Review: The Casquette Girls by Alys Arden

25917801The Casquette Girls by Alys Arden
Genre: Supernatural, Romance
Published by: Skyscape
Pages: 565
Format: e-book
Rating: ★★.5

I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

I requested The Casquette Girls because of the New Orleans setting which seemed pretty perfect for a witchy story. I did not know however, that I was signing up for a vampire book as well. If vampires and witches are alive in this universe does that mean other supernatural creatures will be added as the series continues? I’m not sure if I’m willing to stick around long enough to find out.

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Review: The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa

15803761The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa
Genre: Paranormal, Dystopian
Published by: Harlequin
Pages: 443
Format: e-book
Rating: ★★★★
Where to Find: Goodreads | Amazon

I haven’t read a vampire book since Vampire Academy, and I thought I’d read it all. Oh boy, was I wrong! The Immortal Rules is an incredible dystopian/ paranormal blend that introduces vampires as you’ve never read them before. At first I was hesitant, but I’m so glad I gave it a change. I loved the world building and all of the characters. This book went in so many different directions that you never could have predicted the ending from how it started.

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Review: Silver Shadows by Richelle Mead

8709524Silver Shadows by Richelle Mead
Genre: Paranormal, Romance
Published by: Razor Bill
Pages: 420
Format: e-Book
Rating: ★★★
Series: Bloodlines (#1) | The Golden Lily (#2) | The Indigo Spell (#3) | The Fiery Heart (#4) | The Ruby Circle (#6)
Where to Find: Goodreads | Amazon

It took a long time for this story to get going, but my my was it a roller coaster of emotions. After the cliffhanger of The Fiery Heart I really didn’t know what to expect, but I knew that Sydney was strong so she, together with Adrian, would be able to get over the situation. The dual perspective really payed off in this book, because it really helped to keep the pace moving. the last 25% however, was a totally whirlwind of adventure. I thought it was a little crazy, and kind of ridiculous, but I loved it anyway. I mean, who wouldn’t?

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Review: The Fiery Heart by Richelle Mead

9833184The Fiery Heart by Richelle Mead
Genre: Paranormal, Romance
Published by: Razorbill
Pages: 420
Format: E-Book
Rating: ★★★
Series: Bloodlines (#1) | The Golden Lily (#2) | The Indigo Spell (#3) | Silver Shadows (#5) | The Ruby Circle (#6)
Where to Find: Goodreads | Amazon

As much as I loved hearing about how wonderful Sydney and Adrian felt in their newfound relationship, I was pretty annoyed that the main plot line is that the want to have sex with one another. Their lust for one another totally outweighed the seriousness of the tattoo ink, which felt a lot like a sub plot. This book was very slow and altogether not my favourite sequel.

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Review: The Indigo Spell by Richelle Mead

12396528The Indigo Spell by Richelle Mead
Genre: Paranormal (Vampires), Romance
Published by: Razorbill
Pages: 421
Format: Paperback
Rating: ★★★★
Series: Bloodlines (#1) | The Golden Lily (#2) | The Fiery Heart (#4) | Silver Shadows (#5) | The Ruby Circle (#6)
Where to Find: Goodreads | Amazon

Just when you think there is no possible way that this series could get any better, it does! I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, Richelle Mead really does know how to build a series. I’ve grown to love Sydney, but of course I love Adrian ever more! The witchy-magic element is so interesting, and the cliffhanger has got be begging for The Fiery Heart!

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Review: The Golden Lily by Richelle Mead

8709523The Golden Lily by Richelle Mead
Genre: Paranormal (Vampires), Romance
Published by: Razorbill
Pages: 418
Format: Paperback
Rating: ★★★.5
Series: Bloodlines (#1) | The Indigo Spell (#3) | The Fiery Heart (#4) | Silver Shadows (#5) | The Ruby Circle (#6)
Where to Find: Goodreads | Amazon

I’m really beginning to get into this series, I somehow manages to read The Golden Lily in two sittings and I’m desperate to know what’s going to happen next. Sydney is a really interesting narrator, and luckily I got just what I thought was missing for Bloodlines -more humour!

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Review: Bloodlines by Richelle Mead

8709527Bloodlines by Richelle Mead
Genre: Paranormal (Vampires), Romance
Published by: Razorbill
Pages: 421
Format: Paperback
Rating: ★★★
Series: The Golden Lily (#2) | The Indigo Spell (#3) | The Fiery Heart (#4) | Silver Shadows (#5) | The Ruby Circle (#6)
Where to Find: Goodreads | Amazon

I am so unbelievably happy to be back in the world of the damphir and Moroi! Not to mention the Alchemists, which is the category that protagonist Sydney falls into. So there might not be any Rose and Lissa, but fans of the Vampire Academy series are bound to love this new spin-off series just as much – I know I did!

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Review: Frostbite by Richelle Mead

2282133Frostbite by Richelle Mead
Genre: Supernatural, Friendship, Romance
Published by: Penguin
Pages:
327
Format:
E-Book
Rating: ★★★★
Series:
Vampire Academy
Where to Find: GoodReads | Amazon

The sequel to Vampire Academy was also going to struggle to meet my five star rating. ‘Frostbite’ near enough accomplished this goal. If possible, there was even more action and adventure in this book than there was in ‘Blood Sisters’ (although signficantly less exposure of Rose and Lissa’s friendship.)

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Review: Blood Wars by Brenda Pandos

BloBlood Warsod Wars by Brenda Pandos
Genre: Supernatural
Published by: Obsidian Mountain Publishing
Pages: 96
Format: E-Book
Rating: ★★
Where to Find: Goodreads | Amazon

I didn’t actually realise that ‘Blood Wars’ was a continuation of a series that Brenda Pandos had already written called ‘The Talisman Series’, so in that respect, I can’t write a lot about this book because it wasn’t the first time readers were supposed to have met the characters or the situation.

However, the events of the series were explained throughout in bite sized chunks that didn’t make the continued series feel to laboured. I was able to grasp what was going on fairly quickly and didn’t have too many questions. Good.

The plot unfolded quickly, with motives behind each character’s actions easy to understand. The relationships between the characters, especially Julia, Phil and Nicholas were obvious, which was definitely a great thing, as I hadn’t read the series. Personalities were simple to read as well, which made this book an effective short story.

I’d definitely call this book a short story, as it was under one hundred pages, but no less enjoyable than a three hundred page book. If anything, I enjoyed it more because it was too the point. With a short story, there’s not a lot that you, as the reader, feel needs to be cut out because of irrelevance. Everything was relevant, everything was explained: the perfect package.

The book completed one of its functions in making me want to read the original series, although I’m pretty spoiled on what happens! 🙂 One of my only complaints, as an unqualified reader, was the lack of vampires. More vampires. (Of course, that was the plot for there to be no vampires in a previous vampire world, but more subtle hints of their continuous existence would have been nice!)

Overall, I’d give this book 2 stars, because it did have substance, but having not read the original series, I could not become as attached to the characters and the romances as I’d have liked to. Also props for the dramatic cover. Blood red was a nice touch.

Review: Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead

Vampire vampire academyAcademy by Richelle Mead
Genre: Supernatural, Romance
Published By: Razorbill
Pages: 332
Format: Paperback
Rating: ★★★★★
Series:
Frostbite (#2)
Where to Find:
Goodreads | Amazon

I can’t even coherently describe how excited I was to read Vampire Academy. Bee read the whole series before me, in cute little bind-ups on her Kindle, and really recommended it, saying that she wasn’t expecting much for the books but was blown away by how completely absorbed she was by the story.

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