4 Stars: I liked the characters and the story line. All of the magic and mystical creatures were awesome. The dragons, mermaids, vampires, and different kingdoms were just amazing ideas. The conflicts where exciting and kept me reading. Also the characters like Elearah, Balian, Pearl, and Mika were all my favorites. Pearl was my favorite of all though. She was strong and magical even though she wasn't what everybody expected.
I recommend this book to anyone over the age of 13. Some of the scenes can be a little intense for younger readers. Have fun reading!
Buy links:
Amazon
B&N (paper back only)
Blurb:
For Elearah and her secret companion Pearl, time is running out. They must escape to the Goddess Sanctuary before they are overtaken by assassins even their mysterious protectors Mika and Balian cannot stop. Their long, desperate journey through the kingdom of Huo, is interrupted by a summons from the duke that cannot be refused.
What results is a war between political titans, magical creatures, and unknown spirits. Will they survive to seek sanctuary? Will Mika overcome his tragic history and claim Elearah, the woman he has come to love? Will the ancient dragon god arise? Or will all hope for the future be lost...
Author Bio:
Sandra Martinez writes fiction and non-fiction with a single purpose in mind: to understand the world around us. Sometimes we can understand it by looking from close up, sometimes we need to go far out there.
She writes while taking care of a small edible garden, two kids, a cat and a dog who don´t seem to understand the meaning of pacific coexistence.
Visit elearah.com for news and conversations around Elearah Chronicles.
5 stars: I'm back from my hiatus and thought I'd review one of my favorite reads from this fall.
This was a really great book. I liked Runes because of all the mystery, suspense, and action. The characters are phenomenal, very well written and the romance was cute. The best parts of this book are the magic, action, romance, and friendships.
I suggest this book to anyone over the age of 11 or 12 because some of the language may not be appropriate for anyone younger. I really enjoyed it and hope you consider reading it.
Buy Links:
Amazon
Blurb: Seventeen-year-old Raine Cooper has enough on her plate dealing with her father’s disappearance, her mother’s erratic behavior and the possibility of her boyfriend relocating. The last thing she needs is Torin St. James—a mysterious new neighbor with a wicked smile and uncanny way of reading her.
Raine is drawn to Torin’s dark sexiness against her better judgment, until he saves her life with weird marks and she realizes he is different. But by healing her, Torin changes something inside Raine. Now she can’t stop thinking about him. Half the time, she’s not sure whether to fall into his arms or run.
Scared, she sets out to find out what Torin is. But the closer she gets to the truth the more she uncovers something sinister about him. What Torin is goes back to an ancient mythology and Raine is somehow part of it. Not only is she and her friends in danger, she must choose a side, but the wrong choice will cost Raine her life.
4 stars: Born in Flames is a good fantasy. I honestly liked this book but the pace was too slow for me. I thought while I was reading that the author also could have elaborated on Aurora's powers a little bit more. My favorite thing about this book is the magic and how everybody's lives are written down in a book called an Oraculus. My favorite character is Aurora because she has so much power in her even if she doesn't know it at first.
I'm reading the second book now, Embracing the Flames. Review coming soon...
Buy Links:
Amazon
B&N
Blurb:
Red mirrored scales race up my arms as the haze of pain blurs my vision. My bones crack, breaking to realign. I scream. It is then that the realization of my unavoidable fate sinks in; I am of a dying race. I am dragon.
Aurora Megalos, orphaned and teetering on the edge of adulthood, thought finding her past would curb the sting of being an outcast. Having no memories of the time before she awoke on her foster mother’s doorstep, she yearns for the emptiness inside her to be filled. With her fellow orphaned best friend, Fenn, by her side, she has nothing to lose and everything to gain. But something powerful stirred within her that she couldn’t explain. Something wanted out.
In the dark of night, a crazed Seer erases everything she’s ever known with an impending prophecy. She now faces two paths. Return to her true home to protect a dying race against a growing evil, or stay hidden in the safety of our realm with a shot at a true love. With a vengeful Arch Enemy stopping at nothing to see her dead, she’s running out of time; a decision must be made. What would you choose?
