The Brotherhood Of Piaxia - Michael Drakich

Years have passed since the overthrow of the monarchy by the Brotherhood of Warlocks and they rule Piaxia in peaceful accord. But now forces are at work to disrupt this rule from outside the Brotherhood as well as within! Follow Tarlok, Savan and Tessia as their paths intertwine, with the Brotherhood in pursuit and the powerful merchant’s guild manipulating the populace for their own end.

This is a fantasy epic on a large scale, comparable to the likes of Trudi Canavan and David Gemmell, where war and magic blends perfectly together. Sometimes it is even remniscent of Game of Thrones, in that there are so many characters and threads on the plot. Sometimes this can be confusing, but this book does not let that happen for long.

The story starts fairly slowly, building up each character and their backstory whilst also getting important aspects of the plot in place. Soon, though, the story gains momentum, with the magic really starting to come into play.

There is some really great storytelling here, with large battles and politics that interest you instead of bore you. I especially liked the complex allegiance of all of the characters and cities in Piaxia, as there is so much more to it than I originally thought. I loved the subterfuge and the amount of confusion, making it seems all the more real to me. There were some really clever parts that delighted me when I thought all was lost.  One particular plot point was a little bit obvious to me, but nevertheless I was very pleased to finally find out that my hunch was correct.

The characters were really where the book came a little bit unstuck. Although I liked and understood all of the protagonists, and thought their growth was excellent, I didn't truly feel much of a connection to them. If some had died, I wonder if I would have cared. I certainly didn't when other characters died who seemed quite important. Developing this would have definitely given more impact to certain plot elements. However, it wasn't horrendously important to me, as I enjoyed the book all the same.

I am pleased to say that there is a book after this one, named Demon Stones (which I have already reviewed), which is based in this same world, some years into the future. While that book was very good and rather riveting, I honestly feel that this one was better.

4/5

The Brotherhood of Piaxia on Goodreads

Kyra_x

Blog Tour: The Zodiac Collector - Laura Diamond

The Zodiac Collector

Laura Diamond

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy

Publisher: Spencer Hill Press

Date of Publication: September 23, 2014

Synopsis:

For almost-16 year-old Anne Devans, the annual Renaissance Faire means three things--her dad spending weeks in the smithy, her bipolar mom doing some manic costume making, and another ruined birthday for her and her twin sister, Mary.

This year, Anne wants things to be different, and she's going to do things her way. On the eve of the Faire, Anne, along with a reluctant Mary, conjures up a spell that will make their 16th birthday party a whirlwind event. Little do they know that it's a literal request.

After the mini tornado in their room subsides, the girls realize they've invoked the power of the Gemini Twins, Castor and Pollux. That's the good news. The bad news is they also caught the attention of a sorceress named Zeena who has been collecting children born under each Zodiac Sign to enhance her power. Once she captures Anne and Mary, Gemini twins, the entire Zodiac, and the world, will be hers.

Anne leads the fight against Zeena, but her one-sided decisions could throw them into a world so far from home, even the Renaissance Faire would seem like a brilliant vacation. Between managing their new Zodiac powers, dodging their manic mother and trying to stop Zeena, they'll get a 16th birthday they'll never forget.

Available at: Amazon - BN - Book Depository

About the Author:

Laura Diamond is a board certified psychiatrist and author of all things young adult paranormal, dystopian, and horror. She’s a lucid dreamer, meaning she can direct her dreams while they’re happening. When she’s awake, she pens stories from her dreams and shares them with her readers.

Laura has many published titles including the Pride Series (New Pride, Shifting Pride, soon to be re-released, and Tsavo Pride), the Endure Series (Endure and Evoke, soon to be re-released), The Zodiac Collector, a novella Sunset Moon in the Lore anthology, and several shorts stories. When she’s not writing, she is working at the hospital, blogging at Author Laura Diamond–Lucid Dreamer, and renovating her 225+ year old fixer-upper mansion.

Facebook - Twitter - Goodreads - Amazon.com - Blog

Kyra_x

Wednesday Wishlist #26 - Fantasy and Retellings

This week it's fantasy and retellings. Yay!

The Queen of the Tearling - Erika Johansen
A nineteen year old girl must claim her right to the throne and become the fearless leader her brutal country expects. She battles against all those that would do her harm, but can she survive long enough? Magic, mystery and romance.. sounds pretty interesting!

Ella Enchanted - Gail Carson Levine
I watched this film as a kid and I loved it! It's a fairytale about a girl who is given the 'gift' of obedience. She goes on a quest to get rid of it by finding the fairy responsible and ends up falling in love with a prince along the way. A Cinderella story, but not as you know it.

Cruel Beauty - Rosamund Hodge
Beauty and the Beast gets a makeover in this fantasy retelling. A girl has been betrothed to the powerful, immortal man who has issued a curse over her people, and she is trained to be the one who kills him. But he is not as expected, and soon she finds herself beguiled by his charms and his magic. A love story at heart, but with a nice bit of fantasy mixed in to make thing interesting. I must read this.

Kyra_x

Top Ten Tuesday #22 - Book Genres I Want To See More Of

Top Ten Tuesday is a Meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish where I will be picking from their top tens and attempting to reveal what my thinking is behind these choices.

So the following book genres I would really like to see more of:

1. ZomRomCom
I loved reading Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion and I think there should be more horror, comedy romance mash-ups. The Zombie thing may be dead and gone (sorry!) but I bet there are better genres to tread through.

2. Classic Retellings, Sequels and Prequels
There needs to be more sequels and prequels of the classics. Death Comes to Pemberley was a great idea, and Wide Sargasso Sea is pretty popular too. I think there needs to be more of that in the world. Maybe we should begin to explore other classics though. I don't think I've ever seen one for Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde?

3. Asian Folklore
There are some really weird Asian Folklore monsters out there and I would love for more people to take those and mix it up a bit.

4. Alternate History Sci-fi
Don't tell me you wouldn't like to know how Queen Victoria would have reacted to aliens on her doorstep?

5. Sci-fi Dystopian
I love sci-fi, I love dystopia, and I love it when they merge to create some truly awesome books set in an alien world with that same dystopian society I know and love.

6. Clockpunk
Think Steampunk, then replace anything steam with clockwork and you're sorted. Maybe add some sci-fi and you've got a Doctor Who episode right there. But honestly, I love the idea of clockwork machines and evil mechanisms, and the Victorian setting is always awesome.

7. Historical Fantasy
I've read a few of these and I really like it! The whole idea of magic in a very well-known age is awesome to me and I like to see it linked in to reality well enough to make you question it. When something I linked into a historical event is when things really kick off. Imagine that perhaps Anne Boleyn really was a witch? Now that would be a cool story.

8. YA Time Travel
I've recently finished a really great series in this exact genre and I loved it! A mixture of time travel and teen emotion actually works quite well and keeps things very interesting.

9. Fantasy Detective
I don't read much in the way of detective novels or PI novels, but I will gladly pick one up if there's magical or paranormal creatures involved.

10. Mythological Fiction
I know there's tons of books that currently fit this category and the market is saturated, but I want a new take. I want some really strange, really cool fiction. Think American Gods by Neil Gaiman, or a really old folklore or myth that is seldom used. Personally, I'd like to learn more about the Egyptian gods and fiction is a really easy and enjoyable way to do that.

If you're wondering about my choice of images, these are all extra examples that I've mentioned in previous posts and reviews.

What genres would you like to see more of? Do you agree with my list?

Kyra_x

Review: Demon Stones - Michael Drackich

Garlin Murdach is just a simple farm boy until one day he falls asleep next to a 100-year-old stone and frees the demon trapped within. Things escalate quickly when the demon begins killing people, and Gar soon becomes an outcast when he deserts the army and his outlawed magical abilities are discovered.

To be brutally honest, the beginning of this book really didn't hook me. Garlin was quite unlikeably selfish and life was a little bit boring. However, you don't have far to go until the pace begins to pick up and you get entirely involved in the story. The characters and the plot were really interesting and exciting, and I really loved how the actions of one teenage boy could escalate into a full blown war. The ending is actually so far removed from the beginning of the book, it began to take on the quality of an epic rather than a YA, which is what some would chalk this up as.

This book has a lot going on, and not least are the themes focused on here. The messages are very clear; not to be selfish, to stay true to ourselves and our family and not to succumb to the will of others. It teaches about how we should value our families and fight to protect them, and let them know we love them, as life is a very fragile state. One other message got through to me: not to judge people by how they look, but by the actions and reasoning. Some people are evil and some are not, but you cannot tar everyone with the same brush.

The characters were amazingly detailed and perfectly rounded. No-one was too annoying and everyone was realistic, including the demons. Each character had their own values and beliefs, and it was nice to see arcs in many of them as opposed to a select one or two as they began to understand the demons and their place in the scope of the country and the world. The demons themselves were surprising and I loved the dynamic between their group as well as between them and the humans. Brask and Devron were both brilliant: their stories were interesting and totally intrinsic to what happens nearing the end of the story, even though at first they seemed like minor characters. Darlee is another very notable character for her amazing strength and loyalty, Despite the fact that Gar isn't very nice to her, she still does everything she can to help and protect him.

The world of Sechland and it's bordering countries is massively detailed, building up an amazing map inside your mind. The workings of the kingdoms, how each of them think and their individual motives, and the use of magic and it's workings was well thought out and seemed very realistic to me. The writing style was really easy to read and the story flowed beautifully once it had built up a bit more momentum.

Just a little warning: This book is more for adults than children as there is a lot of death, violence and sex. There is a couple of torture scenes and a lot of fighting which some may find distasteful. However, die-hard fantasy fans, particularly those who like a bit of high fantasy, will adore this book just as I did.

Reading on from the end of the book, I also found that the author has written more about that world in The Brotherhood of Piaxia, which I am now very interested in reading! This was a really good read and it is highly recommended.

Demon Stones on Goodreads

Kyra_x

Review: Majra - J Simon

The Majra believe in the truth, but one that there is one, and that everyone should live by it religiously. They use this truth to bend others to their will and to confine and divide the people they deem to be savages inside cities of stark white walls. The Serzi way of life is to tell stories with every breath, to tell untruths in such a way that everyone knows you are joking, and they will not let their way of life go without some sort of fight.

This book is incredibly difficult to describe. There are many layers to the story, making it truly compelling. The characters are very likeable, and quite relatable, especially Eyla, who reminded me of myself at times.

J. Simon has a vivid imagination and an impressive creative mind, because this is not just one story but a tapesrty of them woven together and used to make utter sense of the world these characters live in. I loved reading the amazing tales, the outright lies that people told to get others to buy their wares or make a philosophical point. I loved the way that some characters would use a story to explain how they felt, using them as an elongated metaphor for their own situation.

However, it took some time for me to truly understand how this world worked and what was truth and what was mere fabrication. The writing style may be jarring for some because they may get confused within the story and in the fact that there is a lot of varied symbolism going on. Some of the tales in the book do go on for some time, sometimes beginning a chapter and making you forget which character is meant to you (thankfully you only have to choose between Aris, a clever young man, and Eyla, a forthright young woman). Honestly, sometimes this takes more concentration than perhaps some would like, but personally, I really enjoyed this.. once I understood what was going on.

The story centres around Aris and Eyla, and describes every character beautifully. The two protagonists are very human, with flaws just like everyone else. I love their arcs as they learn who they should be and what they have to give up to hep themselves and their families. Really, the themes revolve around friendship, family, love and sacrifice. There was selfishness, mixed with heroism and some romance thrown in, so overall this was a very human story instead of the oddity that I thought would be the entire book, thanks to the first page or so that made pretty much no sense to me until I looked back on it.

This is a great read and it really enraptures you with the charming stories and interesting characters. Very enjoyable and definitely readable, perfect for fantasy lovers and those who like a bit of adventure.

Majra on Goodreads

Kyra_x

Book Blitz: Ice Massacre - Tiana Warner

Ice Massacre by Tiana Warner 

Publication date: September 18th 2014

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult

Synopsis:
A mermaid’s supernatural beauty serves one purpose: to lure a sailor to his death.

The Massacre is supposed to bring peace to Eriana Kwai. Every year, the island sends its warriors to battle these hostile sea demons. Every year, the warriors fail to return. Desperate for survival, the island must decide on a new strategy. Now, the fate of Eriana Kwai lies in the hands of twenty battle-trained girls and their resistance to a mermaid’s allure.

Eighteen-year-old Meela has already lost her brother to the Massacre, and she has lived with a secret that’s haunted her since childhood. For any hope of survival, she must overcome the demons of her past and become a ruthless mermaid killer.

For the first time, Eriana Kwai’s Massacre warriors are female, and Meela must fight for her people’s freedom on the Pacific Ocean’s deadliest battleground.

Ice Massacre on Goodreads

Purchase:
Free During the Blitz on Amazon


Author Interview:

Give us the tweet-sized version of what Ice Massacre is about.

A teenage girl is sent to battle the hostile mermaids that are driving her people into poverty. A story of love, secrets, and ass-kicking.

What makes Ice Massacre unique?

First, I haven’t seen a lot out there that portrays mermaids for what they really are: flesh-eating sea demons. But I think what also sets it apart is its almost entirely female cast. This island decides to send female warriors to kill the mermaids that plague them, because women don’t fall victim to a mermaid’s supernatural allure. We end up with an all-female war on a ship in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.

Meela, an aboriginal girl who’s never been away from the tiny island she calls home, also has a pretty unique journey of self-discovery. I don’t want to reveal too much. But I think a lot of aspects make this story unconventional.

What’s your favourite thing about the book?

I love Meela’s antagonists. Meela’s a tough chick and she has a lot coming at her from all directions. Writing those opposing forces was so much fun.

What’s next for you as a writer?

The sequel! This is the first in a trilogy, and I’m hard at work on book two: Ice Crypt.

Author Bio
Tiana Warner was born and raised in British Columbia, Canada. She enjoys riding her horse, Bailey, and collecting tea cups.

Website - Twitter - Author Goodreads

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Kyra_x

Review: Teardrop - Lauren Kate

Eureka never cries, not even when her mother dies in a freak tidal wave/car crash. She has always kept her emotions in check. What she doesn't realise is that there are a lot of people invested in her emotions, and some would kill just to ensure no tears escape her eyes.

Wow, this is a book with some clout. It has emotion, atmosphere, a bit of slow-burning romance and a lot of high stakes. The idea is really good and something that I have been long pondering writing about myself, as it is all to do with the legend of Atlantis and ancient powers being passed down the bloodlines of descendants from those times, therefore placing it in a thoroughly modern setting.

Speaking of the setting, I loved the fact that it is set on the Bayou. The whole place is so far removed from the landscape I live in that it truly felt magical.. maybe I've been watching too many Disney movies recently, I don't know. Anyway, as someone who has never been there, the descriptions were perfect, sometimes beautiful but never overdone.

Now, Eureka. Weird names are a bit hit or miss for me, but this one I can deal with. She was a nice character, full of passion and quite forthright. She doesn't let anyone tell her what to do and does things her way. Although she is brutally flawed and she struggles with depression, she is so completely human that you truly understand her emotions and her actions. As for the other characters, I very much liked Cat for her vivacity and lightness to an otherwise sullen plot, and Brooks came into his own a bit later in the story. Ander really didn't gel with me though, so I am looking forward to getting to know him a little bit more.

While I'm on the subject of Ander, I am not keen on the love story. Yes, they took a while to get together, and as I said, it was slow burning which I usually like. But there was an element of inevitability and insta-love in there that, to be honest, made me squirm to read.

Considering this is fantasy, the story is very involved with eureka's normal life and delves really nicely into her daily struggles as well as the bigger issues. It never flinches away from uncomfortable or unhappy situations. Betrayal, death, stalking, car crashes, natural disasters and relationships are all in there. So although this is a YA, I think adults will enjoy this too as there is much truly teen-style content.

A smooth pace and a great idea, this book is quite satisfying despite the ending hanging open. Looking forward to the next book, Waterfall.

Teardrop on Goodreads
Teardrop on Amazon.com

Kyra_x

Book Blitz: The Dybbuk's Mirror - Alisse Lee Goldenberg + Giveaway

The Dybbuk’s Mirror
Alisse Lee Goldenberg
The Hadariah Chronicles, Book 2
Genre: YA, Fantasy

Synopsis:
Strings of the Violin
The Strings of the Violin is a fantasy adventure interweaving Eastern European folklore with modern characters.
Seventeen-year-old Carrie is lying in her backyard ignoring all the looming responsibilities in her life, when a fox makes a mad dash across the grass in front of her. After she manages to keep her dog from attacking the frightened animal, the fox turns to Carrie and seems to bow in gratitude before he disappears into the bushes. All Carrie knows in that moment is that something has unexpectedly changed in her life.
Carrie has been best friends with Lindsay Smith and Rebecca Campbell for years. During a summer when they should focus on choosing colleges, the girls suddenly find themselves swept away on the adventure of their lives. The fox reappears three days later and reveals to Carrie that he is Adom, emissary to the king of Hadariah. With his land of music and magic in peril, Adom has been sent to seek help from Carrie and her friends. In the blink of an eye, the three teenage girls go from living an average suburban life to being the champions of a world where they must contend with giants, witches, and magical beings. Will they ever make it home once more?

The Dybbuk’s Mirror
It has been nearly two years since the events in The Strings of the Violin, and Carrie has adjusted to life as a university student far from her friends. However, when the path to Hadariah is sealed, she starts to fear malevolent forces may be behind the other strange occurrences around her. Trying to contact Lindsay and Rebecca to get help in unraveling the mystery, Carrie discovers that her friends are in fact missing. With no way of knowing who to trust, Carrie must find a way back to the land she once saved to rescue her friends from the dybbuks’ clutches.
Reuniting with the dybbuk princess Emilia, and finding a new friend in the mysterious farmer Mikhail, Carrie must once again do battle with Asmodeus’s forces, and help stop the chaos that threatens to overtake the land while striving to save both Lindsay and Rebecca. For the first time, Carrie is working without the two friends who have helped her through every major decision in her life. Carrie must learn to rely on herself, and find her own strengths to save those she holds dear.

The Dybbuk’s Mirror on Amazon
The Dybbuk’s Mirror on Prizm Books
The Strings of the Violin on Goodreads

Author Bio

Alisse Lee Goldenberg is an author of horror and Young Adult fantasy fiction. She has her Bachelors of Education and a Fine Arts degree, and has studied fantasy and folk lore since she was a child. Alisse lives in Toronto with her husband Brian, their triplets Joseph, Phillip, and Hailey, and their rambunctious Goldendoodle Sebastian. 

Find Alisse on her website and Twitter.

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The Dybbuk's Mirror Release Celebration

Kyra_x

Review: Tomorrow Wendell - R.M. Ridley

Private Investigator Jonathan Alvey is your everyday practitioner, trying to work against cursed objects and the odd Zombie, but when Wendell turns up on his doorstep asking for help, Jonathan's life suddenly gets a whole lot more interesting. Wendell only has three days to live, and now Alvey is set against the clock to discover who cursed his client and to protect him at all costs.

This concept is really interesting. Not only does it meld the mystery genre with the paranormal and fantasy genre, but it also has an entirely new idea about the use of magic. Suddenly, magic is a very real and very dangerous thing. It isn't the type of thing that comes from thin air, but from a tangible force inside of each person and beyond them. Magic no longer is for fun and games, it is a drug that consumes you from the inside-out, bringing euphoria riddled with crashing lows. This is an adult type of magic, and a totally new and interesting take on something that has been around for so long.

The supernatural elements were well done here, blending our own experiences with fairly believably reasoning. The monsters created come from popular folklore and mythologies, and are depicted as we would expect them to be in popular fiction, but dealt with very differently in the context. This is a world and a style of magic that really makes utter sense.

Jonathan is a great multi-faceted character, and we get that sense that in this book we have only scratched the surface into who he really is as a person. While Jonathan is an intrinsically good character, he has some serious issues to contend with, not just with paranormal entities but with his past and with his addictions. On that point, he is a very complex character and strangely likeable considering that he is an alcoholic magic-abuser with a bad habit for smoking and eating too much fast food. His lifestyle is unlike anything that a normal person could truly empathise with, and yet we find ourselves understanding his basic character traits; he wants to do good, he has an addiction as many people have, and though he deals with it well, he uses other addictions to negate his largest one. He is a strange protagonist, perhaps even an anti-hero, and yet you root for him and like him all the same.

This book was quite enjoyable but probably not everyone's cup of tea. It kept me thinking and guessing as to who is behind the curse and how it was done, but at the end felt rather like a cliffhanger. You can really see the end coming, and perhaps a little bit more leeway into the case could have had me thinking a little bit differently. This book is useful for a quick getaway into a strange world as well as a first foray into a genre mash-up. However, I could not find much particular meaning behind the story or any themes to really consider, so I would say it is more for those who like a little bit of action.

Tomorrow Wendell on Goodreads
Tomorrow Wendell on Amazon.com

Thank you to R.M. Ridley, who kindly gave me a copy of this book. This has not affected my rating.

Kyra_x

Review: Winter's Heart - Robert Jordan (9 of 14)

Just a quick warning before I start. This review will contain spoilers from the previous books! So if you do not want to know until you have read it I suggest you put off reading this for a little bit.

In hiding from both his enemies and his allies, Rand al'Thor must now attempt the impossible and cleanse the taint from Saidin before the Asha'man can destroy the world in a second Breaking. Perrin Aybara sets out to rescue his wife Faile Bashere from the Shaido, but how far is he willing to go to see his wife returned to his side? Mat Cauthon is trapped in Ebou Dar by the Seanchan invasion but has no intention of staying longer than he has to. With his plans in full swing will the Daughter of the Nine Moons put a stop to them as soon as they begin? Meanwhile Elayne Trakand, having broken the Dark One's hold on the worlds weather, attempts to claim the Lion Throne of Andor but has her mother, Morgase, done too much damage to convince the other nobles that she is worthy to rule?

Winter's Heart is the ninth of fourteen books in Robert Jordan's fantasy series The Wheel of Time. The book is named for the increasing coldness of Rand's heart as well as a return to a deep and unforgiving winter after the Dark One freezing the seasons. The book immediately rose to the number one position on the New York Times Bestseller List and remained on the list for two months. The book was noted for being the first to release the prologue, Snow, on ebook two months before the book was released. We see a welcome return of Mat to the story line after being left out of the previous book, The Path of Daggers. We see a coldness developing in Rand that shows very strongly through the clever use of his bond to Min Farshaw. This gives us our first view into Rand from a view other than himself. With the return of Mat we see a return to some of the humour that may have been missing from the previous book in his absence.

After improving in the last book Winter's Heart brings us right back up to par. With all three main characters re-installed we return to the fast paced, dramatic and unpredictable story lines that we have come to expect. As with all of the best books in the series we see big climaxes to each plot in the final chapters of the book that leave you speechless and unable to wait to get started on book ten!

Ashley

Tour Stop (Review): Gypsy - Trisha Leigh

Gypsy by Trisha Leigh 

(The Cavy Files #1)

Publication date: May 13th 2014

Genres: Science Fiction, Young Adult

Review:

For Gypsy and the other Cavies, Darley Hall has been home for the majority of their lives. Sure, there are the experiments, but they have people who look after them and friends they can count on. That is, until it gets raided by the police and the Cavies find themselves exposed to the world outside Darley. From then on ,they have to conceal their powers for fear of being discovered.

Gypsy was considered inconsequential at Darley Hall compared to the other Cavies. The power to know what age someone will be when they die simply by touching them is not considered very useful when others have the power to disappear, to explode things and to move at the speed of light. However, when she is in the world outside she can flourish. Her power is easily concealed and so she can fit in more easily than the rest of them. Just as she starts to relax Gypsy and the other cavies are injected with an unknown substance that begins affecting their powers. 

When I heard of this book, the first thing that it reminded me of was not X-Men, as it's chalked up to be, but Numbers by Rachel Ward. In both stories, the heroine also knows when people are going to die through a special power. The difference is that Numbers predicts the date of death, whereas Gypsy predicts the age at the time of death. If anything, Gypsy's power seems more useless and more psychologically damaging, as there is no way she could stop it if she doesn't know the date. This can have a huge effect on her relationships and as a result she tries not to touch people. The book is a little bit like X-Men, as there are awesome powers, superhero names (that I shall talk about soon) and a school for mutants where they develop and hone their powers (OK, so Darley isn't really a school for mutants, but just work with me here).

As well as feeling a bit comic-book sci-fi, there's also tons of Government intrigue, part Scooby Doo detective story and a YA element in terms of relationships and teen issues. Trisha Leigh combines lots of different ideas here but still manages to make you remember that these are still teenagers going through the usual life problems, only with more at stake.

As I was saying earlier the super-heroesque names are particularly clever. I'll give some examples. Gypsy, first of all is named so because of her power to basically see into the future. Haint, which is a kind of ghost, can dissappear at will.These are the names that Darley Hall gave them, and they all make a cool, sometimes cruel, sense.

Gypsy herself is a likeable heroine, she's clever and interesting and her emotional journey through the novel kept my attention. It was clear how much she cared for the other Cavies, and how difficult it was for all of them to fit in with society. As it's written in first person it's easy to see where her loyalties lie.

There are many themes running through this novel. The main ones being family and friendship, fitting in with society, embracing your differences, trust and betrayal, feeling insecure and some romance ( though i found that there was just the right amount of it. It didn't detract from the story but emphasised how awful her power could be).

Without giving too much away, Gypsy ended well, albeit on a bit of a cliffhanger, but don't let that put you off. The storyline issues were resolved but there are still so many things I need to know the answers to.

I loved the idea and execution of this book, and I cant wait to see what happens to the Cavies next! I would recommend to people who love sci-fi, mystery, YA or super heroes.

Gypsy on Goodreads

Purchase:

Gypsy on Amazon.com
Gypsy on Barnes and Noble

Author Bio:

Trisha Leigh is a product of the Midwest, which means it’s pop, not soda, garage sales, not tag sales, and you guys as opposed to y’all. Most of the time. She’s been writing seriously for five years now, and has published 4 young adult novels and 4 new adult novels (under her pen name Lyla Payne). Her favorite things, in no particular order, include: reading, Game of Thrones, Hershey’s kisses, reading, her dogs (Yoda and Jilly), summer, movies,  reading, Jude Law, coffee, and rewatching WB series from the 90’s-00’s.
Her family is made up of farmers and/or almost rock stars from Iowa, people who numerous, loud, full of love, and the kind of people that make the world better. Trisha tries her best to honor them, and the lessons they’ve taught, through characters and stories - made up, of course, but true enough in their way.
Trisha is the author of The Last Year series and the Whitman University books. She’s represented by Kathleen Rushall at Marsal Lyon Literary Agency.

Author Links:
trishaleigh.com
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5828387.Trisha_Leigh
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Trisha-Leigh/463838867020091
https://twitter.com/trishaleighkc

Kyra and Stacey_x

Review: Fractured Dream - KM Randall

Story Sparks's life gets turned upside-down when she and her two best friends are transported to another world. There she finds out that she is the reincarnation of an ancient deity, destined to save this other land from its evil ruler and unite the worlds once more.

This book get very cool, very fast. It begins exactly the way you would want a fantasy book to, with a lot of mystery surrounding the main character, but particularly the fate of her uncle, who disappeared whilst swimming in the lake and was never found. This beginning part was extremely enjoyable to read as we encountered our main characters and some weird goings-on to do with horrific paintings and lost memories.

When we finally got into the other world, many of these initial secrets were revealed only for bigger questions to be asked, focusing around Story herself this time. This felt like an entirely different book, really, because we were transported into a world where those weird unexplained things were merely inconsequential compared to the enormity of the next task. However, overall this wasn't a bad thing as it gradually revealed plot point that would take us on a bigger adventure. The very beginning of this part did feel a little bit like an info-dump because there was a lot to explain and a lot of memories being rekindled.

Ok, first off, Story has to be one of the strangest names ever, and it never sat well with me while reading the book. I understand how apt it is for her character, but still, it's jarring for me. Anyway, Story was a very well-rounded character, despite having missing parts of her memories. She is a sweet, determined girl who wants to do her best for all the people she has just met as well as the ones she has known for some time. However, my favourite character was actually a toss-up between Jess and Elliot, who both had big personalities, with Elliot being the most awesome psychic gay best friend around and therefore taking that top spot.

This is certainly an unusual novel. It is definitely contemporary, with a lot of current references at the beginning of the novel, but I would describe it mostly as a New Adult read as there are some scenes with sexual content. Nothing that a YA couldn't handle in my opinion, but not something you would actually hand to your kids to read. It has fantasy and fairy-tale elements and twists them out of shape, turning princesses into monsters. The romance element completely denies the love at first sight cliche by involving the element of reincarnation and fate, and also allows the relationship to develop slowly over the book. This was nice and quite refreshing to read.

Whilst there were many twists in this story, a lot of them were easy to guess, I mean, most of it had been prophesied anyway so the end came as no shock to me either. Still, it was fun to see how it all went down. The pace really picked up in the last third as the book closed with some good action and a lot of emotion coming from the characters.

Given the size of the book, I admit I was expecting a rounded off story, but this appears to be a duology or a trilogy as there is a whole new adventure waiting for Story at the end of this. Fractured Dream is a very well-imagined, beautifully described novel where fairy-tales and mythologies all come together beautifully to create a flowing narrative. Highly enjoyable for people who like mythology, folklore, fairy-tales and magic.

Kyra_x

Review: Tarnish - J.D. Brink

When danger comes to the small town of Redfield, one boy goes out in search for help. He follows a path that may lead to fame, riches and glory, and his name is Wil Thunderstrike. What Wil doesn't realise is that his path is about to take a wrong turn.

This book is first and foremost a coming of age story for a young man. It deals with lessons that he needs to learn about how the world works outside of Redfield, relationships, friendships and discovering who he really is. Wil is an excellent protagonist, an awkward teenage boy perfectly rendered, with enough flaws and things to learn that we also journey along with him as he becomes his own man. I can't profess to knowing exactly what goes on in a teenage boys head, but this seems closer to the truth of it. Though there isn't too much to set him apart from the crowd apart from his height, Wil is still an interesting character. Perhaps he is more interesting because he is not special, but wants more for himself. A lot of people can relate to this. A few other characters, such as Ian, Trevor and Silverskin were also very well drawn and had very distinct characteristics.

The pacing for me was slow to start. This was mainly due to all the storytelling that took place as the background of the characters were developed. Generally, this is not something I like as there are other ways to a back-story in motion without the main story stopping entirely. I tend to enjoy it if a book gets on with the main plot, saving the back-story for subplot rather than distracting the reader from it. The pace was also lacking due to the fact that the story flitted between Redfield and Wil. I was more interested in Wil's story than those that he had left behind, and with the stories being told there as well, I admit I was slightly impatient to get back to Wil. However, as the story developed, I found that this became a great device for building up the story and the tension as the danger lurked mainly with Redfield.

The ending was certainly the best part. The pace had steadily picked up during the book and speed up again in the last third. The final chapters are therefore a flurry of battle scenes, revelations and a rush of magic. It is true that some parts of this you can see coming, but in others you really can't. Mostly I did not think about any sort of mystery until I was nearing the end, and perhaps the book could have benefited more from making me question the events in Redfield.

The fantasy element was always there, but for the most part the book was grounded in reality, only really letting any magic slip in nearing the end. Yes, there is a silver man and a swamp man and they are both strange, but really I just accepted them for what they were, not really thinking about if there was any meaning to it. I think my reading of this book would have been better had I known there was something mysterious going on.

Tarnish is a good read and was interesting, but wasn't quite my thing. It is more suitable for those who enjoy steadily paced, classic heroes tales and male coming-of-age stories that are very character-driven. Personally, I would have preferred much more magic.

Tarnish on Goodreads
Tarnish on Amazon.com

Kyra_x

Cover Reveal: Krymzyn - BC Powell

Wow! What a stunning cover!

Krymzyn by BC Powell 

Publication date: October 4th 2014

Genres: Fantasy, New Adult, Science Fiction

Synopsis:

Chase was twelve the first time he arrived in a strange land where dark, ominous clouds never move, ancient trees violently spring to life during Darkness, and people seem to live without emotion. Doctors tell him they’re hallucinations, but he knows his visits are real. She’s there-Sash-and she’s more real than anyone he’s ever known.

His visits stop but, as years pass, the memories haunt Chase. Without warning, the young man suddenly finds himself again in a world called Krymzyn. Arriving during Darkness, he’s rescued from death by the extraordinary, beautiful but terrifying young woman he first met when he was twelve.

When Chase is thrust into the war of balance against vile creatures who threaten all who live there, Sash helps him understand his purpose in Krymzyn. A dark secret from the beginning of time reveals he might be able to stay there forever. To prove he belongs in Krymzyn and be with the only woman he can ever love, Chase will have to risk his own life in the ultimate battle.

Krymzyn on Goodreads

Author Bio

BC Powell is a fantasy author from Los Angeles, CA. His debut science fiction fantasy novel "Krymzyn" will be released October 4, 2014. "The Infinite Expanse", the second book in "The Journals of Krymzyn" series, is scheduled for publication in February, 2015.

Powell has a diverse background, having held several creative positions in the entertainment industry, including executive roles at ABC-TV and Technicolor. In recent years, he's authored several non-fiction works, primarily educational books and training programs for trading the financial markets. He dual majored in journalism and philosophy at Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas.

Writing fiction has been his lifelong passion and goal. “Krymzyn” is his first published novel and represents, in his words, “finally finding the story I want to tell with characters that are able to bring that story to life.” He's an avid reader and lists Ernest Hemingway, Frank L. Herbert, Stephen King, Jane Austen, and Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. as his favorite authors.

Brad, as he prefers to go by in personal communication, lives with his longtime girlfriend, three sons from a previous marriage, and their rescue dog and cat. He enjoys hiking, ocean kayaking, spending time at Southern California beaches, movies, and reading.

Author Links:
BC Powell on Goodreads

BC Powell's Website

BC Powell on Facebook

Kyra_x

Review: A Crown of Swords - Robert Jordan (7 of 14)

Just a quick warning before I start. This review will contain spoilers from the previous books! So if you do not want to know until you have read it I suggest you put off reading this for a little bit.

Dumai's Wells is over, the Asha'man have been tested and are now considered the most deadly weapons in the world. The first Aes Sedai have sworn to Rand al'Thor, the Dragon Reborn, and now he turns his attention to Illian where the Forsaken Sammael rules. Newly raised Amyrlin Seat Egwene al'Vere and Siuan Sanche attempt to manipulate the rebel Aes Sedai into marching on the White Tower to pull down the usurper Elaida do Avriny a'Roihan. Mat Cauthon, Elayne Trakand and Nynaeve al'Meara seek in Ebou Dar for the fabled Bowl of the Winds in order to break the Dark One's unnatural control of the world weather. With the Dark One's forces and one of the most dangerous Shadowspawn trying to thwart them, can they reach their goal before the Seanchan can reassert their claim to the lands east of the Aryth Ocean?

A Crown of Swords is the seventh book in Robert Jordan's fourteen-book fantasy series The Wheel of Time. The book sees a return to the fast-paced, multi-climactic story lines that we have become accustomed to in this series. With Mat, Elayne and Nynaeve already established in Ebou Dar at the end of the last book their story-line takes off straight away, as if making up for lost time, and keeps going right to the end of the book. This also starts the real beginning of Mat's story-line away from the main plot surrounding Rand, just as we saw with Perrin when he went back to save the Two Rivers in The Shadow Rising. Mat's story lines are always good to read because they are always dramatic and add a lot of humour without taking away from the drama of the situation created in the book. The pace of the book again is not quite as fast as we have come to expect with the exception of Rand's plot which keeps jumping around from event to event to keep the book pushing forward. A bigger number to sub plots give us a good idea of what is going on all over the world whilst also creating more mystery as to characters intentions and allegiances.

All in all the book is another very good read but like the previous book, Lord of Chaos, not one of the better books in the series. The pace has been picked up again but with this book set up to go from the start by the previous book we find that it gets in to it a lot quicker. With most of the characters story-lines keeping them in one place, we look to Rand to keep the plot moving, but it does this well and pushes the book towards its dramatic conclusion.

Ashley

Review: Lord of Chaos - Robert Jordan (6 of 14)

Just a quick warning before I start. This review will contain spoilers from the previous books! So if you do not want to know until you have read it I suggest you put off reading this for a little bit.

With Rahvin, Asmodean and Lanfear all supposedly dead, the Forsaken appear to be dropping like flies. With the Shaido defeated for now, Rand al'Thor must turn his attention to binding Cairhien and Andor to him as he turns his attention to Sammael and Illian. Egwene al.Vere, Elayne Trakand and Nynaeve al'Meara fight to keep the rebel Aes Sedai on their course of action before they fall apart. Mat Cauthon leads his new army south towards Illian but can he bring the rebel Aes Sedai to the Dragon Reborn's cause and where will he have to go to make it happen? With embassies from both factions of Aes Sedai courting Rand how far can either be trusted and can Perrin Aybara save the world from disaster and Dumai's Wells? Meanwhile Morgase Trakand seeks aid to regain the Lion Throne of Andor, but will she be an ally or a prisoner to the Children of the Light?

Lord of Chaos is the sixth novel in The Wheel of Time fantasy series written by Robert Jordan. The book is marked out differently from the others as it is the first one in the series to contain an epilogue. We also see the return of Perrin in this book, who comes back after being left out of the previous book to play a pivotal role at Dumai's Wells. Apart from Dumai's Wells itself there are very few climactic endings to the story lines in this book, although the events at Dumai's Wells are more dramatic and fast paced than anything we have seen before in the series. We begin to see a lot of little glimpses from minor characters points of view which either give us a clearer picture of what is going on than the main characters, or provide the reader with more and more questions. With so many of the story lines not coming to a dramatic head we see the pace of this book stay steady until the final few chapters.

All in all the book is slower paced than some of the previous ones due to there only being one major climax rather than several, as was the case at the end of the previous book. However this is more than made up for by the events in the final chapters at Dumai's Wells which make the book in my opinion. Still a very good read throughout even if the pace does drop a little bit and a fantastic conclusion.

Ashley

Book Blast: Fractured Dream - KM Randall + Giveaway

Fractured Dream by KM Randall

Published by: Booktrope

Published On: June 21, 2014

Genre: Fantasy

Synopsis:
Have you ever wondered where fairytales go once they're created?

It's been eight years since Story Sparks last had a dream. Now they're back, tormenting her as nightmares she can't remember upon waking. The black waters of Lake Sandeen, where her Uncle Peter disappeared decades before, may hold the secret to Story's hidden memories, or a truth she'd rather not know. On a bright summer afternoon, Story and her two best friends, Elliott and Adam, take a hike to the lake, where they dive into the cool water and never reemerge. What they find is beyond anything they've ever imagined could be possible, a world where dangers lurk in the form of Big Bad Wolves, living Nightmares and meddlesome witches and gods.

Now Story must remember who she really is and somehow stop two worlds from ultimate annihilation, all while trying not to be too distracted by the inexplicable pull she feels toward a certain dark-eyed traveler who seems to have secrets of his own. The fates of the worlds are counting on her.

Fractured Dream on Goodreads

Purchase:

Fractured Dream on Amazon.com
Fractured Dream on Barnes and Noble
Fractured Dream on iTunes

Author Bio:
As a girl, K.M. always wished she’d suddenly come into magical powers or cross over into a Faerie circle. Although that has yet to happen, she instead lives vicariously through the characters she creates in writing fantasy and delving into the paranormal. When K.M. is not busy writing her next novel, she is the editor-in-chief of a blog covering the media industry, as well as an editor with Booktrope Publishing. She has a master’s degree in journalism from Syracuse University and a bachelor’s degree in English-Lit from Nazareth College of Rochester. K.M. lives in Upstate New York’s Finger Lakes region with her husband and her extremely energetic little boy. Fractured Dream is her first novel.

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Please click on the link below to enter this giveaway to win one of five Fractured Dream ebooks. Open internationally.

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Watch out for my review of this book, which is coming soon!

Kyra_x