Books, fantasy, paranormal romance, Reviews, Romance, Urban Fantasy

A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J Maas

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I’m a little late on this review but honestly I had a hard time with this book so I waited a long time to post this. Here is my review A Court of Mist and Fury by SJM but first of course is the blurb:

Feyre survived Amarantha’s clutches to return to the Spring Court—but at a steep cost. Though she now has the powers of the High Fae, her heart remains human, and it can’t forget the terrible deeds she performed to save Tamlin’s people.

Nor has Feyre forgotten her bargain with Rhysand, High Lord of the feared Night Court. As Feyre navigates its dark web of politics, passion, and dazzling power, a greater evil looms—and she might be key to stopping it. But only if she can harness her harrowing gifts, heal her fractured soul, and decide how she wishes to shape her future—and the future of a world cleaved in two.

With more than a million copies sold of her beloved Throne of Glass series, Sarah J. Maas’s masterful storytelling brings this second book in her seductive and action-packed series to new heights.

The review:

I know I have an unpopular opinion but I feel it’s important to be honest in all my reviews so here it is, my official review of the book. Let me start out by saying that I was actually looking forward to this book, I had heard that it would be a retelling of the Hades/Persephone tale and I found that idea to be interesting. I liked Rhys in the first book, he was bad, totally amoral and seemed to have his own agenda so I was eager to see how she would work the story, and I originally liked Tamlin and Feyre so I was also curious to see how she was going to break their relationship apart. Needless to say I was unhappy with much of this book, but let’s break it down:

1. The length. Holy moly. This book clocks in at 640 pages officially but it felt like 700 and should have been at the very most 400 (though I would have been very happy with it stopping at 350). In fact when I hit 355 pages I remember putting a marker in my kindle and saying “where is this booking going?” in the notes. It needed editing, major editing, I mean like 200 pages worth. Many times the book would go on for pages about side stories or pointless topics that just needed to go.

2. The sex. Listen I read a lot of PNR so it’s not that the sex itself offended me, it’s that it wasn’t very good and it didn’t belong in this type of book. You can’t write a first book for YA and then write a second book that is so obviously NOT YA and expect all the YA fans out there not to read it. And it wasn’t well written! If your going to make the jump into the big girls club do it well dammit! Ugh so bad I actually skimmed the sex scenes, they were just…ridiculous.

3. Feyre. I disliked her sooo much in this book. I am realizing this is a trend with me and SJM, I don’t like her spoiled, selfish, over the top lead female characters. You know the ones that can make mistakes and do what ever they want and EVERYONE kisses their feet but if someone does something, even minor, they don’t like it’s full on temper tantrum time. And everyone in the book is totally fine with that. I hate that, making me really dislike the book.

4. Rhysand. Like I said earlier I loved the contrast of this character in the first book. He was a very good villain, but in this book he lost all the qualities that I loved about him. He went from being this strong, crazy, slightly evil man willing to stand up to Feyre and do whatever it took for his survival (and that of his people) to a marshmallow willing to do anything Feyre wants even if it means everyone else suffers. I hated to see him destroyed.

5. The plot. Which was? Getting the cauldron? That can’t be it, that’s the last 50 pages that would be crazy. Falling in love? Is that a plot? I’m so confused what is the point of this book….

So another SJM series is done for me, honestly for me I think I just don’t like her books. It was really my fault for starting another series after being so disappointed in the direction the ToG series is going and ultimately stopping that one as well.

Books, fantasy, paranormal romance, Reviews, Romance

A Promise of Fire by Amanda Bouchet

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I received an ARC of this book which will be released on August 2,2016. I was attracted to the cover, which looks amazing, and the story. Let me give you the blurb, then my opinion:

Catalia “Cat” Fisa is a powerful clairvoyant known as the Kingmaker. This smart-mouthed soothsayer has no interest in her powers and would much rather fly under the radar, far from the clutches of her homicidal mother. But when an ambitious warlord captures her, she may not have a choice…

Griffin is intent on bringing peace to his newly conquered realm in the magic-deprived south. When he discovers Cat is the Kingmaker, he abducts her. But Cat will do everything in her power to avoid her dangerous destiny and battle her captor at every turn. Although up for the battle, Griffin would prefer for Cat to help his people willingly, and he’s ready to do whatever it takes to coax her…even if that means falling in love with her. 

I’m disappointed in this book, but I feel it’s very important for me to explain why. This book was fantastic, it had a great world that was different enough that I was intrigued but familiar enough that I wasn’t confused. It had great characters, Cat was saucy and powerful but not awful, Griffen was attractive and strong, but not like so many main characters I read today, you know willing to do anything the girl wants even though he’s suppose to be all powerful and constantly telling her how beautiful and amazing her existence is (aka he wasn’t an ass kisser). The other characters were great too, they made me smile and hope to learn more about them. And then came the story, you had a circus, magic ropes, magical creatures, crazy Alpha queens, Giants, dragons, oh and Greek gods! And just to make it interesting a whole bunch of fighting with some sexual tension. It was amazing!! So why 3 stars? Why the disappointment? Cause that was the first 50% of the book. Literally (I have a counter on my kindle), the last 50%…nothing. I mean no story, no plot, no more character development (except for the eventual HEA which wasn’t even exciting because I was already bored) even the new characters felt shallow and boring. And the story, you know with the dragons, sword fights, Greek gods, etc…it just came to a screeching halt.

I’m sad because this book could have been one of those that dances the line and you don’t know if it’s fantasy or PNR you just know it’s good. Instead it just turned into another plotless romance.

I’m hoping to read something else from this author someday because I feel like she’s got a blockbuster in her I just didn’t feel this was it.

Books, fantasy, great reads, indie author, Out of the Box Blogs, paranormal romance, Romance, scifi, steampunk, Urban Fantasy

$25 Amazon Gift Card Giveaway

It finally happened! We hit 10,000 views on our blog! First we want to say thanks to everyone. But really what better way to say thank you than a $25 Amazon gift card! We wish we could give everyone one but we are too poor for that so it’s giveaway time. You guys are awesome, we love you..Hope you win!

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/479697332/?

Books, fantasy, great reads, paranormal romance, Romance, Urban Fantasy

Cover Reveal:Archangel’s Heart by Nalini Singh

 

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It’s here!! The new cover for the 9th book in the Guild Hunter series. It will be released on November 1st so preorder your copy now right from Nalini’s website http://bit.ly/28P4Qel

Or add it to your goodreads page https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26218178-archangel-s-heart

Want to know more? Here is the blurb:

One of the most vicious archangels in the world has disappeared. No one knows if Lijuan is dead or has chosen to Sleep the long sleep of an immortal. But with her lands falling into chaos under a rising tide of vampiric bloodlust, a mysterious and ancient order of angels known as the Luminata calls the entire Cadre together to discuss the fate of her territory.

Accompanying her archangelic lover Raphael to the Luminata compound, guild hunter-turned-angel Elena senses that all is not as it seems. Secrets echo from within the stone walls of the compound, and the deeper Elena goes, the uglier the darkness. But neither Raphael nor Elena is ready for the brutal truths hidden within—truths that will change everything Elena thinks she knows about who she is…

Nothing will ever be the same again.

And a little bit about the amazing Nalini herself plus and adorable picture:

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Nalini Singh is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Psy-Changeling, Guild Hunter, and Rock Kiss series. She lives and works in beautiful New Zealand, and is passionate about writing.

If you’d like to explore her other books, you can find lots of excerpts and free short stories on her website. Slave to Sensation is the first book in the Psy-Changeling series, while Angels’ Blood is the first book in the Guild Hunter series. The Rock Kiss books are all stand alone and can be read in any order.