{Book Review} Memories of Ash by Intisar Khanani

Memories of Ash by Intisar Khanani

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I read Sunbolt which had been sitting on my kindle for a while; I knew that this was releasing soon and preferred to wait so I could read them back to back.
I was definitely not disappointed.
Picking up shortly after the ending of the SUNBOLT, Hitomi and her mage teacher Stormwind are visited by an old friend of Stormwind. A rogue mage hunter. Stormwind is escorted off to stand trial, leaving Hitomi behind. Still missing a large part of her memories, Hitomi is still Hitomi and sets off to rescue her teacher and friend.
This series is adventurous and magical. I love who Hitomi is and I love how she puts others before her self. I was delighted that we were reunited with a few characters from SUNBOLT, although her old enemy is alive and well and at the heart of the evil building up tensions, etc.
I cannot wait to read more and see what becomes of Hitomi and Val and Stormwind and the Phoenix and the council and and and...
In some ways, I wish I hadn't discovered this series until several years from now so that I don't have to wait for the next book. LOL
Enjoyable reads with plenty of adventure and a nice blend of cultures.



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Review: A Shade of Vampire by Bella Forrest

A Shade of Vampire by Bella Forrest
My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

I received a copy of this book for review from the author here on goodreads! For an honest opinion, no "here's my book give me high ratings."

Solid 3.5 stars. I liked this book. I thought The Shade sanctuary was fairly unique and look forward to reading how Derek might change the way they do things. Derek, despite being a vampire and having been asleep for 400 years, seems the most "human" of the vampires we encounter. And let's face it: you have supernatural powers/strength, you're probably not going to be very nice to your food source. You're just going to demand, command, and/or eat. With such strength/power usually comes a healthy dose of abuse and you see that in Derek's brother, Lucas. He's a creepy bastard.

I'm not very enamored of instant love, but that seems hypocritical of me because isn't the fairy tale that nearly all women tease themselves with is "love at first sight"? So Derek's instant attraction and strong feelings for Sofia as she grabs his attention while comforting a fellow human slave is acceptable to me. But it bothers me at the same time - captured slave, Master falls in love with slave instantly, slave falls for master -- hiya Stockholm! Eh, I'm overthinking it. I liked it. I liked the Sun Room Sofia is moved to create. I liked the explanation of her empathy. I liked Corrine's suspicion and have to wonder about her staying there with the vampires; was she just waiting for Derek to awaken?

This book was a fast read and left me disappointed: cliffhanger! What is going to happen with Sofia and Derek? And Bitter Ben? Not that I blame Ben...he was at the hands of a sadist bitch. Do you root against the vampires? Do you cheer the vampires with Derek as their newly awakened leader? I know what I do. I look for Book 2 and slap it on my TBR and amazon.com wishlist for payday.

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Review: Dark Genesis by Dave Ferraro

Dark Genesis by Dave Ferraro
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I received a e-copy of this book through Read It & Reap's read to review opportunity. I loved it! As always, I am trying not to do any spoilers; this is definitely a book I want you to read and discover on your own as you read!

So...yes five stars. I loved the plot, the characters, and the relationship development. I liked the parallel universe, the monsters, and the action. This was SUCH a satisfying read, although I do admit to panicking around the 80% mark as my kindle was telling me I only had 40 minutes left and wondering how this is going to end!

From the beginning, this book is ripe with action. That was a helluva way for our MC to wake up and what a way to start the book. As she wakes up and assesses the scene around her and then just begins to lay waste to the vamps she encounters, I was cheering "GO BUFFY! I MEAN ALYSSA!" But this is no simple Buffy-esque plot.

I thought the ties from this parallel universe to ours was incredibly smart: the Japanese covens and their ability to meld into shadows like the ninjas of our world, the mythological beasts come to life and HOW they came about in this world, the creation story of Lilith, with no Eve in sight.

The draw between Parker & Alyssa was well done; sweet romance without overblown sex scenes. I liked how the characters developed and how their friendships solidified.

Lots of paranormal monsters, a bit of steam punk, a bit of fairytale, a bit of horrific bug monsters, a kickass heroine who only has one moment of true despair (she's definitely not whiny), and blossoming love affairs, this was a GOOD read. Highly enjoyable.

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Xpress Book Tours presents OTHERBORN by Anna Silver with Giveaway!

London and her teenage friends live in a reprocessed world.

Confined within Capital City’s concrete walls, London has done the impossible and the illegal. She’s created something New- a song. But her mentor, club owner Pauly, is not impressed. Since the historic Energy Crisis forced everyone behind walls generations ago, the Tycoons have ensured there is truly nothing new allowed under the sun. Pauly warns London to keep her song to herself, if she knows what’s good for her.

What he doesn’t know, is that London is keeping an even bigger secret: she dreams. And she’s not alone. London’s band-mates and friends have begun dreaming as well, seeing themselves in “night pictures” as beings from another world. As Otherborn, they must piece together the story of their astral avatars, the Others, in order to save their world from a dreamless, hopeless future.

When Pauly is murdered and an Otherborn goes missing, London realizes someone is hunting them down. Escaping along the Outroads, they brave the deserted Houselands with only their dreams to guide them. Can they find their friend before the assassin finds them? Will being Otherborn save their lives, or destroy them?

Find OTHERBORN on Goodreads

Purchase it at Amazon.com!

Purchase it at Barnes & Noble!

About the Author:
Anna Silver is an artist and writer living in the greater Houston area with her family, pets, and overactive imagination. Her art, which includes oil paintings, assemblage sculptures, and fairy houses, has been featured in the Houston gallery Las Manos Magicas. She studied English Writing & Rhetoric at St. Edward’s University in Austin. She has written web copy for private clients and freelanced for the Hill Country Current in Texas. Her write-up on a past-life regression experience was chosen to be featured in best-selling author Brian Weiss’ new book. She is a member of the Writer’s League of Texas. OTHERBORN is her first published novel.


A_TiffyFit's Review:

The future is grim and bleak and there is absolutely nothing New. No dreaming, no creativity, slowly starving to death behind city walls. It’s a pretty bleak place…and I think it’s a bit frightening because it can be so easily imagined. Energy crisis? Check. Culture of fear? Check. Gangs running amok? Check.

London, Zen, Kim, Rye, Avery, and Degan are part of a band. They play at Pauly’s bar, playing old songs Pauly has discs of that they imitate. Until one day when London shows up and plays him something New. Something they created. Pauly flips out and then Degan ends up dead. Degan was the most recent to join them and admit they have been Dreaming and that they have these selves in their dreams that are...otherworldly. Then Avery goes missing. And London and her friends decide to venture out into the scorched earth to try and save their friend, Avery, meeting Outroaders, gangsters, and tracking Avery down to the Tycoons. And that’s when they discover…

Just kidding: I’m not going to spoil the book for you. This is a book that is obviously set in a futuristic, dystopian earth. It’s exactly what you expect of dystopia: grimy, dirty, seedy, starving, desperation. It bothered me when I was reading that dreaming was such a big deal. Humans need to dream. It’s how they work out all of their issues. It’s a biological NEED. Once I got over that, I was then a bit confused about the Otherborn selves. But Ms Silver does a fabulous job of leading you along and then explaining.

Bravery, heartache, hurt, betrayal, and a cliffhanger ending, this book was a fast ride of discovery with London and her friends. It left me with a lot of questions at the end, ready for book 2, so not completely satisfied at all. I am worried over the characters, the last few interactions, etc., and I think that is a great compliment to the author: she yanked me in, made characters that I care about, and a plot that I need to finish reading. I cannot wait to read more!


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The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa

The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa 
Publisher: Harlequin Teen 
Publishing Date: March 26, 2013 
Length: 464 pages 
Editions: Hardcover, Kindle, Paperback, Audio 
Genre: paranormal dystopian fiction with romance elements 
Source: ARC from publisher via NetGalley 
Synopsis: -In Kagawa's postapocalyptic dystopia, vampires reign. Allison Sekemoto, 17, and her unregistered gang live in the shabby Fringe of New Covington while vampires rule the Inner City with their human pets, drinking blood donated by their Registered subjects. Unregistered humans roam without meal tickets or the Prince's protection, prone to arbitrary violence and starvation. In an act of desperation, Allie and her friends venture into the rabid-infested ruins surrounding the city in search of ancient, abandoned food hoards. As clouds roll in heavy with rain, the troupe is ambushed by rabids (Red Lung-infected vampires) and all are brutally murdered. Lying ravaged with death fast approaching, Allie accepts an unexpected offer of immortality from Kanin, joining the blood-sucking race that destroyed her family. His guidance and Allie's defiance clash with the vampire's ugly past, leaving her to wander a land swarming with rabids in search of a cure for Rabidism and her own Vampirism. The zealous heroine's characterization as an anarchist and independent thinker resonates along with classic YA themes of identity and belonging. Her ironic romance with a young man named Ezekiel adds a softer tone to a dynamic and perilous quest. Kagawa devotees can expect lots of bloody carnage in the upcoming movie, as "The Blood of Eden" series has already been optioned by Palomar Pictures.-Jamie-Lee Schombs, Loyola School, New York Cityα(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition. 



Review:
5 of 5 stars

“You are a monster. You will always be a monster, there is no turning back from it. But what type of monster is entirely up to you.”

“Blood is the core of our power. It is how we live, it is how we heal. The longer we go without, the farther we slip from humanity, until we resemble the cold, empty, living corpses the humans think us to be.” 
Oh. Hell. Yes. HELL. YES. I’ve been in reader zone the last couple of hours in a desperate surge forward to finish this book, with an insatiable urge to know how it ends. Ms. Kagawa can WRITE. Of course, you knew this, if you’ve read any of her other books e.g. The Iron Fey series. But this …is vampires. At their finest. Bloodsucking fiends, cold, strong, fast, and with that touch of humanity that they deny themselves, but inevitably it is there. It has to be there. They were once human. REAL VAMPIRES. 
I enjoyed every second of this book. From Allie scraping by a life and trying to hang onto the threads of humanity by reading and teaching others, her mother’s gift to her, to her sacrificing herself to save some spineless little sh*t, to her ultimate decision to SURVIVE. 

There aren’t any hiccups in this novel. Nothing that makes you say, “HUH?! ARE YOU KIDDING ME?” Nope. The major questions are answered: who, what, where, why, when. Without being overly wordy, the setting is THERE. You can see the dilapidated buildings, the dust covering the school desks, the blood streaks on floors, the barren wasteland of what's left, the despair in the air, the resignation to this new life.

Allie’s struggle to retain her sense of self is poignant. Her feelings for Zeke and the emotional attachments she forms for Caleb and Bethany are sweet even as she struggles to hold herself away. These characters are rich and complicated; they are vindictive and petty and self-righteous and sympathetic and capable of love and jealous. There is nothing flat about this book. I was raging about Ruth, smiling at the cuteness of Zeke and Allie, grimacing at Jeb, wondering about Kanin. Totally immersed. 

Out in paperback March 26, 2013, with book two, The Eternity Cure, due out at the end of April. Pick this one up now and get ready to continue the saga of Blood of Eden.

Cliff of the Ruin by Bonnie McKernan

Cliff of the Ruin by Bonnie McKernan
Publisher: Abbott Press
Publication date: November 2012
Length: 418 pages
Genre: Historical fiction, fantasy
Editions: Hardcover, paperback, kindle
Source for Review: Netgalley

Synopsis: There are three good reasons why dashing Civil War hero and New York lawyer William Teague cannot tell artist Mae Kendrick he''s in love with her. One, she told him he was dull. Two, she is the niece of an important client. Three, she just hired him to find the man she doesn't remember marrying.

As Will manages this peculiar case, the search for Mae's husband unveils a shocking discovery about her childhood, one that shifts the investigation to the place of her birth--Ireland.

But on the voyage overseas, circumstances become increasingly bizarre. Mae suffers ghost-like visions and further memory loss, and Will is seduced by a beautiful stranger who just might be trying to kill him. When Mae suddenly vanishes like her husband, Will is forced to enter a thin place, an ancient monastic ruin leading to Ireland's Celtic otherworld, in what becomes a race against time to find her.

But are Will''s war-honed instincts any match for the alluring forces of Irish legend? Can he distinguish friend from foe? Can he protect Mae from the apparitions of her past? And how far beyond the breaking point can his secret love be tested?

Review after the jump!

Heaven's Night by Harry Aderton

Bear with me as I try a new review format today! Instead of just copying and pasting from my goodreads review, let's see if I can't give you a little more information.

Heaven's Night by Harry Aderton
Publisher: Aderton Prime LLC
Publication Date: March 1, 2013
Formats: Hardcover and Kindle
Length: 496 pages
Genre: Fantasy
Source for this review: Netgalley


Synopsis: When Lucifer challenges the throne of God, it ignites a decades-long war that devastates the serenity of the Heavens. With an arsenal of demonic fallen angels at his side, Lucifer's march to satanic glory seems imminent.

Archangel Sariel has other plans.

Join acclaimed author Harry Aderton as he takes you on an incredible journey from the pinnacles of heaven to the dark depths of hell. The heroic soul of Sariel is put to the test as he battles fierce warriors in his quest for love and the resurrection of the Heaven he knew.

This addictive novel combines a complex blend of action and passion with the age-old debate of obeying your heart or your duty. Follow the intricate twists and turns as they lead you to the surprising and explosive climax.

Hang on - all hell is about to break loose! -amazon.com blurb

Review:

5 out of 5 Stars
First I should say that I am an atheist so I wasn't very pre-disposed towards geeking out about this book. Requesting this book I was of two minds: completely intrigued and a little put off. A long novel based on Lucifer's defection?  I thought it would be angsty and long-winded and, frankly, too religious in tone to hold my interest. I am SO happy to say I was wrong.

The story is told from the point of a view of a lesser known Archangel named Sariel. Sariel explains angelic names (Sariel, Sammael, Gabriel, Kakabel, Azazel, Michael, etc. Notice anything?) as he starts to tell his story. Sariel has a soulmate in Requel, an angel of the lower classes and she is the catalyst to get him involved in the destruction Sammael, who now calls himself Lucifer, is bringing to the lower spheres of existence.

I am not very well-versed in angel lore other than knowing vaguely the classes of angels in a sort of cut-and-dry school way: Cherubim, Serpahim, Archangel. This book explained the different classes of angels perfectly, easily, and well-integrated to the story.

And what a story it is. A story of heartache, of a family fractured, of deepest betrayal, of despair and the horrors of war, of how twisted one can be come, of hope, of faith, and most of all, of love. Truly, love conquers all. It can conquer fear, self-doubt, loneliness, heartache, betrayal, corruption.

The author seemed to weave some of the eastern philosophies as well into the story and I truly enjoyed that. It goes to highlight harmony we could have if we would only recognize it and let it happen.

This book isn't preachy. It's filled with fantasy and gruesome war scenes. And yes, it talks about faith and faith in god. But I walked away with the sense of faith in love and trust in your family members and loved ones. But most of all, I walked away with the story of two soulmates, and one who literally moved heaven for the other.

Available at Amazon.com. $2.99 for a Kindle Edition, $15.45 for hardcover at the time of this review.

I won! I won! I won!

I won this hardcover copy of The Mirrored Shard by Caitlin Kittredge, the third in the Iron Codex trilogy, in a giveaway by Hopelessly Devoted Bibliophile!

Thank you SO much for the giveaway, Jessica! I'm so excited to read this trilogy!

Please visit her site. She has awesome reviews that help you find out if that's the genre you're looking for, what worked and didn't, and how to get the book and add it to your goodreads list!

Zed: A Cosmic Tale Tp by Michel Gagné
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I got a e-copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for a unbiased review.

My first reaction, and the reason why I requested this book, was, "ZOMGHEISSOCUTEWHATISTHIS?" I pretty much had the same reaction while reading the book from frame to frame. The alien Zed is super cute, even when he's traumatized.

Speaking of him being traumatized, this is SUCH a sad story. Sad and violent, probably two moods that describe the human race. You see mob mentality, how easily we can get swept along in rhetoric even when our inner voices are telling us to back up.

The story was fluid and sad; cute and gory. The appearance of God was unexpected seeing as how it's a cosmic tale.

All in all, it was a enjoyable read and one that really needs to be physical to appreciate the artwork. I will be buying this book!



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Maria Snyder's Scent of Magic

Scent of Magic by Maria V. Snyder
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I received this book through netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

I did NOT read the first in this series, "Touch of Power", before reading this book. I would say that you don't really need to, however, there is a lot of interaction between the "team" of players that is subtle and now I really want to read Touch of Power.

This book starts off with Avry and Kerrick parting ways with very specific set goals to help fight against Tohon. There's a lot of unspoken coupleness about these two that tell you that you're missing a whole history between them.

There is a ton of action in this book! You have two points of view, mainly - Kerrick and Avry. You have different events occurring simultaneously and I didn't once feel as if there was a very boring lull and wanted to just page through to get to something.

I liked that Ms. Snyder has a lot of strong female characters. You don't have fluff; they are all, good ones and bad ones, strong capable women, powerful and power hungry, and aren't the simpering, fainting wallflowers. I've been a fan of Wonder Woman and strong female archetypes since I was a girl.

The ending was upsetting. Talk about a cliffhanger. ARE YOU KIDDING ME? So, yes, I need to get the third book now. This is NOT a standalone.

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Core Balance Diet

The Core Balance Diet: 28 Days to Boost Your Metabolism and Lose Weight for Good by Marcelle Pick
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This isn't a simple little laundry list and POOF! you'll be thin. I liked how the author gets you involved by talking to you directly, with a check list at the beginning of assessing how you feel and what your goals are.

I don't think this is anything NEW, in the dietary world. Eat right, eliminate white, processed foods (breads, pastas, marshmallows :P ), add color (leafy greens, bright fruits and veggies), and exercise. 5 small meals a day to keep your metabolism going, etc.

This is another e-book I received from the publishers for an honest review. And it's another one that I would want in physical form so that I could take notes and reference it easily.

I'm finding it harder to review books such as these where it is a very personal interaction. There isn't a story, other than the story of you and your new way of eating.



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The Mystic Cookbook - Spiritual Eating

The Mystic Cookbook: The Secret Alchemy of Food by Denise Linn
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is a beautiful book with many wonderful recipes and images. I found it absolutely fascinating as it explains about the different foods, their impact on you, both spiritually and physically.

I received this book through netgalley, and while the images were beautiful, it was a bit awkward to read on Adobe Digital Editions. This is one of those books that necessitates having the actual, physical book in front of you.

I liked the messages the books has about slowing down, eating with consciousness, exercising, treating your kitchen as a kind of shrine. It makes sense if you are committed to treating your body as a temple. You should put thought into what you are preparing and eating.

This book probably isn't for everyone, but I would recommend it for any foodie. :)

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Dragons, Elves, and Dwarves, oh my!

Light & Dark: The Awakening of the Mageknight by Daniel M. Fife
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Disclaimer: Received for free from the publisher in exchange for my honest, unbiased review.

Solid 3.5 stars on this adventurous story of a young middle school aged boy, Danny, and his friends who discover that the fantasy card game they played the previous summer is in fact real. Dragons, elves, dwarves, and shadows, oh my!

I think this book would appeal to those who enjoyed Harry Potter, especially younger male audiences with the descriptions of swordplay and the camaraderie of 5 guy friend. Another school, hidden from the normal human world, teaching future generations of Light warriors how to fight, strategy, history of past battles, self-possession, etc.

Since it is an ARC e-book I received, it could very well be that the spelling and grammatical errors were from the unfinished proof. A lot of words with double Ls (shall, will, fill, tell) etc., ended up with only one L instead of both. There were a few other sentence structure choices I found odd, but then again, I am an adult reading young adult fiction. It could just be the difference in age!

That being said, if you're looking for something fantastical, with magic and dragons and swordfights, something adventurous, this new series is for you! Whether you're Danny's age (13) or mine (30something), you can easily envision the island school, the characters, and Danny's special ability.

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Soul Avenged by Keri Lake - GO GET THIS

Soul Avenged by Keri Lake
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Okay, first I should say that I got my copy directly from the author as an ARC in exchange for my honest, unbiased review. I am doing my best to keep this a spoiler free review, including not giving away much of the plot. Okay?

Honest. Unbiased. Review. Got that? Good.

This was one of the BEST paranormal fantasy reads I have read in a long time! I started reading this in earnest today as Blizzard Nemo hit the area. Between bouts of taking the dogs out, checking on friends, etc., I was sneaking time in to read. And then when I finally had a few hours to myself (very late at night as it's now 4am and I've been reading the last 3 hours straight) I finished this in one, long gulp, unable to put it down and sleep. I simply had to know what was going to happen!

The book hits the ground running, full sprint. There is no lead up, Keri Lake just drops you into the middle of the action and makes you say to yourself, "Yeeeesss!"

The heroine, Ayden, kicks some serious ass, but flawed in that way that makes her human and appealing to the reader. If you liked Lilith Saint Crow's Dante Valentine or Jill Kismet, you are going to love Ayden. In the beginning, I was in complete agreement with Kane: "This woman is all kinds of fucked up, but damn she is one tough cookie!" She frustrated me in her inability to see past his new "halfling" status. He hasn't done anything wrong yet, woman!

Kane seems like quite the good man. Motivated by his own loss in life, he's the director of a children's cancer institute before he's bitten. He lives a good life, if a tad obsessed with his job. It's as he's seeing the end come, that he realizes he really wasn't LIVING.

Ms. Lake's world is well constructed and detailed. READ THE GLOSSARY IN THE FRONT. You won't necessarily need it as the explanations come seamlessly in the plot of the novel, however it does help to have an idea and something to reference when they are talking about it. As the reader, I found myself connecting with the different characters easily. They are all so fascinating! I am happy that this is the first in the series and I am hoping that the series will be a book for each Wrath brother we just met. I mean, this story is about Ayden and Kane, really, with an introduction to the Sons of Wrath. Sooooooo...books on Gavin, Logan (and Calla?), Zeke, Zayne, Calix, Ferno, and dammit I'm missing one.

This sounds like something weird to say, but not only did I really enjoy the story and the characters, but I also really appreciated Ms. Lake's writing. I've read several series whose story could be fantastic, but it melts into just sex scene after sex scene, which while hot detracts from the progression of the plot, and isn't what I'm looking for when I read. Yes there are sex scenes in this book, but they integrate well with the plot and the story of the characters involved. I also appreciated that we the readers weren't told in detail about the disgusting and sadistic sexual actions General Wade inflicted on his female soldiers. The hints alone left such distaste in my mouth, but I was very glad not to have it solidified into imagery.

The ending was very satisfying and complete. No cliffhanger to leave you dangling, although PLENTY to explore in future books in the series.

I haven't enjoyed a book of this genre this much since I was first introduced to Dante Valentine, Jill Kismet, Elena & Clay, Paige & Lucas, etc. I need the rest in this series. I know this book just came out, but I really need the rest of this series. LOL

TL;DR - It was a frickin' good read, urban/paranormal fantasy, go GET IT! And then join the bandwagon as we await more in this series. :) Thank you, Ms. Lake, for giving me a FABULOUS read during a huge blizzard!

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Three Graves Full releases on February 12!

Three Graves Full by Jamie Mason
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really didn't know what I was expecting from this book, but had I had any expectations, I'd have to say this far exceeded them. This was a well-paced read that immerses you in the story from the get go.

As the title suggests, there are three graves full, all on one property, Jason Getty's property. Jason knows about one of the graves. He should; he's the one who put the body there and it's been tormenting him for more than a year. What he didn't know is that his property has two more graves interred in his garden! Those bodies are discovered when Jason decides to have a little lawn maintenance done and from there, the dominos start to fall.

As the stories unfold and we have flashbacks from Jason, and Leah, the fiance of one of the victims, you completely empathize and understand why Jason murdered that person and hid the body. And as you learn about the other two victims on the property, you kinda rationalize it out as well. The bodies are stacking up, but who did what? And why? And can we forgive and forget and move on?

Jason's memories are very reminiscent of "The Tell-Tale Heart". He isn't a violent person so this is eating at him, bit by bit, day by day, at odd moments it rears its ugly head.

Mysteries such as these bring up subtle moral questions that would make for great book club discussion. Do you want Jason to get away with what he did? What about Leah's actions at the end? Should Bayard pursue his instincts?

Received this from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This releases on February 12, so go get it! Definitely recommended for a lively discussion book club read as you can discuss the moral choices and your own visceral reaction to the plot. As for me? I was satisfied with the ending.

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Goblin Fruit by Erin Burr

Goblin Fruit by Erin Burr
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I had added this to my to-read shelf a while ago, remembering the poem by Christina Rosetti that is referenced in this book. When I got a message today from the author letting me know it was available to read on goodreads for a limited time, I promptly dropped what I was reading and have spent the last couple hours with Clara and Frank and Audrey.

This was a heartbreaking story and such a wonderful allegory cautioning against drug abuse without feeling like one of those condescending tales. Rather, it's on the edge of paranormal. There ARE goblins.

You have Clara who has never known her mom and has grown up under the assumption that her mom was a fruit user, the first catalepsy patient from abuse of Goblin Fruit. You have Audrey, whose brother is currently catatonic. You have Frank, Clara's dad, the doctor working to try and find a cure. Anna and Maria, nurses who care for the patients.

Society is in panic and it's sad. Human interaction is completely cut off due to fear of being contaminated through skin secretions of the drug. There is no more touching or handholding or shaking of hands, things that bond us together.

You travel with Clara and Audrey and revisit bits of the poem as they are grieving for their loved ones and then venturing to find a cure. I wish there had been more an explanation as to the goblins themselves. But perhaps that can be for a later book?

Excellent read. So happy to have had the chance to read this on goodreads. Thank you, Ms. Burr!

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Fun Fantasy Read in the Land of Faery!

The Lost Prince by Julie Kagawa
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Received this as an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my rating.

This was a fantastic story of the fae. Fans of Ms. Kagawa's The Iron Fey series will trip over themselves to read this as this one is from little Ethan Chase's point of view. Remember him? Four years old, the catalyst for Meghan, his older sister, becoming the Iron Queen? Yeaaaaaah, this is HIS story. Oh, don't worry, you get to see Puck/Robin Goodfellow, Ash, and Meghan, but briefly. The story centers around Ethan, Keirran, and Kenzie.

What I really enjoyed about this book is that there is no love triangle. Ethan likes Kenzie, Kenzie likes Ethan, that's it. Keirran has his love interest, that's it. That's not to say there isn't complications to spice things up/give you heartache, but at least there isn't that formulaic, annoying love triangle, unrequited-love thing going on.

Determined not to acknowledge the presence of faerie, Ethan has no choice but to break that resolve in order to save a friend and to protect this girl (Kenzie) he is falling for.

There are tidbits of teenage angst - bullying, parents being obtuse and not understanding or forgiving, internal dialogue overanalyzing self and actions, etc., - but they really define the characters and just work.

This is book #1 for "Call of the Forgotten" so there should be more to come! But don't think you will be left hanging at the end of book one. While you can tell there is more to come, you aren't left at a cliffhanger. Sure there are unanswered questions, unresolved issues, but I found myself satisfied and content with the ending as opposed to ripping my hair out that I will have to wait a whole (year, years, decade) to find out if my characters are going to perish or not.

I found the writing smooth and entrancing, the pace rolling at a fast clip with lots of action scenes. This one is going on my re-readable shelf. Fun, fantasy read set in the Nevernever!

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The Firebird - ARC Arrived!

I received this ARC in the mail directly from Sourcebooks today, with an awesome little personalized note from the marketing manager!

A printed copy! Not just an ebook! Don't get me wrong, I love those e-books, too, but I feel so special getting a print ARC! :D

I am so happy to have received this arc! I want to get all of Ms. Kearsley's books. I read  "The Winter Sea" and loved it. I've just finished Chapter 1 and am hooked.

I intend to savor every word. :)

Thank you SO much, Sourcebooks!

And look at this cover! Gorgeous. :)

Doublecrossed by Ally Carter - Free for you, too!

Got this as a "Read Now" from NetGalley and now you, too, can read it for free as the publishers have released it as a free novella for everyone! (Click the image above and it'll send you to where you can get your own copy!)

As an adult reader reading Young Adult fiction, sometimes the plots seem so kid-like or too full of teenage angst that it detracts from the storyline. This is NOT the case here.

I haven't read any of the "Spies and Thieves" series yet, but after this novella, I sure want to! Macey is a high society daughter, used to rubbing elbows with the rich, famous, and political powerhouses (her dad is a senator). But she isn't all that she seems and her demeanor is noted by Hale.

Hale is also from this society with a rich family, but he, too, doesn't quite fit what Macey expects of high society boys.

Both are very observant, quick-witted, and as you soon find out, have talents that you wouldn't associate with the Paris Hilton-type socialities. They're smart and witty and quick to act.

The writing was sound, the plot moved a quick pace (seriously! Sometimes novellas can seem like torture; this was quite the gem!). I'd like to see more of Hale, Kat, and Macey, and definitely am interested in reading the series for fun, literary escapes.

After reading this novella, I'd pick up the series as gifts for any young adult reader. There is no maiden-in-distress. The females in here are strong, confident women who are physically and intellectually capable.

Currently Reading List

I'm a little behind on my NetGalley reads. I wasn't expecting to be approved so many, I suppose, but holy wow do I love being able to help the publishers by reading reading reading!

Below is a montage of my Currently Reading list, with the help of the Goodreads.com widget. I'm going to do my best to read them in order of upcoming release dates so that I can have a review up! Those already released will come next.

Tiffany's currently-reading book montage

Look at all those covers. They look fabulous, don't they?! I'm enjoying all of them. I wish that some were physical books instead of e-books, but then I'd have transportation problems. :)
I best get reading!