Book Review: Gates Of Rapture (World of Ascension, #6) by Caris Roane

Book Cover. Ebook.

This review can also appears on my Goodreads profile.

Rating: 4.3 stars out of 5! 

An advance reading copy was provided by the publisher through Netgalley.

The story of Leto Distra and Grace of Albion is the one, that I have to say I liked most in the whole Ascension series, and not just because of the characters- because Jean-Pierre and Fiona win that trophy- but because of the whole, overall picture that was so nicely and entertainingly presented. 

The best part about this book was that it was the most well-developed, well-written and consisted characters you could actually connect and sympathize to. The writing improved vastly compared to the prior books, and I have to say that I adored it. 

For so long, my complaint has been about the use of a somewhat same story-line that shadowed every book— with such slight tweaks here and there, that the concept soon got ancient— and the lousy writing that would emerge without warning in particular scenes. This novel, surprises us with a roundabout look at the breh-hedden and the story which I really, really liked. Also, no one blamed Endelle for anything like the other protagonists had the tendency of doing in the previous books- and since she's my most favorite character in the whole series, I was immensely gratified.

The thing that I felt could be improved was, repetition. Like I said, the plot was more miscellaneous than any of the other books in the series, but the intimate scenes between the main leads has proved to be nigh the same in every book. Not 'what' they do or 'how' they do it, but the writing style, their dialogues, the situation, it's almost as if a broken record playing over and over again. 
I wish the author would remedy that and come up with new ideas to sustain the carnal and emotional relationships between the protagonists because more often than not, I found myself drifting away from the story and just skipping those parts soon after the main leads got past the newness and well, on the price of being crude, have had sex with each other at least once.

You realize the odds of how excruciating it must've have turned, when in a book of 431 pages- a lot of which were laden with these scenes- I've had to skip portions just because I grew weary of them. I'd suggest a refreshment in the language and writing used, although it must be said, that the author came a long way from the initial point where she'd started with Ascension, which if you think about it, is actually quite great.

I also thought that instead of retracing the same steps, instead of having the leads finally come together wholly- near the end- only after they've been hit with something huge and life-threatening, the author could find something new to delight us with.

And can I just say, how anxiously I await for Endelle's novel?

A small tid-bit: For a hardcore PNR ficiton and UF fan, it's easy to categorize and sort through moments that are so convenient and easy in sequence that they, in their complex simplicity, can be utterly ridiculous. Like it sometimes happens in the movies, you know.. the hero to kill the villain even while he's bleeding like the bloody Thames and already limp with a fracture. Ha, don't put any real effort here, just sit there and flex.

So I guess what I've been trying to state is that despite all the negatives, the author has fashioned the story into something a reader can truly relish and thus this novel has yet, proved to be the absolute best in the series(and I've been noticing a consistent improvement in the writing style and plot development from book four, which has lead to this remarkable progress here and now) and has actually prompted me to hold on and sit tight for the next ride. Also, it goes without saying, that I am going to read Endelle's book, so there's that to anticipate.

Book Review: The Ugly Duchess (Fairy Tales #4) by Eloisa James

Book Cover. Mass Market Paperback.

Rating: 2.7 stars out of 5.

The misconception I had when I'd just been one chapter into this book: 5 stars. I know I'm going to give this 5 stars!

*exhales loudly*

When I started this book- when I was still on the 'Before' part- out of nowhere I had this thought that startled me into stopping, and then smiling for no reason, before I resumed back to reading.

BEFORE YOU CONTINUE, KNOW THAT THIS REVIEW IS CHOCK FULL OF SPOILERS. SO PROCEED ONLY IF YOU'RE OKAY WITH IT.

A quiet certainty had snuggled it's way in my heart, that I would give this book a full 5-stars rating. I was loving it, the characters were kickass and funny and so very cute, each page had something new so.. why not?

I felt warmed, all the awesomeness making me feel giddy and excited and I thought to myself that it'd been days since I had as good a read as this- so I promptly ditched all the stuff that I had to do and settled into my favorite seat by the window. Sooner than I would've liked, my expectations and happiness got shadowed by the shock and indignation of the change in story, slowly turning to disbelief and finally condensing on being incensed. 

It's simply shocking how the rating fell from 5 stars to a mere 3, isn't it? I wasn't even sure about the 3. As you can see, it's even less than that.

I loved the young Daisy, the girl who was so.. colorful! Colorful- that's the description that I find her personality to be. She was funny, smart, playful, loving, sarcastic, curious, open and so sweet! She was everything, the 24 year-old Daisy or Theo as she liked to be called, was not.
I'm not begrudging Theo her success or even her svelte, but the brittle, narrow-minded lady was a far cry from the young, curious Daisy.

And James, that douche, don't even get me started on him! He was adorable in the beginning. I loved his uncertainties, his smile and his wit.. his love for Theo, him. I loved him. 

And then he turned into an idiot and broke my heart. 

How is it not stupid to LEAVE BLOODY ENGLAND FOR 7 YEARS, GIVING NEITHER HIDE NOR HAIR ABOUT HIS WHEREABOUTS TO HIS WIFE- WHO HE SUPPOSEDLY BLOODY LOVED FOR GODS SAKES- AND FAMILY AND THEN RETURN EXPECTING YOUR MARRIAGE TO BE ALRIGHT AGAIN? HOW??? 

AND DID I MENTION HOW AFTER MAYBE 2 YEARS (OR WAS IT 9 MONTHS? PLEASE EXCUSE MY FAULTY MEMORY, I'M A LITTLE HAZY HERE) HE STARTED SLEEPING AROUND BECAUSE IN HIS EYES THE MARRIAGE WAS OVER. DAISY HAD SAID THE MARRIAGE WAS OVER SO IT WAS OKAY TO SLEEP AROUND.

I MEAN-

I'M JUST-



I don't think the "how" I asked earlier expressed my frustrations, so I ask again: HOW WAS IT NOT STUPID? AND SELFISH? AND STUPID A COUPLE OF MORE TIMES? BLOODY FUCKING HOW?!

Also of course, when James came back his explanation was: Because you said it was over.

Yes. He literally said that, and no that wasn't the moment I threw the book on the floor and screamed like an angry banshee.

“I stopped thinking of you as my spouse some years ago, as I’m sure you did of me.”

And, also:

“Two days of marriage failed to impress itself upon me. I am fairly certain most men would understand my lapse.”

I believe my reaction was somewhere along the lines- *sputtering* OH NO, YOU DIDN'T JUST SAY THAT! ASSHOLE. 

In my mind I'd stabbed him a hundred times, alternating between kicking and punching and sometimes, just yelling unintelligibly.

When Theo proposed divorce, when she firmly (or tried to, man, there were so many things that were wrong with her too) said that she wanted a divorce, his reply was:

“The marriage was over. But now I’m back.”

But now I’m back. The utter bastard.

By God, that was the moment I wished I could slap the living daylights out of him. This was the moment when I threw the book on the floor and screamed like an angry banshee.

I just never imagined Eloisa James would disappoint me as much as she did with this book. I know that not all her books end up being my favorites, they're not all awesome.. but still there's something in them that just makes it okay. Even if it ends up being just a nice read, it's still all okay. But this, this was the kind of disappointment that- if I were an overly emotional personal, I would say- just broke my heart.

Maybe I'm being too harsh, too judgmental, but I'd grown too attached to the young, completely AWESOME Daisy and James, grown too in love with their characters of 'Before', that when they separated and turned into idiots, it actually, totally crushed me. I knew there were going to be complications coming up, since James had married Daisy untruthfully, even though he did very much love her.. But the way it exploded into smithereens of convoluted logic just threw me off my balance. And of course, the loss of the awesomeness of the characters just grated.. A LOT.

By the time that the ending rolled out, it was pretty much that James helped dissolve Daisy's repressed anger worth of 7 years by seducing her and continuing the whole hot, torrid seduction for a few pages until later it was time for Epilogue and we finally got a decent ending. 

If I ever feel anything like the roiling emotions of despair and heartbreak- that I felt through this book- after a breakup, I'd probably be sitting in some bar, staring into my half-full glass of Jack Daniels and indulging myself in a depressed drunken wonder: How did- When did- Why did it all go so wrong?



This review can also be read on my Goodreads profile.

Book Review: The Raven Prince (Princes Trilogy #1) by Elizabeth Hoyt

Mass Market Paperback. Cover.

Rating:  4.4 stars!

Okay, here goes nothing.

I've owned this book for sometime now, but whenever came a time when I needed a new book to read, I would hedge out of picking this one up -and I still don't know why- even though the cover held a sort-of conspiring hold on me since I never could completely ignore its presence. 
After reading this novel, I think I need to concede once again and repeat: Elizabeth Hoyt really is an amazing writer!

Edward De Raaf was an interesting hero, and I liked him. His character was that of a bossy man of intellect, in possession of a biting tongue-when he chose to use it- and a quick temper. One thing that bothered me a little was his habit of throwing/smashing stuff around to dispel his bad mood, even when there was nothing to be so mad about.. Seemed too much like a child throwing tantrum to me, but I can definitely get over that since the rest of him was quite likable.
One of the attractions of this man that I couldn't resist was that he was made to seem real.He could've been that friend who's grumpy and rude but someone you can always count on or that guy in your office who has a permanent scowl marring his face but you can't help liking him for his dry humor and wit.
I can think up a scene where he's so mad in rage that he's almost cruel. I can also think up a scene where he's so in love that he makes you smile. What I mean to say is that there are no sappy lines or cliché scenes which you skim to reach the better part and he isn't like those incredibly brooding heroes with bodies as perfect as Adonis, but a man of vibrant personality (I'm not saying that he didn't frustrate me, just a pinch, at times) with a nameless dog you can't help but adore.  

Anna Wren, the widow of six years who takes up a job as the secretary to the Earl of Swartingham to generate means to run her home, was a character with a soft-heart and quick mind. I liked the heroine okay -and a little more sometimes when she wasn't being ridiculous- although my mental ticker clock did, at times, went from "tolerating" to "unrecognizable sounds", which I know as groaning. Not to sound too unfair, the chit was actually quite good. In the beginning she did baffle me with a hint of what seemed like doormat tendencies, but my fears were soon put to rest as I discovered that she was a lively woman prone to moments of weakness. 

It would be fit to say that I quite liked the book and enjoyed it very much. There were times that Anna's decisions or her thoughts made me frown or shake my head, but it was for times like this one here, I continued on. 

"“WHAT DO YOU mean, you won’t marry me?” Edward paced from the curio shelf at one end of the small sitting room to the settee at the other end, pivoted, and came back again. Not such a great feat since he could cross the entire room in three strides. “I’m an earl, goddammit!”
Anna grimaced. She should never have let him into the cottage. Of course, she hadn’t had much choice at the time, since he’d threatened to break down the door if she didn’t open it.
He had looked quite capable of doing it, too.
“I won’t marry you,” she repeated.
“Why not? You were eager enough to fuck me.”
Anna winced. “I do wish you would stop using that word.”
Edward swung around and assumed a hideously sarcastic expression. “Would you prefer swive? Tup? Dance the buttock jig?”
She compressed her lips. Thank goodness Mother Wren and Fanny had gone shopping this morning. Edward was making no effort to lower his voice.
“You don’t want to marry me.” Anna spoke slowly and enunciated each word as if talking to a hard-of-hearing village idiot.
“Whether I want to marry you or not isn’t the issue, as you well know,” Edward said. “The fact is, I must marry you.”
“Why?” She blew out a breath. “There is no possibility of a child. As you have made abundantly clear, you know I am barren.”
“I have compromised you.”
“I’m the one who went to Aphrodite’s Grotto in disguise. It seems to me that I compromised you.” Anna thought it commendable that she did not wave her arms in the air in exasperation.
“That’s ridiculous!” Edward’s bellow could probably be heard back at the Abbey.
Why did men think that saying something louder made it true?""

Of course, like Hoyt's every other book, this one deserves no less than 4 stars and has an incredible blend of excellent writing, sensual story-line and new concept with a lingering promise of more.

As the story progressed on, came a scene where Anna decided to go all selfless and sacrificing and left our charming Earl for the greater good. 
Now, I've never been one for sacrifices. Personally, I'd much rather prefer to whip out some bold, totally whacky plan- as long as it doesn't involve getting killed, going after the hero going after the villain and ending up getting held by the villain with a knife sticking to the throat while he tries to wheedle his way out using the heroine as leverage, or God forbid- swooning, and other such disastrous outcomes- to really kick some ass than make a sacrifice that involves losing my one true love, or my best pair of stilettos for that matter. So it was with great relief, and few muted cheers, that I read the part when Anna --finally-- realized that she was being such a virginal doormat-types, mousey, walk-all-over-me, I-think-doing-stuff-like-this-makes-me-a-nice-sacrificing-person-while-in-reality-I'm-a-bloody-nuisance-and-even-my-BFFs-know-that-but-I'm-too-far-gone-to-see-that person and thankfully resumed to bad-ass mode. Of course, we can now excuse her first knee-jerk reaction to run out and focus on the good part!

"Anna hastily averted her gaze and continued her search. Her plan was simple: find the blackmailer and lure him away from the Grotto before Edward got to him. The problem was that she didn’t know who the blackmailer was. In fact, she didn’t even know if it was a man."

*snort* My reaction to "Her plan was simple: find the blackmailer and lure him away from the Grotto before Edward got to him": Yea sure, Sparky. 

Anyway, I'm heartily satisfied by the way the book ended. In fact, I'm better off saying that I absolutely loved the ending! A really good book, I'm not saying that it's a perfect historical romance read or anything, but it's definitely worth a try. Or maybe two, if you end up liking it a lot.

P.S: I loved Simon, Vicount Iddesleigh, even though his role was quite short and mattered mostly in the end. I'm hoping the next book's about him!

PPS: Mr.Davis quite reminded me of the house-elves from HP series, Kreacher specifically, although without any real negative feelings towards his master but still quite a cheeky presence. It would be quite appropriate to say that I liked him too.

This review can also be read on my Goodreads profile.

Book Review: Iced (Dani O'Malley, #1) by Karen Marie Moning

Hardcover. Book Cover.

Rating: 3.7 stars out 5.

The book review of this novel will be coming soon. Since it contains many spoilers and I can't keep them from you here, I'll have to wait until sometime has passed and I'm sure that at least most of you have read it.

Anyone interested in reading my review can do that on my Goodreads profile.

Thank You. 

Book Review: Fourth Grave Beneath My Feet (Charley Davidson #4) by Darynda Jones

Ebook. Book cover.

This review also appears on my Goodreads profile.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.

To start with- this is a good book and I really, truly relished reading it, although it kinda felt like a "base" for me and.. I didn't find it as awesome as the rest.

Now, I'll explain what I mean by base.

You know how we layer a cake with sticky chocolate frosting as groundwork before adding heavy triple layers of different chocolates when making a chocolate truffle cake so that the whole frosting doesn't fall off and has something supporting it?

That first layer is great and tastes heavenly, but the triple frosting on top of it is incomparable, beating down the taste of that first, very important layer. 

Well, this book felt like that first layer of sticky homemade chocolate- delightful but seeming to provide a foundation for the next book in the series and leaving you with a sense that says there's more. I'm pretty sure, that the next book that comes is going to be better than this. If not, then that will be a disappointment.

Now, the things that I didn't like or that made me huff with annoyance in this book:

# Charley Davidson wasn't as bad-ass and lunatic-like in the beginning. I mean, yeah, she's Charley so of course she was awesome but she just didn't kick butt in that I-am-Grim-Reaper-and-I-am-fabulous way of hers and spent every few pages in the book puking her gut out with Reyes coming to her rescue time and time again. Now, I don't have any problem with Reyes- cause dude, sexy, hotter-than-armageddon-flame son-of-satan alert! 



But I just felt that we've been four books into this series, don't you think it's time that Badass Davidson got acquainted with at least some of her supposedly wondrous powers? I mean c'mmon! How long are you going to keep us guessing and building the suspense (that's starting to wilt a little by the way) and preventing Charley from going all insanely mad, bad and powerful on demons' asses? 

# Garett Swopes was a no-show for a long time, and when he did appear, he wasn't really who he used to be. 



I MEAN I REALLY LIKED THAT GUY, YA KNOW? HE WAS FUNNY AND AWESOME AND.. (in a small voice) made a great scape-goat, with such good grace and all. THIS JUST HURTZZ SO MUCH. 

*sniffles back tears*

He had a very specific role in the novel and I'm thinking that it might be possible that when he does come back in all his suspicious glory, well he's gonna be a huge pain in the backside.

# This is one of those books with an impossible love story, you know with a little Romeo-Juliet those-two-can't-ever-unite underling, only with a legal, mature couple but kind-of forbidden, if-you-meet-the-world's-gonna-end, only the author meant it literally here. Anyway, I don't actually really dislike this part, but I just thought that I should mention because it made an appearance in my thoughts while thinking about what to write in this review.

# This seems like a futile point but ghosts weren't that much in attendance as before, except for her Aunt Lillian and Mr.Wong who stood like constants (I love those guys for that) and of course the ones you'll find out about when you read the story- but that's it. I mean really, a Grim Reaper without any crazy ghosts flying around? That is just a little heartbreaking. And cruel.

The novel was well-written, entertaining and funny of course and I enjoyed reading it. There seems of be a sound of "but.." ringing around in my mind, but I'll let it got since I already made clear about how I felt. As far as reviews go, I know this was not my best. Anyway, I'm hoping for a mind-blowing sequel, really hoping, so let's see. 

Book Review: Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell

Ebook. Book cover.

This review also appears on my Goodreads profile.

Rating: 4.3 stars!

An advance copy was provided by the publisher through NetGalley.

“Think you're escaping and run into yourself. Longest way round is the shortest way home.” -James Joyce

I don't know why, but as soon as I thought about this novel and everything that I experienced during the read for the purpose of writing this review, this quote kept zinging 'round and 'round in my mind, going wheeeee.. so I just had to mention it cause it also explains the feel of this book and it's theme and is not just something that kept blocking me from thinking anything else. Much.

So.

This was a wonderful book and I had to take a few moments to myself, patting down emotions and gathering my wits, before I could calmly sit down and write this review. The story completely fell in with 1986 background and for most parts, I just thought that it was really, really cool.

The best part about this novel was that it(the book) was so comfortable and familiar reciting Eleanor and Park's story.. So completely settled in that soft, revealing place between reality and fantasy, that each new scene, every other dialogue that connected even slightly, felt as if it would reach out and lure you deeper into the couple's whispers and quiet sighs.

Another thing that I fancied was that their conversations felt true. They seemed to fit each other so well, their actions and thoughts so perfectly hesitant and bold all at the same time, it kind of seemed to leave a reminder of all the feelings and the memories that seemed old and intimate but in reality, when you blink your eyes and notice that it's morning already, you realize that it's just part of the story and nothing like you experienced first-hand. At least, it was like that, for me.

For most parts, I liked Park. Knowing that that's the understatement of a millennium, I'll continue by saying that though I loved him and thought him adorable and totes dreamy, I wasn't blind to his shortcomings. Like that instance when he admitted that he coveted being the first (first love/boyfriend) of the most popular girl in school just so he wasn't labelled a total nobody. But since we are talking about teenagers here and self-preservation is something we all hold on to, and also because I acknowledge the truth in the fact that it's very easy to judge others- almost natural actually- I'll let it pass because it's just one of a zillion facets of human nature.
I was already going "Aww.." and "Darn it, this guy is AMAZING," when (gasp) I found out that he was of half Irish and half Korean descent. 

Instant crazy fangirl moment. 

For those of you who don't know- which includes most of you, heh- I've been in love with the idea of Ireland(I say idea, because I've never actually been there) for as long as I remember and I totally got a thing for Koreans (the Korean thing started with this TV Show that I watched for a history assignment Dae Jang Geum- man, I've been a little weird like that ever since).
For a teenager with conflicting emotions and a hesitant want of acceptance, he was a person who was his own and who had a really kick-ass taste in music and comic books.  
As conclusion, I'll just say three words: I. Love. Him.



Now.. Eleanor.

Eleanor's was a character which we got to see from different angels and aspects- sometimes high, sometimes low, sometimes a little blurred and sometimes so vibrant that it almost felt real. I really really liked her. Having to live in a small house, with a disreputable and abusive step-father and a submissive, doormat mother, sharing a single room with all her siblings and no privacy to even think about, Eleanor had lots of struggles of her own- both, inside and outside of her high-school social circle. Big Red, some kids from school teased her and we were confronted with the reality of how alone a person might feel when faced with such bullies. Eleanor had an unwavering strength in her personality, that little quirk in her aura, that never backed down, and so I came to love her tenacity and backbone. As rough as life had weathered her to be, all the times she spent with Park, all the times that we got to read more about her, we learned that she was, in her own way, awesome. I adored her. 

This was a great story that started out amazingly and got even better as it progressed. The only thing that holds me back from giving it a 5-stars rating is that as it moved towards it's ending, the writing lost a little of it's charm, as if slowly running out of battery, the torch dimming steadily. I'm not saying that it got bad, no, never that. What I mean to say is that when some revelations we made, it could have been more dramatic, written with a little more flair so that we could utterly connect and feel that shock and anger on Eleanor's, and even Park's, behalf. What we did ended up feeling was a sympathetic understanding and a trifling acknowledgement indicated by the slight rise of eyebrows- a disappointment when you know that that "revelation" could've had that feel of devastation and despair worming in sneakily in the hearts of this novel's readers(making them love this even more)- the effect that it deserved to have caused- and inadvertently pushing the rating to a complete 5. 
I just felt that last shocking, sad part on Eleanor's support could've been more.. melancholy I guess.

Also, the ending felt just a teeny-tiny bit abrupt. Very teeny-tiny bit.

Except that, I LOVED this book, and I especially loved Park and Eleanor. Those two, they were adorable and totally awesome. 

I have to say that I am undoubtedly going to re-read this book. Soon. 

It just made me feel so good, you know? This novel definitely belongs in my favorites shelf.

As it so happens, I'll be looking forward to reading more by this author and I recommend this book to all YA realistic romance lovers, looking for a cute, really good read. 

Book Review: Devil's Bargain (Red Letter Days #1) by Rachel Caine

Ebook. Book Cover.

Rating: 3.7 out 5 stars.

An advance copy was provided by the publisher through NetGalley.

'Tis true, what they say- Deals with the devil never go well..

Emotionally tortured by the iniquitous condemnation of her partner with the charge of murder, and his resulting arrest, Jasmine aka Jazz Callender never expected life to turn out the way it did. At least, the psychic mumbo-jombo part she never imagined.. she already new life as a conniving bitch.

Approached by an enigmatic lawyer, James Borden, with an outrageous business offer and a check with a damning amount, she finds herself getting tangled deep into an unbelievable world where nothing is as it seems.

The first thing that disconcerted me about this book was that it wasn't the paranormal romance I was expecting it to be. I mean, I'd anticipated a hefty chunk of the story to be filled with paranormal gore and suspense, but what I found was a mystery/suspense with a paranormal underlining. Not exactly disappointing, but slightly restive nonetheless.

I also thought that the romance was lacking. Intending no demerits to the characters- as they were pretty much up to it- I just thought that there could've been more intimate or romantic scenes between the leads.

Lastly, I couldn't really pinpoint some particular fault that finally sealed my opinion, but I just believed that there was quite a room for improvement with the suspense and romance. Especially with the suspense, cause more often than not, I found myself getting so engrossed in the criminal, ass-kicking parts(cause hello, they were made to shine into an almost perfection), that I didn't even care what the mystery about those red-envelopes was. 

Although, I would like to mention, the story was good.. sometimes really good. I loved the criminal parts most, you know where either Jazz shot someone or someone else shot Jazz or when Lucia and Jazz chased someone. Very interesting, that, hehe.

Anyway. The writing..

The writing was clean, flowing and meticulous, totally suiting the theme and characters. It gave the descriptions a sort of intimate tone with an undertone of a clipped and well-informed voice, totally befitting the main leads' personalities.

Let's talk about the characters now.

James Borden. I like him. I mean when the fight broke out in the pub and he got pummeled, I thought- okay so not my type, can't even hold his own, but then his character was made to stand in light, and we see that he's an attorney-at-law, and easy to like. I don't know, there's something immediately engaging about that guy, of course after you get over his introduction that began with a creaky 1000$ leather jacket and no bad-boy vibe which is actually pretty easy to do once you focus on the washboard abs and the high-wattage smile and oh, the kind eyes.

He's smart. I guess that's a word especially tailored for him. Adorable with the uncertainty and the quiet caring. Not to forget the beguiling fact that he's sharp as a shark's molar(if they have one.. they do, right?), and slick as a seal with business dealings. I say that's a guy who knows how to work it, in and out of a bed.

Jasmine Callender. Hmmm.

I gotta admit.. the girl is bad-ass. Like, hell yeah bitches! I liked her. From the beginning. And then fell halfway in love with her when she kicked the sexist, biker-guys tattooed fat ass. And that was all in chapter one. What comes next, is nasty, hardcore, I-mean-business, we're-all-badass-here pages of "Fuck, this is great" moments.

Later on, as the story progressed, I realized that apart from being totally awesome, she was also a person who appreciated justice. But the downside of this placement of faith was that she ended up being a little narrow-minded towards the paranormal. Not wrong, not exactly, but still insular.

Lucia Garza was an amazing character- beautiful and dangerous, isn't that a combination we all love? I loved her sharp professionalism along with her loyalties that soon came to lay with Jazz. And did I mention how kickass she was with that attitude that said, "I kick ass like I was born doing it".

The rest of the supporting characters, Manny, Ben and Pansy provided a nice backing, if slightly cliched.

    

Till the very last minute I was sure I was going to give it a 3.7 stars, I mean really- you know all the faults that I found with it, but the ending somehow pushed it to 4. 

I am like, wow. O-kay.

But then I slept over that decision and I realized, no.. It has to be 3.7. It lacks the certain.. awesomeness of 4, and like I mentioned before, has quite some room for improvement.

Overall, quite an interesting plot(that would've been more interesting if the story had delved more into the paranormal, but oh well) and a good book, I'd recommend it to anyone looking for paranormal, suspense reads. 

This review can also be read on my Goodreads profile.

Book Review: Shadowfever (Fever #5) by Karen Marie Moning

Book Cover. Hardcover copy.

This review can also be read on my Goodreads profile.

Rating: Full 5 huge-shining-stars!


Whoa.

I..
I don't know what to say.
I don't have any words.
I don't know any words.

Not for how well-written it was, not for what it made me feel.

I rocked your world, it says! The book. Shadowfever.
"You did," I say, stop and stare.



Beauty is an opinion, and opinion- like it says in this book, like I've always believed- is subjective. So if I say it's beautiful, would I come closer to defining what I think? Or do I open more doors, more options to consider while I hunt for the right word? 

You guessed it: I LOVE THIS SERIES.

This is what, the 3rd time I've re-read it? 4th? 5th? I don't remember and neither do I give a damn. I'm writing a review, after all these re-reads- not because I didn't care for it, but because I didn't think anything I'd write would come close to the awe and love I felt for it. No matter, I feel like I just HAVE to give it a try once at least.

Karen Marie Moning not only gave me one of the best series I've ever read, but she, through her words, made me feel kindred.

Sounds crazy? 

Weird?

Stupid?

Lemme repeat: I DON'T CARE. 

The spiritual transcendence of the world she created and the philosophy she endorsed, I could do nothing but connect and agree.

"He looked at me and I shivered. I never get enough of him. Never will.
He lives.
I breathe.
I want. Him. Always.
Fire to my ice. Ice to my fever." 

Let's talk about the characters, specifically Mac, Barrons and Dani . 

MacKayla Lane: When she started the journey she didn't even know she was boarding a passage for, she was portrayed to be a knockout blonde with feathers and fluff, smart -if quite ignorant- and not much substance. She was self-centered and slightly annoying, but you couldn't hate her, not even if you tried. You felt her pain, you felt her desires, you felt her embarrassment, you felt her loss and you felt her joys.  
Later she learned, she fought, she grew nails and became powerful. She loved, she lost, she loved again and kept fighting for her beliefs. She blew away any chance you had of hating her. Not then, not now, never ever. She made herself worthy of respect, she made herself into a dear friend you loved, even with her many flaws.   

Jericho Barrons: Ahh. I've admired this man, lusted for him and have loved him ever since the beginning, ever since he was first introduced. 

The constant jackass, I love this man. 

There are heroes who start out as jerks and assholes- degrade and demean- and yet you love them. They humiliate the heroine every once in a while and their insolence is blamed on the torture they underwent, the battle scars they now wear. After all, hasn't he suffered enough? The love of a good woman is just what he needs. 

Make no mistake. 

This is NOT what it is, this is NOT who he is.

This man, he never showed anything he wasn't. He's been through hell and has kept going, never once bragging about it. He's battle hardened and has loved and ultimately lost. But he doesn't wear those facts as a badge, nor do they define him. He has learned. He has learned and lived, because that's what he does. He's rude and dangerous and impossibly powerful. But he has never pretended to be otherwise. He's always been there for Mac- though admittedly demonstrating indefinite courage along with a ruthless slyness time and time again- always ready to save her from all harm, save her from her own shadow if need be. If you don't like him, you don't like him. But if you love him, even slightly like him, you know what I mean.

Dani O'Malley: Or like she's says it, Dani Mega O'Malley.
This character is impossible not to love or hold in high esteem and is BADASS to the very super energized core of her. Man, she was awesome! A 13-year old warrior, she was courageous and she was fierce. Her tragedies are not small, but she has evolved and stood strong through the worst of the storms. After I found out that there's going to be a spin-off series with her as the leading character in it, I have been going crazy with the need to read it. When I say fantastic? I mean--



The writing, as always has been the case with KMM, is flawlessly beautiful. The plot was brilliant and I jumped every few minutes just with excitement of it all. She made me feel a part of this incredible world she created, she made me a part of it. I loved the scraps of conversations with the Sinsar Dubh, the Unseelie King's book of knowledge and power. I don't know how to translate all I feel, all I think, but it's to say the least that in the end, Fever World wasn't just a fantasy world of mythical creatures and monstrous books and prophecies but a real mystical three-dimensional world playing it all out before your eyes while maybe, you went out to fight battles along side the characters, or learn lessons along side them or maybe just stared, slack-jawed, drinking it all in, thirsting for more. 

I have lots to say, lot of people to talk about namely V'lane, the Dreamy Eyed Guy, Christian (--->I really really like this man!), Ryodan and let's not forget the queen bitch here, the Grand Mistress of the abbey- Rowena. 

There were characters I never liked, characters who I really liked but this review is already so long as it is, I think you'll be glad I'm putting a full stop right here, right now (in another couple of words, a few sentences, a paragraph.. or two perhaps?).

As you already know, this here, is one of my top favorites book series, and if you haven't read it, I suggest you, encourage you, I dare you, to give it a try. READ IT. I already know how you are going to feel.

Book Review: Shadow Sight (Ivy Granger #1) by E.J. Stevens

Book Cover. Hardcover copy. 

This review can also be read on my Goodreads profile.

Rating: Somewhere along a 2.5 stars and 2.7 out of 5 stars for me.

An okay-okay sorta book, I can't say I am too happy with it, which is in itself quite depressing since I had quite a few hopes sub-consciously bookmarked to this novel even before it's release. 



Sorely lacking in the butt-kicking, badass section. *grim face*

Note: The heroine had a spine of steel and didn't shy away from defending herself and anyone she loved- so make no mistake of that- but what I mean by saying "very less butt-kicking, badass" scenes is that there were very little of 'em. I just felt there should've been something.. I don't know.. more. Narrows it down, doesn't it?

Ditto for romance.

Ditto for drama.



So. 

What the heck, here goes. 

I liked the overall concept, and the writing was okay- nothing special- but the book had potential: If only the author worked on the drama and the writing a bit, I'm pretty sure it'd have at least made a dent in 3-4 stars sector.



A little disappointing, I'd hoped for a much better read. Even though there were horrendous sea monsters eating people up and leaving their livers floating in the water, demons making deals, witches and kelpies and what-not going around and trying to get all their shit together, you know what I felt lacking? The importance of all that shit and drama. Makes sense? No?

Let me explain.

Interesting stuff happened. Like really. But the writing was so bland, the drama was so flat, that even a kidnapped kelpie king- who was supposedly gorgeous and totally hot by the way- chained and tortured, and deprived of his will didn't make me feel anything. No remorse, no nothing. 

Ya get whatcha mean?



I KNOW! Cool pic, right? 

Damon does not approve. Well neither do I. Huh.

Anywhooooo, even though I'm very dejected and a lot disappointed, I'm still going to read the sequel when it comes. 

Answer to your obvious look of surprise: No I'm not a masochist. 

Reason for the decision? No matter the lack of drama and romance and a little blandness in the the writing, the book has potential. Like I mentioned earlier, I liked the concept, the story.. It might turn out to be really good, you never know. Also, as I've learned with experience, quite a few times- first books of fantasy series tend to not be as awesome as the rest of the series. So, I'll be reading the next book, hoping that it just might turn out to be really great.

Don't even think about not saying hi.

Hullo everyone or whoever super-awesome, wise and quite possibly the only person this is, reading my blog- know that I am profoundly touched by your valiantly risking what might have been the 10 most important minutes of your life, perusing this first baby post by an amateur blogger aka me. That is, in my opinion, one of the biggest risks a decent human being can take(except for messing with the space-time continuum or God forbid- ordering Chinese takeout from a dingy restaurant with a probably expired, and at that fake, NRA certificate)- so know that I appreciate this. Really.

After having wasted a quarter of an hour debating the title of this post, chewing nails and downing coffee.. tugging my hair while nervously browsing random websites for a "cool way to say hello"- one of the most popular suggestions of them being "Yo my main nigga, what it do?"- I finally decided to ditch the insistent dorky-ness and just get on with it. If this winds up being boring, exhausting or in any way annoying- know that the fault is not mine, but everyone else's. Kidding, ha.

A quick revision of who I am and what this blog is for- I am one of the most awesomest, kickass person you'll ever meet- but you can call me Kajol- and on an average scale of insanity, I lie on some indecipherable spot that probably says "be afraid". This blog is about chocolate, reading, fantasizing and the three big D's- dreams, discoveries and drama- and pretty much anything under the sun that's interesting and fun. This is a place, where you just be.
On paper, this is a blog where I'll write reviews of the books I read (I am a book drunkard, a book worm, a book slut, a book lover, a book licker and any other words you might come up with for the general breed of incorrigibly amazing people like me) but essentially, this is a place for people who like to talk nonsense with occasionally heated/hilarious discussions over literature, art, music and movies etc.  

Now that we've got that out of the way, I'll close up saying that I'll be posting reviews of the books I've read in bulk, all at once, to keep this blog up with my Goodreads profile and also, with that of the dates of the other upcoming novels. Once I'm finished with that, we'll start with the lazy gait of those who belong to royalty- smiling and shining like the sun, sometimes bitching over things I don't like and gushing and fangirling over the things that I do. And of course, you are welcome to join me for doing that! 

With this, I bid you a bittersweet farewell with the hope that you'll check back in (and hopefully invite some friends? Pretty please? I'm not above cajoling) and provide the feedback I so clearly need to make this into something better and funnier and oh of course, worth reading. 

Good-bye, I do so hope that you have a wonderful day.