Review: The Navigator's Touch - Julia Ember

After invaders destroyed her village, murdered her family, and took her prisoner, shield-maiden Ragna is hungry for revenge. A trained warrior, she is ready to fight for her home, but with only a mermaid and a crew of disloyal mercenaries to aid her, Ragna knows she needs new allies. Guided by the magical maps on her skin, battling storms and mutiny, Ragna sets sail across the Northern Sea.

She petitions the Jarl in Skjordal for aid, but despite Ragna’s rank and fighting ability, the Jarl sees only a young girl, too inexperienced to lead, unworthy of help. To prove herself to the Jarl and win her crew’s respect, Ragna undertakes a dangerous expedition. But when forced to decide between her own freedom and the fate of her crew, what will she sacrifice to save what’s left of her home?

Inspired by Norse mythology and J.M. Barrie’s Peter Pan, this companion novel to The Seafarer’s Kiss is a tale of vengeance, valor, honor, and redemption.

Seafarer's Duology:
The Seafarer's Kiss
The Navigator's Touch

Visit Julia Ember's website for more information.

Review:
The Navigator's Touch is a companion novel to The Seafarer's Kiss rather than a direct sequel, those who have already read the first book will be familiar with some of the characters but you could start with this book without getting lost. Ragna was the shield-maiden who rescued Ersel in the first book but this instalment is really her story, it starts before The Seafarer's Kiss then there is a small amount of crossover before it continues on past events we've already read about. We get to find out more about her childhood, what happened when her village was attacked, how she lost her hand and see if she manages to get revenge on the people who wronged her.

I love the way Julia Ember has used Norse Mythology for the base of this series, then the first book is her take on The Little Mermaid story while this one is more of an origin story for Captain Hook from Peter Pan, with a female Hook which just makes it even better! Ragna is a brilliant character, all her life she dreamed of becoming a warrior so it's something she trained hard for but when her village is attacked and she is captured by her enemy she has to use those skills to make her escape. She is absolutely consumed by her need for revenge which makes her come across as quite a hard character in the beginning, she is utterly ruthless and even when she manages to get her own ship she doesn't trust her men because they are all mercenaries.

What I really enjoyed was seeing how much Ragna changed and grew throughout the story as she slowly learned how to be a better leader, one who inspired loyalty through her actions rather than by fear. Ragna does treat Ersel quite badly in the beginning but she comes to realise how she affects the people around her and she does try to make amends for her bad behaviour.

Once again this story has a diverse cast of characters, there is an FF relationship and gender neutral characters who are just normal members of the group and not treated like they're there as part of a box ticking exercise. We are introduced to all kinds of creatures from Norse legends too which I really enjoyed.

The Navigator's Touch was everything I had hoped it would be and a wonderful companion to The Seafarer's Kiss, I already mentioned that you can read these books in any order and I'm very happy to recommend both to fans of mythology and retellings.

Source: Received from Interlude Press in exchange for an honest review

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Review: Shadow and Ice - Gena Showalter

Gena Showalter, the New York Times bestselling author who brought you the Lords of the Underworld, introduces a scorching new paranormal romance series… Gods of War.

Knox of Iviland has spent his life competing in the All Wars, where vicious warriors with supernatural powers fight to the death to claim new realms. One winner takes everything—and all losers die. Enslaved as a child for his ability to control shadows, the most ruthless champion in history will stop at nothing to kill his king. But first he must win the battle for Earth. When a fearsome weapon imprisons every combatant in ice, centuries pass without progress…until she walks in.

Vale London craves a fun arctic getaway with her foster sister before settling down to open a bakery. Street-tough but vulnerable, she is unprepared to find ancient gods escaping a frozen cave—merciless beings who target her when she inadvertently enters their war.

Though Vale is now his enemy, Knox is consumed with lust and a fierce need to protect her. But only one combatant can prove victorious, and he will have to choose: live for freedom, or die for love.

Gods of War Series:
Shadow and Ice
Future titles and release dates to be confirmed

Visit Gena Showalter's website for more information

Review:
I really enjoyed Gena Showalter's YA White Rabbit Chronicles series but it's been a long time since I've read any of her adult books. As a HUGE paranormal romance fan I had high expectations for Shadow and Ice though and was really looking forward to starting this new series. I hate to say it but unfortunately I ended up feeling a little disappointed, this wasn't the worst series opener I've ever read but it definitely didn't wow me and to be honest I'm not sure if I have any interest in reading the next book.

Shadow and Ice had so much potential, Gena Showalter has created a universe full of different realms all populated by different types of immortals. Each time a new realm is discovered a new All War is begun where one warrior from each realm is selected to battle to the death for the right to control the new world. The warriors are usually slaves who didn't choose to join the war but unless they win they die so they're all very serious about taking that winning spot. The latest All War is being fought over control of Earth as we know it, humanity isn't aware that this battle is going on and any humans who get caught in the crossfire are collateral damage and not to be worried about.

For Knox this is the fourth All War he has fought in, he won the previous three and has been promised freedom from his slave bonds if he wins this one too. For centuries Knox has longed for freedom so that he can take revenge on the king who imprisoned him and he's not going to let anything get in the way of achieving his goal. Imprisoned in ice for hundreds of years along with nearly all of the other All War participants Knox has been trying to break free to continue the battle for his life.

Vale is a human who is on holiday with her sister before they settle down and start their own business. When they end up separated from their guide and alone in an arctic wilderness they find shelter in a cave and are shocked to discover frozen statues of warriors trapped in the ice. They are even more shocked when those warriors suddenly come to life and start battling against each other. Vale ends up being kidnapped by Knox who wants to get information from her about how much the world has changed while he was imprisoned but all she really wants to do is find her way back to her sister and get them both to safety.

This series sounded a bit like it was going to be an adult version of the hunger games with immortal warriors battling it out for supremacy so I was really excited to see how it would go. I honestly expected to devour this book but it actually ended up being quite a slow read and a bit of a slog to get through. I think some of the problems came from poor world building, I had a lot of questions about things and there were a lot of things that never became clear even by the end of the book. We are also introduced to a ridiculously large cast of characters and I had trouble keeping track of who was who and what weapons and special abilities they all had. The battles were quite hard to follow and the fact that you know most of these characters are going to die made it hard to stay invested in the outcome of the story.

I also found it really difficult to get on board with the romance between Knox and Vale. Knox kidnaps her and even when she tells him her sister will die if Vale can't get her the medicine she needs he has no intention of helping either of them. Rather than being angry and hating him for that Vale spends all her time panting after him like a dog on heat. I mean really, someone kidnaps you and doesn't care that your sister is going to die and within five minutes all you're really thinking about is how hot your kidnapper is? Does that sound realistic? Overall I found Vale irritating and a lot of the things coming out of her mouth were so juvenile that even my 14 year old nephew wouldn't be caught dead saying them (for example: "Because foxy Knoxie deserves a party with his doxy" - seriously I couldn't make this crap up!). It was like she was trying too hard to be cool and just came across like an idiot. Knox wasn't much better but at least his character had changed and grown by the end of the book. I'm so disappointed that that GORGEOUS cover was wasted on a hero I can't drool over though!

The only reason I'm even slightly interested in reading the next book is that it's going to be about Nola and Bane who both came across as more interesting than Vale and Knox even though they had far less page time. I just don't know if that is enough to persuade me to try it though.

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

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Review: Muse of Nightmares - Laini Taylor

Sarai has lived and breathed nightmares since she was six years old.
She believed she knew every horror, and was beyond surprise.
She was wrong.

In the wake of tragedy, neither Lazlo nor Sarai are who they were before. One a god, the other a ghost, they struggle to grasp the new boundaries of their selves as dark-minded Minya holds them hostage, intent on vengeance against Weep.

Lazlo faces an unthinkable choice - save the woman he loves, or everyone else? - while Sarai feels more helpless than ever. But is she? Sometimes, only the direst need can teach us our own depths, and Sarai, the muse of nightmares, has not yet discovered what she's capable of.

As humans and godspawn reel in the aftermath of the citadel's near fall, a new foe shatters their fragile hopes, and the mysteries of the Mesarthim are resurrected: Where did the gods come from, and why? What was done with the thousands of children born in the citadel nursery? And most important of all, as forgotten doors are opened and new worlds revealed: must heroes always slay monsters, or is it possible to save them instead?

Love and hate, revenge and redemption, destruction and salvation all clash in this gorgeous sequel to the New York Times bestseller, Strange the Dreamer.

Strange the Dreamer Series:
Strange the Dreamer
The Muse of Nightmares

Visit Laini Taylor's website for more information

Review:
Strange the Dreamer was one of my favourite books of 2017 so it's no surprise that Muse of Nightmares has been at the top of my wish list ever since then. Sometimes having such high expectations of a story makes me nervous to actually start reading it but I never get that feeling of fear when I pick up a Laini Taylor novel because she has never disappointed me.

It's so hard to go into much detail about this book because really I think you're best going in blind and letting the story unfold as you read it. What I will say is that it took a completely different turn from the one I expected and yet somehow that still felt like exactly the right way for things to play out. This world is complex and the characters are so compelling that I really could have read it in one sitting if I wasn't so busy in the real world.

Strange the Dreamer was a book about good people who had done bad things, it was a story of regrets, hatred, the need for revenge and about two young people who were desperate to find a way forward that wouldn't end in all out war. Muse of Nightmares is about all of those things but also about hope, redemption and trying to right the wrongs you've done. It's about admitting your mistakes and understanding you could have done better but having to learn to find a way forward in spite of the pain you've both suffered and caused other people. You have to learn to forgive yourself and the enemies that can no longer hurt you if you want to build a future that isn't full of the same fear and destruction.

Honestly it's so hard to write reviews for books that are as special as this one. I don't have the words to adequately express how much I love this series or how happy this book made me. Laini Taylor's writing is nothing short of magical, I can't think of any other author who writes quite as beautifully as she does and her world building always blows my mind. But most of all it's her characters that I love, they're so multilayered and compelling that they feel like real people and even the ones you hate have redeeming qualities that make you want to see them turn their lives around.

Muse of Nightmares was the perfect follow up to Strange the Dreamer and this is now my all time favourite duology. Everything about it is perfect, I love the world, the action had me on the edge of my seat and the romance melted my heart. There were even a couple of Easter eggs for fans of the Daughter of Smoke and Bone series and although you don't need to read those books to enjoy this one I would definitely recommend them all. I can't wait to see what Laini Taylor comes up with next, her books will always be auto-buys for me & my only wish is that she doesn't keep us waiting too long for the next adventure!

Source: Received from Hodder & Stoughton in exchange for an honest review

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Review: Edge of Forever - Pippa DaCosta

The End is here...

Apophis has risen. New York is on its knees. Nothing stands in the way of the gods.

Or so it would seem.

But there is no light without darkness and no truth without lies. The Soul Eater has one last chance to save the world, if he can resist the temptation to destroy it.

Soul Eater Series:
Hidden Blade
Witches' Bane
Chase the Dark (Short story in the Full Metal Magic anthology)
See No Evil
Scorpion Trap
Serpent's Game
Edge of Forever

Visit Pippa DaCosta's website for more information

Review:
I honestly don't have a clue how to write a review for this book. I mean how can I possibly sum up the amount of awesome packed into this series in just a few paragraphs? It's impossible I tell you, totally impossible! So if you want to skip the fangirl rambling that is sure to follow and just get the short version here it is: THIS IS AN EPIC END TO AN INCREDIBLE SERIES.

That's pretty much all you need to know really! If you've already read the first 5 books then you'll know exactly how twisty this series is, you'll know all about our favourite anti hero Ace and his kickass sidekicks Shu and Cat, you'll know exactly how evil ancient Egyptian gods and goddesses can be and you'll be prepared to have your heart ripped into teeny, tiny pieces that you'll never quite be able to put back together in the same way as before. And if you haven't already read this series then I've just told you what to expect so you won't be going in blind!

Pippa DaCosta is a fantastic writer, I devour anything she publishes like it's the highest quality chocolate and then I go straight back for seconds and thirds. No matter how much I love all of her other characters though I think Ace and Shu are my favourites, I love how devious they can both be, I love the fact that two people who were enemies for centuries have actually become reluctant friends and I love the way they play off each other's strengths and weaknesses. They make a fantastic team and I really love that there is no pesky romance between them to muddy the waters. This series was everything I never knew I wanted, who knew Egyptian gods roaming around in modern day New York could be so fascinating? Who knew That Isis and Osiris were quite so psychotic or that they might not be the worst ancient Egypt had to offer?

Reading this book was like watching a high action movie and I refuse to believe that we've seen the last of these characters. I know Pippa has said this is the end (and to be fair she has tied up all the loose ends and answered all our questions) but I'm not ready to say goodbye to the world or the characters so I really hope she changes her mind one day. I guess in the meantime the great thing about books is that they're always there for rereading and I'm already looking forward to going back to Hidden Blade and starting the journey all over again. Thank you Pippa for another fabulous adventure and I can't wait to see what you come up with next!

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

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Review: Serpent's Game - Pippa DaCosta

More than darkness...

Reeling from the revelations discovered in Egypt, Ace Dante is on a knife-edge, but the gods aren’t going to wait for him to come to terms with the truth.

Ancient and deadly beasts straight out of the underworld are targeting Nick “Cujo” Jones and his daughter. There doesn’t seem to be a connection to Ace, until a mysterious and familiar box turns up. A box marked with the snake-headed jackal. And it’s open.

This time, the gods crossed a line. Ace is done with their puppet-mastery. He’s fighting back.

But as hidden secrets come to light and Ace’s friendships crumble around him, will he have the strength to fight for what’s right, or will he allow the darkness inside to consume him?

After all, what is one man’s hope against the will of evil incarnate?

Soul Eater Series:
Hidden Blade
Witches' Bane
Chase the Dark (Short story in the Full Metal Magic anthology)
See No Evil
Scorpion Trap
Serpent's Game
Edge of Forever

Visit Pippa DaCosta's website for more information

Review:
Every time I think this series can't possibly get any better Pippa DaCosta proves me wrong and takes things to a whole new level. Serpent's Game was everything I love about the Soul Eater series and then some - the stakes are higher, the plot is even more twisted, the characters I love are all on top form and absolutely nothing is what it first appears. Be prepared for an emotional rollercoaster because this book totally wrecked me - in the best possible way of course!

There were major revelations about Ace in the previous book, I'm not going to go into detail here but oh wow do those revelations have a major knock on effect in this book. Ace is remembering more and more about his past, his darkest side is very close to the surface and all that remains to be seen is how much of his humanity he has managed to keep hold of. Ace has always done everything he could to keep his best friend Cujo out of sight of the gods who enjoy toying with his life but now that ancient beasts are targeting Cujo and his daughter Ace realises that the secret is out. Someone is using them to get to Ace and he needs to put a stop to it before he loses his friend forever.

As if that wasn't enough to deal with Ace is also stuck in the middle of an argument between Isis and Osiris, Cat is back on the scene and still searching for what happened to Bast and he's starting to wonder if he might possibly have misjudged Shu. Ace has a lot of balls in the air and if he's not very, very careful something is going to drop and the damage could be catastrophic. Get ready for secrets and betrayals, for characters you love to behave in shocking and disturbing ways, for high stakes drama and exciting new characters. The game is afoot as the series ramps up for the final instalment and I can't wait to see how it all comes together in Edge of Forever. This is one urban fantasy series that you really don't want to miss!

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

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Review: Scorpion Trap - Pippa DaCosta

Given a choice, I’d prefer never to return to Egypt. Isis doesn’t do choices.

The old world is dead. Legend tells us the gods are myths. But some remain, like a noose around Ace Dante’s neck. And none are more dangerous than Isis. She demands the Soul Eater return to the land time forgot, break into a newly discovered tomb, and retrieve the skull from the sarcophagus inside. If Ace does this one thing, Isis will reveal the secrets he desperately seeks. Ace knows there’s a catch, there always is, but the truth is far worse than even he can imagine.

As Isis’s true intentions unravel, so does Ace’s past, leaving him no choice at all.

History is wrong. The past is a lie.

And for the Soul Eater, the truth found in Egypt is far more terrifying than any god.

Soul Eater Series:
Hidden Blade
Witches' Bane
Chase the Dark (Short story in the Full Metal Magic anthology)
See No Evil
Scorpion Trap
Serpent's Game
Edge of Forever

Visit Pippa DaCosta's website for more information

Review:
If you haven't started this series yet you're really missing out, just imagine sociopathic Egyptian gods roaming modern day New York (and now Egypt) and multiply however awesome that sounds by at least 10 and you'll have an idea what you're getting here. I'd highly recommend reading the series in order though so go away and read my review of Hidden Blade and then BUY YOURSELF A COPY IMMEDIATELY!

Well if you thought their last trip to the Hamptons got complicated you've not seen anything yet. Isis wants Ace and Shu to travel to Egypt and steal a skull from a recently discovered tomb - what could possibly go wrong? Well when the Goddess of Light insists on going with them an awful lot actually and don't even think about what will happen when Osiris finds out his wife has taken Ace on a romantic getaway!

This series just keeps on getting better and Pippa DaCosta keeps blowing my mind with the shocking revelations she makes about poor Ace's past. I thought I knew where his story was going and now I have absolutely no idea but whatever happens it's bound to get worse before it gets better so I feel pretty sorry for him right now. He's such a brilliant character though, one with dark secrets and a delicious bad side. You never know what kind of move he'll pull next and he's just about done with being manipulated by crazy gods so things are getting extremely interesting. Shu is awesome too, totally badass and more than capable of standing up to Ace when he's being an idiot but equally capable of having his back when he's facing off against an army of enemies.

I loved the Egyptian setting here too, the author has captured the desolate feel of the desert and the majesty of the tombs and temples perfectly so it's like you're right there alongside Ace and Shu as they dig through tombs searching for what Isis needs. We get to meet some interesting locals, see Ace and Shu in action and uncover so much more of their past lives. I absolutely can't wait to see the results of certain revelations in Serpent's Game so I'm really relieved I've only got to wait until August to get my hands on a copy! That gives you plenty of time to catch up with the series though so make a start now and make sure you're ready.

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

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Review: The Seafarer's Kiss - Julia Ember

Having long wondered what lives beyond the ice shelf, nineteen-year-old mermaid Ersel learns of the life she wants when she rescues and befriends Ragna, a shield-maiden stranded on the merfolk’s fortress. But when Ersel’s childhood friend and suitor catches them together, he gives Ersel a choice: Say goodbye to Ragna or face justice at the hands of the glacier’s brutal king.

Determined to forge a different fate, Ersel seeks help from the divine Loki. But such deals are never straightforward, and the outcome sees her exiled from the only home and protection she’s known. To save herself from perishing in the barren, underwater wasteland and be reunited with the human she’s come to love, Ersel must try to outsmart the God of Lies.

Seafarer's Duology:
The Seafarer's Kiss
The Navigator's Touch

Visit Julia Ember's website for more information.

Review:
Nineteen year old mermaid Ersel just wants to be free, she longs to escape from the merfolk fortress and explore the world. For years she made plans with her childhood friend Havamal but then he betrayed her by joining the king's guard and she's now more alone than ever before. When she finds Ragna, a human girl who was stranded on the glacier after her boat sunk, Ersel's dreams begin to change but if she doesn't make her escape soon she may never get the chance.

The Seafarer's Kiss is a bisexual retelling of The Little Mermaid with added Norse mythology thrown in for good measure and I enjoyed every minute of it. I guess I should probably confess that I've never seen the Disney version of the Little Mermaid so I can't compare it to the animation but I did have a book of the story as a child and there were enough similarities in this story for me to easily see the connection. It isn't a full retelling though, it uses the original story as inspiration and then goes off in it's own direction. Adding in Norse mythology was a genius idea and I especially loved that Loki was described as having both male and female attributes - their form changes every time we see them and they are only ever described in gender neutral terms. Its so rare to come across non binary characters in YA (although if you're looking for more I'd happily recommend Laura Lam's Micha Grey series which has an intersex main character) and there is also a lesbian romance so the diversity included is brilliant.

The world Ersel lives in is very patriarchal, the king is a tyrant and due to dwindling births the women are prized mainly for their fertility. When they come of age the mermaids attend a Grading ceremony where they find out how fertile they are and then the mermen fight over who they want to mate. Once mated the mermaids are pretty much kept in seclusion while they protect the eggs and try to hatch young and Ersel can't imagine anything worse than being trapped inside the fortress forever more. I really loved Havamal's character, especially in the beginning. It's obvious that he loves Ersel and wants to protect her but their dreams are so different that they could never be happy together. I was really angry when he forced her into a horrible situation but thankfully he redeemed himself later on and I'd be quite happy to read another book set in this world so we could see him get his own happily ever after.

The world building was really well done and I enjoyed Ersel and Ragna's romance. I'll admit it all happens a little quickly because this is a fairly short novel so there were times when I think it would have been even better if the story had been expanded, especially towards the end of the book. I really wanted to know what happened at the fortress while Ersel was in seclusion but the story just jumped ahead several weeks. I also thought we could have done with seeing Ersel and Ragna spend a little more time together to make their romance fully believable. If I have one complaint it was about the physical violence between the two near the end though, I didn't think it added anything to the story, in fact it soured their romance a little because there wasn't time for the issue to be fully addressed. I get that it was only one incident but they both take a swing at each other and blood is drawn so that is a major warning sign in any relationship.

Overall I really enjoyed this story though, it was a unique spin on the Little Mermaid and it kept me interested from beginning to end. I'll definitely be watching out for more from this author in the future and I need to pick up a copy of her debut Unicorn Tracks too.

Source: Received from Interlude Press in exchange for an honest review

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Review: Strange the Dreamer - Laini Taylor

The dream chooses the dreamer, not the other way around - and Lazlo Strange, war orphan and junior librarian, has always feared that his dream chose poorly. Since he was five years old he's been obsessed with the mythic lost city of Weep, but it would take someone bolder than he to cross half the world in search of it. Then a stunning opportunity presents itself, in the person of a hero called the Godslayer and a band of legendary warriors, and he has to seize his chance to lose his dream forever.

What happened in Weep two hundred years ago to cut it off from the rest of the world? What exactly did the Godslayer slay that went by the name of god? And what is the mysterious problem he now seeks help in solving?

The answers await in Weep, but so do more mysteries - including the blue-skinned goddess who appears in Lazlo's dreams. How did he dream her before he knew she existed? And if all the gods are dead, why does she seem so real?

Welcome to Weep

In this sweeping and breathtaking new novel by National Book Award finalist Laini Taylor, author of the New York Times bestselling Daughter of Smoke & Bone trilogy, the shadow of the past is as real as the ghosts who haunt the citadel of murdered gods. Fall into a mythical world of dread and wonder, moths and nightmares, love and carnage.

Strange the Dreamer Series:
Strange the Dreamer
The Muse of Nightmares

Visit Laini Taylor's website for more information

Review:
It's been a long wait for something new from Laini Taylor, I absolutely adored her writing in the Daughter of Smoke and Bone series but if anything she's honed her skills even more and Strange the Dreamer was even more beautifully written. She always manages to completely captivate me with the worlds she creates and when I fall into one of her books I never want to come back out again.

Strange the Dreamer is the story of Lazlo, a young man who was orphaned as a baby and raised by monks before he discovered the magic of the great library and trained to become a librarian. Lazlo is in part a little like every book worm you'll ever meet, he's obsessed with stories and spends so much time with his head stuck in a book that real life often happens around him without him even noticing. Lazlo's biggest obsession is the mystery of Weep and he has dedicated his life to reading everything he can about the city that disappeared so long ago. It's been years since anyone was able to find Weep and nobody can even remember the city's real name but Lazlo longs for it to be discovered again and he would give anything to visit the place he has spent so long dreaming about. Lazlo is a dreamer but he's also smart, funny and very caring. He always tries to help people but never expects thanks for his hard work and is so grateful for every opportunity he is offered that he never takes anything for granted.

This is also the story of Sarai, a young woman who has been trapped in her home for years with only her siblings for company. I don't want to get into too much detail about where Sarai is or how she ended up trapped there but her path crosses Lazlo's in the most unusual manner and I absolutely loved spending time with them both and watching the beginnings of their romance. Sarai and her siblings have been through something horrific but thanks to her unique talent she is the one best placed to understand both sides of the story and she longs for peace and freedom. She's such a compassionate girl, one who has seen the worst people have to offer but who also has great capacity for forgiveness and who tries really hard to look at the good in people.

Once again Laini Taylor has created a world that you just want to dive into, there are so many beautiful and amazing things to discover but there are also dark secrets lurking underneath that will leave you reeling. Her characters are people you want to be friends with and even her villains are so complex that you can understand their actions even if you don't particularly agree with them. There is so much pain and fear between the two different groups in the story that it's going to take a miracle to pull them together but I have complete faith that if anyone can pull it off Lazlo Strange and the Muse of Nightmares can. Working together I think they can achieve anything.

Strange the Dreamer is definitely one of my favourite books of the year and there is no doubt in my mind that it is going to be appearing on a lot of "best of 2017" lists. The Muse of Nightmares is right at the top of my 2018 wish list but I know I'll be rereading this book while I wait for it to be released.

I just have to add that I think the UK cover is so gorgeous and after a little arm doodling I think it would make a pretty gorgeous tattoo too!

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

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Review: Exiled - Amanda Carlson

Phoebe Meadows is on trial for her life.

After freeing her half-brother, Baldur, Phoebe is set to stand before the Council in Asgard to answer for her actions. The threat of exile if she’s found guilty looms, not to mention the added stress of meeting her real father for the first time.

Upon entering Asgard, Phoebe discovers new allies in a half-brother she’s never met as well as an oracle who is in possession of valuable information. A little added help couldn’t have come at a better time, because when Phoebe is tossed into an unknown realm, she’s armed only with Gundren, a jewel, and her wits.

When Loki shows up, all bets are off. The trickster god throws a wrench in Phoebe’s plans and kidnaps Fen, her only ally. And just when she thinks she sees the light at the end of the tunnel, Phoebe finds she has to defeat one last obstacle: The Norns.

And they aren't planning to go down without a fight...

Phoebe Meadows Series:
Struck
Freed
Exiled

Visit Amanda Carlson's website for more information

Review:
At the end of the previous book we saw Phoebe and her friends travelling to Asgard so she can stand trial for helping Baldur escape. The Goddess Frigg blames her for Baldur's death but Phoebe is hoping she'll be given the chance to prove her innocence and make sure the real culprit is punished. Frigg isn't willing to listen to reason though, her son is dead and all she cares about is getting revenge so it looks like Phoebe will receive the ultimate punishment and find herself exiled to Helheim, the real question is whether Fen will be sent with her or if she'll have to face a new realm full of enemies completely alone.

This series really is going from strength to strength. I love the Norse mythology Amanda Carlson has taken inspiration from and I really enjoyed getting the chance to spend time in both Asgard and Helheim in this book. It's great that we get to explore new places in every instalment of this series and the author does a brilliant job of making each realm feel completely different to the ones we've already visited. The story is action packed as Phoebe is set an almost impossible task by Frigg and she has to face her scariest enemies yet if she wants to be able to return from her exile in Helheim.

Phoebe gets the chance to meet more of her family here too which was a lot of fun, not only do we catch up with her adoptive parents in the human realm but we also learn more about the Valkyrie side of her family and she finally gets to meet her father Odin. The romance between her and Fen is still going strong and I continue to love the friendship between Phoebe and her human friend Sam too. Odin and Frigg aren't the only gods in the mix and Loki is causing mischief just like you'd expect but luckily Phoebe has some powerful allies as well as enemies or she'd be in even more trouble.

I've been having so much fun reading this series and I'm eagerly awaiting the next instalment to see what adventures Phoebe gets up to next.

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

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Review: See No Evil - Pippa DaCosta

“Wanted dead or alive sounds like a lot more fun when it’s not my head on the block.”

Word is out, the soul eater has gone rogue and not even the might of Osiris can stop him. Or so everyone believes. That would suit Ace just fine, but after he narrowly escapes an assassination attempt, he knows it’s just a matter of time before those around him end up in the crosshairs of the gods.

After 500 years on earth, it’s time for Ace to go home. Little does he know, the underworld is hungry for revenge, and what awaits him in the Halls of Judgment could be far worse than any fate on Earth.

The thrilling Amazon bestselling series is back with a whole load of action, bad-assery, and psychotic gods.

Soul Eater Series:
Hidden Blade
Witches' Bane
Chase the Dark (Short story in the Full Metal Magic anthology)
See No Evil
Scorpion Trap
Serpent's Game
Edge of Forever

Visit Pippa DaCosta's website for more information

Review:
It's absolutely no surprise but Pippa DaCosta has done it again, this series is going from strength to strength and I am totally addicted! You just know that Pippa has it in for her main characters when she sends them on a holiday to the Hamptons, there is no way Ace, Shu and Cat are just going to be allowed to party at the beach for an entire book so it's no surprise that trouble follows fast on their heels leaving a trail of death and destruction behind it. A seaside holiday turns into something else entirely when Ace and Cat find themselves transported to Duat, the land of the dead that is Ace's homeland and somewhere he was exiled from 500 years ago.

What I love about this series (and all of Pippa's books) is the way she excels at world building, we've seen Ace in New York and we've had a short visit to Duat before but this is the first time we get to properly explore it and meet some of the creatures that Ace grew up surrounded by. The rules in Duat are very different to here on earth and unless they tread carefully Cat could end up losing her soul. Throw in a group of vengeful gods who want to make Ace pay (both for crimes he did commit and ones he didn't) and they're in for a bumpy ride.

See No Evil was definitely my favourite instalment of the series so far - the setting was fabulous, the action kept me on the edge of my seat and there was so much growth in the characters. Shu is totally badass with a gooey centre that only gets exposed in the exact right conditions, there's more to Cat than we originally suspected and Ace is still a loveable rogue with a scary bad side. Don't even get me started on the crazy Egyptian gods, they're all brilliant at twisting things to their own advantage and the games they play with each other just put Ace and the others in more and more danger. The stakes are definitely getting higher and I can't wait for the next instalment to see how Ace is going to deal with the latest revelations.

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

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Review: Freed - Amanda Carlson

Phoebe Meadows has one thing on her mind: Free her mother.

For the last month, Phoebe has been training in the Valkyrie stronghold readying for battle. But when she stumbles into a secluded valley after a day of grueling practice, she’s given a dire prediction. Phoebe must leave the stronghold immediately with the aid of the giant, Junnal, to rescue her mother from the dark elves. If Phoebe fails, Leela will be transported to a place that can no longer be reached.

Leaving Fen behind threatens to undo her, but Phoebe stays true to the mission. Along the way, she allies with the god Baldur and an old white elf mage. Together, they storm the realm, and with the help of an angry wolf and her Valkyrie sisters, they just might stand a chance to free the valiant shieldmaiden.

But Phoebe soon learns that in order to save her mother, she might lose something too precious to sacrifice...

Phoebe Meadows Series:
Struck
Freed
Exiled

Visit Amanda Carlson's website for more information

Review:
I loved Struck so I couldn't wait to read about more of Phoebe's adventures in Amanda Carlson's newest release Freed. Phoebe has come a long way from the girl we met in the first book, she has really embraced her Valkyrie heritage and has been training incredibly hard to learn how to use her powers. Of course most Valkyries start learning to fight practically from birth so she's still a long way behind most of her contemporaries but she doesn't let that stop her and she's determined to catch up as quickly as possible.

When Phoebe is offered the chance to rescue her mother from the Dark Elves that have been holding her captive she jumps straight in head first even though she knows the risks are high and she's not had time to fully prepare herself. You have to love that about Phoebe, she's always willing to do whatever needs to be done to protect the people she cares about and this is no different. The rescue attempt gives Amanda Carlson a chance to expand on the Norse mythology used in this series and we get to explore another of the Nine Worlds through Phoebe's eyes. I'm absolutely loving the variety of creatures, gods and realms this series has to offer and from events towards the end of this book it's only going to get better in the next book.

You'll get a chance to catch up with all your favourite characters from the previous book. Fen is a great partner to Phoebe but I'm glad she is still her own person and they aren't glued to each other's sides. He's very protective of her but he also trusts her to look after herself which is good to see. Tyr, Sam and Ingrid are all still on the scene although I think they get a little less page time this time around. That was more than made up for by the introduction of Baldur and Callan though, they are both really interesting characters but I'm not going to tell you much about them so you'll just have to read the book and meet them for yourselves.

This series is going from strength to strength, the books are fast paced and incredibly easy to read, the characters are multidimensional and easy to love (or in some cases hate!) and the world building is getting better and better. I can't wait to see where the series goes from here, the build up for the next book is intense and I have a feeling it's going to be epic.

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

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Review: Witches' Bane - Pippa DaCosta

“I didn’t earn the name Godkiller, but in three days I’ll own it.”

Witches are disappearing all over New York and Ace Dante couldn’t care less. Until one holds his friend at gunpoint, demanding Ace take the job.

The witch produces a girl's severed arm, bearing an unusual hieroglyph, and Ace starts to care a whole lot more. He recognizes that mark. It’s connected to Ace in ways he doesn’t yet understand. Why is it on a dead witch’s arm?

Missing witches and severed arms aren’t Ace’s only problems. With a new name around his neck—Godkiller—Ace has a promise to uphold. He has three days to kill the god, Thoth. Or risk Osiris’s wrath. The last time Ace defied Osiris, he earned a curse that crippled his life and turned him into Osiris’s puppet for eternity.

This time, Osiris won’t be as lenient. Ace must kill Thoth. An impossible task. It takes a god to kill a god, and Ace is just a washed-up mercenary. Isn’t he?

As the spells are cast and the truth is revealed, there’s only one way out. Ace must become the monster the gods fear him to be.

The Soul Eater has a new name, and now, nobody is safe.

Soul Eater Series:
Hidden Blade
Witches' Bane
Chase the Dark (Short story in the Full Metal Magic anthology)
See No Evil
Scorpion Trap
Serpent's Game
Edge of Forever

Visit Pippa DaCosta's website for more information

Review:
I loved Hidden Blade but wow, Pippa DaCosta has definitely upped the stakes in Witches' Bane. This series has quickly become one of my favourites and I absolutely can't wait to get my hands on See No Evil in a couple of months.

Ace is my favourite kind of anti hero, there is darkness inside him and he's definitely crossed plenty of lines in his time but he also tries to do the right thing and he stands up and fights for people less powerful than himself. He's walking a very fine line thanks to the curse that binds him to Osiris knowing that no matter how hard he tries to be good Osiris always has a hold over him and can force him to act against his will. Ace is compelled to kill Thoth at Osiris's command and even though he knows he doesn't stand a chance against someone that powerful he also knows that Osiris will take it out on his friends and allies if he fails. Throw in murdered witches, missing memories and meddling gods with plenty of time on their hands to play a very long game and Ace's life has hit an alltime low point.

Everything I loved about the first book was ramped up a level in this one, the story is darker, the gods are even more twisted and Ace is caught up in plots that are far more complicated and overreaching than he could ever have guessed at. Shu is totally brilliant and we meet a new (and equally badass!) sidekick that is going to help make Ace's life interesting. We're starting to dig a little deeper into the characters and I loved the glimpses we saw of Ace's history and finding out how he ended up in the situation he's in now. He's trying so hard to live up to Bast's assertion that there is good inside him but sometimes the past comes back to bite you and the stains on his soul aren't so easy to wipe clean.

If you're looking for an urban fantasy series that stands out from the crowd for it's unique mythology, brilliant world building and outstanding, three dimensional characters then you need the Soul Eaters series in your life. I love all of Pippa DaCosta's books and would happily recommend any of them but I think Ace might just be edging Caleb (from her 1000 Revolution series) out of the top spot on my favourite anti heroes list and that's very high praise indeed.

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

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Review: Hidden Blade - Pippa DaCosta

"They call me devil, liar, thief. In whispers, they call me Soul Eater. They’re right. I’m all those things—and more."

Kicked out of the underworld and cursed to walk this earth for all eternity, Ace Dante finds solace in helping others avoid the wrath of the gods.

But when warrior-bitch, Queen of Cats, and Ace's ex-wife, Bastet, hires him to stop whoever is slaughtering her blessed women, Ace is caught between two of the most powerful deities to have ever existed: Isis and Osiris.

The once-revered gods aren’t dead.

They’re back.

And Ace is in their way.

Welcome to a New York where the ancient gods roam.

Soul Eater Series:
Hidden Blade
Witches' Bane
Chase the Dark (Short story in the Full Metal Magic anthology)
See No Evil
Scorpion Trap
Serpent's Game
Edge of Forever

Book Trailer:


Visit Pippa DaCosta's website for more information

Review:
I don't know how she does it but Pippa DaCosta consistently comes up with exciting new ideas and Hidden Blade is a breath of fresh air for urban fantasy fans. Egyptian mythology is fascinating but it's actually very underused in UF so I couldn't be more thrilled about this series. Imagine a modern day New York that is actually run by ancient Egyptian gods who are hiding in plain sight. The mayor and his wife? You might not know to look at them but that's Osiris and his wife (and sister) Isis. They've been married for over 3,000 years so even though they're still crazy in love that's bound to put a strain on any relationship!

Our main character Ace, also known as the Nameless One, is a soul eater and, alongside his business partner Shu, he protects the streets of New York from demons and things that go bump in the night. When his ex-wife Bast (AKA Bastet, goddess of cats and protector of the innocent) asks for his help investigating the murders of a group of pregnant young girls who were living under her protection Ace finds himself caught up in something bigger than he could have imagined. Already trapped in the effects of a powerful curse Ace now ends up with an even bigger target on his back and caught between the sights of two vengeful gods.

This is such a hard book to review because I want to tell you how amazing it is but I don't want to give you spoilers. Pippa DaCosta creates such brilliantly multilayered characters and Ace is one of her best. Thanks to his soul eater abilities he's full of darkness and constantly battles between his desires to devour everyone in his path and his hope to become something more, something better. You'll discover the details of his curse for yourself when you read the book but it's certainly a harsh punishment for his crimes and you can't help but root for him even when he teeters on the edge of doing terrible things. The Egyptian gods are as crazy as they are powerful and you definitely wouldn't want them as an enemy.

Hidden Blade is full of action, the author doesn't shy away from sending her characters to hell and back and I'm not going to lie that makes for a gut wrenching read at times. This book will take you through every emotion you can think of and may turn you into an emotional wreck at times but it is so, so worth it. Brilliant world building, fascinating mythology, wonderful multilayered characters that you will either love or love to hate and a fast moving storyline that will keep you turning the pages until the end - Pippa DaCosta most certainly has another hit on her hands and I for one can't wait to get my hands on the sequel!

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

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Review: Struck - Amanda Carlson

When Phoebe Meadows gets struck by a strange light in the stockroom of Macy’s, life as she knows it flies out the window. As if being hit by lightning isn’t bad enough, she’s accosted in the subway by a man with a missing hand, arrives home to find a raven on her kitchen counter, and her neighbor, Ingrid, shows up dressed like a gladiator hell-bent on protecting her.

Before Ingrid can shuttle her to safety, Phoebe is kidnapped and tossed into one of the Nine Worlds where she’s quickly forced to come to terms with what she is: A valkyrie. The only problem is, she has no idea what that means.

After a narrow escape, she finds an unlikely ally in Loki’s son, Fenrir. Together the valkyrie and the wolf must battle their way back to New York City and reach the valkyrie stronghold where Ingrid is waiting for her. But with danger and obstacles at every turn, she might not live long enough to learn the full truth about who and what she really is . . .

Phoebe Meadows Series:
Struck
Freed
Exiled

Visit Amanda Carlson's website for more information

Review:
Phoebe thought she was just a normal girl trying to make ends meet in the big city until the day she gets struck by lightning in the stockroom of the Macy's store she works at. The next thing she knows her neighbour Ingrid is announcing that she's Phoebe's aunt and that Phoebe is the long lost child of a valkyrie and a god. Apparently her parents kept her a secret for a very good reason and now that Phoebe is starting to come into her powers she's become a beacon for the enemies that hunt her. After a botched kidnapping attempt leaves Phoebe trapped in one of the Nine Worlds she has no choice but to ally herself with the demigod Fenrir to try and find her way back to New York so that Ingrid can explain what the hell is happening to her.

I had so much fun reading this novel! Amanda Carlson has created a likeable and very normal heroine who is thrown into a world where creatures from Norse mythology are in fact very, very real. Poor Phoebe is completely out of her depth and she barely has a moment to catch her breath from the beginning to the end of this novel, she really is thrown in at the deep end and has to fight with every last scrap of strength she has just to survive. I loved that she wasn't perfect, she didn't always know how to react or what her best option was and she just had to do the best she could to muddle through but no matter what she went through she didn't give up and she did whatever she had to to hold her own in any fight. She was also fiercely loyal to the people she trusted, if you prove yourself to be her ally then she'll have your back no matter how bad the odds of survival.

Fen was another brilliant character, he's survived things that would have turned a lesser man insane but it's left him strong and with a highly evolved protective streak. He's not sure what to make of Phoebe at first but he admires her will to survive and I think he found her naivety endearing too. The pair have to work closely together if they're going to have any chance of escaping and I enjoyed seeing their relationship start to blossom as they got to know each other. I did find that the declarations of love came a little too quickly, up until that point their relationship had been progressing at a believable rate so it felt that things stepped up a gear just a bit too fast at the end, but I'd rather have things move fast than be stuck with another dreaded love triangle so I'm not going to complain too much. I think they fit really well together so I'm happy to see them as a couple and I think we're going to see things really develop further between them as the series continues.

There are a couple of great side characters in the god of war Tyr and Phoebe's human friend Sam and I'm also looking forward to getting to know more about the valkyries in future books. I don't know a huge amount about Norse mythology but I'm really enjoying what we've seen so far of the Nine Worlds and the various different creatures and gods that inhabit them. I'm sure there is a lot more to explore and I'm excited to find out what Phoebe will encounter next. Struck was a fabulous start to this series, it's very action packed and will suck you in from the first page giving you a wonderful new world to explore. I can't wait to revisit these characters again in the future and I have a feeling it's going to turn into a favourite series before too long.

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

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Review: Ecstasy Claimed - Setta Jay

Gregoire has spent centuries with his brother Guardians fighting for the safety and security of the Realms. Endless decades of battling mixed with bouts of mindless sex to sate his needs. Needs that haven’t truly been fulfilled since she was born. The one destined to be his bonded mate. For the last twenty five years Gregoire has kept his distance giving her time to grow into a female who is capable of handling his intense dominance.

Alyssa has done everything that was expected of her, until the day she finds out she has a mate who has left her unclaimed. Unheard of when mates are rare and coveted. Even worse is the fact that he is the most powerful of her race and a Guardian of the Realms. Furious at the rejection she decides she is now in charge of her life. No more will she allow others to rule her.

Against the backdrop of evil forces that are conspiring to topple the Realms, can Gregoire find his wayward mate before she is taken by corrupt Immortals? Can Alyssa forgive him and learn to exert her own female power while surrendering to his savage passion? And will the two of them be able to forge a mate bond that cannot be severed... or will they be forever cursed with an Ecstasy Unclaimed?

Warning: Dirty talking, possessive alpha male; scenes of sexual exhibition; an instance of f/f; spankings and more.

Guardians of the Realms:
Hidden Ecstasy (Short Story)
Ecstasy Unbound
Ecstasy Claimed
Denying Ecstasy
Tempting Ecstasy
Piercing Ecstasy
Blinding Ecstasy
Divine Ecstasy

Visit Setta Jay's website for more information

Review:
After really enjoying Hidden Ecstasy and Ecstasy Unbound I was excited to read Gregoire's story and had high hopes for this book. Unfortunately I didn't love it as much as I expected to, this series is all about the sexy alpha heroes which is normally a huge bonus for me but there is a BIG difference between a sexy alpha guy and an alpha asshat and I'm afraid Gregoire swung too far into the second territory for me to ever fall for him. He has known Alyssa is his mate since he first saw her as a baby (he's friends with her father) which is I have to admit is not something that I'm a particular fan of but I can deal with it because he waits until she is 25 years old before making a move on her because he wants to allow her to mature as a woman without his influence in her life. I still felt the age gap between them was just too huge though, we see huge gaps in paranormal romance all the time but Alyssa is just very young, naive and innocent compared to Gregoire and I found it difficult to believe that they would ever be on the same page emotionally.

I was never completely sold on them as a couple and there were moments I really wanted to slap Gregoire. What is it with guys who are happy to sleep around with thousands of women while they wait for their mate to come along but if she has even looked at another guy before they met they'll threaten to murder him? Seriously, that's just asshat behaviour and it's NOT sexy. It's also not sexy when a guy starts badmouthing the women he's slept with in the past, so it's okay for him to sleep around but the women he went to bed with were just trashy? Look in the mirror Gregoire, look in the mirror. I think you'll find there is only one asshat in that equation and let me give you a hint, it isn't a woman!! Want to know something else that isn't sexy? When a guy is so ridiculously possessive that he gets jealous when his girl talks to other women or even pets the dog (or in this case Hellhound!). FFS what is wrong with him? Yes, I get it's the whole "mating bond" turning him crazy but I don't care - I DON'T LIKE IT.

As much as I didn't love the main couple I could have dealt with their "romance" a little better if it hadn't been for the side story going on between Sam and Eric. Both of those characters were introduced in the previous book so I don't consider it a spoiler to mention the way we watched Sam get raped and tortured by multiple guys before the others were able to rescue her. Now I have to admit I mentioned in my review of Ecstasy Unbound that I was incredibly nervous about how their relationship would be handled, especially since Eric's mating bond had been triggered when he met her but Sam is trying to deal with the aftermath of such a horrific experience. I was hoping that Setta Jay would be able to handle things with sensitivity but no, this book actually had some of the most rage inducing scenes I've EVER had the displeasure of reading.

This time it isn't the hero that annoyed me, in fact Eric was incredibly caring and protective towards Sam and he went to great lengths to ensure he didn't frighten her or cause her any more trauma. What made me want to throw my kindle across the room was the way his family and the other guardians spoke to her. Sam was freed less than a week ago and after everything she has been through she would still be recovering physically let alone mentally, those kinds of memories aren't going to be cured overnight for sure. Yet people are constantly putting pressure on her to complete the bond with Eric because the "mating frenzy" is causing him pain and distress. Let's just get facts straight, whatever Eric is going through is NOTHING compared to what Sam has already suffered and he has no interest in completing the bond with her while she's still emotionally fragile. So much so that they have to sneak up on him and chain him to the bed to get him to go through with it! But poor Sam has people nagging at her constantly until she gives in and agrees to sleep with him, then we're inside her head listening to how dirty she feels and watching her cry while she does it and I'm supposed to find that sexy? Honestly those scenes made me want to vomit and I've never suffered a sexual trauma but I dread to think what this would be like for anyone who has been through anything similar to Sam.

I could rant on for hours about how much I hated that scene and the fact the way Sam and Eric's relationship was handled, especially since they're both such nice characters. Their relationship had so much potential to be a wonderful thing and I feel cheated that the author rushed their storyline and tried to brush all of Sam's trauma under the carpet. If their relationship had developed slowly over several books (or even a full book of their own) I could honestly have totally fallen in love with this couple but all that happened is I ended up hating most of the other characters for the way they treated the pair of them. The way this was handled, coupled with Gregoire's asshat behaviour, has just ruined the series for me and I'm not sure I'll ever want to continue reading it. I normally reserve my 1 star ratings for books that are so bad I couldn't even finish reading them but this one made me rage so much that I can't even bring myself to even give it 2 stars. It's such an incredible disappointment for a series that has so much potential to be destroyed so utterly by such careless handling of a rape victim.

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

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