Vision In Silver by Anne Bishop

The linchpin in this series!!

(third installment after Murder of Crows)

Vision in Silver felt like one of the books that is used to give information and progress the story along. Not to say it was boring, it wasn't.

A lot of the story revolved around Meg and the delicacy of being a Cassandra Sangue. Between the adjustments of trying to keep Meg stable and work with her needs, even the more peculiar ones, we're also caught up in a slowly progressing war.

Humans are rebelling against The Others, and also killing off the newly discovered Cassandra Sangue which is causing a fast peak of tension in what was once a peaceful community. Things are falling out of Simon's control, and we are introduced to something infinitely more powerful than the creatures of the lot that we've slowly gotten to know.

All in all, the story progressed nicely, and we were left with a somewhat peaceful ending, although that peace is more than likely temporary with the way things are going. Meg and Simon's relationship status is also as slow as ever, but hey we've still got two more books, right? Right? 

Lauren - 4 stars

Coming to a book store near you March 8th, 2016: 

Marked in Flesh!

Murder of Crows by Anne Bishop

5 stars

Better cover than the first!


Warning: If you don't have the stomach for rape or insinuated gore, I would honestly consider if you want to read this book. It's an adult book and it can be dark. 

~*~*~*~*~*~

I have been dying for more of the Others, and it has finally come!

Alas, as quickly as the book was released, I also completed it just as fast. It was so good!

Murder of Crows takes a darker twist than it's predecessor this time around with more diabolical means to killing the others with such recklessness that innocent people are getting dragged in. While the plot takes an interesting turn, our main characters gain new development; our meek Meg is growing into her new surroundings as she learns to adapt, become tougher, and grows in independence. 

Meanwhile our wolf leader, Simon, becomes softer in his constant exposure to Meg. We learn much more about the dangerous drugs Gone Over Wolf and Feel Good and their terrible origins, as tension between humans and others rise considerably.

The relationship building between Meg and the Others is so unique and simply adorable in some ways. Honestly, I didn't think I'd enjoy the perspective of animals so much as I do in this book, it's so accurate, innocent in some ways, and heartwarming. 

Meg and Simon's relationship also undergoes serious development as they grow closer and more accustomed to each other to the point of relying on each other and even needing each other's company in their most vulnerable moments. (Yay!)

Meg's past is also given new views, as we focus on the dark side of the corporations that own and sell the cassandra sangue and our POVs include Meg's independent friend, Jean which was truly an interesting, and sometimes horrifying, add on.

The struggle for peace among humans and others continues in the third book, Vision in Silver!

Every Other Day by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

3 stars

Loved the cover, its really eye catching and entrancing.

A fun action packed book that leaves you longing for the next change...

I've got to say I've been on a badass heroine streak and love it. With this story I was not disappointed with our heroine Kali; an average teenager every other day. But when she isn't simply human, she is a bloodthirsty hunter, seeking to sink her knives into supernatural baddies!

Her life takes an even bigger turn for the interesting when she sees the mark of the Chupacabra on a popular girl at school and has decided to save her no matter the cost.

Though Kali isn't exactly social, she warms up to most of the characters we're introduced to, and its quite a variety. Through Kali's eyes, the world of the usual bump-in-the-night creature genre is given a unique twist. Especially so when readers learn of a company with evil intention involving Kali, humans, creatures, and a certain somebody else.

It's what makes this book so fun, since things aren't what they seem! I really appreciated that while our popular girl did fit the usual bill of teenage snot, once Kali got past the facde there was someone truly lovable underneath. I did feel a little confused after some mysteries were revealed for example what exactly Kali was before things began to change was left...cloudy. Also a certain character death left me with a big angry question mark above my head. I felt the death was random and highly unnecessary, plus the ending felt slightly vague. 

These were my only complaints since the book was otherwise so good, I could not put it down. Great for a light, action read!

Written In Red by Anne Bishop

5 stars

What a knockout! 

This was amazing, I'm ashamed I put it off for so long. 

(I blame the weak book cover.)

I've got to say I'm not usually one for werewolf stories but oh, this was so much more.

Readers are introduced to a world where humans are second in command and the supernatural run the roost. Tension is high but our focus is on a different town where the wolves and other creatures that dwell within the closed off park, try to live in peace with humans.

The leader of the pack is Simon Wolfgard a temperamental and fierce wolf who runs the human friendly bookstore called Howling Good Reads. He is definitely more animal than human as are most of the park members which is proven as they will consume any adult trespassers. But Simon finds it somewhere in his heart to take in the naive and gentle Meg Corbyn, who is a runaway prophet who longs to start a new life that isn't controlled by the organization that owns her as well as the others of her kind.  

She takes on the job of liason and spurs our story into action. The character and world building done by the author is simply astounding. I was easily sucked up into this new world, and was helpless but to turn the next page. You become easily attached to everyone, and I simply adored how easily Meg won people's hearts, even the most difficult.

Her bond with Simon's scarred nephew is especially heartwarming as she withdraws him slowly from his shell. Her relationship with Simon is very special and has been progressive but not instantaneous which was actually quite nice!  It has left me excited to see how they progress in the sequel.

The Coldest Girl in Coldtown by Holly Black

3 stars

The cover is so cool, too!

I found Coldest Girl in Coldtown to be good, 

 but somewhat disappointing. I went in expecting the thrill of Holly Black's previous work and found it slighly lacking.

Our heroine, Tana, is a young girl of the age oh, I'd say 18? Her life has a complicated past, but her life manages to still be drastically changed when she wakes up the next morning. The story starts off really exciting and thrilling. Holly Black's interpretation of vampires is dark and fascinating. Instead of your usual vampire, her vampires are more sinister, unpredictable, and way more dangerous. They are truly monsters.

The vampire's sharp sharp canines are the source of the spreading disease which is shared when a vampire bites a human. The human is then infected and has one of two options;

to sweat the disease out for 88 days and remain human, or drink human blood and begin the process of turning.

"Coldtowns" have been erected for vampires to be secluded from humans and live on their undead past times but this is where humans and the dead alike flock to gather together. This is where our group heads.

Tana makes a great heroine, I liked how she wasn't this jealous, simpering, swoony character. She had feelings, and she had mistakes in her past which could have made her more vulnerable, more human. Instead all Tana did was kick some serious ass.

Sometimes the world building felt a little weak, but I guess my main source of disappointment was because I had been expecting some exciting plot twist for the entire book, something that would blow my mind. Sadly, it never happened. Due to this, the plot felt rather...lame. 

Their whole goal was to go to Coldtown to get her infected ex-boyfriend there, and then once they were there it was just one thing after another keeping Tana from returning home. Not to mention at some point it just felt like Tana was asking to be infected.

To sum up my frustrations, I felt like the ending left a huge "then what?" Will Tana go home? What happens after?

Now don't get me wrong, Coldest Girl in Coldtown is not a horrible book, but it wasn't mindblowing either. It's a simple pleasure kind of book which in my opinion, doesn't make it Holly Black's best work. Especially compared to her roller coaster ride of a trilogy, The Curse Workers.

 I hope she writes another book soon, because I will be reading it!