Review: The Thief - Megan Whalen Turner

"I can steal anything." 

After Gen's bragging lands him in the king's prison, the chances of escape look slim. Then the king's scholar, the magus, needs the thief's skill for a seemingly impossible task - to steal a hidden treasure from another land. 

To the magus, Gen is just a tool. But Gen is a trickster and a survivor with a plan of his own.

Series: The Queen's Thief #1, Genre: Fantasy/YA, Pages: 280, Published: 2005 (1996), Publisher: EOS, Source: Library

My thoughts:

I had been hearing a lot about this and I was so curious so I told..ok asked the library to get it, and they did. I do have a great library sometimes. Not when it comes to buying books, but when it comes to listening to their costumers and getting the books they ask for.

Anyway, YA fantasy. One thing bothered me though, not knowing how old people were. First I thought Gen was a little kid and now, well in his teens. But it still bugs me not knowing, I am just too curious. But then he is a mystery and it's meant to be like that. We meet Gen in prison, he says he is the best thief ever. He is good, i will give him that, but what made him be so foolish? We do learn later on. He is not afraid of anything or speaking his mind and I like the little thief.

Together with the Magus, and 2 boys/young men? they set out on a journey to steal something. Poor Gen, one would think they would treat him better. Still something grows. I can't dislike all of them. This whole book is about the journey and the theft and in between are stories they tell by the fire. And I loved those, learning about the mythology was wonderful and a real treat.

But the end, oh the end was the best. There the book surprised me and made me want the next one. It was well done and as the library has the 3 books that follow I will sure read those.

Conclusion:

Enjoyable with a great ending.

Cover:

It shows the stone so that is good

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My flash fic for this week

Dottie over at Tink's Place has come up with the idea for a Monday Morning Flash Fiction challenge.  Each Monday a new picture prompt will be posted and if you choose to  participate - you post your story on Friday - 350 words, give or take. 

Review: Vampires are Forever - Lynsay Sands

Inez Urso is beginning to have her doubts. Her business associate Thomas Argeneau has some interesting traits, like an allergic reaction to the sun, excellent night vision, and not much of an appetite for food. And to top it all off, he just tried to bite her neck . . . but maybe that was a sign of passion. If so, she'd be happy to experience more, despite her determination not to mix business with pleasure.

Well, if not forever, at least two hundred years. Inez is the most beautiful woman he's seen in centuries. Those luscious lips, seductive curves, and her elegant neck . . . he just couldn't resist the temptation of one little bite. Now Thomas will do anything to convince her that only an immortal like him can satisfy her all night long . . .

Series: Argeneau #8, Genre: Paranormal romance, Pages: 384, Published: March 2012, Publisher: Gollancz, Source: For review

My thoughts:

Like always, Sands writes them light and passionate, and I really like it. It's a great formula because I can just sit down with the book and read and read. They are relaxing.

And this might be my favorite to date. I do not what made it so, perhaps it was Thomas, a nice hottie. Or perhaps it was Inez, a curvy woman who lives for her job. Together they were perfect. As always the passion is sizzling between these too and what is there not to like when Thomas bites her a bit too quickly and finds out that she is his lifemate. Trouble in sight. And she is not a woman to stand by and do nothing.

The story then, here it's about finding Marguerite who is missing and that hunt takes them over England and to Amsterdam. I have been waiting a while for Marguerite's book now and I am happy to say that it's number 9 so soon I will see if she can find happiness too.

Fun and light, passion and suspense, that is all promised in this book. And hearing about the fall of Atlantis again sure makes me want a book about that. Now that would be cool, but that's ok, I can live in the present. 

Conclusion:

It turned out just as I hoped it would. A good book to keep me company, and vampires sure are forever. Sands keeps on being good.

Cover:

He is a hottie, I will give him that.

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Come say hi :)
I am over at Book Lovers Inc today with a review of Sweet Little Lies by Alison Bond

Blog Tour: Linda Poitevin interview - Sins of the Son giveaway

Today Linda Poitevin is over for an interview and there is also a contest where you can win her book  Sins of the Son :)

Welcome to Mur-y-Castell!

1. I will start with the same old question, who is Linda Poitevin? :)

Mother, wife, friend, gardener, owner of too many pets; lover of walks by the river, good coffee, fine wine, fresh food, books that take me away from the everyday…I think that pretty much sums it up. 

2. Could you tell me about your new book, Sins of the son?

Sins of the Son is the second book in The Grigori Legacy, a dark urban fantasy series. The story picks up where the first book, Sins of the Angels, left off, following Alex as she goes up against Heaven itself in an attempt to save Seth, the one being who might be able to stop the Apocalypse…if she can help him to remember who he is before he inadvertently causes humanity’s annihilation. 

3. What was your inspiration behind the Grigori legacy series?

That age-old writer’s question, what if? In this case, it was triggered by the words of a song by Sarah McLachlan, Angel; specifically, the lyrics “You’re in the arms of the angel, may you find some comfort here” made me wonder what if you didn’t find comfort in the arms of an angel, but something else entirely? That question led me to envision a scene that actually never even made it into the final draft of the first book, which led to the beginnings of a story, which led to the unexpected appearance of Seth’s character, which led to the idea for a series, and so on…kind of like a creative dominoes. J

4. Could you tell me about the Grigori?

In angel mythology, the Grigori were the angels assigned by God to observe humanity. Unfortunately, they did rather more than that, sharing forbidden knowledge with us and mating with human women. This resulted in them being cast—or falling—from heaven. In The Grigori Legacy, I stay fairly true to this aspect, but add a few of my own touches, such as Lucifer being the one who urged them on.

5. You were so evil in book 1 ;), poor Alexandra and Aramael. Will romance and love win in this book?

Hm…that would depend on what you consider winning, I think. I will tell you that I’ve never considered love and romance to be the same thing, though…does that help? 

6. I’d love to hear who you would think could play the roles of Alexandra, Aramael and Seth in a movie…

I’ve always pictured Anna Torv (from the Fringe television series) as Alexandra, and I think Henry Cavill would make a great Aramael. I’m still undecided on Seth, though…what do you think? Do readers have any suggestions?

7. How many books will there be in this series?

There are a total of four books planned for the series. I’m working on the third right now, Sins of the Righteous, but I don’t have a pub date as yet. The fourth is tentatively titled Sins of the Forsaken. 

Giveaway:

1 copy of Sins of the Son

1. Open worldwide

US/Canada will receive a print and if there is an International winner that person will get an e-book

2. April 25

3. Just enter, that's it :)

Or ask Linda a question, comment, or tell me why this book sounds like the book for you.

Linda has fabulously added a new giveaway to the blog tour -- all winners from each individual giveaway are going to be entered into a final grand prize draw (Canada/US) at the end of the tour for a necklace/earring set designed by Cemetery Cat (@psynde on Twitter). 

The rest of the Blog Tour

1. March 19 - Book Briefs

2. March 21 - Tote Bags n Blogs

3. March 23 - I Smell Sheep

4. March 26 - Seeing Night Reviews

5. March 27 - Yummy Men and Kick Ass Chicks

6. March 28 - Books For Life

7. March 29 - Paperback Dolls

8. March 30 - Rabid Reads

9. April 2 - Books Make Me Happy Reviews

10. April 3 - Livre D’Amour

11. April 4 - Fang-Tastic Books

12. April 6 - Paranormal Haven

13. April 9 - Urban Fantasy Investigations

14. April 11 - Fiction Vixen

15. April 13 - Stella Ex Libris

16. April 16 - Rambling On

17. April 18 - The Qwillery

18. April 20 - Simply Infatuated

19. April 24 - Literary Escapism

20. April 25 - Mother/Gamer/Writer

21. April 26 - Romancing The Dark Side

More Info

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Guest posting - giveaway
And now a little notice from me. Today I am over at Elise Rome's Blog for her March Madness event. I and Anachronist have a post about HEAs. So come on over cos there will be a chance to win two books there too :)

Review: Stakes and Stilettos - Michelle Rowen

Newly vamped Sarah Dearly wants her normal life back, but fate is fighting against her. She tries to get a regular job and gets staked in the interview, only to be rescued by a masked vampire who calls himself the Red Devil. Then a wallflower-turned-witch curses her, making her a bloodthirsty, sun-allergic nightwalker--the worst vampire there is. As if all that weren't enough, she can't get married because her 600-year-old boyfriend, Thierry, is in a centuries-long marriage of convenience he can't escape.

As Sarah's nightwalker tendencies make her more dangerous, even to those she loves, she'll have to counteract that curse, unmask the increasingly intriguing Red Devil, and get a commitment from her man. But if that's what it takes to secure her happiness, Sarah is ready...even if it means embracing her inner vamp to do it.

Series: Immortality Bites #4, Genre: Paranormal romance, Pages: 384, Published: March 2012 (2009), Publisher: Gollancz, Source: For review

My thoughts: 

I do talk about my series OCD sometimes, and here I made a mistake, that in the end turned out great. I thought this was one of those normal PNR series, you know, a new couple in each. Since I did check the previous books, or perhaps I dreamed it. Anyway, my point is that this was book 4, and all the previous books were all about Sarah. Still it worked, cos of the beginning I thought this was her "book 1", and first when something was mentioned that happened 2 weeks ago I thought, huh..that would have made a cool book. Which it obviously was too ;)

It worked so well on it's own. I was never lost. I came into their relationship with fresh new eyes. Sarah, a new vampire who is in love with Thierry, a old vampire who is rich and hot. What is there not to like? She has also given him a new will to live and love. They seem good for each other.

Sarah is fun and has a bit of an reputation, Slayer of Slayers. Which is so untrue, poor girl is not a Hunter Slayers, but they think so. Quite amusing in a way. I also liked the world, vampires are hidden, and hunters hunt them. Which is so unfair, because most vampires are nice, drink blood from glasses and hide among the rest of the populace. They can walk in the sun and they are just like the rest of us. Almost.

It was fun and light and I liked the few flashbacks there were, where we got to see a bit of Thierry's past. There was a nice cast of people and in the end, well start with this one, start with another one or start at the beginning :) Though at least in this one there is a tiny cliffie. All is good, kind of.

Conclusion:

I do like my PNR light and nice. Good paranormal books should be easy to read just like this one and just like I like it. And while reading you just relax and let yourself be swept away.

Cover
Meh