Morrighan's Book Reviews: 4.5 Stars

Showing posts with label 4.5 Stars. Show all posts

Monday, August 20, 2018

Book Review: The Wicked Deep

Welcome to the cursed town of Sparrow… Where, two centuries ago, three sisters were sentenced to death for witchery. Stones were tied to their ankles and they were drowned in the deep waters surrounding the town. Now, for a brief time each summer, the sisters return, stealing the bodies of three weak-hearted girls so that they may seek their revenge, luring boys into the harbor and pulling them under. Like many locals, seventeen-year-old Penny Talbot has accepted the fate of the town. But this year, on the eve of the sisters’ return, a boy named Bo Carter arrives; unaware of the danger he has just stumbled into. Mistrust and lies spread quickly through the salty, rain-soaked streets. The townspeople turn against one another. Penny and Bo suspect each other of hiding secrets. And death comes swiftly to those who cannot resist the call of the sisters. But only Penny sees what others cannot. And she will be forced to choose: save Bo, or save herself.

This story begins the telling of a legend of three sisters, accused of witchcraft and being drowned by an entire town in the 19th century. The urban legend feel to the tale drags the reader right into the town of Sparrow from page one and refuses to release its hold.

"The townspeople of Sparrow found the sisters to be much more; they believed them to be witches, casting spells on the men to make them unfaithful. And so at the end of June, when the moon was nothing but a thin shard in the overcast sky, stones were tied to the sisters' ankles, and they were dropped into the ocean just beyond the cape, where they sank to the bottom and drowned. Just like the ship they arrived on."

The town of Sparrow reminds me of these backwards towns that still exist throughout America-- small minded folk that think that anything different is dangerous. Every year, the three Swan sisters return from the depths of the ocean to exact their revenge. Their vengeance comes in the form of drowning young, teenage boys. It almost feels like the town of Sparrow celebrates them-- maybe that is their way of accepting the crimes of their ancestors? The 'Swan Season' seemed peculiar-- throwing parties and hosting parades during this three week long time of death.

"The knowing of what's coming, the death that creeps up over the town like fate clawing at the door of every shop and home. I can feel it in the air, in the spray of the sea, in the hollow spaces between raindrops. The sisters are coming.

Each sister takes over the body of a young girl, and no one but our main character seems to know who is possessed. Tourists pour into the town and watch morbidly as boys' bodies are pulled from the water, lifeless and bloated, yet with smiles on their faces. Thus begins yet another witch hunt for the possessed girls, because the first one obviously worked so well.

This book was so strange, yet I found myself sucked into the world. The darkness rippling from the pages held my attention to the point that I finished it in one sitting. Penny is our main character-- she lives on an isolated island right off the coast of Sparrow, Oregon. Her family life is falling apart; her father disappeared during a Swan season three years prior, and her mother has gone mad in his absence. Penny knows that she will never have a future; how could she leave her mother alone on the island to seek out her own dreams of college?

At the annual Swan party to kick off the season, Penny meets Bo. She is drawn to him and trusts him instantly. Bo is looking for work and Penny needs help on the island. She offers him somewhere to stay and food in exchange for his help manning the lighthouse. What she doesn't know is why this outsider is here in Sparrow at the time of the Swan season. It seems an odd coincidence. The story follows Penny and Bo, their strange relationship, and the insane killings that occur during the Swan season. I loved it. Every twist and turn, every morbid detail that surrounds this insane town and its even more insane reactions to this yearly season of murder.

Magic is a tricky thing. Not easily measured or metered or weighed.

The only reason I cannot bring myself to give this book the full five stars it may deserve is the massive amount of prejudice throughout the story. It made me grind my teeth more times that I can count. I understand that was the point of the author but it got to be a bit much at times. Other than that, I HIGHLY recommend giving this book a read! It is a highly atmospheric tale of vengeance, love, and loss that will leave the reader questioning their sanity.

<3Morrighan

Friday, March 10, 2017

Book Review: Cinder by Marissa Meyer

Cinder
By Marissa Meyer
Series:The Lunar Chronicles #1
Hardcover: 390
Publication Date: January 3, 2012
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
My Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ✯ ( 4.5 out of 5 Stars )

Sixteen-year-old Cinder is considered a technological mistake by most of society and a burden by her stepmother. Being cyborg does have its benefits, though: Cinder's brain interference has given her an uncanny ability to fix things (robots, hovers, her own malfunctioning parts), making her the best mechanic in New Beijing. This reputation brings Prince Kai himself to her weekly market booth, needing her to repair a broken android before the annual ball. He jokingly calls it "a matter of national security," but Cinder suspects it's more serious than he's letting on. Although eager to impress the prince, Cinder's intentions are derailed when her younger stepsister, and only human friend, is infected with the fatal plague that's been devastating Earth for a decade. Blaming Cinder for her daughter's illness, Cinder's stepmother volunteers her body for plague research, an "honor" that no one has survived. But it doesn't take long for the scientists to discover something unusual about their new guinea pig. Something others would kill for.

Read Review »

Saturday, November 15, 2014

Into the Fae by Quinn Loftis - Gypsy Healers #1

*Before the review, I want to apologize for my lack of posts this week! Balancing work and school is getting a bit ridiculous. I have an insane Lit professor that assigned us three papers, one due each week for the next few weeks. We are expected to read Dante's The Divine Comedy, one part each week; write a 8-9 page paper and prepare a 5-7 minute speech on each installment. The first week, obviously is on Inferno, week two is Purgatorio, and finally Paradisio. Please be patient with me while I read these books and write these ridiculous papers! Muah!*

Into the Fae
By Quinn Loftis
The Gypsy Healers #1
Ebook: 295 pages
Publication Date: June 6, 2014
Publisher: Smashwords (Self-published)
Rated:

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With peace finally descending on the Romanian Grey Wolves, longtime fae ambassador to the wolves, Perizada, has been given a new mission by the Great Luna. But Peri’s desire for revenge against her sister, Lorelle, burns in her heart. Further complicating matters, the great white wolf, Lucian Lupei, has been returned to the pack after centuries trapped in the Dark Forest, and it appears he is destined to be with Peri. Can she put aside her thoughts of vengeance long enough to accept Lucian’s love and complete her mission?

So, apparently this book is the beginning of a spin-off series. The first series is called The Grey Wolves and it includes six books. I didn't realize that before I read this one, but it can definitely be read as a stand-alone. I followed the story perfectly without having read the previous ones; although six new books just found their way onto my TBR shelf! Into the Fae was wonderful, I fell in love with each and every one of the characters. Perizada, a high Fae and member of the council is the protagonist. She is sarcastic, impatient, and says exactly what she is thinking; my favorite attributes in a female character! I connected with her almost instantly, and her smart mouth made me laugh several times throughout this book. She was chosen by the deity, The Great Luna, to be the go-between for the werewolves and the fae, as the fae are the most powerful of the supernatural beings. The fae are basically the police of the supernatural world. Over time, the werewolves vulnerabilities as a species, their tendencies toward violence began to weaken the packs. Thus, they were given a gift from this deity- Gypsy Healers. These are humans with an affinity for healing magic- one is given to each of the large packs in the world. They help to heal the wolves in their pack, as well as each healer is the true mate to one wolf. All wolves need to find their true mates; if they fail to do so, the darkness that is the wolf inside of the man takes over, causing insanity and madness.

Lucian is a wonderfully written male character! A sexy alpha Canis Lupis that is Peri's true mate. Although Peri does not want to accept that she is destined to be with this wolf, he never gives up on her. When the Dark Forest was sealed years ago because of dark magic, he was trapped there as well. For years, he wandered this forest alone, with no way out. Due to Lorelle, Peri's sister trying to kill her, the forest was unsealed and Lucian was freed. This is a wonderful story, filled with mysticism, magic, and sexy supernatural creatures! The world building is phenomenal, hands down! It begins in Romania, at the werewolf castle, and continues through the U.S. and finally into the Faerie world itself. I loved the way that Miss Loftis described the worlds that she took the story to; I could picture it in my mind and that is so imperative to a great book. The characters were well written, and I fully connected with all of them! The plot line is perfectly paced and it felt like each page was more exciting than the last. There were no crazy plot twists though, sadly. I love a good story that gives the reader a few 'wtf moments,' but I still loved everything about this one! If there were some weird, twisted craziness at the end, it would have been a 5 star rating for sure!

I can see Quinn Loftis becoming one of my new favorite authors. Her writing is perfect, from the way that she describes the characters to her fast paced plot lines and the humor that she injects into a suspenseful scene! I honestly cannot wait to read The Grey Wolves Series as well as the next book in this series, Wolf of Stone. This self-published author has a long, hopeful career writing and I hope that more people check out her work! Great story Miss Loftis!

"As my good friend Jen would say, let's do this. Okay, she would say him, but we're going to go with this in an effort to keep things rated PG." -Perizada
""Sally isn't going to like this." Peri cocked her hip out to the side as she crossed her arms in front of her. "Why? Do you have to sacrifice a puppy?" Rachel's furrowed brow deepened. "Well, no," she said quickly. "Castrate an elephant?" "No." "Hold Jen's baby on a cliff overlooking the animal kingdom and sing Circle of Life?" Rachel let out an exasperated breath. "Are you done?" Peri shrugged. "After the things I just said, I'm betting it doesn't seem so bad now." "We both have to give up one of our ovaries," Rachel blurted out. "I stand corrected. Sally is going to hate that and all my ideas were way better," Peri conceded. Suddenly, Rachel started laughing. "I was joking, Perizada; we don't have to give up any ovaries." -Perizada & Rachel
""Mother of Pearl, she's making up her own words to the tunes of pop songs," Sally groaned. "Is that a bad thing?" Anna asked. "Let's just say when Peri starts trying to be creative with today's popular culture, it's a 'she's gotta plan that's probably going to get us killed' thing." Stella scrunched up her face. "Good to know." "I'm pretty sure there is nothing good about that piece of information," Anna pointed out. "True. However, it might make things a little less tense if we go to our deaths with a catchy jingle stuck in our heads courtesy of our completely 'not' psycho fairy." -Sally, Anna, & Stella (The Gypsy Healers)

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Related Reviews
| Forever Fae | War of the Fae Series |

Connect with Quinn Loftis
| Official Site | Twitter | Facebook |

Wednesday, October 29, 2014

Snow Like Ashes by Sara Raasch

Snow Like Ashes
By Sara Raasch
Snow Like Ashes Series 1
Hardcover: 422 pages
Publication Date: October 14, 2014
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Rated:

4.5 out of 5 Stars

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A heartbroken girl. A fierce warrior. A hero in the making.

Sixteen years ago the Kingdom of Winter was conquered and its citizens enslaved, leaving them without magic or a monarch. Now, the Winterians’ only hope for freedom is the eight survivors who managed to escape, and who have been waiting for the opportunity to steal back Winter’s magic and rebuild the kingdom ever since.

Orphaned as an infant during Winter’s defeat, Meira has lived her whole life as a refugee, raised by the Winterians’ general, Sir. Training to be a warrior—and desperately in love with her best friend, and future king, Mather — she would do anything to help her kingdom rise to power again.

So when scouts discover the location of the ancient locket that can restore Winter’s magic, Meira decides to go after it herself. Finally, she’s scaling towers, fighting enemy soldiers, and serving her kingdom just as she’s always dreamed she would. But the mission doesn’t go as planned, and Meira soon finds herself thrust into a world of evil magic and dangerous politics – and ultimately comes to realize that her destiny is not, never has been, her own.

I am blown away by this debut novel from Miss Sara Raasch. It took me a while after finishing to fully collect my thoughts, and even when I did, I am still at a loss as to how to convey my complete and utter immersion into this world that the author creates. There are basically 8 territories in the world of Primoria; four seasons- summer, fall, winter, and spring, and four rhythms- Cordell, Paisly, Ventralli and Yakim. The eight kingdoms are ruled by either a Queen or a King, and each ruler has a magickal Conduit- basically an object that they receive their magick through. Certain kingdoms can only be ruled by a woman, and vice versa. The kingdom of winter, where our main character, Meira comes from, was destroyed by Spring before Meira was old enough to remember much about it. She was raised as an orphan with a band of outcasts, trained to fight with weapons at an early age. Her band of rebels has dwindled over the years and now consists of only eight people- the future king of Winter one of these rebels. Mather is an unwilling king, thrown into this life before he had a say in the matter. With most of the Winterians locked up in the land of Spring as slaves, a lot is resting on this young king's shoulders. He must fight to free his people with only his small group of rebels standing by his side. Without the magickal conduit that his mother possessed, he cannot ask for help from any of the other territories.

A quest for the pieces of the stolen conduit leads to Meira almost becoming captured as well, but she is able to bring back half of the necklace that holds her people's power. With this piece, they are able to request the help of a neighboring land, the kingdom of Cordell. But in exchange for their help, Meira must agree to marry their prince and bind herself to the kingdom for life. And the prince is actually a really great character- Theron is nothing like his father. But is the king really willing to help the land of Winter, or is this another game of power and lies?

The characters are wonderfully written- Meira is incredibly selfless and so strong. I connected with her immediately. Her personality leaked through the words and pages like a beacon of hope in a dark sky, and I knew that she would be something more than what the author hinted at in the beginning. No spoilers, I promise! I also connected with Mather's character; he was incredibly strong yet gentle, intelligent yet made the typical stupid male decisions! Sir was a character that I never really liked, yet in the end, his distance and discipline definitely made more sense. And Theron. I truly liked him, but at the same time, I felt that Meira and Mather were better matched. I guess we will see how the romance plays out in the future books in this wonderfully new series!

The world building was hands down, phenomenal. No other word to describe it! I could picture the lands in my mind; Miss Raasch did an amazing job with her descriptions of the different Kingdoms. I loved the idea of Kings and Queens, rulers with a magickal icon that controlled their power, and a land that helped to increase that magickal power. It was an original, creative idea, and the plot line flowed very well. The twists and turns definitely caught me by surprise, and I can't tell if the author just wrote it so well that it wasn't predictable, or if I was too immersed in the story to pay attention to the hints that she left? All in all, for a debut novel, I am again blown away and stunned by the awesomeness of this book! I would recommend this book to any fan of the dystopian genre; hell, any urban fantasy fan in general!

"I aim my chakram at the captain with his boots mucked up in sewer gunk. His eyes swim over me. "The Winterians are sending girls to do their dirty work now?" he sneers. "Why don't you put that thing down before someone gets hurt?" I push out my bottom lip and widen my eyes. "This?" I lower the chakram. It's now aimed at the captain's left thigh. "They gave it to me and said throw! I don't even know how it works-" The soldiers jeer, a deep-throated chuckling that says this is a fight they're sure they'll win. I let the chakram fly as the captain moves forward, my body bending into an arch. The chakram soars through the sewer, slices clean through the captain's leg, and continues its spin back to me in one elegant circle of purpose. He screams and drops into the sewage, grabbing his thigh like, well, like I just sliced through it. "Oh." I run one hand down the flat side of the blade. "That's how it works." -Meira
"Will this be enough? Will reuniting our conduit halves restore our magick, or will Winter forever be the only kingdom in Primoria without magick to make it whole? If so, how will we defeat Spring, a kingdom steeped in magickally induced strength, when all we have are eight refugees and a pretty necklace? Will another kingdom even ally with us once we have the locket whole again, if our only heir is unable to use it?"
""Just once, I'd like to see you leave a meeting with William like a lady, instead of a panting bull."" -Dendera
"My heart thwump-thwumps against my ribs and I don't look away from him, hating how with one glance he can crack me open. Anyone else I'd be able to ignore, to hide my fear from them behind a cocky smile, but Mather sees everything. I know he sees it, because for the briefest moment, he drops his expressionless mask and the look in his eyes shows me he feels the same way. A mirror of every part of myself I can't bear to face."

Related Reviews
The Darkest Minds; Blood of Eden

Connect with Sara Raasch
| Official Site | Twitter | Facebook |

Monday, October 27, 2014

Broken Promise by Jen Wylie - The Broken Ones 3

Broken Promise
By Jen Wylie
The Broken Ones Series 3
Ebook: 286 pages
Publication Date: October 7, 2014
Publisher: Untold Press
Rated:

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After delivering the Elven prince to his homeland, they decide to ride out the winter in the city of Westport before starting their quest to heal the Fey. Like most things in Aro’s life, nothing goes according to plan.

As Kei struggles with the prophecy bound within him, his sanity begins to unravel. A prophecy and a promise are broken, and forgotten threats resurface with dire consequences. The Dragos is watching and the Were king is displeased with the disregard of Were law. Aro scrambles as yet another threat emerges. The Elves, displeased with their prince, exploit his only weakness…her.

Aro is forced to find a new ally, a cold-hearted, ruthless pirate named Roan. He is more than he seems and Aro must learn who she can trust, or it will cost more than just her life. She has grown stronger, but is it enough to save herself, her family, and the Elf she loves?

Ugh, Miss Wylie, that rotting elf! Why?! His character can be such a jackass, seriously. This story continues right after Broken Prince leaves off. They have just returned Prince to his home, after his long over-due, heart stopping kiss with Arowyn. She demanded that he not kiss her again until he knew that he loved her, and dammit if that jerk didn't kiss her before he left her for.. basically forever. The remainder of the pack travel on without Prince to the home of Rhee-En and his weres. There, Rhee-En informs her that the King of all the Weres has discovered that she created a pack using Were magic that he did not approve, especially because she is not a Were. The king is angry, and Aro doesn't know if he will kill her. Just another issue to add to Aro's ever-growing list of enemies.

The remaining members of Aro's 'pack' settle in the city of Westport for the winter, where they will hopefully be safe. Unfortunately, that is not the case. Through multiple kidnappings, murder attempts, and new friends that cannot be trusted- Aro wants nothing more than Prince at her side and to begin with the prophecy. Healing the Fae has become her top priority, and she will do it alone if she has to. Her bonded Fae- Kei really isn't in this book all that much, and I can't reveal the reason without giving away too many spoilers. I can say that his visions of the prophecy are becoming increasingly stronger, and it has begun to drive him insane. The words of the fated prophecy are all that he can see, night and day, and he becomes irate and distant. Aro's character continues to amaze me, with the amount of heartbreak and stress that she is under every day- the fact that she is able to remain strong and function is testimony to her strength of heart and mind! I fully respect and admire her character. Bo and Garen are also wonderfully written characters- both of them are always there whenever Aro needs them. They are loyal friends that are always there when needed, yet know when to stand down when Aro's strength can handle a situation.

With new characters being introduced throughout this novel, the reader really has no idea who to trust. Enemies sprout from the woodwork, so to speak, and friends turn to enemies in a heartbeat. The plot line is thick and twisted, well thought out and deliciously dark! I loved every minute of it. The only reason I cannot rightfully give it a full 5 stars is because of Prince. Damn him. I am really beginning to not like him, sadly, and I am beyond upset that he still hasn't pulled his elf head out of his ass yet! It is beyond frustrating Miss Wylie! And now, when the group is getting ready to go heal the Fae, he is still nowhere to be found. Hiding in his castle, afraid of his parents?! Are you kidding me?! Ugh! Ok, I'm done ranting this time, really! All in all, The Broken Ones series is increasingly becoming one of my favorites, and I highly recommend it to everyone! Urban fantasy junkies, fae obsessed readers, and especially fans of dystopian novels- as this reminds me a lot of a dystopian style world; read this series! You will not be disappointed! (:

"He pulled her off to the side of the road and turned her to face him. Her fingers trembled in his hand and she pulled away. "I'm fine." "You're not." Closing her eyes, she took a slow breath. Too many men. Scruffy and dirty from a long day's work, they reminded her of other men, the ones who had cornered her and beat her and almost.... "Aro," Kei said softly. "I'm fine," she whispered hoarsely. She wanted to be. She tried to be. It hadn't been so bad the last city they'd been in, but then, she'd had Prince, Bo, and Cain with her, too. She didn't now, and that brought a different kind of pain. Kei took her face in his hands. "Look at me." She did and struggled to stay strong. "We will always protect you." "I know." He shushed her. "But you don't need it."" -Kei & Aro
"Staring up into her darkness, she sucked in a deep breath, trying to push away her growing fear for Kei. "Do you believe in them? The prophecies?" "There is always truth in prophecy. Yet often, you don't know what that truth is until afterward." -Garen & Aro
"One moment, Kei stood before her, the next, enormous talons encircled him. Wind sent her flying backward as Damon launched himself into the air. Kei was gone, jerked up into the sky as the dragon's powerful wing strokes buffeted her to the ground. "Kei!" She scrambled to her feet. Let him go! Damon's amused laugh filled her mind. Do you really want me to? You were warned, Arowyn. You did not listen, and now you face the consequences. You had your chance and wasted it. Now it is my turn. I will have the prophecy." -Damon & Aro
"Glancing down, every thought left her as she stared. Lips trembling, heart suddenly pounding in her chest, she raised her hands. A scream erupted out of her as she scrambled back until she smashed into the wall. Shaking fingers fumbled and slipped as she tried to push the bands of metal off her wrists. The chain between them rattled, but she barely heard it over her frantic screams. Her body shaking uncontrollably, no amount of pushing or pulling or tearing would remove the horrible things from her. This wasn't happening. She wasn't in chains. She wasn't! Not again. Not again." -Aro

Related Reviews
Broken Aro; Broken Prince

Connect with Jen Wylie
| Official Site | Twitter | Facebook |

Luathara by Jenna Elizabeth Johnson

Luathara
By Jenna Elizabeth Johnson
The Otherworld Series 3
Ebook: 331 pages
Publication Date: December 30, 2012
Publisher: Independant
Rated:

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Suddenly, my pain and anger honed themselves into a sharp point, one aimed directly at the goddess's heart. She had been controlling Cade’s life, my life, for far too long. And then, in a powerful wave of realization strong enough to sweep the frantic tornado in my mind off course and force the air from my lungs, I understood what I needed to do . . .

Meghan Elam knows that she belongs in the Otherworld, but she doesn't know if she's quite ready to take that leap. With Cade on the mend and her mortal family aware of their daughter's true identity, everything seems lined up for her to make a smooth transition into her new life. Unfortunately, Meghan has a mortal enemy, an angry goddess who has not yet given up on her chance for revenge.

As Meghan struggles to find her place in Eile, secrets from a past she knows nothing about well up and threaten to tip the scales even further. And when the Morrigan vows to bring a war down upon the Otherworld, she finds herself stuck in the middle of an epic battle, one that promises to destroy all that she holds dear. In order to save the ones she loves the most, Meghan must be prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice and hope that she will be strong enough to vanquish her enemy once and for all.

After the slow start of the first book, Faelorehn, I really had no intentions on finishing this series. Thankfully, my obsession of all things Fae took over my brain, and I continued reading this wonderful series. The second book, Dolmarehn and Luathara made up for the slow start ten times over! Wow, I was definitely not expecting the turn of events that this book took, and I'm still collecting my thoughts after the craziness that happened.

Meghan's character grows in leaps and bounds in this final book, and her maturity and selflessness amazed me. Her love for Cade and her willingness to sacrifice herself for his happiness was heartbreaking. Meghan is the daughter of the high queen, and Cade is the son of her enemy, The Morrighan. Queen Danua insists that Cade is not good enough for Meghan, but she doesn't let her mother control her. She knows that she is in love with Cade, and that's all that matters. She doesn't care what other people say about him, and she doesn't let Cade believe what they say either. I somehow fell in love with Cade even more in this book. He is an amazingly written male character- the ultimate book boyfriend! The world building was amazing, and the descriptions of the creatures and the world itself is phenomenal! I felt like I was there in the Otherworld, and the descriptions were written across my mind. I enjoyed the powers that Meghan continued to find, and the twists and turns in the plot line were unexpected and incredible. All in all, this series turned out to be wonderful, and I am more than happy I continued reading!

""There's an elf on the porch!" I almost choked. Oh crap! Several things happened at once. First, Mom's attention got divertetd from me. Okay, good. Then, all of my other brothers promptly stopped what they were doing to run to the window and peek through the blinds like Bradley. Third, my father stood up and set the newspaper down on the coffee table with a slap. And finally, Mom said, "What on Earth are you talking about?" By this time, everyone had migrated to the window. I could only bury my face in my hands, my cheeks turning bright red in mortification. Eventually, I said, "That's not an elf, that's Cade. And he's come to stay with us for a while. If that's okay." Good. I'd said it. But now everyone nwas staring at me as if I'd sprouted feathers. Ugh. This was not how I wanted this to go.... "Your boyfriend's an elf?" Logan asked."
"Cade emerged from the hall ten minutes later with a water gun in his hand. I arched a brow and paused in my current task of setting the table. He had a huge grin on his face and his eyes glinted. "Bradley and Logan have challenged me to a battle," he proclaimed. I heaved a great sigh and placed my hands on my hips. "You know you don't have to cater to their childish demands, right?" I told him. The look he gave me was one of pure disbelief. "What? Forfeit and lose my honor? he asked, placing a hand over his heart. I couldn't help it, I laughed, and then my two younger brothers emerged from the hallway with their own weapons."
"I meant what I said the last time I saw you in Eile, before I fought the Morrighan's hounds. All uncertainty was gone from his eyes. The entire week he'd kept his distance, being careful not to touch me too often or let his gaze linger too long. Now he looked as if he saw nothing else in the world but me; as if he had given himself a pep talk after my rude departure earlier that night and was ready for the challenge ahead of him. This was the Cade who had held me close before taking on the Morrighan's monsters; he was holding nothing back. My toes and fingertips started to tingle, and I bit my lip, not allowing myself to breathe. I am in love with you, Meghan Elam, and you mean more to me than you can possibly know. The proclamation was so soft, so sincere, his words in my head so pale blue they were almost white. Tears began to form in my eyes and a cloud of butterflies took flight in my stomach. I love you, he sent again, his thumb continuing its soothing caress, but I don't want you to think that you own me anything for what I did for you. I don't want you to feel that you need to love me ba- I cut off his thought process by leaning forward and pressing a kiss against his mouth. I don't know what possessed me to be so bold. It was as if my mind had stopped working and my heart had taken control."

Connect with Jenna Elizabeth Johnson
| Official Site | Twitter | Facebook |

Wednesday, October 22, 2014

Stone Cold Touch by Jennifer Armentrout

Stone Cold Touch
By Jennifer Armentrout
Dark Elements Series 2
Hardcover: 446 pages
Publication Date: October 21, 2014
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Rated:

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Layla Shaw is trying to pick up the pieces of her shattered life—no easy task for a seventeen-year-old who’s pretty sure things can’t get worse. Her impossibly gorgeous best friend, Zayne, is forever off-limits thanks to the mysterious powers of her soul-stealing kiss. The Warden clan that has always protected her is suddenly keeping dangerous secrets. And she can barely think about Roth, the wickedly hot demon prince who understood her in ways no one else could.

But sometimes rock bottom is only the beginning. Because suddenly Layla’s powers begin to evolve, and she’s offered a tantalizing taste of what has always been forbidden. Then, when she least expects it, Roth returns, bringing news that could change her world forever. She’s finally getting what she always wanted, but with hell literally breaking loose and the body count adding up, the price may be higher than Layla is willing to pay…

Oh JLA, the heartbreak that you put me through.. Sigh.

This next installment in the Dark Elements Series picks up a couple weeks after White Hot Kiss leaves off. The battle between Paimon and the Wardens where Roth sacrificed his life is still fresh in Layla's mind. She misses him more than she cares to admit, yet Zayne is always there for her. He's helping her to forget about Roth, the demon that she had her first kiss with, the one that understood and accepted her for who she is. She thinks that she is starting to move on.. until Roth shows up at her home. The home of the Wardens, his enemy. She is so excited to see him, but something about him has changed. Everything that they shared together is pointless, because he tells her it meant nothing to him. She was only a way to ease his boredom. Ugh JLA, are you serious?! I didn't like Zayne from the first book, and now I have to read about this douche canoe and Layla trying to have a relationship with each other, while Roth is obviously in love with her. It's traumatizing, seriously. Roth returns to school as if nothing happened. But now there is another problem, something that is changing her classmates and teachers. A Lilin was born the night of the ritual with Paimon, and it has returned to the school to steal souls. Can Roth, Layla, and Zayne come together to find this creature before her entire school are turned into wraiths? Or is it Layla herself, with her changing powers, the one stealing the souls? Dammit, thankfully JLA is allowing her readers to choose who Layla will end up with, because if it turns out to be Zayne, I cannot promise to control myself in the final review of this wonderful series. Just saying. The plot line was wonderful as always, the characters are well written- complex and real, and the world is phenomenal. Modern day D.C. with a supernatural twist. I fully recommend this series to everyone- read it! It will not disappoint. JLA has made herself my favorite author- hands down! <3

"The other guy shot up like an arrow, hands clenching into meaty fists at his sides. "What the hell is wrong with you?" He rounded the table, shrugging out of his zipped hoodie. "You want some of this?" Stuff always got real when the clothes started to come off."
"This just got real awkward," Stacey murmured, but her dark eyes glimmered with interest. Not as awkward, surprisingly, as when I'd licked Zayne's thumb like.. I didn't even know what. But dinner was painful. Roth and Zayne spent the whole time trading snide remarks, Sam and Stacey were too busy watching them as if each word they slung at one another was a tennis ball, and by the time I asked for a check, I was ready to throat punch someone. Mainly myself.
"You need to make this quick," Zayne said. "Because I'm not sure how much more of your presence I can stomach." Roth faked a pout. "You're so mean, Stony. Perhaps you have something shoved up your ass that you need to remove?" "Roth," I said, gripping the edge of the table. "Knock it off." "He started it." I gaped. "What? Are you guys two years old?" He glanced at a stewing Zayne and that faint twinkle in his eyes was back. "Well, he does look like he shit himself and needs his diaper changed."
Whatever control I had was stretched too taut and snapped like a rubber band pulled to its limits. I moved faster than I probably ever had. Shooting forward, I snatched the thick bible out of the man's hands. Whipping my arm back, I swung it around and the sound of what had to be the most epic biblical bitch snack on Earth echoed through the garage. Roth's surprised laugh shook me to the core. "Damn. That's getting served. In the biblical sense."

Related Reviews:
White Hot Kiss - Dark Elements 1

Connect with Jennifer Armentrout:
| Official Site | Twitter | Facebook |

*Voting for who Layla ends up with here
DarkElementsSeries.com

Monday, October 13, 2014

The Revenants Series by Amy Plum - 3 Part Review!

*This is a three part review, as I devoured these books so quickly, I couldn't put them down long enough to post an individual review for each one (:

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In the City of Lights, two star-crossed lovers battle a fate that is destined to tear them apart again and again for eternity.

When Kate Mercier's parents die in a tragic car accident, she leaves her life--and memories--behind to live with her grandparents in Paris. For Kate, the only way to survive her pain is escaping into the world of books and Parisian art. Until she meets Vincent.

Mysterious, charming, and devastatingly handsome, Vincent threatens to melt the ice around Kate's guarded heart with just his smile. As she begins to fall in love with Vincent, Kate discovers that he's a revenant--an undead being whose fate forces him to sacrifice himself over and over again to save the lives of others. Vincent and those like him are bound in a centuries-old war against a group of evil revenants who exist only to murder and betray. Kate soon realizes that if she follows her heart, she may never be safe again.

I was in the mood to read a cheesy love story, one without crazy dramatic ridiculousness. I read the book synopsis, saw 'star-crossed lovers', and went for it. This is not your average paranormal love story at all. First of all, the supernatural creatures are totally original- Revenants that are kind of a mix between zombies and ghosts. I loved this idea, and totally enjoyed learning about the Revenant world. The book was laid out well, and it didn't feel like I was reading a scripted history lesson while learning their story. The pace of the book was also well thought out. It took a while before the supernatural started happening, but it was informative and interesting, instead of slow and boring like a lot of supernatural books. The action was also well-paced, not stuffed into the last fifty pages so that I was constantly flipping, trying to see what happens. I was able to take my time with the ending, and enjoyed it a lot. The setting was wonderful as well- Paris, France. What better place to set a supernatural love story?! And the Revenant world is phenomenal! I loved the originality of the Revenants themselves- the way that they died saving humans, and woke up in their bodies three days later. The way that they went dormant for three days of the month, and especially the way that they were volant- in spirit form while dormant. It was completely original and refreshing to read something new in the supernatural world! The characters were all well developed and complex. Kate is a truly wonderful character that I connected with immediately. The story began with her losing her parents in a devastating car accident and she was in a deep depression. After meeting Vincent, she was able to pull herself out of her depression slowly. Vincent is a phenomenal character- although a bit too perfect of a man for me. He is sensitive, caring, thoughtful, strong, sexy- the perfect specimen of a man, yet a bit too perfect for me. The romance between the two was done well- they took their time and didn't immediate 'fall head over heels' for each other. They weren't instantly ready to die for each other, so it was better than a lot of 'star-crossed lover' stories. My favorite part though were the supporting characters. The entire Revenant family- I fell in love with Jules and his sexy humor, Ambrose and his delicious muscles, Charlotte and her 'Alice-like' energy and enthusiasm, even Gaspard and Jean-Pierre were wonderful, complex characters. To wrap-up the first review, I totally loved this book. It was well written with original supernatural characters, thick, twisted plot-lines, and an amazing story that I cannot wait to continue!

"Well, spit on my empty grave- if it ain't the attack of the Disney princesses!” -Lucian
"Besides the alternate universe offered by a book, the quiet space of a museum was my favorite place to go. My mom said I was an escapist at heart . . . that I preferred imaginary worlds to the real one. It’s true that I’ve always been able to yank myself out of this world and plunge myself into another.” -Kate (This quote is so me, it's scary!)
"I can't promise you an ordinary experience, Kate. I wish I could transform myself into a normal man and be there for you, always, without the trauma that defines my life as "the walking dead." Since that isn't possible, I can only reassure you that I will do everything in my power to make it up to you. To give you more than a normal boyfriend could. I have no idea what that will mean, exactly, but I'm looking forward to finding out. With you.” -Vincent

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Kate and Vincent have overcome the odds and at last they are together in Paris, the city of lights and love.

As their romance deepens there’s one question they can’t ignore: How are they supposed to be together if Vincent can’t resist sacrificing himself to save others? Although Vincent promises that he’ll do whatever it takes to lead a normal life with Kate, will that mean letting innocent people die? When a new and surprising enemy reveals itself, Kate realizes that even more may be at stake—and that Vincent’s immortality is in jeopardy.

In Die for Me, Amy Plum created a captivating paranormal mythology with immortal revenants and a lush Paris setting. Until I Die is poised to thrill readers with more heart-pounding suspense, spellbinding romance, and a cliff-hanger ending that will leave them desperate for the third and final novel in the series.

I cannot honestly give this book a rating higher than 4 stars. It was wonderfully written, as was the first, further continuing the intense plot line and complex Revenant world. Until the ending. Holy hell Miss Plum, how can you, in your right mind, willingly end a book that way? I was devastated, heart-broken, and I am beyond glad that I did not have to wait an entire year with the end of this book looming in my mind. Are you kidding me?! I will not give any spoilers, because that's unfair, but it was the worst possible ending to a wonderful book that I was entirely enraptured with. When it happened, I couldn't even continue reading right away. I had to put it down and take a break because it was that devastating. My advice to readers is, do not read the second book without the third one on hand, because you will be upset and most likely pissed at this ending! Other than that, the characters further develop, and I found myself falling in love with each one of them a little bit more with every chapter. The plot line continues to be thick and twisted, and I absolutely did not see the ending coming at all. Or the fact that the traitor was who it ended up being. The new characters introduced instantly fit into the Revenant family. Violette was awkward at first, a pre-teen with a penchant for temper tantrums, yet she was in reality over 500 years old. Arthur was also as old as Violette, with a stiffness and a superiority complex that isolates him from the rest of the group at first. The longer that both of them live in la Maison, they more that they begin to fit in and form friendships with the other members. The readers get to watch their characters develop and progress. I really did enjoy this sequel, save for the ending, and for that, I can only give it 4 stars!

"And I've got THIS," I pulled out the signum and held it up for him to see, "that says I'm kindred. And I've got THIS," I pointed at my head, "that says I'm as smart as you. And I have THIS," I held up my middle finger, "that says go to hell, you immortal bigot." And with that, I spun around and stomped out the door, filing the expression on Arthur's face in a mental folder labeled "Kate's Proudest Moments".” -Kate to Arthur
"A few Paris blocks away I led a completely normal life with my sister & grandparents. And here I was sword fighting with dead guys.” -Kate
"It hadn’t escaped my attention that I preferred to spend time with the undead rather than the living. I tried not to think about what that said about me.” -Kate
"I was whole in and of myself, but better than whole with him.” -Kate

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I will not lose another person I love. I will not let history repeat itself.

Vincent waited lifetimes to find me, but in an instant our future together was shattered. He was betrayed by someone we both called a friend, and I lost him. Now our enemy is determined to rule over France’s immortals, and willing to wage a war to get what they want.

It shouldn’t be possible, none of it should be, but this is my reality. I know Vincent is somewhere out there, I know he’s not completely gone, and I will do anything to save him.

After what we’ve already fought to achieve, a life without Vincent is unimaginable. He once swore to avoid dying—to go against his nature and forsake sacrificing himself for others—so that we could be together. How can I not risk everything to bring my love back to me?

The first few chapters of this book was heart-breaking, and I definitely found myself shedding a few tears more than once. I don't want to give too much away, but the twists in this book were a bit more predictable. Miss Plum definitely doled out a few more hints as to the ending and who the 'Champion' would end up being. The story worked itself out perfectly, and I truly enjoyed the final book in this series. It couldn't have ended any better, and I would love to see another book in the series eventually. The Revenants world is a hard one to just put down, and I hope, with all of the work that Miss Plum put into it, that she doesn't just let it drop completely. A follow up series from any of the characters would be wonderful, as I found myself connected to each and every one of them. I know that there is a novella from Jule's POV called Die For Her that describes how and why he fell in love with his best friend's girlfriend. There is also another book set to release from Harper Collins in February 2015 from Amy Plum called Die Once More, but there is no other information on the release or what it is about. I am seriously hoping that it is the beginning of a spin-off series about the Revenant world! Other than that, this series is completely recommended by yours truly. It was beautiful, wonderfully written- with thick and twisted plot lines, complex characters, and well thought out back stories. If you are a fan of anything paranormal, or just need a new recommendation, read this series! You will not regret it, I promise!

"Kate, I’ll say it like this. Vincent is my best friend. There’s not a person in this world I’m closer to. But for the past year, I have betrayed him in my heart every single day because I want for myself what he loves the very most.” -Jules
"I’m being given my heart’s desire, and I just don’t know what to do with it. I’m almost afraid to believe it’s true, in case someone shakes me and tells me I’m dreaming.”“It’s not a dream. I’m here with you,” I say. “For what looks like a really long time.” -Vincent
"Don’t you see Kate? I can’t be yours in any kind of real way. But what I can promise you is that I will always be here for you, watching out for you, making sure you are safe. And happy.” -Victor
"Life changes so quickly. Not long ago I was mourning the death of my parents and wondering if I could make it through another day. Now I have been handed eternity. And not on a silver platter, either, but down a path lined with pain and bloodshed. But I will walk it with my kindred. With this boy I love. Together we will do something worthy and good. We will give our lives for others. Over and over again. I don't have answers to all the questions that lie before me. But Vincent and I have time to figure them out. All the time in the world.”

Connect with Amy Plum:
| Official Site | Twitter | Facebook |

Other series you may enjoy:
| Premonition Series | Sweet Trilogy | Guardian Trilogy |

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