Tag: Vampires

🌟 Arc Review 🌟 Empire of the Vampire, Exclusive Sample, by Jay Kristoff

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Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for this incredible exclusive sample of the amazing Jay Kristoff’s new book, Empire of the Vampire!

Okay… oookkkaaaayy now…. I feel like this was the freaking best thing I’ve ever read and I only read the first 400 pages out of a little over 700 pages of this book. What do I say? How can I convince everyone reading my little review that this is a masterpiece? First, it’s Jay Kristoff… that’s point 1 in favor of this book. Second… Vampires. All kinds of Vampires! I’m serious, so many different Vampires happening here and honestly, what more do you need in your life? A home, food, clothing, job etc….. AND VAMPIRES!!!!

Literally sate your thirst by reading this book, obsessing possibly, and perhaps giving it a bite or two just to make sure these pages aren’t actually full of vampire blood that would make you immortal, incredibly sexy with amazing hair, and the ability of becoming simply a very cool person that everyone who sees you stops and stares, wondering Who is that gorgeous brilliant super intelligent person and how can I become their best friend?

Okay, so that’s actually just some bs if you can’t tell. This book centers on Gabriel. He is part vampire but is taught with others like him to fight and destroy the full blooded Vampires and the wretched(mindless creepers roaming and attacking innocents). They are taught all the skills to fight but really their biggest weapon is their faith in God which lights up the silver tattooed on their bodies that is quite destructive towards the Vampires.

The reader really meets Gabriel years later when he has somehow been caught by Vampires and the main thing he is going through is just telling his whole story to a chronicler (vampire) named Jean-Francois. This is really brilliant. The back and forth between these two mixed with Gabriel’s incredible story is simply hypnotizing in the sense, for me, that it kept me very interested and I did not want to stop reading…. (honestly if someone could just, you know, throw the last 300 pages In my direction that’d be really great…)

I do not want to go into anymore detail because I think the story should be shrouded in secrecy and mystery. If you order the book I suggest sitting in a dark cold room in a creaky chair and reading by the light of a single candle. Or, perhaps a comfy couch or chair with a blanket and pillows and a puppy or kitten curled up asleep in your lap. Just, whatever.

Obviously I recommend this! Collect your vials of blood and be prepared to stay up all night reading this awesome book!

Kingdom of the Wicked by Kerri Maniscalco, A Quick Review!

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Thank you Netgalley for this ARC! Wow, this ending! I have to read the next book as soon as possible! This is the perfect Halloween read. Maniscalco spins a tale about witches, demons (sexy demons!), even Vampires and werewolves. Join Emilia as she searches for her sister’s murderer and finds herself pulled deeper and deeper into dark magic and her families secrets. This was a thrilling ride and, like I said, I can’t wait for the next book!

The Bane Chronicles by Cassandra Clare, A Brief Review

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This was a joy to read. A brief look at the glamorous life of Magnus Bane. I need to say, if you are interested in reading this, definitely read The Mortal Instruments and The Infernal Devices series first! This answers some questions I had about Bane and it also helped me understand his character more. This book of short stories really made me like Bane as a person a lot more than I already did because I got to see him a little more clearly. I was able to see what really makes him who he is, and now I cant help but absolutely adore him! It proves that sometimes people need to simply understand each other and what makes us “people”. To try to understand, and when we understand each other we can see the whole person, not just the outfit or the glitter. And like people everywhere, there is much more to Magnus Bane than what is on the surface.

Thanks for reading my review and happy reading!!!

The Ruby Circle by Richelle Mead, A Review

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Adrian and Sydney! Married! But there are major issues impeding on their happiness and their ability to live a normal life. When this book begins, they are cloistered at the Moroi Court with Adrian’s mother. However, surprises occur and everything changes.

This has been a great follow up to Vampire Academy. I almost loved this more, particularly the very end. I am #teamadrian all the way and reading about him being this happy just made my heart swell with joy.

If you loved Vampire Academy then this is a must read series! Thanks for reading my review and happy reading!!

Silver Shadows, Bloodlines Series Book 5, by Richelle Mead, A Review

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This book drove me CRAZY!! It is so high energy the whole way through. Nonstop action that lasts till the last line in the book.

Sydney is captured by the evil Alchemists. At least, these particular Alchemists are super evil. When I started reading this, I honestly became really stressed out by the situations that Sydney and Adrian were in. Everything seemed so hopeless. However, I continued to read and I was not disappointed. Their strength and perseverance won through and helped me see the light at the end of all this darkness.

There are a few major surprises at the very end. Some are incredibly happy and, one in particular, well, I’ll find out when I finish this series soon. One thing is for sure, I am so happy I gave this series a go. If you loved Vampire Academy then this is a must read.

Thanks for reading my review and happy reading!!

The Fiery Heart by Richelle Mead, Bloodlines Book 4, A Review

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Richelle Mead!!! What have you done to me? I am in the big feels, the deep feelings of feels so much right now!! ADRIAN!! The Center will hold! I promise! Right? RIGHT??!!!

Wow, really though, I’m a mess after this book! Much of my “mess” feeling is because this book was not only told from Sydney’s POV but Adrian’s too. Technically, Sydney is still working with the Alchemists, although her eyes are now opened to their schemes. Her life has taken a new direction, a direction away from the hardcore rules and rigid beliefs of the Alchemists. Things are definitely complicated, especially with her little sister working with her now.

One thing that really blew my mind while reading this was the direction Mead took with Adrian and his use of Spirit and connecting it to mental health, particularly bipolar disorder. This was done so well. It is so similar to actual conditions that many people go through on a daily basis, medicated or not. I really respect this wise attention to these significant details.

I love this series! I highly recommend it! Thanks for reading my review and happy reading!!

The Indigo Spell by Richelle Mead, A Review

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This book was so perfect. Book three in the Bloodlines series and it really is not only making my Adrian and Sydney dreams come true but it adds in drama that totally complicates everything to keep the story going.

Sydney may want to avoid the Arcane but magic (and strange things) have a way of finding her. She is also stuck with the Vampires in her life, however, this is becoming less of a problem than maybe it should be for her Alchemist sensibilities.

Sydney has some mysteries to solve or at least look into. Some draw her in very far and put her in dangerous situations. She wants to know more about the elusive Marcus Finch, an ex-Alchemist. All of this leads her to further distrust her Alchemist partners for keeping things from her. She also has a loose and insidious witch to contend with which brings the level of danger she is in to whole new heights.

The ending of this book went from making me feel happy and elated to completely aggravated. I will just have to keep reading to see how Sydney Sage deals with a new issue, a very annoying issue in my opinion.

Thanks for reading my review and happy reading!!!

The Golden Lily by Richelle Mead, A Review

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Sydney Sage is a stickler for everything to be in perfect order. So, still, she finds herself feeling weird ferrying around Vampires. However, even Sydney is beginning to wonder who the real monsters are after the climactic ending of the first book in the Bloodlines Series. This includes confusion about everything her fellow Alchemists are a part of, including (definitely) Keith.

One thing that Sydney is really worried about is how the Alchemists vehemently disapprove of any of their members actually getting close to any Vampires. While she does truly feel uneasy around her Moroi charges, she is very much so on a friendly basis with them. The thing is, that if any of the higher up Alchemists found out just how friendly, she would be sent straight to the horrible Re-Education Center.

I think my favourite part of The Golden Lily is that Sydney actually (Surprise! Surprise!) gets a boyfriend. And the best part is that she is completely clueless about what to do, how to act and how to feel. This, even though Sydney tries looking it up in a book, unfortunately does not come with directions. Even better than all of this, is the end of the book which involves someone else… and a serious cliffhanger!

I highly recommend this series for lovers of Vampire Academy!! Thanks for reading my review and happy reading!!

Bloodlines by Richelle Mead, A Review

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This is the beginning of the follow up series to Vampire Academy, obviously entitled Bloodlines. (Which, by the way, this title takes on a much more significant meaning by the end of this first book).

Sydney is an alchemist and has a lot of experience working with Dhampir’s and Moroi closely. However, this hasn’t boded well for her after the insane events last summer ending the Vampire Academy series. She is currently on indefinite suspension. Yet, everything changes, and changes fast, when a new assignment comes up that only she can fulfill.

I like Sydney, she’s a very cool person… BUT, I do not like the overall Alchemist belief that all Moroi and Dhampir are wrong, as if they break the rules of what is natural and acceptable. I can see the point, because of course they do, but I just never like any kind of person being stigmatised for being different. (Except Strigoi, of course).

This book places Sydney very close to some Moroi and Dhampirs, testing her and challenging her beliefs. There is high school drama of the typical kind mixed right in with the more supernatural drama of strange attacks on Moroi. This book really has everything that I wanted and then some. I highly recommend this!

Thanks for reading my review and happy reading!!

Abigail Rath Versus Bloodsucking Fiends by Catherine Schaff-Stump, A Review

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Meet 13 year old Abigail Rath. Trust me when I say this young lady is your best bet against the countless forces of evil in this world. However, her parents are not so sure of her abilities, after all, they are professionals. She is trying to step out of their shadow, so when her best friend Vince comes to her with a possible case, Abigail seizes the opportunity. I love the emphasis on the information about monster hunting that can be gained from watching the countless amounts of horror movies available, b-rated or not. I am a huge fan of all horror movies (the good, the bad and the ugly) so this aspect of the book just made it so much fun for me. However, real life does not always mirror the movies when it comes to monster hunting, and in some very unexpected ways for Abby. So join Abigail as she hunts the supernatural while doing awesome things like skating rink limbo and interesting slumber parties.

Thanks for reading my review and happy reading!!