Tuesday Review Day!

Tempestuous (Wondrous Strange, #3)

Written by: Lesley Livingston

Publication date: December 21, 2010 by HarperTeen

Released in Hardcover, paperback, Kindle, ebook

368pgs

5 Stars

Synopsis: "I don't love Sonny Flannery." 

That's the lie Kelley Winslow told to protect the boy she loves from a power he doesn't know he possesses. Devastated, Sonny retreats—to a haven for Lost Fae that's hidden deep underneath New York City.

But Kelley's not about to let things end in heartbreak. To get Sonny back, she's got to find out who's after his magick—and how to use her own. She's got to uncover who's recruiting Janus Guards to murderously hunt innocent Faerie. She's got to help rebuild the shattered theater company she called family. And she's got to do it all without getting dangerously distracted by the Fennrys Wolf, whose legendary heart of stone seems to melt whenever he's around Kelley.

The intrigue and romance that began with Wondrous Strange and Darklight come to a stormy head in Tempestuous, the breathtaking conclusion to Lesley Livingston's ravishing urban Faerie trilogy.

My Review: Once again, Sonny and Kelley are not with each other; Kelley lied and said she didn't love Sonny at the end of Darklight in order to get Sonny to leave. This was supposed to protect him from his inner Green Magick to which Kelley seems to trigger. So now Sonny's in one place and Kelley in another. She won't tell anyone what's going on in fear that his secret will get out and someone will try to kill him. It was kind of annoying that I had to wait for the recap in the next book to fully understand what happened in the previous one. I found that sometimes in this series when things would come to light, mostly at the end of the book, it wasn't really laid out or explained well enough that I was absolutely sure what happened. Maybe it's just me, but Kelley seems to be overreacting about Sonny's...uh...outburst in the Avalon Theater. I mean, he killed that bad guys. It's what he does for a living. Where's the problem?

There's a lot of temptation going on in this book directed at both Sonny and Kelley. Their physical separation and Sonny believing Kelley really never loved him; is creating room for others to slip in between them. With little struggle, they have to often remind themselves of their love for each other. You know I love a good love-triangle, but this guy, The Fennrys Wolf, is just WRONG! He's so sneaky! Here's what I'm wondering: Why did Sonny Flannery get such a weak name and Fennrys got such a bad boy name like the Wolf? Yeah, yeah, I know, the whole Irish background and all. Speaking of which, I really need to work on my Irish brogue because I think it was coming out (in my head, of course) kind of Scottish.

This was a tricky, twisty plot and everywhere you turn, you don't know who to trust! Or you know who you can't trust and you're screaming at the pages wishing you could warn the characters. There was a surprise at the end that I REALLY didn't see coming. I don't think I liked it. But I loved the book as a whole; the people, the places, all of it.

Overall: Tons of romance, lots of faerie magick wielding and twists and turns. If you like faeries mixed in with humans, as they so often are, this is a must read!

 

Tuesday Review Day!

Darklight (Wondrous Strange, #2)

Written by: Lesley Livingston

Publication date: December 2, 2009 by HarperTeen

Released in Hardcover, paperback, Kindle and ebook

310pgs

4 Stars

Synopsis: Much has changed since autumn, when Kelley Winslow learned she was a Faerie princess, fell in love with changeling guard Sonny Flannery, and saved the mortal realm from the ravages of the Wild Hunt.

Now Kelley is stuck in New York City, rehearsing Romeo and Juliet and missing Sonny more with every stage kiss, while Sonny has been forced back to the Otherworld and into a deadly game of cat and mouse with the remaining Hunters and Queen Mabh herself.

When a terrifying encounter sends Kelley tumbling into the Otherworld, her reunion with Sonny is joyful but destined to be cut short. An ancient, hidden magick is stirring, and a dangerous new enemy is willing to risk everything to claim that power.

Caught in a web of Faerie deception and shifting allegiances, Kelley and Sonny must tread carefully, for each next step could topple a kingdom . . . or tear them apart.

With breathtakingly high stakes, the talented Lesley Livingston delivers soaring romance and vividly magical characters in Darklight, the second novel in the trilogy that began with Wondrous Strange.

My Review: Within the connection Sonny and Kelley have, a ton of lies are woven; those told to them and by them. Her parents have been keeping secrets and secrets have even been kept from them. When a stranger attacks Kelley in Central Park all hell breaks loose when Kelley opens a rift that drops her and the Fennrys Wolf in the Otherworld.

Sonny and Kelley are a really cute couple but because of the danger that surrounds them both, they spend a lot of time apart. This leaves Kelley spending plenty of one on one time with the Wolf. No bueno.

Some of the other characters come into play in this book but the Puck here is SO not the Puck I knew in the Iron Fey! THAT Puck would never run from a fight! Queen Mabh is another character we get to see more of in this sequel. I've always known Mabh to be the frigid Ice Queen of Winter but in this faery tale, she is the Queen of Autumn...and not so very frigid. I'm not quite sure what to make of her yet, but I'm keeping a close eye on her! I do not trust Auberon as far as I could throw him - and as a mortal I'm sure that wouldn't be far at all. I don't trust the Summer Queen, Titiana, either. I've learned enough not to trust a faery who appears to be trustworthy. Especially the royal ones. I'm pretty sure Titiana is the one who started this whole thing in the first place, from blowing Mabh's war horn to everything else.

This sequel was equally exciting as the first. So many twists and turns and reveals it makes your head spin! plus, while truths are coming to light, the fact that we still don't know half of what's going on is also revealed. I wish there was more I could tell you but I'm afraid I might spoil something. So just know that it was AWESOME and a MUST-READ!

Overall: I was very disappointed with the ending and I'm counting on Tempestuous to rectify the wrongs made in Darklight.

Waiting On Wednesday

Waiting on Wednesday is a meme created by Breaking The Spine to highlight upcoming books that readers are dying to get their hands on. This week I chose the third installment of the Lorien Legacies...

The Rise of Nine doesn't have a cover yet...or a synopsis, but that doesn't make me what it any less! I love this series, John Smith and the way Power of Six ended, I can't wait to find out what happens next! What are the others like? Will Sam ever get the girl? This series is the perfect summer read with a release date of AUGUST 21ST.

What are you waiting on this week?

Waiting on Wednesday

Waiting on Wednesday is a meme created by Breaking The Spine to highlight upcoming books that readers are dying to get their hands on!

Ever since I read The Iron Fey series, I've been wanting more and more from Julie Kagawa. Luckily, she's got a brand new series for us about vampires!

You will kill. The only question is when.

In the dark days since the insidious Red Lung virus decimated the human population, vampires have risen to rule the crumbling cities and suburbs. Uncontested Princes hold sway over diminished ranks of humans: their "pets." In exchange for their labor, loyalty and of course, their blood, these pets are registered, given food and shelter, permitted to survive.

Unregistered humans cling to fringes, scavenging for survival. Allison Sekemoto and her fellow Unregistereds are hunted, not only by vampires, but by rabids, the unholy result of Red Lung-infected vampires feeding on unwary humans. One night, Allie is attacked by a pack of rabids, saved by an unlikely hero...and turned vampire.

Uncomfortable in her undead skin, Allie falls in with a ragtag crew of humans seeking a cure, or cures: for Rabidism and for Vampirism. She's passing for human...for now. But the hunger is growing and will not be denied. Not for friendship—not even for love.

Set to release April 24, 2012 it's a pretty thick book with 512 pages. Sounds like a whole lot of awesomeness to read!

*rubbing my hands together greedily and impatiently*

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.

Waiting On Wednesday

Waiting on Wednesday is a meme created by Breaking The Spine to highlight upcoming books that readers are dying to get their hands on! And just like last weeks WOW, this book I'm waiting on is serious.

(A small tidbit of information from Charlaine's blog)

Sookie gets kidnapped and a character (a man) that Charlaine thought was dead, isn't. 

Are you kidding me?? That little teaser is enough to drive me crazy with curiosity! I've been reading the Sookie Stackhouse novels for a few years now and I love them. Sometimes I can be turned off from a series that has a lot of books like this one (this is the 12th book) but for some reason, I can't get enough; I never want them to end. Okay, it's not just for some reason, it's lots of reasons! Abundance of vampires, werewolves and every other kind of supernatural; tons of Eric - which if you read yesterday's review, you'd know I'm Team Eric; and action action action! These books are non-stop, never a dull moment, amazing! I can't wait!!

 

Double Tuesday Review Day!

So happy to finally be on board with the Iron Fey, I read The Iron Daughter and The Iron Queen back to back - which is a big deal for me these days that I even have the time to read one book, let alone two! However, with SIX WEEKS of winter break I plan to spend it doing fun things with my daughter and reading once she's all worn out and fast asleep!

Being that I was so into these two books, I mean I just couldn't get enough; all wrapped up in this crazy love triangle between Meghan, Ash and Puck, I couldn't out them down. Therefore, I didn't write down my review as I read and I've been noticing a difference between my reviews when I've written them while I read and when I don't. The written ones are more detailed and specific to the qualities of the book I liked or didn't like. My freestyle reviews are kind of just all over the place. You ever read an amazing book and when you try to tell your friend why it was so good and why they should read it, all you can say is, "Omg, it was just..so good. It's like..omg..idk how to..it was just so good, you have to read it!" Well, yeah, they're kinda like that. So I've decided to spare you two all-over-the-place type reviews and post them into just one sporadic mess! Enjoy :)

Half Summer faery princess, half human, Meghan has never fit in anywhere. Deserted by the Winter prince she thought loved her, she is prisoner to the Winter faery queen. As war looms between Summer and Winter, Meghan knows that the real danger comes from the Iron fey—ironbound faeries that only she and her absent prince have seen. But no one believes her. 

Worse, Meghan's own fey powers have been cut off. She's stuck in Faery with only her wits for help. Trusting anyone would be foolish. Trusting a seeming traitor could be deadly. But even as she grows a backbone of iron, Meghan can't help but hear the whispers of longing in her all-too-human heart.

My name is Meghan Chase.

I thought it was over. That my time with the fey, the impossible choices I had to make, the sacrifices of those I loved, was behind me. But a storm is approaching, an army of Iron fey that will drag me back, kicking and screaming. Drag me away from the banished prince who's sworn to stand by my side. Drag me into the core of conflict so powerful, I'm not sure anyone can survive it.

This time, there will be no turning back.

5 STARS

My Review: In the Iron Daughter, the love triangle between Meghan, Puck and Ash really comes to a head in this sequel. So many things come to light as we learn more and more about the Iron Fey and who among the Winter Court are their allies.

There are countless twists and turns constantly throwing you in a different direction just when you think you're beginning to put things together. Meghan is a prisoner of the Winter Court and Mab has sealed off her powers. Meghan spends what she considers to be more than enough time in this frozen palace among the Winter fey, foul and murderous creatures. All but her Winter Prince, Ash - who is nowhere to be found. Upon return to the Winter Court he disappears and Meghan is unsure of his departure; did he leave because of her or was he sent away?

During a celebration of the exchange of the scepter from the Summer Court to Winter marking the change of the seasons, the Iron Fey attack and kill an important member of the royal winter family and Meghan is (again) the only eyewitness. The only problem is that no one believes her about the Iron Fey, especially Mab. After miraculously making it out of the Winter Court alive - and with her Ice Prince in tow - they are joined by Puck in one of those grand entrances he loves to make so much. And of course the return of Grimalkin - my favorite character of all.

Now this is the point where I start to mix the stories up, remembering which events took place in which book. So to avoid blurting all the juicy parts out, I'll try to keep it vague. A traitor is discovered in the Winter Court, one that Ash will feel conflicted about facing. And while Winter faeries begin to take sides with the Iron fey, there are those in the Iron realm that are taking sides with those that are supposed to be their enemies; the enemy of my enemy is my friend, and all that.

We venture into plenty of new territory, always exploring the endless borders of the Nevernever and everywhere in between where Meghan finds someone she didn't even know she was looking for.

Now moving more into the Iron Queen, Meghan learns to defend herself, to be part of the battle instead of playing the role of bench-warmer any time there's trouble. There is that tricky part of having two kinds of glamour at her disposal, ones that cancel each other out with most inconvenient side-effects. I have to say, this installment is probably the most riveting, so far. There was so much going on, so many secrets being revealed and the ante on the romance has just been raised! Meghan goes through a lot of internal back and forth with her feelings about Puck and Ash. She has her moments with both of them but she holds a very bright light for only one of them and a special gesture made between them is heart-wrenching. Again, more twists and turns and surprises you probably weren't expecting but never, not once, a disappointment!

Overall: LOVE LOVE LOVE! I WANT MORE! CAN'T PUT DOWN AND CAN'T GET ENOUGH!

Plus, if you have access to ebooks, don't forget about these two:

 

Great fillers between books 1 & 2 and 3 & 4!

Tuesday Review Day!

The Iron King (Iron Fey#1)

Written by: Julie Kagawa

Publication date: February 1, 2010

Released in Paperback by Harlequin Teen

363 pages

4 1/2 STARS

Synopsis: 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.

My Review: I'm going to be honest. I don't know what kind of review this is going to be. I have some things to say about this book and I'll probably spoil something so I wouldn't continue any further if you haven't read it yet.

I have no idea what A Midsummer Night's Dream is. Not a clue. Now, both reading and writing have been my hobbies my whole life; is it bad that I don't know my classic literature? Whatever. THIS book, I DID read!

I'm not sure how I feel about Meghan. I have a hard time remembering her name; not many call her by it. They like to use more fitting names like princess or half-breed. I admire her courage, which sounds corny but I don't think it has another name. She's not well-off, lives on a farm and is tormented at school, yet she makes the best out of it. I'm never fair when it comes to how I feel when the main character first encounters the paranormal. I always want them to accept it right away and not question what they thought they saw - just believe. Of course, it never happens that way and that's okay because when Meghan finds out that her brother has been kidnapped and a changling left in his place, she sets out on a mission to find him and never - and I mean never - backs down. Each character stood out uniquely enough in their own way that it was easy to remember who-was-who and who-was-what. Each action scene was intense but a little hard to play out in my head, but maybe that was just me. I noticed that Kagawa liked to use the same words too closely together, a paragraph or two after the other. I like variety. Impress me with your extended vocabulary and visually stimulating metaphors! 

I've read a lot of reviews on the Iron Fey series because everyone is talking about how great they were and everyone was either Team Puck or Team Ash and...and I wanted to be on a team so I knew I had to read them. I anticipated the next Twilight-type romanticism and that by the end, I would know where I stood. However, I didn't get that at all. Puck has always been there for Meghan and it sounds like he expects her to be with him. He's very much the big brother/protector to her as well as playful and cheerful. It wasn't until one very awkward moment when Puck is preparing to fight (someone I don't remember - maybe Ash), he asked Meghan for a kiss. Even she was confused! Never before had Puck showed that he was into her like that. But watching him get jealous over Meghan and Ash's flirting was pretty amusing, which brings me to my next point.

The Ice Prince and Meghan have an odd "relationship". It consists of very little, if any, emotional sharing but more lingering looks and close encounters. Um, and he's trying to kill Meghan and Puck in the beginning and by the end I think he still would. When Meghan and Ash venture into the Iron Kingdom to stop the Iron King, they grow closer and discover intense feelings they have for each other. But with them being fey of opposite courts, Summer and Winter, it seems it will be impossible for them to be together. Of course there are still those lingering yet confusing feelings she has for Puck!

Grimalkin is by far my favorite character. A cat that knows just about everything, is impressed by nothing yet is utterly entertained by Meghan and the precarious situations she finds herself in. He tends to disappear when the going gets tough (he's not a fighter) yet reappears when Meghan needs him most.

In the midst of all this is the discovery that the man she knew as her father, is not but instead the king of the Summer Fey, Oberon. He speaks of her as his daughter but doesn't treat her like one which only increases my wonder as to why I've always wondered why fey were not more kind and loving. Why do they have to be so...feral, all the time? Speaking of which, Oberon's wife and Summer Queen, Titiana as well as the Winter Queen, Mab, are not friends of Meghan or her antics in the Nevernever.

Overall: The combination of all these characters and the danger that faces them all make for a very exciting read! Action, light romance and a can't-put-down adventure!

Tuesday Review Day!

Supernaturally (Paranormalcy #2)

Written by: Kiersten White

Publication date: July 26, 2011

Released in Hardcover and Kindle

Harper Collins, Inc.

Pages 320

4 STARS

Synopsis: Evie finally has the normal life she’s always longed for. But she’s shocked to discover that being ordinary can be . . . kind of boring. Just when Evie starts to long for her days at the International Paranormal Containment Agency, she’s given a chance to work for them again. Desperate for a break from all the normalcy, she agrees.

But as one disastrous mission leads to another, Evie starts to wonder if she made the right choice. And when Evie’s faerie ex-boyfriend Reth appears with devastating revelations about her past, she discovers that there’s a battle brewing between the faerie courts that could throw the whole supernatural world into chaos. The prize in question? Evie herself.

So much for normal.

My Review: Evie and Lend's relationship is similar to mine. They are in a long distance relationship and one of them is in college. My boyfriend and I are not sixteen or have the power to see through glamours, but I am a water nymph so that kind of balances things out.

Evie reminds me a lot of Sookie Stackhouse of the True Blood series. They are both semi-normal girls just trying to live normal lives yet they've both been touched by faeries and they encounter a ton of paranormals on a regular basis. Evie is fearless whenever she finds herself face to face with a dangerous paranormal, which are the only kinds she ever deals with. She has so many secrets that she insists on keeping all to herself, carrying this burden all by herself. All that weight on her shoulders is enough to make her eventually burst at the seams.

Raquel has returned with an to Evie to work for the IPCA again. And this time, she'ss be a real employee, not just another paranormal being used for the company's benefit. She has the flexibility to turn down any assignment if she doesn't like the circumstances, however, the time never seems to come.

A new character is introduced, Jack. He adds an extreme mysterious element to the story. We're not sure where this guy came from or how he can do what he does - drawing doors even though he isn't a faery. Every time we get a little more insight on Jack, you'd think it might answer one of the thousands of questions surrounding him, instead it only raises more. With all the bits and pieces you get about him, the more you try to draw your own conclusion about him and find yourself being sucked in even more!
 

Paranormal creatures are coming out of the wood-works! Literally! Things Evie has never seen before and they all keep coming to David's diner. Not only that, but they seem to all be in on the same big secret; something that has to do with why the paranormals always seem to be staring at Evie. Nobody seems to know where they're coming from or why they're coming here, but while more show up - others are going missing.

There's no shortage of action or intense scenes in this sequel. Vivian is still around so you know things can't get boring! Evie still struggles with being an Empty One and is trying to figure out what the fey want with her, as Reth continues to try to convince her that she belongs with him and his people. It comes down to a very serious decision that only Evie can make. She finds herself facing an unexpected enemy, leaving her trapped exactly where she never wanted to be trapped. Ever.

Super suspenseful, and plenty of character love confirmation! 

Now don't forget (like, how could you) that the third installment is set to release 
JULY 24, 2012!!!

 

This is by far my favorite cover of the series! Not just because purple is my favorite color, it's just beautiful! Hair, dress, color, lighting, storm clouds, everything! Great job!