momwithareadingproblem's reviews
1177 reviews

WARNING:
There will be gushing in this review and


Fae by [a:C.J. Abedi|7155061|C.J. Abedi|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/authors/1375798678p2/7155061.jpg] is book one of a series by the same name and centers around two main characters, Caroline Ellis and Devilyn Reilly. Caroline is a high school junior, well educated, and considers herself an old soul. She doesn't care what people think about her, that is until she sees Devilyn for the first time. Devilyn is also a high school junior, or at least he is pretending to be. He is actually a part of a prophecy, a prophecy that involves Caroline and his job, his destiny as he sees it is to protect her at all costs.

I don't think I can say enough just how much I loved this book! From beginning to end, I was hooked. The world-building is so detailed and so intertwined with the main story that it felt real. The authors blend mythology with the world they've created seamlessly. There are characters from Norse mythology (Odin being a main character!) and then of course the world of the Fae and the Goddess Dana. I personally can't compare it to other Fairy fantasy books because I haven't read much of that genre, but this book now has me hooked!

The Characters
Caroline and Devilyn are the main characters of this particular story but there are also some wonderful ancillary characters. Teddy is Caroline's life-long friend and a potential to create a love triangle (ugh! I personally hope not, hate love triangles!!). He's fun loving, carefree, and smart like Caroline, taking all AP classes. Caroline's mom is also another favorite of mine. She pushes her daughter out of her comfort zone but loves her immensely. Then there's Famous, Caroline's dog. I'm not sure how the authors did it, but Famous has such a cute personality that if I could find him I would bring him home with me! Odin is a great character as well, obviously he is the All-Father and we get a chance to see him on Earth and in Valhalla which was just cool. He raised Devilyn and loves him very much. Then there's Alderon the high elder of the Dark Fae. He makes for an excellent villain. He has just the right amount of cunning and intimidation to actually make him formidable and semi-likeable (I love a good villain!)

The Plot
The book itself starts with the story of the lost colony (which if you are a history buff, you know is a real legend) and then the prophecy. In other words, you get the story almost in its entirety up front. Which is a great hook!!! However after that, the plot drags a bit. I personally loved the characters enough to stick through the lull but I know from reading other reviews many did not. This particular book focuses on the relationship between Devilyn and Caroline. There are definitely times where I wanted to yell at Devilyn because he was wishy-washy in his feelings. Well, I take that back. Not wishy-washy in his feelings but on how he would act on those feelings which left poor Caroline (and me) very upset! The climax comes in the last few chapters of the book and definitely left me wanting more!!

Overall, I loved this book and can't wait to see just where the series will go from here. The imagery, the blending of mythology, history, and the authors' own creation are so well written the world comes alive on the pages. Personally I'm counting down the days to the next installment (hurry May!!!!). If you enjoy books about fairy mythology, young adult lit, and romance I highly recommend this book. I don't think you'll be disappointed!

I received a copy of this ebook from the authors in exchange for an honest review.

I can honestly say that I have never laughed so hard while reading a book. I literally woke my husband up from a dead sleep because I was laughing hysterically!

Backward Compatible: A Geek Love Story by Sarah Daltry and Pete Clark takes a spin on romance and blends it with the gaming world and those who follow it. Katie is a hardcore gamer who while trying to buy a video game at a midnight release (which also included some cosplay) gets the game snatched out of her hands by George who happens to be a guy version of Katie (in my humble opinion).

These are my kind of guys, and I am a girl in a game store. Since I know it won't result in actual violence, I have no problem playing the boob card. -Katie

I loved these characters and the alternating POV! Katie and George are both home from college for their Christmas breaks and with a new game release plan to spend the break beating this game. When the unfortunate turn of events leaves them fighting over the game (Katie won, playing dirty I might add), a very awkward relationship begins. Katie is awesome! She is awkward, never having dated much, but she is very comfortable in her own skin, not seeming to care what others think and an excellent gamer. George is definitely the insecure guy who has never socialized much, if at all, except for those he knows through Xbox live. In addition to the main characters there are some pretty awesome ancillary characters, such as Lanyon, George's best friend who reminds me a lot of a friend of mine growing up. He is constantly coming up with one liner jokes and bless him he doesn't know when to stop.

"Feel my openhanded rage, you petulant nad nibbler," he taunts me. We're educated college students. And this is how we spend our nights. Pretty sweet really. -George

The plot of this story is fairly simple and two-fold. 1) Beat the mega-hidden-boss in new video game and be the first group to do it & 2) Get the girl. If you are not a hardcore gamer, that's ok. You will still understand some of what is happening in this book. If you are a hardcore gamer, you will not only understand what is going on but also get all the hidden jokes and similes which are quite funny. One of my favorite parts is where George, in a sleep-deprived state, decides to write a poem to Katie that basically equates her and his feelings for her to several different games (and I was quite proud of myself that I got them all!) And as a true geek/nerd myself, I think I may have found a new book boyfriend when George crafted Link's heart and gave it to Katie (((sigh)))

Is this your typical women's lit romance? Absolutely NOT!!! However, it is enough of a romance to fall into that category. Will you enjoy it? I did. I loved it! But I am also a geek/nerd/former-gamer myself so the jokes, the guy humor, and the all-out pop-culture references to things like Lord of the Rings and Star Wars I totally got and loved. This book must have been written for me because the authors nailed it, in fact I think this would be hilarious (if the authors were involved that is) on the big screen. Awkward at times and laugh so hard you snort this book is well worth the read.

I knew this would be a good book when I started it and before the first chapter there was a list of key characters. Always a good sign :) This is historical fiction at its best. I personally have always been fascinated by ancient Rome and this particular story centers around Livia Drusilla, the wife of Augustus Caesar. I'm not sure what I expected when I started this book, but now that I have read it, all historical fiction after will be ranked according to this one.

I Am Livia by [a:Phyllis T. Smith|7267515|Phyllis T. Smith|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/authors/1381566705p2/7267515.jpg] is a memoir about the life and loves of Livia Drusilla. Told in first person POV, Livia at the ripe old age of 86 begins to tell the story of her life and how it began with her at the age of 14 overhearing her father planning the death of Julius Caesar. From there the story is captivating and moves quickly.

I wonder sometimes how I will be remembered. As mother of my country, as men call me to my face, or as a monster?

At first, I wasn't sure if I would like Livia, but I fell in love with her. Well-educated and loyal to a fault, she follows her father like all daughters do. She does as he asks, entering a loveless marriage at 14 and even follows his ideals about a free Republic. However, she adapts to her situation and the situation of Rome, and begins to make her own choices. If you've ever heard the phrase "a man is the head of the house, but the woman is the neck and can turn the head in whichever way she prefers", it depicts Livia perfectly. She excelled at this skill, letting her husbands and other men believe it was their choice, not her suggestion. Yet despite that, I could not hate her. The author wrote with such grace about the reasoning behind all of Livia's decisions that I could see myself making those same choices and mistakes as she did. Men like to say that women are ruled by emotions, but it's those emotions that dictate our actions and the author depicts this with Livia well.

I really liked and loathed the other characters accordingly. Tiberius Nero, Livia's first husband who in today's standards was old enough to be her father when they wed, was an excellent character. He was kind, loving, and though Livia didn't return her feelings for him until near their divorce, he never questioned her loyalty for him. I really liked him but in a brotherly way. Tavius, or as we know him from the history books Augustus Caesar, had a charismatic personality and I was instantly drawn/attracted to him as Livia was. He held a certain charm and with his ease of words won the Roman people's hearts. It is no wonder that with Livia at his side, he was unstoppable.

The main focus of this story centered around the ten or so years following the death/assassination of Julius Caesar and the events that affected Livia's life and family. It's a wonderful portrayal of the Roman empire during it's heyday. Also a sweet, romantic story of finding love with the one person you are destined for. Livia says they were two pieces of a puzzle, only complete together. It was a beautiful story, told as a great Roman epic, with modern vernacular which helped with the ease of reading it.

Overall, I truly enjoyed this story. It was emotional to say the least and I most certainly cried several times with Livia. But I loved it! While reading, it reminded me of the old TV movies about ancient Rome, except for once the main character of this Roman tell was a woman, not a man. This story is the tell of the woman behind Caesar, and I for one truly enjoyed every word! If you like historical fictions with a touch of romance and a lot of suspense, you will enjoy this book!

I literally could not set this book down! It is that good!

Tales of Ever by [a:Jen Wylie|4499919|Jen Wylie|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/authors/1291844312p2/4499919.jpg] is a collection of 6 short stories about a girl banished to a place called Ever. Misha is a sixteen year old orphan who like her parents before her is a firestarter. Because her gift isn't dormant like most women, her family she didn't even know she had banishes her to Ever, a magical prison for people from all realms who have done wrong. Ever is unlike any place she's known. A rainbow colored sky that indicates time and when drinkable water will be available, plants that will eat you and creatures that look cute but are deadly, Ever is Misha's personal hell. But when she finds out that her dad was banished to Ever as well, Ever becomes a place she can have a family again, all she has to do is find him.

I loved these characters! Told in first person from Misha's perspective, we get a glimpse into her fear, courage, and loyalty/love. For a sixteen year old, Misha is surprisingly a strong character, taking what happens in Ever in stride and not really wallowing in self-pity like I'm sure most would if their evil Uncle banished them to a magical realm of death. But Misha isn't alone. On her first day in Ever she meets Jadus, a young man who isn't human, in fact though most of his features look human, he's quite bird-like. Misha accidentally saves Jadus on her first day in Ever and Jadus takes her under his wing. Teaching her what she needs to know to survive this new world. I like Jadus, he's honorable, loyal, and very protective/sheltering of Misha. Then there's Shade. Misha meets him when she is split from Jadus. Shade is her shadow boy. When there is light he can project a shadow of himself that thinks and acts of its own accord. I love Shade, he's like an annoying older brother you can't get rid of.

But it's not the characters that make this story, it's Ever itself. This world is unlike anything I've ever read. Ever is a magical realm created to hold those who are banished. It's full of dangers. Pretty much all the food is poisonous, the plants can eat you, cute and cuddly animals have a mouthful of shark teeth ready to devour you in a moment of weakness. Then there's the not so cute animals that are just large and scary, like giant spiders, hawks the size of a small plane, and dragons. Then there's the beautiful imagery of the rainbow colored sky and the description of these deadly animals and plants. I felt like I was there. I just loved it!

My only dislike of this book was that I felt like the story moved too fast at times, and I would go back and reread a section thinking I'd missed something. Like in the very beginning when Misha becomes an orphan and her mother dies. One paragraph her mother is teaching her about her firestarter abilities, the next paragraph the summer is over and Misha is at her mother's funeral. I thought I'd missed something, but no it happened that fast. There were other instances throughout the book that I felt like there was missing time and I had a hard time keeping straight the timeframe of the story because of it.

Did this affect my overall liking of the book? Absolutely not. I still found this story intriguing and I really hope there will be more tales from Ever. This book can easily be a standalone, the author doesn't leave you hanging. Yes there are more questions at the end of the book, but for the most part it is all wrapped up neatly. Even so, I sincerely hope there will be more. I'd love to hear Jadus's and Shade's stories and others! Overall, if you enjoy YA lit, coming-of-age fantasy stories, this one is a must read! I don't think you'll be disappointed. I know I wasn't :)

I received a copy of this ebook from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Wow, Wow, WOW!!!! I'm not even sure where to begin. I loved this book so much!

The Dark King by [a:C.J. Abedi|7155061|C.J. Abedi|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1375798678p2/7155061.jpg] is the highly anticipated (at least by me) sequel to Fae and picks up a few months after the events at the end of book one. Devilyn is now the dark king, having banished his father Alderon to a Yew tree and embracing the dark that runs in his blood. Caroline is back to being clueless about her heritage, thanks to Devilyn who erased her memories at the conclusion of Fae, and she's never been in more danger. Puck, Alderon's faithful minion, has served his thousand year sentence and is back on Earth ready to wreak havoc on the unsuspecting humans. Oh and he'd love nothing more than to kill Caroline.

I love these characters! Caroline is your typical beautiful, nerdy high school student, or at least she thinks she is thanks to Devilyn's sly trick. And unfortunately that belief lasts much longer in the book than I liked. I was ready for her to remember sooner rather than later. But she is still a strong-willed, stubborn character and surprisingly she accepts her fate in stride this time. In fact, she's very accepting with a "what next" attitude. I loved it!

Devilyn's character struggles this book. After centuries of fighting the darkness in him, he is now the dark king. Everything he hates, he has become, and a part of him likes this, so of course he loathes himself. He refuses to accept Odin's unfailing love, and he is suspicious of his half-sister who betrayed him in the last book. His character does a lot of growing in this book, and it's his struggles that make for an emotional ride this book.

Teddy and Tatiana are back in this installment. Teddy is his fun-loving, comic relief self. His easy banter with Caroline and his nonchalant way of acting about....well, everything lends a lighter tone to this otherwise dark book. Tatiana is much more reserved this book. She truly regrets what she did to Devilyn and Caroline and is trying to fight the darkness that resides in her blood. And I for one hope she wins. I disliked her in Fae but her demeanor and character are so drastically different from book one that I felt sorry for her and actually began liking her.

There is an addition to this cast of characters, Rowan. Rowan is a warrior and prince of the Light Fae. We actually meet Rowan in book one briefly, but in this book he has been sent by Dana to protect Caroline now that Devilyn has gone dark. I love Rowan, he is the exact opposite of Devilyn's character. Rowan is fun, lighthearted, and he brings the real Caroline out of her shell. In fact, Caroline relies on Rowan and she wishes she felt for him the way she does for Devilyn. Love triangle you ask? Sorta. Not quite though and that's what makes his character even more likable in my opinion.

This installment is so fast paced, much more than book one. I found I couldn't read fast enough to keep up with the suspense! Between Puck's antics and Katya's jealousy, Devilyn and Caroline couldn't get a break. The majority of the action takes place in the last half of the book, when the entire junior class is on a week long camping trip. Once I hit the main action, I couldn't set the book down and finished it in just over a day.

But this book isn't all suspense. The turmoiled romance between Devilyn and Caroline is featured throughout the book. This back and forth on Devilyn's part of saying he doesn't want her and hurting Caroline so she won't want him when in reality she is all he wants/needs. And Caroline so angry with him, yet so in love that she is willing to do whatever it may take to have that once in a lifetime love. Their trials reminds me a lot of the song If I Never Knew You from Pocahontas, corny I know, but those first few lines fit Devilyn and Caroline perfectly.

I have no complaints about this book, no dislikes. That's a first for me! Even the major (and I mean that!!!) cliffhanger ending, I didn't hate. In fact, it just makes me want book three even more. I guess I'll wait a year like everyone else. If you enjoyed book one or enjoy fairy mythology blended with real historical facts, a little romance, and a lot of suspense, I highly recommend this book/series. You won't be disappointed!!!

I received a copy of this ebook from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

A long time ago, in the not so distant past, I believed that I hated zombies and all things to do with zombies. I thought zombies were the world's way of introducing gore into horror flicks and passing it off as scary. I mean really, what's so scary about a slow moving decomposing undead person? Nothing! Give me an axe and I'm good to go. Then The Walking Dead happened, and the book turned movie Warm Bodies. Now I am hooked. I love zombies! Does this mean there is something wrong with me? (((shrugs))) Maybe, but I don't care.

Until the End by [a:Tracey Ward|1305842|Tracey Ward|https://www.goodreads.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-d9f6a4a5badfda0f69e70cc94d962125.png] is, in my humble opinion, one of the best zombie stories I've read to date. The book begins with Alissa, a not-so-normal, twenty year old college student who after attending a therapy session returns to her dorm to find it ransacked and one of her roommates eating the other one in their shared bathroom. Hearing her screams, her neighbor Jordan runs in and saves her. Together they decide to leave the Portland and a crazy journey begins.

Shit, that's right. Wow. Pluto isn't a planet anymore, Twinkies are extinct and zombies walk the earth. If that doesn't spell out apocalypse, I don't know what does. -Jordan & Alissa

I seriously loved these characters! Alissa, at the age of 16, found her mother after she had killed her self by a bullet in the head. After this event, her uncle Syd forced her to attend therapy and because she hears/sees things that aren't there she is also on medication. Unfortunately for her, what she usually sees/hears is now reality. The dead are walking and want to eat the living. I found Alissa to be a survivor in every sense of the word. She is strong-willed, determined, and a fighter. She's also loyal, and by all rights scared to death of what will happen when her meds run out. But this doesn't stop her.

She asks Jordan to accompany her out of the city to her Uncle's place, where "the Fever" hasn't spread. Jordan is young, athletic, and a bit of a conspiracy theorist or at the very least a zombie/game enthusiast. Jordan has an uncanny knowledge about the zombies, how it's spread, how to escape it, and how to fight. He becomes Alissa's rock and who she looks to as the world falls apart around them. I really love Jordan. He's stoic, determined, just as stubborn as Alissa, but also lighthearted and tries to cheer up Alissa when he can. He's determined to make sure he saves Alissa from this new world and keep her safe.

I will not leave you. Not for anything. Not for your good, not for mine. We're in this together until the end. I promise you that. -Jordan

"The Fever" as it is dubbed in the book is not that unique from other zombie stories I've read, yet the chemistry between Alissa and Jordan is what makes the story good. Both are from completely different worlds and are now thrown together by chance or fate to fight their way out of Portland. Both have a unique sense of humor, very dark humor! They rely on each other and become very close. Sharing in each other's fears and dreams, I love the way the author depicted the slow falling in love of these characters.

I loved the whole thing, from start to finish, every word. It's just that awesome! Told from Alissa's POV, I felt her emotions as I read (which is awesome from a reader standpoint). The suspense as they fight their way out of Portland, the ironic dark humor of the characters, and the slow romance make for a quick easy read. And the ending isn't exactly cliffhanger, but it left me wanting more so badly that I went and bought book two and have already finished it as well! So if you like suspense, horror with not too much gore (but who am I kidding? It's zombies, there's gore!), and a little romance, do yourself a favor and head over to Amazon or where ever you purchase your ebooks and get a copy!

I received a copy of this ebook from the author in exchange for an honest review.

She's like a female version of Hawkeye and I'm a little disturbed about what that says about my feelings regarding Hawkeye. I try not to analyze it too much. -Jordan

In the End by [a:Tracey Ward|1305842|Tracey Ward|https://www.goodreads.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-d9f6a4a5badfda0f69e70cc94d962125.png] is the conclusion to the Quarantined series and picks up a few days after the end of book one. Jordan and Alissa have found her Uncle/Dad Syd and are now heading to the east, into the mountains and hopefully away from the horde of zombies. Told from Jordan's POV this time, the book is just as suspenseful, full of dark humor, some sexual tension and of course the testosterone-fueled quarrels between Syd and Jordan.

Just like with book one, I love these characters! Getting to see from Jordan's perspective this time is an added bonus. Jordan is at a bit of a disadvantage this book, having been shot in the shoulder towards the end of book one, his weapon of choice is out of the question. He has to rely on Ali and Syd to protect him, and unfortunately this means he must follow Syd's advice. Syd wants to find others, something he has argued with Ali about in book one and now despite his promise to never leave her, he thinks he may have no choice if he wants to live. I find Jordan to be a bit of a nutcase when it comes to the whole zombie apocalypse. I think he knows way more than he should, however because we are in his head this book I see that he is just making it up as he goes based on comics and video games!

Alissa is off her meds at the beginning of the book, having run out while on the road with Jordan. Syd thankfully had some for her, but it takes a while to build back up in her system. She is seeing things that aren't there and that scares Jordan, especially since she thought he was a zombie at the end of book one and nearly killed him. Again, I found Alissa to be a survivor in every sense of the word. She is a strong character, motivated by her sheer will to live and her new feelings for Jordan. She worries what will happen when her meds run out, and this is what motivates her to find more people, going against Jordan and siding with Syd.

Syd is the perfect antagonist to the not-so-happy couple. He is Alissa's dad and he asserts that authority when he can. He tries to overrule Jordan, and I think it's just because he wants to aggravate him, but at the same time he has Alissa to think of and she motivates everything he does. I like Syd. He is a typical dad, who is reluctant to rely on some boy's opinion on what to do in this dire situation.

The plot of this story centers around not the zombies so much as the quarantine that has been set up to keep the zombies from infecting the rest of the population. Unfortunately for Jordan, Alissa, and Syd, they are stuck in the small quarantine zone, supplies are limited, and zombies outnumber them. This makes for a tense relationships and tests the bounds of Alissa's sanity.

I personally love the relationship between Alissa and Jordan. Jordan has every right to leave now that he has gotten Alissa out of Portland and to Syd, but he made her a promise that he would stick with her no matter what until the end. At 18 and with Alissa's mental health on the decline, this tests Jordan's true character. The author does a great job of describing the internal conflict as Jordan decides to leave or stay.

You can't pick and choose your crazy. You've gotta roll with the one you've got. -Jordan

I loved this book from start to finish, just as much if not more than book one. I like the characters, the plot, the suspense, and the touch of romance the author put into this story. My only dislike was the ending. I felt it was a bit unconcluded/rushed. The characters' stories were over I guess, but I would've liked a little more, maybe just a page to wrap things up before the epilogue. The epilogue sets the stage for a sequel series called Survival, which I can't wait to start!! If you enjoy zombie books with a lot of suspense, a little romance, and some surprises you want to read this series. You won't be disappointed!

Sabaska's Tale by [a:J.A. Campbell|4708012|J.A. Campbell|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1299698978p2/4708012.jpg] is a delightful story about the love between a girl and her horse. The story begins with a prologue told from Sabaska's POV (Sabaska is the horse). Sabaska is recounting what happened to Sherrie her rider. You see, Sabaska isn't any ordinary horse, she's a Traveler from another world. She can cross into other world's just by thinking of them. The Travelers are at war with the Vanir and Sherrie is killed. (All of this occurs in the Prologue so I promise I'm not spoiling it for you). The story then cuts to Anna, Sherrie's granddaughter, who knows nothing of Sherrie's life as a rider, but shares her love for horses. Anna at 16 decides to stay on her grandmother's farm to sell her horses to good homes and in the process finds that grandmother was keeping a lot of secrets.

I liked this story. Anna is a sweet, innocent 16 year old girl who is grieving for her grandmother. She wants to do right by the horses and find them good homes, not just sell them to the highest bidder. She's alone on the farm, until a few days pass and Cody a boy around her age shows up to help clean the stalls and feed the horses. He says her grandmother paid him through the summer. Cody is bashful, but I took an instant liking to him. He seems to genuinely care about Anna. Then there is Cahir. He is one of the potential buyers and also looks to be around Anna's age. Anna is attracted to him, but I found him odd and was suspicious of him. And Sabaska! I loved this horse! She has a free-spirit and is very independent.

The plot was just ok I thought. After the suspenseful prologue, it took nearly half the book before Anna knew what Sabaska was and we got back to the main story: the Traveler's war with the Vanir. Also Anna learning what really happened to her grandmother. Before that it was a lot about what/how Anna took care of the horse's and selling them to other families. This part of the book dragged for me, probably because I know nothing about horses, but the last half of the book made up for it. Lots of action and suspense, and some world-building as Anna became immersed in the Traveler's lifestyle.

Overall, I did enjoy the book and I would definitely buy/recommend it. The ending is not a cliffhanger (yay!) so it can be read as a standalone, however the author definitely has left it open to add more stories. If you enjoy realistic-fantasy, YA lit, and are an animal lover, I think you would enjoy this book.

I received a copy of this ebook from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Summoned by [a:Rainy Kaye|7791215|Rainy Kaye|https://www.goodreads.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-d9f6a4a5badfda0f69e70cc94d962125.png] is a unique, fast-paced, action-packed fantasy about a young-man with a genie bond and what happens when his master asks him to do the impossible. Dimitri is twenty-three years old and doesn't know what it is like to live on independently. He lives his life under multiple aliases and as for love, it's all about one-night stands. That is until he meets Sydney, Syd for short. He can't get enough of her quick-wit, but she also has secrets. When her secrets meet his, the story becomes an all-out thriller that I couldn't sit down!

I loved the concept of this story! For me, this is the first story I've ever read about a genie (unless you include the short stories in Arabian Nights). Do not get this confused with the cute lovable Robin Williams's genie in Aladdin. This story is dark and twisted, and definitely not for younger readers! Dimitri is the main character and the story is told from his perspective. At fifteen, he inherited the genie-bond when his father died. His family as far back as anyone can remember has served the Walker family, and Karl Walker is the epitome of evil in this book. All he needs to say is "This I wish" and Dimitri is forced to do his service, which includes thieving, kidnapping, murder, and the occasional arson.

But what truly makes this story are the characters. Dimitri is written so well that his struggles are believable. It makes you think what would you do in his situation. He creates stories about the people he hurts for Karl to make it easier on his conscience. Yes he's a killer, but not by choice and the author makes that very clear in Dim's struggles. As for Syd, she is also a very secretive girl and her revelation blew my mind. Yet the relationship she builds with Dim is a little hard for me to grasp. I've never been in her shoes, so I can't say that I'd keep going back to a man that was repeatedly mean to me in his attempts to push me away, but she does. And it's this that makes her character likable to me. I guess because we are in Dim's head and see his struggle, I'd like to think that Syd sees it too and genuinely wants to help the poor guy.

As for the plot, there are so many twists and turns that I just couldn't keep them straight until the author tied them together in a nice, bloody bow! This story is truly about the genie-master bond and how Dim will escape it, if that's even possible. The journey to get to that point is fraught with murder, bombings, and quite a bit of romance as Dim tries to bury in his mind what Karl has forced him to do.

Overall, I truly enjoyed this book, probably more than I should have. I loved Dim's struggling character and Syd's secrets, but I also loved the story in general. Such a dark and twisted action-packed fantasy/romance, and even though it is listed as book one of the series it can be a standalone read. No cliffhanger! But readers be warned there is strong language, multiple sexual encounters, and violence (lots of violence!), so I would recommend this book for a mature audience and definitely those over 18. However, if you like a story that will make you think and take you into a whole new world (pun intended) you should really give it a go.