Review: Devil Music by Carly Orosz

Original Title: Devil Music

Series: Devil Music #1

Author: Carly Orosz

Publisher: Logsine Labs Press

Release Date: April 14th 2014

Source: Review copy from the author via Novel Publicity

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Cain Pseudomantis leads a miserable life. Bound to the mortal world by a powerful spell no demon could hope to break, he must obey his human master’s every command or face harsh punishment. He finds solace in the rock music which he listens to when he isn’t running unsavory errands for his master. Then everything changes. While on a mission in a seedy section of 1980s Los Angeles, Cain impulsively buys an electric guitar and discovers an unusual talent for music, a talent that catapults him to hair metal stardom. With three superpowered human band mates and his beautiful girlfriend Michelle by his side, his life starts to look a lot better. But Cain soon finds that even rock stars have troubles. The crusading televangelist Nathaniel Breen—who happens to be Michelle’s father—accuses him of turning the city’s youth to Satan worship. Meanwhile a mysterious killer known only as the Engineer terrorizes the Los Angeles rock scene with a series of brutal murders. When Cain and his friends attempt to unmask the killer, they discover a deadly secret that could cost Cain his hard-won freedom, and possibly his life. 

REVIEW

Although urban fantasy is what I would go for, when asked to choose a book, this is something I would not immediately pick up.  But, after reading this book, I don't regret even the slightest picking this up.

Cain is a demon, who is enslaved by Mr. Warwick and treated badly.  He is sent out on errands by his master, which he has no memories on, later.  He was sent out to find a girl for Warwick's son, Lance, and make her love Lance.  But, when Cain goes to LA, everything changes for his good.  He makes new friends, finds a new talent in the electric guitar and above all, he may also be liking Michelle, who is the girl he was sent to find and deliver, which he has no intention of doing.  Meanwhile, there is a serial killer on the loose, who targets young men involved with music.  Cain and his friends need to find the killer before he draws close to any of them.

It was a big read, but a good read!  Interesting premise!  Wild and different characters!  You couldn't make a demon more interesting than this.  Yeah, at first I had my doubts.  How can a demon be so spineless?  But, there was some past involved in this as well.  He was trained to be like a dog, just to do his master's bidding that he became fearful to show his feelings at anything.  But, as he becomes free of his master's control, his real strength began to show.  And there were so many different side characters that are interesting to read.  There could be more on Cain's past, which would have helped for better understanding.

The killer's premise was also brought on well.  The suspense went hand in hand with fantasy and it worked too.  Although you will be able to guess who the killer is, after some time, it still will not stop you from reading more.

There are some unanswered questions, but I suppose that this is a series, so it doesn't end here.

Interesting and recommended read for someone who wishes to try something different!

Review & $10 Gift Card Giveaway: Shadow's Edge by Jami Gray

Original Title: Shadow's Edge

Series: Kyn Kronicles #1

Author: Jami Gray

Publisher: Black Opal Books

Published Date: October 29th 2011

Genre: Urban Fantasy, Paranormal Romance

It takes a monster to hunt one, and for Raine McCord, forged in the maelstrom of magic and science, she’s the one for the job. In a world where the supernatural live in a shadowy existence with the mundane, a series of disappearances and deaths threatens the secrecy of her kind and indicates someone knows the monsters are alive and kicking. Partnering up with the sexy and tantalizing Gavin Durand proves to be a challenge as dangerous as the prey she hunts.
When the trail points back to the foundation which warped Raine’s magic as a child, her torturous past raises its ugly head. Gavin and Raine sift through a maze of lies, murder and betrayal to discover not only each other, but the emerging threat to them and the entire magical community.

EXCERPT

“You’re going to have to move fast if you want to save your boyfriend, Raine.” It took a second for the words to penetrate through the static.

“Who are you?”

“Let’s just say you and I are kin of sorts.” The voice was a vibrating growl.

“Strange, I don’t remember attending a family reunion recently.” Her heart rate kicked up and static whispered across the line even as she struggled to stay calm.

The static cleared. “Perhaps because you have no family left.”

Her blood froze at the words. “What do you want?” Her own voice came out cold, merciless.

“Ah, ah ah,” the voice chided. “No need to get so upset, cher. I just wanted to let you know if you want lover boy to make it out sane, you best starting moving on Dr. Lawson’s little lab.”

“What lab?” she bit out.

There was a huge elaborate sigh. “I’m so disappointed at how slow y’all move. Hasn’t your boss found lover boy’s car yet?” The gruff voice didn’t wait for answer. “Check the glove compartment. I’m sure you’ll find what you’re looking for.”

Her mind raced furiously. “How do I know this isn’t just another little trap?”

The growl rumbled. “You don’t, but since you and I know exactly what’s happening to lover boy, I have a feeling it won’t matter. That Chet character, he was getting way too close, but this one they’re keeping alive for now. He shows promise.” A guttural scream cut through the airwaves, and she felt her breath stop.

REVIEW

Raine is a Wraith, who has a terrible past life and works to kill the bad boys of the Kyn (supernatural beings) society.  While she fights her own nightmares and prefers to live alone in her mental fortress, she was ordered by her boss to partner for her next case with Gavin, a very attractive, mysterious Kyn.  Raine is trying hard to resist the charm boy, but you know how fate plays.  Raine has to come clean with her past, face the truth and win the love of Gavin.  But the case she is working with Gavin, is hitting pretty close to home.  How can she bring the guilty person to justice, when she herself is guilty of so many crimes?

Shadow's Edge is a fantasy read with a complex plot and characters.  Just when you think the plot leads to something, the author brings in another surprise that throws us off.  For a debut, this book is great.  The romance, mystery and fantasy were all splattered across the pages in right amounts at right places.

The only problem is that there is no attraction between me and the novel.  Maybe this thing is only for me..if you enjoy the book in a different way, don't forget to inform me.  I was thrilled to see the plot stretching before me and had fun at all the sexual tension between the couple.

Kyn Kronicles will surely become a new series, that I would wait for.

3.5 stars!

GIVEAWAY

Jami will be giving away a $10 Amazon GC to one randomly drawn commenter during the tour as well as to the host with the most comments (excluding Jami's and the host's).

JUST COMMENT IN THIS POST TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY!  DON'T FORGET TO LEAVE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS.

OPEN INTERNATIONALLY!

ENDS TODAY - 18TH MAY 2012!

*** This post is a part of the tour for Goddess Fish Promotions. ***

Review: The Stubborn Dead (Lost Souls #1)

Original Title: The Stubborn Dead
Series: Lost Souls #1
Author: Natasha Hoar
Published Date: January 23rd 2012
Genre: Urban Fantasy

*** Thanks to NetGalley and Carina Press for providing the ARC for review purposes ***

SYNOPSIS

Rachel Miller thought her next job was a run-of-the-mill haunting. As a member of the Order of Rescue Mediums it's her duty to release trapped spirits from the earthly realm. But when called to client Sylvia Elkeles's house, she finds a wraith who doesn't act like he should.

The Order considers the wraith an extreme threat and Rachel may be forced to use a barbaric ritual to free him—a ritual that comes with a heavy personal price. If she fails to humanely release the wraith, she'll have her supernatural abilities bound.

When Janus Ostara—local supernatural mob boss—shows up demanding her attention, and Sylvia keeps secrets that may place Rachel in mortal danger, she doesn't need her abilities to know something darkly sinister is at play.

Between uncovering Sylvia's disturbing motives, and avoiding Janus, Rachel has enough on her hands without dealing with a wraith who may not realize he's supposed to be dead...

REVIEW

The story kicked off with Rachel exorcising a stubborn ghost using her 'powers'.  At the end of that exorcism, she is called for another ghost busting.  That is where our main plot starts.  Rachel gets stuck up with a wraith, who doesn't know who he is, which is essential for exorcism.  Rachel soon learns that she has been set up..and her options are very limited, where she can lose either her job or her life.

Readers can learn the entire plot in about first 30% of the book.  Well written, but not descriptive enough.  There is no proper world building, but well done for a book with just 20000 words.  Too many characters, but the depth of the characters was not there.

Being in the first book in the Lost Souls series, this book has potential to make a good series.  Definitely looking forward to reading more from the author.

A short thriller.  Felt like watching a short film and was content.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Born in South Africa, Natasha moved to Canada in her 20s and settled just outside of Vancouver, British Columbia. This meant she was surrounded by an abundance of amazing natural beauty, interesting people from around the world to talk to and a fair bit of rain (which, oddly enough, she rather enjoys). She’s always up for a good adventure, especially if it involves ‘stumbling upon’ movie or TV shoots, hunting for G1 My Little Ponies at local thrift shops, meandering through book and toy stores, or looking into paranormal phenomena.

Find Author Online : Twitter | Website

Succubus On Top / Succubus Nights (Georgina Kincaid #2)

Original Title: Succubus on Top
Author: Richelle Mead
Series: Georgina Kincaid #2

Georgina Kincaid series contains a total of 6 main books.  Succubus On Top / Succubus Nights is the second installment of this urban fantasy series, after Succubus Blues.  For books of Richelle Mead's usual standards and expectations, this book quite didn't meet them.

For those of whom, who are new to the series, our narrator and protogonist, Georgina Kincaid, is a succubus - a shape-shifting demonic creature from hell, who seduces men and gets the life force of humans.  Seth, a very famous mortal romance writer is Georgina's boyfriend.  Mead is a master in framing mysteries and let it unwind itself.  This time, the mystery is when an immortal crosses into the mortal world and ruins many of her friends' lives.  Georgina also has other things in her mind.  Her best old old friend and an incubus (the opposite of Succubus - a male immortal from hell, one who seduces and corrupts mortal women and lives on their life force), Bastien, is in big trouble and he needs Georgina's help to solve it.

Bastien, trying to get out of trouble, wants to make a "big hit".  He plans to corrupt a Christian talk show host, Dana, who is rallying against homosexuality and all the members of the society, who is not up to her high-minded expectations.  Bastien tries to bring her down and Georgina feels the need to help her friend.  Though I am angry with Dana, who herself is not up to her standards, but forces other people against their wills through her arrogance, public humiliation doesn't actually feel right, just for the sake of getting Bastien out of trouble.  Ah, people from hell!

Although Bastien's presence made the book more comfortable at first, when Georgina and Bastien's relationship turned more than friendship, I felt like slapping Bastien.  But what better can you expect from an incubus?

Although I liked the first book - Succubus Blues, I felt tired when reading this book.
Reason 1:  I am a huge fan of Mead's Vampire Academy series.  Her heroines are my favorite.  But though I liked Georgina, her disloyalty towards Seth disgusts me.  I really felt sorry for Seth.
Reason 2:  However hard Georgina and Seth tried, we all know their relationship is so doomed.  If Georgina thinks of more than touching Seth, his life force is going to be sucked out of him.  It felt like a deadlock.

I will definitely read the next book, but I am in no hurry.

Book Trailer - specially for you:

Series:

1.  Succubus Blues - Read review here
2.  Succubus on Top
3.  Succubus Dreams
4.  Succubus Heat
5.  Succubus Shadows
6.  Succubus Revealed

The series must be read in order, for proper understanding.

Cover Crush:

This book has so many covers, and I like to share them with you.  Just for your view:

What do you think?

My Rating : 2.5 stars

Succubus Blues (Georgina Kincaid, #1)

Really!!! Richelle Mead knows how to make a person get glued to her book towards the end. I will rate her the top author in "Authors who gave best endings to their books". Even though I didn't like her Bloodlines much, still her ending made me want to come again for her next book in that series. This first book in this series, Georgina Kincaid, is Succubus Blues, and its even better.

Although I can predict some of the twists in the book, the remaining part really made me catch my breath. Seth, a famous writer in the book, is soooo cute in his way..can't wait to learn more about him in the next books of the series. And Georgina is a succubus - a creature from hell, who seduces men to retain her immortality by taking their life force out of them. I know, I know..I thought this particular thing is crazy at first. But as the story proceeded, it didn't matter much. There is no big lecture of good and evil / heaven and hell..for that - I am thankful.

Many of the characters are adorable and endearing. Carter is my fav..come on, you can't help liking an angel.

Guessing or knowing what comes next, doesn't stop me from enjoying this book.

Recommend it for fans of Richelle Mead. Others, who can digest this succubus/fantasy thing, its a good book..give it a chance.