Tori's Review: Alchemystic by Anton Strout

Released: September 25, 2012
Paperback: 304 pages
Price: $7.99
Publisher: Penguin
Source: Publisher
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Series: The Spellmason Chronicles 
Buy: Amazon

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AN OLD FRIEND OF THE FAMILY…
Alexandra Belarus is a struggling artist living in New York City, even though her family is rich in real estate, including a towering Gothic Gramercy Park building built by her great-great-grandfather. But the truth of her bloodline is revealed when she is attacked on the street and saved by an inhumanly powerful winged figure. A figure who knows the Belarus name…

Lexi’s great-great-grandfather was a Spellmason—an artisan who could work magic on stone. But in his day, dark forces conspired against him and his, so he left a spell of protection on his family. Now that Lexi is in danger, the spell has awoken her ancestor’s most trusted and fearsome creation: a gargoyle named Stanis.

Lexi and Stanis are equally surprised to find themselves bound to each other. But as they learn to work together, they realize that only united can they save the city they both love…

My Rating: DNF

My Opinion:
Alchemystic has an incredibly interesting premise, but I was not a fan of the writing style--which is ultimately why I could not continue reading this piece. I had no issue with the plot, but I also did not read enough of the book to be a good judge of said plot.

The heroine and her gargoyle sounded like the same exact character. In fact, I had a slight problem adjusting to the transitions between characters/chapters because of that. Their voices were also dull for me, which I hate to admit since I really wanted to like this book.

Another problem I had with the writing was that it felt somewhat chunky; the paragraphs were long and somewhat tedious to read, which I think contributed with my lack of enjoyment regarding the character voices.

I'm sure many others will enjoy this writing style, and they will enjoy the characters. Unfortunately, it simply did not work for me this time around. I would suggest reading a sample of ALCHEMYSTIC before purchasing it to see if the writing is your cup of tea, first.


Series Order:
1. Alchemystic

Tori's Review: Lothaire by Kresley Cole

Released: January 10, 2012
Hardcover: 506 pages
Price: $25.00
Publisher: Simon & Schuster 
Source: Bought 
Genre: Paranormal Romance 
Series: Immortals After Dark 
Buy: Amazon


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ALL FEAR THE ENEMY OF OLD

Driven by his insatiable need for revenge, Lothaire, the Lore’s most ruthless vampire, plots to seize the Horde’s crown. But bloodlust and torture have left him on the brink of madness—until he finds Elizabeth Peirce, the key to his victory. He captures the unique young mortal, intending to offer up her very soul in exchange for power, yet Elizabeth soothes his tormented mind and awakens within him emotions Lothaire believed he could no longer experience.

A DEADLY FORCE DWELLS WITHIN HER

Growing up in desperate poverty, Ellie Peirce yearned for a better life, never imagining she’d be convicted of murder—or that an evil immortal would abduct her from death row. But Lothaire is no savior, as he himself plans to sacrifice Ellie in one month’s time. And yet the vampire seems to ache for her touch, showering her with wealth and sexual pleasure. In a bid to save her soul, Ellie surrenders her body to the wicked vampire, while vowing to protect her heart.

CENTURIES OF COLD INDIFFERENCE SHATTERED

Elizabeth tempts Lothaire beyond reason, as only his fated mate could. As the month draws to a close, he must choose between a millennia-old blood vendetta and his irresistible prisoner. Will Lothaire succumb to the miseries of his past . . . or risk everything for a future with her?

My Rating:

 

My Opinion:
I have no words to describe how fucking amazing LOTHAIRE was, so I'm not even going to bother trying to write a "real" review. If you've read any of the IAD books, you know how kickass Lothaire (as a character) is, and if you haven't read his book yet, I genuinely don't know what could be stopping you... aside from my advice to NOT read this book if you haven't read the previous ones in the series, that is.

If you haven't read any of Kresley's Immortals After Dark books, then you are seriously missing out on one AMAZING paranormal romance series. All of Kresley's characters are three dimensional and funny to boot. Every single time I read another IAD book, I feel like I am being reunited with a bunch of old friends. No other book or series has had that effect on me. Ever.

LOTHAIRE gets two thumbs up and a highly, highly, HIGHLY recommended from me. I don't dare say anything more, since I don't want to spoil it, and since there really isn't much for me to say without beginning the fangirl squealing. Read it, people!


Series Order:
1. The Warlord Wants Forever
2. A Hunger Like No Other
3. No Rest for the Wicked
4. Wicked Deeds on a Winter's Night
5. Dark Needs at Night's Edge
6. Dark Desires After Dusk
7. Kiss of a Demon King
8. Deep Kiss of Winter (Tori's Review)
9. Pleasure of a Dark Prince
10. Demon from the Dark (Tori's Review)
11. Dreams of a Dark Warrior (Tori's Review)
12. Lothaire

Tori's Review: Serpent's Storm by Amber Benson

Paperback: 320 pages
Price: $7.99
ISBN: 978-0441020096
Released: February 22, 2011
Publisher: Penguin
Author's Website: Amber Benson 
Buy it: Amazon
Obtained: Publisher
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Series: Calliope Reaper Jones 
Book Order:
1. Death's Daughter
2. Cat's Claw
3. Serpent's Storm

Calliope just wants to make it big in the Big Apple like any other working girl. But Callie is also Death's Daughter, no matter how much she tries to stay out of the family business. And now her older sister has made a deal with the Devil himself to engage in a hostile takeover of both Death Inc. and Heaven-once they get Callie out of the way.

My Rating: DNF

My Opinion:
I try to avoid reading Urban Fantasies later in the series when I can help it because it's usually a huge leap of faith by beginning so late. The book either drags me into its universe and I enjoy it, or I am left feeling severely disappointed and guilty.

But sometimes, the writing simply does not work for me. After reading the first third of SERPENT'S STORM, I'd finally had enough with Calliope. Her personality grated on my nerves, and she came off as a whiny child I had no interest in learning more about. Instead of feeling invested, or even sympathetic, I grew agitated and restless. (Though to be fair, I suppose it doesn't help that I judged her too much based on her issue with Daniel at the beginning of the book.)

Another issue I had was the storyline. It just didn't draw me in after a while. So, because of a heroine I did not like, and a plot that did not work for me, I'm afraid I will be DNFing this book.

Tori's Review: By These Ten Bones by Clare B Dunkle

 

Paperback - 256 pages 

Price: $9.99
ISBN 13: 978-0399246777
Released: February 15, 2011
Publisher: Macmillan
Author's Website: Clare B Dunkle
Buy it: Amazon
Obtained: Publisher / Blue Slip Media
Genre: YA
Series: N/A
Book Order:
1. By These Ten Bones

There's hidden places all over this land-old, old places. Places with a chain for them to chain up the wolf when it's time.

A bone-chilling tale of werewolves and love, set in medieval Scotland

A mysterious young man has come to a small Highland town. His talent for wood carving soon wins the admiration of the weaver's daughter, Maddie. Fascinated by the silent carver, she sets out to gain his trust, only to find herself drawn into a terrifying secret that threatens everything she loves.

There is an evil presence in the carver's life that cannot be controlled, and Maddie watches her town fall under a shadow. One by one, people begin to die. Caught in the middle, Maddie must decide what matters most to her-and what price she is willing to pay to keep it.

My Rating:  

My Opinion:
BY THESE TEN BONES (BTTB) was an enjoyable read, though I admit that I had a few issues with the novel. If anything, it has more to do with the manuscript's age and what was accepted by agents and publishers back then. But first, let's focus on the good, shall we?

Clare knows how to make generally likable, strong heroines. She also knows how to weave an interesting plot and write vividly beautiful descriptions. I think that these two elements alone encouraged me to continue reading this novel.

This is a historical paranormal book. It is based in Scotland, and is about a werewolf curse. I thought that, while most authors focus on present day, this was an excellent way to incorporate two interesting features and making it unique.

There were two issues I had with the book: the POV, and all the descriptions. The POV, third person omni, did not specifically follow Maddie; instead, I felt more like a ghost following each character around. On one hand, this kept the story flowing constantly, but on the other, I did not connect fully with Maddie and Paul until much later in the story.

As for the descriptions, I've gotten used to reading lots of debuts which avoid full descriptions. It has been encouraged for writers to provide the bare minimum so readers can use their imaginations to fill in the blank. When I read page after page which describes this and that, I tend to skim because I don't care about all that information now. That happened to me when I was younger too, while reading the Harry Potter books.

While those two complaints are somewhat hefty ones, regarding a reader's experience, I do not believe they will ultimately ruin the book for most. If a person reads BTTB first, and finds he/she does not enjoy it, I hope he/she will not automatically dismiss Clare as an author. Her more recent works were extremely enjoyable for me, and I think they will be for most readers too