Talon by Julie Kagawa

Talon by Julie Kagawa
Talon series, book one
Harlequin Teen, 2014
owned in personal collection

Here there be dragons.

Why did I wait so long to read this book? I love dragons.  My earliest book memories are of reading McCaffrey's Harper Hall trilogy (starting with Dragonsong) so reading about dragons is pretty much in my blood.  Plus I love Kagawa's writing style so this was a major win. 

Dragons hiding in plain sight - disguised as humans.  A secret organization of dragons plotting world domination. An even more secret organization of human dragon hunters.  What?! What a great premise for a book series.  Plus, you add teenage hormones into the mix?  Win. 

I was fascinated by the way that the members of Talon (the dragon organization) integrated dragon sleepers into human society.  As the book unfolded, you also got to learn more about the different factions of dragons they created, chameleons, vipers, etc... and I'm dying to learn more about them. I'm hoping that Kagawa delves deeper into that as the series continues.  I'm equally as curious to learn more about how St. George (the dragon hunter organization) raises and trains its operatives. 

This book sucked me right in and I'm happily now working my way through book two, Rogue. I'll let you all know if book two lives up to the first!

February Challenge Reading Plan

2018 Books I Already Own Challenge

Well, it's almost February, so here's the list of books I tentatively plan to read for my 2018 Books I Already Own Challenge in the month of February. I noticed in January I had trouble sticking perfectly to my plan, but I did stay within the parameters of my challenge, so I'm hoping to do the same this coming month!

My list of planned reading in February:

(Audio books)

Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman

The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken

(Print books)

Prudence by Gail Carriger

Imprudence by Gail Carriger

Talon by Julie Kagawa

Sapphire Blue by Kerstin Gier

Emerald Green by Kerstin Gier

(ebook) 

Rogue by Julie Kagawa

Mothership by Martin Leicht and Isla Neal

The audio books are all ones that I own through Audible, but have not listened to yet, the print books are all ones that I own physical copies of in my home library but have not read, and the ebooks are in my vast, and largely unread ebook collection! All links above go to descriptions on Goodreads.

My planned "cheat book" is Reign of the Fallen by Sarah Glenn Marsh just could NOT resist buying this title.  It's physically so pretty... and right up my alley in terms of reading genre favorites. I'm really looking forward to reading this one!

I also already know that I'll be reading a copy of Assaulted Caramel by Amanda Flower for the cozy mystery book club that I lead at my Library. I also have two audio book titles, Lost Legio IX by Marc Alan Edelheit and Elysium Fire by Alastair Reynolds that I will be reviewing for Audiofile Magazine. Books that I read specifically for work, or ones I am assigned to review for Audiofile Magazine will not be counting towards (or against) my challenge.

So, here's to a February as successful as January was... and I'll try to post some reviews throughout the month, followed by a wrap-up post letting you know how I did for the month and what my plan is for March as we hit the end of the month.

Oh, and if you'd like in on the challenge, just let me know! We have a private group on both Facebook and Goodreads to give us a place to share, motivate each other, and bemoan having to pass up the shiny new books of 2018... at least for as long as each of us last!!

My Top 5 (All Right, Really it's Six...) Books to Hunt Down at BEA 2014

So....at BEA there are a TON of books every year.  It can be amazing and totally overwhelming.  For the last two years, I finally figured out the system that works the best for me in wading through the sheer number of books readily available... I make a list of books I'm dying to pick up and then I color code that to narrow it down even further to five or maybe ten books MAX that I will desperately hunt for while in the Javitz.  The rest I leave pretty much to chance.

So what are this year's top choices, you ask?

Martyr by A.R. Kahler

 I LOVED A.R. Kahler's Immortal Circus series, so I'm dying to read this new one. 

Talon by Julie Kagawa

 I love Julie Kagawa's writing and storylines, so I'm anxious to see how she tackles dragons! 

The Unfairest of Them All by Shannon Hale

The Ever After High series is TOO cute and come on, Shannon Hale! Love her books.  

Deep Blue by Jennifer Donnelly 

I love Donnelly's other books and I cannot wait to see her tackle a fantasy... I hadn't thought this one was going to be at BEA, but I think it just might be!!  

The Expeditioners and the Secret of King Triton's Lair by S.S. Taylor

I LOVED the first book in this steampunk middle grade adventure series. I can't tell you how excited I was when I saw the sequel coming out! 

...AND of course, I've read this one already, but if I could get a signed, finished copy??? *swoon*

The One by Kiera Cass

Mini Reviews: The Lost Prince and The Iron Traitor

The Lost Prince 
by Julie Kagawa
The Iron Fey, book five

Don't look at Them. Never let Them know you can see Them.

That is Ethan Chase's unbreakable rule. Until the fey he avoids at all costs—including his reputation—begin to disappear, and Ethan is attacked. Now he must change the rules to protect his family. To save a girl he never thought he'd dare to fall for.

Ethan thought he had protected himself from his older sister's world—the land of Faery. His previous time in the Iron Realm left him with nothing but fear and disgust for the world Meghan Chase has made her home, a land of myth and talking cats, of magic and seductive enemies. But when destiny comes for Ethan, there is no escape from a danger long, long forgotten. (Description from Amazon.com) 

I liked the change-up, getting to see the Nevernever from someone else's perspective. Someone totally human.  Ethan is tough, but totally terrified inside and that made him easy to relate to and still feel like a true hero.  I loved how desperately he tries to save Kenzie from what he knows to be dangerous and I loved getting to see Meghan and Ash and PUCK (MY FAVORITE, CAN YOU TELL?) again. 

Full disclosure: eARC received from Netgalley 

The Iron Traitor 

by Julie Kagawa 

Iron Fey, book six 

Publication date: Oct. 29, 2013

After his unexpected journey into the lands of the fey, Ethan Chase just wants to get back to normal. Well, as "normal" as you can be when you see faeries every day of your life. Suddenly the former loner with the bad reputation has someone to try for—his girlfriend, Kenzie. Never mind that he's forbidden to see her again.

But when your name is Ethan Chase and your sister is one of the most powerful faeries in the Nevernever, "normal" simply isn't to be. For Ethan's nephew, Keirran, is missing, and may be on the verge of doing something unthinkable in the name of saving his own love. Something that will fracture the human and faery worlds forever, and give rise to the dangerous fey known as the Forgotten. As Ethan's and Keirran's fates entwine and Keirran slips further into darkness, Ethan's next choice may decide the fate of them all. (description from Amazon.com) 

I love Ethan and Kenzie's relationship.  I think that they work just as well together as Meghan and Ash did.  I'm anxious to see how they cope after the events of this book... in fact, I'm desperate to see what happens next because the cliffhanger this book leaves you on... WOWZA.  

Full disclosure: Review copy received from SLJ

Books I Can't Wait to Get My Hands On...

Here are some books being released in October that I can't wait to eventually read!! They look so good, I'm going to have to try to squeeze them in somewhere...

Emerald Green by Kerstin Gier
The end to the thrilling time travel trilogy... 

In the Age of Love and Chocolate by Gabrielle Zevin
Anya must decide where she stands in the illegal chocolate market...

The Iron Traitor by Julie Kagawa
Will Kieran lead to Ethan's demise?

Perfect Ruin by Lauren DeStefano
Murder rocks a dystopian city floating high in the sky.

Teardrop by Lauren Kate
Tears that could wash away the world... 

This post was inspired by my librarian friend Jen's 

"Books I'm Dying to Read" posts at YABookNerd.

The Iron Knight - Book Trailer

The Iron Knight
by Julie Kagawa
The Iron Fey, book four

Publication date: Oct 25, 2011

I *love* this series...