Top ten books I added to my to-be-read list recently

"This week's topic is about books we've added to our to-be-read list lately!" 

I have put a lot of new books on my tbr-list, so compiling it to just ten was a little hard. 

1. Loki by Mike Vasich
2. Daemon Seer by Mary Maddox
3. Angelfall by Susan Ee
4. Fallen by Lauren Kate
5. Stardust by Neil Gaiman
6. The Invisible Library by Genevive Cogman
7. Everneath by Brodi Ashton
8. The Written by Ben Galley
9. The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton
10. The Girl at Midnight by Melissa Grey

This is me literally me randomly picking books that I've added to my tbr-list the past three weeks. I have added so soo many books lately so it is actually hard to pick 10 books, which is why I did it randomly. 

Which books are on your top ten?

Tied by Laney McMann ( Fire Born #1)

Original Title: Tied

Year Published: 2013

Published by: J. Taylor Publishing (an arc was kindly provided via NetGalley)

Number of Pages: 208

First Sentence: "My window opened easily."

Goodreads Rating: 1/5

Plot:

Normal people don't believe their nightmares stalk them. They don’t fall in love with boys who don’t exist, either.

Seventeen-year-old Layla Labelle, though, is far from normal. Her delusions walk the earth. Her hallucinations hunt her, and her skin heats to a burn every time her anger flares.

Or is that all in her head?

Layla doesn't know what to believe anymore because if none of that’s true, Max MacLarnon must be an illusion, and her heart must still be broken.

No matter how much she wants to believe Max is real, doing so would mean everything else is, too. How, then, is that possible?

The answers lie in an age-old legend the supernatural aren’t prepared to reveal, and with a curse that could tear Layla and Max apart forever—if it doesn’t kill them both first.

In TIED, book one in the Fire Born trilogy, learning the truth will mean fighting an arsenal of demons, and being with Max will put Layla on a path toward her own destruction.

Just how far will Layla go to protect the one she loves?

The answer may never be far enough ... away.

My thoughts:

The basic idea for this book is a good one. However, the execution of said idea is not very good. Why? Well, the entire book was confusing. The location kept shifting and it didn't make any sense. It's like the characters randomly teleported in the middle of a sentence without breaking stride. This made the setting of the book very confusing and quite difficult for me to keep up with what was happening. 

The main character, Layla or "Teine", is super annoying. Instead of coming off as confused by the strange things happening to her, she comes off as really bratty and like a proper drama queen.  To me, none of the characters was likeable and most actually made me feel quite annoyed. 

To be completely honest, this felt more like a disorganised fanfic than a published book. Had the book been better organised then it would have been so much better. As it is right now, I just felt confused and honestly annoyed reading this book. If this book were to be revised and rewritten it would have the potential of being very good, but in it's present state it just isn't worth it. At least not for me. 

Do I recommend it? 

No. It just wasn't a good book, but since I received this as an arc, I felt obliged to finish it. Had it been purchased I wouldn't have bothered finish it. I will definitely not read the rest of the series

Serpent Priestess of the Annunaki by Katrina Sisowath (Dragon Court #1)

Original Title: Serpent Priestess of the Annunaki

Year Published: 2014

Published by: 5 Prince Publishing

Number of Pages: 394

First Sentence: 

Goodreads Rating: 4/5

Plot:

The Annunaki on Nibiru lack precious metals, stones and minerals, which they desire, food on Nibiru is also running low. Their solution: establish a colony on a distant planet teeming with wildlife and vegetation. When the Annunaki discover they are ill equipped to labor under the harsh conditions found on Earth, they create a workforce called humans, a hybrid manufactured from their DNA and a species known as hominid. 

The Serpent Priestess Ninkha and her husband Lord Enki are charged with this task, battling not only the challenges faced adjusting to life on Earth, but Enki's brother, Enlil, as well. Will the humans live as Enki and Ninkha envisioned--able to learn, create and above all, reason? Or will they subjugate themselves to Enlil and his rule willingly?

At stake is the future of the Priestesses of Damuth, who, along with their serpents, service the Annunaki with their own blood, providing those who partake of the cocktail of blood and venom the ultimate in achieving a higher state of consciousness, along with youth, vigour and longevity. If Enlil, whose disdain of them is well-known, wins, what will happen to them?

To protect themselves and their descendants, they form the ‘Dragon Court’, but is it enough?

Serpent Priestesses or Witches, Gods or Demons,

Aliens or Ancestors, Oppressors or Creators? 

Perhaps all of the above..............

My thoughts:

I bought this book after receiving the arc for the sequel over at NetGalley (I didn't realise it was a sequel when I requested it), and figured that I would need to read this one before reading the arc I got. So I bought this and got reading. It was a little hard to get into but after just one chapter I found myself completely hooked. 

The world described in this book is quite fantastic and it is obvious that the author has given it a lot of thought. It is very detailed (which is awesome but has its negative sides, I'll get to that). The Annunaki's, the inhabitants of Nibiru, are a very intelligent people with several supernatural abilities. They are all matched with a dragon at birth (DRAGONS!!) and create and unbreakable bond with their dragon. They are governed by their priests and priestesses that help guiding the people through their lives. 

There are many characters that the plot revolves around, all who are very interesting. I won't go into detail about the characters as that actually would spoil the plot. The plot is a very interesting take on the creation myth (yeah, you read that right) and gives a very interesting account where the Annunaki's are the creators of humans. 

Usually, I don't like books with religious themes or allusions to religion but this book is just too good to be true. You will definitely recognise some of the stories from the Bible, along with some names, but you don't need to know the Bible to enjoy this book (I really don't. Know the Bible that is).

So, is there anything negative? Yes. The book is like only 4 percent dialogue, and since the author obviously has given the world in the book a lot of thought, it can get a little bit overwhelming. In fact, although I loved it, my brain felt kind of mushy at the end. It was just so much information to take in. Detail is awesome, but you need something to make it easier to take in. A little bit more dialogue had been great. 

Do I recommend it? 

Yes! It is amazing, and I can't wait to get started on book numero 2. 

Life's a Witch by Elizabeth A. Reeves (Karma's Witches #1)

Original Title: Life's a Witch

Year Published: 2013

Published by: BHL Books

Number of Pages: 100

First Sentence: "The night of the eclipse, I wasn’t watching it."

Goodreads Rating: 4/5

Plot:

When life gives you lemons, some would say make lemonade.

Amber knows all about making lemonade. More than she wants to. But what do you do when you discover--out of the clear blue--that you've got a destiny you could have only imagined. 

As a writer, Amber's got quite an imagination--but even she didn't imagine what was to come!

What do you do when a sexy cop seems to be flirting with you? When strange things begin to happen? Strange objects show up? 

What do you do when you discover you're not the only child you'd always believed you were?

Things are about to change drastically for Amber. Sometimes, Life's a Witch!

My thoughts:

I thought this book was going to be really cheesy and no more than b-class. I found myself quite surprised, however. I actually really liked this book. Yes, it is quite short, only a 100 pages, but in those few pages it manages a lot. We actually get character development, something that books that go on for over 500 pages sometimes don't manage to do, and an actual plot which I honestly doubted when I saw how short it was. 

Amber is a 20-year-old, working at a bookshop (hello dream job) and trying hard to overcome the trauma of her past. One night she returns home to find a mysterious book on her coffee table. Through the book, she begins to unravel the mystery of her heritage. Amber is a lovely character and quite easy to like. In fact, apart from the very traumatic past, I did see a bit of myself in her. 

Although this book serves as an introduction to a series it still manages to be a good read. Yes, it is still slightly cheesy and clichey but it doesn't really matter. In fact, it got me really intrigued and I will most definitely read the other two parts. It is a collaboration between three different authors, but if the other two are just as good as Reeves then the other two books will be just as worth reading. 

Do I recommend it? 

Yes, I do. If you want a short but still interesting read than this book is for you. It is a book that although can be seen as a very easy read actually has substance.

The Thirteenth Tower by Sara C. Snider (Tree and Tower #1)

Original Title: The Thirteenth Tower

Year Published: 2014

Published by: Double Beast Publishing (acquired through NetGalley)

Number of Pages: 271

First Sentence: "Emelyn awoke, as always, in darkness."

Goodreads Rating: 3/5

Plot:

In adversity lies strength beyond imagining.

Abandoned as a baby, young Emelyn’s life as a housemaid in the quiet village of Fallow is unremarkable—and empty. That is, until a host of magical creatures arrives and inflicts terrible misdeeds on the townsfolk. Inexplicably immune to their enchantments, Emelyn joins a pair of Magi intent on stopping the cause of the trouble—and who claim to know of her parents, promising Emelyn answers to a lifetime of questions.

But the answers Emelyn seeks prove to be more elusive than she hoped, and the world outside Fallow more perilous than she imagined. Magical creatures roam the land over, attacking yet another town before coming after Emelyn. The key to her survival—and finding her family—lies deep within her, if only she can conquer her doubts and believe she is more powerful than she ever dreamed.

My thoughts:

I liked this book. It takes you on a journey where you, alongside the main character, get to see many new amazing things and get acquainted with many interesting and unique individuals. It is also about learning how there is so much more to the world around us, and that we are capable of amazing feats if we only believe in ourselves.

The main character is a girl named Emelyn. She is a maid and an orphan. After her village falls under a strange spell she follows two magis, wielders of the "art", on a journey after they claim to know who her parents are. Little does she know that they also have a hidden agenda. Emelyn is a sweet girl and easy to like. She works well as the protagonist of this story, but sometimes she seems to be overly meek. Perhaps this is the point, but it did get slightly annoying at times.

My favourite character in the book is a strange creature named Cobbe. She is a Wylkin, a filthy creature, but kind although slightly grumpy. She brightens up many passages of the book that otherwise would be boring. She is the type of friend everyone needs, someone who doesn't coddle you but still does everything they do to help or protect you.

So, why only a rating of 3? Well, there were many times where I had to stop and wonder what the actual plot was. We are on an amazing journey, but it was very easy to forget why. To be completely honest, I didn't see the overall plot of the book until the final three chapters. That's when I had a proper aha-moment and went; "oh, that's why!".

Do I recommend it? 

Sure, since I do believe that this can be turned into a great series. I think that Snider does well with this book, and I think that with a clearer plot in the following books, the other ones will turn out the be epic fantasies.

In Search of Lost Dragons by Elian Black'Mor and Carine M

Original Title: In Search of Lost Dragons

Year Published: 2014

Published by: Dynamite Entertainment

Number of Pages: 224

First Sentence: "I've just arrived at a small Inn in the heart of Armorica."

Goodreads Rating: 4/5

Plot:

Gorgeous full-color paintings, accompanied by a unique story of world-wide exploration and dragon encounters! On the trail of dragons forgotten, an intrepid illustrator and reporter journeys from Europe through the Middle East and finally to Saigon in search of the dark caverns and mountaintop perches where the elusive winged serpents dwell. With the gift of seeing the invisible, our explorer friend records each encounter in a journal of gorgeous, fully painted artwork, capturing every majestic and fearsome visual detail of the scaly behemoths, and accompanies his findings with snippets of local lore as evidence that these hidden beasts continue to shape the world in ways we may never expect!

My thoughts:

Oh my god, I loved this! It is just so gorgeous! I've always loved dragons and after reading this nobody can convince me that dragons aren't real. Just amazing. The book is laid out as a travel journal, and we get to follow an explorer as they travel to several countries through Europe and Asia in search of dragons and eventually a lost party of explorers. Sometimes the plot get's a little lost, but it doesn't really matter since the images are so incredibly beautiful. 

Do I recommend it? 

Yes, if you like dragons or pretty images. It's gorgeous and I kind of want all of the images posted on my flats walls. 

Across the Pond by Michael McCormick

Original Title: Across the Pond

Year Published: 1994

Published by: Vantage Press (I got my hands on this through NetGalley)

Number of Pages: 42

First Sentence: "Sean McBride, or Mac, as he was called in Vietnam, had a very bad feeling about this patrol."

Goodreads Rating: 4/5

Plot:

Across The Pond by Michael McCormick is the story of a young American who fights in the Vietnam War for his country, only to be rejected when he comes home. The author based the book on his experience as a U.S. Marine who served in combat.

My thoughts:

This is a really short book, only 42 pages, but it packs a heavy punch. We all know that war is never pleasant, but this did not hold back in detailing some of the gruesome things happening at war. What was worse was almost the apathy with which the author had when he talked about it. Why? Because that something so horrible becomes everyday life for a soldier after a while. 

A boy at 19 should not have to see the things that a boy at war does. Nor should he be as mistreated as so many of the Vietnam veterans were on their return home. This is also described in the book. The slow realisation that your country, which you have risked your life for, just turns its back on you. How horrible that must have been for these soldiers. 

This books should be a requirement for anyone studying the Vietnam war. 

Do I recommend it? 

Yes, I really do. It's honest and heartbreaking. Short and to the point. Go read!

top ten tuesday -- ten books from our childhood/teen years we'd like to revisit

Can't believe it's already Tuesday again! Time just flies by at the moment. This week it's top ten books from our childhood/teen years we'd like to revisit. To be honest, I could fill up most of this list with the Harry Potter books but I will restrain myself, I promise. 

1. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling. Yeah, I said I would restrain myself, not exclude them from the list :P
2. The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien. I loved this book and read the whole trilogy in less than a week. 
3. Pawn of Prophecy by David Eddings. It's the first book in the Belgariad series and this along with the rest of the books is just pure brilliance. 
4. Guardian of the West by David Eddings. This is the first book in the sequel series to the Belgariad, and this whole series is also pure brilliance. 
5. Polgara the Sorceress by David Eddings. I had a period in my life when I devoured Eddings books. Loved them.
6. The Black Stallion by Walter Farley. Horses were one of my biggest passion as a child/teen so I've read many horse books in my life. 
7. Small Gods by Terry Pratchett. This was the first book of Pratchett's that I read and it made me fall helplessly in love with the Discworld.
8. Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren. I loved everything about Pippi and wanted to be her. Still have all the books.
9. The Brother's Lionheart by Astrid Lindgren. I still cry every time I read the book or see the film. Adore this book so much. 
10. The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown. I remember loving this book mostly because of the symbols and hidden codes.

So that's my top ten. Weird combinations in there, but those are the books that I wouldn't mind reading over and over again or be able to scrub from my mind so I can read them without any expectations.

SOCIETY for SUPPER by TyCobbsTeeth

Original Title: SOCIETY for SUPPER

Year Published: 2015

Published by: HotPepper Publishing

Number of Pages: 308

First Sentence: "David walked into the conference room a few minutes early."

Goodreads Rating: 3/5

Plot:

Widespread drought has gripped the planet and devastated food supplies around the world. Riots have started breaking out as chaos is tearing away at the fabric of society. Ben Donnelly, a former special weapons and tactics officer with the Boston police force, is in the fight of his life, trying to protect his family from the storm of inhumanity.

SOCIETY for SUPPER follows the Donnellys in their struggle to survive in the aftermath of the global food shortage and ultimately the collapse of society.
The life they know is ripped away. They learn all too quickly, how we are all part of a precariously balanced community and when the balance is lost--society is devoured by the chaos of desperation.

Buckle-up and follow Ben Donnelly and his family as they try to survive this new hell.

My thoughts:

This is a good book with a very interesting plot and a theme that really gets you thinking. What would happen if the world's food supply suddenly started to dwindle? How would we react knowing that food might be extremely hard to come by in a near future? Personally I get irrationally grumpy if I'm hungry one evening and haven't been to the store yet. I mean there is still food and I won't go hungry, but it still makes me grumpy. So how much worse would it be knowing that you can't even go to the store and pick up more food simply because the store does not have any food left? Panic is probably unavoidable.

In this book, we get to tag along with the Donnelly's as they are trying to survive in a word that has gone completely mental all at once. They get to see some horrible things and have to do some horrible things in order to survive. This little family, led by father Ben, a former cop, shows us that sticking with your family is the most important thing in a crisis. This whether the family is the one you were born into or one you have chosen yourself. 

This books also shows the darker sides of human nature. The fact that some people would rather ensure their own survival by any means instead of trying to work together with others to survive. It is not only an exploration of a subject that might come true one day but also an exploration of human nature. 

Do I recommend it?

I only gave this book 3 stars because it is written in a genre that honestly isn't my cup of tea. So I couldn't fully appreciate this book. That doesn't mean that it's bad and if you like thrillers then this book is for you.

Cronin's Key by N.R. Walker (Cronin's Key #1)

Original Title: Cronin's Key

Year Published: 2015

Published by: Self-published

Number of Pages: 263

First Sentence: "Detective Alec MacAidan ran through the dark, wet back streets of New York City."

Goodreads Rating: 4/5

Plot:

NYPD Detective Alec MacAidan has always been good with weird. After all, his life has been a string of the unexplainable. But when an injured man gives him cryptic clues, then turns to dust in front of him, Alec's view on weird is changed forever. 

Cronin, a vampire Elder, has spent the last thousand years waiting for Alec. He'd been told his fated one would be a man wielding a shield, but he didn't expect him to be human, and he certainly didn't expect that shield to be a police badge. 

Both men, strong-willed and stubborn, are still learning how to cope with the push and pull of being fated, when fate throws them another curveball. 

Rumors have spread quickly of turmoil in Egypt. Covens are fleeing with news of a vampire who has a talent like no other, hell-bent on unleashing the wrath of Death. 

Alec and Cronin are thrown into a world of weird Alec cannot imagine. What he learned in school of ancient pharaohs and Egyptian gods was far from the truth. Instead, he finds out firsthand that history isn't always what it seems.

My thoughts:

I bought this book only because the cover caught my eye. Then the plot summary didn't seem too shabby so I figured "why not?". And I have not regretted that. It's actually the first book I have read with the main character being gay, and sometimes during the book it felt like the romance was a little bit forced. It might be because the author is a woman and put a heterosexual filter over the characters behaviour. Don't know, and it doesn't really matter. 

The plot itself was really good. Vampires can be difficult to write since there are so many different versions, but Walker has done a good job. The way vampire society is portrayed in this book was really interesting, and the idea that the ancient Egyptian gods actually were vampires and not gods was a new take on vampire lore for me. One that I really liked. 

There is a mix of great characters, but to me they seem to be a little flat at times. There is no real character development and the little there was seemed rushed. Despite this, the characters were likable and interesting to read about. 

Do I recommend it? 

Yes. It is a good book and well worth reading.