TBR Intervention #8

 I love this meme. It actually helps me! There are weeks like this one, where it might seem like, uh, things didn't get done, but... It motivates me to get my reading done, to review the books I read on time, and to be organized about what I need to get done! Okay, and now that my own promotional ramble is out...


It's TBR Intervention Challenge time! We get to organize our huge To Be Read piles and actually read those books we've been wanting to (or been supposed to) for the longest time! The challenge is hosted by April @ Books4Juliet, Dani @ Refracted Light and Ayanami @ Whatever You Can Still Betray, and it's hosted every Saturday, though you're free to join every two weeks if that's more convenient for you. As always, do join us! Here's the rules:

1. Post the book(s) you committed to read in your last TBR Intervention post and tell us something about it. Did you finish it? Did you enjoy it or not? Post the link to your review (if you have one). 

2. Post a book that you want to read and already own. Pick something that has been sitting on your shelf for too long now (6 months or longer). Commit to read the book in the next couple of days or week.

3. Grab the TBR Intervention Button and post it on your blog sidebar so you will be constantly reminded of the challenge, making it easier for you to commit. This will also encourage other readers/bloggers/visitors to join the challenge.

4. Add the link to your post in the Linky below and make sure to visit the other blogs. Comment, encourage, and spread the love to our fellow readers. 

 

And here's how I did this week:

Review: Vengeance, by Michelle Madow

Author: Michelle Madow

Title: Vengeance

Series: Transcend Time (#1.5)

ISBN: 9780615559711

Publisher: Dreamscape Publishing (2011)

Buy your copy: Kindle | Paperback

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

“When Chelsea Givens discovered that her ex-boyfriend Drew dumped her to be with her former best friend Lizzie, she'd never felt so betrayed in her life. Then her new friend Shannon tells her she can help set things right. Chelsea's willing to listen, but what Shannon wants her to believe -- that she shared a past life with Drew -- is impossible. And what she wants her to do to get him back … well, it's downright crazy.

Could Shannon be telling the truth? And if she is, what lengths will Chelsea go if it means making Lizzie pay?      

Find out in Vengeance, the second part of the Transcend Time Saga.      

*Vengeance is the short story that bridges the events in Remembrance and the final novel in the Saga” GoodReads’ blurb

This is not really going to be a review, because the story is super short and going on about it for too long would ruin for other readers (you know how I like to avoid spoilers), but I needed to write something anyway.

I really loved Remembrance, and I was looking forward to Vengeance with a passion. Not only because I wanted to see how the story moved on, but because the one character I hated the most would get the spotlight and I needed to see how that worked.

Midwinter Eve Giveaway: We've got a winner!

So, I told the widget to pick a winner, notified her, and she claimed her prize! Congratulations! I hope you enjoy your book!

If you didn't win, you still have a chance to get a fantabulous signed copy of one of two amazing titles in my other giveaway, 333 followers, ongoing until 15th January. Just click the image to go to the form! *points to the sidebar*

This giveaway was a blast to hold, people. Thanks so much! 

Review: Seven Tears into the Sea, by Terry Farley

Author: Terry Farley

Title: Seven Tears into the Sea

ISBN: 9780689864421

Publisher: Simon Pulse (2005)

Buy your copy: Kindle | Paperback

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

“Beckon the sea,

I'll come to thee....

Shed seven tears,

perchance seven years....

At the age of ten, Gwen Cooke had a strange encounter with a boy with dark, slightly tilted eyes. He came to her on the beach, whispered strange words in her ear, and then disappeared. Shortly thereafter, her family moved away from their seaside home and Gwen never saw the boy again. 

Now seventeen, Gwen is returning to her childhood home. Her nana asked her to come. But Gwen knows it's time to go back for another reason: She yearns for the sea. Perhaps the sea itself is calling to her. Perhaps the memory of the boy and his haunting words are drawing her back to the place they met. Perhaps it's time for her to face her destiny.” GoodReads’ blurb

By this point, you know my penchant for books that rely or retell traditional folklore, that do it right and that, to top it off, are interesting. You might have also notice my Selkie-love.

On all of those accounts, Seven Tears into the Sea simply excels.

Review: Damian's Oracle, by Lizzy Ford

Author: Lizzy Ford

Title: Damian’s Oracle

Series: The War of Gods (#1)

ISBN: 9781466413009)

Publisher: Lizzy Ford (2011)

Disclaimer: Copy received for review purposes.

Buy your copy: Kindle | Paperback

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

“Inspired by Slavic mythology, Damien’s Oracle is the entree into the ongoing battle between good and evil over the fate of humanity. The White God, Damian, and his Guardians protect the world from the Black God and his monsters while rescuing Naturals – humans with extraordinary paranormal gifts - from the Black God, who would kill or convert them.   

Caught in the middle is cool-headed Sofia, a Natural whose gift will tip the scales in the war. Sofia begins her transformation from human into oracle, the first in thousands of years. Damian rescues her from the Black God in time to complete a ceremony that will bind her to him for eternity. Sofia struggles with her new world and her role as an oracle and Damian’s mate while haunted by a mysterious man from Damian’s past who’s supposed to be dead. Unbeknownst to her, her link to the dead man may be all that saves Damian, his Guardians, and the fate of humanity.        

While he wants nothing more than for the petite beauty to take her place at his side like the oracles of legend did his White God forefathers, Damian can’t quite rationalize having to win her over instead of command her. Further complicating his life is the sobering realization that there are spies in his organization who are helping the Black God take out his Guardians. Damian must help Sofia reach her potential fast, especially when a threat from his past returns."  GoodReads’ blurb

I know that comparisons are not nice, but if I had to sell this book real fast I’d say: Black Dagger Brotherhood. If you have ever liked any of the aspects in that series, you’ll like this one.

Even if you haven’t, I think you might like this one anyway.

Review. Grave Peril, by Jim Butcher

Author: Jim Butcher

Title: Grave Peril

Series: Dresden Files (#3)

ISBN: 9780451458445

Publisher: Roc (2001)

Buy your copy: Kindle | Paperback | Audiobook

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

“Harry Dresden's faced some pretty terrifying foes during his career. Giant scorpions. Oversexed vampires. Psychotic werewolves. It comes with the territory when you're the only professional wizard in the Chicago area phone book.

But in all Harry's years of supernatural sleuthing, he's never faced anything like this: the spirit world's gone postal. All over Chicago, ghosts are causing trouble--and not just of the door-slamming, boo-shouting variety. These ghosts are tormented, violent, and deadly. Someone--or something--is stirring them up to wreak unearthly havoc. But why? And why do so many of the victims have ties to Harry? If Harry doesn't figure it out soon, he could wind up a ghost himself . . .” GoodReads’ blurb

At the beginning of the audiobook, there was an author’s comment saying that many people felt that the Dresden Files series really took off with this volume. I kind of hope that it didn’t, because I didn’t like Grave Peril as much as the previous two instalments.

My Bookworm Santa

BEWARE: Extreme gushing ahead.

It’s finally, finally time to share what my Bookworm Santa got for me this Christmas! And it’s amazing! It’s beyond great! I screamed louder than my neighbour’s kids, I’m ashamed to admit...

TBR Intervention #7

 It's TBR Intervention Challenge time! How I love this meme, this moment when we get to organize our huge To Be Read piles and actually read those books we've been wanting to (or been supposed to) for the longest time! The challenge is hosted by April @ Books4Juliet, Dani @ Refracted Light and Ayanami @ Whatever You Can Still Betray, and it's hosted every Saturday, though you're free to join every two weeks if that's more convenient for you. As always, do join us! Here's the rules:

1. Post the book(s) you committed to read in your last TBR Intervention post and tell us something about it. Did you finish it? Did you enjoy it or not? Post the link to your review (if you have one). 

2. Post a book that you want to read and already own. Pick something that has been sitting on your shelf for too long now (6 months or longer). Commit to read the book in the next couple of days or week.

3. Grab the TBR Intervention Button and post it on your blog sidebar so you will be constantly reminded of the challenge, making it easier for you to commit. This will also encourage other readers/bloggers/visitors to join the challenge.

4. Add the link to your post in the Linky below and make sure to visit the other blogs. Comment, encourage, and spread the love to our fellow readers. 

 

And here's how I did this week:

Review: Hunting the Five, by Maria Violante

Author: Maria Violante

Title: Hunting the Five

Series: De la Roca Chronicles (#1)

ASIN: B005Q4LZPE

Publisher: Airam Publications (2011)

Disclaimer: Copy received for review purposes.

Buy your copy: Kindle

My rating: 2 of 5 stars

“Welcome to straight out of Hell.    

Stripped of her memories, her name, and her power, De La Roca has spent the last three hundred years as a mercenary to pay for her release from the inferno.
When the Angel returns to offer her a bargain, five final kills in exchange for true freedom, will she be able to rise to the challenge, or will she die trying?

Hunting the Five, (28,000 words / approximately 112 pages) is the first novella in the exciting De la Roca Chronicles from Airam Publications.    

This special edition comes with two sneak previews and a bonus short story!“ GoodReads’ blurb

Another hard to rate book. Please, remember that 2-stars does not mean “bad”: it just means “not particularly recommended one way or the other”.

Let me be honest: the lore behind this novella feels quite thought out, in that there seem to be several groups with conflicting interests, each of them complex enough to keep you guessing at who’s the real good guy and who you can trust at all. The system behind the demon’s powers was ingenious as well: there are two orders of powers, smaller abilities and then one particular strength, unique to each demon, that is stored as a stone somewhere in their own bodies. I liked that.

333 Followers Giveaway

So! I promised it would come, I promised it would be epic and... here I am, delivering! Welcome to our 333 Followers Giveaway! I would go on about how thankful I am for you guys being here with me every step of the way, but I know you want to hear the juicy details... Namely, what's up for grabs? Well, brace yourself because here it is!

Writing Tips #6: Plot

Plotting time!

No, I’m not planning to take over the world – though it might be a nice idea. I’m just going to discuss some ideas about how to create, organize, or hunt down your plot.

There’re about a million different ways to do this, of course, and the only solid rule is “if it works for you, go ahead!” but still, I think most techniques can be rounded up in two huge groups: plotters and pantsers. The former map out and plan their story, and the latter just go with it wherever it might take them.

I’m going to tell you a little secret: for the longest time, I believed “winging it” was simply not possible. Then I tried it out. And... something happened. But that’s another story – yes, another post. Because plotting is so complex – and because it must be one of my favorite parts to rant about – I’m giving it several days worth of Writing Tips.

And first, we’re going to discuss The Planners. Why? Well, because that’s what I began my days as, and I want to indulge myself telling you the story of my writerly life. 

Midwinder's Eve Giveaway Hop

Giveaway Time! Thanks to I’m a Reader, not a Writer for hosting it and to Jessie Harrell from Oasis For YA & The Daily Harrell for co-hosting. 

Not just any giveaway: it’s Mid-winter. That’s a date I like almost as much as Halloween – plenty of meaning, even if not even a quarter of the people celebrate it. Anyway, I love it, and I want to share it with you, and because of that I’m giving away...

Review: Every Other Day, by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Author: Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Title: Every Other Day

ISBN: 9781606842676

Publisher: Egmont USA (2011)

Go to Amazon page

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

“Every other day, Kali D'Angelo is a normal sixteen-year-old girl. She goes to public high school. She attends pep rallies. She's human.  

And then every day in between . . .She's something else entirely.

Though she still looks like herself, every twenty-four hours predatory instincts take over and Kali becomes a feared demon-hunter with the undeniable urge to hunt, trap, and kill zombies, hellhounds, and other supernatural creatures. Kali has no idea why she is the way she is, but she gives in to instinct anyway. Even though the government considers it environmental terrorism.   

When Kali notices a mark on the lower back of a popular girl at school, she knows instantly that the girl is marked for death by one of these creatures. Kali has twenty-four hours to save her and, unfortunately, she'll have to do it as a human. With the help of a few new friends, Kali takes a risk that her human body might not survive. . . and learns the secrets of her mysterious condition in the process.“ GoodReads’ blurb

*

There were several things which hooked me from the very beginning. World building, mostly – I mean, we’ve seen plenty of supernatural, but how often are they discovered by Darwin and considered endangered species?

Review: Fool Moon, by Jim Butcher

Author: Jim Butcher

Title: Fool Moon

Series: Dresden Files (#2)

ISBN: 9780451458124

Publisher: Rock (2001)

Buy your copy: Kindle | Paperback | Audiobook

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

“Business has been slow. Okay, business has been dead. And not even of the undead variety. You would think Chicago would have a little more action for the only professional wizard in the phone book. But lately, Harry Dresden hasn't been able to dredge up any kind of work—magical or mundane.

But just when it looks like he can't afford his next meal, a murder comes along that requires his particular brand of supernatural expertise.

A brutally mutilated corpse. Strange-looking paw prints. A full moon. Take three guesses—and the first two don't count...” GoodReads’ blurb

Most everybody knows about the Dresden Files, and I boarded this train a little late, since I’m only now reading – well, listening – to the series, but still I’d like to share my thoughts, however briefly.

Fool’s Moon is the second volume in the series, and how I loved it!

TBR Intervention #6

 

Is it that time already? Why, yes, it is! How the week flew by! (and how little precious useful things I managed to get done... Alas, such is the life of a procrastinator). Anyway, it's saturday so...

It's TBR Intervention Challenge time! That moment when we get to organize our huge To Be Read piles and actually read those books we've been wanting to (or been supposed to) for the longest time! The challenge is hosted by April @ Books4Juliet, Dani @ Refracted Light and Ayanami @ Whatever You Can Still Betray, and it's hosted every Saturday, though you're free to join every two weeks if that's more convenient for you. As always, do join us! Here's the rules:

1. Post the book(s) you committed to read in your last TBR Intervention post and tell us something about it. Did you finish it? Did you enjoy it or not? Post the link to your review (if you have one). 

2. Post a book that you want to read and already own. Pick something that has been sitting on your shelf for too long now (6 months or longer). Commit to read the book in the next couple of days or week.

3. Grab the TBR Intervention Button and post it on your blog sidebar so you will be constantly reminded of the challenge, making it easier for you to commit. This will also encourage other readers/bloggers/visitors to join the challenge.

4. Add the link to your post in the Linky below and make sure to visit the other blogs. Comment, encourage, and spread the love to our fellow readers. 

 

And here's how I did this week:

Review: A Prayer for Dead Kings, by Scott Fitzgerald Gray

Author: Scott Fitzgerald Gray

Title: A Prayer for Dead Kings and Other Tales

ISBN: 2940011423611

Publisher: Insane Angel Studios (2011)

Disclaimer: Copy received for review purposes.

Buy your copy: Kindle

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

“When he finally seized the sword, Morghan felt the power again, spiking in a sensation like the emptiness of unspoken words. A bloodless rage twisted through him just as the voice had twisted through him before, and in that instant, in a heartbeat, in the rawness of memory where it clawed at him from the dark dreams that the day tried to push away, he knew that anything was possible.         

Too many things still to be done.  

So many debts to repay.         

“Avenge them…”          

• In a lost tomb, a warrior haunted by the deaths of those who once followed him hears an offer of redemption in the voice of an ancient blade…          
• A sword of kings lingers in a forgotten forest, where dwells a timeless spirit of the wood — a creature able to sense the apocalyptic future that unfolds if the weapon is ever reclaimed…    
• A prince and princess share a bond of blood and a dark secret, both of which threaten to destroy them when their father is killed…           
• A warrior living under a monstrous curse has his wish for death transformed by a desperate young girl with blood on her hands…          
• A reclusive storyteller finds himself in possession of an enchanted axe that promises he will rule the world — whether he wants to or not…  
• The pain of the past haunts a mage sought out by the woman he once loved, who needs his knowledge and power to save the life of the man she loves now…
• A young exile returns home carrying the weight of betrayal and the stolen sword that is the symbol of his people — a blade with which he will destroy the legacy of the father he tried and failed to kill years before…
• A king long thought dead walks his war-torn homeland as a ragged pilgrim, consumed by the sins of his past. But even as he does, the daughter of his greatest knight hunts him, desperate to convince him to take up the crown once more…           

The first Endlands anthology from Scott Fitzgerald Gray, "A Prayer for Dead Kings and Other Tales" follows a disparate group of heroes and villains caught up with the dark history — and darker destiny — of nine weapons of ancient magic, lost to time and mind.

In the aftermath of the fall of Empire, magic is the ultimate force for tyranny and freedom in the lands of the Elder Kingdoms. Magic defines the line between right and wrong, life and death that compels countless characters to take up a mantle of heroism they never expected to wear.          
However, in the world of the Endlands, even the tales of heroes seldom end as expected…

This epic-fantasy/sword-and-sorcery anthology includes six all-new short stories, the novella "Ghostsong", and the short novel "A Prayer for Dead Kings"” GoodReads’ blurb

A Prayer for Dead Kings is complicated to rate and complicated to review, because it contains several stories and each of them is widely different from the rest... Still, I will try.

Review: Wayfinder, by C.E. Murphy

Author: C. E Murphy

Title: Wayfinder

Series: Worldwalker Duology (#2)

ISBN: 9780345516077

Publisher: Del Rey (2011)

Disclaimer: Copy received for review purposes.

Buy your copy: Kindle | Paperback

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

“THE TRUTH WILL SET YOU FREE—IF IT DOESN’T KILL YOU FIRST

Lara Jansen is a truthseeker, gifted—or cursed—with the magical ability to tell honesty from lies. Once she was a tailor in Boston, but now she has crossed from Earth to the Barrow-lands, a Faerie world embroiled in a bloody civil war between Seelie and Unseelie. Armed with an enchanted and malevolent staff which seeks to bend her to its dark will, and thrust into a deadly realm where it’s hard to distinguish friend from foe, Lara is sure of one thing: her love for Dafydd ap Caerwyn, the Faerie prince who sought her help in solving a royal murder and dousing the flames of war before they consumed the Barrow-lands.

But now Dafydd is missing, perhaps dead, and the Barrow-lands are closer than ever to a final conflagration. Lara has no other choice: she must harness the potent but perilous magic of the staff and her own truthseeking talents, blazing a path to a long-forgotten truth—a truth with the power to save the Barrow-lands or destroy them.” GoodReads’ blurb

I didn’t know Wayfinder was the second volume in a duology until I got it. At first, I thought I’d buy Truthseeker, the first part, and then follow up with my reading. Then I made the mistake of opening the first pages of Wayfinder... where a detailed summary of events so far is supplied.

Without this backstory, you’ll likely be lost. This is one of those cases where you can’t just “hop in” at any given point. That said, though, the matter-of-fact statements, talking about the wonderful and the impossible in such a direct way, had two adverse effects: one, it got the idea of reading Truthseeker out of my head, because I already knew it from top to bottom. Two, it gave me a feeling of characters progressing too fast, becoming heroes with little reasoning behind the changes, and pulling off too many great deeds in too short a time. So, I went into Wayfinder feeling quite sceptical.

Review: Pilgrim of the Sky, by Natania Barron

Author: Natania Barron

Title: Pilgrim of the Sky

ISBN: 9781936460090

Publisher: Candlemark and Gleam (2011)

Disclaimer: Copy received for review purposes.

Buy your copy: Kindle | Paperback

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

“Just when Maddie Angler thinks she's over the death of her longtime boyfriend, Alvin, she discovers that he's not only alive, but he may just be part god. And a killer. Now it's up to her to unite Eight Worlds she didn't even know existed in the first place, before chaos reigns.

"... a lush, dreamy fable - both vintage gothic, and modern mystery ... lovingly laced with magic and darkness from start to finish." -- Cherie Priest, author of Boneshaker

"Barron's book is a sexy trek through alternate worlds, with a fascinating and detailed mythology. This one is a steampunk tale that doesn't play by the rules." -- Mur Lafferty, author and podcaster of Heaven and Hell     

"A brilliant, eloquent adventure through time, space, and the human heart." -- Jonathan Wood, author of No Hero     

A world-hopping, reality-bending, art-historical, socio-religious steampunk odyssey you won't want to miss!“ GoodReads’ blurb

The blurb does sound interesting, doesn’t it?

Well, the book’s even better.

I’m not sure what I was expecting when I received my copy of Pilgrim of the Sky, but it sure wasn’t the detailed, thoughtful, magical tale that I found. Once more, I’ve been so pleasantly surprised!

In My Mailbox #15

Once more, I'm about to show you my mailbox. Once more, I think I did a pretty fantastic job of keeping myself in check! This meme is brought to you by The Story Siren, so visit her to see what everyone received. But now, without further ado... My mailbox: 

TBR Intervention #5

 

Last week sucked! I didn't have time to breathe, much less to be on the blog. But well, it's over and now I can be back and safely exclaim that... 

 

It's TBR Intervention Challenge time! That moment when we get to organize our huge To Be Read piles and actually read those books we've been wanting to (or been supposed to) for the longest time! The challenge is hosted by April @ Books4Juliet, Dani @ Refracted Light and Ayanami @ Whatever You Can Still Betray, and it's hosted every Saturday, though you're free to join every two weeks if that's more convenient for you. As always, do join us! Here's the rules:

1. Post the book(s) you committed to read in your last TBR Intervention post and tell us something about it. Did you finish it? Did you enjoy it or not? Post the link to your review (if you have one). 

2. Post a book that you want to read and already own. Pick something that has been sitting on your shelf for too long now (6 months or longer). Commit to read the book in the next couple of days or week.

3. Grab the TBR Intervention Button and post it on your blog sidebar so you will be constantly reminded of the challenge, making it easier for you to commit. This will also encourage other readers/bloggers/visitors to join the challenge.

4. Add the link to your post in the Linky below and make sure to visit the other blogs. Comment, encourage, and spread the love to our fellow readers. 

 

And here's how I did this week:

Review: Boots for the Gentleman, by Augusta Li and Eon de Beaumont

Author: Augusta Li, Eon de Beaumont

Title: Boots for the Gentleman

Series: Steamcraft and Sorcery (#1)

ISBN: 9781613720936

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (2011)

Disclaimer: Copy received for review purposes.

Buy your copy: Kindle | Paperback

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

“Hired by a mysterious faerie gentleman to steal seemingly worthless artifacts, Querrilous Knotte is seen as a traitor by the humans of Halcyon. But as long as he’s getting paid, Querry doesn’t mind. When his client makes a cryptic comment about a certain house, Querry contacts his old flame Reg—a former street rat who now works in the Royal Archives—to learn if the property contains anything of value.

Though Reg has no answers for him, Querry learns there is indeed something precious in the house, something Reg is convinced will bring nothing but trouble. The armed guards that attack the thief prove Reg’s prediction true, and he can’t leave Querry to face it all alone. Not when Reg’s feelings for the man may not be as extinct as he'd thought.

The trouble is, Querry's heart doesn’t just belong to Reg anymore, and surprisingly, Reg’s heart no longer belongs only to Querry. In the end, it may not even matter, because if Querry, Reg, and their hearts’ desire can’t stop Lord Thimbleroy from draining Halcyon’s magic, they won’t live long enough to regret their unresolved romance.” GoodReads’ blurb

I’ll say this much: Boots for the Gentleman has really gotten me into Steampunk, even though it was a genre I had never read before. The mixture of an alternate Victorian-like society with extremely advanced steam tech and faery magic was perfect!

Virtual Tour: Keridan's Journey

Author: Michelle Peterson

Title: Keridan’s Journey

Series: Siren Elementals (#1)

ISBN: 9780983045106

Publisher: WBD Books (2011)

Buy your copy: Kindle | Paperback

  

Project manager by day and artist by night, Keridan Patrick's simple world ended with the death of her mother. The father she never knew showed up after twenty-five years and introduced her to a new world cloaked in secrecy and myth.

While fighting to keep some semblance of normalcy to her suddenly unpredictable world, she chanced to meet the mysterious Sahaj. Sahaj had ran for hundreds of years from the one soul he was destined to be with but was transfixed by the one he could not live without.

Would old flames and new enemies stand in the way of love?

  

So, that's the very interesting premise to Keridan's Journey, and today we're lucky enough to be a stop in its Virtual Book Tour. For this occasion, we have Michelle Peterson over to tell us about her world and her book. Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts, Michelle! 

Review: The Replacement, by Brenna Yovanoff

Author: Brenna Yovanoff

Title: The Replacement

ISBN: 9781847388391

Publisher: Simon and Schuster (2011)

Go to Amazon Page

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

“Though he lives in the small town of Gentry, Mackie comes from a world of tunnels and black, murky water, a world of living dead girls ruled by a little tattoed princess. He is a replacement - left in the crib of a human baby sixteen years ago when it was stolen away by the fey. Now, because of fatal allergies to iron, blood and consecrated ground, Mackie is slowly dying in the human world. Mackie would give anything just to be normal, to live quietly amongst humans, practice his bass guitar and spend time with his crush, Tate. But when Tate's baby sister goes missing, Mackie is drawn irrevocably into the underworld of Gentry, known as Mayhem, where he must face down the dark creatures and find his rightful place - in our world, or theirs.“ GoodReads’ blurb

Faerie lore, troubled guys, races against time and mysterious happenings... what’s not to like? Well, I’ve yet to figure it out, but this one didn’t grip me as much as I wanted it to.

The setting and backstory were amazing. Mackie and Tate’s sister, Natalie, aren’t isolated cases, and that was one thing that I took a while to understand and loved the moment I did: Gentry is a huge, big lie where everyone knows that, from time to time, babies will disappear and die, but where no one does a thing to prevent it because the city is prosperous beyond measure.

Review: Shift, by Jeri Smith-Ready

Author: Jeri Smith-Ready

Title: Shift

Series: Shade (#2)

ISBN: 9781416994084

Publisher: Simon Pulse(2011)

Go to Amazon page

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

“Aura’s life is anything but easy. Her boyfriend, Logan, died, and his slides between ghost and shade have left her reeling. Aura knows he needs her now more than ever. She loves Logan, but she can’t deny her connection with the totally supportive, totally gorgeous Zachary. And she’s not sure that she wants to.

Logan and Zachary will fight to be the one by her side, but Aura needs them both to uncover the mystery of her past—the mystery of the Shift.

As Aura’s search uncovers new truths, she must decide whom to trust with her secrets…and her heart.” GoodReads’ blurb

After my raving review of Shade, I’m sure you already expect me to go off the rocket with Shift. Well, you’d be right.

Review: Honor Among Thieves, by David Chandler

Author: David Chandler

Title: Honor among Thieves

Series: Ancient Blades (#3)

ISBN: 9780062021267

Publisher: HarperCollins (2011)

Disclaimer: Copy received for review purposes.

Go to Amazon page

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

“When allies become enemies, to whom can a clever thief turn?

Armed with one of seven Ancient Blades, Malden was chosen by Fate to act as savior . . . and failed dismally. And now there is no stopping the barbarian hordes from invading and pillaging the kingdom of Skrae. Suddenly friends and former supporters alike covet the young hero’s magic while seeking his destruction—from the treacherous King and leaders of the City of Ness to the rogue knight Croy, who owes Malden his life.

It will take more than Malden’s makeshift army of harlots and cutpurses to preserve a realm. Luckily the sorceress Cythera fights at his side, along with the ingenious, irascible dwarf Slag. And the wily thief still has a desperate and daring plan or two up his larcenous sleeve . . .” GoodReads’ blurb

Remember when I reviewed A Thief in the Night and, at the very end, said that it could either go awesomely good or stay cool? Well, here’s the answer!

In My Mailbox #14

Nearly a month without doing an IMM! I'm proud of my restraint, reading what I had to and not buying anything new... But. Well, no one's a saint, so... Here I am, back to show you what's new. Thanks go to The Story Siren for hosting this!