Review: Bonds of Fenris by S.J. Bell

Talia Thornwood's life ended one year ago, when she became a werewolf. She survived the attack, and the horrifying transformation a month later, but the life she has now is barely worth living. She lurks about in a filthy, run-down house, with too many werewolves crammed into too small a space. Every day is a struggle against the stress of human contact, the romantic prodding of her obnoxious packmate Pierce, and the gnawing hunger for flesh in her soul. 

She's all but resigned herself to a dreary existence on the margins of society when she meets Corwin. Corwin is a werewolf like none other. He walks among humans as if it was nothing, and can keep his wolf under control even when the moon is full. Talia's mind is suddenly opened to the possibilities before her, and the realization of how little she really knows about lycanthropy.

Corwin claims that he can teach her how to cope as he does, even how to transcend her affliction. But it will not be easy. It is a hard education that requires her to question everything her pack taught her, and confront exactly what she has become. And, more amazingly, what she never stopped being.

I'll come out and say I'm not the biggest werewolf fan, but I was a fan of this book. When I first started this book, I expected some sort of action filled story since that's what I've come to expect from these types of books. However, this story was totally different! S.J. Bell not only goes deeper into the world of a pack, but also breaks down the walls of a werewolf's psyche. I liked that it took a different approach by speaking about the struggle of being a werewolf. I also enjoyed the positive messages of self-acceptance in the book.

Characterization in this book was also really different. Since the book is short and there are a lot of characters in this book, there wasn't a lot of character development. However, as a reader I was still able to get a great feel for each characters personality very quickly because they were all different while bringing something to the story. I was very back and forth with liking and hating the characters. I realize how horrible that sounds,but the characters were very real in that sense. They weren't perfect and all had their faults even when you loved them. My only real quip about the characters is that I felt some of the relationships between characters seemed all over the place at times. The two relationships that tended to bother me the most were Talia with Corwin and Marlene. I always felt a disconnect because one moment Marlene and Talia hated each other then were totally buddies a few scenes later. I get they're a pack and are there for each other, but it just seemed odd. I don't want to say too much on Corwin because I liked them together, but I just couldn't root for them since I never really felt their relationship much.

This is definitely one of those stories that makes you think. I had a lot of moments where I'd just reread a passage to truly understand the deeper meaning of it. I feel like Bell put a lot of thought into the precise words he used at times. It's one of those stories that's deep without having a heavy storyline. I will say the story drags a little bit at times because of things happening in the book, but this was still an enjoyable read. I only hope there will be more so I can have a tad more closure to questions I wanted more information on. If you're okay with some mild language and looking for a quick read with  interesting characters, I'd give Bonds of Fenris a try. Thanks to the author for providing me a review copy

Soundtrack:

Midnight - Red Hot Chili Peppers

Falling in Love with Wolfboy - The Magnetic Fields

Feel it in My Bones - Tiesto feat. Tegan and Sara

Allegiance(Legacy #2) by Cayla Kluver

"Only I saw Narian for who he truly was: a young man with courage and an independent mind, and made to pay for what was outside his control. He couldn't help his past any more than he could help the way those intense, deep-blue eyes pierced me and held me captive. 

An eighteen-year-old queen in love with the enemy as their countries pass the point of no return...

Bound to a man she cannot love, Queen Alera of Hytanica must forget Narian, the young man who holds her heart. For Narian is destined to conquer Hytanica at the behest of his master, the powerful magic-user known as the Overlord. Alera doesn't truly believe Narian will fight against Hytanica-until Cokyrian troops attack with Narian commanding the charge.

Faced with the greatest betrayal a heart can know, Alera must set aside personal feelings and lead her kingdom through its darkest time. And when all hope, will and courage seem lost, she must find strength and remember that even the blackest night must have a dawn...."

I was pretty hesitant to read the second installment in this series because of my feelings in Legacy,but decided to give it another try. More than anything, I wanted to see where the story went. I'm honestly still kind of unsure on whether I regret reading this or not.

This book starts off right where the last book left off, and I really thought it'd be better than the first. Though paragraphs were still unnecessarily long and detailed, I found the story to be more interesting. I still pulled for Narian throughout this story, but I actually really started to develop a desire to see things work out with Steldor. Kluver reverses the tables in this book and shows us sides to the male leads that I didn't really ever expect.

Though there were some improvements in this story, there was one major area I was hoping would've been worked on; Alera. In the first book I gave her a lot of forgiveness for being the way she was because she was given a lot of responsibility and was still a child learning. However, it seemed like this book not did nothing about that, but multiplied it by ten. With her position in the kingdom, I hoped she she would've behaved a bit differently and had a little more understanding. I couldn't get past how other characters had this image of her that never actually held up to who she actually was. Like in the first, she never held up to her expectations until told to do so. Bt the time Alera did actually step up to her position, she'd lost most of her respect.

The plot of this story is still engaging enough to read the book, but still lacks in development in areas. Kluver's writing excels in pulling at the heart and mind where it lacked in the first, but still keeps you coming back for more. With an ending that finally gives a little closure, I hope to see Alera finally step into her proper role by the third installment.

Song:

Empty Hand by Eliza Doolittle

Giveaway & Review- Swirls by F.A. Hershey

"Sixteen-year-old Julia finds herself leaving her London life behind to move with her parents to the Amazon jungle. 

A native descendant, she becomes familiarized with her own roots for the first time in her life. However, she never imagines she is about to discover much more than her own past but also just how crowded our little planet is... "

I initially chose to review this book because it seemed different from other YA books. This book definitely took me a while to get into. Now I'm not saying it was bad, it just took some time for the story to get going. A slow beginning doesn't usually bother me, but I really didn't care for Julia as a character. She was a tad bit too whiny for me. I understood she was sad about moving, but every time she was sad it just seemed like the same sentence. After a while I really just stopped caring that she was sad. On the other hand, I absolutely loved the secondary character named Lola. She was so cute and bubbly. The male characters in this book are written in a way that they come off as very mysterious. You're always waiting to know more about them and who they are. That is one big thing this book really has going for it, it builds suspense up and gives you more and more questions to be answered.

This would also be a great book for people who enjoy a lot of description. I'm a reader who likes it in doses when it's needed, but this story is very detailed in it's surroundings. The descriptions of the Amazon put you right in the characters shoes. There are a few structural flaws in the book, but it isn't anything that deterred me from reading the story. 

The concept of the story is original and gives you insight to a world that hasn't been explored in books. I hope the following books close up some of the gaps in this first book and get into characters at a deeper level. I believe the book can definitely be a bit more edited and developed, but it's a great start to a brand new cultural viewpoint that I look forward to seeing more of. 

Want to win your very own ebook copy? Fill out the form below and cross those fingers! This contest will end on February 17th at midnight 12 a.m. PST

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Giveaway & Book Notes: Between the Land and the Sea by Derrolyn Anderson

"Something extraordinary is lurking in the deep ocean waters off the coast of Aptos, California. Just a few weeks after moving to the beach town, sixteen year-old Marina has nearly drowned twice, enchanted the hottest guy in high school, and discovered a supernatural creature. If she can manage to survive her increasingly dangerous encounters with unpredictable mermaids, she might just be able to unlock the mystery of her past and learn how to appease the mysterious forces that seem to want something from her... and maybe even find true love along the way."

I haven't read too many books about mermaids, but the stories have always been pretty fascinating to me. Marina, our main character, is someone who is strong, smart and has a lot going for her. As she moves to a new area she goes through the normal adjustment issues, but makes the best of her situation.

The overall story moved a bit slow for me, but it never failed to stay interesting. Anderson filled her book  with colorful characters who you couldn't help wanting to know more about. My personal favorite was Meghan. I was attracted to her most because she was shy, but I saw her develop as I got to know her. I will state that I did have an issue with the character of Evie. I know I haven't read the rest of the series, so my opinion on her could change as I continue, but I really don't get why she's there. I felt her character is in the story more for the convenience of having things work well for Marina and people around her.

An aspect I really appreciated was how Anderson didn't focus on the love story so much. Though it's a large plot point, she keeps more focus on the story of mermaids and how Marina is coping with finding out information. I was actually disappointed that there wasn't more mermaid interaction in this book.

Though I had a few minor issues with the storyline, this book is an enjoyable read for new and old mermaid lovers. I look forward to seeing what happens to Marina and all her friends in the following two books in the Marina's Tales series that are out!

Giveaway: 


Derrolyn has been awesome enough to give me two ebook copies to give away! All you have to do is leave a comment below with your name and email! Contest will end on November 27th at 12 a.m. Go!

ENDED!

Book Notes: The Iron King by Julie Kagawa

"Meghan Chase has a secret destiny—one she could never have imagined…

Something has always felt slightly off in Meghan's life, ever since her father disappeared before her eyes when she was six. She has never quite fit in at school…or at home.

When a dark stranger begins watching her from afar, and her prankster best friend becomes strangely protective of her, Meghan senses that everything she's known is about to change.

But she could never have guessed the truth—that she is the daughter of a mythical faery king and is a pawn in a deadly war. Now Meghan will learn just how far she'll go to save someone she cares about, to stop a mysterious evil no faery creature dare face…and to find love with a young prince who might rather see her dead than let her touch his icy heart."

As usual, I'm late to the reading of awesome books party. I've had a copy of this book staring at me on my desk for the last few weeks, and I just now got to reading it. I don't know if it's because it was overly hyped in my head, but I didn't enjoy it as much as I thought I would. I should clarify that I didn't think it was a bad book; I see why the series has done so well. The first book just left me wanting something more. It also took me a while to get through, but that could've been more because of me than the book.

I did love how jam packed this book was with different lore. The number of creatures in this book is insane! I also liked how Kagawa didn't try to make the fey all sparkly wonderful creatures. She always showed the good and bad with everything.

As far as characters go, Meghan didn't too much for me. I didn't dislike her, but I also didn't like her. She was just sort of there for me. I know there isn't any story without her, but she didn't make me feel any strong emotions while reading. Grim was pretty much the Cheshire Cat in my head throughout the book. I did enjoy his attitude throughout the book, but I hope he doesn't end up being a douche later on because I want to like him.

I'm still stuck on who I like more in the Puck or Ash showdown. They both have their plus points. Puck is a total snarky jerkface that makes me laugh in pretty much every scene he's in. However, Ash has that whole broody badboy image going for him that I can't help but gravitate towards. Plus you know, Puck actually wants Meghan to live so he kind of gets plus points for that.

My favorite idea in the book was how Nevernever was being destroyed because more and more people weren't believing and using more technology. Yeah, I know the idea has been done a lot previously, but the idea is so messed up that I can't help but be kind of fascinated by the idea.

Throughout reading the book, I couldn't stop thinking about how everything would look if they made it into a movie. It'd be so fantastical!(It's a word, you don't own this blog!) The company would have to give millions of dollars, but the movie would be pretty awesome.

If you're looking to be thrown into a world of fantasy and don't mind being punched in the face by a crapload of different creatures, you should definitely check this book out. The story and characters don't disappoint. I look forward to continuing the series down the line!

Blog Tour- The Willows: Haven by Hope Collier

"When tragedy strikes, seventeen year-old Ashton Blake sets out on a cross-country road trip, leaving the comforts of Malibu for the mountains of Kentucky. Along the way, she encounters Gabe Willoughby—the mysterious drifter with eyes like the sea and a knowing smile. Getting to know Gabe raises questions about her past. But no secret can be buried forever, and Ashton soon finders herself in a world where water is air and myth becomes reality.

Just as Ashton comes to accept her newfound heritage, she’s summoned to fulfill a treaty laid down centuries before — a treaty that will divide her love and test her loyalty. In the end, her future isn’t her biggest concern, her humanity is. To run may mean war, but is she strong enough to stay?"

As soon as I saw this book, I was intrigued. It did have a way of sucking you in from the beginning and kept you reading to find out more. Collier brought me into the world of Nymphs in a really great and clever way. I will say that I think there were some plot issues, like the beginning never being truly explained, that bugged me. However, with there being more books in this series, I'm sure things will be answered.

The characters were well-written. Though Ashton was pushed into this new world, I like how she kind of learned as she went. Though I do believe she could've maybe asked a bit more about this crazy change into a new world, I thought she handled it in stride. I really wanted to like Ashton with Gabe, but I just couldn't do it. Even after a few weeks from reading it, I can't figure out why he just didn't do it for me. He was yummy, had that young rebellious thing going on...but I just couldn't accept him as a fictional book boyfriend. Don't get me wrong, their scenes were hot and I loooved how cute they were together with all the nicknames, cuddling and all around swoon-fest, but their relationship just didn't feel real for me. I think with a little development, it could've helped me love him and them a bit more. My favorite character was probably Ashton's BFF, Kyle. He was just so cute and boyish that I wanted to hang with him and eat ice-cream.

Overall, I think this was a pretty good start to a new series. Collier kept me trying to figure it out to the end, and I want to see what happens next in Ashton's new nymph world as she continues her adventure.

I know you wanna read this, so we have an e-book giveaway through A Tale of Many Reviews! Leave your email with your name! Also, make sure to check out the other stops on this tour for more chances to win!

Book Notes: My Soul to Take by Rachel Vincent

"She doesn't see dead people, but...
She senses when someone near her is about to die. And when that happens, a force beyond her control compels her to scream bloody murder. Literally.
Kaylee just wants to enjoy having caught the attention of the hottest guy in school. But a normal date is hard to come by when Nash seems to know more about the need to scream than she does. And when classmates start dropping dead for no apparent reason, only Kaylee knows who'll be next..."

I went on a checkout splurge at the library a few weeks ago and happened to pick this book up. After finishing this book, I put a request up for the others in the series and am now waiting not-so-patiently. I enjoyed this book so much that when I was out of town and saw My Soul to Steal at the airport, I was pained to walk away from it because I want to read it so bad. If there weren't people around, I'd probably be more like him. 


The world Vincent creates is one that feels very believable and refreshing. Kaylee is a likable character who I felt for with all her struggles. Though she found out she had a secret talent, it didn't make her seem any different after her realizations. The consistency to her character was always very helpful. Nash is pretty dreamy sounding as the male lead in this book. I enjoyed how their relationship began, but hope to have a bit more development in the other books. They seemed to jump from barely knowing each other to relationship fairly quickly. Tod may be my favorite character, though I'm really not clear on why. Maybe it's the blonde curls or the mystery around him as he seems to keep a distance from people. I just want someone to hug him...Or really, just let me do it. 


The storyline was put together but still left me with questions to keep me wanting to read the next books. Though I was able to guess the ending, it was still written in a way that was surprising to the reader. With this books setup, I look forward to seeing where this plot goes.If you're tired of reading about vampires and werewolves and want to be thrown into a different world, I'd definitely recommend picking this up. 

Book Notes: Legacy by Cayla Kluver

"Now, as seventeen-year-old Princess Alera of Hytanica is besieged from all sides by suitors vying for the Throne, a teenage Cokyrian boy, Narian, is encountered within the walls of her Kingdom, a boy who will show Alera a world where women serve a purpose and not just a husband. As Narian helps Alera find her voice, she struggles against an arranged marriage that will shatter the life she has scarcely begun to live. And when Narian’s shocking past is uncovered, and war with Cokyri looms once more, he must fight to defy a fate ordained at his birth."


When I got my hands on a copy of this book, I immediately wanted to read it. I love that old English type of feel and just love the way they talk. The prologue was grabbing, however I felt like it took a while for the book to connect the story. Though the storyline was interesting, the book was slowly paced making it feel much longer than it was. For a first novel, I feel like there could've been more said about the kingdom where she lived. Other than a few celebrations, I didn't get a good feel for what the kingdom was like. With these minor issues, I will say Kluver did a great job in characterization. She was able to balance personalities in a way to show the positive and negative sides to a character. There wasn't a time where I absolutely loved a character or hated them. Though someone did something bad, as a reader, I was able to understand their reasoning behind it. The one thing I did wish she did was to write more about London. He was such an intriguing character for the storyline and the relationship between him and Alera seemed so close, I wanted to understand why they acted the way they did. 


If you're a reader who enjoys a lot of detail, this would be a great book for you. I personally found it a bit annoying to have pages devoted to what the characters were wearing everyday, that I would just start skimming when I saw a long descriptions. The book overall started strong but fizzled out towards the end, leaving me disappointed to wait for the next book to really see where the story goes. I probably will read the next book just to see what happens, but if the pacing continues like this book, I doubt I'll get through the series. 

Book Notes: City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

"When fifteen-year-old Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder—much less a murder committed by three teenagers covered with strange tattoos and brandishing bizarre weapons. Then the body disappears into thin air. It's hard to call the police when the murderers are invisible to everyone else and when there is nothing—not even a smear of blood—to show that a boy has died. Or was he a boy? 

This is Clary's first meeting with the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons. It's also her first encounter with Jace, a Shadowhunter who looks a little like an angel and acts a lot like a jerk. Within twenty-four hours Clary is pulled into Jace's world with a vengeance, when her mother disappears and Clary herself is attacked by a demon. But why would demons be interested in ordinary mundanes like Clary and her mother? And how did Clary suddenly get the Sight? The Shadowhunters would like to know. . . . "

I think it's pretty mandatory to talk about something in this series if you have a book blog. This book was haunting me before I even read it. Friends would mention it in conversations, I'd read numerous blog posts about it, I'd see books in the series laid about in my school library(yes, I hang out in the teens book section when at visiting the library, don't hate!). This book wasn't going to leave me alone until I read it, and I'm glad I finally did.

There's some books that go into so much detail that it's a pain to get through the pages. This book was definitely not one of them. Clare wrote her settings and characters in a way that made me want to know more information all throughout the book because it drew me in so much. I also enjoyed how the book opened and grabbed me for the ride without a background. What I liked about the storyline was that there was a bit of everything from this genre. What I mean to say is, we had vampires, demons, werewolves, faeries and a bunch of other stuff.  Though the story was a little predictable as I got into it with some cliche characters, they were enjoyable.

Jace was an immediate love for me because of his snarky attitude. What's not to love about a hot guy making you laugh? Though Clary was described as shy, I felt there was a bit of incongruity with her as she was said to be one way, but then would do things a shy person wouldn't. Also, female characters thinking they're forgettable until a hot guy proves them otherwise...Could we please stop them now?  Thanks.


I was more of a fan of Isabelle as she seemed to be a very kick-ass type of personality with a good heart. Simon is totally my homeboy. I can't really explain why, other than saying he's just that person I'd want in my life. I hope to learn more about him and Alex as I think they deserve a bit more spotlight.


Overall this book was a great start for a series I plan to continue to be absorbed in!

Book Notes:The Trylle Trilogy by Amanda Hocking

"When Wendy Everly was six-years-old, her mother was convinced she was a monster and tried to kill her. It isn't until eleven years later that Wendy finds out her mother might've been telling the truth.

With the help of Finn Holmes, Wendy finds herself in a world she never knew existed - and it's one she's not sure if she wants to be a part of."

I actually read this book a while back but decided to put my review up for it since I thought it was worth mentioning. At first I was honestly kind of hesitant to read it when I heard it being about trolls. I imagined the creepy doll I had as a kid with the crazy green hair and pink jeweled belly button walking around. However, I was pleasantly surprised with the barefoot semi-human alternative this story used instead. Hocking did a great job of engaging me and pulling me into the storyline to find out what would happen next. She was able to keep up suspenseful moments without drawing them out for too long. My only real issue with the book was the character of Wendy. Without giving too much away, her character was massively annoying to me. I felt like she continually whined about her life. Yeah ok, I understand that her mom was cuckoo for cocoa puffs and that'll mess you up a bit, but it was like she felt because of that one instance, she was able to justify the way she acted. No, I'm sorry Wendy but we all have problems so you need to stop being a jerkface, thanks.

Though I had issues with characters, there were others that redeemed the book for me and kept me reading. I kept wanting to be a part of their crowd and take part in their activities. The storyline overall was pretty entertaining and kept me interested throughout the books. There were a few areas where I thought there could be a bit more development, but it wasn't a real issue to the story itself. Also, I'll jut say Hocking has her way with words to make a simple kissing scene into something that could almost make you blush and get nervous butterflies just by reading it. If you're looking for a light and fun read that is also incredibly affordable, I'd say give the Trylle Trilogy a try.