The Goddess Inheritance by Aimee Carter

The Goddess Inheritance by Aimee Carter
Publication: February 26, 2013 (Harlequin Teen)
Source: E-galley from the publisher
Rating: Beam-worthy

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Love or life.
Henry or their child.
The end of her family or the end of the world.
Kate must choose.

During nine months of captivity, Kate Winters has survived a jealous goddess, a vengeful Titan and a pregnancy she never asked for. Now the Queen of the Gods wants her unborn child, and Kate can't stop her--until Cronus offers a deal.

In exchange for her loyalty and devotion, the King of the Titans will spare humanity and let Kate keep her child. Yet even if Kate agrees, he'll destroy Henry, her mother and the rest of the council. And if she refuses, Cronus will tear the world apart until every last god and mortal is dead.

With the fate of everyone she loves resting on her shoulders, Kate must do the impossible: find a way to defeat the most powerful being in existence, even if it costs her everything.

Even if it costs her eternity.

Memorable Quote

He stared up into the space I occupied, and I could hardly breathe.  He was perfection.  Calliope wouldn't take him from me.  I wouldn't let her. 

My Review

After enjoying both previous novels in this trilogy, I read The Goddess Inheritance eagerly.  The previous book ended on a terrible how-could-you-do-that-to-us cliffhanger, so when I saw the final book on NetGalley, I grabbed it.  (Thank goodness for auto-approval!)  As I read Aimee Carter's newest book, several things struck me.  I've talked to a few blog friends about how I'm writing and reading much more critically, seeing things I didn't used to when I read.  And more than anything, I want to read books that leave me speechless.  The Goddess Inheritance was enjoyable, and a mostly satisfying conclusion to the Goddess Test trilogy, but not much more than that.

As I read, although I was an en-spelled in Aimee Carter's writing as ever,  I couldn't quite get past some of the flaws in the plot of The Goddess Inheritance. All the characters I've come to care about were present, and they each had roles to play.  The stakes were higher.  But the plot felt circular to me.  Everyone kept going around and around, and in some cases, right back into danger once they escaped.  It felt like, to me, just a way to draw out the story. 

However, The Goddess Inheritance still held my attention, and by the end, I could appreciate the hopeful conclusion to this trilogy.  It was a good to see everyone finally pulling together, and to see Kate coming into her own as a goddess.  I was starting to think that wouldn't happen! We do see some growth from her, which was refreshing and encouraging.  I also enjoyed that Carter finally put Kate and Henry in a good place.

As The Goddess Inheritance came to an end, I felt somewhat bittersweet because the trilogy was ending.  I have hope that Aimee Carter might revisit this series down the road, even though this final book in the trilogy wasn't everything I hoped. 



Other books by this author:

The Goddess Test (The Goddess Test #1)
Goddess Interrupted (The Goddess Test #2)

Pawn (The Blackcoat Rebellion #1 - 2013 Harlequin Teen)

You're sure to fall for:

Sweet Venom by Tera Lynn Childs

About Aimee

I attended the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor and received a degree in Screen Arts and Cultures (a fancy way of saying I was forced to watch a lot of old movies) with a subconcentration in Screenwriting. I write. I watch a lot of new movies. Read a lot of books. Tweet too much. Love dogs and have two spoiled Papillons.

Visit Aimee at: her website | her twitter 

Shop for The Goddess Inheritance at: Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository  

  

Review: The Archived by Victoria Schwab

The Archived by Victoria Schwab
Publication: January 22, 2013 (Hyperion)
Source: ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review
Rating: Swoon-worthy

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Imagine a place where the dead rest on shelves like books.  Each body has a story to tell, a life seen in pictures that only Librarians can read. The dead are called Histories, and the vast realm in which they rest is the Archive.

Da first brought Mackenzie Bishop here four years ago, when she was twelve years old, frightened but determined to prove herself. Now Da is dead, and Mac has grown into what he once was, a ruthless Keeper, tasked with stopping often-violent Histories from waking up and getting out. Because of her job, she lies to the people she loves, and she knows fear for what it is: a useful tool for staying alive.

Being a Keeper isn't just dangerous-it's a constant reminder of those Mac has lost. Da's death was hard enough, but now her little brother is gone too. Mac starts to wonder about the boundary between living and dying, sleeping and waking. In the Archive, the dead must never be disturbed. And yet, someone is deliberately altering Histories, erasing essential chapters. Unless Mac can piece together what remains, the Archive itself might crumble and fall.

In this haunting, richly imagined novel, Victoria Schwab reveals the thin lines between past and present, love and pain, trust and deceit, unbearable loss and hard-won redemption.

Memorable Quote

There are no windows because there is no outside, and yet above the shelves there is a vaulted ceiling of glass and light.  The place is vast, and made of wood and marble, long tables running down the center like a double spine, with shelves branching off to both sides like ribs.  The partitions make the cavernous space seem smaller, cozier.  Or at least fathomable.  

The Archive is everything you told me it would be: a patchwork...wood and stone and colored glass...all thorughout, a sense of piece.  

But you left something out.  It is beautiful.    

My Review

 

Victoria Schwab became one of my favorite authors with her debut, The Near Witch; I fell hard for her haunting writing style.  When I heard about The Archived, I was beyond excited, especially when I received a galley.  I immediately knew this was going to be a book unlike any other; within the first 40 pages, I cried twice.  Victoria's prose gripped my heart tight, and her authentic characters made me feel at home within the pages.  The emotions are right there on the surface, beautifully etched across the pages. 

I think one of the marks of a great author is one who is able to write characters that you remember long after you read about them.  Victoria does that with not just one, or a few, but with all of the characters in The Archived.  Whether they grace one page or many, they're fantastically alive, from Mac to Wesley, to Ben, to Roland, to Nix.  I admired Mac's tenacity and her huge heart, Wes's humor and caring, Roland's patience with Mac.  I fell head over heels for Wes, and needed more, more, more of Wesley and Mac together - I really enjoyed watching their friendship grow.  But by far the characters that made the deepest impression on me were the ones who weren't in The Archived as much; it says a great deal, to me, when the secondary characters can fill your eyes with tears and make your heart ache.  

I read The Archived over the course of several days - slowly, because I didn't want to finish it.  It's so much - a mystery with a blush of romance, a study in how grief can tear apart or repair relationships, a rich parallel world running alongside our own.  Victoria tenderly paints such vivid images in The Archived - of escape, of love, of friendship.  Along with being an ethereal story, it's just gorgeously written.  There are passages about Mac's losses that just ripped my composure to pieces; there are other sentences that sewed me back together.  Victoria is an artist when it comes to wording and evoking feelings.  

I loved that Victoria wasn't afraid to face uncomfortable issues like death, loss, unhealthy relationships, and dealing with those things.  I liked that some characters weren't who I thought they were, and that seeing all of this through Mac's eyes felt genuine.  We were in her point of view; we made mistakes with her - and grew with her, too.  Mac's behavior isn't excused like happens in other books I've read.  She makes some bad calls, but she kept trying, and I applaud her for that.  I enjoyed that relationships were explored and built, torn down, and rebuilt.  I loved the world of the Archive - the Histories, the Librarians, the Keepers, and their rules and customs.  I liked the overall mystery, and all the revelations - some I guessed, some I didn't. I was fascinated by The Archive, and I wanted to stay forever.  I wanted to be there with Mac, and I guess in a lot of ways while I read The Archived, I was.  I can't wait to go back. 

Other books by this author:

The Near Witch

About Victoria

I am the product of a British mother, a Beverly Hills father, and a southern upbringing. Because of this, I have been known to say "tom-ah-toes", "like", and "y'all". But since this is about what I write and not how I pronounce my a's, I will say that I tell stories. 

I'm a lover of fairy tales, and folklore, and books that make me wonder if the world is really as it seems. I love writing about doors, and places between, and the cracks where reality slips into something darker, stranger, and invariably more interesting.

Visit Victoria online at: her blog | her twitter | her website

Shop for The Archived online at: Amazon | The Book Depository | Barnes & Noble 

Review: Splintered by A.G. Howard

Splintered by A.G. Howard
Expected publication: January 1, 2013 (Amulet)
Source: E-ARC from NetGalley
Rating: Swoon-worthy

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This stunning debut captures the grotesque madness of a mystical under-land, as well as a girl’s pangs of first love and independence. Alyssa Gardner hears the whispers of bugs and flowers—precisely the affliction that landed her mother in a mental hospital years before. This family curse stretches back to her ancestor Alice Liddell, the real-life inspiration for Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Alyssa might be crazy, but she manages to keep it together. For now.

When her mother’s mental health takes a turn for the worse, Alyssa learns that what she thought was fiction is based in terrifying reality. The real Wonderland is a place far darker and more twisted than Lewis Carroll ever let on. There, Alyssa must pass a series of tests, including draining an ocean of Alice’s tears, waking the slumbering tea party, and subduing a vicious bandersnatch, to fix Alice’s mistakes and save her family. She must also decide whom to trust: Jeb, her gorgeous best friend and secret crush, or the sexy but suspicious Morpheus, her guide through Wonderland, who may have dark motives of his own.

Memorable Quote 

Before I can respond, his warm, soft mouth touches my forehead, my temple, and then my jaw.  Each time, his labret gently grazes my skin.  He stalls at my jawline and bends to gather me close for a hug, nose tucked against my neck.

"Never scare me like that again."

It doesn't matter that we're wet; heat radiates through our sopping clothes.  I weave my gloves through his hair.  

"You came back for me."

He nuzzles closer in the crook of my jaw, and a powerful wave of emotion pulses through him.

"I'll always come back for you, Al."      

My Review

I finished Splintered almost a month ago at the time of writing this review, but as I searched the pages for a quote to share with y'all, I found myself falling in love with A.G. Howard's debut novel all over again: with the ethereal setting, with the beautiful writing style and imagery conjured while reading snippets, and with the amazing characters.   I went on a journey while reading Splintered, and it is one of the few books that I immediately went online to pre-order once I finished.  Splintered took me to Wonderland - a different Wonderland than I imagined - and truth be told, I left a part of my heart there.  

Somewhere between the first and last page, I fell in love: with Alyssa, with Jeb, with Morpheus, and with the Wonderland A.G. Howard has imagined.  Picture, if you will, a scared Alice who came back from Wonderland, and got some of the important details wrong. This isn't the Wonderland Alyssa's classmates tease her about.  This is Wonderland turned inside out, painted entirely different in its macabre, vivid reality than in the book written around Alyssa's ancestor's stories.  Everything Alyssa thought she knew is wrong or false - more horrifying than she imagined, darker, more lush and sinister, or seductive.  Splintered's world-building is fabulous and flawless - a sensual place I never wanted to leave.  

If asked to choose a favorite character, I'm not sure I could, with any certainty.  The characters are all stand-outs - terrifically fleshed-out people who feel real in their complexities.  Alyssa is independent, and her fears of ending up like her mother are so genuine; she's easily a sympathetic character.  Jeb is swoon-worthy by definition (mine at least): protective, a loyal friend, sensitive, honest; his disbelief at finding himself in Wonderland translates well to the reader, and I wish we could have seen a few things from his point of view!  I fell immediately for Jeb - we're talking can't-eat-can't-sleep, head-over-heels, drawing-his-name-in-my-notebook love.  But there's also Morpheus.  Oh, Morpheus: sly, sexy, tricksy, mischevious...with hos own way of caring.  I won't say there's a love triangle to Splintered, but there are definitely two amazing boys - the kind I wish were real!

If you're looking for a thrilling, un-put-downable novel, then you must read Splintered.  I didn't know whether to clap in geeky joy or gasp in fright throughout this book.  Through Alyssa's tests, and her journey of self-discovery, as well as unraveling her family's secrets, I felt like I was right there with her, walking just a step behind her, shadowing her journey.  I loved the familiar Wonderland elements, but I also loved how A.G. Howard continually took my breath away with one thing meaning another, and each new plot twist. A very few I saw coming, but mostly, I sat amazed, turning the pages as fast as I could.  I cheered for Alyssa when she succeeded, and wanted to jump into Splintered to help her at times.  But it was her quest, her mission, and it warms my heart that she did it all out of love for her mother and father, and in the process, learned who she really was. 

The bottom line: read this book.  I don't think you'll regret it.  Even if you aren't an ALICE fan, there's a heart-pounding adventure, and an unforgettable romance, not to mention a story I'll be thinking about for a long, long time.     


You're sure to fall for:


The Looking Glass Wars by Frank Beddor

About A.G.

A.G. Howard was inspired to write SPLINTERED while working at a school library. She always wondered what would've happened had the subtle creepiness of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland taken center stage, and she hopes her darker and funkier tribute to Carroll will inspire readers to seek out the stories that won her heart as a child.

When she's not writing, A.G.'s pastimes are reading, rollerblading, gardening, and family vacations which often include impromptu side trips to 18th century graveyards or condemned schoolhouses to appease her overactive muse.

Visit A.G. online at: her website  | her twitter | her pinterest 

Shop for Splintered at: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository

Review + Giveway: Deity by Jennifer L Armentrout

Deity by Jennifer L Armentrout
Expected publication: November 6th, 2012
Source: ARC from the publisher
Rating: Swoon-worthy
Add it/Purchase: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N 
Connect with the author: Twitter | Website

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History is on repeat, and things didn't go so well the last time. 

Alexandria isn't sure she's going to make it to her eighteenth birthday--to her Awakening. A long-forgotten, fanatical order is out to kill her, and if the Council ever discovers what she did in the Catskills, she's a goner... and so is Aiden.

If that's not freaky enough, whenever Alex and Seth spend time "training"--which really is just Seth's code word for some up-close and personal one-on-one time--she ends up with another mark of the Apollyon, which brings her one step closer to Awakening ahead of schedule. Awesome.

But as her birthday draws near, her entire world shatters with a startling revelation and she's caught between love and Fate. One will do anything to protect her. One has been lying to her since the beginning. Once the gods have revealed themselves, unleashing their wrath, lives will be irrevocably changed... and destroyed.

Those left standing will discover if love is truly greater than Fate..

My Review

Like always when I finished a JLA book, I am speechless.  I finished Deity yesterday and my emotions are still all over the place, while I struggle to find a way of EVER talking about what this book did to my heart, and what it means for the Covenant series.  Deity brings us back into the world of our beloved characters Alex, Aiden, and Seth, and then turns everything you think you know on its head, ending in a breath-taking cliff-hanger that made me literally screech with frustration.  Everything here is heightened - the characters, the relationships, the emotions, and the stakes.  With Deity, Jennifer L Armentrout has set herself apart from any other YA author in the industry these days, with a book I will never forget, for what it did.  It made me fall in love with the characters all over again, and it broke my heart.

I feel like I read Deity by holding my breath, because something was always happening to put these characters that I adore in new peril.  Not only is her 18th birthday looming over Alex - she also has her connection to Seth to deal with, not to mention a few key players in her world who have it out for her.  And then there's always the mystery of her feelings for Seth, and for Aiden.  JLA's feisty heroine takes it all in classic Alex stride, but the scenes where she gave in to her emotions and admitted her fears really broke my heart.  We saw a new, vulnerable side of Alex in Deity, and I have to say: I want more.  I admire JLA SO much for showing us that Alex isn't just all spirit and fire - she's also very, very human, loving, courageous, and at her core, a girl facing so much more than she's ready for.

I connected emotionally with Deity on so many levels, because I've come to really care about Alex.  But by far the most profound bond was with Alex and Aiden.  There were times in Pure where I waivered and found myself liking Seth, but Deity changed ALL OF THAT.  Aiden finally showed that he DOES care about Alex, and just...the two of them make my heart beat faster in EVERY scene.  The wealth of affection, trust, and respect between them is so beautiful, and it doesn't even compare to the bond between Alex and Seth. And oh, Alex and Aiden had some gorgeous, steamy scenes but none of that ever felt anything other than genuine.  I found myself falling in love with Aiden all over again, even as I felt that sense of impending danger, and knew the sanctuary Alex and Aiden found wouldn't last. 

The ending of Deity shocked me into silence, then an outraged "What?!," and then just a sense of being heart-broken beyond words.  Prepare yourselves because this is a wild, no-holds-barred ride that will jolt your heart in the end.  I have a few theories on what the next book will hold, but ultimately, I'm just going to end this review by begging you to read Deity.  It's intense, it's crazy, it's perfect.  You'll laugh, cry, and swoon.  You'll shake your head in denial, all the while reading faster.  You NEED this book in your life.

Bonus:  Want one of TWO ARCs of Deity?!  Just enter the super easy giveaway below - be a follower, then go for the extra entries!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Other books by this author:

Daimon

Half-Blood

Pure

You're sure to fall for:

Storm by Brigid Kemmemer
 

 Check back later this week for my stop on the DEITY tour sponsored by Val at Stuck in Books!

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: Carnival of Souls by Melissa Marr

Carnival of Souls by Melissa Marr
Pages: 320
Expected publication: September 4, 2012 (HarperCollins)
Source: ATW ARC Tours
Rating: Squee-worthy
Add it/Purchase: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Connect with the author: Website | Twitter

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In a city of daimons, rigid class lines separate the powerful from the power-hungry. And at the heart of The City is the Carnival of Souls, where both murder and pleasure are offered up for sale. Once in a generation, the carnival hosts a deadly competition that allows every daimon a chance to join the ruling elite. Without the competition, Aya and Kaleb would both face bleak futures--if for different reasons. For each of them, fighting to the death is the only way to try to live.

All Mallory knows of The City is that her father--and every other witch there--fled it for a life in exile in the human world. Instead of a typical teenage life full of friends and maybe even a little romance, Mallory scans quiet streets for threats, hides herself away, and trains to be lethal. She knows it's only a matter of time until a daimon finds her and her father, so she readies herself for the inevitable. While Mallory possesses little knowledge of The City, every inhabitant of The City knows of her. There are plans for Mallory, and soon she, too, will be drawn into the decadence and danger that is the Carnival of Souls.

From Melissa Marr, bestselling author of the Wicked Lovely series and "Graveminder," comes a brand-new tale of lush secrets, dark love, and the struggle to forge one's own destiny.

My Review

Falling into the world of Carnival of Souls was an entirely unexpected experience; despite the synopsis, I had no idea Melissa Marr had created such a lushly rich and dark world like The City.   While I did have a few issues with the overall story, the world building here is superbly done.  I at once was reminded of Anne Bishop's Black Jewels trilogy - one of my favorite fantasy series EVER - as I read about The City, and those that inhabited it.  Between the brutality of the competition in which daimons fight for their lives and for a better future, and the sensuality of the Night Carnival, I was in love with the world of Carnival of Souls within a few pages.  This was my first book by Melissa Marr, but it won't be my last!

I was captivated by a few of the characters in this novel, and rather than being off-putting as it is in some novels, in Carnival of Souls, I really enjoyed the multiple points of view.  I love that we got the inner thoughts of Belias, Aya, and Kaleb.  I found the three of them to be amazing characters, each willing to do whatever it took to accomplish an ends to a means, each with their own flaws and loyalties.  I really admired Aya's strength, Belias's protective instincts, and Kaleb's sense of family.  I was far less enchanted with Mallory, one of the other main characters.  I never felt like we got to know her beyond the surface.  She was a flat character, and yet another example in YA literature of the girl guys are falling all over, yet I can never understand WHY.  

Plot-wise, I though the pacing was really well done.  I was never bored, and everything that happened felt tight and relevant to the story.  Marr moved everything along at a nice clip that was never overwhelming.  Thanks to the luscious world-building and the revelations Carnival of Souls had to offer, I was deeply involved in the various plot angles, between the competition and both Aya and Kaleb's motivations for winning, and also the plot with Mallory and the secret of her parentage.  I loved her father, Adam, and definitely would love to know more about him.  There were several great antagonists like Evelyn and Marchaois who served deliciously evil roles!

I'm torn on the romance.  I loved the hints of the past between Aya and Belias, and NEED to see more with them.  Kaleb and Mallory...hmm.  They're an interesting pairing.  At first I expected to really like them, then they took on an insta-love feel, but Melissa Marr pulled out my kryptonite - Kaleb is definitely an alpha male and the way he took to Mallory, wanted to protect her, he definitely had that "MINE" thing going on that I SO tend to fall for in literature.  

Overall, Carnival of Souls is a well-developed, darker fantasy.  There is a decadent feel to this book, an unhurried, languorous seductive undertow that will pull you in if you aren't careful, and leave you wanting more.  Despite a few issues I had with it, it's a GREAT read, and I look forward to seeing what else Melissa Marr writes in this world. 

Other books by this author:

Wicked Lovely

Graveminder 

You're sure to fall for:

Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo 

Black City by Elizabeth Richards

 

 

Review: Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
Pages: 416
Expected publication: August 7, 2012 (Bloomsbury USA)
Source: E-ARC from NetGalley
Rating: Squee-worthy
Add it/Purchase: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Connect with the author: Website | Twitter | Facebook

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After serving out a year of hard labor in the salt mines of Endovier for her crimes, 18-year-old assassin Celaena Sardothien is dragged before the Crown Prince. Prince Dorian offers her her freedom on one condition: she must act as his champion in a competition to find a new royal assassin.

Her opponents are men—thieves and assassins and warriors from across the empire, each sponsored by a member of the kings council. If she beats her opponents in a series of eliminations, she’ll serve the kingdom for three years and then be granted her freedom.

Celaena finds her training sessions with the captain of the guard, Westfall, challenging and exhilarating. But she’s bored stiff by court life. Things get a little more interesting when the prince starts to show interest in her... but it’s the gruff Captain Westfall who seems to understand her best.

Then one of the other contestants turns up dead... quickly followed by another. Can Celaena figure out who the killer is before she becomes a victim? As the young assassin investigates, her search leads her to discover a greater destiny than she could possibly have imagined.

My Review

There's something so heady and thrilling for me about opening the pages of a new fantasy novel, and I definitely had that sense of excitement and wonder as soon as I began Throne of Glass.  Even though we meet the main character, Celaena, under the most trying conditions, my heart went out to her as she was given an impossible choice: compete to become the champion of a king she doesn't respect, or stay in the mines of Endovier, and die there.  I admired Celaena's strength of character, and the fact that she was definitely resourceful and a survivor.  I identified with her throughout Throne of Glass because I made that instant connection with her.  

Sarah J. Maas has breathed fresh life into familiar elements of fantasy with her debut novel.  Along with wonderful characters, I'm a big fan of the world-building, which was solidly done.  Adarlan felt like a real place, and I really enjoyed the time Maas took to craft the kingdom, as well as the other cultures and areas mentioned.  Set against a backdrop of court intrigue, the places Celaena visits in Throne of Glass are burned brightly into my memory, awaiting further exploration.  I felt like I was right there with her, discovering the glass castle, daring to attend a masked ball, training with Chaol Westfall, and entering the competition to be King's Champion.  

Plot-wise, Throne of Glass has a lot of fantastic things going for it.  I absolutely loved the idea of the Champion competition, and I was of course, cheering for Celaena.  But what I didn't expect to find among the eclectic group of thiefs, murders, and assassins were one or two other characters who really stood out in my mind as memorable, like Nox and Pelor.  I really enjoyed the notion that, although at first glance, all of these men were bad to the core, that there could be a few who had more in common with Celaena than she originally thought.  I thought that Nehemia was another brilliantly written character, and I also really came to like Captain Westfall.  Under his gruff exterior, he was actually a fabulous counterpart to Celaena, and I greatly looked forward to their interactions!  

What I loved about Throne of Glass was that as the book went on, the mystery surrounding the competition grew deeper and more difficult to unravel.  Sarah J. Maas did a fantastic job of keeping the tension high throughout the story - there was never really a moment when I breathed easy, or was allowed to forget what was at stake.  And then there's the brewing tension between Adarlan and other countries, not to mention the fact that potential Champions keep dying.  It all added a seething undertone of fear and unease to Throne of Glass that I approved of!  

If I have any complaint with Throne of Glass, it's that there was too much information coming at me at times.  I like it when authors slowly reveal their cultures, secrets, and such.  I know at times, especially in fantasy, an "info dump" can be really difficult to avoid, but I felt like that happened somewhat.  And although I really DID like the romance that developed, and that it was actually given time to do so, so that it all felt natural, I was disappointed that I just kind of didn't "get" said romance.  I'm the oddling that usually cheers for the underdog, and although there isn't really a love triangle in Throne of Glass, unrequited love is hinted at, and I have to wonder where that might go in the sequel. 

Definitely give Throne of Glass a chance, though, especially if you are a fan of fantasy novels!  The characters are well-developed, and there's a great element of mystery and danger.  I'm very much looking forward to the sequel and seeing where Sarah J. Maas takes her series! 

Other books by this author

The Assassin and the Pirate Lord

The Assassin and the Desert

The Assassin and the Underworld

The Assassin and the Empire

(All are prequel e-novellas to Throne of Glass)

You're sure to fall for:

Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers

Review: Starling by Lesley Livingston

Starling by Lesley Livingston
Pages: 352
Expected publication: August 28, 2012 (HarperTeen)
Source: Borrowed from Anna
Rating: Squee-worthy
Add it/Purchase: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Connect with the author: Blog | Twitter

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"Love is just the beginning... of the end."

Mason Starling is a champion fencer for Gosforth Academy, but she’s never had to fight for her life. Until now. When a ferocious storm rips through Manhattan and unleashes terrifying creatures onto Gosforth’s campus, Mason barely escapes alive. Without help from the mysterious stranger who appeared in the midst of the storm, she might not have made it at all. But now, in the aftermath, Mason’s life begins to spin dramatically, mystically out of control, and the only one who seems able to help her is the stranger who can remember nothing but his name: Fennrys Wolf.

As Mason and Fenn uncover more about Fenn’s past and the strange events that surround them, they realize that Mason’s family — and its dark allegiance to the ancient Norse gods — is at the center of everything. A predetermined fate seems to be closing in on Mason, but is it possible to change one’s destiny?

Readers who fell in love with Lesley Livingston’s Wondrous Strange trilogy and those who love Cassandra Clare’s Mortal Instruments series will be captivated by the sweeping romance and pulse-pounding action of Starling.

My Review 

Starling is one of those rare books that manages to juggle non-stop action and danger with a glorious mythos, as well as a touch of romance, yet never feels too busy.  Steeped heavily in Norse mythology, this is a story of pulse-tripping adventure, where the stakes are never less than high.  Author Lesley Livingston keeps the story moving along at a good pace, yet gives us time to fall for the characters and the fantasy she's spinning around us. 

As we are introduced to the main character, Mason Starling, we barely have time to get to know her before a ghastly storm that heralds nightmare creatures attacks Mason and her friends and brother.  I've heard it said that character is most clearly revealed in times of trouble, and I think it's true.  Mason proves herself to be a brave and caring person, even though she's terrified of the beasts surrounding them.  Enter Fennrys Wolf.  *happy sigh*  Fennrys saves Mason and her friends, and seems able to handle himself dangerously with a sword, yet knows next to nothing about his life.  Fennrys's strength of character compliments Mason's own - for all his oddities, he's still a person capable of great empathy and love, as we discover throughout the course of Starling.  

I almost don't know what I can say about Livingston's novel that will make any sense - it's THAT good, so good, in fact, that although I finished it almost a week ago, I'm STILL thinking about it and wondering where the characters will go next.  I fell head over heels for Mason, Fennrys, Cal, and Roth (Mason's brother.)  I loved that all these characters felt so REAL, like people I might have gone to school with or worked with, and I liked that we got to peek into their various points of view, although the main POVs belonged to Mason or Fenn.  

Plot-wise, the storyline is just as richly developed as the characters.  Between the various mythologies at work, which gave Starling the sense of being just steeped and wrapped in mystery after mystery, and the knowledge of competing entities, all who are working against one another to bring about different results, I was HOOKED in no time!  Add in Fennrys and the enigma that he is, and I couldn't stop reading Starling! The more I read, the harder I fell for Fennrys, not to mention his incredible bond with Mason.  I loved their interactions so much - and never fear folks, there's no insta-love here, just two people with an amazing connection, and more of a beginning than a "be-all-end-all-overnight" relationship.  Nevertheless, it's clear that Fenn and Mason care about one another!  

Lesley Livingston's novel is a breathless thrill-ride with a delicious touch of darkness.  I had hardly recovered from one twist before there was another one staring me in the fact.  By the end of Starling, I was SO bereft that it was over, because Holy Mother of Cliffhangers!  My only complaints are that a few things seemed to happen TOO easily.  But beyond that...I will DEFINITELY be splurging on a beautiful, finished copy so that I can re-read this amazing novel! 

Other books by this author:

Wondrous Strange

Once Every Never

You're sure to fall for:

Valkyrie Rising by Ingrid Paulson

When the Sea Is Rising Red by Cat Hellisen

Review: Ruby by Amanda Burke

Ruby by Amanda Burke
Pages: 174
Published: June 29, 2012
Rating: Shrug-worthy
Source: TBG ARC Tours
Add it/Purchase: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

___

During the Salem witch hunts, an evil witch named Natasha Sullivan tricks a demon into confining himself inside an enchanted music box. She casts a spell that foretells that the demon will emerge in an unknown time in future after the birth of a child known as the Lumen Child. 

This child’s destiny is to bring light to the planet and Natasha knows that if he is killed then darkness will prevail. Natasha’s identical twin Sarah, discovers what her sister has done. Although she cannot break the spell she casts her own prophecy. It states that three witches known as the Triple Enchantresses will be born in the same time as the Lumen Child and they will be his supernatural protectors. The girls are not sisters, yet they will share a common destiny. 

Ruby is the story of the first witch and how she very nearly dies before discovering her true identity. Having grown up unaware of her powers, she is rescued by her loving grandmother who is also a white witch and taken back to the family estate where she learns everything she can about what her future holds.

My Review

Ruby is a coming-of-age story that, despite its various flaws, still managed to entertain me.  Author Amanda Burke brings a new twist on witchcraft to YA literature, in a debut that has potential, yet never fully delivers.  While I enjoyed the paranormal elements and the exploration of family bonds in this novel, the writing was very immature, which tells me that Burke has a lot of growing to do as an author. 

Character wise, Ruby offers a few gems, such as Ruby's grandmother, Esther, who I grew fond of.  I absolutely adored the whimsical Walter, a delightful side character.  However, there were several characters who were in the book for such a short time that I didn't really get to know them, or their motivations to me were unclear.  I felt like there wasn't enough time devoted to the villains - I got that they were bad, but I needed to know WHY they were bad and so forth.  They never REALLY scared or worried me. 

Ruby's transformation happened a bit too quickly for my taste.  She went from innocent young girl to powerful witch without much of a transition in between the two.  The pacing was choppy during those changes, and I think Ruby would have benefited from a few more scenes developing Ruby's understanding of witchcraft and her powers. 

I didn't like the romance in Ruby.  The love interest is a likeable enough guy, but he pulls the continual "hot-then-cold" act that SO many guys in YA novels tend to come with, as if it's a package deal for their existence.  There was a small amount of development between Ruby and Blaine, but no indication that they'd ever really gotten to know one another before things progressed.  I despise insta-love as a plot device, and that's exactly what this was.  If we'd had a few touching scenes between Ruby and Blaine, I could have supported them, but nothing like that was even attempted.  Instead, the attempt at romance felt very childish. 

Although Ruby didn't impress me, if you're a fan of lighter reads, then you might enjoy this book.  The end does offer some hope for the sequels, but even that is abrupt, and too much is wrapped up in the final pages for my liking.  However, there's nothing too heavy in it, so it is definitely a YA book that will probably please younger teens! 

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