The beginning of a very promising series
589606
The Way of Kings is a fantasy epic that has become one of my favorite books.  It contains an ingenuitive system of magic and a very believable cast of characters.  The suspense and plot twists are subtle and quite believable, but the book makes it difficult to put down because what happens next is so much of a mystery.  It is a fairly unpredictable yet easily plausible fantasy book.  One of Brandon Sanderson's best works in my opinion, and I have read almost all of his books. Be aware that it is VERY difficult to put down.
3321691
Cerberus is an excellent beginning to a series, and is almost a pleasant surprise for readers. I must admit, I was a bit nervous to read another story that involves vampires, but Gallagher does the supernatural creatures justice. Not completely revolving around that plot line alone, Cerberus is unique, suspenseful and filled with action.
Kaeden is definitely an interesting character to read about, and a great voice. In the beginning, he does seem to be a bit stereotypical (hot guy working at a bookstore? Why doesn't that happen more in my neighborhood?) but soon develops into someone that readers really get emotionally attached to.

My favorite character, however, was Caleb. There was a lot of mystery revolving around him that kept my eyes glued to the pages, eager to figure out more about his past. He has the sarcastic, entertaining lines that every good novel needs to contain. I am always a fan of characters that push limits and make readers question whether they are good or evil, and Gallagher was able to craft this kind of character beautifully.

Cerberus is the exact of of dark writing that I love to read about in books. Through the death and destruction and certain gruesome scenes, the tone at times can be entertaining. This creates a great balance of emotion that continues through the novel.

Certain points of the book were a bit slow, but normally picked up immediately afterward. I also would not have minded seeing a  little bit more of the fallen angels. The way that they were described was different from most novels, and I found the character very intriguing to learn more about.

The ending of Cerberus is absolutely dynamic, and leaves the reader thirsty for more. Filled with action and imagery that allowed me to see the scene play out, and nearly give chills as well, I am excited to see what happens next.

All fans of the supernatural and YA fantasy should definitely look into reading Cerberus, they will definitely not be disappointed.
1428111
This is a great start to what I hope will be many books to come.  In this series we learn of Eva who has been trapped in her home for so many years without contact.  She finds hope in a thrown away letter that she has been accepted to a college with a full ride scholarship.  She snatches this opportunity and there is no looking back.  Eva finds that she easily attracts the attention of a number of males; three in particular: Damon, Mason and Beckham.  This story introduces you to each of these characters and paints a world around them in such detail and glory.
1877549
A good start to an ambitious project.  According to the author, there will be a total of nine books in this series.  The first thtree will be one set of characters, the second three with another set, and the last three will have the two sets of characters having met up.

The descriptions are detailed without becoming tedious.  The action is fast and well-written.  The characters grow and develop in an entirely believable manner.
2284136
VEILED MAGIC was an interesting start to what I hope will be a new series. The premise was very intriguing and while the plot moved along a bit slowly, that's to be expected at the introduction to a new paranormal world due to all the world building. And let me say that it was a very interesting world. There's a plethora of various supernatural characters, factions, and magical angles and when you add that into the rather unique plot, I was pretty hooked and intrigued from the start. I found it particularly interesting how only some of the supernaturals were public knowledge, yet everyone else was still in hiding. And it's not a recent "outting" either. So it was entertaining if not slightly baffling that the rest of the secrets were so well kept.

Not only the main character, Donata, but the entire cast of supporting characters were full of depth as well, or at least at the beginning. Unfortunately while I was impressed early on with the characters, they didn't seem to progress much further in development past where they started. I would have hoped for more growth especially if this isn't a series starter but a stand alone. As far as the romance, I do wish it had of been ramped up just a bit rather than being overly toned down as it was, especially when you consider it seems to almost be a triangle. But again if this is to be a series, that makes a bit more sense. Both men have their merits, but I think by the end there was a clear path/choice for Donata.

Overall this was a decent start to hopefully a new series. There's just so much room for growth and potential that it would be a shame to end it with just this book. So here's to hoping it continues.
1027283
The Contaminants is a great start to a promising and exciting series.  Well written and fast-paced, this story delves into a world where all has been destroyed but regeneration of the planet has begun.  The problem is--something has gone horribly wrong with the regeneration process, and it's up to two kids to find out why.  While they're trying to right the wrongs, they must contend with an army intent on hunting them down and a psychotic doctor out to sabotage their plans.

The story is told from two first person points of view--Jessil and Soraj.  Smyth manages to capture two very different characters here, which can be hard to do.  Each narrator has her/his distinct way of talking and dealing with different situations.  Seeing the events unfold through both of their eyes is a great enhancement to the story.

There's enough drama and tension here to keep you riveted.  Smyth's concept of a world intentionally destroyed in order to "improve" on it is fresh and provocative.  The characters are well developed and engaging.  I'm eager to read the next story in this chapter, and find out more about this new yet familiar world.
961184
A fine beginning to what is looking to be a promising series. Like its setting, the Golden Isles of coastal Georgia, the whodunit is laced with both Southern mystery and Southern eccentricity. The author makes good use of the clues, which comes to us in a variety of ways -- through police investigation, Baxley's psychic abilities (especially the dreamwalking that the series title alludes to) and, of course, the good old small town rumor mill. I'm looking forward to Toussaint's next adventure with Baxley.
4935854
wonderfully written start to a very promising series.
Plenty of the reviews give you a great idea of the strengths of this book as well as what it is about, so I'll focus on what impressed me about Dying for a Living the most.
None of the characters are cardboard cut-outs; they all have depth, imperfections and many other human qualities that make them more real than any character that I've read in a very,very long time.  As a writer, I'm truly envious of Shrum's mastery at character design.
The lead character, Jesse Sullivan, is a great, interesting character.  It's easy to care about her.  She really drives the story forward.
In all, Shrum has written a great story involving wonderful characters.  Time is very well spent reading this.  I can't wait for Sept 2nd and the next book in this series.
4775813
This is most definitely a promising start to a new series.  The only thing is that it doesn't have the excitement of landmark books such as the Tom Clancy ones.  This is an "almost made it" book and deserves reading as long as you have the time.  From this start, the series has a very good chance of improving, so give it a chance and a try.
1609083
This book was a very good start to the series and I look forward to reading the following books.
3297023
A review in Fantasy and Science Fiction tipped me off to this first book in Ben Aaronovitch's Peter Grant series. It is an excellent beginning, introducing us to Peter Grant, a newly-magic-capable constable on the London police force and his development in an obscure branch of the force, charged with managing magical events. Oh, he also solved a particularly nasty set of murders.

I am looking forward to reading the rest of this series and would highly recommend this book to others.
1350779
Aaron's first ever book is an impressive start. Any good fantasy novel has a rich history before the story even starts and it's the reader's pleasure to start to learn that history as the story unfolds. And a good fantasy author gives the reader only bits and pieces at a time, leaving them wanting for more. Aaron does a nice job of that with The Hand of Andulain. He's created a land that is complex and characters that, while not quite at the depth of a Robert Jordan epic fantasy, are still detailed enough to catch your interest.

An enjoyable read.
3663939
A great start for this new world. From the start I thought the characters would be typical young woman running from a unwanted fate, saved by a male hero. But, it was exceptional world building, wonderfully flushed supporting characters, and a unique take on paranormal/sci-fi/steam punk (?). You can tell it's gonna be a good series with the many characters hopefully getting more fully developed stories as the series goes on. Now, I do wish the two main characters' story in this book was completed. I still get like I didn't quite know them by the end, but this may have been because they come across as very young. The ending definitely is set up as a continuation, our cliff hanger.
2289307
Rating: 3.5/5

A fast and interesting book that will introduce you in a world of undercover agents and criminals like you have never seen before. This is the first one on a series that has a lot of potential.
The Caregiver is the story of Scarlett, an Interpol agent who has to be the caregiver of an important Drug Dealer. During her mission, her loyalties will be tested and her heart will be put at stake.

Scarlett is an interesting character; she is a strong woman with a strong personality. I think there is so much of her to see and her character is one of those who will evolve as the series moves on.

One of the best things was to read about the relationship between Scarlett and Armand (Mr. Sayer), to see how it evolve and see where it headed. At first I didn't could figure out how they feel about each other but after a few pages their feelings are better described and you see what is going on.

The business world (which means the criminal world) is a good background; the bad guys are a good addition and some of them are really bad-asses. And all the secondary characters are interesting in their own way.

After we discover who is who, the story takes off. Is full of action and you can't help to read it in one sit. And with a remarkable ending, not only leaves you waiting for the second book but also the scenes are well described and you can picture them in your head in detail.

Overall, a well written book, with good characters, a lot of potential to be a great series and with an ending that leaves you wanting for more.

(I received an ecopy from the author in exchange of an honest review).
2831521
I found this to be a promising start in the authors new series. It kept me entranced from the very start with great detailed scenes that at the same time are very realistic.
1451429
In this first book in the series we encounter a young woman whose grandfather raised and sheltered her for most of her life. Then a young man appears in her life that she at first believes he is a figment of her imagination. She attributes this figment as a result of her loneliness. Soon all that changes and things are not what they seem. Soon some will pay the price for keeping secrets well hidden even from those who need to know it most. A great start to what promises to be a great series. Looking forward to more from this author.
1082397
This was a promising start for a new series. I enjoyed librarian Cleo and her circle of friends and family. She's smart, determined, and doesn't do ridiculously stupid things. The south Georgia setting feels convincing, and this mystery is neatly plotted, with a few clues, but not an obvious solution. I'll be looking forward to book #2!