Review: The Turning (Blood Ties #1) by Jennifer Armintrout

Description (from Goodreads)

I'm no coward. I want to make that perfectly clear. But after my life turned into a horror movie, I take fear a lot more seriously now. I finally became Dr. Carrie Ames just eight months ago. Then I was attacked in the hospital morgue by a vampire. Just my luck.

So now I'm a vampire, and it turns out I have a blood tie to the monster who sired me. The tie works like an invisible leash and I'm bound to him no matter what I do. And of course he's one of the most evil vampires on earth. With my sire hell-bent on turning me into a soulless killer and his sworn enemy set to exterminate me, things couldn't get much worse -- except I'm attracted to them both.

Drinking blood, living as an immortal demon and being a pawn between two warring vampire factions isn't exactly how I'd imagined my future. But as my father used to say, the only way to conquer fear is to face it. So that's what I'll do. Fangs bared.

I immediately like the fact that it seems more grown up and more realistic than the books I've been reading lately (I was 2 chapters in at that point).

It annoyed me that she went off to find Cyrus, and I was even more annoyed that all she took was a stake. I don't get why she would go. "There was no way to soften the truth" ?? What truth? It may have been believable if the blood tie thing had been written well but it wasn't, and then when she goes back to Nate and is all like 'well he can't be that bad if I'm drawn to him'.

Armintrout didn't write the blood tie well enough for me to believe it, any of it.

Although the first few chapters were interesting and showed promise, it had less humour than I'm used to and I found it all just a bit dull. I think it was because there wasn't much emotion. I was surprised at the lack of emotion she showed while Cyrus was breakfasting in front of her. Especially when he swaped eyes. She showed no emotion what-so-ever. And that sums this book up for me; it didn't make me feel anything. Nothing. Nada.

The fight scene (when she went to cyrus 's mansion with ziggy and fought 3 guards) was boring, unrealistic and poorly written.

Also, I couldn't believe that she suddenly started calling him her 'sire'! Jesus christ when/how did this come about? All this I could forgive if it was written well but it isn't. Not by a long shot. I managed to keep reading up until she was explaining to Ziggy that she was leaving and then I just couldn't take any more.

Another one for my DNF December challenge :/

Rating: 1/6 - Did Not Finish

Review: Archangel's Consort (Guild Hunter #3) by Nalini Singh

Description (from Goodreads)

Vampire hunter Elena Deveraux and her lover, the lethally beautiful archangel Raphael, have returned home to New York only to face an uncompromising new evil…

A vampire has attacked a girls’ school—the assault one of sheer, vicious madness—and it is only the first act. Rampant bloodlust takes vampire after vampire, threatening to make the streets run with blood. Then Raphael himself begins to show signs of an uncontrolled rage, as inexplicable storms darken the city skyline and the earth itself shudders.


The omens are suddenly terrifyingly clear.

An ancient and malevolent immortal is rising. The violent winds whisper her name: Caliane. She has returned to reclaim her son, Raphael. Only one thing stands in her way: Elena, the consort who must be destroyed

A

rchangel's Contort is the 3rd book in the Guild Hunter series. I read the first 2 early last year and really enjoyed them so I was eagerly waiting for this instalment to be released.

I seemed to get a little lost during reading. I found that I was reading it and then suddenly I would be confused and didn't know what was going on so had to re-read a page to see if I missed anything. I didn't connect with this book as much as I did with the others. I enjoyed it though. I love the relationship between Elena and Raphael. Is all consuming and kinda dangerous for them both, just my kind of thing :)

The first 1/3 is quiet slow going but it didn't feel like it dragged too much. There were plenty of sex scenes to keep you going until the plot rolled forwards. The world building continues to be spectacular, and in this instalment we learn some of Raphael's past which I enjoyed.

All in all a good installment. Only a another year to wait for book 4! Luckily Kiss of Snow -the next book in the Psy-Changeling series, is out in June. Clink on the link to read an unedited excerpt of chapter 1.

From the author's website: I'm currently at work on the next Guild Hunter book, titled Archangel's Blade. This book will focus on Dmitri and has a tentative release date of September 2011. :D :D :D

Rating: 4/6 - Liked It

Review: Magic in the Shadows (Allie Beckstrom #3) by Devon Monk

Description (from Goodreads)

Allison Beckstrom's magic has taken its toll on her, physically marking her and erasing her memories-including those of the man she supposedly loves. But lost memories aren't the only things preying on Allie's thoughts.

Her late father, the prominent businessman-and sorcerer-Daniel Beckstrom, has somehow channeled himself into her very mind. With the help of The Authority, a secret organization of magic users, she hopes to gain better control over her own abilities-and find a way to deal with her father.

Magic in the Shadows is my favourite book in this series. The world building is fantastic and I'm loving all the history of Magic. The secondary characters are more prominent and fleshed out a little more than in books 1 and 2, although there are lots of them, and they all have different roles, it doesn't make it too confusing. I loves Shamus. He is definitely my favourite and I really do hope to see more of him in future books. However, Allie is still grating on my nerves. Her attitude sometimes is damn right annoying, acting like a stroppy 13 year old instead of a young woman in her early twenties. She still listens to no one, putting people in danger because "how dare they tell/advise/suggest her to do anything that might keep her alive". Don't get me wrong, I'm still enjoying this series I just hope (again) that she grows/learns in the future... and soon.

Rating: 5/6 - Really Liked it

Review: Magic in the Blood (Allie Beckstrom #2) by Devon Monk

Description (from Goodreads)

Working as a Hound-tracing illegal spells back to their casters-has taken its toll on Allison Beckstrom. But even though magic has given her migraines and stolen her recent memory, Allie isn't about to quit. Then the police's magic enforcement division asks her to consult on a missing persons case. But what seems to be a straightforward job turns out to be anything but, as Allie finds herself drawn into the underworld of criminals, ghosts, and blood magic.

Magic in the Blood is the 2nd book in the Allie Beckstrom Series . I was really looking forward to reading it so started it right after I finished the first book and I was not disappointed. It starts where Magic to the Bone finishes, and I liked that it does. I prefer this to the story jumping a year later or something as some other books do. I was a little frustrated that Allie couldn't remember her relationship with Zay though, but I guess that's that's Monk's aim; for us to feel Allie's frustration. It was good to see under Zay's zen and see a little of his pain at her memory loss, it made his character slightly more three dimensiona. He's still mysterious and I'm hoping that Monk has something big in store for us in the future regarding this. I really don't know who to trust though, and that includes Allie. I don't trust her or her judgment, and I definitely don't trust her to make the right decisions. However, we knew she was flawed from book 1. She even knows she is. I just hope that during the next few books she learns to listen before she gets someone killed.

Rating: 5/6 - Really liked it