Stacking the Shelves (10)
Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga’s Reviews
Here's the books that we have received in the last two weeks:
For Review:
Thank You Penguin, Little Brown, Kensington, Signet Select, & Brava!!
Bought:
Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga’s Reviews
Here's the books that we have received in the last two weeks:
For Review:
Thank You Penguin, Little Brown, Kensington, Signet Select, & Brava!!
Bought:
Early Review: Silver by Talia Vance
Silver by Talia Vance
Bandia #1
An Irish heritage, Celtic myth, and deadly beauty
In eighth grade, Brianna did something so dreadful she was suspended and homeschooled. No one could explain what happened that night . . . except Brianna's Irish grandmother, who gave her a silver charm bracelet and told her to wear it until she turned seventeen. Ever since she slipped it on, Brianna has felt like she's invisible. People stare right past her as if she doesn't exist. And that includes Blake Williams, the one boy she can't resist.
But everything changes in one frozen, silver moment when Blake sees her--and recognizes what she's been hiding. Brianna is descended from Danu, the legendary Bandia of Celtic myth. Yet before she can fully understand who or what she is, Brianna accidentally binds her soul to Blake--whose tribe has spent the last thousand years hunting Danu's descendants to protect humanity.
In eighth grade, Brianna did something so dreadful she was suspended and homeschooled. No one could explain what happened that night . . . except Brianna's Irish grandmother, who gave her a silver charm bracelet and told her to wear it until she turned seventeen. Ever since she slipped it on, Brianna has felt like she's invisible. People stare right past her as if she doesn't exist. And that includes Blake Williams, the one boy she can't resist.
But everything changes in one frozen, silver moment when Blake sees her--and recognizes what she's been hiding. Brianna is descended from Danu, the legendary Bandia of Celtic myth. Yet before she can fully understand who or what she is, Brianna accidentally binds her soul to Blake--whose tribe has spent the last thousand years hunting Danu's descendants to protect humanity.
Years ago Brianna did something terrible, and Brianna had to be homeschooled after being suspended. Despite her constant questions, no one would tell her what really happened, other than that she must wear a silver bracelet and never take it off until she turns seventeen. Ever since that day, she has been invisible with people unable to really notice her, including the one boy she wishes would. Then one day, when her bracelet slips off, her wish comes true and Blake not only notices her, but realizes what she really is, a descendant of Danu, and his ancient enemy. Now everything is changing and Brianna almost wishes for the time when she was invisible, especially as she becomes further entangled with Blake when she accidentally ties their souls together and becomes his tribe's prime target.
I'm a huge fan of the Celtic mythology in Silver. Granted a lot of my love for it could possibly stem from the star-crossed lovers aspect, as I am always a sucker for that type of thing, but even when you put that aside the rest more than holds its own. The descendants of those ancient gods and goddesses, known as demi-gods/goddesses are still locked in an epic struggle as one side seeks to completely eradicate the other. The powers and strengths each side held were rather amazing enough so that it almost became hard to believe they were able to hide who they were from others. I especially liked the 7th generation rule as it helped to keep things balanced. Although, Blake's side has found a way to "cheat" so perhaps balance isn't exactly accurate, but more of a limit on an otherwise seemingly unlimited power, something I feel is very important in any story. I hate it when the characters' abilities have no bounds in a book as it keeps things from feeling realistic, so I was happy to see that basis for control in Silver.
I absolutely love the enthralling nature of the romance in Silver as it really kept me on my toes. Brianna and Blake went through so many transitions in their feelings for one another, both forward and backward that my head was spinning. Starting out, Blake is the secret crush to Brianna, one that is all consuming. Then he notices her and BAM, she falls head over heels because of it. Wrong! Despite her borderline obsession, Brianna mostly keeps her head about the whole thing, and is actually rather suspicious of the whole thing. Even so, their connection moves from pure lust to something much stronger and rather unnameable. Then of course bad events ensue, and there becomes a stark mistrust between them despite the heavy connection. There just was something magical about it all, and I really loved that it didn't follow any cookie cutter molds.
This book was rather unique and quite different. In all honesty I had no idea what was going on for most of the book. Usually this would have become frustrating and turned me off from the book, however there was just something so magical about the writing that I stayed hopelessly enthralled despite my confusion. All of the twisted and tangled plot threads were weaved together in an almost magical way that I didn't quite realize how lost I was until it was all said and done. In all honesty, that made rating this book incredibly hard for me as while I was sucked in the entire book, I still think there was room for things to have been made a little more clear making me instinctively want to lower my rating. However, since the rest of the elements, including the characters, and the mythology were well above par I think it overshadows that confusion enough to overlook it. I look forward to the next installment, and I would recommend Silver to anyone who wants a rather unique read in the paranormal ya genre.
(Received a copy from the publisher via Netgalley)
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Early Review: Unspoken by Sarah Rees Brennan
Unspoken by Sarah Rees Brennan
The Lynburn Legacy #1
Kami Glass loves someone
she’s never met . . . a boy she’s talked to in her head ever since she
was born. She wasn’t silent about her imaginary friend during her
childhood, and is thus a bit of an outsider in her sleepy English town
of Sorry-in-the-Vale. Still, Kami hasn’t suffered too much from not
fitting in. She has a best friend, runs the school newspaper, and is
only occasionally caught talking to herself. Her life is in order, just
the way she likes it, despite the voice in her head.
But all that changes when the Lynburns return.
The Lynburn family has owned the spectacular and sinister manor that overlooks Sorry-in-the-Vale for centuries. The mysterious twin sisters who abandoned their ancestral home a generation ago are back, along with their teenage sons, Jared and Ash, one of whom is eerily familiar to Kami. Kami is not one to shy away from the unknown—in fact, she’s determined to find answers for all the questions Sorry-in-the-Vale is suddenly posing. Who is responsible for the bloody deeds in the depths of the woods? What is her own mother hiding? And now that her imaginary friend has become a real boy, does she still love him? Does she hate him? Can she trust him?
But all that changes when the Lynburns return.
The Lynburn family has owned the spectacular and sinister manor that overlooks Sorry-in-the-Vale for centuries. The mysterious twin sisters who abandoned their ancestral home a generation ago are back, along with their teenage sons, Jared and Ash, one of whom is eerily familiar to Kami. Kami is not one to shy away from the unknown—in fact, she’s determined to find answers for all the questions Sorry-in-the-Vale is suddenly posing. Who is responsible for the bloody deeds in the depths of the woods? What is her own mother hiding? And now that her imaginary friend has become a real boy, does she still love him? Does she hate him? Can she trust him?
For as long as she can remember, Kami Glass has had a constant companion in her head, a boy named Jared. To everyone else, he's just an imaginary friend she should have long grown out of, but to her he's much more and that has made her a bit of an outcast. Still, she's pretty happy with her life, and enjoys running the school newspaper along side her best friend. But then her world gets turned upside down when the long absent Lynburn family returns to her little town. Everyone is up in arms about the acts of violence occurring around the town, and they blame the Lynburns. But Kami is pannicking for an entirely different reason. It turns out that Jared wasn't imaginary, but completely real. How do you cope with finding yourself with a complete stranger that knows your every secret and thought, especially one who everyone keeps warning you away from? Kami will have to decide how she feels and fast, because as the bodies start to fall she'll need to know who to trust.
Kami is such an amazing character. Quirky and unique cannot even begin to describe this girl as she is incredibly witty and outrageous at times. She is so incredibly strong, and never once backs down from anything no matter the risks. She has this insatiable thirst for knowledge and truth, making her desire to be a reporter extraordinaire an absolutely ideal career choice. She devotes herself 100% to everything she does. It really amazes me that she has been able to keep such a strong personality in spite of her alienation from everyone else due to her connection with Jared. Anyone else probably would have tried to lay low and stay out of the spotlight, but in spite of, or because because of her differences, she makes no hesitation to throw herself out there and shine. Seriously I cannot possibly even begin to explain just how incredible she is, you'll just have to read the book to experience the awesomeness.
I simultaneously was enthralled and frustrated with the dynamic between Kami and Jared. Before they met in person, their relationship was magical and rather beautiful, each being the closest and constant companion of the other. They were just so important to one another and I loved the role they played for one another. Then when they actually met in person it all went haywire, and that is where the frustration comes in. The communication in their heads was completely at odds with the way they spoke in person. Sometimes even in the same conversation, there would be drastic shifts depending on whether they spoke aloud or silently in their minds. I understand it had to be a little disconcerting to find out the person who knows all your secrets, and your every thought is real when you had previously thought them to be imaginary. I just couldn't quite understand their utter panic at not touching one another. I mean you would think a relationship between them would have been ideal as they had already been so important to one another for so long. But maybe that's just my own wishful thinking.
I'm still in shock over unspoken as I still can't believe a book that made me laugh so hard would so utterly and completely break my heart in the end. I just cannot comprehend the difference from the feel of the start of the book to the final few pages. I seriously feel like I've been put through a wringer and I'm almost at a loss for words. Granted, there was a slow progression from the fun quirky beginning as it transitioned in to a much darker novel later one, but I still would never have predicted the way it turned out. Part of me wants to hate this book for the way it ended and left me feeling so bereft, but in all honesty it is so good that I just can't. Even now that my heart is in a thousand pieces, I don't regret reading a single moment of Unspoken, but I am incredibly desperate to get my hands on the next installment. I cannot possibly praise Unspoken any higher, it was beautiful, it was hilarious, and it was haunting all at once, making for an absolutely amazing read. Trust me, you won't want to miss this!
(Received a copy from the publisher via Netgalley)
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Bargain Books & Kindle Deals (15)
I've decided to make my Bargain Book and Kindle Deal finds a weekly feature here at A Book Obsession.. If you guys are anything like me, your book addiction can easily get out of hand, so any sales/deals are a huge help. If you like any of the deals below, I would appreciate if you use the affiliate links below. All earning support the giveaways here on the blog. :)
(Prices accurate as of 9/3)
Bargain New Paperbacks/Hardcovers:
Kindle Deals:
$0.99
Waiting on Wednesday (111)
My pick this week:
by Daniel Marks
Publication Date: October 9th, 2012
Pre-Order:
Velveteen Monroe is dead. At 16, she was kidnapped and murdered by a madman named Bonesaw. But that’s not the problem.
The problem is she landed in purgatory. And while it’s not a fiery inferno, it’s certainly no heaven. It’s gray, ashen, and crumbling more and more by the day, and everyone has a job to do. Which doesn’t leave Velveteen much time to do anything about what’s really on her mind.
Bonesaw.
Velveteen aches to deliver the bloody punishment her killer deserves. And she’s figured out just how to do it. She’ll haunt him for the rest of his days.
It’ll be brutal... and awesome.
But crossing the divide between the living and the dead has devastating consequences. Velveteen’s obsessive haunting cracks the foundations of purgatory and jeopardizes her very soul. A risk she’s willing to take—except fate has just given her reason to stick around: an unreasonably hot and completely off-limits coworker.
Velveteen can’t help herself when it comes to breaking rules... or getting revenge. And she just might be angry enough to take everyone down with her.
The problem is she landed in purgatory. And while it’s not a fiery inferno, it’s certainly no heaven. It’s gray, ashen, and crumbling more and more by the day, and everyone has a job to do. Which doesn’t leave Velveteen much time to do anything about what’s really on her mind.
Bonesaw.
Velveteen aches to deliver the bloody punishment her killer deserves. And she’s figured out just how to do it. She’ll haunt him for the rest of his days.
It’ll be brutal... and awesome.
But crossing the divide between the living and the dead has devastating consequences. Velveteen’s obsessive haunting cracks the foundations of purgatory and jeopardizes her very soul. A risk she’s willing to take—except fate has just given her reason to stick around: an unreasonably hot and completely off-limits coworker.
Velveteen can’t help herself when it comes to breaking rules... or getting revenge. And she just might be angry enough to take everyone down with her.
Early Review: Full Blooded by Amanda Carlson
Full Blooded by Amanda Carlson
Jessica McClain #1
Born the only female in an all male race, Jessica McClain isn’t just different—she’s feared.
After living under the radar for the last twenty-six years, Jessica is thrust unexpectedly into her first change, a full ten years late. She wakes up and finds she’s in the middle of a storm. Now that she’s become the only female full-blooded werewolf in town, the supernatural world is already clamoring to take a bite out of her and her new Pack must rise up and protect her.
Life has never been easy for Jessica McClain. As the only female to ever be born to a werewolf clan, a race full of superstitions, she is reviled and feared. In fact, if it weren't for the fact that she is the Alpha's daughter, she probably wouldn't have lived far past her birth. Yet in the past few years, she has managed to form herself a life away from most of the pack and its scrutiny. But that carefully constructed life comes tumbling down when she makes the first change to a wolf years past when she should have. Suddenly everyone wants a piece of her, and with the attacks coming from all sides, it is only a matter of time until someone succeeds in their goal of eliminating her permanently.
I absolutely adore Jessica's character. She is just so sassy and fun, as well as fiercely loyal to her pack. This is especially impressive due to the fact that vast majority of them have shunned her, and otherwise made her life incredibly miserable due to their superstitions. Granted, she is the only female werewolf to ever have been known to exist, but that should have made her something to be treasured rather than despised and mistrusted. It really is amazing that she didn't turn bitter due to her treatment, and that only made her more admirable. I was also incredibly impressed with the way she handled everything that was thrown at her in the very short time after she experienced that first change. Of course, she did have a few moments of panic when things became overwhelming, but she regained control in no time flat. Not only was Jess an amazing character, but the rest of the cast was pretty spectacular as well. Each and every single one, both good and bad were fully fleshed out, making them very realistic. I won't get into any more specifics as this book and characters deserve to be experienced directly, but suffice it to say they were awesome.
The mythology in Full Blooded was absolutely amazing. I really enjoyed the dynamic between the wolves, with the alpha structure, as well as the telepathy aspects between Jess and her twin as well as her father the alpha. It was nice to see that while the Alpha did hold most the power, he wasn't above reproach, and had to be careful especially in regards to Jessica. In addition to the wolves, there were also many other types of shifters as well as witches, vamps, and sorcerers, making for a very interesting variety. I especially liked to see the way those dynamics played out, especially as politics between clans played a part. I have a feeling those politics will be playing an even larger role in future books especially as each clan still clambers to get their hands on Jessica.
I haven't enjoyed a werewolf story this much since the first time I read Moon Called by Patricia Briggs. I can hardly believe this is Amanda's debut novel as everything flows like she has countless books under her belt. With her writing being this good right out of the gate, I am incredibly excited to see where things lead. Granted, she does already have a bit of that evil author tendency with the nasty cliffhanger ending, but that is easily forgiven in light of how amazing the rest of the book was. That being said, I am incredibly desperate to get my hands on the next installment. In fact, Full Blooded has easily earned itself a place as one of my top reads for 2012. Considering the very large volume of books I read (300+ per year), this is no small feat. Full Blooded is an absolute must read for fans of Urban Fantasy. Trust me, you won't want to miss this fantastic debut!
(Received a copy from the publisher via Netgalley)
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It's Monday What Are You Reading (111)
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.
Reviews for the past week:
Primal Possession by Katie Reus (Early Review)
Blackwood by Gwenda Bond (Early Review)
Archangel's Storm by Nalini Singh (Early Review)
Kirsten's Book of the Week:
Seawitch by Kat Richardson (Review)
Other Posts:
Fury's Kiss by Karen Chance was featured for Waiting on Wednesday
This week's Bargain Books & Kindle Deals
Jocelynn Drake stopped by to talk about making the switch from The Dark Days series to the Asylum Tales. I'm giving away a copy of one of the prequel novels. Ends tonight!
Upcoming List:
Full Blooded by Amanda Carlson (Early Review)
Unspoken by Sarah Rees Brennan (Early Review)
Silver by Talia vance (Early Review)
Kirsten Reviews: The Last Four Things by Paul Hoffman
Early Review: Archangel's Storm by Nalini Singh
Archangel's Storm by Nalini Singh
Guild Hunter #5
With wings of midnight and an affinity for shadows, Jason courts darkness. But now, with the Archangel Neha’s consort lying murdered in the jewel-studded palace that was his prison and her rage threatening cataclysmic devastation, Jason steps into the light, knowing he must unearth the murderer before it is too late.
Earning Neha’s trust comes at a price—Jason must tie himself to her bloodline through the Princess Mahiya, a woman with secrets so dangerous, she trusts no one. Least of all an enemy spymaster.
With only their relentless hunt for a violent, intelligent killer to unite them, Jason and Mahiya embark on a quest that leads to a centuries-old nightmare… and to the dark storm of an unexpected passion that threatens to drench them both in blood.
As Raphael's spymaster, Jason lives his life in the shadows as he goes undercover to garner the best intel. However, his latest charge will take him out of that comfort zone and into the light. The Archangel's Neha's consort has been brutally murdered and her rage is shaking the world. Neha was already quite unstable prior to his death from the pain of losing her daughter, and if she continues on the path into madness, millions will suffer. When offered aid in finding the culprit, Neha agrees in allowing Jason to enter her lands, but only with the stipulation that he bind himself to another of her bloodline, Princess Mahiya. As Mahiya and Jason team up to find the killer along the way they find a passion for one another so unexpected that it threatens to tear apart who they each are at the core.
All of the characters in the Guild Hunter series seem to carry a plethora of scars from their pasts. Each one is damaged, but expresses it in a different way. I had always wondered what made Jason so closed off from the world as he constantly hid in shadows. Throughout the book we are given glimpses of those harrowing events, but it is the reveal later in the book that brought tears to my eyes. Such suffering he endured, it truly is amazing he was able to function at all. Granted, he has survived by completely closing off his heart to everyone, not allowing anything or anyone close at all. Even Raphael is kept at a distance despite the many years of loyalty. I really have to applaud Nalini for her ability to write Jason's character so beautifully, showing his quiet and thoughtful strength and grace. It isn't often that we get to see a non-alpha male take the spotlight making for a rather refreshing read. Don't get me wrong, nothing about Jason is weak, he just doesn't have the arrogance and outwardly brash manner that most heroes do, and honestly, I loved him all the more for it.
I really enjoyed watching the interactions between Jason and Mahiya as they developed from just acquaintances to so much more. I don't think any other woman could have been more perfect for him. Her hidden iron will intrigued him enough to draw him in, but it was her pure heart and untainted kindness in a world of horror that kept him there. It is a true testament to her strength that she wasn't long ago corrupted by her circumstances. Also, Mahiya seemed to understand Jason's needs better than he did, and was able to give him so much with asking a single demand in return. The poor man didn't stand a chance against her giving heart, and and a result may finally know love in return.
The thing I love most about this series is that is the perfect blend between Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance. I'm a huge romance fan, so I really enjoy having that be a larger element in my books and it is nice to have that guaranteed happy ever after in Paranormal Romances. However that happiness also frustrates me as each couple is only featured for one book and then mostly forgotten and don't hold much page time in future books. That just isn't the case in this series as each new book is completely intertwined with the previous ones only adding more to the stories, yet each one also finishes with some sort of happy romantic resolution. In fact, I am honestly in awe at Nalini's ability to ensnare me even further into this amazing world and increase my love for these characters with each new installment. Simply put, Archangel's Storm is an absolute must buy for fans of the series!
(Recieved a copy from the publisher)
Rating:
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Previous Books:
- Angels' Blood
- Archangel's Kiss
- Archangel's Consort
- Archangel's Blade
Angel's Flight (Novella Collection)
Kirsten Reviews: Seawitch by Kat Richardson
Seawitch by Kat Richardson
Greywalker #7
Harper Blaine was your average small-time PI until she died—for two minutes. Now Harper is a Greywalker, treading the thin line between the living world and the paranormal realm. And she’s discovering that her new abilities are landing her all sorts of “strange” cases.
A quarter century ago, the Seawitch cruised away from her dock and disappeared with everyone on board. Now, the boat has mysteriously returned to her old berth in Seattle and the insurance company has hired Harper to find out what happened.
But Harper is not the only one investigating. Seattle Police Detective Rey Solis is a good cop, albeit one who isn’t comfortable with the creepy cases that always seem to end up in Harper’s lap.
As they explore the abandoned vessel, Harper and Solis discover a cabin containing symbols drawn in human blood, revealing the ghost ship’s grave history. As Solis focuses on the possible murder of a passenger’s wife, Harper’s investigation leads her to a powerful being who may be responsible for the disappearance of the Seawitch’s passengers and crew.
And while their searches lead Harper and Solis in different directions, they will need to put aside their differences to solve a deadly mystery twenty-five years in the making…
In some cases, death doesn't always stick, and Harper Blaine is proof of that. The latest book in Kat Richardson’s ‘Greywalker’ series brings back Harper, as well as an apparent ghost ship all tangled up in the Grey to investigate.
With so many female paranormal investigators out there, it’s important to note the ways in which this one is different. Harper is grounded, unpretentious and sometimes even resigned to what she can do as a Greywalker. She's careful, and thinks twice about leaping into danger, most of the time. Unlike some of the urban fantasy heroines, she isn't a wand-waving or guns blazing private investigator, and that makes her unusual.
The book is full of rich detail about the Pacific Northwest, which makes sense as the author is a native, and living in the region myself, I appreciated some of the sly digs at the local peculiarities and weather, which is a character in and of itself. In fact, the fog which is an important element of the story only adds to the air of creeping unease that becomes more evident as Harper and Detective Solis work together to solve the mystery of the Seawitch.
Solis takes on the role of the skeptic, but one that knows enough about Harper to realize that there is something more to her 'weirdness' than seeing things. He's not ready to just embrace the idea of the Grey, but he's not actively hostile, which is a pleasant change from most outsiders in this genre.
The two of them take slightly different routes to investigate what brought the Seawitch home, and who, or what is responsible for its absence as well what happened to its missing crew. Ultimately, though, this is one partnership that might stand the test of time, or the 'weirdness' that Harper tends to attract.
Solis isn’t the only one trying to figure out his place in light of new information. Quinton, Harper’s boyfriend is back, and he’s got some family issues of his own that promise to crop up again in future volumes.
Seawitch is an entertaining and engrossing read, with plenty of rich Pacific Northwest detail, enough to whet the appetite of any research buffs, and a crop of paranormal and mundane characters that readers will enjoy immensely.
(Received a copy from the publisher)
Rating:
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Other Reviews:
Ranting Dragon
I Smell Sheep
Previous Books:
1. Greywalker
2. Poltergeist
3. Underground
4. Vanished
5. Labyrinth
6. Downpour
read more
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