Review: Sea Witch by Helen Hollick

Sea Witch (Sea Witch Chronicles #1)

by Helen Holllick

Paperback: 316  pages

Publisher: Silverwood Books (June 20, 2011)

Goodreads Summary:

The time: the golden age of piracy - 1716
The Place: the Pirate Round - from South Africa to the Islands of the Caribbean.

Escaping the bullying of his elder brother, from the age of fifteen Jesamiah Acorne has been a pirate, with only two loves - his ship and his freedom. But his life is to change when he and his crew unsuccessfully attack a merchant ship off the coast of South Africa. He is to meet Tiola Oldstagh, an insignificant girl or so he thinks - until she rescues him from a vicious attack, and almost certain death, by pirate hunters. And then he discovers what she really is; a healer and a midwife - and a white witch. Her name, an anagram of "all that is good." Jesamiah and Tiola become lovers, despite her guardian, Jenna Pendeen's disapproval, but Stefan van Overstratten a Cape Town Dutchman, also wants Tiola as his wife, and Jesamiah's half brother Phillipe MerenoJesamiah's path, he must make a choice between his life as a pirate or his love for Tiola; he wants both - but Mereno and Von Overstratten want him dead. In trouble, imprisoned in the darkness and stench that is the lowest part of his brother's ship, can Tiola with her Craft, and the aid of Roux, Jesamiah's quartermaster and the rest of his loyal crew, save her pirate? And can she keep Jesamiah safe from another who wants him for herself? From the elemental being that is Tethys, Goddess of the Sea? A charismatic pirate rogue and a white witch - what better combination for a story of romance and high-sea fantasy adventure?

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My Opinion:

I just fell in love with the character Captain Jesamiah Acorne, with his acorn earring and the blue ribbons in his hair. He's charming, he's handsome, he's courageous, he's a pirate! Jesamiah loves his freedom, his ship, the advenures of the chase and eventually he meets Tiola and falls in love with her.

Tiola is a young beautiful midwife. She is also a white witch! Tiola will do anything to help her pirate lover Jesamiah (although she does not approve of piracy) and has saved him a few times.

Helen Hollick did a great job on the all of the characters in Sea Witch. I got the feel of each one of them which made the story seem more authentic for me. Sea Witch has adventure, romance, a little mystery  and a bit of fantasy but not enough to chase me off (I'm not a huge fan of the fantasy genre).

I think the cover of the book is perfect. I can almost smell the salt in air and feel the spray of the ocean on my face!

I highly recommend this historical novel and I hope you decide to take an adventure on the high seas with Jesamiah and Tiola.

5/5

My Very First Giveaway!

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies

by Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith

Goodreads Summary:

“It is a truth universally acknowledged that a zombie in possession of brains must be in want of more brains.”

So begins Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, an expanded edition of the beloved Jane Austen novel featuring all-new scenes of bone-crunching zombie mayhem. As our story opens, a mysterious plague has fallen upon the quiet English village of Meryton—and the dead are returning to life! Feisty heroine Elizabeth Bennet is determined to wipe out the zombie menace, but she’s soon distracted by the arrival of the haughty and arrogant Mr. Darcy. What ensues is a delightful comedy of manners with plenty of civilized sparring between the two young lovers—and even more violent sparring on the blood-soaked battlefield. Can Elizabeth vanquish the spawn of Satan? And overcome the social prejudices of the class-conscious landed gentry? Complete with romance, heartbreak, swordfights, cannibalism, and thousands of rotting corpses, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies transforms a masterpiece of world literature into something you’d actually want to read.

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I've been fortunate enough to win many giveaways so I have decided to pay it forward and host my own! Since Halloween is just around the corner I thought that Pride and Prejudice and Zombies would be a great book to give away. The copy up for grabs is gently used with a small crease on the back corner but is otherwise in great condition.

**US ONLY**

(due to postage costs...sorry!)

I will be mailing this book myself so I am not responsible for any loss or damage of the book.

MANDATORY:

Must be a public GFC follower and leave a comment letting me know you follow. Please leave your email address in the comment.

EXTRA (optional):

+2 tweet the following message and leave the link in a comment

Win Pride and Prejudice and Zombies at Connie's Corner Shelf @mamabunny13 http://conniescornershelf.blogspot.com/2012/09/my-very-first-giveaway.html

You can leave all entries in one comment if you like.

Giveaway ends September 14 at 11:59 pm EST



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Under The Never Sky by Veronica Rossi

Under the Never Sky  (Under the Never Sky  #1)

by Veronica Rossi

Hardcover: 384 pages

Publisher: HarperCollins; First Edition edition (January 3, 2012)

Goodreads Summary:

WORLDS KEPT THEM APART.

DESTINY BROUGHT THEM TOGETHER.

Aria has lived her whole life in the protected dome of Reverie. Her entire world confined to its spaces, she's never thought to dream of what lies beyond its doors. So when her mother goes missing, Aria knows her chances of surviving in the outer wasteland long enough to find her are slim.

Then Aria meets an outsider named Perry. He's searching for someone too. He's also wild - a savage - but might be her best hope at staying alive.

If they can survive, they are each other's best hope for finding answers.

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My Opinion:

This story is told in third person with each chapter alternating between Aria and Perry . The reason I like chapters set up this way is because it helps me to get to know each of them better without lingering in one place long enough for me to forget the feel of the other character.That allows the story to flow more smoothly for me.
I liked both of the main characters straight away. Aria is smart, talented, and very determined to find her mother. She becomes a strong survivor after being dumped in a place with extreme adverse conditions compared to life inside the pod. Perry has not had the pampered and carefree life that those who live behind the domes have. He has to fight for everything he needs and is a real alpha male who comes to Aria's rescue.

These two suddenly find themselves on a journey together, each searching for a missing loved one. Along the way they have to face deadly weather, cannibals, wolves and the people that threw Aria "Outside". I'm sure you have guessed by now that during their travels Aria and Perry start developing some sort of feeling for one another (after a very rocky start) but the pacing was just right I think.
The one criticism I have would be that in the beginning of the book I wish more was written about Aria's life in the pod to give me that day to day feel for it.
Overall I enjoyed this well-written, original dystopian. I'm looking forward to reading the sequel, Through the Ever Night.

4.75/5

I read this book as part of Dystopian August. 

Review: Legend by Marie Lu

Legend By Marie Lu

Hardcover: 336 pages

Publisher: Putnam Juvenile (November 29, 2011)

Goodreads Summary

What was once the western United States is now home to the Republic, a nation perpetually at war with its neighbors. Born into an elite family in one of the Republic’s wealthiest districts, fifteen-year-old June is a prodigy being groomed for success in the Republic’s highest military circles. Born into the slums, fifteen-year-old Day is the country’s most wanted criminal. But his motives may not be as malicious as they seem.

From very different worlds, June and Day have no reason to cross paths—until the day June’s brother, Metias, is murdered and Day becomes the prime suspect. Caught in the ultimate game of cat and mouse, Day is in a race for his family’s survival, while June seeks to avenge Metias’s death. But in a shocking turn of events, the two uncover the truth of what has really brought them together, and the sinister lengths their country will go to keep its secrets.

Full of nonstop action, suspense, and romance, this novel is sure to move readers as much as it thrills.

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My Opinion:

I'll start off by saying I loved this book! I don't know why I'm always a little surprised when I read a dystopian and love it.  Maybe it's the typical love triangle or love/hate relationship between two strong characters I'm expecting.

Although this book has some of the same characteristics as other dystopians, it was done in a way that didn't make me want to just skim through parts of it. The story flowed nicely and advanced along quickly enough that I didn't get bored, but not so quick that I felt like it was rushed.

The characters, Day and June, were well developed, although I would have liked to get to know Tess a little more (maybe in the next book?).  

Two fifteen year old kids accomplishing so much may be unbelievable to some people but who wants to read about unremarkable characters in a dystopian? I like having young "superheroes" in the story.

Kudos to Marie Lu for a well written book. It has left me wanting to follow Day's and June's ventures into the sequel. I found Legend to be very enjoyable and I would recommend it.

5/5

I read this book as part of Dystopian August

Review: The Other Life by Ellen Meister

The Other Life by Ellen Meister

Paperback: 368 pages

Publisher: Berkley Trade; Reprint edition (December 6, 2011)

Goodreads Summary:

If you could return to the road not taken, would you?

Happily married and pregnant, Quinn Braverman has an ominous secret. Every time she makes a major life decision, she knows an alternate reality exists in which she made the opposite choice-not only that, she knows how to cross over. But even in her darkest moments-like her mother's suicide-Quinn hasn't been tempted to slip through...until she receives devastating news about the baby she's carrying.

The grief lures her to peek across the portal, and before she knows it she's in the midst of the other life: the life in which she married another man, and is childless. The life in which her mother is still very much alive.

Quinn is forced to make a heartbreaking choice. Will she stay with the family she loves and her severely disabled child? Or will an easier life-and the primal need to be with her mother-win out?

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Review:

How creepy would that be, knowing that you exist in an alternate reality?  Just imagine if you make one decision but in an other life you make a different one and it's all happening at the same time.

 I thought this book was gonna be a page turner but it turn out to be a let down for me. I'm not saying that it was bad, it just wasn't what I expected. I thought the whole alternate life thing was a good idea and I do like Meister's writing style but I personally didn't find the story that interesting.

I couldn't seem to care about the main character for some reason. In one life Quinn has a child and is pregnant with her second. She found this portal that she could go back and forth through to the alternate life.

 A mother leaving her child  that she loves so dearly for another life because she thinks she may be happier there, even for a little while, didn't feel believable. She just came across as selfish to me. But hey, that's just my two cents worth. I have seen a lot of four and  five star reviews for this book...this just won't get  that many stars from me.

2.75/5

Review: Sirena by Donna Jo Napoli

Sirena By Donna Jo Napoli

Goodreads Summary

When Sirena and her sisters sing their siren songs to the sailors on their way to the Trojan War, the men crash their ships upon the rocks. There is one survivor. Sirena defies the goddess Hera by tending his wounds and soon the two are deep in love. But does Philoctetes love Sirena's song, or her soul? And will the pull of honor prove stronger than the bond of love?

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Review:

This was my very first mermaid story. I don't typically read fantasy so I almost dreaded reading it, however I try to keep an open mind...plus it only had 224 pages. It was pleasantly surprising and I actually quite liked it. Now that I've tried this one on, I will be more apt to read this type of book in the future. 

Sirena and her mermaid sisters sing a song that makes men adore them. The problem is that when the men are lured by the song, their ships crash on the rocks leading them to their deaths. Her 9 sisters are not bothered by this the way she is so she swims away to live alone.

Sirena will not become immortal unless she is loved by a human man but when she finds an abandoned soldier on the island of Lemnos she hides from him. She won't let  him to hear her sing because she does not want to trick him into loving her. She brings him food and water while he is asleep because he is ill due to a snake bite and unable to provide for himself.

Will he survive? Do they fall in love thus allowing Sirena to achieve immortality? Will this Greek soldier ever be able to leave the island and continue his journey to the Trojan War? I'm not telling so you'll have to read this book and find out for yourself!

3.75/5

Paperback: 224 pages

Publisher: Scholastic Paperbacks (November 1, 2000)