Book Review #255 - The Awakening (Darkest Powers #2) by Kelley Armstrong

You don't have to be alive to be awakened.

Chloe Saunders is a living science experiment--not only can she see ghosts, but she was genetically altered by a sinister organization called the Edison Group. She's a teenage necromancer whose powers are out of control, which means she can raise the dead without even trying. Now Chloe's running for her life with three of her supernatural friends--a charming sorcerer, a cynical werewolf, and a disgruntled witch--and they have to find someone who can help them before the Edison Group catches them.

Or die trying.

 

 

My Rating: 4/5

 

 

I didn't like this book as much as the first one. As I can't really pin point why that was it was probably because I read it over Christmas and so it took me longer to read than usual.

 

 

The only thing that I liked in this book more than the first was the location. The first one is only set in Lyle House whereas this book was set with them on the run so there was more variety.

 

 

The characters all developed to a degree. More so than some. Derek came out of his shell a bit and Tori's background was revealed.

 

 

There was less focus on their supernatural powers in this book and more on them being chased by the Edison Group which I would have liked to have seen their powers develop more.

 

 

I am excited to read the final book in the trilogy so all the unanswered questions will finally be answered.

 

 

 

Book Review #254 - Joshua Dread by Lee Bacon

He wants to save the world.

His parents want to destroy it.

When your parents are supervillains, it’s hard to have a normal life. In the past two days, Joshua’s parents have tried to destroy the world, the houseplant has threatened to kill him, and his body has started doing weird stuff. Really weird stuff. Then his parents give him a book to help explain his new Gyft. It turns out Joshua has a superpower, just like them. But he doesn’t have to use it for evil, right?

 

 

My Rating: 5/5

 

 

I received this book for review from Hardie Grant Egmont Australia.


I really enjoyed this book. I found the whole superhero/supervillian concept really unique and refreshing.


There were enough plot twists that made the book not entirely predictable but for the most part it was pretty straight forward.


I liked Joshua as the protagonist. He was a little immature at times but you can forgive him for that because he was a likeable character. 

Book Review #253 - A Shade of Vampire by Bella Forrest



On the evening of Sofia Claremont's 17th birthday, she is sucked into a nightmare from which she cannot wake.

 

 

A quiet evening walk along a beach brings her face to face with a dangerous pale creature that craves much more than her blood.

She is kidnapped to an island where the sun is eternally forbidden to shine.

 

An island uncharted by any map and ruled by the most powerful vampire coven on the planet. She wakes here as a slave, a captive in chains.

Sofia's life takes a thrilling and terrifying turn when she is the one selected out of hundreds of girls to join the harem of Derek Novak, the dark royal Prince.

 

Despite his addiction to power and obsessive thirst for her blood, Sofia soon realizes that the safest place on the island is within his quarters, and she must do all within her power to win him over if she is to survive even one more night.

Will she succeed? ...or is she destined to the same fate that all other girls have met at the hands of the Novaks?

 

 

My Rating: 4/5

 

 

I received this book for review from the author. The author's website can be found here. You can also buy on Amazon here.

 

 

Given that this book was under 100 pages I was always going to finish it pretty quickly, but the fast paced plot also helped.

 

 

I really liked Sofia as a character although I would have liked more development.

 

 

I thought that Derek was the most developed character in the book which was probably why he was the character I connected to the most.

 

 

I really liked the idea of the island which protects vampires and am looking forward to seeing how this is used in future books.

 

 

Overall this was a very enjoyable read and I cannot wait to read the second book.