The Kiss of Deception by Mary E. Pearson

Title: The Kiss of Deception
Author: Mary E. Pearson
ISBN: 9780805099232
Publisher: Henry Holt and Company
Series: The Remnant Chronicles #1
Released: July 8, 2014
Page #: 489
Source: ARC from the publisher

Summary:
"In a society steeped in tradition, Princess Lia's life follows a preordained course. As First Daughter, she is expected to have the revered gift of sight - but she doesn't - and she knows her parents are perpetrating a sham when they arrange her marriage to secure an alliance with a neighboring kingdom - to a prince she has never met.

On the morning of her wedding, Lia flees to a distant village. She settles into a new life, hopeful when two mysterious and handsome strangers arrive - and unaware that one is the jilted prince and the other an assassin sent to kill her. Deception abounds, and Lia finds herself of the brink of unlocking perilous secrets - even as she finds herself falling in love."
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First Lines: (quote from the galley - see final version for edits)

"Today was the day a thousand dreams would die, and a single dream would be born.
The wind knew. It was the first of June but cold gusts bit at the hilltop citadelle as fiercely as deepest winter, shaking the windows with curses and winding through drafty halls with warning whispers."
Page 3
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Review:

It's possible that this book has just claimed the spot for my favorite book ever, right now. This is me... attempting to write a review without gushing. Go!

Princess Lia is about to get married to a prince she has never met before. Her family is trying to create an alliance with a nearby kingdom, so it is her duty to marry this man and move away from everything she knows. She's never been much for royal protocol, so it's not surprising that she doesn't want this life. On the day of her wedding, she runs away. With the help of her friend Pauline, Lia finds a new home and a life she had only imagined. And one thing she wants the most - the possibility of love that is not forced on her.

This book was... in a word... brilliant. I mean, seriously. I love the kickass princess who defies her duty and finds a new life for herself. I love that she is willing to do anything to get what she wants. I love how fiercely Lia protects and takes care of her friend Pauline. I love that family is still important to her - even though she has run away from them. I love her devotion to her brothers and their families. I love how she's not willing to give up - even when she's facing probable death. She's just... amazing. And I want to know everything about her!

So, yes. She's got these two guys who arrive on the same night to the tavern where she is now working. They're very different and she cannot place why they stand out so much. But they both catch her eye. They are our two dashing love interests. Unfortunately, one is an assassin and there to kill her. Then there is the prince she just avoided marrying. She finds herself torn between the two and starts to really fall for one of them.

Honestly, about halfway through the book, I got the biggest shock when I realized that I had the guys figured out all wrong. There isn't a point before then that tells you exactly who is who... just hints as you go along. You can only imagine my shock when I realized which one was which. I think I actually exclaimed out loud and startled some coworkers at lunch. :) That alone made me think this book was brilliant - it had me going down the wrong path, only to turn the tables on me. Loved that!

The whole second half is sort grueling. Things seem dire... life is horrifying... Lia is on the trek of a lifetime - and may not make it much longer. It's seriously intense. Plus, there are still people out there trying to kill her. She's now in a world she doesn't understand in a situation she doesn't know how to get out of. This book ends on a serious cliffhanger. You really don't know whether she's going to make it much longer. I'm totally sucked in by the whole thing and I can't wait to get my hands on the next book. In a word, this book is breathless.

I've already recommended this book to many, many people. It was actually recommended to me first by one of my coworkers. I can't believe I put it off as long as I did. I really think lots of people will love this story as much as I did... and I imagine the next book is going to be just as amazing. _________________________________________________
Other Blog Reviews: 

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Ink and Paper
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Rebel Belle by Rachel Hawkins

Title: Rebel Belle
Author: Rachel Hawkins
ISBN: 9780399256936
Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons
Released: April 8, 2014
Series: Rebel Belle #1
Page #: 345
Source: Owned copy

Summary:
"Harper Price, peerless Southern belle, was born ready for a Homecoming tiara. But after a strange run-in at the dance, Harper's destiny takes a turn for the seriously weird. She's imbued with the powers of a Paladin, a guardian with agility, super strength and lethal fighting instincts.

Just when life can't get any more disastrously crazy, Harper finds out who she's charged to protect: David Stark, school reporter, subject of a mysterious prophecy and possibly Harper's least favorite person. Things get complicated when Harper starts falling for him - and discovers that David's own fate could very well be to destroy Earth."
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First Lines:

"Looking back, none of this would have happened if I'd brought lip gloss the night of the Homecoming Dance.
Bee Franklin was the first person to notice that my lips were all naked and indecent."
Page 1
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Review:

Mages. Oracles. Paladins. Magic. It's a whole world right under everyone's noses!

Harper Price is the queen of her school. Her town, even. Everyone knows her and loves her. Her life could not be more perfect. On the night that she is supposed to be crowned Homecoming Queen, something insane happens. She's attacked and semi-accidentally kills someone with her stiletto. And now she's a ninja. Obviously, nothing makes sense anymore and her world is flipped on its head and her cotillion is going to be ruined.

I am going to agree with many of the reviews I've seen that this book is sort of ridiculous and silly, but it is a fun read. I mean, diving into the brain of a girl who is more concerned about her cotillion dress than anything else is sort of a big ask. She's smart, but is stretched so thin that her priorities get a little skewed sometimes. Luckily, she has the perfect friends to back her up on anything... until she becomes a ninja and can't tell them about it.

Going through the discovery process about this underlying world is a lot of fun. It gets even better when you understand that Harper is meant to protect someone she hates. Their relationship is really hilarious and you can see them butting heads at every turn. I think it's one of those things that you can easily imagine... because who didn't have enemies in high school?!?

One thing drove me really nuts. I haven't seen anything about it in anyone's reviews, so maybe I'm just losing my mind. But there is one moment that the author seems to lose track of one of her characters. I feel like I only noticed because I like to visualize what people are doing and appreciate when an author tells me where they're sitting, standing, looking, etc. But there's one spot in this book where the same character sits four different times without ever standing... I looked at it several times to make sure I wasn't going insane. But it really seems like there's an error there.

With that being said, it didn't keep me from enjoying the book. But it did sort of keep me aware of everyone's whereabouts and hoping it wouldn't happen again. And it didn't seem to. So we're good. :) I loved how explosive the ending was in this book. I didn't see most of that coming and it made me really excited for a second book with these characters. Not to mention the possibility of an awesome love triangle! I can only imagine the many directions this story could go.

I will definitely be recommending this book to anyone who loves their realistic stories with a hint of magic. It's a fun book that I know people will get into and an author that many already love. I'll absolutely be checking out the second book when it comes out and I look forward to seeing where this could go!
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Other Blog Reviews:

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deux lectrices

Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas

Title: Heir of Fire
Author: Sarah J. Maas
ISBN: 9781619630659
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Released: September 02, 2014
Series: Throne of Glass #3
Page #: 562
Source: My public library
 
Summary:
"Celaena Sardothien has survived deadly contests and shattering heartbreak - but at an unspeakable cost. Now she must travel to a new land to confront her darkest truth... a truth about her heritage that could change her life - and her future - forever.

Meanwhile, brutal and monstrous forces are gathering on the horizon, intent on enslaving her world. To defeat them, Celaena must find the strength not only to fight her inner demons but to battle the evil that is about the be unleashed.

The king's assassin takes on an even greater destiny and burns brighter than ever before in this follow-up to the New York Times bestselling Crown of Midnight."
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First Lines:

"Gods, it was boiling in this useless excuse for a kingdom.
Or maybe it felt that way because Celaena Sardothien had been lounging on the lip of the terra-cotta roof since midmorning, an arm flung over her eyes, slowly baking in the sun like the loaves of flatbread the city's poorest citizens left on their windowsills because they couldn't afford brick ovens."
Page 3
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Review:

If you haven't read Throne of Glass and Crown of Midnight, please do so. You won't regret it. Epic magical adventure and love story? GO! And I can't promise no spoilers of the first two books.

As the King's Assassin, Celaena has basically been to hell and back. She's fought for her position, her life, her past, her future... and everything in between. Now she's on a quest to get answers from her evil, magic-wielding aunt. But, of course, not without being fully tested and trained to her specifications. And there's larger evils happening back at home - things that Celaena has the ability to fix, but she doesn't know how yet. Training, fighting, and learning are her entire life now.

There is A LOT going on in this book. You've got probably four different storylines with about six or seven different perspectives. It's really a lot to keep up with. And if I am going to say there is any flaw in this book (which is really, really hard to do), I would say that my interest in each of the storylines was varying. Honestly, I could have just stuck with the Celaena/Rowen story the entire book. But I understand how all of the others are going to come into play and be very important as things go along. I just found myself irritated sometimes when I was stuck in another storyline when I really just wanted to know what was happening elsewhere.

So... beyond that, I absolutely loved this book. And have loved this series since the beginning. It's just so well written and you can see that the author does a fabulous job pulling all of the magical concepts together. She's really created a whole new vocabulary and world for you to explore. Things are uncovered at every turn - mysteries start to get solved, other concerns come up. There's so much that has yet to be explored that I look forward to future volumes.

There are a lot of new characters to figure out in this latest book. You've got an entire new city of people who are trying to feel out Celaena and figure out exactly who she is. Then you've got more seedy underworld characters who begin to create drama in another place. There is just a host of new characters! And while that does help keep the story fresh and interesting, there's a lot to keep up with.

I've realized that my only complaints about this book are about its complexity. And that really isn't a problem at all - it may be more of a personal issue because of my current attention span. This book took me a long time to get through, but it was because I wanted to make sure I got all of the details. I made the mistake of flying through the first book and realizing I needed to back up and make sure I understood what was going on. But if you're looking for a story to really dig into, you can't get much better than this.

The ending of this book makes me excited for the next one - which I know is the point. But there is something calming and steady about the way Celaena faces her future and what is going to happen next. And you never know! I was shocked by a few things in this story, so I can only imagine what's going to come next!

I'm absolutly continuing to recommend this series to fantasy lovers. It's a solid story that is very well thought out and you know the author already has a plan for all of these amazing characters. Honestly, I would love to see this as a movie or even as a TV series. It's epic and sometimes spooky and the battles are awesome... there's just a lot to sink your teeth into.
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Other Blog Reviews:

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Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare

Title: Clockwork Princess
Author: Cassandra Clare
ISBN: 9781416975908
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
Released: March 19, 2013
Series: The Infernal Devices #3
Page #: 568
Source: My public library

Summary:
"Tessa Gray should be happy - aren't all brides happy? Yet as she prepares for her wedding, a net of shadows begins to tighten around the Shadowhunters of the London Institute. A new demon appears, one linked by blood and secrecy to Mortmain, the man who plans to use his army of pitiless automatons, the Infernal Devices, to destroy the Shadowhunters. Mortmain needs only one last item to complete his plan.
He needs Tessa.

Charlotte Branwell, head of the Institute, is desperate to find Mortmain before he strikes. And Jem and Will, the boys who lay equal claim to Tessa's heart, will do anything to save her. For though Tessa and Jem are engaged, Will is still in love with her.

The last words of a dying Shadowhunter provide the clue that might lead Tessa and her friends to Mortmain. But their small group cannot stand alone, and the powerful Consul doubts that Mortmain is coming. Deserted by allies, the Shadowhunters find themselves trapped when Mortmain seizes the medicine that keeps Jem alive. With his best friend at death's door, Will must risk everything to save the girl they both love.

To buy Will time, the warlock Mangus Bane joins with Henry Branwell to create a device that could help defeat Mortmain. As they all work to save Tessa and the future of the Shadowhunters that resides with her, Tessa realizes that the only person who can save her is herself - for in the discovery of her own true nature, Tessa could become more powerful than she ever dreamed possible. But can a lone girl, even one who can command the power of angels, face down an entire army?

Danger and betrayal, secrets and enchantment, and the tangled threads of love and loss intertwine as the Shadowhunters are pushed to the very brink of destruction in the breathtaking conclusion to the Infernal Devices trilogy."
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First Lines:

"'I'm afraid,' said the little girl sitting on the bed. 'Grandfather, can you stay with me?'
Aloysius Starkweather made an impatient noise in the back of his throat as he drew a chair closer to the bedside and seated himself."
Page 1
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Review:

In my opinion, you can never go wrong with a Cassandra Clare book. This is the third (and final) book in the series. So if you haven't read the rest, I suggest you do so.

Tessa and Jem are finally getting married. Will, of course, isn't happy about it. And there are more people living in the London Institute than before - some of which have only just begun training to be Shadowhunters. Charlotte is being undermined and Jem's medications are becoming scarce. One attack on the Institute throws everything into a whirlwind. Will has to make a huge trip on a whim and Jem is fighting for his life. It is an epic conclusion to an already epic story.

Honestly, I didn't know this was the last book in the series. I could feel that it was getting there when I neared the end, but I wasn't expecting that. I'm notoriously bad about not reading book flaps of series' I'm already involved with. I already know I'm going to love it, so why read about it beforehand? :) So, even though this is the end, the book really captivated me.

In the previous books, there is a huge emphasis on Tessa, Will, and Jem - as to be expected. It's really their story, after all. But this last book pulls in a few more interesting characters. Gabriel and Gideon - brothers that I continually got confused. Even more about Will's sister and his family before he left them. And other fringe characters really started making a name for themselves. It was a really cool way to end the story.

Obviously, I'm not going to tell you what happens. But for those people who have chosen a side (Will or Jem), I think everyone will be happy. I haven't read a book that crafted that particular aspect so well - especially the link between the two boys. You end up loving them both and being torn - just like Tessa. It's a well crafted love story and I think will be appreciated by all fans of the series.  

Even if you haven't read the Mortal Instruments series, I think this story of the Infernal Devices stands well on its own. I do like that you have characters that you can keep up with in the future. But I really think you can get into this earlier story and be just fine. Especially if you're a fan of magical historical fiction. It's all really well thought out and I love how things come together in the end. Cassandra Clare is a true artist.
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Other Blog Reviews:

Under the Covers Book Blog
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Kala's Book Blog
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The Essence by Kimberly Derting

Title: The Essence
Author: Kimberly Derting
ISBN: 9781442445598
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
Released: January 1, 2013
Series: The Pledge #2
Page #: 341
Source: My public library

Summary:
"Though it has been months since Charlaina - Charlie - defeated the tyrant Sabara and took control of the Ludanian crown, Sabara has not disappeared. The evil queen's Essence has fused itself to Charlie's psyche, ever present right below the surface, ready to take control at the first sign of weakness.

Balancing her new duties as Queen and battling both Sabara's voice and a growing resistance determined to return Ludania to its discriminatory caste system are pushing Charlie to the brink. She wants to be the same old Charlie she has ever been, the one who Max loves, the one who Brook trusts, but now she is Your Majesty. Struggling to keep Sabara's presence a secret, Charlie is torn in two.

As Charlie journeys to an annual summit to meet with the leaders of nearby Queendoms - an event where her ability to understand all languages will be the utmost asset - she is faced with the ultimate betrayal.
And the only person she can turn to for help is the evil soul residing within."
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First Lines:

"He approached respectfully, cautiously. Warily.
She'd always been capricious, his queen. But of late, she was nothing less than upredictable."
Page 3
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Review:

So, I really enjoyed The Pledge. But for some reason, I had a harder time getting through this second book. The story is solid, but...

Charlie has become the queen of Ludania, but she isn't alone. There is a second soul living in her body - the past queen named Sabara - who is trying to take control. Things start to escalate when Sabara spies her old flame and fellow immortal. Because of this, Charlie has even less control over her own body. There is also unrest in the countryside. There are people who want her dead. There is definitely a mole in the trusted royal advisers, but no one knows where to look.

Several people asked me how this book was while I was reading it. I will repeat my answer here... "I'm sure I would love it more if I had read The Pledge yesterday instead of a year ago." Consider yourself warned. You either need to remember exactly what happened in the first book or just go with it till you figure things out. There isn't a whole lot of backtracking to get you caught up. And up to date on who is who. It took them practically making out for me to remember that Max is Charlie's love interest.

I spent quite a while very confused about what was going on. I had remembered the beginning of the first book fairly clearly. But everything else was a little blurry. I know that this clouded my vision of this book - and didn't help with the amount of time it took for me to finish it. All that being said, the bones of this book are good. The story is good. I just needed a little more of a push to get me mentally involved. Especially when one of the main themes is a double-souled body. Things can get very confusing when that's not explored clearly. I have read lots of reviews by people who absolutely adored this book. So I feel like I might not have been in the right mindset.

In this second book you have another perspective added as well - Brooklyn has taken the position of commanding Charlie's army. She is the one who realizes there is someone against them. The one who has to protect the Queen. And it doesn't help that they're on the road traveling to a summit. So she adds a lot of adventure and is a very interesting character. There were a few others that I wish we had seen more of - ones that would have probably given the story more depth.

I think one of the reasons this book didn't resonate as much for me is that one of my favorite elements from the first book was missing. I just re-read my review and I remember loving and talking about the language barriers. Different levels of society spoke different languages. You weren't supposed to understand each other - especially if you were from a lower level of society. It was considered a crime if you heard a different language and looked at the person speaking it. What a cool concept. But that was thrown out the window the instant Charlie became Queen. You only get a small taste of that throughout this second story. And I suppose I was hoping for more of that idea.

So, all that being said... I know many people have loved these two books. I would probably still recommend them to people, but specify that they need to be read one right after the other. It's probably not my favorite series of all time, but I know it fits a niche that people really love right now (thanks dystopian lovers of the world). :) I hope you all have much better luck with this one than I did!
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Other Blog Reviews:

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Carina's Books
Novel Novice
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The Diviners by Libba Bray

Title: The Diviners
Author: Libba Bray
ISBN: 9780449808764
Publisher: Little, Brown/Listening Library
Released: September 18, 2012
Series: Diviners #1
Duration: 18 hours, 14 minutes
Source: Audiobook from my public library

Summary:
"SOMETHING DARK AND EVIL HAS AWAKENED. . . .
Evie O'Neill has been exiled from her boring old hometown and shipped off to the bustling streets of New York City--and she is pos-i-tute-ly ecstatic. It's 1926, and New York is filled with speakeasies, Ziegfeld girls, and rakish pickpockets. The only catch is that she has to live with her uncle Will and his unhealthy obsession with the occult.

Evie worries her uncle will discover her darkest secret: a supernatural power that has only brought her trouble so far. But when the police find a murdered girl branded with a cryptic symbol and Will is called to the scene, Evie realizes her gift could help catch a serial killer.

As Evie jumps headlong into a dance with a murderer, other stories unfold in the city that never sleeps. A young man named Memphis is caught between two worlds. A chorus girl named Theta is running from her past. A student named Jericho is hiding a shocking secret. And unknown to all, something dark and evil has awakened. . . ."
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First Lines:

"In a town house at a fashionable address on Manhattan's Upper West Side, every lamp blazes. There's a party going on - the last of the summer."
Page 1 
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Review:

To be honest, I actually own a paper copy of this book. But it's just. so. huge. So I opted for the audio - in hopes of being able to listen to it more quickly. I'm going to assume that was successful :).

Evie has a special gift for getting into trouble. Well, and an actual special gift that usually goes with the trouble. She's shipped off to live with her uncle to live a glamorous life in NYC. Only, there's a killer on the loose. Her uncle gets called to help with the investigation and she tags along. Before long, she's fully involved and finds her life in grave danger. Plus there are parties, dancing and cute boys.

Everything about this 1920s setting lends itself to wonderful costumes, characters, and craziness. I really enjoyed delving fully into the time period. And it is quite the chilling mystery. I made the mistake a few times of listening right before I went to bed. Man! The author does a great job of the suspense - I had no idea the ending would turn out the way it did. She's a gifted story teller, for sure.

There were a lot of characters to follow. A few times I got a little lost - and it would have probably been worse if I had been reading a paper copy of the book. Luckily, the reader did a great job of keeping voices straight so I was able to figure things out based on that. I got worried every time a new character was introduced. But those characters are what really made this story move - all of the different experiences and perspectives. Not to mention, a few of those characters only existed for a chapter or so. Ahem.   

I cannot review this book without talking about the audio. The reader for this book was fantastic. There were all sorts of crazy voices and songs that she did a wonderful job with. I was very impressed. She made it feel like I was totally transported back to the 20s. The lingo sounded natural and I imagine that she had a lot of practice with the various characters. It was just really well done and I highly recommend it.

If you're a fan of mysteries, then this book is totally for you. There's a bit of stuff about mysticism and the occult - which I have always found very interesting. It was just another part of this book that made me intrigued. So, I think if you can get over the size of the book, this is definitely one to give a shot. Or listen to. That's what worked for me on this one. But I'm a big fan of Libba Bray, so I might be jaded.
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Other Blog Reviews:

Candace's Book Blog
The Midnight Garden
The White Unicorn
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Carrier of the Mark by Leigh Fallon

Title: Carrier of the Mark
Author: Leigh Fallon
ISBN: 9780062184825
Publisher: HarperCollins
Released: November 29, 2011
Duration: 7 hours, 58 minutes
Source: Audiobook from my public library

Summary:
"Their love was meant to be.

When Megan Rosenberg moves to Ireland, everything in her life seems to fall into place. After growing up in America, she's surprised to find herself feeling at home in her new school. She connects with a group of friends, and she is instantly drawn to darkly handsome Adam DeRis.

But Megan is about to discover that her feelings for Adam are tied to a fate that was sealed long ago—and that the passion and power that brought them together could be their ultimate destruction."
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First Lines:

"My first day at a new school... again. I pulled on the school uniform and eyed myself critically in the mirror. A uniform! I couldn't believe it."
Page 1
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Review:

Girl meets boy. Girl falls madly in love with boy within six seconds. Boy is mysterious, but for a good reason. Girl gets pulled into his world and finds out she belonged there all along. It's a pretty solid base for a teen novel :).

So, Megan is new to Ireland. She's used to moving and changing schools, but the life in Ireland is totally different. And for some unknown reason, she has attracted the attention of Adam - a guy every girl fantasizes about. She soon finds out that his family is shrouded in mystery and there are lots of urban legends about them. But once she starts to get to know the family, Megan realizes how much deeper that legend goes - and how much of it is true. But little did she know that she has her own mysteries. She can only tap into her potential if she sticks with them.

Ah, love. Young love. I know this is a staple for every teen novel of all time. And this one fits firmly into that category. It almost takes on its own persona in the story. The beginning of the relationship happens so quickly at the start of the story that it hardly seems possible. But such is a teen novel. :) Adam and Megan are the living embodiment of love at first sight. By the end, they are willing to die for each other. It's sort of sweet, I suppose. Very Romeo and Juliet without the star-crossed bit.

Throughout this love story, you've also got the magic and the mystery and the intrigue. I'm not going to give up what Adam's family can do, but it's very interesting that Megan showing up is what makes the circle complete. They are powerful, but with her around they are so much more. So it becomes more about the relationship with the entire family - not just the guy. I sort of liked that aspect of the book. It was a little less overwhelming with all the mush :).

I did listen to the audiobook on this one. The narrator did a really good job - especially with all of the various accents. Set in Ireland, so you have lots of that. The main character is American. And then you have various English accents that pop up as well. I was a little worried about that when I first started. Not nailing an accent could throw off the entire audiobook. But she did well and it was super believable.

In terms of recommending this title, I think you'll love it if you're into either YA fantasy or romance. It probably pulls in both of those audiences. It's a pretty epic love story, that's for sure. I would love to read a second book about one of the side characters. I feel like we've got a handle on Adam and Megan, so moving to a new perspective would be pretty cool. But I do think there is a second book scheduled to come out this summer. It will probably be worth checking out! 
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Other Blog Reviews:

A Bookworm's Haven
Read. Breathe. Relax.
Dreaming in Books
We Fancy Books
Confession of a Bookaholic
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Throne of Glass by Sarah Maas

Title: Throne of Glass
Author: Sarah J. Maas
ISBN: 9781599906959
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Released: August 07, 2012
Series: Throne of Glass #1
Page #: 404
Source: ARC from the publisher

Summary:
"In a land without magic, where the king rules with an iron hand, an assassin is summoned to the castle. She comes not to kill the king, but to win her freedom. If she defeats twenty-three killers, thieves, and warriors in a competition, she is released from prison to serve as the king's champion. Her name is Celaena Sardothien.

The Crown Prince will provoke her. The Captain of the Guard will protect her. And a princess from a foreign land will become the one thing sh enever thought she'd have again: a friend. But something evil dwells in the castle of glass - and it's there to kill. When her competitors start dying one by one, Celaena's fight for freedom becomes a fight for survival, and a desperate quest to root out the evil before it destroys her world."
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First Lines:

"After a year of slavery in the Salt Mines of Endovier, Celaena Sardothien was accustomed to being escorted everywhere in shackles and at sword-point. Most of the thousands of slaves in Endovier received similar treatment - through an extra half-dozen guards always walked Celaena to and from the mines."
Page 1
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Review:

Girl Assassin?! I'm in.

Celaena has spent her life learning from the top assassin - tricks of the trade... until she got caught. She spent the last year in a work camp... mining. Now, the Crown Prince needs a champion. Someone who isn't afraid of challenges and killing. A competition has been set up for someone to be given the job of the King's Champion. Celaena has to win - or it's back to prison for her... and certain death.

I have heard a lot about this book lately. I guess it's mostly been publisher marketing stuff, but it was totally worth it. This book really stands up to all the stuff I've seen about it. There's action, crazy monsters, scary killer-types, lovely boys ;), and unexpected friendship. So really, it has everything you could possibly want.

I really love kick-ass girl characters. Can you imagine spending your life becoming a honed assassin - and being the best there is? By Seventeen?! Crazytown! But that's what makes Celaena so amazing. She has had an amazing amount of life experience by then and she's taking on her next big challenge. To live in a castle where she's not known as the famous assassin. Where she's not appreciated the way she has been in the past. She's become almost anonymous.
And now there's a killer on the loose - and it's not Celaena. Players in the competition start dying mysteriously and brutally. No one knows what is happening, but the champions start being very careful. Celaena is always surrounded by guards and has two interesting guys looking out for her...

Speaking of them, she has both the Crown Prince and the Captain of the Guard at her beck and call. The captain is actually training with her and helping her get back her strength from her time in prison. The Prince is her sponsor. But both of them have become much more to her than that. They protect her, help her. I really enjoyed that this wasn't your typical love triangle - they didn't have that sort of relationship. It made it much more interesting for me.

Celaena also made a friend in a foreign princess visiting the castle. It helped that she already spoke the language, but theirs is a fast friendship and it keeps her grounded. I love how this friendship formed - it seemed very realistic and exactly the type of friendship you can cherish. I just thought it was well done. And the twist about the princess in the end really made it that much more solid for me.

I highly recommend this book. There are so many wonderful high fantasy novels out there and I know this one will find its place among them. Not to mention that this is only the first book! I am so excited to see where things go from here. There were so many characters to follow and I can only imagine the craziness that could be coming. I will be waiting for that one starting... well, now. :) It's a great read that you won't be able to put down.
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The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater

Title: The Scorpio Races
Author: Maggie Stiefvater
ISBN: 9781616378608
Publisher: Scholastic (Audiobooks)
Released: October 18, 2011
Page #: 12 hour audio
Source: My public library

Summary:
"Some race to win. Others race to survive.
It happens at the start of every November: The Scorpio Races. Riders attempt to keep hold of their water horses long enough to make it to the finish line.
Some riders live.
Others die.

At age nineteen, Sean Kendrick is the returning champion. HE is a young man of few words, and if he has any fears, he keeps them buried deep, where no one else can see them

Puck Connolly is different. She never meant to ride in the Scorpio Races. But fate hasn't given her much of a choice. So she enters the competition - the first girl to ever do so. She is in no way prepared for what is going to happen.

As she did in her bestselling Shiver trilogy, author Maggie Stiefvater takes us to the breaking point, where both love and life meet their greatest obstacles, and only the strong of heart can survive. The Scorpio Races is an unforgettable listening experience."
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First Lines:

"It is the first day of November and so, today, someone will die.
Even under the brightest sun, the frigid autumn sea is all the colors of the night: dark blue and black and brown. I watch the ever-changing patterns in the sand as it's pummeled by countless hooves."

Page 1
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Review:

I truly put off reading this book for a while. I had heard some reviews that were kinda meh about it and I didn't want to have that sort of experience. But after reading/listening to it, I've decided that those people just wanted it to be like her other books. It's not, but it absolutely stands on it's own two (four) feet (hooves) and gives you an amazing story you won't soon forget.

The Scorpio Races take place on Thisby every November. It's an island where the water horses come on land during the month of October and almost terrorize the towns. But once the locals have snared some of the horses and learned to ride them, tons of tourists show up to watch them race on the most dangerous day next to the ocean. People die in these races every year - but this story is about two teens who decide to test their fate. One is the first girl ever to ride in the races and the other is the reigning champ fighting for a better life.

Man. I just realized that it's hard to sum up this story in a few words. It's probably one of the more deep and intense novels I've read/listened to in a while. Maybe it's just the connection that you form with these characters because they are so different from your average teens. And I do want to give kudos to the author for writing an awesome horse story without a bonnet anywhere on the cover... or in the story. What a relief! :)

Puck was an amazing character. At first she's super naive and trusting -until she realizes just what she's gotten herself into. The races have always been for men and many people in the community try to convince her to drop out. She also decides to use her own horse instead of one of the very un-horse-like water horses. One of her biggest concerns is being eaten. That's right... eaten.

Sean is the champion rider that has won the last four years, but this year there is a lot more at stake. His horse is one that he has gotten to know so well, there is no denying their connection. But the horse is owned by someone else... and he wants the chance to be free to live his own life. All he has to do is not just survive the races, but win. Again. He's an internal guy. Nothing shows on the outside. He's brooding and relates much better to horses than people. Until Puck, of course ;).

The whole idea of water horses was a new one for me. I hadn't heard any of the tales or anything, so I looked a few things up while I was reading this book. It's such an amazing idea. Can you imagine something as huge as a horse coming straight out of the ocean? It gives me shivers. And the author does such a great job with descriptions that I felt like I could hear them, smell them, see them... perfectly. It's such an eerie idea and it really makes this story full of magic and suspense.

I loved all of the various characters around the town. The shop owners, the boys who are friends of her brothers, Puck's brothers themselves, the American horse buyer... all of them. It just made this town feel so rich in history and life. Though, I do have to question... it seems like a small town/island. How in the world to they afford to lose that many men every year during the races? I mean, according to the races, there are a ton of people who don't make it. I do know that it's discussed as a fact of life there. But how do they continue to have people to take part in the races? That's all. Maybe I missed something about how intensely this island is populated :).

I will absolutely be recommending this book! There are lots of characteristics that make it a wonderful story and I think it will appeal to a broad range of people. I loved that the romance didn't hit you in the face - which I think is a nice change. I have already looked around to see if there will be a sequel and it looks like that's never going to happen. It's too bad, though. I'd love to see what happens afterward. Ah well. It's a great story by itself. I definitely think you should all give it a try!
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Other Blog Reviews:

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Born Wicked by Jessica Spotswood

Title: Born Wicked
Author: Jessica Spotswood
ISBN: 9781617070600
Publisher: Penguin
Page #: Audio 9 hour run time
Released: February 07, 2012
Source: Playaway from my library

Summary:
"Everybody knows Cate Cahill and her sisters are eccentric.

Too pretty, too reclusive, and far too educated for their own good. But the truth is even worse: they're witches. And if their secret is discovered by the priests of the Brotherhood, it would mean an asylum, a prison sheep - or an early grave.

Before her mother died, Cate promised to protect her sisters. But with six months to choose between marriage and the Sisterhood, she might not be able to keep her word... especially after she finds her mother's diary, uncovering a secret that could spell her family's destruction. Desperate to find alternatives to their fate, Cate starts scouring banned books and questioning rebellious new friends, all while juggling tea parties, shocking marriage proposals, and a forbidden romance with th ecompletely unsuitable Finn Belastra.

If what her mother wrote is true, the Cahill girls aren't safe. Not from the Brotherhood, the sisterhood - not even from each other."
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First Lines:

"Our mother was a witch, too, but she hid it better. I miss her. Not a single day goes by that I don't wish for her guidance. Especially about my sisters."
Page 1
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Review:

This is a fantastic book about family, magic, and finding love that transends all things... like accidentally making feathers appear when you kiss and such. :) I'm pissed about the ending, but I'll get to that in a minute.

Cate and her two sisters are witches - but absolutely no one can know. Including their father. Their mother had known... but she was gone now. The Brotherhood (effectively the heavies, the police, the religion, the teachers, the "protectors", etc) watches all young girls to see if they exhibit signs of being a witch. They require all girls to be married or go into the Sisterhood - neither of which Cate is ready for. Cate finds out that there is a prophecy that might be about her and her sisters - much to her dismay.
I loved this book. It was such a rich story and I seriously wish I was living it along with Cate (without all of the women-oppression stuff, of course). She is a strong, independant woman who has taken on raising her sisters. She doesn't want to think about what might happen when she's married to someone or shipped off to the sisterhood. Even through all of the things that are there to keep her down, she still prospers. I really think she's an awesome character.

And her boys... my, oh my. Even though this is mostly historical fiction (to a point), there's still the type of love story that I know girls in this era will swoon over. You've got the hunky next door neighbor, who has known Cate since they were small children. He's been gone a while and has just returned... to take her away with him. And if that's not enough, you've got the son of the book seller - and now their gardener. I love that he's the son of a kick ass woman during this time of meek ladies. Good stuff!

You know, there is a big difference between reading a book about magic and a book about a family who happens to be magic. This isn't a story where you're hit in the face with their differences and how they feel about things. It's more like you're getting to know this awesome family who has this thing they have to deal with. I really appreciated that. I think that is really what took this book from being a cool story to an amazing book!

Okay, so the ending. Of course, I'm never going to tell you what happens... but I will say that I hated it. NOT what was supposed to happen. Not even a little bit. I spent the last chapter or two kind of screaming at the book. Lots of "No. Nononono!" "WAIT! Don't do that!!!" and "That's just not right. Stop that!" Yeah. No good. Now, I'm sure there's a reason... and I'll definitely be getting the next book asap... but it made me bitter. But what about...?!?!?! Sigh. Guess I have to wait.

Even through the ending, I still thought it was wonderful. I will definitely be recommending this book on to many readers. Really, if you love the Libba Bray Great and Terrible Beauty trilogy, I think this will be right up your alley. It's got all of the awesome elements to make a fantastic series. Now all I have to do is forget about the ending until I get the next book in my hands. Enjoy it!
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