DNF's of 2018

 I really hate to give up on books so it isn't often that I mark a book as Did Not Finish (aka DNF). I only marked 2 books as DNF in 2018 and here is why. 

The Queens of Innis Lear

by Tessa Gratton

There seems to be a lot of fantastic reviews for this book, but after a few chapters, I just couldn't get into the story. I might try again in the future.

Branded 

by Abi Ketner

I don’t even know what to say about this book. I can't even begin to tell you how many WTF moments I had while reading. I wanted to love it, but it was extremely disappointing. I finally gave up about 1/2 of the way through it-after skimming for quite a while-and marked it as DNF.

Review: Scattered Plume by J.M. Miller

Scattered Plume

Author: J.M. Miller

Release Date: September 27, 2018

Publisher: Self-Published

Fallen Flame Book #2

ASIN:  B07HJCZ4L5

Genre: Fantasy

Review Copy Source: Author

In the wake of death and betrayal, Vala flees the island of Garlin with Xavyn in search of the truth about her identity.
To find the answers they seek, they must first cross The Divide—a mass of cloud and fog that has separated human lands from the rest of the world for hundreds of years. As they pass through what is meant to kill all who draw near, a surge of magic emerges, bringing death to some and more power to others. In turn, The Divide is weakened, the fog dissolving enough to reveal what lies beyond, reigniting thoughts of war between sides.

But the imminent collapse of The Divide isn’t the only thing concerning Vala and Xavyn. They discover what Vala needs the most is also what the Islain queen had been searching for—a feather. Not only could it help prevent war, it could restore Vala’s immortality despite all she has forgotten. Though there are others also searching, waiting for magic to return, prepared to risk it all for the same immortal goal.

I really enjoyed FALLEN FLAME, but SCATTERED PLUME didn't do much for me.

I found quite a bit of things to be confusing. I'm not sure if it was because I didn't remember everything that happened in FALLEN FLAME or if there just wasn't enough explaining. I'm leaning towards not enough explaining between info dumps and new character introductions.

I wasn't that into the romance of SCATTERED PLUME. I didn't feel their connection or really care if they ended up together or not. I just wasn't feeling it.

I'm on the fence about if I want to continue the series at this point. I probably won't unless something in the blurb really jumps out at me.

I gave it 2.5/5 stars

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

Quick Thought Review: The Phoenix Illusion by Lisa Shearin (@LisaShearin)

*Sometimes I read a book where I just don't have a lot to say about it. Hence the name quick thought review. This will be short and sweet.

The Phoenix Illusion

Author: Lisa Shearin

Release Date: November 6, 2018

Publisher: Murwood Media

SPI Files Book #6

ISBN:   1732722609

ISBN13: 9781732722606

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Review Copy Source: Author

The agents of Supernatural Protection & Investigation (SPI) are used to dealing with the weird and the wacky, but even they are stunned when a building from another world suddenly appears on an empty lot in New York. . .

I’m Makenna Fraser, seer for SPI, and it’s just my luck that my birthday party is literally crashed by a building from another planet. And it’s not just any building—it’s my goblin boyfriend’s house from his home world. SPI’s mission, to keep the public clueless about the supernatural, has us scrambling to find who did this and why, not to mention how.

The deeper we dig, the more we realize this incident is the opening gambit to a much larger event. Old enemies have combined forces with an even older nemesis to develop the means to kidnap an entire building and everyone in it. But who, or what, is their ultimate target? Finding out and getting to the mark before they do will require all hands on deck, including some extraterrestrial help from the goblin home world. We’re running out of time, and if we can’t get our act together, we’ll have front-row seats for the end of the world as we know it.

I'm a fan of the SPI Files series, but THE PHOENIX ILLUSION didn't blow me away.

What I liked: I enjoy watching Makenna and Rake's relationship grow. The overall story was interesting. I truly enjoy all the characters in this series.

What I didn't like: There was a LOT of explaining of past events and re-introductions of already known characters.

I honestly don't know 100% why I didn't totally love THE PHOENIX ILLUSION. It didn't grab me like the previous books in the series and had a different feel to it. Hopefully book 7 will draw me back in.

I gave it 3/5 stars

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

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, Season's Greetings....

Warm wishes to all! I hope no matter what holiday you are celebrating this month, that it's filled with family, friends, love and joy.

New Releases: 12/23-12/29

Tue. Dec. 25th

Nothing this week. Enjoy your holiday!!

Happy Reading!!

Week in Review: 12/16-12/22

Books Received for Review

Nothing this week!!!

Books I've Read

Ever After by Kim Harrison (Re-Read)
A Perfect Blood by Kim Harrison (Re-Read)
The Undead Pool by Kim Harrison (Re-Read)
The Witch With No Name by Kim Harrison (Re-Read)

Reviews Posted

Death Knell by Hailey Edwards (@HaileyEdwards, @PiatkusBooks)
Captive of Darkness by Debbie Cassidy (@amoscassidy)
The Dragon Tamer by Ava Richardson

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

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

* Wednesday- Deck the Halls w/ Books Holiday Extravaganza: The Dear Departed by Anne Roebuck (@RoxanneRhoads)

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* Did you know you can follow UFI on these other sites?

BlogLovin

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You can also add me (as in Stacy) to your friends on these sites if you're on them.

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

Quick Thought Review: The Dragon Tamer by Ava Richardson

Sometimes I read a book where I just don't have a lot to say about it. Hence the name quick thought review. This will be short and sweet.

The Dragon Tamer

Author: Ava Richardson

Release Date: October 31, 2018

Publisher: Self-Published

Alveria Dragon Academy Book #1

ASIN: B07HSYHMFP

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy

Review Copy Source: NetGalley

A kingdom divided cannot stand. For those caught in the middle, it means death.


For centuries humans and dragons existed side by side in Alveria, bonded by their care of one another. But no longer. After decades with no viable eggs, humans far outnumber dragons, and the survival of the species appears bleak. The outlook for everyday humans is little better as rogue dragons raid and torment villages. Yet it’s far worse for the tamers, beaten and killed simply for serving the noble dragons.


But eking by at the bottom of Alverian society isn’t any easier for seventeen-year-old Kaelan Younger. Harder still when her loyalty to the dragon crown is no secret. But when her dying mother reveals a horrifying truth about her identity, Kaelan is thrust into a world for which she is ill prepared.


Faced with a new life at the proving grounds for humans and dragons alike, Kaelan must reconcile not just her past but embrace the future laid out before her. When her responsibilities as an Akademy tamer collide with her feelings for a powerful dragon shifter, it will take everything she has to prepare for the danger threatening them both. The fate of the dragons she has sworn to serve rests in her hands.

Now Kaelan is no longer an outsider.

She’s the enemy.

I really enjoyed the beginning of THE DRAGON TAMER and had no problem getting into the story, the middle was a bit slow and I found myself drifting, but it did pick up again towards the end.

The plot was very intriguing, the characters were interesting, but the romance was too YA for me and took up more of the book than I would have prefered.

I probably won't read more, but I enjoyed THE DRAGON TAMER.

I gave it 3/5 stars

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