Storm Siren by Mary Christine Weber Review

Genre: Young Adult fantasy
Series: The Storm Siren Trilogy (Book 1)
Hardcover: 320 pages
Publisher: Thomas Nelson (August, 2014)
Language: English
ISBN-10:  1401690351
ISBN-13: 978-1401690359

“I raise my chin as the buyers stare. Yes. Look. You don’t want me. Because, eventually, accidentally, I will destroy you.”
As a slave in the war-weary kingdom of Faelen, seventeen-year-old Nym isn’t merely devoid of rights, her Elemental kind are only born male and always killed at birth—meaning, she shouldn’t even exist.

Standing on the auction block beneath smoke-drenched mountains, Nym faces her fifteenth sell. But when her hood is removed and her storm-summoning killing curse revealed, Nym is snatched up by a court advisor and given a choice: be trained as the weapon Faelen needs to win the war or be killed.

Choosing the former, Nym is unleashed into a world of politics, bizarre parties, and rumors of an evil more sinister than she’s being prepared to fight . . . not to mention the trainer whose dark secrets lie behind a mysterious ability to calm every lightning strike she summons.

But what if she doesn’t want to be the weapon they’ve all been waiting for?

Reviews "Readers who enjoyed Marissa Meyer's Cinder series will enjoy this fast-paced fantasy which combines an intriguing story line with as many twists and turns as a chapter of Game of Thrones!"--Dodie Owens, Editor, School Library Journal Teen
"Weber builds a fascinating and believable fantasy world. Inventive and entertaining." --Kirkus Reviews
 "Readers will easily find themselves captivated. The breathtaking surprise ending is nothing short of horrific, promising even more dark and bizarre adventures to come in the Storm Siren trilogy."--RT Book Reviews, 4 stars

The Fatal Tree -  http://www.amazon.com/Storm-Siren-Trilogy/dp/1401690343/
Author Website - http://www.maryweber.com/
Author Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/marychristineweber

My Review:
This was a great new world to read and learn about. The author has created unique characters and a unique setting. The idea of slavery is an old one, however the author had her own twist on how the slaves were sold and the payment method. I liked that the author included many personal dilemmas in the book, and they made me think about the choices that I would make in the same circumstances. I hate cliffhangers, and this book has a pretty big one. I really enjoyed the paranormal aspect of the book as well. I am giving this book a 4/5. I was given a copy to review via CSFF, however all opinions are my own.

Tour Participants:

Julie Bihn
Lauren Bombardier
Beckie Burnham
Vicky DealSharingAunt
George Duncan
April Erwin
Carol Gehringer
Victor Gentile
Ryan Heart
Timothy Hicks
Janeen Ippolito
Carol Keen
Emileigh Latham
Simone Lilly-Egerter
Jennette Mbewe
Shannon McDermott
Meagan @ Blooming with Books
Rebecca LuElla Miller
Joan Nienhuis
Nissa
Jalynn Patterson
Audrey Sauble
Chawna Schroeder
Jojo Sutis
Steve Trower
Phyllis Wheeler
Michelle R. Wood

The Safe Lands Rebels by Jill Williamson Book Review

Book three: Rebels (coming August 2014)

The remnant of Glenrock has been scattered. But they are not beaten yet.

The Safe Lands have long kept secret from their people what it means to be liberated. Mason and Omar are about to discover the truth.

Levi doesn’t want to give up on his brothers, but when Jemma is captured and becomes the Safe Lands new queen, Levi’s best option is to take up the role of The Owl that Omar began, leading the rebels in their quest to overthrow the government.

But will The Owl be enough to safe Jemma? Will Ciddah be able to deliver Shaylinn’s babies safely underground without the help of a surgeon? And will Mason be able to keep Omar from dying as they search for a way back?

If only they could unite their efforts, together they could expose the Safe Lands lies to the people. But if they fail, they will surely die.

Click here to order paperback on Amazon.com

Click here to order paperback on Barnesandnoble.com

Click here to order paperback from Christianbook.com

*Merlin’s Nightmare -  http://www.amazon.com/Rebels-Safe-Lands-Jill-Williamson/dp/0310735777/ 
Author Website - http://www.jillwilliamson.com/


Participation List

Julie Bihn Thomas Fletcher Booher Beckie Burnham Jeff Chapman Vicky DealSharingAunt April Erwin Carol Gehringer Victor Gentile Rebekah Gyger Jeremy Harder Jason Joyner Carol Keen Shannon McDermott Meagan @ Blooming with Books Melanie @ Christian Bookshelf Reviews Rebecca LuElla Miller Joan Nienhuis Nissa Writer Rani Audrey Sauble Chawna Schroeder Jojo Sutis Elizabeth Williams

My review;

I just finished reading The Safe Lands and I really found it to be interesting. Levi has not had an easy time.  He has to stand by and watch the sentencing of his brothers in public. How does he even know if they are dead? He has other problems to solve, Jemma. who is his wife has been taken and made a Queen of the enemy. He has to go undercover to save his people. Will he be able to do this or will they all die or be killed ? I give this book a 4/5. I was given this book for the purpose of a review and all opinions are my own.

The Warden and the Wolf King by Andrew Peterson Review

The Warden And The Wolf King—middle grade/young adult fantasy
Series: Wingfeather Saga (Book 4)
Hardcover 
Publisher: Rabbit Room Press (July 27, 2014) 
ISBN-10: 0988963256
*The Warden and the Wolf King -  http://www.amazon.com/Warden-Wolf-King-Wingfeather-Saga/dp/0988963256/ 
Author Website - http://wingfeathersaga.com/

My Review:
This is a great epic series and this book is a great finish. I loved the characters and they are children. What I liked most about them was that they were just trying to figure out who they were and where they fit in. I did not have the pleasure of reading the other books in this series. However I will be getting them. The sea dragons reminded me of mythology and I could tell that the author knows about writing. His is a musician and he is used to using his words to entertain. I recommend this for all ages. I am giving this book a 5/5. I was given a copy to review from CSFF, however all opinions are my own.


Participants:
Keanan Brand
Beckie Burnham
Pauline Creeden
Vicky DealSharingAunt
Carol Gehringer
Victor Gentile
Ryan Heart
Bruce Hennigan
Jason Joyner
Carol Keen
Krystine Kercher
Shannon McDermott
Meagan @ Blooming with Books
Rebecca LuElla Miller
Nissa
Writer Rani
Nathan Reimer
Chawna Schroeder
Jojo Sutis Rachel 
Starr Thomson
Shane Werlinger
Phyllis Wheeler

A Draw of Kings by Patrick W. Carr Review

ABOUT A Draw of Kings:

Title: A Draw of Kings (The Staff and the Sword #3)

Publication date: February 18, 2014

Publisher: Bethany House Publishers

Author: Patrick W. Carr

Link to the Tour Schedule:

http://www.chapter-by-chapter.com/tour-schedule-a-draw-of-kings-by-patrick-w-carr-presented-by-bethany-house-publishers/  

Their journey to Merakh should have made Errol and his companions heroes of the realm. Instead, much is changed on their return. In the wake of the king’s death, Duke Weir is ruling the country–and his intentions are to marry Adora to bring an heir.

With Errol and the others imprisoned and the identity of the rightful heir to the throne still hidden in secrecy, Illustra is on the verge of civil war–and at growing risk from the armies of Merakh and Morgol.

A dangerous mission to free Errol succeeds, but the dangers facing the kingdom are mounting with every passing moment. The barrier has fallen, ferals are swarming toward the land, and their enemies draw near. Will the revelation of Illustra’s next true king come in time or will all be lost?

Link to the first 40 pages of A Draw of Kings:

http://www.scribd.com/doc/196668146/A-Draw-of-Kings

Link to Goodreads:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18008074-a-draw-of-kings

Purchase Links:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | The Book Depository | IndieBound

ABOUT Patrick W. Carr:

Patrick Carr was born on an Air Force base in West Germany at the height of the cold war. He has been told this was not his fault. As an Air Force brat, he experienced a change in locale every three years until his father retired to Tennessee. Patrick saw more of the world on his own through a varied and somewhat eclectic education and work history. He graduated from Georgia Tech in 1984 and has worked as a draftsman at a nuclear plant, did design work for the Air Force, worked for a printing company, and consulted as an engineer. Patrick’s day gig for the last five years has been teaching high school math in Nashville, TN. He currently makes his home in Nashville with his wonderfully patient wife, Mary, and four sons he thinks are amazing: Patrick, Connor, Daniel, and Ethan. Sometime in the future he would like to be a jazz pianist. Patrick thinks writing about himself in the third person is kind of weird.

Author Links:  Website | Facebook | Goodreads

My Review;

I read one of the other books in this series and I was easily able to start this book and catch up with the characters. This book is about coming home and being unwelcome. Errol is ready to claim his victory when he is thrown into prison by the new King. Not only that but the king is claiming Errol's companion, Adora, as his bride and the future mother of his heirs. This is a great action packed book that is clean and very descriptive. I really enjoyed the friendships that were formed and what lengths the friends would go to to help each other. There are castle passage ways, sorcerers and so much more. I am giving this book a 4/5. I was given a copy to review, however all opinions are my own. 

Numb by John W. Otte Review

Save the girl…or his soul?

Crusader is numb. He feels neither emotion nor pain, a divine gift that allows him to be the Ministrix’s best assassin.

Whether it’s heretics from within or heathens from without, Crusader is the sword in the True Church’s hand. And if he remains obedient to his superiors, he will be able to let go of his guilt.

But then he’s ordered to kill Isolda Westin. It shouldn’t be a problem. A target is a target. When Crusader sees Isolda’s image, though, something strange happens. He experiences a moment of panic, a wave of emotions–the first he’s felt in as long as he can remember.

In that moment, he realizes he can’t fulfill his mission. He can’t kill Isolda Westin, even if it means he’ll be condemned as an enemy of the Ministrix.

Soon Crusader and Isolda are on the run. Will they be able to learn why the Ministrix wants Isolda dead? Or will they both soon face the harsh justice of the “True Church”?

http://www.amazon.com/Numb-John-W-Otte/dp/1935929992/ 

Reviews & Endorsements:

John Otte writes Numb with a powerful efficacy, weaving technical, emotional, and spiritual threads with incredible ease. I cannot remember the last time I devoured a book in a matter of hours—absolutely enthralling! Deep characters and otherworldly complexity contained that “magic” which brings about total immersion in the world’s complexities. Don’t blink—or skim—in Numb because you’ll miss amazing genius! ~ Ronie Kendig, Christy award winning author

Otte has seriously launched himself onto my list of favorite authors. His stories are deep and thought provoking while being fast paced and fun. The characters engage in struggles that sort of take our natural everyday struggles to the extremes to both teach and enthrall us. Otte clearly loves the genre he’s writing in and understand how to build a universe without getting bogged down in the details. In short, you simply cannot remain numb to Numb. The characters, the storylines, and the theme all converge to tell a great story with a compelling message. ~ Josh Olds, reviewer at Life Is Story

Accolades: Finalist for the 2014 Christy Awards

Available through: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Kobo

Check out more reader reviews at Goodreads.

John W. Otte leads a double life. By day, he’s a Lutheran minister, husband, 
and father of two. He graduated from Concordia University in St. Paul, Minnesota, 
with a theatre major, and then from Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri. By 
night, he writes unusual stories of geeky grace. He lives in South St. Paul, Minnesota, 
with his wife and two boys.
Author Website - http://johnwotte.com/

Contact: Use the Contact John
Books: Learn more about John’s books on his Books page.

My Review:

I could not put this book down. It followed me everywhere. It reminded me of The DaVinci code. There is a group of people in charge that use their power to twist the Bible into their own "religion" They kill people that interfere and go against their rules. I loved that this book was set in the future and at one point they "traveled" past Earth. There was also a lot of technology and I would love to see what a parrot looks like. This book met my mystery goals for a book and my science fiction goals. There is so much more to the book. At it's core it is about a man that feels nothing and does not remember his past. He has no idea who he was, or why he is who he is. The action in the book was also really descriptive and I could imagine the bullets and weapons as they were used. 
Isolda changes Crusader (he doesn't even know his own name). She makes him feel something, and she looks strangely familiar. They are on the run trying to escape the Ministrix and their peons. However it is a battle of wills and the need for survival make people do anything. Friends become enemies, and strangers become comrades. I could not believe who back stabbed them and I could not believe who Crusader was and why he became the Crusader. The author uses a lot of background to fill in the gaps, but it is told by a third party and I felt like I was hearing it with the characters. I was as shocked as them. I am giving this book a 5/5. I was given a copy to review, however all opinions are my own. I highly recommend this book. I can not wait to read more from this author.

Read More about the Book Here:

Julie Bihn
Jennifer Bogart Keanan Brand
Beckie Burnham
Pauline Creeden
Vicky DealSharingAunt
Carol Gehringer
Victor Gentile
Rebekah Gyger
Nikole Hahn
Jason Joyner
Carol Keen
Emileigh Latham
Rebekah Loper
Jennette Mbewe
Amber McCallister
Shannon McDermott
Shannon McNear
Meagan @ Blooming with Books
Rebecca LuElla Miller
Joan Nienhuis
Nissa
Faye Oygard
Writer Rani
Nathan Reimer
Jojo Sutis
Rachel Starr Thomson
Steve Trower
Shane Werlinger
Phyllis Wheeler
Nicole White

One Realm Beyond by Donita K. Paul Review

"Cantor D'Ahma has waited his whole life for this day. Born with a gift, the young Realm Walker is finally ready to leave his elderly mentor and accept his role as protector and defender of the realms. But mere hours after he first steps through a portal, Cantor discovers that his job will be more dangerous and difficult than he ever imagined. The realms are not as safe as they once were, and members of the Realm Walkers Guild have become corrupt and can no longer be trusted. To make matters worse, his first assignment---finding a dragon to assist him on his quest---has led him to one who is clearly inept.  With the help of his new friends Bixby and Dukmee, Cantor must uncover the secrets of the corrupt Guild before they become too powerful to be stopped. But can his skills progress in time? And will Cantor remember where his true allegiance lies?" Read the first chapter here! Realm Walkers takes place in a brand new world woven together with a sci-fi/steampunk flair. The first book, One Realm Beyond, is now in stores! Order now from these sellers! Amazon.com | Barnes and Noble | Christian Books

My Review:

This was a nice change of reading material for me. It was Steampunk, and Christian at the same time. I really enjoyed that Cantor doubted himself, like most people do, and that his road was not an easy one. The realm walking was interesting and the author did a great job of explaining the new realms. I liked that Cantor could see into the portals before going through them. My favorite part was the poem at the end. I also enjoyed the addition of dragons. This is the first book in a trilogy. I am giving this book a 4/5. I was given a copy by CSFF, however all opinions are my own.

Check out the other stops on the tour below.

Julie Bihn
Keanan Brand
Beckie Burnham
Mike Coville
Pauline Creeden
Vicky DealSharingAunt
Carol Gehringer
Rebekah Gyger
Janeen Ippolito
Jason Joyner
Carol Keen
Krystine Kercher
Emileigh Latham
Jennette Mbewe
Shannon McDermott
Meagan @ Blooming with Books
Melanie @ Christian Bookshelf Reviews
Rebecca LuElla Miller
Joan Nienhuis
Nissa
Donita K. Paul
Audrey Sauble
Chawna Schroeder
James Somers
Jojo Sutis
Jessica Thomas
Steve Trower
Shane Werlinger
Jill Williamson
Deborah Wilson