Stacking the Shelves (12)
Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga’s Reviews
Here's the books that I have received in the last two weeks:
For Review:
From Netgalley:
Thank you Harlequin Teen!!
From Edelweis:
Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga’s Reviews
Here's the books that I have received in the last two weeks:
For Review:
From Netgalley:
Thank you Harlequin Teen!!
From Edelweis:
Early Review: Angel's Ink by Jocelynn Drake
Angel's Ink by Jocelynn Drake
The Asylum Tales #1
Looking for a tattoo-and maybe a little something extra: a burst of good luck, a dollop of true love, or even a hex on an ex? Head to the quiet and mysterious Gage, the best skin artist in town. Using his unique potions-a blend of extraordinary ingredients and special inks-to etch the right symbol, he can fulfill any heart's desire. But in a place like Low Town, where elves, faeries, trolls, werewolves, and vampires happily walk among humanity, everything has its price.
No one knows that better than Gage. Turning his back on his own kind, he left the magical Ivory Tower where cruel witches and warlocks rule, a decision that cost him the right to practice magic. And if he disobeys, his punishment-execution-will be swift.
Though he's tried to fly under the radar, Gage can't hide from powerful warlocks who want him dead-or the secrets of his own past. But with the help of his friends, Trixie, a gorgeous elf who hides her true identity, and a hulking troll named Bronx, Gage just might make it through this enchanted world alive.
In Low Town there is a tattoo shop where clients go to not only get fantastic ink, but also a little something extra to go with it. Gage can stir potions beyond imagination that give luck or love, or something decidedly darker as his unique background gives him a very large edge over the competition. He was to be a member of the Tower, Warlocks who rule over all with a iron and cruel fist, yet he turned his back on all of that at a great risk to himself. To keep his life from being forfeit he had to give up all rights to his magic with the exception of self-defense, or risk immediate execution. Yet, when things start to get a little dicey, the temptation to use magic to solve his problems gets a little harder, and he starts to break the rules placing both him and his friends right in the cross hairs.
I absolutely love Gage as he is a complex character that seems to have a knack for getting himself into trouble. Luckily he seems to also have the skill to get himself out of things too. He holds a great deal of power, but also has a strong reluctance to use that power when it comes to the offensive. Even when he, or the ones he cares about are threatened, he still makes every effort to resort to non-lethal and lessor means of response, where as his counterparts absolutely do not extend the same courtesy. He also has a fierce protective side that only endeared him more to me. Although, I will say that he should have been a little more forthcoming to his friends earlier on as it was obvious they had his back no matter what, even if he couldn't see that. I have a feeling it still will be a long time coming before he can learn to ask for help rather than being all lone ranger all the time. Speaking of those friends, I also really enjoyed both Bronx and Trixie's characters. Bronx is a huge and tough brute that has a soft side that is blatantly obvious to anyone who looks past that gruff exterior. Trixie on the other hand isn't quite such an open book, and despite her confessions to Gage about her past, I still think there is a lot more to her than really meets the eye. I look forward to getting to know her and the rest of the cast better in future books.
As I write this review, I can't help thinking that I may just be impossible to please. Typically first books in any new series are rather slow for me due to the massive amount of world building that is required to set things up. In fact, some of my absolute favorite series had a pretty rocky start, but once book two came around I was irrevocably hooked. I just have a tendency to get a little frustrated with the slow build up that is involved as I always want to hurry things along to the action. That being said, Angel's Ink seems to completely avoid this issue by focusing almost of its attention on plot rather than the world set up. In all honesty, this led things to feeling a little disjointed and chaotic, especially when you add in the multiple threads of the different plots without any real explanation of the many different types of creatures. Don't get me wrong, I wasn't lost or overly confused about anything, it's just that things were pulling in several different directions that it had a feeling of a lack of focus. I just wish one of those plot threads had of been removed and saved for a latter book, while that empty space was in turn replaced by some much needed world building. Even just a little bit more would have gone a long way I think.
Coming off the intense high of the final Dark Days series made this book have a pretty tough act to follow, but when it is all said and done, Angel's Ink by Jocelynn Drake was a good start to this new series. Despite my wish for more information about the world behind it all, Angel's Ink more than held my attention as I was rather enthralled for most of the book. I doubt I could have put it down for very long even if I had wanted to. So, if you are looking for a fresh new world in the Urban Fantasy genre that has a very unique premise, then Angel's Ink is sure to strike your fancy.
(Received a copy from the publisher via Edelweiss)
Rating:
Pre-order:
Other Reviews:
Previous Books:
0.5. The Asylum Interviews: Bronx
0.5. The Asylum Interviews: Trixie
We need your help!! (+giveaway bribe)
Melissa from i swim for oceans has decided to discontinue her blog. Smash graciously asked her if she could take over her Friday "Let's Talk" discussion feature and she was happy to pass along the torch. Kt (A Book Obsession) expressed interest in teaming up with Smash, so here we are!
Melissa's meme was all about books, as her descriptions states here:
Smash and I would like to expand the topics to anything and everything. We not only want to talk books, but life, in general. Let's get personal (but respectfully so) and learn more about one another! Now, we are gathering information on what you would be interested in discussing, as well as any specific questions you may have.
Submit responses here
To show our appreciation, we will choose two winners (One US and One International) via random.org to receive a book noted below.
and
read more
Let's Talk is a fun new weekly meme in which we discuss anything and everything about books! Whether it's a nagging issue in the blogosphere, or simply a fun discussion topic, we'll talk about it all! Each Friday, there will be a linky in which you can connect your own post, sharing your thoughts will all the participants. Each month, I'll update the post topics so you can prepare your very own Let's Talk post!
Smash and I would like to expand the topics to anything and everything. We not only want to talk books, but life, in general. Let's get personal (but respectfully so) and learn more about one another! Now, we are gathering information on what you would be interested in discussing, as well as any specific questions you may have.
To show our appreciation, we will choose two winners (One US and One International) via random.org to receive a book noted below.
- U.S. Giveaway: One winner will get a choice of One ARC from below.
- Int'l Giveaway: One Winner will get a choice of ONE book up to $10 from Book Depository. Please ensure BD ships to your location!
THANK YOU!
and
Kirsten Reviews: Daughter of the Sword by Steve Bein
Daughter of the Sword by Steve Bein
Fated Blades #1
The owner of the sword, Professor Yasuo Yamada, says it was crafted by the legendary Master Inazuma, a sword smith whose blades are rumored to have magical qualities. The man trying to steal it already owns another Inazuma—one whose deadly power eventually comes to control all who wield it. Or so says Yamada, and though he has studied swords and swordsmanship all his life, Mariko isn’t convinced.
But Mariko’s skepticism hardly matters. Her investigation has put her on a collision course with a curse centuries old and as bloodthirsty as ever. She is only the latest in a long line of warriors and soldiers to confront this power, and even the sword she learns to wield could turn against her.
In 'Daughter of the Sword' by Steve Bein, Sergeant Detective Mariko Oshiro is both a woman in a department where men are the majority, as well as somebody on a course to confront the history of a special sword.
When a male author writes anything where the protagonist is a woman, there is always the question of whether he was able to get inside her head in a believable way. In Bein's case, the author does a good job, and one identifies with Mariko and invests in her story from the start of the story.
Mariko fights for even the smallest bit of respect in the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department, and this struggle ties in to a case she finds herself investigating.
In any story where there is a great deal of information for the reader to take in, there is the danger that readers will be overwhelmed, or lose focus of the main plot. I found the history of three swords forged by Master Inazuma, which are cursed or magical to be fascinating. Bein goes to great lengths to flesh out both the world Mariko inhabits as well as the origins of the swords. This enriches the story, tying fiction with actual events, and makes the swords themselves seem almost like living characters, either bringing their owners harm or protection.
As far as secondary characters go, the 'inscrutable sensei' role has been nicely filled by Professor Yasuo Yamada, the owner of a stolen samurai sword, who becomes Mariko's sensei, and true to form, is holding back much more than he's telling his new student.
It should be noted that the author has provided a glossary, which will be useful for anyone not familiar with many of the words used by the characters, and there are some interesting bits of historical backstory that will interest audiences.
'Daughter of the Sword' doesn't start out with a gripping action scene, instead making the wise decision to draw readers in more subtly, but it does immediately bring readers into a world that they may be very unfamiliar with. By giving them something new, Bein leaves them wanting to learn more about this world and its characters.
(Received a copy from the publisher)
Rating:
Order Links:
Other Reviews:
read more
Early Review: Romeo Redeemed by Stacey Jay
Romeo Redeemed by Stacey Jay
Juliet Immortal #2
Cursed to live out eternity in his rotted corpse, Romeo, known for his ruthless, cutthroat ways, is given the chance to redeem himself by traveling back in time to save the life of Ariel Dragland. Unbeknownst to her, Ariel is important to both the evil Mercenaries and the love-promoting Ambassadors and holds the fate of the world in her hands. Romeo must win her heart and make her believe in love, turning her away from her darker potential before his work is discovered by the Mercenaries. While his seduction begins as yet another lie, it soon becomes his only truth. Romeo vows to protect Ariel from harm, and do whatever it takes to win her heart and soul. But when Ariel is led to believe his love is a deception, she becomes vulnerable to Mercenary manipulation, and her own inner darkness may ultimately rip them apart.
When Romeo was cursed and bound to his rotting corpse he knew he would do anything to escape that horrible fate. So when he is given a second chance at redemption, he leaps at the opportunity. His task is to convince Ariel Dragland to believe in love, and thus preventing a cascade of events that could destroy the world. Known for his seductive ways, Romeo believes this task will be a piece of cake, but he quickly realizes his mistake as he starts to fall for her instead. Now he's questioning his motives and his own horrible fate means nothing to him anymore as Ariel becomes the Mercenaries target. Can love truly conquer all or will darkness prevail?
I absolutely loved the first book in this series, Juliet Immortal. I just felt like it fixed everything I couldn't stand about the original story and made it so much better. I'm just not big on tragedy and heartache. That being said, when I saw that Romeo would be getting his own chance at happiness, I was more than excited to see how things played out. I was really hoping to be swept right off my feet like I was the first time around, but unfortunately that never happened. Even though I had seen a spark of goodness in Romeo from the first book, I had a hard time believing his insanely quick transition this time around. In fact, he seemed rather sappy all too quick as well as way too willing to sacrifice himself considering his history. They say love conquers all, but despite being a hopeless romantic, in this case I can't help but being a little skeptical.
Another thing that really frustrated me about this book was the lack of answers. In fact there were a lot of part that were quite confusing as they just weren't explained very well. I realize that the characters really had no idea either, and just were flying by at the seat of their pants, but I still think a little more explanation and resolution would have gone a long way, especially when it came to Ariel's episodes. Also, I still don't really understand the business between the Missionaries and the Ambassadors other than they are locked in some epic struggle that winds up hurting so many others. Well, the Missionaries was quite obviously evil, so his agenda was pretty straightforward. It was the Ambassadors that left me scratching my head, as some of Nurse's actions were anything but good and pure, making her seem almost evil as well. I really wanted to know what the heck they were other than two powerful beings toying with others, but perhaps that's the point right there.
In all honestly I'm not really sure how I feel about Romeo Redeemed in the end as I'm stuck between a two and three rating. But since it was able to mostly hold my attention to the end, I'll round up to a three. It's just rather frustrating to go from my resounding five star rating of Juliet Immortal to the decidedly less enjoyable Romeo Redeemed. It is one of those cases where I can't help thinking that things should have been left as a stand alone, considering just how satisfying things were left at the end of Juliet Immortal. Don't get me wrong, I did enjoy seeing how Romeo ended up where he did at the very end of Juliet Immortal, it's just that there also was a lot of frustration involved that lessened the overall enjoyment factor.
(Received a copy from the publisher via Netgalley)
Rating:
Pre-order:
Other Reviews:
Previous Books:
Bargain Books & Kindle Deals (18)
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 10/3)
Bargain New Paperbacks/Hardcovers:
Kindle Deals:
$0.99
Waiting on Wednesday (115)
My pick this week:
by Laini Taylor
Publication Date: November 6th, 2012
Pre-Order:
In this stunning sequel
to the highly acclaimed "Daughter of Smoke and Bone," Karou must come to
terms with who and what she is, and how far she'll go to avenge her
people. Filled with heartbreak and beauty, mysteries and secrets, new
characters and old favorites, Days of Blood and Starlight brings the
richness, color and intensity of the first book to a brand new canvas.
Daughter of Smoke and Bone was declared a "must read" by Entertainment Weekly, was named a Best Book of the Year by Amazon.com, and The New York Times called it "a breath-catching romantic fantasy."
Daughter of Smoke and Bone was declared a "must read" by Entertainment Weekly, was named a Best Book of the Year by Amazon.com, and The New York Times called it "a breath-catching romantic fantasy."
Early Review: Into the Woods by Kim Harrison
Into the Woods by Kim Harrison
Tales from the Hollows and Beyond
Fans have fallen for bounty hunter and witch Rachel Morgan. Through banishment and road trips, deadly supernatural duels and lost loves, they have avidly cheered her on, eagerly awaiting the next installment in her adventures. This collection of short works, published together in once volume for the first time, adds a whole new dimension to the Hollows saga, featuring tales involving Rachel and her coterie of friends and enemies. Untitled contains original works, including:
"Million Dollar Baby"-original novella about what happens when elven tycoon Trent Kalamack and Jenks the pixy team up to rescue Trent's daughter;
"Spider Web" and "Grace's Fall"-original novelettes set in brand-new fantasy worlds;
Here, too, are reprinted short stories, including:
"Undead in The Garden of Good and Evil"-an Ivy novella from Dates from Hell
"Dirty Magic"-a Mia the banshee short story from Hotter Than Hell
"The Bridges of Eden Park"-a Kisten/Rachel short from the mass market edition of For a Few Demons More
"Two Ghosts for Sister Rachel"-a Robbie/Rachel/Pierce novella from Holidays from Hell
"The Bespelled"-a Ceri/Al short story from the mass market edition of The Outlaw Demon Wails
"Ley Line Drifter"-a Bis/Jenks novella from Unbound
Introduction:
When I saw that there would be a novella collection by Kim Harrison, I was incredibly excited. Even though I knew that I would have already read many of the ones included due to my obsession with reading everything from the Hollows world. It would just be awesome to have all that yummy goodness in one place. Of course I will admit that it was the new stuff that excited me the most, but I still would have purchased it without it. Yes, I'm that big of a fan. Onto the stories...
The Hollows:
The Bespelled: While I had previously read this novella it was nice to read it again. It does show a much more abusive Al than the one he has grown to be since being influenced by Rachel for so long. I really love that demon, even if he was rather horrible to Ceri, but then again she really doesn't have anyone to blame but herself as this novella showed her choices.
Two Ghosts for Sister Rachel: This was another previously published novella, but one I hadn't read prior to this collection. It was really interesting to see how very different Rachel was back when she was still weak from her childhood. I feel like after reading this that I understand why she is the way she is and her choices so much better. It was in this novella that she learned taking risks is really the only thing that makes her feel truly alive. Also, even though I'm not the biggest Pierce fan, it was fun to see their initial introduction.
Undead in the Garden of Good and Evil: Another novella that I had read before, this one shows Ivy in the past right before she met Rachel. I'll admit that I wasn't thrilled about the Kisten and her parts as in my mind he always belonged to Rachel. That being said, this novella gave a really good picture of the mental abuse that both Ivy and Kisten endured over the years. The manipulation is absolutely horrifying, but this novella seemed to show the turning point for Ivy as she finally started to want something more for herself.
Dirty Magic: This one was a new one for me, and while it was enjoyable for the closer look into Mia, I can't say it was my favorite of the Hollows novellas. I'm just not the biggest fan of Mia, so seeing her use someone so cruelly only turned me off even more.
The Bridges of Eden Park: I had read this one before, and it still makes me so sad even now. I just miss Kisten so much. His death really stunk, and while I am far enough past it that I can understand Kim Harrison's reasoning that he needed to go, it still is hard. That being said, this is a very enjoyable little outtake between them with both action and sentimentality. Man I miss that guy!
Key Line Drifter: Again, another I had read previously. This novella shows Jenks with his first solo/personal job. I felt like it really accentuated just how unusual he is compared to other pixies. Of course those differences are what make him completely awesome. It also was fun to see him team up with Bis and the trouble they get in to.
Million Dollar Baby: If nothing else, this collection is absolutely worth reading just for this novella alone. I am a huge Trent fan, in fact he is the only male character I have even come close to accepting since Kisten's death. It was really enjoyable to get a better look into his head. I found it interesting to see just how much Rachel's opinion of him matters. He always seems so closed off, it was amazing to realize how much turmoil is going on beneath the surface. Trent really hates the things he has had to do to protect his race, and wants to do anything he can to stop the deaths that seem to surround him like a heavy shroud. I also loved seeing him meet his daughter for the first time, definitely heart wrenching!
Beyond the Hollows:
Pet Shop Boys: I absolutely loved this novella. There was just something so yummy about the characters having the characteristics of both vampires and the fey. Seriously, anyone who is tired of vampires due to the heavy market saturation, will absolutely love the premise behind these guys. I really hope something more becomes of this story because I think that would be a truly awesome series to read!
Temson Estates: This story was my least favorite of the bunch. It just didn't really spark my interest or attention. The story is about dryads, only in a scientific way, and that's probably where my interest was lacking. I just prefer magic to science in my books.
Spider Silk: I loved this story. It was so creepy and mysterious, definitely another one with full series potential. That being said, I felt like it ended rather abruptly, with things left too open-ended for my tastes. But then again, those unanswered questions do leave things more open for more stories, so I guess I shouldn't complain.
Grace: This story was awesome, and the premise behind it leads to so many possibilities. I think this is the series Kim is considering on diving into next, so I have to say that I'm really happy about that. Grace seems like such an amazing character, but she also is a spitfire like Rachel, which will keep things more than interesting. However, unlike Rachel, she easily sees her own flaws and instantly takes steps to correct them. It made her rather admirable.
Conclusion:
I may be biased, but I think Into the Woods is an absolute must buy for fans of The Hollows, as it gives deeper looks that we don't get to see in the main series. It also was really great to see some of her work outside of The Hollows, since it is winding down and will be soon time to move on. After reading these novellas, I have even more confidence and excitement for what is in store next.
(Received a copy from the publisher via Edelweiss)
Rating:
Pre-order:
Other Reviews:
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
