Del Toro Moon by Darby Karchut, ARC review

Del Toro Moon

Author: Darby Karchut

Editor: Owl Hollow Press

Pages: 256

Genres: Middle Grade, Adventure

Rating: 4,5/5

Add on: Goodreads, Amazon

Summary:

“Ride hard, swing hard, and take out as many of those creepy critters as you can.”
Twelve year old Matt Del Toro is the greenest greenhorn in his family’s centuries-old business: riding down and destroying wolf-like monsters, known as skinners. Now, with those creatures multiplying, both in number and ferocity, Matt must saddle up and match his father’s skills at monster whacking. Odds of doing that? Yeah, about a trillion to one. Because Matt’s father is the legendary Javier Del Toro—hunter, scholar, and a true caballero: a gentleman of the horse.
Luckily, Matt has twelve hundred pounds of backup in his best friend—El Cid, an Andalusian war stallion with the ability of human speech, more fighting savvy than a medieval knight, and a heart as big and steadfast as the Rocky Mountains.
Serious horse power.
Those skinners don’t stand a chance.

Review:

 

“Back then, belief in things skewed toward the mythical end of the spectrum was acceptable. Somewhat. But with each new generation, humans find it harder to believe.””I frowned.”Believe in monsters, you mean?””And in heroes.”

At first, I was captured by the cover, and I realize only after reading the first pages why: it’s realized by the talented Risa Rodil.

Isn’t a beatiful cover? I like it so much!

Do you know what I love in a book? Talking animals, maybe a little sassy too, and friendship between humans and animals. And nerd quotes.

I must confess I wasn’t very interested for the first 2/3 chapters. We are transported directly in the plot, without a lot of informations. Then suddenly we read of this amazing friendship between caballeros and war-horses, expecially between Matt and El Cid.

So, everytime El Cid speak, I fell in love more and more with the characters and the story.

Del Toro Moon is a middle grade story with a lot of adventures, a touch of history and myth, friendship and family relations, a main character who has flaws and fears, who is actually a nerd (there are a lot of LOTR quotes and reference) and a little touch of horror, thanks to the skinners.

The setting is very captivating, with a lot of descriptions, but in the beginning I mistaken the time setting: I was convinced it was set during the “Far West/Gold rush” period, until I found out the first LOTR reference.

The characters are well done: the horses are wise and sassy, protective and so brave; Javier has done a great job with his sons; Matt is so cute, he’s my favourite along with El Cid. I must advise you that at one point during my reading I was crying. Prepare yourself.

The ending is all right, but now I want another book, maybe a prequel with the family’s centuries-old business and the ancestor of Matt; and a sequel too, with Matt and another character I can’t tell you without spoiler!

Thanks to Netgalley and Owl Hollow Press for this book. I received for free in exchange of a honest review.

 

June 2018 Wrap Up

And also June has passed! How was your reading month?

I read lesser than the past month, only 8 books, and 3 were in italian.

But look! A lot of amazing covers! And I love most of the books, only Maplecroft was a disappointement.

Maplecroft, Cherie Priest: I’ve watched The Lizzie Borden Chronicles on Netflix, and I love Christina Ricci. She’s amazing in the series, so I decided to read Maplecroft, based on the same characters, but the Lovecraftian turn has disappointed me. I was bored, and totally not afraid. 2 stars.

The long way to a small, angry planet, Becky Chambers: I don’t like sci-fi books, I’m sorry. I fell in love with the characters, but the plot was boring. 3 stars.

Chronicles of Steele: Raven, Episode one, Pauline Creeden: An interesting fantasy, with an original main characters, with a dark and misterious past. But I didn’t find the steampunk part, and it’s a shame, because I love steampunk books! 3 stars.

The One and Only Ivan, Katherine Applegate: I know in advance that this book will made me cry a river, and that’s it. I cried every two pages, but it’s one of the best books I ever read. 5 stars!

Bring me their Hearts, Sara Wolf: this book is fantastic, with a range of unforgettable characters, full of emotions and sassy dialogues. Definitely a 5 stars for me!

What’s your favourite cover? I’m undecided between The One and Only Ivan and Bring me their hearts!

Review Blog Tour: Bring Me Their Hearts, by Sara Wolf

 

Bring Me Their Hearts
Author:  Sara Wolf
Genre: YA Fantasy
Release Date: June 5th 2018
Publisher: Entangled Teen

Pages: 400

Rating: 5/5

Add on: Goodreads, Amazon.

Summary:

Zera is a Heartless—the immortal, unaging soldier of a witch. Bound to the witch Nightsinger ever since she saved her from the bandits who murdered her family, Zera longs for freedom from the woods they hide in. With her heart in a jar under Nightsinger’s control, she serves the witch unquestioningly.

Until Nightsinger asks Zera for a prince’s heart in exchange for her own, with one addendum: if she’s discovered infiltrating the court, Nightsinger will destroy Zera’s heart rather than see her tortured by the witch-hating nobles.

Crown Prince Lucien d’Malvane hates the royal court as much as it loves him—every tutor too afraid to correct him and every girl jockeying for a place at his darkly handsome side. No one can challenge him—until the arrival of Lady Zera. She’s inelegant, smart-mouthed, carefree, and out for his blood. The prince’s honor has him quickly aiming for her throat.

So begins a game of cat and mouse between a girl with nothing to lose and a boy who has it all.

Winner takes the loser’s heart.

Literally. 

Review:

“There are two things men will always believe about a woman: that she’s stupid, and that she’s weak. Today, as every day, I am neither of these things.”

This book is amazing, goes directly to my best reading of 2018 and one of the best fantasy/YA I ever read!

We have Zera, an Heartless who wants to take back her heart from the witch who keeps her heart in a jar and use her as a soldier. She can’t died, but she can’t step away from her heart neither. We have a Prince and we have a world full of perils, a world well described with the locations, the story of the past and its religion. A world with “medieval” inspiration but with some touch of magic, horror and fantasy.

Apart the cover, that I love so much because the dress seems like moving, my favourite part of the book is Zera. She’s a great main character: her life was and is currently tormented by her past, her life without a heart is miserable and she’s agonizing for a human touch.

But no one will ever touch her, or walk with her, if they know she’s a Heartless. A monster.

But Zera is also a very sarcastic and intelligent girl. I loved every single dialogue in this book. The best dialogues are, obviously, between her and the Prince. I laughed so hard with the dialogues, and sometimes I was crying because the author has done a great job to make the reader feel what Zera feel.

She’s tormented: she has to do what she wants (take her heart back), or she has to do what is right by take the prince heart and probably prevent a war between witches and humans?

It’s right to let another human suffer what she suffers?

And a special mention to all the other characters: I’m totally in love with Malachite, the bodyguard of the Prince, strong, intelligent and sarcastic, but you have to believe me that every character in this book is interesting and well descripted.

It’s really a page turner, with no dead times, and I always appreciated that, because I get bored very easily.

I’m a little doubtful about the ending: I was expecting a more dramatic or a happier ending, and I was in a little shock for the cliffhanger.

And now, something that I never do: please, I need the second book right now!

Thanks to Ya Bound Book Tours for this opportunity. I received a free copy in exchange of an honest review.

About the Author
Sara Wolf is a twenty-something author who adores baking, screaming at her cats, and screaming at herself while she types hilarious things. When she was a kid, she was too busy eating dirt to write her first terrible book. Twenty years later, she picked up a keyboard and started mashing her fists on it and created the monster known as Lovely Vicious. She lives in San Diego with two cats, a crippling-yet-refreshing sense of self-doubt, and not enough fruit tarts ever.

 

Author Links:
Website: http://sarawolfbooks.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Sara_Wolf1
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.ca/authorsaraw/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorsarawolf/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Sara-Wolf-476490705731978/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6862831.Sara_Wolf
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Sara-Wolf/e/B00BVOVP08/

 

Blog Tour Organized by:

YA Bound Book Tours

 

 

The Twistrose Key by Tone Almhjell, review

The Twistrose key (The Twistrose key #1)

Author: Tone Almhjell

Pages: 366

Genres: Middle-grade, Fantasy, Adventure

Rating: 5/5

Add On: Goodreads, Amazon.

Synopsis:

When a mysterious parcel arrives at her family’s new home, eleven-year-old Lin Rosenquist has a curious feeling she’s meant to discover what’s inside.

Much to Lin’s surprise, the ornate key contained in the parcel unlocks a spellbinding world called Sylver, hidden behind the cellar door. Sylver is an enchanting land of eternal winter, inhabited by animals that shared a special connection with children in the real world, either as beloved pets or tamed wild animals. In death, they are delivered to Sylver, where they take on a curiously human-like form and still watch over the children they cherish. While Lin is overjoyed to be reunited with her beloved pet, Rufus, she soon learns that the magic of the Petlings and Wilders is failing, and snow trolls want to claim Sylver for themselves. Lin must discover a way to stop them and save this enchanted world.

Review:

I was walking through a bookstore near the Amsterdam’s Airport, a couple of years ago, when I found this book. I remember the title from goodreads, and when I saw the cover, I immediately buy it.

The Twistrose key is an amazing Middle-grade book. I know that I’m 31 y.o. but I really love Middle grade books with adventures in it. They are easier to me to read. But the greatest thing about this book it’s the setting.

The author (I think it’s the first time I read a fantasy book written by a norvegian author!) has created a wonderful winter world, with some reminescence of Narnia and The golden compass. There’s a little touch of North Europe, a little of U.K. as you can see at each chapter’s illustrations.

I didn’t read The Chronicles of Narnia, but The Golden compass is one of my fave books.

There is a map at the beginning of the book, but also the description, the clothes that all the characters wear, the food (omg the food!!!): all of these things are magical and heartwarming. I would love to visit the Sylver world. Or to live in.

The story is also very adventurous and emotional: every single person(adult or children) who has loved a pet in their life, will be touched by the story of Lin and Rufus.

Me loving Rufus

I love Rufus with all my heart, and the relationship between Rufus and Lin is so pure and touching. Yes, I cried at the end of the book.

And then, I discovered that there’s a second book in the series: Thornghost! I was so happy that I buy immediately a copy, and now I received it!! Omg I can’t wait to read it!!

Also, a special thanks to the author, who has liked and commented my photo of the book on Instagram.

I highly recommend this book to everyone. Obviously I recommend it to children too: I can’t say that are trigger warnings in this book, and there isn’t a cliffhanger. I know I’m not the best at writing positive review, but honestly, this book deserves a lot more love and attention.

April 2018 Wrap Up

Hello and welcome to the April wrap up!

Such a great month for reading! I read a total of 10 books, with a single DNF, but three of these books are 5 star rating! It’s a miracle for meXD

Mr Confidence by Rahiem Brooks: sadly a one star rating for me. I feel sorry because I received it from the publisher.

Full circle by Regina Timothy: a great book about women. I gave it 4 star!

Truthstone by Mike Shelton: I received this book for a blog tour, and it was awesome! 5 star!

Child of Nod by C.W. Snyder: DNF for the second time. I’ve tried to read and understand it, but I fail. But the cover is gorgeous, right?

The twistrose key, by Tone Almhjell: omg, the world and the characters in this book! I can’t even express how much I loved it! Review coming soon!

The ugly princess by Henderson Smith: ok, probably I’ve found my new fave book of all time. The ugly princess is pure perfection. A million stars!

Liberty divided, by Alicia Dean: sequel of Liberty awakened, I found it frustrating, and I decided to not continue the series. The first was full of clichè, but somehow interesting.

How was your reading month? What’s your fave cover from these?

 

 

Truthstone by Mike Shelton, Review

Truthstone (Truthseer archives #1)

Author: Mike Shelton

Pages: 283

Genres: YA, fantasy

Rating: 5/5

Add on: Goodreads, Amazon

Summary:

One little lie won’t hurt, will it?
When fifteen year old Shaeleen unexpectedly is given a TruthStone, every lie she hears or tells causes her immense physical pain. As she struggles to control her new power and curb the pain, she learns a powerful truth that could thrust an entire continent into civil war. She must choose: reveal the truth and stop the pain – or sacrifice her own well-being to protect her kingdom.
For two hundred years the five kingdoms of Wayland have been protected by the stones of power. Now those stones are failing and a darker power is trying to take control. With the help of her brother, Cole and a newfound friend, Orin, Shaeleen sets out to gather and restore the power of all the stones.
But will she succeed before the endless lies destroy her?

Review:

First of all, thanks a lot to Ya Bound Book Tours for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Truthstone is a lovely fantasy, and I was totally hooked from the beginning to the end.

Do you know the feel when a really good book changes the way you look at the world?

That’s what happened to me with Truthstone. I spend the days when I was reading it thinking about “what I will do if I had a truthstone?” “What if everyone arounds me are telling me lies?”

Maybe the story doesn’t seems so original, right? But in this case is written so good.  There are all the descriptions of the surroundings, of the dresses and the characters; their emotions are well descripted, as well the differences between the class.

Shaeleen is a good main character: at the beginning she’s not sincere, but with the help of the truthstone, of her brother Cole and her friends, she grow up to a beautiful and honest woman.

The magic of the stones, the history and the geography of the different countries are well written, interesting and without plot holes. I appreciate it.

I really can’t find something that it’s wrong with this book: the writing style is good without long boring description; it’s not so difficult to read for me (english isn’t my first language); I love the characters and the world, and I think that the cover is lovely too.

There’s no violence or curse words in this book, so I recommend it to young readers too. There’s a sequel too, called Truthspell, and I can wait to read it!