The Shadows Between Us

Alessandra is tired of being overlooked, but she has a plan to gain power:

1) Woo the Shadow King.
2) Marry him.
3) Kill him and take his kingdom for herself.

No one knows the extent of the freshly crowned Shadow King’s power. Some say he can command the shadows that swirl around him to do his bidding. Others say they speak to him, whispering the thoughts of his enemies. Regardless, Alessandra knows what she deserves, and she’s going to do everything within her power to get it.

But Alessandra’s not the only one trying to kill the king. As attempts on his life are made, she finds herself trying to keep him alive long enough for him to make her his queen—all while struggling not to lose her heart. After all, who better for a Shadow King than a cunning, villainous queen.

Review

I was a little unsure if I would like this book when I started it. I only read it because it was a fairyloot book. But I was pleasantly surprised. It found it unlike anything else I have ever read. I like the idea of a Shadow King, but I would have liked a little more fantasy elements into it. I am not too fond of books that just hint at fantasy usually. This was much more a murder mystery-ish with lots of court politics, which in this book was really good.

I loved Allesandra, she really was a piece of work, but she did everything with such sass that I loved it! She thought the world and everyone in it, should treat her with respect that she showed no-one. I really enjoyed her evolution into an almost caring person, well caring for one person.

The plot twists came out of no-where but they were not so random that they annoyed me. Alessandra did luck out of a few situations which is a pet peeve of mine. I did love how random some situations were though.

Overall I really enjoyed this book and will most likley read it again.

4 out of 5 stars

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The Apprentice Sorceress

A lady does not raise her voice.
A lady does not tear her gowns.
A lady does not contradict a gentleman.
A lady does not practice magic…
Until now.

Lady Violette has done everything she can to be a perfect lady in waiting to the royal princess of Jerdun. She’s followed the princess halfway across the world and lived through a war. Now the princess is stranded in a foreign city as an enemy army draws near, and Violette is stranded with her.

As more refugees from the conflict pour into their city every day, tension mounts between various factions, and a strange powers begin to stir inside Violette. A magic that protects her, but also seems impossible to control. Magic is not a womanly art, after all, and if anyone should learn of Violette’s powers she could lose her standing in society, her reputation, perhaps even her place at the princess’s side.

The only one she trusts with her secret is Ned, an impish squire and fellow refugee from the war. Instead of being repulsed by her powers, Ned admires Violette. For her part, she can’t deny the attraction she feels for Ned, but he has secrets he refuses to share, a wall that he keeps up between them.

Still, Ned helps Violette finally master her powers, but even mastery has its price when an unscrupulous nobleman looks to use Violette for his own purposes. Torn between serving her princess and saving herself, Violette will have to decide how deep the bonds of loyalty run, and just how much she’s willing to sacrifice for her own happiness.

Review

I recieved a free copy of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book was well thought out, it was a sweet story about magic and lady who is bound to do what she is told rather than what she knows is right. I found the whole book very intrigueing although I would have liked a little more magic.

I liked Violette although I was a bit confused about her age, she was meant to be 16 I think but had already been married and widowed? She was a little rash at times but it made an interesting read.

The setting was good but I would have liked a little more description. Also the war, I am not sure if it was described in the previous book in the series, since as far as I am aware it’s a series but they are all stand alones. I would have liked a little more insight into the war.

Overall I found it a very interesting read.

4 out of 5 stars

Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief

Percy Jackson is a good kid, but he can’t seem to focus on his schoolwork or control his temper. And lately, being away at boarding school is only getting worse – Percy could have sworn his pre-algebra teacher turned into a monster and tried to kill him. When Percy’s mom finds out, she knows it’s time that he knew the truth about where he came from, and that he go to the one place he’ll be safe. She sends Percy to Camp Half Blood, a summer camp for demigods (on Long Island), where he learns that the father he never knew is Poseidon, God of the Sea. Soon a mystery unfolds and together with his friends—one a satyr and the other the demigod daughter of Athena – Percy sets out on a quest across the United States to reach the gates of the Underworld (located in a recording studio in Hollywood) and prevent a catastrophic war between the gods.

Review

I really enjoyed this. It was different than I expected. I found the myths very exciting and the little twists were interesting. I loved the story and how it flowed. Although it’s a kids book it doesn’t infere that the children reading it cannot read books with intellegent plots.

I loved learning along wit Percy about all the gods and goddesses that he thought was legend. I read it quite quickly and found myself utterly engrossed the whole way through.

I liked the idea of the prophecy and trying to work out what it meant exactly and what other people might have been told on their trips to see the oracle.

Overall a really good childrens book and I am looking forward to reading the second one.

4 out of 5 stars

Third Snarl (Lycan Academy #3)

I can’t fight what I feel anymore. I don’t have to choose. I belong to the Volkovs and they belong to me.

Nora Blessing’s first year as a wolf shifter at The Lycan Academy is speeding toward its conclusion. It’s been both the best and worst year of her entire life. So far she’s learned her entire life story is a lie. Her aunt is not her aunt. Her parents are not dead—or at least didn’t die when she was little. And she might not be completely a bitten shifter. Oh…and she has a twin sister.

What she does know is she’s crazy about four Russian brothers who want to be her everything in return. But she’s turned away from them yet again, feeling out of her depth. Also her best friend AJ is missing and nobody seems all that worried about it except her.

She’ll need to go on a wild ride to find her past, resolve the demons in her present, and secure her future. If she has the gifts to make it happen.

Review

I quite enjoyed the first two books but this one fell flat for me. It seemed to focus more on the sex and romance than the fantasy. Not just that the fantasy was not focussed on, it was lacking on detail. There were so many details missed out and I felt like I do understand why a lot of stuff happened.

I felt like the brothers were all just the same to me, no difference in their personalities for me.

Overall not great, not as good as the first two, has potential but really lacking on detail and finese.

2 out of 5 stars

ARC Review: Join or Die

A group of outcasts, struggling to survive in a school filled with monsters.

An average kid, growing up in Las Vegas, Alex Ayers life skids off the rails when a dragon shifter comes for him. Alex is a Creature, monsters from myths and legends. And he’s in line to lead all the Creatures in the world, if he doesn’t get killed first.

Now forced to attend a school filled with every horror he’s ever imagined, Alex draws together a group of friends to become his own mini-army.

A depressed vampire facing an identity crisis.

A class gossip with white hair and a frosty outlook.

A werewolf who plays with magic.

A Valkyrie straining against her berserker’s rage.

Can Alex keep his friends safe, fight for his own life, and catch a killer, all while keeping his grades up? And what will his future hold, as he begins his change into a Creature he knows nothing about?

Review

I recieved a free copy of this book via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

It took me a little while to get into this book, but I am finding that with all books just now so mostly likely just me. I liked learning along with Alex, it as fun book with some serious aspects. A group of kids put into a dangerous school or situation is nothing new but the scion idea was a new one on me. I still don’t fully understand it but I am hoping that in the next book all that will be explained.

Alex was a great main character, he took to the odd situation really well. I liked how he handled himself, he did feel a little older than the 14 he was meant to be. The other characters were a bit meh for me, felt like they were there just to make up numbers.

The great hunt was very good. I really enjoyed that part. It was probably the most exciting part for me. I raced through the whole hunt in one sitting and was almost late to work.

Overall I really enjoyed this book, I have pre-ordered book two and cannot wait to read it.

4 out 5 stars