Tiger’s Promise by Colleen Houck | Book Review

(Tiger’s Saga #0.5)

Published: June 1st 2014

Synopsis:

Before the curse, there was a promise. A prequel to the bestselling Tiger’s Curse series, this much anticipated novella recalls the beginning of Ren and Kishan’s story. Before Kelsey there was a girl, raised by a villain, whose love for a hero changed the course of history.

Trapped under the thumb of her abusive and powerful father Lokesh, Yesubai struggles to keep her own magical abilities secret while evading his dark powers. When Lokesh promises Yesubai to the prince of a neighboring kingdom, she becomes the central pawn in his plot to destroy the ruling family and take power for himself. Yesubai is trapped by her father’s threats and desperate to protect the man she comes to love, but she knows that any decision she makes will have dire consequences. As dark forces gather around her, Yesubai must decide if she’s willing to reveal that somewhere deep within her she has the power to change everything.

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My rating:  5/5 (Outstanding)

Book Information

Publisher: CreateSpace

Genre(s): Young-adult Fantasy Romance

Page Count: 120

Format: Paperback

ISBN: 1499104987

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 Used for the Popsugar challenge: A book set in a different country

My reading for the Popsugar Reading Challenge has begun! So, one of the requirements for the challenge is ‘A book set in a different country’. The book, or more accurately, the novella I’ve chosen for this one is Tiger’s Promise by Colleen Houck. Thanks to the wonderful bloggers who answered my questions surrounding novellas and re-reads! I wasn’t sure whether novellas or re-reads count, but I am now assured they do. 🙂 

Frostbite by Richelle Mead | Book Review

(Frostbite # 2)

Published: April 10th 2008

Synopsis:

Rose loves Dimitri, Dimitri might love Tasha, and Mason would die to be with Rose…

It’s winter break at St. Vladimir’s, but Rose is feeling anything but festive. A massive Strigoi attack has put the school on high alert, and now the Academy’s crawling with Guardians—including Rose’s hard-hitting mother, Janine Hathaway. And if hand-to-hand combat with her mom wasn’t bad enough, Rose’s tutor Dimitri has his eye on someone else, her friend Mason’s got a huge crush on her, and Rose keeps getting stuck in Lissa’s head while she’s making out with her boyfriend, Christian! The Strigoi are closing in, and the Academy’s not taking any risks… This year, St. Vlad’s annual holiday ski trip is mandatory.

But the glittering winter landscape and the posh Idaho resort only create the illusion of safety. When three friends run away in an offensive move against the deadly Strigoi, Rose must join forces with Christian to rescue them. But heroism rarely comes without a price…

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My rating: 4/5 (Really Good)

Book Information

Publisher: Razorbill

Genre(s): Young-adult Paranormal Romance

Page Count: 327

Format: Paperback

ISBN: 1595141758

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Hey there! It’s been a while since I’ve done my Vampire Academy review, and I want to continue with doing reviews for the rest of the series. So, I’m here with a review on the second book of the series, Frostbite! 🙂 And to be clear, I enjoyed Frostbite more than Vampire Academy, although they have the same rating. Both books are awesome, and I definitely recommend them.

Just a little note: Frostbite, like the other books in the Vampire Academy has a couple of different covers. The first cover below is the featured one for this review, but the second picture with the covers are the different covers you might see. Just a little observation! 😉

Press the images for a more clear view.

Tiger’s Quest by Colleen Houck | Book Review

(Tiger’s Saga #2)

Published: June 7th 2011

Synopsis:

Back in Oregon, Kelsey tries to pick up the pieces of her life and push aside her feelings for Ren. Kelsey Hayes’s eighteenth summer was crazy. The kind of crazy nobody would ever believe. 

Aside From battling immortal sea monkeys and trekking the jungles of India, she fell in love with Ren, a 300-year-old prince.

When danger suddenly forces Kelsey on another Indian quest, with Ren’s bad-boy brother, Kishan,the unlikely duo begins to question their true destiny. Ren’s life hangs in the balance–so does the truth within Kelsey’s heart.

Tiger’s Quest, the thrilling second volume in the Tiger’s Curse series, brings the trio one step closer to breaking the ancient prophecy that binds them.

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My Rating: 4.5/5 (Amazing)

Book Information

Publisher: Sterling Publishing

Genre(s): Young-adult Fantasy, Romance

Page Count: 479

Format: Hardcover

ISBN: 140278404X

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I had been planning to do a review on this book soon after I did the one for Tiger’s Curse, but I ended up doing other reviews instead. As I recently finished Tiger’s Destiny, I finally decided to do reviews for the second and third book so I could post a review on that one (since it was amazing! I’ve cooled down emotionally to provide a reasonable and honest review, so it’s perfect timing. ;)).

If you’ve read the first book, you’ll know that our lovely Kelsey Hayes has chosen to go back to Oregon (without Ren), after helping Mr. Kadam and Ren to complete the first task to break the tiger’s curse, to protect herself from future heartbreak (by continuing things with Ren), and resume any sense of normalcy in her life. In the first part of the book Kelsey spends time with school stuff and dating other guys, all the while pining for Ren. *SPOILER ALERT!!!* Ren comes back, and obviously Kelsey goes back to him. Everything was nice and easy, and Ren’s brother Kishan comes to Oregon as well to provide extra protection. However, danger is just around the corner, and as a result, Kelsey is forced to return to India along with Kishan, but not Ren–Ren gets captured by Lokesh. Kelsey goes on another quest–this time with Ren’s brother Kishan–to complete the next task, and to save Ren. Filled with danger, choices of the heart, and thrilling moments, Tiger’s Quest brings our characters one step closer to breaking the tiger’s curse.

Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini | Book Review

(Starcrossed #1)

Published: May 31st 2011

Synopsis:

How do you defy destiny?

Helen Hamilton has spent her entire sixteen years trying to hide how different she is—no easy task on an island as small and sheltered as Nantucket. And it’s getting harder. Nightmares of a desperate desert journey have Helen waking parched, only to find her sheets damaged by dirt and dust. At school she’s haunted by hallucinations of three women weeping tears of blood . . . and when Helen first crosses paths with Lucas Delos, she has no way of knowing they’re destined to play the leading roles in a tragedy the Fates insist on repeating throughout history.

As Helen unlocks the secrets of her ancestry, she realizes that some myths are more than just legend. But even demigod powers might not be enough to defy the forces that are both drawing her and Lucas together—and trying to tear them apart.

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My Rating: 4/5 (Really Good)

Book Information:

Publisher: HarperTeen

Genre(s): Young-Adult Fantasy Romance

Page Count: 487

Format: Hardcover

ISBN: 0062011995

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Hey guys! I’m back with a review on Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini, which I finished re-reading recently. Hope you enjoy! 🙂

Note: I’ll be breaking this review into 2 main parts: the characters, and plot. This time I won’t be putting a summary in my own words. Sorry! 😉

So, starting with characters: we Helen Hamilton, who’s the super-pretty-but-doesn’t-know-it type we see in other novels, as our protagonist. Handsome and protective Lucas Delos plays the love interest, and there is no sign of a love triangle in this book. We also have a supporting cast of the Delos clan (Hector, Jason, Ariadne, Cassandra, the parents, etc.), as well as Helen’s best friend Claire, among other characters.

Tiger’s Curse by Colleen Houck | Book Review

(The Tiger Saga #1)

Published: January 11th 2011

Synopsis:

Passion. Fate. Loyalty.

Would you risk it all to change your destiny?

The last thing Kelsey Hayes thought she’d be doing this summer was trying to break a 300-year-old Indian curse. With a mysterious white tiger named Ren. Halfway around the world. But that’s exactly what happened. Face-to-face with dark forces, spellbinding magic, and mystical worlds where nothing is what it seems, Kelsey risks everything to piece together an ancient prophecy that could break the curse forever.

Tiger’s Curse is the exciting first volume in an epic fantasy-romance that will leave you breathless and yearning for more.

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My Rating: 4.5/5 (Amazing) 

Book Information

Publisher: Sterling

Genre(s): Young-adult Fantasy, Romance

Page Count: 403

Format: Hardcover

ISBN: 1402784031

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Okay, so I’ve been off the book blog charts, but I’m back now! I’ve been kept busy with school and stuff, so this Easter break is such a relief. Speaking of Easter, Happy Good Friday and Easter weekend to everyone out there! 😛

I’ve recently finished the third book of this amazing series, Tiger’s Voyage, and I’m so blown over now, it’s probably clouding my judgement, but oh well. I’ll try not to spoil anything…

Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead | Book Review

(Vampire Academy #1)

Published: August 16, 2007

Synopsis:

St. Vladimir’s Academy isn’t just any boarding school—it’s a hidden place where vampires are educated in the ways of magic and half-human teens train to protect them. Rose Hathaway is a Dhampir, a bodyguard for her best friend Lissa, a Moroi Vampire Princess. They’ve been on the run, but now they’re being dragged back to St. Vladimir’s—the very place where they’re most in danger. . . .

Rose and Lissa become enmeshed in forbidden romance, the Academy’s ruthless social scene, and unspeakable nighttime rituals. But they must be careful lest the Strigoi—the world’s fiercest and most dangerous vampires—make Lissa one of them forever.

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My Rating: 4/5 (Very Good)

Book Information

Publisher: Razorbill

Genre(s): Young-adult Paranormal Romance

Page Count: 332

Format: Paperback

ISBN: 159514174X

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Vampire Academy was an awesome read, and it was very hard to decide on an adequate rating, however I think Vampire Academy is well deserving of 4 stars, and ultimately, one of my top-picks.

Vampire Academy series

Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare | Book Review

(The Infernal Devices #1)

Published: August 31, 2010

Synopsis:

In a time when Shadowhunters are barely winning the fight against the forces of darkness, one battle will change the course of history forever. Welcome to the Infernal Devices trilogy, a stunning and dangerous prequel to the New York Times bestselling Mortal Instruments series.

The year is 1878. Tessa Gray descends into London’s dark supernatural underworld in search of her missing brother. She soon discovers that her only allies are the demon-slaying Shadowhunters—including Will and Jem, the mysterious boys she is attracted to. Soon they find themselves up against the Pandemonium Club, a secret organization of vampires, demons, warlocks, and humans. Equipped with a magical army of unstoppable clockwork creatures, the Club is out to rule the British Empire, and only Tessa and her allies can stop them…

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My Rating:  4.5/5 (Amazing) 

Book Information

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Genre(s): Young-adult, Paranormal, Urban Fantasy

Page Count: 479

Format: Hardcover

ISBN: 1416975861

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This one was a tough pick for rating between 4.5 and 5. I’m not a big giver of 5 stars, so I had to really think about this one. And it was a hard choice, but my rating would go to 4.5 stars. That’s not to say that it was a bad story, it was amazing. Totally on my all-time faves. 🙂

So, I read The Mortal Instruments series before reading this book, and just, wow. I was blown away. I really enjoyed The Mortal Instruments series, but Clockwork Angel just blew that out of the window. It was everything in TMI, and much more. I love the Shadowhunter world, so anything with that kind of stuff if already on the pros of a book. Unless the world-building was really bad, which it wasn’t in this case, which made the book so much the better. The setting for this story was also really good, and I feel Cassandra Clare captured the Victorian London Era thing nicely. The characters were very well-developed, and were always for a purpose, not just there to be a comic relief, or filling in space. Upon reading the synopsis, some people may be skeptical; there’s the classic love triangle, a girl who doesn’t know his/her powers, and other similar plot lines. But Cassandra Clare’s unique way of telling a story really turns that all around.