The Seers by Juilanna Scott

Finally!  Cover Art

                I received The Seers as an ARC thanks to NetGalley and Angry Robot.  This wonderful book came out yesterday, January 9th, and is a sequel to The Holders (you can see my review here).  The following is my honest opinion of the book.  Beware this is a sequel so there will be spoilers for the first book, you have been warned.  I am a bit behind with this review and another one I am working to finish up due to being sick this last week.  Hard to do anything more than sleep after dragging myself home from work .  Feeling better and able to function a bit more now, so time to get cracking.

                The Seers by Juilanna Scott, picks up where The Holders leaves off.  This one is still focused on Becca and the world the magical world of the Holders, but the focus shifts as things have come to light.  In the light of her near death experience and the betrayal of a man everyone trusted so completely, they only have one clue.  A name, to someone who may be able to help them bring down the power hungry Darrah.  We see all our favorite characters again as well as some new ones as we leave St. Brigid's to investigate at the center of the aristocratic pure blooded Holder community, the Bhunaidh.  They must try to find their answers without arousing suspicion which as the lines between friend and foe wane and motives are revealed this becomes a dangerous game of cat and mouse.
               Becca is still out strong and compassionate heroine, who is still adjusting to everything in her life.  She is still unsure of her father and what relationship they can have.  She has the other teachers, who are still a riot, and her best friend Chloe. More important she also has Alex, the Holder whom she is bonded with in an unusual way.  I adore them, I get all swoony through the ups and downs.  But as the world changes so do each of our characters.  Becca is forced to into situations that even her strength might be unable to bear.  We also meet a multitude of the pure blood Holders side mainly Bastian and Steven.

                The Seers, continues the Celtic lore, mystery, intrigue, action, and yes romance that I enjoyed so much in the first book.  Can they find out what they need to defeat Darrah while keeping everyone safe?  I give this book 5 Sciaths and can't wait for book 3!  If you have already read this amazing book, tell me what you thought below.  Also…still want to learn Gaelic…read the books and it's easy enough to know why.

Zenn Scarlett by Christian Schoon

                Zenn Scarlett is another ARC I received from NetGalley and the publishers Angry Robot.  This book came out Tuesday, May 7th, I'm a bit behind because of my lack of ability to sit down for more than 30 minutes to type.  But here goes, my thoughts on this sci-fi book.

                The story is about Zenn Scarlett, a 17 year old working to make it through her novice year to become an exovet.  What is this you ask?  Well as they live on Mars (way in the future, terra-forming sections and all way cool), she is learning to be a vet…for alien creatures.  Neat and interesting concept right there, can't think of anything else like it which is always a surprise.  Well things aren't that easy for Zenn with her absent father, helping out at the clinic where she lives with her Uncle Ortha, studying while trying to pass her 3 end of year tests that determine if she will move on to her next year in training to do this one thing she's dreamed about. 

                As if all that isn't enough she also has to combat with a series of inexplicable mishaps on the Cloister grounds that threaten their place uncertain.  Towner, Liam, starts to take an interest in the animals and acting extra friendly towards her, despite everyone else in the Cloister thinking they are all disease carrying, man eating monsters.  Then there is the little part where she might be sharing thoughts with the patients.  Talk about stress!  She must figure out if she is going crazy, pass her tests, and figure out what is happening around the Cloister with the help of Liam and Hamish, the Clinic sexton and huge insectoid who is also in training.

                I really enjoyed this book, I liked getting to know Zenn and all the different creatures, especially Katie.   She hasn't had many friends growing up and has spent her life with the animals and cares for each of them and as an animal lover (all be it more the cute fluffy types) I completely understood her.  Her uncertainty at new situations, her concern she is losing her mind, her fears for her future and everything else.  I also enjoyed Hamish and the way he was written, from a planet a society, where he must ask permission to do anything. 

                The book does start just a tad bit slowly but I enjoyed getting a feel for the new world and understanding Zenn so for me the pace worked for this tale.  It has plenty going on to keep you entertained while you zoon right through it, and if like me get your imagination wandering.  I can't wait to pick up the 2nd book and see where Schoon take it from there.  Again Zenn Scarlett came out Tuesday May 7th, I give it 4 Cute Rikkasets, check it out.

The Assassin's Curse by Cassandra Clarke

                Another book from NetGalley.com and the publishers at Angry Robot.  I had read a review for this book from a friend and fellow blogger right before I started it and I have to say my expectations were high.

                The story is set in a world of magic and pirates ARGHH!  *Okay I couldn't resist.  We follow Ananna of Tanarau, as her parents try to marry her off to an allying pirate clan.  This already makes you feel for our main character in my opinion.  I've always hated the idea of arranged marriage.  I could write a whole post on that barbaric practice, so I won't get started.  Back to the book, Ananna doesn't want to marry this guy and sail on his ship under his command.  She has higher aspirations in life.  So she does the only thing she can, she runs.

                Running from an arranged marriage seems pretty easy right.  Not when the clan you spurned sends an assassin after you.  Something happens when Naji, the assassin, comes after her and she somehow activates a curse which changes everything.  Now they are forced to work together, learn to trust one another enough to try and find a way to break this curse while fighting for their lives from enemies on both sides of their duo, which between a runaway pirate bride and an assassin there are many.

                First I have to talk about the characters.  Ananna is a strong female who doesn't need or want to be taken care of instead handing herself.  She is quick on her feet and can think on the fly, her life teaching her how to swindle and stay one step ahead.  Now she does have her own set of morals and beliefs and does need help.  She's not that good at being open or trusting without reason but I think what I love most about her is that she is, for the most part, rational.  She has her moments of letting emotions rule her but for the most part she is able to think things through and have some ration reasoning behind her actions. 

                Now we have Naji, our dark and brooding assassin who is even more closed off because of his scars.  He is a worker of blood magic but is completely out of his depth when hindered by this curse.  At first he is just a demanding and mysterious oaf.  Then you slowly start to learn more about him and he grows on you.  I liked getting to know him as Ananna does, we see how she half wants him to leave her alone and half wants him to stay with her.  Naji has his own demons to contend with and you see the vulnerability in him which is highly unlikely given his profession. 

                Onto the flaws, yes there are almost always flaws, and sadly this one has a tiny bit more than my impatience for the next one.  That is seriously #1 though, this whole waiting for the next book is very inconvenient haha.  Some of the things did seem a bit rushed, which helped keep the story moving for sure but I would have liked a little more in some areas especially along the trip getting from the boat to the island and all with the colorful characters they we surrounded by.  This is nothing to hinder my enjoyment by any means I just felt there was so much more that could have been explored with the same vibrancy and breathtaking detail as the rest.  Though to be honest part of me is hoping that some was cut short to leave more for the 2nd book so I find it hard to be against that.

                I for one can not wait until the next book to see how these two move forward in their journey.  The story is compelling and so much fun.  They are both great characters and that alone makes me want to keep reading to learn more.  I root for the underdogs and lets face it a pirate girl who ran from an arranged marriage and an assassin who is cursed are pretty big underdogs. 

This book came out on October 2nd and I think everyone should check it out.  I'm going to give it 5 daggers because I couldn’t put it down and it let me get lost in a different world for hours at a time.  Have you read it already?  Tell me what you think.