“Reborn”
When Siobhan, Anna, and Jimmy saw something glowing in the distance during a party at a local farm, they did what you’d expect most teenagers would do and went to investigate. What they found appeared to be an injured man. He seemed confused and called Siobhan by the name of Psyche. When he reached out a hand to touch her, something strange happened when she took his hand. She ran off to hide in the woods as a pair of butterfly wings grew out of her back. Later that evening, when the three of them returned to try and help the stranger, he was gone.
Years later, while in a college sorority, Siobhan again encounters the man from the woods. It seems he is a teaching assistant for her “World Myths and Legends” class. But what happened to him that night in the woods? He claims that he is Eros and she is his wife Psyche, now returned to him. But Siobhan has no memory of anything he is claiming. Could he really be the Olympian God Eros? And if so, what is he doing teaching a class at her college?
I enjoyed this romantic tale involving multiple Olympian Gods. It has definitely captured my interest and made me want to find out what happens next. I did catch a few small typos while reading, but not enough to really distract from the story. Be warned, there are some sexual situations in this book that while not overly graphic in detail are likely still a bit inappropriate for younger readers.
“Relapse”
This second book in the series box set continues the tale begun in the previous book. We get to see more of these descendants of the Olympian Gods. Siobhan and her sorority sisters now know the truth of their heritage, and while embracing this legacy are also dealing with finding new potential members who also are descended from the gods. But there are new problems brewing that they must also deal with.
I enjoyed this book as well as the first one. I found the story quite entertaining. It drew me in & kept me reading later into the night than I should have. Like the first book, I do feel the need to warn the reader that a good deal of sex does take place in this book. And while it is not extremely graphic, it might make it inappropriate for younger readers.
“Revenge”
This was an interesting shorter tale focusing on another of the university’s greek houses, the Alpha Rho Sorority. It was nice to see that as diverse as humanity had become over the generations, that there more than one house contained members who were also descended from the gods. It was also interesting to see what happens when one of their members is looking for revenge for perceived wrongs and how they deal with it.
“Reclaim”
This book focuses mainly on the descendants of Nike and their work as Guardians, protecting humans from the gods who might seek to use them as pawns in the upcoming battle to take control of Olympus. I enjoyed reading this one and seeing how the gods in their “human” personas dealt with their daily lives while keeping secret their true mission to keep both worlds safe from the interference of the gods on humankind.
“Rectify”
This story is told from the point of view of Apate. At times parts of it overlap a bit with the other books in this set, but without attempting to combine them all into one very long story, there really isn’t any other way to tell Apate’s story without losing parts of her tale or parts of the other books I read before reaching this one.
I think that within this series so far, this story was my favorite one. All of them were very interesting and enjoyable to read but I believe this one had the most unique perspective from among any of the characters we have been introduced to thus far. The author showed us a side or Apate that none of the other books in this set did. I appreciated being allowed to see this other side of her and hope she will appear again in another book by this author. But as with the other books in the set, there is a good deal of sex throughout, making it somewhat inappropriate for younger readers. I, however, am looking forward to seeing this series continued in future tales of the Olympian Gods and their descendants.
Monday, June 24, 2019
Monday, June 17, 2019
"The Finest Challenge" by Jean Rabe
In this, the third book in the Finest trilogy, Kalantha has made her way back to the Palace and been reunited with her brother. She has learned much about the evil assassin birds who have attacked them repeatedly and brought him a book that explains much of what was previously unknown to them. Meven has realized that he was manipulated into starting the war, and that it is up to him to find a way to end it.
But Bishop DeNogaret is not yet done with his scheming and his plans to take control of the world. His minions are still actively working to see that he wins in the end. Can Kalantha & Meven manage to find a way to stop them and return peace to the lands?
Of the three books in this trilogy, I believe this one to be my favorite. Not only was it well written and well edited (many of the typos I noticed in the first two books were not present in this one.) Had I not needed to put the book down to sleep at night, I likely would have just read it straight through to the end.
The characters in this book were very interesting as well. While Meven was often oblivious to much of the way the world worked and treated people, his sister Kalantha was often forced by circumstance to see the things he never noticed. She saw how people in different areas of town treated those around them, or how the women were often assigned more and harder tasks to complete than the boys who were given much more freedom in their daily lives.
And while I won’t spoil the ending for you, I enjoyed the manner in which the author wrapped everything up and closed the story. For me it was a very satisfying ending to a very interesting series. Recommended.
"TheFin
But Bishop DeNogaret is not yet done with his scheming and his plans to take control of the world. His minions are still actively working to see that he wins in the end. Can Kalantha & Meven manage to find a way to stop them and return peace to the lands?
Of the three books in this trilogy, I believe this one to be my favorite. Not only was it well written and well edited (many of the typos I noticed in the first two books were not present in this one.) Had I not needed to put the book down to sleep at night, I likely would have just read it straight through to the end.
The characters in this book were very interesting as well. While Meven was often oblivious to much of the way the world worked and treated people, his sister Kalantha was often forced by circumstance to see the things he never noticed. She saw how people in different areas of town treated those around them, or how the women were often assigned more and harder tasks to complete than the boys who were given much more freedom in their daily lives.
And while I won’t spoil the ending for you, I enjoyed the manner in which the author wrapped everything up and closed the story. For me it was a very satisfying ending to a very interesting series. Recommended.
"TheFin
Monday, June 10, 2019
"Dusk (Hero Society #3)" by Jessica Florence
Echo Cross’s parents were killed on her 16th birthday and she barely managed to escape being murdered as well. Why they were killed, she didn’t know. But it was also the day that she discovered that she had the power to transform into different animals. Until then she had been just an ordinary, average teenager living in her parents home on the reservation.
Years later, Echo is now a detective on the Seahill police force. Once again she manages to narrowly escape being killed by someone who has discovered she has unique abilities and who has left her nearly dead as they sought to learn more. While she does manage to escape, she is left so weak that she very nearly dies anyway.
If it weren’t for a kind man who found and rescued her, she would have not have survived. Thanks to his care she slowly managed to heal, but unfortunately seemed to be stuck in the form of a cat. It wasn’t until Phillip Griffin and his sister Rose arrive from the Hero Society to talk to him about his cat that anyone realized that she was actually much more…. As was the man who had rescued her.
Like the book before it, this story drew me in and kept me reading until I finished it. This has been a fascinating series so far and I am very much enjoying seeing how it will play out. Not everyone seems to appreciate the help of those gifted with special abilities, and in this book we learn that there are those who posses a type of magic as well. Each new part of the story adds something else to draw in the reader and makes me want to know what will happen next. I am looking forward to learning more about what is happening and where the story will take us.
One thing the reader does need to be aware of is that this is not a story meant for younger readers. While the sex in the book is not graphic, it is very clearly a part of the story and sometimes a little more descriptive than may be appropriate for younger audiences.
Years later, Echo is now a detective on the Seahill police force. Once again she manages to narrowly escape being killed by someone who has discovered she has unique abilities and who has left her nearly dead as they sought to learn more. While she does manage to escape, she is left so weak that she very nearly dies anyway.
If it weren’t for a kind man who found and rescued her, she would have not have survived. Thanks to his care she slowly managed to heal, but unfortunately seemed to be stuck in the form of a cat. It wasn’t until Phillip Griffin and his sister Rose arrive from the Hero Society to talk to him about his cat that anyone realized that she was actually much more…. As was the man who had rescued her.
Like the book before it, this story drew me in and kept me reading until I finished it. This has been a fascinating series so far and I am very much enjoying seeing how it will play out. Not everyone seems to appreciate the help of those gifted with special abilities, and in this book we learn that there are those who posses a type of magic as well. Each new part of the story adds something else to draw in the reader and makes me want to know what will happen next. I am looking forward to learning more about what is happening and where the story will take us.
One thing the reader does need to be aware of is that this is not a story meant for younger readers. While the sex in the book is not graphic, it is very clearly a part of the story and sometimes a little more descriptive than may be appropriate for younger audiences.
Monday, June 3, 2019
"A Curse of Torment" by E. A. Owen
Death and misfortune seems to follow and haunt Mary’s family. While there have been times of happiness in her life, they always seem to be immediately followed by multiple tragedies. Somehow she seems to be spared from the accidents that follow and steal all sources of happiness from her over and over again. But why? Will it ever end or is her family doomed to have their moments of happiness continuously destroyed in the worst possible ways?
I don’t often read books that seem to focus so much on the unfortunate things that happen in one’s life, and to have them happen over and over again through several generations made me begin to wonder if there really was a point to everything happening to this poor family? After a while there was a clear pattern and I could easily predict what was coming next or when happiness would turn to disaster.
In the end I did learn reason for the misfortunes that haunted this family. But after such a big buildup, to me the ending almost felt like it came too quickly. I felt as if everything were too neatly wrapped up in a bow to end the story. And as odd as this may sound, it doesn’t change the fact that I did keep reading to the end. Despite the fact that I saw much of the story coming, I enjoyed it enough to decide that I do want to read the sequel.
I don’t think that this story is for everyone though. One of the major plot points involves a young girl being raped and getting pregnant by a man who was supposed to be watching over her when her parents were away. (This event is not depicted in the book, the reader only learns about it after her pregnancy is discovered.) Still, it might be a bit of a trigger point for some and thus I felt a need to mention it.
Something about this story definitely stuck in my brain and keeps rattling around in there, making me think about it again as time passes. I’m not entirely sure that I can really explain what it is that keeps me thinking about it, but I will be continuing on and reading the next book. Maybe then I’ll be able to understand what it is about this story that has struck me so strongly. After all, a good story is one that keeps the reader not only engaged at the time, but thinking about it after they’ve finished reading it, right?
I don’t often read books that seem to focus so much on the unfortunate things that happen in one’s life, and to have them happen over and over again through several generations made me begin to wonder if there really was a point to everything happening to this poor family? After a while there was a clear pattern and I could easily predict what was coming next or when happiness would turn to disaster.
In the end I did learn reason for the misfortunes that haunted this family. But after such a big buildup, to me the ending almost felt like it came too quickly. I felt as if everything were too neatly wrapped up in a bow to end the story. And as odd as this may sound, it doesn’t change the fact that I did keep reading to the end. Despite the fact that I saw much of the story coming, I enjoyed it enough to decide that I do want to read the sequel.
I don’t think that this story is for everyone though. One of the major plot points involves a young girl being raped and getting pregnant by a man who was supposed to be watching over her when her parents were away. (This event is not depicted in the book, the reader only learns about it after her pregnancy is discovered.) Still, it might be a bit of a trigger point for some and thus I felt a need to mention it.
Something about this story definitely stuck in my brain and keeps rattling around in there, making me think about it again as time passes. I’m not entirely sure that I can really explain what it is that keeps me thinking about it, but I will be continuing on and reading the next book. Maybe then I’ll be able to understand what it is about this story that has struck me so strongly. After all, a good story is one that keeps the reader not only engaged at the time, but thinking about it after they’ve finished reading it, right?
Monday, May 27, 2019
"Werewolf Nights" by Mari Hamill
Wereville’s claim to fame is their annual Full Moon Festival. Legend has it that the town’s population were originally descended from both scandinavian werewolves and werewolf hunters. Every year during the festival people dress up as either a werewolf or a Hunter and act out imagined scenarios of things that might have happened hundreds of years before. When a movie company chooses Wereville as the location to film the 3rd movie in the “Yellow Fangs” movie series, the townsfolk hope that the movie will bring in more tourism to the town and help keep everyone from needing to close up shop and move elsewhere.
Catherine runs the town’s bakery. She has had a rough life. First, the man she loves seems to have disappeared off the face of the earth never to be heard from again. Then, after marrying the man who had pursued her all through high school, he apparently dies in a boating accident after having run through Catherine’s inheritance and been accused of embezzlement. Now, she is struggling to pay her bills and keep the bakery going.
When the woman cast as the movie’s leading lady suddenly quits and leaves town without notice, the director decides to cast a local in the role instead. Catherine auditions and is chosen for the part. It seems to be a role she was destined to play as it was based on one her ancestors who married a man that legend claims was attacked by a werewolf on his wedding night. His love for his new bride was so strong it was said he remained and has waited for her return ever since, Is Catherine to meant to take the place of the werewolf’s lost love? Can she save both herself and any others who come across this cursed being before they are either killed or become werewolves themselves?
I enjoyed reading this story. The cover artwork and the setup for the story reminds me of old monster movies that I used to watch on TV when I was a kid. I believe this was the author’s intent when writing this book. It worked out very well and I found the story quite entertaining. I could very easily picture the scenes described in the book as if I were watching it instead of merely reading it. I found it to be a fun and entertaining story.
Catherine runs the town’s bakery. She has had a rough life. First, the man she loves seems to have disappeared off the face of the earth never to be heard from again. Then, after marrying the man who had pursued her all through high school, he apparently dies in a boating accident after having run through Catherine’s inheritance and been accused of embezzlement. Now, she is struggling to pay her bills and keep the bakery going.
When the woman cast as the movie’s leading lady suddenly quits and leaves town without notice, the director decides to cast a local in the role instead. Catherine auditions and is chosen for the part. It seems to be a role she was destined to play as it was based on one her ancestors who married a man that legend claims was attacked by a werewolf on his wedding night. His love for his new bride was so strong it was said he remained and has waited for her return ever since, Is Catherine to meant to take the place of the werewolf’s lost love? Can she save both herself and any others who come across this cursed being before they are either killed or become werewolves themselves?
I enjoyed reading this story. The cover artwork and the setup for the story reminds me of old monster movies that I used to watch on TV when I was a kid. I believe this was the author’s intent when writing this book. It worked out very well and I found the story quite entertaining. I could very easily picture the scenes described in the book as if I were watching it instead of merely reading it. I found it to be a fun and entertaining story.
Monday, May 20, 2019
"The Bullybuster" by Clay Cormany
It began with Trevor Newsome being pushed down a stairwell at school. He was a notorious bully and had been terrorizing others at the school for quite some time. Then Colt Miller, another bully, was attacked and his nose broken in the boys bathroom. Each of them claimed to have been attacked by a robot, though their descriptions of their attackers didn’t match. Nor was any robot found anywhere nearby, so where was this mysterious device? And despite a thorough search of the school, how was no such robot found? And most importantly… who had built it and who was using it to attack the school bullies?
This was a very interesting young adult tale that dealt with high school bullying in a very realistic manner. It was also an entertaining mystery as the main character Owen needs to help his aunt, the school’s new principal, find the robot and those responsible for using it to attack other students before anyone else is hurt or possibly killed in a future attack.
This tale showed how often bullying goes unreported by both the victims as well as witnesses for many reasons. It also shows what can happen when those being bullied have had to deal with more than anyone should have to deal with on a daily basis. The results can cause devastating issues that the victims must often face every day for the rest of their lives.
What happens when the victims of extreme or repeated bullying stand up to or seek revenge against their tormentors? This book shows one very real possibility of what could happen. Given how quickly robotics are becoming a part of our everyday lives, I could easily see high school students, and possibly even middle school students, being capable of building a “bullybuster” to help solve their problems with school bullies.
I found this a well-written story, though the book did have a few issues of extra spaces appearing in the middle of words here & there. It caught and held my interest throughout the book. I would definitely recommend reading this story to anyone. So many kids in school are bullied every day and whether the reader was or wasn’t a victim or a bully in school, I believe they will still find it worth their time to read. Recommended.
This was a very interesting young adult tale that dealt with high school bullying in a very realistic manner. It was also an entertaining mystery as the main character Owen needs to help his aunt, the school’s new principal, find the robot and those responsible for using it to attack other students before anyone else is hurt or possibly killed in a future attack.
This tale showed how often bullying goes unreported by both the victims as well as witnesses for many reasons. It also shows what can happen when those being bullied have had to deal with more than anyone should have to deal with on a daily basis. The results can cause devastating issues that the victims must often face every day for the rest of their lives.
What happens when the victims of extreme or repeated bullying stand up to or seek revenge against their tormentors? This book shows one very real possibility of what could happen. Given how quickly robotics are becoming a part of our everyday lives, I could easily see high school students, and possibly even middle school students, being capable of building a “bullybuster” to help solve their problems with school bullies.
I found this a well-written story, though the book did have a few issues of extra spaces appearing in the middle of words here & there. It caught and held my interest throughout the book. I would definitely recommend reading this story to anyone. So many kids in school are bullied every day and whether the reader was or wasn’t a victim or a bully in school, I believe they will still find it worth their time to read. Recommended.
Monday, May 13, 2019
"Of Wolves and Sheep" by S.E. Meyer
In the future, it is very important for people to get their “treatments” every week to avoid dying of Fleishman’s Disease, something that had been affecting more and more people each year. Those who couldn’t afford the highly expensive treatments for the disease would soon die from it, though more than likely they would be banished before then to live beyond the wall with the others who had been previously banished for one reason or another.
Montana (Anna) has lived her whole life inside the wall, following the rules and working her way up to become a Homicide Detective just as her mother had done. But now she is learning more about her mother’s murder as well as many other things. Can she, along with the one known as the Lone Wolf, solve the mystery of who had killed her mother and why before Anna winds up in the same position herself?
I really enjoyed this novella. It was well written and well edited. This book begins a fascinating series that drew me in & held my interest throughout the entire story. While only a fictional tale, it contains enough realistic behaviors and reactions to various stimuli that it is easy to see how what happens in the story could very easily begin to happen in today’s world. The ending of this book though is what truly makes me look forward to reading the sequel once it is released. (I won’t spoil the ending for you, but I’ve already pre-ordered my copy!)
If you enjoy dystopian fiction that contains enough of a parallel to things happening in today’s world, then I strongly recommend reading this book.
Montana (Anna) has lived her whole life inside the wall, following the rules and working her way up to become a Homicide Detective just as her mother had done. But now she is learning more about her mother’s murder as well as many other things. Can she, along with the one known as the Lone Wolf, solve the mystery of who had killed her mother and why before Anna winds up in the same position herself?
I really enjoyed this novella. It was well written and well edited. This book begins a fascinating series that drew me in & held my interest throughout the entire story. While only a fictional tale, it contains enough realistic behaviors and reactions to various stimuli that it is easy to see how what happens in the story could very easily begin to happen in today’s world. The ending of this book though is what truly makes me look forward to reading the sequel once it is released. (I won’t spoil the ending for you, but I’ve already pre-ordered my copy!)
If you enjoy dystopian fiction that contains enough of a parallel to things happening in today’s world, then I strongly recommend reading this book.
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