ARC Review: Bright Blaze of Magic

As a thief, I’m good at three things: hiding in the shadows, getting in and out unseen, and uncovering secrets. I put these skills to work for the Sinclair Family, one of the magical mobs that run the tourist town of Cloudburst Falls.

Everyone knows Victor Draconi wants to take over all the other Families–and kill every last Sinclair. What they don’t know is that I’m on to him, and no way will I let the man who murdered my mom get away with hurting all the other people I care about. Especially when I’ve got places to break into, stuff to steal, and Devon Sinclair fighting right by my side…

“An adventurous ride you will never want to get off.” –#1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout on Cold Burn of Magic.

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

I thought I had reviewed this a while ago but unfortunately I forgot. I loved this series. The magic was complex yet easy to follow. The plot had lots of twists and turn, some where expected some were not.

This last book lived up to the good name of the series. It had a really great end that left me feeling satisfied, there was no loose ends.

The characters had good growth from the last book and Lila got of some good fixes again, like always in creative ways.

If you liked the first two I highly recommend you reading this book.

5 out 5 stars

Similar books in my opinion

 

Review: Threats of Sky and Sea

Sixteen year-old Breena Perdit has spent her life as a barmaid, innocent to her father’s past and happily free from the Elemental gifts that would condemn her to a life in the Egrian King’s army. Until the day that three Elemental soldiers recognize her father as a traitor to the throne and Bree’s father is thrown in jail—along with the secrets from his last mission as the King’s assassin. Secrets that could help the King win a war. Secrets he refuses to share.

Desperate to escape before the King’s capricious whims prove her and her father’s downfall, Bree bargains with him: information for their lives. It’s a good trade. And she has faith she’ll get them both out of the King’s grasp with time.

But that was before the discovery that she’s the weapon the King’s been waiting for in his war.

Now, time is running out. To save her father’s life and understand her own, Bree must unravel the knot of her father’s past before the King takes his life– and uses her to bring a nation to its knees.

Review

Wow what a start to a series. I was hooked from the very first page which is extremely rare. I was wanting to know more and more, I kept guessing at what was going to happen, something things I did manage to work out and some only half guessed, but certain parts I completely clueless, which is the perfect combination. I like to at least feel I work some of it out.

The characters were amazing, Breena’s spunky attitude was great, I kept looking forward to quips. It also helped that she was learning along with the reader, made the writing smoother and flow better.  Prince Caden was swoon worthy and hopefully one day make a just King (if he ever gets that far).

Princess Aleta was a mystery to me at first, I wasn’t sure how things were going to with her, but as the story went on, we got to know her better and things made sense.

Lady Kat is force to be reckoned with. I didn’t think anything could shock her, nice to know one thing could. She is definitely a good baddie.

Adept Tregle was another character who’s loyalty’s I was unsure of but by the end his side was clear, he was a good background character.

The unfolding of this story was superbly done, I read this in a day and I still want more. I want to know what happens now, and the story behind Breena’s Da’s disappearance. And what happened to her mum?

I love stories with magic and this was about people have abilities to do the four elements. I loved the magic in this, it was exciting but not overbearing. I hope there is plenty more in the next book.

If you haven’t read this I suggest you do it soon. It’s really worth it.

5 out of 5 stars

Recommended for people who enjoyed:

ARC Review: Five Little Ducklings go to School

It s time for the five little ducklings to go to school. Four of the little ducklings shout, YIPPEE! HOORAY! OH BOY! THAT S COOL! The fifth little duckling sobs, BOO-HOO! I won t go to school! I m going to miss you! But when Mama reminds them, Even though we ll be apart, we ll still be in each other s heart, the little ducklings go forth and soon discover School is great! “

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

I loved the bright colours and art work in this book. The story had a good message and the rhyming was well done and charming. I wanted the book to keep going, keep telling me the story of the five ducklings. I think kids would love this book, it’s quick and fun and has some great pictures for them too look at.

5 out 5 stars.

ARC Review: Akarnae

With just one step, sixteen-year-old Alexandra Jennings’s world changes–literally.

Dreading her first day at a new school, Alex is stunned when she walks through a doorway and finds herself stranded in Medora, a fantasy world full of impossibilities. Desperate to return home, she learns that only a man named Professor Marselle can help her… but he’s missing.

While waiting for him to reappear, Alex attends Akarnae Academy, Medora’s boarding school for teenagers with extraordinary gifts. She soon starts to enjoy her bizarre new world and the friends who embrace her as one of their own, but strange things are happening at Akarnae, and Alex can’t ignore her fear that something unexpected… something sinister… is looming.

An unwilling pawn in a deadly game, Alex’s shoulders bear the crushing weight of an entire race’s survival. Only she can save the Medorans, but what if doing so prevents her from ever returning home?

Will Alex risk her entire world–and maybe even her life–to save Medora?

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

This book started off a little slow for me, but once I got to the third chapter I was hooked and had to finish it that day. It reminded me a little of Harry Potter, just in the way how magical it was and how much it sucked me in.

Alex was a great main character, I love books where you learn with the character, it was really well written and I was just lapping up the whole story. The beginning was a little lack luster but the rest of the book made up for it.

The friendship between Alex, Jordan and Bear was great and only got better over time. It was a fun and loyal friendship which made me smile a lot.

The world of Medora was complex and completely inviting. I loved learning all the magic and technologies of the world. It all made perfect sense and always left me wanting more.

I wish I could gush and explain exactly what I loved about this book but with revealing too much I cannot. So if you want to know how good it is, click on the picture which which will take you to the goodreads page.

5 out of 5 stars.

ARC Review: Shadow Study

New York Times bestselling author Maria V. Snyder wowed readers with Poison Study, the unforgettable story of poison taster Yelena. Now she’s back with a new tale of intrigue.

Once, only her own life hung in the balance.

Oddly enough, when Yelena was a poison taster, her life was simpler. But she’d survived to become a vital part of the balance of power between rival countries Ixia and Sitia. Now she uses her magic to keep the peace in both lands and protect her relationship with Valek.

Suddenly, though, they are beset on all sides by those vying for power through politics and intrigue. Valek’s job – and his life – are in danger. As Yelena tries to uncover the scope of these plots, she faces a new challenge: her magic is blocked. She must keep that a secret – or her enemies will discover just how vulnerable she really is – while searching for who or what is responsible for neutralizing her powers.

Yes, the days of tasting poisons were much simpler. And certainly not as dangerous.

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

This started about 5-8 years after Fire study finished. Over the course of the book, we found out what happened during that time and the characters got up to their usual antics, getting into impossible situations and finding a way out of them.

The story was told from the point of view of Yelana, Valek and Janco. It was good to see from their perspectives, there was plenty of new aspects of their lives we found out this way.

There was a couple of new characters, but still lots of the old ones we know and love. Opal was back and she was as strong as ever. Irys and Bain were back giving their sage advice.

I really enjoyed this book almost as much as Poison Study. I cannot wait for the next one.

5 out of 5 stars.

Review: Cross My Heart and Hope to Spy

Cammie Morgan is back, and it’s clear that her life hasn’t calmed down since the events of I’d Tell You I Love You, But Then I’d Have to Kill You. At first, giddy anticipation is in the air. Gallagher Academy, Cammie’s elite spy school, is hosting a visit from a covert training center for boys. Soon after the boys’ arrival, though, everything goes dangerously awry when a series of security breaches are discovered at the academy. Worse yet, teenage agent-in-training Cammie is being blamed for the penetration. With the school’s top-secret status at risk, the Gallagher Girls have to work quickly to save their beloved school.

I read this in about 4 hours, I liked it better than the first. Although I liked Josh and I was glad he was in the last one, I was pleased there was less of him in this one. The plot for this book was more focused on spy techniques and I loved it. It’s the reason I read these books.

I loved how the old characters were back but there was some new names joining the pack. They brought a lot to the book and I enjoyed it thoroughly.

It was action packed yet we still saw Cammie’s emotion. I want to know more about Blackthorn. I want more, I hope they are back in the next book.

5 out of 5 stars

ARC Review: Gone Too Far

Keeping secrets ruined her life. But the truth might just kill her.

Piper Woods can’t wait for the purgatory of senior year to end. She skirts the fringes of high school like a pro until the morning she finds a notebook with mutilated photographs and a list of student sins. She’s sure the book is too gruesome to be true, until pretty, popular Stella dies after a sex-tape goes viral. Everyone’s sure it’s suicide, but Piper remembers Stella’s name from the book and begins to suspect something much worse.

Drowning in secrets she doesn’t want to keep, Piper’s fears are confirmed when she receives an anonymous text message daring her to make things right. All she needs to do is choose a name, the name of someone who deserves to be punished…

I received a free copy of this book via netaglley in exchange for an honest review.

I practically read this book in one sitting. I love books like this. Full of drama, suspense and secrets. I just want to say I am in love. Strangely Tate was my favourite character.

Piper was a great main character, she told her side of the story very well.  I liked how she more and more observant as the story went on. Gave us lots of suspects that left me guessing until the very end. I suspected half of the student body and even some of the staff.

What I loved most was the growth of Piper, she grew from a kid who was sure she knew right from wrong and wanted a kind of vigilante justice. To a woman who knew everything was not black and white and that she had no-right to decide who was guilty or not.

Although I did suspect the guilty party at some point I really did not have much of a clue. I was shocked to find out who it was. Not what I expected.

There was one question that was not answered for me. What happened to Stella, was it an accident or not?

5 out of 5 stars

It has been voted on If List here is the link if you are interested in seeing it. http://iflist.com/gonetoofar#

Review: Princess in the Spotlight

No one ever said being a princess was easy.

Just when Mia thought she had the whole princess thing under control, things get out of hand, fast. First there’s an unexpected announcement from her mother. Then Grandmère arranges a national primetime interview for the brand-new crown princess of Genovia. On top of that, intriguing, exasperating letters from a secret admirer begin to arrive.

Before she even has the chance to wonder who those letters are from, Mia is swept up in a whirlwind of royal intrigue the likes of which hasn’t been seen since volume I of The Princess Diaries.

This one was nothing like the film, which made me enjoy it more. The familiar characters were all back and up to their old tricks. Lilly was still being a pain and quite a bad friend. Michael was still being vague and not owning up to his feelings for Mia until someone else showed their feelings for her. But he is a much better friend to her than his sister is. I actually think I would prefer it if Lilly wasn’t such a close friend. I didn’t really like her in the films either.
I haven’t felt that Mia has grown much yet but I am hoping over the next few books she will. I also want to see her get together with Michael, he seems like such a nice person and would be good for her.

Looking forward to the next one very much.

5 out of 5 stars.

Review: The Thief

The king’s scholar, the magus, believes he knows the site of an ancient treasure. To attain it for his king, he needs a skillful thief, and he selects Gen from the king’s prison. The magus is interested only in the thief’s abilities.

What Gen is interested in is anyone’s guess. Their journey toward the treasure is both dangerous and difficult, lightened only imperceptibly by the tales they tell of the old gods and goddesses.

For starters I love the cover, it’s intriguing but doesn’t give much away.

I am in love!! This book was amazing. It had me from the word go. I was fully engrossed in the story. I had no idea where it was going. There was always something I needed to find out that kept me reading. What were they going to steal? Where were they going to steal it from? Who stole the food?

The setting was wonderfully realistic and full of beautiful descriptions. I loved the stories about the history of the gods and the different countries. It was very refreshing.

Gen was a bit of an enigma, I had confusion at the start because I could swear the main character was female (I was wrong). I never got a grasp of how old he was, I could take guesses but wasn’t sure. It was a minor thing, but it would have helped get a better picture of the character for me.

Pol, was quiet and you didn’t find out too much about him, but I was a massive fan. Everyone trusted him.

The story progressed well and full of interesting action.

I am looking forward to the next book very much.

5 out of 5 stars.

Review: Quidditch Through the Ages

Did you know that: there are 700 ways of committing a foul in Quidditch? The game first began to evolve on Queerditch Marsh – What Bumphing is? That Puddlemere United is oldest team in the Britain and Ireland league (founded 1163). All this information and much more could be yours once you have read this book: this is all you could ever need to know about the history, the rules – and the breaking of the rules – of the noble wizarding sport of Quidditch.

I love the introduction and all the little snippets by Dumbledore. I found the information fun and very interesting. To read this book and for it to make sense and be interesting you have to be a Harry Potter fan but that’s to be expected. It was a fun read and since it all goes to charity, which makes it all the better. It is about 100 pages long, a quick read but a must for any Harry Potter fan.

5 out of 5 stars