Title: The Candy Shop War: Arcade Catastrophe
Series: Candy Shop War #2
Author: Brandon Mull
Genre: Middle Grade
Release Date: October 23, 2012 Now Available!
I’ve mentioned its release date in the review of book #1, but now it’s official: the next book will be out in a few weeks. I’m looking forward to seeing what Mull has in store for these kids next!
Title: Grave Mercy
Author: Robin LaFevers
Series: His Fair Assassin
Genre: Teen Fantasy
Rating: 4/5 stars
The Overview: Seventeen-year-old Ismae escapes from the brutality of an arranged marriage into the sanctuary of the convent of St. Mortain, where the sisters still serve the gods of old. Here she learns that the god of Death Himself has blessed her with dangerous gifts—and a violent destiny. If she chooses to stay at the convent, she will be trained as an assassin and serve as a handmaiden to Death. To claim her new life, she must destroy the lives of others.
Ismae’s most important assignment takes her straight into the high court of Brittany—where she finds herself woefully under prepared—not only for the deadly games of intrigue and treason, but for the impossible choices she must make. For how can she deliver Death’s vengeance upon a target who, against her will, has stolen her heart?
The Review:
Aside from the striking cover and catching tagline, it was the basic premise of the book that first grabbed my attention: Lucky to escape from a brutal life, Ismae finds herself in the convent of St. Mortian, where she trains to become a handmaiden of death. Along the way, she learns the skills of an assassin, the art of seduction, and the finer points of intrigue. Chosen for her first assignment, Ismae is eager to fulfill her vows to the God of Death, but soon finds herself in way over her head.
“Grave Mercy” had my attention right from the start. At times, it was a little more dark and risque than most teen novels, but still tasteful enough to be appropriate for its target audience. I actually really liked the extra edge, and thought the dynamic of an assassin/seductress made for a fascinating read. Add that to the fact that she is young, inexperience, and practically terrified of men, then throw in a romantic interest on top of it, and you have yourself an incredibly entertaining story. The author is a major history buff, and she does a great job incorporating her knowledge of the time period into the story. Her background comes out in her descriptions and world-building, really bringing the story to life.
Overall, I think this was a strong debut for LaFevers, and I look forward to the next book in the series… I might even read it right away.
Other books you might like:
Title: Hidden
Series: House of Night #10
Authors: P.C. and Kristin Cast
Release Date: October 16, 2012 Now Available!
I loved the first few books, and although I still enjoyed the later releases, I found them a bit repetitive. I’ve mostly continued reading out of loyalty and perhaps a fair bit of curiosity. Only two more to go after this release – I’m hoping they will blow me away! I believe I am the minority, however, so don’t let me skew your opinion. Most people are in love with ALL the books, not just the first few.
Titles: Darkness Unbound
Author: Keri Arthur
Series: Dark Angels #1
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Rating: 5/5 stars!
The Overview: Risa Jones is as extraordinary as her heritage. Born from a lab-enhanced clone mother and an Aedh father, she can not only talk to the souls of the dying and the dead, but she can see the reapers and walk the gray fields that divide this world from the next. They are skill she rarely uses, however, preferring to concentrate on the business she shares with her two best friends. But when her mother asks her to help the parents of a little girl locked in a coma, she reluctantly agrees. What she discovers scares the hell out of her. Because the little girl’s soul no longer resides in her body, and it wasn’t death and the reapers that took her.
The Review:
Keri Arthur is my favorite paranormal author! I love her characters: they are all well-developed and evoking, and their unique personalities get me emotionally attached every time. The reason they affect me so much is partly due to Arthur’s excellent sense of humor – it translates to her writing in a way that makes the characters more realistic, and the overall story more enjoyable. I also love the story-lines of her books: while primarily romances, these books have dynamic and interesting plots that have you unraveling mysteries with the characters from start to finish. Finally, I love the content… these are incredibly sexy books!
As a spinoff from Arthur’s “Riley Jensen” series, “Darkness Unbound” is every bit as good as its predecessors. Not only is there great development of the characters, but the plot is also fresh and interesting – you wont be able to put it down! In fact, I recommend you have the next book already handy. Overall, I enjoyed this book immensely, and look forward to what Keri has in store for us next!
While this was an excellent read, I’m not sure that it would have the same impact as a stand-alone novel. There are countless references to characters and events that took place in Riley’s series, and I can see how the story would be a little flat if you didn’t know the backstory on most of the referred characters. I’ve had nine books to get to know these people, so their thoughts and opinions have a lot more significance and meaning than would any random character. Also, there are certain familial connections that would be quite confusing if you haven’t read the other books. Therefore:
Recommendations: if this is your first introduction to Arthur’s books, I strongly recommend you start with “Full Moon Rising” (Riley Jensen #1). They are sexy, dynamic, engaging, and memorable, and I hope you enjoy them as much as I did! On a side note, readers who dislike strong language and sexual content should proceed with caution.
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The Obsessive Bookseller 