Week 2 Books

Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers ***

Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers is a Young Adult story featuring 17 year old Ismae.  Ismae is forced into an arranged marriage.  She seeks sanctuary at the convent of St. Mortain.  She discovers she is blessed by Death Himself.  She trains as an assassin and serves as a maiden to Death.  Her first mission takes her to the high court of Brittany where she is given impossible choices.

 

The book was alright.  It was very slow to get into and if it wasn’t for a friend asking for a review of the story I probably would have stopped reading it.  About halfway through the book is when it started to pick up and became more interesting.  The second story is supposed to be coming out next spring and I will probably give it a try.

 

 

First Grave on the Right by Darynda Jones *****

First Grave on the Right by Darynda Jones is a paranormal romance book starring Charlie.  Charlie sees dead people.  She is in essence the grim reaper who helps the souls pass on to the other side.  Anyone who has died under unusual circumstance insists she investigates which leads to her getting into hot water.  Further complicating her life she is have dreams about a being that might or might not be dead.

 

From beginning to end I was enthralled.  I didn’t want to put it down and went looking for the second book as soon as I finished it. 

 

Damian’s Oracle by Lizzy Ford ****

Damian’s Oracle by Lizzy Ford is a paranormal romance featuring Sofia.  Sofia has a rare gift of seeing the future and is being fought over by the White and Black Gods.  Whoever gets to her first will use her gift to help them win the war.

 

This book was very good and kept me interested throughout the story.  The storyline moved nicely.  The characters were likeable and you wanted to route for Sofia.  When I finished it I wanted the next one.

 

Maid for Love by Marie Force *****

Maid for Love by Marie Force is a romance book set on Gansett Island.  Maddie Chester would like nothing better than to leave the island with its bad memories and rumors behind.  She’s knocked off her bike on her way to work as a housekeeper for McCarthy’s Resort Hotel by the island’s favorite son Mac McCarthy.  She is too injured for work and feeling horrible Mac insists on taking care of her by moving in with Maddie and her infant son and going to work for her.  He planned on a short visit home and soon finds leaving is not an option.

 

I really enjoyed this story.  The characters were likeable and you felt for Maddie.  You also wanted to strangle Mac a couple of times for his meddling in Maddie’s life without talking to her first.

 

Warprize by Elizabeth Vaughan ****

Xylara is the daughter of a King.  When he dies her half-brother takes the trone.  Xylara was trained as a healer and where her morals push her to heal everyone including the enemy.  She learns there customs and language which draws the attention of the leader.  Due to her half-brothers incompetence she has to pick between giving up her freedom or the fall of her people.  Given her options she chooses to go with the enemy as the warprize.

 

I loved this book.  Xylara was an amazing character who you rooted for from the beginning.  The story moved along at a fast pace with enough twist and turns to keep the reader interested.  At the end of the story I wanted the second book immediately.