Thursday, January 10, 2013

[Review] Ward Against Death by Melanie Ward


Title: Ward Against Death
Series: Chronicles of a Reluctant Necromancer (Book 1)
Author: Melanie Card
Genre: YA, fantasy, necromancers
Format: E-book, 306 pages
Publication Date: August 2, 2011
Published By: Entangled Publishing
Source: Received from publisher for tour
 Synopsis from Publisher
Twenty-year-old Ward de’Ath expected this to be a simple job—bring a nobleman’s daughter back from the dead for fifteen minutes, let her family say good-bye, and launch his fledgling career as a necromancer. Goddess knows he can’t be a surgeon—the Quayestri already branded him a criminal for trying—so bringing people back from the dead it is.

But when Ward wakes the beautiful Celia Carlyle, he gets more than he bargained for. Insistent that she’s been murdered, Celia begs Ward to keep her alive and help her find justice. By the time she drags him out her bedroom window and into the sewers, Ward can’t bring himself to break his damned physician’s Oath and desert her.

However, nothing is as it seems—including Celia. One second, she’s treating Ward like sewage, the next she’s kissing him. And for a nobleman’s daughter, she sure has a lot of enemies. If he could just convince his heart to give up on the infuriating beauty, he might get out of this alive…

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11796405-ward-against-death

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Against-Death-Chronicles-Reluctant-Necromancer/dp/1620612984/ref=la_B0058P2KRS_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1354564666&sr=1-2

Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/ward-against-death-melanie-card/1103944555?ean=9781620612989

The Book Depository: http://www.bookdepository.com/Ward-Against-Death-Melanie-Card/9781620612989

Add book 2 Ward Against Darkness(Chronicles of a Reluctant Necromancer #2) coming out in June 2013! 

The last thing Ward de'Ath wants is more trouble. On the run from both the law and the criminal underworld, Ward and Celia flee Brawenal City only to stumble into the mansion of a powerful evil necromancer. And when Ward discovers the man possesses a dangerous grimoire, his duty leaves him no choice. He can't allow the necromancer to keep the grimoire. But the mansion is filled with monsters--human and undead--and Ward has no way of telling who's friend or foe. The only person he can trust is Celia who dominates more of his thoughts and feelings everyday. But there are still laws in the way of anything but friendship. She's still dead and he's still alive . . . for now.

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16000437-ward-against-darkness

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Against-Darkness-Chronicles-Reluctant-Necromancer/dp/1620612887/ref=sr_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1354567587&sr=1-4

Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/ward-against-darkness-melanie-card/1112164467?ean=9781620612880 The Book Depository: http://www.bookdepository.com/Ward-Against-Darkness-Melanie-Card/9781620612880

About Melanie Card

I have always been drawn to storytelling. In fact, I can't remember a time when I wasn't telling a story in my head or on paper. In grade school, we had journal writing time which I turned into story telling time, weaving tales of magic and adventure that mimicked the fairy tales and myths that I loved to read. It was there, with the help of two very special teachers, that I nurtured this love and started my journey as a writer.

I write fantasy, paranormal romance, and everything in between, seasoned with a good dash of adventure and mystery. Join me on my tales of magic, adventure, and romance.
Where you can find her:
Website: http://melaniecard.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/melaniecard
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/melanie.card.37?fref=ts
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4970892.Melanie_Card

Giveaway Information:
A Ward Against Death Prize Pack including:
A Signed copy of Ward Against Death
A Mug
A tote bag
9 copies of the eBook of Ward Against Death


Tour Schedule:
12/31 K-Books  http://k-booksxo.blogspot.com  Ch 1 part 1
1/1  Tynga's Reviews http://www.tyngasreviews.com/  Review
1/1  Fiktshun   http://www.fiktshun.com/  Ch 1 part 2
1/3  Always YA At Heart   http://www.alwaysyaatheart.com/ Review
1/4  Bibliophilia Please   http://bibliophiliaplease.blogspot.com/   Ch 1 part 3
1/7  Refracted Light   www.refractedlightreviews.com  Q&A with Celila and Ward
1/8  Chapter by Chapter   www.chapter-by-chapter.com   Ch 1 part 4
1/9  Book Briefs   http://bookbriefs.blogspot.com/   Ch 1 part 5
1/10  Rants & Scribbles   http://rantsnscribbles.blogspot.com   Review
1/11  My Life With Books   http://www.jenkjovus.com/   Ch 1 part 6

My Thoughts
Melanie Care tells a vivid and realistically fantastical tale about a young man who would much rather be a surgeon than a necromancer as he has been forced to become by his family (and a mistake he made before the story takes place that get's him thrown out of school as a physician). After a wake gone a little awry Ward is forced to run for his life, while trying to help Celia prove who it was that killed her.

The Pros:

  • I loved the title of this novel, very suitable to the story being told
  • Melanie Card is a great writer and her world building is very solid and realistic
  • The back and forth bickering relationship at the beginning of the novel was fabulous
  • Ward is a solid character who sticks by his Oath, as much as he wants to run away
  • Celia is also a solid character who is feisty and very suspicious of everyone, which makes perfect sense given her assassin lifestyle

The Cons:

  • I wasn't exactly excited about the story and often found myself being forced to turn the page
  • The seemingly forced romance became tiresome towards the end, chemistry was lacking

Overall a mostly enjoyable unique read that I recommend you check out if this type of story interests you.

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