Review: Shadow Kin by M.J. Scott

Shadow Kin
Author:M.J. Scott
Release Date: September 6, 2011
Publisher: Roc
The Half-Light City Book #1
ISBN:   0451464044
ISBN13: 9780451464040
Genre: Urban Fantasy

On one side, the Night World, rules by the Blood Lords and the Beast Kind. On the other, the elusive Fae and the humans, protected by their steadfast mages... 

Born a wraith, Lily is a shadow who slips between worlds. Brought up by a Blood Lord and raised to be his assassin, she is little more than a slave. But when Lily meets her match in target Simon DuCaine, the unlikely bond that develops between them threatens to disrupt an already stretched peace in a city on the verge of being torn apart...

Another fabulous cover that reeled me in. Lily is a wraith. She is hated by every Fae because she is a wraith and feared because she is the assassin slave to Lucius. The day Lucius sends Lily out to kill a human named Simon everything in Lily's life changed.

The world that Lily grows up in has made her think very little of herself so she keeps to herself, doesn't show any feelings and kills who and when she is told to. She is sent out to kill Simon and when it doesn't go as planned he is the first person to treat her like she is someone worth knowing. The story switches back and forth between Simon and Lily's POV. It was easy to keep up with things and it only added to the story to read what either person was feeling about things at the time. I was happy with the way the story progressed at most points but i found the middle to be a tad bit slow. There was times where I wanted to yell at one or the other for not understanding the other better but that is all part of a great story. The emotions came across well. Simon and Lily had great chemistry. There is a great mixture of paranormal creatures. The world that the story takes place is well described. SHADOW KIN lived up to its cover and I will be picking up book 2 BLOOD KIN in June so I can continue the story.

I gave it 4/5 stars

Early Review: Shattered Souls by Mary Lindsey

Shattered Souls
Author:Mary Lindsey
Release Date: December 8, 2011
Publisher: Philomel
ISBN:   0399256229
ISBN13: 9780399256226
Genre: Young Adult

Lenzi hears voices. She also sees visions--gravestones, floods, a gorgeous guy with steel gray eyes. She knows she must be going crazy, just like her dad did. Her boyfriend, Zak, can't do anything to help, and the voices just keep getting louder, the visions more intense. But when Lenzi meets Alden, the boy from her dreams, everything makes sense.

Sort of.

He tells Lenzi that she's a reincarnated Speaker--someone who can talk to lost souls and help them move on--and that he has been her Protector for centuries. But instead of embracing her abilities, Lenzi struggles between her life as the girlfriend of a sexy musician and the life she is destined to lead with Alden. Yet time is running out; a malevolent spirit has been trying to destroy Lenzi for ages, and he will surely kill her if she doesn't make a decision soon.

Her choices are clear: Destiny or normalcy. Alden or Zak. Life or death.

 Engaging, emotional, roller coaster of a debut. Lenzi thinks she is going insane like her father and is trying to hold her self together. She hears voices and sees things that no one else does. Her boyfriend Zak tries to be helpful but is slowly starting to think she is crazy too, then Alden appears and everything is slowly revealed to her and starts making sense.

I loved the plot. The fact that Lenzi and Alden have reincarnated together over and over throughout time was highly enjoyable to read about. Although I loved Lenzi, Alden was my favorite character. I was drawn to him from the moment he showed up in the story. Lenzi has always been everything he ever needed and it shows. The more time they spend together the more we learn about their past and why Lenzi doesn't remember all she is supposed to in this lifetime. There was always something coming out that I would have never guessed and when all was revealed I was still shocked. The gorgeous cover pulled me in and the story kept me reading, I am hooked and excited to read more.

I gave it 5/5 stars 

New Releases Oct 2-8

Tue Oct 4

The Apothecary by Mailey Meloy
A Touch of Crimson (Renegade Angels #1) by Sylvia Day
Better Off Undead (The Bloodhound Files #4) by D.D. Barant
Blood Eternal (Awakened #3) by Marie Treanor
Chosen by Fate ( Para-Ops #2) by Virna DePaul
Dark Peril (Carpathians #21) by Christine Feehan
Dead Mann Walking (Hessuis Mann #1) by Stefan Petrucha
Eve (The Eve Trilogy #1) by Anna Carey
How to Party with a Killer Vampire (Party-Planning Mystery #4) by Penny Warner
In Memories We Fear (Vampire Memories #4) by Barb Hendee
Legend of Witchtrot Road (Spirit Guide #3) by E.J. Scott
Radiant Desire (Handmaids Seduction #1) by Inara Scott
Serpent's Kiss (Elder Races #3) Thea Harrison
Silence (Hush, Hush #3) by Becca Fitzpatrick
Vamparazzi (Esther Diamond #4) by Laura Resnick
The Vengeful Dead (Jackie Rutledge #2) by J.N. Duncan
Visions of Skyfire (Awakening #2) by Regan Hastings
Wolf at the Door (Wyndham Werewolf #1) by MaryJanice Davidson

Please let me know if I'm missing something or if you see a mistake. Happy reading!!

Winner: Take My Books Giveaway

Thank you to everyone that entered!!

The winner chosen by RaffleCopter is....

Review: Hunt the Moon by Karen Chance

Hunt the Moon
Author:Karen Chance
Release Date: June 7, 2011
Publisher: Signet
Cassandra Palmer Book #5
ISBN:   0451413075
ISBN13: 9780451413079
Genre: Urban Fantasy

Cassandra Palmer recently defeated a god, which you'd think would buy a girl a little time off. But it doesn't work that way when your job description is Pythia-the world's chief clairvoyant. Cassie is busier than ever, trying to learn about her power, preparing for her upcoming coronation, and figuring out her relationship with the enigmatic sexy master vampire, Mircea.

But someone doesn't want Cassie to become Pythia, and is willing to go to any lengths to make sure the coronation ceremony never happens- including attacking her mother before Cassie is even born.

Just like in all the previous books in the Cassandra Palmer series HUNT THE MOON is jam packed with action, fast paced, full of heart pounding situations and all around kick ass. Cassie still has people trying to make sure her job as Pythia never officially starts and she is doing everything she can to make sure it does.

If I get to far into my thoughts on the book I will give away way to many spoilers so I will give my thoughts on the characters and not on the happenings. Cassie continues to get multiple attempts on her life. She is always in danger and always fighting to get out of some trouble or another. She really is a fantastically written and strong character. Marcia is as protective and controlling as always. You can tell Cassie loves him but i think the over-protectiveness definitely makes her turn from him. Pritkin, I  LOVE Pritkin. I so cant believe how far he has come from the first book TOUCH THE DARK. I pretty much despised him in the beginning and now I cant imagine the series without him. I really think him and Cassie being together is going to happen I just dont know how it is going to get to that point or when. There is a huge cliff hanger like ending involving him and I'm DYING trying to figure out what the heck will happen next. You can never go wrong reading one of Karen's books her Dorina Basarab series (features Marcia's daughter) is just as fantastic. Book 6 can not come out soon enough.

I gave it 4/5 stars

Week in Review 9/25-10/1

Books Ive Bought/received

*Burn the Night by Jocelynn Drake- Signed- I have no clue where I wont this from but it came from Jocelynn =)


Books I read

Blood Sin by Marie Treanor
Blood Eternal by Marie Treanor
Black Dust Mambo by Adrian Phoenix

Reviews posted

Working Stiff by Rachel Caine
Witch Song by Amber Argyle
Bloodstone by Nancy Holzner
Cast in Ruin by Michelle Sagara West

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

* New Releases for the week. Was there anything you were looking forward to reading?


*Monday I put up a new giveaway offering up a big pile of books from my bookshelf.

*Wednesday Jennifer Estep stopped in to tell us why she likes Urban Fantasy. She is also giving away a copy of her newest release Spider's Revenge

* Thursday we got to read why Nancy Holzner writes Urban Fantasy. There is also a giveaway of her newest release Bloodstone along with a unique piece of jewelry.

* Friday a This or That post with Trinity Faegan went up.

*If you see something on my books Ive read list that you are dying to know about let me know I'm back logged on reviews and can move it up on the list if I know people are wanting one.

* I love comments so if you see something you like (or not) please comment away and let me know.

Review: Cast In Ruin by Michelle Sagara West

Cast In Ruin
Author:Michelle Sagara West
Release Date: September 29, 2011
Publisher: Luna
Chronicles of Elantra Book #7
ISBN:  0373803303
ISBN13: 9780373803309
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Review Copy Source: Netgalley

Seven corpses are discovered in the streets of a Dragon's fief. All identical, down to their clothing.

Kaylin Neya is assigned to discover who they were, who killed them—and why. Is the evil lurking at the borders of Elantra preparing to cross over?

At least the investigation delays her meeting with the Dragon Emperor. And as the shadows grow longer over the fiefs, Kaylin must use every skill she's ever learned to save the people she's sworn to protect.

Sword in hand, dragons in the sky, this time there's no retreat and no surrender..

CAST IN RUIN was packed with events like all the other books in the Chronicles of Elantra series. Kaylin is stuck with more lessons from a dragon that doesn't particularly like her. She gets a bit of a side break by helping solve the murders of six identical corpses that are found in the fief of Tiamaris.

I understand the issues that holds Kaylin back but I am so frustrated with her lack of relationship with Severn. They are totally made for each other in my opinion and I want them to at least kiss or something. lol. I feel so bad for Kaylin with the way she is always treated. She has saved the day per say so many times but people still treat her like she has no idea what she is talking about. There is a new character that I loved from her appearance that seems to feel the same way as I do and I am excited to see her in action in future books on Kaylin's side. We didn't see a lot of Nightshade in book 7 but a deal he makes with Kaylin's superiors seems to make it clear that he will be a big part of the next book as long as he gets his way. I enjoyed CAST IN RUIN, there was plenty of action, plenty of mystery and investigating and plenty of development between the characters. CAST IN PERIL is scheduled to come out in Fall of 2012.

I gave it 4/5 stars