Kinx's Book Nook: July 2012

Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Teaser Tuesday (7): Gunmetal Magic



Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page


• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!



What I'm Currently Reading:

Gunmetal Magic by Ilona Andrews

Chapter One:

Thud!
My head hit the sidewalk. Candy jerked me up by my hair and slammed my face into the asphalt.
Thud!


Monday, July 30, 2012

It's Monday! What are you reading?! (7)


Welcome to It’s Monday! What Are You Reading! This is a great way to plan out your reading week and see what others are currently reading as well… you never know where that next “must read” book will come from! Hosted by Book Journey


This week I'm reading:


Savage by Willow Rose (Daughters of the Jaguar #1)

The year is 1983. Christian is 22 years old when he leaves his home in Denmark to spend a year in Florida with a very wealthy family and go to med-school. A joyful night out with friends is shattered by an encounter with a savage predator that changes his life forever. Soon he faces challenges he had never expected. A supernatural gift he has no idea how to embrace. A haunting family in the house next door. A spirit-filled girl who seems to carry all the answers. An ancient secret hidden in the swamps of Florida. One life never the same. One love that becomes an obsession. Two destinies that will be forever entangled.
I received this book by an independent author for review. It's pretty good so far. Great cover art!

Saturday, July 28, 2012

Review: Thirteen

Thirteen by Kelley Armstrong
 Published by Dutton Book Released on July 24, 2012
Urban Fantasy


 From Goodreads: War is coming to the Otherworld. A sinister cult known as The Supernatural Liberation Movement is hell-bent on exposing the truth about supernaturals to the rest of the world. Their violent, ruthless plan has put everyone at risk: from werewolves to vampires, from witches to half-demons. 


 Savannah Levine - fiery and unpredictable - stands at the heart of the maelstrom. There is a new, dark magic inside her, granting her the power to summon spells of terrifying strength. But whether this magic is a gift or a curse, no one knows. 


 On the eve of battle, all the major players must come together in a last, desperate fight for survival - Elena and Clay; Adam and Savannah; Paige and Lucas; Jeremy and Jaime; Hope, Eve and more...They are fighting for lives. 


 They are fighting for their loved ones. 
 They are fighting for the Otherworld. 


 With 13, Kelley Armstrong ends the Women of the Otherworld series with her version of a happily ever after. Most of the book from Savannah's point of view. However, there are some chapters dedicated to Jaime, Paige, Elena, and Hope. Throughout, the Otherworld series, Ms. Armstrong has introduced a plethora of interesting and dynamic characters. 13 brings them all together for one last save-the-world adventure.


 As mentioned before, Savannah is 13's main narrator. We have watched Savannah grow up all through the series. This is her final coming of age story. She has had to reconcile her loss of powers with the ability to make good choices and take care of herself. Savannah discovers that her magic doesn't identify her as a person. She is just as strong without her magical abilities. She is continually tested but she continues to refuse the tempting for stronger powers.


 In the first half of the book, Eve plays a significant role. Ms. Armstrong tells a wonderful mother/daughter bond that even death can't destroy. However, I love how a daughter can emerge from her Mother's shadow and be her own person - strong, moral, and caring. Savannah knowing that Eve would do anything to protect her, finds strength and confidence to face her battles. Savannah, also, faces her guilt and grief over her father's death. The scenes between Kristof and Savannah are beautifully written and very emotional.


 Love never really plays a primary role in Kelley Armstrong's books. However, Savannah and Adam was a nice reprieve from the overall plot. Their romance didn't overwhelm the story, but did add some spice to the story. Savannah isn't romantic person and I really enjoyed her honesty and forthrightness with Adam. She really grew up when her relationship with Adam changed to more than friends. She experiences some insecurities, but I found that refreshing coming from her.


 In my opinion, the best part of 13 is all the Otherworld characters coming together for a final battle. Paige and Lucas; Elena and Clayton; Jaime and Jeremy; Savannah and Adam; Eve and Kristof; Hope and Karl; Cassandra and Aaron - all present and accounted for. Plus, one surprise character that I won't reveal. It's a shocker! I found it amazing how Ms. Armstrong could keep all the characters engaged without overwhelming the reader.


 Ms. Armstrong gave us a wonderful farewell to the Otherworld series. However, The ending is open-ended which leaves plenty of opportunity to carry on with more Otherworld stories. I have a feeling we aren't seeing the end for these wonderful characters. 


 Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars

Thursday, July 26, 2012

Feature & Follow Friday (5)




Gain new followers and make new friends with the Book Blogger Feature & Follow! If this is your first time here, welcome! You are about to make some new friends and gain new followers -- but you have to know -- the point of this hop is to follow other bloggers also. I follow you, you follow me.

The Feature & Follow is hosted by TWO hosts, Parajunkee of Parajunkee's View and Alison of Alison Can Read. Each host will have their own Feature Blog and this way it'll allow us to show off more new blogs! 



Question:  Summer Reading. What was your favorite book that you were REQUIRED to read when you were in school?



Answer: As I went to high school in the 80s, I really don't remember my requried summer reads. However, I do remember some of my college required reading. I remember reading The Great Gatsby and falling in love with F. Scott Fitzgerald. Also I loved Walden by Henry David Thoreau.







Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Throwback Thursday (6): Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone



Welcome to Throwback Thursday, a weekly meme hosted by The Housework Can Wait and Never Too Fond of Books!

It’s the nature of book blogging to focus mainly on new releases, but there are thousands of great books out there that haven’t seen the “New Releases” shelf in years. We hope to be able to bring attention to some older titles that may not be at the top of the current bestseller list, but still deserve a spot in your To-Be-Read pile.


My Throwback Thursday:


Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
Published in 1997


From Goodreads:


With the release of J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone,the first in a series of tales about a young wizard in training, an international craze was born. Not since C. S. Lewis's The Chronicles of Narnia has a children's tale of magic and mystery so enthralled the reading public. And it's easy to see why. Eleven-year-old Harry Potter, the plucky yet nerdy hero of this series, is the embodiment of every uncool kid's fantasy. Unpopular in school, picked on by bullies, and persecuted by his adoptive family, the disheveled and bespectacled Harry manages to not only survive but thrive by discovering friends, magical powers, and a great destiny he never knew he had.

Harry hates living with his Uncle Vernon, Aunt Petunia, and their spoiled-rotten son, Dudley. Harry's room is a tiny closet beneath the stairs, and the entire family treats him with disdain. What's more, Harry keeps getting into trouble for making strange things happen - things he seems to have no control over. But then Harry discovers the truth about himself when a determined messenger delivers an enlightening message. It turns out that Harry's mother was a witch, his father a wizard. And not only is Harry also a wizard, he's a famous one! His survival of the attack by the evil wizard who killed his parents has marked him as a legendary hero - as has the lightning-bolt-shaped scar on his forehead.

Soon Harry finds himself attending Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, where he receives training in some magic basics, masters riding a broomstick, and discovers his incredible talent for a game called Quidditch, which is played in the air on flying brooms. And for the first time in his life, Harry has friends who care about him: his fellow students Hermione and Ron and a giant named Hagrid. But all is not rosy when Harry discovers his true destiny and finds he must once again face the evil one who killed his parents. His survival will depend upon the help of his newfound friends, as well as his own wit and powers.

It's easy to see why Harry Potter has caught the reading public's fancy. Not only are his adventures an entertaining mix of fright, fantasy, and fun, his triumphs over everyday adversities offer a heartening lesson to kids everywhere.



I don't know how many times I've read this book, maybe 4 or 5 times. The reason I picked it is because I'm reading it with my 7 year old daughter for the first time. Snuggling with her and reading Harry Potter is absolutely wonderful! I love all her questions. It is such a precious time that I will always cherish.







Monday, July 23, 2012

Stacking the Shelves (6)


Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks!

From an author for review:

Savage by Willow Rose (Daughters of the Jaguar #1)


From a contest:

The Darkly Luminous Fight for Persephone Parker by Leanna Renee Hieber (Strangley Beautiful #2)


Darker Still by Leanna Renee Hieber (Magic Most Foul #1)



From the library:The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood



Teaser Tuesday (6)


Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page


• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

What I'm Currently Reading:

The Magicians by Lev Grossman


Page 40:

"And then a vast stony weight suddenly listed off Quentin's chest. It felt like it had been there his entire life, an invisible albatross, a granite millstone holding him down, and all at once it just dropped away and disappeared without a splash."







Thirteen by Kelley Armstrong


Page 1:


I led my half brother Bryce away from the rubble of the exploded lab, ignoring his protests, and ignoring Adam, who was sticking close and wincing every time Bryce coughed. I couldn't blame Adam for worrying.



Sunday, July 22, 2012

It's Monday! What are your reading?! (6)


Welcome to It’s Monday! What Are You Reading! This is a great way to plan out your reading week and see what others are currently reading as well… you never know where that next “must read” book will come from! Hosted by Book Journey




This week I'm reading:










Thursday, July 19, 2012

Feature & Follow Friday (4)



Gain new followers and make new friends with the Book Blogger Feature & Follow! If this is your first time here, welcome! You are about to make some new friends and gain new followers -- but you have to know -- the point of this hop is to follow other bloggers also. I follow you, you follow me.

The Feature & Follow is hosted by TWO hosts, Parajunkee of Parajunkee's View and Alison of Alison Can Read. Each host will have their own Feature Blog and this way it'll allow us to show off more new blogs! 




Q: Christmas in July! Someone gives you a gift card for two books (whatever that costs). What two books will you buy?


What would I buy? First editions of:

Persuasion by Jane Austen. It's my favorite of her novels. 

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by JK Rowling



Review: Shadow of Night

Shadow of Night by Deborah Harkness
Published by Penguin Group
Released on July 10, 2012
EBook, 584 pages
Paranormal Romance

From Goodreads:

Picking up from A Discovery of Witches’ cliffhanger ending, Shadow of Night plunges Diana and Matthew into Elizabethan London, a world of spies, subterfuge, and a coterie of Matthew’s old friends, the mysterious School of Night that includes Christopher Marlowe and Walter Raleigh. Here, Diana must locate a witch to tutor her in magic, Matthew is forced to confront a past he thought he had put to rest, and the mystery of Ashmole 782 deepens.

In Shadow of Night, Deborah Harkness weaves a magical tale of history, discovery and redemption. It is beautiful to behold. She continues with the story of Diana and Matthew which takes them on a tumultuous journey of pain and self-discovery. I felt this was Matthew’s book where A Discovery of Witches was Diana’s. Ms. Harkness gave us some great insight on who Matthew was, is and will be all while Diana tries to develop her magical powers. They are taking separate journeys but in the end they come together as one.

Matthew is an extremely secretive and dark character. His past life is filled with tremendous pain and suffering. By going back in time, he has to face his past demons and not let those demons destroy him. He must come to terms with the death of his father, wife and son and deal with his guilt over each. He receives forgiveness and acceptance from, to him, unexpected places. During his journey, Diana is ever present at his side. She can now fully understand him and accept him as he is. Their love story is written beautifully. You feel that they can defy whatever obstacles that they might face to be together forever.

Diana continues to struggle with being a witch. Throughout the book, she tries to learn the basic spells but, then, comes to discover that she is a truly special witch. She is the subject of prophecies and lore. Witches have been waiting long time for to arrive to save them. Diana thrives on structure and reason. Being a witch, she has to move beyond reason and rigidity and focus on faith and flow. Like Matthew, she must also face her past. She receives an unexpected visitor while a blessing, it brings great heartache. Again, Ms. Harkness writes beautifully about pain and strength that you feel deeply for Diana. What I liked the most was the Diana is finally able to control her fears and become a confident and powerful witch.

Matthew’s father, Philippe, is a tremendous character. He is larger than life. The relationship between father and son is heartbreaking and joyous. I’m so glad that his character was included. He gave a lot of depth and insight into Matthew and you can understand why Ysabeau was completely devastated by his death.

I loved meeting all the historical figures of Elizabeth England. As a historian, Diana was so overwhelmed with each introduction. For instance, when Diana first met Queen Elizabeth I, I thought she would literally pass out, as would I. I enjoyed the different view that Ms. Harkness gave to some of the characters. Christopher Marlowe was not what I expected but that character fit well in the overall story. All the characters really jump off the page.

I did miss all the wine references that were throughout A Discovery of Witches. The sight and smell of each wine gave the book so much texture. I really missed that in Shadow of Night. There were parts of the book that I found a little silly. I had a difficult time imagining Diana and Matthew performing in a Goddess of the Moon masque. I, also, found Rudolf II a little tedious with his outpouring of affections.

Overall, I loved this book. I can’t wait for the third and final installment. It is such a beautiful story and I can’t wait to see how it ends.

Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars

Throwback Thursday (5): Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil




Welcome to Throwback Thursday, a weekly meme hosted by The Housework Can Wait and Never Too Fond of Books!

It’s the nature of book blogging to focus mainly on new releases, but there are thousands of great books out there that haven’t seen the “New Releases” shelf in years. We hope to be able to bring attention to some older titles that may not be at the top of the current bestseller list, but still deserve a spot in your To-Be-Read pile.

My Throwback Thursday:


Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt Published in 1994

From Goodreads:

Shots rang out in Savannah's grandest mansion in the misty,early morning hours of May 2, 1981. Was it murder or self-defense? For nearly a decade, the shooting and its aftermath reverberated throughout this hauntingly beautiful city of moss-hung oaks and shaded squares. John Berendt's sharply observed, suspenseful, and witty narrative reads like a thoroughly engrossing novel, and yet it is a work of nonfiction. Berendt skillfully interweaves a hugely entertaining first-person account of life in this isolated remnant of the Old South with the unpredictable twists and turns of a landmark murder case.

It is a spellbinding story peopled by a gallery of remarkable characters: the well-bred society ladies of the Married Woman's Card Club; the turbulent young redneck gigolo; the hapless recluse who owns a bottle of poison so powerful it could kill every man, woman, and child in Savannah; the aging and profane Southern belle who is the "soul of pampered self-absorption"; the uproariously funny black drag queen; the acerbic and arrogant antiques dealer; the sweet-talking, piano-playing con artist; young blacks dancing the minuet at the black debutante ball; and Minerva, the voodoo priestess who works her magic in the graveyard at midnight. These and other Savannahians act as a Greek chorus, with Berendt revealing the alliances, hostilities, and intrigues that thrive in a town where everyone knows everyone else.

Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil is a sublime and seductive reading experience. Brilliantly conceived and masterfully written, this enormously engaging portrait of a most beguiling Southern city has become a modern classic.

I love this book and I usually don't read nonfiction. When you read this book, you can't believe the people are real and not fictional characters. It is a fun read!

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Review: Broken


Broken by Kelley Armstrong (Women of the Otherworld #6)
Published by Bantam Spectra
Released in May 2006
EBook, 480 pages
Genre:  Urban Fantasy

From Goodreads:

Ever since she discovered she’s pregnant, Elena Michaels has been on edge. After all, she’s never heard of another living female werewolf, let alone one who’s given birth. But thankfully, her expertise is needed to retrieve a stolen letter allegedly written by Jack the Ripper. As a distraction, the job seems simple enough – only the letter contains a portal to Victorian London’s underworld, which Elena inadvertently triggers – unleashing a vicious killer and a pair of zombie thugs.

Now Elena must find a way to seal the portal before the unwelcome visitors get what they’re looking for – which, for some unknown reason, is Elena…

Once again, Kelley Armstrong has returned to Elena for another great story. I say great due to the fact of Elena’s pregnancy and how she deals with it, not the crazy story and plot. I found the Jack the Ripper and the From Hell letter a little too bizarre to really enjoy. However, I did appreciate Elena’s continuing struggle on being the only female werewolf.

Besides being the only female werewolf, Elena now has to contend with being the only female and pregnant werewolf. Ms. Armstrong describes Elena’s fears and insecurities with great effect. Elena hasn’t a difficult time reconciling her dual natures, wolf and human. She constantly fears that her wolf will hurt her unborn child. At times, she refuses to Change based on that fear. Due to Ms. Armstrong’s intense storytelling, I found that I could truly empathize with Elena’s struggles.

Because she is the first pregnant female werewolf, the male werewolves in her pack are extremely protective. Clayton and Jeremy are constantly watching her every move. At times, she feels very claustrophobic with all the added attention. You think human men are protective of their pregnant wives/girlfriends, try being married to a werewolf.

Another aspect of the book I really enjoyed were how Elena and Clayton’s feelings toward parenthood conflicted with each other. Elena is very uptight on whether she will make a good mother while Clayton seems to be more comfortable with the parenting concept. I think that comes from Clayton being more wolf than human in his instincts and values while Elena still tries to embrace her full humanity.

An additional tidbit I really liked from this book is Jaime Vegas’ crush on Jeremy. It is a great lead-in to the next book, No Humans Involved. As you probably can tell, I didn’t talk about the overall plot. Mainly, because I thought the most important of the book was Elena’s journey through her pregnancy and her acceptance of who she is. The ending was very touching with Paige making a small appearance. Kelley Armstrong can weave a great, emotional story.

Rating: 3 ½ out of 5 Stars (due to the funky plot)

Waiting on Wednesday (6): The Rising

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.
 
The Rising by Kelley Armstrong (The Darkness Rising #3)
April 2013

From Kelley Armstrong
 
Things are getting desperate for Maya and her friends. Hunted by the St. Clouds and a rival Cabal, they’re quickly running out of places to hide. And with the whole world thinking they died in a helicopter crash, it’s not like they can just go to the authorities for help.

All they have is the name and number of someone who might be able to give them a few answers. Answers to why they’re so valuable, and why their supernatural powers are getting out of control.
But Maya is unprepared for the truths that await her. And now, like it or not, she’ll have to face down some demons from her past if she ever hopes to move on with her life. Because Maya can’t keep running forever.

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Teaser Tuesday (5): Fool Moon


Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:


• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page


• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)


• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!


What I'm Currently Reading:
 
 
Fool Moon by Jim Butcher (Dresden Files #2)
Chapter Eighteen:

I tried to make my stunned body respond, to get to my feet, to unleash every once of magic at my command to protect Murphy, and to hell with the consequences.
I failed.



Review: Haunted


Haunted by Kelley Armstrong (Women of the Otherworld #5)
Published 2005 by Bantam Books
Ebook, 495 pages

From Goodreads:

Eve Levine – half-demon, black witch and devoted mother – has been dead for three years. She has a great house, an interesting love life and can’t be killed again – which comes in handy when you’ve made as many enemies as Eve. Yes, the afterlife isn’t too bad – all she needs to do is find a way to communicate with her daughter, Savannah, and she’ll be happy.

But fate – or more exactly, the Fates – have other plans. Eve owes them a favor, and they’ve just called it in. An evil spirit called the Nix has escaped from hell. She feeds on chaos and death, and is very good at persuading people to kill for her. The Fates want Eve to hunt her down before she does any more damages, but the Nix is a dangerous enemy – previous hunters have been driven insane in the process. As if that’s not problem enough, the only way to stop her is with an Angel’s sword. And Eve is no angel…

Haunted is the fifth book in the Otherworld series which focuses on Eve Levine. In previous book in the series, Eve has been portrayed as a minor character with her main role as Savannah’s mother. With this book, Kelley Armstrong gives more depth and life to a wonderful character.

When Eve was alive, she was a much feared witch. She traded in the dark arts of magic and she had no time or patience for the American Coven. Now, as a ghost in the afterlife, she has to find a new path. She focuses most of her attention on Savannah; always watching and checking up on her. For all her faults (Eve is far from perfect), she loves her daughter more than anything wants to protect her above all else. Her most redeeming quality is being a mother to Savannah. She sacrificed her own life to help her. By being a mother, Eve is able to expand her morality to make better choices that are not just focused on her. At the end of the book, Ms. Armstrong depicts a strong mother-daughter connection between Eve and Savannah where even death can’t destroy.

Ms. Armstrong loves conflict with her couples which make for a really good subplot to her books. In Haunted, Eve and Kristof have a lot to overcome. Prior to both their deaths, they had a very secret and passionate affair and the result was Savannah. Their love is strong but the trust isn’t. All Eve cares about is the safety of her daughter. Kristof wants her to realize that they can have a life together in the Afterlife. They both have to find their own way in the Afterlife and back to each other. Like all of Ms. Armstrong’s female characters, Eve is strong and fiercely independent; having to rely on someone else is difficult. Eve has to struggle to realize that Kristof will always be there for her and she can have a happily ever after with him. That struggle makes Eve a very fascinating character.

Overall, Eve is a strong, powerful and confident witch. She is not afraid to face a demon or any other supernatural creature to get want she wants. I was really happy that Ms. Armstrong wrote an entire book devoted to Eve. She is a great character with big flaws. However, maybe against her will, Eve is developing a good heart. We are not done with Eve because she will continue to play a part in other Otherworld books including 13.

Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars

Monday, July 16, 2012

It's Monday! What are you reading? (5)


Welcome to It’s Monday! What Are You Reading! This is a great way to plan out your reading week and see what others are currently reading as well… you never know where that next “must read” book will come from! Hosted by Book Journey


I'm still reading:









































What's Next?






Have a great reading week!

Saturday, July 14, 2012

Stacking the Shelves (5)



Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks!

This is the first time I have received anything from NetGalley:

Secret of the Wolf by Cynthia Garner

















Red by Kate SeRine


Add caption

















Not a big haul, but these should be interesting reads.