Saturday 28 February 2015

Review: This Night So Dark - Amie Kaufman & Meagan Spooner

Don’t miss the breathtaking short story that connects the first two novels in the Starbound trilogy, These Broken Stars and This Shattered World.

Tarver still has nightmares about the night, six months before the Icarus crash, when he rescued a group of civilian researchers being held hostage by brutal mercenaries. Now Tarver and Lilac must reconcile his memories of that fateful night with the truth that they uncovered on a mysterious planet after the Icarus crashed.

Includes three bonus preview chapters from This Shattered World! Download for free today for your e-reader or computer!

Starbound Trilogy:
These Broken Stars
This Night So Dark (Novella)
This Shattered World
Their Fractured Light

Visit Amie Kaufman's website, Meagan Spooner's website or the These Broken Stars website for more information

Review:
This Night So Dark is a free novella that can be downloaded from the These Broken Stars website here. I have to warn you that the story is shorter than it looks because nearly half of the ebook is taken up with sample chapters from both These Broken Stars and This Shattered World but although I would have liked it if the story was longer I can't really complain when the author's have offered this for free.

Although the main events in this story actually happened before events in These Broken Stars I wouldn't recommend reading this until after you've read the first book. People familiar with the first book will already know that Tarver is a war hero but we never really got much information about the mission that earned him that title. In This Night So Dark we find out what really happened in the form of flash backs as Tarver describes the event to Lilac after waking up from a nightmare.

I don't want to say too much about the plot but I will say it gives us some more insight into the kind of man Lilac's father is, it hints at the conspiracy that Tarver and Lilac have already started to uncover and I think it shows that there is even more going on under the surface that we don't know about yet. It was nice to see Tarver and Lilac together after their rescue but if I'm honest I really wanted a bit more information about what they're up to now. I was kind of disappointed when I found out that This Shattered World is about two different main characters because although I'm sure Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner will make me fall in love with them too I'm still going to miss Tarver and Lilac. Hopefully we'll still get a little information about them as the series continues, I have a feeling that Lilac is going to have a key role to play in stopping her father's plans so I'm confident we'll have to see more of her.

If you enjoyed These Broken Stars then you can't go wrong reading This Night So Dark, especially since it's free! It's always nice to be able to revisit characters and get more background information and this little novella achieves both of those goals and has left me eager to pick up the story in This Shattered World.

Source: Downloaded for free via the author's website HERE

Other Reviews:
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

Friday 27 February 2015

Review: Dark Debt - Chloe Neill

UK Cover
A vampire never gets old. But neither do his enemies. When a figure from Ethan’s dark past makes a splashy debut in Chicago, Merit and her Master don’t know whether he’s friend or foe. But they’ll have to figure out soon, because trouble is brewing in the Windy City.

At an exclusive society soiree attended by the upper echelons of the human and supernatural worlds, Merit and Ethan barely stop the assassination of a guest. When the target turns out to be a shady businessman with a criminal edge, Merit suspects a human vendetta. But the assassins have fangs . . .

The connections to Chicago’s Houses go deeper than Merit knows, and even one wrong move could be her last . . .

Chicagoland Vampires Series:
Some Girls Bite
Friday Night Bites
Twice Bitten
Hard Bitten
Drink Deep
Biting Cold
House Rules
Biting Bad
High Stakes (Novella in the Kicking It anthology)
Howling for You (Novella)
Wild Things
Blood Games
Lucky Break (Novella)
Dark Debt
Midnight Marked
Phantom Kiss (Novella)
Blade Bound
Slaying It (Novella)

Heirs of Chicagoland Series:
(Spin off set approximately 20 years on from the end of the Chicagoland Vampires series)
Wild Hunger
Wicked Hour

Visit Chloe Neill's website for more information

Review:
**Please be aware that although this review will be spoiler free for Dark Debt it will include spoilers for previous books so if you haven't read Blood Games yet I would suggest that you don't continue reading**

I'm a huge fan of the Chicagoland Vampires series and after the game changing events at the end of Blood Games I couldn't wait to get my hands on a copy of Dark Debt to find out what happens next! I was expecting the plot of this story to revolve around the dissolution of the GP and the newly established Assembly of American Masters but although that does play a role the main part of the story is something that has a much bigger impact on the three Chicago houses. It's difficult because there are so many things that I want to talk about but at the same time I would hate to give spoilers so I'm going to keep this review deliberately vague in regards to the plot. What I will say is that there is plenty of mystery and we are introduced to a surprising new enemy who I think will be keeping the team on their toes for quite a while to come.

Merit and Ethan's relationship has been through the wringer but just when they get to a fairly good place an old face from Ethan's past shows up and threatens to ruin everything. This vampire is old and extremely powerful, likely stronger and faster than Ethan even, so for once he finds it it impossible to keep Merit safe. She is in the firing line and more vulnerable than we have ever seen her and it leaves her shaken and unsure of herself. As much as I love Merit because she's usually so kick ass it was interesting to see her in such a difficult situation, she suddenly finds herself no longer immune to vampire glamour and unsafe even when she's inside Cadogan house which is utterly terrifying for her. You should already know that Merit doesn't let anything hold her back for long though and as scared as she is her love for Ethan and her determination not to be his weakness soon have her fighting back harder than ever.

It isn't only vampires who are causing them trouble though and they are actually at greater risk from a human mafia like group who have managed to get their claws into Navarre House. I think anyone who reads the series will probably agree with me that Morgan has been a bit of an idiot since the beginning. His attitude has annoyed me on more than one occasion and I haven't been a fan of his for a long time now so I was surprised to find myself feeling more than a little sorry for him here. His house is in a mess and although he didn't create the situation he certainly hasn't helped it but now he finally has the opportunity to turn things around and it looks like we might be about to see him man up for a change. I'll be really interested to see if this continues over the next few books and if it does Cadogan might just find they have a new ally in Navarre. I expect Morgan has a fight on his hands though so it might not be as smooth has he hopes.

There is a lot going on in Dark Debt, there are plenty of plot twists and the amount of action is just right - enough to keep you gripped to the pages and not wanting to put the book down but still leaving room for the series trademark humour and for the brilliant characters to shine. Mallory and Catcher get a lot of page time and they were adorable, they actually made my heart melt a little! We even get to see a very surprising side to Merit's father, we all know what a terrible father he has been so far but perhaps this might go a little way towards making up for it. Of course Merit and Ethan are always my favourites, I just love seeing them together and their banter never fails to make me smile. As usual they have difficult battles to face here but this time they don't let it pull them apart and it just makes them a stronger couple than ever. I love this whole series but I think Dark Debt is probably one my favourite books so far and I just can't wait to see what happens next, we have definitely been given a hint of things to come too and, trust me, it's going to be a wild ride. I just wish I didn't have to wait for the next book to be published!

Source: Received from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

Other Reviews:
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

US Cover
Paperback / Kindle:

Blog Tour: Dark Debt - Chloe Neill (+ International Giveaway)


I'm a HUGE fan of Chloe Neill's Chicagoland Vampires series, I absolutely love Merit, Ethan and the gang so I can't tell you how excited I am to be taking part in the blog tour to celebrate the release of the eleventh book in the series Dark Debt which publishes in the US on the 3rd of March and here in the UK just a couple of days later on the 5th.

I was lucky enough to receive a proof of this book so I can tell you now that Dark Debt is just as fantastic as the rest of the series but if you check back later today you'll be able to read my full review. In the meantime let me give you a bit more information about the book:

US Cover / US Cover

Blurb:

A vampire never gets old. But neither do his enemies. When a figure from Ethan’s dark past makes a splashy debut in Chicago, Merit and her Master don’t know whether he’s friend or foe. But they’ll have to figure out soon, because trouble is brewing in the Windy City.

At an exclusive society soiree attended by the upper echelons of the human and supernatural worlds, Merit and Ethan barely stop the assassination of a guest. When the target turns out to be a shady businessman with a criminal edge, Merit suspects a human vendetta. But the assassins have fangs . . .

The connections to Chicago’s Houses go deeper than Merit knows, and even one wrong move could be her last . . .

Buy Links:

You can purchase or pre-order Dark Debt at the following links: Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.com | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Powells | Books-A-Million

Tour Wide Grand Prize Giveaway:

To celebrate the release Chloe is holding a fabulous giveaway for the following amazing prizes:

  • An engraved Cadogan House medal necklace
  • An Amazon gift card
  • Cadogan House cotton tote bag
  • Cadogan House keychian
  • Chicagoland Vampires bookmarks, pens, and lanyard

You can enter this giveaway on Chloe's website HERE.

Feeling Fictional Giveaway:

Because Chloe is super generous she is also sending me a prize pack for me to give away to one of my lucky blog readers. I haven't received the pack yet but as soon as it arrives I'll update this post with a picture so you can see exactly what you'll be winning but I do know that the pack will include the following:
  • Cadogan House cotton tote bag
  • Cadogan House keychain
  • An autographed international Dark Elite novel
  • Swag, including Chicagoland Vampires bookmarks and pen, an I Survived Hard Bitten badge and a Cadogan House lanyard
UPDATE 11th March:
I received the prize pack from Chloe today so thought you might like to see what the winner will actually receive (can I just say I'm very jealous - I'd love to win this myself LOL):

    Giveaway terms & conditions:
    • Since I'll be shipping this prize to the winner myself I'm happy to say that this giveaway will be international.
    • The giveaway closes on the 13th of March at 23:59 GMT
    • You can enter using the Rafflecopter form below and the winner will be chosen at random via Rafflecopter and contacted soon after the giveaway ends for their contact information.
    • You will have 1 week to respond to my email or new winners will be chosen.
    • Please note that the prize pack will be sent using the cheapest shipping method (that is the only way I can afford to make it international) so it may take some time for the winner to receive their prize. I will also not be able to send the prize until I receive it from the author.

    a Rafflecopter giveaway

    Tour Hosts:

    Each stop in the Dark Debt blog tour will be holding their own giveaway so make sure you check out the rest of the blogs taking part:

    Week One
    Monday, February 23 – Finding Sanity in Our Crazy Life | Lore Lush Books
    Tuesday, February 24 – Star Crossed Book Blog | Little Miss Book Addict’s House of Books
    Wednesday, February 25 – Once Upon a Twilight | Krista’s Dust Jacket
    Thursday, February 26 – Goldilox and the Three Weres | Angel’s Guilty Pleasures
    Friday, February 27 – Feeling Fictional | Rabid Reads

    Week Two
    Monday, March 2 – Booklovers for Life | Bad Bird Reads
    Tuesday, March 3 (Release Day) – Saucy Wenches Book Club | Nomi’s Paranormal Palace | Fangs, Wands & Fairy Dust | Vampire Book Club
    Wednesday, March 4 – Ceres Book World | Book Infatuation Reviews
    Thursday, March 5 – Consummate Reader
    Friday, March 6 – Little Read Riding Hood | Three Chicks After Dark

    Thursday 26 February 2015

    Review: The Fire Sermon - Francesca Haig

    Born as twins.
    Raised as enemies.

    One strong Alpha twin and one mutated Omega, the only thing they share is the moment of their death.

    The Omegas live in segregation, cast out by their families as soon as their mutation becomes clear. Forced to live apart, they are ruthlessly oppressed by their Alpha counterparts.

    The Alphas are the elite. Once their weaker twin has been cast aside, they're free to live in privilege and safety, their Omega twin far from their thoughts.

    Cass and Zach are both perfect on the outside: no missing limbs, no visible Omega mutation. But Cass has a secret: one that Zach will stop at nothing to expose.

    The potential to change the world lies in both their hands. One will have to defeat the other to see their vision of the future come to pass, but if they're not careful both will die in the struggle for power.

    Alpha & Omega Series:
    The Fire Sermon
    Future titles and release dates to be confirmed

    Visit Francesca Haig's author page on Goodreads for more information

    Review:
    British author Francesca Haig has created a really interesting world in her debut novel The Fire Sermon. Four hundred years after an explosion that nearly destroyed the world life is very different for the survivors, technology was blamed for the apocalyptic event and is now banned so in a lot of ways it is like taking a step back in time and living in the past. Ever since the blast babies have been born in pairs, there is always one boy and one girl and there is always one Alpha and one Omega. The Alphas are strong, healthy and physically perfect while the Omegas are born with some kind of deformity and often much weaker and more sickly than their Alpha twin. You might think that natural selection would see to the deaths of the weaker twins but one other thing is completely certain, the twins lives are inexplicably linked and, no matter how far apart they are, the death of one always results in the death of the other.

    The Alphas are the ruling class, the are the leaders and the ones with power while the Omegas are treated like second class citizens. The Omegas are forced to leave their homes as soon as they're disability is discovered and sent to live in special settlements with others of their kind. They are not allowed to mix with the Alpha's and they live difficult lives where they only have enough food to barely survive. Cass and Zach are different, where most twins are separated practically from birth they were raised together until they were 13. Cass always knew she was the Omega but because her disability wasn't visible nobody was able to prove it and all she ever wanted was to stay with her brother. Zach had other plans though, Cass was holding him back and preventing him from taking his rightful place in society and he will always hate her for that. Even when they are separated Zach holds a grudge and his hatred may well be the cause of all out war between the Alphas and Omegas.

    The Fire Sermon raises so many interesting questions and really makes you look at how humanity can be so quick to judge people. Why do groups of people always find it so easy to turn on each other for such silly reasons? We've seen it time and time again in the past so I don't know why it would surprise me to see it happening here but really you'd expect twins to be protective of each other - especially if they know that they will die if their twin does! That link between the twins also makes it very difficult for the Omegas to fight back, how can they fight the Alphas when for every Alpha they kill they also murder one of their own? Cass seems to be one of the few people who always sees both sides to things but that doesn't mean it's easy for her to convince others that she is right.

    I really liked Cass, she has such a unique way of looking at things and in spite of all the horrible things that her brother does to her she always tries to see the good in him. She is in a pretty impossible position and because of her link to Zach she is in as much danger to from the Omegas she is fighting besides as she is from the Alphas who hunt her. I enjoyed seeing her relationship develop with Kip but we never got to know him as much as I hoped to, mainly because he had no memory of his past so was pretty much a blank slate when he met Cass. I was worried at one point that we were drawing into love triangle territory but happily this was completely resolved by the end of the book even if it was in a very unexpected way. Talking of the ending there are some fantastic twists and revelations towards the end of the book, a few that I'd figured out myself but even though I had an idea about some things I would never have guessed how they would resolve themselves!

    The Fire Sermon is a great start to the series and it left me desperate to find out what will happen next. The story has already been optioned by Dreamworks and I would love to see it on the big screen too but no matter what happens with the movie the sequel will be jumping straight to the top of my to read pile and I really hope Francesca Haig doesn't keep us waiting too long for it!

    Source: Received from Harper Voyager in exchange for an honest review

    Other Reviews:
    If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

    Hardback / Kindle:

    Wednesday 25 February 2015

    Review: Broken Honor - Tonya Burrows

    Ice-cold and unbreakable, Travis Quinn is the HORNET team's hard-ass. No weaknesses. Except, of course, for the accident that not only destroyed his career as a Navy SEAL, but left terrifying blanks in his memory. But Travis remembers everything about Mara Escareno—the curve of her lips, the feel of her body...and how he walked out on her suddenly six weeks ago.

    Mara could never resist the dangerously sexy Travis, which is probably how she ended up pregnant and disowned by her family. But before Travis can fully process the news, Mara is kidnapped by his enemies and plunged into the violent, merciless world of human trafficking. They want Travis—and the information locked within his damaged memory—no matter the cost. And now Travis's enemies have discovered his only weakness...Mara.

    HORNET Series:
    SEAL of Honor
    Honor Reclaimed
    Broken Honor
    Code of Honor
    Reckless Honor

    Wilde Security Series:
    Wilde Nights in Paradise
    Wilde for Her
    Wilde at Heart
    Running Wilde
    Too Wilde To Tame

    HORNET: Class Alpha Series:
    Fragmented Loyalty

    Visit Tonya Burrows' website for more information

    Review:
    Broken Honor is the third book in Tonya Burrow's HORNET series and although each of the romances work as stand alone stories I would recommend reading the series in order to get the most out of watching the team bond together as a solid group of brothers. I've enjoyed every one of these stories so was expecting big things from Travis and he delivered on every level. This series is just so much fun to read and I'm always excited to get my hands on a new instalment.

    We already knew that Travis has been suffering with blackouts and memory loss since the car accident that cost both him and Gabe their careers as SEALs but they have since built the HORNET team into something that they are very proud of. Travis knows his time with the unit is running out though, it is getting harder and harder to hide his blackouts and on the last operation he ended up putting other team members at risk so he is facing the very difficult decision of having to walk away from everything he has worked so hard to build. Travis and Mara had a hot fling six weeks ago but Travis ran scared when he realised he was starting to develop feelings for her, now Mara is pregnant but before Travis has a chance to step up she is taken hostage to be used against him. Travis knows he doesn't have much of a future and that he has nothing offer a woman like Mara but he will do anything to keep her safe. His last job with the HORNETs is going to be his most important one yet but he wouldn't trust anyone else with the woman he loves and their unborn child.

    I've liked Travis from the very beginning of the series but I have to admit there were a few times I wanted to punch him in the face for the way he treated Mara at the beginning of this book. He was scared to admit he had feelings for her so he walked away and left her but it was his reaction to finding out she was pregnant that really made me want to slap him. Thankfully he came to his senses very quickly though so I was able to forgive him fairly easily, especially because you can see just how much he adores her. Once he'd got his head around things he was brilliant and he was soon back to the guy I'd respected and started to fall for in the previous books. Mara is a great character too, she is strong and independent and although she wants Travis by her side for her pregnancy she is willing to do it without him, she won't put up with any of his crap and calls him on his bad behaviour when she needs to. They make a great couple and have fantastic chemistry, even when they're not in the best situations but what I really loved was seeing them working together to escape the situation they found themselves in. I also really pleased that although Mara never doubted that Travis would come to her rescue she didn't sit around waiting for him and took an active role in trying to save herself.

    What I love most about this series is the bond between the team members and I've loved seeing this go from strength to strength throughout the series. The guys are bonded now and will always have each other's backs. This is tested a little when Jesse finds out that Travis slept with his cousin Mara, he is absolutely livid that Travis went behind his back and broke the bro code but they work things out in typical alpha man style. I've loved Jesse from the beginning and we get to meet his match in this story, I'm not going to tell you much about her but I will say that I think she's going to really put him through his paces and I absolutely can't wait to see it happen!

    The HORNET series has been full of action and suspense but I think that the bar was raised even higher in Broken Honor. Tonya Burrows has been laying down the building blocks for Travis's story since the first book and we see a lot of lose ends tied together here. I didn't find this book quite as heart wrenching as the previous instalment but I absolutely loved the epilogue and I was left with a huge smile on my face. The next book can't come soon enough!

    Source: Received from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

    Other Reviews:
    If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

    Previous Cover
    Paperback / Kindle:

    Tuesday 24 February 2015

    Review: A Darker Shade of Magic - V.E. Schwab

    Kell is one of the last travellers - magicians with a rare ability to travel between parallel universes connected by one magical city. There's Grey London, without magic and ruled by the mad King George III. Red London - where magic is revered, and where Kell was raised alongside the heir to the empire. White London - where people fight to control the remaining magic and magic fights back. And once there was Black London . . .

    Officially Kell is the Red traveller, carrying letters between the monarchs of each London. Unofficially he is a smuggler, a defiant hobby with dangerous consequences. His escape to Grey London leads to a run-in with Delilah, a cutpurse with lofty aspirations, who forces Kell to take her on a proper adventure. But perilous magic is afoot, and an adventure becomes a mission to save all of the worlds.

    Shades of Magic Series:
    A Darker Shade of Magic
    A Gathering of Shadows
    A Conjuring of Light

    Visit V.E. Schwab's website for more information

    Review:
    I've heard a lot of great things about V.E. Schwab's writing, in fact I had several of her books on my wish list, so when I was offered a review copy of the first book in her new series, A Darker Shade of Magic, I jumped at the chance to read it. I'm so glad I did because I can certainly see what all the fuss was about and I'm definitely going to be working my way through her previous titles while I wait for the release of the next book in this series.

    A Darker Shade of Magic is a wonderful mix of historical fantasy, swashbuckling adventure and magical mayhem. Here there are three very different versions of London, three distinctive parallel universes that only a rare few people known as the Antari are able to travel between. Grey London is closest to a historical version of our world, there is no magic and most people are completely unaware of the other universes. Red London is a lavish kingdom where magic is plentiful and people on the whole are happy and healthy, most people are aware of the other worlds but have no desire to leave their own home. White London has magic but it is a different, darker, kind and people are constantly battling for power over each other, this London is a place where the weak are preyed upon and only the strong survive. There used to be a fourth world but there the magic was twisted and decayed, Black London was being destroyed from the inside out so the other versions of London banded together to permanently close the gateways and cut them off and it is believed that the world has since destroyed itself.

    Kell is one of only two known Antari, he was born in Red London and he is tasked with the role of delivering messages between the royal families from each remaining version of London. Although it is forbidden to bring anything between the different worlds Kell is a collector and he regularly smuggles what he believes are harmless trinkets between the Londons to trade with the few people who know of the different realities. Kell meets Lila when his hobby lands him in trouble, injured and trapped in Grey London Kell has nobody to turn to and is forced to rely on Lila to help him. Lila has always dreamed of adventure so when Kell tells her about Red London and the other universes open to him she is determined to find a way to travel there and see them for herself. What the two of them don't realise is that they have dangerous enemies, ones who could be powerful enough to destroy not just Red London but all three remaining universes.

    I can't tell you how much I enjoyed this story, each version of London is vividly described and I found it incredibly easy to picture them. I loved learning about the magical Red London, it sounds like such a brilliant place to visit and I would love to see the glowing red Thames and experience the magic flowing through it. White London sounds absolutely terrifying, it is cold and harsh with danger lurking on every corner and definitely not the kind of place you would choose to go to while Grey London is dreary and smog filled, pretty much exactly what you'd expect of early 1800's London. I loved the descriptions of magic too, we get to see some exciting magical battles and I enjoyed learning more about Kell's ability to travel between the different worlds.

    One of the places A Darker Shade of Magic really shines is in it's characters though, nobody is what they first seem to be, they all have complex layers to them and very real motives for everything they do. Kell is great, he is intelligent and powerful but he isn't perfect, he makes a lot of mistakes and has to rely on his wits to get him out of the messes he finds himself in. Lila surprised me, I wasn't sure if I was going to like her at first because she seemed to have so little regard for anyone other than herself but it didn't take me long to warm up to her and I loved how badass she was. Lila is feisty, smart and ruthless, she doesn't play by the rules but she does have her own code of honour and no matter how much she tries to pretend to be completely blasé about things she really does care. What I loved most is the friendship that builds between her and Kell, in the beginning they have no reason to trust each other, they are thrown together though and have to work together if they want to survive. It was great to see that Lila, a girl from Grey London who had no magic of her own, was often the one who rescues Kell even though he is the powerful magician. There are so many other characters who are worth a mention here, prince Rye is definitely someone I'm looking forward to seeing more of but V.E. Schwab also created some truly creepy and terrifying villains.

    A Darker Shade of Magic is a fantastic story that was completely different to anything else I've read which is what makes it really stand out. If you love rich world building, brilliant multifaceted characters and plots with plenty of surprising twists then you need this book in your life. It's definitely a series to watch out for and V.E. Schwab has added herself to my list of must read authors.

    Source: Received from Titan Books in exchange for an honest review

    Other Reviews:
    If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

    Paperback / Kindle:

    Blog Tour: V.E. Schwab's Favourite Literary Dystopias


    I absolutely LOVED A Darker Shade of London by V.E. Schwab (my review will be posted later today) so I'm thrilled to be taking part in the blog tour and excited to welcome Victoria to my blog today to tell you all about her favourite literary dystopias. Before I hand over to her I want to tell you a little more about the book though. A Darker Shade of Magic is a fantastic fantasy story, one full of magic and parallel worlds and that will keep you on the edge of your seat as you follow Kell and Lila on their adventure!

    Trust me this is a book you won't want to miss, just check out this blurb if you don't believe me:

    Kell is one of the last travellers - magicians with a rare ability to travel between parallel universes connected by one magical city. There's Grey London, without magic and ruled by the mad King George III. Red London - where magic is revered, and where Kell was raised alongside the heir to the empire. White London - where people fight to control the remaining magic and magic fights back. And once there was Black London . . .

    Officially Kell is the Red traveller, carrying letters between the monarchs of each London. Unofficially he is a smuggler, a defiant hobby with dangerous consequences. His escape to Grey London leads to a run-in with Delilah, a cutpurse with lofty aspirations, who forces Kell to take her on a proper adventure. But perilous magic is afoot, and an adventure becomes a mission to save all of the worlds.

    Visit V.E. Schwab's website for more information

    Now doesn't that sound fabulous? Now let me hand you over to Victoria . . .

    ********************

    Victoria's Favourite Literary Dystopias
    by V.E. Scwhab

    I think the trickiest thing about fictional dystopias is the fact that unlike, say, paranormal, where the character type is the commonality, in dystopian, it’s the world. And while you can reimagine witches or ghosts, it’s hard to reinvent a failed utopia in ways that don’t feel inherently derivative. I admit to being a hard sell, but here are a few of my favorites:

    Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury – An incredible novel about a future in which books are burned because they’re seen as the root of all discord. An obvious choice, but it’s simply stellar.

    Legend by Marie Lu – The reason the Legend trilogy succeeds, in my opinion, is because it doesn’t overemphasize the world. This is one of those rare occasions where less is more. The premise for the dystopian aspect is slim but believable, and the emphasis is on the characters and their relationship. It also gets points for being a YA dystopian take on Les Miserables.

    Brave New World by Aldous Huxley – This is probably my favorite dystopian novel to date. At once out there, and incredibly grounded, I see so much of today’s world in this book about creating a “happy” society through brainwashing, drugs, and social stratification. I found it extremely troubling, and extremely believable.

    ********************

    Thanks so much for a fabulous post Victoria, I have a terrible confession to make & have to admit that I've not read any of the books you mentioned but they all sound fantastic. I actually have a copy of Legend sitting on my to read pile so it looks like I need to bump it up the list but I definitely need to check out the others too so thanks for the recommendations :o)

    Have you read any of Victoria's choices? Are any of them in your favourite literary dystopias list? Which other books would you add?

    Don't forget to check out the rest of the stops on the A Darker Shade of Magic Blog tour:

    Monday 23 February 2015

    Review: Edged Blade - J.C. Daniels

    In the year since her life was torn apart, Kit Colbana has slowly rebuilt herself. There’s a promise of hope in the relationship with the alpha of the local shapeshifters and she no longer comes screaming into wakefulness. Life’s not perfect but then again, when was it ever?

    When her best friend Justin comes to her for help, there’s little question as to what her answer will be. Witches are disappearing and Justin won’t rest until he has answers. Soon, they learn that it’s not just witches who’ve gone missing, but vampires and shifters, too.

    Unlikely alliances are forged as Kit and Justin found themselves drawn into a twisted web of lies and betrayal. As the clock counts down and the culprit behind recent disappearances is revealed, those Kit loves the most become the target of somebody who will kill to protect an ugly secret.

    The Colbana Files:
    A Stroke of Dumb Luck (Free Short Story)
    Bladed Magic (Short Story)
    Damon (Novella)
    Blade Song
    Blade Song: Special Anniversary Edition
    Night Blade
    Broken Blade
    Edged Blade
    Misery's Way (Novella)
    Shadowed Blade
    Haunted Blade

    Visit J.C. Daniels' website for more information

    Review:
    I absolutely love J.C. Daniels (also known as Shiloh Walker) and her Colbana Files has fast become one of my favourite urban fantasy series. The only thing I don't like about these books is having to wait for each new instalment to release so to say I was excited to get my hands on a copy of Edged Blade is an understatement. You know you're reading a good series when you can go a year between books but can immediately dive back into the world like you were just there yesterday. These characters are all so memorable that I never have any problem picking up where I left off and that's quite rare when you read as many books as I do.

    Anyone familiar with the series will know what a tough journey Kit has been on, we have suffered alongside her and watched her go to hell and back but we've also seen how tough she is and watched her start putting her life back together. She came a long way in the last book but her recovery isn't complete and she still struggles to cope with certain fears. I think I find her character even easier to relate to now, she is still that kick ass warrior we first met but she also has a more vulnerable side that we never saw in the beginning. She is brave enough to work through her fears though and she won't let them stop her from helping people in need. I love her relationship with Damon and it was great to see things starting to get back on track. Her ordeal had a major effect on both of them, he felt guilt over not protecting her and she worried that he would see her as a victim, but they are moving past that now and their relationship is stronger than ever. I love how patient he was with her but I also enjoyed seeing Kit take control and tell him exactly what she wanted from him. The banter between them has always been fabulous but there were some particularly hilarious laugh out loud moments in this instalment.

    As I've come to expect from the series there is also plenty of action as Kit works a case alongside Justin who is searching for missing supernaturals. Can they figure out who is taking not just witches but also shapeshifters and vampires? Why are they being taken and what is happening to them? They desperately need to find answers and they're on a time limit, one that is made even worse when someone very important to Kit goes missing. I loved watching Kit at work and especially seeing her dealing with vampires again, something that she's been dreading and trying to avoid ever since her attack. She has to really fight her fears to even be in the same room as a vampire now but she makes a surprising new ally who I'm very intrigued about and hoping we see more of going forward.

    This series is going from strength to strength and Edged Blade is another fantastic instalment. It's going to be a long wait for the next book but I'm confident it'll be worth it and I'm looking forward to many more adventures with Kit and her friends.

    Source: Received from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

    Other Reviews:
    If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

    Paperback / Kindle:

    Sunday 22 February 2015

    Bookish Nails: Fire Sermon - Francesca Haig


    A few weeks ago I was invited to the amazing Harper Voyager offices for a blogger event to celebrate the upcoming release of Fire Sermon, the debut novel by British author Francesca Haig. Having read and loved the book I was super excited about the event and getting the chance to chat with Francesca and she was absolutely lovely. We had such a great time and Harper really spoiled us with delicious cupcakes and some amazing goodie bags. It was great to get a sneaky look at their new offices and their building has the most amazing view across the Thames over St Paul's Cathederal.

    I created this slideshow to share a few highlights from the afternoon:


    Anyone who follows me on Instagram will know that alongside books one of my other obsessions is nail polish so I decided I wanted to play around and create a Fire Sermon related design before the event. I have done book related nails before but for some reason I've never posted them on my blog so I figured I might as well create a new feature here that combines my two biggest addictions. I'm not sure how often I'll post Bookish Nails pics but I'm going to try and make an effort to make it a semi-regular thing.


    I was working from my white Omega proof cover when I decided to keep a clear base and add flames to my nails but I think if I was to recreate the design again I'd be tempted to try a black background so that the flames really stood out more. I think that would be a better match for the finished cover too.

    Francesca Haig has created a world where all children are born in pairs, one twin is always the Alpha, the strongest and most healthy twin, while the other is Omega, born with physical disabilities and much weaker than their counterpart. The Alphas are the society elites, they are the ruling class while the Omegas are second class citizens who are ostracised and looked down upon. One thing that is undeniable is that there is a link between the twins though and if one of them dies so does the other which makes for a really interesting dynamic - how do you fight your oppressors when killing them is the same as committing suicide?


    Anyway, I wasn't happy with just flames so I thought I'd add the Alpha and Omega symbols to my design and although this was fairly simple to create I was really pleased with the way it turned out and I think Francesca quite liked them too!


    Fire Sermon is a fantastic book and it's released by Harper Voyager on the 26th of February so you don't have long to wait before you can get your hands on a copy. I'll be posting my review on the release day but I thought I'd include the cover image and blurb below for you in case you'd like a bit more information in the meantime.

    When Zach and I were born our parents must have counted and recounted: limbs, fingers, toes. We were perfect. They would have been disbelieving: nobody dodged the split between Alpha and Omega.

    Nobody.

    They were born together and they will die together.

    One strong Alpha twin and one mutated Omega; the only thing they share is the moment of their death.

    The Omegas live in segregation, cast out by their families as soon as their mutation becomes clear. Forced to live apart, they are ruthlessly oppressed by their Alpha counterparts.

    The Alphas are the elite. Once their weaker twin has been cast aside, they’re free to live in privilege and safety, their Omega twin far from their thoughts.

    Cass and Zach are both perfect on the outside: no missing limbs, no visible Omega mutation. But Cass has a secret: one that Zach will stop at nothing to expose.

    The power to change the world lies in both their hands. One will have to defeat the other to see their vision of the future come to pass, but if they’re not careful both will die in the struggle for power.

    I'd like to say a huge thanks to everyone at Harper Voyager for inviting me to such a fabulous event & also to Francesca Haig for being so much fun to talk to and for creating such a fascinating world for us to dive into :o)

    Saturday 21 February 2015

    Review: Bitten by a Hellcat - Felicity Heaton

    The sole remaining member of the most famous shifter hunter family in history, Owen Nightingale is a mercenary and a man with a secret held in his closely guarded heart, but when a beautiful a rare shifter catches his eye and offers him a job, he has the feeling he’ll be the one paying for helping her—with his heart.

    Cait is in a spot of trouble with a capital T. A male hellcat has set his sights on claiming her and she’s one kitty who doesn’t want a collar, and who has spent her life avoiding relationship and is intent on remaining free. When she meets a dark, alluring and mysterious hunter, she sees a chance to rid herself of the male, but the price Owen sets and the fierce passion that burns white-hot between them lures her dangerously under his seductive spell.

    Can Owen discover the true intent of the male hellcat and stop Cait from falling into his hands? And can Cait retain control as the heat of desire burns between her and Owen, or will a reckless moment seal both of their fates forever?

    Eternal Mates Series:
    (This series is set in the same world as the Vampire Erotic Theatre series but can be read completely separately)
    Kissed by a Dark Prince
    Claimed by a Demon King
    Tempted by a Rogue Prince
    Hunted by a Jaguar
    Craved by an Alpha
    Bitten by a Hellcat
    Taken by a Dragon
    Marked by an Assassin
    Possessed by a Dark Warrior
    Awakened by a Demoness
    Haunted by the King of Death
    Tuned by a Tiger
    Tamed by a Tiger
    Treasured by a Tiger
    Unchained by a Forbidden Love
    Avenged by an Angel
    Seduced by a Demon King

    Vampire Erotic Theatre Series:
    Covet
    Crave
    Seduce
    Enslave
    Bewitch
    Unleash

    Cougar Creek Mates Series:
    (Set in the same world as Vampire Erotic Theatre & Eternal Mates series but can be read completely separately)
    Claimed by her Cougar
    Captured by her Cougar
    Courted by her Cougar
    Craved by her Cougar

    Black Ridge Bears Series:
    (Set in the same world as Vampire Erotic Theatre, Eternal Mates & Cougar Creek Mates series but can be read completely separately)

    Visit Felicity Heaton's website for more information

    Review:
    Owen comes from a long line of hunters and has spent his whole life training to fight shifters, demons and other supernatural creatures who prey on humans. He works as a mercenary and lives by his own code but he is good at what he does in spite of being human and therefore much weaker than the prey he hunts. Cait is a rare form of shifter, a hellcat, and she is being chased by a male who wants to collar her and force her into being his mate. She has no intention of being caught easily but she knows she will need help if she wants to keep her freedom so she offers Owen the job of taking out the male hellcat who is set on claiming her. Even fighting for their lives isn't enough to dampen the passion that flares between Owen and Cait but it is only when she makes a mistake that is likely to cost Owen his life that she realises just how much he means to her. She will do whatever it takes to save him but it may cost her the thing she prizes most - her freedom.

    As a huge fan of this series I was excited to get my hands on a copy of Bitten by a Hellcat and couldn't wait to start reading it. I have to admit that it took me a little longer to get invested in the story than the previous instalments which I think was mainly down to the fact that we haven't met either of these characters before (well, I don't remember either of them anyway). Luckily that didn't last long though and once we started to get to know both Cait and Owen I was quickly able to root for them as a couple. Owen is a really sweet guy, he may bend the rules but he has his own code of honour and I loved how protective he was of Cait. He wouldn't sit by and let anyone be injured on his watch though and was more than willing to step up even when it was against powerful enemies. Cait is kick ass in her own right and she is just as protective of Owen as he is of her. It was great to see her put her life on the line to protect him and I felt that they were a really well matched couple.

    Bitten by a Hellcat is a fast and fun romance with fantastic chemistry between the main characters and plenty of action both in and out of the bedroom. It expands further on the world that Felicity Heaton has created and if you're a fan of the series you'll recognise a few cameos from characters we already know and love. One think I was particularly excited about is that I think we may finally have met the woman who is going to bring my favourite elf Blue to his knees, I've been looking forward to his story for a long time now & I'm hoping the snippet we see of him here means that his book is getting closer!

    Source: Received from the author in exchange for an honest review

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    If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

    Paperback / Kindle:

    Friday 20 February 2015

    Review: These Broken Stars - Amie Kaufman & Meagan Spooner

    It's a night like any other on board the Icarus. Then, catastrophe strikes: the massive luxury spaceliner is yanked out of hyperspace and plummets to the nearest planet. Lilac LaRoux and Tarver Merendsen survive. And they seem to be alone.

    Lilac is the daughter of the richest man in the universe. Tarver comes from nothing, a young war hero who learned long ago that girls like Lilac are more trouble than they're worth. But with only each other to rely on, Lilac and Tarver must work together, making a tortuous journey across the eerie, deserted terrain to seek help.

    Then, against all odds, Lilac and Tarver find a strange blessing in the tragedy that has thrown them into each other's arms. Without the hope of a future together in their own world, they begin to wonder - would they be better off staying in this place forever?

    Everything changes when they uncover the truth behind the chilling whispers that haunt their every step. Lilac and Tarver may find a way off this planet. But they won't be the same people who landed on it.

    The first in a sweeping science fiction trilogy, These Broken Stars is a timeless love story about hope and survival in the face of unthinkable odds.

    Starbound Trilogy:
    These Broken Stars
    This Night So Dark (Novella)
    This Shattered World
    Their Fractured Light

    Visit Amie Kaufman's website, Meagan Spooner's website or the These Broken Stars website for more information

    Review:
    I'd heard great things about These Broken Stars but even though I had high hopes for the story I had no idea how much I would actually love it. As it turns out I was completely hooked from pretty much the first page and nothing could have got in the way and made me stop reading it! I was captured by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner's writing style, I wanted to dive into the world they have created and I fell head over heels for the main characters. This is the kind of book you want to live in, one you'd happily wipe from your memory banks just so you could experience reading it for the first time all over again and I can't wait to carry on reading the series.

    Lilac is the daughter of the wealthiest man in the galaxy, she has lived a pampered life and been handed everything she could ever wish for. She is surrounded by people who adore her but she knows that most of them are only there because of her wealth and status so although she looks like she's living the dream she's actually rather lonely. As much as she loves her father she feels suffocated by him and she knows all too well what he will do in the name of protecting her and keeping her safe. Tarver is pretty much her opposite, born to a lower class family he is a soldier who has worked hard for everything he's ever had. As a war hero he now finds himself surrounded by the galaxy's elite travelling on the Icarus but he knows he is there more as an oddity to entertain them than because anyone really has any respect for him and he'd much rather be on the lower decks with his fellow soldiers. Lilac and Tarver aren't from the same social circles and there is no real reason for their paths to cross but fate throws them together when their ship crash lands on an unknown planet. Alone and in hostile conditions they are forced to work together to survive while they wait for rescue.

    I don't want to say too much about what happens when they are on the planet but I loved every minute of it, they are fighting for survival while trying to figure out how the Icarus could crash the way it did but for every answer they find they end up with even more questions. Nothing makes sense and there is an even deeper mystery concerning the planet that they now find themselves stranded on. I think what I loved most about this book was the character development and the utterly delightful romance between Lilac and Tarver. I loved seeing their feelings slowly start to grow as they went from disdain for each other through reluctant respect and eventually into friendship and love.

    Lilac can come across as quite cold and standoffish towards Tarver in the beginning which makes it really hard for him to get to know her but because we get to see things from both of their points of view readers can understand that she's doing it to protect him from her father. I liked the fact that even though she has been spoiled her whole life she isn't completely useless, she has some skills and even manages to save Tarver's life on more than one occasion. She never complains but instead grits her teeth and gets on with things. Tarver is much more experienced in survival matters but he doesn't pamper Lilac, he expects her to pull her weight but at the same time is happy to teach her what she needs to know. The two of them work really well together and I enjoyed spending time with them both.

    These Broken Stars kept me on the edge of my seat, there was one particularly shocking twist that left me trying to pick my jaw off the floor and I'm still shocked by the way things played out but I love it when author's manage to pull on my heartstrings and that's exactly what happened here. I know it's only February but would be very surprised if this book isn't in my top 10 reads of 2015 and I absolutely can't wait to make a start on This Shattered World! If you love stories with rich world building and fantastic characters then you need to pick up this series today.

    Source: Received from Turnaround in exchange for an honest review

    Other Reviews:
    If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

    Hardback / Paperback:

    Thursday 19 February 2015

    Review: Blood Games - Chloe Neill

    While Merit didn't choose to become a vampire or Sentinel of Cadogan House, she vowed to fight for her House and it's Master, and she's managed to forge strong alliances with powerful supernaturals across Chicago. But even though Merit has had wild adventures, this may be her deadliest yet . . .

    A killer is stalking Chicago, preying on humans and leaving his victims with magical souvenirs. The CPD hasn't been able to track down the assailant, and as the body count rises, the city is running out of options. Vampires and humans aren't on great terms, but murder makes for strange bedfellows. Can Merit find the killer before she becomes a target?

    Chicagoland Vampires Series:
    Some Girls Bite
    Friday Night Bites
    Twice Bitten
    Hard Bitten
    Drink Deep
    Biting Cold
    House Rules
    Biting Bad
    High Stakes (Novella in the Kicking It anthology)
    Howling for You (Novella)
    Wild Things
    Blood Games
    Lucky Break (Novella)
    Dark Debt
    Midnight Marked
    Phantom Kiss (Novella)
    Blade Bound
    Slaying It (Novella)

    Heirs of Chicagoland Series:
    (Spin off set approximately 20 years on from the end of the Chicagoland Vampires series)
    Wild Hunger
    Wicked Hour

    Visit Chloe Neill's website for more information

    Review:
    There is a serial killer on the hunt in Chicago and since all clues point to the murderer being a supernatural creature it is up to Merit and the Ombuddies to help the CPD figure out exactly what is going on. Quite frankly Merit is just relieved to have something to take her mind off the fact that Ethan has challenged Darius to become the new head of the GP. There are only a small number of possible outcomes to the challenge and Merit isn't sure if she's prepared for any of them!

    I have to admit to having mixed feelings when Ethan challenged Darius, I was intrigued by the idea because it has the potential to open up all kinds of possibilities for the future of the series but at the same time I was a little nervous that it would mean that this story in particular could potentially become quite predictable. I was pretty certain when I picked up Blood Games that I knew exactly how things would play out and where Ethan and Merit would be at the end of it. I'm happy to say I was completely wrong with my guesses though and Chloe Neill managed to side swipe me with something that I would never have considered - I just love it when an author can do that to me! Things are certainly getting interesting and I can't wait to see what happens in the next few books.

    Merit and Ethan are both under a lot of strain in this book and it does seem for a while like they've taken two steps backward in their relationship which was a little disappointing but even though Ethan tries to keep Merit at arm's length I loved seeing her so determined to break through his barriers. Before we've seen her turn tale and run when things get hard so it was great to see her fighting for what she wants but I'm going to admit to wanting to smack Ethan around the head a couple of times and tell him to stop being such an idiot. He does have some incredibly sweet moments too though so I forgave him fairly quickly. When they are on the same page their relationship is one of my favourite to read about and to be honest I still love them when they're arguing, they're just so well suited to each other and I enjoy the way Merit brings out Ethan's more playful side.

    One character that really gets a chance to shine here is Mallory, she has come a long way towards redeeming herself over the last few books but it was here when I really felt her friendship with Merit starts to properly get back on track. I loved that they finally had a real conversation about what had happened in the past and how they both wanted to move forward in the future and I was pleased that Chloe Neill took the time to add that to the storyline. I also really, REALLY loved the section where Merit and Jonah visit the convention, it was absolutely hilarious and I had tears in my eyes from laughing so hard! (Surely I can't be the only one who wanted her to buy the Ethan underwear just so we could see his reaction when he first saw her wearing them? That scene would be PRICELESS!).

    Blood Games is a fab instalment and I think it's been a real game changer so I don't really have any idea what to expect from Dark Debt but I do know it's a book I'm desperate for and I can't wait to see what happens next.

    Source: Purchased

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    If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

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