Book reviews written by shewolf0316

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Soul Of A Predator

by Angela Verdenius
- Rated 5 stars
“Courtesy of CK2S Kwips and Kritiques

A CK2S Recommended Read!

Angela Verdenius has done it again with her latest story in the Heart and Soul series, Soul of a Predator.

When two predators meet, passions are sure to rage...

Elyse is a half mutant ex-space pirate who's part mutant on a mission. Shaque is a space bounty hunter and an enemy of Elyse ever since she tried to kill him in their last meeting.

Now they meet again after a young girl keeps delivering mysterious packages to Elyse for her to give Shaque. When one of these packages contains a picture of Shaque's sister, missing for twenty years, and Elyse with blue eyes instead of their now-brown, the two reluctantly team up to find answers. Elyse has no memory of Shaque's sister and he is convinced she's hiding something from him. Each has their own agenda but can they see past their differences to solve the mystery together? What of the bloody noses Elyse keeps getting that shed a single drop of blood? Then there is the mysterious illness that strikes Elyse down with no warning?

Neither Shaque nor Elyse ever expected that their final showdown would lead to the conquering of their hearts and souls.

What a book! Angela has again delivered a powerful story with so much adventure and passion that one galaxy can't hold all of it. Readers are guaranteed to find their emotions surging from the opening scene. Shaque and Elyse are both passionate people in their own way, though they show it in different ways, if they show it at all. As such, the sensual heat between these two predators is blazing hot every single time they are together. That also means that when these two give in to their passion the sex will make you blush. This is definitely a hotter entry in the Heart and Soul series. Yet in the midst of the passion, we find many examples of tenderness. Shaque especially surprised me with the depth of emotion he experiences, considering he is usually so stone faced and restrained. Where Elyse is involved he can be incredibly gentle as well.

I also have to say I didn't think Angela could write a story to affect me more than Soul of the Forgotten, but Soul of a Predator really got to me every bit as much as the previous book did. Elyse's story in particular was very heart wrenching. The final confrontation scene brought tears to my eyes many times it was so powerful and emotional. I can't say anything more specific than that or I'll give things away, but I don't see how anyone can read Soul of a Predator and not be moved.

Of course, as emotional as Soul of a Predator is, the action is through the roof as well. While there are some moments of calm, this novel is an adventure ride full of pirates, bounty hunters, slavers, mutants, and totally creepy bad guys. The underlying mystery is very strong, driving most of the unfolding events. We also have a more paranormal touch to this book in the form of the shadow beings the Overlord and his people control. We are left hanging a little bit on this part of the plot as well, which leads me to believe we haven't seen the last of these nasty guys.

Take a ride through the galaxy visiting the Outlaw and Lawful sectors, and everything in between. You are bound to experience quite an adventure ride with Soul of a Predator. I can't wait to see where the talented Verdenius takes me next!

© Kelley A. Hartsell, November 2007. All rights reserved. ”

shewolf0316 wrote this review Wednesday, December 1, 2010. ( reply | permalink )
Love, Heart And Soul Moments

by Angela Verdenius
- Rated 5 stars
“Courtesy of CK2S Kwips and Kritiques

A CK2S K2 Recommended Read!

Whether readers are new to the Heart and Soul universe or have been following along for a while, they will find three enjoyable stories in Love, Heart, and Soul Moments.

In Love: Marten and Lysie we get to catch up with two of my favorite characters. Lysie is due to have their children any day now and Marten is doing everything he can to be prepared. Little does he know that Felys women are nothing like Argon women when preparing for birth, nor are Felys babies! Just like their mama, they follow their own time table and not Marten's.

Marten and Lysie are special to me as their book, Love's Bewitching Thief, was my first foray into Angela Verdenius's imagination and I have never looked back. Love: Marten and Lysie is a humorous adventure romp. Marten is beside himself trying to keep up with the changes brought about by their babies' imminent birth and Lysie just wants to get cozy.

With Heart: Davan and Delias, we meet a new couple who were introduced in Soul of a Hunter but never got their own story... until now. Delias has been crazy about Davan for as long as she can remember, but he sees her as nothing more than an irritation. Or does he? When Delias gets caught up a dangerous escapade, Davan's emotions may be a little too much to handle for a few troublemakers.

Davan and Delias takes place chronologically after book 5 in the series, Soul of a Hunter. The sparks flying between these two are enough to keep the fire burning on a cold winter's night. Both are very resistant to the idea of a relationship between them and spend as much time telling themselves they don't love the other one as they do arguing. Suspense is high in Davan and Delias through a smuggling operation that Security Officer Sabra is trying to shut down. All of Davan's protective instincts come roaring to the surface when Delias gets caught up in the investigation and this sure provides some highly emotional moments. Seeing these two grow as individuals and as a couple is a delight to experience.

Soul: Cam and Sabra picks up right where Davan and Delias left off, continuing the story of an investigation into illegal slavery. Sabra and Cam are trying to adjust to their new relationship while Sabra faces one of her most dangerous cases yet.

Having not yet read Soul of a Hunter (though it is waiting for me to start!), I didn't have all of the background on Sabra's life and what made her into the suspicious woman she is, unable to trust that people aren't always out to get her. However, while that story may have showcased Sabra's transformation in love a little stronger, I did not lose out on any enjoyment of the story. I cried for Sabra as she fought to overcome her demons and put her full trust in Cam, her mate. Cam has infinite patience, never rushing Sabra into anything she was uncomfortable with and made me fall a little bit on love with him also. As to be expected from any "Soul" title in the Heart and Soul series, Cam and Sabra is very dark in tone, but remains a beautifully told love story.

Love, Heart, and Soul Moments is Angela Verdenius's first collection of short stories in her Heart and Soul universe and it was a great sampling of her writing. While I absolutely adore her full length, deep romance novels, I hope she decides to try her skill at this format again in the not too distant future. We have three stories, one each of her "Love," "Heart," and "Soul" titles respectively, each showcasing a different kind of story in the series. It is usually pretty easy to tell what type of story it will be from the title and this collection follows the same concepts. Her "Love" books are usually lighter and a little more comedic, with the heat level amped up several degrees. Her "Soul" books are usually dark and intense, and her "Heart" books fall in the middle, more along the lines of traditional romance stories. There is almost always a strong suspense thread through the stories and that is found here as well.

I strongly encourage readers to rush out and buy their copy of this collection. Prepare to curl up on the sofa and immerse yourself in Love, Heart, and Soul Moments. I promise you, it will be worthy of your time and attention as you soar across the universes with three loveable couples.

© Kelley A. Hartsell, February 2010. All rights reserved. ”

shewolf0316 wrote this review Wednesday, December 1, 2010. ( reply | permalink )
Metatropolis

by Jay Lake, Tobias Buckell, Elizabeth Bear, Karl Schroeder, John Scalzi
- Rated 3 stars
“Courtesy of Amazon

The apocalypse has come and those remaining are trying to survive in a whole new world. Cities have to figure out how to sustain themselves and the farther away from the city you get, the more dangerous the world becomes. Enter into the METAtropolis and come away with a new perspective.

In In the Forests of the Night by Jay Lake, Tyger Tyger has arrived in Cascadiopolis and no one knows where he came from. He quickly inserts himself into society, disrupting the life the people here have made for themselves. Unfortunately, while many love Tyger, many do not.

In the Forests of the Night paints a picture of what the new societies will be like in the world of METAtropolis. Unfortunately, that’s about all it does. It did not translate well into audio format due to the fact it is primarily for world-building and not a whole lot happens. We meet a huge group of people that I had a very hard time keeping track of who they were and what roles they played, beyond Tyger.

Michael Hogan of Battlestar Galactica fame performs this novella. I have never watched Battlestar Galactica so I didn’t know who Michael Hogan was or what to expect but he impressed me with his performance. It has a voice well toned for this medium and does a good job of creating personalities for each character. Unfortunately, there just wasn’t a whole lot for him to work with.

In Stochasti-City by Tobias Buckell, Reginald is a bouncer in Detroit who feels the pull to do and be something more. Rioters are all over the city, and Reginald gets lured in by the idealism of environmental activists (some will think it more appropriate to call them terrorists instead of activists) and an attractive waitress. He never expected that a random turking job and some Eddies, contract security officers, would change his entire life.

Stochasti-City is one of the higher points of this collection. The world introduced in the first story is expanded upon with this one and new things are revealed. I loved Reginald and how his desire for more led him down a path that led him to a new world and a new destiny. We have adventure, idealism, action and strong characters to carry us through the story.

I have listened to several books narrated by Scott Brick since I started listening to audio books and he always gives a fantastic performance. He is a master of timing to know just when to draw out the scene and dialogue and when to amp it up. He is quickly becoming a favorite of mine.

The Red in the Sky Is our Blood by Elizabeth Bear features a young woman in Detroit who is on the run when she finds a community that is rebuilding the city in a rather unusual way. Everyone in the community has a duty and as they earn accolades, they gain more rights and privileges, working their way up in society. She has to decide if this is the place for her.

The Red in the Sky Is our Blood really dragged for me. It could have been a good story but the pacing was extremely slow and kept getting bogged down in details and information dumps about how this society works. I just could not get into this one and it ranks at the bottom of the list of stories in the collection.

Kandyse McClure, also of Battlestar Galactica fame, narrates The Red in the Sky Is Our Blood. She has an excellent grasp of characters and personalities, adjusting her voice to suit the players quite well. Her softer voice seems to emphasize the nature of the near-Utopian society found in Detroit.

Utere Nihil Non Extra Quiritationem Suis by John Scalzi introduces an underachiever, Benji, who really has no interest yet in making an impact on society. He just wants to enjoy life and think about the girl that got away. His time has come to enter into the workforce and the only job suited to him has him employed at a “high rise farm” in the city, taking care of genetically engineered pigs.

Utere Nihil Non Extra Quiritationem Suis is a humorous story though initially I was thinking “ugh, this story is going to be dreadful.” Fortunately I was pleasantly surprised when all of the various minor threads come together and we figure out why certain aspects of the story that were emphasized early on, ended up being so important to the almost madcap romp. Scalzi also fills in the holes left by the other stories, clarifying the relationships between cities and suburbs and the people living in them both.

Alessandro Guiliani performs Scalzi’s tale and though I had no idea who he was (beyond the fact he too is of Battlestar Galactica fame), I enjoyed his portrayal of Benji and company. He does a fantastic job of pacing the story and has a knack for comedic timing, which made this story more enjoyable than I would have imagined.

To Hide from Far Celenia by Karl Schroeder rounds out the collection with a story about what people do for fun and escape in a post-apocalyptic world. Not surprisingly, gaming is taken to a whole new level where people can enter a virtual reality and “ride” other people to experience their adventures. Our main players here find themselves caught up in a political conflict of untold magnitude.

I didn’t exactly care for To Hide from Far Celenia. Maybe if I were already a gamer I’d have appreciated this more, but I’ve never been much for video games, preferring my escapes from reality to be through books or movies. I was way too confused trying to keep track of the characters and who was “riding” who and whether they were in the real world or virtual world. I also haven’t quite gotten into the whole steampunk craze currently becoming so popular, which resulted in that part of the storyline being completely lost on me as well.

Stefan Rudnicki performs Schroeder’s addition to the collection. I have only once before listened to a book performed by him and while I didn’t care for that book either, I was able to appreciate Rudnicki’s ability to make the story become a little more real through his narration.

I am sad to say that while I absolutely loved the concept of the collection of stories in METAtropolis when I first read about it, I found the book as a whole to be only average. There were a couple stories that it took everything I had just to make it through them, and the rest were just average. I didn’t have a single “wow that story was amazing” reaction to any of them, though I do have to say I was extremely amused by one of the stories, even though when it began I didn’t think it would be even remotely humorous. Some listeners will be turned off by the strong pro-environmental themes but

© Kelley A. Hartsell, June 2010. All rights reserved.”

shewolf0316 wrote this review Wednesday, December 1, 2010. ( reply | permalink )
Beastly

by Alex Flinn
- Rated 5 stars
“Courtesy of Amazon

Kyle Kingsbury is the stereotypical rich boy who has everything he wants and never has to worry about being lacking for a girlfriend. His behavior towards others is beastly, and when he plays a cruel trick on a witch, she curses him to look as beastly as he behaves. The only way to break the curse is to find love with the one girl who can love him for who he is on the inside, in spite of his Beastly appearance. Kyle begins to lose hope, until his magic mirror shows him the one girl who may be his redemption. Unfortuantely, time is running out….

Beauty and the Beast is my absolute favorite fairy tale ever. What’s not to love for a self-proclaimed book nerd and die-hard romantic like me? So it’s only natural that when I find a modern retelling of this classic love story I’d jump at the chance to read it, or in this case, listen to it. The idea of adding a few modern conveniences like internet and text messaging, blended seamlessly with classic magical implements like a mirror to see the outside world and witches who curse those who do them wrong. I was really looking forward to Beastly and impatiently awaiting the audio release of this young adult novel. One particular touch I loved about Beastly was the internet chat room for other teenaged lovelorn fantasy characters like the frog prince and the little mermaid, among others. Even better, this perfectly sets up the possibility of a few sequels involving other members of the chat room. And of course, it’s not a fairy tale without a moral to the story, lessons learned, and a happily-ever-after ending. Add in some teen angst, school bullies, and the drama high school life is full of and you find a fascinating story with the ideal blend of fantasy and reality sure to appeal to teenagers and adults.

Of course, without the proper character growth, there is no story. Kyle is a cruel manipulative young man, whose entire life revolves around getting everything he could possibly want, totally deserving of the beastly appearance thrust on him with the curse. Sadly enough, we also learn that much of this behavior is likely caused by the indifference his father shows him, and the deep seated pain he feels as a result. Kyle was not a nice boy and it’s very hard to feel any sympathy for him when he first gets cursed by the witch. However, as time passes, Kyle changes, learning that what he always thought was important doesn’t matter very much in the end. By the time he starts to realize what he truly needs, I had long since found myself empathizing with him, cheering him on with each little step forward and hoping he will find love and break the curse forever. And I’ll admit, even knowing how Beastly had to end to fit the fairy tale, I found myself with a few tears in my eyes in that moment that Kyle realizes what love means, and the complete despair when he believed it was too late.

I can’t recall if I have ever listened to an audio book performed by Chris Patton, but I was very impressed with his rendition of Beastly. His voice is perfect for setting the right tone for the story. He is especially skilled at getting those emotions to pour out of the speakers loud and clear. I truly felt Kyle’s anguish and despair when it looks like there is no hope, his optimism when he finally gets a real chance to break the curse, and of course, the sheer joy of knowing the one he loves feels the same for him when the curse is finally broken.

Beastly is a magical tale that epitomizes so much of what it means to be a teenager today, and the fact that in many ways, things haven’t really changed from the time the original Beauty and the Beast fairy tale was written. I look forward to future books by Alex Flinn and am quite happy to know I have one more fairy tale with a twist already available, and one more to come soon.

© Kelley A. Hartsell, November 2010. All rights reserved.”

shewolf0316 wrote this review Wednesday, December 1, 2010. ( reply | permalink )
The Fire Lord's Lover

by Kathryne Kennedy
- Rated 5 stars
“Courtesy of CK2S Kwips and Kritiques

The Fire Lord’s Lover is a touching love story that will sweep you away into another time and place where the elves rule and love is found in unlikely places.

Dominic Raikes is the son and champion of the Elven Fire Lord, a cruel, evil, and quite possibly mad ruler of a land where fear is the order of the day and fire magic is revered. Dominic must hide his own growing magical abilities from his father or lose all he holds dear, not the least of which is his own life. When his bride arrives, Dominic must wage an even deadlier war…

Outwardly pure Lady Cassandra has been raised by a secret society bent on the destruction of the Elven Lords and freedom for the people. Her assignment is to earn the trust of Dominic to get close enough to assassinate both he and his father. Little did she know how deceitful a game she would end up playing or that the stakes would be her own heart… and her life.

When Dominic and Cassandra uncover a greater danger than either imagined, they must put their differences aside – and their burning passion – to put an end to the Fire Lord’s rule forever.

If fantasy, romance, and/or alternative history is your game, you will find something to love in The Fire Lord’s Lover. This one has it all, dashing adventure, a cool on the outside but warm on the outside hero, mystery and intrigue, a strong but vulnerable heroine, plenty of magic, and a healthy dose of romance. I love the alternate reality of the Elven-ruled London and was struck with awe upon seeing the magical lands the elves created for themselves, even though it came at the cost of human freedom. Kathryne Kennedy so thoroughly enmeshes magic and reality that upon ending the story, it’s hard to imagine that such a world truly does not exist except in the land of imagination. This is one of her trademarks in her novels and is a favorite part for me. I was horror-struck upon the revelation of what exactly the fire lord has been doing all these years to reinforce his reign and I was cheering Cassandra and Dominic all the more in their quest to take down a madman.

I have to say I wasn’t so sure about Dominic for most of the book. It took me a long time to warm up to him, likely because he keeps such a tight rein on his emotions that it’s hard to see his softer side until much later in the story. Even knowing the reasons behind his cool façade, he didn’t quite win my heart until he begins to let down his walls with Cassandra. Once she invades his heart, everything changes and Dominic becomes the kind of hero I can adore. I found myself grieving with him over his life’s losses, dreaming about the happy life that had seemed beyond his reach, and giving in to the joy Cassandra brings into his life. Cassandra on the other hand, I loved immediately, and loved even more once I saw the affect she had on Dominic. She has her own brand of magic and secrets to keep, knowing her life’s work is about to come to fruition, even if not quite the way she imagined. In spite of the danger her mission entails, she never loses that joie de vivre that makes her so appealing. As Cassandra and Dominic learn to trust one another, this only tempers the bond between them, making it all the stronger.

I have come to expect Kathryne Kennedy’s work to keep me spellbound from beginning to end and The Fire Lord’s Lover more than delivers! I don’t know how I will be able to wait so long for book 2, The Lady of the Storm, due out in August 2011. I for one will be snapping it up to read immediately!

© Kelley A. Hartsell, August 2010. All rights reserved.”

shewolf0316 wrote this review Tuesday, November 30, 2010. ( reply | permalink )
The Mermaid's Mirror

by L.K. Madigan
- Rated 5 stars
“Courtesy of Net Galley and CK2S Kwips and Kritiques

A CK2S K2 Recommended Read!

Lena grew up by the water, preferring to spend more of her time by the beach than anywhere else, dreaming about joining the surfers on the ocean. The only problem is she has spent all her time only sitting on the sidelines, due to her father, a former star surfer’s, refusal to allow her to join her friends in lessons. Now, about to turn 16, Lena vows she will no longer be an observer, she will do what she has always wanted, with or without her father’s blessing.

Little does Lena know her father has kept a secret from her for her entire life… the real reason he no longer enters the water. However, that secret lures her like nothing else can, and when she sees a woman, with what appears to be a tail, out in Crescent Cove, Lena is about to find out the truth about who she is when she looks in The Mermaid’s Mirror.

My synopsis doesn’t do this story justice. And my review won’t come close to really sharing how incredible I found The Mermaid’s Mirror. There is so much more to the adventure in The Mermaid’s Mirror, than I can begin to summarize without giving away spoilers. So you’ll have to trust me that this novel is so full of magic and adventure that you have to read it right away.

The Mermaid’s Mirror is one of the best books I’ve read all year and I am sure it will easily rank in my top 10 when the New Year rolls around. Keep in mind, this story builds slowly, increasing the mystery and magic throughout most of the novel, with the real adventure not coming until more than halfway in to the book. But even in spite of the slow pace early on, it is so totally engrossing you will keep reading on and on, waiting for the big revelation to come. And when it does, LK Madigan takes us to a whole new level.

Lena has never quite felt like she belonged in the world and only is truly happy when by the water. This leads her to be a bit reckless at times, and impulsive, just like any teenager. She makes hasty decisions out of emotion, like most any young adult does. However, one thing that drives me crazy in young adult fiction is the absentee parents who are never around and when they are don’t seem especially concerned about their children. I love that The Mermaid’s Mirror doesn’t follow that plot device. Lena’s parents and her younger brother Cole (who is absolutely adorable and steals the show a time or two) are fully engaged in her life, with stories of their own that blend with Lena’s.

The fantasy world under the sea that LK Madigan creates is a magical place that while fitting with the expected ideas of an ocean realm, it is as unique as it is beautiful. It is a place that upon seeing it, one wants to stay with the merpeople. This watery world is as fully developed as the world above the water with its people and their beliefs, traditions, lifestyles, and community.

I absolutely loved The Mermaid’s Mirror and I look forward to more books by the talented LK Madigan.

© Kelley A. Hartsell, August 2010. All rights reserved.”

shewolf0316 wrote this review Tuesday, November 30, 2010. ( reply | permalink )
The Dead Travel Fast

by Deanna Raybourn
- Rated 2 stars
“Courtesy of Amazon

Spinster writer Theodora LeStrange’s grandfather has recently passed away, leaving her with a small inheritance that she can live on, if she is careful with her money. However, Theodora has dreams that do not involve settling down into being a wife and mother as society dictates. When a childhood friend, Cosmina, invites Theodora to visit her in Cosmina’s fiancé’s home in Transylvania, Theodora leaps at the chance. What better way to be inspired in the writing of her novel than to travel to a land where legends of vampires and other creatures are commonplace? Upon arrival, Theodora is drawn into a mystery surrounding some suspicious deaths, giving credence to the ancient legends. However, even more dangerous to Theodora is her irresistible attraction to Count Andrei Dragulescu, owner of the castle… and Cosmina’s intended husband. If she’s not careful, Theodora may be risking much more than her heart when she discovers The Dead Travel Fast.

I really wanted to like The Dead Travel Fast and I tried very hard to do so. This could have been a good novel, the foundation was there. However, it was never built upon as it should have been. Sadly, I could not get into this book for anything. I put it aside several times to start again later until I couldn’t put it off anymore and forced my way through it. I was bored with it most of the time and kept wondering when it was going to get better, only for it to never happen. I felt like the author meant for this to be a dark and scary novel, but while she had the dark Gothic elements down, the fear never really was there for me. I didn’t feel the fear of the characters, I just kept being told about it.

I never really warmed up to either Theodora or Andrei before the end of the story. I didn’t really feel the connection between them and they didn’t seem to have much chemistry together. As I stated before, it was too much telling and not enough showing of their passion for one another.

I really just didn’t find too much to redeem this novel for me beyond the exploration of many of the legends of vampires, werewolves and strigoi, etc that Deanna Raybourn explores in The Dead Travel Fast. With its slow paced story and uninspiring characters, I struggled to finish. What makes it doubly disappointing for me is that I have heard so many rave reviews about Raybourn’s Lady Julia series and I own all the books but haven’t read them yet. Now because of my blasé opinion of The Dead Travel Fast, I am hesitant to try any of the Lady Julia novels.

© Kelley A. Hartsell, September 2010. All rights reserved.”

shewolf0316 wrote this review Tuesday, November 30, 2010. ( reply | permalink )
Sins of the Heart

by Eve Silver
- Rated 5 stars
“Courtesy of Net Galley and CK2S Kwips and Kritiques

A CK2S K2 Recommended Read!

I’ve come to love Eve Silver’s writing through her Gothic and paranormal romances, and then later her futuristic romances written under the name Eve Kenin. Now I have found yet another reason to be amazed by her talent with this new dark fantasy romance series that begins with Sins of the Heart.

Half-human half god Dagan Krayl is a soul reaper. But he is more than that. He is the eldest son of Sutekh, Lord of the Underworld, destined to an eternity of hunting souls for his father. However, Dagan has an unexpected quest before him. Someone murdered his brother, in a near impossible feat and Dagan will do whatever it takes to find his brother’s body and bring him back.

Roxy Tam is an Otherkin and member of the Daughters of Aset, sworn to protect humanity from those like the soul reapers. Years ago, as a teenager, an experience that would have left her dead if not for the intervention of Dagan, she gained supernatural abilities and uses these to help others as a Daughter, even though her rescuer told her to stay away from the very group she now belongs to. When her latest mission has her hunting down intel on a missing reaper, and a kidnapped child, she knows something strange is going on and wants answers her own chosen family has been keeping from her.

Now Dagan and Roxy, who should be enemies, find themselves linked on a mission that may change everything they have ever known. When love gets in the way, Sins of the Heart take over.

I’ll admit my description of the story is very lacking. Every time I tried to put it in to words, I had a very hard time finding the right way to describe what happens between the covers of the fresh, dark, and original story of Sins of the Heart.

While this novel is classified as a romance, and it most certainly does have much of what we look for in the genre, it does not follow the usual formula. I would probably consider this as more of a dark urban fantasy with romantic elements than I would a paranormal romance. Why? Because the romance often takes a back seat to the plot development. Also, our lead couple, while they meet briefly early on in a prelude to the real story, they do not come in contact again until more than half way into the story, with Eve Silver exploring their lives separately until they converge later on in the story, with the romance not getting off the ground until closer to the end. However, when these two finally get together, sparks are most definitely flying!

Be prepared for a lot of information about Egyptian lore and legends of the gods, as Eve Silver sets up the world in which Sins of the Heart occurs. She is an absolute master at working these important details into the adventure so that we almost don’t notice what she is doing, feeling like everything was already there in the background all along. It is quite apparent that a lot of research went into developing this series to give the “trimmings” an authentic feel.

Dark and gritty, with pulse pounding intensity, Sins of the Heart is a marvelous fantasy blended with mystery and romance. While the secondary storyline of what happened to Dagan’s brother is left hanging to carry over into the next two books in the Otherkin series, Sins of the Soul and Sins of the Flesh respectively, there is definitely resolution to the primary plot revolving around Dagan and Roxy. I was so emotionally invested in Dagan and Roxy that I was surprised when the novel ended, left hoping that they will be back, even as secondary characters, in the next Otherkin books.

Run don’t walk to pick up your copy of Sins of the Heart. While you are at it, pick up Sins of the Soul and Sins of the Flesh, also now available, as you will not want to wait to travel deeper into the world of the soul reapers.

© Kelley A. Hartsell, October 2010. All rights reserved.”

shewolf0316 wrote this review Wednesday, December 1, 2010. ( reply | permalink )
Hunger

by Jackie Morse Kessler
- Rated 5 stars
“Courtesy of Net Galley and CK2S Kwips and Kritiques

Wow! What a fantastic novel Hunger is! I’ve been a fan of Jackie Kessler since she started her Hell on Earth series a few years ago so when I heard she had turned her talents in the young adult fantasy direction, nothing could have stopped me from trying this book. I was thrilled to find everything I expect to find in one of her books, whether it be directed at teens or adults.

Lisabeth Lewis is an anorexic teenager struggling to hide her illness and her desperate hunger from her family, friends, and boyfriend. The last thing she needs is a Kurt Cobain look-alike showing up at her door offering her a job… as Famine, one of the four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. What she finds is a horse who seems to read her thoughts and that loves her mother’s rhododendrons in the garden, a set of scales that harness a considerable amount of power, and a way to escape her troubles at home.

As Lisabeth travels the world, she learns to harness the abilities that come with her position. However, what she can’t seem to get out of her mind is the impossible balancing act of the world… hunger versus gluttony, strength versus weakness, and she does what she can to even the odds at least a little bit. What Lisabeth finds is through her responsibility as a Horseman, helps her to come to some difficult realizations about her own life, and the need to find her own balance before she destroys her own life.

Hunger is an absolutely amazing, simply breathtaking novel that brings awareness to a sad statistic in today’s world of the pressures facing teenagers, all the while entertaining us with an incredible fantasy adventure. I cannot say enough good things about Hunger. Lisabeth is such a believable protagonist in how she feels, what she does, and how she handles her “Thin voice” that tells her she is too fat. The people in Lisabeth’s life, the good and bad influences, have such a strong impact on her that they all leap out of the pages and into our hearts as well.

Jackie Morse Kessler tackles such a sensitive and very serious subject in a non-judgmental way. Not once did I feel like I was being preached at about the dangers of eating disorders, because such heart is put into the topic, much of that stemming from Jackie’s own struggles with eating disorders when he was younger, as she talks about in the Author’s Note at the end of Hunger.

A young adult novel that begins a series about The Horseman of the Apocalypse is not something I would have expected to see, which only accentuates the originality of the world Kessler has created. I especially loved the other three Horsemen we meet, each one as unique and captivating as Lisabeth herself and I can’t wait to read their stories.

I strongly recommend Hunger to anyone who loves a good urban or dark fantasy blended with realistic characters and a swift moving storyline. If you have anyone you love who suffers from an eating disorder, I encourage you to read this book for even though it is a fiction novel, our eyes are really opened to how a person suffering from anorexia or bulimia really thinks the world sees them. We also have our eyes opened to just how many people out there in the world are facing famine, and how they try to overcome. Run, don’t walk to your nearest book store and pick up a copy of Hunger. You’ll even be doing your part to help people suffering from eating disorders since a portion of the proceeds from Hunger are going to the National Eating Disorders Association (www.nationaleatingdosorders.org).

© Kelley A. Hartsell, November 2010. All rights reserved.”

shewolf0316 wrote this review Tuesday, November 30, 2010. ( reply | permalink )
The Girl Who Chased the Moon

by Sarah Addison Allen
- Rated 3 stars
“Courtesy of Amazon

I enjoy Sarah Addison Allen’s writing and I did enjoy The Girl Who Chased the Moon. However, nothing yet comes even close to comparing to Garden Spells, her debut novel which I enjoyed so much, it still remains at the top of my favorite books list.

Teen aged Emily Benedict has returned to her mother’s hometown and moved in with her grandfather, who happens to be a gentle giant. Here Emily struggles to justify her image of the hard working and dedicated, charitable Dulcie Shelby with the spoiled girl who grew up in Mullaby before abandoning everything she knew and never looking back. What Emily finds is a small town where nothing is quite what it seems at the same time it’s exactly what it needs to be. Magic and mystery are the name of the game in this small North Carolina town, with rooms where wallpaper changes on its own, odd lights dance across the land late at night, and homemade cakes are filed with hope and love.

Julia Winterson lives to bake for her fellow townspeople, but she has her own secrets to hide and mistakes to fix. When she meets young Emily, these two young women form a bond of friendship that helps both of them overcome the secrets of their pasts. Julia is a changed woman from the girl who was Dulcie’s rival in town, unable to completely let go of the mistakes of her past and the hope of finding what she once lost.

Sarah Addison Allen is a brilliant writer who combines fairy tale magic with life in small charming Southern towns, and tops it all off with tantalizing foods and a captivating cast of characters. The Girl Who Chased the Moon has everything I have come to expect from one of Allen’s novels. I fall in love with the people who populate these stories, feeling like they are dear friends by the time the final page is turned.

That being said, The Girl Who Chased the Moon, just didn’t quite keep me captivated as Allen’s novels usually do. All of the right ingredients were here, but something extra was missing, a little bit of spice to jazz things up and take this from a pleasant read to a can’t-put-it-down story. I can’t pinpoint quite what it was about this one that made me feel like it was lacking, but it took me a lot longer to finish this one than I would have expected. However, in spite of my feeling of something missing, I am still a die hard fan of rising star Sarah Addison Allen and I will continue to look forward to each new novel she releases.

© Kelley A. Hartsell, November 2010. All rights reserved.”

shewolf0316 wrote this review Tuesday, November 30, 2010. ( reply | permalink )