Eurona Duology #1 The Great Hunt

Presenting Eurona Duology #1 The Great Hunt by Wendy Higgins.

Here is the summary of the book:

“Aerity…” Her father paused as if the words he was forming pained him. “I must ask you to sacrifice the promise of love for the sake of our kingdom.”

She could only stare back, frozen.

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.

'Kill the Beast. Win the Girl'. Simple enough task it may seem but what happens when the beast is a monster of magic and lore. The Great Hunt by Wendy Higgins is not only my first book from the author but it is also the re-imaging of the fariytale 'The Singing Bone'. And she does a marvelous job of not only reconstructing the elements from the 'old' but producing an equally adventurous 'new' story. I haven't had the chance of reading her Sweet series or her self-published works yet but The Great Hunt proved a spitfire find.

With a splendid eye to details, the author brings Lochlanach to life. In every way a peaceful country, if not without the attacking monsters to account for. Laying waste to innocent lives, shrouding them all in a constant panic of a vicious beast that only attacks at night. Desperate times call for desperate measures. A hunt is organized, inviting hunters to take a shot at killing the beast. The winner receiving the hand of the Princess Aerity in marriage. Where the royal family has no strict reservations against marriage for love but the safety of their subjects taking precedence. Princess Aerity proved a great protagonist like that.

Aerity was a great heroine. She maybe royalty but she didn't seem high-handed like they all think royals are. Selfless, kind, loyal, and an all round spitfire. She wants to marry for love, like her parents but knows her duty well. Somehow strong, silent, broody hunter Paxton Seabolt attracts her attention. He entered the hunt with his brother Tiern and they are in it to destroy the monster, not for the Princess. There exists a bit of a mysterious aura around Paxton. He maybe perpetually grumpy but is a competent hunter and really not all that he seems.

Aerity and Paxton lead the charge over a very subtle and sweet romance. Its slow and its excruciating. Gradually developing, kicking and screaming as we proceed into the story. Something about Paxton attracts Aerity from the first glance. Paxton thinks her proud and conceited but attractive too. He just can't help teasing her and she just can't help singling him out. Thank God for no triangles.

Its been sometime since I have read 'The Singing Bone' but I remember what it was about and definitely loved all the twists and the turns she (author) employs here. Family and relations played a huge part in this tale. The royal family is pretty big and siblings and cousins all playing their roles help further the story Of note is Aerity's cousin Lady Wyneth. It is with her the story begins when the beast kills her betrothed. Thus establishing what was at stake.

Well paced and nicely proportioned. The Great Hunt is the first part of the Eurona Duology and I loved every part of it. Especially after that shocker ending ... the sequel better come soon. I am so excited to see what happens.

"Spellbinding & Enthralling. This is a fantasy to be savored"

Genre :     Young Adult, High Fantasy, Romance

Publisher: Harper Teen

Release Date: 8th March, 2016

My Copy: publisher & edelweiss

Rate:             4/5 (Really Liked It)

Buy:         Amazon | Book Depository 

Elementals #1 The Prophecy of Shadows

Presenting Elementals #1 The Prophecy of Shadows by Michelle Madow.

Here is the summary of the book:

Witches are real. They're descendants of the Olympian gods. And now, five teen witches gifted with elemental powers must fight to stop a war against the Titans.

When Nicole Cassidy moves from sunny Georgia to gloomy New England, the last thing she expects is to learn that her homeroom is a cover for a secret coven of witches. Even more surprisingly ... she's apparently a witch herself. Despite doubts about her newfound abilities, Nicole is welcomed into this ancient circle of witches and is bedazzled by their powers--and, to her dismay, by Blake--the school's notorious bad-boy.

Girls who get close to Blake wind up hurt. His girlfriend Danielle will do anything to keep them away, even if she must resort to using dark magic. But the chemistry between Blake and Nicole is undeniable, and despite wanting to protect Nicole from Danielle's wrath, he finds it impossible to keep his distance.

When the Olympian Comet shoots through the sky for the first time in three thousand years, Nicole, Blake, Danielle, and two others in their homeroom are gifted with mysterious powers over the elements. But the comet has another effect--it opens the portal to the prison world that has contained the Titans for centuries. After an ancient monster escapes and attacks Nicole and Blake, it's up to them and the others to follow the clues from a cryptic prophecy so that they can save their town ... and possibly the world.

Mix Harry Potter, Percy Jackson, Greek Mythology and your modern American public schools and you get Michelle Madow's latest offering the Elementals series with the first book, 'The Prophecy of Shadows'. After transcendent romance and nuances of LA high society. Madow next looks towards Greek Mythology in the modern era. From what I understand she began this story way before but only now publishing it.

So the Greek Gods are real. Witches are real as well and they are the descendants of the Gods. And Nicole Cassidy just happens to find herself smack-dab in the middle of all this madness. She was a pretty likeable protagonist. Moving to a new place and making all those connections are hard enough but Nicole finds out about a supposedly hidden part of herself there. That she has magic in her blood ..... Totally a whole new angle to get used to.

She had a good head on her shoulder. Brave and kind. And very very powerful. She knows how to deal with those around her. She catches the interest of the smoldering hot Blake and there were instant attraction there but she knows he has a girlfriend, Danielle so she backs off. She also finds a friend in Kate and Chris. Through coincidence or providence them 5 come together under the passing Olympian Comet unlocking powers that sets destiny in motion, throwing their thought controlled magic out of wack.

Really liked how the author implemented the color spectrum and meditation as the basics of her story. Earth, Fir, Water, Air and Aether (or Spirit) are the ethical building blocks of life and the group unlocking such abilities and going on a scavenger hunt for a prophecy that is precursor to events of the future was an exciting endeavor. I didn't really like how the prophecy is worded. It felt too generic when all the other examples in other much more famous ones for the poetic way. Maybe filled with cliches and the writing may seem too simple at times but it was a fun and a very quick read. More than excited for the sequel The Blood of Hydra which comes out in April.

"Magical and Mythical. With the promise of a grand adventure"

Genre :      Young Adult, Paranormal, Mythology, Romance, Urban Fantasy

Publisher: Dreamscape Publishing

Release Date: 26th January, 2016

My Copy: publisher & netgalley

Rate:              4/5 (Really Liked It)

Other Books from the author (review links):
                Transcend Time #1 #1.5 #2 
               The Secret Diamond Sisters #1
           
Buy:           Amazon | Book Depository 

The Aryavarta Chronicles #3 Kurukshetra

Presenting The Aryavarta Chronicles #3 Kurukshetra by Krishna Udaysankar.

Here is the summary of the book:

War is upon the realm, but is Aryavarta prepared for what will follow? As a bitter struggle begins to gain control of the divided empire that was once Aryavarta, Krishna Dwaipayana Vyasa of the Firstborn and the Secret Keeper of the Firewrights can only watch as their own blood, their kin, savage and kill on the fields of Kurukshetra. Restraint and reason have deserted the rulers who once protected the land and they manipulate, scheme and kill with abandon - for victory is all that matters. At the heart of the storm stands Govinda Shauri, driven by fickle allies and failed kings, to the very brink of darkness. Reforging the forsaken realm in the fire of his apocalyptic wrath, he is prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice of them all for the sake of one last hope: that humanity will rise, that there will be revolution. The spectacular, entrancing final episode of The Aryavarta Chronicles recreates the world of the Mahabharata with formidable power and imagination.

The decisive battle between the Kauravas & the Pandavas. 'Kurukshetra' entitles the final chapter of the Aryavarta Chronicles  following the previous 2 books 'Govinda' and 'Kauravas'. We have all grown up reading or watching Mahabharta on the television in all of its mytho-historical glory. Krishna Udaysankar not only held a cohesive plot till the end but also managed to tell this huge, complex tale without the mythos.

Not a re-telling but more of a re-imaging can be observed as she tells a de-mystified version of the epic saga. Its the battle of the Firstborns (the sages) and the Firewrights (the scientists). The Divine Order and the right of democracy. Political greed and unholy desires. And the scheming of the court life. Not only does she manages to keep her story well paced through the thick and the thin but also gives rhyme and reason to instances and scenes of the tale that would have defied impossibility.

No longer is Syoddhan (Duryodhan) the bad guy and neither is Dharma (Yudhisthir) the good one. Nothing ever exists in black and white, always the grey is there to shuffle things around. And that is what the author skillfully portrayed throughout the pages, taking instances from the text and churning out something that is reasonable and equally exquisite. It is not really necessary to know the story of Mahabharata before you read this series but it is beneficial to co-relate if you do.

Much goes in the preparations of war. That is beautifully portrayed in the first half of the book as both sides scramble to acquire allies and troops for the war. The 18 days war was no less elegant and Udaysankar's play on words described all the nuances in stark details. Every maneuver, every formation, every action taken and the resulting deaths stood the test of courage. At heart this is a battle as i had already said between the Firstborns and the Firewrights, with the tale of the Kauravas and the Pandavas unfolding right along.

Really the best conclusion afforded to the series. Krishna Udaysankar's Aryavarta Chronicles put to shame every other re-telling of the epic modern authors and playwrights have even hoped to put out there .... And the identity of the secret keeper is finally revealed. So there is that to look forward to as well in this glorious finale.

"An extravagantly monumental finale"

Genre :      Historical Fiction, Mythology, Indian Literature

Publisher: Hachette India

Release Date: 10th December, 2014

My Copy: Hachette India

Rate:              4/5 (Really Liked It)

Books in the series (review links):
              #1 Govinda 
              #2 Kaurava

Buy:           Amazon | Flipkart

Charlotte Holmes #1 A Study in Charlotte

Presenting Charlotte Holmes #1 A Study in Charlotte Brittany Cavallaro.

Here is the summary of the book:

The last thing sixteen-year-old Jamie Watson–writer and great-great-grandson of the John Watson–wants is a rugby scholarship to Sherringford, a Connecticut prep school just an hour away from his estranged father. But that’s not the only complication: Sherringford is also home to Charlotte Holmes, the famous detective’s enigmatic, fiercely independent great-great-granddaughter, who’s inherited not just his genius but also his vices, volatile temperament, and expertly hidden vulnerability. Charlotte has been the object of his fascination for as long as he can remember–but from the moment they meet, there’s a tense energy between them, and they seem more destined to be rivals than anything else.

Then a Sherringford student dies under suspicious circumstances ripped straight from the most terrifying of the Holmes stories, and Jamie and Charlotte become the prime suspects. Convinced they’re being framed, they must race against the police to conduct their own investigation. As danger mounts, it becomes clear that nowhere is safe and the only people they can trust are each other.

Equal parts tender, thrilling, and hilarious, A Study in Charlotte is the first in a trilogy brimming with wit and edge-of-the-seat suspense.

Its Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson. Its mystery. Its a deadly chase. Its a tribute. And its a gender bender. Coming along a long of line of adaptations is Cavallaro's A Study in Charlotte. This is a world where Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson are real, their adventures are real and all the more exciting. Of course, yes gender bender-done before, most notable being the show Elementary, and the novel series Lock & Mori (haven't read it yet) but Charlotte Holmes and James Watson are a pair onto themselves.

Descendants of the legendary sleuth and his partner-in-crime, the good doctor. They may be far from London but they still manage to get tangled in a mystery. The enemy, I won't name, proved a fitting adversary enacting said crimes in a manner of both Charlotte and Jamie's ancestors' cases. Framing the duo for lack of a better word. Thus leading them on a merry chase both physically and mentally in a bid to uncover the truth and clear their names.

It is fun to watch as our Holmes & Watson fumble and stumble through the clues in search of the truth. They may be the descendants but are definitely not carbon copies of them. An overall dynamic duo. They portray a multiple of other traits that keeps the tale exciting. Calculating, analytical, alone and aloof Charlotte Holmes and dreamer and budding writer Jamie Watson. And they strike this unlikely friendship with its constant pitfalls and enlightenment as you would expect a Holmes & Watson friendship to be. With the idea of immanence to the mix.

Most of all they are not perfect in anyway at all and likewise not true copies of their ancestors .... but that is definitely a good thing. Establishing their own identities through Brittany Cavallaro's words, they are a charming pair, terribly flawed and their own closet full of skeletons ...... So my only complaint was the infodumps cited at various instances during the book felt too cumbersome but other than that I am totally on board with this brand new incarnation of Holmes & Watson.

"Scintillating new take on a gender-bended Holmes & Watson. The game is on"

Genre :     Young Adult, Mystery, Suspense, Contemporary, Romance

Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books

Release Date: 1st March, 2016

My Copy: publisher & edelweiss

Rate:             4/5 (Really Liked It)

Buy:         Amazon | Book Depository 

Burning Glass #1 Burning Glass

Presenting Burning Glass #1 Burning Glass by Kathryn Purdie.

Here is the summary of the book:

Sonya was born with the rare gift to feel what those around her feel—both physically and emotionally—a gift she’s kept hidden from the empire for seventeen long years. After a reckless mistake wipes out all the other girls with similar abilities, Sonya is hauled off to the palace and forced to serve the emperor as his sovereign Auraseer.

Tasked with sensing the intentions of would-be assassins, Sonya is under constant pressure to protect the emperor. One mistake, one small failure, will cost her own life and the lives of the few people left in the world who still trust her.

But Sonya’s power is untamed and reckless, her feelings easily usurped, and she sometimes can’t decipher when other people’s impulses end and her own begin. In a palace full of warring emotions and looming darkness, Sonya fears that the biggest danger to the empire may be herself.

As she struggles to wrangle her abilities, Sonya seeks refuge in her tenuous alliances with the volatile Emperor Valko and his idealistic younger brother, Anton, the crown prince. But when threats of revolution pit the two brothers against each other, Sonya must choose which brother to trust—and which to betray.

BURNING GLASS is debut author Kathryn Purdie’s stunning tale of dangerous magic, heart-rending romance, and the hard-won courage it takes to let go.

Not sure what the title means in context of the plot but Burning Glass by Kathryn Purdie offers a marvelous world building, beautiful writing within its pages and a protagonist who can sense the emotions of those around her. Auraseers they are called and they are a prized commodity in the kingdom. But Sonya is a special case even amongst her unusual peers. Not only the living but also the dead, she can sense them. That in itself is unusual. Of course, she was brought to the convent 8 months prior, so hadn't had the means of controlling her erratic powers yet.

When an accident leads to her being the only Auraseer left of the right age. She is thrust in the heart of the royal court and appointed the royal auraseer of the Emperor.But the capital is a much more populated area than the convent was, the royal court much much dangerous. And Sonya has her work cut out for her trying to separate what she is feeling in context to everyone does around her. There is the manipulative Emperor Valko and the brooding Prince Anton to consider as well. Sonya is seemingly out of her depths and more than ever realizes that as well.

While I understand Sonya's plight and appreciate her efforts I also didn't like how she just always got swept by the emotions of those her. Especially the Emperor's as she always soaked on his raging emotions and it always feels like she didn't have control over herself at all. Of course then she meets the Prince and like always finds her center. I like flawed characters as a whole because they offer a certain amount of dimensionality to the plot but i'm not really sold on a protagonist who always gets swept away by the intentions of those around her.

The romance was another part I didn't like here. It appears as a love triangle at first but painstakingly moving through the pages it becomes quite clear who Sonya prefers but I didn't like what I found on the way. The synopsis also proclaims that Sonya chooses one of the brothers to trust but it actually becomes quite clear that one she trusted as always and the other just wanted to get physical with her.

Although, alls well that ends well. The ending is quite hopeful and happy but it left a lot of things undone. I especially wanted Sonya to atleast use her seers abilities to save Valko's life during the story and be a little less needy whenever she was near him. There is also no clear villain here. The Emperor maybe portrayed as such but he was only your average ambitious King taught to do things in a certain way since infancy. And Anton the revolutionary Prince who only wanted everyone to have equal rights .... Just a suggestions if the author had told the story in three separate point of views including flashbacks from the time Anton and Valko spent away from their home ..... Maybe things would have been more interesting then. But no I am not completely sold out on Purdie's debut but i'll reserve my judgement for the sequel.

"Great plot and a marvelous world but didn't hold my fancy" 

Genre :     Young Adult, High Fantasy, Romance

Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books

Release Date: 1st March, 2016

My Copy: publisher & edelweiss

Rate:             3/5 (Liked It)

Buy:         Amazon | Book Depository 

Ravenspire #1 The Shadow Queen

Presenting Ravenspire #1 The Shadow Queen by C.J. Redwine.

Here is the summary of the book:

Lorelai Diederich, crown princess and fugitive at large, has one mission: kill the wicked queen who took both the Ravenspire throne and the life of her father. To do that, Lorelai needs to use the one weapon she and Queen Irina have in common—magic. She’ll have to be stronger, faster, and more powerful than Irina, the most dangerous sorceress Ravenspire has ever seen.

In the neighboring kingdom of Eldr, when Prince Kol’s father and older brother are killed by an invading army of magic-wielding ogres, the second-born prince is suddenly given the responsibility of saving his kingdom. To do that, Kol needs magic—and the only way to get it is to make a deal with the queen of Ravenspire, promise to become her personal huntsman…and bring her Lorelai’s heart.

But Lorelai is nothing like Kol expected—beautiful, fierce, and unstoppable—and despite dark magic, Lorelai is drawn in by the passionate and troubled king. Fighting to stay one step ahead of the dragon huntsman—who she likes far more than she should—Lorelai does everything in her power to ruin the wicked queen. But Irina isn’t going down without a fight, and her final move may cost the princess the one thing she still has left to lose.

Snow White meets Snow White & the Huntsman & Once Upon A Time (Tv show). The Shadow Queen by C.J. Redwine puts in a new twist to the classic of Snow White. Part of a series, each a standalone (as far a I know) called Ravenspire ..... and I will definitely not be able to see apples the same way again.

Lorelai was a strong protagonist, possess an analytical mind, with a penchant for over thinking the situation. She has something the conventional Snow White never did, magic. After the tragedy Lorelai, her brother Leo and their guard flee the castle, bidding their time and amassing support before they make their play. In a very Robin Hood-esque way they steal from the Queen and give to the people suffering starvation. A well laid plan but then Prince Charming enters and all of her well laid plans go astray.

Kol, the new King of the neighboring kingdom is a dragon (cool). More like he is a human, who can also shift to a dragon form. Their country is facing extinction against the horde of Giant. In a bid to gain support Kol enters Ravenspire thinking with its widespread drought & starvation they would claimer to get all the help needed ..... but he realizes the futility of the situation, when in return the Queen traps him to hunt Lorelai down and bring back her heart.

Gorgeous writing from Redwine. The world building was also very well placed and the characters were very well placed about the plot. While Lorelai was all that is analytical and aggressive and somewhat proud. Kol was all charm with the added dragon. It also wasn't insta romance but a gradual build-up and I loved experiencing their journey through the pages. The magical showdown throughout the pages were epic enough to set our hearts racing and rooting for the good.

But really that was all of it. Somehow I still got bored through the ordeal a lot. Really the good guys were just good and the bad guys felt just as bad. Even the evil Queen didn't really have much to add just that she breached new levels of evil with pretty much everything she did. Where was the dynamics, the hidden spices in their characteristics. They don't really add anything new to what's been done, so many times before.

So, verdict is good .... but it just didn't have that feeling of excellent to it but i'm definitely looking forward to the next story in the series.

"An exciting magical take on Snow White. And there are Dragons too"

Genre :     Young Adult, Fairytale re-telling, Romance, High Fantasy

Publisher: Balzer + Bray

Release Date: 16th February, 2016

My Copy: publisher & edelweiss

Rate:             3/5 (Liked It)

Buy:         Amazon | Book Depository 

Reign of Shadows #1 Reign of Shadows

Presenting Reign of Shadows #1 Reign of Shadows by Sophie Jordan.

Here is the summary of the book:

Seventeen years ago, an eclipse cloaked the kingdom of Relhok in perpetual darkness. In the chaos, an evil chancellor murdered the king and queen and seized their throne. Luna, Relhok’s lost princess, has been hiding in a tower ever since. Luna’s survival depends on the world believing she is dead.

But that doesn’t stop Luna from wanting more. When she meets Fowler, a mysterious archer braving the woods outside her tower, Luna is drawn to him despite the risk. When the tower is attacked, Luna and Fowler escape together. But this world of darkness is more treacherous than Luna ever realized.

With every threat stacked against them, Luna and Fowler find solace in each other. But with secrets still unspoken between them, falling in love might be their most dangerous journey yet.

Rapunzel meets 30 Days of Night (movie, without the vampires). An eclipse cloaked the world in shadows and the monsters from deep within the depths of the Earth have come out to stay.Sophie Jordan's latest presentation Reign of Shadows has it all. An eye catching cover. A strong plot and very very strong characters to drive the plot forward. This is pure and simply a post apocalyptic dystopia as the denizens make ends meet to survive this Reign of Shadows.

The strong survive and the weak suffer. Miss Jordan has presented here a bleak and terrible era for humanity. A cut throat world in earnest is where the story begins with Luna, the lost princess of Relhok, hidden way in the mystery tower with her aides when the world began to grow dark. Not purely Rapunzel but our story takes its queue from the classic. Luna was a breath of fresh air. She is strong, agile and remarkably vigilant to everything that happens around her. Fiercely loyal and stubborn. She knows she must forevermore stay hidden and stay safe but she doesn't want that. She was something else. Something more.

There is something about Luna that endears us to her. So vulnerable, yet so strong. So different yet just extraordinary. A light in the darkness. She is something different than what we usually see amongst heroines of this genre and I love her dearly for it. She may have been coddled and sheltered her entire life but she definitely knows to grab the opportunity when it rises and I respect her for it.

Our gruff and strong protagonist is Fowler. The tall and stern guy with his own closet full of secrets to carry around. Comes off as cruel at first. But it soon becomes apparent that he carries great sorrows in his heart. He believes staying alone and not forming attachments is how you survive in this world. But gradually Luna penetrates that thick shell and out comes a vulnerability and sense of protectiveness that warms not just us reader but Luna too.

A selfless soul, Fowler may have taken her with him at first to repay a debt but through their journey they reach newer heights together in this dying world. A burgeoning slow building romance that helps to balance the dark and dreary that surrounds them. The world building was appropriately proportioned and the plot well paced through the pages. A lot of question were raised her which i'm hoping the sequel would address ....... That brutal cliffhanger though ...... is definitely making me desperate.

"Dark and the apocalyptic. Sophie Jordan ensnares us with this brand new and thrilling beginnings"

Genre :      Young Adult, Post-Apocalyptic, Dystopia, Romance, Fairytale re-telling, High Fantasy

Publisher: Harper Teen

Release Date: 9th February, 2016

My Copy: publisher & edelweiss

Rate:              5/5 (It was Awesome)

Other Books from the author I have read:
                       (review links)
           
Buy:           Amazon | Book Depository 

The Diviners #2 Lair of Dreams

Presenting The Diviners #2 Lair of Dreams by Libba Bray.

Here is the summary of the book:

The longing of dreams draws the dead, and this city holds many dreams.

After a supernatural showdown with a serial killer, Evie O’Neill has outed herself as a Diviner. With her uncanny ability to read people’s secrets, she’s become a media darling, earning the title “America’s Sweetheart Seer.” Everyone’s in love with the city’s newest It Girl…everyone except the other Diviners.

Piano-playing Henry DuBois and Chinatown resident Ling Chan are two Diviners struggling to keep their powers a secret—for they can walk in dreams. And while Evie is living the high life, victims of a mysterious sleeping sickness are turning up across New York City.

As Henry searches for a lost love and Ling strives to succeed in a world that shuns her, a malevolent force infects their dreams. And at the edges of it all lurks a man in a stovepipe hat who has plans that extend farther than anyone can guess…As the sickness spreads, can the Diviners descend into the dreamworld to save the city?

In this heart-stopping sequel to The Diviners, Printz Award-winning and New York Times bestselling author Libba Bray takes readers deeper into the mystical underbelly of New York City.

This book weighed a ton and somehow still managed to bore me to sleep. Really wasn't expecting this after the sensation that was the first book, The Diviners. Thing is The Diviners didn't really need a sequel because it did well as a standalone adventure. It had an escalating murder mystery and a fast paced plot coupled with the gorgeous flapper era introductions. The best.

So you can imagine, the excitement of finding a sequel and then getting disappointed that not only did its release date get pushed back a lot but it also wasn't anywhere near the pace set by its predecessor instead of just taking pages-after-pages to spew nonsense. I might be amongst the minority that didn't enjoy this book that much too. Skimming through a lot of sections to get through it. Not a good sign when trying to enjoy a book but pretty much 80% of the book just dragged with useless nonsense and there were too much 20s slang. Did not like that part at all.

Evie has left the museum and does radio shows now to read for people and the remaining time she party's and gets disgustingly drunk. Will is pushed to the side. Jericho is left to care for the museum, while pining after Evie. And Mabel is just put there to pine and whine after Jericho. Sam researches his past and Project Buffalo. Theta and Memphis are there in background roles and Henry and Ling are walking dreams.

I did appreciate the author exploring dreams and myths and fantasies. Sleeping Sickness. Lucid dreaming. Changing structure in dreamscapes and the like. I liked Henry & Ling making such discoveries in their sleep but they took too so much time to realize what was going on that the novelty of that doesn't strike it much as you would expect it to be. So no I didn't like this book but i'm not giving up on this series too. Will wait and see what Ms. Bray publishes next.

"Dreams or no dreams, Lair of Dreams just didn't strike my fantasy at all"

Genre :     Young Adult, Historical Fiction, Paranormal, Horror, Mystery

Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Release Date: 25th August, 2015

My Copy: publisher & netgalley

Rate:             2/5 (It was Ok)

Other Books in the Series(review links):

           #1 The Diviners 

Buy:           Amazon | Book Depository 

Jackaby #1 Jackaby

Presenting Jackaby #1 Jackaby by William Ritter.

Here is the summary of the book:

“Miss Rook, I am not an occultist,” Jackaby said. “I have a gift that allows me to see truth where others see the illusion--and there are many illusions. All the world’s a stage, as they say, and I seem to have the only seat in the house with a view behind the curtain.”

Newly arrived in New Fiddleham, New England, 1892, and in need of a job, Abigail Rook meets R. F. Jackaby, an investigator of the unexplained with a keen eye for the extraordinary--including the ability to see supernatural beings. Abigail has a gift for noticing ordinary but important details, which makes her perfect for the position of Jackaby’s assistant. On her first day, Abigail finds herself in the midst of a thrilling case: A serial killer is on the loose. The police are convinced it’s an ordinary villain, but Jackaby is certain it’s a nonhuman creature, whose existence the police--with the exception of a handsome young detective named Charlie Cane--deny.

Doctor Who meets Sherlock in William Ritter’s debut novel, which features a detective of the paranormal as seen through the eyes of his adventurous and intelligent assistant in a tale brimming with cheeky humor and a dose of the macabre.

Enjoyably quirky and exhilaratingly adventurous. Jackaby marked as Doctor Who meets Sherlock, provides for mystery and murder tinged with the paranormal and the supernatural. R.F. Jackaby and his new assistant Abigail Rook form an unlikely pair of detectives where the first is the seer of the paranormal and the latter is as ordinary as her boss is extraordinary. Richly detailed and exotic in view, Jackaby spins his tale through the eyes of Miss Rook. in an astounding chronology of events.

While the culprit is rather easy to spot once we are faced with all the facts but it proved a fun adventure nonetheless. Jackaby is as awkward in company as he is proficient in his skills as a detective. While Abigail Rook on the other hand may have no sight to the supernatural world to call her own but she was brave quite bold in her own right and able to stand upto others when needed. Of course you can't discount the ghostly house mate, a rather temperamental frog and the assistant turned-duck amidst all of the paranormalia, set the tone of the tale perfectly. Well done Mr. Ritter.

"A must read for all the Doctor Who and Sherlock fans"

Genre :     Young Adult, Historical Fiction, Paranormal, Mystery

Publisher: Algonquin Young Readers

Release Date: 16th September, 2014

My Copy: bought (hardback)

Rate:             5/5 (It was Amazing)

Buy:         Amazon | Book Depository 

Sherlock Holmes: The Seven-Per-Cent Solution

Presenting Sherlock Holmes: The Seven-Per-Cent Solution by David Tipton, Scott Tipton, Ron Joseph.

Here is the summary of the book:

The best-selling Sherlock Holmes novel by writer/director Nicholas Meyer comes to comics! The real story behind Sherlock Holmes final confrontation with Professor Moriarty is at long last revealed! Who is the real Moriarty? Why did Holmes disappear for so long? The game is afoot!"

I confess beside Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's literature, I don't know much about the later adaptation by the different authors. So I was pretty surprised that this graphic novel was adapted from the novel of the same name and it had a pretty famous movie to call its own as well. Hopefully I can somehow get it. Meanwhile the Graphic Novel showcases crisp and clear illustrations as the sordid tale comes to life throughout the cells

Sherlock Holmes: The Seven-Per-Cent Solution calls into question two of Holmes & Watson's last adventures together and says that 'what if' they were faked. What if they were fabricated by Watson to hide what really happened. We all know the great sleuth used cocaine for recreational purposes but what if, the addiction finally got to him. What if Moriarity was not the mastermind criminal of the conventional order but a personal demon of the past.

Doesn't really paint a pretty picture does it. The story is dark enough to warrant intrigue as Holmes spirals down into the throws of addiction and concerned Dr. Watson and older brother Mycroft with the help of Dr. Sigmund Freud devise the best way to cure him. All the while Holmes stumbles upon a case of international importance and the motley crew races to avert a world war abeit shortly.

"A dark and exciting take on Sherlock Holmes"

Genre :     Graphic Novel, Historical Fiction

Publisher: IDW Publishing

Release Date: 22nd March, 2016

My Copy: publisher & netgalley

Rate:             4/5 (Really Liked It)

Buy:         Amazon | Book Depository 

Assassin's Heart #1 Assassin's Heart

Presenting Assassin's Heart #1 Assassin's Heart by Sarah Ahiers.

Here is the summary of the book:

In the kingdom of Lovero, nine rival Families of assassins lawfully kill people for a price. As a highly skilled member of one of these powerful clans, seventeen-year-old Lea Saldana has always trusted in the strength of her Family. Until she awakens to find them murdered and her home in flames. The Da Vias, the Saldanas’ biggest enemy, must be responsible—and Lea should have seen it coming. But her secret relationship with the Da Vias’ son, Val, has clouded her otherwise killer instinct—and given the Da Vias more reason than ever to take her Family down.

Racked with guilt and shattered over Val’s probable betrayal, Lea sets out to even the score, with her heart set on retaliation and only one thought clear in her mind: make the Da Vias pay.

With shades of The Godfather and Romeo and Juliet, this richly imagined fantasy from debut author Sarah Ahiers is a story of love, lies, and the ultimate vengeance.

More of a His Fair Assassin (by Robin LaFevers) meets Romeo & Juliet and The Godfather, instead of without the latter. Assassin's Heart by Sarah Ahiers takes those elements and manages to wrangle a fascinating and exciting plot that befits its gorgeously attired cover. Here are Assassins or called clippers. Beautiful Italian architecture. The Goddess of death and resurrection Saefrella, revered throughout Lovero by the Assassins and the commoners alike. The nine clipper families warring to attain the first status. And in the middle of it all is Lea Saldana and from the rival Da Via clan her beau Val Da Via.

Lea and Val are lovers but their respective clans, the Saldanas and Da Vias have been at differences with each other for quite sometime. Thus they kept it all a secret but then Saldana family house burns to the ground and she knows somehow Val is responsible. The sole Saldana left, with revenge in her mind, she sets out to Yvain to seek help and maybe meet her destiny.

The author could have easily kept her plot true to the Romeo & Juliet scenario by keeping Val innocent till proven otherwise but thankfully she doesn't. And that is where the story really begins to take shape. Lea was a strong, brave, and resilient human being. God fearing and duty bound in her calling. She loves deeply but not blinded by said feelings. She is also the clipper who uses poisons and is very good at her job. Of course life strikes back and Yvain proves to be equally informative and full of surprises as well as trouble.

Val definitely was not my favorite of the lot but Alessio was a charmer. His connection with Lea may appear instant but their road to such realizations was an exciting event and I enjoyed every bit of the show. He is a budding clipper and very talented and eager enough to learn the trade. He clicks with Lea in a way Val never could and that in my opinion raised the stakes very much.

The narrative may have been slow at first but it picks up speed pretty soon with some well placed secrets and twists to keep things interested. Although the story was entertaining in its own rights but it doesn't nearly capture our attention, so it gets a star less from me ....... but on the whole a good first book by the author. I will surely keep watch for future sequels in this series.

"Fans of His Fair Assassin will enjoy this debut"

Genre :     Young Adult, High Fantasy, Romance

Publisher: Harper Teen

Release Date: 2nd February, 2016

My Copy: publisher & edelweiss

Rate:             4/5 (Really Liked It)

Buy:         Amazon | Book Depository 

The Corridor #2 The Thirteenth World

Presenting The Corridor #2 The Thirteenth World by A.N. Willis.

Here is the summary of the book:

Time is running out for Stel Alaster. The Corridor, the only portal between First and Second Earth, is failing and the barriers between all twelve worlds are thinning. Using her unique ability to travel through the multiverse, Stel sets out to save the Corridor . . . and ends up discovering a mysterious new world.

In the sequel to The Corridor, will the thirteenth world hold the key to the Corridor’s secrets? Or will the portal implode and take every last universe down with it?

Alternate realities - Worlds - Dimensions, words taken in context maintain the same meaning whichever way demonstrated. A. N. Willis' The Corridor series with the first book of the same name and the 2nd book titled, The Thirteenth World speaks of alternate worlds, especially Earths and at the center of it Stel Alaster with the special power of creating doorways to said Earth(s) and how she must battle to save her Earth before it gets destroyed by forces beyond fathom.

Sci-fi at its best. It is not uncommon to come across alternate dimensions in this genre. In regards, The Corridor duology exerts its presence by being the series that revolves around inter-dimensional travel with proven or otherwise argued theories to support its plot. With the right balance between the fantasy and the science, the plot, the characterization and the world building, the finale proves both breath-taking and exciting. Well paced plot and exciting twists & turns, the thirteenth World keeps us well on the edge of our seats as we journey with Stel and Cohl and everyone else's desperate attempt to divert the oncoming storm.

Emotions raging higher than ever, Stel proved to be a worthy heroine yet again. She brave, fearless and very much reckless, loyal to a fault and compassionate to the deserving. She loves Cohl without abandon but she is also capable of sacrificing that love if that meant he be safe. Cohl was the best of the lot. He had the patience of a saint, knowing that when Stel up her mind for something there is no stopping her, so he doesn't try to stop her but tries to help, the much he is capable.

Really, I loved every bit of the book and browsed through the pages as the finale took shape right infront of our screens. The only thing I found confusing were the names of the Earths. I got confused alot about the different zodiac Earths but other than that this is one of my favorite sci-fi series and since both the first and the second books were gladly lended by the publisher and netgalley. So I am definitely getting their ebooks soon. This is a solid and much entertaining ..... Well done!

"Exciting and unputdownable till the end. This is a sci-fi not to be underestimated"

Genre :     Young Adult, Sci-fi, Thriller, Dystopia, Romance

Publisher: Alloy Entertainment

Release Date: 29th September, 2015

My Copy: publisher & netgalley

Rate:             5/5 (It was Amazing)

Other Books in the Series(review links):

           #1 The Corridor 

Buy:           Amazon