Book Review: Touch of Power by Maria V. Snyder

Touch of Power (Healer #1)

By Maria V. Snyder

Release Date: December 20th, 2011

Number of Pages: 400

Format: ebook (ARC)

Source: Received from Netgalley for review

Rating: ♥ ♥

Blurb from Goodreads:

Laying hands upon the injured and dying, Avry of Kazan assumes their wounds and diseases into herself. But rather than being honored for her skills, she is hunted. Healers like Avry are accused of spreading the plague that has decimated the Territories, leaving the survivors in a state of chaos.

Stressed and tired from hiding, Avry is abducted by a band of rogues who, shockingly, value her gift above the golden bounty offered for her capture. Their leader, an enigmatic captor-protector with powers of his own, is unequivocal in his demands: Avry must heal a plague-stricken prince—leader of a campaign against her people. As they traverse the daunting Nine Mountains, beset by mercenaries and magical dangers, Avry must decide who is worth healing and what is worth dying for. Because the price of peace may well be her life....

My Review:

This is my second novel by Maria V. Snyder and first ever ARC. My first novel by this author was Poison Study and I truly was engrossed with it though I haven't proceeded to finishing the remaining two books in the series. They're still sitting nicely in my shelf.

I was intrigued by Touch of Power and the magical elements surrounding the premise. What more when it comes packaged in an amazing cover? Who could asked for more? Unfortunately, Touch of Power did not hold my attention this time. I found myself leaving it off and then continuing it much later. Avry was a decent and pleasant enough character. I did like her. Her romance with Kerrick was rather sweet.

Overall, Touch of Power was pretty decent. It just wasn't dynamic and epic enough to make me love it with all my heart. I would say that Touch of Power would be perfect for Maria V. Snyder's fans. Don't let this review stop you from picking this up. Who knows, you may love it as opinions differ from one to another.

I would like to thank Harlequin publishers and NetGalley for the ARC of "Touch of Power".

Book Review: Jack Blank and the Imagine Nation by Matt Myklusch

Jack Blank and the Imagine Nation (Jack Blank Adventure #1)

By Matt Myklusch

Release Date: August 3rd, 2010

Number of Pages: 480

Format: Hardcover

Source: Bought

Rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Blurb from Goodreads:

All Jack Blank knows is his bleak, dreary life at St. Barnaby’s Home for the Hopeless, Abandoned, Forgotten, and Lost—an orphanage in the swampland of New Jersey. Covertly reading old comic books is Jack’s only solace. But his life changes forever when he meets an emissary from a secret country called the Imagine Nation, an astonishing place where all the fantastic and unbelievable things in the world originate. Including Jack.

Jack soon discovers that he has an amazing ability—one that could make him the savior of Imagine Nation and the world beyond…or the biggest threat they’ve ever faced.

My Review:

"...the future is not written. It lies in the choices you make. Our future is ours to decide. Always."

Jack Blank and the Imagine Nation or also known as The Accidental Hero, is a heartwarming and inspiring tale of courage, faith, believing in yourself and many more. This MG book really surprised me.

Wow! I was so inspired by all the encouraging and motivational ideas and messages. It challenges you to stretch your imagination and dream big. You carve out your own future. Who you are now doesn't determine who you're gonna be.

Jack Blank is an inspiring story which I really recommend for all, regardless of age. The world of Jack Blank will blow your mind.

Oh yeah, one more thing! Look out for the sudden revelation that I totally didn't see coming. POW!!

Book Review: Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake

Anna Dressed in Blood (Anna #1)

By Kendare Blake

Release Date: August 30th, 2011

Number of Pages: 316

Format: Hardcover

Source: Bought

Rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Blurb from Goodreads:

Just your average boy-meets-girl, girl-kills-people story. . .

Cas Lowood has inherited an unusual vocation: He kills the dead.

So did his father before him, until his gruesome murder by a ghost he sought to kill. Now, armed with his father's mysterious and deadly athame, Cas travels the country with his kitchen-witch mother and their spirit-sniffing cat. Together they follow legends and local lore, trying to keep up with the murderous dead—keeping pesky things like the future and friends at bay.

When they arrive in a new town in search of a ghost the locals call Anna Dressed in Blood, Cas doesn't expect anything outside of the ordinary: move, hunt, kill. What he finds instead is a girl entangled in curses and rage, a ghost like he's never faced before. She still wears the dress she wore on the day of her brutal murder in 1958: once white, but now stained red and dripping blood. Since her death, Anna has killed any and every person who has dared to step into the deserted Victorian she used to call home.

And she, for whatever reason, spares his life.

My Review:

"I won't kill Anna tonight, not in front of all these people. I just want to be there. I want to feel her behind a window, watching, staring out at me, or maybe retreating deeper inside."

Anna Dressed in Blood is like a box of chocolates filled with different fillings that surprises you speechless. It is horrifying, thrilling, bloody, action-packed and doesn't find the need to spare you the gory details. It is one of the best horror-ghost books I've ever read including an awesome title and cover that scream: READ ME!

Cas is a ghost killer and his mother is a white witch. Cas kick butts and is one of the few types of character that is very, very confident of himself and his ghost killing skills. That is until her meets Anna Korlov who swats him like a fly and uses him like a punching bag. Anna Korlov is a 16 year old murdered ghost haunting her own house/boarding house and eviscerating anyone that steps into her threshold but surprisingly she spares Cas. Kendare Blake doesn't spare you details so beware of lots of gruesome scenes and elaborations. Allow your mind to wander beyond the realm of reality. Lol. You will find yourself cringing and horrified when Anna's backstory is revealed. Horror of horrors! I really didn't see that coming. I can't believe that Anna's murderer is that person.

Cas and his sidekicks are a very likable bunch aside from Carmel. I didn't really like her at all until towards the end. And I have no idea why. The romance between Cas and Anna is really sweet and sad. You can literally feel your heart twisting and squeezing for them but I'm glad that this isn't the end of their story. I'm really looking forward to the amazing titled sequel, Girl of Nightmares. Did you see the yet breathtaking cover for it???

Anna Dressed in Blood is an awesome must-read before bedtime. It creeps you out good.

Book Review: Bloodlines by Richelle Mead

Bloodlines (Bloodlines #1)

By Richelle Mead

Release Date: August 23rd, 2011

Number of Pages: 421

Format: Hardcover

Source: Bought

Rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Blurb from Goodreads:

The first book in Richelle Mead's brand-new teen fiction series - set in the same world as Vampire Academy.

When alchemist Sydney is ordered into hiding to protect the life of Moroi princess Jill Dragomir, the last place she expects to be sent is a human private school in Palm Springs, California. But at their new school, the drama is only just beginning.

Populated with new faces as well as familiar ones, Bloodlines explores all the friendship, romance, battles and betrayals that made the #1 New York Times bestselling Vampire Academy series so addictive - this time in a part-vampire, part-human setting where the stakes are even higher and everyone's out for blood.

My Review:

One of the many LOL scenes:

Keith was just bringing the glass to his lips when Adrian

said, “Mmm. O positive, my favorite.”

Keith sprayed out the wine he’d just drunk and promptly

started coughing. I was relieved that none got on me. Jill

burst into giggles, and Clarence stared at his glass

wonderingly.

“Is it? I thought it was a cabernet sauvignon.”

“So it is,” said Adrian, straight-faced. “My mistake.”

Bloodlines was mindblowing. I think that I'm one of the rare ones out there that actually ♡ Sydney Sage's voice and perspectives. I was worried of all the not so positive comments readers have been saying but decided to throw them all away and plunge into it with enthusiasms. I'm glad I did because I really, really am adoring and in ♡ with the four main leads: Sydney, Adrian, Jill and Eddie.

I've said some things about Adrian in my Last Sacrifice review but I am so sold on Adrian now. Bloodlines did it and I'm so proud of him.

Although many out there are complaining about the dullness and boringness of Sydney and Jill, I thought otherwise. I found Sydney's voice refreshing. A lot of readers are actually comparing her next to Rose which it isn't fair at all. Rose and Sydney are two different characters. Sydney was endearingly naïve in many things: social wise. She can be so clueless but yet so intelligent and responsible at the same time. She is so serious at times that it becomes so funny. She is rather perceptive towards other people's feelings but not her own. I ♡ how she isn't afraid to call Adrian on his woe-is-me attitude. She actually inspired him to want to be better. And I find myself enjoying all these traits about her. I'm so glad that Richelle Mead is using Sydney as the voice of the Bloodlines series.

Adrian. I wasn't all that into him in VA but I fell in love with him in Bloodlines. I'm so proud of him. It's so awesome to see him starting to man up and do something with his life. His snarky quips and one-liners are hilarious as always. Leaving Court was indeed the right thing. Hell, meeting the serious, no-nonsense Sydney was the right thing. She can kick ass and knock some sense in him in her own, responsible, Alchemist way. I can predict sparks flying in the near future and I can't wait to see how Richelle Mead is going to go about it. Alchemist/Human and a Moroi. A royal nonetheless. Everything that go against all that Sydney believes in.

Jill is not boring. She was raised in a protective environment and after going through all the topsy turvy, she has become braver, stronger and confident. Jill is really sweet and caring. I'm glad Eddie was her guardian. I really like Eddie in VA a lot and am glad to see him casts as one of the main in Bloodlines.

I really enjoyed Bloodlines. I was so captivated with the different plotlines and characterization. I think I may ♡ it more than VA. It was exhilarating to read from a different voice. I can't imagine how people can say that it was boring. The ending killed me so much. How can it end like that? Just four words in a single sentence. I'm dying for The Golden Lily now. If only June will arrive sooner. Big Sigh.

Trailer: