Cover Reveal of Prophesy

I'm so excited to share the cover of my upcoming novel, Prophecy, Book 1 in the Antigone, The True Story series.

Prophecy is a young adult mythological fantasy with a bit of romance that tells the story of Antigone's life (daughter of the infamous Oedipus from Greek mythology) from her point of view. It's a novel where honour and scandal collide and the truth of history is definitely strange than the fiction of myth.

My plan was, originally, to publish Prophecy this fall, but due to health issues, it will not be quite ready. My goal now is now to have the book out this winter or early next year at the latest.

You can click on the tab up top to read the first chapter.

I can't forget to mention that the cover was designed by the wonderfully talented, creative, and patient people at Deranged Doctor Design.

If you would like to be the first to hear about updates, you can subscribe to my newsletter here.

Book Review: The Breaker's Code by Conner Kressley

The Breaker's Code (Fixed Points #1) by Conner Kressley


SUMMARY
Where were you when the world ended?

Three weeks shy of her seventeenth birthday, Cresta Karr wakes to find her world is falling apart. The necklace her father left her is mysteriously missing, a black sedan is stalking her and her friends, and her house is minutes away from exploding. To top it off, she finds out that Owen, the enigmatic, if slightly off-kilter guy of her dreams, is both not interested in going out with her and a superspy sent by a clandestine organization to keep tabs on her.

Turns out Cresta is the subject of a 500 year old prophecy, and if Owen and the other “Breakers” can't find a way to circumvent the future before the sun comes up on her birthday, Cresta is destined to bring about the end of the world -- something she'd rather not have on her college applications. That is, of course, if the gun-toting cult members piling onto her front porch don't get to her first.

The countdown is on. Secrets will be revealed, relationships will be tested, prophecies will be fulfilled, and fate will fight free will in a battle so intense that it won't end until the world itself does.

Happy birthday, Cresta.

REVIEW
I bought this book as part of a larger box set collection, but am reviewing each book individually.

Cresta lives in a small town and is frustrated from having to move there from Chicago after her father died. She has two friends, Casper and Owen. As it turns out, Cresta is part of a larger prophesy, as well as an ancient and paranormal sect in society.

I had some issues with this book, the first of which was the editing. There were many typing mistakes, and while I don't want to sound picky, these pull the reader out of the story and really are a big deal. I can forgive a few, but this book was riddled with them.

The concept of the book was fun and I like the themes about fate versus free will, and it was this that kept me reading. However, I wanted Cresta to be a bit stronger in the end. Maybe she will get there in the next books. I felt like she was floundering around and being fed a lot of solutions at times. The romance between her and Owen was fine, if forced at times.

Simon, her non paranormal friend, was probably my favourite character. I liked how goofy and loyal he was, kind of like a big puppy.

I am always sensitive when there are adoption issues in a book, and the one's in Breaker's Code were actually handled fairly well. It showed people being insensitive, which they can be, but ultimately, Cresta's parents are her parents, the one's who raised her. I hope that doesn't change in the next book.

This could be the beginning of an interesting series, but I hope the author gets some help with the editing. The book is pretty fast paced and I like how it began, talking about it being two days before Cresta's house blew up, then the day before, then the day of.

Book Review: The Lost Prince

Book: The Lost Prince (The Iron Fey: Call of the Forgotten #1) by Julie Kagawa, 2012 by Harlequin Teen, 379 pages.

Purchase: Amazon | The Book Depository

Synopsis from Goodreads:
Don’t look at Them. Never let Them know you can see Them.

That is Ethan Chase’s unbreakable rule. Until the fey he avoids at all costs—including his reputation—begin to disappear, and Ethan is attacked. Now he must change the rules to protect his family. To save a girl he never thought he’d dare to fall for.

Ethan thought he had protected himself from his older sister’s world—the land of Faery. His previous time in the Iron Realm left him with nothing but fear and disgust for the world Meghan Chase has made her home, a land of myth and talking cats, of magic and seductive enemies. But when destiny comes for Ethan, there is no escape from a danger long, long forgotten.

My Thoughts:
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in return for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this return to the Nevernever. In this book, Ethan Chase, Meghan's younger brother, has to go, reluctantly, into the faery realm and take his classmate, Kenzie, with him. It was great to go into this world, one which Kagawa has created so beautifully, with new characters and a new adventure. However, we also get to catch up with old favourites, like Grim the cat and Puck, Meghan and Ash.

Ethan is a good character, though I did get tired of his brooding and moaning about his hatred of Faery. He also has some good traits, which he does his best to keep hidden. I liked Kenzie. She is spunky, determined, and bright. I only wish she were in less need of rescuing sometimes. They make a cute couple and there are some great twists as they break down their defenses.

Keirran is a great new character in this book as well, by far my favorite. I really liked him and would love to read more about him.  I love how he encompasses all the parts of Faery and the human world and has a mind of his own.

Overall, this was a fun book with lots of action, new bad guys and a fresh story line. It fits well into the rest of the Iron Fey series, but also stands on its own, which is quite a feat.


Here is the book trailer from YouTube:

Book Review: Blood Promise by Richelle Mead

Book: Blood Promise (Vampire Academy #4) by Richelle Mead, 2009 by Razorbil, 503 pages.

Synopsis from Goodreads:
Rose Hathaway's life will never be the same.

The recent attack on St. Vladimir's Academy devastated the entire Moroi world. Many are dead. And, for the few victims carried off by Strigoi, their fates are even worse. A rare tattoo now adorns Rose's neck, a mark that says she's killed far too many Strigoi to count. But only one victim matters . . . Dimitri Belikov. Rose must now choose one of two very different paths: honoring her life's vow to protect Lissa—her best friend and the last surviving Dragomir princess—or, dropping out of the Academy to strike out on her own and hunt down the man she loves. She'll have to go to the ends of the earth to find Dimitri and keep the promise he begged her to make. But the question is, when the time comes, will he want to be saved?

Now, with everything at stake—and worlds away from St. Vladimir's and her unguarded, vulnerable, and newly rebellious best friend—can Rose find the strength to destroy Dimitri? Or, will she sacrifice herself for a chance at eternal love?

My Thoughts:
This fourth installment of the Vampire Academy series had me turning the pages, yet again. The story was fast paced and there were some great new characters.

I really liked some of the themes of this book, especially how Rose feels she has to explicitly choose between the man she loves and her best friend. The other books have been leading up to this, but this one dealt with it more fully. And, I'm sure, the next book will too.

I liked Rose again in this book. I love seeing strong female characters who can stand up for themselves, but who are flawed as well. Rose is relatable and kiss-ass fun at the same time. I am hoping that her relationship with Lissa gets better in the next book. Not that it's bad, I would just like to see the growth.

Mead uses the fun devise of Rose being able to go into Lissa's head to keep us up with what is going on at the Academy while Rose is in Russia. I thought this was a clever way to keep both story lines going and developing.

There are parts to this book I wasn't thrilled with, especially during some of Rose's time in Russia (I liked the parts with Dimitri's family, but not some of the other times, I'm being vague so as not to spoil anything).  Overall, though, I did enjoy the book and will be on the lookout for the next one. I felt Rose is really starting to come into her own and I can't wait to see what she does in book 5.

Shadow Kiss by Richelle Mead

Book:  Shadow Kiss (Vampire Academy #3) by Richelle Mead, 2008 by Razorbil, 443 pages.

Synopsis from Goodreads:
It's springtime at St. Vladimir's Academy, and Rose Hathaway is this close to graduation. Since making her first Strigoi kills, Rose hasn't been feeling quite right. She's having dark thoughts, behaving erratically, and worst of all... might be seeing ghosts.

As Rose questions her sanity, new complications arise. Lissa has begun experimenting with her magic once more, their enemy Victor Dashkov might be set free, and Rose's forbidden relationship with Dimitri is starting to heat up again. But when a deadly threat no one saw coming changes their entire world, Rose must put her own life on the line - and choose between the two people she loves most.

My Thoughts: 
I just love this series.  It's easy to read, but, at the same time, completely captures my attention.  Shadow Kiss is the third in the Vampire Academy series.

I like the new challenges thrown at Rose in this book and how this forces her to explore what she truly wants and who she truly is.  Rose has a great, dry humour and clever insights into her own behaviour. 

I like that her friendship with Lissa is evolving too, though sometimes I get frustrated that Lissa is so entitled and clueless.  And I especially like the dynamic between Rose and Christian.  There is also more of Adrian in this book and it will be fun to see where this goes in the next book.

This book has everything, suspense, romance, action, and good friendships.  I love the tension set up around Rose's duty to Lissa versus following her heart.  I probably liked this one better than Frostbite and am anxious to pick up the next book in the series.

Red Glove by Holly Black

Book:  Red Glove (Curse Workers #2) by Holly Black, 2011 by Margaret K. McElderry Book, 325 pages.

Synopsis from Goodreads:
Curses and cons.
Magic and the mob.

In Cassel Sharpe's world, they go together. Cassel always thought he was an ordinary guy, until he realized his memories were being manipulated by his brothers. Now he knows the truth — he’s the most powerful curse worker around. A touch of his hand can transform anything — or anyone — into something else.

That was how Lila, the girl he loved, became a white cat. Cassel was tricked into thinking he killed her, when actually he tried to save her. Now that she’s human again, he should be overjoyed. Trouble is, Lila’s been cursed to love him, a little gift from his emotion-worker mom. And if Lila’s love is as phony as Cassel’s made-up memories, then he can’t believe anything she says or does.

When Cassel’s oldest brother is murdered, the Feds recruit Cassel to help make sense of the only clue — crime-scene images of a woman in red gloves. But the mob is after Cassel too — they know how valuable he could be to them. Cassel is going to have to stay one step ahead of both sides just to survive. But where can he turn when he can’t trust anyone — least of all, himself?

Love is a curse and the con is the only answer in a game too dangerous to lose.

My Thoughts:
I enjoyed this second book in the Curse Workers series, though not quite as much as the first one.  It was still fast paced and exciting and full of cons and imagination.

I like Cassel.  I feel for him.  He so wants to fit in, but he's not sure where - at his private school where he is clearly an outsider? with other Curse Workers and the mob who want to make him into a killer?  with his family who have all manipulated him?  with the FBI who have their own agenda?  I like how he tries to do the right thing, tries to be a good friend.  I also like how clever he is.

I enjoyed Sam and Danica in this book and how their characters are developing.  Unfortunately, I didn't like Lila as much.  She's been cursed to love Cassel and so he can't trust anything she says or does until the curse wears off.  This does add to the romantic tension of the book and it will be interesting to see how it plays out in the next one.

There are a lot of subplots in this book, which certainly adds to the feeling that there is a lot going on in this book.  Sometimes the main plot got a little lost.

One of the things about coming to a series late is that you don't have to wait for the next book to come out to see what happens next.  I can't wait to read Black Heart to see how this series ends.  I would certainly recommend this series to others, and think it will appeal to both boys and girls, something I enjoy in a YA series.

City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare

Book:  City of Fallen Angels (The Mortal Instruments #4) by Cassandra Clare, 2011 by Margaret K. McElderry Books, 424 pages.

Synopsis from Goodreads:
The Mortal War is over, and sixteen-year-old Clary Fray is back home in New York, excited about all the possibilities before her. She's training to become a Shadowhunter and to use her unique power. Her mother is getting married to the love of her life. Downworlders and Shadowhunters are at peace at last. And - most importantly of all - she can finally call Jace her boyfriend.

But nothing comes without a price.

Someone is murdering Shadowhunters who used to be in Valentine's Circle, provoking tensions between Downworlders and Shadowhunters that could lead to a second bloody war. Clary's best friend, Simon, can't help her. His mother just found out that he's a vampire and now he's homeless. Everywhere he turns, someone wants him on their side - along with the power of the curse that's wrecking his life. And they're willing to do anything to get what they want. At the same time he's dating two beautiful, dangerous girls - neither of whom knows about the other one.

When Jace begins to pull away from Clary without explaining why, she is forced to delve into the heart of a mystery whose solution reveals her worst nightmare: She herself has set in motion a terrible chain of events that could lead to her losing everything she loves. Even Jace.

Love. Blood. Betrayal. Revenge. The stakes are higher than ever in City of Fallen Angels.

My Thoughts: 
I keep coming back to this series even though it drives me slightly crazy.  I do like it and enjoy the writing, but I find I am not overly fond of the Jace - Clary relationship.  I don't like it when a girl loves a guy despite how he acts. I know he always has a good reason for being broody, but still, he could crack a smile once in awhile.

This book is more about Simon and the vampires, however, than the Shadowhunters.  I liked that because I like Simon.  I didn't mind reading about his inner turmoils, though I hope he comes into his own one day soon.

There is also Isabelle and Mara.  I was happy to see more of them in this book, as well.  I love strong female characters who can take care of and stand up for themselves and these two certainly fit the bill.

If you are a fan of this series, you won't want to miss this one, though I know that I am in the minority for liking the Simon story line more than the Jace - Clary one.  There is lots of action, especially at the end.  The romance is angst ridden.

Here is the book trailer from YouTube:

 

Frostbite by Richelle Mead

Book:  Frostbite (Vampire Academy #2) by Richelle Mead, 2008 by Razorbill, 327 pages.

Synopsis from Goodreads:
Rose loves Dimitri, Dimitri might love Tasha, and Mason would die to be with Rose...

It’s winter break at St. Vladimir’s, but Rose is feeling anything but festive. A massive Strigoi attack has put the school on high alert, and now the Academy’s crawling with Guardians—including Rose’s hard-hitting mother, Janine Hathaway. And if hand-to-hand combat with her mom wasn’t bad enough, Rose’s tutor Dimitri has his eye on someone else, her friend Mason’s got a huge crush on her, and Rose keeps getting stuck in Lissa’s head while she’s making out with her boyfriend, Christian! The Strigoi are closing in, and the Academy’s not taking any risks... This year, St. Vlad’s annual holiday ski trip is mandatory.

But the glittering winter landscape and the posh Idaho resort only create the illusion of safety. When three friends run away in an offensive move against the deadly Strigoi, Rose must join forces with Christian to rescue them. But heroism rarely comes without a price...

My Thoughts:
I'm really enjoying this series - it is well written and fast paced and fun to read. 

Frostbite takes place soon after Vampire Academy, with Rose pining over Dimitri and Lissa and Christian are together.  The Strigoi, or bad vampires, are out to kill the Moroi, or good vampires.  They are targeting entire families and have put the whole vampire community on alert.  Everyone at the Vampire Academy goes to a ski resort for Christmas for maximum security, and this is where most of the action unfolds.

The friendship between Rose Lissa isn't as developed in this book and sometimes it annoyed me how much Lissa didn't seem to notice how her best friend was feeling.

I like Rose, even though she goes off on tantrums and acts without thinking sometimes.  However, it is interesting that she is aware of her bad behaviour, but acts anyway.  She is young and impulsive.

There were some great new characters introduced.  The storyline between Rose and her mother was good.  Tasha and Adrian are fun additions.

I like these books because even though they are about vampires and romance, there is more to them than that.  I recommend these books, though there is some drinking and talk about sex.

Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater

Book:  Shiver (The Wolves of Mercy Falls #1) by Maggie Stiefvater, 2009 by Scholastic Press, 392 pages.

Synopsis from Goodreads:
Grace and Sam share a kinship so close they could be lovers or siblings. But they also share a problem. When the temperature slips towards freezing, Sam reverts to his wolf identity and must retreat into the woods to protect his pack. He worries that eventually his human side will fade away and he will be left howling alone at the lonely moon. A stirring supernatural teen romance.

My Thoughts:
 The writing in Shiver is just beautiful.  I love how Stiefvater uses words and conjures up images.  There is a richness to her writing which is certainly worth reading.

And then there is the story.  To tell you the truth, this one was a little too much romance for me, but then, I'm not a huge romance fan.  The story did take me in and kept me reading, though I was happy when the pace picked up at the end.  I think I found it hard to buy the instant romance at the beginning.

This is the story of Grace and Sam, with chapters told by each of them from a first point of view. Luckily each character has such a unique voice that this didn't become confusing.  They have a doomed to fail romance, though neither is willing to give up on it - it is almost a star crossed lovers scenario.  Grace is very independent and capable while Sam is good looking, reads poetry and plays guitar.

I liked Stiefvater's explanation for werewolves and their history.  This was original and seamless, and tied together well with the temperature changes in the book.

I would recommend this book to young adult romance fans, especially those who like a paranormal twist.

Book Review: Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead

Book:  Vampire Academy (Vampire Academy #1) by Richelle Mead, August 2007, Razorbil, 332 pages.

Synopsis from Goodreads:
St. Vladimir’s Academy isn’t just any boarding school—it’s a hidden place where vampires are educated in the ways of magic and half-human teens train to protect them. Rose Hathaway is a Dhampir, a bodyguard for her best friend Lissa, a Moroi Vampire Princess. They’ve been on the run, but now they’re being dragged back to St. Vladimir’s—the very place where they’re most in danger...

Rose and Lissa become enmeshed in forbidden romance, the Academy’s ruthless social scene, and unspeakable nighttime rituals. But they must be careful lest the Strigoi—the world’s fiercest and most dangerous vampires—make Lissa one of them forever.

My Thoughts:
I have shied away from vampire books as they generally are not for me, but I kept hearing about Vampire Academy from different people, so decided to try it and was pleasantly surprised.  Maybe because it is about vampires in a whole vampire society, not how they interact with humans, I'm not sure, but the vampire part of the story was not in the forefront.  Instead, it was about these kids with unique challenges in a boarding school, who happen to be vampires and half-humans training to protect the vampires.

Mead does a good job of creating the world of this boarding school, the routines, the cliques, the bullying, the politics and the pettiness.  Even though many of these are taken to the extreme, I'm sure most teenagers will relate to these characters.  There is even romance and adventure.

I really liked Rose and the story is told from her point of view.  She is strong, gutsy, feisty, and no nonsense.  She also shows some really good growth in the book.  I loved her friendship with Lissa, her best friend.  Their connection is so interesting, but I also loved reading a book that is largely about the friendship of these two girls.  All of the other story lines, the romances and the drama, supported this major theme.

Lissa is a great foil for Rose, part of a whole other social circle.  There is a story line where she has self destructive tendencies that I think the author handles really well and matter of factly.  She goes into the reasons, the emotions, and the fact that she ultimately needs help beyond what her friend can give her.

Actually, there are several issues mentioned in the book, such as sex, drugs and drinking.  These seemed authentic to me to how teens act and I liked how Rose thought about where her boundaries were for these things.

I enjoyed reading this book and would definitely recommend it, especially to teen girls.

To find the author:  Website, Blog, Facebook, Twitter

Book Review: Touch of Power by Maria V. Snyder

Book:  Touch of Power (Healer #1) by Maria V. Snyder, Mira, December 2011.

Source: NetGalley.

Synopsis from Goodreads:
Laying hands upon the injured and dying, Avry of Kazan absorbs their wounds and diseases into herself. But rather than being honored for her skills, she is hunted. Healers like Avry are accused of spreading the plague that has decimated the Fifteen Realms, leaving the survivors in a state of chaos.

Stressed and tired from hiding, Avry is abducted by a band of rogues who, shockingly, value her gift above the golden bounty offered for her capture. Their leader, an enigmatic captor-protector with powers of his own, is unequivocal in his demands: Avry must heal a plague-stricken prince—leader of a campaign against her people. As they traverse the daunting Nine Mountains, beset by mercenaries and magical dangers, Avry must decide who is worth healing and what is worth dying for. Because the price of peace may well be her life….

Book Review: The Dead Tossed Waves by Carrie Ryan

Book:  The Dead Tossed Waves (The Forest of Hands and Teeth #2) by Carrie Ryan, Delacorte Books for Young Readers, 2010, 407 pages, young adult zombie dystopian.

Source:  library.

Synopsis from Goodreads:
Gabry lives a quiet life. As safe a life as is possible in a town trapped between a forest and the ocean, in a world teeming with the dead, who constantly hunger for those still living. She’s content on her side of the Barrier, happy to let her friends dream of the Dark City up the coast while she watches from the top of her lighthouse. But there are threats the Barrier cannot hold back. Threats like the secrets Gabry’s mother thought she left behind when she escaped from the Sisterhood and the Forest of Hands and Teeth. Like the cult of religious zealots who worship the dead. Like the stranger from the forest who seems to know Gabry. And suddenly, everything is changing. One reckless moment, and half of Gabry’s generation is dead, the other half imprisoned. Now Gabry only knows one thing: she must face the forest of her mother’s past in order to save herself and the one she loves.

Scavanger Hunt and Review: The Iron Knight by Julie Kagawa

Today is my stop in the Scavanger hunt blog hop for Julie Kagawa's exciting fourth installment in the Iron Fey Series The Iron Knight.  My exerpt is just below, along with my review of the book.  Be sure to check out the next stop on the hunt, Love To Read For Fun, for another exerpt from the book!

Excerpt:
But Fate is a cruel mistress, and in the end, our paths were forced apart, as I’d feared they would be. Meghan became the Iron Queen, as was her destiny, and took the throne in the kingdom of the Iron fey. A place I could not follow, not as I am—a faery creature whose essence weakens and burns at the touch of iron. Meghan herself exiled me from the lands of the Iron fey, knowing that staying would kill me, knowing I would try anyway. But before I left, I swore an oath that I would find a way to return, that someday we would be together, and nothing would separate us again.

What a great quote, it even sums up what the whole book is about.

And now for the review:
Book: The Iron Knight (Iron Fey #4) by Julie Kagawa, Harlequin Teen, 2011, 368 pages, YA fantasy romance.

Book Review: The Iron Queen by Julie Kagawa

Book:  The Iron Queen (Iron Fey #3) by Julie Kagawa, Harlequin Teen, 2011, 358 pages, YA fantasy romance.

Source:  Library

Goodreads Synopsis: 
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.

My Thoughts: 
I just tore through this book - the exciting third installment of the Iron Fey series.  Kagawa continues with her amazing world building, something I love so much.  The Nevernever that she creates is so fun, strange and familiar at the same time.  There is a great mix of the faery tales we all know and love and new additions.  The back story from the other two books was presented really well, probably even better than in the second book.  Again this book is full of action, adventure, romance, heartbreak, friendship and twists.

Book Review: Brightwing by Sullivan Lee

Book:  Brightwing by Sullivan Lee, 2011, adult crime/romance.

Source: From the author.

Synopsis (from Goodreads):
Brightwing:  A Criminal Love Story

Edgar and Mallory Battle are on the run after a spectacularly violent escape. Now, with a trail of bodies behind them, they need a hostage against the inevitable standoff with the police. Their first doesn't last long, thanks to sociopathic Mallory. Edgar has been hiding his brother's crimes since they were kids. Now he's torn between family loyalty and self-preservation.

They carjack Lucy Brightwing, a criminal fresh from her own heist, with a fortune of uncut gems hidden in her vehicle. She could escape - but she won't abandon her millions. She could kill the Battle brothers, but she has to be careful. For one thing, if the law investigates, they'll find her ill-gotten loot. For another, her own life is sacred. She's the last member of a Florida paleoindian tribe thought to be extinct - the Tequesta. With her share of the money she plans to buy, bribe and blackmail her way into her own ancestral tribal lands in the heart of the Everglades: a Tequesta nation.

Lucy leads the brothers into her beloved swamp, determined to kill them. But when she falls for Edgar she must decide whether to risk her heritage and the future of her tribe to save the doomed brothers.

My Thoughts: 
This book was not what I was expecting, the crime is more of a backdrop than the point of the story, which is the developing relationships and the love story between Lucy and Edgar.  And I would call this a love story and not a typical romance.

The book starts off very exciting and grabs your attention right away.  This is a tough-talking, almost macho book, but with a light edge.  The criminals are hard and brutal at times, but also have their own kind of concious.

Book Review: The Iron Daughter by Julie Kagawa

Book:  The Iron Daughter (Iron Fey #2) by Julie Kagawa, Harlequin Teen, 2010, YA fantasy/romance.

Source: Library.

Synopsis (from Goodreads):
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 Thoughts:
This is a great second installment to this series, and I found that I tore right through it.  I did like the first book better, but I still really enjoyed this one.

Book Review: The Iron King by Julie Kagawa

Book:  The Iron King (Iron Fey #1) by Julie Kagawa, Harlequin Teen, 2010, 363 pages, young adult fantasy.

Source:  Library.

Synopsis (from Goodreads):
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 Thoughts:
I loved reading this book!  I have heard so much about it, all good, that I don't know why it took me so long to read.  Once I got started, I could hardly put it down.  The world that Kagawa creates is wonderful, somewhere between A Midsummer Night's Dream and Peter Pan - an interesting, yet creepy and dangerous, faery tale world.  

Book Review: Fire Study by Maria V. Snyder

Book:  Fire Study (Study #3) by Maria V. Snyder, Mira, 2008, 441 pages, fantasy.

Source:  Library.

Synopsis (from Goodreads):
The apprenticeship is over—now the real test has begun.

When word that Yelena is a Soulfinder—able to capture and release souls—spreads like wildfire, people grow uneasy. Already Yelena's unusual abilities and past have set her apart. As the Council debates Yelena's fate, she receives a disturbing message: a plot is rising against her homeland, led by a murderous sorcerer she has defeated before....

Honor sets Yelena on a path that will test the limits of her skills, and the hope of reuniting with her beloved spurs her onward. Her journey is fraught with allies, enemies, lovers and would-be assassins, each of questionable loyalty. Yelena will have but one chance to prove herself—and save the land she holds dear.

My Thoughts:
This is the final book in the Study series.  As much as I loved these books, this one was my least favorite.  I still like Yelena and think that she is a great character, along with Valek, but this book just did not come together in the same way.

Snyder is still very good at creating excitement, this book starts off quite exciting and she has a knack for cliffhanger ending chapters.  However, I found this book to be a bit repetitive with many of the details.  I also found Snyder spent a lot of time filling in background from the other books.  Sometimes this was seamless, but sometimes it felt like a bit much.

This book brought together a lot of the best characters from both of the previous books. It was great to see Maren, Yelena's old sparing partner, back, along with Janco, Ari, Valek, Moon Man and Leif.  Sometimes it felt like there were guest appearances saying goodbye, as former characters appeared briefly or were talked about.

The action in this book was non-stop, as Yelena faced one horrible situation after another, as she or someone else was endangered, someone needed to be healed, Yelena exhausted herself healing them and could barely rest up before the next perilous situation presented itself.

I am torn about this book - I really did like it.  Despite some of the issues I had with the book, I raced right though it, it just wasn't as good as the other two.  However, it is nice to see how everything ended and to enjoy the adventure of how Yelena learns to counter her most fearsome enemy yet, the Fire Warper.  All in all, a good book and worth the read, especially if you have read the other two in the series.

Book Review: Ashes, Ashes by Jo Treggiari

Book:  Ashes, Ashes by Jo Treggiari, Scholastic, 2011, 344 pages, young adult dystopian.

Source: Library.

Synopsis (from Goodreads):

A thrilling tale of adventure, romance, and one girl's unyielding courage through the darkest of nightmares.

Epidemics, floods, droughts--for sixteen-year-old Lucy, the end of the world came and went, taking 99% of the population with it. As the weather continues to rage out of control, and Sweepers clean the streets of plague victims, Lucy survives alone in the wilds of Central Park. But when she's rescued from a pack of hunting dogs by a mysterious boy named Aidan, she reluctantly realizes she can't continue on her own. She joins his band of survivors, yet, a new danger awaits her: the Sweepers are looking for her. There's something special about Lucy, and they will stop at nothing to have her.

My Thoughts:
This was an intersting book, the premise is topical - a dystopian future based on global environmental crisis such as earthquakes, floods, tsunami and disease.  This is global warming taken to the extreme, but there is a certain plausibility here and it drew me in.

Ashes, Ashes begins with sixteen year old Lucy surviving alone in Central Park in a dystopian future.  This horrifying scenerio with its heronine bent on survival drew me in right away.  Lucy is strong, and not accidentally strong, she has to work at it and she sometimes makes mistakes, but she soldiers on and does what she needs to survive.  I love strong female characters, ones who know how to take care of themselves and don't save the day accidentally with some skill or power that they don't quite understand.  Lucy is not like this.  She wants to live, figures out how to hide herself away from the Sweepers (who pick people up and they are never heard from again) and how to hunt and gather food.  She uses her knife, makes herself a spear and gets on with things.

Most of the other characters in the book were not as well developed.  Aidan is fun and a bit mysterious, the obvious love interest, and there are some great turns in his characterization.  Grammalie Rose, the matriarch who oversees everything, is a good addition and helps to round out the story.  Henry and Del and many of the others are good, but are a bit stereotypical.  The rivalry between Lucy and Del is shallow.

After Lucy goes to live in the community, things change and the story becomes more about avoiding and fighting the Sweepers and for Lucy to figure out what is so special about her - why do the Sweepers want her so badly.  Here there is more adventure and less survival, as well as the crazy love triangle (which involves 5 people). 

For the most part, I did enjoy Treggiari's writing, but there were times that I felt it was unnecessarily overly detailed.  Perhaps this was done to build tension, but I found it a bit tedious.  Thankfully, this only happened in a few places and not in the whole book.

Overall, I did enjoy this book and found it to be a quick read.  Those who like young adult dystopian novels will probably enjoy this one too.  There is a good amount of tension and excitement, some fun twists in the story, and some good social commentary.

Book Review: I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore

Book:  I Am Number Four (Lorien Legacies #1) by Pittacus Lore, HarperCollins, 2010, 440 pages, young adult science fiction.

Source:  library.

Synopsis (from Goodreads):
In the beginning they were a group of nine. Nine aliens who left their home planet of Lorien when it fell under attack by the evil Mogadorian. Nine aliens who scattered on Earth. Nine aliens who look like ordinary teenagers living ordinary lives, but who have extraordinary, paranormal skills. Nine aliens who might be sitting next to you now.

The Nine had to separate and go into hiding. The Mogadorian caught Number One in Malaysia, Number Two in England, and Number Three in Kenya. All of them were killed. John Smith, of Paradise, Ohio, is Number Four. He knows that he is next.

I Am Number Four is the thrilling launch of a series about an exceptional group of teens as they struggle to outrun their past, discover their future—and live a normal life on Earth.

I AM NUMBER FOUR.
I AM NEXT.

My Thoughts: 
I enjoyed reading I Am Number Four - it is a different, entertaining story.  There was excitement, interesting storytelling, and romance.  That being said, I also felt like something was lacking, that the book had a potential that it didn't quite live up to.


I thought the premise was fun and intriguing - John is number four of nine aliens from the planet Lorien who arrive on earth about ten years ago with their caregivers fleeing from the Mogadorian invasion that decimates their planet.  These nine are entrusted with the responsibility of survival and eventual rebuilding of their planet and culture.  The Mogadorians, however, have tracked them to earth an are killing them, but, because of a charm placed on them, they must be killed in order.  One, two and three have been killed and John is next on the list.  Then, it turns out, more may even be at stake, as the Mogadorians may be trying to take over the Earth as well.


The writing in the book was, at times, amazing and beautiful, and at other times repetitive.  There were also a number of sentence fragments which stopped me in my tracks.  Mostly I found the beginning and the ending interesting, with it dragging in the middle a bit.  There are also a few things that didn't make sense, for example, his dog.  John is supposed to be hypersensitive to anything strange going on in his life and he doesn't think it strange that his dog takes off into the woods and appears in an impossible location several seconds later?


The story is told in first person present from John's point of view, something which is very popular these days.  This is the first book of this type, with this amount of romance told from a boy's point of view that I have read, so that was different.


Out of all the characters, I found John's friend, Sam, to be the most interesting.  He is quirky and nerdy, but develops a great deal in the book.  I really felt for him and the loss of his dad.  It looks like he will be in the next book, for which I am grateful.


I Am Number Four is the first in a planned series of six.  The second book, The Power of Six, has recently been released.  I am quite anxious to see where this story goes next.