City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

What the back of the book says:
"When fifteen-year-old Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder — much less a murder committed by three teenagers covered with strange tattoos and brandishing bizarre weapons. Clary knows she should call the police, but it's hard to explain a murder when the body disappears into thin air and the murderers are invisible to everyone but Clary.
Equally startled by her ability to see them, the murderers explain themselves as Shadowhunters: a secret tribe of warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons. Within twenty-four hours, Clary's mother disappears and Clary herself is almost killed by a grotesque demon.
But why would demons be interested in ordinary mundanes like Clary and her mother? And how did Clary suddenly get the Sight? The Shadowhunters would like to know...."



What I have to say about it:
I was really torn about reading this book. It's another Fallen Angel book, and after reading the terribleness that was Fallen, and the slightly better Hush Hush, I was a bit hesitant to read ANOTHER book in this genre. But Jace had recently beat out Ash in a YA Teen Crush contest and I have to admit, I was curious what was so hot about Jace. I still preferred my faeries, though.

Luckily for me, this book does have faeries! But no, Jace isn't one of them (I forgave him for that). Anyways, this book is pretty intense (for a YA book). Clary is pretty cool and Jace is pretty hot and the plot is sufficiently interesting. Jace has that same ice-prince aura of Ash (and oh, do I love that ice-prince aura), but he's a little bit wittier. I was definitely cheering for Clary and Jace to be together. And then they kiss and then there's some big battle where Jace is captured and the werewolves come and save the day with Clary, who finds out that Jace is her brother and they share an evil father....wait, Jace is her brother?! And they KISSED?! Now, this upsets me a bit and while I finish the book and it is looking like Jace really is her brother....I can't believe it. Why would Clare throw their love story away like that?! So, that is my only complaint about the book. This whole, making out with my brother thing is so not ok.

Which  means I will certainly be reading the rest of the series to find out if they really are siblings. It cannot be, Cassandra Clare!

So, final thoughts? Jace is worthy of his hotness rating (though I'm still Team Ash!), and the book itself is good. Now I just have to get my hands on the rest of the series!

The Way of Shadows by Brent Weeks

What the back of the books says:
For Durzo Blint, assassination is an art-and he is the city's most accomplished artist.

For Azoth, survival is precarious. Something you never take for granted. As a guild rat, he's grown up in the slums, and learned to judge people quickly - and to take risks. Risks like apprenticing himself to Durzo Blint.

But to be accepted, Azoth must turn his back on his old life and embrace a new identity and name. As Kylar Stern, he must learn to navigate the assassins' world of dangerous politics and strange magics - and cultivate a flair for death

What I have to say about it:
Gritty is, I think, a good word to describe this book. And thought-provoking. Gritty because Weeks, like Karen Miller, doesn't shy away from the dirty parts. People die, and not just because this is a book about a wetboy (NOT an assassin, tyvm). There's blood and gore and cursing and some disturbing parts and sex and all that stuff. But, as I said, thought-provoking. Weeks talks religion, in an oblique way. Philosophy and the idea of a just god, which is interesting for a book who talks about the perfect killer. Really, I liked it.

It's got a slow start, though. For maybe the first half of the book, I felt like I was twiddling my thumbs, waiting for Kylar to grow up. But once he finished growing up, things got good. I liked the world, the magic, and even the country of Cenaria, run by what sounds like a mafia with a puppet king. Or a pathetic king. Whatever. My least favorite part was the ending, which just seemed too happy and maybe a little corny (especially after how gritty the rest of the book is).

So, final thoughts? I liked this book a lot. I wish I could have skipped the beginning and gotten to the good stuff, but whatever. I have a whole trilogy of what I hope is the good stuff, so 100 pages of blah is forgivable. After all, I guess we need some background.  So I'd recommend it, especially if you like those gritty fantasy books with authors who aren't afraid of killing off characters and getting their characters a little down and dirty. AKA fantasy books with a little depth to them.

The Innocent Mage and The Awakened Mage by Karen Miller

The Innocent Mage

"The Innocent Mage is come, and we stand at the beginning of the end of everything."

Being a fisherman like his father isn't a bad life, but it's not the one that Asher wants. Despite his humble roots, Asher has grand dreams. And they call him to Dorana, home of princes, beggars, and the warrior mages who have protected the kingdom for generations.

Little does Asher know, however, that his arrival in the city is being closely watched by members of the Circle, people dedicated to preserving an ancient magic.

Asher might have come to the city to make his fortune, but he will find his destiny.

The Awakened Mage

"The evil foretold has risen ... and we are all that stands between it and the end."

Asher has come a long way for a fisherman's son. Together with his friend Prince Gar, he has defended their kingdom against its bitterest enemy, but at great cost.

Now, the evil mage Morg is preparing for his most deadly assault. Desperate, trapped in a broken body, Morg has little time and fewer scruples. And he has a plan.

As Gar and Asher unwittingly fall into a dangerous deception, Morg gets ever closer to his goal. And this victory would be particularly sweet, for who better to destroy the kingdom than the two who would give anything to save it?

What I have to say about it:

Alright, so it’s been a while since I’ve actually posted, and I read these books a few weeks ago. Therefore, it’s going to be a combined review on both of them, since details are a bit fuzzy.

If you like character-driven books, this book probably isn’t for you. It’s very plot driven (but at least it’s driven by something!). I prefer character driven, but that’s just me. That being said, the plot is pretty good, I did like the premise of the books. And I loved the whole Weather Magic bit. I’m a former meteorology major, so that makes sense. I just wished the plot moved faster, two books of foreshadowing and maybe the last 3 chapters actually deal with this big cataclysmic event. It’s a lot of potential, I just felt let down by the ending.

And the characters…Asher wasn’t fleshed out at all, I discovered that I really didn’t care what happened to him. He just wasn’t relatable. The relationship in the book is really sudden, and the girl, Dathne, I really kind of hated. The only characters I really liked were Gar and Matt, but they were definitely written to be supporting characters.

It was an okay book. It wasn’t fantastic, but it was interesting enough that I was able to finish reading it without too much difficulty. I liked the theory of magic (Weather Workers, w00t!) and the ideas of the book, but it wasn’t something I wanted to go out and buy so I could read it again and again. I do commend the author for her unflinching ability to kill off characters though, and I mean that sincerely. There’s nothing more annoying than a book where every character survives Big Cataclysmic Event when it really isn’t feasible. Someone would have died, okay? But, we maybe could have survived without the grisly details.

Final thoughts? If I could tell you to read The Awakened Mage and skip The Innocent Mage, I would. But you kind of need to know what’s happening in The Innocent Mage, or you’d get all sorts of confused. Pick it up from the library (support your local library!) if you’d like. And maybe I’m biased, since I like my character-driven books. If you like an interesting plot-driven novel, go for it!

Jekel Loves Hyde by Beth Fantaskey

What the back of the book says:
"Jill Jekel has always obeyed her parents rules;especially the one about never opening the mysterious, old box in her father's office. But when her dad is murdered, and her college savings disappear, she's tempted to peek inside, as the contents might be the key to a lucrative chemistry scholarship.

To improve her odds, Jill enlists the help of gorgeous, brooding Tristen Hyde, who has his own dark secrets locked away. As the team of Jekel and Hyde, they recreate experiments based on the classic novel, hoping not only to win a prize, but to save Tristen's sanity. Maybe his life. But Jill's accidental taste of a formula unleashes her darkest nature and compels her to risk everything, even Tristen's love just for the thrill of being . . . bad."

What I have to say about it:
So cute! Of course, you have the nerdy outcast girl who is really cute, and the dark and dangerous boy. What is different about this book is the fact that it, as you might have guessed, draws from the whole Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. And there's chemistry involved! Both kinds. But seriously, I liked this book. The characters are not as stereotypical as they usually are in teen romance books (but not completely original, I guess) and the story line is...different. I actually felt invested in Jill, rooting for her and feeling ashamed for her when she starts being bad.
Now, the psychological parts might not be explained as well as I might have liked (I have my psych degree so that's not surprising), but I love that there's chemistry and psychology involved! Final thoughts, I liked it. It was cute, it was different enough to stand it apart from all those other YA books. I'd recommend it.

Nightspell by Leah Cypess

What the back of the book says:
"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?"

What I have to say about it:
I mean, it was okay. I liked Mistwood better, though. I did like the name of the country - the Ghostlands! Very World of Warcraft of them. But I felt like the book was very dull, I found it hard to get into it. There's only one big surprise and, really, it wasn't much of a surprise. I liked Kestin, and Darri was pretty sweet too, but that was kind of it.
The cover is cool, though!
Final thoughts, it was just okay. It was just a bit dull for my tastes, is all.

Mistwood by Leah Cypess

What the back of the book says:
"The Shifter is an immortal creature bound by an ancient spell to protect the kings of Samorna. When the realm is peaceful, she retreats to the Mistwood. But when she is needed she always comes.

Isabel remembers nothing. Nothing before the prince rode into her forest to take her back to the castle. Nothing about who she is supposed to be, or the powers she is supposed to have.
Prince Rokan needs Isabel to be his Shifter. He needs her ability to shift into animal form, to wind, to mist. He needs her lethal speed and superhuman strength. And he needs her loyalty - because without it, she may be his greatest threat.
Isabel knows that her prince is lying to her, but she can't help wanting to protect him from the dangers and intrigues of the court...until a deadly truth shatters the bond between them.
Now Isabel faces a choice that threatens her loyalty, her heart...and everything she thought she knew."

What I have to say about it:
I've read mixed reviews about this book, but I was excited to read it. It sounded different, no vampires and werewolves and faeries. Just a Shifter and a kingdom and a lot of court intrigue. I read a review where the person thought that the characters were flat...she has a point. None of them really change in the book, except maybe Isabel...but since she's half wild, she's not really consistent at all. I think my favorite part was all the court intrigue. Who's lying to who, who's a traitor, who's not? And Isabel watches it all from a very cold point of view - the Shifter isn't human and so has no emotions. But is the Shifter really not human? Isabel isn't so sure, because she's got emotions (good thing too, this would be a very dry book without them).

I love the idea. It's unique. I even liked the story, but not in an overly fanatical way. It was a good read, but not a great read. So, final thoughts? Great idea, great storyline, but a less than great delivery. I'd still recommend it, but I'd say get it from a library first.

So, I haven't posted in a while. This would be because I was re-reading all the Harry Potter books (huge fan, of course) and didn't think it was necessary to tell everyone how awesome I think they are. But, it's back to reading some other books now, so I'll be posting soon!!

The Nine Kingdoms series by Lynn Kurland

So we have three books that make up the first trilogy of The Nine Kingdoms series. They are:

Star of the Morning

What the back of the book says:
"Darkness covers the north, for the black mage has begun his assault on the isolated kingdom of Neroche. Legend has it that only the two magical swords held in trust by Neroche's king can defeat the mage. Now the fate of the Nine Kingdoms rests in the hands of a woman destined to wield one of those blades...

The Mercenary - Morgan is a practical woman with no use for magic. Yet she feels compelled to offer her sword to the sorcerer king of Neroche. Her fateful decision will lead her to a magical destiny...and a man whose love will change her life forever.

The King - Adhemar of Neroche's connection to the magic of the land is fading. Helpless to defend his country against the black mage's forces, his only hope is to travel in disguise, searching for the one who was foretold to bring victory.

The Mage - Miach, the archmage of Neroche, is Adhemar's youngest brother--and duty bound to aid his king. Though they find what they seek, Miach will lose his heart in a way he never could have foreseen.

In this land of dragons and mages, warrior maids and magical swords, nothing is as it seems. For the king is less than he should be, the mage is far more than he appears, and the mercenary will find that the magic in her blood brings her troubles she cannot face with a sword--and a love more powerful than she has ever imagined..."

The Mage's Daughter

What the back of the book says:

"Darkness in the kingdom...
Neroche is under assault by a mysterious magic that has stripped its king of his powers and unleased nightmarish creatures as weapons in a war of evil. Morgan of Melksham is fighting against that menace as well as for her life. Struggling to regain her strength after a near-fatal attack, Morgan realizes that she must decide between two fates: that of being a simple sheildmaiden or accepting her heritage as an elven princess. If only she could forget that she was the daughter of the perilous black mage of Ceangail...

Magic in the blood...

Duty bound to aid his king, Miach of Neroche is torn between what his responsibilities demand and what his heart desires. He is willing to risk his life to rescue Morgan from the darkenss that haunts her, but he must do so at the peril of his realm. Forced to choose between love and the burden of his mantle, Miach sets out on his most deadly quest ever."

Princess of the Sword

What the back of the book says:
"When darkness falls...

As the mercenary daughter of Gair, the black mage of Ceangail, Morgan is the only one who can stop the terrible sorcery her father unleashed. To do so, she must race against time and find the spell that will allow her to close the well of evil he opened. But that quest will lead her to places she never dreamed existed and into a darkness she would give anything to avoid...

The magic rises.
The fate of the kingdom of Neroche is intertwined with the closing of Gair's well. Miach, the archmage of Neroche, is determined to help Morgan find what she needs, not only because the safety of the Nine Kingdoms hangs in the balance but also because he will do anything to protect her. Together they must search out the mysteries of Ceangail, and the dangers of Morgan's own bloodline.

Now to rescue the kingdom from total ruin, Morgan and Miach have only each other to trust, heart, and soul..."

What I have to say (about the entire series):
I've had my semi-rant about romance novels before, but finally found a series that seems to defy all that lust crap! Now, I am not going to tell you that this is the best series ever, fantasy-wise. I don't remember the last time I enjoyed a romance novel this much, though. Kurland created some really awesome characters here in Miach and Morgan (though Morgan gets a little less cool after the first book). Miach is kind of dark and powerful and brooding, and I do have a thing for guys like that, but he's sweet too! And the romance in this series is really romantic. There's no sex scenes (thankfully) and I feel like the romance was more real for it. The story wasn't really complicated, but I guess I wasn't reading it for a complicated plot. She seems to focus more on the characters, and that's ok. An author with a complicated plot and complicated characters would probably make my brain explode, which isn't what I'm going for in light reading.

So, my final thoughts are this. They're good. Not fantastic, not the best books ever, but they're good. The characters are funny and the plot isn't too boring. The romance is something I feel comfortable with reading in public (/class) without feeling dirty. Also, it's cute. Miach might not beat out Ash in my list of best guys in books, but he is on that list. So read them, they're fun and interesting light reading. I'll probably end up buying them, which is shocking since they are considered romance. That's saying something.

Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini

What the back of the book says:

"Helen Hamilton has spent her entire sixteen years trying to hide how different she is - no easy task on an island as small and sheltered as Nantucket. And it's getting harder. Nightmares of a desperate desert journey have Helen waking parched, only to find her sheet damaged by dirt and dust. At school she's haunted by hallucinations of three women weeping tears of blood...and when Helen first crosses paths with Lucas Delos, she has no way of knowing they're destined to play the leading roles in a tragedy the Fates insist on repeating throughout history.
As Helen unlocks the secrets of her ancestry, she realizes that some myths are more than just legend. But even demigod powers might not be enough to defy the forces that are both drawing her and Lucas together - and trying to tear them apart."

What I have to say about it:
Slow starter, I had trouble getting into it. But once I got into it, I was stuck. I've mentioned my love of mythology before and Starcrossed's plot takes its origins from one of my favorite stories - The Trojan War. Win.
The general plot was pretty generic, but Angelini had enough little plot twists to make it interesting. And I liked the idea of the book, I'm really looking forward to the sequel (which comes out in May 2012...sad face!) I can't say I've got any kind of book-crush on Lucas, but I like the chemistry between him and Helen. And Helen herself is a great character, a great mix of being strong and being human. I don't like main characters who sob all the time, but I get frustrated when they don't show any kind of reaction to the crazy stress on them. Helen is good with having a little meltdown here and there without coming across as too whiney. And she's pretty good at realizing when she's being self-centered. It's refreshing.
Some parts of the book are a little reminiscent of Twilight, but it's different enough that it really doesn't bother me. The fact that it involves Greek Mythology might make it easier for me to swallow, too.
Final thoughts, pretty good. A pretty typical paranormal YA romance, but just different enough to keep me interested. I'd recommend it, for sure.

Summer's Crossing by Julie Kagawa

What the back of the book says:
"A Midsummer's Nightmare? Robin Goodfellow. Puck. Summer Court prankster, King Oberon's right hand, bane of many a faery queen's existence - and secret friend to Prince Ash of the Winter Court. Until one girl's death came between them, and another girl stole both their hearts.
Now Ash has granted one favor too many and someone's come to collect, forcing the prince to a place he cannot go without Puck's help - into the heart of the Summer Court. And Puck faces the ultimate choice - betray Ash and possibly win the girl they both love, or help his former friend turned bitter enemy pull off a deception that no true faery prankster could possibly resist."

What I have to say about it:
I had a complete brain fart yesterday. I knew this was coming out and it wasn't until I was sitting there, waiting for a class to start, that I remembered. And then I thanked God for my Nook, since I was able to get it about 2 seconds later. The story itself was short and sweet. I love Puck and Ash, though Grim was sadly missing, and for 53 pages, I was enthralled. The story was amusing, I found myself on the receiving end of a couple funny looks in class. As usual, Kagawa gives just enough twists to keep you wondering what will happen next. The ending may not have been a shocker, but the route to it was.
So, does Puck betray Ash? I guess you should just read it and find out!

Wondrous Strange by Lesley Livingston

What the back of the book says:
" Since the dawn of time, the Faerie have taken. . . .
For seventeen-year-old actress Kelley Winslow, faeries are just something from childhood stories. Then she meets Sonny Flannery, whose steel-gray eyes mask an equally steely determination to protect her.
Sonny guards the Samhain Gate, which connects the mortal realm with the Faerie's enchanted, dangerous Otherworld. Usually kept shut by order of icy King Auberon, the Gate stands open but once a year.
This year, as the time approaches when the Samhain Gate will swing wide and nightmarish Fae will fight their way into an unsuspecting human world, something different is happening . . . something wondrous and strange. And Kelley's eyes are opening not just to the Faerie that surround her but to the heritage that awaits her.
Now Kelley must navigate deadly Faerie treachery—and her growing feelings for Sonny—in this dazzling page-turner filled with luminous romance.
Wondrous Strange is a richly layered tale of love between faerie and mortal, betrayal between kings and queens, and magic . . . between author and reader. "

What I have to say about it:
I read the back of this book again after reading The Iron Fey series and had a little sit down with myself. I promised myself that I wouldn't let my love for The Iron Fey series interact at all with my reading of this book. I think I succeeded, actually, which is a good thing.

The cast of characters is strikingly similar to The Iron Fey. We have Oberon/Auberon, Mab/Mabh, Titania (less so in Wondrous Strange), and Puck! We also have the daughter of Oberon/Auberon, who is the main character in both series. But really, I feel like that's where the similarities end. I felt like Wondrous Strange was a little...dull? Predictable? Everything was so rote, so emotionless, that I couldn't really connect with the characters. I get that books love the whole "soul mate" thing, but the love story in this didn't move me at all. I like Kelley well enough, but her love interest is less interesting than I would like and the relationship is beyond sudden. "Hey you keep showing up wherever I am, creepy" to "I LOVE YOU!" There's a lot of room in this book for emotional exploration and character growth, but the author doesn't take advantage of it.

Final thoughts? If you're going to read a fey book, don't bother with this one. There are plently of good fey books, The Iron Fey and the Wicked Lovely series to name a few. But Wondrous Strange came off as dull and utterly flat to me.

Fallen by Lauren Kate

What the back of the book says:
"There's something achingly familiar about Daniel Grigori.

Mysterious and aloof, he captures Luce Price's attention from the moment she sees him on her first day at Sword & Cross boarding school in Savannah. He's the one bright spot in a place where cell phones are forbidden, the other students are screwups, and security cameras watch every move.

Except Daniel wants nothing to do with Luce - he goes out of his way to make that very clear. But she can't let it go. Drawn to him like a moth to flame, Luce has to find out what Daniel is so desperate to keep secret...even if it kills her."

What I have to say about it:
It's different, for sure. At first I was ready to dismiss it as a silly, shallow love story. But now that I've thought about it a little bit, I can't really support the "shallow" aspect of it. I mean, there's nothing shallow or silly about soul mates, right? But I will say that there isn't much of a plot outside the love story. Or lack of love at the beginning. Even the battle at the end was a bit anti-climactic.

I like the cover, though. It's pretty sweet.

Final thoughts? If you're looking for some romance (of the impossible kind), then this is a good book. If you're looking for plot or character development? Don't hold your breath. Maybe the next book will have more of that, but I'm not planning on reading it.

The Iron Queen by Julie Kagawa

What the back of the book says:
"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."

What I have to say about it:
Love. Love love love love. This is the third book in The Iron Fey, and I feel like this series just got better as it went on. Which is amazing, since I already loved the first book. I find myself daydreaming about the characters and wondering what I would do in their place. Meghan has undergone an amazing transformation from The Iron King, and the ending of this book...I'll just say it, I was crying. And don't even get me started on Ash. I'll just say it, I love him. Actually, all the characters are written so well that I felt like I actually knew them. The only bad thing was the ending, and that's mostly because it was very bittersweet. But even that's okay, because there's going to be a fourth book!
The plot is enthralling with just enough twists to keep it exciting, but not so many that you feel lost. There's romance between Meghan and Ash, but it seems so real. It's not just kissing scene after kissing scene, but there's this building of trust between them that I love.
I can't help but draw parallels between The Iron Fey series and Twilight. Forbidden love, best friend who also loves her...but I honestly like The Iron Fey better. I feel like Meghan is a much much better heroine than Bella, and Ash? He can use a sword. Beat that, Edward! And The Iron Fey has a talking cat. Who wouldn't love that?

So my final thoughts? Read it. Absolutely. Go to your library or bookstore and just read it. And when The Iron Knight comes out in November, go read that too. And tell your friends, because they should probably read it too.

The Iron Daughter by Julie Kagawa

What the back of the book says:
"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."

What I've got to say about it:

Yes, I started this book this morning. And yes, I already finished it. I don't know if that means I have no life or if it's a testament to how much I love this series. *Shrug*

So the book starts out in the Winter Court, where I feel pretty bad for Meghan. Ash goes jerk on her, and she's pretty upset. I get that, and it was well written enough that I hurt for her. But then the action picks up and we are flung into a new crisis involving those darn Iron Faeries that Queen Mab is less inclined to believe in. Instead, she blames a theft and the murder of one of her sons (no, not Ash, thankfully) on the Summer Court. But Meghan knows it wasn't the Summer Court, and only she and Ash have the knowledge it takes to recover what was stolen and keep the two courts from going to war.

And again Sagawa keeps you guessing with the random twists and turns of the plot. The whole "Forbidden Romance" thing is great. It almost brings to mind 'Twilight', only Meghan is way cooler than Bella (sorry to all you Bella fans!). I could go on about how much better I think Meghan is, but suffice it to say that I think she's a refreshing change to the "damsel in distress" stereotype. As far as the other characters go, my favorite cat is still hanging around, but only because being around Meghan is entertaining. I have officially fallen in love with Ash, and Puck is there for comic relief and to occasionally up the ante. The ending actually surprised me a little bit, and since I know there's a 3rd book, it makes me really wonder what Sagawa has up her sleeve for The Iron Queen.

Final thoughts: WIN! I'm already pushing the series on my friends, and to any random strangers on the internet who might read this. So go to your library and pick up a copy of the series (I mean, read The Iron King first, obviously). And if you like the series too, spread the word!

Winter's Passage by Julie Kagawa

Ok, I lied. I found out there's a novella between The Iron King and The Iron Daughter and, as it was only 60 pages long, I pretty much inhaled it. Here we go!

What the back of the book says:
"Meghan Chase used to be an ordinary girl...until she discovered that she is really a faery princess. After escaping from the clutches of the deadly Iron fey, Meghan must follow through on her promise to return to the equally dangerous Winter Court with her forbidden love, Prince Ash. But first, Meghan has one request: that they visit Puck--Meghan's best friend and servant of her father, King Oberon--who was gravely injured defending Meghan from the Iron Fey.
Yet Meghan and Ash's detour does not go unnoticed. They have caught the attention of an ancient, powerful hunter--a foe that even Ash may not be able to defeat...."

What I have to say about it:
Well, it's a novella. It was cute, and Grimalkin was there! (Win!) Of course, there was Ash and Meghan and some romance there, but not much. I find it interesting how much Meghan seems to throw the "I love you" deal around, but Ash doesn't reciprocate. And Meghan doesn't notice, I guess. And the book completely lacks Puck, as he's seriously injured from a fight in the first book. There's much less comic relief for it, unless you count Grim.
But anyways, there's a dangerous foe chasing them, Ash vows to protect Meghan, there's danger and a couple kissing scenes and a rather anti-climactic fight scene. And then we get led into the next book, The Iron Daughter.
I mean, if you're reading the series, you might as well pick this one up. Or download it, as it's a free eNovella. Certainly nothing as fantastic as the actual books, but I'm okay with that. My mind would be officially blown if it was.

The Iron King by Julie Kagawa

What the back of the book says:
"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."

What I have to say about it:
Love it! I like Meghan, she's loyal and determined, but realistically terrified by the fact that she's now in what they call the Nevernever (Faeryworld). It's actually kind of refreshing. She does dissolve into hysterical tears and talks about how she just wants to save her half-brother and go home. But I love her best friend Puck (yes, the one from A Midsummer Night's Dream), and the cait sith (aka cat) who accompanies them, Grimalkin. I also have a bit of a literary crush on Ash, the Winter Prince. They just don't make them like that in the real world! But aside from having a great cast of characters, the story is fascinating. You have the traditional faeries (don't think Disneyworld), and Kagawa has introduced a new kind of faery - the Iron Fey. For those not up to par on faery-lore, iron is the bane of a faery's existence. So now we have a whole race of fey who are literally toxic to the traditional faeries (called the oldbloods), and they're on a mission to take over the Nevernever. So Meghan, who is derogatively called a half-breed (she's half fey, half human), is on a mission to save her half brother. Along the way, she learns that to save her brother, she pretty much has to kill the iron king and theoretically save the Nevernever. Not that this makes this a straightforward book. There are twists, back stories, promises made and memories given up. The book ends in a perfect lead in to the next book, called The Iron Daughter, which is up next.

Final thoughts, this is a fantastic book. For fans of the Wicked Lovely books, I think you'd enjoy this one. To anyone on the fence, you should head to your library and check it out.

Star Crossed by Elizabeth C. Brunce

What the back of the book says:
"High in the snow-covered mountains of Llyvraneth, in a castle full of the country's elite, Celyn Contrare serves as a lady-in-waiting to shy young Merista Nemair. Her days are spent dressing in velvet and brocade, attending Lady Merista, navigating court gossip, and charming noblemen over lavish feasts.
And at night, she picks locks, steals jewels, forges documents, and collects secrets. Because Celyn isn't really a lady-in-waiting; she's not even really Celyn Contrare. She's Digger, a sneak-thief on the run from the king's Inquisition, desperate to escape its cruel instrumentations and hatred of magic. If she's discovered, it will mean certain death...
...But life as a lady-in-waiting isn't safe either. The devious Lord Daul knows her secret, and he's blackmailing her to serve as his personal spy in the castle. What she discovers - about Daul, about the Nemair, even about her own Lady Merista - could signal civil war in Llyvraneth. And for a thief trained never to get involved, taking sides could be the most dangerous job yet."

What I have to say:
The title here implies romance, which I've already established as dangerous book territory for me. So it's a little surprising that, in this book, any romance ends in the first chapter after a robbery-gone-wrong. And now we have something different - a Young Adult book that manages to leave out the romance. And, even more interesting, it's good! Brunce has created a fascinating world full of politics, religion, and magic that it seems such a shame to only see this small portion of it. Of course, there is a sequel (Liar's Moon), but it's not out yet so I guess I'll wait to revist this world. But this book is great. The characters all have secrets and hidden alliances. There are plot twists and betrayals - some surprising, some not so much - and a main character who is level headed enough to see all of it.
So I guess the take-home message for this is that you should read it. If nothing else, you'll get to peek into a crazy-interesting imaginative world (with seven moons, if I remember correctly). Come November 1st, I'll be sure to pick up the sequel.

Elphame's Choice by P.C. Cast

What the back of the book says:
"I was marked from birth as belonging to the Goddess Epona--but that didn't make my life easy. Because of my "blessings," I was set apart, worshipped, unable to make real connections with others. Then came the Feeling, and with it a glimpse of my destiny. It led me to the MacCallen castle of legend, deserted since the terrible Fomorian war.

I followed the wordless call to breathe new life into a place long dead, but I didn't realize there were dark remnants of the war lingering in the nearby forest--victims and survivors who remained hidden. Others marked as different, powerful. Feared.

My choice was now twofold. I could keep to the happiness and safety of my newfound home, or I could choose a path that led to something more terrible, more dangerous, more thrilling than anything I'd ever expected.

And in that future I might never be alone again. . ."

What I have to say: I like it. It's not an overly complex book, and there are a few things that I was confused on, but it's a pretty good story. I've already read the second book (Brighid's Quest), which I liked better, but this isn't too bad. I'm a little bothered by my inability to imagine Elphame, though. She's half human, half centaur, and I can imagine a centaur. The thing that confuses me is that it seems like she's got two legs (like a human), only they're centaur legs. With the hooves. It seems like it would mess up her balance to me, is all. 
Other than that, I like the draw from Celtic mythology (Cuchulainn is the name of her brother, who is named after a hero) and the fact that Cast keeps her characters real. I think when you're writing a main character, it's really easy to create characters that are either unrealistically perfect or unrealistically flawed. (I feel kind of like her main character from the House of Night series, Zoey, could be in the 'too flawed' category) but Elphame seems very well balanced between the two. The end is kind of sad, but (as I've said), I've read "Brighid's Quest", which picks up where this ends, and together these books create a great story in the imaginary world of Parthalon.
P.C. Cast also endorses a unique relationship with nature (very 'wisewoman') and I can see the rituals maybe bothering some people (especially in the House of Night series). Personally, I wasn't bothered by it, but it almost seemed overdone.

Overall, a good book. If you're a huge fan of P.C. Cast, you'll probably love it. If you can't stand her books, you probably won't. If you've never read any of her books and you like fantasy, give it a shot.

The Runaway Princess by Christina Dodd

I'm just going to say it here, if anyone reading this is a romance novel kind of person, I apologize. I'll try to be fair, really!

What the back of the book says:

Masquerade

English orphan Miss Evangeline Scoffield has spent her life contenting herself with dreams. But with an unforseen inheritence, she can afford one perfect summer - a summer she will spend the rest of her life remembering. She buys herself expensive clothes, travels abroad, and presents herself as a lady of mystery.

Marriage

But she quickly discovers her mistake, for a darkly handsome man appears at her bedroom door, claiming to be a Crown Prince - and her fiance.

Or the Ever After of Her Dreams?

One look into her eyes, and the prince recognizes her. She is his bethrothed, the runaway Princess of Serephina. All her denials cannot change that, or alter the passion that burgeons between them. To fulfill their destinies, the prince will do anything - abduct her, coerce her, or, best of all, seduce his reluctant bride into his royal world of peril, promise and passion.

What I have to say about it:

First off, I don't really like romance novels. They're unrealistic and superficial and, more often than not, degrading. This one, not an exception. Danior (the Crown Prince of Baminia - one of the two imaginary kingdoms between Spain and France) is a complete jerk to her. But he's a prince, so of course he's a gentleman to everyone else. And they come across nuns as they travel who know she's not the princess, know she doesn't want to go with them, and they let Danior take her anyways. NUNS! My faith in the goodness of nuns has been shattered. But it was all part of a master plan of Santa Leopolda who made a prophesy about them 1,000 years ago, so that's why they let it happen. Rape is threatened on multiple occasions, which bothers me a lot, and Danior refers to sex as mating. Mating. How completely un-romantic. It reminds me of that one song, the "you and me baby ain't nothing but mammals so lets do it like they do on the discovery channel". Nasty. And when she lets it out that she loves him (which is obvious, it is a romance novel), he just smiles and says "Yes. That's what I wanted to hear." Ass. There is some attempt at having a plot, so kudos to that, but it's so unrealistic that I can't hardly stand it. Evangeline starts the book as a fairly independent woman (for the era), but Danior has decided that she has to  depend on him for everything...and she does. And it is good, because that is a woman's rightful place. There's a little bit of salvation at the end, which I won't reveal, but it didn't improve my opinion of romance novels at all. Don't get me wrong, I love a little romance in my novels, but this...it was fluff.

As I said before, I'm not a romance novel kind of girl, so if anyone reading this is, I admit my view is skewed. In that vein, I won't tell anyone not to read it, it's just not my thing.

Radiant Darkness by Emily Whitman

I tried to post this the other day, but I was having some issues with it, so here we go again!

What the back of the book says:
"He smiles."Hello."

It's a deep voice. I can feel it reverberate in my chest and echo all the way down to my toes.
 
I know I should leave, but I don't want to. I want to keep my senses like this forever. I'm all eye, all ear, all skin.
 
Persephone lives in the most gorgeous place in the world. But her mother's a goddess, as overprotective as she is powerful. Paradise has become a trap. Just when Persephone feels there's no chance of escaping the life that's been planned for her, a mysterious stranger arrives. A stranger who promises something more—something dangerous and exciting—something that spurs Persephone to make a daring choice. A choice that could destroy all she's come to love, even the earth itself.
In a land where a singing river can make you forget your very name, Persephone is forced to discover who—and what—she really is. "

 What I say about it:

I'm a complete sucker for mythology, especially Greek Mythology. And as far as re-writes of these myths, the Rape of Persephone is one of the most popular. I've even read a few (shocker, right?). This one was different. Persephone actually chooses to leave her mother behind, knowing full well that she's leaving with the god of the dead and will never come back. Not that she's really bothered at first, her mother's a bit of a nightmare. She's sad that she'll never see her friends again, but who cares? She's in love with Hades! And who can't really relate with that feeling? Unless you've never been in love, I guess. But then her mom loses it and starts this horrible drought that starves the mortals and then drowns the ones that are left and while Hades is happy about the extra business, Persephone is guilt-ridden. She finally realizes that her mother loves her and she's trying to rescue her. So when Zeus calls her back to Earth, she goes willingly (again knowing she may never come back-she has a hard time chosing what she wants) but Hades gets her to eat a pomegranate before she goes, binding her to the underworld.
In the end, Demeter understands that her daughter has grown up, and they reach a happy arrangement that Persephone lives with her husband for half the year (winter) and her mother the other half (summer). But us silly mortals got the story wrong about the "Persephone chose to leave" part, which is why we still refer to it as the Rape of Persephone.

I liked it. Persephone seems a little immature at time, like a child playing at being an adult, but I guess I would be too if my mom had locked me away for most of my life from almost all the world. Especially men. But what does bother me is it never explains why Demeter kind of treated Persephone like crap when she got older. My guess is jealousy as Persephone had inherited a lot of Demeter's power. Also of note, Hades sounds freaking hot. I would probably leave with him too if it came right now to it.
All-in-all, an enjoyable book, especially if you like mythology like I do. I would recommend it.

The Princess and the Bear by Mette Ivie Harrison

The Princess and the Bear is another young adult book. It looks like I've got a princess thing going right now...anyways. Review #2! This one I got through my local library from http://www.overdrive.com/, and read it on my Nook. So, on with the review!

What the back of the book says:

"He was once a king, turned into a bear as punishment for his cruel and selfish deeds.
She was a once a princess, now living in the form of a hound.
Wary companions, they are sent—in human form—back to a time when magic went terribly astray. Together they must right the wrongs caused by this devastating power—if only they can find a way to trust each other.
But even as each becomes aware of an ever-growing attraction, the stakes are rising and they must find a way to eliminate this evil force—or risk losing each other forever."

POSSIBLE SPOILER ALERT!!!!!

What I have to say about it:

Well, the first part was super confusing. I found out after finishing the book that there is a book that comes before it, The Princess and the Hound. Reading that first might have been a good idea. But anyways. So, there's this hound who was, for a short time, in the body of the princess but wasn't actually the princess. Then there's this bear, who used to be king about 200 years ago (a little Beauty and the Beast going on there, I think). So they're living in this forest and everythings ok. Suddenly, they come across this cat-man who is using unmagic to destroy the forest. One thing leads to another and now they're going 200 years back in time so the bear can right his wrongs and save the magic. And the hound is coming with him. Now I think the book picked up a little as they're both in human form and can actually talk! Interaction = interesting stuff. I don't want to give everything away, but the book increases (a little) in depth as there are two "wars" going on. Both wars end successfully and the magic is saved! I think, for me, the most interesting part of the book was the change that the bear-king goes through. He struggles with guilt and self-loathing for who he was 200 years ago (when he was King) and manages to move past it and make up for it, so we have a dynamic character here! The hound didn't do much for me, she was super selfless as all dogs supposedly are, but I'm a cat person myself. And as she mentions at one point, cats and hounds just can't live together. Or maybe understand each other. But it works for the purposes of the book, if she was a cat, this book would have been entirely different.

Another note, the author got a little bit gory describing the deaths of animals and people (I did say there was a war), but that could just be my squeamish nature. Besides all that, it's a decent book, and it talks a lot about the relationship between humans and animals, which is more of a theme than anything with magic. If you love nature, the magic will follow! Or, you should respect it because without nature, we won't survive. That sounds like a better theme.

Final thoughts: Nothing spectacular, but I enjoyed it. I wouldn't recommend it for a serious reader looking for the next Harry Potter, but anyone just looking for an easy read on a rainy day might look into it.

Aurelia by Anne Osterlund

So, my first review! I recently (i.e. yesterday) finished reading Aurelia, a young adult/independent reader book by Anne Osterlund.

What the back of the book says: "Aurelia, the crown princess of Tyralt, wants control over her own life. Robert, her former classmate, want Aurelia. And someone wants her...dead. There have been several narrowly escaped attempts to assassinate the princess, but the king has no desire to incite panic by making the information public. Instead, Robert, the song of the king's former royal spy, is allowed into the inner circle to secretly investigate and watch over Aurelia. Robert is determined to help, if only Aurelia would let him! But the princess will not heed the danger around her, and she does not need Robert to save her. Just as their friendship begins to grow into something more, the threat on Aurelia's life becomes paramount. With everything possible on the line - her life, her kingdom, her heart - Aurelia must take matters into her own hands, whatever the cost."

POSSIBLE SPOILER ALERT!!!!

What I have to say about it: Meh. It's okay, as a young adult book. For a young adult reader. It seems jumpy to me, like the author knows what she wants to happen, but kind of just makes it happen without much logic behind it. Or much lead up to it. It was a very shallow book, in my opinion. The characters themselves really seem to act their age (which is around 17ish). Robert bothers me for his lack of insight to his cousin's behavior. Especially at the end (major spoiler) when his cousin tells him this big important setup to reveal who the would-be assassin is has been pushed back an hour. Robert doesn't even wonder at it, he just accepts it! And of course, it's a lie and Aurelia almost ends up dead because of it. Seriously, Robert. You didn't even wonder about it? Or ask why she didn't send him a note, instead of a verbal message? I don't know, I guess that's what I would do. And Aurelia frustrates me. She seems to want the best for her country, but at the end she just walks away. Leaving the country in the (future) hands of the very person who tried to have her killed! Yes, that's exactly what's best for her country.

       In conclusion, it's not a bad book (for young adults), but it just wasn't a book I couldn't put down. I'm glad I only paid $1.50 for it at Borders (store closing sale, so sad!), because paying full price would have been a waste. If you want to read it, I'd suggest a library.

 I will say that this was Anne Osterlund's first book, so here's to hoping her future books only get better! As I'm sure they will, writing books takes a while to master! At least, that's what Castle said.

Welcome!

So, if you've stumbled upon this blog, then I hope you love books! And if you used StumbleUpon to get here, then even cooler! Basically, what you should know about me is I read a lot. Mostly fantasy, some science fiction, some general fiction, and a decent amount of Young Adult (because they're a lot more imaginative than most of the adult books!). And this blog is for me to share what books I've read and think are awesome. Also, if anyone reads this and wants to recommend a book for me to read, then do it!! I'm always on the look-out for new books to read.

Anyways, check back soon! I read fast, and books will be reviewed by me accordingly :)
Thanks for reading!!