A Book Obsession..

Acquainted With the Night (Early Review)

, by KT

Acquainted With the Night by Piper Maitland

The Night #1

The pages of history are written in the blood of the undead…
A woman’s quest for the truth…
A medieval icon that holds the clues…
An ancient book with the power to shake Christianity—and humanity itself…

Caroline Clifford’s bland life as a London tour guide flips upside down when her beloved uncle is brutally murdered at a Bulgarian archeological site. While traveling to recover his remains, she meets a man who corresponded with her uncle. Jude Barrett is a biochemist on a mission—to eradicate the world of vampires…

At first, Caro is dismissive of Jude’s beliefs, but she can’t ignore the signs around her—the human bites on her uncle, the strange men following her, the anguished cries after sundown. Strange anagrams on her uncle’s passport lead her and Jude to a cliff-top monastery in Greece, where a shattering revelation connects a relic Caro inherited from her parents to an age-old text on immortality—and an enigmatic prophecy that pits the forces of darkness and light in a showdown that could destroy them all…

Caro's life has become rather plain and simple since she stopped pursuing her Ph D. All that changes when her Uncle, the man who raised her was savagely murdered. In her journey to make the funeral arrangements she meets a man who was corresponding with her Uncle on a very tricky subject. Jude has some crazy ideas about vampires which Caro instantly writes off, but then she remembers some strange events that have happened in the past few days and realizes that he may just be right. They set off on a quest to find answers in an ancient text. But first they must follow the breadcrumb trail her uncle left for her in order to find it.

In Acquainted With the Night, the vampires are a combination of both science and history, making for an interesting blend. Things really were a case of past meets present as Caro and Jude were on a quest to find answers in an ancient text, all the while being chased by a man who would use them for his own horrific science project. It would have been very easy for this story to have become jumbled and confusing, but it never did. Every new revelation was presented in a very understandable way that only added to story. I really love books that have a world behind them that is fully realized and very rich, but never overtakes the main plot.

The relationship between Caro and Jude at first seemed to be incredibly rushed. Not that I am really complaining though, as they sure made for an incredibly steamy couple. However, once a shocking reveal was made all of their progress as a couple seemed to be set back to the stone age, which left me more than a little heartbroken myself. I went from be more than a little cavalier towards their relationship to feeling bereft at the sudden change. The book's ability to grab a hold of my emotions in such a way was really impressive. I always love a story that can make me become fully attached to the characters, and Acquainted With the Night sure fits that bill.

Despite its length, Acquainted With the Night read very quickly, to the point where the pages seemed to fly by. In fact there was only one small section that seemed to drag, but that could also be attributed to reader fatigue as I read it straight through. It is no small feat to be able to fully hold my interest for 500+ pages in one setting, so Piper Maitland definitely deserves some major kudos. I cannot wait to see what is in store next for Caro and Jude as a whole new can of worms was opened up at the end that can only spell trouble for them in the future.

(Received a copy from the publisher)

Rating:

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Acquainted With the Night

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Fate's Edge (Early Review)

, by KT

Fate's Edge by Ilona Andrews

The Edge #3

Audrey Callahan left behind her life in the Edge, and she's determined to stay on the straight and narrow. But when her brother gets into hot water, the former thief takes on one last heist and finds herself matching wits with a jack of all trades...

Kaldar Mar-a gambler, lawyer, thief, and spy-expects his latest assignment tracking down a stolen item to be a piece of cake, until Audrey shows up. But when the item falls into the hands of a lethal criminal, Kaldar realizes that in order to finish the job, he's going to need Audrey's help...

Audrey being a former conman, or woman that is, left that life behind her when she left her family in the Edge. Of course her plans to stay straight go out the window when her father swindles her into one last job. It was one job she never should have taken as she quickly learns. Kaldar, a man with many tricks and identities works for the Mirror in hopes of getting revenge against The Hand for the slaughter of his family. His latest assignment was to retrieve a stolen item in order to prevent a war should have been easy, but as soon as he meets Audrey, he knows it won't be the simple job he expected. He'll have to drag her into helping him even if she's kicking and screaming the entire way.

I was excited to see that Fate's Edge was centered around my favorite character from the previous book. I really loved Kaldar and was hoping to see more of him and luckily I got my wish. I also couldn't wait to get to meet the woman who would tame this ladies man, and boy let me tell you that she sure does give him a run for his money. Every small victory he won with her was fought for tooth and nail making their romance all the more meaningful. I personally hate characters who instantly fall head over heels in love. Lust sure, but love, well that takes a little more time then "Hi, how are ya?" Fate's Edge had that perfect balance of a natural progression that wasn't too quick, but also didn't tip over into frustratingly slow either. Of course I think a lot of that perfect balance had to do with the type of characters these two are. I mean, ho would have thought two grifters would have ever stood a snowball's chance, but some how you can just see how these two would work. It sure made for a very interesting dynamic between the two as they were very similar in many ways. I was rooting for them them entire time and each small victory or progress between them literally made me cheer, that's how attached I was.

My absolute favorite part of Fate's Edge was the major role that Jack and George play. I love the two of them in the first book, and couldn't wait to see more of them. They have really grown and matured, but you can still tell they are children as they still have a long road ahead of them. My heart really went out to them as they are still going through the growing pains of the change in their lives as they no longer live in the Edge. Of course the Bluebloods are rather cruel and unaccepting, which leads to a lot of fear and resentment. Speaking of that immaturity, that has a lot to do with how they became front and center in Kaldar's latest mission, but I can't say that I didn't like how things turned out. It was really nice to see the boys in their element, and I have a feeling as more time goes on they will be quite powerful, as they are already pretty skilled. Perhaps one day they will have books of their own. (I can hope, right?)

The previous installment was a little chaotic with all the addition of so many different characters and factions. A huge learning curve in a book can really lessen the enjoyment, so I was really glad to see that Fate's Edge built on that foundation rather than starting all over yet again. The main conflict centered again around The Hand, with a few twists of course. I had a feeling the Edger's triumph in the last book would have some future consequences and it turns up I was right. Also there was plenty of foreshadowing of what may come in the future to make me very eager to get my hands on the next installment. Of course there will be a wait, but as with any of this author duo's books, I'm sure it will be more than worth it in the end. Major kudos to Ilona Andrews for once again providing me with a solid block of entertainment that left me more than satisfied in the end.

(Received a copy from the publisher)

Rating:

Pre-order from Amazon:
Fate's Edge (The Edge, Book 3)

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Previous Books:

On the Edge
Bayou Moon

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Gratitude Giveaway Hop ($10 Book Depository)

, by KT

I'm participating in the Gratitude Giveaway Hop. Enter below via the Rafflecopter widget, and don't forget to check out the rest of the giveaways on the hop here.

The Forest of Hands and Teeth

, by KT

The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan

The Forest of Hands and Teeth #1

In Mary's world there are simple truths.

The Sisterhood always knows best.

The Guardians will protect and serve.

The Unconsecrated will never relent.

And you must always mind the fence that surrounds the village; the fence that protects the village from the Forest of Hands and Teeth.

But, slowly, Mary’s truths are failing her. She’s learning things she never wanted to know about the Sisterhood and its secrets, and the Guardians and their power, and about the Unconsecrated and their relentlessness. When the fence is breached and her world is thrown into chaos, she must choose between her village and her future—between the one she loves and the one who loves her. And she must face the truth about the Forest of Hands and Teeth. Could there be life outside a world surrounded in so much death?

Mary grew up knowing her life would be carefully controlled by the Sisterhood, that the Guardians would protect her, and that she would always live in fear of the Unconsecrated. Yet, she can't help but to yearn for more as her mother has raised her by telling her stories of a long ago past before there was so much death and destruction. In her quest for answers she finds terrible secrets and faces truths she never wanted to know. Things take a turn for the worst when the fence is breached and she is torn between two possible loves. As they venture looking for hope they find more death and despair then they could have ever imagined, yet they must keep on as hope is the only thing that sets them apart from the Unconsecrated.

Wow, just wow. This book went in a completely different direction than I was expecting. I found the Sisterhood's secrecy and strict ruling to be stifling, and I had expected this to be a story about rebelling against those constraints. Perhaps it would have been if things had not been turned completely upside down as the walls were breached taking everything that they knew away. The story morphs into a path of survival and heartbreak that just leaves you reeling. However, above all it is a story of hope. Hope for survival, hope for love, and above all hope for something more.

While I was utterly capivated by this story, I cannot say the same for my feelings about Mary. I understand her being a dreamer and wanting more than the semblance of life they all had in the village, because that's all it was, an imitation of living. Barely surviving might be a more accurate description. However, Mary took those dreams and turned them into an obsession, one that proved very deadly. I just found her quite undeserving of the love the two boys had for her. She carelessly throws it all away in pursuit of finding more. At one point when she feels the real pain of true loss, I had thought she might have finally been wising up a little, as she seemed to realize that love was more important than anything. Yet in the next moment she throws everything away again. Maybe she was just too scared to give herself so completely to another person, rather then just being selfish. Either way, in the end, Mary's character flaws strengthened the book rather than detract from it as she seemed more real because of them.

The Forest of Hands and Teeth starts off by slowly drawing you into the story and by the time things take off you are so far submerged every heart racing moment will leave you gasping for air. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time reading this book and all my nails are now chewed to the quick. I'm going to have to take a little break before diving into the next one so that I can truly savor it, otherwise I will just tear through it too quickly in my haste to see what happens next. Carrie Ryan is a truly amazing story teller whose words make emotion leap right off the page. I felt every single moment of terror, love, pain, and loss right along with the characters, making for a truly spellbinding read. Zombie fan or no, you won't want to miss this fantastic debut.

Rating:

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The Forest of Hands and Teeth

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Waiting on Wednesday (69)

, by KT

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:

Clockwork Prince - The Infernal Devices #2

by Cassandra Clare

Publication Date: December 6th, 2011

Amazon Pre-Order: Clockwork Prince (Infernal Devices)

In the magical underworld of Victorian London, Tessa Gray has at last found safety with the Shadowhunters. But that safety proves fleeting when rogue forces in the Clave plot to see her protector, Charlotte, replaced as head of the Institute. If Charlotte loses her position, Tessa will be out on the street and easy prey for the mysterious Magister, who wants to use Tessa's powers for his own dark ends.

With the help of the handsome, self-destructive Will and the fiercely devoted Jem, Tessa discovers that the Magister's war on the Shadowhunters is deeply personal. He blames them for a long-ago tragedy that shattered his life. To unravel the secrets of the past, the trio journeys from mist-shrouded Yorkshire to a manor house that holds untold horrors, from the slums of London to an enchanted ballroom where Tessa discovers that the truth of her parentage is more sinister than she had imagined. When they encounter a clockwork demon bearing a warning for Will, they realize that the Magister himself knows their every move and that one of their own has betrayed them.

Tessa finds her heart drawn more and more to Jem, though her longing for Will, despite his dark moods, continues to unsettle her. But something is changing in Will; the wall he has built around himself is crumbling. Could finding the Magister free Will from his secrets and give Tessa the answers about who she is and what she was born to do?

As their dangerous search for the Magister and the truth leads the friends into peril, Tessa learns that when love and lies are mixed, they can corrupt even the purest heart.

Eyes to See

, by KT

Eyes to See by Joseph Nassise

Jeremiah Hunt #1

In an urban fantasy that charts daring new territory in the field, Jeremiah Hunt has been broken by a malevolent force that has taken his young daughter and everything else of value in his life: his marriage, his career, his reputation. Desperate to reclaim what he has lost, Hunt finally turns to the supernatural for justice.

Abandoning all hope for a normal life, he enters the world of ghosts and even more dangerous entities from beyond the grave. Sacrificing his normal sight so that he can see the souls of the dead and the powers that stalk his worst nightmares, Hunt embarks upon a strange new career—a pariah among the living; a scourge among the dead; doomed to walk between the light of day and the deepest darkness beyond night.

His love for his departed daughter sustains him when all is most hopeless, but Hunt is cursed by something more evil than he can possibly imagine. As he descends into the maelstrom of his terrifying quest, he discovers that even his deepest fears are but prelude to yet darker deeds by a powerful entity from beyond the grave…that will not let him go until it has used him for its own nefarious purposes.

I really wanted to love this book. I mean the cover is great, and the description really pulled me in. However, I just couldn't get into reading it no matter how many times I tried. The concept behind it was really intriguing, but I just couldn't make a real connection with the characters, especially the narrator, Jeremiah. To be honest, I'm not even sure why I couldn't connect as I usually get very quickly attached in first person narratives. My heart broke for him in the flash back sections where they showed exactly what happened when she was taken, and then the direct aftermath. However, when things came back to present day, he just seemed cold and very remote. I understand that he had to do this in order to cope, but going from one extreme to the other, was a bit much. Jeremiah's absolute tunnel vision made for many missed opportunities in character development and just plain and simple emotion. At one point he did seem to wake up and care more about a person in the present, but unfortunately it didn't last for long, making that person become even more standoff towards him.

The thing that kept me holding on throughout Eyes to See was the really amazing world behind it all. There is a darker side of things going on that the ordinary person cannot see. Ironically Jeremiah's eyes were only opened to all this after he lost his real eyesight. However, he does have a unique way to see things that I found to be really intriguing. What started out as seeming to be a simple ghost story quickly became so much more. Even so, I think we have only really scratched the surface of what is in store. I do have to say that I think I would enjoy future books a little more than this one as there was some progress in the emotional part of things. I think this book will be more enjoyable to readers who love a story with a really rich world but don't need a really strong emotional attachment to their characters. Unfortunately, I need both, but I will still give this series a second chance when the next installment comes out.

(Received a copy from the publisher)

Rating:

Order from Amazon:
Eyes to See (The Jeremiah Hunt Chronicle)

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It's Monday! What are you reading (69)

, by KT

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 what I read this past week:

Crave by Melissa Darnell (Review)
Who Do, Voodoo? by Rochelle Staab (Review)
If I Die by Rachel Vincent (Review)
Tricks of the Trade by Laura Anne Gilman (Early Review)

Fly by posting this week :) Make sure to check out my reviews to see what I thought of each book. Also don't forget to check out my Rachel Caine Giveaway.

My Upcoming List:

Eyes to See by Joseph Nassise
The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan
Fate's Edge by Ilona Andrews (Early Review)
Acquainted With the Night by Piper Maitland (Early Review)

Tricks of the Trade (Early Review)

, by KT

Tricks of the Trade by Laura Anne Gilman

Paranormal Scene Investigations #3

WHEN MAGIC GOES WRONG, WHO ARE YOU GOING TO CALL?

The name’s Torres, Bonnie Torres, and I’m a paranormal scene investigator—rooting out the truth about crimes of magic. It’s dangerous and boring and scary and fascinating. Though not everyone in the Cosa Nostradamus is happy we’re around, which can make things…tricky.

Working two cases—looking into a murder for the NYPD, and a rich man’s break-in—should be well within our abilities. But when things start getting weird in the Electric Apple, Private Unaffiliated Paranormal Investigations is stretched to the limits, trying to keep one step ahead and out of trouble. Add in rumors
of a powerful creature gunning for us and it’s not just our rep on the line this time—if we don’t solve this case,
everyone will suffer.

Fortunately, around here, when the going gets weird, the weird hire us.…

Bonnie's still hard at work along with her fellow teammates working paranormal crime scenes to get to the root of the offense. They've slowly been able to establish some credibility, though nothing is ever easy as they are treading in untested waters. Working two cases at once shouldn't have posed a problem, but then some crazy things start happening and everything gets turned upside down. To make matters worse a faceless creature is loose in the city wreaking havoc and the team seems to be its latest target.

To be honest, Tricks of the Trade was a little overwhelming at times. There just seemed to be too much going on at once to really follow. Not only were there two cases, but there also was the Merge issue as well as another fatae mess stirring the pot. To make matters worse was that the pups kept getting switched around in their assigned jobs that it was too hard to keep track of it all. At times I found myself really frustrated to the point of losing interest. This was all with having the knowledge from the first two books on how things work. It would be almost impossible to pick the series up at this point without that foundation, and even then some of the magical aspects still baffled me. I think if one or two of the issues had been removed, the book would have been a lot more enjoyable, but as it was, things just seemed crowded.

Tricks of the Trade was every bit as much about the cases as it was the ongoing issue of the Merge between Bonnie and Ben. It is such a rare thing that they don't really know its full reaches or what to fully expect. That would be fine and good, and the mystery of it all would be quite interesting if that had been the only issue. However, both Bonnie and Ben are fighting the thing tooth and nail to the point of sheer stubbornness. He doesn't like not being in control, and she has major issues with relying on someone else. Every time they let their guard down they both relax and benefit from the connection, but in no time at all one or both panics and they are set back again. They seem to be using the poor excuse of the boss/employee taboo and its effect on the team. But to be honest I think the team would rather have them shacking up and get things back to normal versus having the pair of them on such an edge all the time. It is really starting to effect their work, and they cannot afford that. Also, the lack of progress was just general frustrating to me as a reader. At this point I just want them to either get it on already or find a way to completely sever the connection. This hanging in limbo just might drive me batty.

While I can't say that Tricks of the Trade was my favorite installment, it didn't turn me off the series. I love the dynamic between the team members and the two top dogs, as well as the very intricate world behind it all. I think with a little less chaos and some forward progression in the romance area there is plenty of promise for the future. I'll be looking forward to seeing where things lead after the ending events of Tricks of the Trade as a whole new can of worms may have opened. It should prove to be an interesting ride.

(Received a copy from Netgalley)

Rating:

Pre-order from Amazon:
Tricks of the Trade

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Rachel Caine Tour and Giveaway

, by KT

On Tuesday I went with my Mom and Sister-in-Law to see Rachel Caine. We had a blast, and I won an Amalie pin which was so exciting. In celebration I'm going to giveaway a signed copy of Ghost Town with a holographic bookmark as well as two holographic bookmarks for her latest book, Last Breath. These things are really great, and the pics just do not do them justice!

Check out the pics:

Now for the Giveaway:

If I Die

, by KT

If I Die by Rachel Vincent

Soul Screamers #5

The entire school's talking about the gorgeous new math teacher, Mr. Beck. Everyone except Kaylee Cavanaugh. After all, Kaylee's no ordinary high-school junior. She's a banshee—she screams when someone dies.

But the next scream might be for Kaylee.

Yeah—it's a shock to her, too. So to distract herself, Kaylee's going to save every girl in school. Because that hot new teacher is really an incubus who feeds on the desire of unsuspecting students. The only girls immune to his lure are Kaylee and Sabine, her boyfriend's needy ex-girlfriend. Now the unlikely allies have to get rid of Mr. Beck…before he discovers they aren't quite human, either.

But Kaylee's borrowed lifeline is nearing its end. And those who care about her will do anything to save her life.

Anything.

Kaylee knows better than most that when your time is up, there is nothing you can do to prevent it. So when she finds out her number is soon to be up, she faces it with a grim resolve. Of course everyone else has the opposite reaction as they all scramble to find a way to save her. While Kaylee is trying to keep everyone from sacrificing themselves, she's also determined to stop an incubus from preying on the young girls of her school. Before she goes, she wants to ensure everyone is safe, but that will mean swallowing her pride in order to team up with Sabine, as she is the only other one who can resist him. But even her determination may not be enough this time as the clock is ticking, and there won't be any extensions.

Most people would have gone into a downward tailspin knowing that they would very soon die, yet Kaylee doesn't. Of course she does have a few last things she wants to experience before she kicks the bucket, but that isn't her main focus. Being who she is, it shouldn't come as surprise to readers that she spends her last few days trying to ensure her loved ones will be okay without her. The biggest of tasks having to do with getting rid of the nasty incubus teacher, which requires her to team up with Sabine of all people. Surprisingly enough the two of them seem to have established a truce of sorts. (Of course that could have something to do with the fact that Kaylee won't be in Sabine's way much longer.) As time goes on, I find myself actually liking Sabine more and more. She's just determined to have Nash, as she really needs him, to the point of dependency, so I'm not sure I can be angry with her anymore. In fact, I'm leaning more towards feeling sorry for her, but shh! don't tell her that. I don't want my dreams invaded.

In the relationship department there is finally a change to the stasis and stagnancy that has been existing between Kaylee and Nash. To be honest, things were starting to drive me a little batty there. I was more than ready for change by the time it happened whether it be a real reconciliation, or a separation, just anything to ease the frustration. I'm not going to say what direction things took, only to say that I am incredibly happy. All I can say is, "Finally!" Take from that what you will :) I know I'm being a little cryptic, but trust me you want to read this book and experience it untainted.

Once again Rachel Vincent proves just how good she is at shaking things up, and leaving her books quite unpredictable. I never know which direction things will take, and each installment leaves me on the edge of my seat from cover to cover. I'm always trying to anticipate the next shocker, but they still wind up catching me off guard, which only makes things more entertaining in the end. Of course there was one shocker towards the end, that made me want to throw my book across the room. Luckily I held onto it and saw how things worked out, because the alternative was unimaginable. What should have been the end of things, turned out to be a new beginning of sorts, with a very unknown path ahead. Things will be rocky, and shaky at first, but I think everything turned out as it should have. I just can't wait to see the aftermath.

Rating: