Review: A Matter of Circumstance and Celludrones by Claire Robyns

A Matter of Circumstance and Celludrones (Dark Matters #1)

Author: Claire Robyns
Pages:208
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: September 24th 2012
Author Website | Twitter | Facebook
Available for Order: Amazon|Goodreads

Source: ARR

A Victorian Steampunk/Paranormal adventure with strong elements of romance...
Lady Lily d'Bulier is prim, proper, and prefers to think of herself as pragmatic rather than timid. And avoiding life-threatening situations at all costs is just plain practical. But everything changes when Lord Adair tracks her down in London; searching for answers he seems to think she has.

Greyston Adair is a blackguard and a smuggler, although British Customs will have to catch him red-handed to prove the latter. Fortunately, the dirigibles they float around in have never been able to get near his air dust.

Hell is rising, One Demon at a Time...

With Lady Ostrich hunting them, and the mystery of how their lives tie back to Cragloden Castle and the powerful McAllister clan, Lily has no option but to throw propriety to the wind and run off with Greyston to Scotland, away from the immediate danger and toward possible answers.

My Take:

Ever wonder what life was like for people living in the age that flight was being experimented on and to travel places you needed a carriage, no traffic at all. Lady Lily d'Bulier lives as such and waiting to be asked to marry. Of course life can be a bit strange when you own a Celludrone, a type of robot made to protect those they are given too. Greyston Adair comes along and needs to protect her as well because being attacked by a witch makes anyone want to leave right away. If only they can run from Lady Ostrich who is hell bent on getting her and of course him as well. With limited answers and even more limited places of hiding, time is running out and finding out your special can put any damper on your way. 

They both learn that the day they were supposed to die was the time that all children like them were there for one purpose help stop demons from destroying everything. Their story together has just begun and getting to Cragloden Castle will help them realize their fate is even bigger than what they thought it was. Sacrifices will need to be made when the fate of the earth is on the two of them to gain the strength to fight on. 

A Victorian style setting was lovely all around, Lily and Adair journey was magical and even though it was different than any of its nature, it had me smiling and even encouraging them to fight on. Adair is the type that knows he needs to protect Lily and his power to go back 30 minutes has come in handy plenty of times. I had a great time reading this Victorian age story and hopes it continues on.

5/5 Stars

Review: Pure by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Pure (Covenant #2)

Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout
Pages:330
Publisher: Spencer Hill Press
Release Date: April 3rd  2012
Author Website
Available for Order: Amazon|Barnes and Noble
Source: Arc from Publisher

There is need. And then there is Fate... 
Being destined to become some kind of supernatural electrical outlet isn't exactly awesome--especially when Alexandria's "other half" is everywhere she goes. Seth's in her training room, outside her classes, and keeps showing up in her bedroom--so not cool. Their connection does have some benefits, like staving off her nightmares of the tragic showdown with her mother, but it has no effect on what Alex feels for the forbidden, pure-blooded Aiden. Or what he will do--and sacrifice--for her. 

When daimons infiltrate the Covenants and attack students, the gods send furies--lesser gods determined to eradicate any threat to the Covenants and to the gods, and that includes the Apollyon... and Alex. And if that and hordes of aether-sucking monsters didn't blow bad enough, a mysterious threat seems willing to do anything to neutralize Seth, even if that means forcing Alex into servitude... or killing her. 

When the gods are involved, some decisions can never, ever be undone.

My Take:

When your important and everyone has eyes on you, its kinda hard not to want to do something to change what they might think of you. For Alex living under rules that she more than likely breaks anyways is hard enough, even liking a Pure is a big no. What makes it even harder is he seems to feel the same way but since he isn't like other Pures, he leaves Alex alone, well tries has hard as he can. What makes it hard enough though is when he tells her she is ready, one minute she is training with Aiden and than not so much. What stinks is that she first had to split her time with Seth and Aiden and since because she is getting better, all of a sudden its with the class and who else but the annoying Seth. To make matters worse though is Alex is summoned and has to repeat what happened to her when she came across her mother. But when strange things happen to Alex while at court its hard enough not making yourself look bad. Especially since she doesn't have the power everyone is afraid of. What she says doesn't paint the prettiest picture for her, and because of many occurrences involving her during her stay at court, seem to make up the court decision much more easier.

With someone wanting Alex out of the picture, its hard to think who would want and half-blood/ Apollyon gone. With Seth's help Alex is able to keep out of trouble but for how long and with Alex going through mazes its hard enough trying to figure out who is behind everything Alex is being accused of. Many fingers are pointed and even though Alex isn't a Pure doesn't mean she is behind  everything. Its hard to really enjoy the higher court either, many would think though Alex is a key to everything.

I really enjoyed this, it seemed every step took could lead to other questions. Alex is gaining more and more attention and because of her affections towards a Pure is against the law, she has just one more thing standing in the way of her being with Aiden. Of course with her getting closer to Seth its kinda hard not to see him in a different light, he was able to bring me in. Since reading this I've been trying to figure out what is to happen, and of course with an ending like that its hard not draw some pictures in my mind. So looking forward to Deity which is out later this year. Who said 2012 isn't going to be a kick ass year, especially when an author like Jennifer its hard not be swooned in and of course wanting the days to any release date draw closer. Jennifer draws in the audience leaving us all in book coma, waiting is the only thing that draws the coma and once the book is in your hands its devour time. Jennifer is awesome like that leaving the reader never wanting to get to that dreadful last page. So yeah i need my next JLA fix pronto.

5/5 stars- because its ten times swoon worthy