Review: Alphas and Aggression by A. Star

Title: Alphas and Aggression
Author: A. Star
Series: Wesley Werewolves #1
Publication: June 5th 2018
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Purchase Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo
Rating: 3.5/5★

A millennium ago, an Igbo god fathered three sons–a jackal, a coyote…and a wolf.

********

As the new alpha of his wolf pack, Xavier Wesley wants nothing more than to follow in his uncle’s footsteps and make his elders, and the great guardian, proud. But his family and a rival alpha seem to have other plans for him, and as his world slowly starts to crumble around him, the werewolf king informs Xavier that their realm is under attack by the Lion Head–a sinister creature controlled only by the one who summoned it.

The king needs a hero and he’s chosen the reluctant alpha to save the kingdom.

But just as the conflict with Xavier’s rival heats up, a beautiful human named Karis Mickelson comes to Mirage and complicates every relationship in his life. Danger isn’t far behind and after his pack is ambushed by the black spirits who serve the Lion Head, Xavier realizes he has no choice but to submit to his king’s wishes. But Xavier’s growing connection to Karis threatens to upend his entire world, coming between him, his pack, and his duty to the kingdom. If he can’t manage to take control of his feelings and honor his true purpose, then the darkness just might win.

And everyone will die.

As I'm writing this review, I just finished reading Alphas and Aggression and I have so many thoughts swirling through my head about the book and I'm not sure where to start. First of all, I liked this book for sure. I can't say it's my favorite story ever and it took me a while to really get into the story as well. It wasn't quite a 4 star read but better than a 3 star one. Other than that I thought it was a good book and had such a blast reading it.

It's been a while since I read a proper story about werewolves like this one. And I love werewolves, I really do. The werewolves in this story were different from what I've read so far about them, which I thought was so great. I really loved the Wesley wolf pack. All wolves were so different from one another. There are several characters that I also really want backstories from. But most of all I loved the alpha Xavier, who's one of the main characters along with Karis, who's a human. 

I've got to say that I laughed out loud a lot during this book. There were quite a few hilarious moments. Even know remembering some scenes it's making me all smile. I gotta admit that the first half was hard for me to get through but after that I felt like I knew the characters better and could appreciate them more. I also felt like that's when more exciting things started happening. And as for Xavier and Karis? Gah I just love them. And I really hope things will work out for them in the end because they are meant to be. *sigh*

Overall, Alphas and Aggression was a new and unique type of werewolf book. One that I definitely enjoyed reading. In fact, once I reach the last half of the book I had a hard time putting the book down again. There was no shortage of action and several unexpected twists that left me speechless, especially the ending! 

About the author:
Diantha Jones/A. Star loves writing fantasy books filled with adventure, romance, and magic. She's the author of the Wesley Werewolves series, Oracle of Delphi series, and the Djinn Order series. When she isn’t writing or working, she is reading or being hypnotized by Netflix. She is a serious night-owl and while everyone else is grinning in the warmth and sunlight, she’s hoping for gloominess and rain. Yeah, she’s weird like that.
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Review: The Sin Eater by Jennifer Harlow

Title: The Sin Eater 
Author: Jennifer Harlow
Series: F.R.E.A.K.S. Squad Investigation #5
Publication: May 23rd 2017 by Devil on the Left Books
Genre: Urban Fantasy, Paranormal, Mystery
Purchase Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Kobo
Rating: 4.5/5★

The long anticipated installment of the best-selling and critically acclaimed F.R.E.A.K.S. Squad series is finally here…

CLASSIFIED: The Exiled F.R.E.A.K.

What’s a F.R.E.A.K. to do after all her hopes and dreams literally died in front of her? Telekinetic Beatrice Alexander went from flying around the country in a private jet, saving innocent lives from monstrous threats to living in her grandmother’s house, playing video games and drinking too much. Directionless, hiding from her problems and trauma, she will do anything not to confront her deadly actions that fateful night in North Carolina three months before. Any distraction will do.

Enter Lord Connor McInnis.

Drawn to the sexy, powerful ruler of San Diego, Beatrice soon loses herself in the passion and luxury of the vampire’s world. But when she finds herself caught in the middle of a centuries old vampire rivalry, Beatrice must decide: how far is she willing to go for those she loves…and for herself?

I kind of forgot to post this review after I read the book because I read the book and wrote the review when I was on vacation last year so it was still hiding in one of my notebooks but I finally got around to posting it. Phew! Initially I was a little nervous to start this book because I knew it was going to be a little different from the previous four books. And it did actually end up being quite different but in the best way possible!

It's been a while since the book before this one but I remember how the end really broke my heart so I knew the main character, Bea, wouldn't be in the best state of mind in this story. But it only showed how very human she really is. I don't want to give too much away but she ends up being in a relationship with a rich and powerful vampire named Connor, which really surprised me because this didn't seem typical at all for Bea. She was grieving the loss of the love of her life so I did understand her reasoning concering all her actions. She made some rash and bad decisions, sure, but I can't say I blame her for it.

Speaking of Connor... I never really knew what to really think of him when he appeared in a previous book or was mentioned. He was a major character in this book so it gave me time to get to know him more. I liked him but there were also moments when I was reading the book that I felt something was really off about him. I was going back and forth a lot with him. The story kept me guessing whether he was to be trusted or not, which is something that I actually loved. 

Compared to the other books this one was really steamy and also a lot darker. That was yet another thing I loved about it. You know me, I'm all about the darker books. And of course there was Oliver, my favorite character from this series. He's just so wonderful and he was amazing in this book. I love how well he knows Bea and how well she knows him in return. I'm not sure if she actually deserves him but I do want them to be endgame (although I'm not sure if there'll be another book but a girl can dream) They have a real and strong connection. I was also really glad that he made Bea see sense eventually. 

So overal I loved The Sin Eater by Jennifer Harlow. It's definitely one of my most favorite books by her and a very powerful story as well. I can't recommend this series high enough. It also features different paranormal creatures and people with various powers. 

Author bio
Jennifer Harlow spent her restless childhood fighting with her three brothers and scaring the heck out of herself with horror movies and books. She grew up to earn a degree at the University of Virginia which she put to use as a radio DJ, crisis hotline volunteer, bookseller, lab assistant, wedding coordinator, and government investigator. Currently she calls Atlanta home but that restless itch is ever present. In her free time she continues to scare the beejepers out of herself watching scary movies and opening her credit card bills.
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Review: Shadow of Night by Deborah Harkness

Title: Shadow of Night
Author: Deborah Harkness
Series: All Souls Trilogy #2
Publication: July 10th 2012 by Viking Adult
Genre: Fantasy ~ Historical Fiction
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Google Play | Kobo
Rating: 5/5

IT BEGAN WITH A DISCOVERY OF WITCHES.

Historian Diana Bishop, descended from a line of powerful witches, and long-lived vampire Matthew Clairmont have broken the laws dividing creatures. When Diana discovered a significant alchemical manuscript in the Bodleian Library,she sparked a struggle in which she became bound to Matthew. Now the fragile coexistence of witches, daemons, vampires and humans is dangerously threatened.

Seeking safety, Diana and Matthew travel back in time to London, 1590. But they soon realise that the past may not provide a haven. Reclaiming his former identity as poet and spy for Queen Elizabeth, the vampire falls back in with a group of radicals known as the School of Night. Many are unruly daemons, the creative minds of the age, including playwright Christopher Marlowe and mathematician Thomas Harriot.

Together Matthew and Diana scour Tudor London for the elusive manuscript Ashmole 782, and search for the witch who will teach Diana how to control her remarkable powers...

I was surprised by how much I loved Shadow of Night. Of course I thought the first book, A Discovery of Witches was really good but I've always felt something was missing and I guess I found it in the sequel. I didn't even care that this was a pretty big book with 709 pages, I just couldn't get enough of reading it.

Because Diana and Matthew travel to the past, this book mostly takes place in 1590 and 1591. So it's no surprise that I devoured this book since I'm such a history nerd. I thought the author really did great writing about this hectic era in history. 

I actually think fans of Outlander will love this book as much as I did because Shadow of Night reminded me so much of it, what with the time travelling and everyone. In this book Diana meets a lot of historical figures like Christopher Marlowe, Thomas Harriot and Queen Elizabeth to name a few. Which made my historical fangirl heart so happy.

The writing was flawless, but I'm not surprised by it since it was like that also with the first book. And I still love Diana and Matthew so much. In fact, I think I'm even a bigger fan of them as a couple. And they went through so much together in this book.

I am a bit worried though that I won't enjoy the next and final book as much since it doesn't take place in the past anymore. But still I'm gonna hope for the best because I'm dying to find out how it will all end.

Overall, Shadow of Night by Deborah Harkness was even better than I had thought it would be. The history, the writing, the characters — it all made this into one hell of a book. It's absolutely one of my top favorites!

       About the Author:

              Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads

Deborah Harkness is a professor of history at the University of Southern California. She has received Fullbright, Guggenheim, and National Humanities Center fellowships, and her most recent scholarly work is The Jewel House: Elizabethan London and the Scientific Revolution. She also writes an award-winning wine blog.

Co-Review: Lady Midnight by Cassandra Clare

After buddy reading many books, Christina of Booklover's Teaparty and I decided to do something different and do a co-review. 

Title: Lady Midnight
Author: Cassandra Clare
Series: The Dark Artifices #1
Publication: March 8th 2016 by Simon & Schuster Children's UK
Genre: Young Adult ~ Urban Fantasy
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Kobo
Rating: 5/5

 

The Shadowhunters of Los Angeles star in the first novel in Cassandra Clare’s newest series, The Dark Artifices, a sequel to the internationally bestselling Mortal Instruments series. Lady Midnight is a Shadowhunters novel.

It’s been five years since the events of City of Heavenly Fire that brought the Shadowhunters to the brink of oblivion. Emma Carstairs is no longer a child in mourning, but a young woman bent on discovering what killed her parents and avenging her losses.

Together with her parabatai Julian Blackthorn, Emma must learn to trust her head and her heart as she investigates a demonic plot that stretches across Los Angeles, from the Sunset Strip to the enchanted sea that pounds the beaches of Santa Monica. If only her heart didn’t lead her in treacherous directions…

Making things even more complicated, Julian’s brother Mark—who was captured by the faeries five years ago—has been returned as a bargaining chip. The faeries are desperate to find out who is murdering their kind—and they need the Shadowhunters’ help to do it. But time works differently in faerie, so Mark has barely aged and doesn’t recognize his family. Can he ever truly return to them? Will the faeries really allow it?

Glitz, glamours, and Shadowhunters abound in this heartrending opening to Cassandra Clare’s Dark Artifices series.

Was there anything that stood out with the storyline to you? 

Christina: Well honestly I was a bit scared to read it. After the big love affair with both The Mortal Instruments and The Infernal Devices I couldn’t help, but be a little scared that Lady Midnight wouldn’t be as good, HOWEVER turns out my worry was for nothing. Because of course it turned out pretty damn amazing! Just great plot and characters and twists you don’t see coming.  

Stephanie: I was surprised by how much I loved the book and plot. I mean, I had expected it to be good, but I honestly hadn't expected it to be this good, you know? And there were a lot of unexpected twists that I hadn't seen coming. Typical Cassandra Clare! ;) 

What are your thoughts on Emma and Julian?  

Christina: Oh they are just so cute! Adorable. Their love is also really interesting both because of the whole forbidden element, but also since there seems to something about their parabatai bond that hopefully we get more answers to later.  

Stephanie: I don't know what to say except that I absolutely loved them! And of course the forbidden love element is always a winner with me. 

Which other romances in the book did you like? 

Christina: Mark and Cristina for sure. And Kieran I guess. Eventually Diego. Definitely becomes complicated, but that’s what is so great, right. As it looks now though I am rooting for Mark and Cristina.  

Stephanie: I adored Mark and Cristina. I shipped them pretty early on and continue to root for them. I also gotta say I did like Mark with Kieran but in the end my heart goes to Mark and Cristina together. 

Favorite secondary characters and why? 

Christina: I loved all the siblings they all had their little quirks and different personalities. Mark did turn out to be one of my favorites, just because of the way he acts and says some things. Cute and odd.  

Stephanie: Mark, without a doubt! He was just freaking adorable and a little odd. I just love that in a guy. But I also have a lot of love for the other Blackthorn siblings.  

How would you describe Lady Midnight in one or two words? 

Christina: Unexpected & amazing 

Stephanie: Unexpectedly awesome!

What did you think of the writing in the book? 

Christina: Well that I didn’t worry about, it’s Cassie so it was amazing like all the others. Gets better and better really.  

Stephanie: Amazing as I'm used to with a book by Cassandra Clare. In fact, I think her writing just gets better and better with each book she writes. 

Favorite quote. 

Christina: Okay so there’s a lot of great quotes out there, really hard to choose!  

“We're late," she said, "The show is supposed to start in ten minutes. If some people hadn't decided that 'semiformal' meant 'seminaked'-" "Why are you calling me 'some people'?" Mark inquired. "I am only one person.”  

 Stephanie: “He bumped into a pay phone and said, 'Excuse me, miss,' on our way in," said Julian. 

"It's polite to apologize," said Mark with the same small voice. 

"Not to inanimate objects.”   

How was it different or similar to The Mortal instruments or Infernal Devices? 

Christina: Similar I guess since it’s in the same world and all- I’d say in the places it matter like story wise with the Shadowhunters it’s similar as it’s supposed to be, but characters, storyline and everything else is definitely different. Of course it’s awesome that some of the old characters show up or is mentioned which just brings out all the feels.

Stephanie: This is a tough question. It's both pretty similar to The Mortal Instruments and The Infernal Devices but it's also a complete different book with different characters in the lead. We do see a lot of familiar characters, though... so that is awesome too.  

What are your overall thoughts? 

Christina: Overall, I loved it! Like I said I was a bit worried, but it was really amazing. It was filled with all the great Shadowhunter action, forbidden romance and humor. Now it’s just waiting for the next one.  

Stephanie: Lady Midnight ended up being one of my favorite reads of 2016. It had romance, action, humor and hit me hard in the feels. It was pure perfection and I can't wait to read the next book! 

       About the Author:

       Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads

Cassandra Clare is the author of the #1 New York Times, USA TODAY, Wall Street Journal, and Publishers Weekly bestselling Mortal Instruments series and the Infernal Devices trilogy, and coauthor of the Bane Chronicles with Sarah Rees Brennan and Maureen Johnson. She also wrote The Shadowhunter's Codex with her husband, Joshua Lewis. Her books have more than 36 million copies in print worldwide and have been translated into more than thirty-five languages. Cassandra lives in western Massachusetts. Visit her at CassandraClare.com. Learn more about the world of the Shadowhunters at Shadowhunters.com.