The Night Circus

While I was in England last summer sewing for the TV show Ren one of the other seamstresses recommended this book to me.  I wrote it down and put it on my bulletin board.  A few months ago a co-worker handed me the book and said "READ IT".  Yet it sat on my shelf for three months until I read it this weekend. 

The universe was basically shoving this book at me.  I should have listened sooner.  It was amazing.  So amazing.  I consumed it in about 3 hours on the plane, and at times had to be comforted by my boyfriend who noticed me wringing my hands in distress.

The back cover synopsis:
The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not. Within the black-and-white striped canvas tents is an utterly unique experience full of breathtaking amazements. It is called "Le Cirque des Reves," and it is only open at night.

But behind the scenes, a fierce competition is underway--a duel between two young magicians, Celia and Marco, who have been trained since childhood expressly for this purpose by their mercurial instructors. Unbeknownst to them, this is a game in which only one can be left standing, and the circus is but the stage for a remarkable battle of imagination and will. Despite themselves, however, Celia and Marco tumble headfirst into love - a deep, magical love that makes the lights flicker and the room grow warm whenever they so much as brush hands.

True love or not, the game must play out, and the fates of everyone involved, from the cast of extraordinary circus per-formers to the patrons, hang in the balance, suspended as precariously as the daring acrobats overhead.

The story was awesome.  The back cover exaggerates and doesn't do a great job summing up what is the Night Circus, but still.  Give it a read.

It isn't fast paced, but I read it in the blink of an eye.  It isn't a romance as it suggests, but there is romance in it.  It isn't a competitive duel, but a competition that spans over many many many years.  But the circus is beautiful, and the contest itself mysterious and intriguing.  

4 solid stars for this awesome book.

Read it?  Let me know what you thought!  I love hearing others' opinions!

Heir of Fire

This book was amazing!  It was, admittedly a bit slow to start, but it was AWESOME.  This is book three of the Throne of Glass series, see my reviews on books 1 and 2!

We get to see Celena in a whole different light in this book.  Bit by bit we get to see just how broken she is.  Now that the truth of who she is is out, she cannot hide anymore.  Change is coming and whether or not she is prepared for it is her own choice.

Official Goodreads synopsis:
Lost and broken, Celaena Sardothien’s only thought is to avenge the savage death of her dearest friend: as the King of Adarlan’s Assassin, she is bound to serve this tyrant, but he will pay for what he did. Any hope Celaena has of destroying the king lies in answers to be found in Wendlyn. Sacrificing his future, Chaol, the Captain of the King’s Guard, has sent Celaena there to protect her, but her darkest demons lay in that same place. If she can overcome them, she will be Adarlan’s biggest threat – and his own toughest enemy.

While Celaena learns of her true destiny, and the eyes of Erilea are on Wendlyn, a brutal and beastly force is preparing to take to the skies. Will Celaena find the strength not only to win her own battles, but to fight a war that could pit her loyalties to her own people against those she has grown to love?

 During this book Celena is trained by the exceedingly awesome Rowan.  I adored Rowan.  He almost made up for Chaol being the world's most idiotic male.  Almost.

Speaking of Chaol.  I used to ship Chaol and Celena, but after this book...I just don't know if I want her with him anymore.  He wavered between alliances, wouldn't make concrete choices, omitted important information from his best friend, and abandoned the woman he loves.  Chaol.  WHAT ARE YOU DOING?  I was really disappointed in his character.

Dorian.  Finally.  For the past two books Dorian has been a bit unsure and irresponsible.  He finally grows into his own skin in this book.  The end of his story line in this book ripped my heart apart.  I kept having to tell myself that book 4 will make everything right.  It has to.

Manon.  Manon was an interesting addition to the story.  She is fierce and awesome.  She reminded me a lot of the witches in Joseph Delaney's The Last Apprentice Series.  At first I thought she would be just a static, secondary antagonist.  A leader of one string of the King's forces.  But now... I am not so sure.  She isn't good, not by a long shot, but I think there might be some very interesting additional character development in book four that will make me adore her even more.

Queen Maeve.  I hated her.  She's an awesome character, but I HATE her.  

King of Adarlan.  This book made me hate him even more.  The intricate plots and movements of his followers in the general world were astounding.  While in the capitol we didn't really get a sense of just how evil he is.  Yeah, he's a bad dude, but in Heir of Fire we get to see just how long he has been planning this.  We also got to see several more pieces of his master plan fall into place.  I'm terrified.  Celena is going to need more than just her own abilities to stop him.  She's going to need a miracle.

My only complaint about this book is the cover.  DID THE DESIGNER EVEN READ IT BEFORE DRAWING IT?!  Celena trains with magic in this book.  Shifting and fire.  Not a bow.  And the back?  

She is mostly a scullery maid and in training clothes.  She's not even allowed in a dress when she meets with Queen Maeve!  SO WHY IS SHE IN A GOWN WITH (again) A BOW!  It's so irritating.

Despite the cover and the slow start, I give this book 5 stars.  Yet another amazing novel from Sarah J Maas.

Mortal Heart

I've raved about books 1 and 2 -- now it's time to rave about book 3. 

Book 3, Mortal Heart, follows Annith, a daughter of Mortian and one of his most talented handmaidens.  Only she's never been sent out of the abbey to do the bidding of the Lord of Death. 

Official Goodreads description:
Annith has watched her gifted sisters at the convent come and go, carrying out their dark dealings in the name of St. Mortain, patiently awaiting her own turn to serve Death. But her worst fears are realized when she discovers she is being groomed by the abbess as a Seeress, to be forever sequestered in the rock and stone womb of the convent. Feeling sorely betrayed, Annith decides to strike out on her own.

She has spent her whole life training to be an assassin. Just because the convent has changed its mind doesn't mean she has...

I devoured this book.  DEVOURED.  Annith's story was awesome, her love connection just as fulfilling as the last two books, and the intruige!  

We finally get to KNOW the Abbess.  Who she is, what she wants, what she is plotting.  All comes out in this book.  It's messy, awesome, and everything I wanted.  

Read these books. Seriously.  Action-filled, well-written, enough romance to keep you grinning like a fool, and enough court intrigue to have you biting your fingernails.  If I could give these books 6 stars, I would.

Kinky in Cancun

-I received a free copy of this story in exchange for an honest review-

Kinky in Cancun is a well-written, quick, erotic read.  Maren travels to Cancun to do an interview with the heir to Mexico's prime airline...only no one has ever seen him or done an interview with him.  I really enjoyed the setting and descriptions of this book.  The sex scenes were well written, mostly staying away from cheesy romance verbiage, which I really appreciate.

What I didn't love so much was the way Maren associated with men.  Perhaps this is because I am a bit more old fashioned.  Click the spoiler button below to read a slight spoiler. I wanted to include the association I didn't appreciate for those who might be turned off by certain kinds of erotica, but didn't want to spoil the plot for anyone who might want to read the book.

In 42 pages Maren has associasions with 3 different men, and on one occasion trades a blow job for entrance to a party.  This particular scene just made me feel uncomfortable.  I personally don't find the idea of trading sexual favors to be sexy.  But that is me.

  

If you enjoy  reading erotic stories and don't mind main characters who get it on with nearly everyone they meet, then READ THIS STORY!  It's well written and worth your time. 

Have you read this book?  Let me know what you thought!

Dark Triumph

I was so nervous to read this book.  Grave Mercy was so good….how could a second book top it?

Dark Triumph is Sybella’s book which really made me nervous because Sybella is a bit insane.

But Oh. My. Goodness.  THIS BOOK WAS AMAZING.  I decided to read this book while waiting for Elder Scrolls Online to download.  It downloaded 1% in the time it took me to read this book. Whether that tells of how fast I read, or how slowly ESO downloads...

Sybella is awesome.  She is a survivor, albeit a broken one.  She is an absolute badass, and she loves fiercely.  Her character development was fantastically plotted.  The reveals along the way... I won't spoil them, but they were amazing.

Sybella’s family is FUCKED UP.  Not just a little.  A crap ton.  But how she gets through it, how she survives, how she opens up to the Beast…it is beautiful.  I actually cried during one part of this book.

We don’t get as much politics (government or convent) in this book, but all the signs of a storm brewing are there.  I am pretty excited for the culmination of all the intrigue and lies going on in the covent to happen in book three.

This book gets 5 out of 5 stars.  Definitely one of the best books i have read this year.

Fractured Dream

-I received a copy of this book to do an honest review-

 Have you ever wondered where fairytales go once they’re created?

It’s been eight years since Story Sparks last had a dream. Now they’re back, tormenting her as nightmares she can’t remember upon waking. The black waters of Lake Sandeen, where her Uncle Peter disappeared decades before, may hold the secret to Story’s hidden memories, or a truth she’d rather not know. On a bright summer afternoon, Story and her two best friends, Elliot and Adam, take a hike to the lake, where they dive into the cool water and never reemerge. What they find is beyond anything they’ve ever imagined could be possible, a world where dangers lurk in the form of Big Bad Wolves, living Nightmares and meddlesome witches and gods.

Now Story must remember who she really is and somehow stop two worlds from ultimate annihilation, all while trying not to be too distracted by the inexplicable pull she feels toward a certain dark-eyed traveler who seems to have secrets of his own. The fates of the worlds are counting on her.

This book was a fairytale dream.   A must read for fans of Once Upon a Time, Alice in Wonderland, and Kiersten White’s Paranormalcy series.  I can always tell when a book evokes an emotional response from me.  My reviews tend to get really long and geeky.

This post is going to be really long.

Things I loved!

I adored Story’s backstory.  The snippets we get of the Dreamer and Fiddler were fantastic.  The mythical land has its own myths!  Fantastic! 

Chapter 7 gave me chills.  Full body chills.  And I do not think I blinked once during the last two pages.  It was AWESOME.

The title, Fractured Dream, is perfect.  I won’t explain why it fits so well because SPOILERS, but trust me.  It’s perfect.

I loved Jess.  Take Traditional Little Red Riding Hood, add Once Upon a Time Red, and stir in a crackle of Selene from Underworld and you have Jess.  She was a firecracker.  I loved it.

LGBTQ.  This book had gay and lesbian characters!  *waves flag*  I love how Randall has her world treat gay characters.  No one hates or is disgusted by them, their interests are perfectly normal and valid.  I wish our world were as accepting!  In fact, it is even okay for a Thumbelina to like a human!  Cross-species love!  

*Spoiler* 

Morgana and Guinevere being in love was fantastic. As a huge Merlin/Mists of Avalon freak this made me supremely happy. Also- my favorite line came during this part: “In this story, there is no Lancelot.” I love it!

The things I didn’t like so much…

The main character, Story, did, at times, drive me a bit nuts.  She avoids doing things or realizing things that the reader has figured out chapters ago.  Her inability and refusal to do/realize things gets other people killed and hurt, and drags out the story unnecessarily.  In this way she reminded me of Evie from Paranormalcy.  It was the biggest complaint I had about that series as well.  And also…her name.  Story Sparks.  I hated it.  Fractured Dream is a fantastically imagined book, and the main character’s name is Story.  It makes me so sad.

Adam.  The other character I didn’t enjoy very much.  His constant refusal to believe anything about Story being the Dreamer drove me bonkers.  You are in a fairytale world.  Shuddup.

I did really enjoy this book although there were some things I didn’t love.  I stand by my earlier statement.  If you are a fan of Once Upon a Time, Alice in Wonderland, and Keirsten White’s Paranormalcy series you will love this book.

Serpent on a Cross

Dennah Dubrovnika is a formidable hunter and talented healer. However, she cannot control her own powers, which have suddenly reawakened in the aftermath of her mother's violent capture by a powerful warlord who destroyed their village in his wake. As she races to free her mother, Dennah is accompanied by Jeth, the man she loves. But she's increasingly, inexorably drawn to the mysterious Skallon, who is allied with her greatest enemy. Will Dennah be able to gain a measure of control over her magic or will she lose everything and everyone she loves to its raging inferno? Serpent on a Cross is a novel of Jewish fantasy and adventure in Medieval Eastern Europe.

I received this book in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this book.  It was nothing like what I was expecting, but I found it compelling and original.

It takes place in 1043 AD in Poland.  So I was thinking hmmm medieval-ish fantasy!  My favorite!

Then I started flipping the pages and found this: "A novel of Jewish fantasy and Adventure in Medieval Eastern Europe".  I was a bit confused because the summary mentioned magic.  I was instantly afraid.  Jewish religion and magic?  Those do not go together in my head.  

But I am here to tell you.  Read on.  IT WORKS.  I don't know how Wendy Garfinkle managed it, but the Jewish culture works with the magic.  And reading this book made me learn a bit more about Jewish history.  Apparently antisemitism is much older than I thought.  I had no idea Jewish people were forced to wear badges to identify themselves before WWII era Germany.  I had no idea they were persecuted throughout Europe during this time period.  This makes me incredibly sad.  *waves freedom of religion flag in triumph*

Garfinkle does more than just weave a compelling story of medieval magic and female coming of age, her historical knowledge is fantastic.  She takes medieval eastern Europe and makes it come alive on the page.

The only problem I had with the book was the strength of the main character.  At times Dennah seemed a bit too 21st century woman.  She took me out of medieval Europe; I forgot she was wearing dresses, and probably had a rag around her hair because they didn't have chemical shampoos.

This book receives 4 of 5 stars for an awesome concept, fantastic writing, and rocking historical world building.

The Never Hero

What if when you died, no one would ever know you were all that stood between man and the enemy? When Jonathan Tibbs awakes in a puddle of his own blood, there isn't a scratch on him to explain it. In the weeks to follow, he comes to find he's been drafted for a war with a violent otherworldly species. A war that only he can remember. Now, the man Jonathan imagined himself becoming is no longer the man who can endure his future. The first installment in this science fiction action adventure series, The Never Hero is a gritty and honest look at the psychological journey of a man forced to forge himself into a weapon. Abandoned with little guidance, and at the mercy of a bargain struck far outside his reach, Jonathan races to unlock the means to surmount the odds, and understand the mystery behind a conflict raging outside of time and memory. In the end, the real question is what Jonathan is willing to become to save a planet that will never see his sacrifice.

I was given this book in exchange for an honest review.

 This book was fantastic.  Jonathan's journey as a hero is well-written and thought provoking.  I loved Jonathan.  I flew through the pages, invested in his development as a character.  The plot had me chewing on my fingernails throughout the book.  There was enough action to keep me interested, almost Marvel worthy action.

The concept was unique, the perfect blend of sci-fi and the modern world.  It's definitely a different kind of sci-fi than I have encountered before, but it was well done, and compelling.

If you enjoy strong male heroes, action, and sci-fi- this is your book!  Give it a read and let me know what you think in the comments.

Author Interview - Rival Gates

I don't know about any other writers with a publishing dream out there, but I find author interviews inspiring.  Learning about an author's journey from fresh page to published manuscript is EXCITING!

Rival Gates, author of Quest for the Red Sapphire (see the review I did on it here) agreed to do an author interview.  He gives some awesome insights on his work and great advice to future authors.

How long have you been writing?
I have been writing in contests since grammar school and have been working on this series since I was 13.  My father inspired me to start writing.  He was an editor and he would have a piece in every one of his magazines that he had penned personally.  I used to get so excited to read my father's name in print.  Even when he was the editor of an atomic energy magazine and I had no idea what he was writing about, it was just such a thrill to read something my father had created.  I dreamed of writing something of my own and one day seeing my name in print.

How did you get the idea for Quest for the Red Sapphire?
It actually came from an idea I had about a sword.  I imagined a living blade with the soul of Talana, the Queen of the Falcons residing within after her body had been destroyed.   The weapon would be impossible to break or dull and would never become lodged in an opponent, just like a talon on a predatory bird.  It would be light as a feather which meant its master could swing it more quickly and put more force behind the blows.  Thus the name of the blade fell into place; Falconfeather.  From there I created characters around it and then needed something fantastic for them to seek out.  The story snowballed from there.

Describe your writing process.  Are you a plotter or pantser?
I'm definitely a plotter.  I've tried writing by the seat of my pants and I always end up leaving out critical information.  I lay it out in bullet point fashion and then follow the plan as I write.  Sometimes I am inspired while writing and will add something that strikes me but I mostly stick to the plan.  Everything stays in order that way and I don't end up repeating myself.
 
Do you ever experience writer's block? What do you do to get past it?
Writer's block has never really been a problem for me.  I have been blessed with a good deal of ideas.  My problem comes down to choosing what to write and then forming it like clay into a coherent thought in written form.  When I am overwhelmed I usually lay down, go to church or go somewhere else completely silent and work through them.  When all the distractions are gone I can usually focus on one point.
 
Do you ever imagine Quest for the Red Sapphire being turned into a movie?  If so, who would play Linvin?
It is my dream to have the series made into movies.  If I had to have someone play Linvin it would be someone like Chris Hemsworth.

What was the hardest part of writing Quest for the Red Sapphire?
The hardest part was knowing where to stop.  It always seemed like there was one more thing I wanted to say and I finally had to end it.
 
How long did it take you to write this book?
I hand wrote the first draft in two years.  Then I put in in a drawer and worked on it occasionally for over twenty years more.  Only when my mother made me promise before she died to publish it did I finalize the book.
 
What books/authors have influenced your writing?
I was naturally influenced by Tolkien and his Hobbit/Lord of the Rings series.  The real source of my passion for the genre and my writing came from reading C.S. Lewis and the Chronicles of Narnia.  I read various science fiction greats but C.S. Lewis made me want to write.
 
What book(s) are you reading now?
Right now I'm reading "Tempered Throne" by Ray Owen.

The cover art is beautiful, I may just have to give it a read as well!

Are you a full-time or part-time writer?  How does that affect your writing?
Right now I am a part time writer.  That is something I hope to change in the near future and is one of my goals.  It sometimes makes it hard to pick up where you left off in the story because it can be a while between writing sessions.  It is at times like that that I appreciate my storyboard.
 
What was it like to get published?  What was the process like?
It took me a year and a half to find an agent and a year and a half to find a publisher.  After all the work that went into that process it was so gratifying to finally be published.  The absolute joy I felt was like nothing I had ever known.  My work was finally out there for the world to see.  The stories that I had been telling to individuals would now be told to everyone.  What could be cooler than that?
 
What writing or publishing advice do you have for other aspiring authors?
Get a good agent and trust their advice.  A lot of people try to go it on their own because they don't want to pay a percentage to an agent.  That leaves you at the mercy of the publisher.  If the publisher will even read your work, you don't know if the contract they offer is good or bad.  You need someone in the room working FOR YOU.  Take the cut in pay.  It is better to have someone watching out for you when you're swimming in deep water.

About Quest for the Red Sapphire:

  

The book centers around Linvin Grithinshield, a half-elf general called home from the goblin wars to
run the lucrative family trading business after his father's disappearance. Only after his mother's murder does he discover his destiny is to be the Master of the Red Sapphire, the most powerful magic any mortal can possess. Together with his wise but mysterious Uncle Anvar and his infuriating cousins Bander and Rander, Linvin must flee the would-be assassins and find the gem before the sinister forces from whom he flees find the stone and take it for a dark purpose.

About the author:

I was born in the USA and moved to Canada when I was 5. My mother was American and my father was originally Canadian before trading his citizenship. I lived in Canada until I graduated high school. I returned to the United States where I graduated from Michigan State University. While I was there I met the most wonderful woman on this earth and amazingly she agreed to be my wife. We have been married well over 20 years and have three beautiful children.

I began work on my series of books at age thirteen during a difficult time in my family's and my life. Instead of wallowing in self-pity, I decided to escape to another world...one of my own creation where I could create the characters. What started as a short story turned into a novel and then a series.

I sat on my work for years, sharing it only with my immediate family. Then my mother was diagnosed with terminal cancer. The longest supporter of my writing made me promise to publish my work and finish the series. This is my attempt to keep that pledge. Enjoy the ride!

Quest for the Red Sapphire

 -This book was given to me in return for an honest review-

Quest for the Red Sapphire is a High Fantasy novel that fans of Lord of the Rings will love.  With the help of a small band, Linvin starts out on a quest to find the mythical Red Sapphire in the hope that they can prevent it from being used for nefarious purposes.

On such a quest there surely must be shenanigans barring the way to the goal.  And there were many, many bumps along the way, which just made this book more exciting!

I loved the story, but wasn’t crazy about the writing style.  I call this the Tolkien Problem. 

I’ll explain because that makes no sense.

Like Tolkien’s works I loved the story and the world- it was fantastic and grand and exciting.  The writing, like Tolkien’s, was a bit antiquated and at times slowed the story down a bit.  I tend to have a hard time maintaining interest with such language.  

That isn’t to say that it wasn’t well written, it was- really well written.  The language itself was beautiful.  There were some awesome lines, but I had too many favorites to post them all here.

If you enjoy Tolkien’s writing style and are looking for another good fantasy- this is your book!