*This is actually a 3.5 star review, since Goodreads doesn't facilitate half-stars.*
The synopsis of The Reapers, the first in The Hunted series, is wh*This is actually a 3.5 star review, since Goodreads doesn't facilitate half-stars.*
The synopsis of The Reapers, the first in The Hunted series, is what drew my interest to wanting to read and review the book. The concept sounded very original, being something I haven't encountered before. Reapers are those who are assigned to collect the souls of humans when it is their time, and they've been in conflict with the Hunters for millennia before the events that take place in The Reapers. While I enjoyed that part, there were some things that served to diminish my enjoyment of the story. First, Nivian did have her moments when she definitely did the right thing, in that she wasn't one to blindly follow what she had been told to do, and stalled for time so she could figure things out and learn the truth. On the other hand, I didn't feel a really deep attachment to her as a reader. Despite that, there is one memorable scene in the novel where she had me smiling at her reactions. I'll also state that I did think that there was chemistry between Nivian and Kain.
The character that I did feel a bit more attachment to because of the fact he's suddenly thrown into a world and situation he knew nothing about it was Kain. He was a bit more sympathetic in my mind because of that. Both Silas and Yeva were characters that I thought were power-mad, and I think I got a better sense of what might be going on with them and their motivations.
One other thing that also diminished my enjoyment of the story were the typos and grammatical errors. There were points in the story that I was thrown out of the flow of events because of that, so I found it a bit jarring when an unneeded word had been left in. While the novel did have some issues in my mind, I'm interested enough to want to read the second book just to see where events are going to lead.
A few years ago I read and reviewed the first book Creatura, and I remember that I liked it because I loved the aspect of Greek mythology that was incA few years ago I read and reviewed the first book Creatura, and I remember that I liked it because I loved the aspect of Greek mythology that was incorporated into the story. I thought Isis was an interesting character, and I felt there was chemistry between her and David. Fruit of Misfortune, the second book, picks up shortly after the end of book one. I really enjoyed the second book as well.
While I still like Isis as a character, in this book, she frustrated me a little in what I would consider to be the stupid choices she made, but now, I think I can attribute her age to that to some degree. I think she was sincere, but as a reader, I found myself shaking my head. And Eros? In the most diplomatic way I can think to say it, he's a monumental manipulative jerk, and I wanted to slap him numerous times just for the principle of it all. Galilea, on the other hand, was a character I liked immediately. Throughout everything that's going on, from the moment she was introduced, she came across as the voice of reason and sanity, something I thought was very much needed. I really hope she's in the third book.
I know I definitely want to read the next book in this series, and I'll give Fruit of Misfortune a 5/5 platypire rating....more
After finishing Mooniana: The Secret of the Lost Chronicles of Sophia, I wasn't quite sure what I wanted to say in my review because of how thought prAfter finishing Mooniana: The Secret of the Lost Chronicles of Sophia, I wasn't quite sure what I wanted to say in my review because of how thought provoking it was, even though I did find some of the thoughts and beliefs of some of the characters to be a little too radical in my opinion. On the other hand, I spent many days after that simply thinking about the book and what I had read. The first thing I know I'd like to say is that I really enjoyed the blending of Greek, Norse, and Indian/Hindu mythology. It was that aspect of the book which caught my attention when I was given the opportunity to read and review this book. That was one of my favorite aspects of the novel, and it held my attention to the very end. I also thought her use of actual historical events from 1991 to the recent past was an interesting choice, but it definitely worked well in the novel, and offered an entirely different point of view on what was going on at that particular time in history. I also loved the fact that it was set in Germany, Denmark and Northern Italy.
There are nine Muses in Greek mythology, and six of them have incarnated upon the earth in various human females, each one representing a various art. The ones in this book were: Polyhymnia, Terpsicore, Erato, Melpomene, Uriana and Euterpe. I don't think there was one that I'd single out as my favorite, but if I had to pick one that I thought was the most prominent character, I think I'd pick Christiane, the harpist, who personified Erato. I found her sister Marliz, to be a fascinating character as well, and she represented Melpomene.
On the other hand, even with a list of characters at the beginning of the book, I think one of the things that slightly detracted from my enjoyment of the book was the fact that by the time I had read to the end, there were times that I was a little confused about who was who, since they had three different names: their human name, the name of the Muse, and a “secret name”, which were used interchangeably throughout the book. Even through this, I thought it was a minor thing, and I still enjoyed the story.
As far as more secondary characters, I liked Paul Vallidin and Iris, the Goddess of the Rainbow, along with Titania and Oberon, Iris' helpers. Overall, I'd give this book a 4/5 platypire rating....more
Angel Dreams is actually the second book in the An Angel Falls series. While I have not read the first book, Death Lies Between Us, enough background Angel Dreams is actually the second book in the An Angel Falls series. While I have not read the first book, Death Lies Between Us, enough background information on events which had happened in the first was given in Angel Dreams so I was able to get a sense of what was going on quite easily. I really enjoyed this novel, and I'd like to go back and read this series in order.
What really drew me in was the writing style. While I thought the book took a few chapters to pick up a little steam, once it did, I was completely sucked in and wanted to know what was going to happen next. As a whole, I thought it flowed well, and I grew to like the two main characters – Juliana (Jules) and Nathaniel. Both were well-developed and it was easy to empathize with Juliana especially. Of all the characters, she became my favorite. It is apparent she cares about her brother Jared, and that was on display several times in Angel Dreams. I also loved the paranormal romance elements with the relationship between Nathaniel, an Angel of Death, and Juliana, who has a heightened sense and can see things that others can't.
Another element of the story I loved was the incorporation of Native American beliefs through the character of Chris Abeyta, and it didn't take long for him to become one of my favorite secondary characters. I also liked Marcus, another angel and Nathaniel's mentor, as well.
While I caught a few grammatical errors here and there, it did not significantly detract from my enjoyment of the book. I'd recommend this book to those who enjoy paranormal romance with angels. My rating is 4/5 platypires. ...more
--A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.--
When I first came across this book, the title itself--A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.--
When I first came across this book, the title itself caught my attention (along with the author's name – Eldritch Black - which is rather cool!) and that was a huge draw to wanting to read and review it. I fell into in to the flow of the story quite easily from the opening paragraphs, which served to set the tone for the rest of the novel. In my mind, it was very atmospheric, with a certain level of creepiness throughout, especially some of the stories within the main story. I also thought the pacing of the book was good as well.
What I loved the most about The Book of Kindly Deaths is it was easy to form a mental image of the scene and characters as they were described in the book. On a number of occasions, I found myself thinking of a possible comparison. The author that kept coming to mind is Neil Gaiman, and his books The Graveyard Book and The Ocean at the End of the Lane, which both revolve around pre-adolescent characters. I also loved the fact that while this book called be called fantasy, it's a little darker too.
Twelve year old Eliza was a character I really liked, especially for someone as young as she is, and I enjoyed reading about her. She's drawn into a mystery of sorts which revolves around her grandfather. Along the way, she has her own adventures, coming across both scary characters and helpful ones as she's drawn deeper and deeper into what's really going on. I'd love to know if there's going to be a sequel, as there is enough hinted at the end of the book that it might be possible. Either way, I really enjoyed The Book of Kindly Deaths.
Definitely a 5/5 platypires. Recommended for those who enjoy YA literature with a little darker slant....more
I really liked this book, and I loved the originality of it. This year, I've read a lot of books with angels and demons, and Angel Omega was the most I really liked this book, and I loved the originality of it. This year, I've read a lot of books with angels and demons, and Angel Omega was the most recent. Maybe that's my trend for this year. Either way, I thought it was a fairly fast read, mainly because I found myself drawn into the story. I also enjoyed the different take on familiar elements, including the ideas of redemption, the difference one person might be able to make in someone's life,and of course, good vs. evil. What I can say is that maybe I need to go back and watch some of those Omen movies after completing this first book in a series.
But more than the fact it was an engaging and fast read, I really liked the characters. Through the story, there are flashbacks to events which go into more depth and add to the background of various characters, such as Omega himself. Beside him, I really liked Jophiel, and Damien as well. Although he comes along much later in the novel, the secondary character I grew to like the most was Uphir. For some reason, he just grabbed my attention.
I'm looking forward to reading the second book, as this one does on a sort of cliffhanger. I recommend this book to readers who like stories of angels and demons and the supernatural. My rating is 4/5 platypires....more
Definitely original, The Luthier's Apprentice was a fast-paced read that really drew me in to the story. It was written in such a way that the plot keDefinitely original, The Luthier's Apprentice was a fast-paced read that really drew me in to the story. It was written in such a way that the plot kept on moving forward. I found myself completely engrossed and read the book in practically one sitting. That's how engaged I was as a reader when it came to this YA tale. There was always something going on or some new development, and before I knew it, I had come to the end of the book. I also loved the fact the story was set in Brussels, Belgium, and can't think of any other novel that has that as its setting.
The main character is sixteen year old Emma, a talented violinist living in Brussels. I took an instant liking to her, and thought she was a great female lead. I thought she was smart, determined, and overall, a character I really enjoyed reading about. One of my favorite traits of hers is her love of Sherlock Holmes. She meets Corey, a student living in Brussels, who is a violinist and Sherlock Holmes fan as well. I thought they made a great team as they try to solve a mystery regarding the disappearance of their violin teacher, and soon find there are supernatural elements at work.
My rating is 5/5 platypires, and I'd recommend this book to anyone who likes YA supernatural stories....more
Retribution was a fast read, and one I really enjoyed. One of the aspects I really liked about the book was the mix of angels, demons, and the incorpoRetribution was a fast read, and one I really enjoyed. One of the aspects I really liked about the book was the mix of angels, demons, and the incorporation of Greek mythology, which is a side interest of mine. I also liked the use of different types of angels from the various world religions. It's the first book in the Chronicles of the Irin series, and I'm interested in reading the second book to find out how the story continues.
The main character is Evangeline, or Evie, as she prefers to be called. She's a Nephilim in the Brotherhood of Irin who are guardians of humanity. There are changes in the leadership at the organization she is a part of, and she soon finds herself questioning what they're being told and not told and the shift in their focus. She soon finds herself in circumstances she wasn't expecting, and realizes there is more going on that what appears to be true on the surface, and seeks her own answers. She was a character I really liked, and I thought this first book was a very good introduction to her and her thought processes. Not to mention she's a great warrior as well.
While I did enjoy the book, after I finished reading, I thought about it a bit, and felt that the ending, namely the last chapter, felt a little rushed. Despite that, I recommend this book to those who enjoy stories with angels and demons and Greek mythology along with urban fantasy. My rating is 4/5 platypires....more
The Wind Warrior was a great start to a YA series that's a little hard to categorize completely, but I'd say it could fall into science fiction/apocalThe Wind Warrior was a great start to a YA series that's a little hard to categorize completely, but I'd say it could fall into science fiction/apocalyptic. What I really thought was really original was the system of elemental powers that people possess, including earth, wind, water and fire. There is a cycle, with each caste being in control before giving way to the next. The abilities they have aren't magical in nature, but rather supernatural powers. It was a fast read that flowed well and I really enjoyed the book. When I came to the end, it was sort of a cliff-hanger, but I really wanted to start the next book right away to find out how the story continues.
As far as the main characters, I liked Xander and Sammy both, and over the course of the book, their relationship grows into something more, with Sammy recognizes that she cares about Xander and what happens to him. Out of the characters introduced in The Wind Warrior, I think my favorites would have to be Xander's grandfather and Giovanni, and it was easy to root for them because of what they were facing.
My rating for The Wind Warrior, book 1 in the World Aflame series is 4/5 platypires....more
*I was given a complimentary copy of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review.*
“Wow.”
That was my reaction as I read the closing words *I was given a complimentary copy of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review.*
“Wow.”
That was my reaction as I read the closing words of The End is Now by Connor Titus. It's a post-apocalyptic book with angels, demons, and various other groups which finally come together at a place called Mt. Empyreal which is near Fates Keep. What's unique about this particular novel is that there are actually two books by two different authors which detail the same events, but different points of view. The other one is Guardians of Man.
What I loved about The End is Now is that as a reader, I was dropped into the action right away and it didn't let up until the very end. All communication has been knocked out in the town, with a strange snow that has fallen. Things aren't what they seem, and the people in the town soon find themselves dealing with a battle between angels and demons. There are some familiar elements in the story, but I loved the combination of history and mythology, with actual historical events mentioned at various points in time. I loved the twists that the author used in crafting this story while using those elements. It added depth and had me engaged and interested through the whole novel, and I came to the conclusion this is not your typical end-of-the-world book.
There are a lot of characters to keep track of, but if I had to name some that stood out as my favorites, the angel known as The Commander would be one, as well as Khrystle and Jessica.
Engaging from the very beginning, I recommend this book to those who enjoy dark fantasy, apocalyptic stories, and books with angels and demons. My rating is 5/5 platypires....more
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