8/25/2023

King Of Battle And Blood by Scarlett St. Clair


It was my first Scarlett St. Claire novel and not my last. The cover caught my eyes first. The summary was another thing that made me curious. This fantasy novel is not like any other fantasy book. You will find a mixture of fantasy, mystery, and reincarnation presented in a fresh way. A strong princess with a unique style. The plot is very dark, and bloody, and shows a cruel vampire court. One, that is filled with drama and passion.


King Of Battle And Blood
by Scarlett St. Clair
Adrian & Isolde Trilogy #1
Publisher LYX on May 23, 2023
Genre Fantasy
Pages 432
Format Paperback
Source LYX
Goodreads
✶✶✶✶


Their union is his revenge.

Isolde de Lara considers her wedding day to be her death day. To end a years-long war, she is to marry vampire king Adrian Aleksandr Vasiliev, and kill him. But her assassination attempt is thwarted, and Adrian threatens that if Isolde tries to kill him again, he will raise her as the undead. Faced with the possibility of becoming the thing she hates most; Isolde seeks other ways to defy him and survive the brutal vampire court. Except it isn't the court she fears most-it's Adrian. Despite their undeniable chemistry, she wonders why the king-fierce, savage, merciless-chose her as consort. The answer will shatter her world.
Story
Isolde is the only solution her father, the king, sees to stop the long war. She is supposed to kill the vampire king Adrian and with that, hopefully, her marriage too. But soon, she starts feeling things, she doesn´t want to. She sees something in the mirrors at the Red Palace and feels that there is more to her feelings and the fact, that she knows things she never heard or saw in her life.

Style
In this novel, a combination of fantasy and mysticism is offered, which in the course of the action mixes more and more into a unique combination. The main character Isolde is idiosyncratic and sees the possibility of sitting on the throne as the first sole ruling queen. A dream that unfortunately does not come true as hoped. The writing style is easy to read and the reading speed is quick. The plot is varied and you never know what will happen on the next page.

Characters
Many unexpected things happen. A father wants to kill his daughter because she doesn't act the way he wants. A man tries to steer his princess just because he doesn't trust her own thinking and a lot of things don't go as hoped either.

Isolde is headstrong, strong, clever, and very beautiful. She knows how to assert herself and sees things that others don't see. But when she has to realize that her own father wants her bad and that she can't do anything about it, she has to decide what to do. And that's painful.


Conclusion
That was a fantasy novel of a different kind. The theme of reincarnation for the main character as the background theme for the plot was interesting and well-implemented. The story itself was varied and very entertaining. Highly recommended.



Happy reading








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


Deutsche Rezension

Stil
In diesem Roman wird eine Kombination aus Fantasy und Mystik geboten, die sich im Handlungsverlauf mehr und mehr zu einer ganz eigenen Kombination vermischt. Die Hauptfigur Isolde ist eigenwillig und sieht für sich die Möglichkeit, als erste alleinherrschende Königin auf dem Thron zu sitzen. Ein Traum, der sich leider nicht so erfüllt wie erhofft. Der Schreibstil ist schlicht einfach zu lesen und das Lesetempo zügig. Die Handlung ist abwechslungsreich und man weiß nie, was auf der nächsten Seite passiert.

Charaktere
Es geschehen viele unerwartete Dinge. Da will ein Vater seine Tochter umbringen, weil diese nicht so handelt, wie er es möchte. Da versucht ein Mann, seine Prinzessin zu lenken, nur weil er ihr eigenes Denken nicht zutraut und auch sonst geht vieles nicht so, wie gehofft.

Isolde ist eigenwillig, stark, klug und sehr schön. Sie weiß sich zu behaupten und erkennt Dinge, die andere nicht sehen. Als sie aber erkennen muss, dass ihr eigener Vater ihr Böses will und sie dagegen nichts machen kann, muss sie entscheiden, was sie macht. Und das ist schmerzhaft.


Resultat
Das war mal ein Fantasyroman der etwas anderen Art. Das Thema Reinkarnation für die Hauptfigur als Hintergrundthema für den Plot war interessant und gut umgesetzt. Die Geschichte selbst war abwechslungsreich und sehr unterhaltsam. Sehr empfehlenswert.











*This book was published in the English language by Bloom Books on November 30, 2021 



Scarlett St. Clair
Scarlett St. Clair ©Scarlett St. Clair






Scarlett St. Clair lives in Oklahoma with her husband. She has a degree in Library Science and is obsessed with Greek mythology, books, and the afterlife. Anyone who shares this passion with her will love her books.


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8/24/2023

In Meinen Träumen Bei Dir by Lilian Kaliner


Well, the cover alone wasn´t the reason why I wanted to read the fifth volume in the Firefly Creek series. I had read all the other books so it seemed natural to read this one as well. Because I like to close things. Here, it meant to discover the story about Evie and Quentin. And over the first half, it was a thrilling novel about love, secrets, and a gorgeous woman called Evie. The other half wasn´t as exciting anymore. But read and judge for yourself.



In Meinen Träumen Bei Dir*
by Lilian Kaliner
Firefly Creek Series #5
Publisher Fischer TB on April 26, 2023
Genre Novel
Pages 407
Format Paperback
Source Fischer TB
Goodreads
✶✶✶✶


Finally, in Firefly Creek - that cute little town Evie has heard so much about. Will she find answers here to the questions that have plagued her since her mother's death? And is it permissible to while away the time with new acquaintances while she looks around the town? There's this cheeky, not entirely unattractive guy named Quentin who wants to show her the fireflies... But after the first kiss, things suddenly get very complicated, because the two have more in common than they thought. Can Quentin and Evie put the past behind them? And do they have a chance of a future together?
Story
After her mother’s death, Evie wants to know who her father is. But all she has is a picture and a name. Harry. And when she finally stands right in front of him, she is nervous and wants nothing but to go. But Harry knows the truth and when he tells her about it, Evie realizes that not everything in life is how she wants it. And her father is one of those things.

Style
It was clear that bad guy Richard Smith had to do something good in this series as well. That's the only thing I really like about Harry and Richard's feud, and it seems logical. The rest seems a bit artificial.

As in the other parts, the language is easy to read. The plot brings a lot of surprises to light. What I didn't like so much was that the story didn't read well after half of it. There's quite a bit of unnecessary filler, and it gets a bit long-winded and boring at times. The scenes and settings are different, and it goes from winter to summer, and still not everything is that simple.

Characters
The Bennetts now live quite scattered around the farm. A lot of things aren't that easy anymore, and yet they are all still affectionate. And things are getting tight for Harry. Because Evie wants to get to know her roots and Harry is a part of that.

Evie is a remarkable woman. She works as a veterinary assistant and helps Kat in the office in whatever way she can. It's clear that she wants to find out everything that's going on in Bennett's family. But when it becomes reality, it's a completely different thing that worries her.


Conclusion
On the one hand a successful novel, on the other hand, something similar. A few clichés are used, a grandiose landscape is presented, and the characters are presented in a varied way. And yet I was a bit disappointed from halfway through.



Happy reading







*This book was kindly provided to me by Fischer TB 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, at the time this review was published, only available in the German language.


Deutsche Rezension

Stil
Es war klar, dass der Fiesling Richard Smith in dieser Serie auch noch etwas Gutes hervorbringen muss. Das ist das Einzige, was mir an der Fehde von Harry und Richard wirklich gefällt und logisch erscheint. Der Rest wirkt teilweise etwas künstlich.

Wie schon in den anderen Teilen ist die Sprache gut zu lesen. Die Handlung bringt einiges an Überraschungen zutage. Was mir weniger gut gefiel war, ab der Hälfte liest sich die Geschichte nicht mehr rund. Da gibt es einiges an unnötigem Füllmaterial und es wird stellenweise etwas langatmig und langweilig. Die Szenen und Settings sind zwar unterschiedlich und es geht von Winter zu Sommer und trotzdem ist nicht alles so einfach.

Charaktere
Die Bennett´s wohnen mittlerweile ziemliche verstreut rund um die Farm. Vieles ist nicht mehr so einfach und trotzdem sind sie sich alle noch herzlich zugetan. Und für Harry wird es langsam eng. Denn Evie will ihre Wurzeln kennenlernen und Harry ist ein Teil davon.

Evie ist eine bemerkenswerte Frau. Sie arbeitet als tiermedizinische Assistentin und hilft Kat in der Praxis, wo sie nur kann. Das sie in Bennetts Familie alles herausfinden will, was geht, ist klar. Doch als es Wirklichkeit wird, ist es eine ganz andere, was ihr da Sorgen macht.


Resultat
Einerseits ein gelungener Roman, auf der anderen Seite etwas Einheitsbrei. Es werden einige Klischees bedient, eine grandiose Landschaft aufgefahren und die Charaktere abwechslungsreich dargeboten. Und trotzdem war ich ab der Hälfte etwas enttäuscht.



Lilian Kaliner
Lilian Kaliner ©Katrin Greiner






Lilian Kaliner, born in 1984, lives with her husband, two children, a dog, and lots of chicken in a small town near Freiburg. With her current husband, she traveled through Australia in an ancient camper van. They picked cherries at just under forty degrees to finance the trip, stayed on lonely beaches, were surprised by the cold in Tasmania – and got married shortly afterwards. When she got the idea for a series of novels with a turbulent extended family, it was clear that she would be set in Australia.


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8/21/2023

Im Schutz Der Nacht by Nora Roberts


Usually, Nora Roberts is a safe bank when it comes to buying and reading a book blind. This time not. I am so disappointed. Only the characters were able to keep this novel from absolute reading failure. And I have no idea why she failed here so wholly. The author knows how to write great books. She knows how to create tension and figures that bring a story to life. So why didn´t you do it here, too? In the end, the single characters saved this story from a total disaster. So, no. Nightwork isn´t what I had hoped for.


Im Schutz Der Nacht*
by Nora Roberts
Translation Margarethe van Pée
Original Title Nightwork
Publisher Blanvalet on March 1, 2023
Genre Novel
Pages 606
Format Hardcover
Source Blanvalet
Goodreads
✶✶✶


Harry Booth was just a child when his mother was diagnosed with cancer. In order to be able to pay the horrendous medical bills, he resorts to unusual means: he breaks into vacant houses under cover of night. When his beloved mother dies years later, Harry begins an unsteady wandering life. He has long seen himself as a thief with fixed rules: never attract attention, never stay long, only take from those who can afford it. Until he meets Miranda Emerson and forgets all caution about his love for her. Just then, Carter LaPorte, a former client, and his greatest enemy, tracks him down. Harry knows how little time he and Miranda have before LaPorte ruthlessly hunts them down. He makes a lonely decision...
Story
When Harry Booth must learn that no matter how fair his mother plays in life and no matter how hard she works to make ends meet, things just don´t play out the way they want them he decides that sometimes you must give it a little twist too. But one day, one man is a bit too much in need of his help, and within no time, Harry’s life changes again. Not in the way he wanted it but in a way, he can live with. Well, at first at least.

Style
The incredibly atmospheric note, which was particularly captivating at the beginning of the story, is used up after just a few chapters. The author shows the ordeal of a woman suffering from cancer, whose son starts a more than unusual career as a thief in order to be able to pay the bills. What worked wonderfully in another of the author's novels goes completely wrong here. Sure, the story has a certain charm, and the humor is not neglected either and the characters show the typical loyalty and family love. And so far, everything is good. But the evil is too defiant, too vain and the plot just seems too much sunshine here.

No question, the writing style is clearly that of Nora Roberts. The structure, the design, everything fits. Unfortunately, the story between the pages didn't convince me at all this time. This book only shows sophistication in the thieves that the main character plans and carries out. Otherwise, it is only a pale habit of presenting details, landscapes, and scenes.

Characters
The individual characters are ultimately the reason that saved the novel from the rating crash. Strength and willpower are shown that are simply convincing. Well, Nora Roberts doesn't omit a cliché that I don't usually see her do, but it seems to work here. While it doesn't elevate the story above average, that's better than a zero number.


Conclusion
Unfortunately, not a novel that I can recommend without hesitation. The plot is far too predictable, the characters have little depth despite all the tragedy, and that certain something is completely missing. For a Nora Roberts book, this story is surprisingly bland and uneventful. A pity. Despite the humorous components, this novel is disappointing and this time remains only average for me.




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.


Deutsche Rezension

Stil
Die unglaublich stimmungsvolle Note, die besonders zu Anfang der Geschichte gefesselt hat, ist schon nach wenigen Kapiteln aufgebraucht. Die Autorin zeigt den Leidensweg einer krebskranken Frau, deren Sohn eine mehr als ungewöhnliche Karriere als Dieb startet, um die Rechnungen bezahlen zu können. Was in einem anderen Roman der Autorin wunderbar funktioniert hat, geht hier komplett daneben. Sicher, die Geschichte hat einen gewissen Charme und der Humor kommt auch nicht zu kurz und die Figuren zeigen die typische Loyalität und Familienliebe. Und so weit ist auch alles gut. Aber das Böse ist zu trotzig, zu eitel und auch der Plot wirkt hier einfach nur zu alles eitel Sonnenschein.

Keine Frage, der Schreibstil ist klar der von Nora Roberts. Der Aufbau, die Gestaltung, es passt alles. Die Geschichte zwischen den Seiten konnte mich nur leider diesmal gar nicht überzeugen. Raffinesse zeigt dieses Buch nur bei den Diebeszügen, die die Hauptfigur plant und durchführt. Ansonsten ist es nur blasse Gewohnheit im Präsentieren von Details, Landschaften und Szenen.

Charaktere
Die einzelnen Figuren sind letztlich der Grund, die den Roman vor dem Rating-Absturz bewahrt haben. Da werden eine Stärke und Willenskraft gezeigt, die einfach nur überzeugt. Gut, Nora Roberts lässt kein Klischee aus, was ich normalerweise nicht von ihr kenne, aber hier scheint es zu funktionieren. Es hebt die Geschichte zwar nicht über die Durchschnittlichkeit hinaus, aber das ist besser als eine Null-Nummer.


Resultat
Leider kein Roman, den ich bedenkenlos empfehlen kann. Die Handlung ist viel zu vorhersehbar, die Figuren haben trotz aller Tragik kaum Tiefgang und das gewisse Etwas fehlt komplett. Für ein Nora Roberts Buch ist diese Geschichte erstaunlich blass und ereignislos. Schade. Trotz der humorigen Bestandteile enttäuscht dieser Roman und bleibt für mich diesmal nur Durchschnitt.

 

 







*This book was originally published by St. Martin´s Press on May 24, 2022



Nora Roberts
Nora Roberts ©Bruce Wilder






Nora Roberts, born in Silver Spring, Maryland, is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of more than 200 novels. During the now-famous blizzard, she pulled out a pencil and notebook and began to write. It was there that a career was born. Several manuscripts and rejections later, her first book, Irish Thoroughbred, was published by Silhouette in 1981. Having spent her life surrounded by men, Ms. Roberts has a fairly good view of the workings of the male mind, which is a constant delight to her readers. It was, she’s been quoted as saying, a choice between figuring men out or running away screaming. Nora is a member of several writer’s groups and has won countless awards from her colleagues and the publishing industry. Recently The New Yorker called her “America’s favorite novelist.” She is also the author of the bestselling futuristic suspense series written under the pen name J. D. Robb. There are more than 500 million copies of her books in print.


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