The Iron Knight by Julie Kagawa

The Iron Knight by Julie Kagawa
October 25, 2011; Harlequin
*I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Summary

My name—my True Name—is Ashallayn'darkmyr Tallyn.

I am the last remaining son of Mab, Queen of the Unseelie Court. And I am dead to her.

My fall began, as many stories do, with a girl… (courtesy of Goodreads)

Review

Phenomenal! If you loved the first three books in the Iron Fey series, you must read Iron Knight. In fact, if you only tolerated the first three books, still make sure you pick up Iron Knight. The fourth and final book in the Iron Fey series is the best of them all.

The book starts not long after the bittersweet ending of Iron Queen, in which Meghan banished her true love Ash for his own good. Now Ash is determined to trade his fairy soul for that of a mortal, so he can reside with Meghan in the Iron Kingdom. Reminiscent of Homer's The Odyssey, Ash sets off on a long journey of dangerous adventures to reach the place where he might become mortal.

Ironic considering that Ash's quest is all about his future, much of his journey centers on his past. We learn more about his old love Ariella, his friendship/feud with Puck, and many misdeeds. Puck and Ash's banter is a highlight of this novel. I always liked how they hated each other yet also didn't. Their rivalry is a game they unwittingly came to enjoy. It's nice to see how their friendship comes full circle in this book.

Kagawa has two skills that sets her apart from most YA writers: action and characters. I've encountered few authors who are as good at keeping their books full of action. The plot is perfectly paced. You have a big action scene and then a few scenes of heavy dialogue (aka sarcastic banter) and/or important character development and then another action scene. The action ensures that the reader is never bored while the character development and dialog elevate the book to a level beyond that of a swash-buckling adventure tale.

Fear not the absence of your favorite Iron Fey characters. Puck and Grimalkin are crucial characters. I also loved the new creatures/people we meet, especially the Wolf. I enjoyed seeing how the Wolf was both different and similar to Grim. Meghan is not as present in this novel, but she's still there. I didn't miss her all that much. Even if she's not physically present, Meghan is the light at the end of the tunnel and is always very much "there."

Iron Knight is the perfect end to a fabulous series. You'll smile, laugh, gasp, cry, fear, rejoice, and more.

Rating: 4.5 / 5

Illusions (Wings #3) by Aprilynne Pike

Illusions (Wings #3) by Aprilynne Pike
May 3, 2011; HarperCollins Publishers

Summary

Laurel hasn't seen Tamani since she begged him to let her go last year. Though her heart still aches, Laurel is confident that David was the right choice.

But just as life is returning to normal, Laurel discovers that a hidden enemy lies in wait. Once again, Laurel must turn to Tamani to protect and guide her, for the danger that now threatens Avalon is one that no faerie thought would ever be possible. And for the first time, Laurel cannot be sure that her side will prevail. (courtesy of Goodreads)

Review

I read Wings, the first book in the Wings series, a few years ago and was blown away by the fresh take on fairies, likable characters, and intriguing plot. The second book, Spells, was good but too scattered for my taste. Illusions, the third book in the series, is better than Spells but fails to reach the level of excellence Wings achieved.

I continue to love Pike's version of fairies. Pike takes the basic framework of traditional fairy lore and adds to it. The fey are even more closely tied to nature than is traditional and the class system, politics, and magic is unique yet still in keeping with what you'd expect of the fey.

The best part of Illusions is that the book alternates between Tamani and Laurel's points of view. Laurel's knowledge of fairy-land is still very limited. I understand the world much better by seeing through Tamani's eyes. There is much that Laurel doesn't see about his daily life and now the reader learns what Laurel misses. Also, Tamani's point of view is useful to Illusions since significant portions of plot take place away from Laurel.

A new character is introduced in Illusions: Yuki, another fairy living among mortals. Laurel's acquaintance Klea (friend or foe?) looks after Yuki and puts her into Laurel's school. Tamani befriends her to keep an eye on her. Nothing more. Or is it? The reader knows how Tamani feels, but Laurel doesn't. Let the drama ensue...

Here we get to my issue with Illusions. It's too love triangley. Or love rectangley. Laurel is still torn between David and Tamani. The boys, David especially, can barely tolerate each other. Laurel gets her own taste of jealousy with Yuki. She can't stand Yuki being around Tamani, even though Laurel's still dating David. Drama! The romantic tension fits with the plot and does reach some sort of conclusion by the end of the book. But it's such an overdone plot device that it was hard not to roll my eyes at various points in the story. (On the up side though, there are a few fabulous romantic scenes in Illusions that made me squeal.)

I was happy that the story was more focused in this book, rather than trying to accomplish too much as did the second book. But now, instead of writing too much in too few pages, it felt like there was too little in too many pages. It dragged at points. Nevertheless, the ending was very intriguing. I can't say I loved Illusions, but it left me excited to see where this series ends up in the fourth book.

Rating: 3.5 / 5

Iron Queen by Julia Kagawa

Current Giveaway on Alison Can Read 

GIVEAWAY: Win a SIGNED copy of The Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot

Iron Queen by Julia Kagawa
January 25, 2011; Harlequin Teen

Summary

My name is Meghan Chase.

I thought it was over. That my time with the fey, the impossible choices I had to make, the sacrifices of those I loved, was behind me. But a storm is approaching, an army of Iron fey that will drag me back, kicking and screaming. Drag me away from the banished prince who's sworn to stand by my side. Drag me into the core of conflict so powerful, I'm not sure anyone can survive it.

This time, there will be no turning back. (courtesy of Goodreads)

Review


*This review has spoilers for Iron King and Iron Daughter. Also, I do summarize a few plot points from Iron Queen that may be spoilery, although I tried not to reveal anything crucial to the plot.

Meghan Chase has come a long way in three books. My main complaint about her in the first book, Iron King, was that she started out so boring, so passive. But she steadily improved throughout the first two books. Now, she is a woman, no longer a girl. Instead of looking to Ash and Puck for help, it is Meghan who tells the boys what to do. She is a strong, kick-butt protagonist.

Iron Queen is loaded with action. Not even twenty pages into the book, there is a big fight scene. And the battles continue throughout the book. There are new enemies and new allies. I like how Kagawa consistently creates allies for Meghan out of people who should be her enemies. We saw that with Ironhorse in Iron Daughter and we see it once again in Iron Queen.

The romance is great as well. I've always been Team Ash, so I'm thrilled to see so many great Ash moments. He is every more devoted to Meghan and more human, more open - less icey. I like that Puck has largely accepted the fact that Meghan and Ash are going to be together. Instead of him posturing to win Meghan's heart, we see him acting as his normal snarky self and fighting to save his friends (I say plural because Ash is his friend too, even if he won't admit it).

The only part of this book I didn't like is the time they spend at Leaninsidhe's cabin with Paul, Meghan's erstwhile father, trying to help him regain his memories. I understand that this is important to Meghan's history of missing her father and also used as a time for Meghan, Ash, and Puck to prepare for the big fight in the NeverNever. However, I thought it dragged the middle of the book down significantly. I was happy when they moved on.

I really enjoyed the ending. It had that nice combination of summing up the trilogy while leaving room for more. I've read a few people didn't like the ending. I think I understand why, but I thought it was really interesting. Satisfying, yet not saccharine sweet.

Iron Queen is a must read for any Iron Fey fan. For those who have not yet read the series, I highly recommend it. It only gets better with each book.

Rating: 4 / 5

Shadowspell by Jenna Black (Faeriewalker #2)

Current Giveaway on Alison Can Read 

GIVEAWAY: Win a copy of Walk The Wild Road by Nigel Hinton

Shadowspell by Jenna Black
January 4, 2011; St. Martin's Press

Summary

On top of spending most of her time in a bunkerlike safe house and having her dates hijacked by a formidable Fae bodyguard, Faeriewalker Dana Hathaway is in for some more bad news: the Erlking and his pack of murderous minions known as the Wild Hunt have descended upon Avalon. With his homicidal appetite and immortal powers, the Erlking has long been the nightmare of the Fae realm. A fragile treaty with the Faerie Queen, sealed with a mysterious spell, is the one thing that keeps him from hunting unchecked in Avalon, the only place on Earth where humans and Fae live together. Which means Dana’s in trouble, since it’s common knowledge that the Faerie Queen wants her – and her rare Faeriewalker powers – dead. The smoldering, sexy Erlking’s got his sights set on Dana, but does he only seek to kill her, or does he have something much darker in mind? (courtesy of Goodreads)

Review

Dana is a hot commodity in Avalon. With her abilities as a faeriwalker, both the good and bad guys want a piece of her. For her safety, Dana is practically a prisoner in her dad's safe house. This definitely does not sit well with Dana. She gives her bodyguards the slip numerous times and encounters great danger and real consequences because of it. The biggest danger is the Erlking, the faery hunter who is loose in Avalon and apparently looking for Dana.

I go back and forth between admiring Dana and wanting to smack her. She is a strong, independent girl, probably a result of having to be the "adult" with her alcoholic mom. If someone tells her no, Dana finds a way to do it anyway, either by convincing the person to change his mind or simple defiance. This enables Dana to be brave and to save the day. It also causes her to do some really dumb things and people get hurt by her thoughtlessness. On the other hand, she's definitely a girl you want on your side. She'll fight to the death to defend her friends.

Shadowspell introduces a new concept in YA literature: A love rectangle (or square). There are now three hot, sex guys in this series. Of course, one of them is out to kill her...but little details. I'm not a huge Ethan fan, although I did feel a little better about him at the end of the book. For the most part, he's an arrogant, showy playboy. Dana should know better. We don't get to see his good side enough. There wasn't enough Keane in Shadowspell. I love Keane. The bad boy type who's really a good boy. He was around, but I didn't feel like his character went through much growth - or as much as I would have liked. The Erlking is intriguing. He's either evil or he's not. Or perhaps he's a bit of both. He is the biggest reason that I am foaming at the mouth for the third book.

It took me awhile to get hooked on Shadowspell, but once I was, the pages were flying. If you enjoyed Glimmerglass, you must read Shadowspell. It may suffer a little bit from second book syndrome, but it sets up everything perfectly for Sirensong.

Rating: 3.5 / 5

Glimmerglass by Jenna Black

Current Giveaway on Alison Can Read 

GIVEAWAY: Win a copy of Walk The Wild Road by Nigel Hinton

Glimmerglass by Jenna Black
2010; St. Martin's Griffin

Summary

It’s all she’s ever wanted to be, but it couldn’t be further from her grasp…

Dana Hathaway doesn’t know it yet, but she’s in big trouble. When her alcoholic mom shows up at her voice recital drunk, again, Dana decides she’s had enough and runs away to find her mysterious father in Avalon: the only place on Earth where the regular, everyday world and the captivating, magical world of Faerie intersect. But from the moment Dana sets foot in Avalon, everything goes wrong, for it turns out she isn't just an ordinary teenage girl—she's a Faeriewalker, a rare individual who can travel between both worlds, and the only person who can bring magic into the human world and technology into Faerie.

Soon, Dana finds herself tangled up in a cutthroat game of Fae politics. Someone's trying to kill her, and everyone seems to want something from her, from her newfound friends and family to Ethan, the hot Fae guy Dana figures she’ll never have a chance with… until she does. Caught between two worlds, Dana isn’t sure where she’ll ever fit in and who can be trusted, not to mention if her world will ever be normal again… (courtesy of Goodreads)

Review

Glimmerglass takes place in a slightly altered world. Unlike most faerie stories, the existence of faeries is widely known in the Glimmerglass world. However, faeries and humans only interact in Avalon, a mountainous area just outside of London. It's a country within a country, like the Vatican, complete with its own immigration. That's where the interaction stops: humans cannot enter the faerie realm and faeries cannot enter the human realm.

Dana Hathaway has always known she was half faerie, but she's never met her father. Her mother hid Dana's existence from her father and never set foot in Avalon with Dana. But after one too many drunken embarassments by her mother, Dana runs away to Avalon to find her father. As soon as she does, she finds herself at the center of a family and political war. Dana is a Faeriewalker, the first one in 75 years. She can exist in both worlds and any faerie that has Dana on its side will have a huge amount of power.

Dana makes a lot of fast friends and enemies in Avalon. There's her aunt, who is either trying to lock her up or protect her. There's Ethan and Kimber, who are either trying to protect her or use her for political gains. There's her father, who either needs her for political gains or loves her. Lots of politics here. Ethan and Kimber are great characters. Ethan is the typical hot, arrogant guy who seems to have some substance underneath his bravado shell, but the plot has him doing so many things that are questionable that it's hard for Dana or the reader to know if he's good or bad for much of the story. There's also Kimber, who comes off as a real ice princess, but then seems like a cute fun best friend too. Dana's father has a hard shell, but you also see his love for his daughter. I also really liked the characters of Finn and Keane, Dana's bodyguard and his son. Especially Keane.

I love how the characters are all three dimensional, for the most part. They all have flaws - realistic flaws - and you also can understand their motivations. The set of interesting characters made the story for me. The only character aspect of the story that bothered me was at the main climax at the end, when I thought some of the bad-guy dialogue was a bit too fake. Like a B-grade movie. Other than that, Jenna Black did a great job with the characters.

I would like to understand the fantasy world a little better. We learn about magic, the faerie realm, and Avalon as the book goes on, but I still felt like there were big gaps in the world building. Part of the problem with this is that the faerie world is not a complete surprise to Dana. While there's much she learns throughout the book, she has known about faeries her entire life. It's easier to introduce a fantasy world to readers when it's new to the character as well. That way, you have an excuse to include lots of background. I think the world will be better developed as the series goes on, but I still felt more confused than I would have like at times.

Rating: 3.5 / 5

Wings Read Along Challenge: Questions

Current Giveaways on Alison Can Read 

Want a free copy of Wings by Aprilynne Pike? Join my team on the Wings Read Along Challenge!

GIVEAWAY: Win two copies of Ten Miles Past Normal by Frances O'Roark Dowell

Only a few more days to get your free copy of Wings! Check out the link above if you haven't picked it up yet.

I read Wings about a year ago. I'm having a blast re-reading the book and am enjoying it just as much as I did the first time. I hope you are too!

Here are a few questions that I thought about while I was reading:

1. Wings has its share of angst and drama, but on the whole it is not as dark or edgy as many YA paranormal books. Do you like your books darker or more innocent? 

I think I prefer dark on the whole, but the occasional sweet book is refreshing.

2. Laurel has always preferred eating fruit, vegetables, and sugar - no fat or processed foods. What are your favorite fruits and vegetables?

I love blueberries and apples (especially Honeycrisp, a Minnesota creation). I'm a big vegetable person. I especially like spinach and broccoli.

3. Aprilynne's faeries are actually plants. It's a unique twist on faerie mythology. Do you prefer books that stick to traditional legends about paranormal creatures (e.g. vampires, zombies)

I love when authors take create original creatures. I think making faeries plants is ingenious. They are known for being in touch with nature - making them actually part of nature is a fascinating choice.

4. As a plant, Laurel breathes in carbon dioxide and breathes out oxygen. She can also hold her breath longer than humans. She held her breath for 3 and a half minutes and only quit because she was a little uncomfortable and bored. How long can you hold your breath?

I made it 50 seconds. I should do breath-holding training.

Wings Read-Along Challenge: Get Your Links!!!!

Have you read Wings by Aprilynne Pike?

Read my review here.

Wings was one of the cutest books I read last year. If you like fairies, you definitely shouldn't miss Wings. Aprilynne's take on fairy mythology is one-of-a-kind. Her fairies are essentially plants! Wings lays out a fascinating world of the Fey that is explored further in the second book Spells. Even if you don't like fairies, I still recommend Wings. Laurel is a sweet, brave girl. Nothing unusual in the YA protag world, but there's a reason that character type works well. I love the two guy interests: Tamani the fairy and David the human. Laurel has a hard choice between two kind, smart, caring guys. The plot rolls along smoothly, culminating in an exciting, dangerous escape that leaves you drooling for the next book.

Beginning today, you have the chance to download and read Wings for free! I'm one of the blogs participating in the Wings read-along challenge. Each blog gets a unique link to Wings. Whichever blog gets the most people to download the book from its link wins a prize.

Here are the links!

Amazon: http://amzn.to/feumGE
Sony: http://bit.ly/gUVhyh
Kobo: http://bit.ly/hjVAem
B&N: http://bit.ly/eIpUPr
Borders:
iBookstore:

Follow along with me as I re-read Wings over the next several weeks.

A Beginning Question

What's the first thought in your mind when you hear the word fairies? Literature is split on fairies. In some stories, they are evil, manipulative, cunning little vixens. In others, they are kind, artistic, brilliant creatures. How do you think of them?

Until recently, I didn't think anything of fairies. I had never read a fairy story until last year (Lament by Maggie Stiefvater was my first). I prefer the more positive approach towards fairies. I like all my paranormal creatures to be layered and complex. I want them to be neither good nor evil, but rather a mixture. It gives the reader more to ponder.

Here's an explanation from Aprilynne of how the contest will work:

Wings Read-Along Challenge: Fly With Me

Have you read Wings by Aprilynne Pike?

Read my review here.

Wings was one of the cutest books I read last year. If you like fairies, you definitely shouldn't miss Wings. Aprilynne's take on fairy mythology is one-of-a-kind. Her fairies are essentially plants! Wings lays out a fascinating world of the Fey that is explored further in the second book Spells. Even if you don't like fairies, I still recommend Wings. Laurel is a sweet, brave girl. Nothing unusual in the YA protag world, but there's a reason that character type works well. I love the two guy interests: Tamani the fairy and David the human. Laurel has a hard choice between two kind, smart, caring guys. The plot rolls along smoothly, culminating in an exciting, dangerous escape that leaves you drooling for the next book.

Starting tomorrow, you have the chance to download and read Wings for free! I'm one of the blogs participating in the Wings read-along challenge. Each blog gets a unique link to Wings. Whichever blog gets the most people to download the book from its link wins a prize.

Check out the blog tomorrow for the link!

Follow along with me as I re-read Wings over the next several weeks.

Here's an explanation from Aprilynne of how the contest will work:

Iron Daughter by Julia Kagawa

Iron Daughter by Julia Kagawa
2010; Harlequin Teen

Summary

Half Summer faery princess, half human, Meghan has never fit in anywhere. Deserted by the Winter prince she thought loved her, she is prisoner to the Winter faery queen. As war looms between Summer and Winter, Meghan knows that the real danger comes from the Iron fey—ironbound faeries that only she and her absent prince have seen. But no one believes her.

Worse, Meghan's own fey powers have been cut off. She's stuck in Faery with only her wits for help. Trusting anyone would be foolish. Trusting a seeming traitor could be deadly. But even as she grows a backbone of iron, Meghan can't help but hear the whispers of longing in her all-too-human heart.

Review

I really enjoyed Iron Daughter. Even more than I liked Iron King. The biggest improvement in the sequel is Meghan. In Iron King, I thought she was simpering and boring (Meghan and I got off to a bad start when she went after the football star out of her school who was both a jerk and way out of her league). Now, she is self-confident and strong. She grew into these characteristics throughout the course of Iron King, but I had to slog through pages of annoying Meghan before she turned into a really cool girl. Now we have a great female protagonist right from the beginning.

Iron Daughter is full of action. Some new danger or adventure faces Meghan in every chapter. The conflict in this book begins early when the new Iron King steals the Scepter of Seasons and kills the oldest Winter Prince; Meghan is the only witness. No one believes that the Iron fey are still a presence, and it is up to her to seek the return of the scepter.

Thankfully we see lots of our favorite love interests, Ash and Puck. Ash begins the book by acting horribly toward Meghan. He insisted that all his feelings toward her were merely a farce. The betrayal actually made the book hard to read at first. But things progress quickly from there. I still don't like Puck all that much. He is slightly less irritating than he was in the first book, but I just don't see him as a good love interest. It's probably because the funny best friend stereotype has always irritated me.

I really admire the complexity of the faerie world that Kagawa has built. All the different creatures, lands, and customs turned my head in the first book. I've become accustomed to it somewhat in the second book, but there's still so much to learn. I feel like I could reread this book numerous times and pick out new details each time.

All in all, Iron Daughter is a great sequel to Iron King!

Rating: 4 / 5

Manga Mondays (27): Sanctuary by Melissa Marr (Wicked Lovely Desert Tales)

Sanctuary by Melissa Marr (Wicked Lovely Desert Tales)

Summary

The desert is far away from the schemes of the Faerie Courts—and that's how Rika likes it. Once a mortal and now a faery, Rika seeks isolation and revels in her ability to appear invisible to humans. Then, she meets him. Artistic and kind, Jayce is the last person Rika wants to hide from.

But change is coming, challenging Rika's freedom and her new romance, as her past pursues her, even into the heart of the desert. . . . (courtesy of Goodreads)

Review

After finishing Wicked Lovely recently, I was eager to read anything and everything by Melissa Marr. I was pleasantly surprised to discover a series of graphic novels based off the themes of the Wicked Lovely series.

Rika was once trapped as the Winter Girl, when she tried and failed to become Keenan's Summer Queen. Now free from the spell that entrapped her, but still living as a fairy, she resides in the desert - constant dry warmth. She keeps to herself, no longer in love with Keenan, but resentful that she was stuck being the Winter Girl and fearful of being in love again. A young human catches her eye. Jayce spends much of his time hiking and rock-climbing in the desert. Rika is infatuated. She rescues him from some fairies who were making trouble. They embark on an adventure full of love and danger from all the fey who seek to harm them.

Since this is an American graphic novel, it reads in the traditional manner: from left to right. It is telling how accustomed I've become to manga that reading the normal way felt unnatural. Several times, I would read a page from right to left only to realize I didn't understand what was going on.

If you haven't read the Wicked Lovely books, you'll be very confused by Sanctuary. The story itself is entirely different than the Wicked Lovely plot, but the fairy world is not explained well. The novel assumes that you are already familiar with who Keenan is and what being a Winter Girl means.

I liked the drawings. I didn't find Jayce particularly attractive, but I don't really go for guys who have ropey-looking dreadlocks. At times it was confusing which characters were fey and which were human. The artist distinguished them by drawing gray lines through the fairies, but sometimes they were hard to catch unless you looked closely. Overall though, the art was simple enough to add to the story rather than confuse it. Despite the simplicity, there were many beautiful desert scenes and enough emotion drawn into the characters that words weren't necessary to convey the plot.

I enjoyed Sanctuary. It's definitely not as good as Wicked Lovely, but it's still a good, quick read. I quickly became attached to Rika. She was a victim of Keenan's courting and now just trying to love a decently happy life. I didn't get a good feel for Jayce, other than that he was nice and brave, which is good enough for the start of a series. The story flowed quickly, and I enjoyed seeing how Rika interracted with Keenan, the other fey, and with Jayce.

I would not recommend Sanctuary unless you've read Wicked Lovely. If you love the Wicked Lovely series and are dying for more, I would definitely check this out.

Spells by Aprilynne Pike

Spells by Aprilynne Pike

Summary

Six months have passed since Laurel saved the gateway to the faerie realm of Avalon. Now she must spend her summer there, honing her skills as a Fall faerie. But her human family and friends are still in mortal danger--and the gateway to Avalon is more compromised than ever.

When it comes time to protect those she loves, will she depend on David, her human boyfriend, for help? Or will she turn to Tamani, the electrifying faerie with whom her connection is undeniable?

Review

Spells suffers from middle-book syndrome. Aprilynne has created a big fantasy world in her Wings series. She uses Spells to tell us everything that Wings didn't get to and that we will need to understand for the third book. As a result, Spells flies all over the place. We get boarding school, herbology, human family concerns, fairy politics, boy trouble, trolls, fairy festivals, and more.

That's not to say Spells is boring - it's quite enjoyable as long as you're expecting a place-setting book rather than a plot-driven book. It is emphasized throughout the book that Laurel and her family's land are still in danger from the trolls. I kept expecting a big action sequence. There were so many hints - characters acting strangely, unexpected events - yet the action wasn't there. When we finally do get an action sequence, it seems like an aside. Everything seems focused on thoroughly immersing us in the fairy world.

Laurel annoyed me throughout this book. For one thing, she leads on poor Tamani and David horribly. She is committed to David, but she's clearly attracted to Tamani and certainly acts like she wants something more out of their relationship. You can chalk this up to her being confused about her feelings and being "cursed" with two equally fabulous guys, but the girl really needs to make up her mind. Also, she is furious over the social structure of fairy society, one that establishes Spring fairies as fourth class citizens and fall fairies as second only to the rare winter fairies. Laurel, understandably, hates that Tamani is expected to bow and walk behind her. While I wouldn't like this class structure either, I wish Laurel was a little more open-minded about fairy culture and didn't try to force modern human mores upon a separate species.

It sounds like I hated this book, but I didn't. The fairy culture is very interesting. I like how each season of fairy has a different function. Fall fairies are "mixers," who use their mind to create herbal concoctions to heal and protect fairies. I love the artsy summer "sparklers." I love that the fairies are the good guys - in so many YA fairy books I've read lately, the fairies are the evil, cunning ones. It's nice to see something different. I love that the love interests are both nice boys. Laurel has reasons to care for them beyond some mystical physical attraction. I loved the ending. A good ending can make up for many flaws in a book and this one did that for me. I was completely surprised by the last few pages and can't wait for Book #3.

Rating: 3 / 5 (this probably merits a 3.5, but I was harsher on this book than perhaps necessary after being so enchanted by Wings)

Waiting On Wednesday (22): The Iron Witch by Karen Mahoney

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill of Breaking The Spine spotlighting upcoming releases.

The Iron Witch by Karen Mahoney
February 8, 2011

-I love this cover!

Summary

Freak. That's what her classmates call seventeen-year-old Donna Underwood. When she was seven, a horrific fey attack killed her father and drove her mother mad. Donna's own nearly fatal injuries from the assault were fixed by magic—the iron tattoos branding her hands and arms. The child of alchemists, Donna feels cursed by the magical heritage that destroyed her parents and any chance she had for a normal life. The only thing that keeps her sane and grounded is her relationship with her best friend, Navin Sharma.

When the darkest outcasts of Faerie—the vicious wood elves—abduct Navin, Donna finally has to accept her role in the centuries old war between the humans and the fey. Assisted by Xan, a gorgeous half-fey dropout with secrets of his own, Donna races to save her friend—even if it means betraying everything her parents and the alchemist community fought to the death to protect.

Waiting On Wednesday (20): The Iron Queen - Julie Kagawa

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill of Breaking The Spine spotlighting upcoming releases.

The Iron Queen - Julie Kagawa
February 1, 2011

My name is Meaghan Chase.

I thought it was over.That my time with the fey, the impossible choices I had to make, the sacrifices of those I loved, was behind me. But a storm is approaching, an army of Iron fey that will drag me back, kicking and screaming. Drag me away from the banished prince who's sworn to stay by my side. Drag me into the core of a conflict so powerful, I'm not sure anyone can survive it.

This time, there will be no turning back.

I really love the cover.

Waiting On Wednesday (16): Iron Queen by Julia Kagawa

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill of Breaking The Spine spotlighting upcoming releases.

Iron Queen by Julie Kagawa
February 1, 2011


I can hardly wait for the third book in the Iron Fey series. There's no summary for the book available at this time, but you can read at excerpt here!

Iron King - Julia Kagawa

Iron King - July Kagawa

Summary:
Meghan Chase has a secret destiny—one she could never have imagined…
Something has always felt slightly off in Meghan's life, ever since her father disappeared before her eyes when she was six. She has never quite fit in at school…or at home.
When a dark stranger begins watching her from afar, and her prankster best friend becomes strangely protective of her, Meghan senses that everything she's known is about to change.
But she could never have guessed the truth—that she is the daughter of a mythical faery king and is a pawn in a deadly war. Now Meghan will learn just how far she'll go to save someone she cares about, to stop a mysterious evil no faery creature dare face…and to find love with a young prince who might rather see her dead than let her touch his icy heart. 
 
Review:
Iron King is a page-turning adventure/romance set in the faery world. I read this book shortly after finishing Lament by Maggie Stiefvater, my first faery book. I'm glad I read Lament first - it only delves gently into faery mythology. Iron King dives right into the deep-end of NeverNever land. If I hadn't had some basic knowledge about faeries, I would have been completely lost. I'd also advise you to read Midnight's Summer Dream before reading Iron King (which I have not done); I think you will appreciate Iron King much more.

Meghan Chase is a pretty boring girl in a small Louisiana town. She lusts after the school jock but will never win that game. She doesn't fit in anywhere, including in her family. Her only friend is Robbie, who is always there to brighten her day. On Meghan's 16th birthday everything changes. She comes home to find her mother collapsed on her floor and her 4 year old half-brother Ethan acting bizarrely. She soon learns that this new, hateful "Ethan" is a changeling, a faery. Ethan has been kidnapped and taken to NeverNever. Meghan can't believe it; faeries aren't real...or are they? Regardless, she'll do anything to save her brother. She heads to NeverNever to find him. With her is loyal Robbie, who is actually the famous Puck of faery legend.

Meghan heads to the Seelie Court of King Oberon. To Meghan's great surprise, she discovers that she is the daughter of King Oberon. This, ultimately, is the cause of all her troubles. She (and little Ethan) is a pawn in a great faery war. Seemingly derailing Meghan's quest to find her brother are the many people who want to kill her. The queen of the Unseelie Court sends her son, the handsome Prince Ash, to deliver Meghan to her. His quest takes a detour when Meghan, Puck, and Ash realize that a new force is present in the faery world, one that threatens them all. The three embark on a journey to rescue Ethan and save the faery world.

I have a few quibbles about the characters in Iron King - they're rather trite. Meghan is best described as "blah." There's really nothing interesting about her other than her determination to save her brother. That, of course, is a very redeemable quality, but she's just boring. Even as she grows stronger and more self-confident throughout the book, I still found her to be a flat character. Puck/Robbie is the classic funny, loyal best friend who is secretly in love with the girl, but she's completely oblivious. Ash is the stereotypical mysterious, handsome bad boy who steals away the heart of the heroine. It's not that the love triangle wasn't interesting - it was...but I've read this plot line 1,000 times. I actually thought the most interesting character was Grimalkin, the giant cat who guides Meghan throughout much of the story. His sarcastic, bemused look on life set added levity but not silliness to the story.

Despite a few misgivings, Iron King was a thoroughly enjoyable tale. The characters encounter a lot of danger along their journey. I kept reading as fast as I could to see what was going to happen next. The faery world is fascinating. Meghan quickly learns how different life is in NeverNever. Things are very black and white. Your word is unbreakable - even if you no longer want to fulfill a promise made. The words "thank you" actually have dangerous significance. Even your name has meaning. Iron King introduces endless mythological creatures. Each creature was interesting in its own right and thanks to Harry Potter and Lament, many were familiar. Iron King ends perfectly set to lead into the sequel; I am definitely excited to read more.

Rating: 4 / 5

Lament - Maggie Stiefvater

Summary

Sixteen-year-old Deirdre Monaghan, a gifted harpist who regularly plays for weddings and other events, has the kind of stage fright that makes her physically ill before a performance, which is an inauspicious way to start a romance; but while vomiting before a competition she meets a gorgeous boy who comes into the restroom to hold her hair. He is Luke Dillon, a flautist who proceeds to accompany her in a truly stellar performance. As four-leaf clovers start appearing everywhere, Deirdre develops telekinetic powers and encounters strange, unworldly people who seem to bear her ill will. Her best friend, James, also a talented musician; her beloved grandmother; and her mother all are in danger, as Deirdre is targeted by the queen of Faerie. Deirdre eventually discovers that she is a cloverhand, a person who can see the denizens of faerie, and Luke, not the only immortal who has her in his sights, is a gallowglass, an assassin assigned by the queen of Faerie to kill Deirdre but who falls in love with her instead. This beautiful and out-of-the-ordinary debut novel, with its authentic depiction of Celtic Faerie lore and dangerous forbidden love in a contemporary American setting, will appeal to readers of Nancy Werlin’s Impossible (2008) and Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight series. Illustrations by Jeffrey are fitting. (courtesy of Amazon) 

Review

Like many people, I picked up Lament after reading Maggie Stiefvater's incredible book Shiver. Lament is not Shiver, but it is excellent in its own right. My favorite part about Shiver was Maggie's writing; it was so stark, fresh, and beautiful. Her sentences felt like winter - ice cold air, untouched snow, icicle-laden trees. The writing in Lament is very different but still wonderful. The prose is lush - bright green, springtime, clover fields. The settings of both books exactly correspond to the feeling I got from Maggie's writing. I'd like to know whether it was intentional.

Lament was my first faery book. It is heavily influenced by Celtic mythology and folktales. Deidre Monaghan is an incredibly talented harpist and singer. She seems to specialize in Celtic music. At a music competition, she meets a flautist named Luke Dillon, a boy she'd seen in a very strange dream, and feels an unexplainable attraction to him. On a whim, they enter the competition with a duet; together their music is simply otherworldly. They bond between them becomes incredibly strong, incredibly fast. Deidre soon discovers that she is a Cloverhand, a human able to see faeries. She is also telepathic and telekinetic. Luke has secrets of his own - he is a gallowglass, a 1000-year old assassin for the Faerie Queen. Deidre was to be his next target, but he falls in love.

Apart from Luke, Deidre has a decent support system. The Cloverhand trait runs in families. Granna has much to teach Deidre. She also has a steadfast best friend, James, who is never without a joke. Her life is made more difficult though, by her overbearing mother and hostile aunt Delia. Deidre relies on James, Granna, and Luke to help her through this new world of faeries.

The fey themselves are fascinating creatures. I particularly like Brendan and Una, two Irish music-loving faeries who are nicer than most but still not entirely trustworthy. We also see humans who have interacted with faeries for so long that they are more a part of the fey world than human. Many fey are evil, using humans and animals as play-things for their sadistic whims. The faerie queen is the biggest force to be reckoned with. She destroys anything that threatens her power and Deidre is the biggest threat to her ever...

Lament only gets four stars from me despite enjoying the book a great deal. I did have some problems with it. I think most of the problems are common first novel issues. For example, Deidre's best friend was flat. He was funny all the time - everything was a joke. Even when he showed a little more depth and ability, it was still all a joke. I wish we saw more of him. Also, Deidre's father popped in and out of the story. For the first half I didn't even realize Dad was in the picture. Everything revolves around her mother. Then suddenly she starts referring to both "mom and dad." But Dad is still just kind of there. The plot would have flowed better if he'd just been gone altogether.

I didn't always like Deidre. Her lightening-fast, icy temper was just weird - normal people do not fly off the wall that often and that quickly for such minor things. She also used the word "friggin" way too much. I almost would have preferred her to just use the actual "F" word despite my general dislike of swearing. There is some swearing in this book. It was unnecessary, but with the exception of "friggin" it didn't really bother me. I also don't like the way she treats James. As soon as she meets Luke, James pales in significance. Even his fairly obvious pining doesn't garner her attention or sympathy. Despite my misgivings about Deidre and some of her choices, she is a caring, kind, and courageous girl. She redeems herself as the book goes on.

Rating: 4 / 5