Friday, January 27, 2012

Review: The Wood Queen (The Iron Witch #2) - Karen Mahoney

The Wood Queen (The Iron Witch, #2)

5/5 Stars

This is the second book in The Iron Witch series by Karen Mahoney, it picks up right where we left Donna in the first book, just as she is about to walk into her hearing and find out what will become of her for losing the precious last few drops of the elixir of life.

The hearing itself is brilliantly played out throughout the book and made me not want to put the book down, I wanted to know what was going to happen to Donna. I loved seeing all the alchemists from the different orders come together, it was great to see all the little, subtle differences between them all.

I'm still not sure about Xan, if anything this book made me doubt him even more. He seems to be too up and down all the time. He is a great character and brings the romance element to the series, but I don't think I'd like to see him and Donna ending up together in the end. I'm secretly hoping that Navin has been hiding romantic feelings for Donna and it all comes out in the next book. I think they would made a far cuter couple!
Then of course there is the new boy, Robert who is a member of the order of the crow. I'd like to know a bit more about him as well but he does seems really interesting!

In this book we do find out a bit more about the history of the Alchemists and what they stand for, we also see Donna realise that she has a choice to make. She can either sign up and pledge her life to their cause at 18, or leave forever. Luckily enough she still has a few months to go before her birthday and before she has to make her decision. Personally, I'd like her to stay and do her best to shake things up and get rid of some of the archaic ways of doing things.

And if all that wasn't enough The Wood Queen, Aliette has popped up again! This time she is after Donna's help in exchange to cure her mother. This ends up raising lots of questions in the book and revealing Donna's true nature and her real powers. It also explains a lot about her iron tattoos!

I loved this book. I read it in one sitting and was completely caught up in the crazy fairy tale world that Karen Mahoney has created!
Overall, a brilliant an enchanting read! I am super excited for the last book, The Stone Demon to be released!

Review: The Iron Witch (The Iron Witch #1) - Karen Mahoney

The Iron Witch (The Iron Witch, #1)

5/5 Stars

The Iron Witch follows 17 year old Donna Underwood, raised her whole life to join the ranks of the secret Alchemist organisation her family has belonged to for years. Donna has been raised by her aunt ever since she and her parents were attacked by fey. Ever since then she has been left with iron tattoos covering her arms.
Donna tries her best to keep up with the Alchemist lifestyle and studies in order to become a full member when she reaches her 18th birthday, trying to keep that huge part of her life secret from her best friend Navin is proving to be too hard and when he stumbles across the truth Donna is faced with a major dilemma.

I have had this book sitting on my bookcase ever since it came out last year, it somehow ended up near the bottom of my reading pile and I am so glad I finally picked it up! I really enjoyed this book and finished it in one day, I got so completely wrapped up in the story and with Donna's life that I didn't even notice the time passing around me.

Donna is a great main character, Karen Mahoney managed to make me feel sorry for her, laugh with her and urge her on all at the same time! She is very easy to relate to, and I think she will be for a lot of teenage girls as well. To me that just makes her more likeable and made me want to keep on reading.
I really liked the journal entries in the book, it lets the reader see another side to Donna which doesn't come across fully through the story-line. 

I loved the Alchemist element to this book, I think it's the first book to do with Alchemy that I've ever read and I loved it! It did make a nice change from the usual YA paranormal plot lines that I read. I think to me thats what made the book really stand out.

The plot is well put together and thought out, the ending ties up all the loose ends and left me desperate for the next instalment in the series, luckily I had it on hand and got started right away!

Overall it is a great, romantic and magical book that will keep you glued to the pages!

Monday, January 23, 2012

The Vampire Hunter's Daughter Part IV - Jennifer Malone Wright

The Vampire Hunter's Daughter Part IV

4/5 Stars

This is part four in this mini series, I was so excited for it to finally be released!!
I love these short books, perhaps even more that I love the Witches of Santa Anna short books!!

This time around we see Chloe struggle to come to terms with what has happened to her grandfather, and blames herself for the attack on the village. Chloe is toying with the idea of just up and leaving in order to keep the people she has come to care about safe.

I loved this book, I think it's my favourite out of them all so far, I loved all the teenage angst between Chloe, Drew and Gavin. Although I have to say I'm rooting for Drew, I think he is a much better match for Chloe than Gavin will ever be.
I do like Gavin though, him and Chloe do share a few special moments together in this book. It's sweet that they can bond so well together over magic and he will probably be a great friend to Chloe in the future of the series, but romantically I think Drew has to get the girl in the end.

I loved all the mystery and suspense around just what Chloe would finally decide to do, and when I got to the end I was shocked! Completely and utterly shocked!
I need book 5 now please, I don't think my poor heart can wait to see what's going to happen to Chloe!

Saturday, January 21, 2012

Cover Reveal: Fire Stones by Kailin Gow


I have something super exciting to share with you all today!
Just look at that cover for Fire Stones by Kailin Gow, isn't is pretty!!

Mackenzy Evers can't believe how close she is with Chance now that they've finally allowed themselves to be with each other. But her past with Varun and her quest for the goddess Vesta's magical stones cam tear her away from him forever.

It totally draws me in and makes me want to know what the book is about, I love the girl's hair. It makes me regret getting my hair cut short, I want to grow it out again!!

Fire Stones is the second book in the Fire Wars series by Kailin Gow and is due for release on January 24th, on Kindle and paperback. Right in time for my birthday as well! I think I'll be buying myself this one as a birthday present!


If you haven't read any of Kailin's book before, you won't be disappointed!
Check out my review page for my reviews of her Frost series!

Friday, January 20, 2012

Review: Frost Kisses (Frost #4) - Kailin Gow

Frost Kisses (Frost #4)

4/5 Stars

This is the fourth book in the Frost series, I am so glad to be finally catching up with it as well!

This time around we see Breena finally discover the truth about who is really behind the war in Feyland between the winter and summer courts. Breena, Kian and Logan put their differences aside and work together to bring down the pixies and put a stop to the war.

SQUUUUUUUUUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!
It's all I can really, I love love loved this book! 
Just when I feel as if I actually know the characters and all the goings on in Feyland, Kailin Gow turns things topsy turvy with Frost Kisses!

After coming back from the dead, literally. Breena is more sure of herself, her magic and is a much stronger person. I love strong female leads in YA, so Breena being even more confident in herself and her magic was a big plus in my books! 
We also get to see more of the Wolf Fey and Logan,  who is really starting to grow on me after reading this book . I was always team Kian from the start, but now I'm not so sure. Logan has a lot of qualities that Kian doesn't, and vice versa. Oh it's just such a confusing love triangle!
I love all the romantic drama though, to me that only adds more excitement to the plot.

We also get to see a bit more of the evil pixies in this book. Yes I can read, I know what they have been planning. But at the same time I feel bad for them, I really hope they Fairys and Pixies can come to some kind of agreement by the end of this series.
Maybe I'm just in too nice of a mood today, but I want Feyland to be filled with happiness and no more wars.

Overall I really enjoyed this book and am super excited to get my hands on the next book in the series!

Thursday, January 19, 2012

Review: Silver Frost (Frost #3) - Kailin Gow

Silver Frost (Bitter Frost #3 of The Frost Series)

4/5 Stars

Silver Frost is the third book in the Frost series by Kailin Gow.
This time around we are back in Feyland and with the Summer Queen dead Breena is crowned the new Summer Queen. Although she is unsure if she can trust the previous queen's advisor's they are acting strange around her. Breena must come up with a plan to stop the war between the Winter and Summer court once and for all and she isn't sure who to turn to for help.

I loved this book! The plot and character development was much better than in the previous two books in this series. We also got to see more of the Winter Court and it's royal family and get to know them a bit better, which I really enjoyed.
There is of course that crazy love triangle going on as with the previous books, and the situation only getting better and more juicier as the series goes on. Logan is starting to grow on me, and I really feel for him. But I still love Kian and believe he and Breena should be together.

The book is fast paced and action packed, which I like in my books. It makes is easier to get enthralled in the story and forget the world going on around you. Silver Frost is no exception to that, I was truly swept into a different world with this book and read it in one sitting as I just couldn't bear to pull myself away from the story.

With each new book, this series just gets better and better!
This book was the turn around book in the series, up till this point the books were good but this one was great! It really pulled me in and made me feel like I knew and understood the characters better.
The ending left me completely gob-smacked, I literally was screaming at my Kindle and could not believe what I was reading!
I can't wait to see what the rest of this series brings!

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Review: Forever Frost (Frost #2) - Kailin Gow

Forever Frost (Frost, #2)

4/5 Stars

This is the second book in the Frost series, I read the first book Bitter Frost way back at the start of last year.
Having since bought the rest of the series on my Kindle, I decided it was time to get back into them!

Forever Frost starts right where Bitter Frost ended, with a quick recap over the events that happened, thank goodness! I don't think I would have remembered all the goings on in Bitter Frost, it had been so long since I read it.
Breena is stuck trying to figure out what to do to solve the conflict between the Winter and Summer courts and how to get both court's hostages back home safe and sound without starting another war!

In this book we see more individual sides to each of the characters, and as a reader get to know them a bit better and learn about their history.
I really loved finding out more about Breena's mum and just how she managed to get herself wrapped up in this crazy fey world. Shasta is a brilliant, strong female character, she brings just what the story needs at just the right time!

The writing in this book is pretty straightforward but also mesmerising at the same time. It is so easy to get swept up between the pages and forget the real world passing around you. I think I read this book over two sittings, and found it so hard to tear myself away from it!

I did enjoy this book more than the first one, it has been a long time since I read that though. But I do remember that I thought it was just ok. Forever Frost however is the true making of this series, it kept me gripped onto the edge of my seat waiting to find out what was going to happen. It's a lovely, thought provoking and enchanting book.
I will say this though - total cliffhanger ending! I loved it though, it got me really excited to start the next book straight away!

Monday, January 16, 2012

Review: Two Lines - Melissa Mar

Two Lines

3/5 Stars

Two Lines is a novella by Melissa Marr which is set in the Wicked Lovely world.
It doesn't have any of the main characters from the original books series in it (I don't think so anyway, I've only read the first two).

Two Lines follows Eavan, born to a family of Glaistig and trying her hardest not to turn into one herself. There  are two things that Eavan must stay away from in order to keep herself from turning, killing someone and having sex. Eavan has kept herself almost human for this long, she isn't going to let herself turn now.

But when her grandmother hires someone as a "bodyguard" for Eavan, she sees right through it for what it really is. Her grandmother has hired someone to tempt her.
Eavan is also chasing after a hottie who has been drugging girls in clubs in order to find out what he is up to and what exactly he is planning to do with these girls.

I really enjoyed this short story. It was a bit darker and more adult that her Wicked Lovely series, and her writing style is memorising, I was sucked right into the story!

I enjoyed the fact that it was a short story, I think if Melissa made it any longer it wouldn't work the same and draw me in as much.
It is a bit faced paced, but again it is only a short story so it kinda needs to be, I can see that.
I would have liked it to maybe be a bit longer, say 10 pages or so just so we can see a bit more about Evan and her family.
Apart from that though it was a really great short story, and it's actually made me want to go back and finish reading the Wicked Lovely series.



Saturday, January 14, 2012

Birthday Giveaway!

I know I only posted a giveaway yesterday, but I want to do another one!


So this giveaway is to celebrate my birthday, woo!

One lucky winner can bag themselves a book of their choice up to the value of £6 from The Book Depository. As long as they ship to your country - be sure to check first!

All you have to do is fill in the rafflecopter below

Friday, January 13, 2012

January Giveaway!

It's been a while since I did a giveaway!

Because January is my birthday month, and it's also the start of a brand new year I'm doing a giveaway!

The Iron King (Iron Fey, #1)The Iron Daughter (Iron Fey, #2)

You can win yourself The Iron King and The Iron Daughter by Julie Kagawa.
Giveaway is open internationally, all you have to do is fill in the rafflecopter!

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Review: Undercurrent (Siren #2) - Tricia Rayburn

Undercurrent (Siren #2)

3/5 Stars

Undercurrent is the second book is the Siren series and picks up a few months after the events in the first book, Siren.
Vanessa and her family are safely back home and away from Winter Harbour. Paige having lost most of her family has moved in with them as well.

This time around the focus is on making sure Winter Harbour stays frozen so that the sirens don't re-appear.
Along the way there is a lot of boyfriend drama between Vanessa and Simon. She doesn't know if he really loves her any more or if it is only because of her Siren powers. Vanessa also discovers the truth about her family, her past and the secrets behind why her birth mother has been kept from her for all these years.

To me the story did seem to drag on a bit and it was the same whining over and over again from Vanessa, all about if Simon loves her or not. However in between all these moments, the rest of the book was great! The plot was unbelievable and much better than the first book in my opinion.
I liked the new characters that were introduced, Tricia did a great job of tying them in with the storyline and allowing the reader to see enough of them to get to know them.

There was also a few humours moments in the book as well, especially when Vanessa had to meet with a male college scout and he practically offered both Vanessa and Paige a full free ride, solely because of her siren abilities.
I enjoyed seeing a different side to Paige in this book as well, she does come across as a strong and likeable character.

Even though there was too much boyfriend drama for me in this book I did enjoy it and am looking forward to reading more about Vanessa in the future.

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Review: Lost in Time (Blue Bloods #6) - Melissa de la Cruz

Lost in Time (Blue Bloods, #6)

4/5 Stars

Lost in Time is the sixth book in the Blue Bloods series by Melissa de la Cruz.
Going by my fellow reviewers opinions, I think this is one series you either love or hate and there is no in between.

I really love this series, it was one of the first YA Paranormals I ever read and I was hooked instantly!
In this instalment we see Schuyler and Jack come to terms with what their bonding ceremony really means. Not just for them but also for Mimi, Jack's intended bond mate. All three must face the consequences of breaking a tradition which has withstood the test of time, until now.

We also get some glimpses into Schuyler's mother, Alegra's past! At long last we finally get to meet Ben, Schuyler's father and discover what it was about him that made Alegra so drawn to him and fall for him enough to break her own bond as well.

As well as all the family and relationship drama, Schuyler and Jack are on the hunt for the truth about where the gates to hell are and how members of the underworld are managing to sneak out undetected and capturing girls to bring back to bear them children. Their journey takes them to Egypt this time around where they discover something they never bargained for.

I did really enjoy this book, it took me a few chapters to really get into it although I think that is because it's been a while since I read any of the Blue Bloods books. I needed to get my head around all the characters again. There was a stark difference in this book compared with the previous Blue Bloods books. For one it was much longer, which I prefer! There was lots more action scenes and more details in this book than in any of the previous ones.

Mimi also comes into her own in Lost in Time, in the past she hasn't been portrayed as the most genuine and likeable character in the series, but this plot shines a whole new light on her and her new responsibilities. She faces up to the truth and realises what has to be done in order to save not only herself but the entire vampire community.

The plot itself is completely unpredictable, which makes a nice change from some of the previous books in the series. There are a few new characters introduced and I'm not sure if they will play an important role in the finale of the series.

Needless to say I really did love this book, I cannot believe how it ended and I am left itching for book seven which is also the final book in the series!

Monday, January 9, 2012

Review: Soul Kissed (The Moonstone Saga #1) - Courtney Cole

Soul Kissed  (Book One of The Moonstone Saga)

5/5 Stars

First of all, just look at that cover! How gorgeous is that?! I am in love with this cover!!
Anyway....

Soul Kissed is book one in The Moonstone Saga by one of my favourite authors, Courtney Cole.
The Moonstone Saga is a spin-off series from her Bloodstone Saga, so if you haven't read those books I suggest you do first before picking up Soul Kissed. You can probably read this one without having previously read the Bloodstone Saga books, but it would make things a lot easier if you have read them first.
You'll understand the characters and the terminology used a bit better.

Having being in a severe state of shock and grief over one of my favourite series's from 2011 coming to end, I was excited to hear there was going to be a spin-off series. Only this time around the series focused on Empusa, the daughter of Hecate, goddess of witchcraft.
We only get to see a small glimpse of Empusa and Hecate in the Bloodstone saga and I always wanted to know more about them both and a bit more about their background story.
Soul Kissed did not disappoint on either.

The story centres on Empusa as she is on the run and hiding from her father who wants to kill her (readers of the Bloodstone Saga will know why). Empusa is cursed to drink mortal blood to survive, the only way she feels she can do this is by taking the lives of those who are about to die anyway. A frequent visitor to hospitals, one day there she comes across Brennan who captures her attention immediately.
But Brennan is not what he appears to be, he has a hidden secret, a secret that is unknown even to himself.

Someone new to Courtney's writing may be shocked at the sheer amount of mythology, history and research that goes into her books. It is something I have said time and time again about her Bloodstone Saga, and I can see myself saying again in the future about the Moonstone saga. I am a huge fan of mythology and I love the way Courtney manages to take history and mythology and blend it together, adding her own touch of flavour to it to bring together the perfect plot.

After seeing so much of the Underworld and Spirit Lands in the Bloodstone saga, I honestly did not know what to expect location wise with this book, how much more could there really be to see?
I was completely wrong on this part, Soul Kissed transports readers the underwater realm of Poseidon and the sunken city of Atlantis. It was beautifully described, right down to every last detail, making the reader feel as if they are part of the book themselves.

As with the rest of Courtney's book this one is not without it's own twists and turns, this book kept me on the edge of my seat the entire way through it. I literally could not believe what was happening to poor Empusa half of the time. I just wanted to grab her out of the pages and take her home with me to keep her safe!

As for the romance element, I loved it!
Yes it did seem to be a little two quick and almost love at first sight with Empusa and Brennan, but with the world Courtney has created and the explanation about soul mates given in this book, I can completely understand it and it makes sense to me.

The ending left me gobsmacked and I cannot wait to get my hands on book two!


Review: Vampire Kisses (#1-8) - Ellen Schreiber

Vampire Kisses (Vampire Kisses, #1)Kissing Coffins (Vampire Kisses, #2)Vampireville (Vampire Kisses, #3)
Dance with a Vampire (Vampire Kisses, #4)The Coffin Club (Vampire Kisses, #5)Royal Blood (Vampire Kisses, #6)
Love Bites (Vampire Kisses, #7)Cryptic Cravings (Vampire Kisses, #8)

I decided to review all eight of these books together, as I pretty much read them all back to back and I don't think I would be able to go back and review them all individually.

Firstly, this is a series that I had known about for a while, but wasn't really too sure what the books were about. Going from the titles it's obvious that they are about vampires, but apart from that I hadn't really looked into them too much. One day in December, bored I decided to give the first book a go and see how I liked it.

All eight books are very short, not as short as a novella. But they are short, I'm pretty sure I averaged about 2 of these books a day while I was reading them. Although they are short they are enjoyable.
I would say they are aimed at a much younger audience than typical YA books. The writing in them is simple and straightforward making them that much easier to glide through one book to the next in the series, to me they all seemed to tie together which makes writing individual reviews on them too hard.

The main character Raven is likeable and funny. Although she does come across very young and immature for her age. I am used to reading YA novels where the female main character is usually much wiser and mature for her age. This is another reason why I feel these books are marketed to the tween market.

The plot itself is captivating and is full of twists and turns. There are quite a few laugh out loud moments as well which keeps the tone of the book rather light hearted. I did enjoy the different aspects of all the books, and the introducing of the new vampires to the town. I really liked the idea of the covenant ceremony to bond vampires for life, that was something I haven't really seen much of in other vampire books.

There isn't really anything negative to say about these books at all, they are fun, light and easy to read. I'm glad I read them all back to back as I don't think I would go back to them if I had only read one or two, they don't really have that captivating element some YA series's do, although they are enjoyable.

To me they were a nice break from some my heaver and thicker books that I need to get through, which was just what I needed at the time I read them. I am looking forward to the release of book 9 in the series, which I think is the last one.

Review: Clockwork Prince (The Infernal Devices #2) - Cassandra Clare

Clockwork Prince (The Infernal Devices, #2)

5/5 Stars

This is the second book in The Infernal Devices series, a prequel series to Cassandra's Mortal Instruments.
I started reading this one literally as soon I finished the last page in Clockwork Angel, I am so glad that I read them back to back, as I don't think I could have bared to wait any longer for answers.
Now I am stuck in the same predicament, having finished Clockwork Prince I don't want to wait ages to get my hands on Clockwork Princess!

Clockwork Prince picks up right where we left Tessa and the gang in Clockwork Angel, if the London institute do not bring Mortmain down and soon, Charlotte could loose the institute to the Lightwood family.

Tessa is a much better character in this book, the reader gets to see her true nature and personality as well as her quick thinking and great wit in this book. She isn't portrayed as the damsel in distress any more, as she was in Clockwork Angel. I really liked that change as I hate weak female leads in books, I think it sends out completely wrong messages to teens reading the books.

We also get to see a different side to both Will and Jem in this book, I think the biggest change would have to be in Will. After discovering the truth about his past I felt like I just wanted to grab him out of the book, give him a big hug and tell him everything will be alright!

I enjoyed the plot line in this book much more than I did with Clockwork Angel, maybe thats because I feel like I know more about the characters now. Perhaps it was because I loved all the angst and the love triangle going on in this book. I also loved the fact that we get to see more of Magnus Bane in this book. He is by far one of my favourite characters in The Mortal Instruments, it was brilliant to see him popping up again.

For those not sure about which order to read these books in, I would say read at least the first three Mortal Instruments books before even starting on the Infernal Devices books. There is a lot of specific language and words used in both of these series' which you will only really understand from the Mortal Instruments. You will understand the whole concept of Shadowhunters and Downworlders much better if you read Mortal Instruments first.

I still prefer The Mortal Instruments, but The Infernal Devices and it's characters are growing on me. I'll wait to make judgement until I've read Clockwork Princess.

On another note, there is a little Easter Egg that I've been told about, In City of Bones, apparently there is a scene where Magnus is talking to Tessa and she is wearing a white dress. I haven't gone back to look, I take my source's word for it lol. But then does white not mean funeral and death in Shadowhunter world? So someone must die in Clockwork Princess and Tessa is still grieving for then in modern day New York? Possibly, it's only a theory, but have a look for yourself in City of Bones.


Review: Clockwork Angel (The Infernal Devices #1) - Cassandra Clare

Clockwork Angel (The Infernal Devices, #1)

5/5 Stars

I have had this book sitting on my shelf for almost a full year, and for some reason I just hadn't read it yet.
I have no idea why as I love The Mortal Instruments series!! After buying Clockwork Prince, I decided it was time to finally start reading the series!

The story is set in Victorian England and follows sixteen year old Tessa Gray as she makes her voyage to London from America to meet up with her brother. Little does she know that it is all a set up and she is soon kidnapped by the Dark Sisters and shown that she has a very rare power, she can change herself into the glamour of another person.

After escaping the Dark Sisters, Tessa befriends the London Shadowhunter community, who pledge help her track down her brother and try to find out some truths about Tessa's past in order to discover more about her unique power.

I did really enjoy this book, I don't think it was a great as The Mortal Instruments series. To be fair though there has been 4 of those books and I've grown to love the characters and this is only the first book in the new series, so I guess only time will tell.

At first I wasn't too sure about the setting for the book, Victorian England seems to be overused somewhat in YA fiction these days. Cassandra does manage to keep it fresh and exciting though and the descriptive language used throughout the book places the reader right into the heart of the story.

I did like these new characters, I think out of them all Tessa is my favourite. She is very different to Clary in The Mortal Instruments, and at the same time they have some very similar qualities. I'm glad that Cassandra didn't just write another Mortal Instruments but set in London, as that was what I originally assumed this book to be like.

The plot is exciting, fast paced and keeps the reader on their toes. There are a few twists and turns along the way which are well placed and well thought out. I didn't see most of them coming at all.

Overall, I still prefer The Mortal Instruments series but this is defiantly not one to be missed either!

Saturday, January 7, 2012

Review: Shadow Heir (Dark Swan #4) - Richelle Mead

Shadow Heir

5/5 Stars

This is the final book in the Dark Swan series, as most of you will already know Richelle Mead is probably one of my all time favourite authors and I cannot gush about her writing enough!!

After the last book Iron Crowned and I had absolutely no clue where Richelle was going to take the ending of this series, there was so many different directions she could have gone.
I'm not going to do a summary of the book, as I don't think I could without giving away any spoilers to those who haven't caught up with the series yet.

Lets just say I loved where she ended up taking this book.
As usual the plot was full of unexpected twists which I did not see coming at all. There was one massive plot twist which actually brought tears of joy to my eyes, those who have already read the book can probably guess as to what I'm referring to.

Readers are definitely kept on their toes when reading Shadow Heir, each chapter brings something new to Eugenie's story, whether it be heartache or joy, more mystery or frustration.
With regards to the twins, you can tell that Richelle poured so much of her own heart and feelings towards her newborn son into that storyline, it was very touching.

Towards of the end of the book however I was starting to panic, I honestly didn't have a clue how the story was going to end and just how she was going to wrap up all the different plots. Richelle does manage to wrap everything up, although the ending doesn't feel like the end of the series. Unlike her Georgina Kincaid series you are left wanting more, to me it didn't feel like a definitive end to the series. She has left it almost open, this might be wishful thinking on my end, but I do hope that in the future Richelle does go back and write some more about this series, or perhaps a spin-off about the children as I would like a bit more closure on the series.

Apart from that one small little thing Shadow Heir is a brilliant book, just like all of her books.
If you haven't read this series yet I would highly recommend it!

Friday, January 6, 2012

The Vampire Hunter's Daughter (Books 1-3) - Jennifer Malone Wright

The Vampire Hunter's Daughter (The Vampire Hunter's Daughter #1)The Vampire Hunter's Daughter: Part IIThe Vampire Hunter's Daughter: Part III

I decided to do a review on all three of these books, as they are only small novellas and I read them one after another in one sitting.

I first heard about this series from a few of my friends on Goodreads and decided to check them out on Amazon, seeing how cheap they were I went ahead and bought them.

I got sucked into the story right away, and like I said I read them all back to back! All three books are captivating and well written. The main character Chloe does seem very mature for her age, I did have to keep reminding myself that she is only 14, and not 16 or 17 as the main characters in most YA usually are.

The story line follow Chloe as she witnesses her mother's murder before her very eyes, by vampires. Not just any vampires of course, ones sent to kidnap Chloe and take her back to her father. Having no clue about her father, Chloe soon comes to realise that he is a vampire and suddenly all the moving about she has had to do over the years makes sense, her mother has been trying to protect her.

Safe from the vampire in her newly acquainted grandfather's house, Chloe begins to learn that her mother was a vampire hunter, and a pretty darn good one at that. Which also makes Chloe very unique, she is the offspring of a vampire and a vampire hunter, what on earth could that mean for her future?

I really enjoyed these books, they are well written, easy to follow and the story is unbelievably easy to get caught up in. So caught up in fact I didn't ever hear my phone ringing 3 separate times while I was reading these!
Chloe is a great main character, she is lovable and easy to relate to. She is the kind of main character I love in  YA books, young but mature for her age, courageous but also a little insecure at times. All of these qualities make her seem more real to the reader.

The plot line is something fresh in the YA Paranormal market, vampire books are usually mostly always have the same concepts but these books are something different and unusual.
I especially liked the twist about Chloe's heritage and cannot wait to find out what happens in book 4!

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Review: Wildcat Fireflies (Fenestra #2) - Amber Kizer

Wildcat Fireflies (Fenestra, #2)

4/5 Stars

I loved Meridian so much when I listened to it on audio that I had to pick up Widlcat Fireflies almost right away.
I listened to this one on audio as I did with Meridian.

The story picks up right where we left off at the end of Meridian, in search of other Fenestra's that the Nocti could be after. Finally Meridian and Tens run into Juliet, an orphan who lives in a dreadful Children's Home and spends her days cooking, cleaning and looking after the younger children. Juliet has no idea she is a Fenestra nor does she know anything about her past before she came to the home.

The race is on for Meridian and Tens to get Juliet to trust them before the Nocti find her and claim her as one of their own.

I love love loved this book, I honestly could not tear myself away from my Ipod! To me this book did seem a lot longer than the first one, which I'm really happy about. There was much more to the story in this one and much more action going on.

The book is also told from both Meridian and Juliet's point of view. I liked the switching between the two girls, it showed how alike they both are but at the same time just how different they are as well.

Wildcat Fireflies delves a bit more into the history of Fenestras and Nocti, which was great to learn about. There was also a lot of new characters introduced on both sides. A few I loved from the moment I met them, and a few others kept me guessing right till the very end of the book.

The ending was spectacular, and I honestly don't think Amber Kizer could have wrote it any other way, I am looking forward to finding out more about this group in the future now!

Monday, January 2, 2012

Review: Unholy Ghosts (Downside Ghosts #1) - Stacia Kane

Unholy Ghosts (Downside Ghosts, #1)

3/5 Stars

Unholy Ghosts was a book I saw everyone had read or had on their to be read lists, so I picked it up and decided to give it a go.

The story follows Chess a witch/ghost hunter who owes a lot of money to a drug lord. He offers Chess a deal to clear her debts by getting rid of ghosts who are hauled up in an old, abandoned airport. The deal seems pretty straight forward and simple enough at first, that is until Chess realises there is dark magic behind the ghosts at the airport.

It took me forever to get into this book, the language and writing style used throughout is just so odd to me. The dialogue between the characters is strange, they have their own little way of talking which takes some getting used to. At first I had to keep going back and re-reading everything because I just couldn't pick it up at all.

After a while,  I finally got the hang of it all, but that was over half way through the book. The background story isn't really explained too well, the reader has to pick up bits and pieces as the story unfolds which I didn't really like either.

Chess however, is a really strong female lead. I did like reading about her and seeing things from her point of view, and there was a few moments where she did actually manage to make me laugh out loud. It was only towards the end of the book that I actually got gripped into her story though.

I found the plot a bit too dragged out, some parts could have easily been cut out in order to make the book flow better.

I don't think I will be continuing on with this series. I liked the book, but not enough to keep reading on.

Sunday, January 1, 2012

Review: Blood Oath (Mystic Wolves #3) - Belinda Boring

Blood Oath (Mystic Wolves, #3)

3/5 Stars

I really loved the first two book in this series, but for some reason this book just didn't appeal to me as much as the others.

I did enjoy reading it, and in no way has it but me off the rest of the series. There just seems to be something that I can't quite put my finger on that was different about this book.

Mason and Darcy are both really starting to grow on me now, I like them both as main characters and cannot wait to see what the future holds for the couple.
The ups and downs that they have to go through just to stay together does keep me gripped to the pages.

This is another series that I will be carrying on with as well.

Review: Vengeance (Transcend Time #2) - Michelle Madow

Vengeance (Transcend Time, #1.5)

4/5 Stars

Firstly I want to say a massive Thank You to Michelle Madow for sending me a signed copy of Vengeance!

Vengeance is a short novella which bridges the gap between Remembrance and the final book in the Transcend Time saga.

This time around the story is told from Chelsea's point of view, who has just had her heart broken by Drew who dumped her for supposed best friend Lizzie. What Chelsea doesn't know however is that Lizzie and Drew have a long history together, we're talking centuries here!

When Chelsea's friend Shannon takes her to visit her aunt's shop she discovers that Shannon's aunt is a fortune teller, and she proclaimed of Drew leaving Chelsea before it even happened. After talking to her for a while, Chelsea leaves armed with a spell to get Drew back and memories of a past life with Drew as well.

I really loved this short novella, it showed a different side to the story and it was a nice change to not be put in front of Lizzie and Drew all the time. I was super excited to realise that Chelsea also had a past history with Drew, that was not something I saw coming at all!

It also made me see Chelsea in a different light, in Remembrance she is portrayed as a bit of a bitch, from from this book you can understand why. This was a great little teaser book and I cannot wait for the last book in the series now!

Review: Beautifully Broken (Spellbound #1) - Sherry Soule

Beautifully Broken (Spellbound #1)

3/5 Stars

Beautifully Broken is one of those books that drew me in because of the cover. I'd been oohing and ahhing over it for a while on Amazon, and finally just decided to go ahead and buy it.

The story follows sixteen year old Shiloh Ravenwolf, who when we first meet her is trying to fight off a ghost in her bedroom. As the story goes on we discover that Shiloh is a heritage witch, meaning magic runs in her veins.

As well as trying to life what passes as a normal teenage life, Shiloh is constantly seeing ghosts and demons everywhere she goes. With a recent rash of teenage disappearances in the small town, Shiloh puts two and two together and realises that this new ghost must be responsible and decides to investigate.

And to top it all off Shiloh is dating the new hottie Trent who has just moved to town, whose mysterious uncle spots something about Shiloh and takes her under his wing as a paranormal apprentice.

Overall I did really enjoy this book. There was a few small grammatical and spelling errors here and there in the book which did annoy me at the time. Beautifully Broken is a self published book, and I've come t expect small things like that from them now and again.
The character of Shiloh to me was a bit strange, at times I likes her and other I didn't. I though she was just whiny sixteen year old. I don't think the writing of Shiloh was constiant enough to make a reader fall into her worls.

I did however really like the setting of the book and the tone in which it was conveyed. Trent was a great character in the book and I especially liked the tension between Shiloh and her family, which seems like any real teenager's life.

This is a series which I will be continuing on with in the future.

Review: The Haunting of Charity Delafield - Ian Beck


The Haunting of Charity Delafield

3/5 Stars

I was very kindly given this book to read as part of a blog tour a while ago. It took me a while to get around to reading the book, and to be honest I knew it was aimed to more younger readers so I wasn't expecting much from it. Though I was pleasantly surprised when I finished it.

The book follows Charity, who has spent all of her young life locked away at home. She has never been outside of the gates in her garden and has never known her mother. Curiosity soon gets the better of her though and she goes exploring in her huge home and starts to uncover some strange objects that may be linked to her mother.

Charity has also been told that she suffers from a strange illness, and never to over exert herself. Although she has never been told the exact nature of her supposed illness. 

After befriending a local chimney sweep boy who comes to the house one day, Charity is determined to get outside and see what the world has to offer. She also wants to discover the truth about herself and her strange illness that her father refuses to talk about.

The writing in the book is simple and easy to get through, like I said it is aimed at a younger audience than what I usually read. To me that fact made the book seem quicker to get through and completely immersed me into Charity's world. I did like the fairy element to the book, that is something I never really saw coming.

Overall it was a light and quick read and I did enjoy it.
 
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