Literaturevixen Reads and Reviews

Jekel Loves Hyde by Beth Fantaskey

Jill Jekel has always obeyed her parents’ rules – especially the one about never opening the mysterious, old box in her father’s office. But when her dad is murdered, and her college savings disappear, she's tempted to peek inside, as the contents might be key to a lucrative chemistry scholarship.

To better her odds, Jill enlists the help of gorgeous, brooding Tristen Hyde, who has his own dark secrets locked away. As the team of Jekel and Hyde, they recreate experiments based on the classic novel, hoping not only to win a prize, but to save Tristen’s sanity. Maybe his life. But Jill’s accidental taste of a formula unleashes her darkest nature and compels her to risk everything – even Tristen’s love – just for the thrill of being… bad.

Mercy and her sister Charity have never questioned their daily routine, each day unfolding exactly as the next. They live at night, sleep during the day and see their widowed father only rarely - their house shrouded in perpetual winter. Then one day, Mercy is woken to find a snowdrop on her pillow. A sign of spring, a subtle hint at a possible different future.
 
A chance meeting with the mysterious Claudius sets her to questioning everything she has ever known - not least the truth behind her mother's death. Bit by bit Mercy traces her parents' story through the past, travelling back to see herself as a young child, silent witness to the dramatic events Claudius himself plays an enormous part in - only when she has pieced together the truth can her world begin to move on

I had seen it around

Then I started reading and I was soon immersed into the story of Mercy and her life in the strange house.And her searching,at first reluctantly, for the truth behind not only the mysterious stranger but also her fathers sadness and secretive nature.

Who was telling the truth and who was lying? One moment I thought I knew how things were then the author threw in a twist that made me go "huh?"

I had wanted to find out more about their italian relatives,but it fit the story Mercy not knowing much about them and the reader being clueless about them too.

I finished the book knowing that I had found a little gem of a book.And I hope other will discover it too.

Rose Drayton lives on the Edge, between the world of the Broken (where people drive cars, shop at Wal-Mart, and magic is a fairy tale) and the Weird (where blueblood aristocrats rule, changelings roam, and the strength of your magic can change your destiny). Only Edgers like Rose can easily travel from one world to the next, but they never truly belong in either.

Rose thought if she practiced her magic, she could build a better life for herself. But things didn’t turn out how she planned, and now she works a minimum wage, off the books job in the Broken just to survive. Then Declan Camarine, a blueblood noble straight out of the deepest part of the Weird, comes into her life, determined to have her (and her power).

But when a terrible danger invades the Edge from the Weird, a flood of creatures hungry for magic, Declan and Rose must work together to destroy them — or they’ll devour the Edge and everyone in it...

Got my copy of On the edge this Tuesday(The wait had been agony) I ripped open the package and set to reading.

It was somewhat different from what I expected but still a good read.The first chapter really sucked me in and wanted me to continue on.
I really felt the hardships of Rose and felt like I could identify with her more than Kate.Probably cause neither Rose nor I carry around a big sword wherever we go.Shes just a normal (albeit magically talented) wary young woman.

And then the kids...they were so cute! Often in romance books children are either cotton candy sweet or just simply there not adding to the plot WHATSOEVER.Not in this case however as I truly enjoyed reading both Jack and Georgies POV parts.

Declan was scrumptious and I was totally surprised with the twist to him.Really didnt see that coming.Not gonna spoil it though^^

Ive seen some reviews say he was too perfect but I disagree,in the beginning he was a bit too arrogant and secretive to be "perfect".
He wasnt just some white knight in shining armor coming to the rescue. In fact some of the things he did caused trouble for Rose in the Edge. I also liked the way he and Rose interacted:She thinking he was a spoiled pompous guy and he thinking she was the rudest woman he ever met- Some of their dialogs made me grin. And the romance made me sigh.

The villain and his hounds were so evil and the way Ilona described them was beyond creepy.The scene with them swarming the room *shudder*

But I dont want to give away too much just gotta read it yourself...

I wish there was a second book about Rose though...I want her to have more adventures!

(Yes I know there is to be a second book in The edge series but NOT about Rose)

 

 This is a trilogy(Mother Earth Father Sky,Brother Wind,My Sister the Moon)

It takes places 9000 years ago

Mother Earth Father Sky

Chagak is the only survivor of her clan,who has been massacred by an enemy clan.She finds an old man who takes her in as a daughter,but soon theyre disturbed by a cruel warrior from the clan that killed her people.She must use all her wits to try and rid them of their foe.

Brother Wind

Kiin is born a girl and therefore useless to her father,he is just about to set her out to die when the leader of the tribe steps in an announces she will be his sons future wife.As Kiin grows up she falls in love with the leaders son,,,just not the right one. 

Not long after she is wed to her betrothed she is kidnapped by her evil brother and sold to a faraway clan.Her husband and everyone of their clan thinks she had an accident and died.

Kiin has the talent to carve things out of bone and tree,work only allowed to shamans and men Because of this and that she is pregnant she is given as a wife to a shaman,who believes she will strenghten his powers.

 When she gives birth to twins,Kiin is given a choice:kill one of them. Since one of the twins surely is evil.Kiin of course cannot do this,and the only way out is escape.Now begins a long and dangerous journey back home.

This is the story of survival,love and feminism.

The women in this series starve,get raped,falls in love,but despite it all emerge from it as stronger women. Kiin for example has a stutter due to the bad treatment she gets from her father and brother.But she obtains selfworth as a carver and trhough her inner strenght

Im sure this probably is listed as romance novels,but theyre really gripping reads and theres nothing trivial over their ordeals.

I first read The Changeover when i was oh,about 14 or so,but its still a terrific read even if it was written in the mid 80s.It has aged well.

Laura is a a 14 year old girl who lives with her younger brother and her quirky single mother. Her life is ordinary until the day her brother is stamped with the image of a horrible man.Her brothers soon becomes very sick and has to be admitted to the hospital,but the doctors are clueless to what has caused is his sickness. Laura turns to Sorry, an older, intriguing boy who she believes to be a witch. Will he be able to help her? 

You can relate very well to how Laura feels,you can really feel how hard it is to be a teenager.Especially if youre surrounded by dark forces.

Sorry isnt your usual standard love-interest thats very prevalent in YA.He is strange and a little bit ambigous.For example he doesnt rush to Laura´s rescue at once.She has to convince him to help her.Does it sound strange? Well if you read the book youll get what I mean.



 

The Hollow Kingdom by Clare B Dunkle

Kate and her little sister Emily are orphans in the Regency era who are sent to live with their distant relatives.They settle in but it doesnt feel like a home to them.

One day they get lost and night falls before they can find their way home.But luckily they happen upon a band of what they think are gypsies who help them home.But they arent gypsies at all...theyre not even human.

It turns out there are goblins in the neighbourhood and their king has been smitten with Kate. She isnt exactly happy with the prospect of becoming his bride.And she intends to fight him all the way.

But when her sister is kidnapped she has no one else to turn to but the goblin king,Marak.

Some may be put off by the idea of abduction (I´d know i´d be) But I was so immersed in the book that I found myself not caring,it was fun to find out how Kate thwarted the goblin king,and to find out more of the goblins world and culture.Goblin revenge sure isnt something to be trifled with.Youll know why after you read the book.

But even though there is a romance in this book dont except much kissing and so on.Its implied but never shown.In that way it reminded me about Jane Austens novels. Its an YA after all and dont worry there is a HEA too.

This is the first in a trilogy.

Genevieve Pasquier is a girl crippled from birth ,loved by her scholarly father but despised by her beautiful and vain mother She is in short  an ugly duckling.

When on his deathbed he sends for her and
But her mother thinks Genevieve was told where her father hid a vast fortune.But Genevieve of course dont know anything and is then put through such abuse that she has no other choice but to leave home.

While escaping she happens on the powerful society witch Catherine Montvoisin Who proposes a deal:work for her and get revenge.

Now she is the Marquess, a 200 year old fortune-teller and its not long before she is popular in the aristocratic circles of Paris.

But things get dangerous when Athenais Montespan,the kings mistress,ask to get her fortune told.
It seems like Monvoisin has some darker agenda that could shake the foundation of if the plan is ever carried out. 

I dont want to give to much away,but there is enough suspense so you wont get bored.And all the characters feel real and has motivation for their actions.

The court of the Sun king,witchcraft and a good romance.

Judith Merkle Riley has written other historicals wich ive also enjoyed but this book remains my favorite of them.
There is some horrible elements in this story(rape,occult rites,poisoning) But in the end the good prevail.

This is built around an actual event in history,the affair of the poisons ,so its not just a figment of the authors imagination wich makes it even more good.^^

I found this while searching for SF romance novels(good ones)And I was pleasantly surprised.
 
Djinni is a young woman living in England,she enjoys painting,karate and playing chess.Oh and shes half alien,AND can read minds.In fact her father hid her there until she comes of age and can marry her betrothed J-J.

Too bad wicked prince Tarrant-Arragon,the heir to the Tigron Empire discovered her.Hes determined to marry her but unfortunately she isnt thrilled by the idea. It could be  because whole Tigron society is focused on sex,and there are no bigger sex-maniacs than the males of the Imperial Djinn family. Thats why Tarrant-Arragon decides to pretend he isnt a Djinn,but rather a lovable guy.
Things do not go according to plan to say the least.

Turns out Djinni got a head on her body and she isnt going to go willingly to the altar or the marriage bed for that matter.

Identites are mistaken,fiery kisses exchanged and chess is played.


Its essentially a "beauty and the beast" story But its very funny.I actually found myself giggling while I read it.And not in the way trashy romances usually makes me snicker.Because this is not something a simple as a trashy romance,its a book who parodies the genre in a way I wish more books could be written.

You got your alpha-male,your shy but headstrong virgin,the jilted fiancee,and other various rivals/foes.

Its definetely a keeper.

An accomplished woman by Jude Morgan

The accomplished woman of the title is Lydia,a independent spinster who ten years ago turned down the most eligible bachelor in the neighbourhood. And since she made her decision she has lived a perfecltly happy life.Until a friend asks her for help.

She is persuaded to be the chaperone of a young lady who has acquired two(!?) suitors.Now only to get her ward to decide wich one she truly loves.But to do this she has to travel to a place that she despises...Bath. The place to go to find a husband in the Regency era.

There her former beau also plans to go to find himself a wife.

She strikes a bet with him. If he manages to find a wife before she can get her charge engaged he wins and vice versa.

And yes,there is a happy ending.^^

If you want something Austen-like to read here it is.But only if you want a clone.It really feels like a mish-mash of her books The base story is Persuasion the setting Sandition with a dash of Pride and Prejudice and Emma.Its solid but it isnt as inspiring. 

Not the best I ever read but its not bad. Read?:Yes! Buy?:Perhaps.

Oh,well I´ll re-read my copy of Pride and Prejudice instead.

One fine day I came upon a series of books called "Silent in the.." by an author named Deanna Raybourn.Great! I thought an historical fiction with a female sleuth to boot.This can not be bad in any way.
...Well it was so-so. (review coming up) I gave up my hopes for finding another Victorian Era Lady Sleuth Book

Until I found "A most dangerous woman"  by LM Jackson

A mysterious woman called Sarah Tanner opens up a coffee house in a place Leather  Lane.No one knows where she comes from but she seems to have a PAST(thats in capital letters folks)

Not soon after she is recognized  by an old friend,who hardly makes it out of the door before he is murdered. Even if it means she has to face old foes and other dickensian london obstacles.Like a Victorian female crime boss and her henchmen and other villains from the London underworld.

Sarah Tanner is a bit unconventional,but she feels real within the era that she lives in.And while she isnt  from exactly upper class or working class she knows how to act both downstairs and upstairs.The other characters both villains supporting character feels real and substantial . 

The mystery is quite good  and well thought out,as I didnt figure out  who was the culprit until the protagonist did and even then youre in for some twists and turns in the plot.

Its a historical fiction,with a mystery and a spunky heroine.Whats not to like?  

Ps.Book 2 in the series just came out.Ill review it as soon has ive read it.

Today Ive endured stupid bus drivers,being hit by a bag AND by a crutch-maniac.Dont ask me me..its a long story.
But here it is...my review for...

Night life by Caitlin Kittredge


Yes its an gritty urban fantasy with werewolves.
I became interested in it after reading the excerpt.And the title was nifty.

But after 100+pages into it i could hardly finish it.
Full of words like "hex me" "for hex sake" and so on transformed it into whats terrible about most urban fantasy novels.

And I could feel no chemistry between Luna and Dmitri.Yes it was written how much they were attracted to each other but I didnt FEEL that they really were. And the sex scene made me shudder(not in a good way mind you) Im not a prude,but this scene creeped me out.Big time.

The mystery isnt that interesting either...I kind of lost track of it in the midst of all the "scenting" and whatnot.It seemed like the mystery was a kind of aftertough on the authors behalf.

But I cant discommend it..beacause I do believe there are people out there who will like it.
These are the people who enjoys reading books by Laurell Hamilton,Kim Harrison or Lilith Saintcrow.

Sadly ms Kittredge, I do not believe our paths will cross again.I had hopes for your work.

For my urban fantasy needs Ill just have to wait for Kelley Armstrongs "Personal demon" to come out later this month.

 

The Last Concubine by Lesley Downer

 

I read many favourable reviews about this book.

A Japanese “Gone with the wind” With a gorgeous cover. Can you imagine I was so eager to get this book in my hands?

 

The plot boils down to this: Sachi is a peasant girl who is adopted by a princess.The princess is going to be the shoguns wife. Sachi grows up in the Edo castle and learns the strict protocol of the castle and using a halberd. The heroine becomes noticed shogun and becomes his concubine. The shogun unexpectedly dies,adding to the unrest of the land.

 

War breaks out and Sachi and a handmaiden flees the castle,Sachi posing as the princess.They met up with some ronin samurai and decide to travel with them. After this I lost grip on the plot….except for the love story between Sachi and one of the samurai.

 

Someone hand this author a synonym book!There is only so much repeating of words one can endure. For example someones hair is described as “bushy” throughout the whole book and everyone seems to have “plump” lips.And the plot structure is lacking,feeling sketchy and not that thought out.

 

 Fascinating history but it reads more like a factual novel than a novel sometimes.

And even if I found the love story touching sometimes..it didn’t have that extra oomph! Like in the real “Gone with the wind”

 

Readable but sadly not a keeper.

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This is my new blog featuring my insightful reviews of books...it might not only be books but this i my primary aim.
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