The Kingmakers (Vampire Empire #3) by Clay and Susan Griffith

A war to the death. 

Empress Adele has launched a grand crusade against the vampire clans of the north. Prince Gareth, the vampire lord of Scotland, serves the Equatorian cause, fighting in the bloody trenches of France in his guise as the dashing Greyfriar. But the human armies are pinned down, battered by harsh weather and merciless attacks from vampire packs. 

To even the odds, Adele unleashes the power of her geomancy, a fearsome weapon capable of slaughtering vampires in vast numbers. However, the power she expends threatens her own life even as she questions the morality of such a weapon. 

As the war turns ever bloodier and Adele is threatened by betrayal, Gareth faces a terrible choice. Their only hope is a desperate strike against the lord of the vampire clans—Gareth’s brother, Cesare. It is a gamble that could win the war or signal the final days of the Greyfriar. 

The Vampire Empire trilogy rushes to a heart-wrenching conclusion of honor and love, hatred and vengeance, sacrifice and loss.

I was so excited when this came in the mail for review. And with the anticipation, the book opens up with a bang. The war is on and Adele is leading the campaign against Cesare and his packs. In fact most of the book is about the war and Adele's growing power. The action is intense and the war has everything you expect... including political intrigue on both sides.

Since this was the last book of the trilogy I had to be curious as to how it would end. How would our couple, who is of a completely different species, who's nature is anathema to the other, work out? Would it? Yes, that question is answered and more. However, this brings me to my criticisms. The couple's tension seems to still be there, but the relationship to me just seemed to not hold the same intensity. The how question was answered too easily for what had gone on previously. Also, within Gareth and Greyfriar there was a lot of growth in this area, but the conclusion to his story just didn't match the ending. I was a bit confused by that and he just seemed fickle in the end when he was so certain not too long before. I have to admit, I was not a fan of the conclusion. Mostly because it created more questions and I wouldn't get those answers.

I give this book 3 stars. I do love this trilogy and despite my criticisms I would not have missed this last book for anything. I am curious as to where these authors will venture next. I would love to read it. Not only do I recommend this book to the people who love this trilogy, but I recommend the books to those that love fantasy, steampunk and a sweeping romance. Yep, both men and women should enjoy the stories here.

I was given this ARC by pyr and no compensation for my review was given.

Monstrous Beauty by Elizabeth Fama

Fierce, seductive mermaid Syrenka falls in love with Ezra, a young naturalist. When she abandons her life underwater for a chance at happiness on land, she is unaware that this decision comes with horrific and deadly consequences. 

Almost one hundred forty years later, seventeen-year-old Hester meets a mysterious stranger named Ezra and feels overwhelmingly, inexplicably drawn to him. For generations, love has resulted in death for the women in her family. Is it an undiagnosed genetic defect... or a curse? With Ezra’s help, Hester investigates her family’s strange, sad history. The answers she seeks are waiting in the graveyard, the crypt, and at the bottom of the ocean—but powerful forces will do anything to keep her from uncovering her connection to Syrenka and to the tragedy of so long ago.

I was pleasantly surprised by Monstrous Beauty. It was dark and it also harkens back to the mythology of mermaids while still inventing some of it's own. In this one there are alternating POV in terms of the past with Syrenka and the present with Hester. At first, this was a bit off-putting, but quickly resolves itself into sharing bits of the story as we need it.

The mystery that surrounds Hester is also not fully revealed at once, but slowly shown to us as we get to know both her and Syrenka of the past. I enjoyed this as it allowed the story to preserve some of the tension. Syrenka is also a character I really enjoyed. Even though I would have liked to know her much more intimately, I think the distance also made sense. She wasn't human and so had a different way of looking at things. It was her struggle to love and be loved that made her character stand out to me. Hester, I also enjoyed, but admit to liking a bit less when quick decisions make you question the quality of her character. However, these moments were few so it didn't end up bugging me that much.

I give this mer-tale (get it?) 4 stars. I really enjoyed a story that harkened back to the mythology of old. One where the main themes are of loneliness, love/death, sacrifice, and mystery.

I received this ARC from Farrar Straus Giroux and no compensation for my review was given.

Bloggy PS:

I would also like to say something about the cover. The cover I first saw was:

I loved it and it makes sense in the book. However they changed it and I don't know why! I think this one was perfect and the current one... quite frankly doesn't fit the story as well. *sigh*

This book is to be published tomorrow!

Cover Reveal: When the Stars Threw Down Their Spears

The 3rd book in the Goblin Wars series by Kersten Hamilton is coming Feb. 2013! Here is a look at the cover:

When the Stars Threw Down Their Spears

“People will die.” 

Locked doors are opening, and uncanny creatures are tumbling through mysterious portals from Mag Mell, the world-between-worlds, into the streets of Chicago. The Dark Man has marked Aiden with a new song that’s scared him badly, and a frightening new group of sídhe is lurking nearby.

Teagan knows this is war, and she must protect her family. She leaves her flesh and bones behind to join Finn in hunting the evil beings across the city. Meanwhile, their relationship is heating up—almost faster than they can control. But he is still bound to fight goblins his entire life . . . and by blood she is one of them now.

Then the gateway to Mag Mell cracks open again, and the Wylltsons find themselves caught in a trap. As her loved ones begin to die, Teagan realizes that she must destroy the Dark Man and his minions once and for all in order to save those who remain... 

... before it is too late.

Books in the series:

Tyger Tyger

In The Forests of the Night

Winners!

The winner for:

is...

Rissatoo!

(confirmed)

The winner for:

is...

Savy from Books with Bite! :)

(confirmed)

Congraites!!

In Rides Trouble (Black Knights #2) by Julie Ann Walker: Slightly Early Review

Rebel with a Cause 

Becky "Rebel" Reichert never actually goes looking for trouble. It just has a tendency to find her. Like the day Frank Knight showed up at her door, wanting to use her motorcycle shop as a cover for his elite special ops team. But Becky prides herself on being able to hang with the big boys-she can weld, drive, and shoot just as well as any of them. 

Man with a Mission 

Munitions, missiles, and mayhem are Frank's way of life. The last thing the ex-SEAL wants is for one brash blonde to come within fifty feet of anything that goes boom. Yet it's just his rotten luck when she ends up in a hostage situation at sea. Come hell or high water, he will get her back-whether she says she needs him or not.

 This book has the same sense of humor and sense of adventure as the first book, Hell on Wheels. This is the story of Becky and Frank, two characters we were introduced in the first book. Frank is also one of the stubborn heros that you will want to kick in the arse in the first book. Not only does the humor and the adventure feels familiar as the first, but so does the misunderstanding that keeps the couple apart. I think this one is a bit more successful than the first since it concentrates on only one couple. The first split it's attention a bit too much, but not so much you got lost.

As with the first one this is a fun smexy type of book. Some of the nagging elements were easy to figure out, but I don't think that detracted from the story at all. I just had fun waiting for all the characters to catch up. I also like the character of Angel, an ex-Mossad agent. Not everyone is thrilled to have him aboard but he proves to be a sweet if not deadly character. I hope that his romance is in the next book or at least down the road. Not many Jewish romances out there and that would be different.

I give this book 4 stars. Its a bit more successful than the first, but just as fun. I recommend this one for those that like adventure and hard won romance. This book will be published on the 4th.

I received this eARC from the Sourcebooks and NetGalley and no compensation for my review was given.