Defy

Debut author Sara B. Larson's Defy is the first of the series of the same name.

Alaxa Hollen is a fighter.  Forced to disguise herself as a boy and serve in the king's army, Alex uses her quick wit and fierce sword-fighting  to earn a spot on the elite prince's guard.  But when a powerful sorcerer sneaks into the palace in the dead of night, even Alex, who is virtually unbeatable, can't prevent him from abducting her, her fellow guard and friend Rylan, and Prince Damian, taking them through the treacherous wilds of the jungle and deep into enemy territory.

The longer Alex is held captive with both Rylan and the prince, the more she realizes that she is not the only one who has been keeping dangerous secrets. And suddenly, after her own secret is revealed, Alex finds herself confronted with two men vying for her heart: the safe and steady Rylan, who has always cared for her, and the dark, intriguing Damian.  With hidden foes lurking around every corner, is Alex strong enough to save herself and the kingdom she's sworn to protect?

The Breakdown:
1. If you, like myself, are a fan of Graceling and Throne of Glass series, you will like this book. Larson sets up a story with lots of action, secrets and a little bit of magic.  I liked that the setting of the two kingdoms, Antion's rain forest and Blevon's arid landscape, shows the contrast between the kingdoms that is reflected even in their leadership.

2.  Alaxa/Alex is my favorite type of heroine, strong and awesome. She does not need a man to save her.  She does have some serious emotional upheaval in her life with finding out the two guys she is attracted to know that she is a girl, and dealing with her role in saving Antion.

3. Damian is quite the enigmatic character.  When first introduced, he has a cold mask of indifference and appearance to be pampered, lazy prince.  When that mask starts slipping, he has so many secrets that learning who he really is takes the whole book. It will be interesting to see how he develops in the next book.

4. I loved that Rylan was so loyal to Alex.  He has a little bit of the boy next door vibe to him, but he is definitely capable of some serious angst moments.

5. With the way this book ended, it will be interesting to see where Larson takes this series since she resolved most of the major issues from this book.

To Read or Not to Read:
Read

Currently Reading:
Days of Blood & Starlight
by Laini Taylor

Shifting Shadows

Shifting Shadows is a collection of short stories from Patricia Briggs world of Mercy Thompson.  I have read a couple before, Seeing Eye and Alpha and Omega, so I will not be reviewing those.

Silver: Story of the first meeting between Samuel and Ariana.

The Breakdown:
1. I loved that in this story Briggs gives not only how Samuel and Ariana meet, but of Bran and Samuel's captivity with the witch, Bran's mother.

Fairy Gifts: Thomas, a vampire, saves a Fae and she repays him with a wonderful gift.  Years later he is able to repay her gift.

The Breakdown:
1.  Thomas is an interesting vampire, who is turned to be his father's enforcer in his beginning, and he ends up with interesting gifts because of his saving of a powerful Fae's daughter.

2. Proves once again that the Fae are untrustworthy, even when dealing with their own. It is always interesting to see how well an author can have the Fae avoid the truth without out right lying.

Gray: Elyna's Mistress is no longer living, and with the ties broken she returns home to Chicago and to memories of her life before being a vampire.

The Breakdown:
1. I loved this story because it shows that some vampires never wanted to be what they are. Elyna was taken and turned against her will, and missing nothing more than her life with Jack, her husband.

2. This story goes a long way to show that true love cannot be effected by evil.  Plus I love the love Elyna develops for those humans she considers family.

The Star of David: David confronts his past regrets as he comes to the aid of his daughter.

The Breakdown:
1. I like that this story explains why David hates being a werewolf so much.

2.  It is was touching to see the father and daughter rebuild the bonds that had been broken so many years before.

Roses in Winter: Kara's story after she moves to Montana to join the Marrok's pack.

The Breakdown:
1. I really likes Asil, the Moor, character in the Alpha and Omega series, and this story made me love him even more.  He is kind and patient with Kara, and I think she has given him something to live for despite his protest.

2.  I liked Kara's character.  She is a frightened child but she is determined too.  She has a way of worming her way not only into Asil's heart, but Bran, Leah, and Devon's too.

In Red, with Pearls: Story focused on Warren and Kyle.

The Breakdown:
1. This was probably my favorite story of the collection.  I have loved Warren since the beginning of the Mercy Thompson series, and I think he and Kyle make a fantastic couple.

2.  This story has a little bit of mystery to it which is always a plus.  And I think it goes a long way to in helping Warren and Kyle have a closer relationship.

Redemption: Ben's story and how he is changing since becoming part of Adam's pack.

The Breakdown:
1. Briggs has always hinted that Ben has had a rough past, and in this story she gives his story finally. Which honestly was a little darker than I had originally expected, but it explains so much about him.

2.  This story always show how he has changed since being with Adam.  He still very rough around the edges, but he is learning to protect others.

Hollow: Mercy is called to rid someone of a ghost haunting them.

The Breakdown:
1. I always love seeing Mercy at work with her senses and powers.  She has a big heart, and does what it takes to help.

2. I always love reading scenes with Mercy and Adam. They are one of my favorite couples because they are equals in their partnership.

Outtake from Silver Borne: Reunion between Samuel and Ariana.

The Breakdown:
1. Since Silver started this book, it was nice that Briggs came full circle with the reunion and rekindling of the relationship between Samuel and Ariana.

Outtake from Night Broken: Adam at the hospital with Mercy at the end

The Breakdown:
1. Loved the scene between Adam and Coyote where Coyote wants to know if Adam is brave enough for Mercy.

To Read or Not to Read:
Read

Currently Reading:
Defy
by Sara B. Larson

Sirensong

Sirensong by Jenna Black is the final book in her Faeriewalker series.

When Dana is invited to Faerie to be officially presented to the Seelie Court, it's no easy decision. After all, everyone knows Titania, the Seelie Queen, wants her dead.  But Titania claims not to be the one behind the death threats; and her son, Prince Henry, makes the decision a whole lot easier when he suggest Dana might be arrested for (supposedly) conspiring with her aunt Grace to usurp the Seelie throne.  So she and her father better do as they're told...

The journey through Faerie is long- and treacherous. Dana thought it would be a good idea to have friends along, but her sort-of-boyfriend, Ethan, and her bodyguard's son, Keane, just can't seem to get alone, and Kimber's crush on Keane isn't making things any easier.  When a violent attack separates Dana from their caravan, the sexy Erlking saves her just in the nick of time... and makes it clear that he hasn't given up on making her his own.

Arriving at Titania's beautiful palace should be a relief.  But Dana is soon implicated in an assassination attempt against Titania's granddaughter, and is suddenly a fugitive, forced to leave her father behind as she and her friends flee for their lives.  Will she be able to prove her innocence before the forces of the Seelie Court- or worse, the Erlking- catch up with her? And will she save her father before he pays the ultimate price in her stead.

The Breakdown:
1.  Black does a great job of concluding her Faeriewalker series in this book.  She does a great job of not only introducing Dana to Faerie, but in finally getting all Dana's secrets out that she has been keeping from her friends and family.

2. I still really like the Erlking.  While he definitely has his own agenda to keep, he never outright lies to Dana, and really does his best to protect her.

3. I really like that the relationship between Dana and her father continues to develop.  While he is very reserved at times in his feelings, I can tell he really loves her.  He does what he can to protector her, even when it could possibly cost him his life.

4. I like that Dana is slowly dealing with her trust issues.  She is learning what it means to be a true friend, and while she has some miss steps, she is starting to really get it by the end.

5.  I do like that this book did not magically solve all of Dana's problems, but resolved the major issues that the series presents. She still has to deal with her life as a Faeriewalker and a teenager with an alcoholic mother, but things are easier for her by the end.

To Read or Not to Read:
Read

Currently Reading:
Shifting Shadows
by Patricia Briggs

Heir of Fire

Heir of Fire is the latest Throne of Glass novel by Sarah J. Maas.  WARNING: If you have not read Crown of Midnight, do not read this review because there are spoilers for that book.

Lost and broken, Celaena Sardothien's only thought is to avenge the savage death of her dearest friend: as the King of Adarlan's Assassin, she is bound to serve this tyrant, but he will pay for what he did.  Any hope of Celaena has of destroying the king lies in the answers to be found in Wendlyn. Sacrificing his future, Chaol, the Captain of the King's Guard, has sent Celaena there to protect her, but her darkest demons lay in the same place.  If she can overcome them, she will be Adarlan's biggest threat- and his own toughest enemy.

While Celaena learns of her true destiny, and the eyes of Erilea are on Wendlyn, a brutal and beastly fore is preparing to take to the skies.  Will Celaena find the strength not only to win her own battles, but to fight a war that could pit her loyalties to her own people against those she has grown to love?

The Breakdown:
1. The Throne of Glass series is one of my favorite, and Maas did not disappoint with this installment of it.  There is lots of excitement and development for the characters in this book.  A couple of great twist, and just one more reason not to trust the Fae. Maeve is treacherous Faerie queen, and definitely has hidden agendas where Celaena is concerned.

2.  I loved that Celaena made some real character progress in this book. She finally deals with her past, and Maas does a great job of giving the story of her when she was just Princess Aelin, She, also, learns to accept who and what she is, and what she is meant to do.

3.  Choal, also, made some great progress in his book.  He has been struggling with knowing who and what Celaena is, and now knowing that Dorian has magic, how to protect him.  He seems so unsure, at first, where he will stand in the battle.  I was excited when he finally drew his line and picked where he stood.

4.  My heart breaks a little for Choal and Celaena as a couple.  It is obvious that they both care for each other so much, but they don't know how to deal with the secrets and truths revealed between them.  It will be interesting to see how things play out once they are reunited.

5. Maas introduce several new characters into this book.  Rowan, the Fae warroir prince, sent by Maeve to train Celaena.  At first he is so cold and cruel, but as he learns more of Celaena, he really starts to open up.  By the end, I simply adored his character, and what he means to Celaena.  Manon is a Ironteeth witch who has been recruited by the King of Adarlan to fly wyverns.  She is interesting in her fierceness, and cruel way of life, and it will be interesting to see what role she will play in future books and where she will fall once the true battle begins.   Then there is Aedion who is a general for the King of Adarlan, but happens to be Aelin's cousin and was to be her sworn sword.  He is playing a dangerous game, but I like his attitude and his determination to be by Aelin's side once more.

6. Oh, and the ending has me wanting the next book like yesterday. I can't believe the next book's title has not even been announced. I don't want to wait!

To Read or Not to Read:
Must Read

Currently Reading:
Sirensong
by Jenna Black

2 for 1 Nikki Glass

Pros and Cons by Jenna Black is a Nikki Glass novella.

As a living descendant of Artemis the Huntress, private investigator Nikki Glass knows how to track someone down- but this time, her latest case leads to unexpected revelations of lies and betrayal...

The Breakdown:
1. It was nice to see Nikki in a normal case in this story.  No descendants of gods, just your everyday humans with some dangerous secrets.

2. This story did give a little deeper glimpse of Jack, which it was nice to see beyond his trickster face.

To Read or Not to Read:
Read



Rogue Descendant by Jenna Black is her third Nikki Glass novel.

No longer the leader of the Olympians, Konstantin has now gone into hiding. Konstantin is vulnerable and Anderson believes now is the perfect time to destroy his nemesis.  He orders private eye Nikki Glass to use her powers to locate Konstantin, and she balks at the idea until a series of attacks leads her believe that Konstantin is gunning for her and Anderson instead of remaining safely in hiding.

Nikki's search is complicated by Cyrus- Konstantin's son and the new leader of the Olympians- who threatens retribution should his father be killed.  The complication mount up as Nikki begins to suspect that Konstantin might be behind the attacks after all.  The only person who hates Konstantin more than Anderson does is Anderson's estranged wife, Emma, who has joined the Olympians.  And Nikkie knows Emma would be more than happy if Anderson and his people embroil themselves in an all-out war against the Olympians- a war they cannot hope to win.

As Nikki tries to figure out who the true enemy is, she deals with her tumultuous relationship with Jamaal, who struggles to control his death magic.  But being loved by a descendant of a death goddess is the least of Nikki's worries...

The Breakdown:
1.  Black does an excellent job of keeping me guessing during the story.  There are several twist that it is shocking when the culprit behind everything is finally revealed.

2.  I like that there was some quality Nikki-Jamaal time. It is nice to see them getting closer, even if Jamaal continues to fight the attraction.

3. I did feel that Nikki character developed was a little stalled in this book.  She continues to battle her issues with abandonment, and holding those who love her at arms length without really making any progress.

4. I have searched Black's website and Goodreads, and I can find no news of the next book.  I sure hope this is not the end because it leaves too many things unresolved, like Nikki and Jamaal's relationship and the impact of what happened at the end and what it has to do with Anderson's secret.

To Read or Not to Read:
If there are not plans for more Nikki Glass novels, Skip it.

Currently Reading:
Heir of Fire
by Sarah J. Maas

Bonus Book: Daughter of Smoke & Bone

Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor is the first of the trilogy of the same name which I listen to on my recent trip to Raleigh.

Around the world, black handprints are appearing on doorways, scorched there by winded strangers who have crept through a slit in the sky.

In a dark and dusty shop, a devil's supply of human teeth grown dangerously low.

And in the tangled lanes of Prague, a young art student is about to be caught up in a brutal otherworldly war.

Meet Karou. She fills her sketchbooks with monsters that may or may not be real; she's prone to disappearing on mysterious "errands"; she speaks many languages-- not all of them human; and her bright blue hair actually grows out of her head that color.  Who is she? That is question that haunts her, and she's about to find out.

When one of the strangers-- beautiful haunted Akiva-- fixes his fire- colored eyes on her in an alley in Marrakesh, the results is blood and starlight, secrets unveiled, and star-crossed love whose roots drink deep of a violent past. But will Karou live to regret learning the truth about herself?

The Breakdown:
1.  Like Karou, Taylor is an artist, but she uses words instead of drawings.  She creates such vivid imagery with her descriptions. I can picture the elegance of old city Prague, and the vibrancy of the Marrakesh market place.  I can easily conjure the imagine of the monstrous beauty of the Chimaera, and the inhuman and hard beauty of the Seraphim.

2.  Karou is wonderfully talented, and entertainingly smart and sardonic.  She quest for what most people want, a place that she belongs, to know who she is. I think she is one of the most well written characters in YA fiction.  Taylor develops her so thoroughly that I really feel like she a personal friend.

3. I simply adore Karou's best friend, Zuzana.  She is proof that great things come in small packages.  She is caring and loyal to Karou, despite Karou's many secrets.  She supports Karou through her darkest hour.  She got such a fantastic attitude and personality that I found myself laughing in many of the scenes she is in.

4. Then there is Akiva, who is the very definition of a tortured beauty. It was amazing how Taylor takes him from a soulless warrior who feels so little, to a character that feels too much.

5. I have not been writing reviews of my audio-books recently, but this one was so amazing I had to share my thoughts on it. Taylor unfolds this story so well. The journey from Karou's naive life to one that is full of knowledge of who she is, and Akiva with his determination.  Karou and Akiva's pull toward each other was so beautiful. Plus what is learned at the end has me wanting to know so much more, and how their story will play out.

6. My only disappointment is learning that The Poison Kitchen in not a real cafe in Prague. Because I would eat at a place like that in a heartbeat.

To Read or Not to Read:
Must Read

Gilded

Debut author Christina Farley's Gilded is the first book in her series of the same name.

Sixteen-year-old Jae Hwa Lee is a Korean-American girl with a black belt, a deadly proclivity with steel-tipped arrows, and a chip on her shoulder the size of Korea itself.  When her widowed dad uproots her to Seoul from her home in L.A., Jae thinks her biggest challenges will be fitting in to a new school and dealing with her dismissive Korean grandfather.  Then she discovers that a Korean demi-god, Haemosu, has been stealing the soul of the oldest daughter of each generation in her family for centuries. And she's next.

But that's not Jae's only problem.

There's also Marc. Irresistible and charming, Marc threatens to break the barriers around Jae's heart. As the two grow closer, Jae must decide if she can trust him. But Marc has a secret of his own- one that could help Jae overturn the curse on her family for good.  It turns out that Jae's been wrong about a lot of  things: her grandfather is her greatest ally, even the tough girl can fall in love, and Korea might just be the home she's always been looking for.

The Breakdown:
1. Farley makes a wonderful mix of today's Korean culture and the Korean mythology. I really loved the mythological aspect of this book. It was so beautifully written that I could believe that the myths of old have no problem coming to life in the modern day Korea. This makes me want to visit Korea, now.

2. Jae is one bad-ass girl, black belt in Tae Kwon Doe and an expert archer with the Korean Horn Bow. Girl can take care of herself which I love in my heroines.  She can be funny at times, and she is loyal to her family and friends. I was pleasantly surprised at how quickly she accepted what was happening to her. Farley could have easily made the story drag with Jae coming to grips of the myths becoming reality.

3. I was slightly disappointed with the character of Marc.  Don't get me wrong, he seems like a great guy, but I felt like Farley needed to develop him more.  Farley makes him smart, and he cares about Jae, but I feel like he need some more substance to him.  I do hope that Farley continues to explore his character in future books.

4.  I am excited to see where the rest of this series goes. Farley has hinted that Jae is more than a normal girl, and that the Spirit world of Korea is not done with her yet.

To Read or Not to Read:
Read

Currently Reading:
Rogue Descendant
by Jenna Black

The Rift Walker

The Rift Walker by Clay and Susan Griffith is the second of their Vampire Empire trilogy.

Princess Adele struggles with a life of marriage and obligation as her Equatorian Empire and their American Republic allies stand on the brink of war against the vampire clans of the north.  However, the alliance's horrific strategy for total victory drives Adele to abandon her duty and embark on a desperate quest to keep her nation from staining its hands with genocide.  Reunited with her great love, the mysterious adventurer known to the world as the Greyfriar, Adele is pursued by her own people as well as her vengeful husband, senator Clark.  With the human alliance in disarray, Prince Cesare, lord the British vampire clan, seizes the initiative and strikes at the very heart of Equatoria.

As Adele labors to bring order to her world, she learns more about the strange powers she exhibited in the north.  Her teacher, Mamoru, leads a secret cabal of geomancers who believe Adele is the one who can touch the vast power of the Earth that surges through ley lines and wells up at the rifts where the lines meet. These energies are key to defeating the enemy of mankind, and if Princess Adele could ever bring this power under her command, she could be the death to vampires.  But such a victory will also cost the life of Adele's beloved Greyfriar.

The Breakdown:
1.  In this book, the Griffiths throw in some pretty great twist.  Not all the characters' allegiances are where they are suspected to be. Plus, this book travels down the Nile to some pretty cool places.

2. Adele certainly comes into her own in this book.  Not only is she gaining better control and understanding of her powers, but she truly becomes a leader to her people.  I do feel bad for her at times, because it seems like almost everyone close to her wants to use her for some sort of gain of their own.

3. I have to say that this book seem to drag a bit at times, which made it harder for me to get through. I did love the Greyfriar/Adele reunion. It was quite the romantic hero gesture.

4. This book does have me wanting to know more about Adele's mother. She inspired such loyalty in both Anhalt and Mamoru.  How much did she know about her daughter's destiny before she died?

To Read or Not to Read:
Read

Currently Reading:
Gilded
by Christina L. Farley

The Scorch Trials

The Scorch Trials is the second book of James Dashner's The Maze Runner series.

Solving the Maze was supposed to be the end.

Thomas was sure the escape from the Maze would mean freedom for him and the Gladers.  But WICKED isn't done yet. Phase Two has just begun. The Scorch

There are no rules. There is no help. You either make it or you die.

The Gladers have two weeks to cross through the Scorch- the most burned out section of the world. And WICKED has made sure to adjust the variables and stack the odds against them.

Friendships will be tested. Loyalties will be broken. All bets are off.

There are others now. Their survival depends on the Gladers's destruction- and they're determined to survive.


The Breakdown:
1. First off, the Scorch makes the Glade and the Maze look like a garden party. The sun is intense, the storms are killer, and then there are the Cranks.  Cranks are the victims of the Flare disease, and as the disease progresses, the crazier they get.  Dashner, also, explains what happened to to world to make it what is in the books.

2.  This book definitely kept me guessing right up to the very end. Who are the girls or Group B? What is the meaning of the mysterious tattoos and signs, and what is WICKED's plan for the groups?  Even the ending left me with lots of questions, and I can't wait to read the next book.

3. Poor Thomas in this book.  His life is so confusing, not only is he trying to figure out what is going on, but he has to do it all while trying to survive the Scorch Trial.  Then there is the fact that Teresa has been ripped away from him both physically and telepathically. Oh, and he is having dreams of his past.

To Read or Not the Read
Read

Currently Reading:
The Rift Walker
by Clay Griffith and Susan Griffith

Shadowspell

Shadowspell by Jenna Black is the second book in her Faeriewalker series.

On top of spending most her time in a bunker-like safe house and having her dates hijacked by a formidable Fae bodyguard, Faeriewalker Dana Hathway is in for some more bad news: the Erlking and his pack of murderous minions known as the Wild Hun have descended upon Avalon.  With his homicidal appetite and immortal powers, the Erlking have long been the nightmare of the Fae realm.

A fragile treaty with the Faerie Queen, sealing with a mysterious spell, is the one thing that keeps him from hunting unchecked in Avalon, the only place on Earth where humans and Fae live together.  Which means Dana's in trouble, since it's common knowledge that the Faerie Queen wants her- and her rare Faeriewalker powers- dead. The  smoldering, sexy Erlking's got his sights set on Dana, but does he only seek to kill her, or does he have something much darker in mind?

The Breakdown:
1.  Black continues the story of Dana in Shadowspell, along with expanding with Faerie world and Avalon. This book adds in the danger of the Wild Hunt, something even the Sidhe queens are afraid of.

2. For Dana, she still struggling with all that being a Faeriewalker means, especially since she has some unexpected powers.  She has trouble trusting those around her, and it is no wonder since everyone seems to have lied to her at some point. She does manage to get herself into trouble with her independent streak.

3. So I know the Erlking is suppose to be quite the bad guy, but I can't help liking him. While he does not tell Dana everything, he does not lie to her like many of those around her, including her dad and Ethan.  Plus there is something hot about his bad boy image.

4. Erlking and Dana come to quite the interesting deal.  I can't wait to see how things will play out in the next book, and what it will mean for her relationship with Ethan, and others.

To Read or Not to Read:
Read

Currently Reading:
The Scorch Trials
by James Dashner

The Assassin's Blade

The Assassin's Blade by Sarah J. Maas is a series of Novellas that are prequels to Throne of Glass.

Celaena Sardothien is Adarlan's most feared assassin. As part of the Assassin's Guild her allegiance is to her master, Arobynn Hamel, yet Celaena listens to no one and trusts only her fellow killer-for-hire, Sam.  In these action-packed novellas, Celaena embarks on five daring missions. They take her from remote islands to hostile deserts, where she fights to liberate slaves and seeks to avenge the tyrannous. But she is acting against Arobynn's orders and could suffer an unimaginable punishment for such treachery. Will Celaena ever be truly free?

The Breakdown:
1. Maas novellas tell the story of the events that lead up to Celaena's betrayal and imprisonment in Endovier. The novellas have some great action, and interesting twist to them, and go a long way to explaining Celaena's motivations in the Throne of Glass series.

2. These stories give the first hint of the kindness that Celaena has underneath her tough assassin exterior. It is interesting to watch her deal with her feelings for Sam, and how awkward she is in admitting her connection to him.

3. Speaking of Sam, I simply adored him. He is sweet, and does so much for Celaena, even when she has no idea about his feelings for her. It is no wonder that Celaena falls for him, and once Throne of Glass starts is still dealing with what happened.

4. In one of the stories, gives the first covert glimpse of Prince Dorian and Choal.  Although their names are never said, but the attitudes and actions make it pretty obvious it is them.

5.In the last story, Maas tells how Celaena was betrayed, by who, and why. It will be interesting to see if the things that happened in this story, and the others will end of playing a role in the rest of the series.

To Read or Not to Read:
Read

Currently Reading:
Shadowspell
by Jenna Black

Son of No One

Son of No One by Sherrilyn Kenyon is the newest  Dark Hunter novel.

It's not easy being life's own personal joke, but Josette Landry has made an unstable peace with the beast.  Life will continue to throw every bad thing it has at her, and she will continue to not put her head in an oven.  But that's okay.  That which doesn't kill her will just require a few hours of mental insanity.  Completely down on her luck, Josette takes a job with a local paranormal group trying to get their own cable show as a photographer and camerawoman.  Yeah, they're even crazier than she is.  The only paranormal thing she believes in is the miracle that keeps her rusted out hoopty running. But when her group accidentally releases something truly evil into the world, they are forced to call in reinforcement.

From the moment Josette meets Cadegan, she knows something about him isn't quite right.  And it's not just because can't even begin to pronounce his last name: Maboddimun.  Mysterious and armed with lethal sarcasm, she seems a lot older than his apparent age...

Centuries ago, Cadegan was viciously betrayed into an immortal prison by the only person he'd ever trusted.  Forced against his will to do good, he hates everything in life.  All he wants is a way out.  But for the damned there is only eternal suffering.  And yet, there is something about Josette that intrigues him.  Something he can't seem to fight and the last time he felt this way about a woman, it cost him everything.

He knows he has to stay away from her, but the unleashed demon is hellbent on consuming her soul.  If one more innocent is taken, he will be sent back to an unimaginable prison that makes his current hell look like paradise. But how can he keep her sage when his being with her is the greatest threat of all?

The Breakdown:
1. This is not my favorite of Kenyon's Dark Hunter books.  I felt like that Kenyon used some strange plot device in this story, like the whole body-switch between Josette and Cadegan.  It was really confusing to read.

2.  I did enjoy the banter between Cadegan and Josette.  They have several misunderstandings due to the difference in the vernacular.

3. Kenyon left a lot of lose ends in this book. The one that annoyed me the most was the scene where Artemis visits Cadegan and Josette. Almost nothing that she said to them was explained, and it left me with a lot of questions.

To Read or Not to Read:
Read, mainly because I think that some stuff revealed in this book,  and the unanswered questions might become important later in the series.

Currently Reading:
The Assassin's Blade
by Sarah J. Maas

The Young World

Debut author Chris Wietz's The Young World is the first book in the trilogy of the same name.

After a mysterious Sickness wipes out the rest of the population, the young survivors assemble into tightly run tribes.  Jefferson, the reluctant leader of the Washington Square tribe, and Donna, the girl he's secretly in love with, have carved out a precarious existence among the chaos. But when another tribe member discovers clue  that may hold the cure to the Sickness, five teens set out on a life-altering road trip to save humankind.

The tribe exchanges gunfire with enemy gangs, escapes cults and militias, braves the wilds of the subway and Central Park... and discovers truths they could never have imagined.

The Breakdown:
1. I love post-apocalyptic worlds, especially when the apocalypse was created by a mysterious disease. The Sickness kills children and adults, but teens appear immune to it.  A world run by teenagers certainly makes for one scary scenario.  The way that tribes are assembled reminds me a little of the different sects of people in Mullin's Ashfall series.

2. Weitz has duel narrators for the story in Jefferson and Donna, which makes for a very interesting combination.  Jackson is very cultured and more of an optimist. He chapters are more prose like, and he wonders about the deeper meaning of things.  He is not what I think of as your average teenager in his thoughts. Donna is more of a realistic, and calls things like she sees them in her chapters.

3. I liked the pop culture references strewn throughout the book, and like the idea that things like that continue on ever after the apocalypse.  A personally favorite was the reference that both Jefferson and Donna made to The Mixed-Up Files of  Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, which was one of my favorite childhood books.

4. Weitz did a great job of making some pretty scary tribes in this world.  Their were the creepy cannibalistic librarians and the drug crazed teeny boppers.  I think for me that the scariest of all where the Uptowners, who tried to outwardly present a picture of culture and society structure, but were committing racial genocide and participating in the sex trade.

5. The ending left me with some many questions.  The next book cannot come soon enough.

To Read or Not to Read:
Read

Currently Reading:
Son of No One
by Sherrilyn Kenyon

Bonus Post: Stay with Me

The latest book in J. Lynn's Wait for You series is Stay with Me.

At 21, Calla hasn't done a lot of things.  She's never been kissed, never seen the ocean, never gone to an amusement park.  But growing up, she witnessed some things no child ever should. She still carries the physical and emotional scars of living with a strung-out mother, Mona- secrets she keeps from everyone, including her close circle of college friends.

But the safe cocoon Calla has carefully built is shattered when she discovers her mom has stolen her college money and run up a huge credit card debt in her name.  Now, Calla has to go back to the small town she thought she'd left behind and clean up her mom's mess again.  Of course, when she arrives at her mother's bar, Mona is nowhere to be found.  Instead, six feet of hotness named Jackson James is pouring drinks and keeping the place humming.

Sexy and intense, Jax is in Calla's business from the moment they meet, giving her a job and helping her search for Mona.  And the way her looks at her makes it clear he wants to get horizontal... and maybe something more.  Before Calla can let him get close, though, she got to deal with the pain of the past- and some very bad guys out to mess her up if she doesn't give them her mom.

The Breakdown:
1. I was surprised that this book was not a Calla-Brandon book, but I really liked the character of Jax. I thought that Calla and Jax made a good pair.  Both understood losing a loved one to tragedy, and both carried the scars from it.

2. This book explains Calla's scars both physical and emotional, and the reason she let her friends think that her mother was dead. Calla has had some seriously messed up stuff in her past.  It is amazing how capable and strong she has become, but is no wonder she has a wall up around her heart.

3. Jax was a tough guy with a good heart. He genuinely cares for those who work with him.  He takes care of Calla even when she being super stubborn about having help.

4. I loved the character of Katie, a stripper with psychic abilities.  She is hilarious with her attitude and her outfits.

5. It was interesting to watch the interactions between Roxy and Reece.  There is definitely a past there, and it looks like the next book will be all about them.

To Read or Not to Read:
Read

Prisoner of Night and Fog

Prisoner of Night and Fog by debut author Anne Blankman is the first book of her historical fiction series of the same name.

In 1930s Munich danger lurks behind dark corners, and secrets are buried deep withing the city.  But Gretchen Muller, who grew up in the National Socialist Party under the wing of her "uncle" Dolf, has been shielded from that side of society even since her father traded his life for Dolf's, and Gretchen is his favorite, his pet.

Uncle Dolf is non other than Adolf Hitler.  And Gretchen follows his every command.

Until she meets a fearless and handsome young Jewish reporter named Daniel Cohen.  Gretchen should despise Daniel, yet she can't stop herself from listening to his story: that her father the adored Nazi martyr was actually murdered by an unknown comrade.  She also can't help the fierce attraction brewing between them, despite everything she's been taught to believe about Jews.

As Gretchen investigates the very people she's always considered friends, she must decide where her loyalties lie. Will she choose the safety of her former life as a Nazi darling, or will she dare to dig up the truth- even if it could get her and Daniel killed?

The Breakdown:
1. Blankman takes on a tremendous task of writing a historical fiction set during the rise of the Nazi party, and does an excellent job of it.  She does an amazing job of capturing the mood in Munich during this time, both the fear in the Jewish community, and optimism of the Nazi, and tensions between the the Nazis and the Communist.

2. Gretchen is a smart and kind character.  She shows kindness to a Jew at the beginning, which goes against everything she has been taught.  She finds the courage to question everything she has been taught in a time when questions had fatal consequences. She has been the darling girl of the Nazi party, but she does not lose her humanity, and she learns to see past their teachings and fall for the "enemy."

3. Daniel is an extremely courageous character.  He is a young Jewish man, and even knowing the risk of opposing the Nazi party, he continues to report the truth because he believes in doing what is right. He takes a big risk when he see something more in Gretchen and confides in her despite her status in the Nazi party.

4.  For me, Reinhard, Gretchen's brother was a terrifying character. It is clear from the beginning that there is off about him.  He is cruel and enjoys tormenting others. It is scary knowing the kind of people the Nazis attracted to their cause.

To Read or Not to Read:
Must Read

Currently Reading:
The Young World
by Chris Weitz

Deadly Descendant

Deadly Descendant by Jenna Black is the second book in her Nikki Glass series.

As a living descendant of Artemis the Huntress, private investigator Nikki Glass knows how to track someone down.  But when an Oracle shows up, warning the Descendants about wild dog attacks in Washington, D.C. Nikki is afraid it might be a trap.  The Olympians believe the "dogs" are really jackals controlled by a blood-crazed descendant of the Egyptian death-god Anubis.  Whatever...If Nikki hopes to muzzel Dogboy, she's got to catch him in the act. But when she stakes out a local cemetery, she ends up face-to-snout with a snarling pack of shadow-jackals whose bite is worse than their bark.  These hellhounds are deadly-- even for an immortal like Nikki.  "Dog" spelled backward my be "god," but that won't stop Nikki from teaching these old gods some new tricks. Like playing dead.

The Breakdown:
1.  In this book Black gets deeper into the world of the Descendants, and she really shows that the Olympians are a cruel lot.  I like that she continues to explore the powers of the Descendants in this book, and even show that older ones don't know everything about their power.

2. I am a fan of this budding relationship between Nikki and Jamaal.  Despite their very rough start, I have a feeling they could be good for each other.  Each knows their pain of rejection from a parent, and both have some pretty thick defenses.

3, Speaking of Jamaal. I loved learning about his past.  That poor guy has had quite the life, and it has left some marks on him.

4.  Anderson's wife, Emma, is not only crazy from her ordeal with the Olympians, she is raving bitch.  She is definitely making things more difficult for Nikki to settle into being a Descendant.  Plus what she does at the end is not only horrible to Anderson and Nikki, but I think is going to have some serious effect on the next book.

5. Learned in this book that the virus that causes rabies, the Lyssa virus, is named after the Greek spirit of madness/rage.

To Read or Not to Read:
Read

Currently Reading:
Prisoner of Night and Fog
by Anne Blankman

2 for 1 Revenants

Die for Her is a novella by Amy Plum from her Revenants series.

Jules Marchenoir is a revenant- an undead being whose fate forces him to sacrifice himself over and over again to save human lives. He's spent the better part of the last century flirting his way through Paris, but when he met Kate Mercier, he knew his afterlife had changed forever and he had found the love of his life.  Until Kate fell for his best friend, Vincent.  Now Jules is faced with an impossible decision: choosing between his loyal friend and a love truly worth dying for.

The Breakdown:
1. I loved this short story from Jules perspective. It follows Jules from the beginning of Die for Me to the start of If I should Die. I loved that in this story. Plum showed when Jules and Vincent first saw Kate, even if she did not notice them and how strong the friendship between Jules and Vincent is.

2. I find Jules simply adorable.  I loved his personality.  He was a hopeless flirt, but a loyal friend.  I liked being able to watch as he slowly falls for Kate. I really want to give Jules a big hug because the poor boy is totally gone for Kate, who only sees him as a friend.

To Read or Not to Read:
Read



If I Should Die is the final book of Amy Plum's Revenants trilogy.

I will not lose another person I love. I will not let history repeat itself.

Vincent waited lifetimes to find me, but in an instant our future together was shattered.  He was betrayed by someone we both called a friend, and I lost him. Now our enemy is determined to rule over France's  immortals, and willing to wage a war to get what they want.

It shouldn't be possible, none of it should be, but this is my reality.  I know Vincent is somewhere out there, I know he's not completely gone, and I will do anything to save him.

After what we've already fought to achieve, a life without Vincent is unimaginable.  He once swore to avoid dying- to go against his nature forsake sacrificing himself for other- so that we could be together. How can I not risk everything to bring my love back to me?

The Breakdown:
1.  Plum ended this trilogy beautifully.  She did an excellent job answering any lingering questions. She through a couple of unexpected twist into it, and expanded more on what the Champion is capable of doing.

2. I do have to admit that I had an inkling of who the Champion was in the last book. There were in definitely clues, and in this book she gives clues that it becomes very apparent in the first half of the book who the Champion is.

3. I simply love Kate as the herione.  She is strong, and does not give up on what she wants even when it seem impossible to obtain. She refuses to let Violette rule her life, and end everything she has with Vincent.  It is her courage and determination that saves them and rekindles the Revenant and guerisseur  relationship.

4. I found Georgia simply charming in this book.  She is such a great supporting character, and a wonderful sister.  Her flirtations and playing hard to get with Arthur were highly entertaining.

5. The final showdown between the Bardia and the Numa was pretty epic. Kate was amazing in it, and support she brought was awesome. I did shed a couple of tears over some of the losses in the fight.

To Read or Not to Read:
Must Read

Currently Reading:
Deadly Descendant
by Jenna Black

Ali's Pretty Little Lies

Ali's Pretty Little Lies is the prequel to Sara Shepard's Pretty Little Liars series.

Before there was A, there was Alison DiLaurentis.  Boys wanted to date her, girls wanted to be her, and somebody wanted her dead...

It's the end of seventh grade, and Alison DiLaurentis and her friends are the girls of Rosewood Day.  Ali runs the clique with an iron fist, and she's got enough dirt on Hanna, Emily, Aria, and Spencer to keep them in line.  But Ali's hiding a dark secret of her own, something so huge it would destroy everything if it got out.  She's desperate to keep the perfect life she's worked so hard to build, but in Rosewood deadly secrets have deadly consequences...

Set in the weeks leading up to Ali's murder, this special Pretty Little Liars tale is told by the prettiest little liar of all: Ali herself.  For the first time ever, we see how the mystery began... and how Alison DiLaurentis's life ended.

The Breakdown:
1.  This book is a complex tangle of lies that Ali has carefully placed to keep her perfect life.  She finds out secrets about her friends, and holds it over them to keep them close.  She sits up blackmail situations for them.  She really is a horrible person.  I am honestly not even a little sad when she dies at the end.

2. As much as Ali loves knowing others secrets, it is her that is keeping the biggest secret of all.  She is not who she says she is.  And in becoming Ali, she becomes the person she hates the most.

3.  I just don't think I can continue reading this series.  All the lies, backstabbing, and manipulations gets old real quick. I just don't find myself liking the characters, and most of the time when bad things happen to them, I don't feel sorry for them at all.

To Read or Not to Read:
Don't Bother

Currently Reading:
If I Should Die
by Amy Plum

Dark Descendant

Dark Descendant by Jenna Black is the first of her Nikki Glass novels.

Nikki Glass can track down any man. But when her latest client turns out to be a true descendant of Hades, Nikki now discovers she can't die...

Crazy as it sounds, Nikki's manhunting skills are literally god-given.  She's a living, breathing descendant of Artemis who has stepped right into a trap set by the children of the gods.  Nikki's new "friends" include a descendant of Eros, who uses sex as a weapon; a descendant of Loki, whose tricks are no laughing matter; and a half-mad descendant of Kali who thinks she's a spy.

But most powerful of all are the Olympians, a rival clan of immortals seeking to destroy all Descendants who refuse to bow down to them.  In the eternal battle of good god/bad god, Nikki would make a divine weapon.  But if they think she'll surrender without a fight, the gods must be crazy...

The Breakdown:
1. Black writes an interesting twist on of old mythologies in this book.  The Old gods have left, but they gave their descendants a gift which has some nasty twist to inheriting it. Not all their descendants agree on how things so be run, and there is a war brewing between the factions.

2. Nikki is a woman who had a rough childhood bouncing from foster home to foster home until the Glass's took her in.  She is close to her adaptive sister, Steph, and is a damn good PI. She is thrown in to this crazy world of the Descendants, where everyone seems against her.  The Olympians want to use her to track down innocent the descendants, and the other Descendants think she is a spy. She is smart and resourceful, and learns to harness the power of Artemis without others help to prove her loyalties, and she still has protect her sister from threats.

3. Anderson, the leader of Descendants, is man of mystery.  He seems so easy going at times, but there is something darker simmering under his surfaces.  He has some pretty big secrets and is more than what he seems.

4. I found it interesting the Descendant that Nikki feels more drawn to, Jamaal, is the one that hates her. Jamaal is unstable at the best of times, and completely psycho at his worst. He has some serious anger management issues. I an interested to see where Black will take their relationship as the series progresses.

To Read or Not to Read:
Read

Currently Reading:
Ali's Pretty Little Lies
by Sara Shepard

Falls the Shadow

Falls the Shadow is by debut author Stefanie Gaither.

When Cate Benson was a kid her sister, Violet, died.  Two hours after the funeral, Cate's familt picked up Violet's replacement.  Like nothing had happened.  Because Cate's parents are among those who decided to give their children a sort of immortality- by cloning them at birth- which means this new Violet has the same smile. The same perfect face. Thanks to advancements in mind-uploading technology, she even has all the same memories as the girl she replaced.

She also might have murdered the most popular girl in school.

At least, that's what the paparazzi and the anti-cloning protestors want everyone to think: that clones are violent, unpredictable monsters. Cate is used to hearing all that.  She's used to defending her sister, too.  But Violet has vanished, and when Cate sets out to find her, she ends up in the line of fire instead.  Because Cate is getting dangerously close to secrets that will rock the foundation of everything she thought was true.

The Breakdown:
1. I loved this book! It is a beautifully written dystopian thriller that the topic it addresses in human cloning is still relevant in current society. Gaither does a great job of make this world different from ours, but at the same time addresses things we worry about like biological warfare and environmental impact of society.

2. The thriller aspect of this book kept me on the edge of my seat. Gaither kept me guessing on who was trustworthy, and what everyone's end game was. Not everyone's motives are what they seem on the surface.

3. Cate is such a wonderful character.  As much as she tries to blend into the background in the beginning, it is easy to see she is a standout character. While she never accepts Violet's replacement is the same as the original, she still loves her and defends her. She risk so much to help Violet, and even goes so far to push the boy she likes away to be a good sister.

4. Speaking of the boy, Jaxon, he obviously has strong feelings for Violet, but he is still dealing with the beliefs he was raised on.  Despite that, he does help Violet, and is trying to figure out what is right and wrong without his mother's influence. Probably my favorite scene is when he comforts Cate after her first confrontation with Violet.

5. Violet is an interesting mix of strength and vulnerability.  She is physically superior to normal humans, but she is vulnerable emotionally.  She wants so much for Cate to love her, and for them to be close as they were in the memories from the original Violet.  She wants to protect Cate, despite what orders she has been given.

To Read or Not to Read:
Must Read

Currently Reading:
Dark Descendant
by Jenna Black

Glimmerglass

Glimmerglass by Jenna Black is the first book in her Faeriewalker series.

It's all she's ever wanted to be, but it couldn't be further from her grasp...

Dana Hathaway doesn't know it yet, by she's in big trouble.  When her alcoholic mom shows up at her voice recital drunk, again, Dana decides she's had enough and runs away to find her mysterious father in Avalon: the only place on Earth where the regular, everyday world and the captivating, magical world of Faerie intersect.  But from the moment Dana sets foot in Avalon, everything goes wrong, for it turns out she's isn't just an ordinary teenage girl, she's a Faeriewalker, a rare individual who can travel between both worlds, and the only person who can bring magic into the human world and technology into Faerie.

Dana finds herself tangled up in a cutthroat game of Fae politics.  Someone's trying to kill her, and everyone seems to want something from her, from her new-found friends and family to Ethan, the hot Fae guy Dana figures she'll never have a chance with... until she does.  Caught between two worlds, Dana isn't sure where she'll ever fit in and who can be trusted, not to mention if her world will ever be normal again.

The Breakdown:
1. I really liked this world Black created in Avalon where the human and Fae worlds collide. Black does go a bit against convention in that her Fae are able to outright lie. I loved the intrigue that Black adds with Fae politics both with the political power struggle in Avalon, and the parties wanting Dana dead.

2. Dana is an interesting dichotomy of human and fae, plus the struggle of being the responsible adult for years, and yet still longing to be the child. At times Black illustrates the struggle she has between being the one to take of everyone, and now having someone take care of her. I loved seeing her open up to Kimber, and I hope to have more interactions between them in series.

3. Kimber and Ethan are an interesting sibling pair. The tension that has built between them because of Ethan's gifts with magic is palpable at times. I really liked Kimber once her personality showed through the tension, and she appears to be a good friend to Dana. Ethan is the sibling I am less sure of his goals with Dana.  He does seem to genuinely like her, but I question if that is enough to keep him from using her for his plans.

4. There were some great developments and discovers made by Dana and her powers in this book, and it will be interesting to see how Black grows them in future books.

To Read or Not to Read:
Read

Currently Reading:
Falls the Shadow
by Stefanie Gaither

Crown of Ice

Debut author Vicki L. Weavil's Crown of Ice is a re-telling of the story of the Snow Queen.

Thyra Winther is seventeen, the Snow Queen, and immortal, but if she can't reassemble a shattered enchanted mirror by her eighteenth birthday she's doomed to spend eternity as a wraith. Armed with magic granted by a ruthless wizard, Thyra schemes to survive with her mind and body intact.  Unencumbered by kindness, she kidnaps local boy, Kai Thorsen, whose mathematcial skills rival her own. Two logical minds, Thyra calculates, are better than one. With time rapidly melting away she needs all the help she can steal.  A cruel lie ensnares Kai in her plan, but three missing mirror shards and Kai's childhood friend, Gerda, present more formidable obstacles.  Thyra's willing to do anything- venture into uncharted lands, outwit sorcerers or battle enchanted beasts-- to reconstruct the mirror, yet her most dangerous adversary lies within her breast.  Touched by the warmth of a wolf pup's devotion and the fire of a young man's desire, the thawing of Thyra's frozen heart could be her ultimate undoing. 

The Breakdown:
1.  I really felt like that Weavil was trying to do something new with the tale of the Snow Queen. There things I really liked about the story, like the Snow Queen's creation and curse. Although Thyra's mantra of Let It Go seemed like it was an afterthought because of the popularity of Frozen.

2.  Thyra was very much the embodiment of Snow Queen, which unfortunately made her unlikable. She was very manipulative which is another trait I don't like in characters. She did improve toward the end of the book, but by that time it was too late for me to grow to like her.

3.  Kai has a strange personality for me.  He is obsessive when he is working on problems, and forgets to eat and sleep. He is dense to Gerda's feelings for him, but judges Thyra for the same thing.

4. Honestly for me the best characters where the animals, Luki the wolf pup and Bae the reindeer. Luki was a loyal pup, and protective of those humans he chose to love.  Bae was wise in who he chose to protect.

5. The ending was lack luster for me. It just seem to fade out and I wanted a bit more or at least an epilogue to see how things turned out for everyone.

To Read or Not to Read:
Skip it

Currently Reading:
Glimmerglass
by Jenna Black

The Greyfriar

The Greyfriar is the first book of Clay and Susan Griffith's Vampire Empire.

In the year 1870, a horrible plague of vampires swept over the northern regions of the world.  It is now 2020 and a bloody reckoning is coming. Princess Adele is heir to the Empire of Equatoria, a remnant of the old tropical British Empire.  When she becomes the target of a merciless vampire clan, her only protector is the Greyfriar, a mysterious who fights the vampires from deep within their territory. Their dangerous relationship plays out against an approaching war to the death between humankind and the vampire clans.

The Breakdown:
1. The Griffith's have created an interesting world in this book. Humans are no longer the sole dominant species. The vampires are a terrifying creatures in this world. They make no effort to understand humans or be human-like in appearance. The humans struggle after the vampires rose out of the shadows, and now they are amassing power to reassert their dominance in the world. It makes for some interesting political moves both in the human and vampire worlds.

2. I liked the way the book changes between all the major players in the story's perspective. This gives me glimpse into other characters thought processes and motivations for their actions. It really brings the story together well, and helped me to understand the world even better.

3. Princess Adele was wonderful. She is a wonderful combination of strong and soft. She is not afraid to protect was she loves including her family and her empire. She shows a vulnerability that makes her enduring when she is with Greyfriar. Her character makes it easy to see that she will be a great Empress.

4. One of my favorite characters is Prince Gareth, the heir to the British Vampire throne. He has a fascination with humans, and wants to be so much more than a savage vampire.  He shows restraint and logical thinking, and is not ruled by his instincts like many of his brethren. Plus his love of his cats is cute.

5. The Greyfriar is mysterious hero, with some really amazing secrets, but I don't want to give away too much.

To Read or Not to Read:
Read

Currently Reading:
Crown of Ice
by Vicki L. Weavil