Book Reviews - The Rhodi Saga, By Megan Linski

Rhodi's Light (The Rhodi Saga #1)
by Megan Linski
Release Date: September 4th 2016
Gryfyn Publishing

Summary:

Flight. Hyperspeed. Clairvoyance.

These are some of the powers gifted to the Rhodi, an ancient sect of assassins who defend Crescentia, a dystopian world with a dying hope.

Dyliana Fairsson is one of them. After losing her parents to a suspicious accident, she and her twin brother, Devin, join the Rhodi to avoid starvation. Under the direction of her master, Dylan struggles to learn the strength of her magic …as well as hide the growing scars on her wrists. Can Dylan become the warrior, the hero, she’s destined to be? Or is she fated to fall from the light into the darkness?

The first installment in the epic fantasy series by bestselling author Megan Linski, Rhodi’s Light is an action-packed thrill ride that will leave readers begging for more.

Review:
I have to say that I love when I get to read a great start to a new series. This book is just that, a great start to a new series.  I was drawn in from the get go and loved that about the book. This was one of those books that once I was reading it, I couldn't put it down.  I just love when a book can do that to me.

This book gives you emotions, great characters and keeps you reading.  You get to see the main character evolve.  It is hard when you can't watch a character change in a book.  You never want flat characters.  The characters in this book are far from flat.

I love fantasy books.  When an author can draw me in, keep me in their world and almost make me want to be a part of that world, so I can be with the characters, that is something special. I love this world that was created for us in this book.

This author has a way with words, she can tell you a story without having to make it all drawn out.  She can describe something without making it too much for you to read.

Over all I highly recommend this book!!

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Rhodi's Rising (The Rhodi Saga #2)
by Megan Linski
Release Date: September 4th 2016
Gryfyn Publishing

Summary:

Forced into hiding.
Desperate to find their masters.

In the past few months since the attack on their home, twin assassins Dylan and Devin have grown restless. With the Rhodi facing extinction, they search for their masters Talidin and Tavana, only to discover they’ve gone missing. With nowhere to turn, the twins seek help from a pair of mysterious spies, only to find the trail gone cold, marked by hints of torture and destruction.

Dylan and Devin piece together the events that led to the disappearance of their fellow Rhodi. As their enemies close in for the kill, Dylan discovers that some things are impossible for a Rhodi…but not for a tigress.

The stakes and romance are heightened in this epic dystopian sequel to Rhodi’s Light. Bestselling author Megan Linski brings readers a young adult fantasy with magic, mystery, and an epic adventure that races quickly to a breathless conclusion. 

Review:
And on with book two.  This book brings us right back into the world that Megan created for us in her first book in this series. You have the characters back with us, pushing through and trying to get to their home again. We see the characters with real issues.  I love when characters, even in a fantasy world, can be like real people.  They make the book more relate-able.  

The book again pulled me in and held me as I was turning the pages.  I love when I feel like I need to keep reading, like I need to know what is going to happen next before I put the book down.  It is a great thing when a book can pull me in like that.  It just makes me want to keep reading, and when it's a series that means I will keep getting the books so that I can.

We really can see the author developing and growing the world and the characters with each page.  She is making a world I would love to be a part of, even if the life would be nothing like I am facing in my own world now.

This book is highly recommended!

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Rhodi's Lullaby (The Rhodi Saga #3)
by Megan Linski
Release Date: September 4th 2016
Gryfyn Publishing

Summary:

Cities burn.
Governments fall.
Lives are lost in a desperate war...one the Rhodi are losing.

The world has been devastated by the tyranny of the Red Huntress. To save Crescentia, Dylan and Devin attempt to decipher the mystery of the ancient letter their ancestors left behind, the only hope of salvation for their kind. Dylan continues to fight foes both on the battlefield and within her own mind, all while wrestling with the confused feelings she has for Enfys, the alluring spy who has become devoted to her cause.

In the epic conclusion to the thrilling Rhodi Saga, one brave warrior will stand in the way of corruption, to take place before her destiny…or her death.

Rhodi’s Lullaby is the third installment in the suspenseful young adult dystopian series fans and critics are calling an original masterpiece in the epic fantasy genre.

Rhodi’s Light and Rhodi Rising are also available. Catch up on the entire series today! 

Review:
And now we get to the last book in the series.  The author continues to deliver a great story with the third book in the series.  We have strong characters, a great world we all want to be in, and a story we all wish we were a part of.  Megan Linski delivers a great series with the three books and makes sure the last book in the series delivers everything we need.

We get to see the characters at their best, and even get to see real issues that keep coming up throughout the books. It makes the characters more relate-able for me when I can see them doing things I do myself or did in the past.  No one wants the characters they are reading to have the perfect world, with no issues.  I can say that I like characters that are flawed more.  I was happy that I had that with these books.

It was great to see this as the final book, but I was almost sad when I got to the end.  I wanted to keep reading.  It is always great when an author can keep you that engaged.  I did not want this to be the last book in the series. I had every emotion while reading this book and I know it had to end, but that doesn't mean I wanted it to end.  I wanted to be a part of the character's lives forever.

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Rhodi Saga Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/user/12179397807/playlist/41pTZKXDVV4d9wFV1i5LEh


About the Author
Megan Linski is the owner of Gryfyn Publishing and has had a passion for writing ever since she completed her first (short) novel at the age of 6. Her specializations are romance, fantasy, and contemporary fiction for people aged 14-24. When not writing she enjoys ice skating, horse riding, theatre, archery, fishing, and being outdoors. She is a passionate advocate for mental health awareness and suicide prevention, and is an active fighter against common variable immune deficiency disorder. She lives in Michigan.


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Book Review - Sovereign's Wake, By Lee LaCroix

Book Title: Sovereign's Wake

Author: Lee LaCroix

Publishing Date: November 9, 2015

Page/Word Count: 344 pages

BLURB:

A kingdom crumbles without its ruler. The people fall to misery and desperation in the shadow of an empty throne. A father does what he must to save his son and his homeland in the absence of kings. Enter Garreth, ranger and former royal bodyguard, who embarks from his woodland home after defending it from the encroaching loggers of the Blackwoods Company. "The King is dead!" they had screamed at Garreth and drove the man to the capital of Amatharsus to resolve the most troubling statement in Malquia's recent history. Together with his son, Novas, and daughter of a murdered blacksmith, Kayten, Garreth is hounded by bandits, cutthroats, and highwaymen, unleashed upon the countryside by the abolition of the Crown Aegis, defenders of the King, his land, and his people. Garreth unites with the remnants of the Crown Aegis to overcome the military, political, and economic oppression that the Blackwoods Company has imposed on Amatharsus and incites rebellion before the free people of Malquia succumb to crippling recession and the environmental destruction of their verdant nation. But can one man find the strength to challenge overwhelming odds when all hope is lost?

Review:

So I wanted to really like this book.  I loved the idea of it and that is why I wanted to review it.  Once I started reading it though it was a bit if a struggle for me.  I love people who actually can use formal writing, not just slang and text speak, but this book was almost too formal for me.  When I am reading a book I want to be able to think but not feel like I am going to be tested on what I am reading later.  

This book's structure reminded me of some of the books I had to read when I was in college.  It was very stiff. I think the author has a great eye for describing things, and I think he could tell a blind person exactly how something looks.  That being said, there is more to a book.  I think that he needs to let the characters tell some of that, let them be part of it more then just tell us. If that makes sense. 

The characters are strong, and the author did a great job with them.  But parts were harder for me to follow and I got confused with them.  Perhaps a little bit more about them, or more talk between them.  I am not sure what they need.  There is just something missing in this book.

I do think that it is a good dip into the fantasy genre, but I think that this book could stand a few little changes here and there.   With the right tweaks and a more flowing feel, this book could be the start of an epic, great series!

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Amazon Link: Buy It Here

Goodreads Link: Check it out here

Twitter Link:@Lee_LaCroix

Facebook Link: Author's Facebook

Webpage: Author's Page

Book Review - Raising Sleeping Stones, By P.H.T. Bennet

 

Title: Raising Sleepy Stones
Author: P.H.T. Bennet
Publisher: Dramkeeper Publishing
Pages: 360
Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy

Blurb:

Like every kid in Solasenda, Kiva Stone has been far too busy training for one of the five town guilds to think about something as useless as dreaming. But when she and her sister DeeDee uncover a mysterious plot to get rid of them, their only hope lies with a shadowy group of people who wield unimaginable powers drawn from their dreams. As the girls escape with them up the Varruvyen river, they start learning secret Dreaming Way techniques that have been forbidden for centuries. But how can they learn enough to stand against the enemies chasing them? The answer lies in the shattered history of Orora Crona, the lost Valley of Dreams, and whoever can piece it together first will rule for centuries to come.

Review:

 So this book was a harder read for me.  I love books that grab you from the get go and keep you going until the last page.  This was took me a while to get into.  I don't think it was any one's fault, it was just not something I could get into.  There were times when I had to go back and re-read something because I was confused.  I know that fantasy novels are usually set in worlds far different from the one we live in, and I know this book is no exception.  I think for me though, this took it beyond that fantasy level.  When I am struggling to picture this world, or the things in it, that is a sign to me that I will have a hard time with the book.

Let me be clear, the book is very well written and the characters are thoroughly fleshed out.  I think for me I just had a hard time putting myself into the story.  And that is what I do, put myself into the story that I am reading.  I picture myself as part of that world, it helps me connect with the whole book better when I can do that.

Kiva is a great character.  She is strong, and knows what she needs to do in order to survive.  She wants more for herself and her sister, and she will do what she needs to get those things.  I love that she wants to learn more, to do more.  I think that is a good thing to have in a book geared toward the middle school age.  They need to see that they can push forward and get the things they dream of having.

The story we get in this book is great one.  The girls have to leave the horrible conditions they are living in before they can start to reach for their dreams.  They can't dream where they are and soon learn that the aunt they are living with is doing more harm them good to them while they are in the home.  The girls are just not thriving in that environment, so Kiva takes her sister and they run off to see what they can find, what they can do outside of the city they live in.

While I struggled with this book, I can recommend it for others.  The book is a great book, and I think the age bracket it is meant for will surely get lost in the story with the characters.

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I'm happy to be hosting P.H.T. Bennet's RAISING SLEEPY STONES Blog Tour today! Leave a comment to let him know you stopped by!

For More Information

• Raising Sleepy Stones is available at Amazon.
• Pick up your copy at Barnes & Noble.
• Watch Trailer 1 and Trailer 2.
• Discuss this book at PUYB Virtual Book Club at Goodreads.

Book Excerpt:

Kiva looked closely at the sun’s golden face. Wavy rays representing shimmering heat radiated out from it. Its cheeks were plump, the lips full and curved, the nose wide, and the eyes were a little almond-shaped, like hers. In the middle of its forehead was a weird circle with six curving parts swirling around a six-pointed star. She’d never seen the sun drawn like that. Wondering what was on the back of the pendant, Kiva turned it over.

The instant she saw the moon’s closed eyes, her hair flew back in the wind, her stomach dropped, and she was pressed back against the cushions of a vessel that was flying just inches above the river. She jerked her head back up and found she was in the back of a crescent-shaped boat piloted by an old man sitting up front. She was about to call out to him when he pointed at a tree that had fallen across the river and shouted, “When you get here, you must take a detour that even old Jacques didn’t know about! Hold on!”

Before she could, though, he turned the boat around so quickly that Kiva was thrown against the side of her boat and the wind was knocked out of her. She only got her breath back when he straightened out and followed the river back down.

“Look there!” he shouted moments later. “Turn right between the tall twins!”

Watch the Trailer!

About the Author

P.H.T. Bennet began exploring his dreams when he was a child and has never bothered to stop. He had the good luck to have two daughters, Juliette and Paola, who not only served as the inspirations for DeeDee and Kiva, the main characters of Raising Sleeping Stones, but also helped him turn their family dreamwork sessions into this book. His lucky streak grew when he married his lovely wife, Mim, who tolerates his turning on a light in the middle of the night to write down ever-crazier dreams and talking about them in the morning as long as he lets her sleep in, first. His favorite dreams involve flying, visiting the dead, and replaying nightmares until they reveal their secrets.

Pratt’s latest projects are editing Book Two of the Orora Crona Chronicles and planning a virtual summer dreaming camp with other dream authors.

For More Information

• Visit P.H.T. Bennet’s website.
• Connect with P.H.T. on Facebook and Twitter.
• Find out more about P.H.T. at Goodreads.

Book Review - Deliverance, By Kristi Centeno

Deliverance
by Kristy Centeno
Genre: YA/NA Paranormal
Release Date: March 19th 2016
Inkspell Publishing

Summary from Goodreads:

He’s been locked away his entire life.
He dreams of freedom.
The only way he can accomplish his goals is by breaking free of the chains tying him to a dark past and gloomy existence. But there’s one catch. He’s not human.
And he’s never set foot outside his jail.

Devoted to saving his peers as well as his own life, he sets out to find the one person that can help him achieve his objectives. He knows where she will be and what she will look like, but what he doesn’t anticipate is the fact he finds himself caring for the girl whose life he’s put at risk, more and more each day.

He has no name.
He has only known hatred and violence before her.
However, she will teach him to have faith in humanity, even if she can’t trust him.
Together they will embark on a journey to bring down a corrupt system responsible for the loss of many innocent lives. But when he finds his feelings compromised, can he still move on knowing that doing so will put an end to the life she once knew? How far is he willing to go to be free?



Review:

This was a great book to read! It kept my attention through the whole book and I could not put it down. The characters were engaging and you were rooting for them, wanting the best for them. The storyline is well thought out and the characters are well developed. It was a great book and I highly recommend it to others.

Tiger is an interesting and well thought out character. From the get go you can tell he is not like the other characters you read about. He is naive and strong all at the same time. He was sheltered away in the lab where he grew up. That being said he does appear to understand humans and their nature. He was not nothing like our normal lead male characters and I found that very refreshing.

The interactions in the book are great and I love how the characters are with each other. The mistrust, the hate, the suspicion, and the way the leads play off each other. It is a great thing when an author can make their characters interact the way they do. This book delivers great dialog, and that is hard to come by with so many books today.

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Buy Links:

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About the Author

Kristy Centeno is the author of the Secrets of the Moon saga and Keeper Witches series.

She has always had a passion for books and after years of being an avid reader, she decided to transform her desire to write into a reality and thus, her first novel was born. When she’s not busy taking care of her five children or holding down the fort, she finds time to sit and do what she loves the most: writing.

Author Links:

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