Short Story Review: Kelley Armstrong Free Fiction!!

Regular readers will know I am a huge fan of Kelley Armstrong's writing. I discovered her adult fantasy series "Women of the Otherworld" in a Waterstones many years ago, when a short read of the back cover made me purchase it for my good friend Sam. Just weeks later he had purchased the rest of the series and we were reading it with a frenzy! The books are all a perfect length and effortless reads with a tantalising adult edge that doesn't over power a superb fantasy narrative.

But as everybody who calls them self a reader will tell you, the worst part about reading a series is having to wait for the next instalment. But Armstrong has given us something else to enjoy between her books for over a decade. On her website, she offers a total of 12 short stories, that act as companions to her adult series, as well as her YA series Darkness Rising & Darkest Powers as well as detective series Nadia Stafford.

I have been meaning for a while to do a review of these fab little bit sized fiction for super fans like myself, and newcomers a like. I will split this in to two posts, and review the first six now, and the next six another time.

Demonology
At 21 pages this short is longer than some of the other offerings on her site. But this is written superbly for newcomers to the series. The things you learn within this addition to the series about Talia and her son Adam, who is having problems with a 'heated' temper could be considered a very small spoiler. However I think the ending to this would make anyone want to read on. I have to say, having read all of them this is still my favourite of the collection, as an addition to the Women of the Otherworld series.

Kat
This short is from Darkest Powers & Darkness Rising series. Originally published in a short series collection (Eternal Kiss) it follows another patient from the Edison group. I read this a number of weeks ago now, and it hasn't made a lasting impression, but having said that I would recommend it to anyone who is thinking about reading the series as an introduction of Armstrong's YA writting style.

Recruit
This is another short from the Women of the Otherworld series, which is set just before Frost Bitten. If you haven't yet read Broken I would save this short for after as it contains a pretty massive spoiler. On written for the fans of the series and a real bite sized treat at only 5 pages!

Framed
This is the longest of the shorts on the website, but also one of the best. Another great one for newcomers to the series, this novella is described as:

"Nick wakes up next to a stranger. Nothing new for Nick…except that this woman’s dead. He’s sure he’s being framed. With the rest of the Pack busy, he’s determined to handle this on his own."

Anyone who is familiar with the character of Nick will really enjoy this, one of my favourite werewolves who is not a Danver.

Case of the Half Demon Spy
This short surrounds Paige and Adam as children, trying to listen into a council meeting. Another one for the fans I think, as it really adds to the series and changed my opinion of some characters for the better.


Truth & Consequences
This was where Armstrong first created the character of Elena. In terms of chronology it is set before Bitten, the first book in the Women of the Otherworld series, and a real gem. Must read of the collection for fans and new comers to the series alike.

I hope anyone looking to read these shorts will find this intresting. I will repeat these are all free on Kelley Armstrongs website to download as PDF's so what are you waiting for?

Fancy checking out the books in the series, here are some of my favs :)

Have you read any of these shorts, let me know what is your favourite in the comments! Know a book or series I might like, please let me know as well, I am always on the hunt for new reads :)

Thanks for reading,

Love Rie x

Impulse Control by Susan Bischoff - Book Review

I discovered this book for free while doing one of my regular Amazon free download trawls. When I mentioned it in one of my Spotted blog posts I commented that it sounded similar to one of the YA series by Kelley Armstrong and I was defiantly intrigued. One night when I was tired with long novels and struggling on what to read I chose this short story and was in for a little treat!

Summary Courtesy of Amazon: In the world of the Talent Chronicles, kids born with supernatural powers are taken from their families and forced into government research facilities called State Schools. At one such school, a dangerous experiment has killed two young inmates and threatens others. Ethan, a shape-shifter, is reluctantly recruited by his best friend Karen, a telepath, and Elle, the unique Talent he has a crush on, to thwart the faculty's plans. If they’re caught they face Detention, and Detention at a State School has a whole different meaning.

I must first reiterate that this is not strictly a book. Advertised as a short story, it is only 12,000 words long and I easily devoured it in one evening. It is drawn from Bischoff's series the Talent Chronicles, a YA supernatural series that focuses on 'talents', people born with supernatural powers. Feared by society they are destined to a life of hiding their abilities or institutionalised under the preconception they will be taught how to control their powers, but in reality are little more than lab rats.

Immediatly when reading the description I likened them to the Darkest Powers series by Kelley Armstrong, which I loved as an easy to read YA fantasy series, and was excited to find something similar. I was not disappointed by this short taster into this series but fear it may be targeted even younger than imagined. The titles of the second book 'Heroes before Curfew' saying a lot. This being said I did really enjoy getting drawn into the pubescent mind of young supernatural's, the pure escapism proving much more enjoyable than some more complex adult reads. The characters promised to be well developed and likeable whilst engaging in a action filled narrative with just the right amount of awkward romance. Ethan promises to be a perfect substitute for troubled Derek from the Darkest Powers series, in a way that is teasingly familiar.

I can't say this book offers something new or revolutionary but it is a taster to a series I want to read more of. The first book in the series, Hush Money priced at just 77p has been downloaded and added on to my Kindle's TBR folder, so watch this space for the review!

Overall I rate this a 7/10.

Thanks for reading,

Love Rie x

Spotted: Free Kindle Books!!

I originally wanted to do this post as a video, but after filming and starting the editing process I realised that my editing software (Windows Movie Maker) is just not up to scratch. The audio and video keep going out of sync, and it was getting really frustrating. It was very important to me that I got this information out as soon as possible, as Kindle books do not stay free for long. So my apologies for the rather false start on providing some video posts via YouTube, but I will invest in some better equipment and software soon and come back with new vigour!

How you will often find me of an evening.
I love the colour of my Kindle cover, which was
a birthday present from my brother. 

As you can see in the title, this post is all about my top picks of free Kindle books on Amazon. I would like to add here that you do not need to feel left out if you do not have a Kindle. Amazon offers free applications for your computer, iPhone and other smart phones that you can download all Kindle books onto and enjoy the free literature.

I have divided this post in two; my first four picks are classics of the book world whose copyright has now expired and thus are now available for free. The second half however are the time sensitive ones. These are books that have been placed on Amazon for free for a limited time only, so if you like the sound of any of these titles do not delay and download them straight away. I have been introduced to some of my favourite new authors this way, and is well worth it for those that want to discover something new.

Classics

• Dracula by Bram Stoker
  Before your Twilight, Vampire Diaries and True Blood, Dracula was the original vampire. If you like vampire books and have not read Dracula you need to get your head seen to. This is a classic and a must read to all.
• Frankenstein by Mary Shelley 
  The first zombie book, before zombies were cool (if they ever were!). Even if you claim to have seen the movie, and all its tedious sequels and remakes it is well worth going back and reading the original.
• Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll 
  This is one of those books that I love to dip in and out of. If I am feeling stressed or restless this fantastically crafted fantasy world is true escapism. We did a play of this in primary school (and I didn't even get to be Alice... but we wont go into that...) and it really cemented my love of all its little quirks.
• The Return of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
  I have searched high and low for the original Sherlock Holmes but cannot seem to find it anywhere for free. However this book does come highly recommend (although I must confess I have not read it myself). If you do want to read his full collection, you can purchase it for just 77p here.

New Publications - Free for a limited time only!!
Firstly I must say that I have not read any of these books, so cannot comment on their quality. The very nature of free Kindle books means that I have sourced these books very recently and not yet had chance to read them.

•  Ghost Box: Six Supernatural Thrillers by Scott Nicholson [no longer free :(]
  This collection of ghost stories promises to have you scared witless!
• Soul Mate by Richard Cawford
  The cover of this is very cliche with the moody haunted house and bats. But you should never judge a book by its cover, and the description sounds intriguing. And who can say no when it is free?
• Her Vampire Husband by Michele Hauf 
  I really like the sound of this books description. With the main protagonists being a vampire and a werewolf and both of them being married sounds like a blood bath. But I am looking forward to seeing how this will read.
• The Seventh Sister by Z. L. Arkaidie
  This paranormal romance book is the second in the Parched series, which makes it an odd one to be free. All I can assume is it will force people like me to purchase the first one as well, as they find it impossible not to read them in order! But I will have a look at this closer, and see if it is worth the investment.
• Bewitching the Werewolf by Caroline Hanson
  Short stories with witches and vampires - has got to be worth a quick read! (comes with an adult warning).
• Black Moon by C. L. Bevill
  Another short story, which is the first part of the Moon Trilogy. Containes Werejaguars, WereWolves and a Librarian was a warning it is not for minors.... I am going to have to read it now just to find out why!! You can also get the next two parts of the series, Amber Moon and Silver Moon for free too!
• The Vampire's Warden by S. J. Wright
  A paranormal romance from the Undead in Brown series, which claims to be a different approach to your average Vampire story.
• Thirst by Claire Farrell
  This is the first part of the Ava Delaney series, a protagonist who is a Human-Vampire hybrid that I want to read a lot more about!

Hopefully this is enough to keep you going, but if you would like to find more free Kindle books, make sure to follow me on Twitter and add me as a friend on Facebook, where I post links of free books on Amazon that I have spotted.

Let me know if you like these sort of posts, and would like to see more. 

Thank you as always for reading,

Love Rie