Book Review: The Shadow Queen (Ravenspire, #1) by C.J. Redwine

The Shadow Queen

by C.J. Redwine

Lorelai Diederich, crown princess and fugitive at large, has one mission: kill the wicked queen who took both the Ravenspire throne and the life of her father. To do that, Lorelai needs to use the one weapon she and Queen Irina have in common—magic. She’ll have to be stronger, faster, and more powerful than Irina, the most dangerous sorceress Ravenspire has ever seen.

In the neighboring kingdom of Eldr, when Prince Kol’s father and older brother are killed by an invading army of magic-wielding ogres, the second-born prince is suddenly given the responsibility of saving his kingdom. To do that, Kol needs magic—and the only way to get it is to make a deal with the queen of Ravenspire, promise to become her personal huntsman…and bring her Lorelai’s heart.

But Lorelai is nothing like Kol expected—beautiful, fierce, and unstoppable—and despite dark magic, Lorelai is drawn in by the passionate and troubled king. Fighting to stay one step ahead of the dragon huntsman—who she likes far more than she should—Lorelai does everything in her power to ruin the wicked queen. But Irina isn’t going down without a fight, and her final move may cost the princess the one thing she still has left to lose.

My Review: 

This book was a complete cover buy for me, i love the cover and later when i read the blurb i add it to my wishlist.It was there for quite some time so when i finally decided to order it i have to start reading the same day it arrived. 

It was a snow white retelling, with easy writting style and a very fluent language. I guess you get almost what you are expecting from this book, i mean if you know snow white you can guess prety fast what the main plot of this one is going to be. 
However i was a little bit surprised with some twists that the author add to this book, mostly Lorelai brother. 

About the main character's i like but do not love them, the development of theirs personality are sometimes lacking but they have a sweet romance. This is the kind of book you read easy in a day or two and i get curious about the next books in this series, although they are separated reads that do not have relation between them. 

I gave this one 3,4 out of 5* and i recommend it to someone you loves fairy tales retelling's.

Wizardry Student Box _ October 2017

Unboxing WSB Ocotber 2017

Hi guys, today i bring another unboxing but this time it is a totally new subscription box named Wizardry Student Box (WSB) and i will give all the details before i start the review of this month. 

So this is a bimonthly box, it is only released every two months and this one is related with year two of Harry Potter. 

Every box will contain 4 to 7 items Harry Potter related: 
- 1 or 2 handmade items 
- 1 or 2 House related items 
- 1 exclusive item 
- 1 or 2 items related with each school year

 When you subscribe you have to tell your t shirt size and which Hogwarts house you belong to. The box cost me 30 € (about 27,76£) already with shipment and this is only for a month box, you could also chose other payment options: 4 boxes for 115 € (about 106,45£) or 7 boxes for 190 € (about 175,89£).

This box is sponsored by the online shop called "Loja da Magia" and i will leave the sites bellow for you to take a look. 

http://www.lojadamagia.pt/

http://wizardry.nloja.com/

So without further ado let's start this unboxing =D and i know i'm a little bit late with this post but magic is magic and i hope you will like this box!

So when you open the box this is what you are going to see. 

 I think they were extremely careful with the order and with the way they packed things and they try to make sure nothing will be broken in the mail so in my opinion 5 * for packing. 

The itens this month are all related somehow with the chamber of secrets book and i love the idea that each box is about a school year at Hogwarts. 

 The guide with all the items of this book was printed in a paper that resemble the entrance to the chamber of secrets, again i like it and i think it is a good little detail. 

 I was expecting to see a t shirt and i was not disappointed this time,  it's grey with the hogwarts's crest in it and i really like the material and you can tell that it is high quality. 

They include a pillow case, and OMG i just love it!!!

The design is brilliant, again is themed for the second book but really take a good look at it.... i think this is one of a kind item.

Next we received a poster with the famous scene from book two, where the phoenix fight the basilisk.

A coloring book, that i personally adore since i'm a sucker for coloring things and i love to color when i'm listening audiobooks. A little pumpkin with some candy in them and the sentence "follow the spiders", again this demonstrates the care they put into this box and i was so happy with a reference to Halloween. 

The next item is the usual bookmark with the golden trio and i would love them to do a bookmark series. They could do one with ginny, luna and neville for instance. 

The last items in this month box is a replica of Tom Riddle diary and when you open it up....

Surprise, you get a Dobby reference and a pair of socks from your Hogwarts house. 

I just love this item, the imagination behind it is brilliant!!!

In resume this month box have 7 items and of course my favorite one is the pillow case close by Tom's riddle Diary, if i have to choose a less favorite item i think it will be the bookmark, just because i have already it. 

I will order the next box of course and it will be delivered next week (shame on me for doing this post so late), i'm expecting something marauder's related since it will be related with 3º book, and i would love some item abour sirius since he is my favorite character. 

If you order one of those please let me know and show some pictures of it =D 

Book Review:King's Cage (Red Queen #3) by Victoria Aveyard

King's Cage 

by Victoria Aveyard 

"In this breathless third installment to Victoria Aveyard’s bestselling Red Queen series, allegiances are tested on every side. And when the Lightning Girl's spark is gone, who will light the way for the rebellion?

Mare Barrow is a prisoner, powerless without her lightning, tormented by her lethal mistakes. She lives at the mercy of a boy she once loved, a boy made of lies and betrayal. Now a king, Maven Calore continues weaving his dead mother's web in an attempt to maintain control over his country—and his prisoner.

As Mare bears the weight of Silent Stone in the palace, her once-ragtag band of newbloods and Reds continue organizing, training, and expanding. They prepare for war, no longer able to linger in the shadows. And Cal, the exiled prince with his own claim on Mare's heart, will stop at nothing to bring her back.

When blood turns on blood, and ability on ability, there may be no one left to put out the fire—leaving Norta as Mare knows it to burn all the way down."

My Review:

This is the 3 book from the Red Queen series by victoria Aveyard, and i know that there is a lot of controversy surrounding this series but i really like it a lot. 

For me the beginning of this book was a little slow with a lot of conversation and little action, but later it fasten up and the final is once again breathtaking and leaves us salivating for the next one in this series. 
There are also some less positive aspects in this book, again i consider the chapters a little to big for my liking and there are some situations where the behavior of the main character's leave me wanting to strangle them. 

About the main character's i have to confess that i cannot dislike Maven 100% and sometimes i wish he can be recovered. I'm super curious about the final book that will be released in 2018 and i can't wait to read it. 

I gave this one 4,4 out of 5*, it is not my favorite from this series but the plot is interesting and for someone who like the previous one's they will definitely like this too.

Book Review: Bando de Corvos (The Others #2) by Anne Bishop

Bando de Corvos 

by Anne Bishop

After winning the trust of the terra indigene residing in the Lakeside Courtyard, Meg Corbyn has had trouble figuring out what it means to live among them. As a human, Meg should be barely tolerated prey, but her abilities as a cassandra sangue make her something more.

The appearance of two addictive drugs has sparked violence between the humans and the Others, resulting in the murder of both species in nearby cities. So when Meg has a dream about blood and black feathers in the snow, Simon Wolfgard - Lakeside’s shape-shifting leader - wonders if their blood prophet dreamed of a past attack or a future threat.

As the urge to speak prophecies strikes Meg more frequently, trouble finds its way inside the Courtyard. Now, the Others and the handful of humans residing there must work together to stop the man bent on reclaiming their blood prophet - and stop the danger that threatens to destroy them all.

My Review: 

After winning the trust of the terra indigene residing in the Lakeside Courtyard, Meg Corbyn has had trouble figuring out what it means to live among them. As a human, Meg should be barely tolerated prey, but her abilities as a cassandra sangue make her something more.

The appearance of two addictive drugs has sparked violence between the humans and the Others, resulting in the murder of both species in nearby cities. So when Meg has a dream about blood and black feathers in the snow, Simon Wolfgard - Lakeside’s shape-shifting leader - wonders if their blood prophet dreamed of a past attack or a future threat.

As the urge to speak prophecies strikes Meg more frequently, trouble finds its way inside the Courtyard. Now, the Others and the handful of humans residing there must work together to stop the man bent on reclaiming their blood prophet - and stop the danger that threatens to destroy them all.

Book Review: Scarlet (The Lunar Chronicles #2) by Marissa Meyer

Scarlet 

by Marissa Meyer

Cinder, the cyborg mechanic, returns in the second thrilling installment of the bestselling Lunar Chronicles. She’s trying to break out of prison—even though if she succeeds, she’ll be the Commonwealth’s most wanted fugitive.

Halfway around the world, Scarlet Benoit’s grandmother is missing. When Scarlet encounters Wolf, a street fighter who may have information as to her grandmother’s whereabouts, she is loath to trust this stranger, but is inexplicably drawn to him, and he to her. As Scarlet and Wolf unravel one mystery, they encounter another when they meet Cinder. Now, all of them must stay one step ahead of the vicious Lunar Queen Levana, who will do anything for the handsome Prince Kai to become her husband, her king, her prisoner.

My Review: 

This is the second book from the Lunar Chronicles series by Marissa Meyer and i could not stop myself from reading it right after i finish the first one. Again i listen to this on audiobook and i just love the narrator, definitely recommend this series on audio. 

This books is a fairy tale retelling and this time it is Red riding wood the tale being retold. The plot takes place almost at the same moment the previous book finish but in another part of the world and with different characters. 
We are introduced to Scarlet, a teenager that is in search for her missing grandmother and wolf a street fighter that is going to help her. 

Again this book brings much more that the usual retelling, the plot is imaginative and we are always trying to guess what will comes next. In Cinder we get almost what we are expecting from a cinderella retelling, instead in this second books we get many surprises and twists. The only thing i do not really like was the fact that the universal plot do not get much advance to it, that is we get to see and learn a lot more about Cinder past and what happens to bring the characters to that point of the story, but in the final of Scarlet we are almost at the same stage we were when we start the book. 

I gave this book 4.25 out of 5*, i could not give more because of the sense that the plot does not evolve but at the same time i could not give less because i really like scarlet and wolfs story. 
I'm so so curious about what will happen in next books that i think i will start it soon enough. 

Book Review: Cinder (The Lunar Chronicles #1) by Marissa Meyer

Cinder 

by Marissa Meyer

Sixteen-year-old Cinder is considered a technological mistake by most of society and a burden by her stepmother. Being cyborg does have its benefits, though: Cinder's brain interference has given her an uncanny ability to fix things (robots, hovers, her own malfunctioning parts), making her the best mechanic in New Beijing. This reputation brings Prince Kai himself to her weekly market booth, needing her to repair a broken android before the annual ball. He jokingly calls it "a matter of national security," but Cinder suspects it's more serious than he's letting on.

Although eager to impress the prince, Cinder's intentions are derailed when her younger stepsister, and only human friend, is infected with the fatal plague that's been devastating Earth for a decade. Blaming Cinder for her daughter's illness, Cinder's stepmother volunteers her body for plague research, an "honor" that no one has survived.

But it doesn't take long for the scientists to discover something unusual about their new guinea pig. Something others would kill for.

My Review: 

I have see this book on my goodreads feed for quite a time but i never feel the urge to start reading it. A little explanation for those of you that do not know what goodreads is.... well the best way to describe it is "like a facebook for books" where you can register what you read, participate in book challenges, get bookworm friends, etc.... 

I will leave the link for you to see it: goodreads

As for this book it seems at first sight a fairy tale retelling of Cinderella with a little of snow white in the mixture, but when you start reading it you get so much more in the plot. The book is very fast paced and there is always happening things.

 The world the author has created is captivating, imagine a futuristic scenario where the world is inhabit by humans, cyborg's and androids and where the moon is also inhabit by a race called Lunar's. Imagine also that a plague is striking our planet, and in the middle of all this we have our main character Cinder, her stepmother,  her stepsisters and a prince charming.

Although it is also a little predictable, i guess you could catch the main plot very easy if you are aware of the fairy tales i mention before. 

I listen to this in audiobook and i have to say i really like the narrator Rebecca Soler and the cadence of the audio. I usually only listen to books i want to reread and this was one of the first times i actually listen to a new to me book and i liked a lot. 

I gave a solid 4,75 out of 5* and i only have two regrets regarding this book, the first that i do not read it sooner and the second that i do not have it on my bookshelf because i really liked it and the cover is just gorgeous. 


This is a series i will definitely follow and i recommend it to anyone you love a good fairy tale but also an amazing fantasy book. 

Book Review: Midnight's Kiss (Dark Warriors #5) by Donna Grant

Midnight's Kiss 

by Donna Grant

Bound by the gods. Champions against evil. The Dark Warriors have taken their battle from ancient Scotland to the modern world - where a woman’s love is the greatest danger of all...

DEEPER THAN DESIRE 

Dr. Veronica Reid is a world-renowned archeologist whose Druid abilities help her to unearth ancient magical items. The arrival of the all-too-attractive and charismatic Arran MacCarrick puts her on the defensive when he begins to question how she really finds her artifacts…until an unknown foe attacks and Ronnie discovers that Arran has a secret as great as her own. Together, they unleash an all-consuming passion that won't be denied...

STRONGER THAN FATE 

Immortal Warrior Arran is on a mission to find the spell to bind the god within him. But one look at the impossibly beautiful Ronnie and he knows there is more to her than meets the eye. With danger lurking around every corner and an undeniable hunger that grows with every kiss, Arran must reveal who he is to keep Ronnie from his nemesis. Now he is left with no choice but to fight - or fall - for the woman he loves...

My Review: 

Let me start this review saying that i love this series! I discover Donna Grant book's purely by luck while searching for fantasy and i fell in love with the covers and blurbs. 

This is the 5 book of the Dark Warriors series and for those of you that do not know Donna Grant books, this series is the second part of the Dark World that has began with the series Dark Sword. 
Although this is a book series, in the first chapters the author leaves little references and explanations for the important aspects of the world she has created as well as descriptions of what has happened in last book. For me it is an asset because i do not read her books in a row and between reads there are some details i do not recall. 

Other great aspect of this series is the fact that we get to see glimpses of all the previous main characters from past books. We get a sense of family and union that i just love and so many twists and unexpected turns that it leaves us hanging by a thread. 

This particular one is a sweet story, i was not particularly curious about Arran because he was not one of my favorite warriors but his mate compensate that. I just love to read about Ronnie and these two make a good match. The final of the book.... OH MY GOD! It is full of twists and i was desperate for a moment because of something that happens. 
You can really know how good a book is just for the simple fact that you cannot put it down and you cry all over it with emotions in a turmoil. 

The only thing i did not enjoy in this books are the length of the chapters, sometimes they tend to be a little bigger than i enjoy and for me this difficult the reading. I was super curious to know what will happen in the next book and so i have already order it. 

I gave this one 4,4 out of 5*, it was not a 5* book for me but it was close. The writing style captivates you from the beginning and like i have already state the final of the book is mind blowing. If you love paranormal romance you have definitely to start this series!