Review: The War Priest - Ann Aguirre

Dour. Dutiful. Dogged.

Personal tragedy drove Callum McRae to join the Order of Saint Casimir fifteen years ago; now he’s in charge of a hold he hasn’t lived in for years. Supplies are scarce, he has no knack for dealing with people, and the Gols are at the gates. To make matters worse, he’s also battling an attraction so powerful and forbidden that it imperils his very soul…

Canny. Cheerful. Charming.

Joss Bristow seems bright and cheerful, but she’s hiding a well of sorrow that fuels her music. She’s also prone to leaping before she looks, exactly how she ends up besieged at Burnt Amber. Though she wanted to get to know Callum better, she never imagined that falling for him could cost her life.

He’s the dark of night, and she’s the sun that shines just for him. Two wounded souls have never needed each other more, but between his holy vows and the devastation of war, the odds are stacked against them…

Ars Numina Series:
The Leopard King
The Demon Prince
The Wolf Lord
The Shadow Warrior
The War Priest
The Jaguar Knight (release date to be confirmed)

Visit Ann Aguirre's website for more information

Review:
Callum left his home fifteen years ago to join the Order of Saint Casimir as a priest and he never looked back. He certainly didn't expect to have to come back years later and take control as the hold leader in the middle of a war. The Gols are closing in and battle is looming, supplies are running low and Callum is totally out of practice when it comes to dealing with so many people. Joss is Callum's total opposite, cheerful and empathic to his cold and stoic, she knows exactly how to keep people's spirits up even in the most dire situations. She has admired Callum from afar and wants nothing more than to get to know him better but his plans to return to the priesthood are a huge barrier between them. Joss is exactly what Callum needs though and she might be the only person who can help him get through the challenges that lie ahead.

I've been a fan of Ann Aguirre's Ars Numina series since the beginning but The War Priest was definitely my favourite book so far. I absolutely loved the romance between Joss and Callum. She's such a sweet and warmhearted character while he comes across as really dour and grumpy so at first glance you wouldn't think they fit well together. You'd be totally wrong on that though because Joss is absolutely everything that Callum needs, he locked his heart away after a tragedy and has been in a kind of frozen stasis ever since but Joss's sunshine personality burns through that ice and lets her through to the warm and loving man hidden deep inside.

I loved that their relationship develops slowly, the attraction is there from the beginning but it takes time for them to build a friendship and grow trust before Callum realises that Joss is the most important thing in his life, even more so than the vows he took. Even then his vows to the Order of Saint Casimir are taken seriously, Callum respects the order and he doesn't just walk away because he has feelings for Joss. He talks about it with his brothers and requests permission to leave from the head of the order. These two are ridiculously adorable together and I was so happy with the way things turned out for them.

That isn't to say this story is all easy though. They are in the middle of a war and facing danger on all sides so there is plenty of action happening here. It was nice to see some of the previous characters make cameo appearances and there was a lot of great progress made between the different factions who are all fighting against the Gols. I'm already looking forward to the next book and can't wait to see how this series ends.

Source: Received from Ann Aguirre in exchange for an honest review

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Paperback / Kindle:

Book Trailer: Honor Bound - Rachel Caine & Ann Aguirre

I really loved Honor Among Thieves by Rachel Caine and Ann Aguirre when I read it last year so I'm looking forward to reading the sequel, Honor Bound, too. It's currently on my wish list so when I have some spare cash I'll definitely be grabbing a hardback but in the meantime I thought it would be fun to share the trailer.

Savvy criminal turned skilled Leviathan pilot Zara Cole finds new friends and clashes with bitter enemies in the second book of this action-packed series from New York Times bestselling authors Rachel Caine and Ann Aguirre that's perfect for fans of The 100 and The Fifth Wave.

Zara Cole was a thief back on Earth, but she's been recently upgraded to intergalactic fugitive. On the run after a bloody battle in a covert war that she never expected to be fighting, Zara, her co-pilot Beatriz, and their Leviathan ship Nadim barely escaped the carnage with their lives.

Now Zara and her crew of Honors need a safe haven, far from the creatures who want to annihilate them. But they'll have to settle for the Sliver: a wild, dangerous warren of alien criminals. The secrets of the Sliver may have the power to turn the tide of the war they left behind--but in the wrong direction.

Soon Zara will have to make a choice: run from the ultimate evil--or stand and fight.

Visit Rachel Caine's website or Ann Aguirre's website for more information



and just in case you missed the first book in the series here's all the info on Honor Among Thieves (you can read my review here)

Meet your new favorite kickass heroine in this daring YA series by New York Times bestselling authors Rachel Caine and Ann Aguirre, a thrilling yet romantic futuristic adventure perfect for fans of Claudia Gray's A Thousand Pieces of You.

Petty criminal Zara Cole has a painful past that's made her stronger than most, which is why she chose life in New Detroit instead moving with her family to Mars. In her eyes, living inside a dome isn't much better than a prison cell.

Still, when Zara commits a crime that has her running scared, jail might be exactly where she's headed. Instead Zara is recruited into the Honors, an elite team of humans selected by the Leviathan--a race of sentient alien ships--to explore the outer reaches of the universe as their passengers.

Zara seizes the chance to flee Earth's dangers, but when she meets Nadim, the alien ship she's assigned, Zara starts to feel at home for the first time. But nothing could have prepared her for the dark, ominous truths that lurk behind the alluring glitter of starlight.



What do you think? Have you started this series yet? If you have leave me a link to your reviews in the comments.

Review: The Shadow Warrior - Ann Aguirre

Bitter. Broken. Brutal.

Molded since childhood to be the perfect weapon, Gavriel d’Alana (also known as Death’s Shadow) has devoted himself to serving Thalia Talfayen. The life of a Noxblade is lethal and lonely, and since the princess has no need of him, he secretly believes there’s no reason for him to live—and he should seek a glorious death—but that’s before he tangles with a tiger woman who unleashes his darkest desires.

Tough. Tenacious. Trustworthy.

Magda Versai has a reputation for being unattainable—no deep attachments, only discreet amusements. If she has her way, the pride will never learn of her private heartbreak, as she accepted her curse years ago. Now, she focuses on work, which is why she’s acting as Raff’s bodyguard while secretly hunting for Slay. The search leads Mags to team up with a Noxblade so belligerent that she can’t resisting baiting him.

She’s the steel, he’s the flint, and the sparks they strike together might kindle a fire that could warm them for a lifetime, if they don’t kill each other first…

Ars Numina Series:
The Leopard King
The Demon Prince
The Wolf Lord
The Shadow Warrior
The War Priest
The Jaguar Knight (release date to be confirmed)

Visit Ann Aguirre's website for more information

Review:
Gavriel was trained from childhood to be a lethal assassin, as a Noxblade his sworn duty has been to protect Princess Thalia and it's a job he's been proud to do. But as the Princess makes a marriage alliance with wolf and Pine Ridge alpha Raff he believes his duty as her bodyguard is over and is looking for a new way to serve. Magda has been working as Raff's personal protection but her main reason for travelling to the Eldritch lands is her hunt for former pack member Slay. Nobody knows if Slay willingly became traitor and betrayed the pack or whether he's been taken hostage but Mags is determined to hunt him down and find out the truth. Gavriel agrees to be her guide and help Mags with her hunt but he has very little idea what he's just signed himself up for and the sparks are about to fly.

Events at the beginning of The Shadow Warrior run alongside ones in The Wolf Lord and it was interesting to see how Gavriel reacted to Raff and Thalia's growing closeness, he had always considered himself in love with the princess but it doesn't take him that long to realise it was just admiration. This story gives us some great development in the ongoing story arc and shows that their enemies are only getting started on their campaign designed to start a war. Gavriel and Mags have a part to play in deescalating certain situations but there is far more going on behind the scenes that we're only starting to uncover.

Although the book has plenty of action and a lot going on the best thing by far was the romance and the slow build between Mags and Gavriel. Raised to be a top assassin Gavriel didn't have anything like a normal childhood and he's already lost the warriors he was closest to. He can think of 100 ways to kill someone but he finds it very difficult to make small talk so he came across as quite abrupt in previous stories but he's actually pretty sweet once you get to know him. What I really loved was that Mags was the dominant one in their relationship, Gavriel will fight alongside her when they're in danger but when it comes to the bedroom he prefers to let her take the lead and he likes a little pain to go along with his pleasure.

It's very rare to find a romance hero who isn't a bossy alpha male so Gavriel was a really refreshing change. I also loved the way Mags introduces him to Dominance and submission, she's very open and upfront about her own sexuality and desires and she slowly earns Gavriel's trust well before they start any kind of kinky play. There was no diving in at the deep end, it was all about discovering what worked for both of them and sharing their deepest fantasies. They were perfectly matched in so many ways even though both of them were incredibly wary of relationships.

The Shadow Warrior also set things up perfectly for the next book, The Warrior Priest, and I can't wait to get to know Callum better.

Source: Received from Ann Aguirre 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.

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Review: Honor Among Thieves - Rachel Caine & Ann Aguirre

Meet your new favorite kickass heroine in this daring YA series by New York Times bestselling authors Rachel Caine and Ann Aguirre, a thrilling yet romantic futuristic adventure perfect for fans of Claudia Gray's A Thousand Pieces of You.

Petty criminal Zara Cole has a painful past that's made her stronger than most, which is why she chose life in New Detroit instead moving with her family to Mars. In her eyes, living inside a dome isn't much better than a prison cell.

Still, when Zara commits a crime that has her running scared, jail might be exactly where she's headed. Instead Zara is recruited into the Honors, an elite team of humans selected by the Leviathan--a race of sentient alien ships--to explore the outer reaches of the universe as their passengers.

Zara seizes the chance to flee Earth's dangers, but when she meets Nadim, the alien ship she's assigned, Zara starts to feel at home for the first time. But nothing could have prepared her for the dark, ominous truths that lurk behind the alluring glitter of starlight.

The Honors Series:
Honor Among Thieves
Honor Bound (2019)

Visit Rachel Caine's website or Ann Aguirre's website for more information

Review:
I've been wanting to read Honor Among Thieves ever since I heard Ann Aguirre give a reading last year, let's face it you don't often get to read stories about a girl who falls in love with a sentient space ship so the concept had me hooked! This was such a fun story and the writing switched seamlessly between Ann Aguirre and Rachel Caine, I definitely couldn't pinpoint who wrote which parts.

The story starts by showing us Zara's life on earth, things have been hard for her and she ended up living on the streets and working with a gang to survive, she's done things she's not proud of but she's only ever done what she needed to do to survive. When things go badly she ends up in a young offenders institute and without drastic changes she knows her life is on the line when her old gang eventually manage to catch up with her. It's then that she is offered the chance to take part in the Honors Program, a highly specialised training program that gives her the opportunity to travel through space with one of the Leviathans. The Leviathans are huge, whale like aliens that swim through the galaxy like it's an ocean, they are ancient and powerful and they have the ability to allow humans to live inside them to join them on their journeys.

After training Zara and her crew mate Bea are paired with Nadim, one of the younger Leviathans who is only just beginning his own journey. Working together the girls have to figure out how to survive in space and when Nadim gets injured in a fight with one of his own they start to realise how little humans really know about the Leviathans and what they want with us.

I really enjoyed this story, the world building was great but it was once Zara and Bea go to space and start to bond with Nadim that things really get interesting. I loved that both girls were immediate allies and friends rather than two women facing off against each other like you so often see in YA. They both have different strengths and personalities but they're happy to work together so there are no petty issues to worry about. What I liked most was getting to know Nadim though and seeing the girls through his eyes, the way the Leviathans are described and the way they see and hear the universe was just fascinating and the authors made it so easy to picture what was happening. Leviathans form a psychic bond with their crew and the developing feelings between Nadim and Zara were really well written, there is definitely love there but it's more of a soul bond than anything particularly romantic so there was nothing that weirded me out.

This was a great introduction to the series and it definitely left me excited to see how the story continues. I think we still have so much to uncover about the Leviathans and the reason they contacted humans in the first place and I'm definitely looking forward to seeing how that plays out.

Oh and in case you're interested in knowing what Nadim looks like check out this gorgeous illustration from the book:

Source: Received from the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review, I also won a signed copy from Ann Aguirre.

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 (Preorder):

Review: The Wolf Lord - Ann Aguirre

Roguish. Reckless. Unreliable.

Raff Pineda has a certain reputation among the Animari. He’s the one to call if there’s a party starting, not the man to rely on when all hell breaks loose. Though he’s nominally the leader of the Pine Ridge pack, he defers to his second on the tough calls. Raff prefers to live fast and hard and keep his heart hidden, but a certain Eldritch princess won’t fall for his usual tricks, and their contract political marriage may be anything but convenient.

Ambitious. Elegant. Isolated.

Princess Thalia Talfayen may not have been raised by a witch in a tower, but she’s spent the last few decades locked up for a failed insurrection. Plotting and scheming come naturally to her; personal connections do not. Since she’s come this far in her unstoppable quest to claim the silver throne, she won’t hesitate to do whatever it takes to unite her people, even if that means giving herself to the big bad wolf...

Ars Numina Series:
The Leopard King
The Demon Prince
The Wolf Lord
The Shadow Warrior
The War Priest
The Jaguar Knight (release date to be confirmed)

Visit Ann Aguirre's website for more information

Review:
Thalia is a princess of the eldritch but her father was a traitor and she's spent the last decade locked away from the world. She's determined to claim her rightful place as queen and prevent her people falling into civil war, all she wants is to be a fair ruler and fix the damage caused by her father and the people he allied with. She can't do it alone though and she doesn't have enough of an army to claim the throne so she proposes a marriage alliance with the leader of the Pine Ridge animari wolf pack. Raff is leader in name but has spent years putting off taking as much responsibility as he could, letting his second make all the important decisions. He only became Alpha after the death of his older brother and has never felt worthy of the position so he prefers to spend his time partying. A war is coming though and if he can help bring he eldritch and animari together then they might stand a chance of winning against their common enemy.

This series is just getting better and better, what starts as a marriage of convenience between two strangers quickly morphs into so much more as Thalia and Raff get to know each other. They're both wary initially but the treachery they are surrounded by forces them to work together in dangerous situations and that builds bonds fast. I love how respectful Raff is of Thalia, she's more pragmatic and willing to do things just because she feels they need to be done but Raff doesn't want her forced into a corner and is willing to wait for things to develop naturally. They're both very different characters, Raff is much friendlier and warmer while Thalia is initially quite cold and she has been taught from a young age to keep everyone at a distance but once you get past the surface they have a lot in common and she's much more caring than you realise.

Each story in this world does work as a stand alone from a romance point of view but the world is constantly expanding as we learn more about both the eldritch and the animari so I'd recommend reading the series in order. There are lots of world developments here that are going to have an impact on future stories and I'm looking forward to seeing which couple is up next, I have a feeling I've guessed the hero but I'm not 100% sure so that always keeps things interesting.

Source: Received from Ann Aguirre 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:

Book Trailer: Honor Among Thieves - Rachel Caine & Ann Aguirre

Last year I was lucky enough to meet Ann Aguirre and hear her give a reading from her upcoming book Honor Among Thieves, written with Rachel Caine. I have been looking forward to this book ever since, I mean how often do we get to read a story about a girl who falls in love with a sentient space ship? The book is out on the 13th of February so not too much longer to wait now but in the meantime you can check out the trailer below and add the book to your Goodreads shelves here!

Meet your new favorite kickass heroine in this daring YA series by New York Times bestselling authors Rachel Caine and Ann Aguirre, a thrilling yet romantic futuristic adventure perfect for fans of Claudia Gray's A Thousand Pieces of You.

Petty criminal Zara Cole has a painful past that's made her stronger than most, which is why she chose life in New Detroit instead moving with her family to Mars. In her eyes, living inside a dome isn't much better than a prison cell.

Still, when Zara commits a crime that has her running scared, jail might be exactly where she's headed. Instead Zara is recruited into the Honors, an elite team of humans selected by the Leviathan--a race of sentient alien ships--to explore the outer reaches of the universe as their passengers.

Zara seizes the chance to flee Earth's dangers, but when she meets Nadim, the alien ship she's assigned, Zara starts to feel at home for the first time. But nothing could have prepared her for the dark, ominous truths that lurk behind the alluring glitter of starlight.

Visit Rachel Caine's website or Ann Aguirre's website for more information



Hardback:

Review: Vanguard - Ann Aguirre

The voyage of a lifetime awaits.

Since the war ended, Tegan has dreamed of an epic journey, so when she has the opportunity to sign on as ship’s doctor, she can’t wait. It’s past time to chart her course. Millie Faraday, the kindest girl in the free territories, also yearns to outrun her reputation, and warrior-poet James Morrow would follow Tegan to the ends of the earth.

Their company seems set, but fate brings one more to their number. Tegan will battle incredible odds while aiding Szarok, the Uroch vanguard, who has ventured forth to save his people. Szarok is strange and beautiful, like a flower that blooms only in the dark. She shouldn’t allow him close, as such a relationship is both alien and forbidden. But through stormy seas and strange lands, she will become stronger than she ever knew.

Adventures almost never go according to plan, and when Tegan understands what her heart truly wants, it might change her life forever…

Razorland Series:
Foundation (Free short story on the Tor website)
Enclave
Endurance (Novella)
Outpost
Restoration (Free short story on the MacMillan website)
Horde
Vanguard

Visit Ann Aguirre's website for more information

Review:
I was really looking forward to reading Tegan's story but I have to admit I was a little wary when I realised it was going to involve a romance between her and the Uroch vanguard Szarok. I'd been rooting for her and James in the earlier books so I was disappointed to see my ship sinking and to be honest I just couldn't see how I'd be able to get on board with a relationship between a human and one of the uroch, it wasn't something I could quite get my head around! I'm very happy to say that Ann Aguirre totally proved me wrong with Vanguard though and I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

Tegan has saw the worst of what humanity has to offer before she was rescued by Deuce and Fade and although her life has changed dramatically since then and her training as a healer has brought her a great amount of respect she's still wary of people in general and men in particular which is completely understandable. She has a great sense of right and wrong though and in spite of everything she's been through she's incredibly compassionate and caring so it shouldn't be much of a surprise when she automatically connects with Szarok after seeing him being ostracised by the people around her. She understands exactly what the uroch risked when they chose to help humanity and she's angry for the way he is treated now that they are asking for help in return. I don't want to go into too much detail but I loved the slow build of their relationship, the way they gradually let their guards down around each other and learn to trust and the slowly growing friendship that blossoms into a very unlikely attraction. They were so sweet together and it didn't take long for me to start rooting for the pair of them.

I also found it incredibly interesting to see how the world was being put back together after the big battle. We get a chance to catch up with a lot of the previous characters which was nice but it was definitely Tegan and Szarok who were the stars of this book. James has a story of his own which I enjoyed but I have to admit I wasn't as invested what was happening with him even though I liked Millie too. This was a fitting end to the series, it tied up a lot of loose ends and gave us a good idea about what life would be like for humanity and the uroch in the future and I'm very glad we got this chance to revisit the world Ann Aguirre has created.

Source: I was given a signed copy from the author.

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:

Review: Horde - Ann Aguirre

The epic conclusion to Ann Aguirre's USA Today-bestselling Razorland trilogy.

The horde is coming.

Salvation is surrounded, monsters at the gates, and this time, they're not going away. When Deuce, Fade, Stalker, and Tegan set out, the odds are against them. But the odds have been stacked against Deuce from the moment she was born. She might not be a Huntress anymore, but she doesn't run. With her knives in hand and her companions at her side, she will not falter, whether fighting for her life or Fade's love.

Ahead, the battle of a lifetime awaits. Freaks are everywhere, attacking settlements, setting up scouts, perimeters, and patrols. There hasn't been a war like this in centuries, and humans have forgotten how to stand and fight. Unless Deuce can lead them.

This time, however, more than the fate of a single enclave or outpost hangs in the balance. This time, Deuce carries the banner for the survival of all humanity.

Razorland Series:
Foundation (Free short story on the Tor website)
Enclave
Endurance (Novella)
Outpost
Restoration (Free short story on the MacMillan website)
Horde
Vanguard

Visit Ann Aguirre's website for more information

Review:
With the Horde camped all around Salvation and everyone Deuce has come to care about once again in danger she has set out with Fade, Tegan and Stalker to try and get help from the nearest settlements. The number of Freaks they're up against leave them facing almost impossible odds but Deuce and her friends are determined and as they gradually gain the respect of other settlements their army starts to grow. They're going to need a miracle if they have any chance of winning though and the assistance they badly need comes from a very unexpected quarter.

This book was fantastic, it's fast paced, full of action and pretty bloody and brutal. I think it's probably the darkest book in the series but there were moments of lightness that stopped it being too dark. I love that Ann Aguirre doesn't try to sugarcoat things though, this is a war, the stakes are high and every victory they have is going to cost them. Sometimes the price is almost too much to bear but giving in isn't an option so Deuce just has to find a way to keep pushing on. She's come such a long way since the first book and now she's such a wonderful young woman, she's not perfect and she makes mistakes but she has the heart of a lion and she is determined to make a positive difference with her life. The relationship between her and Fade has been great, they've been through so much together and Fade is in a bad place at the start of this book but Deuce never gives up on him and they fight to find their way back to each other.

Horde had some brilliant twists to it and there were a few shock moments that I definitely wasn't expecting. In fact one thing upset me far more than I would have expected it to. We're introduced to some great new characters along the way and there are a few familiar faces from Deuce's past that I was really happy to see. It was interesting to see how each different settlement lived and how they went about protecting themselves in this new world. Travel between the settlements was treacherous so each group had to be pretty self sufficient but some of the towns and villages they came across were more dangerous than others.

I know Horde was originally meant to be the final book in this trilogy and as such it's actually a pretty great ending that ties up all the major threads that have been running through the series. I'm glad that Ann Aguirre decided to give fans another story set in this world though, I love Tegan and am looking forward to spending more time with her but more than anything I'm curious to see how the world goes about rebuilding after the major battle in this book.

Source: Purchased

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 / Kindle:

Review: Restoration - Ann Aguirre

If you wondered why Fade retreated from Deuce at the end of Outpost, find out in his own words.

Short Story that can be read for free on the MacMillan website.

Razorland Series:
Foundation (Free short story on the Tor website)
Enclave
Endurance (Novella)
Outpost
Restoration (Free short story on the MacMillan website)
Horde
Vanguard

Visit Ann Aguirre's website for more information

Review:
Restoration is a free short story can be read on the MacMillan website. Please be aware that it contains spoilers for Outpost so I definitely don't recommend reading it until after that book!

This story is told from Fade's point of view and it shows us exactly what was going on in his head at the end of Outpost. It was heartbreaking to see how depressed he was and how worthless he was feeling and as much as I was annoyed by his actions when I was reading the book this explains a lot and you can't help but feel sorry for him.

Edmund gives Fade a brilliant "daughter's boyfriend" speech which I think should earn him the Dad of the Year title. I also liked Fade's little dig at Stalker towards the end, it was good to see he's still got some fight left in him & I think he's going to need it for the next book. Restoration was a great addition to the series and I'm definitely looking forward to the remaining books.

Source: Read for free on the MacMillan website

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.

Review: Outpost - Ann Aguirre

Deuce’s whole world has changed.

Down below, she was considered an adult. Now, topside in a town called Salvation, she’s a brat in need of training in the eyes of the townsfolk. She doesn't fit in with the other girls: Deuce only knows how to fight.

To make matters worse, her Hunter partner, Fade, keeps Deuce at a distance. Her feelings for Fade haven’t changed, but he seems not to want her around anymore. Confused and lonely, she starts looking for a way out.

Deuce signs up to serve in the summer patrols—those who make sure the planters can work the fields without danger. It should be routine, but things have been changing on the surface, just as they did below ground. The Freaks have grown smarter. They’re watching. Waiting. Planning. The monsters don’t intend to let Salvation survive, and it may take a girl like Deuce to turn back the tide.

Razorland Series:
Foundation (Free short story on the Tor website)
Enclave
Endurance (Novella)
Outpost
Restoration (Free short story on the MacMillan website)
Horde
Vanguard

Visit Ann Aguirre's website for more information

Review:
Everything is different now that Deuce and the others have arrived at Salvation and she's finding it hard to fit in. She's not comfortable with the way they expect girls to dress nicely and learn useful skills like cooking and sewing and the town just don't know what to make of her tomboyish ways. It's also hard being treated like a child and expected to go to school when she's spent so many years fending for herself and helping to protect others in her role as a hunter. Things start to look up when she proves she has the skills to be one of the town guards and is given a job helping to protect the farmers during the summer harvest but as the Freaks continue to get smarter and prove a far greater danger than ever before she's going to have her work cut out for her.

I'm so glad I've finally made a start on this series, it's one I'm really enjoying and I loved seeing how much Deuce grew as a character in this book. What I love about her is that she accepts that she doesn't know everything and she's willing to ask questions and learn what she needs to. She also knows where her strengths are though and she refuses to let anyone put her in a box just because of her gender. I had to admire her for standing up for what she wanted when it would have been so much easier to go along with the town folk's expectations for her. I felt sorry for her as she struggled to find her place though, Tegan found it so much easier to fit in and preferred to spend time with new friends because Deuce and the others reminded her of a difficult time, Fade is still jealous and is also keeping his distance so the only one it seems like she can really rely on is Stalker.

I'll admit I was worried in the first book that it might turn into a dreaded love triangle but I'm convinced now it's not going to happen. Stalker is obviously interested in Deuce but it's very clear she only has feelings for Fade and I can't imagine that changing any time soon. I wasn't at all keen on Stalker's character in the first book - let's face it he's done some horrific and pretty unforgivable things! - but he actually really grew on me in this book. At least he's willing to admit the things he did wrong and he wants to make amends for them and who knows how we would have acted if we'd been born in his shoes. I think one of the things I like most about Deuce is how self aware she is, she recognises that she acts in certain ways because of the way she was raised but she wants to learn and do better and she recognises a similar quality in Stalker. As much as Stalker has grown on me I'm still 100% on team Fade though! I was irritated with him for pushing Deuce away at the beginning of Outpost but he's been through a lot and his insecurities were showing. When it comes down to it he always has Deuce's back when she needs him the most and I love seeing them fight alongside each other.

This series is quite brutal and it doesn't shy away from the violence of post-apocalyptic life which makes it feel very believable. There is always plenty of action and I've flown through both books so far so this series certainly didn't suffer with second book syndrome. Ann Aguirre has kept the pacing tight and it's clear she has a solid plan on where the series is going from here. After that ending I'm very interested to see what happens to all the characters next and I'm very glad that I don't have to wait a year for the next book to release before I can read it!

Source: Purchased

Other Reviews:
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Hardback / Paperback / Kindle:

Review: Endurance - Ann Aguirre

When rebellion destroys the underground world in which Thimble and Stone have grown up, they take Stone's son and try to escape the chaos. Along the way, they must evade the Freaks, beings who feed on human flesh. Leaving behind the roles of Builder and Breeder which they were assigned at birth, they wander the underground tunnels, looking for safety yet afraid to go "topside" where legend has it that the light and water will burn their skin from their bones.

Their journey takes them upward to an unimagined world of tinned food, comfortable furniture, and books. Away from their regimented society for the first time, and still facing imminent danger, Thimble and Stone acknowledge the forbidden attraction which both have denied for years.

Razorland Series:
Foundation (Free short story on the Tor website)
Enclave
Endurance (Novella)
Outpost
Restoration (Free short story on the MacMillan website)
Horde
Vanguard

Visit Ann Aguirre's website for more information

Review:
I really liked the relationship between Deuce and her childhood friends Thimble and Stone so I was a bit disappointed that we didn't find out what happened to them in Enclave. Luckily Ann Aguirre didn't leave us hanging and Endurance is a novella told from their points of view. I don't want to go into too much detail but this shows Thimble and Stone's reaction to Deuce being banished and lets us see what happens in the College enclave after Deuce and Fade left.

These characters are very different to Deuce and Fade, their strengths aren't in fighting and they've never left their home before so they aren't at all prepared for what awaits them in the tunnels. They have to play to their own skills if they want to survive. Thimble is physically weak but incredibly intelligent and has spent her life creating tools and weapons for the hunters, Stone was a breeder so he has a very caring and protective nature and hates the thought of killing but if it comes down to it he'll do whatever it takes to look after Thimble and his son Boy 23.

Thimble and Stone are both great characters and I enjoyed the romance developing between the two. I really hope that Ann Aguirre wrote this novella because we're going to see these characters meet up with Deuce and Fade again in the future because I don't think we're done with their story yet!

Source: Purchased

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.

Kindle:

Review: Foundation - Ann Aguirre

In Ann Aguirre's award-winning novel, Enclave, humans have taken refuge in colonies below ground. Here is the story of what drove them there, told through the eyes of a teen who would later have vast influence over the fate of many, and who gave his heart to the one person who needed him most.

Razorland Series:
Foundation (Free short story on the Tor website)
Enclave
Endurance (Novella)
Outpost
Restoration (Free short story on the MacMillan website)
Horde
Vanguard

Visit Ann Aguirre's website for more information

Review:
Foundation is a prequel short story to Ann Aguirre's Razorland series that can be read for free on the Tor website or can be purchased as an ebook from Amazon (and assumably other ebook retailers).

I really enjoyed Enclave but I had a lot of questions about how the world was destroyed and how people ended up living underground in small communities so it was really nice to go back and see where things all started to go wrong. This story doesn't feature any of the characters from the main series (it's set many years before Enclave starts) but it does fill in some background about the world and there is even a little romance included. It's only short so there's not much time for character development but this was still a nice little addition to the series.

Source: Read for free on the Tor website

Other Reviews:
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Kindle:

Review: The Demon Prince - Ann Aguirre

Charming. Irreverent. Haunted.

Alastor Vega is the sole challenger in a brutal battle for succession. Against all odds, he must stop his power-mad brother, Tycho, before he destroys the Numina. Though he never wanted to rule, he must claim the throne and liberate his people, or the consequences will be calamitous. Yet only the surprising support of a beautiful Animari doctor gives him the fortitude to fight.

Focused. Analytical. Solitary.

Dr. Sheyla Halek has always been more interested in research than personal contact, but family ties—and the needs of her pride—keep her in Ash Valley, deferring her dreams. Brusque and abrasive at the best of times, she never expected to bond with anyone, let alone Golgoth royalty. Strangely, Alastor seems to need her as no one has before, and not only for her medical skills.

Their attraction is forbidden, likely doomed beyond the wildness of wartime, but these fires burn too hot and sweet to be contained…

Ars Numina Series:
The Leopard King
The Demon Prince
The Wolf Lord
The Shadow Warrior
The War Priest
The Jaguar Knight (release date to be confirmed)

Visit Ann Aguirre's website for more information

Review:
Alastor's brother is determined to start a war amongst the Numina, he already caused chaos when he bombed Ash Valley while the races were all in the midst of a signing a peace treaty and nobody is exactly sure what he will try next. Alastor never wanted to lead his people but knows that as the sole remaining heir to the throne it is up to him to try and stop Tycho before even more lives are lost. The one thing holding him back is his poor health, suffering with a genetic disease Alastor relies on medicine to survive but with his supply quickly running out his chances don't look good.

Sheyla is a cat shifter and one of Ash Valley's doctors who has been tasked with trying to replicate Alastor's medication. She takes her responsibility for Alastor's safety seriously and even joins him on the battlefield to ensure his survival. Sheyla has never found it easy to relate to others, they don't understand her abrasive personality, but Alastor looks past her harsh exterior and sees the woman underneath. There are a million reasons why a relationship between the two of them would be a disaster but the more time they spend together the harder it is for them to resist giving into temptation.

I really enjoyed The Leopard King but The Demon Prince amps things up to a whole new level and Alastor is definitely my favourite hero of the series so far. I love the way Ann Aguirre turned the tables  on usual romance tropes in this book so that Sheyla is the stronger, more alpha character and Alastor is physically more fragile and willing to be led. Sheyla knows exactly what she wants from life and that extends to the bedroom too and Alastor is more than willing to make her every desire reality. I really enjoyed the slow build romance between them and the sexual tension was brilliantly done. They have fantastic chemistry and I was really able to root for them as a couple but I absolutely loved the addition of Alastor's bodyguard Dedrik when the couple choose to play out a menage fantasy. I only really mention that in my review because I know MFM scenes aren't for everyone but it was really well written and definitely raised the heat levels in my opinion!

I mentioned in my review of the first book that I would have liked a little more world building and background on the different Numina factions and I'm happy to say we did start to get a little more history in this book. I think that's only going to increase as we start to spend time with the different groups as the series continues. This is such a fun series and I'm already looking forward to the next book.

Source: Received from Ann Aguirre 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.

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Review: Enclave - Ann Aguirre

New York City has been decimated by war and plague, and most of civilization has migrated to underground enclaves, where life expectancy is no more than the early 20's. When Deuce turns 15, she takes on her role as a Huntress, and is paired with Fade, a teenage Hunter who lived Topside as a young boy. When she and Fade discover that the neighboring enclave has been decimated by the tunnel monsters--or Freaks--who seem to be growing more organized, the elders refuse to listen to warnings. And when Deuce and Fade are exiled from the enclave, the girl born in darkness must survive in daylight--guided by Fade's long-ago memories--in the ruins of a city whose population has dwindled to a few dangerous gangs.

Ann Aguirre's thrilling young adult novel is the story of two young people in an apocalyptic world--facing dangers, and feelings, unlike any they've ever known.

Razorland Series:
Foundation (Free short story on the Tor website)
Enclave
Endurance (Novella)
Outpost
Restoration (Free short story on the MacMillan website)
Horde
Vanguard

Visit Ann Aguirre's website for more information

Review:
I've had Enclave on my to read pile for a very long time but to be honest I'd got a bit burned out on YA dystopians so I never got around to reading it. After meeting Ann Aguirre recently and talking to other fans who absolutely love the series (I'm looking at you Carien!) I decided it was finally time to give it a try though and I'm really glad I did. Enclave is set after some kind of disaster has ended life as we know it now, humans are scattered and forced to live in small underground communities. Life is hard, most children don't survive until adulthood so they're not even given names until they're old enough to fend for themselves, and even then life expectancy is much lower than what we're used to.

Deuce has just turned 15 and been given her name, she has been accepted as one of her enclave's hunters which means she will be sent out daily in search of food and other precious items to help their group survive. She has been paired with Fade, an older boy who is a great fighter but who isn't trusted by the rest of their clan because he wasn't born there. Fade arrived as a young child having navigated the underground tunnels completely alone, he claims he was born above ground but nobody believes him because they have never been able to leave the underground themselves. Deuce has always believed everything that the elders have told her and been happy to follow orders but with Fade's help she starts to discover that not everything within their community is quite what she thought it was and perhaps the elders don't always know the right thing to do.

Ann Aguirre did a brilliant job of describing the dark, dank underground world Deuce has been raised in. The atmosphere of the book is gloomy and oppressive and almost makes you feel suffocated while you're reading it. Deuce and Fade are both brilliant characters too, Deuce is fierce and a fighter but initially she's very naive and willingly follows orders without thinking things through. Fade has seen the world outside of the enclave so he's more willing to see the truth behind the lies and he's less scared of walking away and leaving the enclave behind him. I loved seeing the way Deuce's opinion of Fade changed as she started to really question what was happening around her and when Deuce is forced to leave she goes on an even steeper learning curve. She's always been capable of fighting but she has very few survival skills away from her home and she's never even seen the sky before so she's totally out of her comfort zone.

This world is brutal and I was glad that the author didn't try to sugarcoat things, there are gangs who will do whatever it takes to survive and who think nothing of murdering others to protect their territory. I didn't like the way those gangs considered girls just breeders who were there to be used and abused but sadly it wasn't hard to believe that people were capable of treating women like that. If there is one thing I really didn't like about the story it was the addition of Stalker as one of the main characters, he was the leader of one of these gangs and we heard first hand from one of his victims how he allowed his men to rape and abuse her (she'd given birth several times so this was something that had been going on for years!). I get that Fade and Deuce felt they needed another fighter on their side and after the way they were thrown together he was their only option but I didn't like the way Deuce began to trust him and that she started to try and justify his previous actions. I don't care what excuses you come up with you will never sell me on Stalker being a good guy and I felt bad for Tegan that she was forced to live in close confines with one of her abusers.

I was disappointed that Stalker seemed to come between Deuce and Fade's relationship for a while there and I know some people are worried that this was the start of a dreaded love triangle but I'm staying hopeful that it won't happen. I have faith that Ann Aguirre won't do that to us but if she does try to turn Stalker into a love interest then I'll be upfront now and say that I'll probably rage quit the series. I really hope it doesn't come to that though because I love both Deuce and Fade and really want to follow the rest of their journey!

Source: Purchased

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 / Kindle:

Review: Perdition - Ann Aguirre

Welcome to hell.

The prison ship Perdition, a floating city where the Conglomerate's most dangerous criminals are confined for life, orbits endlessly around a barren asteroid.

Life inside is even more bleak. Hailed as the Dread Queen, inmate Dresdemona "Dred" Devos controls one of Perdition's six territories, bordered on both sides by would-be kings eager to challenge her claim. Keeping them at bay requires constant vigilance as well as a steady influx of recruits to replace the fallen. Survival is a continual battle, and death is the only escape.

Of the newest convicts, only one is worth Dred's attention. The mercenary Jael, with his deadly gaze and attitude, may be the most dangerous criminal on board. His combat skills could give her the edge she needs, if he doesn't betray her first. Unfortunately, that's what he does best. Winning Jael's allegiance will be a challenge, but failure could be worse than death . . .

Sirantha Jax Series:
Grimspace
Wanderlust
Doubleblind
Killbox
Aftermath
Endgame

Dred Chronicles:
Perdition
Havoc
Breakout

Visit Ann Aguirre's website for more information

Review:
Set in the same world as Ann Aguirre's Sirantha Jax series Perdition takes place on a prison space ship that is the dumping ground for the galaxy's most dangerous criminals. Everyone sent to Perdition has been given a death sentence and the ship has been set up with is no chance of escape so the authorities don't even bother to provide guards to keep the prisoners under control. With limited resources and full of the most violent and terrifying prisoners the ship isn't exactly a safe place to be, separated into territories and run by different gangs its a constant battle to protect what is yours and even within the sectors you have to be careful not to end up with a knife in your back.

Dred is the leader of one of the six territories inside of Perdition and its a role she takes very seriously. She has to constantly be on her guard and must never show any sign of weakness because there are always people looking to steal her crown and take the reins. With the latest influx of new prisoners Dred  ends up recruiting mercenary Jael to her gang, he's an incredible fighter who can heal from practically any wound so he's the perfect person to have on her team but can she trust him not to betray her?

I absolutely loved Jael when he was first introduced to the Sirantha Jax series but understandably went off him after certain events in Doubleblind so I was wary of his character going into this. I'm actually glad he's being given the chance to redeem himself though and I really enjoyed getting to see some of the story from his point of view. Getting inside his head helped put previous events in a different light, it doesn't excuse Jael's actions but it makes it easier to understand where he was coming from and why he chose to do what he did. Because we get Jael's point of view we see see a softer more vulnerable side to him which made him easier to connect to, he's still his badass self though and there is plenty of his jokey banter to add a bit of levity to what is essentially quite a dark story.

Dred is a brilliant character too, as the one in charge she can never show even a hint of weakness or she'd be eaten alive by the people around her. No matter how respected she is these are hardened criminals and there is a reason they all ended up on Perdition in the first place. Dred is as ruthless as she needs to be and she can certainly hold her own in a fight but when she's alone with Jael she is able to show a side of herself that she has to keep hidden around everyone else. I'm totally shipping them as a couple but what remains to be seen is how they can build a better life for themselves in such a toxic environment.

Ann Aguirre writes about life on the ship brilliantly, she shows just how desperate people are thanks to the lack of resources and she's definitely captured the sense of hopelessness that everyone feels knowing they're stuck there. The only one who still has hope is Jael because he is determined to find a way to escape but everyone who has been there longer knows its an impossible dream. This book is dark, life on board is ruthless and nobody is safe so be prepared to have your heart ripped into tiny little pieces, life is dangerous and not everyone is going to survive in such a horrific environment. This was a great introduction to the series and I'm definitely looking forward to seeing what else Dred and Jael can achieve working together, I may end up enjoying this even more than Sirantha's series!

Source: Purchased

Other Reviews:
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Love Letter Convention Day 2, Berlin 21st May 2017

If you missed it you can read about Day 1 of the Love Letter Convention in my post here. Aly & I decided to skip the morning coffee on the second day which meant we had a tiny bit of a lie in and didn't have to arrive until just before the first session at 9am.

Ann Aguirre & Cara Connelly

Our first event was a reading with Ann Aguirre and Cara Connelly. Ann told us how she randomly posted a tweet one night saying something along the lines of "why have I suddenly got the urge to write a story about a girl falling in love with a sentient space ship" and being really shocked when she had a reply from Rachel Caine saying that they must be brain twins because she'd just written that exact proposal. Ann has been a huge fan of Rachel's since before she was a published author herself so she talked about how excited she was when Rachel suggested that this could be the project that they finally worked on together. The book, Honor Among Thieves, isn't going to be published until February 2018 but we were treated to an extremely early reading and that book is now on my must buy list. I have to admit I was a bit sceptical when she mentioned a relationship between a girl and an alien ship but the reading totally sold me and I already ship them LOL.

Cara read a chapter from her novel The Wedding Band, I don't tend to read a lot of contemporary romance myself but Aly was definitely sold on this one and she was really excited to win a signed copy at the end of the reading. I won The Demon Prince, the second book in Ann's paranormal romance series (read my review of the first book here) which made my day as it was one I hadn't read yet but was really looking forward to. I actually read it while I was still in Berlin but I've not had a chance to write my review yet so watch out for that coming soon on the blog.

The first English speaking panel of the day was about YA and First loves with authors Ann Aguirre, Samantha Young, Kelsey Sutton and Cora Carmack.

What YA book/s have you written?
Kelsey Sutton - Some Quiet Place, Where Silence Gathers and Gardenia
Samantha Young - The Fire Spirit Series and upcoming standalone The Impossible Vastness of Us
Ann Aguirre - The Razorland series, the Immortal Game series and standalone The Queen of Bright and Shiny Things
Cora Carmack - Roar is the first book in her new Stormheart series

Why do you like to read YA / What made you choose to write it?
Kelsey Sutton - was 18 when she started writing so it just felt natural to write YA books but she loves that YA encompasses all of the different genres
Samantha Young - loved reading YA and she started writing when she was at college, she enjoys writing about the coming of age journey her characters go on
Ann Aguirre - had already been writing books for adults that had been published successfully but her children wanted her to write stories that they'd be allowed to read. Her daughter actually wrote a checklist of all the things she wanted from a book and Ann using it to write The Queen of Bright and Shiny Things for her
Cora Carmack - didn't actually read YA when she was a young adult because she was too busy studying and didn't read much for pleasure but she discovered it when she was at college and realised what she'd been missing out on. She feels connected to the age group because she used to be a teacher and has wanted to write a YA story for a long time

Your three favourite YA romance recommendations?
Ann Aguirre - Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins, Court of Fives by Kate Elliott and The Sea of Tranquility by Katja Millay
Samantha Young - Would second Anna and the French Kiss and would add the Vampire Academy Series by Richelle Mead and Rachel Caine's Morganville Vampires, Forbidden by Tabitha Suzama and the Shatter Me series by Tahereh Mafi.
Kelsey Sutton - This Lullaby by Sarah Dessen, Daughter of the Forest by Juliet Mariller and A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J Maas.
Cora Carmack - The Graceling series by Kristin Cashore (especially Fire), The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E Smith and Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder

The first time you fell in love with a YA character?
Kelsey Sutton - when she read This Lullaby by Sarah Dessen
Cora Carmack - reading A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray (Kelsey mentioned that this book contained the first dirty scenes she'd ever read)
Samantha Young - in Blood and Chocolate by Annette Curtis Klause
Ann Aguirre - She only started reading YA as research to help her write a book for her kids and doesn't really remember the first YA characters she fell in love with, the first series she read was the Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins but she never shipped Katniss and Peeta (she got a lot of laughs by mentioning they had no good ship name - Katpee or Penis!)

Your favourite Harry Potter character & what house do you identify as?
Ann Aguirre - Neville Longbottom has always been her favourite & she's a Hufflepuff
Cora Carmack - She started reading Harry Potter when she was 11 and she used to read a lot of fan fiction while she was waiting for new books to release. She ended up falling in love with Draco but she said she likes the fan fiction versions of him more than the one in the books. She's a Slytherin.
Kelsey Sutton - Has never read the books (cue shocked gasps from the audience!) because she grew up in a really conservative home and wasn't allowed to but she really likes Hermione in the movies. She's a Hufflepuff.
Samantha Young - Is a Gryffindor and Dumbledore and Ron are her favourite characters

Do you enjoy killing off your characters?
Samantha Young - she had to kill a quite important character in one of her books (it was a war so it would have been unrealistic for everyone to survive). She worried that it would alienate her fans but she had to be true to the story. It does make her upset writing those scenes though
Ann Aguirre - said she has a complicated relationship with death and thinks it is needed in books because the story is too safe otherwise and nothing you do will have as much impact if readers think the characters will always survive. She doesn't enjoy killing characters, it upsets her even more than it upsets readers, but there have to be consequences.
Cora Carmack - As a reader he doesn't mind characters dying if they die well, in fact she remembers wanting more people to die when she read Harry Potter! But as an author she hates killing her own characters. There are no deaths in Roar but she warned us that someone will die in book 2, she's not exactly sure who yet but it will happen.

Kelsey Sutton & Cora Carmack

After the panel I went to a Q&A with Kelsey Sutton and Cora Carmack which was a lot of fun. I was too busy laughing to take notes during this session but Cora told the funniest stories about how she used to have nightmares as a child and she was so worried that someone would try to hurt her in her sleep that she used to sleep with a knife under her pillow. Her older sister used to think it was fun to sneak into her room and pretend to attack her and Cora used to wake up swinging and punch her sister in the face! I have to say I think her sister deserved what she got and I'd probably have never been able to sleep again if I'd been in Cora's position.

Before lunch was the final panel of the convention Strong and Sexy Heroines with Jay Crownover, Cora Carmack, Violet Truelove, Charlotte Taylor, Mona Kasten and Ann Aguirre. This panel turned into a bit of a discussion about feminism and it was one of my favourites from the whole convention. I really wish I'd recorded the panel so that I could share all the details, I took some notes but it was hard to write fast enough while still taking in what people were saying. There was some general chat about how readers tend to be harder on female characters than we are on male ones, how we hold the heroines to a higher standard and how we're less forgiving when they make mistakes.

Cora Carmack pointed out that this is why we still need feminism. Women are conditioned from a very young age to be nice and polite and quiet. We're constantly told what not to do, don't dress like this, don't got to this area, don't act that way, even school dress codes are nearly always aimed at telling girls what they can wear. If we're too emotional thats a bad thing but too little emotion is also a bad thing. Basically girls have it tough and that shows in the way we think about female characters versus male ones.

Ann Aguirre spoke about how we're conditioned by the patriarchy and how she'd really like to see less gender roles. Women should be able to do anything they want but equally men should be able to choose to do jobs that are more traditionally seen as female ones. Ann also talked about rape culture and thinks it's very telling that the first question people ask when someone has been raped isn't "how could someone do something so awful?" but usually something along the lines of "why was she there so late at night?" or "what was she wearing?". She made some really fantastic points and got a spontaneous round of applause twice throughout the panel.

Violet Truelove mentioned that she is constantly judged by others since she became a mother. Her husband is extremely supportive but other family members judge her for going to things like the convention and leaving the children at home without her. Mona Kasten said she's been getting the same kind of comments since she got married and is asked about what she plans to cook her husband for dinner or how he'll manage without her while she's away on a writing retreat.

It's the kind of commentary and criticism that women face all the time and I found the discussion really interesting even though I hate that this kind of thing still happens.

Ann Aguirre, Aly & me

After the panel Aly and I got to go out to lunch with Ann Aguirre and her husband Andres. We ate at one of the local cafes and spent a couple of hours discussing books and swapping recommendations which was great fun. They're such a lovely couple and it was really nice to spend time chatting with them. I know Aly and I both came away with a huge list of books we now need to buy!

After lunch there was a meet and greet in the courtyard before the main signing so we got to hang out with Ann some more (she gave me an arc of Vanguard which I was very happy about!) and we met up with authors like Cora Carmack, Monica Murphy and Cara Connelly again too.

Aly, Cora Carmack & me

Luckily because we'd already met all the authors we wanted to chat with and we'd already managed to get all of our books signed we didn't need to go to the large signing at the end. The queues were huge and it was really hot so we were happy to hang out in the courtyard with some of the other readers we'd met at the convention. It turned out I already knew Carien (from Pearls Cast Before a McPig) because I've seen her commenting on Gini Koch's blog before!

Peggy, Aly, Carien, me, Karin, Diana & Freya

There is nothing better than hanging out with other readers, people who are as passionate about books as you are and we easily spent a couple of hours just hanging out chatting and laughing as we put the world to rights. We were having so much fun that we all decided to go out for dinner afterwards and I came away with so many recommendations for books and authors that I need to read that I don't think I'll ever get to the top of my to read mountain but I'm definitely not complaining about that!

Back row: Peggy, Karin & Diana

Front row: Freya, Aly, me & Carien

Me, Martina Gercke & Aly

Walking home from dinner we also bumped into Martina Gercke and got to pose for a quick final picture outside the GLS.

Love Letter Convention Goodie Bag (minus the German 

books which I gave away as I wouldn't be able to read them)

English books I was given by Ann Aguirre & Margaret Mallory

Like I said at the end of my first post we had a brilliant time at Love Letters. It was aimed more at German readers (which I totally expected!) but I was a tiny bit disappointed that there weren't any English books on sale for the American authors. I loved that the convention wasn't as huge as some of the American ones though and we got to actually spend time chatting with the authors between panels and in the meet and greets.

I'd like to say thank you to all the staff who organised things and who tried very hard to answer all of our questions (especially since we were asking them in English!) and also to all the authors who took the time to chat with us, we met so many lovely people and I'm going to have to try and buy all of their books now. I'm definitely going to keep an eye on which American authors attend the convention in the future because I'd be very happy to go back if there are authors I'm excited about. Berlin was a beautiful city that I'd like to spend more time exploring too.