Book Review 29: The Progeny by Tosca Lee

Title: The Progeny
Author: Tosca Lee
Release Date: 24 May 2016
Publisher: Simon and Schuster

New York Times bestselling author Tosca Lee brings a modern twist to an ancient mystery surrounding the most notorious female serial killer of all time. A fast-paced thriller for fans of Lee’s Books of Mortals series with Ted Dekker, Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code, and BBC America’s hit series Orphan Black.

Emily Jacobs is the descendant of a serial killer. Now, she’s become the hunted.

She’s on a quest that will take her to the secret underground of Europe and the inner circles of three ancient orders—one determined to kill her, one devoted to keeping her alive, and one she must ultimately save.

Filled with adrenaline, romance, and reversals, The Progeny is the present-day saga of a 400-year-old war between the uncanny descendants of “Blood Countess” Elizabeth Bathory, the most prolific female serial killer of all time, and a secret society dedicated to erasing every one of her descendants. A story about the search for self amidst centuries-old intrigues and Europe’s underground scene…and one woman’s mission to survive.

Rating: 4.5/5
Review:
Wow. The Progeny reads like a movie and I can actually see it all happening on the big screen. The book is about Audra who had her memory erased in order to protect something or someone. Without her memory, she has to be careful about who she trusts or else die. She meets people from her past, and it becomes her quest to find out what had caused her to erase her memories because the past was fast catching up with her and lives were at stake. The book felt quite long but every page was worth it as the author described the brutal and dark world that Audra belongs to. It ended when I didn’t want it to end so now I’m left wondering when the sequel will be coming out.

Tosca Lee is a terrific writer with a penchant for vivid details and unpredictable plot twists. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants a good thriller with substance.

Disclaimer: I received an eGalley of this book from the author/publisher for an honest review.

Book Review 26: Beauty, Love and Justice (Spiral Wound Trilogy #1) by Alcina Faraday

Title: Beauty, Love and Justice

Author: Alcina Faraday
Release Date: 18 May 2015
Publisher: Urbane Publications

Tiago’s ruthless and rich. But he’s tired of the greed of corporate life.

The thrusting Adonis of the trading floor, he has ambitious plans that just might secure a halo to complement his angelic looks.

But poor Tiago is in love, and can’t start his quest for sainthood until he’s convinced urbane art dealer Raphael Davide they’d make the perfect power couple.

Raphael’s a slave to beauty with his own designs on the undeserving rich, and a suave exterior that belies a gentle – and recently broken – heart. But though Raphael’s in safe hands – his sister Clara and her husband Rob would lay down their lives to protect him – Tiago’s not so lucky. He’s a boy with a hidden past. And by unhappy coincidence, Raphael’s obsessive ex, cracked rocket scientist Tomas Paul Gosele, may know enough about that past to destroy everything.

Tiago clearly needs friends he can trust. His new neighbour Amelia Postthridge seems a nice enough girl, as eccentric scientists go. But Amelia is mad, bad and dangerous to know, and pursuing her own ambitious agenda. She’s going to win the Nobel Prize with the world’s ultimate apple, and she’ll happily chew Tiago up and spit out the pips to achieve her aim.

Beauty, Love and Justice may be in short supply for our hero in this climate of ambition and deceit – but when the heart speaks what’s a boy to do?

Rating: 4/5
Review:
The story started out clearly with Tiago intent on getting Raphael after years of wanting him, but things got a bit confusing when other characters’ POVs were introduced. I didn’t feel like I was reading one story until I got to the last third when the connections finally revealed themselves. The conversations about Fine Arts and philosophy were quite tedious at times but informative. The blackmail part could have been done better rather than just abstract messages to Tiago. The story got really interesting when Tiago got to discussing his plan Lux Aeterna. Raphael’s against it, and everybody else thinks it’s crazy, but Tiago believes in it. I would have enjoyed the story more if it got to show Tiago putting his plan into action though. The ending was too abrupt for me and I felt there were some loose ends. Perhaps the second book These Modern Girls (which will be out sometime this year) will explain the plan more.

This series shows promise. For those who are into Fine Art and philosophy in fiction, the Spiral Wound Trilogy is something  to include in one’s reading list.

Disclaimer: I received an eARC of this book from the author/publisher/NetGalley for an honest review.

Book Review 15: All For You (Book 1, Paris Hearts) by Laura Florand

Title: All For You

Author:Laura Florand

Release Date: April 20, 2015

Buy Links: Amazon / B&N / Kindle / Kobo

Three young women trying to make their way in the most romantic city on Earth must learn how to open their hearts to love. 

Some crushes aren’t meant to be

When her older brother’s best friend left to join the Foreign Legion, eighteen-year-old Célie moved on to make a life for herself as a Paris chocolatier. Now, five years later, the last thing she needs is another man to mess up her happiness.

Let alone the same man.

But five years in the Foreign Legion is a long time for a man to grow up, and a long time to be away from the woman he loves.

Especially when he did it all for her.

Half strangers, more than friends, and maybe, if Joss Castel has his way, a second chance…

Cover Reveal: All For You (Book 1, Paris Hearts) by Laura Florand

ALL FOR YOU

by Laura Florand

Coming May 5, 2015

Ebook & Trade Paperback / Original / Fiction

$4.99 ebook / 978-1-943168-00-2 / $14.99 trade / 978-1-943168-01-9

PARIS HEARTS: A new series from Laura Florand

Three young women trying to make their way in the most romantic city on Earth must learn how to open their hearts to love. 

Some crushes aren’t meant to be

When her older brother’s best friend left to join the Foreign Legion, eighteen-year-old Célie moved on to make a life for herself as a Paris chocolatier. Now, five years later, the last thing she needs is another man to mess up her happiness.

Let alone the same man.

But five years in the Foreign Legion is a long time for a man to grow up, and a long time to be away from the woman he loves.

Especially when he did it all for her.

Half strangers, more than friends, and maybe, if Joss Castel has his way, a second chance…