Riders by Veronica Rossi Review

Title: Riders

Author: Veronica Rossi

Publisher: Tor Teen

Publication Date: February 16, 2016

Description:

Nothing but death can keep eighteen-year-old Gideon Blake from achieving his goal of becoming a U.S. Army Ranger. As it turns out, it does.

While recovering from the accident that most definitely killed him, Gideon finds himself with strange new powers and a bizarre cuff he can’t remove. His death has brought to life his real destiny. He has become War, one of the legendary four horsemen of the apocalypse.

Over the coming weeks, he and the other horsemen—Conquest, Famine, and Death—are brought together by a beautiful but frustratingly secretive girl to help save humanity from an ancient evil on the emergence.

They fail.

Now—bound, bloodied, and drugged—Gideon is interrogated by the authorities about his role in a battle that has become an international incident. If he stands any chance of saving his friends and the girl he’s fallen for—not to mention all of humankind—he needs to convince the skeptical government officials the world is in imminent danger.

But will anyone believe him?

Review:

I can't believe that this doesn't have more reviews on goodreads.com. I actually looked into her first series as well, which has rave reviews from some many people, but again, not a lot on goodreads.com. 

Veronica Rossi has a great writing style. All action and character development and presented in a way that is both easy to read and incredibly entertaining. I listened to this audio book and basically devoured it. I listened as I drove, as I worked, as I did chores, because I had to know what happened. And now I find out there is another book. Seriously?!? 

This is the story of 4 boy who die and are reincarnated into the same bodies but each with a power of one of the 4 horsemen of the Apocalypse. When they are brought together by a Seeker, who is basically an agent of God tasked with seeing into the past in future to help complete acts of good, their goal is to keep something hidden from a group of Demons who want to open an alternate universe to fill with humans who they will drain and use as minions. Sounds pretty strange when you describe it but honestly this was completely unique.

First, all the main characters except for one are boys. That rarely happens in YA today and it was refreshing. I think this can easily appeal to both young men and women wanting a piece of adventure. It also was not romance heavy at all which was awesome. It really was just fantastic. Just an excellent adventure unlike any other. 

I also loved the religious elements. Even if you are not particularly religious it is done in a way that doesn't make it the only part of the story the author focuses on either, in other words it isn't preachy which I loved but the elements are still there.

There was just so much about this that was great.

The only thing that made me take this down a little was that it was a little bit like a constant pissing contest between these 4 teenagers. I understand why the author wrote it that way. These are 4 guys who have been through a lot and now have this huge task to complete but at the same time it wore a little on my nerves.

I hope more people pick this up soon. A fun read. 

My Star Rating:

4.25 out of 5

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Stray By Rachel Vincent Review

Title: Stray
Author: Rachel Vincent 
Publisher: Mira Books
Publication Date: June 1, 2007

Description:

There are only eight breeding female werecats left...

And I'm one of them.

I look like an all-American grad student. But I am a werecat, a shape-shifter, and I live in two worlds.

Despite reservations from my family and my Pride, I escaped the pressure to continue my species and carved out a normal life for myself. Until the night a Stray attacked.

I'd been warned about Strays — werecats without a Pride, constantly on the lookout for someone like me: attractive, female, and fertile. I fought him off, but then learned two of my fellow tabbies had disappeared.

This brush with danger was all my Pride needed to summon me back... for my own protection. Yeah, right. But I'm no meek kitty. I'll take on whatever — and whoever — I have to in order to find my friends. Watch out, Strays — 'cause I got claws, and I'm not afraid to use them...

Review:

I was a little skeptical going into this. Honestly, I was a huge fan of the television show, "True Blood," and after seeing the "werecat" story line in that series fizzle after just a few episodes because of how terrible it was I didn't know if I could get into this series.

I was quickly proven wrong by the fast paced, action packed plot and snarky, smart, female main character. I enjoyed Faythe. She is a well educated werecat who grew up in a Pride full of male cats constantly watching her and telling her what to do. She decides to head off to college to get away from the pressures of being the Alpha's daughter. After 4 years she decides to stay for her Masters until she is attacked on campus and quickly pulled back to her families estate in east Texas. From there she learns about a series of kidnappings of young female werecats and learns she will be staying with her family until the mystery is resolved.

Faythe was a bit of an ass the first 1/2 of the book. She was immature, and impetuous and over the top when it came to displaying her affections for all the wrong guys at all the wrong times. She had this rebel streak that, in my opinion, was a little ridiculous for her age and education level. Honestly I found myself thinking she should have known better every time something bad happens to her in the book. 

The plot was great though. I did feel like parts were a bit overly descriptive but for the first book in a lengthy series it is important to get all the past relationships and settings established so it was understandable.

As we got more into why the tabbies were kidnapped and what was happening to them it unfolded very quickly and was a lot of fun to read. I was on the edge of my seat and was excited to be there. The love interest had some good history and back story but I did feel like she jumped back into a complicated situation too quickly.

Overall, I love it and will be continuing the story sometime in the near future. If you are a person who enjoys paranormal romance/urban fantasy then you will really love this series. I heard they only get better from here and I can't wait to find out!

My Star Rating:

4 out of 5

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