Talon by Julie Kagawa

Title: Talon
Author: Julie Kagawa
ISBN: 9780373211395
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Released: October 28, 2014
Series: Talon #1
Page #: 449
Source: My own copy

Summary:
"Long ago, dragons were hunted to near extinction by the Order of St. George, a legendary society of dragonslayers. Hiding in human form and growing their numbers in secret, the dragons of Talon have become strong and cunning, and they're positioned to take over the world with humans none the wiser.

Ember and Dante are the only sister and brother known to dragonkind. Trained to infiltrate society, Ember wants to live the teen experience and enjoy a summer of freedom before taking her destined place in Talon. But destiny is a matter of perspective, and a rogue dragon will soon challenge everything Ember has been taught. As Ember struggles to accept her future, she and her brother are hunted by the Order of St. George.

Soldier Garret Xavier Sebastian has a mission to seek and destroy all dragons, and Talon's newest recruits in particular. But he cannot kill unless he is certain he has found his prey - and nothing is certain about Ember Hill. Faced with Ember's bravery, confidence and all-too-human desires, Garret begins to question everything that the order has ingrained in him - and what he might be willing to give up to find the truth about dragons."
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First Lines:

"'Ember, when did your parents die, and what was the cause of death?'
I stifled a groan and tore my gaze from the car window, where the bright, sunny town of Crescent Beach shimmered beyond the tinted glass."
Page 11
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Review:

Undercover dragons living among humans - researching humans - trying to go undetected? I'm totally in.

Ember and Dante have been given the opportunity to live among humans and learn as much as they can until they are given their official assignments. They've been extremely sheltered until now, so this is a huge change for them. Ember greets the challenge head-on. She makes friends, meets a guy, learns to surf... until she meets a mysterious stranger who seems to know all about her. Not to mention she is trying to avoid being detected by their nemesis - the Order of St. George.

While I know the bones of this story are a little silly... this book was awesome. It's the perfect mix of light-hearted fun and surfing, but serious danger and training. The whole concept of undercover dragons is a total new one for me and I love it. There are some pretty epic battle scenes that will make this book very appealing to action lovers, and I think there's plenty of relationship stuff that will appeal to the romance lovers. Shall we say that this book has something for everyone? Maybe. :)

You get hints about where Ember and Dante have come from, but there's never a clear picture of their home. Their training. Did they have friends there? Did they have family? You get the feeling that they have come from a scientific lab... that they have never interacted with anyone. But I also find their relationship very interesting - especially if they come from that sort of background. They're very protective of each other, as twins often are. But That's not something they were taught and not something their parent organization (Talon) is a fan of. So I found them to be very interesting. I get the feeling that we'll get a lot more of Dante's side of things in the next book.

As you can imagine, there is a definite love triangle going on here. The guys could not be more opposite - one is a rogue dragon that he denounced anything Talon-related and wants Ember to join him, the other is a dragon hunter who doesn't really know who she is, but has his suspicions! I mean, how much more emotionally charged can you get? Why couldn't she just find some cute surfer boy? Alas!

Seriously, though... I totally bought into the story. I wanna know what's going to happen next. I want to see where all of the characters end up. I feel pretty invested. I will say that I don't think this is Kagawa's best book to date. I mean, can you ever live up to the Iron Fey series? I think not. :) But honestly, I think it's an original story that people will love. Especially those fans of paranormal romance. You don't get much more paranormal than dragons, right?
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Read. Breathe. Relax.
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Goldilox and the Three Weres

The Eternity Cure by Julie Kagawa

Title: The Eternity Cure
Author: Julie Kagawa
ISBN: 9780373210695
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Released: April 30, 2013
Series: Blood of Eden #2
Page #: 446
Source: eARC from NetGalley

Summary:

"In Allison Sekemoto's world, there is one rule left: Blood calls to blood.

She has done the unthinkable: died so that might continue to live. Cast out of Eden and separated from the boy she dared to love, Allie will follow the call of blood to save her creator, Kanin, from the psychotic vampire Sarren. But when the trail leads to Allie's birthplace in New Covington, what Allie finds there will change the world forever—and possibly end human and vampire existence.

There's a new plague on the rise, a strain of the Red Lung virus that wiped out most of humanity generations ago—and this strain is deadly to humans and vampires alike. The only hope for a cure lies in the secrets Kanin carries, if Allie can get to him in time.

Allison thought that immortality was forever. But now, with eternity itself hanging in the balance, the lines between human and monster will blur even further, and Allie must face another choice she could never have imagined having to make."
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First Lines: (From the ARC, subject to change)

"I smelled blood as soon as I walked into the room.
A blast of snow-laced air accompanied me, swirling around my black coat, clinging to my hair and clothes as I shoved back the door."
Page 9
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Review:

While this book did take me an eternity to finish, it wasn't the fault of the book. Life got in the way (darn life!). If this is the first you are hearing of the Blood of Eden series, I highly suggest you go pick up a copy of The Immortal Rules. It's a perfect vampire novel. Plus, there might be spoilers in this review....

So, Allison is finally getting used to being a vampire. She's learned how to deal with her urges, and even how to stay up a little past the sunrise. She's making huge progress. And now she is on a quest to rescue her sire. She can tell he is in great danger and wants to help. But once she finds where he is, she realizes there are much bigger things at stake. There is a new human virus that is making people go crazy and attack. Plus, it does something wicked to vampires. She's between a rock and a hard place, but she is back where she started. Where she grew up. One would hope that might give her the upper hand.

Quite frankly, I was really worried that Zeke wouldn't be in this book. The first book left him in Eden. A human refuge. Allison had walked away from him and all of the other people they met on the journey. I'm not going to get into specifics, but he does appear in this story again. And things really heat up. He becomes even more of a badass than he was before ... and don't even get me STARTED on the ending! Whew!

I don't recall much about Sarren from the first book, but he becomes the ultimate baddy in Eternity Cure. He's vicious and unrelenting and just plain intense. There are times that Allie has to get into his head and figure out what in the world his grand plan could be. He also pulls no punches and will use the weakest thing about you in a fight.And I love how Jackel is the guy you can't trust, but you sort of have to. It's hard to know what side of the fence he lives on, but he definitely keeps you on your toes. I sort of can't wait to learn more about him.

You can see where the focus of the next book is going to be - on Eden again. And on Sarren and his plans for the world. I absolutely cannot wait. And I promise not to take so long reading that one. I'm definitely hooked into the story. Kagawa has a gift for telling rich, amazing stories. I am definitely a fan and will read just about anything from her. So, now comes the waiting game for book three.

This series really is great for those vampire lovers who are still out there. The main character is a reluctant vamp and you get the feeling that she really doesn't want to give in to the dark side. It makes her lovable and relateable. I think a lot of teens will identify with some of her struggles (outside of the wanting to drink blood thing). I have recommended these books several times and will continue to do so.
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Other Book Reviews:

I'm Loving Books
Candace's Book Blog
Bookish Ardour
Musings of a YA Reader
ReadBreatheRead
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Writing is a Blessing
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Book Chick City
Book Brats

The Golden Lily by Richelle Mead

Title: The Golden Lily

Author: Richelle Mead
ISBN: 9781595143181
Publisher: Razorbill
Released: June 12, 2012
Series: Bloodlines #2
Page #: 418
Source: My public library

Summary:
"Sydney would love to go to college, but instead, she's been sent into hiding at a posh boarding school in Palm Springs, California - tasked with protecting Moroi princess Jill Dragomir from assassins who want to throw the Moroi court into civil war. Formerly in disgrace, Sydney is now praised for her loyalty and obedience, and held up as the model of an exemplary Alchemist.

But the closer she grows to Jill, Eddie, and especially Adrian, the more she finds herself questioning her age-old Alchemist beliefs, her idea of family, and the sense of what it means to truly belong. Her world becomes even more complicated when magical experiments show Sydney may hold the key to prevent becoming Strigoi - the fiercest vampires, the ones who don't die. But it's her fear of being just that - special, magical, powerful - that scares her more than anything. Equally daunting is her new romance with Brayden, a cute, brainy guy who seems to be her match in every way. Yet, as perfect as he seems, Sydney finds herself being drawn to someone else - someone forbidden to her.

When a shocking secret threatens to tear the vampire world apart, Sydney's loyalties are suddenly tested more than ever before. She wonders how she's supposed to strike a balance between the principles and dogmas she's been taught, and what her instincts are now telling her.

Should she trust the Alchemists - or her heart?"
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First Lines:

"Most people would find being led into an underground bunker on a stormy night scary. Not me.
Things I could explain away and define with data didn't frighten me. That was why I kept silently reciting facts to myself as I descended deeper and deeper below street level."Page 1
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Review:

If you haven't read Bloodlines, I highly recommend you do so. Of course, I also recommend the Vampire Academy that this series spins off from... but that's not totally necessary. Bloodlines is. And if you are remotely into vampire stories, I know you will love them. But do that before you read here, because there's bound to be spoiler things from the first book.

So, we're now following Sydney in her foray with the Moroi and Dhampirs. Alchemists are notably brilliant and careful - they stay as far away from Moroi emotionally as possible. But Sydney has to live with them for her mission. And she's worried that she might be getting too comfortable with them... one in particular. Ahem. But their group has also discovered a group in Palm Springs who are intent on doing them damage. And they're humans! dun dun duuuunnnnnn. :)

Honestly, this is another well written, well thought-out book by Mead. I've already determined that I will read any of her teen stuff in a heartbeat - and this book reminded me why. While it's the second book in the series, The Golden Lily does not appear to suffer from the second-book-slump. It's still building the story while throwing a few new monster-types at you. The main characters are still feeling each other out and finding out what they really think of each other.

Sydney is a brainiac. Like, crazy smart and has spent her whole life focusing on that. Which makes her socially awkward. To her surprise and luck, there's a guy out there who is just like her. And they figure out the dating thing together... which is fairly funny in its awkwardness. And I sort of loved watching  Sydney figure things out. Very studiously and searching for the emotion in things. I'm rooting for that girl.

There was a bit more of the magic aspect in this book - and Sydney's connection to it. I was worried that it might overpower the story, but there's just enough of it to get the sense of what's going on. I kind of want to shake that teacher who is making her learn all of the spells for her independent study.

I love that there's really only a hint of love triangle - well, two possible ones. But Sydney is so clueless about those things that it takes a while for it to really develop (if at all). And it makes sense the way things turn out... and it gets me excited for the next book to see what happens! Don't even get me started on Eddie, Jill, Micah, and Angeline. Darn love circles! :)

Again, if you haven't read Bloodlines, I suggest you do so asap. The Golden Lily is a perfect follow up and I know the series will be all amazing. Now all I have to do is wait about 8 months for the next book to come out. I definitely recommend this series to those who are still in the vampire world... and for those who like a little magic throw in. You can't go wrong with a Richelle Mead book.
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Other Blog Reviews:

The Page Turner
HubPages
ILoveTeenBooks
Radiant Shadows YA Book Blog
Me, My Shelf, and I
Dream Reads
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A Little Shelf of Heaven

The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa

Title: The Immortal Rules
Author: Julie Kagawa
ISBN: 9780373210510
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Released: April 24, 2012
Page #: 485
Series: Blood of Eden #1
Source: My public library

Summary:
"Allison Sekemoto survives in the Fringe, the outermost circle of a vampire city. By day, she and her crew scavenge for food. By night, any one of them could be eaten.

Some days, all that drives Allie is her hatred of them. The vampires who keep humans as blood cattle. Until the night Allie herself is attacked - and given the ultimate choice. Die... or become one of the monsters.

Faced with her own mortality, Allie becomes what she despises most. To survive, she must learn the rules of being immortal; including the most important: go long enough without human blood, and you will go mad.

Then Allie is forced the flee into the unknown, outside her city walls. There she joins a ragged band of humans who are seeking a legend - a possible cure to the disease that killed off most of humankind and created the rabids, the mindless creatures who threaten humand and vampires alike.

But it isn't easy to pass for human. Especially not around Zeke, who might see past the monster inside her. And Allie soon must decide what - and who - is worth dying for."
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First Lines:

"They hung the Unregistereds in the old warehouse district; it was a public execution, so everyone went to see.
I stood at the back, a nameless face in the crowd, too close to the gallows for comfort but unable to look away. There were three of them this time, two boys and a girl."
Page 9
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Review:

What do you get when you mix dystopian with vampire and a dash of paranormal romance? This book! I love it when genres collide.

Allison is a street rat. A scavenger. An Unregistered. She fights for her life every day. That is... until she gets caught in a situation she can't get out of. Once she's turned into a vampire, she learns all she can and then goes on the run. She meets up with an interesting group of people on the road - and meets Zeke. From there, drama ensues - especially because she cannot tell them what she is.

I love that Allison kicks so much ass. She is the only girl in her small scavenging clan... and then she fights for her life among crazed vampires. Then she takes to a sword like it was built for her - and she seems basically fearless. I really appreciated that she was able to make the hard decisions throughout the book. Particularly in the end... though it left me saying, "Nooooo!" :)

I've said this before, but to reiterate - I understand that the author has nothing to do with the cover. But it sort of bothered me that the face on the cover doesn't match the descriptions ofo Allison - namely, Asian. That's not to say it's a terrible cover - in fact, it's super creepy. And I truly put this book facedown and the spine turned away any time I wasn't reading. The face creeped me out too much.

Okay, so one word... Zeke. What a guy! He's painted as a total religious nthusiast - and a leader among the band of travlers as the adopted son of the preacher, Jeb. And his reaction to Allison swings a dangerous amount throughout the story. I'll just say that I was rooting for him as soon as he showed up in the book.

I feel like I need to thank this author for bringing back bad vampires. The whole tortured soul thing has gone too far and I love seeing them back in this light... or darkness :). They're demons and they don't apologize for that. While Allison holds on to a lot of her humanity, but she has to fight with herself to get there. Quite honestly, it's refreshing.

Those of you wishing for a creepy, wonderful vampire story will love this book. And it has that kick of romance to keep it smooth sailing. I loved (and still love) the Iron Fey series by Kagawa. And this book has proven that I will always read anything she publishes. Such a talented author and she's got another winner here. I look forward to the next one in the Blood of Eden series... next year... sigh. :)
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Other Blog Reviews:

Candace's Book Blog
Endlessly Bookish
Once Upon a Time
YA Booklover Blog
Alison's Book Marks
Nice Girls Read Books
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I Want to Read That
Debbie's World of Books

Embrace by Jessica Shirvington

Title: Embrace

Author: Jessica Shirvington

ISBN: 9781402268403
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Released: March 6, 2012
Page #: 369

Source: My Public Library

Summary:

"It starts with a whisper. "It's time for you to know who you are..."

Strange dreams leave her with very real injuries and there's a dark tattoo weaving its way up her arms. The guy she thought she could fall in love with just told her he's only half-human - oh, and same goes for her. And she keeps hearing a distant fluttering of wings.

Violet Eden is having a very bad 17th birthday.

But if angels seek vengeance and humans are the warriors, you could do a lot worse than betting on Violet Eden..."

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First Lines:

"Birthdays aren't my thing.

It's hard to get too excited about the day that marks the anniversary of your mother's death. It's not that I blame myself for her not being here. No one could have known she wouldn't survive childbirth."

Page 1

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Review:

I have noticed in the last couple of months that I've started backing away from urban fantasy... paranormal romance... stuff. I've been doing a ton more of dystopian/post-apocalyptic books. I've got a few series that I still follow, but I haven't picked up anything new. Until this book. And it definitely proved that I'm still a fan of the genre!

Violet Eden is half-human. She is one of many who were given a gift from an angel to become a guardian of sorts. To keep humans safe from rogue exile angels. She will have the ability to send them back for judgement or to make them human altogether. But she finds out from someone she has known for years - that he lied to her. Then she has to deal with what it means to be part of the Grigori... does she even want to do it? Then Phoenix comes into her life and turns things on their head. And she begins to realize she might be even less normal.... even as an exiled angel guardian.

I always enjoy stories about kick ass women. Violet is tough, mentally and physically, and focuses on staying in control of her life. She's also an artist and loves everything about it. That gave her a bit more of a softer edge - so she's not just warrior all the time. I think that might have been what endeared her to me. You know... even if she apparently thinks nothing of throwing herself off a cliff. Ahem. I also thought it was interesting that the reason someone is chosen for being a Grigori is totally based on losing a parent near the time of your birth. A very interesting twist, I think.

I don't think one could talk about this book without mentioning the boys. I mean, they pretty much run the story. On one hand, you have Lincoln who has been her friend for years and now her partner. She really can't help but love him... not that anything has ever happened. And on the other hand you have Phoenix. He's an exiled angel and clearly has fallen for Violet. I ended up being on both of their sides at some point during this book. Maybe that just makes me wishy washy... but I loved the different ways these guys were important to her and how they interacted with each other.

Truly, if you're a fan of paranormal romance, definitely give this one a shot. I think you'll be happy you did. I know I am. It's a well written story that totally transports you into a place where you can imagine these exiled angels could be around. Apparently they're all super-attractive, so that helps :). Not to mention that the cover is gorgeous... is it weird that I almost want to frame it? I'm now really excited for the second book - which I think has already been released in other countries. So jealous. I'll just have to wait for September!

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Other Blog Reviews:

Maji Bookshelf

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A Bookworm's World

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The Book Life

Soul Thief by Jana Oliver

Title: Soul Thief (Demon Trappers #2)
Author: Jana Oliver
ISBN: 9780312614799
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Page #: 339
Released: August 30, 2011
Source: My own copy

Summary:
"Riley Blackthorne is beginning to learn that there are worse things than death by demon. And love is just one of them...

Riley has had it up to here. After the devastating battle at the Tabernacle, trappers are dead and injured - her boyfriend, Simon, gravely so - and now her beloved late father's been illegally poached from his grave by a very powerful necromancer. As if that's not enough, there's Ori, one sizzling-hot freelance demon hunter who's made himself Riley's unofficial bodyguard, and Beck, a super overprotective 'friend' who acts more like a grouchy granddad. With all the hassles, the seventeen-year-old is almost ready to leave Atlanta behind.

But as Atlanta's demon count increases, the Vatican finally sends its own demon hunters to take care of the city's 'little' problem, and pandemonium breaks out. Only Riley knows that she might be the center of Hell's attention: An extremely powerful Grade 5 demon is stalking her, and her luck can't last forever...."
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First Lines:

"The Grounds Zero Coffee Shop made the most amazing hot chocolate in Atlanta, maybe even the whole world. It appeared Riley Blackthorne would have to wade through Armageddon to get it."
Page 1
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Review:

I really loved the first book in this series, so I went out and got the second one (and took forever getting to it... like ya do). Another great book by Jana Oliver.

Riley Blackthorne has been through Hell, basically. The trappers have been attacked, her boyfriend pretty much died, there are demons coming after her, her dad's been reanimated, and she's got some sexy dude following her around. All of her relationships seem to blow up at the same time. No one is acting the same after the Tabernacle attack. She has to find someone to turn to, but the easiest people aren't the best for her.

One of the things I loved about this book is that is picked up from the last book with no real time lapse. It really felt like you were just falling back into the story. I had to remind myself of what had just happened, but I thought it was done well. There were a couple of times that I had to remind myself that the time covered in this story was really only like a week or two. There are times that it feels longer, but that's probably because of all the action and crazy stuff going on.

Ah, the action. Oliver does a great job throwing lots of action into this story. There's always demons getting in the way of things - from small little kleptos to huge shape changing or weather demons. I loved getting a look at some of the different kinds in this second book. You also learn a bit more of the history of demon trappers. And the necros. And witches. And demon hunters. There's a lot more to learn in this book. That really helped to put the story into some context.

One thing I remember loving about the first book was that the relationship stuff was there, but it was always there. Sort of an undercurrent throughout the story. The second book pulls it a little further into the light, but I was really happy for that. It is definitely one of my favorite elements to this story. Riley and her men :). And there's a lot that happens in this book to further those relationships. I just can't wait to see what happens next.

Really, when I finished this book, I immediately got on my library's website to see if we had the third one yet. And I realized that it comes out in a few days. Drat. Guess I'll have to wait. But I do think that people will love the first two books. They are written for teens (I think), but I would suggest them for anyone from teen on up. It's a great story and it will definitely keep you on the edge of your seat. Now starts the waiting for the third one.... :)
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Other Blog Reviews:

A Night's Dream of Books
That Bookish Girl
Geek Girl's Book Blog
Moonlight Book Reviews
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The Space Between by Brenna Yovanoff

Title: The Space Between
Author: Brenna Yovanoff
ISBN: 9781595143396
Publisher: Razorbill
Released: November 15, 2011
Page #: 363
Source: From my public library

Summary:
"Everything burns in Pandemonium...
... a city in Hell made of chrome and steel, where there is no future and life in an expanse of frozen time. That's where Daphne lives.

The daughter of a demon and a fallen angel, she wonders what lies in store for her. Will she become a soulless demon like her sisters? Or follow in the footsteps of her brother Obie, whose life is devoted to saving lost souls on Earth? All she wants is to find a place where she belongs.

When Obie saves a bleeding, broken boy named Truman from the brink of death and then suddenly goes missing. Daphne runs away to Earth to find him. But on Earth, everything is colder and more terrifying, and Daphne struggles between her demon instincs and her growing - yet achingly unfamiliar - feelings for Truman. As Daphne and Truman search for Obie, they must navigate the jealousies and alliances of the violent archangels who stand in their way. But Daphne also discovers, unexpectedly, what it means to love and be human in a world where human is the hardest thing to be."
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First Lines:

"Once, my mother told a whole host of angels that she'd rather die than go back to a man she didn't love.
This was a long time ago, before famine or war or the combustion engine. Before my father fall down from grace and killed a thousand divine messengers on the way down."
Page 3
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Review:

I absolutely loved this book. How often do you get an amazing demon/angel novel like this? It contains lots of serious topics and really does a great job with it. I was impressed. I really liked her first book, but I'm so glad I picked this one up too.

The story of Daphne starts in a very hot part of Hell (though, I'm sure they all are). She has tons of sisters and a brother who she loves dearly. They are all allowed to visit Earth and conduct business when they need to there... but then Daphne's brother announces he will be living there permanently. When he goes missing, Daphne decides to go search for him... and has to start with a boy she barely knows, but now needs to save.

I don't think I can give much more information than that without giving away the ending. Though, seriously, the ending is fairly mind-blowing. I was not expecting what happened... I was good up until a certain point then things just changed more than I expected they would. But that really made the story interesting and gave it a whole new twist... which makes me want to re-read the story for clues. But it was really well done and I applaud the author for a crazy ending to an intense book.

There was one character in this story that creeped me out more than anyone else. See, there's this demon baby that Daphne becomes in charge of (info that I'm not going to elaborate on). But this baby can fully speak and form almost adult thoughts. There's something about that concept that really creeps me out. And that's saying something in a book with some insane demons and things that go creep in the night.

I will absolutely be recommending this book to anyone who loves a good paranormal story. But don't worry... there's plenty of romance thrown in as well. And that romance is almost on a deeper level than just "Oh, he's cute." and such. Much more internal. And much more intense. I really thought that was interesting and made the whole relationship very interesting. I loved seeing it develop.

There were some unexpected issues addressed throughout this story as well. Suicide being one of them. The character of Truman is seriously broken through the whole thing. His life is in shambles and is more destructive than anyone I can imagine. Of course, that's what makes the demons/angels take notice. They know he is bound to do something to kill himself at some point. But having those issues in the book make it have even more of a real life application. And it was really thought provoking - something many paranormal romances seem to lack. :)

If you haven't read Yovanoff's other novel, I seriously suggest you do so - and same with this one. I know you won't regret it. And not to mention, the cover is spooky and gorgeous. She's definitely someone to watch. I know I will be.
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Other Blog Reviews:

Candace's Book Blog
Paranormal Wastelands
A Cupcake and a Latte
Scattered Pages
Bookalicious
My Cute Bookshelf
The Spotted Mushroom
Fictional Distraction

The Iron Knight by Julie Kagawa

Title: The Iron Knight
Author: Julie Kagawa
ISBN: 9780373210367
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Released: October 25, 2011
Page #: 367
Source: ARC from NetGalley

Summary (from GoodReads):
"Ash, former prince of the Winter Court, gave up everything. His title, his home, even his vow of loyalty. All for a girl… and all for nothing.
Unless he can earn a soul.

To cold, emotionless faery prince Ash, love was a weakness for mortals and fools. His own love had died a horrible death, killing any gentler feelings the Winter prince might have had. Or so he thought.

Then Meghan Chase—a half human, half fey slip of a girl— smashed through his barricades, binding him to her irrevocably with his oath to be her knight. And when all of Faery nearly fell to the Iron fey, she severed their bond to save his life. Meghan is now the Iron Queen, ruler of a realm where no Winter or Summer fey can survive.

With the (unwelcome) company of his archrival, Summer Court prankster Puck, and the infuriating cait sith Grimalkin, Ash begins a journey he is bound to see through to its end— a quest to find a way to honor his solemn vow to stand by Meghan’s side.

To survive in the Iron realm, Ash must have a soul and a mortal body. But the tests he must face to earn these things are impossible. At least, no one has ever passed to tell the tale.

And then Ash learns something that changes everything. A truth that turns reality upside down, challenges his darkest beliefs and shows him that, sometimes, it takes more than courage to make the ultimate sacrifice."
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First Lines: (from the ARC, so subject to change in final version)

"'Oy, ice-boy! You sure you know where you're going?'
I ignored Robin Goodfellow as we wove through the gray murk of the wyldwood, pushing further into the soggy swamp known as the Bone Marsh. Mud sucked at my footsteps, and water dripped from twisted green trees so covered in moss they appeared sheathed in slime."
Page 9
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Review:

If you haven't read the first three books in the Iron Fey series, there will most definitely be spoilers. This whole book is about post-trilogy stuff... so tread carefully!

Okay, so in an attempt to do a summary...
The Iron Knight is written from the perspective of the Winter Prince, Ash. It is after the huge war of the Faerie worlds - and Meghan Chase has become the Iron Queen. Ash has sworn to protect her and be with her forever, but he cannot do that as a regular faerie. He goes on a huge quest to earn a mortal soul so that he can be with Meghan. It's a much bigger thing than anyone expected - he literally has to go to the end of the world to succeed. And even then, it's a fight to the death.

One thing this author is good at is serious adventurous quests. :) The series started with a big one - and each book has had some version of one. This last book was the biggest quest of all. Ash is faced with all manner of crazy characters. I personally loved that the Big Bad Wolf was involved in the story. All so he would continue to be remembered. That's a very cool idea. There's also a lot more about Ariella who was mentioned in previous books, but she was gone before we met Meghan. It was very interesting to get that side of the story.

I truly enjoyed getting to know Ash better. There are some descriptions from his point of view that I think we missed a lot in the first three books. Also, I was surprised by some of the descriptions in Meghan. For some reason, I honestly hadn't pictured her the way Ash talks about her. But it really helps me love the other books more after hearing his whole story.

There was a part that I thought I was really going to hate the ending. I'm not going to give you much detail, but one of Ash's trials shows you something you didn't realize was going to happen. But I felt better after that part - I was just worried that I was going to hate how things turned out. As it was, I really enjoyed the ending. It's open enough to have more stories about different characters... but it fully completes this story. I really think it's well done and I fully loved it.

Well, all in all, I'd definitely recommend this entire series. I think this last book has been a wonderful addition to an already awesome series. I've handed these books to lots of customers and I cannot wait until this book is published and I can hand it around as well. I will be looking for the next thing by this author as well - she's definitely got my vote for anything she writes in the future. Definitely read this one... and if you haven't read the first three, you need to do that immediately :). They're wonderful.
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Other Blog Reviews:

Kait Nolan
Librarian Mouse
Open Book Society
Tea Mouse Book Reviews
The Book Heist
birth of a new witch.
Stalking the Bookshelves
Awesomesauce Book Club

The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter

Title: The Goddess Test
Author: Aimee Carter
ISBN: 9780373210268
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Released: April 2011
Page #: 304
Source: ebook from NetGalley

Summary from Barnes and Noble:
"It's always been just Kate and her mom—and her mother is dying. Her last wish? To move back to her childhood home. So Kate's going to start at a new school with no friends, no other family and the fear her mother won't live past the fall.

Then she meets Henry. Dark. Tortured. And mesmerizing. He claims to be Hades, god of the Underworld—and if she accepts his bargain, he'll keep her mother alive while Kate tries to pass seven tests.

Kate is sure he's crazy—until she sees him bring a girl back from the dead. Now saving her mother seems crazily possible. If she succeeds, she'll become Henry's future bride, and a goddess."
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First Lines: (from the galley, so final copy subject to change)

"'How did it happen this time?'
Henry tensed at the sound of her voice, and he tore his eyes away from the lifeless body on the bed long enough to look at her."
Page 7
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Review:

I am a sucker for all reworked stories - or modern versions of ancient tales. That is exactly what this story is, but it comes with a few more twists. It's more like a modern story about gods and goddesses in our current world - and taking place after events in some of the stories. So cool!

This is the story of Kate who has moved from NYC to take care of her dying mother. She starts at a new school and meets a few people who change the course of her life. A huge turning point is where she has to bargain for the life of a classmate with someone who can save her. Unfortunately, she bargains with her own life.

Effectively, this is the story of Hades and Persephone reworked. It's post-Persephone, so Hades has been searching for a new partner to help him rule the Underworld. There's a lot of the Greek stories, but it's also fairly hidden in the characters you meet. You aren't told who people are until the end of the story - and I was shocked. I wasn't expecting some of the characters to be that important! Very cool thing to do. Though... they were a bit more human-like than I recall in the original Greek stories.

I was really rooting for Kate. She gives off the sort of sadness of someone constantly dealing with death. The sickness of her mother has shaped her personality and how she deals with things. But because of this, she eagerly accepts deals to help her and the people she loves. While she starts out a little sad... I ended up really getting excited about how things turned out.

There's a little romance in this story, but it's not at all the main theme. It actually is specifically the opposite. Kate isn't interested in guys and she's not interested in doing anything but saving her mother. But that base for a relationship helps it grow from friendship. It seemed a little more organic to me. I really liked that.

I think anyone who loves stories about gods and goddesses will really get into this book. Especially if you love paranormal romance as well. It's a great story and I definitely recommend it. As far as I can tell, this is the author's first book. It was wonderful and I cannot wait for more from her. The second book is set to be released next spring - I will definitely be in line for that!
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Other Blog Reviews:

The Infinite Shelf
Candace's Book Blog
Bewitched Bookworms
A Bookworm's Haven
Missy's Reads and Reviews
One Librarian's Book Reviews
Read Now Sleep Later

Forever by Maggie Stiefvater

Title: Forever (The Wolves of Mercy Falls #3)
Author: Maggie Stiefvater
ISBN: 9780545259088
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Page #: 388
Source: ARC from the publisher @ BEA

Summary:
"then.
When Sam met Grace, he was a wolf and she was a girl. Eventually he found a way to become a boy, and their love moved from a curious distance to the intense closeness of shared lives.

now.
That should have been the end of their story. But Grace was not meant to stay human. Now she is the wolf. And the wolves of Mercy Falls are about to be killed in one final, spectacular hunt.

forever.
Sam would do anything for Grace. But can one boy and one love really change a hostile, predatory world? The past, the present, and the future are about to collide in one pure moment - a moment of death or life, farewell or forever.
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First Lines:

"I can be so quiet. Haste ruins the silence. Impatience squanders the hunt. I take my time."
Page 1
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Review:

This is the third book in the Wolves of Mercy Falls series. Here are my reviews of the first two:
Shiver
Linger

I was so excited that one of my coworkers brought this book home from BEA. It was one that I had been hoping to get my hands on as soon as it came out. It's the third story of Sam and Grace and the wolf pack - and all of the resistance they encounter. The town has grown very anxious with the pack and want them eliminated as soon as possible.

I've described the start of this book to a few people as "super emo." If you've read the first two books, you know that each one starts with one of the main characters alone and pining for the other. It's a love story like that, but they always start out lonely. This time it felt like too much - too much "it's all my fault"; too much "I miss her so much"; and too much "woe is me." At least it was all too much for my taste.

This doesn't mean it was a bad book. It just means that I had a harder time getting into it and loving the story in the end. I did love that like the second book, you had more characters to focus on and learn about. There are also a few more people pulled into the secret of the wolves - which gives the story a more depth.

The big story in this book is that the wolves are under attack from the city. Of course the people want to get rid of them after they've killed a few people. The solution and the way they come to it is wonderful. It gives the book a much more action packed feel than if it was all about the lovey-dovey :). It also separates out the good guys from the "bad." I was impressed at how the author pulled it all together.

I was hoping for more of a conclusion in this last book of the trilogy. There are lots of things that do get wrapped up in the end and I was thankful for that. But really there's not a full ending. You are left wondering how things are going to be from now on for our characters. I guess that's not a bad ending... I just was hoping for more.

All in all, this was a good ending to a fun series. I really think that those into paranormal romance will love these books. I've had to convince lots of readers that these aren't your typical werewolves - they have a lot more to offer. And it seems less weird :). But I do know that these books are loved by lots of readers and will continue to be loved for a long time. I look forward to the next books by Maggie Stiefvater.
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Other Blog Reviews:

Eve's Fan Garden
Presenting Lenore
Annette's Book Spot
Logan E. Turner
Book Journey
Parajunkee's View
Chick Loves Lit
Bookyurt

Hades by Alexandra Adornetto

Title: Hades
Author: Alexandra Adornetto
ISBN: 9780312656270
Publisher: Feiwel and Friends
Page #: 422
Source: ARC from the publisher (BEA)

Summary:
"Even the love of her boyfriend, Xavier Woods, and her siblings, Gabriel and Ivy, can't keep the angel Bethany Church from being tricked into a motorcycle ride that ends up in Hell. There, Jake Thorn bargains for Beth's release back to Earth. But what he asks of her will destroy her, and quite possibly, her loved ones, as well. can he be trusted in this wager?"
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First Lines:

"When the final bell sounded at Bryce Hamilton, Xavier and I gathered our things and headed out onto the south lawn. The weather forecast had predicted a clear afternoon but the sun was fighting an uphill battle and the sky remained a cheerless, gunmetel gray."
Page 1
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Review:

Okay, so this book comes out in August, but I was lucky enough to get a copy from BEA. Or, rather... one of my coworkers got it and was nice enough to share :). I really fell in love with the first book, Halo. Check out my review here.

So... this book picks up where the last one left off. Beth and Xavier are going strong. Life is now all about school and friends. After a careless seance, Beth gets tricked into being taken into Hell. Angels aren't meant for Hell, so she is trapped and miserable. Gabriel and Ivy search for ways to get her out, while Beth tries to bargain her way back to Earth.

I really felt like this book suffered from that second book slump. It took a while for the story to really pick up. Once it did, I was all hooked and ready to go. It just took about 100 pages for that to happen. The Beth/Xavier relationship had something to do with that dragging beginning. They are even called out in the book for being too close and together all the time. It's a little too sugary for my taste. Not to mention the number of times she waxes lyrical about his hair and eye colors.

It's really interesting to me to have a book set in Hell. I mean, there's so much to discover in a world like that. There are a few locations that you visit while Beth is learning where she is and how to get out... but I felt like we never get a real picture. There's a lot of talk about tunnels, so I envisioned totally rock and enclosed. But her hotel room has a view of something. Not sure how I'm supposed to interpret that. I just wished for more landscape discussion. But I suppose it's more of a character driven book like that.

The last 100 pages or so are packed. There's lots of action and drama and such. It's a little too convenient. Oh, they just happened to be at the right spot, etc. But the amount of characters colliding and action stuff, it's the fastest part of this book. The very end leaves you on a huge cliffhanger. I mean, something semi-small happens and there's a reaction... and it's over. The last sentence is an action sentence.

Because of that cliffhanger, I will definitely be picking up the last book. It'll be a while since this one hasn't been released yet. But I'm definitely interested to see what happens. I think fans of Halo will view this second book as almost a necessary story to get you to the last one. I'm not sure about that, having not read the last one yet. I'm hoping this review isn't too harsh - I think I just had really high expectations for Hades because I loved Halo so much.

I will continue to recommend the first book to anyone who is remotely interested in Angels. I think it's a really cool concept and there's so much to be done with it. This second book is harder for me to recommend, but I think those who loved the first one will be reading it anyway (just like I did). I have high hopes for the third book... fingers crossed! :)
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Other Blog Reviews:

So yeah, couldn't find any others yet. I'm sure there will be a bunch soon. But as of yet, I couldn't find any.

City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare

Title: City of Fallen Angels
Author: Cassandra Clare
ISBN: 9781442403543
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
Page #: 424
Source: My public library

Summary:
"The Mortal War is over, and Clary Fray is back home in New York, excited about all the possibilities before her. She's training to become a Shadowhunter and to use her unique power. Her mother is getting married to the love of her life. Downworlders and Shadowhunters are at peace at last. And - most important of all - Clary can finally call Jace her boyfriend.

But nothing comes without a price.

Someone is murdering the Shadowhunters who used to be in Valentine's Circle, provoking the tensions between Downworlders and Shadowhunters that coud lead to a second bloody war. Clary's best friend, Simon, can't help her. His mother just found out that he's a vampire and how he's homeless. Everywhere he turns, someone wants him on their side - along with the power of the curse that's wrecking his life. And they're willing to do anything to get what they want. At the same time he's dating two beautiful, dangerous girls - neither of whom knows about the other.

When Jace begins to pull away from Clary without explaining why, she is forced to delve into the heart of a mystery whose solution reveals her worst nightmare: She herself has set in motion a terrible chain of events that could lead to her losing everything she loves. Even Jace.

Love. Blood. Betrayal. Revenge. The stakes are higher than ever in City of Fallen Angels."
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First Lines:

"'Just coffee, please.'
The waitress raised her penciled eyebrows. 'You don't want anything to eat?' she asked. Her accent was thick, her attitude disappointed."
Page 3
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Review:

The first two books of the Mortal Instruments series were pre-blog, but here's my review for the third one: City of Glass (It's a pretty crappily written review. So let's look past that, shall we?)

The fourth book starts a whole new story line. Well, same people. Same problems. But the trouble comes in a different form. The first three books conclude one complete story arc, so we're on to the next big thing. The next big thing are crazy ass demons, in case you were wondering. And lots of love troubles. Everyone seems to be having trouble with someone.

You get a much better look at the relationship between Clary and Jace in this book. You start to see where there might be room for problems - especially considering where they've come from. I really found myself rooting for them to make it work. As always, there are complications... but giving away that would be like giving away the ending.

Speaking of the ending, you're left on a super cliffhanger. Once you get close to the end, you think you're done. Things are completed and there's no turning back. But you'd be wrong. I should never get comfortable with endings before I get to the last page. Not wise on my part. Of course, this definitely gets me excited for the next book.

There's also a big focus on Simon's new life as a vampire and how he's dealing with it. Especially since he's like no other vampire, ever. But you see more into his life and the problems he encounters. He is, of course, being chased by tons of people who want to take advantage of his newfound powers. I think he becomes a much more well rounded character in this book. Before I kinda felt sorry for him and wished for him to man-up a little. You see a lot more of that man in this book, and I'm super excited to see where he's headed.

Just as a note, this may be the start of a new story(ish)... but you're going to need to read the first three books anyway. There's lots of detail that you're going to need to understand what's going on in this book.

I absolutely recommend this series to people who love the whole vampire/supernatural/love story stuff. I can barely keep these books on the shelf at work to hand them out - which is a good thing, I suppose. Honestly, I sometimes get this series confused with the Blue Bloods books when I haven't read either in a little while. But once you get started reading, I hardly can put these books down. Very worth their weight :).
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Other Blog Reviews:

Krystal's Stellar Book Blog
Wondrous Reads
Girlz Lyfe Blog
Figment Blog
Confessions of a Bookaholic
Novel Thoughts
Katie's Book Blog
What's Your Story?

Bite Club by Rachel Caine

Title: Bite Club (Morganville Vampires #10)
Author: Rachel Caine
ISBN: 9780451233189
Publisher: New American Library
Page #: 337
Source: My public library

Summary:
"After learning that vampires populate Morganville - and surviving a number of adventures with her new night-dwelling friends - college student Claire Danvers has come to realize that for the most part, the undead just want to live their lives.

But someone else wants them to get ready to rumble.

There's a new extreme sport being broadcast over the Internet: bare-knuckle fights pitting captured vampires against one another - or, worse, against humans. Tracking the out-of-town signal leads Claire - accompanied by a loyal group of friends and frenemies - to discover that what began as an online brawl will soon threaten everyone in Morganville.

And if they want to survive, they'll have to do a lot more than fight..."
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First Lines:

"Looking back on it later, Claire thought she should have known trouble was coming. But in Morganville, anything could be trouble. Your college professor doesn't show for class? Probably got fanged by vampires."
Page 3
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Review:

Check reviews of the past books in the series (The first four were pre-blog):
Glass Houses; The Dead Girls' Dance; Midnight Alley; Feast of Fools
Lord of Misrule
Carpe Corpus
Fade Out
Kiss of Death
Ghost Town

I am always leery of the covers on these books. There's something about them that is a little off-putting for me. But eventually I come to my senses and remember that I love the series. Then I'm good to go.

This tenth book (!!) in the series is about some of the local baddies creating a fight club for vamps and humans. You can imagine how that goes over. Not well. There seems to be a lot more raw emotion and bloody fighting in this book. That gives it a different feel from the other books. You also get a more in-depth look at Shane in this book. More about his life, how he views things, his damage, etc. It's nice to get another perspective a little bit.

I'm trying not to give away any spoilers, so sorry if this is a bit vague. There were a few surprises in the first couple of chapters. Namely, bringing back those characters I thought were gone. I also had forgotten how the end of the 9th book had left me in shock - it carries over and is explained more in this one.

You know, I always wonder what the author is going to come up with next. And I'm always surprised at the many story lines that are carried out in the series. I really enjoy that technology is being pulled in more and more - I mean, doesn't that seem like the logical thing to do? If you're living in a place where no one else knows it's run by vampires. You'd think info would get out there with all the tech at our disposal. Morganville has an answer for everything, though :).

Something occured to me while I was reading this book. I've been pretty involved in the series, but I just realized that this is one of the few vampire stories at the moment where the vamps are actually bad. One of my teens was complaining that vamps are all love interests now - instead of people being scared of them. Basically she thought the idea was ridiculous. I'm going to have to recommend this series to her, because the vamps are still the bad guys. Yes, there are a few lines blurred on that, but not without explanation. I think Caine does a great job showing the many sides to vamps - as in, they still have personalities and such. I guess that's a comment for the whole series, not just this book.

If you haven't picked up the first book in the series, I very much recommend that you do. They have recently republished the first four in two-book bound paperbacks. You should really get your hands on those. Especially if you're looking for a good vampire series that isn't too girly. I know I recommend them all the time to my teens.
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Other Blog Reviews:

Becky's Barmy Book Blog
Book Addict
Fictional Fantasy
Gone with the Words
All Things Urban Fantasy
Fresh Fiction
Paperback Dolls

Mercy by Rebecca Lim

Title: Mercy
Author: Rebecca Lim
ISBN: 9781423145172
Publisher: Hyperion
Page #: 269
Source: ARC from the publisher (To be released May 17, 2011 in US)

Summary:
"Mercy is an exile from heaven with shattered memories of who and what she used to be. She's doomed to 'wake' repeatedly on earth in a new body, assuming a new life each time, only to move on again and again. During the day she survives in the human world on instinct, and at night her dreams are haunted by her lost love, who pleads with her to find him. But her memory refuses to cooperate.

But this time is different. When Mercy wakes up she meets Ryan, an eighteen-year-old reeling from the loss of his twin sister, Lauren, who was kidnapped two years ago. Only Mercy and Ryan believe his sister is still alive. For the first time since she can remember, Mercy has a purpose: she can help. So she doesn't understand why the man in her dreams cautions her not to interfere. But as Ryan and Mercy come closer to solving the mystery of Lauren's disappearance, danger looms just one step behind. When another girl goes missing, Mercy knows they must act before time runs out. Will she be able to harness her extraordinary power in time?"
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First Lines:

"There's something very wrong with me.
I can't remember who I am or how old I am, or even how I got here. All I know is that when I wake up, I could be any age and anyone, all over again. It is always this way."
Page 1
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Review:

This book was recommended to me by one of my coworkers. She and I share a very similar taste in books, so I knew this would be one I'd love. I got the ARC a month or two ago, but just got around to reading it. And I'm pretty sure it's already out in Australia - so I feel like I'm behind the times. Alas...

When I picked up the book, I don't think I fully understood the premise. It's about an exiled angel (which isn't fully mentioned in the story) who inhabits humans bodies for unknown reasons. Then she's forced from that person to a new one. Honestly, I'm still not sure I fully understand... but I'm hoping the future books will help explain what is going on - to us and to Mercy.

One thing I really enjoyed about this story was the emphasis on music. I used to do chorus in high school and college - I remember sitting in these massive rehearsals that seemed to never end. I guess that made the setting a bit more real to me. We also used to stay in host family houses, so I get that whole uncomfortable thing. It was also interesting to see Mercy grow because of the music thing - it somehow tapped into her past. Very cool.

I guess I spent a lot of this story trying to figure out what was going on. I got the music thing... I got the finding-the-missing-girl thing... but I had trouble with the whole angel and past-lives thing. There wasn't a lot of explanation for it because the main character isn't supposed to understand either. There's a little clarity toward the end about how things are going to be, but I was definitely wishing for more of that.

I think many teens will love this book - and hopefully the rest of the books in the series. There's a huge sense of empowerment in the ending that gives you hope for the people Mercy has been in contact with. She seems to try to better each person she inhabits... and I hope to see more of the people she's influenced.

I will absolutely be recommending this book to my teens as soon as it comes out in May. I know they will love the themes and concept. I mean, anything angel-related these days seems to be perfect. I think people who loved Halo by Adornetto will really get into this one. I look forward to the next book (I think it's called Exile), but I haven't seen a date yet for a US release. But I'll definitely be keeping an eye out for it! I gotta find out what happens :).
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Other Blog Reviews:

Small Town Book Blog
Face Books, not Facebook
BookieMonster
Mercys World
YA Reads
Wicked Walker

Hexbound by Chloe Neill

Title: Hexbound (Dark Elite #2)
Author: Chloe Neill
ISBN: 9780421230799
Publisher: Signet Books
Page #: 246
Source: My public library

Summary:
"They say absolute power corrupts absolutely. Turns out that even a little magic can turn you to the dark side. That's why Lily has to learn how to control her newly discovered paranormal abilities, on top of avoiding the snobs who think they run her school, nursing a crush on a cute sophomore with a big werewolf-y secret, and fighting the good fight with her best friend, Scout, as they take on Chicago's nastiest nightlife - including the tainted magic users known as Reapers.

Then one night Lily and her friends are attacked by creatures like nothing they've ever seen before. And in the aftermath, she realizes she'll have to use her growing powers sooner than she thought - because she's smack in the middle of a paranormal turf war that could tear Chicago apart..."
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First Lines:

"I stayed absolutely still, my eyes closed, the sun warm on my face. As long as I didn't fidget too much, the noon sun was just strong enough to cancel out the chilly October breeze that blew through our part of downtown Chicago."
Page 1
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Review:

My review for Firespell.

I've decided that this Dark Elite series is quickly becoming one of favorites. It's the story of a girl who was shipped off to boarding school in Chicago while her parents do some mysterious research across the globe. She finds out that she's magically inclined and becomes part of a group of "Adepts" who battle the evil magical creatures for control of the night. Basically. :)

One of the things I really like about this story is the difference of abilities for each character. No one is exactly the same. One person can do spellbinding, one can manipulate any technology, one can communicate with spirits, and so on. Everyone has something different to offer the group - making it a stronger group than if everyone had the same thing. I think that makes for an interesting story. Especially when your main character is just trying to figure out how to use hers.

I really thought I was gonna be lost on where we were in the story. I couldn't fully remember the first book, but it took me less time than I thought. It was so easy to get back into the flow of the story and the author does a great job reminding you where you've come from. The setting is so clear and visual, it makes jumping back in easy.

There are a few more relationship aspects to this book than the first one (if I remember correctly). You have some budding romances and some friendships that are turning into something else. There's some drama around these, but they are totally secondary to the main run of the book. I think that gives the story the right touch of romance without fully giving into it.

Honestly, I stayed up last night finishing this book. I realized too late that I probably shouldn't have. The author writes some things in such a spooky way, it totally freaked me out. Darn book! :) She did a great job giving descriptions of the new evil in their world - it's super gross and creepy. Doesn't help with the sleep factor though.

I've been recommending Firespell to many of my teens, and I know my copy is already requested at the library. Go figure. So I won't have to do much selling of this book, but I still will give it out. Anyone who is into paranormal books - with a hint of romance - will really like this series. I'm definitely a fan and I can't wait for the third book to come out! Not that it's been announced or anything (possibly August '11). So stalk over to the author's page to bug her about the next one :).
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Other Blog Reviews:

I Read to Relax!
The Book Smugglers
The Bibliophilic Book Blog
Books with Bite
Rex Robot Reviews
Blkosiner's Book Blog
Pure Imagination
There are so many reviews out there, I can't list all of them. But go give them a look, because it seems that most are positive. See? It's totally worth a read :).