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.