REVIEW: Princess Avenger by Bernadette Rowley

Princess Avenger by Bernadette Rowley

Publication Date:October 15th 2012

Publisher:Destiny Romance

ebook
Useful Info: Goodreads, Author's Website

Passionate and headstrong, Alecia is no ordinary princess. Angered by the cold-blooded murder of her first love, she sets out to avenge his death.

Army Captain Vard Anton, the epitome of masculine strength and grace, is dealing with some dark secrets of his own. When he is appointed Alecia's body-guard, both find it hard to ignore the chemistry between them.

With assassination attempts and the threat of an arranged marriage looming over her, Alecia realises her time is running out. But Alecia's biggest battle is the one within as she tries to suppress the raging desire she feels for the powerfully attractive Vard. Can Alecia resist Vard while trying to exact revenge and avoiding the lecherous attentions of her husband-to-be? Will the power of love and desire be enough to unite Alecia and Vard forever?

Though separated by class and palace intrigues, Alecia and Vard are entwined by desire in this wonderful fantasy romance.

Review first published at Book Lovers Inc

I had really high hopes for Princess Avenger by Bernadette Rowley. I may haven't read any reviews about this book prior to me picking it up but still, from the premise I was certain that I had an amazing story in my hands. And although in some departments, Princess Avenger delivered what the premise promised, in others, it didn't fair so well I'm afraid.

For the first 1/3 of the story, Princess Avenger was everything I was expecting it to be. There was an intricate world building, a strong and independent heroine and a very mysterious and sexy hero. I mean, everything at the beginning was indicating a fresh and unique story, having all those elements I'm searching for. But before I even reached the middle of the story, my initial thoughts about Princess Avenger started to change rapidly. I found myself tired and a little bit bored, so I had to put it down, read another book and then continue with it. I don't usually do this. When I start a book I either put it aside or finish it. I rarely pick up again a book that I stopped reading. But I had to give it another try because like I said, at the beginning I really liked it. And my three star rating reflects mostly that part and the fact that even if I couldn't connect with the story, Bernadette Rowley's writing style is pretty good.

My main problem with the book was with the world building. It was rather ambitious, but Princess Avenger never delivered in that area. It's mostly a fantasy novel with a focus on romance and let's face it, the beginning and end of a fantasy novel is the world building. At least for me. But unfortunately in this story the world building is loose and vague. Details are never given about how exactly the world ticks or what is going on. The whole plot is based on the fact that the reader takes everything described as given and never asks any why's or how's. And that is a major failure for me. Maybe the fact that Princess Avenger wasn't really that long a book, explains why the world building was a little bit vague. But still, I just can't take everything for granted.


The other problem is that Princess Avenger is primarily a romance and then a fantasy novel. And I have nothing against that, if and only if, the romantic plot isn't explored against the basic plot of the whole story. And sadly, that was the case with Princess Avenger. After a point, everything was focused on the romance between Alecia and Vard and everything other was lost. Never explored. The whole book was about them and all the other interesting things happening at the same time where just completely brushed off. There wasn't a balance. And still, if the romance was good, I may still not be having that many problems, but their romance was also sort of lukewarm. Maybe because both Alecia and Vard (especially Vard) felt so distant. As for the rest of the characters, they might as well haven't been there. There was no character development or there was, but a minimum one.

All in all, Princess Avenger was a rather ambitious attempt that I'm pretty certain that it could have been so much better. There was potential in there. But unfortunately, it failed to impress me and catch my interest.

* This title was provided for a review through NetGalley

EARLY REVIEW: Scent of Magic by Maria V. Snyder

Scent of Magic by Maria V. Snyder

Series: Healer, #2

Publication Date: December 18th 2012

Publisher: Harlequin MIRA

Paperback, 400 pages

Useful Info: Goodreads, Author's Website, Book Depository

Hunted, Killed—Survived?

As the last Healer in the Fifteen Realms, Avry of Kazan is in a unique position: in the minds of her friends and foes alike, she no longer exists. Despite her need to prevent the megalomanical King Tohon from winning control of the Realms, Avry is also determined to find her sister and repair their estrangement. And she must do it alone, as Kerrick, her partner and sole confident, returns to Alga to summon his country into battle.

Though she should be in hiding, Avry will do whatever she can to support Tohon’s opponents. Including infiltrating a holy army, evading magic sniffers, teaching forest skills to soldiers and figuring out how to stop Tohon’s most horrible creations yet; an army of the walking dead—human and animal alike and nearly impossible to defeat.

War is coming and Avry is alone. Unless she figures out how to do the impossible ... again.

Maria V. Snyder just can't write a story that isn't amazing! Simple as that. This author is plainly brilliant and by each book of hers that I read she proves that over and over again. Scent of Magic is brilliant!

After reading and absolutely loving the first book in the Healer series, Touch of Power, Scent of Magic was among my most anticipated releases of 2012. And now that I read it, it seems that the time waiting for it to get published was well worth it. Scent of Magic just rocks!

Yeah, Kerrick and Avry weren't together apart from a few pages at the beginning and in the end, but still, I loved this book. I definitely missed the bickering between those two that added so much to the first story, but let's face the truth, even if they travelled together, the bickering would be much less considering the fact that they finally got together. And dividing the story in two, added way too many things on the whole plot. We got to learn so much more about Tohon's and Estrid's plans and many things became clearer, but still there are many answers to be given in the next book. As it is, I feel like I only got a glimpse of some things, like how and why both Death and Peace lilies interact the way they do with Avry. I just feel that there's more to it than simply because she's a healer and immune to their toxin.

Anyway, the story picks up immediately after the events of Touch of Power and Avry and Kerrick proceed in their own plans and paths until they finally meet again at the end of the book, where everything has changed for the worst. I mean that ending, just left me frustrated. Why oh why would you do this to us Maria??? To say that the end is a cliffhanger, would be an understatement. And not only because of the obvious thing that happens at the end, but also because of the implications of everything else that happens a few pages before... Oh, another long year of waiting...

All in all, Maria V. Snyder is one of my favorite fantasy authors out there, one of the few authors who write a fantasy novel exactly the way I like it. She's simply that gifted an author and her books are always an amazing journey to fantastic lands.

*This title was provided for review via NetGalley

EARLY REVIEW: Grave Mercy by R.L. LaFevers

Grave Mercy by R.L. LaFevers

Series: His Fair Assassin, #1

Publication Date:April 3rd 2012

Publisher:Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Hardcover, 509 pages

Book & Purchase Info: Author's Website, Goodreads, Book Depository

Why be the sheep, when you can be the wolf?

Seventeen-year-old Ismae escapes from the brutality of an arranged marriage into the sanctuary of the convent of St. Mortain, where the sisters still serve the gods of old. Here she learns that the god of Death Himself has blessed her with dangerous gifts—and a violent destiny. If she chooses to stay at the convent, she will be trained as an assassin and serve as a handmaiden to Death. To claim her new life, she must destroy the lives of others.

Ismae's most important assignment takes her straight into the high court of Brittany—where she finds herself woefully under prepared—not only for the deadly games of intrigue and treason, but for the impossible choices she must make. For how can she deliver Death’s vengeance upon a target who, against her will, has stolen her heart?

OMG!!! Grave Mercy is the best book I have read this year, and probably one of the best I will read. And I'm not saying that lightly. It's one of those books that just amaze you and you know that will remember for long after finishing reading it. It's simply incredible. The kind of book noone should miss the chance reading.

There's not a single thing I didn't like about Grave Mercy. Not a single one. And for once I feel so right to be drooling over a title from its premise alone. Cause what the premise promises, is exactly what you get from this book and then some.

The plot is fascinating, intriguing and so beautifully woven that you get sucked into Ismae's world and you don't want to resurface anytime soon. From Ismae's education in the convent to become a skilled assassin, delivering Mortain's will, to her introduction in the Brittany's court, Grave Mercy is an amazing journey of a girl learning how to stand by her own choices and distinguishing the right from wrong in a world where you can trust noone and a wrong decision might result in innocents dying.

Grave Mercy combines fantasy and historical romance with a dash of magic and all that in its finest form. It's a YA novel, but not quite. It's not the typical YA title one would expect. It's so much more. It's dark and death is ever present in this story, but despite all that it shows how even surrounded in death one can shine.

The writing style is amazing and the pace of the book even. While not heavy in romance it is one of the most romantic YA titles I have ever read.

All the characters in this book, main and secondary alike, are well developed and even better delivered, each and everyone of them with his/her own place in the story.

Ismae is slowly developing before the readers' eyes and I couldn't help but love her. She's yet one of my favorite female characters. She's not the damsel in distress, she's strong, she acts first and never asks for forgiveness if she believes that her actions are justified according to her inner sense of justice.

Duval on the other hand is one of the most honourable heroes I have ever read in a book. He's the kind of character who without speaking great words of love or doing impressive and heroic things all the time, managed only by his actions to grab my interest and make me fall in love with him. He slowly works his way into Ismae's and the readers' heart.

All in all, words can't possibly describe how much I loved Grave Mercy and how truly fascinating a novel it is! One thing is for sure. I will "stalk" LaFevers from now on. Her writing style is so good that I don't want to miss any of her work.

*This title was reviewed via NetGalley.

REVIEW: Magic Lost, Trouble Found (Raine Benares,#1) by Lisa Shearin

Magic Lost, Trouble Found by Lisa Shearin

Publication Date:May 29th 2007

Publisher:Ace

Mass Market Paperback, 345 pages

Buy via Book Depository

My name is Raine Benares. I'm a seeker. The people who hire me are usually happy when I find things. But some things are better left unfound. I'm a sorceress of moderate powers, from an extended family of smugglers and thieves. With a mix of street smarts and magic spells, I can usually take care of myself. But when my friend Quentin, a not-quite-reformed thief, steals an amulet from the home of a powerful necromancer, I find myself wrapped up in more trouble than I care for. I like attention as much as the next girl, but having an army of militant goblins hunting me down is not my idea of a good time. The amulet they're after holds limitless power, derived from an ancient, soul-stealing stone. And when I take possession of the item, it takes possession of me. Now my moderate powers are increasing beyond anything I can imagine-but is the résumé enhancement worth my soul?

UGH! I picked Magic Lost, Trouble Found through some recommendations on books similar to Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder. I read the premise, found it intriguing and bought the book. Now that I read it, I really want to scream at those people who actually found it similar in any way with Snyder's books. Where did they find the similarities??? Where?

Before anything else, let me state one thing beforehand. It's not that Magic Lost, Trouble Found was a bad book. Not by any means.It was a decent Fantasy title, just not one that I would ever like. So, my rating of this book, represents solely my likeness of the book and not if it was technically a good book or not. Cause technically, this is a good book, not a 5 star rating but a 3,5 or 4. But unfortunately, I couldn't bring myself to like it or care for the story at all.

I found myself really bored by the point I reached the 1/3 of the story and after that point, I just couldn't make myself care for the characters or the story, even when it started to pick up a little after the first half. I was really tired by all those strange names the author used for her universe and the complicate relationships between the characters. Truthfully, they weren't so complicated, but when you read almost 100 pages of who is who and what is everyone doing and how even secondary characters are placed exactly in the story, well that is bound to exhaust you a bit. Well, in my case it exhausted me more than a bit and in cost to the actual story of the book.

Another thing that bothered me a bit was the fact that the story was pure fantasy, set in a completely imaginative universe with clothing of past centuries and according technology while the language was full of slang and dialogues I couldn't possibly place in the same century. The setting and the language didn't exactly blend together harmonically.

Anyway, as I said, I picked this one based on the assumption that it would resemble Snyder's work, which it didn't in any way. And it's not the book's fault that I picked it up expecting something else entirely. But I did. And if it wasn't for that, I wouldn't ever come across this title or consider reading it. Cause it's not the book I usually pick and enjoy, so it wasn't so much of a surprise that I didn't like it. But as I said, technically, it's a good fantasy title, definitely worth picking if you are a fan of the genre, just keep in mind that you'll have to ignore any recommendations that suggest it is similar to Poison Study. Cause it's not. In any way.

EARLY REVIEW: Touch of Power (Healer,#1) by Maria V. Snyder

Touch of Power by Maria V. Snyder

Publication Date: December 20th 2011

Publisher: Mira

Paperback, 394 pages

Buy via Book Depository

Laying hands upon the injured and dying, Avry of Kazan assumes their wounds and diseases into herself. But rather than being honored for her skills, she is hunted. Healers like Avry are accused of spreading the plague that has decimated the Territories, leaving the survivors in a state of chaos.


Stressed and tired from hiding, Avry is abducted by a band of rogues who, shockingly, value her gift above the golden bounty offered for her capture. Their leader, an enigmatic captor-protector with powers of his own, is unequivocal in his demands: Avry must heal a plague-stricken prince—leader of a campaign against her people. As they traverse the daunting Nine Mountains, beset by mercenaries and magical dangers, Avry must decide who is worth healing and what is worth dying for. Because the price of peace may well be her life....

This review was originally posted at Book Lovers Inc

Touch of Power wasn't just good or amazing...It was plainly brilliant!I love Maria V. Snyder's work and think she is one of the best fantasy writers out there and with her new series,she just confirms it!

As soon as I started reading Touch of Power I just couldn't put the book down for no reason.I was glued to the story,and my e-reader was like second skin for the day it took me to finish it!

Maria V. Snyder's writing style is amazing!She creates such intricate worlds,so imaginative and so well structured,that even though she throws her readers immediatelly into the world she creates,you have no trouble whatsoever to follow the story.

Once more,Snyder created an intricate world,with its own politics and structure and set her story amidst a very turning point for that world.Her heroes struggle to survive and to set things right in a world that everything changes rapidly.

One thing I always admire in Snyder's books are the descriptions of the heroes' journeys.She manages to take me along with her characters on every dangerous journey and that's something I love and unfortnatelly not every writer can do.

The characters,both main and secondary are well developed,each one of them with a full background and a consistency, making it impossible to not connect with them.

Avry is smart,kind hearted,independent and strong and among my favorite female leading characters,much like Yelena was.Kerrick is stubborn,mysterious,smart and a man you can't possibly resist to!Although,I have a slight complain here...Smacking Avry in the beggining of the story wasn't his best moment and either way it's a personal thing and I have zero tolerance towards even minor abuse,so I really didn't like reading that.And no matter how much I really liked and enjoyed reading about Kerrick,that incident sort of stuck in my head...

All in all,Maria V. Snyder is back with a fantasy series that will make her older readers want to re-read her previous series (at least I seriously consider doing so!) and her new readers want to grab immediatelly whatever she has written until now!And all her books worth it!They are simply fantastic!

*This title was reviewed via NetGalley  

EARLY REVIEW: The Girl of Fire and Thorns (Fire and Thorns,#1) by Rae Carson

The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson

Publication Date: September 20th 2011

Publisher: Greenwillow Books

Hardcover, 432 pages

Buy via Book Depository

Once a century, one person is chosen for greatness.


Elisa is the chosen one.


But she is also the younger of two princesses, the one who has never done anything remarkable. She can’t see how she ever will.


Now, on her sixteenth birthday, she has become the secret wife of a handsome and worldly king—a king whose country is in turmoil. A king who needs the chosen one, not a failure of a princess.


And he’s not the only one who needs her. Savage enemies seething with dark magic are hunting her. A daring, determined revolutionary thinks she could be his people’s savior. And he looks at her in a way that no man has ever looked at her before. Soon it is not just her life, but her very heart that is at stake.


Elisa could be everything to those who need her most. If the prophecy is fulfilled. If she finds the power deep within herself. If she doesn’t die young.


Most of the chosen do.

The Girl of Fire and Thorns was a bit of a roller coaster read for me.I started reading it feeling beyond excited,I found myself a bit confused at the first chapters,then a bit bored through the endless descriptions and political games and finally amazed at how good a fantasy book it turned out to be.

I really enjoyed Rae Carson's writing style.This book is pure YA fantasy and I have to admit that I had to encounter one so good since Graceling by Kristin Cashore.But the writer chose to throw us in immediately in her world,without doing much explaining about how her world worked or functioned.For one thing,for the better part of the story I kept wondering what on earth is a Godstone,what's the big deal about it and how it worked or what it meant.For the better part of the book I just kept wondering or guessing,cause clearly that Godstone was crucial to the story,but why?Everyone seemed to know or at least have a clue but the reader and the bearer herself!

Anyway,the details sometime were revealed and after that,WOW!As soon as everything clicked into place I just couldn't put this book down,something I can't say for the first part of it and the endless political games.

I loved how Carson portrayed her protagonist Elisa and her development throughout the book.But here,I just have to say something that kept bothering me the whole time.Because you see Elisa,is a rather fat girl,smart but not trying to pass as one at least at the begining.Surely,through what she lives through,she changes,and those changes were delivered brilliantly.But, one of the changes she goes through is losing weight.And I don't mind one bit that fact.What bothered me though,was that as soon as she lost that extra weight,everyone seemed to pay more attention to her and like her even more,even the King who paid her little attention before.Surely,losing weight may make (and note the may here) a woman more attractive (though here I might add that when a woman loses weight she gains more confidence,so I really don't know whether that attractiveness comes from the lost of weight or the gain of confidence...) but in this book,I somehow got the feeling that everything started changing as soon as Elisa lost that extra weight.And that bothered me a bit.Call me oversensitive,but it did.Cause I just happen to believe that you don't have to be thin or beautiful to be liked or respected.Thankfully,those mentions were few in the book thus helping me stay focused on the actual story.

Anyway,apart from the weight thing and a rather slow start,The Girl of Fire and Thorns turned out to be a good story and with the things happening by the end,I can certainly say that I will read the next book in the series.I really want to know what or if anything new happens with a certain someone in this book...

*This title was reviewed via NetGalley

READING: Winterborne (Universe Unbound,#1) by Augusta Blythe

Winterborne by Augusta Blythe

Publication Date: April 24th 2011

Publisher: Self-published

Kindle Edition

Buy via Amazon

You can also find Winterborne at B&N and iBookstore and it's  available on Sony and Kobo via Smashwords

Sixteen-year old Mia Winterborne is destined to be special. Details are sketchy, though, as her dad disappeared with all the answers when she was five. Mia only knows that she'll inherit her kickass superpowers on her seventeenth birthday. Helping Mia prepare for her anticipated ascendancy is Loie Bryce, her best friend and eternal sidekick extraordinaire. The girls' intense friendship has never wavered until now, when Andreas arrives in Salcey Ridge. They both fall hard for the British hottie, who quickly becomes a fixture in their lives. When they discover that Andreas is not who he appears to be, the frightening reality of Mia's powers finally hits home. The nearer Mia's birthday draws, the more the danger escalates and long-buried lies are exposed, putting the girls on a path that they never expected.

Before saying anything else about Winterborne I really want first to thank the author,Augusta Blythe,for approaching me and for giving me the chance to read her book.

That being said I can now proceed and express my amazement with Winterborne!It's a book I didn't just like,I devoured it!Once I started reading it I just couldn't possibly put it down!

Where should I start?From the incredible and unique story building?From the amazing Augusta Blythe's writing style or the set of characters she created that had just depth and development?In overall,Augusta Blythe delivers a YA story so good that the reader can't help but feel mesmerized until the very last pages.

At first,I was a bit surprised that the narrator was Loie Bryce rather than Mia Winterborne.Having read the premise I just assumed that Mia would be the narrator,but Blythe surprised me and in a very pleasant way.Cause Loie is just perfect a character!

I loved the way Blythe portrayed her protagonist and the way she sketched her feelings.It was fascinating to watch in real time how Loie felt towards certain situations and how different things started to change her view of the world and the people surrounding her bit by bit each time.

She starts as being the third wheel - as she refers to her own self - to rise above all her problems and drawbacks to a memorable character.At this point,I have to admit that I didn't like Mia nearly as much as Loie...She had certain qualities in her character and there were some things I admired about her but she was rather self centered for my taste...And the way she treated Loie at times just struck a rather sensitive spot in me.I didn't like the way she treated her,like everything was evolving around her and Loie was good only to frame her awesomeness.But as I said,she had certain qualities that redeemed her more or less by the ending.

As for the hottie of the story Andreas,let's just say that he is a well justified reason for both Loie and Mia to fight for his attentions!Don't take me wrong,I value friendship more than anything in the world,I just say that I could totally relate to both of them for falling for him!And to be honest,only the British accent would do the trick for me!Apart from that,Andreas is as a well developed character as everyone in this book,and by the end of the story I was both frustrated with him and at the same time I could appreciate him more by his actions.I know I don't sound really coherent right now,but I can't say anything more,to avoid giving away much of the story.

Winterborne is trully a book I totally recommend.It's action packed,fast paced and so well written that time flies by while reading itThe world Augusta Blythe created is unique,dark and creepy but gorgeous nonetheless.Even if I tried I wouldn't be able to find a single thing I didn't like.All in all a book that goes straight to my favorites shelf and one I can't wait to read its sequel!

READING: Graceling (The Seven Kingdoms Trilogy, #1) by Kristin Cashore

Katsa has been able to kill a man with her bare hands since she was eight — she’s a Graceling, one of the rare people in her land born with an ext...more Katsa has been able to kill a man with her bare hands since she was eight — she’s a Graceling, one of the rare people in her land born with an extreme, and in her case horrifying, skill. As niece of the king, she should be able to live a life of privilege, but Graced as she is with killing, she is forced to work as the king’s thug. When she first meets Prince Po, Graced with combat skills, Katsa has no hint of how her life is about to change. She never expects to become Po’s friend. She never expects to learn a new truth about her own Grace — or about a terrible secret that lies hidden far away... a secret that could destroy all seven kingdoms with words alone


When i bought this book i had no expectations whatsoever despite the many good reviews it has received.And i'm glad that it lived up to its good reviews.There wasn't a single thing i didn't like about this book.The characters were as if alive and acting on their own volition,with flaws yet loveable...Katsa is a strong female protagonist who finds her prince,but doesn't need him to protect her and can definitely lead her steps without a male bossing her around.She's a character that a girl or woman reader can easily identify parts of herself in her and to be honest it was an oasis in the dessert of the mass of books with female protagonists who hide themselves behind a guy.
As i said,i enjoyed this book from the first till the last page and i can't wait to read the next books in the series.