Soul Of The Sword(Shadow Of The Fox,#2)

 

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One thousand years ago, a wish was made to the Harbinger of Change and a sword of rage and lightning was forged. Kamigoroshi. The Godslayer. It had one task: to seal away the powerful demon Hakaimono. 

Now he has broken free. 

 
Kitsune shapeshifter Yumeko has one task: to take her piece of the ancient and powerful scroll to the Steel Feather temple in order to prevent the summoning of the Harbinger of Change, the great Kami Dragon who will grant one wish to whomever holds the Scroll of a Thousand Prayers. But she has a new enemy now. The demon Hakaimono, who for centuries was trapped in a cursed sword, has escaped and possessed the boy she thought would protect her, Kage Tatsumi of the Shadow Clan. 

Hakaimono has done the unthinkable and joined forces with the Master of Demons in order to break the curse of the sword and set himself free. To overthrow the empire and cover the land in darkness, they need one thing: the Scroll of a Thousand Prayers. As the paths of Yumeko and the possessed Tatsumi cross once again, the entire empire will be thrown into chaos. 

 

❀ 

Outstanding. 

Many more words can describe Soul Of The Sword . I heard about the book when it first came out but never got a chance to read it. My library re-opened recently, and when I saw it, I knew I had to get it. I even re-read the first book in the series, Shadow of The Fox . I didn’t think that the series could get more interesting. I was wrong. Once more, I’m at a loss for words with this book. I loved Shadow Of The Fox , but it was Soul Of The Sword that had me falling in love with the series. The action, the emotions in this book. I saw it all as I read the book as if I was there along with everyone else. Soul Of The Sword had more action, and there was much more happening than in the first book. I’m already looking forward to the last book: Night Of The Dragon ; I need to know how it ends; I want to see if they will succeed. 

An exciting twist to the second book, a point of view from Hakaimono's point of view. I have read about powerful demons before, but there were not nearly as powerful as he is. Even Yumeko didn’t realize how powerful he was; until she started fighting him to free Tatsumi. Despite how powerful he was, Yumeko still managed to trick him. Even I didn’t realize how powerful she was with her Kitsune magic. I was rooting for her to beat him, but at the same time, I was afraid that she wouldn’t be able to. It was interesting for a chance to her inside Hakaimono mind, and despite that he was evil, I was curious about him from the moment he was mentioned. I knew that if Yumeko couldn’t beat him, it wouldn’t end well for anyone. When he made that deal with Master Of Demons, I felt that there would be trouble with him if something weren't right. I didn’t realize how much risk. 

Julie Kagawa did it again with that cliffhanger. The one that makes me wish that I had the next book in the series. What Yumeko did for Tatsumi to free him that was incredible. She might not admit it, but she’s in love with him; otherwise why put her own life at risk to free someone? I know that Yumeko has many more challenges ahead of her. I have a strong feeling that things are about to get worse before they get better. I’m not sure how long I can wait to see what adventures and challenges await them next. This series has been an incredible journey so far, and even though I’m sad that it’s about come to an end, I’m anxious to see how it will end for them all.

Shadow Of The Fox (Shadow Of The Fox,#1)

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                                            CONTAINS SPOILERS

One thousand years ago, the great Kami Dragon was summoned to grant a single terrible wish—and the land of Iwagoto was plunged into an age of darkness and chaos. 

 
Now, for whoever holds the Scroll of a Thousand Prayers, a new wish will be granted. A new age is about to dawn. 

Raised by monks in the isolated Silent Winds temple, Yumeko has trained all her life to hide her yokai nature. Half kitsune, half human, her skill with illusion is matched only by her penchant for mischief. Until the day her home is burned to the ground, her adoptive family is brutally slain and she is forced to flee for her life with the temple's greatest treasure—one part of the ancient scroll. 

There are many who would claim the dragon's wish for their own. Kage Tatsumi, a mysterious samurai of the Shadow Clan, is one such hunter, under orders to retrieve the scroll…at any cost. Fate brings Kage and Yumeko together. With a promise to lead him to the scroll, an uneasy alliance is formed, offering Yumeko her best hope for survival. But he seeks what she has hidden away, and her deception could ultimately tear them both apart. 

With an army of demons at her heels and the unlikeliest of allies at her side, Yumeko's secrets are more than a matter of life or death. They are the key to the fate of the world itself. 

 

 ❀ 

Magical. 

Through the years, I have read many fantasy mythology books. That is one of my favorites genres to read about. I have read Julie Kagawa’s , Iron Fey, Blood Of Eden, Talon series before coming across Shadow Of Fox . I fell in love with Julie Kagawa's writing when I read Iron Fey series a few years ago. Through the years, she became one of my favorite authors. When I came across Shadow of Fox , I had a feeling that it would be a book that I was going to enjoy. That cover, out of all her books; it's my favorite. I believe that cover caught my attention in the book; I was curious about the story behind the cover. Shadow of The Fox was unlike any other YA Fantasy book that I have read before. I have read mythology before, but not Japanese-inspired mythology, and unlike any that I have read before. I did feel a bit confused at the beginning of the book about what was happening. However, all that confusion became clearer within the next few chapters. Once it became clearer what was happening, I was drawn into the magical world. I didn't want to put the book down; I needed to see what would happen. 

Yumeko and Tatsumi's journey to get the scroll; felt as I was going through a video game. It was mainly by the way that their journey was set up, a feeling that I got. I did worry about Yumeko sometimes, traveling with the demon that takes over his mind on occasion. I was concerned that he would break free, and that wouldn't end well for Yumeko. Second, I was afraid that Tatsumi would discover that Yumeko had part of the scroll with her this whole time, and I knew there is a chance that he would kill her if he knew. I understand why she kept a secret from him; if she told him, he wouldn't help her and wouldn't think twice about killing her. I hoped that they would at least reach the temple before he discovered the truth. I couldn't help but wonder if Tatsumi's feelings toward Yumeko would change if he found out that she was a kitsune. I did wonder if he might suspect that she was utterly human. It's clear how much the relationship between Tatsumi and Yumeko changed through the book; how much they begin to care for one another. I wanted to see if anything else develops between the two of them in the next book. 

That ending. I should have expected some twist, but I did not see that coming. I couldn't help but wonder: Is this it? Is this the end for Tatsumi? . Then I thought of Yumeko and had a feeling that there would be something up her sleeve. I had a feeling that she would find a way to save him. Yumeko and Tatsumi's journey took the people that they met on the way; it changed both. Neither of them was the same as they were at the beginning of the journey, and it's far from over. I'm eager to find out where their journey takes them in Soul Of The Sword . I'm rooting for them to accomplish their goal and that Yumeko can find a way to free Tatsumi. 

Unbelievable Journey.

Sunkissed.

 

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After being betrayed by her best friend, Avery is hoping for a picture-perfect summer. Too bad her parents have dragged her and her sister to a remote family camp for the entire summer. And that’s not even the worst part. Avery also has to deal with no internet, a cute but off-limits staff member, and an always-in-her-face sister. 

But what starts as a disaster turns into a whirlwind summer romance as Avery embarks on an unexpected journey to figure out what she truly wants and who she wants to be. 

 

 ❀ 

 
I shouldn’t be surprised, and there hasn’t been a Kasie West novel that I haven’t enjoyed. Through the years of reading her books, she had become one of my favorite authors. Her stories: they are real. When I read her books, it feels as if I can relate to characters, even if I never experienced what they have. Sunkissed was a light read, and once again, I found myself being able to relate to the characters. I have read few books in the camp, but most of the books I have read were about the camp staff, not the quests. I found it interesting that the staff couldn’t even hang out with the guests when they were off the clock. It did add a bit of mystery between Brooks and Avery’s friendship because they had to sneak around and make sure they wouldn’t get caught. At the same time, the two of them could go more places if they didn’t have to hide their friendship all the time. 

I liked the friendship between Brooks and Avery. I enjoyed the fact that the two of them didn’t fall in love right away. The way that the two of them met, I wasn’t sure that they would become friends. I loved watching the bond between the two of them grow. Of course, I couldn’t help but wonder if it would develop into something else. It was clear how much the two of them cared for each other; by the way that the two of them were helping each other. I do think that Brooks should stand up for Avery more to his band. I understand why she was angry and hurt. I loved most of the scenes between the two of them. I was rooting for the two of them throughout the entire book. Their friendship and romance were real. 

Lauren. She was one character that I wasn’t sure how to feel about at the beginning. I felt as all she did was complain. As the book progressed, I couldn’t help but love her. I love how passionate she was about her documentary. Even if she didn’t always show it, she loved her sister. I do feel as Lauren and Avery’s relationship changed through the book. The two of them bonded over the band, and I believe that it brought them a bit closer together. I was smiling when the two of them bonded. I even wondered what would happen to their relationship once the summer was over. In general, Sunkissed is a cute, fun, summer read. I found myself having a hard time pulling myself away from the book. I loved seeing how all the characters progressed through the book, especially Avery. I’m excited to see what adventures Kasie West has in store for us next.

Wild Women And The Blues.

 

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"Why would I talk to you about my life? I don't know you, and even if I did, I don't tell my story to just any boy with long hair, who probably smokes weed.You wanna hear about me. You gotta tell me something about you. To make this worth my while." 

 
1925: Chicago is the jazz capital of the world, and the Dreamland Café is the ritziest black-and-tan club in town. Honoree Dalcour is a sharecropper's daughter, willing to work hard and dance every night on her way to the top. Dreamland offers a path to the good life, socializing with celebrities like Louis Armstrong and filmmaker Oscar Micheaux. But Chicago is also awash in bootleg whiskey, gambling, and gangsters. And a young woman driven by ambition might risk more than she can stand to lose. 

2015: Film student Sawyer Hayes arrives at the bedside of 110-year-old Honoree Dalcour, still reeling from a devastating loss that has taken him right to the brink. Sawyer has rested all his hope on this frail but formidable woman, the only living link to the legendary Oscar Micheaux. If he's right—if she can fill in the blanks in his research, perhaps he can complete his thesis and begin a new chapter in his life. But the links Honoree makes are not ones he's expecting . . . 

Piece by piece, Honoree reveals her past and her secrets, while Sawyer fights tooth and nail to keep his. It's a story of courage and ambition, hot jazz and illicit passions. And as past meets present, for Honoree, it's a final chance to be truly heard and seen before it's too late. No matter the cost . . . 

 

❀ 

 Historical Fiction. Mystery. As you are aware by now, those are two of my favorite genres to read. Wild Women and the Blues had mixed both of those genres. This was not the book that I could put down even if I wanted to. I found myself transported into 2015 and 1925. I loved reading from Sawyer's and Honoree's point of view; however, Honoree's perspective was more interesting for me to read, and it had a lot more happening. I came across Wild Women and the Blues on Goodreads. The cover and the title captured my attention first. The cover had a mysterious look to it and had you wondering what the woman was thinking about. The title, Wild Women and the Blues made me think of Jazz and dancing. I love books that include music, dancing. I have read few books about music, but none of those impressed me this much. Book, I didn't have high expectations when I started it since it's a debut novel. I was in love and had trouble believing it was her debut novel only a few pages into the book. It's astounding. 

I loved Honoree. Out of all characters, she was my favorite one. She was fierce, brave. Honoree experienced something horrific, and she could run away from it, got away. Instead, she stayed, even though she knew that her life could be in danger. I love that she never gave up. After reading Wild Women and the Blues , I'm eager to learn more about the Jazz Age. I knew some information before reading the book and learned even more as I read the book. The information in the book; making me eager to learn more. I liked that the 2005 and 1925 tied the stories together, and as she told Sawyer her story, I wondered what she was hiding. Even though I knew something was coming, even I was shocked at the unexpected twist at the end. I wondered how I did not see that. Wild Women and the Blues has many emotions throughout the book, which will have you on the edge of the seat from beginning until the end. 

Breathtaking. I cannot wait to see what Denny S.Bryce has in store for us next. A book that deserves more than five stars. An inspiration. A story that you won't forget.

The Alice Network.

 

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In an enthralling new historical novel from national bestselling author Kate Quinn, two women—a female spy recruited to the real-life Alice Network in France during World War I and an unconventional American socialite searching for her cousin in 1947—are brought together in a mesmerizing story of courage and redemption. 

1947. In the chaotic aftermath of World War II, American college girl Charlie St. Clair is pregnant, unmarried, and on the verge of being thrown out of her very proper family. She's also nursing a desperate hope that her beloved cousin Rose, who disappeared in Nazi-occupied France during the war, might still be alive. So when Charlie's parents banish her to Europe to have her "little problem" taken care of, Charlie breaks free and heads to London, determined to find out what happened to the cousin she loves like a sister. 

1915. A year into the Great War, Eve Gardiner burns to join the fight against the Germans and unexpectedly gets her chance when she's recruited to work as a spy. Sent into enemy-occupied France, she's trained by the mesmerizing Lili, code name Alice, the "queen of spies", who manages a vast network of secret agents right under the enemy's nose. 

Thirty years later, haunted by the betrayal that ultimately tore apart the Alice Network, Eve spends her days drunk and secluded in her crumbling London house. Until a young American barges in uttering a name Eve hasn't heard in decades, and launches them both on a mission to find the truth...no matter where it leads.

 

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A powerful, memorable story. 

I love books that feature strong women. The Alice Network was this type of book. Charlie and Eve were different from one another, but both have courage. I loved that the story was told in two different timelines and featured Eve in both. From the beginning, you wonder what happened to Eve; to make her cruel, restricted. When Eve was introduced when she met Charlie in 1947, I didn’t like her. On the other hand, I wondered if there was a reason behind her attitude. I felt as if she knew more about Rose than she was telling Charlie. I had a strong feeling that there was a story behind that. Once I read Eve’s story, everything made sense to me. There are no words for what Eve had to go through, what she had to deal with all those years. It was good that she met Charlie when she did; Eve needed a friend like her. I believe that Charlie helped her, even if Eve might not see that. 

I loved Charlie and Eve’s stories. However, reading from Eve’s point of view captured my attention more. I had always loved stories about resistance and spies. I think that is one of the reasons that I was drawn to Eve’s story more. Plus, there was more happening during that time. Eve had to put up with so much pain to hide her identity. I had a feeling that she would find a way to get her revenge one day. Eve and Charlie have courage. Neither of them gave up, despite what they had to face as a result. Charlie never gave up trying to find her cousin, Rose. Eve never gave up on finding a man she hated. I felt their every emotion. The Alice Network is not just a historical book but also a story about friendship, courage, and hope. This isn’t a book that you will forget—one of the most influential books that I have read. I cannot stop thinking about it. The Alice Network is one of the stories that will stay with me; for years to come. 

The Alice Network is the first book that I have read by Kate Quinn and now that I have, I wished that I have read it sooner. I’m eager for a chance to check out the rest of her books now. If you are a fan of historical fiction, with some thriller in the mix, be sure to check out The Alice Network. This is the story that will have you on the edge of your seat from the beginning until the end.

Summerland.

 

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CONTAINS SPOILERS 

 

A warm June evening, a local tradition: the students of Nantucket High have gathered for a bonfire on the beach. What begins as a graduation night celebration ends in tragedy after a horrible car crash leaves the driver, Penny Alistair, dead and her twin brother in a coma. The other passengers, Penny's boyfriend, Jake, and her friend Demeter, are physically unhurt--but the emotional damage is overwhelming. Questions linger about what happened before Penny took the wheel. 

As summer unfolds, startling truths are revealed about the survivors and their parents--secrets kept, promises broken, hearts betrayed. Elin Hilderbrand explores the power of community, family, and honesty, and proves that even from the ashes of sorrow new love can take flight.

 

❀ 

 

Family. Love. Friendships. Secrets. 

Ever since I started reading Elin Hilderbrand books a few years ago, I fell in love with the Nantucket world. I cannot get enough of it. Summerland is different from her other books that I have read, and that's what I loved about it. The story focuses on Jake, Demeter, Hobson, and their family's aftermath of the accident. I enjoyed that the story is told from the parent's and the teenager's point of view. You find yourself wondering if it was an accident or did Penny was speeding and crashed on purpose through most of the book. Based on the flashbacks of Penny, she seemed fragile because of how easily upset she would get. Of course, I couldn't help but wonder if she got upset about something, enough that she caused a crash. I cannot even begin to imagine losing a child this way. I was glad that Hobson made it through it; or I don't think that Zoe would make it through this. 

Summerland had a bit of both drama and a thriller in the mix. That was one of the reasons that I had trouble putting down. It seemed as if all of them were keeping a secret. As a reader, you couldn't help but wonder if that secret was going to get discovered. Each of the characters has so much emotion, and they reacted so differently to the tragedy. I knew that it was the hardest on Zoe, but from reading Jake, Demeter, and Hobson's point of view, I saw how brutal Penny's death was on them. I did get the feeling that Demeter blamed herself the most for Penny's death because of what she said to her before the crash. I wondered what she said to her, but the truth wasn't what I expected to be. I wonder if Penny could not handle the truth and if it was the reason behind the crash. There were so many emotions going through me, from the beginning to the end. 

Summerland isn't a book that you will be able to forget. I was thinking about the book long after I finished it. I even recommended it to a few of my friends. I feel as if it deserves more than five stars. I have read books about tragedy and aftermath after the tragedy, but it was unlike this one. I could feel all of the emotions, all of the pain. It was as if Penny was my friend, and I was going through all the stages of grief along with everyone. I would highly recommend this book.