Review: Daughter of Smoke and Bones by Laini Taylor

Daughter of Smoke and Bone
Author:Laini Taylor
Release Date: September 27, 2011
Publisher: Little, Brown Company
Daughter of Smoke and Bone Book #1
ISBN:  0316134023
ISBN13: 9780316134026
Genre: Young Adult

Around the world, black handprints are appearing on doorways, scorched there by winged strangers who have crept through a slit in the sky.

In a dark and dusty shop, a devil's supply of human teeth grown dangerously low.

And in the tangled lanes of Prague, a young art student is about to be caught up in a brutal otherwordly war.

Meet Karou. She fills her sketchbooks with monsters that may or may not be real; she's prone to disappearing on mysterious "errands"; she speaks many languages--not all of them human; and her bright blue hair actually grows out of her head that color. Who is she? That is the question that haunts her, and she's about to find out.

When one of the strangers--beautiful, haunted Akiva--fixes his fire-colored eyes on her in an alley in Marrakesh, the result is blood and starlight, secrets unveiled, and a star-crossed love whose roots drink deep of a violent past. But will Karou live to regret learning the truth about herself?

Karou is human but was raised by underworld characters called chimaeras. She has no clue how she became their ward and has a ton of questions but never gets any answers. Karou is very independent, snarky, artistic mysterious and lonely. Akiva is an Angel and he hates the chimaera with a passion. He is dead set on destroying them and has no humanity left in him, that is until he meets Karou and stops himself from killing her. He is pulled to her from the moment he lays eyes on her and cant begin to realize why. The mystery of their attraction is slowly revealed for what it truly is. I found the pacing to be a bit frustrating at times, when you think things would be revealed it would just drag out longer. The world building in this book is fantastic. Its unique, descriptive and imaginative. The detail in which all the different characters are depicted made it very easy to picture them.  The ending WOW I cant even begin to tell you how it knocked me around. I would have never imagined things would end up that way and hopeful things will be revealed quickly in book 2. DAUGHTER OF SMOKE AND BONES is definitely worth the read.

I gave it 4/5 stars


 

New Releases Nov 13-19

Monday 11/14

Wherever You Go by Heather Davis

Tuesday 11/15

Death Watch (The Undertaken, #1) by Ari Berk

Lightbringer by K.D. McEntire

The Pledge (The Pledge, #1) by Kimberly Derting

Shatter Me (Shatter Me, #1) by Tahereh Mafi

The Space Between by Brenna Yovanoff

Tricks of the Trade (Paranormal Scene Investigations, #3) by Laura Anne Gilman

 

If you see a mistake or something missing feel free to add it in as a comment. Happy Reading =)

Winner: Bound by Blood by P.A. Lupton

Thank you to everyone that entered!!

PRIZE: One e-copy of Bound by Blood

The winner chosen by Rafflecopter is…

Review: Destined Mate by Katie Reus

Destined Mate
Author:Katie Reus
Release Date: October 1, 2011
Publisher: Harlequin
ISBN:  1426834071
ISBN13: 9781426834073
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Review Copy Source: Author

Two hundred years ago, Angela Lavigne and Alpha werewolf Knox had a shared a passion neither could control. Then Angela was turned into a vampire and disappeared.The last thing Knox expects is for Angela to show up on his doorstep centuries later on a rescue mission, as sexy and irresistible as ever. And he can sense how much she still wants him, too. She's gone against both their species' rules and trespassed on his land. By law he can keep her as long as he wants—and Knox doesn't intend to let her go ever again.
As their desire explodes once again, Knox is more sure than ever that he's must claim her forever. But as vampire and werewolf, they are natural born enemies. Can she truly be his destined mate?

Angela and Knox where in love a long time ago and then Angela was turned into a vampire against her will and took off. Knox hated everything and everyone having to do with vampires and Angela didnt want him to see her as that so she left without notice. Now Angela has turned back up in his life and Knox refuses to let her go.

DESTINED MATE was a quick easy read. I kinda wish it was longer so I could enjoy it a little longer. I really enjoyed the main characters Angela and Knox. They were both set in their ways and they butted heads but they had a great passion together which made for some hot moments. I also enjoyed the little dominance fight between the Alpha and the head vampire that takes place. It added some great suspense to the story. Since it is a novella everything happens at a quicker pace but it all flowed smoothly.  Pick up DESTINED MATE to give yourself a quick werewolf/Vampire fix.

I gave it 4/5 stars

Week in Review: 11/6- 11/12

Books Ive Bought/received

*Bedeviled by Sable Grace- ARC- Publisher for review

* Partials by Dan Wells- ARC- Publisher for review

* Winging It by Deborah Cooke- Publisher for review

* Fate's Edge by Ilona Andrews- Publisher for review



Books I read

The Fallen Queen by Jane Kindred
Before the Fall by Sable Grace
Last Breath by Rachel Caine
Shaedes of Gray by Amanda Bonilla
Fate's Edge by Ilona Andrews

Reviews posted


Destined by P.C. + Kristin Cast
Before the Fall by Sable Grace
Who Do, Voodoo? by Rochelle Staab
In the Forest of the Night by Kersten Hamilton

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

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


* PA Lupton was interviewed on Monday. She is offering up a e-copy of Bound By Blood.

* Wednesday Sable Grace was here with their list of things people dont know about them.  

* Thursday I put up a giveaway for the full set of the Black Suns Daughter series. Simon and Schuster is providing the books for the winner. 

*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.

Early Review: In the Forest of the Night by Kersten Hamilton

In the Forest of the Night
Author:Kersten Hamilton
Release Date: November 22, 2011
Publisher: Clarion Books
Goblin Wars Book #2
ISBN:   0547435606
ISBN13: 9780547435602
Genre: Young Adult
Review Copy Source: Author via Publisher

Teagan, Finn, and Aiden have made it out of Mag Mell alive, but the Dark Man's forces are hot on their heels. Back in Chicago, Tea’s goblin cousins show up at her school, sure she will come back to Mag Mell, as goblin blood is never passive once awoken. Soon she will belong to Fear Doirich and join them. In the meantime, they are happy to entertain themselves by trying to seduce, kidnap, or kill Tea’s family and friends.
Teagan knows she doesn’t have much time left, and she refuses to leave Finn or her family to be tortured and killed. A wild Stormrider, born to rule and reign, is growing stronger inside her. But as long as she can hold on, she’s still Teagan Wylltson, who plans to be a veterinarian and who heals the sick and hurting. The disease that’s destroying her—that’s destroying them all—has a name: Fear Doirich.
And Teagan Wylltson is not going to let him win.

IN THE FOREST OF THE NIGHT starts off right were TYGER TYGER left off. I would not recommend starting with book 2 if your new to the series as you will miss a lot of back story. Teagan, Finn and Aiden are back at home and trying to digest all of what they have learned in Mag Mell while also caring for their new house guests. Book 2 has all of the characters from book 1 in it with a few additions to the cast. Through some unfortunate events Teagan once again finds herself traveling back to Mag Mell to save those she loves. The world that these stories take place in are filled with imagination and adventure. The descriptions pop out of the book and you will have no issues picturing the places as you read about them. The  story flows and is easy to follow. The characters are once again engaging and full of personality. There is a little bit of action as well as some development in Teagan and Finn's budding relationship. There is some great set up that gets you interested in reading book 3. Any fan of TYGER TYGER will get right back into the mix and I would gladly recommend the series to anyone into Irish folklore/Goblin type books.

I gave it 4/5 stars

Review: Who Do, Voodoo? by Rochelle Staab

Who Do, Voodoo?
Author:Rochelle Staab
Release Date: November 1, 2011
Publisher: Berkley
ISBN:  0425244598
ISBN13: 9780425244593
Genre: Mystery (with Supernatural elements)
Review Copy Source: Publisher

Clinical psychologist Liz Cooper doesn't believe in ghosts. But when her best friend finds a tarot card tacked to her front door-and is then accused of murder-Liz will have to find a way to embrace the occult if she wants to outwit the real killer...

WHO DO, VOODOO? Reminded me a bit of Charlaine Harris' Aurora Teagarden series. I really enjoyed the Aurora Teagarden series so WHO DO, VOODOO? had no issues keeping my attention. Liz's best friend is being threatened by a unknown person through the use of Tarot Cards. On top of that the best friend is accused of murder. Liz with the help of a family friend (who becomes more then a friend) Nick set to work on finding out who is responsible for putting this all in motion. 

I love a good mystery. I like being able to sort out the clues along with the characters and see into the their heads as they make their guesses while I make mine. I also love books with a touch (who am I kidding a LOT) of supernatural, paranormal, fantasy, etc. I was not sure if the book would be something that would match my reading preferences but WHO DO, VOODOO? had a great blend of supernatural elements and mystery to keep me reading. Liz is a Psychologist so it was fun getting into her head and seeing how she came to the conclusions she came to. Nick was frustrating at times but fit well into his role. They both felt real and well matched. There was some great romantic tension between them. Liz was not a believer in voodoo so I think it made the story a little more interesting. She rejected a lot of things and tried to find logical explanations for them. Liz mom happens to be eccentric and into card reading and all that so it was fun watching their differences play out. The story had a great pace to it and the killer actually ended up being someone I never even considered yet when it was revealed it made total sense. WHO DO, VOODOO? is the first book in a new series from Rochelle Staab and I think this is one any mystery lover will enjoy.


I gave it 4/5 stars