The Coveted // Laura Thalassa

The Coveted (★★★★☆)
By: Laura Thalassa
Series: The Unearthly (2)
Genres: Young Adult, Urban Fantasy
Pages: 312
Format: Paperback
Features: Vampires, Witches, Fairies, Seers, Shifters

As required:
I received this book through one of the Goodreads giveaways.

Now, for the good stuff.

I haven’t read the first one. Haven’t even LOOKED at the first one. But after reading this, I want to. It’s next on my “to buy” list.

When the “vampire” aspect was brought in, I admit I rolled my eyes – I’m not a big vampire book fan. However, Laura Thalassa definitely put a spin on the whole world that made it an enjoyable read. Seers and Witches and Fairies and… shifters? Point being, it included different types of “supernaturals” or “mythologicals” than just the requisite vampires and shifters and other “baddies” you often find. I mean hey, if you’re going to go creative on one aspect of the supernatural, why not just assume they all exist as well and have as much fun as possible?

Now, while it’s apparent that the heroine could be considered a young adult, this doesn’t necessarily read like a YA novel, which was a VERY pleasant surprise. I find her closest friends to be a good balance for her and actually bring something to the story.

There’s not a lot I can criticize about this book. I wasn’t hopeful at first, but as I read I found myself engaged and unwilling to put the book down. I was worried about the relationship between Gab and Andre, but was pleasantly surprised with their interaction. For the situations they were in, the situation I picked up on them leaving just a few months ago, and for Gab’s headspace, it had just the right amount of tension without going overboard and shattering that element.

I am interested in following this story futher. I want to know why the Devil is after her – and I definitely want to know about this whole “vampire/siren” thing. And what’s up with the fates involvement? There are questions left unanswered that intrigue me, and I definitely want to find out more.

The Omen Machine // Terry Goodkind

The Omen Machine (★★★☆☆)
By: Terry Goodkind
Series: The Sword of Truth (12)/Richard and Kahlan (1)
Genres: Epic Fantasy
Pages: 514
Format: eBook

Unfortunately, Terry Goodkind started to loose me with this one.

I loved the last 3 books of the Sword of Truth. They were philosophical, really dug deep into Richard, both his character and AS a character. He’s a free will kind of person and by god it showed.

The Omen Machine does not detract from this – however, it starts veering from a philosophical slant (taking place after the war detailed in the last books of the SoT) into a more theological. Prophecy practically becomes religion.

However, he once again engages the reader using a variety of unusual and intriguing plot twists and manipulates the story and its characters masterfully, as always. I’m intrigued as to what the “Omen Machine” will turn out to be – but I was not so engaged as to have to immediately run out and purchase the next book. I could easily see this turning into another epic saga, and after completing SoT, reading all of the books written in the Terre d’Ange world by Jaqueline Carey, and STILL not managing to complete the WoT books yet, I don’t think I have it in me to become emotionally involved in yet another massive epic – especially if it’s going the direction this book indicates.

Hardcore fans of Terry Goodkind will, of course, love it – and what’s not to love? You have your old, cranky/cheeky wizard, the dark, brooding and (sometimes overly) powerful sorceress of questionable morality, the noble, charismatic and steadfast protagonist and his ever-lasting love of pure beauty and goodness, countered by antagonists that make you grit your teeth and, despite their being purely fictional, have it in them to inspire hatred in even the most grounded of readers.

However, digging past the surface of what makes Terry Goodkind such an engaging writer, there is definitely something lacking in The Omen Machine that was present in the preceding books – I just can’t put my finger on what it is.

The Legacy of Shatara // Nick Marsden

The Legacy of Shatara (★★★☆☆)
By: Nick Marsden
Genres: Fantasy
Pages: 258
Format: Paperback

First, as necessary:
I got this book as part of the Goodreads First Reads giveaways.

Wow. What a read.

Unfortunately, "wow" doesn't always have the most positive connotations. The book was well-written, from an English Language standpoint, and Marsden obviously has a very fertile imagination. However, I simply do not think that this book had enough time to really develop.

A few points to consider.

There are consistently a high number of characters "on stage" at the same time. At one point I believe there was 5-7 active "players" at once, and in some cases I'd spent so little time with them earlier in the book I had no clue who they really were or what their importance to Covan or the story was. Either that, or they were being called something different than what they had originally been referenced as (which I believe may have been the case in one instance, ASIDE from the intentional change pointed out in the book).

Things I think could have used more development are the explanations of how Rajal developed as a land, people and culture (the tidbits given prove it would be a fascinating story in and of itself, I believe), the Gazzin (plot device, perhaps?), and the relationship between Kayla and Minnah. ESPECIALLY the relationship (the REAL one) between Covan and Kayla.

It was also another slow read. For as long as it took me to finish reading, I expected a lot more action, and a lot more emotional connection with the characters. There wasn't a whole lot I could empathize with, because while the stories were there to gain sympathy, they didn't actually reflect in the characters themselves.

Despite all of this, I give the book a solid 3 stars, and here's why.

The implementation of the elemental powers was seamlessly done, in my opinion. In a lot of cases, the "magic" or "sorcery" element of a book like this is simply another plot device meant to move the story forward or give it an extra dimension and nothing more. However, the Mystics of The Legacy of Shatara were very human, and their abilities (particularly those in Spirit) had true potentially dire consequences. It didn't make them invincible, all-powerful, or superior in any way. They were simply people that had one extra layer to their being.

The overall manipulation of the characters involved was fascinating. Even when I thought I had it all figured out, I was still in for another surprise. This may be why a lot of the back story for Rajal was missing, as it might have tipped it off in the end.

The revelation of Thabath... I won't spoil that for anybody, but I was giggling like a mad woman when THAT occurred...

Overall, it definitely has its good points and it's bad. It was slow reading yet the story felt rushed somehow, something just a little bit out of balance that would have brought everything together and grown the book from another title on the shelf to a true Epic.

He's a Magic Man // Susan Squires

He’s a Magic Man (★★★☆☆)
By: Suzan Squires
Series: Children of Merlin (2)
Genres: Paranormal Romance
Pages: 258
Format: Paperback
Features: mythology, magic

I got this as a Goodreads Firstreads win, so I’m going to summarize a few points here while the book is still fresh in my mind since I don’t have time for a fully involved review:

1. Felt like it took too long to read.
Why? I’m a fast reader. I can get through the early books of the Wheel of Time in 3-5 days. This one, at (less than) half that, took me to the far end of that scale. The first half of the book kept my interest nice and fast, but the more I read, the less I caried about what happened to the people, or in general.

2. Been there, done that.
The descendants of Merlin, and people who get their power from Morgan La Fey. Athurian-era artifacts. Anybody remember Stargate SG-1/Atlantis?

3. The raging alcoholic.
Okay, score for throwing this in as a twist, and giving Drew the balls to do what she did. However… we’re talking, what, a week? Alcoholism doesn’t just go away in a week, no matter how thoroughly detoxed. Sure, throw the magic in and everything’s hunky-dory, but there is such a thing as relying TOO MUCH on the magic.

4. Drew’s got a pair.
This is one ballsy woman. After what we see her face early on in the book, she seems to have this bottomless pit of determination, while still maintaining a healthy dose of “what if”? (Not like she lets that stop her. Like I said, she’s got a pair.) I was cheering her on through the entire detox. That gave a REAL nice balance to the whiny high schooler she became any time her gift/power was involved (No, I’m not putting that bit down – considering her familial status and everything else, it almost makes more sense than just about anything else in the book).

All in all, it felt like the first half of the book is where Squires really took her time and thought out what she was writing. Maybe even first 2/3 – then its almost as if a reminder popped up on the calender and it became, “Oh, crap! Deadline!”

I do plan on reading other books in this series, so I can get a better feel for Squires as an author.

Timebound // Rysa Walker

Timebound (★★★★★)
By: Rysa Walker
Series: Timebound (1)
Genres: Young Adult, Science Fiction
Pages: 258
Format: eBook
Features: time travel

I got this book as a Kindle First pick.

Now, that being said, after my first Kindle First Pick, I wasn’t expecting much. Plus, I see a LOT of repeat in fiction being written these days.

The subject matter alone made me sit up and pay attention. Rysa Walker has managed to create a unique and memorable experience with this book that I haven’t encountered in a very long time.

I won’t say much more other than I could praise this book all day no matter how crazy it made me sound. I really just wish everybody who encounters this will give it a try. It’s not your typical romance, as it deals with a protagonist that’s still in high school.

One bad thing. Since I got this through the first reads program… I have to wait even LONGER for the second book!

Endless // Matt Bone

Endless (★★★☆☆)
By: Matt Bone
Series: Crescent (1)
Genres: Fantasy
Pages: 329
Format: eBook
Features: Post-apocalypse

I’ll admit, I enjoyed the book. It had its moments of interest, and the premise was unique. However, I can’t bring myself to look into the next book, or go back and read again.

Yes, the premise was interesting – but so far, at the end of the first book, was nothing but a plot device. The “hero” ended up not really being the hero after all, and seemed more to just go along for the ride than anything else. I get that it might change later in the series, but when you get introduced to one and only one character so early on and then there ends up being nothing special about him throughout the entire thing, that’s a HUGE letdown.

That fact, and the unique premise are really the only things that I remember from reading this book. There are others I read earlier in the year than this one that I remember with much more clarity and were much more engaging.

I rather enjoy post-apocalyptic plot lines, when they’re done well. This one just… fell short.