Review: Why the Devil Stalks Death by L.J. Hayward

Why the Devil Stalks Death (Death and the Devil, #2)
by L. J. Hayward
Self-published
LGBT, action, mystery, romance

Jack Reardon uncovers secrets for a living, and the Meta-State spy is pretty good at it. Or rather he thought so until he met Ethan Blade—assassin, warrior, enigma. The unlikely pair have decided to give living together a shot, but Jack’s not entirely certain what he’s gotten himself into—or exactly who he’s in it with.

Jack’s worries are compounded when he’s assigned to a police strike force hunting a serial killer. With each new puzzle piece, Jack considers the true nature of a serial killer—and how similar it is to an assassin. To one particular assassin who’s having trouble adjusting to retirement. Jack’s unsure how to help Ethan—or if he even can.

When the killer strikes close to home, Jack must race against the clock to stop another murder, despite the price someone has put on his head. Could the matters be connected? Is a certain assassin at the centre of both? Surrounded by killers, the only one Jack wants near disappears, leaving Jack drowning in secrets. He’ll have to do what he does best—unravel the secrets, including Ethan’s—to stop the killer and save the life he and Ethan have only just begun to build.

I'm supposed to write coherent and detailed reviews, but you know what, I LOVE this series. I adore Jack and Ethan (together and separately). All the action and the twists and turns are intense and captivating. Why the Devil Stalks Death has everything the other book and novellas have and naturally I devoured it.

Death and the Devil is one of my favourite series and I highly recommend everyone to pick it up. (For more detailed review of the series, check out my review of the first book in the series.)

5 of 5 stars

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Review: Prince of Killers by Layla Reyne

Prince of Killers (Fog City, 1)
by Layla Reyne
Self-published
LGBT, contemporary, romance, action, suspense

No indiscriminate killing. No collateral damage. No unvetted targets.

These are the rules Hawes Madigan lives by. Rules that make being Fog City’s Prince of Killers bearable. Soon, he’ll be king—of an organization of assassins—and the crown has never felt heavier. Until the mysterious Dante Perry swaggers into his life.
Dante looks like a rock god and carries himself like one too, all loose-limbed and casually confident. He also carries a concealed weapon, a private investigator’s license, and a message for the prince. Someone inside Hawes’s organization is out to kill the future king.

In the chaos that follows the timely warning, Hawes comes to depend on Dante. On his skills as an investigator, on the steadiness he offers, and on their moments alone when Hawes lets Dante take control. As alliances are tested and traitors exposed, Hawes needs Dante at his back and in his bed. But if the PI ever learns Hawes’s darkest secret, Hawes is sure to get a knife to the heart—and a bullet to the brain—instead.

There’s no shortage of twists and turns in this new romantic suspense trilogy from Layla Reyne. Prince of Killers is book one of three. Fair warning: buckle up, cliffhangers ahead!

Prince of Killers is action packed, full of twists and secrets, and it's fun and sexy. The story follows Hawes Madigan, who leads an organization of assassins and who is threatened by unknown opposition inside his own organization, and Dante Perry, who waltzes into Hawes's life with a warning of a traitor. There's dangerous situations and Dante offers his expertise, but Hawes is not sure if he can trust the private investigator who appeared out of nowhere.

It's a fast paced journey with fascinating characters. I like Hawes, because he's loyal to his siblings, good at what he does, but not afraid to lean on Dante when he needed help. Holt and Helena, Hawes's twin and sister, are likable too: Holt is a hacker extraordinaire and dedicated to his infant daughter, and Helena is a spitfire (you don't want to face her in a fight!). Dante's interesting, because he's laid back, reads a lot, and is very sure of himself. And yes, there's sizzling chemistry between Hawes and Dante.

I recommend Prince of Killers for everyone who enjoys romantic suspense with plenty of action and twists - both the ones you see coming and the ones that surprises you. It's a book that's easy to devour since it's very addicting and fast paced. I love a story like that - especially when there's a lot of action mixed with fascinating characters and budding romance that has all the chemistry it needs.

It'll be interesting to see where Reyne takes this series, particularly after the cliffhanger ending; the next one, King Slayer, will be from Dante's point of view, so it'll be fascinating to see if my opinion of characters and their actions change.

4 of 5 stars

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(A copy of this ebook was provided in return for an honest review.)

Review: City of Ghosts by Victoria Schwab

City of Ghosts (Cassidy Blake, #1)
by Victoria Schwab
Published by Scholastic
Middle grade, fantasy, paranormal

They're here. 

They're watching. 

Cass can pull back the Veil that separates the living from the dead. 

When Cass's parents start hosting a TV show about the world's most haunted places, the family heads off to Edinburgh. Here, graveyards, castles and secret passageways teem with restless phantoms. 

But when Cass meets a girl who shares her "gift", she realizes how much she still has to learn about the Veil - and herself. And she'll have to learn fast. The city of ghosts is more dangerous than she ever imagined.

I was super excited for City of Ghosts, but unfortunately I had misunderstood some things: I thought that Cassidy is Scottish and it made me excited since there's never enough books set in Scotland. However, Cassidy and her parents are American and only travel to Edinburgh to shoot a TV show. It's not bad thing, per say, but not what I was expecting. The thing is that the book is an ode to the city of Edinburgh, but not so much ode to the people who live there, as most of the characters weren't Scottish or live in Edinburgh. There's a lot of stereotypes flying around - from the pants/trousers to fries/chips conversation and character behaviour - and I didn't care for it much. I'm sure it's not so bad for those outside of Scotland, but after living here for years, I cringed for a lot of it. It felt a bit like travel guide, if I'm being honest.

That's the only major thing for me to complain about. The story itself was entertaining - it's creepy but not too much, and the characters are likable. I particularly loved Jacob, he's funny! There's haunting and mystery, and a nicely paced plot. It's a quick and enjoyable read, and I'm sure kids will love it. All in all, a solid start for a middle grade series. I'll definitely continue reading the series (and probably not get so stuck on Scottish stereotypes since the next book is set in Paris.)

3 of 5 stars

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Review: The Bad Luck Lighthouse by Nicki Thornton

The Bad Luck Lighthouse (Seth Seppi Mystery, #2)
by Nicki Thornton
Published by Chicken House
Middle grade, fantasy, adventure, mystery

In solving the mystery of the Last Chance Hotel, Seth has discovered a bewildering new world of magic. But the truth about his mother's fate and other secrets remain, stolen away with the firefly cage by his nemesis, the wicked Tiffany Bunn. Determined to chase her down - and prove himself as a magician - Seth and his cat Nightshade are quickly embroiled in the latest MagiCon case, a murder investigation at a deserted lighthouse ...

I adore the Seth Seppi Mystery books. Best way to describe them is fantasy adventure mystery, which ticks all the boxes for me. The sequel continues to explore the magic and Seth tries to learn how to use his, but he's also afraid that Inspector Pewter was wrong to say that he's a natural. Desperate to learn more about magic, eth follows Inspector Pewter on a job at a lighthouse, which was once owned by a notorious dark sorcerer Soul Snakemouth, and is now a hotel that's rumored to be haunted.

I loved the setting of an old hotel in the middle of the woods in The Last Chance Hotel, but it's great to see another setting. nakemouth Lighthouse is on a small island where storms rage and mysteries unfold, and eth gets thrown into the middle of it. There's new characters with their own agendas and unclear motives, but it's a delight to meet Inspector Pewter and Angelique again. Once again, Seth tries his best to uncover the mystery: is the lighthouse haunted or do someone have a sinister motives to make it seem so?

I thoroughly enjoyed The Bad Luck Lighthouse. It expands the world nicely and delves deeper into the main characters. There's also new mysteries and intrigues set up here, and I hope there's going to be more books in the series. This is quickly becoming one of my favourite middle grade series and there's a lot more to explore about.

This series is for anyone who's up for a great fantasy adventure mystery story with sympathetic lead character and plenty of funny moments. Wholeheartedly recommend!

4 of 5 stars

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Review: Long Shadows by Kate Sherwood

Long Shadows (Common Law, #1)
by Kate Sherwood
Published by Riptide Publishing
LGBT, contemporary, mystery, romance

LA cop Jericho Crewe got the hell out of Mosely, Montana, when he was seventeen. Fifteen years later, he’s back, and everything is just as messed up as when he left. He planned a quick visit to deal with his injured father, but of course things are never that simple. Family complications, police complications, social complications—and, as always, Wade Granger complications.

Jericho and Wade had been so close, once upon a time. First friends, then more than friends—and then, after Jericho’s escape, nothing. Wade’s magnetism hasn’t been lessened by a decade and a half apart; even when Jericho learns that Wade is the prime suspect in the death of Jericho’s father, the old connection still sparks.

When Jericho’s newly discovered half siblings are kidnapped, he needs to trust someone to help him find them. Wade’s a terrible choice, but Jericho’s never been known for his good judgment. Anyway, he’d rather make a bad decision with Wade than a good one with anybody else.

Long Shadows is a captivating story with a great atmosphere. Jericho Crewe returns to his hometown Mosely, Montana, after he gets a call that his father’s in the hospital. Jericho left Mosely fifteen years ago and never looked back but now he’s faced with old friends and old flames – and things are not as they seem. His father’s been murdered and his half-siblings, which he didn’t know existed, are kidnapped. He doesn’t know who to trust, certainly not his old friend and lover, Wade, who is one of the town’s career criminals. It’s complicated, especially since Jericho’s a cop now and not a rebellious teenager like he was before.

It’s addicting. There’s a dark loom there, suspicions flying around and trust issues. Jericho and Wade have so much chemistry that it’s sizzling – and nothing happens. It’s charged but oh so slow burn. Jericho’s a great main character who faces difficult decisions. However, Wade’s everything. He’s a bad boy who makes his own rules and everyone in the town knows that his business dealings are not on the right side of the law. He doesn’t pretend to be anything he’s not and I loved to question whether the things he told Jericho were true or not. There’s a set up for romance since there’s three more books in the series, but I feel like it’s not going to be easy ride. I’m certainly up for some complicated relationship.

There are some things I felt a little bit uncertain. Jericho’s family relationships are complicated, which is fine, but it’s difficult to understand why Jericho decided to stick around to help a stepmother and half-siblings who he didn’t know existed. It would have been more understandable if the stepmother and half-siblings treated Jericho well, but they aren’t most likable characters.

I chose to give Long Shadows three starts because I liked Jericho, Wade, their complicated past and present, and the mystery. It’s a promising start for a series, but there’s something missing that would have made it a four-star read. I’ll definitely pick up the next book in Common Law series soon.

3 of 5 stars

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Review: Where There's Smoke by Cari Z

Where There’s Smoke (Panopolis, #1)
by Cari Z.
Published by Riptide Publishing
LGBT, fantasy, sci-fi, romance

Panopolis is a rough place to be an average Joe. I came here looking for adventure and excitement, but nobody cares about one more normal guy in a city filled with super-powered heroes. The closest I’ve come to glory is working in a bank that villains often rob.

But then I maybe accidentally-on-purpose helped a villain escape the hero who was trying to save the day. Imagine my shock when, a week later, that villain asked me out for coffee. One date turned into more, and now I’m head over heels in love with Raul.

Falling in love with the guy dubbed the Mad Bombardier isn’t without its downsides, though. I’ve had to deal with near-death encounters with other villains, awkwardly flirtatious heroes who won’t take no for an answer, and a lover I’m not sure I can trust. It’s getting to the point where I know I’ll have to make a choice: side with the heroes, or stand fast by my villain.

Either way, I think my days as a normal guy are over.

I have no idea why it has taken me so long to read Where There’s Smoke, because it’s right up on my alley. Panopolis is a city of heroes and villains – they literally rule there, bank robberies are completely normal, and heroes are expected to sweep in to save the day before the police is alerted. It is heroes versus villains attitude without in between in Panopolis, and I love to read about the moral dilemmas and explorations of who are the heroes and villains. Where There’s Smoke certainly has that as Edward, a bank employee and ordinary guy, falls for Raul, who’s an infamous villain called Mad Bombardier.

Cari Z begins the book with a dedication for those, who have always preferred the villains, and that hit me hard. Most of the time I prefer the villains, particularly in the fairytales, and love the antiheroes. Where There’s Smoke offers a great perspective of the heroes and villains. There’s glimpses of a blog posts where an anonymous critic writes about casualty statistics and conspiracy theories about government and their involvement of the creation of the heroes and villains.

Edward and Raul’s relationship is a focus of the book. I’m a bit baffled how much I liked their story, because there’s only Edward’s point of view, very little build-up in the beginning of their relationship, no sex and it’s a pretty short novella (less than hundred pages). But there’s some kind of magic that Cari Z weaves because I felt for both Edward and Raul. Raul’s painted clearly as one of the bad guys but he’s likable; he has a good and believable backstory, he has a conscience and he doesn’t kill people. There’s plenty of moral ambiguity, especially since Edward knows what he’s getting into and questions whether it makes him guilty by being in a relationship with a villain when he doesn’t participate in Raul’s actions. It’s just so good, I liked their chemistry and both of them together and separate.

My only complain is the length. I wish this had been a full-length novel. There’s a sequel which I’ll dive into shortly but Where There’s Smoke would have been perfect if it had been longer. It’s still a great quick read, which I certainly recommend.

4 of 5 stars

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Review: Mr Kiss and Tell by Rob Thomas

Mr. Kiss and Tell (Veronica Mars, #2)
by Rob Thomas & Jennifer Graham
Published by Vintage
Mystery, contemporary

The Neptune Grand has always been the seaside town’s ritziest hotel, despite the shady dealings and high-profile scandals that seem to follow its elite guests. When a woman claims that she was brutally assaulted in one of its rooms and left for dead by a staff member, the owners know that they have a potential powder keg on their hands. They turn to Veronica to disprove—or prove—the woman's story.

The case is a complicated mix of hard facts, mysterious occurrences, and uncooperative witnesses. The hotel refuses to turn over its reservation list and the victim won’t divulge who she was meeting that night. Add in the facts that the attack happened months ago, the victim’s memory is fuzzy, and there are holes in the hotel’s surveillance system, and Veronica has a convoluted mess on her hands. As she works to fill in the missing pieces, it becomes clear that someone is lying—but who? And why?

I loved The Thousand Dollar Tan Line but felt like something was missing. Whatever it was, Mr. Kiss and Tell certainly had all the magic that Veronica Mars show and movie had. Veronica’s once again doing a lot of sleuthing and determined to find the truth beneath all the lies. The mystery was interesting and layered, and Veronica had to use a lot of her skills and tricks to keep up with the bad guys. The investigation of Sheriff Lamb’s corrupt department that started in the movie continued here and it was great to see that to develop and Keith do a bit investigation of his own.

There’s also a lot of familiar faces, from Eli Navarro to Leo D’Amato and anyone in between. It was entertaining to see how everyone was doing, from friend to foe. However, the best part was that Logan was back and he was more present and finally he opened up what happened to him between the last episode of third season and the movie. I just love Logan. His and Veronica’s banter has always been epic, and the relationship hasn’t changed that. They’re the ship for me and it better keep sailing.

5 of 5 stars

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Review: The Rules and Regulations For Mediating the Myths & Magic by F.T. Lukens

The Rules and Regulations For Mediating the Myths & Magic (The Rules, #1)
by F.T. Lukens
Published by Interlude Press
YA, LGBT, fantasy, mythology

Desperate to pay for college, Bridger Whitt is willing to overlook the peculiarities of his new job—entering via the roof, the weird stacks of old books and even older scrolls, the seemingly incorporeal voices he hears from time to time—but it’s pretty hard to ignore being pulled under Lake Michigan by… mermaids? Worse yet, this happens in front of his new crush, Leo, the dreamy football star who just moved to town.

Fantastic.

When he discovers his eccentric employer Pavel Chudinov is an intermediary between the human world and its myths, Bridger is plunged into a world of pixies, werewolves, and Sasquatch. The realm of myths and magic is growing increasingly unstable, and it is up to Bridger to ascertain the cause of the chaos, eliminate the problem, and help his boss keep the real world from finding the world of myths.

I found The Rules and Regulations For Mediating the Myths & Magic by complete accident while browsing the web and oh my, how didn’t I know it existed before? It is absolutely hilarious, but also deals with serious topics such as accepting oneself and finding their place in the world. I loved the combination of rollicking adventure and serious topics, and yes, occasional teenage angst. Bridger is at the age where he has to decide where to go to university and what he wants to do, and he’s struggling with it and I could easily identify with that situation – I have experienced it myself.

There’s a good mix of adventure and mystery in the story. Bridger starts a new job as an assistant to eccentric Pavel Chudinov and finds out that he’s an intermediary between the human world and its myths. Bridger gets thrown into the world of myths as there’s some mysterious thing happening that Pavel tries to solve. There’s also some romantic elements since Bridger has a crush on his neighbour Leo.

I love mythology and it was interesting to see how Lukens had woven different myths into the story. The plot and the twists were good, but what I loved the most was the characters. Bridger is funny and relatable, Leo’s adorable cinnamon roll, Pavel is eccentric and a good mentor for Bridger and there’s some hilarious pixies. It’s such a great and adorable adventure with wholesome characters that you just have to love.

I’m eagerly anticipating the sequel, which is supposed to come out this year. I need more Bridger, Leo and pixies in my life!

4 of 5 stars

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Review: The Thousand Dollar Tan Line by Rob Thomas

The Thousand Dollar Tan Line (Veronica Mars, #1)
by Rob Thomas and Jennifer Graham
Published by Vintage
Mystery, contemporary, crime

Ten years after graduating from high school in Neptune, California, Veronica Mars is back in the land of sun, sand, crime, and corruption. She's traded in her law degree for her old private investigating license, struggling to keep Mars Investigations afloat on the scant cash earned by catching cheating spouses until she can score her first big case.

Now it's spring break, and college students descend on Neptune, transforming the beaches and boardwalks into a frenzied, week-long rave. When a girl disappears from a party, Veronica is called in to investigate. But this is not a simple missing person's case. The house the girl vanished from belongs to a man with serious criminal ties, and soon Veronica is plunged into a dangerous underworld of drugs and organized crime. And when a major break in the investigation has a shocking connection to Veronica's past, the case hits closer to home than she ever imagined.

I love Veronica Mars: I have watched the TV show multiple times and the movie, well, I think closer to ten times now. However, I have never read the books and after re-watching the show in May, I decided to finally tackle them, especially since season four is coming out this summer! I’m so happy that I finally read The Thousand Dollar Tan Line, and I enjoyed the book so much.

The book had all the elements that I enjoyed in the show: intriguing mystery with surprising twists, Veronica being snarky and witty, and great cast of secondary characters. And of course, Logan, who’s my favourite! Logan was still on his tour, but he’s present in Veronica’s thoughts, there’s plenty of mentions of him and skype calls and such. I did hope more of Logan, but then again, I could never get enough of him. Veronica was naturally the shining light and it was so nice to see how her life was after she returned to Neptune. The mystery was a solid one, it started out a little bit boring but got interesting fast and I didn’t see some of the bigger twists coming.

For the fans of Veronica Mars, this is a must read, but I’d say others could read it too. Now I’m off to read the next Veronica Mars book.

4 of 5 stars

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Review: The Storm Keeper's Island by Catherine Doyle

The Storm Keeper's Island (Storm Keeper, #1)
by Catherine Doyle
Published by Bloomsbury
Middle grade, fantasy

When Fionn Boyle sets foot on Arranmore Island, it begins to stir beneath his feet ...

Once in a generation, Arranmore Island chooses a new Storm Keeper to wield its power and keep its magic safe from enemies. The time has come for Fionn's grandfather, a secretive and eccentric old man, to step down. Soon, a new Keeper will rise.

But, deep underground, someone has been waiting for Fionn. As the battle to become the island's next champion rages, a more sinister magic is waking up, intent on rekindling an ancient war.

The Storm Keeper's Island is a wonderful tale of Fionn, who sets foot of Arranmore Island first time in his life even though it has been his family's home for centuries. Arranmore is full of secrets which Fionn starts to uncover while spending time with his eccentric grandfather and arguing with his sister, Tara, who's going through a teenage crush. There's adventure, unique magic, mysteries and ancient battle brewing - all the right ingredients for a great story.

Doyle's writing is superb and truly beautiful. It makes the story come to alive and it is just perfect for the setting. Arranmore is a small, rural island on the west coast of Ireland and Doyle manages to capture the atmosphere perfectly, particularly the force of nature and the wild sea.

The Storm Keeper's Island is a poignant and unforgettable story. Fionn's a relatable and funny main character and it is easy to root for him as he uncovers the secrets and mysteries Arranmore has. I'm eagerly awaiting for the sequel!

5 of 5 stars

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Review: The 1,000 Year Old Boy by Ross Welford

The 1,000 Year Old Boy
by Ross Welford
Published by Harper Collins
Middle grade, fantasy, historical, adventure

There are stories about people who want to live forever.

This is not one of those stories.

This is a story about someone who wants to stop…
Alfie Monk is like any other nearly teenage boy – except he’s 1,000 years old and can remember the last Viking invasion of England.

Obviously no one believes him.

So when everything Alfie knows and loves is destroyed in a fire, and the modern world comes crashing in, Alfie embarks on a mission to find friendship, acceptance, and a different way to live…

… which means finding a way to make sure he will eventually die.

Obviously no one believes him.

The 1,000 Year Old Boy is wonderfully profound story. It is a clever take on what it is to live forever, particularly how the magic works. Alfie Monk is a thousand year old boy, who's a Neverdead like his mother and cat, Biffa. But when a tragedy strikes, Alfie wants to find the means to reverse the magic and start aging again because living forever it is not so glamorous when you have been eleven for centuries. Alfie meets Aidan and Roxy, who becomes his friends, and their adventure begins.

There's a lot of twists and obstacles Alfie and his friends have to face - it's a great adventure story with important theme. I loved the little snippets of history as Alfie remembers everything from the last Viking invasion to the World Wars. Such a charming story and I'm sure to remember it a while.

The 1,000 Year Old Boy is a brilliant story because of how impactful it is. Many of us have wondered what it would be to live forever and not age, and Welford offers something different from vampires and other immortal creatures of the night. There's also humour and Alfie is a wonderful main character, old soul in a young body who's a little bit lost and needs accepting friends. Aidan and Roxy are great on their own ways, Roxy ever accepting what live throws at her and Aidan a bit more cautious but a good friend nonetheless.
4 of 5 stars
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Review: Apology for a Murder by Lorenzino de Medici

Apology for a Murder
by Lorenzino de Medici
Translated by Andrew Brown
Published by Alma Classics
History, classic, non-fiction

Famed for having killed his cousin Alessandro, the Duke of Florence, in 1537, but also for writing accomplished literary works, including a comedy and several poems, Lorenzino de' Medici remains one of the most enigmatic figures of Italian literature. In his masterpiece, Apology for a Murder, he reveals the inner motives behind his act, portraying himself as a hero to be numbered alongside the great tyrannicides of ancient Rome and Greece.

Lorenzino himself, in 1548, was murdered by two soldiers hired either by the emperor Charles V or by Cosimo, Alessandro's successor as Duke, and this volume includes the dramatic account of his killing by Francesco Bibboni, one of the assassins, as well as a selection of Lorenzino's poems, giving a fully rounded image of the antihero of Alfred de Musset's Lorenzaccio.

Apology for a Murder includes both Lorenzino de Medici's piece where he tries to justify the murder of his cousin Alessandro, the Duke of Florence, and an account of Lorenzino's death written by Captain Francesco Bibboni, a soldier who kills Lorenzino. Both accounts are brilliant in their own way: Lorenzino certainly knows how to write a compelling argument and Bibboni is not ashamed of his actions and gives a rather honest account of a live of Renaissance mercenary.

As Andrew Brown says, Lorenzino was not a popular man. He was called 'nasty Lorenzo' and spend his days with Alessandro. People saw them as close friends and Lorenzino as Alessandro's accomplice. In Apology for a Murder Lorenzino tries his hardest to convince the reader that he was never a friend for Alessandro, who was a tyrant and therefore Lorenzino should be celebrated because he freed the people of Florence from tyrant's grasp. It is uncertain whether Lorenzino lied or not - Alessandro was a tyrant, but there is no prove of Lorenzino's motives either way. Apology for a Murder could be genuine, but it could also be propaganda where Lorenzino tried to clear his name. Either way, it's an interesting historical text and Lorenzino has a way with words.

Bibboni's account, however, was my favourite because it gives a detailed account of the life of assassin/mercenary soldier in Renaissance Europe - and the historian in me loves that kind of rich source, particularly since Bibboni does not apologise for his actions. Rather, he states how things are and the soldiers are only doing what they were hired to do, whether it was moral or not. These kind of texts - both Lorenzino and Bibboni's texts - are why I love studying history so much. It is not so much about the truth, but the perspective and here we have two entirely different perspectives, which gives us plenty to think about.

5 of 5 stars

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DNF Review: Brotherhood of Shades by Dawn Finch

Brotherhood of Shades
by Dawn Finch
Published by Stone Cold Fox Press
YA, fantasy

From the chaos of Dissolution rises a secret order, a Brotherhood formed to protect the world of the living from the world of the dead.

Adam, a teenage boy living on the streets of London, knows nothing of the fantastic and precarious world that exists just beyond his reality – until he dies, cold and alone, aged 14. After years of rejection, Adam discovers he is important, and the Brotherhood needs him. His recruitment to their Order will take him on an adventure that spans the worlds of both the living and the dead, as he and a living girl (14-year-old Edie Freedom) battle to solve a prophetic riddle and save the world.

DNF at 20%

I was super excited for this - it sounded like epic adventure. However, try as I might, I can't get into the story and I'm so confused of what's happening here. There's barely any explanation for anything; while the blurb makes it seem like Adam, a 14 year old boy who died, is the main character, this far he's barely been in it. It's been mostly narrated by D'Scover, who's one of the dead guys, and his perspective doesn't really explains things as he already knows how everything works.

I'm also not impressed by the writing style. There's a lot of dialogue, sometimes pages worth of it without anything else, and the dialogue is rather stilted and stiff. There's problems with pacing and this far, it's been really slow. I took a look at other reviews and it seems like there problems doesn't go away, and since I have so hard time focusing on and continuing the story, I decided to DNF it. Brotherhood of Shades simply isn't for me.

No star rating since I did not finish

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(A copy of this ebook was provided in return for an honest review.)

Review: Renegades by Marissa Meyer

Renegades (Renegades, #1)
by Marissa Meyer
Published by Pan Macmillan
YA, fantasy, sci-fi

Secret identities. Extraordinary powers.She wants vengeance. He wants justice.

The Renegades are a syndicate of prodigies―humans with extraordinary abilities―who emerged from the ruins of a crumbled society and established peace and order where chaos reigned. As champions of justice, they remain a symbol of hope and courage to everyone . . . except the villains they once overthrew.

Nova has a reason to hate the Renegades, and she is on a mission for vengeance. As she gets closer to her target, she meets Adrian, a Renegade boy who believes in justice―and in Nova. But Nova’s allegiance is to a villain who has the power to end them both.

"We were all villains in the beginning."

How could I not be absolutely captivated from the start with a first sentence like that? I love villains, anti-heroes and morally grey characters. Even more so, I love when it is difficult to tell who are the bad and good guys. It's all about perspective - everyone's a hero of their own story. Renegades plays with that idea to the T: Nova is an Anarchist, sworn for vengeance, and Adrian is a Renegade, part of organisation in a mission to protect and fight the villains. What makes Renegades more than a cliché forbidden love story, is the execution and attention to everyone's motives. I usually take sides pretty quickly, but this time, I liked both sides. There's no traditional good versus evil, but two sides that have both good and questionable intentions. It's complex, which makes it oh so good and addicting.

Characters are the best thing here. The world-building is alright, but it's more character driven story. There's plenty of action, backstories and history, but I feel like the characters and their personal conflicts are the driving force here. It's perfect that way, because there's a great cast of characters. Nova's resourceful and she doesn't give up or give in - Renegades failed her family and are tormenting her found family, so she'll do whatever it takes to tear them down. Adrian's a sweetheart: he's the goody-two-shoes type of guy, but he's also determined to have justice and ready toe the line if that gets him closer to finding his mother's killer. There's also a whole bunch of other intriguing characters. Adrian's team and family are great, and Nova's found family, the Anarchists, are brilliant.

I'm not most coherent right now, but to put it in a simple way - I love Renegades. It's basically everything I want in a book. It's captivating and stunning, and I'm going to read Archenemies right after because I need more of this world and characters. So yes, I highly recommend it to everyone. But specifically for everyone who likes superheroes and supervillains, quests for vengeance and justice, and sworn enemies and undercover operations.

5 of 5 stars

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Review: The Steel Prince Vol. 1 by V.E. Schwab

The Steel Prince (Shades of Magic Graphic Novels, #1) by V.E. Schwab Published by Titan Graphic novel, fantasy

The youthful Maxim Maresh is sent to a violent and unmanageable port city on the Blood Coast of Verose, on strict orders from his father, King Nokil Maresh, to cut his military teeth in this lawless landscape.
There, he encounters an unruly band of soldiers, a lawless landscape, and the intoxicatingly deadly presence of the newly returned pirate queen, Arisa.

I'm so happy to be back in this world and to learn even more about the fringes of it, not to forget about different types of magic that was only briefly touched upon in Shades of Magic. There's certainly lot happening here: a pirate queen, who uses forbidden bone magic, young and untested prince, and fierce guard, who has lot to prove. There's fast paced action and magic, which I really liked. My only complain is that it was too short - I could have read a full novel! Luckily there's more of Maxim's adventures coming.

The Steel Prince has gorgeous art work. I loved how the magic Schwab created translated visually.

I will try to patiently wait for next instalment, because I need more from this world - and I want to know what happens during the Night of Knives!
4 of 5 stars
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Review: A Ferry of Bones & Gold by Hailey Turner

A Ferry of Bones & Gold (Soulbound #1)
by Hailey Turner
Self-published
LGBT, urban fantasy, romance

When the gods come calling, you don't get to say no. 

Patrick Collins is three years into a career as a special agent for the Supernatural Operations Agency when the gods come calling to collect a soul debt he owes them. An immortal has gone missing in New York City and bodies are showing up in the wake of demon-led ritual killings that Patrick recognizes all too easily from his nightmares.

Unable to walk away, Patrick finds himself once again facing off against mercenary magic users belonging to the Dominion Sect. Standing his ground alone has never been a winning option in Patrick's experience, but it's been years since he's had a partner he could trust.

Looking for allies in all the wrong places, Patrick discovers the Dominion Sect's next target is the same werewolf the Fates themselves have thrown into his path. Patrick has been inexplicably attracted to the man from their first meeting, but desire has no place in war. That doesn't stop Patrick from wanting what he shouldn't have. Jonothon de Vere is gorgeous, dangerous, and nothing but trouble - to the case, to the fight against every hell, and ultimately, to Patrick's heart and soul.

In the end, all debts must be paid, and Patrick can only do what he does best - cheat death.

I have heard nothing but good things about A Ferry of Bones & Gold, which made me excited to read it. Fortunately, the book delivered and then some. A Ferry of Bones & Gold is an action-packed page turner with twists and explosions - and that's just what I love. Great characters with chemistry, budding romance and plots against the Greek gods? Yes, please.

Let's talk about characters first. Patrick Collins is a stubborn magnet for trouble, who fields weapons and badge, and has dislike for immortals and their meddling. Patrick's almost adorable on how stubborn and grumpy he can be, and I loved it. It's certainly entertaining to see how Patrick interacts with others, especially with flirting werewolf Jono, equally stubborn seer Marek, and Hermes, who just keeps delivering messages Patrick doesn't want to hear. And that's just a few mentions! There's a wide cast of intriguing characters and I could talk about most of them. There's snark and banter, which is always great! Patrick and Jono's chemistry is also incredible.

The world-building was amazing; it was intricate and carefully done. There's a lot of different elements, myths and legends mixed in this urban fantasy world - from ancient gods and goddesses, to vampires, werewolves and magic users, among everything else. Some are just mentioned, a nod to their existence and others have larger role. I have to be honest: I'm not usually a big fan of urban fantasy that mixes different myths and creatures. I like it more simple, separate stories for ancient gods, and werewolves, and vampires, and whatever. However, Turner has created such a seamless world and filled it with interesting characters and dynamics that I didn't mind at all. I also have to mention how much I loved that there wasn't abrupt or rushed ending. There's proper slow down and conversations after the big climax, which was something I really appreciated.

All in all, A Ferry of Bones & Gold seems to have it all, from driven characters to explosive plot and stunning world-building. I definitely loved it! Of course, I could pick the story a bit of how certain Greek gods were portrayed, but I'm aware it's mostly based on my own nerdiness when it comes to certain gods. So I'll let it go, because Turner managed to weave a great story that I enjoyed a lot - and I highly recommend you to try it, too!

5 of 5 stars

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Review: Estranged by Ethan M. Aldridge

Estranged (Estranged, #1)
by Ethan M. Aldridge
Published by Harper
Middle Grade, fantasy, adventure, graphic novel

Edmund and the Childe were swapped at birth. Now Edmund lives in secret as a changeling in the World Above, his fae powers hidden from his unsuspecting parents and his older sister, Alexis. The Childe lives among the fae in the World Below, where being a human makes him a curiosity at the royal palace.

But when the cruel sorceress Hawthorne seizes the throne, the Childe and Edmund must unite on a dangerous quest to save both worlds - even if they're not sure which world they belong to.

Estranged has absolutely gorgeous artwork; the style and details are incredible. Often, I just stared at the art instead of continuing the story because of how intricate it all is. The artwork is definitely one of the best parts of this graphic novel, however, the storyline and characters are not far behind. Aldridge weaves a story with depth about identity and formation of families, about accepting and finding oneself.

Edmund and Childe were swapped at birth, so Edmund has spend his life as changeling and Childe has spend his as human pet in the high court of fae, where he wasn't even given a name. Both struggled with their identity and place in the world, and I absolutely loved how deep and meaningful it all was. There's also a plethora of interesting side characters; Whick, a wax golem and Childe's only friend, and Alexis, Edmund's sister. I especially loved how smart Alexis is - she's older and actually knew myths and legends because she had studied them, and I could easily relate to her determined mindset to protect her little brother.

Estranged is beautiful and adventurous story, which I really loved. I cannot wait for the sequel!

5 of 5 stars

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Review: A Case of Possession by K.J. Charles

A Case of Possession (A Charm of Magpies, #2) by K.J. Charles Published by KJC Books LGBT, fantasy, paranormal, historical, romance

Magic in the blood. Danger in the streets.
Lord Crane has never had a lover quite as elusive as Stephen Day. He knows Stephen's job as justiciar requires secrecy, but the magician is doing his disappearing act more than seems reasonable - especially since Crane will soon return to his home in China. When a blackmailer threatens to expose their illicit relationship, there's only one thing stopping Crane from leaving the country he loathes: Stephen.
Stephen has problems of his own. As he investigates a plague of giant rats sweeping London, his sudden increase in power, boosted by his blood-and-sex bond with Crane, is rousing suspicion that he's turned warlock. With all eyes on him, the threat of exposure grows. Stephen could lose his friends, his job and his liberty over his relationship with Crane. He's not sure if he can take that risk much longer. Crane isn't sure if he can ask him to.
The rats are closing in, and something has to give...

After The Magpie Lord, I had high hopes for A Case of Possession; I expected it to rise to new levels and have more development that the first book lacked. I wished that Lucien and Stephen's budding relationship would deepen and whisk me away, since I felt the potential was there. However, I found that A Case of Possession took a turn I didn't expect - or really enjoy.
The new mystery and plot still had me intrigued; there's blackmail, blood and murder. There's a plague of giant rats slaughtering people that Stephen has to investigate, while he's under suspicion of becoming a warlock. Pressure is building on Stephen's shoulders like no other, and Lucien is increasingly concerned of Stephen's disappearing acts, while dealing with blackmail. Certainly entertaining and kept me turning the page.
While Lucien and Stephen's relationship deepened and there was some beautiful scenes between them, the steamy scenes left me cold. Oh, it was passionate and dirty, but it was also kinky. It's a personal preference what anyone enjoys; I don't care much for kinky stuff, and while this still was relatively mild, it was something I don't like reading. Thus, I mainly skim read the steamier scenes and focused on everything else. However, it made me feel less invested into the relationship and well, bleakened the overall enjoyment. I have decided not to read the last book of the trilogy, because well, I'd rather dedicate my time for something that I enjoy all the way through and not romance, where I skip half of the scenes together. Still, I'd recommend this trilogy to anyone who finds it interesting. It's well written and entertaining, and this time it's wholly personal why I decided to drop it. Others seem to have enjoyed the aspects I didn't, so this truly is the case of its-me-not-the-book.
3 of 5 stars
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Review: The Magpie Lord by K.J. Charles

The Magpie Lord (A Charm of Magpies, #1)
by K.J. Charles
Published by KJC Books
LGBT, fantasy, paranormal, historical, romance

A lord in danger. A magician in turmoil. A snowball in hell.

Exiled to China for twenty years, Lucien Vaudrey never planned to return to England. But with the mysterious deaths of his father and brother, it seems the new Lord Crane has inherited an earldom. He's also inherited his family's enemies. He needs magical assistance, fast. He doesn't expect it to turn up angry. Magician Stephen Day has good reason to hate Crane's family. Unfortunately, it's his job to deal with supernatural threats. Besides, the earl is unlike any aristocrat he's ever met, with the tattoos, the attitude... and the way Crane seems determined to get him into bed. That's definitely unusual.

Soon Stephen is falling hard for the worst possible man, at the worst possible time. But Crane's dangerous appeal isn't the only thing rendering Stephen powerless. Evil pervades the house, a web of plots is closing round Crane, and if Stephen can't find a way through it - they're both going to die.

I didn't know I was in the mood for historical paranormal romance until I dived into The Magpie Lord. Neither historical or paranormal fiction are my go to genres, but somehow Charles made it work, especially with a heavy dose of mystery. Mysteries with magical kick have recently been something I've stumbled upon and liked a lot. In short, The Magpie Lord is a generous mix of different genres that somehow works well.

The Magpie Lord has all the right ingredients to be intriguing and entertaining: intricate, eerie setting of Piper, the ancestral manor of Crane earls, interesting magic system and hierarchy, mystery, personal stakes, and complicated characters. Lucien Vaudrey, the new but reluctant lord Crane, his loyal servant Merrick, and Stephen Day, magician extraordinary who has deep sense of justice. Lucien refuses to conform the society's expectations and is used to the freedom he had in China, which baffles Stephen, who's used to play it save, because he's poor and cannot afford the same type of protection Lucien has through his privileged position. I liked both Lucien and Stephen, and the contrast between them. The past conflict between Lucien and Stephen's families caused additional complication and hurt, which added depth to both characters and their actions. 

Despite all the right elements, I found something lacking. I'm not sure what it was; possibly the story could have used more length to build up the mystery and its reveal, as well as the aftermath. Or maybe the budding relationship between Lucien and Stephen left something to be desired. It was entertaining, but without burning passion. A solid first book in a series, and I have high hopes for the sequel - maybe it'll be perfect. Anyway, I did enjoy The Magpie Lord a lot. Maybe not a mind blowing five star read, but definitely solid four stars.

4 of 5 stars

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Review: And The Ocean Was Our Sky by Patrick Ness

An The Ocean Was Our Sky
by Patrick Ness
Published by Walker Books
YA, fantasy, retelling

With harpoons strapped to their backs, the proud whales of Bathsheba's pod live for the hunt, fighting in the ongoing war against the world of men. When they attack a ship bobbing on the surface of the Abyss, they expect to find easy prey. Instead, they find the trail of a myth, a monster, perhaps the devil himself...

As their relentless Captain leads the chase, they embark on a final, vengeful hunt, one that will forever change the worlds of both whales and men.

Patrick Ness is known for being creative, for experimenting in a way others don't.  And The Ocean Was Our Sky has to be most experimental of his works; it's a Moby Dick retelling from the point of view of the whales. It's as odd as it sounds, but somehow Ness made the story of a pod of whales hunting down the legendary devil of Toby Wick deep and profound. It's a brutal and raw look on humanity, but also to the treatment of others, of strangers, no matter of species.

Best part of this short story are the illustrations. Rovina Cai is certainly talented, and the illustrations bring the story alive. Truthfully, I spend more time staring at the illustrations than reading. It's a gorgeous book and I'm definitely giving one star more only for the brilliant illustrations.

4 of 5 stars

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