Fall Into Reading 2012: The Wrap Up

Fall into Reading is a great challenge hosted every year by Katrina @ Callapidder Days. Fall into Reading is a no-stress challenge where you create a list of books you want to read this fall, and then try and read them by December 21st.

This year I set my goal at five books and I've managed to read three:

Unfortunately I didn't manage to get to Nevermore or Finale, but I had a blast with the three I did read.

Fall into Reading 2012

Fall into Reading is a great challenge hosted every year by Katrina @ Callapidder Days. Fall into Reading is a no-stress challenge where you create a list of books you want to read this fall, and then try and read them by December 21st.

I took part in Fall into Reading last year and while I had a ton of fun, I also set my reading goal waaaaay too high. This year I'm taking a more relaxed approach and only choosing 5 books. It's enough to feel like a challenge, especially as I have no idea what to read at the moment, but at the same time feels achievable.

My reading list:

Nevermore by Kelly Creagh - I've heard so many awesome things about this one but it took the release of the sequel for me to finally pick up a copy. The characters sound fun, the romance sounds sweet but it's the connection to Poe that caught my attention as I love his work.



 

Girl of Nightmares by Kendare Blake - I read Anna Dressed in Blood last year after my sister treated me to a copy and I loved it so I'm not sure why I have yet to read my copy of the sequel. I'm hoping it's as creepy as the first.

Outpost by Ann Aguirre - Recently I read Enclave (the first in the Razorland series). I picked it up thinking I'd read a chapter or two, and ended up reading half the book in a single sitting. Had I not been exhausted by that point I'd definitely have continued so I'm really looking forward to this.

Finale by Becca Fitzpatrick - I've been waiting for this to come out since I finished Silence last year. It's the final book in the Hush, Hush series and after the end of Silence I cannot wait to see what happens to Patch and Nora next.



 

The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater - Another preorder, but one with only days to go. I'm a huge fan of Maggie's writing so getting a copy was always my plan but when I saw the trailer I got really excited for this. It looks incredible!

Fall into Reading 2011: The Wrap Up

I can't believe the challenge is over already! I didn't even come close to reading all the books on my very long list. I think I was a bit to overenthusiastic when I wrote it, and I also got distracted by other books that weren't on the list. I've realised that when it comes to reading challenges having a set list of books to read doesn't help me, if anything it makes me reluctant to read those books.

My favourite book this fall isn't actually from my Fall into Reading list. It's The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater. I adored the entire book and it's probably my favourite book this year. Written in her usual lyrical style, the plot revolves around viscious water horses called cappaill uisce and grabbed me from the very first page. I even got to meet Maggie at a signing and chat about killer water horses.

Anyway, the books I managed to read for the challenge are below:

Beastly by Alex Flinn
First Drop of Crimson by Jeaniene Frost
Unholy Ghosts by Stacia Kane
Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick
Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick
Silence by Becca Fitzpatrick
Dark Lover by J.R. Ward
Lover Eternal by J.R. Ward
Lover Awakened by J.R. Ward
Lover Revealed by J.R. Ward
Lover Unbound by J.R. Ward
Lover Enshrined by J.R. Ward
Lover Avenged by J.R. Ward
Lover Mine by J.R. Ward

I had a lot of fun during the challenge, even if I didn't meet my goal and I just want to say thank you to Katrina at Callapidder Days for hosting!

Fall into Reading - Question 9

As part of the Fall into Reading challenge, Katrina at Callapidderdays is going to be posting a reading related question each Wednesday. I'm hoping to answer them here each week, partly to keep me motivated for the challenge itself (I find it way too easy to forget about challenges) and partly because there's a great group of people taking part and I'd like to see their answers.

If you're wondering what the whole Fall into Reading thing is about, check out my original post here or Katrina's "The Basics" post here.


This weeks question is: What else do you do while you are reading? Eat? Drink? Household tasks? Or do you usually put aside absolutely everything to focus solely on the book at hand?

Just a short answer from me this week - when I'm reading, that is all I'm doing. Seriously. I don't remember to drink so I've stopped making myself hot drinks while reading after one too many mouthfuls of cold tea. I have really bad concentration so any little distraction and I lose track of what I'm reading.

That said, if the book is particularly good and I have to move for some reason (like to answer the door) I'll get up and walk with my book. This usually amuses anyone around me for two reasons: one, I'm really short sighted and read with my glasses off, and two, I'm a clutz at the best of times so removing the ability to see where I'm going doesn't help.

Fall into Reading - Question 8

As part of the Fall into Reading challenge, Katrina at Callapidderdays is going to be posting a reading related question each Wednesday. I'm hoping to answer them here each week, partly to keep me motivated for the challenge itself (I find it way too easy to forget about challenges) and partly because there's a great group of people taking part and I'd like to see their answers.

If you're wondering what the whole Fall into Reading thing is about, check out my original post here or Katrina's "The Basics" post here.


This weeks question is: Where do you love to read? Do you have a favorite chair, a favorite room, a favorite place…somewhere that inspires you to put everything else aside and pick up a book?

I do most of my reading curled up in bed before I fall asleep. I get a lot of reading done that way, but there's one major downside - hardbacks, especially the UK kind, are too heavy to read comfortably.

My other favourite reading spot is on the sofa. I've not been feeling so great lately so I've spent some time curled up under my favourite crocheted blanket that my Mum made me on the sofa. It's a comfy spot and there's a handy table close enough for me to put my mug of tea on.

Fall into Reading - Question 7

As part of the Fall into Reading challenge, Katrina at Callapidderdays is going to be posting a reading related question each Wednesday. I'm hoping to answer them here each week, partly to keep me motivated for the challenge itself (I find it way too easy to forget about challenges) and partly because there's a great group of people taking part and I'd like to see their answers.

If you're wondering what the whole Fall into Reading thing is about, check out my original post here or Katrina's "The Basics" post here.


This weeks question is: Is there a book that has had a tremendous impact on your life? One that made you look at life in a whole new way, or caused you to completely change something in your life?

I can't think of any books that have had a tremendous impact on my life. All the big changes in my life tend to be decisions I make either on the spur of the moment (so no books) or after careful thought and research (so lots of books).

I do believe though that everyone is constantly changing and evolving, and that every book you read changes you in some way. Sometimes it's big, sometimes it's small, but you're never the same person who started the book when you finish.

Bonus question: How is your Fall Into Reading coming along? Are you on track? Ahead of schedule? Falling behind?

I'm getting on okay. I made a list of 57 books which I'm now thinking was slightly nuts as it is a massive amount of reading to do. I think I've read 14 which isn't too bad but is nowhere near halfway. I've read a few other books, but I've also not been well so I haven't been reading that much.

Fall into Reading - Question 6

As part of the Fall into Reading challenge, Katrina at Callapidderdays is going to be posting a reading related question each Wednesday. I'm hoping to answer them here each week, partly to keep me motivated for the challenge itself (I find it way too easy to forget about challenges) and partly because there's a great group of people taking part and I'd like to see their answers.

If you're wondering what the whole Fall into Reading thing is about, check out my original post here or Katrina's "The Basics" post here.


This weeks question is: When it comes to fiction, are you more of a “plot person” or a “character person”? If you had to choose, which concept would win out when it comes to picking and loving a book: plot or character?

I'm both. The best books have clever plots and brilliant characters, but there are some great books out there that have good plots but characters that let it down (like Lover Enshrined by J.R. Ward) or good characters and disappointing plots (like The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting). All my favourite books have won me over with both their plots and their characters.

If you've ever read one of my reviews, you'll know that all my reviews are scored on five areas including plot and characters. I rate that way so I can give fair reviews because I don't want one area of the book to overshadow the others. No matter how amazing the plot is, a poorly written character is always going to dent my enjoyment and vice versa.

It's hard for me to continue with a series if I don't like the characters for whatever reason (poorly written, stupid decisions or just annoying) and the same goes for plots. However if I had to make a decision I would say that bad characters and an amazing plot is more likely to be continued than great characters and a dull plot. Catch my interest and I'll give the series a second chance, bore me and I'll find something else to read.

Lover Mine by J. R. Ward

Title: Lover Mine
Author: J.R. Ward
Publisher: Piatkus
ISBN: 978-0-7499-4178-9
Pages: 653
Series: Black Dagger Brotherhood #8
Type: Adult Paranormal Romance
Source: Purchased
Goodreads

John Matthew has now passed through his vampire transition and fights along the other Brothers against the evil Lessening Society. John's heart belongs to Xhex, a half-symphath assassin, who has been kidnapped by Lash. The problem is Lash is no ordinary Lesser, he is half vampire and the son of the Omega and has some nasty tricks up his sleeve. John is desperate to find Xhex, but the question is not whether he'll find her but whether she'll survive her imprisionment and whether she'll let herself be found.

This is the eighth Black Dagger Brotherhood novel (after Dark Lover, Lover Eternal, Lover Awakened, Lover Revealed, Lover Unbound, Lover Enshrined and Lover Avenged) and focuses on John Matthew whose story has been told in the background since book two.

This picks up four weeks after Xhex's abduction at the end of the previous book, and John is losing hope of ever finding her. The plot is cleverly written and well paced. The author has managed to find a balance between action and emotion that keeps you turning the pages desperate to see what happens next. John and Xhex's relationship has been slowly developing over the last few books so I was eager to what happened next and how they dealt with their traumatic pasts.

As usual the book has additional storylines running alongside the main John/Xhex perspectives. This time there are flashbacks to when Darius and Tohrment first met, along with a view on Lash and the Lessening Society and a TV show. These sections following the TV crew for Paranormal Investigators in South Carolina detracted from my enjoyment of the book quite a bit. While I understand their relevance to the longer series arc, I found the transition between these segments and John's story to be jarring.

One thing I loved about the book is that John and Xhex were able to develop as individuals, and other characters managed to get some page time. Tohrment and John's relationship regains it's balance, and Qhuinn and Blay's relationship goes through some unexpected changes. The ending was very cleverly done, giving closure to some characters and coming up with some unexpected twists. It also creates a good lead into Payne and Manny's book which is up next.

All in all this was a great read and I can't wait for Lover Unleashed.

Plot: 10/10
Characters: 10/10
Ending: 10/10
Enjoyment: 9/10
Cover: 9/10

Overall: 48/50

Fall into Reading - Question 5

As part of the Fall into Reading challenge, Katrina at Callapidderdays is going to be posting a reading related question each Wednesday. I'm hoping to answer them here each week, partly to keep me motivated for the challenge itself (I find it way too easy to forget about challenges) and partly because there's a great group of people taking part and I'd like to see their answers.

If you're wondering what the whole Fall into Reading thing is about, check out my original post here or Katrina's "The Basics" post here.


This weeks question is: Do you skim? Or are you faithful to read every word?

Okay so my answer for this is a day late as I intended to do this last night but didn't get home from a Cassandra Clare signing (which was awesome) until late so I pretty much ate and fell asleep.

I very rarely skim, but occasionally it does happen. If I'm reading a book and I get bored, my first thing to do is check to see how much is left. If I stay bored for several chapters then there's a good chance I'll start skimming. If more chapters pass and I'm still bored I'll stop reading that book all together, unless I'm reading it for a reason. That said I stopped reading The Time Machine out of boredom in high school and never finished it, even though it was for an English exam (which I passed - yay for Cliff Notes!)

The only other thing that will make me skim is if the book becomes excessively graphic in terms of violence or sexual content. I do read adult books and I'm rarely bothered by either, but every now and then I'll come across a book that is too graphic and then I'll start skimming those sections.

Lover Avenged by J. R. Ward

Title: Lover Avenged
Author: J.R. Ward
Publisher: Piatkus
ISBN: 978-0-7499-4173-4
Pages: 719
Series: Black Dagger Brotherhood #7
Type: Adult Paranormal Romance
Source: Purchased
Goodreads

Caldwell has long been the battle ground for the war between the Brothers and the Lessening Society. On the sidelines Rehvenge has built a successful business providing his nightclub clientele with whatever they want so it is unsurprising when he is asked to kill Wrath, the vampire King. Rehvenge has secrets of his own to keep, like his true symphath nature that would result in his imprisonment, and when the plots become too much he turns to Ehlena, the only source of light in his dark world.

This is the seventh book in the Black Dagger Brotherhood series (after Dark Lover, Lover Eternal, Lover Awakened, Lover Revealed, Lover Unbound and Lover Enshrined) and one I approached with trepidation. Not only was the previous book a let down, but this is the longest one yet at 716 pages. This is a total return to form though and I loved it.

The plot is cleverly done and there is a lot of it. Rehvenge's life is more complex than the previously featured Brothers, and this book reflects that showing his separate business, family, symphath and romantic lives. It also has different plotlines relating to Xhex and John Matthew whose relationship gets even more complicated and messy (luckily their book is next), Lash's new life as a lesser and his role within the Lessening Society and Wrath's changing role as fighter and King. There is so much story here I became a little overwhelmed but it is well paced with a ton of tension.

I've liked Rehvenge ever since his introduction as the Reverend at the beginning of the series. We've seen him grow and change throughout the books, showing his protective family side and the responsibilty he has taken on to keep Xhex safe. He lives in a very dark place because of his responsibilities, and Ehlena is brilliant for balancing out Rehvenge's darkness. As someone who cares for a parent I can say that her emotions as a carer are spot on and this really made her character come to life for me.

The ending is incredible, giving all the characters an opportunity to be the best they can be - even Wrath and Tohr who had occasionally annoyed me earlier in the book. It reshapes the BDB world and also leads straight into the next book so I can't wait to see where the author goes from here.

All in all this was an awesome read and I can't wait to get stuck into Lover Mine.

Plot: 10/10
Characters: 10/10
Ending: 10/10
Enjoyment: 9/10
Cover: 9/10

Overall: 48/50

Unholy Ghosts by Stacia Kane

Title: Unholy Ghosts
Author: Stacia Kane
Publisher: Harper Voyager
ISBN: 978-0-00-73528-14
Pages: 346
Series: Downside Ghosts #1
Type: Adult Urban Fantasy
Source: Library
Goodreads


Chess Putnam is a Church witch who investigates claims of hauntings, debunking most and exorcising the few real ghosts she finds. Being haunted gets you compensation from the Church so Chess is kept busy but now her drug habit has caused her a problem. Her dealer wants Chess's debt paid in full by clearing a ghost from his property which sounds simple enough. Until of course Chess investigates and discovers this is no ordinary ghost...and that others don't want the property cleared.

This is the first book in the Downside Ghosts series and is a bit darker than the urban fantasy books I usually read. The author has created an amazingly complex world full of hidden depths and the reader is dropped straight in with no info dumping. It is based on the premise that in October 1997 Haunting Week saw ghosts rise from their graves all over the world and seek vengence on the living. By the end of the week, only a third of the previous population remained alive and the Church of Real Truth had stepped in to take control.

The plot is well developed with lots of twists and turns, but I figured several twists out quite early on which dented my enjoyment a bit. I was a bit thrown by the way some of the characters in the book speak, for example "Right. You not there they miss you, aye?". It's a bit hard to follow, especially when someone talks for a while so it distracts a bit from the storyline.

I liked Chess as a character which surprised me as she is a drug addict and spends a lot of time thinking about where her next fix is coming from. Regardless of this she does manage to kick some serious butt and it's nice to have a break from the standard goodie-two-shoes heroines. Terrible, the enforcer for Chess's dealer, is brilliant and without him Chess would have screwed up a lot more.

All in all, this was a good read and I'll probably pick up a copy of the next book Unholy Magic.

Plot: 8/10
Characters: 9/10
Ending: 9/10
Enjoyment: 8/10
Cover: 10/10

Overall: 44/50

Silence by Becca Fitzpatrick

Title: Silence
Author: Becca Fitzpatrick
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
ISBN: 978-0-85707-227-6
Pages: 438
Series: Hush, Hush #3
Type: Young Adult Paranormal
Source: Purchased
Goodreads

Nora wakes up in a cemetery in the middle of the night, with no idea how she got there and no memory of the last five months. Somehow it is September and she can't remember anything after April. Her world has moved on without her, and Nora struggles to recover her memories as she is haunted by black eyes and a mysterious boy whose absence has left a hole in her heart. But amnesia doesn't last forever and Nora's about to learn there are some who will kill to keep her in the dark.

This is the third book in the amazing Hush, Hush series (after Hush, Hush and Crescendo) and picks up three months after the last one finished. I had no idea of the direction this book would take, and even after Crescendo's cliffhanger I definitely wasn't expecting this.

The plot is brilliantly developed and is full of twists and turns that keep you turning the pages to find out what will happen next. The tension is kept high from the start as readers of the previous books know who kidnapped Nora and she has no idea, so we get to see her cluelessly interact with her kidnapper. Nora's struggle to find out the truth leads her on some risky paths and that too adds to the tension.

Patch is incredible in this book! I liked him in the previous books, but it was this book in which he stole my heart. It's hard to go into without adding spoilers but he is brilliant. Vee is a much changed character. Her past experiences means she has developed an anti-boy streak but she still adds a sense of fun to the book which is much needed while Nora's amnesia is in full swing.

The ending is cleverly done, creating a lead in to the next book and changing the balance between Patch and Nora forever. There is going to be a fourth and final book due out approximately October 2012 (confirmed by Becca at a signing) which will be set during Cheshvan.

All in all this was an incredible read and I can't wait for the next book!

Plot: 10/10
Characters: 10/10
Ending: 10/10
Enjoyment: 10/10
Cover: 9/10

Overall: 49/50

Guest blog (2)

My latest guest blog post has just been published over at the awesome E&K Family Book Review where I reviewed Beastly by Alex Flinn. If you'd like to see what I thought, click here.

Fall into Reading - Question 4

As part of the Fall into Reading challenge, Katrina at Callapidderdays is going to be posting a reading related question each Wednesday. I'm hoping to answer them here each week, partly to keep me motivated for the challenge itself (I find it way too easy to forget about challenges) and partly because there's a great group of people taking part and I'd like to see their answers.

If you're wondering what the whole Fall into Reading thing is about, check out my original post here or Katrina's "The Basics" post here.


This weeks question is: How large is your personal/family collection of books? And where do you keep them?

My personal collection of books is over 1000. I'm not exactly sure as I know there are books tucked away that I haven't counted, along with some recent purchases yet to be counted and non-fiction which I'm refusing to count. I definitely have the most books of anyone in my family, but I've heard of people with way more than me so I'm not too freaked out by the quantity (just a little freaked).

My family vary a lot in reading habits. My Mum probably has a couple of hundred books and my sister probably has about 15-20. My ten month old niece on the other hand has probably got the same as my sister, not that I'm encouraging her to follow in my book-addict footsteps :)

In terms of storage there are books literally all over the house. I'm typing this on my laptop sitting on the sofa with a book right next to me, a stack holding the door open, two boxes, two bags and a handful scattered about the room. This is the family living room so my books don't usually get to stay here, but they do tend to escape and place themselves about the house.

My usual book storage is two large bookcases, double stacked, along with 2 shelves for some of my books. The rest are packed in old amazon boxes which are stacked in front of my bookcase and under my desk. I definitely need a place with a room for my books!

Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick

Title: Crescendo
Author: Becca Fitzpatrick
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
ISBN: 978-1-84738-719-6
Pages: 427
Series: Hush, Hush #2
Type: Young Adult Paranormal
Source: Purchased
Goodreads

Nora has survived the attempts on her life and her boyfriend Patch is now her guardian angel. Despite his new role, Patch seems to be acting anything but angelic being more mysterious than usual and spending time with Marcie Millar who has tormented Nora for years. But when an old family friend Scott Parnell moves back to town, Nora realises something is off with him and finds herself drawn even deeper into the angelic/Nephilim worlds.

This is the second book in the Hush, Hush series (after Hush, Hush unsurprisingly) and continues in the same incredible vein as the first. Nora and Patch are together now, but neither realises how many skeletons there are in the other's closet. Nora's Nephilim bloodline is more complex than she realised, and Patch starts acting strangely so their brief period of happiness soon becomes something more complex.

The plot is incredible, in fact the only thing keeping this book from a flawless score are the minor similarities with New Moon although this book goes in a completely different direction. The pacing is brilliant, and the mix of romance and mystery is kept from the first book with Nora ending up in even more danger than before.

Marcie Millar gets a lot more plot development and now instead of being just a bully, she has evolved into a far more complex (although not much nicer) character. Vee also gets a lot of page time as she is now dating Patch's friend Rixon, which is brilliant as she is one of my favourite characters and she really grounds the story. Scott is also an interesting character as you know from the start he is hiding a big secret which is revealed very gradually, giving the book quite a lot of tension.

The ending is outstanding and completely caught me by surprise. There are a lot of twists and turns and the last three chapters took the book in a totally different direction to what I was expecting, changing my opinions on all the characters and reshaping Nora's entire world. There is a cliffhanger at the very end which makes me incredibly glad I have the next book here and ready to read.

All in all this was another incredible read and I can't wait to get stuck into Silence.

Plot: 9/10
Characters: 10/10
Ending: 10/10
Enjoyment: 10/10
Cover: 10/10

Overall: 49/50

Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick

Title: Hush, Hush
Author: Becca Fitzpatrick
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
ISBN: 978-1-84738-694-6
Pages: 391
Series: Hush, Hush #1
Type: Young Adult Paranormal
Source: Purchased
Goodreads

Nora Grey is happy with her life and loves hanging out and working on the school ezine with her best friend Vee. Nora isn't interested in guys though, despite how often Vee pushes her at them...that is until a seating reassignment brings Patch into her life. Nora is fascinated by him and isn't sure whether to run into his arms or run screaming in the other direction, but what she doesn't know is that Patch belongs to a world beyond her wildest imagination.

This is one of those books I was incredibly nervous to read. Not only does it have a stunning cover but I have seen so many glowing reviews that I wasn't sure it would live up to the hype. I'm happy to say my fears were completely unfounded as this is the best angel themed book I've ever read and a new favourite. The narrative caught me on page one and didn't let up until I was finished.

The world building is brilliant and full of hidden depths and layers that make the book unputdownable. A few parts of the plot did feel a little familiar to me (girl meets guy in biology class, final showdown in deserted gym, girl researches possible identities of guy online) but on the whole this is a really unique story with a well thought out and developed world.

Nora is a brilliant protagonist who manages to avoid all the cliches and be really believable. Her best friend Vee is great fun and their friendship really shines through. Patch is amazing! He has the perfect mix of brooding and romantic with a hint of danger thrown in, and he rides a motorbike. Patch keeps you guessing about his motives right to the end of the book which is brilliant.

The book isn't all romance though as there is a creepy undertone. Nora is being stalked by a person in a ski mask and she keeps seeing strange things that no-one else can. I hadn't seen the stalker angle mentioned before reading and I loved the added dimension it gave the story, not to mention being incredibly disturbing and full of twists.

All in all this was an incredible read and I can't wait to get stuck into Crescendo.

Plot: 9/10
Characters: 10/10
Ending: 10/10
Enjoyment: 10/10
Cover: 10/10

Overall: 49/50       

Lover Enshrined by J. R. Ward

Title: Lover Enshrined
Author: J.R. Ward
Publisher: Signet
ISBN: 978-0-451-22272-5
Pages: 534
Series: Black Dagger Brotherhood #6
Type: Adult Paranormal Romance
Source: Purchased
Goodreads


Phury sacrificed himself to save his Brother Vishous and to protect his race. He became the Primale, the male responsible for continuing the Brotherhood's bloodline, and is now obligated to father the sons and daughters who will lead the race in the future. Selected as his first mate is Cormia who is drawn to the responsibility and honour Phury shows. But Phury is reluctant to fulfill his role and as such is putting the future of the entire race in danger.

This is the sixth book in the Black Dagger Brotherhood series (after Dark Lover, Lover Eternal, Lover Awakened, Lover Revealed and Lover Unbound) and is the first to disappoint me and end up with four stars.

My main problem with the book is Phury himself. In the previous books he has been presented as the calmer, more stable member of the Brotherhood and this book acts as a brutual view behind the curtain. Phury is basically a drug addict with a hero complex who whines...a lot. He has a voice in his head called the Wizard which motivates him to use drugs, but Phury annoyed me so much with his woe-is-me attitude that I ended up siding with the Wizard at times. I know Phury has been on a downward spiral since Lover Awakened but he really irritated me in this book.

On the other hand, the heroine of the tale Cormia was far better than I expected. Cormia has moved from the Other Side to our world and has spent five months living in the Brotherhood's compound. It is great to see her learn more about our world and to embrace her freedom. Her pleasure at the simplest things, like watching a movie or running around outside, is a great counterpoint to Phury's depression.

The real strength of the book, however, is in the background stories. John, Blay and Qhuinn who have all transitioned recently have their world turned upside down in a single moment and the book has some major twists and revelations for the three. It's hard to say much without giving away major plot points but it changes everything for all three of them. There is also a bit more of a focus on the half-symphaths Rehvenge and Xhex and what they have to do to hide their natures, as well as the introduction of two new kinds of creature - Rehv's bodyguard who is a royal member of s'Hisbe of Shadows and the fallen angel Lassiter.

Phury managed to redeem himself with the ending which also manages to reshape the world of the Brothers, redefining some traditions and introducing a new character - Vishous's twin sister Payne who will most likely shake up the world even further.

All in all, this was a good read but I can't wait for Rehvenge's book Lover Avenged.

Plot: 9/10
Characters: 7/10
Ending: 9/10
Enjoyment: 8/10
Cover: 9/10

Overall: 42/50

Fall into Reading - Question 3

As part of the Fall into Reading challenge, Katrina at Callapidderdays is going to be posting a reading related question each Wednesday. I'm hoping to answer them here each week, partly to keep me motivated for the challenge itself (I find it way too easy to forget about challenges) and partly because there's a great group of people taking part and I'd like to see their answers.

If you're wondering what the whole Fall into Reading thing is about, check out my original post here or Katrina's "The Basics" post here.


This weeks question is: On what devices, if any, do you read books? Or are you strictly a “physical book” reader?

I'm definitely a physical books kinda girl. I've tried ebooks on my computer and my phone, even on a Nintendo DS but I just can't get on with them. Anything beyond a few minutes and I end up with a headache. I've heard Kindle and other e-readers are supposed to be far better because they aren't backlit but I don't want to spend that much money and risk hating it. Also - have you ever heard of someone getting mugged for a paperback?

Seriously though, I like "real" books because they are tangible, often have pretty covers and they smell. It sounds totally bizarre to put that, but I think Giles in Buffy the Vampire Slayer explained it best when he said:

"Smell is the most powerful trigger to the memory there is. A certain flower or a, a whiff of smoke can bring up experiences... long forgotten. Books smell. Musty and, and, and, and rich. The knowledge gained from a computer, is, uh, it... it has no, no texture, no, no context. It's, it's there and then it's gone. If it's to last, then, then the getting of knowledge should be, uh, tangible, it should be, um... smelly."

Lover Unbound by J. R. Ward

Title: Lover Unbound
Author: J.R. Ward
Publisher: Signet
ISBN: 978-0-451-2235-0
Pages: 502
Series: Black Dagger Brotherhood #5
Type: Adult Paranormal Romance
Source: Purchased
Goodreads

Vishous is the most ruthless and brilliant of the Black Dagger Brotherhood, but a single mistake leaves him bleeding from a gunshot wound alone in an alley. That mistake leads him to Dr Jane Whitcomb's trauma surgery and after she saves his life, V can't seem to make himself let her go. As Jane is drawn into the world of the Brotherhood, she is forced to deal not only with her tragic past but also with the horrors V was subjected to as a child in his father's brutal war camp. But V is not who he thought he was and just as he discovers a future he craves, he is confronted with a future he must fulfill.

This is the fifth book in the awesome Black Dagger Brotherhood series (after Dark Lover, Lover Eternal, Lover Awakened and Lover Revealed) and one I was a little nervous of reading. I didn't enjoy the previous book as much as the others and I'd seen very mixed reviews of this so I was surprised to enjoy it as much as I did.

I've liked V since the first book and I've been wondering over the last few books how he'd manage to get a shellan when he obviously has feelings for Butch. Since Butch got his happy ending in the previous novel, V's been left in a sort of limbo knowing he can't have the guy he wants but not expecting any woman to fill that role in his life. That is, until Jane ends up in his life.

As with the other BDB books, the focus isn't purely on the romance between the lead characters. V and Jane both have complex backstories, V's more so with some mindblowing twists I didn't see coming and some truly heartbreaking scenes. The Lessers take a smaller role than previously but the gap is filled by more about the Scribe Virgin and the religious side of the vampire society. John's story also continues and seeds are sown for his book (Lover Mine the 8th in the series).

The ending is cleverly done, giving V and Jane a satisfying and unexpected ending while also managing to create a brilliant lead into the next book. Phury's backstory is given a little more depth, and his heroine Cormia is introduced. It works as a great tease and really makes me want to get started on their book. The author even manages to introduce the main characters of the ninth book Lover Unleashed.

All in all, this was a great read and I can't wait to get stuck into Lover Enshrined.

Plot: 10/10
Characters: 9/10
Ending: 10/10
Enjoyment: 10/10
Cover: 9/10

Overall: 48/50

Lover Revealed by J. R. Ward

Title: Lover Revealed
Author: J.R. Ward
Publisher: Signet
ISBN: 978-0-451-22968-7
Pages: 480
Series: Black Dagger Brotherhood #4
Type: Adult Paranormal Romance
Source: Purchased
Goodreads

Butch left his human life behind when he became involved with the Black Dagger Brotherhood. Now the former cop fights alongside the Brothers loving beautiful vampire Marissa from a distance. When Butch sacrifices himself to save a civilian vampire, he is captured and tortured to the edge of death by the Lessening Society and only Marissa can bring him back. But even her love may not be enough to save him from the darkness planted within.

This is the fourth book in the awesome Black Dagger Brotherhood series (after Dark Lover, Lover Eternal and Lover Awakened) and the first to deal with a lead character from outside the Brotherhood itself. Butch was introduced in the first book along with his connection with Marissa. After spending some time together then, they haven't really seen each other since so I was interested to see where the book would take them and how it would explain their separation.

In terms of the storyline between Butch and Marissa it is sweet and believable, but suffers from external influences which the previous romances in the series didn't have. Also Marissa is very naive and innocent so some of the things she says and does come across as very immature at times. Butch and Marissa also argue a lot about each other's strengths and what risks they don't want the other to take which is another first for the series.

As with the previous books, the storyline about the lessers runs alongside the romance aspect. Mr X is now looking for a way out of the society, and this interlinks with Butch and the Omega's interest in him. There is a lot of background story here with some changes to the Brotherhood that make the book drag a little at times and seem a bit overwhelming. On the whole the pacing is good, although the high tension start tapers off quickly.

All in all this was a good read and I'm looking forward to Lover Unbound.

Plot: 9/10
Characters: 9/10
Ending: 10/10
Enjoyment: 8/10
Cover: 9/10

Overall: 45/50