Book Review: Tiger's Destiny

Happy Monday! Today I'll be reviewing, Tiger's Destiny, the fourth book in The Tiger Saga by Colleen Houck. 

Title: Tiger's Destiny

Author: Colleen Houck

Series: The Tiger Saga #4

Publisher: Splinter Publishing

Original Publication Date: September 4, 2012

Format Read: ebook

Genre: YA Paranormal

Purchase: Amazon

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Description from the publisher:
With three of the goddess Durga's quests behind them, only one prophecy now stands in the way of Kelsey, Ren, and Kishan breaking the tiger's curse. But the trio's greatest challenge awaits them: A life-endangering pursuit in search of Durga's final gift, the Rope of Fire, on the Andaman Islands in the Bay of Bengal. 

It's a race against time--and the evil sorcerer Lokesh--in this eagerly anticipated fourth volume in the bestselling Tiger's Curse series, which pits good against evil, tests the bonds of love and loyalty, and finally reveals the tigers' true destinies once and for all.

It only took me a couple of days to completely devour Tiger's Destiny. I enjoyed every minute of it. This book is one great adventure. Of course with the climatic conclusion (almost conclusion as there is a 5th book coming out) of any quartet there are great losses and sacrifices that come along with the prize. You will probably laugh, cry, smile, and be amazed at various times while reading this book. 

While Tiger's Voyage with the dragons is my favorite book in the series, this one comes in a very close second. You start off right where that last book left off, with Kelsey being taken by Lokesh. But don't fear, she is quickly rescued (obviously), so we can get on with the adventure of completing the fourth prophecy so Kelsey's Tiger's can become men 24 hours a day. 

This time the adventure takes them into a world of fire and heat to collect Durga's final gift, the Rope of Fire. And it is a strange world indeed filled with strange beings. They team must work quickly though, they must collect all of Durga's gifts and prepare to defeat Lokesh once and for all. 

Tiger's Destiny is pretty fast-paced. Almost too fast-paced in some parts. It seems like the characters just get to one part and then BAM! they are already done and onto something else. For instance, in the other books, like Tiger's Voyage, their journey to gather gather the item(s) needed to break the next part of the curse, takes up a good portion of the book. In this last book their journey into the fire world seemed relatively short in comparison. Although, I'm sure what else they could have done there. 

I would say the biggest portion (or at least it seemed that way when I was reading), was of our troops preparing for battle against Lokesh. Will they be able to defeat him? Will everyone survive? Will Kelsey still choose to be with Kishan?

If you enjoyed the rest of The Tiger Saga, you will enjoy this book. I am curious as to what the fifth book will be about, as pretty much everything gets wrapped up at the end of this book. 

My Rating: 

Book Review: Clockwork Angel

Happy Friday! Today I'll be reviewing Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare. It is the first book in The Infernal Devices series.

Title: Clockwork Angel

Author: Cassandra Clare

Series: The Infernal Devices #1

Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books

Original Publication Date: August 31, 2012

Format Read: paperback

Genre: YA Paranormal, YA Steampunk

Purchase: Amazon

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Description from publisher:
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: James, 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.

The Infernal Devices is a prequel series to The Mortal Instrument Series, but you do NOT need to read The Mortal Instruments before delving into this series. It works just fine as a stand alone series. Part of the reason  for this is Tessa. As an outsider who is naive to the Shadowhunter world, Cassandra Clare does an excellent job of using Tessa to introduce any new reader to what they need to know about the Shadowhunter world. As someone who has read the first three The Mortal Instruments, I did not find this information to be bothersome. 

There are three main characters that you follow: Tessa, Jem, and Will. Tessa is unwillingly draw into the world of Shadowhunters and Downworlders, when she is forced to discover her ability to transform/shape-shift into any person that she holds a person item from. Jem, a slightly reclusive Shadowhunter who has a love for books and music, but also happens to be sick. And Will, a Shadowhunter, who hides his true feelings and acts like a jerk to keep anyone from getting close to him.

I liked all of the good main characters and side characters. Although, I have to say my least favorite good character is Jessamine. Then you have a wide variety of bad guys, the main one being the mysterious Magister. 

The above description of the book is an excellent one. We follow Tessa, Jem, and Will as Tessa is kidnapped, tortured, rescued, goes on a search to find her brother, and helps the Shadowhunters try to locate and defeat the Magister. The book is full of lots of twists and turns and a ton of action. You might guess some of the mysteries and not others. I had one figured out and missed the mark on another. Also, you WILL find out what Jem's sickness/disability is in this book (early in the book it was driving me crazy not knowing, but you will find out).

I liked this book enough to continue with the series at somepoint. I also would recommend it to friends and family, if this type of book was their thing. 

My Rating: 

Book Review: Sapphire Blue

I just fell in love with Ruby Red when I read it, so I knew I needed to read Sapphire Blue to see where the story was headed. I did and here is what I thought.

Title: Sapphire Blue

Author: Kerstin Gier, Anthea Bell (translator)

Series: The Ruby Red Trilogy #2

Publisher: Henry Holt and Company

Original Publication Date: December 1, 2009 (by Henry Holt and Company October 30, 2012)

Format Read: hardcover

Genre: YA Science Fiction, YA Fantasy

Purchase: Amazon

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Description from Goodreads:
Gwen’s life has been a rollercoaster since she discovered she was the Ruby, the final member of the secret time-traveling Circle of Twelve. In between searching through history for the other time-travelers and asking for a bit of their blood (gross!), she’s been trying to figure out what all the mysteries and prophecies surrounding the Circle really mean.

At least Gwen has plenty of help. Her best friend Lesley follows every lead diligently on the Internet. James the ghost teaches Gwen how to fit in at an eighteenth century party. And Xemerius, the gargoyle demon who has been following Gwen since he caught her kissing Gideon in a church, offers advice on everything. Oh, yes. And of course there is Gideon, the Diamond. One minute he’s very warm indeed; the next he’s freezing cold. Gwen’s not sure what’s going on there, but she’s pretty much destined to find out.

Well, after reading the first book I already decided that I need to learn German, so I can actually read the last book in this series (just kidding, that would take me longer than the wait for the third book). After reading the second book, I still feel that way. I can't believe I have to wait until October 8th for the English translation of the third book, Emerald Green. It took me less than 24 hours (counting sleep, housework, etc...) to get through this book. It is a fairly fast-paced, quick read (or maybe that was just me wanting to know what was going to happen next). Sapphire Blue also contains the same little useful tidbits of information between chapters. I enjoyed them in the first book and continued to enjoy them here.

This book seems to fit very nicely in the middle of the trilogy (I haven't read the third, so I can't tell you will 100% certainty). You really need to read the first book before diving into this one, as it continues to build on the mystery from the first book. In this book we still have not gotten to the part where Gwen sees herself (in the first book). Plus more mysteries have been added in and Gwen is sent on more official missions back in the past. I just love the world Kerstin Gier has created. I also really like Xemerius that has been added into the story, I can see him continuing to be useful in the third book. You also find out a little bit more about Lucy and Paul and what they are up to. Not everything is answered though. 

I once again completely enjoyed my time escaping into Kerstin Gier's world. I can't wait to find out where this little gem of a series is heading and look forward to getting my hands on the final book later this year. If you liked the first book in the series you will like this one too!

My Rating: 

Book Review: Guardians of Stone

I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend. Today I'll be reviewing Guardians of Stone by Anita Clenney. 

Title: Guardians of Stone

Author: Anita Clenney

Series: The Relic Seekers #1

Publisher:  Montlake Romance

Original Publication Date: December 4, 2012

Format Read: kindle

Genre: Paranormal, Romance, Thriller, Adventure

Purchase: Amazon

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Description from Amazon:
In the tradition of Indiana Jones, a feisty heroine with a sixth sense, and two sexy heroes, a dark, reclusive billionaire and a mercenary bodyguard are on a hunt for four powerful relics that could change their lives…and the course of history. But relics aren't Kendall’s only quest. Eventually, she’ll have to choose between her sexy boss and her badass bodyguard.

Kendall Morgan is a human bloodhound. Spending her childhood hunting relics with her ambitious archaeologist father, she knew the two of them shared a sixth sense for the history and location of objects—sometimes even people. What she didn't know was that their paranormal gift could ultimately be their undoing.

After the tragic plane crash that killed her father as well as her childhood best friend, Kendall dedicated her life to finding and protecting relics. When mysterious, sexy billionaire Nathan Larraby hires her for his latest expedition—the search for four powerful relics—she’s thrown into a world of high-octane danger. He sends brooding mercenary Jake Stone to watch Kendall’s back, but he may have created danger of a different kind.

As the team chases down clues, a man called the Reaper makes a play for the artifacts and will stop at nothing to put them to his own sinister use. What’s worse is that Nathan hasn't told the whole story, and the dark secrets he’s keeping could cost them the mission…and their lives.

Our heroine is touted as being a paranormal female Indiana Jones.  I can see where they get that idea. She is a relic hunter, she has a special paranormal gift, and she is female. But is the story groundbreaking? Not in my opinion. The story still is a pretty fast-paced, interesting read. It took me less than 24 hours, counting sleeping and breaks to do other things, to read the entire book and I did enjoy it. 

The above description, pretty much explains the storyline of the book, so I won't go into that. I will just say that I liked the storyline and thought it read pretty good. I could see this story easily being made into a movie. I also liked all of the good guys and could see where there is room for further development for them in future books. I also enjoyed the tension between Jake and Kendall. It's definitely one of those boy hates girl (even though he thinks she's hot), then boy decides he love (or at least lusts after girl). Jake doesn't like the fact that he's assigned to guard Kendall at all and it doesn't help that Kendall keeps sneaking away from him (she is use to hunting treasures on her own) or getting into trouble anyways. Then of course there is Nathan who is not telling his treasure hunting team the whole story. It all leads to confusion and who can you trust? Who are the real bad guys?

I also think having Nathan a super rich backer (with an endless supply of money and toys) certainly helped the author with her story. Because she wrote him that way, it made it real easy to give her heroes all the cars, money for hotels, as well as any gear they could possibly need. Oh, and the ability to easily track them down and find out where they are at, at any given moment. For the most part, I didn't have problem with it, I just think was almost a crutch that prevented the author for coming up with more creative and interesting ways to progress the story. 

Overall, I liked the story, but it didn't really impress me. I would recommend it to friends as a nice, quick, easy adventure read. I do plan on checking out at least one more book in the series too, when it finally comes out. 

My Rating: 

Book Review: World of Shell and Bone

Happy Friday! Today I'll be reviewing a book with a very pretty cover.

Title: World of Shell and Bone

Author: Adriana Ryan
Series: World of Shell and Bone #1

Publisher: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.

Original Publication Date: December 12, 2012

Format Read: kindle

Genre: YA Dystopia, YA Post-Apocalyptic 

Purchase: Amazon

Find on Goodreads

Description from Goodreads:
In a world ravaged by a nuclear holocaust, Vika Cannon knows there are no guarantees: no guarantees of safety, no guarantees that your neighbor is not actually a spy for the government, and no guarantees you'll be allowed to emigrate to a new life in China.

New Amana is dying. Food and water are scarce, and people suffering from radiation-caused mutations--the Nukeheads--are the new class of homeless.

Vika has just one purpose: to produce healthy progeny using a Husband assigned by the Match Clinic. Unhealthy children are carted away to Asylums to be experimented on, just as Vika's little sister Ceres was, eight years ago. Parents incapable of producing healthy progeny are put to death in gas chambers.

When she's assigned a Husband shortly after her twentieth birthday, Vika expects him to be complacent and obedient. But Shale Underwood has a secret. He is a member of the Radicals, the terrorist group intent on overthrowing the government. And Shale has information about Ceres.

As she learns more about the Rads's plan, Vika finds herself drawn to Shale in ways she'd never imagined. When freedom calls in the way of a healthy pregnancy, will she betray her government and risk death for Shale and Ceres?

The description sounds intriguing, doesn't it? That combined with that pretty cover enticed me to read this book (still not sure how the cover relates to the book). 

I really liked the first half of the book. I did find some parts a little far fetched. Basically there was a really big war, a nuclear war. Lots of men went off to fight and most of them died. New Amana is made by "feminist" women rising up to take the lead. I say feminist lightly because what is a feminist?

A feminist is an advocate for social, political, legal, and economic rights for women equal to those of men.

And that is clearly NOT what is happening in this book. In this book men are inferior to women, partially because it was men and testosterone ways that brought about the war. The women in this book are not any kinder though. 

Also in this book China has become the new super power. Clearly they somehow managed to stay out of the war and all of the nuclear pollution managed to stay away from the air over China. So, China has the cleanest air in the world. This is partially explained by saying they have new technology to help clean up the air and keep it clean.

This technology is suppose to be in use slowly cleaning up the air over New Amana which will take years. In the meantime, people are left to breathe horribly polluted air. And the population is dwindling. I should say healthy population. Because in this new world they institutionalize or murder (via gas chambers) anyone who is not genetically healthy or cannot produce a child within a given time frame. 

If you are a good little citizen and manage to produce children or meet specific fitness guidelines, you have a chance of getting a boat ticket to immigrate to China to live while New Amana is cleaned up. Those left behind will continue having dwindling safe food and water and will most likely die. Oh, and if you turn in fellow citizens that break the law, you get extra special brownie points with the government. These "law breakers" tend to be immediately sentenced to death with no chance to defend themselves.

Not necessarily all believable, but interesting nonetheless. We follow Vika, one of the sheep of New Amana who blindly follows what the government expects of her. As a character she starts out pretty flat but develops okay over the course of the story. She is given a Husband, who is suppose to keep house (think 1950's role reversal), help Vika conceive a child (via boring and clinical sex), and if Vika chooses, stay home and help raise the child. Vika is assigned Shale. Now Shale is an interesting character. I really liked him. Shale is really part of the rebel underground who was given the task (he volunteered) to be Vika's Husband and try to get information from Vika's work that will help the rebels. Vika works for a government agency who sorts coded data related to the movement of people to and from the asylums and gas chambers.

Vika slowly comes to realize that the government is bad and decides she wants to help the rebels free children from the asylums, including her little sister. All while this is happening her relationship with Shale develops. And they are off on their mission. So far so good.  I was really liking it at this point and was even discussing it with my family and friends. And then the story goes down hill (for me anyways).

SPOILER ALERT

Which also happens to be around the time that Shale disappears from the story. When you have such an interesting character, why oh why did the author feel the need to drop him from the story. I kept waiting for him to reappear, but he never does. I REALLY hope if the author gets around to writing the sequel that she puts SHALE back in. 

Anyways, at this point in the book, things just go down hill. Vika is treated horribly by a man that felt she was to blame for him being kicked out of the rebels. I didn't really feel what happened to her was necessary for the story. Then we have wandering and wandering and finally finding a camp of asylum refugees and her sister (SORRY). And then there is waiting, and waiting and more waiting for the sympathetic government officials to show up to transport the children via a special boat to China.

END SPOILER ALERT

Overall I feel the author started out with a 4-5 star book. Definitely would have been 5 if she had thrown in chapters from Shale's POV. I would LOVE to have his POV of the whole situation. Then about halfway through you drop the most interesting character from the book. The second half was a 1.5-2.5 star book. This leaves me with having to give this book a 3 star rating. It definitely has potential, but I think it needs to be reworked. Maybe pick up a professional editor or rework the story a little. 

My Rating: