Far From Reality

Description from Goodreads

 Lord Deveren Larath joined the thieves of Braedon thinking to expose a killer. Seven years later, he is now their leader, known among them as "Fox." No sooner have the elections been held than Deveren's brother, Damir, ambassador and master spy, comes to Braedon with dire news. The young king of the neighboring country has been imprisoned by his own counselor, and Damir fears war with Byrn is in the wind.

 While Damir embarks on a desperate attempt to rescue the young king, "Fox" must deal with troubles closer to home--attempted murder, treachery, and most frightening of all, a dreadful curse that could claim Braedon and perhaps even all of Byrn.

Only the gods--and maybe the reluctant thief leader Fox --can stop it...

Murder, thieves, intrigue, twisty plots and magic oh my! King’s Man and Thief was just what I needed in my time of book slump sadness.

You may or may not know Christie Golden from her works on the World of Warcraft novels, but to say that she spins an interesting tale is an understatement, her use of emotions is spectacular and a few times I found myself misty eyed, especially towards the end of the novel. 

Deveren (The Fox) is a fabulous main character. His heartbreaking entrance into the book has you hooked from the get go and you will love his trials and adventures throughout the book. He is kind, quick and has determination, a great man to root for. Our antagonist Marrika is also a terrific character, I really felt her jealousy, her anger and lust for revenge. The other characters, little Allika for example are well fleshed out and rounded, she is so cute but efficient and cunning. Needless to say I loved all the characters, even the evil ones because of the way they are portrayed and the expert use of prose you really come to feel them. 

The magic and world building were a bit lacking but good overall, the intrigue and plot twists are what make the book un put-down able! Every time I set it down I found myself picking it back up five minutes later. “Just one more chapter” became my mantra. I would have finished this book in a day if that pesky little thing called sleep didn’t interfere. Oh! And that twist at the end! I did not see it coming and usually I am very good at figuring out the ending way before it happens.

 Can you tell I love, love, LOVED this book? When I finished I swear little naked baby angels flew over my head playing harps. I think the one last thing I can possibly say is: Please Christie, can I have some more? 

Question - What book do you think everyone should read? If you could gift the entire population with one book?

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The final volume in Robin Hobb's popular Rain Wilds fantasy series, Blood of Dragons completes the story of the dragons, their keepers, and their quest to find the lost city of Kelsingra—and the mythical silver wells that the dragons need to survive.

Can Tintaglia and the Elderlings unlock the secrets of the ancient city? Or are they doomed to extinction?

So this is my first "Top 10" which ironically is the last top 10 of the year. Now since i do not remember any of the new books of 2012, I am just going to say my favorite book covers i have read in 2012.  (No particular order)

Viper Moon by Lee Roland

Description from Goodeads 

In the heart of Ohio, Jessie Shimmer's roguish lover, Cooper, has been teaching her ubiquemancy, the art of finding the magic in everyday things. When they try to break a drought by calling down a rainstorm, a hellish portal opens and Cooper is ripped from this world, leaving Jessie fighting for her life against a vicious demon that's been unleashed.

 In the aftermath, Jessie, who knows so little about her own true nature, is branded an outlaw. She must survive by her wits and with the help of her familiar, a ferret named Palimpsest. Stalked by malevolent enemies, Jessie is determined to find out what happened to Cooper. But when she moves heaven and earth to find her man, she'll be shocked by what she discovers—and by what she must ultimately do to save them all.

Question - What have you learned about Book Blogging that you did not know before about the publishing industry?

Description From Goodreads 

By all accounts, Sirantha Jax should have burned out years ago…

As the carrier of a rare gene, Jax has the ability to jump ships through grimspace—a talent which cuts into her life expectancy, but makes her a highly prized navigator for the Corp. But then the ship she’s navigating crash-lands, and she’s accused of killing everyone on board. It’s hard for Jax to defend herself: she has no memory of the crash.

 Now imprisoned and the subject of a ruthless interrogation, Jax is on the verge of madness. Then a mysterious man breaks into her cell, offering her freedom—for a price. March needs Jax to help his small band of rogue fighters break the Corp monopoly on interstellar travel—and establish a new breed of jumper.

 Jax is only good at one thing—grimspace—and it will eventually kill her. So she may as well have some fun in the meantime…

I am not one for science fiction books, I find them to be too Star Wars-ish and boring. However, Grimspace was a wonderful change from that notion.

 Sirantha Jax is a jumper, she has a special J-gene that allows her into Grimpsace and to jump ships from planet to planet in a matter of minutes. However, after 10 or so jumps most jumpers go insane or retire, Sirantha has done over 500 jumps and still has been able to keep her mind.. for the most part. 

The book starts off kinda slow but picks up quickly, the middle is good as well, when they jumped to different planets I got excited to see what kind of planet it was, whats the weather like? Plants? Animals? It was wonderful. The middle also tapered off as well and got a little boring, and it got a bit confusing at times, the end though picked up again and really showed the authors creativity.

 I enjoyed the characters, Sirantha is quite fun and she is always quippy. March is a good male lead, hes strong but also shows a bit of sensitivity. Dina and the crew are wonderful, I loved Dina and Siranthas interactions. Some characters we really do not get to spend much time with, truly I would have LOVED to spend more time with Mair (I forgot how to spell her name!) she was badass and I wish I could have learned more about her, same with Keri her apprentice, she does not stay long and it saddened me. 

All in all Grimspace was a great book that surprised me immensely and I am happy to say I am looking forward to the next book.

To reach the throne requires that a man journey. Even a path paved with good intentions can lead to hell, and my intentions were never good.

The Hundred converge for Congression to politic upon the corpse of Empire, and while they talk the Dead King makes his move, and I make mine. The world is cracked, time has run through, leaving us clutching at the end days, the future so bright that those wh...o see it are the first to burn. These are the days that have waited for us all our lives. These are my days. I will stand before the Hundred and they will listen. I will take the throne whoever seeks to thwart me, living or dead, and if I must be the last emperor then I will make of it such an ending.

This is where the wise man turns away. This is where the holy kneel and call on God. These are the last miles, my brothers. Don't look to me to save you. Don't think I will not spend you. Run if you have the wit. Pray if you have the soul. Stand your ground if courage is yours. But don't follow me.

Why

I have just started getting into this series and I find i really do like it, so even though I am only a little ways in, I know I like it enough ti anticipate the third novel. Swords, assassins, plots.. what is not to like?

For anyone who entered my $10 Amazon Gift Card Giveaway I am truly sorry, something went wrong with the rafflecopter and i can not pick a winner nor can i sign into my rafflecopter. So, i will be hosting another giveaway soon and i will make sure that i do everything right this time, again i am so, so, so sorry!

Teaser Tuesday is hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. 

Rules 

LINES 

Claire saw the spiderweb fracture form in the safety glass. 

"Brake!" she yelled. Hanna didn't hesitate, she hit them hard, sending the front end of  the car diving down and the heavily loaded back up, and the draug lost its balance. It rolled forward over the roof, over the front windshield, onto the hood, and suddenly turned liquid and re-formed facing back toward them, snarling.

Black Dawn (Morganville Vampires #12) by Rachel Caine

BOUGHT

A Guile of Dragons (A Torment of Shadows #1) by James Enge

Tin Swift (Age of Steam #2) by Devon Monk

The Siren Depths (Books of the Raksura #3) by Martha Wells

Contagious (The Contagium Trilogy) by Emily Goodwin

Falling Kingdoms (Falling Kingdoms #1) by Michelle Rowen

FOR REVIEW

Apollo's Outcasts by Allen Steele

Persistence of Vision (Interchron #1) by Liesel K. Hill

The Forgotten Queen by D. L. Bogdan

Description from Goodreads

 Knight's fantasy debut concerns a rare, scaleless gray dragon named Auron. Born high in a mountain cave, he witnesses the slaughter of his parents at the hands of a band of dwarves and eventually matures into the last hope for the survival of his kind. Once above ground, Auron learns quickly just how dangerous it is to be a dragon. With dwarves, elves, and humans relentlessly hunting him, Auron finds friendship in the most unlikely of places -- but the young dragon's quest to find others of his kind may not lead him to the answers he hopes to find.

Question: What is the last book that made you cry, Tell us about the scene.

The Iron Queen by Julie Kagawa. 

(spoilers..)

The scene where she is pushing Ash away at the end and she is alone and she starts crying, thinking shes going to die. That got to me so much I just started bawling like a little kid, good thing i was not in public while i read that part!

Description from Goodreads 

We’re the D’Artigo sisters: Half-human, half-Faerie, we’re savvy—and sexy—operatives for the Otherworld Intelligence Agency. But our mixed-blood heritage short-circuits our talents at all the wrong times. My sister Delilah shapeshifts into a tabby cat whenever she’s stressed. Menolly’s a vampire who’s still trying to get the hang of being undead. And me? I’m Camille—a wicked-good witch. Except my magic’s as unpredictable as the weather, as my enemies are about to find out the hard way...

 At the Wayfarer Inn, a portal to Otherworld and the local hangout for humans and beasties alike, a fellow operative, Jocko, has been murdered. Every clue points to Shadow Wing, the soul-munching, badass leader of the Subterranean Realms. He’s made it clear that he aims to raze humankind to the ground, turning both Earth and Otherworld into his private playground. Our assignment: Keep Shadow Wing and his minions from creeping into Earth via the Wayfarer. The demons figure they’re in like Flynn. After all, with only my bumbling sisters and me standing in the way, how can they miss? But we’ve got a secret for them: Faulty wiring or not, nobody kicks ass like the D’Artigo girls...

It took me quite a few years of this sitting in my kindle before I actually gave this series a shot, I should not have waited so long! The story and world building where great and it had this magical, quest-like feeling to it even though its not an epic fantasy. 

Camille is a witch, her sisters Menolly (vampire) and Delilah (werecat) are all operatives for an organization called the OIA (I forgot what it stands for) so they live Earthside with the humans. Though they are originaly from the Otherworld were elves, dwarfs, dragons and such live. They have been making it pretty good earthside too since humans know about them they have been living in relative harmony. That is, until some serious bad juju goes down. 

So now the must find the 9 seals to stop Shadow Wing (a very bad demon) from destroying everthing. With the help of a FBH (full-blooded human) and Yokai Kitsune and a few other helpful helpers, they start on their ‘quest’ and hopefully do not get killed.

 I liked the characters although most of them did not really get described personality wise, which I hope gets remedied in the next book, I would have liked to know background and emotions and feelings of more of the characters than just Camille and even then there’s not too much there, but I am not complaining too badly it is still a kick butt book.

 Speaking of, there is action in this novel, of both kinds, there are fights and there are rather steamy situations so be warned if you are squeamish about such things, though few and far between they are there.

Barely escaping the city of Calm Seatt — and the elven assassins hunting them — Magiere, Leesil, and the elven dog Chap sail south in their quest to find the powerful orb of Air before their enemies do. But they are not alone, much to their frustration.

 The aging elven assassin, Brot’an, has forced himself on them by offering his protection for Magiere from enemies among his own caste. Chap doesn’t believe this ruse and seeks to uncover the assassin’s true agenda — as well as the cause of the secret civil war that has erupted into the open among Brot'an's people.

 Meanwhile Magiere is struggling with her own dark nature, using Leesil’s love as an anchor to keep her grounded. For the personal price she paid to procure the orb of Fire up in the northern “Wastes” was more than she thought — and more than she wants to reveal to anyone else.

But that is exactly what the cunning Brot’an wants to know. And he is willing to do whatever it takes — even if he must reveal his own dreaded secrets that may cost the entire party their lives.

Description From Goodreads

 Cassandra Archer is the Huntress. She has faithfully served the Earth Mother for years, rescuing kidnapped children from monsters-both human and supernatural-dwelling in the ruins of the Barrows District. But when two children are kidnapped under similar circumstances, all clues point to a cataclysmic event on the next dark moon. Now Cass must race against the clock and prevent a sacrifice that could destroy the entire town.

QUESTION: Activity! Who do you want to be? If you could choose any character from a book. What do you think that character looks like and what do you have in common?

 I will go with alot of others nd say Hermoine, also i will go with everyone else and say that being married to Ron..ehhhh.. but you win some you lose some. Hermoine is smart, brave, loyal and quick on her feet. She is everything I am not and i would love to be her. 

Now I will pick  a second person to be different from everyone else, Shadari from A Whisper of Wings. She is kind, powerful and heartfelt. Yes, shes a furry but her character had me bawling at times and she really does do what is right for everyone even if it costs her dearly. 

Description from Goodreads

 Zoey is finally home where she belongs, safe with her Guardian Warrior, Stark, by her side, and preparing to face off against Neferet – which would be a whole lot easier if the High Counsel saw the ex-High Priestess for what she really is. Kalona has released his hold on Rephaim, and, through Nyx's gift of a human form, Rephaim and Stevie Rae are finally able to be together – if he can truly walk the path of the Goddess and stay free of his father's shadow…

 But there are new forces at work at the House of Night. An influx of humans, including Lenobia’s handsome horse whisperer, threatens their precarious stability. And then there’s the mysterious Aurox, a jaw-droppingly gorgeous teen boy who is actually more – or possibly less – than human. Only Neferet knows he was created to be her greatest weapon. But Zoey can sense the part of his soul that remains human, the compassion that wars with his Dark calling. And there’s something strangely familiar about him…

 Will Neferet’s true nature be revealed before she succeeds in silencing them all? And will Zoey be able to touch Aurox’s humanity in time to protect him – and everyone – from his own fate? Find out what’s destined in the next thrilling chapter of the House of Night series.

Description from Goodreads 

Tamora Pierce meets George R. R. Martin in this smart, political, medieval fantasy-thriller.

There is a new king on the throne of Tildor. Currents of political unrest sweep the country as two warring crime families seek power, angling to exploit the young Crown's inexperience. At the Academy of Tildor, the training ground for elite soldiers, Cadet Renee de Winter struggles to keep up with her male peers. But when her mentor, a notorious commander recalled from active duty to teach at the Academy, is kidnapped to fight in illegal gladiator games, Renee and her best friend Alec find themselves thrust into a world rife with crime, sorting through a maze of political intrigue, and struggling to resolve what they want, what is legal, and what is right

Teaser Tuesday is hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. 

Rules 

LINES 

"Dragons don't have packs, Feybright. The dawn roarers will be my only pack. I'll miss you."

"A strange act of fate, our meeting," Blackhard said. "Somehow I think your name will come up more than mine generations hence, but I'll be a wolf in the howled tales for many summers. I'm the leader of the pack and a well-traveled wolf, thanks to you."

Dragon Champion by E. E. Knight 

Description from Goodreads

 One Dragon Egg Holds the Key to the Future.

Once a slave, Kale is given the unexpected opportunity to become a servant to Paladin. Yet this young girl has much to learn about the difference between slavery and service.

 A Desperate Search Begins…

A small band of Paladin’s servants rescue Kale from danger but turn her from her destination: The Hall, where she was to be trained. Feeling afraid and unprepared, Kale embarks on a perilous quest to find the meech dragon egg stolen by the foul Wizard Risto. First, she and her comrades must find Wizard Fenworth. But their journey is threatened when a key member of the party is captured, leaving the remaining companions to find Fenworth, attempt an impossible rescue, and recover the egg whose true value they have not begun to suspect…

Question - Activity! Who is your to-die-for book crush? What do you think they look like? Add an image to make us all happy.

Wow.. ummm.. this is hard! My crush is Drizzt from the forgotten realms series by R. A. Salvatore but its hard to pick a human guy who would look like Drizzt! (since hes a dark elf who has long white hair, almost jet black skin and centuries old) BUT if i had to choose..

Norman Reedus with straight long hair.. yah.. kick butt and cute at the same time! What can I say? The guy has spunk!

Description from Goodreads 

Rose Drayton lives on the Edge, between the world of the Broken (where people drive cars, shop at Wal-Mart, and magic is a fairy tale) and the Weird (where blueblood aristocrats rule, changelings roam, and the strength of your magic can change your destiny). Only Edgers like Rose can easily travel from one world to the next, but they never truly belong in either.

 Rose thought if she practiced her magic, she could build a better life for herself. But things didn’t turn out how she planned, and now she works a minimum wage, off the books job in the Broken just to survive. Then Declan Camarine, a blueblood noble straight out of the deepest part of the Weird, comes into her life, determined to have her (and her power).

 But when a terrible danger invades the Edge from the Weird, a flood of creatures hungry for magic, Declan and Rose must work together to destroy them—or they’ll devour the Edge and everyone in it.

After her werewolf boyfriend, Johnny, tried to kill her, Persephone Alcmedi finds herself in the comforting arms of powerful vampire Menessos. She’s trying to sort out her feelings for the two men, but not even Seph is above the confusion of tangled emotions. All Johnny wants to do is mend their relationship and reveal the life-altering news he’s recently received, but his new responsibilities as the werewolf king take up most of his time.

Does this mean Menessos can finally make his move?

 Meanwhile, unknown to Seph, her beloved foster daughter, Beverley, has been playing with a magical artifact and making dubious friends on the other side. When Beverley disappears, Seph must seek help from a supernatural being so potent that even Menessos fears him...and such aid always comes with a very steep price

Teaser Tuesday is hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. 

Rules 

LINES 

"We're safer in numbers. If we stay together, we should be okay. The things here are solitary hunters, and they like solitary prey. So one trying to take down two... it'd have to be..."

"What? It'd have to be what?"

"Starving." 

A Beautiful Evil by Kelly Keaton 

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Question: Are you thankful for a fellow blogger/ Tell us about him/her.

I am thankful for all my followers, from the very first to the current ones. They all have contributed to making my blog a reality and when some of them comment it is truly magical.

Remember to ENTER MY GIVEAWAY for a chance to win a $10 amazon gift card

I stopped and let them circle me, first because it was intriguing and, second, because, honestly, what could they do? Only knives, but all armed, and that made them even more interesting. Interesting. Fun. Playtime…

Taking on bloodthirsty supernatural monsters is how Caliban and Niko Leandros make a living. But years ago—before they became a force to be reckoned with—the brothers were almost victims of a very human serial killer. Almost.

Unfortunately for them, that particular depraved killer was working as apprentice to a creature far more malevolent—the legendary Spring-heeled Jack. He’s just hit town. He hasn’t forgotten what the Leandros brothers did to his murderous protégé.

He hasn’t forgotten what they owe him. And now they are going to pay… and pay… and pay.…

Remember to ENTER MY GIVEAWAY for a chance to win a $10 Amazon Gift Card

Teaser Tuesday is hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. 

Rules 

LINES 

"A puck will hire anything. But to give credit where it's due, he was tough." My sneer deepened "For a human."

Moonshine by Rob Thurman


Remember to ENTER MY GIVEAWAY for a chance to win a $10 amazon gift card!

Books are turned into movies all the time. Turn it around! What movie would make a great book?

I am going to go cute and say Alpha and Omega. I love books told in the eyes of animals and I think this would be very well done if an adult writer got hold on it and made it a bit more mature.

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