Confession of a Book Junkie: Angels

Showing posts with label Angels. Show all posts

Branded - Keary Taylor (Fall of Angels 1)

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Format: Kindle Edition
Paperback: 374 pages
Publisher: CreateSpace (March 4, 2010)
Language: English
Level: Young Adult/Adult

Back of Book:
Jessica's had the nightmares for as long as she can remember. Nightmares of being judged for people who have died, of being branded by the angels. Her friends and family think she's a crazy because of it all. Yet she carries the mark of the condemned, seared into the back of her neck, and hides it and herself away from the world.

But when two men she can't ignore enter her life everything changes, including the nightmares. The two of them couldn't be more different. She will do anything to be with one of them. Even tell him the truth about angels, why she never sleeps, and the scar on the back of her neck. But one of the two has set events into motion what will puller her toward her own judgment and turn her into the object of her greatest fear.

I would have to say this book is another fast read. The thing that I found most interesting is that the take on Angels is different in this book. Where they are romanticized in most books, in this one they are judgmental and indifferent. They almost play the villains in the story as they come to lack the very thing that we consider to make them the kind, compassionate beings they are usually portrayed as. The story starts off VERY slowly. But I kept reading hoping to have something exciting happen. while the main villain is pretty obvious, the story centers around Jessica and her inability to sleep. She chooses not to as she's forced to endure being a stand-in body wise for those who have recently died awaiting judgement. She goes through all the pain for them in a physical sense ( my guess is because they no longer have a physical body, but this is really never explained). This book isn't highly paranormal but rather has paranormal aspects to it. I read this story as I waited for something huge to happen and pick up the speed. I will be honest and say it never does. It isn't written like a true YA book, no angst, but rather almost like a chick lit book, or a "day in the life" is the feeling I got when reading it. The story isn't action packed in any sense, but rather it's more a story with angels thrown in. Not that it makes it bad, just simply sorta of different/boring. But you keep reading hoping something more will happen, an explanation, a good fight, anything, it doesn't. The end of the story does pick up, but only at the end. This book feels more like a prequel or intro to the series. I will be reading the second one to see if this is true. I can't agree with the $13.00+ price tag of the book, but again on Kindle right now it's only $0.99 or see if you can borrow it from a local library. At that price, when you just want an in between book this is a good suggestion. It's not the best, but it's not the worst either. Give it a try.

RATING: ☆☆ 1/2

Demon Kissed-H.M. Ward(Ivy Taylor - Volume 1)

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Format: Kindle Edition
Paperback: 326 pages
Publisher: Laree Bailey Press (March 30, 2011)
Language: English
Level: Young Adult

Back of Book:
The Valefar boy tricked Ivy Taylor into kissing him, but he took much more than a kiss—he stole her soul and left her within inches of death. By surviving, Ivy is drawn into the conflict between the Martis and the Valefar. The war between these two immortal forces has raged for millennia without distraction. Until now.
Ivy is an anomaly—she is the only person who has ever walked away from a demon kiss alive. Her survival gives her unique and deadly abilities. Too powerful to ignore, Ivy is a threat to both armies. These two ancient enemies will stop at nothing to kill the seventeen-year-old.
Surviving is nothing new for headstrong Ivy, but her survival has never depended on another person before. This time it does. And if she misplaces her trust, she's dead. To her horror, she starts falling in love at the worst possible time—with the enemy. He appears to be protecting her. But she can't be certain if he is trying to help her, or help himself to her power. For Ivy, trusting the right person is the difference between love and survival, or a deadly demon kiss.

Ivy is a teenager who has issues stemming from different areas in her life. Her sister died the year before, her father left, and she basically just want coast through life having everyone leave her alone. She is someone who believes that everyone that comes into contact with her will end up hurt in some way. She finds out that she has been chosen by Angels to ensure the survival of mankind. But while this was happening something went wrong. Not prepared for what is happening to her, she learns that she is part of a prophecy that will affect the rest of her life. As things come to light, she also forced to face a bond she doesn't understand. While she has a best friend named Collin who may not be what she thinks he is. (While this part is some what predictable, but doesn't interfere with the story in anyway.) Then enter Eric. The good guy or is he? Her mentor is a nun name Sister Al and is one of the most loveable characters in the book.

Let me just say this is a very fast read, but it was a good fast read. This story is fast paced, sucking you in at page one. The author wastes no time jumping right into action. The story stresses not everything is so black and white, and rarely is good just one thing and evil just another. While parts of this story are slightly predictable, the explanations come very quickly and you learn of Ivy's place in the prophecy. The reasoning never goes into great detail but that isn't really an issue in any way. I found that I love the author's descriptive powers. She drew me in and I could picture the story as it happened. This makes for a great story for me personally as I want it to play like a movie in my head. Filled with lots of action, this story makes you want to know more. While I can't agree with the $12.99 price tag to the book, I will say that it's worth more than the $0.99 Kindle is charging at this moment. If you have the Kindle or the application anywhere, give it a try, I think that you'll like it.

RATING: ☆☆☆ 1/2

Eternal Rider-Larissa Ione

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Book 1 Lords of Deliverance
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RATING: 18+
Mass Market Paperback: 432 pages
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing; 1 edition (April 1, 2011)

They are here. They ride. The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.

His name is Ares, and the fate of mankind rests on his powerful shoulders. If he falls to the forces of evil, the world falls too. As one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, he is far stronger than any mortal, but even he cannot fight his destiny forever. Not when his own brother plots against him.

Yet there is one last hope. Gifted in a way other humans can't-or won't-understand, Cara Thornhart is the key to both this Horseman's safety and his doom. But involving Cara will prove treacherous, even beyond the maddening, dangerous desire that seizes them the moment they meet. For staving off eternal darkness could have a staggering cost: Cara's life.

Every once and awhile you do run across a writer that is so talented in the genre they have chosen you can’t help but think “Yes this is exactly what you should be doing”. One writer that I have found that is exactly like that is Larissa Ione. She has a gift of sucking you right into her story/world immediately. As I’ve been reading her books since the first was released and have watched her writing remain consistent while getting better. Her characters for the most part are very memorable, along with the way she presents her world with seriousness, fantasy, paranormal and a touch of humor. She also can write a very hot, sexy scene without crossing over into vulgarities that some writers seem to do. (I like that, and found myself fanning myself several times.) While the beginning pulls you in, I will say you will only be slightly confused if you haven’t read the other series. My suggestion would be to read some of the ‘terms’ in the front of the book if you need clarification on certain groups like the Aegis and R XR. Two of the side characters are straight out of the Demonica series, and you may get lost. But my advice is not to over think it, or simply go back and read them, it’s worth it. With that said, let’s review.

Book 1 of the series starts the story of War and Cara. Ares (War) is the epitome of the Alpha male, at one point his character states that he isn’t based after the Greek God Ares but rather Ares is based on him. This arrogance shows how he is at the beginning of the book. Cara on the other hand is a follower of peace in a way. She believes that violence isn’t always necessary and there is always another solution. This makes for some interesting conversations in certain parts of the books. Ares is one of the four horsemen of the apocalypse and in this story line we watch as he tries to stop his seal from being broken as he won’t bring on Armageddon with it. On the flip side is the loss of his brother Repher, who has become Pestilence the first horseman of the apocalypse as his seal was broken, pushes to break the seals of his brother and sister. Being in the wrong place at the wrong time pushes Cara into their world, but she’s also hiding secrets and talents of her own.

This book was fun to read, I did it in several hours. I must have laughed out loud like a loon several times. She does the best at bringing to life characters that seem to all interact well with others. I loved Limos (Horsewoman of famine) her humor and sarcastic wit was fun to read and broke up any monotony that threatened to take over the page. At one point she’s referred to as the ADD horseman of the apocalypse. There is the brother Thanatos (Than – Horseman of Death) who has a lot left to reveal, honestly I can’t wait. I loved all the characters. The pace was well done, the love story touching and humor was just enough to make me laugh in several places in the book. It’s honestly hard for me to write this without giving too much away. I would say get the book, read it, and enjoy. I thoroughly enjoyed it, I know I will be giving it another read, maybe two.

RATING: ☆☆☆☆☆

Passion - Lauren Kate (Book 3 Fallen Series)

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Reading level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 432 pages
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers (June 14, 2011)

Luce would die for Daniel.

And she has. Over and over again. Throughout time, Luce and Daniel have found each other, only to be painfully torn apart: Luce dead, Daniel left broken and alone. But perhaps it doesn’t need to be that way. . . .

Luce is certain that something—or someone—in a past life can help her in her present one. So she begins the most important journey of this lifetime . . . going back eternities to witness firsthand her romances with Daniel . . . and finally unlock the key to making their love last.
Cam and the legions of angels and Outcasts are desperate to catch Luce, but none are as frantic as Daniel. He chases Luce through their shared pasts, terrified of what might happen if she rewrites history.

Because their romance for the ages could go up in flames . . . forever.

Sweeping across centuries, PASSION is the third novel in the unforgettably epic FALLEN series.

Click HERE for the Walmart Exclusive Side Story (link under picture of book)
NOTE: Not much of a story but more of a deleted scene. Reading it before or after shouldn't make a huge difference or impact on the story itself. But I liked that Miles voiced a LOT of what I've been thinking about Daniel's view on Luce.

So this story really leads off where book 2 left off. Luce is over emotional and steps through an announcer to the past. She has no idea how to control where she is going or what she’ll find when she gets there, but she steps through anyway. Fortunately for her after stumbling through a few lifetimes she does chance upon a guide. Is the guide friend or foe? She sets out on a quest to find the answers to several questions that have carried over from the previous book. What is love? What is a soulmate? And is the drive to be with Daniel on born of their curse or their love? Why is she so special that Daniel would live through the agony again and again?

Out of three books I enjoyed this one the most so far. While the redundant tendency of the story to state the dangers of time travel, it was interesting to see both Luce and Daniel’s side to their turbulent love story. While Luce tries to find meaning in her dying and reincarnating and Daniel relives the agony of losing her over many lifetimes again (but not without reason). Can she truly live if she has no what idea what it’s like to die? This is somewhat addressed and Luce goes through the discovering her past lives and loves with Daniel. While they may not all be rich in detail, the lessons learned there are important to her. Of course this is all leading to the final book. While I will say that the way they met the first time isn’t talked about, even through 5000 years of history, you sense that it’s more important or altering than even Daniel can remember. Through the book you see love, devotion, loyalty, agony and more. The scenes where Luce sees the aftermath of her dying while Daniel remains is heartbreaking. I liked that I got a sense of his feelings about the whole situation. Even though Luce may be frustratingly whiney in some portions that are borderline “give me a break”, she does seem to mature a tad as the book goes on. We also gain some more insight into Cam and the loophole. I like this series as it is different and unique. We’ve come a long way since Daniel flipped her the bird in Fallen. I can’t wait to see where we end up.

Rating: ☆☆☆☆
Side Note: This is my least favorite cover, I loved the Gothic feel of the first two books as you just saw the back of Luce. Hope Rapture goes back to it.

Torment - Lauren Kate (Book 2 Fallen Series)

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Reading level: Young Adult
Paperback: 496 pages
Publisher: Ember; Reprint edition (June 14, 2011)

LOVE NEVER DIES
Lucinda is sure that she and Daniel are meant to be together forever. Now they are forced apart in a desperate bid to save Luce from the Outcasts–immortals who want her dead. As she discovers more about her past lives, Luce starts to suspect that Daniel is hiding something. What if he has lied to her about their shared past? What if Luce is really meant to be with someone else?

In book two we follow more of Luce's story. The beginning seems as if we would get more insight into Daniel and maybe Cam's world, but alas we do not. This book is more about Luce than the anything to with the bigger picture of the storyline.

Luce really starts to question everything. At the end of book one she just takes everything on faith and follows where she's lead, in this book we see her start to grow and question the things happening around her and to her. Who is she? Is she really her own person or just a recycled soul with shattered memories of past lives? What is love? What is a soulmate? These questions are important as you realize Luce in any of her past lives has never lived past the age of 17. Everything that is happening to her (and Daniel in part), the things she is feeling and learning, is completely new territory. This makes for some severe tension between her and Daniel. Her frustration and loneliness obvious to the reader.

During this time more bad guys come to play isolating Luce even more from those she loves. She discovers a talent she shouldn't have, that no one can explain. While some orders for her safety seem obvious, there are certain parts where Luce is so resistant to it, it she seems to lack common sense. She's so frustrating in her reasoning, that it becomes borderline naive for her to believe what she does. She makes two new cohorts Miles and Shelby who become essential characters to the story. Both are loveable in their own way, although Shelby tends to be a bit rough around the edges. Again we follow Luce as she's presented half truths, omissions and more questions. You identify with her as you are also left in the dark as to what the end game is, who has what agenda, and what exactly Luce's role is in the big picture. Toward the end of the story is Thanksgiving and with it comes a few well earned laughs, groans and excitement. All in all while the book is completely worth the read as you continue to dive deeper into the story.

RATING: ☆☆☆ 3/4

Previous Book Reviews

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I was reviewing on my other blog before I decided to dedicate to my book reviews to this one. So instead of transferring them one by one I'm going to link them up. Just click on the book series to find the reviews. ENJOY!!

The Iron Fey Series by Julie Kagawa
Rating ☆☆☆☆☆

My Blood Approves Series by Amanda Hocking
Rating ☆☆☆ 1/2

Such a Pretty Face by Cathy Lamb
Rating ☆☆☆☆

Hush Hush Series - Becca Fitzpatrick
Rating ☆☆☆☆

Bitter Frost Series (Books 1 and 2) by Kailin Gow
Rating ☆

Unicorn Bait by S.A. Hunter
Rating ☆☆☆

Fallen - Lauren Kate (Book 1 Fallen Series)

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Product Details
Reading level: Young Adult
Paperback: 496 pages
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers (September 28, 2010)
Language: English

- BACK OF BOOK:

There’s something achingly familiar about Daniel Grigori.

Mysterious and aloof, he captures Luce Price’s attention from the moment she sees him on her first day at the Sword & Cross boarding school in sultry Savannah, Georgia. He’s the one bright spot in a place where cell phones are forbidden, the other students are all screw-ups, and security cameras watch every move.

Even though Daniel wants nothing to do with Luce–and goes out of his way to make that very clear–she can’t let it go. Drawn to him like a moth to a flame, she has to find out what Daniel is so desperate to keep secret . . . even if it kills her.

Review: Let me just start by saying this has been on my "To Read" list for quite awhile. It was something about the cover that caught my eye. I think it's one of the most beautiful ones that I've seen. It's just simply gorgeous. ALSO this book is written in third person which is a complete relief. In the recent onslaught of first person books since Twilight, it's a nice change. But that being said lets review.

Luce is a teenage girl who has hit a serious snag in her life. This snag lands her straight into reform school. But she’s not a troublemaker or crazy in any sense, unlike the majority of the students there. What happens after that is a little dull and dry. I was a little disappointed as I usually hope a book will capture my attention in the first couple of chapters, this one didn't. I clearly remember I was on page 230 or so before I finally felt this story was worth continuing. (I had picked up the book and put it back down several times unable to get into the story. The premise of the book had me hoping it would get better and eventually it did.) My biggest complaint about the first 200+ pages is that you have the feeling of walking into the middle of the conversation and no one will tell you what’s going on. This feeling lasts for almost half the book it can make hard to stick with. I will advise you that once you push past page 250+ the story really picks up. The rest of the read really flies by as the plot becomes clearer and the characters finally get some explanations. Luce, Daniel, Cam and Arriane all take their place in the story with decent reasoning on why they do what they do. There is one portion that is a tad confusing, but nothing that really interferes with the story in any way. Once you get to the end, you really want to know more. The last 200+ pages of this book make it worth the read. Stick with it, I promise it’s worth it.

Rating:
☆☆☆