The Buried Life (ARC Review)

Buried Life: The Buried Life | Carrie Patel

Published by: Angry Robot, March 3rd 2015

Genre: Adult, Fantasy, Steampunk

Pages: 336

Format: Ebook

Source: Angry Robot, via Netgalley

The gaslight and shadows of the underground city of Recoletta hide secrets and lies. When Inspector Liesl Malone investigates the murder of a renowned historian, she finds herself stonewalled by the all-powerful Directorate of Preservation – Recoletta’s top-secret historical research facility. 
 
When a second high-profile murder threatens the very fabric of city society, Malone and her rookie partner Rafe Sundar must tread carefully, lest they fall victim to not only the criminals they seek, but the government which purports to protect them. Knowledge is power, and power must be preserved at all costs…

The Buried Life started off great. A well-crafted world, characters with depth and integrity, endless secrets, and a complex murder mystery. I was hooked.

I liked the first half better than the second, honestly. I loved the mystery around the murders, the build up, the investigation in the beginning. I started to lose interest around the middle, when the plot felt to lull, but I still really enjoyed the story. The characters aren't exactly easy to love but they're fascinating. They make you want to know more about them. I liked some more than others; Roman was my favourite - he's charming and secretive and intimidating. Plus he was a complete mystery and it drew me in.

The world is great - Recoletta is a vivid underground city with a touch of magic. I honestly loved the setting; it was probably my favourite part of the whole book, how unique the language used to describe it was, and how it created a clear visual in my mind.

My only problem was it felt to seriously slow around the halfway point and I wasn't as excited by it as I was in the beginning. Because of that it took me a while to read, which lessened by enjoyment. It felt like it had a hundred extra pages at least.

Still, a dark and gripping mystery with a rich and well imagined world.

Characters ★★★☆☆

Setting/world building ★★★★☆

Writing ★★★☆☆

Cover reveal: Edge of Evil

Edge of Evil by Shea Berkley 

(Dark Secrets #2) 

Released March 3rd 2015 

Genres: Adult, Paranormal Romance

What if nightmares, best kept in the dark, refuse to stay hidden?

Dr. Maya Kelbeck believes no matter how unusual her patients’ delusions, she can help. When billionaire Alden Caldwell seeks her counsel to escape a controlling relationship, she’s intrigued by his unusual diagnosis, lycanthropy—her patient actually believes he is over 400 years old and a werewolf.

Alden Caldwell’s life is not his own and hasn’t been since the middle ages, not since he was transformed into a werewolf. The once noble knight now finds himself no more than a slave to a female vampire who is without morals, without conscious, without a soul.

Maya promises Alden she can help him, and at first it looks like she can, until the supernatural world in which he lives wants him back. Can Alden convince Maya his delusions are real in time to save her, or has he just sentenced a woman who cares for him despite his past transgressions to a fate worse than death?

BUY THE FIRST BOOK:

About the Author:

Shea Berkley started out writing nonfiction (not so fun) and quickly moved into fiction (totally fun), and knew she'd found her calling. (Her family was thrilled she'd found friends to play with even if they weren't technically real.) She's still pleasantly surprised people are willing to pay to read her stories. Besides writing, her many diversions include kickboxing, reading awesome books and hanging out with her loud and rambunctious family. With five kids (all girls), her biggest job is to make sure the little darlings don't harass the neighbors and then play dumb when the cops come knocking on her door.

http://www.sheaberkley.com/

https://twitter.com/SheaBerkley

https://www.facebook.com/SheaBerkley?sk=wall

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5009433.Shea_Berkley

Most Anticipated of 2015: The Wondrous and The Wicked

I wanted to talk about the books I'm dying to have, but since I don't do the WoW weekly feature I don't really have somewhere to talk about those books. So these posts were born. It'll be a series of 6-10 posts, since I haven't decided how many I want to talk about, and they should be up every Friday as a temporary feature.

Today I'm going to talk about

The Wondrous and The Wicked by Page Morgan

expected April 14th

For fans of Lauren Kate's Fallen series comes the exciting conclusion to the trilogy that includes The Beautiful and the Cursed and The Lovely and the Lost. The Waverly sisters must save themselves before all is lost.

Since the Waverlys arrived in Paris, the streets have grown more fearsome by the day. As Ingrid learns to master her lectrux gift, she must watch Axia's power grow strong enough to extend beyond her Underneath hive. By all indications, the fallen angel's Harvest is near-and the timing couldn't be worse.

Targeted by vengeful gargoyles, Gabby has been exiled to London for her own protection. Meanwhile, the gargoyle castes are in disarray, divided between those who want Luc to lead them and those who resent him and his fondness for humans. The Alliance is crumbling from the inside as well, its members turning against one another, and possibly against the Waverlys, too.

Axia has promised that the world will burn. And now, unable to trust the Alliance, separated from Luc, Gabby, and her twin, Grayson, Ingrid is left to face the demon uprising alone.

That recommendation is a little crazy. This series is a hundred times better than the Fallen series. Seriously. Given the last blurb had Gabby in an eye patch, I don't put much stock in these blurbs. Love the covers, though. Kinda scared to see what cover we'll get, since the UK Dispossessed covers are hit or miss for me.

I NEED this book. This is one of my favourite series ever. The romance, the lush historical period, the glitter and magic of it all - reading these books is a glorious indulgence and I can't wait for The Wondrous and The Wicked!

Trailer Reveal: I Heart Robot by Suzanne van Rooyen

I Heart Robot | Suzanne van Rooyen 

Expected March 31st 2015 from Month9Books

Genres: Romance, Science Fiction, Young Adult

Scroll down for the trailer!

Sixteen-year-old Tyri wants to be a musician and wants to be with someone who won’t belittle her musical aspirations.

Q-I-99 aka ‘Quinn’ lives in a scrap metal sanctuary with other rogue droids. While some use violence to make their voices heard, demanding equal rights for AI enhanced robots, Quinn just wants a moment on stage with his violin to show the humans that androids like him have more to offer than their processing power.

Tyri and Quinn’s worlds collide when they’re accepted by the Baldur Junior Philharmonic Orchestra. As the rift between robots and humans deepens, Tyri and Quinn’s love of music brings them closer together, making Tyri question where her loyalties lie and Quinn question his place in the world. With the city on the brink of civil war, Tyri and Quinn make a shocking discovery that turns their world inside out. Will their passion for music be enough to hold them together while everything else crumbles down around them, or will the truth of who they are tear them apart?

Pre-order: 

About the Author:

I'm a YA author with a penchant for the dark and strange. I primarily write speculative fiction but enjoy literary writing as well. I occasionally delve into adult genres too.

I'm a musician and have a Master's degree in music, but I prefer writing strange stories, baking peanut butter cupcakes and playing with my shiba inu. 

I'm repped by Jordy Albert of the Booker Albert Agency.

Publicity manager for Anaiah Press.

https://twitter.com/Suzanne_Writer
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Suzanne-van-Rooyen/304965232847874

http://suzannevanrooyen.com/

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5306442.Suzanne_van_Rooyen

Nightbird (ARC Review)

Nightbird | Alice Hoffman

Published by: Simon & Schuster UK, February 26th 2015

Genre: MG, Fantasy

Pages: 208

Format: Ebook

Source: Simon & Schuster, via Netgalley

In her first novel for middle-grade readers , bestselling author Alice Hoffman tells a bewitching story of love and friendship that is truly magical.

Twig lives in Sidwell, where people whisper that fairy tales are real. After all, her town is rumored to hide a monster. And two hundred years ago, a witch placed a curse on Twig’s family that was meant to last forever. But this summer, everything will change when the red moon rises. It’s time to break the spell.

Nightbird is a bittersweet tale of friendship, secrets, and familial love. With a hidden, winged brother, Twig Fowler lives surrounded by secrets. Her town has history of witchcraft. Her family is cursed. And a new family just moved into the witch's old house. Her summer is shaping up to be

I enjoyed this once it got going. I didn't really get into it until about 40% but then I found myself interested in the story, the secrets, and especially Twig's brother James. I liked the magic of the town, both the fantastical kind and the fascination Twig found in everyday things and people. I especially loved the historian and the garden Twig planted. But there was something that kept me from loving the book. I liked parts but was a little bored in others, didn't feel the characters sometimes, and found the book slow. But still, it was a nice enough story.The ending was probably my favourite part, and I liked the message of acceptance it shows, with James and the townspeople. I could have done without Twig's dad's appearance being the magical salve for her family and life but it didn't ruin the book so much. 

This is a sweet children's story of magic and friendship and the secrets families keep to protect each other.

Characters ★★★☆☆

Setting/world building ★★★☆☆

Writing ★★★☆☆

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Reading round up (66)

Reading round up is a weekly journal where I record my daily reading progress, my thoughts on each book as I read it, and any books I've acquired during the week.

16th February

I finished A Magic Dark and Bright (19% read) and THAT ENDING!!! How cruel you are, Jenny Adams Perinovic! I need the next book right now.

I also started The Distance Between Lost and Found by Kathryn Holmes which was kind of a wildcard pick for me. I love the cover, was interested in the blurb (although put off by it being a contemporary and my general non-enjoyment of those...) but it could have gone either way. Happily, the survival element of the story is PREVALENT and it's AWESOME. I love this, how the MC has been silenced by a reputation she didn't earn, the exploration of male and female voices and which are heard or ignored, and also the fact it's set in a Wild Mountain Landscape. Uber cool. I read 58% in one sitting.

17th February

I finished The Distance Between Lost and Found and it was harrowing and left a hollow feeling in me. 

I started Suspicion by Alexandra Monir (81 pages) but I'm not sure what to think yet. I like the aristocracy thing but not sure about the MC, whose voice has changed like 3 times I swear.

Because I reckon Suspicion will be a slow read for me, I also started Nightbird by Alice Hoffman (33%), which is odd and maybe boring (I can't tell) but may turn out fairly good. As someone who enjoys middle grade, I haven't enjoyed the past 3 I've read. Which is fair upsetting.

18th February

I finished Nightbird (67%), which was pretty sweet if slow the whole way through. Didn't reeeeeeeeally like it, but didn't hate it either.

19th February

I read 22 pages of Suspicion. The more insults that are thrown at England and the English, the less patience and enthusiasm I have with this. Thought it'd be Amazing but so far it's kind of Alright. 

I had hoped to cut Suspicion with Bound By Prophecy by Melissa Wright, my first Saruuh explores NA read, but I read the entire thing in one sitting (252 pages). Oops. It is SO GOOD. My first NA novel and it blew me away. Crazy, insane, wildly good urban fantasy with characters that I adore!!

20th February

Abandoning Suspicion for now because it's not holding my attention or interest and I'm low on patience. However, I am ADDICTED to the Descendants series. I read Shifting Fate by Melissa Wright. All 214 pages of it. What an exciting, romantic, thrilling series!!!!

21st February

I read 80% of Reign of Shadows, the last in the Descendants series. So far I can't stand Callan but that's to be expected. What's his deal with trying to 'help' Brianna. More like trying to own her.

22nd February

Finished Reign of Shadows (20%) and it was a great ending to the series!! Even if the end of the book did feel a little rushed and I kept expecting more conflict.

I also started Crow Moon by Anna McKerrow (read 82 pages) and it's really interesting!! The MC is a guy of colour and it's set in Devon and Cornwall which is uber cool.

Books finished this week: 6
Books DNF'd this week: 1

A Vision for the Future | Melissa Wright

King of Ash and Bone | Melissa Wright

Shifting Fates | Melissa Wright

Reign of Shadows | Melissa Wright

Sooooooo I adored Bound By Prophecy and went and downloaded everything I could get my hands on by Melissa Wright. I plan to read Frey and buy the rest of the series if I love it ASAP!! I can't wait to start Shifting Fate and Reign of Shadows, and the other two sound suitably exciting!!

A Magic Dark and Bright (scheduled for 25th April)

The Distance Between Lost and Found
Nightbird (scheduled for TOMORROW)
Bound by Prophecy (scheduled for March 7th)
Shifting Fate (scheduled for March 10th)
Reign of Shadows (scheduled for March 12th)

The Distance Between Lost and Found (ARC Review)

The Distance Between Lost and Found | Kathryn Holmes

Published by: HarperTeen, Feburary 17th 2015

Genre: YA, Survival, Contemporary

Pages: 320

Format: Ebook

Source: HarperTeen, via Edelweiss

Ever since the night of the incident with Luke Willis, the preacher’s son, sophomore Hallelujah Calhoun has been silent. When the rumors swirled around school, she was silent. When her parents grounded her, she was silent. When her friends abandoned her … silent.

Now, six months later, on a youth group retreat in the Smoky Mountains, Hallie still can’t find a voice to answer the taunting. Shame and embarrassment haunt her, while Luke keeps coming up with new ways to humiliate her. Not even meeting Rachel, an outgoing newcomer who isn’t aware of her past, can pull Hallie out of her shell. Being on the defensive for so long has left her raw, and she doesn’t know who to trust.

On a group hike, the incessant bullying pushes Hallie to her limit. When Hallie, Rachel, and Hallie’s former friend Jonah get separated from the rest of the group, the situation quickly turns dire. Stranded in the wilderness, the three have no choice but to band together.

With past betrayals and harrowing obstacles in their way, Hallie fears they’ll never reach safety. Could speaking up about the night that changed everything close the distance between being lost and found? Or has she traveled too far to come back?

Were this book wholly contemporary, I don't think we would have gotten along so well. But the emphasis of the whole book is put on survival, and that really drives the story, makes it into something quite extraordinary when paired with the important issues it highlights.

The main character of this book, Hallelujah, is a victim of bullying and lies and reputation, and because of this she has retreated into herself, found comfort in silence even though it leaves her alone, vulnerable. This story is about a girl learning to trust again - to trust people, and herself, and her own judgement. It's about learning to accept what has happened, what you can control, and what you can't.

A major emphasis of this book is on how women silence themselves, and how a male voice will always be louder than a female, will always be heard. That this is in a YA novel is commendable.

This book is about how women are taught to analyse even their smallest actions when things go wrong and to place blame on themselves. Because we must have done something wrong, been in the wrong place, given the wrong impression. Hallelujah even says in the book that she shouldn't have been in the wrong place, that it wouldn't have happened if she hadn't gone to a guy's room to say goodnight, despite it being an innocent decision - she places the blame of a guy choosing to humiliate her and bully her for months on one action she made - importantly ON HERSELF. Because that is what a society run by men teaches women to do. 

And The Distance Between Lost and Found is not ashamed or afraid to call out that bullshit, to throw stark light on the reality of sexual reputation for women, on the damage that lies can do to young girls, on the damage that young girls can do to each other.

A piercing, atmospheric survival story that explores the silencing of women and the blame we place unfairly on ourselves.

Characters ★★★★★

Setting/world building ★★★★★

Writing ★★★★☆

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This book counts toward my Monthly Key Word challenge!

See my progress on my Read in 2015 page!

Key words: And

Most Anticipated of 2015: Rogue

I wanted to talk about the books I'm dying to have, but since I don't do the WoW weekly feature I don't really have somewhere to talk about those books. So these posts were born. It'll be a series of 6-10 posts, since I haven't decided how many I want to talk about, and they should be up every Friday as a temporary feature.

Today I'm going to talk about

Rogue by Julie Kagawa

expected May 7th

Ember Hill left the dragon organization Talon to take her chances with rebel dragon Cobalt and his crew of rogues. But Ember can't forget the sacrifice made for her by the human boy who could have killed her—Garret Xavier Sebastian, a soldier of the dragonslaying Order of St. George, the boy who saved her from a Talon assassin, knowing that by doing so, he'd signed his own death warrant. 

Determined to save Garret from execution, Ember must convince Cobalt to help her break into the Order's headquarters. With assassins after them and Ember's own brother helping Talon with the hunt, the rogues find an unexpected ally in Garret and a new perspective on the underground battle between Talon and St. George. 

A reckoning is brewing and the secrets hidden by both sides are shocking and deadly. Soon Ember must decide: Should she retreat to fight another day…or start an all-out war?

I never expected to love Talon. I expected to like and enjoy it and for the series to grow on me. That I fell head first into adoration with the book was, still is, a total shock. I need the next book asap so I can find out what happens to Garret and Ember!!