Mainstream Monday: A Plethora of News!

Happy Mainstream Monday!  In my world, there are many great things about May.  You get out of school, its warm, there usually Derby festivities and festivals, and this May there are several books coming out!  We also have some big news from some of your favorite authors!

- Tuesday, May 1st many great books are coming out:
The fourth and FINAL Laurel series book Destined by Aprilynne Pike
Deadlocked, the second to last Sookie Stackhouse book, by Charlaine Harris
Insurgent, book two of the Divergent Trilogy, by Veronica Roth!

- Tuesday, May 1st is also the release day for H.P. Mallory's Wuthering Frights! This will be book 4 in the Dulcie O' Neal series. Click here to join the online release party on Facebook. Also, if you didn't know you can follow all of your favorite characters in the series on FB. Yes! Dulcie, Dia, Quillan, Bram, Knight and Sam are all on there currently role-playing Great Hexpectations. Add them as friends just as you'd add anyone else to follow them.

 - City of Lost Souls, the fifth TMI book, by Cassandra Clare comes out Tuesday, May 8th.

- Dreamless, the sequel to Starcrossed, by Josephine Angelini comes out May 29th.

- Stephanie Meyer's The Host is being released in 2013! Move over Twilight! This is what I know I've been waiting for. Click here to see the trailer teaser.

- ABC Family has signed on Sara Shepard's The Lying Game for its second season! We couldn't be more excited. :)

- Amanda Hocking has released an excerpt from Wake, the first book in The Watersong Series that's being released August 7th through St. Martin's Publishing. To see the soundtrack for Wake, click here. Also! The third book in the Trylle Trilogy, Ascend was released last Tuesday.

- Julie Kagawa's new series, The Immortal Rules, was also released last Tuesday. I haven't read it yet but everyone is raving about it! Even cooler news? It's been signed for a movie deal! Julie also announced a new offspring of The Iron Fey series, all in teenage Ethan's perspective that should be out in October.  She is also publishing her novellas calling them The Iron Legends, which will contain Winter’s Passage, Summer’s Crossing, and her newest Iron novella, Iron’s Prophecy/ that will have a guide to Nevernever and a chapter from The Lost Prince which will be due out August 28, 2012. 

- Cassandra Clare and Holly Black are releasing a series they wrote together.  It’ll be written for middle grade following the main character from around 12 to 17.  Now before you turn your nose up to middle grade, did most of us not love Harry Potter?  Any Maximum Ride or Witch and Wizard fans?  And there will be no more over done love triangles since the boy is too young for all of that nonsense!!  Other than that there hasn’t been much else released other than the term Iron Trials, which has led me to believe that these books may be about faeries and quite frankly there are not enough faerie books out there right now.  Another plus is that these books will be pushing up the publication for all of Cassandra Clare’s TMI and ID books.

All information provided came from barnesandnoble.com, author's tweets, facebook, blogs, and abcfamily.com

Concerning Recent Events...

By now I'm pretty sure the entire book blogging community and then some know about what happened with Kristy from The Story Siren. If you're not sure who she is, she's one of the most well known bloggers for YA and one that has been at blogging for quite some time. If you aren't sure what happened, well, Rachel from Parajunkee summed things up pretty well in this post. So check it out if you need to catch up. She tells you what happened but she also leaves links for you to see first hand.

I'm not here to talk about that... completely. First off, I'm not entirely sure how I feel on the subject. Yes, what she did was wrong and from the evidence seen here there's really no way to deny Kristy being guilty. But what frustrates me the most is the fact that she didn't come out and just admit that what she did was wrong! Instead she stayed quiet until everything was pulled out against her, claiming she was trying to keep things private and thought the matter could be handled in a quiet fashion. Even when she did apologize though, it felt half-hearted at best.

As bloggers, we get caught up in life, we get tired with going to school, working a day job, having husbands and family to tend to that it seems so easy to rely on someone else to do all the heavy work. Unfortunately though, that's just not an option. While it can be so easy for one of us to see something online (Think about how much we read daily! Come on, we're book bloggers for heaven's sake!) and that get thrown back into your memory and when you go to write about it later it spills out a bit to closely. Plagiarism is a serious offense that needs to be stopped and dealt with accordingly.

I'm not here to bash Kristy though. Frankly, I'm tired of all the berating people are giving her. I'm not saying stop following her, or not to do her IMM meme anymore, I'm simply asking you to figure out where you stand and stand firm. If that's what you decide to do, do that. But in a generation that seems to suggest that everything should be handed to them, that they shouldn't have to work for anything, this is something that needs to be paid attention to.

At The Ink Puddle, we do our best to put as much effort and heart into this blog to make it something that you guys appreciate as much as we do. And my goal, hope and prayer is that we never fall into that trap. However if we do please contact us and let us know. We will take appropriate measures with the subject. I can't help as a book blogger to feel sorry for all of you for what happened here. This doesn't give us a good name but I hope this doesn't discourage you from following those blogs you love including, hopefully our own.

Thank you for your continued support,
All of us at The Ink Puddle

Booking Through Thursday

Has a book ever inspired you to change anything in your life, fiction or non-fiction alike?

The first book that comes to mind is Ordinary People by Judith Guest. This was one that I read my Junior year of high school in my English class with Mr. Barrett. Everyone hated him and thought he was the hardest/ meanest teacher ever, but I enjoyed his teaching so much I ended up taking another class with him the year after! (Even though he had completely changed my hand writing by the end of the semester...)

This book is about an average family going through the loss of their son, or brother in Conrad's eyes. Though the book focuses most on Conrad's view, you also get the in on mom and dad as well. There was specifically a breakthrough scene with Conrad's therapist that just hit me in the rawest way...

I was going through a really difficult time when I read this and I'm not entirely sure why this book meant as much to me as it did, but I'm so glad I read it. It was theraputic in so many ways. This is a book that if you ever get the chance to pick up, you should. It's also a movie, but as usually the movie was nearly as good as the book.

To see other BTT, click here.

Review: Ruined by Kinley Baker

“Jessa is one healing away from death. Under the thrall of her gift, the Court's Senior Healer risks giving her life in exchange for her patient's.

Vale is a rebel ruler. When his brother is killed, he's given the throne and the decree from the Court to produce an heir or lose his family's hold on the land--and his deceiving advisors aren't afraid to use murder as a weapon if their directive to stay away from the Senior Healer goes unheeded.

But Vale burns to possess Jessa. The heat between them leaves a wake of smoke, and even the powerful forces above want to bind them in a union that lasts forever. Vale taking another would be a betrayal neither could survive.

Their enemies fear a child born of such a powerful Healer and Warrior, but the true threat lies in the bond forged in shadows and fused in fire.”

After the unexpected death of his brother, Vale is forced to become the leader of the Shadow Shifters, a position that he neither wants nor feels fit to have. And, as if that wasn’t enough to deal with, he also has to cope with his growing attraction to Jessa, the Senior Healer – a woman who was rumored to be his brother’s mistress. Of course, the fact that someone is trying to kill him definitely doesn’t help matters either. Not everything is as it seems in the Realm of Shadows and it’s up to Vale and Jessa to determine who in the Court to trust. Ruined is a story full of intrigue and suspense, with a little bit of forbidden love thrown into the mix.

I rate this book:

I loved this book. It has everything that makes a good story: an engaging and suspenseful plot, well-developed characters, and a few twists to keep readers on their toes. The forbidden romance was a definite plus for me, as well. I didn’t want to put it down and was a little disappointed when I finished it because it left me wanting so much more. It is so easy to feel like you know the characters intimately in this book, which only makes the end that much more unbearable to get to. If you’re looking for a quick read that will keep your interest from beginning to end, then Ruined is the book for you. However, I do want to warn any potential readers that some of the content of this book is not suitable for young readers. There are definitely some mature scenes in this book, so be mindful of that when considering to read Ruined.

Also, click here to check out Joey's guest post with the author, Kinley Baker.

Kinley Baker read her first romance novel at the age of thirteen and immediately fell in love with the hero and the genre. She lives with her husband and her dog, Joker, in the Pacific Northwest. As a firm supporter of all supernatural lifestyles, she writes fantasy romance, paranormal romance, and urban fantasy. You can find Kinley at www.kinleybaker.com.

Review: Eyes of the Seer by Peter Dawes

“It all started with a murder. Two victims lay dead at the hands of Peter Dawes, but what laid in wait for him was not the sound of sirens or the banging of a gavel. It would turn a doctor into a killer and a man into a monster. Follow Peter as he exchanges his blood-stained clothing for tailored suits, his scalpel for fine-crafted daggers, and is reinvented as the newest vampire-child in a coven of decadent sophisticates. He even takes on the name ‘Flynn’ – a child of red – in honor of his new-found devilish side and to further distance himself from his human past. For four years, Flynn embodies every bit the bloody immortal he was sired to become. Under the reign of his maker, Sabrina, he establishes a reputation as the most feared assassin to ever terrorize the covens of Philadelphia. But the sure footed steps and quick hands that make him a virtuoso when it comes to killing humans and vampires alike are attributes of the mortal destiny which haunts him even beyond death. And despite all efforts, Peter’s humanity is not as dead as some would prefer.”

Life for Peter is about to change. Literally. He’s gone from being a respected doctor to a murderous vampire. And the scariest part about this drastic change is how easily Peter welcomes this new identity he’s been given: the identity of an immortal assassin. Not only does he welcome this new role, he readily embraces it. He revels in each and every kill, delights in the spilling of human blood, and even takes a further step in solidifying this new role of his by changing his name from Peter to Flynn. But he’ll soon find out that this newfound identity is far from permanent. That, in order to fulfill his destiny, Peter will have to become something Flynn never would have expected. Eyes of the Seer is a book that grabs the reader from the very beginning and absolutely refuses to let go until the very end of the story. And even when the reader reaches the end, it isn’t really over.

I rate this book:

I have to say that I absolutely loved this book. It is a book unlike any other vampire story out there. Most books involving vampires nowadays seem to always want to portray the main vampire character as a good and benevolent character who is kind to humans. Eyes of the Seer takes this idea and completely flips it on its head with the character of Flynn and it’s something that I really enjoyed about this book. Flynn is not your typical vampire protagonist, by any means. He is ruthless, bloodthirsty, and rather sadistic in nature. In many other vampire books of today, Flynn would be considered the villain of the story, rather than the main character. But he’s not, and that’s what I love about this story. It’s refreshing - if not a little frightening - to see a vampire character actually act like a vampire. If you’re looking for a refreshing take on the role of the vampire protagonist, then you should definitely pick up Eyes of the Seer. Its gripping detail and surprising plot twists will leave you craving more. I would like to caution readers, however that this book is definitely for mature audiences only, as it contains some content that may not be suitable for younger readers.

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 Peter, 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.

Guest Post: Kinley Baker

Today we have Kinley Baker here with us from Bewitching Book Tours to talk about about her book Ruined!  

Testing Perceptions

I’m a huge fan of the paranormal. I love the idea of ghosts, vampires, and werewolves. This fascination led me down the path to writing fantasy. I think this is a good lead into the post because the paranormal tests the limits of our imaginations.

Ruined is a fantasy romance novel, but the story is also about challenging perceptions. Jessa and Vale, the heroine and hero, are forced to fight for their places in the world. They find that they can’t allow others to establish their roles. They must take charge of their own destinies and forge ahead.

There are numerous rumors and scandals permeating this kingdom, but at the heart the story tests the limits of their society.

The ways the people in the village view Jessa are very different from who she is. Part of her struggle is figuring out why the way she’s viewed is important. As the Senior Healer, she is supposed to be something distinct. But she’s constantly challenging the personality that people believe she should have. She’s not a normal Healer beyond her need to save.

Similarly, Vale is faced with living up to being the king. Once he’s thrust into power, he only has memories of his brother ruling and his corrupt Court to guide him. He’s a very different person than his brother, so the way his brother ruled isn’t very applicable. He struggles against who he should be and who he is.

The characters struggle internally. But they also struggle against society as a whole. Then it becomes almost as important for the village to understand why these characters are the way they are.

Many characters throughout Ruined face similar challenges. I think we can all relate to this. How does the world view us? And who are we really?

Sometimes, we make judgments that turn out to be wrong. Characters in Ruined do the same. But part of the fun of a story is discovering the truth. And watching those who made life difficult for a favorite character find out they were wrong.

In a realm that is at risk, with all their beliefs and traditions being challenged, I think that’s the time that really shows the depth of a character. Then we really get to see what they’re made of. I hope Jessa and Vale prove to you that they’re made of strength.

----------------------
Thank you so much for stopping by Kinley! Your book sounds great and is definitely on my to read list. In fact, Crissy is in the middle of reading this right now so stand by for a review next week! 

Review: Halflings by Heather Burch

Split. After being inexplicably targeted by an evil intent on harming her at any cost, seventeen-year-old Nikki finds herself under the watchful guardianship of three mysterious young men who call themselves halflings. Sworn to defend her, misfits Mace, Raven, and Vine battle to keep Nikki safe while hiding their deepest secret---and the wings that come with. A growing attraction between Nikki and two of her protectors presents a whole other danger. While she risks a broken heart, Mace and Raven could lose everything, including their souls. As the mysteries behind the boys' powers, as well as her role in a scientist's dark plan, unfold, Nikki is faced with choices that will affect the future of an entire race of heavenly beings, as well as the precarious equilibrium of the earthly world.  --barnesandnoble.com

Halflings is yet another winged immortal books (fangs and claws are out and wings are in).  Nikki is basically your tough chick.  She is a master at karate and drives a ninja street bike to school instead of a car.  Despite her best friends efforts she wears boyfriend jeans and old tees that go with her couldn’t care less artist side.  Her life is pretty normal until the day she finds herself running through the woods where she had just been peacefully working on her next art piece before being interrupted by a pack of hell hounds.  Luckily, before they could drag her off she was saved by Mace, Raven, and Vine who afterwards basically become her guardian angels in this much bigger world where there is an eternal struggle of good versus evil and your either on one side or the other.  But what does the dark side want with Nikki? Halflings is an easy read filled with action, fantasy, a possible love triangle, and great loss. 

My Rating for this Book:

I am really loving that there are books out that aren’t about vampires and werewolves and right now I’m on a winged immortal kick.  So I was pleased to find another interesting take on angels.  I like that in this version the half angels are very torn.  *Spoiler* If they follow their hearts they could lose an eternity that they aren’t guaranteed anyways.  They seem very lonely in a lot of ways.

I like Nikki’s character a lot.  She’s a tougher girl who can take care of herself.  So when she has to rely on these guys it really puts her out of her element.  In just this first book you really get to see her character grow in ways that you don’t usually see in just one book.

This book was a very easy, quick read as well.  There isn’t a moment when there isn’t anything happening.  None the less, at the beginning of the book, although I didn’t dislike it, I found myself considering not reading it.  This could have been because it was my third book in like four days but if something that keep me glued to the pages then I feel I can’t give it a five.

Lastly, it was only $1.99 on my nook at the time and who doesn’t love good books for good prices?

Review: Fate's Design by Lola James

“A summer vacation in Italy with her twin sister, Morgan, is just what Megan Romano needs. But instead of fun, wine, and relaxation, she finds unexpected romance. Alexandros DiPiero, a sexy and mysterious Italian businessman, falls for Megan the minute he lays eyes on her, but Megan knows it’s too good to be true.

Increasingly haunting dreams that warn of danger and destiny plague Megan’s every sleeping moment. As her nightmares become deadly and her love life heats up, Megan will come face to face with her worst fear.”

Fate’s Design is the second book by Lola James I’ve read. Some of the things that I adored about the book was the idea of twins. The connection Megan and Morgan have is one that you always want with your siblings but in a lot of cases don’t know how to achieve. The setting was refreshing as Lola does a great job of bringing you into the language and scenery of Italy and the Italian speaking hunk Alex is definitely swoon-worthy.

A small pet peeve I had that I feel the need to share was how much Alex said called Megan “love”. The word is said a total 290 times, which was just too much love for me!

While I enjoyed the story, it took me half way through the book to really find myself caring deeply for these characters. I didn’t feel like things were as connected as they could have been and the story didn’t captivate me the way I longed for it to. Some situations felt rushed, while some got too much attention and others not enough. Things do tie together eventually though, with an ending I was pleased to see.

My rating for this book:

One of the things we pride ourselves in here at The Ink Puddle is giving honest reviews. And I know I’ve gotten much critism for doing that in the past but if we’re not honest, what good is our blog for anyway? So as much as this book didn’t personally win me over, there isn’t a doubt in my mind I’ll be picking up Lola’s next novel. 

Stay tuned, tomorrow I'll be posting our interview! :)

 

Review: Angel Fire by L.A. Weatherly

In the wake of the Second Wave, the angel menace has exploded, and Alex and Willow are on the lam. Willow's prophetic dream points them to Mexico City, where they connect with a fledgling group of angel killers led by the exotically beautiful Kara, an Angel Killer from Alex's past. But the team remains suspicious of Willow, even after the more-experienced Alex takes over as leader, training them hard for a rush attack on the Seraphic Council, or "The Twelve." This elite group of all-powerful angels is also under the scrutiny of Willow's angel-father, Raziel, who has his own sinister plan to defeat them.

What Willow hasn't told Alex is that there was also a mysterious boy in her dream, one she felt overpoweringly attracted to. When brooding, gorgeous Seb shows up in the flesh, he turns out to be another - possibly the world's only other - half angel. He's been searching for Willow all his life, and when Alex enlists this rival to help keep Willow safe, he can't predict what chemistry will pass between them . . . or how far Willow might go to keep Alex safe. Will their love endure or spell doomsday for the human race?

Willow and Alex survived the second wave.  But with Willow face being plastered on every Church of Angels website she’s easy to spot.  So it time for a change.  With her new short red hair, she and Alex are headed for Mexico in hopes to build a new Angel Killers team to strike again.  But when Willow has a strange dream that practically pulls her to Mexico City not only because of a strange boy that she feels drawn to although she’s never met but because something big is going to happen that she’ll need to be there for things begin to take a strange turn.  Once they get there things between her and Alex aren’t right and on top of that her Angel seems to have gained a mind of her own.  Willow is afraid that her angel is just as bad as the ones she is trying to fight.  Angel Fire is the exciting sequel to L.A. Weatherly’s Angel Burn.

I Rate This Book A:

I was excited to find that there was a sequel already out after I read the first one and it defiantly delivered.   One of the main things I liked about this one that was different from the first is that there are a handful of new character’s introduced into this one.  This really changes the dynamics between Willow and Alex because in the first book it was always just the two of them.

Two of the characters that I really liked were Seb and Sam.  *Spoiler*  I like Seb because he, like Willow is half angel but he’s known his whole life so therefore he really helps her come into her own.  Sam is a true Texan through and through and frankly if he was a real person he’d probably bug me but there something that is very FNL Tim Riggins about him that I love.

You also get a better sense of the angels dynamics.  There’s a ruling that you didn’t get in the first book because it was just a selective first wave group that was sent the earth as a test run.  But now that it was successful more important people are coming and it really messes with Raziel’s plans.

L.A. Weatherly is the author of several books including Child X and the Angel Trilogy which you will have to stay tuned for the final installment, which I believe may be due to be out sometime in January 2013.

Review: ReVamped by Ada Adams

“A simple mission turned deadly. Nineteen-year-old vampire Dawn has led a sheltered life within the confines of her father’s presidential headquarters. Upon being sent on a mission to revamp four goofy misfits into guardians of a peaceful little town of Angel Creek, Dawn believes that all her dreams have finally come true. What starts off as a simple task, turns into something unexpected, changing Dawn’s life forever and leading the action-loving, thrill-seeking vampire teen on a path of mystery, danger and intrigue. When a human girl is kidnapped by a group of rogue vamps, Dawn discovers that there is more going on in Angel Creek than meets the eye. And it all connects to Ethan, the cute newcomer who seems too perfect to be true, Sebastian, the mysterious vampire with a turbulent past, and even Dawn herself. Dawn must not only succeed in revamping the troubled recruits, but must also prevent the vampire race from being overtaken by a malevolent villain who has a strange and obsessive fascination with her. As threat escalates, romance blooms, and ghosts from her past begin to surface, Dawn is sure of only one thing: her life will never be the same.” 

After years of training within the walls of the presidential headquarters where she lives with her father, Dawn is practically itching to see what the outside world is like. So, when her father sends her on a simple mission to prepare four young vampires to become guardians of the small town of Angel Creek, Dawn jumps at the chance to prove her worth. However, she soon learns that while Angel Creek seems peaceful, there are some strange things going on under the surface – things that she’s not even fully aware of yet – and she may have bitten off more than she can handle. ReVamped provides readers with a refreshing change to the vampire genre and keeps them guessing until the very end.

I rate this book: 

I really enjoyed the fact that this book is clearly different from many of the other vampire novels out there. For example, in most vampire books today vampires are created solely through biting a human being or some variation on that particular theme. In ReVamped, however, vampires can either be Made, in the traditional fashion, or Born. Born vampires are rare and have certain attributes that make them more unique than Made vampires. This interesting distinction definitely adds to the book’s intrigue. If you’re looking for a vampire novel that differs from most books in the genre, then you should definitely pick up ReVamped. It’s well worth the read, I assure you.

At age five, Ada read her first chapter book - Pippi Longstocking. Ever since that moment, she developed an intense passion for the stories and characters found within the pages of literature. In her career as an actress and a writer, Ada currently spends most of her days immersed in imaginary worlds. Much like the characters she enjoys playing and writing about, Ada is a martial artist with a Black Belt in Shotokan Karate. She is also a big proponent of lifelong learning, and has attained a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology (it aids in creating characters with unique quirks!) as well as a Master's of Science in Education. Ada strives to bring a fresh voice and perspective to fiction. She has been writing creatively for many years, and is an editor of a global fashion/literary magazine called VEUX. ReVamped is her debut novel. She lives in Toronto, Canada, and enjoys adventurous nature hikes with her adorable puppies Cara and Oreo.

Happy Birthday to Sarah Ross!

Since her birthday is today, she has placed her book for FREE on Amazon! (Isn't this more like... Happy Birthday to us?)

So click the picture above for a direct link to Amazon's site to grab this book. You don't want to miss out on this!

To see our review, click here. To see our guest post with Sarah, click here.

Stay tuned tomorrow for our review on Lola James' book Fate's Design along with an interview! So what are you waiting for? Sounds to me like you have some reading to do!

Review: Living Dead in Dallas by Charlaine Harris

“When a vampire asks cocktail waitress Sookie Stackhouse to use her telepathic skills to find another missing vampire, she agrees under one condition: the vampires must promise to behave and let the humans that are involved to go unharmed. Easier said than done. All it takes is one delicious blond and one small mistake for things to turn deadly.”

Just when Sookie Stackhouse thinks she has enough problems in her life – her strange ability to read the minds of others around her, her new vampire boyfriend, and the odd way that she seems to attract attention from other vampires in the area, just to name a few – she somehow finds her way into a mess that is sure to make her life just a little bit more complicated. In this case, Sookie has agreed to help a powerful vampire in Shreveport, Louisiana find another vampire who has gone missing, by using her telepathic abilities. What follows is a fast-paced story of intrigue, action, and plot twists at almost every turn. Living Dead in Dallas is the second book in the Southern Vampire Mysteries series by Charlaine Harris. And it is one that will definitely leave you wanting more.

I rate this book: 

What I really liked about this book is how we were able to see Sookie stand her ground, even when she seems to be in way over her head in the task that she takes on. Most human characters that you read about in vampire novels are quiet, submissive, and generally don’t question what it is they’re asked to do by the vampires in the story. They always act as if they fear the vampires involved. Not Sookie. While she may fear them on the inside, her outward appearance shows her as a stubborn, determined young woman who isn’t going to back down from what it is she wants. Charlaine Harris has done a fantastic job of developing her character into someone that isn’t always seen in books similar to this one. If you’re looking for an interesting and quick read, then you should definitely check out this series. If you’ve already read the first book, Dead Until Dark, then you absolutely must pick up Living Dead in Dallas. You won’t be sorry that you did.

Charlaine Harris grew up in the Mississippi Delta and was raised by two avid readers. So, naturally, she was too, which lead her from writing plays and poems to her first two hit series that came out in the 80’s. Her most successful series was the Sookie Stackhouse/Southern Vampire Mysteries, which debuted in 2001 and has been adapted into the hit HBO series, True Blood. To find out more about Charlaine Harris visit http://www.charlaineharris.com/.

Review: Angel Burn By L.A. Weatherly

Willow knows she’s different from other girls, and not just because she loves tinkering with cars. Willow has a gift. She can look into the future and know people’s dreams and hopes, their sorrows and regrets, just by touching them. She has no idea where this power comes from. But the assassin, Alex, does. Gorgeous, mysterious Alex knows more about Willow than Willow herself. He knows that her powers link to dark and dangerous forces, and that he’s one of the few humans left who can fight them. When Alex finds himself falling in love with his sworn enemy, he discovers that nothing is as it seems, least of all good and evil. In the first book in an action-packed, romantic trilogy, L..A. Weatherly sends readers on a thrill-ride of a road trip - and depicts the human race at the brink of a future as catastrophic as it is deceptively beautiful.

They’re out for your soul . . . and they don’t have heaven in mind.

Willow Fields is the weird girl at school.  Aside from Nina, she has now friends.  She and her mother live with her aunt because her mom is mentally broken.  To add to her freak factor she is this gorgeous tiny girl that likes vintage clothes and works on cars.  Oh, and for money she gives people psychic readings because she is just that, psychic.  But the day she gives Beth Hartley a reading her life changes forever.  Beth has seen an angel.  And although this angel makes her the most happy she has ever been he is slowly killing her.  When Willow tries to warn Beth her world is turned upside down.

Alex is the AK sent to rid the world of Willow Fields but when he sees that she is in fact not an angel but something else entirely he is intrigued and for the first time chooses not to kill something angelic and instead watch out for her.   Angel Burn is an exciting fantasy novel with a brand new take on angels (not naked babies with wings).

My rating for this book:

I loved this book.  I was so refreshing to read about something other than vampires and dystopian, which don’t get me wrong, I love, but I was in dire need of a break.  The take on angels in this book is also different than any I have ever heard.  Instead of angels being good and holy they are predators and parasites ultimately damaging earth for their own means.  They also aren’t immortal, they can be killed.

I liked that although Willow is a teenager, the books isn’t based in high school.  I’m at that between age where there really isn’t any books for my particular age group (you have YA and then adult fiction) so it skips a whole decade of ages almost.  But because this book wasn’t set in high school it felt like it could be read by a wider variety of readers.  It was more about the action and fighting and new found relationships than going from class to class with that stuff in between.

I also really like the characters in this book.  I truly enjoy when an author can come up with a unique and interesting story for each of the characters.  I loved that Willow could fix anything with an engine and hot wire a car and Alex, who can kill anything with anything and is mister manly, can’t. 

Lastly I enjoyed the different point of views in this story.  You not only get to see Willow’s and Alex’s pov but you also get to see into the minds of Raziel (Angel) and his assistant who is human.  So ultimately you are getting the full story from someone who has known and vault angels his whole life, someone that is basically a whole new species, an angel, and an angel obsessed.


L.A. Weatherly is the author of several books including Child X. She was born in Little Rock, Arkansas and now lives in England.