Ensnared

Ensnared
by AG Howard
Splintered, book three

*Spoiler Alert - This IS the final book in the trilogy!*

After surviving a disastrous battle at prom, Alyssa has embraced her madness and gained perspective. She's determined to rescue her two worlds and the people and netherlings she loves. Even if it means challenging Queen Red to a final battle of wills and wiles . . . and even if the only way to Wonderland, now that the rabbit hole is closed, is through the looking-glass world--a parallel dimension filled with mutated and violent netherling outcasts. In the final installment of the wildly popular Splintered trilogy, Alyssa and her dad journey into the heart of magic and mayhem in search of her mom and to set right all that's gone wrong. Together with Jeb and Morpheus, they must salvage Wonderland from the decay and destruction that has ensnared it. But if they succeed and come out alive, can everyone truly have their happily ever after? (Description taken from Goodreads.com) 

As this is the final book, I'll be somewhat cryptic in my review to try to keep from spoiling things for you who may not have read this yet... This was one of those books where I was SO excited to read it that I almost couldn't pick it up at all. I don't know if you ever experience that as a reader (I know my friend Jen from Yabooknerd shares this with me), that feeling where you just can't bear for a series to end and you're terrified that the book won't live up to your expectations and so you just keep putting it off and putting it off and suddenly you realize you've owned the book for YEARS and still haven't finished the series... (I'm eyeballing my copy of the last Vampire Academy series book as I write this)

Well, that's how it was for me with this book, until I finally put my proverbial foot down and forced myself to crack open the first chapter...and immediately got swept away into Howard's fabulously dark and twisted world once again. I love how deliciously twisted both Howard's settings and characters are in this series.  She takes  the familiar pieces from my childhood and manages to give them such an unexpected and creative twist, that though the idea behind the series is a classic, it really does take on a completely wonderful life of its own.  I never find myself actively comparing these books to Carroll's as I'm reading, only after the fact as I'm describing them to others. They exist in and of themselves. 

There had been some controversy, I guess, about the ending to this series. In today's readersphere, where everyone pits one romantic lead against another in the never-ending line of love triangles, there were readers who had pinned there hopes one way or another and inevitably some readers found their hopes dashed...in an interesting way.  In fact, as a reader who loves both a romantic and a realistic ending, resigned to the fact that often one cannot find them together, EVER, I was happy with this ending. In fact, it's what I wish would happen more often in the books that I read.  

Then, just after I finished reading, I was even more excited to find out that Howard will be releasing a novella set in this world, a collection of three short stories! I don't have to give up this Wonderland just yet. Oh Frabjous Day!

Full disclosure: Book Purchased for my Personal Library

Unhinged

Unhinged 
by A.G. Howard
Splintered, book two

Alyssa Gardner has been down the rabbit hole. She was crowned Queen of the Red Court and faced the bandersnatch. She saved the life of Jeb, the boy she loves, and escaped the machinations of the disturbingly appealing Morpheus. Now all she has to do is graduate high school.

That would be easier without her mother, freshly released from an asylum, acting overly protective and suspicious. And it would be much simpler if the mysterious Morpheus didn’t show up for school one day to tempt her with another dangerous quest in the dark, challenging Wonderland—where she (partly) belongs.

Could she leave Jeb and her parents behind again, for the sake of a man she knows has manipulated her before? Will her mother and Jeb trust her to do what’s right? (description from Amazon.com)

Okay, before I say anything else, I just have to ask...does anyone else get creeped out by this cover? Don't get me wrong, I LOVED this book just as much as the first, but every time I look at Morpheus on the cover, I find myself actually shrinking back mentally from the story...it's so disconcerting. 

Anyway, moving on...let me tell you how I devoured this book as soon as I couldn't see the cover any more.  I think my imagination just takes me in a different place, but man, can A.G. Howard create the best world inside your head! 

Alyssa's world is darker, creepier, and just plain more addicting than the original Alice's could ever have been.  I love peeling back the little layers of not only Wonderland, but our own to find the secret and creepy things that might be hiding underneath.  As much as Alyssa's dilemma about how she feels with both Jeb and Morpheus is fun to read...it's really the world and Alyssa's power within it that keeps me totally captivated.

I'm itching to dive back down this rabbit hole again.  Soon, I hope!

Full disclosure: eARC received from NetGalley, ARC received for review from VOYA 

Radiant and Boundless

Radiant
by Cynthia Hand
An Unearthly novella 

Clara is desperate to get away—from the memories that haunt her in Wyoming and the visions of a future she isn't ready to face—and spending the summer in Italy with her best friend, Angela, should be the perfect escape. . . .

For as long as she can remember, Angela has been told that love is dangerous, that she must always guard her heart. But when she met Phen two years ago she was determined to be with him, no matter the costs. Now she must decide whether she can trust Clara with her secret, or if telling her the truth will risk everything she cares about.

Alternating between Angela and Clara's perspectives, Radiant chronicles the unforgettable summer that will test the bounds of their friendship and change their lives forever. (description from Amazon.com) 

I almost didn't read Radiant before starting Boundless, but boy am I glad that I did.  The novella gives you some great info that has meaning in the third and final book, as well as letting the reader get to hear some things from Angela's perspective, which I loved.  I suppose you could read the last book without reading the novella, but I thought it really added to the story. It was definitely worth the $1.99 for me. 

Boundless

by Cynthia Hand

Unearthly series, book three

The past few years held more surprises than part-angel Clara Gardner ever could have anticipated. Yet through the dizzying high of first love to the agonizing low of losing someone close to her, the one thing she could no longer deny was that she was never meant to have a normal life.

Since discovering the special role she plays among the other angel-bloods, Clara has been determined to protect Tucker Avery from the evil that follows her . . . even if it means breaking both their hearts. Leaving town seemed like the best option, so she's headed back to California—and so is Christian Prescott, the irresistible boy from the vision that started her on this journey in the first place.

As Clara makes her way in a world that is frighteningly new, she discovers that the fallen angel who attacked her is watching her every move. And he's not the only one. . . . With the battle against the Black Wings looming, Clara knows she must finally fulfill her destiny. But it won't come without sacrifices and betrayal.

In the riveting finale of the Unearthly series, Clara must choose her fate once and for all. (description from Amazon.com) 

I thought that Hand did a bang-up job finishing the series.  There were things I thought would probably happen and they did, but the suspense to get there was perfect.  Clara remained a character that I could totally believe, stuck in a situation that kept me riveted.  I loved her relationships with friends and family and the way that nothing was black and white...everything had shades of gray.  The way that the romance tied up, too, left me absolutely satisfied. All around this is one of the best angel-themed series I've read and I can't wait to recommend it to more readers! 

Full disclosure: Radiant purchased for my Kindle App/Boundless borrowed from my library

The Shadow Girl

The Shadow Girl 
by Jennifer Archer

For as long as Lily Winston can remember, she has never been alone. Iris, a shadowy figure who mimics Lily's movements and whispers in her ear, is with her always -- but invisible to the rest of the world. Iris is Lily's secret. But when Lily's father is killed in a tragic accident, his cryptic final words suggest that he and Lily's mother have been hiding secrets of their own. Suddenly, Iris begins pushing Lily more than ever, possessing her thoughts and urging her to put together the pieces of a strange puzzle her father left behind. As she searches for answers, Lily finds herself drawn to Ty Collier, a mysterious new boy in town. Together, Lily and Ty must untangle a web of deception to discover the truth about her family, Iris -- and Lily's own identity.

When I picked this book up, I wasn't quite sure what to expect.  I was very pleasantly surprised to find that this book sucked me in immediately.  It reads really easily and Archer builds suspense beautifully, revealing small secrets one by one, building Lily’s discoveries into one culminating life-altering event. Intermingled within the mystery of Lily’s identity are also her conflicting feelings for Wyatt and Ty, as well as her guilt and grief over her father’s death. 

As the story concludes and Lily determines where she will go from here, the only detraction is one confrontation that seemed to be looming, but never actually comes to fruition. Aside from that, Lily’s story is a well-done blend of suspense, mystery, and romance. I just can't help but wonder if there might be a sequel down the pike that will explore Lily's future choices? I hope so... 

Full disclosure: ARC received to review for SLJ

Hidden

Hidden

by Sophie Jordan

Firelight, book three

 

A dangerous journey.
Shattered bonds.
Undying passion.

Jacinda was supposed to bond with Cassian, the "prince" of their pride. But she resisted her fate long before she fell in love with Will—a human and, worse, a hunter. When she ran away with Will, it ended in disaster, with Cassian's sister, Miram, captured. Weighed down by guilt, Jacinda knows she must rescue her to set things right. Yet to do so she will have to venture deep into the heart of enemy territory.

The only way Jacinda can reach Miram is by posing as a prisoner herself, though once she assumes that disguise, things quickly spiral out of her control. As she learns more about her captors, she realizes that even if Will and Cassian can carry out their part of the plan, there's no guarantee they'll all make it out alive. But what Jacinda never could have foreseen is that escaping would be only the beginning. . . . (description from Amazon.com)


Though I realistically knew the way that the author would end this book and I enjoyed the action and the introduction of some new dragons, I was still horribly disappointed with how the romance worked out.  It's so hard when you latch on to a character and desperately want the main character to end up with them and yet, you know that they won't...

Aside from my heartbreak, this was a very good ending to the series.  I still love how Jordan can make these books steamy and adventurous without getting too graphic! The draki are still amazingly cool and I loved how Jacinda and her sister both really figured out exactly where they needed to be in the end.

But...I'm still Team Cassian... and my heart just broke for him.

Full disclosure: Borrowed through interlibrary loan

A Fractured Light

A Fractured Light

by Jocelyn Davies

A Beautiful Dark, book two

 

When she wakes up in unfamiliar surroundings, Skye knows something terrible has happened to her. It's not until she hears Asher, the dark, rebellious angel she fell in love with, that the memories come flooding back. She tries to put the past behind her, but she knows she'll be forever haunted by the ruthless betrayal that almost took her life.

Skye returns home, but with the knowledge of who she really is, nothing can ever be the same. As she tests the limits of her newfound powers, Skye discovers that she's capable of far more than anyone could have imagined. Both the Order and the Rebellion want her for their side as war between the factions looms. She can't forget the terrifying truth she now knows about the Order, but something holds her back from embracing the Rebellion. (decription from Amazon.com)


Picking up right where the first book left off, Skye must now deal with the fallout of finding out who she truly is, and being unsure of where she really belongs. With ties to both sides in a holy war, Skye must decide who she feels more beholden to...or does she. What I truly loved about this book was that though Skye falls in love, she does not let that emotion define her (unlike some other paranormal heroines...*cough* *cough* Bella *cough*). Skye chooses to forge her own path, regardless of the consequences. 

With romance, secrets, and a much stronger heroine than might appear on the surface, this trilogy (assuming the last book is as good as the first two) is truly one of my faves in the paranormal field.

Full disclosure: Copy received to review for SLJ


Spark

Spark

by Amy Kathleen Ryan

Sky Chasers, book two

 

After a desperate escape from the enemy ship, Waverly has finally made it back to the Empyrean. The memory of home has been keeping her alive for the past months… but home is nothing like she left it. Forced to leave their captive parents behind on the New Horizon, she’s returned only to find that Kieran has become a strict leader and turned the crew against Seth. What happened to the Kieran she thought she knew? Now Waverly’s not sure whom she can trust. And the one person she wants to believe in is darkly brilliant Seth, the ship’s supposed enemy. Waverly knows that the situation will only get worse until they can rescue their parents – but how?

Before they have time to make a plan, an explosion rocks the Empyrean, and Seth and Waverly are targeted as the prime suspects. Can they find the true culprit before Kieran locks them away… or worse? Will Waverly follow her heart, even if it puts lives at risk? Now more than ever, every step could bring them closer to a new beginning – or a sudden end. (description from Amazon.com)

 

After my sparkling gold star review of Glow, I was beyond excited to listen to Spark. Unfortunately, for me, the magic was just not quite there in this sequel.  

 

Ryan added a point of view by having chapters told from Seth's perspective. Though I absolutely saw the need for this in terms of moving the storyline forward, it was somewhat jarring to have happen at the very beginning of the book and it threw the "flow" off for me.  It also vastly complicated the emotional tenor of the book and thus slowed the building of the story.

 

Though there was action and suspense in this book, it was much slower in the beginning... I was not immediately grabbed like I had been in the first book.  By the time I was nearing the ending, it had started to get the magic back, and I will definitely be reading book three to see how things end, but I'm hoping that the author will capture the magic again!

 

Full disclosure: Audio book received to review for SLJ and AudioFile magazine. Ebook purchased for my Nook. 

Throne of Glass

Throne of Glass
by Sarah J. Maas

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After serving out a year of hard labor in the salt mines of Endovier for her crimes, 18-year-old assassin Celaena Sardothien is dragged before the Crown Prince. Prince Dorian offers her her freedom on one condition: she must act as his champion in a competition to find a new royal assassin. Her opponents are men-thieves and assassins and warriors from across the empire, each sponsored by a member of the king's council. If she beats her opponents in a series of eliminations, she'll serve the kingdom for three years and then be granted her freedom.

Celaena finds her training sessions with the captain of the guard, Westfall, challenging and exhilirating. But she's bored stiff by court life. Things get a little more interesting when the prince starts to show interest in her... but it's the gruff Captain Westfall who seems to understand her best.
Then one of the other contestants turns up dead... quickly followed by another. Can Celaena figure out who the killer is before she becomes a victim? As the young assassin investigates, her search leads her to discover a greater destiny than she could possibly have imagined. (description from Amazon.com)

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Celaena is a broken, yet resiliant character.  She's notorious and almost anonymous at the same time.  Though she's the kingdom's premier assassin, most have no idea what she looks like and no one knows her true past. She survived a year in a death camp, working the salt mines, and that is almost unbelievable. Is it any wonder that she terrifies and enchants almost everyone she meets?

Though love triangles start to feel old if they are not done well, in this book, the triangle totally worked for me.  Perhaps because Celaena continuously puts her own wellbeing first...the way things should work! Though she's entranced with the Crown Prince and would gladly be with him, if she is to be his Father's Assassin, a relationship could never work... and then there is the Captain of the Guard.  Though he does not elicit the same, ahem...lustful...feelings in her, there is a soul deep connection that can only make them truly friends...and perhaps more someday.

Maas did a masterful job at worldbuilding in this book.  While the reader never truly gets the entire back story on the kingdom that Celaena finds herself in, Maas trickles little bits of information into the story as things develop, allowing readers to learn just enough to be aware of how things work, and also leave them salivating for more backstory.  In fact, I'm now working my way through the four e-pubbed novellas (The Assassin and the Pirate Lord, The Assassin and the Empire, The Assassin and the Desert, and The Assassin and the Underworld) in hopes of learning more before the next book...

In a kingdom where magic is forbidden, there is certainly a lot of weird, unexplainable things going on here.  There also seems to be a certain reason why a lot of these events seem to seek out Celaena... Maas again managed to blend the perfect amount of realism and the fantastic.  With characters that know things they shouldn't and those that seem to be perfectly in the dark... Celaena must determine who she can truly trust...her life most certainly depends on it. 

Fans of Tamora Pierce, Rae Carson, and other fantasy writers with strong female characters will devour this book!

Full disclosure: Review copy received from NetGalley, signed ARC received at BEA 2012.

 

Cover Craving...Reached by Ally Condie

Even if you are not a fan of the actual storyline, you cannot help but love the covers that Penguin has created for Ally Condie's Matched series. Each one has gotten better and better!!

I love that the final book in the trilogy has continued the really visually cool theme of the first two covers.  First Cassia is trapped within her societal bubble, then she is breaking free, and now she stands in the shattered remains of what her life used to be...awesome symbolism!  The covers are simple, evocative, and even more stunning in person.  I love the red this time, too!

*sigh* I just want to pet the cover... 

Crossed

Crossed
by Ally Condie
Matched Trilogy, book two

*Caution! Spoilers Ahead...*

In search of a future that may not exist and faced with the decision of who to share it with, Cassia journeys to the Outer Provinces in pursuit of Ky - taken by the Society to his certain death - only to find that he has escaped, leaving a series of clues in his wake.

Cassia's quest leads her to question much of what she holds dear, even as she finds glimmers of a different life across the border. But as Cassia nears resolve and certainty about her future with Ky, an invitation for rebellion, an unexpected betrayal, and a surprise visit from Xander - who may hold the key to the uprising and, still, to Cassia's heart - change the game once again. Nothing is as expected on the edge of Society, where crosses and double crosses make the path more twisted than ever. (description from Amazon.com)

I have to say that, sadly, I was disappointed in this book. I *loved* Matched and this follow up totally fell flat for me. While I still think that the world concept is very cool, I lost interest in what was happening with the characters.

While the first book captivated me with the danger of discovery, the depth of society's control, and the forbidden romance that was developing...the second lost all of these elements. Though Ky and Cassia are both facing imminent physical danger, this book lacked the suspense of the first. I never felt like either of them was really going to die...or have to live without the other.

Though I will assuredly read the final book in the trilogy because I want to know what happens with the characters, the Society, and especially the mostly absent (in Crossed, anyway) Xander, this book fell into the trap of a "middle" book. It was overlong, not too much happened, and I just wanted to get to the next one.

I'm also finding that the older I get the more I want my love stories to be filled with realistic strife. Love is not easy. And I mean that emotionally, not necessarily that the characters have to be in danger or cannot get to one another... I mean that they will not admit their love, they will fight their love, they will not recognize their love. It will build slowly and it will last. Cassia and Ky's love built well in the first book, but sadly once they are on the run, they both just spent all of their time pining for one another. It was a classic case of two people feeling as if they cannot be whole without the other. I found myself becoming bored with the fact that neither really did anything until they came together again...

I hope that Condie can bring back the magic of the first book when she completes the trilogy.

Full disclosure: Audio book received to review for AudioFile

Vanish

Vanish
by Sophie Jordan
Firelight, book two

An Impossible Romance.
Bitter Rivalries.
Deadly Choices.

To save the life of the boy she loves, Jacinda did the unthinkable: She betrayed the most closely guarded secret of her kind. Now she must return to the protection of her pride knowing she might never see Will again—and worse, that because his mind has been shaded, Will’s memories of that fateful night and why she had to flee are gone.

Back home, Jacinda is greeted with hostility and must work to prove her loyalty for both her sake and her family’s. Among the few who will even talk to her are Cassian, the pride’s heir apparent who has always wanted her, and her sister, Tamra, who has been forever changed by a twist of fate. Jacinda knows that she should forget Will and move on—that if he managed to remember and keep his promise to find her, it would only endanger them both. Yet she clings to the hope that someday they will be together again. When the chance arrives to follow her heart, will she risk everything for love? (description from Amazon.com)

Again, I commend Sophie Jordan on being able to write one steamy, non-graphic romance! These scenes make me have to stop and check that the pages are not singed beneath my fingers. Perhaps it's the fact that Jacinda has a little fire burning within her, but every time she starts to feel the heat with a guy, flames seem to literally lick off of the pages. *wipes forehead*
So good!

I loved that this book took place within the Draki Pride. We got to see so much more of how their day to day lives worked...their secrets...their rituals. There was more description of the different types of Draki and we got to see them in action. <3

My heart broke for several of the characters. There's a lot of unrequited love (/stalker-esque obsession/passion) going on in this book. Without giving spoilers, I can really only say that I am SUPER intrigued to see how the group that leaves the Pride at the end is going to interact later as they all have some very convoluted feelings...

I cannot wait for the next Draki adventure!! TEAM DRAKI all the way :)

Full disclosure: ARC received from NetGalley

Black Night

Black Night
by Christina Henry
Black Wings, book two

Madeline Black is an Agent of death, meaning she escorts the souls of people who have died to the afterlife. Of course, not everyone is happy to see her...

If obstinate dead people were all that Maddy had to worry about, life would be much easier. But the best-laid plans of Agents and fallen angels often go awry. Deaths are occurring contrary to the natural order, Maddy's being stalked by foes inside and outside of her family, and her two loves-her bodyguard, Gabriel, and her doughnut-loving gargoyle, Beezle-have disappeared. But because Maddy is Lucifer's granddaughter, things are expected of her, things like delicate diplomatic missions to other realms. (description from Amazon.com)

As I said in my review of Henry's first book, Black Wings (here), this is an urban fantasy that goes by in a flash. Maddy is a strong heroine. There are interesting paranormal beings (let's see, faeries, werewolves, fallen angels...yup, pretty much the works) and not only the cool urban setting of Chicago, but in this book we get to see one of the Faerie Kingdoms.

I loved how Henry layered in the interactions with the different species. It was awesome to see what J.B. is and how he relates to Maddy's mission from her grandfather. The way that their relationship influences certain things was interesting...

Again, I loved Beezle best of all. I really just want to reach into the book and pull that little gargoyle out to ride around on MY shoulder. He is so funny and wonderfully protective. <3

As I read about Maddy's powers growing, her understanding of her powers growing, and the revelations about what her destiny could truly be, all I could think was "how long do I have to wait for the next one?!" They haven't announced a release date yet for book three in the series, but Christina Henry's website says there will be at least six books in the series... :)

Once In a Full Moon

Once in a Full Moon
by Ellen Schreiber

Beware of a kiss under the full moon. It will change your life forever.

Celeste Parker is used to hearing scary stories about werewolves—Legend's Run is famous for them. She's used to everything in the small town until Brandon Maddox moves to Legend's Run and Celeste finds herself immediately drawn to the handsome new student. But when, after an unnerving visit with a psychic, she encounters a pack of wolves and gorgeous, enigmatic Brandon, she must discover whether his transformation is more than legend or just a trick of the shadows in the moonlight.

Her best friends may never forgive her if she gives up her perfect boyfriend, Nash, for Brandon, who's from the wrong side of town. But she can't deny her attraction or the strong pull he has on her. Brandon may be Celeste's hero, or he may be the most dangerous creature she could encounter in the woods of Legend's Run. (description from Amazon.com)

Having read the first few books in Ellen Schreiber's Vampire Kisses series, I knew that her audience skews a little younger. That being said, I thought that this werewolf book would be perfect to hand to a tween reader that wants to venture into the paranormal, but can't quite handle something like Andrea Cremer's Nightshade.

The characters were likeable, if somewhat tepid. The plot was interesting, though imminently predictable. It was an okay book, but nothing spectacular. For an eleven year old, though, it could be just the right thing.

Full disclosure: ARC received as a gift, e-ARC from Netgalley

Fins are Forever

Fins Are Forever
by Tera Lynn Childs
Forgive My Fins, book two

On Lily Sanderson’s eighteenth birthday she’ll become just a girl—still a mer girl, true, but signing the renunciation paperwork will ink Princess Waterlily of Thalassinia out of existence. That leaves plain old Lily living on land, dating the boy she loves, and trying to master this being human thing once and for all.

Now that Lily and Quince are together, mer-bond or not, she’s almost content to give up her place in the royal succession of Thalassinia. But just when she thinks she has everything figured out, Lily’s father sends a certain whirlpool-stirring cousin to stay with her on land. What did Doe do to get herself exiled from Thalassinia and stuck in terraped form, when everyone knows how much she hates humans? And why why why is she batting her eyelashes at Lily’s former crush, Brody?

The seafoam on the surf comes when a merboy from Lily’s past shows up. Tellin asks Lily for something that clouds her view of the horizon. There’s a future with Quince on land, her loyalty to the kingdom in the sea, and Lily tossing on the waves in the middle. Will she find a way to reconcile her love, her duty, and her dreams? (description taken from Goodreads.com)

I can't tell you how happy I was to dive back into the beautiful world of Thalassinia. This is truly what I've always imagined the world of merpeople to be like...a beautiful castle, a lovely (and yes, at times, dangerous) kingdom full of interesting people with gorgeous fins. Really, didn't you always want to be a mermaid...or, er...merman?

I really enjoyed seeing Lily and Quince's relationship tested in this second book. They work really well together and had just the right amount of passion. I couldn't believe when TLC threw another merman into the mix! Talk about tension. I was really happy to see, though, how Lily managed to find the right balance in her life, politically and romantically. It made for a great ending!!

Speaking of learning to find balance...one of my favorite characters in this book was Lily's cousin, Doe. Her character had great depth here as she learned to accept humans as well as merfolk and finds her own true love. Her situation really helped Lily to cope with her own. What a great addition to the story!

One of my favorite series to recommend as we get closer to summer! Tera Lynn Childs manages to bring the ocean alive in the best possible way and just makes me want to start wading in to find my own merman. *sigh*

Full disclosure: ARC sent by author/publisher for review
2011 Shifter Reading Challenge Title

Red Riding Hood - Movie Review

Red Riding Hood
starring Amanda Seyfried

I saw Red Riding Hood last night with two friends from work. I enjoyed it. (Ironically, I think I liked the previews for "Suckerpunch" more, but the steampunky, live-action anime style of that movie has me BEYOND excited!!)
Anyway... I thought Amanda Seyfried was really good in this role. She can play sultry (much better than Kristen Stewart - to whom comparisons in this role can definitely be made), she can play strong, she can play vulnerable...she really showed range. The two male romantic leads were also very good...I especially enjoyed watching the scenes with Peter, the woodcutter. *wipes sweat off brow*

I thought that the family relationships were complex and interesting. The introduction of the church as almost vengeful, Templar like warrior figures was really well done, too. I thought the werewolf lore was awesome, and NO. I am not going to ruin it for you and tell you who the werewolf was...I'll just say that I was actually surprised. I had thought I knew what the big surprise was, but nope, they threw me for a loop. Well done!

Overall, I really enjoyed it and will probably watch this one again several times.

The Book of Spells

The Book of Spells
by Kate Brian
A Private Prequel

The year is 1915 when sixteen-year-old Eliza Williams arrives at the Billings School for Girls in Easton, Connecticut. Her parents expect her to learn the qualites of a graceful, dutiful wife. But Eliza and her housemates have a dangerous secret: They're witches. After finding a dusty, leather bound spell book, the Billings Girls form a secret coven. Bonded in sisterhood, they cast spells--cursing their headmistress with laryngitis, brewing potions to bolster their courage before dances, and conjuring beautiful dresses out of old rags. The girls taste freedom and power for the first time, but what starts out as innocent fun turns sinister when one of the spells has an unexpected-and deadly-consequence. Magic could bring Eliza everything she's ever wanted...but it could also destroy everything she holds dear.
(description taken from Amazon.com)


I am conflicted about this book. Not in the sense that I didn't like it. I did. Honestly, I love Kate Brian's books. My confliction stems from the fact that I adore, really truly LOVE, the Private series. It is one of the few contemporary realistic fiction series that I will run to grab as soon as they come into the library. So, when I heard that Brian was doing a prequel, I was excited. Then I found out it was a supernatural themed book and my heart sank a little...


SO. When I read this book, I did have to acknowledge that it's connected to the rest of the series. There are characters that are related to future Easton Academy attendees and it was fun to see how the Billings School for Girls and the Easton School for Boys combined... However, I honestly tried to read this story completely on its own. I tried to divorce it in mind so that I could just enjoy this book alone...and I did!

I really liked the witchcraft aspect of this book. The girls have to learn to balance their excitement at being able to cast spells and their responsibilities to not take things too far. Brian, as always, has a way of making romance difficult and intriguing...and creates the best frenemies scenarios I have EVER encountered. This book definitely pulled me right in, just like all of Brian's other books have in the past.


Now, I have to read the next Private book, Ominous, and see how this whole supernatural prequel will affect the final two books in the series. As much as I loved it, I really hope it doesn't alter the tone of the series too much. I really loved these books just as they are!


Any one else read this series? Thoughts??

Cover Craving...

Vanish
by Sophie Jordan
Firelight, book two

Publication date: September 6, 2011

SO...this cover is once again GORGEOUS! Whew...love the subtle scales. Absolutely beautifully done.

I just miss Jacinda's fiery red hair...

Unearthly

Unearthly
by Cynthia Hand

In the beginning, there's a boy standing in the trees . . . .

Clara Gardner has recently learned that she's part angel. Having angel blood run through her veins not only makes her smarter, stronger, and faster than humans (a word, she realizes, that no longer applies to her), but it means she has a purpose, something she was put on this earth to do. Figuring out what that is, though, isn't easy.

Her visions of a raging forest fire and an alluring stranger lead her to a new school in a new town. When she meets Christian, who turns out to be the boy of her dreams (literally), everything seems to fall into place—and out of place at the same time. Because there's another guy, Tucker, who appeals to Clara's less angelic side.

As Clara tries to find her way in a world she no longer understands, she encounters unseen dangers and choices she never thought she'd have to make—between honesty and deceit, love and duty, good and evil. When the fire from her vision finally ignites, will Clara be ready to face her destiny? (description taken from Amazon.com)

I have to be honest and say that I reviewed this as an audio book and it was not my favorite - in that format. This was an audio book that if I had picked it out myself, I probably would have stopped listening several chapters in and grabbed the physical book to read instead. I don't recommend the recorded version.

That being said, I really loved the storyline! Hand presents a well-researched new mythos for Nephilim, or as they are known here, Angelbloods. Clara is a Quartarius, or quarter angel, and has wings, can speak any language, and has a purpose. She also just wants to experience life as a normal girl sometimes. Balancing her angelic duties and her everyday life becomes a problem when what her heart and her head tell her conflicts. Clara suddenly has to wonder what will happen if she can't or doesn't fulfill her purpose.

I really liked Clara's family. Her mother and her brother, Jeremy, were both interesting characters with good relationships with Clara...and after the choices they all make at the end of this book, I am anxious to see what happens in Hallowed, which comes out next year.

It was also really cool that Clara got to meet another Angelblood. Someone that she could talk to, someone to compare notes with...there are a lot of books where the poor main character is just left floundering in the breeze...all alone, the sole one of their kind...I liked that she had a friend who knew exactly what she was going through.

I also have to tell you...no lie. I think I lurve Tucker Avery...just a little. I don't want to give you all the details, but there is one scene in there that plays out almost word for word, action for action like a date my husband and I had over 10 years ago when we first started dating. I teared up a little bit and my heart skipped more than one beat. *grin* I will always love Cynthia Hand for that moment. :)

Full disclosure: Audio book received to review for AudioFile magazine
2011 Shifter Challenge title

Clarity - Blog Tour

Clarity

by Kim Harrington

When you can see things others can't, where do you look for the truth?

Clarity "Clare" Fern sees things. Things no one else can see. Things like stolen kisses and long-buried secrets. All she has to do is touch a certain object, and the visions come to her. It's a gift.

And a curse.

When a teenage girl is found murdered, Clare's ex-boyfriend wants her to help solve the case--but Clare is still furious at the cheating jerk. Then Clare's brother--who has supernatural gifts of his own--becomes the prime suspect, and Clare can no longer look away. Teaming up with Gabriel, the smoldering son of the new detective, Clare must venture into the depths of fear, revenge, and lust in order to track the killer. But will her sight fail her just when she needs it most? (description taken from Amazon.com)

Publication Date: March 1, 2011

What a great debut! I devoured this book. It was so compellingly written that I literally had to force myself to put it down when my eyelids kept fluttering shut at insane hours of the night. I kept thinking, "Just one more chapter..."

Clarity, or Clare, Fern is a great character. She is sixteen and has a great blend of snarkiness and sincerity. Her relationships with her mother and brother are really great. I felt proud on her behalf for the way she handled her ex-boyfriend, the snotty mean girl from school, and the people around her in general. She's not hard, though, and that's what makes her really "real." I can't wait to read more featuring Clare...(I HOPE!!)

The mystery is fast paced, exciting, and well done. Harrington sprinkles in tidbits here and there, taking readers on a twisting journey to the truth. I really loved, too, getting to see the case from Clare's psychic perspective. Fascinating.

As I said, I couldn't put this one down. I am definitely hoping for a sequel...

Since I was so riveted...I also award this book one of my coveted GOLD STARs!!

Check out the trailer.

2011 Debut Author Challenge title

Full disclosure: ARC received for review from Book It Forward ARC Tours

How the Male BF always gets overlooked...or my review of The Iron King

The Iron King
by Julie Kagawa

Meghan Chase has a secret destiny—one she could never have imagined…
Something has always felt slightly off in Meghan's life, ever since her father disappeared before her eyes when she was six. She has never quite fit in at school…or at home.

When a dark stranger begins watching her from afar, and her prankster best friend becomes strangely protective of her, Meghan senses that everything she's known is about to change.

But she could never have guessed the truth—that she is the daughter of a mythical faery king and is a pawn in a deadly war. Now Meghan will learn just how far she'll go to save someone she cares about, to stop a mysterious evil no faery creature dare face…and to find love with a young prince who might rather see her dead than let her touch his icy heart. (description taken from Amazon.com)

Okay. I cannot believe that it took me this long to pick up this book... With my love of dark fae books and fantasy in general, I should have known that I would love this book. However, I think that this series felt the same way for me that The Hunger Games trilogy did for a lot of people right before Mockingjay came out. I'd heard so much buzz that I kind of kept saying, "I don't want to read this just because everyone else has...I want to find my own books."

*Sigh* I should know better!! Almost all of the bloggers I follow are into the same type of books that I am and I trust their opinions. I was just being way too stubborn with this one...I put the second book on hold at the Library the moment, literally the moment that I put The Iron King down. I loved it.

Now on to the real discussion...

I really enjoyed the combination of modern technology and fae culture in this series. The Iron Fey is a fascinating concept that I'm surprised had not been come up with sooner...the blending of ancient faerie mythology and modern culture was just incredible.

Now. I'm all for a girl meeting a guy and falling in love, but it just broke my heart in this book that Meghan cannot see the wonderful thing she already had going...

In my opinion, Male Best Friends get overlooked WAY too often in books and movies. Perfect example...in Dirty Dancing, Baby chooses to go with the flashy dance instructor instead of the funny guy friend that is willing to carry watermelons for her! He was cute, totally into her, and yes, I suppose less exciting, but way more reliable!!

*Spoilers Ahead!!*
In The Iron King, Puck literally watches over Meghan for years. He is her bodyguard, her friend, her confidante... but the moment that Meghan sees Ash, Puck becomes a second class friend. It's obvious that Puck has real feelings for Meghan, she starts to realize it, and just passes him right by.

It nearly broke my heart on page 248 when Puck says,
"I would have gotten you there!" Puck roared. "Me! You don't need his help!Don't you trust me to keep you safe? I would've given everything for you. Why didn't you think I'd be enough?"

I mean, you could feel his pain....his betrayal...
I just wanted to reach out and shake Meghan.

*End Spoilers*

I have to say that my husband was one of those Male Best Friends and choosing to date him was one of the best decisions of my life. I always want to shout to characters - "Look! Look at _____! He's right there...give him a chance."

Okay. That's the end of my rant. Anyway, though I had that problem with the romance, I really loved this book. If you, like me, kept putting this one off...STOP! Go out and read it. NOW. :)