Review: The Dysasters by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast

Title: The Dysasters 

Author:  P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast
Publisher: Wednesday Books
Publishing Date:  

Pages: 320
Genre: YA Sci- Fi Fantasy

Series:  The Dysasters #1
Source:  Audio

 

Foster Stewart knows she's different. Her life has never been "normal." Talking to plants and controlling cloud formations aren't things most seventeen year olds are into. Tate "Nighthawk" Taylor is perfect. Star quarterback and all around dreamy boy next door he never thought about his "extra" abilities. What quarterback wouldn't want night vision? That's not weird, right? It's cool!

But on the night of their first meeting a deadly tornado brings them together and awakens their true abilities - the power to control the element air. Unbeknown to Tate and Foster, they are the first in a group of teens that were genetically manipulated before birth to bond with the elements. Which truly sucks for Foster, as she has to face the fact that Dr. Rick Stewart, her beloved scientist father, betrayed her and now wants to use her and the others for his own nefarious world domination plot.

Foster and Tate must stop Dr. Stewart and his minions before he destroys their lives and the world.

I was really excited about this book. I didn't particularly like the House of Night books but this book sounded interesting so I figured I would give this book a chance. I am very torn on  my feelings for this book. I had some issue with this read but I also found the idea and premise interesting. So I am torn. I enjoyed it but not really. It's really hard to put into words my final judgment. I will try. 


There are these kids that are being hunted because they have an infinity to the elements. Wind, Fire, Earth, and water. They can call on these elements and make things happen. A mad scientist did this to them when they were babies or when they were created. Their powers are now coming in since they are all truing 18 years of age. The mad scientist wants them back. Full reasons unknown, but he thinks he can use them for multiple things. These book is mainly getting to know some of the kids and what they can do and watch them as they learn they are special.

Okay so let me get into this. I always find the idea of elementals to be interesting. I would love to have an infinity to an element. I think mine would be earth. But hard to say. I know once upon a time this was a more common idea in YA books but as of late they aren't really out there. SO I wanted to grab this one up and read it. I was so very excited.... then I was disappointed. 

The things I enjoyed... watching the kids learn to control their powers... learn what they could do. 
The idea that these kids were being hunted and they were constantly on the run. 
One character... the grandfather of one the kids... just stole the book for me. He was so fun and awesome. 

That is about it. The rest of it I had issues with . Here are my issues. 

The authors seemed to try to hard on diversity. It felt forced and still stereotypical. I am all for diversity... it needs to feel natural and that it belongs. It's worse for me to have the diversity in the books when it feels forced. As if a statement was needed to be made and that was it. I want it to feel the world is full of diversity so duh so are our books. 

All the characters felt cliche and fake at the same time. I really couldn't connect. They were developed so cliche but the cliche they had didn't seem to fit right either. So it was strange. 

The romance was all wrong. I really couldn't feel it. It went too fast from I hate you to I  love you with nothing int he middle to show they were even remotely starting to feel for each other. 

Too many questions about the scientist and they kids and original four elementals that were older. I just felt so much was missing. 

There were too many corny cheesy... more than what is fun...lines in the book. I was rolling my eyes quite often. 

So there you have it. My problem is this. I did still enjoy it enough to want to know what happens but disliked it enough to be fearful of reading more. I really want to know more... because of all the things that were missing. Also only 4 of the 8 elemental kids were introduced. Maybe the others will be better. Maybe just the two main characters I really didn't like. So will I read the next one. I think I will give this series one more chance. I won't be in a hurry though. 

I really feel that this book was just rushed and lacking so much personality and gusto. I found nothing special with it and didn't connect. It felt more like a rough draft than a finished product. I hate to say this. But the idea and the potential was there. Just fell short in the end. 

Uh.... well I didn't love it but I didn't hate it. It's just like meh. 

PC was born in the Midwest, and grew up being shuttled back-and-forth between Illinois and Oklahoma, which is where she fell in love with Quarter Horses and mythology (at about the same time). After high school, she joined the United States Air Force and began public speaking and writing. After her tour in the USAF, she taught high school for 15 years before retiring to write full time. PC is a #1 New York Times and #1 USA Today Best-Selling author and a member of the Oklahoma Writers Hall of Fame. Her novels have been awarded the prestigious: Oklahoma Book Award, YALSA Quick Pick for Reluctant Readers, Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award, the Prism, Holt Medallion, Daphne du Maurier, Booksellers’ Best, and the Laurel Wreath. PC is an experienced teacher and talented speaker. Ms. Cast lives in Oregon near her fabulous daughter, her adorable pack of dogs, her crazy Maine Coon, and a bunch of horses. House of Night Other World, book 1, LOVED, releases July 11th. SUN WARRIOR, book 2 in the Tales of a New World series releases October 17th.

Kristin Cast is a #1 NY Times and #1 USA Today bestselling author who teamed with her mother to write the wildly successful HOUSE OF NIGHT series. She has editorial credits, a thriving t-shirt line, and a passion for all things paranormal.
When away from her writing desk, Kristin loves going on adventures with her friends, family, and significant other, playing with her French Bulldogs (Grace Kelly and Sir Laurence Olivier), and discovering new hobbies. This year she'll work on handstands, gardening, and taking her new puppy (Baloo) to puppy classes.
#HoNLoved releases July 11th.

Review: A Vision in Silver by Anne Bishop

Title:  A Vision in  Silver 

Author:  Anne Bishop
Publisher: Roc
Publishing Date:  March 3rd, 2015

Pages: 400
Genre: Adult Paranormal /urban fantasy

Series:  The Others #3
Source:  Audio

 

The Others freed the cassandra sangue to protect the blood prophets from exploitation, not realizing their actions would have dire consequences. Now the fragile seers are in greater danger than ever before; both from their own weaknesses and from those who seek to control their divinations for wicked purposes. In desperate need of answers, Simon Wolfgard, a shape-shifter leader among the Others, has no choice but to enlist blood prophet Meg Corbyn’s help, regardless of the risks she faces by aiding him.

Meg is still deep in the throes of her addiction to the euphoria she feels when she cuts and speaks prophecy. She knows each slice of her blade tempts death. But Others and humans alike need answers, and her visions may be Simon’s only hope of ending the conflict.

For the shadows of war are deepening across the Atlantik, and the prejudice of a fanatic faction is threatening to bring the battle right to Meg and Simon’s doorstep…

This is the 3rd book in this series. I really have been enjoying this series and the characters in this wonderful supernatural world. Each book comes more character exploration and more story building. This was a great read and I am curious to see where the story will lead. 



The war between the others and the Humans First and Last Movement continue in this book. Things are getting bad. Now that the young cassandra sangue girls have been saved, things seem to be looking up. Except they are not. Someone is killing the girls...Meg is distraught over this. Not only is this a thing... there is so much trouble stirring in this book. Meg and Simon and all their friends need to figure out things fast. 

So this is the third book, and I do feel this series is still going strong for me. I did feel this one was a little more slow in the beginning. I love the story in the background that causes each book to have it's own immediate story... but sometimes it feels that the story was stuck. I love the entire Humans First and Last Movement. I love the cops that help the others out... I love the fact that there are humans in the commune of others. I love a war is brewing but I need a bit more action and I hope the next book gives me that. 

That being said... what I really love about these books... the characters. There are so many and they are all so well developed and have such strong individual voices. Every book I am introduced to a few new ones and/or I get to know some a bit more. Of course I love Meg and Simon so so much but there are so many awesome characters in this book... such as the elementals and Vlad. Oh how I love him. I am so happy to see this world continues when this series is done. 

The romance is maybe getting somewhere in this book. I do love the tension and the banter and the silly antics between Simon and Meg... it's also nice to see a slow romance but.... I need one of them to make a move already! It doesn't make the romance bad but dang it I need more! 

So really this book is great. I love the story progression and the romance progression but the slowness of it just knocked my rating from a 5 to a 4. As long as this book keeps the array of wonderful characters and keep building up this beautiful and strange world... I will keep coming back! 

Still am loving this series!!! 

Anne Bishop lives in upstate New York where she enjoys gardening, music, and writing dark, romantic stories. She is the author of fourteen novels, including the award-winning Black Jewels Trilogy. Her most recent novel, Twilight’s Dawn, made the New York Times bestseller list. She is currently working on a new series, which is an urban dark fantasy with a bit of a twist.

Review: Definitely Dead by Charlaine Harris

Title: Definitely Dead

Author: Charlaine Harris  
Publisher: Ace Books
Publishing Date:  May 2nd, 2006

Pages: 342
Genre: Adult Paranormal/Supernatural Mystery

Series:  Sookie Stackhouse #6
Source:  Audio

 

Since Louisiana cocktail waitress Sookie Stackhouse has so few living relatives, she hates to lose one - even her cousin Hadley, undead consort of the vampire Queen of Louisiana. Hadley's left everything she has to Sookie, but claiming that inheritance has a high risk factor. Some people don't want her looking too deeply into Hadley's past, or Hadley's possessions. And they're prepared to do anything in their power to stop her. Whoever it is, they're definitely dangerous - and Sookie's life is definitely on the line...

I enjoyed this book. I think I will continue to enjoy these fun and light reads. This book I liked a bit more than the last. It seems that Each book brings a little something more to keep me hooked. All the same crazy characters with a few new ones to spice things up. The story might finally be taking on a new plot line. I am excited to see where this story will go.

In this installment of Sookie’s life, things have seem to taken someone what of a different direction. AT least in men. There is a new on that is interested in Sookie. Also things are happening that involve death and destruction because it always does. There seems to possibly be a hit out on one of the vampire queens. The weres might be the ones that are guilty but some what dating a were tiger could also mean trouble for Sookie. Oh and Sookie finds a bit more information about her heritage… There is more going on with Jason, her brother…. And well things are just a mess it seems.

Another day in the life of Sookie Stackhouse. I would love to see her just have one day off from death and danger and all that bloody stuff. But I guess when you are mixed up with all the supernaturals the rest just comes along with it. Everything seems to be a mess for Sookie. Jason is going through some stuff with his girlfriend, The wolves are out to find the truth about Debbie
s disappearance, there is a new were in town… a tiger and he is hot for Sookie. And there is a little trouble with royalty…. Oh and of course Sookie has to go deal with all her cousins stuff in new Orleans. So there is a lot going on in this book. Which I tend to like. It seems if there is only one thing going on with Sookie, her life gets a little dull.

So what this book brought me. Very little of Bill… maybe just a tad bit more of Eric. A whole lot of Tiger… some steamy scenes with said tiger. A mystery that just was good and simple. What I appreciate in this book and the last…. There seems to be more story less sex with vampires. Which I like. Those scenes were getting a little old. Also the mystery in this one… wasn’t as much about Sookie as it was someone else for a change. In fact Sookie really didn’t need to get involved, she only did by accident because her cousin was mixed up with the Queen. It was a nice change of pace.

Sookie is Sookie in this book and I don’t love her but don’t hate her. I hope one day she starts to grow up more. She is so hell bent on worrying about what everyone else things, she can’t just be herself. I want to see her just be herself. I love the new were in the picture. I mean I would love to see Sookie with Sam or Eric… but I don’t think that will ever be… the tiger is nice too. He seems pretty cool and I hope to get to know a bit more about him in the next book.

Lots of action and mystery and story. I think there is big stuff coming in the future books… it feels there is a build up for fireworks and worlds falling apart. I am ready.

This series is still going strong for me. 

Charlaine Harris has been a published novelist for over thirty-five years. A native of the Mississippi Delta, she grew up in the middle of a cotton field. Charlaine lives in Texas now, and all of her children and grandchildren are within easy driving distance.

Though her early output consisted largely of ghost stories, by the time she hit college (Rhodes, in Memphis) Charlaine was writing poetry and plays. After holding down some low-level jobs, her husband Hal gave her the opportunity to stay home and write. The resulting two stand-alones were published by Houghton Mifflin. After a child-producing sabbatical, Charlaine latched on to the trend of series, and soon had her own traditional mystery books about a Georgia librarian, Aurora Teagarden. Her first Teagarden, Real Murders, garnered an Agatha nomination.

Soon Charlaine was looking for another challenge, and the result was the much darker Lily Bard series. The books, set in Shakespeare, Arkansas, feature a heroine who has survived a terrible attack and is learning to live with its consequences.

When Charlaine began to realize that neither of those series was ever going to set the literary world on fire, she regrouped and decided to write the book she’d always wanted to write. Not a traditional mystery, nor yet pure science fiction or romance, Dead Until Dark broke genre boundaries to appeal to a wide audience of people who simply enjoy a good adventure. Each subsequent book about Sookie Stackhouse, telepathic Louisiana barmaid and friend to vampires, werewolves, and various other odd creatures, was very successful in many languages.

The Harper Connelly books were written concurrently with the Sookie novels.

Following the end of Sookie's recorded adventures, Charlaine wrote the "Midnight, Texas" books, which have become a television series, also. The Aurora Teagarden books have been adapted by Hallmark Movie & Mystery.

Charlaine is a member of many professional organizations, an Episcopalian, and currently the lucky houseparent to two rescue dogs. She lives on a cliff overlooking the Brazos River.

Review: The Good Demon by Jimmy Cajoles

Title: The Good Demon

Author: Jimmy Cajoles

Publisher: Amulet Books

Publishing Date: September 18th, 2018

Pages: 320
Audio Length: 7 Hours and 36 Minutes

Genre: YA Supernatural Mystery
TW: Being possessed?

Series: Standalone

Source: Audio

 

True Detective meets The Exorcist in this gripping YA mystery debut about one girl’s exorcism—and her desperate quest to reunite with her demon
Clare has been miserable since her exorcism. The preacher that rid her of evil didn’t understand that her demon—simply known as Her—was like a sister to Clare. Now, Clare will do almost anything to get Her back. After a chance encounter with the son of the preacher who exorcised her, Clare goes on an adventure through the dark underbelly of her small Southern town, discovering its deep-seated occult roots. As she searches for Her, she must question the fine lines between good and evil, love and hate, and religion and free will. Vivid and sharp, The Good Demon tells the unusual story of friendship amid dark Gothic horror

What made me pick this book up: 

Mostly the title. You never see much about good demons. 

What did I like about the cover: 

I actually don't like this cover much. It looks like someone's art project. And not in a good way. 

What made me read this book: 

I honestly thought it was going to be a funny dark comedy about a girl who lost her demon. So I wanted to read it to laugh and find out more about the demon and what made her so great. 

What did I like the most: 

This book was just kinda meh to me. Which I'll talk about more in the "what didn't I like".

This is a really unique story. Most of the time when someone is possessed they want the demon out. But you never see someone who was actually friends with and loved the demon inside of them. 

I found it really interesting reading about the magic in this book and it definitely was a mystery trying to figure out why.

I think that's really it. It was a unique story. That's about all. 

What didn't I like: 

The characters, the demon, the other parts of the story.

I felt like the characters were all either naive or whiny.

The demon didn't feel like she really fit into the story too much.

It feels like the rest of the story just didn't fit. It was weird and didn't make sense. 

The ending was just weird.

I think I should've rated this one more of a 2.5 or even a 2. But I'll be nice and say it's a 3. 

Would I read the rest of the series/more from this author?
I think so, he has two others that sound pretty good.

This wasn't quite what I was expecting. It wasn't bad. Just meh. I felt almost nothing for this book.

“...Not many people care much about the past. We don’t get folks your age in here. It’s either the elderly, or parents come in with their hollering little devil kids. Feel more like a social worker than a librarian most days. But that’s life, ain’t it?” 
“I guess so.” 
“Sure it is. You’ll find out soon enough,” she said. “It don’t go the way you think it should, but it goes alright. I’ll be up front if you need anything.” 
― Jimmy Cajoleas, The Good Demon

Jimmy Cajoleas was born in Jackson, Mississippi. He spent years traveling the
country playing music before earning his MFA from the University of Mississippi. He lives in New York.