Goodbye Inklings!

In case you haven't noticed, Inklings Read has officially run its course. Despite my denial, it has been over for quite some time. I would like to thank all of the wonderful publishers and authors who have provided me with so many fantastic stories to review and the lovely bloggers I have met along the way.


Inklings Read will remain hosted by blogger in the case I ever decide to return. Until then I wish you all the best!


-Sarah

Young Adult Kindle Deals (under $5): 2/21/13

Here you'll find some of the best Kindle deals available. Some books are well known and some are hidden gems that I've found, but ALL books below have 4+ star ratings on Amazon.  What works better for lifting the spirit than finding some great books for cheap!? Beware: This is quite a sizable list and may take a bit to load! Don't forget to click "Read more" to see the other price options.

Here are my featured deals for the week:

All of the titles below have 4+ star ratings or are from popular series on Amazon.com.

FREEBIES

Review: Cold Fury

Cold Fury (Cold Fury, #1) by T.M. Goeglein
Publisher: Putnam Juvenile 
Format: Hardcover
Source: Sent for review by author 
Buy It From Amazon |  Goodreads
★★★☆☆

Jason Bourne meets The Sopranos in this breathtaking adventure.

Sara Jane Rispoli is a normal sixteen-year-old coping with school and a budding romance--until her parents and brother are kidnapped and she discovers her family is deeply embedded in the Chicago Outfit (aka the mob).

Now on the run from a masked assassin, rogue cops and her turncoat uncle, Sara Jane is chased and attacked at every turn, fighting back with cold fury as she searches for her family. It's a quest that takes her through concealed doors and forgotten speakeasies--a city hiding in plain sight. Though armed with a .45 and 96K in cash, an old tattered notebook might be her best defense--hidden in its pages the secret to "ultimate power." It's why she's being pursued, why her family was taken, and could be the key to saving all of their lives.

Action packed, with fresh, cinematic writing, Cold Fury is a riveting and imaginative adventure readers will devour

Despite starting off a bit slow for me, I thoroughly enjoyed the action-packed thriller that is Cold Fury! Filled with mystery, intrigue, ass-kickery, and betrayal, this is one not to be missed by adventure fans.

Before you read this book, understand one thing: Cold Fury is one of those books that you just have to go with. I realized that I found the story much more enjoyable when I didn't think about it or analyze it - much like an action film where things can be just a bit far-fetched but the scenes are still entertaining and engrossing. You won't find much depth here but, as I said before, you will most certainly find entertainment.

Character-wise I really enjoyed the protagonist, Sara Rispoli! This is probably because I love a good kick-ass heroine and Sara definitely doesn't disappoint! She is smart, clever, and strong in so many ways.The other characters, while interesting, fell a bit flat for me. I felt that they were lacking in some sense. I hope to see more depth in the characters in the next book!

If you are looking for an action-filled book with a strong female protagonist then Cold Fury is for you! I'm excited to see more of Sara's adventures in Flicker & Burn.

Review: Days of Blood & Starlight

Days of Blood & Starlight (Daughter of Smoke & Bone, #2) by Laini Taylor
Publisher: Little Brown Books for Young Readers
Format: Hardcover
Source: Purchased
Buy It From Amazon |  Goodreads
★★★★★

Once upon a time, an angel and a devil fell in love and dared to imagine a world free of bloodshed and war.

This is not that world.


Art student and monster's apprentice Karou finally has the answers she has always sought. She knows who she is—and what she is. But with this knowledge comes another truth she would give anything to undo: She loved the enemy and he betrayed her, and a world suffered for it.

In this stunning sequel to the highly acclaimed Daughter of Smoke & Bone, Karou must decide how far she'll go to avenge her people. Filled with heartbreak and beauty, secrets and impossible choices, Days of Blood & Starlight finds Karou and Akiva on opposing sides as an age-old war stirs back to life.

While Karou and her allies build a monstrous army in a land of dust and starlight, Akiva wages a different sort of battle: a battle for redemption. For hope.

But can any hope be salvaged from the ashes of their broken dream?

Days of Blood & Starlight is the perfect sequel to Daughter of Smoke & Bone! Not only is it epic as sh!t (excuse my language) but it is also heartbreakingly beautiful. I simply cannot express my love for this amazing series...

Aptly named, Days of Blood & Starlight is far more dark and serious in tone than its predecessor. Not only does Karou have the fate of the Chimera resting on her shoulders as the sole ressurectionist but she also hosts an internal struggle surrounding her feelings for Akiva. There was a much larger focus on Akiva and his history in this book. I loved getting a better idea of who Akiva was and what led him to be that way. Much respect and sympathy was gained for him in this book. Finally, in Days of Blood & Starlight, Akiva became a fully fleshed out character and one of my favorites! In addition to Akiva, I absolutely fell in love with Ziri, a Kirin from Madrigal's past. He plays a HUGE role in the story and plot twist toward the end of the book. His courage, sacrifice, and integrity really shine in Days of Blood & Starlight and I cannot wait to see more of him in the next book!

I loved the addition of  new characters and storylines! The puzzle pieces start to fall together in this book as histories are revealed. It's amazing how Laini Taylor has made things interconnect. How does she think of this stuff!? Really.. it's crazy! It is no surprise that Days of Blood & Starlight far exceeded my expectations! The well placed action, intense emotion, and surprise filled plot left me dying to find out what happens next. Laini Taylor, you have done it once again!