Mortal Heart

Mortal Heart by Robin LeFevers is the final book of His Fair Assassin trilogy.

Annith has watched her gifted sisters at the convent come and go, carrying out their dark dealings in the name of St. Mortain, patiently awaiting her own turn to serve Death.  Bu her worst fears are realized when she discovers she is being groomed by the abbess as a Seeress, to be forever sequestered in the rock and stone womb of the convent.  Feeling sorely betrayed, Annith decides to stike out on her own.

She has spent her whole life training to be an assassin.  Just because the convent has changed its mind doesn't mean she has...

The Breakdown:
1.  I love the way the LaFevers blends her fantastic story with real historic people and events. The way she weaves the story is wonderful with unexpected twist.  I thought LaFevers did a great job of tying all the books together and bringing out the deception on the abbess out in this book.

2.  Annith maybe my favorite heroine of the series.  She has lived her whole life devoted to Mortain, and while she starts questioning the abbess and the convents motives, she never waivers in her belief in Mortain.  I think she handles herself remarkably well when she learns that her most everything she thought was true,  was a lie.

3.  Balthazar was a wonderful match for Annith.  He was mysterious and brooding.  He is loyal to his men, the hellequin, and protects Annith when she needs him.  Oh,  and his secret is so awesome and a perfect fit for the story.

4.  I enjoyed learning of the hellequin and their stories while Annith was with him.  I thought they were an interesting aspect to the story, and they demonstrated one of the many sides of Death in the story.

To Read or Not to Read:
Read

A Town Called Dust

Debut author Justin Woolley's A Town Called Dust is the first book of The Territory series.

Stranded in the desert, the last of mankind is kept safe by a large border fence... Until the fence falls.

Squid is a young orphan living under the oppressive rule of his uncle in the outskirts of the Territory.  Lynn is a headstrong girl with an influential father who has spent her entire life within the walled city of Alice.

When the border fence is breached, the Territory is invaded by the largest horde of undead ghouls seen in two hundred years.  Squid is soon conscripted into the Diggers- the armed forces of the Territory.  And after Lynn finds herself at odds with Territory's powerful church, she too escapes to join the Diggers.

Together Squid and Lynn form an unlikely friendship as they march to battle against the ghouls.  Their journey will take them further than they ever imagined, leading them closer to discovering secrets about themselves, their world, and a conspiracy that may spell the end of the Territory as they know it.

The Breakdown:
1.  I loved Woolley's post- apocalyptic society created in this book.  It has interesting characters and wonderful intrigue throughout the story.  I thought the setting of Australia lent itself so well to the setting of the story, although it is really based on Woolley's descriptions and animals mentioned that I really figured out it was in Australia.  Plus the hints of steampunk thrown in make me like it even more.

2. I found the ghouls, which are very zombie like creatures, fascinating.  I hope that Woolley continues to expand on what they are and how they were created.  In their extreme dryness, and search for moisture, they remind me a bit of the zombie like creatures in Kresley Cole's The Arcana Chronicles.

3.  I liked the character of Squid.  He was socially awkward, boarding on Aspergers, but he still managed to come off as kind and extremely smart.  There is more to this boy than even he knows.

4.  I was not a big fan of Lynn.  While she sees the error of her ways, in the beginning she is definitely prejudice to those not living in Alice.  Too many times she acts before she thinks, and lets her temper get the best of her.

5.  I really enjoyed reading the power struggle between the Administrator and the High Priestess.  The way the Priestess manipulated the Administrator was masterful.  That being said the views and the power of the church in the Territory was very scary.  Oh and the prophecy revealed at the end has me excited to see where the series goes.

To Read or Not to Read:
Read

Currently Reading:
Mortal Heart
by Robin LaFevers

Blue Lily, Lily Blue

Maggie Stiefvater's Blue Lily, Lily Blue is the third book in her The Raven Cycle.

There is danger in dreaming.  But there is even more danger in waking up.

Blue Sargent has found things.  For the first time in her life, she has friends she can trust, a group to which she can belong.  The Raven Boys have taken her in as one of their own.  Their problems have become hers, and her problems have become theirs.

The trick with found things though, is how easily they can be lost.

Friends can betray.
Mothers can disappear.
Visions can mislead.
Certainties can unravel.

The Breakdown:
1.  Stiefvater keeps the surprises and the mysterious coming in her Raven Cycle series with this book.  She tells us where Maura has, but notes that there is more than Glendower sleeping.   Greenmantle makes an appearance in town.  Noah starts changing, and Adam is really embracing his power.  Ronan is trying to breathe new life into the things his father created for reasons that could save his family, and Gansey is getting closer to the sleeping king.  There is plenty going on, but Stiefvater presents so well that I never felt overwhelmed by all that is happening.

2. I feel like that the fragile peace between Blue and the Raven Boys hangs on a razors edge at times.  Gansey is trying hard to maintain the peace all the while denying his feelings for Blue.  Blue denies her feelings because of her curse and what she knows of Gansey's future.  Adam figures out what Blue's family already knows, that they have seen Gansey on the on the road of the dead.  So the peace is so fragile, but I feel that all the characters have grown so much in these books.

3. Boy does Stiefvater know how to make an exciting ending.  She does it once again in this book, and still leaves you wanting so much more.  The last chapter has me wanting the last book, yesterday!

To Read or Not to Read:
Read

Currently Reading:
A Town Called Dust
by Justin Woolley

Fragile Spirits

Fragile Spirits by Mary Lindsey is the second book in her Souls series.

Paul has always known he was a Protector, fated to serve a Speaker who could hear the voices of spirits lingering after death and help those souls find peace.

Vivienne ignores the voices of the dead.

Paul has always followed the Protector's rule book, preparing diligently for the day when he'd be matched with his Speaker and fulfill his destiny.

Vivienne never does what she's told.

So when Paul is matched with Vivienne, they both find the paring less than satisfactory.  But kidnapping, a malevolent spirit and power stronger  than both of them just prove that they are two halves of the same whole.

The Breakdown:
1. This story takes place several months after the end of Shattered Souls, and Smith is back.  Lindsey spends a lot of the book developing the relationship between Paul and Vivienne.  It is only in the last half of the book that the action with Smith really begins. Despite all the background story development in the first half, Lindsey does a great job of not making the story drag.

2. I enjoyed the dynamic between Paul and Vivienne, At first they seem like quite opposites, but they have more in common than they initially think.  Paul's background is not as privileged as Vivienne assumes, and Vivienne is not as reckless as she appears to Paul at first. I liked seeing how they slowly learn about each other and learn to trust each other.

3. I loved Vivienne's personal style, both rebellious and fun. She is unorthodox in her handling of ghost, but it works so well with her personality. She starts off very abrasive, but underneath she has a kind heart.  She cares immensely about her grandmother, and tutors underprivileged kids.

4. I was fun to watch Paul loosen up a bit as his relationship was Vivienne.  He is very by the book at the beginning, but as their relationship progress he learns to trust Vivienne's instincts, even if they are unorthodox.  Plus it is amazing how far he has come from his rough childhood.

5.  I enjoy the supporting character of Race.  I find his background story, what as been told at least, fascinating.  I do hope that Lindsey will give him is own book.

6. I loved watching Vivienne deal with Smith at the end.  They way she worked was amazing, and the way Paul was able to read her was great.

To Read or Not to Read:
Read

Currently Reading:
Blue Lily, Lily Blue
by Maggie Stiefvater

Unbinding

Unbinding is the newest book in Eileen Wilks's Lupi series.

After questing through the sidhe realms with her ex-hellhound lover, Nathan, Kai Tallman Michalski has finally returned home.  But she knows Nathan will eventually be called back to serve his queen- and Kai will have decide whether to enter her majesty's service as well.  Sure, the job comes with great bennies, but there's one big downside: she would have to swear absolute fealty to the Queen of Winter.

For now, though, Kai is glad to be home, and glad that Nathan completed his mission for his queen with surprising ease.  But what seemed to be a quick conclusion turns out to be anything but.  The two of them helped thwart the sidhe god of chaos- and he is not happy about that.  He's got plans for them.  Plans, to, for the sidhe who killed him some three millennia ago.  Not has be abandoned his plans for Earth, as they learn when chaos begins bursting out all over...

The Breakdown:
1. I really liked the pairing of Kai and Nathan in the short, Inhuman, and was pretty excited to see them get their own novel.  I loved the way that Nathan day always improved when Kai came into the room with him.  Their bond was great in this book, and I was glad to see how their relationship had progressed, and continued to evolve in this book.

2. Another relationship I found fascinating is the familiar bond between Kai and Dell.  They need each other to survive, but their bond is more than survival.  It is respect and love between them.  They each care so much for the others well being.

3. I thoroughly enjoy the intricacies that Wilks puts into the planning of the antagonist goals in her book, and this book is no different. There are always little twist and turns to the story, and just when I think I know exactly what the baddie wants, there is more to it than I expected.

4. I thought the ending in this book was great.  There were things relieved about Dyffaya that I did not expect.  I really hope to see more of Kai and Nathan in future books.

To Read or Not to Read:
Read

Currently Reading:
Fragile Spirits
by Mary Lindsey

The Looking Glass Wars

The Looking Glass Wars by Frank Beddor is the first book of the trilogy of the same name.

Alyss of Wonderland?
When Alyss Heart, heir to the Wonderland throne, must flee through the Pool of Tears to escape the murderous aunt Redd, she finds herself lost and alone in Victorian London.  Befriended by an aspiring author named Lewis Carrol, Alyss tells the violent, heartbreaking story of her young life.  Alyss trusts this author to tell the truth so that someone, somewhere will find her and bring her home.  But he gets the story all wrong.  He even spells her name incorrectly!

Fortunately, Royal Bodyguard Hatter Madigan knows all too well the awful truth Alyss' story and he is searching every corner of our world to find the lost princess and return her to Wonderland so she may eventually battle Redd for her rightful place as the Queen of Hearts.

The Breakdown:
1. I loved the concept of this book, but Beddor spent too much time building up the story.  It made the story really drag at times.  Since there was so much time spent building, that once Alyss returned to Wonderland, the confrontation between Redd and Alyss felt rushed.

2. I liked the child that Alyss was, but it was hard to get a feel for her character as an adult. With how she was in England compared to how she became in Wonderland it was hard to grasp her personality.  I hope that in future books that Beddor develops Alyss character more.

3.  There was some interesting chemistry between Dodge and Alyss.  As children Dodge was very in love with Alyssa, but Redd's coup drastically changes his life and motivations.  While he tries deny that he still has feelings for Alyss, there is definitely something there, plus Alyss will not let him go that easily.  It will be interesting to see how their relationship continues to progress.

To Read or Not to Read:
Read, because I am hoping the rest of the series lives up to its potential.

Currently Reading:
Unbinding
by Eileen Wilks

Exposure

Exposure is the newest book the Virals series by Kathy and Brendan Reichs.

When twin classmates are abducted from Bolton Prep, Tory and the Virals decide there's no one better equipped than them to investigate.  But the gang has other problems to face.  Their powers are growing wilder, and becoming harder to control.  Chance Claybourne is investigating the disastrous medical experiment that twisted their DNA.  The bonds that unite them are weakening, threatening the future of the pack itself.

The Virals must decipher the clues and track down a ruthless criminal before he strikes again, all while protecting their secret from prying eyes.  And everyone seems to be watching.

The Breakdown:
1. The last book ended with a pretty big confession by Ben, and I am so glad that the Reichs addressed that so well in this book.  I found that I liked this book more than the last one.  I thought the plot was more involved, and there was more character development in this book compared to previous books.

2.  That being said, Tory is still my least favorite character in this series.  I did like that she finally made a girl-friend in this book. Although, she is really bad about keeping secrets from her friends that are important in what they are investigating or will effect their lives.

3. Chance Claybourne is like the herpes virus of their lives.  He keeps popping up at the most inopportune times.  Although, what he has done in this book will certainly have a big impact in the series.

4. I really liked Ella.  Tory really needed a girl-friend.  I do hope she continues to play a big role in the series.

To Read or Not to Read:
Read

Currently Reading:
The Looking Glass Wars
by Frank Beddor

Dreams of Gods & Monsters

Dreams of Gods & Monsters is the final book in Laini Taylor's Daughter of Smoke & Bone trilogy.

By way of a staggering deception, Karou has taken control of the chimaera rebellion and is intent on steering its course away from dead-end vengeance.  The future rests on her, if there can even be a future for the chimaera in war-ravaged Eretz.

Common enemy, common cause.

When Jael's brutal seraph army trespasses into the human world, the unthinkable becomes essential and Karou and Akiva must ally their enemy armies against the threat.  It is a twisted version of their long-ago dream, and they begin to hope that it might forge a way forward for their people.

And, perhaps, for themselves. Toward a new way of living, and maybe even love.

But there are bigger threats than Jael in the offing.  A vicious queen is hunting Akiva, and, in the skies of Eretz... something is happening.  Massive stains are spreading like bruises from the horizon to horizon; the great winged stromhunters are gathering as if summoned, ceaselessly circling, and a deep sense of wrong pervades the world.

What power can bruise the sky?

From the streets of Rome to the caves of the Kirin and beyond, humans, chimaera and seraphim will fight, strive, love, and die in an epic theater that transcends good and evil, right and wrong, friend and enemy.

At the very barriers of space and time, what do gods and monsters dream of? And does anything else matter?

The Breakdown:
1.  Laini Taylor is a genius.  She writes so beautifully, and ended this trilogy just perfectly. She was a master of subplots, and had them come together so well at the end.

2. I loved the introduction of Eliza, and how she was integrated into the story. At first, it seemed as she was around to give a human perspective of the events, but Taylor did a masterful job of unfolding her true purpose.

3. Kudos to Taylor for not dragging out the truth of Thiago/Kiri between Karou and Akiva and not dragging out their angst feelings about their love.  The bathroom scene in Morocco between Karou and Akiva was one of my favorites.

4. I simply adore Zuzana and Mik.  They are terribly cute together, and very cunning.  I love that they can hold their own against chimeara and serphim.  Plus Mik was amazing in Rome.

5. Taylor does a marvelous job of adding some unexpected twist, and some unexpected love stories to the book.  I thought the ending was a beautiful realization of the dream that started with Akiva and Madrigal so many years ago.

To Read or Not to Read
Must Read

Currently Reading:
Exposure
by Kathy Reichs and Brendon Reichs

Strange Sweet Song

Strange Sweet Song by debut author Adi Rule.

A young soprano enrolls in a remote music academy where nothing, not even her mysterious young vocal coach, is as it seems.

Outside Dunhammon Conservatory, there lies a dark forest.  And in the forest, they say, lives a great beast called the Felix.  But Sing da Navelli never put much faith in the rumors and myths surrounding the school; music flows in her blood, and she is there to sing for real.  This prestigious academy will finally give her a chance to prove her worth- not as the daughter of world-renowned musicians- but as an artist and leading lady in her own right.

Yet despite her best efforts, there seems to be something missing from her voice.  Her doubts about her own talent are underscored by the fact she is cast as the understudy in the school's production of her favorite opera, Angelique.  Angelique was written at Dunhammond, and the legend says that the composer was inspired by forest surrounding the school, a place steeped in history, magic, and danger. But was it all a figment of his imagination, or are the fantastic figures in the opera more than imaginary?

Sing must work with the mysterious Apprentice Nathan Daysmoor as her vocal coach, who is bother her harshest critic and staunchest advocate.  But Nathan has secrets of his own, secrets that are entwined with the myths and legends surrounding Dunhammond, and the great creature they say lives there.

The Breakdown:
1.  Rule weaves the cut-throat world of opera with a magic myth in this story.  The idea had great potential, but Rule never quite pulls it off. She has flips chapters back between Sing, The Felix, and Nathan's past, and they make the book feel choppy in the flow.  At times there was a lot of opera technical stuff and inside stuff, that as someone without any experience in the area, those scenes really dragged.  Then there is the Felix which somehow fell from the heavens but is now a vicious cat that attacks things.  I felt that what the Felix is and and how it sometimes grants wishes was never adequately explained.

2. I never really grew to like Sing's character.  She spends most of the book wavering between a total diva and a mousy girl who lets everyone walk over her.  She has trouble with the concept of friendship, which annoys me to no end.  Clinging and sticking up for her rude, latter climbing friend, and pushing away the girls who are truly nice to her.  When she finally does figure out who she is, it is too late for me to like her.

3. I did like the character of Nathan.  His secrets and past were the best part of the book.  He seems to be the only one who sees the true potential in Sing, and does let her get away with this back and forth act in her personality.

To Read or Not to Read:
Skip this one

Currently Reading:
Dreams of Gods & Monsters
by Laini Taylor

Cruel Beauty

Cruel Beauty is by debut author Rosamund Hodge.

Since birth, Nyx has been betrothed to the evil ruler of her kingdom- all because of a foolish bargain struck by her father. And since birth, she has been in training to kill him.

With no choice but to fulfill her duty, Nyx resents her family for never trying to save her and hates herself for wanting to escape her fate.  Still, on her seventeenth birthday, Nyx abandons everything she's ever known to marry the all-powerful, immortal Ignifex.  Her plan? Seduce him, destroy his enchanted castle, and break the nine-hundred-year-old curse on her people.

But Ignifex is not at all what Nyx expected.  The strangely charming lord beguiles her, and his castle- a shifting maze of magical rooms- enthralls her.

As Nyx searches for way to free her homeland by uncovering Ignifex's secrets, she finds herself unwillingly drawn to him.  Even if she could bring herself to love her sworn enemy, how can she refuse her duty to kill him? With time running out, Nyx must decide what is more important: the future of her kingdom, or the man she was never suppose to love.

The Breakdown:
1. If you haven't guessed by now, I am a fan of the re-telling of classic fairy tales.  Hodge does a fantastic job with her spin on Beauty and the Beast.  She adds in elements of Greek mythology, which is another thing I love. I love the enchanted castle with secrets behind every door, and tale that Hodge spins in it to reveal the curse and how to break it.

2. I find Nyx and intriguing character because she is not your typical fairy tale heroine. She does not believe that there is a happily ever after for her, and she resents being the one chosen to break the curse.  I like how she slowly learns to love without the underlying resentment she has always felt toward her family.

3. I loved Ignifex.  He reminded me a lot of The Erlking from Jenna Black's Faeriewalker series.  He is generally perceived as evil, but he is more than Gentle Lord who people bargain with. He has this easy charm to him, and a little bit of sarcasm that is wonderful. I feel for him at times that the people blame him for the bargains, but it is not he that seeks them out and it is their own hearts that bring about their sorrows.

4.  Shade is an interesting character.  He is the shadow servant of the Gentle Lord, but there is more to him than just a servant.  He definitely knows more about the curse than he can say but there is also something a little devious about his motives.

5. Hodge does a fantastic job of being about to wrap up this story in a stand alone novel.  I really loved the ending, it was just perfect for the story she has created.

To Read or Not to Read:
Must Read

Currently Reading:
Strange Sweet Song
by Adi Rule

The Cabinet of Wonders

The Cabinet of Wonders by Marie Rutkoski is the first book of The Kronos Chronicles.

Petra Kronos has a simple, happy life.  But it's never been ordinary.  She has a pet tin spider named Astrophil who likes to hide in her snarled hair and give her advice.  Her best friend can trap lightening inside a glass sphere.  Petra also has a father in faraway Prague who is able to move metal with his mind.  He has been commissioned by the prince of Bohemia to build the world's finest astronomical clock.

Petra's life is forever changed when, one day, her father returns home- blind.  The prince has stolen his eyes, enchanted them, and now wears them.  But why? Petra doesn't know, but she knows this: she will go to Prague, sneak into Salamander Castle, and steal her father's eyes back.

Joining forces with Neel, whose fingers extend into invisible ghosts that pick locks and pockets, Petra finds that many people in the castle are not what they seem, and that her father's clock has powers capable of destroying their world.

The Breakdown:
1. I am big fan of Rutkoski's The Winner's Curse, so I decided to give some of her other books a read.  For me, this book is not as beautifully written as Winner's Curse, but does have a certain charm to it.  It has an interesting mix of magic and history.  The characters are well written and I really liked the way the aspects of magic worked in the story.

2.  When Petra is first introduced she is lazy and kind of directionless in her life, the loss of her father's eye at the prince's hand. While she is in Prague, she finds friends and herself, but at times she is very reckless.

3. I found Astrophil, the tin spider, fascinating.  He is a wonderfully inquisitive creation of metal and magic.  I love that he acts a conscience of sorts for Petra.

4. I kind of loved Neel.  His casual disregard for the rules, especially if he can help his family by breaking them. Plus his ghost fingers were awesome, and his stories of the Roma were interesting.

5. The Prince is quite the enigma of a character.  He comes off as charismatic and friendly, but he is truly conniving and cruel. He definitely has some interesting secrets yet to unfold.

To Read or Not to Read:
Read

Currently Reading:
Cruel Beauty
by Rosamund Hodge

The Kingmakers

The Kingmakers is the final book in Clay and Susan Griffith's Vampire Empire trilogy.

Empress Adele has launched a grand crusade against the vampire clans of the north.  Prince Gareth, the vampire lord of Scotland, serves the Equatorian cause, fighting in the bloody trenches of France in his guise as the dashing Greyfriar.  But the human armies are pinned down, battered by harsh weather and merciless attacks from vampire packs.

To even the odds, Adele unleashes the power of her geomancy, a fearsome weapon capable of slaughtering vampires in vast numbers.  However, the power she expends threatens her own life even as she questions the morality of such a weapon.

As the war turns ever bloodier and Adele is threatened by betrayal, Gareth faces a terrible choice.  Their only hope is a desperate strike against the lord of the vampire clans--Gareth's brother, Cesare.  It is gamble that could win the war r signal the final days of the Greyfriar.

The Breakdown:
1. The Griffiths do a beautiful job of resolving their Vampire Empire series. They are able to resolve the issues presented in the series.  I was worried that I would not like the ending because it was would be too heartbreaking, but they find a wonderful solution to the problem.

2. I love that this book finally gets to the mystery that was Adele's mother.  With the discovery of her journals and her sister, the Griffiths let the reader know what kind of person she was, and why Adele is what she is.  Plus, her journals give such insight to geomancy, and ulitmately help Adele to save the world.

3.  I was a little sad to see what happened to Mamoru, Adele's mentor.  He seemed liked such a great character with his support of Adele, but he kind of lost his mind.  It was to see what became of him.

To Read or Not to Read:
Read

Currently Reading:
Cabinet of Wonders
by Marie Rutkoski

Days of Blood & Starlight

Days of Blood & Starlight by Laini Taylor is the second book in the Daughter of Smoke & Bone series.

Once upon a time, an angel and a devil fell in love and dared to imagine a world free of bloodshed and war.

This is not that world.

Art student and monster's apprentice Karou finally has the answers she has always sought.  She knows who she is- and what she is.  But with this knowledge comes another truth she would give anything to undo: She loved the enemy and he betrayed her, and a world suffered for it.

In this stunning sequel to the highly acclaimed Daughter of Smoke & Bone, Karou must decide how far she'll go to avenge her people.  Filled with heartbreak and beauty, secrets and impossible choices, Days of Blood & Starlight finds Karou and Akiva on opposing sides as an age-old war stirs back to life.

While Karou and her allies build a monstrous army in a land of dust and starlight, Akiva wages a different sort of battle: a battle for redemption. For hope.

But can any hope be salvaged from the ashes of their broken dream?

The Breakdown:
1. Taylor continues her amazing story in this book. She does not lose any of the magic in the second book, and her imagery is second to none. From the kabash in the Moroccan desert to the Serphim capital city, she brings the places to life.  Plus I love the additional minor characters she brings in to help tell the story.

2. There are many times in this book  that I just want to shake Karou and demand to know what she is thinking allying herself with Thiago.  Chick, you did not even like him really before he beheaded you.  I get that she is hurt by Akiva actions, but she does not even take the time to look at it from his point of view, after all when he acted, he thought the Chimera had killed her because she dared to love.  When she finally starts to see Thiago's true color, I practically leap for joy and screamed it is about time.

3. Speaking of Thiago, I did not like the little taste of him given in Daughter of Smoke & Bone, but this book really made me despise him. He is suppose to be some great champion of his people, but he leaves them vulnerable in order to carry out revenge.  He is cruel, and a sociopath.

4. I was so proud of Akiva's reaction to everything.  He makes a stand to start the dream of peace that he had with Madrigol. My heart breaks for him because of Karou's treatment of him when he loves her so much.

5. I really grew to like Hazael in this book.  He has an easy going charm to him, and more than once he shows he has a kind heart.

6. Wow, the last third of this book is so packed with important developments that really set the stage for the last book.  A division among the Serphim ranks, and Karou makes her stand for what she believes in.

To Read or Not to Read:
Must Read

Currently Reading:
The Kingmakers
by Clay Griffith & Susan Griffith