Raksha

Title: Raksha 

Author: Frankie Rose

Rating: 5 stars

Summary:

She has no name. 

She has her knives; her training; her halo. 

The first and second give her the tools and the skill to defeat the opponents she is pitched against each month. The third frees her from pain and fear. From any kind of emotion at all. Everything is as it should be. Everything is as it should be, until… 

Fear Pain Anger Happiness Desire Guilt

Love.

When a newly-named Kit escapes the Sanctuary after killing her best friend, the last thing she needs is another knife in her hand. Or Ryka, the damaged, beautiful blonde boy, who she refuses to let save her. Still learning how to process the onslaught of her new feelings, the sights and sounds of Freetown are overwhelming and strange. There are a hundred differences between her old home and her new one, but one thing remains starkly similar: the matches. Yet where the blood in the Sanctuary landed only on the colosseum floor, Kit will quickly learn that a river of red runs through Freetown’s very streets. 

Freed from the oppression of a society who stole her right to feel, the true horror of her old life leaves Kit wondering if she really has been freed at all. Would she be better off without the crippling horror of all the blood on her hands, or is the love of one boy worth living through all the pain?

Raksha is the call of the dead. The rumbling chant for fresh blood from the other side, the demand for sacrifice. The colosseum is behind Kit. The fighting pits await.

You have been called to the fights.

My Review:

I was gifted this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. Now the first thing I am going to say is you need to go out and get this book and then read it immediately, and yes as I am sure you can tell I LOVED this book and I have to say if you get it and don't like it that is not my fault you are just crazy :), now for my reasons why I enjoyed this book so much.
 I am a huge sucker for a Colosseum battle or in some cases in this story a pit fight, I love the gladiator type stories, I don't know what it is and I can't explain it I just do and this book did not disappoint me in this. The author wrote a fantastic battle scene every time, I could  see the action in my mind perfectly like being transported to the front row of the fight.
 The Halo that the citizens of the sanctuary wear was so interesting to me, that people would willingly allow this and just march through life without feeling was something I have not read before and I loved watching Kit realize a world with emotions and learn how to control them. It made me think about how maybe we take them for granted and I really enjoyed the underlying message it left behind for me that own emotions and thoughts of individuality are important in our every day life. It also gave a different take on the fights for the people who wore Halos and those that did not and the reasons why they took part in them.
 Each character in the story were fantastic even the evil ones had their place helping the story form. Kit and Ryka make my top ten couple for sure maybe even top five. Two fighters brought together in a strange situation and they find more in each other than they thought possible, I loved watching them teach each other and grow. It was neat to see the world threw Kit's eyes as she learned to hide and handle emotions she did not like that a lot of times were brought on by Ryka. I thought Ryka was a great leading man strong and protective, doing the best he can for his family, mostly the lovely Olivia his younger sister I was attached to her right away and as an older sibling I felt his struggle to do the best he could for her.
 The ending was the best and worst part so much action heartbreak and many other emotions which was great but now I have so many more questions I did not want this book to end the last page left me reeling and I wanted so much more.
 so as you can tell I thought this book was fan-freaking-tastic a perfect blend of action, adventure, heartbreak, love and control of the masses, if you like any of these things READ THIS BOOK!!!!!!!!

About the Author:

Frankie Rose was born in the United Kingdom, but now lives with her husband in sunny Australia. 

She officially makes things up for a living, and when she's not doing that, she is generally making paper birds out of receipts and old lists or taking photographs that make her smile.

Guardian Of Time (Shardwell series book 2)

Title: Guardian of Time 

Author: A.Gerry and C. Hall

Series: Shardwell Series book 2

Rating: 5/5

Goodreads Summary:

Magic, Demons, arranged marriages, and war.
Margariete, is a young sheltered princess who wants to marry for love and when she thinks her father has arranged a marriage for her to an older man she runs away and learns something of her world and about trust and loyalty. She also learns about her new developing powers, and makes new friends.

My Review:

  I received this book free in exchange for an honest review, I was also gifted book 1 and after reading it about a month ago I was very glad to get time to read this one and I was not disappointed  this book was excellent and in my opinion better than the first.

 When I started I was expecting something different but I am very glad it was the way it was, weaving a beautiful story that answered a lot of questions I had after book one. I loved the old world charm in this book, Love and loyalty filled with duty and sacrifice that comes with tradition and birthright, throw in some evil kings and a plot for revenge and I loved every second of the story that unfolded.

 I loved the characters in this one just as much as the first maybe more. The twins Raeylan and Margariete strong is their love for each other and their younger brother, determined to save each other, the ones they love and the people of their kingdom. I was as blind sided as they were by the betrayal of a close friend and the crazy events that unfolded quickly just when I thought they were safe. I also found myself heart broken by Elsiwen`s tale, she wished to be a loyal friend to Raeylan and Margariete and so many hardships stood in her way and I see many more to come in her future.

I have so many more questions as to what will happen next, how do they all end up on earth, and how will Reaylan save them. I was so skeptical of him in book one but I know have faith and I am rooting for him. I MUST CONTINUE THIS SERIES!!!!!! I love the direction it is headed and I can not wait to see it all come together.

 So as you can tell I absolutely loved this book and I would recommened it to anyone especially if you love action, mystery and a bit of fantasy.

starseed

Title: Starseed

Author: Liz Gruder

Rating: 4/5

Goodreads Summary:
Kaila Guidry has always known she is different. After all, her mother insists Kaila hide her hair under a tin foil shield and a wig before leaving the house. When Kaila meets Jordyn Stryker one day at school, she starts to understand the origin of her mother’s seemingly irrational fears.
Jordyn Stryker was born and raised far from Earth, a starseed, one of six new students sent undercover to Louisina’s Bush High to learn human ways. When Kaila is pushed to her limit by high school bullying and cruelty, Jordyn steps in and awakens her to a new reality, and to love. Out of loyalty to him, Kaila looks the other way when the real purposes of the starseed begin to unfold.
As the horrific plan behind the starseed visit to Earth moves forward, Kaila and Jordyn, caught in an impossible love, must face who they really are and decide where their true loyalties lie.




My Review:
*I received this book free from the author in exchange for an honest review*
First of all I want to comment on the cover it just kinda threw me a bit, although I am one who can sometimes judge a book but its cover I must be honest and say that I don't think I would have picked this up on my own but I read the summary before seeing the cover and it pulled me in, I did enjoy the book and I just put the cover out of my mind and carried on.
I found this story to be a nice look into human nature, how we have the ability to love so fiercely and even the power of feeling sadness and lose and how it helps us see beauty in life. I liked that the process of Kaila being "awakened" she taught the aliens what being human is all about.
Kaila was very relateable to me, she loved her family but longed to know a sense of normalcy. Her bond with her paw paw really hit home for me as he reminded me of my grandpa and his undying love for his family, trying to put Kaila first even as he struggled with cancer brought tears to my eyes on several occasions and  it was also through his love and battle that Kaila found meaning in being human.
Now confession time I dont usually read Alien books they just sort of unsettle me they have so much power and control and this one is a prime example, so much evil and darkness but when they finally opened up to emotion a few were what I would call saved and I was glad a few of the characters found some sort of happiness.
Overall I enjoyed this book and I would recommend this to sci-fi and Alien lovers.

Frey (The Frey Saga1)

Title: Frey

Author: Melissa Wright

Series: The Frey Saga book1

Rating: 4.5/ 5

Goodreads Summary:
Unaware she's been bound from using magic, Frey leads a small, miserable life in the village where she's sent after the death of her mother. But a tiny spark starts a fury of changes and she finds herself running from everything she's ever known. 

Hunted by council for practicing dark magic, she is certain she's been wrongfully accused. She flees, and is forced to rely on strangers for protection. But the farther she strays from home, the more her magic and forgotten memories return and she begins to suspect all is not as it seems.

My Review:
 I got this book free a long time ago off smashwords and when a friend read it and liked it I decided to check it out, and I am sure glad I did it was a great tale of adventure, betrayal, a bit of love, and a young girl trying to find answers.
 Elfredra (or Frey as she is called) was a great character I found her complex and easily relatable she is trying to find her place figure out were she belongs, she can't use magic then in comes strong, silent, sexy Chevelle and things start to change very quickly. I was so invested in the two of them wanting to know where they were going and why. I felt like Chevelle was Frey's night in shinning armor (Sort of) and although my faith in him was shaken a few times I like to believe he ment well.
 Then in their travels they meet Steed, who I believe was the perfect blend of Charm, comedic relief, and protector I liked him instantly, and he is not the only addition to the group and I liked them all they each brought something speacial to the table and helped the story flow, and they all in their own way helped Frey to become the bad ass she was by the end.
Speaking of the end what an ending it was, I am left wanting more and very very interested to see what could happen next. When I get the chance I will for sure be continuing this series to find out what will happen to these characters I am rooting for.

Shadows Of Valor

Title: Shadows of Valor
Author: Patricia Hamill
Series: Shadows of Valor book 1
Rating: 3.5 /5

Goodreads Summary:
Four years ago, Edwin's father was slain by Verackan raiders, intent on plundering the Orescan heartland to supplement their own waning resources. 

Now seventeen and intent on vengeance, Edwin runs away from home to join the Orescan Army. Soon, he finds himself a Probationary Recruit, not in the Army, but in the Special Air Corps. Through a combination of natural and technologically enhanced gifts, this elite and secretive organization battles the Verackans from the shadows. 

As Edwin explores the full potential of his gift, a new objective begins to take hold? ending the Verackan threat for all time.

My Review:
I received this book free from the author in exchange for an honest review. I read the Summary and I thought it sounded different and exciting and some parts were, but I found myself a little board at times. I thought this was  a new and different idea but I would have liked a little more info on the back round of this world and the war being fought between the two groups.
At first I thought that the story would be told entirely from Edwin's point of view, but I was pleasantly surprised to also get Peggy's point of view as well in small doses giving a few answers since she had a lot more info on SAC. I understood Edwin's need for revenge but I could not seem to become invested beyond that with him or any of the other characters, they seemed nice enough but I just could not get attached.
I found it picked up at the end and I liked how his actions sort of brought up new questions for Edwin about the war and his haste for revenge in an uncertain world. Overall this was a fast red and I felt this had so much potential and I could see the next one having a bit more excitement now that the foundation has been laid.