Magyk: Septimus Heap Book 1 by Angie Sage

***THIS IS A SERIES BOOK***

Overview:
The seventh son of the seventh son, aptly named Septimus Heap, is stolen the night he is born by a midwife who pronounces him dead. That same night, the baby's father, Silas Heap, comes across a bundle in the snow containing a new born girl with violet eyes. The Heaps take this helpless newborn into their home, name her Jenna, and raise her as their own. But who is this mysterious baby girl, and what really happened to their beloved Septimus?

Review:
This book is a very well written children's book, and while I do believe that it is safe enough for children of all ages to read, I would have to believe that only children who are developed enough to sit down through very long stories would be able to actually comprehend and connect the dots to this lengthy, but beautifully woven piece of work. So I would have to say that this is a 7+ book and I say seven very loosely. Not all seven year olds will be able to handle the girth of this book, but for sure, they would enjoy having it slowly read to them night by night. Keep in mind however, that the Old English type, may very well have an affect on the child's development of spelling, and be sure to explain that to them thoroughly.

I will have to give this book four stars, as its length might very well be it's downfall in the younger readers category. However, the world Sage creates is unlike most I have ever read. It has an "old time" feel to it allowing for you to delve into the world and get lost in its ancient need for candle lights and the "Old English" spellings. I rather enjoyed the play on words that Sage brings into this world, giving a realistic feel to the time-frame she wants you to live in with the characters. The character development is phenomenal. She genuinely creates a hate for characters you're meant to hate (much like "Taddy Dearest" in the Celestra Series by Addison Moore and Dolores Umbridge in Harry Potter) as well as a respect for others. It's almost palpable the atmosphere she gives in the small details and the creation of different "unknowns" that aren't real items in this world, but, once explained, make absolute sense in the world of Septimus Heap.

Thanks for listening to my opinion!

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Ephemeral by Addison Moore- Countenance Book 1

Overview:
In the grand scheme of things, you’ll be dead a lot longer than you’ll ever be alive. The last thing Laken Stewart remembers is the oncoming car, then bursting through the windshield. Two months dissolve without her knowledge and she finds herself in unfamiliar surroundings with strangers who not only profess to know her but insist she’s someone else entirely. Laken discovers her long dead boyfriend, Wesley, has been thrown into this alternate world as well. He is quick to inform her she suffered a horrible fall and that her memory hasn’t fully returned. According to Wesley the other life she had—her name, her family, they were simply a side effect of her brain trauma. In her quest for answers she meets Cooper Flanders, the son of her psychiatrist who readily believes every word she says. Laken Stewart knows she died on that hot July afternoon, but now she’s alive—or is she?

Review:
And she does it again. Addison Moore is an astounding author who knows how to captivate and taunt her readers with both sensual teasing and adrenaline based highs. Instantly we fall for this mysterious stranger that Laken first meets, and dive right into her skepticism regarding this reality that seems all too impossible. 

Five hearts goes to this wonderful book. I found myself pining for more information on Laken and what the Countenance has gotten into not to mention I have a small crush on Flynn...you'll have to read the book to know who that is. No spoilers from me! This is a wonderful stand alone start, but I do have to suggest the Celestra Series for all my readers as it does tie in with this book later in the series but so far, its not needed to understand one another, they have their own focuses and are wonderfully written pieces of art.

Thanks for listening to my opinion!

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Hot off the Presses!

Overview:

Sixteen-year-old Laken Stewart died last summer. Her resurrection at the hands of the Countenance hasn’t run smoothly. With the memory of her past life still firmly intact, Laken moves deeper into the Countenance organization in an effort to free her mother and sister from the deadly Celestra tunnels.

The love she feels for her boyfriend, Wesley, is compromised when gorgeous Cooper Flanders teams up with her in the fight to free their families. Old bonds are slowly severed as new ones are galvanized.

Wesley is sure that what he and Laken share is special but when it becomes apparent that she’s reading his mind, he’s determined to get the bottom of her true intentions. And one thing is for sure, the Celestra that’s giving her these powers is going to have to pay. Wesley’s love for Laken takes him to the dark places he never believed existed and what he discovers dismantles his world as he knows it.  


Everyone should read this and let me know what your opinions are!

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Ethereal Knights Release!

Overview:
Ethereal Knights is Ethereal (Celestra Series Book 1) rewritten through Logan and Gage’s perspective. This is a full length novel.

Angels still roam the earth through Nephilim bloodlines. The battle for power between angelic factions intensifies when a new girl moves to Paragon Island.

Logan and Gage Oliver are captivated by Paragon’s newest resident, Skyla Messenger. Logan believes she is the Celestra destined to grow to a ripe old age with him, and Gage believes she’s the girl prophesized to be his.

The battle lines are drawn as both Olivers vie for her attention while danger lurks around every corner, and they must work together to keep Skyla safe. Logan fights to keep his new relationship with Skyla, but destiny alters his plans and he must make a decision that might cost him Skyla forever.

Lend me links to your reviews of Ethereal Knights! Leave them in the comments section!

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Interview with Addison Moore

R: Welcome Addison! I'm so glad you could join us today. So, you started this series originally as two different series entirely, what made you combine them in the end?

AM:I guess it was the fact that the first one, which was about a group of teenagers who lived on an island, had no real purpose other than common high school problems. The second one had a paranormal element that I was in LOVE with but couldn't get it to work. Something just wasn't clicking. So I was thrilled when I thought of combining the two because I wasn't ready to let those kids off the island just yet. And I'm glad I didn't! Ironically Skyla's name was originally Laken. I simply moved Laken to my new series, EPHMERAL (The Countenance) which will debut this summer before I release the seventh book in the Celestra Series, TOXIC.


 Raschel: How on earth do you balance everything in your life? You're a mother, a wife(which also means you're a cook, maid, dog walker, laundry mat, and so much more) not to mention you self-published your books to start and that entails so much more than people would initially assume. Care to give us all some insight?

AM: Ugh! You are so right about the laundry list of things that moms do! And don't get me started on laundry. I'm notorious for making lists and setting goals for each day. I actually set them so fantasically high that I never quite reach them but I like the concept, lol! I try to squeeze in housework whenever possible. I get my best plotting done that way and on the treadmill.

Raschel: Do you ever find yourself written into a corner and you're just plain stuck? How do you deal with the hum-drums of "writer's block"?

AM: All the time! I learned a long time ago that getting out that pickle was as simple as giving your main character 10 new problems they could have right at that moment and go with a few. It works every time. A few fun twists have come from moments like those.

Raschel: We hear that Skyla is going to marry Gage; Logan says that he too gets his chance as her husband, and all the while here is Marshall stating that he is going to be there after the Olivers, the last and final husband (that we know so far). How does Skyla feel about all these accusations of her future being clouded with husband dramas?

AM: Of course all three of those wonderful "visions" were purposeful events. I'd like to take the blame but I'll pass it off on the boys until the truth comes out. The truth does come out in full in book 8 the final Celestra book. I must admit I've known the end before I ever penned a word of the series and it's been fun leading the readers on this twisted journey. It's going to be very hard for me to write that last book because I do end the love triangle. *cries a little* I really do have a place in my heart for all three of the men in Skyla's life. I'll make sure they're all well taken care of.

Raschel: YOU'VE BEEN OPTIONED!! While we all know that means you're supposed to be put on film, we also know from other options that it doesn't always go according to plan, and sometimes they fall through. Is your optioning concrete yet and if so, do you know when they will start casting? I know a lot of readers are anxious to know more.

AM: Ha! Is anything concrete? No, it's most certainly not in the stone but it is in the hands of a very capable writer. I'm not sure if I'm allowed to say her name so I won't but she's working on a treatment for the pilot. I was lucky enough to pay a visit to the 20th Century Fox lot and met with my producer. It was so fun and wild I won't ever forget it. As soon as I hear more news though I'll start filtering it down through facebook and my blog. I'm hoping soon!

Raschel: How many books are you currently planning in the Celestra Series, and how does it tie into the Countenance?

AM: OK. I started to feel a little distended around book 5 VEX when I was inundated with people asking, so I thought about it and decided about eight books. I've always said I'd let Celestra run its course because I've already taken so many liberties with it. I'm not sure I'll run such a long series again in the near future. But I will say Celestra is still running its course because Toxic just split into two parts. It still reads as one story arc though.

Raschel: Thanks again Addison for coming along and answering so many questions!

AM: Thank you SO very much for hosting me! I'm honored and humbled to have been invited. I can't wait to share many more books with you and your readers.

Well thanks for joining us for this insight into these series by Addison Moore! I hope you've enjoyed Celestra Week and don't forget to keep your eyes open for TOXIC, the seventh installment of the Celestra Series and every Tuesday Moore puts up Tuesday Teasers from both of her series books and she's even gone so far as to do interviews with the characters!

I'll see you all next week with a review on the MAYFAIR MOON by J. A. Redmerski. 




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Expel (book 6) - by Addison Moore

***SPOILER ALERT***

This is a series book, do not read this review unless you have read Vex!  For a list of book order and links see the bottom of review.

Overview:

A death.
A war.
Regret.
Heartbreak.
An old enemy.
A new enemy.
A well-placed boyfriend.
An ending you won’t believe.

Seventeen year-old Skyla Messenger discovers love is stronger than death and deception. In an effort to rectify those horrible truths Skyla’s life changes forever.

Love and heartbreak become obstacles that overshadow the faction war and in the end may cost her everything.


Review:
We left off with Gage AND Logan seemingly dead and having to be left behind while another Logan steals Skyla away with herself....wait....herself? Isn't that like....impossible?! Oh no! The world is going to collapse! At least now we know that Skyla has a reason for those pretty little dots on her hand from the first book. Though, I have to wonder still what that hand looks like now.

This review earns five hearts. I am still in shock at how tremendously Moore can leave me hanging and so lost yet so happy to be blindsided with information I never would have thought possible. There are a few points here where you can assume things but they are greatly outweighed by the refreshingly new vigor she puts into her books, never leaving you for a moment to be predictable or rather...when she does start to go to predictable she quickly throws a monkey wrench into the works. I have to say I haven't been this excited to be lost in a very long time. No wonder why she's in the top 1,000 sales on amazon! Not to mention the fact that she is now OPTIONED! Century Fox has now optioned this series and how smart they are to do so, to read more on this click here.

Celestra Series

Ethereal

Tremble

Burn

Wicked

Vex

Expel - Amazon B&N

Toxic (Coming Soon!)

Thanks for your listening to my opinion!
~Raschel

Vex (book 5) - by Addison Moore

***SPOILER ALERT***

This is a series book, do not read this review unless you have read Wicked!  For a list of book order and links see the bottom of review.

Overview:
Seventeen year-old, Skyla Messenger finds herself lying on an altar as a sacrifice to the enemy.

Being an angel of the highest Nephilim order hasn’t been easy. Her first love has cast his allegiance to the Countenance, the Sectors and the Fems see her as nothing more than a celestial pawn, and the dead girl she helped bring back to life has blackmailed her into relinquishing her boyfriend.

Skyla is determined to change all that. She's decided to never trust Logan again, to turn the tables on the Sectors and the Fems, and get dirt on Chloe to blackmail her into leaving Gage alone. But, when one obstacle after another gets in her way, Skyla can hardly find the strength to carry on. The only solution seems to be to sacrifice herself to the Sector in her life and put everything in order while losing everything she values most.

Review:
So who here remembers Pierce and his other worldly brother Kreager? Well get ready for a nice mess brought on via the twins cause here comes trouble, and its in double. We are left hanging in this one wondering how Skyla can ever recover from the brutal assault from pregnancy accusations all the way to damaging evidence against her relationship or should I say relationships? Moore brings yet another tantalizing morsel in front of the audience this time as she dangles the strings of the past in front of Skyla who is finally starting to tap into what has been going on around her over the past few years of her life.

This review earns five hearts, it has a great refreshment in the story where you realize that even though Skyla is just starting to grasp the things that have happened to her since she arrived on Paragon, the bigger picture still eludes her. Skyla finds new information in this series where Chloe has returned reigning in the bitch squad yet again to do her torture.So is anyone else wondering how many little dots Skyla now has on her hands from time travel? I would venture to say she just has a big black spot showing on her hand now rather than several dots, I know I've lost count by now and I would love to know where Addison goes with that little detail.

Celestra Series

Ethereal

Tremble

Burn

Wicked

Vex - Amazon - B&N

Expel

Toxic (Coming Soon!)

 Thanks for your listening to my opinion!
~Raschel

Wicked (book 4) - by Addison Moore

***SPOILER ALERT***

This is the third book in a series, please do not read this review unless you have read Burn first! See the bottom for links and order List.

Overview:
Seventeen year-old, Skyla Messenger is wishing people would just stay dead.

With Chloe back, Skyla finds it difficult to live under her tyranny and threats.

A seemingly innocent misstep in Skyla’s past comes back to haunt her and could end up costing her relationship with Gage.

Review:
Did any of you see this coming? I know I didn't. I assumed Tad and his crew would be ...well let's just call them "blue" from the start, just something about the way he acts sets off...well anyone! This is where I say well done Addison Moore! You've created a genuine antagonist. Though, he's not really the main perpetrator here...Chloe Bishop lives. And with that life, the blood pumping through her veins rises a new terror of hatred.

Wow, the construction of this world does better than most series by book four, hince the five stars. Usually books into their fourth book tend to slightly deteriorate with their world not being in need of much back up and yet having some sort of slight deterioration. Moore brings in new aspects of her world creation with each book, thus rising the standard and uping the ante. Skyla knows the truth about her past now, and has acted on it, but will that really settle things now that Chloe is back? I don't think so I'm afraid to say that in this book we find the betrayal go even deeper than we imagined and with a rise in family hormones now that baby talk has started who knows what is going to happen next.

Celestra Series

Ethereal

Tremble

Burn
Wicked - Amazon - B&N

Vex

Expel
Toxic (Coming Soon!)

Thanks for listening to my opinions!
~Raschel

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Burn (book 3) - By Addison Moore

***SPOILER ALERT***

This is the third book in a series, please do not read this review unless you have read Tremble first! See the bottom for links and order List.

Overview:
Sixteen year-old, Skyla Messenger is having difficulties with the living and the dead.

With Chloe’s diary in her hands, Skyla embarks into the mind of one of Paragon’s most twisted former residents.

After accidentally kick-starting the faction war, Skyla finds herself in more danger than ever before. So, when Marshall offers her a taste of the gift of knowing, Skyla attempts to use it to alter the outcome of future prophecies.

And now that Skyla’s love life seems to involve one boy too many, she must choose who to be with. If she waits too long, the decision just might be made for her.

Review:
I was so anxious to read into Chole's diary I didn't even stop to put down my kindle for a second to review TREMBLE before I dived into this book. Addison really does an amazing job at writing and creating new worlds to live. Previously we met Marshall, a Sector who has offered the option of bringing back Skyla's father, but at a price. That price you ask? Marriage! Wait, she's sixteen isn't she? Well I have to say WOAH buddy! Time for you to reign in those horses that keep pulling you forward at your high and mighty ranch.

Burned as well as Tremble earned five hearts! So I won't fully spoil it, but we face a pregnancy, a betrayal, heartbreak and more in this wonderful episode of Skyla's life and the faction war. Did I mention death? Yes, there is definentaly death in this book. Can I just say these things were expected, however I STILL never saw them coming the way that they did. I expected betrayal but not from where it came from, I expected heartbreak but not from that perspective, and pregnancy...well wow...just wow. Way to touch the stick of teen parenting without really hitting too hard!

Celestra Series

Ethereal

Tremble
Burn - Amazon - B&N

Wicked
Vex

Expel
Toxic (Coming Soon!)

Thanks for listening to my opinions!
~Raschel

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Tremble (book 2) - by Addison Moore

***SPOILER ALERT***

This is a series book, and ETHEREAL is the first in this series, spoilers are in this review!  See the bottom of the post for links to the order of the book series.

Overview:
Sixteen year-old, Skyla Messenger is determined to bring back the dead.

For Skyla, being an angel from the coveted Celestra faction hasn’t been easy.

An entire band of wicked angels is after her blood, a Sector is after something far more sinister, and her newfound powers lead her on a quest to save her dead father.

Skyla and her boyfriend Logan try to piece together a plan to take down the Countenance in order to maintain their relationship, but will Skyla’s burgeoning feelings for Gage get in the way?

And when Skyla decides to use her powerful blood to change the fate of another deceased soul, just who is going to stop her?

Review:
Wow, she's done it again! Moore brings a new edge to the idea of angels on earth. Dare I say she's got an edge that most of her competitors don't. She's got more than just a simple love triangle going on here and boy does this interest get explosive. I was seriously impressed with the action as well as the romance. Both of which left me hanging on a thread begging for more. In this book we delve deeper into both Skyla and Chloe and not to mention we get to bring in a gorgeous sounding Sector. But I won't ruin that for you, though we will talk about it tomorrow when I give my review on BURN the third installment to this series. I must say I am eager to find out what secrets lay behind those glued pages!

This review eared five hearts. The character development and world creation are wonderful. As a reader we can finally begin to feel the atmosphere (without so many grammar issues) of the world Skyla is living in, not to mention how Paragon itself feels as a constantly cloudy state of setting lets you feel the consistency of weight these pressures are put onto the shoulders of our young heroine.

Celestra Series

Ethereal

Tremble

Burn - Amazon - B&N

Wicked

Vex

Expel

Toxic (Coming Soon!)

Thanks for listening to my opinions!
~Raschel

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