Gold Star Review: The Wicked Within

The Wicked Within 
by Kelly Keaton
Gods and Monsters, book three

Her fate is not set in stone.

Having temporarily defeated Athena, Ari races to break the gorgon curse that has plagued the women in her family for centuries. Her one lead sends her on a quest for the Hands of Zeus, an ancient relic last seen in the charge of New 2’s ruling elite, the Novem. But if there is one thing that Athena desires as much as revenge, it’s the Hands of Zeus—and Athena always gets what she wants.

Before either can locate the Hands, the statue goes missing, and a trail of blood follows those who once protected the relic’s secrets. Ari knows that her city, her friends, Sebastian—her life—depend upon her finding the statue before Athena. And with rumors an ancient power is on the rise, that may not be her only concern…(description from Amazon.com)

So...let me remind you that I LOVE this series. Both Darkness Becomes Her and A Beautiful Evil received gold star reviews on my blog.  The lusciously creepy setting of a dystopian New Orleans coupled with an amazing cast of intriguing characters and a great integration of ancient mythology into the near future makes this series a total winner in my book. 

As this is the third book in the trilogy, I don't want to spoil the ending, so this review is going to be a little brief.  I will tell you that I loved how things turned out... there were depths and nuances to each character and their reactions to events that really continued to flesh out the world and show a testament to Keaton's choices.  We FINALLY got to find out exactly what Violet is... and boy, was that surprise worth it. I love Ari and Violet's relationship.  We also see how things develop between Ari and Sebastian... 

My one and only complaint about this book was that it's supposed to be the end of the trilogy! I can't believe it... not only did it leave a few things unanswered that I'm dying to know, but these are also characters that I would LOVE to get to read more about.  

This is basically me BEGGING Kelly Keaton for more... please!

However, as that is a tongue-in-cheek complaint, rather than a true one, I also want to give this book a GOLD STAR. My first one for 2014...for one heck of a series "ender." 

Full disclosure: Purchased on my Nook

Falling Kingdoms

Falling Kingdoms

by Morgan Rhodes

 

In a land where magic has been forgotten but peace has reigned for centuries, a deadly unrest is simmering. Three kingdoms grapple for power—brutally transforming their subjects' lives in the process. Amidst betrayals, bargains, and battles, four young people find their fates forever intertwined:

Cleo: A princess raised in luxury must embark on a rough and treacherous journey into enemy territory in search of a magic long thought extinct.

Jonas: Enraged at injustice, a rebel lashes out against the forces of oppression that have kept his country impoverished—and finds himself the leader of a people's revolution centuries in the making.

Lucia: A girl adopted at birth into a royal family discovers the truth about her past—and the supernatural legacy she is destined to wield.

Magnus: Bred for aggression and trained to conquer, a firstborn son begins to realize that the heart can be more lethal than the sword. . . .

The only outcome that's certain is that kingdoms will fall. Who will emerge triumphant when all they know has collapsed? (description from Amazon.com)


Intricate storylines weave together into a tale of magic, betrayal, greed, and even murder.  Three kingdoms on the brink of war... four teens struggling to survive and prosper. Each teen has something to fight for, and unfortunately, that brings each of them up against one another as they work for the interests of their own kingdoms. 

Throughout, there is the hunt for magic.  Once acknowledged as existing in all the kingdoms, magic has now seemingly disappeared. Each kingdom believes that if they can harness the magic, they will be triumphant...and the ancient Watchers who keep tabs on all are desperate to retrieve the magic that they've lost. One teen is the key to it all.

Politics, murder, secrets, war, romance...this book has it all.  Rhodes masterfully built an intriguing world and left me breathless at the end. I cannot wait until this story picks up in book two! I NEED to see where everyone goes from the cliffhanger at the end...

Full disclosure: Audio book received to review for AudioFile Magazine

If You Like: The Cutting Edge

If You Like… is a feature highlighting blogger recommendations for books, authors, TV shows, movies, and music based on the things you already know and love.


This week's recommendations are all books and movies that are similar to the Ice Skating based love story, The Cutting Edge. If it's your kind of movie, check out our recommendations HERE!

Troy High

Troy High

by Shana Norris

Homer’s Iliad, the classic tale of love and revenge, is shrewdly retold for teens in Troy High.

Narrated by Cassie, a shy outsider at Troy High, the story follows the Trojans and Spartans as they declare war on the football field. After the beautiful Elena—who used to be the captain of the Spartan cheerleaders—transfers to Troy High and falls madly in love with Cassie’s brother Perry, the Spartans vow that the annual homecoming game will never be forgotten. Off the football field, an escalating prank war fuels tensions between the schools.

The stakes are raised when Cassie is forced to choose between the boy she loves (a Spartan) and loyalty to her family and school. Troy High will seduce readers with its cast of mythic proportions. (description from Amazon.com)

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This may not become an epic classic, like the Iliad on which it's based, but I actually really enjoyed reading this book.  Not only was it a fun contemporary read with a main character that I just could not help but root for, but it also was really fun trying to remember who the characters were from the Iliad and trying to match them up with Troy High. 

While this book is loosely based on the classic tale, there are some things that were definitely changed and it really does have a great modern feel - if you had no idea what it was based on, you really wouldn't be missing anything, you could just enjoy it as is... - and in reality, I liked the ending of THIS tale a whole lot more.  :P

If you have time for just a breezy sort of book, you may want to pick this one up!

For a little fun, here's the cute book trailer:

A Beautiful Dark

A Beautiful Dark
by Jocelyn Davies

Skye never questioned the story of her life. Her Aunt Jo adopted her after the death of her parents when she was just a child, and together they flip through memories the way some people flip through photo albums.

She never questioned if the stories were true.

Until the night of her 17th birthday, when the arrival of two strangers intrudes on her cozy life. Polar opposites, like fire and ice, Asher is dark and wild, while Devin is fair, cold, and aloof. Skye has no idea what they want—only that their presence coincides with the beginning of some shockingly strange events. Events that Skye, if she dares to think it, might be responsible for causing.

High up in the mountains of Boulder, Colorado, Skye finds herself caught in the middle of an ancient battle, one that began untold millennia ago. Torn between unpredictable Asher, whom she loves, and the infuriating Devin, who she can’t stay away from, her fate is murky as a starless night. And as the secrets of her true identity are revealed, Skye realizes that her destiny may reside in the Heavens—or somewhere darker. (description from the "Elevensies" website)

Angel books can be really hit or miss for me. Jocelyn Davies' debut is a spot on WINNER. I loved it. It has a very similar feel to Lauren Kate's Fallen, but only in the way it reads. A Beautiful Dark has its own unique "angel" mythology.

I loved Skye, Asher, and Devlin. There were sparks amongst them all, both figuratively and in actuality! What I really liked, though, was that there was a reason for the presented romantic triangle. It wasn't just that Skye was so quirky and thereby desirable that no boy could stay away from her. The time was spent on purpose first and the feelings came (well a little bit, anyway) later.

I was thoroughly intrigued by the mythology in this book. While I have heard similar ones before, it was particularly well presented and the follow-through of where the story took the mythology was amazing. I cannot wait for the next book, in what I'm assuming, no...desperately hoping is a series. There was quite a cliffhanger...

2011 Debut Author Challenge title

Anxiously Awaiting...Shut Out

Shut Out
by Kody Keplinger

Publication Date: September 2011

SHUT OUT is a story about Lissa, a senior in high school, who decides to put an end to a decade old rivalry between her school's football and soccer teams after her quarterback boyfriend ditches her a few too many times on behalf of hazing the other team. Her plan is to start a sex strike - gathering the girlfriends of all the players of both teams and agreeing that none of them will hookup with their boyfriends until the rivalry is over. What follows is an all out battle of the sexes as the girls begin to explore issues of teen sexuality and the boys attempt to seduce the girls into breaking their oath. Lissa is determined to win, but she never expects the sexual tension that rises between she and Cash Sterling, a member of the soccer team and leader of the boys' side.

I really ended up liking The DUFF and this one sounds interesting.
Check out Kody's blog for an excerpt!

Kiss in the Dark

Kiss in the Dark
by Lauren Henderson
Scarlett Wakefield series, book three

With Dan McAndrew's murder finally behind her, Scarlett has high hopes for a fresh start at Wakefield Hall Collegiate, the elite English boarding school her grandmother runs. Unfortunately, those hopes are dashed when her nemesis, the infamous Plum Saybourne, is transferred to the school. Plum wastes no time turning Scarlett's impressionable classmates against her.

Scarlett has dealt with Plum's nasty schemes before, and she can handle her archenemy very nicely, thank you - until Plum sets her sights on Scarlett's best friend, Taylor, and new boyfriend, Jase. Then Scarlet is more than willing to fight for what's rightfully hers.

Things only get worse after Scarlett becomes entangled in a mysterious death on campus. Scarlett is compelled investigate because she wants to protect someone close to her. She never imagines that she'll uncover secrets related to her parents' fatal accident so many years ago...
(description from Amazon.com)

There is not alot that I can say about the plot of this book without getting things away...hmmm...so, I'll just tell you that I really enjoyed it. I devoured it in fact. It was well worth the wait!

A lot...and I mean A LOT of little tidbits are revealed in this book, setting things up for book four. Though I was very sad at the end of this book...and no, I won't tell you why!, I was satisfied with the book...and now I am drooling for the next. Already. I feel a little as if Lauren Henderson just loves to tease me. Ah well.