Thursday, March 29, 2012

Everneath


Everneath
By Brodi Ashton 

Last spring, Nikki Beckett vanished, sucked into an underworld known as the Everneath, where immortals Feed on the emotions of despairing humans. Now she's returned- to her old life, her family, her friends- before being banished back to the underworld... this time forever.

She has six months before the Everneath comes to claim her, six months for good-byes she can't find the words for, six months to find redemption, if it exists.

Nikki longs to spend these months reconnecting with her boyfriend, Jack, the one person she loves more than anything. But there's a problem: Cole, the smoldering immortal who first enticed her to the Everneath, has followed Nikki to the mortal world. And he'll do whatever it takes to bring her back- this time as his queen.

As Nikki's time grows short and her relationships begin slipping from her grasp, she's forced to make the hardest decision of her life: find a way to cheat fate and remain on the Surface with Jack or return to the Everneath and become Cole's..

Nikki Beckett has returned after she has been presumably missing for six months. She hasn’t been in rehab or away on some drug binge, but in the Everneath where her six months away has been equal to one hundred years. Nikki went to the Everneath with Cole when she believed she had no other options left to her. Unlike every other person who has gone to the Feed, Nikki didn’t fade away. She remembers her life from above, but most importantly, she remembers Jack. She decides to go back to Jack, to try to make amends with her family and say goodbye properly before the Tunnels come for her. That is her destiny, to become a battery to the Everneath or to become an Everliving next to Cole as his queen. Unfortunately, as Cole’s queen, Nikki would have to feed off of people as he does and she refuses to do so. As time progresses she decides that these options don’t suit her and therefore she takes her fate into her own hands.

I really enjoyed Everneath, the Hades and Persephone myth has been done a few times and though it is one of my favorite myths I was getting a little sick of it. This book was a different kind of retelling where I didn’t find myself figuring out exactly what was going to happen next.

The characters were a good mix of personalities and though I had a hard time accepting some of the behaviors of certain characters I thought they worked well together. I honestly had a very hard time understanding why Nikki was so in love with Jack. They did go a bit into their back-story but it didn’t completely “click” with me, there seemed to be constant doubt on Nikki’s part and considering he was the sole reason she was able to hang on during the feed it seemed a little confusing. It may be that I am outgrowing the YA romances (gasp!) but I still wanted more from their relationship.

Overall I really liked Everneath, I believe I will continue with the series since the ending of this book was very interesting to me and I recommend it to those who enjoy Greek Mythology and retellings. Originally I was going to recommend it to fans of Goddess Interrupted and Fury but there seems to be a great divide between these fans, as they either love Fury or Everneath. Ironically, I was not particularly a Fury fan, and I enjoyed Everneath very much.



Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Waiting on Wednesday


"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event hosted at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating. 


Falling Kingdoms
By Morgan Rhodes
December 11, 2012

Sixteen-year-old Cleo has grown up in luxury, the royal heiress to a prosperous kingdom. But beneath her nation’s seemingly peaceful surface lies dangerous unrest. Whispers of war are growing ever louder—intensified by a murderous incident for which Cleo’s betrothed, Aron, is accused.

Amidst the ongoing intrigue, Cleo has a more desperate mission. She defies her father’s orders and sets off on a secret and perilous journey into a neighboring country, seeking a magic long thought to be mythical. If it’s real, it could be the cure that heals her ailing sister. If it’s only legend, Cleo will be stranded in a kingdom that has just declared war on her own.

This sensational series debut melds intricate storylines with unforgettable characters and vibrantly imagined magic. Falling Kingdoms is ideal for fans of Kristin Cashore, Cinda Williams Chima, and George R.R. Martin.


First, how awesome is this cover? It kind of reminds me of Assassins Creed except I am pretty sure that is a lady under that hood and I am slightly jealous because I want one. I love books about palace intrigue and defiant missions and this one has both AND magic! Throw in the fact that this book is compared to works by George R.R. Martin and I am completely hooked.

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Top Ten Tuesday


Top Ten Books I’d Play Hooky With 


Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created over at The Broke and the Bookish which I adore and therefore chose to adopt into my weekly blog posts!

This is more of a “books I lose sleep over/sneak read at work because I can’t put them down” list! The links will either take you to my review or to Goodreads. I read A LOT of books and there aren't that many that really make me obsess and feel all kinds of emotions so off the top of my head, here is my list. Enjoy!

Grave Mercy by Robin Lafevers

Anything by Juliet Marillier

Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern (more specifically, the audio book read by Jim Dale)

Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling

Seraphina by Rachel Hartman

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

The Black Swan by Mercedes Lackey

The Child Thief by Brom



The Enchanted Forest Chronicles by Patricia C. Wrede


The Anita Blake series by Laurell K. Hamilton







Sunday, March 25, 2012

In My Mailbox



In my mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi over at The Story Siren in which you share the books you added to your collection in the past week.

This week I only a few books and I have been seriously been falling behind on my reading (shame on me!) so I hope I can actually get to these next week!

From my local library:

The Star Shard by Frederic S. Durbin – I have heard absolutely amazing things about this book and I have been waiting almost a month for it to get to me so I am pretty excited about it finally coming!




Faery Tales and Nightmares – Melissa Marr is one of my favorites and even though I have not read her Wicked Lovely Series (I know, I know) I am still excited to read this book! The cover is gorgeous and I am in the mood for some short stories.






Added to my own collection:

Scarlet by A. C. Gaughen – I have been highly anticipating this book for quite a while, I am a little obsessed with Robin Hood and love retellings so I was already eager for this book but when I read my friend Heidi’s review it was a no brainer and I immediately bought it for my Nook.

That’s it for me this week, what is in your mailbox?

Saturday, March 24, 2012

Grave Mercy


Grave Mercy 
By R. L. Lafevers 
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt 
Publication Date: April 3, 2012 


Why be the sheep, when you can be the wolf?

Seventeen-year-old Ismae escapes from the brutality of an arranged marriage into the sanctuary of the convent of St. Mortain, where the sisters still serve the gods of old. Here she learns that the god of Death Himself has blessed her with dangerous gifts—and a violent destiny. If she chooses to stay at the convent, she will be trained as an assassin and serve as a handmaiden to Death. To claim her new life, she must destroy the lives of others.

Ismae's most important assignment takes her straight into the high court of Brittany—where she finds herself woefully under prepared—not only for the deadly games of intrigue and treason, but for the impossible choices she must make. For how can she deliver Death’s vengeance upon a target who, against her will, has stolen her heart?


Be prepared for my second review this week in which I obsess over the sheer awesomeness of a book I’ve just read.

The book follows Ismae, a desperate girl who has just been sold to an abusive man by her cruel father. When her new husband sees the mark on her back from poison her mother took to attempt to abort her in the womb he becomes enraged, knowing that she is marked by Death himself. He immediately goes to find a priest to “cleanse” her and she manages to escape with some help to St. Mortain’s convent. However, this is no ordinary convent; the sisters here are trained to become assassins for Mortain, the Saint of Death. They are taught everything they need to know to become Death’s handmaidens and deliver vengeance to those who put Brittany in danger. Ismae does her job thoroughly and soon crosses the path of Duval and as their plans become intertwined they learn what it takes to trust and come to understand that the price of honor isn’t as easy as they thought.

The characters of this book were wonderful! Ismae was such a strong heroine who knew her faults and played well with her strengths. She is immune to poison and sees the marque of Mortain before she has even been granted this “gift” by the sisters. This makes her stand out in a significant way and it is because of these gifts that she is able to really understand her worth in the end so she can stand up for what she knows is right. Her sisters in Death are pretty awesome as well, especially Sybella who you only glance at a few times yet she still stands out in a remarkable way.

Now, let’s not forget about Duval. ::swoons:: ladies this is the man we have been waiting for! He is not a teenager infatuated with Ismae at first glance and even as they work together he does not overstep his bounds but instead gives her just what she needs when she isn’t even aware she needs it. I loved this. It’s no question Ismae has had some traumatic experiences with every man she has come in contact with so it’s not surprising that she is extremely untrustworthy of Duval through most of the novel. Duval isn’t so happy to be saddled with her either but as his feelings change he comes to appreciate who (and what) she is so he is able to understand her as no one has ever done. The actual romance though? So painstakingly slow in a way that literally had me holding my breath. So many of their moments together had me on the edge of my seat to the point where Duval grabs Ismae’s ankle and I heard myself give a girly “eep!” out loud. Plus he calls her "my fair assassin" in regular conversation! Love! Duval is dedicated to his family, country and has a fierce dedication to his friends that shows his loyalty in a beautiful way. Seriously, move over Mr. Darcy, methinks I have found a new literary husband!

One of the things that had me thinking was the fact that this book had a ‘YA’ label. Don’t get me wrong I think it is a perfect read for YA readers and no, I don’t think that the themes are too “dark” for YA readers. However I do feel that there are some adults that will be wary to read this book due to the connotations that (they believe) go along with YA novels. This book had many adult themes and I am recommending it to a wide range of readers from YA to adult because I think it can be appreciated by them all. Also, there were some elements that were missing (ahem, bodice ripping) that would have made this a very adult book and though I am not complaining because slow burning romances are kind of my FAVORITE it is no question that the novel would have read a little different.

I have to say that this novel is one of my favorite books of all time. There were so many parts of this book that reminded me of Juliet Marillier’s Sevenwaters series and those of you who know me (or who follow my blog) know that this is probably the biggest compliment I can give. The strong heroine, slow burning romance and ending that focused on what is easy versus what is right are only a few of the things that I find in both novels. The novel was a gorgeous read that I honestly can’t say enough about, I highly recommend it to fans of Juliet Marillier, strong heroines and anyone looking for a new brooding literary crush.

I am so grateful to have received an ARC from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt via Netgalley and the only qualm I have is that now I have to wait an immensely long time for the companion novel, Dark Triumph to come out!

Thursday, March 22, 2012

Seraphina



Seraphina 
By Rachel Hartman 
Publisher: Random House Books For Young Readers 
Publication Date: July 10, 2012 

Four decades of peace have done little to ease the mistrust between humans and dragons in the kingdom of Goredd. Folding themselves into human shape, dragons attend court as ambassadors, and lend their rational, mathematical minds to universities as scholars and teachers. As the treaty's anniversary draws near, however, tensions are high.

Seraphina Dombegh has reason to fear both sides. An unusually gifted musician, she joins the court just as a member of the royal family is murdered—in suspiciously draconian fashion. Seraphina is drawn into the investigation, partnering with the captain of the Queen's Guard, the dangerously perceptive Prince Lucian Kiggs. While they begin to uncover hints of a sinister plot to destroy the peace, Seraphina struggles to protect her own secret, the secret behind her musical gift, one so terrible that its discovery could mean her very life.


I’m going to have to leave the summary up to Goodreads at this point because this book isn’t published until July 10, 2012 and I really don’t want to ruin it for anyone. I am SO grateful to have received an ARC from Random House via Netgalley! This review was hard for me to write because the book was so amazing I didn’t know how to approach the book to do it justice. So I decided to break it down as much as I could with no spoilers!! So here we go…

The world:

The world Rachel Hartman created was beautifully imaginative. I was honestly awed by the way she molded everything together. Seraphina is walking the line between two very distinct societies and social classes. Everything from the description of the clothing down to each dragon scale described was stunning. I was immediately captured and had no trouble imagining the world in which Seraphina lived.

The characters:

I loved the characters though I do have to say that there were quite a few to keep track of and I did find myself getting a tad confused at times trying to keep everyone straight. First, Seraphina is extremely headstrong, independent and intelligent. I was very impressed by her character because she felt very real for me. Her feelings (or lack of) toward her dead mother really touched me and made me appreciate and understand her in a magnificent way. I loved the way Seraphina grew throughout the novel and came to trust those around her as she was wary to do her whole life. Prince Lucian Kiggs was so loveable to me. He played the “Prince Charming” character wonderfully and I basically fell in love with him from the start. He was extremely devoted to his family and his duty but also torn in his affection for the mysterious Seraphina. Orma may have been my favorite character. I simply loved him. He seemed tactless, rude and uncaring in the beginning and still, he won my heart. As the story progressed I could see how much Seraphina meant to him and it reminded me of Karou and Brimstone’s heartfelt relationship from Daughter of Smoke and Bone. The secondary characters (found in Seraphina’s head and elsewhere) were so fun and interesting, I only wish we had learned more about them. Let’s not forget about the DRAGONS!!! They were gorgeous, mean, loving, and intricate and not at all like dragons I have read about before.

The plot:

Unfortunately I can’t go into too much detail here but I loved the story throughout. I loved the interwoven themes and relationships. It was mysterious, romantic, fantastical and all things amazing. The romance in the novel was not at all instantaneous and fake. It progressed slowly through the novel and grew in a real way. Finally, I was so happy with the ending of this book. Things were tied up in a nice way so that the immediate threat was handled but not in a way that left the reader wondering what had just happened. However, I have to be honest and say that once I turned the last page I immediately wondered (and researched) if there was a sequel in the works, and it looks like there is!


I honestly can’t say enough about this book, from the breathtaking cover to the last page I was completely enthralled. Though I am lucky enough to have an ARC of this book I have already pre-ordered the hardcover edition.


"A thousand regrets I've had in love,
A thousand times I've longed to change the past.
I know, my love, there is no going back.
No undoing of our thousand burdens.
We must go on despite our heavy hearts.
A thousand regrets I've had in love, but I shall never regret you."

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Waiting on Wednesday


"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event hosted at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

By Juliet Marillier
November 6, 2012


Maeve, daughter of Lord Sean of Sevenwaters, was badly burned as a child and carries the legacy of that fire in her crippled hands. After ten years she’s returning home as a courageous, forthright woman with a special gift for taming difficult animals. But while her body’s scars have healed, her spirit remains fragile, as she fears the shadows of her past.

Sevenwaters is in turmoil. The fey prince Mac Dara has become desperate to see his only son, who is married to Maeve’s sister, return to the Otherworld. To force Lord Sean’s hand, Mac Dara has caused a party of innocent travelers on the Sevenwaters border to vanish.

When Maeve finds one of the missing travelers murdered in the woods, she and her brother Finbar embark on a journey that may bring about the end of Mac Dara’s reign — or lead to a hideous death. But if she is successful, Maeve may open a door to a future she has not dared to believe possible...


First, I promise that next week my "Waiting on Wednesday" will NOT be a Juliet Marillier book. I couldn't help myself, when the cover and blurb were revealed this week I could hardly contain my excitement. This is presumably the last installment in The Sevenwaters series (that's what Juliet said after book three, let's hope she is wrong again) and I will definitely be re-reading the entire series for the millionth time before reading this one. I LOVED the story of Mac Dara and I am so excited to hear more about the entire family, though I may cry a little when its over.

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Top Ten Tuesday!



Top Ten Books On My Spring To-Be-Read list 



Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created over at The Broke and the Bookish which I adore and therefore chose to adopt into my weekly blog posts!

 
To be released this Spring: 

Let’s Pretend This Never Happened - By Jenny Lawson (aka TheBloggess) Some of you may already follow Jenny’s blog and know that she is hilarious. I find myself laughing out loud at her tweets on a daily basis and I can only sympathize with poor Victor yet feel a little jealous that he gets to take part in Jenny’s adventures. I am highly anticipating this book and I am sure it will make me furiously happy.

Storybound By Marissa Burt - This one is on my challenge list for “debut author challenge” and the blurb reminds me of Breadcrumbs by Anne Ursu so I can only hope it lives up to my expectations.

The Selection By Kiera Cass - Gorgeous cover and one of my top anticipated reads of 2012.

Of Poseidon By Anna Banks - A "fish out of water story" that I hope changes my mind regarding "mermaid" reads. Also, Goodreads doesn't have any information about it being a series and that makes me SO happy. I am eager to read some standalone novels.

Blackbirds By Chuck Wendig - This one has been on a few of my top ten posts, it looks amazing by all standards.

Already released books that I am anticipating reading this Spring:

Harbinger By Sara Wilson Etienne - Another one on my "debut author challenge" list.

The Fault in Our Stars By John Green - Reading this one for book club on April 3, I have heard great things so I am pretty excited!

Scarlet By A. C. Gaughen - A Robin Hood retelling? Yes please!

Out of Oz By Gregory Maguire - I am hoping to read this in the Spring though I think I want to go back and at least read Son of a Witch and A Lion Among Men first so I am not sure if I will get to them!

A Game of Thrones By George R. R. Martin: I had hoped to read at least the first three books before April 1 but I don't see that happening. In a nutshell: I NEED TO FINISH THIS SERIES!!!



That's it for me, what's on your Top Ten this week?

Sunday, March 18, 2012

In My Mailbox!



In my mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi over at The Story Siren in which you share the books you added to your collection in the past week.
My first “In My Mailbox” post! Yay!
Per usual most of my books come from the library this week as well as via Netgalley because they are giving me ARCs for free and why wouldn’t I take them? Though one I have purchased on my Nook because it is by my favorite author and she keeps me company whilst on the treadmill.

From my local library:


The synopsis of this one reminds me of Goddess Interrupted just a tad but it is highly rated by those I trust so I hope to enjoy is immensely more than the other series.





LOOVE me some Lemony Snicket and now he is writing YA? Yes please! I have read about 30 pages thus far it seems very cute and entertaining.



From Netgalley:



I really enjoyed Juliet Immortal and doubt I will be disappointed by this sequel as it is all about Romeo! I received the ARC via Netgalley and I am so grateful!






 
Added to my own collection ahthankyou:
 

I read Juliet’s books while on the treadmill because they make it so I don’t ever want to leave! I am excited to try another series by her because I have fallen in love with everyone one of her books I have read thus far!

Saturday, March 17, 2012

A Beautiful Evil




A Beautiful Evil
By Kelly Keaton

Myth and mayhem inhabit a richly reimagined New Orleans in this sequel to Darkness Becomes Her. After the epic graveyard battle at the end of Darkness Becomes Her, Ari and her friends know what they’re up against: Ari is facing the Medusa curse and is haunted by the image of what she will become. To make matters worse, the heinous goddess Athena has kidnapped young Violet and is threatening to destroy Ari.

Ari, along with the superhot Sebastian, is doing everything she can to learn more about Athena and to get Violet back. But the battle of good and evil is bigger than she realizes, and she’s about to be pulled into a world more horrific than she could ever imagine...

This is the second book in Keaton’s Gods & Monsters series, it continues where the first book Darkness Becomes Her left off. Ari has started training at the academy and is preparing herself for when she meets Athena the next time, she intends to get Violet and her father back and take Athena down. As the story progresses she does get more than one chance to overtake Athena. However, Athena has a new plan up her sleeve and she uses Sebastian as a new pawn in her game, which leads Ari to make some very hard decisions that may determine the outcome of their entire relationship.

This addition to the series provided more insight to some of the characters while introducing some new faces as well. I was disappointed that Violet was again left a mystery but I found the part of Athena’s back-story to be interesting and I was very intrigued by Henri’s little secret. This novel also shed light on Sebastian’s true self and his relationship with Ari. Both characters are put through significant trials and I was thrilled with the way they both handled each situation.

Unfortunately the book as a whole disappointed me. I found it to be slow paced yet also filled with entirely too much action. I know that seems impossible but Ari kept going after Athena with no plan in place and just thought she could get lucky overcome the Goddess. Each time she failed miserably she turned right around without a plan and went after Athena no better prepared than she was the last time. This made me think of her as extremely immature and though I know this was a fantasy novel it still felt rather silly and unbelievable to me. I am not sure at this point if I will continue reading the series or not.

Much like the first book, I recommend this book to those that enjoy retellings of Greek mythology with a little paranormal fantasy thrown in.

Thursday, March 15, 2012

Darkness Becomes Her



Darkness Becomes Her
By Kelly Keaton

With teal eyes and freakish silver hair that can't be changed or destroyed, Ari has always stood out. And after growing up in foster care, she longs for some understanding of where she came from and who she is. Her search for answers uncovers just one message from her long-dead mother: Run.

The story begins with Ari desperately searching for answers regarding her dead mother. She was brought up in foster care and like a lot of foster children she longed to know more of her parents. Ari is not only different because she comes from a foster home but she was born with teal eyes and silver hair, these characteristics greatly add to her beauty but they also make her feel even more alone in the world. After Ari obtains information on her mother she is attacked by a mysterious man and decides that her only choice is to venture into New 2, an area designate to those that are not “normal,” so that she can better understand where she came from.

I honestly don’t enjoy dystopian novels and therefore I wasn’t as excited to read about Ari and the ruined New Orleans. However the author does not focus on the dystopian elements but more on Ari’s story and her need for knowledge about her heritage.

The characters in this novel were so diverse and I really loved them all. Ari was really a strong heroine who doesn’t need to rely on anyone but herself. I really appreciated her strength, though I felt that her language was a little vulgar and at first it made me think of her as really immature. Sebastian was actually a pretty sweet character; he really cared about Ari it seemed. I am so used to the whole “falling in love after knowing each other for five minute” plot line that I have become desensitized. Their relationship was done in the same way on one level but at the same time I can relate to how she became close to her after she woke up to find him caring for her in a vulnerable state. Also Violet was such a neat character, she was very unique and she really helped to develop the story. Plus she has a miniature pet alligator named Pascal and I think that is so cool and also, I want one.

This book is a blend between the paranormal mystery type books and a Greek mythology retelling. It was quite unique in the way it blended the two genres and I was very impressed with the way the author set up the story. I am also happy to say that I didn’t completely figure out the plot twists before they occurred. It is always a pleasant feeling when parts of a book surprise me.I do have to say that the story went by too quickly for me and I believe the author could have doubled her page count and not decided to turn the book into a series. It really read more like a short prelude to a much longer story that is to come and I am highly anticipating A Beautiful Evil so that I can learn more about Ari and see her get revenge on those who tried to harm her.

I recommend this book to those that enjoy retellings of Greek mythology with a little paranormal fantasy thrown in, this book really is one of the best in this genre thus far.

I will be reviewing the sequel, "A Beautiful Evil" this weekend so make sure to stop by!

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Waiting on Wednesday


"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event hosted at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.”


Shadowfell
By Juliet Marillier
Expected September 11, 2012

Sixteen-year-old Neryn is alone in the land of Alban, where the oppressive king has ordered anyone with magical strengths captured and brought before him. Eager to hide her own canny skill--a uniquely powerful ability to communicate with the fairy-like Good Folk--Neryn sets out for the legendary Shadowfell, a home and training ground for a secret rebel group determined to overthrow the evil King Keldec.

During her dangerous journey, she receives aid from the Good Folk, who tell her she must pass a series of tests in order to recognize her full potential. She also finds help from a handsome young man, Flint, who rescues her from certain death--but whose motives in doing so remain unclear. Neryn struggles to trust her only allies. They both hint that she alone may be the key to Alban's release from Keldec's rule. Homeless, unsure of who to trust, and trapped in an empire determined to crush her, Neryn must make it to Shadowfell not only to save herself, but to save Alban.

Seriously who is surprised that I chose a Juliet Marillier as my FIRST “Waiting on Wednesday?” I was actually going to use Flame of Sevenwaters for my first choice but there is no pretty book cover yet so I decided to go with this one. I AM SO EXCITED that Juliet is choosing to write another series!! She describes this book as such: “Shadowfell, first book in a crossover series for YA/adult readers, is a story of tyranny and rebellion set in ancient Scotland.” I. can’t. wait.

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Top Ten Tuesday!


Top Ten Fairy Tale Retellings 



Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created over at The Broke and the Bookish which I adore and therefore chose to adopt into my weekly blog posts!

I LOVE retellings and the following are my favorite, I feel that all of these retellings can be appreciated on their own and that they also shed a new beautiful light on the classical fairy tales that they represent. I have reviewed most of these on the blog already so feel free to click for some more information!


A Tale Dark and Grimm By Adam Gidwitz

Breadcrumbs By Anne Ursu 

Fables By Bill Willingham  

Sweetly By Jackson Pearce

Wildwood Dancing By Juliet Marillier 

Entwined By Heather Dixon

Wicked By Gregory Maguire

Daughter of the Forest By Juliet Marillier

The Black Swan By Mercedes Lackey

Snow White and Rose Red By Patricia C. Wrede 


Illustration from Snow White and Rose Red by The Brothers Grimm


Saturday, March 10, 2012

Dragonswood


Dragonswood
By Janet Lee Carey

Wilde Island is not at peace. The kingdom mourns the dead Pendragon king and awaits the return of his heir; the uneasy pact between dragons, fairies, and humans is strained; and the regent is funding a bloodthirsty witch hunt. Tess, daughter of a blacksmith, has visions of the future, but she still doesn't expect to be accused of witchcraft.

Surprisingly enough, this story started out not with dragons but with witches. Tess lives with her abusive father and meek mother in a small town that becomes overthrown by witch hunters. Unfortunately, Tess is convicted of being a witch by some villagers and is forced to succumb to tests to prove her innocence. Through a dramatic turn of events, Tess escapes and goes into hiding taking her two best friends with her.


Soon after, the three girls are found hiding in a cave by a mysterious man. A man whom Tess has been having visions about for some time. Though her visions didn’t provide much insight as to who this man was or why he lives secluded in an old hunting lodge belonging to the late king. Tess and her friends are left with no choice but to put their fate into this man’s hands but Tess becomes determined to learn more about him and his dark past and they become bound as Tess learns more about herself as well.


I enjoyed this book immensely. I was intrigued in the way witchcraft was brought into the storyline and I really enjoyed the way the author tied it up with the fae story and the background of Tess and her visions.


Tess was a very strong character, she was brave and she didn’t want to be married off like other girls her age but wanted to draw, be independent and be able to run off into the woods whenever she wished, without a question from a man in her life. I liked that she had flaws to her character and wasn’t a perfect female lead, it made her more likeable. Garth was so likeable that I think I fell in love with him as soon as he was introduced. He reminded me of some of the male leads in Juliet Marillier’s books, specifically Red from Daughter of the Forest. He was calm, cool, collected but also so strong and willing to fight for what was right. The secondary characters were also wonderful contrasts for Tess, her friends started off as girls who wanted nothing more than to be married off and taken care of. Once they were all thrown into danger these girls changed and their strengths came out.


I loved the plot twists and the introduction of the fae into the already dragon ridden world that Tess lives in. It was interesting to see how strong Tess was when she was given everything she thought she wanted and how she weighed it against what it would cost her. I also adored the love story of this novel. It was not instantaneous which always makes me very happy but it was gradual and heartbreaking and strong and most importantly, it was believable. I wanted more from this love, though the author provided just enough to make it beautiful and lasting in my mind.


I liked this book significantly more than Dragon’s Keep and I recommend it to fantasy lovers who are looking for a novel that focuses on relationships of all kinds growing in a land rich in fantastical elements.


In the enchanted Woodland wild,
The Prince shall wed a Fairy child,
Dragon, Human, and Fairy,
Their union will be bound by three.
And when these lovers intertwine,
Three races in one child combine.
Dragon, Fey, and Humankind
Bound in one bloodline.

Thursday, March 8, 2012

Dragon's Keep


Dragon's Keep
Janet Lee Carey

Far away on Wilde Island, Princess Rosalind is born with a dragon claw where her ring finger should be. To hide the secret, the Queen forces her to wear gloves at all times until a cure can be found, so Rosalind can fulfill the prophecy to restore the family to their rightful throne.

But Rosalind’s flaw cannot be separated from her fate. When she is carried off by the dragon, everything she thought she knew falls apart. The dragon sees beauty in her talon where her mother saw only shame, and Rosalind finally understands what her mother has truly denied her.  

600 years ago Evaine, the sister of King Arthur marries someone her family believes to be beneath her status, due to her choice to marry for love she is exiled from the kingdom forever and flees to Wilde Island. Merlin has a prophecy that the 21st princess of Wilde Island will restore the name of Pendragon and end the war between humans and dragons.

Princess Rosalind feels the pressure of this prophecy in present day as she lives with a terrible secret. Rosalind was born with a dragon claw in place of her ring finger on her left hand. The only people who know of this deformity are Rosalind, her mother, and an old witch who lives in the mountains. Rosalind wears gloves every moment of every day to hide her “curse” and she waits for the day she will meet and hopefully marry Prince Henry.

Soon after a convoy from the Queen of England comes to judge Rosalind on behalf of the Queen and Prince Henry, Rosalind is abducted by a dragon and taken to his keep. Rosalind is forced to live with this dragon and take care of his four offspring. The story unfolds as Rosalind learns what it means to be both dragon and human and how to rule as queen to both.

I picked this book up after I read Janet Lee Carey’s newest book, Dragonswood. Dragonswood is a companion novel to Dragon’s Keep and I thought it would be a good idea to find out the premise behind the second book.

I really enjoyed this book; I kinda love dragons a lot and have been hooked on them ever since I read Patricia C. Wrede’s Dealing With Dragons as a child. The dragons in this book are a little different than Wrede’s but they were endearing nonetheless. This wasn’t completely a happy fairy tale. There were some dark moments and I found myself really feeling the anguish Rosalind felt over her relationship with her mother.

I felt like the romance of this book could have been left out, it seemed extremely rushed and contained no depth for me. It wasn’t the typical “love at first sight” that I have been finding in YA novels lately but Rosalind starts longing and needing this guy rather quickly to the point where upon seeing him for maybe the 6th time they are ready to get married. I thought it was very sweet but I couldn’t help but think that she was in love with the guy because he appreciated and understood her like her mother never could.

I enjoyed this book a lot, though not as much as its companion novel, Dragonswood, which I will be reviewing this weekend so make sure you stop by! I recommend it to fans of Patricia C. Wrede, dragons, and happy endings. 

“She shall redeem the name Pendragon.
End war with the wave of her hand.
And restore the glory of Wilde Island.”

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Top Ten Tuesday!


Top Ten Favorite Book Covers 



Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created over at The Broke and the Bookish which I adore and therefore chose to adopt into my weekly blog posts!

I am totally one of those people who first judges a book by its cover. I KNOW you shouldn’t, don’t lecture ME, I’m a librarian! Since I am prone to doing this I have a million covers that I just LOVE, so this list wasn’t too hard to make. I chose to pick books that jumped out at me at the bookstore and/or library to narrow it down a little more.

 

Graveminder by Melissa Marr – This was the first book by Melissa Marr that I ever read, I knew who she was but I’m not too in love with “fae” stories so I had never picked up a book by Marr. As soon as I saw this cover while working in tech processing (best. job. ever.) I knew I had to read it.



 
Daughter of the Forest by Juliet Marillier – I know you are probably sick of me raving about how AWESOME this author is but I remember being in the bookstore with my grandmother probably 10 years ago and this book just jumped out at me. The cover is beautiful though not as detailed as her other books such as Wildwood Dancing.






The Gates of Sleep by Mercedes Lackey – It’s hard to say what made me fall for this book at first sight, it’s colorful, mysterious and intricate all at the same time.





Fables by Bill Willingham – How could I possibly have a post about book covers without mentioning Willingham’s work? I love, love, love these graphic novels so much that I own a book dedicated solely to its cover artwork! I don’t have the words to express how much I love the artwork in these books, I want to poster it all over my walls.






 Shattered Souls by Mary Lindsey – I have yet to read this book but as soon as I saw the cover I knew I had to add it to my TBR pile. I’m not sure why the fad now in book covers is girls floating in some creepy way but I like it.





Blackbirds by Chuck Wendig – How cool is this cover? It only uses three colors yet it somehow manages to be so vibrant and eye catching I can’t wait to pick it up!








Dragonswood by Janet Lee Carey – Again with the random floating girl above water and again I find it intriguing enough to want to read it immediately.






Seraphina by Rachel Hartman – I love the colors (or lack of) on this book cover. The whole illustration is absolutely beautiful and it’s one of the main reasons I wanted to read this book so badly. (Note: I am reading it right now and it is GOOD!)







Draw the Dark by Ilsa Bick – This cover is CREEPY!! I love scary books and this cover makes me scared before even reading the blurb!






Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs – All I kept thinking of before reading this book was: “why is that creepy little girl FLOATING alone in a forest looking straight into my soul,” and “Where is her coat, shouldn’t she be freezing?” Then you turn the book over and forget about it creepiest pictures ever!

What are your favorite book covers?