{Review} Before She Ignites by Jodi Meadows

Posted by Donna
Release Date: September 17th, 2017
Finished Date: April 8th, 2018

Publishers: Harper 360
Genre: YA, Fantasy, Romance
Source: For Review
Format: Hardback

Pages: 400
Buy: Amazon UK / Amazon US / The Book Depo 

 

Before

Mira Minkoba is the Hopebearer. Since the day she was born, she’s been told she’s special. Important. Perfect. She’s known across the Fallen Isles not just for her beauty, but for the Mira Treaty named after her, a peace agreement which united the seven islands against their enemies on the mainland.

But Mira has never felt as perfect as everyone says. She counts compulsively. She struggles with crippling anxiety. And she’s far too interested in dragons for a girl of her station.

After

Then Mira discovers an explosive secret that challenges everything she and the Treaty stand for. Betrayed by the very people she spent her life serving, Mira is sentenced to the Pit–the deadliest prison in the Fallen Isles. There, a cruel guard would do anything to discover the secret she would die to protect.

No longer beholden to those who betrayed her, Mira must learn to survive on her own and unearth the dark truths about the Fallen Isles–and herself–before her very world begins to collapse.

The Review: When I heard Jodi Meadow’s had a new series coming out I was over the moon. I really enjoyed her The Orphan Queen series and so I couldn’t wait to dive into something else by her, however, I hate to admit I couldn’t finish Before She Ignites. 

I hate not finishing a book. It’s definitely the hardest part about being a blogger especially if you have to review the book as well and even more so when you see other people around you enjoying the book. You can’t help but think, what did I miss? But I will try and explain why I couldn’t connect with this book like I was hoping to.

The story follows Mira who is a Hopebearer who is the centre of everyone’s attention until one secret lands Mira the worst place the Pit – where she is sentenced to remain as a prisoner for the remainder of her life. 

Mira is a beautiful young lady who doesn’t deserve the punishment that has been handed down to her and while I really liked the premise of this story, it was really slow to get through. I’m really not a patient reader and while I can handle some slow books, if it doesn’t drag me in within the first 100 pages then I do start to lose interest. I wasn’t really a fan of the whole before and after back and forth chapters either. It found I wasn’t really all that interested in what happened before and I felt disconnected to the characters. 

I had a lot of issues with Mira which I wish I didn’t. I liked that her character was different and struggled with everyday problems like anxiety and panic attacks but I didn’t think it fit right with this particular story. I also found her sometimes vain and self-centred due to her being worshipped by everyone. Her love for Dragons is also never really explained. And the Dragons? There isn’t really many parts with the Dragons in this book, so I was also disappointed. 

In the end I skimmed the last 200 pages of the book which is a lot especially considering this book is almost 500 pages. I really wanted to love this book but I just couldn’t.

Thank you to Harper 360 for giving me the opportunity to review this book in exchange for an honest review. 

{Review} The Course of True Love (and First Dates): A Magnus Bane Story

Posted by Donna
Release Date: February 1st, 2018
Finished Date: April 10th, 2018

Publishers: Walker Books
Genre: YA, Paranormal, Romance
Source: For Review
Format: Hardback 

Pages: 96
Buy: Amazon UK / Amazon US / The Book Depo 

 

Magnus Bane and Alec Lightwood might fall in love—but first they have a first date. 

When Magnus Bane, warlock, meets Alec Lightwood, Shadowhunter, sparks fly. And what happens on their first date lights a flame...

A Magnus Bane story set in New York. Both new readers and those already familiar with the world of the Shadowhunters will enjoy this collectable hardback gift edition

The Review: Put your hands up if you love Magnus Bane and Alec Lightwood? I do! I love these guys from the books and I love them even more from the TV series and, I love that Walker books have started publishing these collectable gift novellas because not only are they so lovely to look out but, they really are the perfect gift for any fan. 

I really enjoyed getting inside Magnus’s head as this novella is told from his perspective. I haven’t read The Bane Chronicles so this novella was something completely new for me and gave me a different outlook at how Magnus and Alec’s relationship develops –which of course you don’t see in the Shadowhunter books. 

It’s a good look at their first date and how wrong it can go but because everything isn’t perfect, that makes it all the more special and definitely strengthens their bond. 

My only complaint is there was too much telling and not showing which as a fan of this world, I want to see it all for myself. 

Thank you to Walker Books for giving me the opportunity to review this book in exchange for an honest review. 

{Review} Lure of Oblivion (The Mercury Pack '3) by Suzanne Wright

Posted by Donna
Release Date: November 1st, 2017
Finished Date: April 6th, 2018

Publishers: Montlake Publishing
Genre: Adult, Romance, Paranormal
Source: For Review
Format: eARC

Pages: 333
Buy: Amazon UK / Amazon US / The Book Depo 

 

Gwen Miller may be a human, but she has no problem taking a stand against her own kind. She’s going to testify against the teenage boy she saw viciously assault a lone shifter female—and no amount of pressure from the boy’s wealthy family will make her back down. But when the harassment turns violent, help comes in the form of a lean, toned wolf with winter-gray eyes.

As a guest at Gwen’s inn, shifter enforcer Zander Devlin can’t help but notice that the fierce and leggy brunette is in serious trouble. Since she’s putting herself at risk for one of his kind, keeping her safe is the least he can do. That’s not the only reason Zander wants her close. He desires her, even as the wolf inside him backs away from her. But his feral instincts are hard to keep down, and as they take shape, they’re harder for Gwen to resist. Then again, embracing them could be the only thing that could save her life.

The Review: I love The Phoenix/Mercury Pack series. I love them both and I don’t really see them as different series because they are linked in so many ways still but after a little break from this world, I’ve finally read Lure of Oblivion and it was really good. 

Lure of Oblivion follows shifter enforcer Zander Delvin and human Gwen Miler. Zander and Gwen meet while Zander is staying at Gwen’s family Inn in Oregon after his Uncle passes away and has to be present for the reading of his will. However while staying at the Inn, Zander quickly comes to realise that Gwen has problems because she is trying to help a female shifter who was recently drugged and beaten by a group of local boys. Now Gwen is paying the price for standing up to the family. 

This was so good. I really enjoyed this book! Mainly because I loved that the romance was drawn out – there was no insta-love or instant connection etc. It takes a while for things to heat up between the two characters, not ages but it gave the story the suspense to make it very enjoyable. I really like Zander and Gwen as characters, they certainly weren’t expecting each other and I loved seeing their reactions as the story unfolds. Even though Gwen is human she is far from weak and definitely the perfect match for Zander.

It will be interesting to see where this series goes next and whose story will be told as well. So hopefully we won’t have to wait long for some news! I can’t wait either way. 

Thank you to Montlake Publishing for giving me the opportunity to review this book in exchange for an honest review. 

{Review} Defending Taylor (Hundred Oak #7) by Miranda Kenneally

Posted by Donna
Release Date: July 5th, 2016
Finished Date: April 3rd, 2018

Publishers: Sourcebooks Fire
Genre: YA, Romance, Contemporary
Source: For Review
Format: eARC

Pages: 304
Buy: Amazon UK / Amazon US / The Book Depo 

 

There are no mistakes in love.

Captain of the soccer team, president of the Debate Club, contender for valedictorian: Taylor's always pushed herself to be perfect. After all, that's what is expected of a senator's daughter. But one impulsive decision-one lie to cover for her boyfriend-and Taylor's kicked out of private school. Everything she's worked so hard for is gone, and now she's starting over at Hundred Oaks High.

Soccer has always been Taylor's escape from the pressures of school and family, but it's hard to fit in and play on a team that used to be her rival. The only person who seems to understand all that she's going through is her older brother's best friend, Ezra. Taylor's had a crush on him for as long as she can remember. But it's hard to trust after having been betrayed. Will Taylor repeat her past mistakes or can she score a fresh start?

The Review: I’ve been reading the Hundred Oak series since the first book Catching Jordan released and it’s great that this series is still going strong. Defending Taylor is book seven in the series and like all the other books this is another great addition to the series. 

Defending Taylor is about a teenage girl who comes from a wealthy family. Her father is a senator and has the help of from mother, while her brother and sister both attend Ivy League colleagues. Taylor herself wants to attend Yale and then go on to work at her family’s company, however one mistake lands Taylor being expelled from private school and having no choice but to enrol at Hundred Oaks High. While Taylor tries to deal with the pressure from her family to be perfect, not get into trouble and stay away from boys, Ezra Carmichael walks back into her life – the boy who she has been in love with for years but is determined to not let hurt her again. 

I really enjoyed Taylor’s story that I actually managed to read it within a 48 hour period. I honestly can’t remember the last time I did that because it normally takes me at least a week to read a book nowadays. As soon as I started reading her story though, I instantly liked her and was invested in her from the start. I really liked her brother and sister but her parents were really hard to like. They grated on my nerves and I hated how they didn’t support her but constantly applied pressure to her. I love how Taylor stayed strong through the whole story and didn’t crack under pressure. 

Taylor and Ezra are of course the highlight for me. You all know I love a good romance book and Miranda Kenneally never fails to deliver and this is definitely a good one. I absolutely adore Ezra. He was just what Taylor needed. Their story is a little insta-love but they have a connection already so I didn’t mind.

Defending Taylor is a good, light hearted read that I’m sure anyone will enjoy. I can’t wait to read the next book Coming up for Air. 

Thank you to Sourcebooks Fire for giving me the opportunity to review this book in exchange for an honest review.