The Falconer

Today’s post is on The Falconer by Elizabeth May. It is the first in her Falconer trilogy. It is 378 pages long and is published by Chronicle Books. The cover has the main character holding a dagger with her long red hair. The intended reader is young adult but if you like stories where the fairies are what they are in the old legends then give this one a try. There is language, no sex, and lots of violence in this book. The story is told from first person close of the main character. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the dust jacket- One girl’s nightmare is this girl’s faery tlale.
She’s a Stunner.
Edinburgh, 1844. Eighteen-year-old Lady Aileana Kameron, the only daughter of the Marquess of Douglas, has everything that a girl could dream of: brains, charm, wealth, a title- and drop-dead beauty.
She’s Lair.
But Aileana only looks the part of a aristocratic young lady. She’s leading a double life: She has a rare ability to sense the sithichean- the faery race obsessed with slaughtering humans- and, with the aid of a mysterious mentor, has spent the year since her mother died learning how to kill them.
She’s a Murderer.
Now Aileana is dedicated to slaying the fae before they take innocent lives. With her abilities and her knack for inventing ingenious tools and weapons- from flying machines to detonators to lighting pistols- ruthless Aileana has one goal: Destroy the faery who destroyed her mother.
She’s a Falconer.
The last in a line of female warriors born with a gift for hunting and killed the fae, Aileana is the sole hope of preventing a powerful faery population from massacring all of humanity. Suddenly, her quest is a lot more complicated. She still longs to avenge her mother’s murder- but she’ll have save the world first.

Reivew- This is an interesting and well written historical fantasy. It’s like Buffy the Vampire Slayer set in 1884 Scotland. The Fae are as unhuman and ruthless as the old stories have them. Aileana is a good and interesting heroine. She has weakness, faults, and she has growth. Aileana wants to kill the fae that ate her mother to the point of blind madness. The side characters add color to this story that would otherwise be just blood red. The story happens very quickly with everything going south then ending with everything still up in the air. Normally those kind of cliff hangers annoy me because I think that good writer’s do not need to do that but not this time. I think that this is where the first book just ended for the writer. I am interested where this story is going because there are so many ways. I hope that the love triangle does not take center stage. I personally am pulling for the human but that is because I have read the old stories about the Fae.

I give this book a Four out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I borrowed this book from my local library.

Samurai Deeper Kyo volume 33

Today's post is on Samurai Deeper Kyo volume 33 by Akimine Kamijyo. It is published by Tokyopop and as it is the 33^rd in the series you need to have read the first 32 to understand the story. The cover has Sasuke on it looking really young. There is no sex, some mild language, and lots of violence in this volume and series. The intended reader is someone who likes samurai manga, surprising romance, and lots of cool swords. Older teens and adults are really the best readers for this one. The story is told from third person god perspective with the thoughts of the main character's added in for plot and character development. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- Having now defeated both Yuan and Tokito, out intrepid band continues on to Hishigi's stronghold. There, they find a laboratory full of children- “test-tube babies”- with crimson eyes, created as part of the experiment to reconstruct the Mibu Clan! Meanwhile, Yukimura attempts to save both Sakuya and Yuya from the former Crimson King and his manservant Chimei. But the king proves himself powerful- almost too powerful!

Review-This volume deals with some of the questions from the last one with Tokito. She is not Muramasa child but his niece. She falls apart when she discovers that she was just a tool not someone who matters to anyone in power in the Mibu Clan but then we move back to Yuya and spend some serious time with her and her group. The former crimson king is crazy that is for sure and Kyoshiro is playing both ends against the middle but he keeps Sakuya and Yuya safe for the moment. I think it's too bad that Kyoshiro thinks that Kyo's body is the only way for him to defeat the former crimson king but I do not think that Kyoshiro really can use Kyo's body at it's best. The only real downside to this volume is very little Kyo. He is going to fighting in the next volume and I cannot wait to see him save Akari. Only Five volumes left. I am going to miss reading this every week.

I give this volume and series a Five out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I bought this manga with my own money.

The Reckoning: Death and Intrigue in the Promised Land

Today's review is on The Reckoning: Death and Intrigue in the Promised Land by Patrick Bishop. It is 352 including notes and an index and is published by HarperCollins publishing. The cover has a picture of the victim on it circled in red. The intended reader is someone who likes detective stories, and historical nonfiction. There is no sex, some mild language, and lots of violence in this book. The story is told journalistically with interviews, letters, and reports to add favor. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- Militant Zionist Avraham Stern believed he was destined to be the Jewish liberator of British Palestine. As the ringleader of the infamous Stern Gang, also known Lahi, he masterminded a series of high-profile terrorist attacks in the pursuit of his dream. On the run from British authorities who'd put a bounty on his head, Stern was hiding in an attic in Tel Aviv when he was killed by Assistant Superintendent Geoffrey Morton, a British colonial policeman assigned to capture him.

Morton claimed Stern was trying to escape. But witnesses insisted he was executed in cold blood. His controversial death inspired a cult of martyrdom that gave new life to Lehi, helping to destroy hopes of a détente between the British, the Arabs, and the Jews.
The Reckoning is the story of Patrick Bishop's quest to discover the truth. Based on extensive research- including access to Morton's private archive and eyewitness interviews- it recounts this seismic event in full, without bias, placing it within the context of its turbulent time. Bishop's gripping, groundbreaking narrative brings to life two men similar in ambition and dedication, chronicles the events that led to their fatal meeting, and explores how the impact of Stern's death reverberated through the final years of British rule and birth of Israel.

Review- This book was okay. It never really grabbed me and I disagree with some of the claims of the blurb. I do not feel that this book is unbiased. I could be wrong but I felt from the very beginning all the way to the end of the book that Bishop believed that Stern was murdered and he was out to prove it. Now that said, Bishop does talk about all the problems with the witnesses, researching this fifty years on, and other problems. I do not know what happened in that room. I think that Morton could have shot him but I also think that Stern could have tried to run. Stern was not a brave man, as everything in the book will tell you but Morton was no killer either. The writing style is not bad but it is not easy to read. As I was reading it I needed to in a place where I had little to no distractions around me or I could not concentrate on the story. If you know something about this story I am sure that you will enjoy this book and will learn more about it. But if you do not then I really not think that this book is interesting enough to attract the casual reader.

I give this book a Two out of Five stars. I get nothing for my reviews and I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review by HarperCollins.

A Tapestry of Spells

Today’s post is on A Tapestry of Spells by Lynn Kurland. It is the first in a new Nine Kingdoms trilogy. It is 343 pages long and is published by Berkley. The cover has one of the main characters on it. There is no sex, some mild language, and action violence in this book. The intended reader is someone who likes high fantasy, sweeping storylines, and some romance in it. Adults will enjoy this book and series more because of the writing style but teenagers could read it and enjoy it. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- The past will always find you…
Sarah of Doire, daughter of the village witchwoman, knows two things: Her brother has embraced the dark arts, vowing to destroy the Nine Kingdoms; and she doesn’t have the power to stop him. Now, even though she fears the quest will reveal the secret she’s kept all her life and spell her doom, she must risk everything to thwart his plans- unless she can find aid from a man who knows too well the power of magic, whether used for good… or ill.
No matter where you hide.
After seeing his entire family slain by his father’s arrogant misuse of magic, Ruithneadh of Ceangail buried his own power and swore to never to use it again. But when Sarah arrives at his door, desperate for his help he finds himself thrust back into a life of full enchantments and peril. He knows the quest will be dangerous, but he has no idea the journey, the woman who accompanies him on it, and the truths he uncovers are capable of shattering his soul and unraveling the entire fabric of the Nine Kingdoms…

Review- I love the Nine Kingdoms series. Everything about them. I love the magic, I love the character’s, I love the writing style, and I love exploring this world with Kurland. This novel takes place with or very soon after Princess of the Sword. This one follows Morgan’s closest brother in age. He believes that everyone from his family is dead. He remembers everything, unlike Morgan, and because of that he wants nothing to do with magic. Sarah just wants out. She wants to have a quiet life away from the ghost of her mother and somewhere her brother can never find her. I look forward to her brother getting his just rewards for the life he is living. Sarah is still a mystery to me. I know that she can see magic that no one else can but I get why she thinks that she does not have magic. I guess she has been holding herself up to other mages. The ending was good not too cliffhangery for me but that maybe because I have the next volume waiting for me to start next.

I give this book a Five out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I bought this book with my own money.

The Jewel

Today’s post is on The Jewel by Amy Ewing. It is the first in her The Lone City series. It is 358 pages long and is published by Harper Teen. The cover is a light purple with the main character curled up in the center in a glittery dress. The intended reader is young adult who likes dystopian stories but I think if you are an adult who likes those things then you will like this story too. There is some language, talk of sex, violence, and some other themes that could makes some uncomfortable; so warning for strong adult-like themes. The story is told from the first person perspective of the main character Violet. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the dust jacket- The Jewel means wealth. The Jewel means beauty. The Jewel means royalty.
But for girls like Violet, the Jewel means servitude.
Violet, born and raised in the Marsh, has been trained to work for royalty. And she quickly learns the brutal truths that lies beneath the Jewel’s glittering façade; the cruelty, backstabbing, and hidden violence that have become the royal way of life.
Violet must accept the ugly realities of her existence… and try to stay alive. When an unlikely friendship offers her an opportunity she never dreamed possible, Violet clings to the hope of a better life- until a forbidden romance changes everything. Suddenly, Violet finds herself in a different kind of danger, one that may cost her more than she bargained for.

Review- This blurb says nothing about the real story at all. Violet is not working for royal; she is to be used to birth one child and then be killed. She, and all the other girls like her, are brood mares for the upper class. That is a very intense and serious theme add in some abuse and you get something that is going to make some people very uncomfortable. Ewing writes a good story about slavery and at times I was uncomfortable with this book. Ewing takes the reader into a dark place with little to no light and she leaves Violet there until the next book. The world building is tightly controlled because the world is tightly controlled around Violet. She does not really know anything about her world or anyone else’s because those in power do not want her to know. It was very claustrophobic. If you are looking for a high action or high energy dystopian read then this is not it but if you want something that is going to make you think about how really living in a dystopian might be then I recommend this book.

I give this book a Four out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I borrowed this book from my local library.

Samurai Deeper Kyo volume 32

Today’s post is Samurai Deeper Kyo volume 32 by Akimine Kamijyo. It is published by Tokyopop. As it is the 32^th in the series you need to have read the first 31 to understand the story. The cover has Akira, Benitora, and Bontenmaru on it with in the inside cover having a joke made from the front cover. There is language, implied nudity, and lots of violence in this volume. The intended reader is someone who likes samurai manga, tons of plot and characters, and unexpected love stories. The story is told from the third person god perspective of the main characters with their thoughts added in for plot and character development. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- Akira enters a life-threatening battle against Tokito, one of the Five Elders and heir of the great Muramasa, despite Anthony's warning that he's reached the zenith of his powers with no hopes of furthering his skill. Meanwhile, Benitora puts his life on the line and faces Spade, Tokito's right-hand man, in order to give his best friend the best chance against the seemingly undefeatable Elder- But are the two friends in way over their heads?

Review- This volume is about all about Akira. We get to see into his head and his thoughts as he thinks that he is going to die. I love Akira so this volume was just awesome to me. We get a couple of pages with Yuya and Sakuya but nothing really there. Mostly just showing the reader that they are having tea while everyone else is fighting and stuff. Akira just owns this. He, in my opinion, finally reaches Kyo. Akira has always felt that Kyo was ahead of him and was going to leave him behind but now I think that he has reached Kyo. Akira has a moment like Hotaru in last volume when he realizes who he is. And he is awesome. Akira goes all the way to finally push himself to where Kyo is and he makes it. Benitora is good background but we do not get to see his fight with Spade, which I think is too bad. I would have liked to have seen the two fights has they happen at the same time. Only six volumes left and I have no idea where Kamijyo is going to go next.

I give this volume Five stars out of Five. I get nothing for my review and I bought this manga with my money.

The Clockwork Dagger

 

Today’s post is on The Clockwork Dagger by Beth Cato. It is the first in her Clockwork Dagger Duology. It is 358 pages long and is published by Harper Voyager. The cover has the two main character’s looking cool and steampunky on it. There is some language, no sex, and violence in this book. The intended reader is someone who likes steampunk, fantasy, good characters, and interesting magic. The story is told from the third person close of the main character Octavia. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- Orphaned as a child, Octavia Leander was doomed to grow up on the streets until Miss Percival saved her. Gifted with incredible powers, the young healer is about to embark on her first mission, visiting suffering cities in the far reaches of the war-scarred realm. But the airship on which she is traveling is plagued by a series of strange and disturbing occurrences, including murder, and Octavia herself is threated.
Suddenly, she is caught up in a flurry of intrigue: the dashingly attractive steward may be one of the infamous Clockwork Daggers- the Queen’s spies and assassins- and her cabinmate harbors disturbing secrets. But the danger is only beginning, for Octavia discovers that the deadly conspiracy may reach the crown itself.

Review- This was a great read. I had just so much fun with it. The writing is good, the world-building is solid, the dialog is sharp, and the heroine is not stupid. The world-building is slow but I think that is a good thing. As we travel with Octavia we learn more about the world. The reader is not overwhelmed with everything about the world all at once. We learn about Octavia and her role as a healer. We learn about the war. We learn as Cato makes the world very real. I loved Octavia as a healer. She was a good one and not useless. She has brains and she uses them. The love story is important to the overall story but I did not feel that is over shadowed it. The hero is pretty good too. He is a veteran of the long standing war but he still believes in good and good things. He believes in  Octavia and he trusts her. He does so much right. I am really looking forward to the next book and I will be reading more of Ms. Cato as she writes it. I recommend this book.

I give this book a Five out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I borrowed this book from my local library but I will be buying it when I get paid next.