A Note:

6/2/13

I once told myself: IF I am accepted into grad school, this blog would no longer be updated. As it turns out, in April, I received news of my acceptance for the Fall 2013 semester, where I will attain a Master's degree of Science in Nutrition.

Running a blog, as many of you may already know, is a demanding side job once the excitement wears off. And once I fell out of the blogging community's loop (have you SEEN how many blogs there are now? Wow!), it was like the kiss of death. Despite my best efforts, I couldn't get into a blogging routine once this happened due to the disconnect I felt from the community.

So I took a break. I struggled with the loss and with missing my blog. And then I realized I didn't have to run Book Faery to still be a book reviewer; I could read my books and post reviews online. I'm still a book review blogger, just not in the traditional sense.

I'll still be online. You can chat with me on Twitter, where I'll be posting links to my reviews and talking books. I'll also be posting links to nutrition articles. And if you'd like to connect with me where I guarantee I will post reviews, just add me as a friend on Goodreads.

So that's all, folks! It's been a fun and amazing journey, and I thank you all for listening to my thoughts about books. I hope we all can keep in touch elsewhere :)

Tori

Monday, January 10, 2011

Guest Review with Binah the Bold: Decadent by Shayla Black

Hey everyone!  Today we have a hilarious guest review courtesy of Binah the Bold (click here to follow her on Twitter).  I highly suggest reading what she has to say--it had me in tears when I first read it... especially the Justin Beiber part ;)

Please also note that this review is Not Suited For Work.  Read at your own risk.





Paperback
- 352 pages
Price: $15.00
ISBN 10: 0425217213
ISBN 13: 978-0425217214
Released: October 2, 2007

Buy it via Amazon


How can a virgin seeking happily-ever-after with a hot pop star who has a penchant for threesomes win her fantasy man? Kimber Edgington desperately needs a plan to convince Jesse McCall, who's been her friend and secret crush since they spent a summer together as teenagers, that they are meant for each other. But all the tabloid stories about his sexual escapades make her feel oh so inadequate.

"Determined to prove that she's woman enough for Jesse, Kimber turns to bodyguard Deke Trenton for sexual education. Bold and brash, Deke warns Kimber that playing with him is playing with fire. But he can't bear to imagine the innocent beauty in someone else's arms. So Deke and his super-sexy cousin, Luc, take Kimber under their wings and dangerously close to the edge of ecstasy. Though she's saved herself for Jesse, Kimber soon learns he's not the man adept at stoking her aching, endless need. That's Deke, and he can't resist when Kimber begs for more - and more...



Binah's Rating:
For writing, plot, dialogue and anything else that matters? Half a lonely, ragged wing. But as a drinking game and for entertainment value, I'd give it a 3.5.


Binah's Opinion:
This book... hurts. There really isn't another way to describe it. Either I was in pain from OH GOD THIS WRITING or I was in pain from laughing too hard. For those of you who want MORE DESCRIPTION than that spectacular back-cover trainwreck (not that I blame whoever had to write it - they had so little to work with), here's the gist of it:

Kimber is HOT. She is also VIRGINAL and INNOCENT but TOTALLY PASSIONATE and PERFECT IN BED despite NEVER EVER HAVING DONE ANYTHING EVER.
Jesse doesn't even show up until like 1/2 way through the book and really he's basically just a 20-YEAR-OLD JUSTIN BIEBER. He also turns out to be TOTALLY NEEDY and WHINY and they don't even get it on.
Deke is BUTCH and MANLY and TOTALLY NOT GAY. He also can't maintain an erection unless his cousin is in the room. I am NOT JOKING. Deke has ISSUES. 
Luc is Deke's cousin. He is a SUPERHOT SUPERCHEF who is SWEET and SENSITIVE and GOOD AT INTERIOR DECORATING. (No, I'm serious. The author makes sure to point this out.) He is also FULLY 100% STRAIGHT and he has fuckfests that last for FIVE HOURS. Oh, and Deke and Luc regard each other as BROTHERS. Put that in your pipe and smoke it, Dr. Freud.

There are HUGE QUANTITIES OF SEXY SEX. Unfortunately, just when things start to get good, the purple prose yanks your attention out of the action and onto "his erection now so damn hard it could drill holes in metal". Um, owch. Please keep your drill-press junk away from my ladyparts.

Or let's say you're reading this ten-page sex scene, lots of foreplay, sounds great, right? And then, "She wasn't talking to Luc, who was treating her nipples like a cross between a lollipop and something his Hoover would attack." I gotta get me one o' them attack Hoovers! Also, he compared her nipples to dust bunnies. Also also, DOUBLE OWCH. Any guys who read this book: most ladies are not into purple nurples via suction. Just sayin'. (If you want to link purple nurple to it's definition, here's the url: http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=purple+nurple)

I could, obviously, go on. But I won't, because you get the idea.

The other thing about this book One of the numerous other things about this book is that until around page 175, there is essentially no plot (other than that of a very low-budget porno), and then all of a sudden the plot rounds a corner and bangs into you like that old Reese's Peanut Butter Cups commercial. Like so:

[A man and a woman walk along, reading books. They turn the corner and bump into one another. The books go flying and the pages get mixed up.]
Man: (angrily) You got plot in my porn!
Woman: (also angrily) You got porn in my plot!
Both: (reading) Euuugh. (Making disgusted faces.)

So... if you have a penchant for bad books that approaches suicidal levels of stupidity (like I do), or if you have a group of friends to take turns reading this book aloud with, go ahead and get it. Otherwise, skip it and save yourself the brain cells.

Love, Binah the Bold

Saturday, January 8, 2011

A Thank You Post

I just wanted to say WOW and thank you SO much to everyone who voted for me over at Mindful Musing's blog! 





Book Faery ended up being 5th place for "Best New Blog in 2010".  There were a lot of wonderful new up and coming 2010 blogs, and I'm shocked that I actually scored so well.  Considering the fact that I've been a bit bad about posting consistently lately, I'm surprised anyone still remembered me lol!  Thank you to everyone who voted for my blog and who supports me time and time again.  I love you guys!

I also wanted to say that, in less than a month, Book Faery will be turning one.  ONE!!  I'm completely shocked I've lasted this long.  There were some days where I seriously considered quitting blogging, but I'm glad I didn't.  I've got a huge giveaway (omg, I know, I've been talking about a huge giveaway for a while now, but this is for realsies... I actually have some money!) planned for the anniversary, so stay tuned. 

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Tori's Review: Mercy Blade by Faith Hunter


Paperback
- 320 pages
Price: $7.99
ISBN 10: 0451463722
ISBN 13: 978-0451463722
Released: January 4, 2011

Faith's Website
Buy it via the Publisher
Buy it via Amazon

Obtained: Publisher 
Genre: Urban Fantasy 
Series: Jane Yellowrock 
1. Skinwalker (book review)
2. Blood Cross (book review)
3. Mercy Blade 
4. Raven Cursed





Jane Yellowrock is a shape-shifting skinwalker − and a vampire killer for hire. But lately she’s found herself taking blood money from the very vampires she used to hunt...

Things are heating up in the Big Easy. Weres have announced their existence tot he world, and revived the bitter tensions that run between them and their old enemies: vampires. As a trusted employee of Leo Pellissier, Blood Master of the City, Jane finds herself caught in the cross fire.

When Jane is attacked by a pack of marauding were-wolves, she is thankful for the help of a mysterious stranger named Girrard. He explains that he used to be Leo’s “Mercy Blade,” a sacred position charged with killing vampires who have gone insane. What Jane doesn’t know is why this powerful assassin left New Orleans − or, more troubling, why he’s now returned. It’s definitely not to make Jane’s life easier...

My Rating:

My Opinion:
Once again, Faith Hunter has completely wowed me with another amazing story in the Jane Yellowrock series. Fans familiar with the series will be thrilled to discover that all established characters in the past two books make some sort of appearance in MERCY BLADE. That means we finally discover some unanswered questions, we witness new and blooming relationships, and we figure out whether or not Leo is actually batshit crazy.

A recent relationship in Jane's life, while brief in the beginning, adds a new, complicated element to our heroine's persona. On one hand, the young woman struggles with physical wants and desires, but then on the other, she struggles with a guilt that surfaces, reminding her that she is a bad Christian. At some points, the religious and political commentary seemed like it was a little overdone, but I felt that I could easily overlook that tiny bit.

There is so much sexual tension in this book. I admit that I was not a fan of Bruiser in SKINWAKER, however, he slowly grew on me in BLOOD CROSS. Now, in MERCY BLADE, I was begging my book for him and Jane to hook up. The chemistry and attraction between these two characters had me wanting to fan myself, while also feeling guilty because of Rick. When the heck has a book made me feel GUILTY about the heroine lusting after guys? Never. I think it has to do with the fact that Jane kept reflecting back on her guilt, which in turn, made me feel guilty. I'm still in shock that I felt bad! Nevertheless, I love the interactions between them now. I adore how flirty they are and how pushy Beast is when Jane and Bruiser are alone together. It just... was perfect.

Speaking of Beast, once again, I was not disappointed with our furry friend. I think that the relationship evolving between Beast and Jane has evolved to hilarious levels. I felt the comfortable bond the two share now, which made me smile. Looking back on this series, our lovable duo has come a long way.

The attention to detail is spot on in this book. I don't know anything about motocycles, guns, and weapons in general, but after reading MERCY BLADE, I feel like I can name a few facts. While I thought that all of this information provided was interesting, and reveals the author did her homework, I also felt that some description scenes went into a little too much detail for my tastes. I'm not into weapons or crime scenes, which is why I felt the need to skim over a paragraph or two regarding these points. For those who are interested, I believe these descriptions will impress the reader and draw them into the Jane Yellowrock world. As for me, it made the beginning in particular a little more difficult to get into. However, once the action in the story picks up, the detail gives way to heart-thumping action and the pages are no longer bogged down with pages of descriptions.

Too much description was actually my only complaint with this story. I almost cried by the end because I felt as emotionally exhausted as Jane did. I wanted to kick and scream and punch that stupid were-bitch early on. I wanted Jane to finally be happy...but I won't know until book four because of the cruel (okay I'm exaggerating a little bit) cliffhanger at the end. I'm hoping--no, praying--that the next book in this series will come out later this year. I don't think I could wait until 2012 for another Jane Yellowrock book.

MERCY BLADE, like I've stated earlier, does not disappoint. It is solid proof that Faith's writing continues to improve with each book published. I find that this is one universe chock full of characters that I fondly remember whenever discussing this series to a fellow reader. If you're looking for a dark, gritty tale where vampires are psychotic and not lovey dovey, where werewolves aren't sexy beasts, and where there is sexual tension up the wazoo, then MERCY BLADE and the Jane Yellowrock series is the series for you. Highly suggest buying this book today, and reading the prior novels ASAP!