Shape Shifters
May contain spoilers for Talon
Rogue Talon Book Two
Written by Julie Kagawa
See my review for Talon
Expected Publication June 2015
348 Pages
Thank you to Harlequin Teen Australia
Add Talon to Goodreads
RATING ★★★☆
See my review for Talon
Expected Publication June 2015
348 Pages
Thank you to Harlequin Teen Australia
Add Talon to Goodreads
RATING ★★★☆
Ember Hill left the dragon organization Talon to take her chances with rebel dragon Cobalt and his crew of rogues. But Ember can't forget the sacrifice made for her by the human boy who could have killed her, Garret Xavier Sebastian, a soldier of the dragonslaying Order of St. George, the boy who saved her from a Talon assassin, knowing that by doing so, he'd signed his own death warrant.Determined to save Garret from execution, Ember must convince Cobalt to help her break into the Order's headquarters. With assassins after them and Ember's own brother helping Talon with the hunt, the rogues find an unexpected ally in Garret and a new perspective on the underground battle between Talon and St. George.A reckoning is brewing and the secrets hidden by both sides are shocking and deadly. Soon Ember must decide, should she retreat to fight another day... Or start an all out war?
Ember is now on the run with Riley, both considered rogue dragons in the eyes of Talon. Their escape coming at the cost of Garret being captured, the former soldier now a traitor to his organisation and facing death by trial. He was the perfect soldier until he met Ember, a sleeper dragon in which he was ultimately trained to kill. In a long way from Crescent Beach, Garret is awaiting his fate. But against Riley's protests, Ember won't allow Garret to pay for his humanity and plans to infiltrate the Order's secret base.
But while Ember plans Garrets escape, her twin and clutchmate Dante is working within Talon, brought to task with capturing the rogue dragon in Riley and bringing his sister home. Along with Wes, the three unlikely companions are now on the run with both Talon and the Order hot on their heels. But Riley has more pressing matters to worry about, with the sighting of a runaway dragon seeking solace near his Vegas safehouse.
Neither Talon or The Order play by the rules and with tensions high between the three, something has to give. Ember will need to make the ultimate decision, which side, which boy does she fight for?
Dragon, wherefore art thou dragon. Unlike it's predecessor, Rogue was an entertaining adventure, rather than a mundane teen drama and finally, finally, the premise finally delivers what readers have been pleading for. Dragons. But in small, sporadic bursts. Now told in several points of view, Ember and Riley are both on the run from both Talon and The Order, both classed as Rogue dragons who are dangerous both to themselves and society. But Ember knows that Garret has been captured for aiding her escape and there is only one punishment for those deemed guilty of treason. Death.
It's a suicide mission, but Riley refuses to let Ember infiltrate The Order compound and free the soldier alone. Riley, who is portrayed as once a fierce hunter, now a revolutionary freedom fighter amongst his kind, is reduced to following a teen girl just hoping for a shred of returned affection. And Ember isn't all that remarkable, never mind being in love with someone else. Comparing the two love interests is akin to being offered chocolate... Or bread and water. Garret's only attraction is that he is classed as the forbidden choice being a former soldier who hunted dragons. He may be seeking redemption, but his character is as exciting as watching paint dry. Riley is clearly the winner here, and fingers crossed that common sense prevails.
But as entertaining and well written as I find the Talon series, there is something lacking that sets it apart from other young adult titles. Although there is a few instances of dragon warfare, sadly not enough to keep me interested. I did enjoy the banter from Riley, but with Garret possibly being made from cardboard, it was mostly one sided.
It's actually an entertaining and quick read that builds nicely on Talon. With her dragon obsessed Twitter feed I had thought, who better than to create a fantasy dragon based series than Julie Kagawa. But sadly it doesn't have the same heart and grunt as her previous releases, namely the Blood of Eden series and it appears to be one that has failed to live up to the hype for me.
Neither Talon or The Order play by the rules and with tensions high between the three, something has to give. Ember will need to make the ultimate decision, which side, which boy does she fight for?
MY THOUGHTS
Dragon, wherefore art thou dragon. Unlike it's predecessor, Rogue was an entertaining adventure, rather than a mundane teen drama and finally, finally, the premise finally delivers what readers have been pleading for. Dragons. But in small, sporadic bursts. Now told in several points of view, Ember and Riley are both on the run from both Talon and The Order, both classed as Rogue dragons who are dangerous both to themselves and society. But Ember knows that Garret has been captured for aiding her escape and there is only one punishment for those deemed guilty of treason. Death.
It's a suicide mission, but Riley refuses to let Ember infiltrate The Order compound and free the soldier alone. Riley, who is portrayed as once a fierce hunter, now a revolutionary freedom fighter amongst his kind, is reduced to following a teen girl just hoping for a shred of returned affection. And Ember isn't all that remarkable, never mind being in love with someone else. Comparing the two love interests is akin to being offered chocolate... Or bread and water. Garret's only attraction is that he is classed as the forbidden choice being a former soldier who hunted dragons. He may be seeking redemption, but his character is as exciting as watching paint dry. Riley is clearly the winner here, and fingers crossed that common sense prevails.
But as entertaining and well written as I find the Talon series, there is something lacking that sets it apart from other young adult titles. Although there is a few instances of dragon warfare, sadly not enough to keep me interested. I did enjoy the banter from Riley, but with Garret possibly being made from cardboard, it was mostly one sided.
THE VERDICT
It's actually an entertaining and quick read that builds nicely on Talon. With her dragon obsessed Twitter feed I had thought, who better than to create a fantasy dragon based series than Julie Kagawa. But sadly it doesn't have the same heart and grunt as her previous releases, namely the Blood of Eden series and it appears to be one that has failed to live up to the hype for me.
Talon (Talon: Book One)
Written by Julie Kagawa
Fantasy, Dragons
Expected Publication October 28th 2014
400 Pages
Thank you to Harlequin Australia and Netgalley
Long ago, dragons were hunted to near extinction by the Order of St. George, a legendary society of dragon slayers. Hiding in human form and growing their numbers in secret, the dragons of Talon have become strong and cunning, and they're positioned to take over the world with humans none the wiser.Ember and Dante Hill are the only sister and brother known to dragonkind. Trained to infiltrate society, Ember wants to live the teen experience and enjoy a summer of freedom before taking her destined place in Talon. But destiny is a matter of perspective, and a rogue dragon will soon challenge everything Ember has been taught. As Ember struggles to accept her future, she and her brother are hunted by the Order of St. George.Soldier Garret Xavier Sebastian has a mission to seek and destroy all dragons, and Talon's newest recruits in particular. But he cannot kill unless he is certain he has found his prey: And nothing is certain about Ember Hill. Faced with Ember's bravery, confidence and all too human desires, Garret begins to question everything that the Order has ingrained in him: And what he might be willing to give up to find the truth about dragons.
Sinner (The Wolves of Mercy Falls: Book 3.5)
Written by Maggie Stiefvater
Paranormal, Romance
Published in Australia August 2014
369 Pages
Thank you to Scholastic Australia
Add to Goodreads
Paranormal, Romance
Published in Australia August 2014
369 Pages
Thank you to Scholastic Australia
Add to Goodreads
A standalone companion book to the internationally bestselling Shiver Trilogy.
Sinner follows Cole St. Clair, a pivotal character from the number one New York Times bestselling Shiver Trilogy. Everybody thinks they know Cole's story. Stardom. Addiction. Downfall. Disappearance. But only a few people know Cole's darkest secret, his ability to shift into a wolf. One of these people is Isabel. At one point, they may have even loved each other. But that feels like a lifetime ago. Now Cole is back. Back in the spotlight. Back in the danger zone. Back in Isabel's life. Can this sinner be saved?
The Dark Inside
Written by Rupert Wallis
Contemporary and Paranormal
Published July 2014
384 Pages
Thank you to Simon and Schuster
The House on the Hill has been abandoned for as long as James can remember. So when he discovers Webster, a drifter, hiding there, he's instantly curious about the story behind the homeless man. What is he running from?Afflicted by a dark curse, Webster is no longer who he used to be. But there is said to be a cure and it might just be that by helping Webster, James will find some solace of his own. Together they embark on a journey, not knowing that what they discover will impact them both in ways they never imagined...
A gripping and haunting story about loss and hope, perfect for fans of Patrick Ness and David Almond.
Don't forget the Cryptid Tales series book tour and giveaway Here
Shay could be the key to ending a war that humans don't know exist. Of a race of beings that aren't real, or are they?
Shay Tafford's childhood has been fatherless, filled instead with memories of speaking to the dead. She is forced to hide her unique ability from those living around her. That's why it's been comforting to have Jeremy, a child ghost, as her confidante. But recently he's been absent, perhaps lost as her father is. When Shay meets Hugh, the guy she's had a crush on for weeks, and finds he can speak to ghosts too she's just starting to find a normalcy in her life.
But as Hugh reveals the truth to Shay, about who she really is and about what it is she can do, he erases all chances she had at a normal existence. Turns out talking to ghosts is just scratching the surface of her genetically engineered gifts. Shay learns she may be part of an age old prophecy that could save the entire race of cryptids. But can she?
Shay is gifted, she's unlike any other girl her age. Shay can communicate with spirits. After her father disappeared when she was only six years of age, Shay began seeing Jeremy, a six year old boy that tragically died before his time in a sinister fire. Jeremy has always been her protector, warding off evil spirits and loneliness.
When Jeremy disappears, Shay eventually finds solace with the tall, dark and handsome Hugh. She feels strangely drawn to him, a mere touch sends an electrical current through her body, but it seems that Hugh isn't your average collage either... He's a Cryptid.
As Shay discovers her heritage, she learns more about her father and the gifts that she's now acquired. It seems that there was far more than a change meeting with Mr tall, dark and handsome, than she realises.
Highly entertaining. The Cryptid series is a unique twist on the storyline of shape shifters and spirit walkers, descending from tribes and small, close knit communities. Shay is a likeable character, a smart young woman, who has always known that she's never been quite normal, but she's a little on the boring side for me. Reveal is well written and thrives on character development, their history and the relationship between Shay and Hugh.
My only complaints is, the seemingly instant love between Shay and Hugh, even beyond the bond that they share and that I would loved to see more from the 'Darkness' Villain. I'm hoping that it's building up to a good verses evil showdown, like in all great supernatural novels.
Reveal
(Cryptid Tales: Book One)
Written By Brina Courtney
Published: 15 / 12 / 2011
166 Pages
166 Pages
Courtesy of Rockstar Book Tours
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)