Tuesday Review Day!

Radiant Shadows (Wicked Lovely, #4) 

Written by: Melissa Marr

Publication date:

Released in Hardcover, Paperback, Kindle & ebook

336 pages

4 Stars - slow beginning 

Synopsis: 

"Hunger for nourishment.

Hunger for touch.
Hunger to belong." 

Half-human and half-faery, Ani is driven by her hungers.

Those same appetites also attract powerful enemies and uncertain allies, including Devlin. He was created as an assassin and is brother to the faeries' coolly logical High Queen and to her chaotic twin, the embodiment of War. Devlin wants to keep Ani safe from his sisters, knowing that if he fails, he will be the instrument of Ani's death.

Ani isn't one to be guarded while others fight battles for her, though. She has the courage to protect herself and the ability to alter Devlin's plans--and his life. The two are drawn together, each with reason to fear the other and to fear "for" one another. But as they grow closer, a larger threat imperils the whole of Faerie. Will saving the faery realm mean losing each other? 

Alluring romance, heart-stopping danger, and sinister intrigue combine in the penultimate volume of Melissa Marr's "New York Times" bestselling Wicked Lovely series.

My Review: When I read the jacket and saw that this book was going to be about Ani and Devlin, I wasn't happy. I did want to know more about them - just not in their own book; especially after the way Fragile Eternity ended! We haven't seen Ani since Ink Exchange and I've always wondered what important role she was going to play. Devlin was a mysterious character as well from his first appearance in the story.

Ani is reckless but loyal as all hell. She's young and confused, she doesn't know how to control her need to feed off of both touch and emotions, from both humans and faeries - and how to keep it all a secret. It's because of her abilities that she has drawn the attention of Sorcha and Bananach. There's something very special about her that has everyone going to great lengths to either use, protect, or destroy her. Among those trying to protect her is Devlin. His motives for doing so are very suspicious and possibly unbeknownst to even him! Another mysterious character comes into play; her name is Rae and she is neither faerie or mortal. She is friends with Devlin - weird - and she knows more about what's going on with Ani than she can tell him.

There are a million little cliffhangers in this book. Everything is just a tease - giving you only enough to make you keep turning the pages. Halfway through the book I was liking Ani more and more. She's definitely a magnet for trouble! Devlin is the kind of character that immediately evokes pity. He has no real control over his life, nothing to call his own, nowhere to retire for peace. He needs a friggin' hug! You know he needs love in his life and you just want him to have it.

Melissa Marr has a great way of conveying need. Need is not to be confused with lust or want or desire. In all the books of this series, each faery has a sincere need for someone. My favorite is Keenan and Aislinn. The way they need to be near each other, the way it feels when they're apart and when they strengthen their court together - it's beautiful. The loss Keenan feels at every one of Ailinn's rejections is so painful, and knowing Aislinn feels it too, the way she needs Keenan the same way he needs her  but refuses to give in, hurts all the more.

Overall: More twists and turns and a very satisfying ending. I ended up really loving Ani and Devlin - they are just absolutely adorable!

Tuesday Review Day!

Happy New Year Everyone! I hope all of you had fun ringing it in. What did you do? I spent it with my favorite people, my family. Watching the girls get confetti everywhere and spraying the birthday girl with silly string (another one of our weird family traditions) while she ran around screaming was a great time. the best part is that when it's all over, I get to walk home and not have to worry about crazy traffic and drunk drivers.

For Christmas, I received The Iron Knight and started reading it immediately. No really, like while everyone was still milling about and celebrating, I was teasing myself with the prologue. I was very anxious and excited for this one, if you were having a hard time figuring that out. So here's my [SPOILER FREE] review...

Iron Knight (The Iron Fey, #4)
Written by: Julie Kagawa
Publication date: October 25, 2011 by Harlequin Teen
Released in Paperback, Kindle & ebook
361 pages

5 Stars

Synopsis: Ash, former prince of the Winter Court, gave up everything. His title, his home, even his vow of loyalty. All for a girl… and all for nothing.

Unless he can earn a soul.

To cold, emotionless faery prince Ash, love was a weakness for mortals and fools. His own love had died a horrible death, killing any gentler feelings the Winter prince might have had. Or so he thought.

Then Meghan Chase—a half human, half fey slip of a girl— smashed through his barricades, binding him to her irrevocably with his oath to be her knight. And when all of Faery nearly fell to the Iron fey, she severed their bond to save his life. Meghan is now the Iron Queen, ruler of a realm where no Winter or Summer fey can survive.

With the (unwelcome) company of his archrival, Summer Court prankster Puck, and the infuriating cait sith Grimalkin, Ash begins a journey he is bound to see through to its end— a quest to find a way to honor his solemn vow to stand by Meghan’s side.

To survive in the Iron realm, Ash must have a soul and a mortal body. But the tests he must face to earn these things are impossible. At least, no one has ever passed to tell the tale.

And then Ash learns something that changes everything. A truth that turns reality upside down, challenges his darkest beliefs and shows him that, sometimes, it takes more than courage to make the ultimate sacrifice.

My Review: If that synopsis alone has started your heart racing then you will require some serious preparation before reading this book.


The first thing I love about this book is the dedication: Team Ash, this one is for you - *heart beats a little faster*. As you can see, Ash and Puck are side by side in Ash's quest to earn a soul. Now, you know from the previous three books that these two like to go at it; argue, threaten each other with ice shards to the face or a wild pig on your ass, and insults to each others egos. Well without Meghan around, there's no one to referee their  banter so it just goes on and on. It's great. Grimalkin sure isn't going to take that job, it isn't nearly entertaining enough, therefore not worth his while. Grim is almost my favorite character with all his cat knowledge and dry humor. At the very beginning of their journey Grim offers Ash an ominous warning, 

"You have no idea what you asking, what lies ahead, for all of us"

 Right away you're excited because the kind of situations Puck and Ash find themselves in are always nail biting experiences. The tension between them due to their ancient feud, thickens in this book. Ash's vow to Ariella to kill Puck to avenge her death has been haunting him ever since he spoke the words and now they are coming to a head.

There was, in my opinion, a very unpleasant surprise in this story. It made me wish Kagawa had thought of another way, a different route to the end of the story. Speaking of surprises, a double love triangle?! What? Yeah. The fact that this is even happening is just wrong on so many levels. I did not like that.

Anyhow, it is quite an adventure Ash, Puck and Grimalkin go on; encountering never before seen fey, battling their way through the deepest darkest parts of the Nevernever. The trials Ash has to go through to obtain his soul and a mortal body are seriously intense. He finds out what it truly means to be human; and what I think it all boils down to is feelings. Humans are capable of such deep, passionate emotions that they change our lives and as a Winter Prince, Ash has no idea what to expect!

Overall: I was satisfied with the ending, although it still raised a few questions. It definitely leaves your head spinning having just been on a never ending roller-coaster. And it seriously took me until the end of the book to realize that the guy on the back of the book is Puck!! I think it took me a while because that's not really how I pictured him.