Brooke Fast: To Cage a Wild Bird

In her debut novel, Brooke Fast show the lengths a woman will go to, to save her brother:

Raven Thorne is the city of Dividium's most notorious bounty hunter. She's known for finding the worst of the worst and turning them over to a prison known as Endlock. When a person enters Endlock it is a death sentence, as the rich can pay to hunt the prisoners there. Raven never thought much about Endlock since her parents were sent there when she was young, but when he brother ends up there, Raven is going to have to do something truly extreme to get him out.

I was excited after reading the premise of this book as I was craving a dystopian read. This book had me hooked from the beginning. I was reading while on the treadmill and did not realize how much time had passed, it kept me that entertained. I did not want to put this book down. Fast knew how to draw the reader right in and make the reader care about characters. This become especially true once Raven hears that her brother has been taken to Endlock.

I don't think you can find fault with Raven, other than she is too trusting and put others above herself time and time again. You know from the very beginning that Raven will do anything to protect her brother and this extends to those that she deems weaker.

The idea of  prison charging those of the upper class a chance to hunt the prisoners to death is not a new concept in books or movies, but I liked how Fast did it. It was interesting to learn why other prisoners were there and how anyone could really find themself in Endlock one way or another. The hunting grounds were unique and the thought process of how to make sure that there was always a profit to be made by not televising the events and changing up the hunting grounds was well thought out. As this is a hunt to the death for many prisoners, the book is darker at times, but nothing too dark.

First this is not an enemies to lovers book, if you see someone saying that they are lying to you. Overall the romance felt a forced at times. I enjoyed the initial interaction and then felt it really fell off after that and entered in to cringe or cheesy territory. It almost felt like Fast thought that she had to keep it going and keep it fast and furious for readers, where I personally would have preferred her to draw it out more. The romance aspect is not the main aspect in the book, so it did not really take away from my enjoyment of the book.

Well I did not see that ending coming and I am 100% here for it (it is a cliffhanger, this is not a stand alone book). I think Fast as created a fast paced read, that will have readers on the edge of their seat not wanting to put it down. I personally cannot wait to see where Fast takes the story.

Enjoy!!!!

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Ilona Andrews: Sweep in Peace

In the next book in Ilona Andrews' Innkeeper series, Dina may have more guests than she can handle, when they all want to kill each other:

Dina's Inn, needs guests to survive and thrive. She has not had a new guest in her Inn in six months, so she is desperate when an Arbitrator shows up on her door and requests use of her Inn for an intergalactic peace summit between three warring species. Dina knows that there are more dangers in accepting the peace summit than there are to saying No, but she also knows that she needs guests in order for the Inn to survive. Dina has her work cut out for her with not only trying to entertain her guests but also make sure that they do not kill each other, her or expose her inn to the Earth population. And if she can pull this all off her, Inn may receive a ratings upgrade, but there is always something more playing in the background and it may just have deadly consequences. 

After reading the first book in this series and loving it and mad that I slept on it for so long, I was really happy to be back in this world with Dina and her house.  I just love the creativity that Andrews has taken with this book, with different societies and cultures and how they clash with each other and when on Earth Dina has to do everything in her power to make sure that no one on Earth knows that they are there and they don't kill each other in the process.

The imagination that Andrews has with this book (and series so far) is fresh, even though these books were written years ago, with combining urban fantasy and sci-fi together and I am here for it. I don't think there are enough books in the combination of genres, especially now, with the height of everything being sold as a romantasy. I want more urban fantasy and I am glad that this series is there of me to enjoy.

Dina is quite the character and i love that her connection to the house is explored more in this book and the give and take that is required on both sides. There are times where Dina comes across as a bit flat, but not everyone needs to be peppy or bitchy, I personally think it makes her more real, that she does not fall into these categories. This is not to say that Dina does not have some badass moments, she is just not one to flaunt that she is the most powerful one in the room.

I enjoyed that Caldenia had a larger role in this book, and really came alive as a secondary character and really became someone that Dina could rely on.

Well I am totally hooked with this series and I look forward to seeing where Andrews take it as well as what new elements they will introduce next. Fans of Urban Fantasy should check out this series.

Enjoy!!!

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Oyinkan Braithwaite: My Sister, the Serial Killer

Oyinkan Braithwaite shows the length one sister would go to protect another:

Korede’s night is interrupted by a frantic phone call from her younger sister Ayoola that her boyfriend had tried to hurt her and Ayoola ended up killing him. But this is not the first time that Korede has had to clean up after Ayoola, in fact it is the third time. Korede has been told she needs to protect her sister and even though she should go to the police, family comes first. When Ayoola sets her sights on someone who Korede has been in love with forever but has been afraid to make a move. Korede has to decide who she willing to sacrifice the man she loves or her sister.

If you are looking for a quick read and interesting read then My Sister the Serial Killer is one to pick up. I found myself wanting to turn the pages faster to see what Ayoola was going to do next. Which once you read the book you see that as fitting as although Ayoola is not the main character, she has main character energy throughout the book.

I am one for short chapters, but there were times that I felt that chapters too short at times, and there was more information or more happening in that moment as when we get to the next chapter, it was a new point in time or new event. 

I cannot fault Korede for her love of her family and the protectiveness that she feels over her sister. Korede has accepted her lot in life, even though she wishes at many points that many things in her life were different. What if she had been born pretty, I wish that Korede would have chosen herself just once in the book, just once, but she has been told ever since her sister was born she had to protect her. Even at work she doesn't seem to choose herself.

I wanted the ending to be more, either way, more positive or negative but I just wanted Braithwaite to take it to more extreme.

I enjoy this book, and it is a quick read if you are looking to hit your reading goal this year.

Enjoy!!!!

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