Summer Reading Challenge

Summer is upon us with its hot weather, long days in the sun, vacations, cookouts, and of best of all, summer reads.  We all have that go to book for a little taste of summer, even when it is not summer. So, I made a list of books that really bring in the essence of different aspects of summer for me, and I encourage you to create your on list and share.

Favorite involving a Vacation: Valkyrie Rising by Ingrid Paulson- Ellie is spending the summer with her Grandmother in Norway, and learns some interesting things about her heritage and saves her brother from some mythical warriors. Valkyrie Rising

Favorite involving a Summer Job: The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen- Macy ends up falling into a summer job with a mildly disorganized cater where she finds not only love, but learns to live again after the loss of her father.  The Truth About Forever

Favorite involving Summer Camp: Whisper if You Need Me by Dina Silver- Julia is forced upon a summer camp, but while there she really comes into herself.  She learns to be adventurous, confronts her feelings about her parents divorce and mother disappearing from her life, and finds love.

Favorite involving Summer Love: My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick- Samantha not only falls for the boy next door, Jase, but the real reason to love this book is that she falls in love with whole Garrett family. My Life Next Door

Favorite involving Summer School:  So this one is a bit of a stretch because they are just doing a summer photography class, not an actually school class, but I am going with The Year We Fell Apart by Emily Martin.  Harper is working on getting past her mistakes and repairing her relationship with her best friend Declan as she deals with trouble in her family. The Year We Fell Apart

Involving your favorite place to visit: I have to go with Mary Kay Andrew's Savannah Blues and Savannah Breeze books.  Savannah is a beautiful city with great food, shopping, and lots to do.  Andrews really captures that in theses books.  Plus her characters are just fun to read.

Book Most Looking Forward to Release this Summer: After much internal debate, I have to go with The Shadow Hour by Melissa Grey

The Rose & The Dagger

The Rose & The Dagger is the last book of Renee Ahdieh's The Wrath & The Dawn duology.

The darker the sky, the brighter the stars.

In a land on the brink of war, Shahrzad is forced from the arms of her beloved husband, the Caliph of Khorasan.  She once thought Khalid a monster- a merciless killer of wives, responsible for immeasurable heartache and pain- but as she unraveled his secrets, she found instead an extraordinary man and a love she could not deny.  Still, a curse threatens to keep Shazi and Khalid apart forever.

Now she's reunited with her family, who have found refuge in the desert, where a deadly force is gathering against Khalid- a force set on destroying his empire and commanded by Shazi's spurned  childhood sweetheart.  Trapped between loyalties to those she loves, the only thing Shazi can do is act.  Using the burgeoning magic within her as guide, she strikes out on her own to end both this terrible curse and the brewing war once and for all.  But to do it, she must evade enemies of her own to stay alive.

The Breakdown:
1. Ahdieh's follow up book is just as good at the first book of this duology.  She does so well with guiding this story through and developing characters that were more peripheral in the first book. I thought the way she dealt with both the curse and the war fit so well in the book.

2. I was a big fan of the development of Irsa, Shazi's young sister. She is sweet and loving, but she has a fierce loyalty that comes out at the best of times. She proves herself to be a wonderful ally for Shazi in her quest to break the curse and stop the war. Plus, she proves herself to become quite adept with herbs for healing.

3. I love every interaction between Shazi and Khalid.  They are so well suited for each other, and so wonderfully in love.  On of my favorite scenes was seeing Khalid win over Irsa's trust and loyalty by her watching him care for Shazi when she was injured.

4.  I liked the introduction of the character of Artan. He is a little mysterious, a little insolent, but he develops quite the friendship with Shazi, and really comes through when needed. The only downside is I wish there was a little more of him.

5. I loved all the twist and turns of this book.  With Tariq learning the truth of Khalid, Shazi developing her magic, and even seeing that revenge and power can change those who we love the most.

To Read or Not to Read:
Read

Stone Field

Stone Field is by debut author Christy Lenzi.

In a small town on the brink of Civil War, Catrina finds a man making strange patterns in her family's sorghum crop.  He's mad with fever, naked, and strikingly beautiful.  He has no memory of who he is or what he's done before Catrina found him in Stone Field.  But that doesn't bother Catrina because she doesn't like thinking about the things she's done before either.

Catrina and Stonefield fall passionately, dangerously, in love.  All they want is to live with each other, in harmony with the land and away from Cat's protective brother, the new fanatical preacher, and the neighbors who are scandalized by their relationship.  But Stonefield can't escape the truth about who he is, and the conflict tearing apart the country demands that demands that everyone take a side before the bloodbath reaches their doorstep.

The Breakdown:
1. I was a little weary of this book because Lenzi was heavily inspired by Emily Bronte's Wuthering Heights, which is one of my least favorite books. I will admit I did like the characters of Catrina and Stonefield a little more than Cathy and Heathcliff, but I did not feel really connected to them.  For a couple that has this strong connection, at first, they sure had a lot of trouble communicating with each other when things got tough.

2. Cat is very free-spirited, and definitely has a soul of an artist, but she is willfully naive about the world around her.  She is almost to the point of selfish in how see does not she what is going on the world or her loved ones lives.

3. What I did really like about this book was the depiction of a Missouri, a border state, on the brink of the Civil War. It was interesting to see how the war affected communities, and how easily families and friends are torn apart by this war. I almost wish the story had focused more on that than the angst of Catrina and Stonefield's relationship.

To Read or Not to Read:
Skip, unless you are into angsty, tragic love stories.

The Winner's Kiss

The Winner's Kiss is the final book of Marie Rutkoski's The Winner's trilogy.

Some kisses come at a price.

War has begun.  Arin is in the tick of it with untrustworthy new allies and the empire as his enemy.  Those he has convinced himself he no longer loves Kestrel, Arin hasn't forgotten her, or how she became exactly the kind of person he has always despised.  She cares more for the empire than she did for the lives of innocent people- and certainly more than she did for him.

At least, that's what he thinks.

In the frozen north, Krestel is a prisoner in a brutal work camp.  As she searches desperately for a way to escape, she wishes Arin could know what she sacrificed for him.  She wishes she could make the empire pay for what they've done to her.

But no one gets what they want just by wishing.

As the war intensifies, both Krestel and Arin discover that the world is changing.  The East is pitted against the West, and they are caught in between.  With so much to lose, can anybody really win?

The Breakdown:
1. It was bittersweet reading this book.  I was excited to see how Rutkoski brought the trilogy to an end, but at the same time I was sad to say goodbye to the characters.  Although sad to see it end, I thought that Rutkoski did a fantastic job of ending Krestel and Arin's story.  It just fit so well with the other two books.

2. This book did put me through a vast range of emotions. From the heartbreak when Arin founds out just what Krestel has done, and what has happened to her.  To the friendships developing between Arin and Roshar, Roshar and Krestel, and Krestel and Sarsine.  And most importantly, to Arin and Krestel finding their way back to the love between them. I love that Rutkoski makes me so emotionally invested in these characters, and makes them so mutli-dimensional.

3. I want to take a minute to appreciate the character of Roshar.  He puts on the haughty prince mantle when it suits him, but he becomes an amazing friend not only to Arin, but to Krestel, too.  Plus, he has quite the wicked sense of humor, and I very much enjoy his sarcastic comments.

4. Going to be honest, the final battle of this book was a real nail biter.  Rutkoski keep me guessing on how everything would play out between the East and the empire, and how the final battle would affect the relationship between Dacrans and the Herrani.  This book definitely keep me engaged with the story until the very end.

To Read or Not to Read:
Must Read

Lady Midnight

Lady Midnight is the first book of Cassandra Clare's The Dark Artifices series.

In a Kingdom by the sea...

In secret world where half-angel warriors are sworn to fight demons, parabatai is a sacred word.

A parabatia is your partner in battle.  A parabatai is your best friend.  Parabatai can be everything to each other- but they can never fall in love.

Emma Carstairs is a warrior, a Shadowhunter, and the best in her generation.  She lives for battle.  Shoulder to shoulder with her parabatai, Julian Blackthorn, she patrols the streets of Los Angeles, where vampires party on the Sunset Strip, and faeries- the most powerful of supernatural creatures- teeter on the edge of open war with Shadowhunters.  When the bodies of humans and faeries turn up murdered in the same way Emma's parents were when she was a child, an uneasy alliance is formed.  This is Emma's chance for revenge- and Julian's chance to get back his brother Mark, who is being held prisoner by the faerie Courts.  All Emma, Mark, and Julian have to do is solve the murders within two weeks... and before the murderer targets them.

Their search takes Emma from the sea caves full of sorcery to dark lottery where death is dispensed.  And each clue she unravels, uncovers more secrets.  What has Julian hiding from her all these years?  Why does Shadowhunter Law forbid parabatai to fall in love?  Who really killed her parents- and she bear to know the truth?

The Breakdown:
1.  This is much anticipated next book in Clare's Shadowhunter saga.  In City of Heavenly Fire, Clare first introduced Emma and Julian, and much of there back story in explained in that book.  This book is five years later, and I personally loved seeing who they have be come.  I loved the fast story, and seeing how Clare had everything come together.

2.  Along with Emma and the Blackthorns, Clare introduces a  few new characters.  Cristina is a visit Shadowhunter, that is running from something.  She and Emma are great together.  I really enjoyed their friendship, and learning more about Cristina.  Diana is the institute's tutor.  She is protective of everyone there but she is definitely hiding something big.  Then there is Malcom Fade, who is the High Warlock of L.A.  He is a bit scatter brained, and believer in true love.

3.  Along with murder and mayhem, the other big story is that Emma and Julian are falling in love.  This is one of the biggest no-no's of Shadowhunter law.  It was a little heartbreaking to watch them deny it, and then struggle to figure out if it can work anyway.  Oh, and finally Clare revels what it is forbidden for parabatai to fall in love.

4. Another thing that I liked about this story was Clare addressing how the Shadowhunter community as a whole deals with those who are different, i.e. some kind mental handicap.  It is clear from the start that there is something wrong with Julian's uncle.  He is no longer mentally competent, and Julian is the one running the institute.  Then there is Ty Blackthorn.  He is smart, but he is like a high functioning asperger syndrome child.  Clare makes it clear that the Shadowhunter community does not deal well with those who are different.  She hints that they are hidden away from the world.

5. This story is full of secrets, mysteries, betrayals, and revelations.  I love how Clare makes it seem so easy as the story comes together, and still leaves me wanting more.  I cannot wait for the next book, and to see how things will progress based of what she revels in this book.

To Read or Not to Read:
Read

Fire Touched

Fire Touched by Patricia Briggs is the latest book in the Mercy Thompson series.

Tensions between the fae and the humans are coming to a head.  And when coyote shapeshifter Mercy and her Alpha werewolf mate, Adam, are called upon to stop a rampaging troll, they find themselves with something that could be used to make the fae back down and forestall out-and-out war: a human child stolen long ago by the fae.

Defying the most powerful werewolf in the country, the humans, and the fae, Mercy, Adam, and their pack choose to protect the boy no matter what the cost.  But who will protect them from a boy who is fire touched?

The Breakdown:
1. Briggs's Mercy Thompson series is one of my favorites.  It has great characters, engaging stories, and the perfect amount of romance.  It is a big reason this blog is Don't Trust the Fairies. Even the fae don't trust the fae in this series. Plus, I think that Mercy and Adam have one of the best relationships in fiction.  They are equal partners in their marriage, and I love the fact there was a real courtship for them, not just love at first-site as too many fictional couples go.

2. Okay, so real talk, when Mercy and Adam get the call about there being a troll on the bridge, in my head it went "TROLL ON THE BRIDGE, just thought someone should know," all in Professor Quirrell's voice. But all that aside it was a pretty awesome fight scene, and I loved seeing Joel work with the pack as the tibicena.

3. Aiden made an interesting character.  At first, I thought him a haughty brat who had spent way too long with the fae.  As the book progressed, he really grew on me.  I saw him as the scared boy, who was terrified of having to go back to the fae. He really starts to fit in well with Mercy and Adam's family.

4. I loved the intrigue in this book in what exactly the Grey Lords wanted from Mercy and Adam, and it was interesting to see their divided on what they wanted. Also was a fan of Adam finally laying down the law the the pack on their treatment of Mercy, it was amazing!

To Read or Not to Read:
Read

Kingdom of Ashes

Rhiannon Thomas's Kingdom of Ashes is the sequel to A Wicked Thing.

Asleep for a hundred years, awoken by a kiss. Aurora's life was supposed to be a fairytale.

But since discovering that loyalty to the crown and loyalty to her country are two very different things, Aurora knows she can only dream of happily ever after.  Once the enchanted princess, savior of her people, she is now branded a traitor.

Aurora is determined to free her home from the king's tyrannical rule, even if it means traveling across the sea to the kingdom of the handsome and devious Prince Finnegan- someone who seems to know far more about her magic than he should.  However, Finnegan's kingdom has perils of its own, and any help he give Aurora will come at a price.

As Aurora and Finnegan work together to harness her power- something so fiery and dangerous that is as likely to destroy those close to Aurora as it is to save them- she begins to unravel the mysteries surrounding the curse that was placed on her over a century before... and uncover the truth about the destiny she was always meant to fulfill.

The Breakdown:
1. I felt that this book was a little of a sophomore slump for Thomas.  It did not draw me in as quickly as the first book.  There were times that it felt like Thomas was really wrestling with the characters and the story to make them play out the way she wanted.

2. I did, however, like Aurora's struggle with what she wanted to do with her magic.  She is trying to find out who she is and what she wants for her kingdom.  She has been told by so many what is is meant to do, and she struggles with if that is really what she wants to do.

3. I, also, liked getting to know Finnegan better. Mostly in A Wicked Thing, he comes off as the charming prince, but Thomas hinted at deeper things for him.  In this book, she really fleshed out his character more. Getting to know his personality, and his thoughts and dreams really made him a well rounded character in this book.

4.  I was disappointed with how Tristan was treated in this book.  He was such a big part of Aurora's life in the first book, and shaping what she believed.  That I was sad that his appearance in this book felt almost as an afterthought.

5.  The ending to this book felt incomplete.  It  left me wondering so much, and not crazy about the direction Aurora's character takes at the very end.  So far, there has not been another book in the series announced, so I am left wondering if this was the end, or will Thomas continue with Aurora's story, because there feels like there should be more.

To Read or Not to Read:
Maybe Read- depends if Thomas goes further with the series.