Book Review: Soul In Darkness by Wendy Higgins

Soul In Darkness

By: Wendy Higgins

Published:

Feb. 12, 2019

Source: Purchased

Add to: Goodreads

Book Synopsis:

People travel from afar to the small isle in the Aegean Sea hoping for a single glimpse of Princess Psyche. Their adoration for the mortal woman is so all-consuming that citizens begin to shower her with the very gifts and offerings they once left at the alter of Venus, goddess of love and beauty. 

But gods are known for their jealousy. 

Cupid, the god of love, takes pleasure in causing strife and mischief in the lives of humans. He uses love as a weapon, humoring in the weakness of people at the whims of their feelings. When his mother Venus approaches him about punishing the human girl who dares to steal her offerings and affections from the people, Cupid gladly accepts. 

Psyche's punishment is to be given to a mysterious creature who only comes to her in the dark of night under the pact that she will never lay eyes on him. She is terrified of this stranger, who the oracle described as a serpent. Her mate, however, is masterful in his dealings with his bride. He takes his time, morphing her fears into different sensations completely. 

Based on the Roman/Greek mythology of Cupid and Psyche from Lucius Apuleius, New York Times bestseller Wendy Higgins brings the tale to life, weaving layers that show exactly how a sacrificial lamb can be enchanted by an unseen monster.

My Thoughts:

Soul in Darkness by Wendy Higgins was a wonderful read.  It is the retelling of the love story of Cupid and Psyche.  I enjoy Mythology, and Wendy Higgins is one of my favorite authors, so I was excited to buy this ebook and dive right in!  This is a one sitting type of read, so I highly suggest not starting it unless you'll have enough time to finish it; because you won't want to put it down.

The story takes place on a beautifully breathtaking Island in the Aegean Sea during the Roman Empire.  Venus the Goddess of Love blessed Psyche's barren mother with three daughters, because her parents had beautiful souls and were amongst her most devoted of followers.  However, after they have their youngest daughter, beautiful and flawless princess Psyche, they forget all about Venus.  

Everyone on the island and even people from afar adore Psyche.  She is as beautiful and pure as a soul can be.  Pretty soon, people are sending offerings and an abundance of gifts, but the Princess just donates them to the poor.  She is humble, kind, and unassuming. Venus becomes jealous, enraged, and wants revenge on Psyche, and enlists the help of her son Cupid.  

What follows is a very beautiful and erotic love story, full of plot twists and surprises.  Soul in Darkness had a fairytale feel, and reminded me of Beauty and the Beast.  Psyche reminded me of "Belle," in the way she was kind, beautiful, and willing to sacrifice herself for her family.  Cupid reminded me of the "Beast," in the way that everything was not as it appeared. 

If you enjoy mythology, fairytales, and a great erotic romance, Soul in Darkness is an excellent choice for your next read.  

Purchase At:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble 

About the Author:

Wendy Higgins is the USA Today and NY Times bestselling author of the SWEET EVIL series from HarperTeen, the high fantasy duology THE GREAT HUNT, her independently published Irish Fantasy SEE ME, and her indie NA science fiction UNKNOWN trilogy. After earning a Creative Writing degree from George Mason University and a Masters in Curriculum and Instruction from Radford, Wendy taught high school English until achieving her dream job as a full-time writer. Wendy lives on the Eastern Shore of Virginia with her husband, daughter, son, and little doggies Rue & Nessie.

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Book Review: Only a Breath Apart by Katie McGarry

Only a Breath Apart

By: 
Katie McGarry

Published:
Jan. 22, 2019

Publisher:
Tor Teen

Add to: Goodreads

Source: Purchased

Book Synopsis:

Bestselling author Katie McGarry’s trademark wrong-side-of-the-tracks romance is given a new twist in the gritty YA contemporary novel, Only a Breath Apart. 

Jesse Lachlin is cursed. 

So the town folklore says, but while Jesse’s had his fair share of tragedy, the only curse he believes is in his grandmother’s will: in order to inherit his family farm he must win the approval of his childhood best friend, the girl he froze out his freshman year, Scarlett Copeland. 

Scarlett Copeland is psychic. 

Glory Gardner tells Scarlett she has hidden psychic abilities, but Scarlett thinks Glory is delusional. What is real is Scarlett’s father’s irrational fears, controlling attitude, and the dark secrets at home. Scarlett may have a way to escape, but there’s a hitch: she’ll have to rely on the one person she used to trust, the same boy who broke her heart, Jesse Lachlin. 

Each midnight meeting pushes Jesse and Scarlett to confront their secrets and their feelings for each other. But as love blooms, the curse rears its ugly head…

My Thoughts:

Only a Breath Apart is a tender and angst filled love story about two broken teenagers.  Both of them have secrets, and don't let people in.  Jesse has a past that he doesn't talk about, and Scarlett comes from a broken home with an abusive and controlling father.  Growing up, they were childhood best friends, and the single most important person in each other's lives.  Jesse ended their friendship abruptly without explanation, and Scarlett was devastated.

After Jesse's grandmother dies, circumstances lead Scarlett and Jesse back in to one another's lives.  Jesse believes his family is cursed, and the only way to keep the curse at bay is to stay on his family's land; the land that has been in his family for generations.  Scarlett is desperate to lead her own life and escape the controlling clutches of her domineering father.  Together they will support each other, and fall in love along the way.  Will their love story have a happy ending, or is the Laclan Curse real?

I loved reading Only a Breath Apart. It was such a page turner.  This love story really tugged on my emotions and melted my heart.  The characterization of Jesse and Scarlett was excellent.  Both characters came to life and jumped right off of the page with the talented Ms. McGarry's storytelling.  I enjoyed the secondary characters as well.  My favorite was Glory, Jesse's distant cousin.  She was a psychic fortuneteller, with a quirky personality, who was devoted to helping both Jesse and Scarlett.  

Only a Breath Apart was an intense story filled with angst, and the very real and heartbreaking cycle of abuse.  It wasn't sugarcoated, and there were no easy solutions.  I appreciated the raw emotions that it provoked in me, because it meant that the author was really able to connect me to the story and its characters.  I love that she also offered a message of hope; but it was a realistic message that also delivered encouragement and strength to readers who might be going through similar situations.   

Purchase At:

Amazon|B&N|iBooks|Google Play

Kobo|IndieBound 

About Katie McGarry:

KATIE MCGARRY was a teenager during the age of grunge and boy bands and remembers those years as the best and worst of her life. She is a lover of music, happy endings, and reality television, and is a secret University of Kentucky basketball fan. Katie would love to hear from her readers. Contact her via her website, katielmcgarry.com, follow her on Twitter @KatieMcGarry, or become a fan on Facebook and Goodreads.

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Book Review: Queen of Air and Darkness (The Dark Artifices #3) by Cassandra Clare

Queen of Air and Darkness 
The Dark Artifices #3

By:
Cassandra Clare

Add to:
Goodreads

Source:
Purchased

Published:
December 4, 2018

Book Synopsis:

All first editions of Queen of Air and Darkness will include ten black and white interior illustrations, and a new short story! 

Dark secrets and forbidden love threaten the very survival of the Shadowhunters in Cassandra Clare’s Queen of Air and Darkness, the final novel in the #1 New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling The Dark Artifices trilogy. Queen of Air and Darkness is a Shadowhunters novel. 

What if damnation is the price of true love? 

Innocent blood has been spilled on the steps of the Council Hall, the sacred stronghold of the Shadowhunters. In the wake of the tragic death of Livia Blackthorn, the Clave teeters on the brink of civil war. One fragment of the Blackthorn family flees to Los Angeles, seeking to discover the source of the disease that is destroying the race of warlocks. Meanwhile, Julian and Emma take desperate measures to put their forbidden love aside and undertake a perilous mission to Faerie to retrieve the Black Volume of the Dead. What they find in the Courts is a secret that may tear the Shadow World asunder and open a dark path into a future they could never have imagined. Caught in a race against time, Emma and Julian must save the world of Shadowhunters before the deadly power of the parabatai curse destroys them and everyone they love.

The Dark Artifices Trilogy:

My Review

My Review

Purchase At:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks

My Thoughts:

Queen of Air and Darkness is the final book in The Dark Artifices Trilogy.  Wow!  Let me first say that for being 912 pages long, this book flew by!  I was rapidly turning pages, because I wanted to see how everything would play out, but at the same time, I didn't want the story to end.  This conclusion was amazing!  I cried a lot, I swooned, I smiled, I laughed; I pretty much experienced every emotion possible, all in the span of this book.

While Casandra Clare didn't leave us with any cliffhangers, she definitely left us with the potential for more story lines and character development with some of the secondary characters.  I would love to read a story that focuses on Ash, the Seelie Queen's son, as well as the mysterious Kit.  Can I say that I hope that Kit and Ty find there way to each other!

Ty Blackthorne was one of the Blackthorne siblings, and he happened to have Autism.  I felt especially connected and understanding of his character's quirks and sensory issues, as my daughter also has Autism.  Ty was more the stereotypical individual with high functioning Autism or Aspergers, but at least more awareness is being brought forth through reading. Since this is Y.A., It will help more teenagers to hopefully have more awareness and compassion for individuals with special needs.  I was happy that Cassandra Clare brought so much diversity in her trilogy, by exposing us to such a variety of unique characters.

Queen of Air and Darkness had a variety of magical settings.  The reader gets to experience the land of Faerie, Alicante, and Los Angeles just to name a few places.   However, the most interesting setting was Thule, a scary and dark parallel society, in which it's inhabitants experienced life with the consequences of Sebastian winning the Dark War.  Thule was a fascinating dimension, where some of our most beloved characters had died, some became unexpected heroes, and some friendships/relationships were different than those in  the present dimension.  I love parallel universe stories, and often contemplate how my life would have been different If I had made different decisions or experienced different life outcomes.  So being taken to Thule was an amazing adventure.  Each new setting in the story was like getting a bonus story included in the trilogy.  

If you love young adult fantasy, The Dark Artifices Trilogy is a must read! I give, Queen of Air and Darkness by Cassandra Clare, 5 Spectacular Stars!!! 

About the Author:

Cassandra Clare was born to American parents in Teheran, Iran and spent much of her childhood travelling the world with her family, including one trek through the Himalayas as a toddler where she spent a month living in her father’s backpack. She lived in France, England and Switzerland before she was ten years old. 

Since her family moved around so much she found familiarity in books and went everywhere with a book under her arm. She spent her high school years in Los Angeles where she used to write stories to amuse her classmates, including an epic novel called “The Beautiful Cassandra” based on a Jane Austen short story of the same name (and which later inspired her current pen name). 

After college, Cassie lived in Los Angeles and New York where she worked at various entertainment magazines and even some rather suspect tabloids where she reported on Brad and Angelina’s world travels and Britney Spears’ wardrobe malfunctions. She started working on her YA novel, City of Bones, in 2004, inspired by the urban landscape of Manhattan, her favourite city. She turned to writing fantasy fiction full time in 2006 and hopes never to have to write about Paris Hilton again. 

Cassie’s first professional writing sale was a short story called “The Girl’s Guide to Defeating the Dark Lord” in a Baen anthology of humor fantasy. Cassie hates working at home alone because she always gets distracted by reality TV shows and the antics of her two cats, so she usually sets out to write in local coffee shops and restaurants. She likes to work in the company of her friends, who see that she sticks to her deadlines. 

City of Bones was her first novel.

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Book Review: Lord of Shadows (The Dark Artifices #2) by Cassandra Clare

Lord of Shadows
The Dark Artifices #2

By:
Cassandra Clare

Add to:
Goodreads

Published:
May 23, 20017

Source:
Purchased

Book Synopsis:

Would you trade your soul mate for your soul? A Shadowhunter’s life is bound by duty. Constrained by honor. The word of a Shadowhunter is a solemn pledge, and no vow is more sacred than the vow that binds parabatai, warrior partners—sworn to fight together, die together, but never to fall in love. 

Emma Carstairs has learned that the love she shares with her parabatai, Julian Blackthorn, isn’t just forbidden—it could destroy them both. She knows she should run from Julian. But how can she when the Blackthorns are threatened by enemies on all sides? 

Their only hope is the Black Volume of the Dead, a spell book of terrible power. Everyone wants it. Only the Blackthorns can find it. Spurred on by a dark bargain with the Seelie Queen, Emma; her best friend, Cristina; and Mark and Julian Blackthorn journey into the Courts of Faerie, where glittering revels hide bloody danger and no promise can be trusted. Meanwhile, rising tension between Shadowhunters and Downworlders has produced the Cohort, an extremist group of Shadowhunters dedicated to registering Downworlders and “unsuitable” Nephilim. They’ll do anything in their power to expose Julian’s secrets and take the Los Angeles Institute for their own. 

When Downworlders turn against the Clave, a new threat rises in the form of the Lord of Shadows—the Unseelie King, who sends his greatest warriors to slaughter those with Blackthorn blood and seize the Black Volume. As dangers close in, Julian devises a risky scheme that depends on the cooperation of an unpredictable enemy. But success may come with a price he and Emma cannot even imagine, one that will bring with it a reckoning of blood that could have repercussions for everyone and everything they hold dear.

The Dark Artifices Trilogy:

My Review

Purchase At:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks

My Thoughts:

Lord of Shadows is the second book in The Dark Artifices Trilogy, and picks up right where Lady Midnight left off.   Full of Action and suspense, you will find yourself willing to sacrifice sleep in order to finish this book!  Emma has learned about "The Parabatai Curse," and is determined to sacrifice her happiness in order to prevent it from becoming a reality.  I was not in agreement with her method of trying to prevent the curse, and found myself frustrated with how she decided to handle her predicament, even if I understood her reasoning.  There is a lot of angst in this book, as there is no doubt that Emma and Jules are soul mates, and long for nothing more than to be together.  The push and pull between them is palpable, and pulled at my heart strings.  

We also learn more about secondary characters, Christina Rosales, her ex-boyfriend "Perfect Diego," Mark, Kieran (a prince of the Unseelie Court and Mark's ex-boyfriend,) Kit (an orphan whom is staying with The Blackthorne's and has mysterious parentage,) as well as many more minor characters.  Romance is sprinkled throughout the story, and I was excited to see how everything would eventually play out with all of the characters.

One of my favorite parts of book two was the adventure that took place when Emma, Jules, Mark, Christina, and Kieran travel to the land of Faerie.  I loved the magic, raw beauty, temptations, and setting that Cassandra Clare created.  I felt like I was in the Land of Faerie as well, and all of the colors and visuals were so vivid and bright. 

Danger is weaved throughout the story from multiple enemies.  Emma, Julian, Christina, Mark, Kieran, and the rest of the Blackthorne's are dealing with political upheaval, prejudice, and malicious scheming from the Cohort, an extremist group within The Clave, as well as The Seelie and Unseelie Courts in the land of Faerie, and a powerful enemy that has come about through dark magic.  I loved every moment of The Lord of Shadows! 

About the Author:

Cassandra Clare was born to American parents in Teheran, Iran and spent much of her childhood travelling the world with her family, including one trek through the Himalayas as a toddler where she spent a month living in her father’s backpack. She lived in France, England and Switzerland before she was ten years old. 

Since her family moved around so much she found familiarity in books and went everywhere with a book under her arm. She spent her high school years in Los Angeles where she used to write stories to amuse her classmates, including an epic novel called “The Beautiful Cassandra” based on a Jane Austen short story of the same name (and which later inspired her current pen name). 

After college, Cassie lived in Los Angeles and New York where she worked at various entertainment magazines and even some rather suspect tabloids where she reported on Brad and Angelina’s world travels and Britney Spears’ wardrobe malfunctions. She started working on her YA novel, City of Bones, in 2004, inspired by the urban landscape of Manhattan, her favourite city. She turned to writing fantasy fiction full time in 2006 and hopes never to have to write about Paris Hilton again. 

Cassie’s first professional writing sale was a short story called “The Girl’s Guide to Defeating the Dark Lord” in a Baen anthology of humor fantasy. Cassie hates working at home alone because she always gets distracted by reality TV shows and the antics of her two cats, so she usually sets out to write in local coffee shops and restaurants. She likes to work in the company of her friends, who see that she sticks to her deadlines. 

City of Bones was her first novel.

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Book Review: Lady Midnight (The Dark Artifices 1) by Cassandra Clare

Lady Midnight
The Dark Artifices #1

By: 
Cassandra Clare

Add to:
Goodreads

Published:
March 8, 2016

Source:
Purchased

Book Synopsis:
The Shadowhunters of Los Angeles star in the first novel in Cassandra Clare’s newest series, The Dark Artifices, a sequel to the internationally bestselling Mortal Instruments series. Lady Midnight is a Shadowhunters novel. 

It’s been five years since the events of City of Heavenly Fire that brought the Shadowhunters to the brink of oblivion. Emma Carstairs is no longer a child in mourning, but a young woman bent on discovering what killed her parents and avenging her losses. 

Together with her parabatai Julian Blackthorn, Emma must learn to trust her head and her heart as she investigates a demonic plot that stretches across Los Angeles, from the Sunset Strip to the enchanted sea that pounds the beaches of Santa Monica. If only her heart didn’t lead her in treacherous directions… 

 Making things even more complicated, Julian’s brother Mark—who was captured by the faeries five years ago—has been returned as a bargaining chip. The faeries are desperate to find out who is murdering their kind—and they need the Shadowhunters’ help to do it. But time works differently in faerie, so Mark has barely aged and doesn’t recognize his family. Can he ever truly return to them? Will the faeries really allow it? 

Glitz, glamours, and Shadowhunters abound in this heartrending opening to Cassandra Clare’s Dark Artifices series.

The Dark Artifices Trilogy:

Purchase At:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks

My Thoughts:

I've been in a reading rut for quite some time. Yet lately, I've been wanting to dive into a really good book. I've needed to lose myself in a fantasy world; one filled with magic, danger, adventure and of course, romance. I saw the cover for the Queen of Air and Darkness, and I thought that the cover was beautiful and alluring. I knew that I could count on Cassandra Clare to pull me out of my reading rut, and of course she delivered! I loved both her Immortal Instruments Series and Infernal Devices Trilogy. 

I instantly downloaded Lady Midnight because I needed to start at the beginning of the series. Lady Midnight was a good and solid read. However, it took me a while to get through it. Cassandra Clare doesn't rush her story building. She really takes her time developing her characters, giving the reader a sense of time and place, as well as adding depth to the characters connections to one another. The way she meticulously and artfully creates and links each puzzle piece in her stories, gives her readers a whole new world and experience that we get to treasure, as the pieces come together in perfect harmony. I would characterize Lady Midnight as a book that sparks the readers interest with magic, wonder, and mystery. 

In Lady Midnight, we learn about Emma Carstairs and Julian "Jules" Blackthorn. Emma came to live at the L.A. Institute after her parents were murdered. Sebastian was blamed for their murders, but Emma has always instinctively felt that someone else murdered them. She has made it her mission to figure out what really happened to them and get revenge. Emma's parabatai, Julian, has supported her every step of the way, as she investigates and pins, clues and clippings of her parents murders. 

Since the age of 12, and after his parents became part of Sebastian's "endarkened," Julian Blackthorne has been raising his younger brothers and sisters. His oldest sister, Helen, was exiled by the Clave for being part faerie, as part of "The Cold Peace," and his older brother Mark, who is also part faerie, disappeared when he was captured and became part of "The Wild Hunt," a group of wild fae. Uncle Arthur suffers from a severe dementia and went crazy after he was tortured in the faerie realm. So even though everyone on the outside thinks he is running the institute and raising the children, it is really Julian that all responsibility falls upon. 

The Blackthorne children, 15 year old twins, Livvy and Ty, as well as 13 year old Dru, and 7 year old Tavvy are all a tight-knit family, with Emma and Julian being parental figures. The Blackthorne's tutor, Diana, and fellow shadow hunter, Christina Rosales, from Mexico, (who is taking her travel year in L.A.,) and has become best friends with Emma, all are important characters in the trilogy. 

When faeries dead bodies start turning up in the same condition as Emma's parents were when they were murdered, the Blackthorne's and their allies agree to investigate, because this is Emma's chance to get the answers and revenge that she seeks. The Faeries offer the Blackthorne's brother, Mark, as a bargaining chip, because they want the murders of their fellow faeries to stop, and shadow hunter resources for investigative purposes are invaluable.  

Unfortunately, Julian and Emma's feelings for one another are growing, and it is against the law for parabatai to fall in love. Danger lurks in every corner, and enemies and allies are difficult to discern, and surround Emma and The Blackthorne's. 

Lady Midnight was a great first book in The Dark Artifices Trilogy, and did an excellent job of setting the stage for the rest of this epic story!

About the Author:

Cassandra Clare was born to American parents in Teheran, Iran and spent much of her childhood travelling the world with her family, including one trek through the Himalayas as a toddler where she spent a month living in her father’s backpack. She lived in France, England and Switzerland before she was ten years old. 

Since her family moved around so much she found familiarity in books and went everywhere with a book under her arm. She spent her high school years in Los Angeles where she used to write stories to amuse her classmates, including an epic novel called “The Beautiful Cassandra” based on a Jane Austen short story of the same name (and which later inspired her current pen name). 

After college, Cassie lived in Los Angeles and New York where she worked at various entertainment magazines and even some rather suspect tabloids where she reported on Brad and Angelina’s world travels and Britney Spears’ wardrobe malfunctions. She started working on her YA novel, City of Bones, in 2004, inspired by the urban landscape of Manhattan, her favourite city. She turned to writing fantasy fiction full time in 2006 and hopes never to have to write about Paris Hilton again. 

Cassie’s first professional writing sale was a short story called “The Girl’s Guide to Defeating the Dark Lord” in a Baen anthology of humor fantasy. Cassie hates working at home alone because she always gets distracted by reality TV shows and the antics of her two cats, so she usually sets out to write in local coffee shops and restaurants. She likes to work in the company of her friends, who see that she sticks to her deadlines. 

City of Bones was her first novel.

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