Book Review - A Ripple in Time - Angel of the Titanic by Julia Hughes

Title: A Ripple in Time – Angel of the Titanic

Author: Julia Hughes

Publisher/format: Harefield Books, Kindle Edition

How I got this:  Received a free copy in return for fair review.

Synopsis (From Goodreads.com):

Wren's dreams become entangled with those of someone who lived 100 years ago. Fearing he is losing his mind, Wren googles the name of young girl he dreams of. He finds her story in a book entitled 'Survivors of the Titanic.'
Through Wren, the girl becomes aware of the tragedy awaiting and manages to avert disaster by warning the crew. What happens next tears the very fabric of time itself, creating an alternative history. If this world is not to become reality, Wren must use the mythical sword Excalibur to turn back time, harnessing the power of ancient standing stones.
Wren is trapped at Stonehenge. Stepping from its protective circle means he will cease to exist. Here at least he has some kind of half life in spirit form.
As days then weeks pass, this version of the world becomes more solid, and his chances to turn back time and restore reality fade.
Wren needs to convince his cousin Rhyllann to bring the mystical sword Caliburn (Excalibur) to Stonehenge. They must turn back time, and ensure that the Titanic fulfils her destiny.
Unfortunately, the only person who can see him is a crazy old woman. Luckily she has a fiesty granddaughter. Carrie only plays along to humour gran at first. But soon she is running for her life. She comes to realise that although Wren may not be on the side of the angels, he is certainly on her side.
Without so much as a kiss, Carrie begins to fall in love with the enigmatic Wren. Too late, she discovers just how ruthless he can be. Too late she discovers the true secret of the stones. In order to reverse the order of the stars, Wren not only needs Excalibur. He also needs the blood of a virgin.

Review:

This isn’t something I’d normally read, and whilst I enjoyed it, I did spend some time after finishing it trying to categorize it by genre – I’m thinking it’ somewhere between fantasy, dystopian, and historical fiction – and yes, that does make for an interesting mix! 

The story does tend to jump around a bit at the beginning and end, and I admit, this did confuse me a little until I clicked what was actually going on.  The story follows Wren and his cousin Rhyllann, and their adventures when the fabric of time tears, rewriting history, and causing Wren’s spirit to become trapped at Stonehenge.  This leaves two problems – how to get his body back when he can’t leave the stone circle, and how to change the events in this reality so that reality goes back to ‘normal’. 

I have to say this was a very original read – I haven’t read anything like this before!  There was clearly a lot of research into the events leading to the Titanic’s demise, and this was very important in the plot of the story, and I don’t think it would have worked so well as it did had this not been so well done. 

Generally, the characters were interesting – the reader sort of watches Wren grow up throughout the book, and whilst Rhyllann seems a bit… brusque at points, he does come through and is likeable.  Again, I found myself hoping things went okay for Carrie, although she did seem to have some mood swings sometimes! 

One of the only things I would have liked to hear more of is what happened when time was returned to normal – did Wren and Carrie ever get together?  Did Carrie remember anything?  I very much hope so, but I didn't feel this was particularly well explained.  That said, it could be argued that this leaves it open to interpretation by the reader. 

This said, it was an enjoyable read, and I found it to be a pleasant change of pace in my reading. 

Overall rating:4/5

Writing: 4/5

Style: 4/5

Originality: 5/5

Characters:4/5

Author Interview: K. P. Smith

Where were you born and where do you call home?

I was born and raised and currently reside in New Orleans,LA. Dorothy said it best there is no place like it.


What is the name of your most recent book and if you had to sum it up in 30 or less words, what would you say?

It will chronicle the life of Kendra Foster and her journey of growing up. You will take the journey of the joys, pains, ups and downs. Family, school, friend’s boys and everything in between.


Do you have plans for a new book?

 Is this book part of a series?-I am currently working on A New Beginning. the second book in the Growing Pains series.


What or who inspired you to write? And how long have you been writing?

-I have always been "good" at writing. A's on English papers loved essay tests above anything else when I was in school.

I talked about writing a book for forever. Life happened some major personal challenges and I just decided to stop talking about it and DO IT.


How did you come up with the title and cover design?

Growing up is painful so the title of Growing Pains speaks for itself.

I wanted a girl average girl that everyone person growing up could relate to and her expression told the story before you open the book. I also wanted my all grown up readers (like myself) and think I used to look like that!!


Have you based any of your characters on someone you know, or real events in your own life?

30% of my book is based on events in my life or the lives of people close to me. The other 70% is my imagination.

Do you prefer ebooks, paperbacks or hardcover?

I am dating myself but looong before the e-reader times it was paperback. I love to read at night. I put my book under my pillow and start again when I get up. Hardback always a little too uncomfortable.

About a month ago I was sold out to the paper and vowed to be loyal to the paper (which I am). But I downloaded my first book on Kindle and it is giving paperback a run for its money.

Don't think I love paperbacks more at this point just longer.


Are you a self published (Indie) Author?

Yes

Have you ever read a book more than once?

In the past year I read Rage of Angels by Sidney Sheldon for at least the third time. It was the first book I ever read and thought wow I would love to be able to tell a story like that!!


Is there a particular movie that you preferred over the book version?

Bridges Over Madison County which is also one of my top favorite chick flicks of all time.


What book are you currently reading and in what format (ebook/paperback/hardcover)?

The House and it is on Kindle..sorry paperback.


Who designed the cover of your book?

Lisa Russell


Do you have a book trailer?

No, but I am working on getting one.


What are your thoughts on book trailers?

I think anything an author can do for Advertising in this market they should do.


Do you have any advice for other writers?

A bestseller only becomes one when people buy what we have written; PROMOTE, PROMOTE, PROMOTE.


What is the best advice that you have ever been given when it comes to writing?

Don't look for what others have done or are doing. Find your own voice and speak.

Do you ever write in your PJ’s?

OH YEAH.

Cats or dogs?

 Cats

White wine or red?

White

Coffee or tea?

 Coffee(mocha)

Vanilla or chocolate icecream?

Chocolate


What do you normally eat for breakfast?

If I am eating light a breakfast bar. If I am going all out; pancakes and bacon.


What are 4 things you never leave home without?

Purse, banking card (never have cash), keys and my writing pads.


Laptop or desktop for writing?

 Laptop


Where and when do you prefer to do your writing?

I am a mood writer. No rhyme no reason no specific time or place. I have a big purse that always has a writing pad handy.


If you were deserted on an island, who are 3 famous people you would want with you?

Denzel Washington, Denzel Washington, and did I say Denzel Washington.


One of your favorite quotes:

 "Nothing is free in America." It is my own.

List 3 of your all time favorite books?

1) Rage of Angels 2) Disappearing Acts 3) Flowers in the Attic


An actor you have a crush on?

DENZEL WASHINGTON


What is a movie or TV show that you watched recently and really enjoyed?

Single Ladies


Where can your readers stalk you?


My facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001502243437

My Goodreads author page: Look me up K.P. Smith

Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/kendrasdiaries

Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Growing-Pains-Kendras-Diaries-ebook/dp/B005CX2VUC

Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/search?query=Growing+Pains%3A+Kendra%27s+Diaries

Is your book in Print, ebook or both?-Both 

Growing pains is available here on Amazon 

Go here to enter the Christmas Bloggerthon, where Growing Pains is one of the prizes!  

Review: Thief of Hope by Cindy Young-Turner

Title: Thief of Hope

Author: Cindy Young-Turner

Publisher/format: Crescent Moon Press/Kindle Edition

How I got this:  Received a free copy in return for fair review.

Synopsis (From Goodreads.com):

Sydney, a street urchin and pickpocket in the town of Last Hope, has managed to evade the oppressive Guild for years, but there is no escaping fate when she's sentenced to death for associating with the resistance.

After she's rescued by a wizard, Sydney is forced to accept that magic-long outlawed throughout the Kingdom of Thanumor-still exists, and the Tuatha, a powerful faery folk, are much more than ancient myth and legend. When the wizard offers a chance to fight the Guild and bring Willem, bastard prince and champion of the Tuatha, to the throne, Sydney embraces the cause as a way to find her own redemption.

But Sydney's fear of the Guild, distrust of authority, and surprising connection to the Tuatha threaten Willem's success. Can she untangle the strange threads that entwine her life not only to the fate of the kingdom, but also to Willem himself?

Review:

It’s not often I give out 5* reviews, but for this book, it’s necessary.  The story follows Sydney, a commoner living in the city of Last Hope, working as a pickpocket and basically doing whatever it takes to survive.  The oppressive Guild – the group running the city and the rest of the realm of Thanumor in lieu of a King – eventually catches up with Sydney – partly due to her own criminal merit and partly due to her association with her adoptive father, Edgar, who caused them plenty of problems by leading a resistance to their forces. 

When this happens, Sydney is sentenced to death – only surviving by being saved by a wizard, who leads her out onto an adventure in the company of Willem – the dead King’s bastard son, and rightful heir to the throne of Thanumor. 

I have to admit, at first, I wasn’t keen on Sydney as a character.  However, she develops well throughout the book, and by the end, I was very much behind her.  The thing is that as a reader, you eventually begin to understand how Sydney has lived, and that this is the reason she does things, and acts as she does.  Especially by the end of the book, I felt very much that Sydney should get some form of justice – and what she ultimately wants (I won’t give away more here for fear of spoilers!) 

The other characters were also all believable, and even Willem, who is clearly meant to be very just and good has some flaws, which I enjoyed – I find that I can’t enjoy fully ‘perfect’ characters.  Another firm favorite was Erik, the cleric, as was Vadnae, though I felt that Gregor could have been mentioned more – however, it feels as though this book may become a part of a series, and this would be an avenue I would be interested in reading about. 

Basically, this book was a brilliant read, and I just lapped it up.  There was very little worth criticizing, and that’s definitely refreshing!  The characters really seemed to take a life of their own, and the villains were nasty enough for the reader to seriously dislike them.  The book had a very upbeat feel, despite some very dark moments, and the character progression leads the reader to really feel for the characters. 

I’d definitely recommend this, to both fantasy lovers and those just starting the genre.  In fact, even if you don’t like fantasy, I’d recommend this book. 

Overall rating: 5/5

Writing: 5/5

Style: 5/5

Originality: 4/5

Characters: 4.5/5

Xmas Bloggerthon announcement!

As some of you may have noticed as per my giveaways page, I'm going to be a part of a Christmas Bloggerthon event!  In this event, I'm going to be competing against another blogger to see who can get to 100 new followers first in the month of December. 

Whoever reaches the number first will be giving away 24 ebooks in a competition draw.  Basically, to be entered in the competition, I need you to follow my blog (compulsary!) and then comment on this post with your email address. 

I am accepting entrants to the draw now, though the countdown to 100 new followers will only start in December.  This is the official post that I want people to comment on in order for people to enter this particular giveaway. 

Obviously, I haven't yet stated the books that I will be giving away - but I will gradually be releasing that information between now and Christmas, featuring reviews of some of the books in the giveaway as well as author interviews and guest posts on this blog.  There is also information here on Patti Roberts' blog.

I'm actually really excited to be a part of this, and I hope you're all looking forward to it too! 

The current list of books is:  

After The Virus - Meghan Ciana Doidge

Shades of Sin - Lillia Forsythe

Jinn Nation Caroline Barnard-Smith – letter sent
The Abandoned Edge of Avalon - Eden Tyler
Growing Pains: Kendras Diaries - K.P. Smith

If We Dare to Dream - Collette Scott

Seven Point Eight - Marie Harbon

Coexist – Julia Crane

Conflicted – Julia Crane
Can You See the Music? - Reagan McGuire

Dreams Unleashed - Linday Hawley

Orange Petals in a Storm - Niamh Clune

The Queen's Envoy - Lord David Prosser

Hippie Boy - Ingrid Ricks

Pandora's Grave - Stephen England

Excuse Me, My Brains Have Stepped Out - Pandora Poililos

Paradox - Progeny Of Innocence (bk 2) - Patti Roberts

I’m Only Human After All - Alex I Rogers

Crossroads – Mary Ting

Dressed To Kill - Brian Bianco

Beckoning Light (The Afterglow Trilogy) - Alyssa Rose Ivy

Kate Wilson-

Wayne Zurl - A New Prospect

Betty Dravis

Mom’s On The Roof And I Can’t Get Her Down - Cynthia Meyers-Hanson

Surreal – The Hell In The Family – Sydney S. Song and Cynthia Meyers-Hanson

Island of Secrets  - Tammie Gibbs

THE COUNTERFEIT - Tammie Gibbs

Joey Avniel

More coming soon...

 

Review: The Tale of Murasaki by Liza Dalby

Title:  The Tale of Murasaki

Author: Liza Dalby

Publisher/format: Vintage, Paperback

How I got this:  Bought in a Charity Shop

Synopsis (From Goodreads.com):

Liza Dalby's novel is a brilliantly imagined chronicle of the 11th-century Japanese writer Murasaki Shikibu. As we soon discover, our narrator has a good many doubts about the writing life. "As I pondered this question of how to be a success at court," she muses, "I came to the conclusion that literary ambition was more likely than not to bring a woman to a bad end." Happily, the real-life Murasaki persisted, and went on to become the author of the world's first novel, The Tale of Genji. For The Tale of Murasaki, Dalby draws on this groundbreaking masterpiece and on the surviving fragments of Murasaki's own diary and poetry, along with another masterpiece of the Heian period, The Pillow Book of Sei Shonagon. The result is a vivid and emotionally detailed portrait of an intelligent, sensitive, and complex woman.

In Dalby's novel, Murasaki writes her first stories about Prince Genji's amorous encounters in order to entertain her friends, and to express her own creative temperament. As the stories gain a wider public, however, they are transformed into a conduit for observations on the mores and intrigues of court life. And in the end, as the narrator struggles to stay true to her literary vision, her tales are inflected by Buddhist thought and become parables on the transience and beauty of the world:

I have always felt compelled to set down a vision of things I have heard and seen. Life itself has never been enough. It only became real for me when I fashioned it into stories. Yet, somehow, despite all I've written, the true nature of things I've tried to grasp in my fiction still manages to drift through the words and sit, like little piles of dust, between the lines.

Dalby is an anthropologist by trade, who has produced two previous nonfiction studies: Kimono and Geisha. And given that her research for Geisha gained her the distinction of being the only Westerner ever to have trained in that much misunderstood profession, it's no surprise that she is able to reconstruct 11th-century Japan with meticulous fidelity. It's all there--the political and sexual machinations, the preoccupations with clothing and custom, the difficult and tenuous position of courtiers, the intensity of female friendships in a male-dominated society--and the author shows us precisely how Murasaki's sensibilities were shaped by the culture in which she lived. This is a rich and convincing debut, and another chapter in the current resurrection of the historical novel. --Burhan Tufai

Review:

Firstly, I should point out that I’m really interested in Japan and Japanese culture, probably stemming from the fact that I studied Japanese from secondary school, and am currently semi fluent, despite having never been to the actual country myself.  I’ve read work by Dalby before, but previously only non-fiction. 

I found this book nestled in a local charity shop, and couldn’t resist.  I have to admit, I didn’t realize this was a fiction novel until I got it home and read the blurb properly.  That said, I was still interested.  Upon beginning to read, I was transported back to Heian era Japan, which was described in amazing detail.  It is obvious even to those not familiar with Dalby and her work that this work has been well researched, and the passion for this is obvious in the writing.  I was pleasantly surprised that Dalby is as good a storyteller as she is at giving non-fiction information. 

The writing in this book is beautiful, and the scenes described are done delicately and tangibly.  One of my only criticisms is that the character of Murasaki is somewhat distant.  You hear a lot of her descriptions of others, but you never really get a flavor of who she really is.  I think that's to do with the style of writing as much as anything else, but it would have been nice to have more than that. 

This really did appeal to me, and it was a nice escapist read, and I truly felt as though I’d been transported back to Heian era Japan.  It was very detailed, and enjoyable, though I wouldn’t exactly call it a casual read. 

I’d recommend this to anyone who has an interest in Japan on travel books, but I really wouldn’t call it a general read. 

Overall rating: 4/5

Writing: 4/5

Style: 5/5

Originality: 4/5

Characters: 3/5

In My Mailbox

In My Mailbox is a weekly feature hosted by The Story Siren.

I actually put myself on a book buying ban at the end of last week, because I have such a big TBR pile right now - however, I made an exception due to the fact that right now I'm away, and it's easier to carry my Kindle than the big pile of charity shop books we all know I have to work through!








To Review 
Leftover Shorts  by Amy Neftzer
Raven  by Nuayma Jeggels

Winnings
A signed bookmark from JeanzBookReadNReview which I don't actually have a picture of, due to the fact that I'm away right now :P  I might manage to get one up later!

Kindle Downloads
Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins.  As a lot of you know I've been meaning to read this for a while, and this week is meant to be about chilling out and such, which is why I could justify buying it.
The Iron King  by Julie Kagawa.  Again, been meaning to treat myself to this, and totally used my going away as the ideal excuse!

So that's my IMM this week - what did everyone else get?

Book Review - Rock Star's Girl by J F Kristin

Title: Rock Star’s Girl

Author: J F Kristin

Format: Kindle ebook

How I got this:  Received a free copy in exchange for a fair review

Synopsis (From Goodreads.com):

Emily Watts just wants a weekend break from the workaholic hours she's taken on to keep her business – a popular fashion-snark web site – up and running. What she gets is overnight celebrity and a career-killing media scandal.

While taking time out to attend a concert in support of friend Jesse Cinder, a struggling musician, Emily meets Cory Sampson, the lead singer of a chart-topping rock band. When she agrees to a date with Cory, making entertainment headlines is the last thing she expects. Even so, it's a minor surprise by comparison to her discovery that in the music world, media notoriety trumps all. Tabloid allegations erupt when Cory and fame-hungry Jesse use Emily for personal gain, and her tarnished image spells disaster – personally and professionally. To save the web site and writing career she's made her life and dream, Emily must go from being a pawn in the Hollywood headline game to becoming the media mastermind.

Review:

Emily Watts is a workaholic fashion blogger living in Hollywood, California.  Between keeping her business (online fashion-snark blog, Zeeked) up and running and the freelance writing work she does to keep herself afloat financially, she doesn’t have much time for relationships, or keeping up with who’s who in Hollywood. 

I have to admit, I expected this book to be a typical chick-lit rendition of nice, normal girl finds rock star boyfriend, gets famous, a few random things happen, but ultimately everyone lives happily ever after, especially nice girl and hot rock star squeeze.  However, without giving too much away, this wasn’t quite that, and I was glad for he refreshing change. 

I enjoyed Emily as a character – she was very normal, and it made it possible to relate to her.  She also reacted to things in a believable way, and it was nice that she wasn’t so fiercely independent that she couldn’t rely on best friend Shelby for support.  This all made her very easy to get behind and start supporting, right from the beginning of the story.  I also liked the way that Jesse was written – the way he is portrayed to the reader means that as Emily’s opinions of him change, the reader gradually sees it too, meaning it’s really easy to see how Emily is thinking. 

The storyline moved along at a comfortable pace, and the writing style meant it was easy to read, but kept the reader interested.  This book is a nice slice of escapism to the glitz and glamour of the Hollywood hills, with enough scandal and likeable characters to keep the reader wanting more. 

I’d definitely recommend this to anyone looking for a holiday read, or just something to snuggle up with and relax now that it’s coming to colder weather.  I really did enjoy this. 

Overall rating: 4/5

Writing: 4/5

Style: 4/5

Originality: 3.5/5

Characters: 4/5

Book Review - Family Ties by Ottilie Weber

Title: Family Ties

Author: Ottilie Weber

Format: Ebook

How I got this:  Received a free copy in return for review.

Synopsis (From Goodreads.com):Abby's family prides itself with its knowledge of their rich family history. While trying to survive her summer job armed only with her sarcastic wit and her best friend Cory, she learns to watch what she wishes for. When she is kidnapped, her entire family is left wondering…

Do they know their family history as well as they think?

Review:

This is the story of Abby, a young girl whose family has an interesting story – and it’s about to be replayed generations later – with Abby taking the female lead.  Abby’s Great-Grandmother, Emma, was a feisty character, born to a rich German family.  Upon being engaged by her family to Wilhelm – an engagement she didn’t want or welcome – Emma chose instead to run away to America, and lead a very different life there. 

Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem that Wilhelm’s family forgets things easily – and Abby finds herself being an unwitting pawn in this whole game.

The story is told in three different points of view – Abby’s, her best male friend Corey’s, and her Great-Grandmother, Emma’s.  The similarities between Abby and Emma were done well – though it was still possible to tell the two apart – however, I would have liked Corey’s voice to be somewhat more masculine at times than it was.  Also, I did notice a few tense swaps when characters were talking, which distracted me a little from the story. 

I enjoyed the fairytale elements to the story – with Wilhelm playing the villain, Abby being the damsel in distress and Corey playing the Knight who saves her.  The underlying love story between Abby and Corey was also quite sweet, and it did make my inner romantic happy.  That said, a few details with the story bothered me – such as the fact that Abby didn’t seem all too worried when she was kidnapped.  It was only a little niggle – but because Abby is such an integral part of the story, it bothered me throughout.

That said, the actual storyline’s pretty good – and whilst fairytale retellings have been done before, as have generation-jumps, this is a nice addition to the genre.  Not a massively long read and not particularly difficult, but that was what made it enjoyable – and besides, who doesn’t enjoy a bit of girl power with both Emma and Abby standing up for themselves against things they didn’t want? 

Basically, not a bad read – maybe a good holiday read given it has the romance and happy ending everyone is looking for.

Overall rating: 2.5/5

Writing: 3/5

Style: 2/5

Originality: 3.5/5

Characters: 3/5

Top Ten Tuesdays - books everyone has read but me

Top Ten Tuesdays is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. 

Top ten books it feels like everyone has read but me:

1.  Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen.  Yes, I am very, very, very ashamed of this one – and I have it downloaded on my kindle and waiting to go – I think it might be one of those ones I give my full attention to when I go on holiday next week.   It’s one of those I swear I should have read in school, but it wasn’t ever one I got given in my classes.

2.  Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead.  I have to admit, I’m only just getting over my fear of anything vampire related boring me to tears after a certain book.  Just saying.  However, I will borrow these from my housemate soon. 

3.  Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins.  I haven’t read this – I’ve heard nothing but rave reviews, and it’s sat sadly in my Amazon wish list, and I just haven’t got there yet.

4.  The Book Thief by Markus Zusak.  Anyone who read my IMM earlier this week will know that I managed to pick up a copy of this from a local charity shop, so I will definitely be reading this soon! 

5.  The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins.  I know, I should be ashamed of this too. 

6.  The Iron Fey series by Julia Kagawa.  Yes, I know I’ve gone on about how much I want to read this before, and I promise I seriously still do, but again, I just haven’t got there yet! 

7.  Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta. So many people I know love this author, and I’ve seen fantastic reviews, but I haven’t read it.

8.  The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks.  I got informed by a friend the other day that I’m failing at being female by not having read this.  I don't think it's that big a deal, but still.  I’ve seen the movie of course, but I’ve never read the book. 

9.  Paranormalcy by Kiersten White.  Again, there’s so much love for this online, and I have no idea why I haven’t read it yet.

10.  Jayne Eyre by Emily Bronte.  Again, I’m very ashamed, and I’m sure I should have read this in secondary school. 

So, what are your TTT listings this week? 

Review: Books of the Immortals - Air by Barbara G Tarn

Title: Books of the Immortals - Air

Author: Barbara G. Tarn

Format: Kindle ebook

How I got this:  I received a free copy in return for a fair review.

Synopsis (From Goodreads.com):

Winged Jesminder, a Sila, searches for her Destiny (aka love) as her Human friend, Sarita the sculptor, does the same. Meanwhile Takeshi the soldier flees his country for a murder he doesn't remember committing. As Takeshi looks for his past, Kumar the adventurer runs away from his –from and his wife, Princess Indira, who he rescued from an evil fate only for money. Their paths converge, leading them to the final confrontation with the Black Dame, High Priestess of the Sect. Winged beings, water people, shape-shifting dragons and the Immortal, Air, which likes to meddle in Human affairs for its own reasons, come together in a story of bitterness and love, darkness and light.

Review:

So, this was my first visit to the world of Silvery Earth, and I have to say, I enjoyed what I saw.  In this world, magical creatures with mythical names (e.g. Sila, Fajrulo) live alongside the humans, and four Immortals – Earth, Air, Ether, Fire and Water champion the different races. 

This book really wasn’t what I was expecting, but in a good way.  I’m going to say here and now that there are certain points in the book where there are mature themes.  There are points where characters within the book use intercourse and sexuality as a means of control or power, which was interesting to read, as it isn’t so very different to what can happen in the real world.  These areas of the book, I felt, were well written, and whilst these themes were mentioned throughout, it wasn’t overbearing, and at no point did it seem to overshadow the actual storyline.  However, due to these themes, I probably wouldn’t recommend this book to younger readers. 

I appreciated the attention to detail on the descriptions of the races – especially characteristics – such as the Fajrulo not being particularly social or able to love.  These are also consistent throughout, which helps make Silvery Earth into a tangible world.  Of course, this is also helped by the descriptions of the differing cultures within the world, which vary by Kingdom.  I felt that there were comparisons to be made between the inhabitants of various areas of Silvery Earth and specific cultures on Earth, but again, that added to the believability of the world. 

Another important element in this book is the descriptions of the goings on in The Sect – a dark religious minority, with serious amounts of power.  The descriptions were vivid, but left enough to the imagination that as a reader I was always left wondering what would happen next. 

I have to admit, I didn’t expect to enjoy this book as much as I did – I ended up really caring for the characters, and hoping that each got the ending that they deserved.  I also enjoyed the way that Tarn tied all the loose endings together by the end of the book – something which is often not managed as cohesively as this example.  Overall, I really enjoyed this book – a good read, and I can foresee myself returning to Silvery Earth to read more in the future.  Recommended for anyone into epic fantasy. 

Overall rating: 4.5/5 

Writing: 5/5

Style: 4/5

Originality: 4.5/5

Characters: 5/5

In My Mailbox

Okay, so I haven’t done this before, but I thought I’d participate in the In My Mailbox (IMM) meme, which is run every week on a Sunday by Kristi at The Story Siren. 

I have to admit, that’s mainly because I’ve gained a LOT this week!  

Bought (Charity shop!)  

 

Outlaw by Angus Donald

The Tale of Murasaki by Liza Dalby

The Further Adventures of a London Call Girl by Belle de Jour

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

For Review

Blood Warrior by H D Gordon (From Author; Review here)

Books of the Immortals – Air by Barbara G Tarn (From Author)

Family Ties by Ottilie Weber (From Author)

Thief of Hope by Cindy Young-Turner (From Author)

Beckoning Light by Alyssa Rose Ivy (From Author)

A Ripple in Time by Julia Hughes (From Author)

Rock Star’s Girl by J F Kristin (From Author)

So thank you very much to everyone who sent me books to review, and I’ll be on them ASAP, and I'm really looking forward to all the reading I've got to do - especially as this week, for me, involves a lot of train journeys!  

 

Author Interview: H D Gordon

Okay, so yesterday I posted my review of Blood Warrior by H D Gordon right here.  Since then, H D Gordon has agreed to answer a few questions – so for my first Author Interview here at Hey, Tara! I welcome H D Gordon! 

Obviously Blood Warrior is your first published novel – how long have you been writing and have you ever completed a full work before?

Yes, Blood Warrior is my first novel, but I have been writing for as long as I can remember. Both of my parents were avid readers and so I began reading obsessively at a very young age. This is the first book I've completed, mainly because once I started I just couldn't stop.

Where did you draw inspiration for the different races featured in your book?

I have been obsessed with vampires and the like since childhood. I'm so much of a dork that when I was in to Buffy I carved chopsticks into stakes and carried them around with me (in case I had to slay a vamp, of course) but really, I just wanted so many things at once that the only way to accomplish this was to create seperate races. I wanted vampires to be evil and kind, mean and sweet, ugly and beautiful, so the races were my solution.

Alexa is a very strong character – is she based around yourself or anyone you know?

I would like to say that Alexa is all me, and really, I think that as writers our characters are a reflection of some part of ourselves, but in honesty, Alexa is everything I wish I could be. (Minus the homicidal trait)

How did you come up with the ideas for the differing male characters in the book?

Ah, the male characters. Well, I actually am originally from Missouri, where the book is set in the very beginning, and I wanted Jackson to be like the good ole boys from down home. Kayden is the man of my dreams, so I guess that explains that.

Which authors (and specific books!) do you really love? Did any of them influence the writing of this novel?

There are so many authors, too many to name, that I love. It may be obvious that Rachelle Mead influenced some of this book, but Kelley Armstrong, Stephen King and many others played a huge role.

Are there any new book releases we should be looking out for?

Right now I am working on the next book in this series. I just started so I can't say too much about it but I can tell you that book two will be told from both Nelly's and Alexa's perspectives. This has been great fun because they are so very different characters yet very much the same. Readers will get a lot more out of all the characters this time and see what both girls are really made of.

Where can readers follow you?

I am in the process of setting up an external blog but I do have a small one on goodreads. Facebook will be next and it will be searchable under H. D. Gordon author very soon!

A big thank you to H D Gordon for providing me with a review copy of Blood Warrior, and for answering the questions for this interview!

Review: Blood Warrior by H D Gordon.

Title: Blood Warrior

Author: H. D. Gordon.

Format: Kindle ebook.

How I got this:  Received a free copy in exchange for a fair review

Synopsis (From Goodreads.com):

When her home is attacked by murderous vampires, 17-year-old Alexa is forced to leave her mother for dead in order to save her sister. She soon learns that she is the last known member of an elite race of supernatural Warriors, and is thrust into a world full of vampires and werewolves who all seem to regard her as some sort of savior. Meanwhile, Alexa battles a monster within herself that seeks to gain control; a monster that seeks blood.
The hidden city she finds herself in appears perfect, but Alexa's instincts tell her that all is not right within its walls. When she is asked to attend a school of fighters, whose exams consist of gladiator-style competitions, she must decide who she can trust among the smiling faces. And, when she meets Kayden, a vampire she feels undeniably drawn to, she must decide if she can trust herself.

Review:

Firstly, I should probably say that this didn’t feel at all like a debut novel.  The writing style was good, clear and consistent, and the typing and/or spelling errors which often appear in debut’s were not present in this novel.  The story moves along at a good, if sometimes a little fast, rate, and the characters are mostly regular and enjoyable.  I was impressed. 

The story centers around Alexa Montgomery and her younger sister, Nelly.   The girls begin by having a fairly normal life, even if their Mother does require some seemingly strange things from them – such as regular runs to school and back and ‘practice’.  Of course, the reasons for these things quickly become clear, when they are attacked by Lamia, which are, in this world, evil vampires. 

Of course, it quickly becomes clear that Alexa and Nelly aren’t the normal high school girls they (or at least, Alexa) thought they were.  Whilst this is a fairly familiar premise, this book still felt fresh and interesting, and the fact that the story is told from exclusively Alexa’s point of view made it enjoyable to me. 

Alexa and Nelly make their way to Two Rivers, a community/academy where being weird is the norm – i.e., it’s basically a city for vampires and the ‘wolf-born’.  From here, it becomes obvious that even in a world of the unusual, Alexa is especially unusual. 

Of course, there are love interests along the way – one being Alexa’s only friend from home – Jackson, a wolf-born who joins them in their journey, as well as Tommy, a Brocken (fighting) vampire, and the mysterious Kayden, an older, Scottish, blonde-and-rugged Brocken vampire. 

I have to admit, this part of the story was particularly well written, and whilst I ended up being team Kayden (I’m a sucker for the older man), I found myself drawn to Jackson too, in the same way that Alexa was. 

Overall, this was an enjoyable read, and I’ll be looking forward to the next one in the series .  This is recommended to anyone who enjoys YA, or paranormal romance.  It won’t disappoint! 

Overall rating: 3.5/5

Writing: 4/5

Style: 4/5

Originality:3/5

Characters: 3.5/5

Review: Paradox - The Angels are Here by Patti Roberts

Title: Paradox – The Angels are Here (Paradox, 1)

Author: Patti Roberts

Format: Kindle

How I got this:  Free copy in return for review.

Synopsis (From Goodreads.com):

Nine hundred years ago, under the complete cover of darkness, the Grigorian army rose silently from their underground lair and attacked the Bulguardian Royal Palace. The bloody and violent battle between the two most legendary houses raged on. All but destroying the majestic Royal City of Altair.

It was not the first war that Juliette had endured between good and evil. And it most certainly would not be her last.

Today, a little girl's world is turned upside down by a visitor, the Angel of Death. She finds herself trapped in a nightmare, consumed by her paralyzing loss and overwhelming grief. The haunting visions and untimely deaths of others are a constant reminder that life and death are only a heartbeat away.

Review:

Firstly, I want to comment on how gorgeous the cover for this is.  And even inside the ebook version, the grgeous patterns are carried through, which I was really impressed with.  

This book has two aspects to the story – one focusing on Angels in their own dimension, and the other focusing on the events down here on Earth, and especially those events pertinent to a young girl named Grace, who is clearly important to the angels, though this book doesn’t give away how. 

Grace’s story is very moving – a young girl whose world is changing, especially when her father, whom she idolizes, dies in an accident.  One thing that I noticed about this is that the grief Grace feels is almost tangible – it’s written about so realistically.  There’s nothing over the top, and as a reader, I really felt for Grace and her mother in their joint struggle to get through a difficult time. 

The progression is good throughout, and the reader sees Grace change from somewhat of a loner into a normal, happy, social young girl.  It’s obvious, though, that Grace is special, because her ‘imaginary’ friend as a child comes in the form of an Angel called Hope, who tells her not to speak of her to anyone else, though somehow her father knows of the connection.  Then, when she does make a ‘flesh-and-blood’ friend, it’s clear that the girl isn’t ‘normal’, and it will be interesting in the second book to see how this progresses. 

In terms of the warring Angels aspect to the story, the idea in this book is that there are two warring families, and the events which occur in their war directly effect things on Earth – for instance, natural disasters.  The characters in the Angel dimension were interesting, and slightly disturbing – an aspect I really enjoyed.  Again, I’m interested to see where this goes in the next book. 

Overall, there are a few small typing errors I noticed in this, but nothing so major that it detracts from the story.  I enjoyed the book – and one of my only complaints is that I could have kept on reading!  I’d like to have heard more about the war between the Angels, and been more clued in as to how exactly it affects things on Earth.  That said, it might just be my own curiosity!  Definitely a good read, and I’ll be keeping my eyes open for the second.  

If you want more info etc, Patti's Website is here.

Overall rating: 4/5

Writing: 4/5

Style: 4/5

Originality: 4.5/5

Characters: 4/5

Review: The Kinshield Legacy by K. C. May

 


















Title: The Kinshield Legacy (Kinshield Saga, 1)

Author: K. C. May.

Format: Kindle

Genre: Fantasy/Epic Fantasy

How I got this:  Downloaded from Amazon.com

Synopsis (From Goodreads.com):

A mysterious stone tablet with five magical gems has sat abandoned in a cave for two hundred years. The kingdom is in ruins, with only warrant knights to keep the peace. But then, the gems in the tablet, one by one, disappear.

Warrant knight Gavin Kinshield is a man of many secrets. He's the one deciphering the runes in the tablet. Unless he can find a suitable replacement, he'll be Thendylath's next king. All he really wants is the letter written by his ancestor Ronor Kinshield, champion to King Arek, confessing the truth of how the king perished.

Daia Saberheart, warrior of the Viragon Sisterhood, wants to find the future king and help him claim his rightful place.

Blacksmith Risan Stronghammer wants to reward him with a powerful weapon.

And the sorcerer Brodas Ravenkind wants to capture him, steal his secret and claim the throne for himself.

But when Gavin finally tracks down Ronor's letter, he gets far more than he's bargained for, for the truth of King Arek's demise is far darker than he ever imagined.

Review:

Alright, alright.  I admit, this follows typical fantasy formula – it has battlers, it has organizations of fighters, an evil mage, and epic destinies to be fulfilled.  But honestly?  Whilst this formula for fantasy stories is well-used, it just made this story feel familiar enough, whilst somehow keeping things fresh.  It’s one of the best stories in the genre I’ve read recently, and one of the ones I’ve paid least for! 

Firstly, I’d like to comment on the characters – there was good character development throughout, and they quickly draw the reader into the story.  The portrayal of the main protagonist, Gavin Kinshield, is particularly good – the reader gets a real sense of his character as a whole, including his benevolent side, his more raucous side, and his sense of humour.

The world portrayed by K. C. May seems rich and believable, as does the political system which is built up within it. 

I’ll definitely be picking up the second in the series, it’s now officially on the TBR list.  I’d recommend this to anyone into fantasy – it doesn’t add much new to the genre, but it’s a definite enjoyable read, ideal for fantasy newbies and veterans alike. 

Overall rating: 5/5

Writing:  5/5

Style: 4/5

Originality: 3/5

Characters: 5/5

Top Ten Tuesdays - Books I read because of another blogger

 Top Ten Tuesday is a feature from The Broke and the Bookish.

This week’s topic for Top Ten Tuesday is books I have read because of another blogger (in honour of BBAW!) – however, I don’t have many of those, so instead I’m cheating a little bit, and doing top ten books I will read because of another blogger! 

1.  The Iron King by Julie Kagawa  

This has had some brilliant reviews, including one by The Story Siren.  Of course, the other books, including the most recent in the series have also had awesome reviews, so that totally puts me up to it. 

2.  Bumped by Megan McCafferty. 

Okay, this one, I’ve read mixed reviews for.  Some people seem to have absolutely loved it, and others such as The Book Rat  have seriously taken a dislike to it.  Now, everyone likes controversy, and I want to see what I make of it myself. 

3.  Jessica’s Guide to Dating on the Dark Side by Beth Fantaskey.

I’ve found this mentioned in a few blogs recently including The Reading Chic and apparently it’s substantially different enough to Twilight, despite both discussing dating vampires.  I like books around dating vampires, so this might work out for me. 

4.  The School of Ages: The Ghost in the Crystal by Matt Posner. 

I have to admit, I don’t remember where I found this.  But I’ve read several books about magic schools (Harry Potter, The Magicians etc) and I’ve yet to find one that disappointed me.  So I’m definitely willing to give this a go, especially given it’s very reasonable price on Amazon right now. 

5.  Paradox – The Angels Are Here (Paradox, 1) by Patti Roberts. 

I’m a follower of Patti's Blog, and recently got given a copy of this book for free, which I’m going to review pretty soon – this is actually on top of my TBR pile, so I’ll be starting on the reading this week, and I’m looking forward to it.  I’m also a featured blogger on this blog this week, so in shameless plugging, I think everyone should go and check that out.  

6.  Witch Eyes by Scott Tracey

I heard about this one from  I swim for oceans and got some seriously good comments from there, as well as a rating of 4.5, which was nearly a 5.  So, I think that’s high praise enough for me to give this a go. 

7.  Matched by Ally Condley. 

Again, this one has got general good reviews, and I can’t remember which blog caused me to add this to my amazon wish list! 

8.  Plain Kate by Erin Bow. 

This sounds awesome.  However, it’s currently only available in hard back, which is why I haven’t picked it up yet.  As soon as there’s a paperback copy, or kindle format available, I’ll be right on it. 

9.  Don’t Expect Magic by Kathy Mccullough

Fairy Godmothers.  Magic.  High School.  Yes, sounds like a good mix, and again, I have no idea which blog I got this from, but I definitely heard about it somewhere! 

10.  Graceling by Kristen Cashore. 

Again, one of those books that I’m ashamed to say I haven’t actually read!  However, it gets amazing feedback everywhere I read about it, so I’m pretty eager to get on with it! 

So, this is a little bit book unrelated, but I thought I'd also let everyone know that I'm also featured today on the Patti Roberts book blog, in a feature where she turns things around, and interviews bloggers, instead of us interviewing writers! 

So yeah, if you want to know more about me than I've got on my little profile, then that's the place to go! 

-Tea

Review: Three Women: A Poetic Triptych and Selected Poems

Title: Three Women: A Poetic Triptych and Selected Poems

Author: Emma Edem Ramos

Publisher/format: Chapbook, published by Heavy Hands Ink

How I got this:  Downloaded from here; here in order to review. 

Synopsis (From Goodreads.com): "A truly unique and awe-inspiring collection, Emma Eden Ramos wows readers with her narrative-style writing in Three Women: A Poetic Triptych and Selected Poems. This is the fifth chapbook to be released by Heavy Hands Ink." -Heavy Hands Ink

Review:

It’s not often I read poetry, but when I was asked to review this, I was intrigued, and I thought I’d go for it.  Firstly, I have to admit, I had no idea what a ‘Triptych’ was, and I figured that it was as good a starting point as any, so I looked it up.  Basically, a triptych is a work of art which is split into three pieces, often with the centre piece being the largest.  I have to admit, this intrigued me even more, and let me tell you, this is definitely a work of art. 

The first fold of this is entitled introductions – and does exactly what it says on the tin, in what I perceived to be beautiful prose.  It offers small snapshots into the tragic lives of the women it describes which are both poignant and heartfelt. 

The second section (Impressions) again circles through women, each dealing with the issues discussed in the piece in individual ways.  The third fold (Connections) brings the events of the previous two sections together, and I think this was the part that really got me thinking.  For me, it made me realize that there are probably more to people than you first perceive, and that people deal with things in different ways. 

Following this, there are several poems, which also broach fairly sensitive and/or controversial subjects, but again, it’s like a snapshot into the mind of the people it’s describing.  It’s all written about with such succinct thought, I’m sure it would be difficult for anyone to find offensive. 

As I said, I don’t know an awful lot about poetry, but as far as I’m concerned, this was both thought provoking and well written.  I’d recommend this to anyone who has even a slight interest in poetry, and probably to some of those who don’t.  Of course, it’s a fairly sensitive subject, but it’s written about with such a level of care and compassion, it feels very personal and because of that, it’s very thought provoking.   

In terms of giving this a rating, I’m not using my normal rating scale, because somehow that just doesn’t seem right for this kind of work – my scale works well on novels and novellas, but probably isn’t applicable to poetry.  So all I’m going to say  is that I’d recommend reading this – just beautiful. 

Review: Love's Magic by Traci E Hall

Review format:

Title:  Love’s Magic

Author: Traci E. Hall

Format: Kindle

Genre: Fantasy/Chick-lit

How I got this:  Downloaded for free from Amazon

Synopsis (From Goodreads.com):While her sisters are tall and beautiful, Celestia Montehue is the misfit in a royal family—petite, with one green and one blue eye. The only thing she has in common with her ancestors is her magical healing ability. Fearing no one will ever accept her, she vows never to marry. Meanwhile, Nicholas Le Blanc, a haunted man, was trained as a knight but his childhood has convinced him he is a bastard. He is captured while on crusade and eventually forced to kill for his freedom. An arranged marriage between the two does not bode happiness, nor does Celestia's new home—a broken-down keep haunted by the ghost of Nicholas' mother. Soon a curse is set upon them, and they must decide if their love will save them or, ultimately, doom them.

Review:  I picked this one up as another freebie for my kindle, mainly due, I admit, to lack of funds.  That said, it’s a fantasy book, with a good love story, which sort of makes it like chick-lit, and therefore it sounded right up my alley. 

The main characters are Celestia and Nicholas, who are a somewhat stubborn pair, mismatched and married by someone else’s bidding.  Celestia is a healer, whose magical powers are cursed to be gone if she ever enters a loveless marriage.  Nicholas is the son of the Baron Peregrine, one of the villains of the story, and is a trained Knight who has been away crusading, and whose scars are not only skin deep.   

At first, I have to admit, there were a few things about Celestia that annoyed me.  One was the way that she is constantly described as an amazing person as if to make the reader like her.  It just didn’t need repeating as much as it was, and neither did her tendency to point her chin in the air when making a point. That said, the same could be said about Nicholas’ self pitying and pain.  This all said, I have to admit that by the end, I liked both of them, and wanted that happy ending for them, which was definitely delivered! 

And yet, the story itself kept me reading.  It moves along at quite a nice pace, and there are plenty of events to keep the reader busy, even if some of the events aren’t so well explained until later. 

Plus, we all know I’m a sucker for a good love story.  I enjoyed the courting between the two main characters, even though I know it would have annoyed some people – the soppy, sentimental part of me found it endearing and sweet, and I was so happy when they finally ‘got together’ at the end.  Yes, whilst I haven’t flagged this up as inappropriate for younger readers, there’s a certain chunk at the end they probably shouldn’t read! 

So yes, for a kindle freebie this was actually a good read, and I’ve noticed that Hall has released more books set around the Montehue family, which I will be picking up at a later date! 

This also counts towards the Show me the free challenge hosted by The Unread Reader

Overall rating: 3.5/5

Writing:  3/5

Style: 4/5

Originality: 3.5/5

Characters: 3.5/5