Book Review: The One by Kiera Cass

Publisher: HarperCollins

Publication Date: June 5th, 2014

Series: The Selection #3

Genre: Young Adult Dystopia

Acquired From: Public Library

SYNOPSIS

The Selection changed the lives of thirty-five girls forever. Now, only one will claim Prince Maxon's heart...

It's swoon meets the Hunger Games in the final installment of The Selection trilogy!

For the four girls who remain at the palace, the friendships they've formed, rivalries they've struggled with and dangers they've faced have bound them to each other for the rest of their lives.

Now, the time has come for one winner to be chosen.

America never dreamed she would find herself anywhere close to the crown--or to Prince Maxon's heart. But as the competition approaches its end and the threats outside the palace walls grow more vicious, America realizes just how much she stands to lose--and how hard she'll have to fight for the future she wants. 

The breathtaking finale to The Selection trilogy will make you swoon! 

REVIEW

I fell in love with this series the first time I picked up the first book. And I waited for what seemed like forever for the final book to see what would happen. It was an amazing story, and I couldn't wait to see who America ended up with. Thanks to The One, I finally know (no spoilers here!). And I give The One a solid 5 out of 5 stars. With no reservations at all!

It is one of the best novels I've ever read, and I know that I'll come back to it over and over again. Kiera Cass is a master storyteller, and I love every single word that comes out of her pen. She's wonderful. She creates beautiful characters and wonderful scenery. She's one of the best authors I've read in a very, very long time.

America is incredibly real with her struggles, her hopes, and her dreams. She approaches the things that come at her with strength and love, something that we should all aspire to. I felt her pain, her joy, and her love. I wanted what she wanted, and cried when she cried. America truly is a wonderful character that should be part of the greatest characters of modern young adult literature. 

 

 

 

 

Book Review: My Sisters in Death by Ksenia Ankse

Publisher: Self-published

Publication Date: August 5, 2013

Series: Siren Suicides #2

Genre: Young Adult Paranormal/Urban Fantasy

Acquired From: Personal Collection

SYNOPSIS

In the second installment of the Siren Suicides trilogy, Ailen Bright finds herself in a sticky situation. Her new supernatural abilities haven't solved anything--in fact, they've royally messed up her life. She can't be with the one person she loves (though her self-control is wavering by the second), her old, well-dressed dog of a father hasn't learned any new tricks, and her supposed siren sister doesn't seem to have her best interests at heart.

A pawn in the game between her father and the Siren of Canosa, Ailen is constantly searching for her next move. Through all the hardships, however, Ailen's self-doubt begins to dissipate as she comes to accept her new identity.

REVIEW

I actually tore through this book much faster than I did the first one. And as much as I enjoyed the first book, I absolutely adored My Sisters in Death. It was a wonderful ride that is definitely going to be one of those that I come back to over and over. That's why I give My Sisters in Death an easy 5 out of 5 stars.

In the second book of the Siren Suicides trilogy, you get to see Ailen really come into her own and become a Siren in the realest sense of the word. She comes into her powers and learns to embrace the new creature that she's become, even when it means embracing the darkest sides of her new personality. Anske writes the turmoil of a teenager trying to accept herself and stand up to an abusive father in the most clear and endearing way, even though it is tinted with the paranormal throughout.

I would suggest this book to anyone who loves paranormal stories with a little bit of love, a lot of angst, and a whole lot of ass-kicking. 

 

 

 

Book Review: Follies Past

Publisher: Petticoat Press

Publication Date: November 11, 2013

Series:  N/A

Genre: Regency Romance

Acquired From: Author

SYNOPSIS

"I must now mention a circumstance which I woud wish to forget myself, and which no obligation less than the present should induce me to unfold to any human being..."

So begins Mr. Darcy to lay before Elizabeth his faithful narrative of Mr. Wickham's villainy toward his sister, Georgiana. The facts he sets out are brief but potent. They contain a story unto themselves, and that story is the subject of this book.  

Taking its facts from Austen's own words, Follies Past opens almost a year before the opening of Pride and Prejudice itself, at Pemberley, at Christmas. Fourteen-year-old Georgiana has just been taken from school and is preparing to transfer to London in the spring. It follows Georgiana to London, to Ramsgate and into the arms of the charming and infamous Mr. Wickham.

To read this book is to stp back into the charming world of Jane Austen's England, to pass a few more hours with some of her beloved characters, sympathetically portrayed as they might have been before ever they came to Netherfield, and to discover a host of new characters each with engaging histories of their own. Authentic in its use of language and meticulously researched, it is a truly diverting entertainment.

-From Goodreads

REVIEW

I was delighted to be able to read Follies Past because I am such a fan of Jane Austen in all her forms. And one of the things I have always wondered about is the events that led to the story that Mr. Darcy exposes to Elizabeth in regards to Mr. Wickham. And Follies Past answered those questions with wonderful prose and a delightful and fulfilling cast of characters.

Melanie Kerr is almost as wonderful as Austen herself in her telling of the villainy of Mr. Wickham as he attempts to get revenge on his former friend by duping his sister into an affair. Twisted throughout the story of Georgiana is the duplicitous actions of Caroline Bingley, a fortune hunter of the highest order, and Clare Langford, a devoted and self-judging friend to Georgiana. Just as Austen would have followed the highs and lows of a young lady of no fortune or consequence, Kerr does the same and brings the story to a satisfying and wonderful conclusion.

It is for this reason I can give Follies Past a wonderful and full 5 out of 5 stars. And I suggest it to anyone who is a fan of Austen herself.  

 

 

 

 

Book Review: Fury of the Seventh Son by Joseph Delaney

Publisher: Greenwillow Books

Publication Date: April 15, 2014

Series: The Last Apprentice/Wardstone Chronicles #13

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy and Horror

Acquired From: Public Library

SYNOPSIS

Finally, Tom Ward, the spook's last apprentice, will confront the Fiend for the last time.

Tom Ward has battled boggarts, ghasts, witches, dark gods, and the most terrifying creatures to roam the earth. He's allied with the witch assassin Grimalkin, with a powerful boggart, and with Alice... the young witch who is also his true love. And he has kept one step ahead of the Fiend, the most evil being in the world.

Now, he will vanquish the Fiend once and for all. But it will require a terrible sacrifice: not everyone Tom cares about will survive the final battle. 

--From Goodreads

REVIEW 

Since I first picked up the very first book in the Last Apprentice series, I've been hooked. As a sucker for fantasy novels, this was an amazing read for me and I've recommended it to a lot of people. That's why I give Fury of the Seventh Son a solid 5 out of 5 stars.

Delaney has always been fantastic at writing an amazing story. He weaves fantasy with just enough reality to make everything authentic. He writes wonderfully well-rounded and real characters who make you believe as they do and makes you wish that you knew them beyond their adventures on the page. His world is beautiful and breathtaking.

I think my favorite thing about this book was that it really allowed Tom to come into his own. He became a character that was strong despite his fears, and it presented him with some challenges that it seemed that he never anticipated. I was breathless for much of this book because I just couldn't believe what was happening--and in many parts, I didn't want it to!

Quite honestly, the story ended in a way that I didn't like. But looking at it, it ended the only way that it could. And with the threat of the Kobalos hanging on the last page, it's been left open for another book or even an entirely new series. So maybe things aren't over just yet.  

Book Review: Alienated by Melissa Landers

Publisher: Disney Hyperion

Publication Date: February 4, 2014

Series: Alienated #1

Genre: Young Adult Science-Fiction

Acquired From: Public Library

SYNOPSIS

Two years ago, the aliens made contact. Now Cara Sweeney is going to be sharing a bathroom with one of them.

Handpicked to host the first-ever L'eihr exchange student, Cara thinks her future is set. Not only does she get a free ride to her dream college, she'll have inside information about the mysterios L'eihrs that every journalist would kill for. Cara's blog following is about to skyrocket.

Still, Cara isn't sure what to think when she meets Aelyx. Humans and L'eihrs have nearly identical DNA, but cold, infuriatingly brilliant Aelyx couldn't seem more alien. She's certain about one thing, though: no human boy is this good-looking.

But when Cara's classmates get swept up by anti-L'eihr paranoia, Midtown High School suddenly isn't safe anymore. Threatening notes appear in Cara's locker, and a police officer has to escort her and Aelyx to class. 

Cara finds support in the last person she expected. She realizes that Aelyx isn't just her only friend; she's fallen hard for him. But Aelyx has been hiding the truth about the purpose of his exchange, and its potentially deadly consequences. Soon Cara will be in for the fight of her life--not just for herself and the boy she loves, but for the future of her planet. 

--From Goodreads

REVIEW

This is one of those books that I absolutely could not put down! I absolutely adored this book beyond words. It was one of the most breathtaking views on the young adult sci-fi genre that I've read in a long time--second only to the Across the Universe trilogy. That's why I give Alienated by Melissa Landers a solid, no holds barred 5 out of 5 stars.

I think what I loved the most about this story was that it was alarmingly real. It showcased a lot of human emotion and desires, as well as gave a startling glimpse into human prejudice. It begs the question of how we would react if there were human-like beings out amongst the stars who made contact with us. The story is carried along, not by the romance that blooms between Cara and Aelyx, but by the rising panic and prejudice in the surrounding community.

Perhaps my favorite part is the impassioned speech made by Cara at the end of the novel--it sings of the human condition and the potential we all have inside of us to do good no matter what wrongdoing is going on around us. Cara embodies perhaps the most human of our emotions--hurt, love, passion, courage. And when she begins to fall for Aelyx, it's a slow motion fall into something that is otherworldly and beautiful. 

Landers did a fantastic job of building a reality that is both real and otherworldly. I can't wait to read about Cara's first steps on planet L'eihr! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Book Review: Unbreakable by Elizabeth Norris

Publisher: Balzer + Bray

Publication Date: April 23, 2013

Series: Unraveling #2

Genre: Young Adult Paranormal/Science Fiction

Acquired From: Public Library

SYNOPSIS

Four months after Ben disappeared through the portal to his home universe, Janelle believes she'll never see him again. Her world is still devastated, but life is finally starting to resume some kind of normalcy. Until Interverse Agent Taylor Barclay shows up. Somebody from an alternate universe is running a human trafficking ring, kidnapping people and selling them on different Earths--and Ben is the prime suspect. Now his family has been imprisoned and will be executed if Ben doesn't turn himself over within five days.

And when Janelle learns that someone she cares about--someone from her own world--has become one of the missing, she knows that she has to help Barclay, regardless of the danger. Now Janelle has five days to track down the real culprit. Five days to locate the missing people before they're lost forever. Five days to reunite with the boy who stole her heart. But as the clues begin to add up, Janelle realizes that she's in way over her head--and that she may not have known Ben as well as she thought. Can she uncover the truth before everyone she cares about is killed. 

REVIEW

I absolutely tore through this book. I read the majority of it in a single day just because I couldn't put it down. Elizabeth Norris is a master of the art of writing a great mystery interwoven with science fiction. She absolutely made me fall in love with the characters she wrote and the worlds she created. Because of that, I can honestly give Unbreakable a solid 5 out of 5 stars.

I think the thing about this book that I loved the most was the action. It was high octane and there wasn't a second of down time in the novel. In some books, that might seem like the author is trying to hard to keep the reader's attention, but with Norris it was a fine line of perfection. Barclay and Janelle go from one problem to another and go up against a world that isn't going to let them solve their case easily. 

More than anything, I sincerely hope this isn't the last time I read about Janelle and Ben. Because, ladies and gentlemen, this is how you write a young adult novel. This is a set of strong characters who are so real that they jump off the page. And it's all about a girl who is badass enough to take down the bad guys with enough snark and sass to make an impression. 

 

 

 

Book Review: Star Cursed by Jessica Spotswood

Publisher: G. P. Putnam's Sons

Publication Date: June 18, 2013

Series: Cahill Witch Chronicles #2

Genre: Young Adult Paranormal

Acquired From: Public Library

SYNOPSIS

With the Brotherhood persecuting witches like never before, a divided Sisterhood desperately needs Cate to come into her Prophesied powers. And after Cate's friend Sachi is arrested for using magic, a war-thirsty Sister offers to help her find answers--if Cate is willing to endanger everyone she loves.

Cate doesn't want to be a weapon, and she doesn't want to involve her friends and Finn in the Sisterhood's schemes. But when Maura and Tess join the Sisterhood, Maura makes it clear that she'll do whatever it takes to lead the witches to victory. Even if it means sacrifices. Even if it means overthrowing Cate. Even if it means all-out war.

In the highly anticipated sequel to Born Wicked, the Cahill Witch Chronicles continue Cate, Maura, and Tess's quest to find love, protect family, and explore their magic against all odds in an alternate history of New England. 

-From Goodreads

 REVIEW

The Cahill Witch Chronicles may be one of my favorite sets of novels since The Lord of the Rings. Jessica Spotswood is a master of evoking strong emotion from her readers when it comes to her characters. I've tweeted many times about how much I long to rip Maura's pretty red hair out of her annoying little head. And that, I think, is one of the greatest things I can say about this series. I feel strongly about it, and that feeling is what keeps me coming back for more. That's why I gave Star Cursed a solid 5 out of 5 stars.

There's a great set up for the second novel in the series, and it does well to tie the story back to the first novel. It isn't so "stand alone" that you easily forget what happened in the first book. And I absolutely adore this. Spotswood pulls back previous scenes from the first novel so that you remember them and brings them into play in the new story. She definitely doesn't let you forget the troubles that her characters have been through.

The characters themselves are strong and believable, with their own strengths and flaws that make it easy to think of them as real people. The only bad thing about this novel is that Maura might be too evil, and that's a good thing! 

Star Cursed will definitely be added to my shelf of favorite books that will be read over and over.  

 

 

 

 

 

Book Review: The Girl with the Iron Touch by Kady Cross

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Publication Date: May 28, 2013

Series: The Steampunk Chronicles #3

Genre: Young Adult Paranormal Romance

Acquired From: Public Library

SYNOPSIS

In 1897 London, something not quite human is about to awaken. 

When mechanical genius Emily is kidnapped by rogue automatons, Finley Jayne and her fellow misfits fear the worst. What's left of their archenemy, The Machinist, hungers to be resurrected, and Emily must transplant his consciousness into one of his automatons--or forfeit her friends' lives.

With Griffin being mysteriously tormented by the Aether, the young duke's sanity is close to the breaking point. Seeking help, Finley turns to Jack Dandy, but trusting the master criminal is as dangerous as controlling her dark side. When Jack kisses her, Finley must finally confront her true feelings for him... and for Griffin.

Meanwhile, Sam is searching everywhere for Emily, from Whitechapel's desolate alleyways to Mayfair's elegant mansions, He would walk into hell for her, but the choice she must make will test them more than they could imagine.  

To save those she cares about, Emily must confront The Machinist's ultimate creation--an automaton more human than machine. And if she's to have any chance of triumphing, she must summon a strength even she doesn't know she has...

REVIEW

It's very rare for me, but there was absolutely nothing I could find in this novel that bothered me. I absolutely loved every moment of The Girl with the Iron Touch, which makes it easy for me to give it a solid 5 out of 5 stars. 

The story itself was wonderfully fast paced with lots of mystery and one great twist after another. The novel is rich with problems for the characters to face and overcome, and it connects strongly to the other novels in the series. The twists seem random and disconnected at first, but as the story goes on, the pieces fall into place that puts together a solid picture that allows you to see a diabolical mastermind at work. 

One of my favorite things about The Steampunk Chronicles is the relationship that exists between Finley and Jack Dandy. It's something that is wonderfully entertaining and very real. While Finley is truly in love with Griffin, it's clear that she enjoys the attention from Dandy. It always makes me love the story even more when there isn't so much melodrama around love triangles, but the fact that the characters openly admit that they love one of them and just likes the attention from the other. 

Overall, The Girl with the Iron Touch is lovely and entertaining. It's a novel that I'll definitely be adding to my collection to read again later.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Book Review: Still Star-Crossed by Melinda Taub

Publisher: Delacorte Press

Publication Date: July 19, 2013

Series: N/A

Genre: Young Adult Historical Fiction

Acquired From: Public Library

SYNOPSIS

Romeo and Juliet are gone. Will love live on?

 Despite the glooming peace that's settled on Verona after the recent tragedy, Montagues and Capulets are brawling in the streets. Faced with more bloody battles, Prince Escalus concludes that the only way to truly marry the fortunes of these two families is to literally marry them together. Everyone is skeptical, but none more so than the pair selected, for the most eligible Montague bachelor is Benvolio, Romeo's best friend, still anguished by the loss of his companions, and the chosen Capulet maid is Juliet's older cousin Rosaline, the girl Romeo first loved and whose refusal of Romeo's affections paved the way to bloodshed.

Contrary to their late cousins, there's no love lost between Benvolio and Rosaline, yet they forge a bond to end the renewed feud not only to escape their forced betrothal, but to save their lives and the city of Verona itself.

-From Goodreads

REVIEW

I can't say how easy it is to give Still Star-Crossed a full 5 out of 5 stars. As a true fan of Shakespeare, I absolutely loved this fictional continuation of the Romeo and Juliet story.

Filled with connections and crossovers to a lot of different Shakespeare plays, Still Star-Crossed picks up two weeks after the bloody end of the Romeo and Juliet story. The story has a wonderful and very strong foundation in the Shakespearean tradition and even follows a lot of Shakespearean language (which sometimes makes it a difficult read, but is definitely easy to get over once you get into the story). There are connections to Much Ado About Nothing, Hamlet, Coriolanus, and Twelfth Night. It is overall beautiful and brilliant.

The story is a great twist on the Romeo and Juliet tale, as it brings together a Capulet maid and Montague man who, for lack of a better term, hate each other. But when treachery and murder threatens to rekindle the bloody feud ended with Romeo and Juliet's deaths, they have no choice but to bond together to save everything they've ever known.

The love story is believable, and the confusion that Rosaline feels about her situation is palpable and understandable. By the end of the novel, you'll realize it couldn't have ended any other way.

Still Star-Crossed easily makes Shakespeare proud. 

 

 

 

 

Book Review: I Am Alice by Joseph Delaney

Publisher: Greenwillow Books/HarperCollins

Publication Date: September 3, 2013

Series: The Last Apprentice/Wardstone Chronicles #12

Genre: Middle Grade/Young Adult Fantasy & Horror

Acquired From: Public Library

SYNOPSIS

I must be brave. I must do what has to be done. I am Alice.

Alice is the most powerful witch the county has ever seen. She may one day be the most evil. But Alice is also the best friend--and true love--of Tom Ward. Together they work to defeat the Fiend--the world's greatest evil--once and for all.

They have nearly everything they need, all except a blade hidden in the Dark, the Fiend's domain. So Alice ventures there to find it. She faces the most terrifying creatures in existence. And she once again battles old enemies who bear grudges: Bony Lizzie, Bloodeye, and more.

And there's something Tom didn't tell her. To vanquish the Fiend, Tom must sacrifice the person he loves most. Alice is hunting for the very blade that will eventually kill her. 

-From Goodreads

REVIEW

This one was incredibly easy to rate. I Am Alice is perhaps the best of the novels of The Last Apprentice series. It's because of this that I give it a solid 5 out of 5 stars.

I think the best thing about this novel was the fact that there was a new person's point of view. This novel is told from the point of view of Alice Deane, Tom's friend and a witch in training. Being told from her point of view, it gives a lot of new insight on Alice and builds her backstory in a wonderful way. There are many flashbacks that tell what Alice's life was like before she met Tom and how she came to realize the kind of power that she had. It was brilliantly done. 

The descriptions for the story were fantastic as well. Just as in all the other novels, there are great creatures that are wonderfully described and interestingly gross. And as the story progressed, Alice faced continuing challenges that made it difficult for her to complete her task. 

The only thing about the novel that I didn't really like was that there were some inaccuracies with other books when it comes to Alice's behavior. Although Delaney tries to explain these inaccuracies away, they still exist and it makes it a little difficult to put things together with how Alice behaved in earlier books.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Book Review: Unraveling by Elizabeth Norris

Publisher: Balzer + Bray

Publication Date: April 24, 2014

Series: Unraveling #1

Genre: Young Adult Science fiction

Acquired from: Public library

SYNOPSIS

Sixteen-year-old Janelle Tenner is used to having a lot of responsibility. She balances working as a lifeguard in San Diego with an intense academic schedule. Janelle's mother is bipolar, and her dad is a workaholic FBI agent, which means Janelle also has to look out for her younger brother, Jared.

And that was before she died... and is brought back to life by Ben Michaels, a mysterious, alluring loner from her high school. When she discovers a strange clock that seems to be counting down to the earth's destruction, Janelle learns she has twenty-four days to figure out how to stop the clock and save the planet. 

REVIEW

Without a doubt, this was the easiest novel for me to rate. I plowed through this one in two days, and I loved every single bit of it. Therefore it's so easy for me to give Unraveling a full 5 out of 5 stars. It is definitely a book that I will go back to read again and again.

The premise of the novel is interesting and lends itself to a dozen great twists and amazing mysteries. I don't want to give too much away, but it's a great read for anyone who is a science fiction fan! I absolutely loved this novel, and I really clicked with Janelle because of the fact that she doesn't have the perfect family. And I really loved that she was a strong female lead--and by that I mean that she was real. There were moments when she was kick ass and brave. And there were moments when she fell apart and needed someone to fix things for her. 

Unraveling is a strong, plot and character driven novel that will grab you from the first page and never let you go. Fans of The X-Files and Veronica Mars alike will love Janelle and her race to save the world. 

 

 

 

The Crown of Embers by Rae Carson

Girl of Fire and Thorns #2
Greenwillow Books
September 18, 2012
High Fantasy

ACQUIRED FROM Public library

SYNOPSIS

She doesn't know what awaits her at the enemy's gate.

Elisa is a hero.

She led her people to victory over a terrifying, sorcerous army. Her place as the country's ruler should be secure. But it isn't.

Her enemies come at her like ghosts in a dream, from foreign realms and even from within her own court. And her destiny as the chosen one has not yet been fulfilled.

To conquer the power she bears, once and for all, Elisa must follow a trial of long-forgotten--and forbidden--clues, from the deep, hidden catacombs of her own city to the treacherous seas. With her go a one-eyed spy, a traitor, and the man whom--despite everything--she is falling in love with.

If she's lucky, she will return from this journey. But there will be a cost. 

From Goodreads 

REVIEW

I loved The Crown of Embers so much that it is more than easy to give it a solid 5 out of 5 stars. There was literally only one thing about this novel that I didn't like, and that was the fact that there was the cliched "forbidden" love storyline. But honestly, doesn't that happen a lot? So that was actually pretty easy to overlook.

Carson is a brilliant storyteller who can bring a world like this to life with just a few words. I loved the story of Elisa and her struggle to hold her kingdom together after the devastating war. The descriptions were beautiful and breathtaking, and the characters were beyond just realistic. To me, they were living, breathing people whose lives I became invested in. Carson is a master at bringing these characters into your heart and making you care about them.

There were wonderful twists and turns in the story, including lots of mystery and intrigue. The love story that developed was beautiful and very organic. It was right and not forced like many love stories I've read in the past. This truly is a brilliant novel that I would recommend to anyone in love with fantasy.

With a beautifully tragic love story and lots of action and intrigue, The Crown of Embers is a wonderful story about realizing that who you are is just enough. 

 

 

 

 

 

Shadow of Night by Deborah Harkness

All Souls Trilogy #2
Viking Penguin
July 10, 2012
Adult Paranormal

ACQUIRED: Library

SUMMARY

IT BEGAN WITH A DISCOVERY OF WITCHES.

Historian Diana Bishop, descended from a line of powerful witches, and long-lived vampire Matthew Clairmont have broken the laws dividing creatures. When Diana discovered a significant alchemical manuscript in the Bodleian Library, she sparked a struggle in which she became bound to Matthew. Now the fragile coexistence of witches, daemons, vampires and humans is dangerously threatened.

Seeking safety, Diana and Matthew travel back in time to London, 1590. But they soon realise that the past may not provide a haven. Reclaiming his former identity as poet and spy for Queen Elizabeth, the vampire falls back in with a group of radicals known as the School of Night. Many are unruly daemons, the creative minds of the age, including playwright Christopher Marlowe and mathematician Thomas Harriot.

Together Matthew and Diana scour Tudor London for the elusive manuscript Ashmole 782, and search for the witch who will teach Diana how to control her remarkable powers... 

From Goodreads 

REVIEW

With ease, I can give Shadow of Night 5 out of 5 stars. Deborah Harkness has done it again with the continuing story of Diana and Matthew. This story was even more wonderful for a history buff such as myself as it was history taken to a whole new level. The characters were woven into a rich tapestry of history, intrigue, and romance that was bigger than life and so very simple that it was breathtaking.

My favorite thing about the novel was the fact that the relationship between Diana and Matthew continued to evolve along natural lines. They fought. They made love. They grew apart, and grew closer again. And through it all, Diana kept her own identity. I loved that even though it is in Matthew's nature for him to be possessive toward Diana, she was able to remain her own person and to keep her own power. She doesn't succumb to Matthew's every whim and desire. Instead she fights him when there is a need and follows when she feels like it.

There is drama aplenty in Shadow of Night and more romance than you can imagine. I fell more in love with everything in the story with every single page I turned. There are so many things I would love to say about the story, but I refuse to spoil it for anyone!

It's a beautiful weaving of time, past and present, magic and ordinary.

 

 

 

 

A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness

All Souls Trilogy #1
Viking Penguin
February 2011
Adult Paranormal

SYNOPSIS

Deep in the heart of Oxford's Bodleian Library, scholar Diana Bishop requests a manuscript called Ashmole 782 in the course of her research. Coming from an old and distinguished lineage of witches, Diana senses that the ancient book might be bound up with magic--but she herself wants nothing to do with sorcery; and after making a few notes on its curious images, she banishes it quickly back tot he stacks. But what she doesn't know is that the old alchemical text has been lost for centuries, and its sudden appearance has set a fantastical underworld stirring. Soon, a distracting horde of daemons, witches, and vampires descends upon the Bodleian's reading rooms, One of these Creatures is Matthew Clairmont, an enigmatic and eminent geneticist, practitioner of yoga, and wine connosseur--and also a vampire with a keen interest in Ashmole 782.

Equal parts history and magic, romance and suspense, A Discovery of Witches is a novel of epic scope, traveling from the cobbled streets of Oxford to the chateaus and mountains of the Auvergne to a small town in upstate New York. It also takes us into a rich fifteen-hundred-year history that spans Clovis and the Crusades, the Knights Templar and the American Revolution. As Matthew and Diana's alliance deepens into intimacy, Diana must come to terms with age-old traditions and her own family's conflicted history--and she must learn where the modern woman she is meets the source of ancient power that is her legacy. With a scholar's depth and the touch of a great storyteller, Deborah Harkness has woven a tale of passion and obsession; the collision of magic, alchemy, and science; and the closely guarded secrets of an enchanted world.

REVIEW

 Without reservation, I give A Discovery of Witches 5 out of 5 stars. This book was absolutely amazing! While it wasn't a young adult novel, it is just absolutely wonderful for a paranormal novel in the adult genre. While I was reading, I could only really find one thing that I didn't like about the novel and it was only the cliche of "you're different so you can't be together." But, of course, there has to be something to stop the relationship or to block it from going forward easily, so what can you say?

I think what I liked best about this novel was that it was deliciously fast paced and it was loaded with history. I'm a complete nerd for history and science, and this was the perfect book for me to read. I adored it! It was like a paranormal version of Dan Brown, only better! And the love story was beautiful, too. While it hinted at the intimate relationship between Diana and Matthew, it wasn't overly graphic in the most intimate of scenes. The characters were wonderfully realistic and beautifully brought to life.

Overall, A Discovery of Witches is a wonderful story about finding yourself, your destiny, and your courage. A must read.

The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson

Fire and Thorns #1
Greenwillow Books
September 20th, 2011

SYNOPSIS

Once a century, one person is chosen for greatness...

Elisa is the chosen one.

But she is also the younger of two princesses. The one who has never done anything remarkable, and can't see how she ever will.

Now, on her sixteenth birthday, she has become the secret wife of a handsome and worldly king--a king whose country is in turmoil. A king who needs her to be the chosen one, not a failure of a princess.

And he's not the only one who seeks her. Savage enemies, seething with dark magic, are hunting her. A daring, determined revolutionary things she could be his people's savior, and he looks at her in a way that no man has ever looked at her before. Soon it is not just her life, but her very heart that is at stake.

Elisa could be everything to those who need her most. If the prophecy is fulfilled. If she finds the power deep within herself. If she doesn't die young.

Most of the chosen do. 

 

REVIEW

Without reservation, I give The Girl of Fire and Thorns 5 out of 5 stars. Rae Carson doesn't just pull you into the story, she literally drags you into it with a compelling plot line and a remarkably sympathetic protagonist. I absolutely loved that Elisa wasn't your traditional "beautiful in a non-traditional way" young adult heroine. Elisa is awkward and overweight, she eats her feelings, and has low self-esteem. From the moment you meet her, Elisa is relate-able.

The characters are well rounded, and the relationships are wonderfully well developed and believable. The world described is brilliantly realized once you get your bearings. It's grounded in reality in the fact that the languages in the book bear a striking resemblance to Spanish and Latin. My favorite thing about the book is the fact that Elisa is at once a very strong and a very weak character. She has doubts about who she is and what her destiny is, and yet she works to find her own strength and her own courage. She is one of the rare young adult heroines who has agency. Who figures things out on her own, rather than has a male side kick do it for her. And I loved that!

There were very few things about this book that I didn't like. It did have a rather slow start, and it was slightly confusing to get my bearings. A prologue or at least a map of the world in question would have been nice to introduce the reader to Elisa's world. 

Overall, The Girl of Fire and Thorns is an amazing read. It's a story about having the courage to find your faith in yourself. It's a must have book! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Fiery Heart By Richelle Mead

Bloodlines Series #4
Razorbill
November 19, 2013

SYNOPSIS

Sydney Sage is an Alchemist, one of a group of humans who dabble in magic and serve to bridge the worlds of humans and vampires. They protect vampire secrets--and human lives.

In The Indigo Spell, Sydney was torn between the Alchemist way of life and what her heart and gut were telling her to do. And in one breathtaking moment that Richelle Mead fans will never forget, she made a decision that shocked even her...

But the struggle isn't over for Sygney. As she navigates the aftermath of her life-changing decision, she still finds herself pulled in too many directions at once. Her sister Zoe has arrived, and while Sydney longs to grow closer to her, there's still so much she must keep secret. Working with Marcus has changed the way she views the Alchemists, and Sydney must tread a careful path as she harnesses her profound magical ability to undermine the way of life she was raised to defend. Consumed by passion and vengeance, Sydney struggles to keep her secret life under wraps as the threat of exposure--and re-education--looms larger than ever.

Pulses will race throughout this smoldering fourth installment of the New York Times bestselling Bloodlines series, where no secret is safe.

REVIEW

Overall, I give The Fiery Heart an 5 out of 5. It's hard for me to find a Richelle Mead novel that I don't like. But this one was one that I honestly couldn't have lived without. This one was absolutely brilliant. Richelle Mead took my breath away and had me on my edge of my seat when it came to how Sydney got around the problems with her sister and her relationship with Adrian. It was so beautifully written and it completely made me fall in love with the series all over again!

The only thing I didn't like about this novel was how easily Adrian slipped back into his old habits after all the hard work he did throughout the book. However, his character growth throughout this book alone was wonderful. In comparison to how it was when he was introduced in Shadow Kissed--he's a completely different character in the very best way. Bravo!