Book Tour: Shadows of Asphodel

This tour was organized by CBB Book Promotions. The full tour schedule can be seen at this link.

Shadows of Asphodel by Karen Kincy
Createspace, 2013
350 pages
Adult Dieselpunk Alternative History

Source: Received a copy to review through tour.

When Ardis discovers a man bleeding to death on the battlefield, she knows she has to walk away.

1913. In her work as a mercenary for Austria-Hungary, Ardis has killed many men without hesitation. One more man shouldn’t matter, even if he manages to be a charming bastard while he stands dying in the snow.

But when he raises the dead to fight for him, she realizes she must save his life.

If a necromancer like Wendel dies, he will return as a monster—or so the rumors say. Ardis decides to play it safe and rescues him. What she doesn’t expect is Wendel falling to one knee and swearing fealty. Ardis never asked for the undying loyalty of a necromancer, but it’s too late now.

Ardis and Wendel forge an uneasy alliance underscored with sexual tension. Together, they confront rebels, assassins, and a conspiracy involving a military secret: robotically-enhanced soldiers for a world on the brink of war. But as Ardis starts to fall for Wendel, she realizes the scars from his past run more deeply than she ever imagined. Can Ardis stop Wendel before his thirst for revenge destroys him and everyone else around him?

Find the book: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

I read approximately half of this book, closed it for the night, and then could not get it open again. So these are just some thoughts based on that promising start. Because I did not finish, I did not provide a rating but I will share that I was enjoying myself. For example I was very caught up in the romance though it moved a bit fast for my taste-I prefer a more drawn out courtship and yet it seems fitting for these passionate decisive characters. They're not going to wait around when they could reach out and touch each other right away.

As for the world-building, we're getting rumbles of the events that are going to lead up to World War I. The part I read didn't really cover these political underpinnings but I suspect that the latter half will fill in those gaps. There are a lot of hints about tension with Germany and multiple competing agendas. I am also wondering about the fantastical side as we see the abilities of Ardis and the necromancy of Wendel. I don't think I've ever read a book with a necromancer in such a prominent position and it's a horrifying albeit fascinating ability. How does he manage to accomplish this? What kind of training did he receive? I'm so curious!

Thank you to Candace and Karen for the chance to sample this book!

About the Author:
Karen Kincy (Redmond, Washington) can be found lurking in her writing cave, though sunshine will lure her outside. When not writing, she stays busy gardening, tinkering with aquariums, or running just one more mile. Karen has a BA in Linguistics and Literature from The Evergreen State College. 

Find the author: Website | Twitter | Facebook

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The Brokenhearted

by Amelia Kahaney
3/5 stars
HarperTeen, 2013
336 pages
YA Urban Fantasy

Source: Received an ARC through Amazon Vine in exchange for an honest review.

This book has not gotten a lot of love from my blogging friends, which made me nervous to pick it up. But c'mon-it features a young ballet dancer transforming into a superhero working to clean up her city, along the lines of Batman. How could anyone resist???

Well maybe I should have as I found the writing utterly engaging but lacked that necessary connection to the plot. What do I mean about the writing? I don't have a great way of explaining it but apparently HarperTeen puts crack or something equally addicting in their writing talent as this is the imprint I consistently find to be the most compulsively readable even when frustrated with characters, plot, and world-building. This book is no exception with me easily breezing through it in just a few short hours despite neutral to hateful feelings toward the characters.

Most frustrating is our main character Anthem Fleet who starts off as the perfect child of rich parents, aspiring toward a career in ballet and safely ensconced as valedictorian. Until she meets a boy who is then kidnapped. When she is unable to ransom him, she falls apart, both literally and figuratively. The literal falling apart is more related to being shot, which causes her to be saved by having a hummingbird heart implanted that gives her supernatural powers. As she attempts to avenge her boyfriend's death, she also starts to clean up the city giving people hope for about the first time in seventeen years. I found this boyfriend so frustrating. He didn't seem interesting to me and it was appalling to me that Anthem fell so hard and so fast when I disliked him so strongly. Luckily he is not in it that much though it felt like it to me as she went on and on about the guy.

Other potential love interests are Will and Ford. Will is a very popular boy at school who becomes Anthem's ex and then blackmails her into getting back together before she plays him so well. That was actually a moment when I praised Anthem's brain and choices rather than cursing them. Ford is a poor boy who strengthens Anthem's physical talents by training her in boxing and other skills (he's kind of her mentor) that will prepare her for her burgeoning role as vigilante.

Speaking of which, I tend to feel very uncomfortable with vigilante stories. Who are they to decide to implement their brand of justice? However because this seemed to be a futuristic alternative take on history, I felt less stirred. I guess I don't mind it so much when it's not my society. Also logic/realism doesn't seem to be a huge priority so I was willing to give it a pass here.

Overall: A fast easy read if you don't want to think too much and you just can't resist the concept.

Lingering (SPOILER?) question, though I am not confident I will be returning to the series:
So Regina was definitely involved with The Hope right? I mean the initials "RF+TH" certainly gave me pause plus it's been seventeen years since The Hope was around, which coincidentally is how long Regina has been dead. Perhaps Regina actually even is The Hope and her boyfriend just got all the press. If you've read, please weigh in!

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