Review: Sisters of the Fire (Blood and Gold #2) by Kim Wilkins

Title: Sisters of the Fire (Blood and Gold #2)

Author: Kim Wilkins
Published: 22 August 2016
Source: Harlequin Teen Australia/Mira via netgalley in exchange for an honest review
Reviewed: Sapphired Dragon
Rating: *****

My Review:

I do believe I liked Sisters of the fire even more than Daughters of the Storm. And I adored Daughters of the storm. This book takes up the story 4 years after the end of book 1. All 5 sisters and their offspring are spread across Thrysland and Bluebell hears that one of her sisters has the trollblade that can kill her and she is determined to her her hands on the sword before it gets her.

Again, from page one I fell headlong in to the story. Each sisters thread was spell binding as the next and drew me ever deeper into the story. the way the threads are pulled and weaved is genius with each on pulling the reader ever towards the end.

I love Ms Wilkins storytelling. She manages to weave this extremely intricate yet seemless story that with characters that are so well drawn they leap off the page in all their flawed brilliance. I was invested in each and every one of them in one way or another and they really added and extra layer to an already riveting story.

This book is full of secrets from beginning to end, the sisters and other characters have secrets from each other and from those around them, even from their selves and they way ms Wilkins slowly reveals these secrets and the consequences of their revealing is nothing short of perfection. This book really advances the series whilst still leaving the reader with a sense of satisfaction with the end of this book.

This book is a perfect mix of action, romance and fantasy with well developed characters and a story that will keep you glued to the pages from beginning to end.

This is Australian fantasy writing at its finest and I give this book 5 stars!

Sapphired Dragon xx

About The Book:

 Sisters of the Fire (Blood and Gold #2) by Kim Wilkins

An action-packed, compelling historical fantasy, from the pen of an award-winning author

The battle-scarred warrior princess Bluebell, heir to her father’s throne, is rumoured to be unkillable. So when she learns of a sword wrought specifically to slay her by the fearsome raven king, Hakon, she sets out on a journey to find it before it finds her. The sword is rumoured to be in the possession of one of her four younger sisters. But which one? Scattered as they are across the kingdoms, she sets out on a journey to find them.

Her four sisters all have their own paths to tread, the gifted magician Ash is on a journey to find a dragon that could determine her destiny. The beautiful, unhappy Rose has left her undermagician Aunt and is speeding to the aid of her daughter, Rowan, who has been lost to her. Ivy, sold into marriage for the sake of an alliance, is now set to become the ruling Duchess of Seacaster with the imminent death of her much older and sick husband, and the power-hungry Willow is raising her infant child as a potential trimartyr king and training to be a warrior for the fanatical religious order Maava.

From wild rocky coastline to granite-topped tors, from bustling harbours to echoing ghost towns, from halls of kings to ancient primal woodlands, this story follows five sisters upon whose actions kingdoms will rise and fall.

Publication Date: 22 August 2016

Purchase: Booktopia  |  Harlequin Teen/Mira Australia | Amazon

Author Spotlight & Giveaway - Maria V Snyder

Today's post is kind of a different one.  Its a combination author spotlight/Thursday Throwback/event  post along with the give away you will find at the bottom.

Last night I was lucky enough to attend a Bloggers Evening at HarlequinTeen Australia in Sydney.  There we got to meet the amazing Maria V Snyder.

I had met Ms Snyder before back in my very first year of blogging in 2011 but at that stage I had yet to read any of her books.  That was soon remedied however when I read and fell in love with the poison study series, the glass series, the inside out, outside in dystopian duology, and Healer series.  Basically all the books she has written so far :-P

So basically I was extremely excited to be meeting Ms Snyder last night.

When I arrived, people were already there and we were able to chat with Ms Snyder and enjoyed some snacks as we waited for everyone to arrive.


Ms Snyder then talked to us about her books and answered any questions we had.  As there were only 15-20 of us in total in was like having a big group chat as we got to hear about how Poison study came to be and how it was originally supposed to be a stand alone novel! We also learned how Ms Snyder's degree in meteorology came in handy when she was writing the glass series and that if you are going to swing a broadsword you need two hands!

Lastly we all had our books signed before receiving a goodie bag from HarlequinTeen Aus before we left.


It was great to meet and chat books with fellow Sydney bloggers and makes some new bookish friends.

Huge thank you to Theresa and Harlequin Teen Australia for making this happen and of course big Thank you to Maria V Snyder for taking the time to come and say hello :-)

Now for the Thursday Throw back portion of this post.  Here are some of my favourite Maria V Snyder novels and what I had to say about them:

Scent of Magic (Healer #2)

Hunted, Killed—Survived?

As the last Healer in the Fifteen Realms, Avry of Kazan is in a unique position: in the minds of her friends and foes alike, she no longer exists. Despite her need to prevent the megalomanical King Tohon from winning control of the Realms, Avry is also determined to find her sister and repair their estrangement. And she must do it alone, as Kerrick, her partner and sole confident, returns to Alga to summon his country into battle.

Though she should be in hiding, Avry will do whatever she can to support Tohon’s opponents. Including infiltrating a holy army, evading magic sniffers, teaching forest skills to soldiers and figuring out how to stop Tohon’s most horrible creations yet; an army of the walking dead—human and animal alike and nearly impossible to defeat.

War is coming and Avry is alone. Unless she figures out how to do the impossible ... again.

See My Review

Purchase:  Book Depository 

Shadow Study (Soulfinders #1) by Maria V. Snyder

Goodreads | Harlequin Books | Book Depository | Amazon  |

My Review

New York Times bestselling author Maria V. Snyder wowed readers with Poison Study, the unforgettable story of poison taster Yelena. Now she's back with a new tale of intrigue.

Once, only her own life hung in the balance.

Oddly enough, when Yelena was a poison taster, her life was simpler. But she'd survived to become a vital part of the balance of power between rival countries Ixia and Sitia. Now she uses her magic to keep the peace in both lands and protect her relationship with Valek.

Suddenly, though, they are beset on all sides by those vying for power through politics and intrigue. Valek's job - and his life - are in danger. As Yelena tries to uncover the scope of these plots, she faces a new challenge: her magic is blocked. She must keep that a secret - or her enemies will discover just how vulnerable she really is - while searching for who or what is responsible for neutralizing her powers.

Yes, the days of tasting poisons were much simpler. And certainly not as dangerous,

Night Study (Soulfinder #2)) by Maria V Snyder

 

My Review

New York Times bestselling author Maria V. Snyder transports readers back to the realms of Sitia and Ixia in an exciting new Study novel full of magic, danger and intrigue.

Ever since being kidnapped from the Illiais Jungle as a child, Yelena Zaltana’s life has been fraught with peril. But the recent loss of her Soulfinding abilities has endangered her more than ever before. As she desperately searches for a way to reclaim her magic, her enemies are closing in, and neither Ixia nor Sitia are safe for her anymore. Especially since the growing discord between the two countries and the possibility of a war threatens everything Yelena holds dear.

Valek is determined to protect Yelena, but he’s quickly running out of options. The Commander suspects that his loyalties are divided, and he’s been keeping secrets from Valek...secrets that put him, Yelena and all their friends in terrible danger. As they uncover the various layers of the Commander’s mysterious plans, they realise it's far more sinister than they could have ever imagined.

 

Purchase: Booktopia  | Book Depository | Harlequin Teen Australia | Amazon

The Giveaway


Do you have a mismatched set  or a set you still need to complete?  Maybe you want to start one of Ms Snyder's series you haven't read yet or may your reading copy and been read to death and you need a new one.  This giveaway is for you!

Open to anyone who lives where the Book Depository delivers, I am giving one person the chance to win their choice of 1 x  Maria V Snyder novel up to the value of $30 AUD

You can see list of Maria V Snyder's books here

You need to be 13 or over to enter and please make sure you have parent/guardian permission to enter if you are under 18

Giveaway end 11.59 pm 21/4/16

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review: Night Study (Soulfinder #2) by Maria V Snyder

Title: Night Study (Soulfinder #2)

Author: Maria V Snyder
Published: 25 January 2016
Source: Harlequin Teen Australia in exchange for an honest review
Reviewed: Sapphired Dragon
Rating: ****

My Review:

Man I love this story, these characters and this world! I can't believe I now have to wait another year to find out how this story turns out. Again it has finished at a point where I just want to keep reading on and find out what happens next but alas I have reached the last page of this book

I struggled with the first half having to make myself persevere through it. i am not sure if it was the pace, the amount of set up or something else entirely but I was struggling to connect with the characters at first and constantly found my interest waning and looking for something else to do. This was a little disappointing given how much I love this series

Once I hit half way however, I couldn't put it it down, with each of the three main point of views keeping me interested and intrigued and ending so that again i am frustrated that i have to wait another year to find out what happens next

The first half of the novel felt like mostly set up and as mentioned I had to struggle through parts as it didn't always manager to hold my full attention. It was moving the story line along and was necessary to the story but I had to push myself through it a little until I could really experience that complete immersion in the story like I had in Ms Snyder's previous books. It was definitely worth it through because the second half of the book moved beautifully. All of a sudden all three main threads were keeping me interested and all that had gone on before suddenly made more sense. All the elements I have come to expect from a Maria V Snyder novel were there; The balance of threads, expertly woven into a thrilling story, characters that came alive off the page and loaded with intrigue so that the twists and turns keep you guessing until that last exciting precipice on which Ms Snyder then leaves you hanging for the next book.

I had forgotten just how much I love these characters, not just Yelena and Varlek but Ari and Janco, Leif and Mara, Maren and Fisk. There is also a number of new characters introduced who will definitely be up there with my favourites. I love the dialogue, banter and interaction between Ms Snyder's characters. It is almost always completely on point and there were genuine tears in my eyes in a different parts as the story rolled on as well as genuine fear when ever one of these characters is in danger which is essentially the majority of the book :-P

Overall I loved this and gave this novel 4 stars.

Sapphired Dragon xx

About The Book:

Night Study (Soulfinder #2)) by Maria V Snyder

New York Times bestselling author Maria V. Snyder transports readers back to the realms of Sitia and Ixia in an exciting new Study novel full of magic, danger and intrigue.

Ever since being kidnapped from the Illiais Jungle as a child, Yelena Zaltana’s life has been fraught with peril. But the recent loss of her Soulfinding abilities has endangered her more than ever before. As she desperately searches for a way to reclaim her magic, her enemies are closing in, and neither Ixia nor Sitia are safe for her anymore. Especially since the growing discord between the two countries and the possibility of a war threatens everything Yelena holds dear.

Valek is determined to protect Yelena, but he’s quickly running out of options. The Commander suspects that his loyalties are divided, and he’s been keeping secrets from Valek...secrets that put him, Yelena and all their friends in terrible danger. As they uncover the various layers of the Commander’s mysterious plans, they realise it's far more sinister than they could have ever imagined.

Publication Date: 25 January 2016

Pre-Order: Booktopia  | Book Depository | Harlequin Teen Australia | Amazon

Review: Insidious (The Twixt #3) by Dawn metcalf

Title: Insidious (The Twixt #3)

Author: Dawn Metcalf

Published: 1st September 2015
Publisher: Harlequin Teen Aust
Source: Harlequin Teen Australia
Reviewed: Sapphired Dragon
Rating: *** 3/4  

My Review:

I really enjoyed the third book in Dawn Metcalf's The Twixt series. I was mistakenly under the impression that this was a trilogy so this was the last book. Imagine my surprise when I reached the end and realised it wasn't.

Actually I was pretty glad as I don't think I was ready for this series to end just yet.

Book three starts shortly after the end of Book 2. It is the last couple of weeks of Summer, and Joy is adjusting to her new status as one of the twixt and starting to learn how this will affect her relationships with her family and friends. Things like being unable to lie can be tricky when those closest to her are unable to see the twixt and she is not allowed to tell.

However what her family now *can* see is Ink and this has made things a little easier for Joy who is happy to be able to show off the boy that she loves.

However there is more to becoming one of the twixt than just having a signatura and therein lies the crux of the story for Joy, and for the reader, as Joy is drawn further into the ways and rules of the twixt and starts to uncover deeper secrets that threaten not just her but both of the worlds she is straddling, and evil thought long gone may just come back to haunt her.

I liked the direction of this new book and the way Ms Metcalf draws the reader deeper into the Twixt world she has created. MS Metcalf is incredibly adept at slowly revealing the layers of this world of the Twixt and each layer is more detailed and more interesting and more surprising than the one before. The world building is thorough from the rigid rules of the twixt to the history that we begin to delve into in this story, and the more I learn, the more I want to find out.

The story itself has all the elements that a good story needs in just the right combination. There is action aplenty through out much of the book and for the majority is well paced adding to rather than overshadowing the rest of the story and in nice balance with the information we are given along the way. There are plenty of twists to keep the reader guessing and nothing is what it seems, which adds to the suspense to the tale. There is also an attention to detail that gives this story an added oomph and each story element is cleverly incorporated and never seems to be wasted.

However what I love most about this novel is the relationships between Joy and those around her; Ink, Stef, Monica, Graus Claude. It is through these interactions that we truly see Joy's character and we are able to feel more emotionally attached to the story as a whole. I really enjoyed seeing how these relationships change and grow through out the novel, with a few surprises along the way.

I loved where this story ended even though ( as previously mentioned) it was with surprise that this wasn't the final book. However it does make much more sense with the story and I can't wait to see where it will go from here as I get the feeling that things are not going to go quite the way Joy expects.

I very much enjoyed this novel and I give this book 3 3/4 stars.

Sapphired Dragon xx

About The Book:

Insidious (The Twixt #3) by Dawn Metcalf

True evil is rarely obvious. It is quiet, patient.
Insidious.
Awaiting the perfect moment to strike.
Joy Malone finally knows who she is, where she comes from and how to live in two worlds at once. And now she can introduce her family and friends to her mysterious boyfriend, Indelible Ink. But when Ink's twin sister, Invisible Inq, calls in a favour, Joy must accept a dangerous mission to find a forgotten door between worlds—a door hiding a secret that some will kill to keep.
Unseen enemies, treasonous magic and an unthinkable betrayal threaten both the Twixt and human worlds as Joy races to expose an ancient conspiracy and unleash the unalterable truth—some secrets cannot remain secret forever.






Purchase: Amazon | HarlequinTeen Aust  | Book Depository   

Review: Legacy of Kings (Blood of Gods and Royals #1) by Eleanor Herman

Title: Legacy of Kings (Blood of Gods and Royals #1)

Author: Eleanor Herman

Published: 1st September 2015
Publisher: Harlequin Teen Aust
Source: Harlequin Teen Australia
Reviewed: Sapphired Dragon
Rating: ****  

My Review:

This book was a bit of a mixed bag for me. It took me a while to get through the first half of the book but I flew through and really enjoyed the second half. However, whilst I found it a good read with a solid storyline and an interesting premise, and while I will almost certainly read on in the series, it didn't excite me as much as I really wanted it to.

Let's start with the good.

I love this genre - History mixed with fantasy has always fired up my imagination as magic and fiction gets infused with real life people and events. Alexander the Great and this time period in particular are fascinating to read about. This is one of the reasons I was drawn to this novel in the first place. And I like the way Ms Herman has melded the superstition and magic with the people of this time and the period itself and reinterpreted it into the start of what looks to be an awesome and sweeping saga.

This is not a light read. This is a full attention, immerse yourself into the world type of story. So when sit down to read it, set yourself off dedicated reading time for this story to get the full experience and enjoyment out of this novel. Besides you will need it as once you are in, you won't want to put it down till the end.

I loved the intricacy of the story. Already we can see the web being spun and the main characters spinning off with their own individual stories, seeking glory, power, magic or revenge. This story is told from multiple view points as we follow the stories of the different characters and each chunk is big enough to get a sense of the story and character before switching to the next one.

I had a little trouble getting into this story at first. Though to be perfectly honest, I am not entirely sure whether that was me or the book. It took me a couple of tries to really start reading this book and I actually set it down a couple of times to read other things before I had even gotten through the first 200 pages. However once I sat down and gave it my full attention, that was when I finally was able to feel myself enter the world. The last 200 pages absolutely flew by with the story really grabbing me and leaving me wanting to find out what happens next and where the story is going to go.

As this is the first book of a series, there was a lot of setting up and introducing of characters to be done to get the story in full flight and we are also slowly fed certain background information at a nice pace, if,  and when we need it. I think was part of the reason why it took me a little time to get into it.

I also had a little trouble relating or feeling for the characters at first. At first they seemed quite black and white with some of their reactions to things, in my opinion, just a little bit simplistic. It wasn't till further along in the book that we start to see some more complexity in the characters, which makes them infinitely more interesting to read and to see events through their eyes.

Overall though, it is the story that ultimately wins through and makes this novel what it is. I think this is a great set up novel for what looks to be an enthralling new series. I, for one will definitely be continuing on with this series and greatly look forward to book 2.

I give this book 4 stars.

Sapphired Dragon xx

About The Book:

Legacy of Kings (Blood of Gods and Royals #1) by Eleanor Herman

Imagine a time when the gods turn a blind eye to the agony of men, when the last of the hellions roam the plains and evil stirs beyond the edges of the map. A time when cities burn, and in their ashes, empires rise.
Alexander, Macedonia’s sixteen-year-old heir, is on the brink of discovering his fated role in conquering the known world but finds himself drawn to newcomer Katerina, who must navigate the dark secrets of court life while hiding her own mission: kill the Queen. But Kat’s first love, Jacob, will go to unthinkable lengths to win her, even if it means competing for her heart with Hephaestion, a murderer sheltered by the prince. And far across the sea, Zofia, a Persian princess and Alexander’s unmet fiancée, wants to alter her destiny by seeking the famed and deadly Spirit Eaters.
Weaving fantasy with the salacious and fascinating details of real history, New York Times bestselling author Eleanor Herman reimagines the greatest emperor the world has ever known: Alexander the Great, in the first book of the Blood of Gods and Royals series.



Purchase: Amazon | HarlequinTeen Aust  | Book Depository

Review: Never Always Sometimes by Adi Alsaid

Title: Never Always Sometimes

Author: Adi Alsaid

Published: 4 August 2015
Publisher: HarlequinTeen Australia
Source: HarlequinTeen Australia in exchange for an honest review
Reviewed: Sapphired Dragon
Rating: **** 

My Review:

I really enjoyed Never Always Sometimes. More so, I think, than I was expecting to.

Having come to read it straight from another book in a similar vein, at first it took me a little while to distinguish one book from the other but once I did, this story really came into its own.

The story starts with two teenagers Dave and Julia, about to start high school, deciding  they don't want to be the cliched high school students out of all the books they have read and tv shows they have seen. So they make a list of all the things they never will do during their high school life with items such as being identified by their lunch spot and running for prom king/queen.

Fast forward to their senior year and college acceptances are in and they are on their very last stretch of high school with only a couple of months till graduation. They find the Nevers list, and decide to spend their last couple of months of high school doing everything on the Nevers List.

The real strength of Adi Alsaid's writing is his characters as you cannot help but fall in love with them the more you get to know them. It is then through the characters that the reader is drawn more into the story and becomes more invested in the outcome.

The book itself is divided into three parts : one from Dave perspective then the next part fo the story for Julia's perspective ans the last part of the story alternating between Dave and Julia's perspective. The way this is done is really clever and timed extremely well so that it adds more to the story and the atmosphere of the book.

This story is great for the feels as well as the characters drawn feel very real and their actions and reactions believable given the things they have gone through and the storyline. I love the way the act of doing the items on the Nevers list really brings out both Julia and Dave's characters to life and everything that is around them.

A very very enjoyable read.

I give this book 4 stars

Sapphired Dragon xx

About The Book:

Never Always Sometimes by Adi Alsaid

Goodreads |  HarlequinTeen Books | Book Depository | Amazon |

Never date your best friend

Always be original

Sometimes rules are meant to be broken

Best friends Dave and Julia were determined to never be cliché high school kids—the ones who sit at the same lunch table every day, dissecting the drama from homeroom and plotting their campaigns for prom king and queen. They even wrote their own Never List of everything they vowed they'd never, ever do in high school.

Some of the rules have been easy to follow, like #5, never die your hair a color of the rainbow, or #7, never hook up with a teacher. But Dave has a secret: he's broken rule #8, never pine silently after someone for the entirety of high school. It's either that or break rule #10, never date your best friend. Dave has loved Julia for as long as he can remember.

Julia is beautiful, wild and impetuous. So when she suggests they do every Never on the list, Dave is happy to play along. He even dyes his hair an unfortunate shade of green. It starts as a joke, but then a funny thing happens: Dave and Julia discover that by skipping the clichés, they've actually been missing out on high school. And maybe even on love.

Review: Nowhere But Here (Thunder Road #1) by Katie McGarry

Title: Nowhere But Here (Thunder Road #1)

Author: Katie McGarry

Published: 1 June 2015
Publisher: Harlequin Teen Australia
Source: HarlequinTeen Australia in return for an honest review
Reviewed: Sapphired Dragon
Rating: **** 

My Review:

I went into this novel expecting to love it as its Katie McGarry and I love all her novels so I was extremely excited about this new series.  I am so glad I was right. 

This novel has everything you expect from a Katie McGarry novel, real, authentic teenagers dealing with complex situations and/or feelings and a story that always leaves you wanting more.

Main characters Oz and Emily have grown up in totally different worlds but are very similar in their desire to not to venture outside their little piece of the world. Happy to stay with what is comfortable and safe. Then Oz is given the task of protecting Emily whilst she is staying with her father and her father's motorcycle club and all of a sudden both find their blinkered views being challenged in more ways than one as they get to know and to feel more about each other.

I love Ms McGarry's characters, be they main or peripheral as they always seem to have their own distinct voice. Emily, Oz, Eli, Violet, Chevy and Olivia to name a few, all had their own charm that made you want to get to know them and their stories better and the way Ms McGarry wrote the relationships between them be they good or bad really helped you to feel all the emotions that were brewing under the surface of these characters.

At the end of the day, what really drove this story was indeed the story itself. Following Emily's journey as she struggles to reconcile what she has always been told about her family and her past,, with the truths that lie before her that say otherwise and what that means for her future. I also loved the story of Oz and Emily and felt like I could have continued reading more about their story for ever.

I enjoyed this story immensely. As always, with Ms McGarry's books, I finished the story eager to know what comes next and immediately looked the series up on Goodreads to find out what I could about book number 2.

An awesome new series from Katie McGarry, I give this novel 4 stars

Sapphired Dragon xx

About The Book:

Nowhere But Here (Thunder Road #1) by Katie McGarry

Goodreads | Book Depository | Amazon | Booktopia | Harlequin

An unforgettable new series from acclaimed author Katie McGarry about taking risks, opening your heart and ending up in a place you never imagined possible.

Seventeen-year-old Emily likes her life the way it is: doting parents, good friends, good school in a safe neighborhood. Sure, she's curious about her biological father—the one who chose life in a motorcycle club, the Reign of Terror, over being a parent—but that doesn't mean she wants to be a part of his world. But when a reluctant visit turns to an extended summer vacation among relatives she never knew she had, one thing becomes clear: nothing is what it seems. Not the club, not her secret-keeping father and not Oz, a guy with suck-me-in blue eyes who can help her understand them both.

Oz wants one thing: to join the Reign of Terror. They're the good guys. They protect people. They're…family. And while Emily—the gorgeous and sheltered daughter of the club's most respected member—is in town, he's gonna prove it to her. So when her father asks him to keep her safe from a rival club with a score to settle, Oz knows it's his shot at his dream. What he doesn't count on is that Emily just might turn that dream upside down.

No one wants them to be together. But sometimes the right person is the one you least expect, and the road you fear the most is the one that leads you home.

Review: Rogue (Talon #2) by Julie Kagawa

Title: Rogue (Talon #2)

Author: Julie Kagawa

Published: 1 May2015 
Source:Harlequin Teen Australia via Netgalley in return for an honest review
Reviewed: Sapphired Dragon
Rating: ****

My Review:

This series just gets better and better. I really enjoyed Talon and I enjoyed Rogue even more.It has all the elements I enjoyed from Talon as well as new elements, characters and story that make it that much better.

The books starts with Garrett in St George custody and Ember, with the help of Riley and Wes, determined to get him out.

There is a lot of action in this book so I was literally on the edge of my seat for my most of it, and when there wasn't action as such, there brewing intrigue so the edge of that seat stayed warm the entire way through the novel.

I loved that whilst you always knew there more going that what was in front of you, you never quite knew exactly how this was going to play out so it created an air of anticipation and exhilaration for most of the book as you waited to see what happened. Ms Kagawa paces this out well and does not disappoint with the outcome which leaves us hanging for the next book and needing to see where this story will go next.

I love the chemistry between Ember and Garrett even though it is a slightly more awkward chemistry in this book as they were now well aware of their differences as dragon and for human former soldier and St George but I still feel this chemistry more than I do the chemistry between Ember and Riley, though I did feel that a little bit more towards the end.

I also like Ember's development in this novel as she realises what it truly means to be rogue and everything that comes with it danger and freedom both and the consequences of decision to go rogue are played out and she has to deal with them.

This is a truly worthy second novel in this series and I am extremely excited to see where the Talon saga is going to go from here. Bring on book 3!

An awesome second book. I loved it and give it 4 stars!

Sapphired Dragon xx

About The Book:

Rogue (Talon #2) by Julie Kagawa

Goodreads | Book Depository | Amazon | Booktopia

Ember Hill left the dragon organization Talon to take her chances with rebel dragon Cobalt and his crew of rogues. But Ember can't forget the sacrifice made for her by the human boy who could have killed her—Garret Xavier Sebastian, a soldier of the dragonslaying Order of St. George, the boy who saved her from a Talon assassin, knowing that by doing so, he'd signed his own death warrant.

Determined to save Garret from execution, Ember must convince Cobalt to help her break into the Order's headquarters. With assassins after them and Ember's own brother helping Talon with the hunt, the rogues find an unexpected ally in Garret and a new perspective on the underground battle between Talon and St. George.

A reckoning is brewing and the secrets hidden by both sides are shocking and deadly. Soon Ember must decide: Should she retreat to fight another day…or start an all-out war?

Review: Shadow Study (Soulfinder #1) by Maria V Snyder

Title: Shadow Study (Soulfinder #1)

Author: Maria V Snyder
Published: 1 March 2015
Source: Harlequin Teen Australia in exchange for an honest review
Reviewed: Sapphired Dragon
Rating: *****

My Review:

Oh My Goodness this book was so good! Another awesome instalment in the Study series and Valek and Yelena's story.

From the moment I read the first page, I was pulled right back in Yelena's world and it was great to visit with all the characters again, and a number of the main players from both the Study series and the glass series are back in this book. That being said however, whilst it helps to already know the characters, this tale is its own story and I believe it is just as compelling even if you are visiting the Study world for the first time.

This novel is told from three points of view, Yelena, Valek and Janco, each weaving a different thread in and around each other and in its own direction as needed. Ms Snyder uses it very well to direct the different threads of the story and the balance between the three worked well for me and each thread had its own story and own mystery to be solved and I was just as hooked on all three.

I liked that we learn a lot more about Valek in this novel, we get to see some of his history and how he came to be where he is which gives us a much greater understanding of his character and why he does what he does. We also learn a bit more about certain characters from the previous novels which also helps to propel the story forward.

What Ms Snyder does really well however, is create a story, world and characters that you can't help but love, hate, and be completely immersed in. This is the first book in a new series set in the Study world and I for one, am thankful to Ms Snyder for allowing us to visit with these characters again and share in their newest adventure. I can't wait to see what happens next!

I give this novel 5 stars.

Sapphired Dragon xx

About The Book:

Shadow Study (Soulfinders #1) by Maria V. Snyder

Goodreads | Harlequin Books | Book Depository | Amazon  |

New York Times bestselling author Maria V. Snyder wowed readers with Poison Study, the unforgettable story of poison taster Yelena. Now she's back with a new tale of intrigue.

Once, only her own life hung in the balance.

Oddly enough, when Yelena was a poison taster, her life was simpler. But she'd survived to become a vital part of the balance of power between rival countries Ixia and Sitia. Now she uses her magic to keep the peace in both lands and protect her relationship with Valek.

Suddenly, though, they are beset on all sides by those vying for power through politics and intrigue. Valek's job - and his life - are in danger. As Yelena tries to uncover the scope of these plots, she faces a new challenge: her magic is blocked. She must keep that a secret - or her enemies will discover just how vulnerable she really is - while searching for who or what is responsible for neutralizing her powers.

Yes, the days of tasting poisons were much simpler. And certainly not as dangerous,

Review: Let's Get Lost by Adi Alsaid

Title: Let's Get Lost

Author: Adi Alsaid
Published: 29 July 2014 by HarlequinTeen Australia
Source:  HarlequinTeen Australia
Reviewed: Sapphired Dragon
Rating: ****

My Review:

I decided to read "Let's get Lost" after seeing it many mentioned around the place. As I have mentioned before, I don't read a whole lot of YA contemporary but 4 strangers stories all connected by one girl name Leila seemed like and intriguing idea.

I have to say I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this book and how quickly zoomed through it. When I started I was a little apprehensive, worried I would struggle to get it finished, having left it a little late to start reading it, but I needn't have worried, one moment I was reading the first page of Hudson's story and the next I finishing off Leila's story and closing the book, all done.

This book is essentially 5 stories in one. The first 4 sections devoted to a main character and story per section: Hudson, Bree, Elliott and Sonia with leila's story weaving around them, bringing their stories together and finishing the book off. Each of these characters had their own story, their own issues but they seem to all be at the same point of everything coming to a head when Leila crosses their paths and acts as their catalysts for change. I enjoyed each story for itself, enjoyed meeting and discovering the new characters and their stories, the journey that each story takes the reader on. I also loved that we got to find out Leila's story last and realising that though she was in each and every story previous, she remains mysterious and its not until the end that we find out more about her.

I found each og the individual stories fresh,different and honest, and the way Mr Alsaid brings them all together, I found myself wanting more and thinking about the characters even after their stories had passed, which to me is a sure sign of a good read.

If you want a YA contemporary novel that is fresh and honest and a fun, enjoyable read, then pick up this book. This books was a really nice surprise and I give it 4 stars :-)

Sapphired Dragon xx

About The Book:

Five strangers. Countless adventures. One epic way to get lost.

Four teens across the country have only one thing in common: a girl named LEILA. She crashes into their lives in her absurdly red car at the moment they need someone the most.

There's HUDSON, a small-town mechanic who is willing to throw away his dreams for true love. And BREE, a runaway who seizes every Tuesday—and a few stolen goods along the way. ELLIOT believes in happy endings…until his own life goes off-script. And SONIA worries that when she lost her boyfriend, she also lost the ability to love.

Hudson, Bree, Elliot and Sonia find a friend in Leila. And when Leila leaves them, their lives are forever changed. But it is during Leila's own 4,268-mile journey that she discovers the most important truth— sometimes, what you need most is right where you started. And maybe the only way to find what you're looking for is to get lost along the way.

Goodreads | Book Depository | Amazon

Teaser Tuesday #71: Let's Get Lost by Adi Alsaid

Welcome to Teaser Tuesdays.

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

1. Grab your current read

2. Open to a random page

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

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


My current read is Let's Get Lost by Adi Alsaid and my three lines is from Page 133:

"I'm such a screwup," she said, grabbing another napkin and wiping her nose. "I don't know what I can say to make it okay, but I need to tell her I'm sorry. We need to find her."

Five strangers. Countless adventures. One epic way to get lost.

Four teens across the country have only one thing in common: a girl named LEILA. She crashes into their lives in her absurdly red car at the moment they need someone the most.

There's HUDSON, a small-town mechanic who is willing to throw away his dreams for true love. And BREE, a runaway who seizes every Tuesday—and a few stolen goods along the way. ELLIOT believes in happy endings…until his own life goes off-script. And SONIA worries that when she lost her boyfriend, she also lost the ability to love.

Hudson, Bree, Elliot and Sonia find a friend in Leila. And when Leila leaves them, their lives are forever changed. But it is during Leila's own 4,268-mile journey that she discovers the most important truth— sometimes, what you need most is right where you started. And maybe the only way to find what you're looking for is to get lost along the way.

Purchase: Book Depository | Amazon

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

Review: Take Me On (Pushing The Limits #4) by Katie McGarry

Title: Take Me On (Pushing The Limits #4)

Author: Katie McGarry
Published: 24 June 2014 by HarlequinTEEN Australia
Source: HarlequinTEEN Australia via Netgalley
Reviewed: Sapphired Dragon
Rating: ****

My Review:

Yet another read-in-a-sitting book from Katie McGarry. I flew through this book, gobbling up the story and the characters easily. Yet again Katie has given us real characters and a gritty real life story line, all the while linking it back to characters we have both met before and grown to love.

West is the brother of Rachel, whom we met in Crash into You. At the beginning of Take me On, West is just as arrogant as we remember him in Crash Into you but also plagued by guilt over Rachel's accident and just as affected by his family dynamics as Rachel had been. Haley's world has been crushed, her family have been made homeless and are living with a tyrant of an uncle and she is estranged emotionally from her family and the sport that she loves through trying to protect them.

What I love about Ms McGarry's characters, is that they are all very real and face very real problems. There is always an authentic feel to the characters which draws you in and makes you care what happens to them and want the best for them. These characters are no different. From the beginning I loved the chemistry between West and Haley. Right from the beginning it was there, and it only grew as they got to know each other better. I also loved the way both West and Haley developed throughout the story with Haley learning its not always selfish to do what is right for oneself and for West, discovering the who he actually was and the man he wanted to become.

The story itself is incredibly tight and keeps you in it from beginning to end. The authentic feel I mentioned before, also applies to the story in that it flows from beginning to end delivering and ending that's both different and satisfying.

We also got to revisit a few characters from earlier books, and see some more of their stories which lent itself to the main story without over shadowing it. There was a perfect balance of new and old to make this book attractive more so as part of the series but also as a stand alone.

I am so glad that Ms McGarry is continuing this series, in this world   I don't normally read a lot of contemporary YA, but this is a series i will come back to, over and over again.  I thoroughly recommend this book and this series.

I give this novel 4 stars.

Sapphired Dragon xx

About The Book:

Acclaimed author Katie McGarry returns with the knockout new story of two high school seniors who are about to learn what winning really means.

Champion kickboxer Haley swore she'd never set foot in the ring again after one tragic night. But then the guy she can't stop thinking about accepts a mixed martial arts fight in her honor. Suddenly, Haley has to train West Young. All attitude, West is everything Haley promised herself she'd stay away from. Yet he won't last five seconds in the ring without her help.

West is keeping a big secret from Haley. About who he really is. But helping her-fighting for her-is a shot at redemption. Especially since it's his fault his family is falling apart. He can't change the past, but maybe he can change Haley's future.

Hayley and West have agreed to keep their relationship strictly in the ring. But as an unexpected bond forms between them and attraction mocks their best intentions, they'll face their darkest fears and discover love is worth fighting for.