Reviewed by RonelleBefore she was Persephone, Dread Queen of the Underworld, Kore was an innocent maiden sequestered from the rest of the gods. All of that will change when she’s summoned to one of Zeus’ banquets. While there, she engages in innocent flirting with lighthearted gods like Apollo and Hermes and exploring her new powers of seduction. But a darker god catches her eye…and from there, a myth is born.
But it isn’t quite the tale we’ve all been told. [Read more…]
Reviewed by JenI have mixed feelings about (what I assume is) this final installment of The Kingmaker Chronicles. I absolutely loved the first book, A Promise a Fire. Book two was strong as well. My issue here is that I felt like this book was a little all over the place and the ending was a bit anti-climactic.
This story picks up right on the heels of Breath of Fire. Cat and Griffin are king and queen of Thalyria and expecting a baby. Cat now has her younger sister with her and a powerful new guard in the form of a former Thalryian Princess. All that is left to do is to conquer her evil mother.
But things take a detour right off the bat. First of all, I have to admit being a little overwhelmed by all of the characters. I honestly couldn’t remember who all of these people were and it hasn’t even been that long since I read the last book. A little reminding would’ve gone a long way to help me marshall my thoughts. Then there’s the fact that a big betrayal happens at the beginning. It felt more like a plot device to reveal the identities of two undercover Gods than to move forward any other arc. In fact, what happens with the offending character seems to just fall off into nowhere. I kept expecting it to come full circle, but it never did. [Read more…]
Reviewed by JenA Promise of Fire was one of my favorite books of last year. I have been anxiously awaiting this sequel, and I’m happy to report that it absolutely lived up to my expectations. It is not exactly like its predecessor. The core of what makes it so good is still there. The heroine is still feisty and loyal, powerful yet vulnerable. The hero is fierce and sexy and completely in love with her. The world building is fascinating and the secondary characters are rich and interesting.
So what’s different? Sex. Lots and lots of sex. In fact, the first 20% or so felt like it was entirely about the hero and heroine getting it on. That’s not the worst thing in the world. The scenes were hot and satisfying. But it was definitely a departure. And I’m not sure everyone will love the change in equal measure. [Read more…]
Reviewed by JenWhen you develop a long history with a series you have loved the way I’ve loved this one, it’s hard to let go. But sometimes, it’s the best choice. I feel like I’ve said, “this is the last one” to myself a fair number of times, only to get sucked back in by my memories of stories past. (Dance With the Devil, anyone?) But the thing is, even when one kind of brings back the glory days the way The Guardian did, I’m getting to the point where it all feels recycled. Even the good stuff, done so many times, doesn’t shine the way it used to. [Read more…]
Reviewed by JenI honestly wasn’t looking forward to this book. Based on the set-up, I thought it was going to be all filler, set in some kind of alternative reality that would have no bearing on the bigger picture in the Chronicles of Nick series. Not only was I wrong about that, it ended up being the best installment in the series to date.
There is, indeed, an alternate reality in play. (There seems to be a few of them floating around in this series.) But what’s happening there is not filler. [Read more…]
Reviewed by JenJennifer Estep delivers a fitting farewell with this series finale to her Mythos Academy series. It’s the big face off between Gwen and Loki. I wasn’t sure how our heroine was going to pull it off, but in the end, I thought it was a resolution that satisfies. [Read more…]
Reviewed by JanellThis fantasy romance stars Ruby, a college student who wants to become a doctor like her father, and Ash, a sexy guy who seems to do nothing but sit in a coffee shop all day playing chess. Ruby takes a break from studying one day and plays chess with Ash, beating him with a strategy that her father taught to her. This throws Ash for quite a loop, because he’s never lost before.
Intrigued, Ash starts pestering Ruby at the coffee shop, and soon he’s got her bungee jumping and rock climbing when she should be studying. When Ruby finally decides that she doesn’t have time for boys and needs to get back to the books, Ash walks out on her. Then he shows up at her house in the middle of the night bleeding from a bullet in his chest. [Read more…]
Reviewed by JenSome people really loved this book. They gave it 5 star reviews. Some even called it the best thing Sherrilyn Kenyon has ever written. I am not one of those people. In fact, I was barely able to make myself finish Styxx. Not because it was 800-and something pages… but because it was one of the most miserable books I have ever read. It is filled from cover to cover with rape, incest, abuse, torture, and unrelenting suffering for our hero. Before you tell me that Kenyon is Queen of the Tortured Hero, don’t waste your breath. There is no balance in this story between darkness and light. It’s 95% horrible and 5% …well, not horrible for Styxx. And in case you’re wondering, “It can’t be worse than Acheron, can it?” Well, yes it can. And yes, it is. [Read more…]
Reviewed by JenGwen Frost is back and still fighting the good fight. She’s been through hell –and is still recovering from near-death at the hands of her boyfriend. It’s not easy. She can’t sleep without having nightmares; she can’t walk around without people staring and whispering. But she won’t curl up and quit. When one of the Reapers poisons her boss at the library, there’s no doubt the search for a cure will lead to a trap. That doesn’t stop Gwen from gathering her friends and hitting the road to do what’s necessary.
The gang takes a road trip. Of course, there are fights with Reapers, as well as a host of mythological entities [Read more…]
Reviewed by JenI think this is the strongest installment so far in Jennifer Estep’s Mythos Academy series. It’s also the second book of hers this year that has left me feeling emotionally fragile.
The story starts off in a good place for Gwen, despite the fact that Loki is now free and ready start a Chaos War. That’s because she and Logan are finally together. After much angst and a great deal of waiting, they have both admitted their feelings to one another and are going on their first date. From there, though, everything starts to go downhill… fast.
Before the date even ends, members of the Mythos governing body –the Protectorate—place Gwen under arrest. She is accused of freeing Loki intentionally and a trial date is set. The student body turns against her; a guilty verdict seems a foregone conclusion. Making the situation worse, Gwen knows that the Reapers have something even worse on the horizon. But how can she beat them when her own future hangs in the balance?
I liked the whole Protectorate storyline. The leader, Linus, is such a dick. His righteous rhetoric is played to perfection. I love how he’s all tied in with Logan and how that plays into Gwen’s life even more. I enjoyed the new character Alexi and his surprising link to Gwen’s band of friends. The action was great. Gwen’s emotional turmoil was great. The bigger picture is advanced. And the end… well, let’s not linger too much on the end. Suffice it to say that Jennifer Estep likes making us work for our happy moments. I guess we’re not done working yet.
I had a pretty good inkling who things were going to go south for about halfway through the book, but didn’t find the other elements of the climax to be very predictable. I just wish we could get a little more of a mature dynamic in the relationship department. It doesn’t have to be dirty or anything, but it feels very innocent for 17. (Maybe this would be less bothersome for folks who are bigger YA fans. I read these because I love Estep… not necessarily the genre.)
Gwen is getting stronger and stronger. While in some of the past books that has played out with her magical gifts, here it’s a different kind of strength, the internal kind. I hope she wipes the floor with those Reapers in Midnight Frost.
Rating: B
*ARC provided by author for review
Crimson Frostby Jennifer EstepRelease Date: December 24, 2012Publisher: Kensington
