April Covet Releases & Giveaways

, by Kt Clapsadl


Covets have all the sexiness, emotion, and happily ever after that readers have come to expect and love from Entangled. They are firmly grounded in the contemporary world, but each novel brings in supernatural twists, breaking the contemporary and paranormal rules, alike. To find out more about their titles, chat with authors, participate in special events, and to find out what books you’ll be coveting next, visit the Entangled website, follow them on Twitter, LIKE their Facebook page, and join the Book Club.


Today I'm happy to be featuring Covet's April releases:



Don't Blackmail the Vampire by Tiffany Allee

Special $0.99 Introductory Price!


Charles Kane has found the perfect way to trap the man threatening his brother's wife: befriend him, get invited along on the skiing trip, and then search for incriminating evidence. How much better that audacious but adorable Rachel has her own vendetta against the bastard, and is just as eager to nail him to the wall. As far as Charles is concerned, there's nothing wrong with a little blackmail between two consenting adults. Especially when it's time for Rachel to pay up.



Stop Dragon My Heart Around by Susannah Scott

Special $0.99 Introductory Price!


Leo denies his lust for Tee, Vegas’s favorite casino host, because she doesn’t bear his dragon mark and without that true soulmate, he will lose his dragon form. But when Tee's identity is challenged, Leo’s protective instincts kick in. Can he give up his dragon form for the woman he loves—even if it means shortening his life? Or has Tee had enough of having her heart dragged around?



Trusting An Angel

Special $0.99 Introductory Price!

Isadora secretly longs for her boss Zerach’s attention, but her scarred body and his playboy ways keep her from acting on her feelings. When Zerach helps her fend off an unwanted advance, she sees him in a new light and can't help but wonder if he shares her feelings. When a demon starts stalking Isadora, Zerach, an archangel with a mission to protect humans from demons, will stop at nothing to protect her. Now he risks not only losing the woman he loves, but also losing his wings.

Giveaway!

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4/28 Edge Releases & Giveaways

, by Kt Clapsadl


Edge, a digital-first single-title romance line from Entangled Publishing, takes its lead from their popular Select imprint but gives its novels an edge in the marketplace by bringing great stories to readers at reasonable prices in a quick-and-easy way. Whether sexy or sweet, traditional romance or love and lust with a women’s fiction bent, at the center of every Edge book is heart. From Urban Fantasy to Contemporary Romance to Science Fiction Romance, Edge has a book for all romance readers—and right at their fingertips! As they say, all’s fair in love and war. To find out more about their titles, chat with authors, participate in special events, and to find out what books are coming next, visit the Entangled website, follow them on Twitter, and like their Facebook page.

Today I'm happy to be featuring Edge's April 28th releases!!



Night Child by Lisa Kessler
Night #4

Special $0.99 Introductory Price For One Week ONLY!


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Issa is one of the original Night Walkers, a proud protector of the mortal world. Now, when the key to the survival of the entire Night Walker race rests on protecting an unborn child, Issa is the only immortal strong enough to defend Muriah and the prophecy. But Muriah’s headstrong spirit and soulful eyes awaken feelings in him that are best left buried. When the Egyptian God of Chaos sstrikes, Muriah and Issa must find the lost scrolls to trap him. But as the battle between love and chaos ensues, sacrifices must be made…


Call of the Siren by Rosalie Lario
Demons of the Infernum #4 

Special $0.99 Introductory Pricing!

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Siren-demon hybrid bounty hunter Dagan Meyers swore he'd never settle down. Tying himself to one woman is so not his bag. Until he meets the gorgeous angel Lina, and can’t think of being with anybody BUT her. The last thing Lina wants is to develop feelings for the smooth-talking man she knows will eventually leave her. But as they battle a growing darkness—a powerful dark fae who’s harnessed untold power—Dagan and Lina find that love may be their greatest weapon against the evil that threatens to destroy them all.



Angel Kin by Tricia Skinner
Angel Assassins #1

Special $0.99 Introductory Pricing!


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When a beautiful woman comes to The Bound Ones, half-angel assassin Cain is immediately drawn to her. But when Katie fingers him as the killer, he can come to only one conclusion. His twin, who he thought was dead, is very much alive…and sending him a message. Unfortunately, that message is: “You’re next.” Now, with Katie’s life in his hands, Cain must fight to keep them both alive. But Abel has just one goal: destroy his brother, starting with the woman he’s falling in love with.



Just A Kiss by Ally Broadfield

Novella Only $0.99!


Charlotte Lightwood has one season to find a husband or she'll be forced to marry her guardian's loathsome cousin. With no title or dowry, she doesn't have much hope of making a good match. Sebastian Wilkinson, the Earl of Marley, has been the most eligible bachelor on the marriage mart for more years than he cares to count and is very aware of his duty to marry a woman who will add to the wealth and stature of his title. Sebastian makes Charlotte an offer she can't refuse: he will pretend to court her to help her attract more suitors in exchange for her advice about which ladies he should pursue. As they work together, their mutual attraction grows. When they realize they just might be perfect for one another, they must decide whether to bow to the dictates of society or follow their hearts.



The Demon Lord by Paula Altenburg
Demon Outlaws #2.5

Novella Only $0.99!

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The Demon Lord has conquered the mortal world and sampled its pleasures. Now all he needs is to conquer the goddess who is meant to complete him. The goddess Allia, however, has other plans. She is sent by her immortal sisters to win the heart of the Demon Lord and make him her slave but soon discovers that the Demon Lord’s heart is not easily given, and that in order to win it, she must sacrifice her own.

Early Review: Mila 2.0 Renegade by Debra Driza

, by Kt Clapsadl

Mila 2.0 Renegade by Debra Driza
Mila 2.0 #2

There is no one left for Mila to trust. Except for a boy she barely knows.

But Hunter has no idea who—and what—Mila really is. She can’t bear to reveal her secret, even though he’s unwittingly joined her search for Richard Grady, a man who may know more details of Mila’s complicated past.

Yet the road to the truth is more dangerous than ever. With General Holland and the Vita Obscura scouring the earth for her whereabouts, Mila must rely on her newfound android abilities to protect herself and Hunter from imminent harm. Still, embracing her identity as a machine leads her to question the state of her humanity—as well as Hunter’s real motives.

Perfect for fans of I Am Number Four and Divergent, this action-packed and heart-wrenching second installment of MILA 2.0 will leave readers breathlessly awaiting the series conclusion.

Poor Mila. She's going through so much and seeing her try to cope with everything that's happened was utterly heartbreaking at times. Just her inner struggle with her emotions and humanity with the android parts of her were hard enough. Then you add in the grief from the loss of her mother, and her not knowing who to trust leaving her feeling isolated and alone. Sure she was travelling with Hunter, but as she had to hide so much from him and she couldn't be sure of his reaction to the "true" her, that isolation still held true. I can't imagine being in her position, and my heart really went out to her. I love when characters are written so strongly that they suck you right in, and that definitely was the case here.

There was a pretty big plot twist in this book that I had seen coming, but I still enjoyed the way it all played out. The world behind the story is expanding, and I'm really loving the way it's all coming together. I cannot wait to see how things turn out next after the doozy of an ending in this one. But you'll just have to read the book to see for yourself.

I'm pretty sure this series will be a trilogy, so as always in these type of series, I went into this second installment with a bit of trepidation while waiting for the oh so common sophomoric slump. Luckily this time I needn't have worried as MILA 2.0 RENEGADE was every bit as good as the first installment if not even better. With characters you can get behind and an action packed and suspenseful plot, this one is not to be missed. I'll certainly be counting down the days until the final book is released.

(Received a copy from the publisher via Edelweiss)

Rating:






Order Links:



Other Reviews:
     Diamonds and Coal
     Smoking Hot Reviews


Previous Books:

Early Review: The Taking by Kimberly Derting

, by Kt Clapsadl

The Taking by Kimberly Derting
The Taking #1

A flash of white light . . . and then . . . nothing. 
When sixteen-year-old Kyra Agnew wakes up behind a Dumpster at the Gas ’n’ Sip, she has no memory of how she got there. With a terrible headache and a major case of déjà vu, she heads home only to discover that five years have passed . . . yet she hasn’t aged a day.

Everything else about Kyra’s old life is different. Her parents are divorced, her boyfriend, Austin, is in college and dating her best friend, and her dad has changed from an uptight neat-freak to a drunken conspiracy theorist who blames her five-year disappearance on little green men.

Confused and lost, Kyra isn’t sure how to move forward unless she uncovers the truth. With Austin gone, she turns to Tyler, Austin’s annoying kid brother, who is now seventeen and who she has a sudden undeniable attraction to. As Tyler and Kyra retrace her steps from the fateful night of her disappearance, they discover strange phenomena that no one can explain, and they begin to wonder if Kyra’s father is not as crazy as he seems. There are others like her who have been taken . . . and returned. Kyra races to find an explanation and reclaim the life she once had, but what if the life she wants back is not her own?

I enjoyed THE TAKING and it was a pretty quick read, but there were a few things that just felt a bit too underdeveloped for me, making it frustrating as I couldn't quite get fully immersed into the story. Don't get me wrong, the book was good, but as I'm writing this I'm going back and forth between a 3 and a 4 star rating in my head. The concept of the taking and the aliens was rather left field for me, it just didn't make any sense, especially when the firefly aspect was brought in. Also, the whole bleeding issue really really made no sense to me, and honest felt more like a ploy to have a conflict/explain the crazy complication that occurs in the book. Frankly I understand the reaction from a certain group because of that complication, but it seemed too little too late. It's a pretty big deal, so I don't get why they weren't all over it sooner, thus pulling out me out of the story as it was that off kilter. I realize that was incredibly vague and won't make much sense until after you read the book, but I don't want to spoil anything. Suffice it to say that the handling of things, and the "complications" require more than a little belief suspension to follow along.

Another thing I'm not entirely sure about was the romance. I loved the two characters together, and I even understood the instalove between the two as Tyler had a terrible crush on Kyra when he was younger, and on her side of things, well he was the only stable thing she could grab onto in her turned upside down world. So as I said, I get that instalove, but what I couldn't get behind was the plot ploy thrown in that I vaguely mentioned about. Again it seemed to be just thrown in there for no other purpose than to add conflict, and since it wound up directly messing with the romance, it bears repeating here. It left me feeling a bit disconnected from the romance as I think that issue/roadblock was thrown into things too soon as I was just really getting on board with them together before the rug was thrown out from under them. So basically, instalove can be okay in my book as long as it isn't torn right back away.

All in all, THE TAKING was a decent start to a new series with a few kinks that can easily turn around in the next installment. If you're a fan of lighter scifi with action and a bit of suspense, and don't mind having to suspend a bit of disbelief, this one is for you.

(Received a copy from the publisher via Edelweiss)

Rating:






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Other Reviews:
     Gizmo's Reviews
     Dark Faerie Tales
     Mostly YA Book Obsessed


Early Review: The Eighth Day by Diane K. Salerni

, by Kt Clapsadl

The Eighth Day by Dianne K. Salerni
Eighth Day #1

In this riveting fantasy adventure, thirteen-year-old Jax Aubrey discovers a secret eighth day with roots tracing back to Arthurian legend. Fans of Percy Jackson will devour this first book in a new series that combines exciting magic and pulse-pounding suspense.

When Jax wakes up to a world without any people in it, he assumes it's the zombie apocalypse. But when he runs into his eighteen-year-old guardian, Riley Pendare, he learns that he's really in the eighth day—an extra day sandwiched between Wednesday and Thursday. Some people—like Jax and Riley—are Transitioners, able to live in all eight days, while others, including Evangeline, the elusive teenage girl who's been hiding in the house next door, exist only on this special day.

And there's a reason Evangeline's hiding. She is a descendant of the powerful wizard Merlin, and there is a group of people who wish to use her in order to destroy the normal seven-day world and all who live in it. Torn between protecting his new friend and saving the entire human race from complete destruction, Jax is faced with an impossible choice. Even with an eighth day, time is running out.

Stay tuned for The Inquisitor's Mark, the spellbinding second novel in the Eighth Day series.

The premise behind THE EIGHTH day was really interesting and unique. I was looking for something completely new and fresh, and this book delivered. Just the idea of a secret eighth day was a great story element, but then you add in the people who only live on that day, and then the people on our side of things that can straddle both "worlds" and things started to really get interesting. But I have to say the coup de la grace for me was the ties to Arthurian legends. I love how that was interwoven in the world and story line, and took things up another notch for me. I have a serious soft spot for legends and mythology done well, and I'm happy to report that this one worked well.

I have to admit that I was a bit leery to read this book due to the main character's age putting him on the high range of middle grade/low range of YA. But the description won me over, and after reading the book, I'm glad it did. Don't get me wrong, it does read a bit on the younger side for my tastes, and at first I couldn't stand Jax due to his petulance and negative demeaner. Sure, his life had been uprooted, but you could really see his immaturity in the way he whined and responded to things. However, I will say that I quickly overlooked that as the story got rolling because it was very fast paced, and his whining did drastically tone down. Sure he still showed a lot of that immaturity in his decisions, but that didn't bother me so much, and I was able to connect with him better.

Personal preferences with the character's maturity level aside, THE EIGHTH DAY was a very good read that I devoured in one setting. It was very fast paced, and flowed well, but I will say I think a little bit more information would have been helpful early on to help solidify things for me as I felt a bit in the dark for awhile. But when it's all said and done, THE EIGHTH DAY is a good start to this new series, and I'll definitely be watching for the next installment.

(Received a copy from the publisher via Edelweiss)

Rating:






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Other Reviews:
     In Time
     Le&ndra Wallace
     Tales from the Raven


The Forever Song Tour

, by Kt Clapsadl



Where did you get the inspiration for the Blood of Eden series?

I’ve told this story a few times, but it’s a fun one, so I’ll tell it again.  Way back in the beginning of my writing career, before I even started The Iron King, I told myself that I wasn’t going to write a vampire story.  This was at the height of the Twilight craze, and there were already so many books about our favorite bloodsuckers, I felt I didn’t have anything new to add.  But then, around the time I was finishing up The Iron Knight, the last book in the Iron Fey series, I got a call from my agent.  She wanted to know what was next for me, if I had any ideas for a new book or a new series.  I did.  I told her I’d been thinking about a really dark, post-apocalyptic world where a disease had wiped out nearly everyone and there weren’t many humans left.  I didn’t exactly have, say, a plot, or characters, or what the book was going to be about.  But I knew I wanted to write something a bit darker and bleaker than the Iron Fey, so I asked her what she thought about that.
She said: “Yes, well, that sounds interesting, but what are your thoughts about writing vampires?”
Out loud, I said: “I’ll think about it.”  Inwardly, I was going: Aaaaaagh, noooooooo! *Snarl-hiss makes sign of the cross.*
But, after we got off the phone, I did start to think.  So, on the one hand, I had this cool, dark, post-apocalyptic setting that I really loved.  And on the other, I had vampires.  So, what if I just…
Squashed.
Them.
Together?
And, just like that, the idea for The Immortal Rules was born.

When you set out to write this series did you know how everything would end up, or did you wing it as you went?

I always have to know the ending of a series before I begin.  Then I at least have something to write toward.  I also have certain points in the story that I know have to happen, but everything in between I make up as I go along.

• The ending of The Eternity Cure was a doozy! Do you enjoy torturing readers with cliffhangers?

I'll tell you a universal truth: authors love to make readers cry.  And laugh, and scream, and rage. Not because we're mean or evil (okay, maybe a little evil), but when people shed tears over our books, and specifically the characters in those books, we know we've done our job well.  It means the reader has connected with them on a personal level, that the characters have become more than just words on paper.  They've become real.

If your books were to be made into a movie, who would be your top picks for the cast?

Oh man, I am soooo bad at this.  Really, if James Marsters (Spike from Buffy the Vampire Slayer) could play Jackal, that'd be awesome, but I have no idea for anyone else.  I'm open to suggestions.

Since this is the last book in the series, what's coming next for you?

My next series is called Talon, and it's about modern day dragons and their war with the Order of St. George. 

What are some of your favorite books in the paranormal genre?

Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor, and anything by Neil Gaiman.

If you could tell readers one thing about yourself or your books, what would that be?

For aspiring authors, I started exactly where you are right now, unpublished and unknown.  Keep writing, keep practicing, and never give up.

What is the craziest or at least most interesting thing you have ever done?

Lol, I've done a lot of crazy/interesting things; it's hard to pick just one.  When I was sixteen I tried riding a wild horse and was promptly bucked off and trampled.  (Not the smartest thing I've ever done.)  I met a wild sea turtle while swimming in the ocean one afternoon, and hung out with it for awhile.  I've been chased out of the ocean by reef sharks.  I've trained horses, dogs, cats, and a parrot.  I take Kung Fu and routinely spar people with sticks and knives.  Several years ago I was taking my dog for a walk in the park, and happened to run into Orlando Bloom, who said my dog was cool looking.  So I'm not certain which of these is the most interesting; I'll let you guys decide. ;-)

Finish this statement: "You'll like the Blood of Eden series if...

...you like scary, old-school vampires, bloody sword fights, romance, snark, and a kick-ass Asian vampire girl with a katana. 

Thanks Julie!


Tour Schedule: 

Tuesday, April 8th - fiktshun 
Wednesday, April 9th - The Page Turners 
Thursday, April 10st - Books and Things 
Friday, April 11th - Ticket To Anywhere 
Monday, April 14th - Two Chicks on Books 
Tuesday, April 15th - Parajunkee 
Wednesday, April 16th - Refracted Light Reviews 
Thursday, April 17st - Bewitched Bookworms 
Friday, April 18th - Mundie Moms 
Monday, April 21th - A Book Obsession 
Tuesday, April 22nd - The Book Cellar 
Wednesday, April 23th - Supernatural Snark 
Thursday, April 24st - The Busy Bibliophile 
Friday, April 25th - Tyngas Reviews


Author Info:


Julie Kagawa was born in Sacramento, California. But nothing exciting really happened to her there. So, at the age of nine she and her family moved to Hawaii, which she soon discovered was inhabited by large carnivorous insects, colonies of house geckos and frequent hurricanes. She spent much of her time in the ocean, when she wasn’t getting chased out of it by reef sharks, jellyfish and the odd eel.

To pay the rent, Julie worked in different bookstores over the years, but discovered the managers frowned upon her reading the books she was supposed to be shelving. So she turned to her other passion: training animals. She worked as a professional dog trainer for several years, dodging Chihuahua bites and overly enthusiastic Labradors, until her first book sold and she stopped training to write full-time.

Julie now lives in Louisville, Kentucky, where the frequency of shark attacks are at an all-time low. She lives with her husband, two obnoxious cats, one Australian shepherd who is too smart for his own good and the latest addition, a hyperactive Papillon puppy.





Book Info:
(Also check out my review of The Forever Song)


How do you face the end of eternity?

In Allison Sekemoto's world, there is one rule left: Blood calls to blood.

She has done the unthinkable: died so that she might continue to live. Cast out of Eden and separated from the boy she dared to love, Allie will follow the call of blood to save her creator, Kanin, from the psychotic vampire Sarren. But when the trail leads to Allie's birthplace in New Covington, what Allie finds there will change the world forever-and possibly end human and vampire existence
 



Amazon        The Book Depository





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Edge April 21st Releases & Giveaways

, by Kt Clapsadl


Edge, a digital-first single-title romance line from Entangled Publishing, takes its lead from their popular Select imprint but gives its novels an edge in the marketplace by bringing great stories to readers at reasonable prices in a quick-and-easy way. Whether sexy or sweet, traditional romance or love and lust with a women’s fiction bent, at the center of every Edge book is heart. From Urban Fantasy to Contemporary Romance to Science Fiction Romance, Edge has a book for all romance readers—and right at their fingertips! As they say, all’s fair in love and war. To find out more about their titles, chat with authors, participate in special events, and to find out what books are coming next, visit the Entangled website, follow them on Twitter, and like their Facebook page.

Today I'm happy to be featuring Edge's April 21st releases!!


A Shot of Red by Tracy March

Special $0.99 Introductory Price!


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When biotech company heiress Mia Moncure learns her ex-boyfriend, the company’s PR Director, has died in a suspicious accident in Switzerland, Mia suspects murder. Determined to reveal a killer, she turns to sexy Gio Lorenzo, Communications Director for her mother, a high-ranking senator—and the recent one-night stand Mia has been desperate to escape. While negotiating their rocky relationship, they race to uncover a deadly scheme that could ruin her family’s reputation. But millions of people are being vaccinated, and there’s more than her family’s legacy at stake.


Undying Desire by Jessica Lee
Enclave #3

Special $0.99 Introductory Pricing!

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Eve Devonshire is a woman hiding in plain sight. Not completely human, but not quite a vampire, she’s accepted by neither race but is more powerful than both. To stay alive, Eve can't trust anyone, including the alpha vampire with midnight eyes and a thirst for pain and submission. With her enemies nipping at her heels, Eve has Guerin cornered, and both are determined to get the answers they're looking for or die trying... if they can fight their desires long enough.


The Perfect Hostage by Misty Evans

Special $0.99 Introductory Pricing!


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Sergeant John Quick has seen the worst in life, both personally and professionally, and long ago decided loving someone comes at too high a price. But when the woman of his dreams “kidnaps” him for a weekend affair with no strings attached, he can’t resist. The smoking-hot weekend turns deadly when John and Lucie are trapped during a blizzard and discover they’re not alone. Someone from their past has come hunting for revenge. Now John must become the perfect hostage in order to save Lucie’s life.




Untamed Hearts by Heather McCollum
Special $0.99 Introductory Pricing!

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Jonet Montgomery has longed for a chivalrous knight her whole young life. Instead she found herself wed to a scoundrel and left a widow. When a lusty, silver-tongued rogue steals a kiss and opens a crack in her routine life, she’s tempted by his offer to taste adventure of the most pleasurable kind. Will’s heart of gold shines through despite his infamous past. But is Jonet enough woman to keep this sexy pirate from straying? With past embarrassments haunting her, she risks more than just her reputation this time. She risks her heart.

Giveaway

Kirsten Reviews: The Shadowed Throne by K.J. Taylor

, by Kt Clapsadl

The Shadowed Throne by K.J. Taylor
The Risen Sun #2

Laela the half-breed raised in the South is now the Queen of the North. The seemingly invincible King Arenadd Taranisaii and his partner, the dark griffin Skandar, are missing. The Northerners blame Laela for Arenadd’s disappearance, but she knows the truth …
With only her griffin partner Oeka to help her rule, Laela struggles to maintain power and tensions mount with Arenadd’s cousin, Saeddryn, who believes she is the rightful ruler.
Laela is forced into a desperate fight to stay queen as the entire North is plunged into a brutal civil war. To win, she will need the help of her new friend, the odd shapeshifter Kullervo, and a surprising griffin ally from the past.
But the true test of Laela’s strength will come when the deadly Shadow that Walks returns …



The Shadowed Throne by K.J. Taylor is the second in the Risen Sun trilogy, and immediately drops readers into the action where the last book left off.

This is not a series that a new reader should start from the mid-point, and with that being said, this book continues to tell the story of Laela, the half-breed daughter of the leader of the Northern people. With her father missing, she is left to rule the kingdom as its queen, and is the one person who is preventing her cousin Saeddryn from declaring war. However, there are dangers beyond family feuds and power struggles, one of them being the fact that the Night God himself is clamboring for Laela’s death. In a world where the gods interact directly with those who worship them, this is more than a figure of speech.

Laela attempts to cope with the demands of ruling a kingdom with the assistance of her partner, Oeka, a griffin. The continued inclusion of griffins in the narrative gives the reader a chance to see the world from their point of view, which is an interesting, if inhuman shift in viewpoint that makes the story more interesting.

While Laela’s story continues in this book, her rule as queen doesn’t take her character development as far as some readers may hope. Instead, there are point of view shifts to other characters, such as the griffins and others, which broadens the scope of the story and gives the audience a reason to care about more than simply the protagonist.

This is especially important with so much going on, and the conflicts that arise because of cultural differences, as well as worship of the various gods. More than a few characters use their religious beliefs to justify their actions, and Taylor strives to make everyone’s reasoning believable, if not ultimately worthy of sympathy.

A final note, the book is the second in a trilogy and does end on a cliffhanger, so readers should be forewarned, as they have a bit of a wait before the next book wraps up the story.

(Received a copy from the publisher)

Rating:





Order Links


Other Reviews:

Previous Books:
     1. The Shadow's Heir



Review: Circle of Blood by Debbie Viguie

, by Kt Clapsadl

Circle of Blood by Debbie Viguie
Witch Hunt #3

Samantha Ryan—cop by choice, witch hunter by necessity—is about to confront the witch who has been secretly manipulating her life. But her search for the truth about her past may end in her death.…

All her life, Samantha Ryan has been haunted by a circle of blood, which she has tried to keep at bay—ever since she escaped a vicious Salem coven of witches as a child. But now her carefully constructed life has given way to the darkness she might have embraced, had she not run away.
Angry, focused, and more than willing to use her powers on anyone who gets in her way, Samantha travels to New Orleans to confront Lilith Black, the witch who has been mercilessly shaping events around her for months.
But little does Samantha know that her own nightmarish past and Lilith’s are inescapably intertwined—and that what Lilith wants most of all is for Samantha to suffer until her final breath.…

Reading this book and watching what has become of Samantha was like watching a train wreck. It's awful, but you can't seem to look away. Don't get me I'm not downing the book, not in the slightest, it's just that for a large part of this book I was so appalled and had to almost force myself to keep reading as she was so terrible that it made it so hard to watch. But that's a testament to the author's skill to so viscerally show this change in Samantha that it affected me that much. Then of course as she woke up, (and I don't consider this to be a spoiler because honestly the book couldn't have really progressed anywhere with her in the state that she was) things started to change, and I once again fell for her all over again. Again, I find this incredibly impressive to have such a range in the character, and as this is the last book in the series only makes me want to check out the author's other books even more.

As much as I enjoyed this series, and this final installment, I can't help feeling just a bit let down by the final reveal of the mystery behind who had been plaguing Samantha. But even more frustrating was the incredibly rushed and quite frankly way too easy resolution of the final showdown. It was more than a bit of a let down after all the build up. Since everything else was pretty enjoyable, I was able to mostly overlook this to be satisfied with the ending, but I felt it was worth mentioning all the same.

I feel like all I have been reading lately is series ending books, many of which either let me down, or leave me feeling rather mediocre in the end. While I can't really say that this series went out with a bang due to the final battle issues, I was largely happy with the way it all turned out. Final battle aside, CIRCLE OF BLOOD was an enjoyable installment that will please fans of the series. Samantha's story is one heck of a ride that you won't want to miss.

(Received a copy from the publisher)

Rating:






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Other Reviews:


Previous Books:
     1. The Thirteenth Sacrifice
     2. The Last Grave


Early Review: The Forever Song by Julie Kagawa

, by Kt Clapsadl

The Forever Song by Julie Kagawa
Blood of Eden #3

VENGEANCE WILL BE HERS

Allison Sekemoto once struggled with the question: human or monster?

With the death of her love, Zeke, she has her answer.

MONSTER

Allie will embrace her cold vampire side to hunt down and end Sarren, the psychopathic vampire who murdered Zeke. But the trail is bloody and long, and Sarren has left many surprises for Allie and her companions—her creator, Kanin, and her blood brother, Jackal. The trail is leading straight to the one place they must protect at any cost—the last vampire-free zone on Earth, Eden. And Sarren has one final, brutal shock in store for Allie.

In a ruined world where no life is sacred and former allies can turn on you in one heartbeat, Allie will face her darkest days. And if she succeeds, triumph is short-lived in the face of surviving forever alone.

Wow. Just wow. This is how you write a trilogy. So many times trilogies seem to fall flat, but that was so far from the case here. I can't remember the last time I was so enthralled and impressed with an entire series like this. To be honest I'm a bit of a loss at what to say about this book that isn't just sheer fan girling or spoilery things, so please bear with me on this one.

As much as I love the setting and plot line of this series, it is the characters and the dynamics between them that really take it over the edge for me. You have Allison and Jackal with their completely antagonistic yet strong sibling bond that defies reason. I mean the dude is crazy and can't be trusted, or so she thinks. Yet he kept surprising her, all the while keeping her on her toes while he tormented her relentlessly. Then you have the strong fatherly bond from the stoic yet tortured Kanin, who largely puts up with Allison and Jackal's antics, but also isn't afraid to shut them up when necessary. But above all I most loved Allison herself. She's come such a long way and battled fiercely against her inner demons only to fall again and again, yet still finds a way to pick herself back up again. I loved her even more in this book as the roles between her and Zeke changed. I won't say anything more about that than to just say, wow was that a bumpy ride to the end, but more than worth the journey!

From the first page of this series to the very last one, I was completely captivated, THE FOREVER SONG most of all. From the amazing cast of characters to the nail biting plot there wasn't a single dull moment, and i loved every second. The only negative thing I can say about this book is that it ended. This series should be on every paranormal and post-apocalyptic lovers must read list. Five stars just isn't enough.

(Received a copy from the publisher via Netgalley)

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Other Reviews:
     Reading Teen
     Petite Ame Little Soul
     The Wolf's Den

Previous Books:
     1. The Immortal Rules
     2. The Eternity Cure

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