9/27/2017

Waiting On Wednesday #48 – The Speaker by Traci Chee

is a weekly event originally hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. This meme is a place that spotlights upcoming releases that we´re eagerly anticipating with pure joy. For whatever reason Jill is not blogging since August 2016 but her meme is still going on. Hope everything is ok and she will be back soon! Until then, I am joining Tressa at Wishful Endings and her meme Can´t-Wait Wednesday!

This is the second part of the author´s Sea of Ink and Gold series. And in my eyes, the cover is an abstract beauty of its own. I have the first book already here, but not read yet, and of course, I want the second as well. Both, the books and the author are totally new to me, but I heard so many good things about her writing style and her wonderful fantasy that I am actually very curious to read them someday in the (hopefully) near future.

The Speaker

Author Traci Chee
Sea Of Ink And Gold #2
Publishing Date November 7, 2017
Publisher G.P. Putnam´s Sons Books For Young Readers
Format Hardcover
Goodreads

Having barely escaped the clutches of the Guard, Sefia and Archer are back on the run, slipping into the safety of the forest to tend to their wounds and plan their next move. Haunted by painful memories, Archer struggles to overcome the trauma of his past with the impressors, whose cruelty plagues him whenever he closes his eyes. But when Sefia and Archer happen upon a crew of impressors in the wilderness, Archer finally finds a way to combat his nightmares: by hunting impressors and freeing the boys they hold captive. With Sefia´s help, Archer travels across the kingdom of Deliene rescuing boys while she continues to investigate the mysterious Book and the secrets it contains. But the more battles they fight, the more fights Archer craves, until his thirst for violence threatens to transform him from the gentle boy Sefia knows to a grim warrior with a cruel destiny. As Sefia begins to unravel the threads that connect Archer´s fate to her parent´s betrayal of the Guard so long ago, she and Archer must figure out a way to subvert the Guard´s plans before they are ensnared in a war that will pit kingdom against kingdom, leaving their future and the safety of the entire world hanging in the balance.

And what are you waiting for? Let me know your thoughts about this one or leave me the link to your WoW and I check it out.

Happy reading & waiting on

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9/20/2017

Waiting On Wednesday #47 – Die Gabe Der Auserwählten by Mary E. Pearson

This week my WoW is about The Beauty Of Darkness by Mary E. Pearson. Of course, after I´ve read the other two books with growing pleasure, I´ll have to read this third, too. I can´t wait to see how things will continue, end up and if and how Lia will find her personal happiness. The original edition of the third book of this trilogy, The Beauty of Darkness, has so many pages, that the German edition was split in half. So, here I present to you the cover of the German edition.

Die Gabe Der Auserwählten

Author Mary E. Pearson
The Remnant Chronicles #3a
Publishing Date October 26, 2017
Publisher One
Format Hardcover

Goodreads

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 heart-stopping conclusion of 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.

And what are you waiting for? Let me know your thoughts about this one or leave me the link to your WoW and I check it out.

Happy reading & waiting on

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9/20/2017

Nevernight by Jay Kristoff

OMG – that cover rocks! Dark, mysterious, bloody and with colors that fit completely. And the fact that you get a hint of how Mia looks, is a plus as well. And when you read the novel, you can see that everything on the cover has its meaning. A book that isn´t only well designed when it comes to its cover: the inside is a real beauty as well. There is only one thing I didn´t like about this edition: what that is you can read in my review below *smile*

Nevernight*

by Jay Kristoff
The Nevernight Chronicle #1
Publisher Thomas Dunne Books on September 08, 2016
Genre Fantasy
Pages 448
Format Hardcover
Source Publisher

Goodreads

✶✶✶✶

In a land where suns almost never set, a fledgling killer joins a school of assassins, seeking vengeance against powers who destroyed her family. Daughter of an executed traitor, Mia Corvere is barely able to escape her father´s failed rebellion with her life. Alone and friendless, she hides in a city built from the bones of a dead god, hunted by the Senate and her father´s former comrades. But her gift for speaking with the shadows leads her to the door of a retired killer, and a future she never imagined. Now, a sixteen year old Mia is apprenticed to the deadliest flock of assassins in the entire Republic - the Red Church. Treachery and trials await her with the Church´s halls, and to fail is to die. But if she survives to initiation, Mia will be inducted among the chosen of the Lady of Blessed Murder, and one step closer to the only thing she desires. Revenge.

Story

Mia wants revenge. For the death of her family, for her destroyed life and that she never got the chance to see her little brother grow up. With her mother in prison, she flees from the once nice comrades her father had.

Style

As bloody, ice-cold and brutal the story is, she is also written in an elegant and wonderful way. Sure, I didn´t like the many footnotes that were spread across some pages in the German edition – some of them were covering almost an entire page with stuff I wasn´t even interested in – but besides that, the author has one hell of beautiful fantasy. Sure, the plot is dark, the Red Church an ice-cold and cruel place where only the best of the best teach the future assassins how to do what they do. Don´t look for some conscious in them, because there´s none. But the words are well placed, the language is one great melody and with all the brutality in it, Mia is still showing some consciousness and not willing to give up everything she is, only to become the best.

Characters

Mia knows what she wants. In every detail. She is a smart badass heroine without being a smart ass. She loves to read and knows a lot about poison. Her way to see things others don´t give her some advantage. But with Tric stepping into her life and the others who want to become an assassin working for the Red Church, she discovers for the first time in her life that not everyone is on the same page. Except that they all want to become the best.

Conclusion

This book is heavy. Not only by the number of pages it contains (at least the German edition is 701 pages strong) but by its story and characters as well. You will dive into a world where time is a completely different thing from what we´re used to, and where killing and being an assassin is almost a religious thing. Jay Kristoff wrote with Nevernight a great fantasy novel that brings you to the edge and yet shows some feelings and a certain sensitivity. Read!

Happy reading

*I read the German edition new release by Fischer Tor on August 24, 2017.

Jay Kristoff

Jay Kristoff is an internationally bestselling author of The Lotus War, The Illuminae Files and The Nevernight Chronicles. He is the winner of four Aurealis Awards, an ABIA, nominee for the Locus award. David Gemmell Morningstar and Legend awards, named multiple times in the Kirkus and Amazon Best Teen Books list and published in over thirty countries, most of which he has never visited. He is as surprised about all of this as you are. He is 6´7 and has approximately 12,665 days to live. He abides in Melbourne with his secret agent kung-fu assassin wife, and the world´s laziest Jack Russel. He does not believe in happy endings.

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9/13/2017

Waiting On Wednesday #46 – Illuminae. The Illuminae Files by Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff

The German edition of Illuminae. The Illuminae Files_01 will come out later this year. And though I already got the English edition on my TBR waiting for me, I thought why not doing a Waiting On Wednesday for this edition as well?

I got the original book while it was on sale for a very low price (considered the number of pages it has) and since that it is laying on my pile, waiting to be read. Yes, I know, I know … but sometimes I just can´t resist. And when I see an original edition and it comes with a great price, I go for it. Despite that, I´ve heard many interesting things about it. Other book-bloggers seem to like it, despite the more than unusual way it is written and presented. And yes, I already peeped inside – only a tiny bit - and saw many really weird looking pages. And besides, sometimes I LOVE to have both editions on my shelves. The original AND the German. Don´t know why that is exactly, but I guess I like to have the choice which one I will read. And as you can see, the German cover looks the same, as the original does *YAY* Well, mostly *lol*

Illuminae. Die Illuminae Akten 01

Authors Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff
The Illuminae Files #1
Publishing Date October 13, 2017
Publisher dtv
Format Hardcover

Goodreads

This morning, Kady thought breaking up with Ezra was the hardest thing she´d have to do. This afternoon, her planet was invaded. The year is 2575, and two rival mega-corporations are at war over a planet that´s little more than a speck at the edge of the universe. Now with enemy fire raining down on them, Kady and Ezra – who are barely even talking to each other – are forced to evacuate with a hostile warship in hot pursuit. But their problems are just getting started. A plague has broken out and is mutating with terrifying results; the fleet´s Al may actually be their enemy, and nobody in charge will say what´s really going on. As Kady hacks into a web of data to find the truth, it´s clear the only person who can help her is the ex-boyfriend she swore she´d never speak to again.

And what are you waiting for? Let me know your thoughts about this one or leave me the link to your WoW and I check it out.

Happy reading & waiting on

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9/13/2017

Nachtmahr – Das Vermächtnis Der Königin by Ulrike Schweikert

Sometimes you just need to stick to a series and wait. This third and final book of this trilogy came with many things I didn´t expect and THE COVER - WOW! After books one and two I was really curious how this third and final novel would be. My expectations weren´t very high after the other two books weren´t really mine, but sometimes you can really get taught otherwise.

Nachtmahr-Das Vermächtnis Der Königin*

by Ulrike Schweikert
Nachtmahr Trilogy #3
Publisher Penhaligon on July 24, 2017
Genre Fantasy
Pages 414
Format Softcover
Source Publisher

Goodreads

✶✶✶✶

Lorena is a Nachtmahr, a wonderful but dangerous being of the night. And she´s on the run. To save herself, Lorena must find an ancient book in which the prophecy of the Nachtmahre is to be revealed. But William, the son of her greatest adversary, comes before her. Lorena must face her worst enemy to save the prophecy. On Williams´ father´s estate, however, she does not expect death, but a passionate encounter. Everything that Lorena has ever considered true is questioned. (personal translation ©Vi at Inkvotary)

Story

Lorena is mourning the loss of Jason and her child. And starting to feel some kind of anger rising inside her towards the mighty Lady. And when she finds out, that Lucy and Raika have found a way to leave Gryphon Manor by night to have some fun, she knows that she has to change something. An old lady brings fantastic news and with them, hope back to Lorena. But hope is nothing you should play with. And when Lorena must learn that she was used again to fulfill the plans of others, she is furious and seeks revenge.

Style

This third and final book of this trilogy turned out to be a real surprise. The language hasn´t changed. Soft and simple and in the usual easy to read way. But the action has changed. Somehow the passive is gone. And with the Councilor coming in again and the fact that another figure is using Lorena as kind of a weapon to get what she wants gives this novel a new turn and a hint of excitement that wasn´t in the others to find. Magic needs magic to survive and the will and strength of an individual to succeed over all its enemies.

Characters

Lorena isn´t willing any longer to do what the mighty Lady wants her to do and she´s no longer obeying to all the orders. There is a moment when she realizes that she has to stand up and fight not only for herself but for what she wants and feels that is right. She turns into a fighter and a woman how takes things into her own hands. Yes, she showed a bit of that energy already in book one, but not as much as she does now.

Conclusion

Good, I admit it, the best here (and that counts for the entire trilogy) are still the covers. This last one is one big cover beauty, that´s for sure. The novel itself turned out to be a surprise for me. I had hoped that it would be better than the other two had been but didn´t expect it to become a reading pleasure. So, yes, a nice surprise and a wonderful finish to the trilogy.

Happy reading

*This book was, at the time this review was published, only available in the German language. The title was kindly provided to me by Penhaligon in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. Thank you.

Ulrike Schweikert

Ulrike Schweikert studied geology and journalism. She has been one of the most successful German authors of historical novels since her fulminant romance book Die Tochter des Salzsieders. Her trademark: fascinating, close-to-life heroines. The author lives and works in Baden Württemberg, Germany.

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9/12/2017

Tausend Kleine Lügen by Liane Moriarty

Why haven´t I read this novel sooner? Big Little Lies was pure excitement and so hilarious! And huge fun. You will laugh out loud, shake your head, and smile while reading it. The German edition isn´t as pretty and gorgeous looking as the original one, but after reading the novel I can say that I can ignore that easily. You´ll find the original cover at the end of this review, so keep reading ... Holy hell, this was one heck of a great book!

Tausend Kleine Lügen*

by Liane Moriarty
Original Title Big Little Lies
Publisher Bastei Lübbe on August 25, 2017
Genre Novel
Pages 495
Format Paperback
Source Publisher
Goodreads
✶✶✶✶

Madeline is a force to be reckoned with. She´s funny and biting, passionate, she remembers everything and forgives no one. Her ex-husband and his yogi new wife have moved into her beloved beachside community, and their daughter is in the same kindergarten class as Madeline´s youngest (how is this possible?). And to top it all off, Madeline´s teenage daughter seems to be choosing Madeline´s ex-husband over her. (How. Is. This. Possible?). Celeste is the kind of beautiful woman who makes the world stop and stare. While she may seem a bit flustered at times, who wouldn´t be, with those rambunctious twin boys? Now that the boys are starting school, Celeste and her husband look set to become the king and queen of the school parent body. But royalty often comes at a price, and Celeste is grappling with how much more she is willing to pay. New to town, single mom Jane is so young that another mother mistakes her for the nanny. Jane is sad beyond her years and harbors secret doubts about her son. But why? While Madeline and Celeste soon take Jane under their wing, none of them realizes how the arrival of Jane and her inscrutable little boy will affect them all.

Story

Jane is new. New in town, new in the role of a mother at the new school and for sure new when it comes to all the rules and games the school, as well as the other mothers, are playing by. But the moment, one mother accuses her son of being rude, she starts to learn and act in the way she thinks is best for her and her son.

Style

There isn´t one moment in which I thought holy hell, why aren´t you defending yourself or your son? Jane is way too defensive and way too silent. Like a gray mouse. Liane Moriarty wrote with her novel Big Little Lies a very entertaining book in which the behavior of mothers is brought to the reader´s attention with an eye twinkle. There are so hilarious scenes and dialogues, you can´t do anything but either laugh tears or shake your head in amusement or disbelief. The irony, the sarcasm, and cynicism are brought out in a fun way and all the twists and turns in the plot show you, in the end, a totally unexpected fact. At least I had no clue who the dead was until I read the scene in which it happened.

Characters

Holy cow, Jane is a person you would love to bring to her senses. She always backs off the second someone speaks in a strict tone with her, and when she is asked to defend her son, she doesn´t. What the hell is wrong with that woman? Good, she is very young, still in her twenties, compared to all the other mothers in this novel. But is that really the only reason why she is acting like a little girl with no self-confidence? Watching her (Jane) turned during the ongoing story into a nightmare. But then, all of a sudden, she starts to stand up for herself AND her son. And from that moment on, you can see that there is way more inside her than only the shy, gray mouse she likes to see the others.

Conclusion

This was great fun and wonderful entertainment. The author brought humor, wit, irony, and cynicism together with well-created characters who play in a gorgeous way with each other. How parents can be, is shown with an eye twinkle without losing the point of it all. Oh yes, this is exactly how parents can be *smile*. A well-plotted story and I had a great time reading it, that´s for sure. My first Moriarty book but for sure not the last. Read!

Happy reading

*This ARC was kindly provided to me by Bastei Lübbe in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. Thank you. Therefore, the cover of the German edition is shown first in this review.

*This book was published originally Big Little Lies by Berkley on August 11, 2015

Liane Moriarty

Liane Moriarty is a free-lance advertiser, who has won several awards for her campaigns. She lives with her husband and her little son in Sydney. She received the Fred-Rush-Convocation-Prize for her debut novel “Three Wishes”. The novel was immediately placed in the Top Ten of the Australian bestseller list and has now appeared in several other countries.

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9/11/2017

Nachtmahr – Die Schwester Der Königin by Ulrike Schweikert

I had high hopes for this second book in the authors Nachtmahr-trilogy. And the cover with all its blue, silver and white in combination with the motive gave me a really good reason to read this book. Oh yes, me and a wonderful to look at the cover. How can someone resist a wonderfully designed and balanced cover motive when it is created with my favorite colors? Well, for sure not me.

Nachtmahr-Die Schwester Der Königin*

by Ulrike Schweikert
Nachtmahr Trilogy #2
Publisher Penhaligon on June 29, 2015
Genre Fantasy
Pages 415
Format Softcover
Source Publisher

Goodreads

✶✶✶

Lorena is a Nachtmahr – and a danger to all who love her. In order to protect her fellow men from her dark side, she goes to the house of the mighty Lady to begin her education. But then Lorena learns that the Nachtmahre have detected her sister. Lucy was kidnapped as a child because she was held for the Eclipse mentioned in the prophecy. Now Lorena goes to San Francisco to free her sister from Alcatraz. But she does not suspect that a dark conspiracy is under way, in which no one reveals his true motives … (personal translation by ©Vi at Inkvotary)

Story

Lorena´s life has changed completely. Not only that she has learned that her sister Lucy is still alive, but her private life is now totally different as well. She is training like hell to become as good, strong, and powerful as she´s ought to be. And her feelings for Jason are as strong as never before. But the moment, the mighty Lady wants to degrade her as an object of purpose and tries to intervene in her relationship with Jason, Lorena is on a warpath.

Style

The story goes from the cold London to the warm San Francisco, where Lorena must fight for her life, that of her sister and her love for Jason. There is a lot of action and, no doubt, characters who know how to handle every situation. But for some reason, sparks won´t fly between the story and the reader. I simply couldn´t get in touch with Lorena, Jason, or any other figure. The famous style of the author was only partly to see, and her brilliant and virtuosic writing-style is barely visible. Sad, but again, a wonderful cover doesn´t make a great novel.

Characters

With her figures, the author is in a bit better position. Good, Lorena isn´t as great as she was in the first book. Somewhere between book one and this second part she has changed. Now that she knows that she can´t ignore her dark side and that she needs to train herself to stand her ground against the mighty Lady and her evil plans, she does everything within her power to keep the love of her life out of danger and to rescue her sister.

But life isn´t a fairytale and for sure not always playing nice.

And Jason has his own troubles to cope with the fact, that he can´t help Lorena. Not the way he would like to. In this novel, the man isn´t the strong, protecting partner. It is the other way around. A fact Jason isn´t happy about.

Conclusion

The start of this book was fantastic. And if it would have been all the way to the end like its beginning, this would have been an absolute reading pleasure. Unfortunately, it wasn´t. Sad, but only average for me. My hopes for the third book are very low …

Happy reading

*This book was, at the time this review was published, only available in the German language.

Ulrike Schweikert

Ulrike Schweikert studied geology and journalism. She has been one of the most successful German authors of historical novels since her fulminant romance book Die Tochter des Salzsieders. Her trademark: fascinating, close-to-life heroines. The author lives and works in Baden Württemberg, Germany.

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9/09/2017

Auf Ewig Dein by Eva Völler

OMG – the cover is a real beauty! I can´t stop looking at it *swoon*. This book got me from the first moment I saw it. It´s so GORGEOUS. And after I had read the novella to this new series by the author, I was literally hooked. In English, you could call it Forever Yours ... And this novel continued to keep me hooked. The story is diversified, entertaining, fun to read and with characters, you can nothing but like. Even the ugly ones.

Auf Ewig Dein*

by Eva Völler
Time School Trilogy #1
Publisher One on July 21, 2017
Genre Fantasy
Pages 376
Format Hardcover
Source Publisher
Goodreads
✶✶✶✶

Time travel can be quite dangerous. Anna knows this only too closely because since she lost her heart to the good-looking Venetian Sebastiano on her first time-travel, she had to cope with many a difficult situation. She had actually promised herself a somewhat quieter life by starting her own watchman's school. But her newly recruited pupils are quite self-centered, and even at the first major assignment at the court of Henry the Eighth, everything goes wrong. And then a sudden unexpected visit from Anna´s future appears, who turns her entire life upside down ... (personal translation by ©Vi at Inkvotary)

Story

Anna is deeply in love with Sebastiano. Though her wedding plans are, for the moment, on ice, she knows that one day they will be tying the knot. But then, one night, a familiar-looking stranger appears at her home in Venice, and everything changes. All of a sudden her future with Sebastiano is on the line and their enemies stop at nothing to get what they want. The key that only Anna can find.

Style

This novel is full of action, history, and great dialogues and scenes. The scenes where Fatima and Ole verbally cross the weapons – hilarious. I couldn´t help myself but read them with a broad grin all over my face. The born-and-bred Viking and the young oriental lady. Well, Lady might be the wrong word for her. But more to that later. Eva Völler has a soft, but wonderful to read writing style. She combines history with fantasy and shows in a very entertaining way of how life was back in the days of Henry the Eight. Good, some things and explanations she repeats a bit often during the ongoing story, which was, in my eyes, not necessary – I got it the first time. But they were verbalized in other words so that´s something I can easily ignore. Except for that, the style was fascinating and thrilling.

Characters

I mentioned earlier the hilarious scenes with Fatima and Ole. Well, Fatima isn´t really a lady. At least I wouldn´t call her that. She is more of a breathtaking beauty who knows exactly what to do and how to look to seduce every man that comes across her. And she uses it to get the information she wants and to sabotage the plans of others. But the moment she opens her mouth – oh boy. She can be quite charming with her words if the situation requires it, but while living and training in the twenty-first century she is talking as she pleases. And God is that woman curious! No journal is safe – not even the locked ones.

Anna is, for my taste, a bit too anxious. No matter where she is if in the past or in the present, she always sees worst-case scenarios when it comes to Sebastiano and her. Okay, they do a job that is dangerous, and the centuries they are visiting to take care of the timeline aren´t what I would call safe. But is that really a reason to kind of freak out inside every time she can´t make eye contact with her beloved one? Despite that, she is a wonderful character. I liked watching her and reading her thoughts and fears and see how she was coping with the weird situation.

Conclusion

This book was really a great read. The mix of history, old things, and modern things and the soft writing-style the author has, were in my eyes perfect for this novel. Can´t wait to read the next book and for sure I need to read the books of her other trilogy where Anna and Sebastiano are also in.

Happy reading

*Thank you to One, who kindly provided this book to me in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. This book was, at the time this review was published, only available in the German language.

Eva Völler

As a child, Eva Völler liked to make stories. Nevertheless, she earned her buns first as a judge and attorney before she finally put the jurisprudence to the nail. "You can simply get a better mood from writing books than from legal disputes. And you can always decide for yourself how it ends in the end." The author lives with her children on the edge of the Rhön in Hessen.

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9/08/2017

Nachtmahr - Das Erwachen Der Königin by Ulrike Schweikert

This was the very first book by the author, I´ve ever read. Ulrike Schweikert is famous for her historical novels and her profound language. At least here in Germany. So, with the third book of this trilogy now in my hands, I guess it is time to start publishing how I thought about this first one. The cover got me first. The colors, the dress, the silver letters of the book title, and the way how it was designed in general. But never judge a book by its cover.

Nachtmahr-Das Erwachen Der Königin*

by Ulrike Schweikert
Nachtmahr Trilogy #1
Publisher Penhaligon on January 13, 2014
Genre Fantasy
Pages 415
Format Softcover
Source Publisher

Goodreads

✶✶✶

During the day, Lorena is an inconspicuous young woman – but every night she turns into a beautiful being: she is a Nachtmahr. No man can resist her, and whoever once succumbed to her charms will forfeit her forever. But then Lorena meets Jason, her great love. For her sake, she desperately tries to curb the destructive Nachtmahr. Lorena, however, does not know that she can not deny her true nature. For she is the chosen one who will decide the destiny of the Nachtmahre. (personal translation by ©Vi at Inkvotary)

Story

Lorena lives a very controlled and withdrawn life. During the day, she works in a bank, at night she kind of locks herself and her cat in her apartment. Friends – negative. Men – none. But then she meets her childhood sweetheart Jason and her life turns upside down. Because how will she ever explain to him, that her dark side means danger to him that she doesn´t want to harm him?

Style

A fantasy novel that is written in a bit melancholic way. The plot is wonderful and well-thought-out. The story contains a heroine who has a dark secret and can, if she lets her dark side out, fascinate men no matter what size, color, or language. But for Lorena, her dark side means also a danger. So, many good things for a great novel, you could say. There are parts where the author shows a virtuosic writing-style, displays a brilliant way when it comes to scenes and dialogues, and in which she creates pictures in your mind that stun you. And then there are pages where the story bobs up and down like a small river. Sad, since the author is well known for her great writing-style and famous for the way how she uses a language.

Characters

The author plays virtuously with different character traits. There is the one, that lives only by her own rules, takes what she desires, and doesn´t give a damn about others. And there is Lorena, the main figure, who is the total opposite. Her dark side means the absolute horror to her. Once a fun girl who enjoyed life to the fullest, she now turned into a quiet and very introverted young woman. No matter how you see it, one thing is for sure. Ulrike Schweikert knows how to create figures. Lorena stands with both legs in life and knows that not everything is all flowers and sunshine.

Conclusion

I am completely split after I´ve read this book. On one hand, I like the plot that is visible, though I am sad that the story couldn´t really haunt me. On the other hand, I think that this trilogy deserves a second chance and hope that the next book will be better. So, only average for me – this time. For everyone who isn´t familiar with the word Nachtmahr. This word has the same meaning as the word nightmare, except that it is an old German word. I decided to stick with it in my review since I couldn´t find another synonym that would fit my expectation besides the word nightmare.

Happy reading

*This book was, at the time this review was published, only available in the German language.

Ulrike Schweikert

Ulrike Schweikert studied geology and journalism. She has been one of the most successful German authors of historical novels since her fulminant romance book Die Tochter des Salzsieders. Her trademark: fascinating, close-to-life heroines. The author lives and works in Baden Württemberg, Germany.

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9/07/2017

Der Anfang by Eva Völler

I had the first novel of this new series by the author already on my desk when I saw this and thought, why not read this first before I start with the printed book. So, this became the first book I ever read by Eva Völler – and it was very entertaining. In English, it could be called The Beginning …. This short novella tells a bit rough story of Ole and how he and Anna and Sebastiano meet for the first time. Ole is, no doubt, a true Viking. And life back then wasn´t as clean, good smelling and comfortable as most of us know it today.

Der Anfang*

by Eva Völler
Time School Trilogy #0,5
Publisher Bastei Entertainment on June 23, 2017
Genre Fantasy
Pages ca.72
Format eBook
Source Purchased

Goodreads

✶✶✶✶

Anna and Sebastiano are back! The perfect couple of the Zeitenzauber-Trilogy has a bold plan: its own Time Travel Academy in Venice, the place where the adventure of their love began. But the recruitment of new students presents itself as unexpectedly dangerous. Their first novice is Ole, and he is a born-and-bred and ruthless Viking who pursues completely different plans than Anna and Sebastiano. Before the two know it, they are to the neck in trouble and must not only fight for Ole´s life, but also for their own. (personal translation by ©Vi at Inkvotary)

Story

Anna and Sebastiano want to recruit Ole, the son of the Jarl to save his life. But Ole knows nothing about them and as a typical Viking, he rather dies a hero than running away, as he calls it. For Anna and Sebastiano no good news, since they are running out of time and Ole isn´t playing along as they had hoped he would. Because Ole has other plans. And Anna is the part, who grants him to get what he wants. Gold.

Style

A nice to read short-story that tells you how Ole joined the Time Traveling Academy. In a soft and wonderful to read writing-style, Eva Völler shows the life of the Vikings in a very entertaining way. Good, this is no novel that kicks you off your feet. But it is a solidly written story you can enjoy while on the bus, train, or plane.

Characters

Anna shows in this novel already (at least for me, since I haven´t read the trilogy yet) that she is very anxious. She fears a lot of things and one of them is, that Sebastiano could get seriously hurt while they are on a time travel.

Ole is ruthless and rough and treats her like an enemy. Because that is exactly what she is to him. Being a warrior, fighting and winning battles means the world for him and running away like a coward no option at all.

Conclusion

I really enjoyed this little story and for me, it was a good start to the new series by Eva Völler.

Happy reading

*This book was, at the time this review was published, only available in the German language.

Eva Völler

As a child, Eva Völler liked to make stories. Nevertheless, she earned her buns first as a judge and attorney before she finally put the jurisprudence to the nail. "You can simply get a better mood from writing books than from legal disputes. And you can always decide for yourself how it ends in the end." The author lives with her children on the edge of the Rhön in Hesse.

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9/06/2017

Nacht Ohne Ende by Sandra Brown

Standoff (its original title) is not new, but with this cover, I simply had to have it. A fast-paced thriller with a great main figure and a plot so twisted that you never know what´ll happen next. I am a Sandra Brown fan for many years. Mostly when it comes to her thrillers I love to read her work and see how she combines tension with the thrill of a haunting plot. Standoff is no exception. I had from the beginning all the way through the end a great time and was enjoying the book very much.

Nacht Ohne Ende*

by Sandra Brown
Original Title Standoff
Publisher Blanvalet on July 17, 2017
Genre Thriller
Pages 284
Format Paperback
Source Publisher**

Goodreads

✶✶✶✶½

An ambitious female television reporter is driving through New Mexico when she hears that a Texas millionaire’s teenage daughter has been kidnapped. Knowing the girl´s father lives nearby, she quickly lines up an interview. The situation quickly spins out of control, however, and the reporter finds herself at the center of a tense situation that could have devastating consequences for all involved.

Story

Tiel is on her way to finally enjoy some vacation with her new boyfriend when she not only figures out that he isn´t what she thought he´d be but also that a hot story is very near and she could have the absolute advantage. And when she finds herself all of a sudden right in the middle of a dangerous and very threatening situation, she sees the chance of a lifetime to get what she wants.

Style

This is a thriller you can read in no time and have great fun while reading. Fast-paced and written in the fantastic style the author has, there isn´t one boring moment or a situation where you can guess what´ll happen next. The language is to the point, blunt and yet with a hint of elegance. Oh yes, her writing style is simply fantastic. Good, this thriller doesn´t have many pages, I read it within a couple of hours, but with that plot and all the action, you won´t feel the shortness of this book.

Characters

Tiel is a great woman. Not only because she stays calm all the time and tries to keep the entire situation under control but she also knows that not always is the time to think and act as if she´d be doing her job. Sometimes the human comes first and with the two teenagers fighting for their right to live their own lives the way they want, she quickly understands that she has something else to do but getting the story.

Sandra Brown shows in a very impressive and great way that doing a job and helping others isn´t always on the same page. Her characters are strong and not everyone is what they seem to be.

Conclusion

What a haunting and fantastic thriller. I had a great time reading it, though this thriller wasn´t very long. But right for a relaxing afternoon read. You shouldn´t miss this book.

Happy reading

**This book was kindly provided to me by Blanvalet in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. Thank you. Therefore, the cover of the German edition is shown first in this review.

*This book was originally published Standoff by Grand Central Publishing on April 30, 2013

Sandra Brown

Sandra Brown is the author of 63 New York Times bestsellers. Brown began her writing career in 1981 and since then has published over seventy novels, bringing the number of copies of her books in print worldwide to upwards of eighty million. Her work has been translated into thirty-four languages. A lifelong Texan, Sandra Brown was born in Waco, grew up in Fort Worth and attended Texas Christian University, majoring in English. She is much in demand as a speaker and guest television hostess. Her episode on truTV´s Murder by the Book premiered the series in 2008. She appeared in 2010 on Investigation Discovery´s new series, Hardcover Mysteries. In 2009 Brown detoured from her thrillers to write Rainwater, a much acclaimed powerfully moving story about honor and sacrifice during the Great Depression. Brown holds an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Texas Christian University where she and her husband Michael Brown, have instituted the ELF, a scholarship annually awarded to a student pursuing a fiction-writing career. In 2008, she was named Thriller Master, the top award given by the International Thriller Writer´s Association. Other awards and commendations include the 2007 Texas Medal of Arts Award for Literature and the Romance Writers of America´s Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2011 she and four colleagues went on a week-long USO tour to Afghanistan, meeting with service members on numerous bases. Sandra is the past president of the Mystery Writers of America in 2012. She lives in Arlington, Texas, with her husband, Michael Brown.

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9/06/2017

Waiting On Wednesday #45 – True North Du Bist Alles Für Immer by Sarina Bowen

I had so much fun reading the first book of this trilogy (in Germany called True North-Wo Auch Immer Du Bist = US edition Bittersweet) while participating in a reading challenge, that it was quite clear to me, that I had to continue reading those books. Now, the third and last book will come out in Germany in a few weeks and I can´t wait to read it.

True North Du Bist Alles Für Immer

Author Sarina Bowen
True North Series #3
Publishing Date September 29, 2017
Publisher LYX
Format Softcover

Goodreads

Lark Wainright used to be fearless. Her life was a series of adventures, each one more exhilarating than the last. But her recent overseas adventure was one too many. Now she´s home and in one piece. Mostly. But her nights are filled with terror. When her best friend offers her a stay at the orchard in exchange for help at the farmer´s market, Lark jumps at the chance to spend fall in Vermont. But her nightmares don´t stop. Desperate to keep her fragile state a secret, she relies on the most soft-spoken resident of the Shipley Farm to soothe her when her dreams prove too much. Zachariah is a survivor, too. It´s been four years since he was tossed aside by the polygamist cult where he grew up. He´s found a peaceful existence on the Shipley´s farm, picking apples and fixing machinery. But getting thrown away by your own people at nineteen leaves a mark on a guy. He doesn´t always know what to make of a world where movie quotes are the primary means of communication. Before hitchhiking to Vermont, he´d never watched TV or spoken on the phone. Actually, there are a lot of things, he´s never done. Zach and Lark slowly grow to trust one another. One night they become even closer than they´d planned. But Lark may still be too broken to trust anyone. When she pushes Zach away, he will have to prove to himself that he´s good for much more than farm labor.

And what are you waiting for? Let me know your thoughts about this one or leave me the link to your WoW and I check it out.

Happy reading & waiting on

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Challenges

9/27/2017

Waiting On Wednesday #48 – The Speaker by Traci Chee

9/20/2017

Waiting On Wednesday #47 – Die Gabe Der Auserwählten by Mary E. Pearson

9/20/2017

Nevernight by Jay Kristoff

9/13/2017

Waiting On Wednesday #46 – Illuminae. The Illuminae Files by Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff

9/13/2017

Nachtmahr – Das Vermächtnis Der Königin by Ulrike Schweikert

9/12/2017

Tausend Kleine Lügen by Liane Moriarty

9/11/2017

Nachtmahr – Die Schwester Der Königin by Ulrike Schweikert

9/09/2017

Auf Ewig Dein by Eva Völler

9/08/2017

Nachtmahr - Das Erwachen Der Königin by Ulrike Schweikert

9/07/2017

Der Anfang by Eva Völler

9/06/2017

Nacht Ohne Ende by Sandra Brown

9/06/2017

Waiting On Wednesday #45 – True North Du Bist Alles Für Immer by Sarina Bowen

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