Review- Arcana: The Maiden by Catherine Stovall

Title- Arcana: The Maiden
Author- Catherine Stovall
Genre- Paranormal (Magical)
Release Date- 8th of October 2013
Publisher- Crushing Hearts and Black Butterfly
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Review copy provided by the author.

Blurb- The High Priestess and her consort, the Magician, have stripped away all vestiges of technology and cast the world of Wade into a magical dark age. In order to further their aims of domination, the evil pair murders sixteen-year-old Bianca’s family and captures her, intending to use her ethereal blood to wake a powerful spirit and rule the universe.

Three years later, Bianca breaks the sacred circle and allows an outside force to free her from her imprisonment in an evil place that the people of Wade call The Tower. When she wakes in the rebel encampment, Bianca finds herself faced with the boy she had thought dead and the Hierophant, who offers her something no one else has—a choice about her own destiny.

Driven by a want to help the rebel forces and the need to be close to Jonathan, Bianca makes a courageous decision, with a little guidance from the true Goddess, and vows to end the High Priestess’ rule over Wade. Developing from a helpless captive to a strong leader, her only distraction is forcing Jonathan to choose between her and Angel, the sex-kitten daughter of a visiting coven leader. Unfortunately, it is a hard lesson learned when the devil plays her for a fool, and her distrust in her own magic allows a traitor to make the Hanged Man Coven vulnerable.

Jonathan’s betrayal and the death of one of their own, sends Bianca fleeing from the hardships of her new life. Following the path of the Goddess, she learns the secret of the Wheel of Life and gains a valuable tool from the Hermit that reveals more than she had feared. With no choice left but to fight, Bianca and her people march into battle against the High Priestess’ forces. The journey is far from easy and proves that even the descendant of a Goddess can falter. On the verge of greatness or failure, Bianca must face down her darkest fears or die.

3 Sassy Books!

Review- Catherine Stovall has done it again with her originality and creativity. She has a wonderful imagination. But while I enjoyed the concept of the storyline, I at times found myself lost throughout the book.  Bianca would at times go off on tangents and I would lose where I was within the story.

I also got a little frustrated with Bianca. It was a constant battle with how she feels then feeling bad for those feelings. I am a big believer in how you feel is how you feel and you shouldn't be made feel bad for that.

Apart from that, Arcana: The Maiden was an enjoyable read about good vs evil in a world where magic reins and staying true to yourself especially during dark times.

Purchase your copy through these links:

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For more information on Catherine and her other projects check out these links:

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Happy Reading!

 

Review- Haunting Lia by Shannon Eckrich

Title- Haunting Lia
Author- Shannon Eckrich
Genre- YA Paranormal
Release Date- 11th of October 2013
Publisher- Crushing Hearts and Black Butterfly
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Review copy provided by author.

Blurb- Death is her destiny. But she has other things in mind.

Lia Starr’s life isn’t a fairytale. It’s a reality overflowing with scary monsters, death, and betrayal—a past she left behind when she entered her new foster home. Now, with a loving family, a sister she’s always craved, and relief from the gruesome corpses that tormented her as a child, she’s finally content. Until a freak accident changes everything.

The monsters are back, and their mission is simple: drag Lia straight to their murky hell. When Aiden, an apparition, appears to Lia, she has hope once again. Because Aiden can cross the veil between the spirit world and the earthly dimension, physically fighting off the monsters and sending them back. With Aiden’s determination to keep her safe and his absorbing blue eyes, Lia can’t help falling in love with him. But who is he, and what does he really want? As Lia and Aiden’s relationship deepens, so does the mystery surrounding him.

Once Lia finds out Aiden has traded his soul to save her, she enters the darker dimension, a dimension where nightmares are reality, ready to kick some serious butt. But surrounded by twenty-eight mutilated monsters and a deranged cult leader intent on bringing his dark world to the surface, isn’t what Lia expects. And even worse, she must face her traumatic past in order to destroy them. If she fails, not only will she lose the guy she loves and face certain death, but she will also risk the one thing she can’t afford to lose: her eternal soul.

 4 Sassy Books!

Review- With such a heavily detailed blurb, I don't really have to go into the storyline at all. It pretty much covers it. However what it doesn't cover is how Haunting Lia will absorb and engross you.

To put it bluntly, the prologue scared the crap out of me. I don't do well with creepy, ghostly subjects at the best of times let alone in a well descriptive book, but the fact that it created a reaction from me says a lot. In a good way. The rest of the book was just as good. Scarey, twisted, dark and creepy as well as touching, emotional and romantic. All of this mixed with a well thought out original and creative storyline, and Shannon Eckrich has delivered a thoroughly enjoyable and addictive read. 

I highly recommend this to any paranormal lover out there or anyone who is thinking of delving into this genre.

To grab your copy of Haunting Lia check out the following links:

AMAZON

B&N

And for information on Shannon and her other projects click on these following links:

GOODREADS

FACEBOOK

WEBSITE

Happy Reading!