Book Review: The Knights of Rilch by Rachel O'Laughlin

Today I get to review another book. I can't promise I'll be coherent or not provide anything spoilery. However, I will take a few minutes of your time and babble at your about this awesome book. Also, there's a giveaway.

But first some pictures.

Rachel O'Laughlin, Writer Extrodinaire

Rachel O’Laughlin grew up writing adventure stories in which heroines tend to get their hands dirty, bad guys sometimes win, and someone always gets kidnapped. Her passion for history morphed into a love for fantasy in her mid-teens, when she took a brief pause from reality for immersion in the arts and a hands-on education in sustainable living. She lives in New England with her husband and two boys, listens to The Fray, and drinks too many lattes. Two novels in her SERENGARD fantasy series have been released, and a third is scheduled for October 2014.

Author Website: http://rachelolaughlin.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/rachelolaughlin
Facebook: www.facebook.com/r.k.olaughlin

When Serengard rebelled and the Orion monarchy fell, former crown princess Kierstaz Orion’s love for her people became a burning desire to set things right. With a price on their heads, Kierstaz and her brother Mikel led a handful of men against the new army, fighting skirmishes all along the border of Dreibourge. But months of heavy bloodshed forced her small band of knights to abandon the border—and all of Serengard—to the rebels.

Nine years and a thousand betrayals later, Kierstaz and Mikel again find themselves on the run—only this time, they’ve a boy in tow: Malcom, the son of two of the Seren rebellion’s strongest leaders. The new regime wants him dead, Mikel wants him alive, and it’s all Kierstaz can do to keep their tracks covered. Desperate to preserve the innocent life she swore to protect and the brother who has always stood by her, Kierstaz must gamble the last thing in the world she owns: her identity. Secrets are a staple of the Orion family, and those Kierstaz keeps are as dangerous as the ones kept from her.

KNIGHTS OF RILCH is the sequel to COLDNESS OF MAREK, and the second book in the SERENGARD Series.

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18372007-knights-of-rilch
Buy on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Knights-Rilch-Serengard-Volume-2/dp/0984919430/
Buy on Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/knights-of-rilch-rachel-olaughlin/1118202692

And now for my review:
This book is action packed and full of beautifully flawed characters who all think what they are doing is right. Even when it isn't. Everyone's motives are suspect. Rachel continues the political intrigue/drama of the first as well as adding the sword and sorcery that everyone loves.

The story of Mikel and Trzl continue and we get more of Mikel's sister, Keirstaz. I loved Keirstaz. She's strong, fierce, but still human. Despite being female, and a princess, she's not above kicking some ass and leaving bleeding bodies behind. Mikel and Trzl's relationship is still seriously messy and it is hard to tell whether one of them will end up dead (but that's what makes it fun!).

Her world continues to grow and the various factions, etc. are clear and well defined.

The story is well paced and she continues the technique of present day followed by flashback and then finishing up in present day. It's not easy to make this work, but I think she executes it flawlessly.

And now for a little secret. I told Rachel I had something I was going to reveal here that I didn't anywhere else.

And here it is...

It is entirely possible to read Knights before Coldness without any confusion. Not only that, but you could, theoretically, not read Coldness and still understand Knights. I don't see this as a bad thing, but quite the opposite. Too often in this world of sequels, the stories are so dependent on each other that they could almost be one book. In this case, each one of Rachel's novels has a clear story line that can easily be separated from the other. This doesn't mean that the stories aren't interwoven, but at the same time, they can stand on their own as a singular novels.

So, I give it a random number of bloody swords and decapitated bodies for being awesome. And we'll call it a day.

Oh and here's the giveaway.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Review: Savor by Kate Evangelista plus Giveaway

So today is a first on my blog. A book review. Normally I just reserve those for Amazon, Goodreads, etc as I don't always have the most coherent reviewing abilities. In most cases it's just

"Me like book good."

Ok, not THAT bad, but pretty close. I try to mention the characters and plot and stuff, but it isn't the greatest and I try hard not get spoilery.

However, today is different. Today is a new day. A day that I break out of my comfort zone and do something I've never done before. So, in my general insanity, I signed up to do a book review for Kate Evangelista's New Adult Paranormal Romance titled "Savor". For those of you following my blog for a while, you'll know that Kate has been a regular on here with cover reveals and blog hops.

Yes, she's a friend. No, this won't affect my opinion of the book.

When Kate Evangelista was told she had a knack for writing stories, she did the next best thing: entered medical school. After realizing she wasn't going to be the next Doogie Howser, M.D., Kate wandered into the Literature department of her university and never looked back. Today, she is in possession of a piece of paper that says to the world she owns a Literature degree. To make matters worse, she took Master's courses in creative writing. In the end, she realized to be a writer, none of what she had mattered. What really mattered? Writing. Plain and simple, honest to God, sitting in front of her computer, writing. Today, she lives in the Philippines and writes full time.

How to find Kate:
Website
Facebook
Twitter
Amazon
YouTube

First off, I LOVE the cover. She has been seriously blessed with cover awesomeness on every book she's written and it really captures the tone of the novel.

Now for fans of Kate, this is a continuation, of sorts, of the events in Taste. In so much as the characters from the first book are integral to the plot of this novel. As for timelines, it is several years later than the events of that story.

One of the big differences is that Taste was YA and Savor is very definitely NA. There are some seriously sexy situations, however they aren't needlessly so. They exist for a reason beyond fan-service. And fans of Luka will definitely get to know him better.

Dakota Collins, the main character, is flawed and real. She sees the world through a camera lens. It, and her eye patch create a barrier between herself and any personal connections. At least, she thinks so. However, Luka Visraya is not so easily dissuaded. Their interactions are a combination sexy and at times odd, but always interesting. It is obvious that something is going on beyond Dakota's understanding. That in itself kept me reading.

Kate does an excellent job of expanding on the characters from Taste. Giving them more life and depth. The setting is amazing and gorgeous (and a little magical too). Speaking of magic, although this is a paranormal romance, there is very little overt magic, etc that you would expect. At least not until the end. I think this is because Dakota doesn't know any of this and whatever does happen, she passes off as just something weird.

Kate does end on an interesting note that made me really wish she had kept going, but that's not a bad thing either. I liked it. It made the characters the focus and not the magic, other worldly stuff.

All in all, I loved this book. It was fun, sexy, and an interesting read and I can't wait to read the next book. Because, dammit, I WANT TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS! Ahem. Sorry.

So, I'll arbitrarily give this 4 hot men in kilts (just for Kate because Kilts) for being a great, fun, and sexy read.

Now for the giveaway hosted by Paranormal Cravings
a Rafflecopter giveaway