Review – The Desert Spear by Peter V. Brett

Title: The Desert Spear (Demon Cycle #2)

Author: Peter V. Brett

Rating: 3.5/5 

Synopsis:

The sun is setting on humanity. The night now belongs to voracious demons that prey upon a dwindling population forced to cower behind half-forgotten symbols of power.

Legends tell of a Deliverer: a general who once bound all mankind into a single force that defeated the demons. But is the return of the Deliverer just another myth? Perhaps not.

Out of the desert rides Ahmann Jardir, who has forged the desert tribes into a demon-killing army. He has proclaimed himself Shar'Dama Ka, the Deliverer, and he carries ancient weapons--a spear and a crown--that give credence to his claim.

But the Northerners claim their own Deliverer: the Warded Man, a dark, forbidding figure.

Once, the Shar'Dama Ka and the Warded Man were friends. Now they are fierce adversaries. Yet as old allegiances are tested and fresh alliances forged, all are unaware of the appearance of a new breed of demon, more intelligent—and deadly—than any that have come before. 

My Thoughts:

This was a fun ride again, however a bit bumpier than I expected.  

Demon Cycle is a high fantasy series in which humanity fights against demons for survival. I adored the first book, The Painted Man, for its interesting characters, the deliciously detailed fantasy world it presented to me and how it could spook me out occasionally despite not being a horror novel.

The Desert Spear delievered everything its predecessor did, so in a sense there is nothing to complain about. Having said that I have to add right away that it was still lacking somehow: lacking in progress.

The only area where I felt the evolution was the character-writing of Mr. Brett. There was a lot of character developement indeed. Leesha – herb gatherer and village leader – became more badass (if that's possible), Rojer did everything to get over his unrequited feelings for a certain person, and Arlen (the main character of the first book) reached another level of self-knowledge by the end of the story. I have to say I appreciated the signs of inside growth my beloved trio showed.

The plot was not so strong. The first third of the book was practically a retelling of the same events that took place in Krasia (the Desert Land) in the previous book, only now from Jardir's point of view. And even later, when I was past that part I didn't feel we were moving anywhere plot-wise. 

At the end of the book we still had the same unresolved situation: two man standing against each other, both rumored to be the Deliverer, both hating the other. The only difference was that Jardir left the Desert Town with an army (which we knew he would, it wasn't a big surprise).

Since I've heard that the third book starts yet again with telling the same events from another character's POV, the question rises: what does the second book add to the grand scheme of things?  Does it add anything at all? I'm sure it does and I'll see it in retrospect...

Altogether let me say again that I don't mind at all that I continued with the series. The writing is still superb, I basically fly through the book and, since I care about the characters, I like reading the more character-driven parts. Hopefully I'll see more action in book three, and then I can give The Daylight War a higher rating.

Goodreads | Amazon

Read my review of the first book in the series, The Painted Man, by clicking on the image below!

Next in the series:

The Daylight War

Tell Me Something Tuesday #1

'Tell Me Something Tuesday' is a weekly discussion post at Rainy Day Ramblings.

Today's topic is Romance Recommendations, as Valentine's Day is quickly approaching.

I'd be happy to read all the books below for the first time again without knowing anything about them in advance. They are all perfect Valentine's Day reads, since they all include awesome love stories. Feel the love!

Outlander

by Diana Gabaldon

I wouldn't be true to myself if I didn't start with Outlander. I've read the first four instalments from the series, but the first will forever remain my favourite. Claire and Jamie is a solid pair, I like how much they learned from one another as their relationship matured throughout the books, but their initial awkwardness and curiosity for each other was so cute, it had the deepest impression on me back when I had the pleasure to start the series.

Me Before You

by JoJo Moyes

You should try to live life to the fullest each day, because who can tell what will prevent you to do so tomorrow?

There is a reason why this book became a bestseller, but be warned: it is a tear-jerker too!

The Lady and the Highlander 

by Lecia Cornwall

A clever Snow White retelling featuring a scot as the main male character (I might have a thing for scots?)

I really liked how the story was written, how the writer used the original fairy tale to create somthing imaginative and new.

Read my full review of The Lady and the Highlander here.

But between reading and sharing kisses, don't forget what Valentine's Day is really about:

Do you have Valentine's Day recommendations too? Let me know in a comment below what you think are the perfect reads for the Day of Love!

Goodreads Monday #5

Hello, Lovelies! I'd say have a happy Monday morning, but then I'd be throwing a paradox at you, thus all I'll say is I hope you're dealing with the first day of the week valiantly so far.

The weekend might be over, but the countdown till the next one has already started, so... stay positive and rock!

Since it's Monday, I'll intorduce you to another book from my Goodreads TBR. Let's do it!




Goodreads Monday is a weekly meme hosted by Lauren @ Lauren’s Page Turners. To participate, choose a random book from your TBR and show it off! Don’t forget to link back to Lauren’s Page Turners and link up to the inlinkz so others can see what you picked!

I'd like to put a smile on your face, so go on, read the synopsis of this intriguing book!

The Gentleman

by Forrest Leo

Synopsis:

When Lionel Savage, a popular poet in Victorian London, learns from his butler that they're broke, he marries the beautiful Vivien Lancaster for her money, only to find that his muse has abandoned him.

Distraught and contemplating suicide, Savage accidentally conjures the Devil -- the polite "Gentleman" of the title -- who appears at one of the society parties Savage abhors. The two hit it off: the Devil talks about his home, where he employs Dante as a gardener; Savage lends him a volume of Tennyson. But when the party's over and Vivien has disappeared, the poet concludes in horror that he must have inadvertently sold his wife to the dark lord.

Newly in love with Vivien, Savage plans a rescue mission to Hell that includes Simmons, the butler; Tompkins, the bookseller; Ashley Lancaster, swashbuckling Buddhist; Will Kensington, inventor of a flying machine; and Savage's spirited kid sister, Lizzie, freshly booted from boarding school for a "dalliance." Throughout, his cousin's quibbling footnotes to the text push the story into comedy nirvana.

Lionel and his friends encounter trapdoors, duels, anarchist-fearing bobbies, the social pressure of not knowing enough about art history, and the poisonous wit of his poetical archenemy. Fresh, action-packed and very, very funny, The Gentleman is a giddy farce that recalls the masterful confections of P.G. Wodehouse and Hergé's beautifully detailed Tintin adventures.

Whoever this Lionel Savage is, I sure as hell – haha, see what I did there? – don't want to be him.

First he learns from his butler that he is broke. (Money comes and goes, eh? He must be such a dandy.) Then he accidentally conjures the Devil (oops), then he finds out he inadvertently sold his wife to him (how do you do that by accident??)... Poor unlucky fellow.

I can't wait to know how the strange companions he gathers for the rescue mission work together and the Devil character fascinates me as well.

No doubt that this will be Victorian social caricature at its best and that I'll roll with laughter once I dive into this book.

Do you think you'd like this novel? What book did you feature in you Goodreads Monday post?

Favourite places to read

It's time for a more personal post, a glance behind the scenes. Today I'll show you where I like to curl up and read the most.

This comfy armchair is where I do most of my reading. My surroundings are never quiet, there's always one or two family members around, but I'm used to the background noises, it would be strange if they weren't there, really.

There's a little glass table in front of the armchair, that's where I put my cup of coffee or tea that I sip occasionally while reading.

I have lots of favourite mugs, this cutie was a christmas present and is my official winter mug now :) As you can see I cannot resist whipped cream...

This is my second reading nook, where Lord Byron looks over me... or...well, stares into the distance, rather bored, while I'm having the time of my life in fictional realms. The chap likes to sulk...

If I'm not home, the best place to read for me is on the underground. It's nice to fill the empty time gaps in my day with a bit of fun. It makes me happy to see books in the hand of fellow travellers too.

What about you? Where do you like to read? Let me know in a comment below! :)

Some books I've read, loved, but do not own a physical copy of yet

I'm sure each and every one of us has some books on our wishlist that we have already read but never owned a copy of. I'd like to share three of such books with you, that I can't wait to have in my library at home.

The Thirteenth Tale

by Diane Setterfield

Synopsis:

Reclusive author Vida Winter, famous for her collection of twelve enchanting stories, has spent the past six decades penning a series of alternate lives for herself. Now old and ailing, she is ready to reveal the truth about her extraordinary existence and the violent and tragic past she has kept secret for so long.

Calling on Margaret Lea, a young biographer troubled by her own painful history, Vida disinters the life she meant to bury for good. Margaret is mesmerized by the author’s tale of gothic strangeness — featuring the beautiful and willful Isabelle, the feral twins Adeline and Emmeline, a ghost, a governess, a topiary garden and a devastating fire.

Together, Margaret and Vida confront the ghosts that have haunted them while becoming, finally, transformed by the truth themselves.

I read the e-book version of this curious tale, and soon after I made my mum read it too. We both loved it. It's a family story; very gothic, very gripping and there is a mystery in it with a hard-to-guess solution that blew me away.

I'd really like to know if I liked this novel for the second time around as much as I did for the first time and I'm determined to get a physical copy and give it a re-read to find out.

Daughters of Rome

(The Empress of Rome #2)

by Kate Quinn

Synposis:

This sweeping, powerful epic tells the story of one of the bloodiest years in Rome's history through the eyes of two remarkable women fighting for survival

A.D. 69. The Roman Empire is up for the taking. The Year of the Four Emperors will change everything - especially the lives of two sisters with a very personal stake in the outcome. Elegant and ambitious, Cornelia embodies the essence of the perfect Roman wife. She lives to one day see her loyal husband as Emperor. Her sister Marcella is more aloof, content to witness history rather than make it. But when a bloody coup turns their world upside down, both women must manoeuvre carefully just to stay alive. As Cornelia tries to pick up the pieces of her shattered dreams, Marcella discovers a hidden talent for influencing the most powerful men in Rome. In the end, though, there can only be one Emperor...and one Empress.

Daughters of Rome is the second book in a series and yet I read it first, interestingly. I found it in the library while I lived in London and realised it'd been a long time since I read anything set in ancient Rome. It seemed to be able to work as a standalone and it did, giving me so much pleasure and sleepless hours; I was extremely pleased with this book. Later I purchased the first instalment, Mistress of Rome, that was just as good, and so I really would like to own the whole series. One day...

Their Eyes Were Watching God 

by Zora Neale Hurston

Synopsis:

At the age of 16, Janie is caught kissing the shiftless Johnny Taylor, so her grandmother quickly marries her off to an old man with 60 acres. Refusing to compromise in spite of society's expectations, Janie endures two stifling marriages before meeting the man of her dreams.

 The language in this book is truly enchanting. I borrowed it from the library too, but it wasn't a chance find, I heard about Zora Neale Hurston's novel at uni while completing my American Studies. It is a coming of age story: a girl matures into an incerdibly strong woman through adventure, love and calamity. A must read for everyone and a must-put-my-hands-on-again for me.

So these are some of the books I've read but do not own yet.

Have you read anything that you don't have a physical copy of, even though you want to? Tell me in a comment below which novels you'd put in a post like this!

Book Beginnings on Friday and the Friday 56 #3

Book Beginnings on Friday and The Friday 56 are weekly memes hosted by Rose City Reader and Freda's Voice.

Rules:

Book Beginnings: Share the first sentence (or so) of the book you are reading, along with your initial thoughts about the sentence, impressions of the book, or anything else the opener inspires. 

The Friday 56: Grab a book, turn to page 56 or 56% in you eReader. Find any sentence (not spoilery) and reflect on it if you want.

Today the book on display is:

The Desert Spear (Demon Cycle #2)

by Peter V. Brett 

Synopsis:

The sun is setting on humanity. The night now belongs to voracious demons that prey upon a dwindling population forced to cower behind half-forgotten symbols of power.

Legends tell of a Deliverer: a general who once bound all mankind into a single force that defeated the demons. But is the return of the Deliverer just another myth? Perhaps not.

Out of the desert rides Ahmann Jardir, who has forged the desert tribes into a demon-killing army. He has proclaimed himself Shar'Dama Ka, the Deliverer, and he carries ancient weapons--a spear and a crown--that give credence to his claim.

But the Northerners claim their own Deliverer: the Warded Man, a dark, forbidding figure.

Once, the Shar'Dama Ka and the Warded Man were friends. Now they are fierce adversaries. Yet as old allegiances are tested and fresh alliances forged, all are unaware of the appearance of a new breed of demon, more intelligent—and deadly—than any that have come before. 

Book beginning:

It was the night before new moon, during the darkest hours when even that bare silver had set.

Now this is a very unoriginal, generic beginning that the author can get away with only because this is the second book in the series. Partly it is forgivable, because he's already put something down on the table, but it still strikes me as lazy, not to try to hook the reader all over again with something more striking in the first line.

The Friday 56:

Neither boy had ever been so close to a demon, and while the sight filled Abban with obvious terror, Jardir felt only rage.

I like this line, because it reflects the oh so obvious differences between these two. Their story is one of the most interesting plotlines in this novel.


Read my review of the first book in the series, The Painted Man, by clicking on the image below!

Did you like these excerpts? What are you reading at the moment?  Please leave your comments and links below.

Review - Seduction en Pointe by Gemma Snow

Title: Seduction en Pointe

Author: Gemma Snow

Rating: 3.5/5 

Synopsis:

When successful TV star of the Queen Anne’s Revenge, Nicco Castillo, finds his boyfriend in bed with another man, he goes full-on Hollywood trainwreck that lands him in ER. Next thing he knows, the producers are shipping him off to Paris to shape up and learn to dance for the next season’s story arc. But his incredibly tempting Parisian ballet instructor, Isabelle La Croix, makes that all too difficult, especially when he learns about her decadent desires--desires Nicco is all too pleased to indulge in. Against the ballet barre, the balcon railing, and wherever and for however long Isabelle is willing to have him.   

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

My Thoughts:

Seduction en Pointe almost lost me as a reader after its very first line. Even in the romance/erotica genre I like when the action is neatly prepared… I need the metaphorical foreplay in a story as much as it is needed in sex. The in medias res beginning kinda felt as if the author wanted to assure me that there are tons of sex scenes in the book, therefore I won’t be bored. 

Perhaps I’m a strange one, but I’ve always felt erotica doesn’t work without the well-developed extras in the story – and here I mean everything that is not sex. If the plot, the characters, the relationships don’t please me, the passionate love-making won’t move me for sure.

The funny thing is, Seduction en Pointe wasn’t a bad read at all and I’m glad I brought myself to continue after my personal displeasure in the first line. It is altogether a very nice ’rich hollywood playboy meets French ballerina’ story with good character developement and well-thought-out pacing. It was a believable contemporary romance, a treat really, that I enjoyed in big chunks when I had the time to sit down to read.

I liked that the drama in it wasn’t too much, and that – despite what the first line suggested – there wasn’t a sex scene on every other page. I like when I can tingle with anticipation. 

Plus points for Miss Snow for giving me a bisexual male for main character, that was really refreshing after the bunch of heterosexual romance books I've read lately.

Neither Nicco nor Isabelle were pushy or annoying in any way (which is worth to point out as protagonists in romance/erotica book tend to irritate me). They were people who reflected on their own life and previous relationships and were able to learn from lessons that life gave them.

There was one thing that bugged me in the plot though. Nicco, who played a pirate in a tv show, Queen Ann’s Revenge, was sent to Paris to learn ballet, but it was never actually mentioned why the dance he did had to be ballet. Ball room dancing I would have understood for a pirate, but ballet… Anyway, this is just a small detail that I kept wondering about and was never explained.

I’d never read a book about dancing before, I guess I had to start somewhere and this novel was a good choice.

I would recommend this book to everyone who likes light, insightful romance and who is into voyeurism *wink wink, nudge nudge*.

 
Goodreads | Amazon