Friday, April 29, 2016

Flamecaster by Cinda Williams Chima (Shattered Realms book 1)

SPOILER ALERT! Flamecaster is set in same world as her Seven Realms series. A generation (twenty years) has passed. Reading the previous series isn’t necessary to enjoy this book but it will have a much bigger impact.

“A wizard prince in exile, thirsting for revenge. A girl with a curse, striking back against a ruthless king. Together, they will burn the kingdom to its rotten core.”

“Adrian sul’Han, known as Ash, is a trained healer with a powerful gift of magic—and a thirst for revenge. Ash is forced into hiding after a series of murders throws the queendom into chaos. Now Ash is closer than he’s ever been to killing the man responsible, the cruel king of Arden. As a healer, can Ash use his powers not to save a life but to take it?

Abandoned at birth, Jenna Bandelow was told that the mysterious magemark on the back of her neck would make her a target. But when the King’s Guard launches a relentless search for a girl with a mark like hers, Jenna assumes that it has more to do with her role as a saboteur than any birth-based curse. Though Jenna doesn’t know why she’s being hunted, she knows that she can’t get caught.

Eventually, Ash’s and Jenna’s paths will collide in Arden. Thrown together by chance and joined by their hatred of the king, they will come to rescue each other in ways they cannot yet imagine.

Set in the world of the acclaimed Seven Realms series a generation later, this is a thrilling story of dark magic, chilling threats, and two unforgettable characters walking a knife-sharp line between life and death. “ - Goodreads.com

I LOVED the Seven Realms series and hated to leave it. I was super excited to read about the next generation. I don’t want to go into too many details and spoil the opening any more than has already been done. The vast majority of the book does occur four years later after the horrific beginning for the two main characters. Details of the lives they now live play out before their meeting. A couple of great supporting characters are also introduced who have a secret twist to the previous series. The insta-love that occurred between the two was just a bit of a turn off but overall, I cannot wait to see where Ms. Chima takes the story.

Visit Cinda Williams Chima’s website.

Tuesday, April 19, 2016

Lady Renegades by Rachel Hawkins (Rebel Belle book 3)

SPOILER ALERT! If you haven’t read the first two books in the series, Rebel Belle and MIss Mayhem, Stop! I don’t want to ruin the story for you.

“High heels. Higher stakes.”

“Just as Harper Price starts coming to terms with her role as David Stark's battle-ready Paladin, protector, and girlfriend—her world goes crazy all over again.  
Overwhelmed by his Oracle powers, David flees Pine Grove and starts turning teenaged girls into Paladins—and these young ladies seem to think that Harper is the enemy David needs protecting from.  Ordinarily, Harper would be able to fight off any Paladin who comes her way, but her powers have been dwindling since David left town, which means her life is on the line yet again.
Now, it’s a desperate race for Harper to find and rescue David before she backslides from superhero to your garden-variety type-A belle.” - Goodreads.com

Ryan and Bee helped David escape the wards put in place by Saylor around Pine Grove not knowing they were to help him, not contain him. Harper is devastated and is determined to find him. When her Paladin powers escape her the night another Paladin attacks her, she realizes that David believes that she is trying to kill him. With his growing Oracle powers gaining strength and spiraling out of control, Harper is in a race to find David before it is too late.

Can Harper find David? Who helps her in the journey? Does she keep her Paladin powers? Will it be too late for him? Can he be David or will his Oracle powers survive? What secrets did Saylor hide? Will the mystery of his parentage be discovered? What happens when Harper realizes the only way to stop the Oracle is death?

Friday, April 15, 2016

The Mirror King by Jodi Meadows (The Orphan Queen book 2)

SPOILER ALERT! If you haven’t read the first book in the series, The Orphan Queen, Stop! I don’t want to ruin the story for you.

Wilhelmina has a hundred enemies.

HER FRIENDS HAVE TURNED. After her identity is revealed during the Inundation, Princess Wilhelmina is kept prisoner by the Indigo Kingdom, with the Ospreys lost somewhere in the devastated city. When the Ospreys’ leader emerges at the worst possible moment, leaving Wil’s biggest ally on his deathbed, she must become Black Knife to set things right.

HER MAGIC IS UNCONTROLLABLE. Wil’s power is to animate, not to give true life, but in the wraithland she commanded a cloud of wraith mist to save herself, and later ordered it solid. Now there is a living boy made of wraith—destructive and deadly, and willing to do anything for her.

HER HEART IS TORN. Though she’s ready for her crown, declaring herself queen means war. Caught between what she wants and what is right, Wilhelmina realizes the throne might not even matter. Everyone thought the wraith was years off, but already it’s destroying Indigo Kingdom villages. If she can’t protect both kingdoms, soon there won’t be a land to rule.

In this stunning conclusion to THE ORPHAN QUEEN, Jodi Meadows follows Wilhelmina’s breathtaking and brave journey from orphaned criminal on the streets to magic-wielding queen.” - taken from Goodreads.com

Wil’s cover has been blown, both as the Princess of Aecor and as a wielder of magic. With Patrick’s assassination attempt on Prince Tobiah almost successful, Wil takes on over as Black Knife. Tobiah’s miraculous recovery is possible by Conner’s healing magic. The Ospreys’ loyalty is divided between Wi and Patrick; four go with him and four return with Wil to Tobiah’s palace. There, she has them look over the Wraith Accords and hires them a tutor. Soon, things are out of her control. The wraith boy demands her attention, Prince Colin is unwillingly to turn over Aecor and her feelings for Black Knife/Tobiah grow, even though he is engaged to Lady Meredith. Unfortunately, stopping the warith from taking over the Indigo Kingdom becomes the most important thing Wil has to do. And she finds an ally where she wasn’t expecting it.

Does Wil reclaim the throne of Aecor? Will she sign the Wraith Accords? Why did her parents and grandparents not sign them? Does Tobiah go through with his wedding to Lady Meredith? Is Wil able to control the wraith and save the Indigo Kingdom? What happens to the boy made of wraith?  Can magic be used safely again? Will Tobiah tell James the truth of his parentage? Is Patrick successful in his attempt to reclaim the Aecor kingdom for Wil? Will he be caught and punished for King Terrill’s assassination and the attempt on Tobiah’s life? Can the Ospreys be reunited or will they remain divided? What kind of King will Tobiah be? Is he willing to help Wil? What happens when Wil is able to reconcile her feelings for Black Knife with Prince Tobiah?

Novellas.png









There are four prequel novellas to The Orphan Queen: The Hidden Prince, The Glowing Knight, The Burning Hand and The Black Knife. As of now, they are only available as ebooks.

“The city of Skyvale is in trouble. Magic use is rampant. Crime is spreading. Told from the perspective of Tobiah, the crown prince with a dangerous secret, and set two years before the heart-racing action of The Orphan Queen.” - Goodreads.com

Tuesday, April 12, 2016

Half Lost by Sally Green (The Half Bad trilogy book 3)

SPOILER ALERT! If you haven’t read the first two books in the series, Half Bad and Half Wild, Stop! I don’t want to ruin Nathan’s story for you.

Please visit the Recaptains blog if you need a refresher on the series.

Nathan Byrn is running again. The Alliance of Free Witches has been all but destroyed. Scattered and demoralized, constantly pursued by the Council’s Hunters, only a bold new strategy can save the rebels from total defeat. They need the missing half of Gabriel’s amulet—an ancient artifact with the power to render its bearer invincible in battle.

But the amulet’s guardian—the reclusive and awesomely powerful witch Ledger - has her own agenda. To win her trust, Nathan must travel to America and persuade her to give him the amulet. Combined with the Gifts he has inherited from Marcus, the amulet might just be enough to turn the tide for the Alliance and end the bloody civil war between Black and White witches once and for all…” - taken from Goodreads.com

Thursday, April 7, 2016

Walk the Edge by Katie McGarry (Thunder Road book 2)

SPOILER ALERT! Readers of the first book in the Thunder Road series have already met Razor. Oz and Emily play a part of in this story.

“One moment of recklessness will change their worlds.”

“Smart. Responsible. That's seventeen-year-old Breanna's role in her large family, and heaven forbid she put a toe out of line. Until one night of shockingly un-Breanna-like behavior puts her into a vicious cyber-bully's line of fire—and brings fellow senior Thomas "Razor" Turner into her life.

Razor lives for the Reign of Terror motorcycle club, and good girls like Breanna just don't belong. But when he learns she's being blackmailed over a compromising picture of the two of them—a picture that turns one unexpected and beautiful moment into ugliness—he knows it's time to step outside the rules.

And so they make a pact: he'll help her track down her blackmailer, and in return she'll help him seek answers to the mystery that's haunted him—one that not even his club brothers have been willing to discuss. But the more time they spend together, the more their feelings grow. And suddenly they're both walking the edge of discovering who they really are, what they want, and where they're going from here.” - Goodreads.com

High school senior Breanna Miller is literally in the middle. The fifth of nine children, the four eldest consider her as one of the younger children while the four youngest think of her as one of the older ones. An excellent student, Breanna has a type of eidetic memory even though she doesn’t like to call attention to it,  makes her stand out and not in a good way. She is the caregiver to her younger siblings while her parents work long hours at their jobs. Breanna cannot wait to leave the small town of Snowflake, Kentucky and be challenged for the first time on her life.

Readers met Thomas Turner, aka Razor, in No-where But Here. As a cut wearing member of the Reign of Terror, his fellow high school students steer clear of him out of fear of the town’s notorious motorcycle club. When Jake Barlow, a member of a gang task force shows up at the Turner’s front door, Razor, attempts to get rid of him. Not deterred, Barlow brings Razor’s biggest nightmare back into his life. Everyone in Snowflake whispers that his mother committed suicide. His father and the Reign remain tight lipped about her death. Barlow shows Razor a file on his mother’s death and states that he believes his mother’s death was actually a murder.

On the night of senior orientation, Breanna’s family forgets to pick her up at the school. Razor’s motorcycle breaks down in the parking lot and several club members are there to help him get it started. She is alone in the parking lot with the club watching when her best friend Addison must leave. She is extremely nervous when her siblings carry on a text conversation about her being a bit melodramatic. When Razor approaches her, she drops and breaks her cell phone. He is able to fix it and hands it back to her. Breanna claims that she only has twenty dollars and quickly realizes that she has offended him and quickly backpedals. She asks if she can hire him as her bodyguard and he agrees as Breanna’s brother comes tearing into the parking lot. Razor doesn’t want her money but will ask for something later. Dragged off by her brother, Breanna and Razor cannot help but notice each other.

The two of them share an English class and Razor takes a seat near Breanna. Her friends look at her but she hasn’t had the chance to tell them about the incident in the parking lot. Breanna continues to notice him and vice versa. At the end of the period, the girls make plans to celebrate the first night of their senior year at a local bar, Shamrock’s, that admits eighteen year olds. Alone, Razor tells Breanna that she doesn’t know what she and her friends are in for. They part but Breanna has difficulty getting Thomas Turner off of her mind.

Razor is called before the club board to discuss Jake Barlow’s visit. The situation quickly becomes heated when Razor’s temper gets the best of him. After having words and ignoring Cyrus’ orders to be quiet, his father walks out followed by the rest of the board. Only Eli stays behind. He tells Razor that the club loves him like family but that they are weary of him, never knowing what he might do. Razor tells Eli that he trusts the club but he vows to himself that he is going to find out the truth about his mother’s death.

Breanna is having the time of her life at Shamrock’s. With a few drinks in her, she and Addison dance. Breanna looks up and sees Razor in the corner. They cannot keep their eyes off one another. Addison notices and asks what is going on between the two of them. After another confrontation with Kyle Hewitt over writing his English papers, he threatens to ruin Breanna’s reputation at school. Slightly drunk, Breanna heads towards the restrooms but stumbles out a back door instead. In the dark alley, the local army guys have brutally hazed on of their own and Breanna comes upon them. Tripping and falling, Razor is there to catch her and take her away from a bad situation, acting as her bodyguard. He sits her in the back of Oz’s truck where things heat up between them but nothing happens. She tells Razor about the fact that she can recall totally random facts and loves to solve puzzles. He asks her if she would be willingly to help him with the file that Jake Barlow showed him. Breanna leaves when Addison comes outside looking for her. Unbeknownst to them, they weren’t alone and someone took pictures.

Soon, Breanna and Razor become entangled in each others lives as he helps her find her blackmailer and she helps him with his mother’s case. Soon, their relationship becomes a romantic one. Who is Breanna’s blackmailer? Was Razor’s mother murdered? What is the Reign hiding from Razor? Will Breanna gain any respect from her family? What will the town of Snowflake think when Breanna and Razor’s relationship becomes public?

Book three in the Thunder Road series comes out in 2017 and will be Chevy & Violet's story. Isaiah and Rachel from Crash Into You make an appearance.

Monday, April 4, 2016

The Winner's Kiss by Marie Rutkoski (The Winner's trilogy book 3)

SPOILER ALERT! If you haven’t read the first two books in the series, The Winner’s Curse and The Winner’s Crime, Stop! I don’t want to ruin one of my favorite series for you.

Please visit the Recaptains blog if you need a refresher on the series.

“Some kisses come at a price.”   

Arin has joined forces with Darca to fight back against Valoria and reclaim Herran for it’s people. Kestrel still haunts his memories but the pain of her betrayal no longer stings. What he doesn’t realize is that Kestrel was trying to protect him. Her letter to Arin was intercepted by her father who turned her in for treason against the Empire. She has been sent to the northern tundra to work in the sulfur mines. Kestrel hopes that she was able to pass a masker moth on to a Herrani man who in turn will take it to Arin, who  will realizes that she was his spy and is in danger. She also knows that she cannot depend on Arin and must come up with a plan of escape on her own.

Will Kestrel be able to escape from the work camp? Does the Herrani man take the moth to Arin? What happens when Arin learns of Kestral’s fate? Will Herran be able free itself from Valorian rule? Can the Emperor be defeated? What happens when Kestrel sees her father again? Do these star-crossed lovers be reunited or will war finally tear them apart?

Fans will be eager to see how Arin and Kestrel’s story will wrap up.

Visit Marie Rutkowski’s website.