Week in Review: 3/27-3/2

Books Received for Review

Artificial by Jadah McCoy
Cursed by Christina Bauer
Savage Urges by Suzanne Wright
Ancient Magic by Linsey Hall

Books I've Read

Replica by Shannon Mayer
The Park by Voss Foster
Artificial by Jadah McCoy
Bright Blaze of Magic by Jennifer Estep
Dark Forsaken by H.D. Smith
Cursed by Christina Bauer

Reviews Posted

House of Kings by Keary Taylor
The Great Hunt by Wendy Higgins
Waylaid by Kim Harrison

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

* Wednesday- Promo + Giveaway for Shadow Rites by Faith Hunter; Cover Reveal for Curse on the Land by Faith Hunter

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Early Review: Waylaid by Kim Harrison

Waylaid

Author: Kim Harrison

Release Date: April 4, 2016

Publisher: Pocket Star

ISBN:   150114555X

ISBN13: 9781501145551

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Review Copy Source: Publisher

Worlds collide when Rachel Morgan of The Hollows meets Peri Reed of The Drafter in this exciting new short story from #1 New York Times bestselling author Kim Harrison.

The paranormal and the futuristic meet in this thrilling novella featuring your favorite badass heroines from two of “the amazingly gifted” (RT Book Reviews) Kim Harrison’s most beloved series: the Hollows and the Peri Reed Chronicles. The magic of the Hollows runs full force into the technological sophistication of The Drafter when a device capable of carrying a city’s data stream pulls Rachel, the bounty hunter witch of the Hollows, between realities, marooning her in a world where the supernatural holds no sway. To get Rachel and Jenks home, Peri, the dangerous renegade of 2030, must decide what will chart her future: her blind trust in those who grant her power, or her intuition telling her to believe.

WAYLAID was short and sweet, but satisfying.

It was pretty neat seeing Rachel and Peri together. They both have great personalities and together they were pretty fun, add Jenks to the mix and it's a party. I liked how Harrison managed to blend the characters into Peri's world. Rachel was definitely not in her own time and place, but she handled it like I expected her to and it all was pretty smooth.

I really miss Rachel and I am not a huge fan of going backwards in story timelines, but Peri's part was still enjoyable and I liked seeing Rachel again after the ending of her series. I hope that Rachel and Jenks visit somehow plays a part in a later Peri novel.

I gave it 4/5 stars

* This book was provided free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Review: House of Kings by Keary Taylor

House of the Kings

Author: Keary Taylor

Release Date: March 8, 2016

Publisher: Keary Taylor Books

House of Royals Book #3

ISBN:  1530007569

ISBN13: 9781530007561

Genre: New Adult Fantasy

Review Copy Source: NetGalley

Alivia’s father left her a letter before he died, begging her to stay away from the King and the Royals. But it was a plea made in vain. She never could have run from this life, not when she might be Cyrus’ resurrected queen. The King has arrived in Silent Bend and with him, he brought the end to Alivia’s mortal life.

Uncontrollable bloodlust and an ever-shifting world rule her nights now. These twisted politics are deadly enough, but now her heart is the newest battleground. There’s no hiding from the one who hates everything she was born to, a spy who embraces everything she’s become, and a King who vies for someone she may soon remember.

The games have begun. The House of Conrath is growing. Blood will be shed, the bodies will fall. Alliances will be tested and old enemies look like harmless children compared to the new ones rising from the shadows.

The Kings arrival has been much anticipated and his visit in HOUSE OF KINGS didn't disappoint.

Alivia is now a vampire and the King has arrived to help her get her house in order. Alivia has brought in a lot of allies and they're all as ready as they can be for the Kings visit, but it's just as hard as they expected. There are a lot of twists and turns thrown into HOUSE OF KINGS and a lot of drama. The bitten vampires are adding to the drama by continuing to kill and turn townsfolk. The story line continues to intrigue me and the characters continue to develop.

**Small spoilers ahead, I don't mention names, but I mention my reaction to events that happened in HOUSE OF KINGS without giving all the details** Alivia made some pretty questionable choices in HOUSE OF KINGS and her choices led to someone really close to her leaving and moving on from her life. I have to say that this person leaving really broke my heart for Alivia. I don't know if she will ever get this person back, but I hope so. I was also really surprised by her allies at the end of HOUSE OF KINGS. I think they should have known better and I just didn't understand their reactions towards Alivia **End of spoilers**

I can't say I'm surprised by the ending events of HOUSE OF KINGS because it just seems like something that would happen after the King gets through with The House of Conrath, but I can say I was surprised by some others reactions. There is no way that I won't be reading HOUSE OF JUDGES in June.

I gave it 4/5 stars

* This book was provided free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Promo + Giveaway: Shadow Rites by Faith Hunter

Shadow Rites
Jane Yellowrock #10

Slaying vampires is child’s play for skinwalker Jane Yellowrock. But handling the complicated politics of New Orleans’ supernatural players is another story...

Jane is keeping the peace between visiting groups of witches and vamps in the city, but then trouble comes knocking on her doorstep. When her house is magically attacked, the wild chase to find her assailants unearths a mystery that has literally been buried deep.

A missing master vampire, presumed long deceased, is found chained in a pit...undead, raving mad, and in the company of two human bodies. Now it’s up to Jane to find out who kept the vampire hidden for so long and why, because the incident could tip already high supernatural tensions to an all-out arcane war.

Short Story pt.5:

IT’S JUST A DATE Part FIVE 

From the world of Jane Yellowrock

Copyright Faith Hunter

The purple smoke trailing along the middle of the aisle didn’t act like regular smoke. It didn’t spread out and dissipate into the room. It didn’t rise as if heated. It moved almost as if with purpose, in a straight line down the aisle, past our booth, toward the entrance of Stephan’s. And Commander Walker and his wife who were being seated. 

“Problem,” I said, interrupting the waiter’s patter.

“Witch working?” Bruiser asked. He had already seen the smoke.

I sniffed. “Smells like it.”

In an instant everyone moved. Bruiser ducked out and under the purple smoke, to the front of Stephan’s to warn the commander and start clearing the space. Eli went under the table instead of over it and was in the aisle before I noted he had moved, a small weapon at his thigh in a two-hand grip. In a fast, bent-kneed walk, he moved to the rear of the restaurant. The instant he was past, Wrassler stood and pushed the waiter down and to the side. “Get out!” he whispered in a stage whisper that carried through half the restaurant. Everyone nearby looked up. When they moved too slowly, he grabbed up the couple nearest, and started clearing the place physically. Syl followed Eli, weapon drawn. Jodi was calling in the local magical HazMat team. 

For once, I stayed seated and took pics, sending them to the Kid and to Molly, my BFF witch friend with the text, “Problems. Smoke spell. Suggestions?”

Instantly, I got a reply from Molly. “GET OUT!!!” All in caps with three exclamation marks. Instead, I darted into the kitchen and grabbed the head chef, a sous chef, a desert chef and three scullery types. With the words, “Terrorist attack. Get out and get under cover,” I shoved them toward the loading exit, an extra door directly from the kitchen into the delivery alley. Terrorists was a lie, but terrorist was much likely to result in compliance than saying magical attack.

“The burners!” the head chef said, pulling away. 

“I’ll get ‘em.” I yanked his collar and shoved harder to the back, bunching them into a herd and heaving them into the dark. Shutting the door so they’d think twice about coming back in.

I raced over and cut everything that was hot off. Cow! Beast thought. The smells were delish and Beast wanted to taste everything in every pan, especially the half-raw steak. I ignored her and spun back to the restaurant. 

But my way was blocked. By a purple wall of smoke.

 
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Faith Hunter, fantasy writer, was born in Louisiana and raised all over the south. She writes three Urban Fantasy series:  the Skinwalker series, featuring Jane Yellowrock, a Cherokee skinwalker who hunts rogue vampires. The Soulwood series, featuring earth magic user Nell Ingram. And the Rogue Mage novels, a dark, urban, post-apocalyptic, fantasy series featuring Thorn St. Croix, a stone mage. (There is a role playing game based on the series, ROGUE MAGE.)

Under the pen name Gwen Hunter, she writes action-adventure, mysteries, and thrillers. As Faith and Gwen, she has 30+ books in print in 29 countries.

Hunter writes full-time, tries to keep house, and is a workaholic with a passion for travel, jewelry making, white-water kayaking, and writing. She and her husband love to RV, traveling with their rescued Pomeranians to whitewater rivers all over the Southeast.

Find Faith online at www.faithhunter.net, her blog, on Twitter, Facebook, and Goodreads; also www.yellowrocksecurities.com, and www.gwenhunter.com.

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Tour Wide

1 complete set of the Jane Yellowrock series (all 10 novels!), plus one $100 Amazon or Barnes & Noble gift card.
http://www.ltpromos.com/2016/03/13/faith-hunters-shadow-rites-blog-tour/

US only, no PO Boxes

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Cover Reveal: Curse on the Land by Faith Hunter

Curse on the Land
Soulwood #2
November 1, 2016

Set in the same world as Faith Hunter’s New York Timesbestselling Jane Yellowrock novels, the second Soulwood novel tells the story of a woman whose power comes from deep within the earth...

Before Nell Ingram met skinwalker Jane Yellowrock, she had no one to rely on, finding strength only in in her arcane connection to the dark woods around her. But now she has friends in the newly-formed PsyLED team to keep her grounded—even if being part of the agency responsible for policing paranormals presents dangers of its own...

After training at the PsyLED academy, Nell returns home to her woods to find the land feeling sick and restless. And that sickness is spreading. With the help of her team, under the leadership of agent Rick LaFleur, Nell tries to determine the cause. But nothing can prepare them for the evil that awaits: an entity that feeds on death itself. And it wants more...

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Faith Hunter, fantasy writer, was born in Louisiana and raised all over the south. She writes three Urban Fantasy series:  the Skinwalker series, featuring Jane Yellowrock, a Cherokee skinwalker who hunts rogue vampires. The Soulwood series, featuring earth magic user Nell Ingram. And the Rogue Mage novels, a dark, urban, post-apocalyptic, fantasy series featuring Thorn St. Croix, a stone mage. (There is a role playing game based on the series, ROGUE MAGE.)

Under the pen name Gwen Hunter, she writes action-adventure, mysteries, and thrillers. As Faith and Gwen, she has 30+ books in print in 29 countries.

Hunter writes full-time, tries to keep house, and is a workaholic with a passion for travel, jewelry making, white-water kayaking, and writing. She and her husband love to RV, traveling with their rescued Pomeranians to whitewater rivers all over the Southeast.

Find Faith online at www.faithhunter.net, her blog, on Twitter, Facebook, and Goodreads; also www.yellowrocksecurities.com, and www.gwenhunter.com.

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New Releases: 3/27-4/2

Tue. March 29th

 A Tangle of Gold (The Colours of Madeleine #3) by Jaclyn Moriarty

 Battlestorm (Midgard #3) by Susan Krinard 

 Cursed (Beholder #1) by Christina Bauer

 Dark Energy by Robison Wells

 Dragon Soul (Black Dragons #3) by Katie MacAlister

 Half Lost (The Half Bad Trilogy #3) by Sally Green

 Hell of a Ride (Elsewhere #1) by Yolanda Sfetsos

 The Mortal Tally (Bring Down Heaven #2) by Sam Sykes 

 The Second Death (Los Nefilim #3) by T. Frohock

 The Undoing (Call of Crows #2) by Shelly Laurenston 

 The Winner's Kiss (The Winner's Trilogy #3) by Marie Rutkoski 

Happy Reading!

Review: The Great Hunt by Wendy Higgins

The Great Hunt

Author: Wendy Higgins

Release Date: March 8, 2016

Publisher: HarperTeen

Eurona Duology Book #1

ISBN:   0062381334

ISBN13: 9780062381330

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy

Review Copy Source: Edelweiss

When a strange beast terrorizes the kingdom of Lochlanach, fear stirs revolt. In an act of desperation, a proclamation is sent to all of Eurona—kill the creature and win the ultimate prize: the daughter of King Lochson’s hand in marriage.

Princess Aerity knows her duty to the kingdom but cannot bear the idea of marrying a stranger…until a brooding local hunter, Paxton Seabolt, catches her attention. There’s no denying the unspoken lure between them…or his mysterious resentment.

Paxton is not the marrying type. Nor does he care much for spoiled royals and their arcane laws. He’s determined to keep his focus on the task at hand—ridding the kingdom of the beast—but the princess continues to surprise him, and the perilous secrets he’s buried begin to surface.

Inspired by the Grimm Brothers’ tale “The Singing Bone,” New York Times bestselling author Wendy Higgins delivers a dark fantasy filled with rugged hunters, romantic tension, and a princess willing to risk all to save her kingdom.

With a nice fast pace and interesting storyline, THE GREAT HUNT was an intriguing fantasy with plenty of action and romance to complement the darker elements throughout.

Things I Liked: I actually really liked Aerity as a characters. She was willing to sacrifice her happiness for her kingdom. That isn't a small thing and I thought that she had a really good grasp on the reality of the situation her family and kingdom were in. Paxton was really moody, but he is loyal to his family and the kingdom he lives in. I can respect that.

A few other likable things. THE GREAT HUNT had a good amount of mystery to it. I love a good mystery. There was a great cast of secondary characters that helped keep things interesting. The world was great and well built.

The Issues: The romance ticked me off more than it made me swoon. Although I liked Paxton, he acted like a true arse to Aerity and did a lot of things to push her away even though he was attracted to her and wanted her. But the worst part was that Aerity actually liked it in some ways. Uggh, what is with that? Not cool.

Another issue. There was a lot of sitting around the castle. Even with the neat action scenes there was an equal amount of 'nothing going on' moments.

Even with the issues, I still enjoyed THE GREAT HUNT and wouldn't mind continuing with the next book to see how things work out for Aerity and Paxton. 

I gave it 3/5 stars

* This book was provided free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.