All posts by skyebjenner

Icebreaker by E. Catherine Tobler

Book Review, , , ,

Overview

The Mammoth Book of SteampunkTitle: Icebreaker
Author: E. Catherine Tobler
In: The Mammoth Book of Steampunk (Sean Wallace)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Adventure, Family, Steampunk
Pace: Fast
Format: Short story
Publisher: Robinson
Year: 2012
5th sentence, 74th page: “Have you seen its like before?

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Synopsis

Muriel is travelling to the Arctic circle to cremate her husbands remains. But not everything goes as planned, and, partnered with her past and a pushy reporter, she is in for one big adventure.

Thoughts

A journey to put her husband to rest leaves Muriel on an epic adventure that is far more dangerous than she expected. Reflecting on her marriage, the nosiness of reporters and the dangers of her travels, she opens up a journey that is both simple and enjoyable.

The reflections on Muriel’s marriage show what a great and loving relationship her and J.J. had. And the fact that she is a dwarf and unexpected made me wish that he was still alive. Which was the exact response I’m sure the writer was aiming for – it made for not only a whimsical journey, but helped to create a more profound relationship with the lead voice and narrator.

 <- The Steamdancer (1896) Review Tom Edison and his Amazing Telegraphic Harpoon Review ->
Image source: Amazon

Something Old, Something New by Marissa Meyer

Book Review, , , , ,

Overview

Stars AboveTitle: Something Old, Something New
Author: Marissa Meyer
Series: The Lunar Chronicles #4.5
In: Stars Above (Marissa Meyer)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Fairy tales, Steampunk, Strong women
Pace: Medium
Format: Short story
Publisher: Feiwel and Friends
Year: 2016
5th sentence, 74th page: “I love you too.”

Buy The Book Now at The Book Depository, Free Delivery World Wide

Synopsis

In this epilogue to Winter, friends gather for the wedding of the century…

Thoughts

I’m so glad that everyone got a happy ending. And that, although the ending of Winter tied up the main plot points, there was Something Old, Something New to completely finish it off. After all, the series just had to end with a wedding, and this story did that perfectly.

Judging from the title, I knew that somebody out of the four couples was going to get married. And I kind of love the fact that it was Scarlet and Wolf. They probably had the most difficult time of it, and with the way things ended for Wolf in Winter… well, it was nice to know that everything ended perfectly for them. And it also highlighted what happens with the rest of the couples two years after the ending of their war.

Now I just have to get rid of this gooshy feeling and find a new book / series to read…

 <- Winter Review Stars Above Review ->
Image source: Lunar Chronicles Wiki

The Righteous by Jenna Maclaine

Book Review, , , , ,

Overview

The Mammoth Book of Vampire RomanceTitle: The Righteous
Author: Jenna Maclaine
Series: Cin Craven #0.5
In: The Mammoth Book of Vampire Romance (Trisha Telep)
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Dark fantasy, Strong women, Vampires
Pace: Medium
Format: Short story
Publisher: Robinson
Year: 2011
5th sentence, 74th page: He needed a spy at the English court.

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Synopsis

Devlin: warrior, mercenary… vampire.
Justine: human, courtesan… slayer.

Sent to Paris by the High King of the Vampires, Devlin is not prepared to fall in love with the very woman he was hired to kill.

Thoughts

Following on from The Eternal Warrior, I wasn’t sure where this story would go. I know that the main series focuses on Cin Craven. And, as with the other two short stories that I have read in this series (I have yet to actually read one of the novels), I absolutely loved this!

I loved the lead couple in this – Justine and Devlin are both awkwardly righteous and filled with honour. They are fun, and reading about their unconventional courtship was a different pace from any of the other stories that I have so far read in The Mammoth Book of Vampire Romance. The fact that this ties in perfectly with The Eternal Warrior and the Morrigan’s masterplan just made it all that much more enjoyable.

 <- Fangs for Hire Review Knowledge of Evil Review ->
Image source: Goodreads

Winter by Marissa Meyer

Book Review, , , , ,

Overview

WinterTitle: Winter
Author: Marissa Meyer
Series: The Lunar Chronicles #4
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Fairy tales, Steampunk, Strong women
Pace: Medium
Format: Novel
Publisher: Puffin
Year: 2015
5th sentence, 74th page: It was going to be a wedding gift for Emperor Kairo, before… well.

Buy The Book Now at The Book Depository, Free Delivery World Wide

Synopsis

THIS IS NOT THE FAIRY TALE YOU REMEMBER. BUT IT’S ON YOU WON’T FORGET.

Winter is admired for her grace, kindness and beauty, despite the scars on her face. She’s said to be even more breath taking than her stepmother, Queen Levana…

When Winter develops feelings for the handsome palace guard, Jacin, she fears the evil Queen will crush their romance before it has a chance to begin.

But there are stirrings against the Queen across the land. Together with the cyborg mechanic, Cinder, and her allies, Winter might even find the power to launch a revolution and win a war that’s been raging for far too long.

Can Cinder, Scarlet, Cress and Winter claim their happily-ever-afters by defeating Levana once and for all?

Thoughts

You know when you finish a really amazing series, and you just… ?? After finishing Winter, I strolled around, looked at all my books and wondered how anything else could live up to that standard. Yes, I had a short story left to finish in Stars Above, and that helped for a little while, but the main storyline, that big, epic battle that had been building up? It was done, finished, and I honestly wasn’t sure I would ever be able to read anything so amazing again (it’s okay, I got over this, but seriously… how many books punch you in the gut like that?)

Admittedly, I have sort of been putting of reading Winter, although I’ve been absolutely dying to know what happens in the final face off between Cinder and Levana, the book is over 800 pages long. It’s big. It feels a little intimidating when you should be studying, and don’t want to get bogged down in a good book. I also tend to find that not many books of that size and length keep me completely enthralled throughout. They normally have their I-have-to-turn-the-next-page moments followed by the eh-I-can-put-this-down-for-a-few-days moment. Not so with Winter. I read the entire thing in 2 days. I actually took a “me day” off of my PhD because I was so desperate to finish it (and felt like it was about time I took a moment to breath)…

All throughout The Lunar Chronicles, I have loved how closely Meyer has managed to stick with the original fairy tales. Yes, they have a more “Disney spin” than the actual originals, but it is still pretty damn well done, and I have loved the darker aspects that the non-Disney versions have been able to provide. And, of course, mad little Winter was no different. You just have to read this book to understand how phenomenally good this story actually is. Although, maybe don’t make plans for the next 24 hours?

 <- The Princess and the Guard Review Something Old, Something New Review ->
Image source: Lunar Chronicles Wiki

Earth Bound by Christine Feehan

Book Review, , , , , , ,

Overview

Earth BoundTitle: Earth bound
Author: Christine Feehan
Series: Sisters of the Heart #4, Sea Haven #11
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: The Coast, Elements, Family, Magic, Paranormal romance
Pace: Fast
Format: Novel
Publisher: Jove
Year: 2015
5th sentence, 74th page: I’d like to come if I have time.

Buy The Book Now at The Book Depository, Free Delivery World Wide

Synopsis

After escaping from a cult, Lexi found refuge with her sisters on the farm that more than sustained her body – it nurtured her soul as well. But she never forgot the terror she left behind or the always present fear that the cult would find her again, and claim her. Then her nightmare came true.

Lexi was discovered and threatened – only to be suddenly saved by a stranger. He is Gavriil Prakenskii, and he’s awestruck by the woman he has rescued. She is destined for him. He can feel it in his soul. But how can Lexi find happiness with a man steeped in secrets and shadows, one intimately acquainted with violence, and whose very love could be the death of them?

Thoughts

This was so heart wrenching. And heartbreaking. And just generally completely gut wrenching. Lexi is such a sweet and adorable character. And her past is stomach-curdlingly ill-inspiring. The fact that she ends up with the most damaged of the Prakenskii brothers too helps to make this both beautiful and… well, heartbreaking. There really is no other word. This seriously tore at the heartstrings and made it impossible to put the story down.

Where most of the other tales feature sex quite strongly, Lexi’s past makes it almost impossible to have this featured so strongly. And it was kind of a nice way to change the pace and trajectory of the storyline. This was also a lot more violent and bloodthirsty. Which was good. Because the whole cult at eight-years-old and all sorts made me feel incredibly bloodthirsty while reading this. I might have actually cheered when Lexi’s past is finally overcome. Also when she kicks Gavriil for being annoying.

Gavriil and Lexi’s story doesn’t strongly feature the noose around the Prakenskii brothers’ necks. But it does help to tighten the noose and set up the tale perfectly for Fire Bound. There’s also the surprise reveal about Lissa’s past which makes me want to read the next story all the more. But, really, I need to actually get some work done… I might just have to hide the book from myself in an attempt for some self-control.

 <- Air Bound Review Fire Bound Review ->
Image source: Pinterest

Quicksilver by Cindy Holby

Book Review, , , , ,

Overview

The Mammoth Book of Irish RomanceTitle: Quicksilver

Author: Cindy Holby

In: The Mammoth Book of Irish Romance (Trisha Telep)

Rating Out of 5: 3 (On the fence about this one)

My Bookshelves: Celtic, Easy reading, Fantasy, Romance

Pace: Slow

Format: Short story

Publisher: Running Press

Year: 2010

5th sentence, 74th page: She shrugged.

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Synopsis

When a man pulls a woman from the surf, his life is irreparably changed. The fae woman may be his saviour or his downfall, only time will tell.

Thoughts

I didn’t mind this story, but it was a little slow… and didn’t quite have the same oomph to it as the other short stories in this collection. Man meets woman. Saves woman. Woman could kick his ass. But they end up together. I was expecting an incredibly epic battle. But it really wasn’t all that amazing. He fights, he wins, the end. They ride off into the sunset…

Even the name of this story is a bit misleading, there is nothing quick about it. But that’s not to say that this was a bad tale. It just wasn’t exactly captivating… so a perfect one to read just before bedtime. It’s not going to be impossible to put down, but a nice little story to wile away the time.

 <- Eternal Strife Review The Feast of Beauty Review ->
Image source: Goodreads

Air Bound by Christine Feehan

Book Review, , , , , , ,

Overview

Air BoundTitle: Air Bound
Author: Christine Feehan
Series: Sisters of the Heart #3, Sea Haven #10
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: The Coast, Elements, Family, Magic, Paranormal romance
Pace: Fast
Format: Novel
Publisher: Jove
Year: 2014
5th sentence, 74th page: He was systematically destroying her world.

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Synopsis

For as far back as she can remember, Airiana Ridell has always been aware of her extraordinary gift. She can intuit revealing and illuminating “patterns” in the air around her – whether in a spary of mist, in billowing clouds or in the dense swirls of an impenetrable fog. Her abilities led to her placement in a secret government training facility when she was a child, but everything changed after her mother was murdered.

Airiana fled the program, but she couldn’t outrun the desperate members of a shadowy cabal who want her, who need her, who will kill to get her. Kidnapped and held abroad a ship bound for dangerous seas, her only chance for rescue is Maxim Parkenskii. He has his reasons for helping her, but he isn’t about to reveal them to Airiana. Not yet. Not as the two are drawn together as moth to flame. Not when there are so many secrets yet untold that could shatter the quaint community of Sea Haven and all who reside there…

Thoughts

I’ve been relating to all of the women throughout the Sea Haven novels in one way or another. But I certainly related to Airiana on a whole other level. She gets lost in numbers and her thoughts. And although I don’t get lost in patterns and numbers to the same degree, I honestly spend days on end in my own head, forgetting what else is around me. I’ve not really read any other stories that understand this level of distraction that your thoughts can drag you into.

This is the first of the Sisters of the Heart books that isn’t actually set on the farm. I also felt like Maxim helped to kind of destroy the no-killing thing that the previous two couples were trying to set up. In Water Bound and Spirit Bound, Levi and Thomas are sort of discouraged (and banned) from killing people as their first aim of defense or protection for the women. After all, they want to start their new lives together. And then Maxim comes along. He literally runs around this entire time killing. Where the previous nine Sea Haven books involving very little murder and mayhem, Maxim is more than able to make up for this. I found it kind of hilarious that all the hard-won “new life” that had been discussed for the Prakenskii brothers very quickly went down the drain. It was kind of hilarious.

Air Bound also helped to further twine the storylines together in a way that you know two epic showdowns are about to occur. It makes me not only want to read the next love story, but also to find out how these intricately intertwined stories are all going to come to a head in the finality of this series, Bound Together.

 <- Spirit Bound Review Earth Bound Review ->
Image source: Amazon

The Steamdancer (1896) by Caitlin R. Kiernan

Book Review, , , ,

Overview

The Mammoth Book of SteampunkTitle: The Steamdancer (1896)
Author: Caitlin R. Kiernan
In: The Mammoth Book of Steampunk (Sean Wallace)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Easy reading, Romance, Steampunk
Pace: Slow
Format: Short story
Publisher: Robinson
Year: 2007
5th sentence, 74th page: It was not an uncommon fate for the likes of Missouri Banks, those caught out in the open during the spring swarms, those without safe houses to hide inside until the voracious flies had come and gone, moving on to bedevil other towns and cities and farms.

Buy The Book Now at The Book Depository, Free Delivery World Wide

Synopsis

A young girl is found by the mechanic. After helping to turn her into a cyborg, they get married and live happily ever after.

Thoughts

This story kind of completely melted my heart. It was so cute and sweet. Almost a little window into the daily life of a gorgeous cyborg woman. I was expecting something much darker in the first mini chapter, but it was quickly a very smooth and easy read. One that set the tone for a loving relationship, a woman who loved to dance, and a body that was constructed of metal as well as flesh.

This short story incorporates everything that I have come to love about the steampunk genre. Namely the great way of writing that feels a lot more classical and Victorian in its construction. The ways in which it is so incredibly descriptive. And, of course, the great settings and themes which combine the romance of the past (although maggots eating away flesh may not be able to be classed as super romantic) and the hope of the future.

 <- Fixing Hanover Review Icebreaker Review ->
Image source: Amazon

Spirit Bound by Christine Feehan

Book Review, , , , , ,

Overview

Spirit BoundTitle: Spirit Bound
Author: Christine Feehan
Series: Sisters of the Heart #2, Sea Haven #9
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: The Coast, Elements, Family, Magic, Paranormal romance
Pace: Fast
Format: Novel
Publisher: Jove
Year: 2011
5th sentence, 74th page: He lives the way he wants to live.

Buy The Book Now at The Book Depository, Free Delivery World Wide

Synopsis

Lethal undercover agent Stefan Prakenskii knows a thousand ways to kill a man – and twice as many ways to pleasure a woman. That’s why he’s looking forward to his new mission. He must go to the coastal town of Sea Haven and insinuate himself into the life of an elusive beauty who has mysterious ties to his past and a link to a dangerously seductive and equally elusive master criminal who wants only one thing: to possess her.

Judith Henderson is an artist on the rise, an ethereal and haunted woman whose own picture-perfect beauty stirs the souls of two men who have made her their obsession. For years she has been waiting for someone to come and unlock the passion and fire within her – waiting for the right man to surrender it to. But only one man can survive her secrets and the shadow she has cast over both their lives.

Thoughts

I like damaged artists. There is something about them that just seems to work really well and makes a kind of perfect sense. Yes, it’s a bit of a cliché, but it’s one that really works. Judith is haunted and stunning. She is the epitome of a feminine artist and wonder. And something about that makes this story feel kind of ethereal and stunning all of itself.

I’m still not really sure whether to call Thomas, Stefan or Thomas. Throughout the tale, Stefan almost seemed to suit him better and added an extra layer of mystery to him. Thomas is just so simply ordinary, and there is nothing ordinary about the leading man in Spirit Bound. Or the woman either for that matter. They are both withdrawn and spirited, a contrasting set of ideals that somehow work incredibly well. Add to this a backdrop of intrigue and mystery, danger from Judith’s past, and an amazingly not-so-sleepy coastal town.

Spirit Bound starts to set up a greater storyline and intrigue that has been hinted at in Water Bound. The defense system and man who Gavriil almost died for starts to tie himself in amongst the girls’ lives. As each storyline unfolds, the pieces click into place. As does the reason for their eventual demise (if the big, bad Russian man has his way). And now I can’t wait to find out how this will continue to unfold, and whether the Prakenskii brothers will finally find a way to their own happy endings…

 <- Water Bound Review Air Bound Review ->
Image source: Amazon

Fangs for Hire by Jenna Black

Book Review, , ,

Overview

The Mammoth Book of Vampire RomanceTitle: Fangs for Hire
Author: Jenna Black
In: The Mammoth Book of Vampire Romance (Trisha Telep)
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Paranormal romance, Vampires
Pace: Fast
Format: Short story
Publisher: Robinson
Year: 2008
5th sentence, 74th page: Had he smelled it on my breath last night?

Buy The Book Now at The Book Depository, Free Delivery World Wide

Synopsis

She is an assassin hired to take out a mark. But the mark turns out to be something far more than expected. And incredibly desired.

Thoughts

I loved this short story. The idea that there is a vampire hit woman. And she runs into another vampire. And of course, there is sexual tension (because it’s in a book of vampire romance after all). It was just cute and funny. Easy to read and a good bit to read just before sinking into bed to try and get some sleep.

I loved that the two vampires showed two flip sides to vampirism – the one who tries to kill the bad guys, and the ones who want to send others to their rest. The assassin and the carer (in a weird, twisted way). I’ve seen both tropes in a number of vampire stories, but never coming against one another. Certainly an enjoyable and slightly altered way in which to see vampirific interactions…

 <- Ode to Edvard Munch Review The Righteous Review ->
Image source: Goodreads