Review "A Victory that Counts" by Ioana Visan

Synopsis (Goodreads):
For the first time in five hundred years, pandurs and vampires need to work together and defeat the new breed of vampires that threaten to upset the current order of things. Liana Cantacuzino travels to New Zealand to find the new breeds and their makers, but even with the help of her friends, Maximilien Hess, Dr. Jesse Carver and Radu Basarab, the task turns out to be close to impossible to accomplish. The enemy is vicious, always one step ahead, and has no respect for any kind of life, including its own.

With a prize put on her head, unreliable informers, exploding arrows, and turned pandurs, Liana has to lead what’s left of her troops through a terrible siege, while struggling to keep Jesse safe and fight for her own survival.

The second novella in The Impaler Legacy series, a vampire saga like no other.

My review: 

For those who don't know, this is the second novella in "The Impaler Legacy" series. You can find my review for the first one here. 

I was really excited when Ioana Visan told me that her new novella was out, because I couldn't wait to discover what happened with Liana and my dear vampire Max. He grew on me and I kind of have a crush on him. Who wouldn't like a strong, funny and gorgeous vampire? Twilight is to blame. :))

Now let's begin. An army formed of vampires and pandurs (humans trained to kill vampires) travel to New Zealand in order to stop an enormous group of new-born vampires to damage the world that they all lived in. Of course, the sweet doctor Jesse couldn't let Liana alone and he decided to accompany her, in spite the fact that it is very dangerous and he hates vampires. His gesture is very sweet and I appreciated to see him taking care of Liana. Their relationship is stronger and together they can conquer all, but Max has an important role and he does his job successfully. 

It's not new to say that I really enjoyed Ioana's writing style and all the information that takes us closer to the universe we read about. The fights were intense and challenging, as expected, and Liana's life is in danger more than ever. She also needs to put into practice the knowledge she gained since she was a child (including torture) and she is afraid that she can't be as tough as she would like. Also, the stakes are high and our leader must be prepared to any challenge to win the war. And be sure she's not giving up on her people who depend on her.   

My sympathy for Liana has grown as I got the chance to enter into Liana's head and to see that she has a change of heart regarding vampires, after some of her friends are turned against their will. She realizes that not everything is black or white, but something in between. After entering into a trap and many of them are slaughtered, they need to change the tactic and to work as a team, to forget for a while the differences between them. Unfortunately, things are even more complicated than that and Liana is still in danger at the end of the story. 
But don't dispair, there is still one more part left on the series that I am eager to read and a lot of mysteries to unfold. Don't miss it!

Note: I received a copy in exchange for a honest review.

5 out of 5 butterflies

 

About Ioana Visan:
Award-winning writer Ioana Visan has always dreamed about reaching the stars, but since she can't, she writes about it.

Her stories have been published in on-line magazines like Argos, Nautilus, Gazeta SF, SRSFF, Revista de Suspans, Suspans, SFera Online, EgoPhobia, Every Day Fiction, and they have also been featured in several Romanian anthologies, “Dansând pe Marte şi alte povestiri fantastice” (2009), ”Steampunk: A doua revoluţie” (2011), ”Venus – Povestiri erotice science fiction” (2011), "Cele 1001 de scorneli ale Moşului SF” (2012), "Zombii: Cartea morţilor vii" (2013), "Călătorii în timp. Antologie de povestiri SF" (2013).

So far, the highlights of her writing career have been having her Romanian short story collection “Efectul de nautil” published by Millennium Books in March, 2013, and being awarded the Encouragement Award by The European Science Fiction Society at Eurocon 2013.

She made her debut in English with a short story published by Every Day Fiction, and also has one included in Evolved Publishing's "Evolution: Vol. 2" short story collection. After fighting the apocalypse aftermath in "Human Instincts", she played with shapeshifters in “Blue Moon Café Series: Where Shifters Meet for Drinks”, and then she dealt with vampires in “The Impaler’s Revenge”, before tackling longer works like a fantasy trilogy and a science fiction series.

Buy the e-book:

Amazon | Smashwords

Blog tour: Review "Blackmoore" by Julianne Donaldson - A Proper Romance

Blackmoore

Author: Julianne Donaldson

Publisher: Shadow Mountain

Published Date: September 9, 2013

Paperback/Kindle: 276 pages

Genre: Regency Romance

Book Brand: A Proper Romance

ISBN# 978-1-60907-460-9

 I received an ARC copy from the publisher 

Synopsis:

Kate Worthington knows she can never have her heart’s desire and so believes she will never marry. But Kate’s meddlesome mother has other plans. Kate journeys to the stately manor of Blackmoore on the cliffs above the seashore, where she must face the truth and the man that has kept her heart captive.

Set in northern England, Blackmoore is a Regency romance that tells the story of a young woman struggling to learn to follow her heart. With hints of Jane Austen and the Bronte sisters, Blackmoore is a page-turning tale of romance, intrigue and devotion.

 

My review:

It's official! Blackmoore has become one of my favorite books and believe me, I've read a lot. It's not only because of the Jane Austen feeling that you get when you read it, but also due to all the greatness that you encounter inside the pages. I fell in love with Kate and Henry from the beginning, they are so perfect for each other and I was keen to see them together even before they were aware of their feelings. I've found sweet and sad moments that made my eyes teary, wishing to see them happy.   

Kate Worthington decides one day that she won't marry at all and tells everyone about it, but not the real reason behind it. Her only impediment is her cruel and despicable mother who does everything in her power to find a man for Kate, and she succeeds by making a bet that she knows her daughter won't refuse. In order to let her go to India (the country she and her spinster aunt want to visit) and also give up on the idea of marriage, she must receive three proposals during her first visit to Blackmoore and to reject them. Not that difficult, believes Kate, but when she asks Henry to help her in this matter, she will discover that her friend takes his job seriously and her heart might not be as determined to refuse him as she wished at the beginning. And with his beautiful and romantic proposals I wouldn't deny the love that he expects in return and neither would you. Henry is the perfect gentleman and the best friend and lover any girl dreams about. In times like these I start to believe I was born in the wrong era. Ha ha!

Blackmoore is the mansion where Henry Delafield and his sister Sylvia spend their time every summer of every year, leaving Kate to dream about this amazing place, without being able to see it. The reason she can't go with them is their mother's refusal, because she has special plans for Henry with a specific Miss St. Claire and they don't include Kate. After many stories and years passing by, Kate is still dreaming to taste the mysteries of Blackmoore, so one day Henry makes it happen (against his mother's wish) and it's the perfect timing for Mrs. Worthington to scheme her plan. Now Kate's whole existence begins to tremble. 

The story is complex and full of romantic tension that I really loved. The attachment that you feel towards the characters is genuine and the same way is hatred, especially given to Kate's mother who is a reckless and shameful woman, in comparison to all the kindness and good temper that we see in her daughter. Although this is true, nobody wants to be connected with them, making poor Kate feel an outsider everywhere she goes. And when even her older sister copies her mother, these is no chance for her to be appreciated for who she is.   
Let's talk a little about the cover - it's gorgeous. It shows Kate in her journey to Blackmoore, the building we can see in the back, surrounded by fog and enigma. The dress she wears is so classy and pretty, proper for those times.        

I won't say more about it so you will be able to enjoy it entirely, without ruining the surprise, but I want to recommend it to all of you with all my heart and all my blessings, because I am very happy I had the opportunity to read it. The information that I learned about birds was very interesting and I began to pay more attention to their songs when I hear them outside. It really is a great book! 

If you liked Blackmoore, don't hesitate to read "Edenbrooke", a book also by Julianne Donaldson. You can find it here.

5 out of 5 butterflies

About Julianne Donaldson:

Julianne Donaldson grew up as the daughter of a U.S. Air Force fighter pilot. She learned how to ski in the Italian Alps, visited East Berlin before the wall came down, and spent three years living next to a 500-year-old castle. After earning a degree in English, she turned her attention to writing about distant times and places. She lives in Utah with her husband and four children.

Connect with Julianne Donaldson:

BLOG | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | GOODREADS

 

Purchase Blackmoore:

AMAZON  | BARNES & NOBLE | GOODREADS

M-am înscris și eu la SuperBlog 2013

   Discutam zilele trecute cu o prietenă care a participat anul trecut la această competiție a bloggerilor și m-am gândit să mă înscriu și eu. Era și timpul să devin mai implicată și să dedic mai mult timp blogului și cum altfel dacă nu în cadrul unei noi ediții SuperBlog care să mă motiveze? Abia aștept să sosească 1 octombrie pentru a descoperi noile provocări. 

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