The Head of Medusa (Elementals #3) Review & Blog Tour!

                Filled with magic, thrilling adventure, and sweet romance, Elementals 3: The Head of Medusa is the latest installment in Michelle Madow’s exciting Elementals series. Follow Nicole and her fellow Elementals as they journey to the end of the world, unsure of who to trust, and facing choices that will put their lives and the entire world at risk. Will they all survive the mission? And if they don’t, will the ones who do be able to find the strength to continue?

               Hello happy readers it's another Friday.  After I post my review today I'm off to finish working on a cake for a baby shower…..I'm excited and it's Harry Potter themed so even better.  Anywho today I am taking part in The Head ofMedusa (Elementals #3) blog tour.  Now if you don't remember this is book three of the series and I reviewed The Prophecy of Shadows (review) and The Blood of Hydra (review) previously and was looking forward to continuing on.  So here are my thoughts and feels on the latest in the series by Michelle Madow.  There will be spoilers for the first two books.

Rating:  4 Stars

                So we left off our group had just completed their mission to gather the ingredients that would stop the monsters they kill from being able to come right back out of the portal.  Along the way they made a few new friends and lost one, angered a god, and so much more.  Now Nicole and her friends are trying to keep the monsters at bay while working on a plan to close the portal and keep the Titans from coming out to end the world while still enjoy her newfound relationship with Blake.  Now they must focus on Typhon, one of the worst in history and only one thing can destroy him, Medusa.  However getting Medusa's head is far from simple and will require many decisions, many of which are life changing.

                This book is like the others for me in the same way that you can sit down and fly right through the book.  Head of Medusa is no exception it was a quick read and it was so fast paced you didn't want to put it down.  Madow has a way of making sure to keep the characters moving and hustling and the action up.  That said this one also has much more for me in the romance department.  It has been in there nudging it's head in for a while but it was more prevalent in this one.  I enjoyed that and I didn't even notice until I finished it just felt so naturally where the story was going.  

                There are twists and turns with new quests and missions and even new monsters to face.  We get to explore some different locations that keep it interesting from the South Pole to LA.  Oh and with new monsters comes more  mythology to enjoy, the one part of history I enjoyed!  New and old characters are in this one and it's not only a fight against the monsters but with their own choices and I liked that play.  They were changed after losing someone on the last mission, they couldn't take for granted that Nicole could simply bring them back so the stakes are amped up.  Nicole is also struggling with not being able to save someone, her main part is to save and she couldn't.   Overall another great addition to the story and OMG that ending I admit to suspecting some things from the start but yes I am so ready for the next book because….feels!

                 That's all without saying to much these are so much fun to read and I wouldn’t want to give away to much.  I'd love to hear your thoughts below in the comments.  Which mythical monster has been the most interesting so far?  Where do you think they will go next?  Share below and we can discuss. 

Rafflecopter for Release Tour Giveaway:

Michelle is offering up a fabulous prize during her Elementals 3: The Head of Medusa Virtual Tour event. One (1) lucky winner will receive a signed paperback copy of Elementals 1: The Prophecy of Shadows! To enter, simply fill out the Rafflecopter below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blood of Hydra (Elementals #2)

                Hello happy readers. Some pretty awesome reading is being done and I’m trying to maximize my reading time.  Today I’m reviewing Blood of Hydra (Elementals #2) by Michelle Madow.  I reviewed the first book, The Prophecy of Shadows, in this series earlier in the year here.  So being a sequel there will be some spoilers for the first book.  This is a fast turnaround for a new series.  This book was provided by NetGalley and the publisher and is available next week on April 18th. 

Rating:  4 Stars

                Blood of Hydra picks up where we left off with our group of chosen witches and a demigod who have been gifted these elemental powers and a job to stop the Titans from escaping.  Gifted these powers they are set on training and trying to be ready for the next monster or threat they face after having such a close call with the harpy.  The harpy Nicole killed by using black magic which is against the law.  No one knows what she did and as much as she wants to trust everyone this is too big.  As monsters arise they must journey to Greece to locate the ingredients needed to help in their tasks.  The harder of the ingredients is the blood of a slain hydra.  Not an easy task. 

                So this one is much like the first as it was fast paced and a quick read, finishing it in one day.  We have our Greek mythology playing a big part as in the first part.  The cast grew more dynamic as we got to learn more about our core group, one of which showed much more depth than the previous book.  The interaction between Nicole and Blake still had the undeniable tension and while he is no longer with Danielle, Nicole still wants to deny what they could have to keep their group focused on their goal.  I could commend her on that decision.  Wanting to upset the group dynamic when their task is so important despite your personal desires.  Nicole is also struggling with her newfound power, the one she is afraid and ashamed to tell anyone about, and watching her struggle as the book went on helped her develop for me.  Blake understands her point but he is also determined to try and make her see they could be good together.  Got to love a man with determination.  Also side note surprise God visit was really fun though I won’t say who.

                The action scenes were well written and lots of fun.  Even at times when the tension was extremely high but there wasn’t action per say in that specific part it was amped up.  The start of the first task for instance, intense but kind of calm before all hell breaks loose!  The book also infuses plenty of laughs in at the right moments that flow naturally.  Though it doesn’t shy away from some darker choices and tasks, epic quests to save the world generally aren’t easy and without risk after all.  Neither are their tasks, all of which were well thought out and interesting from the act of completing them to simply managing plans when no matter what nothing ever goes according to plans.  The scenery described throughout the journey in Greece only makes me want to visit so much more.  Okay maybe not some of the spots but still, Greece seems so beautiful.

                I enjoyed this sequel and am again looking forward to know what our group is left to face next.  Looks like it won’t be too much of a wait so cheers to that.  Blood of Hydra was a fun continuation to the Elementals series.  I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below. 

                Until next time…

Elementals: The Prophecy of Shadows

                Hello everyone!  Today I'm taking part in a release tour for a new book, Elementals:  The Prophecy of Shadows by Michelle Madow.  I previously read and reviewed her title Remembrance (here) and enjoyed it and was looking forward to trying out this new series as well.  I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher for an honest review.  So check out some information on this title, the author, my full review, and then at the bottom a giveaway that is being hosted by Michelle herself! 

Title: Elementals: The Prophecy of Shadows

Author: Michelle Madow

Publisher: Dreamscape Publishing

Release Date: January 26, 2016

Series: Elementals #1

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy

Format: eBook and paperback

ISBN: 2940152448849

Filled with magic, thrilling adventure, and sweet romance, Elementals: The Prophecy of Shadows is the first in a new series that fans of Percy Jackson and The Secret Circle will love!

When Nicole Cassidy moves from sunny Georgia to gloomy New England, the last thing she expects is to learn that her homeroom is a cover for a secret coven of witches. Even more surprisingly … she’s apparently a witch herself. Despite doubts about her newfound abilities, Nicole is welcomed into this ancient circle of witches and is bedazzled by their powers—and, to her dismay, by Blake—the school’s notorious bad-boy.

Girls who get close to Blake wind up hurt. His girlfriend Danielle will do anything to keep them away, even if she must resort to using dark magic. But the chemistry between Blake and Nicole is undeniable, and despite wanting to protect Nicole from Danielle’s wrath, he finds it impossible to keep his distance.

When the Olympian Comet shoots through the sky for the first time in three thousand years, Nicole, Blake, Danielle, and two others in their homeroom are gifted with mysterious powers. But the comet has another effect—it opens the portal to the prison world that has contained the Titans for centuries. After an ancient monster escapes and attacks Nicole and Blake, it’s up to them and the others to follow the clues from a cryptic prophecy so that they can save their town … and possibly the world.

Buy Links:  Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble  |  Kobo  |  iBooks

Add to your TBR List:  Goodreads

About Michelle Madow:

Michelle Madow grew up in Baltimore, graduated Rollins College in Orlando, and now lives in Boca Raton, Florida. She wrote her first book in her junior year of college, and has been writing novels since. Some of her favorite things are: reading, pizza, traveling, shopping, time travel, Broadway musicals, and spending time with friends and family. Michelle has toured across America to promote her books and to encourage high school students to embrace reading and writing. Someday, she hopes to travel the world for a year on a cruise ship.

To get instant updates about Michelle's new books, subscribe to her newsletter and follow her on Amazon!

Connect with Michelle:  Website  |  Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Instagram  |  Goodreads

Review:

Rating: 4 Stars

                I didn't know a whole lot about this story going in just the summary.  I have shamefully not yet read the Percy Jackson books, though I plan to correct that in 2016, I did read The Secret Circle (or at least the original three books) and enjoyed them.  Plus I did enjoy the Percy movies and love Greek mythology, probably the only part in history class I ever paid attention to.  So I was ready to dive in.  Our MC Nicole is moved from her home she knew and loved to a completely new place where she is alone.  That sucks and from the start you feel for her, I know as a Navy brat growing up and moving all the time it always sucked going someplace new and leaving all your friends and having to make new ones.  Day one new school going into class and something crazy happens, the teacher starts to do magic and tries to convince her she's a witch.  While she thinks everyone in the class has lost it there is nothing to do but sit through it.  Until she starts to feel the magic and starts to believe them. 

                Now the class is full of the usual suspects you find in every school and most welcome her into the coven, though Danielle is a bit hostile.  Though she doesn't like anyone whom looks at her man, Blake, and has been known to break the law using dark magic to mark her turf.  Still knowing this Blake and Nicole seem to pull together despite everything.  She is a bit cray, like mean girls on crack level crazy possessive.  While a large part of the story does seem to focus on the triangle there in our group we also have Chris and Kate whom I enjoyed.  Kate was more of the level by the book gal and Chris is fun and energetic and made me laugh several times.  I did find the insta-connection to be a bit on the nose but as this is a story with magic and prophecy you can get away with some things, magic is a crazy thing after all.  I did even enjoy that Nicole didn't want to get involved or even like him based on him having a girlfriend, not that she was scared but that she didn't want to be that girl that went after a taken guy. 

                The hormones were a bit amped up and I did feel maybe a bit too much Secret Circle vibe in some parts and it does have some clichés but overall I really enjoyed the story.  Everything is fast paced and constantly moving.  You fly right through from one thing to the next and while it was predictable it was still fun and that is what I wanted.  I did really enjoy the take on witches and how they have their powers.  I'm ready to continue on with the series and know more about where our group ends up and how things progress because the end got kind of dark with lots of things.  I have hopes that the sequel which already has a title, cover, and release date will improve on a good start. 

                I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.  Don't forget to take a moment and enter the giveaway as well!  

Rafflecopter for Release Week Blitz Giveaway:

Michelle is offering up a fabulous prize during her Elementals: The Prophecy of Shadows Virtual Tour event. One (1) lucky winner will receive a Kindle Fire 7”! To enter, simply fill out the Rafflecopter below:

~Waiting on Wednesday~ Elementals: The Prophecy of Shadows

                “Waiting On” Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we’re eagerly anticipating.  Basically books that are not yet out that we are dying to get our hands on.  This week’s pick is:

Elementals: The Prophecy of Shadows by Michelle Madow

Out:  1/26

From Goodreads:

 Filled with magic, thrilling adventure, and sweet romance, Elementals is the first in a new series that fans of Percy Jackson and The Secret Circle will love!

When Nicole Cassidy moves from sunny Georgia to gloomy New England, the last thing she expects is to learn that her homeroom is a cover for a secret coven of witches.  Even more surprisingly…she’s apparently a witch herself.  Despite doubts about her newfound abilities, Nicole is welcomed into this ancient circle of witches and is bedazzled by their powers—and, to her dismay, by Blake—the school’s notorious bad-boy.

Girls who got close to Blake wind up hurt.  His girlfriend Danielle will do anything to keep them away, even if she must resort to using dark magic.  But the chemistry between Blake and Nicole is undeniable, and despite wanting to protect Nicole from Danielle’s wrath, he finds it impossible to keep his distance.

When the Olympian Comet shoots through the sky for the first time in three thousand years, Nicole, Blake, Danielle, and two others in their homeroom are gifted with mysterious powers.  But the comet has another effect—it opens the portal to the prison world that has contained the Titans for centuries.  After an ancient monster escapes and attacks Nicole and Blake, it’s up to them and the others to follow the clues from a cryptic prophecy so that they can save their town…and possibly the world.

               

Why I’m Waiting:

                So I haven’t read the Percy Jackson books just yet but I’m excited to do so as I love me some Greek mythology.  I also really enjoyed the original Secret Circle books, haven’t continued with the recent additions thus far.  So combining the things sounds like it could be interesting.  I’m curious.  I was recently gifted an ARC of this title and plan to start it this weekend if all goes well so looks like I won’t have to wait long!

                What are you waiting on?  Tell me below what you think of this title and leave a link to your WoW as well so I can check it out!

Remembrance: Love, Reincarnation, Second Chances, or Fate?

                Hello everyone!  I hope you all are having a good week thus far.  Today’s book for review was provided by my favorite NetGalley and Barclay Publishing for an honest review.  

                Remembrance is a story of love, reincarnation, second chances, and all the messy stuff that comes with it.  I went into this book knowing very little about it.  I knew it was about Lizzie, a typical high school girl, who has a good boyfriend and a best friend since the sandbox but things get turned around when a new guy comes to school and she has this feeling she knows him already.  I knew there was a reincarnation aspect to the story and that was all I knew to dive into it. 

Rating: 4 Stars

                I really enjoyed it.  The story moved along quickly and kept me interested.  There was a bit of cheesy but I enjoyed it.  At first I wasn't sure if I liked Lizzie but over time she grew on me quickly.  I understood the reasons for the struggles and stupid mistakes she makes throughout.  She is 17 and young and confused about life and the new feelings she has, plus the situation is complicated.  I don't want to give too much away but I liked how her thought process went, she made changes in her life based on how she felt and not just about this new appearance but on how things had been changing before that.  I liked that it wasn't strictly Drew related.  I also loved her interest in art.  I can't draw for anything so yeah but I do love to read and write and that is my version and I love getting lost in it like she does.

                Which leads up to Drew.  He went and made complicated.  I understood his logic after even if I found it inconsistent, young and flawed boy thinking it was.  It fit in the whole of the story.  I admit though that his actions through the first part of the book left me not caring for him too much.  He was so hot and cold I wasn't sure he was worth it but even then I liked the change he sparked in Lizzie. 

                Lizzie's best friend Chelsea was also back and forth for me.  I loved how they had been friends for so long and their past history was touching and relatable.  Still there were times when Chelsea pushed Lizzie to do things even when Lizzie made it clear it made her uncomfortable and it seemed like Chelsea was too concerned with getting things as she wanted than about her friend.  Though Lizzie has her bad best friend moments as well for sure it just seemed at times that Chelsea was a bit self centered and the friendship was more one sided. 

The other covers in
the series!

                The story for me had different elements.  There was the main drama aspect of the romance for sure but it also had lots of little things happening alongside them.  I liked the wonder and debate about past lives and how they can impact the current life. If you are given a second chance can you make better decisions and right wrongs or are we doomed to repeat the same mistakes again?  How do you try to compute this while still in high school?  When your biggest concern should be about a dance or graduating to be tossed such serious life affirming questions is touch. 

                Remembrance is the first book in the Transcended Time series for which there are 3 more books already out for the taking.  This book could stand alone, things wrapped up smoothly enough though you do wonder about certain aspects which is where the next book, Vengeance, picks up.  I look forward to continuing on and seeing how things continue.  I can't say much more.  I would go into this book open and not knowing a ton and just enjoy watching everything develop. After reading this I'm also even more excited about reading Madows other series The Secret Diamond Sisters. 

                That's all for today.  I will have my Paper Towns book and movie review up for you on Friday.  Also don't forget to check out my review of A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J Maas and enter to win a signed copy of the book here.  Now as usual please comment and share your thoughts below I love having a chance to discuss with other book lovers.  I'd love to hear your thoughts on reincarnation and second chances? Do you think you can change things or is fate unchangeable?