Another Thing Not to Trust

The Rising is the final book in Kelley Armstrong's Darkness Rising trilogy.  Both this and her Darkest Power trilogy are YA books that take part in the same universe as her Otherworld books.  In fact, a couple of characters from there get a reference, and at least one gets an appearance in the series.

Maya, Daniel, and Corey make into the city in their efforts to escape the Nast and St. Cloud Cabals.  They are trying desperately to figure out how to evade the Cabals and let their families know they're still alive.  First, they try Maya's grandmother, but that does not turn out like planned.  Their next brilliant idea is to go to their own memorial service in hopes of getting one of their parents alone.  Lucky for them, Maya's long lost twin brother shows up and helps out.  Ash is a street smart teen with a major attitude problem.

The group gets split up and Maya ends up in the Nast's hands.  She is taken to a "safe house" where she is reunited with Rafe, Hayley, Sam, Annie, and most importantly her dog, Kenjii.  Oh, and crazy Nicole is also there, and Maya lowers the bomb that Nicole killed Serena.  With Maya's birth father's (Antone) help, Maya, Rafe, and Hayley escape and meet back up with Ash, Daniel, and Corey.  On the advice Antone, they set out in search of the Project Genesis group in order to have leverage to negotiate with the Cabals, which by the way, lead to a happy dance from me on some more Chloe and Derek time.

Maya learns that sometimes you have to dance to the pipers tune to get what you want, and maybe her feelings for Daniel and Rafe are not so clear cut.

I was so excited for this book, and once again Ms. Armstrong did not disappoint, mostly.  There was some talk of the kids contacting Lucas Cortez, who I love in the Otherworld series, but alas it never came to be. I just love the world of supernaturals that Ms. Armstrong has created, and being one kind of supernatural does put you into a category of good or bad, but it is about the individual's choices that make them hero or villain. At times, you really get the sense that the characters easily fall into the scheme of choatic, neutral, and lawful of good and evil.

I love that her characters are strong women that don't need the man to rescue them, and in fact, sometimes they are the ones rescuing the men.  While these women do not need a man to be complete, their partners are excellent matches for them.  Maya is a wonderfully strong girl, who is super loyal to her friends and family, and bonus points for being an animal lover.  She can be rash at times, but she will quickly see reason when someone talks to her about it.

This was a wonderful completion for the both Darkness Rising and the Darkest Powers trilogies.  I thought she wrapped up questions nicely, but did leave it open for more possible books. Fingers crossed, maybe a meeting with these characters and the rest of her Otherworld regulars. Oh, and it teaches us that you can't trust the Cabals either.

Currently Reading:
Bones of the Lost
by Kathy Reichs

Going Viral

 Code by Kathy and Brendan Reichs is the third book in the Virals series.  It continues to follow Tori, Hi, Shelton, and Ben, teens infected by a hybrid parvo virus that gives them some very wolf like abilities. The books starts with a mysterious figure burying a box.  Flash forward as the Virals go on a search of a geocache and find a puzzle box inside which gives them clues to another geocache.

At the second geocache the Virals learn this is not a innocent game.  Someone calling themselves the Gamemaster has rigged a deadly scavenger hunt.  The Virals must solve the clues in order to stop the Gamemaster from killing innocent people.

On top of dealing with the Gamemaster, Chance Claybourne is out of the asylum and back at school, and he is hinting to Tori that he knows her secret.  Plus, Ben has been acting strangely and more moody than ever.

This book is definitely action packed, and will not leave you bored, even if there are a couple of predictable turns during the storyline.  Here is my feeling on Tori, you know those memes with Kirk and Spock that have Spock telling Kirk don't do the thing and Kirk is like I'm doing the thing, that is exactly what Tori is like with everyone.  She is extremely reckless, and at times boarding on having no sense of self-preservation. Hi, Shelton, and even Ben are so much more rational in their decision making, and yet, they seem to constantly go along with her reckless ideas.

Overall, I enjoy these books.  They don't leave you bored, and will have a few good twist along the way.  I just wish the characters would make better decisions at times.

Currently Reading:
The Rising
by Kelley Armstrong

Saying Good-bye

After thirteen books and several short stories, it is time to say good-bye to Sookie, Sam, Bill, and Eric. Dead Ever After is the last of the Sookie Stackhouse novels by Charlaine Harris. I believe it is a nice send off for my friends of Bon Temps. Fair warning, if you haven't read up to Deadlocked, there will probably be some spoilers in the review.

This book picks up, pretty much right after Deadlocked ends with Sam being revived by the Sookie with the fairy gift.  That leads to some super awkward moments between Sam and Sookie in the beginning, and basically spells the end of Sookie and Erics relationship.  Eric summons her to him for a public vampire divorce in of King Felipe and his soon-be vampire wife Freya, but Eric stills wants to keep her as his side piece. I had a total you go girl moment when Sookie told him he must be crazy to think she would be the other woman.

As if Sookie is not dealing with a enough, Arlene gets out prison and shows back up at Merlotte's, and is soon found dead in the dumpster behind the bar.  Someone manages to make it look like Sookie is the killer, and she is arrested for her murder.  It seems Sookie's enemies just keep coming, with her arrest and them someone tries to killer her while she is out on bail.

Ms. Harris does a fantastic job of wrapping everything up in the end, but it is a little sad to say good-bye to all these characters that I have followed and loved for so many years.  I am happy to report that some of my favorite characters make reappearances in this book, including Quinn and Diantha.  Best of all, Sookie ends up with who I think is the best match for her.

And I am happy to report the Ms. Harris has written what is basically an epilogue for many of the characters in the books in After Dead, which has definitely made my want to read list.

Currently Reading: 
Code
by Kathy Reichs and Brendan Reichs

Demons and Steampunk

The last installment of Cassandra Clare's The Infernal Devices, Clockwork Princess, was amazing!  I simply adore Cassandra Clare, and was so glad that she did not disappoint with her newest book.

Clockwork Princess begins with Tessa preparing for her wedding with Jem. Too bad her gown fitting is interrupted by Gabriel Lightwood, who says his father is no longer human.  After the battle with Bendict Lightwood, Will and Tessa discover that Jem has been taking his "medicine" too much and is almost out.  To which they soon find out that, Mortmain has seized the supply of the "medicine," and if they don't find a way to get it or heal Jem, he will die.

Mortmain finds a way to take Tessa from the Institute.  To which she finds out his terrible plan, and why exactly he needs her.  Tessa most learn how to control her power, so that she may save the ones she loves.

So, I did not go into as great as description of the book as I usually do because it would be too easy to give away important stuff, but I will say this, the book will not leave you bored.  First, I have to say I simply love the setting in the Infernal Devices' books, and the steampunk element makes it just awesome.  The characters are just written so wonderfully, and Ms. Clare does a great job in their relationships to each other.  Tessa, Will, and Jem are probably some of my favorite YA characters ever.  I find their love for each other beautiful, and don't we all want friendships like that.  I love how you can see personalities of characters are similar to those of their descendants in The Mortal Instruments series.

One of the most amazing things she does with this book is bringing everything full circle.  I, personally, can't wait to see how the events of this book may influence the last Mortal Instruments book, City of Heavenly Fire due out in May 2014.

If you have not read The Infernal Devices, what are you waiting for? And while you are at it, go ahead and check out Mortal Instruments. Oh, and did I mention, that the cover art for this book is simply fantastic.

Currently Reading:
Dead Ever After
by Charlaine Harris

Heard it All

I have to admit I cheated a little in reading this book as in that I listened to it on audiobook, instead of actually reading it.  Mary Kay Andrews is a fun southern author, whose books are fantastic for listening to on long trips.

Grace Stanton is a livestyle blogger who thinks she has a wonderful marriage until she catches her husband, Ben, cheating on her with her assistant.  In a spectacular exit from her marriage, Grace drives Ben's convertible into their pool, which is one of the best "I am leaving you" scenes ever.

Grace moves back to her mother's, which is an apartment above the bar she owns, The Sandbox.  As Grace tries to put her life back together, she finds that Ben has locked her out of her blog, house, and finances.  To make matters worse, the judge overseeing her case sentences her to counseling before granting her divorce.

The story bounce between Grace's perspective, and Wyatt's.  Wyatt is a soon to be single dad, that runs his family's failing tourist park.  His soon to be ex-wife, left him for the guy down the street, and basically tries to make his life miserable.  After an incident where the ex deliberately provokes him to violence, he too is sentenced to counseling by the judge.

Grace and Wyatt officially meet at the divorce group, along with an interesting group of ladies.  Most of whom were, also, sentenced to attend these sessions by the same judge. After some digging, they discover, that maybe these sessions are not as legal as they sound.

As Grace begins to put her life back together, she learns that maybe her life with Ben was not who she really was, and that a new love is just what she needs.

I simply adore MKA's writing style.  All her characters feel real, and someone I would like if I met them in real life. She makes a nice balance in romance and reality.  Her love scenes don't feel forced, and she leaves the good stuff up to the imagination.  My biggest complaint is that sometimes certain things in the plot become predictable, but in truth that didn't keep me from enjoying her book.

I really enjoyed all characters.  Grace was wonderfully creative, and character actually made me want to do the projects she talked about.  A bonus for Grace is that she rescued a dog in the book.  As a vet student and the owner of two rescue dogs, an author always gets points with me for making their character an animal lover and rescuer.

Who wouldn't like a man like Wyatt? He is a great father to his son, has the rugged outdoorsy thing going for him, and knows how to treat a woman.  If a fictional character can get father of the year, I am pretty sure Wyatt deserves it.  Despite how awful his ex is being to him, he tries to keep their son out it, and never says bad things about her around their son.  I think he is a great match for Grace.

I definitely recommend this book. If you plan on taking a long trip soon, this is a great audiobook to put on.

Currently Reading:
Clockwork Princess
by Cassandra Clare

Cinderella Goes Sci-Fi

Scarlet is the second book in Marissa Meyer's The Lunar Chronicles. The series is Ms. Meyer's new take on some classic fairy tales with a science fiction twist to them.  I read the first book, Cinder, because I was a fan of Ms. Meyer's fanfics for Sailor Moon, and the book was fantastic, so naturally I was excited about the next book.

Scarlet continues to follow Cinder after her arrest into the break from prison.  During her prison break, Cinder picks up another prisoner, "Captain" Carswell Thorne, who sees himself as kind of cross between Robin Hood and Casanov. They make their escape from the Commonwealth, and Cinder makes the move to find answer to who she is.

The other story of the book is Scarlet Benoit, whose grandmother is missing and she is determined to find out where she is.  She meets the mysterious Wolf, who knows where her grandmother is.  She enlist his help to rescue her grandmother, but he is more than what he seems.

There are chapters that continue to follow Kai as he deals with his new role as Emperor of the Commonwealth, and Cinder's escape.  Plus the single chapter of Queen Levana, which has me terribly intrigued to know more.

Eventually Cinder and Scarlet's stories collide, and Cinder must decide if she will become the woman she is meant to be.

Ms Meyer does an amazing job of breathing new life into these fairy tales. I love the science fiction and dystopian aspects, and that at the same time remaining true to the essence of the original tales.

That characters are so wonderfully written.  Each has their own struggles that make them seem wonderfully human, even if some of them are not really human.

I am super excited to see where the rest of the series goes, just that I have to wait until February for the next book, Cress. If you liked this books, you can check out the authors fanfics here: http://www.fanfiction.net/u/658410/Alicia-Blade

Currently Reading:
Clockwork Princess
by Cassandra Clare

Censored Post

Happy Banned Book week to everyone!  So here is my two cents on the whole banning of books.  Books are the authors way to express their creativity and ideas, and as a country founded on freedom, we should celebrate that, not discourage it.  If we allow the banning of books, how long until we end up like the world in Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451. In fact, it is your civic duty to read at least one banned and/or challenged book. And if you don't like the book or find a book offensive, then don't read and don't recommend it to others.

Alright, I am hopping off my soap box now, and on to more important things. Some of my all time favorite books have been on banned list before, including To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee and Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell. These are must reads, in my opinion.  Plus some of my newer favorites, like The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini, have also made banned list.

So readers, if you would be so kind and read a banned book, and leave me a comment on your favorite banned books that would just make my week.