jbronderbookreviews

Child of the Night Guild (Queen of Thieves – 1) by Andy Peloquin

“They killed my parents. They took my name. They imprisoned me in darkness. I would not be broken.”

Viola, a child sold to pay her father’s debts, has lost everything: her mother, her home, and her identity. Thrown into a life among criminals, she has no time for grief as she endures the brutal training of an apprentice thief. The Night Guild molds an innocent waif into a cunning, agile outlaw skilled in the thieves’ trade. She has only one choice: steal enough to pay her debts.
The cutthroat streets of Praamis will test her mettle, and she must learn to dodge the City Guards or swing from a hangman’s rope. But a more dangerous foe lurks within the guild walls. A sadistic rival apprentice, threatened by her strength, is out for blood.
What hope does one girl have in a world of ruthless men?

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Author’s Bio

I am, first and foremost, a storyteller and an artist–words are my palette. Fantasy is my genre of choice, and I love to explore the darker side of human nature through the filter of fantasy heroes, villains, and everything in between. I’m also a freelance writer, a book lover, and a guy who just loves to meet new people and spend hours talking about my fascination for the worlds I encounter in the pages of fantasy novels.

Fantasy provides us with an escape, a way to forget about our mundane problems and step into worlds where anything is possible. It transcends age, gender, religion, race, or lifestyle–it is our way of believing what cannot be, delving into the unknowable, and discovering hidden truths about ourselves and our world in a brand new way. Fiction at its very best!

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My Review

5 stars

When Viola is very young, her father sells her to the Night Guild to cover his debt. Through abuse and torture, Viola forgets her past and becomes Seven. Through the years of more training and abuse she becomes Ilanna and part of the Hawk Guild. Until things take a turn for the worst. But the one thing that her life has taught her is that she will not be broken and will rise again.

I’m going to warn you, this is a dark story. Viola goes through Hell several times in her training. This is meant to break her down to only know the Guild. But she won’t forget, or let them break her no matter what. She is the only female in a male world and is determined to survive. It is hard following her through the tortures she faces. All I could do is hope everything would work out for her in the end. But this is not a happily ever after story.

This is a raw and brutal story but I loved it each step of the way. There is so much detail that goes into this world. I loved all aspects of the Guild and the different jobs they learn. It’s so easy to get drawn into the story that I had a hard time putting the book down. I just had the see what happened to Ilanna next. And the ending, not what I expected but left me eagerly waiting for book two.

This is a wonderful, dark fantasy story that will appeal too many. It’s one that I recommend everyone check out. You may find your new favorite author.

I received Child of the Night Guild from the author for free. This has in no way influenced my opinion of this book.

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The Dragon in the Garden (The Watcher Rising Series – 1) by Erika Gardner

There is magic beneath the mundane and in The Dragon in the Garden, Siobhan Orsini witnesses it all. No lie can fool her, no glamour or illusion can cloud her Sight. She sees through them all and wishes she could close her eyes. Returning to face her past, Siobhan inherits her grandparents’ house in California’s wine country. She encounters a talking dragon, a hot fallen angel, a demon lord, a Valkyrie, and, oh yes, her ex-boyfriend. And that is just in the first twenty-four hours.

It’s time to find out why she has this power.

Siobhan seeks out the Oracle and learns that only her Sight can help mankind navigate the travails of an ancient war. Our world is the prize in a battle between the dragons, who would defend us, and Lucifer’s fallen angels, who seek to take the Earth for themselves. Using her gift, she will have to make a choice that will decide humanity’s future.

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Author’s Bio

Erika is a sixth generation San Franciscan of Irish descent. She attended the University of California at Davis and completed degrees in Medieval History and Biological Sciences. A lifelong lover of books and a scribbler of many tales from a young age (her first story was completed at age five) she turned to writing full-time in 2011.

Erika resides in Northern California with her incredibly hot husband, their three amazing kids, and their chocolate Labrador named Selkie. To reach Erika regarding her books, wine recommendations, or to debate which Iron Maiden album is the best (clearly, it’s Brave New World).

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My Review

4 stars

Siobhan has been able to see through illusion and lies since she was young. This is how she knew that the dragon statue in her garden was much more than just a statue. Because of this ability, most adults have dismissed her and sent her to many therapists and different treatments. Little did she know but this ability is actually going to help her become a Watcher and decide an ancient war against good and evil.

Lucifer has an army of demons and many other creatures that want to bring chaos and destruction to the world. Siobhan will team up with her brother Alex, ex-boyfriend Tim, the leaders of the two hundred Fallen Angels that fight against Lucifer Turiel, a Valkyrie called Nefta, and many others. Siobhan has to learn to use her abilities quick and figure out how to stop Lucifer and his army.

I really liked this story. Siobhan is full of disbelief about her abilities and her role as the Watcher. But that doesn’t stop her from fighting and making her a strong character. There are so many paranormal characters throughout the story and more appear at the end battle. There are creatures from all corners of the world through time.

I really liked this story and all of the characters. It is a great start to a new paranormal series and I can’t wait to see what happened in the next book.

I received The Dragon in the Garden from Reading Addiction Virtual Book Tours for free. This has in no way influenced my opinion of this book.

Exceprt

The Dragon in The Garden

The memory has haunted me for years.

In the middle of a bright California summer, dark days came. My mother and grandparents spoke in hushed, serious voice, arguing about my absent father. Was it my fault he left? A soft whimper escaped my throat and my eyes burned. I needed a hug, but no one paid any attention to me that day.  So I ran away to the refuge of my grandparents’ garden where I could hide among its statues and flowers.

My eyes lingered over the familiar garden ornaments. I passed the old birdbath, the statues of gnomes, and a cheerful squirrel. I ran one hand over the stone deer. Its brown paint had faded from years under the sun. Walking with quick steps down the gravel path, I made my way to the center of the garden, my special spot where my favorite statue waited.

A gnarled apricot tree grew there.  Right now it was covered with tiny green apricots. Later in the summer the sweet fruit I loved would ripen. I would get to pick them with my parents, no, just with my mother. My lip trembled. My father wouldn’t be here.

The bright-green dragon lay curled at the foot of the apricot tree, partially covered by vines. My mother called the color jade green—the same shade as my eyes. As a child she talked to all the statues, but I only spoke to the dragon. I named her Daisy. Sitting down next to her now, the tears welled up at last, spilling over my cheeks. I wrapped my arms around my legs, making myself into a little ball of five year old misery.

“Child, why are you sad?” said a woman’s voice.

“Who said that?” I asked, wiping my cheek.

“I did.”

“Where are you?” I stood and peered at the plants and statues around me.

“Right here.”

“Are not,” I retorted.

A soft laugh filled the air and the woman spoke again. “Perhaps you are right. Easy enough to fix, I suppose.”

The breeze picked up. The space beneath the apricot tree shimmered. Ripples warped the air like the heat over the barbecue when my father cooked. The sweet notes of wind chimes filled the yard. Grandma and Grandpa didn’t have any wind chimes. I whirled around to find the noise.

Under the branches appeared an enormous green dragon’s head.

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