Heaven's Fate

http://www.amazon.com/Heavens-Fate-Andre-Alan-ebook/dp/B00AUGS9M0/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&qid=1385136935&sr=8-10&keywords=heaven%27s+fate

Rating:  3 stars

I received a copy of Heaven's Fate from the author for an honest review.  The first thing that grabbed me, on the Kindle copy, was the formatting issue.  I know, being an author myself, that there can be some difficulties in converting a paper copy to kindle format.  That being said, though, the format made it a little difficult to read.  I tend not to give descriptions of my books on an amazon review; you know the description, which is why you're reading it, right?  The writing style itself was a little disjointed and strange, and I felt the story was rushed.  Instead of trying to do so much in the first book, I think the author could have done much more justice by putting more into the backstory and focusing more on the conflict between his father's killer and himself.  As it was, I felt I knew the characters less at the end of the novel than I did at the beginning.

As the story unfolded, I became intrigued with the story created with Thame, his "aunt", and the other characters that began to make their appearance.  They were well-rounded, all with their own flaws and circumstantial strengths and weaknesses.  For that, I commend the author.  It made for a much more enjoyable read.  The storyline was an interesting one, and the blending of two genres that are related, but traditionally separate from each other, made this book a unique one to read.

The fusion between fantasy and sci-fi for me, though, began to pull away from the story.  In my own mind, and as a fantasy writer and avid reader, to blend the two genres is a taboo, and a risky thing to try unless it's done right.  I thought that the fusion took away from the story; the las-pistols mixed with the magical incantations, the technology vs the prophecy and magical swords, all twisted into a confusing blend.  I think the story would have been much more fantastic if the author had stuck to one genre, either placing the novel entirely into the realm of fantasy or entirely into the realm of science fiction.

Overall, I think that Andre did very well on this novel.  It is a read I would probably pick up again, and I am looking forward to seeing his next book, to see what mischief Thame can get up to, and to hopefully get to know more about the characters and the drama that is unfolding within.

The Chocolate War

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BRUQ51A/ref=cm_cr_mts_prod_img

Rating:  3 stars

The book started out well, the descriptions were vivid and the characters were interesting.  I found myself drawn into the world that Archie, Goober, and Jerry created, and then the author left me feeling almost cheated at the end of the book.  The same story and the same scene kept being repeated over and over again, which made me lose a little bit of interest.  Don't get me wrong, it's a very quick read--I finished it in two hours.  But, with it being a quick read, I felt that the plot just...ended.  The moral of the story, one that was targeted towards young adults, was a pretty depressing one, to be honest.  I read this book for a book club at work, and I'm afraid it fell short of what I wanted it to be. I remembered reading it in high school as an assignment, and now, rereading it as an adult, I'm just not impressed.

The Trouble With Spells

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004RRB2WW/ref=cm_cr_ryp_prd_img_sol_0

Rating:  5 stars

This series is a truly addicting one.  I got the first book for free long ago, and then I subsequently bought every other book that followed because I couldn't get enough.  Lacey's ability to weave a story and to create characters that are not only memorable, but enjoyable as well, is a true testament to her skill as an author.  The storyline never stopped moving, and the action didn't stop, even up until the final page.  Looking for critiques on the book, I can't even really find any, to be truthfully honest.  I enjoyed the book from cover to cover, and this is the third time I have read it through!  For anyone who is a fan of magical novels, and of characters who you never want to let go, then this is the book for you.  I especially liked the way she addressed the darker aspect of magic--very interesting, and ingenious!

Shadow of Death

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003YFJ5UO/ref=cm_cr_ryp_prd_img_sol_0

Rating:  4 stars

I admit, from the first page this book had me comletely hooked.  The premise of story, such a controversial time in history, has always fascinated me, and this was no exception.  I love medical dramas, being in the medical field myself, so this was right up my alley.  The story started out strong, and the tension never stopped building, not even up to the last pages.  That being said, though, there were definitely some jarring errors I noticed within this novel.

First, the drama that is involved right at the beginning of the book between Laura and Johnny seemed a little...rushed, a little brushed off.  I understand it was written within a rush of riotous scenes, but still.  The casualness in which her husband brushed off their lack of love life bothered me a little too. I know for one my husband would at least find it suspicious.

The book, though, hit quite a few things right on the head as far as accuracy goes, especially the affair and the failed relationships between the human doctors.  From what I have seen, it's all too common for that to happen in the medical world.  The action was intense, and the story kept me clinging to the pages until I got to the last page.  

Double Dare

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0061YAUG8/ref=cm_cr_ryp_prd_img_sol_0

Rating:  4 stars

I very much enjoyed this short little story.   The characters of Lou and Sam were connectable, and enjoyable to interact with.  The storyline started off a little odd, but as soon as the two met, instant chemistry was in the air.  I love the idea of Double Dare, and I love that there could be something like this where you plan your own adventure.  I would have loved to have more of this to read, and I would have loved the author to continue the story, more time with Sam and Lou.  There were some spelling and grammatical errors within the novel, but they weren't enough to detract from the story, and the story kept me occupied from start to finish.  I got this book for free, and it was not a regrettable acquisition.

Awaken His Eyes

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0051BBHGE/ref=cm_cr_ryp_prd_img_sol_0

Rating:  3 stars

This book started out well, and it was a very interesting premise, but the author lost me at a few critical points.  The first was that time jumps happened frequently, and with no announcement except in the next paragraph.  I don't like books that leave me jumping around trying to guess what it is I'm reading, and when it takes place.  The storyline was a unique one, and I found myself becoming personally invested in especially the story of Kael and Maeryn, but the other characters weren't so memorable for me.  Too many things were left unanswered, leaving more questions than anything.

Soul In Present Condition

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00EN0ZOC2/ref=cm_cr_mts_prod_img

Rating:  3 stars

This is the first book I have read from this author, and I got a copy in exchange for an unbiased review.  Upon receiving the book, there were a few things that immediately caught my attention.  At the very beginning, the author starts by writing out descriptions of people, then giving them first names, then whole names.  That, to me, was a little thrown off.  It made it difficult for me to follow if she was talking about the same people, or someone new entirely. 

The storyline itself is a unique one, that much I can say.  The idea of a real estate agent who can talk to ghosts was one that made me raise my eyebrow, but the story itself did not disappoint.  From the very beginning, when she encounters her first spectre, the story grabbed me and sucked me in.  The characters are vivid and pleasant to read about, even if I did want to punch a few vampires in the face.  That was another thing--I liked the blending of paranormal entities in this novel.  It was a smooth transition, and the fact that vampires were involved in the human world, with the ghosts, didn't deter from the story at all. 

As far as critiques go, I felt that this novel needed quite a bit of polishing, which is why I couldn't bring myself to give it 5 stars.  I cringed at the amount of fragmented sentences and inappropriate punctuation thrown in.  At first, I was about to give up on the novel because of the grammatical errors, but I stuck with it, and I wasn't disappointed.  When I got a copy of this novel, it was called a "stand-alone" or part of a series.  I don't think this novel could stand by itself.  There were certainly some points where I was confused about what the connections were between characters, or why relationships were the way they were.  However, if you are looking for a decent read, and are not a grammar Nazi, this will be the book for you!