REVIEW | Midnight Thief by Livia Blackburne » The Novel Hermit

REVIEW | Midnight Thief by Livia Blackburne

July 7, 2014 Comments : 5

Midnight Thief by Livia Blackburne
July 8, 2014
Disney-Hyperion
Website | Twitter | Goodreads
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository
* ARC borrowed from My Friends Are Fiction (Thanks, Kristen! :D)

Growing up on Forge’s streets has taught Kyra how to stretch a coin. And when that’s not enough, her uncanny ability to scale walls and bypass guards helps her take what she needs.

But when the leader of the Assassins Guild offers Kyra a lucrative job, she hesitates. She knows how to get by on her own, and she’s not sure she wants to play by his rules. But he’s persistent—and darkly attractive—and Kyra can’t quite resist his pull.

Tristam of Brancel is a young Palace knight on a mission. After his best friend is brutally murdered by Demon Riders, a clan of vicious warriors who ride bloodthirsty wildcats, Tristam vows to take them down. But as his investigation deepens, he finds his efforts thwarted by a talented thief, one who sneaks past Palace defenses with uncanny ease.

When a fateful raid throws Kyra and Tristam together, the two enemies realize that their best chance at survival—and vengeance—might be to join forces. And as their loyalties are tested to the breaking point, they learn a startling secret about Kyra’s past that threatens to reshape both their lives.

myreview

First sentence: “This job could kill her.”

A thief, an Assassins Guild, and “a clan of vicious warriors who ride bloodthirsty wildcats”? Midnight Thief should be a book I’d love to pieces, right?

Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case. I thought it was okay. I didn’t love it as much as the people who raved about its awesomeness. I think the only thing I truly loved was the Demon Riders. Other than that, I was incredibly disappointed because it was dull and slow-paced, and I couldn’t connect with Kyra or Tristam. It took me a long while to warm up to it. The twists were a bit predictable and it only satisfied me for a while, but I still enjoyed the things Kyra, the main character, overcame and learned as a result. I wasn’t a fan of the romance. Also, I was expecting a big emphasis on the friendships (and a group working together), but I didn’t get that. My expectations for this book weren’t met at all.

Regardless of my lack of love for Midnight Thief, it had really good world-building in it and lots of twists, albeit predictable, that kept me interested in what would happen next for Kyra.

Holy Mother Cover

SPECIAL HOLY, MOTHER COVER! EDITION | HAPPY JULY 4TH!

July 4, 2014 Comments : 13

HAPPY JULY 4TH, EVERYONE!

In honor of this glorious day (which is also known as Independence Day), I decided to compile books into the United States flag for funsies! Voila!

To my fellow Americans, Happy Independence Day!! And to my international friends, happy July 4th! I hope all of you have a fabulous day. I will be off celebrating with my friends! :D

*I know this isn’t an exact replica of the American flag, but let’s just pretend there’s 13 stripes. :P
** Please do not steal the book cover flag graphic. I took time and effort to make it. You can use it, but you must credit me.

Holy Mother Cover

HOLY, MOTHER COVER! | Cover Change for How to Love by Katie Cotugno

July 3, 2014 Comments : 20

holymothercover

Inspired by What She Reads, Pure Imagination Blog, and Stacked.

I admit I’m a book cover snob. Who isn’t though?

Book covers are the first thing that attracts readers to a book. A good cover can draw someone is, just as a bad cover can easily draw someone away. It can essentially make or break a book. Holy, Mother Cover! is where I showcase the book covers that stand out (or make me cringe) and discuss cover changes.

(A big special thanks to Georgie at What She Reads for bestowing me this fabulous name and to Charlotte at Gypsy Reviews for creating the beautiful feature banner you see before you.)

**COVER CHANGE: How to Love by Katie Cotugno**

Today, we look at the cover How to Love by Katie Cotugno!

Waiting on Wednesday

WAITING ON WEDNESDAY | The Cure of Dreaming by Cat Winters

July 2, 2014 Comments : 2

wowfestivo

[quote]Waiting On is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we’re eagerly anticipating.[/quote]

The Cure of Dreaming by Cat Winters
October 14, 2014
Amulet Books
Website | Twitter | Goodreads
Pre-order: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository

Olivia Mead is a headstrong, independent girl—a suffragist—in an age that prefers its girls to be docile. It’s 1900 in Oregon, and Olivia’s father, concerned that she’s headed for trouble, convinces a stage mesmerist to try to hypnotize the rebellion out of her. But the hypnotist, an intriguing young man named Henri Reverie, gives her a terrible gift instead: she’s able to see people’s true natures, manifesting as visions of darkness and goodness, while also unable to speak her true thoughts out loud. These supernatural challenges only make Olivia more determined to speak her mind, and so she’s drawn into a dangerous relationship with the hypnotist and his mysterious motives, all while secretly fighting for the rights of women. Winters breathes new life into history once again with an atmospheric, vividly real story, including archival photos and art from the period throughout.

Why I’m waiting?

Guys, can we talk about how intriguing The Cure of Dreaming sounds? How does it not make you want to read it? A suffragist, a hypnotist, supernatural creepiness, and bits of 1900 history? Yes, Cat Winters, you got my attention.

I have a weird soft spot for historical books with a supernatural twist. It may be because of the time period the book is set in? I find it fascinating reading about history during that time, and that time is fitting for the creepiness. I scare easily, but nothing will stop me from reading this book!

What books are you waiting on?

Monthly Recap

MONTHLY RECAP | June 2014

June 30, 2014 Comments : 10

June was really good to me. It was a good month even though I didn’t blog as much as I wanted to.

I got two new banners — You’re Just My Type and The Three C’s: Candid Conversations with Cee.
I received BEA books from Kelly and Jon. (Thanks, dudes!)
I purchased a new domain. EEEEEEKKKKKK. The project is top secret. It won’t be revealed until August (even though I want to get the design and everything done right now, but no timeeee).
Sebastian Stan and Anthony Mackie were at Philly Comic Con. And let me say that I became super overwhelmed with all the pictures and fan accounts. I wished I went!
I started Blogilates. I’ve kept up with it for the past week. Hopefully, I’ll keep on doing it.

I have a pretty bad memory, so I’m sure I left out important moments in my life.

Letters

SINCERELY, CEE | A letter from yours truly to Cee about Camp NaNoWriMo

June 30, 2014 Comments : 2

Dear Cee,

I hope all is well with Camp NaNoWriMo for you.

Camp starts tomorrow, and you’re not ready. What is up with that? Get it together! There’s no time to be slacking! Time is of the essence.

Since that discussion post where you announced your participation in July’s Camp, I became worried for you because you haven’t been thinking about the project you’ve been planning to do. You’re all sorts of distracted. That’s not good. (I know who’s to blame. ;P) I know that you’re afraid of thinking about Project You’ve Got Mail: Friendship Edition because you’ll freak out. Hell, I’d freak out too! (I think I already am.) However, you need to sit and think and start writing.

I know you’ve been worrying about the plot because it feels too light and not enough angst for your liking. But remember that fantastic idea you had Saturday? Do that. Put a psychological spin to it! It gets me pumped up when I think about it (as you should too!). You can achieve it. It’ll take work, but it’s doable. Don’t think too much about how to execute it perfectly and how the position the spin puts the character in. It’ll only stress you out. I’m sure you can achieve this psychological spin without making it into a cop-out or a cliché or problematic. Just write. It’ll work out in the end…or you know, after intense revisions and editing sessions (but that’s not until much later).

I know you will encounter distractions throughout July, but you better reach that 15k word count goal, or in the words of Burton Guster, “we would be having words.” (Not nice ones, fyi.)

You will get through all the distractions and the buckets of tears you’ll be crying. I know it.

Remember this: You can do it! I believe in you.