Hey All! I took a brief hiatus, due to being busy with the family. But I have been reading! More reviews will be coming shortly. However, if you want to see what I have been reading....please see my Goodreads page:
My Goodreads Page
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
Monday, September 24, 2012
Thursday, September 13, 2012
Sex at Dawn by Christopher Ryan and Cacilda Jetha (Audio version)
Sex at Dawn: The Prehistoric Origins of Modern Sexuality by Christopher RyanMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
I found this book extremely enlightening and informative.
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Monday, September 10, 2012
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Nazi Germany: History in an Hour (Audio Version)
Nazi Germany: History in an Hour by Rupert ColleyMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
Nice informative digest.
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Blade Song by J.C. Daniels
Blade Song by J.C. DanielsMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
4 Stars! J.C. Daniels, alter ego of Shiloh Walker, pens a dark yet fun urban fantasy. She brings plenty of fresh material to the table to make it her own world. Blade Song is, without a doubt, the beginning to an exciting series!
Kit Colbana is a half human investigator, living in a world where every step can get you into trouble. And she is walking trouble, or so it seems. Talented with her blade, strong in her mind, clever with her investigative skills, she is one kick-ass heroine. She is coerced to take on a job working for a shifter clan leader who is known to be ruthless. The Alpha’s nephew has gone missing. Fail at the job? Death. Meanwhile, Kit is also battling Jude, a vampire who keeps invading her dreams. Everyone knows not to trust a vampire...
She sets out to begin her research with her “bodyguard,” Damon, in tow, or rather the shifter forced upon her to ensure she does her job, courtesy of of the Alpha who hired her. As she delves deeper into the disappearance of the boy, bodies of young people start showing up. Who is killing off the young? And how much have they had to suffer before death brings relief? As Kit follows the dirty trail, she gets to know her bodyguard a wee bit better. And although he works for the Alpha, and is not to be trusted, she can’t help but notice how sexy he is;-)
Blade Song is an edge of your seat read, chock full of characters you will want to see again. The ending was nail biting powerful. Looking forward to the next book!
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Sunday, August 19, 2012
Thursday, August 16, 2012
A Stolen Life by Jaycee Dugard (Audio version)
A Stolen Life by Jaycee DugardMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
Wow, this was a tough listen. Way to go Jaycee!
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Wednesday, August 15, 2012
Shadowfell by Juliet Marillier
Shadowfell by Juliet MarillierMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
4 1/2 Stars!! As a huge fan of Marillier’s Sevenwaters trilogy, I was thoroughly excited to get my hands on this book. Shadowfell sucked me in, held my breath, and didn't give it back until the very end. Marillier is queen of her genre.
Neryn’s life is always in danger. She has a canny ability that requires her and her drunken/gambling father to traverse the land, hiding from the King’s men who have been sent after her and others with any canny strengths. After a night when all she has left is lost, Neryn decides that the only way to survive any longer requires her to find Shadowfell. A whispered about place that tales say welcome those with canny skills.
The world is very dark and brutal. Throughout Neryn’s quest, it really seemed as if there was no hope for her, no light at the end of the tunnel. Through this feeling of constant doom, the story is propelled. Neryn gets by from sheer wit and a little help from some shorter friends and a tall, curious stranger. One is led to wonder continuously whether they are all really “helping,” or if they have an ulterior motive.
I enjoyed this roller coaster of a fantasy. I wished it was longer. There were people/creatures Neryn met along the way that I would have like to see more of. Perhaps Marillier will revisit them over the course of the next two books in the trilogy. I can’t wait!:-)
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Monday, August 13, 2012
Just got back from our trip to Isle Royale. Lake Superior was indeed superior to our boat during the trip. One day the waves were peaking at 9 feet. So, after realizing that we needed a bigger boat, we headed back to shore and found a calmer lake to spend the rest of our vacation. Looking forward to going back and being able to explore the island in a few years!
Monday, July 30, 2012
Saturday, July 28, 2012
Thursday, July 26, 2012
The Siren by Tiffany Reisz
The Siren by Tiffany ReiszMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
5 Stars to this very unusual, yet incredibly gripping read! One I almost did not read for a few reasons. First of all, I do not care for the cover. At first glance it looks like a chick-lit read. I rarely, if ever, read chick-lit. The other thing that put me off was that it was about a writer. I normally don't care to read a book that is about someone writing a book. Same goes for movies. Watching a movie about a movie just drives me nuts for some reason. WIth that said, I saw all the fabulous reviews coming in and decided to give The SIren a try. Boy, was I in for a surprise!
Nora Sutherlin is an infamous erotica author, known for her extraordinary kinky stories. She brings her latest manuscript to Zach, a British editor not particularly interested in editing her “type” of books. But this story is different than her previously published novels, and she wants the best editor. He agrees, with conditions. As the two work tirelessly on the novel, Zach gets to know Nora more and more, realizing that the lady shown to the public is not the same woman. She is so much more, and he is determined to find out just what that is. And Nora wants to keep her darker secrets to herself, at least until the novel is completed to Zach’s approval.
The Siren takes so many twists and turns, a few nose dives, and shocking revelations. I was so sucked into this story with the dark side of Nora. The psychological machinations. It almost makes me want to write a spoilery review. I know this review will not do the book justice, as The Siren was so very well written and plotted. The erotica angles of The Siren were very dark, not particularly for the faint of heart. However, even knowing that, I do believe that the story will appeal to many people, mainly due to the superb writing by Tiffany Reisz.
While the ending was different than I expected, quite different, in fact, it still had an HEA in its own way. I am looking forward to reading the next book, The Angel! If you like your stories a little on the darker, edgier side, with a bit of a psychological twist, I would definitely recommend The Siren!
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Monday, July 23, 2012
The Ravenous Dead by Natasha Hoar
The Ravenous Dead by Natasha HoarMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
4 Stars!
An intriguing paranormal novella, with a nice ripe plot that moves along with surprising speed, entertaining detail, and charming character development! The Ravenous Dead picks up directly after The Stubborn Dead (which I listened to in audio.) I highly recommend reading The Stubborn Dead first for background of the lore and development of the main characters.
The Ravenous Dead is about a reaper who is on a killing spree. Rachel, a member of The Order of Rescue Mediums, must find and destroy the reaper. Rachel soon realizes just what the reaper wants, and it terrifies her. Especially since she once saw a reaper steal the soul of her mentor. With a little help from a half-vampire, and another surprise character, Rachel and her rodach friend (read The Stubborn Dead first!;-)) set off on a reaper hunt!
Natasha Hoar is an excellent story teller. She creates a world full of paranormals and monsters without overloading the reader with excruciating detail. Some of the paranormal characters are species we have heard about, yet are given much different abilities or personality. This reader will definitely be picking up the next novella in this series! Another highly recommended publication from Carina Press!
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Sunday, July 22, 2012
Busy Summer!
Summer has been quite busy for me, so reviews have been slow. Just got back from a trip with my family. I am hoping to have some time to post a few reviews this week!
Monday, July 9, 2012
The Well of Ascension by Brandon Sanderson (Audio version)
The Well of Ascension by Brandon SandersonMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
Brandon Sanderson is an AMAZING world builder. And Michael Kramer really brings Sanderson's work to life in the audiobook version. Love the Mistborn world!!
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Saturday, July 7, 2012
Shadow Bound by Rachel Vincent
Shadow Bound by Rachel VincentMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
4 Stars! Shadow Bound was a tightly woven second installment in Vincent's Unbound miniseries. She has created quite an impressive, twisted and messed up world, I must say. It is certainly not one I would want to live in, nor be bound in. Shadow Bound started out on the slow side. It held less action in general than I have become used to in Vincent's past novels. There was a lot more character development. But the pace picked up shortly into it and grabbed this reader into it’s very dark world.
We first meet Kori in Blood Bound, which I do recommend reading first. She is a shadow walker, able to go from place to place so long as there is a shadow to escape in. Ian is a binder, capable of pulling darkness to him. He is discovered by Jake Tower, head of one of the two powerful syndicates. Tower heavily recruits him, using Kori as a sort of bait. And of course, the two discover they are attracted to each other, however, said attraction cannot go anywhere, with very opposing goals, and a myriad of secrets and distrust. For those of you who have read Blood Bound, there are a few appearances by Olivia and Cam.
I really loved how Vincent wove Shadow Bound. It was tortuous and very dark. But as the author said in the Acknowledgments, “I promise, there is a light at the end of the tunnel.” I highly recommend this and any other books by Rachel Vincent!
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Monday, July 2, 2012
The Stubborn Dead by Natasha Hoar (Audio version)
The Stubborn Dead by Natasha HoarMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
The Stubborn Dead was quite a good listen! Natasha Hoar is a fresh voice for the paranormal scene. Also, the narrator did a terrific job of bringing the novella to life, keeping the voices real. Definitely recommend!
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Eliza's Awakening by Zaide Bishop (Carina Press, 2012)
Eliza's Awakening by Zaide BishopMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
4 stars! A short fast paced, very erotic read!
Warning: This novella contains dubious consent, so if that is not your cup of tea, I would suggest passing on this one.
This was a very quick read, with a very hot, nicely drawn out scene. The events unfold in a seamless manner, giving the characters a quick background, and the lore plenty of description. I would have liked the spicier parts to have begun sooner in the tale, yet it was still artfully done. And very, very hot!
This is my first Zaide Bishop story and I curious to see what else she has in store for future books and novellas. I would recommend Eliza’s Awakening to those who like their stories steamier and edgier than your average read. I, for one, enjoyed it quite a bit;-)
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Sunday, July 1, 2012
Monday, June 18, 2012
Revealing Eden (Save the Pearls Part One) by Victoria Foyt
Revealing Eden by Victoria FoytMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
3 Stars. I wanted to like this book, I wanted to like it a lot! And for the first half I did. I found it intelligent, extremely unique, and unpredictable. However, about halfway through, the direction changed, and the “rules” that had been established seemed to be dismissed and forgotten, causing the book to lose sense. If Revealing Eden had been two separate books, they would have perhaps worked for me. Especially because the writing was good. The details were interesting, and the characters were pretty well developed.
Revealing Eden begins by introducing us to Eden. A pearl with a low mate rate. Pearl being someone who cannot survive above ground as well as a Coal in the post-apocalyptic heated world. The low-mate rate is due to her being undesirable because she is a Pearl. Due to mistakes made and the situation just being crazy, she is thrust onto the surface with her father and a beast man. Living in a jungle like setting she has to learn to survive and come to grips with all she has ever believed.
It was the part where Eden lived in a jungle, yet being a Pearl, that I had the biggest issue with. I thought she wasn’t supposed to be able to survive well on the surface? I also did not care so much for Eden’s personality. She was very wishy-washy and self-centered, and often did things without really putting much thought into it.
On the other hand, the world building in the beginning was magnificent! I have not read a book that began with such a creative premise. The way the people ate food underground, the regulated exercise. I found it fascinating. So overall, I would say, amazing premise, not so great follow through.
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Sunday, June 17, 2012
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
If I Die by Rachel Vincent (Audio version)
If I Die by Rachel VincentMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
4 1/2 Stars! This series is a definite favorite of mine. Vincent has been very creative in her execution. Certainly a series to start from the beginning, though, IMO.
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Isle Royale by John Hamilton
Isle Royale by John HamiltonMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
3 1/2 Stars! I really enjoyed reading about some real landmarks in this fictional story. My family and I are taking our boat to Isle Royale this summer to explore, and plan on staying at campsites near where the author put parts of the novel. I have a few good "ghost" stories to tell around the fire now! :-)
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Tuesday, June 5, 2012
The Resurrected - Part Eight by Megan Hart
The Resurrected: Part Eight by Megan HartMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
I am really enjoying this monthly serial by Megan Hart. I am hoping she revisits some of the earlier characters again. Very addictive!
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Immersed In Pleasure by Tiffany Reisz
Immersed in Pleasure by Tiffany ReiszMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
4 Stars! What an imaginative tale by Tiffany Reisz! I loved it, and really had no idea what to expect. The Manhattan Mermaids is an elite, invite only, club. The women are beautiful, they entertain, but are not to be touched. They are all virgins. The main characters, Xenia and Derek, were just such fun getting to know. I loved their banter and conversation. Immersed In Pleasure was much less spicy than other Spice Briefs, but incredibly romantic. There seems to be much to explore in the Manhattan Mermaids, and I do so hope that Ms. Reisz will revisit them in future Spice Briefs. Loved this one!
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One Breath Away by Heather Gudenkauf
One Breath Away by Heather GudenkaufMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
4 Stars for this fast paced, emotional thriller by Heather Gudenkauf! I found One Breath Away to be a daring novel, one that I was hesitant to read, yet curiosity took over. I really wanted to know what direction Ms. Gudenkauf would take this story, and decided to give it a shot. I am really glad I did! It is one of those gut-wrenching, can’t put down, must read in one-sitting kind of plots!
One Breath Away opens with a revelation that something has gone terribly wrong in the small schoolhouse in Iowa. We immediately meet Augie and her mother. Then Gudenkauf goes back in time to the beginning of the startling events. Piece by piece, the horrible situation falls into place. Even though the story was hard to read at times due the content, it was enjoyable to meet the characters, especially Mrs. Oliver, and seeing how they reacted and dealt with the nightmare. The author did an excellent job of developing them without overdoing it.
Ms. Gudenkauf paces her novel well, switching from various perspectives, keeping the viewpoints in real-time, and this reader constantly glued to the pages. One thing that did bother me about One Breath Away was that I easily figured who the gunman was. I would have prefered to have not known. Not sure if that was the author’s intention or not, however the clues were pretty big for me:-)
The publisher has picked the right time to release One Breath Away, as it is best read in one sitting. And what better time for that than summer?:-) Definitely recommend!
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Monday, June 4, 2012
Friday, June 1, 2012
Thursday, May 31, 2012
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Thursday, May 24, 2012
Lord Atwood's Lovers by Eva Clancy
Lord Atwood's Lovers by Eva ClancyMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
4 Stars! A lovely (well, maybe lovely is not the best word, just the first that came to my mind, lol!) menage a trois. Even though it was erotica, Lord Atwood’s Lovers was actually quite sweet in its execution in regards to the main couples relationship. I enjoyed the brief glimpse into their life as husband and wife, as well as seeing Imogen's emotional growth. Alexander was a fun and perhaps quirky addition!
I probably would have enjoyed it more if the scenes were more detailed (Did I just say that?) I am keeping this review short, since this was a novella/short story, and I am trying to stay away from spoilers. Overall, I really enjoyed the story and would recommend it to anyone who wants a “quickie.” ;-)
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Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa
The Immortal Rules by Julie KagawaMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa
5 Stars! Yes, I loved this book! Really and truly loved it! I mean vampires AND zombies. Yesss!!
In a post apocalyptic world where everything has been turned upside down and vampires rule the world, and if you step outside, you endanger yourself to the rabids (er, zombies.) Just when I thought I knew just how this book was going to down, Ms. Kagawa took it in an entirely different direction. I know this book has been reviewed a lot, so I won't go into too many specifics, but I do want to cover some aspects of the world building and character development that held me in awe.
Sometimes, a story like this, written in first person POV, lacks character development in persons other than the narrator. With The Immortal Rules, this was not the case at all. There were a few very important people around Allie as she was learning to be “immortal.” Seeing these folks and how they dealt with Allie really made this reader feel as if I knew them. I am thoroughly impressed with how this book got to me, thinking about it long after its completion.
Getting to know Allie, and going through her struggles along with her, was often torturous. Living in this world if difficult, survival almost impossible. Yet through it all, Allie really learned about herself and about humanity.
Julie Kagawa built and shaped a very frightening world. The monsters were scary, the humans were scary, the other monsters were scary. Certainly with all this fear, there has to be a light at the end of the tunnel? Amazing read, Ms. Kagawa....well plotted and well paced! I cannot wait to see which direction The Immortal Rules takes!
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Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Monday, May 7, 2012
Sunday, April 29, 2012
Untouched by Sara Humphreys
Untouched by Sara HumphreysMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
3 Stars! First of all, let me just say what a gorgeous cover this book has! All he needs is some hair:-)
Untouched is really a sweet romance/thriller story about discovery with a strong paranormal element. Dante is hired to be Kerry’s bodyguard, and he is one hot male:-) They head to New Orleans for a photoshoot. She is a plus-sized model. While in New Orleans, romance blooms between Kerry and Dante. And it is a sweet, very romantic unfolding. In the meantime, there is a villain conspiring against Kerry, leaving threatening notes about her imminent death. Protecting Kerry absolutely becomes Dante's life. Attempting to uncover the mystery of who the villain is proves to be difficult, with nearly everyone they know becoming a possible traitor.
Untouched was an interesting story, yet flawed. I enjoyed it, but.....
Some issues:
Dante, a very sexy, big, strong, yummy man, had a very strange animal chose for his shifter character. I had trouble time and time again getting over that. I love shifter stories, however, I usually like the animal to be, let me say, bigger??
The writing style was not fabulous. Some issues and thoughts were pointed out redundantly to the reader again and again. Yes, I get it already!
The Punisher was the evil villain of Untouched. The Punisher? Really? Need I say more?
They spoke a language to invoke their magic and it was called The Ancient Language. I just didn't find that very original.
Some parts I loved:
The sweet romance between Dante and Kerry. Kerry had never been able to touch people before and to be able to touch Dante without feeling pain was wonderful. And Dante took their relationship fairly slow at the beginning, giving Kerry the time she needed to adjust to this new feeling. He was such a big sweetie with her!
Dante had a few friends in this story whom I found hilarious. I am sure we will see more of them in the future. I’m hoping for some more of ne in particular, but will not say as it could be a spoiler.
Untouched really came full circle in a somewhat predictable, yet imaginative way. I did shed a tear or two at the end, and it was worth it! The ending was beautifully done.
My favorite part of this story is that Kerry is a model. Not your skinny model, a gorgeous plus size model. Well done, Ms. Humphreys!!!
Overall:
Since I did not read the first book in this series, I am left wondering if I would have enjoyed Untouched better if I had. I liked the story. I liked the premise. I wanted to like it more, though. I will probably read the next book, due to my liking of the side characters. Basically it was an enjoyable read, yet the execution had its flaws. Thank goodness Dante’s human form was so delicious!;-)
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Thursday, April 26, 2012
Desert Blade by Ella Drake
Desert Blade by Ella DrakeMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
Ms. Drake sure has a way of packing a ton of story into a short word count. When I heard that she was going to be writing a post-apocalyptic story, a favorite sub-genre of mine, I knew I had to get my hands on it. And of course, this very talented and creative author did not disappoint!
Desert Blade opens up amidst disaster and tragedy. Derek, a guardsmen, loses his arm in an attack, leading him to a hospital where he meets Dr. Lydia. A team of doctors including Lydia fit him with a unique prosthetic arm that comes with a blade! During the time of healing, Derek and Lydia spend a great deal of time together, and form a bond of sorts. However, the unsafe circumstances of the land call Lydia to leave town and Derek to stay behind.
Ten years later, Lydia still pines for the guardsmen she only knew briefly. Derek cannot forget her kindness or her touch. And a small boy needs a doctor. Derek shows up where Lydia resides and she agrees to help even though the trip will be dangerous with gangs running amok. And Lydia being a rare woman left in this post-apocalyptic world, puts her in an even more dangerous situation for travel. So the guardsman and the doctor set sail in a land sail. Their earlier bond rears up and sparks fly. Yummy, indeed!
I am always so thoroughly impressed with Drakes thoughtfulness to detail without bogging down the story. One can only hope she revisits this landscape in a future story. There seems to be a lot more to explore. Very highly recommended!
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Thursday, April 19, 2012
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Saturday, April 14, 2012
Goddess Interrupted by Aimee Carter
Goddess Interrupted by Aimee CarterMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
3 1/2 Stars! Well, I really DID like Goddess Interrupted. It was creative and fast paced. I did, however, have a few issues with it.
*This review does have some minor spoilers for the previous book in the series, The Goddess Test*
First issue I had was Henry, aka Hades. He was hardly in the book at all, and when he was, he seemed wimpy. Seriously, a God for thousands of years I would expect to behave maturely. And the way Kate was able to dismiss his behavior repeatedly drove me nuts!
Second issue was with all the Gods and Goddesses in regards to their dialogue and speech. I know this is a YA, but the they all talked as if they were young adults. Again, these are entities that have lived for thousands of years. So perspective wise it didn’t work. With the first book in the series, The Goddess Test, I was able to put aside the way they acted because the premise of the story was much different. They were acting to give Kate her tests, so it seemed like viable dialogue. Not so in this one.
After I was able to put these issues aside, I thoroughly enjoyed the book. It read just as quickly as the first installment, perhaps even quicker as I am already absorbed in the storyline. I also really liked getting to know the underworld better. Carter managed to give excellent visual descriptions without bogging the story down.
Persephone was definitely a very enjoyable twist to add to Kate’s journey. Overall, a fun and exciting read. I am looking forward to seeing where Aimee Carter takes Kate’s journey next. The ending is a lead into the third book, and it promises to be even more exciting!
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Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Gate to Kandrith by Nicole Luiken
Gate to Kandrith by Nicole LuikenMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
Gate to Kandrith is truly a gate to an imaginative world that left wanting more, much more! The story was not what I expected at all. Luiken wove a great deal of twists and a turns, with an ending so explosive I am unable to stop thinking about it. I seriously NEED the next book in this series now!
Gate to Kandrith starts off with political intrigue, and a ton of world building. Our heroine, Sara, is tasked with finding out the secret of Slave Magic. She is to journey to Slaveland, accompanied by Lance, whom is a Kandrithian. Along the way, as with any solid fantasy, there are many mishaps, and many friends and foes discovered. I was shocked to my bones on most of these revelations!!
There were times when the fantasy and lore of this land became confusing. There was certainly a lot the author had to introduce. But Luiken always managed to clear any confusion later. And I also think it added to the suspense of the plot:-)
As the blurb for this book implies, Sara is betrayed in a most gut-wrenching way. She is forced to make a series of harsh decisions based on this knowledge to save the people of both lands. And the secret of slave magic?? Worth the read!;-)
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