5 Reasons to Read The Goddess Legacy by Aimée Carter (No Spoilers)

Title: The Goddess Legacy
Story Arc: Trilogy, Book 2.5
Publication: July 31, 2012 by Harlequin Teen
Paperback: 395 pages
Genre: Fantasy, Paranormal, Greek Mythology, Retellings
Age Group: Teen, Young Adult
Content: Kissing, Implicit Sex, Violence, Murder
Source: Harlequin Teen via NetGalley | Quote(s): Yes

In all the years I'd existed, I'd never expected to be free.

ARC Review: Seraphina by Rachel Hartman

Title: Seraphina
Story Arc: Series, Book 1
Publication: July 10, 2012 by Random House
Paperback: 464 pages
Genre: High Fantasy, Magic, Dragons, Coming of Age
Age Group: Teen, Young Adult
Content: Light Kissing, Fighting
(It's been a while since I've read this one.)
Source: Random House via NetGalley | Quote(s): Yes

I remember being born. In fact, I remember a time before that.

Four decades of peace have done little to ease the mistrust between humans and dragons in the kingdom of Goredd. Folding themselves into human shape, dragons attend court as ambassadors, and lend their rational, mathematical minds to universities as scholars and teachers. As the treaty's anniversary draws near, however, tensions are high.

Seraphina Dombegh has reason to fear both sides. An unusually gifted musician, she joins the court just as a member of the royal family is murdered—in suspiciously draconian fashion. Seraphina is drawn into the investigation, partnering with the captain of the Queen's Guard, the dangerously perceptive Prince Lucian Kiggs. While they begin to uncover hints of a sinister plot to destroy the peace, Seraphina struggles to protect her own secret, the secret behind her musical gift, one so terrible that its discovery could mean her very life.

In her exquisitely written fantasy debut, Rachel Hartman creates a rich, complex, and utterly original world. Seraphina's tortuous journey to self-acceptance is one readers will remember long after they've turned the final page.

Dragons are cooler than they look

We all know that dragons are the shizz and more, right? I mean, THEY’RE DRAGONS. Hartman makes your average dragon look like a puppy compared to these bad boys she’s thought up. Because they’re not just freakishly tall, scary reptiles, but they’re also shifters who can shrink into humans. Emotionless, cold humans, from the looks of it, but that just makes them even more badass, because they have this cutthroat, merciless overtone to their personalities. And any dragons who start exhibiting our colorful emotions, giving in to the humanity that comes with becoming human, are packed off to have a kind of surgery done to remove them. Which is an exotic, intriguing concept for Hartman to play with throughout the book. She conveys, beautifully, I might add, the power of emotions, the significance of the ability to emote, and how the lack of it affects those who can’t, those who would rather bar the ability from themselves entirely than let it grip them.

Seraphina by Rachel Hartman is fantasy, and no, it’s not necessarily you’re typical fantasy full of grueling quests, but rather it’s a murder mystery at heart, with knights and dragons and magic in the backdrop. War is brewing among the dragons, as the shaky alliance between them and the humans threatens to fall apart. The murder of a royal by what seems to be the hands—or rather, claws—of a dragon has caused a wide berth for tension to sweep through both races, mistrust and misdirected anger working to tear apart their cool friendship. Half-human half-dragon Phina now finds herself somehow directly involved, no matter that she’s doing her best to not only bury the very secret of her birth but also the consequences of her mixed nature. Throw in a good-looking suspicious prince into the mix and Phina’s got no choice but to help unearth the truth. Because someone out there wants to speed up the threat of war and turn it into an actuality, someone keen on vengeance and very, very, ticked off.

Characters, hidden abilities, and exciting world-building

Phina is exactly the kind of girl that leaves me hard-pressed to punch anybody who messed with her. All of her life she’s lived with the knowledge that she is not ONLY an abomination by most people’s standards but that if anyone were to find out the truth of her origins she’d be cast out, perhaps killed, and people would be disgusted to know what deformities lay beneath her clothing. She’s sober, sad, and vulnerable, and I have big sisterly/maternal urges toward characters without friends and with nothing but heavy burdens. She’s too scared to make proper friends, but she’s one of the smartest, most loyal people around if people would only pay her mind. I hated that her father, so lost and betrayed, never really comforted her of her worries, never made her feel truly at home. I was so depressed for this girl who has already gone through so much, and has a hard time caring and trusting people. And because of her we can relate to the dragons in a way that wouldn’t be possible without her!

Which is why I was so ecstatic when the determined, apprehensive Prince Lucien casts his suspicion onto Phina, and is just as equally intrigued by her. Hartman’s characters are rich, fleshed-out. Ultimately, Phina and Kiggs’s friendship, with underlying spark, turned out to be one of the major highlights of Seraphina by Rachel Hartman.

And the other? The fabulous in-depth world-building. In fact, it’s probably the strongest aspect of Seraphina by Rachel Hartman, how vivid and intricate it is. The plot isn’t nearly as involved as the world Harman sets up for us, and although it’s not without it’s twists, there is a level, if a small one, of predictability. As for the world-building, it’s impossible to really predict what you’re going to find, what sort of creatures and places. Add to that the beautiful prose and you have one hell of a novel. I felt absorbed by the world as opposed to being absorbed into it because of the rich, yet not overbearing, scenes that are painted for our benefit.

Overall

I wish I would’ve written this review sooner. I wish I had so that I could remember more details to present to you, so that I could’ve pushed this novel onto you sooner. You will feel rejuvenated after reading this unique fantasy, and fall in love with Seraphina, her logic, her compassion, her observation, all of it. Seraphina by Rachel Hartman enriches with its prose, and puts an exciting, thrilling spin on what you think you know about dragons.

From the looks of it, after being electrocuted by that subtly joyous, if open, ending, there will be a sequel, and it will chronicle a war that makes me bloodthirsty just pondering the possibilities. I can’t wait to see what Rachel Hartman does next!

He raised a hand, let it hover a moment, and then placed it over mine. It was war, and it stole my breath away. "St. Clare did not choose wrongly," he said softly. "I always saw the truth in you, however much you prevaricated, even as you lied right to my face. I glimpsed the very heart of you, clear as sunlight, and it was something extraordinary." (97%)

Rating: Perfect Bed Partner

Unbelievably, I was happily surprised by the unique fantasy presented in Seraphina by Rachel Hartman. It’s not all about magical quests and slaying beasts and saving people, necessarily, but there’s so much going on without being overwhelming. The plot is centered around an engrossing murder mystery that left me scrambling to try and fit the pieces together. And I wouldn’t have guessed the biggest twist of all as to who the villain is! The prose is beautiful, subtly woven, and Seraphina herself makes this novel well-worth the read. I’m already so invested in the romance and the war to come that I’m antsy for the sequel!

OTHER REVIEWS: Cuddlebuggery

SIMILAR TITLES: Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo Shadowfell by Julet Marillier Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

Got something specific in mind? Dare I believe I might NOT have covered something you wish to know? If so, let me know down in the comments section. Don't be shy!

ARC Review: The Assassin's Curse by Cassandra R. Clarke + Giveaway

Title: The Assassin's Curse
Story Arc: Duology, Book 1
Publication: October 2, 2012 by Strange Chemistry
Paperback: 416 pages
Genre: High Fantasy, Magic, Pirates
Age Group: Teen, Young Adult
Content: Nothing Worrisome or Notable
Source: Strange Chemistry via NetGalley | Quote(s): Yes

I ain't never been one to trust beautiful people, and Tarrin of the Hariri was the most beautiful man I ever saw.

Ananna of the Tanarau is the eldest daughter of a highly-ranked family in the loose assortment of cutthroats and thieves in the Pirate's Confederation. When she runs away from the marriage her parents have arranged for her, they hire Naji the assassin to murder her.

When a mysterious woman in a dress shop offers her magical assistance for dealing with the assassin, Ananna accepts. She never went in much for magic herself -- she lacks the talent for it -- but she's not quite ready to die yet, either. Unfortunately, the woman's magic fails.

Fortunately, Ananna inadvertently saves the assassin's life in the skirmish, thus activating a curse that had been placed on him a few years earlier. Now, whenever her life is in danger, he must protect her -- or else he experiences tremendous physical pain. Neither Ananna nor the assassin, Naji, are pleased about this development.

Follow Ananna and Naji as they sail across the globe, visiting such mysterious places as the Court of Salt and Waves, in their desperate effort to lift the curse. Soon they will discover that only by completing three impossible tasks will they be able to set themselves free.

What happens when you mess with pirates

In Ananna of the Tanarau’s world, beautiful people sure know how to make a fine mess.

Especially when said beautiful people include the progeny of dastardly greedy pirates, a river witch with a glossed over nasty streak, and evil entities in disguise from a place called Elsewhere, and… well, there I go, getting ahead of myself. Let me try again.

Ananna is the daughter of a pair of badass pirates, part of one of the higher up families in the Pirate Confederation. With the help of another pirate clan, Ananna’s family can sack a sweet hotspot ripe for pirate pickings by utilizing this clan’s stellar naval fleet. Impressive deviousness, no? The catch? An arranged marriage is involved—Ananna’s—to exactly the kind of boy she detests and distrusts—an unrepentantly beautiful one.

Because of this trashed marriage, all sorts of cool things await for the adventurous, loyal, and spirited Ananna! This is FANTASY, you guys. And one of the best ones I’ve read this year! Not only are there pirates in our midst but also shadow-dwelling assassins, insect-ship hybrid machines, mistlike entities from other worlds, witches, wizards, blood magic, and the list GOES ON. Naturalistic dialogue, organic, brilliant, mind-catching fantasy, and characters so flawed, mysterious, and huggable they are DRILLED into your heart, The Assassin’s Curse by Cassandra Rose Clarke is a story of BOUNDLESS possibilities, in which every situation or fantasy element you can cook up in your head has a chance to make it on the pages. It’s impossible to tell what Clarke will show us, design for us to visualize, next.

It’s SO easy to geek out over this book!

THIS is why I’m a character girl

Ananna is my kind of young woman. She’s bold, feisty, and fiercely loyal of her companion, Naji, the assassin sent to KILL her. How did that (their flipped relationship) happen? His tie to her is a result of her good-hearted tendencies, the ones that make her that much more of an astonishingly lovable person. She doesn’t think much of herself on the outside but she’s conscious and proud of her capabilities, which is why she doesn’t enjoy being rendered helpless, left to hand over the reins on her escape, and eventual quest into the unknown, to a certain grumbly, miserable assassin who can’t be up to any good in the first place. She’s not afraid to be who she is and she can lay it out like it is, blunt and open. I firmly believe there isn’t anything she CAN’T do—and, no, that’s not because of my insanely OBVS girl crush on her!

Naji is no slouch, or piece of chopped liver. Naji and Ananna are amazingly well-paired main characters. They’re both used to leading, to doing things a certain way. DIFFICULT is a mild term for their attempts at compromise and trust. In fact, there’s so much distrust and discord fueling their adorably sarcastic banter that their relationship grows unawares to the two of them, until they’re forced to rely on each other even more than would be considered comfortable for both of them so that those two negative, intangible companions on their exquisite journey disappear altogether. Throw in Naji’s tortured soul motif under all the Jadorr’a badassery—you know, vulnerable and crushed heart over his facial disfigurement—and you couldn’t have two more surprisingly sweetly endearing characters, both of whom would probably scowl at the label, to fall in love with in The Assassin’s Curse by Cassandra Rose Clarke.

In terms of plot and shizz

THERE IS SO MUCH GOING ON HERE. We’ve got Ananna doing her darnest to escape her dreadful future in-laws in hopes that she won’t have to marry their obnoxious, dull, wannabe pirate son, and her attempts to elude the assassin after her very clever butt. Then, once the assassin in question is forced to her side because of an underlying curse suddenly activated by Ananna’s generous move, we’ve got a GIANT and ENGAGING quest to remove said curse—one which binds these two irrevocably in moments of danger. This becomes the PERFECT opportunity to take us across hazardous deserts and creature-infested seas to the maddening Isles of Sky where the answers they seek are said to be. Meanwhile, they have to dodge beings of the mists who are out on account of a personal vendetta against are solemn and secretive Naji.

But nothing about The Assassin’s Curse by Cassandra Rose Clarke TRULY compares to Ananna and Naji and the bond that solidifies into something impervious and steely over the months into their dangerous journey. Something about the two of them sparks instantly, but is taking a while to really catch fire. Their friendship is a slow, painful process because their trust and respect for each other is built upon many hard lessons and trials. It’s amusing to experience their inevitable softening toward each other, but even more so is their fast and steady defense of one another. It’s warming to see Ananna jump to defend Naji’s honor or his already bruised feelings, and come to realize the true nature of her feelings. And Naji may be a solid wall of unreachable mystery, but, underneath it all, there really isn’t anything he wouldn’t do for her.

How does it end?

The Assassin’s Curse by Cassandra Rose Clarke is part of a duology, which is both lovely and saddening, because while our misery over the lack of romantic fodder won’t last overly long, I KNOW I’m going to miss them both, as well as the other characters and the extraordinary high fantasy in the storytelling, and the mess of adventures Ananna and Naji drop into.

Moments of frustratingly slow pacing aside, The Assassin’s Curse by Cassandra Rose Clarke gave me a fantastical story of epic levels, with grand fantasy that seems bigger than the story itself and characters that I’m ever-rooting for, and I’m ridiculously impressed! The story scores even more points for its unexpected awesomeness, which makes it into the sort of precious gem I treasure most. A definite favorite of the year!

PS: Doesn't Naji already remind you of Prince/Fire Lord Zuko? :-D Speaking of, check out my book boyfriend edition for June which features my favorite shadow-dwelling assassin!

"A river?" I said. "Water?"
"Water generally comprises a river, yes."
"Oh, thank Kaol and E'mko both!" I closed my eyes and all the dusty dryness fell away, and I imagined diving into clean hard river water, sloughing off all the grime and filth of travel, a proper bath and not a useless sandscrub-- "We're not there yet."
I opened my eyes. Naji was looking at me with little lines creasing the strip of his face, his own eyes bright and sparkling.
"Are you laughing at me?"
"Never."
I lunged at him with an imaginary sword, and this time he really did laugh, all throaty and raspy, and I wondered what I could do to get him to laugh more. (35%)

Rating: Perfect Bed Partner

While at very few times in the novel I struggled with the sporadic too-slow pacing—I’m a fast-paced plot kind of gal—I was deeply immersed in the enchanting and more-than-merely-the-pages fantasy that very much has a life of its own. Throw in two fabulous main characters—one of whom is the amusing, honest, and realistic narrator of the story—and I was hooked. Daring and dire adventures, wicked, frightening foes, and characters I became viciously protective of by the end, The Assassin’s Curse by Cassandra Rose Clarke rapidly found its way to the top half of my favorites of the year pile!

OTHER REVIEWS: Serendipity Reviews Infinite Day Dreams YA Book Seasons

SIMILAR TITLES: Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo Seraphina by Rachel Hartman Ship Breaker by Paolo Bacigalupi

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Early ARC Review: Tiger Lily by Jodi Lynn Anderson

my thoughts in a few sentences: What do you do when your heart is squeezed so tightly it breaks for characters whom you grew to love? Tiger Lily by Jodi Lynn Anderson comes with a warning label right off—Tinker Bell warns there is a love story, “but not like any you’ve ever heard.” Do you know what it’s like to read a story about two dear characters whose outcome surprises you in the most ripping ways? Do you know what kind of shredding power first love has when it finishes but never ends? Tiger Lily by Jodi Lynn Anderson is as bleak as if tomorrow won’t come, and as hopeful, tearing, and true as anything in life you see. Tiger Lily by Jodi Lynn Anderson rips out your heart and shows you just how fragile it is before carefully shutting it back inside.

hooking first line: "She stands on the cliffs, near the old crumbling stone house."

Harper Teen • Requested • Fairy Tale Retelling • 7/3/12 • $13.49

ARC Review: Shadow and Bone

my thoughts in a few sentences:Shadow and Bone is the book I couldn’t get out of my head once it arrived on my doorstep, the one I badly wanted to read, and all others I had tried to start suffered because of this hunger for a story that was not them. Finally, I gave up reluctance and waiting and picked it up on a late evening, and my eyes were dry, sore, and brutally red, but firmly aware, by the time I looked up from the final page only to note that dawn was coming. My internal clock didn’t feel the blows until long after because the story, even after the pages relented and Bardugo’s own siren song buried in her beautiful story, which had called me back, faded, my mind was still trapped in the memory of absorbing the events on each page. I haven’t been so thoroughly captured in a long time.

hooking first line: "The servants called them malenchki, little ghosts, because they were the smallest and the youngest, and because they haunted the Duke's house like giggling phantoms, darting in and out of rooms, hiding in cupboards to eavesdrop, sneaking into the kitchen to steal the last of the summer peaches."

Henry Holt and Co. • Requested • High Fantasy • 6/5/12 • $13.49

Review: Titan Magic

my thoughts in a few sentences: Coming highly recommended from Misty at The Book Rat and Erin at Tales of the Inner Book Fanatic, Titan Magic by Jodi Lamm reads like a fairy tale embedded in this organic world of magic. It’s chaotic and powerful and meaningful, rich with characters that harbor their scars and flaws in a way that’s not hidden, but also not proud. Titan Magic by Jodi Lamm is about acceptance and the varying shades of love, and what it means to love and how the very feeling can define humanity in a person. I was blown away by the mythology, the themes, and every single character compounded together to make this story so wonderful.

hooking first line: "Tonight, no matter what the voice said, Madeleine Lavoie would not listen to it, she would not sympathize with it, and, most importantly, she would not obey it."

Self-Published • Requested • Fantasy • 9/30/11 • $11.99/$2.99

Review: Under the Never Sky

my thoughts in a few sentences: Although Under the Never Sky is not that outstandingly special story I would clutch to my chest and never want to pry myself away from, it is a spectacular story! The unsettling alliance made between enemies who seek beyond their differences and discover the truth of their soft hearts and strong wills, the action that can range from vengeful cannibals, assailing wolves, and escaping violent storms, and the circle of varying dynamic characters all make this incessant life-or-death run of a story so unbearable to put down.

hooking first lines: "They called the world beyond the walls of the Pod "the Death Shop." A million ways to die out there. Aria never thought she'd get so close."

Rating: Perfect Bed Partner | HarperTeen • Ebook Purchase • Post-Apocalyptic • 1/3/12 • $9.65

Review: Graceling

my thoughts in a few sentences: I was really in the mood for some hardcore fantasy and Graceling delivered with it's fascinating facets of a world as equally well-defined as the heroine. More, I hadn't expected to enjoy the sexy romance between two characters who become the closest of friends, a sweet relationship that sucked me into the story even more than the rest. Drawn in by Cashore's vivid, imaginative prose as well as her awesome array of characters, I'm looking forward to reading on in the series.

mysterious first line: "In these dungeons the darkness was complete, but Katsa had a map in her mind."

Rating: Perfect Bed Partner | Houghton Mifflin Harcourt • Purchased • Fantasy • 10/1/08 • $9.49

ARC Review: Allegiance (#2)

my thoughts in a few sentences: ... I'm still attempting to sort out my very complex feelings toward this novel. While I did feel that the sequel served as a better, more solid novel than the first, there are so many conflicting emotions at war within me, as a result of the strangely paced plot, disappointment, surprising grief, and my equally troubling feelings toward the series' heroine. Yet I find myself still in anticipation of the final chapter to these set of books.

mysterious first line: "The hall was empty except for a cloaked figure who stood motionless upon a black marble dais."

Rating: Guilty Pleasure • No spoilers! | HarlequinTeen • NetGalley • Fantasy • 2/28/12 • about $9

ARC Review: The Star Shard

my thoughts in a few sentences: I've found myself with another spectacular read, you guys. In the same week! An engrossing, fascinating tale that is as imaginative and reminiscent of Hayao Miyazaki's beautiful stories, including Spirited Away and Howl's Moving Castle, The Star Shard is a wondrous fantasy read that reminded me why I adore the genre so much and granted me characters I was surprised, but thrilled, to love.

imaginative first line: "To say that the Thunder Rake was a wagon would be to call the sea a puddle, for the Rake was a fortified city, full of workshops and stables, houses, towers, gardens—even a rippling canal."

Rating: Special Shelf | Houghton Mifflin Harcourt • NetGalley • Fantasy • 2/28/12 • about $14

ARC Review: Halflings

Halflings

by Heather Burch

Add it to Goodreads?
Purchase: Amazon | BookDepository
Release Date: February 1, 2012
Publisher: Zondervan
Age Group: Young Adult
Genre: Paranormal Romance/Urban Fantasy
Source: NetGalley
Special: 2012 Debut Author Challenge
Rating: Perfect Bed Partner

Hover over Books in the navigation bar above to find a link to My Rating System In-Depth.

About the Book:

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.

Fangs sank into Nikki Youngblood's leg, setting her skin on fire. A scream gurgled in her throat, but she willed herself past trees smeared by her jarred vision.

Remember when I said I was firmly in the NO ANGEL BOOKS camp, unless said books were written by Cynthia Hand? Yeah, well I've now stretched that once taut line to include Heather Burch, because she sure can write an angel book that's thrilling, intense, and chockfull of deeply lovable characters! Ya'll know that I'm a character girl through and through. So excellent angel lore and its interjection into the story aside, Burch really won me over with each of the characters she painted for me within Halflings's pages. The three guys in the main character's life are each entirely their own person, but they each carry hurts and uncertainties that strike a cord in us nearly instantaneously. They're like lost puppies, pained and unsure, floundering in doubts pertaining to their roles in the universe, which is ironic when we consider that they call themselves Lost Boys. Add to that they are gorgeous beings who pledge themselves as protectors to an unsuspecting, though appealingly strong main character, willing to lay their lives down unquestionably. They battle, they defend, and they are otherworldly. And our hearts are lost to them.

A beautifully written, unquestionably compelling story, we're thrust into the slowly unraveling life of Nikki Youngblood, our headstrong, kick-ass heroine who isn't afraid to admit fear but is also unwilling to back down when the fight presents itself. And this brave, though smartly fearful girl has a right to be suspicious and wary as when the first pages are turned, we find ourselves panicked and sweaty with exhaustion alongside her as she runs for her life from shuddersome foes that will turn her world completely upside down. Suddenly swooping in to save her are three mysterious guys who steadily bombard her life and only add to the crazy that wraps around her life. How can she trust them when they appear at the most random times, tackling strange, watchful men and trailing her wherever she goes, happening to crop up when she most needs them?

I might know what you're thinking. That this has Twilight all over it. And you couldn't be more wrong.

While I personally loved Twilight and have no qualms with it, some seem to have issues with Bella and the love triangle consuming the sequels. Well, let me reassure you that Nikki is no Bella. A long-time karate student, motorcycle-riding, brazen girl who mostly knows her own power is hardly what we'd call a Bella Swan type of main character. And though there is a love triangle, Mace and Nikki and Raven's entanglement can totally take its place next to the greatest of love triangles, the ones we all know and love. We find it extremely difficult to secure a position on either side of this agonizing love triangle, constantly wavering in our resolve. Inexplicably drawn to secure and sweet Mace while equally enraptured by the dark, brooding, badboy Raven, Nikki isn't the only one who has a tough time deciding who's best for her.

Mace, Raven, Vine, Will, Zero. The awesome girly girl best friend. The trio of Halfling girls. My head is spinning. Every character Burch introduces ensnares our attention, beckoning us to dig into their psyches, learning their thoughts, emotions, and personalities. Told in third-person and in multiple points of view, we receive viewpoints of every event through ever-switching eyes. We want to tightly hug these characters, pushing their sorrows and fear and anguish into nonexistence. The dialogue was unequivocally addictive and funny, even when it was inconsistent, and the way Burch moves the story along from plot point to plot point is quick and intriguing, rousing more questions than answers and pressing upon us is a deep-seated concern for everyone involved as a result.

Romance, kick-butt action, perilous circumstances, and a paranormal element that is somehow fresh in the hands of this wonderful author, I thoroughly enjoyed Halflings and seek to learn all hidden truths, to uncover the thread of future events in the ensuing books. I'm more than eager to clutch the sequel to me and embark on Nikki's next adventure!

"I want to know more."
"And I said, you know enough for tonight."
She pulled from his grasp and crossed her arms defiantly. "I'm not leaving."
"It's gonna get lonely out here."
Nikki huffed and decided to try a new approach. She gazed up at him. "Pleeeeease?" She batted her eyes as insurance.
Mace's resolve crumbled and he sank into the swing. "One more question, then we're done." (37%)

Mace had looked at the painting and saw possibilities. To him, the gate was an invitation. Mace was her invititation. He embraced her destiny, saw her as a future warrior, and swore to see her through.
And that made Raven her broken pot. The one who embraced the person she was right now. Odds were, he'd likely stand beside her and die to protect her as well, if she gave him the chance. Which one understands the real me? (62%)

Review: Brightly Woven

Brightly Woven

by Alexandra Bracken

Add it to Goodreads?
Purchase: Amazon | BookDepository
Release Date: June 1, 2010
Publisher: EgmontUSA
Age Group: Young Adult
Genre: Fantasy
Source: Borrowed
Special: 2012 TBR Challenge
Rating: Special Shelf

Hover over Books in the navigation bar above to find a link to My Rating System In-Depth.

About the Book:

When Wayland North brings rain to a region that's been dry for over ten years, he's promised anything he'd like as a reward. He chooses the village elder's daughter, sixteen-year-old Sydelle Mirabel, who is a skilled weaver and has an unusual knack for repairing his magical cloaks. Though Sydelle has dreamt of escaping her home, she's hurt that her parents relinquish her so freely and finds herself awed and afraid of the slightly ragtag wizard who is unlike any of the men of magic in the tales she's heard. Still, she is drawn to this mysterious man who is fiercely protective of her and so reluctant to share his own past.

The pair rushes toward the capital, intent to stop an imminent war, pursued by Reuel Dorwan (a dark wizard who has taken a keen interest in Sydelle) and plagued by unusually wild weather. But the sudden earthquakes and freak snowstorms may not be a coincidence. As Sydelle discovers North's dark secret and the reason for his interest in her and learns to master her own mysterious power, it becomes increasingly clear that the fate of the kingdom rests in her fingertips. She will either be a savior, weaving together the frayed bonds between Saldorra and Auster, or the disastrous force that destroys both kingdoms forever.

The day the rains finally came was like any other, with blistering air coating the canyon in a heavy stillness...

Recommendations for this book had been finding me everywhere, and, since I'm a huge fantasy buff, I thought I'd take a crack at it. It quickly became abundantly clear why Brightly Woven is so well-loved. I haven't been overly impressed by the fantasy books I've recently stumbled across, but Bracken spins a gorgeous tale that is magical, intense, and gripping, saturated with wizarding duels and epic rivalries, a terrorizing war, and an endearing love/hate romance that swallowed my attention from the beginning. An irresistible read, Bracken delicately, elegantly delivered me a priceless story of forgiveness, acceptance, and the importance of standing up for the right when things are disturbingly wrong, as well as wove characters that were swiftly imprinted into my heart.

A fascinating young woman, Sydelle Mirabil makes a squealing fangirl out of us by simply being herself. She is unlike what we expect--a fierce, solemn girl who loves her family deeply and will do what's necessary to protect those who matter. Her spirit and courage separates her from the flock of weak-willed/TStL leading ladies inserted in some of the more disappointing novels we've read lately and are mere shadows in comparison. And when Wayland North crops up in her small desert town under suspicious circumstances, Sydelle isn't blinded by him and willing to fall at his feet. After all, he does yank her away from her home to embark on a mysterious journey and is much too secretive for her liking. While unexplained and brand new feelings for North begin to surface, STILL she is cautious and unwilling to crumble under his demands. As for trust, that's far from an option, at least until North is inclined to be more forthcoming. Their developing relationship, strengthened by care and subtle romance, has us wanting to clear up any misunderstandings, then roll up our sleeves and knock the two together until they see what we do. Yet, the pacing of their evolving relationship is beautifully written. And their blazing sweet and hot interactions toward the final chapters are well worth the wait.

The enthralling fantasy element combined with awesome side characters (OWAIN!) added to the already swoonworthy main characters/couple snowballs Brightly Woven into something smashing and devastating and FUN. Traversing through neighboring cities, described vividly by this talented author, and experiencing the unrelenting 'race against time' feel of the plot makes us simultaneously tense and excited, with little to no time left to wonder what thrilling thing Bracken will toss in next.

I'm ecstatic to have found such a brilliant fantasy tale written by a very gifted author and will be reading whatever Alexandra Bracken decides to put together in the (hopefully near) future.

I felt North before I heard him. That same tingling warmth that I associated with him seeped under my skin, even if just for a moment. My back was pressed against his chest, and his tall frame completely enveloped me. I felt his heart racing.
"N...Nor...," I cried. "Please help me, please, it hurts, it hurts. I can't breathe. Please..."
"You're going to be all right," he said fiercely. "I've got you, I've got you."
[Skip.]
"That's my girl," he said. Sensation was tingling in my toes and fingers, but I still couldn't move, paralyzed by the pain the cold had left behind, by its last grip on my body.
That, and the solid, undeniable warmth that was North.
The wizard fell back against the wall in exhaustion. He held me against him gently, as if I was glass--as if I could shatter and fall away from him at any moment and leave him breathless and alone once more.
"That's my girl...," he whispered, resting his cheek against my shoulder. (148-150)

ARC Review: Touch of Power

Touch of Power
by Maria V. Snyder

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Purchase: Amazon | BookDepository
Release Date: December 20, 2011
Publisher: Mira/Harlequin
Age Group: Young Adult
Genre: Fantasy
Source: NetGalley
Rating: Special Shelf

Hover over Books in the navigation bar above to find a link to My Rating System In-Depth.

About the Book:

Laying hands upon the injured and dying, Avry of Kazan absorbs their wounds and diseases into herself. But rather than being honored for her skills, she is hunted. Healers like Avry are accused of spreading the plague that has decimated the Fifteen Realms, leaving the survivors in a state of chaos.

Stressed and tired from hiding, Avry is abducted by a band of rogues who, shockingly, value her gift above the golden bounty offered for her capture. Their leader, an enigmatic captor-protector with powers of his own, is unequivocal in his demands: Avry must heal a plague-stricken prince—leader of a campaign against her people. As they traverse the daunting Nine Mountains, beset by mercenaries and magical dangers, Avry must decide who is worth healing and what is worth dying for. Because the price of peace may well be her life...

The little girl wouldn't stop crying. I didn't blame her. She was dying after all...

Touch of Power was my first taste of Snyder's work and it was a rich and delightful one. Avry's tug-of-war between the need to help and the knowing that if she does, she'll be executed for doing so, instantly pulls us in and leaps onto us, one part of us begging her to save the little girl screaming for relief warring with the part that urges her to stay hidden for fear of the horrors that are sure to follow. An overcast of the dark and the bleak blankets the opening chapter, giving us the keen sense that Avry's world isn't a joyful one. Avry's kind, the healer kind, are proclaimed war criminals, treated like abominations to be killed or handed over for money for reasons fortified by indistinct proof, in a world ravaged by disease and plagued by war and dreadful politics. It's deeply evident that Avry is tired of running, so when the inevitable happens, along with the fear moves a swift feeling of relief at no longer having to hide in abiding anxiety.

Rapidly and suddenly Avry finds herself in the company of five men eager for her to heal their close friend, a prince of a relatively distant land who has caught the horrible plague that has swept all the Fifteen Realms. He is meant for great things and only Avry can save him, but at a price so final Avry must decide what and who is worth actually saving. And the five men who desire her help are five characters that stole into my heart and warmed it, melted it, and, at points, cut scars into it, who not only move Avry into admirable action but moved me in ways I always hope for when I pick up the next novel. I found Avry and Belen's deep and swift friendship a sweet reprieve from their rough travels, her attachment to the other men in the group warming me while reading as events unfolded in the cold of their world. And her syrupy slow romance with a certain resistant, stone-faced character ignited feelings that overlapped from wishful to happiness that could barely be contained!

A few people have asked me how closely Touch of Power resembles Maria's Poison Study series, if at all, and whether or not it's better or worse. Keep in mind that I read Touch of Power first, but I instantly went in search of this highly acclaimed series and fell just as deeply in love. The two stories are matching in similar threads found in the plot, the characters, and even the romance, yet Touch of Power is completely, freshly it's own. I think fans of Poison Study will be pleased with the tenacious, lovable heroine, charmed by the amazing brood of men who traverse with Avry, defending her to the best of their abilities, persevering alongside her, and the enthralling, magical fantasy that paints the book's pages. Touch of Power is presented with a vividness that can't be ignored, a story that has thoroughly earned a place on my hard-to-reach Special Shelf.

"Avry, why did you risk your life for me? Kerrick ordered you not to heal me. You suffered for days! You shouldn't have done it."
The room grew quiet. I spotted Kerrick near the doorway.
"Belen, I decide who I heal. Me. Not Kerrick. Not you. Not anyone. It's my life on the line each time. It's my decision. The only one I have left." I put my hand on his cheek. "You deserved to be saved. I had no doubts."
He covered my hand with his own, pressing it against his face. "Thank you."
"Anytime." And I meant it. (16%)

Review:The Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling

Harry Potter a n d  t h e Sorcerer's Stone

by J. K. Rowling

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Release Date: October 1, 1998
Publisher: Scholastic
Age Group: All Ages
Source: Library Check-Out
Rating: Special Shelf
About the Book:

Harry Potter has never been the star of a Quidditch team, scoring points while riding a broom far above the ground. He knows no spells, has never helped to hatch a dragon, and has never worn a cloak of invisibility.

All he knows is a miserable life with the Dursleys, his horrible aunt and uncle, and their abominable son, Dudley—a great big swollen spoiled bully. Harry's room is a tiny closet at the foot of the stairs, and he hasn't had a birthday party in eleven years.

But all that is about to change when a mysterious letter arrives by owl messenger: a letter with an invitation to an incredible place that Harry—and anyone who reads about him—will find unforgettable. For it's there that he finds not only friends, aerial sports, and magic in everything from classes to meals, but a great destiny that's been waiting for him... if Harry can survive the encounter.

Mr. and Mrs. Dursley, of number four, Privet Drive, were proud to say that they were perfectly normal, thank you very much. They were the last people you'd expect to be involved in anything strange or mysterious...

I can never fully express to you how deeply I regret not embarking on this series sooner. I'm so late! Now the movies are over and its less likely I can parade my enthusiasm and the sheer joy I got from reading this. From the first chapter alone, it became increasingly obvious as to how J.K. Rowling ended up a millionaire (or is bigillionaire...?). I'd always been a BIG fan of the movies, but I didn't read the books based on my pre-Reading Obsession years when I didn't very much enjoy them. I realized, though, that at the time, I didn't have it in me to appreciate this series. Now, I do. Boy, do I! This book incites the fan girl (or boy) in you!

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone is full of magic and adventure, sparkling story-telling, and is the embodiment of nearly every child's dream to run off to some foreign, magical place where excitement and danger is around every corner to chase off the boredom. What is so purely great about this first book (and I'm sure the others as well) is the effortless world-building that mirrors our own world in past and present spaces in our history. Nothing is over-done and it's plain how deep Rowling's knowledge of the world runs. From wands and cauldrons to magical beasts to wizarding sports, The Sorcerer's Stone will fascinate you at every plot turn and through every character. It ensnares your attention and leaves you craving the next book!

I loved Harry. His book portrayal made me much more sensitive to his circumstances and feelings. Gosh, I can't tell you how many times this boy succeeded in making me cry! The cruelty of his care-givers had me fuming and crying all at the same time. And the feeling of loss for his parents strikes you throughout the course of the movie series, but it hits much harder after reading the books. Growing up with the movies, the movie adapted characters stuck with me while I was reading. I saw Emma Watson when I read Hermione, and Radcliffe and Grint and so on. It honestly made me love the book that much more!

I appreciated the Big Mystery, and it was nice to go through the motions of unraveling it, because I had forgotten almost everything from the first movie. It was like starting fresh, and as I read the book I slowly began to recall what was going to happen. Strangely, that made it all the more exciting.

Perhaps it is because Harry Potter has been dear to my heart all this time, being apart of the Harry Potter generation, that the entire book captivated me from start to finish, but I can truly say, without bias, that The Sorcerer's Stone is an enthralling, unique, and astoundingly overwhelming read! I can promise that I was as bewitched as Harry when, together, we stumbled upon the wizarding world, and absolutely guarantee that my friends will be finding the Harry Potter books in my bag until I'm done with the series!

Thought up by the lovely Small Review, Special Shelf books are unforgettable books that hold 
beautiful stories inside and characters you will forever be in love with... (My Rating System In-Depth)

"FRED, YOU NEXT," THE PLUMP WOMAN SAID.
"I'M NOT FRED, I'M GEORGE," SAID THE BY. "HONESTLY, WOMAN, YOU CALL YOURSELF OUR MOTHER? CAN'T YOU TELL I'M GEORGE?"
"SORRY, GEORGE, DEAR."
"ONLY JOKING, I AM FRED," SAID THE BOY. (92)

"HAS ANYONE SEEN A TOAD? NEVILLE'S LOST ONE," SHE SAID. SHE HAD A BOSSY SORT OF VOICE, LOTS OF BUSHY BROWN HAIR, AND RATHER LARGE FRONT TEETH...
"OH, ARE YOU DOING MAGIC? LET'S SEE IT, THEN."
SHE SAT DOWN. RON LOOKED TAKEN ABACK...
"SUNSHINE, DAISIES, BUTTER MELLOW,
TURN THIS STUPID, FAT RAT YELLOW."
HE WAVED HIS WAND, BUT NOTHING HAPPENED. SCABBERS STAYED GRAY AND FAST ASLEEP.
"ARE YOU SURE THAT'S A REAL SPELL?" SAID THE GIRL. "WELL, IT'S NOT VERY GOOD, IS IT?" (105)

HARRY GRIPPED THE EDGES OF THE STOOL AND THOUGHT, NOT SLYTHERIN, NOT SLYTHERIN.
"NOT SLYTHERIN, EH?" SAID THE SMALL VOICE. "ARE YOU SURE? YOU COULD BE GREAT, YOU KNOW, IT'S ALL HERE IN YOUR HEAD, AND SLYTHERIN WILL HELP YOU ON THE WAY TO GREATNESS, NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT--NO? WELL, IF YOU'RE SURE--BETTER BE GRYFFINDOR!"
HARRY HEARD THE HAT SHOUT THE LAST WORD TO THE WHOLE HALL. HE TOOK OFF THE HAT AND WALKED SHAKILY TOWARD THE GRYFFINDOR TABLE. HE WAS SO RELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN CHOSEN AND NOT PUT IN SLYTHERIN, HE HARDLY NOTICED THAT HE WAS GEETTING THE LOUDEST CHEER YET. PERCY THE PREFECT GOT UP AND SHOOK HIS HAND VIGOROUSLY, WHILE THE WEASLEY TWINS YELLED, "WE GOT POTTER! WE GOT POTTER!" (121-122)

Review: The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson

The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson

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Release Date: September 20, 2011
Publisher: HarperTeen
Source: NetGalley + HarperTeen
Purchase: Book Depo. | Amazon | Kindle
About the Book:

Once a century, one person is chosen for greatness.

Elisa is the chosen one.

But she is also the younger of two princesses, the one who has never done anything remarkable. She can’t see how she ever will.

Now, on her sixteenth birthday, she has become the secret wife of a handsome and worldly king—a king whose country is in turmoil. A king who needs the chosen one, not a failure of a princess.

And he’s not the only one who needs her. Savage enemies seething with dark magic are hunting her. A daring, determined revolutionary thinks she could be his people’s savior. And he looks at her in a way that no man has ever looked at her before. Soon it is not just her life, but her very heart that is at stake.

Elisa could be everything to those who need her most. If the prophecy is fulfilled. If she finds the power deep within herself. If she doesn’t die young.

Most of the chosen do.

Normally, I jump to any fantasy books I have in hand first, and then move onto what's left in my reading pile. I love the fantasy genre! Yet, for some reason I held off reading The Girl of Fire and Thorns in favor of other things. When I actually sat down and started reading, I discovered Rae Carson delivered an intense, outstanding debut that chewed up my nerves and spat them out onto the ground with its thrilling, action-packed adventure-plot and awesome characters! It gave me a few disappointments, frustrated me, had me tearing a little, and mostly pushed me to the edge of my seat.

Obviously Carson did her homework, because the backstory, the history, the surroundings, all have an intricacy that shows that Carson knows her world well. The language she made up, the traditions, wow! It all felt very real and it was easy for me to become entrenched in the story and enjoy the world-building. The Girl of Fire and Thorns is very much unlike anything else I've ever read. I liked seeing all sides of the spectrum--the good guys' land, the bad guys', and the ones in between. It was incredibly fascinating, being in each of these totally different places!

Elisa is mostly kindhearted, really down on herself, at least at first, because she's chubby, but very likable. I think what made me like her the most, though, was the character growth I got to witness throughout the book. Elisa starts out as this shy girl with low self-esteem, dreaming about love, and turns into a... warrior. One who regains confidence, stops caring so much about how people look at her, and ultimately makes choices and promises that endear her to me. Finding herself to be desirable and wanted gave her new perspective, and it was rewarding to see her change. I loved that she turns into a hero, despite how she started out. Watching her fall in love was even better.

The romance element... I really liked, up until the last section of the book. I'm really mad at Carson for the direction she took this romance, but to say too much would give it away. In everything I read, the romance is the center of my attention. I tried not to let that be the case this time around, because it has so many other excellent aspects to focus on. The brewing war and anything battle-related I reveled in.

The Girl of Fire and Thorns serves up a gut-wrenching, deep plot based in an amazing fantasy world and delivers a beautiful message. I'm not one for preaching-type messages executed in books, but when it's done well and subtly so that I can make up my own mind and open up to it, I definitely don't mind. The Girl of Fire and Thorns, kinda like The River of Time series, is full of faith, love, sacrifice, and choice. Elisa, I clearly adored, because this isn't a book about her whining about being fat. It shows her growth from an ordinary, diffident young girl into a brave person willing to take action for what is right, even in the face of dire consequences, who triumphs against all odds. And the characters who love her because they see that she's wonderful, able, and beautiful I couldn't help but be smitten with.

This book holds an epic adventure, and my only warning is to take into account that one of the focal points is the war that's raging, and we all know how unpretty war is. There's blood and death, and Carson doesn't hold back. And the best things about this book is that it supersedes trend and goes beyond, and that the world-building is so strong, so vivid but info-dumps and tedious backstory is absent. No, Carson shows rather than tells and that's what made it so easy to get engrossed in her world. With a breathtaking heroine, wonderful, vigorous characters, and the engaging, thrilling plot (the romance doesn't hurt... oh, wait it does) The Girl of Fire and Thorns blew me away and I can't wait to find out where Carson is going to take Elisa's story next!

----------------------------------------------------------

He will know that I am easily bored, that my dresses grow larger with every fitting, that I sweat like a beast during the desert summer. I pray we can be a match in some way. Maybe he had the pox when he was young. Maybe he can barely walk. I want a reason not to care when he turns away in disgust.

"You're ignoring me."
"Yes."
I sigh with exasperation. "I've never had a friend before. Just tutors and nurses and servants and... a sister. So I'm not very good at being a friend. I don't know why I upset you and I don't know what to do about it."
...
"You didn't tell me you were married."
"I'm not in the habit of revealing state secrets to kidnappers," I snap. "Of course I said nothing. And see? You're angry."
"No. I just feel... foolish."

Review: Princess for Hire by Lindsey Leavitt

Princess for Hire 
By Lindsey Leavitt

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Release Date: March 16, 2010
Publisher: Disney Hyperion
Source: borrowed/Public Library
Purchase: Book Depo. | Amazon | Kindle
About the Book:

When Desi Bascomb gets discovered by the elite Facade Agency–royalty surrogates extraordinaire–her life goes from glamour-starved to spectacular in a blink. As her new agent, Meredith, explains, Desi has a rare magical ability: when she applies the ancient Egyptian formula “Royal Rouge,” she can transform temporarily into the exact lookalike of any princess who needs her subbing services. Dream come true, right?

Well, Desi soon discovers that subbing involves a lot more than wearing a tiara and waving at cameras. Like, what do you do when a bullying older sister puts you on a heinous crash diet? Or when the tribal villagers gather to watch you perform a ceremonial dance you don’t know? Or when a princess’s conflicted sweetheart shows up to break things off–and you know she would want you to change his mind?

In this hilarious series debut, one girl’s dream of glamour transforms into something bigger: the desire to make a positive impact. And an impact Desi makes, one royal fiasco at a time.

This book nearly killed me because I was laughing so hard, the narration was just hilarious! Right away, this story pulled at me. Maybe it comes from my not-really-secret not-so-childish wish of becoming a princess at at least one point in my life. This book was wonderfully, crazily unrealistic--bubble transporters, agents with pretty, colorful hair, and magic makeup that changes you from the average person to a freaking princess qualifies as unbelievable. But, it felt fantastic to be in that position with Desi. And to read as Desi not only navigates the intense world of royalty, but as she learns something about herself, made it worth picking up this book.

Desi, although I felt like her voice was suited more toward older YA--I mean is anyone ever that witty at thirteen?--she made this book fun to read, leaving me struggling to breathe through fits of laughter. But most important to me was that she was lovable, relatable. A girl with a heart of gold. HoG girls are the best ones to read about, because when they do something amazing for others and get rewarded in the most incredible ways, you can't help but feel good and happy for the MC. And I admired her because she went out of her way to go above and beyond and help so many throughout the novel. I can never get enough of these MCs, the good girls who make tough choices but ultimately do good things.

The plot, while it entertained, didn't totally satisfy me though. I found myself skipping around and getting bored here and there. But then my interest would suddenly get renewed. It was a rollercoaster, reading this book, and I mostly stuck through it instead of jumping out because of Desi. It was imperative that I see how this first step in her journey played out. And what I found was that this book was a decent start to what I hope turns out to be a memorable and awesome series.

And I also hope that the romance improves in the next installment, as well. I mean, I'm a little confused and a little wary at the choice in love interests here. I would be for Karl, if he wasn't already taken. *SPOILER* I assumed he'd be in love with the real princess, so how would it work out for her and Karl? I like that they have a lot in common and I think it's adorable that he's not the most gorgeous guy on the planet, HOWEVER what kind of turmoil is going to come about because of Desi's selection in guys plagues me. And the guy at the end... do I smell love triangle? *END of spoiler* I don't know how this romance is going to turn out and I'm not sure that I liked what I saw, at least not totally. But I do see the potential. And the possible relationships Desi could have is another thing pushing me to continue with this series despite my lack of fawning over the plot.

All in all, I enjoyed the beginning of this series and I intend to continue with it because it was funny, entertaining, and filled with enough good, well-thought out plot devices that guarantees that this series is definitely going to some great places. I expect that I'll love the sequel as opposed to my only liking its predecessor. Princess for Hire is definitely for fans of either or a combination of The Princess Diaries and Paranormalcy.

---------------------------------------------------

"...All right." He moved closer and flicked off the lights. "You’re obviously having a hard day, so I’m gonna show you something special."
Uh... they’d warned us about this in the employee orientation video. "Look, Drake, I don’t feel comfortable with you... uh..."
He didn’t say anything for a minute, just stared at me funny before bursting into laughter. "You thought... Oh, come off it. You’re way too young for me. Really, a fetus. Besides, you’re not my type. I mean, you’re too tall and skinny and I usually like a little meat—"
"I get the point." (11)

"If she can stand it, I can. Play it!" he said.
Wait, what? That’s a line from Casablanca. Did he know that? I watched him chew the disgusting sausage and couldn’t stop a strange feeling rising up my throat. Not the sausage (gross!), but uncontrollable laughter.
He swallowed the bite and, in a perfect Humphrey Bogart impersonation, added, "Here’s looking at you, kid."
I was laughing so hard now, I felt faint. Giddy. "I love that movie! I used to pretend my Ken doll was Humphrey Bogart."
He cracked a smile. "Sorry, doll. I don’t think Ken could do Bogie justice. Nobody can. Hollywood stars now just don’t have the same... you know."
"I know!" I leaned in. "And Ingrid Bergman! Did you know Ann Sheridan was also considered for the part?"
"Oh, no. Ingrid Bergman was born to—" Karl froze. "I mean, I only watch movies like that when nothing else is on, of course. Because I’m too busy... hunting." (181-182)

Review: Legacy by Cayla Kluver

Legacy by Cayla Kluver

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Publication Date: June 21, 2011
Source: e-ARC/NetGalley + HarlequinTeen
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Kindle
Upcoming: Allegiance (2011)

I noticed his eyes. They were blue, sharp and intense. Despite the youthful glows of his suntanned face, his eyes were cold and unfriendly, suggesting he had great experience in the world and was now expecting the worst.

In her seventeenth year, Princess Alera of Hytanica faces one duty: to marry the man who will be king. But her father's choice of suitor fills her with despair.

When the palace guard captures and intruder—a boy her age with steel-blue eyes, hailing from her kingdom's greatest enemy—Alera is alarmed…and intrigued. But she could not have guessed that their clandestine meetings would unveil the dark legacy shadowing both their lands.

In this mystical world of court conspiracies and blood magic, loyalties will be tested. Courage won't be enough. And as the battle begins for everything Alera holds dear, love may be the downfall of a kingdom.

I swear to you, I almost didn't finish reading this. There were so many things that had initially attracted me to Legacy. One, I was amazed that a teen author like Cayla was doing so well for herself--I wanted to see and be impressed by her book. Two, it's fantasy--like the kind of fantasy stuff you'd find in The Legend of Zelda and Avatar: The Last Airbender. So, here I thought I was going to be swept off my feet and find myself staggered by its brilliance. Yet, while I didn't find that with Legacy, there was something about it that kept me coming back for more. I tell you, I tried. I really tried to stop reading. But, then I kept thinking about what was going to happen next. And, you guys, I have a thing for Steldor--but more on that a little later... Somehow, Kluver still managed to snag my attention throughout the whole book. Before I knew it, the story was over and I'd read the entire thing! I don't know how it happened, but I've been reeled in!

The disappointment could have stemmed from the snail pacing found in the storytelling. How long does it take for a person to get from one room to the next? For the opposite team to attack the home team? There was all these little pieces of information that had no place in the story. I found myself getting bored from the extensive detail of the scenery and the rooms and on and on it went. Worse, though, it was probably Alera herself. I didn't hate her. At times, I actually felt sympathetic toward her. But, then there were those times that Alera just made no sense. Tattling on a long-time friend, stomping and pouting all the freaking time, really? I won't deny that she got on my nerves more than a few times. But, it was really her narration that bugged me. She bored me. There's no other way to put it. Being inside her head was like pulling teeth for me. I couldn't get a grip on the story and I felt detached throughout because of this.

And was it me, or did anyone expect more... action? Where were the fights to the death, the dueling and combating and battling? I found myself reaching for my River of Time series books. Now, Lisa knows how to plant some battle sequences. If there was a copy + paste feature somewhere, I would've definitely implemented it for this. This book was seriously lacking in excitement! I kept wishing and wishing for things to happen. And when something even remotely interesting cropped up, it still wasn't satisfying enough. Like the Cokyrian priestess and the super scary Evil Overlord (not sure if that's what he went by, exactly, but I'm sure it's close enough)! I loved them on the spot, because they intrigued me. All dark and elusive. And I love the idea that the Cokyrians tended to submit to women. All so fascinating, but oh so far away!

However, a small save was the abundant amount of sexy bodyguards. I was crushing majorly on London and Alera's younger sister's bodyguard--whose name, obviously, has escaped me by this time. While the other characters were mostly bland, London added some color to the monotonous characterizations AND plot. I wanted a POV switch. I'd rather learn all about London--Mr. Gorgeous-slash-Enigmatic-slash-Sarcastic-slash-Arrogant--and his super secret past. I'd rather be in the throng of his battles and missions. London was the embodiment of my bookish desires and hopes for Legacy. Too bad what I wanted didn't happen.

Speaking of hunky, though more pompous, males, somehow I did something I'd never thought I'd do. I fell for the wrong guy. So, Narian waltzes in and, shockingly, I barely gave him the time of day. It was Steldor, instead, who caught my eye. *moans* How did this happen? I always end up loving the guy that the heroine is most likely going to tango with, with the secondary love interest as a side-benefit and fuel for personal fantasies. I ended up doing a complete 360 and, oddly enough, I became a cheerleader for the guy I'd been wholly prepared to resist and detest. But, I couldn't help but feel for this guy. I saw a glimmer of something lovable in him, and over the course of the story, that glimmer grew into a beacon of possibility. I kept cursing Alera for going the totally predictable route, rather than basking in what was right in front of her. It was clear that Steldor would've made changes in himself had Alera so kindly given him affection and some loving. Sure, Steldor could be mean and over-bearing and self-absorbed, but I think that's just masking something much deeper. Or maybe I've just uncovered a secret soft spot for the underdog. Either way, I'm Team Steldor all the way. Narian can go stay hidden away in his mountains.

After that particularly long read though, it was, I have to admit, a tiny bit hard to judge my feelings. One side of me liked this story and the other intensely disliked it. But, I've come to the conclusion that this is an okay read, one that, on the one hand, hooked me, and, on the other, repelled me. Hopefully, I'll be impressed with the sequel--the second book to which I'm envisioning fantastic battle scenes for. With a little action, a push to the right love interest, and a little more personality for Alera, I think I could really enjoy this series.

Because I mentioned it, and as an alternative, one which I loved, you might want to check out:

Click HERE for my review of Waterfall.

Review: Ruby Red by Kerstin Gier

Ruby Red by Kerstin Gier

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Publication Date: May 10, 2011
Source: borrowed/Public Library
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Upcoming: Sapphire Blue (Spring 2012)

Gwyneth Shepherd's sophisticated, beautiful cousin Charlotte has been prepared her entire life for traveling through time. But unexpectedly, it is Gwyneth, who in the middle of class takes a sudden spin to a different era! Gwyneth must now unearth the mystery of why her mother would lie about her birth date to ward off suspicion about her ability, brush up on her history, and work with Gideon, the time traveler from a similarly gifted family that passes the gene through its male line, and whose presence becomes, in time, less insufferable and more essential. Together, Gwyneth and Gideon journey through time to discover who, in the 18th century and in contemporary London, they can trust.

♥ This Scene- "Yeah, sure!" The words were just spilling out of me. "If you've been trained for your life as a time traveler only half as thoroughly as Charlotte, then you've had no time to make any friends at all, and your opinion of what you call average girls comes from observations you made when you were standing about the school yard alone. Or are you telling me that the other kids at your school thought your hobbies, like Latin, dancing the gavotte, and driving horse-drawn carriages, were really cool?"
Instead of being insulted, Gideon looked amused. "You left out playing the violin." He leaned back and crossed his arms.
"The violin? Really?" My anger had gone away again as fast as it had come over me. Playing the violin! Honestly!

I don't know if I was supposed to love this book as I much as I do, but there it is. Ruby Red and I fell madly in love and are currently planning our honeymoon to 1890 (my favorite time period ever). With this book I've discovered my love of time travel. Sure, I liked the concept, I enjoyed it immensely in books like Timeless and Warped, but now I truly love it. And Ruby Red really makes you think about all that goes into it, makes you see how much thought and care go into the whole thing. It's not as easy as just flying back in time with nothing but the clothes on your back. Oh, no. If you intend to make a visit into the past, you have to be conscientious of clothing, speak, skills, etc.

And Gier couldn't have picked a better place to set her ideas loose--London, England! I find this so cool because I go crazy over how English people say things, like Mum instead of Mom, for example. (After reading this book, I proceeded to drive my mom crazy for a few minutes of her life by calling her Mum over and over and ov... Well, you get the idea.) The world-building and history that went into this whole story dazzled me. I hungered to know more about these families of time-travelers, their secret societies, prophecies, and so on. I couldn't get enough!

And instead of dampening this bedazzled setting and extraordinary plot to go with, the characters helped build up my awe of this book. I loved Gwen! The seemingly ordinary, sort of wide-eyed, bona fide teenage heroine. There was a point in the novel where it was necessary for her to learn a special password, and throughout the entire second half of the book she could not remember it for the life of her, mixing up the words repeatedly. Oh, no. What was that stupid password? Qua thingummy thingsitis. (197) (Other variations: Quark edit bisquitis, Qua nesquick mosquitoes. Actual words: Qua redit nescitis.) I thought it was cool how she didn't want to accept her... special talents and wanted to revert to normalcy, yet she also found herself plagued by curiosity. The pull of wanting to stay away versus the allure of learning the ever-guarded mystery. A realistic struggle.

Her relationship with other characters endeared her to me further. She depends on and loves her best friend, doesn't refrain from telling her the big Daunting Secrets. (Notice how tons of heroines do that--leave out the Daunting Secrets with their best friends.) She isn't afraid to ask questions. And she somehow manages to break through others' resolves against her, and charm them. All by being authentically her. Even better, that doesn't exclude the audacious and judgmental Gideon (love that name!) de Villiers, who she's constantly engaging in a battle of wits and sarcasm. These two, from the moment they meet, have it out for each other. And I can't tell you what I love more than watching these two types of characters take the Big Fall. Though, I can guarantee it'll be awhile before they'll admit it (to my chagrin). Still, their slow progression in the falling in love aspect of their relationship is, simultaneously, another tasty element in this book.

Amazing adventure, winning characters, and beguiling secrets that pique the curiosity until stopping becomes impossible, Ruby Red is the kind of book I won't ever get tired of and will find myself wanting to re-read. It's been AWHILE since I've had the good fortune to find That Special Book I('ll) Repeatedly Go Back To. I want to be there when the bad guy gets taken down, when the secrets behind Gwenyth's birth are unveiled, and when Gwen and Gideon finally admit the depth of their feelings for each other. This book has a good grip on me and I'm holding on tight, more than willing to ride out the rest of the series and read the end of this fantastic quest for answers into the past to save the present and future! I can see why this is an international best-seller! Count me in for Sapphire Blue!

If you like time travel books, you might want to read: 

 
Click HERE for my review of Waterfall.

Click HERE for my review of Timeless.