[REVIEW] Death Be Blue by Katie Epstein

DEATH BE BLUE
By Katie Epstein

(Terra Vane #1)

Publication date: Sep 29th 2017
Genres: Paranormal, Fiction, Romance

My name is Terra, and I’m a Psychic. Strange, you might think, but in a world of vampires, shifters and supernaturals of all kinds, I’m not so weird—in fact, it’s my job to protect them. As an Enforcer Field Agent, I work alongside my cute boss’s annoying younger brother, a wolf shifter called Kaleb. Together we hunt down the most dangerous criminals of all, but it isn’t easy. My visions are my only weapon, and they don’t keep a schedule.

We’re on the tail of a psycho, a cannibalistic serial killer worse than any I’ve seen. We’re close now, but something about this case just doesn’t feel right. There’s a darkness approaching, but even with my gifts I can’t see past it, and if we’re not ready, I fear there might not be a future for any of us.

I receive an arc of this book in exchange of an honest review.

Before anything, please note that this is completely based on my personal preference and point of view, I have read a few great reviews and I do believe there will be at least a good deal of people who enjoys this book.

With a bad-ass sassy heroine and an exciting new world, I am completely surprised that I am rating it 2 stars.

There is a lot of things here. From Dystopian to PNR, it may be a struggle for some authors to describe a completely fictional universe that the readers could understand and visualise well. It took me a long while to actually finish this despite all the exciting aspects of the plot and romance, solely because of the world-building. The constant descriptions kind of distracts me from the actual plot itself and I start to subconsciously drift away and start feeling exhausted instead. I really do wish I could get more invested with the story and the characters but unfortunately it fell short for me.

Overall, it was an OK read for me, I don’t hate it and I unfortunately don’t love it either. Would I recommend it? I wouldn’t stop you. As I said previously, I still do believe some portion of you would end up loving it, so knock yourself out.

Rating
★★☆☆☆

[REVIEW] Cupidity: The Complete Heart Hassle Series by Raven Kennedy

CUPIDITY: THE COMPLETE HEART HASSLE SERIES
by Raven Kennedy

Publication date: Aug 7th 2019
Genres: Fiction, Paranormal, Romance,

Love. Lust. It's my job to spread it around like a virus during cold season. But guess what? Life as a cupid isn't all chocolate hearts and pink arrows. Because even though love makes the realms go round, it seems cruel that cupids don't get to have any of their own. Which might be why I sometimes go on Love strikes and get in trouble with my supervisors. I get a little cranky.

But that all changes the day I get smacked down with some fae magic and go falling through the sky, crashing heart-first into a trio of hot genfins. Now if I can just get those orgasms that everyone says are so awesome, I'll be one happy girl.

I'm cupid one thousand fifty, and no one, not even a revenge-crazy prince, is going to stop me from getting my happy ending. Wink wink.

*This collection includes all four books in the complete Heart Hassle Series. It also includes extra bonus scenes after each book, including male POVs only available in this collection!

Signs of Cupidity
Bonds of Cupidity
Crimes of Cupidity
For the Love of Cupidity

Author's Note: This is a reverse harem series intended for mature audiences only.

I picked this up without any expectations, so I was pleasantly surprised to find that I end up loving every second of this book!

The main protagonist—Emelle’s narration and her quirky ways of viewing life completely made me fall in love with her from the first chapter, in fact almost all of the characters we get to meet was amazing. But the thing that I admire the most is how unlike some other RH books that I’ve passed through before, Raven Kennedy really took her time in introducing each protagonists, developing them into an actual well-rounded and distinct characters, and playing with the chemistry without rushing into the sexual part of it all. The guys are not simply some mindless clones with hot body that the main heroine use for sex, this book has an actual substantial plot that can entice you completely to finish the whole series in one stand.

With basically 3 books and a half, Raven Kennedy succeeds in keeping up with the audience’s attention without dragging the plot towards the end. The twists and cliffhangers are always a nice surprise that will feed your interests along the way. So overall, if you’re like me, someone who are not really sure they’re into RH but are somehow intrigued by it, or maybe someone who do actually love some fun RH action, this is the way to go. Trust me.

Rating
★★★★★

[REVIEW] Releasing the Gods by Leia Stone & Jaymin Eve

RELEASING 
THE GODS 
by Leia Stone &
Jaymin Eve

(The Titan's Saga #1)

Publication date: Oct 29th 2019
Genres: Greek Mythology, Fiction, Romance, NA

Maisy Parker isn’t asking for a lot in life. Just good friends, good fun, and finally reaching one hundred thousand followers on Instagram.

She’s well on her way to all of that, until one drunken dare ends up with a cut hand, blood sacrifices, and a thousand-year-old prison opening to reveal a giant of a man.

Finding herself with a Titan of a problem, she does the only thing that makes sense in that situation: selfie. Because he’s beyond hot, and that has got to be worth twenty thousand followers.

Only it turns out, this is no joke.

Cronus is really a Titan, and he’s set out to destroy the leader of the Greek pantheon.

When Maisy makes a colossal mistake, unleashing an untold evil on the world, Cronus is the only one that can help her.
#oops

Maisy is starting to see that she should have been less interested in Instagram and more interested in the impending end of the world.

An end she quite possibly caused—not that she’s admitting to anything just yet.

For someone who enjoys strong badass lead female protagonists, I was pleasantly surprised to find myself enjoying this book. Not that Maisey is in any way meek or weak, she is just very… confused and… millennial.

Our female protagonist is not badass, she doesn’t have any fighting skills (yet?) and she is instagram and hashtag obsessed. Some people may find her annoying (I did at first), but lets see it this way, if you as you are now, accidentally released the Titan, Cronus—who is usually portrayed as this majorly evil being in most Greek mythology retellings—and find yourself being chased by Gods who intend to kill you, you may end up being as useless as her, I know I would be. I find myself being intrigued by her relatable and quirky narration despite her annoying overuse of hashtags instead.

Our male protagonist, Cronus, is not a delight either. Yes, he is hot (as expected) but Gods he is annoying (at least at first). He is not going to be your usual charming hottie white knight kind of character, and despite his jerk attitude, the authors had in return manage to showcase his character development well enough that I actually end up liking the jerk.

Releasing The Gods was definitely an enjoyable read. The book features an interesting twist to the great feud between the Titans and the Olympians that we know, and I find it very interesting to interact with Cronus for a change. It was quite fast paced, good enough to persuade you to keep on reading further.

Overall, yes I would recommend this book to those who enjoy fun Greek mythology retellings, and yes I will definitely be sitting on the edge of my seat for the next instalment.

Rating
★★★★★

[REVIEW] Shifters and Glyphs by Christina Bauer

SHIFTERS AND GLYPHS

By Christina Bauer

(Fairy Tales of the Magicorum #2)

Publication date: July 9th 2019
Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Romance, YA

Bryar Rose's true identity lies hidden in a labyrinth of magic, terror and ancient Egypt. Now she and Knox must uncover the truth ... or lose everyone they love.

FAIRY TALES OF THE MAGICORUM
1. Wolves And Roses
2. Moonlight And Midtown
3. Shifters And Glyphs
4. Slippers And Thieves
5. Bandits And Ball Gowns

For those who have been following my reviews or even stumble upon my blog or profile would probably already know that I am borderline obsessed with Christina Bauer's works. Since the Angelbound Origins, I have always adored the quirky narrators and the fantasy worlds that this author always manage to deliver, and Fairy Tales of the Magicorum did not exempt.

Shifters and Glyphs delves deeper into the main issue of founding the 'Fountain of Magic' that was introduced in the previous instalment. And let me warn you (in a good way of course) that these 300 something pages has been nothing but packed with adventures and twists that will keep you from moving from the couch until you finish the whole thing. If anything, the mix between action and humour definitely made Shifters and Glyphs an entertaining read.

Although I thought it is a good way to conclude our protagonists Bryar and Knox's arc, I wished the story had more explanations and background on the fairy tale template that was supposedly forced upon the Magicorum (shifters, fae, witches/warlocks), which I always found very interesting and would love to know more on how it came about. There are definitely a lot of questions left unanswered still, and I hope somehow we will get more insight on it on the next instalments. I found it to be a bit of a let down that we didn't get as much exposure on the other characters and their developments except on the main protagonists in this one compared to the first one, I miss Elle and Alec! But hey, we are expecting them fully on the next book so I won't be too bitter about it.

Nevertheless, I would definitely recommend this book and series to everyone who are interested in the Fantasy Fiction genre! I for one will definitely be sitting on the edge of my seat for the next book to come.

Rating
★★★★☆

[Review] Dead of Night By Carlyle Labuschagne

Dead of Night
By Carlyle Labuschagne
(Aftershock #1)

Publication date: September 22nd 2015
Genres: Dystopia, Fiction, Romance, Action

In a dark and desolated After Earth, love still does exist, but the cost of bearing such a flaw is death.

World War III has left Earth in utter turmoil. People’s beliefs are said to be the cause of the worldwide destruction. After The Clearing new laws are set about - to show certitude in anything besides the law is weak and chargeable as mutiny. To be illogical and have faith in religion is illegal, to be limitless is dangerous. And Illness is seen as a defect – all flaws that are inexcusable.
But to love is the greatest betrayal of all man kind. It is a fault the world has long forgotten and punishable by death, a fatal risk Aecker and Opel are fully prepared to take - because in love there is freedom. But how far can they push back before it claims their lives and of those they care about?

I received an arc of this book in exchange of an honest review.


I have to say I am quite disappointed at this one. I feel that Dead of Night had a potential of being great if only the story itself wasn't cut so short. When it end all I could think was "That's it?" And I don't know how to put it all in words without spoiling anything. So bear with me.

The book revolves on this couple who are fighting to survive in a world where 'love' is a flaw, as other humane things like disease and any kinds of belief (religion etc). And instead of getting a proper romantic development, like a bad case of insta-love, the protagonists were suddenly extremely attached to each other after merely staring at each other, running, tending each other wounds, more staring, and running. And I mean this as in cannot live without one another kind of thing. I mean, the Hero did mention they met and interacted before the heroine lost her memories, but it was not properly explored, and I thought if we just started a little bit behind where the chapter one starts we could've gotten our proper romantic development. And same goes to the characters development itself. The plot was really fast paced it felt rushed at some point, and it's saying a lot since I usually favor fast paced novels.

Overall, although the book was quite well written and intriguing, I am also well dissatisfied about every other aspect of it. It felt more of a journal of how to NOT survive in a dystopian society/ war kind of book rather than anything else (you'll understand when you read it). And after all those painful hard work we couldn't even get a happy ending. Then again, I had to repeat that this book does have some potential and hey maybe you would enjoy it, but this is just not for me.

Rating
★★☆☆☆