The Curse Servant by J.P. Sloan (The Dark Choir #2)

Original Title: The Curse Servant

Year Published: 2015

Published by: Curiosity Quills Press (an arc was kindly provided via NetGalley)

Number of Pages: 287

First Sentence: "I knew this wasn't going to be the typical meeting with Julian Bright when, instead of the usual political organ-grinders at the campaing headquarters, I found a soccer mom duct taped to a chair, foaming at the mouth."

Goodreads Rating: 4/5

Plot:

The one person standing between Hell… and an innocent girl… is a man without a soul.

A regular life isn’t in the cards for Dorian Lake, but with his charm-crafting business invigorated, and the prospect of a serious relationship within his grasp, life is closer to normal than Dorian could ever expect. In the heat of the Baltimore mayoral campaign, Dorian has managed to balance his arrangements with Deputy Mayor Julian Bright with his search to find his lost soul. Dorian soon learns of a Netherworker, the head of a dangerous West Coast cabal, who might be able to find and return his soul. The price? Just one curse.

Sounds easy… but nothing ever is for Dorian. A dark presence arrives in the city, hell-bent on finding Dorian’s soul first. Innocents are caught in the crossfire, and Dorian finds it harder to keep his commitments to Bright. When the fight gets personal, and the entity hits too close to home, Dorian must rely on those he trusts the least to save the ones he loves. As he tests the limits of his hermetic skills to defeat this new enemy, will Dorian lose his one chance to avoid damnation?

My thoughts:

OK, so I haven't read the first book and thought this would be a problem. It wasn't. There are some things that are most likely connected to the first book, but you don't need to know them to enjoy this book.

Dorian is a good main character. He is a likable and an enjoyable protagonist. A little bit messed up but always striving to do good. Although trying to find his missing soul should be his main concern, he refuses to put is own needs before other people in need. A proper good guy, although he might not agree with that label himself.

The plot itself is also very enjoyable. It took me a little time to figure out what the main plot was (I forgot to read the blurb, how stupid is that?) because there are several sub-plots. They are however nicely weaved together and are very easy to pick up and follow along with. There is enough mystery to really get you hooked, and although I figured out who one of the main antagonists was long before Dorian did, it did not lessen the reading experience at all. In fact, it was really exciting to see if I was right and why the antagonist had done what they did.

Definitely a nice read with a good splash of mystery, magic, romance and real-world problems that created a very nice overall reading experience.

Do I recommend it?

Yes, I do. I would like to point out that you should probably read book 1 as well. I surely will.

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

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.

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. 

Awaken by Meg Cabot (Abandon #3)

(Yes, that is my cat. Say hi to Kattla)

Original Title: Awaken

Year Published: 2013

Published by: Macmillan Children's Books

Number of Pages: 348

First Sentence: "In school they told us to follow the rules."

Goodreads Rating: 4/5

Plot:

Seventeen-year-old Pierce Oliviera knew that by accepting the undying love of John Hayden she’d be forced to live forever in the one place she’s always dreaded most: the Underworld. The sacrifice seemed worth it, but now her happiness and safety in the realm are threatened. The Furies have discovered that John has broken one of their strictest rules and revived a dead soul. If the balance of life and death isn’t restored, both the Underworld and Pierce’s home on Earth will be wiped out by the Furies’ wrath. Pierce has already cheated death once . . . can she do it again?

My thoughts:

This is the final book of the Abandon trilogy. It was a good ending to the trilogy, but it also made me want more books with these characters. It picks up right after book number 2, which left us in the Underworld facing chaos. There is a really unexpected and dramatic start to this book which I can't go into detail of since it would only mean spoilers for you. In fact, there isn't really possible to do an in-depth review of the book without spoiling it. 

I will tell you this though. There is a lot of action going on, and all the loose ends are being tied up. We get to learn a lot more about Isla Huesos history, and a lot more background information which leads to so many aha moments. That is actually the main reason for why I gave this book a 4 instead of a 3. Because, to be honest, there are lots of things in these books that can be seen as quite bad (I mean, it's not the Princess Diaries). However, I really enjoyed them, hence the 4 rating. 

Do I recommend it? 

Yes, I do, along with the first two books. It is an enjoyable trilogy and worth reading. 

Underworld by Meg Cabot (Abandon #2)

Original Title: Underworld

Year Published: 2013

Published by: Macmillan

Number of pages: 309

First Sentence: “Pierce keeps having the most terrible nightmares.”

Goodreads rating: 3/5

Plot:

Seventeen-year-old Pierce Oliviera isn't dead.

Not this time.

But she is being held against her will in the dim, twilit world between heaven and hell, where the spirits of the deceased wait before embarking upon their final journey.

Her captor, John Hayden, claims it's for her own safety. Because not all the departed are dear. Some are so unhappy with where they ended up after leaving the Underworld, they've come back as Furies, intent on vengeance . . . on the one who sent them there and on the one whom he loves.

But while Pierce might be safe from the Furies in the Underworld, far worse dangers could be lurking for her there . . . and they might have more to do with its ruler than with his enemies.

And unless Pierce is careful, this time there'll be no escape.

My thoughts:

This is the second book in a trilogy of three. I liked the first book and I liked the second one as well. But that is about it. There is no wow feeling when reading these books. Yes, they are entertaining and worth reading, but they lack that umpf-feeling.

Pierce, once again, finds herself in the Underworld. This time there seems to be no way out. So she slowly starts to learn more about her new home and the other inhabitants there. I liked Pierce, although she can come off as whiny and selfish. Other than that, she is an okay main character.

I also have to say that I've come to realise when reading the second book that I have issues with the male main character. He is over-controlling and dominant, which is for Pierce's safety. He also literally tricks her into doing the one thing that will keep her in the Underworld. Come on! Do all YA-writers have to make their guys like this? There is nothing romantic about it, it is just someone who wants to control every step you take and that is verging on abuse. Write male characters who want to protect, yes, but also allow the woman freedom to make her own choices.

Despite this, the book is good. It is a really interesting take on the Hades/Persephone myth, and the whole basic idea of the book seems really great. It is too bad that the execution is rather lacking.

Do I recommend it?

Well, yeah, although you could probably find other books that are much better than this. It wasn't a complete waste of time though and I did find it really entertaining at times.

Tidal by Amanda Hocking (#3 in the Watersong Quartet)

Original Title: Tidal

Year Published: 2013

Published by: St Martin's Press

Number of Pages: 342

First Sentence: "Gemma loved the way it felt when he kissed her, and his mouth was hungry and eager on hers."

Goodreads Rating: 4/5

Plot:

he magical world of Watersong is about to change forever. The answers Gemma and her friends have been searching for are finally revealed - but evil is closing in and time is running out....

Gemma and Harper Fisher are facing the fight of their lives. Gemma has been cursed with extraordinary powers that have a terrifying dark side, but she's finally found what she needs - a way to break the curse and become human again. However, finding the means to do it will be her greatest challenge yet. And now Penn, Lexi, and Thea - the gorgeous but deadly creatures who cursed her - are determined to kill her before she has a chance. Making matters worse, Penn has her sights set on Daniel - the guy Harper loves - and Penn always gets what she wants.

As Gemma and Harper race to break the curse before it's too late, they're thrust deeper into a mythical world of immortal secrets. They must look into their enemies' past to find the answers they need, even if it means being drawn deeper into their savagely beautiful world. But one of the girls is not what she seems...and Gemma finds an unlikely ally as she struggles to save herself. Will it be enough to break an ancient curse that no one has ever escaped from alive?

My thoughts:

I really liked it. It is a little slow at times, but it is still an entertaining read.

Gemma finally discovers a way to win over the sirens, now all she has do to is find the object needed, which turns out to be easier said than done. She is also still struggling with her siren side and the hunger that is slowly growing inside her. She is also trying to get over Alex, which is proving to be extremely difficult. Especially since he is acting so very different after their break-up.

Harper is struggling with her need to protect Gemma and her desire to go to college. She is also still on the fence when it comes her feelings for Daniel. Daniel is just so lovable, and we also finally find out the reason to why he is immune to the siren song.

We get to know a lot more about the sirens and their background which was really interesting and explained some of their behaviour.

The tension between the sirens and Gemma does reach a breaking point in this book which leads to a surprising conclusion.

I have to be honest and say that I probably liked this book as much as I did because I was already so invested in the characters. I can easily see why people who say they dislike it do so. However, for me it was still a good read.

Do I recommend it?

Well, yes but it is the third in a series, so if anything I do recommend the first book. If you've already read the first two then sure, go ahead and read this one as well.

Fire Burn and Cauldron Bubble by H.P. Mallory

Original Title: Fire Burn and Cauldron Bubble

Year Published: 2010

Published by: Self-published

Number of pages: 304

First Sentence: "It's not every day you see a ghost."

Goodreads rating: 1/5

Plot:

A self-deprecating witch with the unique ability to reanimate the dead.
A dangerously handsome warlock torn between being her boss and her would-be lover.
A six hundred-year-old English vampire with his own agenda; one that includes an appetite for witches.
The Underworld in a state of chaos.
Let the games begin.

Life isn’t bad for psychic Jolie Wilkins. True, she doesn’t have a love life to speak of, but she has a cute house in the suburbs of Los Angeles, a cat and a quirky best friend.

Enter Rand Balfour, a sinfully attractive warlock who insists she’s a witch and who just might turn her life upside down. Rand hires her to help him solve a mystery regarding the death of his client who also happens to be a ghost. Jolie not only uncovers the cause of the ghost’s demise but, in the process, she brings him back to life!

Word of Jolie’s incredible ability to bring back the dead spreads like wildfire, putting her at the top of the Underworld’s most wanted list. Consequently, she finds herself at the center of a custody battle between a villainous witch, a dangerous but oh-so-sexy vampire, and her warlock boss, Rand.

My thoughts:

I really wanted to like this book. However, I can't say I do. The basic premise of this book is good although perhaps not so original. The execution of it is not so good. Jolie is an ok character and I even liked her alongside her friend Christa. The rest is not so good.

All the men are overly dominant and try to control the women at every step. I suppose this was done to show that, in this case, the men know better and are only trying to protect the women, but it was ridiculous and just annoying. Just like a lot of the plot was ridiculous and somewhat annoying. I actually just skimmed the last chapter because I felt obligated to finish the book, but had no interest in the outcome.

Do I recommend it?

No.

Lullaby by Amanda Hocking (#2 in the Watersong Quartet)

Original Title: Lullaby

Year Published: 2012

Published by: St Martins Press

Number of Pages: 200

First Sentence: "Harper woke up when the sun was just beginning to set, and squinted at the dim orange light streaming in through her curtains."

Goodreads Rating: 4/5

Plot:

Harper only wanted a safe, normal life. But when her younger sister Gemma runs off with a dangerous clique of beautiful girls, Penn, Thea, and Lexi, everything changes. Vowing to get her sister back no matter what the cost, Harper must face dangers unlike any she's ever experienced. Fortunately, she has Daniel by her side, a gorgeous guy who's devoted to helping her find her sister—and who's immune to the girls' dark powers. 

While Harper searches for her sister, Gemma struggles to adjust to her new life.  Gemma's powers are growing by the day, and the longer she lives with her new "sisters," the harder it is to resist entering their magical world.  It's a realm both dark and beautiful, and where she's plagued by strange hungers and unspeakable needs.  Just as she's drifting far away from her old life,  Harper and Daniel find her...but no one can deny how much she's changed.  All she wants is to return to her family and the mortal world, but how can she do that when she's become something else entirely—and will they still love her once they learn the truth?

My thoughts:

The book picks up just where the first one left off. Gemma has left to be with the sirens and Harper is devastated. She does everything in her power to try and find her sister. She gets help from both Alex and Daniel, and then from a somewhat unexpected source. Harper also struggles with her feelings for Daniel, who just keeps surprising her. 

Gemma on the other hand struggles with being a siren. She refuses to enjoy her enhanced abilities which have led to her being quite ill.  She is afraid that she will lose her humanity if she gives in to her siren urges. 

It also turns out that one of the sirens isn't as bad as she first seemed and the other two are even worse than they first seemed. We also get to know a little bit more about the myth around sirens as Hocking sees them. I really like the way she has written the sirens and developed the idea around them. 

I really liked this book. It was a great continuation of the first book, and I'm looking forward to reading the rest.

Do I recommend it?

Yes I do!

Bound to Remember by Lola James (Book 1 of the Spellbound Series)

Original Title: Bound to Remember, A Paranormal Romance

Year Published: 2011

Published by: Self-published

Number of Pages: 116

First Sentence: "Another meeting, I thought as I sat down in the conference room of the ER."

Goodreads rating: 1/5

Plot:

Vampires and Witches and Myths, oh my!

Toni is a young doctor with a past she can't remember and a deadly reason for forgetting it. 

Ben is a nurse who has his own tragic past and transfers hospitals after an act of heroism forces his secluded life public. 

Ben can’t believe his eyes when he meets Toni, she has an uncanny resemblance to an old friend of his, and Toni can’t help but find Ben irresistible. 

Enter Kevin, Toni’s sexy but arrogant Ex. Kevin’s jealousy of Ben blinds him from his main objective, Toni. 

A dangerous secret is revealed and a magic spell seems to be a quick remedy, but the witch that helps has a little more than magic up her sleeve…

My thoughts:

This book was horrible! I liked the basic idea of it and reading the summary made it seem somewhat interesting. I was so wrong. This book is just one cliche after another. 

Toni is supposed to be an ER doctor but behaves like a 14-year-old girl. I'm not saying that a doctor can't let loose and have fun, but any adult behaving like a child is just embarrassing. The fact that she also "falls in love" and wouldn't be against actually marrying a guy after only knowing him for two days is just so awkward and people who actually behave like this in real life should be locked up (no I do believe in love at first sight, but this isn't it). 

The plot is another disaster. I've read fanfics that are a thousand times better. In fact, think of the worst fanfiction you've ever read. This will be worse. Trust me. I'm not even going to say anything more.

Do I recommend it?

NO!

Sweet Reckoning by Wendy Higgins (#3 of the Sweet Trilogy)

Original TItle: Sweet Reckoning

Year Published: 2014

Published by: HarperCollins Publishers

Number of Pages: 379

First Sentence: "Not a soul in the Vegas cocktail lounge had any idea demons were in their midst,"

Goodreads rating: 5/5

Plot (taken from Goodreads):

It’s time. 

Evil is running rampant and sweet Anna Whitt is its target. Nobody knows when or how the Dukes will strike, but Anna and her Nephilim allies will do anything necessary to rid the earth of the demons and their oppressive ways.

The stakes are higher than ever, and Anna is determined that the love she feels will be her strength, not a liability. But trying to protect the ones she loves while running for her life and battling demonic forces proves to be perilous—especially as faces are changing and trust is fleeting. When the Duke of Lust sends Anna’s great love, Kaidan Rowe, to work against her, Anna must decide how much she’s prepared to risk.

In the most sensual and fast-paced installment yet, Sweet Reckoning brings all the beloved Neph together one last time to fight for their freedom.

My thoughts:

I loved it! I had been looking forward to reading this book for so long, but for some reason never got around to it. I picked it up two days ago and binge read it. I love it so so much. It's amazing and such a good ending to the story. I even cried, and I rarely cry when reading books these days.

Oh Anna. She has come so far since the first book and I love her. She is a proper badass with a good heart. 

Kaidan is my guy. He is just so... so fantastical. This guy who tries to come of as a proper bad buy but is as soft as a marshmallow on the inside. My kind of guy. And the ending... oh you will cry. We all sigh for Kai.

Marna and Jay. Oh my. Higgins be breaking my heart. It's sad and beautiful. I will say no more. Ginger? She gets her redemption. Blake? You gotta love Blake. Kope and Zania? Oh man, they are both so amazing. Patti? Oh man, I love Patti so much.

This whole book is just so... I can't really put words to it. It probably has many flaws and plotholes but I don't care. I loved it and the way the story ended. It will make you laugh, cry and then sigh with content when you finally close it after reading the last page. At least that's what I did.

Do I recommend it?

YES! I recommend all of the Sweet books. Go read! Now!