Review: Dark Kiss by Michelle Rowan

Hello! Well as promised I'm going to zip through all the reviews of every book I read during my week in Cyprus (I read 12 haha) and to start us off here's DARK KISS by Michelle Rowan.

Title: Dark Kiss
Author: Michelle Rowen
Publisher: MIRA Ink (UK) | Harlequin Teen (US)
Release Date: 1st June 2012 (UK) | 22nd May 2012 (US)
Series: Nightwatchers series, book 1
Source: I received an e-copy of this book from the publishers via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Blurb from Goodreads:
I don't do dangerous.  Smart, über-careful, ordinary Samantha-that's me. But I just couldn't pass up a surprise kiss from my number-one unattainable crush. A kiss that did something to me...something strange. Now I feel hungry all the time, but not for food. It's like part of me is missing-and I don't know if I can get it back.
Then there's Bishop. At first I thought he was just a street kid, but the secrets he's keeping are as intense as his unearthly blue eyes. If he's what I think he is, he may be the only one who can help me. But something terrifying is closing in, and the one chance Bishop and I have to stop it means losing everything I ever wanted and embracing the darkness inside me....

Review:
First line: ' "This is going to hurt like hell." The grim thought was confirmed by the look on the Gatekeeper's face, but Bishop didn't want anyone's pity. After all, he'd volunteered for this.'
Set in the city of Trinity DARK KISS makes you wonder what could be lurking in the shadows of our world...and ensures you never look at a first kiss quite the same way. Angels, demons and soul sucking creatures known as Grays can be found here - and that can only mean one thing...a butt load of trouble for Samantha Day.
Sam was a normal 17 year old girl, that is until one kiss changed her life forever. Usually Cute guy + kissing = fun.... not Cute Guy + Kissing = becoming a soul sucking monster!! Well, that's what happened to Sam...and believe me, that was only the beginning. Suddenly Sam is always hungry but food can't satisfy her hunger, and she suddenly has the urge to kiss every boy she meets...including her best friends ex boyfriend.
The next day, Sam stumbles across Bishop...an angel sent from heaven to lead a team of angels and demons to find and deal with the Grays and their leader. There's only one problem, Bishop's head got messed up on the trip from heaven to earth. Now he can't see the searchlights to lead him to his other team members...and if he can't find them in the allotted time, they will be lost forever. So imagine his surprise when Sam can see the searchlights. Leading Bishop to the first member of his team (a demon called Kraven) Sam believes she has done a good thing. That is until Bishop pulls out a wicked golden dagger and stabs Kraven through the heart....and it only gets weirder from there! Family issues for both Sam and Bishop (yes, the angel does have family roaming the earth) along with one over excited team member and a corrupt angelic guard make sure this motley crew are always on their toes!

If I wasn’t feeling so flustered, I might have thought he was being cocky. I mean, please. A kiss that could change my life forever?But I kind of believed him. And after months of trying to be a perfect angel after the shoplifting incident, I wanted to push the edges of my comfort zone just a little bit.And this was special — a boy I liked who might like me in return. I couldn’t just walk away.This time I kissed him, tangling my fingers into his black hair and pulling his mouth toward mine as if I couldn’t resist. I hadn’t kissed many boys before, so I hoped I was doing it right. It felt right. In fact, it felt really right. My lips parted as the kiss deepened. His fingers dug into my waist. This felt like something out of a movie — one of the romantic ones I never watched because they made me feel uncomfortable. I didn’t want to try to relate to all of those emotions, those declarations of love and eternal devotion. I mean, spare me the drama.“You’re delicious,” Stephen whispered before he kissed me again and my heart felt like it was pounding right out of my chest.And then it got weird. *From Chapter 1*

Samantha is a good lead...despite her lack of a soul. Something has kept her from becoming like the other Grays, we have absolutely no idea what it is until about 50% of the way into the book. As it's often referenced (to the point where it began to get on my nerves), Sam is 'special'. Stephen says it (kissing guy), Natalie (leader of the Grays) repeatedly, Bishop and Kraven say it a lot too. All right, I got the point the first 3 times!! Until the kiss Sam was a normal girl, but apparently her soul was preventing her from reaching her full potential. Either way, she can now see the future, zap evil demons who get on her nerves...yes Kraven, I mean you...and many other cool things. The reason behind which is all explained and something I totally did not see coming. I was minding my own business, having a pleasant (if predictable) read and then WHAM! Curve-ball that shot the story way up. It certainly piqued my interest...and since it was not 100% resolved I'm now anxious to find out where that curve-ball will lead us! All I know is that Sam's life will never, ever be the same again!
Despite the fact that Sam makes some very stupid decisions, overall I was impressed by her character. Bishop you can't help but like, and Kraven...well...he's a mystery that I'll take pleasure unravelling ;)

In general I did quite like DARK KISS, but I'm going to take some points off for the overuse of the word 'special', that's the sort of thing that really bugs me. I'd still recommend it as it's a darn interesting last 50% and I certainly think this series has a lot of potential. As long as the word special doesn't crop any more...I think we'll get on just fine :)

My Rating: 3.5/5

Review: Dark Frost by Jennifer Estep

Hey guys! Time for a new review and today we have Dark Frost by Jennifer Estep, book 3 in her YA Mythos Academy Series. *may contain spoilers from books 1 and 2*

Title: Dark Frost
Author: Jennifer Estep
Publisher: Kensington
Release Date: 13th July 2012* (UK) | 29th May 2012 (US)
Series: Mythos Academy, Book 3
Source: Received from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
*available for kindle 29th May in the UK

Blurb from Goodreads:
I’ve seen so many freaky things since I started attending Mythos Academy last fall. I know I’m supposed to be a fearless warrior, but most of the time, I feel like I’m just waiting for the next Bad, Bad Thing to happen. Like someone trying to kill me—again.
Everyone at Mythos Academy knows me as Gwen Frost, the Gypsy girl who uses her psychometry magic to find lost objects—and who just may be dating Logan Quinn, the hottest guy in school. But I’m also the girl the Reapers of Chaos want dead in the worst way. The Reapers are the baddest of the bad, the people who murdered my mom. So why do they have it in for me?
It turns out my mom hid a powerful artifact called the Helheim Dagger before she died. Now, the Reapers will do anything to get it back. They think I know where the dagger is hidden, but this is one thing I can’t use my magic to find. All I do know is that the Reapers are coming for me—and I’m in for the fight of my life.

Review:
First Line - '"If you guys don't stop making out, I'm going to be sick." Daphne Cruz laid another loud, smacking kiss on her boyfriend Carson Callahan. Princess pink sparks of magic shot off my best friend's fingertips and flickered in the air around the couple, the tiny rainbows of colour almost as bright as Carsons flaming cheeks.'
Gwen Frost is a Gypsy. A Gypsy with the rare gift of psychometry or 'touch magic', magic that gives her the ability to read the memories and emotions tied to any object or person she touches. Since her mother's murder a year ago, Gwen has attended the elite Mythos Academy, a school for those gifted with magic in all its forms. The Spartans, Valkyries, Amazons and many more attend to learn how to fight...for the magical community has it's enemies. The Reapers of Chaos are followers of the evil Norse god Loki and they are determined to free him from his prison so he can once again terrorise the world with Chaos. These Reapers are the ones responsible for Gwen's mothers murder...and now they hunt her.
Gwen's mother hid a powerful artefact during her time at Mythos Academy. An artefact the Reapers need to find at any cost because it's the key to freeing Loki from his prison. After an attack at the museum Gwen and her classmates were attending, Gwen finds out that the dagger may be hidden inside Mythos Academy itself, if she's going to find it, she's going to have to trust in her instincts and her touch magic...but Gwen sees secrets when she uses it...secrets people don't want her to know. But if the Reapers find the Helheim Dagger before Gwen and her friends at Mythos do, The God of Chaos will be unleashed into the world once more.

I've got a confession to make...I haven't read books one and two in this series *gasps*. I know, I know...silly of me really but to be honest, it wasn't that hard to catch up so I guess you could read this like I did. However I'm fairly certain it spoils books one and two, so I'd advise reading those ones first. Either way I'm definitely going back and buying the earlier books, they'll be good if DARK FROST is anything to go by.
Right, so our heroine is Gwen Frost, a Gypsy with the power of Psychometry (she can read emotions and memories from anything she touches). She also has an awesome sword named Vic. Vic talks. Vic talks a lot...mainly about killing and maiming but other things too. He's actually quite funny for a sword, his quips has me giggling. When they interact it almost always had me laughing...why can't I have a talking sword *sulks*.
Young Gwen has the weight of the world on her shoulders as only she can find this dagger everyone is searching for. Even though she's the Goddess Nike's champion, it's a lot of responsibility for a teenager. Not only that but her quest is putting those she loves in danger. The attack on the museum and the death of many of her classmates brings home the stark reality of what Gwen has to do...and she's not sure she's cut out for this.

The Reapers of Chaos ran their swords through everyone they could get their hands on, then shoved the dead and dying to the floor. The museum staff, adults, kids. It didn’t matter to the Reapers who they killed. Wax figures, statues, and display cases crashed to the floor, splintering into thousands of pieces. Blood spattered everywhere, a cascade of scarlet teardrops sliding down the white marble walls.
A sick, sick feeling filled my stomach at the bloody chaos in front of me. I’d heard about Reapers, about how vicious they were, about how they lived to kill warriors—about how they lived to kill us. I’d faced down two Reapers myself, but I’d never seen anything like this. Chapter 1.

Not only that, but Gwen's friends are having problems of their own...sometimes causing Gwen to think she has no-one she can rely on. Daphne's skill emerges but she has trouble adjusting, and when Gwen tries to help, she's accused of sticking her nose in to other people's business like she always does, and that she won't allow people to have secrets. This cuts Gwen to the very core, and when the same phrase is used by Logan because Gwen accidently uncovered a painful memory from his past, she feels cut off from her friends and abandoned in her time of need.
However a familiar face brings Gwen comfort when she needs it most. From what I understand, previously Gwen had rescued a Fenir Wolf from the hands of the reapers that had been torturing her. Now the wolf (named Nott) has come back to Gwen. They're able to have a sort of communication through Gwen's psychometry and Gwen discovers Nott is eating for two...and wishes to stay with her. Which naturally causes Vic apoplexy :) Can't argue with the fact that she's an amazing guard though...despite being 'the size of a house'!

Gwen is tested both physically and emotionally in DARK FROST. The lives of her friends, her classmates and her Grandma are constantly on the line...the escape of one of Gwens most hated enemies from they Mythos prison puts everyone on high alert...and sooner or later, Gwen knows she'll have to come face to face with the Reaper who murdered her mother.

DARK FROST is a great YA book, there's laughter, there's tears. Jennifer Estep's writing here kept me hooked from the word go, and the end! Oh the end, it was one of those where I'm turning the book over and going 'WHAT! No, that can't be it! I need to know now!!' Don't get me wrong, it's a fabulous ending but I just can't wait to see what happens to Gwen and the folks at Mythos next!

My Rating: 4/5

Review: Farsighted by Emlyn Chand

During this tour Emlyn will be awarding a $25 Amazon GC to one randomly drawn commenter, clicking here will take you to a list of all the blog stops...the more you comment, the more chance you have to win. So leave me a comment for your chance to win :)

Hey guys, today I'm hosting a Goddessfish Promtional tour for Farsighted by Emlyn Chand. Get ready to enter Alex's extraordinary world.

Title: Farsighted
Author: Emlyn Chand
Publisher: Blue Crown Press
Release Date: 17th October 2011

Series: Farsighted Series
Source: I recieved this book as part of a Goddessfish promotional tour in exchange for an honest review.

Blurb:

Alex Kosmitoras’s life has never been easy. The only other student who will talk to him is the school bully, his parents are dead-broke and insanely overprotective, and to complicate matters even more, he’s blind. Just when he thinks he’ll never have a shot at a normal life, a new girl from India moves into town. Simmi is smart, nice, and actually wants to be friends with Alex. Plus she smells like an Almond Joy bar. Yes, sophomore year might not be so bad after all.
Unfortunately, Alex is in store for another new arrival—an unexpected and often embarrassing ability to “see” the future. Try as he may, Alex is unable to ignore his visions, especially when they begin to suggest that Simmi is in danger. With the help of the mysterious psychic next door and new friends who come bearing gifts of their own, Alex must embark on a journey to change his future.

Review:

First Line: 'Today is the last day of summer, but I’m not doing anything even remotely close to fun. I’m just lying here in Mom’s garden, running my hands over the spiky blades of grass—back and forth, back and forth until my fingertips go numb. Until everything goes numb. I sigh, but no one’s around to hear.'

To be honest this first line doesn't tell you an awful lot about what the book is going to be like other than the fact that it is written from Alex's perspective. Alex is like any normal teenage boy, he goes to school, has problems talking to girls and is sullen and moody at least 50% of the time. There is one big difference though...Alex was born blind. Not only that but Alex has begun seeing visions of the future and these visions aren't always pleasant. Death and destruction haunt his dreams, his visions repeatedly show the death of Simmi, a girl Alex has come to care deeply for. With a little help from his gifted friends, Alex tries to change the outcome of these awful visions. But there are two types of prophecy, those that can be changed...and those which destiny has set in stone.

When I first realised the book was written from Alex's perspective I was a little apprehensive, I mean how would a person with sight be able to write in a realistic way for someone who is blind. These fears were not justified, Emlyn Chand has made what we experience through Alex believable. He relies on his other senses and had to memorise where things like his classes are way in advance. He has Braille textbooks and computers to help during school and Alex uses a cane to help him navigate obstacles but this is not always enough to stop him bumping into things or stubbing his toes. He assigns everyone a scent and has to rely on this and remembering voices to be able to identify people. He also gets frustrated because people constantly ask him how he became blind (he was born that way)...it kind of reminds me of when someone asked a blind friend of mind if he dreamt in colour...to which he replied 'Yes, but you can't even imagine the colours I see'. Though the story doesn't weigh heavily on Alex's blindness...if it had I would have enjoyed it less.

Alex has visions where a boy called Dex is wreaking havoc on the world with his telekinetic powers. Several of these visions show Dex killing Simmi...something Alex cannot allow and so with empathic Simmi and Medium Shapri in tow (as well as a few grown-ups since these psychic abilities are genetic) the gang become determined to find Dex and stop him before his awesome telekinetic powers rip their lives apart for good.

Alex is an everyday kid who just happens to be blind...and seeing the future. His interactions when he is being bullied reflect on this, though he does end up in a fight it's portrayed as a kid who can't take the abuse any more rather than Alex going out looking for a fight. Also the bashful way he tries to strike up conversation with Simmi is quite cute and when he makes a mess of it he gets angry and embarrassed so lashes out with words...again like any teen would. I think that the normality of Alex's everyday life despite the visions is refreshing, and one of the reasons this book works. Alex does have a tendency to sulk a lot and sometimes comes off as irrational, he's moody and won't do something if he doesn't feel like it. However he is very protective of his mother and throws all his energy into saving Simmi... and does eventually show some level of maturity. 

I will admit it was a lot of fun watching Alex's interactions with the two girls who feature heavily in his life, Simmi and Shapri. Basically Alex sucks at trying to woo girls and resorts to what must be some of the cheesiest lines and gestures in the 'How not to chat up a girl' textbook. I mean seriously Facepalm, head in hands going 'noo what on earth possessed you to think that was good???' I mean take this point for example:

'One arm continues to hold her body the other reaches across to hold her hand. “And how are you going to eat your lunch, lover boy?” Shapri asks with an unnaturally slow tempo. She’s not a very good actress, if even this small performance is giving her stage fright. “I don’t need lunch,” I answer, deepening my voice to sound manly. “I’m full of love.” 

WHAT WAS THAT!!! Uber cringe...though totally accurate haha. Got to give praise because this took me right back to secondary school when my Chemistry partner was trying to ask me out...the result was about as elegant as Alex's effort was. I love these parts...childhood memories here we come :)

Farsighted gives you everything you could possibly want from a novel, humour, great writing, creativity and a fabulous ending leaving you with a desire for more (though I must say that I am not a big fan of the cover). I enjoyed Farsighted so much I demolished it in one sitting! It's a completely unique story and I loved every minute of this Young Adult adventure. I certainly can't wait until book 2 Open Heart is released!

My Rating 4/5

About the Author:
Emlyn Chand has always loved to hear and tell stories, having emerged from the womb with a fountain pen grasped firmly in her left hand (true story). When she’s not writing, she runs a large book club in Ann Arbor and is the president of author PR firm, Novel Publicity. Emlyn loves to connect with readers and is available throughout the social media interweb. Visit www.emlynchand.com for more info. Don’t forget to say “hi” to her sun conure Ducky!

Author Website: www.emlynchand.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/emlynchand
Twitter: www.twitter.com/emlynchand
GoodReads: www.goodreads.com/emlynchand

Review: Stray by Rachel Vincent

Hey all, it's the turn of Rachel Vincent's Young Adult series. This is Stray, book #1 in the Faythe Sanders series. Enjoy!

Title: Stray
Author: Rachel Vincent
Publisher: Mira Books
Release Date: February 2009 (UK) | July 2007 (US)
Series: Faythe Sanders/Shifters series, book 1
Source: My own copy

From Rachel Vincent's website:
I look like an all-American grad student. But I am a werecat, a shape-shifter, and I live in two worlds.
Despite reservations from my family and my Pride, I escaped the pressure to continue my species and carved out a normal life for myself. Until the night a Stray attacked.
This brush with danger was all my Pride needed to summon me back... for my own protection. Yeah, right. But I'm no meek kitty. I'll take on whatever and whoever--I have to in order to find my friends. Watch out, Strays--'cause I got claws, and I'm not afraid to use them...

Review:
The Shifters series follows werecat Faythe Sanders as she tries to cope with being one of the few female werecats (tabbies) in the United States. She is an extremely stubborn individual as we find her at college at the start of this book, rather then doing what is considered to be her duty to her species and finding a man, and...well...continuing her species. As much as Faythe values her independence, she must be cautious, as some people will do anything to bag themselves a tabby. Including kidnapping.
While on campus, Faythe is the target of an attack by a stray (a werecat that does not belong to a pride), after surprising him with her self defence skills, thankfully the stray gives up and leaves. However only minutes later, Faythe is visited by the last person she wanted to see. Her ex-boyfriend Marc....and he's come to drag her home. Marc is the last person Faythe want's to see, but when she finds out that Tabbies are disappearing all over America (including her cousin) she reluctantly agrees to return home.

I wasn't entirely sold on Faythe as a character to begin with. She's ridiculously stubborn and will sometimes put herself and others in harms way just to prove a point. She also can come across as selfish, but considering she has had her independence taken from her it's almost understandable. Faythe most certainly isn't perfect, nor is she always likeable...however she is a very real and believable character and her flaws make her easier to connect with. When Faythe arrives home, she discovers she is not the only tabby to have been attacked. And 2 of them are missing - including her teenage cousin. Faythe becomes determined to find out who took them...before they come back for her.

Faythe has alot of people who care deeply about her, her over-protective older brothers, her Alpha father, and lovely mother. I love the scenes with her family, it shows Faythe isn't completely emotionless. Also coming under the over protective section is ex-boyfriend Marc. Marc seems like a genuinely nice guy apart from being a bit hot-headed. Marc want's nothing more than to settle down with Faythe...her father would like the same. He appears to be the perfect boyfriend, but Faythe only wants certain parts of their relationship and certainly nothing more permanent...at least not now. It's one of the reasons I didn't warm to her character, she keeps messing with Marc's emotions and he's such a nice guy...I feel bad for him. I hope, I really hope she makes up her mind and stops being so blind to what she has!

The plot was well paced and kept me interested all the way through. Some of the plot twists I didn't see coming. Although there is a horror film cliché involving Faythe practically running into the kidnappers arms. You can't help but shout 'what on earth were you thinking'...and you know her family will have the same reaction. 

One of the reasons I did eventually warm to Faythe was that she learnt from the mistakes she made throughout the story, you can see her potential and I can't wait to see what happens with her character throughout the series. Overall Stray is a pretty enjoyable addition to the Young Adult genre. I will be picking up book 2 in the series to see what happens to Faythe next.

My Rating: 4/5

Review: Moon Called by Patricia Briggs

Another review coming up, Moon Called is the first book in the Mercedes Thompson series by Patricia Briggs. Here's to Mercedes, the VW mechanic.


Title: Moon Called
Author: Patricia Briggs
Publisher: Penguin Group
Released: 2006
Series: Mercy Thompson Series, Book #1
Source: My personal copy


Synopsis from back of the book:
Mercedes Thompson runs a garage in the Tri-Cities. She's a mechanic - and a damn good one - who spends her spare time karate training and tinkering with a VW bus that happens to belong to a vampire. Her next-door neighbour is an alpha werewolf - literally, the leader of the pack. And Mercy herself is a shapeshifter, sister to coyotes. As such she's tolerated by the wolves but definitely down the pecking order. As long as she keeps her eyes down and remembers her place, the pack will leave her in peace.
Hardly a normal situation, but then, Mercy Thompson is not exactly a normal young lady... and her connection to the world of things that go bump in the night is about to get her into a whole lot of trouble.


Review:
Mercy, Mercy, Mercy....well what can I say, she's a shifter with an Alpha Wolf for a neighbour, a Fey for a mentor, and a Vampire who brings the Mystery Machine to her garage upon occasion (yes, the Mystery Machine from Scooby Doo). Needless to say Mercy leads an interesting life that not only becomes weirder but more dangerous when teenage runaway Mac shows up at her garage looking for work, because Mac is not an ordinary runaway. He's a Werewolf. A new Werewolf and therefore dangerous and unpredictable. But Mercy can't turn her back on a kid who so obviously needs her help, however knowing that Mac is Werewolf means Mercy is actually going to have to have a civil conversation with her hot tempered neighbour, Alpha Wolf Adam. Mercy's relationship with Adam is complicated at best due to the dominance of wolves over coyotes...well that and the small issue of Mercy being unable to help ticking him off, she's not too keen on Adam telling her what to do and is quite willing to retaliate in the best way she knows.
When there's an attack at her garage by two unknown Werewolves Mercy has to turn to Adam to help keep Mac safe. However when Adam is severely injured and his daughter kidnapped, Mercy is pulled back to where she grew up, somewhere she'd hoped never to return. She becomes embroiled in Werewolf politics and is kept under the watchful eye of the Alpha of all Alpha's (Bran) and his son Samuel (aka Marcy's ex). There are twists and turns along the way including witches, the Vampire seethe and a Werewolf community. Mercy will come face to face with her past among Werewolves while trying to find Adam's missing daughter and naturally Mercy will get into trouble along the way, she can't help it....


Well first off, the Mercedes Thompson series is more Young Adult than Adult Urban Fantasy. This is not to say that it won't appeal to older readers, but you can tell it's aimed at young adults. I enjoyed this book immensely, you're thrown into a world where the Fey live in the open but they're not the only supernatural creature that walks among us, Vampires, Werewolves, Witches and of course the occasional Coyote Shape-shifter.
Mercy is an extremely strong, independent woman who has a serious dislike of being ordered about, though she isn't stupid her mouth has a tendency to get her into trouble (especially with Adam). She tries her best to stay out of werewolf business, considering her childhood and history with a certain wolf it's not surprising why, neither is it surprising that she hasn't been back to where she spent her childhood in a very long time. She's a brilliant lead character and if there is trouble about you can pretty much guarantee that Mercy is right in the middle of it....though not necessarily by choice. Adam is also a very well written character, the no-nonsense alpha wolf who has to put up with his pesky neighbour. Though there is a certain spark between Adam and Mercy, she seems determined to fight it. Mercy certainly does not want to be tied to this domineering man, yet they seem inexplicably drawn together.....at least until Mercy's first love Samuel re-enters her life, then things become rather complicated.


I applaud Patricia Briggs for this book as it is a very good introduction to the Mercy Thompson series, well written, even the background characters like Zee are done well. This is one of those unusual books that can appeal to both young adults and adults alike. I am a big fan of the whole series and can tell you now they are all definitely worth a read.


My Rating: 4/5