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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