Dearest Book Review

Dearest
Alethea Kontis

Rating (out of 5): 5
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy/Fairy Tale
Release Date: February 3, 2015
Series: The Woodcutter Sisters
Series Volume: 3
Profanity: Very Mild
Violence: Mild
Sexual Content: None
Age Recommendation: 8+
Author Website: Alethea Kontis

Summary:

“A fabulous fairy-tale mashup that deserves hordes of avid readers. Absolutely delectable.” —Kirkus Reviews, starred review of award-winning series debut Enchanted

Readers met the Woodcutter sisters (named after the days of the week) in Enchanted and Hero. In this delightful third book, Alethea Kontis weaves together some fine-feathered fairy tales to focus on Friday Woodcutter, the kind and loving seamstress. When Friday stumbles upon seven sleeping brothers in her sister Sunday’s palace, she takes one look at Tristan and knows he’s her future. But the brothers are cursed to be swans by day. Can Friday’s unique magic somehow break the spell?

Review:

Alethea Kontis gets better with every book she writes. I fell in love with the Woodcutter sisters in Enchanted, fell in deeper with Hero, and have completely lost myself in Dearest. Friday’s story was endearing and wonderful. It doesn’t hurt that the story focused on some of my favorite fairy tales as well: The Wild Swans and The Goose Girl.

The story picks up just before Saturday broke the world and we get to see what the rest of her family was doing while she was away. In the wake of the disaster Friday takes it upon herself to care for all of the children in the families who’ve been misplaced by the giant ocean. Eventually she stumbles upon Tristan and his brothers sleeping in the castle’s tower, there is an immediate connection between the two and Friday sets out to help break their curse. This sets in motion a chain of events that will take Friday further than she’d ever imagined, and teaches her more about herself and love than she ever would have staying at home.

Friday’s story is my favorite of the Woodcutter Sisters series so far. Her adventure is exciting and delightful and also very funny. It was wonderful to see her blossom from the quiet character I’d seen her as in previous books to a confident woman who was willing to go to great lengths to save those she cared about.

It’s often difficult to juggle multiple characters but Alethea does it with great ease. Tristan along with each of his siblings were all wonderful characters, each with their own personalities. The other characters included in this book were all enjoyable as well, I found myself particularly drawn to Conrad and Friday’s darlings, Michael, John, and Wendy (yes like in Peter Pan). I also was delighted to see more of Sunday, Rumbold, Monday, and many of the other characters I’ve come to love in the previous books.

As with all of the books in her Woodcutters series Alethea Kontis weaves together a multitude of different fairy tales and stories creating one that both delights and surprises. I’m well versed in the original versions of The Wild Swans and The Goose Girl and I still found myself surprised by each and every cleaver twist in the story.

Dearest will make you laugh and it will make you cry. It is a love story and an adventure. For those who’ve already read the first two books in this series I highly recommend that you get Dearest as soon as you can. For those who haven’t read the series and found this review at all intriguing please start with Enchanted (book 1) or this one won’t make very much sense. But read Dearest (or Enchanted) if you like romance, adventure, magic, fairy tales, or just a really good read. You won’t regret it.

Note: I reccieved an electronic copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for my fair and honest opinion which I have stated above.

~Dawn

UnHappenings Book Review

UnHappenings
Edward Aubry

 

Rating (out of 5): 5
Genre: Fantasy/Science Fiction
Release Date: January 8, 2015

Profanity: Mild
Violence: Very Mild
Sexual Content: Very Mild
Age Recommendation: 14 +
Author Website:
Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads




Summary:

When Nigel Walden is fourteen, the UNHAPPENINGS begin. His first girlfriend disappears the day after their first kiss with no indication she ever existed. This retroactive change is the first of many only he seems to notice.

Several years later, when Nigel is visited by two people from his future, he hopes they can explain why the past keeps rewriting itself around him. But the enigmatic young guide shares very little, and the haggard, incoherent, elderly version of himself is even less reliable. His search for answers takes him fifty-two years forward in time, where he finds himself stranded and alone.

And then he meets Helen.

Brilliant, hilarious and beautiful, she captivates him. But Nigel’s relationships always unhappen, and if they get close it could be fatal for her. Worse, according to the young guide, just by entering Helen’s life, Nigel has already set into motion events that will have catastrophic consequences. In his efforts to reverse this, and to find a way to remain with Helen, he discovers the disturbing truth about the unhappenings, and the role he and his future self have played all along.

Equal parts time-travel adventure and tragic love story, Unhappenings is a tale of gravely bad choices, and Nigel’s struggle not to become what he sees in the preview of his worst self.

Review:

UnHappenings grabbed my attention right away with its beautiful cover and intriguing summary. What all was in store in a book about a young man whose life was constantly changing around him? I was in for quite a surprise, and a good one at that.

Nigel Walden has spent his life trying to figure out why everything seems to unhappen to him. These strange unhappenings can be as little as him having a cat he never actually found to as large as people he knew never existing. His quest to make sense of it all leads him on a journey through time where not everything is as it seems.

I loved this book. I was pulled in immediately by Nigel’s witty and sarcastic tone as he narrated his tale. I really enjoyed the scientific aspect of it, and the fact that Nigel himself did a lot of  research and studying that had to do with time travel. Many books of this type would glance over the sciencey parts (no matter how actual or not they turn out to be) and give readers the barest of information. UnHappenings does the opposite. We travel with Nigel as he tries to unravel the mysteries of time and how to get around it. Edward Aubry’s writing style makes it easy for anyone to understand the time travel aspects of this book so there’s no worry if you’ve never been introduced to time travel.

UnHappenings isn’t about time travel alone, it’s also a sweeping love story between Nigel and Helen, the girl who he’s hoping is immune to his unhappenings. I found myself on the edge of my seat at the end of every chapter, wanting and waiting to see if she was still there or if anything had unhappened. I found myself rooting for the two of them throughout the story. As the story progressed I was pulled deeper and deeper into the mystery of time travel and the unhappenings eagerly waiting to get some answers, and when I finally did I was astounded.

The writing is wonderful easy to fall into and the pacing is well done. The book was written from Nigel’s continuing point of view so I never found myself confused by which Nigel this was or what time it was like some time travel books tend to do.

UnHappenings is much more than a time travel book. It’s a story that will challenge your thinking on love, just how far will one go to protect the love that they have found?
 
I’d recommend this book to any fan of science fiction, time travel, and romance. If you’re looking for a great book with a deep story and wonderful characters then pick up a copy of UnHappenings, you won’t be disappointed.

Note I received an electronic copy of this book in from the publisher in exchange for my fair and honest opinion which I have stated above.

~Dawn

Black River Book Review

 Black River 

Peter Fugazzotto

Rating (out of 5): 4
Genre: Dark Fantasy
Release Date: December 9, 2014
Series: Hounds of the North
Series Number: 2
Profanity: High
Violence: High
Sexual Content: Mild
Age Recommendation: Adult
Author Website: http://peterfugazzotto.com/




Summary:

Shield Scyldmund has lost his purpose.

For the past twenty years, Shield and his mercenary brothers the Hounds of the North have been purging the Dhurman Empire of warlocks and witches.

But now the Dhurmans no longer want or trust the aging clansmen.

So when an opportunity arises to return North to help an Apprentice Chronicler hunt down magic wielders, Shield is filled with hope.

But everything changes when Shield learns that the witch he is hunting is Birgid Wordswallow, the lover he abandoned two decades ago.

Review:

Black River by Peter Fugazzotto is the dark tale of a band of hunter's who are groping for some meaning in life. It is the sequel to the novella The Witch of the Sands but can be read without having read the novella. The story focuses on Shield Scyldmund, the leader of a group of witch hunters called the Hounds of the North. They have spent most of their lives as assassins for hire fighting in the war that has been raging over their land for decades. Greying and not as strong as they once were the men dream of one day returning home and finding a meaning to their lives that they seem to have lost.

This is a dark tale and Sheild's journey is not one for the faint of heart.

Peter's writing is excellent and draws a reader right into the story weaving the sands of the desert and the heat of battle into a picture that is not hard to visualize. The story is well written and takes readers on a journey unlike any I've read in a while. I liked the characters as well, they were well realized and each had their own distinct personality.

The government, politics, and magic system were all interesting as well. The magic system in particular was interesting with it being limited to only a few people and the Emperors difficulty in trying to harness it for his own.

The main problem I had with this book was the strong language. If you don't have a problem with a lot of colorful language in books then you shouldn't have to worry about this part. But if you do then let me warn you, this book does contain very strong language and the f-word is used more than once. This is a big thing for me because colorful language tends to knock me out of a story, no matter how it is used.

Black River is an interesting tale written by a very talented author. I would recommend it to anyone interested in fantasy, dark fantasy, and the tales of warriors. I wouldn't recommend it if you have an aversion to strong language however.

Note: I received an electronic copy of this book from the author in exchange for my fair and honest opinion which I have stated above.

~Dawn 

Kitty Hawk and the Tragedy of the RMS Titanic Review

Kitty Hawk and the Tragedy of the R.M.S. Titanic 

Iain Reading

Rating (out of 5): 5

Genre: Young Adult Adventure/Mystery

Release Date: February 16, 2014

Series: Kitty Hawk Flying Detective Agency
Series Number: 4

Profanity: Mild

Violence:Mild

Sexual Content: None

Age Recommendation: 16 +
Book Website: http://kittyhawkworld.com/

About the Author:

Iain Reading is passionate about Root Beer, music, and writing. He is Canadian, but currently resides in the Netherlands working for the United Nations.

Iain has published 4 books in the Kitty Hawk Flying Detective Agency Series (Kitty Hawk and the Curse of the Yukon Gold, Kitty Hawk and the Hunt for Hemingway's Ghost, Kitty Hawk and the Icelandic Intrigue, and Kitty Hawk and the Tragedy of the RMS Titanic). He is currently working on the 5^th book in the series. For more information, go to http://www.kittyhawkworld.com/.  

Iain is also the author of The Wizards of Waterfire Series. The first book in the series The Guild of the Wizards of Waterfire was published in April 2014.

Connect with Iain on Twitter and Goodreads.

 Summary: 

Kitty Hawk and the Tragedy of the RMS Titanic is the thrillingly cryptic fourth installment of the exciting Kitty Hawk Flying Detective Agency Series featuring the intrepid teenage seaplane pilot Kitty Hawk and her various adventures of mystery and intrigue as she follows in the footsteps of Amelia Earhart on an epic flight around the world. This fourth book in the series brings Kitty to the emerald hills of Ireland where she meets a handsome stranger and is quickly swept up in a perplexing hundred-year-old family treasure hunt involving secret codes and puzzling clues that lead her on a fast-paced adventure that carries her from Dublin to London - from the decks of the ill-fated ocean liner Titanic to the temples of ancient Egypt and the streets of Jack the Ripper - until she finally unlocks the mystery and discovers the long-hidden treasure. Much like the earlier books in this series, Kitty Hawk and the Tragedy of the RMS Titanic is a perfect book to fire the imaginations of armchair detectives of all ages. Filled with fascinating and highly Google-able locations and history the reader will find themselves immersed in brand new worlds that are brought to life before their very eyes as Kitty Hawk experiences the stories and history of a doomed ocean liner and unravels the Tragedy of the RMS Titanic.

Review:

Kitty Hawk and the Tragedy of the R.M.S. Titanic is the first Kitty Hawk book that I’ve read. Even though it’s the fourth in the series I had no trouble getting into this book and falling in love with Kitty and the story.

At the start of the book Kitty Hawk finds herself in Ireland promoting  the sushi shop that is funding her adventure around the world. She is quickly swept up in a story of tragedy, mystery, and adventure when she is approached by the handsome Andrew after the promotion.  This adventure deals with the tragedy of the Titanic and I enjoyed all of the code-breaking, break-in's and general detectivness of the whole thing.

Kitty’s adventurous spirit and love for trivia drew me to her immediately and her tendency to over worry about situations made her feel very real to me since I tend to do the same thing. I also really liked Richard. His quest to find out the truth about his ancestor and his willingness to do anything to find out the truth impressed me. The other characters in the book were also all very enjoyable and each stood out in their own way. 

The trivia and code-breaking in this book really stood out to me. I found myself eagerly trying to figure out what each clue meant and I even took time out of reading to look over many of the detailed pictures in the story to try and figure out what the different symbols and numbers meant. I figured out a few of them while others had me as stumped as Kitty often found herself being. As for the trivia, I feel like I learned so much from this book, and not just trivia about the Titanic. I was treated to information on planes, Egyptian hieroglyphics, England’s history, and much more. I never felt like I was being lectured and I really enjoyed the bit after the story with further information on much of the trivia discussed in the book.

Overall I really enjoyed reading Kitty Hawk and the Tragedy of the R.M.S. Titanic and I'm eager to read more adventures with this spunky and fun character. This book would be great for any fans of mystery, history, adventure, and general fun.

Note: I received an electronic copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for my fair and honest opinion which I have stated above. 

~Dawn 

 

Virtual Arcana: The High Priestess Review

Virtual Arcana: The High Priestess

Karen Amanda Hooper

Rating (out of 5): 5

Genre: Fantasy

Release Date: December 15, 2014

Series: Virtual Arcana
Series Part: 2

Profanity: none

Violence: none

Sexual Content: none  

Age Recommendation: 12+

Author Website: http://www.karenamandahooper.com/




Summary:

The THIRD book in the VIRTUAL ARCANA series.
The series starts with book 0: The Fool.

As Kelsey delves deeper into the illegal world of virtual reality, her understanding of the Arcana expands and her feelings for Xander evolve.

When Xander's tarot cards fail to give her clarity, Kelsey's training commences. But mystical meetings and storybook scenarios provide her with answers that only trigger more questions.

Approximately 17k words.

SEASON 1 EPISODE LIST:

The Fool ~ Virtual Arcana #0
The Magician ~ Virtual Arcana #1
The High Priestess~ Virtual Arcana #2
The Empress ~ Virtual Arcana #3
The Emperor ~ Virtual Arcana #4
The Hierophant ~ Virtual Arcana #5
The Lovers ~ Virtual Arcana #6

Review:

The High Priestess was another wonderful installment in the continuing story of Virtual Arcana. Kelsey end's up with more questions then answers and we finally get to start learning a little more about Arcana, the government, and the world outside. 

I loved all of the different Virtual landscapes that we were treated to in this installment. Seeing the High Priestess's card reading was really interesting giving us a further glimpse into what Kelsey is really thinking about all of this.

 I also really enjoyed getting to see Kelsey explore her feelings for Xander a little more, and seeing his reactions to her was great. I really like them together and I can't wait to see their relationship develop further. 

I loved the new characters that were introduced in this book as well and I can't wait to see more of each of them as the story continues. And the Arcana! I was so excited to start learning more about the cards, virtual reality, and what they all have to do with the government.

With all the questions and answers in this story The High Priestess is definitely an installment that you don't want to miss!

Note: I reccieved an electronic copy of this book from the author in exchange for my fair and honest opinion which I have stated above.

~Dawn

The Orphan of Torundi Book Review

The Orphan of Torundi 

J.L McCreedy

Rating (out of 5): 5
Genre: Young Adult Romance/Adventure
Release Date: November 28, 2014
Series:n/a
Series Number:n/a
Profanity: mild
Violence: mild
Sexual Content: none
Age Recommendation: 14+
Author Website: www.TongaTime.com





Summary:

To find the truth, she must first uncover the lie ….

Orphaned as an infant, Sam is raised by a pharmaceutical research mission in the rain forests of Torundi. She wields a mean machete, makes soap from candlenuts and is a fairly astute amateur entomologist. You know, the normal stuff. But a month before her seventeenth birthday, she is exiled to an American boarding school in Malaysia.

Armed with little more than her unusual upbringing and church-lady clothes, Sam must contend with her new existence as the world's most socially unprepared high school senior. Well that’s just fine. Because she is determined to solve the mystery behind her banishment and return home tout de suite.

But when she discovers the unthinkable – that her banishment is tied to an enigmatic corporation with illicit designs on Torundi – she realizes the real mystery she must uncover is ... why? Soon, Sam is caught in a whirlwind of intrigue, danger and greed. As she chases this thread of truth to its end, she unravels a plot that threatens her beloved Torundi, her trust in the boy she has grown to love and her own existence.

Blending espionage elements akin to The Bourne Identity with those high-school-awkward-moments (hey, it could happen), THE ORPHAN OF TORUNDI is a quirky, cross-cultural tale of adventure, suspense and romance.

Review:

The Orphan of Torundi is the second book I've read by J.L. McCreedy and I loved it just as much as I loved her first book, Liberty Frey and the Witches of Hessen. As with Liberty I wasn't sure how to feel about this book when I first started reading it. I shouldn't have worried because it turned out to be so much more than I expected. It is not only an adventure but it's also a journey into growing up and learning just what it takes to find one's place in the world.

Samuel (Sam) Clemens thought she had it all,  orphaned and raised on the island of Torundi and had spent most of her life helping at the Mission where she was raised. She is shocked when suddenly she is sent away from the island to a boarding school. Angry, hurt, and confused Sam struggles to make sense of everything. Her search for the truth leads her into more than she ever imagined including: exotic locales, espionage, romance, and adventure all combining to make this story unforgettable.

There is so much I want to say about this book. I loved the characters, especially Sam with her quirky humor and tenacity to find out the truth. I loved the locations and the beautiful imagery that pulled me into them creating a wonderful cross cultural experience. I loved the adventure and the mystery. The story was one that kept me turning the pages weather Sam was running down a clue or paddling downriver with her classmates.

J.L. McCreedy did a great job balancing espionage and everyday life. It's not something that I'd normally look for in a book and I'm excited to have found it here. I also enjoyed reading Sam's reflections on how life can just move on around you. Her comments on how jarring it is to be thrust from one place to another really hit home and I found myself nodding in agreement with much that she said.

I had no problem getting into this book and once I started I had a hard time putting it down. Anyone who enjoys mystery, romance, espionage, cross cultural experiences, and adventure would love this book. The Orphan of Torundi will make you laugh and cry and leave you breathless at the end wishing for more.

Note: I received an electronic copy of this book from the author in exchange for my fair and honest review which I have stated above.

~Dawn

You can find my review for J.L. McCreedy's other book Liberty Frey and the Witches of Hessen here.

UnHappenings Cover Reveal

Hey everyone! I am excited to be a part of the cover reveal for the new YA book UnHappenings! Below is all the information you may want about this stunning new Scifi romance!

UnHappenings

Edward Aubry

Genre: Literary/Science Fiction/Romance

 Release Date: January 8, 2015

 Cover Design:  Andy Garcia

 Publisher: Curiosity Quills

Review Tour: January 5-16

Interested in taking part in the review tour?
please sign up here.

 

 

 

Summary:

When Nigel Walden is fourteen, the UNHAPPENINGS begin. His first girlfriend disappears the day after their first kiss with no indication she ever existed. This retroactive change is the first of many only he seems to notice. Several years later, when Nigel is visited by two people from his future, he hopes they can explain why the past keeps rewriting itself around him. But the enigmatic young guide shares very little, and the haggard, incoherent, elderly version of himself is even less reliable. His search for answers takes him fifty-two years forward in time, where he finds himself stranded and alone. And then he meets Helen. Brilliant, hilarious and beautiful, she captivates him. But Nigel’s relationships always unhappen, and if they get close it could be fatal for her. Worse, according to the young guide, just by entering Helen’s life, Nigel has already set into motion events that will have catastrophic consequences. In his efforts to reverse this, and to find a way to remain with Helen, he discovers the disturbing truth about the unhappenings, and the role he and his future self have played all along. Equal parts time-travel adventure and tragic love story, Unhappenings is a tale of gravely bad choices, and Nigel’s struggle not to become what he sees in the preview of his worst self.

Add UnHappenings to your Goodreads 'to-be-read' list: UnHappenings

About Edward Aubry:

Edward Aubry is a graduate of Wesleyan University, with a degree in music composition. Improbably, this preceded a career as a teacher of high school mathematics and creative writing. Over the last few years, he has gradually transitioned from being a teacher who writes novels on the side to a novelist who teaches to support his family. He is also a poet, his sole published work in that form being the sixteen stanza “The History of Mathematics.” He now lives in rural Pennsylvania with his wife and three spectacular daughters, where he fills his non-teaching hours spinning tales of time-travel, wise-cracking pixies, and an assortment of other impossible things.

Find Edward Aubry Online:

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