Review: Aquila; From The Darkness by T.L. Searle

Title: Aquila; From The Darkness
Author: T.L. Searle
Release Date: 12th September 2013
Publisher: self-published
Find on: Goodreads

Blurb: Seventeen year old Aqua Vickers lives a secluded life in the English countryside. She keeps herself that way, hiding in plain sight, out of fear. She has no idea where she came from or what she is, she just knows she isn't human. Her mother is convinced she's an angel, but does having wings make you an angel? Sharp, angular and intimidating black wings?

The only other person Aqua has let into her life is Aaron, her best friend. They've grown up together, shared every milestone and Aqua's feelings for him have developed into something more. In a moment of impulse, Aqua revels her true nature. Aaron freaks, hurting Aqua so badly that she flees into the night.

Lucas has been watching and waiting. As an Angeli Tail it is his job to be a spy; and he's been ordered to watch Aqua. Lost and vulnerable above the clouds, Aqua is reaching exhaustion. When Lucas offers her the answers she seeks, she follows him impulsively.

In a city, carved into the rock of a mountain, Aqua discovers she's not as alone as she thought; and her life has been rooted on a bed of lies and deception. In her absence, her home is attacked and her mother taken. With this new enemy intent on her capture and new family who aren't all welcoming, Aqua must integrate and train with the Angeli Guard if she has any hope of rescuing her mother from the hands of the Dragone.

The Angeli Guard Master is unforgiving and ruthless, allowing Aqua little rest from his relentless and painful training exercises. Aqua can barely stand to look at him, but can't seem to exterminate the butterflies she feels when he's around.

War is coming but Aqua's battles may need to be fought closer to home.

Detailed Review: 

< ebook copy provided by the author herself >

OK, when I started this book, honestly I was kinda irked by the short sentences. I mean it is good to keep your sentences short and informative but it felt like the character was shortlived and out of breath most of the time. It made me feel...'irked' because I didn't really see an importance within the main character due to the short off writing and it made me think of her as a side character. 

The writing is good, pretty neat and sparkly, nothing wrong but I guess you could say that it was quite well done to the point of perfection but it lost it's touch. You know the writer's feel within the words like there is something that makes this book the author herself. Do you get what I'm trying to say? It lost it's authenticity or it's feel of being the author's work, a little evidence here and there that sprinkles the author into the pages.

But anyhow, the story of Aqua is quite interesting and how she has come to know that she has these black wings and how she confronts them to her best friend who rejects it ultimately. It was such a crushing feat to Aqua. But I do love the character style that the author's drawn up. She's really put a little bit of personality for the characters throughout the story. When Lucas came in, I was like "Seriously?" Yes, the Lucas character was unsettling, totally bleh to me. The moment he came in, I disliked him. It was this feeling in my gut that definitely spelled out 'H-A-T-E'. Have you ever felt that way about a character? Secretly, I prefer Aqua's dorky childhood best friend. 

There was only the occasional sarcasm that continued during the book and that held out the story's significance for Aqua. It helped to express more of her emotions and you could tell that she is quite sardonic with Lucas and somehow it has definitely pushed a lot of puncture points to enable the story have more personality. 

But what I especially love from this book was it's fantasy.  

I love how the author had created this world where humans evolved from birds and humans from mammals. I can actually picture a mountain full of characters with beautifully etched wings on their backs in different shades and how they each all signify a role within the story. It became so apparent that parts with Aqua discovering who and what she actually is was the main goal that made me consistently think about how these bird-human creatures called Avian /Angeli came into the story. 

Those parts made me very interested in these beings and invite a more original storyline that is hard to find as everyone is always looking for the usual vampires, werewolves, etc. instead of creating their own new species; that was one of the points that made me accept this request. 

In the 'book world', I think, many people are writing the same thing over and over again, it becomes overrated and quite boring. It typically makes me yawn whenever I pick up a book with the same storyline, same characters, same setting but otherwise this story has something different. 

It has imagination. 

Brief Review: A truly transcendent fantasised reality that made me enjoy it's telescopic world of evolutionary winged human beings. Searle, has created a book full of wonderful creatures and the coinciding fate of one Angeli who still believes in humans. 

Final Rating: 4/5    "Really Liked It"

Reviewer:

Blog Tour + Review: The Girl from the Well by Rin Chupeco

Today we are a tour stop for Rin Chupeco's The Girl from the Well blog tour!!!

Read on for Elicia's review of the YA horror novel.

The Girl from The Well  ●  Author: Rin Chupeco

Sourcebooks Fire ● August 5, 2014 ● ISBN: 9781402292187

Hardcover/$16.99 U.S. ● Ages 14+

The Ring meets The Exorcist in this haunting and lyrical reimagining of the Japanese fable.

Okiku has wandered the world for hundreds of years, setting free the spirits of murdered children. Wherever there’s a monster hurting a child, her spirit is there to deliver punishment. Such is her existence, until the day she discovers a troubled American teenager named Tark and the dangerous demon that writhes beneath his skin, trapped by a series of intricate tattoos. Tark needs to be freed, but there is one problem—if the demon dies, so does its host.

With the vigilante spirit Okiku as his guide, Tark is drawn deep into a dark world of sinister doll rituals and Shinto exorcisms that will take him far from American suburbia to the remote valleys and shrines of Japan. Can Okiku protect him from the demon within or will her presence bring more harm? The answer lies in the depths of a long-forgotten well

Detailed Review:  *I received an ARC copy of this book via NetGalley from the publisher in exchange for my honest feedback*

Something you should know firsthand: I actually requested this book in NetGalley because it had something to do with Japan.

The fact that I had just finished reading Amanda Sun's Rain at that time was another contribution to my decision, what with it being set in Japan and the rich culture within the country.

But honestly, I would still have requested for this book regardless because a) The story is really intriguing and b) Look at that cover, just look at it. Perfection to the eyes. I could look at it all day long.

Basically, The Girl from the Well tells a story of a boy who is quite unusual, and has a secret that could put him in an asylum, like his mom. Okiku and his cousin Callie may be the only ones to help Tark as he slowly loses control to the evil spirit that lives within him. 

This book is not usually what I would read, because it has a strong sense of horror in it, and I being quite- ahem- afraid of ghosts, would not pick up books like this.

I do not regret my decision. The book scared me, especially when the narrator is a ghost from an ancient ghost story, and she kills people who murder kids in the most gruesome ways. 

But I am proud to have finished reading the book. 

The book was really graphic, with the author describing death scenes without missing any detail, even the bloodiest ones. I really admire Chupeco for being so forthcoming with these details. God knows what goes on in her head when she writes. *wince*

What intrigued me the most though, was the relationship between Okiku and Tark. It's almost like there's romance between them, but there seems to be no show of it through anything physical, possibly except the ending.

I'm still left wondering if this book has romance in it, but I guess it really depends on the reader.

However, let me make something clear.

You don't really need romance to make a YA book good. It would surely score points, but it would be incredibly boring if every single YA novel had romance inside them (not that I mind, but sometimes it would be good to have something unique once in a while)

The Girl from the Well is proof of that.

The characters... They were awesome. I can't find any other word to describe them. They each have their own secrets and backgrounds that they enrich the book itself, making it even more vibrant. Do I even make sense? Think of a beautiful painting that stands out among a collection of many others.

All the characters are related to each other in the most unexpected ways. And this usually results in twists.

Okiku's obsession with counting and her sometimes third-person narration makes her a very unique character. Her character is unusual but, I think that gives the story more depth. If someone is so easy to read, where's the fun?

I also think Okiku isn't just a unique character, I think she also deserved the title for heroine, even though she was a strange type of heroine. She did save Tark's life.

Now when I speak of twists, which I know all readers dread and love, you will not be disappointed. You will get the  I-can't-believe-this-is-true feeling as you wade through the book.

And many thanks to the author for making dolls really creepy. I think every time I look at one, I'll start thinking that there's an evil spirit residing in there...

BEWARE: The ending is one you are not prepared for, not now or ever.

Brief Review: Ghosts, exorcisms, demon and death- what better things to have in a horror book? This author's love of ghosts is obvious in her writing and characters. She doesn't hold back in her descriptions; no matter how bloody they are, she moves on with a grim determination which could be entertaining at times and adds to the climax of the book. All I can say is that the author's writing really flourished in this book. She has already made me re-consider my decision to not pick up any horror books in the future!

Final Rating: 5/5 'Totally Amazing!'

QUOTE: 

The life of the dead is placed in the memory of the living---Marcus Tullius Cicero

Your Reviewer:

Praise for The Girl From the Well:

“[A] Stephen King–like horror story…A chilling, bloody ghost story that resonates.” –Kirkus Reviews

“Chupeco makes a powerful debut with this unsettling ghost story…told in a marvelously disjointed fashion from Okiku’s numbers-obsessed point of view, this story unfolds with creepy imagery and an intimate appreciation for Japanese horror, myth, and legend.” –Publishers Weekly, STARRED

“The Girl from the Well is part The Ring, part The Grudge and part The Exorcist…A fantastically creepy story sure to keep readers up at night… Okiku is one of the most interesting YA characters to date.” RT Book Reviews,  4 ½ STARS-TOP PICK!

“A dark novel that will appeal to horror fans, lovers of Elizabeth Scott’s ‘Living Dead Girl.’” –School Library Journal

About Rin Chupeco: Despite uncanny resemblances to Japanese revenants, Rin Chupeco has always maintained her sense of humor. Raised in Manila, Philippines, she keeps four pets: a dog, two birds, and a husband. She’s been a technical writer and travel blogger, but now makes things up for a living. The Girl from the Well is her debut novel. Connect with Rin at www.rinchupeco.com

ARC Review: Sweet Unrest by Lisa Maxwell

Title: Sweet Unrest
Author: Lisa Maxwell
Release Date: 8th October 2014
Publisher: Flux
Find on: Goodreads

Quick Review: Lucy Aimes has always been practical. But try as she might, she can’t come up with a logical explanation for the recurring dreams that have always haunted her. Dark dreams. Dreams of a long-ago place filled with people she shouldn’t know…but does.

When her family moves to a New Orleans plantation, Lucy’s dreams become more intense, and her search for answers draws her reluctantly into the old city’s world of Voodoo and mysticism. There, Lucy finds Alex, a mysterious boy who behaves as if they’ve known each other forever. Lucy knows Alex is hiding something, and her rational side doesn’t want to be drawn to him. But she is.

As she tries to uncover Alex’s secrets, a killer strikes close to home, and Lucy finds herself ensnared in a century-old vendetta. With the lives of everyone she loves in danger, Lucy will have to unravel the mystery of her dreams before it all comes to a deadly finish.

Detailed Review:  <<I received a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review>>

When I read that first sentence, it didn't prepare me for what was due to come. Even countless re-readings of the synopsis didn't help soften the blows this book dealt me.

One thing was obvious though: this was about reincarnation and Voodoo. I already knew that from my first glimpse of the synopsis. 

How these two elements came together though, was a different story. I twisted my mind in every way to see how the pieces fit into the puzzle, but I couldn't figure it out. Not as well as Maxwell, anyway. 

Everything is not a coincidence in this book; it is all planned out from the start. This is what a really good book needs: some prior planning before plunging into writing and some significant character development (especially the main characters) throughout the book.

Sweet Unrest had both. That means that it's a really good book. 

Honestly, I didn't expect this book to be this good, because there was quite an ordinary first line and first paragraph (I judge books by first lines and paragraphs), not enough to capture someone's fancy for long.

Until you read the end of the prologue. That's when it sparks your interest. 

My sole advice when reading this book is to read on-yes, even when you're bored- because you'll always discover something at each turn of the page. You wouldn't want to miss any of it.

I'm talking about the plot twists here. There are a few. Fair warning: they're not light ones; they pack a punch. 

The characters had interesting developments throughout the book, but that was one of the plot twists (hopefully that's not considered a spoiler)

This book had a considerable amount of fear factor in it, because it's Voodoo. Yet, the author does mention that it's not all bad, the story itself does highlight that the art can be used for ulterior motives.

The romance between Alex and Lucy was certainly great, but I thought more attention could be given to their relationship in the present, not in the past. This did somehow make the romance seem slightly unnatural, despite the fact that they have met each other in a different life at a different time.

But... Everything other than that was great.

The writing in this book is straight to the point, though Maxwell loves leading you off the safe path to dark places, so beware... She even likes to include some meaningful musings about life (ahhhhhhh). 

Another point scorer is the author's inclusion of family. She emphasis throughout the book how important family really is. I just loved Lucy's brother, T.J. He is the absolute cutest. And the prologue even mentioned her parents and how they met (that's actually quite interesting but nothing compared to the rest of the story)

Did I mention that I swooned when I read that Alex had a French accent (OMG THAT IS HOT) and that his full name was Alexandre Jourdain (double OMG)? French guys are seriously the best.

The ending wasn't a cliffhanger, but honestly it was still as heartbreaking as if there was a cliffhanger. You get what I mean. But it was good though, in a way that it gives your imagination full reign of what will happen to the characters in the future. It isn't just restricted by what the author gives you, it's up to you what happens. That's what I liked the most.

Brief Review: Maxwell successfully fits two very different elements together into a well-written book. She gives Voodoo a near insight- she transforms the art into something beautiful and horrifying at the same time. She not only does it with talent; she does it with amazing characters and storytelling on her part. I must say that Sweet Unrest will most definitely clear a path for the author to start of her writing career!!!

Final Rating: 4/5 'Really Liked It!'

QUOTE: 

This somehow reminded me of Alex and Lucy's first meeting in Le Ciel

Sometimes the heart sees what is invisible to the eye---H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

Your Reviewer:

ARC Review: Rain by Amanda Sun

Title: Rain (The Paper Gods #2)
Author: Amanda Sun
Release Date: 24th June 2013
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Find on: Goodreads, Amazon

Quick Review: American Katie Green has decided to stay in Japan. She's started to build a life in the city of Shizuoka, and she can't imagine leaving behind her friends, her aunt and especially Tomohiro, the guy she's fallen in love with. But her return is not as simple as she thought. She's flunking out of Japanese school and committing cultural faux pas wherever she goes. Tomohiro is also struggling—as a Kami, his connection to the ancient gods of Japan and his power to bring drawings to life have begun to spiral out of control.

When Tomo decides to stop drawing, the ink finds other ways to seep into his life—blackouts, threatening messages and the appearance of unexplained sketches. Unsure how to help Tomo, Katie turns to an unexpected source for help—Jun, her former friend and a Kami with an agenda of his own. But is Jun really the ally he claims to be? In order to save themselves, Katie and Tomohiro must unravel the truth about Tomo's dark ancestry, as well as Katie's, and confront one of the darkest gods in Japanese legend.

Detailed Review: I have that urge to re-read this book again. And I just finished reading it a few hours ago.

Have you ever had a book that made a huge impact on you and you can's stop thinking about it? Rain was one of these books. 

The characters themselves, the culture, the story, the setting. Everything begs to be re-lived again. And it was so hard to move on from Rain.

Maybe it was the characters, the romance between Tomo and Katie. I couldn't help but shiver most of the time when Tomo and Katie were together. And there was just that one time when I felt my heart break into two when they were almost torn from each other. 

Katie is one of the best heroines out there, living out of her comfort zone, and not backing down even when she's scared. She has a fighting spirit. And that's what kept her alive throughout the book. Not only does she have Tomo and his powers to worry about, she has to worry about being sent to international school as her vocabulary didn't meet expectations. But still, she worked hard and did everything she could to solve the problems.

Rain had the best character development, especially for Jun and Shiori. In this book, you see Jun's true colours when he loses control of his powers and reveals who he truly is. Shiori showed a huge change of character. We get to know her more in Rain as she starts making more appearances in the book. There's more to her soft and delicate appearance than she lets on. To be honest, I disliked her in this book (she was so MEAN to Katie I felt like killing her, and there was just one part where I got a feeling of satisfaction because she honestly deserved it).

Maybe it was the rich culture that pulled me in. I love Japan. I've been there twice and I loved it there. Japan is everything from fun to amazing to heaven. Reading Ink right before jumping into Rain only immersed me deeper into Japan's rich tradition and mythology. This book may even be one of the factors that make me love Japan even more. Besides, you get to learn Japanese while reading Rain. Kendo also makes my heart pound and blood heat because even when it doesn't seem like it, it plays a huge part in this book.

Maybe it was the story itself. It was made of so many layers. The top layer covered many more layers underneath, mostly secrets. Secrets about Jun's past and his true identity. Secrets about Tomo's loss of control over his powers. Secrets about Katie's ink. And you wouldn't want to miss a single thing about them.

But overall, I loved Rain as much as I loved Ink. It's definitely a great read if you want to read books in a different setting and culture. We read diverse books, right? 

If you missed my review on Ink, click HERE.

For our interview with the author, click HERE.

Brief Review: Amanda Sun, you are an amazing writer and storyteller. You have left a huge impact on me with your words and I can't begin to express my love for you for writing Rain. I can't tell you how often I think of Japan now after reading your book. Well-developed characters, complex storyline, a beautiful country with a rich culture is what makes this book as good as it was. I couldn't have asked for a better sequel to such an awesome book.

Final Rating: 5/5 'Totally Amazing!'

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Review: Dangerous Dream by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl

Title: Dangerous Dream

Authors: Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl

Release Date: 17th December 2013

Publisher: -

Find on: Goodreads

Quick Review: Catch up with Ethan, Lena, and Link as they finally graduate from high school and get ready to leave the small Southern town of Gatlin. But when Dark Caster Ridley makes an appearance, the sometime bad girl can't resist picking a fight with her sometime boyfriend, Link. Angry and rebellious as ever, Ridley ends up alone in New York City and becomes entangled in the dangerous underground Caster club scene, where the stakes are high and losers pay the ultimate price.

Where's a Linkubus when you need him?

Detailed Review: I received a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

First, I must say I loved The Caster Chronicles and to have another series related to it, is just awesome! Ridley's one of my favourite bad characters because of the fact that she actually has a vulnerable side to her that balances her bad-girl demeanour. Also knowing that she loves her cousin Lena makes me warm inside because it just proves the saying: 'In Darkness there is Light, and in Light there is Darkness'. 

The story starts from Ethan's point of view, during his graduation, and Ridley, as usual stirred up some trouble. I honestly love reading scenes like this! It's just so funny, watching girls like Emily and Savannah scream and react to Ridley's red lollipop charms. Then the story alternates between Link and Ridley's POVs.

And then the romance. I find the relationship between Link (Ethan's best friend) and Ridley very nerve-wracking sometimes, but that's the fun of it. Ridley always tries her best to put up her tough-girl exterior but then Link always manages to break through. It just fascinates me how much magic (magic more powerful than the magic of a Dark Caster) love can work on someone.

This book is actually giving you a brief look into the newest series related to Casters, Dangerous Creatures. It tells the beginning of a story where Ridley went too far and took a risk too many which could put the ones she loves and herself in danger. This series will definitely lead us deeper into the world of the Dark Casters than the Caster Chronicles ever could. 

And fair warning: there may be a love triangle coming at you. I could sense it while reading the last few chapters. There was a hot guy in the story.

P.S. You really should read The Caster Chronicles before starting this series so you know how the romance between and Link and Ridley started and fared throughout the series. Besides, it's a great series you shouldn't miss!

Brief Review: Once again, Stohl and Garcia didn't fail to impress me with this new series. My advice to you is... Read with caution. There may be Dark Casters ready to jump at you from the darkest corners. Ridley's not the only Dark one now. This series is not one you should miss if you loved the Caster Chronicles!

Final Rating: 5/5 'Totally Amazing!'












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Review: The Unseemly Education of Anne Merchant by Joanna Wiebe

Title: The Unseemly Education of Anne Merchant
Author: Joanna Wiebe
Release Date: 14th January 2014
Publisher: BenBella Books
Find on: Goodreads

Detailed Review: <<I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review>>

*There may be some mini spoilers*

This book blew me away. Honest-to-god blew me away. This wasn't anything I expected at all. There was no hint or warning beforehand that demons would come into this. 

Wiebe's story-writing kept my mind twisting and spinning that after finishing, my brain probably had the most hardcore workout it had ever had! Too many sudden twists. Too many in the last few chapters. Too many EVERYWHERE. I mean it, in the literal sense. This is not a hyperbole. 

I can seriously compare this book to a mind game. You can get frustrated, shocked, angry and sad from just reading this book. You really need plenty of rest after digesting so much. 

In the end though, you'll only have one thought in your head: WOW. That was good. It's the exact same feeling where you're in a race and you unexpectedly won. That exhilarating wow-I-can't-believe-I-made-it-through-that feeling.

It isn't just the twists, it's the story itself. It is so filled with creativity. I swear my mind must have broken down a few times from the abundance of creativity I encountered in Anne Merchant's story. It just makes me cry in shame as I admire Wiebe's imagination, which is so beautiful compared to mine. The concept that you need to become valedictorian to become alive again? Wow. And it's something so much more than that, as revealed in the ending? Double wow.

The characters themselves were as deep and complex as the story itself. Take Ben Zin for example. He seems willing to help Anne around the school but sometimes he just ignores her. And Pilot, he may look like the nicest guy in the school, with no PT and no wish to become valedictorian, there is something more than meets the eye about him.

The romance was very satisfying. Finger-licking satisfying. I can't wait for more of this swoon-worthy romance between Anne and... Take a guess.

I may not have ranted about this in my recent reviews, but once again I must, MUST, bring your attention to the ending, which wasn't an ending, more like THE CLIFFHANGER. I seriously felt like I was the one dangling off the cliff screaming NOOOOOOO and reaching out as the rest of the story become something intangible again, waiting to be continued by the scheming author behind this masterpiece.

Brief Review: Once again,  I must repeat, that this book unbelievably blew me away. The Unseemly Education of Anne Merchant combines horror, fantasy, action and romance all into one, together with the most complicated characters you could ever know and the most twisted twists that have the ability to make you throw up later, which is an impressive feat to be applauded. This book is certainly not a joy ride; it is a terrifying roller-coaster ride. But it's worth the read. The most logical thing you should be doing right now is add this book to your TBR shelf!

Final Rating: 5/5 'Totally Amazing!'

Your Reviewer:

ARC Review: From The Indie Side by ...

Title: From The Indie Side

Author(s): Michael Bunker, Sara Foster, Hugh Howey, Peter Cawdron, Jason Gurley, Ernie Lindsey, Kate Danley, Mel Hearse, Susan May, Anne Frasier, Kev Heritage and Brian Spangler

Release Date: 1st February 2014

Publisher: From The Indie Side Publishing

Find on: Goodreads

Quick Review: "From the Indie Side" is an exciting global anthology of short stories from award-winning independent authors. Including a wonderful story and foreword by HUGH HOWEY, New York Times bestselling author of Wool.

"When I read indie fiction, authenticity oozes from the page. Sample some unique and talented voices... sit back and enjoy the ride." Hugh Howey

"...it is a great book. It is one that you will want laying in the stack next to your bed or chair or sofa or desk - wherever you read - because you will want to read it over and over throughout the years." Michael Bunker, bestselling Amazon author of Wick and Kindle Worlds bestsellers.

Love, Loss, Courage, Hubris, REBELLION.

A man who remembers the future and a veteran haunted by his past. A witch ignorant of her powers and a vampire achingly aware of his emptiness. An unmaimed man, a cursed queen, a troubled marriage, a family just trying to survive. 

From an abandoned convent to a Martian classroom, an open-mic reading to a New Mexico mountaintop, these fantastical and imaginative tales will take you on a journey through impossible worlds, all-too-possible futures, and disquieting glimpses into the other side of reality.

Detailed Review: < ARC review received from the author(s) themselves >

I think the book was newly established form factor and I would say it would intrigue, inspire and puzzle many people who has read these stories. It's very interesting because I have read quite a few books similar to this type of form. Therefore I find this book and its stories are quite exciting. 

THE WINTER LANDS by Jason Gurley; A story about great courage and commitment. It's about a man who is called Jonathan Froestt; he lives a simple life in a small retirement apartment and he owns a small bookstore that is about to be demolished. During his lifetime, he has dedicated all his resources into developing a book. 

Jason Gurley (the author) has written such a significant and touching story that made me feel puzzled. It's probably because of the story within the story; a simple paradox that was effective enough to get me thinking. 

However the saddest part that I found while reading this book was that in the end of the story, he never gets to publish the book and gets driven in a ambulance. Well, you could only guess what happens next...

GOING GRAY by Brian Spangler; I found the second story intriguing and it showed me we can't control nature. The story is kinda plain however it developed a show of emotions and created an atmosphere about how technology can destroy or save us. 

Brian Spangler (author)'s style of writing is very in-depth and mysterious. It makes the readers wonder what comes next. I like how in the end they left a character called Emily and her brother in the shopping mall and leaving a cliffhanger. It definitely creates this situation about a sudden pause between the story and its writer. 

QUEEN JOANNA by Kate Danley; The style of Kate Danley's (author's) story was written with this dark and murky kind of atmosphere. The era of the story is set during the historical time of englishmen and their suits. The story mentioned about Bloody Queen Mary where she returns as a spirit to haunt Joanna. 

The story was quite dark and had this fearful atmosphere here and there. It made me think about the characters as demented souls. They were created deeply in thought. Completely devoid of love and fearful of death, Danley (author) actually had me interested with the cunning story. 

MOUTH BREATHERS by Hugh Howey; The scene is set where there is boy named Cort and he is from earth. One day he had to go to mars to live there. There is no explanation why he had to go there and it starts from some random day. However on that random day he meets a girl who i suspect he now likes.

Hugh Howey has written this in such a boring manner (SORRY) it basically talks about this boy in a school in mars that falls for this girl while he was playing with robots? Then he is in a car where he is talking to his mother that constantly checks on him throughout the day. I'm very sorry but this story had no purpose and lead to nowhere. It's interesting in the fact that it was set on mars and he explained how he had to breath but if it was set on theoretical earth it would just be any other day. Needs improvement. 

THE MAN WITH TWO LEGS by Ernie Lindsey; The Man With Two Legs was by far the most action-packed story and one of the most interesting story in this book. I've read this short story twice- because sometimes I didn't get where the story was going but it was one of the best page turners in my case. It made me think; this story, how being whole and perfect makes people with less envy. There was one major part of the story that made absolutely no sense and was not explained:

Why did this government take away a leg? For every single citizen?

Other than that everything was very good, I liked how the daughter of the head of security would destroy and plant a bomb in the main building and when Rowan turned sides; that really surprised me in every imaginable way because I saw Rowan as that saviour, the man who was the guardian angel of the chosen one or something of the sort. Overall in the end when the daughter (Meredith) of the head of security went to visit Cray (Main Character) and showed him her scars, it felt weird i didn't know if she wither hated the real world or loved it. She got scars and a destroyed ear yet she seemed so calm. Thats what i loved about this story. It leaves the wondering to you.

CIPHER by Sara Foster; Cipher is an amazing story about courage, innocence and stupidity. I loved it. Even if it somewhat made no sense that there was some random ex-military guy who had access to a bomb large and destructive enough to cause an EMP attack. A bomb that large is on the scale of a nuclear bomb. Thats the only thing that was weird about this story, but putting aside that fact, the story might have been somewhat possible. Everything explained itself and everything came up to par with my standards. When she traveled to her dad's house though and she couldn't find her way back? That was really dumb of her. But it is a story and as a story, i loved it. simply not possible but as a story, one of the best. 

MADE OF STARS by Anne Fraiser; This is the most beautiful short-story I have ever read in my entire life. Stories like this have been attempted before but this is by far the best I've read, never has such a story been incorporated into such a short story. Most stories that go along these lines usually are in books a thousand pages long. The fall, the chase, the heartache. How she describes what happens is so touching, it made me tear up. It talks about an immortal who has alove story with a mortal. I rarely like these kind of stories but this story really made me wonder whether in real life, is it possible? Everyday in our lives we past strangers who we feel we know and we sometimes feel what Lila has felt. A story like this can change a person, show them an insight into such a deep and meaningful subject. 

The story is so fragile yet it can create a sense of pity for the immortal how he tries to love her but cannot, watch how she grows old and such. I don't want to destroy the story or spoil it. Pick up the book and read it. It may break you or make you.

GYRE ~ WITCHERY by Kev Heritage; This story will intrigue you. At first i thought it was going to be some common story about the future and blah bla bla, but instead what i got was something much more different. I got a story that talked about what if the human race evolved into something so much more, something that alienated humankind and changed us. People usually associate the future to be full of technical advances,  a perfect society that overpopulates and cannot sustain itself. Well, This story fits the fact that it is really over populated until they take over other galaxies. However it seems as if technology has maybe moved backwards for humans. Interesting.  find his writing extremely effective and definitely good. The story is good and you should pick up the book to read this short story yourself. I don't think my words could describe the originality of this piece. So common but yet the way he wrote it made it uncommon. Something more special.

THE WAR VETERAN by Susan May; She never explained whether it was real. It was so unbelievably cool the way she described it. Susan May of course. She's one of the best writers in this book. Not the best but one of them. I loved this story, it made me feel that people can have courage, that cowards can change, even i can change. Never have i ever felt such an experience of war but this story was so immersive, i could feel the main character talking to me, it was an unrealistically amazing moment. The exhilaration and the emotions. The ending. All of it came toghether so well when the veteran sees the person and finally is able to hear what he really said. This story could be one of the best in the book. Just with the emotional wreckage war can display.

THE GREATER GOOD by Mel Hearse; This story is extremely hard to describe using my own words. Its so good, I don't really know how to explain it. The piece should be judged as you, as the reader should well, read it for yourself because reading this story will decide and help you understand. It's something that can't be told but can be read and experienced for yourself. 

I guess the story had felt fundamentally fulfilling that you gotta read it for yourself! 

REDOUBT by Michael Bunker; This was a short story, straight to the point but effective in english. I actually found this a tad bit boring, honestly I kept feeling like something was supposed to happen but nothing really did. It was a page turner, no doubt but i feel there was too much suspense until it felt saturized, by the end when they parted, I didn't feel much for this story.

THE MAN WHO REMEMBERED TODAY by Peter Cawdron; When people say "let's save the best for last" I do believe that phrase works here. This was the best short story in the book, hands down. I loved it so much I read it a countless amount of times hoping for it never to stop. This is the ultimate story I've ever read. Never missing out and providing the reader the amount of excitement he needs. THIS CANNOT BE REVIEWED. It's honestly one of the best short stories out there.

Brief Review: Pick the book up! It has the most diverse collection of short indie stories! It's a collection about beauty, love, darkness and destruction that combines into a anthology of priceless pieces. 

Final Rating: 4/5    "Liked it!"

QUOTE: 

'It is only in the world of objects that we have time and space and selves.' 

~ T. S. Elliot

Review: An Ice Princess Heart by Alivia Anders

Title: An Ice Princess Heart (A Shard of Ice Novella)

Author: Alivia Anders

Release Date: 28th October 2013

Publisher: Red Alice Press

Find on: Goodreads

Quick Review: When a string of men vanish without a trace along the coast of France, Lilix Morgan seeks to uncover the source of the mysterious deaths. Aided by four other immortal Originals, they comb the coast, only to find out the horrible dark truth; one of them is the culprit.

Detailed Review: This review might be short because An Ice Princess Heart is a novella that's 5 chapters long. But I do have lots of thoughts despite the book only having 5 chapters.

What striked me the most was the writing style Anders has. I haven't read any of her previous Illumine books (although I'd like to now), so this was my first experience of this author. I had seen great reviews and ratings on this book on Goodreads so I thought that I should give it a try.

And boy, was it worth it. I loved the author's descriptions that can somehow strike fear in your heart and make you connect with the characters no matter how short the book was. It's pure magic, I'm telling you.

The characters were awesome too. Arabella made a great villain in the book and I love how the author portrays her as a bitter and angry person most of the time. I also thought that giving her the ability to create fire is another ace to developing her character and personality. Lilix was a great heroine and I'd absolutely love to have her powers! I want to make it snow in Malaysia!

And down to the real deal, the story. The plot. It did seem simple to me, at first, but hindsight there are so many secrets to be uncovered as you progress more. These types of layered stories are usually what prompts me to give it a whopping 5 stars on the spot! 

But don't worry, I do still take the characters and writing style into account! If there's a great story with crappy characters, I absolutely won't give it a 5 star rating!

Brief Review: I think if you stripped the book and left its story bare without any outstanding characters or suitable writing style, I would never give it a such a high rating. But as such, this book earns it with it's descriptive writing style and interesting characters together with it's entrancing story. I don't think I've read a novella that is as enchanting as An Ice Princess Heart. I can't wait to read the next book, An Ice Princess Kiss!

Final Rating: 5/5 'Totally Amazing!'

QUOTE: This is what I imagine finding your True (your soulmate) would be like:

Sometimes the heart sees what is invisible to the eye---H, Jackson Brown, Jr

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