Saturday, February 28, 2015

Review: The Return by Jennifer L. Armentrout

The Return (Titan, #1)The Return (Titan #1) by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Steph's Rating: 4.5 Stars
Overall Rating: 4.5 Stars

Format: Paperback
Publisher: Spencer Hill Press
Publication Date: February 16th, 2015
Pages: 335

Goodreads Synopsis:

The Fates are cackling their bony asses off…

It’s been a year since Seth made the deal with the gods that pledged his life to them. And so far, the jobs they’ve given him have been violent and bloody–which is kind of all right with him. But now Apollo has something else in mind for Seth. He’s got to play protector while keeping his hands and fingers off, and for someone who really has a problem with restraint, this new assignment might be the most challenging yet.

Josie has no idea what this crazy hot guy’s deal might be, but it’s a good bet that his arrival means the new life she started after leaving home is about to be thrown into an Olympian-sized blender turned up to puree. Either Josie is going insane or a nightmare straight out of ancient myth is gunning for her.

But it might be the unlikely attraction simmering between her and the golden-eyed, secret-keeping Seth that may prove to be the most dangerous thing of all.

Because history has once again been flipped to repeat.

Steph's Review:

Back in the days of the Covenant Series, I had a serious love-hate relationship with Seth. Or rather, I was pretty much his fan-club president in Pure and then the anti-Seth club president in all the books after. Our complicated pretty boy has once again made me swing to the other side of extremes and I have now renewed my membership for the Seth (albeit transformed and changed Seth) fan-club.

More than anything, Seth detests being a lackey to the gods: a servant at their beck and call. The only thing that keeps him in line is memories of the reason why he made this pact in the first place--that this is all penitence for his previously misguided actions that led to a downward spiral of events. This, however, becomes the least of his problems when the Titans released in the fight against Ares forgo the promises they made before the war and threaten to raze the Earth with their deadly powers. After gaining knowledge of the brewing battle, Apollo mysteriously orders Seth to make contact with Josie Bethel, a seemingly mediocre, mortal college student. Little does Seth know, his biggest problem might not be the gods nor the Titans even, but instead the human he has been ordered to protect.

Overall, I think The Return is a basic plot skeleton of a book, with a huge focus on character development to prep them for whatever Jen has in store for the rest of the series. Obviously, the character who undergoes the biggest alteration is Seth, and the reason for his change is none other than Josie herself. Up until this moment, we've only gotten a glimpse at the exterior layers of Seth's character (and he is so complicated that his layers are probably infinite anyways). He starts off broody and sardonic about his situation as we would expect him to be, but Josie helps him uncover and come to terms with the true heart of the problem that nags at him so much. She is his salvation, his reason for catharsis, and his only one true empathizer as an outsider with fresh eyes into his world. Despite the sudden shift in Josie's world from predictable everyday college life into one in which her head is targeted from every direction, she manages to keep a level head in both her own situation and still be able uncover a personality in Seth that I didn't ever think he'd be fully capable of. This is the kind of Seth I can get on board with. In fact, if it keeps going this way...I might just like him more than Aiden (please don't kill me).

Jen has definitely added twists into this book that complexes the Covenant world once again, and not in a bad way. It's a new story completely and reading the parent Covenant Series isn't necessary to understand this one, since Jen does give a great background on what you need to know. For those who have read Alex's story, these are all wonderful refreshers of part one told in a different, interesting perspective. At the same time, The Return makes me feel like Covenant never even ended and we were never separated. Old and recognizable faces make significant appearances in the story, and I loved seeing them so much, especially Deacon and Luke. I am wondering though, if Aiden and Alex will ever have cameo's in the series. Jen did say they were strictly not in The Return, but I have no idea if that applies to the rest of the series as well. The Return is a fantastic start to the Titan series (with no evil cliffy at that) and I can't wait to read installment two!

Saturday, February 21, 2015

Review: The Ruby Circle by Richelle Mead

The Ruby Circle (Bloodlines, #6)The Ruby Circle (Bloodlines #6) by Richelle Mead
Steph's Rating: 3.5 stars
Overall Rating: 3.5 stars

Format: E-book
Publisher: Razorbill
Publication Date: February 10th, 2015
Pages: 348

Goodreads Synopsis: 

Sydney Sage is an Alchemist, one of a group of humans who dabble in magic and serve to bridge the worlds of humans and vampires. They protect vampire secrets—and human lives.

After their secret romance is exposed, Sydney and Adrian find themselves facing the wrath of both the Alchemists and the Moroi in this electrifying conclusion to Richelle Mead’s New York Times bestselling Bloodlines series. When the life of someone they both love is put on the line, Sydney risks everything to hunt down a deadly former nemesis. Meanwhile, Adrian becomes enmeshed in a puzzle that could hold the key to a shocking secret about spirit magic, a secret that could shake the entire Moroi world.

Steph's Review: *Minor Spoilers!*

The Ruby Circle is a solid ending to the Bloodlines spin-off series. It was a bit shorter than I expected (in comparison to Vampire Academy's Last Sacrifice at least) but for the most part I think Richelle Mead did a pretty good job of wrapping up Adrian and Sydney's story. That being said, this received a 3.5 from me because I felt some parts were truly phenomenal, while other parts were either rushed or just fluffy additions to the book that wouldn't really have changed the outcome to the series.

The whole center of this story revolves around finding Jill and the whole mouse chase that Adrian and Sydney are led on in order to solve the mystery of her kidnapping. The first few chapters were a bit of a slow start in my opinion, and I had a harder time getting into this book that the previous books in the series. This is largely the fluff of the story and to me it felt like it was a long drawl of things we already heard before: old, recurring problems (relationship problems and Adrian problems!) cast once more in the light again that could have been compressed to leave a bit more room for the engaging final climax and action that definitely can be dropped into the phenomenal bucket. Adrian's POV during this period was a bit on the infuriating side to read. Once you get past the slow start and our characters seem to get their acts together, The Ruby Circle flies off the page is pretty much everything we love about Richelle Mead. There was still a little fluff sprinkled around, but the twists and turns and suspense and shocks that are part of nearly every one of her books make their appearance here as well. 

For those who have missed Rose and Dimitri from VA, the dashing couple take on a more significant role in this book than the previous five. And yes, we do finally get to know the shocker of Dimitri's parentage (fluff, but oh so interesting fluff). I missed their faces and I thought giving them a more prominent role in The Ruby Circle was a good idea on Mead's part because it gave a more satisfying conclusion to the entire VA world rather than only just Adrian and Sydney's chapter. Had it been solely the latter, I'm sure I would have felt like I was still dangling on a precipice, because I would be wondering what the other beloved characters were up to. And speaking of a satisfying ending...the most squeal-worthy portion of The Ruby Circle would definitely have to be that epilogue. Oh. My. Gosh. *winks*. 

With the sixth book of Bloodlines and the twelfth in the Vampire Academy World, it is time for me to sigh and close the cover on this series...for now. I felt like there were still several unanswered questions left hanging in the air about the intricacies Richelle created in The Ruby Circle that she could possibly turn into openings for another series. Whether she will act on those or not, I do not know, but I contently await her upcoming books!

Monday, February 16, 2015

Release Day: The Return (Titan Series #1) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Yes, Happy Release Day! The Return quite literally marks the revamp of the Covenant Series, except this time our shining star of the show is none other than our Apollyon Seth (still a mysterious no last name... :)) I have a love-hate relationship with this boy thanks to all the antics he went through in the previous five books that put my emotions on a rollercoaster, but I will take what I can get if it means being able to say hello to the new and old of the Covenant World. And I mean, The Return is New Adult. New Adult and Seth. New Adult plus Seth equates to...*giggles*

Goodreads Synopsis: 

The Return (Titan, #1)
The Fates are cackling their bony asses off…

It’s been a year since Seth made the deal with the gods that pledged his life to them. And so far, the jobs they’ve given him have been violent and bloody–which is kind of all right with him. But now Apollo has something else in mind for Seth. He’s got to play protector while keeping his hands and fingers off, and for someone who really has a problem with restraint, this new assignment might be the most challenging yet.

Josie has no idea what this crazy hot guy’s deal might be, but it’s a good bet that his arrival means the new life she started after leaving home is about to be thrown into an Olympian-sized blender turned up to puree. Either Josie is going insane or a nightmare straight out of ancient myth is gunning for her.

But it might be the unlikely attraction simmering between her and the golden-eyed, secret-keeping Seth that may prove to be the most dangerous thing of all.

Because history has once again been flipped to repeat.

Book 1 in the new adult paranormal TITAN series, spin-off to the best selling COVENANT series.

Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18809475-the-return
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/The-Return-A-Titan-Novel/dp/1939392624
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-return-jennifer-l-armentrout/1120667823?ean=9781939392626
Books-A-Million: http://www.booksamillion.com/p/Return/Jennifer-L-Armentrout/9781939392626?id=6241058357508

A pre-order means you get a special Alex and Aiden bonus scene! All you have to do to receive that tidbit is fill out an online form proving your purchase HERE. The deadline to do so is February 18th, so if you haven't already jumped on the opportunity you have a few days to do so.

There is also a sampler of the first three chapters of The Return that can be viewed on Wattpad HERE.

Happy Reading!

Wednesday, February 11, 2015

Waiting on Wednesday (27): A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly bookish event hosted by Breaking the SpineThis is a meme that many book blogs participate in to goggle over highly anticipated upcoming releases and fabulous covers and authors!


So I am a HUGE fan of the ever well-written Throne of Glass Series, also by Sarah J. Maas. When I learned about her next upcoming release, A Court of Thorns and Roses, I thought very little of it at the time because I was on the downward spiral from reading Heir of Fire, the third installment of our first lovely fantasy series. I did do a cover reveal for A Court of Thorns and Roses but thought nearly nothing about it afterwards. I don't think I should be blamed for that (as ToG fans will definitely understand), but I later felt idiotic when I learned more about this book and could not believe I didn't pay more attention to it earlier.

Goodreads Synopsis:
A Court of Thorns and Roses (A Court of Thorns and Roses, #1)
A thrilling, seductive new series from New York Times bestselling author Sarah J. Maas, blending Beauty and the Beast with faerie lore.

When nineteen-year-old huntress Feyre kills a wolf in the woods, a beast-like creature arrives to demand retribution for it. Dragged to a treacherous magical land she only knows about from legends, Feyre discovers that her captor is not an animal, but Tamlin—one of the lethal, immortal faeries who once ruled their world.

As she dwells on his estate, her feelings for Tamlin transform from icy hostility into a fiery passion that burns through every lie and warning she's been told about the beautiful, dangerous world of the Fae. But an ancient, wicked shadow grows over the faerie lands, and Feyre must find a way to stop it . . . or doom Tamlin—and his world—forever.

Perfect for fans of Kristin Cashore and George R. R. Martin, this first book in a sexy and action-packed new series is impossible to put down!



I will read anything Sarah J. Maas writes at this point, but after reading the synopsis initially, I thought it was going to be a lovey-dovey tale about a damsel-like girl with a severe case of Stockholm Syndrome.

Until I read the sampler.

A mere four chapters. A gift from the gods. 

I approached that sampler with an "Eh" feeling, and didn't think those chapters could be so pivotal in my pre-opinion of the book.

They were. 
Holy everything. If those were only the first four chapters (and if your read them you would understand they are almost like a "prologue" to what we are expecting next), then just on what scale of  incredible, fantastical, and magnificent must the rest of the book be like? What is the rest of the series going to be like? Maybe it was because I wasn't expecting very much in the first place, but wow, did Maas deliver. Regardless, this book is going to be my hot topic for the next few months until release day in May, and probably a long while after. 

The eSampler of A Court of Thorns and Roses is available as a free Kindle ebook on Amazon that you can find here:


I would tell you to read it if you think you can handle the raise of suspense for May 5th, 2015.

Tuesday, February 10, 2015

Release Day: The Ruby Circle by Richelle Mead

A Happy Release Day to The Ruby Circle by Richelle Mead, thus ending our current stories in the VA World! Of course, we have no idea is RM has anything planned for the future using this setting, so we must cross our fingers and simply hope.

I quickly got myself an ebook of TRC this morning, but no I have not gotten the chance to sit down and crack the cover open quite yet unfortunately. On one angle I have absolutely no desire to read this book yet because it spells a faster end to something perfectly good. On the other angle, I want to claw my way through the pieces of this book without savoring, as if I'd die without immediately turning the next page. We'll see how that feeling develops for the next day as I find my window of opportunity to sit down nice and quiet with the ebook in my lap. 


The Ruby Circle (Bloodlines, #6)

Goodreads Synopsis:

The epic conclusion to Richelle Mead's New York Times bestselling Bloodlines series is finally here...

Sydney Sage is an Alchemist, one of a group of humans who dabble in magic and serve to bridge the worlds of humans and vampires. They protect vampire secrets—and human lives.

After their secret romance is exposed, Sydney and Adrian find themselves facing the wrath of both the Alchemists and the Moroi in this electrifying conclusion to Richelle Mead’s New York Times bestselling Bloodlines series. When the life of someone they both love is put on the line, Sydney risks everything to hunt down a deadly former nemesis. Meanwhile, Adrian becomes enmeshed in a puzzle that could hold the key to a shocking secret about spirit magic, a secret that could shake the entire Moroi world.

Links:


Razorbill has also released the first five chapters as samplers for The Ruby Circle as near-publication incentive. You can view these chapters for free here, and also enter in a contest to win a trip to see Richelle Mead in Dallas, TX and receive an advanced reading copy of her upcoming Fall 2015 novel, Soundless!:


Happy Reading to all!
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