Falling Kindgoms #1 Falling Kingdoms

Presenting Falling Kindgoms #1 Falling Kingdoms by Morgan Rhodes.

Here is the summary of the book:

In the three kingdoms of Mytica, magic has long been forgotten. And while hard-won peace has reigned for centuries, a deadly unrest now simmers below the surface.

As the rulers of each kingdom grapple for power, the lives of their subjects are brutally transformed... and four key players, royals and rebels alike, find their fates forever intertwined. Cleo, Jonas, Lucia, and Magnus are caught in a dizzying world of treacherous betrayals, shocking murders, secret alliances, and even unforeseen love.

The only outcome that's certain is that kingdoms will fall. Who will emerge triumphant when all they know has collapsed?

It's the eve of war.... Choose your side.

Princess: Raised in pampered luxury, Cleo must now embark on a rough and treacherous journey into enemy territory in search of magic long thought extinct.

Rebel: Jonas, enraged at injustice, lashes out against the forces of oppression that have kept his country cruelly impoverished. To his shock, he finds himself the leader of a people's revolution centuries in the making.

Sorceress: Lucia, adopted at birth into the royal family, discovers the truth about her past—and the supernatural legacy she is destined to wield.

Heir: Bred for aggression and trained to conquer, firstborn son Magnus begins to realise that the heart can be more lethal than the sword....

I sometimes buy books based on their cover .... well 90% of the time and sometimes based on the hype. Many times without reading the synopsis too .... And the cover and presentation of Falling Kingdoms was enough to warrant me buying it ..... Young Adult version of Game of Thrones, well I haven't seen the show or read the books yet  ...... so I decided 'why not it could be a great experience as a stepping stone before I actually began reading A Song of Ice & Fire series' ..,... but ..... It fell flat ...... and from what I gather Game of Thrones is light years ahead in terms of the plot and presentation.

With a full cast of characters, the story focused on one nation per chapter. Aurenos, Limeros & Paleasia. These are the nations that form the land of Mythica and while I applaud the author for detailing all these lands in her narrative to stark details, I would have loved to have seen the same done for the characters as well. Not one of them felt dynamic. Cleo felt like the indecisive princess, Aron the rich brat who threw a tantrum when things didn't go his way, Prince Magnus with his extreme case of daddy issues, Princess Lucia who is supposedly this powerful sorceress but we didn't exactly get to spend much time with her and Jonas, an impulsive character bent on extracting vengeance when it is not warranted.

Each and every character had their own agenda and none of them were honest-to-God good. The only one I remotedly liked was Cleo's bodyguard and secret paramour Theon but sadly he is taken away from us very soon. Magnus & Lucia, some may have problems with this apparent incest but I didn't really bat an eye to that, pretty early on we got to learn that they are not siblings by blood but apparently it was one sided on Magnus' part so again I didn't really feel bad, besides they felt dry. Jonas was bit too obsessed with Cleo .... Seriously just how many of them will actually fall for her .... Of course these latter two were the only ones who actually showed a bit of character throughout.

I appreciated Cleo learning from her mistakes she made and having courage enough to go to enemy territory in search for an impossible cure and try to do what's right after her initial blunder ,,,,, Of course all this would have been righted if the author used a bit more sophisticated narrative to bing out all the facets, a story of these epic proportions has to offer, instead she used everyday YA contemporary tone, which in my opinion was what brought down this too much .... I was actually going to DNF this but a few readers said it gets better towards the concluding part .... so in the spirit of good faith I soldiered on and .... they were right. The only part I actually liked was the concluding battle that gives the book its name.

I hate it when I read something with great expectations but it results in low returns. Although I have heard that succeeding this one the next books are way better so I will get to see something good soon. Also imagine my surprise when somebody pointed out that Morgan Rhodes is the pseudonym of author Michelle Rowen ..... well color me surprised  I loved her Nightwatchers duology and Countdown very well, so in that regard I was disappointed by Falling Kingdoms .... Whenever I get the chance to read the next ones, hopefully they will fare much better that this one.

"Maybe a stepping stone but not upto what it says on the cover"

Genre :     Young Adult, Epic Fantasy, Romance

Publisher: Razorbill

Release Date: 3rd December, 2013

My Copy: bought (paperback)

Rate:             2/5 (It was Ok)

Series by Author(under her name Michelle Rowen):
         Nightwatchers #1 & #2
         Countdown

Buy:         Amazon | Book Depository 

Countdown

The EPIC game of life or death pitted against the decreasing countdown.... an unputdownable book. Presenting Countdown by Michelle Rowen.

Here is the summary of the book:

3 seconds left to live. Once the countdown starts, it cannot be stopped.

2 pawns thrown into a brutal underground reality game.

Kira Jordan survived her family's murder and months on plague-devastated city streets with hard-won savvy and a low-level psi ability. She figures she can handle anything. Until she wakes up in a barren room, chained next to the notorious Rogan Ellis.

1 reason Kira will never, ever trust Rogan. Even though both their lives depend on it.

Their every move is controlled and televised for a vicious exclusive audience. And as Kira's psi skill unexpectedly grows and Rogan's secrets prove evermore deadly, Kira's only chance of survival is to risk trusting him as much as her instincts. Even if that means running head-on into the one trap she can't escape.

GAME OVER

I'll say it again, Harlequin Teen is fast becoming my go-to imprint for unputdownable books & Michelle Rowen on of my favorite for power-pack standalones.

Countdown is everything a thrill seeker could ask for. A dangerous game, an illegal game at that. And every level, some new deadly act is presented that needs to be done before the countdown reads 0 or die trying. With the perfect blend of constant rollar-coaster thrill-inducing dangerous action-packed games.... the layer-upon-layer of surprises, secrets and shocking truth.... Coupled with a cast of complicated and dynamic characters and that swoon-worthy EPIC romance..... This book definitely should not escape your notice at all.

Kira Jordan & Rogan Ellis. Our power couple. Kira is our kick-ass heroine. Living on the streets with her whole family murdered. But she is a good person, one of those who weigh in the pros & cons before determining the truth for themselves. She is quick witted, resourceful and given the setting, the perfect action star.

Rogan Ellis. Now he is a bit difficult to explain. Absolutely amazing, YES. Trailing a baggage full of ghosts, YES. But there is a quality to him, that makes him instantly likeable. Strong, clever and resourceful.... sarcastic even. And he is definitely a good looking one.....

There is an instant connection between these two. The romance, slowly developing through the course of the book was a bonus edition and passionate. They also gain a deep understanding towards each other as the levels progressed, cementing them together as the perfect couple.... And got to say Ms. Rowen.... you sneaky lady, just when the moments between them got intense..... you threw in the next phase of the chase.... Enough to take us deeper into the action.

"Unpredictable, unstoppable, thrilling, action-packed and intense.... This is a standalone you don't want to miss out on"

Genre :      Young Adult, Thriller, Paranormal, Romance, Urban Fantasy, Dystopia

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Release Date: 24th September, 2013

My Copy: publisher and netgalley

Rate:              5/5 (It was Amazing)

Buy:           Amazon | Book Depository 

Nightwatchers #2 Wicked Kiss

Day by Day Harlequin Teen's books are getting even harder to review with their increasing standard of goodness.......but i'm not complaining. Presenting Nightwatchers #2 Wicked Kiss by Michelle Rowen.

Here is the summary of the book:

MY KISS CAN KILL. I used to be ordinary Samantha Day, but that's changed. Now, after one dark kiss from a dangerous boy, I can steal someone's soul...or their life. If I give in to the constant hunger inside me, I hurt anyone I kiss. If I don't...I hurt myself. Bishop is the one whose kiss I crave most, but if I kiss him, I'll kill him. Then there's another boy, one I can't hurt. One whose kiss seems to miraculously quell my hunger. They're both part of a team of angels and demons that's joined forces in my city to fight a mysterious rising darkness, an evil that threatens everyone I know and love. I just wonder if I'll be able to help Bishop-or if I'm just another part of the darkness he's sworn to destroy....NIGHTWATCHERS. When angels and demons must work together, something beyond evil is rising...

Truly when Angels and Demons start working together, then its a far greater evil that we are dealing with here. Balance is important, it is very important....and when it gets threatened then things get out of order. And this is what Bishop and the motley group of Angels and Demons need to control alongwith the much appreciated support of Samantha.

There is nosy, there is broody, there is hateful, there is sincere, there is vengeful and there is suspicious. Every flavor is here. Every mood is here that describes this rather unusual congregation perfectly. But Sam, Bishop and Kraven have their hands full into trouble. And the problem is way bigger than before......time is a must....in the limited time period they need to fix all the grays, find a way to save Sam and try to fix almost everything that could go wrong.

The writing, the prose.....its impeccable as ever. This is now a time bound affair and that makes it all the more interesting than ever. And out leads fulfill every criteria we have for them to make this a journey like no other. The dynamics between these three really came at a head here. Sam is a full blown gray but is also a nexus and the hunger to kiss Bishop is too much.....hard to control when that victim is so way good looking than should be allowed..... Bishop is also not fairing well. He is a fallen angel now and slowing he is loosing his mind trying to keep it together.....thinking about it all...all that passion and that everbound love makes the hair stand on its edge......so HOT!!!!!

The epic fight at the end really took the topping here. And the subtle and sublime manner of Ms. Rowen weaving the characters and making us sit tight and see is to the end.....commendable.......well done I say. Ms. Rowen you have put up a story and such rich characters......Kudos to a job well done......

And since is the final book in this series, so i'd like to say that u an keeping my fingers crossed and that this is not hopefully the last time we see these characters and hopefully you will revisit them in the future again.

"Dark and Exhilarating. This is a tug-of-war to achieve the much needed balance but for Sam, Bishop and the group this is a time sensitive mission and it sis running out even as they speak. An epic conclusion that serves to take your heart away......"

Genre :      Paranormal Romance, Young Adult

Publisher: Harlequin Teen


My Copy:  netgalley and publisher


Rate:              5/5 (It was Amazing)

Nightwatchers #2 Dark Kiss

Its a dark and its a sinister kiss, it definitely can't get more sinister than with this perfect cover.... presenting Nightwatchers #1 Dark Kiss by Michelle Rowen.

Here is the summary of the book:

I don't do dangerous. Smart, über-careful, ordinary Samantha-that's me. But I just couldn't pass up a surprise kiss from my number-one unattainable crush. A kiss that did something to me...something strange. Now I feel hungry all the time, but not for food. It's like part of me is missing-and I don't know if I can get it back. Then there's Bishop. At first I thought he was just a street kid, but the secrets he's keeping are as intense as his unearthly blue eyes. If he's what I think he is, he may be the only one who can help me. But something terrifying is closing in, and the one chance Bishop and I have to stop it means losing everything I ever wanted and embracing the darkness inside me.... NIGHTWATCHERS When angels and demons must work together, something beyond evil is rising...

There is a demon abound in present day Trinity, new York and reeking havoc and hindering the peaceful flow of both heaven and hell. To tackle this problem both heaven & hell sends a team of their chosen ones to work together and put a stop to this demon. this is where Samantha Day comes in. She is an everyday teenager who spends most of her time being invisible or with her best friend Carly. but it all changes with a kiss - just one kiss from her long time crush - now she feels hungry all the time but first she has work to do. 

With the fall from above the team of angels and demons need to be found and made remember their task and the hunky dirty blonde with the most striking blue eyed angel Bishop, the leader of the group needs her help to find his team members. Without meaning to Samantha becomes a part of the group - a Snow White with her own motley group of dwarfs. But what of her apparent attraction towards Bishop and how long can she control her hunger for souls that remains to be seen.... Maybe this problem is just the beginning.

First of the Nightwatchers series, Dark Kiss lays the ground work here, a solid one too. There is a perfect coherency with all the parts of the story. The setting, the mood and the theme are all inclination of the coming of something wicked. Most of all the balance is maintained and balance is all that matters. To accentuate such Ms. Rowen throws in some intense characters, Samantha, Bishop, Kraven and a horde of others to play their role. They share a yin-yang chemistry. All good things need something dark to keep the balance. 

Samantha is a simple teenage girl who spends her day invisible but it all changes with one kiss now everyone wants a bite of her(literally) but she is strong willed and knows right from wrong to know that she needs to get her soul back in order to prevent disaster. Bishop is the angle who is the leader of the group but the fall did something to him, it messed him up his head and he craves Samantha's touch because with only her touch does he feel alright. Kraven is the demon in the group, there are two more in the group but i'm not going into that right now. Kraven is sarcastic, rash and is perfectly capable to speak his mind and most of all cares for the mission and his brother.

With Michelle Rowen's intense and creative wordplay, Dark Kiss turns out to be a very compelling read. And it is enough to keep the reader at it until they get to the end - the biggest compliment to any author. Dark Kiss is a passionate, compelling and intense read that you can't miss out on. I'm definitely waiting on WICKED KISS now.

"Its intense, its sensual and its dark - this is just the beginning for Samantha, Bishop, Kraven and the crew"

Genre :      Young Adult, Romance, Paranormal, Urban Fantasy


Publisher: Harlequin TEEN


My Copy: Publisher and netgalley


Rate:              5/5 (It was amazing)