Oath of Servitude (Review)

Book: Oath of Servitude
Author: C.E. Wilson
Format: eBook
Pages: 159
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Blurb:

This is the story of Teague and Cailin, two teenagers who have been brought together by fate. Teague, a human, struggles to come to terms with the consequences of a recent accident that has destroyed the happy life that he had once enjoyed. Cailin, a pixi, is trying to stay true to herself while fighting against forces beyond her control that have exiled her from her home into this strange world of humans. She fears the darkness. He cannot escape it. But when the two of them are thrown together, they begin to discover the light inside of themselves.

 

 

**Disclaimer: I was provided with a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. That in no way has influenced my review**

 

 

I really have to start off with talking about the cover before I start reviewing the book itself. It is just stunning, the model is gorgeous and I really hope that she will be featured in the rest of the series.

 

The plot of this story really draws you in. I found that there was never a dull moment throughout this entire book. I found it nearly impossible to put down once I began reading it. The story is fixed around a teenage girl, Cailin who is living with humans and is helping the teenage son, Teague cope with a tragic accident that left him bitter and unhappy. It may be a paranormal story but the plot is unlike anything I have ever read before which is refreshing.

 

While much of the story takes place in a human setting we catch glimpses of the pixi existence too. Which I believe really brings the story together, if I had just been shown what was happening on the human side the story would not have flowed as well and I would have been left with too many questions.

 

I loved the characters, they are all quite developed and seemed realistic, even the pixi! Cailin just wanted to be herself and would not change that for anybody. She was sarcastic and funny and was not afraid to call Teague out on his nonsense, even with his issue. Then there was Teague. I admit I did not like him in the beginning he was bitter and angry but as the story progressed and Teague and Cailin became closer I actually began to like him and now he may actually be one of my favorite  characters. Teague's father, Owen was shady at best. Sure he was a nice guy and took care of his family and Cailin but he was just so mysterious. He had more secrets than almost any of the other characters and I found myself wanting to know more.

 

I hated the Portune pixi's which were basically the head honchos after the ruler of the clan. They were out for themselves even though they say they wanted what was best for the clan. I especially hated Lennox Moon. He was a rotten guy who really needed to be put in his place.

 

I really did like this book, the only thing that kept me from giving it 4.5 or even 5 stars is the fact that there are grammatical errors. They are not really bad and do not take away from the story but it wasn't exactly perfect.

 

This is the author's first book and she really created a strong first novel. I was suprised by how well she wrote and her creativity. She really knows how to build characters and settings. She made the plot interesting and kept it strong throughout the whole book.

 

I am certainly looking forward to the next book in the series. I recommend this if you like young adult paranormal and are looking for a story that is different from anything else you have ever read. If you find yourself ever with a chance to get this book, do it! You really won't regret it.



Stacking the Shelves [#1]

Stacking The Shelves is hosted by Tynga's Reviews as a way to share all the books we got during the week!

From the Library:

Hex hall by Rachel Hawkins

Of Poseidon by Anna Banks

Switched by Amanda Hocking

Wake by Amanda Hocking

The Peculiars by Maureen Doyle McQuerry

The Grimm Legacy by Polly Shulman

From the free book shelf at the library

(You can take any books you want or leave some for other people[It's great =)]):

Tempest by Julie Cross

Fairy Tale by Cyn Balog

The Battle of the Labyrinth (Percy Jackson and the Olympians #4) by Rick Riordan

Daughter of Smoke and Bone (Review)

Book: Daughter of Smoke and Bone
Author: Laini Taylor
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 418
My Rating: 5 of 5 stars

Blurb

Around the world, black hand prints are appearing on doorways, scorched there by winged strangers who have crept through a slit in the sky.

In a dark and dusty shop, a devil's supply of human teeth grows dangerously low.

And in the tangled lanes of Prague, a young art student is about to be caught up in a brutal otherwordly war.

Meet Karou. She fills her sketchbooks with monsters that may or may not be real; she's prone to disappearing on mysterious "errands"; she speaks many languages—not all of them human; and her bright blue hair actually grows out of her head that color. Who is she? That is the question that haunts her, and she's about to find out.

When one of the strangers—beautiful, haunted Akiva—fixes his fire-colored eyes on her in an alley in Marrakesh, the result is blood and starlight, secrets unveiled, and a star-crossed love whose roots drink deep of a violent past. But will Karou live to regret learning the truth about herself?

Oh My God! Have you ever read a book and during it you were like "Hmm I don't know how I feel about this book" and throughout the whole thing you still didn't know and by  the end you finally realised you loved it? Well that was this book for me. Everything about this book is amazing, from the writing to the characters and the storyline. I need the second book right now!

I loved Karou. Throughout the whole story she was searching for who she really was. Although who she ended up being took on a magical quality isn't that what we all search for throughout our lives? She was a kick-butt character who didn't take nonsense from anybody, not her ex-boyfriend Kazimir and definitely not catepillar eyebrow girl Svetla. She was leading two different lives, one where she lived in the "normal" world alongside humans and the other where she did errands for the "monsters" who raised her.

And the "monsters" who raised her? Loved them too! From Brimstone the wishmonger all the way to Kishmish. They were all so well developed and took care of their own. They really show you that it's not what you look like on the outside but what you are on the inside that really counts.

Then there is Akiva. I loved him. I really don't think I should discuss him too much since it will give away too much of the story.

The places that the story take place in are stunning. From Prague and Morocco all the way to the city of the chimaera. The descriptions really draw you in and you can almost imagine that you are there right alongside of Karou on her many adventures.

Seriously, the writing in this book is fantastic. The whole story just flows and there is never a dull moment. And the words the author used, finally someone who believes that young adults can understand things beyond words with four letters that are repeated over and over again. Plus she makes up her own words, how awesome is she?

 

Do I recommend this book? YES! Go out and read it right now. You will not be disappointed. This book breathes a breath of fresh air into the Young Adult genre.

Carnival of Souls (Review)

Book: Carnival of Souls
Author: Melissa Marr
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 206
My Rating: 5 of 5 stars

Blurb:

In a city of daimons, rigid class lines separate the powerful from the power-hungry. And at the heart of The City is the Carnival of Souls, where both murder and pleasure are offered up for sale. Once in a generation, the carnival hosts a deadly competition that allows every daimon a chance to join the ruling elite. Without the competition, Aya and Kaleb would both face bleak futures--if for different reasons. For each of them, fighting to the death is the only way to try to live.

All Mallory knows of The City is that her father--and every other witch there--fled it for a life in exile in the human world. Instead of a typical teenage life full of friends and maybe even a little romance, Mallory scans quiet streets for threats, hides herself away, and trains to be lethal. She knows it's only a matter of time until a daimon finds her and her father, so she readies herself for the inevitable. While Mallory possesses little knowledge of The City, every inhabitant of The City knows of her. There are plans for Mallory, and soon she, too, will be drawn into the decadence and danger that is the Carnival of Souls. 

Let me start off by saying this is the first novel I have read by Melissa Marr and I loved it! (Seriously I want to read the Wicked Lovely series now!!). Having said that, the description of the book drew me in from the moment I saw it on goodreads.com and I fell in love with the cover, it's beautiful. 

This book had me captivated from the first chapter. From the characters to the plot I was completely hooked and up turning the pages well into the night. I got frustrated when I had to put the book down to do other things because I just had to know what happened.

I loved the characters. Well most of them anyway. From Mallory and Kaleb to Aya. Mallory is cool. She knows how to fight and wants to do things on her own, plus she carries guns. Kaleb is a hardcore fighter who can be ruthless but is also caring when it comes to Mallory and his packmate Zevi. What isn't to fall for there? We find out a secret about Aya in the novel and trust me I didn't see it coming!

Now I did hate Adam, Mallory's step-father of sorts. Yes I know he was just trying to protect her because he loves her but some of the things he does are just wrong and he crosses many lines when it comes to his "daughter". And don't even get me started on Evelyn, she's cold-hearted and cruel. There is nobody she won't destroy if they get in her way and she will do anything if it has a way to benefit her plans.

I loved the location of half of the novel. The City is where the daimon's live and where the Carnival of Souls takes place. It is a city that has strict castes where people know there place. It's a city of both decadence and violence and I think that is what drew me in. The other half is located in the human world and while I did love this setting as well since it is where Mallory is, I was just more captivated by the events in The City.

Overall, this was a highly enjoyable and fantastic read. If you haven't read this yet I recommend you go out and pick it up, you won't regret it!

 

The Zombie Always Knocks Twice (Review)

Book: The Zombie Always Knocks Twice
Author: E. Van Lowe
Format: Paperback
Pages: 169
How I got it: Won in a goodreads.com First Reads Giveaway
My Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

Blurb: 

 Hollywood, California, is known for swimming pools,
movie stars…and now the risen dead.

Hollywood can be a difficult place to grow up, especially if you’re Kristine Golden, a fifteen-year-old necromancer with a sworn duty to lay the risen dead back to rest and no desire to be in the movie business.

When handsome deadie Alex Romero swaggers into her life, Kris must keep her promise, despite her growing feelings for him. If that’s not enough to give a girl a headache, a murderous zombie comes knocking at Kris’s door, rocking her world and threatening her family.

Can Kris solve the mystery of the rampaging zombie before someone else winds up dead? Or will the walking dead take over Hollywood and turn it into…Hollyweird?

 **I won this book in a First Reads Giveaway on goodreads.com** 

I liked this book. It was fun and entertaining. It combined the supernatural with mystery and humor. Even some sweet romance.

I liked the main character Kris. She was independent and strong. She didn't rely on anybody else to make things happen, if she set her mind to something she wanted to do it herself. She kept her cool while dealing with everything that was thrown her way. From the zombie to her powers as a necromancer. 

And when Alex Romero was introduced I fell in love. He's witty, funny and protective. What isn't to love about that?

However, I hated her sister Anne Marie. She was a snarky brat who needed to get told off. She thought life revolved around her and her own problems. Well sorry but it doesn't!

The book flowed really well. It took me a little while to get into it but once I did it was hard for me to put down. The author's writing is phenomenal and easy to understand. He has the ability to write a teenage girls point of view perfectly.

I would recommend this book for people who enjoy mystery when paired with the paranormal. If you like funny books then this one is definitely for you.

 

Ten (Review)

Book: Ten
Author: Gretchen McNeil
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 294
My Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Blurb:

It was supposed to be the weekend of their lives—an exclusive house party on Henry Island. Best friends Meg and Minnie each have their reasons for being there (which involve T.J., the school’s most eligible bachelor) and look forward to three glorious days of boys, booze and fun-filled luxury.

But what they expect is definitely not what they get, and what starts out as fun turns dark and twisted after the discovery of a DVD with a sinister message: Vengeance is mine.

Suddenly people are dying, and with a storm raging, the teens are cut off from the outside world. No electricity, no phones, no internet, and a ferry that isn’t scheduled to return for two days. As the deaths become more violent and the teens turn on each other, can Meg find the killer before more people die? Or is the killer closer to her than she could ever imagine?

Ok wow. I really liked this book. After reading mixed reviews about this book I had to check it out for myself. Considering this was an adaptation of Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None it really is no wonder I liked it so much.

I loved the plot of this novel. There's just something about a novel that puts teens on an island and has them trying to stay alive in the face of being picked off by a killer. What better place is there than an island? Especially when being invited to a party and not being scheduled to be picked up for three whole days?

The characters were great. Well all except Minnie. I disliked her from the beginning, I found her to be really whiny and self-centered, thankfully she's not the "main" character because I would have hated this book then. I just could not deal with her. Now Meg on the other hand, I loved! She is the quiet writer who has the greatest comebacks if only she would say them! Plus she has the brains to realise something is seriously wrong. The other characters were great as well, from the know it all to the jock.

This book is told in third person but has a main focus on Meg as she progresses through the story and fights to save herself and the rest of the people in the house. It reveals many of her inner thoughts and feelings.

I loved the way that the author placed the clues and revealed things in a natural progression. I admit I had no clue who the killer was until it was revealed. The ending scenes had my heart racing and my hands flipping the pages so I could find out what was happening and how it would all play out.

The author packed this book with enough suspense to keep me guessing and the action in the novel as the story comes to a close was nerve wracking.