Blog Tour Review: Wind Catcher by Jeff and Erynn Altabef {Chosen book 1}

Welcome to my stop on this amazing blog tour for Wind Catcher by Jeff Altabef and Erynn Altabef.  A huge thanks goes to the Novel Publicity for putting this all together and allowing me to be a part of it!  

This fantasy adventure series is steeped in American Indian culture and so much more.

Winner: Mom's Choice Award -- Silver Metal

Winner: Awesome Indies -- Seal of Approval

Recipient: Readers' Favorite -- 5 Star Review

Juliet Wildfire Stone hears voices and sees visions, but she can't make out what they mean. Her eccentric grandfather tells her stories about the Great Wind Spirit and Coyote, but he might as well be speaking another language. None of it makes any sense.
When she stumbles upon a series of murders, she can't help but worry her grandfather might be involved. To discover the truth, Juliet must choose between her new life at an elite private school and her Native American heritage. Once she uncovers an ancient secret society formed over two hundred years ago to keep her safe, she starts to wonder whether there's some truth to those old stories her grandfather has been telling her.
All she wants is to be an average sixteen-year-old girl, but she has never been average-couldnever be average.
Betrayed by those she loves, she must decide whether to run or risk everything by fulfilling her destiny as the Chosen.

"Wind Catcher is a suspenseful, wonderfully written story that will capture your attention and hold it prisoner. A book that you won't want to escape from. Brava!" - Stephen Fisher, Readers' Favorite Book Reviews

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Check My Review!

What an amazingly unique story!! I can honestly say I have never read anything like it! I loved the strong Native American themes running through it as well as the deep plunge into the rich culture then and now.

This story seemed to quench my thirst for knowledge of the more supernatural aspect to the Native American history and storytelling and I loved the creativity of the authors.

Even though this is, in essence, a young adult book, I was literally kept at the edge of my seat while reading. The plot has some very intense situations as well as mature threads running throughout the story. I love that our authors see our “young adult” crowd as more than older kids; they see them as very intelligent and can handle the more mature themes including murder and secret societies.

And come on, who doesn’t love secret societies?



I was also totally in love with the fact that Wind Catcher can’t be limited to just one genre. It has mystery, sci-fi, fantasy, and I personally think it has this “coming of age” sense to it too. Trust me, there is something for everyone in this awesome novel!

Besides being super interesting, the book is very well written. Both authors, Jeff and Erynn, pay such close attention to details, big and small, and the words flowed easily from the pages to the mental pictures in my mind.

The characters are complex and you can see definite changes as the story progresses for the main character. Juliet Stone starts out as being torn from fitting in at her private school and still trying to hold on to a place in her culture too. I enjoyed watching her as she learned more about her past, which helped her deal with her problems with the present.

I also enjoyed immensely how at the beginning neither Juliet or Troy was very trusting of those out of the Native American society, but as the story goes on and delves deeper into the mysteries of the secret society, we see more trust being developed. We see characters of different heritages putting their lives on the line for Juliet and others. I love to see this coming together of different peoples. Awesome!



Overall, I was insanely happy with the way Wind Catcher turned out! I was hooked from the very first pages and found myself reading this story in less than two days. I already know I am going to have a really hard time making it till November for the book two, but I will probably find myself re-reading book one to make the wait a little easy. I would definitely recommend Wind Catcher to anyone who is fascinated by the Native American history and the rich mythology too, especially when it is combined with a modern twist!

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Book Review: Nightfall Gardens by Allen Houston

Title: Nightfall Gardens
Author: Allen Houston
Series: Nightfall Gardens Book 1
Publisher: Flycatcher Books
Date of Publication: May 8  2013

Source:  Received from author in exchange for my honest opinion.
Genre: Young Adult, fantasy, Kindle edition, 249 pages

Goodreads Synopsis:

Vain Lily Blackwood and her shy brother Silas wonder if their family will ever settle in one place long enough to lead a normal life. When a mysterious stranger arrives claiming to be their uncle, they discover their parents have been hiding a secret that turns their world upside down.

The two are kidnapped to Nightfall Gardens, the family’s ancestral home, a place shrouded in ancient mystery, where they meet their dying grandmother and learn of an age-old curse placed on Blackwood females.

Lily must take over as protector of the house and three haunted gardens that hold mythical beasts, fairy-tale nightmares and far worse. If she doesn’t, the evil trapped there will be unleashed and bring on a new dark age.

While she deals with malevolent ghosts inside the house, Silas is put to work in the gardens, where one wrong step means death.

Along the way, they search to unlock the secrets of the house and to stop the creatures in the gardens before time runs out and the world is destroyed.

My Thoughts:

I received a copy of Nightfall Gardens for my honest opinion of it.  I wasn't sure if it would be my type of story; I was afraid it would be too much for the kids and not exciting enough for myself.  I shouldn't have worried!  This book is amazing!
Before I get to the actual story can we talk about the cover?
I love when the illustration conveys the story perfectly and this cover definitely does it!  I also love that it is in just black and white and the contrast is between the shadows and the light.  It's just beautiful!
Just as the cover is foreboding, so is the first chapter.  It really grabs you and pulls you in right away.  There is no lag in the story; no boring parts.  We are able to glimpse Lily and Silas' life before the Gardens just enough to understand their personalities.  
Lily Blackwood, our female protagonist, is the more vain and self centered one of the family.  She believes the world revolves around her and she deserves the theaters of Paris and beyond.
Silas Blackwood is more of a dreamer.  He lives for his writing and I  think, a good book too.  But he is kind and generous too.
The introduction of the their long lost Uncle ,one they never knew they had, comes into play it makes for even more exciting reading.
I found the Uncle enjoyable; although, probably everyone else sees him as the bad guy.  I don't know; I think he is admirable but committed to the safety of others as well.
As the plot goes through we get to see each character, Lily and Silas, mature into a more well rounded person as they go through their own path.  Each one adds a crucial element to the story that makes the book much more enjoyable for girls and boys.   Neither one overshadows the other one; instead they compliment each other from the love they feel for each other.

The world building was also a major plus too.  Mr. Houston creates this niche in the world that essentially is what is holding the world's worst nightmares and evil from being let loose on humanity. I love that there is three gardens: White, Shadow and the Labyrinth, and each one has your different baddies in it.  The nerd in me would love a drawing of the different gardens; a map if you will.  Ohh! And wouldn't it be cool to have like every different creature that resides there and what myth they come from contained in a list?
Aww that would be awesome!

I was simply astounded at the creativity that was put into making Nightfall Gardens.  I am also into having a mesh up of the different mythologies.  I have also wondered what would happen if we had different creatures and the different gods from the old myths come together.  Mr. Houston wove an exciting tale that flows smoothly throughout the story.  I really had a hard time putting the book down.
I am pretty much obsessed with this series now.  As soon as I finished this book, I ran to order book 2 and have already started it.  I also plan on picking up the whole series in print form to go on our "favorite books" bookshelf.  And as soon as my 11 year old twins finish the books they are reading, I know they will devour this one too.

I highly suggest giving this book a try.  It has so much to offer for both kids (12+) and grown ups too! It is a truly creative fantasy with so much action, you might find yourselves reading it through the night!

Get your copy at: 

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Book Review: Antigoddess by Kendare Blake {Book 1 of The Goddess War}

Title:  Antigoddess
Series: Goddess War
Author: Kendare Blake
Publisher: Tor Teen
Date of Publication: Sept. 10, 2013
Source: bought, Kindle, 337 pages
Rating: YA, mythology, 


Goodreads Summary:

The Goddess War begins in Antigoddess, the first installment of the new series by acclaimed author of Anna Dressed in Blood, Kendare Blake.
Old Gods never die…
Or so Athena thought. But then the feathers started sprouting beneath her skin, invading her lungs like a strange cancer, and Hermes showed up with a fever eating away his flesh. So much for living a quiet eternity in perpetual health.
Desperately seeking the cause of their slow, miserable deaths, Athena and Hermes travel the world, gathering allies and discovering enemies both new and old. Their search leads them to Cassandra—an ordinary girl who was once an extraordinary prophetess, protected and loved by a god.

These days, Cassandra doesn’t involve herself in the business of gods—in fact, she doesn’t even know they exist. But she could be the key in a war that is only just beginning.

Because Hera, the queen of the gods, has aligned herself with other of the ancient Olympians, who are killing off rivals in an attempt to prolong their own lives. But these anti-gods have become corrupted in their desperation to survive, horrific caricatures of their former glory. Athena will need every advantage she can get, because immortals don’t just flicker out.

Every one of them dies in their own way. Some choke on feathers. Others become monsters. All of them rage against their last breath.
The Goddess War is about to begin.

At the publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management software (DRM) applied.

My Thoughts:
 I  love how Kendare Blake can take something that is always been written about and create  something that seems timeless and new at the same time.  She takes these age old myths and turns them on their heads.  There are some amazing twists and turns in this story, it is like being on a roller coaster.

Who would have thought that the gods could truly die?  Well Blake does!  This author is very creative in finding ways for the gods and goddesses to die, according to their powers.  Whether it be consumed by feathers from the inside out or driven to madness, Antigoddess brings out the darker and more twisted aspects of the Greek deities we have come to know over the years. 

And the cover!   I love the feather falling dripping blood as it floats downward.  The cover is a great depiction of what the novel is about and it really grabs the reader's attention.  

The novel really just jumps right into the world and we are thrown into Athena's ailment along with Hermes' sickness.  I felt Athena's suffering with her as I imagined feeling feathers growing inside of the body, puncturing your organs.  I love that Blake didn't have a leading up to what and why of their sicknesses but instead we are thrown together with the little that they know as they travel to get the answers they seek.  

I am a huge fan of Kendare Blake's writing style.  She understands that life isn't wrapped up in a neat little bow; instead it is crude and raw and difficult.  She pushes the envelope, like you wouldn't believe, for young adult and I always feel like I am getting more than I expected.  Depending on the situation, she will use curse words and very graphic ways to describe it but she never goes over the line of being too much.  Everything she does is in proportion to the story she is telling.  

Another great aspect of this book is the characters.  All of the characters, mortal and gods, are intense and complex.  With Cassandra, she brings the concept of reincarnation to the forefront and adds just another awesome thread to an already great story line. And Aidan! Oh my dear Aidan.  He is such a romantic and it is hard not to fall in love with him.    We get to see what really makes all of these characters tick as they go through the reality of what is coming.  I love this story but some of the twists did make me scream out loud!  

I guess I am gushing but I am really in love with this story!  I was satisfied completely with Antigoddess and I am so ready for the next book!  If you are a fan of Greek mythology with some super twists and modernizing aspects, I highly suggest you pick this up!  You might even find out you are a huge Kendare Blake fan too!

Get Your Copy at:

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ARC Book Review: Gameboard of the Gods by Richelle Mead

Title: Gameboard of the Gods
Author: Richelle Mead
Publisher: Dutton Adult
Date of Publication: June 4, 2013
Source: publisher via Net Galley
Genre: adult mythology, paranormal, romance
Links to Buy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

From Goodreads:

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 Thoughts:

This was a hard book to read and I found it was even harder to review.  Now, please throw your torches away; I didn't say it was bad.  I just said it was a hard book to follow.  
It felt all over the place, even though you do get some world building in it, the story kinda tells it as you go and personally, I felt lost a little bit.  I found myself going back, checking on what certain terms meant, and so on. 
You know how some fantasy books have terms and definitions in the beginning so you have a little heads up.  I think this book should definitely invest in one of those nifty little things.
So for the world building it was a love hate relationship for me.  I would have liked more world building but what we did get was descriptive and definitely painted a strange new alternate world.  
The character development made up for the lack of world building for me though.  I fell in love with Mae.  She is a complex woman that doesn't follow any set rules for how she needs to be.  I love that she is a fighter.  I really have this amazing respect for strong women who can defend their own and just about everyone else too.  Mae is that woman!  For me, it seemed like I really was drawn to Mae, while the rest of the world feared her.  Maybe that is what did it for me too; the vulnerability that she keeps deep inside.  
Justin March, on the other hand, was such a douche.  Yes, he has this bad boy attitude, yes he is very smart, yes he has other promising qualities but......I just could not like him.  
He had his moments, though, that I did say "maybe" for him but in the end I wasn't really impressed with him as the main male lead.  But I think that wasn't  because he was badly written; he was actually written really well to incite such intense distaste that I had for him.  
This is of course a romance story and it is front and center.  There is also a murder mystery but it doesn't really seem to be the full focus of the novel.  It seems like they glaze over it and then boom they solve it.  There are details but I really felt lost in it all.  
I did like the interesting concept of a rule over religions.  That definitely captured my attention and was original.  
Overall, Gameboard of the Gods has a Greek feel to it with terms like plebians, patricians, and the strictness of it all.  But that isn't the only gods that are possible in this book.  
That is what saved it for me for this book. The mythology and power of the different gods.  Also the beliefs of the Runa that they could control and destroy these entities makes for a great read.  I love mythology and this was an interesting take on it for an adult read.  
I give it 3 out of 5 hearts!

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Book Review: Everneath by Brodi Ashton {Everneath # 1}

Title: Everneath
Series: Everneath # 1
Author: Brodi Ashton
Publisher: HarperCollins/Balzer + Bray
Date of Publication:Jan. 24, 2012
Genre/Challenge: YA, mythology, paranormal/2013 YA Mythology Challenge
Source: bought, Kindle, 384 pages
Links to Buy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble |

From Goodreads:

She has six months before the Everneath comes to claim her, six months for good-byes she can’t find the words for, six months to find redemption, if it exists.Nikki longs to spend these months reconnecting with her boyfriend, Jack, the one person she loves more than anything. But there’s a problem: Cole, the smoldering immortal who first enticed her to the Everneath, has followed Nikki to the mortal world. And he’ll do whatever it takes to bring her back- this time as his queen.As Nikki’s time grows short and her relationships begin slipping from her grasp, she’s forced to make the hardest decision of her life: find a way to cheat fate and remain on the Surface with Jack or return to the Everneath and become Cole’s...She has six months before the Everneath comes to claim her, six months for good-byes she can’t find the words for, six months to find redemption, if it exists.Nikki longs to spend these months reconnecting with her boyfriend, Jack, the one person she loves more than anything. But there’s a problem: Cole, the smoldering immortal who first enticed her to the Everneath, has followed Nikki to the mortal world. And he’ll do whatever it takes to bring her back- this time as his queen.As Nikki’s time grows short and her relationships begin slipping from her grasp, she’s forced to make the hardest decision of her life: find a way to cheat fate and remain on the Surface with Jack or return to the Everneath and become Cole’s...

Last spring, Nikki Beckett vanished, sucked into an underworld known as the Everneath, where immortals Feed on the emotions of despairing humans. Now she’s returned—to her old life, her family, her friends—before being banished back to the underworld... this time forever.

My Thoughts:

Okay, I have a confession to make.  I am not proud of it but I just couldn't fight either.
*deep breath*

I had a really hard time taking my eyes off this cover.  There I said it.  I even went as far as to imagine myself in that amazing dress while someone would carried fans behind me, all around me, just so the ends would fly carelessly like that.
I know that is vain but wow!  Those colors and the dress are just breathtaking.  If I had me a dress like that I think I would just do everything in it.  Laundry, homeschooling, sweeping.  Everything.
Okay enough of my fetish with the dress.  Sorry.  But I actually feel really better that I got that off my chest.

Now let's get on to the book, Everneath.

This was one of those books that I wasn't sure if I would like it.  There are a lot of books out there with different interpretations of the gods and goddesses of Greek Mythology.  Some I love and others I am just meh about.  I wanted to read this but I wasn't sure where it fit...at first.
When I first started reading it, I really got a Matrix kind of vibe.  Now wait a minute before you throw me out the door and tell me I am crazy...It was only when Nikki was "waking up" so to speak that I related it to Neo's escape out of the matrix.  So loosely reminded me of the Matrix.

The plot of Everneath is a dark one.  Sure it has some comic relief in it and there are some very intense romantic situations but for all intent and purposes-it is a dark story.  Especially after Nikki comes back from being under with Cole.  She comes back with this scary shell of what she was hanging over her, but she is a strong person and you can't help but root for her to find some kind of way out.  Even if every other line she is saying there is nothing she can do.  I almost got annoyed with that but remembering what she went through I guess I can understand that.
I also liked how she would glance back to what made her decide to choose Cole in the first place and the next chapter would be that memory.  At first, it got a little confusing but then once I got used to it.  I was good.  
The characters were pretty intense as well.  Our female protagonist, Nikki, was pretty good.  There were times I wished she had more patience and asked more questions but other times I felt she really did a good job portraying the pain she was going through with her actions and words.
Jack, one of our male protagonists, was one of those really good guys that you just want to pinch his cheeks (on his face, dirty birdies) because he is just an all around nice guy.  He does everything that the typical nice guy does and I liked him okay.
But I have to say I really really really loved Cole.  I know he is the "bad" guy so to speak but I just feel so drawn to him.  I think there is a lot more to Cole than we see in this first book in the series.  I really believe Cole will redeem himself in the rest of the series and I can't wait to read more about how Cole deals with his feelings for Nikki as well as the rejection he gets from her every time she looks at him.  Yes, what he does to people isn't the best thing in the world but I do believe there is a big story just bubbling underneath our Cole and I can't wait to learn even more about my favorite guy.
All in all I liked Everneath.  It lived up to a lot of my mythology rules, even if it was a bit different for how the gods had to survive.  I think this twist makes it even more interesting  and I would like to visit the Everneath more in the following books.
So I give Everneath:

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ARC Review: Omega by Robert J. Crane {The Girl In The Box Book 5}

Title: Omega
Series: The Girl in the Box book 5
Author: Robert J. Crane
Publisher: Reikonos Press
Date of Publication: Feb. 8, 2012
Source: received from author for honest review of it
Get Your Own At: 

Amazon | Barnes & Noble |

Goodreads Description:

Omega - a shadowy organization that is synonomous with power in the metahuman world. They have hunted Sienna Nealon since the day she first left her house, killed countless Directorate agents and operatives, and now they unveil their greatest plot - Operation Stanchion, a phrase whispered to Sienna by an Omega operative almost too scared to speak the words aloud. Now Sienna must track the pieces Omega has in motion, journeying across the upper midwest to confront the forces that have plagued her since she first stepped into the metahuman world before they can land their final stroke - and bring an end to the Directorate forever.

My Thoughts:

I have read this author's works for a while now and it seems to be that he keeps getting better and better, surprising us with what he is capable of next and how far he is willing to go to write that masterpiece.  

Well, I believe Omega came pretty damn close to it.  It is full of emotion (to the point where my heart literally broke and tears flew out of my eyes in all directions ), action, and this deeper darker mankind that scares the hell out of me but still pulls me in because it is that captivating.  

Mr. Crane has a true talent of putting simple words to paper that have the tendency to pull the reader so far into Sienna Nealon's world, it is hard to come back to reality.  And for some of us, it is sad to leave the crazy world of metahumans, the gods of old, and a really kick ass heroine who is one of the bravest and honest people we could ever get to know.  And yes, she is a literary character.  

My warning to all of those who have not gotten into this series yet is to STOP reading here (this is book 5 so it will definitely have some kind of spoiler in it without it meaning to) and go pick up book one so you can join all of us fans that know The Girl In the Box Series is soon to be a classic along with many others, including Mr. Tolkien and Mr. Lewis.

We are thrown right into the action; which I really do love about Crane's writing style.  He can write a fight scene worthy of the big screen or video game time.  It is epic indeed!  One of the first things I came to notice about our protagonist this time is how mature she is.  Sienna has came a long way since book four and she shows it with her leading the junior M Squad, her calm demeanor with the team, and the more interaction with Old Man Winters.  I actually came very close to liking his character, because he seemed to having a fatherly interest in Sienna; but he still has this aloofness about him that makes me question his loyalty to her.  But time will tell and it does indeed.

Reed is still around and I absolutely love Reed!  I have to say he is my favorite male character in this book, besides Kurt.  Yes, I know Kurt can be a douche but I don't know why-but I feel like Kurt is ......Kurt.  Sorry I can't explain anymore than that; it is just this warm feeling I have toward Kurt.  

And of course, Zack has forgiven Sienna for her failings and they are still working on the relationship between the two of them.  I think the no touching rule bothers Sienna much more than it does Zack and it seems to always be a stresser on their fragile relationship.  But the two seem good together so it works out and we get a little more this time for them.  

I really love the way Crane used the old gods, for example Thor and Odin, to describe the different powers that some people had.  And there was a lot of references to Chris Hemsworth, which totally works for me because I seriously loved him as Thor, and it is good to see Sienna's humor still in tact.  So if I were to label this would it be possible to say mythology too for it?  I would like to think so because of what Omega holds in their hands.  But that is the beauty of this series: it crosses many different genres and has something for everyone in it, whether it be urban fantasy, science fiction, a little bit of mythology, and romance.  Of course there is also action, suspense, and it is most definitely a thriller; so yeah, something for everyone.  

Now, I was warned from the author that this could possibly be a tear jerker, and so I will pass along the same warning for you.  There is so many twists, turns, and complete surprises that it will be very difficult to not have one little tear escape.  Then again, you could be like me and whisper to yourself," I will not cry, I will not cry, I will not cry!"  Only to find yourself at the end bawling like a baby because the author, Mr. Crane, decided to put something so heartbreaking in our midst that it was impossible not to let our emotions take over.  

And you know what?  I love the author even that much more for it.  He has a plan for our favorite hero and though the road there will be sad, happy, terrible, and joyous, I have a good feeling he will help us see the series to its end.  Now, we may not get there unscathed; whether it be sleepless nights, eyes red from crying long and hard, or our thoughts always drifting to Sienna and her plights, causing us to spill milk we are pouring into the kids' cups (okay, I guess I can't blame that one on the book), but we will make it there.  And I know that I will be loving every minute of the journey.  

I gave Omega five hearts!  

Connect with Robert J. Crane:

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Book Review: Painted Blind (A Modern Retelling of Pysche and Cupid) by Michelle A. Hansen

Title: Painted Blind ( A Modern Retelling of Cupid and Pysche)

Author: Michelle A. Hansen
Publisher: CreateSpace
Date of Publication: Jan. 15, 2012
Format: paperback, Kindle, 331 pages
Source: bought
Get Your Own Copy: 

Amazon | Barnes&Noble | The Book Depository | 

Book Synopsis:Psyche Middleton vows her dad will never see the risqué photos she took during a summer modeling stint abroad, but one of them ends up on a billboard in her Montana hometown, where everyone—especially her dad—can see it. That becomes the least of her worries when she meets Erik, a mysterious guy who rescues her from a mob and who she’s never actually seen because he can make himself invisible.
Erik takes her to his palace in an idyllic kingdom, and she is swept into the beauty and culture of his world, but his affection has one condition: she may not see him. Enchanted, intrigued, and not wholeheartedly believing he’s real, Psyche can’t bring herself to love him blindly. When she betrays his trust for a glimpse of his face, Psyche ends up at the mercy of Erik’s controlling mother, who demands that Psyche prove herself in order to be reunited with him. Psyche knows love is never easy, but this is ridiculous. She agrees to complete three impossible tasks to prove her devotion to Erik—or die trying.

This modern retelling of the myth of Cupid and Psyche is a fantastical journey filled with laughter, danger, and the indomitable power of love.

My Thoughts:

I am a sucker for a good mythology story any time and Painted Blind doesn't disappoint either.  I have heard about this book way back earlier in 2012 but never got to it; but it always stayed in the back of mind.  The title stuck in my head and now I know why.  
It touched me in many ways, especially the relationship that develops between Psyche and Eric, even though she has never seen him while they are together.  I personally had something very similar to this talking to someone on the phone.  We got along so well (he even said we had so much in common) only when we met in person, he couldn't look past to what was inside.  

Anywhoo.....sorry I digress.

Psyche Middleton is beautiful but she shows us that beauty isn't everything.  In fact, for some it can be a downfall.  She is a model and after a very revealing photo of her portrayed as Aphrodite, she gets into a lot of trouble with the goddess.  
That is one of the plot lines that runs through the novel but not the only one.  In fact, I found there were a few but they all tied in pretty well together, as a few left you saying," wow!" 
The main thread is that she falls very heavy for this invisible guy, named Eric, that saves her from many high strung situations.  
Eric is a pretty confident fellow and likable indeed.  His beauty isn't what made me crush on him, though, but his sense of humor and flirtatious nature.  I loved the fact that he wanted Psyche to love more than just the outside of him and wouldn't allow her to see him.  
But of course, with that you always have haters.  Psyche should have been comfortable with her own feelings without having to prove them to her friend.  That is kinda of funny how something major happened there and yet there was much said about it later.  I don't want to ruin it for you but something that major I figure there would have been more emphasis, even with the big betrayal.  

You have to give Psyche credit for what she is willing to do to prove her love to Eric and yes, it is a bit extreme, but it is also romantic too.  It was fun and she ended up making more friends in the process that would give their life for her.  

The villain in this story is a whopper too.  He is evil, enjoys torturing people, and shows us that just because you are handsome on the outside, your bad attitude can make you the ugliest person ever.  

I had so many favorite parts in this story.  I loved Psyche and felt more closer to her through each trial she had to go through.  Her journey through the underworld was really cool and we also get to meet a version of Persephone that seems a little bit more interesting than I thought before.  
The ending is very cool and I loved the "pay-it-forward" way Psyche helped her friend.  
I think if you love mythology and want to read something that isn't too heavy but has a lot of endearing scenes then you should definitely pick up Painted Blind.  I really hope Michelle A. Hansen gives us more retellings of the mythologies we adore!

I give it five hearts!              

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ARC Review: The Goddess Inheritance by Aimee Carter

Title: The Goddess Inheritance
Series: Goddess Test
Author: Aimee Carter
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Expected Date of Publication: Feb. 26, 2013
Source: received as a e-ARC from NetGalley
Pre-order your copy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository |

Book Synopsis:Love or life.
Henry or their child.
The end of her family or the end of the world.
Kate must choose.
During nine months of captivity, Kate Winters has survived a jealous goddess, a vengeful Titan and a pregnancy she never asked for. Now the Queen of the Gods wants her unborn child, and Kate can't stop her--until Cronus offers a deal.
In exchange for her loyalty and devotion, the King of the Titans will spare humanity and let Kate keep her child. Yet even if Kate agrees, he'll destroy Henry, her mother and the rest of the council. And if she refuses, Cronus will tear the world apart until every last god and mortal is dead.
With the fate of everyone she loves resting on her shoulders, Kate must do the impossible: find a way to defeat the most powerful being in existence, even if it costs her everything.
Even if it costs her eternity.

My Thoughts:
I was looking forward to reading this that I couldn't stop thinking about it at all.  I would check Net Galley all the time, making sure they haven't released the galleys yet for it.  And when they did I was one of the first to put in to review it.  So when I got that special email telling me Harlequin Teen was nice enough to let me get an e-ARC of it-I was blown away.
And now I feel empty.

The story wasn't terrible; not at all.  There were parts that had tears spring to my eyes and laughter bubble up in others. Some of the scenes were intense and others very romantic but.....................
I still feel empty.

For one, we didn't get to really experience any of Kate's pregnancy at all.  When we open the book she is about to go into labor.  I would have liked to get to know the pregnant Kate, especially to see the torment that she has to go through waiting on Henry or the others to come for her, month after month, only to realize they are not coming.  I think that would have been a breathtaking chapter if it had been written.

Another is the name of the baby.  I hope I don't offend anyone because I swear I am not trying to at all but Milo for a god?  That just had me shaking my head.  I like the name Milo but I just wasn't feeling it for the baby's name.
One huge pet peeve that got on my nerves was the way Kate acted.  She really stood up in book 2, Goddess Interrupted, that I had this hope that she would keep this newfound respect for herself.  But alas, she turned right back into the whiny girl we met in the first books.

But like I said, the story wasn't terrible, it was just lacking.  I felt like there should have been something more but I am having a hard time putting my finger on it.

The conclusion to The Goddess Test Trilogy is much darker than the rest of the books, obviously because there is a war brewing.  But throughout this finally get to see how much Henry truly feels for Kate and his family.
I also loved the interpretation of Rhea, wife of Cronus, and when we meet her.  She is very peaceful compared to her husband and you can quickly see why she would be Mother Earth, so to speak.

I don't really have much to say negatively toward The Goddess Inheritance but I just wished it could have been different.   But all in all, the story was enjoyable and I did stay entertained throughout the story.  I just expected more of something too.
Of course though you should definitely read it to finish the series out and it does tie up loose ends.

I gave it 3 hearts.

Book Review: Ordained {The Immortal Archives # 1}

Title: Ordained
Series: The Immortal Archives
Author: Devon Ashley
Publisher: Self
Date of Publication: March 25, 2011
Format: ebook, paperback
Source: bought

Normally, the school creates the hunters - not the monsters.
Abby Sorrensten likes to play rough. Ripping the horns off the foreheads of demons, manipulating lightning and setting things on fire with the flick of your wrist can give you a serious rush. So she probably wasn’t the best choice for the Order’s experimental training program. Thirteen years of isolation, lack of affection and a bruised and broken body from horrendous training sessions creates more than just an exceptional fighter. It creates an evil within - an evil responsible for several deaths the night she left.
Two hundred years later Abby resurfaces as the very thing the Order trained her to kill: a vampire. A mythical demon has set his sights on the school and only the ordained hunter has the powers to face it. Unbeknownst to the Order, Abby’s their precious ordained one and their only chance for survival. As much as she would love to leave them hanging, she’s not willing to risk the life of Emily, a fellow friend and hunter also fed up with the organization.

But for Abby, locking herself away in a fortress with angry descendents of those she killed causes suspicions and tensions to run high. Abby must learn the demon’s weaknesses for battle before the Order learns hers.
-goodreads summary

My Thoughts:
 Ordained was one of those books that didn't give me chills all over from excitement but it didn't make me want to stop reading either.  Ever since I seen this book I have been craving to read it.  I was so hyped up for it and I guess I felt like a little let down when I did get my hands on it.  This isn't to say it was terrible book-it wasn't.  I liked this book very much; it just wasn't one of my favorites.  
I liked Abby, our main heroine, a lot.  Abby is powerfully strong, magical, very snarky, and short on temper.  Her husband, Noel, is also a pretty cool character too.  He is smart, calm, and extremely protective.  I think Noel and Abby make the perfect couple: they are like yin and yang to each other.  Noel has this way that he can anchor Abby to her saneness, instead of falling to the darkside.  
I absolutely adored the fact that Noel and Abby are already married.  Most of the time in books, you are seeing the two court each other and fall in love, but with Ordained that has already happened.  We get to see the married couple and the way they are with each other now.  Love it!  Was this a romance?  Not in the traditional sense, but we still got to see the love and devotion between Abby and Noel.  Even though Abby has these good and bad powers swirling around inside her, I felt like she was portrayed as an exceptional caretaker, especially where Emily, our second heroine, was concerned.
Emily, for me, was much more of a mystery.  I knew she was important but at times it seemed like she was just there as bridge between Abby and the Order.  The action was incredible, the fight scenes pretty spectacular, and the villains terrible (especially the ones that were supposed to be good).  
I also like the originality of the idea of a pure vampire compared to the "mutant" vampires.  But the explanations were very confusing and took a little away for me.  I still feel a little lost and hope it gets cleared up better in the second book.  The end is sorta of a cliff hanger which helped make up for the lacking I felt in other areas of the book.  It took a long time to get where we needed to be, but once we were there, the story was incredibly good.
All in all, Ordained is an enjoyable read.  I look forward to continuing the journey in Book 2 and I hope to see Abby, Noel, and Emily grow in their personal lives.
I gave it 3 hearts.  

Get Your Own Copy:  Amazon  

ARC Review: The Goddess Legacy by Aimee Carter

       Title: The Goddess Legacy

Author: Aimee Carter

                       Publisher: Harlequin Teen, 395 pages

              Publication Date: July 24, 2012

                                             Format: ebook received from publisher on Net Galley

Goodreads Summary:

For millennia we've caught only glimpses of the lives and loves of the gods and goddesses on Olympus. Now Aime e Carter pulls back the curtain on how they became the powerful, petty, loving and dangerous immortals that Kate Winters knows.

Calliope/Hera represented constancy and yet had a husband who never matched her faithfulness....

Ava/Aphrodite was the goddess of love and yet commitment was a totally different deal....

Persephone was urged to marry one man, yet longed for another....

James/Hermes loved to make trouble for others-but never knew true loss before....

Henry/Hades's solitary existence had grown too wearisome to continue. But meeting Kate Winters gave him a new hope....

Five original novellas of love, loss and longing and the will to survive throughout the ages

My Feelings:

This collection of short stories offer us insight into the why the gods and goddesses act the way they do now.  For some, I still kept my opinion of them but for others this little bit of background information pushed me toward more understanding of them.

I love how Carter included other lesser gods/goddesses in some of the stories so we realize it isn't just about the big ones.  I would really like to see another book about some of the interactions of the other gods/goddesses, especially Iris.  I really like Iris.  

The first short story is about Hera.  Carter takes the original mythology of the gods and she twists it and spins it to create a something very new.  Everyone knows Zeus became the "king of the gods" but in this story we learn Hera truly wanted to be the queen of the gods, mainly without Zeus.  

I wanted to like Hera because of what she has to go through; but in the end I just couldn't.  She came off as a proud snotty goddess who believed she was better than all of them.  

I didn't agree with the way she handled  things, especially blaming the children for Zeus' ways.  

The second story is about Aphrodite.  From all the ancient mythologies we assume that she is conceited, petty, and vain.  And for the most part...she is.  But we also see what a great mother Aphrodite became and how she discovered the love she has inside of herself.  She, of course, is the Goddess of Love.   Through this short story I got to see the other side of Aphrodite; a caring person who risked her privacy to save someone.    

The next story is about Persephone and the misery she and Hades has to go through.  This short story was probably the most important of them all so we can finally see what Hades went through to become the lost and empty husk of a man Kate falls in love with.  

I tried to like Persephone, I really did!  I promise!  And there was parts where I finally understood why she thought the way she did.  But in the end, I still found Persephone to be spoiled and plain bratty.  

I thought Kate felt sorry for herself a lot in the first book, but Kate has nothing on Persephone at all!  Which makes no sense because Persephone had it all... except what she believed was true love.  

But I don't look at Persephone as the "whore" that everyone else seemed to think she was.  She was feeling trapped and just didn't understand her part to play.  I think if her mother and father would have given her the chance to actually have a say so in her life then she very well might have chose Hades... but I doubt it.  

She was too into what Persephone wanted to care about Hades.  Though she does to seem genuinely upset that she is hurting him it is almost like she doesn't care enough.  

I did enjoy the fact that she was willing to give up everything, including her immortality, for a human.  I think that showed us that she could redeem herself.  

Then we have a story about Hermes.  By far this is my most favorite of all the short stories which pretty much shocked me!  I think this story shows us what he loses and gains to become who he is today.  

I enjoyed reading from his perspective  and it gave me more respect of him.  He realizes the mistake he made with Persephone but he doesn't want the coldness that he gets from his family.  

We also get introduced to another goddess, Iris, in this story and I have to say I LOVE Iris.  I would be very happy to see more of her in upcoming releases of Aimee Carter.  In fact I think we might see more of her and maybe something will creep up between her and Hermes???  I am keeping my fingers crossed...

Hermes takes it upon himself to go and find out why the older god and goddess, Helios and Selene, can't be found anywhere.  This adventure takes him onto the surface and he meets a few mortals that make him realize what love and family really is.  

From the sacrifices that Hermes makes, he inadvertently saves them all.   

And the last story is ...can you guess?  It is about Hades.  

Growing up reading about the Greek myths, I always liked Hades.  I know that was weird, huh?  But it was just cool to think he ruled over the dead, in another world almost.  

I actually like that these stories show us Hades as a gentler softer person and much less petty than the other gods and goddesses.  

I mean think about it: he doesn't have to live with the others vying for power and affection because he has all the power in the Underworld.   Why wouldn't he be more mature and more serious, as well as more faithful?

Hades' story is the only one that isn't written in first person point of view but it still feels like it.  I guess in this way, Carter allows us to see Hades and the others' emotions objectively.  

I did, however, feel like Hades seemed to be a little naive when it came to Hera's feelings for him.  And for some reason, I just cannot look at Hades as naive.  So that didn't go for me there.  

Again, I think Hermes is so much more than what he seems and he deserves much more respect than the other gods give him.  He plays a special part in Hades story as well as Kate's story too.  

I find it very romantic that his favorite memory of Kate is also her favorite memory with her mother.  That definitely makes things much more interesting!  

All in all, I really enjoyed these collection of stories about the gods and goddesses and the background information we get on them.  I cannot wait for the third book in the series, but I think this novella was a perfect companion to the Goddess Test books.  

I had to give it four hearts!

 

Review: Goddess Interrupted by Aimee Carter

      Title: Goddess Interrupted

                (Book 2-Goddess Test)

Author: Aimee Carter

   Publisher: Harlequin Teen

                 Publication Date: March 27, 2012

                      Format I have: paperback, 296 pages

 Source: won in Giveaway

Goodreads Summary:

KATE WINTERS HAS WON IMMORTALITY.

BUT IF SHE WANTS A LIFE WITH HENRY IN THE UNDERWORLD, SHE'LL HAVE TO FIGHT FOR IT.

Becoming immortal wasn't supposed to be the easy part. Though Kate is about to be crowned Queen of the Underworld, she's as isolated as ever. And despite her growing love for Henry, ruler of the Underworld, he's becoming ever more distant and secretive. Then, in the midst of Kate's coronation, Henry is abducted by the only being powerful enough to kill him: the King of the Titans. 

As the other gods prepare for a war that could end them all, it is up to Kate to save Henry from the depths of Tartarus. But in order to navigate the endless caverns of the Underworld, Kate must enlist the help of the one person who is the greatest threat to her future. 

Henry's first wife, Persephone.

My Feelings:

I was super excited when Mindy at Magical Urban Fantasy Reads told me I had won her giveaway for this.  But then I realized I can't start reading a series in the middle so to speak, so I went and grabbed the first book.  You can check out my review of the first book here.

I feel like Kate has grown a lot since the first book, The Goddess Test, and is trying to cope with realizing everyone isn't what they seem.  At first, I didn't really like Kate because she was so whiny(yes I know she was going through some tough stuff) and wanted to blame herself for everything.  So I obviously drifted more toward Henry, the dark brooding handsome god that just didn't want to be lonely anymore.  

But in this book, I am totally on Kate's side!  I feel like she is  really put through hell proving her love to Henry, as well as risking her life to save those she cares for in her "family".  She still has those moments where she feels sorry for herself, but Kate has grown much more as a woman and I am so proud of the things she accomplishes in this book. Kate exhibits many qualities that shows us she is suited for the task she undertakes.  She is fiercely loyal, no matter what the outcome.  

Henry, ahh Henry!  Why do you make me so mad that I want to throw you in the river?  I love Henry, I really do.  He is my favorite of all the greek gods and goddesses, but in this book he just really ticks me off!

I felt like he was just a jerk in this book, even though he probably wasn't wanting to be, and not thinking about Kate's feelings at all.  He was so nice and sweet in the first book and in this one, I am like "Whoa!" Is this the same guy?  

And then we get to meet the dreaded Persephone.

Yeah, I am still reeling from her attitude towards Kate.  If I were Kate, I would just poked her in the eyes.  That would have made me feel much better.  Yeah that might be childish, so what?  

I cried many times in this story, partially due to this little love triangle between Henry, Kate and Persephone but the plot was phenomenon!

Prepare yourself; there is a huge cliffhanger at the end and I am impatiently waiting for the next book.  *drums my fingers on the desk*

I just had to give this five hearts!