Magic Shifts Review

Author: Ilona Andrews

Genre: Urban Fantasy, Paranormal, Magic

Rating: 4.5 Stars

Let’s play who can be a better killer. My sword and I love this game.

Magic Shifts is the eighth novel in the Kate Daniels series by Ilona Andrews. I still cant believe she has published over eight amazing novels! Kate and Currans' story is endless and timeless and flawless. I just cant get enough! This series just gets better with every book and Magic Shifts is living proof of that. 

Pay attention to this moment. Look at the stars. Breathe in the cold air. This is your last night. These are the last breaths you will take.

What I would give to live in this world Ilona created! Atlanta is a city with a mixture of magic and technological elements that make it such an interesting place to live in. There are Vampires, the Pack, Ghouls, Witches, and other weird shit rooming within the city boarder! 

“Off your chain. So dangerous, Your Majesty.” He glanced at me. “You might be too scary to let into the house. I don’t know if I can risk falling asleep next to you, Unchained One. Who knows what would happen?”

Magic Shifts is a transition from the previous novels, especially Magic Breaks,allowing the reader to settle into the world again. It begins with a normal opening and goes downhill from there. This novel is EXPLOSIVE! Kate is once again put in the forefront of these mysterious events that begin occurring in Atlanta. However, the pressure is on as she has to juggle between saving Atlanta and yet not shinning a spotlight on herself. 

“You’re a fucking bitch, you know that?” Mac said. “I’ll have to live with myself.”

It shouldn't be a surprise that the characters are just as awesome, if not better, than they previously were! Kate and Curran grow both in their relationship and also individually. There are some characters introduced in this novel are just so enigmatic and different. Magic Shifts really does bring in a wave of uniqueness and diversity.   

“That’s what I love about you, Your Furriness. Your humility and modesty.” “Don’t forget my razor-sharp wit and boyish good looks.”

What I loved most about Magic Shifts was the fact that it didn't feel like just ONE episode out of a TV show. It was its own TV show with a mixture of twists and turns, up and downs, calm moments and pure kick ass storms. It was grittier, funnier and multilayered. The novel wasn't just trying to solve one mystery but various problems that simultaneously occurred. 

This was what happiness felt like.

I am in awe of this series as a whole. 

"Curran!” “Yes?” I could hear controlled laughter in his voice. Unbelievable. I sped up. “We’re tracking ghouls and you’re grabbing my butt.” “I always make sure to pay attention to important things.” “Sure you do.”

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Find this novel on Amazon and Goodreads.

Complicate Me Review

Author: M. Robinson

Genre: Romance, Mature, Coming of Age

Rating: 5 Stars

Our first kiss was our beginning and in some ways our end.

I just know that after M. Robinson finished this novel, she smirked at her manuscript, smoked a cigar and thought, "let me give my readers hell". And hell she brought. The most wonderful kind of hell. Complicate Me was simply a stunning literary work. It was authentic, captivating and heartwarming while still being brutally tragic and raw. Complicate Me encapsulates the beauty, pain and happiness of life. 

She would tell me later in life that nothing calmed her more than my arms around her, and if I had known that then, I would have held her every time she looked at me with sadness or disappointment. And maybe it could have helped heal the wounds that I cut along the way.

In this little town of Oak Island, the story of Alex and Lucas begins. Now I know what you are all thinking; another romance story, sigh, what is new? And I am here to say that Complicate Me is refreshingly new, original and kick ass. Alex and Lucas have been best friends, soulmates, and each others salvation since birth. Complicate Me begins at the end and goes through the chain of the events that lead to a heartbrokenly powerful moment. Most importantly, Complicate Me felt like an out of body experience as I vividly lived through someone else's story. It taught me to live. 

“You’re a good girl, Alexandra. That’s what makes you my Half-Pint. You’re the calm to my storm. It’s always been that way,” he paused to let his words sink in. “You’re my refuge.”

Being best friends, one would assume things would come easy for Alex and Lucas. It becomes blatantly clear that this is not the case. Alex is born a few years after Lucas and her three other best friends, Jacob, Austin and Dylan, and because of that she has always been seen as "the baby". As they all begin to grow up, Alex struggles to break out of their image of her. Mostly, she struggles to show Lucas that she is conscious and mature enough to see the impenetrable bond between themselves. Lucas struggles with accepting that Alex will not always be his brown-eyed girl. 

I was slapped in the face with my own hurricane. The winds turned against me and I didn’t even fight it. I let it take hold. I deserved it all.

There are so many turns and obstacles that both Alex and Lucas have to face. What sets this novel apart from others is its theme. Not only are we in the search for love but also comfort with being ourselves. Ultimately, it is a coming of age story, trying to find your place in the world and accepting everything that you are. Every character in this novel is constantly evolving and growing through their life experiences. M. Robinson shows both the happy and the dark moments, creating a constant rollercoaster ride of emotions. I was on the edge of my seat through out this reading experience (I still am from the ending...on to book 2). 

I loved picking on her as much as the other boys did. I believed it was in my blood to do it. My dad picked on my mom relentlessly, and my grandfather did the same with my grandmother. It was a Ryder trait. If we didn’t pick on our girls, then we didn’t love them enough. My dad constantly reminded my mom that the day he stopped picking on her would be the day he stopped loving her.

M. Robinson creates a great romance novel and ultimately a great life novel. The characters were all so dynamic, witty, intuitive and just plain fun. There were moments where I wanted to become part of their family; they are literally SQUAD GOALS! The plot is simple yet complex at the same time, having a lot of substance and depth to it. Ultimately, I just loved, LOVED, Complicate ME. I would honestly not change one thing. 

“One day I’m going to fall in love and he’s going to love me fearlessly. He’s going to protect me and fight for me. He won’t care about what anyone thinks, because he’s not a dummy like you are. We’re going to be happy because all you need is love."

There is something about love stories that bloom from childhood that always tugs at my heart. I think it is the truest form of love; it is a time where we are too young to be dishonest with ourselves, where society's expectations haven't hammered down on us, and we are unabashedly free. Complicate Me, at its core, is liberating. I loved and hated reading it. 

I love every single thing about you. I love you because I need you. I love you because there is no me without you. I love you because I can’t stop loving you, and I would be lying if I said I had tried.

Find this novel on Amazon and Goodreads.

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Candidate Review

Author:Rachel E. Carter

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Epic Fantasy

Rating: Should-be-10 Stars

“I told you not to trust a wolf. Because it would only ever want to break you… Haven’t you figured it out yet? I’m the wolf, Ryiah.”

Candidate by Rachel E. Carter was a whirlwind of a read. Because of this, I am staring at this white empty screen attempting to put my thoughts into words in order to adequately show the novels' worth. Candidate was by far the best novel in The Black Mage series and it pushed me to my limits. There is no holding back and because of that, my heart might be eternally bruised due to it. 

“And they told me to keep watch over a ‘lady.’” I couldn’t help but smirk. A lady. I lunged and defeated her guard. I was a war mage.

The first two novels in this series were tamer in the sense of brutality. What Candidate does is strip the smoke screen of deception and throw us into the realities of the Kingdom. No one is more shocked than Ryiah about the implications and consequences of these lies.   Ryiah fights  between doing what is right, with the chance of losing everything, or living in ignorance, and still, losing everything. 

“Remind me to never challenge you to a duel. You are a bloodthirsty savage.”

Ryiah is now a second rank Combat Mage and is betrothed to the non-heir Darren. Everything seems to be on track. However, Ryiah struggles with her impending title and court life and decides to go off to Ferren's Keep. There, she finds reprieve from court politics and focuses on just being Ryiah the combat Mage. She continues to prove herself and her dedication to the cause to those apprehensive about her. But Ryiah can not have the best of both worlds; being a solider and royalty at the same time. At the end of the day, she has to decide which one is more important to her. 

“That’s the thing about enemies. You never know who they could end up being.”

As the future war with Caltoth approaches, sides must be chosen. This decision opens the reader to the greyness of the kingdom and past actions that caused these chain of events.  Friends, families and relationships are tested; the question is whether they will hold up to the strain. It is almost impossible to distinguish between good and evil. Ultimately, who should Ryiah trust? 

“The truth is told in anger, not regret, love.”

Ryiah really grew through these novels; yes she still made mistakes, but she was more conscious of her actions. She transforms into an empowered, self-confident (most times), passionate individual. I wonder if she was always destined to be a princess; to implement change. Darren still remains swoon-worthy and charismatic. There is just something about him that attracts you in like a moth to a flame. Their chemistry is off the charts and I can't wait to see where their relationship takes them. The characters in Candidate were dark, gritty, but brutally honest and raw. They all evolved and played an instrumental part to the ending. 

“You smell like home.” I felt him crack a smile. “Would you believe me if I told you the same?”

The Plot.... I honestly don't know what to say. I am literally stumped. It takes a lot to surprise me, Candidate surprised the hell out of me. One thing is for certain, Rachel created this novel with such  sophistication and maturity. The plot was so meticulous and complex that you didn't really know what is going on until it happened. There were moments where I would could not believe what I was reading. I want to hug this novel but also want to strangle it. I want to comfort Candidate and I also want to it comfort me and tell me everything will be okay.

How many times can a person shatter? At least one more.

I am really proud of Rachel's work and passion in Candidate. I will be riding shot gun for the final novel, The Last Stand. I hope Ryiah is ready! If she wants to win, she has to stop being the sheep and become the wolf. 

Flames erupted in a tempest of red. Against the bright summer sun it seared. Red like blood. Red like rage. Red like revenge.

Find this novel on Amazon and Goodreads.

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Air Awakens Review

Author: Elise Kova

Genre: Fantasy, Romance, Magic

Rating: 4 stars

When will you stop being afraid, read, and learn more about who you are?

Air Awakens by Elise Kova really did awaken something powerful in me. It awaken my passion and love for reading after a dark and uncertain time in my life. I don't know what it is about high fantasy that always has a substantial affect on me. People will tell me "magic isn't real, so why do you waste your time reading it?" and I reply, " I am so sorry for you because when I READ I get to feel magic, this whirlwind sensation, while you will never  will experience something like that". Some people are addicted to alcohol or drugs, I am wholeheartedly addicted to novels. This novel just reminded me of all the reasons people should fight to read and experience more. 

Vhalla wanted to feel special. She wanted to feel important. She wanted to feel she was special and important to the crown prince, of all people. But she only felt like an object.

Elise Kova creates an amazing world surrounded by magic, court games, love and friendship. Vhalla is a seventeen year old librarian apprentice who has been content with her life but always felt as though something was missing. She is on her way to becoming a prominent figure in the library due to her love for reading and knowing. The question is, is that enough? One night, tragedy strikes in the palace and a prince is rushed back from war with a bad injury at critical condition. All the librarians are brought together in order to find the cure for a certain poison. The anxiety and pressure get the best of Vhalla and she vehemently writes all the possible solutions to the cure. Her notes then form the catalyst to her new life. 

Something about it terrified her; something about it shamed her; something about it pushed her forward.

Vhalla imprinted her magic in those notes and basically announced herself as a sorcerer. This is not necessarily what she wants, but that doesn't mean she isn't intrigued by the individuals with the black robes and the emblem on their chests. Vhalla is particularly interested in crown prince Aldrik, who personifies darkness himself. ( Little side note,  Aldrik is slightly similiar in character to the Darkling in the Grisha Trilogy). As Vhalla delves deeper into the world of magic, she begins to face the realities of the world around her. Two paths emerge and Vhalla must decide what type of person she wants to be; one who is scared of the unknown due to ignorance or one who accepts the truth about and around herself. 

She simply saw someone who was lonely, someone who could likely count their friends on one hand, and perhaps wanted to one day use two hands.

Most readers will relate to Vhalla in some shape or form. She is, at times, the epitome of our insecurities. Just like us, she is afraid of change and possesses a lot of self doubt. What makes her character so rich is the development; watching Vhalla acknowledge her insecurities and own them ( or they will own you). Both princes are enigmatic and dynamic. This just makes you want to know more. The main characters were approached well but the way the author dealt with Vhalla's previous friends didn't feel right. Her friends could have become complex characters but remained static throughout the novel. 

“I’m simply learning where I’m meant to be.” It was the only response because it was the truth.

Air Awakens is the first novel from the series and acts as an introduction into the world. Due to this, there isn't a lot of the 'conventional' plot or action seen here. It is mostly the physiological exploration of the characters and the high court, preparing the reader for the sequel. It does its job. Well. I drank up this novel so fast I am surprised I didn't choke. It was THAT good. 

They were sending her to war, so she would go and become something they had every right to fear.

And in the words of Taylor Swift: " This (book) is sick!"

Find this novel on Amazon and Goodreads!

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