Book Review: Magic Bites by Ilona Andrews

Author: Ilona Andrews
Titles: Magic Bites (Kate Daniels #1)
Genre: Fantasy, UF, & Paranormal Romance
Pages: 260
First Published: April 2007
Where I Got It: Borrowed from library

Atlanta would be a nice place to live, if it weren’t for magic…

One moment magic dominates, and cars stall and guns fail. The next, technology takes over and the defensive spells no longer protect your house from monsters. Here skyscrapers topple under onslaught of magic; werebears and werehyenas prowl through the ruined streets; and the Masters of the Dead, necromancers driven by their thirst of knowledge and wealth, pilot blood-crazed vampires with their minds.

In this world lives Kate Daniels. Kate likes her sword a little too much and has a hard time controlling her mouth. The magic in her blood makes her a target, and she spent most of her life hiding in plain sight.

But when Kate’s guardian is murdered, she must choose to do nothing and remain safe or to pursue his preternatural killer. Hiding is easy, but the right choice is rarely easy… 

I have been eyeing this book for a while, but there have been so many mixed reviews. However, thanks to Blodeuedd and Melliane, I finally decided to give this a shot.

And now…I have mixed feelings on this one. For this review, I shall divide and conquer (I know! It’s been a while since I have done this format)

The Good

-    

• I liked Kate and her powers; it certainly made her unique
• The world building was okay, I was intrigued to learn more.
• There is a romance, but it didn’t take over the story and I approved. Sorry, but love needs to wait a hair, because there lots of shit happening that Kate needs to deal with.
• The action parts were pretty good.

The Bad and the Ugly

•     Honestly, I was confused the first few chapters. I felt like I was dropped in this world and I had NO idea what was going on. I had to learn as I went. Normally, it doesn’t bug me TOO much, but I felt it was needed to have a hair more information at the beginning.
•     Lack of transitions and jumps in times that confused me.
•     Lack of true feelings for the character. YES, I did like Kate, but that was it. I was more interested in the world itself.
•      I just felt like there was something missing….I wanted more out of the characters and story-line.

Conclusion

Overall, I wanted more out of this. I liked the world, but sometimes that isn’t enough. Maybe I’ll read the next book and I’ll care more about the characters, but we shall see. I wouldn’t mind checking out another book by the author, but I may check out something NOT from this series and see how I feel. In the end, I shall stamp this with 2 stars. 

Blodeuedd Reviews: Dark Matter by Michelle Paver

Out of nowhere, for no reason, I was afraid. My skin pickled. My heart thudded in my throat. My body knew before I did that I was not alone…

London, 1937. Jack is poor, lonely and desperate to change his life, so when he’s offered the chance to join an Arctic expedition, he jumps at it. Spirits are high as the ship leaves Norway and at last they reach the remote, uninhabited bay where they will camp for the next year.

But the Arctic summer is brief. As night returns to claim the land, Jack feels a creeping unease. One by one, his companions are forced to leave. Soon Jack will see the last of the sun, the sea will freeze and escape will be impossible.

And Jack is not alone. Something walks there in the dark… 

My thoughts:

I will not do this book justice. The feeling you get from this book, the claustrophobic feeling, the feeling that someone is watching you, the chills up your spine. I will try, but you would have to read it to understand.

Spitsbergen. Months of darkness above the Arctic circle. Snow, cold, the vastness, the darkness. Ghost stories do not really hit home with me, but this was different. I can never comprehend the true darkness, we do get 4 hours of daylight when it is bad. But still, it is dark. I get those is someone watching me. Wanting to cover windows, wanting to go out and not go out. It was worse where I grew up, no lights on that mud road. No lights around the house either. It was really dark...always. Closest neighbor 100 m away (grandparents ;) Growing up reading stories about what could be out there...

Back to the story. Expedition. A captain telling them not to go there. And suddenly he was Alone. All Alone. Is he seeing things? Is he hearing things? Is the solitude driving him insane? Or is there truly something out there to get him? As I got closer to the end I read faster and faster, the chills going up my spine and then that realization he had. OMG. *shudders* Damn, I still got chills thinking of it. This would make one good horror movie. I would not watch it, I would get nightmares.

Conclusion:

Just read it. I hope it will scare you too. At first there is nothing, but read on, and suddenly you are there too at the end.

Paperback, Orion Paperback Edition, 288 pages
Published September 1st 2011 by Orion Books Ltd
Horror
Library

Book Review: Roman Mask by Thomas MD Brooke

Author: Thomas MD Brooke
Title: Roman Mask
Genre: Historical Fiction
Pages: ebook
First Published: June 2015
Where I Got It: My shelf (Won in a Giveaway)

It is Rome AD 9 and Augustus Caesar rules Imperial Rome at the height of its power, as the Roman Empire stretches across the known world. Cassius, son of one of her most powerful families, is the personification of Rome's imperial strength: wealthy, popular, a war hero with a decorated military career - none of Rome's fashionable parties are complete without him - except, he hides a secret. After his nerve is broken in Germany, the thought of genuine armed combat is enough to send him into a cold sweat of fear and shame. But this doesn't dissuade him from living off a false reputation so he can continue a life of casual affairs, wine, and parties, as he is seduced by the many vices of Rome. However his scandalous life is soon upset by a summons from the Emperor's wife. It ends his happy decadent life and returns him to Germany to assist the Roman legions in their greatest ever trial, and the events that will resound down in history, in the dark forests of the Teutoburg...

I seriously needed some good Roman drama! And this certainly filled that need. The story was fun, intriguing, and the characters entertaining. 

Honestly, it was a quick read and I could hardly put it down. I’m glad my new phone has a “read out loud” option, so I had this playing while I was working. It certainly made my boring day, a little less boring. I needed to know what was going to happen next (even though I did know what was going to happen next). The writing style was easy to follow. The author did a good job bringing the lavish Roman Empire and the “uncivilized” Germany to life. Kuddos. 

Oooh poor Cassius. I do feel bad for him, especially when he is forced back to Germany, but I wanted to kick him. I get being all upset about the war, but still. Parading around with his false reputation is not a good way to solve your issues. Maybe talking to someone? Or getting a job/hobby (that doesn’t involve drinking and sleeping around) would help? Just GAH! Alas, those damn proud Romans. But it was nice to see Cassius fighting his inner demons and whatnot.

At first I didn’t understand the cover, but now I do. So MUCH symbolism, I like it.  :D
The only real complaint was there was a huge chunk where things were dragging. I get it was character building and showing the journey to Germany and all, but I was nearly jumping with joy when some more action was happening. 

Overall, this was a good book. It was a quick read and I could hardly put it down. I highly recommend this for those that have an interest in a book about someone coming to terms with their demons in a time when showing weakness was not in your best interest. Out of five stars, I stamp this with 4 stars. 

B's Monday Review: The Seafront Tea Rooms by Vanessa Greens

The Seafront Tea Rooms is a peaceful hideaway, away from the bustle of the seaside, and in this quiet place a group of women find exactly what they've been searching for.

Charismatic journalist Charlotte is on a mission to scope out Britain's best tea rooms. She knows she's found something special in the Seafront Tea Rooms but is it a secret she should share? Kathryn, a single mother whose only sanctuary is the 'Seafront', convinces Charlie to keep the place out of her article by agreeing to join her on her search. Together with another regular, Seraphine, a culture-shocked French au pair with a passion for pastry-making, they travel around the country discovering quaint hideaways and hidden gems. But what none of them expect is for their journey to surprise them with discoveries of a different kind . . .

Full of romance, tea and cake, The Seafront Tea Rooms is a heart-warming tale about the strength found in true friendship.

My thoughts:

This book was one of those "I wish I could go to a tea room, have some lovely tea, sit there for an hour, eat and chat. " Mmm tea! Yummy things!

This book is about 3 women; Busy Charlotte, a journalist with no time for love, well she had time, but that crushed and burned so she is avoiding it.

Seraphine, an au pair who loves to bake and is also avoiding love. But because of a different reason.

Then there is Kat, a mum who needs a job, and whose husband left cos he could not cope.

This is the story of their friendship, love of tea and good things. And yes in the end everyone will get the love they deserve too. I do love HEAs, so that was fun.

Great village and nice people in it. I liked the characters, their lives and the rest. 

But I warn you, you will be hungry. You will want tea, a pastry, a cake, anything.

Conclusion:

A nice, sweet book.

Cover

sweet

Paperback, 416 pages
Published October 9th 2014 by Sphere
Women's fiction
Library