It’s Monday What Are You Reading (93)

, by Kt Clapsadl


It's Monday! What Are You Reading, is hosted by Book Journey, is where we gather to share what we have read this past week and what we plan to read this week. It is a great way to network with other bloggers, see some wonderful blogs, and put new titles on your reading list.






Here's my posts from the last week:





The Impossible Cube by Steven Harper (Early Review)
Silence by Michelle Sagara (Early Review)
Black Dawn by Rachel Caine (Early Review)

This week was filled with yummy early copies of books. I just love those weeks :)
The Impossible Cube is the 2nd installment in the Clockwork Empire series. This series is perfect for people wanting to try out the Steampunk genre. It isn’t overly complicated with the “tech” like some of these types of books are.

Silence was really enjoyable, and quite unique. I just wish a little bit more would have been revealed, but I’ll just have to have patience.

Black Dawn.. Yeah I did a crazy happy dance when this book showed up on my doorstep. I cannot begin to squee over how much I love this series. Make sure to check out my 12 Days of Morganville Giveaway post!

In non-book related news:
I’m seriously considering taking the plunge to move over to Wordpress. It’s going to take some research to figure out how to transfer over my images and design. I had taken a free template I found on the web, and completely revamped  with photoshop it to make it my own. I have a moderate understanding of html, and it took a lot of trial and error to make everything work how I wanted. I’ve debated over paying someone to make a whole new layout for me, but I’ve come to love my design. Besides, I just got business cards printed with this design. So I don’t really want to change it. Perhaps the thing to do would be find a layout designer that would be willing to just do the coding rather than the whole. In the meantime, I think I’m going to start shifting my main giveaway entries away from GFC, and focus more on RSS/Linky. *Shrugs*

My Upcoming List:

Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi
Siren by Tricia Rayburn
The Hunt by Andrew Fukuda (Early Review)

Come on Blogger!!

, by Kt Clapsadl

So I'm sure many of you have noticed that the scheduling function on Blogger hasn't been working properly for over a week now. Honestly, I am at my wits end. They said they rolled out a fix for it. Nope still doesn't work. Then I read around and people were saying it was working on newly written posts, but not the old scheduled ones. So you know what I did? I copy and pasted each individual post I had written into a new post. (Considering, I am mostly scheduled out through the entire month of May, this took me a good long while.) So I figured everything would be fixed. So when I got up this morning and saw that my review of Black Dawn had not posted as scheduled, the words coming out of my mouth were not the prettiest. So I'm writing this post now, and scheduling it for a few minutes later to see what happens.

I have to tell you, Wordpress is looking more and more attractive. Honestly if GFC still worked over there I would have switched a long time ago.

What are your thoughts on this issue? Is it as big of a problem to you guys as it is me, since I rely on that scheduling feature so much, or are you more of a pantser when it comes to posting?

*UPDATE: Okay tell me something, why does this scheduled post work, but not others? I'm about ready to tear out my hair!!!

*UPDATE 4/30: Scheduling is still not working, not even on newly written posts :( 

Early Review: Black Dawn by Rachel Caine

, by Kt Clapsadl

Black Dawn by Rachel Caine
Morganville Vampires #12
 

 The hotly-anticipated twelfth instalment in the Morganville Vampires series

In Last Breath, the rain brought a new and dire threat to Morganville and its vampires... their ancient enemies, the draug. Now, the vampires are fighting a losing war, and it will fall to the residents of the Glass House: Michael, Eve, Shane and Claire, to take the fight to an enemy who threatens to destroy the town, forever.

Lovers of Morganville, rejoice: Black Dawn takes the intrigue, romance and nail-biting suspense of the series to its highest level yet!




With the rain came the draug and their destruction, bringing Morganville to the brink of annihilation. Holding on only by the sheer determination of their will to survive, the remaining vampires and humans alike must band together to find a way to destroy the draug once and for all. It's time for the final stand, with the winner taking all.

It is amazing how much the characters have grown from the start of this series. Eve's learned to trust in others and open her heart, as well as thinking more before she acts. Shane's let go of a lot of his anger, although he will always be a fighter, but that isn't necessarily a bad thing considering what they continually have to face. Michael's path is much slower as he tries to accept what he has become, and yet still hold onto his humanity. He had a major setback at the end of Last Breath, which was a large issue for both him and Eve in this installment. However, I think once he can put it behind him, he will finally be able to make peace with himself. But above all, Claire has probably grown the most, even if she doesn't see it for herself. She really is the glue that holds them all together, and as Michael states, they wouldn't have survived without her. She's always been incredibly strong, but she lacked the confidence to back it up. Now, despite her fears, Claire never once backs down from standing up to fight when needed, and no one, vampire or otherwise can ever really hold her back.

With each new book that brings us closer to the end of the Morganville Series, I can't help wondering how in the world Rachel Caine will tie everything up with a HEA. After finishing Black Dawn, I'm more baffled than ever as I just don't see the vampires relenting any power now. Not after losing so many of their own to the Draug. In fact even before the final conflict was over, I was already looking to the future and what the ending events would mean for the humans in Morganville. To be honest, I have a feeling things will be worse than ever for Claire and company in the next installment. You would think the vampires would be at least a little grateful for their vital assistance throughout their darkest hour, but I guess that is a human sentiment. I should really stop trying to humanize them in my mind and just accept that they play by a completely different set of rules.

Ever since finishing Last Breath, I have been waiting rather impatiently for this installment. I knew it would be an incredibly hard act to follow as it took a well established series and completely changed the game. While I can't say that Black Dawn had quite the same level of shock and wow factor that Last Breath instilled, due to the Draug already being revealed, I was still utterly enthralled from start to finish. Rachel Caine hasn't once let me down in this series, as each installment only gets better as the stakes get higher. Full of danger, raw emotion, and heart pounding action, Black Dawn can't possibly disappoint!

(Received a copy from the publisher)

Rating:






Pre-order links:



Other Reviews:
Previous Books
  1. Glass Houses
  2. Dead Girls Dance
  3. Midnight Alley
  4. Feast of Fools
  5. Lord of Misrule
  6. Carpe Corpus
  7. Fade Out
  8. Kiss of Death
  9. Ghost Town
  10. Bite Club 
  11. Last Breath

Early Review: Silence by Michelle Sagara

, by Kt Clapsadl

Silence by Michelle Sagara
The Queen of the Dead #1



It began in the graveyard. Ever since her boyfriend Nathan died in a tragic accident Emma had been coming to the graveyard at night. During the day she went through the motions at her prep school, in class, with her friends, but that’s all it was. But tonight was different. Tonight Emma and her dog were not alone in the cemetery. There were two others there—Eric, who had just started at her school, and an ancient woman who looked as though she were made of rags. And when they saw Emma there, the old woman reached out to her with a grip as chilling as death….




Emma's life is only a shell of what it once was due to the grief that is completely consuming her at the loss of the love of her life, Ethan. She may say and do all the right things, but she's really just going through the motions during the day. Her nights are spent in the graveyard so she can be alone in her grief. But one night, the graveyard didn't offer the normal solitude, but a terrifying event that changed her life forever.

I really enjoyed the characters in Silence. Each and every one no matter how large or small of a role felt fully fleshed out to the point where they just felt real. It really made it easy to get into the characters and sympathize along with them throughout the entire book. Although I do have to say that Emma was by far my favorite character. She just had so much thrown at her in such a short time, yet she handles it all with incredible grace. Seriously she is like a still lake when in the same situation I would have long been thrown overboard for my hysterics. Even when she was faced with the high probability of her imminent demise (numerous times) she never once falters from her determination to do the right thing. She would rather sacrifice herself, than allow the obstacle to stand in her way. Seriously, she is an incredibly admirable character, and I can't wait to see her in future installments.

As much as I enjoyed Silence, I found it to be incredibly frustrating as well. Granted, a lot of that frustration comes from my impatience with the world building necessary with any new series. I just want to know what is going on, and slow reveals can be killer. Even so, I have learned to mostly accept that's just they way a first book is going to be. However, what will really drive me nuts if by the end of that first book, we still don't know something major, as in something integral to the plot or main character. To keep from spoiling things too much, I'll be a little vague in talking about Silence. (Although the cover flap is rather spoilery, so be warned if you don't like that kind of thing.) When a main character goes through a major change or suddenly develops powers, I expect some sort of explanation for the sudden onset, but in Silence those questions were never answered. I just wanted to know why Emma started to develop the abilities she did, but unfortunately other than finding what she was supposed to be, there wasn't any real information. To make matters worse, she didn't really fit into the mold of what they thought she was, in fact she's completely different. I'm sure the reasons for those differences will be further revealed as the trilogy progresses, but I still want to know what caused everything in the first place, so hopefully that will be forthcoming soon.

I think the biggest proof of a really good book is when you are already thinking about the next installment before you even finish reading, and even once you do finish, it just sticks with you for a long time afterwards. Even if I hadn't already been completely engrossed, the ending events of Silence would have claimed me hook, line, and sinker, so now I'm completely desperate to get my hands on the next installment. Silence is a book you just won't want to miss! Its amazing characters and refreshing premise promise a solid block of entertainment that I highly recommend. Bravo!

(Received a copy from the publisher)
 
Rating:





Pre-order links:



Other Reviews:

Waiting on Wednesday (92)

, by Kt Clapsadl



Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights an upcoming release we are greatly anticipating.

My pick this week:

Insurgent - Divergent #2
by Veronica Roth
Publication Date: May 1st, 2012
Amazon Pre-Order: Insurgent (Divergent)

One choice can transform you—or it can destroy you. But every choice has consequences, and as unrest surges in the factions all around her, Tris Prior must continue trying to save those she loves—and herself—while grappling with haunting questions of grief and forgiveness, identity and loyalty, politics and love.

Tris's initiation day should have been marked by celebration and victory with her chosen faction; instead, the day ended with unspeakable horrors. War now looms as conflict between the factions and their ideologies grows. And in times of war, sides must be chosen, secrets will emerge, and choices will become even more irrevocable—and even more powerful. Transformed by her own decisions but also by haunting grief and guilt, radical new discoveries, and shifting relationships, Tris must fully embrace her Divergence, even if she does not know what she may lose by doing so.

New York Times bestselling author Veronica Roth's much-anticipated second book of the dystopian Divergent series is another intoxicating thrill ride of a story, rich with hallmark twists, heartbreaks, romance, and powerful insights about human nature.

Early Review: The Impossible Cube by Steven Harper

, by Kt Clapsadl

The Impossible Cube by Steven Harper 
The Clockwork Empire #2

In an age where fantastic inventions of steam and brass have elevated Britain and China into mighty empires, Alice Michaels faces a future of technological terrors…

Once, Gavin Ennock sailed the skies on airships and enchanted listeners with his fiddle music. Now, the clockwork plague consumes his intellect, enabling him to conceive and construct scientific wonders—while driving him quite mad. Distressed by her beloved’s unfortunate condition, Alice Michaels sought a cure rumored to be inside the Doomsday Vault—and brought the wrath of the British Empire down on them.

Declared enemies of the Crown, Alice and Gavin have little choice but to flee to China in search of a cure. Accompanying them is Dr. Clef, a mad genius driven to find the greatest and most destructive force the world has ever seen: The Impossible Cube. If Dr. Clef gets his hands on it, the entire universe will face extinction.

And Gavin holds the key to its recreation…

Releasing the cure for the clockwork plague was only the beginning despite all the sacrifices made to achieve that goal. Now Alice and Gavin must do everything they can to help it spread as quick as possible to ensure China does not get the upper hand in their quest to dominate the world. Meanwhile, members of the Ward want vengeance for their theft of the cure, and will relentlessly pursue them to the ends of the earth. But incrimination and world domination are the least of their concerns as Gavin contracted the only type of the plague that cannot be cured. He is a clockworker capable of incredible moments of intriguing and invention, but that comes at a cost as he is quickly burning through his brain and soon nothing will be left. It's a race against time to find a cure, and the clock is quickly running out for these two love birds.

One of the biggest reasons I typically have issues with steampunk novels is because of all the complex descriptions and devices that are involved. A lot of the time it just takes too much work to follow the story, and quite frankly it just is a little too sci-fi in the past for my tastes. Well, at least that has been my experience with the genre, albeit limited, so far. However, The Doomsday Vault was incredibly impressive in that the story or descriptions were never once hard to follow. That's not to say that the story wasn't an "authentic" steampunk with the requisite impressively complex gadgets. It's just that Steven Harper seemed to have this magical way of taking this crazy awesome complex idea and describing it in a way that anyone could follow it. In fact, he has painted the steampunk genre in a whole new light for me, to the point where I think I might start taking a second look at other books. Who knows, perhaps The Clockwork Empire series will turn out to be the "gateway books" that opens up my book genre preferences even further.

I've always wondered why a lot of TV shows will have a recap at the beginning of the show, yet books don't. I mean come on, the gap between TV episodes is usually only about a week, where books can be a year or more. So, whenever, I am about to start a book in a series, I try to go back and read the last chapter or two of the previous installment to help myself remember what happened previously. (Which can be difficult if the book was originally borrowed from the library.) This just helps me to get into the book much faster. Otherwise, I spend the first two chapters trying to remember who was who, which makes it take so much longer to get engrossed in the book. However, due to The Impossible Cube's awesomeness, I didn't have to follow this usual routine. Since it had the recap at the beginning, I was able to dive right in without the typical re-learning curve. It just really impressed me, and definitely made my reading experience much better as everything. Hopefully more books will start doing this to become the standard trend.

This series has really grabbed a hold of me to the point where I'm desperate to find out what happens next. The characters and their plight are so easy to become invested in, and I found myself rooting for them every step of the way. So I cannot recommend the books in The Clockwork Empire series, especially The Impossible Cube any higher. Whether you are a fan of Steampunk or not, these books promise to be an exhilarating roller coaster ride from start to finish that you won't want to miss!

(Received a copy from the publisher)

Rating:





Pre-order a copy from Amazon:
The Impossible Cube: A Novel of the Clockwork Empire

Other Reviews:
Previous Books:
  1. The Doomsday Vault

It's Monday What Are You Reading (92)

, by Kt Clapsadl






It's Monday! What Are You Reading, hosted by Book Journey, is where we gather to share what we have read this past week and what we plan to read this week. It is a great way to network with other bloggers, see some wonderful blogs, and put new titles on your reading list.






Here's my posts from the last week:





Under Attack by Hannah Jayne (Review)
Under Suspicion by Hannah Jayne (Early Review)
Storm by Brigid Kemmerer (Early Review)

I'm also helping to celebrate the 12 Days of Morganville Madness with a giveaway. I absolutely love this series, so make sure to check it out!

My Upcoming List:

The Impossible Cube by Steven Harper (Early Review
Silence by Michelle Sangara (Early Review)
Black Dawn by Rachel Caine (Early Review)

12 Days of Morganville Madness Tour

, by Kt Clapsadl

To Celebrate the release of the the 12th Morganville installment, Rachel Caine is doing a fantastic blog tour. The best thing about this tour is that at each stop, the previous installments will be featured (including a giveaway of that book) one by one leading up to Black Dawn's release. I was lucky enough to have received an early copy, and let me tell you that you won't want to miss it!

To help promote the tour, I have a giveaway up for grabs, so make sure you enter below the tour details.

Tour Schedule:

April 20th: GLASS HOUSES (Book 1) 

April 21: THE DEAD GIRLS DANCE (Book 2) 

April 22: MIDNIGHT ALLEY (Book 3) 

April 23: FEAST OF FOOLS (Book 4) 

April 24: LORD OF MISRULE (Book 5) 

April 25: CARPE CORPUS (Book 6) 

April 26: FADE OUT (Book 7)

April 27: KISS OF DEATH (Book 8)

April 28: GHOST TOWN (Book 9)

April 29: BITE CLUB (Book 10) 

April 30: LAST BREATH (Book 11) 

MAY 1: BLACK DAWN (Book 12, NEW!) 
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Early Review: Storm by Brigid Kemmerer

, by Kt Clapsadl

Storm by Brigid Kemmerer 
Elemental #1 

Earth, Fire, Air, Water – they have more power than you dream.

Ever since her ex-boyfriend spread those lies about her, Becca Chandler is suddenly getting all the guys—all the ones she doesn't want. Then she saves Chris Merrick from a beating in the school parking lot. Chris is different. Way different: he can control water—just like his brothers can control fire, wind, and earth. They’re powerful. Dangerous. Marked for death.

And now that she knows the truth, so is Becca.

Secrets are hard to keep when your life’s at stake. When Hunter, the mysterious new kid around school, turns up with a talent for being in the wrong place at the right time, Becca thinks she can trust him. But then Hunter goes head-to-head with Chris, and Becca wonders who’s hiding the most dangerous truth of all.

The storm is coming . . .

Chris Merrick and his brothers have been trying to get by each day without losing control of their powers. Each one is tied to one of the four elements, Fire, Earth, Air, and Water. The rest of the community fears them, and they live on a razor edge's balance. The tide changes when Becca saves Chris from certain death. A slippery slope of events begin that mark the brothers for death, and Becca right along with them. Then a new kid shows up to school and Becca finds herself drawn to him, knowing that she must keep her secrets from him or she may just push Chris over the edge. A loss of control is the last thing any of them can afford, not with the rising storm coming.

By far the best thing about Storm was the Merrick Brothers themselves. They are such a tight knit group, and yet there is such tension between them. Storm focused more on Chris, the youngest sibling, who has this sense of loneliness about him. The twins have that bond that all twins seem to have, almost being one unit despite their extreme differences. And Michael, being the oldest, has to bear most of the burden of responsibility and safety for the others since he is their legal guardian. Based on some things Chris said, he and Michael used to be a lot closer, but with tragedy comes inevitable change. That doesn't make it any easier, and in fact Chris is quite bitter about their lot, and at the beginning of Storm, we can see that he has just about hit his breaking point. He lets Gabriel, the more hotheaded of the twins talk him into some activities that revolve around payback. Of course, this only causes more tension between him and Michael, which in turn only furthers the problem. My heart really went out to these brothers as all they really want to do is live their lives in peace.

Most of the time I prefer books to be written in first person perspective from one character, however Storm would not have been half as good if we had not been able to see both Chris and Becca's side of things. It almost felt as if I as the reader had inside knowledge, and I thoroughly enjoyed watching the secrets unfurl. Everything about Storm felt fresh and original, yet somehow so familiar at the same time. There were times where the mythology behind it all reminded me of a coven of witches, due to the structures of power and deals between the factions. Yet they really had nothing to do with magic, but more of an innate connection to a specific element. Either way, I was fully captivated from start to finish, and I cannot wait to get my hands on the next installment.

On a slightly side note, there will be an ebook prequel titled Elemental releasing prior to Storm's drop date. Lucky for me, it was included in my ARC copy of Storm. While reading Storm, Michael's character frustrated me. I realize that he was placed in a tough situation by having to be responsible for his brothers and also worrying about keeping the fragile peace between them and the rest of the community. However, after reading Elemental and seeing the closer look into Michael's past, I now better understand the burden of guilt he carries, which by all right should have consumed him by now if not for his brothers. Even though I'm not really one for buying short stories like Elemental, in this case I feel it is more than worth the purchase as it really adds to the overall story. In fact, I really would love to see a full length book centered around him as there is so much more than then meets the eye.

As much as I loved Storm, I wish the ending would have been developed a little more as it seemed rather abrupt, especially considering the next book looks like it is going to shift the main focus to Gabriel. Don't get me wrong, there really wasn't a cliffhanger, but it did give me a sense of being cut off mid sentence. Hopefully the next installment will build onto the things that happened with Becca and Chris rather than completely dropping them for Gabriel's part, but only time will tell. I would highly recommend Storm to anyone who enjoys a fresh and original story that will suck you in from the very start. Trust me, you won't want to miss Storm and the yummy Merrick brothers! Oh yeah, and Becca was pretty cool too. ;)

(Also, there was a touchy issue involving an attempted gang rape in this book that I wasn't sure how to approach in my review, so I decided to forgo it mostly. To be honest I'm a little surprised such a topic was included in a YA novel. I really loved Storm, but didn't care for how this event was handled, so I tried my best to ignore it. As I'm not really sure what to say about this issue, please check out All Things Urban Fantasy's Review to see Abigail's thoughts.)

(Received a copy from the publisher)

Rating:





Pre-order a copy from Amazon:
Storm (Elemental)

Other Reviews:

Early Review: Under Suspicion by Hannah Jayne

, by Kt Clapsadl

Under Suspicion by Hannah Jayne 
Underworld Detection Agency #3

She’s the new head of the Underworld Detection Agency’s strangest division. What a nightmare…

Being a human immune to magic helped Sophie Lawson get promoted. It’s also made her a major, very reluctant player in a game that stretches beyond even the Underworld. Having handsome buttoned-down Englishman Will as her new guardian is one tempting blessing, especially since sexy fallen angel Alex is mysteriously MIA lately. But as a frightening number of demons start disappearing around the city, Sophie suspects that an Armageddon-level prophecy is about to become everyone’s nightmare. And her investigation is testing her bravery — and Will’s unexpected vulnerability — in ways neither could predict. Now Sophie and Will are fast running out of time as an unstoppable evil prepares to lay waste to demons and humans alike…


Sophie not only got her job back at the Underworld Detection Agency, but a promotion to head of the fallen angel division. So life is looking up, at least  until her clients start disappearing that is. Sophie instantly suspects that there is some nefarious plot going on despite everyone else having doubts. Regardless, she is determined to get to the bottom of things, and lucky for her she has an oh so yummy guardian to help protect her while she sticks her nose into trouble. Things start heating up between the two much to Alex's dismay, but his absentee behavior has just about met Sophie's breaking point. Relationship woes aside, Sophie may have bitten off more than she can chew in her investigation as a powerful force seems determined to annihilate anything and everything demonic, and Sophie may have very well placed herself right in the cross hairs. 

A love triangle forms in Under Suspicion, and I'm not really happy about it. It isn't that I have a problem with love triangles, in fact ones where either choice is equally appealing can make for a great read. However, in this case, the two of the men cannot be described as anything near equal in terms of deserving Sophie. Granted I did get my wish that some sparks would start between Will and Sophie, but I had intended for Alex to be then completely pushed out of the picture. Unfortunately, that just didn't happen and it really frustrated me. I just don't understand what Sophie sees in Alex. All he does is string her along, and it just isn't right. On the other hand, Will has been nothing but supportive of her and while he does chuckle at her antics, he never once patronized her unlike Alex does. Hopefully she will wise up quickly, but I have a bad feeling that none of this will end well, and poor Will will probably end up being hurt the most. 

Sophie's rash and crazy behavior continues in Under Suspicion, making for another hilarious read. However, I've noticed that her friends (Will being mostly the exception) are becoming more and more patronizing and rather condescending as time goes on. It just infuriates me how they treat her considering just how much she has been through lately. Yes, her methods may be a little unorthodox and almost insane at times, but she gets the job done. She doesn't let anyone or anything hold her back from doing the right thing, nor does she ignore any problem just because it would be easier. No one else can say the same, all they see is a quirky and ditzy red-head, but she is so much more than that.

Once again, there is a slight disconnect between the look of the cover and the actual content of the book. Even so, this one is definitely a step in the right direction compared to the last one. As far as the story itself, despite my frustrations with some of the characters behavior, I'm still really enjoying this series. Sophie is just so very different from the hard case heroines typical in the urban fantasy genre, and it definitely makes for an enjoyable read. In fact for anyone who is a little jaded with the similarities in the genre, The Underworld Detection Agency series may just be the breath of fresh air they need. As for me, well I can't wait to see what happens next!

(Received a copy from the publisher)

Rating:






Pre-order a copy from Amazon:
Under Suspicion (The Underworld Detection Agency Chronicles)

Other Reviews:
     Miss Vain's Paranormal Fantasy
     Dark Faerie's Tales
     Seeing Night Book Reviews

Previous Books:
     1. Under Wraps
     2. Under Attack


Waiting on Wednesday (91)

, by Kt Clapsadl



Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights an upcoming release we are greatly anticipating.

My pick this week:

Deadlocked - Sookie Stackhouse #12
by Charlaine Harris
Publication Date: May 1st, 2012
Amazon Pre-Order: Deadlocked (Sookie Stackhouse, Book 12)

The hotly-anticipated twelfth instalment in the Morganville Vampires series.

With Felipe de Castro, the Vampire King of Louisiana (and Arkansas and Nevada), in town, it’s the worst possible time for a body to show up in Eric Northman’s front yard—especially the body of a woman whose blood he just drank.

Now, it’s up to Sookie and Bill, the official Area Five investigator, to solve the murder. Sookie thinks that, at least this time, the dead girl’s fate has nothing to do with her. But she is wrong. She has an enemy, one far more devious than she would ever suspect, who’s out to make Sookie’s world come crashing down.

Review: Under Attack by Hannah Jayne

, by Kt Clapsadl

Under Attack by Hannah Jayne 
Underworld Detection Agency #2


She’s one of the Underworld Detection Agency’s best. But her job is really starting to bite …

Sophie Lawson is a human immune to magic, which comes in handy for helping paranormal beings transition into everyday life. But fallen angel Alex Grace and his search for the Vessel of Souls is one curse she never saw coming. Suddenly an unexplainable string of killings and destruction has even San Francisco’s demons fearing for their immortal lives. And Sophie isn’t about to trust Alex’s all-too-vulnerable charm or his secret agenda. Now their hunt is revealing dangerous secrets about Sophie’s past, and a malevolent power hellishly close to turning one irreverent human into the ultimate supernatural weapon… 



Sophie may be invulnerable to magic, which is essential to surviving her job at the Underworld Detection Agency as the only breather (human), but that also means she doesn't have any powers of her own either. Considering the trouble she keeps finding herself in, any little bit would help. Her latest mess involves Alex's unrelenting quest to find the Vessel of Souls. Sophie isn't sure whether she can trust him, especially as hidden secrets are revealed about her past. Even so, she still finds herself completely drawn to him despite her better judgement. She'll have to decide whether to follow her head or her heart as much more is at stake than she ever realized.

I loved the dynamic between Sophie and Nina in the previous installment. However, in Under Attack things really aren't the same. Well, I guess that isn't completely true as in the beginning they were still a crazy duo. However, once the new management walks in, Nina loses all high functions and turns into a drooling mess as she moons over the head boss. We are talking lust of epic proportions to the point where she loses all higher function. From that point on, she really got on my nerves, and I just wanted to smack some sense into her. So, by the point where she royally betrays Sophie, I was completely fed up with her. Then considering how fast Sophie's initial anger faded into forgiveness, I just about washed my hands of the pair of them.

I'm not one to give up on the objects of affection for the narrators of the story, but at this point I am quickly losing interest in Alex. I mean he has made it clear that all he wants is to return to heaven, but then two seconds later he is mooning over her and telling her how he doesn't know what he would do if anything happened to her. Also, the guy keeps disappearing for long stretches of time and expects her to just jump right back into things. (Which of course she does to my never ending frustration.) I guess I'm just not sure what she sees in him. So here's to hoping she moves on soon especially since we are introduced into a new and very yummy character in Under Attack who shows a lot of potential. I guess only time will tell. 

If I thought the last cover didn't fit the story, well this cover is ten times worse. Sophie would not be caught dead in that outfit, and she's more likely to tase herself than use one of those weapons on someone else. I mean come on what were they thinking? Sigh. Anyway, getting back to the actual story, while I didn't enjoy Under Attack as much as the previous installment, it still was a decent addition to the series. Regardless of my issues, Sophie's quirky and rather hilarious behavior more than carry the story, even if she is criminally naive at times as that only makes things even more amusing. So, don't let my frustrations scare you away from this installment, as if you enjoyed the first installment, you won't want to miss Under Attack and a huge dose of hilarity.

Rating:






Order a copy from Amazon;
Under Attack (Underworld Detective Agency)

Other Reviews:
     Paranormal Haven
     EbookObsessed
     All Things Urban Fantasy

Previous Books:
     1. Under Wraps


It's Monday What Are You Reading (91)

, by Kt Clapsadl






It's Monday! What Are You Reading, hosted by Book Journey, is where we gather to share what we have read this past week and what we plan to read this week. It is a great way to network with other bloggers, see some wonderful blogs, and put new titles on your reading list.






Here's my posts from the last week:





My Soul to Keep by Rachel Vincent (Re-Read Review)
Under Wraps by Hannah Jayne (Review)
The Prophet by Amanda Stevens (Early Review)

Tada!!

My Upcoming List:

Under Attack by Hannah Jayne
Under Suspicion by Hannah Jayne (Early Review)
Storm by Brigid Kemmerer (Early Review)
Amazon Reviews Subscribe to RSS Facebook Friend me on Goodreads Email me