Friday, August 31, 2012

It's So Crewel


Hi Everyone!

I am part of the Crewel Soul Spinsters Street Squad! We work in teams and go out on social media sites promoting the new book Crewel by Gennifer Albin.

Needless to say, you will be seeing more information about this book over the next few days or weeks. So, there will be plenty of reminders for you to check it out on Goodreads and to make sure you add it to your to-read list.

Thanks and have a great day!

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

The Demon Catchers of Milan Review (ARC)

The Demon Catchers of Milan
Goodreads Blurb


Mia's ordinary life is disrupted for good in the most horrifying way possible when she is possessed by a hungry and powerful demon-and saved only by the arrival of relatives from Italy, the country her grandfather fled many decades ago. Now her cousins, the charming and gorgeous Emilio and stern, elderly Giuliano, say the only way to keep Mia safe is for her to come back with them to Milan, to live, to learn Italian, to fall in and out of love, and to master the family trade: fighting all demons with the ancient lore of bell, book, and candle. Milan is not what Mia expected but it will change her forever. 





**3 Stars**

Review is of ARC received via NetGalley. ARC did have some errors and a paragraph was cut off mid-sentence.

MY OVERVIEW: I didn’t hold out high expectations for this book after reading the first two chapters. I was almost ready to put it down, but I always give a book its fair shot, and in this case, I am glad.

PROS: Mia was a great character. A little annoying at times, but a good overall character. I loved almost everyone in her family too, especially Nonno and Nonna. I just wish there was more of Francesca. She was perfect, but not in the book as much as I think she should have been. 

The concept was interesting, and one that I’m not sure I really liked. Don’t get me wrong, I thought it was cool that they were demon catchers and used the candles to actually catch the demons, but what I didn’t like was that there was no difference between a “demon” and a ghost. Any type of spirit was considered a demon and it got confusing.

CONS: Throughout the whole book I thought it was going to be a standalone. The author did a good job of making it look like it was going to end, but it didn’t. It just dropped off and left you hanging. The beginning of the book was very slow and, in my opinion, sloppy. It just didn’t have a flow and when Mia was possessed, it was way too artsy and confusing.

MY FINAL THOUGHTS: I will probably be reading the next in the series (as long as there is a next). I’m still unsure if it is a book I would recommend or not. Probably to the right person, but not a book for an overall recommendation. 


Publication Date: August 28th 2012

Waiting on Wednesdays - Alice in Zombieland


Waiting on Wednesdays is a weekly book meme hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine. Here I get to share with you some of the books that I am anxiously awaiting to be published. 


This week's WoW is Alice in Zombieland by Gena Showalter.
Alice in Zombieland (White Rabbit Chronicles, #1)


She won't rest until she's sent every walking corpse back to its grave. Forever. 

Had anyone told Alice Bell that her entire life would change course between one heartbeat and the next, she would have laughed. From blissful to tragic, innocent to ruined? Please. But that's all it took. One heartbeat. A blink, a breath, a second, and everything she knew and loved was gone. 

Her father was right. The monsters are real...

To avenger her family, Ali must learn to fight the undead. To survive, she must learn to trust the baddest of the bad boys, Cole Holland. But Cole has secrets of his own, and if Ali isn't careful, those secrets might just prove to be more dangerous than the zombies...


Expected Publication: September 25th 2012
Book One (1) in the White Rabbit Chronicles





Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Teaser Tuesdays - The Demon Catchers of Milan


Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should be Reading. Anyone can play along, just do the following: 

  • Grab your current read
  • Open to a random page
  • Share two (2) "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page
  • Be careful not to include spoilers! (Make sure what you share doesn't give away too much! You don't want to ruin the book for others.)
  • Share the title & author so other TT participants can add the book to their TBR lists if they like your teaser.

This week's teaser comes from The Demon Catchers of Milan  by Kat Beyer.
The Demon Catchers of Milan


"She has it. She's one of us, through and through, even if she was raised in a mad country."







Monday, August 27, 2012

City of Ashes Review

City of Ashes (The Mortal Instruments, #2)
Goodreads Blurb:


Clary Fray just wishes that her life would go back to normal. But what's normal when you're a demon-slaying Shadowhunter, your mother is in a magically induced coma, and you can suddenly see Downworlders like werewolves, vampires, and faeries? If Clary lef the world of the Shadowhunters behind, it would mean more time with her best friend, Simon, who's becoming more than a friend. But the Shadowhunting world isn't ready to let her go - especially her handsom, infuriating, newfound brother, Jace. And Clary's only chance to help her mother is to track down rogue Shadowhunter Valentine, who is probably insane, certainly evil - and also her father. 

To complicate matters, someone in New York City is murdering Downworlder children. Is Valentine behind the killings - and if he is, what is he trying to do? When the second of the Mortal Instruments, the Soul-Sword, is stolen, the terrifying Inquisitor arrives to investigate and zooms right in on Jace. How can Clary stop Valentine if Jace is willing to betray everything he believes in to help their father?

In this breathtaking sequel to City of Bones, Cassandra Clare lures her readers back into the dark grip of New York City's Downworld, where love is never safe and power becomes the deadliest temptation. 

**4 Stars**

SPOILER ALERT

MY OVERVIEW: Not as good as the first book, but still a great book. I really enjoy the plot throughout this series and I can’t wait to see how it continues. 

PROS: Yeah! There was more Magnus in this book. He is one of the best characters. I was also happy that there was more of Luke in the book too. I feel that Jace and Clary’s characters grew a lot in this book and it was done really well

CONS: [SPOILER - I wish I had felt more emotion during Simon’s death/transformation. Even though Clary cried out, it just didn’t seem to have any emotion to it. His second death was better done in my opinion. END SPOILER] Then again, it could be more because I never really connected with Simon. I’ve always felt his character was a little “phoned in”. The author didn’t seem to have created his character as well as she did the rest of them. Although – Isabelle feels a little “phoned in” for me too.

MY FINAL THOUGHTS: Ok, where did I put the next book? ;) In this book we were introduced to a few more new characters. Some were written well (Imogen & Max) others like Maryse weren’t really written in that well. I am looking forward to seeing how these new characters fit into the rest of the series. 

Author Interview with Sherri Fulmer Moorer

Please welcome Sherri Fulmer Moorer, author of Blurry, Anywhere But Here, Battleground Earth, and more.

1. How did you come up with the concept for Blurry?
It started with recurrent dreams I had while my husband and I were building our house in 2007. I kept having dreams of being in high school and college. They seemed to come together to form this story about a woman that finds herself facing a reality that is much different than it appears.

2. Have you always wanted to be a writer?
Yes, I have. I've always been fascinated by stories and loved creating them as much as reading them.

3. Who was your favorite character to write and why?
I liked them all, but I do believe Rachel was my favorite. I know what it's like to find your friends aren't who you thought they were. It's a shock, and I could completely relate to the uncomfortable realizations she came to throughout this book.

4. Why did you choose the Young Adult genre?
This is actually the only Young Adult novel I've written. All of my other novels are adult novels. The theme of this story seemed more suited to a high school setting than anywhere else. Yes, you can face these situations at any time, but it seemed more appropriate to write it in a "coming of age" setting. Plus, everything is so new to teens. A thirty-something facing similar situations would have a somewhat more jaded perspective of the situation than an eighteen year old would.

5. Do you prefer to write with pen and paper or on a laptop/computer?
Definitely, a laptop. I am all for technology and take advantage of it every way I can.

6. Can you describe your book in 5 words or less?
Dealing with deception.

7. What do you think makes a good story?
It takes a lot to make a good story. A solid plot is the first thing that comes to mind. I have to care about and relate to the story that's being told. I also think you have to like the characters. They have to be realistic, like people you would meet in real life. I also think a good book makes you think and explore your beliefs and reasoning. Even fiction can make you ponder important life issues and situations, and I think a good story gives you something that you relate to or apply to your own life, even if it just reinforces something you already know or believe.


8. Is there a specific food or drink you like to gave handy while you are writing?
Not really. When I get into writing, I'm so focused that I usually forget all about basic things like eating and drinking anyway.

9. What are you working on now?
Right now, I have two writing projects in process. The first is an adult mystery novel titles "Move". It's about a young woman that unknowingly makes a deal with a djinn (genie). The problem is, the djinn is new to this world and really doesn't handle the whole "wish granting" thing well, so he cause more problems than he solves. This story is unique because a major theme is dealing with change. The lead character in this novel is resistant to change and is facing a situation where she really needs to make a move in a new direction, but she doesn't want to. The botched wishes complicate the situation to the point where it comes more and more difficult for her to stay in the comfortable rut she's put herself in.

The second book is my first major non-fiction project in five years. It's titled "Feathered Frenzy! A Quick Guide to Adapting Birds Into Your Life." This is a book of tips and tricks I've picked up in over 27 years of having birds for pets. I've had birds since I was 10 years old, and we've learned so much about how to care for them better so they have longer life expectancies. I'm frequently asked for advice, so I thought it would be nice to write a book of all the little tings that the pet guides don't think to tell you, like how to pick the best cage, toys and food, or how to keep your house clean when you have feathers and seed thrown all over the place every day. I plan to self publish this book when it's complete.

10. Coffee, tea, or neither?
Coffee definitely! Brownie points if it's Dunkin Donuts Coffee. That's my favorite!


Thank you Sherri for taking the time to answer a few questions. I know a lot of readers like to learn more about the authors behind the books.

Please be sure to check out the following:

Blurry on Goodreads
My review on Blurry
All of Sherri's books on Goodreads

Blurry




Sunday, August 26, 2012

Stacking the Shelves #4


This weekly meme was started by Tynga over at Tynga's Reviews.

Sorry I missed this last week. For once I actually didn't go to the library or sign up to read any books. I was very good and decided to finish some of the books I currently have first. Obviously, I wasn't as good this week. :)

For Review:
(These are books that have been provided by authors, I have received through a ARR or R2R program, or received through NetGalley)
Veiled Innocence (The Soul Cycle, #1)  Taste  Poison (Keeper of Light #1)
Add Veiled on Goodreads    Add Taste on Goodreads    Add Poison on Goodreads
Provided by Author                    R2R Program                   R2R Program

Friday, August 24, 2012

Blurry Review


Blurry
Goodreads Blurb:

What happens when Little Miss Perfect's life is turned upside down?

Rachel Shull is about to find out. A year ago she broke up with her boyfriend, Danny, over suspicions that he was hiding something from her. Now Rachel's life is full of accomplishment, achievement, friends, and even a boyfriend. It all seems perfect, until a childhood friend dies in a tragic accident. When it's discovered that Danny had a heated argument with Kirsten shortly before her death, suspicions about his double life resurface. As the case unfolds and tragedy strikes people close to Rachel, she discovers that Danny isn't the only one with dangerous secrets. Life in the small town of Woodland, South Carolina becomes blurry with lies and deceit, and Rachel finds herself questioning everybody; even her new boyfriend. 


**3 Stars**
I was provided a copy of this book by the author for an honest review.

MY OVERVIEW: A very light read with an intriguing mystery. The book just feel short in a lot of places. I wish that there was more depth to the book.

PROS: I really liked the concept of the book. The story was interesting and kept me wondering until the wrap up at the end. I liked Zeke and wish there was more of him in the book. He was probably the best character out of all of them and the one with the most depth.

CONS: The characters were all very flat. The book needed some more build up and emotion. Rachel was told that her childhood friend died right before going into class and she pretty much shrugs it off. Also, the ending scene at Prom was pretty unrealistic. No criminal would give that much away. 

MY FINAL THOUGHTS: I am glad I read the book, but I just wish there was more to it. The story really was there though. It is what saved the book and kept me interested. 



Crushed Review

Crushed (The Witch-Game #1)Goodreads Blurb:

The Noah sisters rule Titan High with their beauty, brains, and magical powers. 

Each year they play a secret game: Crushed. The girls pick their targets carefully and blow enchanted dust into the boy's faces, charming them, but this year Kristen makes a grave mistake. She chooses the wrong boy and almost dies that same day. Coincidence? Maybe. 

But something isn't quite right about Zach Bevian. He doesn't behave like a boy who's been Crushed. He goes from hot to cold, from looking at her with contempt to asking her out on a date. She doesn't know what to think. Does he hate her or is truly falling for her? Is he trying to kill her, or is he trying to save her?


**3.5 Stars**
I received a copy of this book from the author through a read-to-recap program on Goodreads for an honest review. 

MY OVERVIEW: The first couple chapters weren’t the best. I was really excited to read this book, but the first few chapters kinda ruined that excitement. However, it did pick up about 3 chapters in.

PROS: Zach. I really liked Zach. You never had to question who he really is. I really enjoyed the story. It isn’t like any other story I have read before. I grew to like Kristen. I really didn’t like her in the beginning cause her character was pretty flat, but the writing improved and her character became really likeable. 

CONS: The beginning was slow and petty. Granted, Brittany is petty through the whole book, but the story itself isn’t. As I said in my Pros, I didn’t like Kristen at the beginning. Her character wasn’t written that well at first, it seemed rushed. But as the book progressed, her character grew.

MY FINAL THOUGHTS: An enjoyable read. I don’t know how there is going to be another in the series as it seems pretty impossible considering the ending (No – not gonna tell you so don’t ask) : ). 



Thursday, August 23, 2012

Hereafter Review

Hereafter (Hereafter, #1)
Goodreads Blub:

Can there truly be love after death? 

Drifting in the dark waters of a mysterious river, the only thing Amelia knows for sure is that she's dead. With no recollection of her past life-- or her actual death-- she's trapped alone in a nightmarish existence. All of this changes when she tries to rescue a boy, Joshua, from drowning in her river. As a ghost, she can do nothing but "will" him to live. Yet in an unforgettable moment of connection, she helps him survive. 

Amelia and Joshua grow ever closer as they begin to uncover the strange circumstances of her death and the secrets of the dark river that held her captive for so long. But even while they struggle to keep their bond hidden from the living world, a frightening spirit named Eli is doing everything in his power to destroy their newfound happiness and drag Amelia back into the ghost world... forever. 

**4 Stars**

MY OVERVIEW: Hmm, 3.5 or 4 stars? Um, 4! I really enjoyed the story. It is a different type of “ghost” story than I am used to reading. 

PROS: I love Amelia! She is a fantastic character. The book is filled with the perfect amount of humor to break, what could have been, a very serious book. Ok, I know you aren’t really supposed to – but I loved Ruth! She is great and part of me hopes that there is more of her in the next book (although that might end up being a bad thing). 

CONS: The book was a little slow in parts and confusing in others. The netherworld was a little confusing and it never explained how Amelia could travel between the living and nether- worlds. 

MY FINAL THOUGHTS: I can’t wait to read the next book and find out what happens to Amelia and Joshua. There is still a lot that has been left unanswered. 




Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Waiting on Wednesdays - A White So Red

Waiting on Wednesdays is a weekly book meme hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine. Here I get to share with you some of the books that I am anxiously awaiting to be published. 

This week's WoW is A White So Red by Krystle Jones. 
A White So Red

Take back what is yours.

Seventeen-year-old Snow's life changed forever the night her stepmother, the Queen, sent her huntsman to cut out her heart. Fleeing for her life, Snow runs to the Silver Forest, a place as dangerous ad it is enchanting, and begins an adventure she could never have dreamed. 

With no one at her side but a rowdy band of carnivorous dwarves and an arrogant, rogue prince who's too handsome for his own good, Snow must confront the challenge that's been laid before her: Kill the Queen, and take back the kingdom that should have been hers. 

But if she is to succeed, Snow will have to tap into a powerful, ancient form of magic, one that may have been sleeping inside her all along.

Expected Publication: October 2012

Add to your Goodreads shelf.

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Dead Girl Review

Deadgirl
**3 Stars**
I was provided a copy indirectly from the author (through a group on Goodreads.com) for an honest review.

MY OVERVIEW: Yikes, I don’t really know how to do an overview on this book. It wasn’t really that memorable, and I just put it down.

PROS: I liked Luce. She was a believable teenage character. There were a few points where she slipped a little from the believable realm. I also liked Morgan. I think she was my favorite. I honestly wish there was more of her in the book. 

CONS: It is pretty confusing at times. You don’t fully understand what is going on because Luce (Lucy) doesn’t and you are in her head. I just wish that there was a little more explanation earlier on in the book. Also, I didn’t really like Puck. I know you were supposed to, but the whole “maybe” hand gesture thing got really annoying. Especially when you find out that he knows a lot more than he is letting on.

MY FINAL THOUGHTS: I am glad I read it. It isn’t a book I would re-read, but I am glad I read it once. Would I recommend it? Maybe to the right person, but the book just wasn’t memorable or original enough for me. I saw a lot of different books I have read recently in it. 


Teaser Tuesdays - Crushed



Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should be Reading. Anyone can play along, just do the following: 

  • Grab your current read
  • Open to a random page
  • Share two (2) "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page
  • Be careful not to include spoilers! (Make sure what you share doesn't give away too much! You don't want to ruin the book for others.)
  • Share the title & author so other TT participants can add the book to their TBR lists if they like your teaser.

This week's teaser comes from Crushed  by K.C. Blake.
Crushed (The Witch-Game #1)




"The Crushed spell had that effect on people. Boys gazed into space once they were hit with it."



Monday, August 20, 2012

Author Interview with Jenelle Leanne Schmidt

Please welcome Jenelle Leanne Schmidt, author of King's Warrior.

1. Have you always wanted to be an author? 
I started writing stories and poems when I was six, and I have always loved reading, but no, actually, I first wanted to be a teacher. The desire to be an author was a process, a dream I did not always believe to be attainable.

2. Who was your favorite character to write and why?
Kiernan Kane has been my favorite character to write, probably because he makes me laugh. I'm better at making people cry, but I'd rather make them laugh with my writing, which is probably why I love Kiernan so much. I also love that he isn't always the main character, in King's Warrior, he is fairly secondary - a very small role, really - but he is much more than he seems and I enjoyed developing that through the series.

3. I loved Kamarie. How did you come up with her character?
Kamarie was one of the easiest characters for me to write as she is me, or rather, she is who I believe I would be if I were a princess in the Middle Ages in a realm of magic...

4. What project are you working on now?
I just finished the first pass of editing on Second Son, the prequel to King's Warrior, and I am about to begin the editing process on Yorien's Hand, the sequel to King's Warrior.

5. Is there a specific food or drink that you like to have while you are writing?
Dr. Pepper and peanut butter twix... although sometimes I like to have slices of cheddar cheese and ritz crackers instead. It depends on my mood.

6. Do you prefer to write with a pen and paper or on a laptop/computer?
I prefer to write a first draft with a pen and paper, as a lot of editing can then occur when I transfer everything to the computer. However, I rarely get to sit down with a pen and paper anymore, so a lot of my first-drafting is now done at the computer.

7. Brant is a very complex character. Was he hard to write?
Brant's story is fun, in that he wasn't supposed to be a main character. He was only supposed to show up in the first chapter as part of Yole's back-story. The whole book was supposed to be about Kamarie... which, as you know from reading the book, would have made the ending rather different... I was writing the book each day, and my dad was reading every new installment out loud to our family each night, and they all just LOVED Brant so much after his one short scene that I realized I had to make him a main character. At frist he was a hard character to write, because I wanted him to be mysterious, and I wasn't at all sure who he was, but once I figured out his back-story writing his character became much easier.

8. Can you describe your book in 5 words or less?
I have a hard time describing my book in less than 300 words... but I'll give it a try: A family-friendly fantasy adventure.

9. What do you think makes a good story? 
A good story has to have several elements. First, I need a character to root for. This does not have to be the main character (for example: I enjoyed reading "The Hunger Games" despite the fact that I really couldn't stand Katniss... I liked Peeta and found him worth rooting for), there has to be a character I can cheer for or identify with or just like. A good story also has to be well-written; not simply error-free, but written as though each scene has been crafted to further the story, no wasted words, etc. A good story alos has to have a lot of action to keep my attention. This doesn't have to mean sword-fights, but it does man that by the end of the book I have to feel as though a lot happened. For example: although "Fellowship of the Ring" is not the most exciting book of the trilogy, it feels when you get to the end as through quite a bit has happened, the characters have grown and changed, as well as traveled a long way and overcome many obstacles. Those are just a few things, I think the ingredients fora  good story are many and varied, and some of them depend heavily on the genre, but these three are key no matter what genre you're reading: a likeable character, a well-crafted/well-written story, and a plot that doesn't leave you thinking, "Nothing happened in that entire story."

10. Dogs or cats?
Dragons! Just kidding. I'm one of those weird people who loves both dogs and cats. I had a cat when I was little, and I have always wanted a dog.


I want to thank Jenelle for taking the time to answer these questions. I always love reading about not only how authors feel about different parts of their books, but completely random things as well.

Please be sure to check out the following:

King's Warrior on Goodreads.
My review on King's Warrior.
Jenelle's website


Saturday, August 18, 2012

Apprentice: The Darkwater Adventurer's Guild Review

The Darkwater Adventurers Guild, Vol 1: Apprentice
**3 Stars**
I received a copy of this book from the author for an honest review through a read-to-recap program.

MY OVERVIEW: A good start to a potentially great series. It sounds like it will be four books if it follows how many years Ralik will be at the Guild. That seems like it will be the perfect amount.

PROS: Elves! I love elves. I am so glad they are in this book. I have a perfect picture in my mind for what Jander looks like. He was the best character out of all of them. I liked how the main “problem” in the book wasn’t solved at the end. 

CONS: It was a little too much like Hogwarts for me in some parts. I don’t mind the whole training school thing, but there were too many Hogwarts similarities. 

MY FINAL THOUGHTS: An enjoyable read. It fell a little short in some areas, but I look forward to seeing how the series progresses. 



Friday, August 17, 2012

Uglies Review

Uglies (Uglies, #1)
**1 Stars**

MY OVERVIEW: I honestly almost put the book down after I finished reading the first page. I just couldn’t do it. I tried to finish the book, but ending up giving up around page 200. 

PROS: There really weren’t any pros for me. All of the characters were whiney and annoying. I didn’t see why Shay wanted to leave the society – no it wasn’t morally right, but morals aside it was a working society. 

CONS: I don’t agree with the whole if you are normal you are Ugly, and you have to have tons of surgery to live successfully in society so you look Pretty. But that aside, everyone gets the surgery – there is no rich/poor to worry about. 

MY FINAL THOUGHTS: I don’t plan on trying to pick this book back up in the future. It is written poorly and I don’t agree with the concept. 


Thursday, August 16, 2012

King's Warrior Review

King's Warrior
**4.5 Stars**

MY OVERVIEW: A beautifully written story with a fantastic new world. I actually enjoyed the fact that there was no romance in the book. I feel it would have distracted from the overall story. I do hope, however, that there is a little in the next book – especially since it was set up for it.

PROS: All of the characters were written beautifully. Kamarie is such a strong character. Someone to look up to. She was the best one out of all the characters and I hope to see more of her growth in the next book.

CONS: There really isn’t too much that I didn’t like. I think that the book felt long in parts and seemed to drag on. But that never lasted very long, and the story always picked right back up. Brant was frustrating in parts and I just wanted my suspicions as to who he was confirmed-which they were at the end.

MY FINAL THOUGHTS: This is a book I would highly recommend. I will be anxiously awaiting the next book’s arrival in 2013.

I was provided a copy of this book from the author for an honest review.



Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Waiting on Wednesdays - Reached


Waiting on Wednesdays is a weekly book meme hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine. Here I get to share with you some of the books that I am anxiously awaiting to be published. 

This week's WoW is Reached by Ally Condi.
Reached (Matched, #3)
After leaving Society and desperately searching for the Rising - and each other - Cassia and Ky have found what they were looking for, but at the cost of losing each other yet again: Cassia has been assigned to work for the Rising from within Society, while Ky has been stationed outside its borders. But nothing is as predicted, and all too soon the veil lifts and things shift once again. 

In this gripping conclusion to the #1 New York Times bestselling Matched Trilogy, Cassia will reconcile the difficulties of challenging a life too confining, seeking a freedom she never dreamed possible, and honoring a love she cannot live without.

Expected Publication: November 13th 2012
Book Three (3) in the Matched Trilogy

I really liked Matched and Crossed and can't wait to read the conclusion. All of the characters that Ally Condi have created are beautifully written and I will be sad for their stories to end. 

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Dearly, Beloved Review

Dearly, Beloved (Gone With the Respiration, #2)
**3.5 Stars**

I received a copy of this ARC from the publisher via NetGalley for an honest review. 

MY OVERVIEW: Oh Lia Habel, you have made me change my mind about steampunk. I now love it. I honestly had a rough time decided what to rate this book. It was between a 3 and a 3.5. I almost decided to create a 3.25 rating just for this book, but ending up settling on 3.5 because of the beautiful ending.

PROS: Great continuation of Dearly Departed. Of course, Ren is awesome! I just wish there was a little more of him in this book. The book focused more on Bram, Nora, and some other characters and less on the main zombies from the last book. We did still see Chas, Tom, Coalhouse, Ren & the others, but not as much as in the last book. I did love how we got to hear about Dr. Chase and Samid’s background. It was a really moving story. 

CONS: There were too many character changes in this book. Not that there were different characters, but the characters themselves changed. Pam went back to how she was in the very, very beginning of Dearly Departed where all she does is worry and it is very annoying. Coalhouse also changed a lot. I really liked him in the last book, but really couldn’t stand him in this one. He was too whiney. 

I think the biggest downfall in this book though was that there were too many Point of Views. In the last book there were five, which is a lot, but it was well done. In this book, there were six. It was just too much. There was a lot going on all around and it just got a little confusing. 

MY FINAL THOUGHTS: Oh my god. The ending couldn’t have been written better. It was beautiful. I won’t give anything away, but it just made me so happy! There are still a lot of loose ends that need to be tied up though – so here I am again – anxiously awaiting the next book in the series.



Teaser Tuesdays - King's Warrior


Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should be Reading. Anyone can play along, just do the following: 

  • Grab your current read
  • Open to a random page
  • Share two (2) "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page
  • Be careful not to include spoilers! (Make sure what you share doesn't give away too much! You don't want to ruin the book for others.)
  • Share the title & author so other TT participants can add the book to their TBR lists if they like your teaser.

This week's teaser comes from King's Warrior by Jenelle Leanne Schmidt. 
King's Warrior



"'Don't you understand? Courage is not found in lacking fear, courage is found in not allowing your fear to rule you.'"