Review: The Winner's Crime by Marie Rutkoski

The Winner's Crime by Marie Rutkoski
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Book two of the dazzling Winner's Trilogy is a fight to the death as Kestrel risks betrayal of country for love. The engagement of Lady Kestrel to Valoria’s crown prince means one celebration after another. But to Kestrel it means living in a cage of her own making. As the wedding approaches, she aches to tell Arin the truth about her engagement... if she could only trust him. Yet can she even trust herself? For—unknown to Arin—Kestrel is becoming a skilled practitioner of deceit: an anonymous spy passing information to Herran, and close to uncovering a shocking secret. As Arin enlists dangerous allies in the struggle to keep his country’s freedom, he can’t fight the suspicion that Kestrel knows more than she shows. In the end, it might not be a dagger in the dark that cuts him open, but the truth. And when that happens, Kestrel and Arin learn just how much their crimes will cost them. REVIEW 5 STARS ***** I chose The Winner's Crime as one of the titles I would like to receive as my birthday gift from a friend. I can say that I devoured this book and simply loved every moment of it. There is something about Marie Rutkoski's writing style that just grabs and holds my attention. I have been blindsided by the ending and plot twist taking place in this trilogy. I'm in shock right now, why? I will most definitely pre-order book # 3. This book was a major distraction from my homework, but that's okay. I need to find out what happens in the next book. The ending is seriously going to make this a brutal wait... Love this series. The author makes this world effortless for readers to envision. (Thank you Sunni, for my cliff-hanger gift, so loved it)

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Review: Reluctant Concubine by Dana Marton

Publication Date: March 1, 2015 -- Please note that this is an updated edition of the book previously titled "The Third Scroll". "A terrific epic fantasy ~ magical, compelling, and romantic!" Susan Mallery, NEW YORK TIMES bestselling author "It's impressively easy to become immersed in Marton's fantasy world. Readers will find it impossible not to care what happens next..." Kirkus Review An ambitious, vividly imagined epic fantasy. Marton has created a promising and immersive world that is, at the same time, darkly brutal... the splendor of the author's vision cannot be overlooked." RT Book Reviews To escape punishment, Tera, a maiden healer sold to barbarians must hide the truth: she has not yet come into her healing powers. Born into a much gentler world, she struggles to survive in a land of savage warlords and their cruel concubines. When ancient prophecies begin to come to pass, can the healer-slave save the realm and awaken the High Lord’s heart? "I ADORED.. (the hero). From his initial appearance and those gentle words of promise that no harm would come to...(the heroine), to his accepting manner of all that was her, to his tenderness shown when a barrier for which he waited so patiently to fold was finally crossed. He has to be one of my favourite male counterparts I've read in a while. LOVE him." Bookaroo-Ju Review "The writing is just beautiful. It flows sometimes like water. I don't know how else to describe it other than to say i enjoyed how it felt reading it." 5 out of 5 Modokker Book Pick Stars For anyone who enjoyed the fantasy worlds of George Martin's Game of Thrones, C.L. Wilson's Lord of the Fading Lands, Elizabeth Vaughan's Warprize, or the memorably crafted healer heroines in Jean Auel's Clan of the Cave Bear and Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series, THE THIRD SCROLL is the next epic adventure to get lost in. REVIEW: 5 STARS ***** I won Reluctant Concubine in a giveaway for free on Goodreads First/Reads and I'm hooked. This story is awesome! This story was a part of my thoughts for weeks after reading it. Reluctant Concubine is a favorite of mine, and definitely recommendable- Reluctant Concubine is captivating, unique, and refreshing. It was not long before I developed a compassionate connection with the main character Tara, and I was sucked into her heartwrenching world. This was the first book I read of Dana Marton's and I enjoyed the writing style as well. I'm impatiently waiting for the rest of Tara's story, and eager to purchase every book to come in the Hardstorm Saga. I have become a stalker of Dana Marton's Facebook page trying to find out exactly when the second book is going to be released. :)