{COVER REVEAL} WINGS OF NESTOR (SOLUS #3) by DEVRI WALLS

Today I have a gorgeous cover reveal to share with you. Wings of Nestor is the third book in the Solus series, by Devri Walls. 
 

 

 

Kiora needs answers. Who is the Shadow? Who is Jasmine? Are they connected? And even more pressing: how can she stop Shadow from using Kiora’s dreams as a map to find them? They have escaped three times, but are living on borrowed time—and everybody knows it.



Her search for help will push her closer to Alcander, send her to the dragon mountain of Toopai, and straight back to Meros—where magic will finally return to the land of no magic. Answers will be uncovered and plans unearthed that have been waiting for thousands of years.



But with the Shadow’s forces gathering, it looks like the land’s path is hurtling towards one outcome: war with the Shadow and death to all rebels. Armed with knowledge and hope, Kiora is determined to change that path. But will fate allow it? Or will it deal her a hard lesson about following ones own destiny?

 

 

 

Isn't that gorgeous??

Be sure to add Wings of Nestor to your GoodReads To-Read list.

Devri is also posting a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the cover at her blog.

 

 

 

The Solus Series

 

 

Click on cover for GoodReads page

 

 

About the author:

 

Devri Walls: lives in Kuna Idaho with her husband and two kids. She has worked as music teacher and currently, a preschool teacher. She majored in theater and her love of a story still drives her today. Thankfully, she has finally found an outlet for all the voices in her head.



Connect with Devri at:
her website | Twitter | GoodReads | Facebook

 

 

{REVIEW} MERCY, A GARGOYLE STORY by MISTY PROVENCHER

Genre: New Adult Fantasy
Publisher: Misty Provencher
Publication Date: 12/12
Format: ebook 
Source: Received from author for review.

CATEGORY: NEW ADULT, may not be suitable for young adult readers
GENRE: DARK FANTASY

My will to survive is the first thing to drown.
I know, because I hold it under myself.

After facing severe tragedy in life, Madeline assumes her death will be easy.
But the angels do not come to take her to Heaven.
Instead, what retrieves her is something she never expected: a gargoyle.

Delivered to Truce, the King of the Gargoyles, Madeline now has choices she never wanted. She has the ability to take over the entire Gargoyle Kingdom, if she is willing to kill the king. However, looking to prevent takeover, Truce transforms Madeline, thereby granting her the ability to achieve the thing she wants most—death—if she can just find the human recipient for the Gargoyle Gift that she now has to give. It should be easy.

But lives, whether they are lived or not, are seldom simple, and Madeline’s past still stands in her way. Now, only a voyeur in the life of The Boy with the Golden Rod Voice, Madeline’s must reconcile her own life and death, if she ever hopes to have free reign of her soul.

I want to start by saying that I absolutely adore Misty Provencher's writing. She is a truly gifted author whose words keep me in awe. That holds true for Mercy, A Gargoyle Story, though this one was a bit of a challenge for me.

I almost feel as if Mercy was two separate stories, and in a way it was. The book begins with the suicide of the main character, Madeline. This opening was extremely gripping, and difficult to read, which I think is a testament to Provencher's writing. The despair, the agony of death, and the helplessness that followed was well done.

But then, the Gargoyle aspect comes into play, and I never truly got on board with that aspect. Admittedly, I'm not a huge fantasy fan, but I wanted to give this book a try. And I'm still glad I read it, the story was unique and I am positive that many fans of fantasy will love that.

So Madeline becomes a Gargoyle, and has the option of becoming the Queen. Like I said, I had a hard time following that storyline. Along the way, though, Madeline gets to see what happened to the boy who broke her heart, and her best friend. This part of the story broke my heart and was what kept me invested in Mercy. It was heartbreaking.

I feel as if my review is all over the place. I know it is. There are parts of Mercy that I completely loved and others that just didn't work for me. Either way, it's a gorgeously written book and there is no denying Provencher's talent.


Favorite Quote:


   I remember the boy's voice, like a Swiss Army Knife, useful, quick, and serrated. It was used for hunting, for trapping, for feeding me. He could slide his whisper right along my skin and separate me from my clothing with three clean words.  ~13%


You can purchase Mercy at:
Barnes & Noble  | Amazon  |   Smashwords

Books by Misty Provencher

The CORNERSTONE Series (Young Adult)

HALE MAREE (Adult)

MERCY, A GARGOYLE STORY (New Adult)

Connect with Misty Provencher at:
Her Blog | Twitter | GoodReads

A NATURAL HISTORY OF DRAGONS BLOG TOUR ~ EXCERPT, Q&A, and GIVEAWAY

 

Welcome to The Bookish Babe's stop on An Natural History of Dragons Blog Tour! My stop includes an excerpt from the book, a Q & A with author Marie Brennan, and a giveaway!

 

I would like to note that all artwork is credited to Todd Lockwood.

 

Genre: Fantasy

Publisher: Tom Doherty Associates

Publication Date: 2/5/13

You, dear reader, continue at your own risk. It is not for the faint of heart—no more so than the study of dragons itself. But such study offers rewards beyond compare: to stand in a dragon’s presence, even for the briefest of moments—even at the risk of one’s life—is a delight that, once experienced, can never be forgotten. . . . All the world, from Scirland to the farthest reaches of Eriga, know Isabella, Lady Trent, to be the world’s preeminent dragon naturalist. She is the remarkable woman who brought the study of dragons out of the misty shadows of myth and misunderstanding into the clear light of modern science. But before she became the illustrious figure we know today, there was a bookish young woman whose passion for learning, natural history, and, yes, dragons defied the stifling conventions of her day. Here at last, in her own words, is the true story of a pioneering spirit who risked her reputation, her prospects, and her fragile flesh and bone to satisfy her scientific curiosity; of how she sought true love and happiness despite her lamentable eccentricities; and of her thrilling expedition to the perilous mountains of Vystrana, where she made the first of many historic discoveries that would change the world forever. Marie Brennan introduces an enchanting new world in A Natural History of Dragons.

 

 

Excerpt

 

Closing the book, I turned in my seat and reached over the back of the wagon-bench to stow it in a pack that would all too soon prove whether it was as waterproof as advertised or not.

            As I did so, a gust of shockingly cold air pulled at my sleeves, and ice stung my face. Wondering if we were in danger of hail, I looked up.

            I have little recollection of the next several seconds. Just a moment of frozen staring, and then -- with no transition -- my voice shrieking “Get down!” as I wrapped my arms around my husband and dragged him forward, off the wagon bench.

            Two other screams overlaid my own. One, high-pitched and awful, came from our driver as claws snagged him off the wagon and into the air. The other, lower but more terrible, came from above, as the dragon plummeted from the clouds and raked over our heads.

            Jacob and I landed in the wagon traces, the reins and harness tangling our limbs while the horses shied and whinnied their terror. Being on the outside, I tumbled free first, and cried out to see the wagon lurching forward, my husband still caught within. He fell a moment later, directly beneath the wagon, and the wheels passed close enough to leave a track across his coat.

            I crawled toward him, hearing shouts from all around us. Frantic glances skyward showed me nothing; the dragon had vanished again. From the slope ahead, though, came the agonized groans of our driver. Just as I reached Jacob, a loud noise cracked the air: a gunshot, as one of the other drivers fired off the rifle he carried against highwaymen or wild animals.

            Wild animals. I had not, until that moment, put dragons in that class. I had thought them something apart.

            “Stay down, Isabella,” Jacob said, shielding me with his own body. I crouched in his shadow, and realized quite irrelevantly that my bonnet had gone astray. The wind was very cold in my hair.

            A great flapping, as of sails: the dragon, though we could not see it. Looking under Jacob’s arm, I saw Lord Hilford put out a hand and stop his driver, who would have fired at the sound. With nothing to see, there was no point in wasting the shot.

            Then suddenly there was something to see. Several shots rang out, and I swallowed the protest that tried to leap free of me. This was no vulnerable runt in a menagerie. The dragon was huge, its wingspan far larger than a wagon, with stone-grey hide and wings that kicked up dust with every beat. The guns fired, and the beast made a dreadful noise, aborting its stoop on us and climbing rapidly for the sky. Clouds enveloped it once more, and we waited.

 

 

ARTWORK FROM THE BOOK

Credited to Todd Lockwood

 

 

 

 

 Purchase A Natural History of Dragons at:
Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble  |  Books a Million  |  Powells  |  Indiebound  |  Walmart  |  Overstock
 

Q & A with Marie Brennan

Print or ebooks?

MB: If I get a tablet computer soon, I’ll probably start loading up e-books for when I travel, but apart from that, print. I like having shelves full of books, even if they take up a lot of room. And the archaeologist in me points out that physical books are much more durable than an electronic file . . . .

Television or Movies?

MB: Is there a reason I have to choose? I’m much pickier about TV than I am about movies, but I adore a good arc plot, which TV can do really well.

 

Comedy, Romance, or Drama?

MB: Individually, drama. But I like it best with both comedy and romance mixed in.

 

Leading Men: Broody or Funny?

MB:  See above; it’s best when they’re both! But I’m a sucker for a good bit of brooding, provided it doesn’t translate into the guy being a jerk (which is a common failure mode).

 

Music: Radio or Playlist?

MB:  I almost never listen to the radio, except when my husband’s driving the car. So playlist, all the way.

 

Coffee or Tea?

MB:  Hot chocolate!

Milk Chocolate or Dark?

MB:  Mmmmmm, dark. Especially Burdick’s dark hot chocolate. It’s amazing stuff.

 

Favorite Holiday?

MB:  Christmas. My family has a lot of personal traditions around it, which just make me feel all warm and fuzzy.

 

Are you an Early Bird or a Night Owl?

MB:  I am, perversely, a solar-powered night owl. I need sunlight to function, but I work best late at night.

**Thanks to Marie for taking the time to answer my questions**

 

 

About the author:

 

Marie Brennan is a former academic with a background in archaeology, anthropology, and folklore, which she now puts to rather cockeyed use in writing fantasy. She lives in the San Francisco Bay Area. In addition to many short stories and novellas, she is also the author of A Star Shall Fall and With Fate Conspire (both from Tor Books), as well as Warrior, Witch, Midnight Never Come, In Ashes Lie, and Lies and Prophecy. You can find her online at SwanTower.com.

GoodReads  |  Twitter

Giveaway
 

I have one copy of A Natural History of Dragons to give a lucky winner.

Fill out the Rafflecopter form.

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

{REVIEW} DAYS OF BLOOD AND STARLIGHT (DAUGHTER OF SMOKE AND BONE #2) by LAINI TAYLOR

Series: Daughter of Smoke & Bone #2
Genre: Fantasy
Publisher: Little Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: 11/6/12
Format: eARC
Pages: 528
Source: Received from publisher for review.

In this stunning sequel to the highly acclaimed Daughter of Smoke and Bone, Karou must come to terms with who and what she is, and how far she’ll go to avenge her people. Filled with heartbreak and beauty, mysteries and secrets, new characters and old favorites, Days of Blood and Starlight brings the richness, color and intensity of the first book to a brand new canvas.
 

 

"Once upon a time, an angel and a devil held a wishbone between them.

 

And its snap split the world in two. "

**This review does NOT have spoilers for Days of Blood and Starlight**

Oh boy, can Laini Taylor write a book. Daughter of Smoke and Bone is undoubtedly one of the most beautifully written books I've ever read. The world she built, the characters she created, and her phenomenal words pulled me in and made me fall in love. There was never a doubt in my mind that I would love this sequel, though I admit, Days of Blood and Starlight did begin a bit slowly for me.

I'm not exactly sure why I had a problem falling into this book. The writing was certainly perfect. Maybe, it's because I was the biggest fan of Karou and Akiva together, happy, and seeing them at odds, though understandable, was hard for me. Another problem for me was the expanded cast of characters. I would be content to only focus on Karou, Akiva, and Zuzana (shout-out for one of the best characters, ever!) forever and ever. But since there is a divide, and Karou and Akiva are separated, there were many other characters brought into the fold. So I spent much of the first portion of DoB&S speed-reading, looking for the shift that kicked things into high gear.

Once the story gets rolling, Days of Blood and Starlight is phenomenal. We have Akiva and Karou, working separately, towards the same agenda: peace. Poor Akiva is resigned and heart-broken. Poor Karou is resolved and heart-broken. The sense of impending chaos, doom, and conflict builds at a brilliantly consistent pace until the very end. An end that leaves us with a promise of a better future?

Oh my. I am thisclose to completely losing my composure and fan-girling spoilers all over the place. So I will stop. Right here. Days of Blood and Starlight is gorgeous, exciting, and imaginative. But if you've read Daughter of Smoke and Bone, you already know that.



Favorite Quote:

  "You dreamed of a different way, Akiva, too. You, the pair of you, you had the capacity not to hate. The audacity to love. Do you know what a gift that is?"  (eARC, 66%)


  "What had she done, really, but fall in love and dream of peace?"  (eARC, 75%)


  "We dreamed together of the world remade, she kept thinking. It had been the most beautiful dream, and could only have arisen as it did: born of mercy and nurtured in love. And she couldn't think of the future, and peace, without remembering Akiva's hand to her heart and hers to his. 'We are the beginning,' she had said then, in the temple, and everything had seemed possible with his heart beating under her hand."  (eARC, 94%)


  "Good-bye. The word hurt. Good-bye was the last thing Akiva ever wanted to tell Karou. He thought of their first night together, how at the Warlord's ball and later at the temple they had whispered "hello" to one another, again and again like a shared secret. It had been on his lips the first time he kissed her. That was what he would say to her if he could have what he wanted."  (eARC, 95%)

You can purchase Days of Blood & Starlight at:
Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble  |  Book Depository

Daughter of Smoke and Bone Series

(click on cover to read my review)

TEASER TUESDAY - DAYS OF BLOOD AND STARLIGHT

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along, just do as following:

·Grab your current read
·Open to a random page
·Share two (2) "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page
·Be careful not to include any spoilers so as not to ruin the book for others.

Make sure to share the title and the author so other TT participants can add the book to their TBR piles.


Series: Daughter of Smoke & Bone #2
Publisher: Little Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: 11/6/12

In this stunning sequel to the highly acclaimed Daughter of Smoke and Bone, Karou must come to terms with who and what she is, and how far she’ll go to avenge her people. Filled with heartbreak and beauty, mysteries and secrets, new characters and old favorites, Days of Blood and Starlight brings the richness, color and intensity of the first book to a brand new canvas.
 

My Teaser ~

  " 'They're dead, Karou. It's too late. They're all dead.'
     Those were the words that had destroyed Karou's happiness one month ago in Marrakesh. Just minutes before, she and Akiva had held her wishbone between them and snapped it, and her life as Madrigal - all the memories that Brimstone had taken away for safekeeping - had come rushing back. She could feel the heat of the block she'd laid her head on as the executioner raised his blade, and she could hear Akiva's scream - a thing ripped from his soul - as if its echo had been trapped in the wishbone, too."     (eARC, 9%)

I love that this book goes to the past and fills in the missing details from DoS&B. You can read my full review here.

You can purchase Days of Blood & Starlight at:
Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble  |  Book Depository

Giveaway ~ Guardians of the Grimoire by Natasha Slight

It's Giveaway Time!
Author Natasha Slight is giving FOUR copies of her book Guardians of the Grimoire
(The Grimoire #1) !

What are the realms to do when a corrupt god seeks to destroy three girls? When his greed extends into the human world, and sorcerer and king alike are seduced by the promise of ultimate power hidden in the Grimoire. If man opens the book, chaos is unleashed. If a god touches the book, he shall be rendered mortal.

After being instructed by the Spirit Mother to guard the Grimoire and protect its future guardians, the goddess Gaïa must seek refuge on a hidden island and make certain the sacred book is kept safe.

When they come of age, Kerani, Tiluvia, and Cesca are awakened to their destiny in becoming Guardians of the Grimoire, and so begins their journey. But in a land shrouded in magic, and filled with as many friends as there are foes, will the young women be able to reach Gaïa in time, or will the forces of evil take over Utopia and forever haunt the universes?

~From GoodReads

You can read my review of Guardians of the Grimoire here.

The Rules ~

• Following this blog is NOT required to enter.
• You must be 13+ years of age to enter.
• Open to International entrants.
• You can earn extra entries by:
•    Liking the Guardian Series Facebook Page.
•    Following author Natasha Slight on Twitter.
•    Following Natasha Slight's blog.

Blog Tour & Review ~ Two Moons of Sera, by Parvati K. Tyler

Welcome to The Bookish Babes' stop on the Two Moons of Sera Blog Tour!

I have a review of the book, plus the awesome trailer, and the Two Moons of Sera Personality Quiz.

Parvati also has a reader's giveaway that features some awesome prizes. To enter, click the tour button at the top of this post.

In a world where water and earth teem with life, Serafay is an anomaly. The result of genetic experiments on her mother's water-borne line Serafay will have to face the very people responsible to discover who she really is. But is she the only one?

All the Fun of YA written for Adults (From GoodReads)

Two Moons of Sera by Parvati Tyler is a beautiful, enchanting bit of escapist fantasy. The writing is beautiful and flows smoothly along, taking you on a journey sure to please.

Two Moons of Sera is the first installment in the journey of Serafey, a half-Sualwet and half-Erdlander. Now, you may be asking yourself, what is a Sualwet and Erdlander? I'm not going to spoil the details, because they are quite cool. Because of her unheard-of hybrid status, Serafey and her mother, for protecting her, are exiles, forced to live a  life of fear and solitude. When a mysterious man enters Serafey's world, everything changes in a heartbeat.

Two Moons of Sera is a quick-paced, fast read. The only problem I had was when it ended. I definitely wanted to keep going with the adventure. I can't wait for Part Two.
Favorite Quote(s):
" My world held me tightly, like too-small clothing which refused to adjust as you grew."

"The touch of his gaze had been a creation of the mind, the shadow of a sensation I'd never
 experienced."


To hit all of the tour dates, go  to the tour schedule.

You can but TMoS at:
Amazon | Smashwords

Review - Guardians of the Grimoire by Natasha Slight

What are the realms to do when a corrupt god seeks to destroy three girls? When his greed extends into the human world, and sorcerer and king alike are seduced by the promise of ultimate power hidden in the Grimoire.
(From the Grimoire series Facebook page) 

My Review

I don't read a lot of fantasy books. So when I was approached about reading Guardians of the Grimoire, by Natasha Slight, I was torn. But when I read the synopsis, I was intrigued. Mainly by the fact that Guardians of the Grimoire is a story about three strong, fearless girls. I don't know if this is actually a fact, but I, myself, do not come across many fantasies with female leads.

That fact is what intrigued me most about Guardians of the Grimoire. I especially felt affection towards two of the three girls, Gaia and Kerani. In my view, Gaia was a terrific main character. She was strong and a great leader, without relying on a man for advice or assurance in her decisions. Kerani was my favorite character. She was the ultimate feminist. At one point, even fighting men to the death in order NOT to be married!

My only point of contention with the story was the fact that there were so many characters. But that's a problem that I have with fantasy books in general. So many names, places, different story lines just tend to overwhelm me. I suppose that perhaps that's my problem, though. I'm not sure.

Overall, I found Guardians of the Grimoire to be extremely well-written (in respect to editing and word flow) highly imaginative fantasy with excellent, strong female characters.

Favorite Quote:
"Kael whipped out of sight in a swirl of black smoke, as the first flicker of flame came to life in the
straw-filled barn. Death was about to knock at the door."

Author Natasha Slight will be making an announcement November 1st, regarding the release of Guardians of the Grimoire. Soon, The Bookish Babes will be hosting a giveaway of the book, so stay tuned! For now, you can learn more by following the links below.

Find Guardians of the Grimoire at:
The Grimoire Series Facebook page.

Find author Natasha Slight at:
Smashwords | Facebook | Twitter | GoodReads

I received a copy of this book, in exchange for an honest review.

Review - The Iron Queen (Iron Fey, #3), by Julie Kagawa

My name is Meghan Chase.

I thought it was over. That my time with the fey, the impossible choices I had to make, the sacrifices of those I loved, was behind me. But a storm is approaching, an army of Iron fey that will drag me back, kicking and screaming. Drag me away from the banished prince who's sworn to stand by my side. Drag me into the core of conflict so powerful, I'm not sure anyone can survive it.

This time, there will be no turning back.

(From GoodReads)

My Review

I have to start by saying, I'm exhausted. The Iron Queen is such an insanely intense book! This book had me flying high one minute and sobbing like the over-dramatic drama queen that I am the next.

  When Book Two, The Iron Daughter, ended, Meghan and Ash had both been banished from Faery. They faced an uncertain future, but they were together, free from the constraints of their Courts. Sounds to good to be true, right? It is. Meghan and Ash are quickly pulled back into the Faery world, because it seems only Meghan can save Nevernever. What happens when they go back is a fantastic, terrifying ride.

  One of the things about author Julie Kagawa's writing is, her characters never stop surprising me. Every time I feel confident in my knowledge of a character, I'm thrown for a loop. Grim, Meghan, and Ash all made choices I didn't expect. But noone, and I mean no one, surprised me more that Mab. Could that viscious ice queen actually have a heart?!

 Another aspect that I love about this series is that no character truly feels expendable. I was happy that Leanansidhe was back in The Iron Queen. She is absolutely ridiculous. I know I should despise her, but I can't help but chuckle at her evil ways.  Charlie's story continues to be explored, and Ironhorse even place a substantial role in the story.
 Annnnd, the romance. Yeah, I know that's an incomplete sentence. But when I think about the swoony, kissy romance in The Iron Queen, that's about as much as my brain will compute. In other books, sometimes I see these romantic scenes, and I don't buy. But not here. Meghan and Ash continue to burn it up in The Iron Queen. The moments they shared gave me chills!

  In addition to the kissy moments, The Iron Queen also includes some kickass battle scenes. The battles are fierce, bloody, frightening and invigorating. The way the scenes were written made me feel as if I were watching a movie, The Lord of the Rings is what comes to mind.
This book, and series, really does have it all. Everything that a reader comes to expect from a young adult fantasy is right here. I can't wait (CAN'T WAIT!) to find out what happens in The Iron Knight. I'm sure many tears, smiles and fist pumps will be involved.

Favorite Quote(s):

"I learned that love can transcend race and time, and that it can be beautiful and perfect and worth fighting for but also fragile and heartbreaking, and sometimes sacrifice is necessary. "

" 'For the record,' Grimalkin stated as we ventured, single file, into the black, 'I do not think this is a good idea. But, as no one listens to the cat anymore, I will have to wait until we are completely lost to say 'I told you so.' "

" 'Not bad, Goodfellow,' Glitch said with grudging respect.

  'Oh, so glad you think so, socket-head. My mad crocheting skills finally came in handy for

  something.' "

Paperback, 358 pages

Published January 25th 2011 by Harlequin Teen  

Find The Iron Queen at:

GoodReads  |  Barnes & Noble   |  Amazon  |  Book Depository                 

*The Iron Queen is a book I purchased.*