Review: Dark Oracle by Alayna Williams

Dark Oracle
Author:Alayna Williams
Release Date: May 25, 2010
Publisher: Pocket
Oracle Book #1
ISBN: 1439182795
ISBN13: 9781439182796
Genre: Urban Fantasy


TARA SHERIDAN HAS A GIFT . . . AND IT ALMOST KILLED HER. 
 As a criminal profiler, Tara used science and her intuitive skill at Tarot card divination to track down the dangerous and depraved, including the serial killer who left her scarred from head to toe. Since that savage attack, Tara has been a recluse. But now an ancient secret society known as Delphi’s Daughters has asked for her help in locating missing scientist Lowell Magnusson. And Tara, armed with her Tarot deck, her .38, and a stack of misgivings, agrees to try. 

Tara immediately senses there is far more at stake than one man’s life. At his government lab in the New Mexico desert, Magnusson had developed groundbreaking technology with terrifying potential. Working alongside the brusque but charismatic agent Harry Li, Tara discovers that Magnusson’s daughter, Cassie, has knowledge that makes her a target too. The more Tara sees into the future, the more there is to fear. She knows she has to protect Cassie. But there may be no way to protect herself—from the enemies circling around her, or from the long-buried powers stirring to life within. . . .



DARK ORACLE is fast paced, filled with great characters, action, mystery, and science with a touch of romance on the side. The main character and storyteller is Tara who is a Oracle who gets her intuitions and predictions from her tarot cards. She uses her tarot cards throughout the story and everything is explained expertly to help bring you better understanding of the tarot so you aren't completely lost. Tara is also a retired Criminal profiler so there is a ton of law enforcement type investigating. All together a great new Urban Fantasy.


I gave it 4/5 Stars

Early Review: Demon Song by Cat Adams

Demon Song
Author:Cat Adams
Release Date: March 1, 2011
Publisher: Tor
Blood Singer Book #3
ISBN:  0765324962
ISBN13: 9780765324962
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Review Copy Source: Publisher for Review 


In a world where magic is real and the supernatural is almost normal, bodyguard Celia Graves has survived a vampire attack which made her a half-vampire and awakened her latent Siren abilities. She’s battled a Siren Queen to the death and twice faced down a demon that wants to kill her--slowly. She’s also had her heart broken--twice--by her old flame, magician Bruno DeLuca.

Perhaps the worst thing was the discovery that Celia’s life has been warped by a curse laid on her during childhood--the cause of everything from the death of her little sister to the murder of her best friend the same night that Celia became an Abomination.

An ancient rift between the demonic dimension and our own--sealed during the destruction of Atlantis--begins to open, threatening to loose all the demons of hell on humanity (including the one personally bent on destroying Celia). Celia’s hellish recent experiences have given her the unique combination of abilities needed to close the rift. But to overcome the curse, which nearly guarantees her failure, she’ll need to join forces with people she no longer trusts...and put people she has come to care about directly in harm’s way.  

I have really enjoyed reading all the books in the Blood Singer series. Celia just can't catch a break, even though there are so many people against her she still is the one to always save the day and shes resilient enough to keep her head up. If you have enjoyed the other books in this series you wont be disappointing in continuing it. The drama and romance is kicked up a notch with a love triangle, the action is continued while Celia continues to kick the bad guys back to where they came from. She has fantastic loyal friends by her side to help her at every turn. We get some sad closure on some things and new beginnings with others. The ending makes it clear that Celia still isn't going to catch that break she so deserves in book 4 and I can't wait to see what she does next.

I gave it 4/5 stars

Review: Etched in Bone by Adrian Phoenix

Etched in Bone
Author:Adrian Phoenix
Release Date: January 22, 2011
Publisher: Pocket
The Makers Song Book #4
ISBN:  1439137307
ISBN13: 9781439137307
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Review Copy Source: Publisher for Book Tour


SON OF A FALLEN ANGEL. FORGED IN VAMPIRE’S BLOOD. SWORN TO A MORTAL WOMAN. IF DANTE FALLS, THE WORLD FALLS WITH HIM. . . .
  THREE LEGACIES ETCHED IN BONE

More beautiful and powerful than any creature the world has ever seen, Dante Baptiste has become the supreme target of the three worlds that spawned him. The mortal agents of the Shadow Branch have tried to control his mind through psychological torture. The vampire elders who guide nightkind society have plotted to use him in their bloodthirsty bid for power. And the Fallen have waited for millennia for Dante to claim his birthright as their Maker. But Dante belongs to no one—except the woman he loves. . . .

ONE PASSION SWORN IN BLOOD

Determined to face the Fallen and the world on his own terms, Dante hopes to piece together his shattered past and claim his future, with FBI agent Heather Wallace at his side. But in Heather’s human family awaits an unexpected enemy. One who could rip Heather from Dante’s heart and fill the holes with bullets. One who could force Dante to choose his darkest destiny—as the Great Destroyer. . . .

Adrian Phoenix absolutely rocks but OMG the frustration she makes me go through. Why am I frustrated? Because this is one of those book starts at one point and ends at the same point so that you read through the whole book devouring all the information and awesomeness only to find out you will have to wait for the next book to get the details you want so darn bad. AHHHHH. This is one of those reviews I'm having a hard time writing because of spoilers. ETCHED IN BONE is fast paced, the writing style is brilliant as always to bring you book full of suspense, action and great dialogue. I love Adrian Phoenix's books but I really hope book 5 doesn't leave me as frustrated at the end.


I gave it 4/5 stars

Review: A Touch Mortal by Leah Clifford

A Mortal Touch
Author:Leah Clifford
Release Date: February 22, 2011
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Planned Trilogy Book #1
ISBN:  0062004999
ISBN13: 9780062004994
Genre: Young Adult
Review Copy Source: Goodreads First-reads win

Eden didn't expect Az. 

Not his saunter down the beach toward her. Not his unbelievable pick-up line. Not the instant, undeniable connection. And not his wings. 

Yeah. 

So long, happily-ever-after. 

Now trapped between life and death, cursed to spread chaos with her every touch, Eden could be the key in the eternal struggle between heaven and hell. All because she gave her heart to one of the Fallen, an angel cast out of heaven. 

She may lose everything she ever had. She may be betrayed by those she loves most. But Eden will not be a pawn in anyone else's game. Her heart is her own. 

And that's only the beginning of the end. 



I had a hard time getting into A TOUCH MORTAL. I found myself wanting to put it down or skip sections throughout most of the book. It was a bit confusing at times and there are a lot of names to keep track of that are kinda just thrown into it without enough explanation. I enjoyed the main characters personalities and the storyline was unique. There is a lot of action towards the end which was nice, but the first half of the book seamed to drag and drag. I also wasn't crazy about the ending, I felt there was still a lot left undone which left me unsatisfied. I'm at a loss of anything else to say It just wasn't for me I guess. I dont think I will continue the series at this point but I will check out the blurb for book 2 when it comes out.



I gave it 2.5/5 stars

New Releases Feb 21-Feb 27

Tuesday Feb 22 

  American Vampire by Jennifer Armintrout
A Touch Mortal by Leah Clifford

Darkest Mercy (Wicked Lovely #5) by Melissa Marr 
Darkness Becomes Her (Gods & Monsters #1) by Kelly Keaton
Dead Waters (Simon Canderous #4) by Anton Strout 
Etched in Bone (The Makers Song #4) by Adrian Phoenix
Green Eyed Demon (Sabina Kane #3) by Jaye Wells
Haven by Kristi Cook  
How to Flirt with a Naked Werewolf (Naked Werewolf #1) by Molly Harper

Hunger Untamed (Feral Warriors #5) by Pamela Palmer
Iron Crowned (Dark Swan #3)by Richelle Mead
The Iron Thorn (Iron Codex #1) by Caitlin Kittredge
Pale Demon (Rachel Morgan/ The Hollows #9) by Kim Harrison
Rogue Oracle (Oracle #2) by Alayna Williams  
Serpent's Storm (Calliope Reaper-Jones #3) by Amber Benson
This Side of the Grave (Night Huntress #5) by Jeaniene Frost 
Xombies: Apocalypso (Xombies #3) by Walter Greatshell

 If you see a mistake or know of another release that is not listed let me know!! Happy Reading

What are you Reading??

This was pretty popular last week for the first time so I thought I would do it again this week. 

I am currently reading Dead on Delivery by Eileen Rendahl

Review: Aftertime by Sophie Littlefield

Aftertime
Author:Sophie Littlefield
Release Date: February 22, 2011
Publisher: Luna
ISBN:   0373803362
ISBN13: 9780373803361
Genre: Dystopian
Review Copy Source: Netgalley.com


The world’s gone.
Worse, so is her daughter.

Awakening in a bleak landscape as scarred as her body, Cass Dollar vaguely recalls surviving something terrible. Having no idea how many days—or weeks—have passed, she slowly realizes the horrifying truth: Ruthie has vanished.

And with her, nearly all of civilization. Where once-lush hills carried cars and commerce, the roads today see only cannibalistic Beaters—people turned hungry for human flesh by a government experiment gone wrong.

In a broken, barren California, Cass will undergo a harrowing quest to get her Ruthie back. Few people trust an outsider, let alone a woman who became a zombie and somehow turned back, but she finds help from an enigmatic outlaw, Smoke. Smoke is her savior, and her safety. For the Beaters are out there. And the humans grip at survival with their trigger fingers. Especially when they learn that she and Ruthie have become the most feared, and desired, of weapons in a brave new world...

 What a fabulous book set in an apocalyptic world.  From the beginning AFTERTIME had me glued to the pages. Cass has a troubled past and was trying to make herself better to get her daughter back in her custody when the world went to hell. She wakes up in the middle of nowhere, in pain and scarred having lost a bunch of time and not knowing what happened to her daughter. She doesn't trust anyone or let anyone in and prefers to be on her own. Smoke is a mysterious man that offers to help Cass find her daughter for his own reasons. This book seriously rocked. I have not read many Zombie books but if they are anything like AFTERTIME I think I will have to start reading them more. Emotional, shocking, high-stakes, zombie filled awesomeness is in your future if you pick up this book!! And YAY its the first in a series.

 I gave it 5/5 stars