Category: Book Reviews

Posted in Book Reviews

I’m Still Here

Posted on by Little Bee

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My rating: 5 stars

I won this book in a Goodreads Giveaway. This is my honest review.

There will be a minor spoiler at the end of this review. Just throwing it out there.

I was super excited when I found out that I had won this book. It is one book that I truly wanted and wanted badly. The whole premise just sounded spot on. Kathryn Biel delivered.

Esther has this sense of humor that is completely relatable. I enjoyed every interaction she had with Kingston. Their banter was spot on. My heart broke for Esther having a family that didn’t want her. Who couldn’t care less about her. My heart hurt for her for having a twin sister that just suddenly disappeared. Esther tried moving on with her life as if Aster was dead, because she truly thought she was.

Like you can read in other Goodreads reviews, I laughed throughout this book. I cried. I was angry. I was in shock. My heart literally hurt. I got so anxious that I had to read faster and I couldn’t understand why I couldn’t read any faster than I was. This was truly a phenomenal read. I am glad I got to go on the journey with Esther. (Spoiler)–I wish she retained her memory, but I am glad that her and Kingston were able to further their relationship and she let him and that he was man enough to stay when everything happened. Some men that would have scared off. It was nice to see a nice strong male lead so deserving a strong woman. Esther had everything I want in a female protagonist. She is strong. She is independent. She is witty. She is relatable. She has strength when everyone around her is barely holding on. She has perseverance like I haven’t seen in a character. She just keeps moving, keeps going forward, keeps doing what she has to do to keep her head above water. When she finally drowns, the family she never had, rescues her and gives her the will to keep going.

I highly recommend this book to pretty much everyone! It was so good. I read it all in one sitting. I was left just…feeling. I wasn’t even sure how to write this review. It was a moving story and I will definitely be seeking out more of Biel’s works.

Posted in Book Reviews

Three Times Lucky

Posted on by Little Bee

Three Times Lucky

My rating: 3 out of 5 stars

I listened to this book on audio. The narrator was a younger female who read the role as Mo, the primary character in the story. I have read a lot of other people’s reviews of the book, and it seems like a lot of us had similar confusions about the story itself. I know I don’t summarize books often, but with this story I will give a brief synopsis.

Mo was washed up on the shore in South Carolina during a hurricane when she was a new born. She was found by a man nicknamed Colonel, who happened to have had a car crash and lost his memory. A murder of a local man in their little town sends the entire town into a furry. Mo decided to try and help and began her own make shift detective agency (she is 12 years old). There were actually a lot of clues Mo found that the detective didn’t. The story progresses and you ultimately find out who the killer is, and the story ends. During the story, Mo often sends messages in a bottle to her “upstream mother” trying to find her biological mother.

This story has a lot of buildup, but just did not pack that punch. Though the story is a feel goodish novel, it wasn’t WOW. I actually had to renew the audiobook in order to finish it, and it wasn’t that long. I don’t want to give any spoilers, so my summary was minimal.

As for the narration, it was nicely done. She had a lot of spunk and brought the characters to life. Where the story fell short for me, is that I couldn’t figure out what they were supposed to have looked like. I have no idea what Mo looks like, or really the little town. I feel like the story fell short in a lot of the description. If it had described more, then I think the story would have been better.

Posted in Book Reviews

Attachments

Posted on by Little Bee

Attachments

My rating: 3 to 3.5 stars out of 5.

My first encounter with Rainbow Rowell was with Eleanor and Park, which left me wanting and needing more. When I started reading this book, I said to myself, “please…please give me more and don’t end like Eleanor and Park.”  Whenever I have a not-so-good first encounter with an author, I am always reluctant to read another book by them. Rainbow Rowell still has me questioning if I will read another. I keep thinking, maybe it will be my “John Green” moment when I had read Looking for Alaska and almost missed out on the amazingness of The Fault in Our Stars. This doesn’t completely seem to be the case. Even as I am writing this, I have this weird appreciation for Rainbow Rowell as an author.

Like most people who allow themselves to be sucked into a story, I can want it to end a specific way, and then hope as I read it that it will end that way. I don’t like being tricked and sent for all sorts of loops and turns to get from point A to point Z….okay, that is a lie…I actually love that. I love when a book can make me anxious and speed through because I HAVE to know if it ends how I want it. Even if it doesn’t, that doesn’t upset me as much as a book that just kind of ends with no ending. I can happily report that Attachments does have an ending, for the sake of spoilers, I won’t say whether it is a good one or a bad one.

During most of the story, I started feeling dread. I started feeling like it would totally be like Rainbow Rowell to write an entire book about this guy whose job is to READ other people’s email and the whole story is just that with little to no interaction with ANYONE at his job. That he would read the same two people’s email for MONTHS never once not reading it (because he should have stopped it a long time ago since the email was getting flagged in the first place) and never do anything about it. Then, I got to thinking about all the other background information. How messed up Lincoln’s life had become, and how he kept enclosing in on himself. I did enjoy seeing the growth Lincoln went through in the story. This got me to thinking how in the hell would this woman, who by only reading her emails alone, that he fell in love with, would react if she found out that he should have and could have stopped reading her email to her friend/co-worker from the very beginning of the story at the first flagged email. Then I started thinking of the endless possibilities that this story could take on, and which one I wanted, and how I just needed it to end.

So as I write this, I feel this sudden conflict. Like I had a Rainbow Rowell epiphany. Rainbow Rowell isn’t like a lot of other authors. She won’t necessarily give you the ending you want, or maybe she will. She shows the growth of all of her characters, whether they had small roles, or were the main role. She tries to weave real life situations into the backdrop of the story. Knowing this, and understanding this, I just didn’t care for this book. I seriously just pushed through it to get done with it and see if it got better. And the fact that I was bored out of my mind up until about 90% into the story, which is just too long to get into a story. So, even though I can fully appreciate Rainbow Rowell as an author with this sudden new understanding, I just didn’t like this particular work. The plus side is, at least it ended and didn’t leave this empty space in my soul where Rowell just tore my heart to shreds and didn’t even care (like she did with Eleanor and Park).

Posted in Book Reviews

When You Are Engulfed In Flames

Posted on by Little Bee

David Sedaris

My rating: 4 out of 5 stars

My first encounter with David Sedaris was his most recent book, Let’s Explore Diabetes With Owls. I listened to the audiobook version, which was him reading each the essays in a variety of settings which had me laughing in stitches for hours. So, naturally, when I discover an earlier book by Mr. Sedaris for $3 at Books-A-Million, of course I picked it up. It took me a little while to get through the book, as it is one of many I was reading at the same time, but even just reading the essays myself I was in stitches. I would advise not to read in public unless you don’t mind being that crazy person who sits alone laughing loudly to themselves in public. I happened to be on an airplane. I didn’t mind. The way I see it, enjoying a book that much in a public setting is good publicity…and somewhat free publicity for the author.

There were some essays that really had me struggling to get through them, but for the most part, they were all enjoyable. I do not read a lot of non-fiction, but I find Sedaris’ slapstick, comical essays to be pretty entertaining. Each essay going into an example of his life that makes you feel like you are watching it happen.

If you are offended by anything, this might not be a good book for you. Part of me wants to attempt to contact Mr. Sedaris and ask him how much of these essays are real, and what is that added extra to pack an extra punch. Some of these essays really started out like the opening scene of an episode of Law and Order. Some essays left me wanting to find out what happened AFTER they ended. He talks about all areas of his life, from the drugs, drinking, smoking, his multiple relationships, plus his long term relationship with his current partner. I also wonder what his partner thinks about some of the details included about their relationship (no worries, none of them are inappropriate).

If you are looking for an entertaining read, then I suggest this book. And though I have only read two of Sedaris’ books, I feel pretty comfortable recommending any of them.

Posted in Book Reviews

All animals are created equal! Some just more than others…..

Posted on by Little Bee

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So, I finally read Animal Farm by George Orwell, and let me say, I am glad I waited until I was 28 to read it. Many people read this in high school, I never had to, I was in different English classes and read different books. I can tell you this, I loved Orwell’s 1984, and after reading Animal Farm, I want to re-read 1984 to see what concepts I missed because I was too young to grasp or understand…

On Goodreads, I have seen this review: “The last line of the book, was quite amazing. The way the author left the reader, it kind of dazed me for a few seconds. The thought of pigs turning into humans, not physically, but mentally. The way the pigs had dressed, eaten, even walked. I really did like the backstory, the book though in general? Not so much.” This is only part of the review, the rest really didn’t say much except she liked Boxer because she likes horses. The comments section mentioned how they didn’t like the story either. My point? They are 14. I have wondered if I should make a response on this comment as well. That they seemed to MISS THE ENTIRE POINT OF THE BOOK. It is not merely about animals over taking a farm, it is so much more than that. She also said she “loves WWII and is a big history geek”….yet she doesn’t seem to realize this book was not about the entirely about the war (but merely references the relationship between Nazis and Soviets, the Allies and a few other incidences that occurred on the farm)? My heart is saddened by the way our youth are heading. Granted, when I was 14, I wouldn’t have recognized a book about communism and broken human nature if it beat me bloody and took all I had.

George Orwell was one interesting human being. I love his shock value. I understand what the book is about, however, I went ahead and did a little research behind the book and found who the characters represent in the story. That really brought this entire book together for me in my understanding fully. I will share it with you:

“Karl Marx (Major), Vladimir Lenin (Major), Leon Trotsky (Snowball), Joseph Stalin (Napoleon), Adolf Hitler (Frederick), the Allies (Pilkington), the peasants (Boxer), the elite (Mollie), and the church (Moses)” (gradesaver.com)

Now fully understanding that Marx was intended to represent Major, the passages I marked clearly in my book for future references really bring home how it became so easy for the likes of Stalin to come into power. When the impoverished are already broken, and are presented with a possible savior, how easy it is to stand behind that leader in hopes for a better and brighter future? When there is no hope left, how easy it is to see a sliver dangled on a string in front of their faces, to accept it no matter what the cost, because, “it wasn’t as bad as it was before…” even when they could no longer remember what it was like before. Because nothing changed. Eventually, everything came back around to what it was before the Revolution. Except with new leaders.

“And remember also that in fighting against Man, we must not come to resemble him. Even when you have conquered him, do not adopt his vices.”……”The creatures outside looked from pig to man, and from man to pig, and from pig to man again; but already it was impossible to say which was which.” These two quotes, the first in the beginning of the book during Major’s speech and the second being the last line of the book, specifically pinpoint where the Stalinist took the beginning ideals and corrupted them. I learned that Orwell believed in Socialist ideals, and that this book was a jab at Stalin because he took the ideal in the perverse form and ended up in a totalitarian form of government. One that knew of the “lower animals” lack of intelligence and understanding of what was actually happening. These perverse leaders taking advantage of the “lower animals” and making sure that the “lower animals” knew or at least believed, that 1) things were better than when Mr. Jones was around and 2) it is all for the greater good. And using mouthpieces like the likes of Squealer, helped ease the confusion, and the beautifully seductive words that came from his mouth recaptured, revitalized and eased any confusion or possible unease to rest.

I know that this book was geared toward Stalinism, but I like how I can apply various details from not only Animal Farm, but books like The Handmaid’s Tale, 1984, and others to our lives now. It’s curious. And frightening.

Posted in Book Reviews

The Fallen Blade

Posted on by Little Bee

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The cover is eye catching, the description intriguing, however this book fell flat on its face. My overall rating is 3 generous stars out of 5.

Majority of this book, I was completely confused. There were words in Italian that I constantly had to look up so that I could understand what was being said. I had to not only re-read paragraphs, but sometimes ENTIRE chapters just to make sure I understood what was going on. Sometimes it was very hard to distinguish between past and present, and which characters were involved in a particular scene. Sometimes I had to re-read entire sentences simply because the structure sounded off.

So why did I give this book a generous 3 stars? I kept pushing through. The story line is very complex. Taking place in the 1400s, Venice. I love medieval history. The fact that someone attempted the feat of medieval historical fiction, the “birth of the vampire” (though I am still not ENTIRELY sure Tycho is a vampire, because at this time period, vampires did not exist..) is to be applauded. Eventually, each character and story line connected. Once the connection occurred, even though I had to constantly re-read sections, I was intrigued and kept going.

I will eventually read the next two books, as the way it ended left me wondering more what happens to Tycho know that he knows what he was “bred” to do.

If you enjoy books that have multiple plot lines, medieval history, and pages full of deception, corruption and power hungry Venetians, AND, you can get past having to re-read every now and again, I do suggest this book. However, if you don’t like being confused, or re-reading sentences or chapters, then I would say stay clear from this one!

Don’t judge a book by it’s cover? Totally true here…I needed more, with less confusion. To play Devil’s advocate, this author speaks more than one language, and sometimes this book does read like it was translated from Google…

Posted in Book Reviews

When Mockingbirds Sing

Posted on by Little Bee

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My rating: 4 out of 5 stars

When I first discovered this book on Goodreads, I felt I had to read it. Last year, I read a couple of books that were about kids that had different issues that made life a bit difficult. (Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend by Matthew Dicks is absolutely wonderful, I highly suggest it). When I finally bought the book, it took me a while to actually read it. So the other day, I said okay, it is time. 

From the very beginning, I was enamored by the character sketches; each character with their own story lines, their own flaws, their own inner demons to face. It was beautifully written. I felt like I could connect with each character. I grew to despise Reverend Goggins, his jealously over the possibly spiritually touched young Leah was interesting and what drove him to his ultimate conflict.

At first, I had absolutely no idea that this book was categorized in the Christian fiction genre. This book is based in a small, rural, Southern, country town. Where everybody knows everybody. If you look the wrong direction, everyone knows. In communities like these, the focal point is usually a church. Which is why I had no clue about the genre. Do I fault it for that? No, not at all. Even reading this book, I never really felt like it was categorized correctly. My heart broke for Leah, the little girl, who was visited by the Rainbow Man on the day of her birthday party. The Rainbow Man stayed with her, through every conflict, every emotional event, urging her to keep telling people they had to believe in the Maybe. Leah even told her friend Allie that things were going to get really bad, and she had to know Allie wouldn’t leave, she wouldn’t stop believing in the Maybe. Each picture the Rainbow Man had her paint, dictated events that rattled the town. People became horrified, angry, some even lashed out and physically hurt this little girl. Out of fear. At one point, her father begged her to tell him and her mother about a particular incident that occurred, and Leah told him that he had to believe because he believed on his own, not because she told him what it is he already knows. Nothing anyone did, could prevent Leah from trying to save the town, even if they didn’t believe, even if they didn’t listen. She knew ultimately, those who chose to believe would be saved. And those who refused to believe, because they couldn’t see, because they were afraid, those people did not make it.

By the end of this story, I had tears. The strength that little Leah had when everyone was against her. Her persistence to keep going, because she knew only she could save those who needed saved. It truly was a wonderful story.

Posted in Book Reviews

The Split Worlds

Posted on by Little Bee

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5 out of 5 stars! (for the whole series!!)

Where do I begin? You know that feeling you get, after you have read something so incredible and feel empty once it is over? That is how I feel with The Split Worlds. Over the summer, I happened upon book 1, Between Two Thorns by happy accident. I will be honest. I judge books by their covers. If a cover or title is not remotely interesting or captures my attention, good chance I won’t give it more than a passing glance. Between Two Thorns stared me down like a showdown in the Wild West, and I my friend, lost. I am saddened, excited, confused and a slew of emotions right now with the conclusion. I have done some extensive research, and this series MIGHT continue depending on sales and reviews. I hope it does…or I might have to start shoving this series in the face of everyone I encounter. I enjoyed it that much.

Firstly, I find it amazing that this series actually started out as a series of short stories. In reading each book, it is definitely evident where each story would begin and end, but when put together as a whole part, it flowed amazingly. When I first started Between Two Thorns, I will say, I was extremely confused. The entire series is set between 3 “mirror” worlds set in the UK. Between Two Thorns takes place primarily in the mirror world of Bath called Aquae Sulis. Any Other Name transitions the key characters (Cathy and Will) move to Londinium which is where All Is Fair primarily takes place, with a few odd trips to Oxenford.

A little bit of where my confusion started were mainly understanding the differences between the “Split World” (the Nether) where the Fae-touched lived, and Mundanus where the innocents lived (us every day normal human beings). The Fae-touched never aged, never died (unless murdered), never anything when they lived in the Nether (but they could if they stayed in Mundanus too long). The Fae-touched are archaic, Victorian-esque, gossipy, and extremely patriarchal. Women were only meant for children, looking pretty, and gossip. Each of the Great Families had a Patroon, which is one of the Fae. (Lord Iris, Lord Poppy, Lady Rose are a couple you meet in this series at various times). These Fae are evil, manipulative, and any other horrible name you can think of. They are the reasons that the Fae-touched (the Society) are corrupt and “behind the times.” Many of the famous wars or “hostile take overs,” in Mundanus (William the Conqueror, War of the Roses…etc), were driven by the Fae-touched and their Patroons. The Fae-touched tend to be called “puppets.” Other character types in the books are Sorcerers, each having their own section of the land. Such as the Sorcerer of Essex, Sorcerer of Wessex, Sorcerer of Mercia (again all male, because a female knowing or having the ability of magic would be catastrophically dangerous). Each Sorcerer has a band of “police” called Arbitors. They were once Mundanes/Innocents, but were chosen to be tested for this particular police agency. Their job was to protect the innocents from the Fae and Fae-touched.  This was all very confusing to understand at first, but it didn’t take long for it to click and get going.

There are multiple story lines going on at once. In Between Two Thorns, I was ready for it come together so I could help make sense of my confusion and understand how each story related. If it was going to be multiple story lines the entire time, with no connection between any of them, then I probably would not have finished. Around page 70, I was sucked into the Split Worlds and finished the entire book within a few hours. I devoured each book since.

This book touches on so many topics when it comes to equality. Women in the Nether are married off, not for love, but for how that marriage (meaning potential children) could benefit the Patroon of the family. Cathy had been desperately hiding in Mundanus for a couple of years before her Patroon finally found her and eventually played a part in her being dragged back to Aquae Sulis so she could be married off to Will. Cathy was taught as a young girl about Suffrage, and women’s rights, and that women could be so much more than what women in the Nether believed or were taught. This teaching was forbidden and once it was discovered that Cathy was being taught these ideals, the Governess was removed from the home. But the damage had already been done. Cathy had knowledge of freedom, of wanting more, of doing more, and that is what she wanted for herself.

This series has so much going on all at once, but it is written in a way that it makes sense. Each main character of the book has their own narrative flowing through the series. Each character has their own part to play, and though each one of them get to their potential in different ways, every character connects at the end. Every story falls in place. Everything comes together. You love Cathy from the beginning, especially as a female reader that knows how it feels to be able to do, study, read, wear what she wants and voice her own opinions. To read about a culture that doesn’t allow for it, well, you automatically fall in love with the character who wants and knows of freedom, but can’t seem to get it for herself. I liked Will as well. Even though he was just as forced into his marriage with Cathy, and he is a prick, I couldn’t help but like him. It is evident that Will did as he was told, even though he didn’t necessarily agree with it, because that was how things were. He had to listen to his Patroon. So he did his duty, married Cathy, and attempted to make the best of it, that is the reason the men in the Nether had mistresses still, yes?

Cathy and Will have to keep secrets from each and from everyone else, while still attempting to keep it together. Cathy eventually accepts her fate to be married to someone she didn’t love, but eventually, could she love him? It was fun to watch the two of them grow, up and together. This series doesn’t necessarily include romance, but there are some aspects of it. I will give a spoiler, yes, Will and Cathy do fall in love with each other. Another spoiler, Cathy stops trying to run away for her freedom and instead, attempts to change Society as a whole.

I feel that no review I could write would justify the amazing-ness of this series. The series is humorous, political, aggravating, and heartbreaking. All in one. There is violence, fantasy, romance, some smut, corruption, mystery…every genre all rolled into one plot line. It was hard to get bored. Right when you would be getting to an awesome part, that particular character’s story line ended for the chapter and it went on to the next character! It was hard to put any one of these books down. I could never find a place to stop so I could go to sleep, or start work, or eat my dinner. I read each of these books within a day of starting it. They were that good. And sometimes, it is such a rare find, to find something by happy accident.

I highly encourage giving this story a read. I only spoke of two characters. There are too many, and too many stories, and too many connections, we would be here all day, even though, I could talk about it all day. When I move to the UK, I hope to happen upon the opportunity to meet Emma Newman at a signing, or again, by a happy accident.

*NOTE* The Author, Emma Newman, made a few clarifications for me 🙂 So I am going to pass them on :).  The Split World grew from short stories, but the novels were written as their own. There are about 55 short stories that help seed plot lines, do a bit of foreshadowing, and help further information about the characters.

I will add the link for the Split Worlds if you wish to join in 🙂 thesplitworlds.com

Posted in Book Reviews

Santa’s Claws…and other short stories

Posted on by Little Bee

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So. This was interesting….Free book for amazon kindle. Would I pay for this collection of short stories? No. My rating? 2.5 stars? I didn’t even read the last story…

There are 4 short stories in this book, though the last story was included “preview” in the title so I just said eff it, I am done…

First story: Santa’s Claws: Horrible bad boy, Ryan, always in trouble. Every year he gets coal from Santa. This year, is going to be different…he will devise a plan to trick Santa into giving him presents! One problem…the girl down the road, wrote Santa that Ryan has a plan up his sleeve and she believes he should watch his back. Outcome? Santa knew about Ryan’s trick and tricked him instead…Ryan was turned into a doll and given to the girl down the road for her collection….

The second story was about a boy who made fun of the lunch lady…the lunch lady put rat poison in his food the next day.

The third story is about a family who puts a baby monitor in the baby’s room that can hook up to the tv. The older sister saw her death play out on it…she discovered it was her death when she rushed into the baby’s room to same whomever was in there, and she died.

The fourth story is about zombies. But I didn’t get to it…maybe you will enjoy it…I don’t know.

Piddly read. I wouldn’t suggest it, but if you are curious about it…it is free. So you won’t have to feel ashamed of yourself for spending money on it when it wasn’t worth it!

Posted in Book Reviews

Charmed, I’m Sure…

Posted on by Little Bee

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This book was a delightful little surprise. For the past couple of months, every time I went to the book store, it was there, staring me in the face screaming “READ ME!!,” so one day, I finally bought it. Instead of placing it towards the back of my current read queue, I moved it right up front.

John Charming. Mmm where do I even begin? He has this wit about him that sucks you into his life from the very beginning. Each chapter is labeled to reflect this wit. Chapter One: A blonde and a vampire walk into a bar….” I knew from the beginning I would have high hopes for this book, and those hopes included some kind of enjoyment and desire to continue on with the series (Goodreads has it marked as Pax Arcana #1…so we shall see?)

I generally like to write any kind of reviews based on feelings, but I think I might sway a bit and include what the overall concept of the book is about. If you enjoy supernatural science fiction, you may or may not enjoy this book. Elliott James brings a new concept into the world of supernatural science fiction. He includes a type of secret police, the very Knights Templar, into the mix. The downfall, though, was that only one knight showed up the WHOLE book and his role was very small.

Let me explain….John Charming was a Knight during WWII. Prior to his birth, his mother was bitten by a werewolf. She gave birth to Charming prior to the first full moon. John never fully became a wolf, though some of the werewolf folklore was true in his case. He had great sense of smell, couldn’t be killed easily, healed fast. He just didn’t change. There is one particular incident in Charming’s life that made these particular traits come into focus, and the Knights turned their backs on him. Of which, he ran. And has been on the run his whole life from that point on. This book takes place in current years. John is a very old young man!

In the course of his run, John Charming finds himself in a little rural town in Virginia called Claysburg. He assumes someone’s identity and becomes that person until he has to move on. Sometimes this can be a few days, or a few weeks. At this juncture, he becomes a bartender. In walks Sig. Tall, blonde, Norse features, not human. Valkyrie. Sig has her own demons, as most of the characters do. But she is currently on the hunt of a vampire suspected of killing a particular breed of women, that most people might not even notice is missing. How does Sig know these women are missing? She sees ghosts. Not only can she see, speak, and feel ghosts, her sociopath of a boyfriend, Stanislav Dvornik, a kresnik (I have never heard of these before, they are ‘seers’, psychics, etc….similar to the Knights Templar) can remove himself from his body and see what is killing them, how and where.

John Charming’s wolf is immediately attracted, let’s face it, how could it not be? A strong, dominant, alpha female walks into a bar. What’s not to like? Charming ultimately gets sucked into Sig’s rag tag team of supernatural police misfits to help take down this vampire hive and preventing a psychotic teen wishing to be a vampire hive queen from taking over all of Claysburg by creating a series of underground tunnels. This unorthodox team includes: Choo, an ex-military surplus supplier turned exterminator, who likes his weed. Cahill, a local police detective. Molly, a former Episcopalian preacher (who is also a lesbian…she had to ‘out’ herself to reassure John she wasn’t coming onto him). Parth, the town’s local naga. And Dvornik’s nephews: Andro and Andrej, every bit of sociopath that their uncle is…they are the sharp shooters and muscle of the group.

What I like most about this book, is that every character is seriously damaged. Each person written into this book has a story. They have reasons why they are a part of this group. They have baggage that they can’t get rid of. I like how Elliott James takes these personas and is able to connect them all together, to bring them together, to be able to (for the most part) use these broken down individuals in such a way that they all 1) connect with each other, 2) work together with such beautiful fluidity and 3) just straight up kick ass. Each character has an added spunk, wit, kick ass first ask questions later, attitude. Each person has something unique that only they can bring to the team as a strength.

I don’t have a lot of dislikes in the book. I feel that there was a lot of buildup, but not necessarily that orgasmic explosion that I enjoy most out of a good book when everything seems to finally happen over the course of a few pages. There was a lot of sexual tension. Between multiple characters. And, some things, which I wont discuss, were rather predictable. Charming states from the beginning he isn’t living happily ever after. But, the end of the book, kind of left me feeling empty. Will this series continue? And if so…what direction will it go? Can it really continue? James just kind of left it. Maybe that is the point. It would fit right in with the quirkiness and wit of John Charming.

If this book were to become a movie this is who I saw as John Charming the ENTIRE time I read:

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Can we say…yum?