Showing posts with label Demons. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Demons. Show all posts

Tuesday, July 19, 2016

Between the Bleeding Willows Review + #Giveaway


http://bewitchingbooktours.blogspot.com/2016/06/now-on-tour-between-bleeding-willows-by.html

Between the Bleeding Willows
Demon Hunter Series
Book #1
D.A. Roach

Genre: YA Paranormal Fantasy
Release Date: March 8, 2016
Publisher: Limitless Publishing

ISBN: 978-1680585274
ASIN: B01C4VVPII

Pages: 282
Word Count: 64,000
Cover Artist: Deranged Doctor Designs

Goodreads Rating:
My Rating: 4 Quills

Book Description:

At eighteen years old, Cassidy has suffered more loss than most…

At the end of her senior year, her boyfriend, Jace Peters, was killed in a car accident, and her grandmother died only weeks later of a heart attack. Emotionally lost, Cassidy desperately searches for an heirloom her boyfriend was wearing in the crash—her mother’s gold ring. But during her search, Cassidy discovers more than her ring.

She finds a gate to the Demon Realm….

A battle is brewing, and Killian—head of the Demon hunters—preps his Clan for the approaching conflict. They’ve been working to secure the gate between his realm and the mortal world. But it’s been nearly impossible since Rya—a voracious demon on a quest to expand her power—devoured the soul of his Clan’s necromancer. Now Rya is possessed with the necromancer’s powers and she may break through the gate at any moment.

Apparently Rya isn’t the only one Killian has to worry about…

When Cassidy accidentally crosses into the Demon Realm, Killian can’t understand how a human girl survived the transition. Now he has to find a way to return her to her own world, or risk her being caught in the crossfire, which is a complication he definitely doesn’t need. Once back in the Human Realm, Cassidy readies herself for battle. She signs up for Krav Maga classes, where she meets Tyler Romaitis—a handsome, tenacious, humble guy. He seems almost perfect, but nothing is ever that easy.

And as the balance between good and evil shifts, Cassidy finds herself—and her ring—at the heart of the conflict for the survival of mankind.

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29382653-between-the-bleeding-willows

My Take on the Book:

I’m at a slight loss for words.

This book was really interesting. It was the kind of book many people could read in one extended sitting. I liked the characters and the connections being formed but I didn’t love them.

I also found myself slightly annoyed with the speed of the book. It never seemed to have a steady flow. At times the story would just rush past, leaving me feeling robbed of an experience and then at other times I felt like it dragged on. To me, pace is one of the most important aspects of a book. The premise was solid. The story was great. But the pace left me feeling unsatisfied.

As for the characters, as I stated earlier, they were likeable. Some characters just had more on page charisma than others. At first I liked Cassidy, a lot but as the story progressed I felt like she just kinda stayed put. There was a lot of growth that could have happened, a lot of self-discovery but she fell a little flat. She was strong willed and that is a definite plus and I appreciated her kind heart but there were some actions that never had a follow through or follow up that I caught myself thinking about when she questions the motive of other characters.

Casper, was one of those charismatic characters that you just wanted to get to know. It was that way from the moment is shakily stepped foot on page; Lena was another character with that strength. I was bummed when I realized they wouldn’t get to shine much in this story.

Killian is another character that left me feeling conflicted. He has the making of a devastatingly beloved book boyfriend but since the story felt rushed, I don’t think he got the time he needed to make us fall in love with him.

4 Quills

I struggled with this rating because I really liked the idea of this book. When I read the first passage, I was hooked. Curious. But then the story progressed and I didn’t build those connections you do as a reader. It’s a really interesting and good book with a gorgeous cover and some truly likeable characters. But in the end, the author did write a truly interesting story and I’m compelled to continue the journey and read the next installment.


About The Author
               
D.A. Roach has been telling stories since she was a young girl in the suburbs of Chicago. In college she met the man of her dreams, her happily ever after, and married him 2 weeks after graduating. They have 3 kids together and a pet cockatiel named Gimli. D.A. did not find a love for books until after college. Her parents were immigrants from Lithuania and found tv and radio easier ways to hear stories so they did not do much reading or encourage it. But once she finished college and D.A. had free time, she discovered how amazing it was to get lost in a story.

D.A. is a full time mom and wife. When she is not doing domestic things (laundry, bills, etc) she is writing, reading, creating mixed media art, and helping beautify her kids' school landscape. Oh, and she is ALWAYS listening to music. Her favorite authors include Rebecca Donovan, Richelle Mead, Larissa Ione, Stephanie Meyer, E.L. James, and Sylvia Day. Reading great works from authors like these has motivated D.A. to write her own stories. She hopes to make positive changes in the world with her art and writing.

"Life isn't about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself."

— George Bernard Shaw



 Enter The Giveaway Here
 
1 $25 Amazon GC
2 signed copies of Betweeen the Bleeding Willows
 
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Tuesday, September 8, 2015

Lucid by Jay Bonansinga Book Review

Lucid
Jay Bonansinga

Genre: Young Adult Horror
Release Date: April 28, 2015
Publisher: Permuted Press

ISBN: 978-1618685315
ASIN: B00TUHCFS4

Pages: 246

Goodreads Rating: 4.38
My Rating: 4.58

Book Description:

 Lori Blaine is not your average seventeen-year-old high school student. Cool and iconoclastic in her dread-locks and natty thrift shop garb, with an IQ that’s off the charts, she is the ersatz leader of a pack of Goth kids that circle around her in the halls of Valesburg Central like a school of pilot fish. Lori speaks softly, but when she does speak, people have a tendency to listen.

But Lori Blaine has one problem: The door.

Lori’s dreams are haunted by this strange, recurring symbol. The door is always there on the periphery… beckoning to her, daring her to see what might be waiting for her on the other side. Finally, at the urging of an overzealous school psychologist, Lori Blaine decides to face her fears. The next night, she goes through the dream door… and immediately plunges into a shattered looking glass world in which nothing is as it seems and evil awaits around every corner.

But when Lori fights back, all hell breaks loose.

Created by the New York Times bestselling author of THE WALKING DEAD: DESCENT…. LUCID is a mind-bender of a contemporary supernatural thriller for Young Adults.


https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25358752-lucid

My Take:

Holy Fluffy Marshmallows!
 
I'm kinda at a loss for words so that was all I could come up with. 
 
This was definitely one heck of a book and I'm seriously hoping that its part of a series cause I would love to learn a bit more about Lori. Lately I've been hoping to find something different when reading, a different kind of character and I think I got that from this book. Lori is a heroine in every aspect of the word but she seems to have an anti-heroine feel to her. She's way different from your typical lead and the romance is even more unconventional. 
 
I enjoyed that while Nick was very important to Lori, he wasn't the most important person and didn't deter her from what she had to do. If anything, he was her biggest supporter. And while I would have enjoyed reading a bit more of their interactions I'm ok with what I got because the rest of the story was just that good.
 
Lucid dreaming in a book isn't a new concept to me BUT this was done in a completely different way that incorporated demons.... this book gives a whole new meaning to the term inner demons and actually had me stopping to consider my own dreams lol.
 
I was really intrigued with the concept of this story and I feel like the execution was on point. It was quick with the action and didn't leave you struggling through chapters upon chapters of character info before it got to the good stuff. My only peeve was the way it was written with a sense of precognition and shifting to a form of telling a past event. I enjoy finding out about characters and the story as it unfolds. There where a couple of scenes in particular where I felt annoyed with the continued reference to an event that had yet to occur.


4.5 Quills
 
I really hope this is the start of a series because while there is a definite end to this book there is a sense of open ended-ness that begs the question.... what is her destiny. There was a resolution to the main problem but no answers given to the others. As I said above, I really would like to learn more about Lori and I relish the chance to delve back into this world of lucid dreaming and demons.



About The Author
 
The national best-selling author of ten acclaimed books – both fiction and non-fiction -- Jay Bonansinga has been called “one of the most imaginative writers of thrillers” by the Chicago Tribune.

Jay is the holder of a master's degree in film from Columbia College Chicago, and currently resides in Evanston, Illinois, with his wife and two sons. He is also a visiting professor at Northwestern University in their Creative Writing for the Media program.

Connect with the Author:
https://www.facebook.com/JayBonansingaFanPage https://twitter.com/JayBonansinga
 
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Wednesday, December 3, 2014

Rise From Darkness Review + #Giveaway


Rise From Darkness
Battle for Souls
Book #1
Ciara Knight 

Genre: YA Paranormal Romance, Fantasy
Release Date: September 24, 2014
Publisher: Defy the Dark Publishing

ISBN: 9781937389925
ASIN: B00N2TO7LO
Pages: 250

Goodreads Rating:  3.87
My Rating: 4.5

Book Description:

Alexander Lorre gives new meaning to the term "tormented teen." He's a newly fallen angel, which means he has the self-control of a three-year-old, the hormones of a teenager and the strength of an angel. When he rescues Gaby Moore from drowning, the chemistry between them is undeniable. With a local demon threatening Gaby's life, he struggles to find a balance between remaining close enough to protect her but distant enough to control his desires. 
As danger draws closer, Gaby uncovers shattering secrets that will lead to an ultimate choice. Will she fight alongside her father, an earthbound hunter killing fallen angels and demons, give into the demon blood coursing through her veins and join the demon world, or save the man she loves from both? The first two choices damn her, but the last one could destroy them all.



My Take On The Book:

This book was captivating from the go. I dived into the story and was swept away to this world of demons and angels and hunters. It was a great story with action, descriptions and romance. Even if that romance at times pushed the genre of YA to the limits. 

I fell in love with the characters and was invested in their well being by chapter 3 which is a rare feat. And even tho there were some guesses as to how the story would play out I was never 100% sure how it would turn out. I loved that the author kept me guessing, worried yet hopeful. Alex and Gabby are 2 characters that are hard not to love and Sammy is just a breath of fresh air. But ironically enough I felt like the adults had the more interesting story lines. I wish I could sit here and write everything this book made me feel but I know if I get started it would be hard to remove those glaring spoilers and I want everyone to enjoy this story as much as I did.

The Great (Pros):

  • The romances. I love romance stories and this was no different except you know, the whole fallen angels business. It was just the right amount of tortured (not long at all) and the perfect measurement of sweet. I had my 'hold your breath' moments with some of the characters and there love interests but everything felt so seamless and well planed out.
  • Characters. Its been awhile since I've read a YA book with such planned out characters. I felt like every detail was mapped out so that there were no inconsistencies. It made for a really enjoyable read and a nice transition into their back stories. 
  • The plot. I'm a huge fan of story lines. I've been known to read thru books/stories I felt were mediocre in the writing department just because I enjoyed the plot. Luckily, the writing was spot on and the plot was even better in this one.

The Not So Great (Cons):

  • Disconnect. My only real complaint was what I felt to be a disconnect with the story and the ages of these characters. Many of the younger ones didn't feel like their age and i mean that in a loose term. At times the angels/demons felt younger and then older and the same goes for the regular characters. It was slightly disconcerting when the mention of school was brought up. like the harsh reminder that yep these aren't adults or even older teens but young teens at most 17 years old. 


4.5 Quills

I personally can not wait to  get my hands on the next books of this series. I am really excited to learn more about these characters and see how the story progresses. And as always once I've read the book, I'll review it! I think I know what I'm gonna add to my list this christmas lol. As for a recoommendation.... Of course. It's a well planned book that is definitely not lacking in umph. It was so good that I struggled to rate this one. I wanted to give it a 5 because I loved it so much but then there were a few key pieces that I felt could be improved upon. I suggest you guys and gals read it for yourself and decide where it stands.

Buy Links:

AmazonBarnes & Noble

Buy Links for books 2 & 3:

Fall from GraceAscension of Evil


About The Author 

Ciara Knight began her writing career in 2008. She writes to ‘Defy the Dark’ with her fantasy, paranormal, and dystopian books. Her first Young Adult Series, Battle for Souls, will be published by Turquoise Morning press, with her prequel novella, Love’s Long Shadow, releasing in October 2011. Followed by Rise From Darkness (Book I) in March 2012, Fall From Grace (Book II), and Ascension of Evil (Book III). 

Also in 2012, her adult fantasy, Curse of Gremdon will be published by Crescent Moon Press.

When not writing, she enjoys reading all types of fiction. Some great literary influences in her life include Edgar Allen Poe, Shakespeare, Francine Rivers and J K Rowling.

Her first love, besides her family, reading, and writing, is travel. She's backpacked through Europe, visited orphanages in China, and landed in a helicopter on a glacier in Alaska. 

Author Links:
WebsiteGoodreadsTwitterFacebook


Enter The Giveaway Here

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Thursday, May 1, 2014

A Review of Blood Magic by T.G. Ayer



Blood Magic 
Soul Tracker Series
Book #1
T.G. Ayer

Genre: Urban Fantasy
Release Date: April 28, 2014
Publisher: Infinite Ink Books

ISBN: TBA
ASIN: B00JX8UC8K

Pages: 220
Goodreads Rating:  4.35
My Rating: 4.5

Synopsis:

My name is Mel Morgan and I’m a Tracker. I find people for a living. The people I help have no idea I know exactly how they feel because I’ve lost someone too. If only I could have found the one person I’ve been looking for all these years.

My current case is no ordinary abduction. Before long I’m neck deep in blood magic – the worst kind. I need the help of a necromancer if I’m to free the kid. Doesn’t mean I have to like it.

When sexy djinn Saleem asks for help things get a little hot to handle. But how can I say know? Dodging demons and sorcerers are just part of my day job.



My Take On The Book:

Omg… talk about cliffhanger. This book will definitely keep you wanting more with only a few grammatical errors, the story is solid and enthralling.

After reading the first chapter, I was a bit worried that this book would have too much or not enough going on but… it was the perfect balance. I fell in love with the characters and their stories. Mel is awesome and the Persian Djinn Saleem is one smexy demon ;)

But honestly this was a great read and an even better introduction to the Soul Tracker Series. This was my first read by author T.G. Ayer but I can guarantee that it wont be my last as this is one extremely talented author and I am 110% hooked on this series.

The Great (Pros):

  • The Cover. Clean and really pretty! It’s a simple cover that leaves a lot to the imagination but it does capture the eye and definitely made me pick up the book.

  • Characters. The characters in this book were solid and developed fully. I liked their connections.

  • Magic. Sucker for magic in books and while this one wasn’t heavy on witchcraft or anything it was a ‘magical’ book. As a soul tracker, Mel has her own brand of magic, mixing that with a Djinn, a scary necromancer, a white witch and many others and you’ve got yourself a pretty great book.

  • Demons. I like books that are ‘ballsy’ enough to take on the demon taboo. This author did an excellent job with it!

  • Romance. :sigh: there wasn’t a whole lot action going on in this department but it was a nice steady build that left me jonesing for the next installment.


The Not So Great (Cons):

  • Descriptions. Or better yet a lack of descriptions. I felt like I was missing something. Not only with some of the settings but also with the characters. While the story was easy enough to follow and a relatively quick read, I felt like I was thrown head long into a story that had already started.

  • Information Overload. I know that it seems odd following the previous bullet but where we lacked description there was also an overabundance of info in others. Some characters just had to much backstory thrown at you.

  • Not enough Saleem. But that’s not really a con and just a personal preference on my part as I understand that giving us too much of them will take away from the build of their relationship in future books. Its just that he’s so yummy, you can’t help but wanting to read more.

4.5 Quills

I am genuinely looking forward to the next book and reading others by this author. The genre and storyline was reminicent of 'The Hollows' by Kim Harrison and 'The Mercy Thompson Series' by Patricia Briggs so if you enjoyed those books then this is a definite must read!

Purchase:


Author Bio 

I have been a writer from the time I was old enough to recognise that reading was a doorway into my imagination. Poetry was my first foray into the art of the written word. Books were my best friends, my escape, my haven. I am essentially a recluse but this part of my personality is impossible to practise given I have two teenage daughters, who are actually my friends, my tea-makers, my confidantes… I am blessed with a husband who has left me for golf. It’s a fair trade as I have left him for writing. We are both passionate supporters of each other's loves – it works wonderfully…

My heart is currently broken in two. One half resides in South Africa where my old roots still remain, and my heart still longs for the endless beaches and the smell of moist soil after a summer downpour. My love for Ma Afrika will never fade. The other half of me has been transplanted to the Land of the Long White Cloud. The land of the Taniwha, beautiful Maraes, and volcanoes. The land of green, pure beauty that truly inspires. And because I am so torn between these two lands – I shall forever remain cross-eyed.

Author Links:


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