Tuesday Review Day!

Hello my wonderful lovelies! I had to take a short hiatus to finish up school and take care of some personal matters but now that school is over and there are a few things in the works, I thought I'd try to get back in the blog-swing of things.

Hope you enjoy this Tuesday Review!

The Immortal Rules (The Blood of Eden, #1)

Written by: Julie Kagawa

Publication date: April 24, 2012

Hardcover, 480 pgs

4 STARS

Synopsis: In a future world, Vampires reign. Humans are blood cattle. And one girl will search for the key to save humanity.  

Allison Sekemoto survives in the Fringe, the outermost circle of a vampire city. By day, she and her crew scavenge for food. By night, any one of them could be eaten.

Some days, all that drives Allie is her hatred of them. The vampires who keep humans as blood cattle. Until the night Allie herself is attacked—and given the ultimate choice. Die… or become one of the monsters.

Faced with her own mortality, Allie becomes what she despises most. To survive, she must learn the rules of being immortal, including the most important: go long enough without human blood, and you will go mad.

Then Allie is forced to flee into the unknown, outside her city walls. There she joins a ragged band of humans who are seeking a legend—a possible cure to the disease that killed off most of humankind and created the rabids, the mindless creatures who threaten humans and vampires alike.

But it isn’t easy to pass for human. Especially not around Zeke, who might see past the monster inside her. And Allie soon must decide what—and who—is worth dying for.

My Review: So here's how I feel about this book. When I first heard about it I was all, "OMG Julie Kagawa wrote about vampires! It has to be the most awesome story ever!!" See how excited I was? -------->

I love the Iron Fey, I mean I ate that series right up; so when I read The Immortal Rules, I was very disappointed when I almost fell asleep! You might be wondering why I still gave it four stars, let me explain. Allie's story begins before she was made into a vampire; her scavenger-type life; fighting to survive, living by rules and in fear no human should ever have to. The characters in this part were a little superficial and I feel too much time was wasted in telling this part of the story. The middle of the story is after she is turned, the time she spends with her maker learning how to live as the thing she has feared her entire life and the thing she hates the most. Finally, the last part of the story is the time she spends with this group of traveling humans that are looking for Eden - a vampire free place that no one is sure even exists.

Here's what put me to sleep: throughout the story, Allie is fighting the vampire she has become and is trying to be as human as possible. Understandable, I guess for a time any one of us might try to maintain normalcy for as long as possible; however, in my opinion, there comes a time where acceptance is the only path left. I like my vampires to embrace their inner monster from time to time. I mean, if you're going to be supernatural, act like it!!

I think this story could have been told just as well in less pages. There was not enough important things happening to fill up these 480 pages, but a lot more story than I think was necessary. The reason I still gave it four stars is because I can see the potential for this story. I think Allie might have an interesting background if I just stick it out until the end. The rest of the story and characters seem to serve only as ties to Allie and her humanity and maybe only one of them is essential to the actual plot.

Overall: I look forward to the sequel, I just hope that if it's going to be just as long that it isn't full of fluff but actual plot points and meaning.

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.

Tuesday Review Day!

Hey guys; this review was accidentally erased when I tried to publish it from my iPad - which I will never attempt to do again, grrr - so it's a little short since I had to rewrite it unexpectedly. Sorry about that. Still, don't let that take away from the book, because it was awesome!

WONDROUS STRANGE (Wondrous Strange #1)

Written by: Lesley Livingston

Publication date: September 20, 2008

Released in Paperback, hardcover, Kindle, ebook by HarperTrophyCanada

336pgs

5 Stars

Synopsis: 17 year-old Kelley Winslow doesn’t believe in Faeries. Not unless they’re the kind that you find in a theatre, spouting Shakespeare—the kind that Kelley so desperately wishes she could be: onstage, under lights, with a pair of sparkly wings strapped to her shoulders. But as the understudy in a two-bit, hopelessly off-off-Broadway production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, wishing is probably the closest she’s going to get to becoming a Faerie Queen. At least, that’s what she thinks... 

In this fun, urban fantasy, Kelley's off-stage life suddenly becomes as complicated as one of Shakespeare’s plot twists when a nighttime trip to Central Park holds more than meets the mortal eye

My Review: I love that Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream is incorporated into this story because that includes Puck - which reminds me of the Iron Fey! That makes me happy =] Then I find out that the main character Kelley, moved to New York City from the Catskills - which is where I live! So even though I hate that her name is Kelley and think she should've been named Emma instead of her Aunt; I forgive that because of her hometown. Lol. I hate Sonny's name even more though.

I really like Kelley. No, I mean really like her. She is completely believable; so much so that she reminds me a lot of myself - outspoken and sarcastic. What I liked most about her is that it didn't take long for her to accept the whole faerie thing. We didn't have to waste a lot of time trying to convince her of their existence and her being one of them.

Sonny is a very likeable character as well. He struggles to fulfill his duty as a Janus Guard and stay away from the puzzle of a read head he just happened to come across in Central Park.

I'm not really sure I know the storyline exactly. I get what's going on but the intricacies are confusing. The whos, the whats and the whys. I kept getting mixed up.

Overall: The climax was so suspenseful, nail-biting! The book is full of great characters who's whole story you can't wait to find out!

Tuesday Review Day!

Darkest Mercy (Wicked Lovey #5)

Written by: Melissa Marr

Publication date: February 22, 2011

Released in Hardcover, paperback, Kindle, ebook, Audio CD

327pgs

5 stars

Synopsis: The Summer King is missing; the Dark Court is bleeding; and a stranger walks the streets of Huntsdale, his presence signifying the deaths of powerful fey.

Aislinn tends to the Summer Court, searching for her absent king and yearning for Seth. Torn between his new queen and his old love, Keenan works from afar to strengthen his court against the coming war. Donia longs for fiery passion even as she coolly readies the Winter Court for battle. And Seth, sworn brother of the Dark King and heir to the High Queen, is about to make a mistake that could cost his life.

Love, despair, and betrayal ignite the Faery Courts, and in the final conflict, some will win . . . and some will lose "everything." 

The thrilling conclusion to Melissa Marr's "New York Times" bestselling Wicked Lovely series will leave readers breathless.

My Review: I was so anxious to get to this book because I knew all the stories would be told at once and we would get to hear from everyone; like Donia, whom we haven't seen since Fragile Eternity. At this point in the story, everything is a mess! War is threatening all the courts, Keenan is missing, things are looking pretty bad - to say the least. And Niall? All I can say about Niall is, "Niall, Niall, Niall." SMH. If I said more than that I'd spoil it for you.

Okay, maaybe I shouldn't have jumped on the "Team Seth" band wagon so quickly because I am completely on Keenan's side. The last couple of books I began to feel the pull toward the other side but this one really did me in! Maybe I connect with Keenan or feel for him more because I a Summer baby and I love everything Summer - or perhaps that's me just trying to justify me switching teams. And it's not that I like Seth any less but I do agree he gets in the way of the court.

Even though I give this book a high rating, it did not have the ending I would have preferred. I knew by book 2 or 3 that it wasn't going to but I guess for many others it ended perfectly.

the mortals that get involved with these faeries  become so inducted into that world that it's as if they were never mortals. For example, Donia and Aislinn. They didn't just become faeries and then sent on their merry way to go frolic in the fields or have snowball fights. No, they were made into faeries that held important positions - Winter Girl and Summer Queen. There are more examples but I won't ruin the surprise!

Overall: I laughed, I cringed, I was shocked and I cried. Literally. I absolutely adore this series! Plus, I cannot wait to read Melissa Marr's Faery Tales & Nightmares!

Dangerous promises and beguiling threats swirl together in a dozen stories of enchantments dark and light by New York Times bestselling author Melissa Marr. Uncanny and unexpected creatures appear from behind bushes, rise from beneath the seas, or manifest from seasonal storms to pursue the objects of their attention—with amorous or sinister intent—relentlessly.

From the gentle tones of a storyteller’s cadences to the terror of a blood sacrifice, tales of favorite characters from Marr’s Wicked Lovely novels mix with accounts of new characters for readers to fall in love with...or to fear.

Lush, seductive, and chilling, Melissa Marr’s stories revel in the unseen magic that infuses the world as we know it.

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!

FRAGILE ETERNITY (WONDROUS STRANGE #3)

Written by: Melissa Marr

Publication date: April 21, 2009 by HarperCollins

Released in Hardcover, paperback, Kindle, ebook

389pgs

5 Stars

Synopsis: Aislinn never expected to rule in Faerie--but that was before Keenan stole her mortality to make her a monarch. Now she faces challenges and enticements beyond any she'd ever dreamed of.

Seth never expected he would want to settle down with anyone--but that was before Aislinn. She is everything he's ever dreamed of, and he wants to be with her forever. Forever takes on a new meaning, though, when your girlfriend is an immortal faery queen.

My Review: I wasn't sure if I was going to like the rotating of the stories; each book focusing on different members of the same tale. However, everything is so intricately connected, as well as the characters, that each book is more like a different side, a different perspective and point of view from the story. Had it been written any other way, I would have felt cheated.

This time around we get to see things through the eyes of the only one to remain 100% mortal and who willingly stays with the faeries - Seth Morgan. If you haven't read my review of Wicked Lovely, let me inform you that I love Seth. Always with the right words at the right time. The only mortal to not only freely move throughout a few of the Faerie Courts, Summer, Winter and Dark; but to also have close relationships with all of the Courts' kings and queens! Seth sometimes has a hard time being around faeries all the time, even Aislinn now that she's immortal. She's his forever girl, but, he's the only one that won't last that long. Spending time with her reminds him of how different she's become and how fragile he is as a human.

The problem in this book is that Seth has become a little too popular among the fey for his own good. So popular, that Bananach in particular has become quite interested in him. We all know that in the wake of Bananach is nothing but death and destruction. One thing I've learned about the raven-haried faery is how she likes to get what she wants and to do so, she whispers into the ears of others, recruiting them to unwittingly do her bidding.

The High Court is another one of the Faery Courts, whose Queen is Sorcha. She is mentioned in the earlier books but never discussed in depth or introduced in the actual story (unless you read Old Habits). Sorcha's role is to maintain order; not like faery police but her mere existence keeps all of Faerie balanced. Yet, Sorcha begins to have feelings and emotions that are irrational and therefore are disrupting the balance and there is only one unexpected person that can fix everything. As if all that wasn't enough - the problems between Aislinn and Seth, Seth and Bananach, Seth and the other courts - things between Keenan and Donia get even more complex. Loving each other and it being impossible to be together makes it hard to cope. There is tension between the courts and Seth is right in the middle of it all. The tension comes directly from Nial, Keenan, Aislinn and Bananach; each of them trying to remind the other of their own strength.

Okay, even though I've already sworn my fealty to Seth, there's a large part of me that really wants Keenan and Aislinn to be together, I would hate for Seth to be dumped but I'm sure there a nice Summer Girl out there that could serve as a pleasant distraction.

Overall: There are unbelievable twists, turns and surprises. You can't stop reading this series, you have to know what's going to happen next. Right now everything is a mess and I need to know how we're going to fix it so that everyone gets what they want, everyone is where they want to be and with the one they want to be with? I need my happily ever after here! If I didn't have the whole series and was unable to read them back to back, I would go mad!

 

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.

Tuesday Review Day!

Ink Exchange (Wicked Lovely, #2)

Written by: Melissa Marr

Publication date: May 1, 2008

Released in Hardcover, paperback, Kindle & ebook

325 pages

3.8 stars

Synopsis: To 17-year-old Leslie, the tattoo is a thing of indescribable beauty, a captivating mark that she must make her own. But this subtle web of eyes and wings brings with it a transformation that no sweet young girl would ever imagine or welcome. Like its predecessor, this stand-alone sequel to Wicked Lovely plunges its youthful heroine into a faery world of almost constant peril. A tantalizing urban fantasy that won't let go.

My Review: Leslie is a poor, unfortunate soul; left to fend for herself in a dysfunctional household that isn't even a place she can call home. She's ready to make a change and the perfect tattoo seems like the right place to start. I've got a couple tattoos myself so I get the liberating feel you get when you get one, but I think Leslie takes that meaning of being free to design your body however you want to be a little more profound than it actually is.

We get to see Aislinn although it isn't her story. If you've read Alyxandra Harvey's Drake Chronicles, it's just like that; several books but each one is about a different character from the first one, which is why I do not advise you to read either series out of order. In this sequel we get to know Leslie better and meed the Dark Fey that were mentioned in Wicked Lovely. Irial is the Dark King and has recently become quite interested in Leslie, and I think we all know how things turn out when a faery, light or dark, sets his sights on a human. If a faery decides it wants you, it will have you.

What is with Melissa Marr and her conflicting characters?! Right from the beginning I knew I was going to feel torn about Irial. I was all ready to hate him through out the story, my lip curling with hate every time he came into the story, but I often found that sneer had turned into a very different expression. One more like empathy. I didn't know what to do with myself. On the other hand, I knew I liked Niall from the first book; he seemed a rare find among the fey - he was genuinely kind. At least, he knew how to be and chose to be often. Niall plays a big part in this sequel, the second male lead role, if you will. He is devout in his loyalty to the Summer court but when Leslie comes into his life - everything changes. Leslie is obliviously naive. If she only knew what she was dealing with, she'd be just as brave facing her threat - it took waaay too long for her to finally learn the truth - less than 100pgs left. Smh. The love triangle in this book is very frustrating. Both Irial and Niall are pursuing Leslie in their own, very different ways but by the end, I wanted both of them to have her!

Overall: Although this probably won't be my favorite book in the series, it does have a very strong message. It was profound, a lot of talk about belonging to yourself, reclaiming yourself after someone has tried to hurt you. Leslie went through a tragic ordeal hence her quest to find the perfect tattoo to begin the reclaiming process.

Tuesday Review Day!

Wicked Lovely (Wicked Lovely #1)

Written by Melissa Marr

Publication date:

Released in Paperback, Hardcover, Kindle & ebook

328 pages

4 stars 

Synopsis: All teenagers have problems, but few of them can match those of Aislinn, who has the power to see faeries. Quite understandably, she wishes that she could share her friends' obliviousness and tries hard to avoid these invisible intruders. But one faery in particular refuses to leave her alone. Keenan the Summer King is convinced beyond all reasoning that Aislinn is the queen he has been seeking for nine centuries. What's a 21st-century girl to do when she's stalked by a suitor nobody else can see? A debut fantasy romance for the ages; superlative summer read.

My Review: I wish the beginning was a little easier to understand. It's one of those stories that you come into the middle of things already happening. Almost halfway through, and I still didn't really understand how the whole staff thing worked with the Summer King and Queen. Touch the staff, don't touch the staff; take the cold, don't take the cold. Being with Keenan is a good thing or a bad thing? I don't know! But I'm on an Iron Fey high so I'm craving some faeries and this felt close enough.

Their names? Don't get me started. The only one I like is Seth and I was never a big fan of that name before. But this guy Seth, BFF/hottie-potential-love-interest, is something else! He's totally hot and totally the perfect guy! He says the most perfect thing at the right moment and doesn't try to be too macho when Aislinn takes control but he's not a wimp either. Now Aislinn, or Ash as she is nicknamed in the book - which confuses me with Ash from the Iron Fey is a pretty cool character. I like how she handles being able to see the fey and having to pretend that she can't. She has a lot of self-discipline and will power and is more capable of resisting temptation than any woman I know! Speaking of temptation, back to Seth. Melissa Marr knows how to write some serious romance. It took, like, no time at all for me to fall in love with him! 

QUESTION:
HAS TWILIGHT SET A PRECEDENT FOR ALL LOVE TRIANGLES NOW? 
WILL THERE ALWAYS BE TEAMS?

Because if that's the case, I'm TEAM SETH all the way!

Here's a list of other teams I am a long time member of:

Team Damon - Vampire Diaries

Team Shay - Nightshade

Team Eric - True Blood
Team Dimitri - Vampire Academy

Team Jace - City of Bones

Team Ash - Iron Fey

Team Tam - Wings

Team Edward (in the books) Team Jacob (in the movies)-if that makes any sense

Anyway, Seth is romantic, in subtle ways; dropping hints and whispering sweet nothings. And what girl doesn't love a tight squeeze?? No one I know. A quarter of the book to go and I was really not liking the direction of the book. There was no Seth for like, two or three chapters and that was not cool.

As for the faeries, I don't blame Aislinn for avoiding them like the plague. I wouldn't be comfortable with that many "invisible" "people" walking around either. Then to be stalked by one? A royal one that is not likely to let her go now that he's found her? That's something completely different! Keenan is far more difficult to read. It's hard to tell what his intentions and his motives really are. But early on when Ash drops a bomb on him about having competition (Seth) and the fact that Keenan is left speechless is hilarious! I guess it is if you're Team Seth! LOL. Keenan can be such a jerk and at other times, kind of sweet. You start to feel a tug-o-war when it comes to him. You want him to be happy, to find what he's been searching for...just not with Aislinn.

Donia is the Winter Girl (wtf is a Donia??), and Beira (again, wtf?) is the Winter Queen. Maybe I'm not pronouncing these names correctly and that is why they sound so terrible, but these names made it a little hard to read for me. Although I know Donia is supposed to be an important character in the story, I don't really feel anything about her. I don't like her but I don't hate her either. I do feel sorry for Donia though, she sounds miserable and desperate to be free of the cold she holds within her. Problem is that she, like all others, is under the Queen's thumb. I'm sure the Winter Queen is quite the bitch to deal with seeing as how she's so powerful and all, but honestly, I didn't see a whole lot of displays of the power that had everyone so scared of her. It was hard to view her as a true villain when all I had was the notion that she was truly evil.

Melissa Marr's vocabulary is undoubtedly extensive. It did not make for a breezy read, but one that kept you curiously wanting more. The tone, the conversations between characters was so seamless and fluid. I mean, the characters actually interrupt each other which sounds weird for it to be a good thing but it makes things realistic - the visual is without interruption and easier to play out in your head. It took a little getting used to at first because a lot of other books can feel so scripted - perfectly set-up - snapshots of moments. I don't care either way, I just love a good story. Marr is also a genius with metaphors; for example:

"Seth slid a hand around her waist and kissed her like she was the air,

and he was suffocating." (pg.131)

Isn't that beautiful??

Overall: The cover is infinitely more awesome once you know the meaning behind it. Slow progress. A lot of things happening but not a lot of wow moments. The twist at the end was something I had suspected for a while. It wasn't a surprise but still, it's always nice when a book ends the way you think it will. It wasn't a book I was in love with afterwards. I didn't crave more. With one exception, Seth...delish!

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!

Tuesday Movie Review Day! SPOILERS!

November 18th was by far the greatest day EVER! Like every year after Twilight's release, the bestie and I patiently wait in line for five or six hours for the midnight showing of the next installment. This year our theater did things a little differently. Instead of lining up hours before, they started it at 10pm, opening theaters one or two at a time which led to a ton of shuffling from theater to theater trying to find a good seat. 

When we finally found the right place to park it - the perfect distance from the screen, directly in the middle with minimal head-blockage in front of us, it began...

The beginning dragged of wedding and honeymoon stuff. Not that these weren't great parts but if you've read the books, maybe you were starting to feel like I did, "Get pregnant already!!" The whole time Bella was walking down the aisle, I was waiting for her to throw up or pull a runaway bride stunt. Kristen Stewarts portrayal of Bella's nervousness made her look as though she was nauseous and if I didn't already know what was going to happen, I would have been real nervous that she wasn't going to go through with it. There was very little introduction to the Denali Clan at the wedding and as a result no mention of their importance or connection to Laurent or the Cullens. It makes me wonder how they will treat the clans and their significance in the second half of the two-part film.

I should mention Jacob removes his shirt within the first ten seconds in the very beginning of the movie, so it wasn't all bad.

The honeymoon scene had everything, all the distractions, the sexual tension building up, the scenery. Everything but the eggs. Edward mentions making breakfast one time but we never see him make any eggs. When Bella finally realizes she's pregnant, the scene plays out exactly the way it did when I read the book. She begins her painful descent into sickness as the baby begins to kill her from the inside and man, Bella looks like HELL!!!! I have never seen Kristen Stewart look so awful - not even when she chopped all her hair off for that stupid rock movie. I really believed she was dying and I was scared for her! The acting truly improved in this film. I felt Bella's love for the baby the moment she called Rosalie for help to protect it. The way she spoke about doing anything she had to, holding on until her heart gave out, whatever it took to make sure the baby survived felt sincere. Robert Pattinson improved as well. When Edward asked her if she really thought he could love the thing that caused her death, I felt his pain and impending loss.

Of course, any scene with Jacob is perfection. Taylor Lautner knew his character and portrayed him better than anyone else throughout the entire saga. It's amazing how he consumed his role and laid it out there for all the world to see. I believe, Stephenie Meyer kidnapped Taylor Lautner and held him hostage in her house while she wrote his character because he IS Jacob. What I did miss were the exchanges between Jacob and Rosalie, the jabs at each other. You remember, the doggy jokes and bloodsucker insults. It would've been nice to see. If you thought the wolves made an impression in New Moon, think again. Seeing the woods through Jacob's eyes as he ran, hearing the voices of the pack was amazing. Something we had hoped for from their first appearance. There was no better part in any of the films, was when Jacob broke away from Sam's pack. Watching him put Sam in his place, he seemed to grow in size and power. The whole thing was intense! Amazing!

Another little thing that would have been fun to see was when Jacob ventures out to find someone, anyone, to imprint on. But when he finally looks into Renesmee's eyes, imprints and envisions their future together was very cool! Renesmee's birth leads to a confrontation between the Cullens and the wolf pack. They fight and intense yet short-lived battle when Jacob intervenes and puts an end to the brawl with the knowledge of his imprinting on Renesmee.



Finally, Bella's transformation. I felt it was true to the description in the book, though I would have liked to see more of her inner struggle. However, I also felt that if you didn't read the books, you would not have been able to fully understand exactly what she was going through. There were many bridges omitted in this film but I think there was a good reason for it. First, let me say that Bill Condon, the director, should have been directing the saga from the start. Each year we keeping that the current director is better than the last, which they are, but Condon really did book-to-movie the way it should be done. So far, Breaking Dawn is the best adaptation of all the films. I'm beginning to believe that Condon made the movie strictly with the people who read the book in mind. He showed us the scenes we wanted to see and skimmed over the stuff we already knew, and if you didn't read the book and you couldn't fill in the gaps then that was your problem! At times when you thought the movie was dragging, I think that was Condon's way of embracing the scene and the emotions that went along with the moments being played out.

The end of the movie was disappointing but only because it was the end. I totally predicted what scene they were going to end it at - mainly because it seemed the only logical moment to break. Overall, I was very please with this movie and have already begun counting down to Part II!!

What was your favorite/least favorite part?