November 27, 2016

Review: The Gift-Knight's Quest

The Gift-Knight's Quest The Gift-Knight's Quest by Dylan Madeley
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The Gift-Knights Quest

SYNOPSIS:

Welcome to Kensrik, a world vividly imagined by Dylan Madeley, in which his debut fantasy novel The Gift-Knight’s
Quest is set. His book follows the youngest descendants of two families that have traditionally been enemies: the
Kenderleys, who now rule the world’s largest empire, and the Wancyeks, who have been reduced to common status.

“Chandra had yet to fathom why Jonnecht could not have lived and ruled for many long years, or why it was so urgent that she ascend immediately.”

Chandra never asked to rule Kensrik, but fate took a strange course. Known as a usurper and sorceress by most and traumatised by all that has transpired, she is forced to make use of the few loyal allies she has in order to hold together her restless empire. In an attempt to identify and defeat the conspirators who inadvertently landed her in power, Chandra risks putting the lives of many in mortal danger, as well as her own.

Derek is an aimless wanderer – the youngest in a lineage that has long fallen from nobility. He finds himself summoned by tradition to serve a family historically considered his bitter enemy. As he journeys down the same path a fateful ancestor once travelled, he struggles with personal demons and begins to reconsider his loyalty to the mission.

Duke Lenn found one true cause in love and it cost him everything. His legacy shaped the present in which Chandra and Derek find themselves. Now their choice will shape the future of Kensrik...

REVIEW:

I was given this book in place of an honest review. Upon reading this book, I noticed quite a few things. First, the author writing and use of words and descriptions was impeccable. It was a very vivid world of imagination in this book. Second, it had the tendency to bounce around a lot and it had no indication of it until you were already in a paragraph or two, which was really distracting and made the book hard to get through. If it was separated by italics or any indication that it was in a different time in the story, would have made it so much easier to get through. So needless to say, for most of the book I was wholly confused on what was really going on; however, the last quarter of the book when it stopped jumping all over the place did the book become really intriguing and I enjoyed it immensely. It is just saddening that it was only the last quarter that held my attention the most.

I'm not saying it was a bad book by any means, because the writing was great and the character build up was pretty amazing, the plot itself had some definite potential. However be it as it may I can only rate this book three out of five stars because of the constant bouncing around it did, and the confusion it had caused.



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November 10, 2016

Review: Awakening

Awakening Awakening by A.C. Deen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was given this book in place of an honest review.

Synopsis:

Awakening is a gripping coming of age story. It takes place in the small town of Reindeer Lake which is surrounded by the picturesque boreal forest. The protagonist, Ellie is a teenager who has found herself suddenly transformed into a vampire. Will she learn to cope with blood lust, love, and sexuality now that she finds herself unstoppably drawn to her best friend's brother?

Review:

This was a very fast read, most novellas are. It was easy to get through, and took me know time at all. AC Deen created this world in a quick story, of course it's to set up the next book I'm sure. But you get introduced to the characters, some quick back story is placed. Which is great because you get an idea of who, what, where without the dragging of a full novel. This way in the next book you can get more of the why, and more. I'm intrigued to read the next book to see where this goes from here. I give this Novella 4 stars.

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November 9, 2016

Review: Cogling

Cogling Cogling by Jordan Elizabeth Mierek
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I was given this book in place of an honest review.

Synopsis:

When fifteen-year-old Edna Mather tears an expensive and unfamiliar pocket watch off her little brother's neck, he crumbles into a pile of cogs right before her eyes. Horrified, Edna flees for help, but encounters Ike, a thief who attempts to steal the watch before he realizes what it is: a device to power Coglings—clockwork changelings left in place of stolen children who have been forced to work in factories.

Desperate to rescue her brother, Edna sets off across the kingdom to the hags' swamp, with Ike in tow. There, they learn Coglings are also replacing nobility so the hags can stage a rebellion and rule over humanity. Edna and Ike must stop the revolt, but the populace believes hags are helpful godmothers and healers. No one wants to believe a lowly servant and a thief, especially when Ike has secrets that label them both as traitors.

Together, Edna and Ike must make the ingdom trust them or stop the hags themselves, even if Ike is forced to embrace his dark heritage and Edna must surrender her family.


My review:
This is the third book I've reviewed by Ms. Mierek. And I have enjoyed them all. However 'Cogling' I must admit is now my favorite of hers. This book was just amazing with its storyline,  the setting, and the intrigue. I mean throughout this entire book you get thrown into a whirlwind of an adventure. And oh my the things that are revealed at certain times of the book was priceless I mean one minute you find one thing out only to have e another surprise awaiting around the next corner. I seriously cannot wait to read the next book in this series. Thank you Ms. Mierek for letting me review your books for you, and I hope we can continue our relationship for a long time.

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November 3, 2016

Review: Phoenix Child

Phoenix Child Phoenix Child by Alica McKenna-Johnson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was given this book in place for an honest review.

Synopsis:

There should be a law, a Universal Rule, as to how much weirdness can happen to a person.

Fifteen-year-old Sara walks into the San Francisco Center for the Circus Arts determined to ignore the freaky things happening to her. As powers she doesn't want and can't control overwhelm her, Sara must decide if she can trust the strangers who say they are her family... descended from a common ancestor four thousand years ago.

Sara clings to her contented and well-planned life as a foster kid, successfully working the system, as dreams, powers, and magical creatures drag her towards her destiny.

When the ancient evil that killed her parents comes to San Francisco, Sara is forced to choose between her fears and her desire to protect those she loves.

Sometimes great things are thrust upon us. Sara wishes this supposed 'greatness' didn't include a new name, unicorns, and catching on fire.


Review:

Once again, I apologize to the author for taking so long to get this read. But now that I have I'm glad I did. When I first picked up this book I really didn't want to put it down, it was very intriguing. However, somewhere in the middle it felt to me really slow and I was having a hard time actually sitting down and reading this. But once again I'm so glad I did. Here's why.... ok first it's a new and interesting story and even though it felt slow at some pints is only because it needed to build the foundation of the series itself. Finally though once you get near the 3/4 mark of the book things really start to pick up. And that's where the book/series hooks you. And BAM! Now I have all these questions running through my head. Like will Sapphire/Sara ever feel comfortable with her uncle and her new family? What is up with Taliesin? Is he the possible live interest or what? And a few others. All in all this was a good book, deserving of a 4 star rating. Now I cannot wait to get my hands on the next book on the series.

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