Review: Magic Rises by Ilona Andrews

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Magic Rises by Ilona Andrews

Magic Rises by Ilona Andrews
Series: Kate Daniels #6 (full reading order below)
Publication Date: July 30th 2013
Purchase: Paperback • Ebook

Atlanta is a city plagued by magical problems. Kate Daniels will fight to solve them—no matter the cost.

Mercenary Kate Daniels and her mate, Curran, the Beast Lord, are struggling to solve a heartbreaking crisis. Unable to control their beasts, many of the Pack’s shapeshifting children fail to survive to adulthood. While there is a medicine that can help, the secret to its making is closely guarded by the European packs, and there’s little available in Atlanta.

Kate can’t bear to watch innocents suffer, but the solution she and Curran have found threatens to be even more painful. The European shapeshifters who once outmaneuvered the Beast Lord have asked him to arbitrate a dispute—and they’ll pay him in medicine. With the young people’s survival and the Pack’s future at stake, Kate and Curran know they must accept the offer—but they have little doubt that they’re heading straight into a trap…

The Kate Daniels series is one of my favorite series of all time! The first book, though I didn’t love it as much as the rest of the series, still blew me away with the incredible world that Ilona Andrews created. And Kate totally hooked me in, with both her narration and character. Kate is a major badass. She’s like, queen of badass heroines. Sigh, I just love her so much. The second book was even better than the first, and that was when I started l o v i n g the series. And the third book, just, wow. Absolutely incredible, and still my favorite of the entire series (well, Magic Rises was a close second). The fourth and fifth books were amazing as well! I know I will always be wowed by a Kate Daniels book, and Magic Rises totally didn’t disappoint at all!

Magic Rises is full of everything you can expect in a Kate Daniels book—Kate being her badass, snarky, hilarious self. Crazy intense and exciting action. The best secondary characters (I love Derek so freaking much) that are just as fleshed out as the main characters. And CURRAN. Curran. Curran. Curran. Curran. Curran. This lion shapeshifter is one of my ALL-TIME FAVORITE book boyfriends. Like, ever. He’s the alpha of alphas (literally, he is), incredibly fierce, strong, loyal, hot, and most of all, he loves Kate with all his heart. He would drop everything he had worked for, all to save her. But of course, Kate would do the same in reverse. Their romance is one of my favorites. They’re strong and top dogs independently, but together, they can do and best anything. They bring out the best (and sometimes worst, which is usually hilarious to read) out of each other.

Curran. *SWOONS* *FAINTS*

Anyways, back to the err… fighting scenes. Yes! Fighting scenes. God, I get so crazy excited during all the action scenes in the Kate Daniels books. Because they’re just so well done! My head is completely into the fight, my heart’s beating, and I’m worrying about who can defeat whom. It’s so intense! And there are so many fight scenes in Magic Rises. LOVED them! I always enjoy action in books I read, and Magic Rises definitely gave me the rush and adrenaline I get when I read them.

There’s a special character who appears in the story, but I can’t say who, because it’s a spoiler! But I really liked him. Like, really really did. Even though he’s evil. There was just something so intriguing and dark and sexy about him… and his fight scenes with Kate! So. hot. Not that he could ever compare with Curran, but he’s still mighty fine on his own. If only he weren’t evil. Drat. Still, I’m excited to see more of him, and we definitely will be seeing more of him in future books.

The Kate Daniels series has romance in it, but it’s not a romance. It’s urban fantasy at its finest. So there aren’t really mushy, lovey-dovey scenes, and even if there were, they would make me feel kind of weird since lovey-dovey stuff is so not Kate and Curran. They usually make me laugh more often than they make me swoon, but I don’t love them any less for it! They’re perfect exactly the way they are. I never had a problem with Kate and Curran not really saying how much they love each other, since their actions speak louder than words, and I still don’t. But I didn’t realize how much I would enjoy reading an occasional mushy scene. And I swooned so. freaking. hard. I was all smiling, being all giddy and giggling, and I loved that even though Kate and Curran have been together for several books, their love is still going strong.

So go forth and read this series if you haven’t started! It’s a must-read series, and for those who are fans of Kate Daniels, you won’t be disappointed with Magic Rises!

5 hearts!
5-hearts

lacey

Reading Order: Kate Daniels series

Magic Bites by Ilona Andrews Magic Burns by Ilona Andrews Magic Strikes by Ilona Andrews
Magic Bleeds by Ilona Andrews Magic Slays by Ilona Andrews Magic Rises by Ilona Andrews Magic Breaks by Ilona Andrews

#1 ~ Magic Bites: Paperback • Ebook • Goodreads
#2 ~ Magic Burns: Paperback • Ebook • Goodreads
#3 ~ Magic Strikes: Paperback • Ebook • Goodreads
#4 ~ Magic Bleeds: Paperback • Ebook • Goodreads
#5 ~ Magic Slays: Paperback • Ebook • Goodreads
#6 ~ Magic Rises: Paperback • Ebook • Goodreads
#7 ~ Magic Breaks: Hardcover • Ebook • Goodreads

Waiting on Wednesday {4}

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Waiting on WednesdayWaiting on Wednesday, hosted by Breaking the Spine, is a weekly meme where we showcase upcoming new releases we’re excited to get our hands on!

Origin by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Origin (Lux #4) by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Publication Date: August 27th 2013

Daemon will do anything to get Katy back.

After the successful but disastrous raid on Mount Weather, he’s facing the impossible. Katy is gone. Taken. Everything becomes about finding her. Taking out anyone who stands in his way? Done. Burning down the whole world to save her? Gladly. Exposing his alien race to the world? With pleasure.

All Katy can do is survive.

Surrounded by enemies, the only way she can come out of this is to adapt. After all, there are sides of Daedalus that don’t seem entirely crazy, but the group’s goals are frightening and the truths they speak even more disturbing. Who are the real bad guys? Daedalus? Mankind? Or the Luxen?

Together, they can face anything.

But the most dangerous foe has been there all along, and when the truths are exposed and the lies come crumbling down, which side will Daemon and Katy be standing on?

And will they even be together?

So, so excited for Origin! Only one more week! And it’s going to be in both Daemon and Katy’s POVs! AHHH, it’s going to be sooo good. The cliffhanger from Opal was the. worst. I absolutely need to know what will happen next!
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Bookish Related Stuff {3}

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Lady Thief by AC Gaughen

Lady Thief by A.C. Gaughen
Series: Scarlet #2
Publication Date: February 11th 2014
Book 1: Scarlet

Scarlet’s true identity has been revealed, but her future is uncertain. Her forced marriage to Lord Gisbourne threatens Robin and Scarlet’s love, and as the royal court descends upon Nottingham for the appointment of a new Sheriff, the people of Nottingham hope that Prince John will appoint their beloved Robin Hood. But Prince John has different plans for Nottingham that revolve around a fateful secret from Scarlet’s past even she isn’t yet aware of. Forced to participate at court alongside her ruthless husband, Scarlet must bide her time and act the part of a noblewoman—a worthy sacrifice if it means helping Robin’s cause and a chance at a future with the man she loves. With a fresh line of intrigue and as much passion as ever, the next chapter in Scarlet’s tale will have readers talking once again.

Oh my gosh, how did I not know about this??? I can’t believe I didn’t know the second this book was releasing its cover and blurb. AHHH!!!

Scarlet was one of my favorite reads last year, and I was SO happy that the author was going to write not one, but TWO more books after Scarlet! Because Scarlet was freaking amazing, and I highly recommend it if you’re into fantasy, romance, and a badass heroine.

And yay! We get more Rob!!! *squeals*

The Geography of You and Me by Jennifer E. Smith

The Geography of You and Me by Jennifer E. Smith
Series: Standalone
Publication Date: April 15th 2014

Lucy and Owen meet somewhere between the tenth and eleventh floors of a New York City apartment building, on an elevator rendered useless by a citywide blackout. After they’re rescued, they spend a single night together, wandering the darkened streets and marveling at the rare appearance of stars above Manhattan. But once the power is restored, so is reality. Lucy soon moves to Edinburgh with her parents, while Owen heads out west with his father.

Lucy and Owen’s relationship plays out across the globe as they stay in touch through postcards, occasional e-mails, and — finally — a reunion in the city where they first met.

A carefully charted map of a long-distance relationship, Jennifer E. Smith’s new novel shows that the center of the world isn’t necessarily a place. It can be a person, too.

What an adorable cover! I just really love the covers for Jennifer E. Smith’s books. Anyway, I’ll be adding this to my to-read list. I’m not exactly a huge fan of Jennifer E. Smith (The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight was meh, but I really liked This is What Happy Looks Like), but I’m willing to read The Geography of You and Me. I’m definitely judging a book by its cover here lol.

Shooting Scars by Karina Halle

Shooting Scars by Karina Halle
Series: The Artists Trilogy #2
Publication Date: August 20th 2013

Sometimes the right choice can be the deadliest.

When Ellie Watt made the ultimate sacrifice for Camden McQueen, she never thought it would be easy. But walking away with her ex-lover, Javier Bernal, in order to ensure Camden’s safety has brought a whole new set of dangers. With Javier’s plans for Ellie growing more secretive by the moment, Ellie must find a way to stay ahead of the game before her past swallows her whole.

Meanwhile, Camden’s new life is short-lived. Fueled by revenge and pursued by authorities, he teams up with an unlikely partner in order to save Ellie. But as Camden toes the line between love and retribution, he realizes that in order to get back the woman he loves, he may have to lose himself in the process. He might just turn into the very man he’s hunting.

Told in dual POV from Camden and Ellie.

SO excited to read this one! I’ll probably be starting it today, because I just can’t wait for more Ellie and Camden and Javier! I LOVED Sins & Needles (my review here) and it ended on a freaking cliffhanger, so obviously I have to read Shooting Scars asap.

Breaking Nova by Jessica Sorensen

Breaking Nova by Jessica Sorensen
Series: Nova #1
Publication Date: September 3rd 2013

Nova Reed used to have dreams-of becoming a famous drummer, of marrying her true love. But all of that was taken away in an instant. Now she’s getting by as best she can, though sometimes that means doing things the old Nova would never do. Things that are slowly eating away at her spirit. Every day blends into the next . . . until she meets Quinton Carter. His intense, honey brown eyes instantly draw her in, and he looks just about as broken as she feels inside.

Quinton once got a second chance at life-but he doesn’t want it. The tattoos on his chest are a constant reminder of what he’s done, what he’s lost. He’s sworn to never allow happiness into his life . . . but then beautiful, sweet Nova makes him smile. He knows he’s too damaged to get close to her, yet she’s the only one who can make him feel alive again. Quinton will have to decide: does he deserve to start over? Or should he pay for his past forever?

I got this from Netgalley (in exchange for an honest review), and I’m so happy! I really liked Jessica Sorensen’s The Coincidence of Callie and Kayden (but weirdly, I wasn’t a fan of The Secret of Ella and Micha), so I’m excited to be reading another of her books! Which reminds me, I have to read The Redemption of Callie and Kayden asap too!
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Mini Series Review: Psy-Changeling series by Nalini Singh

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psy-changeling series by nalini singh

psy-changeling revamped

So this is a first for me, reviewing an entire series instead of just one book at a time. But I figured since the Psy-Changeling series is a series (12 books and counting!), it would be easier for me to just gush about the series as a whole and make short reviews for each book. And this adult, paranormal romance series is the. best. I honestly had no idea I would fall this much in love with it, but I did, and I’m now such a huge fan of Nalini Singh. The only thing I don’t like about the series are the awful covers. I really, really don’t like them. Heart of Obsidian is the only cover I love (well, maybe Kiss of Snow too *cough* beautiful abs *cough*), but I’m so glad they revamped the book covers later. But whatever, who cares about the covers? It’s what’s on the inside that counts, and oh my god, this series is just one of my absolute favorites that I will never get tired of. I trust whatever Nalini Singh throws at us in future Psy-Changeling books.

Here’s a little bit about the Psy-Changeling series:

It is the year 2079, and there are 3 kinds of beings that exist in the Psy-Changeling world: humans, Psy, and Changelings. Humans are, obviously, just normal human beings. The Psy are like humans, except they have powers like telepathy, telekinesis, foresight, and a whole wide range of other powers, and they are under a regime called Silence. Changelings are the shifters, people who can shift into animals like wolves, leopards, hawks, rats, etc.

Silence is a huge part of the series. All Psy are under Silence (implemented in 1979), which means they have cut off all feelings, so they don’t feel any emotions, not love, happiness, sadness, lust, anger, fear, etc. The Council are the leaders of the Psy who are in charge of making sure Silence is maintained. However, Silence is breaking. Slowly, the Psy have been feeling more and more, and the Psy-Changeling series tells the ongoing story of the Psy learning to love again, and all humans, changeling, and Psy working together.

The series focuses on two changeling packs: the DarkRiver leopards and the SnowDancer wolves.

Slave to Sensation by Nalini SinghBook 1: Slave to Sensation • Ebook • Paperback
Lucas Hunter (changeling; DarkRiver Alpha) & Sascha Duncan (Psy)
Rating: 5
5-hearts

The first book of the Psy-Changeling series completely hooked me in. I wouldn’t have had the motivation to continue and finish the rest of the 12 books if I hadn’t loved Slave to Sensation. But I did end up loving it so much, and Lucas and Sascha’s story is one of my favorites of the series. It’s currently my third favorite book in this series. Lucas is the alpha of his DarkRiver leopard pack, centered in San Fransisco, and when he meets Sascha, sparks fly, even though it seems she has no feelings because she’s Psy. So Lucas slowly worms his way into Sascha’s heart and shows her how to feel and eventually, love. I love Lucas so much, his fierceness, strength, and capacity to love; he’s the main reason why I loved Slave to Sensation so much, though Sascha can hold her own too. I highly, highly recommend reading Slave to Sensation! Who knows, you might end up reading the entire series and loving it like I did!

Continue reading →

The Last Hurrah Giveaway Hop

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hopbannerIt’s the Last Hurrah Giveaway Hop, hosted by Candace’s Book Blog!

August 18th to August 24th

I have ARCs and finished copies to give away, so one lucky winner will be winning TWO books! The winner will be choosing a finished book AND an ARC from the choices below. Here are your options (click the covers to see the Goodreads page):

Finished copies:
Walking DisasterGrave MercyScore_CVR.inddBloodlines by Richelle MeadThe Statistical Probability of Love at First SIghtThe Immortal Rules by Julie KagawaTwice Tempted by Jeaniene FrostHow Zoe Made Her Dreams (Mostly) Come True

ARCs:
Siege and StormThe BrokenheartedtheeliteEat Brains LoveOnce We WereEarthboundThe Chaos of StarsOrigin

This giveaway is US ONLY! Entrants must be 13 or older. Ends on Aug. 24.

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Click here to go check out other blogs and enter more giveaways!