Review: The Deep - Rivers Solomon, Daveed Diggs, William Hutson & Jonathan Snipes

The water-breathing descendants of African slave women tossed overboard have built their own underwater society-and must reclaim the memories of their past to shape their future in this brilliantly imaginative novella inspired by the Hugo Award-nominated song "The Deep" from Daveed Diggs's rap group clipping.

Yetu holds the memories for her people-water-dwelling descendants of pregnant African slave women thrown overboard by slave owners-who live idyllic lives in the deep. Their past, too traumatic to be remembered regularly, is forgotten by everyone, save one-the historian. This demanding role has been bestowed on Yetu.

Yetu remembers for everyone, and the memories, painful and wonderful, traumatic and terrible and miraculous, are destroying her. And so, she flees to the surface, escaping the memories, the expectations, and the responsibilities-and discovers a world her people left behind long ago.

Yetu will learn more than she ever expected to about her own past-and about the future of her people. If they are all to survive, they'll need to reclaim the memories, reclaim their identity-and own who they really are.

Inspired by a song produced by the rap group Clipping for the This American Life episode "We Are In The Future," The Deep is vividly original and uniquely affecting.

Visit Rivers Solomon's website for more information

Review:
It's not often that I read a book as powerful as The Deep and I've struggled for a long time to write this review because honestly I just don't have the right words to do it justice. Rivers Solomon tackles such emotive and heartbreaking topics in this story where descendants of African women, who were often heavily pregnant at the time, were throw overboard from the slave ships and left to drown but some of them actually survived and went on to create their own underwater utopian society. As a people they have a past full of trauma and to save themselves from constantly reliving the pain of their ancestors they choose one of their members to become the historian.

Yetu is the current historian and that means she holds the memories of her entire people so that the rest of the Wajinru can live their lives in peace. Once a year a ceremony called The Remembering is held so that the others can briefly experience the memories but the rest of the time Yetu alone is responsible for shouldering the heavy burden. These memories are painful and Yetu is constantly reliving the traumatic events her ancestors experienced so it's no wonder her own mental health is suffering.

I honestly don't want to say any more about what happens to Yetu during the story so I'm going to focus on how powerful the writing was and how quickly I was drawn into this world. I think it's so important to think about how racial history can leave a very real emotional toll for generations but also how important that cultural identity is for people to feel a connection with their past. Yetu lives with very real and damaging memories of Wajinru who lost their lives after years of suffering but she also remembers all the good things they experienced too which helps balance out the story and leaves you with a sense of hope.

Rivers Solomon was inspired to write this story after listening to the song The Deep written by David Diggs and his rap group Clipping. You can listen to the song on YouTube and I'd highly recommend it because it really sets the tone for the story.



Source: Received from the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review

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Review: The Navigator's Touch - Julia Ember

After invaders destroyed her village, murdered her family, and took her prisoner, shield-maiden Ragna is hungry for revenge. A trained warrior, she is ready to fight for her home, but with only a mermaid and a crew of disloyal mercenaries to aid her, Ragna knows she needs new allies. Guided by the magical maps on her skin, battling storms and mutiny, Ragna sets sail across the Northern Sea.

She petitions the Jarl in Skjordal for aid, but despite Ragna’s rank and fighting ability, the Jarl sees only a young girl, too inexperienced to lead, unworthy of help. To prove herself to the Jarl and win her crew’s respect, Ragna undertakes a dangerous expedition. But when forced to decide between her own freedom and the fate of her crew, what will she sacrifice to save what’s left of her home?

Inspired by Norse mythology and J.M. Barrie’s Peter Pan, this companion novel to The Seafarer’s Kiss is a tale of vengeance, valor, honor, and redemption.

Seafarer's Duology:
The Seafarer's Kiss
The Navigator's Touch

Visit Julia Ember's website for more information.

Review:
The Navigator's Touch is a companion novel to The Seafarer's Kiss rather than a direct sequel, those who have already read the first book will be familiar with some of the characters but you could start with this book without getting lost. Ragna was the shield-maiden who rescued Ersel in the first book but this instalment is really her story, it starts before The Seafarer's Kiss then there is a small amount of crossover before it continues on past events we've already read about. We get to find out more about her childhood, what happened when her village was attacked, how she lost her hand and see if she manages to get revenge on the people who wronged her.

I love the way Julia Ember has used Norse Mythology for the base of this series, then the first book is her take on The Little Mermaid story while this one is more of an origin story for Captain Hook from Peter Pan, with a female Hook which just makes it even better! Ragna is a brilliant character, all her life she dreamed of becoming a warrior so it's something she trained hard for but when her village is attacked and she is captured by her enemy she has to use those skills to make her escape. She is absolutely consumed by her need for revenge which makes her come across as quite a hard character in the beginning, she is utterly ruthless and even when she manages to get her own ship she doesn't trust her men because they are all mercenaries.

What I really enjoyed was seeing how much Ragna changed and grew throughout the story as she slowly learned how to be a better leader, one who inspired loyalty through her actions rather than by fear. Ragna does treat Ersel quite badly in the beginning but she comes to realise how she affects the people around her and she does try to make amends for her bad behaviour.

Once again this story has a diverse cast of characters, there is an FF relationship and gender neutral characters who are just normal members of the group and not treated like they're there as part of a box ticking exercise. We are introduced to all kinds of creatures from Norse legends too which I really enjoyed.

The Navigator's Touch was everything I had hoped it would be and a wonderful companion to The Seafarer's Kiss, I already mentioned that you can read these books in any order and I'm very happy to recommend both to fans of mythology and retellings.

Source: Received from Interlude Press in exchange for an honest review

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Review: To Kill a Kingdom - Alexandra Christo

Dark and romantic YA fantasy for fans of Sarah J Maas - about the siren with a taste for royal blood and the prince who has sworn to destroy her.

Princess Lira is siren royalty and the most lethal of them all.

With the hearts of seventeen princes in her collection, she is revered across the sea. Until a twist of fate forces her to kill one of her own. To punish her daughter, the Sea Queen transforms Lira into the one thing they loathe most - a human. Robbed of her song, Lira has until the winter solstice to deliver Prince Elian's heart to the Sea Queen or remain a human forever.

The ocean is the only place Prince Elian calls home, even though he is heir to the most powerful kingdom in the world. Hunting sirens is more than an unsavoury hobby - it's his calling. When he rescues a drowning woman in the ocean, she's more than what she appears. She promises to help him find the key to destroying all of sirenkind for good.

But can he trust her? And just how many deals will Elian have to barter to eliminate mankind's greatest enemy?

Visit Alexandra Christo's website for more information

Review:
To Kill a Kingdom was a really enjoyable dark retelling of The Little Mermaid and an impressive debut from Alexandra Christo. Lira is a siren princess, daughter of the Sea Queen she has earned the nickname Prince's Bane because she has killed so many princes and stolen their hearts. She's fierce and bloodthirsty and our introduction to her was one of my favourite opening lines in a book ever:

I have a heart for every year I’ve been alive. There are seventeen hidden in the sand of my bedroom. Every so often, I claw through the shingle, just to check they’re still there. Buried deep and bloody.

Lira's life is turned upside down when she accidentally saves the life of Prince Elian rather than killing him and her mother punishes her by turning her human. Elian isn't your average prince, in fact he is a pirate who has made it his mission in life to rid the world of sirens and who particularly wants to kill the Prince's Bane. He has another great introduction:

Technically, I’m a murderer, but I like to think that’s one of my better qualities.

I already knew only 3 chapters in that I was going to love this story! I really enjoyed the world that Alexandra Christo has created and I loved the depth she gave her characters. Both Lira and Elian have done things that they aren't proud of, Elian with the goal of protecting his people and Lira because she has been damaged by her mother's cruelty. These are two characters who should be on the opposite sides of the ongoing war between their species but they both want to find a way to bring peace and save the people they care about.

I love seeing characters grow and change and we get a lot of that in To Kill a Kingdom, we also get a lot of action and some really fun battles with all kinds of sea creatures. Theres even a hint of romance but I appreciated that it didn't overtake the rest of the story and it was very much a slow build as the characters got to know each other. I really enjoyed this story and I'm definitely going to be keeping an eye on this author in the future, I can't wait to see what she comes up with next.

Source: Received from publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

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Review: The Mermaid - Christina Henry

Once there was a fisherman who lived on a cold and rocky coast and was never able to convince any woman to come away and live in that forbidding place with him. One evening he pulled up his net and found a woman in it. A woman with black hair and eyes as grey as a stormy sea and a gleaming fish's tail instead of legs.

The storm in her eyes rolled into his heart. She stopped her thrashing and crashing at his voice, though she did not understand his words. But her eyes had seen inside of him, and his loneliness caught her more surely than the net. So she stayed with him, and loved him, though he grew old, and she did not.

Remarks of this strange and unusual woman travelled from village to village and town to town, until they reached the ears of a man whose business was in the selling of the strange and unusual.

His name was P.T. Barnum, and he d been looking for a mermaid.

Visit Christina Henry's website for more information.

Review:
When I first heard about The Mermaid I kind of assumed that it would be a retelling of The Little Mermaid but with Christina Henry's own twist on the story but I was pleasantly surprised to find out that wasn't the case. Instead the author has come up with something uniquely her own, loosely based on PT Barnum's American Museum and the Feejee Mermaid he displayed there.

This book starts with the mermaid Amelia falling in love with a human fisherman but after a loving lifetime together the main story actually kicks off after Jack has died of old age. Amelia is kind of lost without the man she adored, not sure if she'll be welcomed back amongst her own kind she instead decides she'd like to swim to New York and explore more of the human world. Once there she meets PT Barnum and before she really understands what she has agreed to she finds herself on display in his museum.

Life in New York is totally different to anything Amelia has ever faced before and Christina Henry does a fantastic job of showing how wearying it is for her to be constantly under the spotlight with the eyes of the world looking on. Barnum is a conman who is more interested in his profit margin than the safety and happiness of his exhibits but his business partner Levi tries to look after Amelia's best interests.

I loved the mix of real historical figures (although the author does admit that her versions are only marginally similar to the originals) and places with the fantastical idea of a real mermaid being on display. This was really Amelia's tale though, a story about her finding her place in the world and refusing to conform to society's expectations for her. Add in a hint of romance and a satisfying ending and Christina Henry has picked up a new fan in me - I'm definitely looking forward to making a start on her backlist!

Source: Received from Titan Books in exchange for an honest review

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Review: Marine Biology - Gail Carriger

A short tale of seduction, selkies, and sushi.

Alex is a werewolf with problems – he’s unexpectedly alive, he’s quite definitely gay, and he’s been ordered into a partnership with one very flirty merman.

In this LBGTQ sweet short love story, New York Times bestselling author Gail Carriger brings her comedic voice to contemporary fiction and m/m romance. Prequel to The Sumage Solution.

Delicate Sensibilities?

Contains confused lovelorn werewolves and very pretty ex-Goth mermen who are exclusively interested in each other. May also contain fish, Irish mafia, and a shocking lack of tea.

(11,000 words ~ 43 pages) First published in The Mammoth Book of Paranormal Romance 2 (2010).

San Andreas Shifters Series:
Marine Biology (Short Story)
The Sumage Solution

Visit Gail Carriger's website for more information

Review:
Marine biologist Alex is a werewolf with secrets and the fact that he's gay is the least of them. He just doesn't fit in with the other werewolves in his pack and that makes life extremely difficult for him. They don't understand his love of fish over steak and he's never going to enjoy drinking and partying the way they all do. When the wolves are approached by some merfolk who need help investigating the illegal activities of the selkie mafia Alex is given the job of liaison. His family are hoping he'll fall for the beautiful mermaid Giselle but Alex is much more interested in her brother Marvin.

This was a really fun short story full of Gail Carriger's trademark witty banter and plenty of humorous flirting between Alex and Marvin. As a short story this didn't have much time to flesh out the characters but I thought they made a really cute couple even if I did want to spend more time getting to know them. Marine Biology works well as an introduction to the main characters but I'm glad that future books will be longer because I think this just needed a bit more page time to really give the characters a chance to shine.

Source: Purchased

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Review: The Seafarer's Kiss - Julia Ember

Having long wondered what lives beyond the ice shelf, nineteen-year-old mermaid Ersel learns of the life she wants when she rescues and befriends Ragna, a shield-maiden stranded on the merfolk’s fortress. But when Ersel’s childhood friend and suitor catches them together, he gives Ersel a choice: Say goodbye to Ragna or face justice at the hands of the glacier’s brutal king.

Determined to forge a different fate, Ersel seeks help from the divine Loki. But such deals are never straightforward, and the outcome sees her exiled from the only home and protection she’s known. To save herself from perishing in the barren, underwater wasteland and be reunited with the human she’s come to love, Ersel must try to outsmart the God of Lies.

Seafarer's Duology:
The Seafarer's Kiss
The Navigator's Touch

Visit Julia Ember's website for more information.

Review:
Nineteen year old mermaid Ersel just wants to be free, she longs to escape from the merfolk fortress and explore the world. For years she made plans with her childhood friend Havamal but then he betrayed her by joining the king's guard and she's now more alone than ever before. When she finds Ragna, a human girl who was stranded on the glacier after her boat sunk, Ersel's dreams begin to change but if she doesn't make her escape soon she may never get the chance.

The Seafarer's Kiss is a bisexual retelling of The Little Mermaid with added Norse mythology thrown in for good measure and I enjoyed every minute of it. I guess I should probably confess that I've never seen the Disney version of the Little Mermaid so I can't compare it to the animation but I did have a book of the story as a child and there were enough similarities in this story for me to easily see the connection. It isn't a full retelling though, it uses the original story as inspiration and then goes off in it's own direction. Adding in Norse mythology was a genius idea and I especially loved that Loki was described as having both male and female attributes - their form changes every time we see them and they are only ever described in gender neutral terms. Its so rare to come across non binary characters in YA (although if you're looking for more I'd happily recommend Laura Lam's Micha Grey series which has an intersex main character) and there is also a lesbian romance so the diversity included is brilliant.

The world Ersel lives in is very patriarchal, the king is a tyrant and due to dwindling births the women are prized mainly for their fertility. When they come of age the mermaids attend a Grading ceremony where they find out how fertile they are and then the mermen fight over who they want to mate. Once mated the mermaids are pretty much kept in seclusion while they protect the eggs and try to hatch young and Ersel can't imagine anything worse than being trapped inside the fortress forever more. I really loved Havamal's character, especially in the beginning. It's obvious that he loves Ersel and wants to protect her but their dreams are so different that they could never be happy together. I was really angry when he forced her into a horrible situation but thankfully he redeemed himself later on and I'd be quite happy to read another book set in this world so we could see him get his own happily ever after.

The world building was really well done and I enjoyed Ersel and Ragna's romance. I'll admit it all happens a little quickly because this is a fairly short novel so there were times when I think it would have been even better if the story had been expanded, especially towards the end of the book. I really wanted to know what happened at the fortress while Ersel was in seclusion but the story just jumped ahead several weeks. I also thought we could have done with seeing Ersel and Ragna spend a little more time together to make their romance fully believable. If I have one complaint it was about the physical violence between the two near the end though, I didn't think it added anything to the story, in fact it soured their romance a little because there wasn't time for the issue to be fully addressed. I get that it was only one incident but they both take a swing at each other and blood is drawn so that is a major warning sign in any relationship.

Overall I really enjoyed this story though, it was a unique spin on the Little Mermaid and it kept me interested from beginning to end. I'll definitely be watching out for more from this author in the future and I need to pick up a copy of her debut Unicorn Tracks too.

Source: Received from Interlude Press in exchange for an honest review

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Review: The Fisherman's Net - Laura Lam

Untold centuries ago, the Archipelago was ruled by the Alder—mysterious beings who vanished, leaving behind only scattered artefacts of unknown power, called Vestige. Sometimes, a person will be lucky or unlucky enough to discover that each piece of Vestige has its own tale to tell…

The Fisherman’s Net

A humble fisherman in a village of the coast of the island of Linde buys a trinket at the market, which he discovers is Vestige. The poor man soon becomes the best fisherman in the village and marvels at his newfound wealth. One day, he ensnares a most unusual catch: a Chimaera sea maiden that isn’t meant to exist. And he’s not sure if he can let her go.

Vestigial Tales are stories set in the world of the award-winning Micah Grey series. Step behind the circus ring from Pantomime, the theatre of Shadowplay, and more…

Micha Grey Series:
Pantomime
Shadowplay
Masquerade

Vestigial Tales:
(Series of short stories set in the same world as the Micha Grey series)
The Snake Charm
The Fisherman's Net
The Tarot Reader
The Card Sharp
The Mechanical Minotaur

Visit Laura Lam's website for more information.

Review:
Laura Lam's Vestigial Tales are short stories set in the same world as her Micha Grey trilogy and give us some insight into some of the Vestige artefacts that were left behind when the Alder vanished. The Fisherman's Net doesn't feature any characters from the other series so works well as a standalone and can be read at any point wether you've read the Micha Grey books or not.

This was a much shorter story than The Snake Charm but as it's told more like an original fable the shorter length worked really well. The Fisherman's Net is the story of a man who finds a magic net that helps him become the wealthiest fisherman in his village. You'll have to read it for yourself to find out whether he puts that wealth to good use or if greed takes him down a dangerous path.

This is the kind of story that Micha and Dustin would have had read to them as children and I really enjoyed getting a further glimpse into their world.

Source: Received as part of a preorder giveaway from the author

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Review: The Merman's Quest - Tamsin Ley

A FREE Exclusive story for subscribers of Tamsin Ley's newsletter (sign up here http://mates4monsters.com).

A merman's mate-bond is for life... or is it?

Find out how a sexy merman with a death-curse overcomes his fate in this Mates for Monsters short story.

Mates for Monsters Series:
The Merman's Kiss
The Merman's Quest (Free story for subscribing to the author's newsletter)

Visit Tamsin Ley's website for more information

Review:
The Merman's Quest is a free short story you can get by signing up for Tamsin Ley's newsletter on her website. You can read the story if you've not read any of the author's books but personally I'd recommend reading it after The Merman's Kiss, especially if you were left with questions about Zantu's brother Rubac.

I'm glad that the author decided to give us some closure on Rubac's story, in the previous book his story left off with him being held captive and close to death thanks to his evil mate. I was a little disappointed that this story picks up a while later, his mate is dead (but we don't know how) and Rubac is trying to find a way to destroy his mate bond so that he doesn't die like she did. I think we could use a little more information on exactly how the mate bond works so that the stories make more sense but I was pleased to find out he'd escaped captivity.

I don't want to say too much about his plans to remove his mate bond but his quest brings him into contact with a marine biologist who is out on the ocean searching for a rare kind of dolphin. Things escalate very quickly between the pair and the story is a bit disjointed where there are big leaps in time trying to cover a reasonable length of time but both of those things are fairly understandable considering this is a short story. I liked the way things ended for the couple even if I did find their romance a little eyeball rolling worthy at times. The biggest disappointments were that we didn't get to spend much time in Rubac's underwater world and we didn't see any of his young child Ebby (who had been with him when he was taken prisoner!). This was explained in a brief sentence but I was really hoping for more than we got. I'm very glad we weren't left completely hanging though!

Source: Free short story received by signing up for the author's newsletter

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Review: The Merman's Kiss - Tamsin Ley

Even monsters need a mate.

After the death of her child, Brianna seeks to end her life within the ocean’s final embrace. Instead, she falls into the arms of a sexy, sleek-tailed monster. He’s wild, seductive, and sets her blood on fire every time he touches her, and soon she begins to need him for more than his magic to breathe underwater. He might just give her a new reason to live.

Zantu has evaded the mate-bond for thirty-five years, dodging promiscuous mermaids with vile intents. Unlike mermaids, mermen bond for life, and Zantu refuses to accept the heartbreak most mermen die of. That is, until the glint of gold catches his eye, and a simple salvage mission turns to passion. Now he’s bonded to a human, and begins to wonder if bonding to the right mate might not be so bad. The problem? A finless female won’t live long among the dangers of the sea.

Now Zantu must choose between keeping her at his side, and keeping her safe. Either way, he’s sure he’ll end up with a broken heart.

Content Warning: Explicit love scenes, dangerous mermaids, and sexy merman secrets. Intended for mature audiences.

Mates for Monsters Series:
The Merman's Kiss
The Merman's Quest (Free story for subscribing to the author's newsletter)

Visit Tamsin Ley's website for more information

Review:
When Brianna tries to end her life by stepping off the end of the pier she immediately regrets her choice, unfortunately she tied weights around her waist and now she can't get free to rise to the surface. When she's rescued by a mysterious Merman she's not sure if she's hallucinating because she's drowning or whether she's already dead but it turns out he's claimed her as his mate and now he wants her to stay in his underwater world with him.

I'm really torn about how to rate this book, if I'm comparing it to monster porn it looks pretty good (probably because I'm comparing it to the likes of Passion of the T-Rex or Cum for Bigfoot which were both truly horrendous!) but it reads more like a traditional paranormal romance and in that category it doesn't hold up anywhere near as well. It's not a bad book by any stretch of the imagination and it's been decently edited which is a bonus but there are themes I found problematic and there were some definite eye rolling moments, particularly at the beginning.

My first issue was a couple of pages in when we see Brianna try to kill herself. She immediately changes her mind and tries to remove the weights she tied to her waist to make sure she sank to the bottom of the ocean. Of course she doesn't manage to remove the weights but she does manage to strip off all her clothes "accidentally" in the process. Which actually comes in pretty handy for her when she's nearly dead and a stranger grabs her from behind. She's literally about to pass out from lack of oxygen when merman Zantu appears, he kisses her to somehow magically give her the ability to breathe underwater and in that very moment all she can think about is how horny she is so she ends up jumping him. Yes, you heard that right, she's seconds from death and her first thought is "yay lets have sex with this hot merman". Talk about insta-lust. Especially since having sex triggers Zantu's mating bond!

My biggest problem was probably to do with the way all of the mermaids were portrayed though. Literally every single mermaid was an evil slut who would sleep around with anyone, they took great pleasure in trying to make the mermen bond with them but then enjoyed being unfaithful even more. The mermen were the ones who stayed home and looked after the kids (most of which probably weren't even their own!) and since they could only bond with one woman they literally end up dying of broken hearts from watching their mates sleep around with other men. I get trying to switch up gender roles but why do women constantly have to put other women down? Why do all the mermaids have to be evil? Why are all the mermen nice? I just don't see the need for that and it actually makes me angry.

Once we get past the first couple of chapters I actually enjoyed the story more, I liked both Brianna and Zantu and I enjoyed meeting his brother Rubac and little Ebby. I think if the book had focused more on developing the characters and letting them spend time getting to know each other rather than rushing their first sexual encounter I'd have enjoyed it much more. I liked the description of Zantu's underwater world, the home he had made and his way of life was well described and easy to picture. The playful fish and other sea creatures added a nice element too. A few little random things threw me out of the story on occasion though like the way Brianna kept describing how things smelt. I'm sorry but even if you've developed the ability to breathe water you're not going to be able to smell things at the bottom of the ocean!

The ending also felt a little rushed, I wanted to see more of how things worked out for Brianna and Zantu (perhaps an epilogue would have helped there) and I was really upset that we didn't find out what happened with Rubac and Ebby. I've since discovered that you can get a free short story called The Merman's Quest by signing up for the author's newsletter and from the brief description on her website it sounds like this might be Rubac's story so hopefully my questions will be answered here. So I didn't love this book as much as I could have but its the author's debut novel and it had potential. I'm definitely going to be reading the short story in the hope of getting answers and I would consider trying the next full length book in the series to see if the author's writing has improved.

Source: Received from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

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Review: Wickedly Wonderful - Deborah Blake

Known as the wicked witch of Russian fairy tales, Baba Yaga is not one woman, but rather a title carried by a chosen few. They keep the balance of nature and guard the borders of our world, but don’t make the mistake of crossing one of them . . .

Though she looks like a typical California surfer girl, Beka Yancy is in fact a powerful yet inexperienced witch who’s struggling with her duties as a Baba Yaga. Luckily she has her faithful dragon-turned-dog for moral support, especially when faced with her biggest job yet . . .

A mysterious toxin is driving the Selkie and Mer from their homes deep in the trenches of Monterey Bay. To investigate, Beka buys her way onto the boat of Marcus Dermott, a battle-scarred former U.S. Marine, and his ailing fisherman father.

While diving for clues, Beka drives Marcus crazy with her flaky New Age ideas and dazzling blue eyes. She thinks he’s rigid and cranky (and way too attractive). Meanwhile, a charming Selkie prince has plans that include Beka. Only by trusting her powers can Beka save the underwater races, pick the right man, and choose the path she’ll follow for the rest of her life . . .

Baba Yaga Series:
Wickedly Magical (Novella)
Wickedly Dangerous
Wickedly Wonderful
Wickedly Ever After (Novella)
Wickedly Powerful

Visit Deborah Blake's website for more information

Review:
Wickedly Wonderful is the story of Beka, the youngest of the three Baba Yaga witches currently residing in America. She has less experience than her fellow Babas and has much less confidence in her abilities thanks to the way she was treated by her predecessor but that doesn't stop her jumping in to help when the selkies and merpeople are forced to leave their homes due to a strange poison that is making them sick. The seafolk have been forced to leave everything behind in search of safe water and Beka is going to have her work cut out trying to figure out what is going on.

Marcus is an ex-Marine who has returned home and is helping his father run his fishing boat but the mysterious poison is affecting all sea life and all of the local fishermen are all struggling to make a living. Marcus is trying to convince his father to sell up so he can move away but the old man is stubborn and refuses to quit. Anyway, the last thing Marcus needs is a new age hippy like Beka hanging around but his father needs the money she is offering and agrees to take her out on the boat so she can carry out research.

In a lot of ways Beka and Marcus are complete opposites but they both have strong protective instincts and they're both prepared to do whatever it takes to protect the people they care about. Beka has to keep her true reason for being out on the boat a secret but it isn't long before Marcus gets suspicious and starts putting two and two together. Once he is onboard with the investigation things start to move a lot quicker but Beka has several people working against her trying to stop her getting to the bottom of things.

I had mixed feelings about the first book in this series, I love the way Deborah Blake has put her own spin on the Baba Yaga mythology and she's really brought the witches into the 21st century while still liking it through to the original stories but I felt a bit disappointed by the romance and think I'd have enjoyed the story more if there had been a bigger focus on the mystery. I'm happy to say I liked Wickedly Wonderful more, Beka was easier to relate to than her sister Barbara and I definitely felt more invested in the relationship between Beka and Marcus. They fit together really well and I liked how they started as enemies before becoming reluctant allies and eventually more. I also enjoyed the mystery side more in this book, it was a little too obvious who the bad guys were which is why this didn't quite hit 4 stars for me though. Either way this series is definitely improving and I'm looking forward to spending time with the third Baba, Bella, in the next book.

Source: Purchased

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Review: Elysian Fields - Suzanne Johnson

New Orleans is under attack from a copycat who is mimicking the crimes of a serial killer who terrorised the streets almost a century earlier.

Drusilla Jaco could happily live without the advances of the 200-year-old undead pirate Jean Lafitte, but through him she learns the terrible truth: this is no copycat - someone has resurrected the original Axeman of New Orleans, And to make matters worse, the attacks aren't random at all. He's after her.

So there's an undead serial killer on her back. A loup-garou who's going loco. The Elders are insisting on magic lessons from the world's most annoying wizard. And former partner - and sometime Neanderthal - Alex Warin has just turned up on DJ's to-do list.

DJ is about to discover that life in Louisiana has more twists and turns than the mighty Mississippi.

Sentinels of New Orleans Series:
Royal Street
River Road
Elysian Fields

Visit Suzanne Johnson's website for more information

Review:
DJ finds herself up against her most challenging enemy yet when an axe murderer starts claiming victims all over New Orleans. This isn't just any old murderer though, it's one of the historical undead and he's back to carry on the killing spree he started nearly 100 years ago. As if that wasn't bad enough it looks like DJ is his next target. Can she figure out who is behind his sudden reappearance and why they have sent him after her? She doesn't just have a killer to catch though, she also has the elven Synod to deal with and they aren't happy that their ancient staff has bonded to her.

I really enjoyed both of the previous books in this series so I couldn't wait to start reading Elysian Fields and I'm happy to say it was the best instalment yet. There are so many different plot threads going on in this story which made it faster paced and even more action packed than the previous books. We finally see DJ pick between the three men in her life, I'm not going to tell you who she chooses but I will say I was very happy with the outcome. We should know better than to expect DJ's love life to ever be free of complications though and it isn't long before someone throws a major spanner in the works. I'm not sure that I'm particularly happy about the latest development but it is certainly going to have huge implications for the rest of the series and I'll be very interested to see how things play out!

I really enjoyed getting to learn more about the elves in this book, they've been very much on the sidelines in the series so far but they definitely have a more central role to play this time around. The elves are a very secretive race who generally keep themselves to themselves and avoid the rest of the preternatural population but since finding out that DJ has bonded with one of their ancient staffs they have been watching her. They aren't happy to have one of their powerful weapons in the hands of a wizard no matter how much elvish blood is running through DJ's veins. The elves make for powerful enemies and I'm sure that DJ hasn't seen the last of them yet, in fact I suspect that they are going to be a major part of the series going onwards.

Elysian Fields is a fantastic, fast paced, edge of your seat thrill ride that will have you hooked from beginning to end. I can't wait to see how things play out and the next book will definitely be at the top of my to read pile the moment it's released. If you haven't started the series yet then I would recommend reading the books in order but it's such a fun series and I'm sure you'll enjoy it. Fans of the previous two books are just going to love reading about DJ's latest adventures.

Source: Received from Headline in exchange for an honest review

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Review: River Road - Suzanne Johnson

The hurricane may have passed, but in New Orleans the storm rages on.

With the borders between the city and the otherworld in ruins, new and dangerous species have swarmed into the waterways. There is talk of war between rival clans in the darkest depths of Louisiana's swamps and it falls to wizard sentinel Drusilla Jaco and her partner, Alex Warin, to keep the peace.

When wizards start dying and it becomes apparent that the waters of the mighty Mississippi itself have been poisoned, DJ will have to really focus if she is to find out who - or what - is responsible. And with an undead suitor, the amorous pirate Jean Lafitte, on her back that isn't going to be easy . . .

It's anything but smooth sailing in the bayou as the Sentinels of New Orleans series continues.

Sentinels of New Orleans Series:
Royal Street
River Road
Elysian Fields

Visit Suzanne Johnson's website for more information

Review:
Three years on from the hurricane that devastated New Orleans and brought down the boarders between here and the otherworld wizard and Sentinel DJ is still trying to keep things running smoothly between the pretes (preternatural creatures) and the humans who have no idea of their existence. Along with her partner and fellow Sentinel Alex it is up to DJ to keep the humans in the dark and make sure the pretes don't get out of control so when the poison in the Mississippi threatens to cause a war between two different clans of merfolk they must work quickly to keep the peace. Add in the mysterious murder of a group of wizards and things are about to get even more complicated.

I have to admit that I was a little confused by the 3 year time jump from the end of Royal Street to the beginning of River Road, it took me a chapter or two to get my bearings but it didn't take long to realise how much sense it made. If the story had carried on directly it would have been hard not to focus on the aftermath of Katrina and the rebuilding of New Orleans and that would have taken the focus away from DJ's role as Sentinel. Although New Orleans hasn't been rebuilt to it's former glory at the time this story takes place enough of the rebuilding work has been completed that Suzanne Johnson is able to concentrate on the effects of the boarders between here and the otherworld being broken down.

As much as I enjoyed Royal Street there were a few things that irritated me, the main one being the love square that was forming between DJ, shapshifter Alex, Historical Undead pirate Jean Lafitte and Alex's cousin Jake. Although that square is definitely still in place I found myself enjoying it so much more in River Road, probably because it wasn't so much the main focus of the story. I have actually developed a little bit of a crush on all three of the men in DJ's life so I can understand why she is having difficulty figuring out her feelings - I do know which team I'm on though and after the way things ended I have high hopes that my favourite Alex is going to start pushing DJ for more in the next book! Each of the guys bring something different to the table though so it will be interesting to see which one manages to win DJ's heart, especially when she is working so hard to resist all of them because she is so afraid of losing yet another person that she loves.

The main focus of River Road is definitely on the different pretes and how they all interact with each other though. We get to find out a lot more about the Wizards and how they ended up pretty much taking charge of the other preternatural beings. Sentinels basically act as the supernatural police force so we get to see a lot more of Alex and DJ working together as they try to uncover who is behind poisoning the river. It was nice to see how well the pair of them get along now, after a rocky start they have become best friends and I really enjoyed the way they banter with each other but always have each others backs. It was good to see a few new species introduced into the series - you have the two different clans of merfolk, some highly sexed nymphs and we even get our first (but I have a feeling not our last!) elf sighting!

The Sentinels of New Orleans is developing into a fantastic urban fantasy series and one that I'm incredibly excited about continuing. I would recommend reading the series in order but as this is only the second book you have plenty of time to catch up before Elysian Fields is published sometime next year (I wasn't able to find a publishing date yet). If you like your urban fantasy full of drama, action and fun characters with snappy dialogue, great banter and just a hint of romance then you should be adding this to your to read list. If you enjoyed Royal Street then you're going to love River Road even more, Suzanne Johnson has definitely added her name to my must read list of authors after this one!

Source: Received from Amazon Vine in exchange for an honest review

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Review: Tempest Rising - Tracy Deebs

Tempest Maguire wants nothing more than to surf the killer waves near her Californian home and hang out with her boyfriend.  But Tempest is half mermaid and, as her seventeenth birthday approaches, she will have to decide if she really does want to stay on land or if she wants to give herself to the ocean like her mother did before her.

When she meets Kona, a gorgeous surfer whose uncanny abilities also hint at an other-worldly life, the lure of the sea becomes too strong and Tempest finds herself in the midst of a battle for survival.  The entire ocean's future hangs in the balance.

Is she brave enough, and strong enough, to help save everything?

Tempest Series:
Tempest Rising
Tempest Unleashed (2012)

Visit Tracy Deebs' website for more information

Review:
Tempest is fast approaching her seventeenth birthday but unlike most teenagers she isn't looking forward to celebrating.  As a half mermaid she knows she will be faced with a difficult decision - will she chose to stay on land with her family and friends or will she pick life in the ocean, abandoning her family just like her mother did six years ago?

I've read a few mermaid books this year and have enjoyed the different takes on mermaid mythology and the various underwater worlds that the authors have created.  Although I enjoyed Tempest Rising I don't think it was as strong as some of the other books I've read.  I'll have to warn you there will probably be a few minor spoilers in my review because I can't explain what I didn't like about it without giving some information.

My main problem was that I didn't really like the main character Tempest.  At first we meet a very laid back girl who is obsessed with surfing with her friends and boyfriend but who also cares deeply for her family and has helped raise her younger brothers since their mother deserted them six years ago.  Tempest obviously has issues since being abandoned by her mother and I really felt for her when she was worrying about the decision she needed to make for her own future.  She didn't want to be someone else who abandoned her family and left them heartbroken.  I even forgave her for the way she was so mean to her boyfriend Mark because she had so much going on.  Poor Mark has been her on again, off again (but mostly on) boyfriend for two and a half years and they are supposedly madly in love but she treats him appallingly.  For example, Tempest nearly drowns in a surfing accident, she is saved by Mark and then when he shows that he is concerned about her she gets really angry with him and refuses to talk to him.  Well excuse Mark for being a nice boyfriend - I guess you'd prefer him not to care that you nearly died!

Then Kona comes on the scene, the mysterious (but oh so hot) surfer that appears from nowhere and disappears just the same.  Tempest is so in love with her boyfriend Mark that she of course is immediately drawn to Kona and seems to completely forget that Mark even exists.  Kona obviously knows about her supernatural abilities and the choice she has to make but absolutely refuses to tell her anything which must make him completely trustworthy and just adds to the attraction (you'll have to forgive my sarcasm).  So when Kona disappears it makes perfect sense for Tempest (who previously was determined never to abandon her family) to follow him without a second thought.

Now I absolutely hate a cheater so when Tempest hooks up with Kona despite the fact that she is still dating Mark that immediately gets my back up.  As nice as Kona is and as much as they are obviously meant to be together I don't care about either of them anymore and am not interested in their relationship.  What made it even worse was the way the author tried to justify Tempest's actions.  When Tempest returns nobody knows that she has been unfaithful but her friends are happy to tell her that Mark has been looking at another girl.  So although Mark hasn't cheated and Tempest has it is Mark who looks like the bad guy and Tempest doesn't bother to put anyone right.  In fact she just makes herself feel better by letting Mark off the hook, telling him that it's ok if he wants to be with someone else & that they're better off as just friends.  I was about ready to throw the book at that point so don't even get me started on the ending.  I'm not going to spoil it by telling you what happens but it irritated the heck out of me.

As much as I've complained about the book I did really like the underwater world that Tracy Deebs has created, the mythology around the mermaids, their history and the enemy that Tempest has to face were all really interesting and were what kept me reading.  The action scenes are well written, the author was able to play on my heart strings and I did feel for Tempest before she started two timing Mark.  I actually really liked Kona too, just not the way Tempest's relationship with Mark wasn't resolved before she got together with him.  So despite the problems I'd still say it is worth giving Tempest Rising a try if you're looking for a mermaid story and I probably will pick up the sequel when it comes out next year.

Source: I was given this book by my lovely friend Kirsty from The Overflowing Library

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Review: Forgive My Fins - Tera Lynn Childs

Unrequited love is hard enough when you're a normal teenager, but when you're half-human, half-mermaid, like Lily Sanderson, there's no such thing as a simple crush.  Especially when your crush is gorgeous (and 100% human) Brody Bennett.

The problem is, mermaids aren't the casual dating type - the instant they kiss someone, they 'bond' with them for life.  When Lily's attempt to win Brody's love leads to an ginormous case of mistaken identity, she finds herself facing a tidal wave of relationship drama.

Fins Series:
Forgive My Fins
Fins Are Forever (April 2012)
There is currently no title available for the 3rd book in the series but I understand it will be released sometime in 2012

Check out Tera Lynn Childs' website for more information

Review:
Lily is a half-mermaid princess who is spending time living with her her human aunt before she returns home to Thalassinia to take her place in her father's court.  She is hoping to find her mermate and take him home with her, in fact she is pretty sure she has already found him - she just needs to tell Brody the truth about who and what she is.  When Quince, the irritating boy next door, offers to help her catch her dream guy things end up going horribly wrong and she ends up bonded to him by mistake.  Now she just has to persuade her father to break the bond with Quince so she can claim Brody once and for all.

I have to admit I wasn't too sure what to expect from Forgive My Fins, I won a copy and haven't read many stories about mermaids so decided to give it a try.  I have to say I'm glad I did and I'll definitely be picking up a copy of the sequel Fins Are Forever when it comes out next year.  This was was a fun, light hearted and easy read, perfect for when you want something that isn't too serious.

I loved Lily's use of oceanic terminology instead of swear words - oh carp and damselfish were some of my favourites but there are many more throughout the story.  It gave the story and Lily's voice a more authentic feel and I loved the descriptions of Thalassinia, I'm becoming quite taken with the idea of secret underwater worlds.  Lily is a great character she's not perfect, in fact she's quite shy and insecure but she was very likable and easy to relate to.  At times she can be a bit too naive but I quite like the fact that she tries to see the best in people (although there were occasions I wanted to strangle her because of the way she went on and on about Brody!).  Quince was my favourite character though, he was a typical boy teasing the girl he likes rather than showing his true feelings but when it came down to it he was always there for Lily when she needed him.

Tera Lynn Childs has created a fun story and an interesting world, I'm glad it didn't end on a major cliffhanger but am excited to find out what happens next all the same.  In some ways I do think the story is aimed at younger teens (there are times I felt Lily acts a lot younger than 17) but it is so amusing that it makes a perfect holiday read for anyone looking for a fishy tale.

Source: I won this book from a giveaway at Nayu's Reading Corner

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Review: Siren - Tricia Rayburn

Something deadly waits beneath the waves off Winter Harbor, and this summer, no one's safe.

Timid seventeen-year-old Vanessa Sands has always had her sister Justine to protect her.  Until Justine is found dead near their holiday home and her boyfriend Caleb goes missing.

Looking for answers, Vanessa finds solace in Simon, Caleb's handsome brother.  But time is running out as more men disappear, their bodies washed ashore grinning from ear-to-ear.

As Vanessa delves deeper into Winter Harbor's murky past she discovers that nothing is what it seems.  Not even her.  And only she may have the power to stop this.

Will she find the courage to face up to what she really is - before Simon becomes the next victim?

Siren Trilogy:
Siren
Undercurrent (US release date July 2011, UK release date not known at this time)
I was unable to find a name for the 3rd book in the trilogy

Visit Tricia Rayburn's website for more information

Review:
Vanessa is timid and shy, the complete opposite of her daredevil, fun loving sister Justine but they have always been close and Justine has always protected and looked out for Vanessa.  When Justine dies after what is assumed to be a tragic accident Vanessa can't help but be suspicious of the circumstances of her sister's death.  Vanessa is determined to get to the bottom of what happened and the first person she wants to speak to is Justine's boyfriend Caleb. When she finds out that Caleb is missing so she turns to his brother Simon for help but the more digging they do the more it looks like she never really knew her sister at all.  With more bodies appearing every day it is up to Vanessa and Simon to investigate and try and stop whatever is happening before they end up as victims themselves.  Nothing is what it seems and the secrets Vanessa discovers will change her life forever.

Siren is one of those books that I picked up expecting to enjoy but had no idea just how much I would love.  I loved the characters, the mythology, the mystery, in fact Siren ticked just about every box and kept me captivated enough to stay up all night reading.  If you're looking for something a bit different in the YA paranormal genre you can't go far wrong with this one, I just hope I don't have to wait too long before I can read the rest of the series!

Vanessa is a very easy character to relate to, she is very shy and scares easily but has always had her big sister Justine to protect her and make her feel safe.  After Justine dies it would have been easy for Vanessa to stay at home with her parents and try to ignore her doubts about what caused her sister's death but she is determined to do the right thing and find out what really happened.  We get to see big changes in Vanessa as she faces her fears head on and learns that she can cope living on her own. 

Simon is another character you can't help but like - he is a science geek but very cute with it and you can tell how much he cares for both Vanessa and his brother Caleb.  I loved the romance between Simon and Vanessa, they have been friends forever so they have a real connection and I always enjoy a good friends to lovers romance.

I don't want to say too much about the mystery surrounding the deaths at Winter Harbor and the mythology Tricia Rayburn has created because I don't want to give any spoilers.  All I'm going to say is that the story is fast paced and full of twists and turns and will keep you on the edge of your seat.  I've not come across many YA books about sirens but I think this one will be hard to beat and I can't wait to get my hands on Undercurrent.

Source: Received from Faber & Faber in exchange for an honest review

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Review: Paranormalcy - Kiersten White

Evie's always thought of herself as normal.  Sure, her best friend is a mermaid, her ex-boyfriend is a faerie, she's falling for a shapeshifter and she's the only person who can see through paranormals' glamours, but still.  Normal.

Only now paranormals are dying and Evie's dreams are filled with haunting voices and mysterious prophecies.  She begins to suspect that there is a link between her abilities and the sudden rash of deaths, and even worse, that she is at the centre of a dark prophecy promising destruction to all paranormal creatures.

Paranormalcy Series:
Paranormalcy
Supernaturally
Endlessly

Check out Kiersten White's website for more information

Review:
Evie was abandoned by her mother as a baby and spent her early years growing up in foster care before she was discovered by the IPCA (International Paranormal Containment Agency).  Evie has the rare ability to see through the glamours that paranormals use to hide their real identity from the human population making her an asset to the agency who tag paranormals to make sure they aren't breaking any rules.  Evie's life is anything but normal, she has grown up on the agency base with a mermaid for a best friend, her ex boyfriend is a faerie and she has a crush on a shapeshifter, but she wants to be like any other teenage girl.  Evie dreams of going to school and living in the normal human world but when someone (or something) starts murdering paranormals her dream seems to be getting further and further away from her.  After discovering that she is at the centre of a disturbing prophecy Evie's life will never be the same again.

I've been looking forward to reading Paranormalcy since I first saw it released in the US so I was really excited when I was sent a copy for review.  I was really impressed with this debut from Kiersten White and can't wait to see what she does with the rest of the series.

I liked Evie's voice from the very first page, she is such a fun character with her love of all things pink (including her taser!) and a snarky attitude that had me laughing out loud.  I found it nearly impossible to put the book down because I wanted to see what kind of trouble she'd manage to get herself into next.  I loved the relationship between Evie and her best friend Lish, they may not have much in common (after all Lish is a mermaid unable to leave her tank on the base) but they obviously cared for each other.  Someone else that Evie has a lot of contact with is her boss Raquel who is also a mother figure to her, I'm sure mothers and daughters everywhere will see themselves in the interactions between the two of them - they have their arguments but deep down they both love each other.

Kiersten White has created a detailed world with lots of unique and interesting supernatural characters, from those we see quite regularly in paranormal stories right through to ones I've not come across before.  I liked the way we were introduced to the history and mythology for all of the different species and I was glad that the author managed to put her own slant on even the most common creatures.  One of my favorite characters after Evie was Lend (the shapeshifter Evie has a crush on).  I can't go into too much detail here as I don't want to give any spoilers so I'll just say he wasn't at all what I was expecting and I loved him all the more because of it.  I really enjoyed the developing relationship between Evie and Lend but I was pleased that this didn't overshadow the rest of the story.  I think Paranormalcy had the perfect blend of action and romance.

Alongside the characters you will love there are also some great characters that you will love to hate.  The faeries (Reth in particular) are experts at manipulation and manage to turn everything around to suit themselves.  I love the fact that you're kept guessing about who can be trusted and who the real bad guys are right until nearly the end of the book.

Paranormalcy is a fun read and one which completely pulled me into Evie's world.  I wanted to spend more time with these characters so can't wait to read the next book in the series.  If you're a fan of YA urban fantasy and are looking for something a bit different to all the books we've seen recently I'd definitely recommend picking this one up.

Source: Received from Harper Collins in exchange for an honest review

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ARC Review: Siren's Call - Devyn Quinn

Between desire and love there are some things that can’t stay buried, even in the deep of the ocean.

As a woman with a secret, lighthouse keeper Tessa Lonike savors her solitude on the island of Little Mer, off the coast of Maine. During a violent storm, Tessa spots a man thrashing in the ice cold waters and dives in to save him, using her ability as a mermaid to easily pull him to shore.

When Kenneth Randall awakens on the beach he is alone, left with the haunting memory of his beautiful, flame-haired savior. But a year later, when Kenneth meets her again, he’s determined not to let Tessa slip away. Just as the desire between them begins to burn, Tessa’s archaeologist ex-lover comes back to town with a tantalizing clue to her murky heritage.

The trio travel to the Mediterranean in search of answers, and when Tessa inadvertently opens an underwater portal they find a lost mermaid city. But in the deep, not everything is as it seems, and Tessa must decide if she wants to take her place as the royal heir, or follow the call of her heart…


Dark Tides Trilogy:
Siren's Call (Published in the US on 3rd August 2010 & in the UK on 28th October 2010)
Siren's Surrender (release date TBC)
Book 3 title & release dates to be confirmed
 
Visit Devyn Quinn's website for more information

Review:
When Tessa sees a man close to drowning in the sea near the isolated island she lives on she uses her mermaid abilities to save his life.  Kenneth should have been left with no memory of her but a year later he is still haunted by her face and decides to search her out to thank her.  Tessa isn't keen on having someone invade her island but she is in desperate need of help to fix up her house and the lighthouse that she has been looking after alone since her sisters moved to the mainland.  The attraction between them flairs but Tessa has been burned before and isn't looking for a relationship.  Kenneth has his own reasons to be wary but he finds Tessa impossible to resist.

Tessa and her sisters know very little of their mermaid heritage so when Tessa's ex Jake arrives claiming to have evidence proving the location the lost mermaid city they are keen to find out more.  Tessa and Kenneth soon find themselves in the middle of the Mediterranean sea with Jake looking for traces of the mermaid city.  When they do find the city it isn't at all what they expected and Tessa is going to find herself with some difficult decisions to make.

Siren's Call is the first book I've read by Devyn Quinn and also the first book I've read about mermaids but it won't be the last in either category. Devyn has created a fascinating world full of mermaid mythology that I really enjoyed visiting and I'm already looking forward to reading future books in the series.  The romance between Tessa and Kenneth is sweet and passionate and I loved the action and adventure when they discovered the mermaid city. 

If I had one very minor niggle it would be that I really don't like the hero Kenneth's name but like I say that was a minor thing & I found his character irresistible.  Tessa is bad tempered and snarky but as you get to know her better you discover that her attitude is a front to hide her loneliness and to stop herself from being hurt again.  The relationship between her and Kenneth develops quite quickly but I didn't find that unbelievable in the circumstances.  Although I have to confess I did feel for Kenneth after the way Tessa treated him sometimes but she had redeemed herself by the end.  I liked both of Tessa's sisters (Gwen and Addison) and I'm hoping we'll get to see more of them in future books in the series.  Jake (Tessa's ex) was someone I absolutely hated from the very first time we got to meet him - I'm not sure I found a single redeeming quality that made me understand what Tessa ever saw in him!

Siren's Call was a great start to a new series and although I liked the ending I'm looking forward to seeing what will happen next.  I really liked Devyn Quinn's writing style so will definitely be checking out some of her other books too.  If you like your romance with plenty of action or are curious to find out more about mermaids then I'm sure you'll enjoy this book.

Source: Thanks to Devyn for sending me this eBook ARC for review

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