Review: Isle of Night by Veronica Wolff

Title: Isle of Night
Author: Veronica Wolff
Genre: N/A, Paranormal
Series: The Watcher #1 

Paperback, 302 pages 
Publication: September 6, 2011 by NAL Trade 

Source: Personal library, for my own reading. 

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Is life offering fewer and fewer options? Then join the dead.

When Annelise meets dark and seductive Ronan, he promises her a new life-if she has the courage to chance the unknown. Now, she's whisked away to a mysterious island and pitted against other female recruits to become a Watcher-girls who are partnered with vampires and assist them in their missions. To survive and become a Watcher, Annelise has to beat out every other girl, but she's determined to do so, because to fail doesn't mean dishonor-it means death.

Isle of Night popped on my radar years ago when it was first published in 2011. It was pitched as the next Vampire Academy series, and while the VA series is my favorite YA series…I was hesitant to try t because I didn't want to read a knock-off. However, a few months ago the book appeared in the ‘bargain bin’ on Amazon and I thought what the heck? It’s only four bucks, going to give this book a try.

I am happy to say this book didn't disappoint. I mean there were a couple of annoyances here and there but nothing drastic that made me want to quit. Our main heroine is 17-year-old Annalise Drew, who is seriously down on her luck. She’s been living with her drunk and abusive father and her evil stepmother for her entire life, and she thought she’d finally be able to leave the hellhole she calls home for college (graduated from high school a year early). But when she arrives at the Florida University she discovers that she can’t enroll because she hasn't fulfilled all the requirements to receive her diploma. With no money, job, or a place to return to Annalise literally hit rock bottom, until she meet mysterious Ronan who says he can change her life and take her far, far away from Florida. With nothing else to lose, Annalise agrees to go with Ronan to the Isle of Night, an all girls’ school for the gifted.

The only thing Isle of Night has in common with the Vampire Academy series is the aspect of Watchers.  Girls are chosen for the school based on two criteria: 1) They posses something unique/ability 2) when they have nothing left to live for (rock bottom). Girls are trained to become Watchers (body guards) for Vampires. While there are about 30 girls to begin with, in the end only 5 will be chosen. The vampires are made up of only males and each male will be paired with a female watcher.  There are also boys at the school, training to become a vampire. For more than half of the book; the author is setting up the world and introducing the readers to the characters. Readers don’t learn much about the vampires, so I can’t really comment on what makes them more unique from other books’ vampires. We’re basically learning the rules of being a Watcher alongside Annalise.

I’m still not quite sure how I feel about Annalise. I liked her but at the same time was annoyed by her. Annalise ‘unique ability’ is being super smart, she apparently has the highest IQ in her school/ or for her age. She may be smart but she doesn't have any common sense what-so-ever. I mean if a stranger asked you to board a plane to god-knows-where…the logical thing to do is not to go. Annalise boarded the plane anyways. In the book she kept saying Ronan mesmerized her into going but at the same time she’d say she knew at the back of her mind it was a bad choice and even Ronan says his ‘powers’ didn't work as well on her. Annalise excelled when it came to school related work but when given a situational life task, she failed miserably.  She literally did and said the stupidest things, which goes back to the beliefs that blondes are dumb. Yes, Annalise is blonde. There was also a combat match in the book; pitting girl against girl for a reward at the end of the year. Annalise’s character showed a bit of growth but her fierceness and combative skills during the match seemed unreal. And while she won matches, it wasn't because she was smart (in my opinion)…it was sheer luck. The rest of the characters didn't make a lasting impression. I felt like I didn't really have the chance to get to know them. I think if the characters had more page time, they’d seem more developed.

All in all I thought Isle of Night was a good introduction to a new series. I am interested in seeing what happens next; especially because this book ended abruptly on a cliffhanger. The book was a short and quick read, so it left a lot of questions but with the foundation already set; I hope there will be more character growth/development and vampire answers in the next book. 

Review: Avalon by Mindee Arnett

Title: Avalon
Author: Mindee Arnett
Genre: Young Adult, Sci-Fi
Series: Avalon #1 

Hardcover, 432 pages

Publication: January 21, 2014 by Balzer & Bray 

Source: I received a review copy from the publicist in exchange for a honest review; also part of spotlight tour.  

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Of the various star systems that make up the Confederation, most lie thousands of light-years from First Earth-and out here, no one is free. The agencies that govern the Confederation are as corrupt as the crime bosses who patrol it, and power is held by anyone with enough greed and ruthlessness to claim it. That power is derived from one thing: metatech, the devices that allow people to travel great distances faster than the speed of light.

Jeth Seagrave and his crew of teenage mercenaries have survived in this world by stealing unsecured metatech, and they're damn good at it. Jeth doesn't care about the politics or the law; all he cares about is earning enough money to buy back his parents' ship, Avalon, from his crime-boss employer and getting himself and his sister, Lizzie, the heck out of Dodge. But when Jeth finds himself in possession of information that both the crime bosses and the government are willing to kill for, he is going to have to ask himself how far he'll go to get the freedom he's wanted for so long.

I became a fan of Arnett when she published her first book, The Nightmare Affair. When I heard she was writing another YA series I was stoked! I was immediately intrigued by Avalon’s synopsis, and was happy to learn it was going to be different from her first series; as she tackles Science Fiction. It was even on my list of most anticipated books of 2014. I might have gone into this book with high expectations, because Avalon was a big disappointment.

The author and many readers compared this book to the show Firefly. I’ve never seen the show, so I was going into this book with no preconceived notions. I really wanted to love this book, but sadly it fell flat. I look for two things when I read a book, strong world-building and realistic/developed characters; Avalon had neither of them. The world-building in my opinion was lacking. There wasn’t much in terms of description or at least nothing that made it seem believable. I never got the feeling that I was on an exotic planet or that I was in deep space. The only description I remember that was used to describe space was how vast, dark and hollow it was; sounds more like a giant black hole to me.  

Then we have the characters. They are probably the blandest group of characters I’ve ever read. I never once felt a connection to our main hero Jeth or any of his crew members/secondary characters. The dialogue in the book seemed robotic/monotone…it lacked feeling and conviction from the characters. For example the way Jeth talked about his parents, he says he misses them but I never once got the feeling he was being sincere about it. We are talking his dead parents. It felt like everything Jeth or the other characters said was for the sake of just talking. It wasn’t believable and I had a hard time empathizing with them. My main point is they’re under-developed and didn’t feel like realistic people. There are few MC that I have ever had a problem with but I found myself disliking Jeth as the book progressed. There were a lot of betrayals and secrets going on the entire book, Jeth being one of the people doing the betraying … but then he gets all mad and shocked when someone pulls a fast one on him first. Like, really? 

The romance in this book is laughable. I didn’t think it help the overall story/plot at all, but felt like it was added as an afterthought.  Jeth and his love interest’s interaction were just plain weird.  They didn’t even talk much and when they did talk; I never got the feeling they liked each other or that they had any chemistry. Their spurts of romantic interlude took place at the most random moments. For example they are about to do something dangerous and then one person has an epiphany, “oh, let’s make out!”; they  make out and then it’s back to the problem at hand…like what just happened didn’t happen. This happened on two separate occasions and it was just as freakin’ weird as the first time. 

Overall this is an okay book. The plot was alright but the pacing was extremely slow. Many reviewers/readers said it picked up pace for them around the midway point but even then I was having a hard time finishing the book. The world building was lackluster, characters were one-dimensional and the dialogue was poorly written. There were many others readers that loved this book, so while this book wasn’t for me…it might be for you! I suggest checking out a sample chapter or excerpt before purchasing or borrowing. 

Release Day Launch: Avalon by Mindee Arnett + Giveaway

Happy Release Day to Author Mindee Arnett! Mindee's new YA sci-fi novel is out today wherever books are sold! Check out the quote graphic below and enter the giveaway to win 1 of 2 SIGNED copies of Avalon and a $50 gift card!

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ABOUT THE BOOK

Of the various star systems that make up the Confederation, most lie thousands of light-years from First Earth—and out here, no one is free. The agencies that govern the Confederation are as corrupt as the crime bosses who patrol it, and power is held by anyone with enough greed and ruthlessness to claim it. That power is derived from one thing: metatech, the devices that allow people to travel great distances faster than the speed of light.

Jeth Seagrave and his crew of teenage mercenaries have survived in this world by stealing unsecured metatech, and they're damn good at it. Jeth doesn't care about the politics or the law; all he cares about is earning enough money to buy back his parents' ship, Avalon, from his crime-boss employer and getting himself and his sister, Lizzie, the heck out of Dodge. But when Jeth finds himself in possession of information that both the crime bosses and the government are willing to kill for, he is going to have to ask himself how far he'll go to get the freedom he's wanted for so long.

With pulse-pounding action, a captivating mystery, and even a bit of romance, Avalon is the perfect read for hard-core sci-fi fans and non–sci-fi fans alike.

BUY THE BOOK ⇨ AMAZON|B&N|B-A-M|INDIE BOUND|GOOGLE PLAY|iTUNES|

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Mindee Arnett lives on a horse farm in Ohio with her husband, two kids, a couple of dogs, and an inappropriate number of cats. She’s addicted to jumping horses and telling tales of magic, the macabre, and outer space. She has far more dreams than nightmares. She's the YA author of The Nightmare Affair (Tor Teen), an urban fantasy series about a girl who is literally a nightmare and must use her skills to solve a murder, and the forthcoming science fiction series, Avalon (B+B, 1/21/2014), where Jeth and his teenage mercenaries need to pull off one last big job in order to earn their freedom.

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Early review: Dirty Magic by Jaye Wells

Title: Dirty Magic
Author: Jaye Wells
Genre: Urban Fantasy/Speculative Fiction
Series: Prospero's War #1

Trade paperback, 400 pages
Publication: January 21, 2014 by Orbit

Source: I received a review copy from the publicist in exchange for a honest review.

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The last thing patrol cop Kate Prospero expected to find on her nightly rounds was a werewolf covered in the blood of his latest victim. But then, she also didn't expect that shooting him would land her in the crosshairs of a Magic Enforcement Agency task force, who wants to know why she killed their lead snitch.

The more Prospero learns about the dangerous new potion the MEA is investigating, the more she's convinced that earning a spot on their task force is the career break she's been wanting. But getting the assignment proves much easier than solving the case. Especially once the investigation reveals their lead suspect is the man she walked away from ten years earlier—on the same day she swore she'd never use dirty magic again.

Kate Prospero's about to learn the hard way that crossing a wizard will always get you burned, and that when it comes to magic, you should be never say never.

 Kate Prospero is a bad-ass. I heart her. She is exactly the type of heroine I love reading about; she’s strong, smart, driven, flawed, and family oriented. Everything I look for in a protagonist. Kate is an adept (someone born with magic), and comes from the most notorious coven in the Cauldron, the Votary clan. Kate has a knack for cooking dirty potions and was the next heir for Grand Wizard after her Uncle Abe (Wizard crime lord) but after a tragic accident; Kate left the coven and everything magic related behind her for the straight and narrow…and became a patrol office for Babylon PD. It’s been 10 years since she turn her back on the people she grew up with but so far things been okay; it’s been a clean and magic-free life, (minus capturing potion junkies and dealers) exactly what she wanted for her younger brother Danny. But after a routine patrol goes wrong, Kate finds her past and present colliding and the only way to fix things is to embrace her heritage. 

Dirty Magic hooked me from the first page as readers’ plunge head first in the midst of the action as BPD officer Kate pursues a potion junkie in the Cauldron (covens’ turf). I didn’t really know what to expect when I first started Dirty Magic, just that it was a new UF series by Wells and anything she wrote, I’d read. I wasn’t prepared to be enthralled as I was; the world-building is incredible and so realistic you can imagine yourself smack dab in a city ruled and run on clean-dirty magic. There are two types of magic (clean and dirty), basically legal and illegal but both with different consequences; eventually making the user dependent or changing them on a physical level. The magic system in Dirty Magic is pretty complex, and this first book barely touches the surface…getting a glimpse at what the Votary (specializes in alchemy) and Sang (specializes in blood) covens all about. I really love the police procedure-magic combination; it made for an entertaining read.  I can definitely see this series as a TV show (if no one picks up the rights for this soon, they’re nuts).

After reading Wells’ Sabina Kane series (I’m still behind, forgive me!); I’ve come to expect three things from Wells, a kick-ass heroine, a colorful cast of characters and smart dialouge. And I’m glad to say Wells doesn’t disappoint. Kate isn’t only a kick-ass heroine but she’s also a guardian/single parent to her 16-year-old brother Danny. I liked Kate early on, but when I found out she was taking care of her young brother, I loved her even more. There’s just something extra special when I read a UF protagonist with family. I’m a sucker for anything family lol. It adds another layer to the character, and Kate was already plenty interesting with her crime loving wizard family. In terms of secondary characters, Kate’s MEA (Magic Enforcement Agency) team was a diverse group of people (both adept and mundane). They’re kind of exactly how I’d picture a tactical team…funny and tough as nails. The two people that made the biggest impression for me is Picasso (even though it was for a short time) and Little Man. They were a hoot!  Dirty Magic is a pretty dark book, I mean we are dealing with junkies and crime lords but they added a humorous balance during their page time. And to be honest, Little Man creep me out (the devil baby prank image kept popping in my head) but I couldn’t help smiling every time he and Kate interacted.  If that last sentence sounds confusing…you just got to read the book to know what I mean. 

I’m not a fan of love triangles, and even though there really isn’t one in Dirty Magic…there’s a potential for one. Or, at least it feels like one. There are two main guys in Kate’s life, an old flame and a new guy. Kate definitely has chemistry with both guys, whether she cares to admit it…and I am interested in seeing where it goes. I’m conflicted who I’m rooting for as both guys have different appealing qualities….somewhat (one came off as a jerk but by the middle of the book we get the reason why)…just going to have to see how things play out. 

Dirty Magic is a great start to what I believe will be an outstanding series. I loved every moment of this book. Dirty Magic is a wonderful addition to the urban fantasy genre, giving readers a fresh take and unique spin on magic and wizards. If you’re looking for your next urban fantasy/speculative fiction fix, look no further. Dirty Magic has it all! This is the best book I’ve read so far, and Kate Prospero is a character that everyone will love; slowly climbing to the top of the favorite list with the likes of Kate Daniels, Gin Blanco, Arcadia Bell, Charlie Madigan to name a few. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series, Cursed Moon which comes out August of this year!!

Review: Binding the Shadows by Jenn Bennett

Title: Binding the Shadows
Author: Jenn Bennett
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Series: Arcadia Bell #3 

Mass Market Paperback, 366 pages 

Publication: May 28th 2013 by Pocket Books 

Source: I won a copy from the author's twitter giveaway. 

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Renegade mage and bartender Arcadia Bell has had a rough year, but now the door to her already unstable world is unhinging. When a citywide crime wave erupts, Cady's demon-friendly tiki bar is robbed by Earthbounds wielding surreal demonic abilities that just flat-out shouldn't exist. With the help of her devilishly delicious boyfriend, Lon Butler, Cady sets out to find the people who wronged her—but her targets aren't the only ones experiencing unnatural metamorphoses. Can Cady track down the monsters responsible before the monster inside her destroys everything—and everyone—she loves? If she survives this adventure, one thing is certain: it's last call for life as she knows it.

The Arcadia Bell series is one of my favorite urban fantasy series; solidifying its place early on when it first debuted in 2011 with Kindling the Moon. When I first began this series, I knew I was in for something special and unique. Simply put, there wasn’t anything like the series then and there still isn’t now because this is urban fantasy at its best. Now, three books into the series I am more in love with this series than I first started; reminding me why I love the UF genre so much. Because like fine wine; this series gets better and better over time. 

What makes this series standout amongst other urban fantasy series is its incredible world-building and the characters that populate it. I wouldn’t say that Cady has changed much since the first book (besides a physical/power transformation) because she was already a strong and likeable protagonist. When readers first met Cady she was already a successful owner of the Tambuku Tiki Lounge/bar, owns her own house and is one of the most powerful magicians around.  What did grow and mature over the course of the three books is her relationship with Lon and his son Jupe. Cady and Lon’s relationship has definitely strengthened since the last book with Cady living with Lon/Jupe, they’re happy and are secure in their relationship and Cady being another parent/role model figure for Jupe. But things get more complicated when Lon’s ex-wife and family come for a visit and Cady discovers her mom is still alive and well on another plane. Some of my favorite scenes were of Lon’s extended family and revelations of Cady’s conception; both the happy and not-so-happy moments. 

I am not a fan of cliffhangers. I honestly seen my deal of the dreadful cliffhangers…but Bennett’s takes the cake. It was like a multitude of cliffhangers jammed into the last 2 chapters…BAM BAM BAM.  Binding the Shadows was a very intense and emotional book. Readers felt exactly what the characters were feeling as if we were the one experiencing it. Many reviewers expressed their anger over the cliffhanger and how cruel the author was for ending it the way it did…surprisingly I wasn’t mad; just in plain shock. My head and heart was literally hurting and that has never happened before. 

It takes a good writer to create a memorable story but an amazing talented author to evoke the emotions and bond we feel with the characters within the book…and Bennett did just that. I have so much love for this series and I know this review isn’t even adequate to express how I feel. All I can say is read this series, you won’t regret it. This is a series that should be on everyone’s shelf and an author on your auto-buy list. It’s definitely on mine. Binding the Shadows is by far the best in the series…and that’s saying something because the series is already top-notch urban fantasy. I’m a little glad that I waited to read this book with that crazy ending because book 4 is only a few months away (couldn’t fathom waiting a year). I am dying to find out what happens next! In the meantime to hold me over till then; I’ll be reading the author’s newest book, Bitter Spirits and will probably do a reread of all three books before May.