A Review of Books 1-3!  {NO Spoilers}
351543
4.5 Stars

**NO Spoilers

Paranormal Romance + Shifters is simply one of my favorite combinations EVER! The Moon Shifter series hit all the right spots for me. A great pack structure, Hot Alpha males, strong female characters, loads of smexy times and just the right amount of action.

I loved the story line in Alpha Instinct and how it set us up for the rest of the series. Connor and Ana make an amazing Alpha couple =)

Lover's Instinct was a lovely novella. It showed a different kind of relationship, setting itself apart from the usually "Alpha" thing.

Primal Possession was the story of Connor's brother, Liam and his girl, December. Their story has been brewing in the background since Alpha Instinct and it was well worth the wait.

Mating Instinct was such a fantastic addition to the series! Jayce and Kat's story was heartbreaking and an edge-of-your-seat read. I love that this series can be so sexy and so action oriented at the same time.

The Moon Shifter series has become one of my favorite series ever and I cannot wait for more! If you are a Paranormal Romance fan like me, this is definitively a series you should check out!

Originally Posted at {[...]}
4248529
I'm on the 4th book, that should tell you that I liked the 1st 3.  It certainly holds your interest.
2998518
I was fortunate enough to have been in the test reader group for this book series (read all 4 back to back and a 25 page prequel short story that the author wrote specifically for us after all was said and done) and its nice to see these books available. From time to time Id look to see if they ever got published and was glad to see that finally happened. It was certainly an experience getting to read these and talk to other people about them. I thought it would be nice to review them on the merit of their content, not just the involvement in the test groupplus it may help other people decide if they might like to read these.

 So, Queen of the World, Book 1 of 4 (yes this is one storyline spanning 4 books but they can stand alone). First thing I like is that they can be read in numeric order as the author intended, but after the initial read-through its actually cool to read them in order of when they take place in time (3,1,2,4). It really gives you a different perspective and its interestingly done. They are decidedly fantasy with a Sci-Fi angle that doesnt feel forced. I enjoyed having normal modern people put into a sword & sorcery situation. It was also refreshing to see some alternative lifestyle characters & women portrayed in roles outside the norm. Another bonus is chapter art. it's been a while since I've seen a Fantasy book with art at the end of the chapters.

Book 1 story might seem a little slow to build but considering the fact that its the introduction of a 4 book storyline, it can easily be forgiven. The scope and magnitude of the tale works better since there was more time with the characters. It made the all the stuff the characters had to go through seem that much more poignant.

 The other thing about the stories that really stands out is how each character has his or her own distinct voice. Most of the time I read a book and the main character is quirky and funnyalong with every other character (because they're all written by the same quirky funny author). While it might make for a funny read it doesnt seem realistic. Meridian Wanderings Royal Seasons was a welcome departure. Everyone in these stories has their own voice. Vohl the Fire Gnome is direct and to the point. His girlfriend Mirel is shy and unsure, while Jules is blunt and socially awkwardetc. As I read these books I kept thinking theyd make a good movie or TV series.

The book itself brings Autumn to vivid life, while telling the tale of 3 modern humans (from 2005) getting pulled into a strange realm where a creature is trying to usurp the throne of Fairie. All the while the groundwork is being put down for the complete story arc and the foundations for the Meridian Wanderings world. There are certainly undertones about what makes a family (as all 3 humans have terrible lives on Earth) and this gives the books some weight as opposed to being just a fantasy battle-story. Relationships of all kinds are formed. There are betrayals, love, sex, dreamsand of course some kickass fights. The first few chapters are setup but by the midway point, it really hits its stride. When the end rolls around (and it wraps up nicely for the most part) youll really want to instantly pick up the next book (you gotta love a cliffhanger).
2201182
I read the trilogy (but didn't purchase the box set), so comments on the story:

Really excellent. Dense and detailed, but not heavy. Honestly, I am still puzzled about *what* exactly drew me in so much, but I was drawn in, and they were very satisfying to read.
I actually enjoyed the swearing (but got tired of how much the characters drank in the 1st/2nd books).
I felt that the 3rd book had a few confusing moments (am I supposed to remember this character, or is he being introduced just now?).

But none of my dislikes came anywhere close to making me set these books down.
And, curiously, after reading all three in a row, I didn't experience that reader's hangover when I had to come back to the real world.

Also, though Quentin is the main character, I appreciated some very strong female characters who emerged throughout all three books. And I felt very rewarded experiencing Quentin's character mature and deepen over time.
3635771
4.5 stars!

After basically years of seeing this series around and reading about this mystical Roarke, I gave in and decided to read the In Death Books. It was quite an undertaking, since when I started there were 33 books already released in the series, not counting short stories and novellas. Besides that, deciding to read this series was a big commitment in two fronts. One, I simply had to by 33 books and secondly, I would not be reading anything else until I was done. That's how psychotic I can be when it comes to book series.

December 2011 was when my journey began and by February 2012 I was done and now there is NO turning back. I am IN LOVE with this series! I not only obviously love Roarke, but I love Eve and all the secondary characters that make up this great story as well.

Yes, I have become irritated with Eve at times, but I adored being able to see her grow throughout the series. It has been quite a ride, but one I will never regret hopping aboard.

This series is a great mix of mystery, police drama and romance. I love every aspect of it, from the near futuristic setting, to the way J.D. Robb writes her prose. If there is one thing that bothers me, is that considering the series has 35 books published, the span of time that has passed is very short and I wish the lapse between books was a bit longer. But if you read the books throughout a longer period of time, it won't really matter, but reading them so close together made me wish for that longer lapse.

Eve is such a complex character. All that she has been through has made who she is, but her story is not less heartbreaking because of it. For that matter, so is Roarke's and the fact that these two found each other is nothing less than serendipity. They need each other and I am sure they would never have grown to be who they are in the series by book 35, if not for each other's presence in their lives. Not to mention the "family" they have built with their dear friends.

One of the biggest issues brought up in this series by J.D. Robb, is the Nature Vs. Nurture debate. I love it! It always makes me think and it is very satisfying to see these people that could have become something very wrong, rise above nature and blood, to become amazing people.

On the crime fighting aspect of the series, I find that Robb uses two types of narrative. Sometimes she carries more of a "Monk" style, where the perpetrator is clear if not early on, but soon. The other one is where we get a punch in the face when we finally find out out who it is. I really enjoy that she doesn't have only one style, since that always keeps me guessing =D

I LOVE this series and if you have yet to check it out, please do so! The first few books might not compel you completely, but keep reading! You won't regret it!
2211369
What happened to the series that included V1 The Vorrh (I gave it 5 stars) and V2 The Erstwhile (I gave it 5 stars, too)? Ive had this on my want list since it was announced. Then, when I had a chance to grab an ARC, I took about two seconds to push the button. Then I started reading.

That was on May 7th. Since then I have picked it up, read a few pages, put it down, picked up another book, read many pages and repeated several times. Ive finished three other books. Im barely two hundred pages into The Cloven. Most of those re-tries have required re-reading previous sections since I had no idea what I had read (translated: I guess I didn't care enough to remember.)

There is a story line that is a continuation of the series, but the page turner type interest of the first two just isn't there. I have other books that I want to read and not interrupt them just so I can go a few pages deeper into this one. So I wont. Ill read them and won't interrupt them for this one. Im so glad I received an ARC.

I hope others have a more pleasing experience and I will certainly consider future books by this author.
4166474
one. If it is half as good as the of the first three,I will be happy. I have had a hard time putting the book down, and for,someone who does not read much, this is a true blessing. Thank you so much.
3784866
I received this book (via Kindle) in exchange for a fair and honest review.  Bear with me, I'm a Yank, so some of my spelling may seem odd.  I apologize in advance for 'merican idioms

And I am skipp-diddly happy I got it too!  While I come into the series here, with book three, Ms. McConaghy fills in enough back story in the normal story telling process that I am pretty clear what happened, who did it and to whom they did it.

Beyond that, I feel like the ancients did the first time they heard The Iliad or more appropriately, Beowulf.  I was swept away into an indefinably ancient place where Berserkers roam among bonded Kings, Queens and Emperors and pegasis fly.

There are noble heroes, less noble villains and my personal favorite type of hero, the damaged soul who desperately needs salvation.  While Sherrylin Kenyon is the true master of the damaged hero and I base all my opinions on her Men of the Sentella.  Ms. McConaghy has created one to the best and most interesting damaged hero I've ever read.  Because Isadora is a heroine, a very badly wounded heroine.  Her heart and soul are so damaged, she fears even love when it is offered.  She even plots to kill her bonded mate, the Man of a Thousand Masks (wonderful nod to Joseph Campbell there) the Fallen Emperor of Kaya, Falco.  She shoves him away with such venom and fury, she nearly destroys both of them.

There are no minor characters in this book, every person (because they are so defined and drawn, they are truly people) plays a part.  And we can see that in the constantly shifting POV, always told in the first person.  With the shift from character to character, the voice itself shifts and the effect is amazing.  We sink completely into that character.  There are tags telling which character is narrating but they are so clearly voiced that those become unnecessary.

My only regret is that I wasn't exposed to the two previous books, they are currently on my virtual to be read pile need the top.  If this is Aussie Epic fantasy, I'm buying myself a ticket for Sydney to visit the bookstores alone.

7 out of 5.  Oh wait I can't do that.  5 out of 5 with a big, cheeky plea for more!
4836571
Im reading the 5th of the 7 books.

One cant read fast enough to get to the next book!

Fantastic stories!
3722765
Please don't think I am gushing about a book, or series, however I really enjoyed the whole 3 books.  Thank you for taking the time to not only conceptualise this series, but put your talent on show, and, of course, let the nay-sayers have 'a go'. I don't know if I would ever be as brave as you. Thank you so much!
1339950
I'm going off the goodreads rating system here. I *really* like these books. I've read the entire series, and these first three books are a great jumping off point - better yet, they're free! The first book was very, very abrupt and I know it turned a lot of people off to have to pay for the next one. Well, guess what? No more complaining!

And I don't think there are spoilers, but just in case...well...sorry.

Like I touched on above, Alone is a very good introduction. Sienna is a wonderful character and while the books do have a little bit of "unreliable narrator" thing going on because it's first-person from a perspective that has no idea as to what is going on, it's understandably a little frustrating. But Sienna is funny (probably moreso than someone in her situation should be, but whatever) and a total badass but at the same time has this entire side to her that makes it feel like she's the way she is for coping reasons. But, of course, you don't really know why until she gets into the real world, but seriously. I started these books before 2 and 3 were free, and I was seriously contemplating whether or not I wanted to spend $5 on the next one.

It was totally worth it, and lucky for you all, you don't have to make that decision!!

Untouched is a continuation of Sienna's growth, and this is probably my favorite part about these entire books. Because you're in her head, you get to see the psychological processes that she has to go through and the coping mechanisms she creates to try and make sense of this whole world around her. You get to go on this wonderful journey with her as she grows up, and it's really a great thing to be able to see this evolution.

Soulless, in retrospect, is AMAZING AND WONDERFUL. There are things that happen in books 6-10 (this is a ten book series, by the way, prepare to be invested the whole ride through) which when I went back and reread this book specifically, it really gives you an idea of the motivations behind some of the secondary characters, which is usually very difficult because of the first-person narrative.

All that having been said, if you're not into urban fantasy or superpowers, this series probably won't be for you. It's also a little outrageous, but hey. It's urban FANTASY. Emphasis on the fantasy. If you don't want to suspend reality and pretend that Minnesota is a cluster of meta existence, bah.

Fin.
3808757
Review:

By now there should be no surprise that I anticipate and welcome any YA set in Japan, be it in a modern or historical settings, everything goes. Ive read the previous two books in this engaging, imaginative and action-packed series and thoroughly enjoyed them, and Im quite sad it took me so long to finally pick up the final book. What I discovered is that everything I found awesome previously is still there, but so are heaps of other aspects that just make the last book cramped and full of various plot devices, unnecessary additions, stalling, and despite including all these new things, the story somewhat dragged and felt really slow.

Zombies and vampires and dragons, oh my! That was the source of why I felt this final book lacking. Vampire ninjas as unique twist to the story was ingenious to me and when I heard about the dragon, it was still quite exciting, but when the zombies come around and then the god of death and why oh why cant that creepily annoying villain Kenji Kira already hit the bucket, then it started to become a bother. There was for sure lots of action, close calls, incredibly tense and oh-my-god-whats-going-to-happen moments, but all these heaps of bad guys against our poor trio of heroes, who had internal relationship issues as well, wasn't really encouraging and pleasant to follow. Also, poor Taro, I genuinely felt sorry for him in this book, how much torture, physical pain, emotional pain, betrayal can one person bear.

Despite my whining, I still more or less liked the book, it had a really satisfying conclusion and I was left leaving the series with a smile on my face. I was really happy on how everything was pulled together and all the fates were more than earned. I also absolutely loved the confrontation between Lord Tokugawa and Taro, it was a long time coming and I was on the edge of my seat when they finally met for real, face to face. What a wonderful final showdown they had. Also, Nobunaga was a great villain in the two previous books and Kenji Kira was only disgusting, but the one with more momentum and the main adversary was without a doubt Tokugawa.

While the main gang of three were already from the start somewhat of a clich: a boy with a destiny, his tough friend and a beautiful strong-willed lady love - I thought they made a decent team and I quite liked all three of them. Im happy that everything wasn't smooth sailing for them in this book and various issues came up that were in the long run unavoidable and the separations they went through were good for character development and strengthening bonds, especially for the two sidekicks. Im glad that the both of them also were able to see each other and survive without Taro by their side all the time.

Overall:

I can say that this was an excellent series with imagination, fights, adventure, Japanese mythology and, most of all, my favourite setting, especially since feudal settings for Japan-themed YA books are incredibly rare. The final book was based on some aspects a slight let down, because there was just too much of everything in it, but it still worked and the previous two were so good that they compensated slightly for the spots lacking. Im quite sad that this series doesnt have as many readers as it deserves though, because I guess, it is somewhat of a niche mix of setting and genre. Still, give the series a try, especially if you enjoy historical adventure, action and manga.
3495857
I feel like I've been in a reading slump.  The books haven't been bad and I'm not depressed or anything like that.  But, I just haven't been super motivated to finish anything on my "currently reading" shelf.  Everything just feels kind of meh.  When this happens, I try to pull out a new read that I can get through in a day or less.  It can't be anything too serious as my goal is to just lose myself in something fun - maybe romantic but it doesn't have to be.

This weekend I chose the second book in the Libriomancer series.  If you remember, Isaac Vainio has the ability to use books to create magic.  His girlfriend, Lena, is a dryad who is also attached to Nidhi Singh.  It's a complicated relationship and not your typical love triangle.  When a wendigo is murdered, they investigate and are drawn into a fight between the Porters (the magical group Isaac is a member of), an Asian group of libriomancers who have been around even longer than Gutenberg and a father who is using his deceased son's inventions to gain his own power.

I am really enjoying this series so far.  Hines does a good job of world building and explaining the magic that Isaac and the others use.  It allows him a lot of freedom.  Most of the books he references are from the real world but he also makes up a few of his own (I would like to read these by the way!)  When Isaac references Alice in Wonderland or The Fellowship of the Ring, the nerd in me is so excited.

The storyline here was a bit stronger than in book one and Hines opened up some interesting doors that will allow further exploration of this magic.  The discussion of physical books versus e-readers and how that affects libriomancers will speak to all readers.  Is the power in the actual physical pages or can it be held in this electronic device?

Another thing that's special about Codex Born is the love story between Isaac and Lena / Nidhi and Lena.  It makes you think about love, attraction and what constitutes a successful relationship.  Reading Lena's thoughts on attraction was thought-provoking.  (By the way, I loved the addition of her "journal" as part of the story.  It helped us get to know and understand her so much better.) I wish I could quote the entire start of Chapter 17 but I will leave you with this --

"Humans are so obsessed with true love, the perfect relationship.  They imagine that one elusive person who fits their quirks and foibles and desires like a puzzle piece.  And of course, when a potential mate falls short of that perfection, they reject them.  They were too old, too young, too silly, too serious, too fat, too thin.  They liked the wrong TV shows.  They hated chocolate.  They voted for the other guy.  They didn't put the toilet seat down.

They invent a million excuses for rejection, a million ways to find others unattractive.  Their skill at seeing ugliness in others is matched only by their ability to see it in the mirror, to punish themselves for every imagined flaw.  ....

I've never met anyone who wasn't beautiful.  People have simply forgotten how to see.  ...

The more we narrow the definition of beauty, the more beauty we shut out of our lives."

4/5 stars and highly recommended.
3598923
Note: this review was made based on a pre-release version of the manuscript. Spoilers will be preceded by SPOILER ALERT sign.

I think that the book #4 does a pretty good job following the books #1-3.  Book 1 was perhaps my favorite, bringing back my childhood memories of sci-fi books, but the others and this one in particular are still very solid! Though not Asimov in terms of depth, the books manage to have some interesting discussions on humanity, its future and things that motivate "leaders" to do things good and evil. The book answers also a lot of questions about the history and technology and motivations of books 1-3, though not all... I look forward to the conclusion of this saga in book 5!

SPOILER ALERT:  I noticed that as the books go forward the series is taking a darker tone, but this is OK, no complaints there.  Especially for adults we enjoy the more complex human behavior shown in the latter books.  Book 4, indeed has some dark themes, quite interesting, though some of the darker ideas needed to be explored a bit more so as to make characters not seem 100% pure or 100% evil (I gave been told that the final version of the book has fixed this but I have not yet been able to read it).
2112933
I burned through the 6 books quickly.  I had read book #1 awhile back and liked the book (the movie was so-so).  When I got the 6book collection I reread #1 and just kept going.  I know #6 recently came out (9/2015) but I'm hoping a quick release for #7.  I want to find out how this plays out for everyone!  Just got some of the "Lost Files" so that I can keep going .. great series!
3431413
I think they were all three great books.  I saw a lot of reviews that said the third book was not any good, but I liked them all.
1347704
I'm going to write one review and leave it on all 5 books, because I've read them all, and they all hold the same basic 'rating'.
I've read a LOT of sci-fi / fantasy books (specifically virtual reality / LITRPG ) in the past year (288 to be exact).
Of all of the books I have read, while not the best written, End Online has been one of the most likeable series I've read.
I keep checking Kindle to see if if Volume 6 is up, but it's not here yet. :)