Posts Tagged ‘Fantasy’
Jaines Cord helped craft the gun that killed her husband, at his funeral she vowed to kill the man who killed him with it. In Dark Vow by Shona Husk Jaines lives in a world where the magical Arcane society rules most things including the inability of women to be members of a guild and practice any trades. With the death of her husband, Jaines is forced to close down the smithy because the penalty for women practicing trade is the loss of fingers. Jaines sets off on a journey to track down the killer with very little money and only a small idea of how to track him down until she meets up with Obsidian.
Obsidian is a man with secrets. Having been cursed by a mage, he is slowly turning to stone and needs to Jaines help to break the curse. Obsidian is attracted to the strong-willed Jaines but worries that their current plan of action of will get them killed.
Dark Vow is a fantasy novel with a very set magical society. Several of the Carina Press titles I have read and reviewed have been first person, I find this refreshing and really enjoy the personal experience first person point of view gives to the novel. I have to admit I struggled with the beginning of Dark Vow because it begins with the death of Jaines’ husband Lance but the premise of the novel was intriguing so I kept reading. The world Shona Husk has created is complex with a clearly defined society and roles. Jaines’ character was strong and the more I got to know Obsidian the more I liked him. Dark Vow reads more like a fantasy novel then a traditional romance novel, the magic and complex society with the fantastical elements made for a great read once I really got into the story.
You can read an excerpt here.
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Title: Dark Vow
Author: Shona Husk
Format: eBook
AISN: B005UPRO4A
Publisher: Carina Press
Release Date: November 2011
Available for purchase: Amazon, Carina Press
Reviewer: Jessica
**I received a copy of this book from NetGalley but was not required to provide a review and it did not impact my review in any way.
With the beginning of the year, Novel Reaction is excited to resume the Books-to-Movie Challenge. For January we are going to be reading and watching I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore. The novel was originally released in August 2010 and is the first book in the Lorian Legacies series. The reading order is, I Am Number Four, The Power of Six, and The Rise of Nine (scheduled to be released in August 2012). You can read an excerpt here.
The publisher’s website describes I Am Number Four as follows:
Nine of us came here. We look like you. We talk like you. We live among you. But we are not you. We can do things you dream of doing. We have powers you dream of having. We are stronger and faster than anything you have ever seen. We are the superheroes you worship in movies and comic books—but we are real.
Our plan was to grow, and train, and become strong, and become one, and fight them. But they found us and started hunting us first. Now all of us are running. Spending our lives in shadows, in places where no one would look, blending in. we have lived among you without you knowing.
But they know.
They caught Number One in Malaysia.
Number Two in England.
And Number Three in Kenya.
They killed them all.I am Number Four.
I am next.
The film was released in theaters February 2011 and stars Alex Pettyfer as John Smith (he also starred in Beastly, one of my new favorite movies) and Timothy Olyphant (who was fabulous in Live Free or Die Hard). I have posted both the book trailer and the movie trailer for you viewing pleasure.
I have to admit I feel a little behind the times since I haven’t read the novel nor read the book but I am excited to do both. Some things to keep in mind while reading:
-I have already heard that the endings of the two are very different, which do you like better?
-What do you think about the actors/actresses they got to play the characters?
I am excited to be starting up the challenges again, so pull up a book, a bucket of popcorn and let the fun begin!
Bloomsbury Teen is having an ebook sale! From now until January 6th, 2012 you can get the following titles on special price available on forms of ereaders. I have provided the links for the Kindle books because that is what I own (and will be purchasing) the book titles on. Novel Reaction has reviewed (and enjoyed) many of the titles, I have provided a link to our reviews so you can see what we thought before you purchase them. So while you are out enjoying your Black Friday shopping, you can have an ebook waiting at home for you to help you recover from the hectic crowds. Let me know if you agree with what our reviewers had to say about the titles.
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The Mark by Jen Nadol $1.99
Hubert Invents the Wheel by Claire and Monte Montgomery $1.99
Boy at the End of the World by Greg Van Eekhout $1.99
Faerie Wars by Herbie Brennan $2.99
Magic Under Glass by Jaclyn Dolamore $2.99
My Fair Godmother by Janette Rallison $2.99
A Circuit by Georgina Bloomberg and Catherine Hapka $2.99 Review
Small Town Sinners by Melissa Walker $2.99
Haunting Violet by Alyxandra Harvey $2.99 Review
Pandora Gets Jealous by Carolyn Hennesy $2.99
The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale $2.24
Things Change by Patrick Jones $2.99
Lily Dale: Awakening by Wendy Corsi Staub $2.99
The Declaration by Gemma Malley $2.99
Trigger by Susan Vaught $2.99
Brilliant Fall of Gianna Z. by Kate Messner $1.99
Jenna & Jonah’s Fauxmance by Brendan Hapin and Emily Franklin $2.99
Dirty Little Secrets by C.J. Omololu $2.99
Ten Cents a Dance by Christine Fletcher $2.99
Ophelia by Lisa Klein $2.99
The Frog Princess by E.D. Baker $2.99
Mister Creecher by Chris Priestly $2.99
The Musician’s Daughter by Susanne Dunlap $2.99
Pirates! by Celia Rees $2.99
Magical Mischief by Anna Dale $1.99
Need by Carrie Jones $2.99 Review
A Boy and His Bot by Daniel H. Wilson $2.99
Lady Sybil and the Patrician have conspired against Sam Vimes, against his wishes Sam is forced to take a vacation to Lady Sybil’s country estate but wherever Sam Vimes goes crime is sure to be discovered. Snuff by Terry Pratchett continues the adventures of Commander Sam Vimes of the Ahnk-Morpork Night Watch. Sam Vimes initially thinks that crime doesn’t happen in the country or, if it does, no one is around to see it committed but as he struggles to adjust to the role of wealthy landowner he realizes that not everything is as it appears and someone is always watching.
I should preface this review with the fact that I am a huge Terry Pratchett fan. My husband has banned me from reading his books in bed because I giggle so much it shakes the bed. As a reviewer I am always excited to get advanced copies of books, I have to admit it is one of the perks of being a reviewer, that being said, when I received my copy of Snuff there was school girl squeeling, victory dancing and bragging to anyone who would listen that I had a copy in my greedy little hands. 
Okay, now on to the real review. Snuff is the eighth book the Nightwatch line and the 39th Discworld novel by Terry Pratchett. When a writer is as prolific as Terry Pratchett I always have the fear that the next book to come out will not hold up to the previous titles. There have been Discworld books I have not finished because I lost interest but the Nightwatch series has always brought me hours of entertainment. I flew through Snuff, Sam Vimes so outside of his element that the quiet of the country keeps him awake was entertaining and so outside of his element that the ground feels wrong because Sam Vimes knows where he is in the city by the feel of the street through his boots. The characters are witty, relate able and flawed. Pratchett’s ability to make me laugh while at the same time making me reevaluate my own actions and attitudes on things. I highly recommend Snuff!
You can listen to an excerpt here.
Nightwatch Series Reading Order:
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Title: Snuff
Author: Terry Pratchett
Format: Hardbound, eBook
Page Nos.: 416
ISBN: 978-0062011848
Publisher: Harper Collins
Release Date: October 11, 2011
Available for purchase: Amazon
Reviewer: Jessica
**I received a copy of this book from NetGalley but was not required to provide a review and it did not impact my review in any way.
