Anathema

Anathema by Megg Jensen

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I received a free copy of this book for my honest review.

I really enjoyed this read from the very beginning. Reychel is a slave and wakes on her 15th birthday to find that her best friend is gone and a coin is left in her place. We quickly begin to learn about her life as a slave. How they shave their heads every morning as a sign of their place in life. How Reychel is treated differently from the rest by their master.

Once I started this read it was very hard to put down. I was quickly drawn into this story and loved the flow and pace of it. It has a definite fairy tale feel to it as we see the use of magic as well as magic cloaks and portals to other places. There were a few things that seemed unlikely. The use of wigs to hide the mark of a slave while may seem like a likely disguise I wondered where they got such elaborate wigs. The wigs were apparently so lifelike no one could tell it wasn't real hair. Maybe there was magic involved?

Early on a fast pace was set for this read, leaving little time for other characters to doubt Reychel and who she really was. All it took was a look in her eyes and all seemed to accept it. That didn't really make her a leader but that was never disputed either.

Overall, I really enjoyed this read and am continuing on with the next in this series. I am hoping to learn more of this world and about who exactly these people are. We have been dropped into the conflict between the slaves and the Malborn with little explanation so far. But I hope more becomes clear in time.

If you enjoy a good YA fantasy you are sure to enjoy this one. I know I did.



View all my reviews

Splintered

Splintered by A.G. Howard

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


If you enjoy all things Alice in Wonderland then this is one for you. If you love new twists on old fairytales, then you will definitely like this one. Author AG Howard gives an updated twist on a much loved fairy tale and she does an awesome job.

Alyssa's life is turmoil: her mom is in a psychiatric instituion soon to get shock, she herself hears the whisperings of bugs and flowers, and her secret crush has another girlfriend. Finding herself pulled through the looking glass she inadvertently brings her love with her and they find themselves in Wonderland.

Wonderland is a dark and magical place, full of talking plants as well as animals. And things here are never as they seem. Just when you think you have things figured out there is another twist in the story. As with most YA books, there is the ever prevalent love triangle. And I can see why Alyssa would be pulled in two different directions even if I don't always like her choices. I had a hard time deciding if this truly is a YA because it leans more toward New Adult. Although there are no sex scenes there are some pretty steamy parts.

I definitely enjoyed this read even though it really didn't end the way I would have wanted it to. I love new twists on fairytales and this one definitely fit the bill. Not to mention, the cover alone is enough to make you want to pick this one up.



View all my reviews

Fifty Shades of Alice Through the Looking Glass

Fifty Shades of Alice Through the Looking Glass by Melinda DuChamp

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I would actually give this one 3.5 stars but since I can't give half stars I stretched it up since it was overall a fun read. I didn't like this one nearly as well as Fifty Shades of Alice in Wonderland and I shall tell you why.

Make no mistake, this was a fun read. Full of all kinds of satire, don't take this too seriously or you will hate it. Compared to the first book in the Alice series, this one has a broader range of kink. Its an erotica so its definitely rated XXX, no kids allowed. But it goes beyond that. I can say that even I learned a few things lol. My issue with this read is not that it includes fetishes and bondage, but some of the characters were just a bit too creepy for my pleasure. Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum and the scene with Humpty Dumpty was a bit more than I could take.

Alice is searching for an open mind, and this is a theme that the author definitely beats you over the head with. And if you don't go into Wonderland with an open mind then maybe you should tread elsewhere because this one isn't for the feint of heart. Overall, I enjoyed it (mostly) and am curious to see what is in store for Alice and Lewis.



View all my reviews

Fairy Tale Giveaway Hop

Fairy Tale Giveaway Hop

Hosted by

I Am A Reader, Not A Writer

The Book Rat &

A Backwards Story

March 26th to April 2nd

Everyone loves a good fairytale, myself included. Up for grabs in this Fairy Tale Hop is a copy of Beastly by Alex Flinn. I loved this re-telling of Beauty and the Beast. I confess, I haven't seen the movie, I just didn't think it could live up to this wonderful story. This giveaway is open to anywhere Amazon or Book Depository ships to or you have the option of a kindle ebook.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Beastly: Lindy's Diary

Beastly: Lindy's Diary by Alex Flinn

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


LOVED!!! For so many reasons.

This is essentially Beastly told from Lindy's point of view. Its written in diary form which gives us such an insight into her character. We get not only what goes on in the story but also her thoughts and emotions not only about Adrian/Kyle but also about her life before with her father. We learn a lot about her background and what she has been through before coming to live with Adrian/Kyle. We also see how coming to live with him has affected her.

I really loved this novella. Its so full of emotion that there were times I almost cried. I would recommend this to anyone that enjoyed Beastly. It can be enjoyed without reading Beastly but I assure you that if you read one you will want to read the other. Also, I am one that really likes books written in diary form, so if you do too you should try this one.



View all my reviews

Fifty Shades of Alice in Wonderland

Fifty Shades of Alice in Wonderland by Melinda DuChamp

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


OMG! LOVE LOVE LOVE!

This read is by no means for everyone, but if you enjoy something a little on the twisted side than you gotta read this one.

This is an erotic parody of Alice in Wonderland. Alice follows a white rabbit vibrator down a rabbit hole and enters a Wonderland not from our childhood. Alice has encounters with various characters as she learns how her body can be pleasured and give pleasure to others. You can't take this too seriously. It is a parody and its all in good fun and Alice certainly has her share of fun.

If you are easily shocked, don't pick this one up. If you like things a bit on the twisted side then this is a must read. As for me, I loved it.



View all my reviews

Cinder

Cinder by Marissa Meyer

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I would probably actually give this one 3.5 stars, but we can't give half stars on GR, so I will stretch it up to 4 because it is a fun read.

This is a re-telling of the Cinderella story with a futuristic twist. Cinder is a cyborg whose not allowed to go to the ball. There's a plague thats threatening the planet and Lunars (ppl that live on the moon) are trying to start a war. Throw in a handsome prince and you've got a great futuristic fairytale.

I love the character of Cinder. She's a strong female character that keeps her head even in the worst of situations. She thinks things through and makes tough decisions that is the right thing to do even if its not best for her. Likewise the Prince Kai is going to be crowned emperor before he is ready at the death of his father from letumosis. Like Cinder, he also has to make tough decisions for what is best for his people.

On the downside, not a lot is explained. There no history of the Lunar colony such as how long they had existed there or how they developed their magic. And the setting in Beijing didn't feel acurate. There is very little reference to Chinese culture.

Overall its a great YA read. I really enjoyed this take on the Cinderella fairytale and I will definitely continue the Lunar Chronicles.



View all my reviews

Happily Ever After

For this fairytale hop I have decided to give away my copy of Cloaked by Alex Finn. This copy is in excellent condition and its a book that I really enjoyed. Due to shipping costs this is a giveaway for US or Canada only.

Synopsis:
I’m not your average hero. I actually wasn’t your average anything. Just a poor guy working an after-school job at a South Beach shoe repair shop to help his mom make ends meet. But a little magic changed it all.

It all started with the curse. And the frognapping. And one hot-looking princess, who asked me to lead a rescue mission.

There wasn’t a fairy godmother or any of that. And even though I fell in love along the way, what happened to me is unlike any fairy tale I’ve ever heard. Before I knew it, I was spying with a flock of enchanted swans, talking (yes, talking!) to a fox named Todd, and nearly trampled by giants in the Keys.

Don’t believe me? I didn’t believe it either. But you’ll see. Because I knew it all was true, the second I got CLOAKED

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tangi's Teardrops

The Cotton Patch would like to say thank you to Liz Grace Davis for sending us this excerpt post and giving you a chance to win a copy of her book. This is an international giveaway in your choice of kindle or epub formats.

When Tangi's father dies, he leaves her nothing but three empty bottles. A kind uncle takes the poverty-stricken girl and her stepsisters in, and for a time life gets better on his farm. But Tangi remains a lonely outsider; her stepsisters tease her for her crippled leg, and the housekeepers use her like a servant.

Just before her thirteenth birthday, Tangi learns the truth about her father's strange legacy: the three bottles aren't empty any more. They're filled with all the tears she's cried since her father died, and her tears are enchanted. She must use them to travel to Rosevine, the world of her dead mother. Tangi not only belongs there but is necessary to keep Rosevine alive.

Tangi's tears will save Rosevine, and Rosevine will save Tangi from a cruelty-filled life, except for one thing: Tangi's lost the bottles.

Revenge of the Little Match Girl

Revenge of the Little Match Girl by Kevin Richey

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I received a free copy of this for review.

The story of the Little Match Girl has always been so sad to me. This little girl that has been thrown away by society like so many children. Left to freeze to death because no one would take her in and there was no where for her to be. I can't help but think about all the kids that even today go to bed hungry and sleep on the streets. Kids that their families don't want them or can't provide for them.

Zombie Cinderella II

Zombie Cinderella II: The Ball by Kevin Richey

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I received a free copy of this book for review.

This is the second part of the Zombie Cinderella story. As with the other Zombie Fairytales, this is a definite twist on the disney version. The step sisters have made it to the ball and Cinderella is right behind them. The Prince is an evil character in his own right, altho I will refrain from saying why and adding a spoiler. Other zombie characters from previous stories make an appearance along the way as well.

For all its goreyness there is a thread of humor woven throughout the story. There are places that you can't help but laugh despite the horrificness of what is going on. Its definitely an entertaining, delightfully wicked tale that has a sense of justice about it. All the bad guys get their due so to speak.

I recommend this to anyone over 18 (simply because of violence) who loves a good zombie tale and is looking for something a bit different.



View all my reviews