Support indie authors!
GenLia
Showing posts with label Demons. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Demons. Show all posts
Friday, October 18, 2013
Fabulous Upcoming Stuff
So, my friends. You may or may not know of the fabulous Spellbound series by Sherry Soule but let me tell you that you're most definitely missing out on something big if you don't. A cross between Supernatural and Charmed, this series is one of the best I've read. You can read my review on Beautifully Broken, the first book here. Coming up, is the review of the revamped version of the first book. I'll have that up sometime before it's my turn in the tour. Meanwhile, here are some pretty cool banners to look at.
Styxx by Sherrilyn Kenyon
Purchase at:
Synopsis:
Just when you thought doomsday was over...
Centuries ago Acheron saved the human race by imprisoning an ancient evil bent on absolute destruction. Now that evil has been unleashed and it is out for revenge.
As the twin to Acheron, Styxx hasn’t always been on his brother’s side. They’ve spent more centuries going at each other’s throats than protecting their backs. Now Styxx has a chance to prove his loyalty to his brother, but only if he’s willing to trade his life and future for Acheron’s.
The Atlantean goddess of Wrath and Misery, Bethany was born to right wrongs. But it was never a task she relished. Until now. She owes Acheron a debt that she vows to repay, no matter what it takes. He will join their fellow gods in hell and nothing is going to stop her.
But things are never what they seem, and Acheron is no longer the last of his line. Styxx and Acheron must put aside their past and learn to trust each other or more will suffer.
Yet it’s hard to risk your own life for someone who once tried to take yours, even when it's your own twin, and when loyalties are skewed and no one can be trusted, not even yourself, how do you find a way back from the darkness that wants to consume the entire world? One that wants to start by devouring your very soul?
Centuries ago Acheron saved the human race by imprisoning an ancient evil bent on absolute destruction. Now that evil has been unleashed and it is out for revenge.
As the twin to Acheron, Styxx hasn’t always been on his brother’s side. They’ve spent more centuries going at each other’s throats than protecting their backs. Now Styxx has a chance to prove his loyalty to his brother, but only if he’s willing to trade his life and future for Acheron’s.
The Atlantean goddess of Wrath and Misery, Bethany was born to right wrongs. But it was never a task she relished. Until now. She owes Acheron a debt that she vows to repay, no matter what it takes. He will join their fellow gods in hell and nothing is going to stop her.
But things are never what they seem, and Acheron is no longer the last of his line. Styxx and Acheron must put aside their past and learn to trust each other or more will suffer.
Yet it’s hard to risk your own life for someone who once tried to take yours, even when it's your own twin, and when loyalties are skewed and no one can be trusted, not even yourself, how do you find a way back from the darkness that wants to consume the entire world? One that wants to start by devouring your very soul?
Ever since I found out about Styxx last year, I'd been dying to get my hands on it. Why, you ask? Well, because while I was a complete mess reading Acheron and absolutely despised Styxx and his father, I was curious on how Sherrilyn Kenyon could possibly make me change my mind about that asshole. Seriously, he did despicable things to Acheron, playing a big role on making his life miserable. Boy, was I wrong.
If possible, Styxx was even worse. Or better. Whatever floats your boat. In my opinion it was way more brutal and graphic than Acheron had been. But I could be wrong it's been a while since I read it. Nevertheless, I assure you that within a few pages you will be tearing up, and it just gets worse from there, I assure you. You see, I bought this book at a bookstore during a school field trip and managed to freak out at least three of my friends with how emotional I was getting over the book. Seriously, no kidding.
But, see, that's what I love about Sherrilyn Kenyon. She's a great woman with such vivid imagination that when she creates characters I think of it as creating another human being. So far most of her characters have felt so real to me, which is why Styxx got to me so much. It's really impossible to put the book down.
Styxx starts during the twins' childhood just like Acheron and ends somewhere this year, but with a whole lot of added scenes in which you get to see the reality of Styxx's life, his innermost thoughts and everything he went through as a child and young man. I'm telling you, neither of them had it easy because as you may or may not know, they were separated at the age of seven and led completely different lives. VERY different.
You come to realize that, unlike what we saw in Acheron, (if you've read the book, which I absolutely recommend) Styxx was far from a pampered Prince that was loved and cherished. Gods, that was far from the truth. Everyone misjudged him, betrayed him and never, ever showed him any kindness. His parents hated him, contrary to what Acheron and Ryssa thought. Styxx went through Hades a million times, suffering the worst of the worst. That is until he met Beth.
Bethany was actually one of my favorite characters in the entire book. She saw Styxx for what he really was, a bashful, strong young man with an immense capability of love and loyalty... if only people let him in. Their relationship was truly beautiful, and it was very touching to see Styxx give her every part of him. Hell, he was even faithful, something which most men in the book weren't. Now, my second favorite was Galen, Styxx' mentor who trained him for battle. Even though they had a very rough relationship at the beginning, the old man eventually saw Styxx, the real him and came to see him as a son. This was also one of the things that tore at my heart, the way Styxx interacted with this man and how much he came to love and depend on him as if he was his real father. I could never thank him enough to helping Styxx and sticking to his side through everything. In a world where Styxx had to look over his shoulder all the time or suffer the consequences, which could have come from either Ryssa or his own mother due to the fact that they loathed him to the point of wanting him dead, he needed each and every one of his allies-- the few he had.
But let's not turn this review into a dissertation or anything (which I could totally do, btw, because I don't get tired of talking about it), so let me finish this with telling you that you MUST read this book asap. Or if you're new to the amazing Dark-Hunter series, start with Fantasy Love. I believe there are about 23 books in the series if I'm not mistaken, but believe me when I tell you it's totally worth it. One of the best things about this series is that, if you want, you could read each book as a stand alone but I recommend you actually start from the beginning and work your way up. Kenyon is a master at world building and creating characters that you come to love/hate with how real, strong and unique each of them are--yes, that includes the villains and even the fickle gods. With every book, every new piece of information revealed about any character you come to know them even more, and either love them or hate them. However, things aren't by any means black and white. If you get anything out of this story should be this, and Acheron's advice that "there are three sides to every story: yours, theirs, and the truth somewhere in the middle." (I might have completely butchered it but I believe that's something close to what the books says.)
So, don't be ashamed of any squealing that happens as you read the book and hear about a past character, it's totally normal. ;) And if you're a Dark-Hunter veteran, what are you waiting for? There ain't no time to waste, people! As Simi would say, you 'quality people' should get your hands on this book, but don't forget the Kleenex, because I guarantee you will shed tears. C'mon, cry me a river!
Sexual content, because I feel like this should be taken into account for those of you new to this, is graphic sex. Also, probably torture.
Rating: 5.0
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
Beautifully Broken by Sherry Soule
Beautifully Broken (Spellbound #1)
by Sherry Soule
Published August 30th 2011 by Moonlight Publishing
ISBN: 978-0-615-50812-2
Price: eBook $4.99 / Paperback $ 14.95
Paperback Page Count: 305
Reading age: Mild language, some violence and sexual situations. Not recommended for readers under the age of 14.
Synopsis:
Thirteenth daughter. Heritage witch. Demon slayer.
Sixteen-year-old Shiloh Ravenwolf is a heritage witch from the Broussard family, a family both destined and cursed. After she takes a summer job at Ravenhurst Manor, she discovers a ghost with an agenda. That’s where she meets the new town hottie, Trent Donovan. But Trent may be the next victim on the supernatural hit list, and Shiloh is the only person with the power to save him. Complicated much?
After receiving cryptic messages from a creepy wraith and frightening threats from a demon, Shiloh finally begins to understand the mysterious significance of the strange mark branded on her wrist. Now Shiloh must decide how much she’s willing to sacrifice to protect the other teenagers in town.
Unfortunately, for Shiloh, not all ghosts want help crossing over. Some want vengeance.
My Review:
Beautifully Broken has the creepy haunted house, dark secret and a strong female character with witchy powers, all wrapped up in this amazing book! This is something that you will be unable to put down. But be careful with what might lurk in the dark so you might want to have a light on while you read. Just saying. Actually, think of a younger Winchester sister, if there was one.
The beginning of the book starts with a scary encounter with something that most teenagers wouldn't find in their bedrooms before going to church: a demon.Yeah. A freaking demon and everything goes downhill from then on.
After getting that dream job as an assistant for a talented architect at (haunted) Ravenhurst Manor where a hottie lives, stuff gets weird.Shiloh was the best part of the book. Aside from the amazingly crafted plot that kept me on edge, that girl is what kept me going. Her sense of humor made me laugh out loud, and her references to different shows dealing with the supernatural were also a source of amusement for me.Kudos for that.
As the thirteenth witch in her family, she has a destiny. She has power. But she just wants to be normal. Did she give up? No, of course not. Shiloh, like a certain family with a particular last name, has that sense of duty that she has to help people. So she does. The mystery in Whispering Pines is just too great and threatening that if she wants to survive it, she has to figure it out and fight it.
Throughout the novel I was able to see her interact with her mother and the rest of the characters, and I realized how normal it all was. Aside from the whole ghost and demon thing, of course. There's nothing normal about that. So, yeah, I was able to relate to her. That's what I always like about characters in YA. Being able to realize that,"Hey, I once went through similar stuff, too," is always a plus in my opinion. Then the supernatural aspect of the novel comes into place to wreak havoc and it makes me happy because of my ordinary life.
Now, let's talk about actual relationships. Trent was cool and all, seemed realistic as an individual. He was moody and all like every other teenager, right? But as much as I found him attractive and all (I'll always look twice at a muscled, leather-jacket-wearing bad boy), I wasn't exactly swooning over him. He's hot, I get it. Sweet sometimes, too. But I didn't see much of a connection between him and Shiloh. He was always in my mind, of course, Shiloh thought a lot about him, but that was it. The romance also happened quite fast. First time she sees him at church and instant connection? Probable, though not quite believable. This was my only problem with the book. But he was honest, that much I'll give him. Oh, wait, no. I'm lying. The other thing that I had a problem with was the fact that most of the tragedies were quickly swept up under a rug. I won't say what exactly the accident was, might spoil stuff for people, but it was something that should have gotten more attention.
Since we are now talking about male characters that are important, let me mention Evans. Oh, Ms. Soule, I so love you for this one, you know? In my despair over a certain mentor from SPN, I so agree on the fact that every ghost/demon hunter needs some help from someone with experience. Shiloh, wasn't alone, thankfully, and received help from Evans. I always love this particular archetype thrown in, too. Specially when the stakes are high in the creepy town of Whispering Pines.
The next best thing was the writing. The detail and the voice with which the characters were introduced was what I enjoyed. Details, people, details! When it comes to describing a haunted house, Ms. Soule did creep me out. It was like watching an episode of my favorite show. It was the showing AND telling combination.
For a first book in the series, Beautifully Broken was an amazing introduction and I do hope to see more development between Trent and Shiloh because there's something there. There really is, I just didn't feel it as much as I would have liked it.
In conclusion my friends, Shiloh kept me spellbound with her Supernatural Diaries and Charmed me from the very first page. (Yeah, I stalked her on Twitter).
Rating: 4.5
GenLia
After getting that dream job as an assistant for a talented architect at (haunted) Ravenhurst Manor where a hottie lives, stuff gets weird.Shiloh was the best part of the book. Aside from the amazingly crafted plot that kept me on edge, that girl is what kept me going. Her sense of humor made me laugh out loud, and her references to different shows dealing with the supernatural were also a source of amusement for me.Kudos for that.
As the thirteenth witch in her family, she has a destiny. She has power. But she just wants to be normal. Did she give up? No, of course not. Shiloh, like a certain family with a particular last name, has that sense of duty that she has to help people. So she does. The mystery in Whispering Pines is just too great and threatening that if she wants to survive it, she has to figure it out and fight it.
Throughout the novel I was able to see her interact with her mother and the rest of the characters, and I realized how normal it all was. Aside from the whole ghost and demon thing, of course. There's nothing normal about that. So, yeah, I was able to relate to her. That's what I always like about characters in YA. Being able to realize that,"Hey, I once went through similar stuff, too," is always a plus in my opinion. Then the supernatural aspect of the novel comes into place to wreak havoc and it makes me happy because of my ordinary life.
Now, let's talk about actual relationships. Trent was cool and all, seemed realistic as an individual. He was moody and all like every other teenager, right? But as much as I found him attractive and all (I'll always look twice at a muscled, leather-jacket-wearing bad boy), I wasn't exactly swooning over him. He's hot, I get it. Sweet sometimes, too. But I didn't see much of a connection between him and Shiloh. He was always in my mind, of course, Shiloh thought a lot about him, but that was it. The romance also happened quite fast. First time she sees him at church and instant connection? Probable, though not quite believable. This was my only problem with the book. But he was honest, that much I'll give him. Oh, wait, no. I'm lying. The other thing that I had a problem with was the fact that most of the tragedies were quickly swept up under a rug. I won't say what exactly the accident was, might spoil stuff for people, but it was something that should have gotten more attention.
Since we are now talking about male characters that are important, let me mention Evans. Oh, Ms. Soule, I so love you for this one, you know? In my despair over a certain mentor from SPN, I so agree on the fact that every ghost/demon hunter needs some help from someone with experience. Shiloh, wasn't alone, thankfully, and received help from Evans. I always love this particular archetype thrown in, too. Specially when the stakes are high in the creepy town of Whispering Pines.
The next best thing was the writing. The detail and the voice with which the characters were introduced was what I enjoyed. Details, people, details! When it comes to describing a haunted house, Ms. Soule did creep me out. It was like watching an episode of my favorite show. It was the showing AND telling combination.
For a first book in the series, Beautifully Broken was an amazing introduction and I do hope to see more development between Trent and Shiloh because there's something there. There really is, I just didn't feel it as much as I would have liked it.
In conclusion my friends, Shiloh kept me spellbound with her Supernatural Diaries and Charmed me from the very first page. (Yeah, I stalked her on Twitter).
Trailer:
Rating: 4.5
GenLia
Sunday, July 15, 2012
Immortal City by Scott Speer
by Scott Speer
Published April 3rd 2012 by Razorbill
Synopsis:
Jackson Godspeed is the hottest young Angel in a city filled with them.
He's days away from becoming a full Guardian, and people around the world are already competing for the chance to be watched over by him. Everyone's obsessed with the Angels and the lucky people they protect - everyone except for Madison Montgomery.
Maddy's the one girl in Angel City who doesn't breathlessly follow the Angels on TV and gossip blogs. When she meets Jackson, she doesn't recognize him. But Jackson is instantly captivated by her, and against all odds the two fall in love.
Maddy is swiftly caught up in Jackson's scene, a world of glamour, paparazzi - and murder. A serial killer is on the loose, leaving dead Angels' wings for the police to find on the Walk of Fame. Even the Guardians are powerless to protect themselves in the face of this threat & and this time it's up to Maddy to save Jackson.
He's days away from becoming a full Guardian, and people around the world are already competing for the chance to be watched over by him. Everyone's obsessed with the Angels and the lucky people they protect - everyone except for Madison Montgomery.
Maddy's the one girl in Angel City who doesn't breathlessly follow the Angels on TV and gossip blogs. When she meets Jackson, she doesn't recognize him. But Jackson is instantly captivated by her, and against all odds the two fall in love.
Maddy is swiftly caught up in Jackson's scene, a world of glamour, paparazzi - and murder. A serial killer is on the loose, leaving dead Angels' wings for the police to find on the Walk of Fame. Even the Guardians are powerless to protect themselves in the face of this threat & and this time it's up to Maddy to save Jackson.
My Review:
I was quite skeptical about reading this book because while I looking for a new take on Angels, making them superstars in Los Angeles sounded a tad... ridiculous. But, as it happened before, the cover drew me in. Yes, a bit shallow and all. But I wasn't wrong. It was good. I mean, there's a freaking hot guy on the cover with a tattoo peeking from his sleeve. C'mon!
However, Immortal City had its own spin to the Angels vs Demons showdown that had me asking for something different. These angels aren't cloud-hopping warriors but rather almost normal people with seemingly altruistic motives to remain on earth. What they actually do is charge people to save them. Yes, charge them! There is no more miraculous, free save from death. God forbid, lol. The angels are bad, bad, bad. Think of Supernatural fans at a convention and multiply that by a hundred or so and you know what it's like to be an angel. They are super stars.
Even though it was some sort of love triangle, another cliche nowadays, it wasn't the center of the story and it didn't take much space from the main couple, Maddy and Jacks. Yeah, there were the same insecurities: she's more beautiful, she's from your world and she's an angel kind of stuff. Normal stuff.
But what I loved about the book was the fact that angels weren't glorified or anything. Yes, they were seen as otherworldly for their immortality and angelness, but they were quite human, too. Take Jacks for example, since he was a kid he aspired to be a guardian and he will do anything to become just that. He just wants to save people, be as great as everyone else expects him to be. But at the end of the day he's just another teenager, albeit an angel one, and so he's not any less prone to falling in love at the most inopportune of times. His life took an unexpected turn for when he met Maddy, a girl who doesn't swoon at the sight of him and isn't really an Angel fan.
Maddy is your average girl next door who is realistic about things and doesn't expect much. She only wants to get good grades at school so she can have a chance to go to college. Maddy is smart, funny and, even though she doesn't think so, beautiful. Oh, and most importantly, she doesn't treat Jacks like he's all high and mighty. She knows better than to be bedazzled with the sparkly world that Jacks comes from. Or at least she thinks so.
The thing is that their love and passion was instant. And soon, they find themselves running for their lives and in the middle of an angelic war in which Maddy could be the key to.
Anyway, back to the point and why I loved it so much.
It started off a bit slow but then picked up and kept my eyes glued to my Nook because I just had to finish reading it. For some reason, Jacks reminded of Jace Wayland from the Mortal Instruments series. The whole blond and god-like thing sort of really made me (metaphorically, of course) drool all over Jacks. Although, I did find that particular character flat at times.
As for Maddy, she ran hot 'n' cold all the time. I was able to identify with her, but I found her a bit annoying. She was strong and brave, though. And she did feel real to me. So I do love her. :) The romance between her and Jacks felt real and almost tangible. The tension and passion projected and so I give the author an A+ in that department. It held my attention and all, but what I loved the most was the fact that even though I pretty much guessed who the killer is, they always give this big, meaningful speech that sounds creepy and it makes you scratch you head and go like, 'what?' but I kept second guessing myself. I was right, of course, but I did end up blaming someone else at the end just to have my first guess thrown back on my face.
Ohh, and before I forget. Did I mention how awesome the demons were? No, uh, well. They were pretty cool. No, sexy, devil may care kind of demon that I absolutely adore, but rather the ugly horned thing that came straight from hell. Oh, yeah, it was awesome. I also give that an A+.
The grand finale that Scott Speer wrote was explosive and tantalizing. A true epic ending. So I now sit on my chair anxiously waiting for the sequel. I just can't get enough of Jacks now, and no, I would so not be one of those screaming girls. (HA! Yeah, right. I'd so be one.)
Trailer:
Now, I dare you to deny the fact that that dude looks just like freaking Jace Wayland.
Rating: 4.5
GenLia
Friday, August 5, 2011
Possess by Gretchen McNeil
Possess by Gretchen McNeilMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
The first thing that grabbed my attention as I looked for books was the cover. Creepy and dark but at the same time mysterious. Then the synopsis, which sealed the deal for me because it was about demons. After all the Vampire, werewolves and fae stories demons sounded like a good deal to me. I mean, how many books (in the YA genre) do you see where the protagonist can exorcise them but doesn't love one? uh?
Anyhow, Bridget was a very likable character who was very normal and down-to-earth. She didn't let herself be bullied by anyone and had normal friends like any other normal person. Except, that she discovered she had the ability to exorcise demons after her father's murder and it comes in handy now more than ever because the number of possessions are increasing. And of course there's the cute guy, Matt, who has the hots for her. Now, here's what I liked the most: she didn't fall in love with the guy right away. No. All she wanted at first was to be left alone by everyone. Then, as she got to know him better she realized she was falling for him.
The plot was very good. Awesome, actually. You don't see it very often and the ending kind of came out as a shock, which made me love the book even more. I really hope there is a sequel or something because some things were left to reader to guess and I would love to see more of Bridget.
The fact that Bridge was fifteen years old and an exorcist was also very new for me, which made it all the better because there are many hilarious parts. My favorite one was at the shop with the dolls. Mainly because I'm terrified of dolls since I watched Chuky. But was she scared? A little, but she managed to do the job.
Do I recommend it? For sure. Fans of The Exorcist and Demons must read this books. Very Creepy, in a good way.
View all my reviews
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)