On My Wishlist: Nightstruck by Jenna Black

Oh this week has such a good cover!

Nightstruck 
by Jenna Black
TBP: April 2016
Publisher: Tor Teen

It starts with a cry in the night. Becket, a teenage girl walking her dog one winter evening, fears it's the cry of an abandoned baby. But it is something else—something evil—and it tricks Becket into opening a doorway to another realm, letting a darkness into our world, a corruption that begins transforming Philadelphia into a menacing version of itself…but only at night. 

The changes are subtle at first, causing Becket to doubt her senses and her sanity, but soon the nightmarish truth is impossible to deny. By day, the city is just a city, but by night it literally comes alive with malevolent purpose. Brick and steel transform into bone, streetlights become gallows, and hungry alleys wait to snare mortal victims. Terrified citizens huddle indoors after dusk, even as others succumb to the siren song of the night, letting their darker sides run wild.

Once, Becket’s biggest problems were living up to her police commissioner father’s high expectations and a secret crush on her best friend’s boyfriend. But now she must find a way to survive--and to protect her loved ones--before the darkness takes her as well.

2016? Seriously? *sigh*

So what is on your wishlist this week?

The Desert Spear by Peter V. Brett

Series: Demon Cycle #2
579 p.
Published: 4/13/10
Publisher: Del Ray
Source: Library

The sun is setting on humanity. The night now belongs to voracious demons that arise as the sun sets, preying upon a dwindling population forced to cower behind ancient and half-forgotten symbols of power. These wards alone can keep the demons at bay, but legends tell of a Deliverer: a general-some would say prophet-who once bound all mankind into a single force that defeated the demons. Those times, if they ever existed, are long past. The demons are back, and the return of the Deliverer is just another myth . . . or is it?

My thoughts:

I was not sure if I would enjoy this book. I knew it was mostly about Jardir who in the first book was a total jerk. I wasn't sure if I wanted to soften to this character and that often happens when we get their story. Well, I need not worry. While I did soften a bit and found he wasn't just a jerk he still was responsible for the decisions he made. I did enjoy learning more about this character... I will admit that. :)

I was happy when we got more about the other characters of Leesha, Arlen and Rojer. I think Rojer shines more in this book than the last but I had a few problems with Leesha and Arlen. I didn't have those problems until the last of the book however. I did enjoy their journey which did seem to lead them into learning more about themselves and the world around them. I was happy we got more of that but then they started making romantic decisions that just didn't set right with me and ended with me just saying... "NO!"

However...

This also peaked my interest. If the author sets things back to right or at least convinces me that these decisions hold a greater value or at least make sense in a much less impulsive way than I will sing this author's praises. I do actually think there is a chance of that and I know that there is a purpose here that is leading to something else. You can see the intention so I must know where this leads. Yes, even though I was upset with the ending, I want to know more.

I give this book 3 1/2 stars. I might have given it just a 3 but the story kept me interested and I'm still curious about how the story will progress despite the problems I had with this book. I recommend it to those that enjoy adult fantasy.

Audiobook Review: The Glass Arrow by Kristen Simmons

Standalone
Narrator: Soneela Nankani
12 hrs. 4 min.
Unabridged
Publisher: Recorded Books
Published: 2/10/15
Source: LibraryThing Early Reviewers Program

"The Handmaid’s Tale" meets "Blood Red Road" in Glass Arrow, the story of Aya, who lives with a small group of women on the run from the men who hunt them, men who want to auction off breeding rights to the highest bidder. 

In a world where females are scarce and are hunted, then bought and sold at market for their breeding rights, 15-year old Aya has learned how to hide. With a ragtag bunch of other women and girls, she has successfully avoided capture and eked out a nomadic but free existence in the mountains. But when Aya’s luck runs out and she’s caught by a group of businessmen on a hunting expedition, fighting to survive takes on a whole new meaning.

My thoughts: 

Oh a dystopian in a world where women are used, hunted, and suppressed within a patriarchal society. Usually these things give you a strong female protagonist so I'm usually all for this type of story. Plus, I've been wanting to try a book by this author so when the opportunity arose I was glad I was chosen. 

The beginning of the story really sets us up for the end of the story. We learn a lot about Aya and what kind of person she is and wants to be in this world. Her motivations are her family, both made and given and the enemy is the world she tries to avoid at all costs. As a virgin wild female, she knows that being owned is the worst thing that can happen to her.

Her fears are realized and the worst happens. Much of the beginning is about how she survives and the introduction to a few important characters Kiran and Brax. As soon as Brax was introduced my anxiety rose and I did find out what happens to him by checking out other reviews before I listened on. (HIGHLIGHT for spoiler) Brax is a wolf who she saves and befriends. Yes, he does die (which made it hard to listen to most of the book) but it doesn't happen until the end and it was a decent death. Yea, I almost didn't listen to the rest of the book because of the spoiler but I was glad I listened to the rest of the book. I know some want to know that deet and some don't. It is a huge spoiler for that character. 

While I did love the characters, some of the worldbuilding for me was a bit inconsistent and also a bit unbelievable. Dissecting the world will cause problems within the believability of the story, however, if you can try to ignore some of the discrepancies the characters do move the story along.

I did love Soneela Nankani's narration. There is a part where Kiran pronounces his words differently than what Aya is used to hearing and Soneela does a perfect job with his accent. I think hearing it really brings you into the story.

I give this book 3 1/2 stars. Despite the worldbuilding problems and the spoiler... I did enjoy the tale. I am glad this is a standalone and it works well that way. I recommend it to those that enjoy YA dystopians. 

Fandemic by Jennifer Estep

Series: Bigtime #5
129 p.
Published: 6/2/15
Source: From author for review

Piper Perez has always wanted to be a superhero. Always wanted to wear a cool costume, have amazing abilities, and save the day. There’s just one problem—Piper doesn’t have any superpowers.

So she focuses on other things. Facts, figures, memorabilia. Piper knows and collects it all, about both the superheroes and the ubervillains who roam the streets of Bigtime, N.Y. Piper’s friends jokingly call her a fandemic—someone who is a superfan of all things superhero. The nickname is truer than anyone knows, especially since Piper can’t stop thinking about Swifte, the speedy hero who broke her heart months ago.

But someone has been killing off Bigtime’s heroes and villains. When one of Piper’s friends is murdered, she vows to do whatever she can to help bring the killer to justice, superpowers or not. All the clues and information she gathers lead her to believe that Swifte is the killer’s next target. Piper has always wanted to be a hero, and now she’ll have to use all of her fandemic knowledge to save the man she loves—or die trying…

My thoughts:

Another Bigtime book! I so enjoy these tongue in cheek superhero books! I was also very curious about this couple, Piper and Swifte, and I was so happy to get this one in my hot little hands! :) This is also a great series for those that enjoy Jennifer Estep's other stories since there are tidbits (or easter eggs) from this world that leak into the other worlds. It makes everything just a bit more fun!

While this is a short story, it isn't short on romance. You are introduced to this couple in another book and so I actually recommend reading these in order. One story does tend to build on the others and I also think it is important in the way the characters are introduced in the series. So you are pretty well versed on these characters here and that is why I think this short book works. For example, the romance is fast but it doesn't feel like instalove since we knew of them prior. I also love the action in these stories and not all the heroes in these books have power. It is no different in this particular story.

I give this book 4 stars. It is another fun adventure into the superhero world of Bigtime. I recommend it to fans of Jennifer Estep and those that want something fun.

Available for $2.99

Amazon Kindle / Barnes & Noble / GooglePlay / iBooks /Kobo / Smashwords
Karma Girl (Bigtime #1) is on sale in the same places for $.99!

The Shadow Revolution by Clay Griffith and Susan Griffith

Series: Crown & Key #1
320 p.
Publisher: Del Ray
Published: 6/2/15
Source: From publisher and NetGalley for review

"They are the realm’s last, best defense against supernatural evil. But they’re going to need a lot more silver." 

As fog descends, obscuring the gas lamps of Victorian London, werewolves prowl the shadows of back alleys. But they have infiltrated the inner circles of upper-crust society as well. Only a handful of specially gifted practitioners are equipped to battle the beasts. Among them are the roguish Simon Archer, who conceals his powers as a spell-casting scribe behind the smooth veneer of a dashing playboy; his layabout mentor, Nick Barker, who prefers a good pub to thrilling heroics; and the self-possessed alchemist Kate Anstruther, who is equally at home in a ballroom as she is on a battlefield. 

After a lycanthrope targets Kate’s vulnerable younger sister, the three join forces with fierce Scottish monster-hunter Malcolm MacFarlane—but quickly discover they’re dealing with a threat far greater than anything they ever imagined.

My thoughts:

I enjoyed this team's last steampunk so I was excited to give this one a try. This one started off sort of like a Holmes-ian type of mystery with steampunk magic. Simon and Nick have a relationship not unlike Holmes and Watson in the Robert Downey Jr. version. It was an interesting way to introduce the characters but it also seemed to keep me at a distance from them. I didn't become involved with Simon until he really gets involved with Kate further into the book. There is also a backstory we are not privy to in the book. This also slows things down and frustrates the reader wanting to know more. I do believe that all things will be revealed in good time within the series.

However, the book only seems a bit slow in the beginning but does pick up quite quickly and is almost at break neck speed toward the end. Also, what I thought it lacked in some connection, it made up for in strong women characters. Aside from Imogene (although she proves herself in the end even if it is out of character) we also have a capable Kate, a young but brave werewolf, and even a hard to kill evil who is also female but also capable. I have to say if you are looking for good female characters do check out this book!

I give this book 4 stars. Although it did start out a bit slow for me in the beginning it made up for that lack in the end. I recommend this book to those that enjoy steampunk, mystery and strong women.