disease brought on by her magic.

But malevolent elements in the paranormal community still seek to destroy Jane, and the younger Son of Darkness stalks her, even into the safety of the hills. With nowhere to run and her body failing, the rogue-vampire hunter and her inner Beast must discover a way to defeat this new threat, and find a form that gives her a chance to fight another day.

 

 

Review:

Shattered Bonds by Faith Hunter is the 13th book in her fantastic Jane Yellowrock series.   I could not wait to get my hands on this book, as the last book left us breathless and in a state of waiting impatiently for the next book. As I had noted in my review of Dark Queen, that was the best book in this series; being hard to equal that, Shattered Bonds was still an epic story.  I love this series and Jane Yellowrock always rocks.

Shattered Bonds picks up a short time after Dark Queen left off.  Jane is still sick, with a cancerous tumor that is killing her; she has pulled herself away from responsibilities of her being the Dark Queen but those that are part of her family, Eli, Alex, Brute and Bruiser have moved up to the mountains to be near her and help keep things regarding her responsibilities going.  Jane spends a lot of time in her Beast form, which also helps alleviate the pain.  But an ancient enemy rises to force Jane to resume her title of Dark Queen in order to save those she loves.

Her Primo, Edmund has been kidnapped by another evil powerful Son of Darkness (she killed the older and powerful brother in the previous book) and he is also kidnapping and torturing others.  When she gathers her team to stand up to the villain, she manages to save Edmund, but that is only short lived.  The Son of Darkness has abilities that even Jane can’t stop, and she needs help from the Everhardts (Molly, Evan, Angie and the coven of witches) to fight the enemy.

What follows is an exciting, intense, action-packed thriller from start to finish.  Jane must rise above her disabling condition to use all of her powerful Skinwalker and Dark Queen abilities, to stand up and fight an unbeatable enemy.   She and Beast will need to use everyone, including her team, angels, arcenniels, witches, vampires, and her past history to survive. 

It is always great to spend time with Jane’s fantastic team, many of whom we have come to love.  I love Eli, who is wonderful as Jane’s strong and loyal second;  Alex, the techie, has matured and is also great; Bruiser, Jane’s love interest, whom I have come to love; Edmund, Jane’s Primo; Molly, her best friend, who is a powerful witch; Brute, the wolf who can’t shift; plus many more we continue to meet. Of course, I adore Beast, and especially now they are fully one; stronger, better, smarter, and unbeatable.  

Shattered Bonds was another fantastic addition to the Jane Yellowrock series.    I am excited and look forward to seeing where Faith Hunter will take us next. For those of you who have not read this series (which you need to start at the beginning), you are missing a great series, a super wonderful bad-ass heroine in Jane Yellowrock, and author who kills it (& us) every time.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

Faith’s publisher  is offering a paper copy of SHATTERED BONDS to ONE (1) lucky commenter at The Reading Cafe

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Sharpest Sting by Jennifer Estep – Review, Excerpt & Giveaway

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Sharpest Sting by Jennifer Estep – Review, Excerpt & Giveaway

 

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Description:
As Gin Blanco, aka the assassin the Spider, I’m used to having a target on my back. But ever since I started investigating the secret society known as the Circle, that target seems bigger than ever.

Still, I’m trying to relax and enjoy the events leading up to my friends’ wedding when I learn that an old enemy has returned to Ashland. And that’s the just beginning of my latest nightmare. Soon, I have Circle goons watching my every move, but I have no choice but to continue searching for a key piece of evidence against the evil group.

The deeper I dig, the more horrifying secrets I uncover, and the more dangerous things become for me and my friends. Just when I think I finally have a handle on things, a shocking revelation shatters my heart and leaves me with an ugly realization—that betrayal is the sharpest sting of all …

•••••••••••••••

Barb’s Review:
Sharpest Sting by Jennifer Estep is the 18th book in her fantastic Elemental Assassin series.  I can’t say enough about how Estep keeps the flow going so smoothly in each and every book in this terrific series, as well as the exciting action throughout.  Needless to say, Gin Blanco, the Spider, is one of the best literary kick-ass female heroines, as well as one of my favorites.  

In Sharpest Sting, Gin continues to find out more information about the secret powerful Circle Society that was also responsible for killing her mother, father and sister.  In the last book, Gin made a discovery who the leader was, and now she is more determined find a way to stop him and the Circle.  With help from her awesome friends, Gin searches every where for clues, and during one such trip to the cemetery, she and Owen are attacked by Giants; which they manage to survive by killing the two Giants.  Gin realizes she made a mistake in leaving clues that would identify her as the killer.

In between her investigation, she and all our recurring favorites, are preparing for the wedding of Mallory and Mosley. While the ladies are trying on dresses, an enemy of the past will kidnap Gin, Bria and Lorelei, bringing them to the Circle leader, Mason Mitchell, who is actually Gin’s uncle, whom she never knew.  Mason threatens Gin will killing all those she loves, unless she finds and brings him a ledger that has been missing for some time; time is of essence, as Gin is desperate to protect her family/friends.   

What follows is an exciting, action filled, pulse pounding mystery that will bring Gin into death defying situations. This is always an edge of your seat suspense when following Gin Blanco, as she is always in the middle of a wild violent adventure.  There were some major revelations and betrayals, some of which devastates Gin.

I love spending time with Gin, but I also love all the recurring secondary characters that are Gin’s friends and family that she is loyal to, and they are always there for each other.  Finn, Owen, Bria, Silvio, Sophie, Jo Jo, Lorelei are all great members of Gin’s group.  I also loved spending time with them at the wedding of Mallory and Mosely, only to be rudely disturbed by Mason’s people and Gin is once again kidnapped.  To tell too much more would be spoilers, as a lot is revealed and we once again are subject to the terrible suffering Gin must endure, as we pray for her survival.   

Tucker, who has been one of the villains for some time, continues to be cold, but every time Gin is in danger, he seems to be there to help her, which has us wondering ‘what is it that we do not know?’ The ending gives us more reasons to suspect there is more secrets in the books ahead.

Jennifer Estep is a master at creating exciting, mind-boggling adventures in each story, and making Gin into such a great heroine. Sharpest Sting was another wonderful action filled addition to this series, which also gives us answers to some questions, as well as surprises that will have us waiting impatiently for the next book.  I cannot wait for more adventures of Gin Blanco. If you have not read the Elemental Assassin series, it is time for you to start now.

 

Sandy’s Review:

SHARPEST STING is the eighteenth full-length instalment in Jennifer Estep’s ELEMENTAL ASSASSIN adult, paranormal, urban fantasy series focusing on Gin Blanco aka The Spider aka The Assassin –the reigning Queen of the paranormal Underworld of Ashland. SHARPEST STING can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty although I recommend reading the series in order for cohesion and backstory. SHARPEST STING begins the latest arc in the series.

SOME BACKGROUND: Years earlier, Gin lost her father to a car accident, then her mother and older sister to a deliberate fire started by a fire elemental, a fire ordered by the notorious group known only as The Circle. Fostered and mentored by Fletcher Lane, Gin would become the fiercest elemental assassin the Underworld would ever know.

NOTE: There are some scenes of graphic violence that may not be suitable for more sensitive readers.

Told from first person perspective (Gin Blanco) using present day and memories from the past, SHARPEST STING begins the latest arc of the Elemental Assassin series focusing on Gin Blanco as the Circle continues to reign supreme in the world of the supernatural. When her friends and family are threatened, Gin is forced to retrieve an item, her mentor and former assassin Fletcher Lane, had stolen and hidden from the man in charge. As Gin and her lover Owen Grayson begin a search of places known to Fletcher Lane, Gin will discover that her connections to the Circle go much deeper than the hated disdain of the Queen of the Underworld, connections that threaten everyone she loves. An ultimatum forces Gin to give into demands as she continues to search for the missing item, demands made by an elemental whose powers overshadow those of all others.

The secondary characters are numerous, colorful and energetic with the return of Gin’s sister Bria, and her step-brother Finn Lane (Bria’s lover); Gin’s assistant /vampire Silvio Sanchez, vampire Roslyn Phillips, police officer and giant Xavier dwarves Jo Jo and Sophia Deveraux, Mallory and Lorelei Parker, as well as Underworld boss and security specialist Liam Carter, vampire Hugh Tucker, elemental and giant Emery Slater, and leader of the Circle Mason Mitchell. Here’s hoping the author has future plans for Silvio and Liam, together.

SHARPEST STING is a story of family, friendships, betrayal and love; hatred, vengeance, power and control. The reader is pulled into the past through Gin’s memories, memories that reveal more about Fletcher Lane, and his connection to the group known as the Circle. The premise is haunting and engaging; the characters are energetic and strong.

 

I shut the trunk, while Owen hefted the two shovels up onto his shoulder. Together, we left the car and headed into the trees.
I took the lead, slipping through the shadows and scanning the surrounding woods, with Owen creeping along behind me. It was just after nine o’clock on this clear February night, and the luminous full moon and pinprick stars brightened the landscape, as did the crusty patches of snow and ice that still dappled the ground from the most recent winter storm. The woods were utterly still and quiet, and not so much as a breeze rattled the tree branches.
The silence should have reassured me, but a frosty finger of unease slid down my spine, even colder than the night air, and I palmed one of the knives hidden up my sleeves. The mark stamped in the silverstone hilt pressed into the larger, matching scar embedded in my palm—each of them a small circle surrounded by eight thin rays. A spider rune, the symbol for patience.
A pendant shaped like a spider rune hung from a chain around my neck, and the symbol was also stamped into the ring on my right index finger. My Ice magic rippled through both pieces of silverstone jewelry.
Normally, the cool touch of the jewelry on my skin and the solid strength of my knife in my hand would have comforted me but not right now. Or perhaps my continued unease was caused by our destination, along with our mission. I scanned the landscape again, but I only saw the same trees, ice, and shadows as before. The woods seemed to be completely empty, and even the owls, squirrels, and other animals had vanished for the night.
A few minutes later, we reached the edge of the woods. Owen stopped beside me, and we peered out at the area before us.
Blue Ridge Cemetery.
The moon- and starlight clearly illuminated the cemetery, which spread out for acres. An uneven carpet of dull brown winter grass rose and fell with the hills and ridges that creased the land like wrinkles grooved into an elderly dwarf’s face. Tombstones of all shapes and sizes dotted the ground, from square slabs to Celtic crosses to tall, elegant spires topped with wings and other symbols. A few trees rose up here and there, their bare branches hanging over and casting long, bony, fingerlike shadows onto the tombstones below. The shadows filled in many of the names and dates carved into the markers, making the old weathered letters and numbers look like they had just been stamped on the stones in thick, wet black ink.
Most people would have been creeped out to be in the cemetery at night, but I had an extra reason to be uncomfortable: I could hear the tombstones’ wails.
Love, hate, anger, grief, rage, despair. Over time, people’s feelings sink into whatever stone is around them, and few places conjured up more deep, wild, varying emotions than a cemetery. As a Stone elemental, my magic let me hear the soft sobs and bitter, plaintive wails of everyone who had grieved for loved ones, as well as the sly, smug murmurs of happiness from those who had been delighted to see the deceased go into the ground. The sorrow and the satisfaction made for an odd, disturbing, disparate chorus, and the incessant screeching between the two factions caused a dull headache to bloom in the back of my skull.
“Gin?” Owen asked. “Are you okay?”
I blocked out the stones’ cries as best I could and scanned the grounds again, but I didn’t see anyone lurking behind a tree or crouched beside a tombstone. “Yeah. Let’s go.”
We left the woods and went over to a gray stone path that curled through the grass like a dull, tattered ribbon. Owen and I followed the winding walkway for about three hundred feet before stepping off the path and climbing up one of the hills. We stopped atop a ridge that featured a massive maple looming over five graves, each one marked with its own separate tombstone. Another, much larger stone statue shaped like a snowflake was set into the ground above and behind the tombstones, denoting this as a family plot.
The tombstones represented the five members of the Snow family—my mother, Eira; my older sister, Annabella; my younger sister, Bria; and myself, Genevieve Snow. Of course, Bria and I were still alive, although, sadly, the rest of our family was very much dead, thanks to Mab Monroe and Uncle Mason.
Owen rested his hand on my shoulder, letting me know he was there if I wanted to talk. I flashed him a grateful smile and squeezed his hand. Then I moved over to the fifth and final marker—the one for my father, Tristan.
His tombstone was the oldest and most weather-worn, and I crouched down and yanked off the dead kudzu vines that had snaked across the stone. It didn’t take me long to get rid of the frozen, brittle tendrils and reveal the writing underneath.
Tristan. Beloved Husband and Father.
The words flowed across the stone in a simple script, along with the dates of his birth, June 2, and death, March 24, and the corresponding years. I pulled my phone out of my pocket and snapped some photos of the tombstone, zooming in and focusing on the dates. Then I texted the photos to Bria, and also to Silvio Sanchez, my personal assistant.
My sister had left the rehearsal dinner early to work a shift at the police station, so she didn’t respond, although my phone chimed with a new text from my trusty assistant less than a minute later.
Got them. Starting work right now!
“Silvio?” Owen asked in an amused voice.
I tucked my phone back into my pocket. “Yep. There is something seriously wrong with that man. No one should be that eager to work, especially not this late.”
Silvio had also been at the rehearsal dinner, and I had told him where Owen and I were coming afterward. My vampire assistant had an annoying habit of tracking my phone and car, so it was just easier to tell him what I was up to rather than trying to keep it a secret. Silvio had made me promise to send him what was on Tristan’s tombstone so he could start digging up info on my father and see if he could find any clues that would lead me to Mason.
My mother had claimed that my father died in a car accident, although I doubted that was true. No, I had a sneaking suspicion the Circle was behind Tristan’s death, just as the group had been behind my mother’s and Annabella’s murders.
Perhaps Tristan hadn’t liked being under his brother’s thumb and the two of them had some falling-out that led to Mason eliminating my father. Then, later on, Mason had ordered my mother to be killed when he learned that she was planning to expose the Circle. At least, that was what I thought Eira had been planning. So much of this was still just hunches and guesswork on my part.
I’d come here hoping to get some answers, but the information on Tristan’s tombstone didn’t tell me anything new. Frustration flooded my stomach, curdling the fine dinner I’d eaten earlier. Owen was wrong. My motto as the Spider should be More Questions, because that was all I ever seemed to get regarding my parents and Mason.
Owen slung the shovels off his shoulder and crouched down beside me. “I never realized it until right now, but you’ve never told me your father’s last name.”
“That’s because I don’t know what it is.”
He frowned. “Why not?”
“My father died when I was five, so I barely remember him. Ever since we discovered that Mason is the head of the Circle, I’ve been thinking back, trying to remember every little thing I can about my father. But Tristan is just this vague, hazy image in my mind—a nice smile, a warm laugh, a pair of gray eyes like mine.” I shook my head. “I don’t know if that image is real or simply what I want him to be.”
“And Mason?”
I shook my head again. “Nothing. I draw a total blank when it comes to him. I don’t remember anything about my father’s family. I always assumed Tristan didn’t have any family, but of course, now I know that’s not the case. But no matter how hard I try, I haven’t been able to remember anything helpful about Tristan, not even his last name.”
Owen pointed to my mother’s marker. “But Snow is your mother’s last name, and yours too. Not your father’s.”
“I was hoping Tristan’s last name would be on his tombstone, but it’s not.”
“Maybe your father decided to use your mother’s last name,” Owen said. “Maybe he didn’t want anything to do with Mason, not even something as simple as sharing the same surname.”
“That’s what I think too. That Tristan was so disgusted with Mason and the Circle that he disowned himself from their family.”
At least, that was what I hoped. I didn’t want to contemplate the idea that my father might have been just as evil and horrible as Mason was.
“Well, Silvio is working on it now, and if anyone can figure out my father’s last name and where Mason is hiding, then it’s him. But we have another mission.”
Owen lifted the shovels and tapped them point-first against the ground. “Are you sure you want to do this? We don’t have to. I know how hard this is.”
“I appreciate that, but we need more information about the Circle, and this is the only place I can think of where Fletcher might have hidden it. Even Silvio hasn’t been able to crack all the codes in that Circle ledger, and we’re running out of time to decrypt the info before Mason and Tucker target us again.”
A few weeks ago, during an auction of items from Mab Monroe’s estate, I had stumbled across what seemed to be a blue book of Circle secrets. Hugh Tucker had been after the ledger, as had Alanna Eaton, a vampire cannibal. That book had turned out to be a decoy, but I had still ended up with the genuine item. Fletcher Lane, Finn’s dad and my assassin mentor, had given the real ledger to Stuart Mosley for safekeeping years ago, but Fletcher had never gotten a chance to tell Mosley what to do with the tome.
But perhaps the most surprising thing was the fact that my mother had written the book.
I had recognized her handwriting immediately, and Silvio and I had been working to decode the contents ever since. My mother had been some sort of accountant or bookkeeper for the Circle, and the blue ledger chronicled assassinations, kidnappings, and other crimes the group had committed, orchestrated, and profited from, as well as bribes and payments they had doled out to various people.
Silvio was still trying to crack the last few bits of code, but the ledger hadn’t been quite the smoking gun I was hoping for. Sure, it cataloged some of the Circle’s dirty deeds, but most of the crimes were more than twenty years old, and many of the people associated with them were long dead. I wanted—needed—more information about the Circle’s past plots, as well as what its members had been up to in recent years, so I’d come to the cemetery to try to get it.
“Do you really think Fletcher knew how Tristan was connected to the Circle?” Owen asked. “And that Fletcher left something here for you to find? Buried in your father’s grave?”
I shrugged. “If anyone knew about Tristan and Mason, then it was Fletcher. Besides, the old man seemed to know everything else about the Circle.”
Owen tapped the shovels against the ground again, still unsure. I didn’t blame him. I didn’t want to dig up my father’s grave, but Fletcher had left me information in this cemetery before, and it was the only place I hadn’t checked yet.
Owen shifted his stance, and a bit of moonlight slid past his body and hit the tombstone, illuminating a small dark spot in the lower right-hand corner. I scooted forward and leaned down to get a better look at it.
“Find something?” he asked.
“I’m not sure.”
The spot was right above the grass, and I wouldn’t have noticed it if I hadn’t cleared away the dead vines. I yanked up a tuft of grass and tossed it aside, then leaned down lower so that I could get an even better look. It wasn’t a spot at all but rather a rune that had been carved into the tombstone.
And not just any rune—a small circle surrounded by thin rays. My spider rune.
“Fletcher,” I whispered.
I traced my fingers over the rune. Unlike the name and dates on the tombstone, which were neat and smooth and had obviously been done by a carver with professional equipment, this symbol looked thin and jagged, as though it had been crudely scratched into the stone with a blade meant for something else—like an assassin’s knife.
I stared at the knife in my hand, then dug the point into the stone and drew a short line with the blade. My gaze snapped back and forth between my mark and the rune already on the tombstone. They matched exactly.
“Fletcher,” I whispered again. “You sly fox.”
The old man had once again left me a clue from beyond the grave. My heart lifted, excitement zipped through me, and I surged to my feet and turned to grab one of the shovels from Owen. To my surprise, he was also on his feet, frowning and looking off into the distance.
“Something wrong?”
He stabbed his finger toward the bottom of the hill. “There’s a freshly dug grave down there.”
“So what? This is a cemetery.”
Owen shook his head. “So there are no flowers on it. And look where that grave is. I know that spot, Gin, and so do you.”
I peered in that direction. A grave had been recently dug at the bottom of the hill not too far away from where we were. No flowers were strewn across the turned earth, and no funeral wreaths were propped up on metal stands. But what made my heart sink was the grave’s location. Owen was right. I knew that spot all too well.
“That’s Fletcher’s grave.” Shock blasted through me, but it was quickly drowned out by sick understanding. “Someone dug up Fletcher’s grave.”
“Who would do that?” Owen asked. “And why?”
It took me a moment to force the words out past the hard knot of emotion clogging my throat. “Because they were looking for clues, just like we were. They must have thought there was something in Fletcher’s grave—or his casket—worth stealing.”
Owen’s eyes narrowed in understanding. “Like a blue ledger full of Circle secrets?”
“Yeah.”
I kept staring at the grave, not wanting to believe that someone had been so cruel as to disturb Fletcher’s final resting place, even though I was here to do the same thing to my father.
Then my assassin training kicked in, and I realized how much danger we were in. Not only had the grave been freshly dug, but a couple of shovels were propped up against Fletcher’s tombstone.
“We need to get out of here,” I told Owen. “Right now. Before whoever dug up that grave comes back—”
It was as if my whispered words made the very worst possible thing happen. Footsteps crunched on the frosty grass, and two giants rounded a tree and stepped into view at the bottom of the hill, heading straight for Fletcher’s grave.


 

 

Jennifer Estep is a New York Times, USA Today, and international bestselling author prowling the streets of her imagination in search of her next fantasy idea. 

Jennifer writes the Elemental Assassin urban fantasy series. Sharpest Sting, book #18, will be released Oct. 8.

Jennifer is also the author of the Crown of Shards, Mythos Academy, Black Blade, and Bigtime fantasy series.

For more information on Jennifer and her books, visit www.jenniferestep.com or follow Jennifer on Facebook, Goodreads, Amazon, BookBub, Blog and Twitter. You can also sign up for her newsletter.

 

Jennifer is graciously offering a $10 Amazon Gift card to ONE (1) lucky commenters  at The Reading Cafe:

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7. Giveaway open Internationally

8. Giveaway runs from October 8- 12, 2019

 

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The Unadjusteds by Marisa Noelle – a Review

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The Unadjusteds by Marisa Noelle – a Review

 

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Description:
Sixteen-year-old Silver Melody lives in a world where 80% of the population has modified their DNA. Known as the altereds, those people now possess enhancements like wings, tails, and increased strength or intelligence. Although Silver’s parents created the nanite pill used to deliver these genetic modifications, Silver is proud of her unadjusted state.

However, when the president declares all unadjusteds must take a nanite, Silver has no choice but to flee the city with her father and some friends to prevent the extinction of the unadjusteds.

With Silver’s mother in prison for treason, Silver’s father is the unadjusteds’ only hope at finding a cure. But time is running out as Silver’s father is captured by the president’s almost immortal army. Vicious hellhounds are on Silver’s trail, and her only chance to recover her father involves teaming up with a new group of unlikely friends before all humanity is lost.

 

 

 

Review:

The Unadjusteds by Marisa Noelle is a YA Dystopian story.  Silver Melody, our 16-year-old heroine, lives in a world where most people have been altered, being given pills that enhanced them, such as bulk, strength, wings, telekinetic, etc.  Silver is one of the 20% population that are considered Unadjusteds (did not take the pills).

Silver’s parents helped create the nanite pills that alter people, and they are forced to work for the evil President Bear, who is determined to make everyone altered, even if many die from taking those pills.  Silver lost her best friend after she had taken the pill, and swore that she would never take the pill.  Silver is well known among the people, as her mother was accused of treason, because she did not want to create more pills.  Despite not taking pills, Silver is very strong and fast, as she trains hard and can beat most people.    When President Bear decides to force the remaining 20% to take the pills, Silver runs away with her friend Matt, and along the way they find more unadjusted people, as well as altered, who want to stop the evil president.

What follows is an exciting and intense adventure that pits Silver and her new friends against so many dangerous situations, including massive altered soldiers, or the deadly hellhounds that President Bear had his scientists create.  Silver, Matt, Joe, Paige, Emma and others are willing to do whatever it takes to try to free Silver’s parents, and allow them to create a cure for all.  But to do so they have to find a way to get past the enemies, find her parents, and kill the evil president.

I really liked Silver, as she was a great heroine, and the secondary characters working with her were an awesome team.  The last third of the book escalated the danger and violence, holding our breaths to see who will survive.  To tell too much more would be spoilers, and ruin it for you. 

The Unadjusteds was a well written, intense and emotional story line that kept my attention from start to finish.  I was surprised how much I enjoyed this story. Marisa Noelle did a fabulous job giving us an exciting story, wonderful heroine and great secondary characters. The ending was wild and emotional, and though it is not noted to be continuing, I feel it left things open for another book.   I wholly suggest if you like an action-packed dystopian theme, you should be reading The Unajusteds.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy supplied for review

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Evalle and Storm by Dianna Love – a Review

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Evalle and Storm by Dianna Love – a Review

 

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Description:
To bond or not to bond should be a simple question, but nothing is ever easy in the life of this particular Belador and Skinwalker couple.

Evalle cheated death after Storm and her friends pulled her from a brutal imprisonment in another realm only to now end up unable to shift into her gryphon. Against his better judgment, Storm agrees to hold off on bonding while they travel to Arizona to help his uncle figure out what is behind an unnatural death on the reservation. The more powers Evalle loses, the more she realizes linking to Storm could be lethal. As the investigation takes an unexpected turn, Evalle jumps at a chance to regain her gryphon and powers in an all-or-none gamble, but makes a deadly mistake. Storm has a breakthrough on the unnatural deaths only to realize he’s put a target on Evalle’s back.

 

 

Review:

Evalle and Storm by Dianna Love is book 10.5 of her wonderful Belador series.  I love this series, and can’t wait to dig in and enjoy each and every book of this series. In Evalle and Storm, Dianna gives us another exciting and tense story, even though it is a short story (a bit more than a novella). I love Evalle, who is one of my favorite kick ass heroines. 

When the last book left off in Treoir Dragon Hoard, the gang saved Evalle, but the cost for her was mind boggling; she could no longer shift to her Gryphon.   Evalle and Storm is a story we have been waiting for a long time; a tense but romantic story of our favorite couple.   Storm can see how Evalle is not handling her loss of her Gryphon, and sees she is slowly losing her other powers.  He tries to convince Evalle to bond with him and he can help her bring back her powers; but Evalle is afraid that if she bonds to Storm, she may infect him with whatever is still growing inside her. 

When Storm is called by an uncle to help a serious deathly situation in Arizona, he and Evalle fly to investigate.  As Evalle keeps weakening, Storm is concerned and despite his working to solve a dark majak murder, he is hoping a seer or their medicine man might be able to help her.

What follows is an exciting adventure that will put both Evalle and Storm’s life in danger.  But most of all, it is a beautiful romance between two people we have rooted a long time for.  We know Storm will do anything to save Evalle; but will Evalle be able to rise up and save herself?  Another wonderful part of this story, was a sweet chapter early on revolving around Feenix, our wonderful adorable cute Gargoyle pet of Evalle’s.  In my last review, I asked Dianna to give us more of Feenix, and I was so pleased to see this happen.  More more Feenix..  ?

Evalle and Storm was an exciting and romantic story line, with a frantic climatic finish.  Dianna Love always gives us great stories, and wonderful characters.  I loved how she devoted this book to Evalle and Storm.  Very well done. 

If you love paranormal, urban fantasy, exciting adventures and romance, with fantastic characters you should be reading this series, as Dianna is one of the best.  You need to start with the first book, in order to know Evalle (one of the best kick-ass heroines) and meet all the Beladors.  If you have not read Dianna Love, what are you waiting for?

Reviewed by Barb

Copy supplied for Review

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