Tempting Danger by Eileen Wilks | A Combination of All My Favorite Series!

Tempting Danger by Eileen Wilks

World of the Lupi #1

First Published: 2004

Kindle

Adult, Urban Fantasy
Rating:

Re-Readability:

National bestselling author Eileen Wilks draws readers into a bold new world where the magical and mundane co-exist in an uneasy alliance--and a cop balanced on her own knife-edged struggle is their only hope against a cold-blooded killer.
Lily Yu is a San Diego police detective investigating a series of grisly murders that appear to be the work of a werewolf. To hunt down the killer, she must infiltrate the clans. Only one man can help her--a were named Rule Turner, a prince of the lupi, whose charismatic presence disturbs Lily. Rule has his own reasons for helping the investigation--reasons he doesn't want to share with Lily. Logic and honor demand she keep her distance, but the attraction between them is immediate and devastating-and beyond human reason. Now, in a race to fend off evil, Lily finds herself in uncharted territory, tested as never before, and at her back a man who she's not sure she can trust.

Once upon a time, a young girl by the name of Nitzan added a book by the name of Tempting Danger to her To Be Read list. And promptly forgot she ever did, or why. Years passed, and she saw the book discounted on the wonderful land of Kindle. She did not get it then, for the cover was not captivating enough. But the gods had other plans for Nitzan.

They urged her to organize her TBR and reduce it. And so, she stumbled upon the book again. Confused--why had she added it?--she read the synopsis and realized that it sounds just like the book for her. Hastily she returned to the land of kindle and got it.

Becuase it was simply meant to be.

It was obvious by the third chapter - Tempting Danger is a wonderful mix of some of my all time favorite series while not being a copy of those series, by no stretch of the imagination, it's simply something that makes me think of these things I love but is great on its own. So if you like the urban fantasies Kate Daniels and Mercy Thompson series, or the mystery In Death series, this book is THE one for you.

But let's get a little more in depth into this book review/recommendation. There are a few things I can tell you so you could make an informed decision whether to read this or not.

If you like your heroines kick-ass, determined, pragmatic, dry witted and very passionate about their job, you will love our main character Lily Yu. She's a young homicide detective who takes no one's shit. She is extremely intelligent, capable and rational. And her job means the world to her. Which is why she didn't count on any of this happening to her, but there you have it. Sometimes, shit happens. And when it does, you just have to deal with it.

If you like your heroes to be charming, confident and utterly devoted to their better half even when they never expected to love someone, you will love Rule. I know I did. Rule is basically a werewolf prince. So that means he is handsome as all get out, rich (kind of) and, naturally, has no shortage of women flock to him. Normally, that would make for a certain type of hero. BUT RULE IS NO JERK!

I know, I know, this is utterly shocking. I was blown-away, too! But this guy is just a sweetheart, even before he falls for the seasoned detective. And after he does... let's just say, he is the perfect blend of Alpha and devotion. Very rarely do I find a book boyfriend who is so inherently alpha, but uses barely any high handed maneuvers (though for no lack of worry and protectiveness) and listens to what his partner actually has to say... and agrees when she's right. Be ready to swoon boys, gals, and nonbinary pals! (Someone here may have been watching too much Thomas Sanders as she was typing this review...)

Now, clearly, I highly recommend the characters. But do I recommend the romance? I think it's fairly obvious I do. The romance hits both parties hard and unexpectedly, and there is the whole "soul mates" part of it. But unlike many novels that use this as a device to excuse insta love and forgo showing the reader the two are meant to be together, Wilks uses this as the catalyst to their falling in love process beginning.

Rule and Lily are forced together by an otherworldly being. Now they have to decide if they even like each other. Spoiler alert: yeah, they do. It's all so organic in the way they react to their predicament. They don't fall in love over night, but over time, forced to spend time together and eventually open up to each other, finding comfort in one another. IT'S GLORIOUS AF, OKAY?!

In fact, the romance is probably my favorite part of this novel, because it is the crux of it without overwhelming the story and plot.

Now, let's talk about the world, especially because I talked about Mercy Thompson and Kate Daniels before. You can definitely see some similarities, especially in the uneasy truce and bigotry between the human world and magical beings, but Wilks created a really intriguing beast with the way she blends those and adds the layer of realms with different rules and creations into the mix.

I can't wait to read more of this series, and I say that as someone who already read the next book just 'cause she couldn't help herself lol

Book Review: Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer

Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer

The Twilight Saga #3

First Published: 2007

Paperback

Young Adult, Fantasy

Rating:

"BELLA?"
Edward's soft voice came from behind me. I turned to see him spring lightly up the porch steps, his hair windblown from running. He pulled me into his arms at once, just like he had in the parking lot, and kissed me again.
This kiss frightened me. There was too much tension, too strong an edge to the way his lips crushed mine - like he was afraid we had only so much time left to us.
--
As Seattle is ravaged by a string of mysterious killings and a malicious vampire continues her quest for revenge, Bella once again finds herself surrounded by danger. In the midst of it all, she is forced to choose between her love for Edward and her friendship with Jacob - knowing that her decision has the potential to ignite the ageless struggle between vampire and werewolf. With her graduation quickly approaching, Bella has one more decision to make: life or death. But which is which?
Readers captivated by Twilight and New Moon will eagerly devour Eclipse, the much-anticipated third book in Stephenie Meyer's riveting vampire love saga.

Edward's back, Bella is still dependent on others but in a less pathetic manner and all is well with the world again! Well, except.... we still have that annoying love triangle. 

Eclipse was a lot better than New Moon plot-wise, no contest, but that doesn't mean I didn't wish Jacob was erased from the equation. At the very least on the love front. I detest love-triangles. 90% of the time, they ruin my enjoyment of the romance in a book.

And in Eclipse it's especially grating, because Twilight started off as basically the ultimate love story between Edward and Bella. I was behind these two as a couple 100% in book one. But now, how do you expect me to believe they share a pure and deep love if Bella herself doesn't seem so sure of that? In fact, she is so unsure she falls for another guy!

Speaking of Bells, I hoped this book would redeem her to me. It doesn't. For a girl who gave up living when her boyfriend left she is very... fickle. Also, Eclipse emphasizes Bella's most defining feature - she is useless. In the first book, I admired her courage despite this. By the third book, I'm mostly exasperated that her only course of action is sacrifice.

Moving on to Edward. He's better than he was in New Moon, granted, but at this point I feel like I love him more out of loyalty than anything else. He's just so apathetic about this whole thing. His excuse is that he brought it on himself - which, yes, he did - but that doesn't mean you need to appear as if you don't care!

Despite Eclipse being one of my least favorite of the series, it contains one scene that never fails to give me such strong feels. I shall call it the Rejection Scene. Feel free to ask in the comment for explanation, but the bottom line is that it gets me in every way, and I just think that's magical. Even if it's hella painful.

Aside for this scene, my favorite parts of this novel were Rose and Jasper's background. Here are two characters that were always on the sideline, but they get the spotlight for a while and it's cool and it's awesome and it makes you love them so much more and understand them. Especially in the context of the next book ;)

New Moon by Stephenie Meyer | Book Review

SPOILER // SPOILER // SPOILER // SPOILER // SPOILER // SPOILER 

New Moon by Stephenie Meyer

The Twilight Saga #2

First Published: 2006

Paperback

Young Adult, Fantasy

Rating:

I knew we were both in mortal danger. Still, in that instant, I felt well. Whole. I could feel my heart racing in my chest, the blood pulsing hot and fast through my veins again. My lungs filled deep with the sweet scent that came off his skin. It was like there had never been any hole in my chest. I was perfect - not healed, but as if there had never been a wound in the first place.

THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS. TRIED TO WRITE IT WITHOUT IT BUT IT JUST DIDN'T WORK

I've previously mentioned the Twilight Saga is one of my favorite series, so this rating might come as a shock. To be completely honest, I really enjoyed New Moon the first... three times I read it or so. It wasn't until I was more versed with reading that all the issues I had with it sprang at me all of the sudden.

And once I realized all those things, I couldn't unknow it.

Because in terms of plot, this book would now make me throw it against the wall in a raging fit. Like, I'll be the first to protect the Twilight Saga - I still proudly admit to loving it, even when people scoff at me. But this book... This book...

Marked in Flesh by Anne Bishop | Book Review

Marked in Flesh by Anne Bishop
The Others #4
First Published: 2016
Kindle
Adult, Fantasy
Rating:

For centuries, the Others and humans have lived side by side in uneasy peace. But when humankind oversteps its bounds, the Others will have to decide how much humanity they’re willing to tolerate—both within themselves and within their community...
Since the Others allied themselves with the cassandra sangue, the fragile yet powerful human blood prophets who were being exploited by their own kind, the delicate dynamic between humans and Others changed. Some, like Simon Wolfgard, wolf shifter and leader of the Lakeside Courtyard, and blood prophet Meg Corbyn, see the new, closer companionship as beneficial—both personally and practically.
But not everyone is convinced. A group of radical humans is seeking to usurp land through a series of violent attacks on the Others. What they don’t realize is that there are older and more dangerous forces than shifters and vampires protecting the land that belongs to the Others—and those forces are willing to do whatever is necessary to protect what is theirs…

Well. That happened.

I cried. I laughed. I squealed like an anime girl spotting her favorite Senpai reading the same manga she loves. I bit my nails. I awwed and ewwwed. I can't even with all these emotions and feelings. 

Like, I don't know how to deal with this. This book was devastating to me. I came here to have fun and I honestly feel so attacked right now. I mean, I knew it will get bad. I knew the stakes are rising and we're going to get some really bad stuff.

But... like... I sobbed. Why did you have to do this to me? Why????

Aside for that, this book got my shipping vibes rolling. We all ship Meg and Simon, and by this point that particular ship is more an armada that contains every single living soul in the novels plus everyone reading them, BUT I was seeing so much potential for more hybrid couples (as I shall now call them) in this novel.

There's Toyla, for one, whom I can pair with a couple of lovely ladies, and I feel like Jesse mentioned Shelley meeting the right guy for a reason, and her fascination with vampires (I'm sorry, I can't pronounce their actual specie's name in this series, let alone remember how to write it...)   has to come into play somehow. I mean, so far Anne Bishop have used every "small" detail that shouldn't matter to her advantage and made it important.

Now, this book gets a four and a half star rating because a lot of time was invested outside the Lakeside Courtyard and with new characters. I liked all the newbies and I liked their story, and I definitely see the necessity of it as the books progress in scale - it's no longer about the fight of the Lakeside Courtyard, but that of the entire continent and then some - but they aren't the Lakeside Courtyard, and the Lakeside Courtyard is where my heart lies and always will lie.

Speaking of my heart...

Was I supposed to live through that last scene? Because I think I've died. Like, seriously. That was so worth it. It's been wonderful enough that everyone knows they're going to be mates at some point. By now, it's just a matter of time and even Meg and Simon acknowledge that in their inner monologues. BUT, to have a scene like this... 

All I can think about is getting my hands on book five. The last book.

Book Review: Written in Red by Anne Bishop (Favorites Extravaganza: Day #4)

2015 Favorites Extravaganza: Day #4

Written in Red by Anne Bishop
The Others #1
First Published: 2013
Paperback + kindle copy
Adult, Fantasy
Rating:

No one creates realms like "New York Times "bestselling author Anne Bishop. Now in a thrilling new fantasy series, enter a world inhabited by the Others, unearthly entities--vampires and shape-shifters among them--who rule the Earth and whose prey are humans.
As a "cassandra sangue," or blood prophet, Meg Corbyn can see the future when her skin is cut--a gift that feels more like a curse. Meg's Controller keeps her enslaved so he can have full access to her visions. But when she escapes, the only safe place Meg can hide is at the Lakeside Courtyard--a business district operated by the Others.
Shape-shifter Simon Wolfgard is reluctant to hire the stranger who inquires about the Human Liaison job. First, he senses she's keeping a secret, and second, she doesn't smell like human prey. Yet a stronger instinct propels him to give Meg the job. And when he learns the truth about Meg and that she's wanted by the government, he'll have to decide if she's worth the fight between humans and the Others that will surely follow.

I'm not even sure if I have enough words to describe the amazingness of this book.  But I'm sure going to try to, anyways. Don't ever say I don't love you!

Have you ever read a book so good you just... want to re-read it the moment you finish it? Like, you know you've got other books that need your attention, but you want to go back to these characters and world you almost don't care? You just crave to be there again? Written in Red is literally THAT book. I applaud my self discipline for not re-reading it again immediately. I did, however, re-read it a couple of months later. And just copying this review to Afterwords is making me itch to read it again this very moment.

Edit: I did end up re-reading the book after typing this... 

The world in Written in Red is so intricate and beyond incredible, both in the way it's built up throughout the book and the way it just is. It's all constructed slowly, sometimes between the lines, and so believably and seamlessly; from the mythology and the creation story, to the dynamics and the multiple povs.

A lot of books change the nature of the supernatural - they make them nice, cuddley pets. Vegetarians, or pacifist, or cultured and ethical, saying they're nothing like the legends to make the readers feel alright for liking them, for loving them even. I don't mind that, but it was incredibly refreshing to read a book that un-romanticizes the supernatural. 

That's right. Written in Red doesn't gloss over the reality of The Others. That is, they're the predators... and we're the prey. You're going to see your favorite characters kill, and they never hesitate about it. They never second guess. They never show remorse. And it's not going to make you love them less. If anything, you'll love them more for being so blatantly what they are. 

That said, they do... soften, throughout the book... thanks to Meg.

Meg's the girl on the cover--though that's hardly how I imagine her. She's the human that starts to change things. She's running from something (and trust me, it's way creepy and way worth discovering on your own when you read it), and to escape, she applies for the job of the human Liaison at the Lakeside courtyard, where human laws do not apply.

Throughout her stay, she wins over both the humans and Others at the courtyard, with her kindness and innocence that kind of clash with her spunk and bravery (which she shows even in the face of the Big Bad Wolves). And she just may be the bridge to create a different world. Already, the Others who have met her start to show more... consideration to the useful humans they don't plan to eat.

Others like Simon, Meg's surly boss and the leader of the courtyard; Vlad (can you guess what creature he is?), Sam (cutest cub ever), Tess, Winter, Jester.... And all of these characters, while being so Other, are also so very lovable. I adore each and every one of them--even when they murder in cold blood!

And while I can't categorize this book as romance, there is a big enough hint of it to LET THE SHIPPING BEGIN!

Luckily, I'm pretty sure my ship is going to be cannon, and I am going to have SO much fun seeing it come to life!

And finally, I could not stop reading this book. Like, for reals. It's been a long time since a book managed to hold me prisoner like that--and it's not like the book was filled with excitement all the time (a huge part of it is day-to-day life). It didn't need that to keep me interested.

My message to you? Read this book. RIGHT NOW. Go, do it! you're not going to be sorry!