Author: Ani Dümmer

This time, I have the opportunity to kick off a Blog Tour organized by The Write Reads! The book in the spotlight is Karolina Dalca, Dark Eyes. And the book follows …surprise surprise… Karolina Dalca!

Karolina Dalca is a 17-year-old half-vampire, forced to flee her home in Canada after she gets blamed for the murder of her mother. A murder she witnessed. Looking for answers from her deceased father’s family, Karolina goes to Russia with Andre, a vampire sent by her father’s family to retrieve her, and her childhood friend Roman. Will she find what she’s looking for?

The story itself gripped me and it was incredibly hard to put the book down. I finished 3/4 of the book in 1 day and I have no regrets. My boyfriend had to work anyway, so fortunately it wasn’t the end of the world for him ;). Karolina had the tendency to make rash and unwise decisions, so the book was never boring as her behaviour made the story action-packed and fast-paced.

What stands out in this book, is that it’s the second book I’ve read where the love triangle doesn’t bother me. There is some romance, but it doesn’t play a major role. There is no “Oh no! 2 amazing guys like me! This is the end of the world, who should I chooooose?!?!!?!?!?!” and that’s something I admire! I do feel like romance will play a bigger role in the sequel, but I don’t mind because I trust it will be well-executed by the author.

However, I struggled a bit with the writing style. It felt a little rushed and I would have loved more world-building and more elaborate descriptions of the environment and characters. It was something I had to get used to when I started Karolina Dalca, Dark Eyes. I had to find a reading spot without any major distractions, because that was the only way I could follow the book.

Karolina Dalca, Dark Eyes is a contemporary fantasy with a lot of potential, but it needs a bit grooming. The story itself is incredibly interesting, with a unique setting and a different kind of vampires than we’re used to, so it could definitely be a 4 or 4.5 star read with a few changes!

Here’s the official blurb of the book:

Blindsided by an attack that destroys her home and blamed for murder, Karolina Dalca, a half-vampire, escapes, only to plunge into the magical societies from which she was sheltered.

Betrayed by those around her, she abandons her dreams of becoming an investigator and flees, trusting only herself. Her police internship would never prove more useful. Hoofing it through the wilderness, she makes it to her university dorm, disheveled but delightfully deflowered.

Enter a full vampire: one wielding dark magic and a ride out of Canada. A fugitive from the law, Karo complies with his demands to escape, unsure whether his requests are bewitched. She vows to clear her name and avenge her mother’s death, but Karo’s family secrets aren’t so easily left behind.

Buy Karolina Dalca, Dark Eyes here!

It’s time for another Blog Tour organized by The Write Reads! I had so much fun reading this book!

Bad Habits follows the proud feminist Alex, who feels completely trapped at her Catholic boarding school and is doing everything she can to finally. get. out. Unfortunately, her father has good connections at the school so Alex keeps getting pardoned. BUT Alex comes up with a perfect way to finally get expelled: a production of The Vagina Monologues.

I’ll be honest, I didn’t know what to expect when I started this book. I’ve been reading many, many fantasy books the past few weeks, so I was glad to find out that that this book was a good refresher. The first chapter even made me laugh out loud! I had high expectations after that chapter!

As I was reading Bad Habits, my feelings about the book changed almost every chapter. Alex did some things that I definitely supported, but she made so many comments that did not fit feminists. I struggled with that for a big part in the book, and that made it harder for me to connect with her. However, Alex comes to a realization that being a feminist isn’t just about being casual about sex and the female body, but that the woman is free in her choices and that the society doesn’t have any expectations about what she does with her body. THAT character growth is what I looked for in this book. And Alex Flynn succeeded.

Bad Habits is written very well. The writing style fits YA, but the story and character development can definitely appeal to an older audience! I genuinely believe that this book will be a hit, but who am I. 😉 The book discusses important matters in a casual and fun way, and is a great conversation starter. I hope that many people will read this book and realize that what they do with their body, is their own choice. I highly recommend this book to people who are patient with character growth and also enjoy the journey towards it.

Here’s the official blurb of the book:

Hilarious, bold, sparky and surprising, this is the funniest feminist book you’ll read all year.

Alex is a rebel from the tip of her purple fauxhawk to the toes of her biker boots. She’s tried everything she can think of to get expelled from her strict Catholic boarding school. Nothing has worked so far – but now, Alex has a new plan.

Tired of the sexism she sees in every corner of St Mary’s, Alex decides to stage the school’s first ever production of The Vagina Monologues. Which is going to be a challenge, as no one else at St Mary’s can even bear to say the word ‘vagina’ out loud . . .

Buy Bad Habits here!

I FINALLY have time to actively start blogging again! And what better way is there to start again other than a Blog Tour?! That’s right, A Blog Tour is the best way to get back into blogging. The Featured book this time is White Trash Warlock, by David R. Slayton!

I’m going to start with the most frequently used introductory sentence in the history of reviewing and say: White Trash Warlock is an urban fantasy novel that follows Adam Lee Binder. Adam is able to see the Spirit World, a different realm. Unfortunately, Adam being different was reason enough for his brother Bobby to send him to a mental institution.

Years later, Adam is living in a trailer park with his aunt. After not having spoken to Bobby for years, Adam receives a text from him saying that Bobby needs his help with his wife. Bobby’s wife has been going crazy and he needs Adam to see what’s wrong with her and fix her. Adam caves and goes to Bobby, but when Adam finally arrives, he sees that the problem is much bigger than he first realized…

First of all, Adam is a well-written, complex character and I just want to hug him. Everything he feels and does is reasonable and so very human. He doesn’t have a ‘I’m the hero and I have to save the whole world on my own!’ vibe so many other protagonists have and I love it.

I’m not going to start about Bobby because he did not grow on me at all, not even during his POV’s. Can I just pretend he doesn’t exist? Is that possible?

AND OH MY GOD VIC YOU’RE AMAZING AND I COULD READ A WHOLE BOOK ABOUT YOU AND YOUR LIFE. Okay now that that’s out of the way, I can calmly say that I loved the romance in this book. I usually hate hate HATE insta love but this was very well written in my opinion.

The world had so many awesome fantasy aspects that it was never boring. I even laughed out loud at some points. The pace was quick and comfortable

Even though there were many things I like, especially the fact that I have strong feelings about almost every character in this book (both good and bad), there was one thing that bothered me. The book was a little confusing at some points. I’m not sure if it was me or the writing style, but I feel like some things happened quite randomly. That made the story harder to follow and caused that I wasn’t completely sucked into the book. Unfortunately that’s one of the most important things for me when rating a book.

White Trash Warlock is a witty, pleasantly-paced urban fantasy. Even though the randomness made it hard to follow at some points, the book was never boring! You should definitely read this book if you enjoy an awesome protagonist!

Here’s the official blurb of the book:

Not all magicians go to schools of magic.

Adam Binder has the Sight. It’s a power that runs in his bloodline: the ability to see beyond this world and into another, a realm of magic populated by elves, gnomes, and spirits of every kind. But for much of Adam’s life, that power has been a curse, hindering friendships, worrying his backwoods family, and fueling his abusive father’s rage.

Years after his brother, Bobby, had him committed to a psych ward, Adam is ready to come to grips with who he is, to live his life on his terms, to find love, and maybe even use his magic to do some good. Hoping to track down his missing father, Adam follows a trail of cursed artifacts to Denver, only to discover that an ancient and horrifying spirit has taken possession of Bobby’s wife.

It isn’t long before Adam becomes the spirit’s next target. To survive the confrontation, save his sister-in-law, and learn the truth about his father, Adam will have to risk bargaining with very dangerous beings … including his first love.

Get White Trash Warlock here!