REVIEW Megan Haskell SANYARE THE LAST DESCENDANT

BOOK INFORMATION:
Title: The Last Descendent
Series: Sanyare Chronicles
Author: Megan Haskell
Genre:  YA Fantasy/Romance
Publication Date: August 1, 2016

BRAG Medallion Winner

SYNOPSIS:
A woman torn between honor and survival…

Raised in a realm where humans are no better than slaves, Rie Lhethannien has struggled for decades to earn a meager post in the High Court messenger service. Even training as an elite fighter isn’t enough to earn the respect she craves. Scorned by the high elves who rely on her loyalty, Rie’s closest allies are the fierce carnivorous pixies who travel by her side.

When she’s attacked on a routine delivery by assassins from the enemy Shadow Realm, Rie’s martial prowess keeps her alive…and frames her as a traitor. Facing execution at the hand of an unmerciful king, Rie must forsake her oaths and flee into enemy lands to prove her innocence. With surprising help from a bastard prince and an ambitious blood sidhe, Rie searches for the truth behind the attack. The secrets she uncovers may threaten more than her honor or even her life…for war is looming in the nine faerie realms.

Sanyare: The Last Descendant is the first book in the Sanyare Chronicles, a fast-paced dark fantasy adventure. If you like kick-butt heroines and action-packed fantasy filled with mythological creatures, then you’ll love the first novel in Megan Haskell’s debut series. Start your journey across the nine faerie realms today!

BUY LINKS:
GoodReads

Amazon


REVIEW:
[Flora]

Amazon/Goodreads Rating: 4/5
In Patti's Imagination: 9/10

This is the first book I have read from this author and look forward to reading the next book in this series.  I loved the strong, smart herion, Rie.  She must choose between honoring the traditions in her world and her own survival.  Like many people she must decide if she will blindly follow society or create her own path.  She is well trained with knives and she seems to be able to have premonitions, which help her survive in a world full of very dangerous characters.  The Pixies are the scene stealers in this book.  They are snarky, protective and mischievous.  They are also dangerous flesh eaters.  Not exactly the cute, tiny fairy like creatures as portrayed in some other stories.

The main character, Rie is a changeling and a messenger, who is attacked in the course of her duties and now must try to figure out who and why to save her own life.  She meets up with a cast of characters, who are as dangerous as the pixies that travel with her every where she goes.  Can she solve this mystery without getting herself killed by those she is searching for or those who are traveling with her on this quest.

The author does an excellent job of describing the different worlds and characters in this fantasy quest story.  The background for these characters is laid out with just enough to make you want to know more.  The author states her influence is J. R. R. Tolkien and I can see that in this book.  I would recommend this story to reluctant reader who love mythical creatures, adventure, lot of fighting and a strong heroin.  It is about on a 12 year old reading level.  I really would recommend this story as a great escape into another world so plausible that it could be society today.

Author Bio:




Legend has it, I was born with a book in my hands. When I was a kid, my mom would ground me from reading in order to get me to do my chores. To this day, I can readily ignore the real world in favor of the imaginary one lurking between the pages of my current addiction. My dad — also an avid reader — introduced me to Tolkien in my late elementary years, and I never looked back. I love escaping to worlds where magic and monsters are real, especially stories with kick-butt heroines and dangerously attractive heroes. 

Despite my voracious book appetite, I didn’t start creative writing until I was working as a number cruncher in a big accounting firm. With an hour plus commute by train every day, and a demanding left-brain occupation, I needed a mobile creative outlet. A pen and paper are about as mobile as it gets! As the pages began to fill, I quickly moved onto a tiny laptop, and a writer was born. Now I get to create my own fantasies!

I currently live in Southern California with my wonderfully supportive husband, two daughters, and a ridiculously energetic dog.

REVIEW Katherine Pine AFTER EDEN (Fallen Angels Book One)

BOOK INFORMATION:
Title: After Eden ( Fallen Angels Book 1)
Series: Fallen Angels Series
Author: Katherine Pine
Genre: Young Adult Paranormal Romance
Publication Date:  April 16, 2011

SYNOPSIS:
Devi knows she shouldn't trust the new employee at her favorite used bookstore. Sure, he's funny, smart and hands down the sexiest guy she's ever met, but something dark lurks behind his unassuming smile and sinful green eyes.

Still, a girl can't always afford to be picky. When an angel abducts your twin brother it should come as no surprise that the one person who can help you get him back is a demon—and only if you're willing to pay his price.

BUY LINKS:
GoodReads
Amazon:

REVIEW:
[Flora]
Amazon rating: 4/5
In Patti's Imagination rating:  9/10

Devi is a strange child whose favorite place is an old musty book store.  She battles with the loss of her brother who was taken right in front of her.  She battles with horrible headaches that incapacitate her.  When she meets the new owner of her favorite place she is taken in by his charm and beautiful green eyes.  Then her episode happens and when she awakes she is in the back of the store with this green eyed sexy man.  But he is definitely anything but normal and she finds herself in the middle of an epic battle of Biblical proportions.  The devils wants her and an angel wants to keep her safe, but she isn't willing to accept any of them.  She will risk it all for the brother who was taken and a normal life before the episodes and the sadness.
The story has a lot of  action, mystery with a unique story-line.  The characters are well developed.   Maybe some more about her mom would be interesting, but not really needed to make thee store move.  The heroine is not a damsel in distress type and the leading man is not your typical hero.  The loss of her brother hounds her with guilt and as a twin there are many more questions to this kidnapping.  The author ties the characters together well and the story line is not choppy or rushed.  The author uses humor and vivid colors to set the mood.   The use of crazy wild teenage pranks helps make Devi a very believable character.  It did end with a predicable yet happy ending.  A warning: this book talks about demons and angels but the concept of an antihero is really intriguing  and well developed and I look forward to reading the next book in this series.

AUTHOR BIO:
Katherine Pine is addicted to shoujo manga and black tea. Though she's only in her mid-twenties, she lives in a retirement community in the Pacific Northwest. Alright, so maybe it isn't officially a retirement community, but the age of the average person is about 62. As a result Katherine has grown accustomed to epic bingo battles and losing terribly at Bridge. When she's not writing she knits, tries to convince slugs that her compost pile is much tastier than her vegetable garden, and gets bossed around by her cats.

AUTHOR LINK:
Kathrine Pine link

REVIEW BLITZ Rebecca Jaycox THE OTHER INHERITANCE

BOOK INFORMATION:

Title: The Other Inheritance

Series: The Other Inheritance

Author: Rebecca Jaycox

Genre: YA Fiction, Fantasy, Romance

Cover Designer: Molly Phipps at We Got You Covered

Publisher: Aelurus Publishing
Expected Publication: February 1, 2017

SYNOPSIS:

One girl. Two worlds. Hunted in both.

Seventeen-year-old Reggie Lang is used to dealing with her alcoholic mother and fighting school bullies, but fate has thrown her a curveball.

A biker dude shows up in her dreams, babbling about magic and a world called the Other. As the incidents keep piling up—like bringing a frog back to life in class—Reggie has to confront the mounting evidence that she’s not the normal girl she craves to be.

Reggie's life is changing, and she has no idea why. Or whether she should believe the man in her dreams, who claims she's in danger and that only he can keep her safe. But if there's one thing Reggie will learn, nowhere is safe.

Note: This book is recommended for readers aged 15 and above due to some mature content.

BUY LINKS:

AMAZON

BARNES AND NOBLE

KOBO

AMAZON UK

REVIEW:

[Flora]

Amazon/Goodreads Rating: 4  out of 5

In Patti’s Imagination Rating:  8 out of 10

This fast paced, action packed story hooked me in from the start. The sixteen year old Reggie’s world is changing and I can only imagine it was blowing her mind.  Her best friend, John, is her rock.  He believes her crazy new revelations.  Reggie was a child who’s father passed away and her mother turned to the bottle to deal with the loss.  Reggie becomes the parent and seems to have this responsibility at home and bullies at school what could be worse than all that?  Well, Reggie starts to dream of a mysterious man who claims she is in danger and that he is sending a person to bring her to the Other.  The Other has magic and a terrantical leader obsessed with killing all who could jeopardize his cruel iron fist reign.  How can she believe in a dream?  Was she going crazy?

After accidentally touching a frog in biology class and being seen as it came back to life, she is branded a freak and her nemeses truly do not understand and try to beat her to a pulp.  If it wasn’t for Asher, her guide sent to get her from the Real to the Other, she would have been in dire straits.  Her and Asher travel with her best friend to a portal in the park that leads to the Other.  Only John  could not pass through and has to stay behind vowing to take care of Reggie’s mother.  Can Reggie and Asher make it through the wild and dangerous world of The Other to help her dream man overthrow the evil dictator?  Will the people left in the Real be safe?  The Other is filled with so many people who are not who seem to be.  The whole land is filled with wolves, elves, slaves, witches and other magical beings who now know she is there. Some think she is a savior and others think she will destroy them all.  Who is telling the truth?  Can this sixteen year old girl save both the Real and the Other worlds or will she destroy everyone?

The author has a very entertaining way of describing the scenery and the beings in both worlds.  Her third person point of view really helped with all the dramatic events and diverse characters in this story.  The strong female role and romance should appeal to strong readers and the action and strange situations should help the reluctant reader want to see what will happen next.  I know because the book ends in a cliffhanger and this reader can not wait to find out where the storyline will go.  There is a bit of vague moments that I am hoping will be explained in the next books in this series.  I also hope that more on the dynamics of the characters’ pasts will be revealed.

Excerpt:

Suddenly, the air surrounding her began to ripple like the after-effects of a rock being thrown onto the smooth surface of a lake. A quiet buzzing started and grew with the intensity of a motorboat assaulting her ears. Reggie trembled as Rhys grabbed her, pulling her toward him slowly as if the ripples had current. His tall frame bent around her body, blocking her view and offering what protection he could as a wave of icy pain crashed into her. She screamed, and he shuddered.

“He’s here,” Rhys shouted in her ear. “He’s breached my defenses, you need to leave now! I’ll contact you again.”

Oh God, she hurt. She felt like shards of ice were being thrust into her skin. Blackness began to descend. “Wait!” she cried. “How will you contact me?” She needed Rhys. He was her only guide through this terrifying new world, and she battled to stay conscious.

“I’ll send someone from my world to you. Now wake up!”

Reggie clutched at him. “Promise? Promise!”

“I promise! Wake up!”

AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY:

Rebecca Jaycox grew up in the tiny town of Berryman, which borders the Mark Twain National Forest and the Courtois River about 70 miles south of St. Louis. The beautiful landscape fed her imagination, and she began writing stories at age 10 and never stopped.

Rebecca now lives in New York City with her husband, Gregory, where she works as a freelance editor. She enjoys reading and writing fantasy, urban fantasy, steampunk, and science fiction. The Other Inheritance is her first novel.

Always seeking adventure, Rebecca moved to France after she graduated college with a journalism degree to teach English at a French high school. Bitten by the travel bug, she has recently visited Italy, Greece, Austria, Spain, and finally made it to her bucket-list destination of Istanbul.

Author Links:

Web: http://rebeccajaycox.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RebeccaLJaycox/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/RebeccaJaycox

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2kLOSJS

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/9845024.Rebecca_Jaycox

Review SF Benson RELEASE

Title: Release
Series: The Alliance Chronicles
Author: SF Benson
Genre: Young Adult, Science Fiction, Dystopia, Thriller, Romance
Publication Date: January 12, 2017

Synopsis:
Years before the United States collapses and the New Order takes over, Asher Jones is a teenager living in Taylor, Michigan. Turmoil rocks the country. Citizens are dismayed. But for Asher, his only concern is the girl next door.

His world is perfect until the night his family is brutally killed. Asher struggles to make sense of his life. Drugs and alcohol become his constant companions and land him in jail. Now he’s at a crossroad—clean up his act or continue down the path of self-destruction. Every choice, however, comes with a consequence.

When a kid from the right side of the tracks veers left, how does he find his way back?

To Order:

Amazon 

REVIEW:

[Flora]
Amazon/GoodReads rating: 5/5
In Patti's Imagination rating: 10/10

Asher Jones is such a diverse character.  He could be called a tragic figure, but I don't feel he is tragic in any way.  His life was filled with hurdles and hardship and true horror and yet he seems to have became stronger.  Don't get me wrong he did have many mistakes.  He also had blind loyalty to his brother and family, strong, intense and intriguing.  Can this young impressionable boy turn into a hero? Even with all the secrets, lies and danger, can he still shine?  It does also include a snip-it of the prior book - picking up at the end of book two that continues the saga of Tru and the Alliance.  For the fans this is a nice bonus and was just a promise of the next action packed story to follow.  I can not wait.
This book is told from Asher's point of view and the author does a wonderful job of getting into the head of a teenage boy.  There is tragedy, violence and strong language in this book, but they are needed to stay true to the characters and the setting of this scary world.  It has humor and romance.  It has it all packed into this novella, yet it is not cluttered in any way.  This series has strong men and women characters and great heroes who fight for freedom and a better world.   
After reading this novella, I now feel he is one of my favorite characters I have read about in a long time.  In the past book, I can say I thought of Asher as a butt-head, but now I see him and what shaped him. This could be read as a stand alone book, but the end would be a spoiler if you read them out of order.  I would recommend this fast paced, action packed book to strong young readers. I really am enjoying this series and would recommend it to reluctant readers over the age of ten as well.    

EXCERPT:




AUTHOR BIO:

Hi! I’m SF Benson!

I love answering the question “what if” by writing young adult and new adult Dystopian/science fiction and paranormal stories. I’ve always wanted to be a writer, but I took a few varied paths to get to this point—blogger/reviewer, customer service representative, receptionist, marketing assistant, cashier, veterinary assistant, editorial assistant… I like to think that those positions provided ‘food’ for my creative brain.

When I’m not devouring countless books, I’m taking care of my family, which includes a few furry members. At one point in my adult life, I had a household which included three Samoyeds, saltwater fish, a hamster, and three guinea pigs.


Currently, I reside in Georgia, but have lived in Michigan and California. My ideal location would be Michigan with southern California weather for Spring, Summer, and Winter. Nothing beats Fall in Michigan.