Tuesday, June 11, 2019

Storm and Fury by Jennifer L. Armentrout


Enter a world of gargoyle protectors, rising demons and one girl with an explosive secret.

Eighteen-year-old Trinity Marrow may be going blind, but she can see and communicate with ghosts and spirits. Her unique gift is part of a secret so dangerous that she’s been in hiding for years in an isolated compound fiercely guarded by Wardens—gargoyle shape-shifters who protect humankind from demons. If the demons discover the truth about Trinity, they’ll devour her, flesh and bone, to enhance their own powers.

When Wardens from another clan arrive with disturbing reports that something out there is killing both demons and Wardens, Trinity’s safe world implodes. Not the least because one of the outsiders is the most annoying and fascinating person she’s ever met. Zayne has secrets of his own that will upend her world yet again—but working together becomes imperative once demons breach the compound and Trinity’s secret comes to light. To save her family and maybe the world, she’ll have to put her trust in Zayne. But all bets are off as a supernatural war is unleashed…

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Book 1
Buy Links

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B&N  ~  Google Play  ~  iTunes  ~  Kobo
Inkyard Press – Harlequin



Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Jordan☆☆☆☆☆
I am a HUGE fan of Jennifer L. Armentrout (JLA) and I have read most of her books, which means I was of course so excited to get my hands on Storm Fury, the first book in The Harbinger series! Storm Fury (The Harbinger #1) by JLA is a spin off series from The Dark Elements series. I would highly recommend reading The Dark Elements series first before diving into Storm Fury. This book draws you in from the first page and I couldn’t put it down. JLA does not disappoint and I was completely hooked from start to finish.

Storm Fury picks up not too long after The Dark Elements series finishes but follows Zayne and Trinity’s story. Trinity can see and communicate with ghosts and spirits. Her special gift has kept her fiercely protected in an isolated compound hiding amongst the Wardens. The Wardens are shape-shifting gargoyles that protect humans from demons. If the demons knew about Trinity, they’d consume her to increase their powers. When Zayne and his clan arrive from D.C. to share disturbing reports demons and Wardens killings, and now Trinity’s safe spot has been turned upside down.

I just can’t get enough of all of JLA’s amazing characters. I mean, who ever imagined that gargoyles would be sexy? Then in walked Zayne in the Dark Element series and suddenly I’ve found a whole new shapeshifter to obsess over. I am so excited to read more about Zayne and Trinity’s story in The Harbinger series. Trinity is exactly the kind of kick-ass heroine I have come to expect from JLA! She’s fierce, strong, and loyal. Now, Zayne is such a fantastic character and totally swoon worthy, and honestly, I could continue to gush about him for the rest of this review, but that might be overkill.

All in all, a solid 5-STAR read for Jennifer L. Armentrout’s Storm Fury (The Harbinger #1). I can’t wait to get my hands on the next installment, and I’ll be attempting to patiently wait for it.



JENNIFER L. ARMENTROUT is the #1 international and #1 New York Times bestselling author of over 40 books, including the Wait for You, Lux series, the Dark Elements series, and Til Death. She is published with Tor, HarperCollins Avon and William Morrow, Entangled Teen and Brazen, Disney/Hyperion, Harlequin Teen and writes steamy and fun New Adult and Adult romance under the pen name J. Lynn. Jennifer is also the founder of Apollycon, a yearly reader event that brings in over 1400 readers and authors together each year. She currently lives in West Virginia with her husband and two dogs, Loki and Diesel.

Connect with Jennifer

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Instagram  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads


http://inkyardpress.com/


Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Storm and Fury (Harbinger #1) by Jennifer L. Armentrout to read and review.

Tuesday, June 4, 2019

Breakout by A.M. Rose


Six days.

That’s the amount of time until Lezah’s execution.

She’ll die never knowing what got her locked up in that godforsaken prison in the first place. Her only chance of survival is to escape. Except the monitoring bracelet that digs into her wrist, the roaming AI, and the implant in her neck make freedom close to impossible.

Her best chance is to team up with the four other inmates who are determined to break out, even if one of them is beyond gorgeous annoying—oh, and in for murder. But he has a secret of his own. One that could break Lezah if she finds out, but could also set him free.

Figuring out how to work with him and the rest of this mismatched group of criminals is the only way Lezah will survive to see the outside world again.

But nothing in this prison is as it seems. And no one.

Add to Goodreads –



Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
B&N  ~  Google Play  ~  iTunes  ~  Kobo
Entangled Publishing



Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Erica☆☆☆☆
A.M. Rose is a new-to-me author, and I'm curious to read more in the future. Breakout is not listed as the debut in a series, however, I hope there is more to come to answer many threads left untied.

Breakout starts with some confusion, because the narrator doesn't know where she is, why she's there, how she got there, with a large portion of her recent memory blank. Held prisoner, the world-building is futuristic, science fiction, a dystopian vibe.

Lezah is confined in a facility, and she has no idea why, only a countdown timer on her bracelet, counting down to what she assumes is her end. With only three days left, Lezah finds a way to attempt escape, along the way picking up four others.

Rapid pacing, nonstop action, Breakout has a Maze Runner and Hunger Games vibe, mixed with a sense of virtual reality of a live-action video game. There was an addictive, page-turner need for answers, which had me on the edge of my seat, but those answers were given as if the reader should just understand/know what the narrator does without it being on the pages.

Along the escape journey, Lezah's memory returns slowly, as she fits the pieces as to how she came to be imprisoned with these specific people. The returned memories are as murky once returned as they were when Lezah struggled to remember – piecemeal, barely fitting anything together.

While I feverishly read the novel, needing to know what happened next, I wanted answers to many questions. It felt as if plots didn't quite fit together, as Lezah rushed along, taking the reader on the journey with her.

At the end of the novel, I'm still not quite sure why everything that happened happened, with a quick resolution that was too easy. The easiest resolution I've ever read, to be honest. There needs to be a sequel to offer a real resolution/explanation. Lezah jumped from A, automatically assuming Q was the answer to whatever question was posed, yet the reader had no idea what B through P were to get to that Q conclusion.

While the pacing was rapid, which kept me engaged and entertained, it was at the detriment of the world-building, character building, and the who/what/where/why/how/when. Reminding me of a plot outline, where the writer is to fill in the gaps to enrich the experience.

With all that being said, I enjoyed the novel, definitely recommend to those who love this genre, and am looking forward to more from this author in the future.

Young Adult age-range: 12+, including profanity, kissing, and mild science fiction violence.


Shelby☆☆☆☆☆
Breakout was an exciting, young adult, sci-fi read! My attention was grabbed from the beginning. We follow a young lady, imprisoned with no memory of committing a crime. Fear gripped me, but I had to know what was going on. This future world is a strange place, where computers walk amongst men and fear dominates all.

When Lezah and her cellmate agree that they need to breakout before their death-date of four days and one day respectively, I was totally on-board. The insanity that follows is best left unsaid, so you get the full impact!

So many questions arise with no resolution. Lezah doesn't really know who she is, she only remembers bits and pieces of her family. Her rag-tag group of escapees all have their own lives, but they seem to remember things. Are these people trustworthy? Are they good guys or bad?

I just couldn't put this down, I was on the edge of my seat throughout the story, and hope there will be a book two. I enjoyed the ending, but there are still questions that need answers. I will be adding A.M. Rose to my list of authors to read!



A.M. Rose holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication from San Diego State University, is a member of SCBWI, RWA, NJWR and YARWA. She participates in several writing groups and is co-founder of All Write by Us, an online YA writing/critique group.

Connect with A.M.

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads


http://www.entangledpublishing.com/


Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Breakout by A.M. Rose to read and review.