Review: Darker Still by Leanna Renee Hieber

Darker Still (Magic Most Foul #1)
by Leanna Renee Hieber
Published by Sourcebooks Fire
Date publication:  November 8th 2011

Source: gifted by  joyousreads.com

Rating: 4/5

AMAZON // BOOKDEPO 

Synopsis: I was obsessed.
It was as if he called to me, demanding I reach out and touch the brushstrokes of color swirled onto the canvas. It was the most exquisite portrait I'd ever seen--everything about Lord Denbury was unbelievable...utterly breathtaking and eerily lifelike.
There was a reason for that. Because despite what everyone said, Denbury never had committed suicide. He was alive. Trapped within his golden frame.
I've crossed over into his world within the painting, and I've seen what dreams haunt him. They haunt me too. He and I are inextricably linked--bound together to watch the darkness seeping through the gas-lit cobblestone streets of Manhattan. Unless I can free him soon, things will only get Darker Still. 

My thoughts

Cover : It has a pretty girl in a dress cover. The cover shows what happens in this book and how she enters the painted portrait. A prison of someone she has come to love.

Book:

THIS JOURNAL IS THE SOLE PROPERTY OF:
MISS NATALIE STEWART
A GIFT TO MARK , HER EXIT FROM
THE CONNECTICUT ASYLUM

This story takes place in 1800 New York. Natalie is a young middle class lady. Mute but well educated and well spoken in her writing. The shock of her mother’s death caused her disability at the age of four. Through her father’s job at the metropolitan museum of art , Natalie comes in contact with a mesmerizing enchanting and cursed painting of Lord Denbury, a not so long ago English perished young man. ( Darker Still is influenced by the picture of Dorian gray but is not a copy cat and differs). She is his savior and help to break the hex. Natalie gradually falls in love or better said on him . ( ha ha book joke)Will Natalie succeed, will the evil forces, dark magic and demons prevail, will Dembury be freed? Read to find out !

Do you know the reading experience when immersing yourself in Dracula, Frankenstein or Jekyll and Hyde. Darker Still has a similar gritty gothic feel to it with splashes of austeny touches. I know I am giving high praise but the world building is that good. The dairy form it was written makes it stand out in the YA book crowd . It is written in 1800 eloquent fashion . Natalie could really have existed. So truly realistic and trough out the book I had to remind myself the experiences, the people are fictionalized. Ok maybe I’m exaggerating but the world building is really done well.

Characters

Natalie is a kind young lady. She comes up for herself though her writing and later on with something more she missed for a long time .S he is very brave in the midst of danger that’s induced by dark magic and demonic powers. She tries to save poor and homeless girls from slaughters.

Lord Denbury is a true gentleman. He is there for Nat and is protective over her but not overprotective and surely does not chain her up. He respects Natalie’s decision not like a well known and super popular *cough*pale *cough* sparkly fellow. He is a person who was on his way to serve mankind for the greater good before he got hexed. Now i know why bloggers use a specific term for him; DENBURYLYCIOUS

There are lovely parents or parental figures present through this whole book. Her father is a smart kind man and her to be happy and well educated. We see Madame North more of the time. She is one the 1st real friends Natalie has and a awesome source for help in the quest of defeating evil.

I had a little problem with the ‘’other one’’, ‘’the other self, the villain . It is sexualized and pure evil. A demon. I know it is evil but still I hoped for its motivation. That was not fully explained. I know it is just book one but I hope more will be revealed plus explained.

Darker Still is not perfect but still really great. Thanks Joy @joyousreads for the gift. You are da bomb. After reading the synopsis of book two there is more danger upon them and explaining things to society will be frikkin hard. I can’t wait and I hope I will win cash soon to pre order or order it.

The Twisted Tragedy of Miss Natalie Stewart is out on November 1st. I MUST HAVE IT. Sighs. Are you looking for something new and fresh in Paranormal YA . This not another half-baked paranormal but they characters witness growth especially Natalie . I HOOOPE you give it a try

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



when Natalie sleeps  and has builds a connection

goes for natalie en denbury




the slaughters and fighting back

Review: Rapture by Phillip W Simpson, A hell blazing Apocalyptic Earth

Rapture (Rapture Trilogy #1)
by Phillip William Simpson

Published by Pear Jam Books Ltd

Date Published: October 1st 2011
Rating: 6/5[never done that b4]

Synopsis:The Rapture has occurred, just as the Bible predicted. The faithful have risen up to Heaven. Those left behind are in a living hell. 
Earth burns, hell-like in its oppressive heat. Every volcano in the world has erupted, and tsunamis and earthquakes continue to devastate the planet. Clouds continually rain ash onto the scorched landscape, sparking fires all around. Plants and animals are dying. Food is scarce. The night sky is devoid of stars, and the moon - when it can be seen - is the colour of blood. 
The remnants of humanity fight for survival. Most have fled the cities and now hide in caves deep in the mountains. By night, demons stalk the Earth, capturing the remaining humans and killing them - if they're lucky. The less fortunate are converted to worship of the Devil, and ushered into endless hell. 
Eighteen year old, Sam (short for Samael) was raised in the town of Jacob's Ladder, Utah. It is appropriately enough near to a place of natural scenic beauty called Devil's garden. He finds himself alone, unable to rise up with his family because he is half demon. His mother, a devout Christian, was seduced by Satan and conceived his child. She smuggled the boy to an old friend Hikari, a Japanese sword master and demon expert. Since then, Hikari and his daughter, Aimi, have been all the family Sam has known. 
Now they're gone, and Sam must set out on the mission Hikari charged him with long ago: to help all the humans left behind. Armed only with his beloved Japanese swords and his wits, Sam wanders the post-apocalyptic world alone, separated forever from everyone he loves. Cursed by his demonic heritage, he must now embark on a quest that will take him across the US to the City of Angels. 

My thoughts

Cover: Love the flames and background. That’s how I imagined Samael. He looks fierce and concentrated. Don't mess with him ,lol. Is it just me but those red eyes are blazingly hawt.


Book: I saw a book ad on a blog I frequently visit. I immediately added it to my wishlist on goodreads [reshelved it and book 2 is currently on my wishlist] The author asked me to review’’ Rapture’’. My reply was yes, yes yea. Lol. When it finally arrived from New Zealand. I read in two days flat. Monday and was done the next day amidst my midterms. Not a smart thing I know. But I could not put it down

The rapture has happened, the tribulation has begun. And we meet Sam, short for Samael, our leading male and taken in , adopted at a early age. He is a half-demon ,18 years old, alabaster skin and living in the mids of a devoted catholic Japanese sensei and daughter,Aimi [Hikari’s daughter]

You immediately start to feel affection towards Sam and to care for him and taste his sorrow and loneliness at times. His family is gone, gone with the rapture and he is left behind to defend the innocence left behind. And those who need to protected are cautious of him.Honestly I would be to ,he is a half demon but still one for Pete’s sake

In Ya parental figures are almost not in the picture. But in the moments that Hikari is there is a model father figure. A REAL parent.

Love appearsin Rapture,between friends,parental love and little bits and pieces of romantic love between him and Aimi. But the latter is not the main plot in the book. I like that however maybe in book 2.

Every chapter begins with a bible verse.It looks somewhat religious but not preachy at the same time.The use of bible verses is new to me.It is told in 3th person perspective and told in time slots, before the rapture, after it and the present. And it’s not jarring at all or confusing. It all fits perfectly. I read it at free periods, while doing a doo doo on the toilet, yes even there basically everywhere I could. Not the bathroom, ha ha.

Not a single scene felt like a drag or filler. WOW, the fighting scenes felt fresh and not repetitive at all. The monsters are… you guessed it's demons. I’m no expert but I lke to add Phil did his research. The plot twist, the betrayal , I honestly did not think that person who’d be the betrayer . The bad guy was a Baddie, lol.

I encourage everyone to get this one and read it. He all you’re in luck a blogging comrade has got Phil for a interview and giveaway on her blog Realm of fiction

Eagerly awaiting book two called Tribulation of the trilogy and wishing Phil all the best with his family, baby son and his writing goals

Thanks Philip for this review copy and this is 100 % honest review


Songs that fit perfectly with this book and they do generate a atmosphere

fits with the entire novel

(I imagined Sam trudging along, alone in the desolate wasteland)



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ps , hint go   to realm of fiction for the giveaway