Jen's review of "The Iron Queen" by Julie Kagawa

The Iron Queen (The Iron Fey #3)  by Julie Kagawa

Publication date: January 25th, 2011

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Number of pages: 358

Format: Paperback

Purchase: Amazon | The Book Depository

Description:  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.

In the third book of the Iron Fey series, the stakes are turned up and things get as real as they can be. Meghan has to make a deadly choice, and it's one that she will have to live with for the rest of her life. The love between Meghan and Ash just gets deeper and deeper as this series goes on, and no matter what Ash will always be there to protect her.

In this book, Ash becomes her Knight, which is a vow to do anything for her, protect her and never leave her side. They are joined by her best friend Puck, as they go to battle the Iron King, as it's the only way for things to return to normal. It's definitely a do or die type of situation and they are all prepared for whatever outcome it might hold.

 Puck. how anyone can not love this guy is beyond me. He is my far my favourite character from this series.. even in dire situations, he seems to find some way to put a grin on his face and makes you believe in the optimistic. I came to like and respect Ash. His battle with Puck is still an ongoing on, and you wonder whether it's going to end at some point. 

Ash still has a dark past that he needs to come to grips with, and to let forgiveness in his heart to do so. Without it, he won't be able to properly move on... and that is something that might kill him eventually. I would say this book is definitely a game changer for the series. Something you never thought would happen, happened. There are definitely shocks and twists and surprises in store, and it's an action packed adventure you never want to leave. 

You got to see more of Meghan's dad, the one who knows... not the Seelie King dad. And she has to make choices that is difficult for her to make, but sometimes you have to do what needs to be done... whether they are good or bad decisions. 

 The end was quite bittersweet, and I heard this was originally meant to be the end of the series, but Julie's editor convinced her to write another book to finish off the series with a happy ending rather than what happened in this one. The thing about happy endings... they aren't always reaslistic, so I think if she left it with this book.. it still would have been okay.

 Rating: 5/5 

Jen's review of "The Iron Daughter" by Julie Kagawa

The Iron Daughter (The Iron Fey #2) by Julie Kagawa

Publication date: August 1st, 2010

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Number of pages: 359

Format: Paperback

Purchase: Amazon | The Book Depository

Description: 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.

In the second installment to Julie Kagawa's 'Iron Fey' series, comes a story straight off its predecessor. Things pick up pretty much right away from where things were left in The Iron King.
Meghan was forced to go back to Never Never, aka the land of Faery... because she made a promise in exchange for getting her brother, Ethan back.
She finds herself in the land of the Unseelie, and it isn't the most comfortable place given that she is half Seelie and half human, neither traits work well in this court.
Ash, the boy she fell in love with is ignoring her and she doesn't understand why. But everything is not as it seems.. because Meghan soon learns what the Unseelie court is all about and why Ash acts the way he does when he is there. Emotions. Love. They are a weakness, and nobody wants to show a weakness when around his mother, Queen Mab.

The story moves quite quickly when something tragic happens at the festival where they exchange scepter in change of the seasons. A war breaks out, and Ash and Meghan, who are from different courts see themselves on different sides.

There is a lot more action in this book than there was in book 1. So much more going on, and it's exciting.
The relationship between Meg and Ash progress, not to mention the return of Puck, whose feelings for her are clearly obvious and where he makes them obvious to her as well.
Puck is my favourite character, so when I first read this book.. all I felt was sadness for him, and wanted him to get the girl because of how he has loved her for so long.
But now after re-reading the book, I still felt sad for him. I have came to understand that she isn't the girl for him, but his chance at happiness has yet to come.
Two of my favourite things about this book was the interactions between Ash and Puck. They swear to kill one another, but never get around to it... and so there is always this tension between them that you could cut with a knife it was that deep.

I was glad I re-read these first two books, as I liked them even more than the first time I read them.

Rating: 4/5

Cover reveals for:: Gates of Paradise, The Indigo Spell & Sever

And so the covers keep coming. :P

This is the final book in the BLUE BLOODS series. :( I adore these books so much. I can't believe its ending..
So this is Sky and Jack on the cover. I wasn't sure at first because I didn't think Sky had short hair, but I guess she either cut it or.. has it tied back.

This is also the last of this series. I still need to read Fever, but this might be my favourite cover. Rhine just looks so pretty in it.

I'm guessing that's Sydney/Adrian and.. Marcus? I feel he will come into this book and play a significant role in the story.
Did anyone notice.... Sydney does not have her Lily tattoo?? Let the speculation go..

Jen's review of "Revamped" by Ada Adams

Revamped (Angel Creek #1) by Ada Adams

Publication date: February 20th, 2012

Number of pages: 299

Format: Kindle

Purchase: Amazon

Description: A simple mission turned deadly.

Nineteen-year-old vampire Dawn has led a sheltered life within the confines of her father’s presidential headquarters. Upon being sent on a mission to revamp four goofy misfits into guardians of a peaceful little town of Angel Creek, Dawn believes that all her dreams have finally come true. What starts off as a simple task, turns into something unexpected, changing Dawn’s life forever and leading the action-loving, thrill-seeking vampire teen on a path of mystery, danger and intrigue.

When a human girl is kidnapped by a group of rogue vamps, Dawn discovers that there is more going on in Angel Creek than meets the eye. And it all connects to Ethan, the cute newcomer who seems too perfect to be true, Sebastian, the mysterious vampire with a turbulent past, and even Dawn herself. Dawn must not only succeed in revamping the troubled recruits, but must also prevent the vampire race from being overtaken by a malevolent villain who has a strange and obsessive fascination with her. As threat escalates, romance blooms, and ghosts from her past begin to surface, Dawn is sure of only one thing: her life will never be the same.

I would like to thank Ada for sending me this review copy. I am just sad that I took longer than expected to read it. 

Just when you thought you had read them all, Revamped, comes a new, fresh and exciting vampire genre book that will blow you away.
In this world, vampires are out in the world and exist amongst humans. They compete in reality shows, in movies and televisions. They are basically - celebrities.

Dawn is one of the rare ones to be born a vampire rather than being made into one. That makes her special, but also sheltered. She has spent pretty much her whole life in the confines of the Scarlett House, being the only daughter of the vampire president. It's like the white house fore vampires, so I'd expect nothing less.
But Dawn has been itching to get a solo assignment for years, and her father finally gives her what she wants. An assignment that takes her to Angel Creek.. where she is expected to gather up the vampires there and make them into a team, but not everything is as easy as it sounds.

I loved Dawn. I felt she was very relatable. Its no wonder she wanted to get out and do something, one would feel suffocated after so long doing nothing but training and waiting for an opportunity to get out on her own.
We get introduced to a few newcomers, but major players who play a significant role in Dawn's time in this small town.
There is something strange going on, and being Dawn, she'll be damned if she doesn't get to the bottom of it.

She soon finds herself in the attention of two males. One sweet and attentive, and the other mysterious and broody. With different qualities about them that make them opposites of one another, but also appeal to a side of Dawn that makes them just as swoonworthy. But boys have never been something she is well versed in. Give her a fight, problems to solve --- anything. But this. She is quick with the snark and attitude, but when it comes to the opposite sex and emotional feelings, Dawn is sort of out of her own depth.


This was such a fun book. I read it pretty quickly, and I could not get enough. If you are a fan of this genre, sweet, sexy, charming AND mysterious, dark and enchanting guys... a great atmosphere, fun characters with witty lines. Then this is the book for you.

                                                        Rating:: 5/5

Jen's review of "The Iron King" by Julie Kagawa

The Iron King (The Iron Fey #1) by Julie Kagawa

Publication date: February 1st, 2010

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Number of pages: 363

Format: Paperback

Purchase: Amazon | The Book Depository (Free shipping worldwide)

Description: 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.

Meghan thought she had it all. A great family, a best friend and a shot to look good for her long-time crush. Then everything changed. On her sixteenth birthday, Meghan sees things that shouldn't be there, her brother gets kidnapped and some monster is put in his place. With her best friend, Robbie by her side, one would think he would give her some reasonable explanation for what happened, but no... he tells her the truth. Her brother has been kidnapped and taken into faery. Yes, fairies are real.. and he --- is Robin Goodfellow, or you might know him by.. "Puck". 

Meghan and Puck then head into the Never Never, which is what they call the land where the fey preside and try to find a way to find and bring her brother, Ethan back to where he belongs.
But things don't go as easy as she thought.
She goes on quite the journey between meeting her real fatherm discovering things she wish she didn't have to discover, and along the way, she finds herself drawn and falling for the one that is forbidden to her: Ash - Prince of the Unseelie court.

What she doesn't realize is that Puck, her best friend for as long as she can remember is in love with her too, but is it a little too late?
Will Meagan find her brother so they can both go home?

I admit, when I first read this book -- this was more like a re-read since it had been forever since I read the first two books, I really didn't like Ash all that much. I was Team Puck then, and still Team Puck now.
While, I know it would never have gone a way that I might have liked, I did eventually come to understand the love between Meghan and Ash, and it was sweet.  And Ash wasn't that bad of a guy/fey.
I fell in love with Puck the instant he came onto the scene. He is by far my favourite character of the series/book. I would go anywhere with him if he asked.

The world that Julie created was an interesting one. I have read a few Faery books, and I like that each one has a different take on the genre and mythical creatures.

I especially liked this because of the whole Midsummer nights dream aspect. I remember I had done the play of it and watched the film when I was young in High School, and always had a thing for Puck.

                                                          Rating: 4/5

April's review of 'One Foot in the Grave' by Jeaniene Frost

One Foot in the Grave (Night Huntress #2) by Jeaniene Frost
Publication Date: April 1, 2008
Publisher: Avon
Number of Pages: 357
Format: Paperback
Buy: Amazon | Barnes and Nobles
Description:  You can run from the grave, but you can’t hide…
Half-vampire Cat Crawfield is now Special Agent Cat Crawfield, working for the government to rid the world of the rogue undead. She’s still using everything Bones, her sexy and dangerous ex, taught her, but when Cat is targeted for assassination, the only man who can help her is the vampire she left behind.
Being around Bones awakens all her emotions, from the adrenaline rush of slaying vamps side by side to the reckless passion that consumed them. But a price on her head – wanted: dead or half-alive – means her survival depends on teaming up with Bones. And no matter how hard Cat tries to keep things professional between them, she’ll find that desire lasts forever … and Bones won’t let her get away again.

The second installment in Frost's vampire series picks up four years after the first one ended. True to her word, Cat has been working as a federal agent with her own special force team. Even though she's tried to forget about Bones, she has never been able to fully move on. Not only as she not dated or even slept with anyone since him, she has taken his last name as her own and even gotten the same tattoo he has. The guys on her team are hilarious, and you will love every one of them. Even though Cat had left Bones, he has spent the years searching for her. 

When her best friend gets married, Cat is caught off guard when Bones is in the wedding party. She tries to resist him. Try is the key word, as you can imagine she can't stay away from him for long. As they resume their intense relationship, suddenly there's been several attempts on her life. It doesn't take long for them to find out who is after her. And they both prepare for a faceoff. 

When I thought things couldn't get any sexier, I got to chapter 32. You will need a cold shower after reading it. I think I need one from just thinking about it. If you loved the first book, you will love this even better. 

Rating: 5/5

 

Jen's review of "Shadowfever" by Karen Marie Moning

Shadowfever (Fever #5) by Karen Marie Moning

Publication date: January 18th, 2011

Publisher: Delacorte Press

Number of pages: 594

Format: Hardcover

Purchase: Amazon | The Book Depository

Description: “Evil is a completely different creature, Mac. Evil is bad that believes it’s good.”

MacKayla Lane was just a child when she and her sister, Alina, were given up for adoption and banished from Ireland forever.

Twenty years later, Alina is dead and Mac has returned to the country that expelled them to hunt her sister’s murderer. But after discovering that she descends from a bloodline both gifted and cursed, Mac is plunged into a secret history: an ancient conflict between humans and immortals who have lived concealed among us for thousands of years.

What follows is a shocking chain of events with devastating consequences, and now Mac struggles to cope with grief while continuing her mission to acquire and control the Sinsar Dubh—a book of dark, forbidden magic scribed by the mythical Unseelie King, containing the power to create and destroy worlds.

In an epic battle between humans and Fae, the hunter becomes the hunted when the Sinsar Dubh turns on Mac and begins mowing a deadly path through those she loves.
Who can she turn to? Who can she trust? Who is the woman haunting her dreams? More important, who is Mac herself and what is the destiny she glimpses in the black and crimson designs of an ancient tarot card?

From the luxury of the Lord Master’s penthouse to the sordid depths of an Unseelie nightclub, from the erotic bed of her lover to the terrifying bed of the Unseelie King, Mac’s journey will force her to face the truth of her exile, and to make a choice that will either save the world . . . or destroy it.

In the final book to this series, Ms.Moning brings out all the stops that makes this conclusion to the series the best book yet. 

This story takes place right off the bat to where Dreamfever left off. Mac is trapped in the silvers, and amongst other things, she just helped kill the one person closest to her.

Not everything as it seems.
Mac should sure remember that. Just because something looks dead... it doesn't mean it really is. You can never tell these things.
Mac goes through so many emotions during the first part of the book. She has lost someone so valuable to her, and she didn't even realize her own feelings until it was too late. She could no longer do anything about it.

So she does the next best thing: Team up with the enemy, hunt the book and try to change what is done.

During this book, Mac goes through such a journey, and it's one I never could have expected. Always keep your perceptions open and clear, because when you start to think you know where something is going, or the truth, everything then goes to wack and you are back to step 1.

It's such a rollercoaster of a book. It's also far the best of the entire series. Every scene is important and crucial and you can't let the book down for a second.
We start to discover things about each of the characters. From Mac, and who she really is... Barrons and the million-dollar question and WHAT he is, and that is one I'm sure every one of us have been wanting to know the answer to for a long time.
Dani and the women at the abbey --- especially Rowena. Shock after shock. Just when you think she was some old woman.. think again.
There are revelations and shocking discoveries that will make you blink twice about what the hell is going on. Some things you never see coming a mile away, and reveals that go back to previous books in the series.

This book leaves you satisfied, while with an edge of wanting more. Good thing there is a spinoff which the first book is ICED with Dani as the protagonist this time around.
I look forward to see what adventures she will be up to in this 3-book series, not to mention Ryodan, Christian and anyone else who may appear.

If you loved the first 4 books of this series, then there is no doubt this book will blow your mind.. like it did for me.
During the journey of this book, I ran through so many emotions and thoughts that by the end... I needed to try to digest everything that went on.
There is a reason why this is my favourite series to date, and Karen is my favourite author. There is nothing this woman can't do.

                                                             Rating: 5/5

Jen's review of "Brittle" by Jordan Calher

Brittle by Jordan Calher

Publication date: May 9th, 2012

Publisher: Amazon

Number of pages:  217

Format: Kindle

Purchase: Amazon

Description: A diabetic since freshman year, the control Sara Jacobs needs to survive is obliterated when she unleashes Voodoo barons of the afterlife from the dark witch trial history of her hometown -- Andover, Massachusetts. Past and present blend and ignite as her life crumbles beyond recognition, shattered by the same forbidden forces she is drawn to embrace: magic, the supernatural, and the demon raging uncontrolled in her veins. Rewired by magic, she revisits and dominates her petty high school world – paybacks to authority, and a little help with that crush from freshman year.

From a gossip-crazed high school to a moonless limbo of tombstone covered hills, BRITTLE is what happens when Sara stops being the victim.

First off, I would like to thank Jordan for giving me this opportunity to review this book. It's very much appreciated. I quite enjoyed this book. Sara, I felt was very relatable. While I don't have diabetes myself, I could still see myself in her shoes, going through the emotions, events and tragedies she deals with.

Sara Jacobs only thought she was some girl with Type 1 Diabetes, but when she discovers a book and a special amulet which awakens something inside her. A power she never knew she had.
From that point onward, Sara discovers she can change and make use of magic in her own way.
When a tragedy occurs close to her, Sara will do anything in her power to change things back to the way they should be, not something that was forced upon them.
With the help of her friends, Jace and a new boy, Skyler... Sara goes through a journey of self discovery, with shocking revelations and confessions that will change who she thought she was forever.

Her relationships with Skyler, -- a boy she has liked in forever, best friend -- Jace and her relationships with her parents felt very real and euthentic. I loved that even though magic and her heritage seemed to be the larger plot in the book, the relationships and friendships she has with the people around her all have an impact on who she becomes as a person.

I really liked the magic and Salem witches aspect of the book. I have always enjoyed this kind of genre and found Jordan's take on it interesting and intriguing, while making it into a beautiful story.
Sara deals with family issues, relationship and friendship complications all the while trying to be a normal teenager in high school -- but she'll soon discover that normal is just not who she is. Who she really is is something far greater and extraodinary that normal is so overrated.

Things happen. Which I won't reveal, but they make Sara stronger, but she soon gets that everything always comes with a price -- especially if you are dealing with magic, blood and death.
Not everything is as it seems, there are some things that are in front of your face the entire time and you had no idea, and always be careful when touching with fate.
She gradually gets that Magic doesn't control you, nor do you control it... but rather, the more you know, the more you understand it, how it changes you.

I would recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of magic, witches and a self discovery to understand who you really are and what you are capable of.

Rating: 4/5

Liebster Blog Award

The Liebster Blog Award is given to upcoming bloggers who have less than 200 followers and Liebster is a German word which means sweetest, kindest, nicest, dearest, beloved, lovely, kind, pleasant, valued, cute, endearing and welcome.

The rules:
1. Each person must post 10 facts about themselves
2. Answer 10 questions the tagger has given you and give 10 questions for the people you’ve tagged.
3. Choose 10 people and link them in your post.
4. Tell them you’ve tagged them.
5. Remember, no tag backs.

Ten Random Facts About Me:  (Jen)

1. I have been writing since I can remember, and recently self-published my first novel: Chosen 

2. I still live with my family, even at the age of 28
3. I have two bookshelves full of books.
4. My eyes change colour depending on the light

5. I never used to buy books until Twilight came out. I just used to borrow them from the library (and now I can't stop.)
6. I have moved three times in my life.
7. I have travelled to the US 3 times, Canada once and London, Japan and Scotland. (In this upcoming September, my mum and I are going to the US again and Canada as she wants to see Vancouver).
8. I have a scar just above my upper lip from a time when I was a child and had knocked into a glass cabinet.
9. I wasn't much of a talker until after High School.

10. My favourite non fantasy/paranormal book is "Light a Penny Candle" by Mauve Binchy 


 

Questions from Markella (It's a Hardcover's Life): Her Blog

1) How long have you been blogging?

I'd say, probably about a year, or a little longer. I had never considered it before. 

2) Why did you start blogging?

Reading and writing are two of my favourite things in the world, and I don't know why I never considered doing it before. But then one day, I got this idea to incorporate my love for books and writing into one to give my opinion on the books I love and adore.

3) What book are you most excited about reading in the near future?

Ah gosh, so many!   ICED by Karen Marie Moning is probably my #1. The Indigo Spell by Richelle Mead, Unravel me by Tahereh Mafi, Everbound by Brodi Ashton, Boundless by Cynthia Hand, Edge of Dawn by Lara Adrian. Those are the main ones I can think of off the top of my head.

4) What has been the hardest part of blogging for you?

I guess putting off reviews, and then when I get down to writing them, I have to remember what happened in each specific book. 

5) If you could live in the world of a book, what book would that be and why?
Geez. That's hard.  I'd maybe go with Fever because it has Barrons, or maybe Divergent.

6) What is your least favorite book?

Least favourite? I think.. Sweet Valley Confidential. I have never, in my life read such a horrible and character assignation book. I grew up with her books. They were everything to me when I was a teenager. And I was excited to read this... but it changed and re-wrote history, and that.. I could not take.

7) Girl/ Boy in a book you wish was real? Why?

Can it be more than one? Jericho Barrons from Fever series, Alex from Angel by L.A Weatherly and well. almost every male in the books I love.

8)What would you do if vampires were real? Kill them? Hide?
Kill them if they are bad. Love them if they were good. 

9) Favorite place to read?

My bedroom. 

10) Got any cool ARCs?
Not recently. I don't tend to get many ARC's.. only via netgalley, if that counts.

Blogs I tagged:

1) booksncookies

2) blogofabookaholic

3) deadtreesandsilverscreens

4) dawnandwinniebookreviews

5) booklovewitch

6) projectreadandreview

7) silenttbookblog

8) underworldloveaddiction

9)

10)

My Questions for them:

1) What do you love most about blogging?

2) What made you want to start blogging?

3) What are three things you feel are most important in the blogging world?

4)What are some things you would change or add onto your blogging?

5)What do you love most about reading a book?

6)How many books do you own?

7)Which Hero/Heroine would you like to be?

8) What's your favourite genre to review/read?

9)  When did you start reading on a regular basis?

10) Do you prefer to buy or borrow books?

 

April's review of 'Halfway to the Grave' by Jeaniene Frost

Halfway to the Grave (Night Huntress #1) by Jeaniene Frost
Publication Date: September 1, 2007
Publisher: Avon
Number of Pages: 358
Format: Paperback
Buy: Amazon | Barnes and Nobles
Description:  Half-vampire Catherine Crawfield is going after the undead with a vengeance, hoping that one of these deadbeats is her father—the one responsible for ruining her mother’s life. Then she’s captured by Bones, a vampire bounty hunter, and is forced into an unholy partnership.

In exchange for finding her father, Cat agrees to train with the sexy night stalker until her battle reflexes are as sharp as his fangs. She’s amazed she doesn’t end up as his dinner—are there actually good vampires? Pretty soon Bones will have her convinced that being half-dead doesn’t have to be all bad. But before she can enjoy her newfound status as kick-ass demon hunter, Cat and Bones are pursued by a group of killers. Now Cat will have to choose a side... and Bones is turning out to be as tempting as any man with a heartbeat.

 Cat always knew she was different from the other kids, but her mother would never talk about it. When she turned 16 her mother finally told her the truth, she was raped by a vampire and Cat is actually half vampire half human. Since then she has been going out to night clubs and killing every vampire she comes across, hoping one day she'll find her dad and get justice for her mom. Things work out great until she meets Bones, a vampire master who just happens to be a vampire bounty hunter and kills vampires also. 


In exchange for her life, Cat agrees to work with him, but first but train his way. She hates every moment of it initially, but she eventually see that being a vampire, or in her case half vampire isn't that bad. Especially since all her life she's felt ashamed of what she is because of her mother's hatred. And somewhere along the way Bones and Cat falls in love. Which for me, I'm not sure if I'm just used to a few books in series like these before the couple are together, but I felt like it was a little too soon. But I still love them to death. It's not long until they go after the ring leader of a dangerous group of vampires. Cat soon realizes that they might not walk away from this mission alive. Which of course we all know both of them will. But Cat just may have to make a decision to leave Bones forever to save his life. 


Kick ass heorine. Sex. Humor. Action. This book has it all. If you haven't started this series then do is ASAP. 

Rating: 5/5

 

More Cover Reveals [Destroy Me, Unravel Me, Boundless]

It seems like its cover reveal week, and while I did post some... a few more have come out of the work.

Do NOT have this series to turn into a love triangle between Adam/Juliette/Warner.  Adam and Juliette are made for one another.
End of story. 
But I am looking forward to his story.

My only complaint. The change in style. Does not match my Shatter Me paperback. Which means one thing: I need to give my copy to April and I shall re-buy it in this new style when it comes out.

I do not do well with change.

PRETTY. I am more so looking forward to the Australian cover, as those are my favourite (plus with me being aussie), but this is great!

Cover Reveal: Echo by Alyson Noel

I am halfway through FATED, and here comes the cover for the 2nd book. Good timing, I think! This is gorgeous..although I wonder what the UK/Aus cover will look like, as that's the one I would be buying when it's out here.
But nonetheless, this is beautiful!

Cover Reveal:: Everbound by Brodi Ashton

*thud*

Isn't it gorgeous? I like the contrast how book 1 she was wear red, and now.. to make it a darker theme, she is wearing black.

Thoughts?

In My Mailbox #6

In My Mailbox is a weekly blog post hosted by Kirsti over at The Story Siren and inspired by Alea at Pop Culture Junkie.


These books I bought over the last week. 

Rapture (Fallen #4) by Lauren Kate
The Divide (The Secret Circle #4) by Aubrey Clark
Unravelling by Elizabeth Norris
The Girl in the Clockwork Collar by Kady Cross
The Glimpse by Claire Merle

(and not featured) The Golden Lily (Bloodlines #2) by Richelle Mead

Click on the title to be taken to the Goodreads page for each book.

Jen's review of "The Golden Lily" by Richelle Mead

The Golden Lily (Bloodlines #2) by Richelle Mead

Publication date: June 12th, 2012

Publisher: Razor Bill / Penguin

Number of pages: 418

Format: Paperback

Purchase: Amazon | The Book Depository

Description: Sydney Sage is an Alchemist, one of a group of humans who dabble in magic and serve to bridge the worlds of humans and vampires. They protect vampire secrets—and human lives.

Sydney would love to go to college, but instead, she's been sent into hiding at a posh boarding school in Palm Springs, California–tasked with protecting Moroi princess Jill Dragomir from assassins who want to throw the Moroi court into civil war. Formerly in disgrace, Sydney is now praised for her loyalty and obedience, and held up as the model of an exemplary Alchemist.

But the closer she grows to Jill, Eddie, and especially Adrian, the more she finds herself questioning her age–old Alchemist beliefs, her idea of family, and the sense of what it means to truly belong. Her world becomes even more complicated when magical experiments show Sydney may hold the key to prevent becoming Strigoi—the fiercest vampires, the ones who don't die. But it's her fear of being just that—special, magical, powerful—that scares her more than anything. Equally daunting is her new romance with Brayden, a cute, brainy guy who seems to be her match in every way. Yet, as perfect as he seems, Sydney finds herself being drawn to someone else—someone forbidden to her.

When a shocking secret threatens to tear the vampire world apart, Sydney's loyalties are suddenly tested more than ever before. She wonders how she's supposed to strike a balance between the principles and dogmas she's been taught, and what her instincts are now telling her.

Should she trust the Alchemists—or her heart?

My review: This book has been on my anticipated books of 2012, and boy did it live up to expectations.

Even though not much time has passed between Bloodlines and The Golden Lily, the view Sydney has on the world she thought she knew has started to change rapidly.
She is just as stubborn as ever, but slowly but surely she is starting to see that not everything is as it appears, and what she thought it was.
The relationships she has with her friends also change and they become something like a family. She knows this is not what is meant to happen. All she should be doing is protecting Jill, but by spending time with her and with the others, her feelings start to get personal. Although, that is something she refuses to think about deeply, because if she does, she'll know that she could be in a lot of trouble.

Sydney is still trying to adjust to this kind of life. A life where not everything is black and white. Everything she knows is through facts and what she has grown up to believe, so when things start to challenge those facts, she just doesn't know what to do with that kind of information.

Adrian, oh, Adrian. What can I say? There was so much progression between him and Sydney, even to a point where you just want to lock them in a room together until they can kiss and live happily ever after. I know that's not possible though. Especially not in book 2, and if I know Richelle and the way she does her books... this is only the beginning of the heartbreak for these two. It's gonna be a long journey to get to a point where they are both ready for what is lurking between them.

He also had other things to deal with in this book. First there was Dimitri, which was a constant reminder that Rose choose Dimitri and not him, which I think is still hurting a little bit.. but not as much as it used to.
Then, there is his issues with his dad, which come into play and you see just how much Adrian has to deal with when it comes to his family.
All you want to do is hug him forever for everything he has been through and want to protect him from anything that hurts him. But hurt is part of life... it's how you get through it that matters the most.

Next we have Jill, Eddie, Micah and Angeline, which becomes some sort of love... square, LOL So much goes on between the four of them. Poor Jill, for someone so young she has been through hell and back in a short amount of time. It's obvious the way Eddie feels about her, and he reminds me of Dimitri in the early days of VA when it came to Rose.

The plot of the book I really enjoyed. It was something that hit close to home to Sydney especially. She is human and being told that she has magic isn't something she can accept. It's like out of her little box she has created for what is realistic and what isn't.
But I think she will slowly adjust to the truth. It won't be easy, but I think it's a matter of time before she understands just how special she really is.

There was also a few surprises and shocks I didn't see coming. Some people did, but I sometimes don't think about certain things before they happen.

I did feel there was some foreshadowing in this book that might happen in book 3.. and it might have something to do with this quote..

"If the woman i loved was locked away, i’d be doing everything in my power to reach her”
Some of my other favourite quotes are..

"You are the most beautiful creature I have ever seen walking this earth."

“What are you wearing?” I sighed and stared down at the dress. “I know. It’s red.
Don’t start. I’m tired of hearing about it.”
“Funny,” he said. “I don’t think I could ever get tired of looking at it.”

But perhaps the best part of al was that I, Sydney Katherine Sage, guilty of constantly analyzing the world around me, wel, I stopped thinking.

And it was glorious.

"When I’m around you, I want to be better because … wel, because it feels right. Because I want to. You make me want to become something greater than myself. I want to excel. You inspire me in every act, every word, every glance. I look at you, and you’re like … like light made into flesh."

Seriously. This book was better than I could have imagined. And of course, a cliffhanger to boot.. that brings your heart to the floor.

Oh man. The wait until the next book will be torchure.

I think... I just might love Adrian and Sydney as much as I loved Rose and Dimitri, and that is saying something.

                                      Rating: 5/5

April's review of 'Full Moon Rising' by Keri Arthur

Full Moon Rising (Riley Jensen Guardian #1) by Keri Arthur
Publication Date: December 26, 2006
Publisher: Dell
Number of Pages: 372
Format: Paperback
Buy: Amazon | Barnes and Noble
Description:  In this exciting debut, author Keri Arthur explodes onto the supernatural scene with a sexy, sensuous tale of intrigue and suspense set in a world where legends walk and the shady paths of the underworld are far more sinister than anyone envisioned.

A rare hybrid of vampire and werewolf, Riley Jenson and her twin brother, Rhoan, work for Melbourne’s Directorate of Other Races, an organization created to police the supernatural races–and protect humans from their depredations. While Rhoan is an exalted guardian, a.k.a. assassin, Riley is merely an office worker–until her brother goes missing on one of his missions. The timing couldn’t be worse. More werewolf than vampire, Riley is vulnerable to the moon heat, the weeklong period before the full moon, when her need to mate becomes all-consuming.…

Luckily Riley has two willing partners to satisfy her every need. But she will have to control her urges if she’s going to find her brother….Easier said than done as the city pulses with frenzied desire, and Riley is confronted with a very powerful–and delectably naked–vamp who raises her temperature like never before.

In matters carnal, Riley has met her match. But in matters criminal, she must follow her instincts not only to find her brother but to stop an unholy harvest. For someone is doing some shifty cloning in an attempt to produce the ultimate warrior–by tapping into the genome of nonhumans like Rhoan. Now Riley knows just how dangerous the world is for her kind–and just how much it needs her.

 I had a hard time deciding if I really liked the book or not. I immediately loved Riley. A heroine who wears 8 inch heels and kickass? Absolutely love it. I loved the plot, and the close relationship Riley and her twin, Rhoan have. Before I get into what I didn't like about the book, I have to say I love smut. I live for smut. But I feel like this book was just a little too much. At times I felt like I was reading a really bad porn. Like I just mention I loved the close relationship between the twins, but them talking about their sex lives like they do...a little too creepy for me. I couldn't imagine having conversations like that with my brother. 


We can't have a story without a sexy love interest now can we? Enter Quinn. When we first meet him, he's sitting at Riley's front door waiting for Rhoan, NAKED. I'm surprised that Riley had the strength not to pounce on him then. Not to mention Riley have two constant partners already, Talon and Misha whom are completely opposites of each other. From the moment I met Talon I knew he was a douche. And I was right. Something always seemed off about him. Misha on the other hand, I really liked him at first. But as time went on I started to get suspicious of him. He proved the suspicions right, but not necessary the bad guy here. 


Even though the book was a little too sex crazed for me (which is saying alot), I will read at least the next book. I haven't completely ruled this series out yet. 

Rating: 3/5

 

April's review of 'City of Lost Souls' by Cassandra Clare

City of Lost Souls (The Mortal Instruments #5) by Cassandra Clare
Publication Date: May 8th, 2012
Publisher:  Margaret K. McElderry
Number of Pages: 534
Format: Hardback
Buy: Amazon | Barnes and Noble
Description:  

The demon Lilith has been destroyed and Jace has been freed from her captivity. But when the Shadowhunters arrive to rescue him, they find only blood and broken glass. Not only is the boy Clary loves missing–but so is the boy she hates, Sebastian, the son of her father Valentine: a son determined to succeed where their father failed, and bring the Shadowhunters to their knees.

No magic the Clave can summon can locate either boy, but Jace cannot stay away—not from Clary. When they meet again Clary discovers the horror Lilith’s dying magic has wrought—Jace is no longer the boy she loved. He and Sebastian are now bound to each other, and Jace has become what he most feared: a true servant of Valentine’s evil. The Clave is determined to destroy Sebastian, but there is no way to harm one boy without destroying the other. Will the Shadowhunters hesitate to kill one of their own?

Only a small band of Clary and Jace’s friends and family believe that Jace can still be saved — and that the fate of the Shadowhunters’ future may hinge on that salvation. They must defy the Clave and strike out on their own. Alec, Magnus, Simon and Isabelle must work together to save Jace: bargaining with the sinister Faerie Queen, contemplating deals with demons, and turning at last to the Iron Sisters, the reclusive and merciless weapons makers for the Shadowhunters, who tell them that no weapon on this earth can sever the bond between Sebastian and Jace. Their only chance of cutting Jace free is to challenge Heaven and Hell — a risk that could claim any, or all, of their lives.

And they must do it without Clary. For Clary has gone into the heart of darkness, to play a dangerous game utterly alone. The price of losing the game is not just her own life, but Jace’s soul. She’s willing to do anything for Jace, but can she even still trust him? Or is he truly lost? What price is too high to pay, even for love?

Darkness threatens to claim the Shadowhunters in the harrowing fifth book of the Mortal Instruments series.

Since I read this book about a month ago, the book is a little fuzzy in my head. So this review will probably be a short one. 

CoLS picks up two weeks after CoFA left off. Sebastian has been raised from the dead, and Jace is missing. Search parties have been searching for him nonstop, only Clary isn't allowed to join them. Now that the secret that Clary had asked Raziel to bring Jace back to life, she is awaiting the Clave's decision if she had broken any laws and if punishment awaits her. Thankfully the Council had decided she was clear of any charges, but at the same time they decided that the search for Jace wasn't a priority anymore. Clary turns to the Seelie Queen for help, and in exchange the queen wanted her to steal something back from the Institute. During the act, Clary is stunned to see that Jace and Sebastian. Even more stunned to see that they were acting like the best of friends. After that it wasn't long for Jace to come back for Clary. And to get to the bottom of everything, Clary eventually goes with him. Leaving her friends to search for a weapon that would sever the tie between Jace and Sebastian. 

Even though I didn't think this book or even CoFA was up to par to the first three in the series, I still loved CoLS and thought it was a lot better than CoFA. Even though some parts really did bore me, especially the Jordon and Maia ones. I really have no interest in them at all. I've been back and forth with Simon and who I want to see him with. This book sealed it for Simon and Isabelle for me. Even though there were a lot of Jace and Clary scenes, I couldn't really enjoy them that much since it wasn't really Jace. Even though I love them, this book made me realize that my OTP of the series is Alec and Magnus. Magnus doesn't disappoint in this book. He has to be one of the greatest characters of all time. Even though Magnus does break my heart at the end. Just thinking about it makes me want to cry. 

I've known all a long that Sebastian is just plain evil. But for a while I really hoped that some part of him had change and wanted to be a brother to Clary. I think it's I'm a big sucker for sibling relationships in books. I do love the items that show up from TID series. And I'm pretty sure I know who Brother Jeremiah is. 

Rating: 5/5

 

Jen's review of "Every Other Day" by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Every Other Day by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Publication date: May 1st, 2012

Publisher: Pan Macmillan

Number of pages: 352

Format: Paperback

Purchase: Amazon | The Book Depository

Description: Every other day, Kali D'Angelo is a normal sixteen-year-old girl. She goes to public high school. She argues with her father. She's human.

And then every day in between... she's something else entirely.

Though she still looks like herself, every twenty-four hours predatory instincts take over and Kali becomes a feared demon-hunter with the undeniable urge to hunt, trap, and kill zombies, hellhounds, and other supernatural creatures. Kali has no idea why she is the way she is, but she gives in to instinct anyway. Even though the government considers it environmental terrorism.

When Kali notices a mark on the lower back of a popular girl at school, she knows instantly that the girl is marked for death by one of these creatures. Kali has twenty-four hours to save her, and unfortunately she'll have to do it as a human. With the help of a few new friends, Kali takes a risk that her human body might not survive... and learns the secrets of her mysterious condition in the process.

Kali D'Angelo is human.... Well, every other day, that is. But, every other day (I know, confusing) she isn't. She is a hunter. Someone that has the scent and the ability to track demons and monsters. It's a hard life to keep up with, but she manages to do just fine. Just as long as she can time when that day ends, and the next one begins.

Kali is quite a strong sixteen-year-old, who probably has had more to adjust to then anyone else there is, but it's interesting that when she finds herself having to protect someone she wish she could just avoid --- well, that's when things get interesting.

I admit, this is the first book I have read by Jennifer Lynn Barnes. It's not really on purpose. I have been meaning tor read her 'Raised by Wolves' series, but something always seems to get in the way, but I will definitely get around to them, because I did like her style of writing and would like to see what else she can create and come up with.

While this book, which feels like a stand alone - anyone, tell me differently if that's the case, was interesting. I found myself involved in Kali's world and life as she goes through some tough situations.
There is actually no real romance in the book, surprisingly. I kinda expected there would be, but it didn't take away from the story at all, if in fact, it only made the book even better.
There was alot happening, and I am not sure if it would even be possible to fit in any romance in the story.  It does involve action scenes, revelations and startling confessions. Kali discovering that she might not even know who and what she is, and of course friendships, even those unexpected turning up.

The blurb was the thing that interested me when I got this book. It definitely sounded like something I would enjoy, and I did.
If you are a fan of paranormal creatures and an interesting and compelling story, then I would reccommend this book to you. And of course, if you are a fan of her work before this, then I would say picking this up should be a given.

I would like to thank Pan Macmillan for letting me have this opportunity to review this title in exchange for an honest review.

                                                        Rating: 3/5

Cover Reveal: Entice by Jessica Shirvington

ARE YOU READY???

ARE YOU SURE? 

Well, okay.....

Isn't it gorgeous? Even though, since I am Aussie, I have read this book and anxiously awaiting book 4, but I can't help but squee on how I love this cover. It makes me want the US books as well. Hah.

Anyway. this is the blurb.

Violet Eden is Grigori - part angel, part human. Her destiny is to protect humans from the vengence of exiled angels.
Knowing who to trust is key but, when Grigori reinforcements arrive, it becomes clear everyone is hiding something. Even Lincoln. The only thing Violet does know: Phoenix's hold over her is more dangerous than ever.
The race to find the one thing that could tilt the balance of power brings them all to the sacred mountains of Jordan, where Violet's power will be pushed to the extreme. And the ultimate betrayal exposed.

With a release date of Sept 4th, 2012 -- so set your calenders guys.