Caroline Peckham & Susanne Valenti: Never Keep

In the first in a new series Caroline Peckham & Susanne Valenti show the lengths that two women will go to in order to prove their worth:

Now this book may be set in the same world or type of world as Zodiac Academy but it is completely different in all ways except for the ability based system. This one has more of an us or them feel to them based upon one's Zodiac Sign and Powers than ZA does. This also has a cult like feel to it at times not just within the power signs but all the aspects that surround the Reapers.

This book did not have me hooked from the beginning, I found it slow and especially Everest's POV. However, once they enter Never Keep the plot and intrigue really pick up that I found things flipped I preferred Everest's POV. 

Everest is resourceful, cunning, naive at times with her main goal in life just wanting to get her father's attention, love praise. You really feel for her in the moments when she interacts with her father. Vesper is basically the complete opposite of Everest except in one aspect. Vesper is strong, confident in who she is and where she wants to go in life. She has immense power and is willing to do anything to get and keep this power. The one thing that Vesper is looking for is love, she has her friends, but she wants more than that, even if she tries to hide it.

The world in this book is interesting, borders on confusing at the beginning of the book. We are really rushed into the world with not a lot of explanation. Why are all the different factions at war? What is the true reason for Never Keep? (maybe this one is answered in the later books), why is this profecy that they all speak of? The plot of this book is really based around the world, so that is why it can be confusing at times. I think once you look past the world as a whole and just focus on Never Keep things around the world become more manageable.

This book is Dark at times and let me say prepare yourself there are time when Peckham and Valenti do not pull their punches and I am here for it. The cliffhanger at the end of the book was amazing and will have you wanting to pick up the second book right away. 

This book exceeded my expectations and once I was able to get invested in both Characters and the plot picked up I did not want to put this book down. Peckham and Valenti truly know how to draw readers in and I look forward to seeing where they take this story and Everest and Vesper.

Enjoy!!!

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Juliette Cross: Firebird

In the first in a new series Juliette Cross, Where Dragon rule Rome and they are always looking for more power, more treasure, more riches:

This is the first book that I have read by Cross and I will 100% admit that I picked this book up due to the cover and then after reading the premise I thought it might be a good fit. This book was really hit and a partial miss for me. 

I'm a big fan of Dragons, though I will say I haven't read many Dragon Shifter books in the past, but I like that they had both their Human side and Dragon side to them. I enjoyed that there was different classes of Dragons, with each having a different ability and then there was just the humans who were seen as the lower class. I wish that there was more use of the Dragons within the book and that the battle scenes were drawn out more to create that action aspect.

I personally loved that this book took place during the Roman Empire and that those in charge are Dragons and the corruption that has occurred due to it. The political intrigue within this book had me. I wanted to know more about the rebellion that was being planned, how would it play out and would it resemble what happened in real like. I think that Cross did a good job of melding the harsher side of the Roman Empire and the fantasy aspect of the Dragons.

Now where I struggled with this book was the relationship between Malina and Julian. First i don't see this as a true enemies to loves book, more like slight hate to lovers and I just didn't feel the spark between them. It really just felt more like something of convenience than a full blown romance/relationship. The only time I think the Spark was felt was when Julian was in his dragon form.

I looking forward to seeing where Cross takes this series as it seem like the next book has a new FMC. I want to see how Cross is going to bring it all together, but so far I am totally here for the political intrigue more that the relationship.

 

Enjoy!!!!

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Tarryn Fisher: The Wrong Family

Tarryn Fisher takes you into a life of a family, where nothing is what it seems and perfect white fence isn't enough to keep secrets in:

This is the first book that I have read by Fisher it is a good domestic suspense book but it does take a little bit for the storyline to pick up but it is worth it. 

There were times when I thought I had this booked figured out Tarryn would throw in a twist I didn't see coming, but then at the same time some of the plot lines felt predictable. And wow there are quite a few plot lines that Fisher weaves throughout this book, that there are times that it feels like a bit too much, that I didn't really feel invested in Winnie story and really only focused on Juno's story, which is a shame as the the POV go back and fourth between the two of them.

I don't really think that I liked any of the characters in the book, but I don't think that you are supposed to especially when you start to know more and more about the main and secondary characters. I personally more invested in Juno's story, where she came from and what has lead her to living in Winnie's  home. You cannot help but feel for her especially in the present timeline, with what she is dealing with and you want to know what was lead her to live this life. 

The last 20% of this book are completely insane, like crazy insane, that I did not see it coming at all. I think the ending of the book is one you are either going to love or hat. I think from where this book started and where Fisher takes the book in the end, they feel almost like different books.

As this is the first book that I have read by Fisher, and I enjoyed that she was able to surprise me along the way. I look forward to reading more books by Fisher.

Enjoy!!!

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Deidra Duncan: Until I Die

Deidra Duncan shows what happens to a country when becomes so divided:

I'm a big dystopian lover, whether the book is in the midst of an apocalypse happening, going to happen or if things have already gone to Shit and we are in the dystopian future, I want to read it. There are several types of Dystopian out there but recently there seems to be a surge of them that are focusing on countries turning to more traditional values, especially for those who are elite and high up in the army. This can seem very pointed of the time of events and calls for returning to traditional values in the United States, which coincidently is where this book takes place.

First off I will say that I did enjoyed this book. It had me hooked from the beginning and I was invested in the characters, the world the plot and I felt that Duncan did a great job of pulling the reader. 

This book is all about the relationship between Sophia and Lucas. You feel the pull between the two characters right from the first meeting even though things don’t go as either of them planned. You are in this story for them and that is about it, as there are not really any side characters that you get to know. I’m not sure what to think about Sophia, I liked her as a character but I felt like Duncan had her contradicting herself all the time and maybe that has something to do with the time shifts in the book but I just felt something off with the overall flow of her character.

My main problem with this book is that I feel like Duncan pulled too much from another resent release and that is Manacled/Alchemized by SinLinYu. And it begs the question of where does it become inspired by instead of plagiarism. When I first became aware of this book, in the premise it states that it is inspire by Alchemized as well as the Handmaids Tale, so the reader and I would think Duncan is aware that these similarities exist and may be called into question.

The similarities between these books and are quite vast that if you have read Manacled/Alchemized  you will recognize the scenes that Duncan has written in this book. They are not verbatim to fully suggest plagiarism but there is enough there at times where I would find myself thinking that I have read this scene before. Even from Sophia's curly unruly hair and her working as a medic in the resistance that you can draw the similarity to that of Hermonie/Helena. 

Now where I think that Duncan was a bit different from the books listed above is that I did find this book was darker at times and she takes the fights scenes to a little more extreme as she is not relying on magic. I think she could have pushed it a bit more at times, but I understand why she held back in certain places. Additionally Sophia's backstory is very different and we do get some glimpses of that, as well as her overall role within the resistance differs. I did find that the further you read into the book Duncan does move away from similarities to Manacled/Alchemized almost like she had found her footing in the story she wanted to create.

So Yes I enjoyed this book. I liked the tension that Duncan created in the book as well as the suspense, especially towards the end when you realize that no one is truly safe. I just struggle with the fact that I don't know where the line is for inspiration and when it crosses past that. Would I read another book by Duncan, I would but I, like many who read this book, may be scrutinizing it a bit more than I normally would. 

Enjoy!!!

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Caroline Peckham & Susanne Valenti: Dark Fae

 

In the first in a series, Peckham and Valenti show what a sister is willing to do to find out who murdered her brother:

I read the first three books in the Zodiac Academy and this book was the next recommended in reading as they take place in the same world and there is a bit of cross over into Zodiac Academy. I personally have preferred this book to the three I have read in Zodiac Academy. I find that the plot is better and it is not trying to be more than it is and it is a read that is more for the vibes and popcorn than the writing and content (and I am 100% okay with that).

I enjoyed that Elise is a Vampire and that she does not shy away from who she is and what she needs. Even though sometimes it takes her away from what she needs to do to find her brother’s killer. This makes her feel more real, and you know that she is not a detective or in law enforcement so yes it is going to take time for her to figure things out and get things right.

I actually enjoyed all the POV, as we get one from all of the men as well as Elise. We get to know all the characters and what drives each of them. Elise get the most chapters, as she should but I feel like the book was more well rounded by having the men’s POV. I like that each POV involved different events that were happening around each of the characters and it was not repetitive.

I enjoyed the gang aspect of the book and the rivalry that it created in the book and how it hinders and helps at time Elise get the information that she needs. I also like how it was playing out as it neared the end of the book.

I enjoyed this book, academy setting and getting to know the characters and I look forward to seeing where Peckham and Valenti takes this series.

Enjoy!!!

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Kelley Armstrong: First Sign of Danger

Kelly Armstrong is back with the next instalment for her Haven’s Rock series and their sanctuary is under the biggest threat yet: 

I guess I’ll just come out and say it but this one did not hit for me. I think I went in with too high expectations as the book before this one was one of my favourites in both the Rockton and Haven’s Rock.

I felt like this book lacked the suspense from the other book, the mystery was just okay and felt familiar like it had been done before in this series. This book just was lacking when I think of the other books in the series. I found I was not picking this book up and was reading others book I had on the go over this one.

I enjoyed seeing Casey and Duncan adjusting to the new life that they have in Haven's Rock and the additional responsibilities that they now have. I think of how great a life there sounds, even with all the dangers that lurk by and not just forest creatures. Casey and Duncan are for sure a power couple in my books.

I miss the side characters, the man ones from Rockton will have a sentence here and there but nothing like it was before. I felt having them more engrained in the story made you feel like you were in the town and interacting with them as well. I will say I like how April’s character has developed and she is the only secondary character who get some page time.

I’m glad we get some closure in this book with a few aspects and so would have been fine with Armstrong ending the series here, but it looks like there will be one more book in this series. Of course I’ll read it, I want to see how Armstrong ends it all after this many book and storylines from both series.

This book was fine, but personally I don’t think it was up to par with her other books. Armstrong is one of my favourite authors so I’ll continue to read her books.

Cheers!!!

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