Sometimes I read a book where I just don't have a lot to say about it.
Hence the name quick thought reviews. These will be short and sweet.
Shiver of Light
Release Date: June 3, 2014
Publisher: Berkley
ISBN: 0425255662
ISBN13: 9780425255667
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Review Copy Source:Publisher
I am Princess Meredith
NicEssus. Legal name Meredith Gentry, because “Princess” looks so
pretentious on a driver’s license. I was the first faerie princess born
on American soil, but I wouldn't be the only one for much longer...
Merry
Gentry, ex–private detective, now full-time princess, knew she was
descended from fertility goddesses, but when she learned she was about
to have triplets, she began to understand what that might mean.
Infertility has plagued the high ranks of faerie for centuries. Now
nobles of both courts of faerie are coming to court Merry and her men,
at their home in exile in the Western Lands of Los Angeles, because they
will do anything to have babies of their own.
Taranis, King of
Light and Illusion, is a more dangerous problem. He tried to seduce
Merry and, failing that, raped her. He’s using the human courts to sue
for visitation rights, claiming that one of the babies is his. And
though Merry knows she was already pregnant when he took her, she can’t
prove it.
To save herself and her babies from Taranis she will
use the most dangerous powers in all of faerie: a god of death, a
warrior known as the Darkness, the Killing Frost, and a king of
nightmares. They are her lovers, and her dearest loves, and they will
face down the might of the high courts of faerie—while trying to keep
the war from spreading to innocent humans in Los Angeles, who are in
danger of becoming collateral damage.
*Sigh* Like with her Anita series, the constant off topic or inappropriate rambling tends to get to you. For example, Frost gets hurt and Meredith is worried about him. Something happens with Mistral and the weather so Meredith kisses him to calm him down. THEN all of a sudden she HAS to tell him that she cant have 'intercourse' with him because she just had the babies (which she has already said like 20 times in the last couple chapters) and goes on to say she can do 'oral and hand' on all her men. Then people start talking about who will get to go first, who will give it up and wait, etc etc... Oh yeah Frost is hurt, she lets him rest in bed and goes to the extra room with the lucky two winners. Laurell also tends to go into detail about inconsequential matters or things she just went into detail about in a chapter or two before. It becomes repetitive and ruins the flow of the story.
I wish I could say the storyline made up for this but the fact is that sex, talking about the views on bi/gay men and their polyamorous lifestyle is pretty much the only thing happening in SHIVER OF LIGHT. Huh, I guess I had more to say about this than I thought.
I gave it 2/5 stars
* This book was provided free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
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Compelled
Release Date: May 5, 2014
Publisher: Self-Published
ISBN: 0988798530
ISBN13: 9780988798533
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Review Copy Source: NetGalley
For the past five years,
Natalya Stravinsky has dreamed of two things: to rejoin the South Toms
River werewolf pack and to be reunited with Thorn Grantham. Fate may
have brought the pack back into her life, but unless she journeys to
Russia to save Thorn, the love she’s found may be lost again. For a
stubborn werewolf like Natalya, no distance is too far, no magic spell
too complex to master, because one way or another she will find a way to
have everything she has ever wanted.
Beautiful cover! I really enjoyed the previous books in the Coveted Series. After KEPT I was excited to see what would happen now that Natalya and Thorn were finally together. Unfortunately a good bit of COMPELLED took place with them apart and when they were together it was away from the pack and while Thorn was deathly ill.
Overall there was a lot of character growth and Natalya did a lot of self learning but I missed her family and friends and I was really hoping to have them more involved in clan life now that the happy couple was finally together.
I gave it 3/5 stars
* This book was provided free of charge from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
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In the End
Release Date: June 24, 2014
Publisher: Harper Teen
ISBN: 0062105485
ISBN13: 9780062105486
Genre: Young Adult/ Dystopian
Review Copy Source: Edelweiss
The thrilling
conclusion to In the After, the survival story of Amy and Baby, set in a
near future where Earth has been overrun by vicious, predatory
creatures.
It’s been three months since Amy escaped New
Hope, and she’s been surviving on her own, like she did in the After.
Until one day, her former fellow Guardian’s voice rings out in her
earpiece. And in a desperate tone, Kay utters the four words Amy had
hoped she would never hear: Dr. Reynolds has Baby.
Now it’s a
race against time, for Baby is in imminent danger, her life threatened
by the malevolent doctor who had helped start the end of the world. In
order to save Baby, Amy must make her way to Fort Black, a
prison-turned-survivor-colony, where she will need to find Ken, Kay’s
brother. He alone holds the key to Baby’s survival.
One small
slip-up on this quest could spark a downward spiral that would not only
cost Baby and Amy their lives, but threaten the very survival of the
people in the After.
IN THE AFTER truly blew me away and I was impatiently waiting for the release of IN THE END. The second book didn't blow me away like the first but I still thoroughly enjoyed it. There is a bit of a different feel to the book now that she is again on her own but surrounded by people in Fort Black. She gains new allies and eventual makes her way back to New Hope but the road their is not pleasant or easy.
Great writing, plenty of action and danger and lots of new people brought this story full circle.
I gave it 4/5 stars
* This book was provided free of charge from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
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Darkest Flame
Release Date: April 29, 2014
Publisher: St. Martins
ISBN: 1250041368
ISBN13: 9781250041364
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Review Copy Source:NetGalley
The Dark Kings have
fought for centuries to preserve their dragon magic. But one of the most
powerful warriors of his kind will be put to the ultimate test. Is he
strong enough to resist his greatest temptations? Or will he be forced
to surrender - body and soul?
Her beauty is a weapon
Denae
Lacroix is a beautiful MI5 agent on a deadly mission. Sent to the
Scottish Highlands to spy on the mysterious Dreagan Industries, she
discovers too late that she’s been set up - as human bait. She is an irresistible lure for a man who has not seen or touched a woman for centuries. He is a man with a destiny - and a desire - that could destroy them both...
His passion is a curse...
It’s
been twelve hundred years since Kellan has walked among humans - and
there’s no denying the erotically charged attraction he feels for Denae.
But as a Dragon King, he is sworn to protect his secrets. Yet the
closer he gets to this smart, ravishing woman, the more her life is in
danger.
All it takes is one reckless kiss to unleash a flood of desire, the fury of dragons…and the fiercest enemy of all.
I had no clue that there were a few short stories that took place before DARKEST FLAME so when things started to get a tad bit confusing a couple chapters in I took the chance to stop reading and check those out first. I'm sure you could get away with skipping them but it will make the world and characters make more sense.
I enjoyed learning about Kellan and Denae and watching them BOTH come out from behind their walls as they fell in love. I look forward to watching the next couples story as the series continues. Characters from the Dark Warriors series make an appearance as well so that was a nice little surprise.
I gave it 4/5 stars
* This book was provided free of charge from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
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Banishing the Dark
Release Date: May 27, 2014
Publisher: Pocket
ISBN: 1451695128
ISBN13: 9781451695120
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Review Copy Source: NetGalley
Complicated does not
begin to describe Arcadia Bell's life right now: unnatural magical
power, another brush with death, and a murderous mother who's not only
overbearing but determined to take permanent possession of Cady's body.
Forced
to delve deep into the mystery surrounding her own birth, Cady must
uncover which evil spell her parents cast during her conception…and how
to reverse it. Fast.
As she and her lover Lon embark on
a dangerous journey through her magical past, Lon's teenage son Jupe
sneaks off for his own investigation. Each family secret they uncover is
darker than the last, and Cady, who has worn many identities—Moonchild,
mage, fugitive—is about to add one more to the list.
If you are anything like me you were DYING to read BANISHING THE DARK after the cliffhanger ending in BINDING THE SHADOWS. I really enjoyed some of the twists thrown into the final book of the series and I also loves reading Jupe's POV.
This series was everything I hoped for and more than I expected. Nothing is left unsaid, nothing is left hanging, and Cady finally has a life she can be 100% happy with. Great ending to an adventure filled series.
I gave it 4/5 stars
* This book was provided free of charge from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
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