I have decided...that I will not listen to an audiobook of any other Ilona Andrews novel unless it is my second time reading it. I enjoy Andrews' writI have decided...that I will not listen to an audiobook of any other Ilona Andrews novel unless it is my second time reading it. I enjoy Andrews' writing style so much that "listening" to it for the first go round I felt took a lot away from it for me personally.
With that being said...aside from the moments that I tuned out of some of the action scenes because again I think I would have been more attentive had I been reading it instead, this second book was enjoyable, though not AS good as the first. It still had all the Andrews flare and snarkiness that I've grown to love.
This is how I know I tuned out too much from the audio...I sat here at my keyboard for a good 30 seconds and couldn't 100% register what the plot line was to this one...HA, read the book blurb! I'll talk about the stuff I REALLY remember and that was the continued banter and literal game of cat and mouse between Kate and Curran.
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I LOVE Kate as a character, she's strong, independent, kicks ass, takes names, and doesn't find the fact that she hasn't had sex in two years as a means to jump the bones of the first guy she's attracted to.
Curran, much like Eric in the Sookie Stackhouse series or Ethan in the Chicagoland Vampires series however is my bread and butter for the Kate Daniels series. I will honestly say, if it weren't for him I may not be AS intrigued. But in all fairness...we haven't even found out what exactly Kate Daniels is so there's so much mystery left for her I am sure in time I will like her just as much as Curran
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........maybe. ;)
As crazy and sexually obsessed as Bran was...I LOVED his teleporting self, quite a bit actually! (view spoiler)[I was quite sad when he died, and also a bit curious why it bothered Kate THAT much. So much she poured so much magic into trying to save him, did she develop a bit of a weak spot for him? (hide spoiler)]
Anywho. It is a slow burn fantasy romance by Ilona Andrews, that is all I need to know so onto the next one!
Provided ARC from Netgalley for honest review. The plot line for this book has obviously been done a few times. I am certain that the movie starring DProvided ARC from Netgalley for honest review. The plot line for this book has obviously been done a few times. I am certain that the movie starring Debra Messing also comes to mind as they have the same name, however this book still manages to do it just a hair differently and for that I can appreciate the effort.
This book was a fun and light read. The only real issue I had that as an American, I didn't understand a lot of the British slang. To the readers from the UK, I am sure it would have been a bit more enjoyable seeing as they'd understand the slang, but given that this book is available world wide I think it would have been better to dial down the slang just a tad. I had to pause and look up words so that I would understand the context of the dialogue and certain situations.
With all that being said, I still enjoyed the book for its humor, capability of maintaining uniqueness while competing with a story line that has been done before, and attention to detail. Samantha, the heroine, didn't really resonate with me. She was so down on herself that some times I wanted to reach through the book and slap her for being so silly.
Jake, the man who she hires to be her date, was okay. He had a lot of swoony lines and moments that I could get behind, however ALL the women fawning over him was a bit over the top. I understand that he is an attractive guy and that this is a fictional story, but a small sense of realism helps to relate to the story better. Even Samantha's mother was just all over him, in front of her husband, that would obviously never fly and seemed a little cougarish.
Albeit having flaws, the book is still fun and I did highlight several lines on my Kindle that I thought very humorous.
THIS BOOK RIGHT HERE! I often hesitate reading a book based solely on the gorgeous cover...this my friends is a book that LIVES up to the hype of its THIS BOOK RIGHT HERE! I often hesitate reading a book based solely on the gorgeous cover...this my friends is a book that LIVES up to the hype of its cover! I took a huge chance...a friend marked this as TBR, the cover lured me in, the concept of a love story with each Horsemen also LURED me in, and I did something I have never done before...pre-ordered a Kindle book so I'd have it delivered neatly for the day it comes out!
Participated in a buddy read for this, even put aside the book i was currently reading to read and finish this one so I could chat with the gals along the way, SO GLAD I DID!
So we have Pestilence...in our BR we started calling him Pest for short because well Pestilence even sounds weird to keep saying. He is what he is...a horsemen who has a purpose and a goal. He begins cold and calculating but still appears ethereal.
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He is the first horsemen of the apocalypse and he comes to Earth to spread a plague, to begin the extinction of humankind before his brothers follow. How could this be a romance, you're thinking right? This is why it is just SO enticing!
We have Sara...who literally draws the short straw of her friends to attempt and kill Pestilence. [image]
I am not spoiling anything when I say...it doesn't work. Clearly. This creates my favorite trope of all: ENEMIES TO LOVERS bwahahaha! It just keeps getting better!
I will say no more to the plot as I wish not to spoil a word of it for you. Sara is SUCH a snarky, witty character whose inner monologue is insanely quotable. I think I had like 30 highlights from this book which is insane. It is New Adult so bare in mind it is first POV/present tense.
This book is a romance yes, but it is so much more than that. It is about humanity, about selflessness, about what it truly means to love and to be loved.
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It is a slow burn that explores their relationship amidst Pestilence spreading his plague and Sara breaking down his walls along the way. It is funny, poetic, and very well structured. Laura Thalassa has made a fan out of me as this was my first book of hers and I am absolutely crying that I have no idea how long I must wait for the next horsemen, War. I am also INSANELY curious to see how she will handle Death. BRAVO, girly, bravo!
One word for you: Rush. Not the verb, but the freakin' Hero's name. But also, DO rush to read this book. LOVE LOVE LOVE it. Bad boy: check. Tattoos: cOne word for you: Rush. Not the verb, but the freakin' Hero's name. But also, DO rush to read this book. LOVE LOVE LOVE it. Bad boy: check. Tattoos: check. Scruffy face: check.
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The Hero, Rush was the perfect mixture of alpha male, hard a$$, sweet and stubborn which made for some killer dialogue between him and the heroine. That killer dialogue that we all have come to expect from Vi Keeland and Penelope Ward and they deliver!
So this is a story between you guessed it, a rebel heir (inheriting several properties as well as oodles of cash from his grandfather) and a novelist who is chilling out in the Hamptons for the summer to gain inspiration for her novel that takes place in the same setting. Gia, wasn't AS strong of a character as Rush, but she wasn't needy or whiny or anything else that makes me roll my eyes. The only thing bad that i could say about her is that sometimes I felt like she tried a bit TOO hard to be snarky and too quick to tell off her BOSS, but it made for some funny and fun dialogue so I forgave it.
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So anyone who knows me, knows that I live and breathe the enemies to lovers trope. This is KIND of one of those. They definitely dislike each other at first but it is not the slow burn actually hating each other extreme that I normally gobble up like catnip. With that being said, it is still a delicious build up and Rush's dialogue and personality just kept me intrigued the ENTIRE way.
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There were certain "things" that happened in the book and Rush's reactions were how can I say a bit unrealistic for the type of guy that he is portrayed to be? BUT even though this is a contemporary story, lest we forget it is still classified as FICTION, so you too will have to forgive a few things if you are to enjoy this book for the amazing time that it is!
The story has it all. Humor. Romance. Sexiness. Drama. ALL OF IT.
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PS - If you are not a fan of cliffhangers: You've been warned.
Ok...I had to think about this one because there was aspects to this book that I LOVED and others were just too corny for my taste. This is a short reOk...I had to think about this one because there was aspects to this book that I LOVED and others were just too corny for my taste. This is a short read but the idea is both captivating and cliche all at the same time. There are these immortal beings of different paranormal backgrounds that need a human to be able to mate with so that they can continue the line. Only problem is, most of the humans DIE because they can't handle the process. That is where "Genesis" comes in, the heroine of the story and of course *gasp* is she the one?!
Of course she is...BUT what I did have a guilty pleasure with in reading was her being paired up and mated with a vampire immortal being named Ethan. I LOVED their scenes together, the whole 'marking' ritual and the inclusion of him drinking from her as a part of their sexy times, I mean I will never tire of reading that, that's one of the draws for me about vampires - weird or not!
So it was all because of a male vampire whose name starts with "E" AGAIN for me that saved a story, lol, I think I see a trend! Aside from those aspects however, the story was very cliche and made me roll my eyes a lot, hence why I couldn't in good faith give it a higher rating then I did. If you can see past the corn though and you love you some hot vampire smut, I'd at least give those scenes a shot ;) ...more
Ok...alright, as an uber nerd both for video games old and new AND 80s/90s pop culture, this book was like CRACK for me. With that being said, this boOk...alright, as an uber nerd both for video games old and new AND 80s/90s pop culture, this book was like CRACK for me. With that being said, this book is NOT for everyone. It would not have been as fun were it not for my insane interest in these things, but honestly the fact that this book is CALLED Ready Player One should be a GOOD indication of what exactly you are in for.
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This book was SO MUCH fun! I found myself grinning like an idiot to so many of the references and I just had a blast the entire time. I made the decision to listen to this one on audio because of the fact that Wil Wheaton narrated it. He is one of those people that (yes he was on Star Trek ions ago) is currently uber famous for BEING a nerd, it was perfect, his narration was awesome! He wasn't the best at transitioning between voices of a male and female, but I get a little weirded out when guys try too hard to sound like a chick anyway!
Ok so quickly...this book takes place in the future and centers around a gaming platform called the Oasis where users submerge themselves in a Virtual Reality like environment and use their own movements to navigate and play through the worlds. It is...VERY realistic and the fact that people spend more time in the game instead of real life, is ALSO very realistic to the times AND the way that our society is moving.
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The story centers around Wade who's in game avatar is named Parzival, a lady gamer: Art3mis and Wade's best (albeit having never met in person) friend, Aech (pronounced like the letter 'H'). A contest has been developed upon the death of the Oasis's creator himself, that whoever FINDS the egg he's hidden, will inherit his ENTIRE fortune...we are talking BILLIONS of dollars. Naturally, the entire world is a flutter to find this egg. Finding the egg will entail a person to know A LOT about the dead creator. His favorite movies, games, music groups...it is actually a little ego centric of him, now that i think about it but because the creator grew up in the 80s, the book is centered around all things 80s pop culture because this dystopia culture becomes OBSESSED with the 80s hoping to find clues to the egg.
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The only thing I had an issue with is how much these characters were able to watch in the span of five years. To say you watched Monty Python and the Holy Grail 175 times, plus managed to watch entire SERIES of shows that ran for a decade, plus War Games and Blade Runner dozens of times each etc. etc. seems a little...I don't know...insane. Humans need to sleep at some point, just doesn't seem feasible and I have watched a lot of movies...A LOT but I can't even fathom the idea of watching something 175 times in five years, or maybe I am just not dedicated enough to my nerdom?
Anyway...this is SUCH a fun book and extra fun for people that will get all the references. The author does go into detail about how some of the games are played and I read in other reviews that this annoyed some. Honestly, if it weren't for these descriptions then those who did not know of the games would have NO clue why Wade is riding an ostrich with a jousting stick trying to attack a stork...JUST saying!
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PS - The ending made me cry...(view spoiler)[Wade and Samantha meeting in real life for the first time WAS SO FLIPPING sweet and adorable!!! (hide spoiler)]
I kid you not...if it weren't for vampire hot as hell smut within the last few hours of this audiobook, this would've been a three star rating for me.I kid you not...if it weren't for vampire hot as hell smut within the last few hours of this audiobook, this would've been a three star rating for me. It was THAT close people!
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So ok...ADMISSION: I read the last two chapters of #5 in this series, why do you ask? I followed the advice I saw from all others in the reviews...and ACTUALLY if I would have been reading this series as they released...with what happened in book 4, I would have not even bothered with book 5 until someone told me what happened. I am not even sure what possessed Chloe to do it in the first place??? I literally only read these books because of Ethan. Period. No joke.
Anyway...i read the last 2 chapters so that i could know how it transgressed into book 6 and was so happy until Ethan does his B.S. again...oh we can't be together until I get my shit straight. O...M...G! Together, not together, together, not together...DO NOT get them together or make it a SLOW ass burn, but don't go back and forth like that. It is flipping annoying and insulting to Merritt when she takes him back every time. You know Merritt, the bad ass katana wielding VAMPIRE?
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Anywho...whew, so the plot line in this one was meh? It wasn't as enticing as the previous plot lines HOWEVER we get introduced to more of the fae world in these books as well as angels!
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I will give the next book a shot but...this one almost lost me. *sigh*...more
What an AMAZING trilogy! It delivered and then some and Nevada and Rogan's relationship continued to blossom and be entertaining. Sometimes after the What an AMAZING trilogy! It delivered and then some and Nevada and Rogan's relationship continued to blossom and be entertaining. Sometimes after the hunt and the build up the characters start to become flat and not as interesting, but that was NOT the case with these books and I applaud Andrews ten fold for this success!
I always continued to love all of the side characters within Nevada's family, especially Grandma Frida. I enjoyed watching Rogan's progression in his character from the first book to this one, you can tell that Nevada really did have an affect on him for the better, which makes it all that more romantic.
Only two gripes I had: (view spoiler)[ Okay...it was romantic but getting married not even a year in? Kinda crazy, but I went with it! (hide spoiler)] (view spoiler)[ THAT ENDING?! Come on! You can't write this as a trilogy and end it on a cliffhanger! lol. (hide spoiler)]
I will miss you Nevada and Rogan but I am already prepared to read Burn for Me again and dive into that luscious build up of a slow burn mixed with magical awesomeness - just the PERFECT series for me!
Ok clearly...I LOVED this, I am SO obsessed with Ilona Andrews now that I could quite possibly become a stalker...totally kidding. Barely.
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Ok clearly...I LOVED this, I am SO obsessed with Ilona Andrews now that I could quite possibly become a stalker...totally kidding. Barely.
This trilogy is quite simply an addictive drug for all slow burn/enemies to lovers fans and it just continued to have me giggling like a little schoolgirl. I also have to give major props for the creation of these cool magical beings that is not corny and continues to intrigue me and not confuse the hell out of me.
Oh and if you were a fan of the unique scene in the first one where Rogan uses his powers in a VERY amazing and steamy way...oh there's more of that in this one ma'am rest ASSURED! [image]
I don't want to get into specifics as to not take anything away from the story and lets be real you can read the plot outline from the books description. Ideally you are reading this review because you A) Already read the book and wanted my two cents or B) Because you ALREADY read the description and are now reading reviews deciding if you want to read it yourself, so!
I will say this...Rogan is still in my top ten favorite Hero's from a book, he's this perfectly rounded package. He is NOT depicted as perfect, he's got edges, but the edges can SO be blurred because of a woman that he can't just see himself without! I heart him and still stand firm with my casting of Stephen Amell for him. [image]
Nevada, I too still love her in this book, though she still gets weak in the knees over Rogan, she has NOT forgotten about his absence and non communication! You get him girl! I also LOVE her powers and the fact that she IS that powerful. [image]
Lastly, the two of them as a couple is one thing that we all want since book one but just the two of them as a TEAM, their powers, minds and strengths combined is an amazing thing to witness and I just can't seem to get enough of it!
Ok... [image] I'm apparently just choosing some...not meshing well with my likes books lately...I DON'T get it because they are all rated so highly! [imOk... [image] I'm apparently just choosing some...not meshing well with my likes books lately...I DON'T get it because they are all rated so highly! [image]
Okay SO...I can see why certain crowds love this book for an urban fantasy book it is very well written I mean it IS good. It could also be that I read Burn for Me before this book and that book has been put on such a high pedestal that is ruining other urban fantasies for me in my brain...I have no clue but here's the skinny...
I LOVED Mercy Thompson, she is a KICK a$$ character for sure! Absolutely NO complaints about her! [image]
I also absolutely loved that she is a "Skiner" that turns into a coyote instead of a werewolf! [image]
But Mercy aside...the male characters were SO bleeding boring to me. I don't know I just found that underdeveloped and just blah. I gave no shats about them and I can't fully enjoy a book if I don't! I usually will have a clear mental image of the casting for both main characters but though both Samuel and Adam are lead males and contenders for Mercy's heart...they were about as wet of a blanket as Bill Compton.... [image]
But the saving grace for the Sookie Stackhouse series was ERIC NORTHMAN...this book had no Eric, they were just uninteresting to me. Seems like the reviews are like it or hate it all around and though I didn't HATE It all together...I will definitely not be continuing the series.
I gave it three stars because Mercy is a well written strong female character and the story is written very well, so that I can fully appreciate....more
I...am officially obsessed with the author splendor that is Ilona Andrews. I read the Hidden Legacy series first - ashamed I hadn't heard of them befoI...am officially obsessed with the author splendor that is Ilona Andrews. I read the Hidden Legacy series first - ashamed I hadn't heard of them before that and then everyone kept raving about Kate Daniels so gave it a try and DID NOT DISAPPOINT. I just love their style of writing, the worlds they create, the dialogue is always refreshing and funny and their character development is out of this WORLD.
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Ok SO...let's talk about Miss Kate Daniels, she's a bad ass fighter, strong, wields this mysterious magical sword, wise-cracking, likes a brewski now and again, and doesn't take shit from no one:
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Summing up: SHE'S everything I like in a heroine! Andrews writes to seriously awesome heroines that though they are tough they can still be 'girly' in their inner monologues.
Then we have the Hero, Curran who is a shape-shifting lion, a LION, he's alpha male (in the literal sense here), wise-cracking, suave, and sex on a stick:
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I don't want to get into the plot too much because there are some surprises and turns, however it revolves around Kate investigating the mysterious death of her close friend Greg. Curran is the Beast Lord - basically a pack leader of shapeshifters. Not just werewolves but all kinds of animals, which I thought was different and cool!
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The tension between Curran and Kate is slow and steady and just the right amount of angst. Andrews, I've decided is somewhat of an expert at this tension building between the two main characters and is on my short list of - "I will buy whatever you write" authors list. Curran is also a bit different then a lot of Heroes I read about, especially because he's almost described as a muscular frat boy type with the demeanor of a King. Plus he's blonde, which for some reason is a rarity in books anymore or at least the ones that I read. Most are dark hair and blue eyes now it seems? lol.
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I highlighted SO MANY quotes from this book, it is a bit ridiculous, but that means there was that many lines written that deserved the extra time it took to swipe my finger across its contents. Seriously. Read this. Urban fantasy with slow burn romance at its finest once again.
Ok this is one of those books that I am on the fence between the people that absolutely hated it or those that 5 star loved it. It took me awhile to rOk this is one of those books that I am on the fence between the people that absolutely hated it or those that 5 star loved it. It took me awhile to realize just why exactly I didn't love this book and I honestly had to think about it before writing this review. The beginning of the book rubbed me a bit awkwardly which didn't help for the rest of the book, but still intrigued me enough that I trudged all the way through. Why did it rub me the wrong way? Read spoiler if you don't care, but if you DO care- do not click because it is definitely a plot point: (view spoiler)[I am all about marriage of convenience tropes but this one felt just...wrong a bit for me I guess? Her father BRUTALLY beats her into submission of marrying the king and then demands they have sex before they leave, while she is still bruised and in agony. I honor her strength but good LAWD. (hide spoiler)]
I couldn't connect with the heroine that well at all. Don't get me wrong, she is a STRONG lady and she has some seriously cool powers but she was all over the place with her moods and the way she handled situations.
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Wyn, takes foreeeeever to trust Kham and also I just didn't really connect with him on any certain level. I can appreciate his sensitivities and eventual protection over Kham, it was for that, that his character was fully saved for me.
I listened to this book on audio, 21+ hours of audio. It is a 500+ page book to read. It could have easilly been a hundred less pages. I am all about descriptions and detail but to me, a lot of it was unnecessary but that is just my personal preference. I don't particularly like listening to 20 minutes of characters dining and having a conversation that isn't pivotal to the story line. I zoned out quite a bit while listening to this book and when this happens it tells me that I am not invested.
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ALL of this aside...I gave it three stars because the WORLD that Wilson has created for this, is seriously amazing! I LOVE the world just wish I would have loved the characters as much. I got a bit of a Norse vibe with some of the references which made me dig the world even more. The epilogue also made me all warm and fuzzy and left me with a better feeling over all about the story and events that happened that left a bitter taste in my mouth. This is a beautifully constructed fantasy story and I am not in the norm clearly with the average rating for this book from others. I did this as a buddy read and out of the 4 of us, I was the only one that didn't connect with it as well - so take that into consideration. We can't win them all! :)
Okay I am convinced that there are truly not that many good Viking themed books out there. Or they CLAIM to be about Vikings and then all it is[image]
Okay I am convinced that there are truly not that many good Viking themed books out there. Or they CLAIM to be about Vikings and then all it is is the man kidnapping the woman saying he wanted her the minuted he saw her and then forces her to marry him and then somehow eventually the woman falls for him. Yeah that was this book...again.
I gave it three stars because unlike other Viking books I've tried to read, this author at least did some research with some of the customs and names involved with the Vikings, so kudos for that.
I ended up skimming the last 20% of the book because I was just losing complete interest and hoping the book would magically transform into something that it wasn't.
Ok so to get a few things out of the way...One: This was probably my least favorite of the series so far but was still very good and picked up MAJORLYOk so to get a few things out of the way...One: This was probably my least favorite of the series so far but was still very good and picked up MAJORLY in the second half.
Two: I DID spoil myself on purpose with a certain...thing that happens in this one, and I am glad I did...because quite frankly I can see why the fans reading these novels AS they came out would have rage quit the series. In spoiling myself, I know that everything will be a-okay! If you want to know what I speak of: (view spoiler)[ Ethan dies at the end of this book UGH! But...is resurrected at the end of the next one, carry on! (hide spoiler)]
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Okay so with that aside...this book is centering around this drug floating around called "V"...I too immediately thought of True Blood but it is NOT the same thing, I assure you. Where the drug is coming from and what is does is the big 'ol mystery through out!
There were A LOT of names in this one and I am even having a hard time recalling a lot of them aside from the characters that we are repeatedly introduced to thus far through the series.
For those that are reading these for the same reason I am...Merthan/Ethitt...however you want to combine their names, there's some goodies for you in this one! There's banter, there's sweetness, there's a bit of everything!
THIS BOOK!!! THIS BOOK RIGHT HERE! Oh my god is everything I love about a rom2nd Reading (audiobook): STILL SO GOOD!
Ok...ok give me a moment...
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THIS BOOK!!! THIS BOOK RIGHT HERE! Oh my god is everything I love about a romance book with the added awesomeness of flawlessly made up magical PEOPLE! Whew omigod...ok...why is this book so awesome?
1. Are you a sucker for enemies to lovers? 2. Are you a sucker for a sloooooow burn? 3. Do you like supernatural and/or fantasy themes? 4. Do you love a villain who can talk witty, ooze sexuality and make your panties melt with one singular look? 5. Do you love a kick ass heroine who is not afraid to admit when her nether regions are speaking to her?
THEN YOU'LL LOVE THIS AMAZING F***ing BOOK!
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So this is my first Ilona Andrews book and I am completely and BEYOND addicted to the point where it is KILLING me that I can't get to the second book like RIGHT NOW because of challenge commitments, NO MATTER...whew there's only three books right now so it'll make the feeling last longer right? That's what I keep telling myself.
So we have Connor "Mad" Rogan... [image] And yes I am 100% convinced that Stephen Amell is BY FAR the most perfect Rogan, do NOT try to sway me! *ahem* Mad Rogan is just so deliciously evil but NOT evil I can't even describe it. He's the perfect amount of badiness that makes you not hate him but become beyond intrigued with him. He has telekinetic abilities and has a bit of powers of that of an empath...he is considered a "Prime" which in this series all the beings with magic are categorized into how powerful of magic-doers they are and of course Rogan is THE highest you could possibly be! Even his looks could split you in half he's THAT good.
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Then we have Nevada Baylor... [image]
Who is basically a human lie detector and not even close to exploring the depth of her magic but her family runs an Investigation firm where she mostly spies on cheating spouses and finds people who are committing insurance fraud. She knows how to handle herself in a fight, use a gun, and calls BS when she sees it - I LOVED her!
How Rogan and Nevada meet is between mutual wants...through Adam Pierce, Nevada gets hired to bring in Pierce for reasons I won't spoil and Rogan as well needs Pierce for other reasons that I won't spoil...it is a delicious concoction created in perfect harmony to bring these two who are oil and water together to realize their undeniable FATES that MUST be intertwined!!!! But alas, Nevada in particular cannot stand Rogan and thinks he a scoundrel - but does this stop our sexy Rogan? Oh no...YOU JUST WAIT!!! omigod I can't even TELL you because it'd spoil it just know there is some steamy steamy stuff and they never even have SEX in this book! NO SEX people!
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Anywho...the book just reads so smoothly. I loved the inner monologue of Nevada the entire time, the descriptions of people and elements were spot on and not over done and the dialogue was just OUT OF THIS WORLD. Seriously I applaud this book and it made me smile, actually smile so many friggin' times my CHEEKS hurt. It doesn't hurt that Nevada describes Rogan's body so vividly...repeated times...
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I cannot recommend this book enough, it is just beyond anything I could even continue to write about without taking away from it. I finished this book in 2.5 days with which me...is seriously business. I don't get done with books that fast unless I MEAN BUSINESS. READ IT!!!!!...more
*sigh* I am usually not on the opposite side of the fence when a book has this high of ratings but this time...I am. 80% of this book wasok.... [image]
*sigh* I am usually not on the opposite side of the fence when a book has this high of ratings but this time...I am. 80% of this book was soooo bleeding boring. The entire premise of a Prince turned a Knights Templar who protects innocents from supernatural beings or supernaturals from each other was incredibly intriguing! Furthermore when a chick who comes into the story claims they are a Valkyrie, well color me even MORE intrigued!
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The beginning of the book...and I listened on audio by the way GREAT narrartor...the beginning DID reel me in as he introduces himself, who he is, what he does, but and I am STILL CONFUSED about this...I could have sworn that Sig...who the is the female protagonist, the "Valkyrie" was described at first as being a transvestite??? It seemed to skirt over this later but I could've sworn that's how it started and that she was VERY manly looking...errrrrrr k?
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I digress but that is one aspect that kind of ruined it for me...there is NOTHING wrong with transvestites but Valkyries were definitely chicks and they were told to be strong and probably tall like Amazons but always depicted as very much females...anyway...
There is SOO MUCH information in this book it made my head spin...the author literally took every normal lore we know of vampires, werewolves, fae, ALL of them and retold the lore and that's fine but let's do that with ONE lore instead of having to re-explain EVERYTHING. Blah.
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I am a HUGE Norse fan and was so excited by the addition of the Valkyrie element and was completely let down. She was made into some kind of witch or something too I guess? She had all these additional powers that just didn't make any sense where as she could have had plenty of powers that lent themselves to the lore without going down this weird path...I don't know just was NOT a fan. This is what I think of when I think Valkyries:
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The book lost me also with its depiction of vampires...I'm sorry but I am VERY PICKY...Anne Rice has ruined me, I've said it before and I'll say it again...I base all vampires off of Anne Rice's depiction because it has been my absolute favorite and how I prefer to see them depicted. There was a quote reference to From Dusk Till Dawn in this book and it made TOTAL sense why the vampires were seen the way were in this book after hearing that because yes, they reminded me exactly of how the vamps were in that movie, and the movie lost me at that point too...lol.
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There was also a bit of insta-love and a love triangle, two aspects I just cannot tolerate, I just can't. And even though I tolerated my way through entire love bout there isn't even a love scene in the end - putting that out there just so you know...no sexy time. That could be a good or bad thing for some people so there you have it!
The ending...I DID like and I am glad that I listened through the end - I thought it was a good twist and appreciated where it wrapped up. Charming's humor through the book was kind of a hit or miss but towards the end I actually found myself visibly smirking at some of his jokes.
All in all this seems like one of those books that you either LOVE or HATE...and in my terms I disliked it. I gave it two stars because I liked the audio version and there were a few very cool moments that I could appreciate.
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PS - I am using that above GIF every time now that I found a book "Meh" lol!...more
Okay, it doesn't happen often that a book that has an over 4 star rating, that I just didn't understand how it was rated that high and this is one of Okay, it doesn't happen often that a book that has an over 4 star rating, that I just didn't understand how it was rated that high and this is one of those times. Yes the book had a lot of funny moments but even some of the "comedy" that others were deeming hilarious, I just didn't find all that funny or the comedy felt a bit too forced for my liking. There are plenty of sexy times in this book but it happened way too quickly - too many times and so the point that came where the two characters officially got together, I wasn't even interested anymore.
The concept of a God of Wine was very intriguing but his constant barrage of alcohol induced necessities just got old after awhile. Oh and he apparently has this super powered man juice that I also just couldn't mentally accept in my brain - I don't know it was just all too outlandish for me to truly enjoy it! If it weren't for the low page count - I probably wouldn't have finished it to be quite honest! Oh well, can't win them all!...more
Another young adult novel that I actually LOVED, what is going on?! I had this on my TBR because I am of course always intrigued by stories that mimicAnother young adult novel that I actually LOVED, what is going on?! I had this on my TBR because I am of course always intrigued by stories that mimic fairy tales and when a challenge came up in a reading group to read a novel with a "foot" on the cover, I knew EXACTLY which book to read! It is hard to forget this cover given the obvious cyborg qualities to it. This book was pleasingly and delightfully amazing! I was not expecting certain elements in this story and they were a good surprise.
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Cinder is obviously the protagonist in this story and the "Cinderella" type character BUT she happens to be a cyborg, which since I've discovered this book has always been in intriguing twist to me. The whole story takes place in what they are calling New Beijing, but establishes that there are in fact other planets aside from Earth where life thrives. Cinder is a mechanic which gives her the classic "cinder" look because she stays dirty and greasy most of the time. She has the cutest android little robot friend named Iko, and I absolutely LOVED this little bot.
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She of course HAS to have a step family since she is the Cinder type and her stepmom and sisters are as equally evil and you will hate them JUST fine...as you should. The royalty in this story because it is Beijing, is an Emperor with a son, Prince Kai. He is a bit naive in certain areas of the book but makes up for it in sweetness.
The only part I disliked about the book is the way that it ENDED! Haha...only because it DOES end on a cliffhanger, but I am not going to fault it for that I am just dying to know what happens next!
Overall this book is a joy to read and Marissa Meyer has an eloquent writing style that was pleasant to the ears (I listened on audiobook). Definitely give this series a go if you are a fairy tale/sci-fi fan!...more
Okay, so this one wasn't as good as the first book however, as the first book - the tension between Merit and Ethan pulled me through and made me smilOkay, so this one wasn't as good as the first book however, as the first book - the tension between Merit and Ethan pulled me through and made me smile like an idiot. Merit is starting to settle into her job as Sentinel and Ethan devises a plan to make the vampires popularity more sound, now that they are out in the open and cohabiting with humans.
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Merit continues to question her rising attraction towards Ethan and drama ensues with her currently courting vampire, having been forced from Ethan, Morgan. I'll say Morgan doesn't really make it easy to like him most of the time, but then again I am a sucker for a quippy jerk turned sweetie pie which Ethan is clearly this type.
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Good continuation with the series and definitely leads up to book 3 which I can't wait to sink my teeth into, more Ethan please and thank you!!!...more
Listened to this book on audio and this was just a fun, quick read and perfect for the spooky month of October! I am not a huge zombie fan but this coListened to this book on audio and this was just a fun, quick read and perfect for the spooky month of October! I am not a huge zombie fan but this concept came up as a challenge in one of the groups that I am in and it was a bit out of my comfort zone so I decided to give it a try. I loved this because it was about a couple struggling with their marriage amidst the start of a zombie apocalypse which in turn actually helped save their marriage. They have to work together, talk things out, and apparently when you think EVERY day could be the end of the world, the sex is amazing!
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Every chapter has a title - a HILARIOUS title that came across that much funnier to me due to listening to this on audio. The entire book was a bit of a comedy as much as it was creepy due to the continued, creative ways in which to kill zombies. The couple turns zombie killing into a sport and takes life day by day without getting too serious about it and I love that. There is also constant references to didn't do this or didn't they try that in the movies or on TV - which makes sense because who really is ever prepared for the zombie apocalypse???
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So why not five stars? Well, as much as I realize that they are taking it day by day and not taking life too seriously - I guess I was a little disturbed at how frivolous they were about some of the people they had to kill because they were bitten. More so how quickly they got over the fact afterward I guess but it wasn't enough to completely kill the book for me, no pun intended, and if you want a quick, fun book for the Halloween season, I highly recommend it!
Carly - Resident Supergirl
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