Veil of the Corrupter

***

3 Stars/5

Thanks to J L Tomlinson for giving me this book to review

King Myole is dead and his light awaits his heir but there is a dark power in Ardentia that is desperate to get their hands on it. In castle Dubraycon, Princess Mydra is upset about her father’s death and is unsure if she is ready for the throne but people want to use her for their own ends. Jahna has left the life she has always known to search for the remaining pieces of the Empyrean Key. However, at the same time she has to supervise her childhood friends Lilac and Silko as well as the charming thief Arn. With time running out and old gods awakening will Jahna be able to assemble the key on time.

Veil of the Corrupter is the enjoyable fantasy sequel to The Empyrean Key. It is very fast paced, is full of adventure and is like a big scavenger hunt.

I liked Jahna in this book as she is a brave and strong character who is pushy and never gives up. However, I got annoyed at the other main characters, with Silko, I just wanted him to man up and stop being so fragile, and Lilac came across as a bully. There was nothing particularly wrong with Arn and Sky, they just seemed a bit cliché.

However, I did enjoy the story and I am looking forward to the next book. I would recommend Veil of the Corrupter to fans of the first book The Empyrean Key.

The Eternity Key

****

4 Stars/5

Thanks to Netgalley and Egmont USA for giving me this book to review

Daphne is beginning to embrace her destiny as the cypher and is discovering the power of her musical ability. Along with her friends, she is determined to find the Key of Hades and save her world from the Keres. Haden has chosen Daphne and what is right over power, but is struggling with his feelings for Daphne and how to tell her. Time is running out to find the Key before the spring equinox, and with Skylords in Olympus Hills and a possible traitor in their group can Daphne and Haden succeed.

The Eternity Key is the really enjoyable sequel to The Shadow Prince. It is fast paced, and I found the story more interesting than the previous book. This book has more action and romance, and while a bit predictable I wanted to find out what was happening next.

Daphne feels like she has the weight of the world on her shoulders which leaves her feeling really stressed in this book but she is less naïve and still a very nice, if a bit too perfect, person. Haden has accepted who he is and the choices he has made, he is more human in this book and is very protective. We get Tobin’s POV in this book and we get to understand him more and his determination to find his sister.

I really liked this book and I am looking forward to the next book in this series, as this did end on a cliff-hanger. I would recommend The Eternity Key to fans of the first book in the Into the Dark series The Shadow Prince.

Crusade for Vengeance

****

4 Stars/5

Valerie Carter, genetically engineered super soldier turned vengeful rebel, continues her mission to find those responsible for the death of her family and destroy them.  She has the help of her rebel friends and her two protégés, Hanna and Deni, and knows she must eventually return to Olympus and face the might of the Pantheon.  Her one regret is that she might have to fight against those who were once her comrades in arms, the other members of her Legion Company.  Maybe she can persuade them to join her cause?

Crusade for Vengeance is the very good second book in the Dark Vengeance series.   The pace picks up quickly from the beginning and the story is engrossing.  I found this book easier to read than Reason for Vengeance as it focused less on the details and more on the storyline.

Valerie is a driven character and you can empathise with her desire for retribution and her push to change the system of inequality and complacency.  In this book, Hanna, and her friend Deni, have become a surrogate family for Valerie, and as her emotional numbness withdraws, you begin to see that she cares passionately for those she loves.

I really enjoyed this book and would recommend Crusade for Vengeance to people who have read Reason for Vengeance and to fans of classic Sci-Fi novels.

Ichra's Quest

***

3 Stars/5

Thanks to Michelle Lee Murray for giving me this book to review.

When the Ice people turn 14 they go on a quest to find a magical stone, and it is now Ichra’s turn. But there are many perils in the ice caves including ice quakes and unusual creatures. Will he be able to find his stone and make his way home? Ichra’s Quest is an enjoyable short story set in the same world as The Dream Walker Series. Ichra wants to prove himself but also wants to see the rest of the world and have adventures like his father. A sweet story that I would recommend to those who have read the rest of the Land of Mystica series.

The Dream Walker Returns

***

3 Stars/5

Thanks to Michelle Lee Murray for giving me this book to review

The Darkness has waited a long time to return to Mystica and will do anything to cover all of Mystica in darkness by manipulating the wizard Shadow. Miranda is called back to Mystica to help fight the darkness, with her boyfriend Brian following her. But does Brian mean to help or hinder help and can Miranda stop the Darkness and save Mystica in time?

The Dream Walker Returns is an enjoyable sequel which goes a bit more in depth, it has action, adventure and a bit more romance. However, like the first book, I felt very distant from the story and it seemed that it was all told not shown.

Miranda is still a nice person, very trusting and has developed her magic more, but it seems that we don’t get to see how she feels which makes it hard to connect to her. Similarly, with Brian it was hard to relate to him and his struggles but I felt we got more emotion from him than Miranda.

This is an enjoyable light book and I look forward to the next book The Dream Walker’s Destiny. I would recommend The Dream Walker Returns to fans of the first book in the Land of Mystica series The Dream Walker.

The Dream Walker

***

3 Stars/5

Thanks to Michelle Lee Murray for giving me this book to review

In the land of Mystica there were 6 wizards, three light and three dark, but Midnight, one of the dark wizards got to power hungry and accidentally trapped them all in stones. Centuries later a curious boy finds one of the stones and releases Midnight on Mystica. The only person who can find the light wizard Lightning, who can stop Midnight, is collage girl Miranda who has been dreaming of Mystica, but is she able to help in time?

The Dream Walker is an enjoyable light fantasy novella, which has a fairytale feel to it, as it has adventure, magic and a battle between good and evil. Saying that the characters are lacking in depth and I felt a distance from the story and I could not connect to it. Also I normally don’t notice grammar mistakes but the book has quite a few but with a few tweaks this book could be really good.

Miranda is a sweet and strong girl who I would have liked to learn more about, but she did accept everything very easily. The main secondary character is Walking Bear who is protective and never breaks a promise, and I thought he would Miranda’s love interest but he wasn’t, at least in book.

This is a short sweet book and I look forward to the next book The Dream Walker Returns. I would recommend The Dream Walker to fans of light fantasy novels.

For Wreck and Remnant

****

4 Stars/5

Aemi has been captured by the Dron to be used to bargain with Nautilus. She is desperate to find her friends as they are in peril and some may be dying. When Aemi, Nol and the rest of the Dron arrive at a Dron city, Aemi realises that she cannot escape and has to negotiate with the Dron and convince them that they can work with Itlantis to defeat Nautilus. Are Aemi and Nol able to put their different beliefs aside and work together?

For Wreak and Remnant is a very enjoyable sequel, which was fast paced and I couldn’t put down. The action is toned down in this book but we get a few more answers.

Aemi thinks things through more than she did in the first book, but is still a trustworthy and kind person. I liked than Nol was more in this book, although I would have liked it better without him and Aemi arguing most of the time. There are a lot of characters in this book and I felt some of the favourites from previous books were not in the book enough, especially Lyssia.

I am really looking forward to the next book in the Secrets of Itlantis series. I would recommend For Wreck and Remnant to fans of Kate Avery Ellison books.

I, Mars

***

3 Stars/5

Thanks to T A Uner for giving me this book to review.

Liberty Rise is still haunted by the death of her boyfriend Cal. Now Mars Colonial Police Force have another threat to deal with, from their enemy Slow Fly. He has taken control of a mining outpost on Phobos, one of Mars’s moons. However, when Liberty discovers some information about Cal, the stakes become even higher but will she be able to cope with the truth?

I, Mars is the enjoyable sequel to Doctor Mars, and although it is a fairly short story it goes a bit more in-depth than the previous book. This book is well written, has an interesting story, and good world building.

I liked how determined Liberty was, even if it would cost her career, and she is smart but also less reserved than in the last book. There are interesting side characters but I cannot say my favourite without spoiling the book, but I hope there is more of him in the next book. 

This has a great potential to become a really good book series, and I would recommend I, Mars to fans of the first novella, Doctor Mars. 

The Winner's Crime

****

4 Stars/5

Thanks to Netgalley and Bloomsbury Publishing Plc for giving me this book to review.

Even though most people would be happy to be engaged to Valoria’s crown prince, Kestrel feels trapped in a cage of her own making. In the imperial court she has to live a life of lies and deceit and she has no one who she can trust. Meanwhile in Herran, Arin is fighting to keep his country’s freedom and to stop his people from starving. When ordered to court, he does not want to go as he has not gotten over Kestrel but does not trust her. With everyone’s secrets coming out, will Kestral and Arin be able to discover the truth before it is too late for them both.

The Winner’s Crime is a very enjoyable fantasy sequel, and I found it very easy to read. This book has less romance than The Winner’s Cure, but it has more secrets and political intrigue.

I felt very sorry for Kestral in this book as she tried to do what she thought was best and everyone seemed to misjudge her and not let explain herself, but she has an inner strength and is a good person. I still liked Arin as he has become a strong and good leader but he is a bit blind to what is happening at court and why Herran got its independence.

The ending has a cliff-hanger and I am looking forward to the next book, the Winner’s Kiss. I would recommend The Winner’s Crime to fans of the first book The Winner’s Curse.

Red

****

4 Stars/5

Thanks to Netgalley and Entangled Publishing LLC for giving me this book to review

Kai always gets into trouble, partly because of her fiery temper and partly because she can start fires just by thinking. After the latest incident causes Kai to lose her best friend and be kicked out of school, she is sent to live with her grandmother, who works for the wealthy Blackwoods family. At the Blackwoods estate nothing is normal and everything is shrouded in secrets including the mysterious and sexy Ethan Blackwood. Kai soon realises that her fire starting ability is far from the most dangerous thing on the Blackwoods estate.

Red is a really enjoyable new book from Alyxandra Harvey. It is fast paced with a good balance between action, suspense and romance. The POV is from both Kai and Ethan, but the book is a bit too predictable and was a bit confusing as some things were not full explained.

Kai is a mouthy, stubborn and curious girl who is easy to empathise with as she is misunderstood and never gives up. There are a lot of different sides to Ethan as he is strong, loyal and protective but can sometimes be snobby and has a darker side. I really liked Sloane as she was a good friend.

I enjoyed this book and I am looking forward to the next book in this series. I would recommend Red to fans of Alyxandra Harvey’s other books.