Christina Bauer (1)

I don’t know what it is about me and tail fascination. I’ve just always wanted one. So naturally the reason Angelbound caught my eye is the main character has a tail. (The author actually uses her tail to show emotion and humor too.)

Angelbound is told in a fun voice with plenty of humor and I liked the strong sassy heroine, Myla. It might just be me, (because I couldn’t pry the book out of my fingers to go to bed.) but this book was a quick read. I think Angelbound will appeal to fans show more of the Mortal Instruments.

Myla is a quasi demon (meaning part human) living in purgatory. Around twenty years ago demons invaded purgatory and left ghouls running things. Myla’s mom is super over-protective and won’t say anything about her life before the war with the demons or even about Myla’s father.

Myla spends most of her time at school, but every so often she’s called to duty. When a soul enters purgatory they can choose trial by combat. Since she was twelve Myla’s been required to fight to the death in the arena against theses souls. As the best fighter they save the nastiest ones for her, but she’s not your typical almost eighteen year-old. She enjoys her battles in the arena, particularly when it’s against a demon and she keeps extensive notebooks on how to beat the various demon races.

Myla’s best friend Cissy (who has the tail of a golden retriever, yes it does wag when she’s happy. Okay, enough about tails…) has a huge crush on a boy at school, so when said boy invites Myla and a guest to his party she can’t say no. At the party, abandoned by her friend, Myla meets the frustrating prince Lincoln. He’s a demon hunter who thinks all quasis are evil, but Myla can’t stop thinking about him and not just about punching him. Well, that too.

Romance is a strong part of this book and it’s well done. (I only wish we’d gotten to see all of their conversation in the maze instead of hearing about it afterwards…) There’s really only one make-out session that makes this an older YA book, but other than that it’s pretty light.

Angelbound has interesting characters and good world building. The plot is a bit predictable, but that isn’t always a bad thing. There are a few slow spots towards the beginning, but I’m glad I kept reading, because it quickly picks up. I did notice several errors, but I’m very nit picky about that sort of thing and often find such in books.

I give Angelbound 7/10 stars and would definitely recommend this book. (I can’t wait until the sequel comes out next month!)

~Molly Mortensen show less

Lincoln and Myla are back, this time with a Norse twist. If you're at all familiar with Norse mythology, you'll be able to appreciate the monsters brought to life for the Viking Games. I loved how Bauer balanced the nuance of soon-to-be parents and their worries with Lincoln's fierce need to protect Myla, and the action of the Viking Games. Having Myla's snarkiness contrast with Lincoln's calmer delivery made for dynamic narration, and there were moments I couldn't help but giggle at Myla. show more If you're looking for an action-packed PNR with MCs that will steal your heart and a villain you'll love to hate, you've found your next read! show less

After reading the blurb, I was excited to get my hands on this one. It was even better than I expected.

Meimi is about sixteen years old and a genius. Too bad, she can only use her talents to create devices for the black market, since it's the only way to keep her mother alive. Thanks to her mother's mental illness, she's been placed on the government's to-be-exterminated list. Meimi makes sure the two of them live off grid, but it's not easy. While semi-stealing parts for her latest order, show more Meimi runs into more than a little trouble, and she finds herself mind-melding with the government's latest killing beast. It could be a dream just like the ones she has about a hot alien guy...but as things get weirder and more dangerous, she begins to question more than her sanity.

This is a book for multi-universe, science fiction, action, teen romance and imagination fans. Meimi is a tough girl...not overly so, though. And it's this which makes her enjoyable. She's a genius in her area—dimension drifts—but she's social null and more than awkward. Plus, she's not a kick-butt heroine like often found in these novels. Her talent is simply her brains. And heart. Her sass is heavy but it fits very well to her situation and background. Plus, she's aware that she doesn't know everything and can't handle every situation. It's easy to like her and connect with her.

Imagination hits science fiction hard and creates a rich, fun world. There's a dash of dystopian which makes for an interesting mix with the multi-universes and dimensions. Not everything is scientifically sound...not even close, but that's also not the point. There is a ton of fun in these pages, and it's a fantastical dive into Meimi's amazing devices and the shifting of dimensions and creatures. The criminal/mafia add-on gives a nice touch as does the problems Meimi faces with her family situation.

The romance hits fast (as is often the case in young adult novels) and that was a little disappointing. But at least, the author makes sure to give a solid reasoning behind the almost 'instant' love in wonderful science fiction style.

This isn't a literary wonder but an enjoyable read to get lost in and an adventure with tons of thrills. I'll be continuing with this series to see what happens next.

I received a complimentary copy and was drawn into the story even much more than expected. So, I'm leaving my honest thoughts. show less

Free audiobook received in exchange for an honest review.

So when I started listening to this, I thought I would DNF... The audiobook has been narrated by the author herself and it seemed horribly overacted.

Well, surprise surprise! Somewhere along the way, I got used to it and then I started loving it. What seemed annoying at first was just different and gave off such positive vibes. Let's just say that this overacted voice just fits the main character so well. She is spitfire; she is show more snarky, and she is generally up to no good.

The characters in this book are quite well built. Not super original, but they have that certain something to them. Maybe it's the audiobook voice that really brought them to life.

I quite enjoyed the world-building too. There was an interesting fresh look at world of angels and demons and the half-blooded. Not an urban fantasy that is set (at least partially) in our world as usual, but a new fantasy setting instead. We visit the Purgatory where the souls are being judged and our MC fights evil souls that requested judgment by combat. Yes, she also attends a school, so there is that setting, although the school is not your typical institution either.

There are certainly some clichés, but similar to the narration somewhere along the way, I just didn't care anymore. I was hooked.

This book was just a perfect guilty pleasure read. The kind of book that might be a bit silly, but in such a way that you are in for the ride rather than rolling your eyes. (Although, as I said, it might take time for it to grow on you.) It’s a great palate cleanser before you start reading something more serious. I am certainly going to continue with the series. show less