The Seers by Julianna Scott (Review + Giveaway)

The Seers by Julianna Scott
Release Date: February 4, 2014
Publisher: Strange Chemistry
Pages: 384
Series: Holders #2
Review Source: Netgalley

Synopsis:

After nearly being drained of her ability and betrayed by a man her father trusted, Becca Ingle was left with one clue — Ciaran Shea. He holds the key to the downfall of the power-mad Holder, Darragh, and can ensure the safety of both Holder and Human kind alike... but is he willing to help?

Becca, Alex, Jocelyn, and Cormac set out for Adare Manor to meet with the Bhunaidh, an aristocratic group of pure blooded Holders of whom Ciaran is a rumored member. However, when Becca discovers that they might not be the only ones after the information Ciaran has, everyone begins to wonder if Bhunaidh might not be as uninvolved with Darragh as they claim.

A race to uncover Ciaran’s secrets begins, where the line between friend and foe is blurred, and everyone seems to have their own agenda. Becca will have to call on every ability at her disposal to uncover the truth, all the while knowing that sometimes the answer is more dangerous than the question.

My Thoughts:
I thoroughly enjoyed the first book in this series, The Holders, so I was very excited when The Seers turned out to be a great book as well. The Seers takes place in a fabulous castle setting, and is mainly centred around investigating events and intel that came about in the previous book.

While the first book was so much about Becca protecting her brother, Ryland, and looking out for him, The Seers was about Becca honing her new powers and helping the investigation. I loved the new characters who were introduced, Steven and Bastian, and I also liked how the romantic relationship from the first book remained strong. There were little bits of tension, but in general Becca and Alex supported each other, which was a nice change from most books.

There were many exciting bits of action and intrigue in this book, and moments where characters used their powers in order to investigate. I love the X-Men meets Harry Potter feel that this series has. These books are highly underrated, and I definitely recommend them. I’m excited about where this book ended up, and I’m equally excited to see where things will go in the next book.

The Cover:
I like how distinctive the covers for this series are.

Rating:
[4/5]

Purchase Links:
Kobo | Amazon.ca | Amazon.com | Chapters-Indigo | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository

About Julianna:
Julianna was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and spent the majority of her educational career convinced she would be a musician. However, after receiving her music degree from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania, she realized that she’d been born in the wrong era for her dreams of singing jazz to adoring fans clad in zoot-suits and flapper dresses to come true, and began to wonder if her true calling might be elsewhere.

While Julianna had always excelled in writing throughout school, she’d never considered it a career possibility until about three years ago, when she’d gotten her first story idea and decided to go for it. She grabbed her laptop, started typing away, and has never looked back.

Where to find Julianna:
Website | Goodreads | Twitter

GIVEAWAY:
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Cracked by Eliza Crewe

Cracked by Eliza Crewe
Release Date: November 5, 2013
Publisher: Strange Chemistry
Pages: 215
Series: Soul Eater #1
Review Source: Netgalley

Synopsis: (from Goodreads)
Meet Meda. She eats people.

Well, technically, she eats their soul. But she totally promises to only go for people who deserve it. She’s special. It’s not her fault she enjoys it. She can’t help being a bad guy. Besides, what else can she do? Her mother was killed and it’s not like there are any other “soul-eaters” around to show her how to be different. That is, until the three men in suits show up.

They can do what she can do. They’re like her. Meda might finally have a chance to figure out what she is. The problem? They kind of want to kill her. Before they get the chance Meda is rescued by crusaders, members of an elite group dedicated to wiping out Meda’s kind. This is her chance! Play along with the “good guys” and she’ll finally figure out what, exactly, her ‘kind’ is.

Be careful what you wish for. Playing capture the flag with her mortal enemies, babysitting a teenage boy with a hero complex, and trying to keep one step ahead of a too-clever girl are bad enough. But the Hunger is gaining on her.

The more she learns, the worse it gets. And when Meda uncovers a shocking secret about her mother, her past, and her destiny… she may finally give into it.

My Thoughts:
The concept of this book sounded so fun and interesting, mostly because of a main character who wasn’t the hero. Meda is a truly unique main character, and I loved that. She’s not all evil, but she’s definitely not the typical definition of good either. Meda’s main goal is her own survival, and she likes to think she'll do anything to make that happen, but she also feels guilty about this fact. Meda’s mom raised her with morals, so the fact that she has to suck people's souls to live? It doesn't really sit right with her. On the other hand, she can’t help but take pleasure in violence. She tries to only kill bad people, and she feels begrudging respect for her new friends, but she's only with them because they have something to offer her (or at least this is what she claims, though you can read between the lines and see something more). There are so many layers to Meda’s character, and I adored that. The book features a very curious transformation, and I'm intrigued to see how Meda will continue to grow in Book 2.

I also really liked the world building in the book, how it was set up with the Templar/Crusaders fighting against demons. I feel like I learned a lot about this group without it being information overload. It was so interesting to read about the Crusaders’ powers and how they protected the good in the world. My favourite part about them, though, was seeing the religious aspect of their order brought into the everyday life of the characters (in things like prayers, talking about how God has a plan, etc). These types of religious orders are included in fiction so often, yet I can’t recall too many other books where the members actually have a faith that they live day to day. I loved seeing this religious tradition actually put into practice in the book.

Cracked was such a good book, one about choice, about knowing yourself and that your decisions/actions make you who you are. For a book about demons and killing there is a lot of humour (wry as it may be) contained in its pages. Meda is absolutely hilarious in her unapologetic evilness (though I'll leave it to you to see how evil she truly is), and she has the most hilarious internal dialogue. This book was sad, funny, and exciting, sometimes all at once, it seemed, and I definitely recommend it.

The Cover:
Not supremely original, but I like it.

Rating:
[4/5]

Purchase Links:
Book Depository | Chapters-Indigo | Amazon.ca | Amazon.com | Barnes & Noble

The Pirate's Wish by Cassandra Rose Clarke

The Pirate's Wish by Cassandra Rose Clarke
Release Date: June 4, 2013
Publisher: Strange Chemistry
Pages: 336
Series: The Assassin's Curse #2
Review Source: Netgalley

Synopsis: (from Goodreads)
After setting out to break the curse that binds them together, the pirate Ananna and the assassin Naji find themselves stranded on an enchanted island in the north with nothing but a sword, their wits, and the secret to breaking the curse: complete three impossible tasks. With the help of their friend Marjani and a rather unusual ally, Ananna and Naji make their way south again, seeking what seems to be beyond their reach.

Unfortunately, Naji has enemies from the shadowy world known as the Mists, and Ananna must still face the repercussions of going up against the Pirate Confederation. Together, Naji and Ananna must break the curse, escape their enemies — and come to terms with their growing romantic attraction.

My Thoughts:
I highly enjoyed the first book in this series, The Assassin’s Curse, and this second (and final!) installment didn’t disappoint at all. Ananna is an incredibly funny narrator; she’s a character you can actually imagine growing up around pirates and having a bit of a tough upbringing. You can’t pull anything on her, and she’s so contrary and yet sweet underneath. Basically I find her totally adorable, but I would never say that to her face.

As I mentioned, this is the second and final book of the series. I didn’t know that it was a duology rather than a trilogy or series, so that would have been nice to know upfront. While reading the book I was pleasantly surprised by how much action there was, and how much happened to wrap up the overarching plot. There is definitely closure in this volume regarding the three impossible tasks and the relationship between Ananna and Naji. I don’t want to spoil too much, but if you’ve been shipping those two like I have, you won’t be disappointed. However, the romance aspect is the one part I would have liked more clarification on from one side of the party. What happened seemed real and yet way too sudden at the same time. All that being said, I reminded myself that we're reading from Ananna’s POV, and she’s pretty unreliable when it comes to presenting herself, so it’s hard to say what existed between the lines.

What I love about these books is just how much fun they are to read. There’s action, adventure, and piracy, and then there’s the fantasy aspect as well. There’s magic and curses, and, as you can see by the cover, a manicore. This character brought a lot of comic relief and also craziness to the book. If you’re looking for a hardcore epic fantasy tale then this definitely isn’t the read for you, but if you want a somewhat whimsical adventure with a fabulous heroine, then definitely pick this one up. ‘The Pirate’s Curse’ was a perfect conclusion to this duology -- it tells a complete story with a concrete, and yet open, ending. There are no tidy ribbons tied or a supreme Happily Ever After, but there was still happiness and hope. I loved how there were no easy answers, but there were good ones nonetheless.

The Cover:
Like!

Rating:
[5/5]

Find The Pirate's Wish by Cassandra Rose Clarke on Goodreads, Book Depository, & Amazon.

The Holders by Julianna Scott (Review + Giveaway)

Release Date: March 5, 2013
Publisher: Strange Chemistry
Pages: 320
Series: The Holders #1
Review Source: Netgalley

Synopsis: (from Goodreads)
17-year-old Becca spent her whole life protecting her brother from, well, everything. The abandonment of their father, the so called 'experts' who insist that voices in his head are unnatural and must be dealt with, and the constant threat of being taken away to some hospital and studied like an animal. When two representatives appear claiming to have the answers to Ryland's perceived problem, Becca doesn't buy it for one second. That is until they seem to know things about Ryland and about Becca and Ryland's family, that forces Becca to concede that there may be more to these people than meets the eye. Though still highly skeptical, Becca agrees to do what's best for Ryland.

What they find at St. Brigid's is a world beyond their imagination. Little by little they piece together the information of their family's heritage, their estranged Father, and the legend of the Holder race that decrees Ryland is the one they've been waiting for. However, they are all--especially Becca--in for a surprise that will change what they thought they knew about themselves and their kind.

She meets Alex, a Holder who is fiercely loyal to their race, and for some reason, Becca and Ryland. There's an attraction between Becca and Alex that can't be denied, but her true nature seems destined to keep them apart. However, certain destinies may not be as clear cut as everyone has always believed them to be.

Becca is lost, but found at the same time. Can she bring herself to leave Ryland now that he's settled and can clearly see his future? Will she be able to put the the feelings she has for Alex aside and head back to the US? And can Becca and Ryland ever forgive their father for what he's done?

My Thoughts:
I really enjoyed ‘The Holders’. The plot kept me interested, and I loved Becca’s narrative voice. It was a book where you aren't wholly surprised by anything that happens, and yet the whole book is still so entertaining. What’s most interesting, to me at least, is that ‘The Holders’ had an insta-love element to it, which I would normally despise, and in this case I couldn’t get enough of Becca and Alex. Without giving too much away, their relationship is based on a bonding element to do with Holder powers. Normally this would have me all up in arms about free will/choice, but somehow I loved their romance and the way it was presented. Maybe this is because Alex is such a sweet love interest: he’s a very caring guy who is so kind to Becca. There’s an instant camaraderie between the two characters, and that easy rapport made me love their relationship. Even beyond anything romantic you could tell that the characters were such good friends.

‘The Holders’ features a very cool X-Men like element where the Holders have power, but they also have a powerful enemy who believes humans to be inferior. This enemy wants to ‘collect’ Holder powers and take them for himself. But despite what some reviewers on Goodreads have stated this didn't feel like a rip-off at all. There are so many books, TV shows, and movies about a school for ‘gifted’ students, and while there was definitely an X-Men vibe to this book, it was just that: a vibe, and not at all a direct copy. While the themes and some of the plot fit in well with other stories of the genre, there is such a uniqueness to the characters and their story.

What else can I say about this book? I just wholeheartedly enjoyed it. The characters, including the side characters, were great, and I loved reading about their abilities. The Holder mythology was incredibly interesting, and I can’t wait to see how it plays out in the next book. Every element of 'The Holders' kept me reading until the very end; it was one of those books that you just can’t set down.

The Cover:
I like that it's relevant to the book, and I think it's pretty memorable.

Rating:
[4.5/5]

Find The Holders by Julianna Scott on Goodreads, Book Depository, & Amazon.

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The Assassin’s Curse by Cassandra Rose Clarke

Release Date: October 2, 2012
Publisher: Strange Chemistry
Pages: 320
Series: The Assassin’s Curse #1
Review Source: ARC from publisher for review

Synopsis: (from Goodreads)
Ananna of the Tanarau abandons ship when her parents try to marry her off to an allying pirate clan: she wants to captain her own boat, not serve as second-in-command to her handsome yet clueless fiance. But her escape has dire consequences when she learns the scorned clan has sent an assassin after her.

And when the assassin, Naji, finally catches up with her, things get even worse. Ananna inadvertently triggers a nasty curse — with a life-altering result. Now Ananna and Naji are forced to become uneasy allies as they work together to break the curse and return their lives back to normal. Or at least as normal as the lives of a pirate and an assassin can be.

My Thoughts:
This book features pirates, magic, a blood curse, and an assassin. Why yes, that does sound awesome, and ‘The Assassin’s Curse’ lives up to its insanely amazing premise. I actually enjoyed ‘The Assassin’s Curse’ more than I was expecting to, which made me fall in love with it all the more, if that makes sense. It's not every day that a book surpasses your expectations. The concept of this book in general is one that’s been done before, but Cassandra Rose Clarke has made it all her own with amazing characters and phenomenal world-building.

Ananna is a strong and determined character who has grown up as part of a pirate clan. She is witty, smart, and has a great deal of compassion for others, though she wouldn’t like it if you pointed that out. She’s also all kinds of adorable, though she would hate to hear that as well. As her match we have Naji, who is totally the strong and silent type, but who you can just tell is secretly amused by Ananna (Check out Asher's Book Boyfriend post about him for some well-deserved Naji flailing). I really loved how Ananna and Naji brought out different sides in one another and made each other stronger, even if they didn’t realize it most of the time.

This book features some truly fascinating world building. There’s an Arabian Nights-esque feel to the desert and the seaside markets, and there are also pirate guilds and northern islands that none willingly traverse. There’s tricky magic, and a 'working towards a quest' element. Really there’s just so much awesome-ness that it’s hard to describe it all.

‘The Assassin’s Curse’ truly deserves to become the next big hyped YA novel. The writing is fresh, the characters are interesting, and the plot will drag you in and leave you wanting more. I absolutely enjoyed this reading experience.

The Cover:
I love it! The whole concept is gorgeous, but it's also in my favourite colours, which doesn't hurt.

Rating:
[4.5/5]

Find The Assassin’s Curse by Cassandra Rose Clarke on Goodreads, Book Depository, & Amazon.