ARC Review: "A Chosen War" by Carly Eldridge


A Chosen War by Carly Eldridge
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Summary from GoodReads

Nineteen-year-old Maia has spent her life haunted by dreams of a man with uniquely brilliant blue eyes. She never expected she’d actually come face-to-face with him, or that he’d be the harbinger of a chaotic new life. But as shocking as meeting Blake is, it’s less unsettling than her sudden ability to adversely affect electronics and seemingly control—even heal—plants. 

Before she can figure out what’s happening, Blake’s cryptic warning about the impending approach of something big manifests as a freak earthquake, destroying Maia’s home and killing her parents. Devastated, Maia has no choice but to turn to Blake, where she learns that the earthquake was not as natural as it seemed. The reigning Terra guardian, or Mother Earth, has gone rogue, wiping out her replacements in a series of orchestrated natural disasters around the world—and Maia is next.

Worse, she’s the only one who can stop the Terra guardian from destroying not just Earth, but the fabric of the universe itself. Now, thrust into a world of celestial beings charged with the protection of the universe, Maia must come to terms with her new powers, and the idea that her destiny was shaped long ago. And she must do it all before she faces off with the woman who controls nature itself.

Intelligent and thought-provoking, A Chosen War takes the idea that everything is connected and wraps it in globe-spanning adventure with just a tinge of romance.




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REVIEW


I received an e-ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. 

A Chosen War is the story of Maia, a girl who discovers from the first page that she can control nature. The story picks up very quickly and despite the huge info dump I received in the first chapters, I liked the premise of the book. I really enjoyed the characters I was introduced to, especially Blake and his "dog".

The story did remind me a little of an apocalyptic scenery, added with a "2012" twist in it, but mostly I would really love to see more of Maia and Blake.




About the Author:

Carly Eldridge is the author of A Chosen War (April 2017). She calls New York City home; the vitality of the metropolis, with its rich history and culture, provides an unending source of inspiration. She can often be found exploring the city, in awe of its always surprising display of art, beauty, and raw American grit.

www.carlyeldridge.com | createdbycarly@gmail.com | @endlessbindings

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Things That Will Make Me Instantly NOT Want To Read A Book

                                    


This meme is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.
This week’s topic is Top Ten Tuesday #106: What can make me NOT want to add a book on my TBR list? Here are my top 10 picks!


10: Animal abuse


9: Love triangles


8: Thrillers


7: War novels 


6: Something titled: "For the fans of Twilight" or "The New 50 Shades of Grey".


5: Something also titled: "For the fans of Divergent". They did it on "Defy the Stars" by Claudia Gray BUT the author and the book did'nt disappoint. The book was amazing.


4: Romance winning over the plot. What's wrong with slow-burning romance? Thankfully the past 4 years I'm blogging this hasn't happened much to me.


3: Racism


2: Too "white" books. I want diversity!

1: INSTA-LOVE!

Blog Tour+Excerpt Reveal: "The Hot Shot" (Game On #4) by Kristen Callihan

the hot shot AN        

                                TheHotShot Amazon-2

First we were friends. Then we were roommates. Now I want more…

What can I say about Chess Copper? The woman is capable of bringing me to my knees. I know this about five minutes after getting naked for her.

No one is more surprised than me. The prickly photographer my team hired to shoot our annual charity calendar isn’t my usual type. She’s defense to my offense, a challenge at every turn. But when I’m with her, all the regrets and darkness goes away. She makes life fun.

I want to know Chess, be close to her. Which is a bad idea.

Chess is looking for a relationship. I’ve never given a woman more than one night. But when fate leaves Chess without a home, I step up and offer her mine. We’re roommates now. Friends without benefits. But it’s getting harder to keep our hands off each other. And the longer we live together the more I realize she’s becoming my everything.

Trick is… Now that I’ve made her believe I’m a bad bet, how do I convince her to give this player a true shot at forever?

   

AMAZON | iBooks | B&N | KOBO | Paperback

     

CHESS

  Grumbling, I toss on some black lounge pants and my oversized Tulane t-shirt and head to the drugstore. My head throbs by the time I get there, and my insides are writhing. I rest my hand against my lower stomach and grab a basket before calling James to complain.
 “I swear,” I tell him as I grab a bottle of painkillers.
“It’s like this entire day has been cursed.”
 He snickers. “Curse. Get it? Curse?”
 I roll my eyes, even though he can’t see me.
“Laugh it up. Meanwhile, it feels as if someone is playing Battleship in my uterus.”
 “Poor Chessie bear. At least we know why you were in such a foul mood.”
 A flush washes over my cheeks. “Yeah.” Lie. Lie. Lie. A tub of salted caramel gelato makes its way into the basket.
 “Tell me you’re getting some gelato,” James says.
 I smile. “Just grabbed it.”
 “Salted caramel?”
 “You know it.” I find the feminine products aisle and search for my brand.
“I’m going to go home, take a long bath with my gelato, and forget this fucking day.”
Forget Finn. “And then I’m going to go on Amazon and buying a freaking year’s supply of tampons so I don’t have to make these kinds of emergency runs anymore.”
 A low, deep chuckle rumbles from behind me, and all the tiny hairs lift on my arms.
 “But you’ll still need your gelato,” a familiar—fuck me, seriously?—voice points out. My insides swoop even as my cheeks burn.
 “Who is that?” James asks in my ear. I slowly turn on one heel.
“The plague,” I say, glaring up at Finn Mannus’s smiling face.
 “From asshat to plague.” Finn scrunches up his brow. “I’m not sure if that’s a step down or a tie.” “Who is that?” James nearly yells now.
 I don’t take my eyes off Finn.
“I’ll call you back.” James’s squawks of protest cut off as I hit the end button. “Are you stalking me, Mannus?”
 Finn a rests his hands low on his lean hips.
“Having a healthy amount of conceit myself, I have to admire yours, but no, buttercup. My buddy Woodson lives a few blocks away. It’s poker night. I’m stocking up on beer.” It’s only then I notice a twelve pack tucked under his other arm.
 “And tampons?” I ask, with a pointed look around the aisle we’re standing in.
 “Not tonight,” he says easily. “Though we used to keep a pack of them back in college. Light flows were perfect for stopping up bloody noses.”
 A snort escapes me.
“Now there’s a visual.” Somehow, I’ve taken a step closer to him. He’s freshly showered, the golden brown strands of his hair still damp at his temples. And I wonder if he’s just come from the gym or practice.
“So back in college you went and bought these tampons?”
 “Nah,” he says with a cheeky smile. “I’d ask one of the girls hanging around to get me some.”
 “Of course you did.” My nose wrinkles with annoyance.
 “Give me a little credit, Chess. I’d buy them now if I had to.”
 “Hmm…” I eye him, trying not to return his smile. If only because it’s more fun when he teases.
“So why are you in this aisle now, if not for potential nosebleed needs?”
 “That’s easy.” He steps closer, a warm wall of muscle and clean scent. “I heard your voice.”
 For a second I just blink.
 “You recognized my voice?”
 His gaze darts over my face as if he’s trying to get a read on why I’m gaping at him. “Not to be…ah…rude, but you’re loud when you talk on the phone.”
 “Yeah, but… You recognized it.” We’d only just met. It occurs to me that I’d recognized his both times he’d snuck up on me. Then again, his voice is distinctive, flowing like hot honey when he’s relaxed or hammering down like iron to rock when he’s taking command of a situation. A soft flush of pink tints the tips of his ears. If I wasn’t staring at him, I might have missed it. He shifts his weight.
“Was I not supposed to?”
 “No. Yes.” I shake my head and laugh. “I don’t know.”
 He grins then. “You’re cute when you’re flustered.”
 “I’m not flustered.” I am.


                           THS1


  
KCauthorKristen Callihan is an author because there is nothing else she’d rather be. She is a three-time RITA nominee and winner of two RT Reviewer’s Choice awards. Her novels have garnered starred reviews from Publisher’s Weekly and the Library Journal, as well as being awarded top picks by many reviewers. Her debut book FIRELIGHT received RT Magazine’s Seal of Excellence, was named a best book of the year by Library Journal , best book of Spring 2012 by Publisher’s Weekly, and was named the best romance book of 2012 by ALA RUSA. When she is not writing, she is reading.




WEBSITE / FACEBOOK / TWITTER / AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE

ARC Review: "The Dead List" by Jennifer Armentrout


The Dead List by Jennifer L. Armentrout
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Summary from GoodReads

It's Ella's senior year of high school and she and her best friend Linds plan to make it the best year ever. At Brock Cochran's end of summer pool party, the girls vow to have as much fun as possible before they head off to different colleges next fall. But when Ella is mysteriously attacked on her way home from the party, everything changes. Ella's carefree senior year plans disintegrate as she finds herself at the center of an attempted murder investigation.

Ella tries to move on, but her attacker isn't done yet. He shows himself in the form of horrifying signs and symbols: a clown mask strewn on her bed, a dead bird in her backpack, a shadow moving past her window in the night. And as the weeks pass, it turns out that Ella isn't the only one being tormented.

With the help of an old flame, Jensen Carver, and her friends and family, Ella tries to attain some sense of normalcy, but she can't seem to shake the feeling that there's a dark pattern hidden in the killer's every move. Suddenly, even those in her innermost circle seem suspicious. In her seemingly safe West Virginia town, Ella starts to wonder who she can trust.




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REVIEW

I received an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. 

I was hesitant to read this book. You may think that it's crazy tolet a book by Jennifer Armentrout slip from my hands but, to be honest I never was a fan of thrillers. Especially "It" by Stephen King. So, despite being afraid, I really enjoyed this book.
There's enough mystery to last a lifetime and a very haunting setting. Ella and Jensen both tried to find out who was behind everything, but it was Ella, who got the most character growing in this book.

There is a clown involved, which was very creepy and I never, EVER want to see a clown mask again. Despite everything, the book was a solid five-stars for me, but I would be terrified if Jennifer Armentrout ever decided to turn into thrillers.



About the author:

# 1 New York Times and # 1 International Bestselling author Jennifer lives in Martinsburg, West Virginia. All the rumors you’ve heard about her state aren’t true. When she’s not hard at work writing. she spends her time reading, watching really bad zombie movies, pretending to write, and hanging out with her husband and her Jack Russell Loki.
Her dreams of becoming an author started in algebra class, where she spent most of her time writing short stories….which explains her dismal grades in math. Jennifer writes young adult paranormal, science fiction, fantasy, and contemporary romance. She is published with Spencer Hill Press, Entangled Teen and Brazen, Disney/Hyperion and Harlequin Teen. Her book Obsidian has been optioned for a major motion picture and her Covenant Series has been optioned for TV. Jennifer has won numerous awards, including the 2013 Reviewers Choice Award for Wait for You, the 2015 Editor’s Pick for Fall With Me, and the 2014/2015 Moerser-Jugendbuch- Jury award for Obsidian. Her young adult romantic suspense novel DON’T LOOK BACK was a 2014 nominated Best in Young Adult Fiction by YALSA. Her adult romantic suspense novel TILL DEATH was a Amazon Editor’s Pick and iBook Book of the Month. Her young adult contemporary THE PROBLEM WITH FOREVER is a 2017 RITA Award nominee.
She also writes Adult and New Adult contemporary and paranormal romance under the name J. Lynn. She is published by Entangled Brazen and HarperCollins.

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Things That Will Make Me Instantly Want To Read A Book

                                    


This meme is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.
This week’s topic is Top Ten Tuesday #106: What can make me want to add a book on my TBR list? Here are my top 10 picks!


10: Cover: True, sometimes I judge the book by its covers. And in recent years I've seen many beautiful covers as also some pretty amazing touches in the art.

9: Plot: I am a little picky with the blurb. Some are amazing others, have hidden meanings. In the end, it all comes down to what I love from the plot.

8: Author: If I hear that a book from a known author will be published, I'll mark it on my calendar, scream into the void like a lunatic, pre-order when it will be available...and add it to my TBR list! Recently I finally convinced my two friends to read "A Court of Thorns and Roses" series by Sarah J. Maas! Their reaction can be seen in this Tweet!




7: Diversity representation: The bad thing of living outside the US is the publication houses. The Greek stores sadly do not always bring the new anticipated books, especially the ones with diversity. And don't make me start n the LGTB+ theme especially. But in the recent years, I've taken on reading more books in electronic form and try to save for buying physical copies. So I can read anytime I wish.

6: Reviews: I trust some of the best bloggers out there and they have never disappointed me. When I see ARC reviews on books I have added to my TBR list, I make sure to pay extra attention.

5: Blog Tours: If there is a chance to participate in a blog tour and even be lucky to get an ARC I'll take it.

4: Contests: If the author organizes contests with pre-order prizes I'll join too!

3: Facebook Groups: In the past 4 months I got the chance to join private groups on FB where I can discuss about books with other readers. It's a good chance to get ARCs too!

2: Twitter: Frankly, it's the best social media from where I can get to meet an author and the other bloggers, "closely".

1: My love for books!



Blog Tour+ARC Review+Excerpt: "RAZR" (Demonica, #11.8; Demonica Underworld, #4) by Larissa Ione

RAZR - Tour banner  

From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Larissa Ione, comes RAZR, a passionate and spellbinding novella from the Demonica Underworld Series, brought to you by 1,001 Dark Nights! Be sure you grab your copy today!

                             RAZR - cover

About RAZR:

New York Times bestselling author Larissa Ione returns to the Demonica Underworld…

A fallen angel with a secret.

An otherworldly elf with an insatiable hunger she doesn’t understand.

An enchanted gem.

Meet mortal enemies Razr and Jedda…and the priceless diamond that threatens to destroy them both even as it bonds them together with sizzling passion.

Welcome back to the Demonica Underworld, where enemies find love…if they’re strong enough to survive.

Amazon ** Amazon UK ** Amazon CA ** Amazon AU ** Paperback

 
REVIEW

I received an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. 

Razr's story was a good and funny. Leaving the steamy part aside the novella focused also on creating the amazing world of Elves! Full of gemstones and fighting scenes this addition to 1001 nights novella series was a very good one!



EXCERPT


A lavender-scented breeze rustled through the trees as they entered a jungle forest unlike anything Razr had ever seen, and the deeper into the woods they went, the more he realized he had been wrong about this realm. The trees swayed with the fragrant wind, their limbs heavy with silver-laced leaves that sprinkled glitter with every breath of air. It was clean here, with no hint of industrialization. No smog, no chemicals, no man-made filth.
As they walked, the trees got taller and more ornate, and Jedda giggled when he stumbled to a stunned halt. Mushrooms littered the forest floor, lit up like little neon bulbs in every color imaginable. Tiny winged creatures zipped between them, bouncing off their caps before darting upward in sprays of sparks. And here, in this forest, the trees grew around gemstones of every shape and size, their trunks surrounding them like string art.
“This…is extraordinary.”
“Yeah,” she sighed. “It is.”
“Do these gemstones provide energy?”
She nodded and continued down the path. “They power everything here. Every tree grows around a gem, and each gem grows bigger with the tree. In the center of my town there’s an oak growing around an emerald the size of an elephant.” She pointed ahead, where the forest parted to reveal a village of buildings fashioned from live trees and thick vines, and there, at the very center, was the elephant emerald.
He couldn’t stop staring in awe as she led him through the village, which bustled with activity, from people hawking baked goods or tending to gardens to a blacksmith who set a gemstone into each weapon he crafted.
“They’re enchanted stones,” Jedda told him as they walked past. “His weapons sell for a mint in other elf realms and Sheoul.”
“There are other elf realms?”
She inclined her head in greeting at an azure-haired female who passed them with a
basket of apples. “There are two, both connected to this one. They’re not allowed in Filneshara except to trade.”
“Why not?”
She shrugged. “They’re kind of a**holes.”
Man, he really needed to learn more about elves.







Larissa Ione’s RAZR – Review & Excerpt Tour Schedule:
April 12th
Reads All the Books – Review & Excerpt
The Romance Rebels – Review & Excerpt
April 13th
Calling All Bookaholics – Review & Excerpt
GraveTells – Excerpt
Smut Book Jukie Reviews – Review & Excerpt
April 14th
Milky Way of Books – Review
Read-Love-Blog – Excerpt
The Ordinary Housewife Book Blog – Review & Excerpt
April 15th
danielriding.com – Excerpt
Deluged with Books Cafe – Review & Excerpt
Shayna Renee's Spicy Reads – Review & Excerpt
April 16th
I Smell Sheep – Review & Excerpt
Shelf_life – Review & Excerpt
The Escapist Book Blog – Review & Excerpt
April 17th
Bobo's Book Bank – Review & Excerpt
Oh My Growing TBR – Review & Excerpt
April 18th
Feeling Fictional – Review & Excerpt
I'm A Sweet And Sassy Book Whore – Review & Excerpt
Under the Covers – Review & Excerpt
April 19th
A Hopeless Romantic's Booklandia – Review & Excerpt
Dirty Girl Romance – Review
Rambling Reads – Review & Excerpt
Somewhere Lost in Books – Review & Excerpt
April 20th
Adria's Romance Reviews – Review & Excerpt
Loves Great Reads Blog – Review & Excerpt
Rantings of a Reading Addict – Review & Excerpt
Reese's Reviews – Review & Excerpt
April 21st
Evermore Books – Review & Excerpt
Jax's Book Magic – Excerpt


Larissa Ione - author image  About Larissa Ione: Larissa Ione is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author. An Air Force veteran, she traded in a career as a meteorologist to pursue her passion of writing. She now spends her days in pajamas with her computer, strong coffee, and supernatural worlds. She believes in celebrating everything, and would never be caught without a bottle of Champagne chilling in the fridge…just in case. She currently lives in Wisconsin with her U.S. Coast Guard husband, her teenage son, a rescue cat named Vegas, and her very own hellhound, a King Shepherd named Hexe.  

Website | Facebook | Twitter | 1001 Dark Nights


                              RAZR - Now Available 



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Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Of The Most Unique Books I've Read

                                    


This meme is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.
This week’s topic is Top Ten Tuesday #105: Top ten unique books that exist in my read or TBR list! I consider them unique mostly because I haven't read anything similar to other titles or because I enjoyed them so much, that in some cases, I couldn't even write a review.


10: Uprooted by Naomi Novik: A tale with unique elements and with a touch of favorite themes. I've never read something similar before.




9: The Alchemists of Loom by Elise Kova: A steampunk fantasy with Dragons and mystery. Very unique and very exciting!





8: The Love that Split the World by Emily Henry: Despite some negative reviews, still this little gem made my heart break with the almost impossible romance and the hidden truths.




7: A Promise of Fire by Amanda Bouchet: I always wanted a New Adult book focused on Greek mythology. The world building in this one and the protagonists have everything I enjoy in a good fantasy!




6: A Soul to take by Emily Taylor: One of the best surprises for 2017, ASTT is a unique blend of demons, technology and post modern Victorian-esqe world building.




5: A Thousand Pieces of You by Claudia Gray: Maybe one of the best sci-fi series? Because I've never read about dimension jumping before, neither have I enjoyed these characters and the feelings they gave me.




4: The Untold Tale by J.M. Frey: Just go and read the book will you? I'm pretty sure you'll rethink before wanting to jump headstrong into any book by Sarah J. Maas after this beauty.




3: The Next Together by Lauren James: Reincarnation, love and sci-fi blend beautifully here. A favorite read too!




2: The Weight of Feathers by Anna-Marie McLemore: A unique tale of magical realism, love, hate, crows and mermaids!




1: The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern: Hands down, the best unique book I can think. The descriptions, the characters, the ENDING, everything in this story are amazing!





What about you?




Cover Reveal: "Chaser" (Dive Bar #4) by Kylie Scott

 

New York Times and USA Today best-selling author Kylie Scott brings you the next Dive Bar Novel. We are excited to reveal the cover for CHASER releasing APRIL 2018!

                              Chaser (1)

  Given his well-earned bad boy reputation, Eric is having a tough time scoring.. When single Jean moves to town, she seems heaven sent by the sex gods. Only problem is, she not only wants nothing to do with him, but it turns out that she’s pregnant. Starting over in a small town, Jean is determined to turn her wild lifestyle around and be the kind of mother she always wished she’d had. Since local bar owner and all round hottie, Eric Collins, is now determined to steer clear of her pregnant self, it should be easy. When she goes into labour during a snow storm and her car slides on some ice, it’s Eric who comes to the rescue. There seems to be a bond between them now, but is it enough? And can Eric give up his manwhore ways to be the man Jean needs?    

PRE-ORDER NOW

AMAZON | AMAZON CA | AMAZON UK | Books A Million | Indiebound




kyliescottimage      Kylie is a New York Times and USA Today best-selling author. She was voted Australian Romance Writer of the year, 2013 & 2014, by the Australian Romance Writer’s Association and her books have been translated into eleven different languages. She is a long time fan of romance, rock music, and B-grade horror films. Based in Queensland, Australia with her two children and husband, she reads, writes and never dithers around on the internet. You can learn more about Kylie from http://www.kylie-scott.com/






   FACEBOOK | TWITTER | FACEBOOK FAN GROUP | INSTAGRAM | GOODREADS

Cover Reveal: "Moth to a Flame" by Cambria Hebert


Moth to a Flame
Cambria Hebert
Publication date: Spring 2017
Genres: Adult, Romance, Suspense (Stand-alone)
The only thing drawn to her more than danger is him…
Danger isn’t Zoey’s middle name. But it is something she can’t forget, something she’s reminded of every time she looks in the mirror. For those reasons, Zoey has become an expert at creating the perfect illusion. Her ability to fool the eye, to create truth where there was previously none makes her the best in the business.
Working as a makeup and special effects artist for Hollywood combines her two life must-haves: her passion for makeup and hiding in plain sight.
It also doesn’t hurt that she’s safe within the heavily secured and secret studio sets, away from the public eye.
Then her perfect job becomes her perfect nightmare.
Not only does her illusion slip with the blast of icy water, but it does so in front of the country’s biggest action hero and the gossipiest of celebrity TV shows.
At first, Zoey thinks danger hasn’t caught up to her and the worst thing about her mishap is the world’s most perfect man sees her in all her not-so-perfect glory.
Until a series of unexplained “accidents” begins on set.
That’s when Zoey knows.
Danger has caught up to her… and this time she fears death has, too.






Author Bio:
Cambria Hebert is an award winning, bestselling novelist of more than twenty books. She went to college for a bachelor’s degree, couldn’t pick a major, and ended up with a degree in cosmetology. So rest assured her characters will always have good hair.
Besides writing, Cambria loves a caramel latte, staying up late, sleeping in, and watching movies. She considers math human torture and has an irrational fear of chickens (yes, chickens). You can often find her running on the treadmill (she’d rather be eating a donut), painting her toenails (because she bites her fingernails), or walking her chorkie (the real boss of the house).
Cambria has written within the young adult and new adult genres, penning many paranormal and contemporary titles. Her favorite genre to read and write is romantic suspense. A few of her most recognized titles are: The Hashtag Series, Text, Torch, and Tattoo.
Cambria Hebert owns and operates Cambria Hebert Books, LLC.




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ARC Review: "Dragon's Prize" (Dragons Awaken, #2) by Maya Starling


Dragon's Prize by Maya Starling
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Summary from GoodReads

“A simple vow for a complicated fate. Life and love proven through blood and flame. Choices changing destinies on a dime.”


After slaying the dragon and “rescuing” Olivia, Crown Prince Magnus will settle for no one but her as his bride - his final challenge to overcome before becoming King Magnus, Dragon Slayer.

Through trials of blood, fire, and death, Kaden has broken the curse confining him to a dragon’s form for over a century. With fire brewing inside him, he struggles to reach his beloved Olivia in time to save her - and his own sanity.

Unsure of the fate of her dragon, Olivia is consumed with grief. She consents to wed the prince in order to save the lives of her family. His advances push her to take her destiny into her own hands.

But trouble stirs deep in the woods, as an old enemy seeks to rectify a curse broken. The prize of a life earned must be stripped away again… permanently.




BUY ON



REVIEW


I received an e-ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review. 

One of the great parts of knowing the story is that you can also be surprised. "Dragon's Prize" picks up from the point after the ending of the first book. Olivia has to move into the capital not knowing what has truly happened to Kaden, her love.

But Magnus the Prince has sinister plans for her and she will need the help of new friends in order to survive. The arrival of a witch and her daughter doesn't help at all.
I liked how expanded the story became in contrast with the draft I had read on Wattpad. There's diversity, cultural references and romance!

Also a dragon; you can't miss him no matter what happens! I truly enjoyed the sequel and I am anxious to see what will happen, if there'll be a sequel.




About the author:

Maya Starling is a writer, a geek, an animal lover and a gamer. She has lived the life of a magus, an oracle, a goth mortician, a star wars rebel. She has led many lives, sitting at a table, and rolling those dice away.

In reality, she lives with her wife and their adorable little boy, and of course two rescue cats, in a small country of Croatia. Reading and writing are her passion, so you will often find her typing away a new story, or eyes glued to the screen of her phone or a page of a book.

https://www.facebook.com/StarlingMaya.

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Fandoms I belong into!

                                       


This meme is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.
This week’s topic is Top Ten Tuesday #104: Top 10 Fandoms from TV, movies and books I belong into! Note that these are the top of them all, but in general I can very easy fangril over something!


10: Black Dagger Brotherhood series by J.R. Ward & The Fever series by Karen Marie Moning: I'm placing these two goddesses together because they deserve each and every praise I have to give! I can only hope that one day they will decide to co-write together!


9: The Phantom of the Opera: I'll always love my tortured Phantom who never kept his true love. BUT, you should laos read "Roseblood" by A.G. Howard. She adds a great twist in the myth!



8: The Others series by Anne Bishop: Also a great series! The characters, the funny moments, everything in this fandom is a must! But I'd love more fanart from this series.



7: Harry Potter: As a proud Hufflepuff, I would kill to be part of Hogwarts! Especially stay there for Christmas!



6: DC Universe: I like Marvel too, but it's DC that has won me over. Wonder Woman, Superman and of course Batman are few of the charavters I'd always cherish in the fandom. I can now only wish for the Martian Manhunter J'ohn to get his own movie!




5: Star Wars: Hehe, I can only say...may the Force be with you!




4: A Court of Thorns and Roses Series by Sarah J. Maas: This series has made me laugh, cry and in general it gutted me! I'm expecting May 2nd to be an amazing yet terrible day. The fanart, the fanfiction, everything in this series is also a must to read and have!

                                                      (Art belongs to charlie Bowater)


3: Disney: Always in my heart, with teachings about life and love, I adore everything in Disney. And I'm reffering only to the animated movies.



2: Studio Ghibli: What Disney is for me, the same goes for the masterpice of anime. Studio Ghibli and its movies are truly amazing and heartbreaking at the same time.






1: Beauty and the Beast & The Accidental Turn series by J.M. Frey: I'm excluding Beauty and the Beast because it's the only movie from Disney which I can relate the most with. Not only for the romance and the amazing songs but also for Belle's love for books and the need to want more from her life.


For the "Accidental turn" series by J.M. Frey I can only say that she is the only author who took the chance every reader wants to have (to travel into their favorite book) and created a storm of emotions, tropes and favorite characters. I need this series to become a good graphic novel if not an animated tv show!



What about you?


Review: "Hunted" by Meagan Spooner. Beauty & the Beast in Russia!


Hunted by Meagan Spooner
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Summary from GoodReads

Beauty knows the Beast’s forest in her bones—and in her blood. Though she grew up with the city’s highest aristocrats, far from her father’s old lodge, she knows that the forest holds secrets and that her father is the only hunter who’s ever come close to discovering them. 

So when her father loses his fortune and moves Yeva and her sisters back to the outskirts of town, Yeva is secretly relieved. Out in the wilderness, there’s no pressure to make idle chatter with vapid baronessas…or to submit to marrying a wealthy gentleman. But Yeva’s father’s misfortune may have cost him his mind, and when he goes missing in the woods, Yeva sets her sights on one prey: the creature he’d been obsessively tracking just before his disappearance. 

Deaf to her sisters’ protests, Yeva hunts this strange Beast back into his own territory—a cursed valley, a ruined castle, and a world of creatures that Yeva’s only heard about in fairy tales. A world that can bring her ruin or salvation. Who will survive: the Beauty, or the Beast?




BUY ON 



REVIEW

"Hunted" was one of the best releases in March. Since the movie of "Beauty and the Beast" was also released in March, the book got some extra attention! But the winning points were not only the title of the reference to the beloved tale.

The points went to the stunning descriptions and the Russian references which I am sure were inspired by the Russian version of the tale.
Yeva and her sisters live a good life, supported by their father's fortune. When they go bankrupt and have to move far into the wood, close to their father's hunting cabin, bothe Yeva and her sisters will have to learn more about heart-ache and survival.

Despite what many might think, Yeva's sisters are amazing. Each one is funny and they love Yeva very much. Especially Asenka.
Now, when their father disappear into the forest, Yeva decides to search for him; and there is where she meets the Beast.


                               (I couldn't help it. I pictured Meagan's Beast just like Disney's)

From where can I begin now? From the double POV? Beacuse the Beast has also one?! Or from the fierce nature of Yeva and how strong-willed she is? Many would say that we have Stockhokm Syndrome here but this is NOT the case. You'll have to read the book to understand the whys.

The magic which also courses through the plot is very beautiful and dangerous. Some minor characters, also inspired by both the Russian and the Greek mythology make their appearance, adding more into the world-building.



The ending was very satisfying, open with many choices and the freedom to explore and discover more. Obviously I recommend it, as a loyal fan of everything B&B! ;)






About the author:

New York Times bestselling author Meagan Spooner grew up reading and writing every spare moment of the day, while dreaming about life as an archaeologist, a marine biologist, an astronaut. She graduated from Hamilton College in New York with a degree in playwriting, and has spent several years since then living in Australia. She's traveled with her family all over the world to places like Egypt, South Africa, the Arctic, Greece, Antarctica, and the Galapagos, and there's a bit of every trip in every story she writes.

She currently lives and writes in Asheville, North Carolina, but the siren call of travel is hard to resist, and there's no telling how long she'll stay there. She's the author of the award-winning Starbound trilogy (These Broken Stars, This Shattered World, Their Fractured Light) and the Skylark Trilogy (Skylark, Shadowlark, Lark Ascending) as well as the upcoming Beauty and the Beast retelling Hunted.

In her spare time she plays guitar, plays video games, plays with her cat, and reads.