Review and Interview Sunday: The Butterfly Crest by Eva Vanrell

Amazon  Goodreads  Barnes and Noble

Protogenoi Series #1

Goodreads Blurb:

"An ancient war. A long-told prophecy. A cursed Inheritance.

If you were destined to die, how would you choose to live?

Between the shadows of the human world, a war as old as time is being fought. Ageless pantheons scheme to obtain or keep control, provoked by the weight of human belief which has altered the realm of the divine.

An ancient prophecy speaks of a human woman who will alter the course of this divine war, a descendant of a Great House mired in misfortune and blood, whose history was shaped by the cruelty of the gods.

On a day as unremarkable as any other, Elena Vicens, a young woman living a seemingly ordinary life, receives a letter about a deposit box belonging to her mother, nineteen years after her mother’s death. When this letter sends her on a journey halfway across the world from New Orleans to Japan, Elena unknowingly comes into possession of a cursed inheritance. She is suddenly thrust into a world of myths and legends, where the intangible and the strange are the fabric of everyday life, and deathless gods vie for victory at any cost.

As allies converge to help Elena fulfill the prophecy, one of whom is struggling with his own inheritance, Elena must choose for herself the measure of her own destiny.

>>>The book includes a comprehensive appendix that can be accessed through the Table of Contents."

R&R Book Review: Elfineness by Tatyana K. Varenko

Amazon  Goodreads

Goodreads Blurb:

"Back to her own self and kingdom, 

Luella's winning back her name 
Securing her reign and freedom 
With Derek, her re-found flame. 

When things are looking up like never 
And happiness is at her door, 
The Elders want her, however, 
Engaged in the impending war. 

Can she refuse without facing 
The consequences it may bring? 
Will she be capable of tracing 
The missing links she needs to win? 

And this is all on the background 
Of nanobots beyond control 
Destroying down to the ground 
The human race condemned to fall."

Review:

Thank you to the author, Tatyana K. Varenko, for gifting me with a copy of Elfineness in exchange for an honest review!

This is the first book I've ever read that's written in verse.  I have to say I've developed a healthy respect for all authors that choose to write in verse.  It is truly an accomplishment to be able to tell a story with such a limited choice of words.  All the lines have to flow together.

Sometimes I got a bit confused about the plot because I believe there was once a flashback within a flashback.  However, once you get about halfway through, everything starts to make sense (at least to me).  I really liked the fantasy feel of this book.  I've always loved any book that involves fantasy and oldish speak.  There were some instances where the author chose to use modern language in the mix with the old stuff which didn't work.  Sometimes it did, sometimes it didn't.

The part where Derek dies or is trapped in the dagger or whatever happens to him was sort of glossed over and wasn't made a big deal.  The aftermath, yes, but in that moment when he disappeared, nothing.

I loved how Luella's character developed and grew so much throughout this book.  You learn so much about her and her values and way of thinking which I really connected with.

Final Verdict:

This book is quite an accomplishment to be able to write the whole thing in verse.  Sometimes, the plot got a bit confusing and I would have liked a bit more explanation about the world in general.  The fantasy feel was fantastic and Luella's character grew so much - amazing!

3.5 stars

Quotes:

“Banal or not, looks are deceiving,
And all that glitters is not gold –
And yet, we cannot help believing
What meets the eye – it’s uncontrolled.”

“Don’t be afraid of caterpillars –
They are reborn as butterflies.
Transformed by love are saints and killers.
The truth is sometimes worse than lies.” 

“Life’s just a sacrifice, a ransom
We pay to Death for Love to save,
Which turns to be as great as handsome
To get a blessing from the grave.”

Book Review Sunday: Rebel Belle by Rachel Hawkins

Amazon  Goodreads  Book Depository  Barnes and Noble

Goodreads Blurb:

"Harper Price, peerless Southern belle, was born ready for a Homecoming tiara. But after a strange run-in at the dance imbues her with incredible abilities, Harper's destiny takes a turn for the seriously weird. She becomes a Paladin, one of an ancient line of guardians with agility, super strength and lethal fighting instincts.

Just when life can't get any more disastrously crazy, Harper finds out who she's charged to protect: David Stark, school reporter, subject of a mysterious prophecy and possibly Harper's least favorite person. But things get complicated when Harper starts falling for him—and discovers that David's own fate could very well be to destroy Earth.

With snappy banter, cotillion dresses, non-stop action and a touch of magic, this new young adult series from bestseller Rachel Hawkins is going to make y'all beg for more."

Review:

I've heard so much about this book and finally decided to give in to the hype and give it a go.  I am so glad I did!  Most everything about this book was amazing starting with the cover.  It's just beautiful!

The plot was very good and well developed for the first book.  It had me hooked from page one.  I really liked how Harper's adventure started right away.  There was a lot to be explained in this scenario so if the author had added the typical setting stuff and getting to know the characters, it would have been really boring.

Going along with that, I think this is the first book I've read that's from the popular girl's perspective.  Typically, it's about a loner and how they're 'different' and then those differences end up being the entrance into their new world.  So I really liked the change.

Now for the romance.  It was... good.  It was definitely predictable.  Harper has the classic connection to the forbidden guy and she fell for him in such a predictable way.  It's like this - popular girl is dating popular guy, problems erupt because of popular girl's  secret life, forbidden guy is in on the secret life, girl falls for forbidden guy and leaves popular guy in the dust.  Can't get any more cookie cutter than that.  However I am willing to overlook it just based on the total originality of the plot.

I also really liked how Harper didn't end up to be the 'most important' or 'most legendary' in her screwy world.  That happens in so many YA books.  I would have liked a bit more explanation on the whole powers thing but maybe that comes in the next book?

Finally, I loved Dee, the whole Oracle idea, and the ending!

Final Verdict:

This was an all night read for me!  I loved the plot and the characters.  The romance was a bit predictable though.

5 stars

Quotes:

“I picked up the nearest weapon I could lay my hands on: a stapler. I lifted it, going for “menacing.” I admit it lacked a certain elegance, but hey. It was worth a shot. David placed his hand on my arm and pushed it back down.
“What?”
“Just . . . that’s embarrassing for all of us,” he replied.” 

“The great thing about best friends is that they know you really well. And the terrible thing about best friends is that they know YOU really well.” 

“Bruce Wayne's parents get killed and he goes to Tibet or whatever, and Superman is an alien, and Spiderman had that radioactive spider. Me? I kissed a janitor in the school bathroom.” 

“Look at him. Whole life turned upside down, and he’s in there making pizza rolls.” 

“I know,” I told him. “It sounds insane. It is insane.”
His eyes fixed on mine. “You killed someone,” he said, his voice barely audible. “With a shoe.”
“He had a sword,” I fired back and then, to my shock, David burst out laughing.” 

“He and I had loathed each other since kindergarten. Heck, even before that. Mom says he’s the only baby I ever bit in daycare.” 

“Harper, did you just... did you just throw a pen at Liz?"
"Oh my gosh, no, Mrs. Ford! I was just... um... writing really fast because there was so much information to take in, and I had, like, some lotion? On my hands? Anyway the pen flew out of my hand and hit Liz” 

“Looking back, none of this would have happened if I’d brought lip gloss the night of the Homecoming Dance.” 

Book Review: Killer Frost by Jennifer Estep

Amazon  Goodreads  Book Depository

Goodreads Blurb:

"I’ve battled the Reapers of Chaos before–and survived. But this time I have a Bad, Bad Feeling it’s going to be a fight to the death … most likely mine.

Yeah, I’ve got my psychometry magic, my talking sword, Vic–and even the most dangerous Spartan on campus at my side, in Logan freaking Quinn, but I’m no match for Loki, the evil Norse god of chaos. I may be Nike’s Champion, but at heart, I’m still just Gwen Frost, that weird Gypsy girl everyone at school loves to gossip about.

Then someone I love is put in more danger than ever before, and something inside me snaps. This time, Loki and his Reapers are going down for good … or I am."

Review:

Overall, I was generally pleased by this book.  It had it's moments where it wasn't up to par but for the most part, it was an amazing end to the series.  I especially loved the ending - Jennifer Estep did a really amazing job tying up all the loose ends and keeping all the books in the series connected.  There was also excellent tension and buildup.

I'm actually glad this is the last book in the series.  Even though I'll miss all the characters, I was getting kind of annoyed with Gwen and her thoughts (it's just me...).  The same phrases would repeat over and over and OVER.  It just gets to you after a while.

I know I said I loved the ending... and I do... it just seemed rather abrupt to me.  Like it was the final awesome battle and then... peace for like a page or two and then it ends!  I would have liked a bit more falling action.

I can't decide how I feel about all the side romances and all that... Sometimes, they got really distracting and other times they were adorable!

I started out really liking the covers in the series but this one is definitely my least favorite.  It just seems thrown together like it wasn't even made to go with the story or it was an afterthought.

This was a decent book and a pretty good ending to an amazing series!

Quotes:

“Yeah, you're probably right,' I said, forcing myself to smile at him. Logan grinned back at me. 'Of course, I'm right. I'm always right.' I rolled my eyes, leaned over, and lightly punched him in the shoulder. 'And now you sound like Vic.' 'No, he doesn't,' Vic piped up from his spot in the chair I'd propped him up in. 'I am much more confident than the Spartan is.' He sniffed. 'And with good reason.”  

“Open sesame,' I joked. Silence. Apparently, the Reapers weren't in a joking mood.” 

“It's about time you guys got here,' Oliver quipped. 'Alexei and I were starting to think you'd gotten lost.' Daphne sniffed. 'Please. We weren't lost. We were shopping.' 'That doesn't make it any better,' Oliver retorted. In fact, I'd say that makes it worse.”  

“It's not my fault you left her all by herself,' Oliver teased. 'You know that's how Gwen gets into trouble.' 'I would stick my tongue out at you, but it's too cold,' I grumbled.” 

“Still, I couldn't help looking at Daphne in morbid satisfaction. 'What did I tell you? Our first double date? Officially ruined.” 

“You're mine," "Not his. Mine. Only mine. Always mine.”

Dark Triumph by Robin LaFevers

Amazon Goodreads

This is the second book in the His Fair Assassin series the first being Grave Mercy.

Blurb:

When Sybella arrived at the doorstep of St Mortain half mad with grief and despair the convent were only too happy to offer her refuge - but at a price. The sisters of this convent serve Death, and with Sybella naturally skilled in both the arts of death and seduction, she could become one of their most dangerous weapons.

But her assassin's skills are little comfort when the convent returns her to the life that nearly drove her mad. Her father's rage and brutality are terrifying, and her brother's love is equally monstrous. But when Sybella discovers an unexpected ally she discovers that a daughter of Death may find something other than vengeance to live for...

I just love this series.  Seriously.  Granted, this book had more emotion in it rather than politics but it was still amazing.  I actually liked this book better than the first one in the series for that reason.

The setting is amazing - I can picture nearly every scene in my head just from the words on the page.

I just love assassin books in general.  The main character is so strong.  However the book finds ways to find cracks in the assassin's armor to keep it real.  I mean, no person is perfectly impenetrable and aloof.

"Jewels can be replaced, cousin.  Independence, once lost, cannot."

The one thing I disliked about this book is the old cliche that a guy and a girl go on a journey together and end up falling in love.  Seriously.  I've never read one book where the main character goes on a trip with the opposite gender and doesn't end up with them either in the middle for at least a little bit or at the end.  It's crazy and annoying and I was almost wishing that Beast wouldn't still love Sybella for the secrets she kept.  I know it's mean of me...

"I cannot tell her I have been moping over a broken heart when I have worked so hard to convince her I have no heart at all."

Speaking of Sybella's secrets, I thought it was just incredible how she's still living with herself after everything she went through.  Her childhood was absolutely horrendous.  Just when I thought she was done revealing secrets about her past, another one would pop out of her mouth.  It was insane!

"And just as love has two sides, so too does Death.  While Ismae will serve as His mercy, I will not, for that is not how He fashioned me.  Every death I have witnessed, every horror I have endured has forged me to be who I am -- Death's justice."

The flow was excellent.  It kept me up reading until 1 am!  It isn't all fast-paced but there is a sense of urgency behind everything so it never gets boring.

“I am left with the conviction that an avalanche would be easier to dissuade than that man.” 

Overall, it was well written but that cliche about Sybella and Beast's relationship knocked off a star.

Sweet Shadows by Tera Lynn Childs

I'm going with a 3.5 on this one. Honestly, I don't have much to say about it. It's one of those books that when you're reading it, you're totally absorbed and then when you finish you say "What just happened?" I do remember the ending though! I really liked the ending... it wasn't a crazy cliffhanger but it wasn't a dead end that didn't make me want to read the next one. The whole concept of the book is still very intriguing to me but it all seems so far away. I never get totally lost in it. I'm always aware it's just a story and even the girl's problems seem far away from them. I don't really know what I mean by that but that seemed like the right thing to say so I'm going with it.

I promise a more logical review on the next one... 3.5 stars.