Review: Viper's Creed by T.L. Shreffler

Viper's Creed by T.L. Shreffler

Series: The Cat's Eye Chronicles #2
Genre: Fantasy
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Sora is having visions. Strange, terrifying visions brought on by her Cat's Eye necklace, an ancient and magical device. Spurred to action, she leaves her mother's cabin to find Crash, the mysterious assassin who once changed her life. She is certain that together, they can discover what the necklace is trying to tell her.

Crash is still on the run from the dark sorcerer, Volcrian, but now a plague is spreading across the land. Volcrian's quest for vengeance has awakened something far more evil than himself; a force that could destroy the entire kingdom. Together, he and Sora must harness the power of the Cat's Eye and kill the sorcerer before it's too late....

Top Ten Characters Everyone Except Me Loves

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish.

As soon as I saw this topic, I knew this week was going to be very interesting for me. I'm quite used to being the 'black sheep' in that I like characters others don't and I dislike characters that others do. Originally, I was supposed to split the list in half and have five of each - but then I started going through all my books, thinking of the well-loved characters that I just can't stand, and realized that this would be so much better. And so much more fun. *grins evilly*

Harry Potter
Harry Potter Series
By J.K. Rowling
Honestly, I've had problems with him since the first book - and it just got progressively worse the more time went on. It seems like he spends all his time either moping about not being able to do anything, or being all 'I'm better than you' to anyone that will listen.

Harry Dresden
The Dresden Files Series
By Jim Butcher
(Notice a pattern? Two magic-using Harry's! LOL) Okay, so I hate him for his misogyny, but also because he's very much the hardboiled get's beat up, the half naked girl falls into his arms, lather, rinse and repeat sort.

Finnikin
Finnikin of the Rock
By Melina Marchetta
He is an arrogant, cocky braggart - which could have been awesome, but he is NEVER brought down a few notches. He's so incredibly full of himself that it's like watching a strutting rooster that is just begging to be kicked.

Vin
Mistborn Series
By Brandon Sanderson
Yup, I said it! Vin is such a poorly done character. I couldn't stand how she's all strong and capable - but, don't worry, she's got a soft, mushy inside so she can break down into tears whenever the need arises. And it really pissed me off that in book two, her whole character arc revolves around whether she'd choose the safe, stable guy that she loves, or the dangerous guy that understands her. For pities sake, this isn't a YA romance!

Brody Carmichael
UnEnchanted
By Chanda Hahn
Creep! This guy is one of those horrible stalker-esque 'love interests' that, no matter how many times the girl tells him back off and leave her the hell alone, he knows she really doesn't mean it and continues to pester her because, after all, he knows best. Ugh!

Erevis Cale
Twilight Falling
By Paul S. Kemp
I can totally include this, even if all I can remember all these years later is that I hated him even though I can't recall why, right? Right. Anyway, this was back in my heavy D&D time and, if you were into the novels, you knew and loved this guy. I, for whatever reason, hated him.

Eli Ever
Vicious
By V.E. Schwab

Oh, man, this is one of those guys that's such a hypocrite. He's always so sure that he's the hero, that he's doing the right thing, and that he's so much better than everyone around him. Not to mention the fact that he want's to do a genocidal cleansing of what HE is - because he's the only one that isn't evil, impure of the bunch. (And people claim this book doesn't have a clear-cut villain!)


Luc
The Dispossessed Series
By Page Morgan
The dark, brooding, 'you can't be mine' love interest that, as soon as I met him, I wanted to strangle him. Not to mention the hot-tempered, jealous, stupid decisions he made and the way everything he ever wanted was just handed to him at the end because he's so wonderful. Blerg.


Meliara
Crown Duel
By Sherwood Smith
I don't really like using this word, but nothing else describes her so perfectly. She's a bitch. She's self-centered, self-obsessed, narrow minded, spoiled, useless, worthless little brat of a bitch.


Thomas
The Maze Runner
By James Dashner
A jerk AND a Gary Stu - oh, lucky me. Seriously, there was not anything I liked about him, but it was also really hard for me to pin down why I hate hi so much.

Hehehe
So, how many people disagree with me strongly? Go ahead, tell me I have no idea what a good character is. I can take it. Conversly, I'd love to hear if you agree with me on any of these. (Or if you know why I hate Erevis and Thomas so much.)

Wishlist For The Harry Potter Series

As far as I'm concerned, the series ends with book seven - not book eight. I view it as a kind of standalone in the world because it takes place so long after the events of the first seven books. And because it was originally a play script, not a book.

That being said, I have finally finished the series and I have thoughts to share. Later this week, I have a huge post where I talk about my feelings for the whole series. (Though if you want me to talk nice about it, don't read that post, because it's a rather unhappy one.)

Today though, I decided to talk about the things that I wish had been in the series. Or that we'd eventually get. Most of these thoughts aren't too nit-picky. ;)

#1 I wish Deathly Hallows had been told from someone else's perspective.
Anyone else's. Neville and Luna, especially.
It seems that in this book, Harry was even further away from the action than he was in Order of the Phoenix and I think following someone else (quite nearly anyone else) would have made the book a lot more interesting, I think.

#2 I wish the books had a 'spell glossary' that told us what each spell actually does.
Seriously, that would have been awesome. Can't remember what a spell does? Just flip to the glossary and follow along with the magic battles. (I think there's something like this on the net, but I want it in the books!)

#3 I wish the epilogue actually told us more about what everyone was doing.
I love those series that end with a quick look into each character's life. It doesn't have to be a lot, just a quick mention like Percy and Neville got would have been enough to make me happy. (And, we know hardly anything about the main characters lives now, except who they married. It would have been nice to know a little more about them, too.)

#4 I wish we'd get some 'companion' books.
I'd give just about anything for a Malfoy story - not necessarily just Draco, because I'd love to know more about his parents and/or his son - and a story about Regulus Black. Either one would make me so happy. I would also love to read a story/series about Tom Riddle before he became Voldemort/while he was becoming Voldemort.

#5 I wish Albus Severus Potter would wind up in Slytherin.
This is the HUGE reason I'm half interested in read The Cursed Child, because I would be so thrilled and excited if the son of the great hero Harry Potter would actually be sorted into the house that seems to have been synonymous with 'evil' in this world.


What are your wishes for the books? Anything you'd like to add or do you agree/disagree with me?

Author Trust

This is something that's actually been on my mind since late last year. You see, I was reading this book by one of my favorite authors and I couldn't help but think it was rather weak. That's not to say the book wasn't good - but there was a little something lacking in it to be as awesome as her other books.

Well, to make a long story short, there were moments I really struggled with reading the book (didn't like the direction it was headed, or it was moving too slow) but I still gave it four stars.

Thinking about this, I really did enjoy it that much - but only because I trusted the author enough to not totally ruin it for me. If I'd been reading a new-to-me author (or maybe one I didn't trust as much) I would have been more concerned about the direction - which would have made me enjoy it less.

Originally, I thought about calling this post 'Author Favoritism' - but then I realized, that's not what this is at all.

This is author trust, where I firmly believed that the author - who wrote so many books that I loved - would not write something I hated and 'break the trust.'

Honestly, after thinking about it I've realized this is something that's very important to me.

I want to feel that I trust the author. Sure, an author can rip my heart out and chop it up into little itty-bitty pieces and - as long as there's a nice, heavy bandage wrapped round it by the end of the book - I can still trust them.

I guess it's partially a case of finding an author that writes my type of books and doesn't have all the things in there that I don't want to read.

But it also takes a pretty special level of author trust for me to be reading part of a book where I can see things going so badly but feeling comfortable enough - having enough faith in the author - that I don't actually worry about how badly it could turn out.

Have you ever experienced what I like to call 'author trust'? Have you ever been in a similar situation like me? Or maybe you have no clue what I'm talking about? Either way, I'd love to hear your thoughts!

March TBR

This month I'm doing things a bit different. Partially inspired by Misty at The Book Rat's 'The Next Five.'

What I've done is grabbed a handful of books that either interest me or that I feel I need to read. I think I've chosen diverse enough books that, whatever my reading mood, I should do okay finding something that fits what I want to read.

Starbridge by A.C. Crispin

Whisper the Dead by Alyxandra Harvey

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

Voyage of the Shadowmoon by Sean McMullen

The Dreamer's Curse by Honor Raconteur

Radiance by Grace Draven


What are your reading plans for this month? Have you read any of these books?

March Releases

Another month, another slew of books that have caught my attention.

Released March 1st

Burning Glass by Kathryn Purdie
Sonya was born with the rare gift to feel what those around her feel—both physically and emotionally—a gift she’s kept hidden from the empire for seventeen long years. After a reckless mistake wipes out all the other girls with similar abilities, Sonya is hauled off to the palace and forced to serve the emperor as his sovereign Auraseer.

Tasked with sensing the intentions of would-be assassins, Sonya is under constant pressure to protect the emperor. One mistake, one small failure, will cost her own life and the lives of the few people left in the world who still trust her.

But Sonya’s power is untamed and reckless, her feelings easily usurped, and she sometimes can’t decipher when other people’s impulses end and her own begin. In a palace full of warring emotions and looming darkness, Sonya fears that the biggest danger to the empire may be herself.

As she struggles to wrangle her abilities, Sonya seeks refuge in her tenuous alliances with the volatile Emperor Valko and his idealistic younger brother, Anton, the crown prince. But when threats of revolution pit the two brothers against each other, Sonya must choose which brother to trust—and which to betray.


BURNING GLASS is debut author Kathryn Purdie’s stunning tale of dangerous magic, heart-rending romance, and the hard-won courage it takes to let go.

Into the Dim by Janet B. Taylor
When fragile, sixteen-year-old Hope Walton loses her mom to an earthquake overseas, her secluded world crumbles. Agreeing to spend the summer in Scotland, Hope discovers that her mother was more than a brilliant academic, but also a member of a secret society of time travelers. Trapped in the twelfth century in the age of Eleanor of Aquitaine, Hope has seventy-two hours to rescue her mother and get back to their own time. Along the way, her path collides with that of a mysterious boy who could be vital to her mission . . . or the key to Hope’s undoing.      Addictive, romantic, and rich with historical detail, Into the Dim is an Outlander for teens.

Releases March 8th

Facsimile by Vicki L. Weavil
For a ticket to Earth, seventeen-year-old Anna-Maria “Ann” Solano is willing to jettison her birth planet, best friend, and the boy who loves her. Especially since all she’s required to do is escort Dace Keeling, a young naturalist, through the wilderness of the partially terraformed planet Eco. Ann‘s determination to escape the limitations of her small, frontier colony never falters, until Dace’s expeditions uncover three secrets. One offers riches, one shatters Ann’s perceptions of herself, and one reveals that the humans stranded on Eco are not its only inhabitants.


Ann’s willing to sacrifice friendship and love for a new life on Earth. But when an entire species is placed in jeopardy by her actions, she must make a choice – fulfill the dream that’s always sustained her, or save the planet she’s never considered home.

The Forbidden Orchid by Sharon Biggs Waller
Staid, responsible Elodie Buchanan is the eldest of ten sisters living in a small English market town in 1861. The girls' father is a plant hunter, usually off adventuring through the jungles of China. 

Then disaster strikes: Mr. Buchanan fails to collect an extremely rare and valuable orchid, meaning that he will be thrown into debtors' prison and the girls will be sent to the orphanage or the poorhouse. Elodie's father has one last chance to return to China, find the orchid, and save the family—and this time, thanks to an unforeseen twist of fate, Elodie is going with him. Elodie has never before left her village, but what starts as fear turns to wonder as she adapts to seafaring life aboard the tea clipper The Osprey, and later to the new sights, dangers, and romance of China. 


But even if she can find the orchid, how can she find herself now that staid, responsible Elodie has seen how much the world has to offer?

A Tyranny of Petticoats by Assorted
From an impressive sisterhood of YA writers comes an edge-of-your-seat anthology of historical fiction and fantasy featuring a diverse array of daring heroines.

Criss-cross America — on dogsleds and ships, stagecoaches and trains — from pirate ships off the coast of the Carolinas to the peace, love, and protests of 1960s Chicago. Join fifteen of today’s most talented writers of young adult literature on a thrill ride through history with American girls charting their own course. They are monsters and mediums, bodyguards and barkeeps, screenwriters and schoolteachers, heiresses and hobos. They're making their own way in often-hostile lands, using every weapon in their arsenals, facing down murderers and marriage proposals. And they all have a story to tell.

With stories by:
J. Anderson Coats
Andrea Cremer
Y. S. Lee
Katherine Longshore
Marie Lu
Kekla Magoon
Marissa Meyer
Saundra Mitchell
Beth Revis
Caroline Richmond
Lindsay Smith
Jessica Spotswood
Robin Talley
Leslye Walton

Elizabeth Wein

Rebel of the Sands by Alwyn Hamilton
She’s more gunpowder than girl—and the fate of the desert lies in her hands.

Mortals rule the desert nation of Miraji, but mystical beasts still roam the wild and barren wastes, and rumor has it that somewhere, djinni still practice their magic. But there's nothing mystical or magical about Dustwalk, the dead-end town that Amani can't wait to escape from. 


Destined to wind up "wed or dead," Amani’s counting on her sharpshooting skills to get her out of Dustwalk. When she meets Jin, a mysterious and devastatingly handsome foreigner, in a shooting contest, she figures he’s the perfect escape route. But in all her years spent dreaming of leaving home, she never imagined she'd gallop away on a mythical horse, fleeing the murderous Sultan's army, with a fugitive who's wanted for treason. And she'd never have predicted she'd fall in love with him...or that he'd help her unlock the powerful truth of who she really is.

Releases March 29th

Guns and Dogs by T.A. Uner
An underachieving 17-year old must overcome the sudden loss of his father while simultaneously being recruited into a secret government agency dealing with alien threats to United States security.


Meanwhile, two outcast students find themselves part of a global conspiracy involving their high school.





And there we have the books that have caught my eye this month. Have you been lucky enough to read any of them? What did you think? Are you interested in any of the?

Top Ten Books To Read If You're In the Mood For Fun Fantasy

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish.

Dare I use the term 'noblebright'? Because, you see, I looked up 'the opposite of grimdark' on google, and this is the term that popped up. Honestly, I don't usually care for 'grimdark' and I'm not entirely sure I'd like 'noblebright'. I think my favorite is somewhere halfway between - ergo, fun fantasy.

So, here's some of my suggestions if you want to have a bit of fun in your fantasy read instead of everything being 'gloom, depression then everyone dies.' :)