Dance of Thieves - Review

Dance of Thieves (Dance of Thieves, # 1)

By: Mary E Pearson

Publication: August 7th 2018 by Henry Holt & Company

384 pages

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy

Source: Publisher via NetGalley (Thank you!!)

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*Note: The above links to Amazon and Book Depository are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--A new novel in the New York Times–bestselling Remnant Chronicles universe, in which a reformed thief and the young leader of an outlaw dynasty lock wits in a battle that may cost them their lives—and their hearts.

When the patriarch of the Ballenger empire dies, his son, Jase, becomes its new leader. Even nearby kingdoms bow to the strength of this outlaw family, who have always governed by their own rules. But a new era looms on the horizon, set in motion by a young queen, which makes her the target of the dynasty's resentment and anger.

At the same time, Kazi, a legendary former street thief, is sent by the queen to investigate transgressions against the new settlements. When Kazi arrives in the forbidding land of the Ballengers, she learns that there is more to Jase than she thought. As unexpected events spiral out of their control, bringing them intimately together, they continue to play a cat and mouse game of false moves and motives in order to fulfill their own secret missions.

I'm so glad that I jumped into Dance of Thieves immediately after finishing The Beauty of Darkness. Even though we're now following a different set of main characters, the cast we fell in love with from the original Remnant Chronicles series were all mentioned in one way or the other. Lia has quite a prominent role in that she's discussed frequently throughout the book and does have a section toward the end where we see her again. Kaden isn't mentioned by name I don't think, but his position and relationship to Pauline (who is mentioned more than once) is. Rafe is mentioned and is present. Even Natiya as well as Griz are all characters in this story. We even see Lia's brother, Bryn, at one point and discuss Jeb, who died at the end of The Beauty of Darkness.

Honestly, at first I was frustrated with Kazi because she's so quick to accuse Jase of being a thief, but yet she knows that she's one of the most accomplished thieves in Venda. Of course, this comes up later and isn't something that's ignored. Kazi and Jase's relationship is full of this type of thing. The very thing one holds against the other is often something they're doing also. I did feel like Kazi and Jase jumped into things quickly, but there was plenty of time that they spent together solidifying what may have happened too quickly for me. For me their relationship drove so much of the story, and this is always a good thing in my opinion.

Dance of Thieves did take me a good 10% to get invested. I kept falling asleep when I'd start reading. I don't think that's a fault of the book itself so much as me just being exhausted most of the time. But once I was hooked I didn't want to stop reading and would squeeze in a page or two every spare chance I had. Especially toward the end--70% on--I felt feverish to finish this book and see how everything was going to end until the next book in the series.

The side characters and world were just as vivid as the main two. I wasn't expecting Mary E Pearson to make a new series in the same world yet have it feel so cohesive and separate at the same time. The area of land that the Ballenger family is over has such a unique set of rules and customs that it truly made the series feel brand new even while being a piece of the world we came to love in the prior series. Kudos for that. And despite having such a large cast of characters (Jase's family alone is quite large), everyone felt separate and completely fleshed out.

Dance of Thieves was everything that I wanted it to be. Driven by the relationships yet still enough story and intrigue and questions to keep me devouring pages. I felt torn with Jase and Kazi at times. I wanted them to work things out, yet there were so many times that I thought each one had crossed the line of no return and not being able to fix their relationship. I loved the uniqueness of Thors Watch and the history of the Ballenger family where this was one of my complaints of the original series. And then there's that cliffhanger. Dance of Thieves gets 4.5 Stars. Have you read Dance of Thieves? What did you think? Let me know!

Sunday Post & Stacking the Shelves - 11/4/18

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba @ The Caffeinated Book Reviewer ~this meme was inspired in part by ~ In My Mailbox~ It's a chance to share News. A post to recap the past week, showcase books and things we have received and share news about what is coming up for the week on our blog.

Another busy week. Tuesday was Little Boy's FIRST BIRTHDAY! I'm so excited that we made it to my goal of breastfeeding for one year, and now I'm excited to start the weaning process. Wednesday was Halloween of course. The kids and I took some food to my friend Lacy who just had a baby last week. Her little girl was so sweet and adorable. And other than feeding she basically slept the entire time we were there. Little Girl was a witch and Little Boy was a vampire for Halloween. We were kickin' it old school. Thursday I busted out the Christmas music. I wasn't much in the Christmas mood last year so I figure I need to make up for it this year. Don't worry I'll give Thanksgiving the proper due as well. Friday we had family pictures. I can't wait to see how they turned out. But man that was one of the most stressful days I've had in a while. Today is my niece's birthday and we'll be celebrating her after church today. Also, I got several books, but I kind of feel on the fence about them. This is a series where I've had the first book for about a year and haven't read it yet, but I've seen nothing but great ratings for the series so I jumped when they were on NetGalley as "Read Now." Yet I always cringe to get more than one book in a series at a time because I feel guilty if I end up not enjoying the first one and then not reviewing or reading the others. What do you do in a situation like that?

My annual "All Things Halloween" event is ended on Wednesday. This is my month-long event where I feature reviews from Halloween-y genres (fantasy, paranormal, supernatural, sci-fi, horror, mystery, thriller, and suspense). Over the last few years I've had mostly fantasy books as I just haven't been in the mood for much horror, but still...these are books that can get you in the mood for Halloween.

THIS PAST WEEK:

Monday: All Things Halloween Review of The Beauty of Darkness (The Remnant Chronicles, # 3) by Mary E Pearson (4 Stars)
Wednesday: Can't Wait for King of Scars (King of Scars, # 1) by Leigh Bardugo
Thursday:October 2018 EOM Wrap Up

UPCOMING THIS WEEK:

Monday: Review of Dance of Thieves (Dance of Thieves, # 1) by Mary E Pearson
Tuesday: Top Ten Tuesday?
Wednesday: Can't Wait for Wednesday
Thursday: Review of Bible Journaling Made Simple by Sandy Alnock

Don’t forget to link up for the 2018 Series Enders Reading Challenge! You have until December 15th, 2018 to sing up. Each month there will be a giveaway for those participating with an end of the year giveaway too! Click on the picture below or the link above to find out more!

Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga's Reviews.

Second Grave on the Left (Charley Davidson, # 2)

By: Darynda Jones

Publication: August 16th 2011 by St. Martin's Press

307 pages

Genre: Fantasy, Paranormal, Urban Fantasy, Mystery

Source: Publisher via NetGalley (Thank you!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository )

*Note: The above links to Amazon and Book Depository are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--If you hang around with dead people, life can get pretty complicated. Take it from Charley Davidson, part-time private investigator and full-time Grim Reaper. Complicated is her middle name. The deceased find her very sparkly. Demons find her irresistible. And one entity in particular wants to seduce her in every way possible. When Charley and Cookie (her best friend/receptionist) have to track down a missing woman, the case is not quite as open and shut as they anticipate. Cookie's friend Mimi disappeared five days earlier. Mimi then sends Cookie a cryptic message telling Cookie to meet her at an nearby coffee shop. The coffee is brewing, but Mimi's still missing. There is, however, a clue Mimi left on the bathroom wall: a woman's name. Mimi's husband explains to them that his wife had been acting strange since she found out an old high school friend had been murdered. The same woman whose name Mimi had scribbled on the bathroom wall.

Meanwhile, Reyes Alexander Farrow (otherwise known as the Son of Satan. Yes. Literally) has left his corporeal body and is haunting Charley. He's left his body because he's being tortured by demons who want to lure Charley closer. But Reyes can't let that happen. Because if the demons get to Charley, they'll have a portal to heaven...well, let's just say it wouldn't be pretty.

Can Charley handle hot nights with Reyes and even hotter days tracking down a missing woman? Can she keep those she loves out of harm's way? And is there enough coffee and chocolate in the world to fuel her as she does?

Here is your signpost for the most hilarious read of the year: Second Grave on the Left.

Third Grave Dead Ahead (Charley Davidson, # 3)

By: Darynda Jones

Publication: January 31st 2012 by St. Martin's Press

310 pages

Genre: Fantasy, Paranormal, Urban Fantasy, Mystery

Source: Publisher via NetGalley (Thank you!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository )

*Note: The above links to Amazon and Book Depository are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--Paranormal private eye. Grim reaper extraordinaire. Whatever. Charley Davidson is back! And she's drinking copious amounts of caffeine to stay awake because, every time she closes her eyes, she sees him: Reyes Farrow, the part-human, part-supermodel son of Satan. Yes, she did imprison him for all eternity, but come on. How is she supposed to solve a missing persons case, deal with an ego-driven doctor, calm her curmudgeonly dad, and take on a motorcycle gang hellbent on murder when the devil's son just won't give up?

Fourth Grave Beneath My Feet

By: Darynda Jones

Publication: October 30th 2012 by St. Martin's Press

308 pages

Genre: Fantasy, Paranormal, Urban Fantasy, Mystery

Source: Publisher via NetGalley (Thank you!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository )

*Note: The above links to Amazon and Book Depository are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--Welcome to the world of grim reaper extraordinaire Charley Davidson. Try as she might, there’s no avoiding her destiny. Sometimes being the grim reaper really is, well, grim. And since Charley’s last case went so awry, she has taken a couple of months off to wallow in the wonders of self-pity. But when a woman shows up on her doorstep convinced someone is trying to kill her, Charley has to force herself to rise above...or at least get dressed. It becomes clear something is amiss when everyone the woman knows swears she’s insane. But the more they refute the woman’s story, the more Charley believes it.

In the meantime, the sexy, sultry son of Satan, Reyes Farrow, is out of prison and out of Charley’s life, as per her wishes and several perfectly timed death threats. But his absence has put a serious crimp in her sex life. While there are other things to consider, like the fact that the city of Albuquerque has been taken hostage by an arsonist, Charley is having a difficult time staying away. Especially when it looks like Reyes may be involved.

Just when life was returning to normal, Charley is thrust back into the world of crime, punishment, and the devil in blue jeans in this hilarious fourth installment in the New York Times bestselling series.

Fifth Grave Past the Light (Charley Davidson, # 5)

By: Darynda Jones

Publication: July 9th 2013 by St. Martin's Press

339 pages

Genre: Fantasy, Paranormal, Urban Fantasy, Mystery

Source: Publisher via NetGalley (Thank you!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository )

*Note: The above links to Amazon and Book Depository are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--Never underestimate the power of a woman on a double espresso with a mocha latte chaser high. - T-shirt

Charley Davidson isn't your everyday, run-of-the-mill grim reaper. She's more of a paranormal private eye/grim reaper extraordinaire. However, she gets sidetracked when the sexy, sultry son of Satan, Reyes Farrow, moves in next door. To further complicate matters, Reyes is her main suspect in an arson case. Charley has vowed to stay away from him until she can find out the truth...but then dead women start appearing in her apartment, one after another, each lost, confused, and terrified beyond reason. When it becomes apparent that her own sister, Gemma is the serial killer's next target, Charley has no choice but to ask for Reyes's help. Arsonist or not, he's the one man alive who could protect Gemma no matter who or what came at her. But he wants something in return. Charley. All of her, body and soul. And to keep her sister safe, it is a price she is willing to pay.

Charley Davidson is at it again in the sexy, suspenseful, and laugh-out-loud funny fifth installment of the New York Times best selling series.

Sixth Grave on the Edge (Charley Davidson, # 6)

By: Darynda Jones

Publication: May 20th 2014 by St. Martin's Press

326 pages

Genre: Fantasy, Paranormal, Urban Fantasy, Mystery

Source: Publisher via NetGalley (Thank you!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository )

*Note: The above links to Amazon and Book Depository are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--Few things in life can come between a grim reaper and her coffee, but the sexy, sultry son of Satan is one of them. Now that Reyes Farrow has asked for her hand, Charley Davidson feels it's time to learn more about his past, but Reyes is reluctant to open up. When the official FBI file of his childhood abduction lands in her lap, Charley decides to go behind her mysterious beau’s back and conduct her own investigation. Because what could go wrong?

Unfortunately, another case has fallen into her lap—one with dangerous implications. Some very insistent men want Charley to hunt down a witness who is scheduled to testify against their boss, a major player in the local crime syndicate. If Charley doesn't come up with an address in 48 hours, the people closest to her will start to disappear.

Add to that a desperate man in search of the soul he lost in a card game, a dogged mother determined to find the ghost of her son, and a beautiful, young Deaf boy haunted by his new ability to see the departed as clearly as he sees the living, and Charley has her hands full. The fact that Reyes has caught on to her latest venture only adds fuel to the inferno that he is. Good thing for Charley she's used to multi-tasking and always up for a challenge…especially when that challenge comes in the form of Reyes Farrow.

Seventh Grave and No Body (Charley Davidson, # 7)

By: Darynda Jones

Publication: October 21st 2014 by St. Martin's Press

322 pages

Genre: Fantasy, Paranormal, Urban Fantasy, Mystery

Source: Publisher via NetGalley (Thank you!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository )

*Note: The above links to Amazon and Book Depository are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--Twelve. Twelve of the deadliest beasts ever forged in the fires of hell have escaped onto our plane, and they want nothing more than to rip out the jugular of Charley Davidson and serve her lifeless, mangled body to Satan for dinner. So there’s that. But Charley has more on her plate than a mob of testy hellhounds. For one thing, her father has disappeared, and the more she retraces his last steps, the more she learns he was conducting an investigation of his own, one that has Charley questioning everything she’s ever known about him. Add to that an ex-BFF who is haunting her night and day, a rash of suicides that has authorities baffled, and a drop-dead sexy fiancé who has attracted the attentions of a local celebrity, and Charley is not having the best week of her life.

A tad north of hell, a hop, skip, and a jump past the realm of eternity, is a little place called Earth, and Charley Davidson, grim reaper extraordinaire, is determined to do everything in her power to protect it.

We’re doomed.

Eighth Grave After Dark (Charley Davidson, # 8)

By: Darynda Jones

Publication: May 19th 2015 by St. Martin's Press

293 pages

Genre: Fantasy, Paranormal, Urban Fantasy, Mystery

Source: Publisher via NetGalley (Thank you!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository )

*Note: The above links to Amazon and Book Depository are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--With twelve hellhounds after her, pregnant Charley Davidson takes refuge at the only place she thinks they can’t get to her: the grounds of an abandoned convent. But after months of being cooped up there, Charley is ready to pop. Both metaphorically and literally since she is now roughly the size of a beached whale. Fortunately, a new case has captured her attention, one that involves a murder on the very grounds the team has taken shelter upon. A decades-old murder of the newly-vowed nun she keeps seeing in the shadows is almost enough to pull her out of her doldrums.

Charley’s been forbidden to step foot off the sacred grounds. While the angry hellhounds can’t traverse the consecrated soil, they can lurk just beyond its borders. They have the entire team on edge, especially Reyes. And if Charley didn’t know better, she would swear Reyes is getting sick. He grows hotter with every moment that passes, his heat scorching across her skin every time he’s near, but naturally he swears he’s fine.

While the team searches for clues on the Twelve, Charley just wants answers and is powerless to get them. But the mass of friends they’ve accrued helps. They convince her even more that everyone in her recent life has somehow been drawn to her, as though they were a part of a bigger picture all along. But the good feelings don’t last for long because Charley is about to get the surprise of her crazy, mixed-up, supernatural life….

That's it for my shelves and recaps of my past and upcoming week. What did you add to your shelves this week? Any bookish news you want to talk about? Let me know!

October 2018 EOM Wrap Up

October involved my annual All Things Halloween event--a month of paranormal, supernatural, mystery/thriller, etc reviews and books. With both kids celebrating birthdays this month, reading took a bit of a backseat. I hope everyone had a HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

I have read 3 books (children's books not listed below). *These qualify for the 2018 Series Enders Reading Challenge.
The Brave Art of Motherhood by Rachel Marie Martin
The One You Fight For (The Ones Who Got Away, # 3) by Roni Loren
A Holiday by Gaslight by Mimi Matthews

I have reviewed 5 books. *These qualify for the 2018 Series Enders Reading Challenge.
Traitor to the Throne (Rebel of the Sands, # 2) by Alwyn Hamilton
*The Last Star (The 5th Wave, # 3) by Rick Yancey
*Harry Potter & the Cursed Child by JK Rowling, Jack Thorne, & John Tiffany
*Hero at the Fall (Rebel of the Sands, # 3) by Alwyn Hamilton
*The Beauty of Darkness (The Remnant Chronicles, # 3) by Mary E Pearson

I have DNF'd 1 book.
The Resolutions by Mia Garcia

Other Posts:
Sunday Post - 10/7/18
Sunday Post - 10/14/18
Sunday Post & Stacking the Shelves - 10/21/18
Sunday Post & Stacking the Shelves - 10/28/18
Top Ten Longest Books I've Read
Top Ten Villains
Can't Wait for Last of Her Name by Jessica Khoury
Can't Wait for Crown of Feathers (Crown of Feathers, # 1 by Nicki Pau Preto
Can't Wait for The Binding by Bridget Collins
Can't Wait for The Sword and the Dagger by Robert Cochran
Can't Wait for King of Scars (King of Scars, # 1) by Leigh Bardugo
2018 Series Enders Reading Challenge - October Wrap Up

Goals:
I'm 34 days ahead on my Bible-in-a-year plan.
I've read 71 out of 52 books.
I've read 6 out of 10-12 series enders.

Can't Wait for King of Scars

Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings to spotlight and talk about the books we're excited about that we have yet to read. Generally they're books that have yet to be released as well. It's based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by the fabulous Jill at Breaking the Spine. Find out more here.

King of Scars (King of Scars, # 1)

By: Leigh Bardugo

Expected Publication:January 29th 2019 by Imprint

528 pages

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy

( Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository )

*Note: The above links to Amazon and Book Depository are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--Nikolai Lantsov has always had a gift for the impossible. No one knows what he endured in his country’s bloody civil war—and he intends to keep it that way. Now, as enemies gather at his weakened borders, the young king must find a way to refill Ravka’s coffers, forge new alliances, and stop a rising threat to the once-great Grisha Army.

Yet with every day a dark magic within him grows stronger, threatening to destroy all he has built. With the help of a young monk and a legendary Grisha Squaller, Nikolai will journey to the places in Ravka where the deepest magic survives to vanquish the terrible legacy inside him. He will risk everything to save his country and himself. But some secrets aren’t meant to stay buried—and some wounds aren’t meant to heal.

What are you guys waiting on this week? Let me know!

All Things Halloween Review - The Beauty of Darkness

The Beauty of Darkness (The Remnant Chronicles, # 3)

By: Mary E Pearson

Publication: August 2nd 2016 by Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)

688 pages

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy

Source: Personal Kindle Library

( Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository )

*Note: The above links to Amazon and Book Depository are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--Lia has survived Venda—but so has a great evil bent on the destruction of Morrighan. And only Lia can stop it.

With war on the horizon, Lia has no choice but to assume her role as First Daughter, as soldier—as leader. While she struggles to reach Morrighan and warn them, she finds herself at cross-purposes with Rafe and suspicious of Kaden, who has hunted her down.

In this conclusion to the Remnant Chronicles trilogy, traitors must be rooted out, sacrifices must be made, and impossible odds must be overcome as the future of every kingdom hangs in the balance.

Ok guys, so I literally just moments ago finished The Beauty of Darkness. Usually I wait a day at least before writing my review simply because of time. But I had to get some thoughts down about this book before going to bed.

But first let me backtrack. My MIL bought this series ender for me the Christmas after it released. Unfortunately she bought me the hardback copy whereas the prior two books I'd read on my Kindle. (Don't you hate when that happens?) Being a new mom at the time reading a hardback book is almost impossible. You need two hands for that. I can barely remember a time when I had both hands free for something like that. This coupled with the fact that this book is almost 700 pages long had me putting it off. Husband actually bought me the Kindle edition later and with the upcoming release of Dance of Thieves, I finally decided to finish this series.

The epicness of book 1, The Kiss of Deception, has been difficult for the remaining books in the series to live up to. It is easily in my list of favorite books. The Heart of Betrayal was good, but just not as good. But it did leave the characters in a place of precariousness. The Beauty of Darkness picks up immediately where The Heart of Betrayal left off.

I struggled with a few areas. 1) The history which plays into Lia's role in this book and her destiny. I really never get the full benefits of fictional texts being quoted within another fictional book. It usually confuses me. Gaudrel, Venda, Morrighan... Who they were as people in the past and what their books say about history and their story. Ugh... I'm not a fan of this in books. It requires too much effort to figure out what the author wants me to get from these quotes.

2) Even though I'm a big fan of Mary E Pearson's writing and especially considering the way she wrote The Kiss of Deception, I'm surprised that this is a complaint of mine but here we are nonetheless. I got confused at narrator switches on multiple occasions. I can only lie fault with the character voices not being distinct enough. The writing was completely the same no matter who was narrating.

3) I told my husband that even though I was enjoying this book and it was written in such a way that made me want to keep reading and had me thinking about the book constantly even when I wasn't reading, there was something about the writing that made me uninterested in re-reading it in the future. I wondered why and I think my issues stem from the characters' lack of hope. I can't go into too much detail because I don't want to spoil anything. But there's a way to write a book that has me devouring pages to know what's going to happen while providing me hope of a positive outcome, and then there's writing a book in negative way that gives you no hope but you pray that you and the characters are wrong and things end up differently than it appears. Both have you hooked to know what's going to happen, but one isn't exactly the most pleasant experience and doesn't leave me wanting to re-read. When I tried to explain this to my husband he didn't understand what I was saying until I added specifics so I hope you guys can just get what I'm saying without needing that. Because of the way conflict was handled even though I got an ending I was satisfied with, the process to get there in ways wasn't exactly satisfying.

Despite my issues, I did devour this book as quickly as I could considering it was again almost 700 pages long. I loved the inclusion of Pauline narrating as well as the original Lia, Rafe, and Kaden. The side cast was diverse and most of them easily loveable.

The main conflict was built up over 90% of the book, but only took 4ish% to resolve. For me this is also a bit of a negative because it means that things wrapped up too quickly for having been strung out for so long.

I know my review might seem like I didn't enjoy The Beauty of Darkness, but I did. I am so glad to have finally finished this series ender and know how it all ends. The Beauty of Darkness gets 4 Stars. Have you read The Beauty of Darkness? What did you think? Let me know!

This review is part of my All Things Halloween event--a month of paranormal, supernatural, mystery/thriller, etc reviews and books.