The Falling Kingdoms Series by Morgan Rhodes

I've found myself getting into fantasy series this year. It's not a big surprise, considering my huge love for all things Harry Potter, but it had been awhile since I had been really into reading fantasy. I've been all about the contemporaries for a few years, which I still love.

I don't always love really high fantasy stories, though, so when I heard that Morgan Rhodes Falling Kingdoms series is not as high fantasy as other series, I decided to check it out. I had heard a lot of Game of Thrones comparisons, which made me a little skeptical, but I found myself really enjoying this series.

Falling Kingdoms synopsis:
In the three kingdoms of Mytica, magic has long been forgotten. And while hard-won peace has reigned for centuries, a deadly unrest now simmers below the surface.

As the rulers of each kingdom grapple for power, the lives of their subjects are brutally transformed... and four key players, royals and rebels alike, find their fates forever intertwined. Cleo, Jonas, Lucia, and Magnus are caught in a dizzying world of treacherous betrayals, shocking murders, secret alliances, and even unforeseen love.

The only outcome that's certain is that kingdoms will fall. Who will emerge triumphant when all they know has collapsed?

It's the eve of war.... Choose your side.

Princess: Raised in pampered luxury, Cleo must now embark on a rough and treacherous journey into enemy territory in search of magic long thought extinct.

Rebel: Jonas, enraged at injustice, lashes out against the forces of oppression that have kept his country cruelly impoverished. To his shock, he finds himself the leader of a people's revolution centuries in the making.

Sorceress: Lucia, adopted at birth into the royal family, discovers the truth about her past—and the supernatural legacy she is destined to wield.

Heir: Bred for aggression and trained to conquer, firstborn son Magnus begins to realise that the heart can be more lethal than the sword....

While I don't think the GoT comparisons are entirely accurate/fair (and I'm not saying one is better than the other), one thing that is somewhat similar is how ruthless Rhodes is with her characters! Do not get attached to anyone because you may find yourself mourning them. I'm liking the ruthlessness, though, because it definitely kept me on my toes.

One reason I'm enjoying this series so much is because of the writing. Rhodes is an excellent writer and the books draw you in immediately. The writing is easy to read, and I found myself reading these quickly. In fact, I read the second book Rebel Spring in one sitting!

Each book is told through four perspectives, which works really well. I love that we get a deep look into each characters thoughts and actions. It makes the book so much more readable and enjoyable. The characters are really great, too. I find myself really liking Cleo, especially since she's evolving so much in each book. Don't think this princess is a weak little girl, because she is one of the strongest characters. I also love Jonas. He's the underdog that you really want to win because of the crappiness that has been his life.

The magic system in these books is really interesting. There are four Kindred, which are magical elemental crystals, that when used together make their owner the most powerful person in the universe. Naturally, everyone wants them, but they're not as easy to find and use as one may think.

These books definitely keep me guessing. Alliances may not be as strong as you think, characters aren't always who you think they are, and the enemy may not always be the bad guy. It's not a series that you can figure out easily.

Rhodes also has a spin-off series that has just released this year called A Book of Spirits and Thieves. I've also read this one, and it's really fun. This series takes place in the world of Mytica, but also in present-day Toronto, which is really cool. It's a series that can be read on its own, but I would recommend at least reading Falling Kingdoms before picking up ABoSaT.

One final reason I love this series is because Morgan Rhodes is Canadian. As a Canadian, I am always super excited to find books written by Canadians that I love. There are Tim Horton's references in A Book of Spirits and Thieves!

I definitely recommend this series as each book just keeps getting better and better. The more layers that are revealed in the story, the more hooked I become. I definitely need book 4, Frozen Tides, asap!

The Truth and Other Lies by Sascha Arango

From Goodreads: On the surface, Henry Hayden seems like someone you could like, or even admire. A famous bestselling author who appears a modest everyman. A loving, devoted husband even though he could have any woman he desires. A generous friend and coworker. But Henry Hayden is a construction, a mask. His past is a secret, his methods more so. No one besides him and his wife know that she is the actual writer of the novels that made him famous.

For most of Henry’s life, it hasn’t been a problem. But when his hidden-in-plain-sight mistress becomes pregnant and his carefully constructed facade is about to crumble, he tries to find a permanent solution, only to make a terrible mistake.

Now not only are the police after Henry, but his past—which he has painstakingly kept hidden—threatens to catch up with him as well. Henry is an ingenious man and he works out an ingenious plan. He weaves lies, truths, and half-truths into a story that might help him survive. But bit by bit the noose still tightens.

The Truth and Other Lies has me confused. It's one of those books that I'm not sure I either a.) liked or b.) understood. The book opens and you are thrown right into the plot, which I liked. It was so easy to get sucked into this story and into Henry's mind. I disagree about Henry being someone you could like, because I absolutely did not like him. He was manipulative, conniving, and sociopathic. I liked the ride through his mind, though, because his way of thinking is so different than my own (non-sociopathic, that is!). While I didn't like him, I did find him a bit fascinating. He may not have been an author himself, but he could definitely wind together a good story!

I can't say much about the plot without spoiling anything, so I'll just say that it's a little complicated. This is a fairly short book, so you really have to be paying attention because things happen quickly. I did not like a single character in this book as everyone seems shady. Whether they were or not, you can decide for yourself, but I felt like they were. It seemed like nobody truly knew anyone in this book, but I guess that's true life. Can we ever really know someone? Know what they're capable of?

I just finished this book, so I'm still sorting out my feelings. It left a little to be desired, especially the unsatisfying ending. I have questions that I want answers to. I didn't dislike the book, as it did leave me thinking and questioning, which is always a good thing in my mind. I will say, though, that it is pretty literary and descriptive and some of the situations are a bit gory and hard to read.

This has the potential to be a big summer hit, and I think it's the perfect book to read on a dark, rainy night, preferably at an old cabin, to really ramp up the atmosphere.

Overall, it was not my favourite book, but it was still a really interesting story that had me questioning Henry and everyone else the whole time. I rated it 3 out of 5 stars based on Goodreads rating system. It's on sale now, so check it out if you're into unreliable, twisty stories.

*I was provided with a copy of this book by the publisher, Penguin Random House Canada, so thank you so much!*

Blog Tour: The Woman Who Stole My Life by Marian Keyes

 

Marian Keyes is one of those authors that I've been hearing about for years, but haven't actually read anything by her. When Penguin Canada offered me the chance to read her newest release, I jumped on it.

From Penguin Canada: 'Name: Stella Sweeney. Height: average. Recent life events: dramatic.'
One day, sitting in traffic, married Dublin mum Stella Sweeney attempts a good deed. The resulting car crash changes her life. For she meets a man who wants her telephone number (for the insurance, it turns out). That's okay. She doesn't really like him much anyway (his Range Rover totally banjaxed her car). But in this meeting is born the seed of something which will take Stella thousands of miles from her old life, turning an ordinary woman into a superstar, and, along the way, wrenching her whole family apart. Is this all because of one ill-advised act of goodwill? Was meeting Mr Range Rover destiny or karma? Should she be grateful or hopping mad? For the first time real, honest-to-goodness happiness is just within her reach. But is Stella Sweeney, Dublin housewife, ready to grasp it? 

The book opens with Stella back in Dublin after a stint in New York. We learn that she is separated from her husband, Ryan, and that her son, Jeffrey, is a frustrating teenager. The book then steps into Stella's past, where she developed a life threatening disease that left her completely paralyzed for months. In the first half of the book, one chapter is about the present, and the next is about Stella's hospital stay. Enter Mannix, Stella's neurologist who ultimately changes the course of her life.

I really enjoyed the chapters where Stella was in the hospital. I liked reading the thoughts that she couldn't physically voice herself. It's interesting the observations you can make about your own life when you're stuck and mute. Once Stella is out of the hospital, her whole life changes. She and her husband separate, and oh yeah, she has somehow written a book! Becoming a somewhat known author leads to the wrong person taking notice of her new life, which is when her life starts falling apart.

I enjoyed this book quite a bit, but I did have a few issues with it. I hated Jeffrey, Stella's son. He was rude, disrespectful, and spoiled. I think he was emotionally stunted by Stella's illness, but he was very difficult to like. I also didn't like Ryan, Stella's ex-husband. I feel like his storyline about giving away his things was a bit out of place. Perhaps there was an underlying message in that particular storyline, but I didn't get it.

I found this book quite funny, which is always a plus in my mind. Stella can be hard to like at times, but she's funny and self-deprecating, and at her core, has a big heart. I liked Mannix a lot, too, as well as the secondary characters like Georgia.

I would recommend this to those who are looking for a quick read (it's a chunker, but it reads quickly), or those looking for a story that will leave you feeling content.

This was my first Marian Keyes book, but now I'm interested in checking out her others. Does anyone have any suggestions on which book I should check out next?

The Woman Who Stole My Life is available now, and you should definitely check it out.

Then and Always by Dani Atkins: Blog Tour

 

From Goodreads: Rachel Wiltshire has everything she’s ever wanted: a close group of friends, a handsome boyfriend, and acceptance to the journalism program at a top-choice college. But one fateful evening, tragedy tears her world apart. Five years later, Rachel returns home for the first time to celebrate her best friend’s wedding. Still coping with grief, she can’t stop thinking about the bright future she almost had, if only that one night had gone differently. But when a sudden fall lands her in the hospital, Rachel wakes to find that her life has completely changed. Now she has her dream job as a writer and a stylish apartment, but the people she loves most are not the way she remembers them. Unable to trust her own recollections, Rachel tries to piece together what really happened, and not even she can predict the astonishing truth.

My Thoughts: Rachel is a girl who seemingly has it all, until she doesn't. Or does she? After a tragic accident claims the life of Rachel's best friend, Jimmy, she is forced to accept a life without him in it. I hurt for Rachel while reading about the accident. You could feel the love that Jimmy had for her, and while she was in a relationship with Matt, you could also feel the friendly love Rachel had for Jimmy.

Fast forward to five years later, and Rachel is heading home to celebrate her best friend's wedding. This is where we learn that in the past five years, Rachel and Matt have broken up, Rachel's dad is very ill, and Rachel is suffering some severe headaches. After taking a walk, Rachel is mugged and wakes up in the hospital. This is where the story really begins because we discover that Jimmy is alive, and Rachel is engaged to Matt! Crazy, right? Rachel definitely thinks so, and so did I.

This twist made me wonder about what I would think if I woke up and suddenly my entire life was different. How would I react? I think I'd get a lot more hysterical than Rachel did. Rachel cannot remember anything about her past life. All she remembers is that Jimmy is dead, but he's not. He is very much alive. Right?

The book then journeys into Rachel essentially trying to prove that Jimmy is dead, though he's standing right there with her at all times. I felt for Rachel throughout the whole novel. She loses her best friend, but then finds out she hasn't, but doesn't recognize anything else from her life. I think she felt conflicted because obviously she didn't want Jimmy to be dead, but she also couldn't imagine the life that everyone was telling her was hers.

The ending of this book will be what everyone talks about and remembers. Truthfully, I kind of suspected it, but when I reached the end, I still found myself pleasantly surprised. This would make the perfect book club book. I found myself trying to explain the book to my fiancé, but it's one of those books you need to read to be able to talk about it with anyone. I definitely recommend making someone else read this because you'll want to have someone to discuss it with. This really would be a perfect book club pick.

I would give this 3.5 stars out of 5 because I did see the end coming, and I did find it a bit confusing at the beginning. Definitely check it out, though. It's the perfect book to lay out in the sun with.

Then and Always will be available May 20th, 2014. Check it out on Goodreads, Penguin Canada, and Amazon Canada.

The lovely people at Penguin Canada provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review, but this did not sway my opinion in any way.

Traitor's Blade by Sebastien De Castell: You'll want to read this one!

 

The King is dead, the Greatcoats have been disbanded, and Falcio Val Mond and his fellow magistrates Kest and Brasti have been reduced to working as bodyguards for a nobleman who refuses to pay them. Things could be worse, of course. Their employer could be lying dead on the floor while they are forced to watch the killer plant evidence framing them for the murder. Oh wait, that’s exactly what’s happening…

Now a royal conspiracy is about to unfold in the most corrupt city in the world. A carefully orchestrated series of murders that began with the overthrow of an idealistic young king will end with the death of an orphaned girl and the ruin of everything that Falcio, Kest, and Brasti have fought for. But if the trio want to foil the conspiracy, save the girl, and reunite the Greatcoats, they’ll have to do it with nothing but the tattered coats on their backs and the swords in their hands, because these days every noble is a tyrant, every knight is a thug, and the only thing you can really trust is a traitor’s blade.

I will be the first to admit that I don't read a lot of fantasy books, so when Penguin Canada offered me the chance to be part of the blog tour, I jumped right on it. To say I'm happy that I did would be an understatement. This book is one of those books that will make non-fantasy readers become fantasy readers.

The description tells all you need to know about the plot, so I'll give you three reasons why you should be adding this to your to-read pile immediately.

1.) The characters - the characters are fantastic! Falcio, while a major swordsman, also has a big heart that leads his decisions, which may not always be the best thing. Kest seems to have secrets that guide him, and Brasti is a bit of a charmer/ladies man. The way the three of them interact is often hilarious and just plain good writing. I do wish there'd been more of Kest and Brasti, but luckily, this is going to be a series of books.

If you're like me, you're tired of female characters who are portrayed as weaker than their male counterparts. Well, the women in Traitor's Blade are awesome! Yeah, some of them are perhaps a little evil, but the others are badass, strong women who can definitely hold their own.

2.) The fight scenes - there are a lot of battle/fight scenes, but they're not overdone, and you don't get tired of them. They're well done, and necessary for plot development. Plus, who doesn't like swords, rapiers, and bows and arrows? There's humour in the battle scenes, too, and perhaps a little bit of magic.

3.) The background - since this is the first book in a series, there has to be some background in it to get the most out of the present story. The background scenes in this novel are done in my favourite way, which is to have the character reflect on what happened. You don't get the back story all in one go; instead, it's spread out throughout the novel and is in the perfect spots. It's not information overload, and enhances the story. Some of the background scenes were actually my favourite parts of the book.

Not being a typical fantasy reader did not deter me from reading this, and if you don't read fantasy, you shouldn't stay away from this book. I read this on my Kobo, and will definitely be purchasing a copy on March 4th when it comes out because it's one of those books that I feel like I need to own a physical copy of, partially so I can shove it in the hands of my friends and make them read it.

This book is going to be a hit, I can feel it! I finished this book more than a week ago, and I'm still thinking about it. To me, that means it was a fantastic book. 5 out of 5 stars for sure.

For more info go to:

Penguin Canada

Sebastien de Castell's website

Goodreads

Penguin Canada graciously provided me with a copy of this book, so thank you Penguin Canada!

Jodi Brett is a psychologist who spends her days counselling others in their problems, all the while ignoring her cheating common-law husband. Todd Gilbert is a man trying to have a wife, and a girlfriend at the same time, until it all blows up in his face.

The premise is great, and I really wanted to love this book, I really did, but I didn't. I kept reading all these comparisons to Gillian Flynn's 'Gone Girl', and I'm sorry to say, it's not a fair comparison. Flynn's book had me captivated the whole time, while this book had me kind of bored at times. I'm disappointed that I didn't love it, because it definitely sounded like my type of book.

It's obvious that A.S.A Harrison wrote non-fiction before she dabbled in fiction. The book almost reads like a non-fiction in that there's little dialogue at times and it's very descriptive. It made it hard to connect with the characters, which made it even harder to connect to the story. I didn't hate the book, there were parts I enjoyed. I have a BA in psychology, so her sessions with her therapist and her clients were really interesting to me. I know more about Adler and Jung than I really want to know, but those parts of the book were probably my favourite.

 I find it hard to like a book when I can't connect with any of the characters, which is what my problem with was this book. I didn't like anyone in the book. They were all boring, mechanical, and it was difficult to feel any sort of empathy for them.

So, if you liked ‘Gone Girl’, I would say tread carefully with this one. It’s nothing like ‘Gone Girl’, but it does have its own merits. Don't go into it expecting the next 'Gone Girl', and I'm sure you'll really like it.

 I give it 2 out of 5 stars.