An exciting mix of action, mystery, myth, and romance fill the pages of this book. If you enjoy your men strong and your women stronger, this might be the book for you. The blend of modern day events with the thrill of history and myth, rife in treasure hunting is well balanced here. The delicate nuances used to describe two very different cultures without denigrating either one was much appreciated.

As for the pace of the story, it starts off well and just picks up speed as you go, until you can't put the bok down by the end. Between the action, character development, and romance, we end up with a well rounded story and cast. This is a story I am certain I will be thinking about, and in all the right ways, well after I've set the finished book down. A great summer read - heck a great anytime read!

I would like to thank both LibraryThing's Early Reviewer program and JCR Paulino Books for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

"The Deadly Soap-maker of Correggio - The True Story of Leonarda Cianciulli; A Superstitious Mother Who Turned Victims Into Soaps and Cakes" by Genova Ortiz, presented by True Crime Seven. I’d like to thank the author and LibraryThing’s Early Reviewer program for a chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book is an easy read so far as language goes, but not so much so for material. Leonarda's early life sounds hellish, which makes it easier to sympathize with her, to a degree. But determining if she was mentally ill, or simply dangerously unhinged is more challenging.

For a fairly superficial review of her life, in that the book almost reads as fiction, this story picks up steam as it progresses. By the finale the story keeps you turning the pages at a rapid clip. Well worth the read for fans of true crime. The only thing that may have made it even more reader friendly might have been a bit more of a history lesson on Italy in the 20's - 40's.

I would like to thank both the author, Eden Warwick, and LibraryThing's Early Reviewer program for the chance to read "The Last Nehesi" in exchange for an honest review.

Two empires, once friendly, then foes, and now engaged in political maneuvering in which their roles have been reversed. At the forefront of these empires are key characters, some out for themselves and others doing their best for their people. Figuring out who falls into which category keeps you guessing throughout the book.

Vittoria, the titular character, is engaging and conflicted, which is interesting given her origins. While a fair bit of her youth is glossed over, in this case it works. Her development and growth is fascinating, even though I was startled by some of her final choices (and suspect they may play into the upcoming sequel). I'd love to discuss other characters, but doing so would be giving away spoilers.

Emperors, their spouses and families, come and go for both empires featured in this story. Keeping up with the machinations of each is challenging and sometimes surprising. Characters you didn't see having much of a role might suddenly pop up as central to one plot or another.

I will say that "The Last Nehesi" started off very poorly for me. This was so full of superfluous language it read like something a middle schooler penned. Thankfully that did not last long, and once the story started to move the use of excess verbiage tapered off. And once the story started to unfold the pace show more really picked up and kept me engaged. If you can overlook the first little bit of redundant descriptions, this book is definitely worth the read. show less

I would like to thank the LibraryThing Early Reviewer program and Black Rose Writing for the chance to read "Killing the Butterfly" in exchange for an honest review.

I was attracted by the blurb on this bok, describing it as a kind of maniacally crazed thriller. Patty is leading a dead-end life; by 16 she's already endured more than anyone should have to. And even though she has dreams, it looks like her choices are few and far between at best. Once Roy enters her life it seems as if all her dreams have gone up in smoke. Or have they? For all that life has beaten her down, she retains a glimmer of hope that refuses to die.

Though there are two separate story lines taking place for most of this book, I found myself frustrated by the jumps between the characters. But more frustrating for me was the unfinished feel of the ending. I wanted more from the characters than I got. But all told it's a solid afternoon-at-the-beach kind of read.

I would like to thank LibraryThing's Early Reviewer program and Black Rose Writing for the chance to read Revenant in exchange for an honest review.

This book lived up to the blurb and then some. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book from beginning to end. The characters were fun and diverse, with some fascinating personal dynamics. And the story moved at a nice pace, keeping my interest and even keeping me anxious to know what came next.

I loved the history that was included and especially the cultural sensitivity. It was a nice change of pace to read about the Rom in a more positive light than is normally found in fiction. Hands down an entertaining read and well worth the time! I look forward to reading more from this mother-daughter duo.

I’d like to thank the LibraryThing early reviewers program and City Owl Press for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

This story was entertaining and sweet, but also fairly stereotypical of the genre. The development of the characters was decent, though it felt rushed at the conclusion of the book.

I was surprised by one character, which I enjoyed very much and hope to see more of this character in future stories. It was a pleasant read with some minor suspense, but aside from the one character I just mentioned, nothing really stood out for me. Still, and decent way to spend an afternoon on a snowy day.

Many thanks to library thing and Black Rose Writing for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. I was so excited to get this book, only to struggle to get invested in the story.

Taylor is not the most sympathetic character by any means, which made this a challenging read. It took easily half the book before I was interested in the outcome. I almost felt that there were too many characters competing for my interest, but unfortunately I felt that detracted from any potential depth they may have had.

There is a big twist in the story, so that did help finally grab my attention. However I was not particularly surprised by the biggest part of the twist. There was a secondary portion that left me wanting more than I was given. Overall this isn't a bad read, but certainly not one that would make me urgently look for other books by this author.

Rabbits by Terry Miles

Great for fans of Ready Player One by Ernest Cline. This book takes you on a rollicking journey friends m the very beginning. Touching on numerous fields of study, there is a little something for everyone. Just when you think you've grasped the premise, everything you know shifts to another dimension of reality, leaving you adrift in more questions. With engaging characters and creative concepts, this story will keep you reading well past your bedtime.

I would like to thank the LibraryThing Early Reviewer Program for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Teaser:

Aiden LeDoux is a typical sixteen-year-old boy when the O’Connell brothers nail his father to a tree. He doesn’t believe things can get any worse...until three months later, when a mysterious light bursts forth from his face and heals everyone in his father’s bar, from minor scrape to terminal illness.

Once word of this miracle event spreads, crazed townspeople attempt to force Aiden to use his newfound gift to heal those they love. But Aiden doesn’t know how he did it. Or why. Or if he can ever make it happen again.

In the heart of a blizzard, in the throes of fanatical entitlement, the townspeople begin to tear the town—and each other—apart, with Aiden and his family trapped in the middle...

Shine Your Light on Me is a gripping tale that illuminates the ugly underbelly of humanity. From its tense opening to its explosive finale, the monsters herein are all too real, too familiar, and Lee Thompson's relentless prose will leave you breathless.

I found this book to be a bit disjointed in the beginning, switching between characters without properly identifying the protagonist of each segment. However as I got deeper into the book I found it easier to track the changes as they were made.

Of the main characters I felt that Aiden was possibly the least well developed, though I think there were some seriously unplumbed depths available to show more him. Even his father got more development than he was accorded.

Conceptually the premise is interesting, and development of the overall idea was decently done. I do wish there'd been more exploration of people's behaviors and responses to the situation. All told this is an okay read, but I feel a bit like this is the outline of the story and it needs, nay deserves, more fleshing out. show less

I would like to thank Curiosity Quills Press for an e-ARC of this book to review. Though I received this e-book for free, that has no impact upon the honesty of my review.

Goodreads Teaser:

As the magical and mundane worlds entwine, empath and unawakened Mage Clea Reese must team up with the secretive James Larrimer to hunt her mentor’s killer and stop the forces of corruption from obtaining the Chest of Bone, the ultimate source of otherworldly power.

Larrimer is a predator who stalks endangered-animal traders. Or so it appears. And none are prepared for the fusion of Clea's and Larrimer's song, a wild resonance which can bind one to the other.

Powerful forces align against them, and only Clea, the singular Key, and Larrimer stand between these malignant entities and their ruthless quest.

This book marks the start of an exciting new series. Clea is a great protagonist; she's a solid blend of strength and fragility. Her very lack of answers, and sometimes even questions are part of what make her so relatable and appealing.

Then James Larrimer enters her life and things go from mildly confusing to fully chaotic. Yet he helps make her a better version of herself. And he is an incredibly strong protagonist himself.

Ms. Stiefel created a fun storyline, and she gets the reader invested in the outcome of the story. She deftly manages both the minute details and overall arc of the entire story. I look forward to reading the rest of this series as it comes out, for I find that I show more care what happens to Clea, Larrimer, Lulu, and Ronan, even the Master, who is the antagonist of this book! It takes talent to get your readers to become invested in the protagonist, yet it takes even more to get us invested in both the protagonist and the antagonist! show less

First off let me state that I received an electronic copy of this coloring book from the LibraryThing Early Reviewer program for free, with the expectation that I would leave an honest, and unbiased, review. That said, here’s my review:
Having become quite enamored with coloring these days, I’ve sampled numerous styles of coloring books. This book is not what I was expecting based upon the title. While it does fit the title the artwork is nowhere near what I was hoping it would be. This felt to me to be more like a young, untrained artist’s rendition of a coloring book. And in fact I was quite surprised that this is not a self-published work. My largest issue is that there were only a few pages that contained large amounts of small detail work. Instead the book seems to be many pages with large swathes of open space; some of that space is part of the art for that page, yet still requires huge quantities of ink to simply fill in.
All told this coloring book would be fine if purchased after seeing the cover, its simply not something I would recommend getting sight unseen, as your expectations may not be met (as happened to me). I wish I could speak to the quality of the paper this is printed on, but as I only got an ebook copy I cannot.

I would like to thank 47North & NetGalley for an e-ARC of this book to review. Though I received this e-book for free, that has no impact upon the honesty of my review.

Goodreads Teaser: "The apocalypse will be asymmetrical.
In the aftermath of a plague that has decimated the world population, the unnamed midwife confronts a new reality in which there may be no place for her. Indeed, there may be no place for any woman except at the end of a chain. A radical rearrangement is underway. With one woman left for every ten men, the landscape that the midwife travels is fraught with danger. She must reach safety— but is it safer to go it alone or take a chance on humanity? The friends she makes along the way will force her to choose what’s more important. Civilization stirs from the ruins, taking new and experimental forms. The midwife must help a new world come into being, but birth is always dangerous… and what comes of it is beyond anyone’s control."

I went into this book with very few expectations as I'd forgotten the premise, and thus was blind beyond what the title could tell me. And I'll admit I'm somewhat glad that I didn't know what to expect, as it gave me more freedom to enjoy the story as it unfolded. And unfold it does. This story is told from the past and present simultaneously, and done with a deft hand.

Every now and again we get jolted out of our protagonist's story and into the present, as defined by Mother Ina, another midwife. Through Ina and her show more charges we get a sense of the current world, and how the unnamed midwife's world created what is their now. Jane, the unnamed midwife, is an interesting person. She witnesses the death of her world and still she manages to survive. Jane remains somewhat aloof and detached from the events of her life, but still manages to imbue her words with the horror of her world. She uses her scientific training and natural inclinations to stick to the basics required for survival, and yet allows glimmers of her soft side to shine through every now and again. Those glimmers are what keeps her from becoming so cold and clinical that her story loses all impact, and instead keep us invested in it as events unfold around her.

While this is clearly a dystopian tale, it is still refreshing in its creative approach. This story is unlike almost any other dystopian story I've read - both in the characters and the entire delivery. And that distinction is important, making this book a very worthwhile and engaging, entertaining read. show less

I would like to thank 47North & NetGalley for an e-ARC of this book to review. Though I received this e-book for free, that has no impact upon the honesty of my review.

Goodreads Teaser: "Rebellion has always been in the O’Reilly family’s blood. So when faced with the tragic death of her brother during Northern Ireland’s infamous Troubles, a teenage Nora joined the IRA to fight for her country’s freedom. Now, more than a decade later, Nora is haunted by both her past and vivid dreams of a man she has never met.

When she is given a relic belonging to Brigid of Kildare, patron saint of Ireland, the mystical artifact transports her back eighty years—to the height of Ireland’s brutal civil war. Here she meets the alluring stranger from her dreams, who has his own secrets—and agenda. Taken out of her own time, Nora has the chance to alter the fortunes of Ireland and maybe even save the ones she loves. In this captivating and adventurous novel from Jodi McIsaac, history belongs to those with the courage to change it."

On the whole I found this book to be mostly setting up the rest of the series, which means it was fairly slow in most places. Aside from Nora actually traveling back in time (not very far back at that), very little took place beyond developing relationships - many of which appear as if they may be transitory at best.

I liked Nora for the most part, but really didn't feel as if I got a good sense of who she is beyond her obsession with Ireland and her show more dreams of righting history so that her family (brother and father) wouldn't die so young. As for the fantasy portions, aside from the initial time travel nothing is revealed until the final chapter of two. And the relationship I was anticipating didn't begin until the end of the book - even then we only get what I hope is the very beginning of it. Subsequently I don't see the comparison to Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series as being even remotely accurate. Aside from that misleading advertising this book appears to be a slow lead into a potentially entertaining series. show less

I would like to thank Tachyon Publications & NetGalley for a copy of this e-ARC to review. Though I received this ebook for free, that has no impact upon the honesty of my review.

Goodreads Teaser: "The master of short science-fiction follows up his acclaimed collection "The Dog Said Bow-Wow" with feline grace, precision, and total impertinence. Michael Swanwick takes us on a whirlwind journey across the globe and across time and space, where magic and science exist in possibilities that are not of this world. These tales are intimate in their telling, galactic in their scope, and delightfully sesquipedalian in their verbiage.

Join the caravan through Swanwick's worlds and into the playground of his mind. Discover a calculus problem that rocks the ages and robots who both nurture and kill. Meet a magical horse who protects the innocent, a confused but semi-repentant troll, a savvy teenager who takes on the Devil, and time travelers from the Mesozoic who party till the end of time..."

Truly an exquisite collection of short tales! Swanwick remains the undisputed master of this form, and you'd be doing yourself a grave disservice should you miss out on these wondrous stories. Each story is a complete world unto itself, replete with rich characters, involved plots, and creative conundrums and conclusions that both confound and astound the sharpest of minds. These tales will leave you much richer than before experiencing them, and if you're anything like me, you'll be pondering show more some stories long after you've reluctantly set the completed book down! show less

I would like to thank Sinful Press & LibraryThing's Early Reviewers program) for a copy of this e-ARC to review. Though I received this ebook for free, that has no impact upon the honesty of my review.

Goodreads Teaser: "Kathryn McClusky is an ErGer – a rare and highly prized individual in the supernatural world.
She has spent her life running and hiding, but circumstances have changed and the only way to protect her family is to hand herself over to the Vampire Lord of London to face slavery or death.
Lucian Neben runs his London court with a stern but fair hand, but political pressures are building from both the human and fey worlds, and taking possession of an ErGer would cement his position of power.
Kathryn is vulnerable and broken almost beyond repair, but she holds in her hands the one treasure Lucian desperately wants – the possibility of home and family.
Can he teach her to open herself up; to choose to life, and him, before reality forces him to take her freedom?"

Maybe the error was mine, but based upon the teaser for this book I was anticipating both fantasy and maybe romance, not erotica. Not that I have anything against erotica, I'm just not a particular fan of the genre. So now that I've gotten that out of the way!, I'll just focus my review on the other aspects of the story.
I mostly liked Lord Lucien, the Vampire Lord that Kathryn trades herself to in exchange for protection for her family. He seems to be a decent person (since I can't call him a decent show more human being!), and aside from his clear enjoyment in dominating Kathryn, he takes excellent care of, and with, her. He's a strong leader, and not your typical vampire from what I can tell of the vampires in this book.
Now Kathryn is a different beast altogether. I wanted to like and even care about her. I mean here she is sacrificing herself for her family, so she must be a good, worthwhile person, right? And she is, in many ways. But in many others she's simply too damaged to be a worthy protagonist. The choices she makes irritated me. I won't go into detail to avoid spoilers, but I will say she isn't what I'd been wanting. But then maybe this all goes back to the issue of erotica — I suspect my problems with her relate to my personal complaints about erotica.
The story has potential, which is good since it's the first in a series (which I'll not be continuing with). However I felt there was more care taken with the erotic scenes than with the character development and plot overall. But as I've already stated, I've got no attraction to erotica, so take my less than enthusiastic review with a grain, or three, of salt. show less

I would like to thank Del Rey & NetGalley for a copy of this e-ARC to review. Though I received this ebook for free, that has no impact upon the honesty of my review.

Goodreads Teaser: "What does it mean if the gods can be killed? The first novel in an epic new fantasy series for readers of Brent Weeks, Brandon Sanderson, Peter V. Brett, and Scott Lynch.

Michael J. Sullivan's trailblazing career began with the breakout success of his Riyria series: full-bodied, spellbinding fantasy adventures whose imaginative scope and sympathetic characters won a devoted readership. Now, Sullivan's stunning hardcover debut, Age of Myth, inaugurates an original five-book series, and one of fantasy's finest next-generation storytellers continues to break new ground.

Since time immemorial, humans have worshipped the gods they call Fhrey, truly a race apart: invincible in battle, masters of magic, and seemingly immortal. But when a god falls to a human blade, the balance of power between men and those they thought were gods changes forever. Now, only a few stand between humankind and annihilation: Raithe, reluctant to embrace his destiny as the God Killer, Suri, a young seer burdened by signs of impending doom, and Persephone, who must overcome personal tragedy to lead her people. The Age of Myth is over; the time of rebellion has begun."

Unfortunately I found myself struggling so much with this book that at about 3/4 of the way through I finally stopped trying. I almost never mark a book as show more Did Not Finish (DNF), but in this case after trying numerous times I simply thought it best if I stopped torturing myself.
I was unable to connect with any of the characters, and thus their plight held no interest for me. I certainly hope others fared better than I with this book. show less

I would like to thank Kensington & NetGalley for a copy of this e-ARC to review. Though I received this ebook for free, that has no impact upon the honesty of my review.

Goodreads Teaser: "From the acclaimed author of "The Bones of You" comes a haunting and heartbreaking new psychological thriller about a man thrust into the middle of a murder investigation, forced to confront the secrets of his ex-lover's past.

"I was fourteen when I fell in love with a goddess. . ."

So begins the testimony of Noah Calaway, an ex-lawyer with a sideline in armchair criminal psychology. Now living an aimless life in an inherited cottage in the English countryside, Noah is haunted by the memory of the beguiling young woman who left him at the altar sixteen years earlier. Then one day he receives a troubling phone call. April, the woman he once loved, lies in a coma, the victim of an apparent overdose--and the lead suspect in a brutal murder. Deep in his bones, Noah believes that April is innocent. Then again, he also believed they would spend the rest of their lives together.

While Noah searches for evidence that will clear April's name, a teenager named Ella begins to sift through the secrets of her own painful family history. The same age as April was when Noah first met her, Ella harbors a revelation that could be the key to solving the murder. As the two stories converge, there are shocking consequences when at last, the truth emerges.

Or so everyone believes. . .

Set in a borderland show more where the past casts its shadow on the present, with a time-shifting narrative that will mesmerize and surprise, "The Beauty of the End" is both a masterpiece of suspense and a powerful rumination on lost love."

Haunting, poignant, and unflinchingly honest, this story reaches out to take hold of you in a very real, visceral way. As the main character Noah is an excellent protagonist, yet he is a deeply flawed man. Maybe that's what makes him so relatable, and so intriguing. His views of both his life and those that intersected with his are obscured by his own memories. Memories that, like all others, only contain the faintest traits of truth. His truth, which missed the truths of all those around him - something we all suffer from to some degree.

April remains a mystery to Noah, and therefore to us as the reader. We catch glimpses of her every know and then, but for the most part her life is a mix of lies - either outright or of omission. At least it is when it comes to Noah. But why didn't he catch her in even one in all the time they knew one another?

Thus we come to Will, the third person of major interest in this psychological thriller. Noah's best mate, Will comes from a life of privilege. Everything he does seems to be gilded with the golden touch, so much so that it appears that all his achievements were handed to him. But were they? Or is there more to him than meets they eye?

When do all those little fictions we all tell ourselves become one to many? How much damage, and disservice, are we causing by allowing those half-truths? These are just a few examples of the questions examined within the pages of this excellent book. Inside you'll find joy, despair, and everything in between - and you'll be guessing up to the very last page! show less

I would like to thank NAL & NetGalley for a copy of this e-ARC to review. Though I received this ebook for free, that has no impact upon the honesty of my review.

Goodreads Teaser: "Beautiful, creative, a little wild… Edie was the kind of girl who immediately caused a stir when she walked into your life. And she had dreams back then—but it didn’t take long for her to learn that things don’t always turn out the way you want them to.

Now, at thirty-three, Edie is working as a waitress, pregnant and alone. And when she becomes overwhelmed by the needs of her new baby and sinks into a bleak despair, she thinks that there’s no one to turn to…

But someone’s been watching Edie, waiting for the chance to prove once again what a perfect friend she can be. It’s no coincidence that Heather shows up on Edie’s doorstep, just when Edie needs her the most. So much has passed between them—so much envy, longing, and betrayal. And Edie’s about to learn a new lesson: those who have hurt us deeply—or who we have hurt—never let us go, not entirely…"

Absolutely brilliant story, full of raw emotion and unbearable tension, with a large serving of psychological thriller. Edie and Heather are so very different, yet linked by their unspoken need for love. The balance between the two is wildly off kilter, yet somehow they manage to make their friendship work - for a time. But something happened in their past. Something that changed everything. Something that puts both their show more futures in jeopardy.

These characters are so well crafted, and so easy to relate to on different levels. They each have things that will appeal to almost anyone, which makes the mystery of what happened that much more compelling. It's almost impossible not to like each one at some point in their entwined stories. I love the way we get to know each of them through the telling of each other's tales, and the use of flashbacks which keep us swing from past to present and back again.

As the story unfolds our emotions are pulled in all sorts of different directions, and we're led up and down numerous paths as we struggle toward the truth. Yet this all moves so very smoothly, following an extremely intense story arc that keeps the reader turning page after page - long past time to get some sleep. The story is so compelling that I had to struggle to get some sleep, simply because I kept wanting to know what happen next. And I was never once disappointed with this tale - and its most certainly one that will stick with me for a long time to come. I can't recommend this book highly enough! If you like looking at honest, messy, emotional relationships between friends, between women, between lovers, this book is for you. If you enjoy psychological books, this book is for you. In short, this is a must read book! show less

I would like to thank Luke Smitherd for gifting me a copy of this ebook to review. Although I received this book for free, that has no bearing on the honesty of my review.

Goodreads Blurb: "In DO ANYTHING, Luke Smitherd brings you two more Tales Of The Unusual:

CLOSURE: A winter walk in the woods seemed like a great idea to Gary and his wife, Carla. But when another version of himself appears and kidnaps Gary's wife before his very eyes, Gary must decide whether or not to use the strange mechanical devices his duplicate has left him ... and then live with the choice.

YOUR NAME IS IN THE BOOK: When John was eleven years old, he came home to find a book he'd never seen before lying on his bed. The cover had been torn off, and inside it were endless lists of names - some of which belonged to people he knew - with a single number behind each one. That was his first glimpse into a darker reality than he could have ever imagined, because even though couldn't know it at the time, that mysterious book would go on to affect every facet of the rest of his life. And potentially, hold the key to his death."

The book opens with the story Closure, which deals with a strange version of the Stockholm Syndrome between husband and wife. You might wonder how this could happen between spouses that are still happily married - but if you're at all familiar with Mr. Smitherd's work you'd be more likely to wonder just how twisted things are about to get rather than how we got to this point. show more Picture some very odd time travel, multiple copies of essentially the same universe, and a terrible accident. Now paint these events with the unique characters that come fully formed out of Smitherd's mind, and then twist everything at least half a degree past their normal resting state and you may get a glimpse of the world he's created to share with the rest of us. This story presents us an intriguing concept with an unusual take upon reality.

Your Name is in the Book is another journey into the weirdness of Smitherd's imagination. This is probably the darkest story I've yet to read of his, yet I still enjoyed it. For all that it's a short story he managed to create a rich world and deep characters that drew me into their lives and purposes. Even with the less than cheerful undertones I still liked this tale. How can one book containing a massive list of names, each followed by a single number, alter a man's life as he knows it? Well, maybe it can't. Maybe that book had no bearing upon John's life. Maybe he attributes things to it that have no basis in reality. But who would be willing to take the risk of gambling and coming up wrong? How can a single number rule a person's life? What does it mean for the rest of us? And most frightening of all - how close are we to a similar reality? Mr. Smitherd spins great stories, each with its own quirks and unique characters in unusual situations. I'm not sure where he gets his materials from, but I certainly hope he continues to share his visions with the rest of us! show less

I would like to thank Crown Publishers & LibraryThing's Early Reviewer Program for a copy of this ARC to review. Though I received this book for free, that has no impact upon the honesty of my review.

Goodreads Teaser: "A debut literary thriller from an incredible new voice. What do you do when the man who gave you everything turns out to be a killer?

Everything Elka knows of the world she learned from the man she calls Trapper, the solitary hunter who took her under his wing when she was just seven years old.

But when Elka sees the Wanted poster in town, her simple existence is shattered. Her Trapper – Kreagar Hallet – is wanted for murder. Even worse, Magistrate Lyon is hot on his trail, and she wants to talk to Elka.

Elka flees into the vast wilderness, determined to find her true parents. But Lyon is never far behind – and she’s not the only one following Elka’s every move. There will be a reckoning, one that will push friendships to the limit and force Elka to confront the dark memories of her past."

This book most certainly delivers when it comes to the pure psychological hook. It will wind it's way into your mind, popping up at odd and unexpected times as you try to figure out what's coming next. Elka is a strong, but seriously flawed, protagonist. I started out not caring much about her one way or the other, and found that by the end I'd formed a connection of sorts, caring what happened to her - both internally and externally.

Seeing the story through show more Elka's eyes is intriguing, as she begins at a fairly young age and, though young by the end, she's certainly no longer an innocent child. Then again, maybe she never was one. The difference between the two most powerful relationships in her life is striking, yet also bear some strong similarities. Her need for love is overpowering, and the lengths she'll go to in order to obtain it, shocking.

Trapper, a.k.a. Hallet, is actually compartmentalized in Elka's mind. Watching how her mind handles the discovery of Hallet's own truth is rather like sitting in one a Psych. course in school, but more vivid and chock-full of rich detail. Then we have Penelope, who steps into Elka's life at a most unexpected, and inconvenient time, yet still manages to have huge impact upon her. To be fair, Elka has enormous impact upon Penelope too.

The most challenging part of this book for me is the way Elka speaks and thinks, and as the entire book is told from her point of view. It's crystal clear from the get go that she lacks any form of education, but it's much more than that. It's like deciphering a foreign language that's loosely related to your native tongue. I've yet to discover many authors that can get away with such a deliberate use of mangled English, yet Lewis turns in a very credible performance. It's a bold choice for a debut, and one she pulls off.

Elka is a very well-written leading lady, and though it's difficult to think of equating her to other leading ladies, she's actually similar in many ways. I can happily say that this is a book to read on the beach, curled up by a roaring fire, camping in the mountains - essentially anywhere. You'll quickly find yourself gripped by the story, once you learn the cadence of Elka's speech. If you're anticipating a simple psychological thriller,don't be surprised if you get far more than expected. show less

I would like to thank Del Rey & NetGalley for a copy of this e-ARC to review. While I received this ebook for free, that has no impact upon the honesty of my review.

Goodreads Teaser: "The third stand-alone Shannara novel in the Defenders of Shannara series, following The High Druid's Blade and The Darkling Child, easily accessible to new readers of epic fantasy.

The daughter of a reviled sorcerer, Leofur is nothing like her dreaded father. When her life-partner, Paxton Leah, leaves on a dangerous mission, Leofur protects Paxon's sister. When she is abducted Leofur is forced to choose between saving Paxon's from a mission gone badly awry, or hiring the services of the best tracker in the world to go after her life-partner's sister."

Once again Brooks brings us back to Shannara and it's wonderful world, peopled by amazing characters. This time we follow Leofur, Chrysallin, and Paxton on their separate journeys, each attempting to ultimately reunite with the others. Though this book is billed as Leofur's story, Paxton and his sister Chrysallin both have equal roles to play, or very close to it.

I liked Leofur's forthright personality, her determination, and willingness to look at things and really give them the attention they deserved. That was true of her friends, her history, and most especially herself. She never rushes into things, but slowly she always reaches the right decision for herself. And she's smart enough to know that she can't be something for others if it isn't show more also providing at least as much satisfaction for her, though for a time she looses her way. In fact, her journey to rescue Chrysallin is also a journey of self-discovery; though of course that is clearly not her intention at the beginning of this self-appointed rescue mission.

Chrysallin is the one we know the least about, at least in this book. But she had her own story, so in this one she is relegated to supporting cast. It's a position she plays well, although she does step more actively into the story from time to time. Rather than having a heavily interactive role, in this she is mostly living in her own mind. She is a stalwart friend, but I found her need for others to perpetually rescue her a tad pathetic.

Then there's Paxton. As Chrysallin's brother he is obsessed with her protection, as Leofur's life partner he is, well, he's rather lacking. To promise to be a life partner and never be with said partner, that right there screams 'problem' in the world of romantic relations. The fact that he always has, and always will, put his job ahead of his partner tells us all we need to know about his use to Leofur. That's not to say that he's a bad guy, because he's anything but; he's simply not cut out for a committed relationship to anyone with a life of their own.

Though their roles begin small, both Imric, the shape-shifter that Leofur enlists to help rescue Chrysallin, and Miriya, a Druid that is part of the group Paxton has been tasked with protecting, grow to be powerful characters in their own right. Their roles are rather fluid, changing as the story evolves.

The adventures of all parties are entertaining, scary, and moving, in no particular order. They are pretty much true to form for books by Mr. Brooks and promise to engage the reader and keep you wrapped up in the story. Nothing happens without a reason, even if as the reader we don't see the reason for several chapters to come. It's so nice watching each story come full circle, or as close an approximation as is possible. So although this book is part of a series it could be read as a stand-alone without to much trouble. As always Brooks has created compelling people to populate his much loved world of Shannara, using them to grab the reader and sweep them into the latest adventures taking place there. show less

I would like to thank Roc & NetGalley for a copy of this e-ARC to review. Though I received this ebook for free, that has no impact upon the honesty of my review.

Goodreads Teaser: "The first installment of an adventure featuring stolen books, secret agents and forbidden societies - think Doctor Who with librarian spies!

Irene must be at the top of her game or she'll be off the case - permanently...

Irene is a professional spy for the mysterious Library, which harvests fiction from different realities. And along with her enigmatic assistant Kai, she's posted to an alternative London. Their mission - to retrieve a dangerous book. But when they arrive, it's already been stolen. London's underground factions seem prepared to fight to the very death to find her book.

Adding to the jeopardy, this world is chaos-infested - the laws of nature bent to allow supernatural creatures and unpredictable magic. Irene's new assistant is also hiding secrets of his own.

Soon, she's up to her eyebrows in a heady mix of danger, clues and secret societies. Yet failure is not an option - the nature of reality itself is at stake."

What a brilliant mystery, clearly a combination of Dr. Holmes, Doctor Who, and Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy! Irene is far more than meets the eye, yet still has a long way to go before she comes completely into her own. Along the way we get to go on one heck of an adventure with her. And then there's Kai, totally drool-worthy and keeping secrets of his own. Some of his show more secrets will come out, but some will only create more mysteries.

Even though Irene is working for a largely unethical organization - though they may tell themselves otherwise - she herself is very ethical. Well mostly ethical. Situationally ethical. The point is she's more ethical than most of her colleagues. And she's a warm, caring, and conscientious person. I found it quite hard to avoid liking her, and also seemed to identify her with those female detectives that did all the work but had all the glory claimed by the men around her. Or in Irene's case by her fellow colleagues.

Kai is introduced via a physical description - one that never quite leaves the mind whenever he comes into a scene. So regardless of how smart, warm, or caring he might be, those facets of his personality are always mingling with that sense of physical perfection. Oh, and he's loyal to the extreme - once you've earned that loyalty that is. Something Irene does fairly early into their acquaintance.

There are numerous other intriguing characters, but Vale may be the next most prominent as far as characters we get to meet and witness Irene work with. He's clearly been modeled upon all those wonderful 19th century detectives that Irene so admires. So it's really no big surprise that she may find herself admiring him, though of course she does her best to remain impartial and only do her job.

But in this mission doing her job has become far more challenging than she'd ever imagined it could be. Even before she and Kai get to their assigned alternate world complications arise. And they just keep on coming, one after the next until it's hard to remember the original mission. Well, maybe not that hard, but the point is that anything that can go wrong, does. Which is part of what makes this book cruise right along at a solid clip. It's full of adventures, misadventures, and all kinds of unusual events. Between the convoluted relationships and these nonstop challenges set before Irene and Kai it's a miracle they bother to get out of bed each day. Yet nothing seems to stop the pair, not even becoming a trio when Vale joins them for a goodly portion of the tale.

This is a wonderful story to read, and can easily be read as a stand alone book, or as the start of what looks to be an excellent new series. This story is replete with mysteries, possible romance, strange science fiction, and the very fabric of reality as we know it - what more could you ask for? show less

I would like to thank Skyscape and Two Lions, as well as NetGalley, for a copy of this e-ARC to review. While I received this ebook for free, that has no impact upon the honesty of my review.

Goodreads Teaser: "Eighteen-year-old Moira Mitchell grew up in the shadows of Vegas's stage lights while her father's career as a magician soared. More than anything, Moira wants to be a magician too, but her father is dead set against her pursuing magic.

When an invitation to join the Cirque American mistakenly falls into Moira's possession, she takes action. Instead of giving the highly coveted invitation to its intended recipient, Raleigh, her father's handsome and worldly former apprentice, Moira takes off to join the Cirque. If she can perform alongside its world-famous acts, she knows she'll be able to convince her dad that magic is her future.

But when Moira arrives, things take on an intensity she can't control as her stage magic suddenly feels like...real magic. To further distract her, Raleigh shows up none too pleased at Moira's presence, all while the Cirque's cocky and intriguing knife thrower, Dez, seems to have it out for her. As tensions mount and Moira's abilities come into question, she must decide what's real and what's an illusion. If she doesn't sort it out in time, she may forever remain a girl in the shadows."

As a small child all I ever wanted to do was perform magic. I was heartbroken to learn that magic as I knew it didn't exist. Somehow I think I'm far from show more alone in the desire for real magic - look at all the magic in books, movies, TV, oral stories. It's a heck of a topic, and one that was handled well here. This was a creative story full of magic, romance, and growing up. Take all these things and put them in a circus setting and it goes from good to great!

Moira is a talented young woman, and she's smart, funny, sweet, and loyal (mostly). While chasing her dream of becoming a world class magician she discovers that she possesses real magic. The kind of magic she'd always thought was a joke, a hoax. But she was wrong, for she's not just seeing magic, she's the one making it. Moira's upbeat, can do attitude throughout put a nice spin on an otherwise unpleasant set of situations. She knows what she wants and just goes out and grabs it. She has to fight though, both for her dream and for Dez - whether he likes it or not! She's also a pretty good friend, though like all of us she may take a few missteps now and again. But that's part of what makes her so relatable and enjoyable.

Dez, a boy who works at the circus, tries to befriend Moira almost from the moment she arrived to audition for the Cirque. Dez is a semi-tragic figure, or at least allows himself to be. But given the circumstances it's not that hard to see why. And he tries to do right by Moira, it's just that sometimes he doesn't know what that is. But he's not alone in that area, because Moira's father sometimes thinks he's doing the right thing for her, but he's clearly not. However they both try, and that counts for something. Doesn't it?

So you've got these entertaining and intriguing characters, and when you drop them smack dab into the middle of a mystery you just know things are bound to get interesting sooner rather than later. And they do, at a steady pace. Between the magical mysteries, regular mysteries, and all the 'normal' happenings behind the screen at a circus, there's plenty of fodder to fuel this story. And when you toss romantic entanglements into this mix things only get more interesting. This is a fast read, perfect for beach reading, or curling up in a cozy chair on a rainy afternoon. show less

I would like to thank Orbit & NetGalley, for a copy of this e-ARC to review. While I received this ebook for free, that has no impact upon the honesty of my review.

Goodreads Teaser: "In a fracturing empire spread across savage seas, two young people from different cultures find common purpose. A nameless girl is the lone survivor when her village is massacred by biomancers, mystical servants of the emperor. Named after her lost village, Bleak Hope is secretly trained by a master Vinchen warrior as an instrument of vengeance. A boy becomes an orphan on the squalid streets of New Lavender and is adopted by one of the most notorious women of the criminal underworld, given the name Red, and trained as a thief and con artist. When a gang lord named Dreadface Drem strikes a bargain with the biomancers to consolidate and rule all the slums of New Laven, the world's of Hope and Red come crashing together, and their unlikely alliance takes them further than either could have dreamed possible."

I read the teaser for this book and expected I'd probably enjoy it, but that it'd be mighty similar to several other books I've already read. I was right and wrong. I completely enjoyed this book, more each minute - and while there are always going to be similarities between stories, this one stands apart, unique unto itself. Partly because of the characters and situations, and also simply the author's voice is so very distinct.

The beginning of the book bounces between Red's story and show more Hope's. And as they get older life finds a way to have their paths cross. Only they don't complete the cross, for once they meet they end up partnering with each other in their mutual quest for vengeance. And they want more than their pound of flesh for the emperor's biomancers. Each has suffered deep loss of one kind or another thanks to the nefarious biomancers.

Hope and Red and an excellent blend of personalities. Between them they are brash, levelheaded, prone to acting without any plan, being methodical in their reasoning for all that they do and how their world view is impacted by all they see, hear, and do. And those are just a few days thing. Other labels can be slapped on them as well: artist, student, leader, follower, romantic, pragmatist, charming, slick, inexperienced, passionate, worldly. . . They are the perfect compliments to one another, even if at least one of them may not yet know it.

I also got a real kick out of many supporting characters. Sadie the Goat, Nettles, Captain Carmichael, Filler, and Hurlo the Cunning are just amazing secondary characters, and they are by no means the complete list. Among them is a salty woman with a well-earned reputation, by turns endearing, irascible, and abrasive. An enforcer at a brothel, protecting the whores from the less 'savory' clients. A good man turned from his path by circumstances beyond his control, yet still dependable and decent. A best friend who'll do anything for his best wag. A man of honor whose inner wisdom forces him to defy the very rules his entire life has been guided by . And those are just a few of the charming companions kept by the redoubtable Hope and Red. Each with their own tale to share, for good or ill.

Although this story not only has to create the world for us, set the tone, introduce all the players, and then pull it all together to get us started on this adventure, never once did it feel as if the action stopped to allow for all that to happen. Instead it was very smoothly blended into the story, with everything laid out neatly and while keeping pace with the story being told. Without a doubt I fully expect this to develop into an incredible trilogy before all is said and done, and if this first book is anything to judge by, it's off to an amazing start! If I could, I'd give it 4.5 stars!! show less

I would like to thank Angry Robot & NetGalley for a copy of this e-ARC to review. While I received this ebook for free, that has no impact upon the honesty of my review.

Goodreads Teaser: "Defeated by the Majat forces, Nimos and the other Kaddim Brothers retreat to their secret fortress in the southern mountains. Nimos knows that the Majat's victory is only temporary: during the fight he managed to place a mark on Kara, one of the top-ranked Diamond Majat. His mind magic would now allow him to use this mark to confer her fighting skill to the Kaddim Warriors and turn her loyalties to their side.

The new Majat Guildmaster, Kai, is planning a march against the Kaddim. His key ally, Prince Kyth Dorn, is instrumental in these plans: Kyth's Magic gift can protect the Majat against the Kaddim mind control powers. But Mai and Kyth are having trouble getting over their rivalry for Kara's affections -- even after they realize that this rivalry is the least of their worries, at least for the moment. Something about Kara is not right.. "

As the final book in this trilogy, it still had a fair bit of ground to cover if everything was going to be resolved by the end. I'm happy to say that not only was everything resolved, plenty more happened than I had anticipated. A bunch of it good, but one issue really rubbed me the wrong way. Doubtless others will love the same thing that bogged me, but then that's the joy of reading and immersing yourself into other worlds.

So we return to Kara, show more Mai, and Kyth as the central figures, but several others played increasingly larger roles, or were introduced as already large characters we'd not yet truly encountered. While Mai and Kyth grew as people, I was rather disappointed in Kara. Granted she was under tremendous strain much of the time, but she was such a pessimist throughout. I don't really remember her as being like that in the prior books. And she tends to get weepy a fair bit. So she went from an ass-kicking warrior to a weepy, but still dangerous woman? Not really my idea of personal growth. Yes she let Mai in when she fell in love, as yes she'd been trained never to love anyone. So she's in love and suddenly a weepy mess that is always only feeling she can truly relax when leaning into Mai??? Yet he too breaks the rules and falls for her. Does he breakdown into a sniveling mess when things get tough? Of course not. In fact his lot just gets harder and harder, and sure he gets snarly and surly sometimes, but he never just bursts out crying. So why is it that Kara does? They have the same training, the same upbringing, are facing many of the same challenges - so why make the formerly ass-kicking female into a sniffling potentially ass-kicking female?

That aside, the changes we see in Kyth in particular are pleasantly surprising. He really comes into his own and finds himself. In short, he grows up. Sure he had lots of help, some outright such as his training from Lady Ayalla, and some more subtle like the support and admiration of the Lady Celana. While he does become increasingly more powerful he also learns when he needs help and to gracefully accept it.

Mai remains much the same. If anything he just grows ever more cocky and confident. As his swagger is backed up by ability his attitude kind of goes unchecked. Thankfully he seems to have enough inner maturity to deal with himself before spiraling out of control. So yeah, as I write this my earlier rant comes back to me from a slightly different angle. Out of this couple why did the author elect to make the male protagonist so much stronger than the female? Physically, mentally, basically in every aspect he's more in control than she is. Even in a matriarchal society, a queendom where the males are the consorts/concubines, a place where Kara is handed all the power simply by being female - and still Mai is the one holding all the power, from beginning to end.

Why did I have to lose almost all my prior respect for Kara? Sorry, it seems I can't stay off the topic, so I guess it annoyed me far more than I consciously knew until actually writing this review. Because I finished the book pretty much satisfied and only mildly annoyed, but in the short course of consolidating my thoughts to review the book my annoyance level only increased. I suppose that can be considered a good sign, because it must mean I was invested in her character enough to find these changes so disturbing. And they are disturbing, not just for the character but for what it says to me about how the author thinks people view women.

Overall I liked the story. With pretty much nonstop action, even in places where there was very little actual action there was still action. Emotional, planning, scheming, dreaming - something was always happening. And as I said before, the characters grew up and into themselves. Sadly there is obviously a large flaw for me. But it may not be so for other readers, and it certainly shouldn't stop you from finishing this series. Or from finding out how it ends! Originally I was going to give this a solid 4 stars, but now I'm down to 3 stars for the possibly unconscious message embedded in this story.
*Sigh* I think I preferred my blissfully unawakened state. show less

I would like to thank Michaelbrent Collings for a copy of this e-book to review. Though I received this for free, that has no impact upon the honesty of my review.

Goodreads Teaser: "She is a Dog - one of the many children and teens across the empire of Ansborn who have been sentenced to fight in the arenas. There they fight in battle after battle until they die for the sport of the people of Ansborn - an empire built atop the peaks of five mountains.

But one day she picks up a knife... and everything changes.

She discovers she is a Greater Gift - one of a handful of magic users with powers so great they only have two choices: to join the Empire as one of its premiere assassins, or die as a threat to the Empire itself.

She is no longer a Dog. Now, she is Sword. And soon she will realize that in this Empire, not all is what it seems. Good and evil collide, and she can never be sure whom to trust - not even herself.

She holds life in her hands for some. Brings death by her blade to others.

She is a killer.
She is a savior.

She is Sword."

Definitely a unique world, with a fascinating twist to an old story. Dog can't recall life before the kennels, or at least very little of it. Just enough to know that she can read and write, but even those skills are limited, and certainly nothing shell ever need as a Dog. As horrid as her life may appear on the outside, she's made a kind of peace with it. So the day she is thrown a knife while in the arena she's given a choice, both ways end show more with her death. But when she picks up the knife something happens. Something that takes her away from her life as a Dog.

Following her journey from Dog, to Sword, and the changes that follow her once she becomes Sword is intriguing, entertaining, and emotional. Watching her navigate the world outside the kennels is astounding, as it's so well done that the kennels and attendant lifestyle seem very real. Which is rather horrifying to say the least. But her innate intelligence shines through, and given just the smallest crumbs Sword promptly begins making up for all the education she lacked in those dark years. But part of what makes her so interesting is that she doesn't regret her years as a Dog, for they pared down her world to the very basics, the only true rule of which was survival. And when she meets others that lacked that experience she sometimes feels sorry for them; sorry that they've not had an experience to hone their sense of life and refine their inner fire.

Sword finds a family in the other Blessed Ones, something she's never had before, or at least not in her memory. Her joy in having a family, in finally belonging, is almost tangible. But it comes at at cost. She accepts everything about her life as a Blessed One at face value, never questioning the Empire and the things that are allowed, or even encouraged, under its rule. She accepts what she sees and is told as truth. So when forced to confront the fact that her current truths may in fact be lies she struggles mightily. Sword must once again find her way in her latest incarnation. She must face the new realities of her life, regardless of how she feels about them. And eventually she comes to terms with the changes in her life, though they bring both great satisfaction and heart rending sorrow.

The other characters, especially the Blessed and Cursed Ones, are very powerful influences in Sword's life. As such they've been well crafted and most could easily stand alone with their own story, though we're not usually given anything remotely close to their whole story. But each one has qualities that are necessary, and all play roles of similar importance. In fact I think I'd have been quite happy to follow most any of their stories much further, going much more deeply into their backgrounds. Hopefully I'll get the chance in future books in this series.

All told this story moved quite smoothly, with nice transitions between each segment of Sword's life thus far. The character development played into the arc of the story very melodiously, creating a book that was as much story as it was bardic tale. Even the time of the Empire lent itself well to the crafting of one epic bard's tale. Each character helped to create yet another layer to the tale, adding a warp and weft that made a tapestry of imaginary people come to vivid life before my very eyes. I cared about these people, and found myself invested in the outcome of their personal stories. I can't think of better praise for a book than that! show less

I would like to thank Donnielle Tyler for an e-ARC of this book to review. Though I received this e-book for free, that has no impact upon the honesty of my review.

Goodreads Teaser: "A boy without a voice.
A teen without a home.
A man without hope.

Kian knows the way his life is headed will be the death of him. It doesn't matter how many criminals he catches for Gordon's Bounty Detective Agency or how deep he tries to fall into the bottle - those eyes haunt him. All it took was one whisper of bad advice, one wrong choice, one mistake, to wipe out years of confidence he had struggled to build while living on his Grandmother's farm. The Kian found the box of files overflowing with unsolved crimes. Those cold cases jolted his soul from its vegetative state and awakened his resolve. Kian knew those cases were meant for him to solve, but the last thing he expected to find within a few wrinkled folders was his ultimate redemption."

Being a novella this is a short story, so it goes by quickly. I got my copy without the benefit of the teaser material, so this review is based upon a cold reading. Even though I've read the first two books in the Caelian Cycle series I had no real frame of reference for this story beyond the main character's name. At least not until a ways into the story. This is Kian's backstory, his background prior to meeting Sadie - that relationship is covered in book two, Bound. While he's also in Lost, this novella brings you right up to his first contact show more with Sadie.

While Kian is interesting I felt as if there wasn't enough to anchor me to his character. I didn't really understand why he was all over the map, and it was difficult to find a reason to care, or a reason beyond knowing the role he plays in both books in the Caelian Cycle. In my opinion this novella shouldn't be read immediately after the second book in the Caelian Cycle, as it won't mean as much without that frame of reference to work from. Even then the issue that drives him is left unspoken, and if it's covered in the prior books I can't say I can recall it. Given the fact that it motivates his every move I'd like to know exactly what happened, or at the very least be assured that it would become clear in the next book. It's quite possible it was covered in either Lost or Bound, but given the number of books I read and the amount of time between readings it would be useful to have a reminder if the information was included in one of those books.

All told I wish that this had been a bit longer, providing a stronger framework for the reader to pull from. I like Kian, but too much of his motivation was left unspoken and unexplained for me to really get him, or get emotionally invested in this story. So while I'd have preferred either a recap of information that came before, or more depth and details to help round out this aside, I am hopeful that this will provide necessary information going forward in the series. Guess I'll just have to wait and see. show less

I would like to thank Donna M. Zadunajsky/CreateSpace for a copy of this book to review. Though I received this book for free, that has no impact upon the honesty of my review.

Goodreads Teaser: A novella about a boy named Mick, and his struggles with life. His parent's divorce and a friend's suicide, make his world unbearable. Each "cut" has a deeper meaning. A cry for help.

"I spin my dad's Ruger SP101 revolver on the wood floor of my bedroom. Sometimes, just to see what it feels like, I place the tip of the gun against my temple, but I never once pull the trigger. NO!"

"I'm more into the slice of the blade against my skin and the blood running down my arm."

"It relieves so much pressure."

"And I can breathe again..."

I have to say I was looking forward to reading this book as it touched on topics I'm intimately familiar with: depression, suicide, bullying. I had hopes that this book would speak to my experiences and feel authentic, feel like a solid tool for others who might be hurting like so many people I know did, and some still do. Sadly I struggled with this novella. Between wrestling with the grammatical errors and the disjointed writing I was hard pressed to get a true feeling for the main characters.

I wanted so badly to like, or at least empathize with Mick, but that was apparently not to be. The premise of this book is solid, and deals with a terribly important issue; unfortunately the writing simply lost me. I think the author was trying to hard to channel a show more character that she simply wasn't connecting with herself, for the text skipped all over the place. While that may been a deliberate choice, designed to show how Mick was thinking, it needed to be shown in a different manner. Instead of making me feel as if I was in his head or at least there with him, instead I felt like I was listening to a story on the radio that kept getting lots of static interference, causing me to miss vital parts.

Having the book told from two points of view was nice, and Layla's voice felt much more authentic to me. I had no trouble believing that she was an eighth grader, even those times when she did sound a bit more mature than I'd have pegged her. Using her as a pivotal point in Mick's story was smart and made sense, yet the reactions didn't really read as being realistic to me. Somehow either things were left out, or glossed over, thus detracting from the overall impact of the story. On the positive side there were some good lessons and guides contained in this story, so hopefully it has found a more positive reception from younger readers. show less

I would like to thank Minotaur Books & NetGalley for a copy of this e-ARC to review. While I received this ebook for free, that has no impact upon the honesty of my review.

Goodreads Teaser: "Magnus "Steps" Craig is part of the elite three-man Special Tracking Unit of the FBI. Called in on special cases where his skills are particularly needed, he works as a tracker. The media dubs him "The Human Bloodhound," since Steps is renowned for his incredible ability to find and follow trails over any surface better than anyone else. But there's a secret to his success. Steps has a special ability---a kind of synesthesia---where he can see the 'essence' of a person, something he calls 'shine,' on everything they've touched. His ability is known to only a few people---his father, the director of the FBI, and his partner, Special Agent Jimmy Donovan.

When the remains of a murdered woman are found, Steps recognizes the shine left by the murderer from another crime scene with a physically similar victim. And he uncovers the signature at both scenes---the mark of a sad face. At the same time, another killer, one Steps has dubbed Leonardo and has been trying to track for over ten years, appears again, taunting Steps. But while Steps tries to find a clue that will lead him to Leonardo, the case of the Sad Face Killer heats up. The team uncovers eleven possible victims: missing women who fit the same pattern. Using his skills and the resources of the Bureau, it is a race against time to show more find the killer before it's too late."

Let me start off by saying that I truly enjoyed this book. It was a very well balanced blend of action and introspection. The action covered all of the characters we get to know, most specifically Steps, Jimmy, and a few other law enforcement officials we meet. The introspection is solely in Steps purview. While there are evil killers, and their victims, they remain mostly on the peripheral.

Steps is a really well crafted character. We can feel his horror and pain, what drives him, and what holds him back. Jimmy is the perfect counterbalance to Steps, and Steps, well Steps is a horse of a different color altogether. I really liked getting Step's mini flashbacks as this story was unfolding around him. They helped explain him to a degree, how he might have become what/who he is, as well as what drives him. I loved how real he was, and that he showed his emotions instead of maintaining a professional facade at all times; he became more human through those actions, and I found it also made him more appealing.

The fact that Steps made mistakes was glorious in my mind, for had he been portrayed as perfect it would have sorely diminished the book. The level and range of emotions that Steps and Jimmy shared enhanced this story, raising it above the majority of police procedurals I've encountered. Yet for all that there were times that I found myself wishing the story would move on, as it seemed to linger on just a few issues a tad longer than I wanted - probably the only reason I didn't give this book 5 stars.

As stories go this one had it all, and in spades. Drama, action, intense emotions, humor; essentially everything you could want wrapped up in one story. Even the end was fantastic, for it didn't stop where I expected it to. Instead, there was a dozy of a cliffhanger, one that I should have seen coming but somehow missed; one that left me anxiously awaiting what's to come. show less

I would like to thank Clean Reads Publishing & Heather Eagar for an e-book copy of this book to review. Though I received this e-book for free, that has no impact upon the honesty of my review.

Goodreads Teaser: "Sixteen-year-old Elizabeth Winters may be a witch, but she doesn't know the first thing about magic.

Her father, a wizard himself, has forbidden the use of her powers for her own protection. But when accusations of witchcraft start flying through Salem Village, Elizabeth wishes she was more prepared.

Despite her lack of magical knowledge, Elizabeth appoints herself to save the innocent women from the untimely demise the village has in store for them. Elizabeth finds, however, that she is not the hero Salem needs her to be. When Elizabeth is betrayed by someone she trusts, she loses control of her emotions and unintentionally curses the village with the ten plagues of Egypt. Now, Elizabeth must figure out how to break the curse before the morning of the tenth plague—the plague of death.

If she fails, Salem will cease to exist."

Let's see, how to best review this book. I wish I could rave about it, but it fell pretty flat for me. Part of the problem I have with the story was my own fault, first for not anticipating that the author would pretty faithfully recreate the cause of the Salem witch trials, and second for not accurately recalling the ten plagues of Egypt. Had I remembered them I might not have felt so betrayed by what's written in the book teaser and in show more the book itself, for they are two different things. I suppose it could be argued that's it's simply a matter of degree, but that's not how it felt to me.

But before we get to that, I'd like to talk about Elizabeth and some of the other characters. As protagonists go Elizabeth is alright, but she never quite reached me. I found that no matter how much I wanted to, I simply couldn't connect with her or get behind her emotionally. I may not have grown up in Salem during the height of the witch trials as a witch, but I certainly went through those awkward periods of not knowing how to control my own emotions, not understanding them. So I expected to have had more of a connection to her than I did.

Anna, Elizabeth's younger sister, was entertaining. I actually found her to be a more sympathetic character in many ways. Her desire to be like her sister, that feeling of exclusion when she was barred from learning the same secret materials from their father - those emotions felt strong for me. They made her much more relatable, even though growing up I was the younger sibling and I had a brother rather than a sister.

The Winters family was a shining point in the story, they way they hung tough in the face of danger and strife. Few other families came through the who witch trials ordeal as unscathed, and by that I don't mean physically but instead being true to who they were as a family. They never wavered from their convictions, and stayed faithful to each other and their beliefs. Only a few others could say the same by the end.

The overall message of the story is a good one, and shared in an unusual and entertaining way. Though I missed some important connections with certain characters that doesn't mean other readers will. I felt that this was written more for middle grade readers than for older teens and young adults. That certainly doesn't mean they wouldn't enjoy it, just that it may hit the right notes with the slightly younger set. It's an easy read and would make for a good summer book if you're given a reading requirement to fulfill between grades. The historical aspect surely won't hurt, and may even gain you credit with your teacher! show less