Alison Gaylin: The Collective

In the Collective, Alison Gaylin shows the lengths that grieving parents will go to, to make sure those who hurt their loved ones suffer:

Camille, is angry, grieving, mother, who for the past 5 years has had to watch the person who raped and murdered her daughter go free, have a clean record and have the world act like he was never involved in the crime, all because he had the money to get away with it. Camille has had enough, she is determined to show the world what type of "man" he truly is. Camille's actions bring her to the attention of a secret group on the dark web, one that makes sure those who got away from crimes are punished. Camille feels a sisterhood, a kinship to all those in the collective and if she can help even in small ways to bring justice to other mother's out there, she will do it. But the longer Camille is part of the Collective the more she learns not just about herself but the Collective as well and it will have her questioning everything.

This is the first book that I have read by Gaylin and it will not be the last. I do not know if I am the first one to say this but this book is what I wanted Kill for Me Kill for You by Steve Cavanagh to be (yes that very hyped book from last year), yep I said it. I found that this book had more depth, more emotion and even though it is more of a slow burn thriller at times i just felt connected to Camille that I was reading as fast as I could. Gaylin does such a great job in pulling the reader in. This made me invested in Camille right from the beginning, I wanted to know how far she would go, what limits the Collective would push her to and then thinking what would be my limit? Would I go this far? 

Personally, I cannot blame Camille for what she wants to happen to her daughter’s rapist and murderer. I think any parent would have many of the same feelings that she expresses throughout the book. Gaylin makes Camille feel like a real person and her honesty of what she wants is not sugar coated at all and it is dark at times. I like how Gaylin showed the decline in Camille's mental state throughout the beginning of the book and how helping the Collective seems to help her in some way. Although as you read further into the books there is a secondary plot that unfolds, this book is very much driven by Camille and her story.

That Ending.....now that is an ending. Way to go Gaylin. 

I really enjoyed this book, I like that Gaylin was able to make me feel so connected to Camille and at times takes the story in a way that I did not fully expect. I look forward to reading another book by Gaylin.

Enjoy!!!

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Sabaa Tahir: A Torch Against the night

In the second book in her Ember in the Ashes Series, Sabaa Tahir, the Main Characters are running for their lives as Dark forces continue to stalk them:

Elias and Laia are running for their lives and they are running from someone who know Elias better than anyone, so they have to be more cunning, more secretive, more fierce in order to escape, in order to prevent the continued genocide of the Scholars. But unhuman dark forces chase after them, death stalks them and there are those who would do anything to break them apart.

I don't think it needs to be said but I will say it anyways, you will need to read the first book An Ember in the Ashes before reading this book as this book starts up right after the first book left off. The first book also sets up the characters, relationship and how we got to this place in the story.

I'm obsessed with this series so far. I love that this book picked up right where the first ended as it not only ended on a cliff hanger but so much chaos as well. I did not want to put this book down and would have read it in one day if I could have. The stakes were even higher in the book due to the event of the first books and you feel these stakes in all of the POV. This book will give you a spectrum of feelings from Triumph to heartbreak several times within the book, but it never slows down (Tahir knows what she is doing with pacing).

I loved that there are still three POV in this book and that Helene is now getting more chapters. Her POV is much different from the other two as she is not where she want to be and not whom she wants to be with but she does her duty any way. The obstacles that are placed in her way along her journey in this book are devastating and heartbreaking at times. Unlike the first book I feel like we really get to know Helene as a character. 

I don't think I can say enough how much I have enjoyed this book and this series so far. I am invested in all the characters and was to see where Tahir takes each other their stories as we well as the world they live in. Cannot wait to read the next book in this series and I cannot recommend enough starting this series. You will not be disappointed.

Enjoy!!!!

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Hannah Kaner: Sunbringer

In the follow-up to the First Book God Killer, Hannah Kaner shows while one fight was won, the War is still to come:

Kissen had finally succeeded in killing the God that has haunted her since her childhood. Kissen is a GodKiller and her destiny had lead to that moment, when she dragged her to the sea. Inara, Skedi and Elogast all believe that Kissen has died and must return to Kissens home to tell her family. Along the way they soon realize that all is not what they seem, their Victory was not as complete as it should have been and a New God is rising, SunBringer and may they just set the world to War.

I love that Kaner started this book right after the first one left off. We don't have to wonder what has happened in a time gap. Our heroes are scattered in this book but you knew that Kaner was going to have to bring them back together eventually, you just don't know how and what shape they are going to be in. I think because that the hero's are scattered away that the book reads a bit slower than the first book. That Kaner now has to take time to explain each of their motivations than them being set on one central goal. 

I really enjoyed Kissan’s POV again even though if felt that she had the least amount of page time of our heroes. I love that Kissan tries to stay true to herself and her belief about Gods, but at the same time she understands that there are things bigger than her.

Inara has quite a bit of growth in this book and really comes into herself but in a child appropriate way. She does not fully understanding everything that is happening around her and the choices and actions one takes can have dire consequences no only for her but those around her as well.

I still love Skedi but i did feel like he took a backseat to Inara in this book.

I can’t wait to read the third book, to see where Kaner takes the story and the character, especially after the events in this book and how much many of the characters have changed and how much the world has changed around them as well.

Enjoy!!!!

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Ilona Andrews: Clean Sweep

In the first of a new series, Ilona Andrews brings a who new meaning to Inn Keeper:

On the outside, Dina runs a quant Inn and bed in Breakfast in a Victorian Style House. The Inn has been struggling for a bit but all of Dina's neighbours know she is determine to make it work. But normal is far from what Dina's life is. Dine is an Inn Keeper. She is responsible for the safety of those who seek sanctuary in her Inn and taking care of those who cannot respect the rules of the Inn. Her Broom is a deadly weapon, her one permanent guest eats people, the Inn and grounds are magical and lets just say her dog has some extra abilities. Dina has been living a pretty quiet life, until something starts to hunt in the night. Fearing for her neighbours and keeping the truth about the Inn a secret Dina gets involved but it's not too long before what's happening in her small town has galaxy wide implications.

I have been a fan of Ilona Andrews for a long long time, and while I have no enjoyed all their series they are still an author that i go back to time and time again. I don't know why i put off this series for so long, but I've jumped in and wow, this was so much fun. This book is very much a sci-fi urban fantasy mix and it was one that I didn't know I needed. Does Andrews blend the two genres seamlessly, no, but there was just enough confusion in the world building to make me want to know more about the world that they have created.

Do i understand the world here, Not 100%, so I am hoping that Andrews will expand on the aspects of this world/worlds in future books. Even the idea of an Inn and Inn Keeper is not completely defined in the book. Though Dina does refer to rules that she needs to follow as an inn keeper and those that enter her grounds are required to follow them as well. Dina also makes reference to Inn all over the world/galaxy/other worlds? and has even explored some of them looking for her parents (great extra subplot in the story of her missing parents), so I'm not sure how BIG this world is or how much we as readers will get to visit it.

Dina is a fun character, I love her sass to everyone around her, and her fierce protectiveness not just over the Inn but of the people that live in her community. Even when her decisions go against the Inn Keeper code, Dina does the greater good to protect those around her whether she knows them or not. I loved that everyone continually kept underestimating her and her abilities and how she proves them wrong is amazing.

Dina's power and broom are just fantastic. I love that Andrews decided to have a magical Broom as a nod to all the witches out there, but I don't think any witches Broom can do what Dina's does. The magic that Dina herself has, the Broom and the Inn house/grounds was a highlight in this book for me.

Do I see a love triangle coming on? Maybe. This book was written at a time when love triangles were all the rage in books (now it seems to be why have a love triangle when you can have a Why Choose). Love Triangles have never been my favourite Trope, so we'll see if this one goes that way or not.

I really enjoyed this book, it was quirky in a way that I have not read in awhile and I think this is due to Andrews' writing style as well as the mixing of Urban Fantasy/Sci-Fi genres. I look forward to continuing on in the series.

Enjoy!!!

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Stephanie Archer: Gloves Off

Stephanie Archer is back with her Vancouver Storm series, and two people who can't stand each other each other, actually need each other:

Alexei is in trouble, he is having issue with his immigration paperwork which means there is trouble with his parents immigration and they cannot go back to Russia. Georgia needs access to a inheritance in order to help fund a sports medicine research program that she is passionate about, but one problem is that she cannot get access to the money until she marries. Two people with a problem that marriage could fix, the only problem is they cannot stand each other. But people are not always who they seem and maybe they can make something real of this fake marriage.

While it is not 100% needed to read the previous 3 books in this series before this one, there is some interactions in those books between Alexei and Georgia that help lead up to this book. Plus I did enjoy the previous 3 so I do recommend reading them. 

I really enjoyed this book and did not want to put it down, as I was interesting to see how their relationship develops along the way and how they will break through to each other. There are some great moments in the book between the two of them.

Okay, I have a few favourite aspects in this book, first was the banter between the two. The little fights they have, they way Alexi jumps to a conclusion with the bunnies and how even when they are starting to fall for each other the Banter stays. I also loved the secret messages that Alexei was sending to Georgia with the flowers. I appreciate the research that Archer put in to know the meaning of all the flowers that he sends and it was just a sweet and different way to show what Alexi was feeling.

I think there is this idea that this has an enemies to lovers trope in it but while they totally seem to not like each other, I would classify it more as them having a love hate relationship. You can really see this, with the dual POV and what they think of each other and how much the don't know about each other. I think books like this need a dual POV I am happy that Archer has kept to that format.

I wasn't a fan of all the time jumps in the book, it was always a few weeks later or next week at the start of each chapter. I think this hindered the flow of their relationship. I get that Alexie is away due to being a professional hockey player and she is super busy as a doctor but I doubt it would be weeks before they would see each other. 

I've really enjoyed this series, they are great hockey romance books that are a fun mixture of sweet and spicy. I cant wait to see which couple Archer decides to write about next.

Enjoy!!!!

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Elise Kova: Arcana Academy

In the first book in a new series Elise Kova a convicted illegal magic user and a prince are going to try to do the impossible, remake the world that they know:

Clara has been part of the underworld ever since the death of her mother, until one day she is betrayed and sentenced to the worst prison imaginable. Clara doesn’t know how long her sanity will last and just when she thinks all is lost, a Prince comes to visit her and he needs her particular set of skills to steal Tarot cards from the King. To conceal her identity, Clara now becomes the betrothed to the Prince and a First year at the Arcana Academy, but she must survive the academy in order keep pretenses up. While Clara may be working with the Prince but Clara cannot forget where she comes from and the resistance that she was part of.

This had me hooked from the beginning and I did not want to put this book down. Anytime, I could pick this book up I could (Why does one have to work?). My favourite aspect of this book (by far) is the use of tarot card magic. Not only does each card have different element that can comes forth, what that element will do but the swords create swords and the face cards are master cards that have immense power. I also appreciate that one has to ink card in order for them to use them, this means that not only are there different levels of magic but also the abilities that one can possess.

This book is set in an Academy that is more deadly than some of the books that I have read and if one does not measure up, they are branded and sentenced to servitude till death. This adds even more competition between the first years, and you need to have allies in order to survive there. 

For lack of better words, this does follow a similar format to other fantasy books that there is something special about Clara, something that only she can do, with her inking powers. She also is a powerful wielder of the cards. I did enjoyed Clara as a character, but she seems to be typical for this genre.

I wish that Kova took the time to develop more of the side characters, not just the Prince but also the friends that Clara makes. I feel like all of the side characters lack any depth to them and there are some interesting ones in there that I want more from.

Not enemies to lovers, they come around pretty quickly, and really go from mistrust to lovers but they never really trust each other in the book. Overall, I did not mind the romance but the tension felt a little forced in the book.

I'm not 100% familiar with what each card in the tarot means so i would have appreciated a little more definition of each card, even just in general as i understand they can mean different things at different times. There are times we get a little information about what the card represents but not a lot.

The cliffhanger in this one is pretty awesome but at the same time I saw part of it coming and I cannot wait to read the second book in this series to see where Kova takes it. And I hope to learn more about Tarot Card Magic.

Enjoy!!!!

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