Book Review: Woman of Honor by Nicole Zoltack

Goodreads summary:

Aislinn of Bairbhe dreams of becoming a lady knight to honor the death of her fallen brother. To her mother's horror, King Patrick grants Aislinn's wish and she begins her long years of training.

Despite the mockery of the other pages, and the disdain of Prince Caelan who also trains to be a knight, Aislinn commits herself to her dreams and embarks on a journey of self-discovery and bravery. Through the years, Aislinn and Caelan grow from sparring classmates to good friends. They both know that someday Caelan will marry for the sake of the kingdom, but even that cannot keep them from falling in love.

The threat of war with the Speicans is a constant threat, and one that grows more frightening as she and Caelan train toward their eventual knighthood. Aislinn has committed herself to serving Arnhem, and has promised herself as King's Champion when Caelan claims the throne. She is willing to give up everything... her childhood, her life, even her heart for Arnhem. No matter the pain it brings.

My review:

This is a great fantasy book!  It reminded me a lot of Tamora Pierce's "Protector of the Small" series, which is also about a girl who trains to become a knight.  Woman of Honor is perfect for fans of that series.

I really enjoyed Aislinn's character.  I love how she knows what she wants and is determined to keep fighting, no matter what.  She's easy to admire, and I liked watching her journey as she grew up and became a knight.  I also liked the addition of secondary characters, like her friends Caelan and Geoffrey; they definitely added to the plot. 

The plot held my interest.  It starts off when Aislinn is seven years old, and continues up to the point when she's an adult.  So there were always lots of plot developments happening, as Aislinn gradually learns to fit in at the palace and help keep her country safe.  The ending was definitely full of action and had me biting my nails.

There were a couple things I didn't quite like.  Sometimes, a conflict or problem in the story seemed to be resolved a little too easily and conveniently.  And there's the fact that Aislinn is seven during the first part of the story.  The way she talks and acts makes her seem much more mature than her years.  I guess that in a different time period, young children would grow up more quickly.  Still, it seemed like she was a little too mature for her age at times.

But these are minor problems, and I still enjoyed the story a great deal.  With a well-developed storyline and a great cast of characters, Woman of Honor is a perfect read for fantasy fans.  You'll especially love this if you're a fan of Tamora Pierce's work!

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

My rating:  7 out of 10 (3.5 stars)

~ The Bookworm

Waiting on Wednesday (24)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases we can't wait to read.

My pick is Belladonna by Fiona Paul!

Goodreads summary:

In Renaissance Italy, love, lust, intrigue and secret societies converge to stunning results!

In the second in the stunning Secrets of the Eternal Rose series, Cassandra Caravello is trying to forget Falco, the wild artist who ran off with her heart, as she grows closer to her strong, steady fiancé, Luca. But Luca seems to have his own secrets. When he’s arrested by soldiers in the middle of the night, Cass’s life is once again thrown into chaos. She must save Luca, and that means finding the Book of the Eternal Rose—the only evidence that will prove he’s innocent.

So begins her journey to Florence, a city haunted by whispers of vampirism, secret soirees and clandestine meetings of the Order of the Eternal Rose. And home to Falco, who is working for the Order’s eerily stunning leader, the Belladonna herself.

Can Cass trust her heart to lead her to the truth this time?
Nothing is as it seems in this seductive thriller, where the truth may be the deadliest poison of all.

My thoughts:

Eep, I can't wait for this!  I really enjoyed Venom, the first book in this series.  What's great is that the first book came out last October, and now Belladonna's coming out in July!  So excited that I don't have to wait a whole year to read Belladonna. :)

What are you waiting on this week?

~ The Bookworm

Book Review: Nobody by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Goodreads summary:

There are people in this world who are Nobody. No one sees them. No one notices them. They live their lives under the radar, forgotten as soon as you turn away.

That’s why they make the perfect assassins.

The Institute finds these people when they’re young and takes them away for training. But an untrained Nobody is a threat to their organization. And threats must be eliminated.

Sixteen-year-old Claire has been invisible her whole life, missed by the Institute’s monitoring. But now they’ve ID’ed her and send seventeen-year-old Nix to remove her. Yet the moment he lays eyes on her, he can’t make the hit. It’s as if Claire and Nix are the only people in the world for each other. And they are—because no one else ever notices them.

My review:

I've really enjoyed some of Jennifer Lynn Barnes's other books, so I was hoping it meant I'd like this one.  Unfortunately, I just couldn't get into it at all.  I couldn't stand Claire or Nix, and the insta-love made me want to gag.

Claire has got to be one of the most depressing protagonists I've ever read about.  She has zero self-esteem and thinks she's totally pathetic.  I get that this was important to the plot, but it just made her terribly unlikeable as a character.  For example, when Nix breaks into her house to kill her, she starts thinking about how attractive he is.

He's a random stranger pointing a gun at her head.  And yet this makes her happy because no one ever notices her.  So she starts swooning over his "blue eyes, so light that she wondered if they glowed in the dark," and declares, "he was the most beautiful boy she'd ever seen."  And yes, all of this happens while he's holding a gun at her.



Frankly, I thought it was creepy.  The romance only got worse as Nix and Claire decided to run away together.  Nix decides he's in love with Claire, but he can't be with her because he's an assassin and he's too dangerous for her to be around - "He didn't deserve her, and now that she knew that truth, she must hate him."  A good portion of the book was filled with melodramatic statements like that, and it just ruined the story.  Not to mention that by the end of the book, Nix says, "You tamed me, Claire.  I love you, just so you know."



Um, they barely know each other.  Yeah, sorry, that's not love. 

Thankfully, there was some action in the last half, but by then I was so bored that I really didn't care what was going on.  Although this has a cool premise, it just didn't live up to my expectations.  The melodramatic characters simply had no self-esteem, and the insta-love and romance was borderline creepy.  I'm not interested enough to continue with this series.

My rating:  4 out of 10 (2 stars)

~ The Bookworm

ARC Review: Spies and Prejudice by Talia Vance

Goodreads summary:

Fields’ Rule #1: Don’t fall for the enemy.

Berry Fields is not looking for a boyfriend. She’s busy trailing cheaters and liars in her job as a private investigator, collecting evidence of the affairs she’s sure all men commit. And thanks to a pepper spray incident during an eighth grade game of spin the bottle, the guys at her school are not exactly lining up to date her, either.

So when arrogant—and gorgeous—Tanner Halston rolls into town and calls her “nothing amazing,” it’s no loss for Berry. She’ll forget him in no time. She’s more concerned with the questions surfacing about her mother’s death.

But why does Tanner seem to pop up everywhere in her investigation, always getting in her way? Is he trying to stop her from discovering the truth, or protecting her from an unknown threat? And why can’t Berry remember to hate him when he looks into her eyes?

With a playful nod to Jane Austen, Spies and Prejudice will captivate readers as love and espionage collide.

My review:

I LOVE Pride & Prejudice retellings!  The problem is, Pride & Prejudice retellings tend to be *exactly* like the original, just in a modern setting.  They need to be able to stand on their own as a story.  So I really appreciated the fact that Spies and Prejudice manages to be unique and has its own storyline.

Ah, Berry.  Just like Lizzie Bennet, she's full of spunk and always speaks her mind.  I love how independent she is; she definitely captures the spirit of Lizzie Bennet.  And Tanner (aka Mr. Darcy) is so funny - he's awkward and yet sweet.  I also thought it was clever that Berry's best friend, Mary Chris, is the Jane Bennet of the story.  It was an interesting change that she was the best friend instead of the older sister, and I thought it worked really well with the novel's storyline.

I really enjoyed the plot.  It's light and funny, filled with awesomely clever dialogue, and of course, there's lots of action, chases, and high-tech spy gadgets.  An all-around fun read!  There are some slightly predictable twists at times, but I was enjoying the story so much that I didn't really mind. 

I'd recommend Spies and Prejudice to anyone.  There's no need to have read Pride & Prejudice to understand this, and anyway, as I said above, Spies and Prejudice does a great job of standing on its own.  If you like spunky heroines, snappy dialogue, and a fast-paced plot, definitely give this a try.  It's one of the best Pride & Prejudice retellings I've read.  I'm looking forward to reading more of Talia Vance's work!

* I received a free copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.  Thanks!

My rating:  8 out of 10 (4 stars)

~ The Bookworm

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Favorite Covers of Books I've Read

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by Broke and Bookish.  Each week, a new list topic is posted, and book bloggers fill in their choices.  This week's topic is "Top Ten Favorite Covers of Books I've Read."

My Top Ten:

Can you tell that I'm a big fan of girl-in-the-dress covers?  LOL.  And did anyone else have a hard time choosing covers?  I have so many favorite covers that I love!

What's on your TTT this week?

~ The Bookworm

Mini Reviews: Embrace, The Diviners, and The Madman's Daughter

Goodreads summary:


It starts with a whisper: “It’s time for you to know who you are…”

Violet Eden dreads her seventeenth birthday. After all, it’s hard to get too excited about the day that marks the anniversary of your mother’s death. As if that wasn’t enough, disturbing dreams haunt her sleep and leave her with very real injuries. There’s a dark tattoo weaving its way up her arms that wasn’t there before.

Violet is determined to get some answers, but nothing could have prepared her for the truth. The guy she thought she could fall in love with has been keeping his identity a secret: he’s only half-human—oh, and same goes for her.

A centuries-old battle between fallen angels and the protectors of humanity has chosen its new warrior. It’s a fight Violet doesn’t want, but she lives her life by two rules: don’t run and don’t quit. When angels seek vengeance and humans are the warriors, you could do a lot worse than betting on Violet Eden…
Mini-review:

Why this book is so popular is beyond me.  I just really don't see how others can enjoy it.  Shall I mention the indecisive main character?  Or the weird love triangle?  Maybe the way one of her love interests is a freaky, manipulative stalker.  And don't forget the cliché, airheaded best friend who serves no role in the book other than to encourage the MC to get a boyfriend.  As for the plot, I haven't even gotten started on that...

Basically, this book was like one big train wreck for me.  There wasn't anything I liked.  What irks me the most is the way Violet never knows what she wants.  One second she hates being part angel and "just wants to live a normal life!" then she gets mad at one of the guys she's in love with (I don't remember his name) and is all, "You lied to me my whole life!" and THEN she meets another guy and falls in love (or lust, actually) with him.  And of course, she can't make up her mind and constantly switches between the two guys.  Not only that, but this second love interest actually manipulates what she thinks.  Yes, he can manipulate her mind.  And she still trusts him.  Am I the only one who finds this creepy?

The story itself was torture to read.  The plot just bored me and was much like any other angel/paranormal/romance book.  Definitely not continuing this series.

My rating:  2 out of 10 (1 star)

Goodreads summary:

Evie O'Neill has been exiled from her boring old hometown and shipped off to the bustling streets of New York City--and she is pos-i-toot-ly thrilled. New York is the city of speakeasies, shopping, and movie palaces! Soon enough, Evie is running with glamorous Ziegfield girls and rakish pickpockets. The only catch is Evie has to live with her Uncle Will, curator of The Museum of American Folklore, Superstition, and the Occult--also known as "The Museum of the Creepy Crawlies."

When a rash of occult-based murders comes to light, Evie and her uncle are right in the thick of the investigation. And through it all, Evie has a secret: a mysterious power that could help catch the killer--if he doesn't catch her first.

Mini-review:

After recently going through post-Downton Abbey depression, I decided I needed to read a historical book set sometime around that time period.  And WOW, The Diviners was not a disappointment at all.  This is truly a hidden gem of a book.  You simply can't go wrong when you combine the 1920's and a supernatural murder mystery.

Okay, I love Evie.  Sure, she's a little airheaded at times, but despite all her faults, this girl is hilarious and real and a truly unique protagonist that I loved.  And how about the romance, which developed ever so slowly and sweetly - finally, an achingly realistic romance.  Then there's the setting, which is described so well.  Libba Bray really is amazing at creating the mood and atmosphere of the 1920's.  And the mystery was so creepy and suspenseful!  I loved the dark twists and turns.

The only thing I wasn't completely crazy about is how long the book is.  It's nearly 600 pages, and I do think *some* of it could have been cut out.  Still, the writing is so rich and gorgeous that it more than makes up for the length of the book!  I will definitely be reading more by Libba Bray and I am highly anticipating the sequel to The Diviners!

My rating:  9 out of 10 (4.5 stars)

Goodreads summary:

In the darkest places, even love is deadly.

Sixteen-year-old Juliet Moreau has built a life for herself in London—working as a maid, attending church on Sundays, and trying not to think about the scandal that ruined her life. After all, no one ever proved the rumors about her father's gruesome experiments. But when she learns he is alive and continuing his work on a remote tropical island, she is determined to find out if the accusations are true.

Accompanied by her father's handsome young assistant, Montgomery, and an enigmatic castaway, Edward—both of whom she is deeply drawn to—Juliet travels to the island, only to discover the depths of her father's madness: He has experimented on animals so that they resemble, speak, and behave as humans. And worse, one of the creatures has turned violent and is killing the island's inhabitants. Torn between horror and scientific curiosity, Juliet knows she must end her father's dangerous experiments and escape her jungle prison before it's too late. Yet as the island falls into chaos, she discovers the extent of her father's genius—and madness—in her own blood.

Inspired by H. G. Wells's classic The Island of Dr. Moreau, The Madman's Daughter is a dark and breathless Gothic thriller about the secrets we'll do anything to know and the truths we'll go to any lengths to protect.

Mini-review:

Most people seem to love this book, and while I enjoyed it, there were some aspects that failed to impress me.  I never really connected with the main character, and she really didn't seem to have much of a personality.  The love triangle was unnecessary and a bit annoying at times.  I didn't care for either of the love interests, although I do appreciate the way the love triangle ended up becoming important to the plot.

So although I didn't like the main character or romance much, I loved the creepiness of the plot.  It's so suspenseful, horrifying, and scary.  Yes, the story dragged on and there were a few times I got bored, but overall I loved the gory, gothic feel to the story.  So if you're looking for a gothic thriller, I'd definitely recommend this, but keep in mind that there are a few tedious clichés mixed in.

My rating:  7 out of 10 (3.5 stars)

Waiting on Wednesday (23)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases we can't wait to read.

My pick is A Darkness Strange and Lovely by Susan Dennard!

Goodreads summary:

Following an all-out battle with the walking Dead, the Spirit Hunters have fled Philadelphia, leaving Eleanor alone to cope with the devastating aftermath. But there’s more trouble ahead—the evil necromancer Marcus has returned, and his diabolical advances have Eleanor escaping to Paris to seek the help of Joseph, Jie, and the infuriatingly handsome Daniel once again. When she arrives, however, she finds a whole new darkness lurking in this City of Light. As harrowing events unfold, Eleanor is forced to make a deadly decision that will mean life or death for everyone.

My thoughts:

So excited for this!  I just finished reading the first book in this series, Something Strange and Deadly, and absolutely loved it.  It was charming and creepy at the same time.  Luckily for me, I don't have to wait long for this sequel - it releases July 23.  Can't wait to read it!

What are you waiting on this Wednesday?

~ The Bookworm