Review: Exposed by Fate - Tessa Bailey

He’ll train her to lure another man. She’ll lure him instead.

When interior designer Eliza Ballas accompanies a friend to New York’s premier BDSM club, she’s taken aback by the sheer want that overruns her body—especially when a sexy Brit assumes Eliza is adept at dark, sensual arts. If she’s going to play, she’ll need an erotic education, and she knows just the man to teach her how to submit . . .

Oliver Preston isn’t one to turn down pleasure, but Eliza’s his sister’s best friend, and he’s torn between a sense of duty and his rock-hard need to find out if she tastes as delicious as he’s dreamed. Unable to handle thought of another man owning her body, he draws Eliza deep into his world of exquisite pain and pleasure. He has three lessons to instruct her. Three lessons to drive them both to the brink of ecstasy. And three lessons before he must give her to another man . . . if he doesn’t lose himself first.

Serve Series:
Owned by Fate - Tessa Bailey
Exposed by Fate - Tessa Bailey
Mistaken by Fate - Katee Robert
Betting on Fate - Katee Robert
Driven by Fate - Tessa Bailey
Protecting Fate - Katee Robert
Rules of Seduction - Joya Ryan

Visit Tessa Bailey's website for more information.

Review:
I love Tessa Bailey's Line of Duty series so I had high hopes for her new Serve series which is set around a BDSM club. Unfortunately I wasn't a huge fan of the first book but that was more down to the fact that I hated the heroine than anything else so I took a second chance and bought the second book too. I'm so glad I did because Exposed by Fate was everything I wanted from Owned by Fate and more, in fact I think I now have a new favourite Tessa Bailey hero in Oliver, he was absolutely fabulous!

Eliza is keen to explore her newly discovered submissive side but she's wary of testing the waters with a stranger when she has no real idea about what she will enjoy or what will be expected of her. Oliver is her best friend's older brother and as a playboy and a regular at Serve he would be the perfect person to teach her the art of submission. Her only fear is that she could end up getting her heart broken if she doesn't keep him at a distance. Oliver has craved Eliza for a long time but he knows he's not a one woman man and would never want to hurt her. The pair agree on three lessons thinking that will be enough for Eliza to learn what she needs to know but not long enough for either of them to get attached. What they don't expect is the instant, deep bond that they both feel and it's not long before they realise that the lessons are changing them both but will either of them be brave enough to admit that three lessons will never be enough?

Tessa Bailey has always excelled at her dirty talking heroes and Oliver is no exception to that, he is completely masterful in the bedroom (and the shower, and on the conference room table, and .. well you get the picture!) so we are treated to some completely knicker melting scenes that will leave you desperately needing a cold shower. Eliza may be inexperienced but inexperienced doesn't equal shy and she's more than willing to jump into her lessons with both feet. She has done her research and she trusts Oliver to always have her best interests at heart so she doesn't hesitate to accept anything he suggests. The two of them have fabulous chemistry but more than that they have a solid base of friendship and I loved the way Oliver was able to talk to Eliza about her fears and make her realise that there is nothing wrong with her desires. Eliza is a strong heroine, she loves to submit in the bedroom but in all other areas she is strong and feisty and more than capable of keeping Oliver on his toes, she is also the one person who believes in him. Oliver has always been on the outside looking in when it comes to his family, he's never felt good enough or that he could live up to their expectations but Eliza sees past that to the man he is inside and she helps him gain confidence in his business life which was great. I liked the balance between them and the fact that they are both better together than they were apart.

Exposed by Fate was a fab story and one I thoroughly enjoyed. If you're looking for a hot and spicy romance with plenty of dirty talk and a little exhibitionism you will love this one. I'll definitely be buying future books in the series as soon as they're available!

Source: Purchased

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Review: Owned by Fate - Tessa Bailey

Her mind rejects his world. But her body knows its master.

Journalist Caroline Preston arrives at Serve, New York City’s hottest BDSM club, with one goal—to hate it. If her brother wasn’t trying to turn the family’s respectable financial magazine into a publication that features “lifestyle” pieces for the wealthy and adventurous, she wouldn’t even be there, trying to write an article about a world she doesn’t understand. But then she sees him.

Jonah Briggs doesn’t leave his post for just anyone. As the owner of the club, his sole purpose is to ensure that his clientele get everything they need, but when he sees Caroline, his only thought is what he wants—to dominate the sexy little reporter and give the most exquisite pleasure she’s ever experienced.

Caroline has no intention of entering that particular lion’s den—not with her family’s reputation at stake—no matter how dark, sexy, and complex the lion in question may be. But with every encounter, she craves more, and with every slide of his lips, she realizes Jonah might just be the man to break down all her defenses . . . if she’ll let him.

Serve Series:
Owned by Fate - Tessa Bailey
Exposed by Fate - Tessa Bailey
Mistaken by Fate - Katee Robert
Betting on Fate - Katee Robert
Driven by Fate - Tessa Bailey
Protecting Fate - Katee Robert
Rules of Seduction - Joya Ryan

Visit Tessa Bailey's website for more information.

Review:
As a huge fan of Tessa Bailey's dirty talking heroes in her Line of Duty series I was incredibly excited to find out that she was co-writing a new series set in a BDSM club and couldn't wait to read Owned by Fate. I had such high hopes for this story but if I'm honest I only just managed to finish it which was a real disappointment.

I think my main issue was that I really hated the heroine so as much as I liked Jonah Caroline pretty much ruined the book for me. Caroline is a journalist who helps run her family financial magazine, the last thing she wants is to make the magazine more edgy but sales are falling and they need to do something drastic if they want to save the business. She agrees to write a piece about one of New York's hottest BDSM club but she goes into it completely prejudiced against the lifestyle and determined to hate every minute of it. I found it pretty impossible to believe that someone who was so anti all things BDSM would then go on to have a one night stand with a Dom on her very first visit to the club. I could have forgiven that if her attitude had started to change but she goes on and on about how she's a respectable woman and BDSM is wrong and quite frankly I wanted to punch her in the face.

Caroline is basically a stuck up snob who thinks she's way too good for Jonah, she constantly looks down her nose at him but even when she is judging his lifestyle choices negatively she still can't help herself from falling into bed with him. Jonah was much more likeable but I couldn't for the life in me understand what he saw in Caroline. There was nothing about her that made it believable he would fall for her and the more he let her get away with treating him like crap the harder I found it to respect him. He starts the story as a pretty decent Dom (who is also the owner of the club she keeps knocking!) but he pretty much rewards her for looking treating him like crap and then begs her to spend time with him. I can't see any self-respecting Dom acting like that and it was just too much for me.

Although I didn't enjoy Owned by Fate as much as I expected to I do still have hope for the series and have bought the next book because I like Caroline's brother Oliver and her friend Eliza. Since my main problem with this book was the fact I hated Caroline I'm hoping I'll have more luck with those two! I know I'm actually in the minority not liking this book so don't let me put you off giving it a go. The sex scenes are hot, the dirty talk is great and if you can ignore the judgemental heroine you'll probably enjoy this much more than I did.

Source: Purchased

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Review: Blood Crown - Ali Cross

Androids have claimed power over what remains of the human race. They rule without remorse. They are the Mind and humans exist only to serve them.

But it wasn't always so.

Before the android uprising, select droids, called Servants, were pivotal in engineering a new human race with nanotechnology enhanced DNA. The Blood Crown theorum was to be humanity's crowning glory and the key to their survival in deep space.

But Serantha, Daughter of the West, was the last female to receive Gifts from her Servant and when the Mind mutinied, she was hidden away, and presumed dead.

Without Serantha there is no hope of the Blood Crown being realized so Nicolai, Son of the East, abandons his crown to join the rebel forces. He might not provide the future for his people he had once dreamed of, but he will not go down without a fight.

When Nicolai discovers Sera among a small compliment of kitchen staff, everything changes--but Sera's Gifts were never completed and she is ill-equipped to face a legion of androids determined to wipe her, and every other human, out of existence.

Their only hope is the Blood Crown--but even if Serantha and Nicolai can realize their potential it may be too late to save mankind.

The Eden Project:
Blood Crown
Further titles and release dates to be confirmed

Visit Ali Cross's website for more information

Review:
In a future where the Earth can no longer support life and humanity has been forced to live on giant State-Ships in space for over 1,000 years we are on the verge of possible extinction. The androids that were built to serve us have rebelled and taken control, they have kept a few humans as slaves but they seek to exterminate the rest of the population. Humanity's only hope is an old prophecy, one that promises when the royal families of the East and the West combine they will create the Blood Crown, the ultimate in human evolution. Humans have been adding nanotech to the Royal DNA for centuries slowly turning them into something more, but it will take combining the two lines to create something truly special, something with the power to save them all.

Although Nicolai, the Prince of the East, is playing a key role in the human rebellion Serantha, the Princess of the West, is missing presumed dead. Nicolai knows he can't fulfil the prophecy on his own but he refuses to give up hope of wining the war against the androids. Sera was nearly killed alongside the rest of her family when the androids took control but she was saved by Archibald, the android who raised her. Archibald had to wipe Sera's memory before he hid her amongst the servants and in the years since she has lived a life of hardship and fear. Sera is the only one who can save them all but she will need to regain her missing memories first and can only save her people with Nicolai's help.

Blood Crown came highly recommended by my friend Erica and now I've read it I can completely understand why - it's such a fantastic YA story and I loved every minute of it. Ali Cross throws readers straight into the action and manages to make you feel invested in the characters very quickly. The story is told from three different points of view - Archibald tells us of the risks he took to get Sera to safety and how he managed to keep her identity a secret, Sera allows us to see the lives of the human servants and how they are treated by the ruling androids and Nicolai shows us the war that the rebels are waging even though they know they have little chance of success.

The story is action packed from the very beginning and the author manages to introduce an interesting and complex world without using massive info dumps. I loved seeing the different technology and the way that Sera was able to interact with her ship using her nanotech. In fact, I just loved Sera's character, she has been through so much but she never lost her humanity, in spite of the way she was treated by some of the other servants. Even before she knew her true identity she has done her best to protect others and I loved how kick ass she was. I was a little nervous when she first met Nicolai that their relationship might move too quickly but I actually found things progressed between them at a believable pace. They are initially wary of each other and although I was irritated with Nicolai for keeping secrets from Sera I was glad that they took time to get to know each other rather than blindly trusting because of who they were. What I liked most about them was how well matched they are, they have mutual respect for each other and they walk side by side into battle knowing they've got each other's backs.

Blood Crown is a must read for YA sci-fi fans, it's such a fun story with great characters, fab world building and a Cinderella / fairytale feel to it. I will definitely be bumping the sequel to the top of my to read pile the minute it's released but in the meantime I think I'm going to have to check out some of Ali Cross's other books because I love her writing style.

Source: Received from publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

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Review: Howling for You - Chloe Neill

Jeff Christopher is a shapeshifter and ally of Chicago's Cadogan House of vampires - he's also a tech whiz and mostly-legal hacker. And the only protective shields he's never been able to find a way around are those of the powerful Keene Family.

For a long time, Jeff has only had eyes for the beautiful Fallon Keene. Unfortunately, she is the only sister of the lethal North American Central Pack Apex Gabriel Keene. The intricate balances of power and politics make it all but impossible for Fallon to trust her feelings.

But fate takes a hand when the Pack's totem is stolen - threatening the Keene family's rule - and Fallon enlists Jeff's help to retrieve it before the Pack is thrown into chaos. Can she and Jeff find the totem, and restore order, before it's too late? And will Jeff finally be able to prove himself to the only person he truly loves?

Chicagoland Vampires Series:
Some Girls Bite
Friday Night Bites
Twice Bitten
Hard Bitten
Drink Deep
Biting Cold
House Rules
Biting Bad
High Stakes (Novella in the Kicking It anthology)
Howling for You (Novella)
Wild Things
Blood Games
Lucky Break (Novella)
Dark Debt
Midnight Marked
Phantom Kiss (Novella)
Blade Bound
Slaying It (Novella)

Heirs of Chicagoland Series:
(Spin off set approximately 20 years on from the end of the Chicagoland Vampires series)
Wild Hunger
Wicked Hour

Visit Chloe Neill's website for more information

Review:
Fallon is the sister of Gabriel Keene and she is second in line to become Apex (leader) of the North American Central Pack. As much as she has feelings for Jeff she knows she can never act on them because there is no way a tiger shifter would be considered an acceptable mate for a potential Apex. When the Apex crown is stolen, threatening Gabriel's hold over the pack, Fallon and Jeff have to work together to try find the culprit before anyone else realises what has happened. Can Jeff use the time they're forced to spend together to convince Fallon that he is worth taking a risk on?

I have loved Jeff since the beginning of the series so I was excited to find out that Chloe Neill had written this novella starring him and couldn't wait to read it. We've met Fallon in previous books but she wasn't a character I was particularly invested in so I have to admit I was surprised to find out that the story was written from her POV. I'd been hoping for Jeff's POV since he's such a fun character and I'm going to admit it was a bit disappointing to have someone else narrating the story.

While this novella was a fast read I have to say it wasn't as good as I expected it to be. Firstly I was disappointed to find that the story finishes at 58% on the kindle version so rather than the 102 pages I was expecting you actually get less than 60 so it's over very quickly (the rest of the ebook is sample chapters from other books in the series). On top of that the story didn't have the humour that I expected knowing Jeff was a main character, his personality has always shone in previous books but it felt lacking somehow in this novella. It wasn't until the last few pages that I finally thought we were seeing the Jeff we know and love so you can imagine how shocked I was when the novella abruptly ended at that point.

I'm not going to say I hated this novella but I don't think it was worth the money I paid for it and I was left feeling disappointed. I still love this series and I'm looking forward to reading the next book but I'm sad about this story because I think it could have been so much better.

For anyone who has already read Howling For You you might be interested to know that you can read a deleted scene told in Jeff's POV on Chloe Neill's website HERE.

Source: Purchased

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Kindle:

Review: Biting Bad - Chloe Neill

Merit has been a vampire for only a short while, but she's already seen a lifetime's worth of trouble. She and her Master, centuries-old Ethan Sullivan, have risked their lives time and again to save the city they love. But not all of Chicago is loving them back.

Anti-vampire riots are erupting all over town, striking vampires where it hurts the most. A splinter group armed with Molotov cocktails and deep-seated hate is intent on clearing the fanged from the Windy City come hell or high water.

Merit and her allies rush to figure out who's behind the attacks, who will be targeted next, and whether there's any way to stop the wanton destruction. The battle for Chicago is just beginning, and Merit is running out of time.

Chicagoland Vampires Series:
Some Girls Bite
Friday Night Bites
Twice Bitten
Hard Bitten
Drink Deep
Biting Cold
House Rules
Biting Bad
High Stakes (Novella in the Kicking It anthology)
Howling for You (Novella)
Wild Things
Blood Games
Lucky Break (Novella)
Dark Debt
Midnight Marked
Phantom Kiss (Novella)
Blade Bound
Slaying It (Novella)

Heirs of Chicagoland Series:
(Spin off set approximately 20 years on from the end of the Chicagoland Vampires series)
Wild Hunger
Wicked Hour

Visit Chloe Neill's website for more information

Review:
Just when the Cadogan vampires get one run in with the GP out of the way things in Chicago start to heat up thanks to a new anti-vampire group that has sprung up out of nowhere. The group are trying to spread fear amongst the human population by causing riots but they are also using the mass hysteria as a cover for the attacks they have planned on important vampire resources in the city. They start with the Blood4You factory but quickly moving on to target Grey House leaving the vampire population facing both food and housing shortages. The GP aren't done with their threats either and rather than focus on helping the vampires from Grey House they're too busy trying to make life difficult for Ethan. Cadogan House may have walked away from the GP but they would never leave Chicago vampires unprotected and willingly open their doors to the homeless Grey House members but that only causes even more friction. It's up to Merit and her Red Guard partner Jonah to figure out who is behind the attacks before the situation escalates and puts even more lives at risk but can they resolve things without more bloodshed?

I love this series and I'm really pleased to see how far Merit and Ethan have come since the first book. Their relationship has had plenty of ups and downs but we finally seem to be at a point where they are able to trust in each other and talk through their problems rather than bicker and fight with each other. As much as I enjoyed the push and pull of their earlier interactions it now feels like they're a steady couple and it's easy to believe that they'll make it for the long haul. They still have fantastic chemistry and Merit isn't afraid to speak up when she thinks Ethan is in the wrong but he respects her for that and knows she will always do her best for Cadogan House. Merit has been through so much since the first book and I've loved seeing her grow into a kick ass warrior, I have to say I like the fact that even though she is strong she isn't invulnerable though. She does make mistakes and she can be hurt so she needs to know that the other guards have her back.

I was happy to see that Jonah has started to move on from his crush on Merit, as much as I loved his character I was worried for a while that there might be a love triangle thrown into the mix and I'm glad that this isn't the case. I'm also pleased to see that Mallory has continued to make amends to both Merit and Catcher for her previous actions. It'll take a long time before any of them fully trust her again but she's making steps in the right direction which is good news for everyone concerned. She still has the potential to go off the rails but I'm hoping she's put the worst of it behind her now and is ready to move onto a more positive phase of her life.

There is a lot going on in Biting Bad and I really enjoyed the investigation into the riots and the attacks on the Chicago vampires. While there is plenty of action I think this story was probably a little more focused on Merit and Ethan's relationship and there is a lot of set up going on for future books in the series which makes this seem a little slower paced at times. I don't mean that in a bad way though and there is still plenty of the humour that I expect from these stories. After that cliffhanger ending I'm definitely looking forward to seeing how things play out in the next book too.

Source: Purchased

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Review: Mockingjay - Suzanne Collins

Katniss Everdeen, girl on fire, has survived, even though her home has been destroyed. Gale has escaped. Katniss's family is safe. Peeta has been captured by the Capitol. District 13 really does exist. There are rebels. There are new leaders. A revolution is unfolding.

It is by design that Katniss was rescued from the arena in the cruel and haunting Quarter Quell, and it is by design that she has long been part of the revolution without knowing it. District 13 has come out of the shadows and is plotting to overthrow the Capitol. Everyone, it seems, has had a hand in the carefully laid plans -- except Katniss.

The success of the rebellion hinges on Katniss's willingness to be a pawn, to accept responsibility for countless lives, and to change the course of the future of Panem. To do this, she must put aside her feelings of anger and distrust. She must become the rebels' Mockingjay -- no matter what the personal cost.

Hunger Games Trilogy:
Hunger Games
Catching Fire
Mockingjay

Visit Suzanne Collins' website for more information.

Review:
I'm going to warn you now that this review may end up veering into spoiler territory so if you've not read the book then you should probably look away now! As much as I enjoyed the first two books in this trilogy I have to admit that it isn't a series I feel incredibly invested in. I liked the books and the movies but I wouldn't consider myself a Hunger Games fangirl, something that is probably obvious when I mention that it took me four years from buying the entire series to actually getting around to reading Mockingjay! I actually think not being totally hooked on this series worked in my favour when it came to this last book because it meant I wasn't as disappointed as I could have been. I had a feeling that I wouldn't be happy with how things ended (one of the reasons I've put off reading this book for so long) so it didn't come as a huge surprise to me that this book was the worst in the series.

What did surprise me was how incredibly different Katniss is in this instalment though, I know she has been through a lot and I guess in some ways her emotional state was probably a far more realistic reaction to that than anything else, but I found it so frustrating to watch her sitting around moping. I desperately wanted her to be more proactive and kick ass like she always was in the past and I got bored of watching her hide away from life and trying to ignore what was happening around her. She does get some of her fight back later on but it came a little too late to redeem the story for me. I hated the ending with Snow too, all that build up, the way Katniss has lived for one reason and one reason only - to kill him, yet at the end she just doesn't. Why? Why would she avoid that when she's standing there with the perfect opportunity? I just don't get it.

Don't even get me started on the love triangle. I knew she would end up with Peeta, I wasn't happy about that fact but I knew it was coming no matter how much I thought Gale was a better fit for her. But Peeta spends the whole book hating her, he was tortured by Snow and made to hate her and I felt incredibly bad for everything he had been through but it wasn't realistic that the anti-Katniss programming he had been through would have been reversed so quickly. I just found it impossible to believe that he would be able to get past what had happened to him so fast and thought it would have been better for his mental health for him to have been allowed to heal with someone else. I felt from quite early on that Suzanne Collins was trying to make Gale look cold and uncaring about innocent lives so that we didn't mind him not ending up with Katniss. No matter that he is the one person who has ALWAYS been there for her, who has had her back, who has looked after her family, who is capable of fighting by her side and who has been willing time and time again to put himself in danger to protect her. None of that means anything because he helped design a weapon that killed Prim. He didn't put Prim in harm's way, he would NEVER have hurt Katniss like that but oh what a convenient way to keep them apart.

The ending of the story feels rushed, we don't really get to see how life improves for those in the districts and Gale just takes a job away from Katniss and disappears off the page without even saying goodbye. What happened to him? Don't we get to see him find happiness? Even the epilogue is disappointing. It doesn't feel like Katniss is in love with Peeta - it feels like she settled for him and that's probably the main reason why I hate the outcome of the triangle so much. She actually seems more like a robot than a person at the end and I don't feel any emotional connection from her to any of her family. The whole thing was just disappointing & I wish I hadn't bothered to read Mockingjay at all. I read this in anticipation of going to see part 1 of the movie next week but now I'm not even sure if I want to bother. What's the point of watching another 2 films when I know I'm going to hate the ending?

Source: Purchased

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Review: A Discovery of Witches - Deborah Harkness

A world of witches, daemons and vampires. A manuscript which holds the secrets of their past and the key to their future. Diana and Matthew - the forbidden love at the heart of it.

When historian Diana Bishop opens an alchemical manuscript in the Bodleian Library, it's an unwelcome intrusion of magic into her carefully ordered life. Though Diana is a witch of impeccable lineage, the violent death of her parents while she was still a child convinced her that human fear is more potent than any witchcraft. Now Diana has unwittingly exposed herself to a world she's kept at bay for years; one of powerful witches, creative, destructive daemons and long-lived vampires. Sensing the significance of Diana's discovery, the creatures gather in Oxford, among them the enigmatic Matthew Clairmont, a vampire genticist. Diana is inexplicably drawn to Matthew and, in a shadowy world of half-truths and old enmities, ties herself to him without fully understanding the ancient line they are crossing. As they begin to unlock the secrets of the manuscript and their feelings for each other deepen, so the fragile balance of peace unravels . . .

All Souls Trilogy:
A Discovery of Witches
Shadow of Night
The Book of Life

Visit Deborah Harkness's website for more information

Review:
It's taken me a long time to put my thoughts about A Discovery of Witches into any kind of coherent order so that I could write this review. There was so much hype surrounding the release of this series that I was a little wary of picking it up, especially considering the sheer size of all three novels, in case it didn't live up to expectations. Now having read the first book I really find myself on the fence about it.

I think the thing that frustrates me most is that it could have been such a fantastic story but it gets so bogged down in needless and irritating descriptions that it seems to take forever for anything to actually happen. I lost track of the number of different wines that were described in great detail (I've since found out that the author used to be a wine blogger which explains that somewhat but didn't make it any less boring to read!), and there was one point where it took five whole paragraphs to describe the main character searching through a desk for a blank piece of paper. No you didn't read that wrong - FIVE PARAGRAPHS looking for a piece of paper! Yes, my mind boggled at that too! Don't even get me started on the number of times we read in depth about how to make a cup of tea, or the fact that I'm now a yoga expert despite never having tried it in my life.

I'm actually all for descriptive writing, I love it when an author creates a clear picture of the places she mentions (and this is something Deborah Harkness does REALLY well when it comes to describing the Oxford colleges and library!) but it gets to a point where you have to start skim reading to save your sanity and even then it still took me forever to read this book. I swear if you took out all the needless description this book would be half the size so considering this is 690 pages long you're talking about a whole novel of pointless and repetitive information. The book isn't horrible and there were parts of it that I really enjoyed but I just keep thinking about how much stronger it would have been if someone had ripped half the pages out.

So, now that I've got my mini rant out of the way let's talk about the story. Diana is a witch but she has spent years avoiding using her powers because she wants to be normal. She has chosen to focus on her career as a historian instead and is currently at Oxford university working on a research project. When her research brings her into contact with an ancient magical manuscript Diana finds herself at the centre of unwanted attention from not just the witches but also the vampires and the daemons. The manuscript is capable of unlocking a secret that all three groups want control over and Diana is the only one who is able to open it. As much as Diana would like to ignore the whole mess and go back to her normal life that isn't an option and she's going to have to try and decide who she can trust not to use the manuscript for selfish means.

I have mixed feelings about Diana's character, in some ways she is very easy to relate to. She's a normal girl who has been pulled into this pretty much against her will and is struggling to keep her head above water. I did find myself getting a little frustrated with her "head in sand" attitude though, she spends so long wishing for it all to go away and I would have liked for her to have been a little more proactive. I also felt that once she started using her magic it all came to her a little too quickly and easily, considering she'd refused to use her magic for such a long time it felt unrealistic that she didn't need to practise more. In fact, considering how everything else was described in great detail it seemed odd that we didn't get more information about how her magic worked and get to see her learning how to harness it. When she meets the vampire Matthew I felt she came to trust him too easily and I also think their romance happened far too quickly. I prefer more of a slow build but their connection was pretty instant which was a shame. One thing I particularly enjoyed was learning about Matthew's history though, I'm sure we still have a lot of secrets to uncover but I did like his character and am curious enough to want to know more.

I nearly gave up on this book numerous times throughout the first half but once I started skim reading it became much more enjoyable and by the time I made it to about two thirds of the way in the story really started to pick up pace and get interesting. There is a lot going on at the end there and I'm definitely curious to see what happens next, especially after the way things ended for Diana and Matthew. I didn't love this book as much as I wanted to but there were enough things I enjoyed about it to make me want to pick up the next instalment. I'm hoping that now the author has found her stride the rest of the series will continue in the same vein as the last quarter of this book, which was much better paced and less bogged down with over the top description.

Source: Received from Headline in exchange for an honest review

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Book Tag: Reader Problems

So I was tagged by the lovely Michelle from Much Loved Books to take part in this Reader Problems book tag and I couldn't resist joining her. If you want to read Michelle's answers you can find them HERE and mine are below.

1. You have 20,000 books on your TBR. How in the world do you decide what to read next?

This is a real problem in my house, I have so many awesome books that I'm desperate to get to and sometimes it can be impossible to decide where to start. I'm pretty much a mood reader so I'll think about what kind of book I'm in the mood for - YA/NA/Adult, Contemporary/Paranormal etc. - and then take it from there. This year I've been trying to read more of the books that I bought for myself since they've taken such a low priority since I started receiving books for review. I'm trying to alternate one review book followed by a book I bought but it doesn't often work out that way. If I sign up to take part in a blog tour then that book will get priority but other than that it'll depend what book catches my eye on any given day, I can hardly ever decide in advance what I'll be in the right mood for.

2. You’re halfway through a book and you’re just not loving it. Do you quit or are you committed?

I hate not finishing books but it's something I've started getting better at over the last couple of years. I still feel guilty if I abandon something but there are so many books that I want to read that I don't see the point in forcing myself to waste time finishing something that I'm not enjoying. If you're reading for fun then it shouldn't feel like a chore to pick up your current book.

3. The end of the year is coming and you’re so close, but so far away on your Goodreads reading challenge. Do you try to catch up and how?

I'm actually well on track for my Goodreads challenge and was thinking about increasing my goal so this hasn't been a problem for me so far *touch wood*

4. The covers of a series you love do. not. match. How do you cope?

I HATE it when the covers don't match so if it's a series I love I'll often end up rebuying the books so that I have a matching set. I have seen it where the covers on particularly long series change several times over the years though so I'm now much more wary about buying books until the series is complete. If you change mid way through the series I'll stop buying print copies and switch to kindle versions until I reach the end of the series and then make up my mind on whether to buy print copies depending on whether it's a reread type of series or not. One good thing about my kindle is that I don't care what the covers look like on my ebooks because I never see them LOL.

5. Every one and their mother loves a book you really don’t like. Who do you bond with over shared feelings?

My friends tend to have a lot of varied opinions about books so the chances are there will be at least one person who agrees with me. I don't have a problem if I'm the odd one out though, I'm happy to discuss books with anyone, whether they have the same thoughts as I do or the compete opposite. I actually think it can be more fun to chat with someone who disagrees with you - as long as you all remain respectful about it there is nothing wrong with a difference of opinion! I enjoy that kind of discussion with people and it can make me think about things in a totally different way.

6. You’re reading a book and you are about to start crying in public. How do you deal?

I try really hard not to read books that are going to turn me into an emotional wreck when I'm in public. It's fine when I'm at home with a huge box of tissues and a slab of chocolate to get me through the experience but there is nothing worse than sitting on a train trying to hold back tears because a character you love has just died! If a book catches me by surprise then I'll usually end up putting it to one side and trying to do something different until I get home and can read it in private.

7. A sequel of a book you loved just came out, but you've forgotten a lot from the prior novel. Will you re-read the book? Skip the sequel? Try to find a synopsis on Goodreads? Cry in frustration?!?!?!?

Before I started blogging I always used to reread the earlier books in a series before a new release came out but I just don't have the time to do that any more. I'm actually getting really fed up with YA trilogies because by the time I get hold of book 2 I've forgotten what happened in the first instalment and I know it's going to be another year long wait for the 3rd book. I will try reading the second book but more often than not I find I'm not enjoying it as much as I could because I've forgotten too much (one of the hazards of reading over 200 books a year I guess LOL). There are a lot of trilogies that I've decided to just wait until all 3 books are available then I'll reread book 1 and then dive straight into the last 2 books.

8. You do not want anyone. ANYONE. borrowing your books. How do you politely tell people nope when they ask?

I'm actually happy to lend out my books. Well, I guess I should clarify I'm happy to lend my books to MOST people, if you borrow a book from me and it comes back badly damaged (or doesn't come back at all!) then you'll be off my list but as long as you take care of them you can borrow as many as you like. I'm not too worried about broken spines or books showing that they've been read (even though I tend to keep them in fairly pristine condition myself) so as long as people aren't turning down the pages or REALLY wrecking them I'm fine. The only time I'm more wary about loaning books is if they're signed & that's only because I lost a few signed books that I lent to a friend who I've since lost contact with.

9. Reading ADD. You’ve picked up and put down 5 books in the last month. How do you get over your reading slump?

Thankfully I don't get in reading slumps very often but when I do rereading a favourite series or picking up a new book by one of my favourite authors nearly always does the trick. Paranormal romance and urban fantasy seem to be my go to comfort genres so even trying a new series that fits that criteria tends to give me a boost.

10. There are so many new books coming out that you’re dying to read! How many do you actually buy?

I buy way more books than I should and probably have books on my shelves that I'll never actually get around to reading. I'm trying to control myself more now but I do have a fair number of authors who are on my automatic pre-order list (Nalini Singh, Ilona Andrews, Lara Adrian, Patricia Briggs, Jeaniene Frost and Chloe Neill to name a few - see what I mean about PNR & UF being my go to genres? LOL) but I'm trying really hard not to add any new ones. I'm also trying to be careful about not ordering new books in a series until I've read the previous one. I have so many complete series sat on my shelves where I've only ever read the first book and it's a little crazy really!

11. After you’ve bought the new books you can’t wait to get to, how long do they sit on your shelf before you get to them?

That really varies, I wish I could say I got to them quickly but the chances are most books I buy will sit on my shelves for at least a few months, if not longer, before I get to them. My to read pile has now spread to take up 5 whole bookcases so it's going to take me years to get to the bottom of it! This is why I'm supposed to be on a book buying ban but I never seem to manage to resist for long LOL. Some books do jump straight to the top of the pile though, especially if it's by one of the author's I mentioned above.

I'm going to tag:
Kirsty from The Overflowing Library
Sammee from I Want to Read That
and anyone else who wants to take part

Make sure you leave me a link in the comments if you decide to join in (or if you've already posted your answers!) and I'll come and check out your posts.

Entangled Publishing's Black Friday Sale!

To celebrate Thanksgiving Entangled Publishing have a fabulous Black Friday Sale going on this week! Starting NOW and ending on the 6th of December all of the books listed below are going to be just $0.99 in the US (or £1.31 if you're in the UK like me) so now is the perfect time to stock up your ereader! 

Review: Archangel's Shadows - Nalini Singh

In the wake of a brutal war, the archangel Raphael and his hunter consort, Elena, are dealing with the treacherously shifting tides of archangelic politics and the people of a battered but not broken city. The last thing their city needs is more death, especially not a death that bears the eerie signature of an insane enemy archangel who cannot - should not - be walking the streets. This hunt must be undertaken with stealth and without alerting their people. It must be handled by those who can become shadows themselves . . .

Ash is a gifted tracker and a woman cursed with the ability to sense the secrets of anyone she touches. But there's one man she knows all too well without a single instant of skin contact: Janvier, the dangerously sexy Cajun vampire who has fascinated and infuriated her for years. Now, as they track down a merciless killer, their cat-and-mouse game of flirtation and provocation has turned into a profound one of the heart. And this time, it is Ash's secret, dark and terrible, that threatens to destroy them both.

The Guild Hunter Series:
Angels' Dance (ebook novella that is also included in Angels' Flight)
Angels' Judgment (novella included in Angels' Flight and the Must Love Hellhounds anthology)
Angels' Pawn (ebook novella that is also included in Angels' Flight)
Angel's Blood
Archangel's Kiss
Archangel's Consort
Angel's Wolf (novella included in Angels' Flight and the Angel's of Darkness anthology)
Archangel's Blade
Archangel's Storm
Archangel's Legion
Archangel's Shadows
Archangel's Enigma
Archangel's Heart
Archangel's Viper
Archangel's Prophecy
Archangel's War

Visit Nalini Singh's website for more information

Review:
I fell in love with Ash and Janvier when I read their novella in the Angels' Flight anthology (their story, Angels' Pawn, is also available as a separate ebook but I'd definitely suggest buying the anthology for a fabulous collection of Guild Hunter novellas) so I can't tell you how excited I was to find out that Archangel's Shadows is their story. Nalini Singh's books always go straight to the top of my to read pile and I dropped everything the minute I got my hands on this one, in fact, I loved it so much that I've already read it twice!

The Guild Hunter series really is getting better and better with every book, I can't even begin to put the awesomeness of this series into words so I'm afraid this will be a bit of a fan girl review but if you've yet to discover this world then I really can't recommend it highly enough. The books do need to be read in order though so please don't continue reading this review if you're new to the series - make sure you start with Angel's Blood. Trust me, this series is more than worth investing your time and money in!

Ash and Janvier have fantastic chemistry that practically sizzles the pages but they've been playing a cat and mouse game for years now. Ash is determined to keep Janvier at a distance but he is equally determined to get under her skin and prove just how perfect they are for each other. I love the push and pull between them, their banter and teasing is wonderful but no matter how much they argue I love that they've always had each other's backs. Ash may be wary of getting involved in a relationship but she knows that Janvier would never hurt her and that he'll always be there when she needs him. Their courtship is far from traditional but that doesn't make it any less compelling, in fact I think it was refreshing to see such resistance on Ash's part, she really does make Janvier work for it! Their romance is uniquely suited to them and utterly perfect because of it.

As much as I loved spending time with Ash and Janvier there is so much more to this story and we get regular updates from all of our favourite characters. I will never get enough of Raphael and Elena and their relationship is going from strength to strength, I'm loving seeing Elena grow into her immortality and I really enjoyed watching her interactions with the Legion along with the rest of Raphael's Seven. I'm still dying to get my hands on Illium's story but I have a feeling he's going to go through some tough times before he gets his happy ever after and my heart is already hurting for him. One character who really surprised me in this book was Naasir, he's always flown under my radar in previous books but I'm now absolutely desperate for his story! Naasir managed to make me both laugh and cry throughout this book, I loved seeing how close he is to Dimitri and I thoroughly enjoyed his developing relationship with Elena, she has never had much to do with him before but they're getting close enough to be able to tease each other now and it was so much fun seeing her try to guess what he is.

I honestly didn't think I could love this series any more than I already did but Nalini Singh just makes me more and more addicted with every single book. I don't know how she does it but I'm so happy that she can. This is without a doubt one of my all time favourite series, from the minute I pick up one of the books until the very last page I'm completely and utterly absorbed in the world and the characters and I never want the journey to end. In fact, I think the only way I'm going to survive the wait for the next book is by rereading the series again!

Source: Purchased

Other Reviews:
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

Paperback / Kindle:

Review: Tangle of Need - Nalini Singh

Adria, wolf changeling and resilient soldier, has made a break with the past. Now comes a new territory, and a devastating new complication: Riaz, a SnowDancer lieutenant already sworn to someone else.

For Riaz, the primal attraction he feels for Adria is a staggering betrayal. For Adria, his dangerous lone-wolf appeal is beyond sexual. It consumes her. It terrifies her. It threatens to undermine everything she has built of her new life. But fighting their wild compulsion towards one another proves a losing battle.

Their coming together is an inferno . . . and a melding of two wounded souls who promise each other no commitment, no ties, no bonds. Only pleasure. Too late, they realise that they have one more to lose than they ever imagined. Drawn into a cataclysmic Psy war that may alter the fate of the world itself, they must make a decision that might just break them both.

Psy-Changeling Series:
(Season One in the Psy-Changeling World)
Beat of Temptation (Novella included in Wild Invitation and the An Enchanted Season anthology)
Whisper of Sin (Novella included in the Burning Up anthology or as a separate ebook)
Slave to Sensation
Visions of Heat
Echo of Silence (Novella included in the Wild Embrace anthology)
Caressed by Ice
Stroke of Enticement (Novella included in Wild Invitation and The Magical Christmas Cat anthology)
Mine to Possess
Hostage to Pleasure
Dorian (Novella included in the Wild Embrace anthology)
Branded by Fire
Blaze of Memory
Bonds of Justice
Play of Passion
Declaration of Courtship (Novella included in Wild Invitation)
Kiss of Snow
Texture of Intimacy (Novella included in Wild Invitation)
Tangle of Need
Partners in Persuasion (Novella included in the Wild Embrace anthology)
Heart of Obsidian
Flirtation of Fate (Novella included in the Wild Embrace anthology)
Secrets at Midnight (Novella included in the Night Shift Anthology)
Shield of Winter
Shards of Hope
Allegiance of Honour

Psy-Changeling Trinity Series:
(Season two in the Psy-Changeling World)
Silver Silence
Ocean Light
Wolf Rain

Visit Nalini Singh's website for more information

Review:
Adria and Riaz take an instant dislike to each other when they both return to the heart of SnowDancer's territory but that's more because they are both disturbed by the strong sexual appeal they feel towards each other than anything else. Both of them have reasons not to be interested in pursuing a relationship and have no intention of acting upon their attraction but sometimes chemistry can't be ignored and the pull between them is just too strong to resist for long. What starts with the promise of a no strings affair quickly turns into something so much stronger but with so many things against them do they have any chance of creating a lasting relationship?

We first met Adria in Indigo and Drew's book so we already had a pretty good understanding of her relationship with her ex Martin. It wasn't a happy relationship, Martin resented Adria's strength and dominance which led to problems between them and meant Adria was constantly trying to change her personality to make him happy. It's no surprise that she's come out of that relationship wary, no matter how badly things ended up she had loved Martin in the beginning and she doesn't want to risk putting herself into a similar situation again. Riaz is someone I've been wanting to know more about ever since we first met him and found out that his mate was already married to someone else when he met her. He walked away from his mate because he could see that she was in love and happy but that doesn't mean his heart doesn't ache from the loss of what should have been the most important person in his life. Riaz never had a chance with his mate, they were never a couple and she doesn't even know how he feels about her but in spite of that his attraction towards Adria feels like a betrayal.

The chemistry between Adria and Riaz is off the charts from the moment they meet, they practically melted my kindle with the unrestrained desire between them so I was glad they didn't take too long to give into temptation. It was interesting to see a couple who don't have the benefit of the mating bond to strengthen the relationship between them, they fall in love but Adria finds it difficult to believe that Riaz wouldn't leave her in a heartbeat if he had a chance to be with his real mate. Riaz is the one who accepts his feelings towards Adria more easily, he quickly realises how strong their connection is and he knows that nothing would ever be able to tear them apart. He is so sweet and gentle with her and I couldn't help falling a little in love with him myself seeing how much he cares about her. Adria obviously loves Riaz too, in fact, the way she was willing to let him go because she loves him so much was more than a little heartbreaking and I was glad that they were able to work things out in the long run.

As much as I enjoyed the developing romance between Adria and Riaz I think my favourite scenes in the book were focused on Hawke and Sienna. I loved getting to see how their relationship is progressing and their mating ceremony was absolutely wonderful, they are the heart of the pack and I just love seeing Sienna grow in confidence now that she has Hawke at her side. There are also some wonderful scenes with Mercy and Riley that melted my heart a little and Judd gets another chance to shine as we learn more about both the Arrow squad and Kaleb (boy I can't wait to start his book!!). Of course it wouldn't be a Nalini Singh book if there wasn't danger and the changeling's psy enemies are definitely on the war path. Things in the PsyNet are worse than ever and Silence is on the verge of failure which will effect not just the entire psy population but also the changelings and humans. Things are getting incredibly tense and I have no idea how they can be resolved. This whole series is just packed full of amazing characters that I can't get enough of and I'm excited to find out what happens next.

Source: Purchased

Other Reviews:
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

Paperback / Kindle:

Review: Darkness Hidden - Zoe Marriott

Against all odds, Mio, Jack and Shinobu have defeated the terrifying Nekomata. But Mio is still compelled to protect the katana, her family's ancestral sword, and now the Underworld has spawned a worse monster - one carrying a devastating plague that sweets through London like wildfire.

As Mio struggles to protect the city and control the sword's deadly powers, she realises that there is no way she can keep everyone she loves alive . . . and she must make a terrible sacrifice to save the world.

The Name of the Blade Trilogy:
The Night Itself
Darkness Hidden
Frail Human Heart

Visit Zoe Marriott's website for more information.

Review:
I loved The Night Itself and have been looking forward to Darkness Hidden ever since I finished it so it's been a long year waiting for this release. Sometimes you pick up the second book in a trilogy only to find yourself disappointed by a book that feels like padding for the rest of the series but happily that isn't the case here and Zoe Marriott has given us a story that is just as strong, if not stronger, than the first book.

Mio may now have a better idea of what her katana is capable of but she also knows the risks she takes by using it. She is more aware than ever how important it is to keep the sword out of enemy hands but she is equally scared of using it for protection in case it gets a stronger hold over her. Unfortunately her enemies aren't going to give her a chance to rest now that she has defeated the nekomata and they are now sending even more powerful creatures her way. Creatures that are spreading a plague across London while they search for her, ones that could cost the lives of not just her friends and family but of every human in the city. Mio is running short on allies and she's going to have to face some very difficult decisions if she wants to save the people she loves the most.

Darkness Hidden is just as action packed as the first book, we are introduced to more creatures from Japanese mythology and the stakes are raised higher than ever for Mio and her friends. This is the kind of book that it is easy to devour in one sitting, the characters are all fantastic and well rounded and I enjoy spending time with them. I love exploring the mythology and I'm thoroughly enjoying how unique this series is compared to so many other YA books I've read. As a paranormal fan I've read so many books about vampires and werewolves and it's just great to come across something that stands out from everything else. The ending completely shocked me and it's left me desperate to get my hands on Frail Mortal Heart. I have a feeling this series will go out with a bang and I can't wait to see how Zoe Marriott concludes things.

Source: Received from Walker in exchange for an honest review

Other reviews of this book:
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

Paperback / Kindle

Review: Universal Alien - Gini Koch

Being the wife of the Vice President isn’t easy. Especially when your talents lie in kicking butt and rocking out . . .

Jeff and Kitty Katt-Martini find out just how easy it is for the wife of the Vice President of the United States to unintentionally insult an ally. Now they have to smooth things over with the Australian Prime Minister, pronto, or risk creating an international incident the worldwide anti-alien coalitions will be able to use to force Jeff to resign and the A-Cs to leave the planet.

But before Kitty can make things worse, a cosmic congruence and a little help from some powerful beings shoves her into another world -- one where she’s been married to Charles Reynolds for years and aliens don’t exist. She’s also landed in the middle of a huge conspiracy and is marked for death . . . but at least that’s business as usual.

Kitty’s not the only one confused, because the Kitty from that world has taken her place in this one. Now Alpha Team and the Diplomatic Corps have to make sure that no one spots that there’s been a switch, while keeping World War III from happening. And they have to do so while keeping this new Kitty in line, because she has views about what to do and how to it, and time is running out.

Can both Kittys save their respective days before it’s too late to go home to the universes they belong to? Or will one Kitty decide to keep the other’s life . . . forever?

Katherine "Kitty" Katt Series:
Touched by an Alien
Alien Tango
Alien in the Family
Alien Proliferation
Alien Diplomacy
Alien vs. Alien
Alien in the House
Alien Research
Alien Collective
Universal Alien
Alien Separation
Alien in Chief
Camp Alien
Alien Nation
Alien Education
Aliens Abroad
Aliens Like Us (release date to be confirmed)
Alien Galaxy (release date to be confirmed)
Alien Rescue (release date to be confirmed)
Alien Reckoning (release date to be confirmed)

Visit Gini Koch's website for more information

Review:
I've been a huge fan of this series since I first discovered Touched by an Alien and every time I think it can't get any better Gini Koch throws something completely new into the mix and makes me love it even more. In fact I think Universal Alien might just be my new favourite instalment of the series! I could not put this book down so make sure you clear your diary for the day before you start it.

Kitty's day starts off badly when she's forced to sit through an incredibly long cricket match, it gets even worse when she manages to unintentionally insult the Australian Prime Minister starting off an international incident that could have a major effect on the future of all of the ACs on the planet, but things really go downhill when she suddenly finds herself in an alternative reality. A reality where she's never met Jeff but is instead married to Chuckie and everything about her life is completely different. Not only are there no aliens on the planet but her alternate self knows nothing about Chuckie's secret life working for the CIA and has no idea of the danger that has placed her and her family in. While our Kitty is struggling to figure out what is going on in her new life her alternate has taken her place and suddenly finds herself faced with aliens, conspiracy theories and the fact that her husband is now her best friend and she is married to a complete stranger.

I can't tell you how much fun this story was to read, both universes are completely different and Kitty doesn't have her usual gang of friends and allies to rely on for help. There are some familiar faces though and I found it really interesting to see how different their lives are without the ACs in the mix. I actually found myself loving both Kittys and enjoying seeing how they coped with their new circumstances, both have a different role to play and are desperately needed to help resolve problems occurring in the alternative universe. What I found really interesting was that even though things look so different on the surface when you look a little deeper there are a lot of similarities. Is there a chance that a different Kitty will give insight into what is really going on and be able to help uncover the Mastermind? I'm not going to give you that answer so you'll have to read the book to find out but I will say that two Kittys means twice the action, twice the humour and twice the fun of normal.

This is a series that gets better and better with each instalment, my love for these characters continues to grow and I'm already desperate to get my hands on the next book. I don't think I'll ever get tired of reading about Kitty's adventures and I'm definitely excited to see how events from this book have a knock on effect in the next one. Universal Alien is a book that fans are going to love, once again Gini Koch has taken us on an action packed adventure that is nothing short of fantastic.

Source: Received from DAW books in exchange for an honest review

Other Reviews:
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

Review: Night Sky - Suzanne & Melanie Brockmann

Sixteen-year-old Skylar Reid is thrown into a strange world when she discovers that she has unique telekinetic and telepathic powers. After Sasha, the child she babysits, is kidnapped and believed to be murdered, Sky and her best friend Calvin are approached by Dana, a mysterious girl who has super-abilities similar to Sky’s. With the help of Dana and her sidekick Milo, the four teens embark on a quest to discover who killed Sasha, and to bring the killers to justice.

With Dana as Skylar’s surly and life-toughened mentor, Sky attempts to harness her powers to aid them in their quest. Complicating an already complex relationship with the older girl, Skystarts to fall for the dangerously handsome and enigmatic Milo – and begins to suspect that the attraction is mutual. But then Sky realizes that Sasha might still be alive, and the unlikely foursome’s mission becomes one of search and rescue, pitting the heroic teens against a very deadly enemy.

Night Sky Series:
(This is set in the same world as Suzanne Brockmann's Fighting Destiny series)
Dangerous Destiny (Novella)
Night Sky

Fighting Destiny Series:
Shane's Last Stand (Novella)
Born to Darkness

Visit Suzanne Brockmann's website for more information

Review:
After really enjoying the prequel novella, Dangerous Destiny, I was really excited to get started on Night Sky and learn more about the Greater-Thans and their psychic abilities. Unfortunately for some reason I really struggled with this one and it seemed to take a long time for the story to really get going. This is a long book (almost 500 pages!) and it really didn't have enough substance to justify the length. I think if it had been really trimmed back to make a faster and more streamlined read I would have found it much more enjoyable. Having said that this is the beginning of a series so there is a lot of world building to do and characters to introduce and things really picked up speed in the second half so I have hopes that future books will be more fast paced.

Skylar has no idea that she is a Greater-Than (someone with psychic abilities) so she is confused when things start happening near her that have no rational explanation. That is the least of her worries when a young girl that she babysits for goes missing though, Sky is desperate to find out what happened to Sasha but she has no idea where to start looking. Whey Sky meets Dana, another Greater-Than, she is suddenly thrown into a whole new world, a world where people can have superpowers, where she is able to move things with her mind and where she can even smell evil. Dana and Milo offer to help Sky search for answers, they believe that Sasha has been murdered by a group who use Greater-Than blood to create a drug called Destiny. They're already investigating the disappearance of other children and they want Sky and her best friend Calvin's help.

I did enjoy learning about all the different kinds of abilities that the Greater-Thans can have, they all have different strengths but skills can vary from fast movement, telekinesis, precognition, mind control, telepathy and so much more. Sky is only just beginning to discover what she is capable of but I'm already a little concerned that she's turning into a too perfect heroine. It seems like she is able to do pretty much everything, more than any other Greater-Than that Dana has ever come across before, and I think I would have liked her character more if she'd had a few more flaws. Overall I'd say the characters are okay, I felt that Sky's attraction to Milo built up far too quickly but just as I was going to start calling insta-love they started to have more interaction and develop a friendship. I love the fact that Sky is so close to her best friend Calvin, they were the two characters we'd been introduced to in the prequel and it was good to see that their friendship has grown even stronger since then.

Dana was a little harder to like, she's quite snarky and harsh but once you get to know her she has a soft side and when you learn about her past you start to understand why she has that prickly, defensive layer to protect herself. There was one particular scene where they're all in a club and Dana uses her abilities on Calvin that made me feel really uncomfortable though. I know she didn't mean it in a bad way but I couldn't help comparing her actions to a kind of mental rape. There was absolutely no sex involved but she was forcing him to do things against his will and I was cringing throughout the entire scene. I just felt that whole section was pretty pointless and quite insulting, there was no reason that Calvin couldn't have gone into the club in his wheelchair - surely people in wheelchairs are allowed to go clubbing too? - and although I know it was meant to come across as a humorous and light hearted scene it completely missed the mark for me.

Overall I'd have to say Night Sky was an okay story, it wasn't horrible but it didn't wow me like I expected it to. I do think the series has potential but I'm not sure if I'm invested enough in the characters to want to carry on reading. The great news is that it doesn't end with a major cliffhanger, the main mystery is resolved by the end of the book and although a new plot thread is introduced you aren't left feeling like you've only read half a story. I may give the next book a try to see if the issues are ironed out but I doubt it'll be a book that I end up desperate to get my hands on.

Source: Received from publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Other Reviews:
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

Hardback / Kindle: