Fiery Souls With Crowns...

Published:  Septmeber 18th, 2012

The Crown of Embers (Fire and Thorns # 2)

By: Rae Carson

Greenwillow Books

ISBN-13:  9780062026514

In the sequel to the acclaimed The Girl of Fire and Thorns, a seventeen-year-old princess turned war queen faces sorcery, adventure, untold power, and romance as she fulfills her epic destiny.

Elisa is the hero of her country. She led her people to victory against a terrifying enemy, and now she is their queen. But she is only seventeen years old. Her rivals may have simply retreated, choosing stealth over battle. And no one within her court trusts her-except Hector, the commander of the royal guard, and her companions. As the country begins to crumble beneath her and her enemies emerge from the shadows, Elisa will take another journey. With a one-eyed warrior, a loyal friend, an enemy defector, and the man she is falling in love with, Elisa crosses the ocean in search of the perilous, uncharted, and mythical source of the Godstone's power. That is not all she finds. A breathtaking, romantic, and dangerous second volume in the Fire and Thorns trilogy.

Review

     Elisa has survived a war between her country and the Invierne, with their cruel magic.  Now at only seventeen, she is celebrating one victory in an environment of political vipers, with her position as Queen hanging in the balance.  But it comes to light that the war might not be over and the enemy may have just retreated.  The only people she can trust are Hector, the commander of her royal guard, and her maid Mara.   Even loyal protector Ximena has her own political and personal agendas for Elisa. When attempts are made on Elisa's life and others are caught in the crossfire, she decides to undertake a quest that has been prophesied, that will lead to unlimited power for one bearer of the Godstone.  Will it be Elisa?  Also can her feelings for Hector ever be allowed to grow romatically, or will politics get in the way?  It is up to Elisa and those she trusts the most to solve the mystery of who is trying to kill her, find the traitors within her royal court, and complete their latest quest before it's too late.  Will they kingdom crumble or will they succeed?  I truly loved the first book and had very close to zero complaints with it.  Elisa is a strong protagonist, who has grown and matured over the course of the first novel.  She became an intelligent leader with a strong backbone.  In the beginning of this novel the strength has remained, but we also see the insecurities that come with leading an entire kingdom, rather than just a rebellion.  The power of the Godstone that Elisa carries is further expounded upon and she gains more control over its power as the book progresses.  I enjoyed the Invierne man as a reluctant ally and the revelation about his Godstone was interesting in the context of the plot.  I liked the political machinations that took place in this book and how Carson managed to make them interesting and integral to the plot.  The side story-line with Ximena continuously trying to manipulate Elisa and  the latter finally sending her back to the kingdom they originally came from was heartrending  but only made me like Elisa even more.  She refused to have her life planned out for her, even by someone like a Mother to her. As a sequel it is essential to read the first book the know what the heck is going on.  This book managed to completely avoid the sophomore slump that seems to be a given when reading a YA trilogy - even a fantasy one!   It kept pace with the first book, the romance was tastefully, maturely and realistically done and the adventure was plentiful.  I loved it and will be awaiting the last book in the trilogy with great longing.  I cannot recommend this series enough for fans of high fantasy and authors like Tamora Pierce, Robin McKinley and Kristin Cashore.  And Rae Carson just might be better than any of them! :)  Also the mention and responsible usage of some form of birth control, even with the novel's religious overtones greatly endears this author to me.  Three cheers for responsibility!

VERDICT:  5/5  Stars

***No money or favors were exchanged for this review. This book is now available in stores, online, or maybe even at your local library.**

Kinfolk, But Not By Blood...

Published: July 31st, 2012

Otherkin (Otherkin # 1)

By: Nina Berry

Kensington

ISBN-13: 9780758276919

I thought I knew myself. Then I met Caleb.

Dez is a good girl who does as she’s told and tries not to be noticed.
Then she rescues a boy from a cage, and he tells her secrets about herself.
Now inside her burns a darkness that will transform her.

Everything is about to change -- and neither Caleb, nor the Otherkin, nor those who hunt them are prepared for what Dez will unleash.

Review

   Desdemona (better known as Dez by her friends and family) has a loving Mom and Step-Dad, great friends and a safe home.  Plus the boy that she's been crushing on has just noticed her, although her back brace makes it kind of humiliating on top of the excitement she feels.  Then Dez shapeshifts into a tiger for the first time and all Hell breaks loose.  She's shot, kidnapped and stuck inside a cage by an organization called the Tribunal who wants to eliminate all shifters.  But she manages to escape, rescuing Caleb the boy in the cage next to hers on the way out.  It turns out that Dez is Otherkin and is able to tap into her shifter form due to an alternate dimension known as the Othersphere.  Forced to go into hiding at a special school for Otherkin teenagers, Dez and Caleb (who is actually able to call up the shadow in other objects and control it, but not shift himself) slowly begin to make ties with the other shifters, even though their clans are very stand-offish and self-serving.  But when the Tribunal attacks the school itself and the school's leader, Morfael, is wounded and other students captured it will be up to Dez, Caleb and the others that are left to face the Tribunal head on for a change.  Can they work together in time to save the clans from starting a war on each other?  And what explosive secrets is Caleb hiding that will change everything?

     I have been trying to steer clear of shifter/vampire/werewolf/fairy/angel, etc. fiction as of late because it always seems to disappoint my expectations.  This book pleasantly surprised me!  I liked Dez from the start, even if she is a little bit whiny about the back brace.  But the book got into the action right away pretty much, with Dez being forced to deal with a supernatural world underneath her own.  And yes, she's pissed off and bewildered.  But she's also strong, kick-ass and take names which lends to my liking of her.  She rolls with punches very well, especially with a tradition of wishy-washy YA heroines trailing behind her.  I liked that this book had some major set-up for the rest of the series, but also had a lot of action sequences to break up the monotony.  The tentative friendships between the kids from each Clan, who had been pre-conditioned to dislike and distrust each other their whole lives, very realistic.  When the shit hits the fan, those beginning steps almost get thrown from the window until Dez steps up and decides to take on the Tribunal.  It had a Percy Jackson vibe, but with shapeshifters.  The one thing I could have done without was the unnecessary romance between Dez and Caleb.  But it was easily ignored and for that I was grateful.  I just hope the next book bypasses the usual Supe love triangle.  Here's hoping! :)

VERDICT:  4/5  Stars

*I received an Advanced Reading E-book Copy from the publisher, via NetGalley. No money or favors were exchanged for this review. This book was published July 31st, 2012.*

It's a Love Story, Baby Just Say Yes

Expected Publication: October 9th, 2012

Mystic City (Mystic City # 1)

By: Theo Lawrence

Random House Children's Books

ISBN-13: 9780385741606

For fans of Matched, The Hunger Games, X-Men, and Blade Runner comes a tale of a magical city divided, a political rebellion ignited, and a love that was meant to last forever. Book One of the Mystic City Novels.

Aria Rose, youngest scion of one of Mystic City's two ruling rival families, finds herself betrothed to Thomas Foster, the son of her parents' sworn enemies. The union of the two will end the generations-long political feud—and unite all those living in the Aeries, the privileged upper reaches of the city, against the banished mystics who dwell below in the Depths. But Aria doesn't remember falling in love with Thomas; in fact, she wakes one day with huge gaps in her memory. And she can't conceive why her parents would have agreed to unite with the Fosters in the first place. Only when Aria meets Hunter, a gorgeous rebel mystic from the Depths, does she start to have glimmers of recollection—and to understand that he holds the key to unlocking her past. The choices she makes can save or doom the city—including herself.  

Review

   Aria Rose is missing a major chunk of time.  So major, that she can't remember falling in love with Thomas Foster, the son of her family's multi-generational political  enemy or that they were engaged.  She also doesn't remember her supposed overdose on a mind altering substance created by the magic of mystics, called Stic.  Aria begins to question whether or not things really happened the way she's been told after she finds Thomas in a compromising position and it seems like her parents will do anything for her not to remember.  Then she meets Hunter, a rebel Mystic from the Depths of the city who wants to destroy the current political order, and Aria feels an inexplicable connection to him.  Things begin to unlock from her memories and send her down a dangerous path that might lead to the collapse of New York City - and her entire world with it.  Can Aria figure out the truth in time to know who to trust?  And who will live or die when it comes down to the biggest fight of them all?  I was intrigued by the concept of global warming trashing the world and causing a new class system to form.  The fact that natural magic was thrown into it caused me to request this from the publisher.  I was left with mixed feelings by the time the book ended, which are still mixed a half a month later.  Aria was semi-likeable, but I felt like she used her missing memories to act like a ceramic doll at some points and an atrocious brat at others (like when dealing with Hunter at first).  The whole dynamic between the Mystics, who are drained of the powers to keep them 'harmless', and the wealthy non-Mystics was very confusing.  If I had the powers to make people do what I wanted them to, would I voluntarily let myself be drained, treated like a second-class citizen and crushed into inescapable poverty?  HELL TO THE NO!!!  It didn't strike me as very realistic.  I liked Hunter and his complicated back-story and Thomas was delightfully morally ambiguous for a slightly villainous side character.  Aria's friends Bennie and Kiki were basically afterthoughts and despite the author's attempt to make Davida a major part of the story, I never saw any depth to the servant girl's relationship with Aria (which was supposedly really close).  I felt like it was a little to clearly drawn in terms of right and wrong, without enough in-between to be a truly satisfying and fleshed out story.  Aria as a heroine did annoy me at the constant obliviousness she displayed to what was really going on around her.  And there was some major inconsistency in the overall world-building that irks me.  Generally not a book I would recommend for anyone but tween girls, or young adult/adult readers looking for a bit of fluff.  I won't be going further with this series.

VERDICT:  3/5  Stars

*I received an Advanced Reading E-book Copy from the publisher, via NetGalley. No money or favors were exchanged for this review. This book's expected publication date is October 9th, 2012.*

We Are One Weird Family

Published: August 23rd, 2011
Bloodlines
By: Richelle Mead
Razorbill Fiction
ISBN-13: 9780141337111


BLOOD DOESN'T LIE. Sydney is an alchemist, one of a group of humans who dabble in magic and serve to bridge the worlds of human and vampires. They protect vampire secrets - and human lives. When Sydney is torn from her bed in the middle of the night, at first she thinks she's still being punished for her complicated alliance with dhampir Rose Hathaway. But what unfolds is far worse. Jill Dragomir - the sister of Moroi Queen Lissa Dragomir - is in mortal danger, and the Moroi must send her into hiding. To avoid a civil war, Sydney is called upon to act as Jill's guardian and protector, posing as her roommate in the last place anyone would think to look for vampire royalty - a human boarding school in Palm Springs, California. But instead of finding safety at Amberwood Prep, Sydney discovers the drama is only just beginning...

Review

   Sydney is still in trouble for helping dhampir Rose Hathaway prove her innocence and a plot against Moroi Queen Lissa Drogomir.  Her people, the Alchemists, view this as a serious betrayl.  But in an effort to protect her younger sister from the harsh life of an alchemist, Sydney fights to win a job helping to protect Jill (Lissa's younger sister) from would be assassins, who will start a Civil War in the vamp world if she is killed.  This involves going to school in Palm Springs, California and posing as siblings to avoid attracting attention.  Also along for the ride is heartbroken Adrian, who's still hurting over Rose choosing Dimitri, Eddie (the dhampir who protects Jill) and Keith, a seriously crooked alchemist who hates Sydney and will stop at nothing to have her sent away.  While at school, Sydney uncovers a possible plot using alchemist technology to make money, by giving humans tattoos with extra properties that are dangerous to them.  Sydney also becomes further confused over who is a friend or enemy, with all the lines blurring as the days pass with Jill, Eddie and Adrian becoming close friends.  Will she be able to do her job without getting attached?  And who will be alive or dead when all is said and done?  I enjoyed this book a lot.  It was obviously set-up for future books in the series, but I found the plot interesting and there was enough action to keep me interested.  The characters were well developed and fun to read, except Jill who comes across as slightly 2-Dimensional.  I truly loved Sydney and Adrian's sarcastic interactions and I also loved Sydney as a confused, but strong heroine.  This was a good first series book and I will definitely be reading the next one.

VERDICT:  4/5  Stars

*No money or favors were exchanged for this review. This book is now available in stores and online.*