[Review & Giveaway] The Midnight Sea

 

The Midnight Sea (Fourth Element #1)

by Kat Ross

Publish date: May 10, 2016
Genre: YA Fantasy
Rating: 4/5

Goodreads summary


They are the light against the darkness.

The steel against the necromancy of the Druj.

And they use demons to hunt demons….
 
Nazafareen lives for revenge. A girl of the isolated Four-Legs Clan, all she knows about the King’s elite Water Dogs is that they bind wicked creatures called daevas to protect the empire from the Undead. But when scouts arrive to recruit young people with the gift, she leaps at the chance to join their ranks. To hunt the monsters that killed her sister.

Scarred by grief, she’s willing to pay any price, even if it requires linking with a daeva named Darius. Human in body, he’s possessed of a terrifying power, one that Nazafareen controls. But the golden cuffs that join them have an unwanted side effect. Each experiences the other’s emotions, and human and daeva start to grow dangerously close.

As they pursue a deadly foe across the arid waste of the Great Salt Plain to the glittering capital of Persepolae, unearthing the secrets of Darius’s past along the way, Nazafareen is forced to question his slavery—and her own loyalty to the empire. But with an ancient evil stirring in the north, and a young conqueror sweeping in from the west, the fate of an entire civilization may be at stake…

My thoughts

Well, this was another sleepless night on the books ... and I mean that in a good way. If you're looking for the perfect fantasy then you can stop what you're doing and check out The Midnight Sea. There's lots of action, story/character building, more action, drama and a dash of romance. 

The story starts off with death and mayhem as we're quickly introduced to the evil Druj. Nazafareen watches as one possesses her younger sister, a fate that she can't come back from. This moment sparks Nazafaree's journey of revenge against all Druj. She'll leave her family and home behind to become a Water Dog.

The Midnight Sea starts when Nazafareen is barely out of her child years but moves quickly through her training as a Water Dog, which takes a few years, until she's on the cusp of adulthood. Then, we finally meet Darius, the daeva she'll be linked to. Throughout the book we get small glimpses into his past and I know it's just skimming the surface.

The relationship between our two main characters is interesting in the beginning. They train together, but have little contact outside of that. Neither really has any interest in the other. Then, slowly we see their friendship start to bloom.  Both a little wary and unsure of themselves. 

I really enjoyed their relationship as a whole. It took a long time to buildup and there's only a little romance at the end. They're conflicted because Darius is still a slave and  Nazafareen is still the one in control of the chains. But you can see she's a good person, she's just struggling to sort out how she feels versus what she was raised to believe. 

Overall, this gets a solid 4 stars from me for being well-written, fast paced and also a little dark at time. I just love it and I can't wait to see what the next book brings. I have a feeling things will get even more intense as the story continues. 

** I was provided a copy of this book in return for an honest review

Get it here
Amazon

About Kat Ross

Kat Ross worked as a journalist at the United Nations for ten years before happily falling back into what she likes best: making stuff up. She lives in Westchester with her kid and a few sleepy cats. Kat is also the author of the dystopian thriller Some Fine Day (Skyscape, 2014), about a world where the sea levels have risen sixty meters. She loves magic, monsters and doomsday scenarios. Preferably with mutants.


Author links
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

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[Review] Daughter of the Sun

Daughter of the Sun (Cult of the Cat #1)

by Zoe Kalo

Publish date: May 1, 2016
Genre: YA, Mythology, Fantasy
Rating: 4/5


Cult of the Cat series 

According to ancient Egyptian prophecy, three feline goddesses—Bastet, Sekhmet, and
Mafdet—would one day be reborn as triplets during a solar eclipse.


But someone—or something—separated them at birth. Because if ever they were reunited,
they would unleash a blistering power that could destroy the world.


In an adventure where the past confronts the present, and blood, betrayal and secrets abound, the triplets face each other for the first time. And discover they’re the only force able to stop the evil god Apophis from enslaving humanity.


Daughter of the Sun, Book 1 


Sixteen-year- old Trinity was born during a solar eclipse and left at the doorsteps of a convent along with a torn piece of papyrus covered with ancient symbols. Raised by nuns in the English countryside, she leads a quiet life until she’s whisked away to the Island of Cats and a grandmother she never knew.


But before they can get to know each other, her grandmother dies. All that Trinity has left is a mysterious eye-shaped ring. And a thousand grieving cats. As Trinity tries to solve the
enigma of the torn papyrus, she discovers a world of bloody sacrifices and evil curses, and a
prophecy that points to her and her new feline abilities.


Unwilling to believe that any of the Egyptian gods could still be alive, Trinity turns to
eighteen-year- old Seth and is instantly pulled into a vortex of sensations that forces her to
confront her true self—and a horrifying destiny.

My thoughts

Most everyone who knows me in real life, and those who've stopped by Book Nerd Paradise before, know about my obsession with the mythologies of many cultures. My cats, Artemis and Athena, can confirm that for you. I've been seeing a lot more books based on Greek mythology, but not a whole lot of ones on Egyptian mythology, other than Rick Riordan's Kane Chronicles. 

So, I was pretty excited to find Daughter of the Sun steeped in Egyptian myth. The ancient Egyptians have always held a place in my heart due to their reverence for cats. I'm an animal lover and any cultures that severely punishes animal abuse is A-OK in my book. Some day I hope to take a trip to Egypt and see all that's left of the ancient world. 

Daughter of the Sun is the story of orphaned Trinity, who suddenly discovers a long lost grandmother who has been looking for her since she disappeared 17 years ago right after her birth during the solar eclipse. Trinity travels to the Island of the Cats, where being a cat person is a requirement, to meet her grandmother. Lo and behold, her grandmother is very sick and passes shortly after her arrival. Taking all the answers to Trinity's questions with her. The bulk of the novel is about Trinity's search for answers to her past and the changes that are slowly happening to her. 

What I really loved about Daughter of the Sun is that Ms. Kalo managed to flawlessly weave a history lesson into the plot of the story without slowing the reader down with an info dump. Each god or goddess we run into gets a short explanation, while some of the key gods/goddesses go into more detail throughout the book. It's amazing to be able to read for fun and learn something new at the same time. No dusty history textbook here. 

As a main character I really liked Trinity. She's hot-headed and a bit impulsive, but a genuinely a good person. She has a hard time holding her tongue, but still knows when an apology is necessary. 

The only thing I wasn't really feeling in this book was the romance. It was kind of meh. Seth is a bit boring to me and there was really no development to their relationship. She just kind of maybe loves him all of a sudden, even though he's really the only boy she's ever been around. Thankfully, the romance isn't the main part of the story any way. 

The writing gets two thumbs up from me. I saw little to no errors that detract from the story. The plot was fast-paced and had me reading the whole book in one sitting. This is definitely one that gets a green light recommendation from me. 

** I was provided a copy of this book in return for an honest review

Get it here
Amazon  

About Zoe Kalo

A certified bookworm, Zoe Kalo has always been obsessed with books and reading. Reading led to writing—compulsively. No surprise that at 16, she wrote her first novel, which her classmates read and passed around secretly. The pleasure of writing and sharing her fantasy worlds has stayed with her, so now she wants to pass her stories to you with no secrecy—but with lots of mystery…

A daughter of adventurous expats, she’s had the good fortune of living on 3 continents, learning 4 languages, and experiencing a multicultural life. Currently, she’s working on a Master’s degree in Comparative Literature, which she balances between writing, taking care of her clowder of cats, and searching for the perfect bottle of pinot noir.

Connect with Zoe
Website | Facebook | Twitter

**This review is a part of the Blogger Outreach Program by b00k r3vi3w Tours**

Spread Some Indie Love Blog Hop

Hey readers! So, this is the second year Debdatta over at bOOk r3vi3ws has hosted the Spread Some Indie Love Blog Hop, and I want to give her a special thanks for doing so. 

This was one of my favorite events to take part in last year because, of course, I love me some indie authors. And I couldn't just pick a single one to feature... I picked three. The more, the merrier right?

These are all fantastic authors I've discovered within the last year. If you'd like to see more authors, check out my post from 2015. 

Without further ado, here are the three authors...

C.J. Archer - author of The Ministry of Curiosities series 

Elise Kova - author of the Air Awakens series

K.M. Shea - author of the Snow Queen duology

Scavenger Hunt

I decided to do the giveaway a little different this time. I'm going to make you work for it and get to know these authors a little more. Each entry will require you to go to each author's website, Facebook or Twitter to find the information. Just click on the name to start on their websites. And, of course, make sure to follow if you're interested on getting updates for new books.

The winner will be chosen at random and will win their choice of any book by any of the above authors. The giveaway is open internationally to anyone who can receive their prize as an Amazon gift.

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Find even more indie authors on the rest of the hop 

[Giveaway & Blog Hop] Spring Cleaning Giveaway Hop

A special thanks once again to Bookhounds for hosting this giveaway. It just so happens that I'll be doing most of my spring cleaning today. My car is in special need these days. Muddy trips to the dog park has taken it's toll on my interior. But as long as it keeps my Stella happy, I'll clean it as much as I need to. Luckily, more cleaning means there's some books that will be on my giveaway list. These were all previously loved and I hope you guys can find a new favorite among my old. The winner will get to chose from the following five books. 

The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson

Jack the Ripper is back, and he's coming for Rory next....


Louisiana teenager Rory Deveaux arrives in London to start a new life at boarding school just as a series of brutal murders mimicking the horrific Jack the Ripper killing spree of more than a century ago has broken out across the city. The police are left with few leads and no witnesses. Except one. Rory spotted the man believed to be the prime suspect. But she is the only one who saw him - the only one who can see him. And now Rory has become his next target...unless she can tap her previously unknown abilities to turn the tables.

The Red Pyramid (Kane Chronicles #1) by Rick Riordan

Since their mother's death, Carter and Sadie have become near strangers. While Sadie has lived with her grandparents in London, her brother has traveled the world with their father, the brilliant Egyptologist, Dr. Julius Kane. 

One night, Dr. Kane brings the siblings together for a "research experiment" at the British Museum, where he hopes to set things right for his family. Instead, he unleashes the Egyptian god Set, who banishes him to oblivion and forces the children to flee for their lives. 

Soon, Sadie and Carter discover that the gods of Egypt are waking, and the worst of them —Set— has his sights on the Kanes. To stop him, the siblings embark on a dangerous journey across the globe - a quest that brings them ever closer to the truth about their family and their links to a secret order that has existed since the time of the pharaohs.

Clockwork Prince (Infernal Devices #2) by Cassandra Clare

In the magical underworld of Victorian London, Tessa Gray has at last found safety with the Shadowhunters. But that safety proves fleeting when rogue forces in the Clave plot to see her protector, Charlotte, replaced as head of the Institute. If Charlotte loses her position, Tessa will be out on the street—and easy prey for the mysterious Magister, who wants to use Tessa’s powers for his own dark ends.

With the help of the handsome, self-destructive Will and the fiercely devoted Jem, Tessa discovers that the Magister’s war on the Shadowhunters is deeply personal. He blames them for a long-ago tragedy that shattered his life. To unravel the secrets of the past, the trio journeys from mist-shrouded Yorkshire to a manor house that holds untold horrors, from the slums of London to an enchanted ballroom where Tessa discovers that the truth of her parentage is more sinister than she had imagined. When they encounter a clockwork demon bearing a warning for Will, they realize that the Magister himself knows their every move—and that one of their own has betrayed them.


Tessa finds her heart drawn more and more to Jem, but her longing for Will, despite his dark moods, continues to unsettle her. But something is changing in Will—the wall he has built around himself is crumbling. Could finding the Magister free Will from his secrets and give Tessa the answers about who she is and what she was born to do?


As their dangerous search for the Magister and the truth leads the friends into peril, Tessa learns that when love and lies are mixed, they can corrupt even the purest heart. 

Wolfsbane (Nighshade #2) by Andrea Cremer

Calla Tor wakes up in the lair of the Searchers, her sworn enemy, and she's certain her days are numbered. But then the Searchers make her an offer–one that gives her the chance to destroy her former masters and save the pack–and the man–she left behind. Is Ren worth the price of her freedom? And will Shay stand by her side no matter what? Now in control of her own destiny, Calla must decide which battles are worth fighting and how many trials true love can endure and still survive.

Bloodrose (Nightshade #3) by Andrea Cremer

Calla has always welcomed war.

But now that the final battle is upon her, there's more at stake than fighting. There's saving Ren, even if it incurs Shay's wrath. There's keeping Ansel safe, even if he's been branded a traitor. There's proving herself as the pack's alpha, facing unnamable horrors, and ridding the world of the Keepers' magic once and for all. And then there's deciding what to do when the war ends. If Calla makes it out alive, that is. In this remarkable final installment of the Nightshade trilogy, international bestselling author Andrea Cremer crafts a dynamic novel with twists and turns that will keep you breathless until its final pages.

Giveaway

Rules: This giveaway is open to the U.S. only. One winner will get their choice of book sent directly to their address through the United States Postal Service. 

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[Review & Giveaway] The Beltane Escape

 

The Beltane Escape

by Ariella Moon

Publish date: February 2, 2016
Genre:Fantasy, YA
Rating: 4/5

Goodreads summary

Lady Fenella, ever surrounded by guards, knows only responsibility and duty. She believes Merlin and the Lady of the Lake are myths, Gran’s warnings about Fairy are superstition, and Fairy was invented to make children behave.

But then Gran brands her, Lord Argonshire kidnaps her, and the Lady of the Lake makes her a pawn. The Highland heiress must betray her newly betrothed and fend for herself when she dives into a wormhole to save her cousin. She lands in a part of Fairy even fairies avoid, and joins forces with Talfryn, a half-Viking/half-Fairy.

Fenella must use her wits to find her cousin, free the Lady of the Lake, and reach the wormhole in Glastonbury by Beltane. Nine days to unshackle herself from a sorceress, prevent a war between rival clans, and decide in which realm—and with which lad—she truly belongs. Oh, and The Most Powerful Wizard stands in her way.

My thoughts

The first thoughts that came to mind after reading The Beltane Escape is that this is a mix of a medieval Scottish fantasy and Alice in Wonderland. We start out with our main character, Fennela, with her Scottish brogue, as her home is quickly invaded by a rival clan and she's hauled off to become the betrothed of the third son of the nasty Lord Argonshire. But not before her Gran brands her with a burning iron rod.  

Before any wedding bells can sound, she follows her younger cousin in a wormhole (or as I see it, the rabbit hole) and winds up in Fairy, where she meets all manner of creatures: a brownie, a Norse man and pixies.  

I really enjoyed Fenella's character. She's determined to do what's right for her clan, even if it means sacrificing her freedom.  She is desperate to save her cousin, Sorley, and she will not be deterred from finding him. However, I do wish her character was a little older. She's only 14 and seems almost a bit too mature for that age. I just prefer my heroines to have a bit more life experience. 

The story line for The Beltane Escape is fast-paced and melds the legends of Merlin and the Lady of the Lake along with all kinds of fairy creatures. The writing is nicely done and I even found myself reading Fanella's parts with a Scottish accent. And there are little to no grammatical problems that caused me to stumble. 

My only complaint is that I would have liked to have seen more of Edward. He managed to endear himself to me within the few short chapters he made an appearance, and I almost wished he had fallen down the rabbit hole with her. But at least I have the lovely Talfryn to look at. 

** I was provided a copy of this book in return for an honest review

Get it here
Amazon | Barnes & Noble

About Ariella Moon

Ariella Moon draws upon her experiences as a shaman to create magical Young Adult fiction. Her Two Realms Trilogy is a medieval fantasy adventure series with romantic elements. The Teen Wytche Saga is a series of sweet contemporary paranormal romances.

Ariella spent her childhood searching for a magical wardrobe that would transport her to Narnia. Extreme math anxiety and taller students who mistook her for a leaning post, marred her youth. Despite these horrors, she graduated summa cum laude from the University of California at Davis. Ariella lives a nearly normal life doting on her extraordinary daughter, two shamelessly spoiled dogs, and an enormous dragon.

Ariella loves to hear from her readers. You can reach her at http://www.AriellaMoon.com or visit her on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ariellamoon.author

 

 

Giveaway

 

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[Giveaway & Bloghop] Lucky Leprechaum Giveaway Hop

A special thanks once again to Bookhounds for hosting this giveaway. I may not be Irish, but I do love the enthusiasm that surrounds St. Patrick's Day. While I'm well versed in Greek, Roman and some Egyptian mythology, I can't say I've even really delved into ancient Irish legends. At least, that is until I stumbled upon The Fianna Trilogy by Megan Chance. This series will introduce the infamous Fianna warriors who find themselves in early 19th century New York City centuries after their time. 

The Shadows

Grace Knox has grown up hearing the folktales of her Irish ancestors, especially about the warriors who fought for control of Ireland. In 19th-century New York City, however, these legends are far from Grace's mind. She's much more concerned with how to protect her family from debt collectors, and whether her childhood friend Patrick Devlin will propose. Patrick is a member of the Fenian Brotherhood, a group of young Irish American men intent on fighting for the independence of their homeland, whatever the cost. Patrick and the Brotherhood use ancient magic to summon mythical warriors to join their fight to protect Ireland. One of them, Diarmid, finds himself drawn to Grace, and she to him. When Diarmid discovers that, in their desperation, the Brotherhood has also summoned a rival group of ancient warriors, he warns Patrick that there will be bloodshed. Grace is caught in the middle of two men she loves, and discovers she alone holds the power to save Ireland... but at a dangerous price.

The Web

In Victorian New York, seventeen-year-old Grace Knox is tangled in the web of an ancient prophecy.

The Fianna, legendary Irish warriors, have been magically called from their undying sleep to aid Ireland in its rebellion against Britain. But the Fianna have awakened in New York alongside their bitter enemies, the Fomori. A prophecy demands that a Druid priestess—a veleda—must choose between these two sides. Grace is this veleda.

But being the veleda means she must sacrifice her power—and her life—to her choice. On one side are her fiancé, Patrick Devlin, and the Fomori. On the other are the Fianna—and the warrior Diarmid Ua Duibhne, with whom Grace shares an undeniable connection. Patrick has promised to find a way to save her life. In three months, at the ancient ritual, Diarmid must wield the knife that kills her.

Grace doesn’t know whom to trust. As dark forces converge on the city, she struggles to discover the truth about her power. Can she change her own destiny? Can she escape the shadows of the past and reach for a future she could never have imagined?

The Veil

Great stones crack and split. Storms will tell and the world is changed...

Seventeen-year-old Grace has found the archdruid who can teach her to use her power as the veleda—the priestess prophesied to save Ireland. But nothing is as it should be. The archdruid is a dangerous fairy, and Grace can’t learn the spells, no matter how hard she tries. Something is wrong...but what?

Meanwhile, gentleman Patrick Devlin and warrior Diarmid Ua Duibhne both struggle with their love for Grace, their duty to their warring brotherhoods, and their support of Ireland. And New York City is in chaos with protests, immigrant gangs, and police crackdowns. The only hope for the future is the ancient ritual, just weeks away, in which Diarmid must take the life of the girl he loves.

Secrets, legends, and prophecies collide in an explosive finale that will save the world—or destroy it. 

Giveaway

Rules: This giveaway is open internationally to anyone who is able to receive their prize as an Amazon gift. One lucky winner will win their choice of any book in the series. 

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See the rest of the hop

[Giveaway & Blog Hop] No Strings Attached

As most people my age might be able to relate, any time I hear the words "no strings attached" I can't help but follow it up with the rest of the lyrics of the N'Sync song. Including the dun-dun-dun. But alas, this blog hop and nothing to do with my beloved 90s boy band. 

Instead, we're featuring giveaways with no strings. That means no follows, no tweets, no comments. Just a simple freebie entry. Also, a special thanks to Bookhounds for hosting this giveaway.

I usually like to feature a book or two that I've recently enjoyed, but I find that my sack of goodies is running a little low this time around. So how about you guys share your recommendations for me? I need some new goodies to add to my TBR pile. 

Giveaway

Rules: This giveaway is open internationally to anyone who is able to receive their prize as an Amazon e-gift card. I hope you can find your next favorite on this one!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

See the rest of the hop