Endless Knight (The Arcana Chronicles Book #2) by Kresley Cole

Book TWO had me feeling on the edge. So many surprises there. The riveting feeling had me hooked till the end of it.

Photo from TheArcanaChronicles.com

In this second book thrilling book of The Arcana Chronicles from #1 New York Times bestselling author Kresley Cole, Evie struggles to accept her place in the prophecy that will either save the world—or destroy it.

Evie has fully come into her powers as the tarot Empress, and Jack was there to see it all. As one of twenty-two teens given powers following the apocalypse, she now knows a war is brewing, and it’s kill or be killed.

When Evie meets Death, the gorgeous and dangerous Endless Knight, things get even more complicated. Though falling for Jack, she’s drawn to Death as well. Somehow the Empress and Death share a romantic history, one that Evie can’t remember—but Death can’t forget…

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I was finally able to read this book! Now that school is finished and I'm already on summer break, of course there has to be some expected book reviews, right?
I've been longing to read this books in months, and now that I had the chance, I was able to finish it just in one day. Well, I guess you could say I'm a fast-reader, but you see, once I start reading, the main character pulls me in the story! That's why I can't help but keep on reading.

Now, onto my thoughts... (may or may not contain spoiler, just a heads up!)

I liked this sequel so much. One of the best sequels I've read so far (as far as I remember it). Poison Princess finished when Evie encountered Arthur, and stuff happened. Endless Knight started right where book one left off! That's one of the best things I loved about this book. Also, I like how this story is in first-person POV. It's much easier to assess Evie that way.

This time, the story didn't lag and it continued on. I was even surprised with the action scenes, I mean it's apparent that this book would have one. I never really processed before some gory details, but for a YA book? This one was pretty amazing. The love triangle was what I hadn't expected, although I presumed that Death's constant mind torture towards Evie had more to it than meet's the eye, in this case the mind. And ALAS!!! There it was. Death and The Empress had a deeper history. From Death's point of view, their story felt like getting struck by Selena's arrow right through the heart. OUCH. Hurts like a BITCH! BUT!!! Then, thinking about it, I could understand Death's hatred, and even The Empress mentioned that she was trained for that moment that's why she did what she had to do. And plus, being THE Empress, it was in her veins to do so. Although Evie has tried to reason this... which amazes me.

Then... Jack comes to Evie's life. The mysterious Jackson. It may have been lust at first, but I really think that Jack fell for Evie. Then she gave up her V to Jack? Oh gosh, then Death was enraged! My heart sunk! I knew then that Death was more to Evie.

I don't even know who my heart belongs to! Ahem... I feel like I'm also torn between Jack and Death. Help me! :( But... from this book, I would choose Death. (Wow).

Then the cliffhanger... waiting for next year to come.

The cover was hauntingly beautiful.

5 stars for this book.

CURRENTLY READING

Hi everyone, this'll be quick. 

As I am a full-time college student and my classes take ny spare time. I haven't opened any books to read yet.

I have a pending review for The Professional Part 2 & 3, which will be posted this weekend.

So now, I am currently reading these books:

• Endless Knight

• The Namesake

I won't be posting regularly until my summer vacation.

Follow me on twitter, @candymusings, for updates. 

Thank you!

REVIEW: The Professional Part 1 [The Game Maker Series] by Kresley Cole

Part 1 of The Game Maker series follows a Russian Mafiya enforcer and a Grad student, and their undeniable attraction to each other as they go about their lives. Sounds too cliche, but I won't be saying more until I get to my review. First off is the summary of The Professional by Kresley Cole (credit to author website):

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Kresley Cole comes The Professional—the first scorching installment in her Game Maker series, an erotica collection that has readers asking: How hot is too hot?

He makes the rules . . . Mafiya enforcer Aleksandr "The Siberian" Sevastyan’s loyalty to his boss is unwavering, until he meets the boss’s long-lost daughter, a curvy, tantalizing redhead who haunts his mind and heats his blood like no other. Ordered to protect her, Sevastyan will do anything to possess her as well—on his own wicked terms.

Rules are made to be broken . . . PhD student Natalie Porter had barely recovered from her first sight of the breathtakingly gorgeous Sevastyan before the professional hit man whisks her away to Russia, thrusting her into a world of extreme wealth and wanton pleasures. With every day she spends under his protection, she falls deeper under his masterful spell.

Are you ready to play? Yet all is not as it seems. To remove Natalie from an enemy’s reach, Sevastyan spirits her into hiding. From an opulent palace in Russia to the decadent playgrounds of the mega-wealthy in Paris, the two lovers will discover that even their darkest—and most forbidden—fantasies can come true…

Review: [MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS]
Are you ready to play?

Truthfully, the first book I've read from Kresley Cole was her YA Poison Princess (The Arcana Chronicles), and I absolutely loved it. I was hooked by the story and her writing, especially on the romance side. So when I heard about her ebook serial, I was giddy.

For Natalie Porter, finding her biological father was probably what was most important to her. She juggled three jobs, and used most of her money on the DNA test, and was hopeful until she hadn't heard from her investigator. Enter Aleksandr Sevastyan, the mysterious guy, who turned her down at the bar. It was an attraction that Natalie couldn't fathom, but for Sevastyan, as much as he kept denying it, he was far more attracted to her, deeply, and dangerously. AND WHO DOESN'T LOVE DANGER and a menacing look of lust in his eyes that even I, as a reader, could feel the way he looks at Natalie. Which makes me envious of how lucky Natalie is, really...

Sort-of-kidnapping, Russian Mafia, guns, castle, closet inside the wall. We should expect action right? Yes, a lot of action. The tension between Natalya and Sevastyan builds up every turn of the page, and all I could do is continue to the next page as I read what Natalie and Sevastyan were up to, which is very fascinating. In fact, I don't think I can ever look at a cornfield the same way ever again, or closets. He loves to control, especially the girl that drives him crazy lately, and BDSM comes in play.

How hot is too hot, really? A question that I probably wouldn't be able to answer until I finish the third part of the story.

I enjoyed reading this book, and giving this 5 cups of tea, to relax me a bit. Because what I read was intense. Intensely creative, intensely brilliant, and intensely erotic. ;)

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This is only available as an ebook, and available on
Amazon Kindle, B&N Nook, iTunes, and Kobo
for $1.99.

Ally Carter: United We Spy Tour in Miami

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Ally Carter, the woman behind I'd Tell You I Love But Then I'd Have To Kill You, the first book of the Gallagher Girls series, went on a book tour for United We Spy (sadly the last book of the series). And we had the opportunity to meet her again. The first time was when Melissa de la Cruz and her toured a couple years ago for Ally's Heist Society and Mel's, I believe it was Lost in Time (I'm not sure, I have to consult my friend because I forgot). But anyway, this time it was held in Books & Books in Bal Harbour Shops in Miami.

I love her. I love Ally. Ohh there we go! The secret's out! But really, when she was introduced you don't know how excited I was. Actually, how excited my friend and I were. We are huge fans of Ally, and not just Ally but the literary world in general. 

When Ally was on the podium and started talking, she went directly to the "fun part" which was the Q&A part, and of course everyone was happy about, giggling actually. Most of the event participants were much younger than me, and they were the one who asked more questions. There was this girl who actually wrote down her questions, and so Ally started calling her Liz (Hey, my name's Liz too! Well, derived from my real name.) Ally really interacted with her readers, and she gave out advices, and warned everyone about spoilers! 

After that, she was signing books. And I'm so happy I have two books signed by her!!! When we got to her, she asked me where I went to school and how old I was. And of course, as always, got starstruck and sort of stuttered. But, she didn't notice. I hope. We took a picture, and then I mentioned that we met her before with Mel (the same people I was with).

Then, she proceeded with signing my friend's book and asked us about Instagram, and if it posts only pictures and videos, and we said yes. Then we told her she can post a pic on Twitter via Instagram (and also on Tumblr). 

Then the next day, she made an account in Instagram!!! YAYYYY!!! Follow her there by the way, it's @theallycarter

The event was unforgettable. I am hoping to see her again sometime in the near future.

Also, I am going to be signing out as a student of Gallagher Academy once I finish the book.

This has been Candy Musings, reporting and well, musings.

September 2013 Releases OVERLOAD!!!

September is here, and we all know what that means. We're transitioning from Summer to my most awaited season, Fall! And well, school has started and I'm back in college.

Just as the title says, this month's releases are crazy! Not only ONE but THREE of my favorite authors are releasing books this month! My mind's going haywire from that fact.

First off, Melissa de la Cruz, author of The Blue Bloods series which consisted of 7 books and ended with Gates of Paradise. I was dismayed that it was over, but I think it was a really good ending. And now, along with her husband Michael Johnston, they are releasing a new book! I've heard it's the first one of a series, and I am way excited about this. I've read the first couple chapters (I got them because I signed up for Mel's newsletters. Thank God I did!).

Frozen, the first book of her new series called Heart of Dread, comes out September 17 (yesterday). And here is a detailed description of the book; grabbed from goodreads.com

From New York Times bestselling author Melissa de la Cruz and Michael Johnston comes this remarkable first book in a spellbinding new series about the dawn of a new kind of magic.

Welcome to New Vegas, a city once covered in bling, now blanketed in ice. Like much of the destroyed planet, the place knows only one temperature—freezing. But some things never change. The diamond in the ice desert is still a 24-hour hedonistic playground and nothing keeps the crowds away from the casino floors, never mind the rumors about sinister sorcery in its shadows.

At the heart of this city is Natasha Kestal, a young blackjack dealer looking for a way out. Like many, she's heard of a mythical land simply called “the Blue.” They say it’s a paradise, where the sun still shines and the waters are turquoise. More importantly, it’s a place where Nat won’t be persecuted, even if her darkest secret comes to light.

But passage to the Blue is treacherous, if not impossible, and her only shot is to bet on a ragtag crew of mercenaries led by a cocky runner named Ryan Wesson to take her there. Danger and deceit await on every corner, even as Nat and Wes find themselves inexorably drawn to each other. But can true love survive the lies? Fiery hearts collide in this fantastic tale of the evil men do and the awesome power within us all.

Next up is Ally Carter's United We Spy, the Gallagher Girls are on their final mission! I am not going to disclose anymore information. Just read the synopsis and better yet, get the book!

Cammie Morgan has lost her father and her memory, but in the heart-pounding conclusion to the best-selling Gallagher Girls series, she finds her greatest mission yet. Cammie and her friends finally know why the terrorist organization called the Circle of Cavan has been hunting her. Now the spy girls and Zach must track down the Circle’s elite members to stop them before they implement a master plan that will change Cammie—and her country—forever.

I am pleased to tell you I've met Ally just days ago, and I will be sharing my experience in a separate post. I've started reading the book, and I am beyond excited about it. My friends and I are huge fans of the series, and we will surely miss Cammi, Bex, Liz, and the rest of the amazing people in the academy. After I read this, I will be graduating from the Academy.



The third book that I have been waiting for months, just like the aforementioned books, is The Dream Thieves by the amazing fantasy writer (in my opinion, and others should too) Maggie Stiefvater. I have been reading Maggie's books just last year, and although I only got them on ebook, I still ended up falling in love with her characters and stories. I recommend her books if you're interested in the fantasy and magical world, and even paranormal. Here is a short synopsis for The Dream Thieves:

Now that the ley lines around Cabeswater have been woken, nothing for Ronan, Gansey, Blue, and Adam will be the same. Ronan, for one, is falling more and more deeply into his dreams, and his dreams are intruding more and more into waking life. Meanwhile, some very sinister people are looking for some of the same pieces of the Cabeswater puzzle that Gansey is after... 

I can't wait to get my hands on these books! I know this is a late post, because I have a lot of things to do, so it took me this long to post them.

The Elysium Chronicles: RENEGADE (Book 1)

I wasn't planning on buying this book at all considering I only had $20 in my pocket (okay that wasn't an intentional pun to Thrift Shop...but...). During the Miami International Book Fair last year, 2012, I stumbled upon thousands of books, and so... I passed by the booth where Jessica was at.

Yes, I also met Jessica, the author of The Elysium Chronicles: Renegade. I was caught by the very haunting book cover. It was really awks because I am very terrible when it comes to meeting people for the first time. But... she signed my book!!! :D


Now, onto the book:



SUMMARY:


“MY LIFE IS JUST ABOUT PERFECT.”

Since the age of three, sixteen-year-old Evelyn Winters has been trained to be Daughter of the People in the underwater utopia known as Elysium. Selected from hundreds of children for her ideal genes, all her life she’s thought that everything was perfect; her world. Her people. The Law.
But when Gavin Hunter, a Surface Dweller, accidentally stumbles into their secluded little world, she’s forced to come to a startling realization: everything she knows is a lie. Her memories have been altered. Her mind and body aren’t under her own control. And the person she knows as Mother is a monster.

Together with Gavin she plans her escape, only to learn that her own mind is a ticking time bomb… and Mother has one last secret that will destroy them all.


From reading the first sentence of the summary, it's already foreshadowing everything. Well, you'll realize this after you've read the book. Truthfully, it was the first time I've read something being the setting underwater, and it was really interesting. The people in Elysium have thought of the place as utopia, but while I was reading it, I've always thought it was too perfect, something has to be going on in the background.

The secrets that Mother has been hiding were really shocking. Yes, I wasn't expecting ANY of those!

By the way... I am absolutely infatuated with the book cover. Obviously, it's Evelyn. And look how haunting her background is.

This book's genre are romance, thriller, and quite a mystery. It's really interesting. And so, I am giving it a 5 out of 5. Also because quite a read for a first novel. I am hoping to read the next book by the end of this year! Don't forget to support the author!

Next read! Gates of Paradise

Yes guys, once my finals are done I'll start reading this book! I'm so excited, yet bittersweet about it since this is the last book for the Blue Bloods series.