Steel & Spellfire by Laura Weymouth

Posted on by lynndellwatson

Magic, murder and mystery!

Pandora’s childhood was taken from her by a patron that warped her powers into an extremely and extraordinary strength that made her dangerous. Her patron always kept their identity secret and Pandora is determined to discover who the person is who changed her power. Meanwhile, someone with similar powers to Pandora’s is murdering young women the same age as her. Once Pandora arrives at court, she meets a guard named Beacon and immediately feels a connection with him. Pandora is determined to solve the mystery of the murderer and her patron but she will struggle to do it alone and Beacon will struggle with loyalty and doing the right thing.

Likes/dislikes: I enjoyed the prose. Beacon fell for Pandora a bit too quickly. Pandora’s friend Winifred is charming and fun. The rivalry between Pandora and Imogen entertains and surprises.
Mature content: PG for kissing.
Language: PG for 13 swears, no f-words.
Violence: PG for bloody gunshot wound
Ethnicity: Falls to white.

The Blood Phoenix (Fall of the Dragon book 2) by Amber Chen

Posted on by lynndellwatson

Unique use of technology in a fantasy world!

Ying and her fellow engineering competitors are called back together to help the kingdom fight off the pirates and stop the deadly attacks that are occurring. Ying and Ye-Yang haven’t spoken and they both continue to have feelings for each other. Ying isn’t sure if she can get over his past deception. Ying enjoys working with her engineer friends and wants to stop the pirates from killing anyone else. She discovers there’s more to the attacks and the Blood Phoenix than the rulers think and it puts her friends and loved ones in terrible danger.

Likes/dislikes: I like how the friends from the engineering competition are brought together to help the kingdom fight off the pirates. The comrades work well together. The relationship between Ye-Yang and Ying is topsy turvy and adds to storyline. I love how much Ying and her sister Nian care about each other.
Mature content: PG for urgent kissing, drinking.
Language: PG-13 for 18 swears, no f-words.
Violence: PG-13 for bloody deaths.
Ethnicity: Oriental with pearl skin and bronze skin mentioned.

Of Jade and Dragons (Fall of the Dragon Book 1) by Amber Chen

Posted on by lynndellwatson

Can trust stay unbroken?

Ying witnessed her father’s murder and she’ll do anything and everything to avenge his death. She also wants to be an engineer like her father. She disguises herself as a boy and enters the engineering competition in the capital. Her sponsor ends up being a prince and she’s completely surprised by this. When Ying becomes part of the competition, she’s also thrown into politics and danger. Will she stay her course and avenge her father?

Likes/dislikes: The names of the royals were confusing at first. I like the dynamics between Ying and Ye-yang. The science fiction and engineering aspects were fun and added an extra element to the story.
Mature content: PG for kissing.
Language: PG-13 for 17 swears, no f-words.
Violence: PG-13 for bloody deaths.
Ethnicity: based on historical Oriental culture.

Warrior of Legend by Kendare Blake

Posted on by lynndellwatson

Heroes and Villains!

After losing her hero, Reed has thrown herself head first into serving the Aristene. She has sent three heroes to their glorious death in less than a year. When her fellow Aristene, Lyonene, is called to help a hero, she begs Reed to take her place. Lyonene wants to stay with her hero, prince, and husband Alsander. What Reed and Lyonene don’t know is how much this one decision will change their lives.

Likes/dislikes: I liked the dynamic between Reed, her mentor, her hero and her fellow Aristene. This series will have more than two books. The story doesn’t end on a cliffhanger but it left me wanting to know what’s to come.
Mature content: PG-13 for off page sex and implied sex, off page.
Language: PG-13 for 15 swears, no f-words.
Violence: PG-13 for attempted sexual assault, off page murder, bloody violence and bloody deaths.
Ethnicity: white, tan, and olive skintones are mentioned.

One Wrong Step by Jennifer A. Nielsen

Posted on by lynndellwatson

Intense historical fiction!

Atlas and his parents love to climb mountains together. When his mother gets sick, the doctors suggest taking her to stay with grandparents who live in Utah because the air is dry and should help her. When Atlas and his father leave to climb King’s Peak, he says a casual goodbye to his mother, not realizing that will be the last time he speaks to her because she dies while they are away. Atlas and his father throw themselves into mountain climbing after that and end up in Nepal to climb Mt. Everest. They join a team set to reach the unreachable, the Summit of Mt. Everest. Atlas will face the fight of his live and must make the toughest of choices.

Likes/dislikes: I like how the author includes a definition at the beginning of each chapter. The setting is extremely interesting with the threat of World War II hanging over the story. The characters are believable.
Mature content: G
Language: G for 0 swears.
Violence: G
Ethnicity: predominantly white

Manga Classics: Sherlock Holmes A Study in Scarlet

Posted on by lynndellwatson

Wonderful rendition of A Study in Scarlet!

I struggle reading Manga because it takes me a moment to adjust to reading the opposite direction of what I’m used to but I enjoyed this rendition of Sherlock Holmes’ book, “A Study in Scarlet”. The art is done well and the story is true Sherlock Holmes! A delightful mystery and it was fun to tag along with Sherlock and Watson as they solved the case. The suspense was perfect. The illustrations were eye-catching and pulled me into the story.

Likes/dislikes: I love the artwork! This is a manga that I thoroughly enjoyed. I’m impressed with this rendition of “A Study in Scarlet”!
Mature content: PG-13 for smoking.
Language: PG for 2 swears, no f-words.
Violence: PG for off page death.
Ethnicity: White.

Champion of Fate by Kendare Blake

Posted on by lynndellwatson

A hero’s journey…

Reed is eight years old when raiders arrive in her village and kill everyone except her. Her family’s lodge burns and falls down and she’s hidden in the wreckage next to her mother’s body. The raiders find her and take her to be a sacrifice to their god for their safe journey home. Before the raiders leave, two strong women arrive and save Reed and take her to live among their warrior kind, the Aristenes. She’s raised to believe she will become a great warrior and find a hero that will die a glorious death so she can become an Aristene also. Reed learns that life isn’t black and white or easy.

Likes/dislikes: Reed is a strong character who believes in right and wrong. Reed has a great relationship with the two other girls being raised to become Aristene warriors alongside her, Gretchen and Lyonene. The story shows the importance of love, loyalty, strength and friendship.
Mature content: PG for kissing.
Language: PG-13 for 10 swears, no f-words.
Violence: PG-13 for deaths, bloody fighting.
Ethnicity: Ethnicity is mixed with many skin tones. Reed has tan skin.

All the Water in the World by Eiren Caffall

Posted on by lynndellwatson

A monster hurricane changes the world!

Nonie lives in the American Museum of Natural History in New York because of the immense hurricane and other intense storms that have swept over the world. When a huge flood hits the museum, Nonie leaves with her sister Bix, their father and their family friend Keller. They are heading to their Aunt Clare’s house. On the way, they fight nature as the storms increase in strength, the wild and unknown. They try to stop for rest from the river and shelter from the rain but meet Lost, two men that only seem to want to harm. Father gets shot, Bix also gets shot and Keller gets pneumonia from jumping into the dirty river to rescue their boat from the strong currents. Will any of them survive?

Likes/dislikes: The story has an interesting premise and dystopian plot. The author made the main characters flawed and relatable. I like that the story was carried on by hope, even when everything seemed lost.
Mature content: G for kissing.
Language: PG-13 for 13 swears, no f-words.
Violence: PG-13 for bloody death.
Ethnicity: mixed.

Fledgling by S.K. Ali

Posted on by lynndellwatson

Complex fantasy in a dystopian world!

Third person telling of five main characters in a world trying to survive; Upper Earth claims to want peace and unity and Lower Earth claims to want the same but with transparency, honesty and equality. The rebels believe Upper Earth wants to oppress Lower Earth even more than it has been for decades. Raisa is betrothed to Lein; Raisa has been raised in Lower Earth and Lein was raised in Upper Earth and they’ve been betrothed by their parents to bring the division together. Nada and Nayf are twins released from prison and they want to protect Raisa, even though Lein is their cousin. Musaid is Lein’s friend and he and Nada are in love. Their lives entwine and the danger builds while political intrigue and untrustworthy rulers cause havoc. Will the five survive?

Likes/dislikes: This story is a complex fantasy in a dystopian world. The author develops the characters well. There are many characters to keep track of but the author paces the introductions well to help with keeping track of each one.
Mature Content: PG-13 for off page sex.
Language: PG for 8 swears and no f-words.
Violence: PG-13 for torture, bloody injuries, and bloody death.
Ethnicity: brown skin, dark brown skin, and olive hued skin.

Close Your Eyes and Count to 10 by Lisa Unger

Posted on by lynndellwatson

Social media stunt turns deadly!

I couldn’t put the book down!

Adele enters an online live adult hide and seek competition. The winner receives one million dollars and she can really use it for her family after her husband left them when he embezzled funds and ran away. Her son Blake and daughter Violet support Adele completely and want her to be safe and win too. The game site is a decrepit, condemned hotel on an island and all seems fine until the game begins and a storm heads their way!