Morrighan's Book Reviews: Faerie

Showing posts with label Faerie. Show all posts

Monday, March 6, 2017

Book Review: The Darkest Part of the Forest by Holly Black

The Darkest Part of the Forest
By Holly Black

Series: Standalone
Hardcover: 336 pages
Publication Date: January 13, 2015
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
My Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆ ( 4 out of 5 Stars )

Children can have a cruel, absolute sense of justice. Children can kill a monster and feel quite proud of themselves. A girl can look at her brother and believe they’re destined to be a knight and a bard who battle evil. She can believe she’s found the thing she’s been made for.

Hazel lives with her brother, Ben, in the strange town of Fairfold where humans and fae exist side by side. The faeries’ seemingly harmless magic attracts tourists, but Hazel knows how dangerous they can be, and she knows how to stop them. Or she did, once.

At the center of it all, there is a glass coffin in the woods. It rests right on the ground and in it sleeps a boy with horns on his head and ears as pointed as knives. Hazel and Ben were both in love with him as children. The boy has slept there for generations, never waking.

Until one day, he does…

As the world turns upside down, Hazel tries to remember her years pretending to be a knight. But swept up in new love, shifting loyalties, and the fresh sting of betrayal, will it be enough?

Read Review »

Friday, July 31, 2015

Book Review: A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas

A Court of Thorns & Roses
By Sarah J. Maas
A Court of Thorns & Roses #1
Hardcover: 416 pages
Publication Date: May 5, 2015
Publisher: Bloomsbury

My Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆ ( 4 out of 5 Stars )

When nineteen-year-old huntress Feyre kills a wolf in the woods, a beast-like creature arrives to demand retribution for it. Dragged to a treacherous magical land she only knows about from legends, Feyre discovers that her captor is not an animal, but Tamlin—one of the lethal, immortal faeries who once ruled their world.

As she dwells on his estate, her feelings for Tamlin transform from icy hostility into a fiery passion that burns through every lie and warning she's been told about the beautiful, dangerous world of the Fae. But an ancient, wicked shadow grows over the faerie lands, and Feyre must find a way to stop it . . . or doom Tamlin—and his world—forever.

Read Review »

Friday, January 2, 2015

Book Review - Wicked by Jennifer Armentrout

Wicked
By Jennifer L. Armentrout
A Wicked Saga #1
Ebook: 459 pages
Publication Date: December 8, 2014
Publisher: Jennifer L. Armentrout
Rated:

Twenty-two year old Ivy Morgan isn’t your average college student. She, and others like her, know humans aren’t the only thing trolling the French Quarter for fun… and for food. Her duty to the Order is her life. After all, four years ago, she lost everything at the hands of the creatures she’d sworn to hunt, tearing her world and her heart apart.

Ren Owens is the last person Ivy expected to enter her rigidly controlled life. He’s six feet and three inches of temptation and swoon-inducing charm. With forest-green eyes and a smile that’s surely left a stream of broken hearts in its wake, he has an uncanny, almost unnatural ability to make her yearn for everything he has to offer. But letting him in is as dangerous as hunting the cold-blooded killers stalking the streets. Losing the boy she loved once before had nearly destroyed her, but the sparking tension that grows between them becomes impossible for Ivy to deny. Deep down, she wants… she needs more than what her duty demands of her, what her past has shaped for her.

But as Ivy grows closer to Ren, she realizes she’s not the only one carrying secrets that could shatter the frail bond between them. There’s something he’s not telling her, and one thing is for certain. She’s no longer sure what is more dangerous to her—the ancient beings threatening to take over the town or the man demanding to lay claim to her heart and her soul.

The first word that comes to mind when I think about this book is meh. I didn't realize that this was possible from a JLA book at all, let alone one about the fae. Sigh. The worst part of all of this is the fact that I cannot even pinpoint exactly what it is about Wicked that I don't like. It could possibly be that the synopsis is so similar to The Dark Elements Series that I just wasn't impressed with the idea in general. Or maybe the simple fact that the fae were portrayed to be mindless enemies with a taste for blood and little else. I was taught that the faerie world is a beautiful place; not some hell-like dimension that spawns mutant blood thirsty monster things. Ugh. I hated it, and I hate that I hated it, dammit!

The characters were well written, of course. This is still a JLA book we're talking about here! Ivy is the typical kick-your-ass protagonist that readers have come to know and love from this lady's books. Ivy has no problem with telling you like it is, and drop kicking your ass in the process. She is spunky, mouthy, outgoing, and all the things I wish I was! I thoroughly enjoyed her character, although she is so alike most of JLA's female protagonists. And then there is Ren. Oh, Ren. He is also JLA's typical male love interest; cocky in a confident sort of way, sexy as hell, and a complete pain in the ass. My dream boy wrapped up in a book cover. The fact that I didn't enjoy this book has nothing to do with Ren. Let's face it ladies, JLA can write the kind of book boyfriend that you have dreams about afterward. Sigh.

I really do wish that I could have fallen in love with this story. I wanted to. Maybe I unfairly built it up in my mind so much that let-down was inevitable? Or maybe it was just that repetitive and uneventful? Maybe I read far too many JLA books..?! If you read it and have an opinion, leave me a comment! I would love to hear what you folks thought of this one. Is it just me, or did this book kind of suck?! Muah!

“Why in the world was I going to college? I could be in bed, all cuddled up and shit, dreaming about hot men with abs covered in powdered sugar.” -Ivy by Jennifer L. Armentrout
"“If you tell me to leave, I'll turn and walk away. I swear that, Ivy, but I had to try one more time. I'm not going to possibly go to my grave without trying. Please. Don't let me go.”" -Ren by Jennifer L. Armentrout
"“I bet you have the softest pair of lips out there. And I bet you taste sweet—sweeter than one of those beignets you've got me addicted to." His hand squeezed around the back of my neck. "But you got one hell of a bite—a kick to that sweetness. It'll be rough getting in there, and you're going to fight it every step of the way, but it'll be smooth once I'm there.”" -Ren by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Connect with JLA
| Official Site | Twitter | Facebook |

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 |

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 |

Betrayals of Spring by L.P. Dover - Forever Fae 2

Betrayals of Spring
By L.P. Dover
Forever Fae Series 2
Ebook: 300 pages
Publication Date: February 13, 2013
Publisher: Independant
Rated:

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The smell of rain vastly approaches as we are lying on the ground in a sea of flowers. They surround our bodies while the fresh Spring wind caresses our skin with its soft, gentle touch. Combined as one, we stare into each other’s eyes as we bask in the pleasure of our love and OUR land.

The Land of the Fae has flourished bringing a new beginning and a new court, the Fall Court. Five years have passed since then along with the dreaded day that Meliantha, Summer Court Princess and one of the powerful Four, was betrayed and broken-hearted by the sexy and alluring Winter Prince, Kalen. Spurned by the man she loves, Meliantha has turned and fallen into the arms of the fierce and handsome warrior, Finn, who understands she can never love him, but wants more than anything to mend her broken heart. The Winter Solstice Ball is approaching, meaning Meliantha will have to face the Winter Prince and make it out of there with her heart intact. But what does she do when Prince Kalen acts as if nothing ever happened and seems more in love with her than ever before?

The dark sorcerer has planned his twisted game of lies and deceit well, and has enjoyed making himself a player without anyone’s knowledge. The game is almost over and the players are exactly where they are needed to be. Will Meliantha figure out his twisted game and save all the players? Or will the dark sorcerer once again obtain the power of the Four and take everything away from her…..even her one true love?

*This book could be read as part of a series, or as a stand-alone. The story sort of starts with Forever Fae. Meliantha is Calista's younger sister, and Kalen is Ryder's younger brother. They began to feel a connection in the first one, but they were not main characters and their story really didn't go anywhere in the first one. The second one begins with Meliantha's memory of Kalen coming to her after the wedding, and basically rejecting her. Unfortunately, it was not the real Kalen, but the dark sorcerer playing games with them. She didn't talk to Kalen for almost five years after he supposedly rejected her, but her heart was always drawn to him, as was Kalen's heart drawn to her. This story, like the first, is told with three different view points; Meliantha's, Kalen's, and the dark sorcerer's. It flows better than the first one with the separate view points, and I enjoyed reading events from both Meliantha's and Kalen's POV. Over the five years that Kalen rejected her love, the princess has changed. She has become stronger both emotionally and physically. She has begun training to fight with her guardian and the soldiers of the Summer Court. She also has closed her heart off from everyone, including the man she has been seeing for a few years, Finn. He knows that someday, she will meet the man that the prophecy claims will steal her heart, and he has accepted that Meliantha is not his. When Meliantha has to go to the Winter Court for a celebration, she knows that she will see Kalen again. Is she strong enough to resist the connection she feels towards him, or will fate prove to be too strong an enemy to fight?

This story was wonderful. Well-written, with characters that the reader can't help feeling a connection to. Meliantha is a strong protagonist, both physically and emotionally- unless it comes to Kalen. He is her weakness in every way. When she finds out it wasn't him that rejected her, the frozen walls around her heart crumble, and she finally opens herself up to him. But is it too late? The evil sorcerer already has his plan in place, and it will take every drop of magic inside both of them to stop his plan from coming to fruition. Kalen is also an amazing character- he is sexy and mysterious, yet heartbroken over the events with Meliantha. But when he sees her, everything melts away. The past doesn't matter, only her in this moment. And when they come together, finally, the prophecy is sealed and they both see their future. They will form the 'Spring Court' together, her as Queen and Kalen ruling as the King. Their own court will be powerful and will aide in the capture of the dark sorcerer. But without this court, the evil will win and nothing will be able to stop him from ruling Faerie. Can Kalen and Meliantha fight the evil to be together, or will the dark sorcerer win the game this round?

"I can't believe how stupid I was thinking that Kalen, the prince of heartbreak, would actually settle down with me and be the one the prophecy had foretold would be mine. I thrust the necklace out to him. "Take it back! I don't want it! I thought you were different... that you actually cared," I scream. Kalen rushes over and pulls me into his arms. I stand motionless as he leans down to place his cold, Winter lips onto my forehead. The searing pain of his frozen kiss has branded me a fool. I want him gone and out of my life. "I did care, my sweet princess, but I can see now that it was a wasted effort. Besides, you're a little too timid for my tastes. I'm sorry it has to be this way, but it's a good thing we found out now before things were taken further." He reaches down and touches the necklace in my hand. "Keep the necklace. It's the least I can do for the heartache I have caused. You need to forget about me, Meliantha."" -The dark sorcerer posing as Kalen
"Being so close to Meliantha is going to kill me. I felt the connection we had years ago and I thought she did, too, but she denied me when I went to visit her. I had planned to tell her how I felt and to possibly see if I was the one to complete her, but the door was slammed in my face. I am hoping to get the chance to talk to her tonight to see what I did wrong. Being rejected by her devastated me. She's probably not going to want anything to do with me now, once she finds out I am to marry another." -Kalen
"This can't be happening, I scream at myself. How can I be feeling this connection to Kalen after everything that's happened and after everything he's put me through? I can see Kalen's hands clench when Finn possessively wraps his arm around me. I kept repeating to myself over and over that I can do this and keep my distance; however, some strong force is urging me to look up. I tell myself not to look at him, but my eyes have a mind of their own and betray me. They search for his eyes and find them staring back intently at me. The pull to him is so strong, it makes me weak in the knees. I thought hearing his voice earlier was a shock to my system, but nothing compares to this. My heart flutters at the sight of him, and I grab my chest hoping it'll stop. I don't want to feel this way for the man that broke my heart. I need to feel the anger." -Meliantha

Related Reviews
Forever Fae 1

Connect with L.P. Dover
| 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 |

Friday, October 24, 2014

Forever Fae by L.P. Dover

Forever Fae
By L.P. Dover
Forever Fae Series 1
Paperback: 316 pages
Publication Date: December 7, 2012
Publisher: Independant
Rated:

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He leans down, lips parted, and then our lips connect... We didn’t know that this one kiss has FOREVER changed the Land of the Fae.

According to the Prophecy proclaimed many years ago, Princess Calista of the Summer Court is destined to change the Land of the Fae from the evil determined to destroy it. Her powers are phenomenal, and she secretly trains for battle with her handsome warrior friend, Merrick, who unbeknownst to her protects her heart as well, in hopes of keeping it for himself. At least, until the seductive Prince Ryder attends the Guardian Ceremony and instantly sends a fire burning through her veins and a connection so deep they both discover a love above anything imaginable.

No one knows how Calista is destined to change the kingdoms, but there is one that does. He not only craves Calista’s power, but her body as well, and his goal is to steal her power, make her his Dark Queen, and take over the Land of the Fae.

Will the evil succeed in claiming Calista’s soul? Or will the two men that fight for her heart save her from despair, and help her fulfill her destiny to become what she was meant to be.

I enjoyed the fact that this story was told completely in the Fae world. There were no surprises, such as, Calista has always been different and then she finds out she is from this alternate world of Faeries.. type thing. It began with her being a Princess of the Summer Court, having been raised in the world of Faerie, all she has known is this life. It was almost refreshing in a way; definitely not the same typical synopsis of a large percent of fantasy/paranormal books out right now. Although she is the eldest Summer Princess, with Titania and Oberon for parents- she is not stuck up in the least. Calista is very down to earth, she even learns to fight with the rest of the fae soldiers. For her 21st birthday, a group of these soldiers will fight to become her Guardian- the male that will protect her for as long as she lives. Her best friend, Merrick, is in the running, as well as a handful of other soldiers that she was raised with. The night of this ceremony, she meets the Winter Prince- Ryder for the first time, and immediately feels a connection to him.

The story is told from three different points of view; Calista's, Ryder's, and the Dark Sorcerer's. It switches off chapters, and at first, the flow was kind of awkward. The author worked it so that it did eventually flow perfectly. It gave the impression that the narrator was omniscient, and the reader got to experience things from different points of view. The characters are all written wonderfully, and I found myself connecting with each of them, save of course for the dark sorcerer. He really has no attributes that are not inherently evil, and I grew to dislike him more as the story went on. Calista's character is down to earth, sarcastic, and strong, and I really felt like I connected with her immediately. Ryder's character is also strong, tall, dark, handsome, and his sarcastic humor pulled at my heart. He is the perfect book boyfriend in every way! The plot line does focus around their romance, but there are underlying reasons for that.

There is a prophecy in the Land of the Fae- that the heirs to the throne will have to come together to defeat the growing evil surrounding them. Ryder and Calista are the beginning of this prophecy, and their destinies are intertwined. It was an insta-love sort of romance, but the prophecy makes that fact insignificant to me. The two will face numerous obstacles before they can fulfill their destiny, including the dark sorcerer and his minions. But if they cannot rise about the turmoil, the Land of the Fae will be lost forever to the evil.

I really enjoyed this book. It was so much more than the typical, insta-love, forbidden romance stuff that has been filling the paranormal shelves as of late. There is a great deal of history of the Fae thrown in, as well as magic and mystery. This installment only deals with the first part of the prophecy, and there are four parts altogether. I am very much looking forward to the next in the series, Betrayals of Spring!

"I recognize almost everyone in the room until my gaze finally lands on a pair of piercing, ice blue eyes. Our eyes lock and I can't bring myself to look away from him. It's like my universe has stopped and the only people in the room are him and me. It feels like a shock wave travelling throughout my body, it is so intense. He seems to be feeling the same way, according to his wide-eyed expression. I can feel my face flushing and my lungs feel like they can't get enough air. I really need to calm down and figure out what is happening to me. The attraction is uncanny. It is ridiculous to feel this way over someone I haven't even met." -Calista
"As soon as my gaze finds the princess, our eyes meet. My heart goes into overdrive and a shock reverberates through my body. I have never had this kind of reaction to a female before. Her eyes grow wider and I know mine have, too. She obviously had the same reaction as me. Her lips part slightly and I imagine what it would be like to kiss her luscious lips and have her moan in pleasure from my touch. Here I go again thinking these strange thoughts about a girl I've never actually met, but looking at her feels otherwise. I bet her lips taste sweet, like apples in the summer orchards. The idea sends a stirring throughout my body and I chide myself for it because it is not the time to be having this kind of problem." -Ryder
The Prophecy
Summer, Fall, Winter, Spring
Two courts to four is what it will bring.
Without the four, the evil will spread.
The Land of the Fae will fall into dread.
The next generation will provide the four.
The maiden souls and nothing more....

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Thursday, October 23, 2014

Dolmarehn by Jenna Elizabeth Johnson

Dolmarehn
By Jenna Elizabeth Johnson
The Otherworld Series 2
Paperback: 324 pages
Publication Date: September 8, 2012
Publisher: Independant
Rated:

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A year ago, Meghan Elam learned that she was Faelorehn, a being of the Otherworld. Immortal. Only when her visions grew worse and when a mysterious boy appeared to help guide her, did she finally come to realize exactly who and what she was. But the questions didn’t end there, and Meghan is only just beginning to find the answers. Now she must juggle her life in the mortal world with the one she has started to build in the Otherworld. However, keeping her identity secret from her friends and family while trying to avoid a wrathful Celtic goddess is no easy task. With the help of her newfound friend and savior, Cade MacRoich, Meghan will gradually learn that not only does she come from a place full of magic and wonder but that she, too, is far more powerful than she ever thought possible.

Faelorehn, the first in The Otherworlds Trilogy was a major letdown, and if you remember my review, I was beyond disappointed with the first book in this series. I decided to give this series another try because of my absolute infatuation with everything Faerie. Wow, am I glad that I did. The second book, Dolmarehn, was so much better than I could have ever expected. I'm not sure how Miss Johnson turned it around so much, but she pulled off an amazingly written second book! The world, finally, began to come together- the reader gets to experience the Faerie world and it is described phenomenally. The many different creatures that reside there are creative and original- including faelah, which are sort of like the demons of the fae world. They are connected with The Morrighan, the one member of the Tuatha de Danaan that hates Meghan. The goddess wants Meghan's power, and will stop at nothing to obtain it. But there is no way that Cade will let that happen, regardless of his relationship to the Morrighan. I can't give much away without spoiling the entire series, but there were unexpected twists and turns in the plot line that blew me away. If you folks remember my review of the first in this series, it was more like the diary of a really boring high school girl, save for a couple tense moments with a demented goddess. This installment was filled with so much more excitement, drama, and adventure. Meghan and Cade got to explore a lot of the Otherworld, meet a few Gods and Goddesses of the Tuatha de, and Meghan finally learns who her parents were. She also begins to learn how to use her magick, which turns out to be far more powerful than anyone could have expected. The Celtic mythological research was historically accurate, as I remember hearing these stories of the Tuatha de from my childhood. The characters are wonderfully written- especially the Gods and Goddesses. Their personalities shine through the words, and I fell in love instantly with the Dagda! He reminds me so much of my grandfather. All in all, this book was so much better than Faelorehn, and I am beyond grateful that I decided to give this series a second chance! Fans of the Faerie world, and any mythology buff will absolutely love this book. My biggest complaint is the fact that Meghan's internal dialogue is still as obnoxious as it was in Faelorehn. She is constantly asking herself a million questions inside her mind- to the point where I wanted to throat punch her. Seriously! Because of that, I can only give it 4 out of 5 stars.

"After floating in the air for a few minutes, the fairy landed among a thicket of ferns. Fergus pulled away from me then and trotted alongside the fronds, brushing them with his legs. What followed completely transfixed me. As he moved down the line of ferns, hundreds of the little fairy creatures took to the sky, chirping in agitation and flashing their multicolored wings. A living, breathing rainbow."
""Eile isn't like the mortal world Meghan." Cade's voice took on a somber note. "Children are often born here, ones that are, I guess unplanned is the kindest term to give them. Sometimes acknowledging them can bring about severe repercussions, for both the parents and the children, so they are abandoned to the wilds."
"Who is your foster father?" Cade grinned with mischief, "the Dagda." "Oh! The Dagda? Really? Like, the one from the Second Battle of Maige Tuired? The god with the magic cauldron?" Cade smiled, relaxing back against the stone on his side of the fire ring. The Dagda, like the Morrighan, was a legend of Celtic lore. He was said to be one of the few gods who excelled at many things, and he had a reputation for being... I guess saying he was friendly with women was a civilized way of putting it. I snorted as I conjured up the image I had of him: an older, pudgier man with an unkempt beard and mustache. Now that I knew he existed, I wondered if the picture in my mind matched the reality. "And yes, he does live up to his wild reputation," Cade said cheerily."
""Live where you wish, but I will demand one thing of you." I spun around in a flash, my teeth gritted and my eyes most likely flashing several different colors. "You will demand me? You didn't even want me, what gives you the right to demand anything of me?" "The right a queen has over one of her subjects. And the right of a mother over her daughter. I do not want you to associate with Cade MacRoich. He's not good enough for you," my mother continued. "Oh really," I countered, "not good enough for the illegitimate, half-breed daughter you cast aside?" "No, not even good enough for that."

Related Reviews:
Faelorehn - The Otherworld #1

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Tuesday, October 14, 2014

The Iron Traitor - Iron Fey: Call of the Forgotten 2 by Julie Kagawa

The Iron Traitor
By Julie Kagawa
The Iron Fey: Call of the Forgotten book 2
The Iron Fey book 6
Paperback: 342 pages
Publication Date: October 29, 2013
Published By: Harlequin Teen
Rated:

Related Reviews
| The Iron Fey Series | The Lost Prince |
Category: YA, Urban Fantasy, Faerie

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In the real world, when you vanish into thin air for a week, people tend to notice.

After his unexpected journey into the lands of the fey, Ethan Chase just wants to get back to normal. Well, as normal as you can be when you see faeries every day of your life. Suddenly the former loner with the bad reputation has someone to try for; his girlfriend, Kenzie. Never mind that he's forbidden to see her again.

But when your name is Ethan Chase and your sister is one of the most powerful faeries in the Nevernever, normal simply isn't to be. For Ethan's nephew, Keirran, is missing, and may be on the verge of doing something unthinkable in the name of saving his own love. Something that will fracture the human and faery worlds forever, and give rise to the dangerous fey known as the Forgotten. As Ethan's and Keirran's fates entwine and Keirran slips further into darkness, Ethan's next choice may decide the fate of them all.

Holy hell Miss Kagawa. I honestly loved everything about this book, and would probably have given it a much higher rating, but how the hell could you end it like that?! I was really starting to fall in love with Keirran, but damn. I kind of want to punch him in his sexy Fae face right now. I don't want to give anything away, but this ending is the worst possible outcome in the history of endings. Period.

The plot line, as always is well thought out and planned, or at least it seems that way. The characters are all written wonderfully, and this book just built on the existing characters; the reader gets to know them a little better, learn more of their back story and what makes them who they are. The world is still the Nevernever, beautiful and intriguing as always. Mixed with a whole lot of craziness, of course! Grimalkin, the talking sarcastic cat made an appearance, which I was really excited about! Puck played more of a role in this book as well, and he is always sarcastic and funny as hell. And Keirran. Sigh. I was just beginning to really understand his character; with a mix of Iron, Summer, and Winter Fey and a bit of human thrown in there as well. He is the first Fey with all four traits, and Miss Kagawa speaks of a prophecy about him that has yet to be revealed.

Ethan is falling for Kenzie in this book, and they are growing closer together. I love them as a couple, and I really enjoy Kenzie's character. She keeps Ethan in check when he tries to pull his cold, tough guy routine. I don't miss the Ethan that we started The Lost Prince with. Although I usually enjoy broody, sexy, tough guy types, his act was just over-the-top for me. Kenzie is a spirited, adventurous, high stakes character, and balances Ethan well.

To wrap up my review, I really did love this book. Honestly. But the ending was awful. I despise cliff hangers.. especially when the next book doesn't even have a release date yet! Sometime in 2015?! Really?! Great writing, as usual, Miss Kagawa. I swear, this woman can write practically anything and make it amazing! Until the next one, I will be silently dying inside..

"I'd never felt anything like this before: these crazy, swirling emotions, all centered around the girl in my arms. Kenzie scared me, infuriated me, challenged me, and faeries or no, I couldn't imagine a world without this girl. I loved her more than anything else in my life. My heart turned over, and the air caught in my throat. I pulled back, breathless with the realization. I...was in love. With Kenzie. The first sensation that rushed through me after that insight was terror." -Ethan
"She was beautiful, an angel who had reached down and yanked me out of my miserable, lonely existence, and dammit if that wasn't the sappiest thing I'd ever thought but it was completely true." -Ethan
"With a creaking and groaning of massive limbs, the creature stood up, towering forty feet in the air: a tangled giant of roots, moss and tree branches, its arms dangling past its stumpy legs to brush the ground. The apple tree was perched on its head, still shedding fruit that bounced off its massive body, and it would've been comical if it wasn't completely terrifying." -Guardian Trolls
"Ow! Dammit, Puck!" I raised my sword, knocking the dagger away as it came at my face again. The screech of metal on metal sent a chill up my spine. "Can you not make things worse sometime?" "What? I never make things worse," Puck replied, stepping forward to deal with another eddy swooshing in from the side. "I make things more interesting." "Yea, my foot is about to have an interesting encounter with your ass." Puck laughed. "Ice-boy's been saying the same thing for years, kid. Good luck." -Ethan & Puck
"Mankind has forgotten us," the Lady went on as Keirran continued to regard her without expression. "Many years ago, when I was young, the fey were feared and respected by mortals. They worshipped us, prayed to us, made sacrifices in our name. Not one human doubted the existence of the Good Neighbors, and those that did were quickly reminded what would happen if they forgot."

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