Author: Miranda Kavi

Lightning Review: Crux by Miranda Kavi

Posted April 9, 2014 by Holly in Reviews | 1 Comment

Lightning Review: Crux by Miranda KaviReviewer: Holly
Crux by Miranda Kavi
Series: Aurora Lockette #2
Also in this series: Flee

Publication Date: January 28th 2014
Genres: Fiction
Pages: 196
Add It: Goodreads
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Ripped Bodice | Google Play Books
two-half-stars
Series Rating: three-stars

I've been captured by the Shyama.

They've revealed their origins... and mine.

I will escape, I will live, and I will see Gavyn again.

After the Shyama brazenly kidnap Aurora in a crowded Las Vegas Casino, others in the Organization soon go missing. Her friends, family, and Gavyn sink into despair as hours pass into days with no leads, but Gavyn refuses to give up the search. During Aurora's captivity, she learns the terrible truth of the identity of the Shyama and her own kind. Worse yet, the Shyama have horrible plans that will destroy everyone she loves. Aurora needs an army to stop them. But first, she has to escape...

 

As with book 1, Flee, I ended this book feeling pretty ambivalent about the story. I finished it, but not much about it got me too excited.

Aurora ends up being more powerful than even she new, which wasn’t surprising but was frustrating. The resolution to the major conflict came about too abruptly and too easily. Even the final fight scene lacked the emotional punch I’m sure the author meant it to have. Mostly because it was extremely predictable.

I liked Gavyn, but he was treated almost as an after thought. He should have been pivotal to the plot, but instead he was just sort of there. Seeing things from his perspective – something we didn’t get in book one – should have helped, but it didn’t.

The book had potential. Had the author spent more time on the world and less on making Aurora perfect, I would have enjoyed this quite a bit more.

Upon further consideration both this book and the first one read like YA books. They both had the high-school-character vibe, even though the main protags are over 21.

2.75 out of 5

This book is self-published. You can buy it here or here in e-format.

two-half-stars


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Lightning Review: Flee by Miranda Kavi

Posted April 8, 2014 by Holly in Reviews | 1 Comment

Lightning Review: Flee by Miranda KaviReviewer: Holly
Flee by Miranda Kavi
Series: Aurora Lockette #1
Also in this series: Crux

Publication Date: November 30th 2012
Genres: Fiction, Fantasy
Pages: 200
Add It: Goodreads
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Ripped Bodice | Google Play Books
three-stars
Series Rating: three-stars

I can fly.

I have to keep it a secret.

Everything was fine, until I met him.

I can't stay away...

Aurora Lockette has a supernatural ability she hides from the world. Gavyn Dhaval is a newly famous actor that shies away from the spotlight. When Aurora and Gavyn literally collide in a fender bender on her first day of law school, they are irresistibly drawn to each other.

When Aurora's secret is revealed, she has no choice but to abandon Gavyn to go into hiding to escape the media frenzy. A secret society of gifted humans contacts her to warn of dark forces that seek to destroy her and everyone she loves.
Aurora must try to understand who and what she is while she fights to protect herself and her loved ones from a hidden, sinister force. >

 

This was a free download (still available from Amazon and B&N).

The pacing is really slow and the writing kind of wooden and choppy. Nothing – from the heroine’s ability to fly to the descriptions of her friends – is really fleshed out, which left me feeling like the story was incomplete (aside from the cliffhanger ending, I mean).

The romance is rushed and a lot on the unbelievable side. The author skipped large chunks of time, which didn’t help. They were exchanging ‘I love yous’ and I was still stuck on them just having met.

Editing issues abound, from continuity to basic misspellings and typos.

I did like the concept of the world and the idea behind the story arc. There were some interesting parts. I was curious enough after finishing to buy the next book. Maybe if the author had fleshed the story and characters out I would have enjoyed it more. As it stands my overall feeling is “meh”.

3 out of 5

This book is self-published. You can buy it here or here in e-format.

three-stars


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