Review: Blade Song by J.C. Daniels

Book: Blade Song by J.C. Daniels
Genre: Urban Fantasy

Buy A Copy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Available Formats: Ebook

Publication Date: August 1st, 2012

Where Did I Get This Book: For Review, From Netgalley
First Sentence: "My sword arm is mighty. I will not falter. I will not fail. My aim is true. My heart is strong."
Description: Kit Colbana—half breed, assassin, thief, jack of all trades—has a new job: track down the missing ward of one of the local alpha shapeshifters. It should be a piece of cake.

So why is she so nervous? It probably has something to do with the insanity that happens when you deal with shifters—especially sexy ones who come bearing promises of easy jobs and easier money.

Or maybe it’s all the other missing kids that Kit discovers while working the case, or the way her gut keeps screaming she’s gotten in over her head. Or maybe it’s because if she fails—she’s dead.

If she can stay just one step ahead, she should be okay. Maybe she’ll even live long to collect her fee…

So, Blade Song. I honestly don't even know where to begin. I have so many thoughts flying around in my head that I am struggling with putting it into words. But for you, I will do my best. First of all let me say, that  I literally could not put this down. I declined an invitation to go to my favorite Chinese restaurant to finish Blade Song. If that doesn't tell you how awesome it was, then I don't know what will.

It has a lot of elements that Urban Fantasy readers are familiar with; werewolves, witches, vampires and a strong heroine who welds a sword. Sure, it's been done before. I'll bet you can name 10 books right now that contain these elements. But for some reason, this did not bother me. Guys, Blade Song was just that good.

Let's begin with Kit. Kit is our resident badass. She is half-aneira, which is an ancient race of assassins. Kit has had a extremely difficult life and it has made her into beautifully flawed character... which makes her easy to rally behind. You care about her and want to see her succeed. She's a determined little thing that simply refuses to fail. I love that quality in a heroine. But what I really love about our dearest Kit is that she is smart. She is well aware of her shortcomings and thinks before she acts. She knows that she isn't as strong as some of the creatures she goes up against and she keeps her head.

With that being said, I felt like Kit's personality faltered at times; she would sort of go in and out of character. The main occurrence that stood out in my mind is when she was considering a future with Damon. Daniels built Kit up as this woman who needed to be independent. She had been badly damaged in the past and she drew strength from being on her own. That's why it really surprised me when she was fully willing to dive headfirst into a commitment. It just did not seem to fit with her character. I'm not saying that I did not want her to, it just felt off to me.

Speaking of Damon, lord have mercy, do I ever have a fangirl crush on this werecat. I'll be honest, when he was first introduced, I was not a fan. He comes of as, well let's face it, an asshole. He's pushy, demanding and even gets a bit physical with Kit. However, as his story unfolds and things progress, his character does a complete 180. You begin to understand Damon and he becomes much more appealing. 

But, there was one thing that really rubbed me the wrong way. It may seem silly and I certainly didn't hold it against his character, but his pet name for Kit irritated me immensely. Every time called Kit "baby girl" I felt like rolling my eyes. Why on earth did he call her that? Nothing about her is babyish. "Kitten" I get - he's a cat shifter, her name is Kit... I can roll with that. But baby girl? No.

Okay, moving on. The story centers around the job that the werecats have hired Kit to do - find the Alpha's missing nephew. I do not want to divulge too much information regarding the mystery, but I will let you this - it was AWESOME. It's a story full of adventure, magic, mystery and of course.. violence. What is an Urban Fantasy without a little ass-kicking, right? The pacing is perfect - it's not rushed, but it doesn't drag either. All things considered, I adored Blade Song. It's dark, gritty and all out exciting. I has a few minor hiccups with the story, but nothing serious. I will be eagerly anticipating a sequel!

It was a seductive thing, full of promise. Full of warmth and wonder and lies.

I'll be damned if I act like a mouse, you overgrown tomcat.

"I'm part of the package, kitten. Your bodyguard, babysitter and tattle-tale, all rolled into one." Flashing his teeth at me, he added, "Aren't you pleased?"

In the back of my mind, some part of me thought: Pretty... And I immediately wanted to punch myself.

Keeping my voice level, I shook my  head. Mustn't enrage the antisocial monster standing five feet away.

But of course, instead of saying something honest like Yes, bitch, it hurts, Damon just shrugged.

I wasn't human enough to die easily.

I didn't move for probably ten more minutes. I wasn't sure if I could. If I moved, I just might shatter.

"Child, you suffer from an excess of great stupidity or great bravery. I'm not sure which."

"I just sliced and diced a Burmese python while you were busy growling at the universe, fuzz bucket."

 

Review: Unleashed by Nancy Holder & Debbie Viguie

Book: Unleashed (Wolf Springs Chronicles #1) by Nancy Holder & Debbie Viguie
Genre: Young Adult / Urban Fantasy 

Buy A Copy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository   

Available Formats: Ebook | Hardcover | Paperback
Publication Date: November 22nd, 2011 by Delacorte Books for Young Readers

Version Reviewed: Ebook
How Did I Get This Book: From Library
First Sentence: "I can fly. Katelyn Claire McBride was the girl on the flying trapeze."
Description: Katelyn McBride’s life changed in an instant when her mother died. Uprooted from her California home, Katelyn was shipped to the middle of nowhere, Arkansas, to her only living relative, her grandfather. And now she has to start over in Wolf Springs, a tiny village in the Ozark Mountains. Like any small town, Wolf Springs has secrets. But the secrets hidden here are more sinister than Katelyn could ever imagine. It’s a town with a history that reaches back centuries, spans continents, and conceals terrifying truths. And Katelyn McBride is about to change everything.

Broken families, ageless grudges, forced alliances, and love that blooms in the darkest night—welcome to Wolf Springs.

Unleashed, for me, held a great deal of potential. I'm a sucker for this genre, I loved the idea of the book and the opening chapter or so. However, as I continued reading, my opinion of the book changed.

The main character, Katelyn doesn't really bring much to the table personality wise. The only thing that sets her apart from other characters we've seen before is her love for dance and gymnastics. Yet, that is never really demonstrated within the book. Sure, she talks about dance occasionally - but she never does anything. I thought that her passion for being an athlete could have folded into the storyline, but it never really way. Instead we are stuck with a version of Katelyn who is almost a shell of a character. This made her difficult to connect to and I couldn't seem to create an attachment to her. On top of that, she made terrible decision after terrible decision. Plus, I could not get behind Katelyn's narration. I'm not going to do into too many details about it, but she literally drove me crazy. She just came across an incredibly naive and immature.

The rest of the characters aren't much to write home about either. Cordelia, Katelyn's new BFF comes off as unreliable and flaky. She claims to care about Katelyn, yet spends the majority of the book dodging her questions, being fake and putting Katelyn in impossible positions.

Then there is Trick - one of Katelyn's love interests. Now here is the thing. I believe that I could like Trick. But unfortunately, we don't get to know him at all. He has some crazy mood-swings, but that's never address. I have some ideas about why, but the authors never touch on it. So, he may just be a complete jerk. Then there is Justin, the second love interest. That's right - it's love triangle again. Can we please stop with the young adult/urban fantasy love triangles? The relationship between Katelyn and Justin literally comes out of nowhere. There is absolutely no build up and it really bothers me. I'm sure there is a reason for it, but it still irritated me.

Overall, the characterization throughout the book is seriously lacking. None of the characters (including the lead) are well-rounded or even fleshed out. It makes it incredibly difficult to get through the book when you are unable to connect to any of the characters.

Long story short, in today's market a young adult story about werewolves really needs to bring something new to the table in order to be successful. Unfortunately, that was not the case with Unleashed. I don't think I'll be continuing this series, but you're welcome to give it a try. From looking at other reviews, it seems people either loved it or hated it. If you really have a thing for this type of storyline, you may enjoy it.

 Favorite Quotes

The front door was open, but the porch light was off, and someone tall was standing on the poor, silhouetted by the moonlight.

"He's like the pied piper of lunatics."

"Don't worry about it, honey. There's nothin' dumber on the face of this earth than a teenage boy. They do grow out of it, eventually. The ones who live long enough."

Review: The Hunt by C.J. Ellisson

Today I have another great book tour for you guys! I am  happy to be a part of the tour for The Hunt by C.J. Ellisson, which is the second book in her V V Inn series. This tour was put together and is hosted by Bewitching Book Tours. 

Book: The Hunt by C.J. Ellisson
Series: The V V Inn #2
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Buy A Copy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Available Formats: Ebook / Paperback
Publication Date: June 30th, 2011
How Did I Get This Book: Blog Tour // Bewitching Book Tours
First Sentence: ""
Description: Vivian thinks she can control every aspect of a deadly game with her usual manipulations… but what if she can’t? Journey along, in this next installment of The V V Inn series, for a wild ride as the tale is told through the eyes of all her new seethe members.

Seven vampires and seven werewolves pay to hunt a supernatural criminal across the cold, vast grounds of an Alaskan resort. The one to catch her, and live through the encounter, will increase their power by feasting on hers.

The tiny vampire they track is more than she appears, however. To escape a fate of ten years in silver chains, she'll do anything to survive the weeklong excursion. This time, the darkness holds more than just the stinging bite of the Arctic—it holds death.

The Hunt picks up a few months after Vampire Vacation left off. Although we are dealing with the same cast of core characters, Ellisson implements a few changes this time around.  The main change being including a handful of new narrators.I have to say, I was a bit put off by the constant change in POV – it seems like the narration changes every few pages.  I found that incredibly strange, considering the first book was told primarily from Dria’s point of view. It’s not that I did not like the characters; the majority of them were enjoyable, it’s just that it pulls from the focus of the storyline.  I will say that Ellisson has set herself up nicely if she wants to do any spin-off books in the future. I would definitely read a book focused on my favorite new pairing for the Hunt, Drew and Chelly.

The Hunt is definitely more story based than Vampire Vacation, which I personally enjoyed. There are still some steamy scenes, but Ellisson puts a lot more stock in character development and storylines this time around.

The overall storyline moves along at a fast pace, even though it isn’t always focused. I hope that in the next book the author will narrow down the POV’s, so that things will flow together better. That would also allow the readers to get a better grip on the characters. Like I said before, I really loved the storyline between Chelly and Drew, but unfortunately their scenes together were rather limited.

That being said, I did enjoy The Hunt. It was a quick read that kept me entertained. If you are looking for a light paranormal romance/mystery to get lost in for a few hours, I’d give this a try.  

Favorite Quotes

"Dria? Darling eyes are up here, love."

Wonder what has Vivian's panties up her butt?

Man, she talks too much. When will she be naked? Maybe I can help.

Right when I get used to women voting they start burning bras... although the sixties were so much bloody fun I can't complain.

Review: River Marked by Patricia Briggs

Book: River Marked by Patricia Briggs
Series: Mercecdes Thompson #6
Pages:  326

Genre: Urban Fantasy
Buy A Copy: Amazon | Book Depository
Available Formats: Hardcover / Ebook / Audiobook 
Publication Date: March 1st, 2011
How Did I Get This Book: Purchased
First Sentence: "Under the glare of streetlights, I could see that the grass of Stefan's front lawn was dried to yellow by the high summer heat."
Preview Book: Preview with Google Books
Description: Car mechanic Mercy Thompson has always known there was something different about her, and not just the way she can make a VW engine sit up and beg. Mercy is a shapeshifter, a talent she inherited from her long-gone father. She's never known any others of her kind. Until now. An evil is stirring in the depths of the Columbia River-one that her father's people may know something about. And to have any hope of surviving, Mercy and her mate, the Alpha werewolf Adam, will need their help...

I am a huge Mercy Thompson fan and I truly wanted to love River Marked. The idea of a book that includes Mercy and Adam getting hitched sounded great. Unfortunately, their nuptials came at the cost of all of my other favorite characters. The majority of the tried and true cast is absent from the sixth Mercy installment. Stefan, Warren and Samuel make extremely brief cameos, but all three are missing for most of the book.

For me, the magic of the Mercy stories has always been in the characters. Sure the action is fun, but the characters are what make these books great. I honestly love every single one of them - which hardly ever happens in books. Don't get me wrong, I am all for adding new characters into the mix (which is what Briggs tries to do here), but not at the expense of my old favorites. Maybe it's just me, but a book without an adequate dose of Samuel, Stefan, Warren, Kyle, Darryl, Honey, Zee, Uncle Mike, Gabriel and even Ben - just seems wrong. That in a  nutshell, is why River Marked didn't really work for me.


The good news is that Briggs is still an amazing writer. She always does such a beautiful job with her books, I feel it is almost impossible not the enjoy them. Which, I did - I enjoyed River Marked. It is just that it wasn't on par with its predecessors. In all honestly, it did not feel like a Mercy Thompson book. By removing the two central characters from their normal settings, surrounding and secondary characters, the story missed out on what makes the earlier books work. River Marked was entertaining and well written, it just did not have the heart that we have come to expect from a Mercy book.

Favorite Quotes

"Nothing says your sorry like a dead bunny."

"I wiggled my hips into a more comfortable position and tried to think like Adam - a very smart person poisoned by testosterone."

"It made me itch this perspective streak of his. But one of the things the last few months had taught me was that it ran both ways. Anyone who tried to hurt my wolf had me to deal with. I might be a thirty-five-pound coyote, but I played dirty."

"Mine. He was mine, and not even death would take him from me - not if I could help it."

"As soon as I got oxygen in my lungs, I screamed Adam's name with a volume that would have done credit to a B-movie actress in a horror film."

"I was the wife of the Alpha of the Columbia Basin Pack - knife fighting was not an acceptable activity."

Review: How to Flirt With a Naked Werewolf

 

Book: How to Flirt With a Naked Werewolf by Molly Harper
Stand Alone or Series: Naked Werewolf #1
Pages:  371

Genre:  Paranormal Romance

Buy A Copy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble 

Available Formats: Ebook & Paperback 
Publication Date: February 22nd, 2011

How Did I Get This Book: Purchased

First Line: “When a naked man shows up on your doorstep with a bear trap clamped around his ankle, it's best just to do what he asks."

Preview Book: Google Preview

Description: Even in Grundy, Alaska, it’s unusual to find a naked guy with a bear trap clamped to his ankle on your porch. But when said guy turns into a wolf, recent southern transplant Mo Wenstein has no difficulty identifying the problem. Her surly neighbor Cooper Graham—who has been openly critical of Mo’s ability to adapt to life in Alaska—has trouble of his own. Werewolf trouble. For Cooper, an Alpha in self-imposed exile from his dysfunctional pack, it’s love at first sniff when it comes to Mo. But Cooper has an even more pressing concern on his mind. Several people around Grundy have been the victims of wolf attacks, and since Cooper has no memory of what he gets up to while in werewolf form, he’s worried that he might be the violent canine in question.
If a wolf cries wolf, it makes sense to listen, yet Mo is convinced that Cooper is not the culprit. Except if he’s not responsible, then who is? And when a werewolf falls head over haunches in love with you, what are you supposed to do anyway? The rules of dating just got a whole lot more complicated. . . .

How To Flirt With A Naked Werewolf by Molly Harper is a pleasant read that was both amusing and enjoyable. It features a charming and comical heroine, Mo, who's personality is a huge mix of sweet n' spicy. There is definitely a bark to her bite, but she also has an incredibly loving side - she is quick to help others and often shows that famous southern hospitality and charm. What I enjoyed most about this character was her no-nonsense attitude; she certainly does not believe in beating around the bush. Mo also has a number of endearing quirks, including growing up in a crazy hippie family (just wait until you see her full name!) and nursing a secret obsession with pretty panties.

The main eye candy in this delightful romp, is the brooding and undeniably sexy town werewolf, Cooper. He is a direct contrast to the charismatic and endearing Mo - which basically means they are a perfect fit. And man, do these two sizzle! Yes, they have a plethora of chemistry, but I was particularity fond of their bantering and bickering. Like I said before, Mo is a no-nonsense kind of gal and she often calls Mr. Personality out on his less than pleasant behavior.

The lovable, if what somewhat wacky cast of secondary characters contribute to the light tone. My particular favorite was Buzz, the restaurant co-owner/original cook/part time law enforcement/basically any other occupation that needs to be done.  while I enjoyed all of the background characters, they do come off as rather flat, stereotypical and one-dimensional.

Fun read with a  delightfully lighthearted and pleasant tone. Even during the depressing plot points, the story never drags you down. Through Mo’s internal commentary, Harper keeps the story firmly on the light and amusing track by embedding snarky, sassy and straight up hilarious comments throughout the story.

The ending was too cutesy for my liking, it definitely had the happily ever after vibe. I enjoy happy ending as much as the next person, but this one was a bit much for me. Everything is wrapped in a nice little pink bow – I like something to be less than perfect.  Does that make sense? Or am I just blabbing?

I would classify this as chick-lit with a side of paranormal romance. Obliviously, it is centered around a werewolf romance, but the tone is much closer to chick-lit. It's the perfect book to kickback with when you just want something fun. It certainly isn't deep, life changing or particularly epic - but it's cute, sassy, comical and downright fun. Sometimes that's all you need.

Favorite Quotes

"Every act of rebellion, whether it was wearing leather shoes or voting conservative in a mock election, made me feel more normal."

"He seemed to choke on the words, as if it literally hurt him to have to interact with another human being. How did this man make his living leading people around in the wilderness? Didn't they expect some civility for their guide fees? Or had he convinced them that Yukon Yankee rudeness was all part of the experience?"

"I would have to talk to Evie about the difference between me making idle conversation and dropping hints to match me up with some burly social misfit willing to move heavy objects."

"Don't take it personally. Some people were just born with a pine-cone shoved up their butts. In Cooper's case, it's lodged sideways."

"If I was smart, I would tell him to stop bleeding on my porch and hike his injured, unclothed butt into town."

"I figured I wouldn't have another opportunity to baby-sit a werewolf, so I should make the most of it."

"He looked so upset - scared and upset and pretty pissed off to see me crouching over wolf footprints as if I was some cross between Nancy Drew and Steve freaking Irwin."

"It took too much energy to keep thinking up all those clever insults."

"It was not healthy for one man's smile to make my panties spontaneously combust."

"You're my constant. You don't fade away."

"Your heart was in the right place, even if you head was up your ass."

Review: Blood of the Maple by Dana Marie Bell

Book: Blood of the Maple by Dana Marie Bell
Series:  Maggie's Grove Book #1
Pages:  218

Genre:  Paranormal Romance

Buy A Copy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Available Formats: Ebook 
Publication Date: April 11th, 2011

Publisher: Carina Press

How Did I Get This Book: For Review From Netgalley

First Line: “You know, my friend told me you were a witch, but I didn't know he meant it literally."

Preview Book: On Google Books

Description: A seduction-gone-wrong leaves vampire Parker Hollis with a new vegetarian lifestyle and on the run from a vengeful witch. Moving to small-town Maggie's Grove, Parker meets a redheaded dryad with green, leafy blood that draws him in a way he hasn't experienced in decades. His new neighbor smells divine, and it isn't long before craving gives in to need.
In a unique community of supernaturals, tree-loving outcast Amara Schwedler has never quite fit in. She's scarred by a traumatic incident and feared by the local townsfolk. She's convinced Parker will look elsewhere for a mate once he discovers she's not one of the O-positive set, and can't believe it when Parker finds her irresistible.

When the witch who's been plaguing Parker's life discovers the newfound attraction between Parker and Amara, she takes out her anger on the town. Can the supernaturals of Maggie's Grove accept Amara and band together in time to withstand the assaults of the enraged witch?

Blood of the Maple by Dana Marie Bell is a rather unique paranormal romance. I don't believe I have ever read a book centered around a dryad character before. The closest supernatural character that I can relate it to, would be a tree nymph. I have to give Bell kudos for creativity, especially with the two main characters. Not only is Amara unique, but Bell manages to creative an unconventional vampire with Parker.

Parker Hollis is a vegetarian vampire; in the true sense of the word. He does not feed off of animal blood, he lives off of the “blood” of plants. This is initially what attracts him to Amara – her blood is literally plant blood.

The book was a fun, quick read that had some interesting plot points. That being said, I did have a few problems with the execution. I thought the idea of the book was top –notch, but the characters really weren’t fleshed out enough for my tastes. This made it difficult to care about the storyline, even though it was entertaining.

The pacing of the relationship between Amara and Parker practically moved at warp-speed. They skipping right over the entire courting process – they dive right into the "madly-in-love" stage. I like my paranormal romances to have a little build-up, instead of the characters tumbling straight into bed. I know it's ultimately a romance book, but there are other ways of showing romance than sex. I am certainly not a prude, I don't mind sex in books, but I would have liked to see the two characters form a personal connection as well as a physical one.

I thought that the idea of a supernatural community was quite interesting, but again, I did have an issue with it. It really bothered me how the community refused to accept Amara. I mean, come on, are you really telling me a town full of vampires, witches, ghosts, dryads and werewolves are going to point the “freak” finger? That doesn't fly well with me.

All in all, Blood of the Maple had a lot of things going for it, but it wasn't executed as well as it could have been. This book is incredibly unique and the storyline is interesting, but it did not live up to my expectations. That being said, it was enjoyable and I will read the rest of the series, it just isn't one of my favorites.

Favorite Quotes:

"He might be a vampire, hunter of the night and all-around badass, but a woman scorned was fucking scary."

"She fell into his lap, curling around him like a vine. His lap was full of jiggling, naked dryad. If it hadn't been for the agony radiating from his arm, he would have been one hell of a happy vampire."

"What the hell was wrong with these people? He hadn't met such hostility since he'd walked into a speakeasy nearly a century ago and flashed a fake badge."

"Next time I have a deathbed vision, ignore me. We'd get a warmer reception at the Vatican."

Review: Moon Spell by Samantha Young

Book:  Moon Spell by Samantha Young

Stand-Alone or Series: Series, The Tale of Lunarmorte #1
Pages: 222

Genre: Young Adult / Fantasy
Purchase A Copy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Smashwords
Publication Date: March 1st, 2011

Description:  Existing in the shadows of our world are supernatural races; children blessed by the ancient Greek gods with unimaginable gifts, and at present they are fighting a two thousand year old war with one another.

The Midnight Coven, an alliance of dark magiks, faeries, and daemons born of black magik, believe that vampyres and lykans are lesser supernaturals and a threat to mankind.
The Daylight Coven, a confederate of light magiks, faeries, vampyres and lykans, believe in the equality of the races.

Into this war, seventeen year old Caia Ribeiro is born, a lykan with a heritage unlike any other. A heritage that, whether she wants it to or not, will put her into the ver heart of battle.

 

Moon Spell is a remarkable young adult fantasy that is propelled by lies, deceit and love. The writing style is quite unique; though it is targeted to teenagers, it reads more like an adult urban fantasy than a young adult novel. I would imagine this is due the age difference between the two main characters. Caia is a seventeen year old who has recently been reunited with her lykan pack. Lucien, who is ten years her senior is the pack alpha and her primary love interest. I will be honest, the age difference does bother me a bit. I wish Caia could atleast have been 18 - but I guess it's no different than a vampire creeping on a teenage girl. And Young does go through great pains to emphasize how different the pack is from normal humans, so it cushions the shock a bit. Anyways, I think this range of age contributes to the unusually tone of the book because it has to properly capture a teenage girl and a 27 year old man. 

Caia is a marvelous character with a huge independent streak that doesn’t bode well with the pack, who obviously, are more “group” people. She wasn’t raised with a pack and therefore has always kept to herself. The heartthrob of the book, Lucien (the pack alpha) is very thing you’ve come to expect from alphas; he is completely swoon-worthy and incredibly overprotective. He is drawn to Caia more than anyone before and at first it scares him. He doesn’t really know how to react to her. Together they are the perfect match – she is the yin to his yang. She balances him out; where he is quick to act on his emotions, she is usually calm, quiet and collected.

The rest of the pack is incredibly colorful and unique.  Some Caia counts as friends, but unfortunately there are those who are dead set against her.  They are weary of her presence – with her slight build and calm demeanor she is obviously different. Despite the tension Caia manages to make a few strong connections with a few of her teenage peers – mainly Sebastian and Jaeden.  These two characters do a great job of defusing the tension of the novel.  

The plotline chugs along at a respectable pace and there are more plot twists than I care to count. Every time I thought I had things figured out, the story took an unexpected turn.  Young also is somehow able to bring something new to the ‘werewolf’ table – she connects them to Greek Mythology.  This places a fun spin onto the traditional take of werewolves and allows for some surprises to take place. 

I am eager to dive into the sequel, River Cast to see what becomes of my new favorite lykans. If you are looking for an exciting fantasy read that will keep you on your toes, then give Moon Spell a try!

 Favorite Quotes

"She held herself far more coolly than the rest of them. She was like water to their fire."

"Lykans were an emotional lot, he was used to women crying and shouting over nothing. But the sight of Caia curled up on the bathroom floor with true pain behind her eyes had done something to his insides. He never wanted to see her like that again."

"Just as he pulled his t-shirt back on, he looked back up at her window to see her standing looking down at him. She wore  a small smile, her eyes really soft on his for the first time. She gave a slight wave, and moved away from the window into the darkness of her room. Something inside Lucien split open."

"She had never wanted to feel anything for anyone and now her heart was breaking for two lykans."

"She lay panting underneath him, her eyes wide on his as he gazed back at her with such tenderness and lust she thought she would shatter."

"She closed her eyes and slumped in her chair, refusing to look at the big oaf."

"Holy Artemis, how could she still want him after that he-man display of outrageousness?"

"Oh, please," he scoffed, "Enough with the threats you pint-sized harpy."

Review: Demonglass by Rachel Hawkins

Book:  Demonglass by Rachel Hawkins

Alone: Series, Hex Hall #2
Pages: 359

Genre: Young Adult
Purchase A Copy: Amazon | Book Depository
Publication Date: March 1st, 2011

Description: Sophie Mercer thought she was a witch.
That was the whole reason she was sent to Hex Hall, a reform school for delinquent Prodigium (aka witches, shapeshifters, and fairies). But that was before she discovered the family secret, and that her hot crush, Archer Cross, is an agent for The Eye, a group bent on wiping Prodigium off the face of the earth.

Turns out, Sophie’s a demon, one of only two in the world—the other being her father. What’s worse, she has powers that threaten the lives of everyone she loves. Which is precisely why Sophie decides she must go to London for the Removal, a dangerous procedure that will destroy her powers.

But once Sophie arrives she makes a shocking discovery. Her new friends? They’re demons too. Meaning someone is raising them in secret with creepy plans to use their powers, and probably not for good. Meanwhile, The Eye is set on hunting Sophie down, and they’re using Archer to do it. But it’s not like she has feelings for him anymore. Does she?

So, basically, Demonglass is freaking awesome. After reading Hex Hall, I was terrified that the sequel would not, could not, live up to my expectations – but thankfully, Demonglass exceeded them!

 

In Demonglass we are introduced to a new setting, but are given the same old Sophie that we all love.  Sophie, Jenna and Cal all jet off to merry England to spend the summer with Sophie’s dad. They stay at Thorne Abbey, a gigantic mansion that is serving as the current home of the council. I was skeptical at first about this change in scenery, but it really worked out for the best. By sending Sophie and the gang to a new location, Hawkins was able to keep things fresh, but still familiar. We are treated to all of our old favorite characters, but they are given new opportunities create some mischief.  

This time around we get a better feel for Cal – he becomes more of a central character. He is quickly reintroduced as a possible love interest for Sophie; which gives us more of a defined love triangle (Cal/Sophie/Archer). I usually despise love triangles, but Hawkins manages to provide two wonderful options for Sophie – I really feel like in the long run, it could go either way. Archer is an early favorite of readers, but Cal is a genuinely great guy who would be good for Sophie. That being said, I am rooting for Archer (sorry, Jenna!). I will be expecting my team Archer shirt in the mail :)

 

Once again Hawkins injects her writing with a healthy dose of humor. I honestly had about 30 quotes marked when I finished the book. The overall, light, sarcastic and exciting feel to the story keeps the story flowing beautifully. The story is jam packed with twists and turns – there are surprises around every corner.  You may think you have everything figured out, but then Hawkins throws a curve ball your way. All of these elements kept the pacing at a good pace - not one did I find myself restless, I devoured every word willingly. 

Now, obviously I am crazy in love with this book, but man, is Rachel Hawkins just plain mean. How could she end it like that? She doesn’t just leave you on a cliffhanger; she leaves you dangling off the ledge by a pinky. I might just have to start stalking her so I can find out what happens next.

 Favorite Quotes

"As I stomped across the school grounds, all I could see was Cal sitting with my dad in some manly room with leather chairs and dead animals on the wall, chomping on cigars as my dad formally signed me away to him. They probably even high-fived." (pg. 19)

"So did I. Hence my puking face." ( (pg. 57)

"I wondered if there were ever times when Dad didn't sound like he escaped from a Jane Austen novel." (pg. 65)

"We could try to go together, "I said. "I think we'd both fit, and that way, if we end up transported to another dimension or morphed into a wall, at least we'd have company." (pg. 109)

"I wasn't sure if it was an Eye or a Prodigium, or just your run-of-the-mill rapist/scumbag type, but it was definitely a guy." (pg. 130)

"I decided not to wear makeup, figuring the more innocent I looked, the harder it might be for him to ground me, or shoot hellfire from his eyes, or whatever it was that angry demon dads did." (pg. 146)

"She was my assignment (From the Eye?) No, from the Boy Scouts. That Witch Dating badge just kept eluding me." (pg.  255)

"Why had my life suddenly become a Nancy Drew mystery from hell?" (pg. 268)

"I clutched at his shoulders, raising up on my tiptoes, and kissed him with everything I had in me. As the kiss deepened, we held each other tighter, so I didn't know if the pounding heartbeat I felt was mine or his." (pg. 282)

"I wish we weren't like this. You know, demon, demon-hunter. I wish I'd met you in a normal high school, and taken you on normal dates, and like, carried your books or something." (pg. 338)

Review: Born at Midnight by C.C. Hunter

 

Book:  Born At Midnight by C.C. Hunter

Alone: Series, Shadow Falls #1
Pages:  416

Genre: Young Adult
Purchase A Copy: Amazon | Book Depository
Publication Date: March 29th, 2011

Description: Don’t miss this spectacular new series that will steal your heart and haunt your dreams,  Welcome to Shadow Falls camp, nestled deep in the woods of a town called Fallen…One night Kylie Galen finds herself at the wrong party, with the wrong people, and it changes her life forever.  Her mother ships her off to Shadow Falls—a camp for troubled teens, and within hours of arriving, it becomes painfully clear that her fellow campers aren’t just “troubled.”  Here at Shadow Falls, vampires, werewolves, shapshifters, witches and fairies train side by side—learning to harness their powers, control their magic and live in the normal world.
Kylie’s never felt normal, but surely she doesn’t belong here with a bunch of paranormal freaks either.  Or does she?  They insist Kylie is one of them, and that she was brought here for a reason.  As if life wasn’t complicated enough, enter Derek and Lucas.  Derek’s a half-fae who’s determined to be her boyfriend, and Lucas is a smokin’ hot werewolf with whom Kylie shares a secret past.  Both Derek and Lucas couldn’t be more different, but they both have a powerful hold on her heart. 
Even though Kylie feels deeply uncertain about everything, one thing is becoming painfully clear—Shadow Falls is exactly where she belongs…

Born at Midnight was an entertaining read for me, but it did not bring anything new to the table. Paranormal Young Adult Romances are absolutely everywhere and unfortunately, this one did not stand out. I enjoyed it while I was reading it, but I cannot say that it made a lasting impression on me.

I found the story overall to be a bit, shall we say, theatrical. The characters themselves are all a bit over the top and extremely dramatic. Kylie tends to wallow and whine for the majority of the book – which got under my skin. In the rare instances that she put her big girl panties on, she was a smart, snarky character. I can only hope that she will grow up a bit during the next book and learn to stop complaining all of the time.

However, I am completely in love with the secondary characters; especially Kylie’s two roommates, Miranda and Della (a witch and a vampire) and the perverted shapeshifter, Perry. All three of them have a great dynamic and I would have loved to see more of them. They liven up the story and often draw Kylie away from her poor me pity party.

Now, let’s talk love interests. Oh my, there are just so many. Are you tired of the dreaded love triangle? Yeah, me too. Unfortunately, Hunter’s solution for this is to create a love square. Here we have traditional good boy vs. the “misunderstood” bad boy, but now we’ve added exactly one apologizing ex-boyfriend into the mix. Tell me, how many suitors does one girl need? Because there are so many different options, we don’t spend a great deal of time with any of them in particular. Therefore, I did not get a good handle on them and they just end up seeming a bit stereotypical. The additional boy also doesn’t solve the problem of predictability – it is still obvious where the story is going with this one. Simply follow the angst kiddies. 

Like I said before, I did enjoy Born at Midnight while I was reading it. The story is easy to follow and the characters are certainly entertaining, but do not expect anything out of the box. Hunter sticks with the tried and true Young Adult + Paranormal Romance formula and produces a light, entertaining read. If you are looking for something to keep you occupied for a few hours that does not exactly bog your brain down, then give Born at Midnight a try.

 

Review: Camille by Tess Oliver

Book: Camille by Tess Oliver
Series or Stand-Alone: Series, #1
Pages:  187
Genre: Young Adult / Paranormal Romance / Steampunk
Purchase A Copy: Amazon | Smashwords | Barnes and Noble
Format: Ebook
Publication Date: July 8th, 2010
How I Got This Book: Purchased
Description (From Goodreads): At a time when society conforms to the strictest rules and most proper etiquette, sixteen-year-old Camille Kennecott and her guardian, Dr. Bennett, live a most unconventional life. They hunt werewolves.

When unwitting victim, Nathaniel Strider, wanders into one of their full moon pursuits, Camille and Dr. Bennett believe they have found a specimen for their study. Finding a scientific key to unlocking the mystery of lycanthropy would end their late night excursions. Yet beneath the irresistible exterior, Nathaniel is transforming into a flesh-tearing monster, and as each experiment fails, Camille’s loses another inch of her soul to him. She knows that in a month’s time she must face the prospect of destroying the boy who has stolen her heart.

Camille is a young adult, paranormal romance set in Victorian England.

I stumbled across Camille while perusing the young adult paranormal romance NookBook section on Barnes and Noble. I’ll admit, this is pretty much a daily activity. I had not heard anything about the book before, but it sounded rather intriguing. So, with my trusty nook in hand I “previewed” the first few pages of the book. The preview was to my liking, so I went ahead and purchased it. 

Now, I am going to have to be honest with you – I put off reading this book for a LONG time. Other books kept jumping into my hands (they have a tendency to do that, you know) and Camille was getting lost in the shuffle. 

Thankfully, one day I had a surprise break between classes and because I am such a complete nerd, I had my nook with me. Finally, I started Camille. I finished it that day.

This book was incredibly surprising, in a wonderful way. I instantly took to the heroine, the ever witty, Camille. This sixteen year old was such a brilliant character - in a number of ways. First of all, she is incredibly strong. Cami has overcome a number of difficult obstacles in her life and it has left her somewhat emotionally closed off.  She only really interacts with two people – her legal guardian, Dr. John Bennett and her twin sister, Emily. Camille certainly has a curious existence; she assists John in hunting werewolves. The two of them track and kill dangerous wolves in Victorian London, while desperately searching for a cure. 

Unsurprisingly, Camille’s day job contributes to her withdrawn attitude. She has learned to analyze her actions and thoughts, instead of forming an emotional attachment to things. She is remarkably intelligent and incredibly different from the other females of her time. Camille prefers to discuss scientific findings to engaging in local gossip and she feels much more comfortable in trousers than in a frilly dress. She is a determined girl, who does not take kindly to being pushed around and always stands on her own two feet.

Camille’s world turns upside down when she and John witness a werewolf attack a teenage boy. The boy, Nathaniel Strider manages to escape, but he is bitten in the process. Dr. Bennett decides that he simply must study Strider – that Nathaniel is the best hope of finding a cure. He soon sends Camille to fetch the “young lad”.

Now, when I was first introduced to the character of Strider I did not like him in the least. The first time we meet him, he is grave robbing. Then, the next few times Camille tracks him down, he is with a different girl. At this point, both Camille and I came to the same conclusion – Nathaniel Strider is a manwhore.  However, soon enough I had to eat my words, because like with any great character, Nathaniel was full of surprises. I am not going to spoil anything for you, but believe me, he quickly grows on you. He is incredibly well-rounded and unexpectedly vulnerable underneath.  He isn’t used to opening up to anyone either, so it takes a lot for him to let his guard down around Camille.

Not surprisingly, despite her early hatred for Nathaniel, much to her dismay, Camille falls for him. This terrifies her for a number of reasons – the largest being the fact that he is turning into a werewolf. This sets up a great dynamic for the book; the race against time to find a cure for Strider. If he turns into a werewolf, he will be a deadly one, and Camille will be faced with the task of killing him.

The plotline is laid out beautifully. Right from the beginning, you are swept up in Camille’s rather exciting and unconventional world. The pacing remains quick throughout the story, with contributes to the “race against time” storyline I was telling you about earlier. 

The only qualm I had with this book was the ending. It felt like things were settled too easily. There was so much buildup to the conflict that the resolution seemed to fall a bit short. I am always a fan of a happy ending, but this one was a little too rushed. I cannot believe I am saying this, but I wish it would have been dragged out a bit more. 

I am not sure when the next book is coming out, but I can tell you that I will be reading it. Camille exceeded my expectations in nearly every way.  Oliver did a remarkable job creating the central characters; both Camille and Nathaniel are dynamic and likable. If you are looking for an exciting ebook read, I would certainly try Camille.

Favorite Quotes

"I fell back into my favorite chair and tucked my hands between my knees to stop them from shaking. I sucked in a deep breath, held it, and marveled at my own transformation into a ridiculous ninny."

"I don't know how it happened. Through the din of the crowd, I heard this tiny scream. As small and distant as it was, it was like thunder in my head.' He looked up at me. Some of the blood had drained from his face making the dark circles under his eyes more pronounced. 'I knew it was you. I don't know how or why, but I knew it was you."

 "My mind argued with itself about whether to adhere to proper etiquette or whether to fling aside all modesty and throw my arms around him. My feet chose the latter before my mind had a chance to settle it. I flew off the stool and landed in his embrace. Freezing rain drenched his coat and shirt. His arms wrapped around me tighter, and there was nothing so right as being pressed against Nathaniel Strider."

 "He looked down at my fingers wrapped around his coat then lifted his eyes to mine. 'My tiny huntress, do you know what you've done to me?"