His Majesty's dragon by Naomi Novik

Mass Market Paperback, 353 pages

Published March 28th 2006 by Del Rey

Series: Temeraire #1

Alternative history / fantasy

Library

I read this one years ago and enjoyed it. This time around, well, no, not as good as I remember it being. But then it was like I did not remember anything, but when I read the words I remembered everything, and some books are just not as fun the second time around.

I also see that I only read 5 and I did not like the 5th, hmm, the library did not get any more.

But ok, these are fun. What if the worlds had dragons and used them in battle? Hornblower meets dragon riders!

I like Lawrence, I like Temeraire. And now I do wonder how it all played out, I really have to check if the library ever got more.

So yes do give them a go.

Aerial combat brings a thrilling new dimension to the Napoleonic Wars as valiant warriors ride mighty fighting dragons, bred for size or speed. When HMS Reliant captures a French frigate and seizes the precious cargo, an unhatched dragon egg, fate sweeps Captain Will Laurence from his seafaring life into an uncertain future – and an unexpected kinship with a most extraordinary creature. Thrust into the rarified world of the Aerial Corps as master of the dragon Temeraire, he will face a crash course in the daring tactics of airborne battle. For as France’s own dragon-borne forces rally to breach British soil in Bonaparte’s boldest gambit, Laurence and Temeraire must soar into their own baptism of fire

Snowspelled - Stephanie Burgis

Paperback, 166 pages

Published September 4th 2017 by Five Fathoms Press

Series: The Harwood Spellbook #1

Alternative history fantasy novella

Own

My Thoughts

This is a novella so the end came really fast and was wrapped up in a tidy bow just like that. But eh, it works, how she came to the answer no clue.

Alternative history were there is magic and elves in England. The elves stays in their land and there is a truce, but Cassandra does come across one and it has ramifications.

Only men have magic, but Cassandra did have magic too, but not anymore, srsly, why not? What happened. Why are we not told?

Houseparty a la Austen with a mystery to solve.

It was light, delightful and fun. I will totes read more

Blurb

In nineteenth-century Angland, magic is reserved for gentlemen while ladies attend to the more practical business of politics. But Cassandra Harwood has never followed the rules...

Four months ago, Cassandra Harwood was the first woman magician in Angland, and she was betrothed to the brilliant, intense love of her life.

Now Cassandra is trapped in a snowbound house party deep in the elven dales, surrounded by bickering gentleman magicians, manipulative lady politicians, her own interfering family members, and, worst of all, her infuriatingly stubborn ex-fiancé, who refuses to understand that she’s given him up for his own good.

But the greatest danger of all lies outside the manor in the falling snow, where a powerful and malevolent elf-lord lurks...and Cassandra lost all of her own magic four months ago.

To save herself, Cassandra will have to discover exactly what inner powers she still possesses – and risk everything to win a new kind of happiness.

Eagle in Exile - Alan Smale

In AD 1218, Praetor Gaius Marcellinus is tasked with conquering North America and turning it into a Roman province. But outside the walls of the great city of Cahokia, his legion is destroyed outright; Marcellinus is the only one spared. In the months and years that follow, Marcellinus comes to see North America as his home and the Cahokians as his kin. He vows to defend these proud people from any threat, Roman or Native.

After successfully repelling an invasion by the fearsome Iroqua tribes, Marcellinus realizes that a weak and fractured North America won’t stand a chance against the returning Roman army. Worse, rival factions from within threaten to tear Cahokia apart just when it needs to be most united and strong. Marcellinus is determined to save the civilization that has come to mean more to him than the empire he once served. But to survive the swords of Roma, he first must avert another Iroqua attack and bring the Cahokia together. Only with the hearts and souls of a nation at his back can Marcellinus hope to know triumph.

My thoughts:

Alternate history, Rome never fell, Rome sure conquered. Rome is a machine. Rome is scary. And now Rome wants America. But as we saw in the last book the 33th Legion was destroyed by the Cahokians. And Gaius, well he brought new things to the people he came to like.

But Rome does not give up that easy.

And then there are the Iroque that are at war with Cahokia.

And then there is the thing we learn at the end, ohhh, intrigues. I can not say more about that, but interesting take.

I should be writing this review, but I really had to go google Cahokia and the mounds. To really get a look at them, since I know so little about the Native Americans along the Mississippi.

Back to fiction then. I really got to know everyone, and liked them. And I am very anti-Rome, we all know what they want. It's an interesting read, how things were, and could have been. yes of course he mixes fact and fiction. This is an alternative history after all. But it makes it fascinating.

The book is about making a life in a new land. New friends. New ways. But also the danger of the past. Hint hint, Rome is coming back.

Conclusion:

Interesting.

Paperback, 400 pages
Published March 25th 2016 by Titan Books
Hesperian Trilogy #2
Alternative history
For review

Clash of Eagles - Alan Smale

Imagine a world where the Roman Empire never fell... In AD 1218, Praetor Gaius Marcellinus, commander of the 33rd Legion, invades Nova Hesperia, a land inhabited by Powhatani, Iroqua and Cahokiani. In search of gold, he and his men find only death. Marcellinus is taken prisoner, but his life is spared. To survive he must re-evaluate his allegiances and find a new place in a strange land. 

My thoughts:

I like alternate history books. What if this, what if that? In this what if Rome never fell, instead it continued to conquer and spread its wings. And now the Northmen whose countries they also conquered bring tales about the land across the sea. Let's go forth and conquer.

But let's think about it, yes they can send a legion, but they are still alone in a vast land, getting picked off one by one. Yes they do have superior skills in some ways, but as you can see from the blurb it all goes to hell and Gaius is the only one left standing...

I admit, I know nothing about early American history, nothing northern at least. I know more about South American, I do know what the Hopi was up to, but this, nope, nothing. Like those mounds that Gaius come across and the author gave them more of a history now. And came up with some new interesting things too.

Of course this will all go to hell again wont it. Like Rome would let it go like that, like they let anything go. And then there is the fighting between tribes. I have no idea what this series will end like...no idea at all. But then he can invent anything really. I wonder if Rome will go fight the Aztects next. Ok I am digressing.

So this is a book about a stranger in a strange land, he needs to learns customs, language, and staying alive. He learns to appreciate a new culture all while knowing they might be doomed.

Conclusion;

Interesting. 

Paperback, UK edition, 400 pages
Published March 20th 2015 by Titan Books
Clash of Eagles Trilogy #1
Alternative history / historical fiction
For review

Carole's Sunday review: Danube waves - Katharina Bordet

Author: Katharina Bordet

Titles: Danube Waves (Wiener Blut #2)

Genre: Fantasy, Fiction, & Mystery 

Pages: ebook

First Published: 2016

Where I Got It: My shelf (given to me by the author/publisher for my honest and unbiased opinion)

The portals between worlds have been shut down, leaving king-to-be Maximilian Schindler-Krug trapped in our world in the form of a goat. An impending revolution, a murderer on the loose, recurring nightmares and a mad scientist stand between him and the throne. It’s going to take more than a talking swan, a fainting goat and copious amounts of coffee and cake to save the day.

Ten years since the murder of his mother, Max Schindler-Krug is having increasingly vivid dreams about the night that changed his life forever, but that is the least of his problems. His coronation as King of Neu Meidling is approaching fast, but revolution across the kingdom threatens the monarchy and the portals between the worlds have been mysteriously sealed, closing off all trade and splitting up families.

Karin’s peaceful life at the Alt Wien is turned upside-down when her daughter brings home a wounded swan, leading her to discover a lost family secret that will change her life forever. Her own husband’s place in events could rip their relationship apart.

Lily, a trainee Beschützer finds herself trapped in another world, torn between her duty to protect the Wächter line and coffee trade and her love for her future king. When she meets a man who could solve all her problems, she has to make a choice that could topple the monarchy, assuming she can get the young king back home alive.

This is the second book of the series. 10 years have passed and now Isabelle's young son is on the verge on becoming King of the other world. However, not everything is as it seems and there is trouble in paradise.

There is a lot going on in this novel. Between Max and Lily going off on an adventure, political turmoil, a possible Revolution stirring, Karin's lost family secret coming out, an evil genius causing havoc, and a man with his fainting goat companion. SO much is going on and I was worried at first that I wouldn't be able to keep it all straight. To my surprise, the author did a fantastic job keeping the reader on board and not getting confused. The POV switches were well done and it was clear and obvious when a POV was going to switch. 

I loved the fact that not everyone and everything was as it seemed. Even the "baddies". Were they truly bad? There is no black and white in this story and I liked that. The fact that even the baddies were complex made me extremely happy. 

Oh my was there some wacky moments that had me laughing! Especially Ludwig's goat! He's a fainting goat and later in the book *SPOILER ALERT* he gained the ability to talk and he was HILARIOUS! *END OF SPOILER* So cute! I wanted him as a pet! Also, Max turning into a goat was hilarious too. I did feel bad for him, because the goat life is not an easy life especially when your human girlfriend has to take care of you. 

There were some parts that seemed too easily fixed in my opinion. Or a little cheesy. It worked and moved the story along, but yeah. Especially the part with the decaff coffee beans. Sure, I had a chuckle, but it was an easy fix AND it was cheesy. That could just be me though. 

Also, the last couple of chapters seemed to drag on and on. As much as I loved the world and I want more, I wanted it to end a couple chapters earlier. 

My favorite part of the book was the beginning of each chapter! In the first book she started each chapter with a specialty coffee beverage. In this book, the author started each chapter was a special kind of cake known in the region! Each cake was tied to the story in some way and I simply LOVED that. However.....it made me really hungry! HAHA. 

In the end, I really liked this book. It was a good sequel to the first one. There were a couple of things I was meh about like the conclusion and some scenes, but overall this was really good. I loved the humor and the drama. It was all mixed together well. I especially loved the little snipbits of cake. Made me happy, but also hungry. This is a good sequel to the first book and I highly recommend it, BUT you need to read the first one first. I hope there is more! Out of five stars, I shall stamp this with 4 stars. 

Joint Discussion: Shadows of Asphodel - Karen Kincy

This month Carole and I will be reviewing "Shadows of Asphodel" by Karen Kincy.

Author: Karen Kincy

Title: Shadows of Asphodel

Genre: SciFi, Steampunk, Historical Fiction, Paranormal Romance, & Fantasy

Pages: ebook

First Published: September 2013

Where I Got It: My shelf (ebook freebie)

1913. Austria-Hungary. Ardis knows better than to save a man on the battlefield. Even if he manages to be a charming bastard while bleeding out in the snow. She hasn't survived this long as a mercenary without some common sense. 

When she rescues Wendel, it isn't because he's devilishly handsome, but because he's a necromancer. His touch can revive the dead, and Ardis worries he will return from the grave to hunt her down. Besides, a necromancer can be useful in this world on the brink of war. 

A gentleman of questionable morals, Wendel drops to one knee and pledges his undying loyalty to Ardis. She resists falling for him, no matter how hot the tension smolders between them. Especially when she discovers Wendel's scars run much deeper than his skin, and it might be too late to truly save him from himself.

B: Let’s get started, and this time with a book I actually enjoyed. Omg, enjoyed. No snow child, but good.

C: I have to agree! It was good. I didn’t really even notice that it was a Steampunk until I looked on Goodreads. hahaha but i’m not a huge fan of Steampunk, but I actually enjoyed this one! It wasn’t over-the-top and cheesy.

B: I do not need gadgets to be mentioned all the time, that is one bad aspect of some steampunk, but I also need some things to be mentioned cos else it’s just stupid. And I felt that this book walked that line well. Not too much, not too little. The perfect mix that made me believe in this world. And that is so important to me.

C: It was a good mix and I think that’s why I really liked it. Plus I loved the time period. Not Victorian like most steampunks, but during the 1910s.

B: Someone mentioned dieselpunk somewhere, but to be honest, I am not really one that keeps track. it was good, it was a nice period, pre war and all (and war that might not come in this world, but come on, we all know it will.) And I liked the mix of magic and tech. That is always a good mix.

C: I’ll be honest I’m not sure what dieselpunk is. 0_0 But yes, I loved the mix of historical, magic, and tech. It was nice. Did you like Ardis?

B: It’s not like I was all, I love her! She was tough as nails. I could respect that toughness. But yes I did like her. It just took me a while to warm up more to her. You then?

C: At first I really did, but then she fell in love with Wendel and was kinda obsessed with him really quick. I was hoping that the romance aspect would take a little while then. After a while, I did warm back up to her again, but she was overall just okay.

B: You have a point there. I did not think of that, but yes I was actually kind of happy when this other thing happened, and I had hoped that would continue. Instead she just got more into him, and I never felt that he loved, or liked her. She was just means to an end. The romance part did lack. Those two were not meant to be together. Him and someone else, yes, she and someone else, yes. thinking if the same person too.

C: I think he did like her...maybe not love. Honestly, I think she was something different and she was prolly the first girl/person to not judge him based on his ability.

B: I can settle for like, like is easy. But true love? No, not what I saw. That whole HE IS MAD part was really over the top too. I never saw any evidence, give me some evidence. Make it harder for me to like him, and then I will fall more deeply. Cos now he just seemed really nice. At least to me.

C: He had his sarcastic moments and was ruthless because death means nothing to him. But yeah - he was such a gentlemen throughout the story. I liked it, but I do feel he should have been more bitter at his parents…..unless he’s good at hiding it? IDK. I didn’t mind him being kind of a nice guy. I think I liked Wendel more than the other dude (the mage? I can’t remember his name)

B: I did really like Wendel, more than her. But I never felt the whole he is mad, and evil. I wish I had felt it a little bit at least. And yeah, sure he should be angry, but them they could never have kept them, maybe he grew to understand. He did hate the Asphodels more so maybe that took over.

That would be Konstantin ;) I liked him, nice side character. Oh oh, the twist, the person that shows up, that was weird. Her hint hint

C: YES that is his name. I totally blanked. Yes, he was a nice side character, but if I had to pick between the two I would be Team Wendel. I do want to learn more about Konstantin. And the twist was nice! Weird, but nice! I really didn’t expect it.

B: Always Team Wendel, just not, sigh, I wanna FEEL it. I hope book 1 makes me feel it more, I need to feel the romance. But awww Wendel, gotta love him.

C: :3 I loved how his ability was looked down upon by pretty much everyone - it was a nice. What did you think about the twist with Adris’ dad? I have mixed feelings….

B: I am not sure about it either. It felt strange, and did not make sense for me in a way. It felt too much HAHA, look what I did here. Suffer!

C: Honestly, I was hoping for something entirely different. It surprised me and I still can’t determine what I feel about that. I want to know more about how her parents got together now THAT would be a fun short story. ;)

B: That would make an excellent short story! I’d be into that.

C: :D Do you plan on reading the second in the series? I’m not sure myself. Like this was good and I do wanna find out what happens next, but for now I am still digesting this world and story. WHICH, again, I loved the world built in here.

B: I’d like to, but it’s an ebook. I can only buy ebooks on amazon, and I have like 50 cents left on this GC I got 5 years ago! Yes, I saved and saved it. So I actually can’t read more. But I hope it will be free one day *fingers crossed*

C: I think I would like to read especially if it is free or at the library (which...still free of course).

B: LOL. Well, to close this conversation. Would you recommend it? I would, it was an interesting world, sure it had a few faults, but still, interesting.

C: I would. It was fun and I was addicted to the first half. The second half drifted off a little bit, but overall I do recommend this to even those who are not the biggest fans of steampunk like me. ;)

B: Your turn next then to pick a book. And hopefully I will get my war book as soon as someone gives it back to the library.

C: I still really wanna read the war book. :D I’ll send some ideas ASAP!! The end?

B: Das End

The left hand of god trilogy - Paul Hoffman

The Sanctuary of the Redeemers is a place where children endure brutal cruelty and violence in the name of the One True Faith. Lost in the Sanctuary's huge maze of corridors is a boy. He is strange witty and charming, and violent. But when he opens the wrong door at the wrong time he witnesses an act so horrible he must flee, or die.

My thoughts:

I am confused, was this the future or an alternate history? At first I thought it was fantasy, and yes I would have liked it to stay that way. I am not really a fan of the BOOM! Ha this is our future thing. But of course I cannot be sure of that, but yeah our world. A few cities and countries are name. It sadly is about Christianity (boring), religion is evil, and still is.

This book is about Cale, a teen in a place with others teens. The food sucks. They are taught to fight. If they question things they are killed. Doors are forbidden cos they are sinners. Scary religion. It convert and die or plainly die. Nothing in between. I did like the darkness shown then zealots take over everything. 

Oh, the guys they are fighting, who on earth are those?

What I did not really like was his age, he is 14. Ok so that would have been fine, but then he sees a woman for he first time. Srsly, you are 14, what do you know about love? It just made me roll my eyes. And the end, eye roll. Make him at least 18 and I can start to believe.

So yeah, I wish he had not made this our world. It would have worked excellent without that. You can still have your creepy religion and stuff, you can even have your pope. And yes Cale could have aged a bit.

But it was good, and I did pick up the next one at once.

Paperback, 500 pages
Published August 19th 2010 by Penguin Books (first published January 7th 2010)
The Left Hand of God #1
Fantasy
LIbrary

To the warrior-monks known as the Redeemers, who rule over massive armies of child slaves, "the last four things" represent the culmination of a faithful life. Death. Judgement. Heaven. Hell. The last four things represent eternal bliss-or endless destruction, permanent chaos, and infinite pain. 

Perhaps nowhere are the competing ideas of heaven and hell exhibited more clearly than in the dark and tormented soul of Thomas Cale. Betrayed by his beloved but still marked by a child's innocence, possessed of a remarkable aptitude for violence but capable of extreme tenderness, Cale will lead the Redeemers into a battle for nothing less than the fate of the human race. And though his broken heart foretells the bloody trail he will leave in pursuit of a personal peace he can never achieve, a glimmer of hope remains. The question even Cale can't answer: When it comes time to decide the fate of the world, to ensure the extermination of humankind or spare it, what will he choose? To express God's will on the edge of his sword, or to forgive his fellow man-and himself? 

My thoughts:

Sure I read it fast, but would I have read on if this had been book 1...? No. I have to rate it ok then.

The thing is that nothing happened, and if something happened it was rather fast and dull. What is Cole now? 15? Srsly he should be older, I cannot take him for serious. He goes from lamenting over Arbell (how old was she anyway? euww.) to butchering people. All while I am all, just put a arrow through his neck. That kid needs a talking to. I liked him in book 1, there he was growing, here I cannot forget what a kid he is.

Also, is this our world or not!? If not, then why use our places names? Lame! If so, then how can they move so fast from one part to another? It is starting to annoy me, just make it fantasy and without a map I would not know.

The crazy religious people, well you know what, crazy is always interesting and I hope they all die.

It does sound like there are only bad things, oh! I forgot about the changing of tense, so annoying! But yeah, it does hold promise, but this book had a serious case of second book syndrome.

Paperback, 544 pages
Published January 16th 2014 by Penguin Books (first published April 28th 2011)
The Left Hand of God #2

Since discovering that his brutal military training has been for one purpose—to destroy God’s greatest mistake, mankind itself—Cale has been hunted by the very man who made him into the Angel of Death: Pope Redeemer Bosco.

Cale is a paradox: arrogant and innocent, generous and pitiless. Feared and revered by those who created him, he has already used his breathtaking talent for violence and destruction to bring down the most powerful civilization in the world.

But Thomas Cale’s soul is dying. As his body is racked with convulsions, he knows that the final judgment will not wait. As the day of reckoning draws close, Cale’s sense of vengeance leads him back to the heart of darkness—the Sanctuary—and to confront the person he hates most in the world…. 

My thoughts:

At least now I know there is no logic to names and how near they are. And that this is our future. Far away after an ice age.

Still, the way it started, the way it was told. Then finally a POV, but alas, no, DNF. I did not even really bother with the end

Disappointing 

Paperback, 512 pages
Published January 16th 2014 by Penguin (first published July 18th 2013)
The Left Hand of God #3

The Geomancer - Clay and Susan Griffith

The uneasy stalemate between vampires and humans is over. Adele and Gareth are bringing order to a free Britain, but bloody murders in London raise the specter that Adele's geomancy is failing and the vampires might return.  A deranged human called the Witchfinder has surfaced on the Continent, serving new vampire lords. This geomancer has found a way to make vampires immune to geomancy and intends to give his masters the ability to kill humans on a massive scale.

The apocalyptic event in Edinburgh weakened Adele's geomantic abilities. If the Witchfinder can use geomancy against humanity, she may not have the power to stop him. If she can't, there is nowhere beyond his reach and no one he cannot kill.

From a Britain struggling to rebuild to the vampire capital of Paris, to a vampire monastery in far-away Tibet, old friends and past enemies return. Unexpected allies and terrible new villains arise. 

My thoughts:

So yes, a new book. I guess you could read it like this, but to get their story you MUST read the trilogy before. Not only cos it's awesome, but cos it's well book 1 was awesome and should not be missed. And without them you will not get to see their lovestory, and how everything came to be as it is now.

England is free of vampires. Right, to those who do not know this world. It is set now, but in the Victorian era vampires rose in the north and killed and ate. The humans left are part of herds. The ones that got away formed new societies. Adele is the Empress of Equatoria, with the capital in Alexandria. Cos vampires hate warmth and stays in the north. Everything stopped in a way and turned into a steampunk world with flying ships and so forth.

Right, so there is the world. A very cool world. And Adele is our heroine who can feel leylines and used them to kill vampires. And her true love Gareth, the vampire who thinks that the big killing was a bad idea. Cos those pesky humans are smart and he thinks vampires are doomed. Better stay with Adele.

I am still on the backstory! Yikes. Ok, so vampires are gone. Vampires are still plentiful in Europe. There is a new bad guy and they will go after him Phew, there, done.

There is action, and there is, well it made me think. Yes Gareth is nice, but what is the future for vampires really? Oh and will there be more books? The vampire future is still so uncertain, and I do like a few. While the rest should burn.

Conclusion:

So yes read the trilogy first so you will not miss out.

Cover

nice

Paperback, 321 pages
Expected publication: November 3rd 2015 by Pyr
Vampire Empire: A Gareth and Adele Novel, Vampire Empire #4
Steampunk /alternate history
for review

Joint Discussion: The Bone Season - Samantha Shannon

This month Carole and I will be reading "The Bone Season" by Samantha Shannon.

Author: Samantha Shannon

Title: The Bone Season

Genre: Dystopia, alternative history, fiction

Pages: ebook

First Published: August 2013

Where I Got It: Borrowed from library

The year is 2059. Nineteen-year-old Paige Mahoney is working in the criminal underworld of Scion London, based at Seven Dials, employed by a man named Jaxon Hall. Her job: to scout for information by breaking into people's minds. For Paige is a dreamwalker, a clairvoyant and, in the world of Scion, she commits treason simply by breathing.

It is raining the day her life changes for ever. Attacked, drugged and kidnapped, Paige is transported to Oxford – a city kept secret for two hundred years, controlled by a powerful, otherworldly race. Paige is assigned to Warden, a Rephaite with mysterious motives. He is her master. Her trainer. Her natural enemy. But if Paige wants to regain her freedom she must allow herself to be nurtured in this prison where she is meant to die.

B: Let’s get started then :)

C: Let’s first talk about the beginning. Thoughts?


B: No thoughts. It was a beginning. I knew on page 1 that this will not go well for me, and it did not.


C: Agreed. I knew that it was going to be a “meh” for me. I was stuck on page 5 until last night when I pushed forward. It DID get better, but yeah...meh.

B: I would actually say that the beginning was the best part, after half or so I just wanted to carve out my eyes. I was so bored.

C: I did enjoy part of the middle. But then the feelings of “love” started to show and it just made it more meh for me. I think the romance kinda ruined it for me as well. It was already meh and I was JUST starting to kinda sorta enjoy myself, but that cut the fragile ties and made it a meh again.

B: Even if I say the first part was the best, it was still infodumping for the sake of infodumping. Then she got to Oxford, and she turned really stupid didn’t she? I was all, seriously? What is this? This does not make sense! Oh and the love, eh, I never paid attention to it. It was too this will happen, ohhh, and I was all I do not care. This is not a mystery

C: She did get reaaaaaaaally dumb. I was hoping I’d like her, but nope. I agree there was a lot of infodumping, but it oddly didn’t bug me too much. I found it slightly interesting. NO. This was NOT a mystery, I pretty much knew what was going to happen next the whole time. I guessed the ending and I was 80% right. haha

B: She should have spread out the info a bit, because yes some things had potential. But then there was the flashbacks too that suddenly started and those bothered me. I never liked...I have forgotten her name. I just know she was stupid, and oh so perfect. And then I read there are 6 more books…6!!!!!!!!

C: Ugh 6? I was done after this one! (Paige *winks*) But yes I felt the flashbacks were out of place….maybe they would have been good to replace some of that infodumping at the beginning. So...what do you think of the whole premise of people having powers? It was cool I think.

B: That did, hmmm, well it had potential, it was kind of cool. But there were so many different powers! It felt a bit too much, could not one person have 1, instead of there being like 50 different powers that suddenly showed up. I do not know, the whole world building in this one is starting to get on my nerves.

C: I thought it was cool, but there were too many powers and it confused me on what was what. I feel like she tried to shove sooooo much into this box. Maybe not introduce certain powers until the next book.

B: That would have worked much better. Too much of everything now. Which made it too boring. And made me not care. Oh and I forgot to mention earlier that the name Paige tells me nothing. Ha, I have totally forgotten her.

C: Why was her name Paige? It feels too common. Everyone else has badass names while she is stuck with Paige. A silly complaint to have with a book, but the name seemed out of place for this world. I do like the name Jax though! I wish we could have seen more of her world as an outlaw before she was captured.

B: She could have had some badass Irish name, since she was from Ireland, but no. And yes more outlaw stuff could have been cool. She was better then. In Oxford she got careless and stupid. If she was my slave she would have been dead. But she was a Mary Sue wannabe so of course she gets the only sexy good guy around.

C: HAHAHAHA. You are bad. ;) But honestly...I would not have suffered her idiocy either, so she would not have lasted long as my slave either. He was sexy and a good guy, which I don’t think she deserved….

B: Anything more we can complain about? Like the bad guy, a very cliché bad guy.

C: Ugh. Why bring it up? I can barely remember the baddie, because it was so cliché. I was waiting for the evil “MWUAHAHAHA” cackle and then telling all her plans for world domination to Paige. WAIT...I think she did have a huge-ish monologue about world domination. Can’t remember though. You couldn’t remember Paige’s name, I can’t remember the baddie’s name.

B: I can’t remember anyone’s name anymore. Oh well, who cares. There was something I wanted to mention….and now I can’t remember that either. Tell me something while I think.

C: Mmmmmmmm. Ummmm….for all the infodumping, I wish she would have talked more about Paige’s power. I barely understood what the point was for it for her little gang. Was she just monitoring people’s spirits or whatever?

B: Do not start me on her powers, not a clue! Could have been done better. And now I remember! This was an adult book, but for me it felt soooo YA. Sorry YA, but some of your books are sooooo YA.

C: Yes, it did sound more like YA then an adult book. :/ Not even Rowling’s books sounded YA (well - the first one did, but the rest of books felt older). Maybe it was because the author was trying to make this narration sound like a 19 year old writing it or whatever.

B: Something like that. Big sigh from my part, I chose a bad book :/

C: Hey my last choice was a big bummer too. :( Hopefully next month’s selection will be better!

B: Aye, and what will you choose? ;)

C: Spoilers! I shall not say here. But I did find something random at the store and I got you a copy too! (It was super cheap like a buck) And I am intrigued! I’ll send it out ASAP, so it gets to you!

B: Yay, fun :)

C: Good job today! The end?

The end

Carole Reviews: Aurelia - Alison Morton

Author: Alison Morton

Title: Aurelia (Roma Nova #4)

Genre: Historical Fiction, What-if, Drama, & action

Pages: ebook

First Published: May 5th. 2015

Where I Got It: My shelf (Given to me by the publisher/author)

Late 1960s, Roma Nova, the last Roman colony that has survived into the 20th century Aurelia Mitela is alone - her partner gone, her child sickly and her mother dead - and forced to give up her beloved career as a Praetorian officer. 

But her country needs her unique skills. Somebody is smuggling silver - Roma Nova's lifeblood - on an industrial scale. Sent to Berlin to investigate, she encounters the mysterious and attractive Miklos who knows too much and Caius Tellus, a Roma Novan she has despised and feared since childhood.

Barely escaping a trap set by a gang boss intent on terminating her, she discovers that her old enemy is at the heart of all her troubles and pursues him back home to Roma Nova... 

This is the fourth book in the series, but worry-not, this does well as a stand alone.

This book would not relent! I could hardly put it down, because I needed to know what was next. I would have finished this book within a day, but I could not keep my eyes open, so I was forced to go to sleep and resume in the morning. When it ended...I was not happy.

1) It ended and I wanted more.

2) The ending was a cliff-hanger and I do not approve of those (even though I am the queen of those when I write...hahahaha)

3) AND WHAT!? I WAS NOT HAPPY WITH AURELIA IN DOING WHAT SHE DID!!! NOOOOOO! HE DOES NOT DESERVE YOU OR YOUR FORGIVENESSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!

Okay...I am done. But yes, I adore Aurelia....however....her decision at the end was not to my liking and I am not happy with her. >_>

Anyways, this was an interesting world. Imagine if a piece of Rome lived into this century. When Rome fell a group of its people left and rebuilt a small piece of Rome. It's an interesting concept and I honestly wish this country existed. It would be interesting to visit and learn about. Me...being the nerd I am....want the author to write a book about the history of this country of Roma Nova. This parallel universe is so interesting and it is a great "what-if" story. I do love my WIs.

I do have many questions about this world that I wished was further explained in he book. Maybe they are in the earlier books? I'll have to read the other ones I suppose to learn more about this world and culture. 

ANYWAYS....

Poor Aurelia. She is in for a long and dangerous journey that is not kind to her. Damn Caius...he certainly is a great baddie. He is very complex, manipulative, and certainly a crazy person. Ah, kuddos for a great baddie! They are hard to find in some of these novels lately. However, I do hope to see him later on, because the "conclusion" with him was not satisfying for me. 

This was a really good book! Lots of action, drama, mystery, and a kick-ass heroine! The ending was the weak spot for this novel. It was a cliff-hanger, which I get because this is a series, but I was not happy with it. I am curious to see what happened BEFORE and what is going to happen AFTER. This seems like a fun series and I plan on reading more! I love the world and I loved the characters. I totally recommend this to those that like WIs and a good story. Out of five stars, I stamp this with 4 stars. 

Favorite Character(s): Aurelia (loved her even tho she upset me at the end), Caius (a great baddie), and Justina  

Not-so Favorite Character(s): Aurelia's mom, the "gypsy" (>_> I get it, but I don't like it), & Caius' aunt (mmmmmm).