The Qwillery

Phoenix Unbound
Author:  Grace Draven
Series:  The Fallen Empire 1
Publisher:  Ace, September 25, 2018
Format:  Trade Paperback and eBook, 400 pages
List Price:  US$15.00 (print); US$4.99 (eBook)
ISBN:  9780451489753 (print); 9780451489760 (eBook)

A woman with power over fire and illusion and the enslaved son of a chieftain battle a corrupt empire in this powerful and deeply emotional romantic fantasy from the USA Today bestselling author of Radiance.

Every year, each village is required to send a young woman to the Empire’s capital–her fate to be burned alive for the entertainment of the masses. For the last five years, one small village’s tithe has been the same woman. Gilene’s sacrifice protects all the other young women of her village, and her secret to staying alive lies with the magic only she possesses.

But this year is different.

Azarion, the Empire’s most famous gladiator, has somehow seen through her illusion–and is set on blackmailing Gilene into using her abilities to help him escape his life of slavery. Unknown to Gilene, he also wants to reclaim the birthright of his clan.

To protect her family and village, she will abandon everything to return to the Empire–and burn once more.

Melanie's Thoughts

Had Grace Draven's name not been on the front cover I would not have guessed this is one of her novels....well at least not for the first few chapters. Gilene and Azarion are both victims who had endured rape and torture at the hands of the Empire. The Krael Empire is not a typical setting for a Draven novel and most certainly, the systematic rape and torture is not typical of what happens to her characters. Sure, her characters have endured hardship or isolation but never anything to this extreme, especially for the story's hero Azarion. Before you start to this think that this story is something completely different to Draven romance let me reassure you as Draven doesn't focus unduly on what Azarion or Gilene have experienced as captives of the Empire. Azarion and Gilene's memories of their treatment is not too graphic and Draven successfully uses these scenes for character development, possibly also as a backdrop for other books of the series.

Phoenix Unbound is set in, what best can be described, in a time period similar to the Roman Empire where the pagan gods are worshipped and the rich rule by controlling the populace through blood sport and ritual killing. Draven's Krael Empire is not too different to periods of our own history, just with a little more magic. This makes it easier to relate to her characters and could also make you believe that Gilene and Azarion were from a page in history rather than the pages of a fantasy novel.

Draven has a lyrical or poetic writing style and the latter scenes between the two lead characters are written to be read like one long love letter. One of the lines that reminded me that I was reading a Draven novel occurred when Azarion sees Gilene for the first time after nearly a year. He calls her the 'wife of my soul'. For me this is typical Draven. At its core Phoenix Unbound is romance but not as obviously romance as some of her other novels. I am very finicky about what romance I enjoy. I have to say I read quite a bit of that genre but I invariably don't enjoy it, especially when there is a lot of sex. I really enjoyed Draven's Master of Crows series and if she continues to build the Fallen Empire series on the foundation of this first novel then I think I may enjoy it more.

Draven has such beautifully illustrated novels - Masters of Crows is beautiful. The cover of Phoenix Unbound is absolutely gorgeous and I have spent quite a bit of time staring at it. She is very lucky to have someone to create such lovely illustrations.

This may not be a novel to suit every lover of romance but if you like something a little different and not a lot on the hot and steamy then this may be the book for you.

PHOENIX UNBOUND by Grace Draven
A woman with power over fire and illusion and an enslaved son of a chieftain battle a corrupt empire in this powerful and deeply emotional romantic fantasy from the USA Today bestselling author of Radiance.


Phoenix Unbound
The Fallen Empire 1
Ace, September 25, 2018
Trade Paperback and eBook, 400 pages

A woman with power over fire and illusion and an enslaved son of a chieftain battle a corrupt empire in this powerful and deeply emotional romantic fantasy from the USA Today bestselling author of Radiance.

Every year, each village is required to send a young woman to the Empire’s capital–her fate to be burned alive for the entertainment of the masses. For the last five years, one small village’s tithe has been the same woman. Gilene’s sacrifice protects all the other young women of her village, and her secret to staying alive lies with the magic only she possesses.

But this year is different.

Azarion, the Empire’s most famous gladiator, has somehow seen through her illusion–and is set on blackmailing Gilene into using her abilities to help him escape his life of slavery. Unknown to Gilene, he also wants to reclaim the birthright of his clan.

To protect her family and village, she will abandon everything to return to the Empire–and burn once more.


Look for Melanie's review of Phoenix Unbound later this month!

MAGIC BITES by Ilona Andrews
Ilona Andrews invites you to experience the first novel in the #1 New York Times bestselling series featuring the intriguing fantasy world of mercenary Kate Daniels…


Magic Bites
A Kate Daniels Novel 1
Ace, December 31, 2012
Trade Paperback and eBook, 384 pages

#1 New York Times bestselling author Ilona Andrews invites you to experience the first novel in the “intriguing world” (Locus) of Kate Daniels with this special edition of Magic Bites…

Kate Daniels is a down-on-her-luck mercenary who makes her living cleaning up magical problems. But when Kate’s guardian is murdered, her quest for justice draws her into a power struggle between two strong factions within Atlanta’s magic circles. Pressured by both sides to find the killer, Kate realizes she’s way out of her league—but she wouldn’t want it any other way…

This special edition includes in-depth information about the world of Kate Daniels, with descriptions of its characters and factions. Explore Kate’s Atlanta like never before with answers to FAQ and a quiz to find your place there. And don’t miss the prequel story “A Questionable Client,” as well as scenes of events in Magic Bites from Curran’s point of view.

WRITTEN IN RED by Anne Bishop
Enter the world of the Others in the first novel in New York Times bestselling author Anne Bishop’s thrilling fantasy series: a place where unearthly entities—vampires and shape-shifters among them—rule the Earth and prey on the human race.


Written in Red
A Novel of the Others 1
Roc, March 04, 2014
Mass Market Paperback and eBook, 512 pages

Enter the world of the Others in the first novel in New York Times bestselling author Anne Bishop’s thrilling fantasy series: a place where unearthly entities—vampires and shape-shifters among them—rule the Earth and prey on the human race.
As a cassandra sangue, or blood prophet, Meg Corbyn can see the future when her skin is cut—a gift that feels more like a curse. Meg’s Controller keeps her enslaved so he can have full access to her visions. But when she escapes, the only safe place Meg can hide is at the Lakeside Courtyard—a business district operated by the Others.

Shape-shifter Simon Wolfgard is reluctant to hire the stranger who inquires about the Human Liaison job. First, he senses she’s keeping a secret, and second, she doesn’t smell like human prey. Yet a stronger instinct propels him to give Meg the job. And when he learns the truth about Meg and that she’s wanted by the government, he’ll have to decide if she’s worth the fight between humans and the Others that will surely follow.

CRY WOLF by Patricia Briggs
#1 New York Times bestselling author Patricia Briggs presents the first Alpha and Omega novel—the start of an extraordinary series set in Mercy Thompson’s world, but with rules of its own…


Cry Wolf
Alpha and Omega 1
Ace, July 29, 2008
Mass Market Paperback and eBook, 320 pages

#1 New York Times bestselling author Patricia Briggs presents the first Alpha and Omega novel—the start of an extraordinary series set in Mercy Thompson’s world, but with rules of its own…

Anna never knew werewolves existed until the night she survived a violent attack…and became one herself. After three years at the bottom of the pack, she’d learned to keep her head down and never, ever trust dominant males. But Anna is that rarest kind of werewolf: an Omega. And one of the most powerful werewolves in the country is about to recognize her value as a pack member—and as his mate.

WILD HUNGER by Chloe Neill
In the first thrilling installment of Chloe Neill’s spinoff to the New York Times bestselling Chicagoland Vampires series, a new vampire will find out just how deep blood ties run.


Wild Hunger
An Heirs of Chicagoland Novel 1
Berkley, August 14, 2018
Trade Paperback and eBook, 352 pages

In the first thrilling installment of Chloe Neill’s spinoff to the New York Times bestselling Chicagoland Vampires series, a new vampire will find out just how deep blood ties run.

As the only vampire child ever born, some believed Elisa Sullivan had all the luck. But the magic that helped bring her into the world left her with a dark secret. Shifter Connor Keene, the only son of North American Central Pack Apex Gabriel Keene, is the only one she trusts with it. But she’s a vampire and the daughter of a Master and a Sentinel, and he’s prince of the Pack and its future king.

When the assassination of a diplomat brings old feuds to the fore again, Elisa and Connor must choose between love and family, between honor and obligation, before Chicago disappears forever.

SLAVE TO SENSATION by Nalini Singh
THE FIRST PSY/CHANGELING NOVEL from the New York Times bestselling author of Shards of Hope, Shield of Winter, and Heart of Obsidian…

The book that Christine Feehan called “a must-read for all of my fans.”


Slave to Sensation
Psy-Changling 1
Berkley, September 5, 2006
Mass Market Paperback and eBook, 352 pages

THE FIRST PSY/CHANGELING NOVEL from the New York Times bestselling author of Shards of Hope, Shield of Winter, and Heart of Obsidian…

The book that Christine Feehan called “a must-read for all of my fans.”

In a world that denies emotions, where the ruling Psy punish any sign of desire, Sascha Duncan must conceal the feelings that brand her as flawed. To reveal them would be to sentence herself to the horror of “rehabilitation”—the complete psychic erasure of everything she ever was…Both human and animal, Lucas Hunter is a Changeling hungry for the very sensations the Psy disdain. After centuries of uneasy coexistence, these two races are now on the verge of war over the brutal murders of several Changeling women. Lucas is determined to find the Psy killer who butchered his packmate, and Sascha is his ticket into their closely guarded society. But he soon discovers that this ice-cold Psy is very capable of passion—and that the animal in him is fascinated by her. Caught between their conflicting worlds, Lucas and Sascha must remain bound to their identities—or sacrifice everything for a taste of darkest temptation…

Hiya! Hope you haven't missed my week in review too much. I did treat you all to a full review of Iron and Magic by Ilona Andrews last week so didn't totally miss out on some 'Melanie time' :) I had a confession to make. This will be only 1 of 2 WIRs for the month of June. Sorry! I am going to be away for the next two weeks so won't have a chance to let you know what I have been up to. Hopefully this week's WIR won't disappoint. So lets get to it. What did I read?


The first book I am going to tell you about is Claire North's latest novel 84K, set in a dystopian England which tells the story of one man trying to right a very tragic wrong. Theo Miller was quite content living a quiet life, working for the Criminal Audit Office. In North's version of England the country is controlled by two 2 powers - the Government and the Company. Crime isn't punished, it's paid for. Murder, rape, theft? It all has a price and as long as you have enough money then you are safe. If you don't then it's to the workhouse or some other heinous form of slavery until your debt is paid off...if it ever can be paid off. Theo was responsible for assessing the monetary penalty for each crime that comes across his desk. His job was just that...a job until one day his ex, Dani, is murdered....right in front of him. This time murder isn't just a number with a pound sign attached. This time the murderer is going to pay if Theo has to start a revolution to make it happen.

I have to be honest, this was a difficult read. North's version of England is very, very dark. The poor are fodder for the Company working in sweatshops and factories. Women could be raped or brutalized for only a few thousand pounds in compensation - none of which the victim ever receives. The rich have it all. They can do anything to anyone without any recrimination. There is no joy or beauty or humour anywhere in this story. It is very Dickensian in its bleakness. The story flits between Theo on his quest and Theo on a barge being cared for by a stranger called Neila. I could never figure out which were the past or present events which made it very easy to miss a key moment in the story if I got distracted. North has an unbelievable imagination and I have always loved her books (the Fifteen Lives of Harry August is in my top 10 favourite books of all time) but I don't think 84K will be. This was a very intricate and interesting tale but not one to read if you need a pick me up or are having a bad day.


A couple of weeks ago I came across Grace Draven's Night Tide which is set in the Wraith Kings world. Zigana is the illegitimate daughter of a lord earning a living from the sea. When an evil sea creature starts to lure the local villagers to their deaths she knows she must do something to save them. But what can she do and can she do it alone?

I was looking for a quick and easy read and as this is a novella it certainly fit the bill. Zigana is pretty much your archetypal heroine - beautiful, kind and talented. The only thing that seemed to indicate that she was the widowed daughter of a poor fisherman, still living with her parents was that her skin was a little tanned. Otherwise, she seemed to have been spared the effects of living a difficult life in a harsh environment. The story is pretty straight forward although I did find it quite sad. Zigana has a hard life and a lonely life. The one man who could have made her happy is far out of her reach. I believe Draven may return to this character but I will have to wait and see.


Anyway. That is it for me this week. Hopefully, I haven't been too much of a downer with all the gloomy books I have been reading. I will plan to read something more jolly ASAP! Until then happy reading.

84K
Orbit, May 22, 2018
Trade Paperback and eBook, 496 pages

From one of the most powerful writers in modern fiction and World Fantasy Award winner comes a dystopian vision of a world where money reigns supreme, and nothing is so precious that it can’t be bought….

The penalty for Dani Cumali’s murder: £84,000.

Theo works in the Criminal Audit Office. He assesses each crime that crosses his desk and makes sure the correct debt to society is paid in full.

These days, there’s no need to go to prison – provided that you can afford to pay the penalty for the crime you’ve committed. If you’re rich enough, you can get away with murder.

But Dani’s murder is different. When Theo finds her lifeless body, and a hired killer standing over her and calmly calling the police to confess, he can’t let her death become just an entry on a balance sheet.

Someone is responsible. And Theo is going to find them and make them pay.

Perfect for fans of speculative fiction such as The Handmaid’s Tale and Never Let Me Go, Claire North’s moving and unnerving new novel will resonate with readers around the world.

Previous books by Claire North:
The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August
Touch
The Sudden Appearance of Hope
The End of the Day

By the same author, writing as Kate Griffin:
A Madness of Angels
The Midnight Mayor
The Neon Court
The Minority Council
The Glass God
Stray Souls

Night Tide
April 28, 2018
eNovella, 72 pages

Something hunts the surf at night, luring villagers to their deaths with a lullaby of sorrow and the torture of nightmares.

Blessed with the gift of water-sight, Zigana Imre senses the presence of an ancient predator drawn by a hunger for human flesh sweetened by grief.

With the help of a child of earth, she will battle a spawn of the sea to protect a loved one and save a man who will one day fight to save a world.

--Previously published in the now unavailable Teeth, Long and Sharp anthology, Night Tide is a 21k-word, stand-alone novella that takes place in the world of the Wraith Kings series.--

Hello folks. I hope you have had a good week. We had a stunning bank holiday last weekend with the temperature hitting 28 C on Monday. Whoop whoop. I even managed not to get totally sun burnt. Whoop whoop x 2. However, its back to normal English weather - chucking it down with rain and we have the heating back on. Bummer! The plus side of the weather being totally pants is that I tend to stay in and read books. So what did I read?


I received the final book of Sylvain Neuvel's Themis Files series from the lovely Qwill a few months ago but only just read it this week.  I was determined not to read Only Human too far ahead of the publication date as then I wouldn't be able to talk about it for ages. I have really loved this series and was really looking forward to the final book.

Book 2 - Waking Gods ended with the hugest cliffhanger. Billions of people were killed when the aliens who built the giant robots invaded, several of our favourite characters were dead and the others were transported to the alien planet that built the robots. Only Human starts almost a decade later with Vincent, Rose and the now teenager Eva landing back on earth in the robot Themis. The world they have returned to is very different to the world they left. The United States has become the world power after repairing the remaining alien robot and threatening anyone who might try to resist. Anyone with a drop of alien blood has been interred in camps along with anyone who is considered a risk. Friends and neighbours are now pitted against each other as the world has fallen into chaos. The world that Rose and Vincent has returned to almost seems more alien then where they have been living for the last decade. It's up to them to try....to try something, anything .. to stop another world war.

The story is told again in a series of interviews with the main characters both in present day and in the past. We discover what happens to Rose, Vincent and Eva when they land on Esat Ekt  - the home planet of the alien race who created the robot army. We learn why the Ekt killed so many humans and how they treated the humans that have landed in one of their very own robots. We also get to 'watch' Eva group up. If you remember from book 2 Vincent and Kara were Eva's biological parents but had only discovered she existed when the world fell apart. Vincent is desperate to return to Earth so that Eva could have a 'normal' life. The problem is that Eva now considers Esat Ekt home and doesn't want to leave. This book is much darker than the previous two and not quite as action packed. The themes of fascism and racism were prevalent in almost every chapter and every conversation especially those between Eva and Vincent. My favourite character, the mystery man, was obviously not in this book and I really noticed his absence. The story wasn't quite a the same and was lacking without him. The interview format didn't quite work as well without him as well. It was still a good book but not quite as unique and gripping as the others.


The second book I have to tell you about is really novella - In the Darkest Midnight by Grace Draven. The story is set in the same world as her The Wraith Kings series. Jahna Uhlfrida is born with birth mark which makes her a target for bullies all her life. The annual winter festival should be a time of music, fun and festivity but for Jahna it is a time of taunts and hurtful names. When her father hires a handsome swordsman to teach her brother Jahna's life starts to look up.

If you are looking for a quick, easy read then this is the novella for you. Jahna is sweet and her love of hunky swordsman is evident from the very start. Its not a challenging read but a satisfying time filler.


Well that is it for me this week. I am looking for a new series to read so if you have any suggestions let me know. Until next week Happy Reading.

Only Human
The Themis Files 3
Del Rey, May 1, 2018
Hardcover and eBook, 352 pages

Pacific Rim meets The Martian in the explosive follow-up to Sleeping Giants (“One of the most promising series kickoffs in recent memory.”—NPR) and Waking Gods (“Pure, unadulterated literary escapism.”—Kirkus Reviews).

Brilliant scientist Rose Franklin has devoted her adult life to solving the mystery she accidentally stumbled upon as a child: a huge metal hand buried beneath the ground outside Deadwood, South Dakota. The discovery set in motion a cataclysmic chain of events with geopolitical ramifications. Rose and the Earth Defense Corps raced to master the enigmatic technology, as giant robots suddenly descended on Earth’s most populous cities, killing one hundred million people in the process. Though Rose and her team were able to fend off the attack, their victory was short-lived. The mysterious invaders retreated, disappearing from the shattered planet . . . but they took the scientist and her crew with them.

Now, after nearly ten years on another world, Rose returns to find a devastating new war—this time between humans. America and Russia are locked in combat, fighting to fill the power vacuum left behind after the invasion. Families are torn apart, friends become bitter enemies, and countries collapse in the wake of the battling superpowers. It appears the aliens left behind their titanic death machines so humankind will obliterate itself. Rose is determined to find a solution, whatever it takes. But will she become a pawn in a doomsday game no one can win?

Book 1

Book 2

In the Darkest Midnight
April 16, 2018
eBook, 121 pages

~Previously published in the now unavailable AMID THE WINTER SNOW anthology~

The mark Jahna Uhlfrida was born with has made her a target of the cruel and idle all her life. During the long, crowded festivities of the winter holiday known as Delyalda, there's nowhere to escape and no one to save her from the inevitable taunts and mockery.

Until a handsome swordmaster promises to teach her how to save herself.

--IN THE DARKEST MIDNIGHT is a stand-alone novella of approximately 43k words and takes place in the world of the Wraith Kings series. For those who've read the first two books in the series, this storyline takes place after events in Book #2 (Eidolon).--

It's a big happy milestone birthday to my sister Lauranne who introduced me to fantasy not so many years ago. I am missing the party and the cake but if I wasn't, you would be missing my post! It was a week of shorts rather than a short week. So what did I read?


Amazon keeps popping up Grace Draven's short story Wyvern at me whenever I browse for books so I thought it was time I give it a go. In this story Elsbeth makes a brave deal with the wyvern that has been terrorising her community. Elsbeth has offered to entertain the wyvern by playing her fiddle in order to save her grandfather for getting lynched. Elsbeth soon finds herself drawn the large beast that reminds her lost but not forgotten love. What Elsbeth has yet to realise is that the wyvern is none other than Alaric the bard she lost her heart to years before. Can Alaric convince her he is more than the fearsome beast who has put her beloved grandfather in danger?

I thought this short story was OK. I wasn't wowed but I wasn't completely bored either. The song 'The Devil Went Down to Georgia' kept running through my head when I came to the parts where Elsbeth was making the deal with Alaric to play her fiddle to save her grandfather. I thought it was mediocre in comparison to some of Draven's other works.


Amazon also recommended Bec McMaster's short story The Many Lives of Hadley Monroe. In this tale Hadley actually makes a deal with Death to give her more time with her dying grandmother. She has a month to answer Death's question and in the process of trying to find the answer she comes to realise there is more to Death than a black cloak and a scythe.

This was a very short story indeed. I think it took me no more than a half hour to read. Again, I was a bit disappointed. I am not sure whether it was the super short length of this story that bothered me or the fact that Hadley very quickly started to make 'swoony' eyes at the grim reaper.


Still on the short story theme and this time from NetGalley I received Shadowed Souls. This is a anthology of short stories by various authors including Jim Butcher, Seanan McGuire, Tanya Huff, and Rob Thurman. The anthology is edited by Jim Butcher and Kerrie L. Hughes. Butcher wrote the foreword and describes how a pack of coyotes are circling his house, waiting in anticipation for his elderly pet dog to come outside. He scares them off in defence of his beloved pet but acknowledges that they aren't evil just predators who are doing what is instinctual. This sets the theme of this anthology - predators who aren't evil but do bad things.

I won't tell you about every story but what I can say that I liked some better than others. Notably, Jim Butcher's which was set in the Harry Dresden world and told from Molly's POV. This was a chilling tale indeed and very good. I also loved Tanya Huff's short from the Vicky Nelson series. I loved that series and it was great to find out what Vicki has been up to since the end of the series. I also thought Rob Thurman's contribution was very tense as was Kristine Kathryn Rusch's. I haven't read anything from Rusch before and I liked her tale of the grief stricken Kaylee. I think I will be checking out more from this author. I didn't feel that all of the shorts lived up to the 'predator' label especially Seanan McGuire's. I have to say that her predator the succubus Elsie wasn't very predatory at all. Overall, I enjoyed this anthology and found a couple of authors I am going to investigate further.


That is it for me this week...short and sweet (tee hee). Until next week Happy Reading!

Wyvern
A Dragon Shifter Novella
Grace Draven, September 5, 2016
eBook, 88 pages

Eight years earlier the talented fiddler, Elsbeth Weaver, gave up the man she loved to care for her ailing grandfather. Now, she must risk her life to save her grandfather from a lynching by playing for the wyvern terrorizing the countryside. When she comes face-to-face with the beast at the haunted cliffs of Maldoza, she is both frightened and fascinated. Something about the creature reminds her of the bard who once stole her heart, something more than just a shared name.

Alaric has never stopped loving the human woman he left behind in a dusty village almost a decade before. When he meets her again at Maldoza, wearing old dragon armor and playing her fiddle as if her heart would break, he is overjoyed. Elsbeth doesn’t know her erstwhile lover is only an illusion for the wyvern, and Alaric must convince her that the heart of the beast is no less devoted than the heart of the man.

~Second edition. Originally published by Amber Quill Press in 2007~

Note: Some scenes contain graphic descriptions of physical intimacy.

The Many Lives of Hadley Monroe
Lochaber Press, April 4, 2016
eBook, 52 pages

When the clock stops ticking, and the storm rolls in, Hadley Monroe knows exactly what’s going on. Forty years ago her grandfather made a pact with Death, and now Death has come calling again.

Forced to make her own deal with the reaper, Hadley has only three weeks to answer his question, or he’ll take her grandmother too. The problem is, there’s no way to answer it, and three weeks is not long enough with the reaper who’s beginning to steal her heart…

Warning: This short story has been previously published in the Mammoth Book Of Southern Gothic Romance.

Shadowed Souls
Roc, November 1, 2016
Trade Paperback and eBook, 352 pages

In this dark and gritty collection—featuring short stories from Jim Butcher, Seanan McGuire, Kevin J. Anderson, and Rob Thurman—nothing is as simple as black and white, light and dark, good and evil..

Unfortunately, that’s exactly what makes it so easy to cross the line.

In #1 New York Times bestselling author Jim Butcher’s Cold Case, Molly Carpenter—Harry Dresden’s apprentice-turned-Winter Lady—must collect a tribute from a remote Fae colony and discovers that even if you’re a good girl, sometimes you have to be bad…

New York Times bestselling author Seanan McGuire’s Sleepover finds half-succubus Elsie Harrington kidnapped by a group of desperate teenage boys. Not for anything “weird.” They just need her to rescue a little girl from the boogeyman. No biggie.

In New York Times bestselling Kevin J. Anderson’s Eye of Newt, Zombie P.I. Dan Shamble’s latest client is a panicky lizard missing an eye who thinks someone wants him dead. But the truth is that someone only wants him for a very special dinner…

And New York Times bestselling author Rob Thurman’s infernally heroic Caliban Leandros takes a trip down memory lane as he deals wih some overdue—and nightmarish—vengeance involving some quite nasty Impossible Monsters.

ALSO INCLUDES STORIES BY
Tanya Huff * Kat Richardson * Jim C. Hines * Anton Strout * Lucy A. Snyder * Kristine Kathryn Rusch * Erik Scott de Bie *

Hello folks.  I hope you have had a good week. I was on annual leave this week and start my new job on Monday (15th) so didn't get a lot of reading done. I did however, get quite a bit of DIY done with my youngest step-son who I co-opted to help me out. It wasn't all work, work, work though and I did have a 'me day' which was the only way I was going to get any reading done! Enough about me and my me day....what did I read?


I discovered (and apologies because I can't remember how!) that the final book of Helen Harper's Bo Blackman series had been released - Dark Tomorrow. I will have to admit that I really struggled with this book as I seemed to have blanked the entirety of the previous book from my memory. In fact I had to go back and read a few reviews (including my own) of book 5 before I felt I could continue past the first few chapters. In this instalment Bo is bent on revenge after the Kakos demons destroyed nearly all of the vampires in London. All her new friends and frenemies have been blown up and the 'Families' (of vampires) have been decimated. With very few vampires left there is nothing stopping the witches and the demons from taking control. Michael - Bo's ex-vampire honey bunny - is recovering from his near death experience and struggling with humanity so its now up to Bo to make sure those that led to soo many deaths pay for their crimes. This is all tangled up with solving the mystery of a years old abduction of a young girl. Bo's got a lot on her plate but a few friends along the way to help her out.

I was kind of surprised that this was the final book of the series as it certainly didn't seem like it. I thought that Harper's introduction of the abduction mystery muddied the waters a bit in terms of resolving the power play between the vampires, the witches and almost everyone else. It felt like Harper didn't have enough to say about the decimation of the Families and threw the abduction in to pad out the plot. Harper is quite a prolific writer but I don't find that she is consistent throughout a series. I felt the same way about her Blood Destiny series which I liked at the start  but my enjoyment dropped off considerably as the series progressed. Less is often more!


I was looking for something short that I could read in a day so that I had more than 1 book to tell you about.  I quick peruse of my Amazon recommendations and I came across Lover of Thorns and Holy Gods by Grace Draven. This is comprised of 3 short (and very short) stories from the Master of Crows, Wraith Kings and from the stand alone novel Entreat Me. The first story - Strong Blood is a cross over with Ballard from Entreat Me and Silhara from Master of Crows. Story 2  - Crow Awakened is set in the Master of Crows world following on from Brush of Blackwings and explains what infliction Martise is suffering from. The final takes us back to the world of Brishen and Ildiko and shows that some things have no cultural divide.

If you have read my WIR before you will no that I don't usually enjoy two things - short stories and crossovers and here I was reading a combination of both! Lucky for me I enjoyed both. I did feel that these were short stories with a capital S for short. They seemed to take only a few minutes to read each. I am sure it was much more in reality. If I had to choose I would say I enjoyed Crow Awakened the most and added more to this series in terms of character development. Worth a read if you are a Draven fan.


That is it for me this week. I am back to commuting 2 hours each day so I hope to have a few more books to tell you about next week. Feel free to drop me a line with your recommendations. Until next week Happy Reading.

Welcome to June. I was hoping for some super scorchio weather this week but alas I had to turn the heating back on and wear a sweater. I guess I shouldn't expect a heatwave considering I live in the UK. I am just hoping it doesn't rain all weekend as I want to try out my new pressure washer. You know you are either getting old or boring when your big exciting purchase is a pressure washer! Anyway I digress.  What did I read?


I was having a browse on Amazon and discovered that Eidolon by Grace Draven was available. The last time I checked it wasn't available in the UK and then reading it slipped my mind. This is the second in the Wraith Kings series and continues the story of the unlikely couple  - the beautiful human wife Ildiko and her handsome but not so human husband Brishen. I was rather surprised to discover this was only book 2. So much happened in book 1 Radiance that I had forgotten it was only one book. At the end of Radiance Brishen had been captured and tortured which left him with only one eye and various other scars. He and Ildiko are still very much in love despite their many differences. The story doesn't start with these two mismatched lovebirds but in the home of Brishen's family following his mother unleashing monstrous demons on the castle and surrounding populace. All of Brishen's family are killed in the onslaught....well all apart from a tiny baby, her nurse and 2 palace guards. While they seek shelter Brishen is left thinking he is the only survivor from his family and has to find a way to save his kingdom and the rest of humanity. Little does he realise to do this he needs to raise an army of the undead...and become one himself. Ildiko is left to single handedly keep the Kingdom safe and wait for Brishen to return....if he does at all.

Yet again Draven creates a fast paced, dark but engaging tale full of folklore, action and romance. While the last story had a few subplots (the wedding, Brishen's mother, Brishen getting captured) Eidolon has one main plotline which is about Brishen trying to save his kingdom by becoming a Wraith King. I enjoyed this story I think more than book 1. Brishen had a hard choice to make in this novel and it wasn't just about leaving Ildiko on her own while he goes off to war. I also quite like Ildiko as she can stick up for herself and is self sufficient despite being part of the aristocracy. I also thought it was interesting that Draven is going to continue this series but not with Brishen and Ildiko as the lead characters. Apparently their story has been told and Draven is moving onto 2 of the secondary characters. This is a great way to keep the series fresh and not put this couple through seemingly never ending tumult. I do miss however the lovely illustrations that came with Draven's other novels but Eidolon does have a gorgeous cover to look at instead.


Book 2 for me was One Second by Dannika Dark. This is the final book of the Seven series and centres again on Lexi and Austin. In this instalment there is a war coming which puts the Weston pack at risk of being wiped out. A pack of rogues are taking over and wiping out packs in neighbouring states and they have set their sights on Texas. While this is unfolding the couple are facing their own challenges when Lexi ends up pregnant. Keeping Lexi and the baby safe is Austin's main priority but so is his pack and both are at risk of being killed at the hands of the invading rogues.

I will admit I almost quit reading this series as the male characters are misogynists with capital 'M'. I think if I had to read 'get your hands off my woman' or don't talk to my woman like that' or use of the word woman to describe ownership I was going to rush out and burn my bra. I thought I would finish the series off as I had already invested enough time and money in it so far. This book was an improvement on some of the others in the series but it was very slow going. Not a lot of the action happens until midway through and then it is pretty non-stop action until the end.


That is it for me for this week. Until next week Happy Reading!

Eidolon
Wraith Kings 2
Balestra Publishing, LLC, April 18, 2016
eBook, 239 pages
Review Copy: Reviewer's Own

In a bid for more power, the Shadow Queen of Haradis unleashes a malignant force into the world. Her son Brishen, younger prince of the Kai royal house, suddenly finds himself ruler of a kingdom blighted by a diseased darkness. His human wife Ildiko must decide if she will give up the man she loves in order to save his throne.

Three kingdoms on the verge of war must unite to save each other, and a one-eyed, reluctant king will raise an army of the dead to challenge an army of the damned.

A tale of alliance and sacrifice.

One Second
Seven Series 7
Dannika Dark, April 3, 2016
Trade Paperback and eBook, 392 pages
Review Copy: Reviewer's Own

Love. Family. Brotherhood.

Lexi has faced personal struggles, but nothing has prepared her for the most perilous battle of her life. Shifters are on the brink of war as Northerners target Colorado in an attempt to infiltrate the borders. Texas winds up on the hit list, and the Weston pack prepares to fight for their land… and for their lives.

Austin’s courage is put to the test when rogues want to seize his land and slaughter his pack. But that’s not all he’s facing as two shocking revelations turn their lives upside down. His love for Lexi is unwavering, but their future is uncertain.

Will the local packs set aside their differences to fight together, or will this be the end of peace among Shifters? Stand witness to the epic conclusion of the Seven series.

Destiny will find you.

Happy Thanksgiving to all my American friends and readers of this post. I hope you all had a wonderful day and lovely, delicious meals with friends and family. I need to get myself invited to someone's house for Thanksgiving as I miss pumpkin pie as it really isn't a British dessert. Feel free to send me one in the post. Anyway back to books.  What did I read?


You may remember a few weeks ago that I had started Raptor which is the 6th book in Lindsay Buroker's Dragon Blood series. In this instalment Lieutenant Caslin Ahn feels that she should be punished rather than praised for the events at the end of book 5. The last thing she wants to do  is pick up the soulblade that ended her friend's life. On the command of the King Ahn has no alternative but to pick up the evil sword to defend her friends and country. Will she survive....will they survive? well you will have to read it to find out.

I have been rather disappointed with the later books in this series as the dialogue between some of the characters has been too flippant and 'kooky' which hasn't been consistent with the plotline or the environment. Raptor slightly improves but not until much later in the story. I had been struggling to get back in the plot and found the story a bit slow moving at first. It was still slower than I would have liked but did pick up towards the end with a bit of a cliff hanger. Luckily the series finishes soon with the release of the final book in a few weeks.


In an attempt to tidy up my NetGalley shelves I realised that I hadn't yet finished Sorcerer to the Crown (Sorcerer Royal 1) by Zen Cho. This is one of books from September's Debut Author Challenge and I had been remiss in reading it in time for that. I really enjoyed this story and thought that Cho got the balance between story and characterisation just about right. Cho explores a few key themes throughout the story but it mainly centers on discrimination - discrimination based on race and discrimination based on sex. Zacharias Wythe is the rightful Sorcerer Royal but his fellow sorcerers don't believe he deserves the position as he is black and a former slave. The other main character, Prunella discovers she has magical powers but isn't allowed to reveal them as she is a woman. Set in the late 1800's women are far too delicate to be considered strong enough to wield any magic more powerful than what is required to make sure that dinner is cooked properly or the linens are well laundered.

I found this an enjoyable read even though the plot was a bit slow in parts. I think that Cho could have spent a little less time setting up Zacharias at the beginning of the story and more time developing his relationship with the other sorcerers towards the end of the story. Overall, this was as an excellent debut novel and I am looking forward to reading more of this series. (You may read an interview with Zen Cho here.)


Finally, a couple of short stories to finish off my week. I chose this book from my Amazon recommendations - Beneath a Waning Moon: a Duo of Gothic Romances. I am not the biggest fan of Elizabeth Hunter but I have enjoyed Grace Draven's novels. I was also inexplicably drawn to the cover. I loved the woman's long flowing gown and the way the folds ripple and cascade down the steps. I thought it was rather painterly.

There are two short stories - The Very Proper Monster by Elizabeth Hunter which tells the story of Josephine Shaw who is full of live and energy yet, dying of tuberculosis. Everything changes when she marries Tom Dargin, a vampire unbeknownst to her, to save her father's legacy. This a good old fashioned story of how love comes in the most unsuspecting forms and and the most unsuspecting times.

Story 2 - Gaslight Hades has hints of Jane Austen's Persuasion to it but this time the Captain Frederick Wentworth character is a monster - the soul of one man in the body of another. Nathaniel Gorden thought his life had been reduced to guarding Highgate cemetery until one day his lost love Lenore Kenward strolls back into his life. Once dead, now Nathanial is very much alive and so is his love of Lenore.

Short stories need only short reviews (in my humble opinion). Hunter's short story can only be described as 'twee'. Josephine was fairly one dimensional and I felt Tom was a bit of a whiner. I ended up skipping some pages at the end. Draven's story had much more depth to it and I liked both of the lead characters. Not an unpleasant end to the week but just a teeny tiny bit dull.


That is all for me this week. I hope you all have a great week ahead and Happy Reading.

Raptor
Dragon Blood 6
Lindsay Buroker, October 27, 2015
eBook, 354 pages

Responsible for her friend’s death, Lieutenant Caslin Ahn wants nothing more than to be left alone. She no longer deserves the company of comrades or the fulfillment she felt as a Wolf Squadron fighter pilot. But a summons from the king leaves her with no choice but to rejoin her teammates. An ancient evil has been unleashed, bringing death and destruction to the nation, and they are the only ones with a chance of stopping it.

Dragon Blood 6 brings back Cas, Tolemek, Ridge, Sardelle, Kaika, and Tylie, as well as her dragon, for a new epic fantasy adventure.

Sorcerer to the Crown
Sorcerer Royal 1
Ace, September 1, 2015
Hardcover and eBook, 384 pages

In this sparkling debut, magic and mayhem clash with the British elite…

The Royal Society of Unnatural Philosophers, one of the most respected organizations throughout all of England, has long been tasked with maintaining magic within His Majesty’s lands. But lately, the once proper institute has fallen into disgrace, naming an altogether unsuitable gentleman—a freed slave who doesn’t even have a familiar—as their Sorcerer Royal, and allowing England’s once profuse stores of magic to slowly bleed dry. At least they haven’t stooped so low as to allow women to practice what is obviously a man’s profession…

At his wit’s end, Zacharias Wythe, Sorcerer Royal of the Unnatural Philosophers and eminently proficient magician, ventures to the border of Fairyland to discover why England’s magical stocks are drying up. But when his adventure brings him in contact with a most unusual comrade, a woman with immense power and an unfathomable gift, he sets on a path which will alter the nature of sorcery in all of Britain—and the world at large…

Beneath a Waning Moon: A Duo of Gothic Romances
Hunter/Draven, September 29, 2015 (eBook)
CreateSpace, October 20, 2015 (Trade Paperback)

Two delightfully dark tales of Gothic romance from Elizabeth Hunter and Grace Draven.

In A VERY PROPER MONSTER, Josephine Shaw spends long nights filling the pages of her Gothic stories with the fantastic and the macabre, unaware that the suitor her father has arranged is one of the dark creatures she’s always dreamed. For Tom Dargin, courting an ailing spinster was only one duty in a long life of service to his sire. But after he meets the curious Miss Shaw, will Tom become the seducer or the seduced? Can a love fated to end in tragedy survive a looming grave?

In GASLIGHT HADES, Nathaniel Gordon walks two worlds—that of the living and the dead. Barely human, he's earned the reputation of a Bonekeeper, the scourge of grave robbers. He believes his old life over, until one dreary burial he meets the woman he once loved and almost married. Lenore Kenward stands at her father’s grave, begging the protection of the mysterious guardian, not knowing he is her lost love. Resolved to keep his distance, Nathaniel is forced to abandon his plan and accompany Lenore on a journey into the mouth of Hell where sea meets sky, and the abominations that exist beyond its barrier wait to destroy them.

OK which one of you turned the calendar forward to November? September has always been quite nice but I have been freezing all week and almost need to turn the heating on. Lucky for me I had some enjoyable books to read while I was cuddled under my duvet.  So what did I read?


I finished The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison at last. This book took me a while to read and thought I would wait to tell you about it once I had finished it. I found it when I randomly looking at Amazon. I thought it sounded OK and double checked on Goodreads.  Michael J Sullivan (Riyria Revelations series) gave it 5 stars so I thought it must be good.

The Goblin Emperor tells the story of Maia after he discovers that he is now the oldest remaining heir following the death of his father and brothers. Having been exiled at a young age after the death of his goblin mother, Maia has not developed the 'society' needed to excel as a ruler. Left alone with a few servants and a cruel warden Maia is insecure and unschooled in all the things he should have learned as a potential heir to the throne. He is, however, determined to be a good ruler and more importantly discover the consequences surrounding his father and brothers' deaths. Maia's job is made all that much harder as he is the goblin heir to a largely elven empire. He is up against prejudice, racism and perhaps most important a murderer who will stop at nothing to make sure that his time on the throne is as short as possible.

I thought this book was just OK. It was a bit predictable and seemed to take a lot longer than necessary to get to the resolution of the plot. I also thought it was very odd Maia and the other aristocrats referred to themselves in the plural form of the first person - using 'we' instead of 'I' or 'me'. If you like high fantasy mixed with a little bit of steampunk then give it a go but don't expect a quick read.


After a long read I then wanted to a quick read and discovered a novella of Grace Draven's that I had missed  - The Brush of Black Wings. This is set in the Master of Crows world with Martise and Silhara. They are enjoying wedded bliss when Martise discovers a mysterious, dark and dangerous ruin in the woods. When Martise gets trapped by a potentially malevolent force Silhara will do anything and everything to get her back.

I like these characters and enjoyed this quick read. While it stays pretty close to its romance roots there is enough character and plot development to keep things interesting. I wonder what else Draven has planned for these characters.


I have continued to beta read The Death at Dulgath which I am thoroughly enjoying. I also read The Gates of Evangeline by Hester Young. I will be writing a full review of Young's book so keep your eye out for it. That is all I have to tell you about this week but I am looking forward to a whole raft of exciting looking books I have received.  Expect action packed Week in Reviews to come! Until next week Happy Reading.

The Goblin Emperor
Tor Books, March 3, 2015
Mass Market Paperback, 512 pages
Hardcover and eBook, April 1, 2014

The youngest, half-goblin son of the Emperor has lived his entire life in exile, distant from the Imperial Court and the deadly intrigue that suffuses it. But when his father and three sons in line for the throne are killed in an "accident," he has no choice but to take his place as the only surviving rightful heir.

Entirely unschooled in the art of court politics, he has no friends, no advisors, and the sure knowledge that whoever assassinated his father and brothers could make an attempt on his life at any moment.

Surrounded by sycophants eager to curry favor with the naïve new emperor, and overwhelmed by the burdens of his new life, he can trust nobody. Amid the swirl of plots to depose him, offers of arranged marriages, and the specter of the unknown conspirators who lurk in the shadows, he must quickly adjust to life as the Goblin Emperor. All the while, he is alone, and trying to find even a single friend . . . and hoping for the possibility of romance, yet also vigilant against the unseen enemies that threaten him, lest he lose his throne-or his life.

Katherine Addison's The Goblin Emperor is an exciting fantasy novel, set against the pageantry and color of a fascinating, unique world, is a memorable debut for a great new talent.

The Brush of Black Wings
Grace Draven , July 13, 2015
eBook, 102 pages

~The novella-length sequel to MASTER OF CROWS.~

During a foray into the woods of Neith, Martise stumbles upon a ruined temple and reawakens not only a power she thought lost, but also something far more malevolent. An ancient darkness, imprisoned in an eternal cage, sees a chance at freedom in a woman once held in bondage.

Desperate to save her, the Master of Crows will break the barriers of time and worlds to challenge an entity born of forgotten magic and the remnants of souls--a demon king who once led hordes of the damned across the face of the world.

The destroyer of gods will battle the destroyer of men to reclaim his wife and discover a truth the keepers of history once conspired to conceal.

A tale of revelation and redemption.

I am going to start this Week in Review by thanking my cat Tilly for walking across my keyboard and deleting everything I had written (not very much but still!) Hopefully, this will result in a more fabulous post since I have been able to write it twice Fingers crossed! Anyway what did I read?

I finished Year of the Demon which is the second in the Fated Blades series by Steve Bein. I read book 1, Daughter of the Sword, a couple of years ago and loved the Japanese folklore and tradition, the history of the fated sword - Glorious Victory Unsought - told by the retired academic, Yamada, and the story of Mariko. Mairko is one of the few women in the Japanese police force and she ends up owning the sword. Book 2 follows a few months after the events of book 1 where Mariko struggles with the loss of her sensei Yamada and of her trigger finger. Danger is never far away from Mariko when her beloved Inazuma blade is stolen from her locked apartment the same evening after a demon mask is stolen from a drug lord. Coincidence? Of course not. Bein takes us back to the 16th century and tells the story of Okuma Diagora who has been bequeathed the blade from his father and Shichio who has the demon mask which draws him to Glorious Victory Unsought. Bein also takes us even further back in time to approximately the 15th century, to a poor fishing village. We meet Kaida, who lost her arm in storm that killed her mother. Kaida is an ama - a pearl diver and cruelly tormented by her step-sisters. Following a ship wreck a group land in the village in search of the Inazuma blade which how rests in a watery tomb. The vicious group of thugs terrorize the village in an attempt to find the sword and create a demon mask in order to find it. As a talented diver Kaida is fated to retrieve the blade by using the demon mask which sets off a violent chain of events. Back to Mariko where the mask and sword come together again and in the hands of a terrorist group who want to use both to bring about  - the year of the demon.

I enjoyed Year of the Demon but I wasn't quite as gripped as I had been with book 1. It felt unbalanced in the telling of the three main characters - Mariko, Diagora and Kaida. Much of the book focused on Diagora and the evil Shichio whereas Kaida's story seemed to be mostly left untold. Despite the violence the story had a gentleness to it which I think came mainly from Diagora and his samurai code. The book reads a bit more like historical fiction but a worthy read nonetheless.

Year of the Demon was one of those books you could dip in and out of and my 'dip out' consisted of two short stories - The Light Within by Grace Draven and Alpha and Omega by Patricia Briggs (technically this was a re-read). The Light Within is from the Master of Crows series and tells the story of Silhara and Martise's visit to his father's family to celebrate the winter festival. I think this story could have been easily named - Silhara Lights a Bonfire. Draven took the term short story too literally and very little happens in the few words dedicated to these two characters. I was rather disappointed. I had already read Alpha and Omega as part of anthology On The Prowl but found it on Amazon as a single short story. I have pre-ordered the soon to be released Dead Heat and felt the need to re-acquaint myself with these two characters. I do like these two characters and looking forward to the release of book 4.

For those of you who follow my WIR will remember that I have been part of the beta review group for Michael Sullivan's new book Rhune. I have been taking my time reading this book (very hard for me to do) but I finished my first read through and will be starting a re-read next week. The final book I read this week was Flex by the author with the coolest name EVER  - Ferrett Steinmetz. This book is part of the Debut Author Challenge and I will be writing a full review so don't want to give anything away. Keep your eyes out for it.

That is it for me this week. I hope you all have a fantastic February and I look forward to sharing my weekly reads with you next Sunday. Happy Reading!