Mélusine (Doctrine of Labyrinths #1) by Sarah Monette

Mélusine (Doctrine of Labyrinths #1)

by Sarah Monette 

Published by Ace

Publication Date: August 2nd 2005

Rating: Amazing

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Mélusine — a city of secrets and lies, pleasure and pain, magic and corruption — and destinies lost and found.

Felix Harrowgate is a dashing, highly respected wizard. But his aristocratic peers don't know his dark past — how his abusive former master enslaved him, body and soul, and trained him to pass as a nobleman. Within the walls of the Mirador — Melusine's citadel of power and wizardry — Felix believed he was safe. He was wrong. Now, the horrors of his previous life have found him and threaten to destroy all he has since become.

Mildmay the Fox is used to being hunted. Raised as a kept-thief and trained as an assassin, he escaped his Keeper long ago and lives on his own as a cat burglar. But now he has been caught by a mysterious foreign wizard using a powerful calling charm. And yet the wizard was looking not for Mildmay — but for Felix Harrowgate.

Thrown together by fate, the broken wizard Felix and the wanted killer Mildmay journey far from Melusine through lands thick with strange magics and terrible demons of darkness. But it is the shocking secret from their pasts, linking them inexorably together, that will either save them, or destroy them

Imagine an huge sprawling city, where the elite are live along an enormous dome , The Mirador. And the majority in the slums, in the Lower City. Thieves, murderers, sexworkers , poor and any other seen as lesser than magical practice are pushed out sight for the wizards or hocuses in Lower City speak. Mildmay, the fox is one of those down below . A kept-thief , not on good terms with any criminal gang and hunted by the DOGS like the fox he is. He's telling you his story and your point of entrance to this city. Never trust a hocus he tells you but what he doesn't know that someone that will be close to him is one and lives up above, his gay older brother. Welcome to Melusine.

This European inspired fantasy world would not felt lived in if it weren't for our two leading men. Mildmay and his brother, Felix Harrowgate, wizard of the Callaban order. Felix and Mildmay have equal amounts of page time in alternating points of view and their voices are distinct. But Mildmay is the narrator and talks to us the reader.I was never lost or what happened in their story.Keep in mind that a moment in felix' dark past is shown once and other times alluded to, the scene goes dark the second time. And he's finally able to speak it loud with his dear ones at the end of the book. Both felix and mildmay have hideous childhood traumas in one way of or another. Monette doesn't use any scenes for titillation or shock. She truly cares for these brothers and it feels that way when reading. Thank you for creating and thinking up this duo. I'll my upmost best to keep their tales alive for new readers.


That ending line in melusine. My heart.It was so soft. And illustrated their bond fully, what already started to form and I can imagine what it will be come. Both are more like each other that they think and maybe , just maybe Felix will be less of a witty jackass.

#HearOurVoices tour: Raybearer

 

Synopsis: Nothing is more important than loyalty.

But what if you’ve sworn to protect the one you were born to destroy?

Tarisai has always longed for the warmth of a family. She was raised in isolation by a mysterious, often absent mother known only as The Lady. The Lady sends her to the capital of the global empire of Aritsar to compete with other children to be chosen as one of the Crown Prince’s Council of 11. If she’s picked, she’ll be joined with the other Council members through the Ray, a bond deeper than blood. That closeness is irresistible to Tarisai, who has always wanted to belong somewhere. But The Lady has other ideas, including a magical wish that Tarisai is compelled to obey: Kill the Crown Prince once she gains his trust. Tarisai won’t stand by and become someone’s pawn—but is she strong enough to choose a different path for herself? With extraordinary world-building and breathtaking prose, Raybearer is the story of loyalty, fate, and the lengths we’re willing to go for the ones we love.

Published: August 18  2020

Page count: 368

Rating: Amazing 

Review

Stories can be held captive, blemished with falsehoods it doesn't matter how long but the true story will break free.

Human touch are what everyone craves for. Tarisai has only ever known stories, knowledge and memories growing up. She grew up with people around her but she was lonely. Her mom the Lady showed no affection and was cold towards her and her mentors never touched her only ever lectured and instructed. Family is the only thing Tarisai ever wanted. She's instructed to get it and destroy it. She was born out of magic. Out of the Lady's wish. Tarisai needs to grow close to the crown prince , belong to his beloved , make him love her and kill him. Tarisai won't be a pawn in her story no matter what.

This world and magic system is enchanting but the true magic are the characters and that makes Raybearer all the more worthwhile. The book is very character driven but each character, even to the minor ones sets the plot in motion. Tarisai is the lead, we fall in love with her council mates the way she does with the eleven and we notice the prejudice and injustice lurking underneath bit by bit as she does. Tarisai is strong leading lady ,the emotional abuse makes her scared to be loved in every way possible. She's terrified it will be lost and will be taken away. It was a pleasure seeing her grow, be confident in herself and shine like a brilliant sun. Her loved ones, the council, the other eleven but in 3 particular stand by and show her that she's worthy of love. The council consist of people of different cultures and ethnicities but I'll spotlight Kirah, Sanjeet and Dayo. All 3 so different and immensely important to her. I'll let you'll discover for yourself. Speaking about love, Raybearer speaks about the absence of love and the different kind of love. The familiar bond between friends and romantic love has equal weight in importance. All types of love should be important.

The slow burn romance that Ifueko crafted and slowly build is a beautiful one. Still on the topic of love I'm so happy Ifueko included an ace character, Dayo - the crown prince. Dayo crushes on boys and girls. Being ace and homoromantic , I was so happy when I read it and hope others will too.

The opposite of love is destruction. Ifueko writes rage inducing about the horrors of colonialism and assimilation. How people in power will and have tried to destroy cultures and societies through law and military force. I can't wait to see people's reaction.

Worldbulding and magic
This is such an unique world and feels so fresh. The way 12 regions or realms are different but feel like one collective culture. Seeing character with different skin tones: Black, brown and white. I had to be extra creative when imaginating it and it's so easy with the help of Ifueko's beautiful writing. It helped me and challenged me to try to dismantle my learned Eurocentric mental picture. I envisioned Sanjeet with brown skin but ones or twice I saw a white person and that's an issue I have to combat. Seeing how Sanjeet is favorite character of mine.

The magic system is beautiful to see. We have pixies and black fairies.Hallows are gifts one is born with. Any possible power imaginable. Tarisai interacts with memories of objects , nature and people whenever she touches. The council , her friends have different power each. I can't wait to see how her gift and the others flourish. To see how the world and magic system will be further explored.

Raybearer is a rhythmic cultural practice on the page. It felt like listening to orally told story when reading. Suriname has loads, every culture different but still Surinamese. Raybearer stands on it's own and will enrich the already published African YA fantasy and the ones to come next year and years to come. I know without a doubt the audiobook will be magical and an experience. 

 

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REVIEW: The Summer That Melted Everything by Tiffany McDaniel

Title: The Summer That Melted Everything
Author: Tiffany McDaniel
Publisher:  St. Martin's Press
Publication Date:  July 26th 2016
Source:  Netgalley
Rating:  5/5

Amazon  //  Bookdepository 

Synopsis: Fielding Bliss has never forgotten the summer of 1984: the year a heat wave scorched Breathed, Ohio. The year he became friends with the devil.
Sal seems to appear out of nowhere - a bruised and tattered thirteen-year-old boy claiming to be the devil himself answering an invitation. Fielding Bliss, the son of a local prosecutor, brings him home where he's welcomed into the Bliss family, assuming he's a runaway from a nearby farm town.
When word spreads that the devil has come to Breathed, not everyone is happy to welcome this self-proclaimed fallen angel. Murmurs follow him and tensions rise, along with the temperatures as an unbearable heat wave rolls into town right along with him. As strange accidents start to occur, riled by the feverish heat, some in the town start to believe that Sal is exactly who he claims to be. While the Bliss family wrestles with their own personal demons, a fanatic drives the town to the brink of a catastrophe that will change this sleepy Ohio backwater forever.

My thoughts

It was a heat that didn’t just melt tangible things like ice, chocolate, Popsicles. It melted all the intangibles too. Fear, faith, anger, and those long-trusted templates of common sense. It melted lives as well, leaving futures to be slung with the dirt of the gravedigger’s shovel.”

Summer has lots to offer. It depends were you life what will be. Summer should be a fun time with family and friends. The summer of '84 in Breathed, Ohio is different. Attorney Autopsy Bliss is the cause of it. He invites mr morningstar in a sarcastic manner after a chase did not go as he wished. His request has been answered. It's a shock because were a cloven hoofed biblical figure should be a thirteen year old black kid with the oddest green eyes shows up claiming to be the devil himself. The authorities can't find his family looking for him and he ends up staying with Fielding Bliss and his family. Fielding Bliss is the narrator and tells his story summer of 1984 story somewhere in the future as an older man.

Tiffany Daniel's debut is shelved on goodreads as a magical realism adult novel. The magical realism aspect for me at least is in the setting. I love how Breathed, Ohio breathed heavily as if it was out of breath of the heat. Haha, a pun. The book shows characters that have monstrous capabilities. The citizens display how mob mentality happens. Racism, homophobia, fear of AIDS, agoraphobia, child abuse and religion are shown not heavy handed and are done in a non preachy way. This book has brought me out of an reading slump. A 6-month reading slump, the agony. Daniel's writing is amazing. Although it it hit me hard emotionally i'm glad i had the chance to read. I will definitely re-read it in the future. I can't wait to see what will be next.

Review: Splintered by A.G Howard

Splintered
by A.G. Howard
Published by Amulet Books
Date to be published: January 1st 2013
Source: gifted
Rating: 4.8

AMAZON // BOOKDEPO

Synopsis:Alyssa Gardner hears the whispers of bugs and flowers—precisely the affliction that landed her mother in a mental hospital years before. This family curse stretches back to her ancestor Alice Liddell, the real-life inspiration for Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Alyssa might be crazy, but she manages to keep it together. For now.
When her mother’s mental health takes a turn for the worse, Alyssa learns that what she thought was fiction is based in terrifying reality. The real Wonderland is a place far darker and more twisted than Lewis Carroll ever let on. There, Alyssa must pass a series of tests, including draining an ocean of Alice’s tears, waking the slumbering tea party, and subduing a vicious bandersnatch, to fix Alice’s mistakes and save her family.
She must also decide whom to trust: Jeb, her gorgeous best friend and secret crush, or the sexy but suspicious Morpheus, her guide through Wonderland, who may have dark motives of his own

My thoughts

Expectations I encountered Splintered early 2012 during a frequent Goodreads browsing. The synopsis was the only thing that got my attention. Keep in mind that the cover was not presented to us yet. The mention of a skater girl got me hooked. A family curse and the mention of madder darker version of wonderland made me fingers clicking happy.I forgot about it (stupid me). Thank goodness I saw the cover on Goodreads months later

Cover: That’s almost how I pictured Alyssa. A cross between the cover and Emily Osment. There is so much detail. Every time I looked at I noticed new details. Easily in the top covers of 2013.

Book: Close to a hundred years or more years ago a young girl named Alice dreamed about a wacky place and was published by a family friend. Ever since then her female descendants have gone insane and died as a result. Alyssa Gardner is her great-great-granddaughter. She too can hear the normally inaudible voices of plants and bugs and is next inline. A chain reacting occurrence happens. ‘’Wonderland exists and Al can save her mom, herself and break the curse but is it really a curse or something else. Nothing is what it seems and maybe Alyssa as well. I WELCOME you TO THE REAL WONDERLAND folks.

Miss Howard’s writing style in splintered is equally part sensual ,dark and mysterious. So dark its sexy,.HAHA. You want to resist but you want more and more. To fly across the pages but take it slow ( I hardly did) and let the enjoyment engross you. I will get madder trough out this review. It was an orgasmic event but of words, places and scenery constructed with those words and many feelings. A wonderful 400 page book.

I read the original Alice and through the looking glass when I was younger. It was a Dutch translations but that does not take away that I loved seeing their dark and altered macabre versions. A lot made sense in a nonsensical way in the end. But every true Netherling knows it takes balance between a raging storm and calm clear water to be ‘’sane’.

The plot was interesting. Mad even. I have to admit some parts might be confusing to some people. Maybe.

.'Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe;
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.

I loved how parts of the Jabberwoc(k) poem is used in the beginning and a portal available through clues, keys and a mirror [anypony knows The Looking Glass, so what if I’m a brony. Broohoof. /)*(\ ]. Smashing. You get twist and turns after turns. Some were predictable and some weren’t. You have the chance to meet hideously beautiful and beautifully hideous characters, creatures and Queens. And Morpheus but more of him later ( if you want to know).

So you wanna be a master. Do you have to skills to be #1. Oops. Sorry I was listening POKe Themes [ ^^] I meant to say do you want to know more about Morpheous. For starters he has blue hair that covers half his face. Has dark or dark grey angelic wings. I admit he was a jerk at multiple times and admits he’s one. He is netherling as kind and charming as Cheshire is cute and adorable.** possible spoiler [But he still needs loving and hopefully someone will love him someday and he will truth fully love that person too.]end spoiler**Despite him being a jerk sometimes , he is a being you want to have on your team.

Jebediah or Jeb is her best friend. I like him a lot . Roro gives Jeb a dude hug [ oowee I have to steady myself to stop these naughty thoughts]. He’s a sk8terboi. Do you remember this song Jeb is very artistic and paints like tim burton directs movies.

Page 127 Al’s narration

‘I think of his watercolor paintings; darkly beautiful worlds and gothic fairies weeping black tears above human corpses, these depictions of misery and loss are so poignant and surreal they break the heart’’.

If that is not artistic I don’t know what is. Jeb is a labret wearing skater dude who listens to punk/alternative rock and paints hauntingly beautiful [ his art pieces are breathtaking in my imagination]. Jeb opens up and finds up and find comfort in the end.


Now the spotlight or rather scribbles of ink are on Alyssa Gardner. She too has artistic abilities. Although she is one of the coolest female main characters she undergoes character growth and development and proud of who she is in the end.


The romance is steamy but still age appropriate [ wish it wasn’t, lil naughty me] I liked the spark between the characters. Every kind of spark there was

My trip is on this journey is over. I wish I could stay longer. Maddening wasn’t it [ eye twitch twitching ]. I hope you fall in love with all the characters that need to be loved and find peace and tranquility between the line of madness. Well guys here are your victims … ahem visitors [ they don’t get a lot of tourist you know]. Enjoy the wonderful mad [ W]underland. [ eye twitch twitching]

Remarks:I only have a minor complaint. There was very little screen time with not a lot of screen time [sad face

songs that fits perfectly with this book and do generate a atmosphere 



Alyssa's secret song to Jeb Jeb's secret song to Al <3


Alyssa and Jeb stepping into the heart of Wonderland and seeing all the strange sights


Alyssa to Morpheus; torn between her mistrust of him and her attraction to the darkness and power he brings out in her Morpheus's theme song

Alyssa at book’s end; embracing who she is and facing her future

Review: Aquaman, Vol. 1: The Trench

Aquaman, Vol. 1: The Trench (Aquaman Vol. VII #1)
by by Geoff Johns, Ivan Reis (Illustrator), Joe Prado (Illustrator)
Published by by DC Comics
Date publication:September 11th 2012
Source: edelweiss
Rating: 4.8/5

AMAZON // BOOKDEPO

Synopsis:The King of the Seven Seas Aquaman returns to his very own ongoing series for the first time in years at the hands of DC Entertainment Chief Creative Office Geoff Johns, who reteams with GREEN LANTERN collaborator artist Ivan Reis! Between proving himself to a world that sees him as a joke, Aquaman and his bride Mera face off against a long buried terror from the depths of the ocean

My thoughts

Cover: An epic cover. I love the Trident

Book: I always liked Aquaman growing up but never liked him as mutch as the popular ones. Until now . After reading this wonderfull comic book written by Geoff Johns, and illustrated by Ivan Reis and Joe Prado ( never heard of those people but they are pretty huge in the comic world).

The Aquaman jokes and Arthur being used as the laughingstock of the superheroes are present in this comic and I felt very sorry for Arthur Curry. I’m still getting bullied at school because I’m not mainstream and I read. I could connect with a fictional character .Heck that what books are for to connect even comic books .

This volume has 6 chapters or stories. Four for one plot and the last two bridges to the second volume.

A kind of summary but nothing spoilerific
Aquaman appears midtown Boston, interrupting a car chase and successfully stopping the crime in action, much to the surprise of present criminals and policemen alike.

Arthur later goes to have lunch at a seafood restaurant, in full costume. Apparently subscribing to the common misconception that

courtesy of  http://dc.wikia.com/wiki/Aquaman_Vol_7_3

Aquaman speaks to fish, a number of people react with surprise when Aquaman orders 'fish and chips' from the menu. He clarifies that his ability is to control various forms of sea life rather than speaking to them in the conventional sense, as fish don't actually converse. A blogger approaches Aquaman with various questions, despite the latter's insistence that he's just trying to have some lunch. Aquaman leaves when the blogger's final question offends him, but tells the waitress to keep the change (having paid with gold coins).

At Amnesty Bay, Aquaman recalls his childhood with his father, when Mera appears. Aquaman tells her he has decided to have new life with her, free from the responsibilities of being the king of Atlantis.
From the depths of the Atlantic ocean, the 'Trench'( monsterlike aquatic creatures) emerge, confirming their suspicion that 'there is an above'. After dragging a fisherman into the water and eating him, one of creatures declares that there is food on the surface world.

Mira , his wife and royal of Atlantis is a bad ass. She is not help less like humans think she is and still has a gentle side of her. And she is a ginger . Va Va voom

I loved the art style. If it was not color inked I would not have the same experience. I already knew than Aqua man was cool but Geoff shows how awesome and kind hearted Arthur Curry aka Aquaman is . I am exited for volume two in the future.

An awesome review of a comic / anime /manga reviewer. courtesy of Deadpoolzilla

Fractured Light Book Tour : Review

This blog tour is presented by Cedar Fort Publishing.
You can see the tour schedule and more information by clicking HERE. interview here

Fractured Light

by Rachel McClellan
Published by Sweetwater Books

Date Published: February 8th 2012

Rating: 5/5

Synopsis: I’m dying, I thought. This was unexpected and not at all how I envisioned my death. I was supposed to die gardening in a flowerbed as a hundred-year-old woman, not as a seventeen-year-old trapped in a lake beneath inches of ice. 
Llona Reese is used to living on the run. After the Vykens killed her parents, she knew they would eventually come for her too. She can’t take any chances. But when she starts to make friends for the first time in her life, she gets careless and lets her guard down. Big mistake. 
As an Aura, Llona can manipulate light and harness its energy. But if she wants to survive, Llona will have to defy the Auran Council and learn to use her power as a weapon against the Vyken whose sole desire is to take her light. Now she’s caught in something even bigger than she can understand, with a power she can’t wield, and no one she can trust, except, just maybe, a mysterious stranger. 
In this breathtaking and romantic adventure, Rachel McClellan delivers a truly mesmerizing story that will keep you guessing to the very end.

My thoughts

Cover: Like the cover a lot. Llona ‘s ability is shown. I love when publishers do that. But it is not how I imagined her though.

Book: This my 2nd book from cedar fort I’ve read. I got to say there pretty dam good.[sorry 4 the curse word]. My 1st booktour was a success . I reviewed Seers. The review linky. I saw it on netgalley . I was intrigued. I made a freaking great decision.

Llona Reese, our leading lady. 17 yrs [if I remember correctly. Human but something special in side of her. She is a Aura, female individual who can bend manipulate lights in her veins, her dna ,her being . Aura’s are supposed to be gentle and comforting. Llona is that but more she is active, not a pushover and tries to be brave


The book begins at the start of her senior year at High Land High.
There she meets Christian Knight a new athlete at the school, our leading a male, friend and romantic interest. Y’all probably thinking cliché, red alert, red alert ,insta love!! Well you’re wrong. Yes there is romance but no insta love. Love emerges steadily and steadily in the book, their relationship.

Christian loves sport, but is not consumed by it and not a jerk. He ‘s kind, charming, a bit overprotective at times but you will soon learn why. I think girls need a real fictional male in their life. No effeminate edwardy boy.

Other characters
May, Matt and Adam are great friends and 2nd characters. You would be lucky to have such friends in real life

Yes. The parental figures were present. Jake Reece her 26 yr old uncle was a example. He was fun, a game freak/enthusiast and a role model.

Other than aura’s there where
Guardians: protectors of Aura’s. Male humans not as vulnerable as normal males.

Vykens: evil shadowy flesh like creatures, dark pools of eyes. 100% evil. They reminded me of local lore; Asemas, shadowy being with fiery burning eyes who drink blood like vamps do.

This is a 1st person narrative .Llona pov. The beginning was a bit slow, the first 50 pages I rated it almost a 4 at that point. But then page 194,195 arrived and it passed the 4, 45. The ending gave it a boast towards a 5 star rating. My love is different for this book , not like mythos academy or rapture but still love.

I am eagerly awaiting book 2. Man I have to wait till 2013.

Thank you netgalley and cedarfort in accepting my review request. This is a 100 % honest review

sorry if i offended any twi fan

Songs that fit perfectly with this book and they do generate a atmosphere fits perfectly with page 195,read to find out

Llona & Christian



at the end, plot twist 

Llona & Christian rough patch

the booktrailer



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Sweet light by Jen Wylie, emotional and action -y

Sweet light by Jen Wylie
Published by Echelon Press Publishing
Date published May 30th 2011
Rating 5/5 stars

Synopsis
When fate conspires against you and gives you three loves to choose from, what do you do? What if you make the wrong choice? Shara is a Healer, raised and trained from childhood until her unique gift manifests itself. When she gains the rank Journeyman she is hired to serve as the court healer for the barbaric kingdom of Glendor. Untrained for war, she is thrust unmercifully into its bloody arms when the kingdom is invaded. Ordered by her king to the front lines to tend the wounded, she is forced to flee when their camp is attacked. Happening upon a wounded soldier in the forest, every mile back to the capital is a struggle, and breaking the Healer's code, she falls in love with her charge. If Shara thought that to be the least of her troubles, the appearance of a fierce warrior captain who appoints himself her protector, teaches her differently. Trouble comes in threes at the appearance of a former love and fellow healer. Faced with decisions of the heart and the sudden manifestation of her gift, there is little room for anything else to go wrong. Or at least that's what Shara thought.




my thoughts

cover: it is a pretty cover, not much at first but when you get immersed in the story. You like it better at least for me. love the green and the sunlight. I think its a scene from the book.

book: received this from miss Wylie for review. this is Jen's young adult debut novel. Her writing was enjoyable and very emotional. when i read the first pages. WHAMM!! That scene was intense. i was hooked. this story takes place on a middle age -ish alternated planet or earth. the places and countries had a celtic feel to it especially glendor.

Shara short for Sharandar Lynn of Shoredirch(home country) is a 16 year old healer, healers are gifted with magic that they use to help others. but here's still dormant.It’s sacred, and she comes from a land that is far different from Glendor, where she’s been summoned to during a war. she meets a wounded soldier who can't speak. There is not mushy love but believe able romance with a lot of action. She gradually falls in love with him

other books have a love triangle with team A and team B. The 3 dudes feel for her, Shara. i equally felt the love between David , the wounded soldier. Shara and Tirel, her long distance relationship and Dric older cousin of David who Shara only sees as a close friend.

i adored the backstory of the main characters , their family ,friends and countries. there was no info overload.loved all of the relations family ,friends , more than lovers. it was in diverse pov. i think at least 5 povs. was not annoying for me.
i love that Jen did not sugarcoat the more mature themes. there's a lot of violence ,war. this is a upper YA book maybe 16, 17 i think.

if you get it hope you'll enjoy it. i did.

favorite quote[s] :


"So long as the sun and stars shine above and light your way, the stones and earth beneath give you strength, the waters of lake and sea give life; remember your pledge to each other. "By the life which courses within your blood and the love which resides within your hearts, take each other by your hands, your hearts, and your spirits, to be your chosen one. Live and love without sin or shame, for naught can exist in the purity of your love for each other.

what tell what's about . what do you think , mwa ha ha