Friday, August 28, 2015

Game board of the Gods ~ Richelle Mead

Gameboard of the Gods (Age of X, #1)Gameboard of the Gods by Richelle Mead
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Wow, All I can say is I loved this book. I have so many comments to make but they are all huge spoilers. So you have been warned.

Summary:
In a futuristic world nearly destroyed by religious extremists, Justin March lives in exile after failing in his job as an investigator of religious groups and supernatural claims. But Justin is given a second chance when Mae Koskinen comes to bring him back to the Republic of United North America (RUNA). Raised in an aristocratic caste, Mae is now a member of the military’s most elite and terrifying tier, a soldier with enhanced reflexes and skills.

When Justin and Mae are assigned to work together to solve a string of ritualistic murders, they soon realize that their discoveries have exposed them to terrible danger. As their investigation races forward, unknown enemies and powers greater than they can imagine are gathering in the shadows, ready to reclaim the world in which humans are merely game pieces on their board.

Gameboard of the Gods, the first installment of Richelle Mead’s Age of Xseries, will have all the elements that have made her YA Vampire Academy and Bloodlines series such megasuccesses: sexy, irresistible characters; romantic and mythological intrigue; and relentless action and suspense.
 




My Take:First off the characters were interesting and dynamic. There were definite times that I wanted to just smack Justin off the back of the head, which proves how real each character felt. I also enjoyed the slow build for each character. We learned subtly more about each one in such a way that it was like getting to know a new friend.

The world that they live in play a huge role in the novel. Its a nation that has given up huge chunks of freedoms to be safe and healthy. They have essentially traded their worship of "Gods" as a higher power to one of the Runa being the higher power. This future world really makes the reader step back an think. Would you give up religious freedom and reproductive choices if you knew it was the only way to have a healthy human race. Would you rather have someone tell you how many children you can have but in tern know those children will grow up safe with a quality education in a society where every school teaches the exact same curriculum? Where secondary school is free? What about a society where technology has soared? Is it worth a little freedom of choice then? Richelle Mead has done a fantastic job with a fantasy novel that touches upon some of the political extremes we see debated every day. A few of the religious ones as well. This novel has sparked some interesting conversations in my house, another mark of a well written book.

I also found a few twists and turns at the end to be just what the story needed. Although I hope Justin smartens up in the next book!


Wednesday, August 26, 2015

Ready to Die ~ Lisa Jackson

Ready to Die (To Die, #5)Ready to Die by Lisa Jackson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

It looks like I missed a book in this series, book 4 I think because this one picks up after Alvarez is back to duty from a shooting.

Summary:
Sheriff Dan Grayson lies near death after a shooting, and the police department of Grizzly Falls, Montana, is in shock. Alvarez, torn between a new relationship and her loyalty to Grayson, works with Pescoli to whittle down the list of suspects. The deeper they go, the more personal and dangerous the case becomes. Then a prominent judge's body is found and the killer sends a sinister warning to the press: "Who's Next?"

My Take:
 I do enjoy Lisa jackson as a writer. Her characters are clever and have depth. Even some secondary characters have back stories. The only trouble with this particular series is that its book five and so this is the fifth serial killer in a relatively small town. If I lived around there I think I'd move, and fast. I did have a question in regards to a timeline issue. I'm wondering if anyone else picked that up? The nieces are only eight but Dan's ex's daughter is a teen?
Looking past that it was a good book. Fast paced with a twist ending if you enjoy shows like Law and Order you will enjoy this series for sure.


Sunday, August 23, 2015

Wild Things ~ Chloe Neill

Wild Things (Chicagoland Vampires, #9)Wild Things by Chloe Neill
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I am extremely behind on this series! Luckily thanks to Amazon I have the next few waiting on my shelf, now to find some time.. Anywise back to me review.

Summary:
Since Merit was turned into a vampire, and the protector of Chicago’s Cadogan House, it’s been a wild ride. She and Master vampire Ethan Sullivan have helped make Cadogan’s vampires the strongest in North America, and forged ties with paranormal folk of all breeds and creeds, living or dead…or both.

But now those alliances are about to be tested. A strange and twisted magic has ripped through the North American Central Pack, and Merit’s closest friends are caught in the crosshairs. Gabriel Keene, the Pack Apex, looks to Merit and Ethan for help. But who—or what—could possibly be powerful enough to out-magic a shifter?

Merit is about to go toe to toe, and cold steel to cold heart, to find out


My Take:
 I always really enjoy these books. Chloe Neill does an excellent job with them keeping the stories fast paced and interesting. This one was no different in that respect. I also enjoy the fact that you could pick up almost any book in the series and enjoy it without the book before it. That being said there is defiantly a building story arc here for those of us who are interested in the series as a whole.

*spoilers* In the aftermath of all the GP issues Ethan finds himself on the Chicago's most wanted list and ends up seeking refuge with the Shifters. Of course things could never be that easy and after a few magical catastrophes Merit and Ethan find themselves arm deep in other supernaturals troubles. The only way out is through some investigative work and maybe a little blackmail. *spoilers*

Overall this was a fun book and we were able to spend time with some favorite characters from earlier in the series, which is always nice. I've just started the next one and hopefully will have more time to get it finished in a reasonable timeframe.


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