Review: Shadow's Son - Jon Sprunk + I am being interviewed ->

Series: Shadow Saga 1
Genre: Fantasy
Pages: 280
Published: 2010

In the holy city of Othir, treachery and corruption lurk at the end of every street, just the place for a freelance assassin with no loyalties and few scruples.

Caim makes his living on the edge of a blade, but when a routine job goes south, he is thrust into the middle of an insidious plot. Pitted against crooked lawmen, rival killers, and sorcery from the Other Side, his only allies are Josephine, the socialite daughter of his last victim, and Kit, a guardian spirit no one else can see. But in this fight for his life, Caim only trusts his knives and his instincts, but they won't be enough when his quest for justice leads him from Othir's hazardous back alleys to its shining corridors of power. To unmask a conspiracy at the heart of the empire, he must claim his birthright as the Shadow's Son . . .

My thoughts:

This was the start to a new fantasy series and I was soon caught up in the intrigues. I even wanted to look at the end, but I managed to keep myself in check. But I tell you, it was hard!

Caim is an assassin. Yes he kills for money and he does not have a problem with it. Up until he saves a young woman who thinks he killed her father. Poor Caim is in the middle of a big plot and everyone is gunning for him. What can I say, I have a weak spot for thieves and assassins in fantasy books. And Caim is a good man when it comes down to it. He is just driven by revenge and he has lived a harsh life. Of course I liked him at once.

Other characters are Josey, the daughter of a murdered nobleman and Caim's friend Kit who no one else can see and who hovers around like a ghost. She was a bit of a comedic relief in a way as they bickered. Then we have the bad guys and I will not say more other than the bad guys are really evil. And I want to go and kick some ass. *gives the bad guys the evil eye*

Intrigues, I liked that. What was going on? Who wanted who dead? And then when I knew the plot, could Josey and Caim get out of it alive? It came to the point where I no longer could put the book down.

It did not end with a cliffhanger but with a nice enough ending and yes with questions. Like the shadows he can command.

Conclusion:
A good solid start to this series. I will read book 2, and I am very glad that I have book 2 ready since I want more. 

Rating:

Recommended

Cover:

Nice, I like hoods, lol 

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Simcha over at SFF Chat is celebrating her blogaversary and I am being interviewed :D So come on over and say hello (she got a contest too in another post ;) And she is so nice and has excellent taste in books 

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Review: A bitch named Karma - Stephanie Haefner + I am guestblogging

Genre: Romance, chick-lit
Pages: 164
Published: 2010
Review by Lis

Karma may be a bitch, but sometimes she knows what she’s doing.

When author Lexi Marshall’s perfectly fabulous life of designer clothes, nights on the town with her sexy boyfriend, and a successful writing career literally go up in flames, she must take on Karma and fight to gain control over her life.

Lexi believes her cliché-filled novels are the reason for Karma’s wrath and after a high calorie pity party, she’s determined to rebuild her life to what it once was...that is, until her gynecologist utters a phrase she never expected or wanted to hear: she’s pregnant. Unfortunately, the father is her fresh out-of-the-closet best friend and not the new man in her life.

B. really does know what kinda books she sends to me. Once again I was surprised at the book. The blurb reads like one of the many many many romance books out there with a main character in a bind and pregnant and out on the market for a baby daddy. Furthermore I thought that the blurb didn't match the cover. Yes, I told you I'm shallow right? I like me pretty covers and this one is a bit standard. No, now worries, this is not going to be a bitch review.

For the first part of the book or so, I found the main character, Lexi, a shallow, self obsessed, airheaded bitch. Yes, I know not nice. This is why I only read very very few romances with women in the lead. So for the first part I was pretty much raising my eyebrow at various instances along with rolling my eyes and sighing.

But it gets better. A lot better, in fact. It turns out that Karma can teach this woman something and sometimes you just need to hit rock bottom to know something has to give even if that is you.
So I quite enjoyed the second part of the book along with the support cast that make this story so much richer. Though at parts it really sucked to be Lexi. I mean, I would cringe if I found out my best friend was gay after I slept with him and then to learn you're pregnant. Ouch.

There are several more instances that made my cringe in sympathy, but it was good to read that Lexi could change, grow and learn. She is a strong-minded woman. One that could accomplish anything if she put her mind to it. I liked that a lot, because I just hate characters that give up and wait for a man to rescue them!

The writing is funny and witty and that is something I enjoyed more than the story. While this might not really have been my thing – and really, this book had the unfortunate timing of being read just after I read a wicked awesome book by one of my favorite authors – it is not a bad read. I can really recommend it if you looking for a breezy, amusing but serious contemporary romance read.

LIS

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