Book Review: The Last Watchman Of Old Cairo by Michael David Lukas

Author: Michael David Lukas
Series: N/A
Audience: +18
Genre: Historical fiction
Publisher: March 13th 2018
Release Date: Spiegel & Grau
My Rating: 5 Cups
Source: Penguin Random House
Blurb (from Goodreads):

In this spellbinding novel, a young man journeys from California to Cairo to unravel centuries-old family secrets.

Joseph, a literature student at Berkeley, is the son of a Jewish mother and a Muslim father. One day, a mysterious package arrives on his doorstep, pulling him into a mesmerizing adventure to uncover the tangled history that binds the two sides of his family. For generations, the men of the al-Raqb family have served as watchmen of the storied Ibn Ezra Synagogue in Old Cairo, built at the site where the infant Moses was taken from the Nile. Joseph learns of his ancestor Ali, a Muslim orphan who nearly a thousand years earlier was entrusted as the first watchman of the synagogue and became enchanted by its legendary--perhaps magical--Ezra Scroll. The story of Joseph's family is entwined with that of the British twin sisters Agnes and Margaret, who in 1897 depart their hallowed Cambridge halls on a mission to rescue sacred texts that have begun to disappear from the synagogue.

The Last Watchman of Old Cairo is a moving page-turner of a novel from acclaimed storyteller Michael David Lukas. This tightly woven multigenerational tale illuminates the tensions that have torn communities apart and the unlikely forces--potent magic, forbidden love--that boldly attempt to bridge that divide.

Praise for The Last Watchman of Old Cairo

"A beautiful, richly textured novel, ambitious and delicately crafted, The Last Watchman of Old Cairo is both a coming-of-age story and a family history, a wide-ranging book about fathers and sons, religion, magic, love, and the essence of storytelling. This book is a joy."--Rabih Alameddine, author of the National Book Award finalist An Unnecessary Woman

*Disclaimer: I received an ARC of this book from Penguin Random House in exchange for an honest review. This does not influence my rating or the content of my review in any way.

Book Review: Caraval by Stephanie Garber

Author: Stephanie Garber
Series: Caraval #1
Audience: +16
Genre: Ya, Fantasy
Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton
Release Date: January 31st 2017
My Rating: 5 cups
Source: Own Copy
Blurb (from Goodreads):

Welcome to Caraval, where nothing is quite what it seems.

Scarlett and Tella have never left the tiny isle of Trisda, pining from afar for the wonder of Caraval, a once-a-year week-long performance where the audience participates in the show.

Caraval is Magic. Mystery. Adventure.

When the sisters' long-awaited invitations finally arrive, it seems their dreams have come true. But no sooner have they arrived than Tella vanishes, kidnapped by the show's mastermind organiser, Legend.

Scarlett has been told that everything that happens during Caraval is an elaborate performance. But she quickly becomes entangled in a dangerous game of love, magic and heartbreak.

And real or not, she must find Tella before the game is over, and her sister disappears forever.

I picked this book when I was on a trip to Prague, because there's no better thing to do when you're a bookworm on a trip than buy more books. I tried resisting, but in the end I couldn't do it and I can't possibly tell you how happy I am that I gave in in the end.

Holy crap you guys!

Books that are similar on carnivals, hidden objects/escape-adventure games have been hit-and-miss for me so far, but Caraval really had me hooked from the beginning to the end. I enjoyed reading it and I especially liked how the book was structured. Garber was a genius in my opinion to structure the chapters into days and nights spent during, before and after Caraval. That, for me, increased the sense of urgency the entire book had. Whenever that "Day/Night..." page came, my excitement grew because I could tell that there was real danger in Caraval. And that's the thing I loved most about the book, the danger, the unknown of it all. I feel like the entire book is based on mind-games. And that more than the actual action is even better to me. It's been a while since I read a book that mentally challenging, to be honest. It wasn't just the game itself, but actually trying to figure out what was real and what wasn't, who was lying and who was telling the truth.

Scarlett is a strong character, that is also quite surprising. She's really reserved and cautious, but at the same time she's naive and reckless. She tends to put her trust in the oddest of places, but then the game doesn't just help uncover the darker side people keep locked away, but also their pasts. In a way, that's what happens with Scarlett, and while the scene with her father before them going to Caraval gives you a hint towards what that man is capable of, this game really made me understand Scarlett more. I also liked that she discovered her inner strength through this game.

Tella, although not that present, is also a really important character. In a way, she's exactly what Scarlett discovers in herself, if it makes sense. Tella has the courage and the recklessness to do what needs to be done in order to save herself and her big sister. She just has a lot more darkness in her that she accepts, and I wonder how that will work for her in the next book.

Throughout the game there are several really important characters that Scarlett encounters and I really hope that they are involved in the sequel. They were surprising and not what I fully expected, to be honest.

As I said, this story was a huge mind-game, and a fast-paced game at that. I enjoyed the twists and turns the story took, and the constant not knowing what was happening made me feel like I was an active part of the game. I also wonder how this story would have looked like had it been told from a viewer's POV.

Oh! I almost forgot to add this. Another cool stuff about the book is that we get to see small parts of Scarlett and Tella's childhood through Scarlett's memories, but this is done in a way to kind of explain her actions within the game, which was also a cool thing.

All in all, this was a really good book, one of the best I've read this year and I am desperately waiting for Legendary, book 2, to come out.

Book Review: A Court Of Thorns And Roses by Sarah J. Maas

Author: Sarah J Maas
Series: A Court of Thorns and Roses #1
Audience: New Adult
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Childrens
Release Date: May 5th 2015
My Rating: 5 cups
Source: Personal Copy
Blurb (from Goodreads):

A thrilling, seductive new series from New York Times bestselling author Sarah J. Maas, blending Beauty and the Beast with faerie lore.

When nineteen-year-old huntress Feyre kills a wolf in the woods, a beast-like creature arrives to demand retribution for it. Dragged to a treacherous magical land she only knows about from legends, Feyre discovers that her captor is not an animal, but Tamlin—one of the lethal, immortal faeries who once ruled their world.

As she dwells on his estate, her feelings for Tamlin transform from icy hostility into a fiery passion that burns through every lie and warning she's been told about the beautiful, dangerous world of the Fae. But an ancient, wicked shadow over the faerie lands is growing, and Feyre must find a way to stop it . . . or doom Tamlin—and his world—forever.

Perfect for fans of Kristin Cashore and George R. R. Martin, this first book in a sexy and action-packed new series is impossible to put down!

I've had my eye on this series for a while now, ever since my Twitter feed basically exploded with talks about Rhysand and Feyre and Tamlin, and since the gorgeous covers flooded the world of bookstagram. I am glad I decided to read this book, I do however regret not having A Court Of Mist and Fury to pick up immediately after finishing this one.

I'll be completely honest and say that I didn't know what to expect. Aside from the aforementioned Twitter convos I've seen, I've managed to stay away from any and all spoilers, so aside from the fact that this was a Beauty and the Beast retelling, I knew nothing about this book.

Feyre is such a great heroine. I like that she's a strong, independent, "I-can-take-care-of-myself-and-my-family" young woman. I hated her family and how they treated her, but I loved her. She was stronger than anyone else would have been, and in those first pages of the book, when she's with her family and she describes how they treated her and how basically she was the only one keeping her sisters and her dad alive, I would not have blamed her for giving up, for saying "I'm done". Mad respect for her for not doing just that.

Given how Feyre was raised, to hate and fear all faeries, I feel like this book was a mirroring of the old fairytale, with "Beast" taming the Beauty. I liked that aspect, I like reading about people learning the truth about something or someone, despite the fear and hate they've been taught to feel from when they were infants.

Tamlin....My dear Tamlin. See, there were moments where I didn't like the guy as much as I should have, because he was always quiet and not talking about stuff, and then the ending happened and I understood it all, his silence, the half-answers, everything made sense.

My favorite character, though, was Lucien. I kept wishing he'd get more page-time. I keep hoping that the future books will focus on him more, because I need more Lucien! He was funny, he was awesome. Although he wasn't as kind with Feyre as I wanted at first, the ending, like with Tamlin, made it all make so much more sense.

Mad props for Maas for making Amarantha a true villain. That woman scared the crap outta me. She was just as evil as a villain should be, and just as deranged. I wonder if the next books will have a villain each.

Another reason for me to like this book is that, despite my misgivings with certain characters, like Nesta and Rhysand (I know, I know!), I got to understand the reasons of each character for behaving a certain way. It makes complete sense, now that I've finished the book, for Rhysand to act like he did, just like I completely understand Nesta for hating their dad. And I know I said on Twitter that I hope I never get to read about her again, I wonder if Nesta managed to escape and live a better life. I want to learn about her and how she's going to deal with.... something that happened at the end of the book.

If there's one thing I'd love to see, and if you guys know any fan art with this, let me know, is the Prythian map, as described by Feyre. There's this scene where she's describing a mural with the map, and the imagery is so gorgeous, that I'd love to see that in real life, with how the various Courts are painted and how the map is colored. Also, the cover makes complete sense now!

All in all, I'm super happy I read this book and I cannot wait to get my hands on ACOMAF and then the long wait for the next book starts. Also, I cannot wait for the coloring book!

ARC Book Review: And I Darken by Kiersten White

Author: Kiersten White
Series: The Conquerors Saga #1
Publisher: Corgi Childrens
Release Date: June 28th 2016
My Rating: 5 cups
Source: Netgalley
Blurb (from Goodreads):

No one expects a princess to be brutal. And Lada Dragwyla likes it that way.

Ever since she and her brother were abandoned by their father to be raised in the Ottoman sultan’s courts, Lada has known that ruthlessness is the key to survival. For the lineage that makes her and her brother special also makes them targets.

Lada hones her skills as a warrior as she nurtures plans to wreak revenge on the empire that holds her captive. Then she and Radu meet the sultan’s son, Mehmed, and everything changes. Now Mehmed unwittingly stands between Lada and Radu as they transform from siblings to rivals, and the ties of love and loyalty that bind them together are stretched to breaking point.

The first of an epic new trilogy starring the ultimate anti-princess who does not have a gentle heart. Lada knows how to wield a sword, and she'll stop at nothing to keep herself and her brother alive.

*Disclaimer: I received an eARC of this book from Netgalley and Penguin Random House UK Children’s in exchange for an honest review. This does not influence my review or my opinion of the book.

There are books that I love and then there are the books that blow my mind in such a way that it goes beyond me merely enjoying them. It's been a while since I've read a book that I thought deserved the "Recommended Read" badge/rating, but And I Darken is definitely one of those. But I'll get to the why of this later on. Let me first talk about the characters, because they were simply amazing.

Lada is one of those characters that at times I wanted to hate, but I just couldn't. Being a girl, born to the most powerful man in a medieval country, has to be tough. I liked how the author explores that aspect a little bit in the beginning of the book, how Lada struggles to make her father see her as worthy and as just as good as her brothers. Then, she and her younger brother, Radu, are given to the Ottomans as tribute. It was a very interesting theme throughout the book, how the siblings coped with their situation, how they adapted to a new culture, new environment, new rules, new language. I can't help but admire Lada's wits. She's a natural at leading, she is a leader, and I was really hoping she'd succeed. She's the antihero, and I fell in love with her because she was not the typical female character in a historical novel.

Radu was an interesting character. He is the complete opposite of Lada: he's not a leader, he's not a fighter, he's definitely not as strong as Lada, especially when they were kids. There's also a really interesting development towards the end of the book that, considering the time period, it is such a great thing to explore. I hope that the next book explores that more in depth and show how Radu deals with certain aspects of his life more. At times I felt he was a bit too sensitive, too weak, but then I realized that his ability to get near people, to talk to them, to make them talk to him, is what make him a great figure, from a historical perspective.

Mehmed is also a really interesting character. He's very different than Lada and Radu. At times I thought that he has no idea what he wants. He might have a good heart, he might want the throne of the Ottoman Empire, but I feel that if he hadn't have Lada by his side, he wouldn't have had it.

I said earlier that I was going to explain my "Recommended Read" rating. I don't know if you know this, but I am Romanian. So for me, as for many other Romanians, the figure of Vlad the Impaler is a really important one for our history. He's basically a national hero. That's what we're told in school, in books, in movies, everywhere. So because of that I usually stay away from books and foreign movies that portray him as anything but a hero, simply because I don't see him as the bloodthirsty tyrant or as the old-as-dirt vampire that these movies and books show him to be. The idea of a female version of him was really intriguing. I still wasn't sure I wanted to read the book, until I saw the cover that I put in the beginning of this post, on Netgalley, and I knew that I had to read it. I'll be honest and say that at a certain point I wanted to just put the book down, outraged. Because some of the things shown in this book are nothing like what I knew them to be. However, to say I know my country's history would be a big fat lie. I only know a small portion of it, mainly what is taught in school, and let's face it, the important things, like, for instance, how Radu gained his "the Beautiful" nickname, will never be discussed in school. But after that initial thought, I decided to keep reading. And the reason that I think everyone should read this book is that it serves as a discussion starter. In school, I never got to explore the consequences of Vlad and Radu going to Edirne and live with the Ottomans for a good portion of their formative years. History books usually talk about how much Vlad hated the Ottomans and how much he hated his time in the Empire, but we also know that history is not always objective and that it can be interpreted in many ways. So the great thing that And I Darken does is to explore the ways in which what we know today may not be as black-and-white as it seems. Of course, this is an alternate history, so it must be taken accordingly, but I think that, as I said before, it can be used to start a conversation.

With all of that said, I desperately need the sequel, because I need to know what happens next with Lada, Radu and Mehmed, as well as all the other minor characters that I simply adored.

Book Review: Half-Blood by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout
Series: Covenant #1
Publisher: Spencer Hill Press
Release Date: September 19th 2011
My Rating: 5 cups
Blurb (from Goodreads):

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

Seventeen-year-old Alexandria would rather risk her life fighting than waste it scrubbing toilets, but she may end up slumming it anyway. There are several rules that students at the Covenant must follow. Alex has problems with them all, but especially rule #1:

Relationships between pures and halfs are forbidden.

Unfortunately, she’s crushing hard on the totally hot pure-blood Aiden. But falling for Aiden isn’t her biggest problem—staying alive long enough to graduate the Covenant and become a Sentinel is. If she fails in her duty, she faces a future worse than death or slavery: being turned into a daimon, and being hunted by Aiden. And that would kind of suck.

I've had this book on my TBR for so long, it's actually slightly embarrassing. I told myself it was time to read it when that's what Random Generator chose when I did the January Random Reads hosted by the awesome Sarah. I'm very glad I read this book.

If you know me, you know I'm pretty obsessed with Armentrout's books. Not only are the heroes incredibly hot (and let's be honest here, some of her villains too) but they are really, really good. The one reason I tried to stay away from this series is that it has ancient gods and their offspring. I love ancient mythology and there are few authors that managed to write about the amazing creatures the ancient people believed in. It's a difficult task, when you think about it, or so it seems to me, and I've had a few disappointments along the way. Granted, I've read some very good books that I'll probably reread until I'm old and wrinkly, but those are few. I'm happy to tell you that the series Covenant is now part of that "very good books" list.

I have to mention that I loved this book so much, I could not help myself from binge reading the entire series. I read it in like a week and obviously I regretted my decision when I realized there's a certain character that gets his own book, so I basically wanted to smack myself because I now have to *gasp* wait for it's release. I mention this because I'll try really hard not to give away anything from the next books, so my review might seem a little...weird. Anyway, back to the review.

I loved Alex. She's the type of character that I love reading about. She has a big mouth and that sometimes gets her into a lot more trouble than she expects, she rarely has a filter so basically she just blurts out whatever it is that she has on her mind. She's also brave and she'd do a lot of things for the people she loves. And as the story goes on I just liked her more and more and more. She has a temper and that also gets her into a lot of trouble. But she's loyal and she rarely backs down from a fight, even though it might be what she should do at times.

Aiden is interesting as well. He's easy to like, even though he plays hard to get. I understood his reasons very well though, and in the books that follow the reasons for why he's so cold at times will be explained in detail (sometimes painfully so). He's strong and daring, but he's cautious and sometimes he's the voice of reason. He is a really good character and he grows on you the more you read the book.

And then there's Seth. I'm afraid I can't give you a description of this character without sounding like a lunatic baboon trying to pass on as a human. But he was... he was amazing. He's the kind of anti-hero you just have to love. You can realize he'll have a huge role to play in this series early on. And it's obvious he's tortured and he's hiding stuff, but he just gets under your skin so fast, you just can't help but love the guy.

Before I end this review, I have to talk about something. I noticed there are a lot of  readers that talked about the similarities between Half-Blood and another book, namely Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead. Did I notice any similarities? Yes, there were a few moments. The story takes place at a school for special people and the heroine falls for the wrong guy and there are a few other details as well. However, Alexandra had her own voice and I never actually even thought about Rose while reading this book. And let me tell you, I didn't notice anything similar between Aiden and Dimitri, aside from the fact that both are trying really hard to be cautious when it comes to the heroines. And they're both men (d'oh). Other than that I did not see other similarities, or I was able to get over them, because the story developed in ways I did not expect at all. I just noticed the fact that I loved the book so much I just had to read the rest of the series and that I had to read it fast.

All in all, I adored this book and I would definitely recommend this to anyone that: 1) loves Jennifer L. Armentrout's books and 2) loves smart-mouthed heroines and silent, sexy heroes and lots of adventures and danger and lots of twists and turns of events that will leave you open-mouthed and on the edge of your seat.

Book Review: Divergent by Veronica Roth

Author: Veronica Roth
Series: Divergent #1
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Release Date: April 25th 2011
My Rating: 5 cups
Source: borrowed
Blurb (from Goodreads):

In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago world, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue--Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is--she can't have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.

During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles alongside her fellow initiates to live out the choice they have made. Together they must undergo extreme physical tests of endurance and intense psychological simulations, some with devastating consequences. As initiation transforms them all, Tris must determine who her friends really are--and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes exasperating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers unrest and growing conflict that threaten to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves . . . or it might destroy her.

You know how hard it is sometimes to express how much you loved a book? If I were in a movie, you'd hear crickets making their weird sounds and I'd stare at you like a zombie, because I have no clue how to say how much I loved Divergent.

I remember when this book first came out, EVERYONE was talking about it. Twitter was on fire, almost all bloggers I stalk follow read it and loved it. That craze, like all book crazes before, scared the crap out of me. So I didn't read it. Then the news about a movie came and I heard everyone groaning about the actors and I still resisted. And then last week magic happened. As you know, the full official movie trailer was released. I watched it and after I finished drooling over that amazing tattoo (you know the one!) I decided I needed to read the book. So I borrowed it from a friend of mine.

Tris. Man, I loved her. She's one of those heroines that stick in your head long after you've finished reading the book. She's just simply amazing. I loved how strong she was. And I liked that even though she chose to leave her faction and join another one, she didn't completely forget where she came from, she didn't ignore that part of herself. My heart ached for her a couple of times during this book, but I think the bad things that happened to her made her even stronger. I really can't think of a negative thing or something that I didn't like about her.

Four was... He was dreamy and amazingly sexy and just... WOW! I liked how mysterious he was. And I liked that he didn't try to protect Tris and he didn't treat her like she was made of glass or like she couldn't take care of herself. He had an incredibly bad past, but it didn't make him look weak or broken. He was stronger because of his past.

There were many other characters that I loved, especially Christina and Uriah. Tori was an interesting character and I'm really curious to see what will happen to her in the rest of the series. As for the characters I hated, I seriously wish Peter and Marcus would go away and never come back. I also hope Eric gets a very slow and painful death.

I really loved Divergent and I cannot wait to read the other two books in the series. And I'm keeping my fingers crossed for some very painful moments for Marcus, Eric and Peter :D

Book Review: Styxx by Sherrilyn Kenyon

Author: Sherrilyn Kenyon
Series: Dark-Hunter #23
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Release Date: September 3rd 2013
My Rating:5 cups
Blurb (from Goodreads):

Just when you thought doomsday was over...

Centuries ago Acheron saved the human race by imprisoning an ancient evil bent on absolute destruction. Now that evil has been unleashed and it is out for revenge.

As the twin to Acheron, Styxx hasn’t always been on his brother’s side. They’ve spent more centuries going at each other’s throats than protecting their backs. Now Styxx has a chance to prove his loyalty to his brother, but only if he’s willing to trade his life and future for Acheron’s.

The Atlantean goddess of Wrath and Misery, Bethany was born to right wrongs. But it was never a task she relished. Until now. She owes Acheron a debt that she vows to repay, no matter what it takes. He will join their fellow gods in hell and nothing is going to stop her.

But things are never what they seem, and Acheron is no longer the last of his line. Styxx and Acheron must put aside their past and learn to trust each other or more will suffer.

Yet it’s hard to risk your own life for someone who once tried to take yours, even when it's your own twin, and when loyalties are skewed and no one can be trusted, not even yourself, how do you find a way back from the darkness that wants to consume the entire world? One that wants to start by devouring your very soul?

Note: I had a different review planned for today, but I honestly can't wait to talk about this book, so I did some rescheduling.

To say that I was surprised when I first heard that Styxx will be getting a book is to put it mildly. I was somewhat angry. Oh, I was delighted to get a book about one of the big guys in the Dark Hunter universe, don't get me wrong. But let's be honest, those of you who've read the entire series know that Styxx was never one of the good guys. He helped Ash once and then that was it. Then Sherri posted some snippets/teasers and I felt like I needed this book more and more. And then finally the day arrived and I've been an emotional wreck ever since I finished reading the book.

If you think you hate Ash's relatives, wait until you read Styxx! I cried so hard during this book. I laughed a little, but mostly I got my heart broken by this amazing character. 

Styxx surprised me a lot. I never thought I'd get to love another Dark Hunter character as much as I love Acheron. But I now do. Styxx is one of those silent heroes, the ones you really don't expect to act like heroes or to even become one. And he's hard to figure out. You think you know what he'll do in certain scenes, but what he does is so selfless I just wanted to hug the guy. There were scenes where I felt like he was still an innocent child, no matter the horrors he had to face. 

Here's the great part of reading this book and why I can safely say Sherrilyn is my favorite author. If you take away the horror, the pain, and the suffering, this book helps prove that there are two sides to everything. If you remember how certain characters acted in Acheron and compare to how they acted in Styxx you'll see how different they really are from another perspective. There were certain characters I wanted to slap so hard in Styxx. And if you have the heart to compare the twins' stories, you'll see why Styxx had it harder than Ash in so many ways. Not the past, I'd never compare their pasts, but in the present days.

As expected with a Sherrilyn Kenyon book, there will be a lot of surprises in Styxx. Some you'll see right away, for some you'll have to do some digging to discover. Let me just say that after this book I truly believe that Chronicles of Nick should be read if you're reading the Dark Hunter series. I feel like the universe is changing and I think both series are starting to become very connected. I know, one is in the past and one in the present, but to me they make sense together. Then again, you'll have more questions than answers if you do read both of them.

I loved the book. I will say that so far, it's my favorite in the entire series. If you're like me and you love having some musical background while reading and you're feeling extremely daring and brave, Sherrilyn has shared a book playlist on her website (and let's face it, if you ever checked the book playlists she has, you know her musical taste is amazing). Just go to Styxx book page and you'll find it there. I didn't check it out until after I read the book (I wasn't feeling terribly brave at the time I started reading the book) but I did after I finished it and let me tell you it fits the book completely.

If you're having doubts about reading this book, don't. Take a deep breath and read it. I promise you won't be disappointed. Just be sure to have a full box of tissues and maybe a comfy pillow that you can hug or maybe punch when you feel the need and you're all set.

Early Book Review: A Feast of Souls by Hailey Edwards

Author: Hailey Edwards
Series: Araneae Nation #2
Publisher: Samhain Publishing, Ltd.
Release Date: December 18th 2012
My Rating: 5 cups
Source:ARC/review copy offered by the author
Blurb (from Goodreads):

The only way to save her is to bind their souls as one.

Born with the ability to communicate with the dead, few things take Mana by surprise. But when a canis lopes into her life, announcing himself as the long-dead father of a childhood friend, she’s shocked. To make matters worse, he has a dire message that she alone can deliver.

Now Mana must face Vaughn, the male who inspired one too many girlish fantasies, and impart the spirit’s message—without acknowledging her source—so the soul can be laid to rest.

With rumors of a burgeoning clan war setting his nerves on edge, the last thing Vaughn needs is for an innocent to get caught in the crosshairs. But the woman he remembers as an awkward girl refuses to leave his side until he’s heard her out. That’s not the only change in her that calls to him. Her kindness soothes his battle-scarred soul—and he craves her in ways a warrior shouldn’t.

When they are both captured, they learn of an even greater threat. The plague devastating the southlands has come to his clan home. And his best—and only—chance to keep his people alive is the female who walks among the dead.

 

I loved this book. So, so much. For me, it was one of those situations when I look at the clock and it's about 10 pm and I say to myself "Okay, I'll read a few chapters. No more than 4". And then read and read and when I look at the clock again I have one of those "oh, crap" moments because it's about 3 am and I have to wake up in about 4 hours and, surprise, I'm way past the first half of the book. Though it might not sound like it, I really love it when a book does that to me, 'cause then it means it's that good :D

I liked Vaughn a lot. I have no idea what is it about arrogant, strong heroes, but I just love them. Vaughn is such a strong character. Strong enough that even the mention of his name commands attention. He's had a rough past and at times I just felt the need to get inside the book and give him a hug. A big bear hug. I liked his strength and his dedication towards doing what was right. I also liked how he believed and respected what Mana was doing, her ability to talk with the dead. I think it made him even more perfect for Mana, the fact that he respected it and that he didn't try to make it sound like some hallucination or something like that.

Mana is one cool heroine. Just the fact that she can spirit walk makes her cool. And she's good for Vaughn. She made him a better person and I felt like for the first time Vaughn was trying to be better for someone. I really liked those two together. And I liked their flirting and teasing.

As with A Hint of Frost, I liked the fact that there isn't an abundance of descriptions, because I could use my own imagination to create some of the aspects of the world. I also liked that there's a little mystery surrounding the plague and where it comes from. I'm very curious to see what happens next and about the various new creatures there are in this world. I'm ready for book 3.

So if you haven't yet read the first book of the series, A Hint Of Frost, start now. You won't be disappointed! 

Early Book Review: Rogue Rider by Larissa Ione

Author: Larissa Ione
Series: Lords of Deliverance #4
Publisher: Piatkus
Release Date: November 20th 2012
My Rating: 5 cups
Source: Netgalley
Blurb (from Goodreads):

The prophecies were there but no one listened. Until now. They are the Lords of Deliverance and they have the power to ward off Doomsday . . . or let it ride.

Jillian Cardiff came to this remote mountain town to forget the demon attack that almost killed her. Instead, she rescues - and falls for - a gorgeous stranger who has no memory of anything other than his name. Handsome, charming and protective, Reseph seems like the kind of man that Jillian can trust. But with hints of a troubling history of his own, he's also the kind of man that can be very dangerous . . .

Reseph may not know his background, or why he mysteriously appeared in Jillian's life, but he knows he wants to stay. Yet when Jillian's neighbours are killed and demon hunters arrive on the scene, Reseph fears that he's putting Jillian in danger. And once it's revealed that Reseph is also Pestilence, the Horseman responsible for ravaging the world with death and destruction, he and Jillian must face the greatest challenge of all: can they forget the horrors of a chilling past to save the future they both desire?

Oh boy. I know I didn't review the other books from this series, but I just can't wait. Let me start by saying that I was oh so very surprised by this book. I didn't expect to love Reseph as much as I did. And I also wasn't expecting to love his book almost as much as I loved Than's book (Lethal Rider). 

In case you haven't read this series (shame on you!), Reseph has been the bad guy for almost the entire series. It wasn't until the very end of Lethal Rider that he gets to become one of the good guys again. Even in his bad I'm-going-to-kill-anything-that-moves state, I didn't hate him as much as I should have. Probably because I knew that his story would come and because I was going to get to read his story really fast (see, there's a good part to this whole late to read a series thing I have going on!). I was hoping for something big for his story and I wasn't disappointed. From the tortured hero to the strong heroine and ending with some surprising news and turns and twists, Rogue Rider has it all. I'll be honest and say that I loved Thanatos out of all three brothers more. Now, before you call me names let me say that yes, I KNOW there's a sister, Limos, as well, but honestly, how can you not love her? Plus, I was just talking about Ares, Than and Reseph. 

Even if I loved Than more, I think Reseph is really close to becoming my second favorite (Ares is trying to hold on with all his power to that title). There's this scene that made me want to grab Reseph's brothers and sister and smack them upside the head. Hard. I know what he did while he was the bad guy was...well, bad, but let's be honest, he wasn't himself. Plus, the guy has an amazing sense of humor.

I loved Jillian. There was this small fear of mine of her character. You know how sometimes you get the scarred heroine that is not strong and too afraid of her past that you want to shake really hard? I was so relieved Jillian isn't one of those female characters. What she's been through in the past was very difficult to overcome, but she made it. She became stronger, partially on her own and partially thanks to Reseph, but she did it. She didn't let fear become her second nature. And I liked her for Reseph. She's a very good influence. And it was cute to see how a "mere human" could be stronger in some occasions that an ancient warrior. 

We get to see Reaver some more and boy, is he one sexy angel. You'll find some curious things about him. And his book is next *squees* 

Bottom line is that I am oh so happy that I got to read this series as well (besides the Demonica series, I mean). I'm also sad that I finished it so fast *pout* If you haven't read this series yet, do it. NOW! Go, buy it and read it. Oh, and remember to read the Demonica series first :D You'll love that one too. Anyway, read it! Just maybe not as fast as I did, so that you won't be in misery waiting for Reaver's book *sigh*