Fearsome Magics by Jonathan Strahan

Received from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

*** Rated 3 Stars ***

1. The Dun Letter by Christopher Rowe - Rated 4/5
Tansie, abandoned by her mother and left to live with her poorly (and poor) grandmother, one day opens a letter addressed to her mother that might change her life forever.

I found this story fairly good, and written well. I liked the ending and the way Tansie won't let anyone tell her what she can or can't do.

2. Home is the Haunter by Garth Nix - Rated 3/5
This is about a knight travelling with his companion - a self-willed puppet that can do magic. They come to a convent and seeks refuge here from a creature called the Hag of Shadows.

This story was ok, it seemed like it was a little too long, and dragged on a bit in places. I didn't find it particularly interesting, though I did like the Puppet Mr. Fitz.

3. Grigori's Solution by Isobelle Carmody - Rated 2/5
A mathematical sum of unmaking is discovered and threatens to erase the entire universe.

Although an interesting concept, I did not really enjoy this story. It wasn't bad, just not very exciting. Even though the world is based on mathematical formulas, I just didn't buy the fact that the solution of a maths problem would unravel the world.

4. Dream London Hospital by Tony Ballantyne - Rated 2/5
A strange man (?) goes into the Dream London Hospital looking for a woman (?).

This seemed completely random to me, I have no idea what the point of the story was. It was well written, but that's pretty much it.

5. Safe House by K.J. Parker - Rated 4/5
A sorcerer from the Studium is out on a mission looking for a untrained natural magic user that the Studium wants to recruit.

I really enjoyed this story, it was funny with a nice twist at the end. One of my favorites in this collection!

6. Hey, Presto! by Ellen Klages - Rated 3/5
Polly comes from a long line of magicians, but she has always wanted to lead a more normal life. One summer she is staying with her dad, but when his assistant quits Polly has to step in.

It was a good story, about the relationship between father and daughter and how that starts developing when they 'have to' spend the summer together practicing the magic trick.

7. The Changeling by James Bradley - Rated 2/5
Hannah lives in a house in the forest with her baby. Her husband has died, and now baby Connor starts acting strange. Hannah starts wondering if he is a changeling.

This story was well written, but very dark. I felt really sorry for Hannah that is basically all alone in the world with a tiny baby to look after. And I really didn't like the ending.

8. Migration by Karin Tidbeck - Rated 3/5
Edith lives in a tall building, but she doesn't know how she or all the other people got there. Their whole lives are in the building, they never go outside. One day she wakes up and everybody has disappeared. 

I found this story to be both interesting and confusing. I still don't have any idea what really happened, but it was well written and I enjoyed reading it.

9. On Skybolt Mountain by Justina Robson - Rated 4/5
The witch Lettice tries to live a quiet life, but when it is discovered that she can do magic she has to make a choice - achieve and impossible magical task or hang.

I liked this story, it was well written and with a great twist at the end that made me increase my rating.

10. Where Our Edges Lie by Nina Kiriki Hoffman - Rated 4/5
This story is about twins that have been really close to each other since they were born. But one day something happens that will make them slowly grow apart.

I enjoyed reading about how the bond between the twins were changing, and was curious to see how it would end. Not going to spoil it for you, but I found it to be bittersweet which I liked. In real life the choices that we make aren't always just 'good' or 'bad', there is a lot in between.

11. Devil's Bridge by Frances Hardinge - Rated 4/5
Petra is a Bridgekin, which means she can make bridges to anywhere, but it comes with a price. One day she reluctantly agrees to make a bridge for a stranger, but will she come to regret it?

I really enjoyed reading this, it is quite short but this somehow fits perfectly with the story. It is really well written and one of my favorites in the collection.

12. The Nursery Corner by Kaaron Warven - Rated 2.5/5
An old woman looks back on her childhood and growing up in the 'old peoples home' that her mother works in. One day a magician comes to perform and makes a "Nursery Corner" with a rocking chair that calms you down when you sit in it. But does it come with a price?

I enjoyed reading this, and was curious to find out more about what happened when people sat in the chair. I found the ending to be really good.

13. Aberration by Genevieve Valentine - Rated 1.5/5
A woman? ghost? travels through space and time to find where she belongs.

I have no idea what this story was about. I just felt confused while I was reading it.

14. Ice in the Bedroom by Robert Shearman - Rated 2/5
After his wife commits suicide Simon gets depressed and starts having dreams/hallucinations about a different version of Hell, where there is ice instead of fire.

This story didn't really do much for me to be honest, other than make me feel sorry for poor Simon.


My view of the book in general

All in all an average collection. Like most of these anthologies there are some great stories and some that aren't really that interesting.

In some of the stories I can't really see where the magic comes in, considering the name of the book: Fearsome Magics.

So the feeling I'm left with is that it doesn't feel like I've wasted my time reading this, but it hasn't blown my mind either...

Conjuring the Shroud by Tim O'Leary

Blurb:
In the real world, Adrian Ocampo is a high school junior with a Mohawk, an eyebrow ring, and a crew of nerdy friends. But when he and his buddies get together to play their favorite role-playing game, he is transported to the world of Kazala, a world of elves, wizards, and monsters, a world in which Adrian is a mighty elf warrior fighting for the good of the land. 

To add to the fun, Adrian recently started dating the handsome Jesse, one of the guys in his gaming circle. In the past, every attempt they’d made to be alone had been thwarted by overly present parents. But one day, after wrapping up the game, Jesse invites Adrian to his house and explains his mother will be away all night. Excited by the possibility of finally having sex with Jesse, Adrian’s mind catapults back and forth between the real world of Jesse’s kisses and the imagined world of Kazala, where he and Jesse must battle a terrible enemy.

*** Rated 5 Stars ***

I love this book! I just sat there at the garage waiting for my car to be finished grinning like a lunatic. Luckily there were no other people waiting or it could have become awkward...

The geek in me loved the roleplay scenes mixed with the real life scenes, and it was very sweet and.. have I mentioned funny already> Oh yes I guess I have ;)

Also it promotes safe sex = bonus points!

Would recommend as a quick but great read! :)

2014 Reading Challenge

I've now finished my 2014 reading challenge by reading 100 books. I initially started out with the goal of reading 50 books, but I have been reading quite a lot of shorter books recently, and had pretty much reached 50 by April. So I decided to increase my goal to a 100.

I might have to increase it further next year, to keep it challenging! :)

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

*** Rated 5 Stars ***

I feel like any attempt to review this book would not be good enough.

All I'm going to say is that it is extremely well written, the characters are fantastic, and that this is one of my favorite books of all times. (And it's not even one of my favorite genres.)

If you haven't read this already, you should. Read it now. You can thank me later! ;)

Goblin Gangbang by J.K. Waylon

*** Rated 1 Star ***

Another Weird Shit read.

So. Yea. Well the book features an orc. Who is hungry but easily distracted...

There are also some ogres involved.

And of course a whole bunch of goblins...

Stuff happens, girl has to perform to save her own life... Repeatedly. And... yea that's pretty much it...
I didn't find it terribly interesting to be honest.

So I was ready to

Liesmith by Alis Franklin

I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

*** Rated 4 Stars ***

I absolutely loved this book! To be perfectly honest I didn't know much about it before I started reading it. But I was so glad I did! I think initially the cover put me off, to me it doesn't really relate to the story. I guess the man on the cover is supposed to be Sigmund, and there is a spear involved, but it doesn't have the right 'feel'. Maybe it's just me. But I was sure pleasantly surprised when I started reading! 

I found it to have a great story, I love the way that the author has mixed Norse mythology and modern life! Being from Norway we learn a lot about Norse mythology in school, and it was great to recognize a lot of the characters involved. (But that doesn't mean you wont be able to enjoy the story if you don't know any Norse gods!)

I also found it to be quite funny, especially in the beginning when Sigmund first meets Loki (in his different forms) and the interactions between the two of them. And I love that the relationship between them feels so... natural. There is no drama around the fact that they are both male, which I loved.

The writing style was great, I felt really immersed in the story. And I kept reading 'just a little bit more' to see what would happen next.

I'm looking forward to book 2, will definitely read that as well as I want to find out about the characters and what happens next! :)

Stuck On You by Jasper Bark and Joe Mynhardt

*** Rated 4 Horrified Stars ***

It has taken me some time to write this review. Firstly I had to recover from the shock. Then I had to try to figure out what to rate it.

This is a horrible book. But the blurb warned me of this before I started it. I guess I just though it was exaggerating. But it most certainly was not. It truly is really sick and twisted.

Now, the thing is I've read a lot of horror books. And rarely do I actually find them that horrifying. Until now. This book actually had me cringing several times, and I don't think I'll ever get some of the mental images out of my head...

(For more details on how I felt while reading this book, check out my status updates under my review at Goodreads)

Back to my rating! I was initially considering giving it 3 stars. But then I realized that it needs rewarding for actually grossing me out! So 4 stars it is!

So if you're looking for a quick read that will gross you out and stay in your brain forever, this is it. Just make sure you haven't just eaten. Or are about to eat. Or that you won't be eating pork any time soon...

But if you are in any way squeamish -  stay away from this book!!!

My Robot Body Will Make You Cum by Dixon Heurass

*** Rated 2 Stars ***

This is a by-product of  Weird Shit Wednesday


This is the story of James. He wants to be a robot and has been dressing up as one whenever he gets a chance.

He is a true gentleman.

"Long ago, James had installed cameras in the feet of his robot costume in order to easily grab upskirt crotch-shots of the girls in the crowd while he distracted them with blinking lights and booking sounds."

Despite everything James manages to get married. When James tells her that he wants to take the full step and actually become a robot (his life ling dream!) she is not very enthusiastic. James (ever the gentleman) decides to become a robot anyways and gets it done in secret.

When he walks in the door his wife is slightly surprised...

What follows is the weirdest (and quite violent) but apparently very pleasurable interactions between a robot and a human. And apparently his wife forgives him for turning into a robot when she finds out what he can do...

I'm slightly worried about James though, after a reference that parts of him are already rusty... Surely that should take more then a couple of days?

All in all an interesting read!

Summer Fever by T.T. Kove

*** Rated 2 Stars ***

Epic buddy read on Goodreads September 12th 2014!!! 

Thank you Marte for arranging this, it was amazing sharing in this huge BR! :)

I found the story to be sweet, though some parts were a bit rushed. The Love Lust on first sight seemed a bit unlikely. And there were other parts that seemed to be a bit far fetched too.

I did enjoy that the story takes place in Norway though, as that's where I'm from. I don't get to read stories from my own country very often and so it gets a few bonus points for that :)

I think Marte has hit the nail on the head with her review so I recommend you read that! :)

The Ouroboros Key by Patricia Leslie

Prophetic dreams have haunted Dan Tenney since childhood, foretelling him of a life-changing event that is soon to take place. But before he can learn the meaning of his visions, he is attacked by a shadowy group of extremists: the Brotherhood of the Grail.

Finding sanctuary underground, an ancient relic comes into his possession and Dan begins to understand the path his visions have laid out before him. His quest will be fraught with an otherworldly people and an event that could tip the balance in favour of human existence—or disastrously against it. The mysterious Brotherhood will do everything in their power to prevent Dan from fulfilling his destiny as the Bearer of Ouroboros.




 I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

*** Rated 1.5 Stars ***

It took me a week to read this book. And not because I didn't have time to read, but because I kept stalling. I found the story very complicated, too much happening at once. Too many cryptic clues, too many different people involved, too much mystery, too much happening at once.

I just could not keep track of it all. And so I didn't enjoy reading it, it became a task more than enjoyment. When reading it I felt like I should be taking notes to try and keep track of everything. This is not something I want when I read a book, I want to be able to relax and let the story take me away.

I'm sure a lot of people will enjoy this book, but for me it just didn't work out and I struggled to finish it.

I Fucked the Puppet by Fannie Tucker

*** Rated 1 Star ***

Another Wednesday = Another  Weird Shit Wednesday read!

This time we get to read about.... Puppets!

So we have Emily, who is a back-up dancer for "Dongo the Puppet Show". A job she doesn't like because she wants to be a ballerina.

One night after the show Dongo shows his true self - turns out he is alive and wanting some action!

Emily decides that doing it with a puppet is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, so she decides to have some fun...

And apparently doing it with a puppet means you get to

I'm kinda disappointed in this read. It didn't make me LOL. I like LOLing.

But hey, there is always next Wednesday, right?

Slow Reviews

I have been a bit slow at reviewing recently, partly because I went away for a long weekend to a cabin in the mountains with no internet. I have been reading though, and I have 3-4 books that I have finished and will review as soon as possible.

Why does life have to take up so much time, when I could be reading/reviewing! ;)

Punished By The Dark Unicorn by Hunter Fox

*** Rated 1 Star ***

So it is again time for a horrible fantastic read with my partners in crime friends at Weird Shit Wednesday!!

And this week we are going back to the source, and what started our little group in the first place! Hunter Fox and unicorns! Excited!!

So we have a heartbroken man named Adam who decides to jump on the first flight to Europe as he needs to get away and have an adventure.
The first half of the book describes his travels to Finland...

But then! Finally! In enters

But the unicorn has got evil intentions!!

And Adam quickly realizes that this unicorn has something special planned for him...

Not that Adam has any objections to these plans... I guess that's one way to get over your ex-boyfriend, right?

All in all a successful Wednesday read, Hunter Fox does not disappoint! Spelling mistakes and all! i will say it was quite predictable though, being very similar to the previous book Ravaged By A Unicorn.

No regrets though, Hunter Fox is the hero of Weird Shit Wedesdays! And it's great to read a book that is true to the spirit of the group ;)

More by T.M. Franklin

I recieved this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

*** Rated 3 Stars ***

This is the story about a girl called Ava. When she was little she was sure she had special powers, but never managed to use them. As she grew up she decided that she was just a normal girl after all.
Then she starts college and meets Caleb who is tutoring her in physics. Turns out that Caleb isn't just a normal boy, and that Ava might have been right about her having some special abilities. The only problem is that the Race (which is what the humans with special powers call themselves) does not like it when half-breeds are out in the world as they are considered a threat to the Race.

I think this was a very interesting story, though it was definitely written for a younger audience. It has a little bit of young love, but not enough to be overly sweet. The story I found fairly original, and I read the book over 2 days wanting to know what would happen next.

My main problems with this book however was purely editing issues. I'm not sure if this is because I received an advanced copy, and if it has been fixed by now. 

There were 2 main issues that bothered me. One was the wrong use of the spacebar. There were missing spaces between words as well as spaces where there shouldn't be. Not a major issue perhaps, but there were so many that it was annoying me and ruined the flow of reading.

The other issue I had was the way conversations between characters were written out. I fairly often missed the little " because there were no spaces between when the different characters were talking. This might just be me not being observant enough, but it's not a problem I have ever had before when reading. Quite often I ended up reading a whole paragraph again because I got confused over who said what.

All in all it was a good read, would recommend it if you enjoy YA books!

Pet to the Tentacle Monsters! by Lilia Ford

 Recieved for free from NetGalley in exchange for a honest review

*** Rated 1.5 Stars ***

 Spoiler warning

There has been an alien invasion and humans are now living in refugee camps. After a silly prank that ruins a lot of the camps food supply Benji gets picked up by an enforcer and put up for adoption by the aliens (this is apparently how justice is served).

His first meeting with the alien is a little pink and tentacled creature that seems friendly and so he names it Kitty.

The second alien he meets is a creature with black tentacles so he names it Black. He (?) is completely different from Kitty and demands that Benji does what he is told while Black has his way with him, or he gets punished.

Benji decides that he has deserved punishment and so is ok with this treatment. OK, fine, I can overlook this instance of tentacle-rape. I guess.

Cue Silver. Alien creature number 3.

And with him comes full fledged tentacle-rape.

Now I have read my fair share of tentacle erotica, but the interactions between Silver and Benji is just... too much.

And in the end Benji decides to stay with them?? He would miss them all too much... Stockholm syndrome anyone??

So... not my favorite tentacle read...