#BookReview: May Day by Josie Jaffrey

May Day by Josie Jaffrey
My rating: 3.75 of 5 stars 

 
If the murderer you’re tracking is a vampire, then you want a vampire detective. Just maybe not this one. It’s not that Jack Valentine is bad at her job. The youngest member of Oxford’s Seekers has an impressive track record, but she also has an impressive grudge against the local baron, Killian Drake.

When a human turns up dead on May Morning, she’s determined to pin the murder on Drake. Instead, it leads Jack into a web of conspiracy involving the most powerful people in the country, people to whom Jack has no access. But she knows someone who does.

To get to the truth, Jack will have to partner up with her worst enemy. 

First thing first, I wanted to LOVE this book but it fell a little short for that. So I do like it, and I want more from the sequel already. 

Jack Valentine is more impulsive & hot-headed than her partners would like her to be, but a part of that makes her such a badass at her job.  But the one thing that will destroy her sooner is her unreasonable rage towards the local baron, Killian Drake.

Killian Drake, by his position & age is powerful, scheming and  loves to play games with Jack. He knows how she thinks , how she feels and he likes that about their relationship until it changes into a reluctant partnership and things start going out of control for both.

I loved these characters, but i could not feel the connect because I wanted more of their background and to some extent i did not find the justification for Jack's anger unless I have to assume she was totally acting like a brat [ which she might be considering she was 18 when she turned from human to vampire ]

The story starts with a human murder which clearly seems to be act of a vampire , so the seekers are involved. The case gets mixed with a bigger conspiracy unfolding in Oxford. It takes Jack to places that only Drake can get her into and because of this, they both see a change in their understand and want for each other. I could so relate to Jack's confusion about this desire, even if I did not agree to her decision to walk away from it in the end. 

Though the murder gets solved in the end, the other case does not gets it due closure as per Jack and that is what we will continue to read in the second book. All in all, its a really entertaining read and some fresh take on vampire culture. 

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Burned [house of night #7] by PC Kast + Kristin Cast

Read the reviews of previous parts here

So Zoey is dead, almost dead 'cause she still has a chance at life if some one can bring her soul back from the Other world ! And who caused this ? Heath !! Am I glad he is dead finally ? In a way yes , but I liked the role he played in the Otherworld ! This book totally belongs to Stevie and Aphrodite ! Thanks to the authors for finally portraying what these two ladies are capable of !  They hve powers , they have brains and they have the strength to keep up the struggle at any cost.
Stark ! Love him from the moment he became Zoey's warrior and in this ook, he totally plays the part. Of course he is the only one who can now save Zoey and that he does. brilliant chapter that is ..[ will not tell more in case it might act as spoiler].
And yes, I hate zoey a little more here except the part when she fights for Stark ! I wish she had that sense and feeling of power all the while ! But then you will not have this part at all ;)



Synopsis:  Things have turned black at the House of Night. Zoey Redbird’s soul has shattered. With everything she’s ever stood for falling apart, and a broken heart making her want to stay in the Otherworld forever, Zoey’s fading fast. It’s seeming more and more doubtful that she will be able pull herself back together in time to rejoin her friends and set the world to rights. As the only living person who can reach her, Stark must find a way to get to her.  But how?  He will have to die to do so, the Vampyre High Council stipulates.  And then Zoey will give up for sure. There are only 7 days left…

Enter  BFF Stevie Rae.  She wants to help Z but she has massive problems of her own.  The rogue Red Fledglings are acting up, and this time not even Stevie Rae can protect them from the consequences.  Her kinda boyfriend, Dallas, is sweet but too nosy for his own good.  The truth is, Stevie Rae’s hiding a secret that might be the key to getting Zoey home but also threatens to explode her whole world.

In the middle of the whole mess is Aphrodite: ex-Fledgling, trust-fund baby, total hag from Hell (and proud of it).  She’s always been blessed (if you could call it that) with visions that can reveal the future, but now it seems Nyx has decided to speak through her with the goddess’s own voice, whether she wants it or not.  Aphrodite’s loyalty can swing a lot of different ways, but right now Zoey’s fate hangs in the balance.

Three girls… playing with fire… if they don’t watch out, everyone will get Burned.


Rating : 3/5


 Other details: 
ISBN-10: 0312606168
ISBN-13: 978-0312606169
Pages : 323
Price : 363 for paperback

Eclipse

Eclipse (book three of the Twilight Saga)
A Stephenie Meyer novel.

ISBN-978-1-90423-391-6
First edition- 2007

Author- Stephenie Meyer
Best sellers- The Host, Twilight Saga.

Synopsis- As Seattle is ravaged by a string of mysterious killings and a malicious vampire continues her quest for revenge, Bella once again finds herself surrounded by danger. In the midst of it all, she is forced to choose between her love for Edward and her friendship with Jacob - knowing that her decision has the potential to ignite the ageless struggle between vampire and werewolf. With her graduation approaching, Bella has one more decision to make:life or death. but which is which?

Excerpt- ALL OUR ATTEMPTS AT SUBTERFUGE HAD BEEN IN VAIN.

With ice in my heart, I watched him prepare to defend me. His intense concentration
betrayed no hint of doubt, though he was outnumbered. I knew that we could expect no help
 at this moment, his family was fighting for their lives just as surely as he was for ours.

Would I ever learn the outcome of that other fight? Find out who the winners and the losers
were? Would I live long enough for that?

The odds of that didn't look so great.

Black eyes, wild with their fierce craving for my death, watched for the moment when my
protector's attention would be diverted. The moment when I would surely die.

Somewhere, far, far away in the cold forest, a wolf howled.

Ria speaks- I must admit the Preface of each novel in the saga is what kept the faith alive in me that the book in my hands still has the promise of a good read. Not to get too much into the whole love triangle which somehow seems to remain omnipresent through out the book. Jacob still loves Bella- Bella still loves Edward- Edward still wants to kill Jacob(for loving Bella & for being a werewolf). This book brings in the new twist of brand new vampires, it shows us everything Edward(and the whole Cullen family) has talked about. Stephenie Meyer tries to give us as big a insight as she can into the minds of the "newly born's" helping us imagine what Bella(if she turned) would be like. 

Now as we can't run from the whole romance thing as i thought i could and so did Bella( both clearly mistaken), Jacob pounces on the opportunity to save and spend more time with Bella from the newly born's which seem to be coming after her. He finally makes a move and kisses Bella only to get punched in the face by her(her hand breaks but i'm sure it was worth it). Now i read all 4 books before the movie's came out so when i speak of the Cullen family, or the werewolves or even Bella its the picture i formed in my head not the one that was formed for me. That is the beauty of these books it allows your imagination to run wild, be it from the blood thirsty newly born's to the evil genius of the Volturi, throw in a marriage proposal, talk about sex and a scorned love and we have all the makings of a hit story.

Like her previous books the third book did not fail me, it just had me more in love(when i din't think it possible)

Ratings- 4 out of 5( i stick by my ratings)

Price- Rs 395. Rs 277 on Flipkart.

Tempted ( hous of night novel #6) by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast

Read reviews of previous parts here [ In reverse order]

Unexpected twists. Fast paced Narration. Emotional drama on a high.Prophecy. Venice.Power.Truth.  Love. Friends. Pain. Guy-Issues [ Zoey always have that !] , Loyalty. Humanity and Above all - Good over evil [ can it prevail and for how long ?]

This part has it all and a good amount that too. From one discovery and sense of achievement to another trouble to another day that can turn any way .. You will not take long to finish this one .. The repetition about people and circle and other stuff is almost gone , the story stands on its own and so do the characters - each of them. Totally hooked to this series and totally proud of it ;)

Synopsis : So - you'd think after banishing an immortal being and a fallen High Priestess, saving Stark's life, biting Heath, getting a headache from Erik, and almost dying, Zoey Redbird would catch a break. Sadly, a break is not in the House of Night school forecast for the High Priestess in training and her gang. Juggling three guys is anything but a stress reliever, especially when one of them is a sexy Warrior who is so into protecting Zoey that he can sense her emotions. Speaking of stress, the dark force lurking in the tunnels under the Tulsa Depot is spreading, and Zoey is beginning to believe Stevie Rae could be responsible for a lot more than a group of misfit red fledglings. Aphrodite's visions warn Zoey to stay away from Kalona and his dark allure, but they also show that it is Zoey who has the power to stop the evil immortal. Soon it becomes obvious that Zoey has no choice: if she doesn't go to Kalona he will exact a fiery vengeance on those closest to her. Will Zoey have the courage to chance losing her life, her heart, and her soul?

Rating : 3.5/5

Other details :
ISBN:     1905654588
ISBN-13: 9781905654581,978-1905654581
Pages : 336

Betrayed - Book#2 - house of the night Series

by PC Cast + Kristin Cast

Ok, if you have read the first book, this book will offer quite a lot of repetition of events from book#1 but those who did not read it, let it not mean you can skip book 1.  This book sees Zoye , trying to handle friends , her responsibilities as the leader of the dark daughters and son, her new boyfriend Erik , her ex-boyfriend Heath [ and a human ] , her super hot teacher [ as described in the book , and he writes haiku !! I love this one ;) ] , and the high priestess ! Do i even write any more ? This is a thick plot which is served well with some very memorable moments - few of the scenes between Aphrodite & Zoye ; Heath's vulnerability at his friend's death ; Zoye's confession about Heath to Erik ... very honest and heartfelt writing there. You feel not just for Zoye alone but for all those related to her ! And that for me is remarkable about this book. This book does not take the story further but instead sets a baseline for the next part. And  I am too eager to do that !

 Synopsis [ from book cover] :

Fledgling vampyre Zoey Redbird has managed to settle in at the House of Night finishing school.  She finally feels like she belongs, even gets chosen as the Leader of the Dark Daughters.  Best of all, she actually has a boyfriend… or two.  Then the unthinkable happens: Human teenagers are being killed, and all the evidence points to the House of Night.
While danger stalks the humans from Zoey’s old life, she begins to realize that the very powers that make her so unique might also threaten those she loves.  Then when she needs her new friends the most, death strikes the House of Night, and Zoey must find the courage to face a betrayal that could break her heart, her soul, and jeopardize the very fabric of her world.

Other details :

Number of pages : 400

Price : 200-300 [ depends on site / shop ] for a paperback

Read the review of Marked - book #1 of the series here done by MSM.