Review: Etched in Bone by Anne Bishop

**Spoiler Alert - Do not read Synopsis if you have not read the previous books!

Etched in Bone by Anne Bishop
Publisher: Penquin Publishing Group
Series: The Others, #5
Publication date: 03/07/2017
Source: Bought

New York Times bestselling author Anne Bishop returns to her world of the Others, as humans struggle to survive in the shadow of shapeshifters and vampires far more powerful than themselves… After a human uprising was brutally put down by the Elders—a primitive and lethal form of the Others—the few cities left under human control are far-flung. And the people within them now know to fear the no-man’s-land beyond their borders—and the darkness… 

As some communities struggle to rebuild, Lakeside Courtyard has emerged relatively unscathed, though Simon Wolfgard, its wolf shifter leader, and blood prophet Meg Corbyn must work with the human pack to maintain the fragile peace. But all their efforts are threatened when Lieutenant Montgomery’s shady brother arrives, looking for a free ride and easy pickings. 

With the humans on guard against one of their own, tensions rise, drawing the attention of the Elders, who are curious about the effect such an insignificant predator can have on a pack. But Meg knows the dangers, for she has seen in the cards how it will all end—with her standing beside a grave.

At last, Etched in Bone is the final installment in this series but not the last in this uniquely wonderful world that Bishop has created. I’m a huge fan of Anne Bishop. I’ve read most of her other books and enjoyed them immensely. She has a way of putting a different spin on the characters and worlds that she creates.

I’m so addicted to this series and I love these unforgettable characters.  I never know what to expect when reading these books. After the last book, Marked in Flesh ended, I didn’t know what to expect. I mean, there were dire consequences for the humans and the Others’ communities. I couldn’t imagine where this series would go from there. Let’s just say, one mistake could cost everything when it comes to what side the humans choose. This kept me turning the pages to see how it would all end. For better or worse. I also have to admit that I’ve been waiting forever for Meg and Simon to get together. Well, did it happen? Sorry, no spoilers here. You’ll have to read it to find out.

I’m going to miss this motley crew. I just hope the spin-off is just as good. If you’re looking for something different, you should definitely give this series a go.

Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars

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The Indigo Spell by Richelle Mead

THE INDIGO SPELL by Richelle Mead
Publisher: Razorbill
Publication date: 2/12/2013
Series: Richelle Mead's Bloodlines Series , #3
Pages: 432
Age range: 12 - 17 Years
Source: Publisher

Sydney Sage is an Alchemist, one of a group of humans who dabble in magic and serve to bridge the worlds of humans and vampires. They protect vampire secrets—and human lives.

In the aftermath of a forbidden moment that rocked Sydney to her core, she finds herself struggling to draw the line between her Alchemist teachings and what her heart is urging her to do. Then she meets alluring, rebellious Marcus Finch—a former Alchemist who escaped against all odds, and is now on the run. Marcus wants to teach Sydney the secrets he claims the Alchemists are hiding from her. But as he pushes her to rebel against the people who raised her, Sydney finds that breaking free is harder than she thought. There is an old and mysterious magic rooted deeply within her. And as she searches for an evil magic user targeting powerful young witches, she realizes that her only hope is to embrace her magical blood—or else she might be next.

I read this whole series in a few days and it was great to revisit The Vampire Academy world again although this series takes place in a different setting. Sydney has gone through a complete transformation and I enjoyed following along beside her in her journey. She is constantly trying to juggle her responsibilities as an alchemist and deal with other catastrophes. I don’t know how she does it but she is one smart cookie!

Her relationship with Adrian gave me butterflies. It’s so good to see him being happy again since Rose broke his heart. Honestly, I didn’t know what to expect from these two since they are so different but let’s just say they are so cute together. I’m loving Sydney even more as I continue on with this series. 

This series has brought magic and witches to the forefront. So, I’m really enjoying the complexities of the magic that’s detailed in this series. Who is Marcus Finch? Well, now I know. I’m looking forward to finding out what happens next.

Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars

Who is Marcus Finch? - Clue 1 (The Indigo Spell by Richelle Mead)

Come join me each day from today through February 12, 2013 as we try to figure out who the mysterious Marcus Finch is in Richelle Meads's highly anticipated release THE INDIGO SPELL. I will be giving away 1 hardcover copy of The Indigo Spell at the end of the campaign (US Residents Only!).

So come on ladies and gents! Let's get to it!

CLUE 1:

Bloodlines Website: http://www.bloodlinesseries.com/

Bloodlines Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/BloodlinesBooks

Bloodlines trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4bMJEaT41b4
Bloodlines excerpt: http://www.scribd.com/doc/102759112/THE-INDIGO-SPELL-by-Richelle-Mead-Bloodlines-3-First-Chapter

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Interview: Sarah Beth Durst (Author of Drink, Slay, Love)

I'm thrilled to have Sarah Beth Durst on my blog to today where she talks about her latest novel.

Sarah Beth Durst is the author of young adult novels ENCHANTED IVY and ICE, as well as middle grade novels INTO THE WILD and OUT OF THE WILD. She has twice been a finalist for SFWA's Andre Norton Award, for both ICE and INTO THE WILD. She is a graduate of Princeton University, where she spent four years studying English, writing about dragons, and wondering what the campus gargoyles would say if they could talk. Sarah lives in Stony Brook, New York, with her husband and children. For more information, visit her at www.sarahbethdurst.com

Drink, Slay, Love hits shelves September 13, 2011!

I love the settings of your previous books, how does the setting in this novel differ?
Thanks! So happy you liked them!

DRINK, SLAY, LOVE is set in a fictional town in Connecticut. Here's a snippet of what it's like:

"Do you know how to drive?" Jadrien asked.

"Sure," Pearl said. "This one is the gas."

The wheels squealed as Pearl spun the steering wheel to the left and zoomed out onto the street. She rolled down her window and let the wind whip into the car. At near dawn, Greenbridge, CT, was nearly dead. Street lamps (every other one out) lit the sidewalks in circles of yellow. Trash rolled down the streets like tumbleweeds. Storefronts -- a deli, a dry cleaner, an antique store -- were dark. The local homeless man slept under a pile of filthy blankets with his shopping cart close beside him. Pearl loved this time of night: just before the cusp of day, when the humans were still caught in their last dream of the night and her kind had one final moment of delicious darkness to drink down.

Your last two previous novels have been standalones, have you considered writing another series?
My first two novels (INTO THE WILD and OUT OF THE WILD) were a duology, but ICE, ENCHANTED IVY, and DRINK, SLAY, LOVE are all standalones. I love both series and standalones, and I plan to write plenty more of each!

What can readers expect from your version of vampires?

My vampires are beautiful, immortal, and deadly. They lack morals, and they love to drink blood. And they don't know that they are being hunted by were-unicorns. (Unicorns are natural vampire hunters, of course. Look at their horns! Built-in stakes!)

Favorite Vampire book? Favorite Vampire Movie?
Favorite vampire book... ooh, how to choose? I adored Bloodshot by Cherie Priest. I also recently read and loved Soulless by Gail Carriger. And I devour the Sookie Stackhouse books by Charlaine Harris.

Favorite vampire movie... I love Buffy the Vampire Slayer (the TV series, though, not the movie).

Is there anything else that you would like to share with your readers? What's next for you?

I'd like to share this box of Raisinets... *holds out box*

DRINK, SLAY, LOVE will be out on September 13th. And I am currently working on a new standalone YA fantasy novel called VESSEL, which will be out in fall 2012 from Simon & Schuster.

Thanks for stopping by Sarah!

For more information about Sarah Beth Durst and her books, please visit her website here.

You can also click here to read an excerpt of Drink, Slay, Love!

Review: Hard Bitten by Chloe Neill

HARD BITTEN (Chicagoland Vampires Series #4) by Chloe Neill

Pub. Date: May 2011

Publisher: Penguin Group (USA)

Format: Paperback , 368pp

Series: Chicagoland Vampires Series , #4

Meet Merit, a "wonderfully compelling vampire heroine" (USA Today bestselling author Julie Kenner).

Chicago is beset by supernatural tensions, and Merit-vampire protector of a safe haven called Cadogan house-is worried that the humans will be reaching for their pitchforks any minute. It doesn't help that yet another vampire rave is broken up by the mayor, and a new inhibition- reducing drug is circulating through the community.

It's up to Merit to put her house in order-literally. And if that takes getting a little blood on her hands, so be it.

Mini Review
Well, I don't think I can say much more than what other readers are saying about the ending. I for one did not cry but found myself rationalizing what should have happened when you think about the fighting skills of the ones involved. Hmm...I pondered it for a few minutes and came to the conclusion that had there been more action and then it led to the same ending, then I would have given this book 5 stars. With that said, I love this series. I too am invested in the characters and their well-being.

Now, I don't think I would have been satisfied if every thing was all rainbows and butterflies. Ms. Neill needed to shake thinks up a bit and that she did. Again, I would have been screaming to the rafters if that particular scene wasn't so sudden. If only there could have been more leading up to that - I'm talking about a test of skills and see who comes out on top. Oh well, I'm going to take Ms. Neill at her word and trust that DRINK DEEPER is going to come at us with a vengeance with a capital V.

4.5 out of 5 Stars

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You can read the first chapter here!

Order HARD BITTEN

Blog Tour: Out for Blood by Alyxandra Harvey

OUT FOR BLOOD (The Drake Chronicles, #3) by Alyxandra Harvey

Pub. Date: December 2010

Publisher: Walker & Company

Format: Paperback , 304pp

Age Range: Young Adult

Source: Publisher

Hunter Wild is the youngest in a long line of elite vampire hunters, a legacy that is both a blessing and a curse at the secret Helios-Ra Academy, where she excels at just about everything. Thanks to her friendship with Kieran Black, Hunter receives a special invitation to attend the coronation of Helena Drake, and for the first time, she sees the difference between vampires that must be hunted and vampires that can become friends—or even more. When students at the academy fall victim to a mysterious illness, Hunter suspects they are under attack from within. She will need someone she can trust to help her save the future of Helios-Ra . . . help that shockingly comes in the form of Quinn Drake, a drop-dead gorgeous vampire. Who said senior year would be easy?

Once again, THE DRAKE CHRONICLES delivered an action-packed filled plot with a host of new characters. This installment is told from Hunter's POV, a top-notch student at the Helios-Ra academy for vampire hunters. We finally get Quinn's POV - he's the bad boy of the bunch and a serial flirt. My kind of guy *sigh*. As with the previous installments, danger still lurks in the shadows for Solange & Helena plus there’s a new mystery to uncover that could have serious consequences to vampires and humans alike.

I enjoyed the Helios-Ra school setting. It was nice to learn more background on the vampire hunters and their hierarchy. With each installment, I learn more and more about the different vamps and this installment explained more about the different families that are ruled under the crown. It's always surprising to read about the differences between the 3 classes of vamps plus the hunters.

Harvey continues to create a great cast of characters. Hunter is my kind of heroine. She’s kick-ass and she's not afraid to be feminine. I enjoyed her interactions with Quinn. Even his charm wanted to make her giggle considering her reputation. It was endearing, especially, when we get to see how protective Quinn is of Hunter. These two are such a great couple. I thought they meshed well together.

I never know what direction this series is going to take but I do know that I'll be following along as the twists & turns continue to shake up the Drake’s world. There's always one question that I want to know at the end of each book. Whose story will be next? Plus, it's never far from my mind to wonder if the next installment will be just as enticing as the first. I guess I'll have to wait to find out.

Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars

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Check out the facebook pages for Bloomsbury Teen, AlyxandraHarvey, and The Drake Chronicles to find out more info on upcoming books and The Drake Chronicles.

Here's a link to Alyxandra Harvey's upcoming novel HAUNTING VIOLET, a Victorian ghost story which is due out next June.

Review: Crusade by Nancy Holder & Debbie Viguié

CRUSADE by Nancy Holder & Debbie Viguié

Pub. Date: September 2010

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing

Format: Hardcover, 470pp

Age Range: Young Adult

Series: Crusade, #1

Source: Publisher

The ultimate battle. The ultimate love.

For the past two years, Jenn has lived and trained at Spain’s Sacred Heart Academy Against the Cursed Ones. She is among the few who have pledged to defend humanity or die trying. But the vampires are gaining power, and the battle has only just begun.

Forced to return home after death takes a member of her family, Jenn discovers that San Francisco is now a vampire strong-hold. As a lone hunter apart from her team, Jenn is isolated—and at risk. She craves the company of her fighting partner, Antonio: his protection, his reassurance, his touch. But a relationship with Antonio comes with its own dangers, and the more they share of themselves, the more Jenn stands to lose.

Then Jenn is betrayed by one who was once bound to protect her, causing her to doubt all she had held as true. To survive, Jenn must find the courage to trust herself—and her heart.

CRUSADE is a fast paced and action-packed read filled with deadly enemies around every turn. This book is so different from most of the vampire books I read. Most of the vampires you typically read about stay hidden from humans, but the Cursed Ones as they are called have pretty much taken over in the human world. They still have the same strengths and weaknesses that you read about. It's the fact that these vampires are scary. They're not all sparkly and animal blood drinkers - nothing to romanticize about these vamps at all.

This book wastes no time pulling readers right into the war against vampires as the Salamanca Hunters fight to the death to rid a small village of their deadly enemy. The characters in CRUSADE come from a wide range of backgrounds and powers. I was intrigued about their training and the pairing up of each hunter to keep each other safe. Each character is unique, but Jenn, the main protagonist is probably the weakest link but the more relatable for it. When the team suspects a leak in their midst, things go wiry, then Jenn finds herself trying to navigate around without the protection of her team when she has to make visit back home. Ah Antonio, the mystery he holds. I wanted to uncover all of his secrets. As with Jenn, you couldn't help falling for him. What's unique about this series is the readers get to experience the lives of all the characters. Hunters, the Resistance, and Vampires. Then all of a sudden you might find yourself enchanted with the characters lives, and you want to know more about their background history. I enjoyed each and every character in this book. After I finished this book, there was nothing I could come up with that I didn’t like about this book. NADA. Great writing and unforgettable characters makes this book pack one helluva punch. I was so engrossed with this book that I did not want to part with it.

CRUSADE is a great start to an exciting new vampire series. I don't think I could ever get tired of vampires, especially with CRUSADE since it's so different from other YA vampire books. Once you start reading this book, you don't want to put it down. It's a nonstop rollercoaster ride that you'd want to take over and over again.

Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

Review: Jealousy by Lili St. Crow

JEALOUSY (Strange Angels Series #3) by Lili St. Crow

Pub. Date: July 2010

Publisher: Penguin Group (USA)

Format: Paperback, 288pp

Age Range: Young Adult

Series: Strange Angels Series, #3

It's a good thing Dru Anderson is fast. Because the sucker chasing her isn't slowing down--and he won't rest until he has tasted her blood and silenced her heart . . .

Dru's best friend, Graves, and her strange and handsome savior, Christophe, are ready to help her take on the ultimate evil. But will their battle for Dru's heart get in the way of her survival?

In this installment, we pick up where BETRAYALS left off as St. Crow takes readers deep into the world and history of the Nosferatu. Being the only girl in the Schola Prima, Dru tries to fit in among the Djamphir and Wulfen while trying to discover the enemy from within.

Dru's memories of her mom's murder plague her through constant nightmares. What will she uncover? Will she discover who set her mom up? These are the questions that kept running through my head as the story progressed.

Dru also picks up some additional allies and enemies in this installment. Like Dru says, what else is new? But don't fret, she has her fierce protector in Graves and Ash (remember him - The Broken?). Graves has really stepped up to the plate in this installment. He's got swagger and he also has that alpha thing going on. But, he's still a sweetheart when he's around Dru. Te-he. Confession? I kept wondering when I would get a taste of some apple pie (Christophe that is). Even though he was always in the back of Dru's head, it took quite a few chapters for him to make an appearance and I was quite scared of his chances with Dru slipping away. Can you tell that I'm team Christophe? Sorry Graves - you're like a brother to me.

The plot thickens and we get a taste of everything in this installment from tender moments up to knee-jerking, action-packed scenes. This installment is even better than its predecessors even though I wanted more of Christophe. Believe me, when he finally did appear, he more than filled up the pages. I'm just glad I got to see more of Dru *cough* I mean Christophe. His scenes in the previous installments have always been sparse. There are two more installments in this series. I can only hope they're as good as this installment. If you are new to this series - you don't know what you're missing!

Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars