Book Review: The Iron Maiden by Resa Nelson

Author: Resa Nelson

Series: The Dragonslayer #2

My Rating: 5 cups
Source: review copy provided by the author

Blurb: (from Amazon):

Astrid is reluctant to travel the winter route beyond the Northlands, even though it’s her duty. She’d rather stay home in her village, surrounded by friends and neighbors. Ignoring the bonds of tradition, she decides to spend the cold winter months in the warmth of her blacksmithing shop. Why should she leave the comfort of her cottage to serve and protect foreigners who might raid and harm her native Northlands?Everything changes when a traveling merchant steals Starlight, the first dragonslayer’s sword Astrid forged and her last link to her sweetheart DiStephan. Having no time to alert her friends, Astrid races in pursuit of the merchant, determined to reclaim Starlight as her own and return home in time for dinner. Instead, her quest leads her to new lands, unexpected friendships with foreigners, and a harrowing encounter with the damage done by the followers of a new god that considers women as nothing more than servants to men. All the while, she must be ready to face any dragon traveling the winter route.In Book 2 of the Dragonslayer series, Astrid must learn that deciding who she is isn’t a decision she can make just once. Instead, it’s a decision she must make every day.

This is the second book in the Dragonslayer series and I loved it even more than the first installment. The first  thing I loved about it was that, while there are certain moments when you are remembered about the things that happened in the first book, they aren't too big or too many. I was very happy with that.

I loved the fact that in this book Astrid was more mature and I felt like she was more aware of her actions and their consequences. I also liked that she made friends on her journey and that she took her role at protecting the people around them seriously, even if it  wasn't just against dragons and lizards.

One thing that is different in this book, we have more than just one point of view and I loved that. I liked the subplots. I loved Margreet and her story and I was very sad of how it ended. I liked the friendship that Astrid and Margreet had.

One thing that I think was amazing, was the way the author created the background of this book. The reader learns more about women's role in the society, about the old religions and about the new one, about the way in which priests would abuse their power, these little details made the world built in this series seem real and I loved that.

And can I just say how much I love the cover? The design is amazing and I'm trying to imagine how it would look made of silver *sigh*

I'm very curious what will happen next in the story.

My Rating:

Day 05 – A book that makes you happy

This is a tricky theme. I can't choose a book that makes be happy, because about 90% of the books I read make me happy. I say 90% of them, because those are the books I finish reading. The other 10% are books that either bore me or books I don't finish reading. Reading makes me happy, regardless of the book or the genre. There's always a book that gives me something that all other books don't give me. So if I read Harry Potter, I feel like I'm 12 again, reading it for the first time and discovering the adventure and magic inside the story, when I read The Vampire Armand is because it's the first horror book I ever read and it reminds me of that and how I discovered a new world the first time I read it.

I might sound cheesy, but when I'm reading a book is like Christmas. I'm happy just with reading it and being transported into a new, magical world, different than the real world. So I like my books different than real life and just that difference makes me happy.

So what books make you happy?

Book Review: The Dragonslayer's Sword by Resa Nelson

Author: Resa Nelson
Series: The Dragonslayer #1
My Rating: 5 cups
Source: review copy provided by the author
Blurb (from Goodreads):

For Astrid, a blacksmith who makes swords for dragonslayers, the emergence of a strange gemstone from her body sets in motion a chain of events that threaten to destroy her life. Her happiness is shattered when her lover-the dragonslayer-disappears without a trace, and the life that she knows and loves implodes without warning. Astrid lives in a world of shapeshifters whose thoughts have the power to change not only themselves but others. Everything Astrid knows to be true is called into question when she learns the truth about her past and the mysterious family from which she was separated as a child. Reality turns inside out as Astrid gradually learns the truth about the people she loves as well as those she disdains. With the fate of dragons, ghosts, and slaves in foreign lands resting on her shoulders, Astrid faces the challenge of deciding who she is and how she will stand up inside her own skin. Will she withdraw and hide from the world that has disappointed her so much...or will she rise to lead others to freedom and peace?

I just finished reading The Dragonslayer's Sword and I have to say I'm very tempted to go back and read it again.

I'm going to be honest here. I was completely out of my comfort zone with this book. First of all, I don't think I've read a lot of books with medieval themes. So I didn't really knew what to expect. Also, I know nothing about blacksmiths. I was pleasantly surprised by the way Ms. Nelson managed to combine the fantasy details with the historical details. Another thing I loved was how the author described the process of sword making and how she made it sound somewhat easy. Of course, I know it's not easy, but it didn't sound like something  impossible to learn.

I also loved the new take on shapeshifters and dragons. It was refreshing, because it's so unlike any other fantasy novel I've read, it's different and new. I liked that a lot, because I didn't feel like I knew what the dragons or shapeshifters would be like.

In this book we watch the heroine, Astrid, grow up and become an amazing woman. Despite her childhood, she manages to move on with the help of DiStephan, the dragonslayer, and her best friend, Mauri. Most of the book is told from her perspective, but at the end, we get to see some of the scenes told from the perspectives of other characters and I liked that.

I have to say, one of the things I loved most about this book was the balance in it. The descriptions weren't too big or too short for me, the action scenes were great and the dialogues were well written and they had the perfect length. The book also fast-paced and I loved that. There wasn't a moment when I felt that the story was in one scene or place more than it should.

The only thing I was hoping was to be inside other character's perspective a little more. There is one scene with Astrid and some other blacksmiths when Astrid realized how she was truly seen by those men and it makes her more confident in herself and in who she is, so I think it would've helped her more to see things from another angle.

I think this was a great start for a series and I'm very curious what happens next, in The Iron Maiden

My Rating:

Day 04 – Favorite book of your favorite series

Yesterday I mentioned a few of my favorite series. Here are my favorite books of those series. For some series, the choice is tricky, because I like all books equally, but I'll try to choose just one :)

• It's a tie between Acheron and Dance With The Devil - Dark Hunters/Dream Hunters/Were Hunters by Sherrilyn Kenyon  
• Dead To The World. While I love bad-ass Eric, he was so sweet when he lost his memory - The Southern Vampires by Charlaine Harris 
• Queen of the Damned - Vampire Chronicles by Anne Rice
• Lothaire - Immortals After Dark by Kresley Cole
• Passion Unleashed. Wraith, 'nuff said - Demonica by Larissa Ione 
• Club Shadowlands. Although I love all the books in this series, there's something about Master Z that makes me love him more. Might be his profession *blush* - Masters of the Shadowlands by Cherise Sinclair 
• All Jacked Up. I love it when the wild girl of the family finds her match - Rough Riders by Lorelei James 
• It's a tie between Lover Awakened and Lover Unbound. While Zsadist has a story that makes me cry every time I read it, Vishous is the bad boy of the group, so it really is very hard for me to choose. Black Dagger Brotherhood by J.R. Ward 
• Riding Temptation - Wild Riders by Jaci Burton 
• Elizabeth's Wolf - Breeds by Lora Leigh 
• Hot Finish - Fast Track by Erin McCarthy

What are your favorite books of your favorite series?

Follow Friday (9)

Welcome to Follow Friday hosted this week by Parajunkee and Alison!
The main idea behind FF is just to go see a bunch of new blogs you may never have seen before, and follow the ones you like (and they’ll follow you back!) It’s a total win/win, so take a peek around and follow me!

This week’s question is: 

Which book genre do you avoid at all costs and why?

I avoid all books with aliens. Here's the thing. When I was a kid I loved Star Trek: The Next Generation. You know, the one with Captain Jean-Luc Picard. I was obsessed with that show. After that, I compare all science fiction shows and books with Star Trek. It's not something I want to do, I mean, I'd wish I didn't. But I feel that there really isn't an alien show/book out there better than that one. So I avoid books with aliens.


What genres do you avoid and why?

Day 03 – Your favorite series

Oh my. I love so many series, I don't know where to start. I'm going to list them below, but keep in mind there's no correct order for me.

• Dark Hunters/Dream Hunters/Were Hunters by Sherrilyn Kenyon - vampires, ancient gods, were-creatures, demons...this series is full of so many interesting creatures and I love that about it;
• The Southern Vampires by Charlaine Harris - this series holds a special place in my heart, because it was the first series I read about vampires that could have sex. 
• Vampire Chronicles by Anne Rice - my first vampires, my first horror stories;
• Immortals After Dark by Kresley Cole
• Demonica by Larissa Ione 
• Masters of the Shadowlands by Cherise Sinclair - hot, sexy, alpha males who are also Doms *sigh* What can be better?
• Rough Riders by Lorelei James - Cowboys, sexy cowboys!
• Black Dagger Brotherhood by J.R. Ward 
• Wild Riders by Jaci Burton - hot guys on Harleys
• Breeds by Lora Leigh - my first paranormal series without vampires
• Fast Track by Erin McCarthy - My first race car drivers books 

These are just a few (a small, small part) of the series I love. Like I said, there are other series I love and cherish.

What are your favorite series?