Review: Shadow Kiss by Richelle Mead

My Rating: E, P, B

Published: 2008
Publisher: Razorbill

Author's Website: richellemead.com

Purchase @ Amazon.co.uk Amazon.com

Rose Hathaway knows it is forbidden to love another guardian. Her best friend, Lissa – the last Drogomir princess – must always come first. Unfortunately, when it comes to gorgeous Dimitri Belikov, some rules are meant to be broken...

But since making her first Strigoi kills, Rose hasn’t been feeling right. Something dark has begun to grow in her mind, and ghastly shadows warn of a terrible evil drawing nearer to the Academy’s iron gates. And now that LIssa and Rose’s sworn enemy, is on trial for his freedom, tensions in the Moroi world are higher than ever.

Lying to Lissa about Dimitri is one thing, but suddenly there’s a way more that friendship at stake. The immortal undead are on the prowl, and they want vengeance for the lives that Rose has stolen. In a heart-stopping battle to rival her worst nightmares, Rose will have to choose between life, love, and the two people who matter most...but will her choice mean that only one can survive?

Shadow Kiss is the third instalment in the Vampire Academy series by Richelle Mead. Words cannot this describe this book. Scenes were just absolutely breath-taking and not always in a good way.

Rose is undertaking the most important tests that are detrimental to her future as a guardian but trouble always seems to follow her and makes her life difficult. She feels cut off from everyone after she starts seeing things and feels she has to be strong for Lissa. But being strong means she has to shut those out that are closest to her. Being unable to tell anyone what is happening makes Rose look unstable and not cut out to be a guardian.

Lissa is still exploring her powers with the help of Adrian and in return he is learning to grow his own powers. Together they may be unable to unlock each other’s powers and take them to a whole new level. Christian is jealous of their relationship and connects with Rose because of it as she isn’t a bit Adrian fan either.

There were so many great moments in this book and it’s very hard to go into detail about one particular scene without giving anything away. Let just say there is a huge pivotal scene in this book for Rose and the future of the characters occurs in the last few chapters. It makes me want to read the series even more and see what is in store for our characters.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and have enjoyed the series so far. I can’t wait to get my hands on the next book in the series and find out what happens next.

Disclaimer: I do not own this book, I borrowed this from my local library. I have not been paid to review this book and everything that I have said is of my own honest opinion.

Review: Frostbite by RIchelle Mead

My Rating: E, P, B

Published: 2008
Publisher: Razorbill

Author's Website: richellemead.com

Purchase @ Amazon.co.uk Amazon.com

Rose Hathaway’s got serious guy trouble. Her gorgeous tutor Dimitri has his eye on someone else, her friend Mason has a huge crush on her, and she keeps getting stuck in her best friend Lissa’s head whilst she’s making out with her boyfriend, Christian.

Then a massive Strigoi attack puts St. Vladmir’s on high alert, and the Academy crawls with Guardians – including the legendary Janine Hathaway...Rose’s formidable, long-absent mother. The Strigoi are closing in, and the Academy’s not taking any risks. This year, St Vlad’s holiday ski trip is mandatory.

But the glittering winder landscape and the posh Idaho resort only provide the illusion of safety. When three students run away to strike back against the deadly Strigoi, Rose must join forces with Christian to rescue them. Only this time, Rose – and her heart – are in more danger than she ever could have imagine...

Frostbite is the second instalment in the ‘Vampire Academy’ series by Richelle Mead. Teenage angst brewed with a heavy dose of lust and amazing fighting scenes makes for a great read.

Rose is still undergoing her training to become a Guardian, in particular Lissa’s guardian. To do all this she has to take extra training lessons as she missed so much when she and Lissa took a much needed two year holiday from St Vlad’s. Her extra lessons are to be taken with the gorgeous Dimitri and Guardian extraordinaire. The sexual tension keeps mounting between the two and looks like it’s very close to cracking. Out with the drama of St. Vlad’s, trouble is brewing in the form of the Strigoi. They have started to become more organised and are uniting to take out the Moroi royals. During all the commotion, some students get loose out in the world and try to take on the Strigoi themselves. This leads to Rose and Christian going on a rescue mission where they get much more than they bargained for. This mission will change them for life – if they come out alive.

I thought Frostbite was a great sequel to Vampire Academy. I am a bit put out that there weren’t more intimate and emotionally revealing scenes between Dimitri and Rose. There is a lot of emotion and tension between them that is yet to be unravelled and I am sure that Mead will be keeping it all locked up for following books in the series. I was really happy with this book overall and I couldn’t put it down. The fight scenes were amazing and it made me feel like I was there watching their every move. Mead has this way with words that make you connect with the characters in her novels. I felt so connected to them that I felt as if I was feeling exactly what they were feeling, I wanted to cry when they cried, scream when they screamed and to kill when they killed. Being able to engage readers with the characters is one of the reasons that Mead is such a superb writer.

Overall, I would highly recommend this book and it’s prequel to anyone interested in vampires. It has everything you want; power, magic, love, tension and amazing action scenes.

Disclaimer: I do not own this book, I was loaned it from the great Lynsey Newton, a fellow book blogger. I have not been paid to review this book and everything I have said is of my own honest opinion.

Review: Succubus On Top by Richelle Mead

My Rating: VG, B, X

Published: 2008
Publisher: Kensington Books

Author's Website: richellemead.com

Purchase @ Amazon.co.uk Amazon.com

Love hurts, and no one knows it better than Georgina Kincaid. If she so much as kisses Seth Mortensen, the shy, sexy, incredibly gifted Seattle write she’s been dating, she’ll drain his life force. Georgina is a succubus – a demon who draws her power from other men’s pleasure. Admittedly, the shapeshifting and immortality perks are terrific, and yes, Georgina did choose to join he ranks of hell centuries ago. But it seems completely unfair that a she-demon whose purpose is seduction can’t get hot and heavy with the one mortal who knows and accepts her for who she is...

It’s not just her personal life that’s in chaos. Doug, Georgina’s co-worker at a local bookstores, has been exhibiting bizarre behaviour, and Georgina suspects that something far more demonic than double espressos is at work. She could use help finding out, but Bastien, an irresistibly charming incubus and her best immortal friends, is preoccupied with corrupting an ultra-conservative talk radio star – and giving Georgina some highly distracting come-hither vibes. Georgina is going to have to work solo on this one – and fast because soon, Doug’s life won’t be the only one on the line...

Succubus On Top is the second book in the Georgina Kincaid series by Richelle Mead. If you are looking for adulterated sex scenes with plot twists that will tie your brains in knots then this is the book/series for you.

Georgina is becoming rather fickle in this book. She is head over heels in love with Seth but won’t admit it to herself or to him and she keeps questioning her feelings for jim throughout the book. Also, she really wants to get physical with Seth but can’t due to her contract with hell which will make her drain his life force if so much as plays tonsil tennis with the guy. So to try and overcome their physical problem, Georgina decides to take things to another level to try and share her with Seth by other means. What Georgina doesn’t realise is that taking this step will cause her a whole lot of trouble. Unfortunately foresight is not one of her many immortal traits.

Succubus On Top brings us deeper into Georgina’s demonic world. We begin to realise that the demonic system that Georgina lives in and works for is not the only one out there. Okay, that sounded a bit sci-fi there but it’s true. Other immortals are out there too and they don’t like playing by the rules and Georgina can’t but help but try to stop them.

Overall, I enjoyed this book and I have enjoyed the series so far. I always find Georgina’s attitude and interaction with other characters in the book, be it mortals or immortals, immensely entertaining. There was one plot twist I did kind of see coming, but I think it was more from a gut feeling than the clues left by Richelle Mead. I would recommend this book/series to anyone that isn’t opposed to some hot and steamy, sexual and non-sexual moments between characters and enjoy having a right good giggle.

Disclaimer: I do not own this book, I borrowed it from my local library. I have not been paid to review this book and everything I have said is of my own honest opinion.

In My Mailbox...(15)

In My Mailbox is a meme that is hosted by The Story Siren every Sunday.

Borrowed

Succubus on Top by Richelle Mead

Silver Borne by Patricia Briggs

Forgive My Fins by Tera Lynn Childs

Bought

Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick

What did you guys get?

Review: Succubus Blues by Richelle Mead

My Rating: E, B, L

Published: 2007
Publisher: Bantam Books

Author's Website: richellemead.com

Purchase @ Amazon.co.uk Amazon.com

Succubus (n.) An alluring, shape-shifting demon who seduces and pleasures mortal men.
Pathetic (adj.) A succubus with great shoes and no social life. See: Georgina Kincaid.

When it comes to jobs in hell, being a succubus seems pretty glamorous. A girl can be anything she wants, the wardrobe is killer, and mortal men will do anything just for a touch. Granted, they can often pay with their souls, but why get technical?

Seattle succubus Georgina Kincaid’s life is far less exotic. Her boss is a middle-management demon with a thing for John Cusack movies, and she can’t get a decent date without sucking away part of the guy’s life. At least there’s her day job at a local bookstore – free books: all the white chocolate mochas she can drink; and easy access to bestselling, sexy writer, Seth Mortensen, aka He Whom She Would Give Anything to Touch but Can’t.

But dreaming about Seth will have to wait. Something wicked is at work in Seattle’s demon underground. And for once, all her hot charms and drop-dead one-liners won’t help because Georgina’s about to discover there are some creatures out there that both heaven and hell want to deny...

Succubus Blues is the first instalment in the Georgina Kincaid series by Richelle Mead. This story will keep you on your toes and have you turning the pages non-stop. Fallen angels, imps, vampires, succubi and other creatures that go bump in the night. What more can a girl ask from a supernatural book series?

After reading Richelle Mead’s Vampire Academy, I have been hooked by her style of writing and thought I would give the Georgina Kincaid series a try. I wasn’t disappointed as I was hooked from the first page.

Georgina Kincaid is a lonely succubus that can only continue her immortal existence by sucking the life substance from mortals. This is also her job description in which she has to fulfil quotas. To make sucking the lives out of mortals more bearable, Georgina preys on sinful mortals, those who deserve it, this displeases her boss. Our heroine has friends in many forms; mortals, vampires, imps. She however doesn’t have a beau; Georgina has relegated herself to the single life, not getting close to any innocent mortals that may stray onto her path.

In Succubus Blues, an immortal seems to have a vendetta against Georgina as everyone she comes into contact with, friend or foe, end up being beaten up or worse, dead. Leaving mysterious notes for Georgina and her boss is just the tip of the iceberg. As Georgina discovers what they are up against, clarity regarding the actual villain is delayed. Does Georgina’s belated knowledge of the killer help or hinder her in the end? I will leave you to read the book to find out about that one.

My favourite part of this book was the never knowing who the villain was. I thought about it constantly throughout the book each time disaster struck and I was never sure who it was. Everyone seemed to have an alibi. Eventually I figured it out but only moments before Georgina did.

Favourite part of the book had to be the discovery of the villain or the flirty talk between Georgina and Seth. The witty repartee between Georgina and Seth had me giggling. The unveiling of the villain was rather dramatic. What does a succubus do once she finds outs who has been hurting her friends? Well I will let you find that out for yourselves also but all I will say is it’s definitely not what I would do.

Overall, Mead’s Succubus Blues was entertaining, toe curling and exciting. It was definitely a page turner and I can’t wait to read the next book in the series, Succubus on Top. I’m sure it will not disappoint.

Disclaimer: I do not own this book, it belongs to my local library. I have not been paid to review this book and everything I have said is of my own honest opinion.

In My Mailbox...(8)

In My Mailbox is a meme that is hosted by The Story Siren every Sunday.

This week from the library I got;

Succubus (n.) An alluring, shape-shifting demon who seduces and pleasures mortal men.
Pathetic (adj.) A succubus with great shoes and no social life. See: Georgina Kincaid.

When it comes to jobs in hell, being a succubus seems pretty glamorous. A girl can be anything she wants, the wardrobe is killer, and mortal men will do anything just for a touch. Granted, they can often pay with their souls, but why get technical?

Seattle succubus Georgina Kincaid’s life is far less exotic. Her boss is a middle-management demon with a thing for John Cusack movies, and she can’t get a decent date without sucking away part of the guy’s life. At least there’s her day job at a local bookstore – free books: all the white chocolate mochas she can drink; and easy access to bestselling, sexy writer, Seth Mortensen, aka He Whom She Would Give Anything to Touch but Can’t.

But dreaming about Seth will have to wait. Something wicked is at work in Seattle’s demon underground. And for once, all her hot charms and drop-dead one-liners won’t help because Georgina’s about to discover there are some creatures out there that both heaven and hell want to deny...

It’s after dark in New York City, and Clary Fray is seeing things. The best looking guy in the nightclub just stabbed a boy to death – but the victim has vanished into thin air. Her mother has disappeared, and a hideous monster is lurking in her apartment. With her life spiralling into darkness, Clary realizes that she has stumbles into an invisible war between ancient demonic forces and secretive Shadowhunters – a war in which she has a fateful role to play...

Schuyler Van Alen has never fit in at Duchesne, her prestigious New York City private school. She prefers baggy, vintage clothes to the Prada and pearls worn by her classmates. But when she turns fifteen, Schuyler’s life changes dramatically. The death of a popular schoolmate haunts her in unexpected ways. And strangest of all, Jack Force, the most popular boy in school, is showing sudden interest in her.

Once an outcast, Schuyler is thrust into Manhattan’s most exclusive social circle. Its members are the powerful, the wealthy, and – as Schuyler soon discovers – the unhuman. They are Blue Bloods, an ancient group of vampires, and for centuries they’ve been invincible. Now something is preying on this elite group, and Schuyler wants to find out the truth. But is she the most vulnerable of them all?

The Lost Symbol was received courtesy of Transworld (Between the Lines) for review.

The capitol Building, Washington DC: Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon believes he is here to give a lecture. He is wrong. Within minutes of his arrival, a shocking object is discovered. It is a gruesome invitation into an ancient world of hidden wisdom.

When Langdon’s mentor, Peter Solomon – prominent mason and philanthropist – is kidnapped, Langdon realizes that his only hope of saving his friend’s life is to accept his mysterious summons.

It is to take him on a breathless chase through Washington’s dark history. All that was familiar is changed into a shadowy, mythical world in which Masonic secrets and never-before-seen revelations seem to be leading him to a single impossible and inconceivable truth...

Review: Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead

My Rating: E, B, H, X

Published: 2007
Publisher: Razorbill

Author's Website: richellemead.com

Purchase @ Amazon.co.uk Amazon.com

Lissa Dragomir is a Moroi princess; a mortal vampire with an unbreakable bond to the earth's magic. She must be protected at all times from Strigoi; the fiercest and most dangerous vampires - the ones who never die.

The powerful blend of human and vampire blood that flows through Rose Hathaway, Lissa's best friend, makes her a Dhampir. Rose is dedicated to a dangerous life of protecting Lissa from the Strigoi, who are hell-bent on making her one of them.

After two years of illicit freedom, Rose and Lissa are caught and dragged back to St. Vladimir's Academy, hidden in the deep forests of Montana. Rose will continue her Dhampir education. Lissa will go back to being Queen of the elite Moroi social scene. And both girls will resume breaking Academy hearts.

Fear made Lissa and Rose run away from St. Vladimir's - inside the Academy's iron gates, their world is even more fraught with danger. Here, the cutthroat ranks of the Moroi perform unspeakable rituals, and their secretive nature and love of the night creates an enigmatic world full of social complexities. Rose and Lissa must navigate through this dangerous world, confront the temptation of forbidden romance, and never once let their guard down, lest the Strigoi make Lissa one of them forever...

Vampire Academy is the first novel in the Vampire Academy series by Richelle Mead. The first book introduces us into the world of the vampires in Montana. Rose, a Dhampir (a mortal half vampire, half human), is the best friend and unofficial guardian of the, Moroi (mortal upper class vampire), Princess Lissa Dragomir. They are connected by a bond that was forged after a horrible accident that happened a few years prior to the present time set in the book.

The story starts with Rose and Lissa on the run from the academy and trying to keep out of Strigoi’s way. The Strigoi are vampires are evil and have killed which makes them immortal but it takes away their ability to go out in the sun and it takes away their magic. The pair ran away because there was danger near at the academy and Rose decided it was best to get Lissa away from there as she fears for their lives. They manage to remain hidden for two years. But eventually they were caught.

Once they return to the academy, a string of unusual sacrifices start happening and they are directed at our leading ladies. They don’t know who is behind it but they do know that they can’t let their secret get out or else their lives will never be the same.

Rose carries on her Dhampir education but also takes on extra training sessions with Lissa’s other guardian, Dimitiri, in order to make her the best guardian she can be. She wants to be able to protect Lissa the best she can and to do this she must know how to take down and defeat the Strigroi even if it’s someone she knows. She can’t allow herself to hesitate or to be distracted, which proves difficult when she becomes attracted to someone she really shouldn’t.

I loved all the action in this book. There were a few action scenes but there also lots of nice warm moments between Lissa and Rose. You can see that their friendship goes beyond their bond and that they care deeply for one another. Rose always has Lissa’s back and won’t let anything hurt her. Lissa is the exact same, she doesn’t like it when people try to hurt Rose.

Rose is an excellent, kick ass, tough character. She doesn’t take anything lying down, she gets back up and fights it head on. I envy her quick wittedness and her loyalty to Lissa. Nothing can break her loyalty to Lissa, even when she pushes Rose away. Lissa comes across as a delicate flower, beautiful and gentle but easily crushed if in the wrong hands. But what people don’t realise is that she is the hidden bee within that flower, ready to sting if Rose or she is threatened.

Overall, I loved this book and can’t wait to sink my teeth into the next book in the series, Frostbite. I think this book has an excellent plot and it’s well balance between the plot, romance and friendship. There are lots of funny parts in this book, which is because of Rose although Christian’s dark humour is rather amusing. There are scenes of a sexual nature but nothing too erotic or explicit and there are a few gruesome scenes. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys vampire fiction. This book is a mix between PC & Kristin Cast’s House of Night Series and MaryJanice Davidson’s Queen Betsy series and I love both of these series.

Disclaimer: I have not purchased this book, I borrowed it from the library. I have not been paid to review this book and everything I have said is of my own honest opinion.

In My Mailbox...(2)

In My Mailbox is a meme that is hosted by The Story Siren every Sunday.

Books that I have borrowed from the libarary this week:

After a few centuries, the only death 'big enough' is a human sacrifice. I know because I'm an animator. My name is Anita Blake.

Working for Animators, Inc. is just a job - like selling insurance. But all the money in the world wasn't enough for me to take on the particular job Harold Gaynor was offering.

Somebody else did, though - a rogue animator. Now he's not just raising the dead...he's raising Hell. And it's just to me to stop it.

Lissa Dragomir is a Moroi princess; a mortal vampire with an unbreakable bond to the earth's magic. She must be protected at all times from Strigoi; the fiercest and most dangerous vampires - the ones who never die.

The powerful blend of human and vampire blood that flows through Rose Hathaway, Lissa's best friend, makes her a Dhampir. Rose is dedicated to a dangerous life of protecting Lissa from the Strigoi, who are hell-bent on making her one of them.

After two years of illicit freedom, Rose and Lissa are caught and dragged back to St. Vladimir's Academy, hidden in the deep forests of Montana. Rose will continue her Dhampir education. Lissa will go back to being Queen of the elite Moroi social scene. And both girls will resume breaking Academy hearts.

Fear made Lissa and Rose run away from St. Vladimir's - inside the Academy's iron gates, their world is even more fraught with danger. Here, the cutthroat ranks of the Moroi perform unspeakable rituals, and their secretive nature and love of the night creates an enigmatic world full of social complexities. Rose and Lissa must navigate through this dangerous world, confront the temptation of forbidden romance, and never once let their guard down, lest the Strigoi make Lissa one of them forever...