Review: Fire Study - Maria V. Snyder

The battle of her life has begun

In the barren territory of Sitia, power comes at a price. Yelena Zaltana possesses the most terrifying magic in the district - the ability to capture and release souls.

While the sinister Sitian council meet to decide her fate, Yelena must capture a Soulstealer, her dark counterpart, until she discovers someone far more dangerous.

And in the war between good and evil, there can only ever be one victor.

The Chronicles of Ixia:
Poison Study
Assassin Study (Short Story)
Magic Study
Fire Study
Power Study (Short Story)
Ice Study (Short Story)
Storm Glass
Sea Glass
Spy Glass
Shadow Study
Night Study
Shattered Glass (Novella)
Dawn Study

Visit Maria V. Snyder's website for more information

Review:
I have become a huge fan of Maria V. Snyder since I first read Touch of Power last year and my experience with her Chronicles of Ixia series has just cemented her as one of my favourite YA fantasy authors. I'm beginning to think she can do no wrong because every single time I pick up one of her books I'm completely pulled into the world she has created and am captivated by her characters. I have come to love Yelena, Valek and their friends and I'm sad to say goodbye to them now that their part of the series has come to an end. I'm looking forward to getting to know side characters better in the next part of the series but I do hope we'll see appearances from some familiar faces too because I want to know how they get on in the future.

I have loved learning about Yelena's magical abilities and in Fire Study we get to see skills really put to the test. She failed to destroy the Soulstealer in Magic Study so she must go up against them once again but now they know of her powers they have been able to prepare for her attempt to stop them. The enemy she is facing has powerful allies who will stop at nothing to destroy Yelena and she has never been more at risk. Unfortunately there isn't anyone who can help her master her powers, knowledge of Soulfinders has been lost over the years because her abilities are so rare so Yelena has to work out a lot of things on her own. Thankfully she has good friends and people who care about her but letting them close enough to help just puts them at even more risk. Yelena has to decide who to trust and find a way to keep them safe while they work alongside her.

I don't want to say too much more about the plot for fear of giving spoilers so I'll just tell you that this is just as action packed as the first two books, there is so much going on and the characters are really up against it. We get to explore more of both Sitia and Ixia, spend time with familiar faces and get to know some not so familiar ones. It was really nice to learn a bit more about Opal who is the heroine of the next three books in the series and I'm really looking forward to finding out more about her glass blowing skills and the beautiful things she creates.

If you enjoyed the first two books in the series then I'm sure you'll love Fire Study just as much, the characters are in for a tough time but the ending was perfect and left me with a happy smile on my face. I had guessed at who was in league with the Soulstealer but I think we were supposed to and that didn't stop my enjoyment of the story. I can't recommend this series highly enough for fantasy fans but you definitely need to read the books in order starting with Poison Study. I'm just so relieved I have three more books already available to read - I know I'm going to be devouring them very soon.

Source: Received from Mira Ink in exchange for an honest review

Other Reviews:
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Review: Roman Holiday Part 2: Hitched - Ruthie Knox

Ruthie Knox’s eBook original serial, Roman Holiday, continues in Episode 2, as Ashley and Roman flee an oncoming hurricane by hitting the highway—only to encounter some outrageous bumps in the road.

Roman Díaz isn’t thrilled about being forced to evacuate Ashley Bowman from the Florida Keys—and that’s before he sees the decrepit Airstream trailer she wants to hook up to his shiny new Escalade. Ashley’s in way over her head, and the only way she knows to beat Roman is to get some help from a friend . . . in Georgia. She can put up with Roman’s fury at the unexpected detour, no problem. It’s the bizarre thrum of attraction between them that she could do without. And yet there’s something about being hitched to Roman that makes Ashley never want to let go.

Roman Holiday:
Chained (Episode 1)
Hitched (Episode 2)
Blindsided (Episode 3)
Ravaged (Episode 4)
Ignited (Episode 5)
Roman Holiday: The Adventure Begins (Bind up of episodes 1-5)
Roman Holiday: The Adventure Continues (Bind up of episodes 5-10)
Roman Holiday: The Complete Adventure (Bind up of episodes 1-10)

Visit Ruthie Knox's website for more information.

Review:
I really enjoyed the first instalment to the Roman Holiday serial Chained so I couldn't wait to start reading Hitched. The first part had introduced the main characters but hadn't given us much of a chance to get to know either of them so it was great to learn a bit more about both Roman and Ashley's backgrounds and the kind of people they are. These two really are complete opposites but they actually have more in common than you'd expect thanks to their childhoods. They both felt unwanted and unloved as children but Ashley was lucky enough to find a bond with her grandmother as a teenager and that has given her a sense of security that Roman has never had. He has always been on his own and it goes a long way to explaining why he is so driven and determined to succeed - he just wants to prove everyone who doubted him wrong and show that he is worthy of having a family.

I have to say my heart went out to them both as we learnt more about their pasts and it made me want to see them both fulfil their dreams. I'm not sure quite how Ruthie Knox is going to pull that off though because they both want totally different things. I'm sure she'll find a way though and it will be interesting to see how things play out. I enjoyed seeing how much Roman underestimates Ashley, he thinks of her as a flake who will easily give up on her goals but it doesn't take long for him to realise that there is a steel core inside her. Ashley has nothing left to lose so she isn't afraid to play dirty to get what she wants, she takes great pleasure in pushing Roman out of his comfort zone and deliberately tries to rile him up just to get a reaction. Roman is quite a stick in the mud so I think he needs someone like Ashley to teach him how to let loose and have fun but at the moment he is really fighting against it.

In some ways it's hard to see how these two are going to end up a couple, on the surface they seem so mismatched that to think of them together is almost laughable but there is definitely chemistry there. I also get a strong feeling that their very different personalities will help bring out good qualities in each other, that they'll both learn from each other and grow closer together because of their differences rather than in spite of them. Whatever happens between them it's sure to be an interesting journey, especially now they've arrived at Ashley's friends home - a hippy commune in the middle of the swamp - I can't wait to see how Roman reacts to having to spend time there!

Source: Received via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

Other Reviews:
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Review: Angelfall - Susan Ee

It's been six weeks since angels of the apocalypse descended to demolish the modern world.

Street gangs rule the day while fear and superstition rule the night.

When warrior angels fly away with a helpless little girl, her seventeen-year-old sister Penryn will do anything to get her back.

Anything, including making a deal with the enemy.

Penryn & the End of Days Series:
Angelfall
World After
End of Days

Visit Susan Ee's website for more information

Review:
Angelfall is one of those books that completely exploded all over the blogosphere when Susan Ee first self published it, it was all my friends were talking about on Goodreads for months and I bought myself a copy way back in 2011 on the back of all the positive reviews I kept seeing. But I never actually got around to reading it myself, I had built up such high expectations that I was afraid Angelfall would never be able to live up to them and I didn't want to be the only one who didn't like the book. Fast forward to 2013 and the series has been picked up by UK publisher Hodder & Stoughton, I'd received review copies of not just Angelfall but also of World After yet I was still scared to start reading. Thankfully a couple of my friends who adored Angelfall wanted to re-read it before the sequel released and they convinced me to buddy read it with them. Now I'm partly kicking myself for not picking it up sooner but at the same time I'm also rejoicing that I don't have to wait 2 years for World After. In fact I'm planning on diving into the next book as soon as I've finished this review and I'm sure I won't be surfacing again until I've devoured it. To give you an idea of how much I loved Angelfall I'm going to say that I read the book TWICE in under 48 hours and that is coming from someone who rarely ever rereads books and who NEVER gets to the end of a book to immediately turn back to the beginning and start all over again. That's how good it is - it took my expectations and smashed them to smithereens and is without a doubt the best YA book I've read this year, if not ever.

I'm going to try and make this a proper review rather than just a fangirl squee fest but I'm making no promises. I just don't think there is any way I can do this book justice. Susan Ee has created a dark, gritty post apocalyptic setting where the world has been destroyed by wrathful angels. Nobody knows why the angels attacked but they do know that nothing will ever be the same again. It's now a case of survival of the fittest, if the angels didn't get you then you're still at risk from the street gangs who have taken over the cities and are fighting each other for control. The only hope Penryn and her family have is to make it to the countryside and find somewhere out of the way to hole up together. Unfortunately for seventeen year old Penryn getting her family to safety isn't going to be easy. For a long time she has been looking after her mentally ill mother and protecting her younger disabled sister Paige, she may be small and slim but thanks to her mother's paranoia she has taken years of self defence training and knows how to protect herself. When Paige is kidnapped by a group of warrior angels Penryn is determined to do whatever it takes to get her back, even if it means teaming up with one of her enemies.

I think Penryn is my favourite YA heroine ever, she makes mistakes and doesn't always get things right but every single action she takes is for her families' survival. She doesn't just talk the talk, she actually walks the walk and she is prepared to make difficult decisions and put herself at risk for those she cares about. More than anything in the world she wants to protect her sister and she doesn't care what she has to do to get her back. I absolutely loved the interactions between her and angel Raffe, the banter between them, the wariness they feel towards each other, the way they slowly grow to respect each other and even start to trust and care for each other - it was all just so, so perfect. There isn't really any romance as such in Angelfall but there are certainly hints at a potential for forbidden love in the sequel and by god I hope I'm right about that. I didn't want to fall for Raffe but I just couldn't help myself!

It's very hard for me to tell you much about the world building without giving things away but wow it was amazing. Susan Ee managed to throw in so many twists and turns that I seemed to spend the majority of the book trying to pick my jaw up off the floor, I was constantly gasping and shouting "holy shit" as I was reading and I loved that she was able to tug on my emotions so many times. I was shocked, horrified, heartbroken and tearful but I also laughed, cheered and swooned my way through the story. I've used the phrase emotional roller coaster before but I don't think it's ever been quite as appropriate as it is for this book, I feel like I've been through a wringer and I think it's going to take me months to fully recover. I know most people have already read this book but if, like me, you're late to jump on the Angelfall bandwagon don't put it off any longer. I really can't recommend this highly enough and I'd be amazed if this doesn't end up being my favourite book of 2013!

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

Other Reviews:
Movies, Books and More
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Review: Wilde for Her - Tonya Burrows

Friends with benefits just got hotter.

Former homicide detective Camden Wilde has been in love with his ex-partner, Eva Cardoso, for longer than he cares to admit. Not that it matters. She’s shoved him into the friend zone, and after living through the hell of his parents’ violent deaths, Cam’s unable to give her the idyllic life she secretly desires.

Eva’s never met a person who hasn't let her down. Cam may be sex personified, but he’s the only man she can trust, and there’s no way she’ll risk their friendship on the off-chance they could be more. Especially not after the one scintillating night she’s trying—and failing—to forget.

When a murder-for-hire contract on his head lands Eva on his doorstep, Cam knows it’s time to put up or shut up. He’s done biding his time, and he’ll be damned if he lets the delectable detective ignore what’s between them, no matter the cost.

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

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

HORNET: Class Alpha Series:
Fragmented Loyalty

Visit Tonya Burrows' website for more information

Review:
Cam may have left the police force to work for the family security business but he has no intention of walking away from his best friend and ex-partner Eva. He has been secretly in love with her for years and it's about time that he proved to her what an amazing couple they could be. Cam is the only person Eva has ever been able to rely on, he has never lied to her and has always been there when she needed him but no matter how much she longs to take things further she could never risk losing his friendship if things went wrong. Can Cam convince her that their love is worth taking a chance on and what will happen if the contract that has been taken out on his life puts her in danger?

I really enjoyed both of Tonya Burrows' previous books so of course I jumped at the chance of reading Wilde for Her. Both of her series are loosely linked so it was nice to see appearances from characters we've already met and we also get to know the hero of the next HORNET book a little better too, I have to say I'm dying to get my hands on Seth's book Honor Reclaimed! The Wilde Security books are more spicy contemporary romances with a little suspense on the side while the HORNET books have more action and would definitely be categorized as romantic suspense so I knew going in that Wilde for Her would be hot and I wasn't disappointed. Cam and Eva have off the charts chemistry and as much as Eva fights the idea of having a relationship she certainly isn't adverse to them being friends with benefits.

They make a great couple though, I love friends to lovers romances and this is a fabulous example of that trope. You can tell instantly how much of a bond these two have, after working side by side for years they know each other inside out and they work together seamlessly in any situation knowing exactly what the other is thinking and how they will react. It is obvious to everyone around them how perfect they are together but they are both incredibly stubborn about it. Eva in particular is terrified of losing Cam, she has never had anyone she can rely on before he came into her life and she values his friendship more than anything. I could understand why she was so scared to take things a step further but I have to admit I did find myself a little frustrated with her at times because of it. Cam on the other hand has no problem admitting to himself how much he loves Eva but he is terrified that he can't be what she needs him to be and that he'll end up hurting her or losing her. There were times when I wanted to bang their heads together but Cam's twin Vaughn does it so effectively that we don't have to.

That's one of the other things I love about this series, the bond between the five Wilde brothers and the way they always have each other's backs. We get to know a bit more about each of the brothers in this instalment and I honestly can't decide whose story I'm most excited about, they each have very different personalities and their own demons and I have a feeling I'm going to fall for them all. Wilde for Her is a sexy read full of intense passion and hot enough to leave you fanning yourself. There is a bit of a mystery going on in the background but the focus is most definitely on the romance which worked for me. Tonya Burrows is already on my must read list and this book has guaranteed that she stays there. If you've not started this series yet then I'd definitely recommend picking up Wilde Nights in Paradise.

Source: Received from Entangled Publishing in exchange for an honest review

Other Reviews:
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Paperback / Kindle:

Previous Covers

October 2013 Recap

Books read in September but reviewed in October:

(Links will take you to my reviews)

1. Deja Voodoo - Elle James (read in September, reviewed in October)
2. Unbound - Cara McKenna (read in September, reviewed in October)
3. Siege & Storm - Leigh Bardugo (read in September, reviewed in October)
4. Kiss of the Night - Sherrilyn Kenyon (read in September, reviewed in October)
5. Inferno - Sherrilyn Kenyon (read in September, reviewed in October)
6. Bonds of Desire - Lynda Aicher (read in September, reviewed in October)
7. Dead Sexy Dragon - Lolita Lopez (read in September, reviewed in October)
8. Poison Study - Maria V. Snyder (read in September, reviewed in October)
9. Assassin Study - Maria V. Snyder (Short Story) (read in September, reviewed in October)
10. Magic Study - Maria V. Snyder (read in September, reviewed in October)
11. My Lady Quicksilver - Bec McMaster (read in September, reviewed in October)
12. The Wedding Dress Diaries - Aimee Carson (Novella) (read in September, review coming soon)
13. Dirty Trick - Christine Bell (read in September, reviewed in October)
14. The First - Jason Mott (Short Story) (read in September, reviewed in October)
15. The Sparrow - Jason Mott (Short Story) (read in September, reviewed in October)
16. The Choice - Jason Mott (Short Story) (read in September, reviewed in October)
17. Endless Knight - Kresley Cole (read in September, reviewed in October)

Books read in October:

(Links will take you to my reviews)

1. The Edge of Never - J.A. Redmerski
2. Fearsome Dreamer - Laure Eve
3. Lover Undercover - Samanthe Beck (review coming soon)
4. On Every Street - Karina Halle
5. Sins & Needles - Karina Halle
6. The Too-Clever Fox - Leigh Bardugo (Short Story)
7. Shooting Scars - Karina Halle
8. Lovers Unmasked - Anthology
9. Crash Into Me - Tracy Wolff
10. Cursed - S.J. Harper
11. The Falconer - Elizabeth May
12. Losing Hope - Colleen Hoover (review coming soon)
13. Unteachable - Leah Raeder (review coming soon)
14. Etiquette & Espionage - Gail Carriger (review coming soon)
15. Her Accidental Boyfriend - Robin Bielman
16. Bold Tricks - Karina Halle
17. Trust in Me - J. Lynn
18. Fire Study - Maria V. Snyder (review coming soon)
19. The Angel - Tiffany Reisz (review coming soon)
20. The Beautiful and the Cursed - Page Morgan (review coming soon)
21. Cake - Lauren Dane (Novella) (review coming soon)
22. Red Hill - Jamie McGuire (review coming soon)
23. Bonds of Hope - Lynda Aicher
24. The Chief - Monica McCarty (review coming soon)
25. Night Play - Sherrilyn Kenyon (review coming soon)
26. Game for Trouble - Karen Erickson

Other October Posts:

1. British Books Challenge - Link your October Reviews
2. 15 Day Book Blogger Challenge: Day 13 - Describe one under appreciated book everyone should read
3. Halloween Blog Tour: Guest Post from Cari Quinn + Giveaway for a Kindle Fire HD (Now Closed)
4. 15 Day Book Blogger Challenge: Day 14 - What are your deal breakers?
5. Extract: Bold Tricks - Karina Halle (+ International Giveaway for an iPad Mini and Signed Books) (Now Closed)
6. 15 Day Book Blogger Challenge: Day 15 - Who are your book blogging mentors?
7. Book to TV: Bitten - Kelley Armstrong
8. Cover Reveal: Banished - Liz de Jager
9. British Books Challenge - Link your November Reviews

October Books of the Month:

(Choices are made from books reviewed this month and the links will take you to my reviews)

My top YA reads in October:

Magic Study by Maria V. Snyder (read my review here)

Endless Knight by Kresley Cole (read my review here)

My top NA reads in October:

I absolutely devoured Karina Halle's Artists series in October, it's incredibly addictive and I couldn't put them down!
On Every Street (read my review here)
Sins & Needles (read my review here)
Shooting Scars (read my review here)
Bold Tricks (read my review here)

My top adult read in October:

Unbound by Cara McKenna (read my review here)

2013 British Books Challenge:

I'm very excited to be hosting the 2013 British Books Challenge here at Feeling Fictional. Please join us and show your support for our fabulous British authors to be in with the chance of winning some fantastic prize packs throughout the year.

• To sign up for the challenge CLICK HERE
• For Frequently Asked Questions about the challenge CLICK HERE

Don't forget to link your reviews each month to be in with a chance of winning the monthly prize packs:

• Link your January Reviews
• Link your February Reviews
• Link your March Reviews
• Link your April Reviews
• Link your May Reviews
• Link your June Reviews
• Link your July Reviews
• Link your August Reviews
• Link your September Reviews
• Link your October Reviews
• Link your November Reviews

My Challenge Updates:

Every year I plan to sign up for less challenges but then I always get carried away and end up joining loads! I like using them to keep track of what I've been reading though so I can't resist. These are the challenges I'm taking part in for 2013:

2013 Read 100 Books in a Year Challenge - Read 200/200 COMPLETE
2012 British Books Challenge - Read 34/50
2013 Debut Author Challenge - Read 19/50
2013 New Author Challenge - Read 82/100
2013 Urban Fantasy & Paranormal Romance Challenge - Read 70/100
2013 Contemporary Romance Challenge - Read 91/100

Which challenges are you taking part in this year? I hope you've at least signed up for the British Books Challenge! If you haven't already it's not too late!

Winner: October British Books Challenge

Since I never heard back from the winner of the British Books Challenge October prize pack I'm happy to announce that the new winner is:

Nikki-Ann from Notes of Life
(for her review of The Lost by Claire McGowan)

Congratulations Nikki-Ann! You have won the fabulous prize pack from Orion that includes the following books:

• She is not Invisible by Marcus Sedgwick
• Cruel Summer by James Dawson
• Ketchup Clouds by Annabel Pitcher
• The Soul Beach Trilogy (Soul Beach, Soul Fire & Soul Storm) by Kate Harrison
• Plus a few bonus books by non-British authors (The Coldest Girl in Coldtown by Holly Black, Shadows and Haze by Paula Weston and Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo)

You have 48 hours to email me with your address or a new winner will be chosen. By sending me your address you are agreeing that I can pass your details to my contact at Orion so that they can send out the prize pack. I have to say a huge thank you to Orion for offering this prize pack.

Review: I am Pusheen the Cat - Claire Belton

Who is Pusheen? This collection of oh-so-cute kitty comics—featuring the chubby, tubby tabby who has taken the Internet by storm—will fill you in on all the basics.

Things you should know about Pusheen.

Birthday: February 18

Sex: Female

Where she lives: In the house, on the couch, underfoot

Her favorite pastime: Blogging, sleeping

Her best feature: Her toe beans

Her favorite food: All of them

Pusheen is a pleasantly plump cat who has warmed hearts and tickled funny bones of millions worldwide with her signature GIF animated bops, bounces, and tail wiggles. Now, Pusheen is ready to make the leap from digital to print in her first comic collection! Learn what makes her purr and find out why millions of people have already fallen in love with this naughty, adorable kitty. Featuring some of the most popular stories from Pusheen’s Tumblr and Facebook pages (plus a healthy serving of never-before-seen material), I Am Pusheen the Cat is a treat for cat lovers and comics fans alike.

Visit the Pusheen the Cat website for more information or to watch the videos

Review:
I have to confess that I wasn't familiar with Pusheen before I saw one of my friends reading this book on Goodreads. She mentioned that the book was available for reviewers on netgalley and after spending about half an hour browsing through the Pusheen the cat website I couldn't resist requesting a copy. I am a sucker for cute cat pictures and videos, I have all of the Simon's Cat books and regularly flick through them when I need something to make me smile so after giggling my way through the most popular posts on the website I knew I'd enjoy this book too.

I will say that this is the kind of book that I prefer to buy in print rather than in ebook. In my opinion the images never look as good on an ereader or computer screen and this is the style of book I like to be able to just pick up and open at a random page when I need something to brighten up my day. I'm pretty sure I'll be buying myself a print copy of this to add to my collection.

I was slightly disappointed that so many of the cartoons were ones I had already come across though. I would say that the majority were ones I'd seen previously on the website and like I already said I've only visited the site once. I think people who have been following the site for years might find that even more disappointing than I did. Having said that if you're new to Pusheen or a super fan of the cartoons then I'm sure the pictures will still make you smile. Pusheen is incredibly cute and reminded me a lot of my cats with her obsession with food and sleeping.

If you're unsure about whether to buy the book or not then I'd highly recommend checking out the Pusheen the Cat website to help you make up your mind. You can also see some sample pictures from inside the book on Amazon (and below)

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

Other Reviews:
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Paperback / Kindle: