Book Review: Beauty and the Vampire by Zoey Hunter

Self-Published
Published Jan. 19, 2018
207 Pages

Honor student and cheerleader, Bel Winter, works hard to be a normal teenager. But deep down, she knows she is far from normal. The glowing rose-shaped mark on her shoulder is her first clue. 

As her 17th birthday draws close, Bel’s friends fear she is losing her grip on reality. Yet, Bel believes. The visions she sees are real. The men in black capes who come out of the shadows are real. 

And they are coming for her… 

On the night of Bel’s birthday, at the stroke of midnight, her world goes black. When she wakes, she is thrust into a new and frightening world—the underground Onyx City. 

It is a place rife with magic and creatures of the night. 

It is a place of dark beauty, dangerous intrigue and ruled by a beast—the ruthless vampire prince, Ezra Blade. 

When Bel makes a desperate attempt to escape her captors, she trespasses through the royal gardens, and is caught by the prince himself. Now, her fate is in his hands. Though she fears the mercurial Ezra, Bel knows he alone has the power to release her from the Onyx City. 

Can Bel tame the beast? And convince him to set her free? – Goodreads

What can I say about this book? A lot actually. Firstly let me begin by saying I liked it. Something about this book just sucked me and I liked it. But there were a lot of holes in this read.

Firstly the book promises a heart stopping romance. That isn’t exactly the case. The romance is there and its cute but heart stopping? It doesn’t even come close. What is missing in the romance is the actual courting, the stories they build together when no one is looking. In other words, the build up is missing. The attraction is there. Bel and Ezra are attracted to each other but author adds things to make it seem as if they are destined for each other.

For instance, Bel is special and she sort of knew Ezra before meeting him and I am cool with that but the author didn’t go deeper into that. There are no dreaming of a mystery man, there is no flashes of them being together. Bel sees a man she is attracted to, sees his goons and that is it.

Another thing that bother me, is Ezra isn’t a beast. He is mourning and he is angry about it. The author could have did so much with Ezra and not even on a physical level but his internal torment could have been more detailed and provided a bigger struggle in his relationship with Bel. He gave in too easy and I have an issue with that.

There is a lot of holes in this story. Mythology, traditions all of that could have added to the story making it richer and more entertaining. Also there was predictability in one situation but it is huge.

But the worst offense of this book was the ending. IT FREAKING STOPS MID THOUGHT. It is the most crap ending that pissed me off. It was there. What you have been waiting for was there and then the author stopped. Dude, I was pissed.

Despite all of this, I really liked this book and I think it is a good foundation for at least a book two. Anything more than that, I’m not sure. Would I consider this a retelling of Beauty and the Beast? Nope, but the author does add some cute references in the book.

Overall, I liked the book. I guess I’m a sucker for vampire romances *Kayne Shrug*.

3 Pickles. 

What Tanya Wants: May 2017

Book Review: Ensnared by Rita Stradling

TBP: Dec. 18, 2017
380 Pages

Alainn’s father has good intentions. As a genius inventor, he is hired to create a robot for a picky client. This is a mistake. Rose, who looks like Alainn is not a robot pretending to be human but is much more. 

To save her father from going to prison, Alainn takes Rose’s place believing that her life will be nothing but serving the reclusive billionaire until a replacement is built. But nothing about this is as easy or black and white, Alainn hopes it to be. 

*Short Review*

I don’t really care for Beauty and the Beast. It is not one of those fairy tale movies that I actually feel is any good. However, I do love a good retelling of it. But this book wasn’t a love for me. Creative but not a love.

I liked this book because it focuses technology to the fullest. Robots are the thing of now and the future and the idea of robots no longer following their program is something you see constantly in the movies. I appreciated this in book, although there were times I found it myself rolling my eyes because it was s stretch that she can pass for a robot.

What I didn’t like about this book and what ultimately made me give it a low score was the fact that the author was trying too hard to make it real. Building the robot and having her not fulfill her intention that is real but having a human, who is loud, not that bright and emotional. The writing overall seemed really basic and although I really enjoyed the idea behind this story, nothing in me believes it was executed in its best form.

2 Pickles

Book Review: The Fallen Kingdom (The Falconer #3) by Elizabeth May

Chronicle Books
To Be Published June 13, 2017
336 Pages

This is the final book in the Falconer trilogy. Aileana Kameron has been resurrected by ancient fae magic and has no memory of her past or any idea of how she is now the keeper of a dangerous magic that she is unable to control. 

Determined to break this “curse”  while trying to control the powers, Aileana, must find an ancient book guarded by the powerful fae Morrigan. In order to save the people she loves. Aileana must do the impossible. 

I enjoyed this series and I enjoyed the cover art tremendously as well. The first thing to say about the final book is that it is much more romance filled than the other two. So, if you didn’t want a romance novel as the final novel, then you should not read this. I did roll my eyes, once I saw where the book was heading but it didn’t make it any less of a good book.

Although I was surprised, I loved this book. Aileana is still bad ass but less whinny. She is much more realistic to the whole end of the world and she is not heartless to the Fae. She understands that they have lost their world, just as much as the Humans have. I liked that about this book. What I didn’t like about her and pretty much since the first book, is that her word or nothing else. I love her determination and what she is willing to fight for but she really screws people over for her own piece of mind. It was annoying.

I loved the pace of the novel. But I do wish there was more fighting. There wasn’t enough of what made the Falconer a good book. There was less physical drama then one would think as the final battle. It would have been great to have just a little more. Despite that, I loved the grown Aileana. It kept me reading.

The ending left no question to another book. I can see the author doing a side story or series to a particular character but other than that I was happy to say that the series has ended with a thought out ending, I wasn’t exactly expecting.

Overall,

5 Pickles

Book Review: Rhapsodic (The Bargainer #1) by Laura Thalassa

Lavabrook Publishing Group
Published Nov. 15, 2016

Callypso Lillis is a siren that from the outside looking in has a pretty good life. A successful business with her best friend, a gorgeous shape shifting boyfriend and a beautiful home.

However, bracelets stretching on her arm, show that her life hasn’t been the easiest to obtain. Beads of magical IOUs, from the Bargainer remind Callypso that someday she will have to pay back those favors. After seven years of silence, the Bargainer has come to collect and he is looking for much more than a simple repayment; he needs Callypso and her skill as a siren to save the Otherworld. 

I like this author. She has a way of surprising you and I was pleasantly surprised with this book. If you are looking for something dark and creepy as the cover makes it seem, this is not that type of book.

There is heavy romance in this book and for a while it gets redundant. However, the background, which is the foundation for the next book, is pretty good. The Bargainer, who is also a Fae king, has alternative motives that get really annoying to figure out. You are not sure if he is a good guy or a bad guy til around the end of the book. What I wanted more in regards to him was a better description of how he looked. For most of the book, I couldn’t see him. Yes, he is described but that description didn’t stick and follow for me. I also would have loved more personality from him as well and a deeper back story.

Callypso was interesting because I didn’t dislike her but then again, I cannot say that I liked her either. Her personality was missing. There were glimpses but I don’t who she is or how to really describe her. Maybe headstrong? The same goes for the Bargainer.

What I loved about the book was the back and forth between the past and the present. So, you know how the two meet and what their relationship consist of. I really loved that. The book kept my attention from beginning to end. But I didn’t like the ending. I felt that what happened to Callypso didn’t really fit with the story. It was un-needed at least for me.

I look forward to the next book but I am slightly weary. Me and this author have an interesting relationship because the first book will be great, the second book stale and the last book great.

Overall,

4 Pickles

Graphic Novel Review: Funérailles 1: Fortunate Sons by Florent Maudoux

Ankama Editions
Published May 7, 2013
80 Pages

In this society if you are not perfect you are not worth living. When a solider of a lower class falls in love with a woman in high society, the union is a perfect fairy tale. And union created a perfect child, destined to rule the Kingdom, while his twin brother a threat, who is toss away. 

Although pigs have eaten parts of this unwanted child, he is saved and lives for the most part a healthy life. When two boys meet, it sets the stage for events that will change their kingdom.

It is unfortunate when you find a series that you get completely into and find out that there are only two volumes….

At first I was skeptical because it appeared to be a cliche Romeo and Juliet if they would have gotten married. But it wasn’t like that at all. This graphic novel is dark, it is detailed, there is nudity, there is blood. It is perfect in a every twisted way.

What I loved most about this is how the backstories weren’t dragged out. It didn’t feel forced into the story nor did it take up the entire first volume. It was key to everything however, it felt less of a flashback and more of a this is what is happening now. Everything tied together with seamless transitions and I didn’t feel as if the author didn’t know what they were doing or that this was a first of their kind. You can see the care in the plot and it matches the artwork.

I can’t say that I had an issue with any part of this book. It is deep on the level that the higher class has a certain perception of how things should be and nothing will stop them from keeping their ideas and making it work. This highlights the darker side to this as well as science. Because science, specifically human anatomy, is strong with this graphic novel.

I enjoyed it but it isn’t for everyone and I would only recommend it to those who do not mind the dark, dull colors and violence.

4 Pickles

 

Manga Review: LASBOSS×HERO by Hajime Katsuragi

Shogakukan,
Published March 18, 2013
166 Pages

Sagara Masamune is a manga artist but a very good one. And he has to come to terms that his career is ending. To keep what followers he has on terms, he looks to end the female lead, Nina in the most spectacular way. 

As he works to conclude his manga, he is sucked into Nina’s world. Sagara doesn’t know what is happening but maybe killing Nina will be the way for him to return home. 

This series is one of those series you have to keep reading in order for you to get to the good stuff. I would say volume 3 for this book.

The first two volumes were distasteful. I get that it is supposed to highlight the cliche of manga, especially manga’s with female leads but it was tough to swallow.  But for some reason, I kept going and I am glad that I did.

First and foremost if Ecchi, skin or racy topics bothers you, this is not the manga for you. In the beginning there is a lot of it and once you get pass volume 3 or 4, there really isn’t any.

Sagara is an interesting character because I didn’t feel anything towards him for most of the book. I didn’t think he was a jerk for some of the decision he was making. However, he grows throughout the series and by the end I understood him and his issue as a manga artist.

Nina, is different because her personality was a blank slate. I didn’t see a whole lot of growth to her but that doesn’t mean that something didn’t happen. She changes but it is more subtle than Sagara.

The story elevates so much, you can appreciate the creativeness that is within it. The author really thinks this out. There are twists and turns that are not necessarily predictable and once the mess is over, the plot moves smoothly without you worrying you are going to see something you don’t want to see.

As for the artwork, it could have been better. There was cliche and it was obvious; you really couldn’t see a signature from the illustrator.

Overall, I was pissed because Kiss Manga doesn’t have any more translations and it ended abruptly. But I did really enjoy this series.

4 Pickles 

Book Review: The Cogsmith’s Daughter (Desertera #1) by Kate M. Colby

Boxthorn Press
Published Oct. 15, 2015
306 Pages

200 years ago a flood destroyed most of the world. Survivors settled around a steamship named Desertera and believe that the flood was caused by a pissed off goddess and to appease her the monarchs demand the execution of anyone who commits adultery (Random, right?)

Present time, King Archon traps his wives into adultery and then executes them to move on to the next woman. As long as he does not bother their women, Nobles have turned a blind eye to this but when Lord Varick’s daughter is caught in this trap, Varick vows revenge in the form of a young woman named Aya Cogsmith. 

Aya, barley making it by after, King Archon executed her father for treason, agrees to Varick plan to seduce the King, although it may risk her life. 

I wasn’t expecting much of this book. And I am happy to say that I was pleasantly surprised throughout most of it. But there were issues. What bothered me the most throughout the entire book was how did this civilization come to the conclusion that adultery was the reason why the flood happened. I would have loved to have more of a backstory/history lesson in this book.

I liked Aya for the most part. She bite off a lot than she can chew. I was hoping she would be stronger even towards the end. She showed how naive she was more than a few times and she had my eyes rolling. I loved the pace of the novel and how honest it was. The author didn’t shy away from things and it wasn’t distasteful. I liked that.

There was an obvious wall that was hit about half way through the book but it was quickly settled. Another issue I had with this book was the ending. I feel that the author was trying to not give the ending that we all wanted but I also feel that it wasn’t the best choice especially since the second book isn’t focused on Aya but her friend.

I also believe that the ending was a prime example of Aya being naive and I would say selfish. I was disappointed.

Overall, I want to read more but I am not sure if I am going to read book two.

 

3 Pickles

Manga Review: Tasogare Otome × Amnesia by Maybe

Kaze Manga
Published 2014

A young woman was left to died in the old building at the Academy for Sincere Teachings. Niiya Teiichi, a freshman, gets lost in that building and sees this young woman’s ghost. The two join together to find the truth about her death and past. 

*Review of the entire series. 

This manga was fantastic. If you do not mind some ecchi, then don’t read this. The plot. the pace, the mystery and the horror all moved together perfectly in each book.

I liked how the romance wasn’t over done nor was it completely obvious. It could have went either way and I appreciated that sort of “suspense.” Niiya was a character I didn’t think to like. He stayed true to himself and what he wanted and nothing stopped him from that. There was a love triangle… well other people were interested in Niiya but it was one sided. Perfect.

The artwork was great. There was horror not graphic, not bloody but certain images did provide the horror. What I really did love about this book is it was a huge game of telephone. Not everything was what it seemed, not everything was a lie. It was a great blend of what the babbling of high school students can and cannot do.

I can go on and on about this series but it would give a lot away. Overall, unforgettable story.

5 Pickles

Book Review: Blood Bound (Gallows #1) by Sharon Stevenson

CreateSpace
Published Nov. 18, 2015
320 Pages

Twin demon trackers, Shaun and Sarah Gallows, are use to trouble. As of late vampires are the only things keeping the two 19 year olds busy. While Sarah embraces her powers, Shaun tries to avoid them causing an issue when they meet 17 year old demon tracker Melissa. Melissa, who Shaun is attracted to with fierce intensity, Melissa who is torturing innocent super-naturals. 

Knowing they need to stop her, Sarah is willing to do anything while it may be harder for Shaun to stop someone who is soul bound. 

So, I sat on this book a lot longer than I should have. The thing about this book is it is really drawn out without there being reason to. After a few chapters, I got into the book but the spark died as quickly as it came. Shaun has no life. I guess that was the point to show the different between him and Sarah but his moody depression didn’t help a already long book.

Beyond the fact that the book was long, what bother me was Sarah. She was all over the place and her relationship drama was not needed for this book. It was forced. If this book was about herself then maybe I would have been okay with it but between her drama and Shaun’s drama added too many people to the plot and it became over saturated.

I did like the idea of Shaun and Melissa. I wasn’t feeling the age of everyone but the idea that this “bad” woman could be his soul bound and he was not for it, was interesting. It was a different spin to things but it wasn’t enough to keep the book going. The storyline was pretty slow and the mythology was not as great as you think it would be with two demon trackers leading the way.

I wanted so much more for this 93 chapter (kindle edition). There should have been a better backstory, deeper mythology and more colorful characters.

2 Pickles