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

Waiting on Wednesday #16 : Night Study (Soulfinder #2) byMaria V Snyder

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

This week I am waiting on Night Study which is the second book in the Soulfinder series and the fifth in the overall study series and continues on with Yelena and Valek's story.

The previous book ( see my review here) left in a bit of a cliff hanger with a revelation that I had gleefully guessed earlier but was only revealed in the last few pages so I am completely hanging out for this book to see what will happen as a result. 

This has got to be one of most favourite series in recent time, with Yelena and Valek's being two of my favourite characters and one of my favourite couples.  It's one of those series where you immediately drop everything to read as soon as the newest book makes it into your hands. So I cannot cannot wait to find out what happens next.

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

What book are you 'waiting on' this week?

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,

Stacking The Shelves #22

Welcome to Stacking The Shelves! Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga Reviews and is a meme to share those books, both print and e-book, that have been added to your shelves in the last week/s.

This week was a small week in regards to receiving books but it what it may have lacked in quantity, it more than made up for in quality.  I was extremely excited this week to receive a print copy of  Shadow Study by maria V Snyder for review especially as I had spotlighted it on my waiting on Wednesday post last week. I also won a book through librarything to receive early and review as well as couple of other interesting looking titles to review :-)

Review (Ebooks - Kensington Books via netgalley)

Haunted (The Arnaud Legacy #1) by Lynn carthage

Goodreads | Book Depository | Amazon

Sixteen-year-old Phoebe Irving has traded life in San Francisco for her stepfather’s ancestral mansion in rural England. It’s supposed to be the new start her family needs. But from the moment she crosses the threshold into the ancient estate, Phoebe senses something ominous. Then again, she's a little sensitive lately—not surprising when her parents are oblivious to her, her old life is six thousand miles away, and the only guy around is completely gorgeous but giving her mixed messages.

But at least Miles doesn’t laugh at Phoebe’s growing fears. And she can trust him…maybe. The locals whisper about the manor’s infamous original owner, Madame Arnaud, and tell grim stories of missing children and vengeful spirits. Phoebe is determined to protect her loved ones—especially her little sister, Tabby. But even amidst the manor’s dark shadows, the deepest mysteries may involve Phoebe herself…

Review (Print Books - Many Thanks to Harlequin Teen Australia)

Incredibly excited about this one.  I did a waiting on wednesday post about this book just a couple of weeks ago as I was so excited about it coming out so was over so you can guess how ecstatic I was to pick this up from the post office this morning :-)  Whilst it is the first book in Maria V Snyder's new series, it is actually a continuation from the Poison Study and Glass series'. I am going to start reading it as soon as I finish this post :-)

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

Goodreads | Book Depository | Amazon  | Galaxy Bookshop

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,

Won: (Angela Ford via Library Thing)

The Christmas Wreath (Forever Christmas #3) by Angela Ford

Goodreads | Book Depository | Amazon

Annie Dixon’s love for nature and her hometown of Glenville has her driven to find a way to keep the tree farm from outsiders. When the bank grants sixty days before the tree farm is listed for public sale, Annie and her friends devise a plan to finance the buy.

The death of Annie’s childhood friend brings Detective Ryder Harris back to Glenville. A child in his eyes, he always called her ‘Sweet Annie’. Now he sees her differently. Annie never admitted she had a big crush for Ryder. Now that familiar flutter in her heart is back. Annie knows Ryder won’t settle in Glenville. And is Ryder really back for his sister’s funeral or is he connected to the town resort’s sudden disappearance of their manager?

For the first time in many years, Ryder is excited about the holidays. Will the magic of Christmas forever connect these two hearts?

So what did you add to your shelves this week?

Waiting on Wednesday #8: Shadow Study (Soulfinders #1) by Maria V Snyder

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

Oh My Goodness I want this book! I adored both the study and glass series and cannot wait to read more about Yelena and Valek, who are probably my favourite couple of out of all Maria V Snyder's books. The minute I saw it was due out I have been dying to read it and I am anxiously awaiting payday so I can pre-order this and get it in my hot little hands as soon as it comes out So far there seems to be a number of different covers for this book so I have chosen the cover that is my favourite for this post :-)

Shadow Study(Soulfinders #1) by Maria V Snyder

Once, only her own life hung in the balance…

When Yelena was a poison taster, her life was simpler. She 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, dissent is rising. And Valek’s job—and his life—are in danger.

As Yelena tries to uncover her enemies, she faces a new challenge: her magic is blocked. And now she must find a way to keep not only herself but all that she holds dear alive.

Publication Date: 24 February, 2015
Pre-Order:Book Depository | Amazon  | Galaxy Bookshop

What book are you 'waiting on' this week?

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

Welcome to Monday.  For once, quite liking this Monday as it is a long weekend and so instead of working I get to enjoy reading some of the many books I have received in the last couple of weeks.  So today it is more than appropriate to say  It's Monday!  What Are You Reading? This is a weekly meme hosted by A Book Journey where we talk about the books that we are reading and have read this week.

Did a reasonable amount of reading in the past week.  Started the week by finishing off Indelible (The Twixt #1) by Dawn Metcalf. I really enjoyed this and plan to review it this week.

Some things are permanent.
Indelible.
And they cannot be changed back.
Joy Malone learns this the night she sees a stranger with all-black eyes across a crowded room—right before the mystery boy tries to cut out her eye. Instead, the wound accidentally marks her as property of Indelible Ink, and this dangerous mistake thrusts Joy into an incomprehensible world—a world of monsters at the window, glowing girls on the doorstep, and a life that will never be the same.
Now, Joy must pretend to be Ink’s chosen one—his helper, his love, his something for the foreseeable future...and failure to be convincing means a painful death for them both. Swept into a world of monsters, illusion, immortal honor and revenge, Joy discovers that sometimes, there are no mistakes.
Somewhere between reality and myth lies…
THE TWIXT

     Next up I started on the Witch Eyes series by Scott Tracey   I actually bought book 1, Witch Eyes,  last year when I received Demon Eyes (Witch Eyes #2) for review but unfortunately never got around to reading either.  However, this year I have received book 3, Phantom Eyes, to review so have finally started on this series. So far I have read both Witch Eyes and Demon Eyes and am about to start on Phantom Eyes.  I am enjoying this series though it was not quite what I was expecting and I am interested to see how this series concludes.

Braden was born with witch eyes: the ability to see the world as it truly is: a blinding explosion of memories, darkness, and magic. The power enables Braden to see through spells and lies, but at the cost of horrible pain.

After a terrifying vision reveals imminent danger for the uncle who raised and instructed him, Braden retreats to Belle Dam, an old city divided by two feuding witch dynasties. As rival family heads Catherine Lansing and Jason Thorpe desperately try to use Braden's powers to unlock Belle Dam's secrets, Braden vows never to become their sacrificial pawn. But everything changes when Braden learns that Jason is his father--and Trey, the enigmatic guy he's falling for, is Catherine's son.

To stop an insidious dark magic from consuming the town, Braden must master his gift—and risk losing the one he loves.

Demons don't die without a fight...
After destroying the demon Lucien, Braden—son of Belle Dam’s most powerful warlock, Jason Thorpe—doesn’t need the power of his witch eyes to see that everything in his life is turning against him: friends, family, and even his visions. When disturbing nightmares of Lucien’s return haunt him, Braden discovers that the simmering feud between the city’s two witch dynasties is fast approaching its explosive boiling point.
While struggling to come to terms with his attraction to Trey, Catherine Lansing’s son who should be his mortal enemy, a diabolical plan starts to unveil before Braden’s eyes. Young women are disappearing from Belle Dam, and as he investigates, Braden is forced to explore the dangerous unknown power within himself. But when the truth about his family is revealed, Braden must pay a terrible price.

Every child in Belle Dam is taught about the feud from an early age. There are ‘our’ people and ‘their’ people. Friends and enemies. Associates and strangers. It’s the kind of town where eyes are always watching, and you don’t need a reason to sell out your neighbors.

But the feud is a lie. As a new wave of fury sweeps through the town, creating a third front to an already overtaxed war, Braden has been broken worse than ever. His innocence? Shattered. His heart? Crushed. His magic? Gone. His new life? Ruined. And this is only the beginning.

Beneath the city lay deep wellsprings of power. The one who controls them is the one who will win the feud. In a city filled with puppet masters, Braden must elude their strings and end the feud once and for all. But first, he must outsmart his father, evade Catherine’s dark magic, regain what was stolen from him, trick a phantom who refuses to die, and foil a demon’s master plan.

Even then, he may not survive. Because power is a problem, and victory comes with a cost…

I haven't quite settled on what I plan to read next. I am dying to read Crash into You (Pushing the Limits #3) by Katie McGarry

and Taste of Darkness (Healer #3)  by Maria V Snyder 

 but its more likely I will read the Alice in Zombieland and Through the Zombie Glass by Gena Showalter, which are due for review this month.

She won’t rest until she’s sent every walking corpse back to its grave. Forever.
Had anyone told Alice Bell that her entire life would change course between one heartbeat and the next, she would have laughed. From blissful to tragic, innocent to ruined? Please. But that’s all it took. One heartbeat. A blink, a breath, a second, and everything she knew and loved was gone.
Her father was right. The monsters are real….
To avenge her family, Ali must learn to fight the undead. To survive, she must learn to trust the baddest of the bad boys, Cole Holland. But Cole has secrets of his own, and if Ali isn’t careful, those secrets might just prove to be more dangerous than the zombies….

I wish I could go back and do a thousand things differently.
I'd tell my sister no.
I'd never beg my mother to talk to my dad.
I'd zip my lips and swallow those hateful words.
Or, barring all of that, I'd hug my sister, my mom and my dad one last time.
I'd tell them I love them.
I wish... Yeah, I wish.

Inspired by the childhood classic Alice in Wonderland, this harrowing and romantic story features teen zombie slayer Alice Bell who has lost so much—family, friends, her home. After a strange new zombie attack, Alice fears she may be losing her mind as well. A terrible darkness blooms inside her, urging her to do wicked things. The whispers of the dead assault her ears and mirrors seem to come frighteningly to life. She’s never needed her team of zombie slayers more—including her boyfriend, Cole—than she does now. But as Cole strangely withdraws and the zombies gain new strength, Ali knows one false step may doom them all.

It's Monday! What are YOU reading?  Don't forget to let me know in the comments.

Have a great week!

Stacking the Shelves #10

Welcome to  Stacking The Shelves!  Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga Reviews and is a meme to share those books, both print and e-book, that have been added to your shelves in the last week/s.

Huge weeks of books this week. Checked out my favourite discount book shop, visited the library as well as receiving via netgalley a book i have been waiting for for most of the year!

Review: (Thanks to HarlequinTeen Australia via Netgalley):

This is book 3 in the Healer series and I have been waiting for this book all year as I am loving this series so far!

Taste of Darkness (Healer #3) by Maria V Snyder
Goodreads  | Book Depository
She's fought death and won. But how can she fight her fears?

Avry knows hardship and trouble. She fought the plague and survived. She took on King Tohon and defeated him. But now her heart-mate, Kerrick, is missing, and Avry fears he's gone forever.

But there's a more immediate threat. The Skeleton King plots to claim the Fifteen Realms for his own. With armies in disarray and the dead not staying down, Avry's healing powers are needed now more than ever.Torn between love and loyalty, Avry must choose her path carefully. For the future of her world depends on her decision.

Purchased :

Checked out my favourite local discount book store this week and had some good finds.

Need (Need #1) by Carrie Jones
Goodreads  | Book Depository

Pain shoots through my head. Fireworks. Explosions. All inside my brain. The white world goes dark and I know what's about to happen.

Zara White suspects there's a freaky guy semi-stalking her. She's also obsessed with phobias. And it's true, she hasn't exactly been herself since her stepfather died. But exiling her to shivery Maine to live with her grandmother? That seems a bit extreme. The move is supposed to help her stay sane...but Zara's pretty sure her mom just can't deal with her right now.

She couldn't be more wrong. Turns out the semi-stalker is not a figment of Zara's overactive imagination. In fact, he's still following her, leaving behind an eerie trail of gold dust. There's something not right - not human - in this sleepy Maine town, and all signs point to Zara.

In this creepy, compelling breakout novel, Carrie Jones delivers romance, suspense, and a creature you never thought you'd have to fear.

Strange Attractors (Quantum Enchantment #3) by Kim Falconer
Goodreads  | Galaxy Bookshop

Set in worlds both technological and fey, scientific and magical, STRANGE ATTRACTORS brings to the events begun in THE SPELL OF ROSETTE to a dramatic and gripping end.

Corsanon′s warriors are a vanished race, defeated in the temple wars long ago ... or so Rosette thought. She changes her mind when the portal drops her in the middle of an armed legion. Before she and Drayco can escape, Teg is injured and the Sword Master imprisoned. The glamour she spins to rescue her father sets in motion a series of events that may sunder Earth and Gaela forever.

Unknown to all, the corridors hide their greatest threat, weaving magic so tight that even Kreshkali can′t see it. A battle ensues and the fabric of the many-worlds starts to unravel. Only one of the Richter blood can put things right, but which descendant will use the spell?

Captivate (Need #2) by Carrie Jones
Goodreads  | Book Depository

He smiles. It's a wicked smile. Kind but not kind. Handsome but dangerous. Feral almost. I can see why Nick nearly killed him, Nick...

I ask again, "Why were you in the road?"

"I was waiting for you."

Zara and her friends thought they'd solved the pixie problem. And they did - sort of. The pixie's are all locked away, deep in the woods. But the king's needs grow stronger each day that he is in captivity, while his control over his people weakens. And it's enough to draw a new king into town. Astley claims he is different. He claims there are pixies who can live peacefully with humans, that it doesn't have to be all violence and nastiness all the time. Zara wants to believe him...until Astley also claims that she is fated to be his queen.

There is no way Zara would ever turn pixie. And she's got good friends who will make sure of that. Besides, she and Nick are so in love they're practically inseparable. But when they very thing Zara wants to protect most is exactly what's at risk, she is forced to make choices she never imagined.... 

Purchased :

Now that i am back at work full time, finding time to make it the library is much harder but managed to make it there yesterday and may have gone just a wee bit crazy :-P

Where You Are (Between The Lines #2) by Tammara Webber
Goodreads  | Book Depository
All These Things I've Done (Birthright #1) by Gabrielle Zevin
Goodreads  | Book Depository
Raised by Wolves (Raised by Wolves #1) by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Goodreads  | Book Depository
Trial By Fire (Raised by Wolves #2) by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Goodreads  | Book Depository
Taken By Storm (Raised by Wolves #3) by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Goodreads  | Book Depository

Haunted (Dreaming Anastasia #2) by Joy Preble
Goodreads  | Book Depository
Anastasia Forever (Dreaming Anastasia #3) by Joy Preble
Goodreads  | Book Depository

So what did you add to your shelves this week?

Review: Scent of Magic by Maria V Snyder

Title: Scent of Magic (healer #2)
Author: Maria V Snyder
Published: 1 January 2013
Source: HarlequinTEEN Australia
Reviewed: Sapphireddragon
SapphiredDragon Rating: ****

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.


Purchase:  Book Depository 

Review: 

I love Maria V Snyder's books  so was extremely excited to be offered this book to read and review. I hadn't read book #1, Touch of Power so I read the two of them back to back. I am happy to say I wasn't disappointed.  Yet again, Maria V Snyder has created another interesting series that I cannot get enough of.

I loved the direction this book went in after the ending of the first book and that we saw the story from both Avry and Kerrick's point of views. As always, the peripheral characters are just as interesting as the main characters and just as 3 dimensional.

This series is not set in the world of Ms Snyder's previous books but instead she has created a whole new world that is rebuilding after a terrible plague.  This second book continued the story created in book one, expanding on the story, the world and the characters and kept me completely in the story from beginning to end. And the ending... Once again book 3 cannot come fast enough.

I love stories with magic, strong characters, an interesting world and a captivating storyline and this book has all this. Another great series from Ms Snyder and I cannot wait to see what book #3 brings.

I give this book 4 stars!

Sapphired Dragon xx