Transcend Time Saga #1.5 Vengeance

Vengeance is definitely sweet isn't it?......Presenting Transcend Time Saga #2 Vengeance by Michelle Madow.

Here is the summary of the book:

How far would you go to get revenge? When Chelsea Givens discovered that her ex-boyfriend Drew dumped her to be with her former best friend Lizzie, she'd never felt so betrayed in her life. Then her new friend Shannon tells her she can help set things right. Chelsea's willing to listen, but what Shannon wants her to believe -- that she shared a past life with Drew -- is impossible. And what she wants her to do to get him back … well, it's downright crazy. Could Shannon be telling the truth? And if she is, what lengths will Chelsea go if it means making Lizzie pay? Find out in Vengeance, the second part of the Transcend Time Saga. *Vengeance is the short story that bridges the events in Remembrance and the final novel in the Saga.

Rage, Hatred and Vengeance are definitely ugly affairs. They start out as the desired and the sweetest forms of justice and retribution.....but unbeknownst to them all it takes a deeper hold of the heart and soul and even a simple act of making somebody pay for their wrongs is not enough to sate the desired party.

Drew dumped Chelsea in Remembrance for Lizzie, finally doing something right. Now, Chelsea comes to know from Shannon that Lizzie is the reason Drew broke up with her.....well there goes and done it. Chelsea wants revenge from Lizzie for stealing her boyfriend and if possible will go to the enemy's lair to get what she wants......a straight descent into hell.

The one thing that was going through my mind through it...NO CHELSEA HAS GONE AROUND THE U-BEND...Vengeance like the first book felt more of a teenager whining for a toy he/she couldn't get and throwing a huge tantrum over it. Chelsea really sounded pathetic in here.....okay Lizzie and Drew really should have come clean from the start about their feelings for each other. Vengeance really spreads a new light on Chelsea's character....at the end of the day she is just another teenager insecure teenager. 

"Dark.....Very Dark"

Genre :      Young Adult, Romance, Fantasy


Publisher: Dreamscape Publishing


My Copy: Courtesy of the author 


Rate:              3/5 (Liked It)

Transcend Time Saga #1 Remembrance

A reincarnation story based on Taylor Swift's music video of 'Love Story'.....worth a try. Presenting Transcend Time Saga #1 Remembrance by Michelle Madow.

Here is the summary of the book:

Lizzie Davenport has been reincarnated from Regency Era, England ... but she doesn't know it yet. Then Drew Carmichael transfers into Lizzie's high school at the beginning of the year, and she feels a connection to him, almost like she knows him. She can't stop thinking about him, but whenever she tries talking with him about the mysteries behind her feelings, he makes it clear that he wants nothing to do with her. Reaching him is even more difficult because she has a boyfriend, Jeremy, who has started to become full of himself after being elected co-captain of the varsity soccer team, and her flirtatious best friend Chelsea starts dating Drew soon after his arrival. So why can't she get him out of her mind? Even though Lizzie knows she should let go of her fascination with Drew, fighting fate isn't going to be easy.

 I'm not really a big fan of reincarnation stories and as far as what I had heard that this was inspired from Taylor Swift's Love Story video but this turns out to be so much more....lets see how... 

This is the story of Lizzie Davenport who is starting her new school with the same expectations that any teenager has. But things start to deteriorate with the arrival of the new student Drew Carmichael. Lizzie already has a long time boyfriend, Jeremy who I would aptly say is a typical high school jock who cares more about their status quo and football....not an ideal boyfriend. But Drew, who seems to be less than friendly at first, comes in with a gust of wind and sweeps her away....with him around Lizzie seems to be having these strange visions of her and Drew in Regency era English garb. But trouble is not far....when Lizzie's best friend Chelsea sets her eyes on Drew......it is upto Lizzie now to make the right choices without hurting anybody.

Like everything this too has its own pros and cons....this also does. The concept of the story is definitely a plus, then the co-relation of all the events of the past and present incarnations of Lizzie and Drew is most believable. Another plus was the instant all encompassing attraction between them both. But the one thing that was a major turn-off was the whiny tone of the story. Everyone is whinning about each other behind their backs. And the major thing.....while Ms. Madow put up a great prose in here it somehow didn't really captivate me as much as I was hoping it to.

"A good start by Michelle Madow"

Genre :      Young Adult, Romance, Fantasy


Publisher: Dreamscape Publishing


My Copy: Courtesy of the author 


Rate:              3/5 (Liked It)

I'M PARTICIPATING: The Cosy Dragon: 25 Followers & 100 Reviews Giveaway

I'M PARTICIPATING:

The Cosy Dragon: 25 Followers & 100 Reviews Giveaway: 25 Followers & 100 Reviews Giveaway Yay! I finally met my follower goals, and at around the same time I have completed 100 reviews.

Not bad for just over half a year. I'm a little amazed I'm still blogging, but I'll just keep on going while I still have the momentum. So far I've discovered some new pretty nifty authors, and enjoyed rediscovering some old favourites. I've just registered a new domain www.thecosydragon.com , so please update your RSS readers accordingly.

I will be having this giveaway through The Book Depository, so if you're entering, please make sure that they ship to you.

I'M PARTICIPATING: Turning The Pages: 850 Follower International Giveaway!!

I'M PARTICIPATING:

Turning The Pages: 850 Follower International Giveaway!!: In celebration of the blog reaching 850 AMAZING FOLLOWERS, I've decided to hold a giveaway! There will be ONE winner.

The prize of a of $15.00 CAD (Canadian Dollars) worth of books from BookDepository.com .

This giveaway is INTERNATIONAL as long as BookDepository ships to your country.

The Winner will have 48 hours to respond to the notification of their winning the giveaway. IF no response is given another name WILL be drawn.

You MUST be 13 years old or older to enter.

The giveaway is from July 14th - August 7th 2012.

The Order of Darkness #1 Changeling

A historical young adult fiction with underlying religious themes.....Presenting The Order of Darkness #1 Changeling by Philippa Gregory.

Here is the summary of the book:

Dark myths, medieval secrets, intrigue, and romance populate the pages of the first-ever teen series from #1 bestselling author of The Other Boleyn Girl. Italy, 1453. Seventeen-year-old Luca Vero is brilliant, gorgeous—and accused of heresy. Cast out of his religious order for using the new science to question old superstitious beliefs, Luca is recruited into a secret sect: The Order of the Dragon, commissioned by Pope Nicholas V to investigate evil and danger in its many forms, and strange occurrences across Europe, in this year—the end of days. Isolde is a seventeen-year-old girl shut up in a nunnery so she can’t inherit any of her father’s estate. As the nuns walk in their sleep and see strange visions, Isolde is accused of witchcraft—and Luca is sent to investigate her, but finds himself plotting her escape. Despite their vows, despite themselves, love grows between Luca and Isolde as they travel across Europe with their faithful companions, Freize and Ishraq. The four young people encounter werewolves, alchemists, witches, and death-dancers as they head toward a real-life historical figure who holds the boundaries of Christendom and the secrets of the Order of the Dragon. The first in a series, this epic and richly detailed drama is grounded in historical communities and their mythic beliefs. It includes a medieval map of Europe that will track their journey; and the interior will include relevant decorative elements as well as an interior line illustration. And look for a QR code that links to a note from the author with additional, detailed information about the setting and the history that informed the writing. With Philippa Gregory’s trademark touch, this novel deftly brings the past—and its salacious scandals—vividly and disturbingly to life.

Changeling the first book in the new series by renowned historical genre author Philippa Gregory, and it is also her first historical YA novel. This book will also be my first Ms. Gregory read (sorry I haven't yet read any of her other works) but while it was a short book, the premise was good and everything....but it really didn't sit well with me (I got bored reading it sorry).....Lets see what the story is about......

Dark myths, medieval secrets, intriguing and romance deftly sprawl the pages of the book. Circa 1453, Italy, Changeling, the first book of the series centers around the holy crusade era, when the Catholic Church ruled the whole of Christendom with an iron will and even thoughts that went against the Church's edicts were charged as heresy. This is the story of seventeen year old Luca Vero, cast out of the religious order for questioning the Church with science he is recruited into a secret society - the order of Dragon and sent all across the Europe to investigate all forms of evil in that year. Luca, along with Isolde, and their faithful companions Freize and Ishraq encounter all sorts of creatures.....werewolves, witches, alchemists and what not.

A fantastic premise, a wonderful plot and a short novel and the heart of it all.....the myths and the superstitions that are prevalent in that era give it a much darker tone. While I highly commend Ms. Gregory's work and the literary finesse in this book.....there is still the fact, that it is a very slow plot....their road travels are much more prolonged than the actual encounter with the forms of evil they are sent to investigate.....so I kinda started to loose interest in the book. Also the synopsis says they encounter werewolves, alchemists, witches, and death-dancers but we only see hallucinating nuns and the werewolf....maybe we'll encounter the other in the next book. Then there is the cover, since Isolde is placed at the front and Luca in the rear....so it kinda gives it the impression that the book is primarily about her.....but it is not. Then another negative factor was the fact that very little is revealed about the order - which would really have clarified a lot of things about Luca's mission. But all in all.....Changeling is still a book that can be given much thought....I did like it.

"Historical and likeable"

Genre :      Young Adult, Historical


Publisher: Simon & Schuester Books for Young Readers


My Copy: Pulse It Simon & Schuester group 


Rate:              3/5 (Liked It)

Owl Post #1 [MAY+JUNE+JULY]

Guys, today I'm doing something new on my blog....been coming on for a long time. This meme, called Owl Post is created by Brodie of Eleusinian Mysteries inspired by In My Mailbox by The Story Siren. Been meaning to do this since forever and I just love this idea. I'm being a Ravenclaw since at the age of eleven and couldn't seem to remember to do this....kudos to Brodie for thinking about this!

Before you all proceed further, let me make something clear:-

1. Just like my IMM posts, this will not be done every Sunday but on the last Sunday of each month... the reason why you'll see a lot more books in here than normal.

2. This first Owl Post will have all the books that I received in May, June & July, I forgot to post last 2 month so i'm combining this one.

3. Also it will feature a list of review links at the bottom of the page, which enlists all the review I have done that particular month. Now I expect you all to visit each link and give out a comment here and there(would very much appreciate it) and you all can link your reviews too, i'd love to comment.

4. You are all welcome to share what you all got in the comment section below....i'd love to visit....

For Review

From Author

Transcend Time Saga #1 Remembrance - Michelle Madow 

Transcend Time Saga #1.5 Vengeance - Michelle Madow 

Pulse It (Simon & Schuester reading group)

Wrecked - Anna Davies 

When you were mine - Rebecca Serle 

The Order of Darkness #1 Changeling - Philippa Gregory 

Netgalley

Goddess Test #2.5 The Goddess Legacy - Aimee Carter 

Dark Companion - Maria Acosta

Darkest London #2 Moonglow - Kristen Callihan
Once Upon A Time Machine - Lee Nordling, Jason Rodriguez, Tara Alexander
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Adventures Vol 1 - Dave Garcia
The Clann #2 Covet - Melissa Darnell
The Demon Catchers of Milan - Kat Beyer
Ironskin #1 Ironskin - Tina Connolly

Edelweiss

The Asylum Tales #1 Angel's Ink - Jocelynn Drake

Journey to Wudang #1 Earth to Hell - Kylie Chan

Journey to Wudang #1 Hell to Heaven - Kylie Chan

From Random House India

Fallen #4 Rapture - Lauren Kate 

Bought

The Iron Druid Chronicles #4 Tricked - Kevin Hearne 

Nikki Glass #2 Deadly Descendant - Jenna Black 

The Body Finder #3 The Last Echo - Kimberly Derting 

Masque of the Red Death #1 Masque of the Red Death - Bethany Griffin 

Kane Chronicles #3 The Serpent's Shadow - Rick Riordan 

The Mortal Instruments #5 City of Lost Souls - Cassandra Clare 

Bloodlines #2 The Golden Lily - Richelle Mead 

Hourglass #2 Timepiece - Myra McEntire 

GIVEAWAY WON

Nightshade #1 Nightshade - Andrea Cremer (thanks to Book Enslaved)
Divergent #2 Insurgent - Veronica Roth (thanks to Book Enslaved)
Daughter of Smoke & Bone #1 Daughter of Smoke & Bone - Laini Taylor (thanks to Book Enslaved)
Lunar Chronicles #1 Cinder -  Marissa Meyer (thanks to Kindred Dreamheart)


There should be one more book but I haven't gotten it yet hopefully it will be soon

REVIEW LINKS

Links to all the reviews done in MAY, JUNE & JULY

The Atlanteans #1 The Lost Code - Kevin Emerson

Stracrossed #1 Starcrossed - Josephine Angelini

Hereafter #1 Hereafter - Tara Hudson

Juliet Immortal #1 Juliet Immortal - Stacey Jay

Starcrossed #2 Dreamless - Jesephine Angelini

Shatter me #1 Shatter Me - Tahereh Mafi

Nightwatchers #1 Dark Kiss - Michelle Rowen

Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter - Seth Grahame-Smith

Hereafter #2 Arise - Tara Hudson

Wreaked - Anna Davies

Hourglass #1 Hourglass - Myra McEntire

The Wardstone Chronicles #8 The Spook's Destiny - Joseph Delaney
When You Were Mine - Rebecca Serle
Kane Chronicles #3 The Serpent's Shadow - Rick Riordan
The Iron Druid Chronicles #4 Tricked - Kevin Hearne
Goddess Test #2.5 The Goddess Legacy - Aimee Carter
Ashfall #1 Ashfall - Mike Mullin
Insignia #1 Insignia - S.J. Kincaid
The Mortal Instruments #5 City of Lost Souls - Cassandra Clare
The Body Finder #3 The Last Echo - Kimberly Derting
Nikki Glass #2 Deadly Descendant - Jenna Black
Fallen #4 Rapture - Lauren Kate
Masque of the Red Death #1 Masque of the Red Death - Bethany Griffin
Hourglass #2 Timepiece - Myra McEntire 
The Faerie Ring #1 The Faerie Ring - Kiki Hamilton
Mara Dyer #1 The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer - Michelle Hodkin




Be Sure to add your Owl Post links too in the comment section so I can check them out and comment!

Mara Dyer #1 The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer

A beautiful cover, a mysterious plot, the synopsis not revealing anything at all....a sure sign of a thrilling read to the fullest.....Presenting Mara Dyer #1 The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin.

Here is the summary of the book:

Mara Dyer doesn’t think life can get any stranger than waking up in a hospital with no memory of how she got there.

It can.

She believes there must be more to the accident she can’t remember that killed her friends and left her mysteriously unharmed.

There is.

She doesn’t believe that after everything she’s been through, she can fall in love.

She’s wrong.

The thrilling and complex, the more difficult it is to write a review for. Seriously this book was SO GOOD that I can't even find the words to aptly sum up my views that I had to re-write my review at least thrice to get it right.....lets see how it goes like.....

Introducing Mara Dyer...our protagonist....a not so perfect girl.....rather messed up....the sole survivor of a freak building crash....and only she knows how it happened. See as she braves a new school and a new place. Not to mention her PTSD and the hallucinations they induced are making it very hard to keep reality and dream separate. Mara Dyer is just another broken and messed up soul who wants to be nothing more than normal. She also has an acute sense of humor and with all her perfections and imperfections.....you will find her situation very much relatable. You can not help but feel empathy with her.

Now, introducing Noah...the love interest. Oh! Noah, he is everything you would want in a boy.....he has a bad boy reputation....the good looks....and there is the factor of an accent too. Bu the best thing? This is no love at first sight....there is definitely an attraction there....an intense and unbelievable attraction that builds slowly over time....It is very much clear that Noah cares for Mara and would do anything for her....even that much is enough to make you swoon with a smoldering intensity (*sigh*)....Ms. Hodkin you have definitely won me over with this level of intense romantics...surely the best and the most relatable I have read so far.

The plot...there is no word for it......WOW...dark and very mysterious....and hair-raising.....So much happens....so much that it is impossible for me to elaborate without axing the purpose of a review......but I would say that the pace and the idea behind it was simply amazing. A compelling and an engrossing page turner and the vague synopsis and the setting is enough for us readers to want to read it to know what is in store for us within its pages.  A marvelous debut by Michelle Hodkin....counting the dates fervently for the next one.

"No other word for it but just ....WOW"

Genre :       Young Adult, Paranormal, Romance


Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publising


Rate:              5/5 (It was Amazing)

The Faerie Ring #1 The Faerie Ring

Medieval England and the Fae folk....definitely a very good combination indeed. Presenting The Faerie Ring #1 The Faerie Ring by Kiki Hamilton.

Here is the summary of the book:

Debut novelist Kiki Hamilton takes readers from the gritty slums and glittering ballrooms of Victorian London to the beguiling but menacing Otherworld of the Fey in this spellbinding tale of romance, suspense, and danger. The year is 1871, and Tiki has been making a home for herself and her family of orphans in a deserted hideaway adjoining Charing Cross Station in central London. Their only means of survival is by picking pockets. One December night, Tiki steals a ring, and sets off a chain of events that could lead to all-out war with the Fey. For the ring belongs to Queen Victoria, and it binds the rulers of England and the realm of Faerie to peace. With the ring missing, a rebel group of faeries hopes to break the treaty with dark magic and blood—Tiki’s blood. Unbeknownst to Tiki, she is being watched—and protected—by Rieker, a fellow thief who suspects she is involved in the disappearance of the ring. Rieker has secrets of his own, and Tiki is not all that she appears to be. Her very existence haunts Prince Leopold, the Queen’s son, who is driven to know more about the mysterious mark that encircles her wrist. Prince, pauper, and thief—all must work together to secure the treaty…

Set in Medieval, foggy and carriage-drawn London and among the streets and alleys of pick pockets. Tikki and her gang of pickpockets scourge pockets and steal whatever they can do to survive everyday and every hour. Somehow while on one of her excursions gets inside the royal palace and unknowingly steels a shiny ring....the biggest mistake of her life. A ring of great importance, it was the one thing that ensured the peace between the humans and the Fae folk. Now that it is stolen both factions are clamoring to get it back before a full blown war breaks out. As the enemies start closing it is upto Tikki to get the ring back into the Buckingham Palace and under the royal's guard before major catastrophe happens.

Tikki is the protagonist and she is a pick pocket. Very stubborn and righteous she takes care of the ones in her group and is rather very famous with her heist adventures but still there is more to her than meets the eye.....she is much more connected to the human and the fae folk than she ever realized. Then there is her counterpart, another pick pocket named Rieker. At first he seems to be just a pestering presence. Face it no pick pocket trust their competitions. But Reiker while suspects that Tikki had something to do with the disappearance of the ring seems to genuinely help her and really care for her. Then there are the two princes William and Leopold, and the other orphans. All of them provide a myriad variety of characters that push the story forward and give it an alluring feel.

I've been hearing so many great things about this book that I knew I couldn't resist not reading it any longer. And it was the best thing that I ever did. A quick read Ms. Hamilton's story takes us from the fog filled alleys to the high society masquerade balls, spinning a fantasy so grounded in reality that it takes you in from the first page till the end making you come out different and hungry for the next one. 

"Historical and fantastical - Ms. Hamilton's book is sure to suck you in its engrossing pages"

Genre :       Young Adult, Historical Fiction, Fantasy


Publisher: Tor Teen


Rate:              5/5 (It was Amazing)

Hourglass #2 Timepiece

A change of perspective and raised stakes....oh YAY!! Presenting Hourglass #2 Timepiece by Myra McEntire.

Here is the summary of the book:

A threat from the past could destroy the future. And the clock is ticking...Kaleb Ballard's relentless flirting is interrupted when Jack Landers, the man who tried to murder his father, timeslips in and attacks before disappearing just as quickly. But Kaleb has never before been able to see time travelers, unlike many of his friends associated with the mysterious Hourglass organization. Are Kaleb's powers expanding, or is something very wrong? Then the Hourglass is issued an ultimatum. Either they find Jack and the research he's stolen on the time gene, or time will be altered with devastating results. Now Kaleb, Emerson, Michael, and the other Hourglass recruits have no choice but to use their unusual powers to find Jack. But where do they even start? And when? And even if they succeed, it may not be enough...The follow-up to Hourglass, Timepiece blends the paranormal, science fiction, mystery, and suspense genres into a nonstop thrill ride where every second counts.

Hourglass had come out of the blue and sucked me in.....now Timepiece sucks me in much more further. Time is one paradox that no one has yet understood what it truly is. One can not truly predict what will happen in the near future based on what you did in the present.....because dabbling with time is dangerous.....and there are consequences to be paid. And this is where our story gets interesting.

In Hourglass, Emerson changes time by saving Michael now in Timepiece, things are escalating out of proportions. With the drastic change in time, time rip.....full scenes are appearing everywhere and its even harder  to get rid of them this time. On top of that the head honchos, the Chronos has given them an ultimatum, find Jack Landers or suffer the consequences where time will reverse back to how it should have originally happened. Now they are on a time sensitive mission to find Jack but end up finding out much more than they had hoped for.....it is up to them now to avert major catastrophe because the treachery and deceit runs much deeper than they had realized.

Were in Hourglass the story was introduced to us in Emerson's perspective, in Timepiece, we get the next chapter of the Hourglass series in Kaleb's POV, the player. It is a rather disorienting change but when the dust settles down it is rather an interesting nonetheless. We see very less of Em and Michael in here, was really sad about that but it was still very interesting to see the world in Kaleb's view. Em's best friend, Lily also gets a major part in here. And it is interesting to see Kaleb and Lily interact....and their cat and mouse game in the art of irritating each other and gradually their feeling coming out front. Their chemistry was simply amazing.

Then , there is Chronos, time keeper organization......while it is still not clear how the organization works but if any mythological reference is to go by the  it can be fairly certain that as the titan Chronos was the lord of time so is the organization the master of time.

At last, time sensitive and alluring, Myra McEntire gives us an adrenaline rush with Timepiece, as the characters race against time itself to put a stop to apocalypse from happening. You definitely will not be able to leave it in the middle at all. The characters, the plot, the mission, the events and the clues.....oh! Ms. McEntire paints a picture of a perfect sci-fi saga. Totally counting the days to the release of Infinityglass.

"An Adrenaline rush till the very end"

Genre :       Young Adult, Sci-fi


Publisher: EgmontUSA


Rate:              5/5 (It was Amazing)

Masque of the Red Death #1 Masque of the Red Death

A steampunk retake of the original of the same name by Edgar Allen Poe (well I have to read that to make a head or tail of what it entails before I go about comparing)..... Presenting in all it glory (well the cover beauty to be exact) Masque of the Red Death #1 Masque of the Red Death by Bethany Griffin.

Here is the summary of the book:

Everything is in ruins. A devastating plague has decimated the population. And those who are left live in fear of catching it as the city crumbles to pieces around them. So what does Araby Worth have to live for? Nights in the Debauchery Club, beautiful dresses, glittery make-up . . . and tantalizing ways to forget it all. But in the depths of the club—in the depths of her own despair—Araby will find more than oblivion. She will find Will, the terribly handsome proprietor of the club. And Elliott, the wickedly smart aristocrat. Neither boy is what he seems. Both have secrets. Everyone does. And Araby may find something not just to live for, but to fight for—no matter what it costs her.

Now as I have stated above I have not read Edgar Allen Poe's work by the same name, so I can't be sure of what it all entails.....so my views will be entirely on Ms. Griffin's book. Red death, is the plague  that has swept the land, killing millions in its wake. The only protection is the expensive face masks.....expensive in the sense that it is produced by a private company and not easily available to the general masses. Only the rich can afford such a luxury and the poor are left to their state. It is in these post apocalyptic, steampunk era that the story is based in. Araby Worth has some issues (in fact in the face of the plague everyone has major issues). The only one of the siblings still left, Araby has turned rather complacent and not very differentiated to life. Only the routine visits to the Debauchery Club with her friend April to just forget and drown in her grief.

It is in these club visits that Araby meets April's brother Elliot, the Prince's nephew and one of the club's workers, Will. She feels an attraction to both, that's when things start to complicate. Prince Prospero is not a person to be trifled with but he is also not someone you will want as a ruler too. Elliot is planning a rebellion but he needs Araby for that. Both Elliot and Will are truly not what they seem and maybe Araby will finally have something worth living for again.

As far as the cover is concerned, it actually and aptly summarizes the gothic and steampunk feel of the book very beautifully. The synopsis definitely doesn't give away much about the book and that is how I prefer it because then you'll get more out of it as you read through. The characters in here are all some wide varieties. Araby is the protagonist and she has big guilt issues, she is also very righteous and very stubborn, Elliot and his sister April, the nephew and niece of the Prince are the ones with the agenda here, they want to uproot their tyrant uncle, a noble goal. Then there is Will, although seem to be the only one with no agenda (we'll see what part he plays in the later book I hope) here feels like the one unwantedly caught in the crossfire.

It is visible enough that while Elliot, April and Araby are covertly pursuing their goal their is a certain attraction between Elliot and Araby, he seems to really care for her. But Araby seems to be attracted towards Will too....I seriously don't like William though (don't know why though!). Since this is just the first book and the author had written the beginning so beautifully that there are no jarring cliffhangers or info dumps....kudos to the author for that.

This is not a simple post-apocalyptic steampunk but with the added stuff is a story of a political struggle and of going against the norm to create a better world. I'm definitely counting looking forward for the next one now.

"Dark and engrossing......Bethany Griffin provides a tale that breaches all boundary"

Genre :       Young Adult, Steampunk, 


Publisher: Greenwillow Books


Rate:              5/5 (It was Amazing)

Fallen #4 Rapture

A beautiful cover and a highly anticipating conclusion. Presenting Fallen #4 Rapture by Lauren Kate.

Here is the summary of the book:

The sky is dark with wings . . . And time is running out for Luce and Daniel. In order to stop Lucifer from erasing the past, they must find the place where the Fall began. Only Luce can break the curse, and it is her choice alone that will decide all of their fates. But as Dark Forces gather, great sacrifices will have to be made in this final, epic struggle . . . In the fight for Luce, and for Love, who will win? The astonishing conclusion to the FALLEN series. Heaven can't wait any longer.

My history with the Fallen series - loved the first book, didn't think much about the second or the third book, loved the novella and the finale was totally the best. Rapture, was absolutely a great ending to this series, all the loose ends are tied up and a beautiful and a fitting ending too. So, Luce, Daniel, Cam, Roland, Molly, and the others are on a time sensitive mission. Fallen Angels and Demons have come together to put a stop to Lucifer's mechanization......nobody wants to take the headlong dangerous fall twice and Luce is at the center of it all....by the end of it things definitely become much more clearer than ever......about the curse...about Luce's inability to remember her past lives before and what had really happened with Daniel and why Luce is the one on whom it all depended........definitely a great read.

There is  definitely a surreal awakening among the characters this time. Luce knows what to look for now after her run-ins with her past incarnations, she now knows what Daniel means to her. Daniel on the other hand is as steadfast as ever and a constant support and comfort to Luce whenever she doubts herself. The others provide a constant secondary support towards the flow of the story....all of them necessary in order to maintain the length and the mood.

As far as the religion concept is the series.....well i'm not Christian and i'm don't really prefer religion concepts but since there is angelogy involved (I find the topic......the myths.....the history and the folklore about Angels very fascinating) so I couldn't resist it.

As far as the plot is considered, Lauren Kate exceeds expectations with this marvelous finale. Without making it a huge info dump, she pens a perfect conclusion to this wonder. Every details, every aspects, how the characters go through all the trouble to stop Lucifer in his infernal plans and break the curse. The climax sure gave it a surreal feel of a job well done. A fitting end to the Fallen saga.

"Lauren Kate exceeds expectation - A fitting and an exhilarating end to the Fallen Saga"

Genre :      Young Adult, Mythology, Romance


Publisher: Random House


My Copy: Random House India


Rate:              5/5 (It was Awesome)

Nikki Glass #2 Deadly Descendants

Mythology and folklore are rich rich topics and so wide that if you know what you are doing, you could wip up such great stories...... *swoons* ..... Presenting Nikki Glass #2 Deadly Descendants by Jenna Black.

Here is the summary of the book:

The second novel in a unique and action-packed urban fantasy series from the acclaimed author of the "Morgan Kingsley" series Once, Nikki Glass was an ordinary private investigator, running her own business in Washington, D.C. Then, her world turned upside down when she accidentally stole the immortality of a descendant of Hades. Now immortal herself, Nikki is plunged into the world of the Liberi Deorum, descendants of the ancient gods, discovering that she is descended from the goddess Artemis and has new supernatural abilities. While she still longs for the normal life she left behind, Nikki is now part of a team of immortals, led by the mysterious Anderson Kane, bent on making the world a better place. Which would be a lot easier if it weren't for the Olympians, a rival group of immortals who exploit their powers for their own benefit. In a strange twist of fate, the Olympians come to Anderson to ask for his--and Nikki's--help. The Oracle, a descendant of Apollo who is Olympian to the bone, has had a disturbing vision of a man with a jackal's head being captured by the government. This vision coincides with a rash of wild dog attacks that are terrorizing the city, and the Oracle believes her vision means these killings were perpetrated by a descendant of Anubis, the Egyptian god of death. It's up to Nikki and the rest of Anderson's team to track down and stop this serial killer before the authorities do. But the more Nikki investigates the crimes, the more she comes to suspect that the Olympians haven't told the whole truth, and the more terrifying the killer becomes.....

Book 1 of the series layered the groundwork for the proceeding books. This time for Nikki Glass and the descendants under Anderson Kane, it is not the Olympians who are causing trouble but rather an enemy of the Olympians. When a descendant of Apollo in cohorts with the Olympians comes to ask their help with the matter of dealing with this new threat....since the person appears to be a psychopath and in particular appears to be a descendant of the Egyptian death God, Anubis, it is upto Nikki now to get her hunter skills to the up and find the descendant before he does more damage than needed....after all she is the descendant of Artemis.

Deadly Descendants while being the second book of the series is a great work in its own right. For one thing it is a standalone in its own right and fully functional as well. Nikki Glass, our protagonist is as stubborn as ever. Here she is starting to discover her powers and trying to put them to good use. The descendants under Anderson are as strong as ever with their varied members.....but the most nuisance proved to be Anderson's wife, Emma. In the first book Nikki had saved her from the Olympians but turns out she is a total trainwreck. It is understandable that she must have changed after her terrible ordeal with Konstantin but it still doesn't excuse her behavior towards Nikki.

Then there is NIKKI & JAMAAL.....while it was a little unexpected but definitely welcome. There can never be a more opposite pair than this. One is lively and the other sulks around. One is the descendant of Artemis and the other of Kaali. But somehow they make it work.....oh there is some hot stuffs in there......after all it was a long time coming.

As far as the story is considered - it is as solid as ever. The plot with a steady flow remains coherent till the very end.....fitting characters......and hair raising action.....and not to forget the palpable chemistry of NIKKI&JAMAAL.....Jenna Black does it again.....I seriously want to know what the next one is called and when it will come out.

"Solid plot and characters, hair-raising action and the ever elusive myths......Deadly Descendant is a must read"

Genre :       Urban Fantasy, Paranormal


Publisher: Pocket Books


Rate:              5/5 (It was Amazing)