Spirit Bound by Richelle Mead

Spirit Bound by Richelle Mead

Synopsis (from author's website):

Dimitri gave Rose the ultimate choice. But she chose wrong...

After a long and heartbreaking journey to Dimitri's birthplace in Siberia, Rose Hathaway has finally returned to St. Vladimir's---and to her best friend, Lissa. It is nearly graduation, and the girls can't wait for their real lives beyond the Academy's iron gates to begin. But Rose's heart still aches for Dimitri, andhe's out there, somewhere.

She failed to kill him when she had the chance. And now her worst fears are about to come true. Dimitri has tasted her blood, and she knows in her heart that he is hunting her. And if Rose won't join him, he won't rest until he's silenced her... forever.

Excerpt:

I managed to flip the switch again, once more shutting out the fact that this was Dimitri. We were predator and prety—and I was in danger of being eaten.
"Sorry," I said through gritted teeth, shoving hard—and failing—to break his grip. "My eternity doesn't involve being part of the undead mafia."
"I know," he said. I could have sworn there was sadness in his face but later convinced myself I must have imagined it. "Eternity will be lonely without you."

My Thoughts:
I love the Vampire Academy series. I think it's a well written series. I must admit that I was skeptical how this book would be after the slight disappointment of Blood Promise. However, a couple chapters in and I was hooked. The story was coming together nicely.

Richelle Mead does a fantastic job of getting you to sympathize with not only the main characters—Rose, Lissa, Christian—but also the supporting cast and the bad guys—Adrian, Dimitri, Abe, Tatianna. I want them all to be happy. Especially Rose. 

The love triangle is created superbly. I can imagine Rose with either Adrian or Dimitri. And that's saying something. Although I completely lean towards Adrian, but then again I feel like I'm choosing Team Jacob instead of Team Edward (in that Jacob=Adrian, and Dimitri=Edward, only Adrian has better hair and isn't so overbearing and immature). 

The sixth book comes out later this year and will be the final part of Rose's journey. I honestly can't wait to see what happens, who she will choose and who has caused the big disturbance in the Moroi Court as well as who has it out for Rose.

Recommendation: For the vampire/paranormal lovers: hit up a bookstore.

Rating: 4/5 stars

Darklight by Lesley Livingston

Darklight by Lesley Livingston

Synopsis (from the author's website):

In this sequel to Wondrous Strange, Kelley Winslow finds her NYC acting career blossoming as she takes the lead in Romeo and Juliet. But she also finds herself desperately missing Sonny Flannery---who was forced back to the Faerie Otherworld, charged with a dangerous mission by Kelley's father, King Auberon.

When Kelley finds herself thrown in the Otherworld following a deadly chase in Central Park, her passionate reunion with Sonny is cut short. Ancient magick is stirring and a dangerous enemy has Sonny and Kelley caught in a web of Faerie deception that could tear their love apart.

Excerpt:

"Sonny!" she cried, sprinting toward him. He held his arms open for what he meant to be a good-bye embrace. But Kelley dodged past him, scooped up a fallen tree branch that lay on the strand, and clobbered one of the redcaps. The branch shattered in two over the creature's ugly, lumpy head just before the vicious little troll would have plunged a long-bladed knife into Sonny's unprotected back. The creature slumped back into a heap onto the ground.
"Thank you," Sonny said in astonishment.
"I'm sorry I left without saying good-bye," Kelley said, the broken makeshift club gripped in her white-knuckled fist. 
"I'm sorry I let you," Sonny said, and opened his arms again.

My thoughts:

Remember when I said I hated faeries?

Well, I still hate faeries.

You might wonder why I would read yet another book about faeries. Well, I'm taking a class for grad school and I have to read 55 young adult books in 9 weeks. So, I'll read just about anything to fill the quota.

This book was not as thrilling as the first book. I'm sure it's the set up before the final book. However, I still don't really relate to Kelley. I just don't really like her. She seems to be somewhat content with being clueless and when people don't fill her in, she throws a tantrum. 

I'm not sure how I feel about Sonny. He didn't have a huge presence in this book. This book tended to show his other nature--the ruthlessness, the changed nature of Sonny because he had been a part of the Hunt in the first book. 

There are too many candidates now for conspirators against Auberon and Kelley. But I was curious about why Auberon requested to see Kelley. Didn't she give up her lineage to him in the first book? She can no longer inherit the throne. Does he now regret that choice? And who really called the Hunt?

It'll be interesting to see where the next book takes us.

Recommendation:  If you love faeries—go for it. Buy it. Otherwise, hit up your local library

Rating: 2.5/5 stars

Sneak Peek at Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick

Obviously you don't know, but I am a HUGE fan of Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick. Loved it. I desperately want to meet her to tell her that. 

One day.

Anyways, she has recently released the prologue and chapter 1 of the sequel, Crescendo. The cover was released in April, but this is the first peek at the book.

So head over to fallenangel.net to download the PDF then get back here and post a comment about what you think. 

Did I mention that they moved up the release date from November to October 15th?

YES!!!

The Edge on the Sword by Rebecca Tingle

The Edge on the Sword by Rebecca Tingle

Synopsis (from the back of the book):

When fifteen-year-old Æthelflæd is suddenly and reluctantly betrothed to an ally of her father, the king, she realizes her world will never be the same. For as a noblewoman in the late 800s, she will be expected to be meek and unlearned---and Flæd is anything but meek and unlearned. Her marriage will bring peace to her land; but while her royal blood makes her a valuable asset, she is also a vulnerable target. When enemies attack, Flæd must draw upon her skills and fight to lead her people to safety and prove her worth as a princess---and as a warrior.

Excerpt:

Flæd followed the stream to the edge of the marsh. She had stayed at the knoll for hours, and had noticed no sign of her warder in the surrounding riverland or woods. Freedom, she thought as she stopped to wash the grit from her arms, had felt sweet even for this little time.
"Lady," a voice behind her said. She whirled to see the Mercian envoy standing half concealed in a stand of young elm trees.
Misery washed over Flæd in waves as the wind dried her clothes. Her time alone had been an illusion, with no true escape from the presence she loathed.

My Thoughts:

Have you ever read Robin McKinley's The Blue Sword (one of my all-time favorite books) or The Hero and the Crown? Do you love those books about strong women who fight alongside men and earn the respect they are given?

Then this book is totally for you.

Be forewarned, it starts a little slow, and sometimes the author interjects information--whether to define an Old English term or to explain something of historical significance, but by the end, I found myself not wanting to be done. I wanted to know the end of the story and just keep going.

The descriptions are wonderful. I fell in love with the scenery.

The story is actually a re-imagining of who Æthelflæd might have been as a teenager. There are records of her and her contributions to the kingdom of Mercia. But the fact that she was real doesn't make this story any less exciting. In fact, it only adds to setting of the story.

Recommendation: Go out and buy it! It's so good!

Rating: 5/5 stars

Consequences by Penelope Lively

Consequences by Penelope Lively

Synopsis (from goodreads): 

Consequences is a love-story-times-three that opens on the eve of the Second World War, with a chance meeting in St. James's Park, London. Told in Lively's incomparable prose, it is a powerful story of growth, death, and rebirth, and a study of the previous century---its major and minor events, its shaping of public consciousness, and its changing of lives.

Quotation: 

"Wake up, Lucas. Here---the village shop's best mousetrap, and the pick of last year's apple harvest." 

Lucas opened his eyes. "I wasn't asleep. Just relishing happenstance. That I happened to get chatting to Matt that evening at the Grosvenor. That you two happened upon each other." He took a bite of sandwich. "Very decent mousetrap, if I may say so. You know, you've stepped out of a game of Consequences: you two. Matt met Lorna---on a bench in St. James's Park. He said to her: 'Let me rescue you from your ivory tower.' She said to him: 'There's a ladder in the basement, and my parents are out this evening'---The World said: 'They'll never get away with it'---and the consequences was. . . . Well, we shall have to wait till August to find out what the consequences was."

My Thoughts:

On the recommendation of a friend, I picked this book up from the library. On the whole the book was alright. It follows the story of three women--all connected. It follows Lorna who begins our story; Molly who carries the middle; and Ruth the one who finishes our story and brings us closer to Lorna.

I loved Lorna. I loved her story, her strength, her love. I felt compassion for her character, I wanted her to get a happily ever after. She and Matt deserved it. Unfortunately, life is not always as neat and organized as a novel, and this book definitely tries to portray reality. 

Molly didn't thrill me as a character. Perhaps it was her lack of upbringing, but her feminist ideas frustrated me. She complained about not being in love, but she was willing to sleep with a man and get pregnant and move into an apartment he purchased. She wasn't willing to marry him, even though he asked her before she knew she was pregnant. Molly just frustrated me with her need to be self-sufficient. It seemed to show she didn't have any room in her life for anyone else. Until Sam came along. I loved Sam. Sam was such a down-to-earth guy. I just didn't see him with Molly very well. 

Ruth was my second favorite. I felt horrible that her life wasn't as simple as she thought it would be. 

All in all, I thought Lively did a nice job trying to tell three different stories and to show the "consequences" of one choice over 3 generations. It was the characters that failed to keep me really loving the book. 

Recommendation: If you're interested in family drama and World War II, check it out from the library

Rating: 3/5 stars

Spells by Aprilynne Pike

Spells by Aprilynne Pike

Synopsis (from author's website): 

Six months have passed since Laurel saved the gateway to the faerie realm of Avalon. Now she must spend her summer there, honing her skills as a Fall faerie. But her human family and friends are still in mortal danger--and the gateway to Avalon is more compromised than ever.
When it comes time to protect those she loves, will she depend on David, her human boyfriend, for help? Or will she turn to Tamani, the electrifying faerie with whom her connection is undeniable?

Excerpt:

"Are you free to be anything more than a friend to me? If I ever decided to live in Avalon and wanted to be with you, would you be free enough to do that?"

"I'm not allowed to ask. You would have to ask me."

Her breath caught in her chest, and Tamani looked at her.

"Why do you think David bothers me so much?"

Laurel looked down at her lap.

"I can't just storm in and proclaim my intentions. I can't 'steal' you away. I just have to wait and hope that, someday, you'll ask."

"And if I don't?" Laurel said, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Then I guess I'll be waiting forever."

My thoughts:
I loved the triangle. I think this is one of the best love triangles that I have ever read. I find that I want Laurel to be with both David and Tam. The guys are so very different and represent Laurel's own self and the two parts of her that exist--nature and nurture. I can't wait to see who, what, and where she finally decides in the end. 

That was where my love for this book came to an end. I didn't feel Laurel's connection to her parents was as strong as in this book. Her mother avoided her, but the resolution of their situation was so fast, that I blinked and they were hugging.

Chelsea, too, suddenly knew that Laurel was a faerie and that was the end. No explanation of how she knew or when she knew. She just did. 

The trolls were kind of always there, but the threat wasn't real to me, or as real as in Wings. I felt like we spent too much time in Avalon, but we really didn't learn much about Laurel. We learned about the hierarchy of faeries and what talents they all have and who hates Laurel, but that's the end of it.

I will read the third book, Enchantments, when it's released next year, but I was somewhat disappointed with the lack of anything that really happened in this book. But the middle book in trilogies is supposed to be frustrating.

Recommendation: Hit up the library

Rating: 2.5/5 stars

It's been too long.

I have had on my to-do list to post a blog. My readings had to take a pause while I finished my research paper for grad school. However, this weekend I finished two books, so expect me to be back and posting full-time again! 

Thanks for your patience. Just wanted to let you know that I haven't dropped off the face of the planet. 

Cheers!