A Complete set of The Rising, The Betrayed, and The Taking, plus bonus short story 'How I Met Your Mother'.
Seventeen-year-old
Serena is the youngest member of a dying race. The increasing acidity
of the ocean is destroying her home, slowly eating away at the once
thriving underwater landscape. But since the night of Serena’s birth, it
is an outside force that most threatens their dwindling population.
Werewolves, who once served as protectors for mermaids in the Kingdom of
the Undine, now seek to eliminate all who dwell in the ocean—and Serena
is about to find herself right in the middle of the deadly conflict.
Given
the title of Werewolf Liaison, Serena is determined to make things
right for her people. When she ventures to The Dry, she meets Liam, the
werewolf with hazel eyes, and her whole world gets turned upside down.
As Serena discovers the real history between werewolves and mermaids,
she is left wondering who her true enemies are.
Review:
3.5/5 stars
I had very mixed feelings regarding this novel. The
manner in which it is written is unusual; the sentences are very formal with
few contractions, leaning towards a third person narrative.
This story is set in a wonderful underwater world of a
dying paradise. The stilted formal society of mermaids and mermen is slowing
losing it’s population through adversity, tragedy and prejudice. Our main
character, Serena, is an intelligent mermaid full of a need to learn and a
dangerous sense of curiosity which constantly leads her through a maze of peril
and treachery.Through no choosing of
her own, Serena becomes a liaison to their natural earth enemy, the werewolves.
This tale leads us through convoluted path of discovery
and betrayal in a never ending history of war and politics.
The novel is a slow read, spun into an intricate web of ever
widening concentric circles, and is definitely focused very much towards a ‘tweens
market
If you are a young teenage reader, love mermaids and
their underwater world that leads you through times of fun and more times of
trouble, then this read is certainly for you.
From the moment Alina
touches London's hottest fae superstar, breaking one of the laws founded
to protect all of her kind, her fate – and the fae – close in.
Below
ground, the fae High Queen plots to claim the city as her own and
places her pawns, ready for the battle to come. A battle she cannot
lose, but for one small problem – Alina. There are four ancient keepers
powerful enough to keep the queen in her prison. Three are dead. One
remains … And to fight back, Alina risks sacrificing everything she has
come to love.
This New Adult urban fantasy is packed with action and suspense and will have you yearning for more forbidden fae romance.
Pippa Da Costa has certainly lived up to our expectations
with this new novel - let’s hope it morphs into a great new ongoing series.
Our world now includes a fae population which creates a
whole new level to social and political agendas. The two principal characters
have strong, well defined personalities which make for good dialogue and a
potentially volatile romance. Melding
the two together in an ambivalent relationship gives the story an impression of
emerging tiers. Warring personalities combined with warring agendas. The novel
provides a fairly small group of supporting characters, put together as a whole,
this gives the book the creation of a strong micro-niche of a fae and human
London.
The plot brings in to play conflicts that surround their
lives, both as individuals but also pressures that include their personal and
workplace agendas. These include a reporter, a detective, a queen and a rock
god.
To give the novel and incredibly good oomph is the
sensational couple of twists that jump out a greet you. Boo! Sounds
good? What more could we possibly want from an engrossing book?
Just for fun:
I have to say the
spider factor is great. Just to put a smile on your face I'll mention a
friend of mine was drinking from a tap, a huntsman actually crawled into
his mouth and he had to get his hand in there to scoop it out. He had
some fun with that - you know spiders have those little additional
spurs/hairs on their legs for gripping? Yeh, it hung on to his cheek. He
said he got some right funny looks from jumping around with his fist in
his mouth. Irony - it was at a railway station... True story
Those words haunt Scar’s dreams. She thinks the creature that
terrorises her while asleep isn’t real, but when she’s abducted and
taken to a reform school meant to contain creatures too dangerous to
function in society, she starts to wonder whether she isn’t some
monster. She turns to an underground fight club full of vampires,
werewolves and witches established by the students to control her urges,
and who is she kidding, she loves to fight. When fighters begin to disappear, turning Scar into the prime
suspect, she must race to prove her innocence before her true nature is
exposed. The only problem is that she’s not entirely sure she’s innocent.
REVIEW:
This was fabulous!
Although this is an 'academy' style book, it is definitely a bit different with a wild set of very creative monsters.
The
characters are well defined and fill out their parts to their fullest
extent. There is, of course, the cool girls, who are appropriately
witchy and bitchy. The sexy to-die-for guy is as sexy as. There isn't a
daggy, submissive bunch but the main character is certainly the full-on
misfit.
As with many people who have survived a difficult time
at school trying not to be noticed, it sometimes attracts those who find
those differences intriguing because of their utter indifference to the
sought after attracting rather than repelling. This brings attention
from the privileged.
An absolutely great read with plenty of pace and kick-arse action.
Eighteen-year-old
Kricket Hollowell was looking for her place in the world when she
discovered that the universe was bigger—and more dangerous—than she had
ever dreamed. Now, whisked across space to the planet Ethar, Kricket
learns that her genetic ability to see the future makes her a
sought-after commodity…and the catalyst for war between her star-crossed
parents’ clans. According to Alameedan prophecy, one house will rise to
power and the other will be completely wiped out, and Kricket’s
precognition is believed to be the weapon that will tip the scales.
A
target of both the Rafe and the Alameeda houses, Kricket finds
protection—and a home—in the arms of Trey, her Etharian
bodyguard-turned-boyfriend. But her visions of what’s to come disturb
her deeply, especially since she must discover whether the gift of
foresight will allow her to rewrite the future, or if her fate is as
immovable as the stars. Tweet
I loved this! I loved the
characters, I loved the concepts, and the writing was great with some really
lovely prose. I stayed up way too late finishing this one. This second novel
stands up in fine form continuing in the same vein as the first.
Kricket is a likable character, and has grown in both maturity and strength.The support characters create a really great
team and lots of fun – adding a nicely honed tone of humor.And of course, the romantic interest is as
sexy as he is noble. The relationship between Kricket and Trey has also matured
to an enduring and dedicated love for each other, to the level of ‘my love, my
life’. The intimate scenes are beautifully done with a tender quality and
delicacy wrapped up with the encompassing love they hold for each other.
The concepts are well done with plenty of innovation in the book which has a
few parallels with Scarlett Dawn's Cold Mark series. Don't confuse the two,
Cold Mark includes plenty of sexual situations and is a much more mature read,
there are simply concepts in the comparison of the national identities of
opposed races.The sci-fi element is
nicely blended with the starker values of the class system and aristocracy with
parallels to a more medieval period.
The only complaint I could voice is
that I found a number of the fight/escape scenes too long and somewhat repetitive.
A fabulous read and I can't wait to get stuck into the next novel is the
series. And yes, this novel is a bit of a cliffhanger.
Blurb: When eighteen-year-old
teleporter Ember Pierce wakes up in a Los Angeles hospital, she
remembers only the basics: she’s been trained by the government as a
spy, she’s sent on dangerous missions, and her last assignment—the one
that landed her in the hospital—was a setup.
Caden Hawthorne has
spent the past ten months of his life grieving Ember’s death. So when
she shows up in his room like an apparition, he can’t believe his eyes.
But this Ember is different. Her hair is longer, her skin is paler, her
gaze is haunted. She tells him what he’s already begun to suspect:
someone he trusted betrayed her.
Now, uncertain who is friend and
who is foe, Ember and Caden face the toughest mission of their lives—to
stay together and survive, as they run from danger toward an unknown
future.
Review
This is a
tightly put together novel full to the brim with a combination of intrigue,
manipulation and betrayal.The characters
display an individuality, which gives them the strength to face their plight, and
to work through it whilst trying to maintain a grasp on their sanity.
The plot is made
up into a complex framework of personal, political and government conspiracy.
Put that together with a mix of desperate circumstances, as the characters are
thrown into events far beyond their control.The principal characters are bound by unconditional love that enables
them to face insurmountable odds. They are thrust up against the power of the
military that has the ability to dominate, and ultimately destroy their lives.
The bottom
line is: who can you trust? The person who you’re in love with, but think they
know what’s best for you?A government
you pay your taxes to that are supposed to ensure your liberty and freedom of
choice?The corporation who controls the
very essence of your livelihood and job? Your boss who has control issues? Your peers?
This book is
chock full of diverse characters with incredible fortitude, as they face plot
upon plot. The reader is led on with trepidation for the characters, questioning
the power of both political and personal agendas.
If you want
a novel with depth and a plot that keeps you guessing, then this book provides
it.
Blurb: Love, revenge, secrets – and murder – in a medieval kingdom at war.
A
young woman, left alone and destitute after the mysterious death of her
mother, plants a sprig of rosemary on her grave and vows, somehow, to
bring the murderer to justice. But who can Janna trust with the truth?
Even the villein Godric, who wants to marry her, and Hugh, the dashing
nobleman, have secrets that threaten her heart and her safety.
In
a country torn apart by the vicious civil war between King Stephen and
the Empress Matilda, Janna needs all her wits and courage to stay alive
as she comes closer to those who are determined to silence her forever.
Novel Courtesy of NetGALLEY.com This novel is
exceptionally well written and edited, and equally well researched and
is definitely worth a 4.5 stars. The plot has plenty of turnarounds
within the mystery and a fine cast of possible suspects. Add to this a
dose of romance and we have a well rounded YA historical mystery.
This book is very much a who-dun-nit and together with the historical setting makes a fine read.
The
writing style reflects the book’s medieval setting following the
invasion of William the Conqueror. England during these times carried
on with a constant power struggle of ruling families and this is tightly
drawn into the tale. The consistency and depth of research is
reflected by the writer's grasp of class distinction and speech patterns
during that time. The work gives a good example of the hodgepodge of
religious prejudice remaining from the Romans, Saxons and Normans.
The
story is based around the YA character’s work as a healer based on
herbal lore which leads into acrimonious dealings between the power of
the church, the powers of the nobility and ruling classes, bringing
forth the overwhelming attitudes of superstition and religion
irrespective of class position. The word of the privileged is as good as
the word the law.
The only thing I will note in this work that
annoyed me is that the principle character from the lower class, is
outrageously outspoken, particularly considering her youth. These
facets are portrayed in the book as a result of her protected lifestyle
and naivety, and I didn’t find any credibility to both her words and
actions. No one of that period would be evenly remotely ignorant of
their position, place and class – these things were something that was
instantaneous with birth, and were endemic to a person’s very life in a
time ruled by floggings, the gallows and the hangman.
A great read that I would recommend for fans of P.C. Doherty, Robin Paige, Diana Gabaldon, Robin LaFevers, and Anne Perry.
I have to put this up on the mere whim that I love books that make me laugh out loud. And I don't care who on the commuter trains hears me. I just don't care that much on other people's uptight less-than-humorous whims.
The Handcuffs & Happily Ever Afters series from Robyn Peterman is hilarious. If you like outlandish contemporary comedies, with no subject too crass to mention. You do, however, have to be comfortable with lots of (possibly) offensive epithets, absolutely lots of abominable dirty language, with loads and loads of slang slinging around.
As you may guess from the title, this series is about romance, and I love the way the series links in common characters from the previous books. So, this is not a series where the prior books are needed in order to enjoy this merry series.
If you like something a bit different, loads of comic moments that just keep going, then these books are for you.
Here is one of my reviews from Goodreads.com:
This
novel is a work of sheer comic genius. I figured I’d put it down at
about midnight, when I finished, it was 3:42am. I realise this book
won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, but for me it was the epitome of
hilarious.
I smirked, snickered, sniggered, chortled, guffawed,
hooted and cried. It started out a little slow for about the first 8 or
9 pages, and then we hit lift-off.
The characters were varied
from charming to the embodied definition of nasty, and both the humour
and drama achieved precisely what they were geared to do, keeping the
book entertaining and balanced. It demonstrated the ability of people
to soldier on in the face of adversity to overcome their human frailty
with the support of friends and those who truly love them.
This
work launched me off to another galaxy dropping me off at Planet
Hysteria. I found it a sublime concoction and look forward to reading
more Robyn Peterman.
PS. Personally my favourite adjective
for a nasty slut or vicious cow is: bush pig. (Not sure whether this
term is purely Australian, or has come from somewhere else.) My favourite terms for a males' willy would be: ‘rod and tackle’ and my particular favourite the ‘one eyed trouser snake’.
What
happens when an accountant decides to grab life by the horns and try
something new? Apparently a pirate named Dave, a lot of pastel fleece,
and blackmail—just to start with…
Visualize and succeed, Oprah
said. I was sure as hell trying, even if my campaign to score a job as
the local weather girl had ended in a restraining order. Okay, TV was
not my strength. But a lack of talent has never stopped me before. Which
is why I’ve embarked on a writing career. I mean, how hard can it be to
come up with a sexy romance?
Leave it to me to wind up in a
group of grandmotherly porno writers who discuss sex toys and apple
cobbler in the same breath. Also leave it to me to leak an outlandish
plot idea to a bestselling author with the morals of a rabid squirrel.
And only I could get arrested for a jewelry heist I didn’t commit—by a
hunky cop whose handcuffs just might tempt me to sign up for a life of
crime. Maybe I’ve found my calling after all…
Margaret
Rutherford's life is one of those that you immediately exclaim 'oh
WOW'. It's unbelievable that she survived to become a force of nature
in her own right.
Margaret Rutherford (1892 - 1972) is probably best know for her film role as the very first Miss Marple. Here's a great bunch of trailers of the Miss Marple films. Margaret in a nutshell. Agatha Christie actually dedicated one of her books to Margaret Rutherford as Miss Marple!!!
Margaret Rutherford (1892 - 1972) is probably best know for her film role as the very first Miss Marple.
As Miss Marple she insisted on wearing her own clothes and refused to be in the films unless her very shy husband, Stringer Davis, performed too. She married Davis when she was 53yo (waiting 15 years for his mother to die as she disapproved of Margaret), and played Miss Marple in her 70's. What really gets me, and makes me admire her even more, is her sprightly and forthright manner in the films, and would you believe, canters along on a horse side saddle! What a bloody trojan. 70 years old!
Before we get on to Margaret's incredible life, here's a little about her very close marriage:
Davis adored Rutherford, with one friend noting: "For him she was not only a great talent but, above all, a beauty." (Quote from Wikipedia)
In 1963 Margaret Rutherford won an Academy award, a Golden Globe "The VIPs" also starring Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton. Disappointingly, Peter Ustinov collects the award for Margaret, I've actually got no idea why...
Anyway, here's her stunning personal life. What a lady that embodies the old British saying 'stiff upper lip' and 'carry on'.
Her father was, at that time, from a
renowned family and a well known journalist. One month after getting
married, he had a nervous breakdown (now more generally understood to be
post traumatic stress disorder or PTSD), and admitted into the
'nuthouse'. At this time in London it was the Bethnal House Lunatic
Asylum. Yep, they really called it a 'lunatic asylum'. Just the name
is enough to send you running very, very fast in a diametrically opposed
direction. You feel like a bout of impending lunacy just from the very title.
Released
from the care of the asylum to his family in 1883 he than proceeded to
murder his father, the Reverend Julius Benn. By bashing his head in with
a chamber pot no less. Then he proceeded to slash his own throat. with
a pocket knife at a Inn in Derbyshire. Guess the maid got a bit of a
shock that morning. Apparently the knife slashing wasn't too
successful and he was once again commited to an asylum, this time the
Broadmore Criminal Lunatic Asylum. Bet that wasn't too nice. After a
seven year sojourn at the asylum he was actually, believe it or not,
released and reunited with his wife. Bet that made her day.
To
become somewhat incognito, her father William and his wife, moved to
India. When Margaret was three she was returned to live with her aunt
in Wimbledon, London, after her pregnant mother hung herself from a
tree.
She'd been told her father was dead, so imagine
her (elated?) surprise that he wasn't in fact dead, when she was 12yo.
He later died in Broadmore Hospital.
Not surprisingly
enough, as an adult Margaret had bouts of anxiety and depression,
fearing that her parent's mental illness might be hereditary.
I have a passion for saving collective nouns. They're so curious and often pretty fabulous.
Please feel free to help me out.
I need more more more!!
Threat of courtiers (from the court of Henry VIII) Murder of crows Parliament of owls Pod of dolphins Flock of birds Herd of cattle Surfeit of skunks A faire of fairies A lick of lesbians (a friend came up with this one - fit for Oscar Wilde in wit value!) a congress of gorillas gaggle of geese swarm of bees an army of caterpillars pack of dogs convocation of eagles a mob of emus a pride of lions a bouquet of flowers flock of sheep a clowder of cats a kindle of kittens
For pure quirkyness as the epitome of droll, is my favourite black & white actor, George Sanders (with Oscar Levant a close second). In my opinion the best example of perfecting the droll is George Sanders' part in as Jack Favell in Daphne Du Maurier's 'Rebecca' with Joan Fontaine and Laurence Olivier in 1940. George is perhaps best known for his award winning role as Supporting Actor for his part in 'All About Eve' with Bette Davis in 1950.
If your keen as mustard, the full movie is on YouTube.
Below is my absolutely favourite parts encapsulated already put up on YouTube by someone with impeccable taste:
He remained a master of the droll until his death in 1972 with this farewell note:
Dear World, I am leaving because I am bored. I feel I have lived long
enough. I am leaving you with your worries in this sweet cesspool. Good
luck.
The other night we found a gorgeous little baby Brushtail possum, which are native to Australia. Although this particular species is not endangered, all of these beasts are territorial and due to loss of habitat have a hard time.
They are known to love nesting in roofs, love to dig up some bulbs, eat your fruit and, run all over your roof at night, and if tamed enough, will go through your garbage and wander into your home at night for any good ripened fruit.
Between the parrots that take a yummy nip out of every fruit. Between the possums and parrots, we're often lucky to get a single apple off the tree.
Ultimately, some people trap them and move them away. Being territorial, they often try to find their way back with disastrous results.
Anyway, to cut a long story short, we called WIRES (Wildlife Information Rescue & Education Service). The little beast slept in the duvet envelope with the duvet. He was freezing cold when we found him, so I warmed him up down my top/shirt then left him to the duvet.
WIRES are staffed by local helpers who are volunteers, and kindly picked him up in the morning. Apparently he'll be in good company, the WIRES lady mentioned she had three more little ones at home! He will be reared under their tender care until able to be released into the wild. At this stage, he is 100 - 120 days old.
Ya! Diana Graves latest on the Raina Kirkland series has finally hit the scene.
Love this series, one I have on my spreadsheet for books coming out (& yes, I really do have one...).
Give it a go if you like the paranormal/urban fantasy stuff.
This is the Goodreads' blurb from the first novel, Fatal Retribution:
Raina Kirkland is a
witch without magic and an elf without grace. She lives in a wondrous
world that parallels our own in every way, save for one fantastic
detail. Every story ever told, every monster, every god, every demon is
spectacularly real! Even so, Raina seems to live an unremarkable
life up until the day her family falls victim to a spree of unauthorized
vampire infections. Without government oversight humans are becoming
terrorizing blood thirsty murderers all over the Pacific Northwest. Raina
is just coming into her own as a woman when she realizes the police can
no longer be trusted to stop this unbelievably violent trend, and she
engages in an amazing journey that brings her to her breaking point and
beyond.
“Revenge is an act of passion; vengeance of justice. Injuries are revenged; crimes are avenged.” ~Samuel Johnson
Warning: This book contains sex and violence. Suitable for mature readers only.F
