Looking Forward To...(133)

There are so many amazing books already on the shelves and new ones coming out.

For a list of books yet to be released I'm looking to get, you can also look on my right Sidebar at the ever growing list titled Desired Reads - just scroll down. Of course there are tones of other new books to come out that are amazing as well, but these ones are part of series I have already started or for one reason or another caught my eye (and haven't seen much on other blogs yet). But I will highlight one here each week.

(mentioned in order of Release Date then Alphabetical if there are more than one book coming out on the same date.)

It's been a while since I've done one of these Friday Looking Forward posts.  And I miss doing them.

Next Book Is...

Cold Blooded

Jessica McClain #3

Edited By:  Amanda Carlson

Due Out:  October 8, 2013

Yes, I read an ARC of this one. I just so love this world and series so much. I can't wait to order up the print version for my shelves.

Goodreads Synopsis:
Jessica arrives back in town to find her best friend missing and the most powerful witch in the country is blaming her for it. But before they can move to save her, the group is attacked.

On the run, Jessica and Rourke head to the mountains. Several surprises await them, but in order to save her father they are forced to leave for New Orleans early.

Arriving on the Vampire Queen's doorstep unexpectedly, and bringing trouble on their heels, the Sects are thrown into an all out war. The vicious
skirmish ends up forcing the vamps and Jessica to fight on the same team.

The Vamp Queen ends up owing Jessica, but what Jessica doesn't realize is just how soon she'll have to cash it in...

Book Review: Into Darkness

Into Darkness

By:  S.A. Archer & S. Ravynheart

Publish Date:  July 6, 2013

Publisher:  Ravynheart Publishing

Format:  ebook, 98pgs

Genre:  Urban Fantasy

Series:  1st of Into Magic series;
continuation of Rise of the Unseelie, Champion of the Sidhe, and Touch series.

Recommendation:  Continuation of the series with a darker twist to them.  All combine into one blended story!

Synopsis:
One Dangerous World... The Intense Storylines... All Collide in Season Two of The Sidhe!

Poisoned with dark magic, Lugh, the former Champion of the Sidhe, is ruled by the beast within, and it has one goal... to reclaim a source of magic that will make it unstoppable.  But his allies have not forgotten his quest to restore the realm of fey that will prevent the fey from Fading.

By Lugh's side is London, a human druidess pledged into his service.  London's got Lugh's back, even if he's whacked out of his mind.  She'll need more than quick thinking and her gun to get them out of the trouble that is coming for them.

The Unseelie, led by Donovan, have brought the Sidhe back from the brink of extinction.  And now they are not going to let Lugh remake a fey realm under Seelie control.  With the young earthborn Sidhe coming into their powers, the Unseelie rise against the forces that would once more see them under Seelie tyranny.

With longer episodes, Season Two combines the three storylines from Season One, with explosive results!

First Sentence:
The sense of de ja vu brought on a wave of nausea for London almost as much as the reek of blood.

Purchase At:
Amazon

***I read for my honest thoughts on the story, from the author.

My Thoughts and Summary:
Lugh has changed, consumed by the Darkness yet holding off the eclipse - barely.  London is still his druidess and needs the Sidhe Touch to live.  She will do his bidding, no matter what.

The more pieces of the magic puzzle Malcolm finds, the easier it is to follow the threads of magic to the next piece.  And more obsessed Malcolm becomes with the mission to find all the magic and bring it together.

Lugh is on the mission for artifacts to create a new fey realm, and power.  The wood elves think they can stop the fade, or extremely delay it.  Lugh is willing to do this procedure to get to create the new realm and powers with it.

Each want to help the fey, by restoring the power so the Fade doesn't take any more.  But, each has their valid reasons for why they can't afford the 'help' of the other.  Or why the other is dangerous.  Will the Fey survive the constant battle between Seelie and Unseelie long enough?  The rift is needed, but is it needed still?  Could the Seelie and Unseelie be switching roles?  Maybe so....


What a way to start Season 2.  All characters we enjoy are here.  Even Jonathon the dragon.  This is a complete intersection of the three previous series; Champion of the Sidhe, Rise of the Unseelie, and Touch.  We get POV from London, Malcolm, Donovan, and Lugh.  All in one place!

Interesting turn of events and what we learn.  There are deep secrets to the Dark Beast in Lugh, and this makes me curious to motives behind others that are now lost.  Or are they?  I'm still curious as to that little question from season one.  And what happens to him here...Oh my.  Just when you think Lugh has it bad, it gets worse.

Malcolm.  Wow.  Just when you think he's coming around, he falls backwards.  This boy is falling for his bloodhound instincts and not even know it.  The things he does with magic, he is a key to many things.  And one that is hard to control at that.  He's damaged and becoming obsessed with magic and playing with it.  He has no idea what he's doing, but he's doing it.

Oooo, this is the one.  The ending is top notch.  Fighting and intense to hold your attention to what's going on. Then!  Then you see someone you never thought you would! LOL!  Ha!

Throwback Thursday (130)

I found this picture of Trinity College Library, and thought it would work for this meme with a little play with lighting and adding the words.

Let's talk about those books already on the shelves, yours or the stores.

I have a post for books I'm looking forward to coming out;

Looking Forward To...

But what about all those wonderful books that are ALREADY on the shelves.

Whether it be on your shelf waiting to be read or on the shelves in the stores waiting for you to give it a good home.

So, I thought I would share a book a week that is just waiting for me to travel through it's world.

Now... where do I start? Lets go by Published Date on the books...

This Week:

Oh this looks bad. I still have the first book to get to and the second has come up on my list already... Er, I've been busy?

So, this is the second book in the Blue Bloods series, and I need to even start the series yet.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Schuyler Van Alen is starting to get more comfortable with her newfound vampire powers, but she still has many unanswered questions. A trip to Italy in search of her grandfather only serves to make things more confusing. What secrets are the leaders of The Committee hiding? Meanwhile, back in New York, preparations are feverishly underway for the famous Four Hundred Ball. In true Blue Blood fashion, the ball is totally fab, complete with masks-and hidden behind this masquerade is a revelation that will change the course of a young vampire's destiny.

The thrilling sequel in Melissa de la Cruz's vampire mythology has all the glamour, attitude, and vampire lore that made the first book a hit.

I've heard back from a few bloggers that they would like to join in this meme post, so I'm adding a Linky for you to join in.  Grab the picture above, and join in.  All I ask, is if you can acknowledge my blog in the post so others know where to come back to 

Winners!!

Okay, I'm late. I'm sorry. Life and sinuses have been terrible to me lately. So, let's get to the punch here....

Thank you all for entering and showing interest in these amazing books. I hope you all purchase them. They are worth it!

Bibliotropic winner of Lamentation by Ken Scholes!

Carol Evans winner of Vengeance Borne by Amanda Bonilla!

Winners have 72 hours from 10/2/13 8:00 PM EST to respond to emails before another winner will be picked.

Book Review: A Dance of Cloaks

A Dance of Cloaks

By:  David Dalglish

Publisher:  Orbit Books

Publish Date:  October 8, 2013

Format:  Print 448pg,  5 1/2" x 8 1/7"

Series:  1st of Shadowdance series

Recommendation:  Eeea. If you like lots of thieves and death, give it a try.

Book Synopsis:
Thren Felhorn is the greatest assassin of his time. Marshalling the thieves’ guilds under his control, he declares war against the Trifect, an allegiance of wealthy and powerful nobles.

Aaron Felhorn has been groomed since birth to be Thren’s heir. Sent to kill the daughter of a priest, Aaron instead risks his own life to protect her from the wrath of his guild. In doing so, he glimpses a world beyond poison, daggers, and the iron control of his father.

Guilds twist and turn, trading allegiances for survival. The Trifect weakens, its reputation broken, its money dwindling. The players take sides as the war nears its end, and Thren puts in motion a plan to execute hundreds.

Only Aaron can stop the massacre and protect those he loves…

Assassin or protector; every choice has its consequences.

First Sentence:
For the past two weeks the simple building had been his safe house, but now Thren Felhorn distrusted its protection as he limped through the door.

Purchase At:
Amazon  /  Barnes & Nobles  /  Book Depository

** I requested a copy of this book from the Publisher for an honest review.

My Thoughts and Summary:
For the last five years the battle between the Trifect and the Guilds has become an all out war in the city of Veldaren. One thief wants to rule it all, Thren, with making his son the most dangerous and feared of them all. By bringing down the Trifect who rule the city and the King, Thren can then rule over his city. But...will there be anyone left to rule? And can he pull it off?

There feels like a lot going on here. We get different views as characters in this world interact or are influenced by actions of others. And in this city, all are affected. I usually like multiple POVs, but here I don't feel as sucked into the world as other reads because of all the short glimpses between different characters. I felt the glimpses were to short and not in an order that flowed for me in the first half of the book. I know this is to show the world but each doesn't last long enough for me to get a feel for that character. I wanted to say SHOW me, don't TELL me. That would have drawn me to the characters and their dark world a bit more. But I did find I was curious to see where it would go. The story feels like it's to have an epic sense to the characters and their interactions to come, but at times with epic series there is a great distance between me and the world and characters. I felt that here, and pretty much through out the book.

We start strong with trouble and potentially war between Trifect that rule the shadows of Veldaren. Wow. When we meet Aaron. What he does at the age of eight. *whistles* He'll be a dangerous man when he grows up. The world in Veldaren is full of death. Thren and all the thief guilds don't mess around here. They say they are going to kill you, they do. Heck, they'll kill you even if they say they won't. I liked that. Is it something new? No, but I liked that aspect of the story.

The story picked up for me as I went. It did take about 200 pages for me to start to see more in the characters and with this world though. Mind you the book is 448 pages. I think they style of the author is now starting to iron out, although I'm not sure if his style is for me. I would prefer to go for a longer read or more books if I was shown through actions of the characters more instead of what they think of themselves.

I did start to like a few characters, Aaron and even Senke. Alyssa even grew on me as did the Faceless. But I would have liked more from them in the away of showing us and longer views.

I wanted to so badly be screaming from the roof tops for this book, but... well... I'm not there. It fell flat for me. I do hope others love it as I know there are the readers out there that will love this book for it's action alone.


Additional views of the book can be found at:
   Fantasy Book Critic, who very much enjoyed the read.
   Book Girl of Mur-y-Castell

Who? What? Where? (129)

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.

his 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 )

This Week:

I'm with Penelope and Cal in the bar at ConDamned. They each are having a rough time thus far at the con. Each wanted to meet a gamer they've never met. Pen thinks she meet 'him' and he wasn't what she'd thought. Cal has to work, secret agent stuff, and doesn't want to but 'her' in danger. These two are hitting it of splendidly. Their banter is great together.


Gaming for Keeps
By:  Seleste deLaney

Others have shown interest in joining in this post, and linking up.  So I've created a linky for that.
My only requests; copy the picture to use, and link back to My World...in words and pages.
Please visit any joining in.
Thank you!

Cover Reveal! Ruled by Steel

I have ebooks I've picked up by this author and haven't had time, with all these review books, to get to reading them.  But dang if I don't want too!

This cover is the next in S.M. Reine's Ascension series.

Ruled by Steel

The Ascension Series #3

By:  S.M. Reine

Due Out:  October 30, 2013

The cover hints at the scenery here, and I like it. She is ready to kick some arse!


S.M. Reine Bio:
SM Reine is an author of paranormal and urban fantasy from Reno, NV best known for "The Descent Series," which is about an exorcist on the run from God. She likes long walks on the beach, overcast days, total mayhem, and kittens.


Learn more of S.M. Reine's books and follow her at:
The Ascension Series:   http://authorsmreine.com/the-ascension-series/
Facebook:   http://www.facebook.com/authorsmreine
Twitter:   http://www.twitter.com/smreine


This is the third book of the series.  I'm curious about the first two now!  If you are curious about the first two like me, you can find them on Amazon: