Review: Subway Stops and the Places We Meet

Title: Subway Stops and the places we meet (#2)
Author: Mindy Hayes and Michele C Miller
Release: February 26, 2017
Rating:★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Pages: 405
Where to find it:  Amazon | Bookdepository
Series: Yes
Format: Paperback
Summary: On June 18, 1992, Flight 397 crashed off the coast of Long Island, claiming the lives of all on board. Cole and Samantha, two strangers who randomly meet one year later at a memorial for the crash, both lost loved ones that day.
There are over seven million people in New York City.
One random encounter is called chance.
Two is coincidence. Three? Well, baby, we call that fate.(goodreads)
Thoughts: I really love this series. I feel it's different from contemporary books. Because like the first book in this series the relationships take it's time. The love interest in the book don't start dating right away. It first begins as a friendship. This is something I wish more contemporary romance would do (maybe some do and I am yet to read them. If you guys have any recommendations please leave them in the comments). This series is something I just stumble on goodreads and was happy about that.
The story follows two individuals that lost someone in a tragic event and develop a friendship that eventually becomes a romance. Even though it's the second in the series. It does give itself to read as a stand alone. There is a few inserts from the previous book but you don't really have to pick it up. However, I highly recommend to pick up the first book in the series. Because it's such a gem. I loved it so much. I also did a review for Paper Planes and other things we lost if you would like to read.
This is also a great friendship book between both female and male characters. It doesn't feel force at all. Which is something I really enjoyed.
I can't wait for the story to continue in Chasing Cars and the Lessons we learned.

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Wrap-Up | January 7-15 2017

Another week in reading gone great. I also did a review of A Gathering of Shadows. I really need to put my self in a posting schedule. I am hoping to getting that down by the beginning of this week. So far I have been review all the books I have reading. Which that is a good thing. I just need to try and not put too much of a gap between review. I will hopefully be posting different types of post during the upcoming weeks. I have been doing really good in my reading so far which that makes me happy. Hopefully I don't fall of the wagon. Here are 4 more books that I read the previous week. Hoping to get my review up from this passing week soon. Don't want to fall to behind schedule. If you guys have any ideas of what you guys would like me to post let me know.

Title: Lisey's Story

Author: Stephen King

Release: October 24, 2006

Rating:★ ★ ★ ★

Pages: 513
Where to find it:  Amazon | Bookdepository
Series: No
Format: Hardcover

Summary: Lisey Debusher Landon lost her husband, Scott, two years ago, after a twenty-five-year marriage of the most profound and sometimes frightening intimacy. Scott was an award-winning, bestselling novelist and a very complicated man. Early in their relationship, before they married, Lisey had to learn from him about books and blood and bools. Later, she understood that there was a place Scott went -- a place that both terrified and healed him, that could eat him alive or give him the ideas he needed in order to live. Now it's Lisey's turn to face Scott's demons, Lisey's turn to go to Boo'ya Moon. What begins as a widow's effort to sort through the papers of her celebrated husband becomes a nearly fatal journey into the darkness he inhabited. Perhaps King's most personal and powerful novel, "Lisey's Story" is about the wellsprings of creativity, the temptations of madness, and the secret language of love. (goodreads)

Thoughts:
I really like this story. I enjoyed the format that it was written. This could be one of the top Stephen King books I have read so far. If you like his writing I recommend this book because it also gives you another aspect of his stile. It doesn't completely feel like his normal books (horror) but at the same time it still leaves his mark and you see how it is his book.
As we follow Lisey in the story we feel her lost and the struggle of living without her husband. As a reader you are thrown into her world and the mystery behind her life and her husbands. I really enjoyed it and I recommend it.

Title: Ghosted, Vol. 1 Haunted Heist

Author: Joshua Williamson

Release: December 4, 2013

Rating:★ ★ ★ ★

Pages: 144

Where to find it:  Amazon | 

Series: Yes
Format: Paperback Trade

Summary: Jackson T. Winters is one of the greatest criminal masterminds to ever live... except he's rotting in jail after his last, doomed score. But when a filthy rich collector breaks him out, he's tasked with putting together an elite team of paranormal experts to do the impossible: Steal a ghost from a haunted house of horrors! Collects GHOSTED #1-5. (goodreads)

Thoughts:
I want to read everything by Joshua Williamson. He is easily becoming one of my favorite comic book writers out there. His stories always have to do with horror and the fantasy realm, which are two of my favorite things. I really enjoyed how his this comic story he incorporates a heist and horror. It really cleaver how he did that. It all felt like it flowed so well together. I was instantly pulled into the story and the mystery behind it all. I really loved it and can't wait to read the next volume of this world.
Really recommend picking up something from him. 

Title: The Girl with all the Gifts

Author: M.R. Carrey

Release: June 19, 2014

Rating:★ ★ ★ ★ 

Pages: 460
Where to find it:  Amazon | Bookdepository
Series: No
Format: Paperback

Summary: Melanie is a very special girl. Dr. Caldwell calls her "our little genius." Every morning, Melanie waits in her cell to be collected for class. When they come for her, Sergeant Parks keeps his gun pointing at her while two of his people strap her into the wheelchair. She thinks they don't like her. She jokes that she won't bite, but they don't laugh. Melanie loves school. She loves learning about spelling and sums and the world outside the classroom and the children's cells. She tells her favorite teacher all the things she'll do when she grows up. Melanie doesn't know why this makes Miss Justineau look sad. The Girl with All the Gifts is a sensational thriller, perfect for fans of Stephen King, Justin Cronin, and Neil Gaiman. (goodreads)

Thoughts:
This was a story that I really enjoyed. The world was intriguing to me. Such a different idea of the Zombie lore. I enjoyed the new refreshing idea been seeing a lot of twist in the genre and I am really enjoying it. I love zombie movies and I have really been wanting to read more zombie books. Ended up picking this one and I wasn't disappointed at all. It felt refreshing and brilliant at the same time.
As we follow these character we see the developments and what they had to do to survive in this world and you don't really know who is right and who is wrong when it comes down to finding out how to survive in this new world.
I like that the story doesn't pick up a few years after the world is infected. Haven't really read a lot of books in that point of the outbreak. It was nice and refreshing.
I also ended up watching the movie which I really enjoyed. It was really similar to the book. I like that aspect. They did had to change a few things for the sake of time. But I did wish they showed more aspects of some of the characters.
Overall if you like novels about zombies I recommend you to pick this book up. It also gives you so much more and get's you thinking on accepting what the world has become and what people do to survive.

Title: Preacher Book 1

Author: Grath Ennis

Release: June 18, 2013

Rating:★ ★

Pages: 352
Where to find it:  Amazon | Bookdepository
Series: Yes
Format: Paperback Trade

Summary: Available for the first time in hardcover, preacher Jesse Custer begins his dark journey to find God, in this volume collecting PREACHER #1-12, plus pinups from PREACHER #50 and #66. After merging with a bizarre spiritual force called Genesis, Texan preacher Jesse Custer has become completely disillusioned with the beliefs to which he had dedicated his entire life. Now possessing the power of "the word," an ability to make people do whatever he utters, Custer begins a violent and riotous journey across the country. Joined by his gun-toting girlfriend Tulip and the hard-drinking Irish vampire Cassidy, Custer loses faith in both God and man as he witnesses dark atrocities and improbable calamities during his exploration of America. This new collected edition features an all-new introduction by series writer Garth Ennis. (goodreads)

Thought:
I really didn't like this first book in the comic series and I don't think I will be continuing it. The beginning of it was interesting but as I read more. I felt like it drag. I also don't know how I feel with some issues in the comic book. I usually could read pretty much any topic. But I really don't like the way this series is written.
Really don't have much to say about it but this. 

Title: Off the Record (#1)

Author: Grath Ennis

Release: March 11, 2014

Rating:★ ★

Pages: 445
Where to find it:  Amazon | Bookdepository
Series: Yes
Format: Paperback

Summary: Liz Dougherty has no idea a single question is about to change her life. Her first big reporting assignment for her North Carolina college newspaper has her covering a state senator’s impromptu press conference. Brady Maxwell may have everything it takes to be a politician—a winning pedigree, devastating good looks, a body made to wear suits—but his politics rub Liz the wrong way. When Liz’s hard-hitting question catches the upstart senator off-guard, it impresses Hayden Lane, Liz’s editor who feels she’s headed for a promising career as a reporter. But Liz is also headed into a secret romance with Brady that could destroy both their ambitions. Though he’s a bachelor, potential voters might frown on Brady cozying up to a reporter. And Liz isn’t sure sneaking around is enough for her—especially when things between her and Hayden might be less platonic than she thought. Sleek, sexy, and smart, Off the Record ventures into a high-stakes campaign and an even higher-stakes affair to answer the question: When politics and love collide, can there ever be a winner? (goodreads)

Thoughts:
I have been in the mood of reading New Adult novels. Some of them have been good and some of them haven't been that great. This one wasn't that great. Or it just wasn't what I wanted from the characters. I picked it up because it had such high reviews but I was really disappointed by the characters. There is some New Adult books were the female character are written with confidents and are not allow to be push over by the male character in the story. Although this character is independent she is easily submissive to the male character without question. Even when some of the things he does aren't okay.
I don't know if I will be continuing with this series. It pretty much a straight forward romance novel with the characters being in a secret relationship. I get why some people will enjoy it.  

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Review: A Gathering of Shadows by V.E. Schwab

Title: A Gathering of Shadows (#2)
Author: V.E. Schwab
Release: February 23, 2016
Rating:★ ★
Pages: 509
Where to find it:  Amazon | Bookdepository
Series: Yes
Format: Hardcover
Summary: It has been four months since a mysterious obsidian stone fell into Kell's possession. Four months since his path crossed with Delilah Bard. Four months since Prince Rhy was wounded, and since the nefarious Dane twins of White London fell, and four months since the stone was cast with Holland's dying body through the rift--back into Black London. Now, restless after having given up his smuggling habit, Kell is visited by dreams of ominous magical events, waking only to think of Lila, who disappeared from the docks as she always meant to do. As Red London finalizes preparations for the Element Games--an extravagant international competition of magic meant to entertain and keep healthy the ties between neighboring countries--a certain pirate ship draws closer, carrying old friends back into port. And while Red London is caught up in the pageantry and thrills of the Games, another London is coming back to life. After all, a shadow that was gone in the night will reappear in the morning. But the balance of magic is ever perilous, and for one city to flourish, another London must fall. (goodreads)
Thoughts:
I just don't know what I was expecting from this book. I felt that the first book ended in a good place and the characters acted according to their circumstances. However, this book felt like the complete opposite. The characters didn't make sense to me. They were so spoiled and I just don't know how I felt. The plot was weird. It felt all too convenient for the plot line. It didn't feel like there was a lot of surprises in the story.
I like the idea of the world but the characters didn't really make me enjoy the story. Maybe I was trying to hard too like it because I did enjoyed the first book in the series. For example, one thing that thru me off was with Kell's parents, they felt completely bland and just hypocrites from what the first book was trying to say about them. I know that the writer was trying to make a point about an event that happen in the first book in this book and were their priorities stand. But it just felt so wrong to me. It felt like everything the first book was trying to prove wrong about them was completely thrown way. Specially with the Queen's character. I get that the writer did that to drive the story in the end. But it made me dislike the characters.
The book also felt as a filler book. It felt like it was written just for the third book to happen. It just dragged too long for me.
Mostly, the things I really liked about the book was the idea and the character of Kell. He was the only one that really made sense. Of course he would do everything he did in this book. But all the other characters just didn't make sense to me. Lila was just so different from the first book. It didn't feel as if she would do what she did. It was trying to hard to make is believe she was independent. If just didn't flow with me. Rhy's was just a mess to me I felt after what he went through in the first book, it just made me dislike him to some extent. I know that it would push him to do some things to try to cope from the previous book. But I just felt it was over exaggerated. I really wanted to like the book but there was just to many things that made me dislike the it.
I don't know if I will be reading the last book in the series. Maybe one day. What are your guys thoughts about this book if you read it?

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Wrap up | January 1-6 2017

Goal this year is to review ever book I read during the year. By the amount of books I read this week. I think it may get a little over hand trying to post a review for every single book. So I think that I will be posting one or two single reviews for books that I feel to go more into detail and will be doing a general wrap up review for the rest of the books I read during the week. That way it doesn't feel so over whelm with review in the week. If I do end up reading more than one book in the week.

I think that is my plan. This week was a good reading week for me I think. I ended up listening to 3 audiobooks and reading 1 book. My goal this year is to listen as many audiobooks as I can since I could listen to them at work. I also ended up reading 5 single issue of my comic stack. So that is fun. I also read The Fate of the Tearling by Erika Johanson. You can read the review of the book by clicking the title.

Title: Star Wars: Lost Stars #1
Author: Claudia Gray
Release: September 4th 2015

Rating:★ ★ 1/2

Pages: 551
Where to find it:  Amazon | Bookdepository
Series: Yes
Format: Hardcover

Summary: A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away… Eight years after the fall of the Old Republic, the Galactic Empire now reigns over the known galaxy. Resistance to the Empire has been all but silenced. Only a few courageous leaders such as Bail Organa of Alderaan still dare to openly oppose Emperor Palpatine. After years of defiance, the many worlds at the edge of the Outer Rim have surrendered. With each planet’s conquest, the Empire’s might grows stronger. The latest to fall under the Emperor’s control is the isolated mountain planet Jelucan, whose citizens hope for a more prosperous future even as the Imperial Starfleet gathers overhead…(goodreads)

Thoughts:
Well this was interesting. This books was nothing from what the description said. It's basically a love story set throughout the war. It felt like a hash tag of the movies. It just went through the events of the movies as we followed the characters of each side. One in the side of the Rebellion and the other in the side of the Empire. It was an interesting aspect with the characters background story but I felt the story line was too force and just written for the sake of giving a little more background to the main story. Which that was the thing that enjoy from the book.

I enjoyed a lot of easter eggs for all the movies. They had things from Rogue One so that was a nice surprise all the way to The Force Awakens. That is what I like. It gave a little insight to each side but I felt that it wasn't something too realistic to the story. I do recommend it to people that are big fans of Star Wars just for the background things going on in the story and the nice surprises with some connections to the main story lines.

Title: Broken Monsters

Author: Lauren Beukes

Release: September 16, 2014
Rating:★ ★ ★ 1/2
Pages: 442
Where to find it:  Amazon | Bookdepository

Series: No

Format: Hardcover

Summary:Detective Gabriella Versado has seen a lot of bodies, but this one is unique even by Detroit's standards: half boy, half deer, somehow fused together. As stranger and more disturbing bodies are discovered, how can the city hold on to a reality that is already tearing at its seams? If you're Detective Versado's geeky teenage daughter, Layla, you commence a dangerous flirtation with a potential predator online. If you're desperate freelance journalist Jonno, you do whatever it takes to get the exclusive on a horrific story. If you're Thomas Keen, known on the street as TK, you'll do what you can to keep your homeless family safe--and find the monster who is possessed by the dream of violently remaking the world. If Lauren Beukes's internationally bestselling The Shining Girls was a time-jumping thrill ride through the past, her Broken Monsters is a genre-redefining thriller about broken cities, broken dreams, and broken people trying to put themselves back together again. (goodreads)

Thoughts:
Well this book was something. It was written in the same style as the authors previous books that I have read. I feel like her books have a formula, were we begin with characters at the beginning of the story and we end up seeing how they connect at the end of the story. I felt like it was very similar to the previous book I had read from her. Just with a new set of characters and in another location.

It was entertaining trying to find the mystery of the story and see how the mystery was going to be solve but the ending threw me off a bit. I would have like that the author wouldn't have added a last scene at the end making me confuse about what was really going on in the story. But overall I did enjoyed it and like some of the individual characters. I was pulled into the mystery and wanted to know what the outcome was. It is a little gory in some scenes. It also has adult scenes. But I recommend to people to give it a try.

Title: The Circle

Author: Dave Eggers

Release: October 8, 2013

Rating:★ ★ ★ 1/2

Pages: 493

Where to find it:  Amazon | Bookdepository

Series: No

Format: Hardcover

Summary: When Mae Holland is hired to work for the Circle, the world’s most powerful internet company, she feels she’s been given the opportunity of a lifetime. The Circle, run out of a sprawling California campus, links users’ personal emails, social media, banking, and purchasing with their universal operating system, resulting in one online identity and a new age of civility and transparency. As Mae tours the open-plan office spaces, the towering glass dining facilities, the cozy dorms for those who spend nights at work, she is thrilled with the company’s modernity and activity. There are parties that last through the night, there are famous musicians playing on the lawn, there are athletic activities and clubs and brunches, and even an aquarium of rare fish retrieved from the Marianas Trench by the CEO. Mae can’t believe her luck, her great fortune to work for the most influential company in America--even as life beyond the campus grows distant, even as a strange encounter with a colleague leaves her shaken, even as her role at the Circle becomes increasingly public. What begins as the captivating story of one woman’s ambition and idealism soon becomes a heart-racing novel of suspense, raising questions about memory, history, privacy, democracy, and the limits of human knowledge. (goodreads)

Thoughts:
This book was scary in the way that this could happen and we are already walking a thin line to this future. The book revolve in a world not much different than our own were we are driven by technology and social media. It feels like a prequel to Brave New World or Nighty Eighty Four. It was that intense. I wanted to read this book before the film came out and now I am intrigue to see how they are going to show case this film. In the story we follow the world through Mae and see how she gets consume in this world.

It touches on the issues of how much people live through other peoples lives. How we stop seeing the world for what it is. People want to record everything around them instead of enjoyed it and the people around us. It's such a great read. It really opens your eyes to our world and make you think step away and take time for your self. Don't invest all our time on the online world and actually go outside and experience the world.

I also I ended up reading 5 single issue comics. I ended up reading 3 issues of Pink Ranger mini series by Boom! comics and 2 issues of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers series also by Boom! I am really enjoying the series. I am liking the contemporary feel. Can't wait to see where it leads.

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Review: The Fate of the Tearling #3

Title: The Fate of the Tearling (Tearling #3)
Author: Erika Johansen
Release: November 29, 2016
Rating:★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Pages: 496
Where to find it:  Amazon | Bookdepository
Series: Yes
Format: Hardcover
Summary: The thrilling conclusion to the New York Times bestselling Tearling trilogy. In less than a year, Kelsea Glynn has transformed from a gawky teenager into a powerful monarch. As she has come into her own as the Queen of the Tearling, the headstrong, visionary leader has also transformed her realm. In her quest to end corruption and restore justice, she has made many enemies—including the evil Red Queen, her fiercest rival, who has set her armies against the Tear. To protect her people from a devastating invasion, Kelsea did the unthinkable—she gave herself and her magical sapphires to her enemy—and named the Mace, the trusted head of her personal guards, Regent in her place. But the Mace will not rest until he and his men rescue their sovereign, imprisoned in Mortmesne. Now, as the suspenseful endgame begins, the fate of Queen Kelsea—and the Tearling itself—will finally be revealed. (goodreads)
Thoughts:
What a book to start the new year. It's the end of a series that I have followed from the beginning and I completely loved it. Since it's the last book of the series I will not be discussing much about the plot line but I will be discussing some of the characters development. Which were so amazing! I was put off in reading this book from some ones strong comment on the ending on twitter. I don't have the same taste in books as this person, however that persons strong dislikes made me believe something horrible was going to happen at the end of the book and that the author somehow dishonor the characters at the end.

That wasn't the case. Lesson learn not to believe in what everyone rants on twitter because we all have our own taste. Now going on with the book. It was really an amazing journey. I really loved the writing and how the characters developed during the story. When I read the second book and third I saw how much the character change from book to book. I like when characters evolve and this series did that right. I am not saying this book is completely perfect and that everything that was written about character is correct. It does have it's issues but some off those issues do make sense. It makes sense. The characters would act certain ways reflecting the way they were brought up to. It's interesting to see the gender roles during the whole novels also. We see that the female is the person with power. As I read I saw that the females are way stronger than the male characters in the story. They handle the hardship and think ahead. While the male characters are weak and think they can handle everything when in reality they can't. I liked that the female characters can stand up for themselves and they are the one that out think a lot of the characters. I could instantly see the flaws of the male characters and see how they reflect with every single other fantasy novel. Which was refreshing. It makes the story seemed even more aware of itself and the problems in some fantasy novels.

I recommend to push through the first book because I understand that it's a slow start and it also has it's issues with the main character, but the second one is so good. It's completely different than what you would expect. Kelsea's development is the best one I believe in the story. You see how she grows from an isolated environment to being thrown into a word were she has to rule a kingdom. She is such a strong character in the later books and you see the sacrifice she must do to ensure the safety of her kingdom.

The ending of the series just kept me thinking and made me feel so much emotions for the characters and the world. I  did want more but at the same time I like the unknown of the future of this world. It was an ending that I didn't expected which was also amazing and breeze of fresh air because I don't read a lot of books with an unexpected ending. Most of the books that I have been reading have a predictable. Hope you guys give this series a try. I really enjoyed it.

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Review: Paper Planes and other Things we Lost

Title: Paper Planes and other things we lost
Author: Mindy Hayes and Michele C. Miller
Release: June 6, 2016
Rating:★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Pages: 374
Where to find it:  Amazon | Bookdepository
Format: Paperback
Summary: On June 18, 1992, Flight 397 crashed off the coast of Long Island. But this story isn't about the crash. Not completely. This is a story about two high school seniors living very different lives, who share one connection: they both lost parents on that fateful flight. Slowly, letters bridge the gap between California and Pennsylvania as Ruby Kaminski and Brett Pratt find a way to remember the past while looking toward the future. This is a story about hope, paper planes, and the other things they lost. (goodreads)

Thoughts:
This book! It gave me all the feel. Apart from feels it felt so real. It felt that the authors wrote the characters perfectly and acted appropriate to certain situations AND THE FEMALE CHARACTER HAS COMMON SENSE! In certain situations. I like that there was different reaction to the event for all the characters. There isn't only one respond for the characters. Everyone is different and I liked that from the writing.
I really love the idea of the letters being send back and forth. If made me miss the idea of pen pals. Living in a electronic world there is ideas that where lost and wish that more people continue doing that.
The era of the book is also perfect. It is set in a perfect time where it make sense that they would be writing letters back and forth. I just love everything from this book. The writing didn't feel force, the reactions didn't feel fake, it was just so amazing. Maybe it was the right time to read this book or I was in the right set of mind. It was just perfect with me.
I like the relationship the characters had. I like that it was a journey for them and that they discovered themselves first before jumping into anything else. They needed to heal themselves. The supporting characters where amazing. The were not jerks. They were actual people that reacted genuine. Their reaction made sense in situation.
I recommend everyone to read this little gem. It wasn't expected. I love discovering books and hope more people read this book because it's just so beautiful.

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Review: American Assassin

Title: American Assassin #1
Author: Vince Flynn
Release: January 8, 2013
Rating:★ ★ .5
Pages: 448
Where to find it: Amazon | Bookdepository
Format: Paperback
Series: Yes
Summary: Vince Flynn’s stunning #1 New York Times bestseller introduces the young Mitch Rapp on his first assignment, a mission of vengeance that made him a CIA superagent. Two decades after the Cold War, Islamic terrorism is on the rise, and CIA Operations Director Thomas Stansfield forms a new group of clandestine operatives—men who do not exist—to meet this burgeoning threat abroad, before it reaches America’s shores. Stansfield’s protégé, Irene Kennedy, finds the ideal candidate in the wake of the Pan Am Lockerbie terrorist attack. Among the thousands grieving the victims is Mitch Rapp, a gifted college athlete, who wants only one thing: retribution. Six months of intense training prepare him to devastate the enemy with brutal efficiency, leaving a trail of bodies from Istanbul and across Europe, to Beirut. But there, the American assassin will need every ounce of skill and cunning to survive the war-ravaged city and its deadly terrorist factions. (goodreads)

Thoughts:
I own a physical copy of this book but decided to listen to the audiobook. I felt it would go a lot faster if I would have read it and it was true. I would have taken longer to read it. I felt that the beginning of the book was interesting. I was pulled into the story line. I was interested to see where the story lead to and how the character would develop. But as I got halfway through the book I started dozing off and the characters felt flat.
I was more entertained with the training at the beginning of the story than with the actual mission. I felt it rush and felt them fall flat. The story started to wonder off from the storyline. I would have liked that the whole book would just focus on Mitch point of view or if anything it would only focus on him and another person only. Not more than two. Didn't really like how it jump from person to person. It didn't felt like a steady storyline. I have read other books with multiple characters point of views and liked them. But I felt this one wasn't executed correctly.
Mitch character was an interesting characters, but I did feel him a little flat. He felt too convenient. I also felt that the book started with a mood and later changed the type of book it was. It was very hard to focus on the storyline. I did like the action scenes. But I just don't think this is my type of series. I felt it rush and sloppy.
I don't think I will be continuing the series. If anything I will pick up the second book to see if it's the same pace but other than that I wasn't really pulled into the story.

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The Hatching by Ezekiel Boone

Title: The Hatching
Author: Ezekiel Boone
Release: July 5, 2016
Rating:★ ★ ★ ★ 1/2
Pages: 352
Format: ARC
Disclaimer: I won this book in a twitter giveaway from the publisher.
Series: Yes
Summary: An astonishingly inventive and terrifying debut novel about the emergence of an ancient species, dormant for over a thousand years, and now on the march.
Deep in the jungle of Peru, where so much remains unknown, a black, skittering mass devours an American tourist whole. Thousands of miles away, an FBI agent investigates a fatal plane crash in Minneapolis and makes a gruesome discovery. Unusual seismic patterns register in a Kanpur, India earthquake lab, confounding the scientists there. During the same week, the Chinese government “accidentally” drops a nuclear bomb in an isolated region of its own country. As these incidents begin to sweep the globe, a mysterious package from South America arrives at a Washington, D.C. laboratory. Something wants out.
The world is on the brink of an apocalyptic disaster. An ancient species, long dormant, is now very much awake.

Thoughts: It's been a hard process for me to find a books that I actually has the scary factor for me and I think I just found the book. This book accomplished that for me. I had no idea what to expect in this book when I first picked it up. All I knew was it had to do with spiders and fear. This book accomplished that. Just reading the description of the event in this book is scary enough to make me not get near an insect I don't recognize.

I really like the fact that all the characters of this book are connected in one way or another. It makes me enjoy the book more to discover the mystery behind the connection of the character. It was also interesting to see in every chapter how the events were affecting every aspect of the world. I think my only complain about the book is that I wish there was a little bit more towards the ending of the novel.

I do give the warning that if you are scare of spiders don't read this book. I really enjoyed it but I wouldn't give this book to my sister to read (she has a phobia of spiders). Because the descriptions of what the spiders do is very descripted. It gave me goose bumps in some of the description. It's been a while since I read a book like this and I was very happy to get this book because it wasn't something I have heard of. I was lucky to get my hands on it and I am thankful for being able to have read it this month. It was the perfect set of horror and suspense. Just what I needed.

I really don't want to say much more of the book because it was so good and the fact that I haven't heard of it made it so perfect. I didn't know what to expect which is rare for me to experience. The sad thing is that it's not a stand alone. It does have a sequel coming out next year. Which I will be waiting to get my hands on it until it's release.

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Review: I'll Give You The Sun by Jandy Nelson

Title: I'll Give you the Sun
Author: Jandy Nelson
Release: September 16th 2014
Rating:★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Pages: 371
Format: Hardback, Paperback, Audio, Kindle, Nook
Where to find it: AMAZON BnN
Series: No

Summary: A brilliant, luminous story of first love, family, loss, and betrayal for fans of John Green, David Levithan, and Rainbow Rowell

Jude and her twin brother, Noah, are incredibly close. At thirteen, isolated Noah draws constantly and is falling in love with the charismatic boy next door, while daredevil Jude cliff-dives and wears red-red lipstick and does the talking for both of them. But three years later, Jude and Noah are barely speaking. Something has happened to wreck the twins in different and dramatic ways . . . until Jude meets a cocky, broken, beautiful boy, as well as someone else—an even more unpredictable new force in her life. The early years are Noah's story to tell. The later years are Jude's. What the twins don't realize is that they each have only half the story, and if they could just find their way back to one another, they’d have a chance to remake their world.

This radiant novel from the acclaimed, award-winning author of The Sky Is Everywhere will leave you breathless and teary and laughing—often all at once.

Em's Review

First, YES! Mel did review this early this year, I, however, JUST finished it. So here goes!

As I am writing this review, I still have a streak of tears drying on my cheeks. Tears of both happiness and heartache, like I was living this myself. That’s how magnificent this story is, pulling emotions out of me, like a magician's scarf trick.

Told in shifting time frames, Noah (who draws everything, on paper or in his mind) who tells his tale at 13, and his twin sister Jude ( who scruples out of sand, sews, and follows her Grandma Bible of superstitions) telling her tale at 16. You can not escape without half your Kleenex gone, and your mind blown away by the images this story put there, as we see these children grow apart and come together again with love, betrayal, heartbreak and then forgiveness.

You know, how in many stories you find that one character you connect with? In I’ll Give You the Sun, I don’t know which sibling I related too more. They both spoke to me. Noah mind paints like I can make a story up in my head (getting it to paper is the hard thing), yet Jude protects her sibling much like I did with mine, sometimes still do. Noah will be quiet, looking at the world as an outsider, while Jude is more daring. Only to have them switch has their life was rocked with loss. My just my siblings and I have done time and again. Without spoiling this story, so much of it I could equate it to a part of my own growing up (maybe this is what the tears are from). When one was weak, the other strong. Carrying burdens our young selves didn’t need too. Our plans change, our parents have their own secret lives, and siblings will pull apart and come together again and again.

I swear to Clark Gable you will love this story, and what everyone to read it too.

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Screwdrivered by Alice Clayton

Title: Screwdrivered
Author: Alice Clayton
Release: September 2, 2014
Rating:★ ★ ★ ★
Pages: 256
Format: paperback
Series: Cocktail #3
Summary: After witnessing a mob hit, surgeon Jack Francisco is put into protective custody to keep him safe until he can testify. A hitman known only as D is blackmailed into killing Jack, but when he tracks him down, his weary conscience won't allow him to murder an innocent man. Finding in each other an unlikely ally, Jack and D are soon on the run from shadowy enemies.
Readers back for a third round of the bestselling Cocktail series will enjoy a madcap romantic comedy about bodice ripping and chest heaving, fiery passion and love everlasting. Plus a dash of paperwork filing and horseshi—wait, what?
By day, Viv Franklin designs software programs. By night, Vivian’s a secret romance-novel junkie who longs for a knight in shining armor, or a cowboy on a wild stallion, or a strapping fit refighter to sweep her off her feet. And she gets to wear the bodice—don’t forget the bodice.
When a phone call brings news that she’s inherited a beautiful old home in Mendocino, California from a long-forgotten aunt, she moves her entire life across the country to embark on what she sees as a great, romance-novel-worthy adventure. But romance novels always have a twist, don’t they?
There’s a cowboy, one that ignites her loins. Because Cowboy Hank is totally loin-ignition worthy. But there’s also a librarian, Clark Barrow. And he calls her Vivian. Can tweed jackets and elbow patches compete with chaps and spurs? You bet your sweet cow pie.
In Screwdrivered, Alice Clayton pits Superman against Clark in a hilarious and hot battle that delights a swooning Viv/Vivian.
Also within this book, an answer to the question of the ages: Why ride a cowboy when you can ride a librarian? (goodreads)

Thoughts:
I was actually surprise that I like this novel. I don't know why romance novels have horrible titles and horrible covers that make them look dirtier than what they actually are. The covers makes it look like a really trashy novel when in reality it's really good. This is the third book in a book series. You don't really need to read the other books to read this book. The only thing that connects it with the other books in the series are character. I really like it. I had only read the first book in this series and skipped the second one and read this one. I was surprise how I like it. It was a fun fluffy read that I really didn't need too think much. I really enjoyed the characters and the romance. The characters were interested enough for me to say invested. You do see appearances of characters from the other novels which is fun to read. I did find it a little irritated when the main character was to narrow minded to figure out what was right in front of her. That she was determine to get with a guy that completely was a douche bag. But I think that is one thing I did liked about the book. The fact that's what novels always do. They always make the female determine to get with the bad boy and the girl to change his ways just to be patient. It was sort of a metaphor that the guy will always be a douche bag. It's good to see the good guy win for a change. I like that the Viv was a determine character except when it came with her fascination with Hank which I disliked as I mention. But overall it was a fast quick read that I really enjoyed. If you like romance novels it's I completely recommend to give it a read. You don't really need to read the other books to understand this book from the series. It could perfectly stand on it's own.

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Uprooted by Naomi Novik | Review

Title: Uprooted
Author: Naomi Novik
Release: May 19, 2015
Rating:★ ★ ★ ★
Pages: 435
Format: Hardback
Series: No
Summary:“Our Dragon doesn’t eat the girls he takes, no matter what stories they tell outside our valley. We hear them sometimes, from travelers passing through. They talk as though we were doing human sacrifice, and he were a real dragon. Of course that’s not true: he may be a wizard and immortal, but he’s still a man, and our fathers would band together and kill him if he wanted to eat one of us every ten years. He protects us against the Wood, and we’re grateful, but not that grateful.”
Agnieszka loves her valley home, her quiet village, the forests and the bright shining river. But the corrupted Wood stands on the border, full of malevolent power, and its shadow lies over her life.
Her people rely on the cold, driven wizard known only as the Dragon to keep its powers at bay. But he demands a terrible price for his help: one young woman handed over to serve him for ten years, a fate almost as terrible as falling to the Wood.
The next choosing is fast approaching, and Agnieszka is afraid. She knows—everyone knows—that the Dragon will take Kasia: beautiful, graceful, brave Kasia, all the things Agnieszka isn’t, and her dearest friend in the world. And there is no way to save her.
But Agnieszka fears the wrong things. For when the Dragon comes, it is not Kasia he will choose. (goodreads)
Thoughts:

The main reason for picking up this book was because I heard Brandon Sanderson speak so highly of it. I wanted to know what was so interesting about the book. It's hard to read re-tellings for me. It's hard to actually find one that I actually enjoyed. When I first started reading this book I wasn't really pull into the story line, until I reach 30 Into the story. That is when it started picking up. I was happy that it didn't take 100 pages for the story to pick up. Something that has happened lately in stories that I have been reading lately.

I really enjoyed the story. It was different that the retellings that have been coming out lately. It was different than the others. I liked that the book also stands on it's own. It's just one book instead of a series. Which most of the books coming out lately are. It's hard to find a book that stands on it's own lately.

In the story we follow Agnieszka journey as she is chosen by the Dragon. The protector of her land. We discover the reason why she is the one chosen and we see the development between her and the Dragon. One thing I really like about the story was the relationship between Agnieszka and Kasia. We rarely see the relationships between friends in stories. We always see female characters against each other instead of working together and this book did very well in having those characters work together. We also see how strong their friendship is which I really loved.

It was good to see the development of the character and see how she had to grow on her own also. I did find areas that were slow but I understood that they were necessary for the story to develop. Overall I would say you should give the story a try. It's very entertaining. I do warn there is 2 scenes that are for mature readers. They are short scenes. But just a warning if you don't like reading sexual scenes.

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Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo | Review

Title: Six of Crows (Six of Crows #1)
Author: Leigh Bardugo
Release: September 29, 2015
Rating:★ ★ ★ ★
Pages: 465
Format: Hardback
Series: Yes - (Six of Crows)
Summary: Ketterdam: a bustling hub of international trade where anything can be had for the right price—and no one knows that better than criminal prodigy Kaz Brekker. Kaz is offered a chance at a deadly heist that could make him rich beyond his wildest dreams. But he can't pull it off alone...
A convict with a thirst for revenge.
A sharpshooter who can't walk away from a wager.
A runaway with a privileged past.
A spy known as the Wraith.
A Heartrender using her magic to survive the slums.
A thief with a gift for unlikely escapes.
Kaz's crew are the only ones who might stand between the world and destruction—if they don't kill each other first.(goodreads)

Thoughts:
This book was confusing at the beginning. I didn't really know where the story was leading. I didn't really know what the book was really about. It was feeling different than the description of the book. I wasn't really enjoying the beginning of the book. I don't know if it was because of the hype that the book has or because I felt that I was missing information. I feel like I would have gotten more of it if I would have read the authors other series also. Would have understand the world a little better.

This book takes place in the same world has her previous series but none of her characters are connected. The book did started picking up after 100 pages in. But I feel like that is too much to read in a story to actually feel pulled into the story line.

The characters were interesting and I did feel like knowing more about them. As we develop more into the story we do get more and more into the story and we find out more about the characters. That is a thing that I liked about the story, the characters. That is what actually kept me invested in the story. As the story progress the characters got more and more interesting. They kept me invested in the story. They made me want to know more about them.

As for the story I felt like it was trying to hard to become a heist book when in reality it wasn't. It felt like something else.

I heard this book in an audiobook format and I really enjoyed it. I enjoyed that there were different narrators for the story. That made the story more interesting and more entertaining to hear. If you can't get into the book by reading it I suggest to hearing the book. It was very entertaining and the voices fit the characters so well.

I will be continuing the series. I am looking forward how this story will end.

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Career of Evil by Robert Galbraith | Review

Title: Career of Evil (Cormoron Strike #3)
Author: Robert Galbraith (JK Rowling)
Release: October 20th 2015
Rating:★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Pages: 497
Format: Hardback/Audiobook
Series: Yes - Cormoron Strike
Summary: Cormoran Strike is back, with his assistant Robin Ellacott, in a mystery based around soldiers returning from war.
When a mysterious package is delivered to Robin Ellacott, she is horrified to discover that it contains a woman’s severed leg.
Her boss, private detective Cormoran Strike, is less surprised but no less alarmed. There are four people from his past who he thinks could be responsible – and Strike knows that any one of them is capable of sustained and unspeakable brutality.
With the police focusing on the one suspect Strike is increasingly sure is not the perpetrator, he and Robin take matters into their own hands, and delve into the dark and twisted worlds of the other three men. But as more horrendous acts occur, time is running out for the two of them…
Career of Evil is the third in the series featuring private detective Cormoran Strike and his assistant Robin Ellacott. A mystery and also a story of a man and a woman at a crossroads in their personal and professional lives. (goodreads)

Thoughts:

What can I say about this book other than it was another amazing book to the series and I want more. I think this series gets better and better with each book. I like how we see the characters evolve with each chapter and how much more information we get from the characters. I was shock with some information that was reveal about one of the main characters in the series. That was an intense twist. I like how strong the characters are within the story. We get to know them more as the book progress. That is one of the things that I enjoy most of this series. The character development.

Another thing I like about this series are the cases. They are so different and they pulled you into the story. They keep you on the edge and keep you guessing what will come next. Some of the turns you would have never guess it would have happened and that is a thing that I love. I like that we don't know what is coming. That we don't expect the outcome.

One thing about this book is that I hear it in audiobook format. I love the narrator for this series. It's the perfect voice for the character. When I am hearing it I picture Cormoran speaking those line. It's not to slow and it's not too fast, it's the perfect pace. The reader doesn't bore you.

If you like a good mystery book and you are yet to read the Cormorant Strike series I highly recommend it. You will not be disappointed at all.

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Book Review: Beastly Manor by Alex Hall + Giveaway

Beastly Manor 
by Alex Hall
Page Count: 293 pages
Publisher: Madison Place Press
Publication Date: 1/20/2016
Genre: LGBT Fantasy
  Format: E-book
Amazon Buy Link: HERE
Goodreads Link: HERE
Em's Rating: ★★★★
Book Blurb:
Once upon a time in a faraway land a very wealthy merchant lived on a good piece of land just west of the hamlet we now call Littleton. The merchant was blessed with luck and guile, strong bones and sharp eyes, a pretty wife of gentle spirit, and four healthy children whom he called Faith, Hope, Beauty, and Corbin. 

 An LGBT twist on the classic love story. 

Em’s Review:
This is going to be one of those hard reviews where I want to squee and spoil everything, cause I love this story so! It’s has so much I love in a fairytale, and not those sugar down Disney ones. We are talking family in ruin! Knights! Training! Murder! Magic items! A creature and a little LGBT mixed in. In fact, if you are looking for a story where Disney’s Bell has been replaced by a guy, I can find you some fanfiction, cause this is more Corbin’s story, than the story of the Beast. And, like a classic fairytale, not everyone's story has an ending or a happy one.

I loved how this world felt like something I would have seen in BBC’s Merlin. The medieval and the magical fitting right in. I didn’t have people going through explaining to me what the dwarves are like here, we just jump right into it, and it never breaks from the story.

Corbin is also discovering his own sexulaity in his quest. It’s is very well added in here. He is not the gay person doing this to release his family from a deal, he is a man learning who just happens to like men and not women. This world doesn’t even make being gay an issue. Corbin was getting more hell from the color of his hair than the fact he didn’t bed women. It is refreshing to read a story where I persons sexuallity was not plastered on every page.

I will warn you, the first act of this story is a little slow, but is also short. It is where we meet Corbin at a young age and get to meet the family right before the deal with the devil as people will say. Then it picks up and all I am doing is reading it and the dinner is overcooking in the oven. Extra crispy chicken aside, please go and get the ebook. The price is worth the read, and Alex Hall is a great wordsmith and I would love to see more work from them.

Here is an excerpt to so you what I mean!

Once upon a time in faraway land a very wealthy merchant lived on a good piece of property just west of the hamlet we now call Littleton. The merchant was blessed with luck and guile, strong bones and sharp eyes, a pretty wife who had both wit and a gentle spirit, and four healthy children. He was called Jean de Beaumont, after his father and his grandfather both. His wife liked to call him ‘Roux’ for the color of his hair. To his three daughters the merchant was always ‘Papa’, but his eldest child and only son always called him simply ‘Da’.

Like many of the tenant farmers subsisting on squares of land just outside Littleton proper, de Beaumont dedicated his time and talents to the making of good cheeses. The native soil was made rich with salt from the nearby sea, and that fragrant earth produced a grass greener than the king’s most rare verdigris dyes. Black and white cattle grew fat in the fields. Their milk was thick and sweet, suitable for drinking straight from the pail, or churning into butter. More importantly, this milk was the very key to the family’s survival, for de Beaumont poured it into great bowls and set it aside to curdle before molding. The milk turned into cheese, the cheese now called Camembert.

Camembert was not so rare around Littleton. But de Beaumont, being a clever man with a head for experimentation, began to add an extra ingredient to the cheese: a special brandy his wife made from the apples collected from the trees growing wild amongst the hedges. Only she knew how to correctly prepare the brandy, and only de Beaumont knew when to add the sweet-smelling liquor between curdling and molding, and then again before he sealed the cheeses in wooden boxes and set them aside again to age. The recipe was a family secret kept only in de Beaumonts’s head. As word of the unusual and delicious Camembert spread so did demand, but de Beaumont was canny and never increased production. He raised the price for a wheel. His fortune was made in a matter of years, while Corbin was still a babe not yet out of his cot.

They say there are still wheels of de Beaumont Camembert laid aside in the king’s cellars, held back for a special occasion. If this is true the king is a very lucky man, as by all accounts de Beaumont’s special cheese exists nowhere else. It is possible the merchant meant to teach Corbin the recipe once the child came of age, so that as heir he could pass the secret on through the generations, ensuring the family’s continued fortune. But God plays tricks on a man, gives with the right hand and takes with the left, and like de Beaumont’s pretty little farm and charming family, that magical strain of Camembert is nothing more than a distant memory, a lingering taste on the tongue of good fortune, a fleeting recollection of pleasure.

Want more? Part of another excerpt was used in today's Get Up Offa That Slump Challenge

Author Bio: 

Alex Hall writes LGBT speculative fiction for Madison Place Press. Find out more about Alex, Beastly Manor, and Alex's forthcoming dystopian M/M romance, The Stranded, at www.sarahremy.com

I would like to thank Enchanted Book Promotions for letting me host another stop on their tour, and for this giveaway. Make sure you stop by other spots on the tour.

Giveaway 

 a Rafflecopter giveaway

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I'll Give you the Sun | Review

Title: I'll Give you the Sun
Author: Jandy Nelson
Release: September 16th 2014
Rating:★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Pages: 371
Format: Hardback
Where to find it:
Series: No
Summary: A brilliant, luminous story of first love, family, loss, and betrayal for fans of John Green, David Levithan, and Rainbow Rowell
Jude and her twin brother, Noah, are incredibly close. At thirteen, isolated Noah draws constantly and is falling in love with the charismatic boy next door, while daredevil Jude cliff-dives and wears red-red lipstick and does the talking for both of them. But three years later, Jude and Noah are barely speaking. Something has happened to wreck the twins in different and dramatic ways . . . until Jude meets a cocky, broken, beautiful boy, as well as someone else—an even more unpredictable new force in her life. The early years are Noah's story to tell. The later years are Jude's. What the twins don't realize is that they each have only half the story, and if they could just find their way back to one another, they’d have a chance to remake their world.
This radiant novel from the acclaimed, award-winning author of The Sky Is Everywhere will leave you breathless and teary and laughing—often all at once.

Thoughts:
This book gave me feelings that I haven't felt about a book in a long time. I have never felt so many emotions in one book. The emotion where your chest hurt from emotions being held back. I was close to tears in many parts as I read.

This is a book that must be read by everyone. I was hectic to reading the book because of all the hype that it had when it came out. How people said it was so amazing. I was scared to picked up for that reason. I had some bad experiences with hype books. However, my friend Cal insisted on me picking up this book and I had no other choice than to pick it up. She has done no wrong to me by the books she had recommended me to read in the past and this one was no exception.

This has now become one of my favorite books of all time. What brought it to become one of my favorite books is the characters. The fact that these characters go through so much. What they had to deal with and how grief is a process that must be shared and not kept to one self. In order to move forward you need others helps. Alone a person suffers, lies hurt people. That is what this book try to showed to it's reader.

One of the things I also loved of this story was how it focus on art. How these individuals lives were surrounded by art itself. How it affected their life. I think this is a well deserve of it's hype. It's so beautifully written and with so much emotions.

Have you guys read a book that has given you so much emotion that you can express yourself of how beautiful it is? Have you read this book? And did it give you emotions?

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Hidden Bodies by Caroline Kepnes | Review

Title:Hidden Bodies (You #2)
Author: Caroline Kepnes
Release:February 23rd 2016
Rating:★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Pages:448
Format: Hardback
Where to find it: Amazon | BookDepository
Series: Yes - You
Summary: Joe Goldberg is no stranger to hiding bodies. In the past ten years, this thirty-something has buried four of them, collateral damage in his quest for love. Now he’s heading west to Los Angeles, the city of second chances, determined to put his past behind him.
In Hollywood, Joe blends in effortlessly with the other young upstarts. He eats guac, works in a bookstore, and flirts with a journalist neighbor. But while others seem fixated on their own reflections, Joe can’t stop looking over his shoulder. The problem with hidden bodies is that they don’t always stay that way. They re-emerge, like dark thoughts, multiplying and threatening to destroy what Joe wants most: true love. And when he finds it in a darkened room in Soho House, he’s more desperate than ever to keep his secrets buried. He doesn’t want to hurt his new girlfriend—he wants to be with her forever. But if she ever finds out what he’s done, he may not have a choice… (goodreads)

Thoughts:
Being the second book in the current duology (hoping there will be more) I really enjoyed it. Usually the second book in a series doesn't do the first book justice. But this one I think it did. Although, I still really like the first book in the series this book still didn't disappoint. The book was just as twisted at the first one.


I don't really need to make any warning that this book is not for children or how violent this book is. If you read the first book. In the first book we follow the main character Joe Goldberg has we see his obsession with Beck. In this book we follow right where the first book left off.


What I really enjoy in this book was that it didn't really do the same thing it did in the first book. It was different. It went into a different path than the first one and I enjoyed that the author explored that.


Another thing that I really enjoyed in this novel was all the references to current culture now. I have read some reviews of the book of people really not enjoying that from the book, however, I really like that. (I am such a nerd) I really love when books set in current time reflect the culture of today. Specially since I love fandom so much. I think it will be one thing that people may not like that aren't to found of pop culture.


One thing that this books made you really thing about is who you are rooting for. These books are really disturbing and the fact that you are routing to the disturb killer makes you question your morals. But that is what I love about the book. The author get's you inside the character and makes you see that things are not all black and white. There is more to a person that just being crazy. There is reason behind some of their weird logic.


If you are yet to read these book I recommend them if you don't mind reading about killers. Also, there is explicit scenes, adult content, and language.


If you read the book what are your thoughts? Do you wish there was more in the series? Is there books you recommend that are similar to this book?


I recommend "The Girl in 6E" by A.R. Torre I have only read the first in the series. But hope to read the others in the series.

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A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab ( and Signing Event)

Title:A Darker Shad of Magic
Author: V.E. Schwab aka Victory Schwab
Release:February 24th 2015
Rating:★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Pages: 398
Format: Hardback
Where to find it:
Series: Yes - Shades of Magic
Summary: Kell is one of the last Travelers—rare magicians who choose a parallel universe to visit. Grey London is dirty, boring, lacks magic, ruled by mad King George. Red London is where life and magic are revered, and the Maresh Dynasty presides over a flourishing empire. White London is ruled by whoever has murdered their way to the throne. People fight to control magic, and the magic fights back, draining the city to its very bones. Once there was Black London—but no one speaks of that now. Officially, Kell is the Red Traveler, personal ambassador and adopted Prince of Red London, carrying the monthly correspondences between royals of each London. Unofficially, Kell smuggles for those willing to pay for even a glimpse of a world they’ll never see. This dangerous hobby sets him up for accidental treason. Fleeing into Grey London, Kell runs afoul of Delilah Bard, a cut-purse with lofty aspirations. She robs him, saves him from a dangerous enemy, then forces him to another world for her 'proper adventure'. But perilous magic is afoot, and treachery lurks at every turn. To save all of the worlds, Kell and Lila will first need to stay alive—trickier than they hoped. (goodreads)

Thoughts:
I really, really, enjoyed this book. From the way it was written to the characters. The idea of the world was so interesting. That is what pulled me into the story at the beginning. Apart from being written by Victoria Schwab. Vicious is one of my favorite books and I wanted to give a go to something else she as writing and I was not disappointed at all.

The idea of alternate realities always fascinated me in a story. Having alter egos. It's just amazing. (I still need to find a book that has that in it) But this one was different and it even made fun of that in a scene of the book. "How is the other me in your world?" (not direct quote but along those lines). This books is different in that aspect. It's not like The Flash (if you are a comic book nerd you will know but if you don't. In the flash there is alternative realities, with alternative versions of the same character) of in any Marvel and DC comic book. In this world created by Schwab there is only one you. The only thing is that they exist in different realities.

I love that it play with the concept of journey through those world but only a selected few can do that and the idea of blood being the key made it even more interesting. I loved it. Blood is the key to life, to magic.

I really recommend for readers to give this book a try. It's an action pack book that never stops. You are invested to the characters from the beginning. I love how the characters are called out on their weakness through the book. I also love how amazing it plays with the idea of magic within the worlds. Can't wait to continue this story and how it will hurt and twist my heart in the process.

I also got the chance to go to a signing event for Victoria (V.E.) Schwab. She is such a wonderful person and can't wait to read more books written by her. Her talks are so interesting. The turn out was amazing and she was not alone she was with good company of other authors. I hope to see her again at Wonder Con this month.

 

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Book Review: The Chosen by Annette Gisby and giveaway

The Chosen
by Annette Gisby
Page Count: 200 pages
Publisher: Amazon Digital Services LLC
Publication Date: June, 15 2013
Genre: M/M Fantasy Romance
Format: E-book, Paperback
Amazon Buy Link: HERE 
Amazon UK Buy Link: HERE
Smashwords: HERE
Barnes and Noble: HERE
All Romance: HERE
Goodreads Link: HERE
Em's Rating: ★★★


Book Blurb: 
The neighbouring kingdoms of Oscia and Arcathia have been at a tentative peace for three years after centuries of warfare. Prince Severin of Arcathia has been brought up to put duty before all else and as the only son of the King and Queen, it is his duty to marry and produce an heir. His parents want him to marry an Oscian princess to cement that tentative peace. Unfortunately Severin isn't interested in princesses. Now, if he had his pick of princes that would be another matter. Havyn has been a slave all his life. When his aptitude for wizardry is discovered, he finds himself purchased and freed by Prince Severin and apprenticed to the royal wizard, Ildar. His duty is to stay chaste to keep his powers strong, but his feelings for Severin sorely test his resolve. With kingdoms at war, the throne hanging in the balance, magic in the air, and outside forces trying to keep them apart, can the two men find happiness together, or is duty more important than love?

Em’s Review: 

WOW, Annette Gisby has an imagination on her. Her world she built around this story...let’s just say I wish there was more so I could have enjoyed the world she was painting. From the guards and their attachment to The Raven and more about Oscia and how people lived when they couldn’t marry. Just everything! She could go back and play more in her universe.

But, with most people that want to read a review on a romance story, you want to know about our two main lovers, don’t you? I know you will love Severin and Havyn. Both, are deep down, kind people that want to do right to their country, people and positions. It makes for the classic ‘I want, but can’t touch’ troupe. No matter how many times they find themselves in positions where it makes it hard to just NOT not touch, giving us some steamy scenes.

The Chosen is an enjoyable read. A hot cocoa, curl up on the couch, read. My only issue is I wanted to read it more like a high fantasy and not a romance set in a fantasy world. This is to do with so many things the author brought to her world I wanted to explore. However, it is a very fun, adventurous, book that will have you loving Severin and Havyn almost from the first page.

Like this excerpt when we first meet Severin:

Severin pulled his hood closer around him despite the stifling heat. He must keep himself disguised at all costs. Oscians did not take kindly to strangers, and his icy blue eyes and silvery hair marked him a foreigner among the swarthy-skinned, dark-haired native population. Severin turned to his companion, a grey-haired man carrying the staff of a wizard. "Ildar, do we have enough gold?" 

Ildar clucked his tongue. "It's a bit late to be worrying about that now, isn't it? You've already entered into the contract. Yes, we have enough, but only just. What's your father going to say when you bring home a slave?" 

Severin smiled at his former tutor who was now one of his most trusted advisors. "Do you know me so little, Ildar?" 

"You mean to set him free?" 

"Of course. You know slavery is illegal in Arcathia. It's a pity we can't afford to free them all." Severin's eyes swept over the dais set up in the middle of the square where slaves of all ages stood or lay curled in their chains. Some were shackled to wooden stakes while others were bound to each other or had chains binding their arms and legs together so they could hardly move. Their tunics were stained, ill-fitting, and ragged around the hems, their arms and legs bare. Some held their heads high, yet others looked so despairing that Severin's heart lurched for them. He couldn't save them all, no matter how much he wanted to. Almost all of them were bruised and scarred in some way, testifying to abuse from previous owners or perhaps from the slave trader himself. 

The slaver was a burly man with biceps the size of hams and thighs so thick they almost looked like tree trunks. He was bulging out of his leather jerkin and trousers. Sweat dripped down his face while he continued with the auction. Severin cringed. None of the scrawny slaves would have stood a chance against him if he decided to lay into them. 

Severin looked at Ildar, raising his eyebrow in question. The two of them had known each other for so long that sometimes they didn't need words. Ildar nodded and cast a notice-me-not spell. It would shield them from prying eyes—there was no reason to make it easy for pickpockets. Once the shield was in place, Ildar counted out the requisite gold coins. He sighed every time he dropped a piece into Severin's open palm. "I hope we have enough left for lodgings for the night," said Ildar, his reluctance obvious.

"We could always camp out," said Severin. Ildar shuddered. For a wizard,he had a terrible aversion to nature and loved his home comforts. Perhaps you should just conjure more gold pieces?" 

Ildar gave a long-suffering sigh. "You see, this is why you were so hopeless at studying the Magical Arts. You can't conjure something from nothing. Magic is all about balance. It can only be used to assist nature. If you have a fire, you can make it warmer, but you can't conjure fire from thin air."

"I've heard the Aldari can do that and more." 

"The Aldari? Well, if it's fairy tales you're after rather than reality, yes they can. But the Aldari have long since died out, and most of what is said about them is complete myth. They don't exist." 

Author Bio:

Annette Gisby grew up in a small town in Northern Ireland moving to London when she was seventeen. Being a very small town there were no bookshops and a small library. When she’d devoured every book she could get her hands on in the library, she started writing her own stories so she would always have something to read later. When not writing she enjoys reading, cinema, theatre, walks along deserted beaches or wandering around ruined castles (great places for inspiration!) She loves travelling to distant places to see different cultures first hand, even though she gets travel sick on most forms of transport. She currently lives in Hamsphire with her husband, a collection of porcelain dolls, cuddly toys and enough books to fill a library.

And you can kindly stalk her an any of these social sites.
http://annettegisby.weebly.com/
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/252221.Annette_Gisby
http://www.amazon.com/Annette-Gisby/e/B002BLL62C/
https://uk.pinterest.com/annetteg2/
https://twitter.com/havyn

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I would like to thank both Enchanted Tours and Annette Gisby for a chance to let me be apart of this blog tour, and to read The Chosen.

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