Coffee & All Things Random

   *I won the ebook version of this in a giveaway  on LibraryThing in  exchange for an honest  review.

   ** This will also be posted on Goodreads and

  LibraryThing.

      There's not much to say, really. This is just a short  story about Loki and Thor and how it began with Thor  dragging Loki out of bed and then turned out to be  Thor following Loki like a puppy through this  adventure with a band of Dwarves also known as a  few of Loki's friends.

      Basically, Thor wanted Loki to get out of bed and  go outside and have fun, so he takes him someplace  else to drink but instead Loki takes them somewhere  else where they meet up with a group of Dwarves and  go on a hunt. They end up killing two Gryphons,  keeping a baby one, getting attacked and escaping  and stealing horses and throughout there's a whole  lot of action and it's great.

      I liked it, yeah, but at the same time I just didn't  love it. I feel like I couldn't connect and maybe also  the fact that Loki didn't seem like Loki to me just  made me not love it like I could have. I kind of have a  problem. If I don't like the characters or I can't connect  with them, then I tend to not enjoy the story as much  as I otherwise would have.

      Overall though, I enjoyed this short read and I would recommend it to anyone, really.

***

So, that's that, I guess. d:

~Sage

  * I won the ebook version of this in a giveaway on  Booklikes in exchange for  an honest review.

  ** This will also be posted on Goodreads.

      Personally, I'm not a fan of this book. I'm the type of  person who loves fast-paced, action filled fantasies or  sci-fis, and at times I do indulge in sweet, omg-they're-  my-otp romances (who doesn't love a good session of  fangirling?) that can often times be slow, but are always  enjoyable. So yeah, I thought this would be like one of  those romances, a light, maybe even humorous read  about a man chasing an unreachable girl. I thought I  would thoroughly enjoy it, honestly. But then I started  reading it and I realized pretty quickly that it wasn't going  to be what I was expecting.

      Basically, this book is about a character, Larry Bloom,  who is a tour guide that has been working on a novel  about his one true love, Starshine (he's pretty much  obsessed with her), for two years and has finally gotten a letter about whether or not it will be published. That may be a large part about it, sure, but the whole book is just about this one day, from morning til night, of how he is so excited and nervous for his big date tonight with Starshine in which he will confess his feelings and tell her of his book. It's about how during his time working he can't think about anything but his date coming up and how he fears what she'll say but he knows he has to hear it. And then part of it is also chapters of his book in which we are in Starshine's head instead of his.

      I want to say the writing was good, I really do, but I felt bored throughout most of the novel and seeing as that made it all the less enjoyable, I really can't say all that much. To be honest, I only really liked Starshine's parts, and even then they weren't exciting enough to make me love or even really like this book.

      I'll be honest here though, and say that I'm not entirely sure if the book was bad, or if I just failed to understand it. The main reason it was boring for me would have to be because of how it is written. The language is akin to that of a textbook, and I also found the characters rather unlikeable. If I don't like the characters then I will most likely not enjoy the story. But the thing that bothered me most would be how the chapters Larry has written for his novel coincide with what happens in the book to him. How is that possible if Starshine's chapters are from a novel he has already written? Is he physic or something? And he never questions it either, never realizes wow, this is just like what I wrote!

      But then I went through a bunch of the reviews for this book and see such high ratings, and now I'm just thinking this isn't for me and that I just don't see what they do. Maybe you guys will like it, love it even, but I just couldn't find much enjoyment in it.

      I would recommend this for anyone who likes gradual reads, or who doesn't mind the points above that made this less enjoyable for me.

**

So, that's that. d:

~Sage

   *I received the ebook version of this from a giveaway  on LibraryThing in exchange for an honest review.

 **This will also be posted on 

 Goodreads and LibraryThing.

     'Dwarves in Space' is a sci-fi, fantasy type adventure that follows Captain Variel of the Elation-Cru and her group of oddballs: two assassin elves, a dwarf married to an engineer elf, an orc, a dijinn, and an accidental human passenger. Basically, Captain Variel is out in space running from authority and a bad past. This all comes back chasing after her as her and her crew make plenty of stops attempting to get a new, well-needed part for the Elation-Cru which they can't obtain as they always have to run off and escape the authority on their tail.

     And while there is action and plenty of interesting situations, 'Dwarves in Space' does have the feel of being the introductory novel for a series, and for me, that made the beginning incredibly slow-paced and boring. To be honest, I would find myself getting easily distracted, and if there wasn't a distraction, I would make one. It took me quite a while to actually get into it, though when I did it was rather enjoyable.

     I have to agree with others when they say the author clearly intended for there to be a great deal of humour, because their currency is cat videos, they trade chocolates for parts, and in a getaway Orn's pants catch on fire from the friction of his butt and the statue -I believe it was a statue. To me, that just screams that this was meant to be a funny book. And maybe it could have been, had the interactions between the races and most of the banter not come off as mostly just serious intercultural stuff. Having it be so serious, it was hard to see it in a light, humorous way.

      But that aside, let's get to the characters. The characters are all interesting, and unique enough that it is easy to develop favourites (I may or may not have found my favourite to be the male Elven assassin, Talesin). They are all very different, with Gene being the dijinn made of smoke and the human being a major turn-on for orcs, and Variel having been a Knight at one time. I really enjoyed the characters. Sometimes they were witty, or snarky, and sometimes Orn was just being a smartass all the time, but what they all had in common was their strength. Yeah, it was shown in many different ways, and some were obviously physically stronger then the rest, but all in all, their strength was something they all shared.

      Now, onto the world building, it was different. The planets and buildings and the way each different planet or place works was all very intriguing. I enjoyed each place was so different from the next. I won't say much on it, but it was well created. From what we got to see, anyway.

     So, that's all. I recommend this to anyone who enjoys action, sci-fi or fantasy novels, and who doesn't mind a slow beginning.

**

So, that's that. d:

~Sage

   * I received the ebook version of this from  Billy Wong on  LibraryThing in  exchange  for an honest  review.

   **This will also be posted on

  Booklikes and LibraryThing

     I tried, I really did, but I just couldn't finish this. I  tried for three days, even forced myself to continue,  but I just couldn't. I really hate giving bad reviews but  like others, I felt like this book was a letdown.

     At first, I was really looking forward to this short  novella because I wanted something that was funny  and easy and light and short. I didn't get that. At all.  Nothing was funny, and it was so unrealistic and  childish. I feel like it should be a book for children  instead, taking out the attempted rape and bad  language. Honestly, I cringed a lot, and I just  couldn't stand most of the characters, as they were  flat and all acted like little children with anger and  bullying issues; people who can't stand being wrong  and then through a hissy fit. And the youngest was  supposedly 17. I couldn't find anything good about  them. Especially Gloria.

     Gloria. basically, wishes to avenge The Champion (whom she is completely obsessed with and fantasizes about on a daily basis) after his friend Astrid (the greatest warrior and also the Princess) beats him in a match. Gloria basically put The Champion on a golden pedestal and said 'he's the greatest being ever and no one can beat him!' so when he was defeated right before her, she decided to avenge him by challenging Astrid. She is so childish, so selfish, and I just can't stand her. All she can think about is being greater and better than everyone else, and she refuses to see the truth even when it is right in front of her. She easily annoyed me. And that just made the book less enjoyable.

     There was so much potential, and it just didn't have what it could have to be a better read.

     I apologize if I offend anyone or seem too harsh.

***

So, that's that.

~Sage

  *I received the ebook version of this from  the  author in exchange for a review.

  **This is also posted on Goodreads.

     This is a well written fantasy book that reminds me so much of Tinker Bell because of how real the fantasy world feels. Basically, the world building is amazing, and I love the different species, the different magic, the foods and clothing, the way they build things, how they live, and how the only difference between the warring Gefen and Adaya is the colour of their wings.

     There is also plenty of action [definitely satisfying], and so many secrets that you get caught in the web and you hang on for the ride because you don't want to let go. And the innocence as well, of the young fairies, is a beautiful thing because as you read on you watch them mature and grow and shape into wonderful young fairies and it's just great.

     Which brings me to the characters. All of them are so different, so unique, and yet still Dorin, Zephyr and Paisley come together and form a friendship none of them saw coming. And then there's Ak-not, and Pilar, the two Nefarites they found and helped along their journey. They all helped each other in some way, and even came together in the end to save their world from the Ama'rel. Though I must say, Mel'kay was never a favourite, and I dislike her even more now for what she plans to do to Paisley.

    And I am even more intrigued by Paisley now  because of what she is and what she plans to do. I feel bad for Dorin, with how she fled to protect him, but that makes me wonder what she will do if she ever sees him and Zephyr again. And the stranger who met up with her, gosh I still want to know so much! I hope there's a second book, I really do.

     But anyway, I seriously recommend this book for anyone who loves fantasy. And it's definitely worth a re-read.

****

So, that's that. d:

~Sage

  *I won the ebook version of this in a giveaway on  LibraryThing.

  **This will also be posted Goodreads and  LibraryThing.

     This is a well paced, well written book that I enjoyed a lot. I never really thought I would read a book with fortune telling incorporated in such a way, and it's pretty brilliant. Like, I always thought books about fortune telling would be with these elderly people reading palms and speaking with the dead or something; but to read it in a way to be made by math geniuses and used for power is just intriguing and new and unique.

     I especially love the action, the chase throughout the whole novel. It made for a tale not easy to put down, and I especially love how dark Javier's character got near the end. From the very beginning you knew he would prove to be trouble for Aaron and Emma, but then near the end where he loses it... Everything just clicks. He wants power, a reputation so amazing no one would forget him, and he let it get to him and he snapped. I just really like how the darker aspects were incorporated.

     And that brings me to the characters. I love pretty much all of them. Well, okay maybe Logan annoyed me a bit[because to me it seemed like he wanted to own Emma], but he wasn't so bad. I especially love how strong Emma and Aaron both are even though they obviously have weaknesses, and how Angelo knew something was off in the end ended up helping Emma and Aaron because he's a good guy. To be honest though, I do wish the characters were dug into a little deeper because I feel like we still have a bit to learn about them. It could just be me. It probably is.

     Either way I recommend this book to you action lovers. Or anyone. Just give it a try.

**

So, that's that. d:

~Sage

  *I won the advanced ebook version of this  in a  giveaway on Booklikes.

  **This will also be posted on Goodreads.

     I don't really know how to describe this well enough. There's action, romance, experiments, humans that Collapse and need to be recharged because of their insomnia, a robot-human, and so much more. There's pretty much never a dull moment, and you never feel like it should be over already. In fact, I'm already craving the second book. I can't wait to see what happens to Thora and the others, especially Doctor Clark!

     But anyway, the whole story basically surrounds itself around the Clinic, how they claim to want to help the insomniacs when really, they experiment on them for their own twisted pleasures. They hide behind this curtain of niceties and when it's lifted the dark shadows come rolling in. The whole explanation behind the Clinic is intriguing, and also horrifying. And then there's the Insomniac Cafe.

     I love how to get to the Insomniac Cafe, to get to the safe place who will actually help them, the escaped insomniacs have to go on a sort of treasure hunt around New York to prove they really are insomniacs. The plot is fantastic and with everything that happens you find yourself on the edge of your seat; you're hooked and you don't want to get free.

     The writing helps too, as it flows well and even told in Thora's point of view you find yourself falling into the story as if it were your own. I love all the characters, too. They are all so different, from crazy doctors to human-like robots to caring people like Doctor Jeremy. They all have their own ticks and distinctive characteristics. I especially love how insomniacs get attached to people and objects, like Florence with her music and Thora with her white knight and the yoyo Lucas gave her. It's fascinating.

     And the ending, it leaves you wanting more for sure. I don't want to say too much about the story and give anything away [I probably already have], so I won't say much on that regard, but you should definitely read this book. I recommend it.

     I will definitely buy the physical book when it comes out!

**

So, that's that. d:

~Sage

   *I won the ebook version of this in a giveaway on  LibraryThing.

  **This will also be posted on Goodreads.

     This book is more then just a post apocalyptic tale, as it delves deeper into how we -humans- would deal in situations as the characters went through. So yeah, sure, the story started with a flu and millions of deaths, however that is not what ended their world as they knew it. What did, was their selfishness, their lack of preparation and knowledge of how to live without electricity and food and water, and how they resorted to violence. Walt said it himself near the end that it either brought the best or the worst out of everyone, and although it seemed that the bad outweighed the good he was glad there were still people who had the best brought out of them.

     Each character was different, but at the same time I do have to agree it was hard to distinguish who was who at times. Smitty, as Walt described him, was a harsh guy who only tolerated people he thought were okay, and yet throughout the book he seemed just like Glenn, who was -near the beginning- Walt's best friend and a guy who seemed genuine and thankful before power got to him and messed with his head. Chung-Hee was a guy who listened well and gave advice from time to time and one who strongly believed in God, yet even so I didn't feel much emotion from him; more so then Smitty and Glenn, yeah, but not enough to make me able to connect with him. Walt himself was alright, I actually really like his character, as he pretty much blocked himself from all the bad in the world and lived in his own little bubble until he came across Joseph Paladin. From then on you see more from him, and it got better.

     It was well written, though, and the flow was fantastic. I liked the action that was introduced at times too. My favourite part though, I have to say would be whilst Walt and Kathryn are out in the woods trying to get to Maine. They are hungry and dirty and afraid and haven't been clean for days and Walt begins to think what many of us have probably thought from time to time: how is it that in movies the characters in situations like his own find the time to fall in love? Walt himself thinks about the stench and the urgency of the mission and the fear of being caught, and can't seem to find where love falls into place. He says that the stench is so awful that he can't be bothered to think about making love with Kathryn; he barely finds her physically appealing with all the filth and grime and stench on her. I just like that part because it shows neither of them are perfect or unrealistic during their journey, and it feels like you can reach out and they'll be there, because you've connected.

     So really, I enjoyed this book. I did. The fast pace and many situations in the book definitely pulled me in and kept me interested until the end, and it wasn't overly predictable or unrealistic and I was definitively intrigued while I read. I just would rather the characters be a little more distinct from the other.

**

So that's that. d:

~Sage

   *I won the ebook version from the author.

   **This will also be posted on Goodreads.

     This is a wonderfully written novel with a great pace, fantastic characters, and [what I always look forward to] quite a bit of action. The flow of the words, of the story itself is so easy to get immersed into it's like a tidal wave of rushing water taking you along for a fun ride; think of a water park.

     I have to admit though, my favourite part of the novel isn't the action [say what?!] but the characters of Zolan's little crew. They may or may not be the cause of most of the action [shocker d:]. That's not why they're my favourite though. They just kind of grew on me because they remind me of zombies [who doesn't love zombies?] and even though they're slightly insane and sort of act like wild animals you kinda find yourself feeling bad for what they went through because of Zolan's father who succumbed to insanity. Especially Katja.

     Which brings me to my absolute favourite character: Katja. She may not have been in most of the novel, but she played a rather large role when she was introduced. She was basically the shining light in the abyss of darkness, like, the only hope and she was so innocent and naive and caring that she just drew you in. She changed Will's life, even if only slightly, and she allowed Zolan to feel something, and I mean, to have such a character like Zolan feel so much towards Katja, to love her like a daughter, is just really heartwarming.

     With all that aside, the horror and action was extremely satisfying, and I would be lying if I said I don't plan on reading more from Jeremy Bates.

     However, I have to agree that it is similar to the movie, hence why the rating isn't higher.

**

So, that's that. Another book finished. d:

~Sage

  *I won the ebook version from a giveaway  on Booklikes.
  **This review will also be posted on  Goodreads.

     If you enjoy Sci-fi or fantasy stories, especially packed with action, you will surely love and enjoy this trilogy. The writing flows perfectly, and with such strong, beautifully written characters who each had their own different personalities and problems to overcome throughout the entire story, you will find yourself unable to put it down and immersed in their world so completely you may forget you can't teleport.

     The world building is excellent, the action[always my favourite part] is more than satisfying, and because of such intriguing characters and plot line, I never felt my attention waver nor did I feel like I was forcing myself to get through the entire trilogy, which usually happens as plenty just drag on. This trilogy however, did not, which is very refreshing and satisfying.

     I also love how I could visualize everything, how the action always had me excited to see what would happen. Basically, throughout the trilogy, I was never once bored nor did I find it difficult to connect with the characters. I actually found myself loving most of the characters introduced [oops].

     I would definitely recommend it it to anyone who enjoys action or fantasy or sci-fi novels. There was never a dull moment, and I'm positive most would enjoy this tale.

**

So, there's that. d:

~Sage