Showing posts with label Murder. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Murder. Show all posts

Tuesday, May 10, 2016

The Paladins Review + #Giveaway


http://www.chapter-by-chapter.com/blog-tour-schedule-the-paladins-the-artisans-2-by-julie-reece/

The Paladins
The Artisans Series
Book #2
Julie Reece

Genre: Young Adult Paranormal Romance
Release Date: May 3, 2016
Publisher: Month9Books

ISBN: 978-0996890465
ASIN: B01CC3C3PM

Pages: 300
Goodreads Rating: 4.64
My Rating: 5.0

Book Description:

The Artisan curse is broken. Souls trapped in a mysterious otherworld called The Void are finally released. Now, Raven Weathersby, Gideon Maddox, and Cole Wynter can finally move on with their lives...or so they thought. If the ancient magic is truly dead, then why are mystical fires plaguing Gideon at every turn? What accounts for Raven’s frightening visions of her dead mother? And who is the beautiful, tortured girl haunting Cole’s dreams?

Last year, a group of lonely teens sacrificed secrets, battled the supernatural, and faced their own demons to set one another free. Yet six months later, the heart of evil still beats within The Void. And the trio is forced to face the horrific truth: that their only way out is to go back in.

The Paladins completes this eerie YA Southern Gothic where loyalties are tested, love is challenged, and evil seeks them on the ultimate battlegrounds—in their minds, their souls, and their hearts.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25757247-the-paladins

Book 1

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/21944665-the-artisans

My Take on 'The Paladins':

Snap Crackle Pop.

Wow that was a really good book. A solid follow up to an epic book 1. It’s true that I enjoyed book 1 just a smidge more and that is mainly due to the time you get to spend with Raven ‘Rae’ Weathersby. She’s a unique heroine that reminded me very much of Belle from Beauty & the Beast which endeared me to her character. She’s willful and loyal and strong and I can’t think of a better lead for this series.

Her connection with each character is so strong you have to remind yourself when you finish reading that this is a book and that you don’t really know any of them.

Each character continues to grow and what I liked about book 2 was the shift in POVs. While often at times, said shifts can come off as sloppy or an easy out, I found that this allowed me as a reader to understand the other main characters and fully grasp the situation at hand.


5 Quills

I must admit that I’m sad that this story is over and that these characters will likely have no new adventures. They were so great and heroic and terribly romantic that I absolutely fell in love with each of them and this amazingly written universe. This is where I normally attempt to compare the book to a previous read but I can think of no similar read other that ‘The Last Necromancer’ and even that is a bit of a stretch.

Regardless, I wholly recommend this series and this author! If you’ll pardon my corny joke… this series is magical.




About The Author


Born in Ohio, I lived next to my grandfather’s horse farm until the fourth grade. Summers were about riding, fishing and make-believe, while winter brought sledding and ice-skating on frozen ponds. Most of life was magical, but not all.

I struggled with multiple learning disabilities, did not excel in school. I spent much of my time looking out windows and daydreaming. In the fourth grade (with the help of one very nice teacher) I fought dyslexia for my right to read, like a prince fights a dragon in order to free the princess locked in a tower, and I won.

Afterwards, I read like a fiend. I invented stories where I could be the princess… or a gifted heroine from another world who kicked bad guy butt to win the heart of a charismatic hero. Who wouldn’t want to be a part of that? Later, I moved to Florida where I continued to fantasize about superpowers and monsters, fabricating stories (my mother called it lying) and sharing them with my friends.

Then I thought I’d write one down…

Hooked, I’ve been writing ever since. I write historical, contemporary, urban fantasy, adventure, and young adult romances. I love strong heroines, sweeping tales of mystery and epic adventure… which must include a really hot guy. My writing is proof you can work hard to overcome any obstacle. Don’t give up. I say, if you write, write on!


Enter The Giveaway Here
Five (5) winners will receive a digital copy of The Paladins (The Artisans #2) by Julie Reece (INT)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thanks for stopping by,

Friday, November 13, 2015

The Fading Dusk by Melissa Giorgio Book Review + #Giveaway

http://xpressobooktours.com/2015/08/13/tour-sign-up-the-fading-dusk-by-melissa-giorgio/


The Fading Dusk
Smoke & Mirrors
Book # 1
Melissa Giorgio

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Release Date: July 19, 2015

ISBN: 978-1515150589
ASIN: B0125KV45W

E-book Pages: 257
Paperback Pages: 408

Goodreads Rating: 3.88
My Rating: 4.5

Book Description:

In the gritty city of Dusk, seventeen-year-old Irina makes her living as the street magician Bantheir’s assistant. The job isn’t glamorous, but she loves the crowds, the shows, and most of all, the illusion of magic. But Irina’s world is shattered the night she is arrested and charged as Bantheir’s accomplice to murder—murder by magic.

Real magic, the kind that’s been forbidden since the old wars.

Irina finds the idea of flashy showman Bantheir using actual magic to kill someone laughable, but she’s the only one who sees how ridiculous the claim is. But how can she convince everyone Bantheir is innocent when they’ve already made up their minds? Desperate, Irina must decide who she can trust to help her win her freedom. Is the surly, handsome Captain Leonid telling the truth when he says he believes Irina is innocent, or is he just using her to get to Bantheir? What about Aden, the sweet soldier and longtime fan of Irina’s who claims he’s on her side?

Irina said she wanted to know the truth, but when she stumbles across a dark secret that changes everything, will she be strong enough to survive?

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25954617-the-fading-dusk

My Take:

Wow, just wow.

When I first started reading this book I was interested but not hundred percent invested. But it didn't take long for me to follow love with this story and the characters or to be sucked in by the mystery or the setting. Once I reached chapter 4 I was I was not able to put the book down.

I really love it when I'm able to imagine everything in a book, the world the characters are living in. But what I find even more special is when the author has the ability to make you care about characters and have you fully invested well-being and what is going to happen to them. This book has all that and more. You got a strong heroine who is so kindhearted and good that it occasionally becomes irksome... But I promise that's a good thing. Irina is a great and loyal character with a neck of a lot of spunk and perfectly matched with the characters surrounding her.

The whole premise of this book focuses on murder and forbidden magic with some romances thrown in to spice things up a little bit more. And I loved every gosh darn second of it!

Forewarning, there IS a bit of a love triangle but it's over so quickly, I was able to get passed it without feeling frustrated or annoyed. So, if I can get through it, and you all know how much I bitch and moan about love triangles and predictability, then you can rest assured that it does not dominate or mar the pages of this amazingly written book.

Speaking of romance, Irina's love interest is perfectly suited for her and has clawed his way to the top of my book boyfriend list with his swoon worthy description and heroic actions.

4.5 Quills

I’m really looking forward to reading the next installment and learning more about this world and what consequences our heroes will face!

Amazon | B&N 

About The Author

Melissa Giorgio is a native New Yorker who graduated from Queens College with a degree in English. She’s always dreamed of being a writer and has been creating stories (mostly in her head) since she was a little girl. Also an avid reader, Melissa loves to devour thick YA novels. When not reading or writing, she enjoys watching animated films, listening to music by her favorite Japanese boy band, or exploring Manhattan. She is also the author of the Silver Moon Saga.

Author links:
Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter

 

Enter The Giveaway Here

One (1) signed paperback of THE FADING DUSK and one signed paperback of THE SIGHT SEER

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