Tuesday 24 November 2015

Review: Their Fractured Light (Starbound #3) by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner

Title: Their Fractured Light (Starbound #3)
Author: Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner
Published: 18 November 2015
Publisher: Allen & Unwin
Source: Allen & Unwin
Reviewed: Sapphired Dragon
Rating: *****  

My Review:


After reading books 1 and 2 of this series in the last couple of months, I was eager to get my hands on the final book of the trilogy and let me just say that Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner sure know how to write a finale!

I absolutely adored this book! It had me enthralled from start to finish. I loved the characters, the story, they way they used the chapter intervals to help bind it all together as well as helping us to understand more about the whispers. There was so much in this book in the way of action and suspense yet there was also romance and a spectacular tale told both on planet and in space.

The two main characters change for each of the three books and it is only in the third book that we have met even met one of the main characters prior to the book's beginning but it doesn't matter because right away we are pulled in by the voice of these characters and cannot help but want to follow their story further. This book is told from the alternating point of views of the two main characters Sophia and Gideon and this is mostly their story. Which just happens to intersect with characters with we have fallen in love with in the first two book.

We had previously met Sophia in This Shattered World, albeit briefly, and it was nice to see more about what makes her tick and how the previous events on Avon have affected her. Having always been good at reading people, she has honed her skills as a con artist since we last met her in her efforts to find and kill Monsieur LaRoux, whom she blames for the death of her father. Gideon we meet for the first time in this book and instantly warmed to him. A computer hacker, who has been on the streets since he was 12, he is street smart, sarcastic, intelligent and focused on his goal of tracking down the person he believes can fill in the blanks on what happened in Avon in the wake of Flynn Cormacs famous Avon Broadcast.

I liked the chemistry between Sophia and Gideon, though both of them had more secrets than the total of their ages combined. They really seemed to complement each other which helped with the flow of their stories and made it much more believable as they grow closer despite the secrets.

I also loved that though there were many different threads in this story and indeed the series, Ms Kaufman and Ms Spooner have weaved them with the skill of a master Loomer in the way they they have all come together in this last book. Whether they are weaving around each other or intersecting, there is always so much going on at any one time yet never once it is overwhelming or confusing but instead making connections, that we don't necessarily see coming and manage to finish each of the series man characters journeys in a conclusion that will have you gripping your seat to the last minute but leave you both immensely satisfied yet secretly yearning to remain in that world just a little longer...please....

Whilst I am incredibly sad that this trilogy is over, I cannot help but love this book and give it a intergalactic five stars!!!!!

Sapphired Dragon xx





About The Book:


Their Fractured Light (The Starbound Trilogy #3)  by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner





A year ago, Flynn Cormac and Jubilee Chase made the now infamous Avon Broadcast, calling on the galaxy to witness for their planet, and protect them from destruction. Some say Flynn’s a madman, others whisper about conspiracies. Nobody knows the truth. A year before that, Tarver Merendsen and Lilac LaRoux were rescued from a terrible shipwreck—now, they live a public life in front of the cameras, and a secret life away from the world’s gaze.

Now, in the center of the universe on the planet of Corinth, all four are about to collide with two new players, who will bring the fight against LaRoux Industries to a head. Gideon Marchant is an eighteen-year-old computer hacker—a whiz kid and an urban warrior. He’ll climb, abseil and worm his way past the best security measures to pull off onsite hacks that others don’t dare touch.

Sofia Quinn has a killer smile, and by the time you’re done noticing it, she’s got you offering up your wallet, your car, and anything else she desires. She holds LaRoux Industries responsible for the mysterious death of her father and is out for revenge at any cost.

When a LaRoux Industries security breach interrupts Gideon and Sofia’s separate attempts to infiltrate their headquarters, they’re forced to work together to escape. Each of them has their own reason for wanting to take down LaRoux Industries, and neither trusts the other. But working together might be the best chance they have to expose the secrets LRI is so desperate to hide.



 check out the good reads link

Waiting on Wednesday #15: Marked in Flesh (The Others #4) by Anne Bishop


Welcome to Waiting on Wednesday!  Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly featured hosted by Breaking the Spine to spotlight the not yet released books that I wish were in my hot little hands right now.

This week I am waiting on Marked in Flesh by Anne Bishop, the fourth book in the epic Others series.  This series is absolutely amazing and the last book left humanity on the precipice of being rendered extinct by the Others, owners of the land who have been angered by pockets of humans actions against them.
 
These books have just the right level of creepiness in its writing of the Others, the non humans that own the land the humans live on and most of the time see humans as food.  They also supply humans with all their resources to live ie wood , coal, crops, metals etc and the way Ms Bishop writes this series,  one is not always on human kind's side.
 
And I want to see more of Simon and Meg, their relationship and also the other characters of the courtyard.
 
This book is not out until March next year but this series is so good that already I am thinking about it and wondering how the next instalment of this tale is going to unfold.
 
 
 
 
 
 


For centuries, the Others and humans have lived side by side in uneasy peace. But when humankind oversteps its bounds, the Others will have to decide how much humanity they’re willing to tolerate—both within themselves and within their community...

Since the Others allied themselves with the cassandra sangue, the fragile yet powerful human blood prophets who were being exploited by their own kind, the delicate dynamic between humans and Others changed. Some, like Simon Wolfgard, wolf shifter and leader of the Lakeside Courtyard, and blood prophet Meg Corbyn, see the new, closer companionship as beneficial—both personally and practically.

But not everyone is convinced. A group of radical humans is seeking to usurp land through a series of violent attacks on the Others. What they don’t realize is that there are older and more dangerous forces than shifters and vampires protecting the land that belongs to the Others—and those forces are willing to do whatever is necessary to protect what is theirs…



 check out the good reads link
Publication Date: 8 March, 2016
Pre-Order: Booktopia  | Book Depository | Galaxy Bookshop | Amazon


What book are you 'waiting on' this week?

Monday 23 November 2015

Teaser Tuesday #111: Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo





Welcome to Teaser Tuesdays.

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of A Daily Rhythm. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

1. Grab your current read

2. Open to a random page

3. Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

4. Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!


My current read is Six of Crows (Six of Crows #1) by Leigh Bardugo and my two lines are from page 83 of 462

She'd seen it from afar before, when she'd paid a fisherman to take her out to the island. But when she had asked him to bring her closer, he'd refused. "sharks get mean there," he's claimed. "Bellies full of convict blood." Nina shuddered at the memory.



Six of Crows (Six of Crows #1) by Leigh Bardugo







Ketterdam: a bustling hub of international trade where anything can be had for the right price—and no one knows that better than criminal prodigy Kaz Brekker. Kaz is offered a chance at a deadly heist that could make him rich beyond his wildest dreams. But he can't pull it off alone...

A convict with a thirst for revenge.

A sharpshooter who can't walk away from a wager.

A runaway with a privileged past.

A spy known as the Wraith.

A Heartrender using her magic to survive the slums.

A thief with a gift for unlikely escapes.

Six dangerous outcasts. One impossible heist. Kaz's crew is the only thing that might stand between the world and destruction—if they don't kill each other first. .



 check out the good reads link
 
Purchase: Booktopia  | Book Depository | Amazon


PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT with either the link to your own Teaser Tuesdays post, or share your ‘teasers’ in a comment here (if you don’t have a blog). Thanks!

Wednesday 18 November 2015

Blog Tour Stop and Giveaway: Claire Daly : Reluctant Soul Saver by Michele Brouder



Welcome today's stop on the Claire Daly : Reluctant Soul Saver by Michele Brouder Blog Tour  hosted by Chapter by Chapter.  Today's stop is a review as well as a chance to enter the great giveaway that is being run throughout this tour.


Review:

This book was an extremely enjoyable read

With a bit of slow burn to start as it found its groove, I found myself swept up in the story and out the other side quicker than I anticipated in the outset.

I liked the premise of this novel and was looking forward to seeing how it would play out. Thankfully I wasn't disappointed. The main character claire Intrigued me and i found myself like her in spite of myself. I like that we saw her struggle with reconciling her new identity with her old and I liked seeing the learning curve as she started to slowly develop into her new self.

The pace of the story was also good, I found myself moving along well and had finished the entire novel in a matter of hours which, for me, is a sign that the story was a good one. Ms Brouder's writing style flowed well, really keeping you involved in the story. I liked that i could lose myself in it for the most part.

I wasn't so sure about her relationship/crush with Chas as I really had no idea what she saw in him and if it comes down to it, I think I would be team Ari all the way. That being said, I thought her relationships with her family and co-workers etc were written really well and I could really feel the dynamics of those relationships, particularly with her mam and little brother, whereas Chas just left me with me with...Meh...

Over all I think this was a great start to a new series and am looking forward to see what happens in volume II .

I give this title 3 3/4 stars

Sapphired Dragon XX



Claire Daly : Reluctant Soul Saver by Michele Brouder

Title: Claire Daly : Reluctant Soul Saver
Publication date: September, 2015.
Author: Michele Brouder
Genre: YA,Paranormal Romance
 




When seventeen year-old librarian wannabe Claire Daly is dragged kicking, screaming and cursing from everything she loves—her mam, her cozy Irish village and the dreamy boy next door—to take up arms in the battle of good versus evil, she learns the hard way that sometimes you don’t get to choose your own destiny, destiny chooses you.

Claire’s life plan is simple: head off to university to get her degree in library studies, summon up the courage to tell her best friend Chas that she loves him and live happily ever after. She never once entertained the idea that she might possess divine powers, that she might be predestined to battle Hell’s demons, or, to complicate matters further, that another love of many lives past might turn up on her doorstep. But life doesn’t always go as planned, and when a co-worker is viciously attacked by a demon and her own family threatened, Claire must face the truth: she is called to a higher purpose and has no choice but to answer. Claire sets aside her dreams and begins learning how to deal with the Unholy once and for all. Armed with only a crash course in soul saving and her wits, she gears up for the ultimate show down in Hell. But will it be enough?
 

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20561819-nobody-s-goddess

BAM | Chapters | Amazon | B & N |  TBD 


http://www.amazon.co.uk/Claire-Daly-Reluctant-Soul-Saver-ebook/dp/B015NCLL02/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1447720636&sr=8-1-fkmr0&keywords=claire+daly+reluctant+soul+saver
 


ABOUT Michele Brouder


I was born in western New York, the oldest of 5. I've loved reading since I was very little. From the age of 9, I've wanted to be a writer. In high school, I wrote a lot of angst-ridden civil war dramas ala Gone With The Wind, knowing more about the Battle of the Bull Run than a normal teenager should know. I dabbled in writing after that but didn't get serious about it until 2006, when I decided that this was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life.

I've had many interesting jobs but my passion has always been writing.

I lived in Ireland from 2006-2013 with my husband and 2 boys. We moved back to the US and settled in Florida briefly (2 years) before returning back to Ireland in August 2015.


Author Links:  Website | Twitter | Facebook Goodreads | Pinterest 



The Giveaway (ends December 4, 2015)

  • One (1) winner will received a $25 Amazon Gift Card, a copy of Claire Daly: Reluctant Soul Saver, a book mark, a coffee mug, and some other stuff for 'readers' from the author (INT)
  • Three (3) winners will receive a copy of Claire Daly: Reluctant Soul Saver by Michele Brouder (INT)
 



a Rafflecopter giveaway











Tuesday 17 November 2015

WWW Wednesday #17




WWW Wednesdays is a weekly meme formerly hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading and now revived by Taking on a World of Words.

To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions…
• What are you currently reading?
• What did you recently finish reading?
• What do you think you will read next?

What are you currently reading?




I am currently reading the Their Fractured Light By Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner, the conclusion to the Starbound trilogy.  I haven't had a lot of reading time this last day or so but am really enjoying this so far and am looking forward to getting stuck into this tonight as I am desperate to know how it is all going to end.


What did you recently finish reading?



 


I had a pretty good reading week, managing three other titles read spanning three different genres. The Eternity Gate by Traci Harding is the second book in The Timekeepers series and this book as expected was awesome! Traci Harding is one of my all time favourite author so I always enjoy her books and really need to read book 3, A W O L ASAP.

Unbreakable is the first book in a YA/paranormal series and was also pretty enjoyable. Think a YA Supernatural. I really liked the idea and am looking to see where it goes. I have made some guesses as to certain parts of this story and am eager to see if I am proved right in the subsequent books. I have the next book Unmarked and hope to read it in the next few weeks.
 
Oceans of Fire is book 3 in the Christine Feehan's Drake Sisters series.  This is a fun Paranormal Romance series of a more adult nature.  I am not a huge Christine Feehan fan and quite dislike the first few books of the Carpathian series (though people have told me it gets better) but I am quite enjoying the Drake sisters series and am looking forward to the remaining books.



What do you think you will read next??



These are the four books that are currently at the top of my TBR.  Two are review books that need to be read ASAP and two are other books I have been eyeing off for a while and are also due back to the library rather soon so would like to read them before I have to return them.
 
Towards the end of last week, I had a wee bit of a book slump, brought on,  I think because I had too many books that I really wanted to read right away.  So getting back to my review reading schedule actually makes life a little easier as I finally get to read some books I have been looking forward to that are due out in the next few weeks.
 
I am really looking forward to reading Lady Helen and the Dark Days Club.  Its described as a Regency adventure starring a stylish and intrepid demon hunter.  I really enjoyed Gail Carriger's Parasol Protectorate  series and Cassandra Clare's The Infernal Devices series so I am pretty sure this will be right up my alley.
 
What we saw by Aaron Hatzler is a YA contemporary which I am really looking forward to reading, not only because it makes nice change from all the fantasy/paranormal stuff I have been reading but the description makes it look like it will be a riveting read.
 
Dark Serpent by Kylie Chan is another book I have been wanting to read for a while.  I love her Dark Heavens and Journey to Wudang Series and her characters Emma and Xuan Wu, and this series we start to find out more about Emma and her past/birthright.  This is the first book in a new series Celestial Battle.
 
Lastly, another book that has been on my TBR forever.  Red Pyramid, the first book in the Kane Chronicles by Rick Riordan.  I love Riordan's Percy Jackson series and the recent Magnus Chase so thought I would give this series a go also :-)

So what are you reading this week?
 
 


Monday 16 November 2015

Teaser Tuesday #110 : Their Fractured Light (The Starbound Trilogy #3) by Amie Kaufman and MeaganSpooner





Welcome to Teaser Tuesdays.

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of A Daily Rhythm. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

1. Grab your current read

2. Open to a random page

3. Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

4. Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!


My current read is Their Fractured Light (The Starbound Trilogy #3) by Amie Kaufman & Meagan Spooner and my two lines are from page 7of 400

Then he's shrugging out of his LaRoux Inductries uniform until he's just wearing an undershirt, tattooed arms bare for half an instant. He turns the garment inside out, revealing a garishly striped shirt matching the high-fashion trend of the moment--and just like that, he melts into the crowd.



Their Fractured Light (The Starbound Trilogy #3)  by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner





A year ago, Flynn Cormac and Jubilee Chase made the now infamous Avon Broadcast, calling on the galaxy to witness for their planet, and protect them from destruction. Some say Flynn’s a madman, others whisper about conspiracies. Nobody knows the truth. A year before that, Tarver Merendsen and Lilac LaRoux were rescued from a terrible shipwreck—now, they live a public life in front of the cameras, and a secret life away from the world’s gaze.

Now, in the center of the universe on the planet of Corinth, all four are about to collide with two new players, who will bring the fight against LaRoux Industries to a head. Gideon Marchant is an eighteen-year-old computer hacker—a whiz kid and an urban warrior. He’ll climb, abseil and worm his way past the best security measures to pull off onsite hacks that others don’t dare touch.

Sofia Quinn has a killer smile, and by the time you’re done noticing it, she’s got you offering up your wallet, your car, and anything else she desires. She holds LaRoux Industries responsible for the mysterious death of her father and is out for revenge at any cost.

When a LaRoux Industries security breach interrupts Gideon and Sofia’s separate attempts to infiltrate their headquarters, they’re forced to work together to escape. Each of them has their own reason for wanting to take down LaRoux Industries, and neither trusts the other. But working together might be the best chance they have to expose the secrets LRI is so desperate to hide.



 check out the good reads link
 
Purchase: Booktopia  | Book Depository | Amazon


PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT with either the link to your own Teaser Tuesdays post, or share your ‘teasers’ in a comment here (if you don’t have a blog). Thanks!