Book Review: Skye's Lure (Angel Leya)

Skye's Lure

by Angel Leya

Genres: Fantasy. Urban Fantasy, Mermaids, Romance

Will saving a human lead to the destruction of her people?

Skye is a good mermaid, following her elder’s instruction and staying away from humans. But when a party ship cruises through her part of the sea, Skye ends up saving Vince, a man, from drowning - a crime punishable by death. When the ship comes back, so does she.

Lured by the promise of seeing land and the handsome Vince, Skye boards the ship, but finds that Vince may not be as trustworthy as she first thought. Now it’s a race to save herself and her people from exposure and destruction.

Angel Leya enjoys retelling fairy tales in new and intriguing ways, but she wants readers to know that Skye is no Ariel and Vince is no Prince. In this urban fantasy, female protagonist Skye must struggle to learn the truth about herself, her people and Vince before her actions destroy everything she holds dear. With the help of the elusive Sea King, will Vince become a merman, or will the two choose to be human? It’s anything but the traditional fairytale retellings we all know.






I do not even know where to begin with 'Skye's Lure' because I just did not like it. I'm sorry, but it's true. I felt that it glamorized kidnapping in such a way that...I dunno, it just annoyed me.  Skye is suffering from a major case of Stockholm syndrome. I get that she was curious about land and humans, but typically, you don't fall in love with someone who kidnaps you, locks you in a glass tank in their home...and tries to use you for personal gain. Can anyone say human/mermaid trafficking? He was basically trying to be her pimp! But yes, she's in love with him and they run off together to have little psychopath fish babies.

One of the best ways to describe this book would just be lacking. It just wasn't very memorable, in my opinion. This is a prime example why I shy away from short stories. I felt no connection to the characters, and I had no care as to where they ended up. I wasn't pulled into the story at all and I just....well, I didn't like it.

I wish the author the best of luck in her writings, but Skye's Lure just wasn't for me.

What is the most annoying book you've ever read? Was it still good?

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Book Review: The Ballad of Allyn-A-Dale (Danielle E. Shipley)

The Ballad of Allyn-A-Dale

by: Danielle E. Shipley

Genre: Contemporary Fantasy

“Welcome to Avalon, a Renaissance Faire where heroes of legend never die. Where the Robin Hood walking the streets is truly the noble outlaw himself. Where the knightly and wizardly players of King Arthur’s court are in fact who they profess to be. Where the sense of enchantment in the air is not mere feeling, but the Fey magic of a paradise hidden in plain sight.
Enter Allyn-a-Dale. The grief of his father’s death still fresh and the doom of his own world looming, swirling realities leave the young minstrel marooned in an immortal Sherwood Forest, where he is recruited as a member of Robin Hood’s infamous outlaw band. But Allyn’s new life may reach its end before it’s scarcely begun. Their existence under threat, the Merry Men are called upon to embark on a journey to the dangerous world Outside – ours – on a quest which must be achieved without delay, or eternity in Avalon will not amount to very long at all.”




I didn't make it too, too far into The Ballad of Allyn-A-Dale because it was rather hard for me to follow. I don't know if it was the new twist on the fantasy genre, or the way it was written. It jumped back in time without really any explanation (that I found)....So I moved on to my next book.

It had a very...willowy feel to it...does that make sense? When I was reading, the words and how they flowed made me imagine a  willowy, graceful woman dancing. It was really amazing how everything flowed and one sentence led to another.

The premise of the book was actually quite interesting, I just couldn't quite follow it.  And the cover art is absolutely beautiful. Of course, the choice is up to you, dear reader, as to whether or not you'd like to read this book.

As alwaysss, you can find all the links below, with the QOTR!

Keep your noses in the pages, lovelies! I'll blog you later!

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Book Review: Falter (Haven Cage)

Falter

by: Haven Cage

Genres: Dark, Urban Fantasy

In FALTER, a dark New Adult/Adult Urban Fantasy novel, Nevaeh Richards thinks she has found a chance to leave her homeless life behind. When the spirit of the only father she knows is wrongfully taken to Hell, Nevaeh is hurled into a world haunted by monstrous demons, rogue Guardian angels, love that is beyond her control, and a soul-threatening choice between the inherent evil inside her and the faltering faith she is struggling to grasp.
Nevaeh and George have lived on the streets as father and daughter since he found her, alone and unconscious, many years ago. When they start a new life employed at Joe's cafe, Nevaeh experiences debilitating visions and frightening apparitions. Adding to the troubling path her life has taken, George suddenly becomes ill and an Animus demon takes his soul hostage in Hell. Unfortunately, the ransom may be more than Nevaeh can afford.
As Nevaeh spirals into this supernatural world, Gavyn—the handsome café-owner—tries to convince her that she belongs to a hidden race of people with God-given gifts known as Celatum, and she may be a key player in the Celestial war. However, even after all the otherworldly events she experiences, Nevaeh continues to deny her part in it all.
Meanwhile, Archard—a stranger she feels undeniably bonded to—mysteriously wanders in and out of her life, offering none of the answers she suspects he holds.
Will Nevaeh attain the faith it requires to fulfill her fate as a Celata and take part in the Celestial fight? Or will she give into the darkness that calls to her for the sake of George's soul and damn herself to Hell?

**We received a copy of this book in exchange for the following honest review**

I honestly don't even know where to begin. Since the day the author sent this book in, I had been looking for an excuse to skip ahead a bit and read it...Finally, the excuse came!

As you can imagine, over the weeks that I had been fantasizing about reading Falter, I'd built up expectations and hopes for this book.....and we all know how dangerous that can be. Disappointment is a real thing...and I get to feel it quite a lot with what we do.....

I can, however, say that this book went above and beyond my wildest dreams and expectations. It was sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo good! Do you know how many o's that is? Neither do I, but it's a lot!

I've read books kind of similar to this before; Hush Hush, Providence, but this book just had the edge of difference that set it apart from the rest.

Is it weird that I automatically root for the one guy/girl that the character always ends up with? It's kinda my thing to be able to tell you the endings of books from the first two chapters (esp books like this..they're my genre), but I was so surprised. It was another one of those times where I was up at twelve to finish a book and then I read the ending and my brain was like "Lol, sleep? What's sleep? Why don't we obsess over this ending instead??" and so I did....I still am.

My only minor issue was the whole "God" thing. I don't mean it in a bad way..let me explain. Shell and I avoid books with religious themes and undertones because we want to make CommonBookSense a place where anyone can find comfort through good books. That isn't to say that books based around religion aren't good, I just mean that we don't want to make any one person uncomfortable by forcing our religious beliefs onto them....so we don't do religious things. This book did have religious undertones, but they fit nicely into the theme of the book. They weren't really forced upon you...they were portrayed in a fantasy-based environment, so they didn't follow any 'typical' religious standpoints.

All you need to know is that this book is an amazing example of everything a fantasy book should be. While there aren't any werewolves, witches, or vampires, it embodies all the fantastical aspects of what makes a fantasy book so appealing.



Guys, honestly, why haven't you bought this book yet?

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Book Review: The Tree Of Souls

The Tree of Souls 

by Katrina Archer

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Mystery, Magic

A murky past. A forbidden love. A deathly power.

When the river spits Umbra onto its bank, naked and shivering, the only clue to her identity is the arcane brand seared into her skin. A brand hunted by both a murderous necromancer and a handsome stranger. A brand that thrusts Umbra into a simmering conflict between the ascendant Clans and the nomadic Gherza. A brand that may make her the key to averting all-out war.

The Tree of Souls weaves an intimate tale of dark sorcery, doomed love, and implacable revenge, amid an age-old clash of nations, with all the souls of the living hanging in the balance.

**We received a copy of this book in exchanged for the following honest review**

Where do I even begin?? This book was such an amazing read. It pulled me in right from the cover, and I couldn't wait until I finished the post for the day so I could hole myself up and get lost in the pages...You know a book is good when you have to get up to do something and you try to PAUSE the book! I did that after the first TWO chapters! The book is so immersive and makes you ask all these questions. One question gets answered with another question, so you're constantly guessing, but you're also interacting with the world.

The mysteriousness of it was a huge plus. You kept wondering why Umbra was, and just when you thought you figured it out, you were turned right back around.
I hate telling you what the book was about in my reviews because I feel like it's my job to tell you how the book was, not what it was about. But here it's slightly necessary. So, to start of, this girl has washed up on the river bank. She has no idea who she is or where she's from. No memories (besides basic functions, of course), you get a glimpse into her past via flashbacks and the beginning of the story that led led her to be where she is.

This book was beautifully written and executed perfectly. Not many people can pull that off. I was very impressed by the way she switched between first and third person. Not only is incredibly impressive that she was able to switch like that, but also that it was so genius that she did because it perfectly kept the secret about who was who.

I must comment on this because I'm supposed to mention it: The sex scene was written very elegantly and classy. It wasn't inappropriate at all. If you're worried about it, it shouldn't be an issue because it's only a paragraph-ish, so you can skip it....or you can read an awesome example of class..it's up to you, dear reader.

This book is a perfect combination of fantasy, romance, and mystery. I loved it. It was so, so, so good. I've read hundreds of books since I was young, but I have never read anything like this (and fantasy is my genre). You guys NEED to read this! Everything is so shocking and unexpected it's so amazing. Read it! Utilize the links below!

Keep your noses in the pages, and I'll blog you lovelies later <3

Where are some of you guys from? What's your name? I'm only asking because I feel like our relationship is rather one-sided lol.

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Book Review: Unforeseen Beings *Vol. 1* - Lilith's Garden of Madness (N.L. Johnson)

Unforeseen Beings Vol. One: Lilith's Garden of Madness

by N.L. Johnson

Genres: Fantasy

Hidden away behind the doors of Kelton Mental Institution is a power unlike any the world has ever experienced. It has been locked away for so long that many no longer believe it exist. That was until Hannah finds it down the South Hall of Kelton. But should it have been found or forgotten along with the remainder of the "untreatables". What Kelton kept locked away is only a taste of what is to come as a completely unknown world of angels, demons and the unforeseen beings, opens up or rather wakes up with the release of Room 102.








This book was really good. It pulled me in right from the start. I was intrigued by the big time jump, and I wasn't sure it was going to work...but it did.

   In Lilith's Garden of Madness you get to glimpse behind the doors of the reality of how some psychiatric facilities are. It was intriguing and terrifying at the same time. I know many facilities aren't like that, but there is always one that will be and it's terrifying.

The shortness was appealing. In all honesty, I've grown to tire of these long-winded books. It was nice to take a break and read something a bit thinner. Which is a big deal because I used to only pick up books that were 200 pages or more.

 Although it was short,  it was really amazing and well written. N.L. shoved so much into those sixty pages, and it just worked. You knew everything you needed to know, but you were still questioning everything. You wanted to know MORE, and I think that's a  bigger deal than knowing everything and not really participating in the story.

I like the whole mystery behind it. "Room 102". I assumed she was the little girl from the beginning....but which one? What happened, I thought the people understood? How could someone treat someone like that? All of these questions swirl through your head, but never really get answered. You kind draw conclusions yourself with what you're offered, but you never really have time to focus on your unanswered questions because new ones keep popping up and getting answered and there's all this action.

I haven't been able to start a new book yet because this one is all I can think about. I thought I had it figured out and then *boom* new information that totally turned the world upside down. Despite a baby's handful of grammar mistakes (which we don't review. We review the story), I didn't find a single thing wrong with this book. It just worked and flowed and was a really great read.

Now, for the question we always must answer with series: Will I read the next book? You always say you will but then they're never reviewed.

Well, yes, I would very much like to read the second book. Whether or not it is read always depends on the author and how many reviews are still on our lists (spoiler alert: there are always at least five new a week, so we never catch up). But yes, yes I would love to read Unforeseen Beings Vol. 2. I really want to see where 'Room 102' ends up.

You guys need to read it, honestly. The links will be below, why don't you click them?

What's the longest book you've ever read? What's the shortest book you've ever read? Which did you like more?

Are you a short book person or a long book person? Does size REALLY matter?

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Book Review: The Realmsic Conquest: The Icon of Earth (Demethius Jackson)

The Realmsic Conquest

by Demethius Jackson

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult

The Realmsic Conquest - Book Two. The compelling saga of the world's only magical kingdom continues...

The Realm cannot celebrate peace. War ignites yet again when an advanced enemy invades the kingdom. During the attack, the Realmsic King is critically injured, which unleashes a power that will destroy the kingdom. Only the Icon of Earth – a candle that heals wounds when lit, can save him and the Realm.

Grand Wizard Kelm, the Realmsic Advisor, accepts the responsibility of locating the Icon. But time, and an unknown enemy, are against him. 

The Realmsic Conquest was a good book. The characters had variety and didn't lack depth.

You started right off the bat with the action. Within the first five pages the book was in full swing. The characters explained their surroundings and how things worked without long-winded paragraphs explaining the special texture of the dirt. You learned what you needed to learn when you needed to learn it.

I really liked the twist on wizards. The whole goal is always to NOT be compared to Harry Potter, and I never once found myself comparing the two, so goal accomplished.


I liked how Demethius switched sides between the 'bad' guys and the good. It made it interesting to see them race for the Icon.



My only issue with this book was some of the word usage. I felt like maybe Demethius used a thesaurus and picked the bigger words. It made it so the story didn't quite flow like it could have. I'm not telling anyone to dumb their books down, because that's not really my place (and I hate when I'm told that), but a friendly piece of advice would be to cut back. It doesn't have to be very intelligent sounding to be a  good book. Demethius's writing style and characters do all the work on that end. ((edit: I discovered this is the second book. We were not informed of this and I have not read the first. It wasn't hard to follow, nonetheless. I guess I should research more lol))

I like it, my loves! That's all there is to it!

As always, the links can be found below! I fixed our commenting section, so I hope you'll scroll on down and answer my QOFR!

Keep your noses in the pages! I'll blog you lovelies later!

Have you guys read any wizard-y books? Were they good? Should I check them out?

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Book Review: The Spectra Unearthed (Christie Valentine Powell)

The Spectra Unearthed

by Christie Valentine Powell

Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy

Keita thought that being a princess was nothing but trouble even before the power-hungry Stygians took over the Spectra kingdoms. Now she’s on the run, hunted at every turn, and able to trust only a few other royal exiles. Of course she’d like to make her life safe again, but standing up to the Stygians means confronting Jasper Smelt. A former friend, Jasper insists he wants nothing more to keep her safe, but his pitch-black dungeon and fiery threats suggest otherwise. 

With help from her friends, Keita escapes, but there is no safe place for former princesses. Banding together despite their different cultures, the girls head into Jasper’s desert kingdom. They soon find themselves in the middle of a conflict between the Stygians and a small rebel group. Hanging in the balance is a colony of children abandoned for having abilities different than their families. Keita wants to help, and she hates feeling helpless. But how can she face Jasper, someone with abilities she couldn’t begin to fight, someone constantly seeking her out, someone who fears everything…except her?

This book was really good! It was really unique, too. Sprites and Nomes and everything?? So cool. I liked the map at the beginning, as well. It really helps readers picture the world like it was meant to be pictured.

I liked that the author didn't really explain anything to you, and no, no I'm not being sarcastic. The introduction of the character Sienna allowed the main characters to explain things in such a way that you only learned stuff when it pertained to the plot. No information overload.

I'm usually not a fan of books that take place on another world (Like the Hobbit. I'm sorry I loved them and my family calls me 'Hobbit', but the books were a hard read for me) because I have such a hard time seeing the world. I didn't have that issue here, even though they may be on our planet. I always had a clear picture of my surroundings.


There's not much more to say other than, if you like the fantasy, R. R. Tolkien stuff, you really should give these books a try. They're unique and fun to become a part of! Someone of any age will find themselves rooting for Sienna and the princesses!

As always, the links can be found below, as well as the question of the review!

Keep your noses in the pages, my loves! I'll blog you later!!

What did you guys think of the last Hobbit movie?

My answer:

I think it could have been better, honestly. The other two were much better. I know it probably followed the books, but still.

I never read the Hobbit/LOTR books. I didn't know they existed until I was older and by then it was already Harry Potter obsession time, so I didn't really get into them. I think too much to envision another world.

You'll hate me for this, but I did really like the movies.

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Book Review: When Night Falls (R'Lee R Coffey)

When Night Falls

by R'Lee R Coffey

Genre: Fantasy

My family’s secrets are like dead corpses shoved into cupboards, abandoned to
rot and stew. To be forgotten.
All it took was a freak accident, the death of my best friend, to loosen the lock and let all those secrets waft out, ripe with the smell of betrayal.
In order to tell a story, you have to go back to the beginning; before things get out of control, before the cupboard door breaks open.

And I, Lucien Kinkaid, am going to do just that.



These kinds of reviews are my least favorite to write.

I didn't make it very far into When Night Falls...this was because of information-overload. There were way too many people constantly being introduced and, for me, that's an automatic book turn-off. I couldn't let myself enjoy the book because I was constantly having to flip back to see who was who. Now, I know this is kinda my job, but I'm not required to read books I don't enjoy, so I started my next one.

I did like that Coffey let you know who was what as soon as it switched to their point of view, that was new for me. R'lee R. Coffey's writing was good, I just couldn't get past the introduction of so many people. I wished I could skip over it, but then I'd have been even more confused!

If you can keep up with a ton of characters and places, and you like vampires, give this book a spin.

Until next time, keep your noses in the pages, my lovelies! I'll blog you later!

What's the biggest book turn off for you? What makes you stop reading a book?

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