Thursday, June 30, 2016

Book Review: Glass Sword by Victoria Aveyard






Synopsis


Mare Barrow’s blood is red—the color of common folk—but her Silver ability, the power to control lightning, has turned her into a weapon that the royal court tries to control.

The crown calls her an impossibility, a fake, but as she makes her escape from Maven, the prince—the friend—who betrayed her, Mare uncovers something startling: she is not the only one of her kind.

Pursued by Maven, now a vindictive king, Mare sets out to find and recruit other Red-and-Silver fighters to join in the struggle against her oppressors.

But Mare finds herself on a deadly path, at risk of becoming exactly the kind of monster she is trying to defeat.

Will she shatter under the weight of the lives that are the cost of rebellion? Or have treachery and betrayal hardened her forever?

The electrifying next installment in the Red Queen series escalates the struggle between the growing rebel army and the blood-segregated world they’ve always known—and pits Mare against the darkness that has grown in her soul.



Review

 

Despite it not being what I expected, I enjoyed Red Queen enough to add the next book Glass Sword to my birthday list. It wasn't one I wanted to rush out and buy, but one I was looking forward to reading.  

Overall, this sequel was quite a disappointment. Aveyard's usual turn of phrase which I adored in the last book, was spaced few and far between. The whole rebel military unit setting was not my particular cup of cocoa, but what really bothered me most was that Glass Sword was like reading an alternate version of Mocking Jay; all the melodrama and self loathing without any of the good parts. Mare was frustratingly negative, winy, cowardly, cold, and harsh through the entire book. It was like dealing with Katniss on the brink of her breaking point all over again.

Here's the difference though-I actually liked Katniss. Sure she was over dramatic and a pain in the rear all through book three, but it had taken two whole great books to get there. I felt like she and I had been through more than what I had witnessed with Mare. Because of that I was able to deal with Katniss's suicidal mind set much easier. I guess Mare and I don't click. And I guess that's the real reason I didn't like Glass Sword. It all takes place through Mare's POV and most of the story is told through her jaded thoughts and opinions. There were times I just wanted her to shut up and let the actual story happen.

What saved this book for me was the ending, which was pretty good, it just took way to long to get there. Before I read the ending, I was convinced I wasn't going to pick up the next book. But alas, I feel bad just leaving things where they ended so I'd like to know what happens next. Regardless, the third book is not high on my priority list. 


2.5 stars
* * `
 

Monday, June 27, 2016

New Release: The Time Key by Melanie Bateman





I've recently had the pleasure of connecting with author Melanie Bateman through our mutual publisher. She's not only an outstanding author, but an artist as well! She was able to do illustrations to go along with her time traveling story. I've got the book in hand and will be starting it shortly. Review to come soon. In the meantime, check it out on Amazon and Kindle.







 
SHADOWS THAT MOVE ON THEIR own, a mysterious device that looks like a pocket watch, a man on the run from monsters that exist in dreams—all are connected to Stanley because he interrupted a mugging. Now Stanley holds the Time Key, an object that allows him to travel through time. With the extraordinary gift of being able to see both the past and the future, he may be the only one who can save his family.




And check out these illustrations!!
























About Melanie Bateman


Melanie Bateman was born in Caracas, Venezuela, and moved to the United States at age nine. She has an associate's degree in fine art from Utah Valley University, emphasizing in illustration. From a very young age she's had a passion for drawing, specifically nature and the human figure. It is from this creative look on the world that she began to write stories. 



Tuesday, June 14, 2016

New Release Feature: The Starbright Series






Click Here
to win all three books!!






I've had the pleasure of interacting with this author through the Sword and Shield group on Facebook. Hilary Thompson books have been out for a while, but have recently been picked up by Oftomes Publishing, owned by my favorite YouTube reviewer and Instagramer @benjaminoftomes! 

I won the first ebook in a giveaway and now you can get Justice Buried for free too! I'm more excited than ever to read it and I thought I'd share some info about the series on its re-release day...


And Check out this beautiful book trailer! 





Book One



The people need Justice, but she's not listening.
One hundred years before, the Great Sickness reduced the world to three dystopian cities. Now the community of Asphodel is trapped underground, waiting for the prophesied maiden of Justice to rescue them.
Sixteen-year-old Astrea is supposed to be this savior - too bad for them she isn't a believer. Astrea fights her fate until discovering a power she never knew she had, and a handsome ally she never expected. With her life in danger, Astrea must choose between saving her city or herself.
This thrilling young adult adventure is the first in the richly-imagined Starbright series, which is laced with mystery, mythology, romance, and magic. Justice Buried will have you questioning fate versus free will along with Astrea's strong female lead, and wondering who can be trusted when everyone is keeping secrets.







Book Two

 



Balance Broken is the second in the Starbright series. In the first book, Justice Buried, Astrea fights to remain independent in a world which demands she submit to an ancient prophecy. In Balance Broken, she learns that independence means little when the world is depending on her.
The world cries for Order, but she’s igniting a revolution.
One hundred years before, the Great Sickness reduced the world to three cities. Now, Asphodel no longer lingers underground, and the Starbright Maiden of Justice has returned.
Everyone has faith in Astrea’s ability to save the world - but only she knows the dark truth about her powers.
Astrea teams with Stian, Lexan, and Zarea to enlist the help of Lord Hadeon of Tartarus. They hope Hadeon will aid in attacking Asphodel’s First Leader Keirna, but the Destroyer usually takes lives, not sides.
As Astrea discovers life outside of Asphodel, she begins to wonder whether the remaining world is too broken to save - especially since the price of freedom just might be her own life.






Book Three

 



The world cries for Peace, but she can’t stop fighting now.
One hundred years before, the Great Sickness reduced the world to three scattered cities. Now Asphodel has risen, Tartarus no longer burns, but Elysium still waits at the edge of the earth.
Trea’s destiny is still uncertain – but with her own personal prophet to help, the choice will finally be hers to make.
Three Sisters.
Four fallen stars.
Seven minutes to determine the future of our world.






About The Author

 




Hilary Thompson was born to parents who made a habit of taking roads less traveled. But she was also a first child, and an independent, willful child, so she has made a habit of taking a few roads on her own.
After trying on hats made for artists, architects, restaurant and retail workers, landscape designers, legal secretaries, and professional students, she retreated back to her first loves of education and writing.
Hilary now teaches high school full time, writes whenever and wherever she can, and reads as much as her eyes can handle. She also tries not to spoil her own independent, willful children or neglect her wonderful soul-mate of a husband too much. She tends to ignore laundry baskets and dirty dishes.





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