Sheep Book Review: The Beautiful Ashes by Jeaniene Frost

The Beautiful Ashes (A Broken Destiny Novel)

By: Jeaniene Frost 

302 Pages

New Adult/Paranormal with Romance

In a world of shadows, anything is possible. Except escaping your fate. 

Ever since she was a child, Ivy has been gripped by visions of strange realms just beyond her own. But when her sister goes missing, Ivy discovers the truth is far worse--her hallucinations are real, and her sister is trapped in a parallel realm. And the one person who believes her is the dangerously attractive guy who's bound by an ancient legacy to betray her. 

Adrian might have turned his back on those who raised him, but that doesn't mean he can change his fate...no matter how strong a pull he feels toward Ivy. Together they search for the powerful relic that can save her sister, but Adrian knows what Ivy doesn't: that every step brings Ivy closer to the truth about her own destiny, and a war that could doom the world. Sooner or later, it will be Ivy on one side, Adrian on the other, and nothing but ashes in between....

This story was almost too soft around the edges for my usual tastes. I like them dark, dirty, with strong characters and dropping the action bombs Michael Bay style. Give me fast, hard and edgy. Then hit me with the men and woman who can hammer that nail home and deliver the double tap to the written dome. 

Frost is a writer who can bring all this to the table and more. While I had to remind myself this is a "new adult" genre book, I would have liked a bit more character depth and romance with my story. That being said though, this one kept me coming back to turn the pages with record speed. What we do get is delivered with the ease that only Frost can orchestrate. She's a goddess at this craft and I worship her every word! 

The Beautiful Ashes takes the reader from the comfort of the human world and into the dark and dirty pits of the demons and their "pets". When you walk into the darkness, you may not come back the same. I loved it! There is a whole world out there that we dont know about and this journey takes you there. Several times. 

Along the way you meet some fascinating side characters which help pull the whole story off. This was a great start to a new series, however lacking of romance but opening up this author to a younger crowd. 

If you're looking for something a little dark, yet not overstuffed with romance, then check this one out. I'm invested and can't wait to read the next edition! 

Getting 4 Sheep 

KD 

Book Review (ARC) Kissed By A Demon Spy: A Novella by Sharon Kay

Kissed By A Demon Spy: A Novella
by Sharon Kay
book, 170 pages
October 7th 2014

This novella is a companion piece to the Solsti series and can be read as a stand-alone.

Kidnapped as a teen and forced into a life of sexual slavery, Garnet vowed long ago to do whatever she could to spare others her fate. When karma comes full circle with an offer of freedom for her and her young son, she jumps at the chance.

Masquerading as a village innkeeper, Aden keeps his espionage work secret from the gentle pixies he lives among. Using his skills to prevent a group of vicious demons from attacking the innocent, his world is draped in mist, shadow, and danger.

Steeped in shame, Garnet is loath to share her past with Aden. But Aden senses a sweet, loyal strength in her that no amount of horror can erase. His dangerous work is the opposite of the stability Garnet craves. Yet Aden’s patience and strength make him the hero she never had. When the enemy targets them, Garnet and Aden realize that honesty is the truest form of courage.

Garnet and her son Dashiel were slaves and when the leader where she lived was killed, she had no idea if things would get better or worst so she hid herself and her son until things died down. To her surprise someone comes to rescue her and her son.

Aden is a Deserati demon and he owns an Inn but is in desperate need of a cook. He is in luck when Garnet and her son are in need of a new place to stay and she is looking for a job. Aden knows where she escaped from but Garnet is being secretive about where she came from and Aden doesn't push her about it.

As soon as I read about the snake headed demons called vipers, I just knew they were going to cause all kinds of trouble. Aden he patrolled at night sometimes, making sure that the vipers weren't going to attack but nothing stops bad demons from doing what bad demons do, which is trying to cause problems.

Everything seems to be working out really well for both Aden and Garnet. She has a job, spending money and a very good looking Deserati demon who keeps smiling at her. Aden has been enamored with Garnet since first seeing her but even though she is outwardly nice and friendly, she is keeping her distance thinking that no one will want her in that way once they find out she was a slave.

I have to say though that after almost 200 years as a slave Garnet acted different than I thought she would. Maybe it's because she's a pixie or because she's a strong woman and had to think of her son but if it had been me, I would not have been as together as she was.

I've been reading Sharon Kay's Solsti Prophecy series of books and have loved them so I was excited to get to read this novella as well and I was not disappointed at all. Even if you haven't read any of Sharon Kay's other books this story can be read as a stand alone and you won't feel lost at all.

The only thing that could have made this better is if Aden had a Scottish accent. Hey, it could happen. Maybe one of these demons grew up thinking he was human and is a halfling and lives in Scotland and has a Scottish accent. *hint hint, Sharon Kay...hint hint*

Review: Wicked Wind (Solsti Prophecy #1)

Review: Wicked Waves (Solsti Prophecy #2)

Review:Wicked Flames (Solosti Prophecy #3)

I give this book 5 sheep!

Mary Kirkland
Dark Thoughts Blog

About the Author:

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Sharon Kay was bitten early by the writing bug. At age twelve she wrote a short story, about a magic ring, that won a statewide contest. With her nose always in a book, she read the most novels for her age group in her local library’s summer reading program.

In her teens, writing took a back seat to fashion, as she was determined to find clothes different from what everyone else bought at the mall. And what she couldn’t find, she created. She learned to sew, worked in a fabric store after school, and spent her spare time with a needle in hand. Her black and orange prom dress is still one of her favorite creations.

She majored in apparel design in college, spending her summers working in costume shops and bridal boutiques. She worked for ten years in the Chicago garment industry, then switched her focus to apparel production logistics before becoming a stay at home mom.

Sharon lives in the Chicago area with her husband and son, and didn’t expect to write again. But Wicked Wind and the Solsti series formed in her head one weekend and refused to stay quiet until she put pen to paper. Her characters tend to keep her up at night, as they banter, fall in love, and slay endless varieties of power-hungry demons.

Book Review: To Love a King (Court of Annwyn #3) by Shona Husk

To Love a King (Court of Annwyn #3)
by Shona Husk
Mass Market Paperback, 288 pages
October 7th 2014

by Sourcebooks Casablanca
HE'S TRYING TO RECLAIM THE PAST

To keep the balance between good and evil at the court of Annwyn, Prince Felan ap Gwyn has two weeks to marry and take the crown. But he wants more than just power—he wants love; a love he once had but was too stubborn to hold on to.

SHE'S STRUGGLING TO FACE THE FUTURE

It took years for Jacqueline Ara to put her life back together after Felan abandoned her. She's moved on, even if her heart still burns for him. But with war in Annwyn looming and death bleeding into the mortal world, Felan and Jacquie will need to heal old wounds and rekindle the passion that once welled between them . . . or face losing everything.

Shona Husk’s Court of Annwyn series is a nice mix of paranormal romance and urban fantasy. I’ve read the first two books and have been waiting to read Price Falen’s story. We learn bits and pieces about him and his predicament in the first two books. Now the fate of Annwyn (Fairy realm) depends on every decision he makes from this point on. His father, the King, is dying and if Falen wants to claim the throne he must present a human queen carrying his child. He knows who he wants to be his queen but there are a few hurdles he must overcome.

The first problem is he screwed her over pretty freaking bad seven human years ago, but for Falen it has only been months. And by screwed over I mean she got pregnant so he had to tell her he is a fairy then gave her the ability to see fairies, even the bad ones. He disappeared for 6 human weeks, during which she lost the pregnancy. He thought she terminated it and went back to Annwyn without talking to her. She thought he abandoned her and then her family committed her to a hospital for a while because she was talking about fairies. It has been seven years since she last saw Falen and she has her life back together and moved on, but she still sees the occasional monster.

The second problem is he only has two weeks to get her to agree to be his queen and get pregnant. Yeah, I honestly didn’t know how Husk was going to pull this one off. How could Jacqui ever forgive Falen? While some of their problems were due to miscommunication, some are because he puts Annwyn first.

The third problem is there is another fairy wanting the crown and she is already pregnant with a human consort. All she has to do is get Annwyn to back her and officially challenge Falen. She isn’t a nice person…at all. And won’t hesitate to kill any human woman Falen intends to make his queen.

I really enjoyed this story. Everything from the fairy politics to the heart breaking choices the characters had to make along the way. The romance has some angst, but it isn’t a clichéd type. There is also plenty of suspense. You can read this as a stand-alone paranormal romance or you can enjoy the urban fantasy world building elements by starting with book one. I suggest the latter.

4.25 “Summer is coming” Sheep

SharonStogner

About the Author: 

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Shona Husk lives in Western Australia at the edge of the Indian Ocean. Blessed with a lively imagination she spent most of her childhood making up stories. As an adult she discovered romance novels and hasn't looked back. Drawing on history and myth, she weaves new worlds and writes heroes who aren't afraid to get hurt while falling in love.

With stories ranging from sensual to scorching, she is published with Ellora's Cave, Samhain Publishing, Carina Press and Sourcebooks. She is represented by the Ruben Agency.

39 New Releases in Speculative Fiction for October 7

These are all I found for now. Seems like a handful show up a little later on so I will be adding books as I find them.

Congrats to Faith Hunter on the release of Broken Soul!

Click on the covers to be taken to the amazon page. I Smell Sheep is an affiliate of amazon and we will get a tiny percentage of each sale for advertising.

The Chronicle of Pug came out last year, but I just found it. And to help get you in the holiday mood a little zombie santa.