Armageddon (The Fallen #5) by Thomas E. Sniegoski

Armageddon (The Fallen #5) by Thomas E. Sniegoski

This is a young adult paranormal fantasy novel (Rated PG-13)

♥♥♥

(Three Rising Hearts)

Book Summary

Only Aaron and his fellow Nephilim can protect the world from Satan’s wrath in this riveting finale to the New York Times bestselling The Fallen series.

Satan is determined to create his own Hell on Earth and has unleashed unfathomable chaos into the world. Cut off from Heaven, humanity’s only hope for salvation rests with eighteen-year-old Aaron and the other Nephilim who fight by his side. These angelic warriors will protect civilization and restore God’s favor no matter the cost. But there can be only one champion—and defeat is eternal.

The battle lines have been drawn. Armageddon is here.

My Book Boyfriend

I was left underwhelmed with this one. I had so many high hopes after the first book. But it felt like the author kept trying to steer Vilma down another path. In fact, we learn that the path had been sanctioned by someone. It seemed to distract me from the rest of what was going on because I was going to be pissed if it happened.

Then the ending battle was pretty good. It wasn’t easy and it wasn’t over right away. I liked how sacrifices were made and certain things were overcome. However, I agree with one reviewer how said Satan had it a little too easy early on. I though the Nephilim would play a large role than they did. I will say poor Cameron came off as a total weakling in this one.

And lastly, the ending felt slightly unfinished. Especially with the Vilma thing. What happened to the other person in that scenario? They were there (I’m purposefully not using singular pronouns for spoiler sake.)

Also, what about the humans??? How do they feel after all of this? What is the world really like? We only get a glimpse of the fighters but not the people.

Anyway, it wasn’t a bad ending, just slightly disappointed.

My book boyfriend Aaron.

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Dead Ice (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter #24) by Laurell K. Hamilton

Dead Ice (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter #24) by Laurell K. Hamilton

This is an adult paranormal romance novel (Rated NC-17)

 ♥♥♥♥
(Four Sexy Hearts)

Book Summary

Anita Blake has the highest kill count of any vampire executioner in the country. She’s a U.S. Marshal who can raise zombies with the best of them. But ever since she and master vampire Jean-Claude went public with their engagement, all she is to anyone and everyone is Jean-Claude’s fiancée.

It’s wreaking havoc with her reputation as a hard ass—to some extent. Luckily, in professional circles, she’s still the go-to expert for zombie issues. And right now, the FBI is having one hell of a zombie issue.

Someone is producing zombie porn. Anita has seen her share of freaky undead fetishes, so this shouldn’t bother her. But the women being victimized aren’t just mindless, rotting corpses. Their souls are trapped behind their eyes, signaling voodoo of the blackest kind.

It’s the sort of case that can leave a mark on a person. And Anita’s own soul may not survive unscathed . . .



My Review

I didn’t read Jason because of the many reviews. I don’t normally go decide based on reviews. But in this case due to the price for what I was getting, I needed to know. And I decided after, I didn’t want to only read about an orgy while talking relationship advice. I’d hoped we would get more of Jason’s story. But for the price of the book and audible, I’ll take the advice of the reviews and stay away. If it ever goes on audible or book sale, I might pick it up.

So, I remember all the things I didn’t like about this series while reading. The first thing is the repeating of the same information. While the first time to give past information as a reminder to the reader is okay. The seventh and eighth reminder in the same book gets annoying. Also, the four chapter discussion about a relationship (talking about beating a dead horse) is also annoying.

I have to say the downfall in this story is not an overabundance of sex. (There are only 2 sex scenes in the entire book, IKR). It is the talk me to death about relationships. There is an opportunity to really go with the mystery/crime solving portion of the book. But it just never takes hold of the story and gets lost in the relationship minutia.

And I’m sorry. I’m a little selfish. And I don’t often say this, but I didn’t want the reality that the many guys might want to add another girl to the mix. I get it. It’s only fair. But one of the few times you’ll hear me say this, I’m like, this is fiction. I want all the guys to myself (and Anita, lol). No more girls allowed.

Still, I heart so many of the characters, I found myself still enjoying it just enough that I could give it four stars and feel good about my rating.

Audio Review

Kimberly Alexis does a stupendous job with this series. I can’t imagine listening to anyone else do it. And I have and thank god she’s back.

My book boyfriend Nicky.

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Throne of Glass (Throne of Glass #1) by Sarah J. Maas

Throne of Glass (Throne of Glass #1) by Sarah J. Maas 

This is a new adult fantasy novel (Rated PG-13)

♥♥

(Two Disappointing Hearts)

Book Summary

In a land without magic, where the king rules with an iron hand, an assassin is summoned to the castle. She comes not to kill the king, but to win her freedom. If she defeats twenty-three killers, thieves, and warriors in a competition, she is released from prison to serve as the king's champion. Her name is Celaena Sardothien.

The Crown Prince will provoke her. The Captain of the Guard will protect her. But something evil dwells in the castle of glass--and it's there to kill. When her competitors start dying one by one, Celaena's fight for freedom becomes a fight for survival, and a desperate quest to root out the evil before it destroys her world.

My Review
 

With high recommendations, I finally picked up this book. I really enjoy YA paranormal and fantasy books so I was like, sure let me use an audible credit and pick this one up.

First, I should mention that this isn’t a YA book like I thought. The heroine of the book is 18 and her, and I use this term loosely, possible love interests are 19 and early twenties. So this isn’t technically a YA book. However, there isn’t sex in the book or at least as far as I got.

I should say that out of 13 hours of listening, I had about 46 minutes left when I decided to stop listening/reading. So I think having read over 90%, I have every right to write a comprehensible review on the book.

Overall, the main problem with the book is that it tried to do too many different things and under delivered on everything. The book promised action. This from the first chapter. So this isn’t a spoiler, assassin girl taken out of jail to go compete for a job with the king. Can I say that this sounds a lot like Poison Study, which also happens to be a NA fantasy novel. Anyway, it takes us until around the 28% mark before the girl even starts the competition. What happens during up until this time? A lot of nothing. No romance, no real character development. I almost gave up at that point.

Then there is this element of mystery and thriller as people start dying. I won’t get into the details as I don’t want to spoil anything, but can I say that we were “told” this was being investigated. However, we were only shown twice that an investigation was even happening. And on the second time, when the author donned to show us, it was well into several people being dead. And it is our heroine who shows the investigator clues he or she might have missed. Which seems crazy? And if said investigator needed her help, why wasn’t Celaena brought in on future deaths investigations. The author had an opportunity here that she created and it led nowhere. It was odd. Since the investigation was stagnant and Celaena had a gift for seeing clues, why wasn’t she asked to help???

Okay, the romance part. I don’t need romance, but when there isn’t any action, mystery or anything else to move the plot further and the author has created a possible love interest the way Celaena pants over this guy the few times in the book she sees him, I’m hoping maybe for romance??? What we get is a kiss that come far late in the book. Then we are “told” of a whole day make out session with this guy. And more of Celaena panting over this guy. But honestly, all of this makes up far less than 10% of the book. Still Elena seems very willing to engage in a semi relationship with this guy, even getting jealous when other women are around.

As far as Celaena, she was supposed to be this badass, but she was more concerned about mundane things like how pretty she was and what dresses she would wear.

So out of all the elements this author creates, we get nothing. Had I been her editor, I would have told her to “show” all of the competitions instead of like four of them and glossing over the rest. Leave the mystery as is, since we will have faster pace action to move the story forward. Then the romance, well, I would have said, leave it at the one kiss.

So this brings me to why I stopped reading this one. SPOILERS ahead.

Celaena never baulks at being with this guy (I don’t name him for SPOILER, SPILER sake) unless this friend of hers comes around and she’s pretending not to like this guy. Otherwise, in her thoughts and actions, she’s all into this guy. So tell me, when the father of said guy tells him Celaena is using him, I immediately think the Dad is wrong and he’s just trying to interfere. Yet, after Celaena wins the competition, and another boy saves her life in the process, she tells the guys she’s been kissing all this time, she can’t be with him because she’s now the champion. Sounds like good old Dad was right. Therefore, I don’t like the character of this girl. I have no reason to go on.

Had Celaena only kissed the boy once and held him off and in her thoughts throughout the book. That  she thought about how she couldn’t be with this guy because of who and what they would be to each other, I could have continued. Which had been my plan. Up to this point, I would have given the book 3 stars and I was sure there would be enough of a cliffy to make me want to move on. But that wasn’t the case at all. Instead, Celaena comes off as a manipulation bitch. And that’s not the kind of character I can root for or want to continue reading about.

Furthermore, MORE SPOILERS, I read the reviews on the two future books that are released. I was still curious after all what would happen.  In the next book Celaena is with the boy that saved her. But in the following book, Celaena has moved on from him and is with someone else. And the first guy in this book has found someone else. And I’m done.

This book with its cartoonish cover, so it seems like YA. But I don’t like the bad values it sends. In YA, I forgive girls for making mistakes. Which is why I could have forgiven Celaena for the one kiss and a whole lot of thoughts about why she shouldn’t’ have done it. What I can’t forgive is Celaena coming off in the words of many guys I know, as a cock tease. (though there isn’t’ any sex in the book at least up until the 90% mark. I don’t know what comes after and don’t care.)

END OF SPOILERS

And for that reason, I can’t recommend this book especially not to young adults. But I encourage the mature readers to take a gander and make their own choice about whether they like or not.

Audio Review

Elizabeth Evans does an okay job. There are many important characters as this book is told in third person. However, Ms. Evans doesn’t have many voices. So some characters sound the same. But it’s not horrible. And the actual acting is really good.

 

My book boyfriend Prince Dorian.

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Forsaken (The Fallen #4) by Thomas E. Sniegoski

Forsaken (The Fallen #4) by Thomas E. Sniegoski

This is a young adult paranormal fantasy novel (Rated PG-13)

 ♥♥♥

 (Three Forsaken Hearts)

Book Summary

Half angel and half human, Aaron holds the weight of the world in his hands in the fourth book of the New York Times bestselling The Fallen series.

The war between Heaven and Hell rages on. The devil has possessed Lucifer’s body and is intent on unleashing unfathomable chaos in the world. But no matter the cost, Aaron and the other Nephilim are determined to protect humanity.

As the casualties mount around them, Aaron and his beloved Vilma’s loyalty and faith will be tested. And in this next installment of the The Fallen series, they’re out to prove that what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger....

My Review

I was kind of disappointed in this book. I did gobble it up, but I kept reading waiting for something and got nowhere. This book almost felt like filler. Not much of consequence happens. We don’t get a ton of answers.

The previous book was set up with tons of questions and where they would go from there, and we got jack that made me want to order the final book. Which I will. I’ve come this far.

SPOILERS

So Gabriel has been more since Aaron changed him. Secretly I think he’s the angel Gabriel. You know Dog spelled backwards is God. Anywho, Gabriel goes on a mission. And his random mission to help the humans just happens to be fighting other animals. I mean really. That’s like so ridiculously unbelievable. It’s not like they scouted the missions and said since there are other animal foes at this location, Gab you take that one. And guess what, none of the other missions have animals. It’s dumb. Sad, the author couldn’t have come up with better plotting to explain this happenstance.

And can I say I’m so annoyed with Vilma and her thing with Jeremy. Aaron deserves better.

END OF SPOILERS

Will I get the final book? Yes. As much as I didn’t like this installment or see the need for 300 pages of what happens, I will ultimately get the final book. With the ebook at a $10 in cost, the same price as the paperback, I’ll wait before picking the final book up. Publishers are truly crazy and I’m just not that desperate to read.

My book boyfriend Aaron.

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*Disclaimer - I am not the owner of this picture. I found it on the web for causal fun use on my blog for which I receive no compensation. If this picture belongs to you (you are the copyright owner) please let me know and I will remove it.

Day Shift (Midnight, Texas #2) by Charlaine Harris

 

Day Shift (Midnight, Texas #2) by Charlaine Harris

 

This is an adult paranormal fantasy novel (Rated PG-13)

 

 ♥♥1/2

 (Two and a Half Day Shift Hearts)

 

  

Book Summary

 

In Midnight Crossroad, Charlaine Harris “capture[d] the same magic as the world of Bon Temps, Louisiana, and [took] it to another level" (Houston Press). Now the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Sookie Stackhouse novels returns to the one-traffic-light town you see only when you’re on the way to someplace else…

There is no such thing as bad publicity, except in Midnight, Texas, where the residents like to keep to themselves. Even in a town full of secretive people, Olivia Charity is an enigma. She lives with the vampire Lemuel, but no one knows what she does; they only know that she’s beautiful and dangerous.

Psychic Manfred Bernardo finds out just how dangerous when he goes on a working weekend to Dallas and sees Olivia there with a couple who are both found dead the next day. To make matters worse, one of Manfred’s regular—and very wealthy—clients dies during a reading.

Manfred returns from Dallas embroiled in scandal and hounded by the press. He turns to Olivia for help; somehow he knows that the mysterious Olivia can get things back to normal. As normal as things get in Midnight…

 

 

My Review

 

I don’t need romance to enjoy a story. If you follow me, you’ve heard me say this a million times. So when Ms. Harris put this series out which is so far different from the True Blood series, it bothered me none. This series is closer to her Harper Connelly series excluding the romance. And Manfred whom I think of as the main character comes from that series.

I haven’t read the authors other series, but my understanding is that characters in this book come from all her series. And for this book, it includes two True Book characters that show up. Exciting, yes. But other than that, this book just fizzles.

I hoped for more and got less. I really enjoyed the first book and was looking for the story to continue from where it left off. And the author just skipped over the developments at the end of the previous story as if they didn’t happen.

From the mystery that really didn’t keep me on the edge of my seat or guessing from my point to the almost no character development. The only saving grace is we get some answers about some of our resident Midnighters. I was shocked, well, shocked is a strong word. I was surprised by one and not the other.

I hope that this series gets better. And we don’t need romance. However, don’t promise romance at the end of one book and totally ignore it in the next.

This book lacked luster and almost felt like the writer was forced to write it and not that she felt any passion for the story. I’m still intrigued by this series and will read the next one. If that one doesn’t pan out, I’ll have to give up on this series.

SPOILERS

Can I just say Manfred is a twenty something hot guy as described by the Harper Connelly series. He’s tat’d up and sexy. BoBo is a hot thirties-something guy. Both guys never get laid or look for hook ups. I find that highly unlikely. Guys think about sex way too much and as friends, they never suggest going to the neighboring town to a bar. I understand the author wants to distance herself from the Sookie Stakehouse series, but she can’t do that at the expense of character believability. She could fade to black with the guys hooking up with other people. But to suggest these guys have gone months without getting any and there would be girls lined up to give up, is beyond ridiculous and unbelievable.

END OF SPOILERS

Audio Review

Susan Bennett does a wonderful job with narration.

My book boyfriend Manfred.

 

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*Disclaimer - I am not the owner of this picture. I found it on the web for causal fun use on my blog for which I receive no compensation. If this picture belongs to you (you are the copyright owner) please let me know and I will remove it.