REVIEW: Iron and Magic by Ilona Andrews

Happy Book Birthday to Iron and Magic!


Publisher's Summary: 
Truly a stellar read. Iron and Magic marks the first in the Iron Covenant series for Ilona Anderews, the husband and wife writing team that have brought us the Kate Daniels books and many more.  If you love Kate Daniels, then you have also grown to love/hate Hugh d'Ambray. He's a complicated villain who has now lost his way since being cast out by Roland, Kate's evil, wizard father. (That is probably over simplifying lol).
Final rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Hugh d’Ambray, Preceptor of the Iron Dogs, Warlord of the Builder of Towers, served only one man. Now his immortal, nearly omnipotent master has cast him aside. Hugh is a shadow of the warrior he was, but when he learns that the Iron Dogs, soldiers who would follow him anywhere, are being hunted down and murdered, he must make a choice: to fade away or to be the leader he was born to be. Hugh knows he must carve a new place for himself and his people, but they have no money, no shelter, and no food, and the necromancers are coming. Fast. 

Elara Harper is a creature who should not exist. Her enemies call her Abomination; her people call her White Lady. Tasked with their protection, she's trapped between the magical heavyweights about to collide and plunge the state of Kentucky into a war that humans have no power to stop. Desperate to shield her people and their simple way of life, she would accept help from the devil himself—and Hugh d’Ambray might qualify. 

Hugh needs a base, Elara needs soldiers. Both are infamous for betraying their allies, so how can they create a believable alliance to meet the challenge of their enemies? 

As the prophet says: “It is better to marry than to burn.” 

Hugh and Elara may do both. 

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When Hugh learns that his Iron Dogs are in jeopardy, his pulls himself together and forges an alliance with Elara, a witch known as the White Lady. Elara is an enigma--strong, beautiful and possessing a mysterious ancient power that is both awe inducing and terrifying. The two have a marriage of convenience--Hugh will help protect Elara's people, and in turn Hugh and his Iron Dogs have food, shelter and a chance at a new life.

Their alliance is tenuous at best but rife with coiled tension. Hugh remains an antihero but as reader's learn more about him, Hugh has an interesting past and his perceptions are skewed based on his time under Roland's influence. He isn't without honor or empathy and he is learning to care for others and see a larger picture. Following his journey will be exciting.

Elara is equally intriguing. I cannot wait to find out more about her and just what she's sacrificed for her people. She and Hugh are a good match and we'll have to see if real love is in the cards (which I'm guessing it is).  These two have amazing banter, tension and good sexual chemistry--tenants of what you'd expect from any of Andrews' couples. There is great plot, action, adventure and monsters.

Loved the book!

Final rating: 5 out of 5 stars

REVIEW: Ash & Quill by Rachel Caine

Publisher's Summary:

Words can kill.

Hoarding all the knowledge of the world, the Great Library jealously guards its secrets. But now a group of rebels poses a dangerous threat to its tyranny…

Jess Brightwell and his band of exiles have fled London, only to find themselves imprisoned in Philadelphia, a city led by those who would rather burn books than submit. But Jess and his friends have a bargaining chip: the knowledge to build a machine that will break the Library’s rule.

Their time is running out. To survive, they’ll have to choose to live or die as one, to take the fight to their enemies—and to save the very soul of the Great Library.

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Ash and Quill is certainly a book about betrayals. Jess and his group of exiles have fled London and start out imprisoned in Philadelphia. Again, they work together to defy the odds in order to escape.  Finding respite with the Brightwell clan, Jess is in for a betrayal he didn't see coming and will ultimately have to betray those he loves and trusts the most for the greater good.  It is the only chance they'll have to finally be free of the Great Library's oppression.

Another highly imaginative and well written book full of action, suspense and romance. The plot certainly thickens for the fourth installment, Smoke & Iron, expected to be published July 3, 2018. Look at that cover! Oh so pretty! 

Final rating: 4 out of 5 stars

REVIEW: Claimed by Gods--Eva Chase

Publisher's Summary:
I thought I'd survived everything life could throw at me. All I wanted was to keep my distance from the criminals I work for and get my little brother out of the hell that is our mother's house. 

Then I died and woke up to four stunningly hot gods telling me I'm now a valkyrie. 

Sly, sharp Loki. Jovial but ferocious Thor. Dreamily compassionate Baldur. Grim and secretive Hod. They all have something to teach me. And around them, my walls start to crack. 

But the gods didn't summon me just for kicks. Their king is missing, and they need me to find him. The first three valkyries they sent on the job never made it back. 

More power is awakening in me than I could ever have imagined—and the gods' enemies are more devious than even they knew. It's going to take every trick in the book for me to save myself, my brother, and these divine men who're getting under my skin in the most alluring way. 

I'm Aria Watson, and Valhalla ain't seen nothing yet. 

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The initial reader's appeal for me was:

1) Cool cover!

2) The general book description because hey, Norse mythology is cool!  Aria dies and is chosen to come back as a valkyrie to aide Loki, Thor, Baldur, Hod and Freya in their quest to find Odin and get back to Asgard.  I mean that in itself sounds awesome.  

Some issues lingered for me as a reader starting with POV. I'd have preferred the whole story told from Aria's perspective without switching to Lokie, Thor, etc. I think this would help with pacing and general plot and character development. I felt like I was deprived of some of the depth I'd expected.  It seems as if Aria's love life is going to get complicated- LOL!

The plot remains intriguing with one journey seemingly finished and yet more questions and a whopper of a cliffhanger remain.  Fans who enjoy reading mythology based romance and urban fantasy will be entertained.

Final rating: 3 out of 5 stars

REVIEW: Like Never and Always by Ann Aguirre

Like Never and Always by Ann Aguirre

Expected publication: July 17, 2018 by Tor Teen

Publishers Summary:
On a hot summer night, a screech of brakes and shattering glass changes two lives forever.

Liv wakes in the hospital, confused when they call her Morgan. She assumes it’s a case of mistaken identity, yet when the bandages come off, it’s not her face in the mirror anymore. It’s her best friend Morgan’s.

Morgan always seemed to have the perfect life, yet Liv must navigate endlessly disturbing secrets of the criminal and murderous variety—and a romance that feels like a betrayal. Torn between the boy she loved as Liv and the boy she’s grown to love as Morgan, Liv still has to survive Morgan’s last request.

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I enjoyed this despite a few shortcomings.  It is a fast-paced, romantic suspense novel that skews more toward New Adult or mature YA with adult reader interest. There is a hint of science fiction but one short coming is a lack of exploration of how/why this occurs. The cause is hinted at a bit, but as a fan of the genre, I expected more.

There is a good love triangle development for Liv as Morgan with great tension and some unexpected revelations.  

One final critique is a lack of narrative follow through as it pertains to some rather big plot details. Those looking for more answers and closure might be disappointed.  Overall, Like Never and Always delivers great suspense and would certainly be a page turning summer read.

Final rating: 4 out of 5 stars

REVIEW: Racked and Stacked by Lorelei James

Racked and Stacked by Lorelei James

Expected publication: August 7, 2018 by Berkley

Publisher's Summary:
Growing up with three older brothers, Larissa "Riss" Thorpe defines the term tomboy--a moniker that never mattered to her until she crossed paths with sexy cowboy playboy, Ike Palmer. His declaration that he prefers his women soft and feminine is the one benefit to becoming his business partner. Since Riss is obviously not his type, there's little chance they'll mix business and pleasure when they're in close quarters on the road together.

Former cattle broker Ike Palmer was ready for a new chapter in his life when he partnered with Riss, a contrary redhead who lords her mechanical abilities over him at every turn. Ike raised his three younger sisters; he knows a thing or three about how women work. The problem is...Riss is unlike any woman he's ever met.

With the odds stacked against them, Riss and Ike will have to choose between the stubbornness that keeps them apart and the fiery attraction that could lead to something more.

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As a true fan of the series, I have been waiting for Riss and Ike's book for far too long!  James once again does what she does best: present realistically, complicated and likeable characters that have electric chemistry that develops into a profound bound and romance that keep readers coming back for me.

I love Riss, sassy yet vulnerable and Ike who is lost in his own way. Sparks fly when these two share close quarters but the depth of their understand of each other is just as interesting as the tension that builds while reader's wait to find out just when they will give in to each other.

Racked and Stacked has the feel like it could be the end of this series but I'd be delighted if we get to see more from this group of characters.

Final rating: 4 out of 5 stars

REVIEW: Furyborn by Claire Legrand

Furyborn by Claire Legrand

Published May 22, 2018 by Sourcebooks Fire

Publisher's Summary:
Follows two fiercely independent young women, centuries apart, who hold the power to save their world...or doom it.

When assassins ambush her best friend, the crown prince, Rielle Dardenne risks everything to save him, exposing her ability to perform all seven kinds of elemental magic. The only people who should possess this extraordinary power are a pair of prophesied queens: a queen of light and salvation and a queen of blood and destruction. To prove she is the Sun Queen, Rielle must endure seven trials to test her magic. If she fails, she will be executed...unless the trials kill her first.

A thousand years later, the legend of Queen Rielle is a mere fairy tale to bounty hunter Eliana Ferracora. When the Undying Empire conquered her kingdom, she embraced violence to keep her family alive. Now, she believes herself untouchable--until her mother vanishes without a trace, along with countless other women in their city. To find her, Eliana joins a rebel captain on a dangerous mission and discovers that the evil at the heart of the empire is more terrible than she ever imagined.

As Rielle and Eliana fight in a cosmic war that spans millennia, their stories intersect, and the shocking connections between them ultimately determine the fate of their world--and of each other.

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Furyborn is an enjoyable read for fans of Throne of Glass (Maas) and the Grisha Trilogy (Bardugo) wrought with trials, tribulations, adventure, action and a fair amount of steamy, sexual tension and romance realized. 

The alternating POV between Rielle and Eliana some thousand years apart adds a lovely balance to the narrative. Each must face their own hardships toward realizing their destiny and there is a fantastic build of story, character development and excitment for the readers as the journey into the series begins.  Many questions have been asked, some answered with even more anticipation with what is in store for the future.

I do recommend the audiobook as narrated by Fiona Hardingham.

Final rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Notable New Teen Reads - May 2018

Lifel1k3 by Jay Kristoff, Knopf Books for Young Readers

Published May 29, 2018

Publisher's Summary:
On a floating junkyard beneath a radiation sky, a deadly secret lies buried in the scrap.

Eve isn’t looking for secrets—she’s too busy looking over her shoulder. The robot gladiator she’s just spent six months building has been reduced to a smoking wreck, and the only thing keeping her Grandpa from the grave was the fistful of credits she just lost to the bookies. To top it off, she’s discovered she can destroy electronics with the power of her mind, and the puritanical Brotherhood are building a coffin her size. If she’s ever had a worse day, Eve can’t remember it.

But when Eve discovers the ruins of an android boy named Ezekiel in the scrap pile she calls home, her entire world comes crashing down. With her best friend Lemon Fresh and her robotic conscience, Cricket, in tow, she and Ezekiel will trek across deserts of irradiated glass, infiltrate towering megacities and scour the graveyard of humanity’s greatest folly to save the ones Eve loves, and learn the dark secrets of her past.

Even if those secrets were better off staying buried.

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What's not to love about Lifel1k3?!? It is a fast paced, action packed futuristic adventure with plenty of Kristoff's characteristic snark, unique characters and stories. Think of this book as part Mad Max meets The Terminator meets Paradise Lost meets Bladerunner with a big dose of Romeo and Juliet!

I can't express just how much I enjoyed this read.  Eve is a fascinating character as are Lemo, Ezekiel and the much beloved Cricket. 

A big thank you to Knopf and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for a review :0)

Final rating: 5 out of 5 stars!

Inferno by Julie Kagawa (book 5 in the Talon series)

Published April 24, 2018 by Harlequin Teen

Publisher's Summary:
Ember Hill has learned a shocking truth about herself: she is the blood of the Elder Wyrm, the ancient dragon who leads Talon and who is on the verge of world domination. With the Order of St. George destroyed, Ember, Riley and Garret journey to the Amazon jungle in search of one who might hold the key to take down the Elder Wyrm and Talon—if they can survive the encounter.

Meanwhile, Ember’s brother, Dante, will travel to China with a message for the last Eastern dragons: join Talon or die. With the stakes rising and the Elder Wyrm declaring war, time is running out for the rogues and any dragon not allied with Talon. 

The final battle approaches. And if Talon is victorious, the world will burn.

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Inferno marks the culmination of the series. The rogue dragon faction as well as the remnants of the Order of St. George must ban together in one last push to but an end to the Talon and the Elder Wyrm's plans to declare war on humans and even their own kind. 

This was a fitting end to the series, perhaps not my favorite series of Kagawa's.  The action sequences were well written if a at sometimes predictable.  I did like the romantic delopment for Riley(Cobalt) and there a few unforeseen twists in the narrative but I won't give any spoilers.

Overall, a great read for fans of Kagawa, the series or who enjoy urban fantasy books and/or dragons.

Final rating: 4 out of 5 stars