Welcome!

In this blog I will be reviewing ebooks I have read. I use an amazon Kindle, so much of the information will be geared towards Kindle users, but other ereader users should still find the information helpful. Many of the books I will be reviewing are free or low-cost books published by independent authors, my goal is to get the word out about some amazing authors that I think deserve more props, and to let you know which books are not worth the time reading. I am open to suggestions, about information you'd like me to add or new books I should check out and review.
Contact me at CassandrasBeads@Gmail.com

Thursday, January 5, 2012

The Strange Case of Finley Jayne by Kady Cross

Type: Novella
Genre: Steampunk
Price: Free
Grade: A


Finley finds herself in an awkward position, she has to go home to her parents house and tell them she has just been fired from her job, because she let her "dark side" out. In Victorian London she worries about finding another position, and does not want to be a burden on her family, but she does not have to worry long, for the very next morning a prominant Lady comes around and offers her a position, one that she is not qualified for and which pays more than she ever dreamed of. The job seems like a dream job, but what exactly has Finley gotten herself into?
A startlingly dark steampunk story which is sure to entice and thrill any reader. Finley Jayne is just your average girl, who happens to have a very odd secret. This story is the prequel to The Girl in the Steel Corset in which we will hopefully find out more about Finley's odd secret.  

The Golden Acorn by Catherine Cooper

Type: Novel
Genre: YA/Fantasy
Price: Free
Grade: B+


A delightful book that is not just for children.  Jack Brenin thinks he is a normal boy who moves to a small town, but before he is there long strange things start happening. When he meets the odd neighbors next door things only get stranger. He befriends a talking raven, has mythical creatures attack him, and finds that he must  make an extordinary transforation and embark on a journey that he fears he will never complete.

An adorable and exciting adventure with a swarm of endearing characters, this book will be a delight for people of all ages.

Flash Gold and Hunted by Lindsay Buroker

Flash Gold
Type: Novella (aprox. 52 pages)
Genre: Steampunk/adventure
Price: Free when purchased, $0.99 now
Grade: A


A unique Steampunk story set in the frigid Yukon with a delightful tinkerer, Kali, who makes amazing machines, gadgets, weapons and more with a little help from her stash of Flash Gold, a potent and magical power source that lends her creations an amazing advantage to normal steam powered machines.  Kali has plans to enter her dogless dog sled into a local race, when a  mysterious stranger shows up at her door looking for work. She is wary at first, but he soon shows just how useful he is to have around.

This story blends traditional steampunk elements with new ideas and settings creating an exciting and unusual blend to this impossible to put down story. I highly reccomend it, even to those who are not fans of Steampunk, as there is something for everyone in this story!

The sequel to Flash Gold is Hunted

Hunted
Type: Novella (aprox. 79 pages)
Genre: Steampunk/Adventure
Price: $1.49
Grade: A


This is the sequal to Flash Gold and Kali and Cedar embark on another adventure, where danger waits around ever turn. With Kali's amazing ability to create mechanical devices, modify weapons, and her secret stash of Flash Gold and Cedar's sharpshooting, skill with a katana and amazing tracking skills they seem an unstoppable pair, until they are stuck between two enemies. Will they survive this ordeal, and if they do, what does the future hold for this duo?
These stories (Flash Gold and Hunted) are sure to delight fans of Steampunk, adventure, and action stories, and I have a feeling this is not the last we are going to see of Kali, Cedar, or the Flash Gold!