A Natural History of Dragons: A Memoir by Lady Trent (Memoir by Lady Trent #1) by Marie Brennan

Summary:

You, dear reader, continue at your own risk. It is not for the faint of heart—no more so than the study of dragons itself. But such study offers rewards beyond compare: to stand in a dragon’s presence, even for the briefest of moments—even at the risk of one’s life—is a delight that, once experienced, can never be forgotten. . . .

All the world, from Scirland to the farthest reaches of Eriga, know Isabella, Lady Trent, to be the world’s preeminent dragon naturalist. She is the remarkable woman who brought the study of dragons out of the misty shadows of myth and misunderstanding into the clear light of modern science. But before she became the illustrious figure we know today, there was a bookish young woman whose passion for learning, natural history, and, yes, dragons defied the stifling conventions of her day.

Here at last, in her own words, is the true story of a pioneering spirit who risked her reputation, her prospects, and her fragile flesh and bone to satisfy her scientific curiosity; of how she sought true love and happiness despite her lamentable eccentricities; and of her thrilling expedition to the perilous mountains of Vystrana, where she made the first of many historic discoveries that would change the world forever.

Marie Brennan introduces an enchanting new world in A Natural History of Dragons.

Summary & Cover taken from Goodreads.com

Length: 336 pages (Hardcover)

Source: Toronto Public Library

Available Formats: Print/E-book/Audio

Publication Date: February 5th 2013 by Tom Doherty Associates

Dragons, adventure, strong heroines and an alternative take on history. Those are all words that I'd use to describe A Natural History of Dragons and for me finding a book that has all those things, and has them all in a fantastically written novel pretty much gained Marie Brennan a fan for life.

I'd been hearing such fantastic things about this one for months before I finally decided to hunker down and read it and right from page one I was completely, and utterly hooked. Just ask my Mister, as I recall I went a little hermit on him and ignored him for a bit to read it, it was that damn good.

I like how Marie Brennan  created such a spunky heroine in Isabella and how we got to see her go from little girl, to a teen girl and finally to a wonderfully outspoken and intelligent woman. It was nice to see that her passion for dragons stayed with her, even though for a time she did put it to the side her passion won out. She was just so earnest about her desires to study the dragons I could help but love her and I loved how much she loved her husband as well. He was such a sweetheart and so devoted to her I thought their interactions were perfect.

 

What I loved most though was that the book was written in a memoir format. It's one of my favourite styles of writing and I wish that I saw more of it. Sometimes when this format is used it can feel lacking, but Brennan sucked me into the story. I loved the feeling of being swept away into the world of Scriland (akin to Victorian England) and Vystrana which to me felt as though it were set in a place like northern China or Mongolia. I enjoyed the descriptive nature of the writing because it really made the sights, and sounds of Isabella's journey come alive. Plus, the beautifully depictions of dragons, which appear throughout the book just made it that more unique to me.

 

The story was fraught with adventure, a little romance and a lot of mystery due to strange happenings whilst Isabella is finally off exploring the world of Dragons. I went through all the emotions with this one and definitely see Isabella as one of my favourite heroines and can't wait to read more of her adventures since I'd rate this one as one of my top reads of last year.

 

I'd recommend this one to everyone. It has elements of historical fiction and fantasy mixed in very well that it doesn't feel like fantasy but it's got a whole lot of adventures in it that are sure to delight fans of dragons and strong heroines that don't take any one's crap.

Loved It!
★★★★ ★

 

To "Follow" Marie on Twitter CLICK HERE

To become a "Fan" of Marie on Goodreads CLICK HERE

To visit Marie's Website CLICK HERE

To purchase the book via Chapters Indigo CLICK HERE

To purchase the book via Kobo CLICK HERE

To purchase the book via Amazon CLICK HERE

To purchase the book via AmazonUK CLICK HERE

To purchase the book via The Book Depository CLICK HERE

To purchase the book via Barnes & Noble CLICK HERE

 

 

 

Throne of Jade (Temeraire #2) by Naomi Novik

 

Summary:

 

When Britain intercepted a French ship and its precious cargo–an unhatched dragon’s egg–Capt. Will Laurence of HMS Reliant unexpectedly became master and commander of the noble dragon he named Temeraire. As new recruits in Britain’s Aerial Corps, man and dragon soon proved their mettle in daring combat against Bonaparte’s invading forces.

Now China has discovered that its rare gift, intended for Napoleon, has fallen into British hands–and an angry Chinese delegation vows to reclaim the remarkable beast. But Laurence refuses to cooperate. Facing the gallows for his defiance, Laurence has no choice but to accompany Temeraire back to the Far East–a long voyage fraught with peril, intrigue, and the untold terrors of the deep. Yet once the pair reaches the court of the Chinese emperor, even more shocking discoveries and darker dangers await.

Summary & Cover taken from Goodreads.com

Length: 398 pages (Mass Market Paperback)

Source: Own

Available Formats: Print/E-book/Audio

Publication Date: April 25th 2006 by Del Rey

 

Back in March I read the first two books in the Temeraire series very close together. In fact I had barely finished the first one before I started the second one and I was so surprised that I did that because I don't do it very often.

 

When I first started Throne of Jade I was both excited and nervous. I was excited because I had loved the first book so much and I was nervous because I loved it so much and wanted it to keep up the momentum which can sometimes drop off when it comes to a second book in a series but I was so relieved to see that this wasn't the case with this novel at all.

 

This novel follows the growing juvenile dragon Temeraire and his keeper Captain Laurence as they travel by sea back to China the so-called rightful homeland as per request of both the Chinese and British Governments. Full of deception, heartbreak, joy, betrayal and of course copious amounts of adventure the author's writing really came together in this one.

 

Throne of Jade was full of plot twists with political undercurrents that made it a very intriguing and consuming read. Poor Mr. Turning the Pages was neglected for the couple of days that I spent reading the first two books in this series and I think he grew rather tired of me talking about talking dragons, months long sea voyages and battles with sea creatures. Throne of Jade was just one of those books that I had to talk about because it was so detailed and complex.

 

While I was pleased to see that the plot was so cohesive and detailed I was even more ecstatic to see that the characters of Will and Temeraire were growing and evolving so well. It was awesome to see their personalities coming out more and especially in the case of Temeraire as he along with Will were presented with some tough situations that have the potential to cause severe repercussions for not only the two of them but both the nations of England and China.

 

Overall, with all the new plot twists that were throne in, the story line was fantastic and I really enjoyed the descriptive way Naomi Novik described the scenes in her book especially when it came to China and the dragon's living there. It was a fantastic follow up to His Majesty's Dragon and I can't wait to read the third book in this fantastic series.

 

I would recommend this book to all those who read and enjoyed the first book in the series His Majesty's Dragon. If you haven't read the first book in the series I highly suggest doing so especially if you have a penchant for talking dragons, adventure, alternative history and well developed stories that are equally character and plot driven.

 

I read this book for the following reading challenges:

 

2013 150+ Reading Challenge

 

 

Loved it!
★★★★★

To "Like" Naomi Novik on Facebook CLICK HERE

To "Follow" Naomi Novik on Twitter CLICK HERE

To become a "Fan" of Naomi Novik on Goodreads CLICK HERE

To visit Naomi Novik's Website CLICK HERE

To purchase the book via Chapters Indigo CLICK HERE

To purchase the book via Amazon CLICK HERE

To purchase the book via Kobo CLICK HERE

To purchase the book via The Book Depository CLICK HERE

To purchase the book via Barnes & Noble CLICK HERE

 

The Eye of the World: The Graphic Novel, Volume 1 (The Wheel of Time - Graphic Novels #1) by Robert Jordan, Chuck Dixon, Chase Conley

 

 

 

Summary:

 

With the full cooperation of the Jordan estate, The Eye of the World has been turned into a stunning comic book series written by Chuck Dixon and illustrated by Chase Conley. The first Robert Jordan graphic novel, New Spring: the Graphic Novel, was a New York Times bestseller.

The Eye of the World: The Graphic Novel, Volume One begins Robert Jordan’s epic fantasy tale by introducing Rand al’Thor and his friends Matrim and Perrin at the spring festival. Moiraine Damodred and Lan Mandragoran appear, and almost before Rand knows it, he and his friends are fleeing his home village with Moiraine, Lan, and Egwene al’Vere, the innkeeper’s daughter, who wishes to become an Aes Sedai. The conclusion of this volume leaves the travelers on the road to Baerlon, barely ahead of the pursuing Trollocs and Draghkar. As they run for their lives, Moiraine and Lan begin to teach the young people what they need to know to survive in this dangerous world.

Summary & Cover taken from Goodreads.com

Length: 240 pages (Hardcover)

Source: Toronto Public Library

Available Formats: Print

Publication Date: September 13th 2011 by Tor Books

 

For the last 10 years my best friend has been trying to get me to read The Wheel of Time series and while I do own most of the series I didn't take the plunge until last night when I picked up the graphic novel adaptation after borrowing it on a whim from the library.

 

The artwork in this volume was nothing short of fantastic. I loved the style the artists implemented. The colours were dark but they really popped off the pages. The artistry went hand in hand with the story was being told and I felt myself drawn even closer to the story because of them.

 

The story itself was great. While I haven't read the actual full length novel version I feel that this was a very good graphic novel adaptation. It was longer than I expected and I there was a lot more text in the story than I would usually find in an adaptation. I liked all the characters a lot and I'm really intrigued by the whole mythology of the story that was told. There was far more detail than I expected and I think that helped make the story all that much more successful.

 

I'm not a big high fantasy fan, mostly because I don't have that much reading experience of the genre under my belt but I really see what all the hype around this series is about. There's a lot going on within the pages of this graphic novel and it surprised me by sucking me into the world within the pages so completely. After reading this I am definitely going to be starting the novel version very soon and can't wait to read more of Robert Jordan's work. I also plan to continue reading the series of graphic novels that follow this one.

 

I highly recommend this to all Wheel of Time fans by Robert Jordan as well as to people who haven't read the books before, who, like me are curious to see if it's something they like. Plus if you're a lover of graphic novels like I am I suggest giving this one a try also because it's the whole package.

 

Really Liked it!
★★★★

 

To purchase the book via Chapters Indigo CLICK HERE

To purchase the book via Amazon CLICK HERE

To purchase the book via The Book Depository CLICK HERE

To purchase the book via Barnes & Noble CLICK HERE

His Majesty's Dragon (Temeraire #1) by Naomi Novik

 

Summary:

 

Aerial combat brings a thrilling new dimension to the Napoleonic Wars as valiant warriors ride mighty fighting dragons, bred for size or speed. When HMS Reliant captures a French frigate and seizes the precious cargo, an unhatched dragon egg, fate sweeps Captain Will Laurence from his seafaring life into an uncertain future – and an unexpected kinship with a most extraordinary creature.

Thrust into the rarified world of the Aerial Corps as master of the dragon Temeraire, he will face a crash course in the daring tactics of airborne battle. For as France’s own dragon-borne forces rally to breach British soil in Bonaparte’s boldest gambit, Laurence and Temeraire must soar into their own baptism of fire.

Summary & Cover taken from Goodreads.com

Length: 397 pages (Kindle Edition)

Source: Toronto Public Library

Available Formats: Print/E-book/Audio

Publication Date:  March 28th 2006 by Del Rey      

 

After years of wanting to read the Temeraire series I finally got around to reading it about two weeks ago and I absolutely loved it and haven't stopped berating myself about having not started reading it sooner. 

 

Now, I don't know very much about the Napoleonic Wars but from what I've read about the author and the time period itself is that she used as much historical fact as she could whilst working in the alternative history with the dragons into the story.

 

As soon as I started the book (which I read on my cellphone) I was hooked. The way Naomi Novik spun her tale of war, action, adventure, historical fiction and fantasy all together was simply amazing. The amount of detail that went into not only the setting but the vivid descriptions of the events, the creation of the dragons and the world was wonderfully done.

 

At first I wasn't sure of what to make of Captain Will Laurence because he seemed a bit too haughty for his own good but eventually he grew on me especially when his bond with Temeraire evolved. For me though Temeraire was the star of the novel. I mean honestly who doesn't love an exotic, monstrously large talking dragon that loves to be read to and has an un-dragon like penchant for swimming and a taste for seafood?

 

The novel follows these two unlikely friends during a rough time in British history and we see Temeraire grow from hatchling to a young adult dragon along side his once naval captain turned aviator as they join in to wage war on the French forces trying to invade from across the English Channel.

 

Fraught with politics, a supreme sense of adventure and courageous battles, Naomi Novik's book was an amazing alternative look at what the world could have been like if we had been born into a world that included noble dragons. I loved learning about all the different breeds of dragons, their training and seeing all the different personalities that they exhibited.

 

Overall this was an amazing read and I'm so glad I finally gave this book a try. Novik's writing style is strong and unique and she has a voice that's all her own. It was so refreshing to see a female author writing about dragons and war as I haven't seen many female authors take part in this genre. This is definitely one of my favourite reads of the year and is on my list top 100 favourite books of all time.

 

I would recommend this to all fans of historical fiction and fantasy especially those who love alternative history novels. With great characters, an extremely strong plot and rich descriptions this is a must have for any fantasy reader's shelf and for a debut novel Naomi Novik proves she can hang with the big boys in the genre.

 

 

Loved it!
★★★★★

To "Like" Naomi Novik on Facebook CLICK HERE

To "Follow" Naomi Novik on Twitter CLICK HERE

To become a "Fan" of Naomi Novik on Goodreads CLICK HERE

To visit Naomi Novik's Website CLICK HERE

To purchase the book via Chapters Indigo CLICK HERE

To purchase the book via Amazon CLICK HERE

To purchase the book via Kobo CLICK HERE

To purchase the book via The Book Depository CLICK HERE

To purchase the book via Barnes & Noble CLICK HERE

 

Splintered (Splintered #1) by A.G. Howard

 

Summary:

 

This stunning debut captures the grotesque madness of a mystical under-land, as well as a girl’s pangs of first love and independence. Alyssa Gardner hears the whispers of bugs and flowers—precisely the affliction that landed her mother in a mental hospital years before. This family curse stretches back to her ancestor Alice Liddell, the real-life inspiration for Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Alyssa might be crazy, but she manages to keep it together. For now.
When her mother’s mental health takes a turn for the worse, Alyssa learns that what she thought was fiction is based in terrifying reality. The real Wonderland is a place far darker and more twisted than Lewis Carroll ever let on. There, Alyssa must pass a series of tests, including draining an ocean of Alice’s tears, waking the slumbering tea party, and subduing a vicious bandersnatch, to fix Alice’s mistakes and save her family. She must also decide whom to trust: Jeb, her gorgeous best friend and secret crush, or the sexy but suspicious Morpheus, her guide through Wonderland, who may have dark motives of his own.

Summary & Cover taken from Goodreads.com

Length: 371 Pages

Source: NetGalley ARC

Available Formats: Print/E-book/Audio

Publication Date: January 1st 2013 by Amulet Books

 

I know I'm a little late in finally getting to read my e-ARC of Splintered from the wonderful people at NetGalley but I suffer from the common affliction us book reviewers suffer from. Procrastination. But that's a topic for a different blog post.

 

At the end of February I finally got around to reading Splintered the first novel in debut author A.G. Howard's Splintered series after having it on my TBR list since August! I was so excited to finally have time and be in the right mood to want to read the book with minimal distractions that I dove right in.

 

The book started off on a really high note. I loved Alyssa's dark awkwardness that she uses to keep the talking insects at bay with. It reminded me of the awkwardness that we all experience to at least some degree as teenagers and that made me really like her. As Alyssa herself is narrating her story I loved her "voice". She was such a breath of fresh air, I mean how often does one come across a socially awkward character that isn't just hamming it up? Exactly. Not to often I'm afraid.

 

However, as the story went on I became rather disheartened with Alyssa, the other characters of the book and the over all story line. What started out wonderfully went slowly downhill for me after about page 100.

 

For me it was as though Alyssa had lost her way. I get that the whole Wonderland thing threw a big wrench in her plans and the fact that her mother is institutionalized put a lot of pressure on her but it was as though she completely threw caution to the wind and stopped using her mind and became a rash decision maker which really caught me off guard.

 

I also had issues with the other characters in the novel. Alyssa was the only one I really liked in the whole book at the outset but as for the others I didn't care for any of them much at all. I especially had issues with Jeb. I hated his big brother attitude where he got int the way of Alyssa's life too much and couldn't really grasp his appeal because of all that.

 

The characters in Wonderland while I didn't dislike them totally were very one dimensional and I get that the author was trying to interpret them in new and unique ways but to me they were a little over the top even for a place like Wonderland. I especially detested Morpheus, there's so much about him I don't like I honestly can't see the appeal of him he was such a jerk to Alyssa!

 

The story line also caused me some problems. As I said it started off fantastic but about 100 pages in it sort of lost the easy going pace it had in the beginning and for me it came together in a bit of a jumbled mess that I had to piece together. Sometimes the story would move so quickly I would have to go back and re-read a chapter or two just to catch what I missed and a time or two I was left with no choice but to move on becoming more confused. There seemed to be a lot of filler in Splintered that I feel the book could have done without and it became way too rushed for my tastes and I wish things were a little more cohesive I think if things went together better I would have liked the book much more.

 

Despite all that though I did like what the author intended to do. Alyssa started off with a lot of promise and while I thought she lost herself for a large part of the story I did like where she was at as a person in the end. I liked that the author wanted to be different and I understand that a first novel is very much about an author testing the waters of their audience so I can totally see book two being really good. There was action, a love triangle, a lot of fantasy and humour mixed into the story and while the recipe's measurement may have been a little off I can see the series being very successful even if I thought Splintered could have been better.

 

Overall, the book was an okay read for me and I seem to be in the minority about this but let me say that the author's story telling has a lot of talent and this is just my opinion of the book. I do know people who would absolutely love this book and I will have no issues in recommending this book to them.

 

If you enjoy young adult fantasy novels especially ones that are re-tellings of popular novels and fairy tales I would highly suggest checking this darker more updated tale of Wonderland out and I can't wait to read the second book in the series when it comes out.

 

*I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my free and honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed herein are 100% my own.

 

It was Okay!
★★

 

To "Like" A.G. Howard on Facebook CLICK HERE

To "Follow" A.G. Howard on Twitter CLICK HERE

To subscribe to A.G. Howard on Youtube CLICK HERE

To "Follow" A.G. Howard on Pinterest CLICK HERE

To become a "Fan" of A.G. Howard on Goodreads CLICK HERE

To visit A.G. Howard's Website CLICK HERE

To purchase the book via Chapters Indigo CLICK HERE

To purchase the book via Kobo CLICK HERE

To purchase the book via The Book Depository CLICK HERE

To purchase the book via Barnes & Noble CLICK HERE

 

Daughter of Smoke & Bone (Daughter of Smoke and Bone #1) by Laini Taylor

 

Summary:

 

Around the world, black hand prints are appearing on doorways, scorched there by winged strangers who have crept through a slit in the sky.

In a dark and dusty shop, a devil's supply of human teeth grows dangerously low.

And in the tangled lanes of Prague, a young art student is about to be caught up in a brutal otherwordly war.

Meet Karou. She fills her sketchbooks with monsters that may or may not be real; she's prone to disappearing on mysterious "errands"; she speaks many languages—not all of them human; and her bright blue hair actually grows out of her head that color. Who is she? That is the question that haunts her, and she's about to find out.

When one of the strangers—beautiful, haunted Akiva—fixes his fire-colored eyes on her in an alley in Marrakesh, the result is blood and starlight, secrets unveiled, and a star-crossed love whose roots drink deep of a violent past. But will Karou live to regret learning the truth about herself?

Summary & Cover taken from Goodreads.com

Length: 417 pages

Source: Toronto Public Library

Available Formats: Print/E-book/Audio

Publication Date: September 27th 2011 by Little, Brown & Company

 

I know I'm a little late to the party with just having read this one last month but I was extremely hesitant to give Daughter of Smoke & Bone a try due to all the hype surrounding the book. I don't know about you but when a book gets too hyped up I kind of shy away from the book in question for feat that I'll be the odd one out and not like it at all.

 

Luckily, Daughter of Smoke & Bone turned out to be one of the better YA novel's I've read in a the last few years and although I was mostly nervous about the hype surrounding the book in terms of my hesitation I also didn't give it a try before because it just didn't sound like my type of book.

 

I thought the way that Laini Taylor told the story of Karou was awesome. It's about time readers experienced such a strong female lead with a good head on her shoulders and a bold spirit. For me Karou is one of my favourite female heroines now because of all her flaws which I found to be the most likable thing about her besides her personality.

 

The overall story was a really unique and it took place in a variety of settings that you don't often see represented in young adult novels which I found to be really refreshing because the author wrote the story in such a way that  no matter the setting the story is currently in it's as if you're there watching the story play out in front of you and are experiencing the sights and sounds of Prague, Marrakesh or wherever else Karou might be on her journey through the novel.

 

Daughter of Smoke & Bone brought a lot to the table. Both the primary and secondary characters were well developed and all had their own little parts to play in the story and for once I didn't have a problem with any of the characters except Karou's annoyingly obnoxious ex-boyfriend who appears a few times in the book.

 

I liked the fact that the author wasn't afraid to put herself out there creating some really awesome characters like those of Akiva, Brimstone and Karou. Each brought something new, refreshing and fun to what is becoming a really bogged down genre in YA fiction. 

 

I really enjoyed the tone of the novel. For once it was a YA novel that was dark and not just a little bit either. There are many a scene in the novel that is quite dark and somber and as odd as it sounds I enjoyed those parts almost as much as the joyous parts between Akiva and Karou.

 

Which brings me to another plus about the book. The romance between the beautiful angel boy and the blue haired artistic girl with the hamsa tattoos on her hands was damn near perfect. At first I thought it would be a dreaded case of the blasted insta-love sort but thankfully those fears were misplaced as the story went on. The chemistry between the two of them was remarkable, but not to the point that it was inappropriate for the younger reader, just subtle enough with the passion to appease the older readers.

 

Overall Daughter of Smoke & Bone was a fantastic read. Dark and unsettling on the one hand and beautiful and elegant on the other. The characters development was wonderful, the story was fun, unique and completely and utterly sucked me in to the point that I finished it withing a few hours of starting it. Laini Taylor delivered a refreshing young adult read for the young adult fantasy genre giving readers a female heroine that while flawed represents strength, courage and determination. I loved the world that much of the novel takes place in and cannot wait to return to it and see some favourite characters again in the second book.

 

I would highly recommend this novel to anyone. It's unfortunate that it took me so long to read and review the novel because I was afraid it might not live up to the hype but I really do suggest giving it a go if you're nervous borrow it from your local library. This is one series that I hope continues for a while.

 

Loved It!
★★★★★

 To "Follow" Laini on Twitter CLICK HERE

To become a "Fan" of Laini on Goodreads CLICK HERE

To visit Laini's Website CLICK HERE

To purchase the book via Chapters Indigo CLICK HERE

To purchase the book via Kobo CLICK HERE

To purchase the book via Amazon CLICK HERE

To purchase the book via The Book Depository CLICK HERE

To purchase the book via Barnes & Noble CLICK HERE

 

 

*[Blog Tour Review & Giveaway] The Darkening Dream by Andy Gavin

 

Summary:

 

The Darkening Dream is the chilling new dark fantasy novel by Andy Gavin, creator of Crash Bandicoot and Jak & Daxter.

Even as the modern world pushes the supernatural aside in favor of science and steel, the old ways remain. God, demon, monster, and sorcerer alike plot to regain what was theirs.

1913, Salem, Massachusetts – Sarah Engelmann’s life is full of friends, books, and avoiding the pressure to choose a husband, until an ominous vision and the haunting call of an otherworldly trumpet shake her. When she stumbles across a gruesome corpse, she fears that her vision was more of a premonition. And when she sees the murdered boy moving through the crowd at an amusement park, Sarah is thrust into a dark battle she does not understand.
With the help of Alex, an attractive Greek immigrant who knows a startling amount about the undead, Sarah sets out to uncover the truth. Their quest takes them to the factory mills of Salem, on a midnight boat ride to spy on an eerie coastal lair, and back, unexpectedly, to their own homes. What can Alex’s elderly, vampire-hunting grandfather and Sarah’s own rabbi father tell them? And what do Sarah’s continuing visions reveal?
No less than Gabriel’s Trumpet, the tool that will announce the End of Days, is at stake, and the forces that have banded to recover it include a 900 year-old vampire, a trio of disgruntled Egyptian gods, and a demon-loving Puritan minister. At the center of this swirling cast is Sarah, who must fight a millennia-old battle against unspeakable forces, knowing the ultimate prize might be herself.

Summary & Cover taken from Goodreads.com

Length: 382 pages (E-book)

Source: Review Copy

Available Formats: E-book & Paperback

Publication Date: January 10th 2012 by Mascherato Publishing

 

The Darkening Dream was completely unlike any book that I've read before. At first I was really caught up in the summary of the novel which definitely catches the reader's attention as well as the stunningly dark and mysterious cover paired alongside it.

 

The fact that I liked the book so much caught me completely off guard and I'm really glad I gave this debut novel by Andy Gavin a chance. The Darkening Dream brings together a fantastic mixture of fantasy, mythology, paranormal, historical fiction and the added bonus of a wee little bit of romance mixed in for good measure.

 

At 382 pages this novel is on the longer side but I think that is a large part of what made it such a great read. The amount of detail that went into the writing of the novel is wonderful, usually I'm not one for books that are excessively detailed so I was glad to see that this novel was detailed in all the write places and I didn't feel bogged down by needless descriptions.

 

The book centers around Sarah, Alex, Anne, Emily, Sam, some Egyptian gods, a 900 year old vampire and a Puritan minister who's in a sexual relationship with a succubus and of course the novel is set in the perfect place Salem during the beginning of the 20th century.

 

I was very impressed with the plot of the novel, that fact that the author drew on so many genres, created realistic characters and the fact that the novel was written in such a way that there was always another plot twist every few pages that kept me on my toes. Plus the book was told in shifting perspectives so I really got a feel for all the other characters not just Sarah which was awesome.

 

The fact that the book always had me guessing, and wanting to read late into the night which I did the other night staying up past 4 a.m. because I had to see what happened next really had me hooked. I thought the author did a fantastic job in telling the story and the plot was outstanding and I can't help but wish that this book were turned into a series because when I finished it all I wanted to do was return to the characters and their mysterious adventure.

 

Overall, this was a fantastic debut. It is completely and utterly unique in both the caliber of the writing as well as the plot. I think this would appeal to a wide variety of readers who like fantasy novels and paranormal novels. While the book has been shelved many times as young adult on Goodreads there are certain themes in it that are probably better suited to older teens 17+. This is one novel that I think I'll have to purchase in paperback and one that I highly recommend giving a try. I for one hope the author continues in his writing career because I for one can't wait to read more of his work and I know for a fact that Mr. Turning the Pages will love this one as soon as he can get his hands on my Kindle long enough to read it.

* I received a free copy of this book for review purposes. I was not compensated in anyway to give a positive review and all thoughts and opinions herein are my own.

I read this book for the following challenges:

2013 Paranormal Reading Challenge

 

2013 150+ Books Reading Challenge

2013 Historical Fiction Reading Challenge

Really Liked It!
★ ★ ★ ★ 1/2

To "Subscribe" to Andy on Facebook CLICK HERE

To "Follow" Andy on Twitter CLICK HERE

To become a "Fan" of Andy on Goodreads CLICK HERE

To "Follow" Andy on Pinterest CLICK HERE

To find Andy on Wikipedia CLICK HERE

To visit Andy's Website CLICK HERE

To purchase the book via Amazon CLICK HERE

To purchase the book via Barnes & Noble CLICK HERE

 

Author Bio:

 

 

Andy Gavin is a serial creative, polymath, novelist, entrepreneur, computer programmer, author, foodie, and video game creator. He co-founded video game developer Naughty Dog and co-created Crash Bandicoot and Jak & Daxter. He started numerous companies, has been lead programmer on video games that have sold more than forty million copies, and has written two novels including The Darkening Dream, a dark historical fantasy that puts the bite back in vampires.

 

Giveaway:

 

Enter to win a $50.00 Amazon Gift Card, 1 Signed Poster, 1 Signed Game,

and 4 Bookmarks

 

 

 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway