My Book Chatter's Favourite Reads of 2013

So 2013 has come to an end, and although I didn't quite meet my reading goal of 100 books this year, I did find some new favourites!

Below, and in no particular order, you'll find my 10 favourite reads for the year that was 2013. I've included the links to my review and the goodreads page for each book, should you want to check them out.

So, I hope you all have a happy and safe New Year, and here's to finding some amazing reads in 2014!!

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Favourites Reads of 2013

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Guest Post and GIVEAWAY with author Kylie Griffin

It is with immense pleasure - and much fangirl squeeing - that I welcome author Kylie Griffin to My Book Chatter with an insight into her characters and storyline for Allegiance Sworn (Light Blade #3) which releases today - Happy Release Day Kylie!!

When Characters Take Over…
One of the most exiting things about writing is creating true to life characters that readers can relate to or barrack for.
As an author, discovering who the hero and heroine are, what makes them tick, their individual histories, the people who influence them, the events that shape them – it’s all a fascinating part of the process.
Once all this information is sorted, we live with them in our heads 24/7 for as long as it takes us to write the book. We worry about them, we share the lows and highs and shocking experiences and we go through the same emotions as them when something happens to them. In essence, they’re just like real people to us.
On the flip side though (cue evil laugh and much hand rubbing), it’s a well-known fact authors like to torture their characters, so it probably comes as no surprise to hear that we like to devise obstacles and hurdles for them to deal with – setbacks, challenges, events that rock their world and force them to take action they normally would avoid or never contemplate. We love pushing them down dark, mysterious pathways and throwing them into unusual or awkward situations just to see how they’ll react under pressure.
But what happens when characters won’t cooperate? When they protest or utterly refuse to cooperate and take the twists and turns you envisage for them?
Well, that happened to me in Allegiance Sworn. (Did you know characters also like to torture their authors – a little known fact!)
Imhara and Arek, my heroine and hero in Allegiance Sworn, put up a hullabaloo over the plot I’d semi-planned (I’m not a strict plotter, more like a scener – I know where to start, where to finish and some of the points in between but no idea which scenes will come in what order).
Without giving away any details or spoilers, in Allegiance Sworn I saw certain events happening with and to the characters. I imagined particular conflicts – good, bad and ugly. There were fight scenes and even the death of a major character scheduled. I thought I had it all worked out and diligently set to writing those scenes.
But as I wove various plot threads together, and the story of Arek and Imhara progressed, I discovered BOTH of them becoming harder to write, certain scenes started to stall.
When this happens the first thing I suspected was that I’m wrote it from the wrong character’s perspective.
So, thinking I had a point of view issue, I switched to the other character in the hope the writing would flow again.
The writing ground to a halt.
Next, I tried reordering certain scenes.
Nope, that didn’t work.
Perhaps it was a decision, an action I had them making too soon. I came at the scene from another angle.
Failure. Again.
No matter how much I wanted Arek and Imhara to go where I wanted them to, the scenes, their dialogue, their actions, the revelations I wanted to hint at, or uncover or confront, the action I saw taking place fell flat.
Arek & Imhara point blank refused to walk the path I wanted them to take.
With this particular story thread (which I can’t reveal because it’s a major spoiler – let’s just say it has HUGE ramifications to not only Arek & Imhara’s story but the external plot that drives the over arching conflict of the series), writing stopped for almost two weeks as I tried to figure out the reason why.
Two weeks!
A lot of time wasted when I could have been writing and finishing off the story. It frustrated and worried me but when the “ah-ha” moment came I couldn’t believe how logical and true the reason ended up being.
Turns out I was trying to force a scenario that would have given the story a too easy solution, too convenient an ending to the thread I was trying to tell. To tie it up the way I wanted it would cheat Arek and Imhara of a more appropriate resolution, one more satisfying for them personally and of greater significance to them as a couple than as two people bent on revenge (*hint, hint, wink, wink as to the particular story thread for those who know the series*).
Robbing the characters of conflict also meant swindling readers out of the emotional roller coaster ride that comes with conflict.
Did I resolve the problem? Yes, but not in the way I imagined. Arek and Imhara were right to put up a protest and even though inside my head I was screaming, “Nooooooooooo! I want X to happen in the story – you’ve got to make that happen!” I ignored that voice, listened to my characters, and wrote the thread they suggested.
Did the story thread have a “happily ever after”?
Depends on your point of view. Happily ever after’s do occur but sometimes not in the way we anticipate or expect and this was definitely the case for Arek, Imhara and me.
Amazing things happen when you let characters take over the story…I just hope when you read Allegiance Sworn that you’ll understand why certain things did or didn’t occur. And I’ll be anxiously biting my fingernails, and curious to know if their story met your expectations.
I’ll be wondering whether you were able to predict the twists and turns or if you were led down that dark, mysterious pathway along with Arek and Imhara and just as surprised by what happened as they were.

As a reader I’ve sometimes started reading a book with certain expectations of how I think the plot is going to go or what the characters are going to do, and then been totally surprised by the story the author has written. Had this ever happened to you? Perhaps you have an opinion on reader expectations?

If you share your thoughts on either of these questions (and leave an email address so we can contact you!) I’ll put your name into a hat to win a signed copy of either my new release ALLEGIANCE SWORN (#3 Light Blade) or VENGEANCE BORN (#1 Light Blade).
 
Thank you for sharing some of your Allegiance Sworn secrets with us Kylie, and a HUGE thank you for the awesome GIVEAWAY too!
So what are you waiting for?
Leave a comment with your answer and email address at the bottom of this post, answering Kylie's question and you're in the draw - simple!
Giveaway is international and will run until April 13th :)

Author Bio:
Kylie Griffin’s obsession with all things paranormal/fantasy started at an early age, when she used to imagine the jacaranda tree in her front yard was a spaceship used to defend the world from invading enemies. Writing stories seemed a natural extension to her childhood adventures.
 
Today, she’s a primary school teacher sharing her love for the written word with young children. In her spare time, she writes and reads all things paranormal.

Kylie lives in a small rural village in outback New South Wales, Australia, where she volunteers in a number of emergency service organizations in her local community. Visit her website at www.kyliegriffin.com     

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There is no mercy in the demon realm. No escape. In this place of desperation and conflict, anyone who is not pure bred is virtually powerless. Until an unlikely champion is born...

Annika, half-blood daughter of the Na'Reish king, longs for more than a tormented life among her father's people. Conceived in hatred and bred as a tool of retribution, she's gifted with a special talent that can heal as well as destroy...

With the Na'Reish vastly outnumbering them, Kalan, a Light Blade warrior, knows the future of humankind depends on him alone. Incursions into human territory and raids for blood-slaves by the Na'Reish horde have increased. As chosen leader, he faces the task of stopping the demons—and convincing the Council of aging Light Blade warriors that change is necessary for survival.

When Annika learns Kalan is a prisoner in her father's dungeon, her dream of escape seems within reach. She agrees to free him in exchange for his protection once they reach human territory. Now, marked for death for helping him, Annika must learn to trust Kalan as they face not only the perilous journey to the border but enemies within the Council—and discover a shocking truth that could throw the human race into a civil war... 
You can read my review of Vengeance Born here

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There is no mercy in the demon realm. No escape. In this place of desperation and conflict, anyone who is not purebred is virtually powerless. Until a blind priestess lays claim to a half-breed warrior, body and soul…
Hunted and marked for death by Na’Reish demons for their half-blood heritage, the Na’Chi are searching for a new home—something an alliance offered by the human leader could provide. With both races divided by prejudice, when Light Blade rebels brutally attack the Na’Chi, the alliance seems doomed to fail.

Varian, leader of the Na’Chi, a hybrid race of gifted warriors, is cursed with the darker impulses of his demon heritage. Controlling the part of himself that craves the high of the battle is a struggle he’s afraid he’ll lose—until he meets Kymora Tayn, a priestess driven to serve her deity. While he’s unwilling to trust anyone outside his people, he finds himself drawn to Kymora’s strength and passionate nature, and discovers she has the power to calm the darkness inside him.

When the Na’Reish raid human territory for blood-slaves and kickstart the war, the key to the survival of both races—Na’Chi and human—is an alliance. However when Kymora is kidnapped, pitting human against human, Varian realizes he must embrace his darker half, not only to save the alliance…but also the woman he loves...
You can read my review of Alliance Forged here

         ````````````````````````````````````

There is no mercy in the demon realm. No escape. In this place of desperation and conflict, anyone who is not purebred is virtually powerless. Until a demon leader seeks to unify the races…

With the alliance of the humans and the half-blood Na’Chi forged, the demon Na’Reish prepare for war by seizing human blood-slaves. Captured during a rescue mission-gone-wrong, Light Blade warrior Arek Barial finds himself claimed by a Na’Reishi female who offers him an unexpected choice.

Raised in the elite ranks of a society she abhors, Imhara Kaal lives a dangerous double life as a Na’Reish Clan-leader and an advocate for a caste-free life that honors the Old Ways. Openly rebelling against the Na’Reish would mean her death, unless she can find an emissary willing to present her petition to the human Blade council.

But Arek isn’t about to blindly follow a demon—despite the intense attraction growing between them. And while hatred for the Na’Reish is all he has ever known, Arek must learn to trust Imhara, or risk the destruction of all three races…
You can read my review of Allegiance Sworn here


Author Links

Website: http://www.kyliegriffin.com
Blog: www.kyliegriffinromance.blogspot.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kylie-Griffin-paranormal-romance/152760788151938
Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/KylieGriffin1
GoodReads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4882841.Kylie_Griffin

Book Review: Allegiance Sworn by Kylie Griffin

Title: Allegiance Sworn (The Light Blade #3)
Author: Kylie Griffin
Release Date: April 2nd 2013
Publisher: Berkley
Source: Received from the author for an honest review

There is no mercy in the demon realm. No escape. In this place of desperation and conflict, anyone who is not purebred is virtually powerless. Until a demon leader seeks to unify the races…

With the alliance of the humans and the half-blood Na’Chi forged, the demon Na’Reish prepare for war by seizing human blood-slaves. Captured during a rescue mission-gone-wrong, Light Blade warrior Arek Barial finds himself claimed by a Na’Reishi female who offers him an unexpected choice.

Raised in the elite ranks of a society she abhors, Imhara Kaal lives a dangerous double life as a Na’Reish Clan-leader and an advocate for a caste-free life that honors the Old Ways. Openly rebelling against the Na’Reish would mean her death, unless she can find an emissary willing to present her petition to the human Blade council.

But Arek isn’t about to blindly follow a demon—despite the intense attraction growing between them. And while hatred for the Na’Reish is all he has ever known, Arek must learn to trust Imhara, or risk the destruction of all three races…


My Thoughts

I thought I knew what was going to happen in this, the third instalment of The Light Blade series. I thought I knew where this story was going, where the twists and turns would take me - oh how wrong was I!

Forget all you think you know when reading Allegiance Sworn, because Kylie Griffin has changed it up; her characters take a direction that I didn't see coming and it's an adventurous ride indeed! From start to finish, I experienced the gamut of emotions, my preconceived ideas of this book obliterated with every turn of the page.

I didn't take any notes while reading Allegiance Sworn but I did write a rather fangirly email to the author once I was finished! So to give you an idea of how I was feeling, here's a small snippet of that gleeful email...

"You have kept me up late into the night, (I'm currently inhaling coffee to stay awake lol!!) you have dashed my hopes of stealing Arek away from Imhara!! and you have left me wanting more!!!"

"I can not believe I have to wait until who-knows-when to find out what comes next!! You, Miss Kylie are a gigantic tease LOL!!!"

Embarrassingly, you can see I was and still am, very emotionally invested in these characters and I have been blown away with the sheer honesty and believability that Kylie is able to bring to them, most especially in Allegiance Sworn. Kylie's writing is smooth, enveloping and addictive, leaving me in a state of book withdrawal that has yet to be slated.

A fantastic continuation of a story that has well and truly captured my heart.
5 stars ~<;]


PURCHASE LINKS for Allegiance Sworn

The Book Depository
Amazon
B&N
Fishpond

AUTHOR LINKS

Blog
Website
Facebook
Twitter
Goodreads

Reblog: Kylie Griffin's Blog: CAST OF CHARACTERS: Imhara - the Na'Reish demon le...

Kylie Griffin's Blog: CAST OF CHARACTERS: Imhara - the Na'Reish demon le...: As an introduction to the characters from ALLEGIANCE SWORN , today I'd like you to meet Imhara, the heroine. Name: Imhara Kaal Race...

This is a blogpost you really want to read if you're a Light Blade fan!!!

It's a buzz...

I.Am.Buzzing...

That is to say, I am completely humbled and blown away by the fact that I have been interviewed by one of my favourite authors, whose debut book Vengeance Born made it onto my Best Reads of 2012 list.

That's right, the lovely and talented Kylie Griffin has interviewed me on her blog, and you can read all about it here.

The Best and Worst of 2012 as Read By Me!!

So I guess most, if not all book bloggers are doing some kind of Top Ten or Best Reads list to finish of 2012, and so I decided to throw my hat in the ring also!
It sounds fairly easy I know, however it has taken me an absolute age to wade through my pile of books to find the true standouts; here are some of the books I have loved in 2012...

A fellow Kiwi, I first heard about Melissa Pearl via an online newspaper article in March. I bought Golden Blood for my kindle, and fell in love! The characters, the plot, the writing - I was completely blown away, and quickly read book 2 in the series (Black Blood) and desperately waited for book 3 (Pure Blood) to be released.
I have also read Forbidden Territory which Melissa co-authored with Brenda Howson, and Melissa's most recent release, Betwixt
I am now eagerly awaiting her latest trilogy, with book #1 Unknown, tentatively scheduled for a June 2013 release.

I discovered T.G. Ayer (also due to the internet article mentioned above), and what a discovery she has been!
I read, and fell in love with Dead Radiance. Its beautifully written story of Norse mythology threaded into an intricately woven teenage tale of loss and hardship, mystery and intrigue, first love, deceit, self discovery and more. Just as wonderfully written was Dead Embers, the second in the series and I am impatiently waiting for book #3 Dead Chaos which is scheduled for a March 2013 release.
T.G. Ayer also has a new series (The Hunter trilogy), with book #1 Skin Deep, scheduled to release in February 2013, which I can't wait to read too!

Pushing The Limits by Katie McGarry completely took me by surprise.
This was a story I expected to like, but I very quickly found myself enraptured by Echo and Noah's story. I loved this book, and I can't wait for the follow up book Dare You To which is set to release in May 2013.

Vengeance Born had been on my list of books to get from the first moment I saw the cover! Australian author, Kylie Griffin did not disappoint with her beautiful and creative world building, bringing this story and her characters to life, etching a place in my heart. The second book in this series Alliance Forged just confirmed for me what a talented writer Kylie Griffin is, and her books are on my keeper shelf.
I have pre-ordered the third book in this series, Allegiance Sworn and I really can't wait for its release in April 2013.

Zombies are not my thing, but Flesh came highly recommended by a friend so I thought why not. Why not indeed! - not only was this a great zombie story full of snappy writing and addictive characters, but it was a really great erotic read too!
A convert to the zombie theme, I look forward to more books from Kylie Scott, especially book #2 in this series Skin, which is set to release in February 1st 2013.

I loved the amazing world that Merrie Destefano created for Fathom
This beautifully crafted story with a watery twist and shrouded in Celtic myth was addictive. For her first foray in the YA genre, Merrie Destefano has definitely made her mark, I cant wait to see what she has to come in 2013.

A beautiful and sweetly engaging story, Ransomwood by Sherryl Jordan will melt your heart. Simply put, this book was an absolute pleasure to read.

Every Day by David Levithan is the quintessential love story.
Although it didn't get a perfect 5 star review from me, it was a book I could happily read again...and again. I loved the voice with which this story is told and will definitely add the authors back catalogue to my to read list.

I love a good historical romance, and IMO Anna Campbell writes some of the best.
Seven Nights in a Rogue's Bed left me thoroughly enchanted with its dark and gothic retelling of a beauty and the beast themed love story. Another author on my keeper shelf, I can't wait for the next installment of Anna Campbell's Sons of Sin series.

Book #2 in the Witch Song series, Witch Born definitely has all the right things going for it and I eagerly await future stories from Amber Argyle as she has put me under her spell with the truly beautiful and lyrical way in which she writes. 







The following have not necessarily been bad books, but they have been books I did not enjoy; for whatever reason, they just didn't do it for me :(


Seven Day Loan was a couple of wasted hours of my life that I'll never get back!
Entirely too shallow for me :(

This story lacked character depth and a good editor; and through frustration and angst I gave up after reading less than a quarter :(









Did nothing for me, and (in my opinion) it was pretty crap!

I was bored beyond reason and gave up after 145 pages of Redemption :(

I hated the contrived characters and the authors overuse of a thesaurus. This Ember just fizzled :(










So that's it...
The Best and Worst of 2012 as read by me...
I know there will be people out there that completely disagree, and that's fine - I'll respect your opinion if you respect mine!!
(thats code for don't bother messaging me to rant about how wrong I am!!!)

Book Review: Alliance Forged by Kylie Griffin

Title: Alliance Forged (The Light Blade #2)

Author: Kylie Griffin

Release Date: July 3rd 2012
Publisher: Berkley Sensation
Source: Purchased for my own reading pleasure.

There is no mercy in the demon realm. No escape. In this place of desperation and conflict, anyone who is not purebred is virtually powerless. Until a blind priestess lays claim to a half-breed warrior, body and soul…

Hunted and marked for death by Na’Reish demons for their half-blood heritage, the Na’Chi are searching for a new home—something an alliance offered by the human leader could provide. With both races divided by prejudice, when Light Blade rebels brutally attack the Na’Chi, the alliance seems doomed to fail.

Varian, leader of the Na’Chi, a hybrid race of gifted warriors, is cursed with the darker impulses of his demon heritage. Controlling the part of himself that craves the high of the battle is a struggle he’s afraid he’ll lose—until he meets Kymora Tayn, a priestess driven to serve her deity. While he’s unwilling to trust anyone outside his people, he finds himself drawn to Kymora’s strength and passionate nature, and discovers she has the power to calm the darkness inside him.

When the Na’Reish raid human territory for blood-slaves and kickstart a war, the key to the survival of both races—Na’Chi and human— is an alliance. However, when Kymora is kidnapped, pitting human against human, Varian realizes he must embrace his darker half, not only to save the alliance…but also the woman he loves.

My Thoughts

Let me start by saying the wait for this book has been torturous!
Ever since I read the first installment of The Light Blade series - Vengeance Born back in February, I have had Alliance Forged on my need-to-get list and not just because the cover is HOT!

Kylie Griffin has a talent for sucking the reader in. 
By page 3, I was engrossed, and by page 13, I had informed my family that I was out of bounds for the rest of the night!
I was immediately pulled back into this unique and gripping world of humans (Light Blades), Na’Reish (demons), and Na’Chi (half human/half demon hybrids), and greedily devoured Varian Alliance Forged in one sitting.

Awesome story, great characters that easily worm their way into your heart, sweet and sexy romance that will leave you breathless, and enough prejudice between the races to spark a revolt; setting the scene for a war that you know is going to go off!

I can honestly say that this book is another for the keeper shelf, and I already have a spot reserved for book 3 - Allegiance Sworn, although its another long wait with the publication date set for April 2nd 2013 *oh the pain of waiting!*

Kylie Griffin has again presented a solidly written, intensely emotional story that I am happy to say I loved, a lot!
Another 5 Star read from one of my favourite authors ~<;]

Kylie on Goodreads
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Cover Reveal: Allegiance Sworn by Kylie Griffin

Holy cow - its gorgeous!!

Here it is folks, the eagerly awaited cover for 

book #3 in The Light Blade series

ALLEGIANCE SWORN
(Bk #3 of the Light Blade)

There is no mercy in the demon realm. No escape. In this place of desperation and conflict, anyone who is not purebred is virtually powerless. Until a demon leader seeks to unify the races…

With the alliance of the humans and the half-blood Na’Chi forged, the demon Na’Reish prepare for war by seizing human blood-slaves. Captured during a rescue mission-gone-wrong, Light Blade warrior Arek Barial finds himself claimed by a Na’Reishi female who offers him an unexpected choice.

Raised in the elite ranks of a society she abhors, Imhara Kaal lives a dangerous double life as a Na’Reish Clan-leader and an advocate for a caste-free life that honors the Old Ways. Openly rebelling against the Na’Reish would mean her death, unless she can find an emissary willing to present her petition to the human Blade council.

But Arek isn’t about to blindly follow a demon—despite the intense attraction growing between them. And while hatred for the Na’Reish is all he has ever known, Arek must learn to trust Imhara, or risk the destruction of all three races…

Winner!!

The Random Goddess has spoken and the winner of the 

Varian t-shirt is...

~::~Linda~::~

Congratulations Linda, I'll email you shortly :)

TRG chose #36

Book Review: Vengeance Born by Kylie Griffin

Title: Vengeance Born (The Light Blade #1)

Author: Kylie Griffin

Release Date: February 7th 2012 

Publisher: Berkley Publishing Group

Source: Purchased for my own reading pleasure

There is no mercy in the demon realm. No escape. In this place of desperation and conflict, anyone who is not pure bred is virtually powerless. Until an unlikely champion is born...

Annika, half-blood daughter of the Na'Reish King, longs for more than her tormented life among her father's people. Conceived in hatred and bred as a tool of retribution, she's gifted with a special talent that can heal as well as destroy...

With the Na'Reish vastly outnumbering them, Kalan, a Light Blade warrior, knows the future of humankind depends on him alone. Incursions into human territory and raids for blood-slaves by the Na'Reish Horde have increased. As Chosen-leader, he faces the task of stopping the demons-and convincing the Council of aging Light Blade warriors that change is necessary for survival.

When Annika learns Kalan is a prisoner in her father's dungeon, her dream of escape seems within reach. She agrees to free him in exchange for his protection once they reach human territory. Now, marked for death for helping him, Annika must learn to trust Kalan as they face not only the perilous journey to the border but enemies within the Council-and discover a shocking truth that could throw the human race into civil war...

My Thoughts 

I was immediately drawn to this book because of the absolutely gorgeous cover art *takes a moment to admire*
As I have stated in the past, I am a total cover whore and will buy books based on the covers alone! Shallow perhaps but I am who I am!

However, after following the authors blog and getting caught up in all the snippets and insights into this story, I was gagging to get my hands on it. (made worst by the fact that delivery from TBD was excruciatingly slow!)

Once it finally arrived I went into book hibernation and didn't come out again until I was finished.

Vengeance Born did not disappoint.
Vengeance Born was everything I was expecting and more.
Vengeance Born is a keeper!

Vengeance Born is a fantasy romance wrapped in mystery, intrigue, conflict between races, and mystical powers. 
Oh and hot, sexy (and naked) Kalan. Annika is pretty awesome too (hello the cover) but I'm concentrating on my Kalan crush!

The creative world building and attention to detail that has been put into this story is extensive and made it a pleasure to read. 

The writing is smooth, the relationships between characters is real and unforced and well worth the 5 hour non stop read.  

Not only will Vengeance Born be sitting on my keeper shelf but author Kylie Griffin will be added to my list of favourites along side the likes of Nalini Singh and Jeaniene Frost.
A 5 Star read ~<;]

Links 

Author's website
Facebook profile 
At her blog 
On Goodreads 
Twitter