Book of Immortals: Disciple by Kassandra Lynn Interview & Review by Kimmy

Hey all,

Hope you are all keeping well!

I wanted to share with you today a book I read just before the end of last year.  I do hope you enjoy:

Book of Immortals: Disciple 

by Kassandra Lynn

*** Disclaimer *** - I received a free copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.

My Rating:

Synopsis

You enjoy stories, but would you want to become part of one?

When Celine dies in a plane crash, instead of going to heaven or hell, she becomes the antagonist in the novel she was reading on the flight.

In her new realm of existence, immortals gather energy from the environment to gain prolonged life, while devils suck the life out of mortals in exchange for power. As the secret offspring of the two opposing races, Celine finds herself having to cover up her devil ancestry while enrolled in an immortal school.

She could live with her role, if only she hadn’t read the book. The end means her death, and this time it’s for good. Celine’s high school crush, Erik, who also journeyed to the new world, encourages her to become a devil in order to change her destiny. It sounds like a simple choice, but that would mean betraying the world she had grown fond of.

As her doomsday draws near, Celine must choose a side or use her insider’s knowledge to overturn the plot—and possibly the whole realm in the process.

Interview

Kimmy: Hi Kassandra.  Thanks for taking the time to join us here at Opinionated Cupcakes.

Kassandra: Thanks for having me!

1. Tell us about your book

Book of Immortals: Disciple is a fantasy about a girl who get trapped within a story she read.

Official blurb:
Following her death in a plane crash, Celine discovers that neither heaven nor hell are options for her. Miraculously, she's transformed into the antagonist of the book she'd read prior to her demise. Now, she must navigate this strange new immortal life, knowing that the antagonist's journey won't end well. Between covering up her devil ancestry in an immortal school and trying to understand her feelings for a senior apprentice, can Celine circumvent her impending doomsday to create a favorable plot twist?

2. What inspired you to write your first book?

I like to make up stories in my head when I lie on my bed at night—it's like telling myself a bedtime story. But thinking about something in my mind can be very disorganized and illusive. I want to put them down in writing to make them more concrete and to share my fantasy with others.

3. What books are you reading now?

I just finished Pinehurst, a YA fantasy I enjoyed. I'm currently reading a super long Chinese historical romance that keeps me way past my bedtime. Of Sea and Stone is on my to-read list for the next week.

4. Do you have anything in specific you want to say to your readers?

I grew up reading stories in both English and Chinese. The structure behind fiction and the roles each characters play had intrigued me since I was a child. Somehow, I like many of the antagonists and minor characters more than most of the protagonists—perhaps because the antagonists are the ones with the more interesting traits and strong personality? In my writing, I want to incorporate some of the things I like about minor characters into my protagonists. My protagonists are not always good in the traditional perspectives—some of them might be downright evil and selfish—but they're the ones I like to read about. I hope you find them interesting too.

5. What are the challenges in bringing it to life?

I find it a little challenging to just sit down and write something every single day. Sometimes I have days that I don't feel creative at all and sometimes I get distracted by many things that come up. The first draft is definitely the hardest, although I have the most fun writing it.

Review

The author approached us towards the end of last year to see if either Rinny or myself would be interested in reading and reviewing her book.  The concept seemed quite unique, like nothing I had read recently or could think of and I loved the cover, so I jumped at the chance to read it.

I loved this book.  Being well and truly hooked from the first few pages, it didn't take me long to devour it.  The storyline was interesting and I found myself easily immersed in Shann's world.  I hung off every word, my need to keep reading, just one more page I kept telling myself multiple times on end.  

It was easy to connect with the main character Shann, the author done a great job of developing the her character and a few of the supporting characters.  I do however feel that some of the characters who perhaps started off strong, seemed to dwindle slightly as the story progressed.  My other downside would be the seclusion that each disciple takes to increase their level.  At the start I didn't mind so much.  However towards the end I felt that it had almost become a time passer.

I would've loved to have seen more focus on the world itself, Aaren, Divinity Sabien and some of the character relationships.  I feel Shann's life was very short lived.  Basically I wanted more Aaren and Shann!

Having said that, the author fitted a lot into one book and although some things could have been improved on, I do feel she did it really well.

I highly recommend this book.  I am super excited for the next book in the series.  This really is a new take on fantasy, so what are you waiting for, go get your copy now!

About the Author

Kassandra Lynn is the author of Book of Immortals series. Her favourite genres are fantasy and romance. She especially enjoys reading and writing about unique concepts, unpredictable plots, and protagonists who aren't the typical protagonists.

Useful Links: 

Goodreads | Website | Amazon Author Page

Buy the book:

Amazon

Possess (Mary Hades Series) by Sarah Dalton - Review by Kimmy

Well hello folks,

Hope you are all well and are making lots of headway with your 2015 Reading Challenges.  Please enjoy todays post and leave any comments below.  Lets get this show on the road:

Possess by Sarah Dalton

*** Disclaimer ***
I received a free copy through (add info here) in exchange for an honest review.

Rating:

Synopsis:

Mary Hades is drawn back into the world of the macabre as she moves with her family into the mysterious old house, Ravenswood. The mere mention of Ravenswood induces terror among the locals, and when strange things begin to occur, Mary and Lacey decide to get to the bottom of the secret hidden in the historic house once and for all.

As a dark power gathers, Mary finds her life becomes interconnected with the disturbing events that transpired in 1847 to eleven year old Liza Blair. The more Mary is drawn into Liza’s story, the more she realises someone close to her is in grave danger from the sinister energy at Ravenswood.

Set in the backdrop of an unsettling forest, and with strange neighbour Emmaline Delacroix obsessed with death and séances, Possess will take you even deeper into the murky depths of Mary Hades’s unusual life.

Book two in the Mary Hades series.

Review

I was lucky enough to cross paths with the author Sarah Dalton in 2014.  I read many of her books last year and without a doubt Sarah has become one of my favourite authors.  I find Sarah's story telling mesmerising and get easily drawn into all her worlds she creates.

Possess is another fantastic addition to the Mary Hades series.  This book takes us into the darker side of the paranormal world that Mary lives in.  Sarah's writing as always, captured me almost immediately and had me hanging off every word.

I love how this book focuses on the relationship between Mary and her mother.  Mary always had a stronger, closer bond with her father.  Her mother always seemed to be either trying too hard or appeared to be on edge around Mary.  And finally we find out why.  It was like opening a present on christmas morning!

Lacey isn't as prominent in this book.  I did miss her.  I love Lacey and I love the relationship between both her and Mary.  I do understand though that Lacey kind of taking a back seat was clearly needed in order for the story to play out the way it was meant to.  However Sarah does not let us forget about Mary's concern about the future of their friendship and ensures this is addressed in the story also.  I was a total bundle of nerves at that part of the story!

Thanks to Sarah's fantastic story telling ability, everything is woven together perfectly to create yet another fantastic read!

If you haven't read any of Sarah's books, you really need to get on it, like now.  Trust me, you will not be disappointed!

Useful Links

 Goodreads | Author | Amazon UK | Amazon US

Talon by Julie Kagawa - Review by Kimmy

Hello my lovelies,

Hope you are all well.  Today I have a little review for you, I hope you enjoy reading it:

Talon

by Julie Kagawa

*** Disclaimer ***
I received a free copy through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Rating:

Synopsis:

Long ago, dragons were hunted to near extinction by the Order of St. George, a legendary society of dragon slayers. Hiding in human form and growing their numbers in secret, the dragons of Talon have become strong and cunning, and they're positioned to take over the world with humans none the wiser.

Ember and Dante Hill are the only sister and brother known to dragonkind. Trained to infiltrate society, Ember wants to live the teen experience and enjoy a summer of freedom before taking her destined place in Talon. But destiny is a matter of perspective, and a rogue dragon will soon challenge everything Ember has been taught. As Ember struggles to accept her future, she and her brother are hunted by the Order of St. George.

Soldier Garret Xavier Sebastian has a mission to seek and destroy all dragons, and Talon's newest recruits in particular. But he cannot kill unless he is certain he has found his prey: and nothing is certain about Ember Hill. Faced with Ember's bravery, confidence and all-too-human desires, Garret begins to question everything that the Order has ingrained in him: and what he might be willing to give up to find the truth about dragons.

Review

I seen a lot of buzz about this book before and around its release date.  At the time I hadn't been buying too many books as I had been quite busy with work and had a few other reviews taking place. I was browsing Netgalley just before the Christmas holidays and seen that there was a review copy available for request.  Work had quietened down and I had time to read more, so I took the chance, requested it and lucky enough I got accepted.

I was so excited to start reading this book.  Expectations were high.... Unfortunately, after finishing the book, it didn't quite meet those expectations.  Here is why:

It took me to almost read halfway through the book before I found myself invested in the story.  The concept was so intriguing, a promise of so much, yet it took it that long for it to finally start delivering.  I almost felt like I was reading two separate books.  If my rating was solely based on the second half, I would have rated it higher.  The second half of the book is where things really begin to happen and the story finally begins to reflect what the synopsis is hinting at.  I found myself wanting, needing to read more to find out what was going to happen next.

For the book to have truly met my expectations, there would have needed to be less of the teenage love triangle/romance and feeling of reading a teenage dragons dear diary.  Focusing more on Talon and St George would have made this a far better read and of course met the expectations that the blurb promises.

I still recommend you read this book.  Persevere through the first half, the second half is worth it and hopefully the second book in the series continues in same direction.

Useful Links

 Goodreads | Author | Amazon UK | Amazon US

Kimmy Reviews - Jack Strong by Walter Mosley

Hello all,

Happy New Year, I hope you all had a wonderful time during the holidays.  For me I had a nice time, short but brief.  Had to get back to work and reality sooner or later.  Before being off for the holidays, work was crazy.  So to start off the new year, I am catching up on some outstanding reviews.  Hope you enjoy!

*** Disclaimer ***
I received a free copy through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Rating:

Synopsis:

In a Las Vegas hotel room, a man awakes to confront his destiny.

Dreaming, Jack hears voices: a frightened child in a hospital, a woman cheating on her husband, a death row inmate. When he wakes, the voices recede, but they do not vanish. He is in a luxurious hotel room on the Vegas strip, and his body is covered in scars. Jack Strong is a patchwork man, his flesh melded together from dozens of men and women, and his mind is the same way. Countless lifetimes are contained within him: people whose lives were cut short, and who see their place in Jack as a chance to make things right.

On behalf of one of them, Jack reignites a feud with some corrupt casino bosses. Drawing on the skills of another, he beats the life out of two bodyguards. Jack fights for control as he lurches from impulse to impulse, certain that somewhere within him lies a soul. The answer may lie with whoever is tailing him in a sleek black car--if Jack can somehow confront him. 

Review

This author is completely new to me.  I came across this book browsing Netgalley back in 2014.  The cover caught my attention and the synopsis sounded very interesting.

Jack, our main character is like a patchwork quilt, made up of many different male and female body parts.  These also contribute to Jack's different personalities and the shifts in their points of view throughout the story.

Unfortunately this short novella didn't do much for me.  It just felt too alike to the beginning of a story, however this one,  never quite did begin. 

Useful Links

 Goodreads | Author | Amazon UK | Kobo

Happy Birthday Kimmy!!

Today is a special day it is Kimmy's Birthday. She has been my best friend for approx 9/10 years and although we have never met in person, one of the people i am closest too. (Iv'e known her longer than i've known my husband!!) She was even crazy enough to jump aboard with my crazy plan to start a book blog, for something for us to do together and she was already a very busy lady.

I just wanted to wish her a Happy Birthday, I hope you have a lovely day Kimmy.  Love Rinny x

Leave your happy birthday wishes below.

Thunderlight by Adrienne Woods Blog Tour & Review by Kimmy

Book Details

Title: Thunderlight, Book Two

Author: Adrienne Woods

Series: The Dragonian Series

Publisher: Fire Quill Publishing

Release Date: 20 November 2014

ISBN: 9780992244613

Synopsis 

Vibrant, scale swathed wings… Abilities that can be harnessed by a chosen few… Dragons…

All this may seem like old news, but for seventeen year-old Elena Watkins the world of Paegeia is not finished revealing all its secrets. During a summer break intended for relaxation, she discovers that her harrowing adventure to retrieve the King of Lion sword wasn’t the destiny foretold by the cryptic Viden, a dragon with the ability to see a person’s true fate. The words inked onto the page of the mysterious Book of Shadows remains black and Elena must return to Dragonia Academy to discover their true meaning.
Upon her return to the magnificent castle she has to face a challenge of a different kind, keeping her boyfriend Lucian McKenzie, the Prince of Tith and love of her life, away from the dangerous new student, Paul Sutton. As a Wyvern, Paul has made it his mission to claim Elena as his rider but he is proving to be more perilous than at first glance.

Everyone knew that Wyverns were bad news, and just as evil as the darkness that lurked inside Blake Leaf, the Rubicon forced to fight against his inner nature every day. But Elena can see a small light lurking in the darkness, a destiny still unfulfilled; to prove that Wyverns can be claimed.

Will Lucian’s dark secret about Wyverns and Elena’s need to prove their true nature cause their love to be torn apart? And which of Elena’s friends will be sacrificed this time if she is wrong?

Excerpt two

As we continued to look for the jerseys and get ready Isabel came up to give us a five minute warning. Blake had vanished around five, simply saying that he would meet us there. Sir Robert had given him his ticket before he disappeared so he would be able to find us. 

Ever since that night at camp when he got wasted and he put me under some sort of hypnotizing spell which almost made us kiss, which was seriously ridiculous as he despised me, he’d been acting like his old self; arrogant and a total dick. Something about Blake being wasted and for some reason always wanting me, was really freaking me out…but it also made me wonder about a lot of things he was hiding and maybe that those things only came out when he was truly drunk. 

I shook my head and the thoughts of Blake washed away as I grabbed my bag and followed Sammy to Sir Robert’s old Sedan. 

The drive wasn’t that long and I gasped when Sir Robert pulled into the parking area in front of a giant mountain. There were at least a million cars already parked in neat rows and the noise coming from inside the mountain told me that it must be the location where the Warbel games took place. 

Crowds of people wearing different colored jerseys, caps and scarves huddled around. Some even carried flags and I saw a yellow flag with a huge hornet on top of what looked like a raider. 

Raiders were flying objects that made me think of an enhanced skateboard. 

Everywhere in Paegeia’s parks, and ports, people flew on them. You needed a special license for one and I tried so hard to suppress my laughter when Becky told me that her next try would be her fiftieth or so to get hers. Becky wasn’t one of the safest drivers out there. I still wondered every time I was her passenger if the inspector that gave hers hadn’t been smoking weed or something. 

We climbed out of the car and a feeling of excitement rose inside my chest as I followed the Leafs into the opening at the bottom of the mountain. It was dark as the only light came from tiny globes mounted in the wall. It took a while for my eyes to adjust to the soft glow of the lights as we piled into another tunnel. 

People pushed and shoved us as we tried to make our way to our seats. The pace we moved was reasonable for such a big crowd, but it was still too dark and too cramped up for my liking. We finally stopped when the people in front of us didn’t move. I hated every second we had to wait for whatever held up the crowd to pass. I was feeling jumpy and took huge breaths as the heaviness on my chest came back, mixed with a shot of adrenaline. 

“Are you okay?” Sammy asked softly and I realized that I was squeezing her hand really tightly in my own. 

“Sorry, just crowded. What’s happening at the front?” 

“It’s normal, we are close to the check-in point.” 

I flinched as a huge horn blew right behind me. It echoed off the wall and sounded like an archangel announcing doomsday. 

The crowd barely moved now, and I felt like punching the guy when he blew on it a second and third time. The other people thought it was funny, and I wished that I felt the same spirit inside of me, but this dark passageway seriously was starting to creep me out. 

After a few minutes, I could finally see the outline of what looked like five cubicles and people moving into rows. We took the one closest to us and waited until it was time to present our tickets. Ours had blue dots on them and I still had no idea what I was going to find myself at tonight. 

It took a couple of seconds for my eyes to adjust as we entered toward a lighter room. Six black elevators, three on a side opposite one another, made my heart jump a bit faster. 

In Paegeia, an elevator wasn’t just an elevator. It was how the people of Paegeia traveled around the world, if you were a dragon, and inside Paegeia, if you were human. I hadn’t experienced it myself and had only seen them once inside their funny looking tubes when we went to fetch George at the Wall when he’d come back from the other side. 

“Are these the same elevators they have at the Wall?” I spoke softly. 

She laughed at the small shake in my voice. “No, Elena. They are normal elevators.” 

People surged forward again as they maximized the elevator’s weight limit and I saw Sir Robert pushing the blue button. He wore a black t-shirt with a pair of jeans and a baseball cap. Wrapped around his neck was a green and black stripped scarf. 

Sir Robert Leaf was Sammy and Blake’s father and, The Greatest King That Ever Lived, King Albert’s dragon. He looked nothing like the figure inside the museum of Etan, and he was nothing like I’d imagined. He was kind, always friendly and no matter how much Blake pissed him off, he would give me a soft look and a friendly smile. It was hard to imagine that he was Chromatic, a Night Villain, and one of the vilest dragons that roamed this world. The people of Paegeia didn’t address him as Sir Robert anymore. Some of them even thought that he’d had something to do with betraying the King, but I knew better. He missed his Rider every single day; he missed his Dragonian. 

His wife, Isabel, stood next to him with her arm wrapped in his. She wore a parka with a green and black striped beanie. A huge smile, along with pure excitement, was written all over her face. She was the spitting image of her sister. She had a twin sister who I was very familiar with. The first time I saw her I’d thought for a second that Constance, the doctor at the Infirmary was Sammy and Blake’s mom. 

Sammy had doubled over with laughter when she saw the expression on my face when I first met Isabel. She was a Swallow Annex just like Constance and I was sure if you put them together, you wouldn’t be able to tell them apart just by looking at them. She was also just as kind as her twin and made me feel at home the first moment I stepped inside their house. 

The elevator screamed as we ascended into the peak of the mountain. It felt like forever and a million things that could go wrong filled my head. The door finally opened and we all had to get out so that a couple at the back could exit. 

When the door opened for about the fifth time, we spilled out.

Bonus Excerpt

ANGER, BETRAYAL, AND HATE turned my stomach to acid. It consumed my mind and I watched as bottles, papers and books on the desk flew off and crashed to the floor. 

A maid rushed to my side. She didn’t say anything, but her eyes reflected fear in their watery depths. The dustpan in her hand trembled as she started to sweep up the jagged shards of glass. Rising, she began to straighten the books that had fallen to the floor in a heap. Every few seconds her eyes darted nervously in my direction as if a mere breath would make me lash out at her with my outstretched hand. 

I touched her face gently until my hand reached her neck, tightening slowly as my anger began to rise once again. My grip tightened around her soft, shapely neck as I lifted her up from her position at my feet until her face was level with mine. Listening carefully I heard her heart fluttering like a bird trapped inside a cage. 

“How did I become this way?” I spoke, giving voice to my reality softly. 

She just stared at me with round, brown unblinking eyes. Her eyes were sunken deep into the surface of her face and her cheek bones were sharply defined. 

Looking at her sullen face made me feel worse. I lifted up my other hand and struck the woman hard across her cheek. 

A cry left her mouth and I threw her from me as if she weighed nothing. She skidded across the floor landing in a heap against a wall of cold, unforgiving stone. If I was a dragon I would blast fire, reduce this wretched place to a pile of insignificant ashes. 

Two other maids, hearing the startled cry, rushed into the room. Their eyes were wide as they took in the room and the immobile heap near the far wall. “Sorry, m’lord,” the older one said, her voice slightly trembling. “She’s new, we will train her better.” 

They picked up the maid who had come to and was sobbing. She clutched the side of her face, covering the huge, red handprint where I’d struck her. 

I nodded. The old maid knew her place well, although I still didn’t care for her name, she knew where she stood. 

I plunged myself down onto the chair and closed my eyes. A silent roar growled inside of me lighting a fire of rage deep in my core. 

The girl had made it. 

The Rubicon saved her life, so a part of him was still fighting me. I could still see her eyes searching mine. They bore into my soul, seeking answers. How was this possible! The wall wouldn’t allow any human to go to the other side. 

Albert’s laughter echoed inside the castle; a startling reminder that good would always win. He would pay dearly for this. I would find a way, and I promised myself she wouldn’t live much longer. 

I pushed myself up from the chair and rubbed my face hard. The emotion of my anger escaped my lips making a sickening sound. Rage that emanated from deep within me overpowered the haunting laughter and echoed throughout the entire castle. 

“Master,” Cain’s voice interrupted my thoughts. 

“Speak, my loyal servant,” I said out loud. “What is the news?” 

“Everything is in place. We won’t fail you,” his voice said in my head. 

I closed my eyes, took a deep breath and let it out hard. “We’ll see.”

Review

Author Bio

Adrienne Woods was born and raised in South Africa, where she still lives with her husband and two beautiful little girls. She always knew she was going to be a writer, but it only started to really happen about four years ago. In her free time―if she gets any because moms don’t really have free time―she loves to spend it with friends, whether it’s a girls night out, or just watching a movie. She’s a very chilled person. Her writing career started with Firebolt, book one in the Dragonian series. There will be four books in total, including a further two to three books, which will be stories that take place within the Dragonian series. Her other series, Dream Casters, will be released mid 2015. She also writes in different genres, and her woman’s fiction, The Pregnancy Diaries, will be published under a pseudonym. And then, she has a paranormal series by the name of the Aswang series, which will consist of about ten novels. And if that wasn’t enough, there is another series, Guardians of Monsters, which will be released in 2016.

Author’s Links: 

Blog | Facebook Book Series Page | G+

Twitter | Website | Fire Quill Publishing

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