Review: Goddess Interrupted by Aimee Carter

Title: Goddess Interrupted

Author: Aimee Carter

Publisher: Harlequin

Publication Date: 3/27/2012

Genre: YA

Main Themes: Mythology, Romance, Magic, Realms, and Family

Pages: 299

Plot: (From Goodreads)

"Kate Winters has won immortality. 

But if she wants a life in the Underworld with Henry,
she'll have to fight for it.

Becoming immortal wasn't supposed to be the easy part.  Though Kate is about to be crowned Queen of the Underworld, she's as isolated as ever. And despite her growing love for Henry, ruler of the Underworld, he's becoming ever more distant and secretive.  Then in the midst of Kate's coronation, Henry is abducted by the only being powerful enough to kill him: the King of the Titans.  
As the other gods prepare for a war that could end them all, it is up to Kate to save Henry from the depths of Tartarus.  But in order to navigate to endless carverns of the Underworld, Kate must enlist the help of the one person who is the greatest threat to her future.

Henry's first wife, Persephone."

First I would like to thank Netgalley and Harlequin for allowing me to have a copy for review!  I was so thrilled that I was approved for a copy that I couldn’t wait to get started, I actually did something that I would normally never do- I put aside the book I was currently reading to read this first!

Goddess Interrupted was emotionally stunning, breathtakingly imaginative, and astoundingly striking! This jaw dropping novel had me hypnotized; I couldn’t put it down and was held in a trance until the last page was flipped.  Now I am left desperately pining for the next edition, Goddess Inheritance.  Until then I will wait to get my Goddess fill from The Goddess Hunt.

Aimee Carter continues her original and imaginative story in Goddess Interrupted, and I must say that I could barely hang on as this tale took turns that I was never expecting.  Left grasping for something to hang onto, I continued to be blown away as Aimee dug deeper into the Underworld and created a magically intertwining tale.

Kate was still the same old Kate.  She was still the same girl even though she made it to goodess-hood.  She was still earnest, selfless, rational, stubborn, and chivalrous.  But she had an issue of self worthy and trying to prove herself to the rest of the council.  She also had a jealousy issue with Persephone and was   haunted by Henry’s past.  Henry’s poor tortured soul shows itself in this novel, as he still blames himself for the other eleven girl’s deaths and his broken marriage.  While Henry’s apprehension continues with Kate, he has trouble expressing his feelings and is concerned that she will leave just as Persephone did.

Goddess Interrupted earned itself an A+, as is was a very compelling read and the cliff hanger will leave you breathless and begging for the next book!  If you were a fan of The Goddess Test then you have to find out what happens next, as this one will surely blow you away.

My Rating: 20/20

Originality: 5

Plot: 5

Characters: 5

Writing Style: 5

Teaser Tuesday (7)

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by Mizb at Should be Reading

• Grab the book your currently reading
• Open to a random page
• Share two “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• Be careful not to include spoilers
• Be sure to include the title and author

Supernaturally by Kiersten White

 Your soul is bright and shining and perfect and eternal.  You aren't going to die. 

Review: Patrick Patterson and the World of Others

Title: Patrick Patterson & the World of Others

Author: James Edward Fryar

Publisher: New World Publishing

Publication Date: October 3, 2011

Genre: YA

Main Themes: Aliens, Family, Royalty, Secrecy, & Destiny

Pages: 352

Plot: (From the Back of the Book)

“A match was struck in the distance, bringing light to what was otherwise darkness.

And so begins the tale of Patrick Patterson.  For almost thirteen years, he’s lived a quiet, simple life in the tiny town at the edge of Texas, called Farwell, but he is suddenly whisked away by a rag tag group of warriors and others to discover his true identity and a destiny clouded in mystery.

Never in his wildest dreams did he think that he’d walk through an underground city filled with citizens from across the universe, contented with powerful enemies from the edge of the galaxy, or travel to the Arctic Circle on a high speed train.

Now, he must decide what he truly desires and whether he even wants to take up the mantle of hero…or alien.”

First off I want to thank James Edward Fryar for sending me a copy of Patrick Patterson and the World of Others, along with allowing me to read and review a superbly inventive tale!

Patrick Patterson and the World of Others was delightfully distinctive, temptingly engaging, and astoundingly wondrous!  This remarkable book kept me on my toes, hoping that one way or another Patrick would unravel his destiny and take back what was rightfully his.  But I am left hoping as I am left eagerly waiting for the next installment…

James Edward Fryar created a realistic world filled with alien activity that humans had written off as tricks of technology or figments of imagination.  Normal cities flourished with secretive alien societies hidden within.  This world will draw you into a beautifully written story filled with prophecies, danger, betrayal, and adventure.

The walls are crashing down around Patrick; everything he has known was a lie.  Although it was necessary to keep Patrick safe and protected (at least for almost thirteen years), but now menacingly grotesque dark creatures are hunting him down.  As Patrick develops and uncovers the truths about his heritage and his destiny, you find that he is compassionate, eager, trusting, clever, and childish.  Patrick has a group of five companions that are there to protect him and help him on his journey.  Altogether they add a sense of humor to the tale and make it very amusing!

I felt this brilliant tale was worthy of an A-, as it will keep you at the edge of your seat as you discover the truths along with Patrick.  This is not a book to judge by its cover…which I felt didn’t fit the book properly, so if you pass because of it you will be missing a splendid tale. I think that this novel will definitely appeal to Harry Potter fans, so if you’re a Harry Potter fan then you need to jump into the world of Patrick Patterson!

My Rating: 19/20

Originality: 4

Plot: 5

Characters: 5

Writing Style: 5

Review: Halflings by Heather Burch

Title: Halflings

Author: Heather Burch

Publisher: Zondervan

Publication Date: February, 2012

Genre: YA

Main Themes: Angels, Seers, Demons, Romance, & Art

Pages: 288

Plot: (From Goodreads)

“Split.  After being inexplicably targeted by an evil intent on harming her at any cost, seventeen-year-old Nikki finds herself under the watchful guardianship of three mysterious young men who call themselves halflings.  Sworn to defend her, misfits Mace, Raven, and Vine battle to keep Nikki safe while hiding their deepest secret---and the wings that come with.

A growing attraction between Nikki and two of her protectors presents a whole other danger. While she risks a broken heart, Mace and Raven could lose everything, including their souls. As the mysteries behind the boys' powers, as well as her role in a scientist's dark plan, unfold, Nikki is faced with choices that will affect the future of an entire race of heavenly beings, as well as the precarious equilibrium of the earthly world.”

I asked for a copy to review through Netgalley and I was so excited that my request was approved.  So thank you Netgalley and Zondervan for allowing me to review this amazing book!

Halflings was a magnetically entrancing read.  I found from the very first sentence that it sunk its teeth into me and even though it refused to release me, I honestly didn’t want it to until the last page was turned.  I was utterly captivated!

Heather Burch takes guardian angels, fallen angels, and nephilim; and gives them a fresh new twist.  This modern take was entirely breath-taking as you journeyed through fierce battles and forbidden romances.  Burch created a realistic world and then added a touch of the supernatural.   

Nikki was a great character that I completely fell in tune to.  She was definitely someone that I could relate to… if you took out her black belt in karate and added a reading hobby then I feel we might have been the same person.  She made a great heroine as she was stubborn, creative, independent, and compassionate.  Then of course there’s a love triangle with two very interesting and very different boys.  The first boy is Mace; I found him to be very empathetic, attentive, sensible, trustworthy, and dependable.  He had a boy next door quality that made him so likeable!  The third piece from the love triangle is Raven.  Raven was the complete opposite from Mace; aside from being the typical bad-boy he is irresponsible, moody, reckless, rash, and wild.  Even still you find yourself stuck between these three marvelous characters and wanting everyone to be happy.

As I really treasured the time I spent with this brilliantly stunning novel, I rated it an A-.  I know I have a guilty pleasure for angel novels and if you’re like me then I think you would enjoy it too! 

My Rating: 19/20

Originality: 5

Plot: 5

Characters: 5

Writing Style: 4

Review: Chime by Franny Billingsley

Title: Chime

Author: Franny Billingsley

Publisher: Dial Books

Publication Date: March 17, 2011

Genre: YA

Main Themes: Twins, Supernatural, Secrets, Romance, & Guilt

Pages: 361

Plot: (From the Dust Jacket)

“Briony has a secret.  She believes her secret killed her stepmother, destroyed her twin sister’s mind, and threatens all the children in Swampsea.  She yearns to be rid of her terrible secret, but risks being hanged if she were to tell a soul.  That’s what happens to witches: They’re hanged by the neck until dead.

Then Eldric arrives- Eldric with his golden mane and lion eyes and his electric energy- he refuses to believe anything dark about Briony.   But he wonders what’s been buried deep beneath her self-hatred, hidden in Rose’s mangled thoughts, and whispered about by the Old Ones.  And Briony wonders how Eldric can make her want to cry.

Especially when everyone knows that witches can’t cry.”

This was another novel that had me mesmerized by the cover.  I adored it!  I had no choice to buy it and check it out.  I found that I was in for a treat as this book was menacingly innovative.    

Chime was altogether wondrously sinister, imaginatively intimidating, and inconceivably ominous.  This daunting tale held me intrigued as it was incredibly unusual and unlike anything that I have read in the past.  Still I couldn’t stop drinking in the pages, before I knew it the last page was turned concluding the tale and I closed the book trying to absorb every detail that made it so amazing!

Franny Billingsley writing is breathtakingly beautiful!  She created a gothic fairytale, mixed it with horrifying bedtime stories, and added a dreary poetic twist.  It was simplistically inventive and truly masterful! 

Because she is a witch she holds no emotion and can’t cry.  Because she’s a witch she can’t control the wicked things she has brought down on her family.  Because she a witch she can’t tell a soul about her witchiness or she’ll be hanged.  I’m sure now you can understand why Briony, the wolf-girl, is wicked, witty, playful, self-loathing, and clever.  She is the most unusual main character that I have ever came acrossed but probably one of the most memorable.  Her twin sister, Rose, was also brilliantly written.  She was just as lively, secretive, and impulsive as Briony, only Briony was discreet in expressing these traits.  Of course there had to be a love interest of the story…Eldric the man-boy whose golden mane and lion eyes is the perfect match for the wolf-girl.  Man-boy is really the best way to describe him as he is creative, fidgety, humorous, energetic, vigorous, and bad boyish.  Together they create a wonderful and active relationship.

I felt that this book earned itself an A+, as it was a strangely brilliant read.  Although I loved this tale I don’t think that this is a book that everyone will adore, I think it is an acquired taste for something peculiar as well as well written story.  If you’re in a rut and want something different then this is the book for you. 

My Rating: 20/20

Originality: 5

Plot: 5

Characters: 5

Writing Style: 5

Teaser Tuesday (6)

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by Mizb at Should be Reading

• Grab the book your currently reading
• Open to a random page
• Share two “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• Be careful not to include spoilers
• Be sure to include the title and author

Halflings by Heather Burch

Fangs sunk into Nikki Youngbloods leg, setting her skin on fire.  A scream gurgled in her throat, but she willed herself past trees smeared by her vision.

Review: Dark Seeker by Taryn Browning

Title: Dark Seeker

Author: Taryn Browning

Publisher: Taryn Browning

Publication Date: September 27, 2011

Genre: YA

Main Themes: Vampires, Demons, Witches, Romance, & Slaying

Pages: 286

Plot: (From the back of the Cover)

“For Seventeen-year old Seeke, Janie Grey, ridding the Baltimore streets of the undead is an inherited duty passed down from her Cherokee ancestors.  Seeker Training Lesson #1: Never trust the undead.  After her Father’s tragic death, Janie creates her own life lesson: Love isn’t worth the risk.  Both lessons are easy to follow until she encounters the flawed Kai Sterdam.  At first, she believes he is the hybrid she is trained to hunt.  But when he has human traits, she determines she doesn’t know what he is.  As Janie’s intrigue over who Kai is pushes her deeper into his mysterious past, she discovers a shocking truth that is even more harrowing than the evil they are up against.  It’s a secret Kai wants to keep hidden, especially from Janie.”

I received this brilliant novel from Taryn Browning asking me if I would review it!  I was very excited to do so.  So thank you Taryn for giving me the wonderful opportunity to read and review such a remarkable tale.

Dark Seeker was seductively charismatic, tantalizingly delicious, and fiercely unruly!  This gorgeous tale had me completely absorbed from the very first page and I couldn’t stop reading until I completed the book.  Let’s just say that by the time I finished the novel, it was well past my bed time and even though I was tired the next day, I didn’t regret it!

This Urban Fantasy created by Browning paints a world that is elusive, mysterious, menacing, and vulnerable.  I found that what it held in its bountiful pages was a swift and imaginative story that will leave you ravaged and begging for more.  I must say that Browning is a very gifted writer and has a stunning way with words; you can literally picture everything clearly and vividly.

The Dark Seeker of the story was Janie Grey and she was a picture perfect heroine. Janie was strong, tough, brave, stubborn, impulsive, and very independent.  It was a great change of pace to have a strong female character that didn’t whine and complain about her duties; she was proud of her Seeker heritage and wanted to live up to those expectations. 

This edgy action-packed novel also contained another character that was bound to catch your attention as well as Janie’s.  Kai Sterdam is one of the undead but he is also a tortured soul that I found to be witty, cocky, sarcastic, bold, strong, fast, protective, remorseful, and incredibly lonely.  But Kai’s got a terrible secret that could very well end any kind of relationship with Janie.

I felt this splendid novel earned itself an A+, for its uniqueness and its brilliance.  I have a feeling that this rising series will attract fans of Mortal Instruments and Buffy the Vampire Slayer.  I know I am a fan of both and I adored Dark Seeker.  I truly can’t wait for the next installment, Dark Return, which will be coming out later this year!

My Rating: 20/20

Originality: 5

Plot: 5

Characters: 5

Writing Style: 5