The Good The Bad and The Witchy by Heather Blake

The Good the Bad and the Witchy by Heather Blake
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I absolutely adored this story. In addition to the humour the reader got to know (and hopefully appreciate) in the previous two installments, the reader is now in for a treat as an element of spookiness is added to the wonderful medley of genres that makes this series so endearing.
To begin with, the reader will find this story to be much more character focused as we can trace the development of the protagonist and the immediate secondary characters, and it also provides greater depths into the characters that are only specific to the story/plot of this particular installment. The reader also sees the fleshing out of the antagonist that provides greater depth to the overarching plot that spans the entire series, which was placed at just the right moment in the development of the story overall.
The plot of this book is enticing, the murder is more elaborate and, as I mentioned above, another element of story telling was added, the addition of an eerie undertone, which worked well for the season the author has chosen this story to be set in.
The murder was well thought out and the author took great care to lead the reader astray without confusing one, making it impossible to guess the culprit until they were actually revealed.
Overall, it was a great story, maybe even a bit better than the first two installments, and definitely a great continuation in the series. I would without hesitation recommend this book to anyone, who enjoyed the first two books as well as anyone else, who loves a good murder mystery with a hint of magic.

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A Witch before Dying by Heather Blake

A Witch Before Dying by Heather Blake
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Books in a series are always challenging to review for me, because I feel I should rate and review them independently and outside the context of the series. I was profusely torn between a 4- and 5-star rating, since I fell under the curse of raised expectations. However, other than the misfortune of following such a great first book, I could see no reason for not giving it 5 stars.
The author's talent and skill of including minute details in the intricate art of storytelling made reading this story a pleasure. From the subtleties of character development to the inclusion of small hints to who the murderer might be, the details accentuated the plot beautifully without giving away anything important that could spoil the ending.
The narration maintained its humour and quirkiness as the author kept the jokes fresh and unique.
As for the murder mystery part, I had a hunch about who the murderer might be very early on, but I was entertained and intrigued until the last page.
The structure of the book in this series does begin to feel a little formulaic, although the reader might be able to detect that this formula will not work for the overall future plot developments that the author prepared in this book.
Overall, it was cute and funny with a side of “whodunnit” and is a perfect quick read on the beach or couch for anyone, who is in the mood for a quirky murder mystery with a small town feeling.

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Siege and Storm (The Grisha #2) by Leigh Bardugo

Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I breathed a great sigh of relief after finishing the second part of The Grisha trilogy. As part of the story arc, it continues the story of the main character, her friends and new characters that intensify the plot, the conflict within and surrounding the protagonist. It is emotionally charged, full of twists, despair, adventure and plenty of heart-melting, barely there romance.
I am still marveling at the fact that I haven’t read this trilogy sooner and that I love it as much as I do, which is not difficult to do, since it is a richly imagined, well-written story.

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Shadow and Bone (The Grisha #1) by Leigh Bardugo

Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Over a year ago I marked this book as "to-read" and was fortunate enough to find a promotional deal on Amazon for the Kindle edition. Purchased and stored on my nifty little reader, I kept it safe until I felt ready to read such a gripping and gritty tale, since up until the end of chapter 1 I still had complete different expectations about this story. I must have confused it with another book that I considered reading around the same time, because I was convinced the story dealt with demons and other unworldly beings that spew green slime, hence my need for such long mental preparation before embarking on this journey. Then at about 20% through the book I thought this might turn out to be a story that resembles "Harry Potter" meet "Mean Girls" as I was still struggling with letting my old expectations of the book go. After finally having succeeded in doing so, I was completely and utterly invested in this amazing story.
The writing was excellent. It flowed perfectly without the author's attempt to include awkward sentences in order to sound sophisticated or intelligent, the author let the story speak for itself. I was surprised how easy it was for the reader to lose oneself in the story of high fantasy and be many pages further along in the book without spending much time reading or rather working through the pages as it can be the case with some high fantasy stories.
The characters, from the protagonist to the secondary characters, were perfectly created, containing depth, intrigue, individuality and enough mystery to keep the reader guessing of their true intentions. The main character was a pleasure to get to know; fleshed out and multidimensional, possessing human character traits that make her easy to identify with; maintaining the true self of the character throughout the entire story.
The plot was also very good, with a few twists that kept the reader surprised and guessing until the end. Even though this story is not really listed with the other young adult fiction novels under "Romance", there exists a small portion of romance that tugs at the heart strings just the right amount. It is beautifully constructed and adds to the overall journey the reader embarks upon while immersed in this story.
Overall, after getting over my initial confusion about the nature of this story, I was completely hooked. I used the word "perfect" quite a few times during this review, mainly because it was a perfect story. It was a great adventure to read, since it had me in its grip from the first page to the last, feeling with the characters. I would absolutely recommend this book and will most certainly finish the trilogy.

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Cracked (Soul Eaters #1) by Eliza Crewe

Cracked by Eliza Crewe
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I can’t remember how I stumbled across this book, but I am glad I gave it a try and as anyone can see I raced through it in just a few days. At the end I could not wait for the second installment.
The plot is very interesting; we have bad guys, good guys and the blurred definitions of the in-betweens. We have a soul-eater, good, bad, either? It’s up for the reader to decide, but it provokes a deeper look into the definitions of what is good and bad. We have intrigue and backstories that slowly unfold and the question of what it means to be truly human.
I absolutely loved the main character; she was feisty, at odds with her surroundings, sarcastic and truly honest. Constantly questioning that which humans deem normal or acceptable, she tries her best to find a place for herself. Her interactions with the secondary characters are well fleshed out and create interest in the reader.
The writing was great. Being a fan of physical comedy, I truly appreciated the author’s skill in doing just that: giving the main character a very real role and physical body that is meant to strike and eat souls, but has to deal with challenges and set-backs in the most hilarious ways.
Overall, I loved this story and went straight for the second installment. It was quirky and funny with creepy elements and so much potential for the rest of the series. I would recommend this book to those who love physical comedy, fantasy and a healthy dose of creepy.

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The Sea Queen (The Dark Queens #1) by Jovee Winters

The Sea Queen by Jovee Winters
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

What a naughty story. When I began reading this story I was unaware that it also contained quite a bit of erotica, but I was fascinated by the author’s skill of creating such a compelling main character.
The protagonist was funny, feisty, funky and frisky. She had a great sense of humour that breathed a breath of fresh air into the sometimes very stifling and stiff genre of erotica (anyone remember Fifty Shades of Grey?). Of course her love interest was a perfect specimen of a male; tall, dark, handsome, brooding and very muscular, which would have bored me personally, but he was the perfect counterpart for the feisty female lead.
The plot was a nice mixture of said erotica; although this was kept to a tasteful limit, only coming up when it logically fit into the overall story the author was telling; mythology, murder mystery and comedy. It keeps the reader’s attention and would have them chuckling and giggling at many points throughout the story.
The writing was simple and straightforward with lots of comedic relief and sarcastic comments from the protagonist to keep the mood light and entertaining.
Overall, I very much enjoyed this little, naughty beach read; however, I felt the story was a bit rushed, especially towards the end, and I would have loved for it to be slightly longer. Nevertheless, it was cute and steamy and I would recommend it to anyone looking for something a little out of the ordinary.


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Starstruck by Brenda Hiatt

Starstruck by Brenda Hiatt
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A very cute story that is aimed towards the younger audience of the Young Adult genre, nevertheless, it was just as entertaining as any other well-written story.
The characters were well created, provided nice foils to the main character and included plenty of tension. The main character was just adorable and the author was able to maintain a consistency in her personality throughout the challenges and changes she went through.
The plot was just as outlined in the synopsis. It was entertaining and contained many little pieces of high school life that most of the readers would have gone through themselves.
The writing was clean and easy to get lost in. I appreciated the simplicity of the author’s word choice, which made it so much easier to identify with the protagonist and get lost in the story.
Overall, a lovely story that provides that cozy feeling while giving the reader plenty to feel connected with. I will definitely read the subsequent parts in this series.

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In the Land of Tea and Ravens by R.K. Ryals

In the Land of Tea and Ravens by R.K. Ryals
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A beautiful story about love, family, relationships and the mysterious art of tea making and drinking. A rather short story with respect to being called a full fleshed novel, but containing more depth and substance than many other, longer novels I have read recently.
The characters were superbly constructed from the protagonist to the secondary characters, each one serving their role without giving the reader the feeling they are present only for the purpose of moving the plot along. The relationship between the two main characters was well paced, satisfyingly tragic without coming across as sappy and always containing a hint of mystique.
To be quite honest, during the first few pages the writing seemed slightly awkward, which actually adds to the experience of this beautiful story by enhancing the mysterious attributes of the unfolding plot. Also, not often does a reader come across a story in which the author was successfully able to infuse intriguing storytelling with poetic contemplation without wasting the reader's time with useless rambling. Personally, this was the first story I found myself inclined multiple times to highlight great quotes.
The plot was intricate and wonderful to follow until the end.
Overall, this story was delightful to read. With its paranormal elements, mysterious circumstances, great writing and equally great characters I would recommend it to anyone in search for a quality story.

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Something Strange and Deadly (Something Strange and Deadly #1) by Susan Dennard

Something Strange and Deadly by Susan Dennard
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

One of the best debut novels I have read, Something Strange and Deadly is a perfect blend of 19th century science fiction, paranormal, romance, historical, zombie story. It is highly entertaining while subtly addressing some of the illusions of 19th century romance stories.
The characters, protagonist and secondary, are very well created. Their multidimensional personalities and distinct individualities make for great conflict building and keep the reader intrigued throughout the entirety of the story. The protagonist is a joy to get to know, she is a bit feisty and determined and not at all the typical heroine that readers usually encounter in such stories. The secondary characters compliment the protagonist very well and provide realistic interactions.
The plot is rich and enticing, societal, political, familial and supernatural tension make sure that the reader never finds a moment of boredom. A few details I was able to guess at only to be slightly surprised by the outcome the author chose to have the characters experience. There are hints of romance that work well with the protagonist’s inner conflict, but those are kept to a minimum and do not overtake the story as a whole or make her seem whiny, weak or just plain boy crazy.
The writing is superbly done. The story flows without any awkward moments or attempts to make the text seem more intelligent than the author believe it to be. The story, characters and comment on societal norms speak for themselves with respect to the amount of work and consideration this story required to write.
Overall, this was an excellent introduction to a trilogy of the paranormal, steampunk, romantic zombie story. I absolutely loved reading this story every minute and every page and cannot wait to start the second part. I would recommend this book to anyone, who is looking for a good quality story, rich in plot and superbly written.

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Gold Rush Deluge by Suzanne Lilly

Gold Rush Deluge by Suzanne Lilly
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I was very glad that the story continued where it ended in the first book, I wholeheartedly appreciate stories told in series form that do not include great time gaps, flashbacks or require the reader to assume certain outcomes.
The story moved along swiftly, without any unnecessary tangents that distract from the main plot that was good enough to carry the story and characters from the beginning until the end.
The characters were consistent from the first to the second installment of this story; however, I was delighted to observe growth and maturation in the protagonist's character.
I loved the splash of intrigue and mystery that the author decided to include in this installment and was impressed by her creation of a volatile character that seemed so real.
Overall, I felt that the author was more comfortable with the story and characters in this installment, since she already possessed a good feel for the personality traits and nature of character.
This story was a great sequel and I would recommend it to anyone, who enjoyed the first story as well as those, who enjoy mystery, romance and adventure.

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The Uninvited by Cat Winters

The Uninvited by Cat Winters
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This may sound a bit forward and weird, but this author's stories I could just swallow whole, because I can't get enough of her wonderful story telling and read fast enough to discovery another gem that she created.
The main character was such a mysterious reading pleasure to get to know. She was easy to identify with, partly because I saw a little bit of myself in her, but mostly because the author's ability to create multidimensional characters is just absolutely amazing. The interaction she created between the protagonist and the secondary characters is superbly executed. She is part of the story, yet the main focus of the story.
The plot is mysterious, hauntingly delicious (and I never use this word outside the want to describe food) and just so beautifully told that I wished this story could have been twice as long, I did not want it to end.
The writing, as always, was delightful. The author has great talent to take the reader by their hand and just guide them through the story with such ease and love for the craft of storytelling.
The Uninvited is a hauntingly beautiful story that will stay with the reader long after the last page has been read. Anyone, who loved the author's previous two novels will relish in this new story and will not be able to wait for her next publication.

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The Cure for Dreaming by Cat Winters

The Cure for Dreaming by Cat Winters
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I never judge a book by its cover. I don't care, if there is a pretty picture on the front cover, trying to allude to the contents of the story or if it is just wrapped in brown paper. But something struck me when I looked at this book the first time. I had to read it without even perusing the synopsis. It was a strange and enticing feeling being drawn to a book with such intensity. This strange and enticing feeling continued throughout the entire reading of the story. It was dark, sad, infuriating and powerful.
Being an avid enthusiast when it comes to fiction set in the late 1800's and early 1900's, but very well aware that the reality of that time period was not all ball gowns and handsome gentlemen, I appreciated and was even happy to read a story that portrayed this period in a sobering light and with aggravating elements of the truth.
The plot was simple and straight forward, without many twists that would just distract from the beauty of reality.
The main character was a fair representation of a young woman with a will to make her own way in a world ruled by men. The reader has sympathy with her without feeling pity. Her realistic personality and struggles to acquire what she dreams about fuels the reader's interest in her while at the same time having enough time and space within the story to really marvel at what it meant to be a woman at the turn of the last century.
The author's writing style was a treat for any reader. It's precise and simple, yet it is not mediocre. It allows for a steady flow that transports the reader to Oregon in 1900. It does not linger on overly constructed metaphors or poetic descriptions that would take away from the every-day atmosphere the author wanted to achieve.
I read this book in about one and a half days and was extremely sad when it concluded. It has been a while since I felt this engrossed in a book and I would recommend it to anyone, who likes great story telling with realistic elements.

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This Shattered World (Starbound #2) by Amie Kaufman & Meagan Spooner

This Shattered World by Amie Kaufman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I could not get enough of the Starbound series, so plunged into the next story as soon as I finished the first part. Again, I was amazed and enchanted by the richly imagined world the authors were able to create. the writing was familiar and kept its style from the first story to this one.
The characters were again very well developed, although my personal affinity towards the female lead slightly diminished. Mostly because of personal reasons, since she was a great character to get to know. The chemistry between the female and male protagonists was not as intense, although the authors were still able to create a connection between that would have any reader's heart melting.
The plot was very intriguing, yet not too complicated to follow. With lots of mystery and conspiracy, it was a great experience to read it unfold.
The writing was consistent to the first part; easy to follow and lovely to imagine the world the authors intended to create.
Upon finishing this story I almost had a fit when I found out that the next and final part of this story will not be published until December 2015. Desperately, I have been trying to find books that resemble the stories and writing styles present in this series in order to get my fix until December rolls around. My fingers are itching for the next installment and I am very close to pre-ordering the final part online, just to make sure I get it in time. I would recommend this book, just as the first part to anyone, who loves great writing and beautifully imagined worlds.

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These Broken Stars (Starbound #1) by Amie Kaufman & Meagan Spooner

These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What a beautiful story. This story was the beginning of my interest in stories that are set in space.
The plot was filled with adventure, humour and heart-melting romance. It was to the point and did not waver with unnecessary tangents that would have diminished the impact of the main story.
The characters were perfectly created and developed. I loved the character of Lilac and her chemistry with Tarver. I was completely enthralled by their story and their interaction with each other.
The writing was wonderful. I admired the author's ability to create such beauty in the vast spaces of the universe. It flowed perfectly and had me clutching the book to my chest whenever I was done reading a chapter.
Discussing any further details about the story would give away the surprises and effects the story has to offer when the reader embarks on this journey unawares of it magic. It is a beautiful story. I would recommend it to anyone, looking for a richly imagined world, great characters, the right amount of romance and of course a healthy dose of mystery.

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

Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I received a very friendly email from the Goodreads team informing me of a promotional offer by Amazon to try audiobooks for free for one month…and eventually I caved and gave this whole audiobook experience a try. Normally, I could not be persuaded, since I was always of the opinion that a narrator’s voice and their interpretation as they read the story does in fact influence one’s own experience of the story being told.
The characters were generic and predictable: the male characters handsome and somewhat brooding and the female characters pretty, cunning and with ulterior motives. The protagonist is quite frankly boring. I see what the author intended on creating, that is a perfect character with enough bad history to ensure the reader’s sympathy, but it doesn’t work. She is a collection of contradictions. She is supposed to be stealthy and a skilled assassin, yet she is clumsy and never hears when someone enters the room. The is supposed to be cold-blooded when it comes to her skills, but is constantly governed by her emotions. She is supposed to come across as feisty, but more often than not she just sounds snappy and annoyed.
The plot is very predictable. Laced with elements taken from various other fantasy stories, it provided nothing new to the ever growing genre of young adult fantasy. Twists and turns in the storyline became synonymous with the story and provided more pages for annoyance than reading entertainment.
The writing was easy flowing enough, although the constant, elaborate and very cheesy descriptions of the protagonist’s inner thoughts and emotions, and forceful forlorn description of various situations was making me bleary-eyed.
Considering the audiobook version adds a new dimension to the “reading” experience, it is only obvious that I must add a few thoughts concerning the narrator. Generally speaking, there was nothing wrong with the narrator, personally, though, I prefer narrators with a lower register (imagine someone with Idris Elba's voice *swoon*). The narrator made the protagonist sound extra bitchy. Various sections were supposed to come across as tough, but they only sounded annoyed.
I initially had rated this story three stars, but after writing this review I must change it two stars. It was nothing special and now people think I am weird for constantly making faces in public while listening to this audiobook during my errand runs. Overall, I can’t understand the hype. It’s something to read when one has nothing else available, but I would not be itching with anticipation to read the next installment. It’s the vanilla ice-cream one would choose when all other flavours are sold out. In addition, audiobooks are a good option to catch up on one’s reading when the actual act of reading is not possible, but I will continue to make reading my priority to experience books.

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The Forbidden Wish by Jessica Khoury

The Forbidden Wish by Jessica Khoury
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What a wonderful story. I have always been fascinated with stories in the style of “One thousand and one nights” and to have it told from the jinni’s point-of-view was a refreshing change.
The characters were all the reader could hope and wish for in a retelling of this lovely and timeless tale. Spunky and independent, Zahra is a delight to follow through her adventure with Aladdin. Perfect enough to make one wish for her happy ending, yet with enough humanity to make her relatable and realistic. The secondary characters are well created and offer enough tension and conflict to keep the dynamic between protagonist and everyone else interesting and the reader engaged.
The plot is obvious yet provides enough differing details to make this story stand out from the original.
The writing is easy flowing and without any unnecessary and elaborate details and descriptions that would have a reader fall asleep or hope this would end soon.
Overall, this was a very good story with enough intrigue, adventure, fantasy and romance to make a reader feel glad to have picked up this book. I was so engrossed in this story that I read it by the Habourfront until I got a sunburn, but it was so worth it. I would recommend it to anyone, who enjoys great retellings with equally great creativity to make it worth a reader’s time.


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Warrior Witch (The Malediction Trilogy #3) by Danielle L. Jensen

Warrior Witch by Danielle L. Jensen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I won’t lie, the first half of the book was a bit too slow for my liking, but then again I don’t have the greatest interest or patience for strategic talk or politics. Needless to say, the second half of the conclusion of The Malediction Trilogy made up for any slowness.
The main character, although not perfect and having more than one eye-roll worthy moment, was still interesting enough to follow through her adventure.
I can’t really say much without giving anything away, but the last two years following this story has been a delight and I am sad that the constant anticipation and wonderment of what could happen next has now finally come to an end.
Overall, I can say that this trilogy is one I will return to in the coming years. I would recommend it to anyone, who loves fantasy and appreciates realistic characters.

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The Steep and Thorny Way by Cat Winters

The Steep & Thorny Way by Cat Winters
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I was supposed to read this title through NetGalley a few months ago, unfortunately the e-file did not work properly, so I had to wait until it was available from the library. It was worth the wait.
The characters were well created with multidimensional facets that showed the many sides of a person with respect to situational circumstances. It was refreshing to read a story set in the 1920’s from the point of view of a young woman with a black father and a white mother. The secondary characters are equally complex and help address a variety of very intense and difficult issues that were all too real and prevalent during an aggressively charged time.
The plot is straight forward, but contains many twists and turns that keep the reader’s sense of suspense and interest without feeling overwhelmed. I kept getting sidetracked by comparing this story to Shakespeare’s Othello attempting to find similarities between the two stories, stealing some of my attention, since this story deserves the reader’s complete focus.
Winters’ writing is as always: clear, concise, flows effortlessly and always engages the reader. The writing was perfect for a binge read of 200 pages without causing headaches or a sense of unease from reading for such a long time.
I read a few reviews that mention a decline in Winters’ writing and storytelling and even though this story, compared to her debut In the Shadow of Blackbirds, which is a masterpiece in creating a sense of complete sadness of the heart, is a marvelous feat of storytelling, this story focuses on a different aspect of misery and sadness of the heart. Overall, another great and wonderful novel by Winter and I would definitely recommend it.

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