Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore

Bitterblue
Kristin Cashore
Publisher: Dial
Release Date: May 1, 2012
Pages: 576

Rating: 5 stars

Eight years after Graceling, Bitterblue is now queen of Monsea. But the influence of her father, a violent psychopath with mind-altering abilities, lives on. Her advisors, who have run things since Leck died, believe in a forward-thinking plan: Pardon all who committed terrible acts under Leck’s reign, and forget anything bad ever happened. But when Bitterblue begins sneaking outside the castle—disguised and alone—to walk the streets of her own city, she starts realizing that the kingdom has been under the thirty-five-year spell of a madman, and the only way to move forward is to revisit the past. Two thieves, who only steal what has already been stolen, change her life forever. They hold a key to the truth of Leck’s reign. And one of them, with an extreme skill called a Grace that he hasn’t yet identified, holds a key to her heart.

I liked Graceling a lot, but didn't love it. I loved Fire and thought it was amazing. Neither of these prepared me for the absolutely mindblowing book Kristin Cashore delivered with Bitterblue. This book stole my heart on page one and even after I turned the last page, it didn't let go. Everything Cashore builds in this novel was so intricately done. I sat there in awe after I finished the book, and it lingered on my mind for many days to come. This is her best book to date.

The writing in Bitterblue is absolutely gorgeous. That has always been one of my favorite things about her books - her beautiful prose and her detailed world. The world that was established in Graceling has been built upon, and I just loved it. It's a world that I could happily read book after book in, and never tire of it. The concept of it Graces just fascinates me.

Bitterblue was a character that I liked in Graceling, and I loved seeing how she'd changed since we last saw her. Bitterblue was strong, had spunk, and an curiosity that couldn't be smothered. I loved the other characters met in Graceling who make appearances in Bitterblue have really grown as well. My biggest issue with Graceling was some characteristics about Katsa, but by this point in the story, she has matured and moved on. Kristin Cashore always has an amazing boy in her books, and while I don't know if Saf has quite lived up to my love for Brigan and Po, he comes pretty darn close. Saf was such a complex character and he was not going to let anyone tell him what to do.

Bitterblue weaves a tale that was so complicated and intense. There was this constant sense of intrigue as I was reading. The plot was ever-building, and the different storylines of the book began to intersect. I never knew what Kristin Cashore was going to throw at readers next. Yet, there were also so many moments when I had to step back and just admire the little things going on, like the compassion between characters. The relationships between the characters are all so deep and learning all their back was one of the best parts of the book. The ending was phenomenal - the thought had crossed my mind at several points throughout the book, but I was not sure what Cashore would do about that event. I loved how she tied up the story, it was perfect: full of hope.

I did not want this book to end. Bitterblue was simply a masterpiece, and was everything I had hoped for and more in the years of waiting since Fire. Kristin Cashore is simply a master of fantasy, and I cannot wait to see what she comes up with next.

Fantasy Five Friday: Interview with Dan Haring

I am super excited to have Dan Haring by the blog today for another Fantasy Five Friday! Welcome Dan!

Dan Haring is the author of Oldsoul, which debuts April 24th. He has a degree in animation and has worked on movies like Tangled (Ummm coolest thing ever!) You can find him on the web at his website, blog, Goodreads, and Twitter.

Could you give us the one sentence pitch of your book?

Jason must harness the skills of the souls within him in order to
combat the immortals bent on destroying humanity.

Since you have a fantasy novel coming out, the next question I obviously have to ask is: If you were a fantastical creature, which would you be?

I've honestly never thought about that. I'd love to be something that
could fly. Dragons are cool, but usually they're jerks. Maybe a
griffin.

Do you have a favorite fantasy read?

That's a tough one. I'd have to say it's a tie between The Hobbit/Lord
of the Rings and Harry Potter. Both worlds are incredible.

Generally speaking, which comes first: the world, the characters, or the plot?

With OLDSOUL it was the character, with my current WIP it was the
plot. It just depends on the project I guess.

They are always coming out with new editions of board games. If your
book could be a special edition of any board game, which would you
choose?

I love the Lord of the Rings edition of Risk I have, so that would be
awesome. I don't know that my book is epic enough for that though.

Here's a bit about Oldsoul:

Jason Gouvas doesn’t want to believe he has special abilities or that he's an Oldsoul-- a vessel for the souls of people who have passed away, but the dead girl in his mind can be very persuasive.

Her name is Erin, and through her Jason is able to access the knowledge and skills of the souls within him. And with a group of power-hungry immortals bent on destroying the Oldsouls and overthrowing humanity, he's going to need them all.

Buy Oldsoul

Fantasy Five Friday: Interview With Marissa Burt

I am very excited to have Marissa Burt with us here for another Fantasy Five Friday! Welcome Marissa.

Marissa is the author of Storybound. She now lives in the Seattle area. You can find her on the web at her website, Goodreads, and Twitter. And like Storybound on Facebook!

Could you give us the one sentence pitch of your book?

Sure! Shy, twelve-year-old Una Fairchild is suddenly transported by a mysterious book into the Land of Story, where characters from books train to be cast into a Tale of their own, and Una attends the Perrault Academy while trying to discover who has Written her In and why.

Since you have a fantasy novel coming out, the next question I obviously have to ask is: If you were a fantastical creature, which would you be?

Hmmm. The middle-grade me would say without hesitation...a talking cat. Nowadays, I think I would choose to be a human in a fantasy world, but I'd want to have some sort of magical powers. I'd love to be a sword master or a brave warrior - courageous characters are my favorite! And flying capacities that don't involve getting on an airplane wouldn't hurt either - haha! Fantasy me would definitely have a pet dragon.

Do you have a favorite fantasy read?

Lots of them! The first fantasy I read might have been TAILCHASER'S SONG, by: Tad Williams (hence, the aforementioned desire to be a cat). I still read THE LORD OF THE RINGS trilogy annually, so I should probably mention that, and I'm a sucker for George R. R. Martin and Robert Jordan's epic tales.

Generally speaking, which comes first: the world, the characters, or the plot?

For STORYBOUND, the world came first. Whenever I read a beloved book, I'm always so sad when the story ends, and I imagine the characters going on about their lives - without being spied on by nosy readers. So I wrote a story about a girl falling into that world. Plot follows hard on the heels of an interesting character being thrown into an enchanting world.

They are always coming out with new editions of board games. If your book could be a special edition of any board game, which would you choose?

What a question! If Alison Klapthor and Brandon Dorman (the two artists who worked on STORYBOUND'S cover) were involved, I'd love to see something graphically rich like a fabulous Monopoly edition (a game I despise) or an epic puzzle (I love puzzles!). But for a playable game, I'd want a special edition Settlers of Catan, and we could have fairy tale villains and heroes fighting over Story's resources. How fun!

Thanks so much for stopping by Marissa! Marissa's book Storybound came out April 3. Here's a bit about the book:

In the land of Story, children go to school to learn to be characters: a perfect Hero, a trusty Sidekick, even the most dastardly Villain. They take classes on Outdoor Experiential Questing and Backstory, while adults search for full-time character work in stories written just for them.

In our world, twelve-year-old Una Fairchild has always felt invisible. But all that changes when she stumbles upon a mysterious book buried deep in the basement of her school library, opens the cover, and suddenly finds herself transported to the magical land of Story.

But Story is not a perfect fairy tale. Una’s new friend Peter warns her about the grave danger she could face if anyone discovers her true identity. The devious Tale Keeper watches her every move. And there are whispers of a deadly secret that seems to revolve around Una herself....

With the timeless appeal of books like A Wrinkle in Time and the breathtaking action of Inkheart, Storybound has all the makings of a new classic. Brimming with fantastical creatures, magical adventure, and heart-stopping twists, Storybound will leave readers wishing they too could jump through the pages into this enchanting fairy-tale world.

Buy Storybound: Amazon | B&N | Book Depository

A Touch Morbid by Leah Clifford

A Touch Morbid
Leah Clifford
Publisher: Greenwillow
Release Date: February 28, 2012
Pages: 336

Rating: 5 stars

Eden won the battle-she saved her true love from the darkest evil. But the war has only just begun. With secrets swirling around her, powerful allies unraveling, and life-and death-as she knows it eroding, Eden and those she loves tread dangerous ground. Can she trust anyone? Will her unearthly powers be her salvation or her downfall? A sweeping, dark, and sexy paranormal romance that will haunt readers with an inventive mythology and a cinematic New York City filled with shadows and longing.

It is rare that I like a second book in a trilogy more than the first, but Leah Clifford raised the stakes in A Touch Morbid and I was absolutely captivated. Once I started, I simply could not put it down, and I read straight through in just over 2 hours. What is big and awesome in A Touch Mortal only gets better in this installment of the characters' story.

I love the characters. The characters of this trilogy are so unique, and they all are very different from one another. Eden was one character that really grew on me in this book. She was a good character in A Touch Mortal, but I definitely felt she grew a lot and was a character I genuinely liked with this book. I super loved Gabe in this one, he was already a great character, but oh my gosh, his character was just marvelous in this one. Despite the fact I think I'm supposed to hate Luke, I found myself falling hard for him in this one. Kristen is one of the best written characters I've read in a long time.

Leah Clifford doesn't leave a single dull moment. The entire book is fast paced and action packed. Everything that goes down is simply fascinating, and I loved every moment of it. While there is never a slow moment, Leah Clifford still manages to have this perfect pacing; nothing is ever too much or too little. Michael was an interesting guy. I felt like he was a complete creeper, but every scene with him in it were some of the most intense in the books. They were the ones where I was flipped pages at a crazy speed. In addition to everything else going down, there were also lots of sexy times in A Touch Morbid, which I wholeheartedly approved of.

A lot of questions are answered, yet Leah Clifford raises about a dozen more in the process. The plot just kept layering deeper and deeper, and I am so intrigued to see where it goes in the last installment. The whole idea of the Siders is so intriguing by itself, but when you add in all the other details of the story line, it is just brilliant.

Your emotions will be in shambles by the end of this book. You also never know who to trust, Leah Clifford plays with your emotions to make you think so and so is behind something, then flips the switch and then you suspect someone else. It is absolute torture. In addition to that, just everything that happens is completely emotionally draining. I was happy, then clueless, then worried about this character or that character, all paired with these absolutely heart-wrenching moments.

My one complaint? That is was not longer, as I know I have to wait out the long months before book 3 is out. The ending was an absolute killer! Everything builds and builds to this crazy peak and Leah Clifford just leaves readers hanging.

This series is one of those must reads. I loved book 1 and book gets bigger and better. Basically I think all of this could be summed up with the statement of I hate Leah Clifford for being a genius. She's a genius this series is just SO good and that makes the wait between books so agonizing. There is no other way to put it, but that A Touch Morbid was simply brilliant.

The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter

The Goddess Test
Aimee Carter
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Release Date: April 18, 2011
Pages: 293

Rating 4.5 stars

It's always been just Kate and her mom—and her mother is dying. Her last wish? To move back to her childhood home. So Kate's going to start at a new school with no friends, no other family and the fear her mother won't live past the fall.
Then she meets Henry. Dark. Tortured. And mesmerizing. He claims to be Hades, god of the Underworld—and if she accepts his bargain, he'll keep her mother alive while Kate tries to pass seven tests.
Kate is sure he's crazy—until she sees him bring a girl back from the dead. Now saving her mother seems crazily possible. If she succeeds, she'll become Henry's future bride, and a goddess.

The Goddess Test was an absolutely refreshing read with a new twist on mythology that I absolutely devoured! This was a spectacular debut, and I am very excited to see more from Aimee Carter in the future.

Mythology is a topic that in my opinion can never be written about enough, and Aimee Carter has written a series that is so charming and delightful. Her take on mythology was a lot of fun to read about, as I could never guess where the plot was going to lead Kate.

I really liked Kate. The one thing about her that drove me nuts was her fixation on the fact that Ava's death was her fault. Clearly when the mean girl does what she knows best and instead dies for it, it is not your fault. Everything else about her - I really liked her voice. I have to say I felt that Ava failed at the being the mean girl for the most part. Henry was a really great character - I didn't like him as much in the beginning, but as Kate grew to know him, I liked his character more and more.

This book ended way too soon. I was getting more and more involved with the story, and then it ended. I was really sad. I guess it's kind of a good thing I waited until now to read it, since now I only have to wait three months instead of eleven. Moving past that, the ending was a ton of fun. I knew something was going to have to happen, but I wasn't exactly sure how that something would. There were so many shocks and surprises and it was just a whole lot of fun.

This is a book I would recommend to all. I read it in 2 hours and just couldn't put it down. I am very excited for book 2, Goddess Interrupted. The Goddess Test was a book with a twisty plot and a great cast of characters all wrapped up in a fabulous debut.

The Book of Wonders Tour: Interview with Jasmine Richards + Giveaway

I am super excited to have Jasmine Richards by the blog today for an interview!

Jasmine Richards is the author of The Book of Wonders, which debuted January 17. She is a senior editor at a British publishing house, and lives in Oxfordshire with her husband. You can find her on the web at her website, twitter, and Goodreads.

Here's a bit about The Book of Wonders:

Magic, Djinn, Ogres, and Sorcerers. Thirteen-year-old Zardi loves to hear stories about fantastical beings, long banned from the kingdom of Arribitha. But anyone caught whispering of their powers will feel the rage of the sultan—a terrifying usurper who, even with his eyes closed, can see all.

When her own beloved sister is captured by the evil ruler, Zardi knows that she must go to any lengths to rescue her. Along with her best friend, Ridhan—a silver-haired, violet-eyed boy of mysterious origins—and an unlikely crew of sailors led by the infamous Captain Sinbad, Zardi ventures forth into strange and wondrous territory with a seemingly impossible mission: to bring magic back to Arribitha and defeat the sultan once and for all.

If you could be any magical creature that appears in The Books of Wonders, which would you be?

I would be a djinni but with one caveat - I would want to be free one. In The Book of Wonders many djinnis have been shackled to mortal objects and so are under the control of humans. This means that extremely powerful creatures have essentially become slaves. The are not happy campers!

Say the characters from The Book of Wonders got stuck on a deserted island. Who would fare the best? The Worst? And who would get them off the island?

Oh dear, this is a hard one because in the Book of Wonders my characters are actually stranded on a deserted island and so if I answer this I will be giving away plot spoilers!

Suffice it to say that on this island nothing is as it seems and many of characters are going to be faced with challenges beyond their imagining . . .

Could you tell us five random facts about yourself?

I have interviewed the former prime minister of the UK, Tony Blair
I have written books as a man
I’ve failed my driving test four times
I have visited over 35 countries
I was born left handed but now use my right hand to write

Since there are sailors in The Book of Wonders, if you had a boat, what would you name it?

I’d call my boat something like Just Imagine because, as undoubtedly imagination is the best form of transport!

Does The Book of Wonders have a theme song at all? If so, what is it?

I’d say it was Zemer Attic/Tanz Tanz Yiddlelac by 3 Leg Torso. I love this piece of music – I feel like it really captures Zardi’s world and the sense of wildness that sweeps her up and sends her headlong into an amazing adventure. I loved this piece so much I actually used it for my book trailer http://youtu.be/6ugfHlrMKEU.

Buy The Book of Wonders: Amazon | B&N | Book Depository

Thanks for stopping by Jasmine! Now I have one super cool giveaway for a lucky winner. One lucky person will get a signed copy of The Book of Wonders + a cool swag pack which includes a bookmark, book plate, and a necklace. Open internationally. Ends January 27.

Read more »

Cinder Blog Tour: Interview with Marissa Meyer + Giveaway

I am super excited to have Marissa Meyer by the blog today for an interview, as part of the Cinder blog tour! Welcome Marissa! Marissa is the author of Cinder, the first book in the four book Lunar Chronicles. You can find Marissa on the web at her website, Goodreads, Facebook, or Twitter.

If the characters from Cinder got stuck on a desert island, who would fare the best? The worst?

Cinder would fare the best—she’s incredibly brave and resourceful, plus she has Internet connectivity in her brain, so depending on how deserted we’re talking, she could potentially send for help. As long as sand didn’t get into her cyborg joints and incapacitate her, that is. I think her stepsisters, Pearl and Peony, would probably fare the worst—they’ve been rather spoiled and aren’t used to taking care of themselves.

And who would get them off the island?


Cinder—she could probably have a raft built before everyone else realized what was going on!

If you were a Disney Princess, which would you choose?

Jasmine. I’ve always wanted an exotic pet like Raja.

If you could travel back in time for one day, where would you go?

I’d love to go back to Elizabethan England to see a Shakespeare play. One day would be just the right amount of time before I was ready to come home and take a shower!

Do you have a favorite place to write?

At home I’m usually writing either in bed or my office, but I also like to go to my local café or a favorite restaurant, particularly on those days when it’s a struggle to concentrate.

Can you share 5 random facts about yourself?

1) My karaoke song of choice is “All That Jazz” from the Chicago soundtrack. (Don’t be fooled, I’m still a terrible singer.)
2) The country I’d most like to travel to is Germany, so I can see the Grimm Brothers Fairy Tale Road and Neuschwanstein Castle.
3) I once almost died from taking penicillin—turns out I’m allergic.
4) I was the founder and president of the Anime Club in college.
5) I come from a family of costumers. My favorite that I’ve ever worn was Princess Zelda, from the Zelda video games, and I’d love to someday do Cinderella or Glinda the Good Witch.

Thanks for stopping by Marissa! Make sure to check out my review of Cinder, which I super loved! And check out the rest of the tour - the schedule is here.

I also have a super cool giveaway - A copy of Cinder AND a cool Cinder mirror! This is open to US/Canada only and ends January 31.

Read more »

Fantasy Novels I Love

So this is a post in which I VLOG about fantasy books I love. I tell you about some urban fantasy and some high fantasy. I also inform you of authors whose past books I have loved AND have books coming out this year, which would count for the 2012 YA/MG Fantasy Reading Challenge.

If you haven't signed up for the 2012 YA/MG Fantasy Reading Challenge, you should! It's going to be a year of FANTASY, FUN, READING, GIVEAWAYS, AUTHOR INTERVIEWS, and MORE. All the information and sign-ups can be found here :)

I should also warn everyone that I will be sporadically vlogging about things that pertain through the Fantasy Challenge all year - I'm planning for at least one vlog a month :) (So I hope you like them)

If you don't want to watch the whole vlog, I will simply list the titles below. Starred books are authors with a book that counts towards the challenge this year.

Angelfire by Courtney Allison Moulton*
Touch of Frost by Jennifer Estep*
Fairy Bad Day by Amanda Ashby
A Touch Morbid by Leah Clifford*
Wondrous Strange by Lesley Livingston*
The Iron King by Julie Kagawa*
Spellfall by Katherine Roberts*
Song Quest by Katherine Roberts*
Crystal Mask by Katherine Roberts*
Dark Quetzal by Katherine Roberts*
Nightspell by Leah Cypess
Fire by Kristin Cashore*
The Study Series by Maria V Snyder
Brightly Woven by Alexandra Bracken

Dark Passage by MJ Putney

Dark Passage
MJ Putney
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Release Date: September 13, 2011
Pages: 320

Rating: 4.5 stars

The Irregulars return home to 1803 England safely, but their worldview has changed. Not only have their heroic efforts at Dunkirk given them pride and confidence but their dangerous mission has increased their magical powers.

Tory delights in the ever deepening bond she shares with Allarde until she discovers how powerfully he is connected to his ancient family estate—the lands he will not inherit unless he denies his magical powers and chooses a nonmagical mate. If Tory really loves him, she must walk away—but does she have the strength to leave the love of her life?
Cynthia’s heroic efforts at Dunkirk have won her the respect of the Irregulars, but her sharp tongue keeps everyone at a distance. Isolated and very alone at Lackland Abbey over the Christmas holidays, she reluctantly agrees to join Jack Rainford and his family for their celebration even though they’re commoners, far below her own noble rank. The warm welcome of the Rainfords makes her feel happier and more accepted than she has ever been. But she can’t possibly be falling in love with flirtatious Jack! Can she?
Then the Irregulars are drawn into a dangerous attempt to rescue a vitally important French scientist from Nazi-occupied France. Tory and Allarde must work together because countless lives are at stake. Disaster strikes and not only is their mission threatened, but their very lives. Can magic and their loyalty to each other help them survive to return home?

I was very eager to continue with the story of The Irregulars after finishing Dark Mirror, and Dark Passage did not disappoint at all. In fact, I loved it even more than Dark Passage. Everything was set in place, and the story just took off from there.

Dark Passage wonders away from solely letting Tory be the main character, and readers really get to know Cynthia as well. I loved this split. It was so much fun to get more inside Cynthia's head, as she wasn't the most likable character in Dark Mirror, but I did get a sense that there was a lot more to her than it appeared on the outside.

Dark Passage was a ton of fun to read. I love the adventures the Irregulars have. MJ Putney really plays with your emotions in this one - I was so happy at some parts and so scared for some of the characters at other points. Again, I did have to suspend my belief of reality a bit in this one, but this one flowed a lot better than Dark Mirror and I found it much more believable. The Tory and Allarde scenes are just adorable, and I hope there are in even more in the next book! I am curious to see where Cynthia and Jack's relationship will go as well.

The characters in Dark Passage are just wonderful. All the characters from Dark Mirror are back, along with some new characters you meet along the way. I thought all the characters really developed over the course of this story from where they were. It really helped move the story along.

I really enjoyed Dark Passage. This series is a ton of fun to read. It is rare for me to like book 2 more than book one, but Dark Passage simply blew me away. I really would  recommend this series as it's filled with fun adventures and great characters.

Side note, but isn't the cover just GORGEOUS? I love it so much!

Cinder by Marissa Meyer

Cinder
Marissa Meyer:
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Release Date: January 3, 2012
Pages: 387

Rating: 4.5 stars

Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl. . . .

Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future.

This book was awesome! Cinderella is one of my favorite tales, and Marissa Meyer has revamped it and upgraded it to a story that is just stunning. With Cinder's futuristic element, an epic romance, and the looming threat of war, it is a tale that you will not want to miss.

The world was so cool. Though I was a bit confused at first - fully understanding the world and what was going on did take a bit, but once it did everything made perfect sense. The story also switches between being told from Kai and Cinder's lives, which is about my favorite thing an author can do.

I loved all the characters in Cinder! Iko, Peony, Dr. Erland, Kai - they were all just great. I loved Cinder as a main character - she had a bit of spunk and wasn't afraid to stand up for herself. I am really curious to see how all the characters develop over the next books, as I just loved them all. Everything about Kai was great - I was always curious to see how he'd react in different situations.

The plot was a lot of fun. I won't lie, I guessed how the book would end fairly close to the beginning. Since I was pretty sure how it would end, throughout the entirety of the book it was a lot of fun guessing if I was right or how this event would play out. I loved that Cinder was a mechanic - it was very different and made it that much more fun.

This is a absolutely brilliant debut. I loved the elements of Cinderella entwined in the futuristic world and intense story line. Marissa Meyer is definitely an author to watch, and I cannot wait to see what it next for Cinder and Kai.

Fury by Elizabeth Miles

Fury
Elizabeth Miles
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Release Date: August 30, 2011
Pages: 370

Rating: 4.5 stars

Sometimes sorry isn't enough.... 

It’s winter break in Ascension, Maine. The snow is falling and everything looks pristine and peaceful. But not all is as it seems...

Between cozy traditions and parties with her friends, Emily loves the holidays. And this year’s even better--the guy she’s been into for months is finally noticing her. But Em knows if she starts things with him, there’s no turning back. Because his girlfriend is Em’s best friend.
On the other side of town, Chase is having problems of his own. The stress of his home life is starting to take its toll, and his social life is unraveling. But that’s nothing compared to what’s really haunting him. Chase has done something cruel...something the perfect guy he pretends to be would never do. And it’s only a matter of time before he’s exposed. 

In Ascension, mistakes can be deadly. And three girls—three beautiful, mysterious girls—are here to choose who will pay. 

Em and Chase have been chosen.

I love the mythology behind The Furies - they've appeared in books I've read before, but this was by far the best story I've read that involved them! I had a few issues with it, but overall all it was a stellar read and a fabulous debut.

I thought the plot was super creative. My biggest issue was how soon Em was "marked". She had barely done anything, and while she had gone on to do slightly worse things, I still didn't quite get why she was picked. Especially when her partner in crime was the one who actually did the cheating. Besides that, I really enjoyed the book. I loved seeing what would happen next and what characters would get drawn into what. I also would have loved to see more of an appearance from the Furies more towards the beginning of the book, they showed up more towards the middle to the end, and mainly in the case of Chase.

I also loved that the book is told in alternating perspectives - between Em and Chase. Books that do this are my absolute favorite, and it really worked well for Fury.

The characters were such a fun mix. I loved JD - he was such a fun character, and I hope to see more of him in the future books in the trilogy. Em and Chase were my other 2 favorites. Both were just great characters, and while they were very different from one another, I liked them both for their differences. All the characters had some sort of flaw, which made them that much more real.

I would really recommend this one! Fury takes such curious mythology and spins it into a haunting modern day tale! It was a great debut, and I simply cannot wait to hear more from Elizabeth Miles!

Dark Mirror by MJ Putney

Dark Mirror
MJ Putney
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Release Date: March 1, 2011
Pages: 304

Rating: 4 stars

Lady Victoria Mansfield, youngest daughter of the earl and countess of Fairmount, is destined for a charmed life. Soon she will be presented during the London season, where she can choose a mate worthy of her status.

Yet Tory has a shameful secret—a secret so powerful that, if exposed, it could strip her of her position and disgrace her family forever. Tory’s blood is tainted . . . by magic.
When a shocking accident forces Tory to demonstrate her despised skill, the secret she’s fought so hard to hide is revealed for all to see. She is immediately exiled to Lackland Abbey, a reform school for young men and women in her position. There she will learn to suppress her deplorable talents and maybe, if she’s one of the lucky ones, be able to return to society.
But Tory’s life is about to change forever. All that she’s ever known or considered important will be challenged. What lies ahead is only the beginning of a strange and wonderful journey into a world where destiny and magic come together, where true love and friendship find her, and where courage and strength of character are the only things that determine a young girl’s worth.

This was such a fun read! Historical fiction mixed with magic and fantasy make the best sort of reads in my opinion, so I could not wait to read this one. Dark Mirror had a bit of a rocky start, but it was smooth sailing from there on out!

The first 40 pages or so were very slow and the writing seemed almost detached. The story was very disjointed and had no flow. After this, it picked up and I just loved discovering what the characters would do or what would happen next. For a good portion of the book, I did have to really suspend reality as even with the fantastical I had a bit of a hard time believing certain things would happen. Despite this, the story really was a lot of fun. The magic element was a huge part of the story, yet it didn't override the other aspects. It was a perfectly balanced book.

Dark Mirror had a great cast of characters - they were all really well written. There was not a single character I did not like, and I really am excited to see more of the characters in book 2. The characters were definitely my favorite aspect of the book. Tory was a great main character, she had spunk and was quite strong.

Can I just say I love this cover? Historical books have the prettiest of covers. It was a fun, fast read with characters that are so charming. I am so excited to start book 2, Dark Passage, and see what is next for the characters :)

Firelight by Sophie Jordan (Audio Review)

Firelight
Sophie Jordan
Publisher: Brilliance Audio
Release Date: November 29, 2011
Narrator: Therese Plummer

Rating: 4.5 stars

A hidden truth.
Mortal enemies.
Doomed love. 

Marked as special at an early age, Jacinda knows her every move is watched. But she longs for freedom to make her own choices. When she breaks the most sacred tenet among her kind, she nearly pays with her life. Until a beautiful stranger saves her. A stranger who was sent to hunt those like her. For Jacinda is a draki—a descendant of dragons whose greatest defense is her secret ability to shift into human form.
Forced to flee into the mortal world with her family, Jacinda struggles to adapt to her new surroundings. The only bright light is Will. Gorgeous, elusive Will who stirs her inner draki to life. Although she is irresistibly drawn to him, Jacinda knows Will's dark secret: He and his family are hunters. She should avoid him at all costs. But her inner draki is slowly slipping away—if it dies she will be left as a human forever. She'll do anything to prevent that. Even if it means getting closer to her most dangerous enemy. 

Mythical powers and breathtaking romance ignite in this story of a girl who defies all expectations and whose love crosses an ancient divide.

I waited so long to read this one, and I'm a little sad that I did. I found a book that was absolutely brilliant. I loved Firelight, with it's unique twist on mythology and epic plot.

The world of Firelight was a lot of fun, which made the plot that much more fun. The plot was super intense, especially in the final chapters of the book. There were so many moments when I would be sitting there just holding my breath, thinking oh my gosh, what is going to happen!? I found certain elements to be a bit predictable, but overall it was so much fun to see where the story would go.

The characters were a big split for me. I really liked Katherine and Jacinda. They were both super great characters! I love Will - he really helped bring the story to life. Even though I feel like I shouldn't have liked Xander and Angus, something about them was just hilarious to me. I loved the scenes with them, as the just brought this element to the story.

Tamra and Jacinda's mom both drove me nuts. Tamra was way too immature for me, the way she had to tattle every chance she got, and was like ultra witch number 1. For someone who claimed it was all about Jacinda all the time, it was definitely ALL about her and she made sure of it. Anything that happened, no matter what is was, she would have a fit and say something "You did this. You don't want me to be happy. It's all about you".  Jacinda's mom just making horrible decisions for others saying she has their best interest at heart. I couldn't stand either of them.

I would have liked to know more of the mythology behind the whole story and more about the hunters and the encrose. I'm hoping that's something that will be revealed in book 2. There were so many mentions of Will's eyes and how they kept changing color. After awhile, it almost became a bit comical.

Therese Plummer is a brilliant narrator. I super loved her narration. I definitely would love to pick up another book narrated by her. Something about the way she read Firelight made it feel like the pages flew by at a crazy pace. Sometimes with audios at a really intense part I'll sit there wishing I could make the voice talk faster or something, but that was not the case at all here.

The end of Firelight is a killer! I am so happy I have Vanish already, so I wouldn't have to wait an entire year to continue their story. I am curious to see how some of the predictions I made throughout the book will play out, if I was right or not. I was not too crazy about some of the decisions made at the end of Firelight, so seeing how they play out will be interesting.

This is definitely one I would recommend While I wish some things were fleshed out a bit more and I wasn't too crazy about some of the characters, I still just fell in love with the story and I am very excited to hear more from Jacinda's brilliant world in Vanish.

Kiss of Frost by Jennifer Estep

Kiss of Frost (Mythos Academy #2)
Jennifer Estep
Publisher: Kensington
Release Date: November 29, 2011
Pages: 368

Rating: 5 stars

Logan Quinn was try­ing to kill me. My Spar­tan class­mate relent­lessly pur­sued me, swing­ing his sword at me over and over again, the shin­ing sil­ver blade inch­ing closer to my throat every time. A smile tugged up his lips, and his ice-blue eyes prac­ti­cally glowed with the thrill of battle...


I’m Gwen Frost, a second-year warrior-in-training at Mythos Acad­emy, and I have no idea how I’m going to sur­vive the rest of the semes­ter. One day, I’m get­ting schooled in sword­play by the guy who broke my heart — the drop-dead gor­geous Logan who slays me every time. Then, an invis­i­ble archer in the Library of Antiq­ui­ties decides to use me for tar­get prac­tice. And now, I find out that some­one at the acad­emy is really a Reaper bad guy who wants me dead. I’m afraid if I don’t learn how to live by the sword — with Logan’s help — I just might die by the sword …

This series is seriously about my new favorite thing ever! I was blown away by book 1, and Kiss of Frost was just as brilliant. The action builds, the characters develop more, and the story just gets better and better!

I don't think I could criticize this book one bit. With Touch of Frost, my one issue was I wish the mythology of some of the different people and the types of warriors was explained a bit more upfront. From that book and the entirety of this one, I feel like everything has been perfectly explained.

The characters are wonderful. I super love Logan. No matter what he does he is just wonderful. Kiss of Frost introduces a lot more characters, and they are all a bunch of fun. Gwen develops a lot more in this book, as she is becoming more and more comfortable at Mythos and I really liked Gwen in this book. Vic is another great character, especially since he's so unique.

I love the plot, it is not easy to peg down who is behind what. I have my suspicions, but they're constantly changing as to who I suspect so it's a ton of fun. The action in this one is intense!

The ending is so cruel. The book just builds and builds, up to this massively awesome high point, and the book ends. I turned the page, and there was nothing. I am SO excited for Dark Frost now though! I am quite literally counting down the days.

This book is a must read. The series is just marvelous, and I love all the different elements it contains. Nothing is ever the same, and I love the mythology. I really need to make a point to read the rest of Jennifer Estep's books one of these days!

Nightspell Tour: Review + Giveaway

Nightspell 
Leah Cypess
Publisher: Greenwillow
Release Date: May 31, 2011
Pages: 336

Rating: 4.5 stars

Here be ghosts, the maps said, and that was all.
In this haunted kingdom, ghosts linger—not just in the deepest forests or the darkest caverns, but alongside the living, as part of a twisted palace court that revels all night and sleeps through the daylight hours. 

Darri's sister was trapped in this place of fear and shadows as a child. And now Darri has a chance to save her sister . . . if she agrees to a betrothal with the prince of the dead. But nothing is simple in this eerie kingdom—not her sister, who has changed beyond recognition; not her plan, which will be thrown off track almost at once; and not the undead prince, who seems more alive than anyone else. 

In a court seething with the desire for vengeance, Darri holds the key to the balance between life and death. Can her warrior heart withstand the most wrenching choice of all?

I really enjoyed Leah Cypess's first novel, Mistwood, but Nightspell blows that one out of the water with the brilliance this book contains! Everything about this book was just marvelous and I loved it.

Leah Cypess's writing grew so much between Mistwood and Nightspell. The world she crafts in Nightspell is just enchanting. I felt like I was right there alongside Darri and the others. It is definitely a world I would love to visit again in a future book, perhaps back in the Plains with Darri's people or whoever.

The premise of Nightspell was so unique - I never have read a book even the slightest bit like it, and I absolutely loved it. I could never really guess what was going to come next. There also was essentially a void of romance, which is something always very refreshing in books. The plot had so many layers, and I loved following all the different characters. It is told from several different point of views, which is something I always love!

The characters were quite lovely. I found all the characters to be flawed, which made is so much easier to connect with the characters. I loved the strength Darri had. She was a super strong character. Callie was a character that very much grew on me as the book went on - I definitely was not a fan of her in the beginning of the book, but by the end she was a pleasant character. The prince was another interesting character and I found myself wishing he had had an even bigger role than he already had.

Can I just say gorgeous cover? Nightspell's cover is just so beautiful. I love the castle! I would definitely recommend this one. With its unique plot and epic world, Nightspell will be an instant favorite. I cannot wait for another book from the wonderful Leah Cypess.

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Now I have one SIGNED Hardcover of Nightspell for one lucky winner. It will be open to US/Canada only and open until December 15th :)


And don't forget to follow the rest of the tour (and remember each stop you comment on gets you entered to win a super cool annotated edition of Mistwood!):

November 28: Guest post at Fiction State of Mind
November 30:  Interview at Library Mosaic
December 1: Guest post at YA Bibliophile
December 2: Review at Scattered Pages
December 4: Guest post at Haunted Orchid
December 6: Interview at A Thousand Little Pages
December 7: Review at Ashley Suzanne
December 8: Review at Hobbitsies
December 9: Review at A Backwards Story
December 10: Nightspell Excerpt at Arianne Cruz
December 11: Review at Penguin Girl
December 12: Interview at WhatchYAReading
December 14: Review at Ticket to Anywhere
December 15: Review at Word Lust
December 16: Nightspell Excerpt at A Tale of Many Reviews
December 18: Guest Post at Bodacious Bookaholic
December 19: Deleted Scene from Mistwood at A Good Addiction

Interview with Kersten Hamilton

I am super excited to have Kersten Hamilton by the blog today for an interview! Kersten Hamilton is the author of Tyger, Tyger and in the Forests of the Night. You can find her on the web at her website.

If the characters from In the Forests of the Night got stuck on a deserted island, who would fare the best? The worst? And who would be the one to get them off the island?

Gil would fare the best. He’ll eat anything, after all! Abby wouldn’t do well at all, I’m afraid. Her constant talking would drive Finn to super human efforts—he’d swear to get them off the island, even if he had to walk on water to do it! Mamieo would keep them sane by telling stories of the peregrine, wandering Irish monks who set out in small ships to explore the world. Aiden and Lennie wouldn’t want to leave—they’d be reenacting scenes from The Swiss Family Robinson. Mr. Wylltson would need to get back to his books. Thomas and Roisin would be lost in one another’s eyes….and Teagan, when she wasn’t studying the fauna, or kissing Finn, would be thinking her way out of the situation. In the end, it would take them all to get off the island.

Do you have a favorite mythological story or tale?

I really love the Finnian Cycle – the stories of Fionn Mac Cumhaill. I like Beowulf, too. But my favorites are the stories of the Nordic heroes who fought monsters knowing at Ragnarok was coming—because fighting monsters is the right and courageous thing to do even if you know you are going to lose.

If you could be any paranormal creature, what would it be?

A phoenix. I think the ability to burn up and rise again is absolutely a must for a writer.

Is there a book that is out now that you wish you had had growing up?

No. I know that’s funny to say, but I had so many books to read as a child I couldn’t have finished any more. I’m very happy that I still read children’s books today, though. I wouldn’t want to miss a single one!

Who was your favorite character to write in In the Forests of the Night?

Teagan. This time it was Teagan. She changes and grows so much in the story. All of the stuff that I have known was inside her starts to come out where the reader can see it.

Through your many jobs you had before settling down and eventually writing, did you have a favorite?

I liked being a wilderness guide the best. I loved the wilderness, the horses and the camping. And the best time of all was when I was alone on the mountain.  


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Thanks for stopping by Kersten! You can find Kersten on the web at her website and twitter. Also, make sure to check out the awesome Trailer Contest she is hosting for In the Forests of The Night. 

In the Forests of the Night by Kersten Hamilton

In the Forests of the Night
Kersten Hamillton
Publisher: Clarion Books
Release Date: November 22, 2011
Pages: 288

Rating: 4.5 stars

The battle against goblinkind continues . . . but which side will Teagan be on?

Teagan, Finn, and Aiden have made it out of Mag Mell alive, but the Dark Man’s forces are hot on their heels. Back in Chicago, Tea’s goblin cousins show up at her school, sure she will come back to Mag Mell, as goblin blood is never passive once awoken. Soon she will belong to Fear Doirich and join them. In the meantime, they are happy to entertain themselves by trying to seduce, kidnap, or kill Tea’s family and friends. Tea knows she doesn’t have much time left, and she refuses to leave Finn or her family to be tortured and killed. A wild Stormrider, born to rule and reign, is growing stronger inside her. But as long as she can hold on, she’s still Teagan Wylltson, who plans to be a veterinarian and who heals the sick and hurting. The disease that’s destroying her—that’s destroying them all—has a name: Fear Doirich. And Teagan Wylltson is not going to let him win.

Kersten Hamilton is a genius. In the Forests of the Night was a brilliant read that picked up right where Tyger, Tyger left off and I did not want to put it down.The mythology goes deeper and the characters are just as fabulous. In the Forests of the Night will be a book that you will be sorry to miss, as it is just fabulous.

The characters of this series is just brilliant. I just love Finn - he is so dreamy. I love his accent. Aiden is such a fun character - I love the larger roles he plays in this book. He is so good-hearted and it is just great. Teagan is a great character and I love that she is a strong main character. I did have a bit of a lapse of judgement in her character for part of the book, but I felt she redeemed herself. There were so many characters who had a smaller role, but they were so memorable and I can't wait to see the role they'll play in the next book in the series.

I love the plot of In the Forests of the Night. I just love the role the mythology plays in the books. In the Forests of the Night had so many layers to it, besides the obvious play arc. The story builds and builds and at the end I was left so curious and anxious to see how the story continues. The ending was intense, and I am very antsy for the next book to come out.

In the Forests of the Night was just brilliant, I think even better than Tyger, Tyger which I absolutely adored. This is one that I would  recommend you rush out and get as soon as you can, as it is just brilliant.

The Juliet Spell by Douglas Rees

The Juliet Spell
Douglas Reese
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Release Date: September 27, 2011
Pages: 304

I wanted the role of Juliet more than anything. I studied hard. I gave a great reading for it—even with Bobby checking me out the whole time. I deserved the part.
I didn't get it. So I decided to level the playing field, though I actually might have leveled the whole play. You see, since there aren't any Success in Getting to Be Juliet in Your High School Play spells, I thought I'd cast the next best—a Fame spell. Good idea, right?
Yeah. Instead of bringing me a little fame, it brought me someone a little famous. Shakespeare. Well, Edmund Shakespeare. William's younger brother.
Good thing he's sweet and enthusiastic about helping me with the play...and—ahem—maybe a little bit hot. But he's from the past. Way past. Cars amaze him—cars! And cell phones? Ugh.
Still, there's something about him that's making my eyes go star-crossed....

Shakespeare retellings are usually among my favorite books. I love theater, so whenever I can find one, I am happy. The Juliet Spell sounded really great, but in reality just lacked some of the qualities I was hoping to find.

I loved the idea of this book. The whole idea just blew up a little bit too big for me and I had a hard time taking it seriously. The last quarter of the book is really what made me sit there in disbelief, everything just went too far.

The first red flag for me was how quickly Edmund adapted to modern day life. It was instantaneous, and I just had a bit trouble believing that. He would make a comment like "What witch craft is that", Miranda would explain it, and then he would pretty much be okay with everything.

The theater experiences in this book felt a bit off. I've been in tons of shows, and that was something that put me a bit on the edge. In addition to that, this book was a prime example of the "Love at first sight" and it drove me batty, especially since the main character had a perfectly good guy rooting for her!

The characters were an interesting.mix. Drew was hands down the best character of the book. He was SUCH a great guy, and there were so many scenes were I just sat there thinking "aw". A lot of the other characters while they had good qualities, I found the negative over powering them. No one really stood out from one another in my mind. A lot of their language felt really forced, and it wasn't natural.

The cover is absolutely gorgeous. I quite adore it. This book had some good qualities, but overall, it really just wasn't for me. While I wasn't a huge fan, make sure to check out Verb Vixen's review!

This review is cross-posted from YA Books Central

Eon: Dragoneye Reborn by Alison Goodman (Audio Review)

Eon
Alison Goodman
Publisher: Brilliance Audio
Release Date: December 26, 2008
Discs: 12
Source: Borrowed
Narrator: Nancy Wu

Rating: 1.5 stars

Eon has been studying the ancient art of Dragon Magic for four years, hoping he'll be able to apprentice to one of the twelve energy dragons of good fortune. But he also has a dark secret. He is actually Eona, a sixteen-year-old girl who has been living a dangerous lie for the chance to become a Dragon-eye, the human link to an energy dragon's power. It is forbidden for females to practice the Dragon Magic and, if discovered, Eon faces a terrible death. After a dazzling sword ceremony, Eon's affinity with the twelve dragons catapults him into the treacherous world of the Imperial court, where he makes a powerful enemy, Lord Ido. As tension builds and Eon's desperate lie comes to light, readers won't be able to stop turning the pages...

Eon turned out to be a disappointing read for me. I heard high praises for it and it was fantasy, but I just couldn't get past certain aspects of the book. I kept listening, hoping it would get better, as everyone I had heard speak of it had just loved it, but sadly, I was let down.

I really liked the idea of Eon. It was super unique! All the aspects around the dragon lords were super fascinating and I loved learning more about it. The whole idea with the mythology of Eon was really creative, and I just love how many aspects of that panned out.

I do not think I have ever hated a character more than I hated the character of Eon. She was so bothersome. She treated everyone like absolute garbage over and over again. I really wanted to slap her across the face. She used to be nothing and as soon as she gets some power, no one is good enough for her. She was also very dense when it came to a lot of issues and I felt like she just avoided what was right in front of her. I really was just not ok with that, and I couldn't get past her character flaws.

I really liked some of the other characters in the book like Lady Dela and Ryko. They both were awesome. Lord Tyron was another favorite character of mine. Rilla was another really great character. She was the only one who had any compassion, and was just wonderful. Some of the other characters had many similar characteristics to Eon, such as treating others like garbage so I had a really hard time liking them.

Nothing really happened in the book up until like disc 11.5 of 12. The action that happened there was super interesting, but there were some major issues I had with the plot at the ending on the part of Eon herself. It was another prime example of Eon acting like an idiot. The way Alison Goodman tied up the book, as in the final sentences, were interesting and had I not despised Eon and several other characters so much, I definitely would want to read on! It really is quite the cliffhanger.

I really did like the narration. Nancy Wu did a great job. I found myself really brought into the story, and I think that her narration was a big contributor to that!

Overall, this definitely was not the book for me. I am a character person, and I think Eon made number one on my list of characters I really don't like. This being said, I think it's pretty obvious why I didn't like the book. I thought it was a really neat premise, but it was too slow without enough action and had a main character I really didn’t like. While it wasn’t the book for me, here are some people that loved it:

Beyond Books
Good Books and Wine
The Story Siren

The Iron Knight by Julie Kagawa

The Iron Knight
Julie Kagawa
Publisher: Harlequin
Release Date: October 25, 2011
Pages: 386
Source: Publisher

Rating: 4.25 stars

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.


The Iron Knight has been a book I have been highly anticipating for ages. I had a bit of a hard time getting into The Iron Knight, I think it was because I knew this was Ash and Megan’s final tale and I didn’t want the story to end. Once a few chapters had passed, I was completely engrossed and barely put down the book until I finished.

I really loved all the characters in The Iron Knight. All the characters from the prior books and the new ones to the book all really developed in this last installment of the Iron Fey. I do not think there will be a day when Grimalkin will fail to make me laugh and be one of the best characters ever. I love his tagline “I am a cat”. Ash and Puck really developed as characters as well. I loved seeing their friendship grow and also some of their beginnings.

The Iron Knight was definitely an interesting conclusion to the series. I found the story to be very great, but it definitely was not what I was expecting. Julie Kagawa throws so many surprises at readers. Some of the plot was a bit predictable, but it still was a lot of fun. This book takes the characters on all sorts of adventures in places that are completely new, and discovering these places along with the characters was a ton of fun.

This series is so wonderful, with all the books thus far, I simply don’t want to put down it down once I get into it. The Iron Knight was no exception. It took me a bit longer to get into this one, but once I had I simply wanted to read straight through and was annoyed when I had to go to class or work. I am very anxious to hear more from the marvelous Julie Kagawa!