Review: The Brimstone Deception - Lisa Shearin

The agents of Supernatural Protection & Investigations (SPI) know that fighting evil is a full-time job, especially when a new designer drug - with mind-blowing side effects - hits the streets . . .

It's called Brimstone. After the first few hits, you'll see every supernatural beast sharing the sidewalk, train, or office with you. After that, you'll start seeing the really scary stuff.

I'm Makenna Fraser, seer for the SPI. And the collateral damage caused by Brimstone is something I'd like to unsee: dead drug dealers missing their hearts - and souls. Because your local pusher doesn't stand a chance against the new cartel muscling its way into New York. Plus, since the drug can only be produced with magic and molten brimstone fresh from Hell, a rift to the underworld must be open somewhere in the city.

And when - not if - the cartel loses control of it, well . . .

It's going to be Hell on Earth.

SPI Files:
Lucky Charms (Novella included in the Night Shift anthology)
The Grendel Affair
The Dragon Conspiracy
The Brimstone Deception
The Ghoul Vendetta

Visit Lisa Shearin's website for more information

Review:
There's a new designer drug in town and it has some unfortunate side effects including allowing humans to see through supernatural glamours and realise that there are monsters living among us. As if that wasn't bad enough the drug's main ingredient is brimstone, imported freshly from Hell itself and that means that somewhere hidden in New York is an open portal which could have disastrous consequences if it's not closed before demons start using it as a one way ticket to paradise. SPI Agents Mac and Ian have been tasked with finding out who is behind the drug's creation and also a string of grisly murders amongst the local drug dealers but most importantly they need to find that portal and figure out how to close it before the world is change forever.

This series is going from strength to strength and I really enjoy diving back into this world to spend time with these characters. I love the partnership that is developing between Mac and Ian now that she's starting to find her feet as a Seer. She's still got a lot to learn but it's clear that there is mutual respect between them now and I love the banter between them and their regular driver, werewolf Yasha. I will say that I'm still a bit disappointed that Lisa Shearin seems to have given up on the idea of a romance between Mac and Ian though, they had such brilliant chemistry in the beginning and although I love them as friends I'm still hoping they'll end up being more. I just don't feel the connection between Mac and Rake yet and I'm even less convinced by the Ian and Kylie pairing. Both relationships feel false and they definitely don't have anywhere near the chemistry that Mac and Ian used to. Having said that Rake is growing on me so I'm glad he's still hanging around and perhaps the author will convince me he's a worthy romantic lead eventually.

This series is full of humour so there is lots of witty banter and I enjoy Mac's way of snarking when she's stressed. There is a great cast of side characters too with more being added in every instalment. The Brimstone Deception is full of action and Mac's abilities seem to be heading in an interesting direction, the same goes for the bad guy they're hunting and I'm looking forward to seeing what happens on both counts in future instalments. If you're looking for a lighter funny urban fantasy series you can't go far wrong with this one.

Source: Received from Ace in exchange for an honest review

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Review: The Joy of iPhotography - Jack Hollingsworth

In this beautiful, exciting, and messy life, things can become complicated.

Your photography doesn't have to be.

You can capture all those moments of significance and beauty, easily share what you shoot, and have a blast doing it!

The author's contagious joie de vivre and his passion for photography are sure to get you fired up, and his easy-breezy know-how will have you making stellar photos with your iPhone (or equivalent) in no time.

Jack Hollingsworth is a respected professional photographer who has travelled the world taking pictures for high-end clients. It was the job he always wanted, and he had it.

One day, he put down his big, heavy SLR, picked up an iPhone, started shooting, and you know what? He rediscovered his love for photography and found he could take great pictures while enjoying the freedom only a compact, connected, and fun camera can offer. He's not looked back.

Hollingsworth is known to his many thousands of followers as @photojack


Visit the Jack Hollingsworth's website for more information

Review:
I'm a bit torn when it comes to reviewing this book. On one hand the author is very enthusiastic about photography in general and iPhone photography in particular and he's very keen on encouraging everyone to get out there and have fun taking pictures but on the other hand it doesn't include much in the way of helpful advice for how to go about getting great results. There are lots of stunning pictures included but Jack Hollingsworth is a professional photographer with years of experience under his belt so it's very unlikely the average layman would get anywhere near the same results without years of practise.

I wouldn't be surprised if this book was actually sponsored by Apple because it's so overtly in your face that iPhones are the best thing since sliced bread and everyone should own one. What I REALLY wish is that the author had included tips on how the various camera settings work beyond not-so-helpfully telling you to "Invest a weekend of learning the technical aspects of the iPhone camera" without giving any clue where to find this information. Likewise there are many apps mentioned but hardly any detail given about what each app can be used for or how you'd choose which ones might be the best for the effects you're looking to achieve. You could spend a fortune buying all these apps (& extra equipment recommended like a tripod, additional lenses, bluetooth camera flashes etc) but if you don't know when or how best to use them it's just wasted money. Of course you can learn a lot by trial and error but you don't spend nearly £10 on a book just to be told the first 10,000 pictures you take will probably be rubbish but keep trying and you'll get good results eventually.

There are some interesting facts and figures included and flicking through to look at the photos included might give you some ideas regarding composition for taking your own images but don't expect much in the way of practical advice on how to actually take great photos with your iPhone or any other camera.

Source: Received from Amazon Vine in exchange for an honest review

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Review: Night Shift: An Insight into Depression That Words Often Struggle to Reach - Debi Gliori

'Debi Gliori is amazing. Her pictures offer people an insight into depression that words often struggle to reach. She makes visible the invisible. And I for one want to thank her for that.'
- Matt Haig, bestselling author of Reasons to Stay Alive

A groundbreaking picture book on depression with stunning illustrations.

With stunning black and white illustration and deceptively simple text, author and illustrator Debi Gliori examines how depression affects one's whole outlook upon life, and shows that there can be an escape - it may not be easy to find, but it is there. Drawn from Debi's own experiences and with a moving testimony at the end of the book explaining how depression has affected her and how she continues to cope, Debi hopes that by sharing her own experience she can help others who suffer from depression, and to find that subtle shift that will show the way out.

'I have used dragons to represent depression. This is partly because of their legendary ability to turn a once fertile realm into a blackened, smoking ruin and partly because popular mythology shows them as monstrous opponents with a tendency to pick fights with smaller creatures. I'm not particularly brave or resourceful, and after so many years battling my beasts, I have to admit to a certain weariness, but I will arm-wrestle dragons for eternity if it means that I can help anyone going through a similar struggle.'

Visit Debi Gliori's blog for more information

Review:
If you have ever suffered with depression then you'll already know exactly how hard it can be to put your feelings into words to try and explain to other people what you're going through. It's something I still find really hard to discuss even with family members and close friends who see me living through it day by day.

In Night Shift Debi Gliori has used her own personal experience with depression to create moving pieces of art that really capture how depression can feel, the way it isolates you from the world and makes even simple everyday tasks seem impossible. But, more importantly, she also shows that the feelings don't last forever and that you can come out on the other side.

Of course everyone's journey is different but this book spoke to me on so many levels and I think it's perfect for anyone who is or has suffered from depression but also for people who know someone who is struggling. It might just give you an idea what it's like to be inside a depressed person's head for a little while. Picking this up reminded me of how I felt when I first read I Had a Black Dog by Matthew Johnstone, that I wasn't suffering alone and that finally there was something I could show other people to make them understand how I felt, so I'd like to thank Debi Gliori for sharing her experiences.

Source: Received from Hot Key Books in exchange for an honest review

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Review: Day Zero - Kresley Cole

Arcana means secrets, and these Arcana Chronicles short stories from #1 New York Times bestselling author Kresley Cole are filled with them. Experience firsthand the beginning of the end and behold the apocalypse through the eyes of characters you only thought you knew.

Ashes to Ashes . . .
Evie Greene's story of the Flash is just one of many. All over the world, those connected in some way to the lethal Arcana game - like Death, Jack, and Fortune - must first survive a horrifying night of blood and screams.

We all fall down.
Some will have to grapple with new powers; all will be damned to a hellish new existence of plague, brutality, desolation, and cannibalism. Find out who they lost, why they endure, and what they sacrificed in order to live past Day Zero . . .

The Arcana Chronicles:
Poison Princess
Endless Knight
Dead of Winter
Day Zero (Novella)
Arcana Rising
The Dark Calling (2017)

Visit Kresley Cole's website or The Arcana Chronicles website for more information

Review:
If you're a fan of Kresley Cole's Arcana Chronicles then Day Zero is a must read companion. It does contain spoilers for the first three books so I wouldn't recommend picking it up until you've read Dead of Winter but it contains lots of fun information about the major Arcana players in the series and definitely got me excited about reading the next book.

Have you ever wanted to know where each of the main characters were when the Flash occurred on Day Zero? We saw Evie's story first hand and have heard bits and pieces about what happened to the others throughout the series but this book gives us a chance to see exactly what happened. It also includes profiles on the various Arcana with information about their powers, special skills, weapons and a whole lot more. Some of the information is still blank because it hasn't been uncovered and Matthew (aka The Fool) has redacted things he's not ready to share yet but it was really nice to have everything all in one place to remind me of the details.

You'll be very happy to hear that Jack's Flash story is also included even though he's not one of the Arcana players. I still suspect that he's the inactive card but Kresley Cole states at the beginning of the book that she'll neither confirm or deny if that's the case. Either way I absolutely love Jack's character so I'm glad we got to hear from both him and Death in this book and I'm definitely ready to continue the series and find out what happens next in Arcana Rising.

Source: Purchased

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Review: Wild Embrace - Nalini Singh

The “alpha author of paranormal romance”* presents a stunningly sensual collection of four all-new Psy-Changeling novellas, in which taboos are broken, boundaries are crossed, and instincts prove irresistible...

Echo of Silence
In a deep-sea station, Tazia Nerif has found her life’s work as an engineer, keeping things running smoothly. But she wants nothing more than to break down the barrier of silence between her and her telekinetic Psy station commander...

Dorian
A changeling who can never shift lives a life of quiet frustration—until he learns how to let his leopard come out and play...

Partners in Persuasion
Still raw from being burned by a dominant female, wolf changeling Felix will never again risk being a plaything. But for dominant leopard Dezi, he’s the most fascinating man she’s ever met. She just has to convince this gun-shy wolf that he can trust the dangerous cat who wants to take a slow, sexy bite out of him…

Flirtation of Fate
Seven years ago, Kenji broke Garnet’s heart. Now the wolf packmates have to investigate the shocking murder of one of their own. And the more Kenji sees of the woman Garnet has become, the deeper he begins to fall once more. But even his primal instincts are no match for the dark secret he carries...

*Booklist, starred review

Psy-Changeling Series:
(Season One in the Psy-Changeling World)
Beat of Temptation (Novella included in Wild Invitation and the An Enchanted Season anthology)
Whisper of Sin (Novella included in the Burning Up anthology or as a separate ebook)
Slave to Sensation
Visions of Heat
Echo of Silence (Novella included in the Wild Embrace anthology)
Caressed by Ice
Stroke of Enticement (Novella included in Wild Invitation and The Magical Christmas Cat anthology)
Mine to Possess
Hostage to Pleasure
Dorian (Novella included in the Wild Embrace anthology)
Branded by Fire
Blaze of Memory
Bonds of Justice
Play of Passion
Declaration of Courtship (Novella included in Wild Invitation)
Kiss of Snow
Texture of Intimacy (Novella included in Wild Invitation)
Tangle of Need
Partners in Persuasion (Novella included in the Wild Embrace anthology)
Heart of Obsidian
Flirtation of Fate (Novella included in the Wild Embrace anthology)
Secrets at Midnight (Novella included in the Night Shift anthology)
Shield of Winter
Shards of Hope
Allegiance of Honour

Psy-Changeling Trinity Series:
(Season two in the Psy-Changeling World)
Silver Silence
Ocean Light
Wolf Rain

Visit Nalini Singh's website for more information

Review:
I love the way Nalini Singh gives fans a chance to see the romances that don't get to play out in the full length novels. The Psy-Changeling world is such a huge one that it would be impossible for everyone to get their own book so these additional novellas are a great way to revisit old favourites or just add extra depth and background. She is one of the few authors who never fails to make me connect with her characters, whether she's writing short stories, novellas or full length books she never lets me down and I always know I'm in for a treat when I pick up something with her name on it.

Wild Embrace contains four brand new novellas that have never been published anywhere else. These stories are set at different points throughout the Psy-Changeling series (I'll point out where they fit in as I talk about each individual novella) and although they aren't essential reading because you won't miss any major plot points if you skip them I'd still highly recommend picking up this anthology because they're all great.

Echo of Silence:
This novella is set just after Visions of Heat and gives us the chance to spend time on the deep-sea station Alaris with human engineer Tazia and telekinetic Psy Stefan. I can't be the only fan who has been desperate to get to know the Stefan, I mean he was the one who wrote the Psy guide to sex that all the other Psy guys have been adding to throughout the series, so of course I wanted to know more about him! Although it isn't a secret that Stefan's Silence is defective he still has to be incredibly careful not to show his emotions in case he ends up getting his mind wiped by the Psy Council. The only reason he's been left alone this long is because he has such a rare and useful ability but that won't save him if they find out just how "broken" he is. Just because he's good at hiding his emotions doesn't stop him feeling them though and I absolutely loved the slow build relationship that develops between him and Tazia.

Tazia was a great character and I loved seeing how strong she was to fight against her culture to follow her dreams of becoming an engineer. It wasn't easy for her to go against her family's wishes and it was for her to be estranged from the people she loved but it was nice to see how Stefan was so caring towards her when she needed him to be. They're also facing a bigger struggle than most of the other couples in the series because Stefan has to work so hard to hide their relationship on the Psy-net. They are taking a huge risk to be together but it more than pays off for them in the long run.

Dorian:
I loved Dorian's story, it's the shortest one in the anthology and unlike the others it's not a romance but it was great to get further insight into his character's background. This story takes place over a number of years and finishes just after events in Visions of Heat. As a leopard Changeling without the ability to actually change shape Dorian has never had it easy and this story is all about him learning to come to terms with his situation.

Dorian had to learn to find other ways to communicate with his other side and he had to learn other ways to play and work alongside the rest of his pack. It was obvious in his book (Hostage to Pleasure) that he was well respected by Lucas and his packmates but this is more about him dealing with his personal demons. This story does contain a few spoilers for his storyline so if you've not read his book yet I'd recommend holding off on this one. Having said that if you already know what happens to him later on you're going to absolutely love the last scene in this story. It totally melted my heart and I love Dorian more than ever now.

Partners in Persuasion:
This novella begins towards the end of Tangle of Need and features submissive wolf Felix and dominant leopard Dezi. Felix has been hurt before by a dominant wolf so he's afraid of getting burnt a second time but Dezi knows what she wants and she has the patience to win Felix around. It's not always easy to sell me on a dominant female / submissive male pairing, too often dominant is actually code for "arrogant and bitchy" when it comes to women while submissive men are just too easy for them to walk all over and that never sits well with me. I trust Nalini though and she didn't steer me wrong here.

Dezi is strong and she's definitely the dominant partner in this pairing but she's not pushy or arrogant and she's very careful not to push Felix beyond his boundaries. Felix may be submissive but that doesn't make him weak and he's willing to stand his ground when he needs to so I have no fears that Dezi could take advantage of him. I think they're actually both incredibly strong characters and I enjoyed seeing them work around the challenges that come as part of being not just a dominant/submissive pairing but also from being from both SnowDancer and DarkRiver packs. I love the way the two packs are becoming more and more entwined as the series progresses!

Flirtation of Fate:
I think a lot of fans have been waiting for Kenji and Garnet's story for a long time now, Flirtation of Fate takes place towards the end of Heart of Obsidian and gives Kenji a second chance to make things right with Garnet after he rejected her previously. I've loved the banter between these two for a long time now and I've been wondering if they were ever going to act on it but I didn't realise quite how much Kenji had hurt Garnet by walking away from her before. I was irritated with him when I found out his reasons, I thought their age was a pretty poor excuse for leaving when he knew exactly what she was to him but he's so lovable that I ended up forgiving him just like Garnet did.

This story takes place away from the SnowDancer den at the territory Kenji look after and there is a bit of mystery going on in the background after one of their packmates is murdered. I have to admit I'd figured out the killer fairly early on but that didn't stop me enjoying seeing Kenji and Garnet working together to try and put it all together. I would have loved this story to be a bit longer so we could have spent more time with them as a couple but I still really loved their flirtatious banter and think they're a fab couple.

Source: Received from Gollancz in exchange for an honest review

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Review: Rock Wedding - Nalini Singh

New York Times bestselling author Nalini Singh continues her Rock Kiss series with a hot, sweet, emotional contemporary romance about love and forgiveness…

After a lifetime of longing for a real family, Sarah Smith thought she’d finally found her home with rock star Abe Bellamy, even if she knew Abe didn’t love her the way she loved him. But their brief relationship, filled with tragedy and heartache, nearly destroyed her. Alone, emotions in turmoil, and already shaky self-esteem shattered, Sarah struggles to pick up the pieces in the wake of their divorce.

Abe knows he’s to blame for the end of his marriage. Caught in a web of painful memories, he pushed away the best thing in his life – the sexy, smart woman he adores – breaking them both in the process. Then fate throws him a second chance to get things right, to prove to Sarah that she means everything to him. Abe desperately wants that second chance at love…even if he knows he doesn’t deserve it.

But can he convince Sarah – now strong and independent without him – to risk her wounded heart one more time?

Rock Kiss Series:
Rock Addiction
Rock Courtship (Novella)
Rock Hard (Crossover with the Hard Play series)
Rock Redemption
Rock Wedding

Hard Play Series:
(Spin off from the Rock Kiss series featuring the Bishop brothers)
Cherish Hard
Rock Hard (Crossover with the Rock Kiss series)
Rebel Hard
Love Hard

Visit Nalini Singh's website for more information

Review:
When Sarah met Abe she thought she had been swept of her feet by Prince Charming, all she ever wanted was to be part of a family, to have someone to love and who loved her in return. She never felt worthy of his attention and she never felt that he loved her as much as she loved him but she was sure that her love would be enough to see them through anything. That all changed after her miscarriage when Abe wasn't there for her when she needed him desperately, in fact he pushed her away in his grief and said some terrible hurtful things that left her heart completely shattered. Since then Sarah has built up a successful business but she went from a disastrous relationship with Abe to an even worse one with someone else and now she's in trouble.

It was Abe's friends who helped her when she's at her lowest point and now her growing friendship Molly and the other band member's girlfriends put her back in contact with Abe again too. Abe has spent years struggling with grief since the death of his sister and he know he lost the best thing that ever happened to him when he pushed Sarah away in a drug and drink fueled rage. He desperately wants to make amends and prove that he can be the man she always wanted, the man she deserves, but Sarah has had her heart broken already and it's going to take a lot for her to open back up to him again.

There were times when Rock Wedding wasn't an easy read, Sarah and Abe have both been through a lot of heartbreak and they're both still grieving for people they've loved and lost but it just shows how amazing Nalini Singh's writing is that you're right there with them both sharing their pain. I love a good second chance romance but only when it's done right and this book hit the spot perfectly, the couple both made mistakes in their relationship, although Abe's drug use was certainly the biggest cause of their problems, but they've come through the other side stronger than ever. I was a little worried that it would be hard to believe Abe has overcome his addictions but we've seen him sober for a long time now and the way he was able to open up to Sarah about things that he'd always bottled up in the past proves how much he has changed.

If there was ever a couple that deserved to find happiness it has to be these two and it was so beautiful seeing them finally get a chance to put things behind them and move on with their lives. I also loved seeing how all the other couples are doing, there are some really sweet and funny moments between the whole gang that left me with a huge smile on my face. This series has been such a fantastic one and I'm sure it'll be one I reread in the future but in the meantime I'm excited to get to know the rest of Gabe's brothers when Nalini starts publishing the spin off series!

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

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Review: Dream Warrior - Sherrilyn Kenyon

Cratus, the son of Warcraft and Hate, spent eternity battling for the ancient gods who birthed him. He was death to any who crossed him. Until the day he laid down his arms and walked into self-imposed exile. Now an ancient enemy has been unleashed and our dreams are his chosen battlefield. And the only hope we have is the one god who swears he will never fight again.

As a Dream-Hunter, Delphine has spent eternity protecting mankind from the predators who prey on our unconscious state. But now that her allies have been turned, she knows, in order to survive, the Dream-Hunters need another leader. Someone who can train them to fight their new enemies. Cratus is her only hope. But she is a bitter reminder of why he chose to lay down his arms. Time is running out and if she can't win him to her cause, mankind will be slaughtered and the world we know will soon cease to exist.

The Dark-Hunters Series:
The Beginning (Short Story)
Fantasy Lover
Dragonswan (Novella) (Were-Hunter 0.5)
Night Pleasures
Night Embrace
Dance with the Devil
Kiss of the Night
Night Play (Were-Hunter 1)
Seize the Night
Sins of the Night
Unleash the Night (Were-Hunter 2)
Dark Side of the Moon (Were-Hunter 3)
The Dream-Hunter (Dream-Hunter 1)
Fear the Darkness (Short Story)
Devil May Cry
Upon the Midnight Clear (Dream-Hunter 2)
Dream Chaser (Dream-Hunter 3)
Acheron
One Silent Night
Dream Warrior (Dream-Hunter 4)
Bad Moon Rising (Hellchaser 1, Were-Hunter 4)
Dark-Hunter: An Insider's Guide (Hellchaser 2)
No Mercy (Were-Hunter 5)
Retribution
The Guardian (Dream-Hunter 5, Were-Hunter 6, Hellchaser 3)
Time Untime (Were-Hunter 7, Hellchaser 4)
Styxx
Dark Bites (Short Story Anthology)
Son of No One (Were-Hunter 8, Hellchaser 5)
Dragonbane (Were-Hunter 9, Hellchaser 6)
Dragonmark (2016)

Chronicles of Nick Series:
(This is a YA spin off from Sherrilyn Kenyon's adult Dark-Hunters series)
Infinity
Invincible
Infamous
Inferno
Illusion
Instinct
Invasion
Intensity

Visit Sherrilyn Kenyon's website for more information

Review:
After being disappointed by One Silent Night it's taken a while before I felt the urge to pick up another book in the Dark-Hunters series and as much as I've loved some of the earlier books (and Acheron's story in particular!) I have to say I didn't have particularly high expectations for Dream Warrior since it's about characters I don't remember seeing before and therefore didn't feel invested in. I should have known better though because Sherrilyn Kenyon rarely steers me wrong and this book was everything I could have hoped for.

As the son of the gods of Warcraft and Hate Cratus never had an easy life. He spent centuries following Zeus's orders and carrying out punishments on his behalf but when he was asked to kill an innocent child he couldn't bring himself to go through with it. As punishment for refusing to commit murder Cratus was stripped of his godhood and sent into exile on the human realm. For hundreds of years Cratus has lived amongst the humans being tortured nightly by the Dolophoni, he has been kept in isolation and has spent all his time stewing in hatred and wishing for revenge. Now Zeus realises he needs Cratus's help against a mutual enemy who wishes to destroy the world so he sends Dream-Hunter Delphine to try and convince Cratus to put his hatred to one side and ally himself with the gods once more.

I don't want to talk more about the plot so I'll just say that Dream Warrior was a really fun and very easy read. I liked both of the main characters and although they fell in love quite quickly that didn't bother me in the slightest so I found it very easy to cheer them on towards their HEA. There was plenty of humour and action, we're introduced to some new evil characters who will potentially take the series in a new direction and we get cameo appearances from some of our favourite characters from previous books. This was a nice set up for a new story arc and I'm very interested to see where the series goes from here so it definitely won't take me as long to pick up the next book as it did to get to this one.

Source: Received from Piatkus in exchange for an honest review

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Review: The Gathering Storm - Robert Jordan & Brandon Sanderson

The Wheel of Time turns and Ages come and go, leaving memories that become legend. Legend fades to myth, and even myth is long forgotten when the Age that gave it birth returns again. In the Third Age, an Age of Prophecy, the World and Time themselves hang in the balance. What was, what will be, and what is, may yet fall under the Shadow.

Tarmon Gai'don, the Last Battle, looms. And mankind is not ready.

The final volume of the Wheel of Time, A Memory of Light, was partially written by Robert Jordan before his untimely passing in 2007. Brandon Sanderson, New York Times bestselling author of the Mistborn books, and now Stormlight Archive, among others, was chosen by Jordan's editor--his wife, Harriet McDougal--to complete the final volume, later expanded to three books.

In this epic novel, Robert Jordan's international bestselling series begins its dramatic conclusion. Rand al'Thor, the Dragon Reborn, struggles to unite a fractured network of kingdoms and alliances in preparation for the Last Battle. As he attempts to halt the Seanchan encroachment northward--wishing he could form at least a temporary truce with the invaders--his allies watch in terror the shadow that seems to be growing within the heart of the Dragon Reborn himself.

Egwene al'Vere, the Amyrlin Seat of the rebel Aes Sedai, is a captive of the White Tower and subject to the whims of their tyrannical leader. As days tick toward the Seanchan attack she knows is imminent, Egwene works to hold together the disparate factions of Aes Sedai while providing leadership in the face of increasing uncertainty and despair. Her fight will prove the mettle of the Aes Sedai, and her conflict will decide the future of the White Tower--and possibly the world itself.

Wheel of Time Series:
New Spring (Prequel Story but it's recommended to read after Crossroads of Twilight)
The Eye of the World
The Great Hunt
The Dragon Reborn
The Shadow Rising
The Fires of Heaven
Lord of Chaos
A Crown of Swords
The Path of Daggers
Winter's Heart
Crossroads of Twilight
Knife of Dreams
The Gathering Storm
Towers of Midnight
A Memory of Light

Visit the Wheel of Time series website for more information

Review:
Like a lot of fans of this series I was a little nervous going into The Gathering Storm because I wasn't sure if Brandon Sanderson would be able to capture the feel of the Wheel of Time series in quite the way Robert Jordan has created it. I'd never actually read a book by Brandon Sanderson before (although I'll certainly be buying some of them when I've finished this series!) so it wasn't a reflection on him as an author, just fears about a well loved series having a change in author. Of course I'm glad that Robert Jordan allowed someone else access to his notes so that the series wasn't left open ended but the nerves were definitely real when I picked up this book.

Luckily that worry turned out to be unneeded though because this ended up being one of my favourite books in the series. Yes there are differences in the writing style between the two authors but overall I think the changes Brandon Sanderson made to some of the characters (and certainly the increased pacing of the story!) were for the better. The things that have irritated me more and more in the most recent books were markedly absent here and I enjoyed the book so much more because of that. It takes us back to the good old days when there was always something interesting happening, no more boring filler chapters and three thousand side characters being added in every instalment that had pretty much no relevant role in the overall storyline.

The two characters who are really the main focus of The Gathering Storm are Rand and Egwene. Rand is on a difficult path and his storyline has been getting darker and darker as he tries to mold himself into someone who is capable of putting the greater good above the lives of individuals. It's completely against Rand's nature to allow people he considers under his protection, especially women, to get hurt in battle but he has come to the realisation that they won't be able to win at Tarmon Gai'don without casualties. It's quite sad to see Rand fighting against his instincts and also struggling with his madness in this book but his storyline is definitely interesting and I think he made a key realisation towards the end of the book that is going to make things a little easier for him going forwards.

Egwene really shines in this book, she really started to show her strength in the previous instalment and that just continues here. She has grown so much since she was raised as the Amyrlin Seat of the rebel Aes Sedai and her wisdom and cunning shine through in this book. There is no doubt in my mind that she is going to make a fantastic Amyrlin and I can't wait to watch her bring all the ajas back together again under the white tower where they all belong. It's going to be an exciting time for the Aes Sedai and I'm particularly interested to see how they deal with the Seanchan after the betrayal in this book.

It's obvious that various plot threads are being woven closer together now that the end of the series is approaching. I can't actually believe there are only two books left but I am more excited about this series than ever and I can't wait to see how each of the character's stories end.

Source: Purchased

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Review: Breath of Fire - Amanda Bouchet

US Cover

SHE'S DESTINED TO DESTROY THE WORLD...

"Cat" Catalia Fisa has been running from her destiny since she could crawl. But now, her newfound loved ones are caught between the shadow of Cat's tortured past and the threat of her world-shattering future. So what's a warrior queen to do when she knows it's her fate to be the harbinger of doom? Everything in her power.

BUT NOT IF SHE CAN HELP IT
Griffin knows Cat is destined to change the world—for the better. As the realms are descending into all-out war, Cat and Griffin risk sacrificing everything they’ve fought for. Gods willing, they will emerge side-by-side in the heart of their future kingdom...or die trying.

The Kingmaker Chronicles:
A Promise of Fire
Breath of Fire
Heart on Fire

Visit Amanda Bouchet's website for more information

Review:
Breath of Fire picks up immediately after A Promise of Fire ends and it really throws us in at the deep end when Griffin reacts rather badly to finding out one of Cat's biggest secrets. I have to admit I was more than a little disappointed with the way he reacted mainly because he's known all along that she has some pretty big skeletons in her closet and she's never tried to hide that from him. There are some very emotional scenes between them and I was worried for a minute we were going to end up having a long and drawn out argument that continued for half the book but luckily that didn't happen and I loved that they were able to resolve things quite quickly.

I could understand why Griffin was upset because he felt she didn't trust him but at the same time it was easy to see why Cat found it difficult to be upfront with him, she was terrified of losing him because she didn't think he'd want her when he found out about her background. Anyway, they're both fighters who will do whatever it takes to get what they want and they have a very passionate and fiery relationship so it doesn't take long for them to work things through and be able to move forward.

There is a lot going on in this book, we get to spend time with not just Cat and Griffin but also Griffin's family and the rest of his band from the first book. I love that everyone has a role to play and that it isn't always Cat and Griffin working together, sometimes they have to go in different directions to achieve their goals but they trust each other enough to play their part and keep themselves alive until they can be reunited. Griffin probably struggles with that more than Cat does but he does have faith in her abilities even if he wants to be the one to protect her and have her back as much as possible. I just think it's great that they're learning together and they're all involved in the decision making.

Cat has a pivotal role in the series and it's a role she never really wanted and certainly didn't ask for. Griffin is initially the one who is pushing her in that direction but once she starts to think things through she realises how inevitable it is. There is plenty of action along the way and they have to watch out for meddling gods who are sometimes more of a hinderance than a help but it's definitely fun to see what they get up to. This series has definitely become a favourite and I absolutely can't wait to get my hands on the final book, Heart on Fire.

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

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UK Cover

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Review: To Catch a Stolen Soul - R.L. Naquin

Fans of the Monster Haven series by R.L. Naquin will love this beguiling spin-off, featuring a trapped djinn caught in a hot mess of lost souls, fast food and otherwordly murder.

Kam is a soul chaser for the Hidden Government, a much harder job now that the Hidden look like everyone else. Broke, out of magic and sick of playing waitress in a pirate-themed dive bar, Kam jumps at a chance for an out-of-town mission.

A reaper—and his loaded soul stone—have gone missing. The stone contains souls that might get permanently stuck if Kam doesn't find it, like, yesterday. She tracks the reaper down to a food truck outside Kansas City, only to find a dead reaper and no soul stone in sight. Which means that someone who should be dead killed the reaper and is running around with a powerful magic item. Not good.

And apparently the killer is targeting food-truck owners that also happen to be Hidden. So the only thing to do is open her own truck and go undercover—goodbye Kam the Djinn, hello Mobile Food Entrepreneur—and hope that she and her new runaway friend won't be the next targets...

Monster Haven Series:
Monster in My Closet
Ill-Conceived Magic (Short Story)
Pooka in My Pantry
Hidden Holidays (Short Story)
Fairies in My Fireplace
What Zoey Doesn't Know (Short Story)
Golem in My Glovebox
Demons in My Driveway
Transmonstrified (Short Story Collection)
Phoenix in My Fortune

Djinn Haven series:
(Spin off from the Monster Haven series but can be read separately)
To Catch A Stolen Soul
To Seize a Wayward Spirit
To Free a Captured Heart

Visit R.L. Naquin's website for more information

Review:
I love R.L. Naquin's Monster Haven series and was really sad when it ended so you can imagine how excited I was when I found out she was writing a spin off series about my favourite djinn Kam. You don't have to have read the previous series to enjoy this one but I definitely think you'll enjoy it more if you're already a fan, Kam was a big character in the other series and we also get glimpses of a few other familiar faces that just made this even more fun to read.

If you're completely new to this world then all you really need to know is that Kam is a djinn who has been living on earth for 100 years, unfortunately for her she spent most of that time trapped in a box by her last master but now she finally has her freedom and is determined to make the most of it before she has to return to the djinn realm to be with her family. If you're familiar with the series you'll probably remember that Kam left Zoey and her other friends to go out on her own in the world and explore a little. To make a little cash along the way she works for the Hidden Government as a soul chaser, basically someone who tracks down rogue souls and helps them move on to the afterlife.

Kam's latest job involves tracking down a missing Reaper, and the full soul stone he had in his possession, before the souls are trapped inside forever. What starts as a hunt for a missing person quickly turns into a murder investigation and Kam is forced to go undercover amongst a community of Hidden food truck owners while she tries to figure out who is targeting them.

It was so much fun being back in this world again. I did miss Zoey and all the other familiar faces but I enjoyed spending time with Kam and I think it was better that she was out on her own so she could establish herself as the main character for the series. We do get to hear about what the others are up to which was nice but the focus was definitely on Kam and the new friends she makes, particularly a teenage runaway called Ash. Kam and Ash make a great team, although they've not known each other for long they act like sisters and I think having someone to take care of brought out the best in Kam.

My one complaint was that the murder mystery was a little too easy to solve, there wasn't exactly a large suspect pool so it was fairly obvious from very early on who the culprit was and I would have enjoyed it a bit more if the author had managed to surprise me. In spite of that this was a really fun read though, I loved getting to know the new characters and the way things ended definitely left me wanting to spend more time with Kam and her new work partners. I have very high hopes for this series and can't wait to carry on reading it.

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

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Review: The Circle Gathers - Rowan Casey

Not all legends are make-believe...

Three years ago, Jessie “the Berserker” Noble was at the top of the MMA fight game, a world-title contender with a brilliant future ahead of her. Then the visions started and her world came crashing down. Hard. Now Jessie’s a shadow of her former self, taking no-holds barred fights in the underground circuit to earn just enough to buy the drugs she needs to keep the horrible things she sees at bay.

When a man named Dante Grimm tells her she’s the modern incarnation of a champion of old and that she and her soon-to-be companions are desperately needed to hold back the darkness to come, Jessie thinks he’s as insane as she is.

But Grimm’s far from crazy. There is a battle coming the likes of which the world hasn't seen in centuries, a battle against a foe straight out of their worst nightmares.

And for them to succeed, Jessie going to have to dive deep into the heart of the very thing she's been running from all this time - her visions.

Arthurian myth meets urban fantasy in this new series from Rowan Casey!

Veil Knights Series:
The Circle Gathers
Hound of Night

Rowan Casey is a pseudonym for twelve bestselling authors who are writing together in a shared world. For more information about each of the author's click on their names to visit their websites:
Lilith Saintcrow, CJ Lyons, Joseph Nassise, Steven Savile, Annie Bellet, Jon F. Merz, Pippa DaCosta, Robert Greenberger, William Meikle, Steve Lockley, Hank Schwaeble, and Nathan Meyer

Review:
In case you missed it Rowan Casey is a pseudonym for twelve bestselling authors who have come together to write in a shared world. The authors involved are Lilith Saintcrow, CJ Lyons, Joseph Nassise, Steven Savile, Annie Bellet, Jon F. Merz, Pippa DaCosta, Robert Greenberger, William Meikle, Steve Lockley, Hank Schwaeble, and Nathan Meyer but it was Pippa DaCosta's name that got me excited about the series. I've absolutely loved everything else Pippa has written so I went into this with extremely high hopes and I hate to say this but unfortunately I was disappointed.

I know that the first book in any series has a lot of work to do, it has to introduce a whole bunch of new characters, give readers an idea about the rules of the world and at the same time it needs to include enough of a story to make it an enjoyable read. It's not always an easy task and I tend to judge first books a little less harshly because of that. There is no doubt that the series has potential, anything with the tagline "Arthurian myth meets urban fantasy in this new series" definitely gets my attention, but The Circle Gathers just didn't hit the mark for me.

Jessie is an interesting main character, she was a top MMA fighter but her world crashed around her when she started getting visions of strange worlds and even stranger creatures. She turned to drugs to try and block out the visions and now fights in an illegal underground club trying to earn enough money to pay for her next fix. I had to suspend belief a bit that someone who has been taking heroine for two years would still be fit enough to not just take part in a fight club but to actually win every match and I also thought it was ridiculous that she was just able to immediately stop the drug taking when she was offered a chance at a better quality of fight. I don't think addictions are quite that easy to walk away from! As interesting as Jessie is I just don't find her a realistic or even a particularly likeable character but that may change as we get to know her better.

I think where it really went wrong was trying to introduce too many different characters all in one go, towards the end of the book we're thrown in at the deep end and introduced to all the different Knights and it was really hard to keep track of them. I'm assuming that each story will focus on a different Knight which could be interesting but at the moment I don't particularly feel invested in either the group or any of the individuals. Since this is quite short it might have been better to focus on Jessie and perhaps introduce just a couple of the others. It would also have been nice for there to have been more of a plot, this doesn't feel like a complete book and it ends just as things are starting to get interesting.

Like I said I do think the series has potential and I've already bought the second book, Hound of Night, so I'm hoping that this'll be where the series hooks me in properly.

Source: Purchased

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Review: Unexpected Hero - Willow Summers

All Jenna wants is to grace the NYC skyline with a building of her design. But to do it, she must tear down a neighborhood riddled with dangerous criminals who will stop at nothing to claim vengeance.

Sent away from the threat for a week long tour in the wilds of Colorado, Jenna meets a stranger so intense her desire is equally mixed with fear. Tall, built, and incredibly handsome, he isn't what he seems.

After a mission gone badly wrong, Josh left the SEALs without looking back. Haunted by his past, he hides his identity in order to pick up the pieces. But when he meets the sassy architect, the control he tries so desperately to hang on to, flees.

As their mutual attraction and constant battle of wills sets their bodies aflame, danger once again finds Jenna. Josh must face his past if he ever hopes to bring Jenna out of the wilds alive.

Skyline Trilogy:
Unexpected Hero
Unexpected Danger
Unexpected Guardian

Visit Willow Summers' website for more information.

Review:
Jenna is an architect who has been working on a major new project along with the rest of her team. There is a slight issue with the location for their new building though - it is currently being used by criminals for a money laundering operation and the gang understandably don't want to see the property rebuilt. As things heat up and staff come under threat Jenna's whole team is sent away on a retreat in the middle of nowhere while their boss tries to resolve the issues. Josh is working as a guide for the company that organised the hiking retreat while he licks the wounds he received when working for the military. He doesn't like people much and would rather keep his distance from the world but when trouble comes calling he's exactly the kind of man you'd like to have at your back.

I'm a huge fan of K.F. Breene's Warrior Chronicles series so as soon as I heard about this series (written under pseudonym Willow Summers) it went straight to the top of my wish list. It's fair to say I had high expectations but unfortunately the story didn't quite live up to them. It's not a bad book by any means and I will continue the series but there were a few issues that stopped this from being an amazing read.

I think the main issue was the lack of suspense, for the majority of the book the only thing I was worried about was who was going to get attacked by Jenna's rapist-in-waiting colleague Dale. There was no buildup of tension, no real sense of danger and watching the group traipse around the countryside frankly started to get a bit boring. I get that the author was giving us time to get to know the characters but I think it could have been handled better. Another major no-go for me is the fact that that the hero and heroine had sex without using protection. It's even worse because she is on the trip with her boyfriend so she ends up having sex with two different men in a day and not using a condom with the guy she only just met! She does break up with the boyfriend first so she wasn't cheating but it's the lack of condom that really bothers me. The first time they have sex neither of them even think about protection and the second time they start with a condom but for some completely bonkers reason remove it halfway through and finish without it. What on earth was that all about? I'm now completely convinced that Jenna is going to end up pregnant before the end of the series but I'm really hoping I'll be proved wrong about that.

Also, let's backtrack and discuss Dale for a minute. He is an architect who is obviously working for a respectable company but the way he acts is beyond ridiculous and totally unacceptable. He stares at his female colleagues constantly making offensive comments and grabbing at them at every possible opportunity but nobody takes him to one side and tells him to stop? He is so bad that the women can't go anywhere unaccompanied because they genuinely fear that he will attack them and they even have to warn women from other groups to keep their distance and watch out that he doesn't follow them. I'm sorry but this just isn't acceptable, why was he even allowed on this trip in the first place if he can't be trusted to act like a normal human? Why wasn't he fired from his company years ago for sexual harassment? Why do we even need a character like him in the book except to add a sense of danger that isn't coming from anywhere else and to have a convenient target when things start to go wrong? I don't like the threat of rape being used as a cheap plot point when it doesn't add anything to the story, it makes me incredibly uncomfortable and I just don't think it's necessary.

So I've complained about a lot of things that didn't work for me in this book but there were positives too. I really liked Jenna's character, I appreciate a woman who knows what she wants and I like that she's so independent. She can be quite abrasive and holds herself a little distant from the people around her but it made a nice change to read about a heroine who doesn't feel the need to be liked by everyone around her. Josh was great too, he obviously has a lot of demons chasing him from his time in the military but at the moment he's a man of mystery and I'm looking forward to finding out his secrets. The chemistry between these two was great and the sex was hot when I wasn't stressing about the lack of a condom. There are a lot of humorous moments and Jenna's best friend Erika really balanced out Jenna's awkwardness, the friendship between them was brilliant though and it was lovely to see how they stood up for each other.

Unexpected Hero was a little slow in the beginning but the pace picked up nicely towards the end and that's what left me wanting to read more. I have high hopes that the next two books are going to be much faster paced and I'm looking forward to seeing how things play out. I'll warn you now that the book kind of ends right in the middle of things so you'll definitely want to have the sequel to hand so you can dive right in after finishing this one.

Source: Purchased

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Review: Pocket Apocalypse - Seanan McGuire

Endangered, adjective: Threatened with extinction or immediate harm.
Australia, noun: A good place to become endangered.

Alexander Price has survived gorgons, basilisks, and his own family no small feat, considering that his family includes two telepaths, a reanimated corpse, and a colony of talking, pantheistic mice. Still, he s starting to feel like he s got the hang of things at least until his girlfriend, Shelby Tanner, shows up asking pointed questions about werewolves and the state of his passport. From there, it s just a hop, skip, and a jump to Australia, a continent filled with new challenges, new dangers, and yes, rival cryptozoologists who don t like their visiting expert very much.

Australia is a cryptozoologist s dream, filled with unique species and unique challenges. Unfortunately, it s also filled with Shelby s family, who aren't delighted by the length of her stay in America. And then there are the werewolves to consider: infected killing machines who would like nothing more than to claim the continent as their own. The continent which currently includes Alex.

Survival is hard enough when you re on familiar ground. Alex Price is very far from home, but there s one thing he knows for sure: he s not going down without a fight.

Incryptid Series:
14 Jonathan Healy & Frances Brown Short Stories (Read for free on Seanan McGuire's website)
3 Alice Healy & Thomas Price Short Stories (Read for free on Seanan McGuire's website)
Discount Armageddon
Midnight Blue-Light Special
4 Antimony Price Short Stories (Read some for free on Seanan McGuire's website)
3 Istas and Ryan Short Stories (Read most for free on Seanan McGuire's website)
Half-Off Ragnarok
1 Sarah Zellaby and Arthur Harrington Short Story (Read for free on Seanan McGuire's website)
5 Verity Price & Dominic De Luca Stories (Read for free on Seanan McGuire's website)
Pocket Apocalypse
Chaos Choreography
1 Elsie Harrington Short Story (Short Story in the Shadowed Souls anthology)
Magic for Nothing
1 Aeslin Mice Short Story (Purchase though Seanan McGuire's Patreon Page)
Tricks for Free
That Ain't Witchcraft

Ghost Roads Series:
(Stories are set in the Incryptid World)
Sparrow Hill Road
Train Yard Blues (Short Story in the Coins of Chaos anthology)
The Ghosts of Bourbon Street (Crossover Short Story with Verity from the Incryptid series free on Seanan McGuire's website)
Last Call at the Last Chance (Short Story available via Seanan McGuire's Patreon Page)
The Girl in the Green Silk Gown

Visit Seanan McGuire's website for more information

Review:
In Pocket Apocalypse we continue to follow Alex's journey but this time we get to see him travel to Australia with Shelby to help her family deal with a Lycanthropy outbreak. I've come across a lot of different werewolves over the years, from scary monsters to ones who have complete control over their transformations and I have to say that Seanan McGuire's are some of the creepiest I've read about. In this world Lycanthropy is a disease and it if you're infected it changes your body in all kinds of horrible ways. What makes it even worse is that it's not only humans who can be infected and the disease can pretty much be spread to any mammal. The smaller ones don't tend to survive their first transformation but larger animals end up becoming pretty terrifying when they're also werewolves. The prologue showing Alex's first encounter with werewolves was scary but there was a scene later on in the book that was enough to give me nightmares!

Anyway, Australia is a closed ecosystem and they've never had to deal with werewolves before so when Shelby finds out what is going on back home she asks Alex to go with her to help her family. Alex is pretty terrified of werewolves but there is no way he can let Shelby deal with the situation alone so, along with a splinter colony of six Aeslin mice, they set out to help. I think at this point I have to say again how much I adore those mice, I wish I could have a colony of my own and they are always a highlight of these books! I love how devoted they are to the Price family and it always makes me smile when they mention Alex's ancestors, especially when they follow rules that were set by previous members of the family.

I enjoyed getting to see Alex out of his element, Australia is a very different environment to what he is used to and we meet some interesting local Cryptids but the thing that really bothered me was the way Shelby's family and the rest of the Thirty-Sixers treated him. I could kind of understand that her family don't want Shelby to fall in love with an American and end up moving away permanently but considering Alex has put his life at risk to come and help them I was annoyed by the way they acted. Even if you ignored her father's posturing and threatening the new boyfriend attitude there was no excuse for the way the society treated a visiting expert - the ONLY person they had around with any previous werewolf experience. Their utter ignorance and refusal to listen to reason ended up causing some pretty devastating consequences and I've not forgiven them for that yet.

I did love the way Shelby stood up for Alex though, she told her family in no uncertain terms that Alex was going to be a permanent part of their lives and they just had to deal with it. I've really grown to respect Shelby in this book, I liked her before but now I'm totally rooting for them as a couple. Shelby has learnt a lot about Cryptids from Alex and his family and she wants to share that information with the Thirty-Sixers, she realises that they've made mistakes with how they've dealt with certain creatures in the past and she's willing to apologise and make things right in the future. Unfortunately the Thirty-Sixers are much less willing to see where they've been going wrong and I'm not convinced they'll change their ways any time soon. Alex also goes on a sharp learning curve in this book, his family have only had limited dealings with werewolves in the past and he makes a lot of new discoveries here that he's going to be able to share with everyone else when he returns.

I'm having so much fun reading this series and I've really enjoyed getting to know Alex and Shelby but I'm equally excited that we're getting to revisit Verity and Dominic in the next book before moving on to Antimony's story. I hope that we've not seen the last of Alex though, I'd like to see this series continue for a long time and keep switching up the narrators so we get to carry on spending time with everyone.

Source: Purchased

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