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Merissa (13854 KP) rated Pisces (Zodiac Twin Flame #1) in Books

Oct 4, 2017  
Pisces (Zodiac Twin Flame #1)
Pisces (Zodiac Twin Flame #1)
Rachel Medhurst | 2015 | Fiction & Poetry
6
6.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Pisces (Zodiac Twin Flame #1) by Rachel Medhurst
Pisces is the first book in a twelve book series called Zodiac Twin Flame. We start with Pisces as the first book, even though it is the twelfth astrological sign in the zodiac. Pisces has six brothers and five sisters, all named for the zodiac sign they were born under. None of them are related by blood, but have grown up as siblings. They are have a 'higher purpose' - to find their Twin Flame and overcome the obstacles placed before them by an opposing faction. Each of the signs has a special gift they can use if need be, but they need to make sure that no one else sees them use it.

Pisces' father always knew she would be first to find her twin flame, but no reason is given. They were all told that when they met their Twin Flame, they would know it. However, Pisces seems to be in a lot of confusion about just who her Twin Flame is. Not only that, but they spend more time running away from each other, and saying they can only be friends, than they do actually getting to know each other. Also, as we see with the mother and father, just getting with the Twin Flame isn't enough, and they will continue to be tested throughout their lives.

I quite enjoyed this book, although the constant running was starting to get on my nerves. There were no grammatical errors that I noticed, but some of the storyline seemed either forced or superfluous to requirements. That being said, this is the first book in the series, and a lot of world building and groundwork needs to be laid to set the scene. A good introduction to the series that leaves me wanting to know more about the others.

* Verified Purchase ~ August 2017 *

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
  
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Acanthea Grimscythe (300 KP) rated The Lost Heir (The Dragonath Chronicles, #1) in Books

May 16, 2018  
TL
The Lost Heir (The Dragonath Chronicles, #1)
Andi O'Connor | 2015
2
2.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
One glance at The Lost Heir‘s cover is enough to excite any fantasy loving bookwyrm. Add in it’s synopsis? Well, let’s put it this way: I buckled in for the ride and went nowhere. It’s not often that I choose to drop a book. In the year since I began book blogging, only one of my reviews was a DNF. This book marks my second.

A quick perusal of The Lost Heir on Goodreads shows the book to have some rather stellar reviews since its publish date in 2013. This leaves me baffled and wondering whether or not I was reading the same book. Andi O’Connor is great when it comes to descriptions, but beyond that her voice seems largely passive. Additionally, there is so much exposition that it is distracting.

If that alone isn’t a letdown, then the characters we meet in the first several chapters certainly are. When I review a book, I usually spend a paragraph or two on its characters. This is where I praise or ridicule the roles within the book. Only, O’Connor introduces so many characters so early in the book that I cannot recall half of their names, let alone their purposes. Those that merit mention seem unsure of themselves. For instance, Princess Mionee appears as a young, adept sorceress. While seemingly random elements of the early pages receive plenty of backstory, she appears to simply exist. And she’s a villain… apparently? Whereas our presumed hero, Darrak Hunter, is a whiney, college wimp. And the other characters we meet early on? They fail to impress.

My first attempt at reading this book saw me through the five percent of it. The second attempt netted another six percent before I came to the conclusion that, no matter what the reviews say, this book isn’t for me. The premise of The Lost Heir is stellar; it’s a shame the book isn’t.

A special thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing with a copy of this book for the purpose of review.
  
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Acanthea Grimscythe (300 KP) rated Ninth City Burning in Books

May 16, 2018  
NC
Ninth City Burning
J. Patrick Black | 2017
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
J. Patrick Black’s debut novel, Ninth City Burning, is an incredibly intense ride alongside humanity’s bid for survival against an alien race seeking Earth’s destruction. Complete with a wide cast of unique characters with their own voices, this novel has earned its place among my favorites.

More often than not, I’m wary of books with shifting first-person. In this case, readers meet seven different points of view – and every single one of those characters have their own voices. I find this impressive, considering the frequency with which Black switches between his cast. (Actually, I find myself wondering how he approached writing the different views, as they are so starkly different.)

For the most part, all but two of these characters feel real. Jax and Naomi are the exception, as they both appear extremely mature for their age. While Jax does have a military upbringing, Naomi is a bit too advanced for a child of a nomadic lifestyle. There’s also a dash of romance in this book that feels a bit too forced.

Ninth City Burning also manages to blur the line between science-fiction and epic fantasy, which is an oddly unique feeling to encounter while reading. Magic and science both play heavy roles in this novel, and I imagine the former of those two, coupled with the camaraderie between the main characters, is precisely why this book is recommended for fans of Harry Potter.

The agonizingly slow build-up to action further lends to the epic fantasy feel of this book, a feat that I remain unsure of presently. While it leads to less action and battle in the meat of the book, it also serves as an opportunity for Black to further unravel this beautiful world he has created.

Ninth City Burning is definitely a book I’ll be recommending to my friends and readers who prefer science-fiction. I would like to thank Blogging for Books for providing me with a copy of this book for the purpose of unbiased review.