Top 10 Books of 2016!

It's time once again for the obligatory Top Books of the year. This year I decided to stick with a Top 10 since I felt like 16 best books of the year was too much. The rules are pretty much the same as last year. All of these books I read, reviewed and were released in the year 2016. All of these books I gave 5 stars, to be as fair as possible only one book per author, and since it was really hard to rate them in a particular order, THESE BOOKS ARE IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER. Now, without further ado on to my Top 10 Books of 2016! (As always you can click on the book covers to read my full reviews of these books!)

1. The Darkest Magic (Spirits and Thieves #2) by Morgan Rhodes

Starting off this list is a book that either I don't think a lot of people have heard of or were turned off by because of the first book in this series. I'll be the first to say that while I enjoyed A Book of Spirits and Thieves immensely, I was pretty annoyed with the fact that most of it takes place in modern day Toronto and not in Ancient Mytica, which was pretty much the stronger storyline anyway. That being said, this second book more than makes up for it. It brings together the two plot lines wonderfully as well as gives a much more expansive look into the Ancient Mytican storyline. While I'm saddened to hear that book 3 has been postponed so the author can finish writing the Falling Kingdoms series, I'm still waiting with bated breath to find out what happens next.

2. Ghostly Echoes (Jackaby #3) by William Ritter

When I first heard that the third Jackaby book would be delving into one of the more anticipated mysteries of the series, the death of Jenny Cavanaugh, I couldn't wait to get my hands on it, and this was before Beastly Bones was even released. So when I got my hands on a sneak peek of the first six chapters or so I thought I'd be taken with it right away, however, I became concerned when I wasn't swept away by the free preview I got. I shouldn't have worried though because once I got the full book in my hands it became my favorite Jackaby mystery yet, I'm both highly anticipated and secretly mourning the release of the final book in this series, however after this series is complete I can't wait to see what Ritter will come up with next.

3. The Head of Medusa (Elementals #3) by Michelle Madow

When I first began the Elementals series by Michelle Madow, I thought it was a fun, almost guilty pleasure-like series. However, as the story developed I really grew attached to the world and it's characters and by the time I got to this third book, The Head of Medusa, I was fully invested in what was going on. I was so excited to find that I genuinely loved this installment, the pacing is a bit weird, with almost two parts to the story, but that's really easy to get over and this makes for one of, if not the most, intense installments in this series.

4. Traveler (World of Warcraft: Traveler #1) by Greg Weisman

If you told me at the beginning of 2016 that I'd give a spot on my Top Books list to a branded book like World of Warcraft: Traveler, I would have said you were crazy. It's not that branded books can't be good, it's just that usually they aren't. However, earlier this year my cousin, who's a big WoW nerd, found out about this series and asked me to read it. It's written by a producer and writer of one of our favorite shows, Young Justice, and so I decided to give it a try. While I would say some remedial knowledge of Warcraft lore is preferable, this book does do a lot to make sure you understand what's going on without holding your hand through it. The story is completely engrossing and I'm bummed that more people aren't reading it because it's truly phenomenal. I can't wait until the next installment comes out.

5. The Inquisition (Summoner #2) by Taran Matharu

Even though the beginning of this book made me sick with disgust at how the villains of this series behaved as they ganged up on our hero, in a way that perfectly showed off what bigoted and spiteful demons they truly are, I can't fault this book for that. In fact, I commend this author for not holding back on the trials and tribulations that our "good" main characters have to go through. After the extreme trials Fletcher has to go through, in the beginning, we see this world open up so much more than we got to see in book one, and led to one of the best cliffhanger endings I've ever read.

6. Lady Midnight (The Dark Artifices #1) by Cassandra Clare

Going into 2016 I wasn't as excited for Lady Midnight as most of my friends were. Granted I hadn't read City of Heavenly Fire yet and I barely remembered the plotline of City of Lost Souls, however after getting those two books read this year my curiosity was piqued for this first book in a new Shadowhunters series. I was not let down when I started this book and I ended up devouring it in just a couple of days. I can't wait to continue this series in Lord of Shadows, and while it's still a bit more than a year away, I'm greatly looking forward to the start of the Last Hours series. 

7. The Hidden Oracle (The Trials of Apollo #1) by Rick Riordan

After a slightly disappointing, although still thoroughly entertaining, start to the Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard series, I was pretty apprehensive thinking that if a new series was far too reminiscent of Percy Jackson for my liking that a new Camp Half-Blood series might just be too much. However, I was pleasantly surprised to find that I loved nearly every minute of this adventure. Apollo is a hysterical narrator and I was excited to find that Riordan didn't lean too much on old characters, but instead seem to be using them as cameos and guest appearances as necessary which leave the series still feeling new and fresh.

8. Simon Thorn and the Wolf's Den (Simon Thorn #1)

I picked up a copy of Simon Thorn and the Wolf's Den at BEA 2015 and because I'd read some of Carter's previous works I thought I'd try her first foray into the world of Middle-Grade lit. I was not fully prepared for what I read. This book has a remarkably similar feeling to a Percy Jackson adventure, but instead with shapeshifting animals instead of Greek demigods. The world building of the series is phenomenal and I didn't expect a Middle-Grade book to keep me on my toes as much as this one did, but there were twists that shocked me to my core in this adventure. I can't wait for the sequel and in fact, I'll be reading it here shortly but first I want to give this installment a quick reread!

9. Dawn of Ash (Imdalind #6) by Rebecca Ethington

There were two Imdalind books that came out in 2016, this one, Dawn of Ash, and the conclusion to the entire series, Crown of Cinders, why I chose to include this one, other than simply enjoying it more, is how much was packed into it and how much it impacted the entire series. There are things that go down in this installment that I would never have expected. This book definitely derails the series in a fantastic way and if you haven't begun the Imdalind series by now you really should it's inexplicably amazing.

10. Burning Shadows (The Order of the Krigers #2) by Jennifer Anne Davis

Much like the Imdalind series, there were two Order of the Krigers books published this year, though both met the criteria to be included on this list. In fact, if I wasn't able to finish Burning Shadows by the end of the year, or if I didn't like it as much, the first book, Rise, would have taken its place on this list. Without giving away the plot of Rise I have to say that this installment takes this series to a whole new level. There were a few things I was worried about going into this installment, and yet I shouldn't have feared, Davis does and expert job and manipulating her characters and their predicaments to feel relatable and entertaining. I'm chomping at the bit to find out what happens at the end of this trilogy.

Honorable Mentions:

      

            

Final Bits: Much like last year I've left decided to keep the Honorable Mentions category for books that I read this year that probably would have made the main list had they been published in 2016. Each of these books was special in their own way, and each of the had a rather large impact on my year. I loved the messages about the consequences of spreading rumors and the power of lies seen in The Truth About Alice. Hidden Huntress led to some of the most intense world building I've read all year. The Exiled Queen led to a tipping point and compelled me to binge read the rest of the Seven Realms series as soon as I could. Finally, All In was one of the most shocking and unpredictable books I've ever read. Anyway, those are my top books that I read and reviewed over the last year. What books made your list? Leave a comment or link to your list below! Happy New Year everyone!

Book Review: Crown of Cinders (Imdalind #7)

Release Date: November 25, 2016
Author: Rebecca Ethington
Publisher: Imdalind Press
Length: 366 pages
Source: Review Copy from the Author

The Internationally Best-Selling Imdalind Series comes to a close in this long awaited heart-pounding conclusion.

For centuries the war that has raged within magic has ripped the world apart. Fought between Skȓítek and Trpaslík; killing father and son, and destroying a fragile balance between mortal and magic.

For centuries everyone has been awaiting the Silnỳ, searching for the girl who was prophesized. The girl with power strong enough to defeat the evil that plagued the world, and bring the war to an end.

For centuries, everyone was wrong.

The Silnỳ was not what they had been told, the promises of future distorted by a sight that was tarnished. The evil was not what they had expected, not what they had been fighting against. Instead, it was hidden amongst them; plotting, waiting for their time to strike.

And it did. With fire and blade the hidden evil took its place upon a throne of blood. The evil has shown itself and now only one person can save them all.

But with Sights that are no longer infallible and armies that are abandoning their king – it is no longer clear who that person is, or even if they have the courage to stand up to the evil and face their end.

  

Review:

Characters: This series that began with only Joclyn as its narrator has grown and ballooned into this fantastic multi-narrated epic. I'm trying to find a way to fully articulate how phenomenal each point of view is. This author doesn't hold back and gives her readers an inside look into all the key players of this series. Even if there's a character that doesn't get a POV chapter, you still get a fantastic and comprehensive look into their personality and character from multiple other points of view. I really don't want to go into specific storylines, since I'm afraid if I start talking I'll accidently spoil something, but what I will say is that when I first picked up this series I did not see it ending up here, these characters have grown and changed so much since when they first were introduced and certain characters have had their true colors finally revealed and thrown my entire view of this story out of whack. Now it's finally come to a close and I can still say that this author still delivers some of the most layered and complicated characters I've ever read.

Romance: So honestly while there is still a good amount of romance in this book, some of which is actually integral to the overall plot, I was still conflicted on whether or not I should even include this section. Joclyn and Ilyan are a great couple, but once couples reach a certain point, at least to me, they start to get boring. I still love the way these two characters offset and compliment each other, but when there aren't exciting and bold new developments to go through it's hard to still be invested. Ryland's romance does play a rather large role in the story and where he ends up, I don't want to say too much because of spoilers, but it's an interesting storyline, to say the least. Of course, there's still the issue of Thom's coma and Wyn doing anything she can to find a way to break it, but I feel if I talk any more about that it's going into a spoilery place too. Let's just say that there is romance in this book, the tried and true stuff is still as strong as it was before and the new or renewed stuff is actually pretty compelling and I was very satisfied by it.

World-Building: You would think that after six books of intense world building and twists that almost redefine what this world is that this author would just sit back and play with her world instead of introducing new stuff. That being said, I'm happy she keeps building this world. Now, the revelations in this world aren't quite as exciting as some of the things we learned in Dawn of Ash, but they're just as twisted and maybe even more awesome. In addition to new revelations in this world, we also get to see more of it. This series namesake is the birthplace of all its magic. The wells of Imdalind, and while I believe we've seen part of Imdalind before, there's something that we never got to see, something that is, let's just say, jaw-dropping.

Predictability: This is an author that does not play by the rules. I've said this before in my reviews of previous installments in this series, but most series follow a basic formula. It's something that gives the reader a bit of insurance that everything will turn out okay, and usually, by the final book, you have a good idea of where all the characters will end up. Rebecca doesn't follow formulas like that, and because of that you never truly know what's going to happen. That sort of anarchic writing leads to some fantastic, if not utterly heart crushing twists that you'll never see coming. Sometimes it means that really fantastic and unimaginable things can happen. There is still some element of foreshadowing so you aren't making your way through completely blind, but there were a few times when I needed to take a break because of certain things that happened (it took me nearly a month to finish this book.)

Ending: The ending to this book what indescribable. The "final battle" was not what I expected at all, mostly because it wasn't one battle. Without spoiling too much, and hopefully nothing important, I will say that each major character had a trial or demon that they had to face and seeing that happen over the last chapters of this book was incredible. There was a great amount of action, world-shattering revelations, and heart melting moments. Then came the final chapter, which is an epilogue of sorts. My main problem with this is that between the final two chapters there seems to be a disconnect, and granted I read the ending on the ARC that the author provided me so maybe something changed in the final draft, but I felt like I was missing a chunk. There was a lot that had to be inferred and while some of it was easy some of it just felt more confusing. Then there was the thing at the end that while I'm sure I have some basic understanding of what happened, some more concrete confirmation would have been nice.

Rating:

As series finales go, this one did not disappoint. Other than a disconnected epilogue, which by itself was mostly marvelous, I have no complaints about this finale. This author made bold and exciting moves in this final installment and when I was reading I was incredibly engrossed in the story.

Book Review: Dawn of Ash (Imdalind #6)

Release Date: February 23, 2016
Author: Rebecca Ethington
Publisher: Imdalind Press
Length: 374 pages
Source: ARC from the Author

Underneath the deep red barrier Edmund has placed over the city, Prague is in ruins…

Vilỳ hide in the darkened alleys, waiting to attack anyone who passes, while Edmund’s men roam the blood-soaked streets, scouring every crumbling building in a mad attempt to flush out Ilyan and his men.

Among the danger, Ilyan and Joclyn are trapped, unable to leave the city. trying to keep their people safe behind a powerful shield, unseen from Edmund and his scouts.

Wyn spends her days haunted by her daughter and watching Thom waste away from the mysterious curse slowly taking him.

Ryland has risen above his father’s control, ready to take his place as his brother’s second. However, Sain needs his help first for a simple assignment, or so he thinks.

Their safety is about to be shattered.

A mole behind those safe, Cathedral walls has begun whispering through the survivors that Joclyn is unstable, that her magic is an uncontainable force that will destroy them all in the end.

Determined not to let the rumors affect her, Joclyn battles ahead, only to have reality and sight intersect in an explosion that shatters the walls between future, past, and present, leaving her imprisoned in a seamless existence she must learn to control … before Edmund and Ovailia control her.

Before Sain unfurls the plan he has been orchestrating for centuries.

    

Review:

Characters: As this series comes to an end the story is splintered into more than one perspective. In this book we have Joclyn, fighting to discover what's going on with her magic and how to take control of it before the whispers and rumors about her come true. We have Wyn, haunted by her daughter and trying to overcome the pain and hurt emanating from the piece of the Soul's Blade in her possession. Sain is pulling strings on both sides so that his version of the future will come to pass, the one that will make him King of all magical beings. Finally we have Dramin who is fighting to stay alive so that he can help Joclyn in anyway he can, but just how long can he hold out? I love the complexities of all of these characters. Each one has grown and changed so much since we first met them, some like Joclyn have had real changed and really developed into a stronger and fiercer character, while some like Sain have only now revealed who they really were thus changing our perceptions of them. Either way it's done with a great finesse and is pulled off very well.

Romance: So there isn't as much romance in this book as you'd think. There are some great scenes between Jos and Ilyan, scenes that just reaffirm what they mean to each other. We also have a little bit of development with Risha and Ryland, more confirmation that they do have feelings for each other more than any actual development. Other than that though there isn't all that much romance in this book. However I never felt like something was missing, everything still flowed great and while a little more romance where one specific couple is concerned would have been great, it wasn't needed... yet.

World-Building: So you'd think with as much world-building as this series has had that it couldn't possibly develop any further, or maybe you think it can. Either way Ethington does a fabulous job at expanding this world in this installment. There is so much about this series that we didn't know, mostly things that are revealed to have been lies. We learn even more about Drak magic and how all magics work in this world as we get more chapters from the very first Drak himself, Sain. As we move into the final installment there's still so much more to be learned and so much more to see.

Predictability: So, yeah... There wasn't all that much in this installment that I could predict. I'm sure I've said it before but since Ethington essentially throws out the YA formula when she writes it's hard to predict where things are going. Things that if I was reading any other book I'd write off as pointless drama that won't amount to anything I now look at with serious eyes and genuinely worry about what's going to happen next. I'm never sure who will live or die and now that this series is told from the point of view of a multitude of characters it's quite possible anyone could die.

Ending: So since there are many perspectives going into this ending there are also a few cliffhangers that we'll get to in a minute. First let's talk about the final climax that I never saw coming, in fact I had a completely different final climax given the foreshadowing we're given in this book. This final climax is just a precursor for a much larger battle to come in the final book. The first cliffhanger left my jaw on the floor and I still can't pick it up. It's a game changer I wasn't willing to believe could happen, but it did. The second and final cliffhanger was shocking and something I'm lloking forward to seeing developed, but it pales in comparison to the first.

Rating:

So, before this book was published, when the author would talk about it she said that she wanted to make it good, as there were mixed reviews about Burnt Devotion, I;m here to say that she achieved that goal. This is actually my new favorite book of the series. I can't wait for you guys to read it!

Dawn of Ash (Imdalind #6) by Rebecca Ethington (WOW #8)

Waiting on Wednesday is a meme hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that everyone’s excited about!

Underneath the deep red barrier Edmund has placed over the city, Prague is in ruins… 

Vilỳ hide in the darkened alleys, waiting to attack anyone who passes, while Edmund’s men roam the blood-soaked streets, scouring every crumbling building in a mad attempt to flush out Ilyan and his men. 

Among the danger, Ilyan and Joclyn are trapped, unable to leave the city. trying to keep their people safe behind a powerful shield, unseen from Edmund and his scouts. 

Wyn spends her days haunted by her daughter and watching Thom waste away from the mysterious curse slowly taking him. 

Ryland has risen above his father’s control, ready to take his place as his brother’s second. However, Sain needs his help first for a simple assignment, or so he thinks. 

Their safety is about to be shattered. 

A mole behind those safe, Cathedral walls has begun whispering through the survivors that Joclyn is unstable, that her magic is an uncontainable force that will destroy them all in the end. 

Determined not to let the rumors affect her, Joclyn battles ahead, only to have reality and sight intersect in an explosion that shatters the walls between future, past, and present, leaving her imprisoned in a seamless existence she must learn to control … before Edmund and Ovailia control her.

Before Sain unfurls the plan he has been orchestrating for centuries.

Dawn of Ash releases on February 23, 2016 from Imdalind Press

I'm absolutely obsessed with Ethington's Imdalind series. It's so original and unique. Her writing style is fantastic and I can't wait to see where she takes this characters next. If you want to read my review of the first book in this series Kiss of Fire (which I believe is currently free on most if not all e-book providers) click here!

So, what are you waiting for this Wednesday?

Book Review: Burnt Devotion (Imdalind #5)

Release Date: March 22, 2015
Author: Rebecca Ethington
Publisher: Imdalind Press
Length: 344 pages
Source: Purchased E-book/Audio Book

It was supposed to be the final battle, the one to end Edmund’s line, his life, and free the magic Edmund had taken from the world. That was how it was foreseen. The end of the battle that has raged for centuries, unbeknownst to the mortals around them, the battle that would end with Joclyn’s death.

But it did neither.

The battle still reigns, Joclyn still lives, and the sight that was given eight hundred years ago is broken.

And it’s not the only one.

Sights that were once thought infallible have become nothing more than scattered glass, with broken pieces shattering into incorrect visages. Sain clings to the magic that he knows to be true, but there is something else, something that he is not saying. And what he does say is no longer adding up.

Something is wrong.

Ilyan and his people move through the caves, following a sight they hope to be correct, fleeing a battle that should have been the end while the battle within each of them grows with each step.

Ryland fights the monsters his father has infected him with.

Wynifred fights the confusion of who she is.

Dramin fights to live.

Prague may not survive this battle, it may be ripped to shreds… or burned to ashes.

    

Review:

Characters: Much like Scorched Treachery, this book in the Imdalind series is told from more than one perspective. In this book we see the world from not only Joclyn's POV but also from Wyn, Ryland, Ovalia, and Sain's Points of View. In Wyn's chapters we see her struggle as she fights to figure out who she is now that she has her memories back. I loved seeing her struggle and as she resolved these two parts of herself, getting help from Thom and other characters. In Ryland's chapters we see just what kind of torture he's under at the hands of his father, while I felt like his first set of chapters were just there to show us what's he's going through and not providing any real substance other than that, his second set of chapters, that take place post Soul of Flame, I found really great, I can't quite say why, cause spoilers, but those were some fantastic chapters. Ovalia's chapters, there were only two, provided some great info on who she is, why she betrayed Ilyan, and her feelings toward her father and his quest for magical domination.

Romance: So, there isn't all that much romance in this book. Wyn's chapters talk about her feelings for Thom, the feelings that came back with her memories. I really liked that the author didn't just throw Wyn and Thom together as soon as possible. Wyn still needs to mourn Talon and figure out who she is before she even thinks about romance again. There weren't enough Joclyn chapters to really get any romance there, and while we did get to see some of the closure scenes between Jos and Ryland from Ry's point of view, there wasn't really anything we hadn't seen before. Though before I go I will say that Ryland may be getting another love interest before the series is over.

World-Building: So whereas Scorched Treachery was sort of Eyes of Ember 2.0 and was chock full of information that was vital to the series and the story overall. In this book though I felt like there were some fun and informative scenes that take place during the events of Soul of Flame, but other than a few scenes here and there, most of which came from Wyn's POV, nothing really felt vital to the story, and sort of detracted from everything. If it was a novella, I think I'd be okay with it, but since this is a main series title, I felt it was a bit unnecessary. However, all the chapters after we catch up with the end of book four were fantastic. We learn more about the world, the Blade of Souls and just how much control Edmund has over this world.

Predictability: So other than a few spoilers I saw here and there, which weren't that spoilery, there was very little I was able to predict. Much like other books in this series there was a lot that was foreshadowed that never came to fruition and will probably be seen in the next installment or the final one. The things that I could predict were those things that were liable to happen at some point, but even then there was sometimes a little twist on them that I couldn't see coming.

Ending: So if I had to define the end of this installment, I'd probably say the final two chapters, one told by Ryland and the final one told by Sain. The Ryland chapter really starts to wrap up the story and begins to foreshadow what's coming, and the final chapter reveals something that has been teased for a while. So for a little over an entire book some of the characters have questioned Sain's motivations and in the final chapter we find out a lot of where his true loyalties lie and his plans for the upcoming battle.

Rating:

So this was pretty hard to rate, while I knew that it wasn't going to get five stars, mainly due to the fact that there were quite a few chapters that felt like they were full of superfluous information that wasn't really needed, while it was interesting to see, it felt like something for more of a novella or bonus scenes than part of the main series. However I loved the rest of the book, after we catch up with the story as we knew it. I can't wait to see where this series goes from here.

Book Review: Soul of Flame (Imdalind #4)

Release Date: February 15, 2014
Author: Rebecca Ethington
Publisher: Imdalind Press
Length: 391 pages
Source: Purchased eBook/Audio Book

The time for the final battle has come.

Edmund's armies have surrounded the Rioseco Abbey, trapping the few survivors inside. The sight that Ilyan was given a thousand years ago is about to come to pass.

If only Joclyn was able to fight.

Joclyn is tormented by the hallucinations that Cail’s mind has left her with, her magic an uncontrollable torrent that even Ilyan cannot control. Her moments of lucidity are broken by fears of dripping pipes and bleeding walls, and a desire to kill Ryland that she is having trouble trying to ignore.

The sight has shown her power, shown her success, but it has also shown her death – The end of her life something she is not quite willing to give up on yet.

Even past her death, the sight has shown her love, and that love may be the only key to her sanity, to her strength, and to Edmund's death.

That love may stand in her way, and a single choice may tip the scales and secure their future, or destroy their fate.

    

Review:

Protagonist: Since the events at the end of Eyes of Ember, Joclyn has been a little off, she's traumatized by her time in Cail's mind and can barely stand to be in the same building as Ryland, let alone the same room, without that fear and anger flaring up. Over the course of this installment, she begins to confront those feelings with the help of Ilyan and her friends. She grows stronger, more resilient, and maybe a tad more defiant. As the final battle looms on the horizon there are tough choices to make and a lot of growth still ahead for Joclyn.

Romance: So more or less the love triangle comes to a close in this book, if it hadn't already before. While I think it's obvious for those who've read the previous books to know where Joclyn's heart truly lies in this book, if you don't I won't spoil it for you. There's some great closure for Joclyn and one of her love interests that I loved seeing. Honestly, I'm really happy for where this love triangle went. Everything felt very organic and it never felt like it was forced or rushed. When I first began this series I was really worried about how the romance would go, but as the series progressed I became more and more surprised how okay I was with and how excited I became with where this romance led.

World-Building: It's hard to put into words all the things we learn in this book. There's still a lot about the cultures of this world that we as readers still don't know. While there was never really an info-dumping session, there were some rather info-dense sections of the book. This story and this world just keeps expanding and growing and I'm loving every second of it. In this book we learn more about Drak culture as well as Skřítek and Trpaslík bonding ceremonies. With all that's revealed there are still some things that linger like secrets yet to be told. It's clear there's more going on than meets the eye by the end and I can't wait to learn the secrets this series still holds.

Predictability: There's quite a lot of this book that's hard to predict, and the things that I could predict were only that way because I'd seen a few too many spoilers and teases. The majority of this book is fairly unpredictable, though there aren't really all that many shocking moments, for the most part things just sort of skate along with an air of tension to them.

Ending: So the ending is pretty crazy there are a great many things that still need to happen and it's obvious that this story is far from over (3 books left.) While I felt the final climax of the book ended a bit too early, I did really enjoy the longer cooling off period, it gave time for new discoveries and a bit more development between characters. The very end is much the same as other books in this series, that final declaration that things aren't over yet.

Rating:

While I can see why this is many people's favorite installment, I think that Eyes of Ember may still be mine. That being said though, this book is phenomenal and I can't wait to see what adventures still await our heroes.

Blog Tour Book Review: Eyes of Ember (Imdalind #2)

Release Date: April 6, 2013
Author: Rebecca Ethington
Publisher: Imdalind Press
Length: 360 pages
Source: Review Copy from Author & GCR Tours

Joclyn is in hiding, hunted by the man she still desperately loves. Ryland is gone, his mind erased, no memory of Joclyn remains. But, Joclyn’s heart desperately begs her to hold out hope. While, in reality the black eyed monster that possesses him, attempts to kill her over and over.

If it wasn’t for Ilyan, Joclyn would be dead by now.

Ilyan. The man who once stalked her, is now Joclyn’s protector, the only thing she has left. He protects Joclyn from the men who seek to end her life, and while she is haunted by dreams where Ryland begs her to break the bond between them.

Ilyan is there. Always there.

Ilyan trains and prepares her, teaching her everything she needs to know in the hope that one day she can avenge Ryland, if not protect herself from him.

And then there is her father.

The man who has never been there, is suddenly responsible for everything. And who he is has made Joclyn into something she never wanted to be.

The Silnỳ.

    

Review:

Protagonist: The Joclyn we first met in Kiss of Fire isn't the Joclyn that we see in this installment. throughout the book she grows and changes becoming a stronger and better version of herself. The pain that she's had to endure in the first installment has helped mold and temper her into the more heroic version of herself that evolves throughout this book. I just loved this character development, because unlike some other books where I know the character has developed I don't really feel it as much as I do with this book. It's just so palpable to me to see where she's come from and the dramatic, yet realistic development she's made.

Romance: I have to say I'm not the biggest fan of love triangles. However I loved this one so much, mainly because it wasn't necessarily a love triangle but sort of a new type of romantic drama that's a bit harder to describe. While Jos's feeling for Ilyan are explored her bond with Ryland is tested. I love that while there is romance in this series, it doesn't overshadow the main plot and in fact sometimes helps drive it without shifting focus. I'm still not quite sure where I sit with the love triangle, but at the same time I can't wait to see what comes next in this romance

World-Building: One of the highlights of this book was getting some backstory on Ilyan and learning about who and what he is in the grand scheme of things. We also see a lot more that has to do with Jos, who she is, where she comes from, and her place in the grand scheme of things above all. These are things we've seen foreshadowed and teased about but in this book, everything, well most things, will be answered. By the end of the book I felt a bit unsure of quite what was going on, I had a lot of allegiance issues, I wan't quite sure who was friend and who was foe, and if certain characters were playing spy since the beginning.

Predictability: This book had it's unpredictable moments, but the romance that blooms in this book could be seen from a mile (or one book) away. It's not that it was all that obvious but it was something that I expected going into this without even reading the description. There were a healthy amount of twists, some that I could pretty easily see and some that caught me off guard. Now the more unpredictable moments were great and spurred the story on as the book started off a bit slow. The predictable moments didn't detract from the story or it's greatness but added that bit of confidence at being able to figure something out before the protagonist does.

Ending: This ending was crazy. The final climax lasted quite a while and is something that looks to leave a lasting impact on both the world and out main character. The actual ending of the book comes from the fallout of that climax. There's a lot still left to be revealed as this book headed to it's torturous conclusion and cliffhanger. The actual cliffhanger line is insane, it harkens back to the beginning of the book and is a really powerful moment to show just how far Joclyn has come.

Rating:

Note that while I give out 5 stars a lot, I have yet to do it for an independently published book. Which makes this pretty big. It was so much better than the first and truly strengthened it's individuality making it a phenomenal read. This is one of the most original stories I've read and I can't wait to see how this evil mastermind of an author will end this series.

Blog Tour Book Review: Kiss of Fire (Imdalind #1)

Release Date: November 6, 2012
Author: Rebecca Ethington
Publisher: Imdalind Press
Length: 360 pages
Source: E-Book from the Author and Good Choice Reading

Joclyn Despain has been marred by a brand on her skin. She doesn't know why the mark appeared on her neck, but she doesn't want anyone to see it, including her best friend Ryland, who knows everything else about her. The scar is the reason she hides herself behind baggy clothes, and won't let the idea of kissing Ryland enter her mind, no matter how much she wants to.
The scar is the reason she is being hunted.

If only she knew that she was.

If only she had known that the cursed stone her estranged father sent for her 16th birthday would trigger a change in her. Now, she is being stalked by a tall blonde man, and is miraculously throwing her high school bully ten feet in the air.

Joclyn attempts to find some answers and the courage to follow her heart. When Ryland finds her scar; only he knows what it means, and who will kill her because of it.

    

Review:

Protagonist: Joclyn isn't the most social person on the planet, actually she does everything she can to blend in to the background and become invisible at school, hiding behind baggy clothing at hoodies. The only time she feels like she can be herself is around her best friend Ryland, and even he doesn't know her darkest secret, the deformity that she was cursed with when she turned five. The scar (or brand?) just below and behind her ear is the reason her life turned to hell, and the reason for her pain. I really loved the character of Joclyn, she may start out a bit flawed, always hiding in the shadows, but over the course of the book she really starts to come out of her shell, or in this case hoodie?

Romance: The romance in this book was full of amazing tension. For the first half of the book or so there's this game of chicken being played between Joclyn and her best friend Ryland, where they pretty much dance around the fact that they love each other. It may sound a bit cringe worthy, but it's actually really sweet. There isn't much time for them to be together before the plot picks up and the focus shifts away from the romance a bit. There is also a bit of a love triangle, or at least the possibility of one, which given how new the romance between Joclyn and Ryland is, and how strong their connection is, adding in a love triangle element felt a bit off.

World-Building: The world-building of this book is fantastic. While it can be a bit info-dumpy when things really get going in the plot, it does die down a bit and things start to make more sense. So, I've never heard of anything like this world-building before, and I don't know, maybe the author is basing it off of some kind of lore that already exists, but if not, if she does a phenomenal job of weaving together this world from basically nothing to this extravagant and phenomenal place.

Predictability: This book kept me guessing until the very end. It's full so so much unpredictability. I loved the twists and turns Ethington places throughout the story. There's actually one twist in particular that I remember thinking I should have figured it out, it's not the most obvious thing, but the foreshadowing is, arguably, heavy handed. Still, I loved every second, this isn't your typical YA formula book.

Ending: The ending was absolutely heart breaking. The final climax is fantastic, full of action and magic, but after the dust settles, after everything that happened, it's not happily ever after, and well it kind of shouldn't be, it's only the first book after all. However, it's still a sucker punch to read the crazy cliffhanger at the end of this book, it's something that is sure to hit you right in the feels.

Rating:

Wow, this book is fantastic. The only thing keeping it from five stars was the info-dump of world-building right as things started to pick up in the plot, and the awkward kinda love triangle. Other than that this is a fast paced book that I couldn't put down.