The Savage Grace by Bree Despain

The Savage Grace (The Dark Divine #3) by Bree Despain
Release Date: March 13, 2012
Publisher: EgmontUSA
Source: Library

Summary

A troubled soul. An impossible choice. A final battle.

Wrestling with the werewolf curse pulsing deep inside of her, Grace Divine was finally able to find her brother, but it nearly cost her everything.

With her boyfriend, Daniel, stuck in wolf form and Sirhan's death approaching, time is running out for Grace to stop Caleb Kalbi and his gang of demons. If she fails, her family and hometown will perish. Everything rests on Grace's shoulders.

The final installment in The Dark Divine trilogy brings Daniel and Grace's love story to a breathtaking conclusion.(courtesy of Goodreads)

Review

Do you ever have those books where it's hard to determine whether you actually liked the book or you only think you liked it because you wanted to like it? The Savage Grace was one of those for me. I had trouble mustering up enthusiasm for this book from beginning to end. Plus, writing this review several weeks after I finished the book, I had to rack my brain to remember anything about the story. But I liked it. I really did. When I dig hard enough, I remember the story and characters with fondness. It's just hard for me to care.

The Lost Saint by Bree Despain

The Lost Saint (The Dark Divine #2) by Bree Despain
Release Date: December 28, 2010
Publisher: EgmontUSA
Source: Library

Summary

A family destroyed. A love threatened. An enemy returns.

Grace Divine made the ultimate sacrifice to cure Daniel Kalbi. She was infected with the werewolf curse while trying to save him, and lost her beloved brother in the process.

Desperate to find Jude, Grace befriends Talbot, a newcomer to town. But as the two grow closer, Grace's relationship with Daniel is put in danger - in more ways than one.

Unaware of the dark path she is walking, Grace begins to give into the wolf inside of her - not realizing that an enemy has returned and a deadly trap is about to be sprung.

Bree Despain delivers sizzling romance and thrilling action in the heart-pounding sequel to the The Dark Divine.(courtesy of Goodreads)

Review

Bree Despain managed to do something with The Lost Saint at which few authors succeed: write a sophomore book that is better than the first book. I liked The Dark Divine, but I really liked The Lost Saint.

Goddess Interrupted by Aimee Carter

Goddess Interrupted (Goddess Test #2)by Aimee Carter
Release Date: March 27, 2012
Publisher: HarlequinTeen
Source: Publisher in exchange for an honest review

Summary

KATE WINTERS HAS WON IMMORTALITY.

BUT IF SHE WANTS A LIFE WITH HENRY IN THE UNDERWORLD, SHE'LL HAVE TO FIGHT FOR IT.

Becoming immortal wasn't supposed to be the easy part. Though Kate is about to be crowned Queen of the Underworld, she's as isolated as ever. And despite her growing love for Henry, ruler of the Underworld, he's becoming ever more distant and secretive. Then, in the midst of Kate's coronation, Henry is abducted by the only being powerful enough to kill him: the King of the Titans.

As the other gods prepare for a war that could end them all, it is up to Kate to save Henry from the depths of Tartarus. But in order to navigate the endless caverns of the Underworld, Kate must enlist the help of the one person who is the greatest threat to her future.

Henry's first wife, Persephone.(courtesy of Goodreads)

Review

Goddess Interrupted explores the world of Greek mythology more deeply than its predecessor Goddess Test. Kate is thoroughly immersed in the Underworld, but she's still a beginner and has no idea what she should be doing. It doesn't help that the gods' world is rapidly changing or perhaps imploding.

Bookish Recap

I'm joining Tynga's Reviews' meme Stacking the Shelves and The Story Siren's In My Mailbox meme today. Thanks for hosting Tynga and Kristi!

On the Blog This Week

Manga Mondays:

Skip Beat vol. 9 by Yoshiki Nakamura

Reviews:

Where Things Back by John Corey Whaley

Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers

Read Outside the Box:

Best Adult Historical Fiction

Books I Read This Week

Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater
-Oh my gosh...So incredible!!!!

Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein

Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
-Finally reading this one. It's great so far.

Books Received This Week

Library Stash

-I really shouldn't have gotten anything at the library with all my BEA books at home, but I couldn't help myself.

Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

The Pioneer Woman: Black Heels to Tractor Wheels by Ree Drummond

Off Balance: A Memoir by Dominique Moceanu, Paul Williams, Teri Williams

-A must read for any gymnastics fan. Sure makes the Karolyis look bad.

Books For Review:

The Kingmakers (Vampire Empire #3) by Clay Griffith and Susan Griffith

-Thanks to Prometheus Books! Did a happy dance when this one arrived.

  Songs Bought




Eyes Wide Open by Gotye



Some Nights by Fun.
-Same group that sings "We Are Young." I like this song much better. That's putting it mildly. I am wildly in love with this song!!! The video is great too.



Carry On by Fun. 
-The video is acoustic. I actually like the acoustic version a little better than the album version.

Lies Beneath by Anne Greenwood Brown

Lies Beneath by Anne Greenwood Brown
Release Date: June 12th 2012
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Source: Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

Summary

Calder White lives in the cold, clear waters of Lake Superior, the only brother in a family of murderous mermaids. To survive, Calder and his sisters prey on humans, killing them to absorb their energy. But this summer the underwater clan targets Jason Hancock out of pure revenge. They blame Hancock for their mother's death and have been waiting a long time for him to return to his family's homestead on the lake. Hancock has a fear of water, so to lure him in, Calder sets out to seduce Hancock's daughter, Lily. Easy enough—especially as Calder has lots of practice using his irresistable good looks and charm on ususpecting girls. Only this time Calder screws everything up: he falls for Lily—just as Lily starts to suspect that there's more to the monsters-in-the-lake legends than she ever imagined. And just as his sisters are losing patience with him.(courtesy of Goodreads)

Review

Lies Beneath is like a sugar cookie. I like sugar cookies. They're buttery, sweet, and simply pleasant. But let's face it. A sugar cookie just isn't comparable to a chocolate chip cookie with its chiaroscuro-ish balance between the sugary dough and the bitter, rich, sweet chocolate chips. Chocolate chip cookies covers the whole flavor profile, giving it a complex taste that a sugar cookie lacks. I'll eat sugar cookies if they're the only thing around (and probably before an oatmeal raisin cookie), but they're just not as good. What exactly do I mean by that extended simile? I enjoyed Lies Beneath. It's a fun story, but lacking in substance of world building and some plot elements that could take it to the next level.

My favorite thing about Lies Beneath was the mermaid interpretation. It's more in line with traditional mermaid mythology. Think vampires with gills. Mermaids are killers, who devour humans' positive emotions rather than their blood or bodies. Culturally, mermaids resemble fish as much as humans. Your original family is a "school" that you can't leave even if you want to. You are compelled to migrate to your home waters each spring, much like salmon. It's a fascinating concept, but Lies Beneath fails to develop the mythology. How common are mermaids? We learn that humans can be changed into mermaids or born into it. How often does this happen? Why did it happen with Calder? There's question after unanswered question. It made the story feel one dimensional.

At first glance, Calder seems like a simple character, but you can read a lot into him. He's not overly nice or mean. He's not particularly empathetic. What he is definitely is stubborn. His stubbornness keeps him from killing humans for months on end, because he wants to believe that he can hold out. His stubbornness keeps him separated from his sisters who he both loves and hates, at least partly because he resents being compelled to join them every spring. His stubbornness attracts them to Lily, because she has no interest in him. His stubbornness pushes him to pursue Lily as relentlessly as a shark until she has no choice but to fall in love with him. While I can't say that I really liked Calder, I understood him. I felt bad that he was stuck between a rock and a hard place. His sisters literally rule his life. He's caught in an unrelenting net.

I had more trouble getting a read on Lily. She is laid out as a rebel who gets a line of poetry tattooed on her back. She wears crazy Victorian inspired outfits and spends her free time reading and writing poetry. She doesn't care what anyone thinks. She's stand-offish, but at the same time syrupy nice and deeply devoted to her family. As I'm writing this, it sounds like she's a great character. And she is, but as I was reading it, I sometimes felt like Lily was a different person depending on what was happening in the book. I especially disliked the insta-love between Calder and Lily. For all she holds herself out to be independent, she sure capitulated to his nagging, semi-braggy "you know you like me" attitude quickly. (On a slightly off note, I also disliked Calder's creepiness-tinged stalking of Lily).

The plot of Lies Beneath is like a lazy river with the occasional boulder in the middle. It moves slow and steady, but has a few dead stops. I love the concept that Calder builds a relationship with a girl to lure her father to his death, but falls in love with the girl instead. It's not a revolutionary plot line, but it's hard to go wrong with that kind of conflict. And it's handled well. There are a few surprises along the way, some good romantic moments between Calder and Lily, and a very interesting and screwed up family dynamic between Calder and his sisters. Thoroughly enjoyable. I suppose my main frustration with the book is that, while it's good, I feel like it could have been so much better with a bit more world development, less insta-love, and the addition of whatever intangible quality is necessary to make me believe the story. To forget that mermaids don't exist and that Calder and Lily aren't actually hanging out on the shore of Lake Superior. Lies Beneath almost gets there, but doesn't crest that final wave.

Rating: 3 / 5

Hallowed by Cynthia Hand

Hallowed (Unearthly #2) by Cynthia Hand
January 17, 2012; HarperTeen


Source: Library

Summary

For months part-angel Clara Gardner trained to face the raging forest fire from her visions and rescue the alluring and mysterious Christian Prescott from the blaze. But nothing could prepare her for the fateful decisions she would be forced to make that day, or the startling revelation that her purpose—the task she was put on earth to accomplish—is not as straightforward as she thought.

Now, torn between her increasingly complicated feelings for Christian and her love for her boyfriend, Tucker, Clara struggles to make sense of what she was supposed to do the day of the fire. And, as she is drawn further into the world of part angels and the growing conflict between White Wings and Black Wings, Clara learns of the terrifying new reality that she must face: Someone close to her will die in a matter of months. With her future uncertain, the only thing Clara knows for sure is that the fire was just the beginning. (courtesy of Goodreads)

Review

Hallowed was...good. I realize that "good" is the blandest descriptor aside from "interesting," but it is the best summation of my feelings about Hallowed. To be more specific, Hallowed was a step up from "okay," but a step below "really good." The interesting thing is that I read Angelfire and Unearthly within a few weeks of each other. I much preferred Unearthly. A year later, I read Wings of the Wicked and Hallowed within a few weeks of each other, but this time I preferred Wings of the Wicked.

I can't entirely describe what I disliked about Hallowed. Partially it was the lack of the qualities that made me love the first book so much. Especially Tucker. I adored Tucker in Unearthly. He had such a distinctive, funny, pleasant personality. He is still a large part of this novel, but their relationship has moved into the typical troubled "second book" realm. Instead of seeing sweet Tucker, he's either absent or jealous of the time Christian and Clara spend together. Aside from Tucker, the book just didn't capture me. When you read a book, you either gel with it or you don't. There's not always a rhyme or reason.

Moving on to what I liked about Hallowed and why I think most people will really enjoy it. The plot is stronger in this book than in Unearthly. There is a strong theme of choice versus destiny. Clara is fighting her pre-destined purpose. Is that the right thing to do? As time goes by, even Clara wonders whether she wants to fight destiny - or what she thinks destiny is. The theme causes the reader to pause and think about our own lives. In that way, Hallowed feels more important than the typical fluff paranormal.

There are several huge plot twists. Clara has a vision that someone she knows is going to die, but doesn't know who. She also learns a lot more about her past and her family. It doesn't sound all that exciting when I describe the plot, but I don't want to say anything to spoil it. Needless to say, I was very surprised. I only wish the plot development had started a little earlier. The first major twist showed up about halfway through. Up to that point, I was quite bored.

As I mentioned above, "second book" syndrome affects Clara and Tucker. Mostly because she and Christian spend so much time together doing angel stuff. As much as I love Tucker in Unearthly, my affection is changing. I am now Team Christian. I don't even like the guy all that much. He's a bit too "white bread" for my taste, but he feels right for Clara. Hallowed doesn't break any new ground in the love triangle storyline, but it still manages to be compelling.

If you liked Unearthly, you will probably really like Hallowed. I'm not sure why I didn't enjoy it very much. The second book advances the story and gets us deeper into the characters and their relationships. I did like Hallowed, but I wasn't able to lose myself in the story. It remained a book that I was forcing myself to get through because I wanted to know what was going to happen rather than because I was enthralled.

Rating: 3 / 5

Jessica Rules the Dark Side by Beth Fantaskey

Jessica Rules the Dark Side by Beth Fantaskey
January 10, 2012; Harcourt Children's Books

Summary

It’s one thing to find out you’re a vampire princess. It’s a whole other thing to actually rule. Newly married Jessica Packwood is having a hard enough time feeling regal with her husband, Lucius, at her side. But when evidence in the murder of a powerful elder points to Lucius, sending him into solitary confinement, Jessica is suddenly on her own. Determined to clear her husband’s name, Jessica launches into a full-scale investigation, but hallucinations and nightmares of betrayal keep getting in her way. Jessica knows that with no blood to drink, Lucius’s time is running out. Can she figure out who the real killer is—and whom she can trust—before it’s too late?(courtesy of Goodreads)

Review

I picked up Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side several years ago in my phase in which I read anything and everything to do with vampires (I guess I'm still in that phase). Given the stupid title, I wasn't expecting much. Boy, was I surprised. It was a great book with a lot of humor, fabulous characters, and a strong, unique plot. I was thrilled but a little wary of reading the long-awaited sequel. What if it disappointed, as so many second books do? Not to worry. Jessica Rules the Dark Side is fantastic.

The story is different from many YA novels in that Jessica has graduated high school, is now married, and living in Romania with Lucius. Like many "second books," there is a plot twist that takes Lucius away from Jessica. In this case, he is accused of committing murder and is thrown into the dungeon to await trial. It's up to Jessica to uncover the real murderer. Luckily, she's not alone. Her plucky friend Mindy arrives from Pennsylvania to help, as does Lucius's close friend Raniero. Thankfully, this book avoids the ubiquitous "second book" love triangle plot angle.

I wasn't thrilled with Jessica at first. She's not the strong, stubborn girl I remembered. Instead, she is timid and shy, looking to Lucius for everything. This is frustrating to read, but in context it makes sense. She just moved to Romania, doesn't speak the language, didn't grow up training to be a queen, and is living with people who have hated her ancestors for thousands of years. I would be a little hesitant too. Thankfully, she grows throughout the novel, becoming not necessarily the Jessica we remember, but a mature, logical, competent woman. A true queen.

The book alternates between points of view of Jessica, Lucius, Raniero, and Mindy. Their voices are so different that this never becomes confusing. Similar to the first book, we get the male point of view through letters and e-mail. Lucius's letters were my favorite part of the first book, and they are one of my favorite parts about this book. Lucius's dry humor always makes me smile. His good nature, love for Jessica, and even his arrogance (or self-assurance) shows through his writing. Mindy is also a breath of fresh air. Even when she's complaining or sulking, I feel happier when I read her point of view. She's such a funny, ditzy type of girl who also manages to be strong, capable, and calculating. She's a crucial character.

Then we have Raniero, the mystery man. I love how Beth used Raniero. He is sexy and dangerous. But we aren't sure whether he's dangerous in a good way or in a bad way. Just when we think that we've figured it out, Beth throws a twist into the plot that has us distrusting our assumptions. Whether he's good or bad, Raniero is a great character. A goofy, thoughtless, zen-like surfer dude...at least on the surface.

Jessica Rules the Dark Side is a fabulous follow up to Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side. The murder mystery keeps you on your toes as you wonder "whodunnit" and whether Jessica will be able to figure out the mystery in time to save Lucius. Plus, it features four distinct characters. Best of all, there's plenty of Lucius's dry wit - my favorite part of both books. I highly recommend this novel.

Rating: 4 / 5

Wings of the Wicked by Courtney Allison Moulton

Wings of the Wicked (Angelfire #2) by Courtney Allison Moulton
January 31, 2012; HarperCollins / Katherine Tegen Books

Summary

Life as the Preliator is harder than Ellie ever imagined. Balancing real life with the responsibility of being Heaven’s warrior is a challenge for Ellie. Her relationship with Will has become all business, though they both long for each other. And now that the secret of who she really is has come out, so have Hell’s strongest reapers. Grown bold and more vicious, the demonic threaten her in the light of day and stalk her in the night.

She’s been warned. Cadan, a demonic reaper, comes to her with information about Bastian’s new plan to destroy Ellie’s soul and use an ancient relic to wake all the souls of the damned and unleash them upon humanity. As she fights to stay ahead of Bastian’s schemes , the revelations about those closest to her awaken a dark power within Ellie that threatens to destroy everything—including herself.

She’ll be betrayed. Treachery comes even from those whom she loves, and Ellie is broken by the deaths of those who stood beside her in this Heavenly war. Still, she must find a way to save the world, herself, and her love for Will. If she fails, there will be hell to pay.(courtesy of Goodreads)

Review

Second books are typically place holders. They clear up a few things from the first book, introduce a few new complications that will be resolved in the third book (often a competing love interest), and have somewhat of a plot. They generally disappoint. Wings of the Wicked is one of the few second books that outdid the first book in the series.

I was reluctant to read Wings of the Wicked at first. I enjoyed Angelfire, but there were numerous things that I disliked about it. All those elements were still present in Wings of the Wicked. I started out not enjoying the book all that much.

My problems with the book/series? First off, I don't like angels/demons. Ironically, they are the paranormal creature that I have the most difficult time believing in. Ms. Moulton has created an interesting set of demons in this series and I like the idea of a super-powerful Preliator who lives again and again to fight evil creatures. However, whenever these demonic reapers open their mouths, their words make me laugh rather than quake in fear - at them, not with them. Ellie's fighting dialogue is just as bad. It's much harder to take paranormal creatures seriously when you spend much of the book rolling your eyes at them.

I also think that Ellie is immature in many ways. She spends much of her free time hanging out with her friends and partying. Pretty typical teenager, but she does this at the expense of fight training of hunting for demonic reapers. Part of my applauds her for maintaining balance in her life. It shows that she has a strong sense of self unlike many girls involved in paranormal novels who throw their former lives away. But the other part of me sees her as naive and irresponsible. Damned if you do, damned if you don't I suppose.

Onto what I liked about the novel. The action is fantastic. If you ignore the dialogue, there are many great fight scenes. I love how Ellie is in the middle of all the fighting and the strongest, most powerful person around - far outstripping the boys. Girl power! The action is very well written. The sword and hand-to-hand combat is described in vivid detail and Ms. Moulton knows just how to structure a scene so that the suspense peaks at the perfect time. The book flows very well, mixing character development and action scenes. It allows you to quickly read a 500+ page novel, because the pages speed by.

As I expected, Wings of the Wicked takes care of several plot holes leftover from the first book. One in particular wasn't a big surprise, but how it was handled was shocking. That's what I liked most about this book. Ms. Moulton wasn't afraid to take the plot in directions that I never expected. She was ruthless with her characters. The book started out plodding along in typical second book fashion and then...BOOM! By the middle of the book, any skepticism about the second bookishness of Wings of the Wicked disappeared. Then I held on for a wild ride.

Will continues to be a kind, loyal leading man. He's a little boring at times. So serious and focused. But he did manage to forget himself often enough to bring about some fabulous, hot kissing scenes. Thankfully, we see a lot more of Nathaniel, who was my favorite character from the first book. He's so kind, smart, and funny. He was a great big brother type figure for Will and even Ellie. Cadan is a new character - a demonic reaper who is actually trying to help Ellie. Or is he? Ellie and the reader puzzle over his motives and whether he is being truthful. He is the bad-boy, sexy, dangerous types that I always fall for in paranormal novels. But fear not...there's not a love triangle per se. Mostly a charged partnership.

The Angelfire series is not perfect, but Wings of the Wicked made my attachment for the series grow. I'm still not the biggest fan of the characters or the paranormal element, but the plot is so fantastic that I definitely recommend it. If you like books that take you on a wild ride in directions you never expected, you must pick up Wings of the Wicked.

Rating: 3.5 / 5

Shattered Souls by Mary Lindsey

Shattered Souls by Mary Lindsey
December 8, 2011; Philomel/Penguin
*I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

Summary

Lenzi hears voices and has visions - gravestones, floods, a boy with steel gray eyes. Her boyfriend, Zak, can't help, and everything keeps getting louder and more intense. Then Lenzi meets Alden, the boy from her dreams, who reveals that she's a reincarnated Speaker - someone who can talk to and help lost souls - and that he has been her Protector for centuries.

Now Lenzi must choose between her life with Zak and the life she is destined to lead with Alden. But time is running out: a malevolent spirit is out to destroy Lenzi, and he will kill her if she doesn't make a decision soon. (courtesy of Goodreads)

Review


Shattered Souls is a slow burning book. You start out intrigued but unsure, then change to interest and entertainment, finally evolving into love and fascination. Shattered Souls is a story of reincarnation, ghosts both good and evil, friendship, love, betrayal and altruism.

The first third of Shattered Souls I kept thinking "haven't I read this before?" And, in essence, I have. There are numerous YA paranormal romances with a reincarnated girl and her male guide/love interest. But Shattered Souls distinguishes itself with the shape of its paranormal element took. Lenzi was once Rose, a famous Speaker. She ambitiously and heartlessly worked to bring troubled souls to peace and to eliminate the evil spirits. She kept Alden, her Protector, on a tight leash in order to advance her cause. Now Lenzi is thrust into the role of Speaker with no memory of what to do. Alden is leading her rather than the other way around.

I loved Lenzi. She doesn't start out overly confident or forthright. I like reading books about girls who don't have the best self-esteem and aren't quick to act, because I was that way as a teen. She's terrified that she will suffer the same fate as her schizophrenic father. And when she first starts hearing the voices of the spirits, it seems like she's going crazy. I liked how Lenzi evolved throughout the book. She did not immediately believe or embrace her role as Speaker. She wasn't sure of her actions, but as she saw the difference she was making and the consequences of not acting, she became a bold and determined girl. I like my cautious Lenzi and I like my brave Lenzi.

Alden was another character I really liked. He was utterly devoted to his job as Protector as well as Lenzi. He even managed to add in a cute 4 year old little sister. He was content to let Lenzi lead and made sure that he only helped not hindered her. The more we learn about Rose and Alden's past, the more terrible we feel for him. He is a genuinely nice person, someone who toes the line even at his own expense. It's hard to see his heart get stomped on, life after life.

The romance developed at a good speed. There was instant intrigue, but not instant love. Lenzi was devoted to her boyfriend Zak, who seemed like a nice guy, but had a scary dark side. The relationship between Alden and Lenzi grew out of shared experience and respect. Lenzi came to know Alden through his present-day acts and his past heartache. It's hard not to fall for a sweetheart who adores you and treats you like a queen.

The plot of Shattered Souls is not particularly original, but it's enjoyable nonetheless. I really liked how Lenzi was able to help good souls come to rest. Most paranormal novels feature the characters destroying evil. Shattered Souls does that as well, but there is a large element of altruism to Lenzi's role as Speaker. Ultimately, the plot was less important to me than the characters. The story steadily grew on me as I read it and by the time I closed the last page, I was devastated. I wasn't as interested in knowing what was going to happen next in the story; rather, I was sad that I had to leave two people who I now considered friends. I recommend Shattered Souls for an interesting plot, but mostly for its kind and passionate main characters, Lenzi and Alden.

Rating: 4 / 5

Fins Are Forever by Tera Lynn Childs

Fins Are Forever by Tera Lynn Childs
June 28, 2011; HarperCollins Childrens Books

Summary

On Lily Sanderson’s eighteenth birthday she’ll become just a girl—still a mergirl, true, but signing the renunciation will ink Princess Waterlily of Thalassinia out of existence. That leaves plain old Lily living on land, dating the boy she loves, and trying to master this being-human thing once and for all.

Now that Lily and Quince are together, mer bond or not, she’s almost content to give up her place in the royal succession of Thalassinia. But just when she thinks she has everything figured out, the waves start to get rough. Lily’s father sends a certain whirlpool-stirring cousin to stay with her on land. What did Doe do to get herself exiled from Thalassinia and stuck in terraped form when everyone knows how much she hates humans? And why why why is she batting her eyelashes at Lily’s former crush, Brody?

The seafoam on the raging surf comes when a merboy from Lily’s past shows up—Tellin asks Lily for something that clouds her view of the horizon. There’s a future with Quince on land, her loyalty to the kingdom in the sea, and Lily tossing on the waves in the middle. Will she find a way to reconcile her love, her duty, and her own dreams?

Tera Lynn Childs’s sequel to Forgive My Fins offers another tail-flicking romance with plenty of fun, sun, and underwater adventure. (courtesy of Goodreads)

Reviews

Forgive My Fins was an adorable tail (spelling on purpose) of a mermaid discovering who she should love and whether love is worth giving up your home at sea for a landlocked life. It was light, fluffy, and loads of fun. Fins Are Forever, the sequel, is similarly adorable. It is not as good as the first book, but I still enjoyed it.

Things are going great at the start of Fins Are Forever. Quince and Lily are in love and swimingly happy. Pretty typical start to a second book. Then Lily's cousin Doe shows up and threatens to ruin everything.

Lily is floundering throughout much of this book. She always thought she'd go back to her sea home after school. Now that that isn't going to happen, she has to plan for a human future. That means college. But is that what she wants? She doesn't want to go back to the sea again or does she?

We meet new characters in this book and get to know old ones better. Doe's actions are pretty shocking. She thoughtlessly uses people. However, she isn't a flatly awful character. I was pleased that the author gives an explanation for her hatred toward humans and allowed her personality to grow. I also liked how Lily grew in this novel. She starts out much more confident than she was in Forgive My Fins, but she still has a long ways to go toward maturity. By the end of the book, she is beginning to have a grown-up, long-term view and makes decisions by thinking about someone else than herself. I was not a fan of Quince here. I loved him in the first book, but he's an after-thought in much of Fins Are Forever. Par for the second book course, I suppose, but since he was one of the main things that made Forgive My Fins loveable, it's extra disappointing to miss out on extra Quince moments. The main new character is Tellin, a guppyhood friend of Lily. I loved his character. Is he a good or bad guy? Honest or manipulative? It's hard to say for much of the book. Nice to have a complex character.

The plot is good and bad. On the good side, we learn more about the mermaid world. There are other kingdoms, for example. And the human world has affected mermaids more than we realized in the first book. Things aren't all sunny. The author did a great job of exploring how Lily has the potential to affect her subjects' lives for good and the consequences of doing so. It takes the book slightly beyond it's main fluffy nature. On the bad side of the plot, there were a lot of events that were too outrageous to be believed - even for a mermaid book. Doe and Brody's relationship ended up being a stretch. And certain conflicts were cleaned up too neatly at the end.

Regardless of its flaws, Fins Are Forever was a cute continuation to the series. I don't take these books too seriously, so I'm willing to accept some silliness. I'm curious to see where the series goes from here.

Rating: 3.5 / 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

Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl

Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl

December 1, 2009; Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Summary

Lena Duchannes is unlike anyone the small Southern town of Gatlin has ever seen, and she's struggling to conceal her power, and a curse that has haunted her family for generations. But even within the overgrown gardens, murky swamps and crumbling graveyards of the forgotten South, a secret cannot stay hidden forever.

Ethan Wate, who has been counting the months until he can escape from Gatlin, is haunted by dreams of a beautiful girl he has never met. When Lena moves into the town's oldest and most infamous plantation, Ethan is inexplicably drawn to her and determined to uncover the connection between them.

In a town with no surprises, one secret could change everything. (courtesy of Goodreads)

Review

I read Beautiful Creatures a year and a half ago and adored it. In anticipation of the release of Beautiful Chaos, the third book in the Caster Chronicles series, I'm re-reading the first two books. Beautiful Creatures was not only as good the second time around, but I loved it even more. The story has everything that I consider essential in a good book: a likable narrator, heart-stopping romance, well-developed secondary characters, strong villains, a complex yet understandable paranormal element, and a good balance between character development and plotting. It is a mixture southern traditions: charm, history, and Gothic storytelling.

A highlight of the series is Ethan, our narrator and main character. It is always refreshing to have a male narrator and Ethan is particularly pleasant. He is smart, sensitive, and thoughtful. While he is extremely passionate about those he cares about, he manages to hold to his beliefs during times of turmoil without the inner angst of a typical female narrator.

Lena is Ethan's opposite in many ways. Angst to the extreme. And who wouldn't be if they thought they were cursed? Lena is a Caster - a witch. In her family, Casters turn light or dark at the age of 16. They have no choice in the matter. Lena is terrified that she will turn dark and is counting the days down to her sixteenth birthday like a prisoner ticking off days leading to his execution. Lena is an eternal pessimist. She is an emo poet. On the surface, she seems insufferably sullen. But the reader can't help but empathize with her fears and love Lena for her underlying kindness and intelligence. I loved that she had an edge - whether dark or light - she had the gall to get some revenge on those who wrong her.

My favorite part of Beautiful Creatures is the strongly developed parental figures. Both Ethan and Lena are your stereotypical orphans. Lena's parents died when she was young. Ethan's mother died last year and his father is so distraught that he might as well be dead. Ethan is essentially raised by his housekeeper Amma and Lena is raised by her uncle Macon. Both Amma and Macon play crucial roles in the story. I adored Amma's fierce love for "her boy," her crossword hobby, her cooking talent, and her role as intercessor between the Spirits, the Casters, and Mortals . I became extremely attached to Macon as I came to understand his particular mixture of elegance, arrogance, strength, and love for Lena. Amma and Macon serve as foils for Ethan and Lena as they strive to keep them apart and hinder their attempts to learn more about the Caster curse. Their actions are frustrating but the reader can tell they are done out of love.

Beautiful Creatures is a long book - 563 pages. I thought the plot flowed smoothly and rarely dragged. However, some reviews disagree. The book admittedly covers a lot of material. Here are the various major plot points of the novel: Ethan and Lena's romance, Ethan's family problems, Lena's family dynamics, the Civil War element of the Duchannes Caster curse, the "witch-hunt" Lena faces from the cruel, ignorant students and townspeople, Lena's struggle between dark and light, Ethan's friendship with Link, the explanation of what a Caster is, and more. Clearly, this is not a simple book. The story was a little easier to comprehend the second time around, but I remember being nearly as captivated on the first read.

I highly recommend Beautiful Creatures. It's one of the best paranormal romance series I've read. Ethan and Lena are two of the most endearing YA characters, the side characters are very strongly written, and the world of the Casters is absolutely fascinating. While the story is long and not overly speedy, if you're willing to be patient and take the time to absorb the myriad of things going on in Beautiful Creatures, it is a rich and satisfying book.

Rating: 5 / 5

Iron Queen by Julia Kagawa

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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

Lost Voices by Sarah Porter

Lost Voices by Sarah Porter
July 4, 2011; Harcourt Children's Books

Summary

Fourteen-year-old Luce has had a tough life, but she reaches the depths of despair when she is assaulted and left on the cliffs outside of a grim, gray Alaskan fishing village. She expects to die when she tumbles into the icy waves below, but instead undergoes an astonishing transformation and becomes a mermaid. A tribe of mermaids finds Luce and welcomes her in—all of them, like her, lost girls who surrendered their humanity in the darkest moments of their lives. Luce is thrilled with her new life until she discovers the catch: the mermaids feel an uncontrollable desire to drown seafarers, using their enchanted voices to lure ships into the rocks. Luce possesses an extraordinary singing talent, which makes her important to the tribe—she may even have a shot at becoming their queen. However her struggle to retain her humanity puts her at odds with her new friends. Will Luce be pressured into committing mass murder? (courtesy of Goodreads)

Review

Lost Voices is my third mermaid/siren novel. I'm really enjoying this genre. Mermaids are such versatile paranormal creatures. They can be cute, fun-loving human-fish; breathtaking beauties; or evil man-killing monsters. The characters in Lost Voices basically fall into the third category.

The mermaids in Lost Voices are young girls who have had horrible lives - sexual, physical, and/or emotional abuse. Some horrible trauma flips the switch to magically change them from human to mermaids. It's an odd concept and not explained well at first, but by the end of the book, I felt that I understood the basics pretty well. Not surprisingly, many of these girls are bitter towards humans, especially men.

And then you have Luce. She lived a happy life with her father, even if he was poor and a criminal. Then he disappeared leaving her with her abusive uncle. When he tried to rape her one night, the switch flipped and she was suddenly in the ocean with a new life as a mermaid.

Luce is now unbelievably powerful. With her voice alone, she can lead dozens of men to their deaths. The other mermaids try to convince her that this is a good thing - humans are useless, evil creatures - but Luce isn't sure. She's known both love and hate.

Lost Voices is more than just a killing spree. The mermaids are a fascinating group of girls. Their culture promotes love and loyalty and forbids hurting one another. In practice, things are a bit more complicated, but I love the idea that abused girls now have a supportive girl-power group they can always rely upon.

This book was a mixed bag for me. On the up side, the book is well-written and the mythology is fascinating. I liked Luce, sympathized with her, and understood her character well enough to relate to her. On the down side, I felt the plot floundered (purposeful fish misspelling). More and more mermaids were created and more and more killing occurred. It felt directionless. Perhaps it will make more sense in the later books. Also, Catarina, the leader of the mermaids, was really inconsistent. She loved Luce and then she hated Luce. I partially came to understand the mood swings, but not entirely.

The biggest issue with Lost Voices is neither a down nor an up...it just is. This book is dark. There is carnage without purpose, there is emotional cruelty, horrible treatment of children, and no happy ending. I admire the author for being willing to go so dark when few modern fairy tales do so. Still, as a sucker for happy endings, the book is rather hard to take. The darkness is something a reader should be aware of before picking up the book.

Rating: 3 / 5

Shadowspell by Jenna Black (Faeriewalker #2)

Current Giveaway on Alison Can Read 

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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

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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

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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.

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)