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Free Space Completion Post



Title: Sapphire Flames
Author: Ilona Andrews
Pages: 400
How it Fits: SOS Book of the Month
Date Read: 9/28/19
Rating: 4 stars

Review:
This one started out a bit slow for me. I guess it took me a while to let go of Nevada and Rogan, and just enjoy Catalina's story. Once I was finally able to do that, things picked up and I got invested pretty quickly in her and Alessandro and their burgeoning relationship. Catalina's investigation into the murders of her friend's mom and sister begins to take off as well, which kept me on the edge all the way to the end. I loved learning more about her powers too, her gift is really unique and powerful. But the real mystery was Alessandro. I can't wait to learn more about him and his House and what his powers are. Now I can't wait to read the next book!

Team 2: Awesome Series Nuts ~ Free Space
Nikk the Sapphired Book Dragon ~ Wild Country by Anne Bishop- 5�- 9/25/19- Review
AliciaJ ~ Sapphire Flames by Ilona Andrews- 4�- 9/28/19- Review
Sam ~ Archangel's Prophecy by Nalini Singh- 4�- 9/23/19- Review

Week 3: Completion Post: Favorites



Book:Red, White & Royal Blue
Author: Casey McQuiston
Pages: 425
Date Read: 10/3
Rating: 4 stars

Review: I wasn't sure what to expect from this since it's by a new to me author and it's got politics, which I detest. But I thought, well, it also has royalty which is one of my favorite tropes, so I thought it was worth a try. I'm so glad my library finally got an available copy! This was in turn sweet, giddy, heartbreaking in some parts, and hilarious in others. It had *all* the feels, as they say. The two main characters, Alex and Henry, are totally adorable together, and I loved how they were finally able to work things out, despite their families and the ocean between them. I just about cheered out loud when Henry's mom finally stood up to his dragon of a grandmother. As for the politics, it was interesting at first, but then it got to be as boring and over the top as I expected, so that brought my rating down to 4 stars. But I have to say, I would love to see a sequel with Alex and Henry to see how they navigate their future together.

CONGRATULATIONS, Awesome Series Nuts!
You now have an updated BINGO card with a stamp on 'free space'. 

[Your updated BINGO card can be viewed on page 1]

Good Job!! :D

Congrats on the stamp Almond Slivered Crazies!

Completion post
Shelf: Vampires
Book: Immortally Yours
Qualification: tagged 75 times as Vampires
Pages: 320
Date read: 9/28/19
Rating: 4 stars
Review:
I was a bit disenchanted with this series after the previous book so this book was a welcome return to what i had previously liked about the series. I liked the MC Beth though i didn't much like Scotty much at first. I guessed who was behind everything quite early on but i still enjoyed the story. It definitely a nice return to this eries and I am looking forward to continuing on with it.

Completion post
Shelf: Favorites
Book: Festive in Death
Qualification: tagged 62 times as Favorites
Pages: 401
Date read: 10/4/19
Rating: 4 stars
Review:
I loved this instalment. It had all the character driven goodness that I love about this series. I wasn't as fond of this mystery as previous ones and I guessed the killer relatively early on but this still was still an entertaining and fun read and I absolutely loved visiting with Dallas and Rourke and their friends again.

Team 2: Awesome Series Nuts ~ Vampires
Nikk the Sapphired Book Dragon ~ Immortally Yours by Lynsay Sands- 4�- 9/28/19- Review
AliciaJ ~ One Grave at a Time by Jeaniene Frost- 4�- 9/30/19- Review
Sam ~ Archangel's War by Nalini Singh- 4�- 9/26/19- Review

Completion post
Shelf: Favorites
Book: Mine to Possess- Nalini Singh
Qualification: tagged 258 times
Pages: 353 pages in kindle edition
Date read: 10/6/19
Rating: 4 stars
Review: Clay is a half human leopard changeling. When he was a child growing up with his human mother, his best friend was a little girl younger than he, named Talin. When he was 14, he discovered that Talin's foster father was abusing her, and in a rage, he attacked and killed the man. He ended up in juvenile hall and Talin was taken away to a new foster family. He swore that he would come find her when he was released, but when he got out of juvie at age 18, her social worker told him that she had died in a car crash. Brokenhearted, he gets into a fight with a man at a bar only to discover that he, too, is a leopard changeling and thus Clay joins the DarkRiver clan. Twenty years later, a very much alive Talin, who has become a social worker, comes to find Clay because her kids are disappearing and turning up dead. Clay is stunned that she is alive but determined to help. He is also determined to make Talin a part of his life again. I loved this story. Clay is a wonderful partner, willing to do anything for his love. Talin had a lot of emotional stuff to work through before she was willing to accept what was right there in front of her. We made some nice progress on the PsyNet/Silence story arc. I am really looking forward to the next book.

Team 2: Awesome Series Nuts ~ Favorites
Nikk the Sapphired Book Dragon ~ Festive in Death by J.D. Robb- 4�- 10/4/19- Review
AliciaJ ~ Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston- 4�- 10/3/19- Review
Sam ~ Mine to Possess by Nalini Singh- 4�- 10/6/19- Review

CONGRATULATIONS, Awesome Series Nuts!
You now have an updated BINGO card with a stamp on 'vampire' and 'favorites'. 

[Your updated BINGO card can be viewed on page 1]

Good Job!! :D

Congrats on the stamps Almond Slivered Crazies!

New shelf: Auto Buy

I'm going to read How to Save an Undead Life by Hailey Edwards. It has 248 pages in the kindle edition and is tagged by 1 person.

Completion post
Shelf: Auto Buy
Book: How to Save an Undead Life- Hailey Edwards
Qualification: tagged by 1 person
Pages: 248 pages in kindle edition
Date read: 10/10/19
Rating: 4 stars
Review: Grier was sentenced to life in prison upon the death of her aunt. Five years later, she is suddenly released. She is now trying to regain her life. Living in her aunt's haunted house, she is giving ghost tours to make ends meet as her inheritance was confiscated upon her arrest. A born vampire offers her an alliance, but she isn't sure why. I liked Grier. She has a lot of struggles to get through to live a normal life. She has friends who are helping her. I look forward to learning more about Grier's past, what happened to her aunt and what is going to happen to Grier in the future. I will be continuing this series.

Selection Post: Week 4: AutoBuy


Title: Renegades
Author: Marissa Meyer
Pages: 563
How It Fits: shelved 3 times as auto-buy

Selection Post: Week 4: AutoBuy


Title: Six of Crows
Author: Leigh Bardugo
Pages: 465
How It Fits: shelved once as auto-buy

Completion post
Shelf: Auto-Buy
Book: Six of Crows
Qualification: tagged 1 times as auto-buy
Pages: 465
Date read: 10/14/19
Rating: 4 stars
Review:
I bought this book when it was first published in 2015 as I loved Leigh Bardugo's previous books set in the same universe but struggled to get into it and eventually put it down. This happened another couple of times over the last few years until i recently read King of Scars and realised I would need this book and its sequel to in order to get more out of that one. This Tome I am happy to say that though it still took me a little while to get into it, once i did i struggled to put it down and really enjoyed it. I liked that we got to experience the story from multiple points of view and the pace of the story picked up once we about halfway. The world building in this is amazing and the author has really started fleshing out the different countries and people of this world. Looking forward to reading the next book, Crooked Kingdom

New shelf: Fantasy Romance

I'm going to read Branded by Fire by Nalini Singh. It has 372 pages in kindle edition and is tagged 24 times.

I will read Crooked Kingdom as it’s been tagged 17 times

Completion Post: Week 4: AutoBuy


Title: Renegades
Author: Marissa Meyer
Pages: 563
How It Fits: shelved 3 times as auto-buy
Date Read: 10/19
Rating: 3.5 stars

Review: I mostly enjoyed this story about villains and superheroes, but it wasn't anything new. Villains have hearts of gold and superheroes are really not so super after all. I did like Nova and Adrian, the two main characters, and I felt some sympathy for the other characters, but the story felt too drawn out and didn't have any real spark for me. I won't be looking to read the next one.

Selection Post: Week 5: Fantasy Romance


Title: Archangel's Heart
Author: Nalini Singh
Pages: 397
How It Fits: shelved 16 times as fantasy-romance

Team 2: Awesome Series Nuts ~ Auto Buy
Nikk the Sapphired Book Dragon ~ Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo- 4�- 10/14/19- Review
AliciaJ ~ Renegades by Marissa Meyer- 3.5�- 10/19/19- Review
Sam ~ How to Save an Undead Life by Hailey Edwards- 4�- 10/10/19- Review

CONGRATULATIONS, Awesome Series Nuts!
You now have an updated BINGO card with a stamp on 'auto buy'. 

[Your updated BINGO card can be viewed on page 1]

Good Job!! :D

Congrats on the stamp Almond Slivered Crazies!

Completion post
Shelf: fantasy-romance
Book: Branded by Fire- Nalini Singh
Qualification: tagged 24 times
Pages: 372 pages in kindle edition
Date read: 10/22/19
Rating: 4 stars
Review: This is the 6th book in the Psy-Changeling series. Mercy is a sentinel for the DarkRiver leopard clan and Riley is a lieutenant for the Snow Dancer wolf pack. They have been assigned as liaisons for the alliance between the two sets of changelings. Mercy knows that her leopard needs a strong dominant mate but there is no one left in her clan who is unmated who fits the bill. Maybe this explains why she is so drawn to Riley. Riley, on the other hand, is a very protective man and has always dreamed of a mate who will stay safe at home and allow him to protect her. Mercy definitely doesn't fit the bill. And yet there is something about Mercy that draws him. In the midst of trying to handle their attraction, Mercy and Riley are caught up in the search for the members of the Human Alliance who seem to be trying to start a war. With the PsyNet crumbling, the humans seem to be feel that this is their time. And the changelings might be caught in the middle. I really enjoy this series. I love the characters and I'm excited to see what will happen next. I can't wait to read the next book in the series.

Completion post
Shelf: Fantasy - Romance
Book: Crooked Kingdom
Qualification: tagged 17 times as fantasy-romance
Pages: 549
Date read: 10/21/19
Rating: 4 1/2 stars
Review:

I am not really sure why I resisted this duology for so long as I really enjoyed it. In fact I think i enjoyed Crooked Kingdom more than six of Crows. While book 1 is mostly set in Fjeldan and the Ice Court. This book, book 2, is set entirely in Ketterdam.

I liked the pace of the story and the constant twists and turns as the Dregs attempted to outsmart Van Eck and the council and save themselves. There was so much going one but the author was brilliant at bringing all the disparate threads together in a whole that kept me glued to the pages . I really hope we get to see more of these characters in future Grishaverse novels.

New shelf: Alternate Reality

I'm going to read Blaze of Memory by Nalini Singh. It has 386 pages in kindle edition and is tagged 3 times.

Selection Post: Week 6 : Alternate Reality


Title: The Burning Shadow
Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout
Pages: 432
How It Fits: shelved once as Alternate-Reality

Completion Post: Week 5: Fantasy Romance


Title: Archangel's Heart
Author: Nalini Singh
Pages: 397
How It Fits: shelved 16 times as fantasy-romance
Date Read: 10/23/19
Rating: 4 stars

Review: This part of the series took us to Morocco, which was awesome. I love the fact that Nalini often takes us to different parts of the world to see what's happening in places other than New York or the Refuge. I enjoyed the mini-mystery with Elena learning more about her family, and it was awesome to see Aodhan have a larger role in the story. I'm still hoping that he and Illium end up together, but I know that's probably a pipe dream LOL.

Selection Post: Week 6: Alternate Reality


Title: Archangel's Viper
Author: Nalini Singh
Pages: 361
How It Fits: shelved 3 times as alternate-reality

Team 2: Awesome Series Nuts ~ Fantasy Romance
Nikk the Sapphired Book Dragon ~ Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo- 4.5�- 10/21/19- Review
AliciaJ ~ Archangel's Heart by Nalini Singh- 4�- 10/23/19- Review
Sam ~ Branded by Fire by Nalini Singh- 4�- 10/22/19- Review

CONGRATULATIONS, Awesome Series Nuts!
You now have an updated BINGO card with a stamp on 'fantasy romance'. 

[Your updated BINGO card can be viewed on page 1]

Good Job!! :D

Congrats on the stamp Almond Slivered Crazies!

Completion post
Shelf: Alternate Reality
Book: Blaze of Memory- Nalini Singh
Qualification: tagged 3 times
Pages: 386 pages in kindle edition
Date read: 10/28/19
Rating: 4 stars
Review: This is the 7th book in the Psy-Changeling series. Dev Santos, the director of the Shine Foundation, who we first met in Clay and Talin's book, finds a woman on his doorstep. She turns out to be someone who was thought to be dead. She was captured by Ming and her mind was ransacked. She was then programmed as a sleeper agent. Dev is drawn to her so despite the risks, he decides to help her. We hadn't seen much of Dev before but it was interesting to learn a bit more of the Forgotten. We also learn of some new and interesting mind abilities. I enjoyed the letters that Dev's great-grandmother wrote to her son during the decision to instigate Silence. I think that the Shine Foundation is going to be even more drawn into Changeling events after this book. I can't wait to read more of this series.

Completion post
Shelf: Alternate Realty
Book: The Burning Shadow
Qualification: tagged 1 time as alternate-reality
Pages: 432
Date read: 10/29/19
Rating: 4 stars
Review:

I enjoyed this latest instalment in the Origin series. I liked that we got to find out more of Evie's story and more about Luc as well as the other characters. in this instalment there is a virus spreading that seems to be taking out humans and Luxan hate is growing worse meanwhile Evie is trying to work out who she is and what happened to her after she came to live with the Dashers that wiped her memory.

I liked that we got to visit with loads of characters from the previous Lux series but at times i felt like evie's plotline was a little similar to Kat at times. That being said, i am really interested to see where this series goes from here and its going to be hard waiting for the next instalment

New shelf: Magic

Alternate shelves: SOS Magic OR SOS Witches-Magic

I'm going to read Bonds of Justice by Nalini Singh. It has 359 pages and is tagged magic 7 times.

Completion Post: Week 6: Alternate Reality


Title: Archangel's Viper
Author: Nalini Singh
Pages: 361
How It Fits: shelved 3 times as alternate-reality
Date Read: 10/29/19
Rating: 3 stars

Review: This one was ok, but Viper isn't my favorite character. I never really felt like I got to know him, there wasn't really a backstory to go with him. He was pushed out by his family and his Making was hard. That was it. Anyway, the whole story felt over the top, but I did like the interaction between him and Holly. I liked how they started out as frenemies, and worked towards becoming more. That part of the story felt authentic, but the rest of the stuff about Uram, and the whole "entity" inside Holly, that part didn't really work for me.

Team 2: Awesome Series Nuts ~ Alternate Reality
Nikk the Sapphired Book Dragon ~ The Burning Shadow by Jennifer L. Armentrout- 4�- 10/29/19- Review
AliciaJ ~ Archangel's Viper by Nalini Singh- 3�- 10/29/19- Review
Sam ~ Blaze of Memory by Nalini Singh- 4�- 10/28/19- Review

Selection Post: Week 7: Magic


Title: Kill the Queen
Author: Jennifer Estep
Pages: 480
How It Fits: #3 on SOS Magic

Selection Post: Week 6 : Magic


Title: Grim Tempest
Author: Amanda M. Lee
Pages: 319
How It Fits: shelved 2 times as Magic

CONGRATULATIONS, Awesome Series Nuts!
You now have an updated BINGO card with a stamp on 'alternate reality'. 

[Your updated BINGO card can be viewed on page 1]

Good Job!! :D

Completion Post: Week 7: Magic


Title: Kill the Queen
Author: Jennifer Estep
Pages: 480
How It Fits: #3 on SOS Magic
Date Read: 11/1/2019
Rating: 3.5 rounded up to 4

Review: I enjoyed this engaging fantasy story that was a mix between political shenanigans and heartwrenching family relationships. Oh, and there were some amazing magical beings thrown in there too. I loved Evie, the way she grows from being pretty much a doormat to a powerful and determined woman who stands up for what she believes in. I loved her friends, the people in the gladiator troupe who have her back and don't let her down when she needs them the most. And I even loved the villain, Evie's treacherous cousin Vasilia. She was powerful, but a touch crazy too, which just made her that much more interesting. But the plot was not anything new, an orphan girl who is used and abused, who survives tragedy and loss, and ends up coming back to save the day. I enjoyed it well enough, but there wasn't that sense of urgency and danger that would have made this a solid 4 or 5 star read for me. But I will be looking for the next book to find out what happens next.

Congrats on the stamp Almond Slivered Crazies!

Completion post
Shelf: Magic
Book: Bonds of Justice- Nalini Singh
Qualification: tagged 7 times
Pages: 359 pages in kindle edition
Date read: 11/5/19
Rating: 4 stars
Review: Max is a human cop with a natural mental shield. Sophia is a Justice-Psy, able to extract memories from criminals and send them to others to see (such as lawyers, cops, judges, etc). J-Psy have a limited amount of time they can successfully do their job as extracting the memories and being exposed to the scum of the earth eats away at their psychic shields. Sophia is nearing the end of her time as a J-Psy. Max meets Sophia when they are working together on a serial killer case. However, Psy Councilor Nikita is having an issue with a string of deaths of her people, so she recruits Max to help her determine who is killing her people. Sophia is sent to be the go-between. Max never thought he would come to admire a Psy, but he does more than admire Sophia. We had met Max before (in Clay and Talin's story) and I was glad to see more of him. He is a very determined man. Sophia was a new character for us but I greatly admired her fortitude. She has survived a horrible childhood and sees death approaching her now, but still is open to the new experience that is Max. I was rooting for them the entire book. I always enjoy Singh's characters and I can't wait to read more in this series.

Completion post
Shelf: Magic
Book: Grim Tempest
Qualification: tagged 2 times as Magic
Pages: 319
Date read: 11/3/19
Rating: 4 stars
Review:
I enjoyed this instalment. It feels like the big series arc may finally be coming to some conclusion. The mystery for this book was fun as usual and although there was a lot of predictability with the storyline, it didn't really detract.. I liked that we saw more depth with some of the characters this instalment and I am looking forward to seeing where this series goes

I do agree that her books are more about the characters than the mysteries.