Are you an avid reader looking for your next "fix"? Can't bear to be without some form of reading material in your spare time? Welcome to my world! Whether you are seeking a new book to "feed your need", or you are an author seeking an unbiased point of view on your own recent masterpiece, this is the place to be. With life as with books, you never know where the next step might take you...
Showing posts with label vampires. Show all posts
Showing posts with label vampires. Show all posts

Wednesday, June 4, 2025

Happy BOOK BIRTHDAY to... The Ground that Devours Us by Kalla Harris - REVIEW!

 

 THE GROUND THAT DEVOURS US
by
Kalla Harris
Entangled Teen


About the book...

The world ended ten years ago.

Vampires showed up, took over, and turned the whole planet into their personal all-you-can-drink buffet. The president? Bloodsucker. The government? Bloodsuckers. My social life? Absolutely nonexistent.

But hey, at least I had one thing going for me—slayer training. My twin sister, Ripley, and I were about to go pro, officially joining the ranks of the last people on earth who actually do something about the whole “undead overlords” situation.

And then X had to show up. The vampire boogeyman. The worst of the worst. And instead of killing Ripley, like any decent monster would, he turned her. Now she’s technically a vamp, but something tells me my sister is still in there. Which means I can’t slay her.  

What can I do? Break every rule. Lie to my friends. Strike a deal with the most dangerous vampire on the planet: X will protect Ripley from everyone else who wants her dead—like, really dead—until I can snag the cure for vampirism. The catch? Risking my own head to help him free his good-for-nothing BFF from the very slayers who taught me everything. 

If I want Ripley back, I’m going to have to play nice with the thing that ruined my life. And the worst part?

I think he’s enjoying this.


🦇 🦇 🦇 🦇 🦇 🦇 🦇 🦇 🦇 


This is definitely more of a "protect-my-loved-ones-even-though-they-are-now-undead" story than a romance, so if you're thinking Twilight-esque, meh... not so much. To me, that's not a bad thing! I don't mind when a story draws you in with similarities, but I love when they stand on their own literary feet, and I think this one does!

🌟 The things the vampires are able to do are varied, how they turn new ones into, well, new ones...unique. I gotta say their preferred method of travel is rather fascinating. I've never read nor watched a vampire lore story that included something like this, so major points on creativity to the author for spiking my curiosity, and I was certainly invested in the story to see who was really the "bad guy", if there was a chance at redemption (and what form it might take), and simply how it would all play out. 

I admit, the pace is the storyline threw me a little bit though. We start out in the thick of things and full steam ahead... and then sorta drop into days/weeks passing where we really don't make any discernable progress seemingly worth the time that's expired. Overall, it only causes a little friction, but certainly not enough to stall the story. 


🦇 🦇 🦇 🦇 🦇 🦇 🦇 🦇 🦇 




Special thanks to the Entangled Publishing team for the ecopy for review. 🧛‍♀️ Available now via Entangled Teen ... don't miss out, and spread the word!



Tuesday, September 10, 2024

Rockstar Book Tours presents... THE CHRONICLES OF VIKTOR VALENTINE by Z Brewer - REVIEW + GIVEAWAY!

So thrilled to be hosting a spot on the THE CHRONICLES OF VIKTOR VALENTINE by Z Brewer BLOG TOUR hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. It's a great addition to your spooky reads this season, so be sure to check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!

 

Title: THE CHRONICLES OF VIKTOR VALENTINE

Author: Z Brewer

Pub. Date: September 3, 2024

Publisher: Quill Tree Books

Formats:  Hardcover, eBook, Audiobook

Pages: 272

Find it: Goodreadshttps://books2read.com/THE-CHRONICLES-OF-VIKTOR-VALENTINE

A perfectly average boy uncovers a supernatural secret about his family that could put his whole town in grave danger—if it doesn’t make him die of embarrassment first—in this mysterious and funny middle grade debut from New York Times bestselling author Z Brewer.

Viktor Valentine can’t think of a better way to end his summer vacation than playing All the Vampires Everywhere, his favorite video game, with his best friend, Damon. Yet his parents, who make cringey jokes and call him dorky nicknames, seem set on ruining his plans. Viktor knows he can’t really compete with Damon’s “cool” friends—so their epic video game playing is the best Viktor can do to come close to being cool in Damon’s eyes.

But then Viktor slowly starts to realize that his parents may be hiding something from him. They’re acting very suspicious; they sneak out after midnight and return with bloody mouths. But he’s probably just played too many video games. After all, vampires aren’t real . . . right?

Seventh grade is tough enough without having to figure out if your family has fangs. And to make matters worse, the new girl that moved in across the street seems particularly interested in things that go bump in the night. Can Viktor protect his family, or will his sleuthing come back to bite him?

 



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This was a fascinating, fun, FANGtastic read that's just waiting for you to take a bite out of it!

Viktor is great little leading man that's stepped into the middle of an unexpected mystery with secrets coming at him left and right. You're tantalized along the way by little hints dropped here and there, but you're never quite sure whether to take them at face value, or if you're being misled. The new librarian at school that he's volun-told to help get better acquainted with everyone and everything. The mysterious substitute teacher at the beginning of the school year that seems way more cool than a sub should be. The new neighbors across the street with a young girl his age that actually wants to talk to him and isn't drooling over his bestie. The bloody shirt soaking in the sink, his dad's profusely bleeding lip, his.... shall I go on? 😳 Yes, for a town called Nowhere there's an awfully lot of something going on... and that's not even taking into account the big showdown heading their way, the invited but not welcome visitor, and the eventual revelations that are coming whether everyone wants them or not.  At least by book's end, Viktor has tackled one thing that's eternally hard for boys of any age...how to talk to a girl! 

It's newly released status means it'll be easier to find, but if your local bookstore or library is out of stock, KEEP LOOKING! It's definitely one you don't want to miss. Highly recommended for Middle Grade Fiction fans that love some BITE in their reading. Can't wait to see if we get to travel to Nowhere again in the future, but I'll keep my bags packed just in case. 







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About the author...


Z Brewer
 is the New York Times bestselling author of several books, including the Chronicles of Vladimir Tod series, and more short stories than they can recall. Their pronouns are they/them. Z is also an outspoken mental health and antibullying advocate. Plus, they have awesome hair. Visit Z online at zbrewerbooks.com.

Website | Twitter (X) | Instagram | TikTok | YouTube | Discord Server | Goodreads | Amazon | BookBub

 





Giveaway Details:

1 winner will receive a finished copy of THE CHRONICLES OF VIKTOR VALENTINE, US only.

Ends September 17th, midnight EST.










Tour Schedule:

Week One:

9/2/2024

Two Chicks on Books

Guest Post/IG Post

9/2/2024

Daily Waffle

Guest Post

9/3/2024

onemused

IG Post-Guest Post

9/3/2024

Fire and Ice Reads

Guest Post/IG Post

9/4/2024

YA Books Central

Interview/IG Post

9/4/2024

Edith's Little Free Library

IG Post/TikTok Post

9/5/2024

Rajiv's reviews

Review/IG Post

9/5/2024

Bookborne Hunter

Review/IG Post

9/6/2024

avainbookland

IG Review

9/6/2024

@evergirl200

IG Review

Week Two:

9/9/2024

FUONLYKNEW

Review

9/9/2024

GryffindorBookishnerd

IG Review

9/10/2024

Lifestyle of Me

Review

9/10/2024

Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers

Review/IG Post

9/11/2024

@thepagelady

IG Review

9/11/2024

A Blue Box Full of Books

IG Review

9/12/2024

Kim's Book Reviews and Writing Aha's

Review/IG Post

9/12/2024

@enthuse_reader

IG Review

9/13/2024

Country Mamas With Kids

Review/IG Post

9/13/2024

Nonbinary Knight Reads

Review/IG Post



Until next time, remember...if it looks good, READ IT!


Saturday, March 27, 2021

I'll tell you a tale of... VAMPIRATES: Demons of the Ocean by Justin Somper - REVIEW!

Hi there!
Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.


Today, we're sailing the high seas and braving the dark of night to bring you a tale that you won't soon forget!  It's a Children's Fiction series that some readers may be familiar with in it's previous releases, but it recently got a new life (so to speak!) with UClan Publishing, and let me tell you first hand that the editions are gorgeous not to mention captivating!  But I digress...for readers (such as myself) that have not already partaken of this swashbuckling tale of adventure, loss, danger, and new beginnings, let me introduce you properly.  Ladies and gents, get ready to take a bit out of today's book of choice...



Vampirates series, Book 1
by
Justin Somper
UClan Publishing

About the book...
Following the sudden death of their father, twins Grace and Connor Tempest hastily depart the suffocating small town of Crescent Moon Bay in their dad’s old sailing boat. Caught in a vicious storm, they are shipwrecked and separated in the cold, cruel ocean. 

Connor is saved by Cheng Li, Deputy Captain of The Diablo – the notorious pirate ship, captained by flamboyant rule-breaker and pirate royalty, Molucco Wrathe. Grace, meanwhile, is taken by handsome Midshipman Lorcan Furey, onto a mysterious ship with no name, a blood-red deck and an enigmatic, seemingly absent, Captain. In a world of danger and secrets, will the twins ever be reunited?




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"I'll tell you a tale of Vampirates..."

Such is the beginning to a rather blood thirsty sea shanty sung to the Tempest twins, Grace and Connor, by their recently deceased father.  How it was able to calm them for bedtime versus raise all their red alerts is beyond me. however it might serve as a good reason behind their ability to cope with the events that were just on the horizon.  Losing everything they had on this earth besides each other, they set off to find a new life, only to have it snuffed before they even get started.  The mysterious storm that overtook them out of the blue during their escape from dry land was unusual, but what happens to each of them is even more so.  For one, it's a pirate's life for them, as they gain their sea legs and never stop searching for their other half; for the other, it's as yet to be decided...if they can manage to survive their savage "hero" and a bloodthirsty crew.  Oh yes, my friends...there is MUCH more danger than what lurks in the murky depths below...

I rather fell in LOVE with this story and quite frankly have been slowly scouring my local stores for additional books in the series because I simply MUST know what happens!  Grace and Connor are stars in their own right, and their journeys are far from over...but the author set this series up with an incredible cast of characters that are equally charming (well, some are more monstrous, but beauty IS in the eye of the beholder...just don't let some of them ACTUALLY be HOLD anything of yours!) in their own ways that make you want to learn their stories (Grace has the right idea!), and see just what the sea has in store for them!  The mysterious captain, midshipman Lorcan, Cheng Li, and the one that we shall not name here that was cast out...all of them are quite obviously going to play integral roles in what's to come, and for that matter what happens here, so yes...I say GIVE ME MORE to satisfy my own book thirst!

A high recommendation for Middle Grade readers and beyond!



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About the author...

A person sitting in a chair

Description automatically generated

Justin Somper is the award-winning author of eight novels for young people, all with a focus on high-octane fantasy adventure, driven by strong, complex characters.

Justin’s VAMPIRATES sequence comprises, to date, six main novels and has been previously published in 35 countries and 25 languages. The first title, DEMONS OF THE OCEAN, has sold over 100,000 copies in the UK and Ireland alone, whilst the sequence as a whole has sold over a million worldwide. World Book Day title VAMPIRATES: DEAD DEEP debuted in the Top Ten Bestsellers list. The Ultimate Book Guide says, “VAMPIRATES are the perfect adventure stories, rollicking, romantic and utterly page-turningly breathtaking.” 





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Special thanks to Graeme and UClan Publishing for the copy for review.  (THANKS!)  For more information on this title, the series, the author, or the publisher, feel free to click through the links provided above.  Books 1-3 in the series released in 2020, while books 4-6 just hit bookstore and virtual shelves this month...can we say binge read?

Until next time, remember...if it looks good, READ IT!


Wednesday, May 6, 2020

Rockstar Book Tours presents... VAN HELSING ACADEMY by Stacey O'Neale - REVIEW + GIVEAWAY!

Hi there!
Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.



Today, I'm thrilled to be hosting a spot on the VAN HELSING ACADEMY by Stacey O'Neale Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. It features a NEW RELEASE to the Young Adult Paranormal Romance genre and it SERIOUSLY keeps you in the moment!  Check out my review and before you go, make sure to enter the giveaway!  First things first, the official introduction...


VAN HELSING ACADEMY
(Supernatural Rehab #1)
by
Stacey O'Neale
Pub. Date: April 28, 2020
Publisher: Phoenix Reign Publishing
Formats: Paperback, eBook
Pages: 264
Find it: GoodreadsAmazonKindle

About the book...
Welcome to the Van Helsing Academy: a rehabilitation center for vampires, shifters, and witches who don't like to follow the rules.
Mina can't remember anything about the night she was attacked. All she knows is what she's been told: she got separated from her team during a mission and turned up two months later covered in cuts and bruises alongside two dead vampires.
After being blamed for their deaths, she is sentenced to three years at the supernatural rehabilitation center, the Van Helsing Academy.
As Mina searches for answers, lies are slowly unraveled and alliances forged. Soon she will uncover a secret plot that threatens to destroy her family legacy and ignite a war between the supernatural factions.
Van Helsing Academy is the first book in a new YA paranormal romance series. No harem. Perfect for fans of Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead, Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins, and Mythos Academy by Jennifer Estep.


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1000+ Free Book Clipart Images You Can Download Right Now

Ever get the feeling when you start a new book, especially a series starter, that you just KNOW it's gonna keep you turning pages?  You know, that little tingle that for some reason you don't question the story you're about to start, you just know it's gonna be good.  Yeah, that's how I started this one and boy was I....RIGHT!

With a name like Van Helsing, you automatically start looking for things that seem familiar...like her name (Mina), her parents (Lucy and Jonathan), and the ties to the supernatural (self explanatory).  What you don't know to look for are the uniquely original characters (Kiera...I ADORE her!), the hunky shouldn't-be-heartthrobs (umm...take your pick...shifter or vampire?), and the bit...I mean, witches with a chip on their shoulders...not to mention the story that goes beyond simply another supernaturally laced romance.  There is trouble brewing among the factions, and while someone obviously wanted the Van Helsings fingered in the wrong doing, you simply can't ignore that the underlying someones and their plans are SO MUCH BIGGER than that.  With tension spreading like lightning through a stormy sky, Mina will need all her wits, all her talent, all her learned skills, and all her newly forged connections (even if she was attempting to suffer her three years lone ranger style) if she even hopes to clear her name, let alone save their worlds as they know them, and perhaps improve them.

If you're a Young Adult fan who loves a healthy dose of "paranormal activity" (watch out for that Wiccan festival!), and a plot that twists and turns every time you think you've got it all figured out, this is totally the book for you!  Can't wait to see what the author has in store for the next installment!


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About Stacey:

Award-winning author, Stacey O'Neale, lives in Annapolis, Maryland. When she's not writing, she spends her time fangirling over books, blogging, watching fantasy television shows, cheering for the Baltimore Ravens, and hanging out with her husband and daughter.

Her career in publishing started as a blogger-turned-publicist for Entangled Publishing. Stacey writes young adult fantasy and adult paranormal romance. Her books always include swoon-worthy heroes, snarky heroines, and lots of kissing.

Stacey loves hearing from readers. Follow her on Twitter @StaceyONeale, look for her on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and Tumblr. You can also visit her blog at staceyoneale.com/.





Giveaway Details:

1 winner will win a $10 Amazon Gift Card, INTERNATIONAL.






Tour Schedule:
Week One:
4/27/2020
Excerpt
4/28/2020
Excerpt
4/29/2020
Review
4/30/2020
Excerpt
5/1/2020
Review

Week Two:
5/4/2020
Review
5/5/2020
Review
5/6/2020
Review
5/7/2020
Review
5/8/2020
Review

Week Three:
5/11/2020
Review
5/12/2020
Review
5/13/2020
Excerpt
5/14/2020
Review
5/15/2020
Review

Week Four:
5/18/2020
Excerpt
5/19/2020
Excerpt
5/20/2020
Review
5/21/2020
Review
5/22/2020
Review

Week Five:
5/25/2020
Excerpt
5/26/2020
Excerpt
5/27/2020
Excerpt
5/28/2020
Excerpt
5/29/2020
Review





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