Review ~ The Rising by Kelley Armstrong

The Rising (Darkness Rising #3)
by Kelley Armstrong
YA Paranormal Fantasy
Published: April 2nd 2013
Goodreads Link

Blurb:

Things are getting desperate for Maya and her friends. Hunted by the powerful St. Clouds and now a rival Cabal as well, they're quickly running out of places to hide. And with the whole world thinking they died in a helicopter crash, it's not like they can just go to the authorities for help.

All they have is the name and number of someone who might be able to give them a few answers. Answers to why they're so valuable, and why their supernatural powers are getting more and more out of control.

But Maya is unprepared for the truths that await her. And now, like it or not, she'll have to face down some demons from her past if she ever hopes to move on with her life. Because Maya can't keep running forever.

Old secrets are revealed and unexpected characters make a surprising return in this stunning conclusion to Kelley Armstrong's New York Times bestselling Darkness Rising trilogy.

My Review: 

**4.5 Stars**

MY OVERVIEW: Oh, the bittersweet ending to a fantastic trilogy. I am very glad that I read the Darkest Powers trilogy before reading this last book. The author brings those characters into The Rising about halfway through.

PROS: Daniel or Rafe? Daniel or Rafe? I think the author did a fantastic job with the love triangle. Maya wasn’t all lovey dovey for both then had to choose. In the end I am very glad with the choice she made.

CONS: I don’t like how Derek acted in this book. He seemed gruffer than he was at the end of The Reckoning. I also feel like something was missed while Maya was in the Cabal house. I also wish there was a little more of Sam. I love her character.

MY FINAL THOUGHTS: I can’t believe it is over. I do hope that eventually there will be another trilogy. The author seems to have left it open for at least one more book later on. Awesome trilogy, fast read, and one I would highly recommend.

Review ~ Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

Mockingjay (The Hunger Games #3)
by Suzanne Collins
YA Dystopian
Published: August 24th 2010
Goodreads Link

Blurb:

Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has survived the Hunger Games twice. But now that she's made it out of the bloody arena alive, she's still not safe. The Capitol is angry. The Capitol wants revenge. Who do they think should pay for the unrest? Katniss. And what's worse, President Snow has made it clear that no one else is safe either. Not Katniss's family, not her friends, not the people in District 12. Powerful and haunting, this thrilling final installment of Suzanne Collin's groundbreaking The Hunger Games trilogy promises to be one of the most talked about books of the year.

My Review:

**2.5 Stars**

MY OVERVIEW: It is hard to finish a book when you don’t like the main character, never mind an entire series. If the bigger picture of the whole story wasn’t there, then I wouldn’t have finished the series. However, I honestly did like the society problems and wanted to see how everything would turn out.

PROS: Because I liked the story, all the rebellions were really interesting to follow. I liked seeing all the Capitol vs Districts. I just wish we had seen more of the “after-Capitol-take-over”.

CONS: Why do you insist on killing off all the great characters??? And not the ones I want you to???? As usual, Katniss. I also really didn’t like Gale in this one. He seemed to change a lot and not in a good way. Peeta was also his old annoying self too.

MY FINAL THOUGHTS: I am glad it is finally over even if it didn’t end the way I hoped. I just wish I could have seen more of the rebellion through other people’s eyes instead of just Katniss.

Review ~ Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

Catching Fire (The Hunger Games #2)
by Suzanne Collins
YA Dystopian
Published: September 1st 2009
Goodreads Link

Blurb:

Sparks are igniting, flames are spreading and the Capitol wants revenge. 

Against all odds, Katniss has won the Hunger Games. She and fellow District 12 tribute Peeta Mellark are miraculously still alive. Katniss should be relieved, happy even. After all, she has returned to her family and longtime friend, Gale. Yet nothing is the way Katniss wishes it to be. Gale holds her at an icy distance. Peeta has turned his back on her completely. And there are whispers of a rebellion against the Capitol - a rebellion that Katniss and Peeta may have helped create.

Much to her shock, Katniss has fueled an unrest she's afraid she cannot stop. And what scares her even more is that she's not entirely convinced she should try. As time draws near for Katniss and Peeta to visit the districts on the Capitol's cruel Victory Tour, the stakes are higher than ever. If they can't prove, without a shadow of a doubt, that they are lost in their love for each other, the consequences will be horrifying.

In Catching Fire, the second novel of the Hunger Games trilogy, Suzanne Collins continues the story of Katniss Everdeen, testing her more than ever before... and surprising readers at every turn. 

My Review:

**3 Stars**

MY OVERVIEW: The book felt a little disjointed. It felt like all the author wanted to do was get to the Quarter Quell and threw the other stuff in there. 

PROS: I did like how the Quarter Quell worked out with the different tributes. I also liked the new tributes they brought in. Beetee and Finnick were great additions to the team. 

CONS: I would have liked to have seen more of the districts. We see 11 then in a paragraph or two 10-1 and suddenly we are at the Capitol. Oh, and why did you have to kill off my favorite character? Why?

MY FINAL THOUGHTS: Again, didn't connect with Katniss. She just isn't a likeable character to me. She is very selfish and arrogant. 

The Sword of Truth Blog Tour

On tour with JKSCommunications.

The Sword of Truth (The Godling Chronicles #1)
by Brian Anderson
YA Fantasy
Published: October 5th 2012
Goodreads Link

Blurb:

Darkness comes as a new power rises in Angraal. The Dark Knight has betrayed the Gods and stolen The Sword of Truth, trapping them in heaven. With the power of the Sword he can reshape the world and bring death to all who oppose him.

Only one thing stands between the darkness and the light. Gewey Stedding. Only he has the power to stand against the oncoming storm.

Only he can mend the world. But only if he can discover his power....

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Of Gods and Elves (The Godling Chronicles #2)

by Brian Anderson

YA Fantasy

Published: November 1st 2012

Goodreads Link

Blurb: 

Armies gather for war in the frozen land of Angraal threatening to set the world ablaze. The elves are divided and scattered and humans fall prey to the dark influence of the Reborn King. Now, Gewey is faced with his greatest challenge yet. Unite the world of elf and human before it is too late...

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The Shadow of Gods (The Godling Chronicles #3)
by Brian Anderson
YA Fantasy
Published: March 14th 2013
Goodreads Link

Blurb: 

Valshara has fallen, and the forces of Angraal are advancing. For the first time, human and elf must shed blood as one, in order to stem the tide of evil. But new hope has arisen. From across the Western Abyss, a people long forgotten have returned. However, hope comes at its own price. Gewey must choose between his bond of love, and his duty to the world he is struggling to save.

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About the Author: 

Brian D. Anderson debuted as an indie author in fall 2012 with The Godling Chronicles, a multi-book young adult fantasy series from GMTA Publishing that sold 10,000 copies in just the first three months.

The continued and growing success of his first two titles, Book One: The Sword of Truth and Book Two: Of God and Elves, allowed Anderson to start writing full-time. He releases the third installment of his series this spring, and is already at work on the fourth and fifth novels.

Anderson was born in 1971 in the small town of Spanish Fort, Alabama and lived throughout the coastal state also in Fairhope and Mobile during college, where he developed a love of fantasy novels.

He lived and worked in New York for years with his wife and son - who created the original concept for The Godling Chronicles - and the family is heading back down south for a beach life in Pensacola, Florida.