Sirensong

Sirensong
by Jenna Black
Faeriewalker, book three

When Dana is invited to Faerie to be officially presented at the Seelie Court, it’s no easy decision. After all, everyone knows Titania, the Seelie Queen, wants her dead. But Titania claims not to be the one behind the death threats; and her son, Prince Henry, makes the decision a whole lot easier when he suggests Dana might be arrested for (supposedly) conspiring with her aunt Grace to usurp the Seelie throne. So she and her father better do as they're told . . .

The journey through Faerie is long—and treacherous. Dana thought it would be a good idea to have friends along, but her sort-of-boyfriend, Ethan, and her bodyguard’s son, Keane, just can’t seem to get along, and Kimber’s crush on Keane isn’t making things any easier. When a violent attack separates Dana from their caravan, the sexy Erlking saves her just in the nick of time . . . and makes it clear that he hasn’t given up on making her his own.

Arriving at Titania’s beautiful palace should be a relief. But Dana is soon implicated in an assassination attempt against Titania’s granddaughter, and is suddenly a fugitive, forced to leave her father behind as she and her friends flee for their lives. Will she be able to prove her innocence before the forces of the Seelie Court—or, worse, the Erlking—catch up with her? And will she save her father before he pays the ultimate price in her stead? (description from Amazon.com)

In this third book in the series, Dana actually ventures into the world of Faerie. Having seen what her faeriewalker powers can do in Avalon, I was really excited to see what they were like in Faerie. I was not disappointed.

I loved getting to see the court politics amongst the Fae. The formal dinners, the posturing, the attempted assassinations... Then there is the smaller version of this amongst just the family and friends that Dana has in Avalon! Her father, who is quietly demonstrative and a little overprotective. Her protectors, Finn, and his arrogant son, Keane. Of course there is also her best friend, Kimber, and her fantastically hot brother, Ethan.

Oh. Did I mention the Erlking? He is one of my all time favorite "bad boys." A man who makes no bones about what he wants to do (hunt people down), has no shame about forcing others to do his will, and yet, seems strangely compelled to protect Dana. I love to read the Erlking's interactions with Dana.

With danger, intrigue, magic, and lusty moments, this series is vastly entertaining. I cannot wait to find out what happens next!

In My Mailbox - July 31, 2011

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

Any exciting new books for you this week??

Remedial Magic

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!

Glimmerglass

Glimmerglass

by Jenna Black

Faeriewalker, book one

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.