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Here's where I post book reviews, feature literary tattoos, talk about upcoming books, discuss TV/movies based on books, and share info about giveaways and reading challenges.
* * Rating System * *
What Do I Read?
I mostly read books in the Paranormal/Urban Fantasy or YA genres, but I'll read just about any good book! You can find all of my reviews here.
Amanda likes to read mystery, romance, general fiction, and the occasional non-fiction book. You can find her reviews here
Do you have any suggestions?
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Jabril by D.B. Reynolds
- UF, paranormal, romance -
reviewed by Tara SG
bought book from Amazon.com
Book Order (Vampires in America)
- Raphael * * * 1/2
- Jabril * * * 3/4
- Rajmund
Links
Author’s Website : www.dbreynolds.wordpress.com
Amazon : paperback
Add To Your GoodReads TBR List
This book in 6 words:
scared by creepy vampire bad guy
Why did I read this? And am I glad I did?
I really enjoyed the first in this series, Raphael, and the ending definitely left me needing more. I actually enjoyed this a little more than the first book. This had some violent scenes, and a bad guy that made me cringe (which says a lot considering the amount of books I read in this genre). However, it was nicely balanced by romantic tension, hot scenes, and drama. The mystery is mostly about how they’re going to fix everything with a touch of whodunnit. I was much more pleased with the ending and I’ll definitely be looking for more by this author.
Brief Summary
Houston, Texas – Cowboy boots, baseball and journeys to the stars . . . right? Wrong. Because Houston is also home to Jabril Karim, one of the eight powerful Vampire Lords who control all of North America. And as Private Investigator Cynthia Leighton will soon discover, not all Vampire Lords are created equal. For Jabril is the face of evil in the new world, a vampire who values no life but his own, who enslaves those he desires, steals whatever he covets and destroys anyone who stands in his way. Running from L.A. and its seductive Vampire Lord, Raphael, Cyn sees the Houston job as a welcome refuge, a place to get away and heal her broken heart. But Texas will be no vacation. For in Jabril Karim, Cyn will confront a true enemy, one who will go to any lengths to satisfy his lusts, enrich his coffers and expand his power. Fighting for the lives of two young sisters, Cyn’s journey will take her through the streets of Houston and back to L.A., where the human police are determined to bring Raphael down for the murder of one of their own. But the danger doesn’t end there. For Jabril has set his sights on Cyn, and he will stop at nothing to have her.
- via GoodReads.com
Plot/Pacing/Writing Style
Contains slight spoilers for previous book!
Cyn takes a job in Texas that turns out to be far more than she was looking for. Heartbroken and needing a change of scenery, she goes to Texas and finds much more than she’s looking for. Jabril is evil. Look up sadistic vampire and his picture comes up. He probably was a monster before turning. The mix of his storyline and two girls he has terrorized blends perfectly with the chaos happening back in LA.
We get to see some more of Raphael and the tension between him and Cyn was perfect. The pacing is much like the first book, you will have a hard time putting this down. I read it all in one sitting… staying up until 5am to finish it.
Characters
We get to learn more about Cyn and I like her even more. She made me laugh out loud and her reactions fit perfectly to her past and personality. I know she’s not the main character in the next book, but I hope to see more of her in the future.
Raphael is in the book, but isn’t a main feature until later. We learn more about his personality and his past. Alexandra is also a larger focus. As is the two new characters, sisters “owned” by the evil Jabril.
Jabril made me sick. He was sadistic and gruesome and evil. I loved how well the author made me hate him.
Recommendations
If you liked the first book then I don’t believe I need to tell you to read this. I think it’s a shame that this series isn’t more well-known. If you like dark UF, please give this series a try! You do need to read the first book before this one.
I’m heading to New Orleans for the first time at the end of this month!! I’m so so so so excited!! However, I’m afraid I’m going to miss out on a lot of amazing stuff since I’m unfamiliar with the city. I know some of you amazing bloggers are from the area or visit there often and I was hoping you could suggest places I need to see 
Why am I going to NOLA? For the The Grand Masquerade! No, I’m not into LARPing personally, but a friend of mine is and a group of us signed up for the conference to see what it’s all about and for a chance/excuse to check out the city.
What should I see while I’m there?
Raphael by D.B. Reynolds
- UF, paranormal, romance -
reviewed by Tara SG
bought book via Amazon.com
Book Order (Vampires in America)
- Raphael * * * 1/2
- Jabril
- Rajmund
Links
Author’s Website : www.dbreynolds.wordpress.com
Amazon : paperback
Add To Your GoodReads TBR List
This book in 6 words:
exactly the adult break I needed
Why did I read this? And am I glad I did?
I came across this via Parajunkee and as soon as I read this line in her review, I knew I had to read it! “I need to simultaneously smoke a cigarette and punch something after finishing this novel.” That is exactly what I look for in my UF/PNR books… and boy was she right. I have been reading a lot of YA lately and almost all for review tours. I really, really needed something more “adult” to cleanse my palate and this did the trick. I started this late at night thinking I’d read a few chapters. I was up finishing it when my husband’s alarm went off in the morning (3:30 am… yeah wouldn’t you love that waking you up every morning).
This wasn’t overly original in the basic plot, but I found the characters and mystery to be intriguing. You may need a cold shower after a few of these heated scenes and the action will keep your blood pumping. I will warn that it ends with a slight cliffhanger and you may want the second book on hand… luckily I was prepared for this
Brief Summary
Malibu, California-home to rock-and-roll gods and movie stars, the beautiful, the rich . . . and vampires. Powerful and charismatic, Raphael is a Vampire Lord, one of the few who hold the power of life and death over every vampire in existence. Thousands call him Master and have pledged absolute loyalty on their very lives. But when, in a brazen and deadly daylight attack, a gang of human killers kidnaps the one female vampire he’d give his life for, Raphael turns to a human investigator to find his enemies before it’s too late. Cynthia Leighton is smart, tough and sexy, a private investigator and former cop who’s tired of spying on cheating spouses and digging out old bank accounts. When Raphael asks for her help in tracking down the kidnappers, Cyn’s happy to accept. But she soon realizes her greatest danger comes not from the humans, but from Raphael himself. Battling Russian mobsters and treacherous vampires, and betrayed by those they trusted, Cyn and Raphael find themselves fighting for their lives while caught up in a passion of blood and violence that is destined to destroy them both.
- via GoodReads.com
Plot/Pacing/Writing Style
Like I said above, this isn’t the most original plot. Powerful, sexy vampire hires tough human PI and drama/sexual tension commences. However, the mystery was well-done and it wasn’t as much about OMG-who-did-it?! as it was intense fighting to get to the bad guys.
The pacing was very well-done. I could not put this down. I also loved the writing style. She definitely has a way with words and I’ll not only be finishing this series, but looking for other stuff by her.
Characters
For being fairly cookie-cutter characters as far as face-value, I was impressed with the characters. Cyn is a tough, kickass, smart PI who happens to come from money. What I loved about this is that she spends it! She has a nice car, designer clothes, and isn’t ashamed of inheriting a trust-fund. This doesn’t mean she doesn’t want to work for a living and she has a very strong work-ethic. We learn a little about her via her non-relationship with a distant father and her forced isolation of being raised by nannies and board schools. She was open about being vulnerable as a human, but wasn’t going to let that keep her on the sidelines…. it just means more gear
Raphael is yummy. He is powerful, rich, and arrogant… everything we want in an alpha vamp. But these are also his weaknesses. He has to come to terms with the fact that he’s been letting other people fight his battles and needs to earn the respect he believes he deserves. I loved learning about his past and hope to see more of this in future books.
Recommendations
If your a fan of UF then you should definitely try these… so if you like smexy scenes mixed in with some violent fights *For adults!*
Incarceron by Catherine Fisher
- dystopian, fantasy, YA -
reviewed by Tara SG
borrowed from library
Book Order (Incarceron)
- Incarceron * * * * 1/2
- Sapphique (12.28.10)
Links
Author’s Website : www.catherine-fisher.com
Amazon : hardcover / paperback
Add To Your GoodReads TBR List
This book in 6 words:
didn’t want to escape enthralling world
Why did I read this? And am I glad I did?
I wasn’t sure I wanted to read this. I didn’t even really read any reviews for it. A book about a prison? Why would I want to read that?! I loved this book! I can’t believe I almost passed this up. The world building was fantastic. The characters were very well-developed. The writing style and pacing kept you on the edge of your seat through-out the entire book. While there were a few things I figured out a little early, overall I was very impressed with the twists and turns. I’ll definitely be finishing this series.
Brief Summary
Incarceron — a futuristic prison, sealed from view, where the descendants of the original prisoners live in a dark world torn by rivalry and savagery. It is a terrifying mix of high technology — a living building which pervades the novel as an ever-watchful, ever-vengeful character, and a typical medieval torture chamber — chains, great halls, dungeons. A young prisoner, Finn, has haunting visions of an earlier life, and cannot believe he was born here and has always been here. In the outer world, Claudia, daughter of the Warden of Incarceron, is trapped in her own form of prison — a futuristic world constructed beautifully to look like a past era, an imminent marriage she dreads. She knows nothing of Incarceron, except that it exists. But there comes a moment when Finn, inside Incarceron, and Claudia, outside, simultaneously find a device — a crystal key, through which they can talk to each other. And so the plan for Finn’s escape is born …
- via GoodReads.com
Plot/Pacing/Writing Style
I really can’t say enough about how amazing this plot was. The story takes place from two main POVs (with a few others from time to time). Finn and Claudia’s worlds are very different in most ways, but they are both wishing to be free. I loved the juxtaposition of their prisons and their common goal to do what they have to free each other.
The only issue I had with the writing style was that I had a hard time picturing Incarceron. I’m not sure why it was so hard for me to picture where they were. I had no problem with Claudia’s world. Overall, I still loved the story and the pacing was perfect. You end every chapter needing to continue to the next one.
Characters
Finn is fantastic. We see a young man who wants to be good. Who doesn’t believe he belongs in the prison or that he was even born there. He cares about those around him and has done things he’s not proud of to survive. He is strong-willed and desperate. You can’t help but care about him and hope that he finds a way out.
Claudia is smart, clever, and a little cold. She has been raised with a specific purpose. She is to marry the prince and become queen to fulfill her father’s dreams. She hates the rules and era that everyone is stuck in. She plays the games of court, but hates them as well. She risks a lot to save a man who she thinks could save them all, but she also does what she can to protect the ones she loves along the way.
The side characters are also fantastic. The warden, the queen, the fellow prisoners, the tutors… they are all very well-developed and complex. I cannot wait to see more of them!
Favorite Quotes
“… or is it that man contains within himself the seeds of evil? That even if he is placed in a paradise perfectly formed for him he will poison it, slowly, with his own jealousies and desires? I fear it may be that we blame the Prison for our own corruption…”
- Lord Calliston, the first prisoner
“None of us have much idea where we are. Perhaps all our lives we are too concerned with where, and not enough with who.”
- Sapphique
Recommendations
Whether or not you read a lot of YA, I highly recommend this book. If you like dystopian worlds, mystery and a thrilling ride, then this is the book for you. It even had a touch of sci-fi/advanced technology that I loved.
Going Deeper – NO spoilers
Incarceron is believed to be a paradise to those in the Outside world. That is what it was created for. Over the centuries that it was closed off it turned dark. It was discussed by the philosophers who started the project and the prison itself that men are inherently evil. The idea that you cannot create a world without violence and crime because men will always follow that path. It’s an idea that I find very interesting and thought it was blended with the story beautifully. It wasn’t overwhelming, but older audiences in particular will hopefully enjoy talking about this philosophy.
I like to post reviews right after I read the book. This sometimes leads to book reviews being posted before the release date. My fix – Book Birthday posts. When a book I’ve reviewed is released, I’ll post a link to my review and where you can find the book.
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Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare
Links
My Review : Clockwork Angel – Cassandra Clare 07.02.10 * * * * 3/4
Author’s Website : www.cassandraclare.com
Amazon : hardcover / eBook
Add To Your GoodReads TBR List
This book in 6 words:
I didn’t want it to end
Brief Summary
Magic is dangerous—but love is more dangerous still.
When sixteen-year-old Tessa Gray crosses the ocean to find her brother, her destination is England, the time is the reign of Queen Victoria, and something terrifying is waiting for her in London’s Downworld, where vampires, warlocks and other supernatural folk stalk the gaslit streets. Only the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the world of demons, keep order amidst the chaos.
Kidnapped by the mysterious Dark Sisters, members of a secret organization called The Pandemonium Club, Tessa soon learns that she herself is a Downworlder with a rare ability: the power to transform, at will, into another person. What’s more, the Magister, the shadowy figure who runs the Club, will stop at nothing to claim Tessa’s power for his own.
Friendless and hunted, Tessa takes refuge with the Shadowhunters of the London Institute, who swear to find her brother if she will use her power to help them. She soon finds herself fascinated by—and torn between—two best friends: Jem, whose fragile beauty hides a deadly secret, and blue-eyed Will, whose caustic wit and volatile moods keep everyone in his life at arm’s length…everyone, that is, but Tessa. As their search draws them deep into the heart of an arcane plot that threatens to destroy the Shadowhunters, Tessa realizes that she may need to choose between saving her brother and helping her new friends save the world…and that love may be the most dangerous magic of all.
- via GoodReads.com
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