Book Tour: Review and Giveaway: Wings of Nestor by Devri Wells

Title: Wings of Nestor (Solus #3)
Author: Devri Wells
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Source: Xpresso Book Tours
Published: June 24, 2013
Reviewed by: Jasmyn

Kiora needs answers. Who is the Shadow? Who is Jasmine? Are they connected? And even more pressing: how can she stop Shadow from using Kiora’s dreams as a map to find them? They have escaped three times, but are living on borrowed time—and everybody knows it.

Her search for help will push her closer to Alcander, send her to the dragon mountain of Toopai, and straight back to Meros—where magic will finally return to the land of no magic. Answers will be uncovered and plans unearthed that have been waiting for thousands of years.

But with the Shadow’s forces gathering, it looks like the land’s path is hurtling towards one outcome: war with the Shadow and death to all rebels. Armed with knowledge and hope, Kiora is determined to change that path. But will fate allow it? Or will it deal her a hard lesson about following ones own destiny?

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15832872-wings-of-nestor

Purchase:

--Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Wings-Nestor-Solus-Three-ebook/dp/B00DMC4068/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1375762538&sr=8-2&keywords=devri+walls

--B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/wings-of-nestor-devri-walls/1115814581?ean=2940016713670

Author Bio:

Devri Walls lives in Kuna Idaho with her husband and two kids. She has worked as a music teacher and currently, a preschool teacher. She majored in theater and her love of a story still drives her today. Thankfully, she has finally found an outlet for all the voices in her head. Her first novel, Wings of Arian, is available on Amazon, Barnes and Nobles and Apple. The second book in the Solus trilogy, Wings of Tavea is scheduled for release Nov 2012.

--Author Website: http://www.writingmyfuture.com/

--Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5768569.Devri_Walls

--Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DevriWalls

--Twitter: https://twitter.com/DevriWalls

Wings of Nestor, the third book the Solus series, is another absolutely amazing installment.  We travel all over the world and see so much I sometimes feel as if I've read more than one book.  Don't get me wrong, it's not so packed that it's too much - it's just the right amount.  Things move at the perfect pace to make the book fly by and still allow so much to happen that I don't even know where to begin.

Alcander and Emane change by leaps and bounds and really start to emerge as main characters in the own right.  It's rumored they may not even hate each other anymore.  Both will do anything they can to support Kiora, but hey wonder what will happen if she doesn't follow her destined path.

Kiora is continuing to grow in her powers and winning over new allies in her battle against the Shadow, but she beginning to fight her destiny.  She wants to find a way to defeat the Shadow without a battle that would cost thousands of lives.  This changes her course and she discovers new places long thought destroyed by time and returns to her home of Meros to bring a small part of the story full circle (it was a major Ohhhhh so that's what that was for moment - I love those).  She discovers that every action has a consequence.  Some absolutely horrible (I cried - really - I cried) and some so amazing I wanted to jump up and down (I restrained from scaring my family).

Any series that can bring such a emotional reaction to its characters is one that is sure to be a great series.  One that can pull this off three books in a row, well that's one that will never leave my bookshelf because I know I will want to read it again and again.

I need to come up with a rating for more than five stars - off the chart good stories.  Any ideas???

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Review: Wings of Tavea by Devri Wells

Title: Wings of Tavea (Solus #2)
Author: Devri Wells
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Source: Xpresso Book Tours
Reviewed by: Jasmyn

Kiora is rapidly learning that evil and lies come in shades of black and white and swirling greys, but nothing could have prepared her for the shock of leaving Meros.
Kiora and her protector Emane step through the pass into a world they never knew existed but were always meant to save, only to find it far worse than they could have ever imagined. Good has been forced into hiding for its own survival, while the rest of the land bows to the Shadow, a force that pushes any remaining thoughts of Dralazar from Kiora’s mind. This land is full of new creatures, each more dangerous than the last. Her visions have taken on a deadly twist, and magic, or what comes of it, was never so real. And then there is Alcander: a Tavean, their guide, and an entirely different kind of trouble.

This is the second book in the Solus series.  There may be minor spoilers if you have not read book 1, but nothing that should ruin your experience.  You will definitely want to read book one before beginning book 2.

We've all hear of the sophomore slump for series, well this book breaks the rules and a just barely takes a little dip.  With a very full 4 star rating it was a great continuation to Wings of Arian.  Picking up very quickly after book one ends, Kiora and Emane venture through the newly opened gate into a vast world they never imagined existed - a world Meros had been locked away from for ages.  Kiora thought the creatures she had already met to be new and strange - well she hasn't seen anything yet.

But this world is far from a new paradise.  A strange evil has covered the land and driven the good deep into hiding.  This evil seems so powerful that even Kiora's old enemy, Dralazar, fades into the background - at least for a bit.  Kiora's guide to this new world is a Tavean named Alcander.  He's seems decent enough if you can get past the arrogant, selfish, egotistic, self-righteous, and know it all attitude - a little bit too much like Emane's beginnings for my taste.

As Kiora learns to harness new powers and learns of new prophecies and destinies all piled one on top of the other, it's amazing she doesn't break down completely.  Another book full of action and wonder.  I loved some of the new creatures and the way Wells took traditional ideas and tweaked them into something new and exciting.  Even the creatures we were familiar with from book one take on a new twist in the lands outside of Meros - having evolved into totally different cultures.

This book only confirmed my belief that this will be a great new fantasy series and I dug into book three the next day.  And on a side note - I really love these covers - book three is amazing!

Barnes & Noble: Wings of Tavea

Review: Wings of Arian by Devri Walls

Title: Wings of Arian (Solus #1)
Author: Devri Walls
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Source: Book Tour
Reviewed by: Jasmyn

Kiora thought she had never heard a lie until she was sixteen. But she was wrong. Her entire existence was based on nothing but. She thought that evil did not exist. Lie. That magic was not real. Lie. And that the land of Meros was all there was. One more lie.

With Aleric telling her that evil is knocking on the door and that she is the only one who can stop them she has a choice to make. Refuse, or start the wildest most painful ride of her life. 
She reluctantly dips her toe into her new existence of magic and threads, dragons and shapeshifters, and the person who wants to take control of it all: the evil Dralazar. 

However, this journey was never meant to be hers alone. She will be accompanied by a Protector. To her disbelief, and utter irritation they name the hotheaded, stubborn, non -magical, (albeit gorgeous) Prince Emane. They will have to trust each other with their lives, but right now Kiora would settle for a non hostile conversation. 

And now it comes down to this, If you had never heard a lie, would you know when you heard one? Is knowing good from evil innate? Kiora finds herself having to decide who lives and who dies on those very questions.

It's been awhile since a series hooked me like Solus did.  I read books 1 - 3 back to back not wanting to put any of them down.  The series begins with Wings of Arian the story of Kiora and her Protector.  Kiora is very special.  She is the first person born in a thousand years that can defeat the evil that is slowing taking over the land of Meros.  Meros is a land of peace and goodness, but Dralazar is escaping his prison and is determined to see evil across the land.  This may sound like a bit of a standard fantasy beginning, but that is not the case.

There are amazingly unique creatures and magics that are introduced throughout the story that give Wings of Arian a different feel than other fantasy novels.  I particularly love the shapeshifters and their society.  Their home is a place I wish I could actually see.  As Kiora learns of her powers and her destiny, she meets these and other creatures no one ever even thought to exist.  Some will be loyal to her and others will want to use her to prove their value to Dralazar - and through it all her Protector stands by her side.

Do you hear romance in the background?  Possibly, but with all the training and fighting against the ultimate evil to save the entire land, it's hard to start a new relationship - especially when they can't stand each other.

Full of the magic and mystery that really defines what a good fantasy story is for me, this book earned it's five stars over and over again.  This is turning into a favorite series already!

Barnes & Noble: Wings of Arian (For fans of Julie Kagawa, J.K. Rowling, Cinda Williams Chima)