Review: Thorn Queen

Thorn Queen by Richelle Mead
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

If there weren't enough trigger warnings coming out of the first book, then this book would turn those triggers into fully blaring fog horn red alerts.

I really liked the story for this book. I did guess the villains early, but I didn't expect how far they would go.

I like Eugenie and this world, but two books about rape/potential rape are a lot to push through. I'll read the last two, but I'm disappointed in how this series is turning out compared to how amazing Vampire Academy and Bloodlines were.

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Review: Storm Born

Storm Born by Richelle Mead
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I friggin' loved that this UF had a kitsune! How cool is that?

I love Richelle Mead -- her Vampire Academy and Bloodlines series are two of my absolute favorite YAs and UFs... so it's about time I got around to starting her adult series. :P

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Review: Blood of the Earth

Blood of the Earth by Faith Hunter
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Blown away. You can really tell when an author has grown (plant pun!!!) when she can take characters you don't really like and make them likeable. When she can set up a spinoff in the same world as her amazing other series and make it not only stand extremely well on its own, but make it so incredible that you beg for more.

Blood of the Earth literally has me begging for book two. I am so glad that Curse on the Land comes out in November, because I am in desperate need for more of this creatively original Urban Fantasy. Nell finds out some of the things she's known as truth her whole life are really lies. She finds out that the solitude she's chosen might not be the best life for her. She discovers family in so many senses of the word. She learns more about her strange powers even as they teeter vicariously on the edge of being out of control.

But mostly, Nell just wows me. She's got depth, strength, courage, passion, empathy, and in just this one book, I feel like I know her. Like I want to know her. Like I'm missing out on something amazing by not really knowing her outside the pages of a book.

You don't have to read Jane Yellowrock to enjoy this book. Reading this book will spoil some of the Jane Yellowrock series for you, but it's not required reading. There's enough backstory here to get you through, just enough to tempt you to read the Jane series without being so much information that you feel like you can skip them altogether. I would recommend it, as there's 10 books and a handful of short stories that help establish this world, but honestly, this is just as good a place to start as Skinwalker if you're okay with Rick's story being spoiled a little. Because honestly, Jane is kickass, Nell is kickass, and you need to read THEM ALL.

This is book #101 for me for the year, and it's probably my favorite that I've read so far, and I've read some awesome books.

Pick this one up. You won't be disappointed. :)

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Review: Unraveled

Unraveled by Jennifer Estep
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Following the events of Bitter Bite, Finn inherits an old wild-west theme park and hotel. Gin, Owen, Finn, and Bria take a weekend trip to check out the place and see what they can scrounge up about the Circle. Little do they know, a little rootin' tootin' sharp-shootin' action is headed their way, because though they're headed there looking for the Circle, they might find more than they bargained for...

When I started to get into this one, I was a little wary of the whole Wild West amusement park theme. I mean, you've got this serious assassin storyline, and they're spending the weekend in a park full of saloon girls and cowboys and outlaws... I just pictured a ridiculous Dollywood backdrop for our intrepid assassin.

Boy was I wrong about it being cheesy! I mean, the park was a little cheesy, but the storyline picked up nicely. There were a few predictable things, but it was a solid entry into the series, a great push forward on the Circle storyline, and a lot of fun all around.

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Review: Unwanted

Unwanted by Jennifer Estep
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Finally! Finn's perspective! We get to see Finn play the hero without having to be rescued or passing it off to someone else.

Really enjoyed this little novella. :)

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Review: Bitter Bite

Bitter Bite by Jennifer Estep
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This one was brutal. Even though we knew it was coming from the very first page, that betrayal was heartbreaking.

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Review: Spider's Trap

Spider's Trap by Jennifer Estep
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I very much enjoyed getting to know a case that was a little less personal to Gin and a little more personal to someone else. It was also interesting to get to know one of the crime lords better. :)

Plus the villain was just a nasty one, and had some really neat magic.

Time for Bitter Bite!

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