ARC Review: Gameboard of the Gods (Age of X #1) by Richelle Mead

The blog as seen on Goodreads:
Release Date: June 4, 2013
Publisher: Dutton Adult
464 Pages

In a futuristic world nearly destroyed by religious extremists, Justin March lives in exile after failing in his job as an investigator of religious groups and supernatural claims. But Justin is given a second chance when Mae Koskinen comes to bring him back to the Republic of United North America (RUNA). Raised in an aristocratic caste, Mae is now a member of the military’s most elite and terrifying tier, a soldier with enhanced reflexes and skills.

When Justin and Mae are assigned to work together to solve a string of ritualistic murders, they soon realize that their discoveries have exposed them to terrible danger. As their investigation races forward, unknown enemies and powers greater than they can imagine are gathering in the shadows, ready to reclaim the world in which humans are merely game pieces on their board.

Gameboard of the Gods, the first installment of Richelle Mead’s Age of X series, will have all the elements that have made her YA Vampire Academy and Bloodlines series such megasuccesses: sexy, irresistible characters; romantic and mythological intrigue; and relentless action and suspense.

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“We’re pieces on a gam board, Dr. March, and some of us are more powerful than others.”

What a very interesting and exciting start to this new series. Having only read Mead’s Vampire Academy, I was very curious to see what other genres she would explore. While keeping with the paranormal/supernatural feel, Gameboard of the Gods explores a different side of the paranormal, one that deals with religion and the lore of old Gods and Goddesses that have been lost through time. 

The world is very different from the world we live in. After falling from the Decline, the government has divided the country into sectioned lands where the citizens all have ID trackers under their skin and religion or belief in God is frowned upon and most often banned. It is in this world that people are being murdered by what looks like a supernatural being. 

Justin March is living in exile but is called back to his duty as a servitor – one who regulates religious groups- when these murders escalate. 

“He’s brilliant,” Francis insisted.

“Yes.” Her words came grudgingly, and she held up a hand to enumerate points on her fingers. “Also arrogant, impertinent, and manipulative.”

Pretty much true. Justin is a womanizer, who drinks obsessively. Oh, and he also has two ravens living in his head. Yup, you read that right. Horatio and Magnus. But he’s brilliant. He knows his job inside and out which is why they want him back so badly. 

Mae Koskinen is a practorian. Basically a super solider for the government thanks to an implant that gives her super speed, fighting skills, healing skills and the need for no sleep. Following a scuffle at a funeral, Mae is placed on probation and sent to be a bodyguard type for Justin. Thanks to some one night stand loving with a little bit of mis-identity thrown in, Mae and Justin don’t really get along. 

I will be honest, this book started off really slow for me and I didn’t know if I was going to like it. There’s quite a bit of set up of the new world but really no explanation as to how we got here. What happened in the Decline? How did the Decline come about? Why is all religion banned? Around the halfway point, the book finally hit its stride. My above questions weren’t answered, but the mystery surrounding the murders and the gods kept me reading on. 

Having only read the Vampire Academy series, I was expecting a romance to be at the main helm of the plot, but it wasn’t. It was there, of course, but it was second to what was going on. And there’s actually quite of bit of mystery surrounding the love story and why there necessarily can’t be one. I don’t really want to spoil anything for the readers, but Mead did a great job with bringing the story full circle with the facts surrounding Justin’s mysterious God.

“The truth is, when you banish the gods from the world, they eventually come back – with a vengeance. Humans can’t stay away from gods, and gods can’t stay away from humans. It’s the natural order of things.”

A good start to what will surely be an interesting series. I look forward to seeing where this will go. 

I received a copy of this e-book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Teaser Tuesday: The Girl Who Was Supposed to Die & Mortal Fire

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by MizB over at Should Be Reading!

To participate, all you have to do is:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (Make sure what you share doesn't give too much away! You don't want to ruin the book for others!)

Share the title and author, too, so that other TT participants can ad the book to their TBR lists if they like your teasers!

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"Slowly, slowly, slowly I let the restroom door inch closed, careful it doesn't clunk and give me away. There's no place I can run."
Chapter 11, ARC Page 46
The Girl Who Was Supposed to Die by April Henry

"'At the moment math is the only thing that excites you, so you're nosing around numbers as if numbers are life. But in two years you'll be telling me about some boy.'"

Chapter 2, ARC Page 31

Mortal Fire by Elizabeth Knox

What are you reading this week?

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Top Ten Tuesday (63)

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish!

This week's theme is: Top Ten Favorite Book Covers of Books I've Read

Jenn's List

Not all necessarily good books, but love the covers. 

1. Days of Blood and Starlight by Laini Taylor
2. Unearthly by Cynthia Hand
3. Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake
4. Cinder by Marissa Meyer
5. Bloodspell by Amalie Howard
6. Boundless by Cynthia Hand
7. Fallen by Lauren Kate
8. Gameboard of the Gods by Richelle Mead
9. Of Poseidon by Anna Banks
10. Storm by Brigid Kemmerer

Emily's List

Like Jenn, not all of the following are books I enjoyed, but I do love looking at their beautiful covers!

1. Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini
2. Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo
3. The Assassin's Curse by Cassandra Rose Clarke
4. Marco Impossible by Hannah Moskowitz
5. Amelia Anne is Dead and Gone by Kat Rosenfield
6. Monstrous Beauty by Elizabeth Fama
7. Unspoken by Sarah Rees Brennan
8. Stormdancer by Jay Kristoff
9. Aftertime by Sophie Littlefield
10. The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner

What are some of your favorite covers?

Blog Tour: Interview with Rebecca Berto

Today we are happy to be a part of the Drowing Into You Blog Tour hosted by Xpresso Book Tours. 

Find the other tour stops HERE.

Drowing Into You (Finding Forever In Us #1) by Rebecca Berto

The blurb as seen on Goodreads:
Release Date: April 5, 2013
Publisher: Self-Published
316 Pages

Secretly crushing

Crushed by a tragedy

Charlee May’s been crushing on Dexter Hollingworth since she was fifteen. Five years later, a horrific skiing disaster at Mason’s Ski Lift Resort leaves her millionaire dad critically injured and her mom dead at the hands of Dexter operating the lifts. Charlee is suddenly the sole caretaker for her little brother while their world falls apart. 

Dexter couldn’t be more different from Charlee. He’s tattooed, avoids exclusive relationships and his Dad has a fair share of illegal dealings. With Dexter’s reputation, almost everyone believes he planned the Mason’s skiing disaster.

And after all these years he’s still crushing on Charlee May, the girl who’s too good for him.

When this cruel twist of fate ties Charlee’s family and Dexter’s reputation together, Charlee and Dexter wonder if their feelings are reciprocated, while Dexter discovers his dad is trying to steal the May’s millionaire fortune. 

But like an addiction, one look, one touch, one taste—they’re hooked no matter the consequences.

Disclaimer: Recommended for mature readers due to sexual content and crude language.

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Tell us a bit about yourself.

I’m unlike everyone you know (probably). I’m 22 but haven’t been to a club since maybe January this year? According to my boyfriend, the bins go out for trash pick-up more than I do. I write obsessively and read obsessively. And I love to make fun of my stupidness. See? I’m ultra unique.

What is your favorite (non-spoilery) scene in Drowning in You?

Non-spoilery…hmm…that’s hard. It’s a bit into the story, but in no way spoilery. It’s the first moment my main characters, Charlee and Dexter, connect with the readers and it’s intense without being about sex. Charlee and Dexter are overlooking a reservoir from a lookout and the little details make it so special—skin contact, stolen glances… There’s such an emotional connection and I adore it.

Was it difficult to write a story with such dark themes?

Not really. I actually struggle to write happy, light, fun fiction. I fear it will seem too boring and all giggles and nothing interesting. But making someone feel like their heart has been tugged and torn up? I can describe that with tension.

Did you have to do any research while writing Drowning in You?

I was sneaky this way. I only did minor research for the medical knowledge for one storyline, but my main characters are a swimmer and musician and I’ve been both. I also know what love feels like so in all, my research was minimal, luckily.

What gave you the most trouble while you were writing? What did you find easiest to write?

I somehow write things that make no sense when I read back. I have a tendency to make sure every word of every sentence of every paragraph have impact and sometimes it gets too much.

When I redraft I do lots of deleting.

How long did it take you to write this novel?

I wrote this one end of last year and then came back to it. I remember three quarters in I totally lost direction and put it away for a little bit, but guestimating, I think it took five to six weeks to write.

Where do you find the most inspiration while writing?

After a brainstorming session where I can get my thoughts together. Usually I either read or go for a walk with my doggy before I write. It means I’m full of creativity and inspiration. I fear I’ll write flatly if I wake up and write immediately.

What kind of books do you like to read?

I like reading books with an emotional punch. So I swing from Literary to New Adult because they both offer emotional satisfaction for me in different ways. They’re two of my current favourite genres at the moment.

How do you want your readers to feel when they finish Drowning in You?

Rewarded. I’ll make no secret that I’m an awful author to my readers. My books involve death either as an ongoing theme or a death of a character mid-story, and I tend to have gut-wrenching scenes that hurt like hell, so by the end I like to make it a huge satisfaction.

Drowning in You isn’t an easy ride, but the ending makes it all worth it.

Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?

Yes! It’s better to undervote your abilities: “I’m not good enough yet”, “I don’t have a big enough social media following”, “That sentence still looks odd”, etc. Always have higher goals than you think you can reach.

I have more drive when I have a goal. If I think I’m fair good at something, I see no point in trying my best—I’m already there.

Big thanks to Rebecca for joining us today, and to Giselle at Xpresso Book Tours for letting us take part in the tour!

ARC Review: Dark Triumph (His Fair Assassin #2) by Robin LaFevers

The blurb as seen on Goodreads:

Release Date: April 2, 2013
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children
385 Pages

Sybella's duty as Death's assassin in 15th-century France forces her return home to the personal hell that she had finally escaped. Love and romance, history and magic, vengeance and salvation converge in this thrilling sequel to Grave Mercy.

Sybella arrives at the convent’s doorstep half mad with grief and despair. Those that serve Death are only too happy to offer her refuge—but at a price. The convent views Sybella, naturally skilled in the arts of both death and seduction, as one of their most dangerous weapons. But those assassin's skills are little comfort when the convent returns her to a life that nearly drove her mad. And while Sybella is a weapon of justice wrought by the god of Death himself, He must give her a reason to live. When she discovers an unexpected ally imprisoned in the dungeons, will a daughter of Death find something other than vengeance to live for?

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Last year when I read Grave Mercy, I was absolutely blown away. An action-packed historical for young adults, where the protagonist was female and an assassin nun? There was no way it could be anything but amazing. Of course, when the opportunity to read the sequel, Dark Triumph, was given to me, I jumped at the chance. I was just as enthralled by the second installment as I was the first. In fact, I may have loved Sybella's story even more. It was even darker than it predecessor and just as captivating, if not more so. Sybella's history was extremely depressing and would soften even the coldest heart. She suffered so much in her young life, that through the entirety of the story, all I hoped for was a happy ending.

Dark Triumph begins a bit before the end of Grave Mercy, Sybella is spying on the household of her sadistic father for the covenant. She is waiting for the day that she can kill the man who destroyed her and drove her to the brink of madness. Sybella may have been trained to be a skilled assassin, but dealing with the cruelty and vileness of the man who raised her is beyond her. She finds herself a saving grace half-dead in the dungeons. With the help of this unexpected ally, Sybella will begin to find peace with her past and look for a better future.

While I found the writing to be a bit dense, it fit perfectly with the characters, the plot and the historical setting. The language was gorgeous and descriptive. LaFevers is excellent at world-building and characterizations. Her characters, especially Sybella, were raw and felt emotions that many of us feel every day. Unlike what I've seen in many books, the emotional aspects were not downplayed, nor were they overplayed. The author gives each character their own personality and they reacted and grew based on who they were from the very beginning. It was so wonderful to read.

The pacing of the novel was pretty good. There were some parts that I struggled with, but some of the key scenes more than made up for it. Overall, I was deeply immersed in this story. I loved the way LaFevers handled the plot and where she led it. I never knew exactly what was going to happen next and that's always a good thing. The plot was very action-focused, though romance was a big theme, and that worked for the novel.

The romance in this one was even more enjoyable than that of the previous book. Where the relationship doesn't begin immediately, the connection that develops between the two characters is amazing to watch. It unfolds realistically as trust builds and they learn all about each other. In more ways than one, the bond that grows between these two saves them. What may be my favorite part of this romance is the male love interest is often described as ugly and scarred. It makes me smile when books show that love doesn't only fall upon beautiful people. Anyone can fall in love and Sybella's book portrays that beautifully. 

Waiting for the third book in the series is killing me. I know that the author will blow away my expectations because this is a series that just keeps getting better and better. I would recommend this series to anyone. It's phenomenal and I think anyone would reads it can find something in the story to connect to, something that will hook them and make them fall in love. So read it, you won't regret it.

I received an e-copy of this novel from the publisher for my honest opinion and review via Netgalley.

Book Review: Stalk Me (The Keatyn Chronicles #1) by Jillian Dodd

The blurb as seen on Goodreads:
Release Date: September 1, 2012
Publisher: Bandit Publishing
327 Pages

Gossip Girl meets Hollywood in this steamy new series by That Boy author, Jillian Dodd.

Keatyn has everything she ever dreamed. Her life is following the script she wrote for the perfect high school experience. She's popular, goes to the best parties, dates the hottest guy, and sits at the most-coveted lunch table.

She's just not sure she wants it anymore.

Because, really, things aren't all that perfect.
Her best friend is threatening to tell everyone her perfect relationship is a scam.
Her perfect boyfriend gets drunk at every party they go to.
It's exhausting always trying to look and act perfect.
And, deep down, she isn't sure if she has any true friends.

To add to the drama, her movie star mom has a creepy stalker.
A hot, older man flirts with her and tells her they should make a movie together.
And she's crushing on an adorable surfer. Dating him would mean committing social suicide.

So she writes a new script. One where all the pieces of her life will come together in perfect harmony.
But little does she know, there's someone who will do anything to make sure that doesn't happen.

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 Source

I feel like I’ve lost a few brain cells. This book hurt to read. I was super excited to read this series. It’s no secret that I LOVED the That Boy series. But after reading this and looking back at That Boy, I think I was blinded by my pure love of Phillip and Danny that I just overlooked so many things. Unfortunately, for me, there were no likeable characters in Stalk Me, so there was nothing to hide behind.  There will be spoilers in here, you have been warned. 

Stalk Me is the story of Keatyn, daughter to a famous actress, whose life is ruled by money, glitz and glamour. It was like The Hills meets High School. Keatyn is 16, only wears designer clothes (which we are told in extreme detail every time), and only does things that keep her popular. She has to be the most self-centered, egotistical, idiotic child ever. Her inner monologue was like nails on a chalkboard. (Remember how I said it hurt to read this book?). It literally gave me a headache.

 Source

Everything in her life revolved around status and looks. Great message to young girls out there, by the way. Keatyn would never do anything if she thought other people would look at her negatively – this included dating/breaking up with boys and having an actual opinion. She cared way too much about what other people thought that there was nothing original about her. 

Now let’s talk about her love life *snort*. Did I mention every boy is in love with her? Oh, well they are. There’s the California surfer dude, there’s the stoned rich boy, there’s the older sophisticated gentleman…and that’s only in the beginning. While she’s a virgin in the beginning of the book, she loses it about halfway through and then becomes obsessed with sex. Apparently it’s the only way to solve arguments. And yes, she’s still 16. 16 and drinking in public places and going off to Europe alone with a boy.

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Ok, calming down…

Now, let’s talk about why the book is called Stalk Me. Keatyn’s mom has a stalker. So everyone in the house is put on high alert and told to avoid strangers and going places alone. Well, Keatyn (because she’s such a smart girl) decides that she doesn’t need protection and goes off on her own where she meets Vincent on the beach. Vincent is 30+ and immediately shows interest in our young Barbie. He’s a director and wants Keatyn to star in his movie. His movie -which is a remake of her mother’s first big role. Oh, and he also has a tattoo of her mother’s name on his arm.

 Source

So what does Keatyn do? Why she goes out to dinner with him and continues to see him and chat about his movie of course.

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When the stalker is finally revealed (three guess on who. Anyone?), plans immediately come together to get Keatyn out of Malibu. She needs to be safe. Witness Protection anyone? Not kidding, this was an actual suggestion. But Keatyn, not wanting to be hidden, comes up with her own plan:

“What if he thought I was a whore? What if I did a slutty video? Wouldn’t he hate me and stop being interested in me?”

Umm…what?

That gets dismissed and they decide to send our precious princess to a boarding school in Europe using a fake last name so no one knows who she is. After some tearful goodbyes to the two loves of her life (the surfer and the stoner), she’s heading to boarding school where upon arrival meets two new boys. 

Shocking, I know. 

The last handful of chapters are spent with Keatyn making out with two different boys in two days all the while telling people she has a boyfriend back home. But wait, it’s complicated. 

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Disappointed doesn’t even begin to explain how I felt about this book. It was the most ridiculous storyline with asinine characters. Unbelievable situations with no emotional connections to anyone. And worst of all? Nothing was solved! While I have the next two in the series on my kindle, I do not know if I will continue it.