Review: Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl

"There were no surprises in Gatlin County. 
We were pretty much the epicenter of the middle of nowhere.
At least, that's what I thought.
Turns out, I couldn't have been more wrong.
There was a curse.
There was a girl.
And in the end, there was a grave.

Lena Duchannes is unlike anyone the small Southern town of Gatlin has ever seen, and she's struggling to conceal her power and a curse that has haunted her family for generations. But even within the overgrown gardens, murky swamps and crumbling graveyards of the forgotten South, a secret cannot stay hidden forever.

Ethan Wate, who has been counting the months until he can escape from Gatlin, is haunted by dreams of a beautiful girl he has never met. When Lena moves into the town's oldest and most infamous plantation, Ethan is inexplicably drawn to her and determined to uncover the connection between them.

In a town with no surprises, one secret could change everything."

Gatlin is just a normal Southern town. Small, rural, and quiet. Nothing interesting happens in Gatlin, South Carolina. That is, not until Lena Duchannes arrived in town. Beautiful, smart, and dangerous, Lena carries a secret that she is trying desperately to keep hidden from the narrow-minded townspeople. But there's one person in town that she can't hide anything from - someone who shares a mysterious connection to her. Ethan Wate is drawn to Lena, the girl he's been having dreams about night after night before she ever set foot in Gatlin. Surprises are coming to Gatlin on Lena's heels. Surprises that could very well turn the town on its head. Beautiful Creatures is the first novel in the Caster Chronicles by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl. And it's sure to leave you on the edge of your seat, from beginning to end.

I picked this book up after seeing the trailer for the new movie adaptation a few times. And I could not put it down once I started reading it. The authors have done a fantastic job of weaving a story of love, loss, and magic that is simply breathtaking. I loved how vivid and descriptive they were throughout the entire novel. Every single detail made me feel like I was right there in Gatlin County with Lena and Ethan every step of the way. That feeling of everything being so very real is something that really made me want to keep reading.

I also really enjoyed the fact that the reader is able to see everything from Ethan's point of view. Because he is the narrator of the story, we are able to experience things as they happen for him and Lena throughout the entire novel. We share his thoughts, his feelings, and get to see his actions firsthand, which only adds to the realness of the story. And, considering he's a mortal who has been immersed into the magical world of a Caster family, it's almost as if Ethan serves as our guide to the strangeness that surrounds Lena and her family.

Another thing that I really, really liked about this book was the relationship between Ethan and Lena. These characters are so well-developed that it's difficult not to see them as real people while reading. And, since you guys know I'm a sucker for romance, it should come as no surprise that I was rooting for them as a couple from the very beginning. The authors did a flawless job with the characters of Ethan and Lena, and developed their forbidden relationship in such a phenomenal way that it kept me intrigued throughout the entire book.

I rate this book: 

If you haven't read Beautiful Creatures, I seriously recommend that you pick it up as soon as you can. It's an amazing and quick read that is sure to please all types of readers. And the best part: It's been made into a movie that just came out yesterday! So grab a copy of the book and be sure to check the movie out, too. I know I'll be headed to the movie theater in the very near future. Will you?

Margaret Stohl is the author of the ICONS series, as well as the New York Times, USA Today, Publisher's Weekly, Los Angeles Times, Indie-Bound and Internationally Bestselling co-author of the Beautiful Creatures Novels. She is a graduate of Amherst College, where she won the Knox Prize for English Literature and earned a MA in English from Stanford University. She also completed classwork for a PhD in American Studies from Yale University.

Kami Garcia is the New York Times, USA Today, Publishers Weekly & international bestselling co-author of the Beautiful Creatures Novels (Beautiful Creatures, Beautiful Darkness, Beautiful Chaos & Beautiful Redemption). She is also the author of Unbreakable, the first book her solo series, THE LEGION. Kami grew up outside of Washington DC, wore lots of black, and spent hours writing poetry in spiral notebooks. She has an MA in education, and taught in the Washington DC area until she moved to Los Angeles, where she was a teacher & Reading Specialist for 14 years. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband, son, daughter, and their dogs Spike and Oz (named after characters from Buffy the Vampire Slayer).

The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien

"Bilbo Baggins is a hobbit who enjoys a comfortable, unambitious life, rarely traveling any farther than his pantry or cellar. But his contentment is disturbed when the wizard Gandalf and a company of dwarves arrive on his doorstep one day to whisk him away on an adventure. They have launched a plot to raid the treasure hoard guarded by Smaug the Magnificent, a large and very dangerous dragon. Bilbo reluctantly joins their quest, unaware that on his journey to the Lonely Mountain he will encounter both a magic ring and a frightening creature known as Gollum."

In honor of the premiere of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey that comes out this Friday, I've decided to treat you guys to a classic tale of dwarves, elves, wizards, and other fantastical creatures. This prelude to Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings trilogy is one that will grab your interest and keep it until the very last page. The Hobbit is a must read for everyone.

As I've said before, rereading books isn't really my thing. I rarely ever pick up a book that I've already read before. But since the movie comes out this weekend, I thought I'd pick The Hobbit up again -- especially since I hadn't read it in years. And once I did that, I was reminded of just how much I loved it all over again. One of the things that I absolutely loved about this book was Tolkien's ability to paint a picture with his words that allows the reader to really feel like they're right there with the characters throughout the entire story. His descriptions are so realistic that it's hard to remember that you're not really experiencing it all, you're just reading about it. This is a technique that not many authors today are able to imitate nearly as well as authors past have done.

Another thing I really enjoyed about The Hobbit was the character of Gollum. This scary little creature provides some of the most humorous lines in the entire book -- which is a rather impressive feat, considering he doesn't appear in the book for very long. Gollum is possibly one of my favorite characters in this book, for exactly that reason. He is such a peculiar little character that it's funny to see him interact with Tolkien's more "normal" character of Bilbo Baggins. This makes it extremely difficult to do anything but love and enjoy the character for as long as he's present in the story.

Finally, I am once again amazed at the scope of Tolkien's imagination at the time that he was writing this book, as well as the other books that were set in Middle Earth. The fact that he was able to create this entire world, complete with histories about the different races that inhabit that world, is truly fascinating. And it definitely helps to make an extremely intriguing story, too. Combined with his ability to describe everything in Middle Earth down to the minutest detail, Tolkien's imagined world of hobbits, dwarves, elves, and other mythic creatures is one that I, as well as many other readers I know, would love to live in.

While I enjoy Tolkien's ability to describe everything in great detail, if there is one thing I didn't particularly care for in The Hobbit it would have to be the author's need to describe everything. This is the one aspect of Tolkien's books that I have a sort of love-hate relationship. I enjoy the descriptive detailing in this book, but there does come a point where I feel like it sometimes takes away from the story itself. Nevertheless, I'm still going to insist that you guys check this book out. The Hobbit is a book that you will love from the very beginning, I know it. And honestly, the excessive details are well worth reading through, in this case. So, go ahead: Step into Tolkien's magical world of Middle Earth with The Hobbit. You'll never want to leave. Oh! And be sure to check out the movie this weekend. Looks like it's going to be awesome!


J.R.R. Tolkien (1892 -1973), beloved throughout the world as the creator of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, was a professor of Anglo-Saxon at Oxford, a fellow of Pembroke College, and a fellow of Merton College until his retirement in 1959. His chief interest was the linguistic aspects of the early English written tradition, but even as he studied these classics he was creating a set of his own.

Review: Inescapable by Amy A. Bartol

"My name is Evie Claremont and this was to be the making of me–my freshman year of college. I’d been hoping that once I’d arrived on Crestwood’s campus, the nightmare that I’ve been having would go away. It hasn’t. I may be an inexperienced seventeen-year-old, but I’m grounded…sane. I look for rational explanations to even the strangest circumstances. Since meeting sophomore Reed Wellington, however, nothing makes any sense. Whenever he’s near, I feel an attraction to him–a magnetic kind of force pulling me towards him. I know what you’re thinking…that sounds fairly awesome. Yeah, it would be…if he liked me, but Reed acts as if I’m the worst thing that has ever happened to Crestwood…or him. But get this, for some reason every time I turn around he’s there, barging into my life. What is the secret that he’s keeping from me? I’m hoping that it’s anything but what I suspect: that he’s not exactly normal…and neither am I. So, maybe Crestwood won’t be the making of me, but it could be the breaking of me. I’ve been left to wonder if the dark future my dream is foretelling is…inescapable."

Evie Claremont is about to start the next chapter in her life: college. And at the beginning, everything seems to be going well -- she's enjoying her classes, she's making new friends, and even finding time to try out some new sports, too. But that all changes when she meets Reed Wellington. Whenever she's around him, she feels automatically drawn to him, like there is something pulling them together. But every time he sees her, Reed acts as if he can't get away fast enough. It's almost as if he hates her for some reason and Evie can't seem to figure out why. Unfortunately, that isn't the only thing that she hasn't been able to figure out lately. The nightmare that has been recurring for a while now didn't stop when she went off to college, like she thought it would. Between this dark dream and Reed's odd behavior, Evie can't help but wonder if maybe there is something strange going on in the little town of Crestwood -- and if she might somehow be at the center of it all. Inescapable is the first in the Premonition Series and, as the title suggests, it proves to be a story that any reader will have trouble escaping from.

I rate this book: 

I'm the kind of reader that will read anything and everything that she can get her hands on, and won't pass judgment until she's finished the book. I'm usually looking for something to read, especially when I've zipped through every book in a series or I'm waiting for the next installment to come out. While browsing Amazon one day, I came across Inescapable and, on a whim, I decided to give it a try -- and I'm so glad I did! This book is amazing. The characters are really down to earth and easy to relate to, which is always something that makes reading through a book go smoothly. But what I really enjoyed about this book was the story itself. I wasn't able to put this book down, the plot was that interesting. I was hooked from the very first page and continued to be drawn in with every secret that was revealed about the characters. It's no surprise that immediately after finishing this book, I rushed to purchase the next one in the series. Inescapable is definitely worth a read. It's a refreshing new series that hooks you from the beginning and keeps you enveloped in its world well past the final page. Be sure to check it out! You won't be disappointed. 

Amy A. Bartol lives in Michigan with her husband and their two sons. Her family is very supportive of her writing. When she's writing, they often bring her the take-out menu so that she can call and order them dinner. They listen patiently when she talks about her characters like they're real. They rarely roll their eyes when she tells them she'll only be a second while she finishes writing a chapter...and then they take off their coats. They ask her how the story is going when she surfaces after living for hours in a world of her own making. They have learned to accept her "writing uniform," consisting of a slightly unflattering pink fleece jacket, t-shirt, and black yoga pants. And they smile at her nerdy bookishness whenever she tries to explain urban fantasy to them. In short, they get her, so they are perfect and she feels blessed. Check out her website: http://www.amyabartol.com.

Review: Masque of the Red Death by Bethany Griffin

"Everything is in ruins. A devastating plague has decimated the population, and those who are left live in fear of catching it as the city crumbles around them. So what does Araby Worth have to live for? Nights in the Debauchery Club, beautiful dresses, glittery makeup . . . and tantalizing ways to forget it all. But in the depths of the club—in the depths of her own despair—Araby will find more than oblivion. She will find Will, the terribly handsome proprietor of the club, and Elliott, the wickedly smart aristocrat. Neither is what he seems. Both have secrets. Everyone does. And Araby may find not just something to live for, but something to fight for—no matter what it costs her."

Imagine a city where everyone lives in fear -- fear of losing a loved one, fear of contamination, fear of any form of human contact or emotion. Imagine a place where the wealthy live their lives sequestered in towering penthouses, while the less fortunate are forced to live in filth and are exposed daily to the dangerous disease that nearly wiped out the city's population. If you can imagine such a place, then you can glimpse the kind of life that Araby Worth has been forced to live. The daughter of the scientist who developed the masks that the fortunate wealthy now wear to protect themselves from disease, Araby is one of the lucky people in the city. Not that she feels fortunate at all. Because the life that she lives now was bought with a price that she was never willing to pay and, after paying that price, she wants nothing more than to forget it all. Until she meets Will, and then Elliott. Both men have secrets that they keep from her, but that's okay. Because she has her secrets, too. But when these secrets are shared, Araby may find that one thing that she needs to live -- and fight -- for, no matter how great the cost is. What transpires within the pages of Masque of the Red Death is a story that draws you in and refuses to let you go, even after you've reached the novel's end. 

I rate this book: 

This book completely blew me away! There really is no other way to describe it. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book -- so much so that, by the time I reached the end, I was bewildered that there wasn't more for me to read. Many times, when readers describe how it feels to read a good book, they say that they feel like they've been transported to another world. This statement could not fit my feelings while reading Masque of the Red Death any better. The plot of this book was so immersive that it left me craving more the instant I'd read the last page. I couldn't get enough of the characters, the scenery, or the plot itself. I wanted so desperately to know what would happen next, and was slightly saddened to realize that I had indeed reached the end of the book, because that meant that I wouldn't be able to keep reading about the characters that I'd grown to love so much while reading through their struggles and triumphs. I would encourage each and every one of you guys to pick this book up. If the magic of the book is as successful with you as it was with me, then you won't be able to put it down -- even after you've finished it! 

Bethany Griffin is a high school English teacher who prides herself on attracting creative misfits to elective classes like Young Adult Literature, Creative Writing, and Speculative Literature. She is the author of Handcuffs and Masque of the Red Death. She lives with her family in Kentucky.

Review: Incarnate by Dana Michelle Burnett

*Spoiler Alert: If you haven't read either the other books in the Spiritus series (Spiritus and Haunted), I'd recommend holding off on reading this review.*

"To be in a love affair with a ghost is both a fantasy and a punishment for Becca. Always searching for balance between her deep love for Alastor and her desire for a normal life, a chaotic period of impulsiveness, death, and mourning have led her to the ultimate turning point. Can she and Alastor go against the laws of nature and cheat death to be together again? And at what price?" 

When we last saw Becca, she had just gotten a grip on her sanity again. After that, however, she was a woman on a mission -- especially after she discovered the possibility of bringing Alastor back from the dead. What follows is a whirlwind of emotions for both her and the ghost that she loves, as she considers a way that is dangerous to both of them. If successful, Becca will finally be able to have a real life with the man that she loves. But will Alastor really be able to come back from the dead? And, if he can, what will be the cost to both Becca and Alastor? Incarnate is the final installment in the Spiritus series and it will leave you breathless until the very last page.

I rate this book: 

It only took me a matter of hours to finish this book -- and I loved every second of it! It was such a fitting conclusion to this series and, while I was sad to see the end of the story for these characters, it was still a great thing to take part in and I wouldn't have wanted it to end any differently. What I especially enjoyed were the glimpses of Becca and Alastor's past lives that were shown to the reader throughout the book. These really helped to move the plot along, but they also gave some insight into the people that they were before the story started in Spiritus. It was interesting to see how much two people could change so much. If you've read the first two books in this series, then you absolutely must pick up Incarnate as soon as possible. And if you haven't read the Spiritus series, then I'm not sure what you're waiting for? Go check it out! If you're anything like me, you'll devour it in no time and, hopefully, you'll enjoy it just as much as I did. 

Dana Michelle Burnett was born and raised in beautiful Southern Indiana. She spent most of her life writing short stories and sharing them with family and friends. Over the years, her work was published in numerous commercial and literary magazines, including Just Labs, Mindprints: A Literary Journal, Foliate Oak, and many more.  Her short story "John Lennon and the Chicken Holocaust was included in The Best of Foliate Oak 2006.  Burnett still lives in Southern Indiana. She continues to manage NanasAtticStore.com and works on her writing every day. Her site, DanaMichelleBurnett.com, has more information about upcoming projects and appearances, or you can also check her out on Facebook.

Review: Rebirth of the Seer by Peter Dawes

*Spoiler Alert: If you have not yet read Eyes of the Seer, I would strongly suggest holding off on reading this review*

"Flynn’s quest for redemption continues in the second installment of The Vampire Flynn.

Condemned by the Supernatural Order and sentenced by their High Council to die, he and his watcher Monica must avoid capture while deciphering a riddle left by Lydia Davies. The mission takes them from Philadelphia to the Windy City of Chicago, with a master seer named Julian nipping at their heels. There, they are joined by wary allies and a cunning vampire who is bent upon exposing the full hypocrisy of the Order.

The hunter becomes the hunted. The villain transforms into a champion. But even as Peter begins to emerge from the crimson shroud of his alter ego as a newly-gifted seer, he finds himself placed on a game board he would have sooner avoided. A destiny trails him, but so does the realization that he has become a country without affiliation, about to be presented with an offer too enticing for him to simply refuse. And while the Order’s band of gifted humans might be misguided, are they beyond redemption themselves?

What remains to be seen is who might be right – the ones who remember the murderous assassin, or the few who believe in the heart of a hero nobody asked for.

Where would your wager lie?"

 As the second installment in Dawes' Vampire Flynn series, Rebirth of the Seer picks up where the first book (Eyes of the Seer) left off. When we last saw Flynn, he was preparing to face the High Council of the Supernatural Order with his watcher, Monica, in an attempt to plead his case to them as a vampire-seer with a mission from the Fates themselves. Considering a seer is a person who is gifted by the Fates with the skills necessary to hunt and kill vampires, the High Council is obviously wary of Flynn -- after all, he is the first and only being of his kind. So, it's of little surprise to Flynn when he is condemned to death by the Council, forcing him and Monica to flee. However, they're being hunted by a master seer that the Order has sent after them. Will Flynn and Monica be able to hold him off? Can they prove to the Council that Flynn is on their side? Rebirth of the Seer answers all of these questions and more from the point of view of the vampire-seer himself. It's a book that you will have to read to find out the answers to, but it's also one that you won't regret picking up, nor will you be able to put it down once you do.

I rate this book: 

I could not wait to get my hands on this book. It didn't take long for me to fall completely in love with Flynn in the first book and, considering the way things ended in the previous book, I was very eager to know what would happen next to Monica and Flynn. And I was not disappointed. I loved this book just as much, if not more than, its predecessor. I absolutely loved the dynamic between Flynn and Monica in this book, especially. The way they interacted with each other, challenged each other every step of the way, made for an incredibly engaging read and made me fall in love with these characters -- and this series -- all the more. I would most definitely recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a different kind of vampire story, one where the line between good and evil isn't as clearly defined as readers are used to. Rebirth of a Seer is a book that will leave you hanging on the edge of your seat from the very beginning, as well as long after you've finished it. Of course, as I stated about the first book, I do want to caution young readers from reading this book, as it does contain some rather adult themes that might not be entirely suitable for a younger audience. If you haven't checked out this series (and you're of age, of course), you should definitely pick it up. You won't be disappointed. And be sure to check out our review of Eyes of the Seer here, should you need further convincing. You can also check out the guest post by Peter Dawes here, to learn more about the character of Flynn. 

Peter Dawes is an author of urban fantasy, native to the Philadelphia, PA area. The stories he writes often focus on the paranormal, with real life people being thrown into extraordinary circumstances. The clash of good vs evil and hero vs villain is a staple of his work, though he is never content to leave the hero unscathed by the end of the day. There is always a trial experienced and a lesson learned, even if it's learned the hard way.

Far from being an archetypal author, though, Peter Dawes recognizes that what is black and white is often painted with shades of gray and even the heroes fall while the villains rise above. To him, the classic struggle epitomizes something within all of us that digs deep for the last mile, doggedly holds on to love, and sometimes ignores the safe path for the road less traveled.

He also may or may not be a vampire. He leaves that for the reader to determine.

Review: Crimson Groves by Ashley Robertson

"Abigail Tate was a normal human girl. Until the day Bronx the vampire barges into her life and turns her against her will. Held captive while forced to deal with never ending cravings for blood, Abby prays for a way to escape. Only when an opportunity arises, it's with the aid of an innocent human named Tyler--except vampires are forbidden to interact with the unbitten. But Abby quickly learns this human has secrets of his own...secrets that can either help her or get her killed. Only Abby discovers that she was the one with the biggest secret of them all."

Abby's life hasn't exactly been the easiest, especially lately. First, her father abandons her when she's just a little girl. Then, her mother decides to leave her, too. And now, to top everything off, she finds that she's been betrayed yet again by someone who claims to love her. But all of that seems to pale in comparison after the night Bronx enters her life. Before she even knows what's happening to her, she is forced into becoming a vampire and held prisoner by Bronx. Taking the first opportunity to escape that she can, Abby finds herself in the company of Tyler, a human with secrets of his own -- more secrets than he's willing to share with her. As she struggles to adjust to this new life, Abby will soon find out more about herself than she ever thought possible. Crimson Groves is a fantastic book that will leave you wanting to know what happens next.

I rate this book: 

While I have to admit that Crimson Groves presented with a bit of a slow start for me, the action eventually picked up and I was able to really get into and enjoy the story. I absolutely loved how Abby started out as a sad and frustrated young woman who couldn't seem to catch a break and turned into a very strong and confident vampire, however resistant she was to become such a creature to begin with. That's another thing I really liked about this book: Robertson successfully turns the usual theme for vampire novels on its head. Instead of reading about some girl who is desperate to become a member of the undead, we get to see a young woman who has no knowledge of the existence of vampires, let alone any interest in becoming one herself. This is something I find incredibly refreshing about Crimson Groves. Not only does it show us a different aspect of the vampire novel, but it also features a strong female character who is able to adapt to what she has become, taking the good with the bad in her particular situation. If you're tired of reading the same old vampire novel, then you should definitely check out Crimson Groves. It's a book that you won't regret reading, I promise.

Ashley Robertson resides in sunny Orlando, Florida and loves reading and writing about everything urban fantasy and paranormal romance. When she isn't writing you'll find her spending time with family and friends, training in her home gym, traveling and exploring new places, drinking fine red wines, and making gourmet coffees with her Nespresso machine. Visit her website to learn about her upcoming releases, guest blog posts, and featured giveaways at AshleyRobertsonBooks.com.

Review: Bitten Shame by Olivia Hardin

“Jill Prescott returned from self-imposed seclusion to help save her best friend Devan’s life. Throwing herself into Devan’s problems and bringing an evil organization to its knees might just be the distraction she needs to keep living without the only man she’s ever loved. Her life changed forever when she was hired to spend a week with Doc Massey. On the day she became a vampire her youthful innocence ended, but Doc’s love rescued her from being consumed by the darkness. The shadow of that former life continues to loom over her, keeping her from realizing her own self-worth. Running from her past only brings her closer to a destiny that is inextricably connected to what she is trying to escape… Every gift has both a reward and a price, because All of it fits…”

First off, I have to admit that I was not a huge fan of the first book in this series, Witch Way Bends. I had a really hard time connecting to Devan and I felt the writing was all around confusing to me. It took me honestly about halfway through the book before I could really grasp what was going on. Needless to say, Bitten Shame was a whole other game.

This book is all about Jill, Devan’s old college friend who is now a vampire. The story takes place from where the characters are now, after book one and goes back in time to tell Jill’s past. Words can’t describe how in love I fell with Jill and Doc’s relationship. The pure and sweet intentions that never turned sour. To see the strength of Jill and watch her character develop was astounding from the ditzy blond college student who wasn’t sure what she wanted to do with life to someone, who took a chance when she thought it was all she had left and became a bit of a superhero herself. I felt awful to watch her go through her loneliness and fight for the will to live, there were times I questioned on whether her and Langston would become a couple but soon realized it’s simply more of a father figure.

My Rating for this Book:

 Basically guys, you have to read this book. And I’m not just saying that because Olivia Hardin is here with us today. Although she is! If you haven’t had a chance to read the guest post, check it out.

Review: Lore of Fei by Kathleen S. Allen

"Ariela is a mutant faerie, born without wings. No wings means she has no magic. Her faerie parents hide her deformity from the humans in Hege, especially from Kel, the Warlord of Kel’s Lair. But, when rumors of a human child living in Fei reach his ears he sends his warriors in to rescue her. In one horrific night her faerie parents are murdered and she is brought to Kel’s Lair to live. It is there she learns the truth about her parentage. The Veil of Enclosure that separates Fei from the human world is dissolving allowing the humans to enter Fei and kidnap the faerie children in order to enslave them and take away their magic by clipping their wings. In the faerie Book of Lore is a legend that a silver-winged faerie will be born to save Fei but no such faerie has been born. The Faerie Council asks Ariela to free the faerie children and restore the Veil before it’s too late. But, Ariela has no magic, or does she?"

Ariela has lived her life among the faeries of Fei in secret due to the fact that she has been born without wings. However, after her parents are brutally murdered and she is taken prisoner by a human warlord, Kel, her quiet life in Fei is disrupted. When she is brought to Kel's Lair, Ariela learns secrets about herself, as well as the warlord's plans for the remaining faeries who reside in Fei. She soon realizes that she is the only one who can save Fei from being wiped off the map by humans who wish to enslave faeries for their own personal gain. Can she save an entire race from extinction, even though she has no wings or faerie magic? Lore of Fei is a book that will leave you guessing until the very end and will leave you begging for more once you've finished it. 

I rate this book: 

I absolutely enjoyed reading Lore of Fei. Once I started reading it, I couldn't seem to put it down. I've always really liked reading about faeries, so the fact that the main characters were faeries made the book that much more interesting for me. What really got me, though, was how strong Ariela was as a character. While a strong female isn't exactly out of the ordinary in many books these days, it was really refreshing to see a character that was very strong and well-developed, especially despite everything that she had to face in the novel. Ariela's strength throughout the events of the entire book made me enjoy it all the more because she felt like a very real character to me. If you enjoy books that delve into the realm of faeries and the myths surrounding them, then you'll definitely want to look into reading Lore of Fei. Chances are, you won't be able to put it down, either. 

Kathleen Allen has been writing since she was eight years old and self-published a book of poems. She published her first poem when she was 15 years old. She has had short stories, poems, lyric essays and novels published. She writes in different genres but YA is her favorite.  

Review: Blood of Fire by Wenona Hulsey

SPOILER ALERT: If you haven't read Blood Awakening and Burden of Blood, I would hold off on this review!

“Turning her back on everyone she loves, Nicole leaves Alabama to face the man who has made her life hell from the day he forced her powers to surface. She will face evil and end the war that has been brewing for centuries…or that's what she hopes will happen as the final story of the Blood Burden Series plays out. New characters, steamy romance, lives lost and an ancient war. Is it in your blood?"

The final book in the Blood Awakening series begins with Nichole on the run. She’s convinced that by leaving her loved ones in Alabama that she can defeat Loch and hopefully return to a somewhat “normal life”. But when a stranger quickly becomes a friend on the plane ride in, and her powers have disappeared unexplainably- Can this Slade guy be trusted? Further on, how can Nichole lead a land when she can’t defeat her own demons? Including the one who brought her power to life in the beginning, Loch.

Wenona covers so much in this book. With that said though, the writing is great and you can tell just how much planning and love Ms. Hulsey put into this book. She doesn’t overwhelm you with new characters, doesn’t bring in new storylines too suddenly but does push our friends to their limits and then some. I loved the idea of the fae versus the warriors with both sides looking to win and take full control. Nichole, both fae and warrior, aims for a society where both live harmoniously. And that just doesn’t seem possible.

My favorite part is how when all else fails and Nichole’s power is lacking, she’s still a kick butt police officer and a woman that I believe could give Buffy the Vampire Slayer a run for her money.

Without a doubt, I rate this book a

Blood of Fire was the perfect roundup to Wenona’s Blood Awakening series; full of action, tough choices, romance and friendship that's great for any lover of the paranormal genre.

Review: Feyland: The Bright Court by Anthea Sharp

SPOILER ALERT!: If you haven’t read Feyland: The Dark Realm yet, then don’t read this review!

“INSIDE THE GAME...
Jennet Carter escaped the dark faeries of Feyland once. Now, fey magic is seeping out of the prototype game, beguiling the unwary and threatening everyone she cares about.
MAGIC...
Tam Linn may be a hero in-game, but his real life is severely complicated. Still, he'll do whatever it takes to stop the creatures of Feyland, even if it means pushing Jennet toward the new guy in school--the one with an inside connection to sim-gaming... and the uncanny ability to charm everyone he meets.
ALWAYS WINS...
Despite the danger, Jennet and Tam must return to Feyland to face the magic of the Bright Court--and a powerful new enemy who won't stop until the human world is at the mercy of the Realm of Faerie.”

Just when they thought they’d escaped the world of faeries and thwarted the Dark Queen’s evil plan to enter the mortal realm, Jennet and Tam realize that their fight with the dark faeries of Feyland was simply round one. Suddenly, the two find themselves going into the game again, this time to save their classmates from succumbing to the strange powers of the new guy at school. However, even though they’re going back into the Realm of Faerie, they soon discover that the creatures of the Bright Court are nothing like their Dark Realm equivalents. Feyland: The Bright Court picks up where its predecessor leaves off and provides just as much fantasy, magic, and myth as did the first book. 

I rate this book: 

As with the last book, Anthea Sharp continues to use her descriptive ability to make the reader feel like they are really inside the world of Feyland. Another interesting tidbit was her inclusion of yet another myth, Childe Rowland, into the plot of her latest Feyland novel. Once again, the way the myth was integrated into the book’s central plot made me want to learn more about the myth itself. It was something I’d never read about, so I was definitely interested in finding out more. It’s always refreshing when authors inspire their readers to want to learn more about things that they wouldn’t take the time to look into otherwise. If you read Feyland: The Dark Realm and it left you wanting more, then Feyland: The Bright Court will definitely give you the fix you've been searching for. Check it out; you won’t regret the decision!

Growing up, Anthea Sharp spent her summers raiding the library shelves and reading, especially fantasy. She now makes her home in the Pacific Northwest, where she writes, plays the fiddle, and spends time with her small-but-good family. Contact her at antheasharp@hotmail.com or visit her website – www.antheasharp.com 

Review: Banshee Charmer by Tiffany Allee

“When she’s sent to a crime scene and finds her second dead woman in as many weeks, half-banshee detective Kiera “Mac” McLoughlin is convinced a serial killer is on the loose. Incubi are extinct, her boss insists. But what else can kill a woman in the throes of pleasure? When her partner is murdered after using witchcraft to locate the killer and Mac is thrown off the case, her frustration turns to desperation.

Certain the killer is an incubus, Mac works behind her department’s back to chase down slim, sometimes perilous leads. While the killer eludes her, she does discover handsome Aidan Byrne, an investigative counterpart from the enigmatic Otherworld Enforcement Agency. Mac typically runs her investigations fast and hard, but with Aidan at her side, she’s running this one “hot” as well. But Aiden knows more than he’s letting on—something that could shatter their blazing romance and add Mac to the killer’s growing body count…”

 When this book came across my e-mails from Roxanne from Bewitching Book Tours, I knew this was one I had to get my hands on. My first attraction was the focus being banshees and succubi, such a much needed change from your normal faeries and vampire take on the Paranormal YA genre. 

Everything was well described and carried through to the end. When dealing with the supernatural world, everyone has their own unique take on the subject. For instance, just because vampires can be outside in Being Human, doesn’t mean Angel or Spike won’t burn in the Buffyverse. Especially when you deal with a species that people aren’t as familiar with, it’s very important to set up your background and carry through. Tiffany did just that. 

Mac makes for a kick-butt protagonist too. Sassy and sure of herself, she isn’t afraid to put people in her place or go against the grain to accomplish her goals. As for Aiden, I had quite the time going back and forth trying to make up my mind on whether or not he was the good guy or the bad guy. Only one thing was clear, he was quite the hunk!

My Rating for this Book:

This book was a great paranormal mystery with just enough humor, one I would recommend to everyone.

Note: There are a couple of sex scenes, but they were done in a very tactful, intimate fashion.

Tiffany Allee currently lives in Phoenix, AZ, by way of Chicago and Denver, and is happily married to a secret romantic. She spends her days working in Corporate America while daydreaming about sexy heroes, ass-kicking heroines, and interesting ways to kill people (for her books, of course). Her nights are reserved for writing and bothering her husband and cats (according to them). Her passions include reading, chocolate, travel, wine, and family.
 

Review: First Visions by Heather Topham Wood

"Two years ago, 21-year-old Kate Edwards became deathly ill and slipped into a coma. While unconscious, she crept into the mind of a missing boy and awoke with the knowledge of his location. Friends and family were skeptical and wary of her new ability to see into the minds of others. Their fears prompted Kate to keep her psychic powers a secret. Feeling alienated, she dropped out of college and spent most of her days holed up at her mother's home.


Now another child has been abducted. Police detective Jared Corbett seeks out Kate for her help in solving the case. Reluctantly, Kate agrees and they must work together to bring 8-year-old Cori Preston home to her family. Although attracted to one another, Jared has a girlfriend with ties to the abduction case and Kate is sarcastic and guarded since her coma. With visions she can't control and an uncontrollable attraction to the detective, she wonders if she can leave the past behind and finally stop hiding from the world. Otherwise, Cori may be lost forever."

After a rather unexpected illness, Kate wakes up with a new ability: she has visions. Not just ordinary visions, either. She now has the ability to see into the memories of people around her in her dreams. Unfortunately, she has no control over whose memories she looks into or when these visions come to her and she isn’t able to see the future – only the past. This new ability of hers comes in handy when a little girl goes missing and the police have no clue where to look for her. First Visions has a story that will grab you from the very beginning and won’t let you go until the last page. 
 

I rate this book: 

This book was a refreshing change for me, after reading so many books with a multitude of mythical creatures and monsters. It was nice to read a story about a normal girl trying to deal with something paranormal like having a psychic ability. I also really enjoyed that, as the reader, you are able to see things from the main character’s point of view in this book. I like books that do this because it makes it easier for me to step into the character’s shoes, allowing me to relate to that particular character easily. This type of writing makes it really easy to get into the story and First Visions didn't disappoint in this aspect at all. If you’re looking for an engrossing, quick, and interesting read, you should definitely pick up First Visions. 


Heather Topham Wood graduated from the College of New Jersey in 2005 and holds a bachelor’s degree in English. Working full-time as a freelance writer for publications such as USA Today, Livestrong.com, Outlook by the Bay and Step in Style magazine, she writes fiction novels in her spare time. She resides in Trenton, New Jersey with her husband and two sons. First Visions is her debut novel and the first book in the Second Sight series. Follow Heather on Twitter (https://twitter.com/woodtop255) and her blog (http://authorheather.wordpress.com/).
 

Review: Great Hexpectations by H.P. Mallory

SPOILER ALERT: If you haven’t read To Kill a Warlock or A Tale of Two Goblins, you may want to hold off on reading this review!

“A misunderstanding turned deadly.
A fairy in law enforcement who won't stop until the truth is uncovered.
A vampire who seems to be her ally but appearances can be deceiving
And a partner who would put his own life on the line to defend hers.

Dulcie O'Neil knows she's at fault for failing to arrest a wanted criminal but when her partner gets pinned for the crime, she'll stop at nothing to ensure his innocence.”

Remember the complaint I had in A Tale of Two Goblins that Dulcie just wouldn’t give in and make up her mind on a man? Scratch that, not only is her mind made up but she doesn’t disappoint us with her decision of the sexy Loki, Knightly Vander. After the sacrifices he made for her in the last book, we can understand why. However, after a pretty intense argument between the two of them, Knight disappears. And Dulcie must find a way to get to the Netherworld to save him before he gets murdered for a crime he didn’t commit.

H.P. manages to pull it off again with Great Hexpectations. I laughed, I cried, I gasped in "WHAT? THAT DID NOT JUST HAPPEN!".

My rating for this book:

Some great things you can look forward to in this book are more of the same great characters along with an introduction of a new ANC badass. There will be twists and turns, introductions to a whole new world and even the "L" word from Mrs. O'Neal herself! You think that sounds good? Wait until the last page. H.P. has given us an ending that will have you tripping over yourself to buy book 4, Wuthering Frights.

Note: There is a bit of sex, language and even the possibility of rape so if that offends you, here's your warning.

Review: City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare

The New York Times bestselling Mortal Instruments continues—and so do the thrills and danger for Jace, Clary, and Simon. Can the lost be reclaimed? What price is too high to pay for love? Who can be trusted when sin and salvation collide?

Love. Blood. Betrayal. Revenge.

Darkness threatens to claim the Shadowhunters in the harrowing fifth book of the Mortal Instruments series.

-barnesandnoble.com 

Jace is still missing and the Clave no longer cares.  They are more concerned with finding Sebastian than Jace.  Clary’s only hope in finding him is to use the bell that was given to her by the Seelie court, leaving Jace’s fate in the hands of the queen.  As usual the queen is less that helpful only looking to gain for herself.  When Jace shows up in the middle of the night at Clary’s house she immediately knows something is off.  He is now tied to Sebastian.  What hurts one hurts the other.  Jace also isn’t himself.  Since when does Jace Lightwood follow orders?  The only way to that Clary could possibly get him back is to plunge into unknown without the safety and comfort of her friends.  City of Lost Souls is the newest installment to The Immortal Insturments series, filled with love, loss, fantasy, fighting, and genius writing that we have come to know from all of Cassandra Clare’s other books.

My absolute favorite part of this books\ was Sebastian.  Yes there is probably something deranged and wrong about me but ever since City of Glass when you find out that he is really the real Jonathon Christopher Morgenstern I wanted to know more about his guy.  Clary, Jace, Isabelle, Jocelyn, and the whole lot of them think that he is evil, and yes he’s done horrible things, but I see him as a victim mostly.  I feel sorry for him.  He didn’t choose to have demon blood, it was chosen for him and because of it he has missed out on what life could have been.  And I agree with him; what kind of mother hates their child, no matter what they’ve done or in this case what was done to them?  I’m curious to see how the rest of this place out and I’m still pulling for a miracle where he is concerned.

I like that in this book you see more of Alec and Isabel’s POV.  You really get a feel for both of them.  In the first three books all you see about Alec is him trying to get a grip on which he really is.  He also thinks that he’s in love with Jace.  In City of Fallen Angel’s you see that his relationship with Mangus is new but in City of Lost Souls you get a to see all of his struggles.  Not only does he deal with the feelings that one would have when they’re dating century’s old warlocks that still look babeish but also the backlash of him telling people he is gay.  Isabel on the other hand, shows her vulnerability a bit more.  In the first two books Izzy is a strong, independent, beautiful, careless teenager.  But slowly you see that really that’s not all she’s about.  The most important thing to her is her family.  She feels she’s failed them because first Max dies and now Jace is gone and then there’s the secret she’s been carrying for her mother for years. She is also really falling for someone for the first time and doesn’t really know how to act.  She’s always kept people that weren’t family at arm’s length.  I love how much I’ve seen her grow as a character up to this point. 

There really isn’t a single thing that I could think of that I didn’t like about this book.  I devoured it in less than 48 hours and will probably reread it and the whole series.  I’m completely obsessed with these books. 

Cassandra Clare is the writer of the best selling TMI and ID series.  She buds with Holly Black whom she is/has co wrote a new series with and will be starting her third shadowhunters series before long.  She is a fan of Game of Thrones and Lord of the Rings (base off twitter).

Have you guys read this book yet?  What did you think?  I need discussion guys! I want to know all of your opinions about this book and the turn of events.  PS the book trailer is pretty amazing.

Review: Ascend by Amanda Hocking

“Wendy Everly is facing an impossible choice. The only way to save the Trylle from their deadliest enemy is by sacrificing herself.  If she doesn’t surrender to the Vittra, her people will be thrust into a brutal war against an unbeatable foe.  But how can Wendy leave all her friends behind…even if it’s the only way to save them?
The stakes have never been higher, because her kingdom isn’t the only thing she stands to lose. After falling for both Finn and Loki, she’s about to make the ultimate choice…who to love forever. One guy has finally proven to be the love of her life—and now all their lives might be coming to an end. 
Everything has been leading to this moment.  The future of her entire world rests in her hands—if she’s ready to fight for it.”

In the final installment of the Trylle trilogy, Wendy is forced to rule the Trylle while her mother is incapacitated. Even though she isn’t technically the queen yet, she still has to take on all the responsibilities that go with the title. This includes dealing with an impending war with the Vittra. It’s no wonder that she believes that, in order to make it all stop, she has to make the ultimate sacrifice to save her people. But can she do it? More importantly, will it be enough to stop the Vittra from waging war on the Trylle? Ascend ties up all of the loose ends of the Trylle trilogy in a way that readers will never expect. It’s a book that is completely impossible to put down. 

I rate this book: 

There aren’t many books that I purchase the day that they are released, but I really couldn’t wait to read Ascend. And it was so good that I finished it the very same day. I loved that it was so fast-paced and entertaining. But I especially loved that nothing in the entire story was predictable. Thanks to that, I was never bored while reading it. The plot-twists throughout the entire novel kept me guessing until the very end. And even the ending was satisfying, too. I was sad that it had to end at all, but I also felt like it was a fitting ending for the series. If you haven’t read this series, you’re definitely missing out on a good read. For those of you who have read the rest of the Trylle trilogy, you should really pick up Ascend. You won’t regret your decision, that I can promise you.

Amanda Hocking is the USA Today bestselling author of the Trylle trilogy and six additional self-published novels. After selling more than a million copies of her books, primarily in eBook format, she is widely considered the exemplar of self-publishing success in the digital age. She lives in Minnesota, where she’s at work on her next book. Visit her at www.amandahocking.blogspot.com or www.trylleseries.com.

Review: Haunted by Dana Michelle Burnett

“Becca has accepted the horrors of her past life, and emerged with her ghostly love Alastor at her side.  But her happiness is short lived when she realizes that balancing her past and present won't be easy...


Becca has already decided that it's Alastor that she loves, but now, as their uncommon relationship limits Becca's future, Alastor must decide if he's willing to make the ultimate sacrifice for Becca's happiness....And will Becca's sanity survive?”

Following after Spiritus, this book continues to tell the story of Becca as she proceeds to live a normal life, while being able to see and hear the ghost of Alastor Sinclair, her husband from a past life – a life in which she was responsible for his death. She struggles with her love for Alastor and her desire to lead the life of a normal young woman and the two warring forces within her threaten her ability to stay sane. Haunted is a chilling tale that will leave you wanting more with its amazing detail and gripping plot. 

I rate this book: 

After reading Spiritus, I absolutely could not wait to read Haunted. However, since the book had yet to be released at that time, waiting was the only option I had. And I have to say that this book was well worth the wait! It held my interest with the same intensity that the first book of the series did. I couldn’t put it down and finished it in one day. I loved that Haunted was written in a completely different style than Spiritus was. It made the story more interesting and helped to move the plot along at a rather brisk pace. Haunted is different than Spiritus, but it’s a good kind of different – one that makes it a quick and engaging read. If you’ve read Spiritus, then you must pick up Haunted. And if you haven’t picked up the first book in this series, then you should definitely check it out. You won’t be disappointed with either of these books.

Dana Michelle Burnett was born and raised in beautiful Southern Indiana. She spent most of her life writing short stories and sharing them with family and friends. Over the years, her work was published in numerous commercial and literary magazines, including Just Labs, Mindprints: A Literary Journal, Foliate Oak, and many more.  Her short story John Lennon and the Chicken Holocaust was included in The Best of Foliate Oak 2006.  Burnett still lives in Southern Indiana. She continues to manage NanasAtticStore.com and works on her writing every day. Her site, DanaMichelleBurnett.com, has more information about upcoming projects and appearances, or you can also check her out on Facebook.

Click here to see an interview with Dana Michelle Burnett.