Review ~ The Kingdom by Amanda Stevens

TITLE: The Kingdom
AUTHOR: AmandaStevens
COPYRIGHT: 2012
TYPE: Urban Fantasy
PAGES: 376
SERIES:  yes book 2 officially with a 0.5 book in the middle

1. The Restorer
2. The Abandoned
3. This one
4. The Prophet

REASON FOR READING: LOVED, LOVED, LOVED The Restorer. SO I had to get this one as soon as it was released.

SUMMARY (from Goodreads):
Deep in the shadowy foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains lies a dying town… My name is Amelia Gray. They call me The Graveyard Queen. I've been commissioned to restore an old cemetery in Asher Falls, South Carolina, but I'm coming to think I have another purpose here. Why is there a cemetery at the bottom of Bell Lake? Why am I drawn time and again to a hidden grave I've discovered in the woods? Something is eating away at the soul of this town—this withering kingdom—and it will only be restored if I can uncover the truth

THOUGHTS/OPINION:

Okay I fully admit I was worried about liking this one. Ms. Stevens put out a book the Abandoned which I think was meant to be a short story to tide us over until this one came out. Needless to say it didn’t do anything for me. So I was thrilled when I dove into this one and BAM right out of the gate I was hooked. We finally get to know more about Amelia and her background. Ms. Stevens did an excellent job of keeping the book moving forward, while filling in background information, and kept it nice and creepy. Not horror creepy and not sleep at night creepy but definitely didn’t want to read right before bed (yes sissy I am). The description alone had me in the grave yard with Amelia. Every time she was breathing hard I was breathing hard. Every time she freaked out so did I. Not to mention the heart wrenching backstory MY GOD this girl… sheesh. I love her.

Now that I know the next one is out I must go buy ASAP. Seriously this is a fantastic series I HIGHLY recommend.

Are you keeping it or passing it on? KEEPING!!!

Goodreads grade: 4 out of 5 stars

Would you recommend this book? Already have and in fact I have bought it a few times to give to people

Reviewing Next: A re-read Daughter of the Blood by Anne Bishop.

Holy Crappers I need to post a review

Well here are 2 mini reviews and hopefully more full reviews are to come!

~ The Help by Kathryn Stockett

I have to admit the only reason I even read this book was due to the movie. So the entire time I was reading this book I was picturing what the actors and actresses were doing... not a fair judge but not bad either.

The book pretty much fits in with the movie, lines are the same the plot didn't change. The only major differences I saw was the little girl May Mobby she is abused physically and well just over all ignored a lot more than the movie let on to. Otherwise in general the movie did a REALLY good job of showing the book. I did like this book and it is was I will more than likely re-read. I also highly enjoyed the movie both are worth the money and the time spent watching and enjoying.

~ Stargate Atlantis: The Chosen by Sonny Whitelaw WOW so if I were to suggest a book out of this series so far it would be this one. Yes I know I told you that book 2 was done by an author I adore and it was okay I promise. But, this book, this book KICKED BUTT on action, inner dialogue, getting to know the characters better, and OMG I got so much Sheppard and McKay I'm a happy girl. LOVED THIS ONE. Now keep in mind this author had about half of season 1 to learn all the different thought and actions of the team but, wow. Good job Sonny Whitelaw you have restored my faith in this series and I am for sure buying any and all of them. Plus I am going to have to check out other books you have written because you blew it out of the water for me and this series. New fangirl has been found. Man I wish they would make this book into a show that would've TOTALLY rocked!!!!

A review sortof ~ Survivors by Sophie Littlefield

So I was going to review this book until I remembered that it wouldn't be fair to do that since I have not read the first or the second in the series. And honestly the only reason I even read this one was due to the price of being free and it had Zombies. So out of respect for the author I shall review this after I have read the first one.

PS This does not mean by in way shape or form that I didn't enjoy this book b/c I did. If I had not enjoyed this book I would not be wanting to read the first LOL. So take it with a grain of salt this book was like 30 pages and didn't give me enough of a feel to let you know how the series was or is.

Reading some Stargate Atlantis

Can you BELIEVE they have Stargate Atlantis books?!?!?!

Well I didn't until just recently and when I discovered this you better believe that I had to check them out. So I did and I happened to find a book by an author I enjoyed and dove in. Thankfully it was only book 2 (I have a slight OCD problem and have to read books in series order or it will drive me nuts) So I started with book 2 in the Atlantis series which is suppose to fill in between episodes of season 1. So I started with Reliquary by Martha Wells book 2 of SGA series (keep in mind there are 2 series with these books this series follows the TV show that is no longer on air the second series takes place after season 5's ending I think)

Anywho I read book 2 first and it is actual the first book in the series that was an original story. Basically this story involved my two favorite characters Sheppard and McKay. Don't get me wrong other members of the team were involved like Ford and Weir. This story had a little bit of action, it had some mutation and some nice one liners. It did go back and talk about some previous shows and mentioned some things that you would only get or understand if you watched the show. Yet it was written in a clearly easy to catch up manner.
The writing is GREAT as always I mean it is Martha Wells so the world building is great and full of life. I could really picture the planet she described based on her description. The characters were easy to see b/c they were on TV but the inner conversations and mannerisms were different and a nice touch. It was good to get a little more from the characters then what we would have seen on TV. Basically reading this was like watching a new episode on TV that I hadn't seen it was refreshing and nice.

So after reading book 2 I went and purchased book 1 Rising which was basically a rehash of the pilot show. The nice thing about book 1 was the inside and inner thoughts the characters were having added a little more to the pilot but over all it was like a re-hash of watching the first episode which while nice was something I could've gone without especially after reading book 2. So while it was nice had I started with book 1 I wouldn't have continued to purchase this series.

Since I read book 2 first however, and I now see that each book will be like watching a new show which is what I wanted. I wanted to get my Stargate Fix since they are no longer on and I miss it badly.

Have you read any of these books? Which one should I pass or continue to read