On hiatus

I won't be posting any reviews for a while, as my laptop is broken and it's really difficult to schedule and compose posts on my tablet. I'll be back as soon as possible and you can follow my reviews on my goodreads as usual.

Review: The Dragon's Hunt

Read if you like: mythology, a new twist on paranormal, and characters with chemistry.

The Dragon's Hunt | Jane Kindred

Genre: Paranormal Romance
Release Date: December 1st
Pages: 304
Format: EBook
Source: Publisher, via Netgalley

By day, Leo Ström works as an assistant in a tattoo parlor. By night… Well, he isn't quite sure what happens at night. He just knows that it's best if he restrains himself. 

Ink is more than just superficial decoration to Rhea Carlisle. Her ability to read her clients' souls in their tattoos gives her work its special magic—and it allows her to see that there's more to Leo than his brilliant blue eyes. 

The passion that kindles between them might be Leo's salvation. Or it might be the end of the world…

Look for 2 new titles from Harlequin Nocturne every month!

Harlequin Nocturne: Delve into dark, sensuous and often dangerous territory, where the normal and paranormal collide

The first two thirds of this book? Awesome and interesting and seductive. The last half? I have NO IDEA what happened. I could not tell you.

But I did really enjoy most of this book, and I want to read the books with the side characters (especially Dev,  helloo Dev.) I really liked the main characters, Rhea and Leo, and I LOVE the tattoo sight, which was not what I expected of tattoo magic. The Viking element too is awesome, though I do wish it had hinted at it in the blurb. There are SO MANY old Norse words in this and I honestly can't remember one of them. At one point there were so many in a sentence, I just skipped ahead to a part I could understand. And like I said, I like Leo. He's fun and snarky and interesting but I couldn't for the life of me figure out why there were SIX versions of him. I feel the last few weren't explained well at all. So I got lost but I just sorta went with it and enjoyed the story.

What I liked was the magic, the vision parts, the characters and the romance. The Norse bits really confused me but I'd still recommend this book. I don't get why it's called The Dragon's Hunt though - there's a dragon in ONE scene. I kept waiting for dragons but nope. Vikings.

4 stars

Review: The Becoming of Noah Shaw

Read if you like: superheroes and slow burning mysteries with slight thriller elements

The Becoming of Noah Shaw | Michelle Hodkin

Series: The Shaw Confessions

Genre: Mystery
Release Date: November 7th
Pages: 384
Format: EBook
Source: Publisher, via Edelweiss

In the first book of the Shaw Confessions, the companion series to the New York Times bestselling Mara Dyer novels, old skeletons are laid bare and new promises prove deadly. This is what happens after happily ever after.

Everyone thinks seventeen-year-old Noah Shaw has the world on a string.

They’re wrong.

Mara Dyer is the only one he trusts with his secrets and his future.

He shouldn’t.

And both are scared that uncovering the truth about themselves will force them apart.

They’re right.

Did I seriously go through the whole Mara Dyer trilogy for my ship to sink so spectacularly? Are you KIDDING me? I was looking forward to them being strong, sorting shit out together. And I wish this was the only thing I'm disappointed about.

This is way more contemporary mystery than the creepy paranormal thriller Mara Dyer was, which I didn't expect. Not to say I don't like that genre because I do but... It's pretty slow paced too, despite the awesome beginning. I still love the characters, and Noah, and the history behind the origins of their powers. But the missing Gifted? I literally did not care what happened to them. I'm not sure how I feel about the new character Leo either, even if I like Goose (great name.) There are parts of this that are really good but overall I just did not love it. And for a book I've been dying to get my hands on for over a YEAR, a book I literally squealed to get approved for on Edelweiss ... the disappointment hit me hard.

3 stars

Review: Suicide Squad, Vol. 3

Suicide Squad: Burning Down The House | Rob Williams

Published by: DC Comics, September 12th 2017

Genre: Comics, Superheroes, Supervillains

Pages: 160

Format: Ebook

Source: DC, via Netgalley

Amanda Waller is used to getting what she wants—but this time, what Waller wants is something only Lex Luthor has. Striking a deal won’t be easy—or cheap! It’s a war on two fronts as Waller leads a smoldering charm offensive in Luthor’s penthouse while her Suicide Squad tries to open the most heavily guarded safe in all of LexCorp.

In SUICIDE SQUAD VOL. 3, writer Rob Williams is joined by superstar, and new series artist, Tony S. Daniel (BATMAN, JUSTICE LEAGUE)! Collects SUICIDE SQUAD #16-20.

This volume was basically Suicide Squad but with all my favourite bits removed. No cameraderie, barely any Killer Croc and June (why??), and they did something pretty awesome (killed someone off but I won't spoil) but then went back on it by bringing her back to life (meh.) It's not that I didn't like this, because I really enjoyed parts (mostly Harley and Flag) but ... it felt lacking for me. Didn't enjoy it half as much as I expected to.

Characters ★★☆☆☆

Setting/world ★★★☆☆

Writing ★★☆☆☆

Review: Bayou Born

The Foundling Series: Bayou Born | Hailey Edwards

Published by: Piatkus, October 17th 2017

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Pages: 336

Format: Ebook

Source: Piatkus, via Netgalley

Her beginning may be our end...

Deep in the humid swamps of the Mississippi bayou, a mysterious, half-wild child is dragged just in time from the murky waters. She has no memories, no family and is covered in strange markings, the meaning of which no one is able to decipher. Adopted by the policeman who rescued her, Lucy Boudrou follows him into the force, determined to prove herself in the eyes of those who are still suspicious. 

However, there's more of a battle ahead than Luce could possibly imagine. She may be an orphan without a past, but no one - including Luce herself - could ever be prepared for the truth of her dark, powerful destiny...

Brand new urban fantasy series by Hailey Edwards, bestselling author of the Gemini and Black Dog series. Perfect for fans of Jennifer Estep, Darynda Jones and Ilona Andrews.

Oh my God this was SO GOOD. This is by all means not my first Hailey Edwards book but this blew me away. Every little thing, from character, to dialogue, to relationships, to plot twists had me holding my breath and flying through the pages. This is my favourite book of Hailey's since the Black Dog series, and I'd say it ties for favourite with Dog With A Bone, which is really saying something.

Everything about Bayou Born is epic and mysterious and dark, and I LOVE IT. So many secrets surrounding the swamp, a group of characters masquerading as a security firm, and around the main character herself, whose own history is shrouded in secret. Her actual secret, her history, BLEW MY MIND. I didn't predict anything anywhere near that immense Freaking Plot Twist, and I'm still reeling from it. This book hurt me so badly near the end and my heart still hurts when I think about it. But that ending has me so excited for the next book, which I need ASAP. I want to find out who Ezra is, where he ties into all this, and see where the story goes. I can't wait for book two!

Characters ★★★★★

Setting/world ★★★★★

Writing ★★★★★

Review: Daughter Of The Burning City

Daughter of The Burning City | Amanda Foody

Published by: HQ, September 7th 2017

Genre: Fantasy, LGBT+

Pages: 416

Format: Paperback

Source: Purchased

Sixteen-year-old Sorina has spent most of her life within the smoldering borders of the Gomorrah Festival. Yet even among the many unusual members of the traveling circus-city, Sorina stands apart as the only illusion-worker born in hundreds of years. This rare talent allows her to create illusions that others can see, feel and touch, with personalities all their own. Her creations are her family, and together they make up the cast of the Festival’s Freak Show.

But no matter how lifelike they may seem, her illusions are still just that—illusions, and not truly real. Or so she always believed…until one of them is murdered.

Desperate to protect her family, Sorina must track down the culprit and determine how they killed a person who doesn’t actually exist. Her search for answers leads her to the self-proclaimed gossip-worker Luca, and their investigation sends them through a haze of political turmoil and forbidden romance, and into the most sinister corners of the Festival. But as the killer continues murdering Sorina’s illusions one by one, she must unravel the horrifying truth before all of her loved ones disappear.

Illusions that can be killed? Heck yes.

This book's concept is awesome. I love the plot, the illusions themselves, and I especially love Gomorrah. What a cool, unique circus (a travelling CITY that's ON FIRE.) While sharing many traits with other circus books, this manages to stand out too. It's dramatic and dangerous and so magical, and even has political elements which I always like. I just didn't fall for the characters at all, even if I found them interesting. What I really liked about this book was the illustrations and character profiles throughout; they are so creepy. And I only predicted the killer towards the end, so I consider that a plot twist well done. Speaking of ... there's a pretty shocking plot twist about one of the characters I did NOT see coming at all, and it's so cool (and tragic, really.)

There's nothing to not like about this book.

Characters ★★★★☆

Setting/world ★★★★☆

Writing ★★★★☆

Review: Titans, Volume Two

Titans: Volume Two | Dan Abnett, Brett Booth

Published by: DC Comics, September 26th 2017

Genre: Comics, Superheroes

Pages: 152

Format: Ebook

Source: DC, via Netgalley

The classic team of former superhero sidekicks continue their adventures in TITANS VOL. 2, as a part of DC Rebirth!

As Kid Flash Wally West and the Titans adjust to their new lives in New York City and investigate a new threat, a mysterious company called Meta Solutions comes to the forefront. Who are they? And what stunning discovery will the Titans make about their new foe?

Writer Dan Abnett (AQUAMAN) and artist Brett Booth (NIGHTWING) continue their critically acclaimed run with TITANS VOL. 2! Collects issues #7-10, TITANS ANNUAL #1 and stories from DC REBIRTH HOLIDAY SPECIAL.

This was even better than volume one!! And that plot twist at the end?? Holy crap!! I need to read the next volume for sure.

Action and friendship and snark and angsty romantic longing, AKA everything I love. I enjoyed the threats, the villains, the appearance of some bigger superheroes, and I especially loved the characterisation of Lilith in this.  I came to appreciate her a whole lot, but to be fair, I love everything in this gang.

I can't recommend this series enough.

Characters ★★★★★

Setting/world ★★★★☆

Writing ★★★★☆

Review: The Changer's Key

A Riddle in Ruby: The Changer's Key | Kent Davis

Published by: Greenwillow Books, September 27th 2016

Genre: Middle Grade, Fantasy

Pages: 384

Format: Ebook

Source: Greenwillow Books, via Edelweiss

The second book in the fantasy-adventure trilogy. In an alternate colonial America, young thief Ruby Teach trains to become the greatest weapon in the coming war.

To save her friends and family, apprentice thief Ruby Teach bargained with the man who chased her across the sea and through an alternate version of colonial Philadelphia. Now she’s training to become a soldier in the war he foresees and being experimented on by the army’s scientists. Ruby’s blood holds a secret, if only someone can unlock it.

Meanwhile, Captain Teach and Ruby’s friends—a motley crew made up of a young aristocrat, a servant, an alchemist, and mysterious woodswoman—are racing against time to find and liberate Ruby.

Kent Davis’s imagining of a colonial America powered by alchemy is fascinating and wholly original. The heroes are swept through cities and unsettled territories with imagination, humor, and magic.

I remember really liking the first book, but I just did connect with this at all. The Ruby plot, I liked but I didn't really care about it, and the other plot didn't interest me at all. But I still like Athena a whole lot, and kinda wish the book was all from her POV. By the end of this, I was just reading so I could finish it, and I'm not sure why because I really loved the first book.

Characters ★★★☆☆

Setting/world ★★★☆☆

Writing ★★★☆☆

#FreeReads - Hex Appeal

Read if you like: steamy urban fantasy, paranormal dangers, and snarky female characters

Hex Appeal | Tricia Owens

Series: Moonlight Dragon

Genre: Urban Fantasy
Format: Ebook
Source: Free on Instafreebie

BLURB FROM DESCENDED FROM DRAGONS:

To save Sin City, she must battle Hell. Too bad the odds are against her.

Beneath the glitz and glamour of Las Vegas lies another city. A secret city in plain sight, full of warlocks and demons, shapeshifters and golems. A city that feeds off the chance magick that is generated by gamblers and which is ruled by mysterious beings called the Oddsmakers.

It is in this strange underbelly of the occult that Anne Moody runs a cursed pawn shop for the desperate, the curious, and the magickally inclined. Though the job is boring, it keeps her under the radar. None of her customers have any inkling that she is a dragon sorceress with a power that's been feared throughout history. One day, a visitor to her shop pawns a stone statue that is more than it appears. The statue is a gargoyle named Vale, who is shrouded in mystery and secrets. When she learns that Vale is possessed, and that the person responsible for cursing him plans to take over Las Vegas with a horde of demons from Hell, Anne realizes it is up to her to defy the Oddsmakers and save the city, and possibly the world.

I love this series and this short was awesome. I got a bit annoyed by a few comments but I was able to ignore them in order of enjoying the story, the paranormal trouble, and the totally epic characters. I love Anne, and Melly, and Vale, and I would read any story with them to be honest. This one was awesome, and really creative.

Review: The Fifth Doll

The Fifth Doll | Charlie N. Holmberg

Published by: 47North, July 25th 2017

Genre: Fantasy

Pages: 322

Format: Ebook

Source: 47North, via Netgalley

The bestselling author of The Paper Magician Series transports readers to a darkly whimsical world where strange magic threatens a quiet village that only a courageous woman can save.

Matrona lives in an isolated village, where her life is centered on pleasing her parents. She’s diligent in her chores and has agreed to marry a man of their choosing. But a visit to Slava, the local tradesman, threatens to upend her entire life.

Entering his empty house, Matrona discovers a strange collection of painted nesting dolls—one for every villager. Fascinated, she can’t resist the urge to open the doll with her father’s face. But when her father begins acting strangely, she realizes Slava’s dolls are much more than they seem.

When he learns what she’s done, Slava seizes the opportunity to give Matrona stewardship over the dolls—whether she wants it or not. Forced to open one of her own dolls every three days, she falls deeper into the grim power of Slava’s creations. But nothing can prepare her for the profound secret hiding inside the fifth doll. 

This book has many secrets inside it. There's always a wistful, fairy-tale feel to Charlie N. Holmberg's books, and that was definitely present in the Fifth Doll. The setting is eerie and feels true to traditional Russian life, and sets it apart from other books, and I enjoyed the story. What I really liked was the characters - Matrona and Jaska were my favourites - and the dolls themselves, which somehow managed to be magical and terrifying. I would not want one of those things painted for me. One of the best things about this is the reason for the dolls existing, and for the village Matrona lives in. Without spoiling anything, there's a reason there are dolls of every single person living there, and it's actually really interesting. Even if the dollmaker is pretty unsettling and scary.

I enjoyed this book. Not my favourite ever, but still special in its own way.

Characters ★★★☆☆

Setting/world ★★★☆☆

Writing ★★★☆☆

#FreeReads - Born Of Faerie

Read if you like: fast paced urban fantasy, badass female characters, and supernatural creatures

Born of Faerie | WB McKay

Series: Stolen Magic

Genre: Urban Fantasy
Format: Ebook
Source: Free on Instafreebie

Prequel to Stolen Magic series available from author website.

Sophie Morrigan knows she needs to set the tone for her new life. Being drowned by a dragon certainly sets a tone.

A newly minted agent for the Faerie Affairs Bureau, Sophie is excited to retrieve her first magical object. Unfortunately, her boss ruins it by assigning her a partner she doesn’t need. When her first day sends her limping home with water in her lungs, she has to consider that she might be in over her head.

Can Sophie quash her loner tendencies and learn to work with an annoying selkie partner? Or will she wind up another piece of junk in a dragon’s hoard?

A great addition to the Stolen Magic series. I loved seeing the start of Sophie's and Art's partnership, and how the main threat was a water dragon instead of the usual fire-breathing kind. Fast paced and awesome and a great entry into the series if you haven't started it yet.

Review: Harley's Little Black Book

Harley's Little Black Book | Amanda Conner, Jimmy Palmiotti, John Timms, Mauricet, Joseph Lisner, Billy Tucci, Neal Adams, Simon Bisley

Published by: DC Comics, August 8th 2017

Genre: Comics, Superheroes

Pages: 256

Format: Ebook

Source: DC, via Netgalley

The fan-favorite creative team of Amanda Conner and Jimmy Palmiotti joins forces with a slew of superstar comics creators—including Neal Adams, Simon Bisley, Joseph Michael Linsner, Billy Tucci, John Timms and more—for HARLEY’S LITTLE BLACK BOOK. 

She’s the psychopathic psychotherapist with a heart of gold and a mind for mayhem. Now she’s uniting with the greatest heroes in the DC Universe in her very own team-up title. Ain’t it amazing?

With the Joker firmly in her rearview mirror, Harley Quinn has become an antihero like no other. But sometimes she runs into threats too, uhh, threatening for any one person to beat. That’s when she turns to a who’s who of the biggest, baddest, most bodacious heroes in the whole universe!

Superman. Wonder Woman. Green Lantern. Zatanna. Lobo. And…Harley Quinn???

Whoever’s tagging along, there’s one thing for sure: Wherever Harley goes, high-octane hijinks are sure to follow!

Flip through at your own risk! Collects the full six-issue miniseries. 

I honestly love these writers; they have yet to write a bad comic. I loved this whole book, start to finish. I was fangirling about Wonder Woman along with Harley. And I wanted to team up with Zatanna too! I loved Harley's little quirks and interactions with the big superheroes (I love her pinching superheroes' butts tbh.) The art in this is so good and just WORKS for Harley, and I love love loved the bombshells comic and that whole style. There's nothing I didn't like about this (not even Prick The Barbarian or whatever his name is from the last comic.) I laughed, I winced, I laughed some more. This was everything I wanted it to be and a whole lot extra on top (Harley in a Ghostbusters costume, anybody..?)

Don't miss this, seriously.

Characters ★★★★☆

Setting/world ★★★★☆

Writing ★★★★☆