"No Mercy" (Dark Hunter Series) By Sherrilyn Kenyon

It's finally here - I'm really looking forward to reading it!

Don't forget, you can still enter my giveaway.

Wicked Enchantment by Anya Bast - review and another chance to enter the giveaway

I bought this book after I read a lot of exellent things about it and a excerpt - I was hooked form the start. And I wasn't disappointed. Here's a little bit about it (from Ms Bast's webpage):

When you’re a half incubus, your reputation precedes you…

All eyes are on Gabriel Mac Braire the day he makes his first appearance in the Seelie Court, including those of Aislinn Finvarra. Despite deep bitterness over her last failed relationship, Aislinn cannot help but be curious about the half incubus who is known to possess dark magick, both lethal and sexual in nature. Rumors abound of the women who have become enslaved to his irresistible charms.

So when the Summer Queen of the fae orders Aislinn herself to act as his guide in the court, she is understandably on guard. She’s fallen under the spell of far less persuasive men before. In addition, Gabriel might be more than he seems and his true mission is far from innocent.

This time, Aislinn must protect not only her heart, but her very life…

The story is set in the mythological land of Piefferburg where all Fae people have been imprisoned by humans. The world is broken into two main subgroups of Fae: The Summer Queen with her Seelie noble class and the Shadow King ruled in dark with the Unseelie class. Oh I love those powerful people and while I don't especially find incubus attractive Gabriel was something different. I liked him from the start and I cheered for him throughout the whole story. Aislinn is very believable character and I could relate to her angst and feeling of not belonging. And I must admit that I am a sucker for those stories about magic where heroine is not sure if she is involved or under a spell and then hero has to prove himself (in very enjoyable ways *wink*). The world building was amazing. The back-story, the city where all the Fae people now has to live, the villains - everything was beautifully described and believable. When starting a new paranormal or fantasy book I am always afraid I won't be able to grasp all the important facts about this new world whit its special rules. But here everything went smoothly and natural. I liked how court's dynamics were described and all those behind the curtain actions. The story is fast paced and loaded with action. In some places it takes turn in a direction I didn't expect.

And then there is that great cover...

All in all it was a good book and I am looking forward to reading Ms Bast's next instalment in this series called Cruel Enchantment that comes out on September 7, 2010.

I give it 4 feathers because the end was just too much for me; but I don't want to spoil it for you with my negative thoughts. Read it and judge it yourself.

Don't forget to comment on this post since it gives you an extra entry for my contest.

ARCs Galore…A NEW International Giveaway

Check this out - ARCs Galore…A NEW International Giveaway at Carol's Prints!!!

As the name says there are a lot of ARCs available for winning. And the good news is that you don't have to do anything special, just fill out the form at Ms Carolina Valdez Miller's webpage

Giveaway ends September 6, 2010. So hurry and here are just a few of the ARCs available for winning

Madman by Tracy Groot - review

I won this book at fabulous International Christian Fiction Writers blog somewhere back in June. Those days I have been overwhelmed by all the exams I had to take and I just didn't have time to concentrate on anything except college. I decided to read it while on vacation. And that was a good decision. The book is not a light read. It takes time and devotion. But, first let me tell you something about the story. Here's the blurb from the back cover:

If there is a way into madness, logic says there is a way out. Logic says.

Tallis, a philosopher’s servant, is sent to a Greek academy in Palestine only to discover that it has silently, ominously, disappeared. No one will tell him what happened, but he learns what has become of four of its scholars. One was murdered. One committed suicide. One worships in the temple of Dionysus. And one is a madman.

From the author of The Brother’s Keeper comes a tale of mystery, horror, and hope in the midst of unimaginable darkness, the story behind the Geresene demoniac of the gospels of Mark and Luke.

I am a Catholic who goes to mass more or less regularly, I took all the sacraments, I studied Bible and still read it from time to time but I've never registered a part of the story about Jesus on Galilee Lake speaking with the madman. I did remember him waking up in the boat and stopping the storm but not about him talking with the madman. I'm not sure why that is but as I mentioned before I was on vacation with limited access to the Internet and my Bible was at home. So I dove into the story and wasn't left wanting. My curious nature wanted to find out more about Geresene demoniac before the ending of the book but in the end it was a good thing that I couldn't remember this event - it made the story more interesting and I read every page with eagerness.

The story starts with Tallis, an Athenian servant, who has been sent to visit the Palestinian school his master has founded and has been supporting financially. Upon his arrival he found out that the school is no longer in existence and all the teacher are missing and one of them was even murdered. The teacher who went mad was the youngest of them and most promising one. The story grips your attention from the start and I had trouble putting the book down. You want to know what happened with the school and why nobody speaks about it. How is possible that three men disappeared and nobody saw a thing. Although the book is called Madman he is not the main character but the servant Tallis.

Another thing unknown to me was the cult of Dionysius and all the rituals associated; but I don't want to go into details because I don't want to spoil the story for you.

The landscape was beautifully described; I could see it and feel it all. The story gave very good picture about the customs from that time, about the Greeks and Palestinians, their differences and similarities. There were many characters and they were very well developed but the innkeeper's daughter Kes was a character that felt real and believable to me and I enjoyed reading about her.

After finishing the book, the one thing that kept popping up was the sentence that, for me, summarises the whole story: “Quandocumque impellunt, repelle. “ in English: "Whenever they push, push back.". It refers to the demons which posses your mind if you allow them. Demons are not necessarily some mystical creatures but they are real things like insecurity, boredom, egoism, conceit that come knocking at your door but can enter only if you allow them. I think this is the message. You have to push them out of your head because that is the only way to remain healthy both spiritually and physically. Also, it shows how easily one bad thought leads to another and that one to another and soon you are overwhelmed and can't push back anymore. Although the story is based on a gospels don't think this is the book for Christians only. It's not. It's a story about human mind, love and value of friendship. The Jesus is mentioned only on a few pages and not in a way that makes you feel like someone is trying to push you to believe something you don't want to or like you are being pushed toward the religion you don't know/want/need. Like I said it is all about how strong and good your heart/spirit is and do you want to be a good person. The other message is that when you are down and everything looks black there is a light and you can find it if you believe in it.

The thing that really delighted me was the cover. I mean look at it, it is pure perfection. I LOVE it.

I give this story 5 out of 5 feathers. I enjoyed it and loved it.

To learn more about Ms Groot please visit her webpage.

I'm off to order another of her praised books The Brother’s Keeper.

P.S. Don't forget to comment - it will give you an extra entry for my contest.

I'm back to work and contest

I came back to work after 3 week vacation spent more or less by the seaside. I had a great time. I have been to some parts of Croatia I have never been to. It was really relaxing. I'll post some pictures after I get my hands on my boyfriend's camera where he's keeping them hostage. Now it's back to work and learning for two exams I have in September.

I did manage to read a few books. I'll be posting my review in a few days - after I clean my house :(

How was your summer? Tell me and you could win one of the books I'm planning to review

 -  The Gladiator by Carla Capshaw

Set in ancient Rome, Caros Viriathos is an ex-gladiator who has everything except inner peace. When he buys Christian slave girl, Pelonia, on a whim, he never expects her or her faith to turn his life upside down and win his heart.

 

 

 

 

Contest is open to all who can receive a book from The Book Depository. You can get an extra entry by commenting on my reviews for the next few days. When I post all the reviews the contest will be closed. So stay tuned :)

CSN Winner!!!

Thank you all for taking part in  this giveaway!!! And the random winner is

elaing8

Here's what random.org had to say:
There were 10 items in your list. Here they are in random order:

1.4. elaing8
2.1. CrystalGB
3.2. Mami2jcn
4.3. Cecile
5.8. Debbie
6.6. Domestic Diva
7.7. Debbie
8.10. edmontonjb
9.9. Stephanie
10.5. elaing8
Timestamp: 2010-08-04 19:49:58 UTC

The winner has 4 days to contact me, if not I will have to choose another winner.

Thank you CSN for this giveway!!!

Have a great day!