The Ruins of Ambrai (Exiles #1)- Melanie Rawn

How to begin with a summary of this book...

A millennium ago, Mageborns fled to a planet called Lenfell to escape persecution, but Lenfell was soon devastated by the Magewars. Magical factions battled against each other and unleashed horrific creatures called Wraithenbeasts. Centuries after the war, the world is recovering--the Mageborns are allowed to practice magic, but with severe constrictions and the tension between the classes has culminated in agonizing tension. The novel follows the story of three sisters, separated from each other as children, yet all powerful in their own right. They will fight against each other for power, all the while ignorant of the familial connection. In this female dominated society the men act as pawns to the strong-willed and petulant females, but the three sisters rise above the rest to assert positions of the highest authority.

Something like that. It was 900 pages and I only got through 3/4ths of it before giving up--cut me some slack.

Overall Merit: I am loathe to give up on a book, even when it's exorbitantly long like this one is, but in this case I couldn't bring myself to finish. I felt like I was reading a history textbook for the majority of the story and to be honest I didn't connect with any of the characters. The only reason I picked up this book was because it was highly recommended from several sources and I did like some of Rawn's other work, but this one was a disaster. I guess in theory it could have been a good story, but then again I have no idea, I didn't finish it. I mean this is especially saying something since my irritating paramour somehow roped me into reading the entire Fifty Shades trilogy (I'm debating whether I should post about those books or not even though they're not entirely relevant). Anyway, point being: I really did not like this book. It did have some merits, but I would not advise reading it. Score: 3

Characters: I hated all the characters. This was my biggest gripe with the book. Maybe it's because I am so not a feminist by any definition of the word (here comes the hate) anyway, but the women were obnoxious. The men weren't much better. I did not connect with a single character and even though the book kept switching perspective between primarily the three sisters Cailin, Sarra, and Glenin none of the perspectives were better than the others. Usually I can find at least one character to link with--I am currently reading Game of Thrones and I don't like all the characters, but at least some of them are palatable. Score- 2 (because there were actually characters)

Blush Factor: Sure there was awkward sex in this book in which it was considered kinky if the guy was on top. Best line ever: "'Damn Garon!' she raged weakly. 'Damn him to Geridon's Hell!' In that legendary location, men who were promiscuous, sexually importunate, or a bed sheet burden to the women who married them were condemned to the exquisite torment of a constant, total, eternally unrelieved erection." Essentially I've decided that Rawn is a man-hater, which I guess is cool, but come on she didn't cut them any slack. There was nothing romantic about anything in this book. Score- 0 I can't give a score to something that didn't exist. 

Plot: Convoluted and insane. I was being dragged from one place to another without a chance to catch my breath. This book was way too long and should have been divided into at least two novels--maybe it would have been less of a hassle to read that way. Anyway there were a million things going on at the same time and I had an extremely difficult time keeping all the plot threads straight in my head, which is why I gave up because it got to the point where I didn't even understand what was going on anymore. Score- 3

Structure: I don't have a problem with female dominated societies, in fact my favorite guilty pleasure books happen to be just that (check out the Black Jewels Trilogy if you have the time), but this was excessive. There was no love, no romance the men were literally treated either like chattel or they were ridiculed if they had any sort of status. I mean I understand this is sometimes common treatment for women in books, but it just felt so alien doing it to men and it didn't really add anything to the plot. I felt like Rawn had too many components in the book and if she had stuck to fewer oddities the story would have been more coherent and cohesive. Score- 3

Vervain Says: "I couldn't tell if this was Science-Fiction or Fantasy, I feel like that's a problem in and of itself. It's ok when there's genre crossover, but this one just confused me."

Pawn of Prophecy (The Belgariad #1)- David Eddings

Greetings, Imaginary Readers. Sorry for taking so long to post something new. I've been incredibly busy in University and working on some of my own writing projects. Forgive my laxness in adhering to my own schedule.

Snails and Puppydog Tails,

Adriana Ivy

Garion is a normal farm boy--or so he thinks. He spends his days getting into trouble with his friends and giving his Aunt Pol a headache. All is fine until one day a storyteller named Wolf appears and tells Garion and his aunt that they should leave the farm immediately. Garion learns the secrets of his long hidden past and is thrown into an adventure that he could never have imagined or desired. I mean I think that's what happened. I don't really remember.


Overall Merit: This book was dull. It was recommended to me by an acquaintance and I figured ok fine. I even looked it up on Goodreads to verify that it was indeed a good book. Everything checked out so I ordered it online. For a book with such promise it failed miserably. All I got was a lot of monarchial nonsense mixed with characters who failed to propel the story along at a proper rate. Yes, I know this is the first book in a series, but it didn't interest me nearly enough to make me continue reading. Score- 5

Characters: Eh. I didn't care about any of the characters. They were dull and I could not relate. Garion was far too much of a cardboard cutout of the ideal boyhood protagonist. Also, why the hell was I not given more backstory? I mean obviously you know from the prologue who the characters really are, but then they disappoint. Come on, I mean we're talking powerful sorcerers here and what I'm given is weak. There are maybe two displays of magic in the whole book and they were disappointing. None of them stuck out to me at all. It's amazing I even remember their names. Also, where is my antagonist? Sure the forces of evil are mentioned a few times, but you never see them in action. Score- 5

Blush Factor: N/A

Plot: What plot? The characters spend a whole lot of time running from place to place and there is talk of dangers and the prologue hints at said dangers, but I never see them. Not once do I fear for the characters and not once do they seem to be in peril? What kind of good writer does that? How can I link with the characters if I'm not given any emotions to speak of? Score- 4

Structure: The structure was straightforward. I don't have a whole lot to say on this matter. At least the narrative wasn't confusing or frustrating so kudos for that. However, Eddings failed to do anything interesting structurally so I do take some issue with that. Score- 6

Vervain says: "Don't waste your time with this book. Maybe the series gets better, but Adriana doesn't have the patience to find out."

Kushiel's Dart (Kushiel's Legacy #1)- Jacqueline Carey

In the land of Terre d' Ange, the mantra is "love as thou wilt", and the inhabitants execute this rule with due diligence. Phedre no Delaunay is a girl born with a scarlet mote in her eye, which marks her as the chosen of the god Kushiel, the god of punishment. She will forever experience pleasure and pain as one in the same. Phedre is born into the Night Court, but is sold into service of Anafiel Delaunay. He trains her to be his eyes and ears in the court, by means of scholarly arts and mastery in the bedchamber (a standard training in this world). However, when Phedre stumbles upon a plot that could be the undoing of Terre d'Ange she must do everything in her power to stop those who wish to upset the balance and beauty of her homeland.

Overall Merit: I love this book, and I thought I'd review it since I just finished rereading it. All of the Terre d'Ange books are brilliant and I think I picked the perfect length of time to wait before rereading them. The characters are excellent and I would willingly follow Phedre and Joscelin to the ends of the earth. Carey's alternative historical world is excellent and filled with lavish details that are a feast to imagine. These books are a perfect example of erotica done in a tasteful and effective manner. There is a legitimate storyline and the sexual interludes enhance the characterization and plot rather than distracting from the point. Score- 12

Characters:  Phedre is a great character, I love her to pieces. She is witty and intelligent and brings dignity to the profession of courtesan, that I've never seen in any other book. Joscelin is excellent as well and his character arc is the most dramatic of any of the characters. Other supporting characters like Hyacinthe shine through as well. The main villain is a femme fatale of the worst kind, you love to hate her, but at the same time are loath to hate her. Great characters overall, definitely will make you want to follow them through the rest of the series. Score- 12

Blush Factor: Phedre and Joscelin might be one of my all time favorite fantasy couplings. They complement each other so nicely with contrasting, but not clashing personalities. This book is definitely explicit so keep the children away. Sex is at the forefront of this world and of Phedre's character so keep that in mind. There is also a lot of BDSM so if that isn't your thing, it might be a bit off-putting, but if you can see past that to the excellent story then please try and read this book. Score- 10

Structure: This book follows Phedre's perspective in first person, but she is such a fascinating character that it is effortless and enjoyable to ride along with her. The world structure is fantastic and I love Carey's laissez faire attitude about things that in our world are considered so taboo. Excellent juxtaposition of romance/erotica with plot line. What can I say? I can't stop raining accolades down upon this book. Score- 13

Plot: Courtly intrigue and culture clash. Not much more you can ask for in a fantasy/alternate history book. The civilizations that Carey brings together are each unique and intricate. She definitely did her research for this series. There is just enough magic to keep the story in the realm of fantasy, but not enough so that I'd classify it as strictly epic. However, the present elements are well-executed and the story is tight. The plot is well-thought out and complex enough to keep you on the edge of your seat. Score- 11

Vervain says: "Phedre is a servant of both Namaah and Kushiel, two gods that are usually not juxtaposed. Josceline on the other hand, is a Cassiline, which adds even more absurdity in to the Phedre x Josceline coupling."

The Bone Doll's Twin (The Tamir Triad #1)- Lynn Flewelling

For centuries, warrior queens protected the land of Skala until the king Erius usurped his younger sister's throne and brought plague and drought upon the land. To make matters worse, the enemy kingdom of Plenimar drains Skala dry. The king fights to ensure that his son and heir is the next to take the throne and to do this, any females born to the royal line have all perished by 'mysterious' means. All except his sister's daughter who was given male form by dark magic to protect her until the time she can ascend the throne. The child, Tobin grows to manhood, ignorant of his true identity and haunted by the demon spirit of the twin whose body he stole. Only, Tobin's father, two wizards, and a forest witch know the truth of his identity and they will have to be enough to protect him until he can stand on his own as the queen of Skala.

Overall Merit: This book is beautiful. I loved this book and read it without stopping for three hours until I was finished. Tobin is a haunting yet bewitching character and your heart bleeds for him as you see him struggle to fit a male mold even though instinctively he wants to play with dolls. Then there is the issue of his deranged mother and the hideous doll she carries around with her that binds the spirit of her child's murdered twin.  The magic is dark and deliciously twisted and the characters are fascinating. Flewelling has created a fantastical story with unique magic. Score- 11.5

Characters: Tobin is wonderful as is his friend Ki, who shows up a bit later in the story. The camaraderie they share is touching and I enjoyed every moment I got to spend with them. Even the antagonists have depth here. The king is a cruel and twisted man, who still has affection for his mad sister even though if he knew the truth of the children she bore he would have executed the girl without a thought. Lhel is creepy, but in a good way, I get a very New Orleans witchdoctor feel from her, which is something I've never gotten in epic fantasy before. The other wizards are interesting I suppose, kind of generic, but perhaps they play a greater role later on in the series. Score- 10

Blush Factor: There is a bit of explicit content here, but I wouldn't exactly call it romance. Score: N/A

Structure: I am not a fan of prophecies in general. However, this novel did something different in that the prophecy had already occurred and it was lack of fulfillment that was causing a problem. Props for that, it didn't make me wince the way most prophecy books do. This was primarily through Tobin's perspective, but it also took a side plot to Lhel and the wizard Arkoniel, which was interesting enough, and I look forward to seeing how that plays out in the next books. Score-10

Plot: The plot didn't progress a ton in this book, but I didn't expect it to. A first in a trilogy is to set the stage, introduce the characters, etc. Flewelling did an excellent job with all the necessary components and I am half-dying waiting for the next books to come in the mail. True the content is a bit twisted and grotesque so if that isn't your thing, too bad, read this book anyway. I got a good feel for the characters and the story kept a good pace. Loved this book, so happy I finally decided to read it. Score-11

Vervain Says: "The reason Tobin's twin haunts him is because the body/soul was not disposed of properly."

Warbreaker- Brandon Sanderson

This is the story of two princesses, Vivenna and Siri, one of whom is destined to marry the God King of Hallandren. It is also the story of a minor god who hates his job as one of the Returned, and another immortal who is trying to correct his mistakes made centuries ago. In their world, people who die under the right circumstances join the pantheon of the Returned, and live as gods for the rest of eternity. However, the gods need Breath to live, Breath, which is the source of Biochromatic power that every person possesses to a certain extent. A power that will prove to be the undoing of many and the fortune maker of few. Only through the collective efforts of Siri, Vivenna, Lightsong, Susebron the God King, and Vasher the Warbreaker will an inevitable war come to a less than devastating conclusion.

-I apologize for the vague and patchy synopsis. However, given the contents of the story I had little to work with. Here's an interview with Sanderson that might clarify things a bit.

Overall Merit: First off, the cover is gorgeous, but that's through no merit of the author. I think this book disappointed me more than it would someone else because the Mistborn Trilogy was just fantastic. For some reason, Sanderson was able to capture all of his literary prowess in those books, but fell far from the mark in this standalone novel. I do have to give credit where it's due and say that Sanderson is a genius at creating new worlds. The world in Warbreaker was intrinsically fascinating and thrilling, but the rest of the story, plot, characters, etc fell flat. Score- 7

Characters: Often times when there are a lot of perspectives going on at the same time, a reader will favor one perspective over the other perspectives. In fact, I've yet to find a multi-perspective book where this hasn't been the case for me. Then again, this is all relative because I found nearly all the characters to be annoying. Vivenna was bratty and spoiled and Sanderson kept talking about how she was 'so well controlled', but I never really saw it. Okay, I sort of did, but only through a really annoying plot device that he exploited far more than he should have. Vivenna and Siri, as royal princesses of Idris have the ability to change their hair color based on mood. Sanderson used this as a copout because instead of giving us other indicators as to how the girls were feeling it would just be like "her hair flared red", "her hair bleached", etc. Siri was also annoying because for such a 'rebellious' girl, she really didn't do anything all that rebellious. I don't know, Vin and Elend (Mistborn) were more real for me and I actually liked them as people. Score- 5

Blush Factor: This was a presence in the book, somewhat. I mean it's weird, Mistborn was uber chaste and then Sanderson spends a good deal of time talking about just how big Mercystar and Blushweaver's (two of the Returned) breasts are. Then there's the whole weird thing going on with Susebron and Siri (horrible name choice by the way). I don't know, I mean the Siri x Susebron thing wasn't bad, it was kind of sweet actually so kudos for that, but then he tried to do something with Vivenna and Vasher. The whole book was all over the place. This wasn't a terrible aspect, but neither was it that important. Solid, I guess. Score- 7

Structure: There were too many perspectives and I didn't enjoy reading most of them, in fact I kind of skimmed all the chapters that didn't involve Siri and Susebron--the only side story I found moderately entertaining. Perhaps it had to do with the fact that I didn't really care about most of the characters, but Susebron, the God King intrigued me and I actually somewhat wanted to find out what happened with him, even though I could care less about the rest of the story. Score- 6

Plot: Ok, this was really, really contrived. There were way too many things going on and I even though the book was very long, it wasn't nearly long enough to flesh out all the details Sanderson was trying to cram into 600 pages. To be honest, all I got was there was some kind of conspiracy with the God King and a war was on the horizon. There were about 20 different rebel factions and it was nigh impossible to keep track of. Things were going on with Vivenna and some other things with Lightsong. Like I said, the only chapters I actually liked reading were the ones with Siri and Susebron. Score- 5

Vervain says: "Read the Mistborn Trilogy, but avoid this book unless you're absolutely desperate to read something else by Sanderson."

Vengeance Born (Light Blade #1)- Kylie Griffin

Annika is a half-breed demon (Na'Chi) and in her world this puts her lower than even the lowest caste of demon (Na'Reish). She is abused and punished for her lineage and spends most of her time hiding and treating injured prisoners in the dungeons. Through her mortal blood she inherited an unparalleled gift  for healing, which she hides because on the flip side it also allows her to kill. Annika thinks she will spend the rest of her life in her miserable existence until one day she discovers that the newest prisoner is a Light Blade, a warrior of the mortals' Goddess, named Kalan. They make a pact: Annika will help Kalan safely out of Na'Reish territory and Kalan will protect Annika once they reach the human realm. The two embark on a perilous journey that they will only survive if they can learn to trust each other.

Overall Merit: I enjoyed several aspects of this book and for the most part it was a very solid read. Griffin does a good job with the characters at the beginning, but their strength seems to fade as the book goes on. I thought the structure and characteristics of Na'Reish society were interesting and I would have liked more of a background. There weren't any radically new ideas in the book, but Griffin took a pre-established story and wove it into a world of her own making. Some aspects definitely seemed a little too cliched, but I mean while there wasn't anything stunning in the book, it was a quick read and I didn't have any major issues with it. I'd say it's worth checking out if you want a pretty standard romantic fantasy. Score- 8

Characters: I'm all for character change, but this felt way too fast. Over the course of maybe a week Annika goes from being fearful for her life to trusting Kalan absolutely. I mean this is a pretty common issue in novels where romance is present, but I just felt like their relationship was very rushed. Annika is interesting and I liked the way her Na'Chi characteristics presented (color changing eyes, body markings, etc.), but I felt that as she got closer to Kalan her personality got watered down. Kalan was hmm I wouldn't call him an alpha or a beta, maybe somewhere in between? I'm having a difficult time deciding because his personality wasn't very strong in either direction. He needed some serious fleshing out and I felt like he made a lot of threats, but didn't actually do anything. Score- 6

Blush Factor: Ok, if you read this genre you know the deal. This was a basic fantasy smut novel. The sex scenes didn't overpower the rest of the book, but they were definitely a presence. There was the whole "Oh Annika's a virgin, let's take it slow" (but not really). Pretty standard sequence here. If this is your thing then enjoy. I really don't have a whole lot to say or rant about. Score- 7

Structure: For this category, I feel like all the pieces were there, but Griffin didn't utilize them to their full potential. I very much enjoyed learning about Na'Chi and Na'Reish abilities, but I felt kind of jilted because they weren't spelled out enough for me. Yes, I got the body markings and some of the abilities, but I felt like I was missing something. The main problem was that Griffin didn't keep Annika's powers consistent, or maybe she didn't explain them very well. For example, apparently Annika is super strong, but I wanted to know how strong. Like can she lift two men? Five? Laying out the parameters for supernatural powers is essential because otherwise it leaves the reader wondering whether or not they could have used said powers to get out of a difficult situation. Same goes for the Light Blades. I know they're talented with weapons, but is that it? I've said this before and I'll say it again: A reader can't possibly know what's going on in a writer's head. So writers, please spell it out for us. Score- 5

Plot: This gets kudos because it actually existed. Finally, someone remembers to include a plot along with the other elements of a story! I liked that it wasn't just Annika's story, but that we also got to see a side plot weaving in at the same time. I think this really helped the book along because it gave more substance to the story whereas if it had just been about Annika and Kalan, it would have pretty much only had the romance to go on and that would definitely not have been enough. Score- 8

Vervain says: "Annika's eyes change color depending on her mood."

Eternal Eden- Nicole Williams

Bryn is forever alone (pardon my meme). She has no parents and is a social pariah at her obscure college in Oregon. The one day, a new transfer student shows up named William Winters. In spite of her objections and denial, there is an instant spark between Bryn and the new students. Even though every instinct warns her away, Bryn ends up falling in love with William. However, William may not be from the same world as her. Bryn must decide what she will sacrifice in order to spend the rest of her life with the man she loves.


Overall Merit: The only thing that might be worse than Twilight (I don't know why I even italicize; Twilight isn't a real book), is a terrible knockoff of Twilight. This book screams Edward and Bella so loudly that my ears almost shriveled up and fell off. If I listed all the similarities, it would take all night. Maybe the only difference is that Bryn has a bit of a backbone and she's slightly more interesting than Bella. Slightly. The only reason this book doesn't quite get a 0 is because at least Williams made a very minor effort to create something new whereas Meyer took a preexisting idea and threw glitter on it. Also, Williams' writing was a bit tighter in terms of technical skill. Score- 2

Characters: William is overbearing and protective and one day decides to leave because it's "for Bryn's own good". Bryn throws herself into the ocean...jeez where have I heard that before? I'm sorry for the spoilers, but to be honest you shouldn't even be reading this book. Also, of course there's a love rival named Paul who shows up out of nowhere and decides to be madly in love with Bryn. Cough Jacob Cough. The antagonist is predictable and to be honest, stupid. In fact, Bryn is stupid too, since she doesn't catch onto something that is basically stabbing her in the face and screaming at her at the same time. Like it's fine that she's stupid, but apparently she got into Harvard, Stanford, etc. NO. Bryn is an idiot. She should be going to community college. Score- 1

Blush Factor: Don't give me that "I want to wait for marriage bullsh**". Come on. Stop copying Stephenie. PLEASE. The romance in this book is annoying. By the time I got to the middle of the book I was like, "If William uses the word 'temptress' one more time I'm going to go into the book and run him through with a machete". Saying 'temptress' a million times is not sexy. Hell, it's not even sexy the first time. Vixen is a sexier word by far. Or how about minx? I don't know. Something else. I beg you, Nicole. Not to mention: What the BLOODY HELL is with all these guys being like 'I won't have sex until I find the one'? That is crap. Boys like to have sex. Girls like to have sex. No guy is going to wait hundreds of years to have sex, even if the Council orders it. Score- 0 (There is nothing wrong with sex and if you're writing a romance novel about anyone over the age of 17, it's pretty much inevitable.)

Structure: Look at that, another similarity. First person Bryn. Um my bad, first person Bella. The world is horribly structured. I give this book a minor kudo (one kudo, not kudos) because I thought it was interesting that she made the immortals in this book responsible for all the natural disasters in the world. A decent concept. Not great, but decent. Everything else about  the world was crud. Why the Hell would anyone waste so much time making sure that people stayed virgins? I need to do research on this lady, but if she's religious too that would explain a lot. Don't get me wrong, I'm not a sex fiend, and there isn't a place for sex in every book, I accept that, but if you bring up the subject then it needs to be addressed. Score-1

Plot: What plot? Seriously, where is the plot? Oh right, Bryn and William try in desperation to find a way to be together even though the council forbids it. Sound familiar? Then William spirits Bryn away to live with his family, which consists of couples that are eerily reminiscent of Rosalie, Emmet, Jasper, and Alice...wow who would have thought? How creative. And then there's some weird prophecy nonsense that shows up at the end. Yea, maybe Williams should have mentioned that sooner? Maybe then there would be some semblance of a plot. No? Score- 0

Vervain says: "Something very imaginative that Williams does is she gives each immortal a special talent. Just like all of Stephenie Meyer's vampires!"

Katie's Hellion (Rhyn Trilogy #1)- Lizzy Ford

Katie is having a terrible day. First she gets pulled over for driving two miles over the speed limit, and then she gets in trouble for not taking care of a son that she knows she doesn't have. According to everyone around her, she has amnesia due to a rape, but Katie knows that this can't possibly be the case. Her suspicions are confirmed when it turns out her "son", Toby is actually an eons old angel and a mysterious man named Gabriel shows up at her house claiming to be something called a 'Death Dealer'. Apparently, Katie's blood is special and it has something in it that makes her immune to immortals and therefore an immortal's mate. However, she isn't just an immortal's mate, she's an ancient's mate (which is like a step above an immortal's mate). By all rights, she should go to the eldest Ancient, but instead she is claimed by the outcast half-breed, Rhyn who rescues her from the depths of Hell.

Overall Merit: The problem with this book was that there were way too many things going on at the same time. Since the books were short, I read the whole trilogy, but the problem was consistent throughout. There were a million things going on and it was difficult to keep a firm grasp on the storyline. The characters were strong, which is always a plus, but I felt like the story was going in like twenty different directions at the same time and I found myself confused by what was going on and where the plot was going. I think that the other book by Ford that I scored (Damian's Oracle) was a much stronger book. Score- 6

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Characters: Rhyn is interesting. He is definitely a typical bad boy stereotype, but centuries in Hell have made him bitter and at times cruel. He was my favorite character if only because Katie wasn't nearly as solid. Her character tended to waver at times and I didn't get a good sense of who she really was. I do rather detest the annoying sister. I feel like this is an oft used character who is remarkably irritating. True, she can act as a foil for the heroine, but more often than not, she overstays her welcome and starts to get in the way of an enjoyable reading experience. There is a good reason everyone hates their siblings at one point or another. I already hate my siblings, I don't need to hate someone else's too. Score- 6

Blush Factor: To be honest, there wasn't a ton of romance in this book, that didn't come until the later books in the trilogy. I mean you know who's going to end up together from the start and I was a bit disappointed that Rhyn and Katie never really resolved their feelings for each other until later on. Even the end result of their romance was disappointing (by the third book). Not my favorite part, I liked the romance much better in Damian's Oracle. It wasn't horrible, it was kind of just nonexistent. Score- 6

Structure: Nothing new here in terms of writing style. I think Ford's problem is that she tried to cram a ton of information into a small amount of pages without giving the reader a chance to let it all sink in. She could have made the book a lot longer and structured it better so that all the plot lines had a chance to naturally converge. Instead, the writing seemed hurried as if she wanted to get a crazy amount of story down without developing the world or the conflict well enough. Score- 5

Plot: As I've said several times--way too much going on at once. I was incredibly confused. Ford needed to pick one or two subplots max instead of having twenty going on all at once. Also, I kept reading and reading waiting for Katie and Rhyn to get together, but she dragged it out horribly so that by the time I got to the end of the book I basically didn't even care anymore. This book had potential, but I wasn't seeing the necessary execution. Damian's Oracle takes place under a similar premise, in a similar world so go for that instead of this one. Score- 6

Vervain says: "There are seven Ancients, but most of them are dead."

Mistborn: The Final Empire (Mistborn #1)- Brandon Sanderson

In a world where ash rains from the sky and flowers are an impossibility, the skaa toil in misery and live in fear. The Lord Ruler reigns over this world as a 'sliver of infinity', a piece of God. He is invincible and immortal, at least according to most. Hope is such a foreign concept that it has nearly been forgotten until a heart-broken, half-skaa named Kelsier escapes from the Lord Ruler's prison and decides to use his talents to overthrow the Lord Ruler. He recruits the elite of the underworld to help him in his endeavor, but it isn't until he discovers the half-skaa urchin named Vin that his plan has any real hope of succeeding. Kelsier must teach Vin to harness and master her vast powers and to learn to trust again after years of abuse have left her skittish and afraid.

Overall Merit: READ THIS BOOK. Please. Sanderson is a genius. The world is vibrant and original and I found myself incredibly attached to the characters. I had only one small gripe with the story (the romantic sequence), but that was not nearly enough to deter my enjoyment. If you are a high/epic fantasy fan and you read one book this year, make it this one. Yes, it is long, and yes it is a hefty read, but please take the time; it is well worth it. Score- 12

Characters: The characters are phenomenal. They are fresh and real and have the depth and struggles of real people. Vin is captured masterfully and you watch her grow from scared and paranoid to confident and capable. Kelsier grows too in spite of himself as he teaches Vin what he knows about allomancy and learns to care about someone again. Even the side characters have their own story and they feel real as well as opposed to cardboard cutout space fillers, which seem to be employed in so many novels. Even the villain was refreshing. The Lord Ruler was typically wicked, but I've never seen an entity like him in terms of abilities. Score-13

Blush Factor: My one gripe was this category. The romance wasn't bad per se, it was just minimal and the little I saw didn't ring true for me. The romantic leads spent so little time together and then magically woke up and were like "OMG I'm in love with him/her", which is fine, but I really would have liked to see a more realistic progression of feelings. However, I did like the coupling of personalities so this category won't get a horrible score. Score-7

Structure: Vin's perspective was refreshing. I've never met a character quite like her and I was pleased to make her acquaintance. The beginning plodded a bit, but once the action started it was non-stop and kept me reading for hours on end. My favorite part was his new type of "magic"--allomancy it takes brilliance to create an effective new superpower/form of magic and Sanderson did just that. Bravo to him. Score-11

Plot: Wow, talk about an original world and concept. Sanderson's imagination must be boundless for him to have come up with something like this. The story was incredibly complex and must have required an extensive amount of planning on his part. It was an original take on the battle of Good Vs. Evil in a world where Evil originally won out. The ending came as a surprise to me, which seldom happens so kudos for that. I can't wait to read the Well of Ascension (Mistborn #2). Score- 12

Vervain says: "Allomancy is the ingestion and internal combustion of metals. Each different metal allows the user to access a different power, for example, pewter gives the user advanced strength and agility."

Damian's Oracle- Lizzy Ford

When Sofia begins to suffer from strange, incurable symptoms, she cries out for help in desperation. Her call is heard by two forces: the White God- Damian and his counterpart, the Black God-Czerno. It turns out that Sofia is a Natural- a human with strong paranormal gifts. If she were any normal natural, Damian would not waste his time with her. However, she is an Oracle, the first in thousands of years and whoever controls the Oracle will tip the balance in their favor. When the Black God kidnaps her and tries to force her to go through a binding ceremony, she is rescued by Damian. Now, instead, Sofia must bind herself to the White God to stop the Black God from taking over humanity and to weed out the traitors he has planted among the Guardians (Naturals who belong to Damian's regime).

Overall Merit: Wait for it, wait for it...I actually liked this book. True I have to give it a bit of leniency seeing as it was self published (if it were published by a big house then I'd bump each of the scores down about a point), but that aside, once I got past the errors and looked at it big picture, I truly enjoyed this book. The characters had legitimate struggles and there were times when I thought Sofia was literally going to go insane. The only thing that really bothered me (aside from the minor typos) was the beginning. This book was good. It was a great concept with a great cast of characters and if it had gone through a more intense publishing/editing process, I think I would be in love. Score- 9

Characters: Wow, Sophia had kick in her. I was actually so proud of her for not being a typical fantasy heroine and being like "Damian is so hot. We MUST be soul mates." Nope. After the initial realization that he was indeed very hot she fought tooth and nail to keep herself from falling for him. Hell, they didn't even sleep together until the very end of the book! Damian was such a bad-ass, and a legitimate one too. So many times, writers will try to make a "bad-ass" character who just falls flat on his or her face. Damian did not disappoint and neither did his immortal siblings who were super fun characters as well. The only character that upset me a bit was the antagonist. There was the typical femme fatale character floating around and she was annoying, but not gut-wrenchingly evil. However, Czerno played a surprisingly small role. It seemed like his henchmen were scurrying around while he sat back and didn't do all that much. For the most part, solid protagonists and a few good supporting characters. Score-8

Blush Factor: This was refreshing. They were attracted, but they resisted. Key word being: RESISTED. It was like a dream come true (pardon my platitude). Most power couples will make a flimsy effort to resist and end up in each other's arms by page 100, Sofia whacked Damian upside the face and made him work for her attention. I'm not a crazy feminist by any means and would have been just as please if Sofia had to work to make Damian admit he liked her. Turns out they were a great couple, which made me even happier when they finally got together. So many romance novels smoosh the love interests together without making them do any work! Score- 10 (yes, look at that, a 10)

Structure: The viewpoints weaved a bit between Sofia and another character named Two, but I loved all the perspectives, which is rare. Usually I find I like on perspective over the other(s), but Ford kept me entertained throughout. The only issues I had with this were sometimes she didn't explain some of the technical inner workings of her world well enough e.g the way the powers worked, the hierarchy of gods/Watchers and the beginning. The beginning felt rushed, the characters didn't get fleshed out until later and the premise wasn't explained very well so I was sort of lost until I got a good 50 pages in. Score- 8

Plot: There were a ton of things going on at the same time and the non-stop action kept me reading. I liked the underlying storyline, which was essentially the timeless battle between good and evil. However, I would have liked more insight into the world of the "baddies". Great idea, great potential. I'm not sure if I'll read the sequel, but it's a possibility. Score- 8

In summation: Read this book and support a self-publishing author. Best part is, it's super inexpensive so I should hear no complaints on that front.


Vervain says: "There are three levels of deities: the primordial gods, the Watchers, and then the gods on Earth (Damian, Dusty, Jule, and Czerno). It's a bit hard to keep straight sometimes."

Mystic and Rider- Sharon Shinn

Senneth is a powerful mystic traveling with a servant boy, Serramarra (Lady) Kirra a fellow mystic and healer, Kirra's loyal servant, and two of the King's Riders. The king has sent them on a mission to travel the country and report back to him on any dissent among the houses. As they travel, they notice a war is brewing, a war over magic. Mystics are tolerated differently throughout the land, but some houses are kinder than others. Now, the house of Gisseltess is making their view quite clear as mystics are continually turning up dead and priestesses of the Pale Mother have swollen in number. It will be up to Senneth and the others to see themselves back through a country filled with animosity and intrigue in order to return safely to the capital.

Overall Merit: The strongest points in the book were the characters. For any fans of the the Lioness Quartet by Tamora Pierce, Senneth was a very near match to Alanna. As far as plot was concerned, there wasn't enough, but the characters were superstars and that was what kept the pages turning for me. If you are ok with character driven literature then definitely read this. Score- 9

Characters: As I said earlier, this book was largely plot driven, I loved the protagonists, mainly Senneth and Kirra, and even though the plot was lacking I kept reading because I wanted to see what happened to them. The antagonists were not as strong as I would have liked. Coralinda Gisseltess wasn't nearly as evil as she could have been and I thought that was a major weak point in the novel. You will very likely fall in love with the protagonists and root for them, but I felt like sometimes they were able to get out of trouble too easily. Score- 8

Blush Factor: This was there, but at barely more than a whisper. Tayse and Senneth's romance was not all it could have been by any means, not to mention it came out of nowhere and the build up wasn't believable in my opinion. As far as the other characters are concerned, there is nothing at all, maybe a few minor flirtations here and there, but nothing worth mentioning. I thought that Shinn should have either gone full out for Tayse and Senneth or just not included it at all. Score- 6

Structure: This was linear and third person nothing new here as far as structure. It was easy to follow and the story moved along in a traditional fashion. Score-8

Plot: This was where I had my largest overall issue. There was essentially very little plot, this wouldn't have bothered me quite as much but there was potential for plot that Shinn completely ignored. The characters were never in nearly enough danger, and there was never anything at stake. I think she should have made it more difficult for the group to pass through "mystic-hating" regions and there definitely should have been some hardcore kidnapping involved. The plot was weak and underdeveloped and without the characters I probably would have stopped reading halfway through. Score-5

In spite of the flaws, the characters were pretty amazing and for that reason, if nothing else, I do suggest picking up this book if you have the time.