Book Review The Rest Falls Away

The Rest Falls Away by Colleen Gleason was the choice for March's Read with Ben Goodreads Group

I went into this story with high hopes; 19th Century London, vampire hunter, female protagonist...sounds great, right?

Well, unfortunately for me, I had too little interest in this one.  The concept is intriguing enough, but I never got even partially invested in the story or any of the characters.  None of the many possible love interests seemed appealing, and Victoria is annoying and contradictory (does she hate being paraded around or not?).  She accepted her fate with an unbelievable amount of grace.  She is either the most easy-going woman ever or I'm missing a part of the story.  

Does this world believe in vampires the way we do; as myth? Or do only some in the world think that way.  I mean, I want to believe vampires are real as much as the next nerd, but if I was told I was destined to be a vampire hunter and all the legends are true, I'd hit the bricks. But, then again, we don't even get to see her reaction if I remember correctly. We just jump right into the training. Did she know about this possibility beforehand? She seemed to know she had to go to her aunt because of the dreams, so how much was explained prior?

Then we have the whole no marrying, no lovers thing.  I thought that Kritanu-dude was the aunt's lover and she is a Venator (vampire hunter).  How does that work?  Plus, the bloodline is supposed to breed better vampire hunters and the skills are passed down.  How can that happen if they can't have a family?

There were too many plot holes. 

By the time I reached 100 pages, I started reading just the dialogue, but even that had me rolling my eyes until the end.

I did enjoy the aspect of different kinds of vampires, and thought this a nice addition to the otherwise Buffy-like vampires in this novel.


Sorry, but this one just wasn't for me.  I gave it 3 stars, simply because I finished it (which I did only because it was the Read with Ben pick).  Normally, I won't bother with any 1 or 2 star books.  If it gets this low, I wouldn't have finished it in the first place. 

Book Review Crown of Stones: Magic-Scars

Another recent finish is The Crown of Stones: Magic-Scars by C.L. Schneider.

Book 2 in The Crown of Stones trilogy, continues just about where book 1 left off. (I know...unheard of, right?)

Now, because this is a sequel, I don't want to go into any details of the current story, since anything I would say could be construed as a spoiler.  However, I'll link the Goodreads page here for those of you who want to learn more.

Just as the first, Magic-Scars is such a well-developed story.  Schneider has such a beautifully-descriptive writing style.  With only a few words, you're thrown right into Ian's--our main character--perspective and you're eager to suck in all the surrounding details.  I was fully invested in so many of the characters; whether I hated them and wanted so badly for them to kick it, or I was biting my fingers down to nubs because I was so terrified of the outcome.

I will admit, this--and the first, Magic-Price--is a very long story.  It could never be thought of as anything except High Fantasy, so you might anticipate a lot of dragging moments, but I only felt that once in the entire book and it was likely my own fault since I stretched it out over the entire month.  This book only just came out and I am in no way eager to wait for the final installment.

I've given this a 4 stars.  For fans of epic fantasy, particularly those who enjoy new magic outlooks, this is the book for you.

Book Review The Last Apprentice: Curse of the Bane

Recently finished The Last Apprentice: Curse of the Bane by Joseph Delaney

It takes place nearly six months into Thomas Ward's apprenticeship.  Learning a great deal, but still with so much information in a world of darkness, Tom is rapidly becoming what was promised to the Spook--the last apprentice he'll ever need.

After receiving some distressing news, Tom and the Spook must travel to the village Priestown.  The Spook uses this opportunity to finally get rid of a creature the Spook has been unable to dispose of in the past.  A creature called, The Bane.  But by going back to Priestown, they also put themselves too close to the High Quisitor, an evil man using those accused of witchcraft as a means to make him richer.  And, to the Quisitor, the Spook and any who follow him are the worst kind of warlock.

I enjoyed this one just as much as the first, perhaps even a little more so because the lack of the usual setup needed in a first book. The lore present in this world is so simple, but at the same time intricately done.  The many different kinds of existing witches and boggarts can go on indefinitely, and it's fun to go along with Tom as a sort of third-party apprentice.

One of my favorite aspects of the book is its ability to make me a little nervous.  I love when a book can make me afraid to turn out the lights, or send me running up the basement stairs for fear of being chased.

The relationship between the Spook and Tom is slowly growing.  While the Spook is still a stern grumpus, you can see him getting attached to Tom and the feeling appears mutual.  Tom looks up to the Spook, though you can see moments of defiance which add a bit of a father-son relationship.

I gave this book 4 stars, and would highly recommend this to a younger audience (13-17) who enjoy creepier moments while reading or those of us with a less mature reading palate.

February Wrap-up

I was actually very good in the month of February. I finished all the books planned! Well...maybe not all the books. As anticipated, I didn't complete A Dance with Dragons, but I'm okay with this just hanging out in my TBR pile for another few months. Let's just say that if I finish ADWD before 2016 I'll call that a win. I mean, it's not as though we can expect the next in the series to come out anytime soon...right?

Maybe I'll just have to start watching the show again in the meantime.  Darn HBO costing extra money...wah wah waaaah.

Aaaanyway...on to the wrap-up.

1. 

First off, I finished Gathering Darkness by Morgan Rhodes. This was...hmm...well, I did enjoy this novel. However, I felt a little bored toward the end. I know there are still, what (?), three more books to come out, but I think this series would be better as just a trilogy. I'm getting to the point where I just want this story to wrap up. I'm still invested in all of the characters--particularly Magnus--but it seems that the story is running a little thin by attempting to stretch it out into 6 books. Perhaps it was just this book and I will once again love the series after book 4. I will certainly be picking up all of the books, unless some unspeakable awful-ness happens, though I really doubt it could get to that point.

2. 

Next on the list was The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman.  This was a lovely story.  I feel that when I say lovely it sounds condescending, but I can think of no better way to describe this.  It was an excellent MG novel with such fun elements of darkness.

3. & 4. 

When I picked up Cinder by Marissa Meyer, I never anticipated how much I would desperately LOVE these books.  I can't even remember the last time I read a book that made me want to simultaneously fangirl scream and stay up late into the night reading and cover my face with a pillow to avoid the angst.  I wasn't planning on continuing on to Scarlet last month, but I could NOT wait any longer.  I told myself I could hold out until the fall when Winter comes out, but there was just no chance of that happening after I read Cinder.  Marissa Meyer is a genius and has quickly Lunar-hopped her way to a spot as one of my favorite authors.  I am so mad I waited so long to read these.  Based on a recommendation from a former co-worker, I've had this in my TBR pile for over a year.

5. 

The Keeper of the Wind by Mark Shaw was the book chosen for the Goodreads Indie Book Club for February.  Shaw is actually the founder of the #indiebooksbeseen movement and a great motivator for all things Indie.  Sadly, I didn't care for this novel as much as I'd hoped I would.  The story is interesting and the Native American history is fascinating, but I felt the execution was a little underdeveloped.  The dialogue felt a bit too awkward for a novel setting (Too much "Hi, how are you?" "Good, how are you?" and so on.), and there was a decent amount of story that didn't seem to have anything to do with the main plot-line.  Based on the reviews on Goodreads and Amazon, I am clearly in the minority here, but I guess this one just wasn't for me.

6. 

I had mixed feelings about The Nethergrim by Matthew Jobin.  The story was certainly entertaining and I will most definitely be picking up book 2 whenever it comes out, but the build up to the story dragged a bit and even when the "exciting" moment happened, there were still lulls in between that had me skimming until the next burst.  As I said, mixed feelings, however I would give this 3.5 stars, leaning closer to 4.

7. 

And finally, I completed The Last Apprentice: Revenge of the Witch by Joseph Delaney.  This is a great example of a novel with a long build up and larger breaks in between "exciting moments" done well.  Each chapter may not have had nail-biting scenes, but learning along with Thomas what it means to be the Spook is dark and terrifying and stomach-churning.






That's all there is for my February Wrap-up.  Hopefully, I can be just as good in March.

Until next time...I'm Looking Forward to finding another favorite author.

Ten Favorite Screen Characters

Thank you to Chess DeSalls for tagging me for this blog.  The idea is to name your 10 favorite movie/TV characters then tag up to 10 fellow bloggers.  I will certainly attempt to narrow down my favorite characters (some may coincide with favorite actors), though I'm not sure I could name two bloggers, let alone 10.  I'll just have to creep on those in the Goodreads Indie Book Club.

Here goes...


Tyrion Lanister, Game of Thrones, Peter Dinklage

This is a favorite for both TV and books.








The Joker, The Dark Knight, Heath Ledger

Gollum, LOtR Trilogy, Andy Serkis

George Baily, It's A Wonderful Life, Jimmy Stewart

Dr. Jean Grey, X-Men, Famke Janssen

I mean, come on! Bad ass, doctor, telekinetic abilities. What more could you want?












Christian, Moulin Rouge, Ewan McGregor

I couldn't even pick out a picture for this one; they were all so wonderful! How cool would it be just to sit and have lunch with freaking Ewan McGregor?






Sir James Matthew Barrie, Finding Neverland, Johnny Depp

Toothless, How to Train Your Dragon, (I couldn't find who did the few Toothless noises)

Pale Man, Pan's Labyrinth, Doug Jones

Bone-melting-ly terrifying and yet, brilliant.








Severus Snape, Harry Potter, Alan Rickman

The bravest man















This was difficult. I couldn't put these in any numerical order except posting them as they came into my head.  Plus, I had to limit myself to only one character from LOtR...and that stunk, but that list would have been a bit repetitive.  I wanted to make them all book-related as well, but there were just some I couldn't leave off the list.

I tag the following bloggers (sorry if you have already been chosen, and don't feel obligated to complete the tag):

C.L. Schneider

Keeley (I would say booktube counts for this tag...no? Let's spread the love to the booktube world.)

D. Nichole King

Roderick Davidson

Kelly Peterson

That was enough creeping to last me a while.  Anyone who happens to come across this and is not tagged, feel encouraged to list your favorite movie/TV characters on your blog.

Until next time...I'm Looking Forward to not being blocked by fellow Indie supporters for my momentary Goodreads stalking.

March TBR

I was so proud of myself for completing last month's TBR.  The only exception was Martin's Dance with Dragons, but I knew from the start I wouldn't finish that.  I'm still reading bits of that one at a time, so I'll just keep that on my perpetual TBR for the year 2015.  I anticipate completing it by July.

My inability to read this book quickly may give the appearance that I'm not enjoying the story, but I really am liking DwD. Martin's writing style takes a lot out of me, so I can usually only do chapters at a time.

This month will also be spent editing my third book, so I will be glad if I can get through half of the following list.  I am attempting to release book 3, THE CONQUEST by the end of June, so I still have a bit of time but I don't want the deadline* to creep up on me like it did last time.

Without further ado...

My March TBR:

Marissa Meyer, Cress

There is absolutely no way I could even try to hold this one off.  I was trying to pace these books, since the fourth doesn't come out until the fall, but they are just way too good.

Rachel Hartman, Seraphina

Been hearing so many great responses to this book.  And by the sounds of it, I will equally love this novel.

Chuck Palahniuk, Fight Club

I loved the movie, it goes to reason I'll enjoy the book even more.  Plus, this covers my attempt to read a book every month that isn't YA.  So far, I haven't been doing so well on that front.

Joseph Delaney, The Last Apprentice: Curse of the Bane

Sherry Thomas, The Elemental Trilogy; The Burning Sky

C.L. Schneider, The Crown of Stones: Magic-Scars

This is a fellow indie author. The first in this trilogy (?) was so good.  This is one of the two books for the Goodreads Indie Book Club in March.

Chess Desalls, The Call to Search Everywhen: Travel Glasses




Another fellow indie author and the second book for the GR Indie Book Club







Until next time...I'm Looking Forward to finding another book that keeps me from sleeping.

*I say deadline as though someone other than my imaginary agent has set me these parameters.

February Book Haul

February Book Haul.  Went a little crazy this month, but it doesn't feel so bad when it's done over the whole month.  I should really consider going on this book diet I keep hearing about...

Maybe next year.

I'll just jump right in.

John Green, The Fault in Our Stars

A.G. Howard, Splintered

Rachel Hartman, Seraphina

Marissa Meyer, Scarlet & Cress




If you haven't read these yet, do so right now.  I still have to read Cress & Fairest, but the others are sensational.

Joseph Delaney, The Last Apprentice Series books 2 (Curse of the Bane), 6 (Clash of the Demons), 13 (Fury of the Seventh Son)



I've been picking these up as they come into Half Price Books.  Right now I only have a few, but I seem to find a new one with every trip.  Too bad I also come out with an additional six books with every trip to the bookstore.

I've only read the first in the series so far and it is a fun story.  Not too challenging (I believe it's MG) and I love the growing relationship between the Spook and his apprentice.

Sally Green, Half Bad

Dr. Seuss, The Lorax



I picked this one up mainly to continue building my son's collection, though I have actually never read this one before.  I do love me some Seuss.

Brandon Sanderson, Mistborn: The Final Empire

Garth Nix, Sabriel

Tamora Pierce, Song of the Lioness Series books 1-4 (Alanna: The First Adventure, In the Hand of the Goddess, The Woman Who Rides Like a Man, Lioness Rampant)

J.A. White, The Thickety: A Path Begins

Gillian Flynn, Gone Girl



I'm going to make a prediction here...

I will un-haul this book before I ever read it.  Hopefully, by saying this, I'll prove myself wrong.

Kimberly McCreight, Reconstructing Amelia

Andrew Smith, Winger

Maria Semple, Where'd You Go, Bernadette

Christina L. Rozelle, The Treemakers



This is a fellow Indie Author's book I won during last year's Secret Santa Indie Book Giveaway.  Another one I'm hoping to pick up soon.

So, that's it for my February Book Haul. Let me know what books you've picked up recently or are planning to read soon.  Have any of you read any of those list above? What did you think?

Until next time...

I'm Looking Forward...to buying one less book next month.