Prince of Shadows

Prince of Shadows

Rachel Caine

ISBN: 9780451414410

February 2014

5 Stars

*I received this uncorrected galley from Penguin first to read*

In the enemy houses of Montague and Capulet only two things really matter; power and heirs.

Knowing what is expected of him Benvolio Montague, cousin to Romeo Montague, realizes his double identity as the Prince of Shadows could cost him everything. What he doesn’t expect as he steals from the Capulets’ in rebellion is falling in love with Rosaline Capulet, which sets in motion a dangerous curse that will fall on both houses.

As far as retellings go this novel is probably my favorite, or at least in the top five.  I should mention that I am not a huge fan of retellings.  Even after thinking about what I would write I am lost for words. It’s been years (quite a few of them) since I read Romeo and Juliet.  I liked it but not as much as my friends. It wasn’t something I reread or wanted to reread.  Prince of Shadows will be something that I would consider rereading.  Benvolio is an interesting and fun protagonist to read. There’s a lot of action, good drama, and of course romance. It’s something I would absolutely recommend, especially to Romeo and Juliet fans.

In the Blood

In the Blood

Lisa Unger

9781451691177

January 2014

5 Stars

*I received this galley from NetGalley*

Lana Granger lives a life of lies.  Even for her the lies and reality have become a blur of confusion.

 When she learns that her trust fund is almost depleted right before college graduation she takes a job babysitting Luke, who she soon discovers, is a challenging child.  His controlling and manipulative ways have gotten him expelled from almost every school he attends but he can’t get under her skin so easily. Then her best friend and roommate, Beck, goes missing. Suspicion surrounds Lana and her life of lies starts to unravel. She starts to put the pieces together but someone else seems to have all the answers already.

If I could have stopped all outside interference this book would not have been put down for more than a few minutes.  I was drawn in and hooked right away. Since I tend to figure things out pretty quickly I need a novel like this that has subtle mysteries or twists that go along with the main plot.  It’s the subtle points that surprise me and keep me on the edge of my seat.  Pacing is very important in this genre and this one seems flawless in that regard.  The characters are also very well developed for this plot. Dysfunctional protagonists are among my favorite to read and the psychological characteristics of all the characters made them more interesting. To sum it up; this novel is very well rounded.

I really don’t have any complaints about this novel and will easily recommend it.

 

The Severd Tower

The Severed Tower (Conquered Earth #2)

J. Barton Mitchell

ISBN: 978-1-250-00947

November 2013

5 Stars

*I got this book through a goodreads giveaway*

Since this is a sequel in a series I will not do a synopsis. It’s hard not to spoil it if I do.

I always get a little worried when reading a sequel. I usually don’t like them near as much as the first. That wasn’t the case here at all. If I could give this one more than five stars I would. The action alone makes this one incredible and quick paced. Plus the characters and their conflicting personalities make the relationships fun to experience. This novel (plus the previous one) could easily feel cluttered and disorienting but the author balances all the components very well.  If a reader is intimidated by science fiction this is a series that I would recommend. This has a little bit of everything to keep any reader happy. I am impatient for the next installment.

 

 

 

The Godborn (The Sundering #2)

The Godborn (The Sundering #2)

Paul S. Kemp

ISBN: 978-0-7869-6373-7

October 2013

4 Stars

 

*I received this galley from NetGalley*

Since this book is the sequel of an ongoing series and the characters are also part of a very large storyline I will leave the synopsis alone.

As someone who just discovered this storyline I found myself a little intimidated by the amount of characters, especially since some of the names are very similar.  Fortunately that problem didn’t last long and I easily caught onto a rhythm.

The world building is incredible and easily imaginable with all of the other plot elements. Action is so important in this genre and this novel does not fail to deliver. There’s just the right amount to keep a good pace but also not too much making the story feel cluttered or like its being fluffed.  The characters are so well developed that I was even able to sympathize with some of the antagonists. There’s a lot to the plot other than the obvious; things that anyone could find relevant and relate to if they prod a little below the surface.

I recommend this to fantasy fans, especially those familiar with these characters backgrounds. I also recommend this series to readers just starting in the fantasy genre.

Christian Nation

 

Christian Nation

Frederic C. Rich

ISBN: 978-0-393-24011-5

4 Stars

*I received a copy of this novel through a Library Thing giveaway.*

This review is missing a synopsis intentionally. If you’ve made it this far you’ve already read one. It’s taken me a couple of days to sit down and write this because I really didn’t know how to approach it. When I entered this giveaway I was expecting something a little different, but that’s not a bad thing. The author is very thorough and that is what surprised me. There were so many points that I could research and there are lots of things that I wish I hadn’t have learned.  As a highly opinionated person this is hard for me as this novel brings out so many views. In the beginning I thought that you had to be on one side politically and religiously to find something to like about this one but as I read on I figured out that it’s got points for everyone. Don’t get me wrong it leans more heavily one way but there are morals (for lack of a better word) that cross paths.  I will be talking about this novel and recommending it carefully.

 

Locke and Key, Vol 6

 

Locke and Key, Volume 6: Alpha & Omega

Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodríguez (Artist

ISBN13: 9781613778531

February 2014

5 Stars

*I received this uncorrected galley through NetGalley*

I will not give a synopsis since this is a fifth in a series and I don’t want to give any spoilers by accident.

This series is one that I have thoroughly enjoyed and I have been recommending it since I read the first graphic novel. There is a lot of action and the art is amazing. It’s easy to follow and a very quick read. The one thing that I like the most about this series is the characters and their dysfunctional family life.  The kids of Lovecraft may be trying to slay demons but they are also sparring with real life problems that will resonate with quite a few readers. I mentioned the art work before but just saying its amazing is an understatement. The story alone is great but the artwork really brings the characters to life making it easy to form attachments to them.  I will keep recommending this one.

 

 

A Study in Silks

A Study in Silks (The Baskerville Affair #1)

Emma Jane Holloway

ISBN: 9780345537188

September 2013

4 Stars

*I received this uncorrected galley from NetGalley*

The niece of Sherlock Holmes, Evelina Cooper, has found herself enveloped in a murder mystery that needs to be solved. The timing is very inconvenient as she is about to have her first season and she has the attention of a handsome rake and an old friend who has held her heart before.  When the murder leads her in the directions of her friend’s family and the powerful steam baron she must put her secret weapon to use to find the clues before time runs out.

If the pacing hadn’t been so slow this novel would have gotten 5 stars. With the length and subject matter there needed to be some more action to keep the pages turning quickly.  The plot was great and there were lots of little twists to keep the mystery unpredictable. Nothing seemed to be cluttered or suffocating.  The characters were written very well and it was easy to become invested in them. I will recommend this one and I look forward to the next installment.