The Woken Gods by Gwenda Bond

Ancient Gods, creatures and mayhem

Title: The Woken Gods
Author: Gwenda Bond
Publisher: Strange Chemistry, UK
My ratings: 3 out of 5 stars.
Releases: 3rd September, 2013
Kyra lives in Washington D.C. In a world where the Gods of the ancient world have finally woken from their sleep, humans and Gods live amongst each other in an uneasy peace with a mysterious organisation called the Society governing them. When Kyra's father is caught stealing an ancient relic which can bring about the apocalypse, Kyra has no choice but to make an attempt to save her father. With the help of her friends and Oz she tries to rescue her father where new mysteries are revealed and she learns more about herself and her identity.

I really wanted to like The Woken Gods. When I had heard the blurb and the cover I almost fell in love with it. So when I got the Arc arrive at my door I almost cried tears of joy. Alas, it came to a crashing end.

I was excited about the premise and the setting with ancient gods but the execution left me wanting more. I did not like Kyra very much. I understood her motives and her personality but I simply could not 'feel' for her. I don't even have to like a main character to enjoy a book but this was a case of simply not feeling any sympathy or connection.

The world felt a little bit lacking and I was really confused with all the new gods being thrown away here and there, I was slightly disappointed that I did not recognise any of the 'Gods' being mentioned. Perhaps I have not read about Tricksters prior to reading The Woken Gods.

My interest rose with Oz but it died a quick death soon enough. He was okay but nothing about him jumped out at me.

The one thing I did love was Enzu, majestic and dangerous. I wouldn't have minded if he was Kyra's love interest. Well, if he turned into a boy and not some creature with fangs and massive wings.

The Woken Gods is certainly not a bad book. It was good, in fact some readers may enjoy the world building but unfortunately it left me confused and detached. This was my first time reading Gwenda Bond but I'm sure I'll read something written by her soon.

I'd recommended it to fans of new worlds, Trickster tales and high fantasy.

Releases 3rd of September, 2013

Arc provided by publisher, Strange Chemistry, UK

The Bone Season (The BoneSeason #1) by Samantha Shannon

Brave new world where nothing is as it seems

Title: The Bone Season
Author: Samantha Shannon
Series: The Bone Season
Publisher: Bloomsbury, UK
My ratings: 4.5 out of 5 stars.
Released: 20th of August, 2013
Paige is a dreamwalker. She can access human minds and find out their deepest darkest secrets and that’s what she does for a living. Working for a crime lord where people with talent like hers are hunted in London. When she is captured, she is sent to a ‘camp’ to work for the Rephaites and this is where she meets Warden. Seeped with mysteries and with whispers of a rebellion Paige tries to find her footing and learning whom to trust and who is not what it he seems.

Written with a first person’s point of view, The Bone Season crafts an interesting character out of Paige. She seems a little distant at first but over the course of the book, I slowly warmed up to her. One scene almost brought tears to my eyes finding how lonely it must have been for her.

The Bone Season has received a lot of critical acclaim for it remarkable world setting and plot building. I was pleased that Paige was new to the world of Shoal as was the reader so that the world building was unravelled with time.

My favourite part was getting to know Warden. He is a character with hidden depths which was a mystery to decipher. I love reading about characters that cannot be trusted. The lines are blurry and the writer keeps you guessing if he is good or bad or is it that simple after all.

I enjoyed the setting on an Alternative London and Oxford with alien creatures and imposing governments. The side characters were colourful and their background stories brought them at the forefront.

The plot was well written and I was sitting on the edge of my seat (literally, the bus was packed) during the ending.

The Bone Season is an excellent debut with a gripping story line; fascinating characters, vivid world building and a brave heroine which will make you want the next book immediately. Highly recommended to fans of High fantasy and Urban Fantasy. The Bone Season delivers a little of everything to keep readers longing for more.

ARC provided by Bloomsbury UK

Released 20th of August, 2013.

Crown of Midnight (Throne of Glass #2) by Sarah J. Maas

Make way for the sword wielding assassin with sass

Title: Crown of Midnight
Author: Sarah J. Maas
Series: Throne of Glass
Publisher: Bloomsbury, UK
My ratings: 5 out of 5 stars.
Released: 15th August, 2013

The one thing that makes Crown of Midnight epic is Celeana. She is back and she is tougher than ever. When we were first introduced to Celeana in Throne of Glass we were still getting to know her. She felt mysterious and deadly no doubt but she still had a tiny remnant of the whimsical girl left in her which I enjoyed reading about. Crown of Midnight starts of with the same Celeana but let me tell you she does not remain the same.

I had some niggling doubts in the first book but Celeana’s credibility as the greatest assassin as most of the time in Throne of Glass it seemed like she was in a losing battle. We were told but not exactly shown how Celeana really was. Crown of Midnight remedies this and does it with a glory. I am absolutely in love with Celeana and her love for life even when she has experienced so much death and atrocities around her.


S.J Mass’s writing is flawless as she seems to seamlessly narrate the story from the point of view of different characters giving the impression to the reader that they are one step closer to solving the mystery and then she throws another curveball and reveals another layer to the multi-layered plot.


I also believe the side characters and of course the main characters have been written with a lot of thought with new facts being brought to the light and you are that every thing is not as it seems and everyone and everything is more than what meets the eyes.

“Sometimes, it felt as though the darkness stared back at her--and the face it wore was her own.”

I don’t want to reveal too much but I can say Dorian and Chaol had a strong presence into his book and I’m still divided on whom I like more Chaol or Dorian. Celeana knows but how it will turn out, I genuinely don’t know. The plot keeps getting twisted and more intricate and the mystery about Celeana may have been cleared but it has may bring about more sub plots which I can not even anticipate.

“I worry because I care. Gods help me, I know I shouldn't, but I do. So I will always tell you to be careful, because I will always care what happens.””

ARC provided by Bloomsbury, UK

Released on 15th August, 2013

NetGalley & Edelweiss Knockout Challenge Wrap-up

Hi guys.

As I had posted a few motnhs ago, I was taking part in the NetGalley and Edelweiss Knock-Out Challenge hosted by Goldilox and the Three Weres.

I  had a target of reading 8 e-galleys in one month's time. However, the challenge was extended until the 15th of Ocutober, 2012. As the Challege is over, I would be listing the number of galleys I managed to guzzle in two and a half month's time. It is not as many as I would have liked as I had a few hick- ups along the way. My Kindle dying was one. Moreover reading too many ARC makes you feel obligated to read them and sometimes you just want to read for yourself. I'm ashamed to say I DNf'ed at least 3 books, which is a record for me. One of them I'm planning to go back to. So below I've listed the books I read specifically for the Challenge. I read a few more but the ones listed are for this challenge only.

So, here is the list;

1. Blade Song (Colbana Files #1)by J.C Daniels - Review

2. Confessions of an Angry Girl by Louise Rozett - Review

3. Seven Night's in a Rogue's Bed by Anna Campbell- Review

4. Death and the Girl Next Door (Dark Light #1) by Darynda Jones - Review

5. Slammed (Slammed #1)by Colleen Hoover - Review

6. Point of Retreat (Slammed #2) by Colleen Hoover - Review

7. Bared to You (Crossfire # 1) by Slyvia Day - Review coming soon
8. Crewel (Crewel World #1) by Jennifer Albin - Review
9. Devil's Bargain ( Red Letter Days #1) by Rachel Caine - Review coming soon.
10. Incarnation by Emma Cornwall - Review
11. The Ugly Duchess (Fairy Tales #3) by Eloisa James - Review

If you participated in the challenge, post me the lik and I'll check your list too.

 

NetGalley Knockout Challenge

For all of those suffering from the sickness of clicking finger on NetGalley and Edelweiss this challenge is for you. My eARC list seems to be endless and is hitting the floor. Therefore I've decided to grab the bull by it's horns and dedicate the whole of August to reading eARC received vie NetGalley and Edelweiss. If you want to participate click here to be taken to Goldilox's blog. The following are August and September releases so I'm hoping to power through them.

1. Forbidden by Nicola Cornick
2. Confessions of an angry Girl by Louise Rozett
2. Unspoken by Sarah Rees Brennan
4. The Ugly Duchess by Eloisa James
5. The Lord of Temptation by Lorraine Heath
6. My Scandalous Viscount by Galen Foley
7. Incarnation by Emma Cornwall
8. Boyfriend from Hell by Jamie Quaid

So I have given my self an achievable target of 8 books. Even that is pushing it as I won't be able to fit any pleasure reading for myself. So I have a feeling that this list is going to change very soon. Some of them are late September releases so I think I can skip them if required.

On Demon Wings (Experiment in Terror #5) by Karina Halle

My ratings: 5 out of 5 stars.
Fifth book in the Experiment in Terror series by Karina Halle is still amazing as ever. I'm so surprised that even the 5th book in the series has has been so interesting as usually a book series is the best during the third or the fourth book but On Demon Wings was equally good. I still has the same elements that's I have come to associate with Halle, spooky situations, interesting heroine, and a page turning read with heart wrenching romance.

On Demons Wings had s slightly different feel to it. After the 'incident' in Lying Season, Perry is struggling to cope with a life without Dex and Experiment in Terror. On the surface it looks that everything is better and the heart break she suffered has slowly healed but it is far from the truth. Dex's betrayal is still like a stab wound to her heart which keeps being twisted again and gain. She still thinks she is a loser in life and is struggling with her health. The story starts off with Perry and her life and health being on a rocky path but she is doing her best to deal with it. However, is Abby's ghost coming to haunt her?

The book had some really scary situations and it made me glad I am not in Perry's shoes. She thinks she is haunted/possessed and no one believes her. The only one who probably will is not here. I was very hard for me to watch her suffer and it pulled on my heart strings as over the series I have come to really love Perry. She is such a character that makes you want to be friends with her even if she is not all there.I found myself cheering her on and I was glad that she was slowly picking up the pieces of her shattered heart. I also love how close she and Ada had become in this difficult time of her life. I was nice to see Ada emerging as a strong and loyal supporter of Perry and putting Dex in the righful place.

I am trying to write this review whilst not giving spoilers but it is becoming increasingly hard to do so. Most of this book was about Perry and what was happening to which meant less Dex time. In fact, he is only in about 25% of the story. However what an appearance he makes. Even after Lying Season I still love him to bits and my heart was thumping for him and Perry. Old characters like Maximus make an entry but their motives are not exactly clear. I want to slap the ginger Cajun left and right but I suppose I can't. Sorry if this is not a very coherent review because this is what this series turns me into.


“I met her eyes."I don't hate myself. I hate what I've become.
"Become?" she said "Pumpkin, you've always been like this.”

As I mentioned before, On Demon wings had a slightly different feeling to this as Dex and Perry were not off somewhere shooting or getting into trouble. It had less Dex and Perry time too so perhaps that's why I didn't like it as much as I loved Lying Season. Don't get me wrong. I loved this too (so, the solid 5 stars) but I have always been more of a fan for the relationship part of this series. Lying Season was probably my favourite book out of the lot. SO FAR.


"I don't think I'll ever be able to tell you how sorry I am. It doesn't mean I won't try, because you, Perry, you deserve a lifetime of servitude. Eons of groveling. even then, I don't think I can show enough, do enough to let you see. And that's OK. You have every right to hate me for this lifetimes and many others.. You have every right to never see me again. To spit on my grave. But tonight, now I'm not going to give up on you. I'm going to fix you or" his voice fell with weights, "die trying."

I don't know what I can say more about Halle's writing style that I already haven't. These books are great page turners and I'm never sure where she is going to take it next. All I want is more. After reading this series I have to say that I should give self published authors more chance as some out there are really good and we don't know what we are missing out.

“Perry," he said quietly, his fingers trailing down the side of my face, "you'll never have to save my life. You gave me life. I never lived a single day until the day I first met you.”


*SWOONS*


Finally, I would like to thank Emmy from Sinfully Delicious Book Reviews for lending me Dead Sky Morning, Lying Season and On Demon Wings when I was going crazy for a Dex and Parry hit after and Kindle started too act possessed.

Dead Sky Morning (Experiment in Terror #3) by Karina Halle

My ratings: 5 out of 5 stars.
Dead Sky Morning sees Dex and Perry taking on more ghosts and mysteries head on. They have to go and spend a few days in an ex- Chinese Leper colony. Again they are thrown in the middle of supernatural/haunted situation. Will they triumph or will they succumb to the horrors of this place? Ghosts and secrets come out of their coffins, spilling their guts out in the open.

This has to be my favourite book so far. I mean I like these books more and more as I read on. It was nice to see Perry gain confidence about her. I mean it is not a massive step but it seems like she is taking baby steps towards.We all have been wondering if Perry or Dex would make a move but I can only disclose that there were some juicy moments.

The island and its dead inhabitants were playing mind games with Perry and Dex and a lot happened between the two. More information was revealed making the secrets more elusive than ever. Dex and Perry start distrusting each other and it wasn’t the romantic getaway I (I know you will too when you read this) was hoping for. Both their sanity and belief in each other came into question.


“Honestly kiddo? You’re beautiful. You use your weight as an excuse but you’re just all woman. Not every woman has to look like a stripper. Or a model. Or Megan Fox. You’re petite, have a tiny waist, a fantastic rack, a devastaing ass...what the hell more do you want? You should know. Everyone else knows it...thats’s why you’re getting all these asinine comments. Can’t you just see that it’s just jealousy that’s ripping these people apart?”


I swear I still can’t read this Dex bloke. Sometimes he is all flirty with Perry, being nice to her and giving her compliments the next he still wants to be with his girlfriend. He is one dodgy man and I want more of him. What I still love about this series is that nothing is black and white. Everything is grey. Sometimes I question if Perry even is in her right mind. I know Dex is mental (literally) but is Perry better than everybody else? She is pinning for a man who is already somebody else’s and Dex is most liking cheating on his current girlfriend. Which under normal circumstance I would find appalling but here I want stupid Jenn out of the way for Perry.


“You know I’d buy whatever you were selling,” I blurted without thinking.
He wagged his finger at me.”See, there you go, all flirting with me again.”
“Don’t flatter yourself.”
“Why should I when I have you to do it for me?”

The island was creepy. Each time I think Halle can’t come up with something creepier that the last one and she does. I mean, stranded in a deserted island, where you can’t trust your partner with ghosts haunting you and can’t run. I don’t have a lot of experience in reading horror but I have to admit that I was scared to keep reading in the middle of the day, bright sunlight shining through with my boyfriend in the next room. I had to stop reading and take a breath. As like always I felt something were not properly explained for example what did Mary want and why was she doing this? What really happened on that island was never clear. However at this point I don’t give a shining ***te about loose ends. I was just happy that Dex and Perry were still in one piece.


All the trees around us were dead and decaying, weighted down from their branches. They looked like crippled, hunched-over people being enveloped by killer slime, frozen forever in agonizing positions.


Honestly, I did not know what a great series this is. I would be honest and ask you not to judge these series by its cover because they are incredible. If I could, I would give it more than 5 stars. One of the best horror/supernatural series out there.I cannot stop myself from grabbing the next book Lying Season and I’m ever grateful to Emmy from Sinfully Delicious Books for lending me these books so that I could get another hit of Experiment in Terror.


“No. It’s always been like this. I know it has been. I feel like I can’t tell what’s a dream. What’s real. I’m going crazy. I have to be. What if all the world is inside of my head?”
“It’s not Perry. It’s not.” He held me tighter.
“What if I am really alone?”
“Baby, you aren’t alone. I’m here”
“How can I tell what’s real anymore? What’s real Dex? Tell me what’s real.”
He put his hand on my face and looked at me with the most magnetic impassioned spark in his dark eyes.”I’m real. This is real”

2012 Challenge

Since the new year I have had not chance to blog. Finally I am free so I will list the challenge I would be participating in.Currently I am only in Goldilox and the three Weres's Challenge called 2012 Paranormal Fantasy Reading Challenge.In this I have to read as many 2012 releasing adult UF books I can.I havn't made a list of it all but I will read them as they come along.