Who? What? Where? (22)

Who are you with? Where are you at? What's happening?

Share with us just a little bit of what is happening in the book you are reading, right where you are now.

Just a tiny taste of what's happening, remember try to not give spoilers of the book.

(This is a new meme I'm going to try and will tweak as I go. And please don't laugh at my lame attempt at drawing. ;D )

I'm moving this post from Thursdays to Wednesdays as I have another idea for Thursdays.

I'm sitting with the Priestess (of fire) Ariadel and Vidarian at the Inn of Lustrous Pearl, after our relaxing massages.  This is one of the places Priestess Ariadel likes to visit for a body massage and pampering to help make the final trek to the temple bearable.  Now I'm curious what hardships will be ahead of us in this final phase of our traveling.

Sword of Fire and Sea

by Erin Hoffman

Teaser Tuesday (78)

Teaser Tuesday

is a weekly event

Sponsored by MizB of Should be Reading

Here's how it works:

Grab the book you are currently reading (anything at all)

Open the book to any random page.

Share 2 teaser sentences from anywhere on the page

Please Make Sure They Are Not Spoilers!

(Don't Give Too Much Away)

Just enough to pique our interests

This Week:

Our fate hangs on Dina's preventing Surge and Kora from stranding us here.  I have a lot of faith in our mechanic, but we may have stuck her with an impossible task.

Wanderlust

By Ann Aguirre

pg 84

Book Review: Thief

Thief

By:  Sarah-Jane Lehoux

Publisher:  Mundania Press

Publish Date:  May 2010

Format:  Paperback 267pgs, 5"x8" Trade size

Genre:  Fantasy

Series:  1st Book in Sevy series

Recommendation:  Yes.  Do you like fantasy? Thieves? Go pick this one up! Such character connection here.

Book Synopsis:
In the crumbling city of Eloria, there is one indisputable fact: everyone has a price.  Protestations of morality and better judgment have little meaning when confronted with the chance to obtain the unobtainable.  The only question remaining is just how much a person is willing to sacrifice in order to win their heart's desire.

Sevy has always been a quick study in the wicked ways of Eloria.  She has no qualms about taking what she wants, and when the love of her life is mysteriously murdered, Sevy will stop at nothing to get him back.  Elvish black magic, necromancy and demonic pacts are of little consequence if it means she can once again have her beloved at her side.  But is she willing to murder her only friend to get the job done?

First Sentence:
She might as well have been invisible.

My Thoughts and Summary:
Sevy is a young girl and thief living in a city abandoned by most of the high class and nobility with nothing much left, as the factories have stopped too.  Sevy tries to take care of her one friend, Trena, just to find she has turned to prostitution as her handler promises her all the things she wants.  But, Sevy has her limits and wont join, not with this disgusting man.  Sevy has crossed paths a few times with the gorgeous oceanic blue-eyed man Jarro and Jarro ends up helping Sevy in a most dire way.  Sevy is looking for a friend and attaches herself with Jarro's unique group.  Yet there is one here who doesn't like having Sevy around, out of jealousy maybe, who is Irea.  She attempts to get to Sevy...one way or another...  And what happens when the group dissolves for matters greater than just going separate ways?

This is a fantasy read with thieves close and front. With that comes the battles they fight with others in a desolate city to survive, so there are fighting scenes and action. We also have different creatures present too; dwarfs, elves, mysterious dark elves, pixies, and more. The book doesn't waste time with unnecessary complete depictions of all the different creatures, but the creatures are present and you know of them. We do learn of the stories of the Dark Elves through the book as Sevy's one closest friend is one. But are the stories really true?

I thought this book was set up in an interesting way to get more story and view of time.  We have three sections which are different times of Sevy's life.  First how Sevy meets Jarro and becomes part of the group.  Second eight years later starting with Jarro's view, and leads into learning about Sevy's talents as a thief and the job they do together.  In which you learn more of the love here as well.  Then the third section, starting from a best friends view ~ Revik ~ and gets to the dangerous magic at hand.  I really liked this aspect as I got to see and feel the characters grow through out the book with out any loss in the connections with them.

I didn't realize I was so attached with Sevy and her love until the end.  I have to say I shed a few tears for them, and I don't do that.  I'm not one to cry when reading a book.  But this author did what I wanted her to do, yet desperately didn't want to see at the same time.  I loved it!  This is a way to take the chance with your characters and pushing them to be better along with making the readers love and feel for them.

Oh, I soooo enjoyed this read.  I even already ordered up the second book for me, Shades of War.  I'm really looking forward to getting more of this broken girl Sevy.

Are you curious about the books?  You can check out the authors site for her books, HERE at the Official Website for Sarah-Jane Lehoux.  Or go to the publishing site, Mundania Press and check out her books out as well, you can buy them here too. ;)


I purchased this book for my own reading enjoyment.


This book qualifies for the Speculative Fiction Reading Challenge, hosted by Floor to Ceiling Books.

Tales from the Archives - Three

Tales from the Archives - Three

By:  Pip Ballantine & Tee Morris

Written & Narrated by:  Nathan Lowell

Format:  Podcast, 45.10 minutes

Genre:  Fantasy, Steampunk

Series:  3nd in Tales of the Archives podcasts, part of A Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences series

Recommendation:  Yes. Nice way to meet new characters in this steampunk-ish world particularly if you enjoyed the book; A Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences Novel, Phoenix Rising. But keep in mind there is a little bit of blood in this one.

Synopsis:
The Astonishing Amulet of Amenartas

Agent Heathcliff Durham finds himself crisscrossing Africa, looking for an Amulet that could spell disaster for any who come near it. Battling blistering heat, starvation, wild animals, and despair, he is not comforted by the company of a rough and ready sort named Morrison. Soon Durham begins to suspect he may never return home—and to top it all off the tea has almost run out.

My Thoughts and Summary:
Agent Books and Agent Braun pick us a case with some dust on top, African dust, and a case well before either of their time with The Ministry.  And the Amulet is no where in the case file as well...

Agent Heathcliff Durham is sent to meet with Agent Randell Morrison in Africa to look for a man who the director of Ministries is concerned will be 'intending trouble with the natives'.  But there is a catch in the name given... A large group of 53 men was found dead after reporting the necklace of blue glowing stones with a pair of men they meet.  And there is a history of large groups or villages being slaughtered over many years past.  The agents travel for six weeks, on the verge of ends rope ~ Heathcliff's tea is running out and Morrisons gin is dwindling ~ heading back to civilization to contact The Ministry, they finally come across a clue.  A young boy who is missing a leg still living in a village where all others were brutally murdered.  Will both the agents make it home?  And from the attracting powers of the blue jeweled necklace?

We meet new characters here; Heathcliff Durham and Randell Morrison.  Heathcliff Durham reminds me of a formal scientific man who likes the large formal words.  Morrison is a harder agent in a rough world of Africa.  And in the end we see Dr. Sound show up as a new director at this time.

This story does have the presence of fighting and blood.  But I did enjoy it.  And we have neat steampuck items ever present again in this podcast.  Heathcliff has a new mysterious steam trunk that he guides along behind him, but it kind of has a way of walking about with the use of steam boilers inside.  We even have the two characters talking, or briefly not seeing eye to eye, on weaponry.  The comparison of the traditional rifle, Morrison's preference, to Heathcliff's modern weapons and sidearms.  Nifty tools mentioned here when comparing and then off to fight with too, which Heathcliff has.

Nathan, the narrarator and writer does all his own voices.  The voices are all done with accents and wonderful articulation in the way the words are spoken in speed and enunciation.  Nicely done and easy to listen to.

Would you like to listen to these?  For a taste of the characters or in addition to the book... Visit HERE.

There are short stories always added to the listing.  So keep checking back!

I listened to this short story for my own enjoyment.

Monday's Beginnings (93)

Well, it's Monday... again...

How are you faring at the beginning of this week?  Are you starting a new book or finishing one up?

*sigh* Well... I think I'm going to have loads of reading to do this week, thanks to the miserable weekend of nasty allergies.  I ended up having a few allergy attacks on Saturday, then one major one Saturday evening.  So I wasn't able to read as my eyes where the ones to take the biggest hit.  I wasn't even able to get on the computer either.

Currently Reading, My plans this week are:
Reading Part 2 of Iron Daughter by Julie Kagawa, then finishing Part 3 over the weekend coming.
Starting Wanderlust by Ann Aguirre for our first discussion on Thursday.
Work on my review book Sword of Fire and Sea by Erin Hoffman.
~~ And I want to get all this done this week!  Lots of reading to get done.

Reviews to Come:
Thief by Sarah-Jane Lehoux

Last Week:
Books I Finished:
Thief by Sarah-Jane Lehoux

Reviews Posted this Past Week: (click title to jump over to read review)
okay, so I was a slacker last week.  I was feeling not so well with allergies and fell behind in everything.
Immortalis: Hunters & Prey by Katie Salidas

Boy, I do feel like such a slacker after the week before post.  I need to get back to it here!

I did write a Flash Fiction Friday again on Friday.  I hope you enjoy it if you jump over to read it, it was another quick one.  But, you can click here to read it.  And if you'd like say hi while there. :)

My WANT list...Hmmm, I've only added 4 books to this list.  Now that doesn't seem right to me.  I have to be forgetting to add books as I'm reading reviews.  That is all I can come up with.

Books Received:
Um... I have several books I've ordered that have not shown up yet. I'm really really looking forward to them all coming. :)
Free:

Goodreads Synopsis:
A Midsummer's Nightmare? Robin Goodfellow. Puck. Summer Court prankster, King Oberon's right hand, bane of many a faery queen's existence—and secret friend to Prince Ash of the Winter Court. Until one girl's death came between them, and another girl stole both their hearts. 

Now Ash has granted one favor too many and someone's come to collect, forcing the prince to a place he cannot go without Puck's help—into the heart of the Summer Court. And Puck faces the ultimate choice—betray Ash and possibly win the girl they both love, or help his former friend turned bitter enemy pull off a deception that no true faery prankster could possibly resist. 

An ebook exclusive novella from Julie Kagawa's Iron Fey series.


So, I think I have a big week in pages here.  Hoping anyway. :)

How are you looking so far this week?  Does it look like a good reading week for you?

Here's to wishing you all the best in words and pages

Book Review: Immortalis Hunters & Prey

Immortalis
Hunters & Prey

By:  Katie Salidas

Publisher:  Rising Sign Books

Publish Date:  December 2010

Format:  Paperback, 263pgs, 5"x8"

Genre:  Urban Fantasy

Series:  2nd book in Immortalis series; Book 1 ~ Cape Noctem

Recommendation:  Yes, especially if you enjoyed the first book, you will enjoy this one. Loads more action and Alyssa is really growing as a vampire.

Book Synopsis:
Becoming a vampire saved Alyssa from death, but the price was high: the loss of everything and everyone attached to her mortal life.  She's still learning to cope when a surprise confrontation with Santino Vitale, the Acta Sanctorum's most fearsome hunter, sends her fleeing back to the world she once knew, and Fallon, the friend she's missed more than anything.

Alyssa breaks vampire law by revealing her new, true self to her old friend, a fact which causes strong division in the group that should support her most: her clan.

Worse yet, her revelation entangles Fallon in the struggle between vampires and hunters and the Acta Sanctorum is ready to attack again, with a new army of hybrid creations: the Frenzy Soldiers.  If Alyssa hopes to survive and keep her mortal friend safe, she'll have to be willing to make a deal with the enemy, and regain her clan's support.  It will take everyone working together in a precarious truce to fight against the Acta Sanctorum's new threat.

First Sentence:
Hot blood coursed through my veins as I gulped down the gushing fountain of my victim's neck.

My Thoughts and Summary:
Months since Carpe Noctem's end with the battle with Santino the head hunter for the Acta Sanctorum and miraculously Alyssa and Lysander walked away with their heads on their shoulders.  Alyssa in sow plagued with day mares of Santino coming for her along with the haunting memory of how close she was to death at Santino's blade.  Alyssa has the feeling these day mares mean something... that Santino is alive and stronger than the clan believes, but not one truly believes her.  Alyssa gets spotted by her enemy while feeding and runs.  Not wanting to danger her clan, old habits kick in and Alyssa goes to a human packed place for safety, Cafe Copioh ~ her old hang-out.  She is spotted by her best friend before she could leave, a rule broken by Alyssa that could cost her her live or others too when the new threat is unveiled.

I enjoyed this book more than the first book.  Both the books have been quick easy reads for me and the pages turn so easily and quickly.  We had Alyssa still being the strong headed girl she is.  And not she didn't strike me as whiny as she did in the beginning of the first book.  She has come a long way as a character for me.  And I enjoy her with her mistakes and all now because she does have good intentions behind what she does, she just makes a few errors in quick judgement.  Who doesn't?  She has grown to be a stronger character mentally, and working on physically too.

We meet the Peregrinus clan in the first book, and I really liked them.  And they are here in this book as well.  They are a nice group of people to give more support, one way or the other.  And we have Lysander again. Mmm, he is such a nice man for Alyssa. ;)

This book does have the romance aspect to it as well.  Alyssa and Lysander is a couple working through their different ways, together ~ or trying even though he is the clan leader.  And we have more action as Alyssa finds herself in trouble and their are fights happening.

The story takes a change to it with Santino and the new Frenzy Soldiers that they learn about.  Interesting how things work that people just might need to work together...

I did enjoy this book, and would like to read the next in the series as well.


I received this book from the author for an honest review.


The book qualifies for Horror & Urban Fantasy Reading Challenge 2011 hosted by Book Chick City.

Just for Thought...

I'm curious of your thoughts... One day the mind was wondering, a lot.  But I came up with a few thoughts, questions... what ever you would like to call them, for chats with you.  I thought it would be neat to have a nice chat with you on different things in and regarding books.  I don't think this will become a post for every week, but I have several thoughts here to start some chats.  I do hope you will join in and share your thoughts.

Violence & Young Adult Books?

Is there ever to much violence in Young Adult books?

I started pondering this as I keep going to back to the Hunger Games books.  Yes, I read it. I loved it. I suggested it.  Friends kids read it. And my twelve year old son is reading it.

But let me explain, as brief as I can.  I wanted nothing to do with this book when I heard about it.  I didn't think any YA book should be about young adults, children, killing each other for enjoyment of viewers or not.  Then a friend in the book world finally convinced me to read it.  I didn't find it so bad when I did read it.  I even mention in my review, as you know there is killing going on you don't really see it or witness Katniss doing it.  She is struggling with surviving, on her own, not out killing the other kids.  So, I was happy with the book.  And passed it on to friends and my son as well.

But, there seems to be so much "killing" in the world and on television for the young ones these days.  So, my question is do you think there is to much in books as well?

Maybe it's my selection in books, and Young Adult books, but I don't seem to see it on an overly done process yet.  Maybe you have read different books than I and have or have not seen it.  So, I'm curious about your thoughts on it.