At A Glance I was fascinated the whole time. The Good I am not sure what it is about The Beast is an Animal but I really liked it. What's funAt A Glance I was fascinated the whole time. The Good I am not sure what it is about The Beast is an Animal but I really liked it. What's funny is that it doesn't follow the normal ebb and flow of the books I like. I like extremes in my books, things that keep me excited, like being scared or sitting on the edge of my seat with suspense. This book didn't have that. It had a calmness about it. I think it was because of the lyrical quality in the words. I loved how the story very much felt life a creepy fairytale. It worked for me be it because of my current frame of mind or just because.
The cast of characters were great. They were all monotone in the most brilliant of ways. The all have a sense of hopelessness and monotony, but their tiny distinctions make all the difference in the world. Just small things that make them larger than life in the meekest of ways. I know, I'm not making sense but if you read the book you would understand.
Alys was so interesting. Her role in this world was so small yet so big. She's brave yet still just a vulnerable young girl. I couldn't wait to see where her tale went next. She fascinated me. The itself world fascinated me with its soul eaters, beasts, and zealots. It all worked together so well. The Bad There was nothing super scary or super exciting about The Beast is an Animal. Don't read it for that. It has a more creepy-calm feeling which worked for me but may not work for others.
The ending was anti-climactic. I was okay with the ending but it wasn't frightening like I thought it would be. The Snuggly There is very little snuggly. Alys does find her other half but their relationship is not a focus at all and all they do is kiss. Final Thoughts I didn't mean to read this book so early before the publication date but it was worth it. It wasn't perfect but the story and characters worked for me. Very recommendedThis review was originally posted on Bad Bird Reads...more
At A Glance Very unique and interesting read. The Good This Savage Song was all sorts of unique with a very different premise. Monsters want At A Glance Very unique and interesting read. The Good This Savage Song was all sorts of unique with a very different premise. Monsters want to rule the city but an uneasy truce is just barely keeping them in line. A city divided: one side has August, a monster that wants to be human, the other has Kate, a human that wants to act like a monster. Victoria nailed it with the monsters. Monsters are "born" based on human crimes. There are three types of monsters that arise depending on the crime, each once scarier than the other. A frightening thought, right?
August is one of those monsters, the one that looks the most human. He is both the scariest and most logical monster you can get. But all he wants to be is human. I felt August's struggle every step of the way. He felt so much, even when he shouldn't. If he had a soul, it was filled with passion for a life he would never have.
Kate was a bitch. Well, she did her best impersonation of one to impress her corrupt dad. She has dedicated her life to becoming hard, ruthless, and indifferent in every action and thought. Then August comes along and her world crumbles. They are suppose to be enemies, but they are thrown together in a race for their lives and the city's survival. Enemies become allies, allies become enemies and Kate and August have no choice but to trust each other.
I love how their relationship progressed into a tentative friendship that opened them both up to a new view of the world. Once the story picked up, there was a lot of tension and action until the very end. I loved the detailed world-building and explosive but open ending. Book 2 cannot come fast enough. The Bad It took quite some time for me to get into this book and for the real action to start. Plus, it took forever for me to care about the characters. I'm not sure what it was, but I really had to work hard to love this book, but at one point I totally found that love. The Snuggly No romance, yay!!! It was nice to see two characters thrown together and them not fall in love. Final Thoughts I am really hard on young adult books, I don't even know why, so when I say This Savage Song is worth the read, you know I mean it. If you are looking for a book with a different concept and a focus on the story and not the romance, you have found your gem. Highly recommended.
Quotes “It was a cruel trick of the universe, thought August, that he only felt human after doing something monstrous.”
“But the teacher had been right about one thing: violence breeds. Someone pulls a trigger, sets off a bomb, drives a bus full of tourists off a bridge, and what's left in the wake isn't just she'll casings, wreckage, bodies. There's something else. Something bad. An aftermath. A recoil. A reaction to all that anger and pain and death.”
“I read somewhere," said Kate, "that people are made of stardust." He dragged his eyes from the sky. "Really?" "Maybe that's what you're made of. Just like us." And despite everything. August smiled.”
At A Glance Why can't I find an amazing dragonshifter book? *sigh* The Good Well, dragons. That's the good part of this book. Dragonshifters At A Glance Why can't I find an amazing dragonshifter book? *sigh* The Good Well, dragons. That's the good part of this book. Dragonshifters are my weakness and a book with dragonshifters gets an automatic star or two. It's the only thing that redeemed this book a little. The dragony parts were awesome.
Melanie offers herself as a dragon sacrifice in order to get a vial of healing dragon's blood for her dying brother. A sacrifice must stay with the dragons for 6 months and try to get pregnant by a chosen dragonshifter in the hopes of helping the decreasing dragon population. Melanie gets screwed over when the dragon chosen for her hates humans for what they did to his family. Oh, and humans that get pregnant with dragon babies often die in childbirth. Awkward! Sucky situation but it sounded like a great plot to me. The Bad Melanie was a boring character. We were told she has fight but we never saw this imaginary fight/tenacity/oomph. Tristan is just a plain asshole. He treats Melanie pretty badly for some time and I could never get over that. I did like his dragon side, though it was a bit childish. Now that I think about it, all of the characters were pretty flat. Not one grabbed my attention. Relationships never went farther than the surface, so it was hard to root for anyone.
Sacrificed to the Dragon was in major need of world building. I wanted to know more about being a dragon and their history but we only got a glimpse.
I really wanted something interesting to happen. At the end it did, but we missed all the action and only saw the result. Ugh, boring! The Snuggly The sex was pretty hot but it was just sex, no love, so it wasn't deep or emotional. Final Thoughts So, yeah, not my favorite book. I always expect more out of a dragon book because, come on, dragons! You have it halfway in the bag with just that fact. But no, Sacrificed to the Dragon was not very interesting and the characters were not deep enough for me. Not recommended.
Quotes "Wow, a week. She vaguely remembered the sun coming and going, but it was a haze of sleeping, eating, and fucking. Oh, and orgasming. There had been lots of orgasming.
She looked over to the other side of the bed, but it was empty. While she's done very little talking with Tristan over the last week, she's grown used to his heat and weight either beside her or on top of her. His absence felt...wrong."
At A Glance Meh. Nothing special. The Good Smoke and Mirrors had so much potential. I mean, come on, dragons! I love me a yummy dragon-shifteAt A Glance Meh. Nothing special. The Good Smoke and Mirrors had so much potential. I mean, come on, dragons! I love me a yummy dragon-shifter. And we do get some dragon fun in this story.
The first 30% was exciting and seemed to be leading to a great story. Kimberly needs a familiar to graduate from an academy full of mages that want to kill her. She needs a familiar that will make an impact, like a dragon! So Kimberly goes on a dangerous adventure to find a dragon.
I liked Kimberly in the beginning. She and her mother have it rough. They are poor as church mice and Kimberly is despised by magi because she's different. She has to work her butt off every day of her life. She was strong and determined and I respected her. Then Cormac got all obsessed with her and things went down hill. The Bad First is this YA, NA, or Adult? I'm so confused. Kimberly acts like a 12 year old. Cormac acts like an old man. I guess it was a mixture of young adult and new adult. I don't know, I gave up on trying to figure out this book.
The plot was a little all over the place. Slow and draggy in some parts, childish in others. The big battle was limp in my eyes, over quick and with little excitement. Misunderstandings were resolved through flirting and pouting. The ending was wrapped up too fast and way too easily. I was expecting a lot more excitement with how scared Kimberly was all the time.
Cormac and Kimberly's relationship happens within days as Cormac goes all "Mine" and Kimberly "Can't help herself." *rolls eyes* So over it. The Snuggly I'm pretty sure there's no sex (wow, my mind is gone today) but we get some petting and kissing. Final Thoughts I'm so indifferent with this story I can barely write this review. The beginning was awesome and a lot of aspects were interesting but the characters were not entertaining and there was not enough excitement. Not recommended.
Quotes "Mage! Get out of my store!"
Every eye in the place turned on Kimberly. Before she could move a muscle, the tiny woman flung her hand in her direction. Kimberly flinched back, but between one blink and the next, Cormac had stepped in front of her and snatched the projectile out of the air. He passed the shiny silver dagger to her, and she fumbled and dropped it in her nervousness.
At A Glance I gave up 25% in. The Good I liked the dark aspect of the story The Bad The portion I read of Three Dark Queens was so boringAt A Glance I gave up 25% in. The Good I liked the dark aspect of the story The Bad The portion I read of Three Dark Queens was so boring I couldn't stand it. Nothing grabbed me or made me want to keep reading. The pacing was God-awfully slow. The POV switched from the three sisters and each one was annoying in their own ways. I couldn't connect with even one character. Then there was no world building so I was pretty lost for that 25%. The Snuggly I didn't read enough to determine the snuggly. Final Thoughts I was sooooo excited about this book. I loved how dark this story is, but the rest was rubbish. Slow, boring, uninteresting, bleh! Not recommended.
At A Glance Slow but interesting. The Good I have never read a book like The Dark Days Club. Goodman did a great job of blending fantasy and At A Glance Slow but interesting. The Good I have never read a book like The Dark Days Club. Goodman did a great job of blending fantasy and the Regency period. So much punch-worthy sexism, horny tentacle demons, and stylish balls. Can't forget the stylish balls.
I felt bad for Lady Helen. She is sucked into a dark world and all she wants to do the whole book is crawl her way out. Fighting demons in the 1800's is not an easy feat for a female. She makes the best of her situation though. She is pretty kickass when she wants to be. Poor girl didn't know who she could trust though, even amongst her friends. Lord Carlston is so sketchy it's hard to know who's side he is on. I loved his little smirks though. Such a smartass.
The story's concept had me right away and I love how Goodman paid attention to the fine details. With Goodman behind the wheel, I knew I wasn't going to miss anything. The Bad The pacing was super slow. Everything from how well Helen curtsied to killing demons, it was all so freaking dragged out to a snail's pace. I felt no urgency or tension during the fight scenes. I love historical stories, so I'm use to a gentler book in these areas, but when you add fantasy, you have be more lively in some areas. Seriously, these almost 500 pages needed a huge dose of "Hell yeah!" and "Let's get these basterds!" The Snuggly This book is oddly sexual without any real sex at all. We get to experience the Regency's version of magazine porn and live-action tentacle porn. Yeah, that just happened. Other than that, there was very little steam between the characters. We get an almost kiss, which horrifies Helen. I laughed at that one. Final Thoughts I haven't read a historical fantasy in some time, so The Dark Days Club really hit the spot. Sure, it's a bit slow and not very intense, but everything else was spot on. Very recommended.This review was originally posted on Bad Bird Reads...more
At A Glance Happy I got to read a good time travel book. The Good I couldn't even wait for the publication date to get closer before reading At A Glance Happy I got to read a good time travel book. The Good I couldn't even wait for the publication date to get closer before reading Into the Dim. I was too excited! Sorry not sorry for the very early review. I'm awesome so I do what I want! hehe.
After the slow beginning, this book rocked! No one was tearing me away from Into the Dim. A lot had to do with the fact that I was totally craving a time travel book. And boy did this book deliver.
Hope was an interesting heroine. She has a lot of phobias and fears which keep her from really connecting with people. She has a photographic memory which was awesome as hell! Came in handy too. I liked Hope, even when she kept saving the day accidentally.
I was so jealous of Hope for getting to go to Scotland for the summer. And she gets to stay in a castle/manor! It was described in great detail. I felt like I was their with Hope exploring. But the best part was the time travel to the twelfth century. Eek, what a horrible time period to live in but a great time period for our characters to get into trouble. I was so freaking stressed out about if they would find Hope's mom and if they would get back to their own time period that I went on Goodreads and tried to find a review where someone revealed the ending. I know! I know! Unforgivable. But I was so stressed and desperate to know if Hope would get a happy ending. No luck in finding spoilers, but I ended up liking the ending, even if it wasn't perfect.
I have to assume this is going to be a series because there is so much of the story left unexplored. I am excited to read the next book when it comes out. The Bad Some of the characters could have been more developed. They felt thrown into the story and I wanted to know more about them because it was hard to care about them. I don't even mention them in The Good because...meh.
The beginning was pretty slow. Only when the time travel happens do things pick up and that takes some time to happen.
Most of the twists were easily guessed, but this doesn't usually affect my interest in a book, so whatevs. Just thought I would mention it. The Snuggly The snuggly is very complicated. I don't want to say anything because it reveals too much, but I don't even remember kissing, so it's very YA. However, there is an attempted rape, but it gets stopped early. Final Thoughts Into the Dim is the kind of book that if it came to execution it was only 3 to 3.5 stars, but the entertainment factor blasted it to 4 stars. After the slow beginning I was glued to the pages. Very recommended.
http://badbirdreads.com/review-crimso...At A Glance Very original but very slow. The Good Even though Crimson Bound is based on Little Red Rihttp://badbirdreads.com/review-crimso...At A Glance Very original but very slow. The Good Even though Crimson Bound is based on Little Red Riding Hood and Girl With No Hands, the story felt very unique. Rosamund twisted these tales and made a whole new adventure heavy with mythology.
I loved the dark side Rachelle brought out of this book. Rachelle is all kinds of effed up. Her past has really shaped her into a bitter, fighting machine. Sometimes her complaining and self-loathing got a bit much, but it also added to her character. I would be pissed too if I were in her shoes. She hates who she has become and now, to add insult to injury, she has to babysit the one man who makes her heart-crushing past seem like a joke. Despite how Rachelle feels, she always focuses on her task. I loved her determination to pretty much save the freaking world, despite how the world has treated her.
Erec was such a jerk-flirt. You want to hate him but he's so damn charming, in an evil-ish way. Armand sometimes fades into the background, but when his story comes to light, you start really paying attention to him. Seriously, you will be shocked with these two in the end. The rest of the characters were amazing. I love and hated each one whole-heartedly.
There are soooooo many twists and turns in this one. Certain characters are not who you first think they are, both in a bad and good way. The action was really good, though more of it would have been awesome. I think everything came together well in the end. The Bad The pacing if very slow in this one. I put the book down often. And the story got confusing in some places.
The romance was not my fav. First, it's a hugely unnecessary love triangle between Rachelle, Erec, and Armand. There was very little actual romance, which was fine with me since I didn't see these two/three together anyway. They just didn't fit as a couple (Can't tell you who she ends up with), at all. This story didn't need a lot of romance, but I always want to be able to root for the main couple. Couldn't do it this time. The Snuggly Some kissing and anything further is not described. Good for YA. Final Thoughts I really did enjoy this book, but the pacing was horrible and I didn't really think either love interest was a good choice for Rachelle. So I am middle-ground with this one. Recommended.
Quotes “This is the human way, she thought. On the edge of destruction, at the end of all things, we still dance. And hope.”
“There were three of them, all with rapiers, and she had only a dagger. It would have been a wretchedly uneven fight, if she were human.
It was still a wretchedly uneven fight; it was just uneven in her favor.”
“I knew you lived," her mother said after a moment. "Any daughter of mine would be ruthless enough.”
I have no idea why it took me so long to read Opposition. Stupidity on my part. I was blown away with every aspect.
Opposition starts right where Origin ended, which was good. The triplets are gone. The rest are left to wonder what the hell is happening! Aliens have invaded, and they are vicious! People are dying. Friends are now enemies. The world is never going to be the same. But we all know Katy and Daemon will find each other eventually, no matter the obstacles.
For some reason I didn’t think things were going to get that bad. But they did. The aliens raining down on the earth aren’t quite like Daemon and Dee. They are murdering assholes in mega proportions. It’s up to the Katy, Daemon, and the rest of the gang to help the humans defeat the alien basterds. Yeah, not so simple.
This book is action packed. Each character has their own crap going on, but they always come together somehow. Katy is still fragile in some ways, but she is strong as anyone can expect her to be. She fights for her friends and her family at every step of the way. I was so proud of her, for her drive and compassion, especially in the new world where compassion is dangerous.
Daemon is still arrogant, passionate and wicked. He never loses his sense of humor or love for Katy. If at all possible, he falls in love with her even more. I loved his POV in this book. He has such strong feelings about everything, it can make you dizzy sometimes.
I can’t say much about what happens because it would give too much away. But the fight never ends until the very end. Daemon, Katy, and Archer go on many journeys to solidify the human races survival. Archer was as awesome as ever. He’s one of my fav characters. Dee has some issues in the book that are heartbreaking to watch. And the rest were there to make the experience that much more entertaining and intense. Then it all ended in a good way, even if there is some lingering sadness for what they all lost. But their is hope, lots of hope.
The Bad
Nothing huge was wrong with the book, I just didn’t feel it was quite a 5 star read.
The Snuggly
Katy and Daemon are so in love it hurts. Their love runs so deep it makes me want to cry. I just love them together. We get some sex, as much as a YA book can give us sex (they push the boundaries), and it was hot!
Final Thoughts
Amazing series and amazing conclusion. There is not much I would change. Opposition focuses a lot on Katy and Daemon, which I liked. The action was spot on and the ending left me satisfied. Highly recommended.
Quotes
“Kat.” He uttered my name like it was some kind of prayer, and then he pressed a kiss against the skin behind my ear. “I broke every rule of my kind to heal you and keep you with me. I … burned down an entire city to keep you safe. I’ve killed for you. Did you think I’d forget what you mean to me? That anything in this world— in any world— would be stronger than my love for you?”
“It’s not like I’m going to run up and hug him.” His expression turned bland. “I’d sure hope not. I might get jealous.” “You’d get jealous if she hugged a tree,” Archer tossed out. “Maybe.” Daemon coasted to a stop in a parking space behind the car. “I’m needy like that.”
“I forced myself to stop thinking about Daemon, about anything I didn’t want to share with Archer, which was pretty much everything right now. So I thought about belly dancing foxes wearing grass skirts. Archer snorted. “You’re weird.” ...more
http://badbirdreads.com/review-sea-st...At A Glance A really interesting story and world. The Good If you are looking for some rich world-buihttp://badbirdreads.com/review-sea-st...At A Glance A really interesting story and world. The Good If you are looking for some rich world-building, you have found it. I felt so immersed in the world in Of Sea and Stone. And the concept is unique. Sure, it is similar to the whole Atlantis thing, but it's done in a totally distinctive way. The imagery was amazing. I could picture the underwater city and all its glory.
Aemi was a very strong, likable, spunky character. She has been a slave all her life, but she doesn't let that get her down. She fights for herself, and she fights for her friends. She completely assimilates to her surroundings and situations flawlessly. But she always has escape in mind. She has someone she cares about back home and she is determined to get to him no matter what. Even if her life underwater is better than her life on land.
The story covers a lot of topics: bullying, war, corruption, friendship, and family. It was just a beautiful contrast of good and evil. The plot flowed well and pacing felt right. The secondary characters blew my mind. I loved and hated them so much. The ending has a little twist and I kinda guessed it but was still surprised by how much it will change things for Aemi. The second book is going to kick ass, I just know it. The Bad I don't think I will ever like Nol. I saw his true self before he was turned into a slave and he was a spoiled, rude, mean child. I don't care if he got humbled (which he really didn't), it doesn't change who he is deep down. He is entitled and he will always feel that way. So making Nol a love interest to Aemi did nothing for me. The Snuggly Since Nol does nothing but irritate me, him and Aemi together in any capacity pissed me off. Thank God there is very little romance in Of Sea and Stone. Very, very little. Final Thoughts I am for sure reading the next book of the series. It's just getting interesting. I loved reading about Aemi's journey and watching her fight for what's right. Very recommended.
Quote "Don't do that," he said angrily
"Do what?"
"Lick their boots. Beg them for answers. Don't act like a thrall."
"I am a thrall," I said, angry now too. "And now you are too."
He turned away and curled into a ball.
I shut my eyes and slept. It was the only thing to do anymore.
Then we was exhaling into me, filling my lungs with his air, giving me life to keep going. His thumb stroked my cheek, his lips broke away, and he shoved me upward with every ounce of strength left in his arms.
I love this series. I am all about dragonshifters, and this is one of my fav dragon series out there. This book is heavy on the romantic drama, but we get some action and mystery too. I was shocked with the direction this book went. There are some deaths that will rip your heart out. I am kinda still holding hope that there is more to the story on that front.
Bryn is still struggling to fit in with her mixed dragon blood amongst pure-breeds, but she is starting to gain some alleys. Her friends are always there for her at least. Even her seemingly horrible grandparents make a huge appearance in the story with a little more humanity than we all expected. Lots of changes that's for sure.
Zavien has done a 180 with his personaility. I liked him in Going Down in Flames (he was the main love interest after all) but I despised him in Bridges Burned. I just don't understand why his character had to change so much. Still not sure how I feel about the change overall.
Jaxon has made the biggest change, and for the better too. He is starting to think for himself and seeing that not all is right in their world. Bryn and him still fight, but it's more funny than sad now. They have a truce and it's nice. They even started working together, which still has me shocked.
Valmont seems to be a big front-runner for Bryn's heart. He is her knight, her protector, but their connection is starting to grow beyond that. I'm cool with it. I think Bryn would have broken if not for Valmont being there for her.
The Bad
The non-ending was so disappointing. I kept thinking all the crap Bryn was going through was leading somewhere and then all we get is a limp, flaccid NOTHING! I was pissed! It was just 300 pages of lead-up to book 3. No resolution, no answers.
Bryn disappointed me a little. I wish she was a more confident, independent woman, but her romantic life seems to be a bigger focus and it has weakened her a bit.
The Snuggly
The romance was all over the place. Will Bryn end up with Zavien, Jaxon, or Valmont? I am so confused right now. There is some kissing but that's about it.
Final Thoughts
I still can't wait for book 3. I love this series, even if Bridges Burned let me down a little. Still, I would recommend this series for dragon lovers.
Quotes
Jaxon’s eyes went to the display of baby clothes in the window. His brow furrowed and then his face colored. “Dear God, Bryn, how could you be so stupid?”
“What?” The moron thought she was pregnant? Bryn couldn’t wait to see Jaxon’s expression when he realized the truth. She put her hand on his chest and pushed him back a step. “While I appreciate your concern for my well-being, I’m not the one shopping for baby clothes.”
She bit her lip to keep from laughing as confusion wrinkled his brow. Then his gaze darted to his mother, and his face paled.“Mother?”
“Are you going to call her stupid?” Bryn asked.
“Of course not,” Jaxon snapped. He squared his shoulders. “Congratulations, Mother. I presume this is a happy occurrence?”
“Yes.” Lillith reached for his hand. “How would you feel about a baby brother?”
He looked at his shoes while he spoke. “I suppose it’s too late to suggest you adopt another kitten, instead?” His tone was dry, but there was truth in his words.
Lillith laughed. “Too late, but don’t worry. You’ll always be the firstborn male and your father’s heir.”
“Until the baby plots to overthrow you,” Bryn muttered. ...more
http://badbirdreads.com/review-atlant...At A Glance Good but I wanted more. The Good The concept of Atlantis Rising hooked me right away. So http://badbirdreads.com/review-atlant...At A Glance Good but I wanted more. The Good The concept of Atlantis Rising hooked me right away. So mysterious and intriguing. Alison is not quite human. She is something more and she has been alone amongst humans for a long time. Then all of a sudden, her people are coming out of the woodwork, but they bring bad news. Alison is in danger, because even among a unique race, Alison is special, and some people want to exploit that specialness.
It was so fun seeing Alison come out of her shell after years of distancing herself from everyone. She had a good attitude towards all the hardships she faced, like some brutal training and the possibility of dying. But her new amazing friends helped her out. I really liked the side characters. They were so supportive and protective. Alison needed that, even if she didn't realize it.
Ian was especially great. He was a kind-sorta love interest. He was so cocky but adorable. He had a normal teenager boy feel about him but he put on his grown-up pants often to save Alison and his race. Ian and Alison's relationship is left open-ended but I think they would make a cute couple. A fun, cute, but sometimes intense story overall. The Bad A lot of the scenarios felt a little forced. Events didn't happen naturally. They were set up and had very little logic or explanation behind it.
We get a rundown of the story behind Atlantis, it's fall, and so on, but very little detail. I wanted to know more about everything, like the Atlantis people and their abilities.
The plot was good but slow at times. I would've liked to have been excited more often. The Snuggly The romance was light so no sex and very little kissing. The book didn't need it anyway. Final Thoughts I wonder if this is going to be a series. I might grab book two if so. Atlantis Rising had a fun story and interesting concept. I would like to learn more about the Atlantis race though. Recommended.
Quotes "It was pretty nice of me to save your life, wasn't it? Is that why you kissed me?"
There were a lot of reasons why I had kissed him, but I wasn't going to tell him all of them. "I am grateful," I said. "But in general, I don't kiss guys for that reason."
"So you kiss a lot of guys?"
"No, you're the first one, but we can't do it again."
http://badbirdreads.com/review-fire-s...At A Glance Fire of Stars and Dragons was up and down for me. The Good Yay, dragonshifters! I can't rhttp://badbirdreads.com/review-fire-s...At A Glance Fire of Stars and Dragons was up and down for me. The Good Yay, dragonshifters! I can't resist a dragon book. I don't even know why. I think they are the most exotic of the supernatural creatures in books nowadays. Melissa did a great job of creating fun and interesting dragonshifters. I loved how unique each one felt. As Cait's group of loyal dragonshifters started to increase, we got to see so many different personalities and quirks. Cait even named her dragons based on their moods, like Smiley Dragon. It was cute how much they all adored and protected her. And Cait was the perfect, sassy girl to wrangle these magical beasts.
Theo was the main love interest. He struggled with the concept of love, but you could tell he loved Cait from the start. He was my favorite even when his struggle with Cait got a little dramatic. Dante, the demigod, was also after Cait's love, and he truly was an amazing guy. Who wouldn't love a man who can create anything out of thin air and come to your rescue with just a thought? Corrin was not in it for the love. He wanted Cait for power and survival. He started out as a douche but then ended up being pretty decent.
The action and drama were good. It's hard not to like a book with sexy dragons in it. The Bad There is very little backstory and world building, so I felt lost through most of the book, especially in the start when we are thrust into a world and situation we don't have a clue about. There were so many references and phrases that didn't make sense to me since they were never explained or done so way too late into the book.
This whole book is based off a love-rectangle. Shoot me now!
I was not a fan of Cait. She was so indecisive about who she was going to choose, yet she already chose from the beginning. So this whole book was about her backing out repeatedly on her first initial guy she picked. Douchy move on her part.
The writing was mediocre. The Snuggly The only thing I hate more than bad love-triangles is bad love-rectangles. I get that it is suppose to be the concept of the book, but Cait's reactions to the men were confusing and unnecessary. Not very romantic when your girl is dating and kissing other men, know what I am saying?
There is sex and it's okay, but nothing special. Final Thoughts I enjoyed myself for some parts. But is Fire of Stars and Dragons a good book? Not really. It was just okay. So much needed improvement. I wouldn't read the next book in the series, but I don't regret reading this book. Not really recommended overall.
Quotes “Cait’s lips are on mine, hard, insistent, hands fisting my hair, and she’s taking control, grinding her body to mine, finding ways to pleasure herself with my body. I am a willing slave to her desires, no intention of fighting her punishment for my resistance in accepting her love.”
“I’d say Hades will convert the Underworld into an ice skating rink before the king has a personality makeover.”
“Pretty packaging doesn’t make a bad gift any better.”
I can’t believe this is the end. I don’t even want to think about not reading about these characters’ new adventures ever again. Everyone knows I love assassin books. But His Fair Assassin series was different. It had the perfect amount of romance and history mixed in. I love that LaFevers took true events in history and twisted them into a tale of magic, love, and death.
Mortal Heart starts with Annith still stuck in the convent as her friends fight and kill for the country, Duchess, and God they love. But nefarious motives and decisions from the people she trusted has forced Annith to leave her home and find a new path. Annith is an amazing character because she is the perfect mix of sweet, gentle, fierce, and deadly. She is also a phenomenal assassin. How she hones her skills, how she practices until she obtains perfection, it’s all so admirable. I think Annith grows more than any character in the series, and that’s saying something. Her journey is long and complicated, but the knowledge she gains, both good and bad, is worth it in the end.
Balthazaar was such a great addiction to the series. I love how mysterious he stays throughout the whole novel. I was shocked by the things we learn about him in the end. I mean, wow, didn’t see that coming. He too is a great mix of gentle and fierce. He is the strong but silent type, which worked for him. His story was probably the most satisfying as it came to an end.
We get to see all of our old, favorite characters in action, which was pretty much the best part of the book. The plot was great and the action was pretty good. The twists and turns were what made this book. I am still in a state of shock with some of the reveals. I hate to see such a great series end, but I am happy it ended so well.
The Bad
With how strong the romance was in the other two books, I was expecting a better connection between Annith and Balthazaar.
We were left with many questions unanswered. Not huge important ones, but stuff I really wanted to know about, like the fate of certain people.
I think I loved the first two books so much, that this amazing book felt just plain normal good in comparison. It didn’t feel as exciting.
The Snuggly
I loved Annith. I loved Balthazaar. But together they didn’t spark as much as I hoped they would. I think they just needed to spend more time together. But I still liked them together. There is sex but it is skipped over so very YA.
Final Thoughts
A good ending to a great series. Not perfect by any means, but I knew it was impossible to top Dark Triumph, but LaFevers still rocked my socks off with Mortal Heart. Highly recommended.
Quotes
“I am sorry. I did not see you. Normally you are lurking in the corners or skulking in the shadows, not standing in plain sight.” “I never skulk, and lurk only sometimes.”
“I am beginning to think that love itself is never wrong. It is what love can drive people to do that is the problem.”
“Oh no. Do not start leaking. Ismae, come over here and hug her so we can all pretend it never happened and get on with our lives.”
“We are all of us, gods and mortals, made up of many pieces, some of them broken, some of them scarred, but none of them the total sum of who we are.” ...more
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