The Lost Plot by Genevieve Cogman The Invisible Library series, book four
Ace Books, 2018 - Owned in personal collection
So, as I mentioned, I'm doing a 2018 Books I Already Own Reading Challenge. However, I know myself, and if I don't allow myself at least one new, shiny book a month, I will end up quitting before March... SO, this is my January "Cheat" book.
I can't review this book in too much depth, as it is book four in the series and I'd be giving away big spoilers. However, I will say that I thoroughly enjoyed it and was glad that I had pre-ordered it and chosen it for my January "cheat." Cogman writes an admirable heroine who has just the right amount of smarts, style, grace, and kick-ass. I love that while she in some ways depends on the men around her (Irene has no illusions about when her physical superiority is in question...), it is very clear that much more often, the men around her look to her for leadership and planning.
While I make a lot of jokes about Noah Wyle's The Librarianmovies and the subsequent Indiana Jones style TV series, Irene Winters, in fact, lives the Librarian lifestyle that I would love to live if I were the heroine in a fantasy series. Saving rare books for posterity. Dealings with both dragons and fae? Yes, please. However, in real life, being a Librarian is not nearly so hard on one's potential health (ha!).
While you most definitely should start with book one of the series, The Invisible Library, I think so far this is my favorite addition to the series. There is a very large moral issue, along with several smaller ethical dilemmas, being dealt with in this book, so the stakes are both physically and emotionally high. Following Irene's choices pulled me pretty deep into her character and I found myself tearing up towards the end of the book as I thought she was going to end up being punished in the worst possible way for making the right decisions... then Cogman worked things out in just the right way for me to leave the book with a huge grin on my face! Perfect.
Now, back to reading the older books in my personal collection!
Iced
by Karen Marie Moning Dani O'Malleyseries, book one
The year is 1 AWC—After the Wall Crash. The Fae are free and hunting us. It’s
a war zone out there, and no two days are alike. I’m Dani O’Malley, the
chaos-filled streets of Dublin are my home, and there’s no place I’d rather be.
Dani “Mega” O’Malley plays by her own set of rules—and in a
world overrun by Dark Fae, her biggest rule is: Do what it takes to survive.
Possessing rare talents and the all-powerful Sword of Light, Dani is more than
equipped for the task. In fact, she’s one of the rare humans who can defend
themselves against the Unseelie. But now, amid the pandemonium, her greatest
gifts have turned into serious liabilities.
Dani’s ex–best friend,
MacKayla Lane, wants her dead, the terrifying Unseelie princes have put a price
on her head, and Inspector Jayne, the head of the police force, is after her
sword and will stop at nothing to get it. What’s more, people are being
mysteriously frozen to death all over the city, encased on the spot in sub-zero,
icy tableaux.
When Dublin’s most seductive nightclub gets blanketed in
hoarfrost, Dani finds herself at the mercy of Ryodan, the club’s ruthless,
immortal owner. He needs her quick wit and exceptional skill to figure out
what’s freezing Fae and humans dead in their tracks—and Ryodan will do anything
to ensure her compliance.
Dodging bullets, fangs, and fists, Dani must
strike treacherous bargains and make desperate alliances to save her beloved
Dublin—before everything and everyone in it gets iced. (description from Amazon.com)
What a great start to the Fever spin-off series. Moning is such a stellar author. I had been initially both excited and a little concerned about having the spunky and smart Dani as the main character in this series. You may wonder why the concern? Well, because Dani is only a *very young* teen and Moning is known for some pretty steamy situations in her books.
Don't get me wrong, I have no problem with the overtly sexual scenes that writers like Moning or Laurell K. Hamilton may be known for, in fact they both write some of my favorite guilty pleasure reads, but to have that type of writing and a teen MC? That felt a little wonky to me. I was extremely pleased with how Moning handled the potential problem.
As those familiar with her writing would expect, Dani is neither shielded from the overtly sexual or seedy parts of life in Dublin post-fae take over, nor is she shielded from becoming the object of fascination for some very, ummm...shall we say alpha male figures in the city. What keeps things in line, though, is that everyone is very cognisant of her age and treats her appropriately. Though we all know that someday these men will pursue more from Dani, for the moment their goals remain largely in keeping her alive to reach that someday point...
Well done. Very well done. Beyond that issue, too, I liked the whole continued world building now that shall we say the sh*t has truly hit the fan forhumans. I will definitely be picking up the newest book in the series as soon as it comes out.
Full disclosure: Borrowed through interlibrary loan
Callie LeRoux lives in Slow Run, Kansas, helping her mother run their small hotel and trying not to think about the father she's never met. Lately all of her energy is spent battling the constant storms plaguing the Dust Bowl and their effects on her health. Callie is left alone, when her mother goes missing in a dust storm. Her only hope comes from a mysterious man offering a few clues about her destiny and the path she must take to find her parents in "the golden hills of the west" (California). Along the way she meets Jack a young hobo boy who is happy to keep her company—there are dangerous, desperate people at every turn. And there's also an otherworldly threat to Callie. Warring fae factions, attached to the creative communities of American society, are very aware of the role this half-mortal, half-fae teenage girl plays in their fate. (description from Amazon.com)
This book is a little jewel that deserves a lot more recognition than it's gotten. Debut author Sarah Zettel builds a fantastically atmospheric world with a compelling main character. This book is a brilliant blend of magic and realism. The Dust Bowl of the Depression Era practially seeps out of the pages. I found myself reaching for my drink over and over as I was reading, so entrenched in the dust storms my imagination pulled from the descriptions.
I loved, too, Callie's complex character. Not only is this a girl who finds that she is not quite human, but even when passing amongst the humans she was terrified of having her bi-racial background discovered. Everywhere she turned, Callie only found danger, intolerence, and the need for deception. Until she met Jack in a storm that changed her entire world and she found an ally who never seemed to care about her differences.
I am more than ready to leap back into Callie's world, to discover her new abilities, and to see where her search for her parents takes her...I cannot wait for the next book in this trilogy.
So, my friend and fellow writer's group member, Becca, tagged me in this thing called WIP: The Next Big Thing. It's a series of questions designed to give readers a chance to know a little bit about our current WIP (Work in Progress)... So, here we go:
What’s the working title of your
WIP?
Well, the working title for my current novel was originally "Revelation" when it began as a short story. Now, I sometimes refer to it simply as "The Fae Story" or "Lis' Story," so it really is only a working title. I'm going to have to brainstorm once I'm closer to publication... Where did your idea come from
for your book?
This will sound slightly silly, but my idea came from a conglomeration of little things. I have loved Faerie stories (not to be confused with their more innocent and happy cousins, the Fairy stories) for years and years and have tried crafting my own more than once. I am also obsessed with trying to find the perfect example of a great guy best friend that becomes the hunky boyfriend story, so again, I've been wanting to craft my own. And... it all sort of came together when I saw two things that directly inspired my main character, Lis (short for Chrysallis)...
One was Ashley Tisdale's video for the song, "Crank It Up"
I just adore the imagery of a club girl with tiny wings...hence a faery who adores the vitality of the L.A. club scene...
...and then Lis really came to life in my head when I started watching the TV show, Lost Girl. The main character's best friend, Kenzi, is actually exactly how I imagined Lis, except human...
What genre does your book fall under?
My book would be considered a young adult fantasy. What actors would you pick to play your characters in a movie rendition?
As you could see above, I would love to have the actress, Ksenia Solo, from Lost Girl play Lis. As for the guys... Cam Gigandet (Burlesque) would make a fabulously rakish, Gryff, and I can't help but picture True Blood's Ryan Kwanten as the lovable Ewan.
What is a one sentence synopsis of your book?
Faerie accidentally exposes all of her kind and must deal with the fallout in both the human realm and her own. Will your book be self published
or represented by an
agency?
Though I would love to find a traditional publisher, at this point I think that I will be self-publishing. The publishing world is in an interesting place right now... How long did it take you to
write the first draft of your manuscript?
First, I have to remind you all that I'm not technically done with the first draft yet, LOL. I'm aiming (pushing myself really) to get a full first draft done and out to my readers by the end of this calendar year. From start (in the short story version) to now, I think I've been working on this novel for about a year... I think. What other books would you
compare this story within your genre?
Oh, I hate doing this! The whole point is to try and not be totally reminiscent of other people's works, but... fans of Melissa Marr's Wicked Lovely series will probably feel right at home. I know there are also similar elements in Julie Kagawa's Iron Fey series... Who or what inspired you to
write this book? As I've already said, I've always wanted to write a Fae story. When inspiration struck, it happened to coincide with the announcement of the annual Writer's Digest short story contests. I decided to craft my idea into a short story to enter (it didn't win, lol) and that's how it all began. Then with some major prodding from Becca (who is amazing, btw) it's been coming together into a much more involved story.
What else about your book might
pique the readers interest?
Let's see...there's betrayal, romance, intrigue, creepy Fae, protesting humans, yoga, and more! :)
So, that's it for me, for now... If you stayed tuned here you'll be sure to see a lot more information as I get done with my first draft and start the process of editing and then publication... until then, these are all the teasers you get. LOL.
I'm supposed to tag other authors now to see if they'll participate, but I don't really know any that I think will have the time right now, so I'm breaking the chain! *cringes* Please don't throw anything at me. I'm sorry!
Innocent Darkness
by Suzanne Lazear The Aether Chronicles, book one
Noli Braddock and her best friend V’s incident with a flying auto have landed them in a heap of trouble. And when Noli is sent to a spirit-squelching reform school in San Francisco, she’s sure that her rebellious adventures are over.
Meanwhile, Kevighn Silver has been ordered by the Faerie Queen to bring a mortal girl back to the Otherworld. The magic requires a blood sacrifice every seven years, and only a mortal girl who shines with the Spark—a girl like Noli—will keep the Otherworld from complete destruction.
When an ill-timed wish sends Noli tumbling into the Otherworld, she’s more homesick than ever . . . until V arrives to save her from an untimely demise. But who exactly is V? And if he helps Noli escape, who will save the realm of Faerie from utter annihilation? (description from Amazon.com)
I LOVED this book. Seriously. I love steampunk. I love faeries. To find an author that had the vision to combine the two?? I'm in serious fan-girl mode, people! SERIOUSLY.
Okay, let me try to talk myself down a little bit here...become a little more coherent. LOL. Let's see. Why did I LOVE this book? Well it starts out with a girl who refuses to become the perfect little society Lady taking a flying car for an illegal joyride...awesome. Then she gets sent to a reform school (read punishments and pretty much prison with tea time, here) and finds a faery garden in the backyard.
When the High Queen's faerie Huntsman, (who is the perfect version of a Huntsman, BTW, relying on charm and good looks to lure the ultimate prey, humans) finds Noli there, he ends up sweeping her off to the Otherworld to turn her into the sacrifice that can save all Fae. Unbeknownst to Noli, her best friend and next-door neighbor, Steven...aka V, has a few secrets of his own and when Noli disappears, he sets out to find her.
So, without giving *everything* away, here are things that kept me smiling all the way through the book:
*Romance *Faeries *Amazing Gardens *Silly garden games reminiscent of the croquet in Alice's Adventures in Wonderland *Danger *Sacrifice *Swordplay *Mechanical Hair Accessories *Fantastic and Impractical Clothing
...and much more! I cannot wait to see what Lazear gives us in book two. So far, she's hinted that there will be air pirates. AIR PIRATES, people!! *fans self* Sorry, got a little overexcited there, again. :D
Full disclosure: ARC received from NetGalley
Don't forget to stop back here on August 12th for my stop on the official INNOCENT DARKNESS BLOG TOUR! I'm super excited to have a guest post from the author, Suzanne Lazear. :)
Something is wrong with the souls of Chicago's dead. Ghosts are walking the streets, and Agent of Death Madeline Black's exasperating boss wants her to figure out why. And while work is bad enough, Maddy has a plethora of personal problems too. Now that Gabriel has been assigned as her thrall, their relationship has hit an impasse. At least her sleazy ex-fiance Nathaniel is out of the picture--or so she thinks... (description from Amazon.com)
This is one of my go-to just for fun reading series. I love Maddy. She is a tough chickie with too much on her plate who still manages to just get by...usually by the skin of her teeth. The whole demons thing makes some really interesting plot twists and turns and there is one adorably cranky, sugar-addicted, older gargoyle that I just want to adopt right out of the book!
Urban fiction fans would be well advised to give this series a shot. :)
It’s the only way to contain the fey curse that scars her cheek. The Great War is five years gone, but its scattered victims remain—the ironskin.
When a carefully worded listing appears for a governess to assist with a "delicate situation"—a child born during the Great War—Jane is certain the child is fey-cursed, and that she can help.
Teaching the unruly Dorie to suppress her curse is hard enough; she certainly didn’t expect to fall for the girl’s father, the enigmatic artist Edward Rochart. But her blossoming crush is stifled by her own scars, and by his parade of women. Ugly women, who enter his closed studio...and come out as beautiful as the fey.
Jane knows Rochart cannot love her, just as she knows that she must wear iron for the rest of her life. But what if neither of these things is true? Step by step Jane unlocks the secrets of her new life—and discover just how far she will go to become whole again.
Anyone else loving this Jane Eyre/Fae storyline??? I think this sounds so intriguing. I can't wait til this comes out...
In My Mailbox is a weekly meme, hosted by Kristi at the Story Siren, inspired by Alea of Pop Culture Junkie. Every week bloggers can share what they received in the mail or at the bookstore or at the library. The goal is that everyone can be exposed to more books this way!
For Review: The Cruisers: Checkmate by Walter Dean Myers
Bought: Sirensong by Jenna Black Wolfsbane by Andrea Cremer *Borders Sale - used up a gift card we had laying around!
From the Library: Going Too Far by Jennifer Echols Circle of Fire by Michelle Zink Birdie's Book by Jan Bozaroth
Remedial Magic by Jenna Black A Faeriewalker series bonus story
Having a prodigy for an older brother is not so fun…especially one who is magic wiz-kid. But Kimber has a plan to finally step out of his shadow. (description...such as it is...from Amazon.com)
I really enjoy this series. I received the second book to review, but decided to go back and read the first, Glimmerglass before starting Shadowspell. Those books are from the perspective of Dana, a girl who decides to go live with her Fae father and experiences Avalon and the Fae kingdoms for the first time.
This short story is actually from the perspective of a girl she meets in Avalon. Kimber is the younger sister of Ethan, a magically powerful boy that starts pursuing Dana. Kimber actually becomes her best friend and is one of my favorite side characters in the series. I loved reading this story, even short as it was, from her view. I'd love to see more from her someday!
If you've never read any of the Faeriewalker series, I'd suggest you either get a taste with this free ebook or start with Glimmerglass. Hopefully, you'll get as hooked as I am!
The Iron Witch by Karen Mahoney The Iron Witch, book one
When she was seven, a horrific fey attack killed Donna Underwood’s father and drove her mother mad. Her own nearly fatal injuries were fixed by alchemy—the iron tattoos branding her hands and arms. Now seventeen, Donna feels like a freak, doomed by the magical heritage that destroyed her parents and any chance she had for a normal life. Only her relationship with her best friend, Navin, is keeping her sane.
But when vicious wood elves abduct Navin, Donna is forced to accept her role in the centuries-old war between human alchemists and these darkest outcasts of Faerie. Assisted by Xan, a gorgeous guy with faery blood running through his veins and secrets of his own, Donna races to save Navin—even if it means betraying everything her parents fought to the death to protect. (description taken from Amazon.com)
I think when I read this book I may have been in a funky mood. There were parts I really loved, but I just couldn't get into it. I've heard such great things...every review I've read has been good, so I think I may just have been overloaded on this type of book...
Anyway, what I liked: *The awesome way that the alchemists repaired Donna's arms by infusing them with iron. Everytime I pictured the silver swirls on her arms, all I could think was AWESOME! *The boys. Both of them. I liked Xan and his revealed secret about having fairy blood and I liked Navin, Donna's "normal" friend. PS - Did I mention that he's Indian...very cool! *Alchemy. I've always been fascinated with it...and I love how it was mixed with magic in this story.
*Sigh* I really did like a lot of the elements of this story! I'll have to make sure to read the second book in the series, The Wood Queen, to see if it really just was that I was in a funky mood when I read this one...
Darkest Mercy by Melissa Marr Wicked Lovely, book five
The Summer King is missing; the Dark Court is bleeding; and a stranger walks the streets of Huntsdale, his presence signifying the deaths of powerful fey.
Aislinn tends to the Summer Court, searching for her absent king and yearning for Seth. Torn between his new queen and his old love, Keenan works from afar to strengthen his court against the coming war. Donia longs for fiery passion even as she coolly readies the Winter Court for battle. And Seth, sworn brother of the Dark King and heir to the High Queen, is about to make a mistake that could cost his life.
Love, despair, and betrayal ignite the Faery Courts, and in the final conflict, some will win . . . and some will lose everything. (description taken from Amazon.com)
To be totally honest, each of the books in this series has elicited a different reaction from me. I loved some, felt "eh" about one, was slightly confused in one...Darkest Mercy was somewhat confounding for me.
I had a really hard time getting into the final book in this series. I couldn't connect to the characters. I felt like there was too much going on ...things were too disparate. I almost put the book down without finishing it, but it's the final book in the series and I couldn't abandon it!
So, I stuck with it. A few chapters at a time...and then I hit the last third of the book and it was like the whole world shifted! There again was the Melissa Marr that I loved in the original Wicked Lovely. There again was the gorgeous writing, the complex characters, the rigid and unforgiving faerie society that I missed.
I am sooo glad that I stuck with it. The end of the book, and the series, was beautiful.
Aliera Carstairs just doesn’t fit in. She’s always front and center at the fencing studio, but at school she’s invisible. And she’s fine with that . . . until Avery Castle walks into her first period biology class. Avery may seem perfect now, but will he end up becoming her Prince Charming or just a toad? (description taken Amazon.com)
This was a well recommended graphic novel. I really liked it. It was easy to follow (no confusion about which panel to go to next or which speech bubble came next, thank goodness!) and well drawn. I really liked Aliera. Though she had some self-doubts when it came down to it, she knew to believe in herself. The use of grays and then pops of color was really visually pleasing. I will definitely read the next one in the series at some point.
On top of spending most of her time in a bunkerlike safe house and having her dates hijacked by a formidable Fae bodyguard, Faeriewalker Dana Hathaway is in for some more bad news: the Erlking and his pack of murderous minions known as the Wild Hunt have descended upon Avalon. With his homicidal appetite and immortal powers, the Erlking has long been the nightmare of the Fae realm. A fragile treaty with the Faerie Queen, sealed with a mysterious spell, is the one thing that keeps him from hunting unchecked in Avalon, the only place on Earth where humans and Fae live together. Which means Dana’s in trouble, since it’s common knowledge that the Faerie Queen wants her – and her rare Faeriewalker powers – dead. The smoldering, sexy Erlking’s got his sights set on Dana, but does he only seek to kill her, or does he have something much darker in mind? (description taken from Amazon.com)
I have to admit I really liked this sequel to Glimmerglass much better. Though the world set-up in the first book was great, I didn't really connect to the characters (other than the irresistable Kimber) that well. In the second book, without the setup, there was a lot more focus on character relationships.
I still don't really love Dana, or myabe it's that I don't really understand her emotional compulsion for Ethan, but she is fiercely loyal and brave, which I admire. I think I just feel so much more for some of the other characters, like Keane and Kimber, Finn, and I am absolutely fascinated with Arwan, the Erlking.
After some of the amazing developments in this book, Dana learning what she can really do, Dana figuring out what the Erlking really bargained with her for, and how these revelations will change the rest of her life...I cannot wait to read book three, Sirensong, when it comes out!!!
Dana Hathaway doesn’t know it yet, but she’s in big trouble. When her alcoholic mom shows up at her voice recital drunk, again, Dana decides she’s had enough and runs away to find her mysterious father in Avalon: the only place on Earth where the regular, everyday world and the captivating, magical world of Faerie intersect. But from the moment Dana sets foot in Avalon, everything goes wrong, for it turns out she isn't just an ordinary teenage girl—she's a Faeriewalker, a rare individual who can travel between both worlds, and the only person who can bring magic into the human world and technology into Faerie.
Soon, Dana finds herself tangled up in a cutthroat game of Fae politics. Someone's trying to kill her, and everyone seems to want something from her, from her newfound friends and family to Ethan, the hot Fae guy Dana figures she’ll never have a chance with… until she does. Caught between two worlds, Dana isn’t sure where she’ll ever fit in and who can be trusted, not to mention if her world will ever be normal again… (description taken from Amazon.com)
Though this concept of a girl who can walk between Faerie and the mortal world is not really new (Frewin Jones' Faerie Path series is very similar in this sense), Black creates an awesomely new world where the Fae and humans know about each other and share a "country" that both can reside in that is neither in Faerie nor fully part of the mortal world. This was what totally fascinated me about this series.
I really like the main character, Dana, and the problems she has to face...dealing with an alcoholic mother, a father whose politics are threatening her life, and a whole new world of threats. I wasn't as fond, though, of the potential love interest, Ethan. I much preferred Dana's bodyguard, Finn, and kind of hoped that something may develop there...until I realized he was some centuries old!! Whoops. I guess I will have to wait and see if something develops with Finn's son, Keane, instead! :P J/K
I definitely want to see what's going to happen in book two, Shadowspell, as Dana explores the fact that she can feel magic...and what that might mean about her heritage.
Much has changed since autumn, when Kelley Winslow learned she was a Faerie Princess, fell in love with changeling guard Sonny Flannery, and saved the mortal realm from the ravages of the Wild Hunt. Now Kelley is stuck in New York City, rehearsing Romeo and Juliet and missing Sonny more with every stage kiss, while Sonny has been forced back to the Otherworld and into a deadly game of cat and mouse with the remaining Hunters and Queen Mabh herself.
When a terrifying encounter sends Kelley tumbling into the Otherworld, her reunion with Sonny is joyful but destined to be cut short. An ancient, hidden magick is stirring, and a dangerous new enemy is willing to to risk everything to claim that power. Caught in a web of Faerie deception and shifting alliances, Kelley and Sonny must tread carefully, for each next step could topple a kingdom...or tear them apart.
I loved Wondrous Strange and Livingston impressed me again with Darklight. This genre is so popular right now that I become nervous picking up new titles. The first book contained all the ideals of a modern faery tale, both the light and the dark sides of immortal life. As Kelley and Sonny's story picks up after the disolving of the Wild Hunt, Kelley must come to grips with her new life as a Faerie Princess.
What I love about this series is that Kelley and Sonny's love is idealized, yet it rings true. Unlike Bella and Edward or more recently, Grace and Sam, though the love that Kelley and Sonny share is wild, passionate, and overwhelming, it is also dangerous, consuming, and flawed. I can't say too much more without giving spoilers, but let me say that the decision Kelley makes at the end of Darklight is very heartwrenching, yet hopeful, and totally left me breathless for the concluding third book.
When it comes to setting, Livingston does a fantastic job blending modern New York City with the Fae Realm's Otherworld. The surroundings are lush and my imagination had no trouble conjuring the various locations. Central Park is so forefront in the story, that it almost becomes its own character.
In fact, all of the characters in this series are excellent. Every time I thought I had a character pegged, they would display a new facet of themselves. Both mortals and Fae are incredibly complex and intriuging. I cannot wait to learn more about their lives.
As this is the second book in the trilogy, I can't discuss the plot too much without giving away where the series is leading. Let me just say that there were some BIG revelations in this book and I definitely need to read the next one!
PS - LOVE the cover! The coloring is amazing and very ethereal.
