Review: Through To You by Emily Hainsworth

Through To You by Emily Hainsworth
Published: October 2, 2012 (Balzer+Bray)
Source: ARC from the publisher
Rating: Squee-worthy
Add it/Purchase: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N
Connect with the author: Twitter | Website

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Camden Pike has been grief-stricken since his girlfriend, Viv, died. He’d give anything to have just one more glimpse of her. But when Cam visits the site of Viv’s deadly car accident, he sees an apparition. Her name is Nina, and she’s a girl from a parallel world. When Cam follows here there and makes an unbelievable discovery, it’s as if all his wildest dreams have come true. 

But things are very different in this other world. Nina is hiding a secret, and the window between the worlds is shrinking every day. As Cam comes to terms with the truth, he’s forced to make a choice that will change his life forever.

  

My Review

 
I've waited after finishing Through To You to write my review, because I knew it would be difficult to find the words to express my thoughts on this debut novel; I pined for it for so long that I had begun to wonder if it could live up to my expectations.  Did it?  Yes, and then some!  I finished it a few weeks ago and my heart is still somewhat broken, yet healed.  

Emily Hainsworth combined two of my favorite aspects of YA literature into one stellar, gorgeous package with Through To You: a male narrator (not often seen!), and alternate universes.  When this book arrived in ARC form, I did a dance.  I'm a HUGE fan of all things time-travel and just wibbly-wobbly things in general, so I knew right away that this book was going to earn a special place in my heart, and it did.  The premise hooked me, but I fell in love with the characters: broken Camden, mysterious Nina, and Viv, as seen through everyone else's eyes.  I love books who make a deceased character just as important of a presence as if he/she were alive.  

I traveled with Cam, down the rabbit hole and into a world where much has changed, and yet nothing has changed.  I was just as hopeful as he was, with given a second chance to make a different choice.  Hainsworth explores several gripping themes in Through To You - most notably the question of: "what would YOU do differently?"  Seeing Cam's world from two perspectives, two totally different angles was as fascinating as it was devastating.   I could see where Emily was taking her story, but nothing could have loosened my grip on this powerful novel, just like everyone who warned Cam couldn't break through - like the reader, Cam had to make his own way for himself, even if that meant giving up everything he thought he couldn't live without.  Cam grew as a character, and made some incredibly difficult decisions, and was better for it. 

Through To You is a heart-wrenchingly beautiful novel, one of love, loss, hope, and fear.  Emily Hainsworth doesn't shy away from grief, and how hard it hits, and how there is nothing bigger in the moment that it strikes you, then the agony you're feeling.  But by the time I read the last page of Through To You, I realized that this wonderful book is about something else too - beginnings.  



Other books by this author:

Never Is a Promise (2013)   

You're sure to fall for:

Fracture by Megan Miranda
 

Review: Valkyrie Rising by Ingrid Paulson

Valkyrie Rising by Ingrid Paulson
Published: October 9, 2012 (HarperTeen)
Source: ARC from the publisher
Rating: Squee-worthy
Add it/Purchase: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N 
Connect with the author: Twitter | Website

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Nothing ever happens in Norway. But at least Ellie knows what to expect when she visits her grandmother: a tranquil fishing village and long, slow summer days. And maybe she’ll finally get out from under the shadow of her way-too-perfect big brother, Graham, while she’s there.

What Ellie doesn’t anticipate is Graham’s infuriating best friend, Tuck, tagging along for the trip. Nor did she imagine boys going missing amid rumors of impossible kidnappings. Least of all does she expect something powerful and ancient to awaken in her and that strange whispers would urge Ellie to claim her place among mythological warriors. Instead of peace and quiet, there’s suddenly a lot for a girl from L.A. to handle on a summer sojourn in Norway! And when Graham vanishes, it’s up to Ellie—and the ever-sarcastic, if undeniably alluring Tuck—to uncover the truth about all the disappearances and thwart the nefarious plan behind them.

Deadly legends, hidden identities, and tentative romance swirl together in one girl’s unexpectedly-epic coming of age.

My Review

I'm not familiar with Norse mythology so when Valkyrie Rising arrived in my mailbox, I dug into it eagerly.  As I read further, I discovered a heart-pounding, pulse-tripping story about whispered dangers that are in fact very, very real - led by a fantastic cast of well-written characters.  No one in Ingrid Paulson's debut novel is what they seem; each character is made up of several layers, and wrapped in their own shadowed enigma. 

The characters stuck with me after finishing Valkyrie Rising - from Ellie, who has spent her entire life in  her brother's shadow, to Graham, mindlessly bent on protecting Ellie without realizing the damage he's doing to their relationship, to Tucker, whose flirtatious ways mask a caring and devoted guy and friend.  Throughout Paulson's novel, each character is tested as rumors of disappearances in the small Norway town where Ellie's grandmother lives give ways to real-life menacing Valkyries, and an age old battle, all of which spirals around Ellie, calling to her and waking up part of her she never dreamed existed.  

I found myself cheering for the characters as often as I wanted to hug or shake them.  I wanted Ellie and Graham to work out their issues, and I NEEDED Ellie and Tucker to take a leap together.  I fell hard for Tucker and continued to fall for him in every scene he appeared in; it was so clear there was more to him than met the eye.  I enjoyed the tinges of romance to Valkyrie Rising, but I loved the sense of camaraderie, devotion, and friendship even more.  

At a very few avenues, Paulson's novel felt a bit too predictable, but the fresh, awesome characters kept the story alive, and moved the action forward.  And there were certainly a LOT of action, with Ellie realizing who and what she was!  I loved that no one was safe and no one was who they seemed, and I enjoyed the addition of a few interesting foils to Ellie.  Valkyrie Rising is a fierce story that introduced me to a talented new author!

You're sure to fall for:

Starling by Lesley Livingston

Review: Inbetween by Tara Fuller

Inbetween by Tara Fuller
Published: August 28, 2012 (Entangled Teen)
Source: E-ARC from the publisher
Rating: Squee-worthy
Add It/Purchase: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N
Connect with the author: Website | Twitter

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Since the car crash that took her father’s life three years ago, Emma’s life has been a freaky — and unending — lesson in caution. Surviving “accidents” has taken priority over being a normal seventeen-year-old, so Emma spends her days taking pictures of life instead of living it. Falling in love with a boy was never part of the plan. Falling for a reaper who makes her chest ache and her head spin? Not an option.

It’s not easy being dead, especially for a reaper in love with a girl fate has put on his list not once, but twice. Finn’s fellow reapers give him hell about spending time with Emma, but Finn couldn’t let her die before, and he’s not about to let her die now. He will protect the girl he loves from the evil he accidentally unleashed, even if it means sacrificing the only thing he has left…his soul.

My Review

I wanted to read Inbetween for some time; I love paranormal books, and there was something special about this one, or so I hoped.  Immediately upon starting author Tara Fuller's debut novel, I realized I was falling for the story and for the characters.  Inbetween is one of those books that you just want to hug, because it's full of emotions, and "feel-good" moments, despite the various perils the characters are in; there's definitely something incredibly sweet and touching about this novel. 

I'm not sure what to rave about first: the characters or the author's writing style.  Fuller writes beautifully - the writing is both easy to follow, and also vividly descriptive.  The characters are awesomely genuine - teenage boys and girls who would fit in anywhere, but they're all unique, too.   They have their own burdens, but they bear them well.  Emma doesn't let her father's death crush her; Cash doesn't let his home life get the best of him.  And Finn is honorable despite his situation and surroundings.  I never expected to find so many gems in a book about death.   Emma, Finn, Cash, and even Easton (who I wanted more of!) all stand out in Inbetween.  

I also enjoyed the attention and thought given to the Inbetween and to the rules for reaping, as well as that there were consequences for everyone's actions, and that the characters knew it.  Inbetween was a difficult book at times because of Finn and Emma's pasts, and Finn's line of work.  But every sad moment was balanced out by a happier one, as we saw how many people Emma had around her who cared about her.  I loved the progression of her relationship with Finn - TOO CUTE.

Inbetween is fast-paced, but not TOO much so; Fuller strikes the right pace and delivers a breath-taking, enjoyable novel of first love, and life after death.  Some powerful secrets were revealed in Inbetween when it came to Finn and Emma, and the ending definitely surprised me in a good way - so bring on the sequel!


Other books by this author:

Perigee Moon

You're sure to fall for:

The Catastrophic History of You and Me by Jess Rothenberg

Review: My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century by Rachel Harris

My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century by Rachel Harris
Published: September 11, 2012 (Entangled Teen)
Rating: Squee-worthy
Source: E-ARC from the publisher
Add it/Purchase: Goodreads | B&N | Amazon
Connect with the author: Twitter | Website

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On the precipice of her sixteenth birthday, the last thing lone wolf Cat Crawford wants is an extravagant gala thrown by her bubbly stepmother-to-be and well-meaning father. So even though Cat knows the family’s trip to Florence, Italy, is a peace offering, she embraces the magical city and all it offers. But when her curiosity leads her to an unusual gypsy tent, she exits . . . right into Renaissance Firenze.

Thrust into the sixteenth century armed with only a backpack full of contraband future items, Cat joins up with her ancestors, the sweet Alessandra and protective Cipriano, and soon falls for the gorgeous aspiring artist Lorenzo. But when the much-older Niccolo starts sniffing around, Cat realizes that an unwanted birthday party is nothing compared to an unwanted suitor full of creeptastic amore.

Can she find her way back to modern times before her Italian adventure turns into an Italian forever?

My Review

I was excited to read My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century for several months before its release, so when I received an E-ARC, I dove excitedly into the pages and discovered a thoroughly enjoyable, light-hearted story.  Combining familiar elements of using time travel to teach the main character - a delightfully realistic girl - life lessons, even though some parts of Rachel Harris's debut novel are familiar to me, that doesn't mean that I loved the story being told any less.  Between the setting, which teemed with atmospheric details, and the larger-than-life characters, Super Sweet is a sweet, coming-of-age story.

There was just something undeniably charismatic about Cat Crawford,and I liked her immediately.  She has a strong voice as a narrator, so consequently, was right there with her as she stepped out of a gypsy's tent and into Renaissance Italy and into an adventure she'd never expected.  Cat carries the story well, because Rachel Harris imbues her with both a sense of wonder at what's happening around her, as well as a sense of independence that marks her as unique in her surroundings.  I felt for Cat and also cheered her on, whether it was her exploring the city, meeting historical figures, or fighting and finally giving in to her attraction for handsome Lorenzo.  He was a fantastic love interest - there was so much more to him than met the eye, and even though Cat didn't get to spend a great deal of time with him, the attraction between them definitely felt very genuine.

My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century is a lovely story, filled with moments of tenderness and humor as Cat navigates her way through her ancestor's Italy.  What easily could have been a run-of-the-mill time travel tale instead took on a life of its own, largely thanks to Harris's flowing writing style, as well as the other secondary characters, like Alessandra, and Cat's "aunt" and "uncle."  I also really loved that Cat grew and transformed as a character - I'm  a BIG fan of character growth in novels.  I read this book eagerly and am definitely very much looking forward to the sequel, A Tale of Two Centuries!


Other books by this author:

A Tale of Two Centuries (My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century #2 - Entangled Teen, 2013)
Rearview Mirror (Entangled Teen, 2013)

You're sure to fall for:

Venom by Fiona Paul

Review: The Selection by Kiera Cass

 The Selection by Kiera Cass
Pages: 327
Published: April 24, 2012 (HarperTeen)
Source: ARC from the publisher
Series or stand-alone: The Selection (1)
Rating: Beam-worthy
Further info/purchase: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Find the author online: Twitter | Website
 
For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in the palace and compete for the heart of the gorgeous Prince Maxon.

But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn't want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks.

Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she's made for herself- and realizes that the life she's always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined.

My Review

In The Selection, debut author Kiera Cass delivers an unexpectedly heart-warming story that will leave you wanting more.  Even though I had a major crush on the cover from the first time I saw it, and the premise sounded rather interesting, I went into this book with some trepidation.  I'm not an avid watcher or fan of shows like The Bachelor/The Bachelorette - generally I tend to doubt that two people can truly fall in love on national television.  But there was just something about The Selection that called to me, and so I was also somewhat curious and eager when I started reading.  And luckily, I quickly fell in love with the main character, America Singer, and with the world Cass has developed.  I categorized The Selection as dystopian, and although the stakes are high in some aspects, the vast amount of comparisons to The Hunger Games are misdirected.   

The Selection is in some ways a less sinister dystopian than The Hunger Games, Pandemonium, or Shatter Me.  That's NOT to say in any way that is makes less of an impact; I know as a reader, even after I finished it a few months ago, I was still thinking about the characters weeks after I closed the book.  Kiera Cass has concentrated less on government control as a theme and more of a highly developed, interesting and unfair caste system that I found fascinating.  I wasn't expecting such a focus, but it's a new twist on the "have's vs have-not's" age old dilemma.  America knows the limitations of her caste as well as her place - and the unfairness of that, considering it means she shouldn't marry Aspen, the boy she loves...Aspen, who is a caste below her.  When America is chosen to be in the Selection, her family is over-joyed.  If she wins, she'll marry Prince Maxon, and even if she simply competes, her family will be elevated in status and taken care of, but for America - loyal, with a huge heart - it means leaving behind everything she's ever known, all to become involved in something she doesn't even want.  

Yet just like America, I found myself getting caught up in the atmosphere of life in the castle.  The King and Queen weren't what I expected, and neither were a few of the other girls.  Cass takes care to flesh out her secondary characters, which I really enjoyed.  A few of them fell flat, but for the most part, they were all more than just names on the page.  I also really liked how real everything seemed, through America's eyes.  She was so not dazzled by being in the Selection, and I think that made everything have more of an impact - the sense of danger from rebels was more heightened, as were the feelings she started to have and explore for Maxon.  

The romance in The Selection was sweet and definitely tugged at my heart-strings, but once again, I realized I was reading yet another book with a love triangle.  I will say this: I really believed Aspen and America.  Kiera Cass wrote in a lot of moments between them that showed, rather than told, their love.  So it was a real struggle for me to realize that, and then of course to see America drawn, despite her will, to Maxon.  The prince isn't anything like America thought he would be, and I really DID love their interactions, their friendship, their easy back-and-forth.  I think I'm just over-tired of love triangles.  

The Selection has a lot of elements that I like, but there were several things I thought could have been improved on.  The threat to the people's safety from rebels felt almost thrown in, and I would have liked for that to have been treated better.  The ending was very rushed, including the handling of the love triangle.  And I really found myself hoping this would be a stand-alone.  I think with another hundred pages (or the same amount of pages but events playing out differently) this could have been a satisfying stand-alone; however, I will likely read the next two books in the trilogy. 

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Review: Grave Mercy by R.L. Lafevers

Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers
Pages: 549
Published: April 3, 2012 (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt)
Rating: Swoon-worthy
Series or stand-alone: His Fair Assassin (1)
Source: ARC from the publisher
Further info/purchase: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Find the author online: Twitter | Website




Why be the sheep, when you can be the wolf?

Seventeen-year-old Ismae escapes from the brutality of an arranged marriage into the sanctuary of the convent of St. Mortain, where the sisters still serve the gods of old. Here she learns that the god of Death Himself has blessed her with dangerous gifts—and a violent destiny. If she chooses to stay at the convent, she will be trained as an assassin and serve as a handmaiden to Death. To claim her new life, she must destroy the lives of others.

Ismae's most important assignment takes her straight into the high court of Brittany—where she finds herself woefully under prepared—not only for the deadly games of intrigue and treason, but for the impossible choices she must make. For how can she deliver Death’s vengeance upon a target who, against her will, has stolen her heart?

My Review

As I start this review, I'm thinking back on my experience reading Grave Mercy, and realizing: I almost don't know where to start, what to say, or how to ever, in a few paragraphs, accurately express my overwhelming admiration for this stunning novel.  Robin LaFevers has a rare gift; she hasn't just written an entertaining novel - with Grave Mercy, she has created a novel that will linger on in my heart and in my mind for a long time to come.  Between Ismae - unyielding, brash, brave, fierce, and loyal - and Gavriel - a courtly enigma wrapped in a mystery - and the mythos she has created, Robin LaFevers's debut novel struck a chord with me that is still resonating in the back of my mind as I begin the torturous wait for the sequel.  

Startlingly bleak at times, brimming with hope at others, Grave Mercy is the story of Ismae Reinne, whose mother was forced to attempt to induce a miscarriage - one that Ismae survived, only to endure the disgust of her father, who ultimately trades her in marriage to a vile man.  Ismae, then fourteen, escapes to the convent of Saint Mortain, one of the old Gods...the God of Death.  Ismae is offered the chance to live with the sisters there, and to train in the many dark arts that comprise the ways to kill someone.  Ismae, feeling this is her calling, decides to stay; after all, what better home for a daughter of Death?  The story flips to Ismae, now seventeen, on her first small assignments, but Robin LaFevers quickly ramps up the action and the danger, with which this story is fraught with from page one to the final page.  Ismae is thrust into her first serious assignment - to infiltrate the tumultuous court of Brittany, where the young child duchess, Anne, struggles to retain her seat of power.  Gavriel Duval, bastard brother to the duchess is Ismae's reluctant partner in this mission, which only serves to further complicate Ismae's state of mind, as she quickly realizes she is in over her head and out of her league in the court, and with Gavriel.  I sympathized with Ismae right away, who, for all she knows about death, knows so little about love or friendship.  As Ismae set out on her journey, I was right there with her as she tried to pull off a subterfuge unlike any other she'd undertaken so far in her training. 

Robin LaFevers doesn't hold back with either the richly developed court, or the vividly hued characters; everyone, no matter how major or minor stands out lushly, unforgettable.  Ismae accompanies Gavriel to court, where the two remain frostily civil to one another, even though it's immediately clear there is a delicious tension between them, one that Robin LaFevers explores with a gentle, emotion-filled, thrumming touch.  Gavriel and Ismae have an achingly poignant connection that I wanted to drink up and just revel in, though at the same time, I so enjoyed the halting glimpses they each gave one another of themselves too much to want to rush either of them toward anything.  Their progression was perfect, and natural, and organic - a slow-building chemistry that befitted each of them, Ismae especially, who has never known kindness.  Nothing about them was fake or over-done or instantaneous, except that first flicker of interest in one another despite themselves.  I could have read about them for the entire course of Grave Mercy, and not minded at all; they were that gorgeous.  

However, the main plot of Grave Mercy was too satisfying to long for much else; watching Ismae navigate the corridors of court while trying to untangle the lines, secrets, and plots between the various nobles was a puzzle in and of itself.  Though trained in the sinister arts of weapons, poisons, and such, and able to painfully or mercifully (depending on the person) administer a kill as soon as her master, Death, marks a victim, Ismae is hopelessly lost in court.  I was as out of my depth as she was, and it was a great challenge, trying, like her, to figure out who was aligned with who, what was going on, and which plot would put the duchess in danger, versus who wanted to help her succeed.  I really liked Anne, and several of the other supporting characters, and I loved Ismae's fierce loyalty to her.  I hope we might get to see more of Anne, her sister, and even Sybella, one of Ismae's convent sisters, alluded to several times yet seen only once or twice, who nevertheless seems fascinating.  

I don't give perfect ratings and I never feel comfortable saying there was nothing wrong with a book, but the more I think back on Grave Mercy, the more I realize: Robin LaFevers has written a truly wonderful, flawless novel.  The romance and scandal and intrigue against the backdrop of the historical setting just pulses with emotion and heart-pounding peril.  The characters are intensely lifelike, and the religious mythos is well-developed and believable.  As I said in the beginning, Grave Mercy has left its mark on me, and I'll be thinking about it and craving more of LaFever's writing right up until the next installment.  

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Review + Giveaway: Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo
Expected publication:  June 5, 2012 (Henry Holt and Co)

Pages: 368

Series or stand-alone: The Grisha (1)

Source: ARC from the publisher
Rating: Swoon-worthy
Further info/purchase: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Find the author online: Twitter | Website 



Surrounded by enemies, the once-great nation of Ravka has been torn in two by the Shadow Fold, a swath of near impenetrable darkness crawling with monsters who feast on human flesh. Now its fate may rest on the shoulders of one lonely refugee.

Alina Starkov has never been good at anything. But when her regiment is attacked on the Fold and her best friend is brutally injured, Alina reveals a dormant power that saves his life—a power that could be the key to setting her war-ravaged country free. Wrenched from everything she knows, Alina is whisked away to the royal court to be trained as a member of the Grisha, the magical elite led by the mysterious Darkling.

Yet nothing in this lavish world is what it seems. With darkness looming and an entire kingdom depending on her untamed power, Alina will have to confront the secrets of the Grisha…and the secrets of her heart.

My Review

Shadow and Bone is one of those incredibly special, very rare books: the kind that, from the moment you read the first sentences, just grips you so tightly that you don't even want to be let go of - you just want to keep reading.   I was so torn with this book... I wanted to finish it in one sitting, but I also could not bear the thought of being done SO soon, because Leigh Bardugo's debut novel - a tale of magic, loyalty, deception, and power - had already become so meaningful to me.  I read it over the course of a few days and even that was too quickly.  Some books deserve to be savored, and Shadow and Bone is one of those books.  I've been reading sci-fi and fantasy books for going on about 12 years now and yet recently, I hadn't read an amazing YA fantasy.  Within the first few chapters of Shadow and Bone, I literally let out a contented sigh, because I had come home to my favorite genre, in a big way.  And as I ventured further into the story, that feeling persisted, coupled with an intense admiration for Alina Starkov, the main character.

In the opening pages of Shadow and Bone, we get a short glimpse at Alina and Malyen "Mal" Otsev, orphans who have been taken in by the Duke of Keramsiv.  Mal and Alina grow up together and eventually both become soldiers, after being tested and found lacking in any magic that would mean them receiving Grisha training. The Grisha are a society within Ravka, with various factions and hierarchies, yet Alina and Mal forge a different life as adult soldiers - until the day Mal is injured and witnesses claim to have seen Alina emitting a light bright enough to drive away the vulcra - flesh-eating monsters that live in the Fold.  At that point, Bardugo's story takes on a whole other level, as Alina begins training and trying to adapt to a life as a Grisha...which means leaving behind everything she's ever known...including Mal.  

Alina's new life is made up of magic, glamor, riches - and loneliness.  Alina is a strong, loyal and independent girl, but she's never fit in anywhere, except with Mal.  Alone with few allies in the Little Palace (the home of the Grisha, on the King's grounds), my heart went out to brave, sympathetic Alina.  Leigh Barduguo does an amazing job of creating a character that readers will immediately connect with, in Alina.  I cheered for Alina when she stood up to someone, and I cried with her when she missed Mal, her best friend, her confidante...and so much more.  I laughed with she got the best of someone and I feared for her safety when she did.  I was right there in the story with Alina, taking every step of her journey with her.  The world of the Grisha - their factions and levels, and politics - was so well fleshed out that it was impossible for it all not to come alive, lifting off the pages of Shadow and Bone.  

I absolutely adored the explanations behind who the Grisha were, and what they did.  I even found myself wondering: if I was in this world, where would I fit in?  (Of course, I couldn't decide.)  It took me a bit of time to get used to the terms and characters, but I did, and even found a few favorites, like Genya, David, Botkin and Baghra.  Leigh Bardugo really took the time to develop her characters, especially beautiful, wounded Genya.  One or two characters fell a bit flat, but that's probably because we just didn't get to see much of them.  I enjoyed what we did see of the large cast of supporting characters, and Alina's various interactions with them were just stunning.  

The plot of Shadow and Bone moves along really nicely; in fact, I'd call the pacing just about perfect.  The story covers several months in actuality, yet the story never felt rushed, or as if it were dragging along.  It all fell into place, just as so much else did.  I loved reading about Alina's transition from orphan to fledgling Grisha, seeing her embrace her power and find her place in her new life.  She grew as a character, yet retained the core values that made her so awesome and admirable.  

Of course my review wouldn't be complete without a mention of two of the most important characters other than Alina - the Darkling, and Mal.  The Darkling is high in the ranking of the King's court.  "Darkling" is actually the title given to his position and to say he is an enigma wrapped in a riddle is an understatement.  The Darkling was a lusciously developed villain, with a sensual tinge, who drew me in right along with Alina.  Leigh Bardugo did an amazing job bringing the Darkling to life, and making me wonder about his motivations: was he good, or bad, or somewhere in between?  He's my FAVORITE type of villain - the one you don't "get," the one who makes you wonder what makes him tick.  I loved his moments with Alina.

And finally...Mal and Alina.  The reason I spent so many parts of this book crying my eyes out, and in my opinion, where the real heart of Shadow and Bone lies - wrapped up with these two.  The pain of unrequited love is an especially brutal one, and I cried with Alina more than once over Mal.  It was clear to me she had long since fallen in love with her best friend, just as it was painfully clear that he didn't see that she had.  I wanted to hug her and shake him at times, then at other times, I just wanted to hug them both and sob with them.  My happiness depended on theirs, and they certainly frustrated and scared me, but it was also well worth it, to get to experience their story.  There's a great deal of pain, gratitude, happiness, nostalgia, and friendship in between Alina and Mal, and it all comes into play during Leigh Bardugo's magnificent book. Truly, they were beautiful, and probably the biggest draw for me, and the part that kept luring me back in to read a few more pages, even though as I said above, I didn't want to finish too soon.  

Overall if you're looking for a debut that will keep you up late, and keep you guessing as to who is a villain and who isn't, not to mention a breath-taking love story and a finely developed, lavish world, Shadow and Bone is for you.  I loved it so much I'm offering my ARC for a giveaway!

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Review: Gilt by Katherine Longshore

Gilt by Katherine Longshore
Pages: 398
Expected publication: May 15, 2012 (Viking Juvenile)
Source: ARC from the publisher via DAC Tours
Rating: Beam-worthy
Series or stand-alone: The Royal Circle (1)
Further info/purchase: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Find the author online: Website | Blog | Twitter

In the Tudor age, ambition, power and charismatic allure are essential and Catherine Howard has plenty of all three. Not to mention her loyal best friend, Kitty Tylney, to help cover her tracks. Kitty, the abandoned youngest daughter of minor aristocracy, owes everything to Cat – where she is, what she is, even who she is. Friend, flirt, and self-proclaimed Queen of Misrule, Cat reigns supreme in a loyal court of girls under the none-too-watchful eye of the Dowager Duchess of Norfolk.

When Cat worms her way into the heart of Henry VIII and becomes Queen of England, Kitty is thrown into the intoxicating Tudor Court. It’s a world of glittering jewels and elegant costumes, of gossip and deception. As the Queen’s right-hand-woman, Kitty goes from the girl nobody noticed to being caught between two men – the object of her affection and the object of her desire.

But the atmosphere of the court turns from dazzling to deadly, and Kitty is forced to learn the difference between trust and loyalty, love and lust, secrets and treason. And to accept the consequences when some lessons are learned too late.

My Review

When I received Gilt, I was excited to start it, and within the first few chapters, I knew I was in for a dazzling tale of court intrigue, scandal, and romance.  Katherine Longshore's debut young adult historical novel is all that, and much more, bringing to life in a new way the story of Catherine Howard, the girl who becomes one of Henry VIII's infamous wives.  Only in Katherine's story, we meet Catherine Howard long before she catches Henry's eye - Catherine: manipulative, popular, spoiled, loving, stubborn.  Catherine is a fascinating character, though truly, Gilt is the story of her best friend, Katherine "Kitty" Tylney, who becomes her right-hand lady-in-waiting; Kitty, who is fiercely loyal to and protective of Catherine - even when her friend doesn't deserve either of those things.

As much as I adored Kitty, I also wanted to shake her to her senses. Kitty spends the entirety of Gilt lost in Catherine's shadow, and as frustrated as I was with Catherine as a character, I was MORE frustrated and put out with Kitty.  Catherine is THAT girl, that mean girl who is somehow also popular, the girl all the other girls flocked to in high school because there's just something about her, the girl who oddly repulsed me, and who I had no desire to befriend.  I never understood THAT girl and usually feel sorry for that type, but I wanted to throw Cat out a window for most of Gilt.  If Katherine Longshore wanted readers to dislike Catherine, then with me, she succeeded.  I loathed Catherine to the point that I didn't enjoy Gilt as much as I thought I would. 

That said, make no mistake: Gilt is still a good novel, maybe even a great novel.  Watching Cat's meteoric rise to Queen from poor maid-servant was interesting, but I kept looking past her, waiting for Kitty to shine.  To me, Kitty was the far more deep, kind, and likable character, and it was her growth over the course of Gilt that kept me reading.  I really liked Katherine Longshore's writing style - I found it really easy to immerse myself in that aspect of Gilt!

To me, I think my biggest problem with Gilt was all the unfulfilled potential in several of the secondary characters and in one of Kitty's romances.  By the end of the book, all I wanted was for Kitty to be happy, and Gilt didn't really go in the direction I was hoping it would.  With some books, I'm okay with and even will yearn for an open ending.  With Gilt, I wanted to know, absolutely know, what happened at the end; instead, it was left a little bit to the imagination, and for some reason, that just rubbed me wrong.  There were enough dazzling dresses, scandal, rumors, and intrigue to satisfy even my imagination, but this one just left me feeling kind of oddly unsatisfied.

Overall Gilt is not a bad book; make no mistake, Katherine Longshore has talent, and Gilt will absolutely pull you in - I definitely read it quickly, wanting to know what happened next.  It's the first book in a series that I'm not overly sure I'll continue, but don't let me decide for you.  Read the fascinating Gilt for yourself, and hopefully you will love it!

Review: When The Sea is Rising Red by Cat Hellisen

When the Sea is Rising Red by Cat Hellisen
Pages: 296
Published: February 28, 2012 (Farrar, Straus, and Giraux)
Source: ARC from the publisher via DAC Tours
Rating: Squee-worthy
Series or stand-alone: Stand-alone
Further info/purchase: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Find the author online: Twitter | Website



After seventeen-year-old Felicita’s dearest friend, Ilven, kills herself to escape an arranged marriage, Felicita chooses freedom over privilege. She fakes her own death and leaves her sheltered life as one of Pelimburg’s magical elite behind. 

Living in the slums, scrubbing dishes for a living, she falls for charismatic Dash while also becoming fascinated with vampire Jannik. Then something shocking washes up on the beach: Ilven's death has called out of the sea a dangerous, wild magic. Felicita must decide whether her loyalties lie with the family she abandoned . . . or with those who would twist this dark power to destroy Pelimburg's caste system, and the whole city along with it.  

 My Review

 Debut author Cat Hellisen spins a magical, seductive web around readers with her offering, When the Sea is Rising Red.  The story of strong, unsatisfied Felicita, who leaves behind everything she knows in order to escape the life her family - including her controlling, cold brother - has planned in advance for her, When the Sea is Rising Red grips you from the opening pages, and refuses to let go.  I devoured this book in one sitting, because I was so fascinated both by Felicita, and by the unusual, astounding caste system and hierarchy Cat Hellisen introduces to the reader.  I was fascinated with the notion of the various families specializing in one type of magic or another, as well as the differences between the families that ruled Pelimburg through their magic, and the poor that served them.  

As well-developed as the world-building was in Cat Hellisen's novel, the characters were just as richly fleshed out, from Felicita, and her yearning for more, to the pleasant, stifled Jannik, to Felicita's cool, cowed mother, to the charming, vivacious Dash, who I fell for immediately upon meeting him.  Dash is manic and friendly, full of life and energy and a bit crazed, and I wanted to hug him forever, although by the end of When the Sea is Rising Red, I also wanted to shake him.  Dash is infuriating, but such a vividly painted character that he just brings an added depth to this book.  I've rarely taken to another character so quickly, flailed happily over one more, and been angrier at his storyline.  I was with him up until the end, on board with his daring plans to tear apart the city's caste system, and then Cat Hellisen lost me somewhere in the last thirty or forty pages.  That didn't take away from my enjoyment of the book, but it did sour me a little bit. 

When the Sea is Rising Red stands out amongst all the other debut books I've read this year because it's...unique.  Different.  Felicita is a strong heroine, who, while she may not know what she wants, knows what she - doesn't - want and isn't afraid to take a chance, a risk, to avoid unhappiness.  I deeply admired Felicita for that.  She walked out into the unknown, not knowing what to expect, but determined that what she was chasing after would be better than what she left behind.  And in the end, I think she found something like what she was looking for.  It was a different ending than I expected, but not a bad or unhappy ending; it left Felicita in what, I think, would become a good place, and definitely out of the clutches of her ass of a brother.  I have to applaud Cat Hellisen for taking chances.  

I also have to touch on the magic aspect of When the Sea is Rising Red.  I REALLY enjoyed how it was all explained, and how just when you thought you knew what was happening, and what was possible, Hellisen snuck in a twist to the story that had me going, "whoa!"  This was a different sort of magic than I've read about before, a little darker and wilder, and I loved that about it: it wasn't safe, it wasn't all for-the-good-of-others, and nothing about this story was your run-of-the-mill fantasy.   So bravo, Cat Hellisen, for a tremendously satisfying debut novel!

Review: Hemlock by Kathleen Peacock

Hemlock by Kathleen Peacock
Pages: 400
Expected publication: May 8, 2012 (HarperCollins)
Source: ARC from the publisher
Series or Stand-alone: Hemlock (1)
Rating: Swoon-worthy
Further info/purchase: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Find the author online: Twitter | Website



Mackenzie and Amy were best friends. Until Amy was brutally murdered.

Since then, Mac’s life has been turned upside down. She is being haunted by Amy in her dreams, and an extremist group called the Trackers has come to Mac’s hometown of Hemlock to hunt down Amy’s killer: A white werewolf.

Lupine syndrome—also known as the werewolf virus—is on the rise across the country. Many of the infected try to hide their symptoms, but blood lust is not easy to control.

Wanting desperately to put an end to her nightmares, Mac decides to investigate Amy’s murder herself. She discovers secrets lurking in the shadows of Hemlock, secrets about Amy’s boyfriend, Jason, her good pal Kyle, and especially her late best friend. Mac is thrown into a maelstrom of violence and betrayal that puts her life at risk.

Kathleen Peacock’s thrilling novel is the first in the Hemlock trilogy, a spellbinding urban fantasy series filled with provocative questions about prejudice, trust, lies, and love.

My Review

For some time now, I've held off on reading werewolf novels, but within a few chapters of Hemlock, the debut from Kathleen Peacock, I knew not only that I couldn't hold out  any longer, but also that this novel was truly something astoundingly special.  Poignant, electrifying, and enchanting, Hemlock is a spectacular start for Peacock.  Picking up shortly after Mackenzie's best friend is murdered by a werewolf, Hemlock races headlong into the action as a still-grieving Mac decides to take matters into her own hands and investigate Amy's death.  Along for the thrill-ride are a wonderfully written cast of supporting characters, ranging from the tragically broken Jason (Amy's boyfriend), the protective Kyle (Mac's best friend), and Tess (Mac's cousin and parental figure.)  Between the stunning cast of characters, their intricate relationships, and the mystery aspect, I absolutely couldn't put down Hemlock or tear myself loose from the gorgeous web the story wove around me.  

Mac is a refreshing protagonist - self-aware without being TOO much so, spirited, honest, and brave.  She's also a tremendously strong female, with a huge heart.  Mac cares a great deal about her friends and family, and isn't afraid to show it in various ways, whether it's reaching out to try to save Jason, who's fallen apart after Amy's death, or looking out for Tess.  I want to applaud Kathleen Peacock for writing such an amazingly sympathetic and likable character in Mackenzie.  This story, compelling as it was, wouldn't have made such a huge impact on me where it not for Mac.  

Hemlock did make an impression on me, from start to finish.  I enjoyed trying to figure out who Amy's killer was, and it was delightfully frustrating in so many ways.  Kathleen Peacock has written a nicely-developed mystery that stumped me and will likely continue to do so with readers.  When the mystery finally was solved, I think I may have gasped.  Between that aspect, and the Trackers, an above-the-law fanatical group of werewolf hunters, Hemlock definitely had a darker feel than I expected, but one that I adored.  I definitely want to know more about the Trackers, and about the werewolf camps, as well as about the secondary group that came into play during the story, battling for rights for werewolves.  

I didn't want to finish Kathleen Peacock's debut novel for many reasons, yet another one being how haunting and brilliant all the characters and their interactions were.  I felt for so many of them, and yet I have to say, I think - and this may seem odd - that one of the strongest characters in the novel was Amy.  Although she was never anything but a memory, she was very much a presence: in Mac's nightmares, in between Mac and Jason, and Mac and Kyle, in the town, in the mystery of her death.  Amy was compelling, and added yet another layer, another enigma to Hemlock, because as the story goes on, we see that there was much more to Amy than anyone knew.  I also really loved Mackenzie's relationship with Tess.  Despite Mac's family history, it was clear how much she and Tess cared for one another.  

Further complicating Hemlock in an elegantly heart-pounding manner is the thread of romance Kathleen has woven throughout her novel.  I didn't expect to fall in love with any characters, but I fell, hard, for Kyle.  It's been a few weeks now since I finished Hemlock and I'm still swooning over him.  I really enjoyed watching Mac and Kyle puzzle through their feelings for one another, and I thought their relationship was intense, sweet, and perfect, in some ways.  I could see how badly Mac wanted to rescue and fix Jason, but I think by the time Hemlock ended both she and he were starting to realize he would have to save himself for it to mean anything.  I was slightly disappointed in the emerging love triangle between Kyle, Mackenzie, and Jason, but I will say it was all well-written, emotional, and an impossible decision for Mac to make.  I'm glad Peacock didn't rush her toward either boy rather, the steps Mac did take felt natural and organic.  I am definitely a Kyle/Mac girl, but I cannot wait to see where the second book takes all of these characters I've come to love.

Yes, I said love.  It may seem improbable, but I already feel like I know these characters, this town.  Hemlock was such a bewitching and compelling debut that I know I won't forget it anytime soon.  Some books just have IT, that spark, that combination of events, characters, writing, and themes as to make them unforgettable.  There's a certain kind of magic in a well-written, striking book, where all the ingredients meshed perfectly.  And with plenty of action, mystery, romance, darkness, heart, and soul, Hemlock is one of those books. 

Review: Welcome Caller, This Is Chloe by Shelley Coriell

Welcome Caller, This Is Chloe by Shelley Coriell
Pages: 299
Expected publication: May 1st 2012 by Amulet Books
Rating: Squee-worthy
Source: E-ARC from NetGalley
Series or stand-alone: Stand-alone
Further info/purchase: Goodreads | Barnes & Noble | Amazon
Find the author online: Website | Blog



Big-hearted Chloe Camden is the queen of her universe until her best friend shreds her reputation and her school counselor axes her junior independent study project. Chloe is forced to take on a meaningful project in order to pass, and so she joins her school's struggling radio station, where the other students don't find her too queenly. 

Ostracized by her former BFs and struggling with her beloved Grams's mental deterioration, lonely Chloe ends up hosting a call-in show that gets the station much-needed publicity and, in the end, trouble. She also befriends radio techie and loner Duncan Moore, a quiet soul with a romantic heart. 

On and off the air, Chloe faces her loneliness and helps others find the fun and joy in everyday life. Readers will fall in love with Chloe as she falls in love with the radio station and the misfits who call it home.

My Review

True story: I almost passed on this book, and I am SO glad that I didn't.  When I requested Welcome Caller, This Is Chloe on NetGalley, I still wasn't for sure if I was going to like it, but within the first two or three chapters, I knew that author Shelley Coriell had delivered a quirky, emotional, and fabulous debut novel.

Chloe is a joy to read about!  As the synopsis says, Chloe falls on hard times coming back to school after winter break.  Her two BF's (best friends) Brie and Mercedes have abandoned her, and I have to say, it was difficult watching that storyline play out.  Chloe is a bit clueless at times, and so it took her awhile to see how deeply she had hurt Brie, but at the same time, their strained friendships lead Chloe to KDRS The Edge (the job experience project her counselor forces her into), new friends, and some self-growth.  Chloe is endearing but rather used to her persona - Queen Chloe - and having things fall into place for her.  Over the rocky and fascinating course of Welcome Caller, This is Chloe, Chloe has to grow as a person.  While staying innately the same, Chloe learns to broaden her horizons, her ideals about friendship, and most importantly, she learns how to really listen to what others have to say. 

Shelley Coriell does an amazing job of creating romantic tension between Chloe and Duncan Moore, the troubled loner who works at the station as handy-man and boards operator.  I was cheering for Duncan and Chloe right from the beginning, though they certainly ran into their fair share of obstacles.  Duncan's home life is the worst imaginable, yet he's still kind, but has his flaws - he isn't perfect, and he's eventually forced to acknowledge his faults.  The conflict between Duncan and Chloe, who's dealing with her own issues within her family, is brilliantly done. 

In Welcome Caller, This Is Chloe, we also meet several entertaining and unforgettable secondary characters, ranging from Clem, the radio station manager to Haley, the pregnant teen with her own story, to Chloe's Grams, in her eighties and still crushing on Brad Pitt.  Grams has taught Chloe a lot and still has more wisdom to dole out over the course of Welcome Caller, including when and how to listen, instead of filling the silence with words. Grams and Chloe's interaction had me giggling at some points, and sobering up at others.

Overall this was an entirely adorable novel, with pockets of character growth that really made this an enjoyable read.  I would have liked to see a bit more self-realization on Chloe's part, since it did sometimes feel like no matter what, she landed on her feet, and of course, I wanted more Duncan and Chloe.  I wish Chloe's family (mainly her dad and her brothers) could have been involved more; instead, they were only mentioned a few times and never actually appeared in the book.  I did really, greatly enjoy seeing Chloe on the air, and watching her go from invader to friend with the KDRS staff, and Welcome Caller, This Is Chloe is cute and funny, and certainly not to be missed! 

Disclaimer

In accordance with FTC guidelines, I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  No money or compensation of any sort exchanged hands.   I review books with no intention of monetary gain; rather, I review books out of my love of reading.  

Review: The Vicious Deep by Zoraida Cordova

The Vicious Deep by Zoraida Cordova
Pages: 384
Rating: Squee-worthy
Expected publication: May 1, 2012 (Sourcebooks Fire)
Source: E-ARC from the publisher
Series or stand-alone: The Vicious Deep (1)
Further info/purchase: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Find the author online: Website | Twitter


 For Tristan Hart, everything changes with one crashing wave.

He was gone for three days. Sucked out to sea in a tidal wave and spit back ashore at Coney Island with no memory of what happened. Now his dreams are haunted by a terrifying silver mermaid with razor-sharp teeth.

His best friend Layla is convinced something is wrong. But how can he explain he can sense emotion like never before? How can he explain he’s heir to a kingdom he never knew existed? That he’s suddenly a pawn in a battle as ancient as the gods.

Something happened to him in those three days. He was claimed by the sea…and now it wants him back.

My Review

In The Vicious Deep, we meet lifeguard Tristan Hart - popular, handsome, who seems to have the perfect life - shortly before a freakish storm hits the beach he's on, and Tristan dives into the water, thinking he's saving someone.  Three days later Tristan wakes up on the beach, with no memory of what happened to him after he entered the water, and his entire life changes.  Zoraida Cordova plunges the reader instantly into Tristan's world with a novel where the action never really stops, yet where this would have thrown me off in other books, with this one: it worked.  I felt like I was constantly trying to catch my breath, but because that sensation was backed by a hilarious, sensitive at times, typical male at other times narrator and a fabulously twist-y plot, I was never taken aback by the pacing; if anything, it seemed right.  Cordova is a talented author, delving into the mind of a male protagonist, which has to be tricky, but I've discovered, I REALLY enjoy: both as a writer and as a reader.  It's a nice treat from most novels, which are narrated by females, plus, Tristan, even though he's a stereotypical guy, is also instantly likable, and carries the novel well.  

The Vicious Deep takes Tristan Hart on an unbelievable journey, from Coney Island to another island - the ancestral home of the merfolk, to whom he learns he has a connection that is truly mind-blowing for Tristan.  I was worried about the reveal - as an author, how do you pull out the, "So, you're a merman card?" but Zoraida Cordova handles that with fabulous poise and style.  She's built an amazing home life for Tristan, who has the love and support of both parents, as well as his best friend, Layla.  All of these characters were beautifully developed and never felt flat; often, authors don't pay enough attention to their secondary characters, but for Cordova, this clearly was not a problem.  I found myself drawn to Layla and wanting immediately to know more about her, and to see more interaction between her and Tristan.  I just wanted to wrap my arms around them both - their banter and bond was adorable, with moments of seriousness to break up the light-hardhearted-ness, where you REALLY saw how much they cared for one another.  

The plot itself, while not chock-full of twists, did keep me guessing at a few points, and was just genuinely really enjoyable.   In some ways, The Vicious Deep definitely wasn't what I was expecting - it was better.  The entire Sea Court angle was different and oddly fascinating!  And while I'd have liked for there to be more interaction with Tristan and a few of the minor characters, who nonetheless play very important roles, there is a sequel, and I have high hopes that I might get my wish, then, because most of those characters are still around.  And the awesome thing is there are people like Kurt and Thalia that, yes, you will have to read the book to meet, but I promise, they are well worth it!

Zoraida Cordova has a way with words, and a way of getting under the reader's skin.  I never thought I would enjoy a mermaid book as much as I did, but after I was 50 or so pages in, I quickly realized that The Vicious Deep has a lot to offer: action, romance, humor, and most importantly, heart.  I saw some character growth on Tristan's part throughout the novel and I think in the next book/s just judging by what I think is going to happen, there will have to be a LOT more.  I don't really have any gripes with this book - it was a good length, there were a lot of elements to it that are guaranteed to make me giggly, and it left off in such a way that I NEED the sequel now.  The Vicious Deep is a GREAT read, just not one of those "this will change your life" kind of books, but definitely an energetic, mysterious read.  If I could say one thing to convince you to read The Vicious Deep, it is that this is the perfect summer read: fast-paced and fun, yet definitely with more to offer than meets the eye - this book has a  LOT to offer, and I am already highly, eagerly, impatiently awaiting the sequel, The Savage Blue!

Book Trailer

Review: Enchanted by Alethea Kontis

 

Enchanted by Alethea Kontis
Expected publication: May 8th 2012 by Harcourt Children's Books
Pages: 305
Series or stand-alone: Stand-alone
Rating: Beam-worthy
Source: E-ARC from NetGalley
Further info/purchase: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Find the author online: Twitter | Website



It isn't easy being the rather overlooked and unhappy youngest sibling to sisters named for the other six days of the week. Sunday’s only comfort is writing stories, although what she writes has a terrible tendency to come true.

When Sunday meets an enchanted frog who asks about her stories, the two become friends. Soon that friendship deepens into something magical. One night Sunday kisses her frog goodbye and leaves, not realizing that her love has transformed him back into Rumbold, the crown prince of Arilland—and a man Sunday’s family despises.

The prince returns to his castle, intent on making Sunday fall in love with him as the man he is, not the frog he was. But Sunday is not so easy to woo. How can she feel such a strange, strong attraction for this prince she barely knows? And what twisted secrets lie hidden in his past - and hers?

My Review

In Enchanted when Sunday Woodcutter encounters a charmed/cursed frog, she finds a friend.  Sunday is the seventh daughter of a seventh daughter, and although she loves her family, she doesn't always understand their storied history, or her place with them.  Sunday is a romantic who quickly finds herself falling for her frog, for Sunday knows that he was once a man, and wistfully aches to know that man.  Sunday and Grumble (the frog) become fast friends and confidantes; with Grumble, Sunday has someone who wants to know her secrets and hear her writings, and someone she can trust.  Grumble disappears one night, leaving the tender-hearted Sunday worse for the wear.

Alethea Kontis masterfully draws the reader into Sunday's world - her longing for love, for happiness.  All her other sisters have their own places in the family - Monday is the prodigal daughter, Wednesday the dreamer, Friday the seamstress, Saturday the hard worker, Thursday the nomadic wife of a Pirate King.  Sunday is lost amidst her whimsical family, and unaware that the Prince Rumbold, former frog Grumble, is returned to himself and desperate to find her.  Rumbold is an interesting addition to Enchanted, and watching his transformation from frog back to human was at once endearing and a bit confusing.   As far as the other characters, I was drawn to both Sunday and to her ethereal sister, Wednesday, and to the spirited and wild Trix, one of Sunday's brothers.  I wish Alethea Kontis had given us a bit more insight into those characters, and Monday as well.  I feel that the family had some untapped potential, though overall they were all nicely developed. 

Enchanted is an adorable novel in its entirety.  From the Woodcutter family to the royal family, sinister secrets and magics abound, and I could not seem to stop turning the pages, driven by a need to know what happened next.  As lead characters, Sunday and Rumbold were a charming duo, and I enjoyed seeing both of their points of view.  I thought the conflicts keeping them apart were really well done, both internally, as Rumbold wondered if Sunday could love him due to their tangled histories, and externally, with threats from various magical sources.  The threats to their happiness felt real, which made the climax of Enchanted that much more breathless and awesome.

Overall Enchanted lived up to my excitement.  I read it as a fantasy, and that way, I enjoyed it greatly.  Sunday and Rumbold's relationship did read as a bit too insta-love for my taste but again, when I thought of Enchanted as a fairy tale, I went along with it all, and really enjoyed the story as a whole. 

Disclaimer

In accordance with FTC guidelines, I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  No money or compensation of any sort exchanged hands.   I review books with no intention of monetary gain; rather, I review books out of my love of reading.