Dreams of Gods and Monsters by Laini Taylor

Title: Dreams of Gods and Monsters
Author: Laini Taylor
ISBN: 9781478900054
Publisher: Blackstone Audio/Little, Brown Books
Released: April 8, 2014
Series: Daughter of Smoke and Bone #3
Duration: 18 hours, 8 minutes
Source: Audiobook from my public library

Summary:
"In this thrilling conclusion to the Daughter of Smoke & Bone trilogy, Karou is still not ready to forgive Akiva for killing the only family she's ever known.

When a brutal angel army trespasses into the human world, Karou and Akiva must ally their enemy armies against the threat—and against larger dangers that loom on the horizon. They begin to hope that it might forge a way forward for their people. And, perhaps, for themselves—maybe even toward love.

From the streets of Rome to the caves of the Kirin and beyond, humans, chimaera, and seraphim will fight, strive, love, and die in an epic theater that transcends good and evil, right and wrong, friend and enemy."

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First Lines:

"Nerve thrum and screaming blood, wild and churning and chasing and devouring and terrible and terrible and terrible...
'Eliza. Eliza!'
A voice. Bright light, and Eliza fell awake."
Page 1
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Review:

I would like to start out by noting that the audiobook is over 18 hours long. I mean... that's insane. It took me forever to get through it - even though I loved it. Guess I just didn't have enough empty days to do a marathon listen. *Also, this is a review of the third book, so expect some spoilers for the first two in the series!!*

This is the conclusion to the Daughter of Smoke and Bone series, so there's a lot to wrap up. Karou and Akiva are on the brink of an all-out war, but they have to bring unlikely allies together to succeed. Several worlds hang in the balance while they try to save as many people as possible. There are lots of people to bring back from the dead, lots of magic to learn about, lots of relationships hanging in the balance, and lots of enemies butting heads.

As you can imagine, there are tons of loose ends to tie up in this final book. The biggest being the relationship between Karou and Akiva - it starts out really rocky because of what happened in the last book. They really aren't sure about each other throughout the story, lots of second-guessing. But having to work so closely together to save the world(s) really pulls them back. Really, you're left until the acutal epilogue to find out their future.

There is a new character introduced in this book - and is part of the quote above. Eliza... and she changes the tide of the entire story. She's raised as a human in a very strange situation. Her family is part of a cult that believes they are descended from angels. Eliza is the first to actually exhibit some signs that something is different and she is treated like a prophet. She escapes that world, but she still has frightening dreams and can never fully shake it off. Honestly, I think she became my favorite character in the whole trilogy. I wish she had been introduced sooner, but I think the flow worked really well in this final book.

You also get a whole new group of people who are fully invested in the saving of their world. I'm not going to go into them, because they really change the course of the ending. They have an extreme relationship with magic and the ability to quickly dispose of people that are threatening their world.

One other thing that I found very interesting about this book is the treatment of the angels that appear on earth. What do you think would happen if thousands of angels came from the sky and landed in the Vatican City? Thinking about the different groups of people and how they would handle things - the fanatics, the cynics, the world of science... etc.

In the audio version, it's a little crazy with the various viewpoints. Things change quickly - especially in the end when the pace of the whole book kicks up a notch. I'm sure there are clear breaks in the actual text, but it doesn't come across as easily in the audio. But I will say that I have continued listening to this series (instead of getting a print copy) because the reader is so wonderful.

Honestly, if you haven't read this series and you're into urban fantasy, angel stories, otherwordly lurv... then you should really pick up this series. Plus side: it's now complete! You won't be waiting for the next one to come out. The ending does leave a little room for the imagination and there are so many side characters that I wonder if there will be a spinoff. One can only hope!
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Other Blog Reviews:

JAWKWARDLOL
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Alice Marvels
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Bookish
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Unbreakable by Kami Garcia

Title: Unbreakable
Author: Kami Garcia
ISBN: 9780316210171
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company
Released: October 1, 2013
Series: The Legion #1
Page #: 305
Source: ARC from the publisher

Summary:
"When Kennedy Waters finds her mother dead, her world begins to unravel. She doesn't know that paranormal forces in a much darker world are the ones pulling the strings. Not until identical twins Jarad and Lukas Lockhart break into Kennedy's room and destroy a dangerous spirit sent to kill her. The brothers reveal that her mother was part of an ancient secret society responsible for protecting the world from a vengeful demon - a society whose five members were all murdered on the same night.

Now Kennedy has to take her mother's place in the Legion if she wants to uncover the truth and stay alive. Along with new Legion members Priest and Alara, the teens race to find the only weapon that might be able to destroy the demon - battling the deadly spirits he controls every step of the way.

Suspense, romance, and the paranormal meet in this chilling urban fantasy, the first book in a new series from Kami Garcia, bestselling coauthor of the Beautiful Creatures novels."
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First Lines: (Quoted from the ARC, subject to change.)

"As my bare feet sank into the wet earth, I tried not to think about the dead bodies buried beneath me. I had passed this tiny graveyard a handful of times but never at night, and always outside the boundaries of the peeling iron gates."
Page 1
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Review:

It's been a long time since I've read a book that scared me - like, made me think there were crazy shadows lurking in the darkness. And I liked it. :)

When Kennedy's mother is killed, she is left to her own devices - and she's in more trouble than she could ever imagine. Luckily, the handsome twins show up to save her life. Then they take her under their wing to become part of a secret society that tracks down spirits and uncovers mysteries. It's all very cloak and dagger. Kennedy has to figure out how she fits into this new group and whether she really belongs with them.

I basically enjoyed Beautiful Creatures, so I knew going into a book by one of those authors would be just as good. But this book ended up being way better than I expected. Once Kennedy hooks up with the Legion, I was hooked on this book. I just had to find out what was going to happen. She leaves her entire life behind to find out the reason behind her mother's death. It's so intense!

I do think the formula was a little basic. They go to one place, vanquish the spirit, find the clue for the next one... go to next place, vanquish the spirit... and so on. So it was a little comfortable when you get to the end and realize how things were going to pan out. But it was also kind of nice that way, too. Each little adventure had it's own drama, it's own personality, it's own problems. That definitely made things a little more interesting.

This really is a great book to come out right before Halloween. Would anyone ever buy someone a book for that holiday? I think they should. Because it has that perfect blend of spooky, creepy charm and mysterious, intense action. And there was one part that made me tear up. Go figure. But it was really sweet and unexpected. I think the author did a great job of keeping a reader involved in the story. 

The ending leaves you hanging like nothing else. I'm not sure I realized how much I loved this book until that point. You know it's good when you are pissed that you aren't going to find out what happened next. I will definitely be searching for the next book when it comes out.
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Other Blog Reviews:

Book Kitty Blog
I Swim For Oceans
Bewitched Bookworms
The Fiction Pixie
The Princess of Storyland
Little Miss Trainwreck
That YA Book Makes You Look Hot
Working for the Mandroid

Foretold by Jana Oliver

Title: Foretold
Author: Jana Oliver
ISBN: 9781250021847
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Released: December 11, 2012
Series: Demon Trapper's Daughter #4
Page #: 352
Source: My public library

Summary:
"Now that Riley's managed to fend off Armageddon, everything has changed... Well, most things. Lucifer's ex-right-hand man, Sartael, has proven to be more resilient than anyone thought and is about to confront the Prince of Hell once and for all, forcing Atlanta into the path of a looming storm.

Even worse, Beck is back to treating Riley like a little girl again, as if their epic kiss never happened. While she'd love to just tell him off and move on, Riley has vowed to take care of Beck the way he's taken care of her since her father died. When she's drafted to help him care for his dying mother in South Georgia, that vow is put to the test. Before long, they stumble too close to a dark and murderous secret from Beck's past, the one he fears could drive her away forever. As old enemies settle scores, Riley may be Beck's only hope for redemption... and survival."
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First Lines:

"'What could go wrong?' Riley Blackthorne muttered under her breath. That wasn't the kind of question she should ask while on a demon-trapping run in one of Atlanta's train stations."
Page 1
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Review:

As I have said before, I feel like this series is very under the radar. And I have even questioned whether it is really for teens or not. But I have loved every second of it - right down to this conclusion. So sad to see it go!

There have been epic demon battles, love battles, family battles, and so much more. It all was leading up to this epic final story. Riley is taking a trip with Beck - not by her own choice. She begins to understand him based on where he comes from and who his family is. Their relationship goes to a whole different level and the action and adventure isn't just because of demons this time. Will a small town pull them apart forever? dun dun duuuuunnn.

Yep. I definitely loved this book. Once I picked it up, I truly had a hard time putting it down. It's a toss-up about which book in the series is my favorite. This one is definitely in the running simply because of things coming together in the end. I'm not gonna give it away, but it's nice for things to sort of come full circle. But this one has a lot less of the demons/angels/magic stuff that the other books had, so it's on a whole different level.

I'm not sure what all to say about this book that I haven't already said about the rest of the books in the series. Let's recap:
* I love that they're set in Georgia - Atlanta, specifically. It's about time some other city got a pop.
* The heroine is 100% kick ass
* The romance isn't too over the top - our badass lady wouldn't let that happen.
* The whole Angels vs. Demons thing? I'm in.
* Some of the side characters are my favorite - I would love a whole book about them.

On that last note, this book has a full circle thing with Simon as well - the exboyfriend who went psycho. It's nice to see how that happened. I can totally imagine a spinoff about his life. There is a set up about where he will be and what will be going on, so I feel like it's perfect for a second series. That's just me, of course :).

This book (and the last one, too) had some adult-ish situations. So I definitely recommend this series for older teens. It is sort of written that way, as well. The language, the thought processes, the situations... it's a really great series for adults reading teen stuff. What am I saying, it's just a great series in general. I would have expected more excitement about it the last few years. And now that it's concluded I can safely say it is worth the read. One of the few series I actually OWN! That should tell you something. :)
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Other Blog Reviews:

Cheezyfeet Books
Mostly YA Book Obsessed
Reader Girls Blog
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Sassy Book Lovers
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Kate's Book Life

The Indigo Spell by Richelle Mead

Title: The Indigo Spell
Author: Richelle Mead
ISBN: 9781595143198
Publisher: Razorbill
Series: Bloodlines #3
Released: February 12, 2013
Page #: 401
Source: My public library

Summary:
"Sydney Sage is an Alchemist, one of a group of humans who dabble in magic and serve to bridge the worlds of humans and vampires. They protect vampire secrets - and human lives.

In the aftermath of a forbidden moment that rocked Sydney to her core, she struggles to draw the line between her Alchemist teachings and what her heart is urging her to do.

Then she finally tracks down the elusive, enigmatic Marcus Finch - a former Alchemist who the organization denies exists, and who lives in shadows, on the run. With Marcus's help, Sydney realizes that the group she's been loyal to her whole life has been hiding the truth from her. Is it possible that her golden lily tattoo might have more power over her than she thinks?

As she struggles to come to terms with what that might mean, Sydney is compelled to use her growing magical powers to track down an evil magic user who is targeting powerful young witches. Using magic goes against everything she always thought she believed, but she realizes that her only hope is to embrace her special blood - or else she might be next.

Forgetting her own way is harder than Sydney ever dreamed. Maybe by turning off her brain - and following her heart - she'll be able to finally figure out where she belongs."
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First Lines:

"This wasn't the first time I'd been pulled out of bed for a crucial mission. It was, however, the first time I'd been subjected to such a personal line of questioning. 
'Are you a virgin?'"
Page 1
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Review:

If you haven't read the first two books in the Bloodlines series, I highly suggest you do so. Especially before reading this review. I can't be responsible for any spoilers I accidentally let slip from those. Plus, they're really good. Especially if you were a Vampire Academy fan.

Sydney has finally come to terms with her assignment. She has to be friends with vampires - and sometimes more than friends - but she has started to realize that not all is well with the Alchemists. They are hiding things... and people. She realizes that there is a lot about her organization that she doesn't know. Now there is a rogue group who is trying to bring her in - to help her cope. Not to mention that some crazy witch is after her. It's a crazy time just when she was learning to cope with everything.

I really do love the Bloodlines series. Almost as much as the VA series. I think Sydney makes an awesome leading lady and the parallels to the other story are fairly seamless. You feel like you're still in the original story. Just looking at things from another perspective. Mostly I am thinking about the relationship between two that have the bond. This story is about someone outside of that bond and how it changes everything. I sort of like that aspect of this book.

There's a lot going on in this story. And plenty of things go unanswered, so I know they will come up in future books. I sort of wish I could just have them all at once, but I always have to read them when they come out... like a dufus. Ah well. At least they are reliably good books. And I can't help but get completely lost in the stories. There's a lot more romance in this book than the others. Things start to get figured out and Sydney has a bit of clarity about it all.

Can I just talk about the cliffhanger ending? I mean, not totally cliffhangery, but you definitely close the book wanting more. There's a huge change at the end and I can only imagine how things are going to turn out. Of course, I'm already hooked... so maybe I'm blinded by the awesome that is Ms. Mead. This is another great installment of a wonderful series. If you haven't started it yet, you should. You don't have to have read VA to get any of it, so don't let that deter you. Solid vampire stories.
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Other Blog Reviews:

I'm Loving Books Blog
Katie's Book Blog
A Walk on Woods
The Nocturnal Library
Under the Covers Book Blog
Two Chicks on Books
The Nifty Novels Blog
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Wicked Melody's Tavern

The Lost Prince by Julie Kagawa

Title: The Lost Prince

Author: Julie Kagawa

ISBN: 9780373210572
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Released: October 30, 2012
Series: The Iron Fey: Call of the Forgotten

Page #: 377

Source: eARC from NetGalley

Summary:
"Don't look at Them. Never let Them know you can see Them.


That is Ethan Chase's unbreakable rule. Until the fey he avoids at all costs—including his reputation—begin to disappear, and Ethan is attacked. Now he must change the rules to protect his family. To save a girl he never thought he'd dare to fall for.

Ethan thought he had protected himself from his older sister's world—the land of Faery. His previous time in the Iron Realm left him with nothing but fear and disgust for the world Meghan Chase has made her home, a land of myth and talking cats, of magic and seductive enemies. But when destiny comes for Ethan, there is no escape from a danger long, long forgotten."

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First Lines:

"My name is Ethan Chase.

And I doubt Il'l live to see my eighteenth birthday.

That's not me being dramatic; it just is. I wish I hadn't pulled so many people into this mess."

Page 9

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Review:

I'm sure many of you have read and loved the story of Meghan Chase in the Iron Fey series. Well, Julie Kagawa returns with another story set in the same world. But now it's Ethan, Meghan's brother. And it's a great continuation of her original stories.

He's been dodging the fey world his entire life, but now he is being forced to pay attention. Strange, ghostly fey are starting to haunt him - someone at school disappears and he knows it's because of these fey. He also starts to make friends in his new town. But that is dangerous when it comes to keeping others safe from the torments of faeries. He finds himself drawn into his sister's world and doesn't know how to handle it. And he accidentally takes someone with him.

Many of the original characters make an appearance in this book. It's nice to see them again. I had sort of fallen for many of them, so getting back into their lives was really easy for me. I loved seeing where they are now and how things are going for them - lots has changed since the first Iron Fey book! I would have liked to see more about Meghan, but I know there is more coming and she will probably be more prominant.

So, Ethan is sort of a tough-guy jerk. He's been pushing people away for most of his life because of the fey. And because of the past, he has made sure no one can get hurt because of him. Throughout this story, he starts to see the other side of things. He's able to put aside some of his fears and grow as a person. I do wonder if he changes a bit too much, but I think it helped the story along.

Can I just talk about the cover for a second? Is there a reason the guy doesn't have a shirt on? Cause at no point in the book is he shirtless. At least, not that I remember. I know the author has nothing to do with the cover, but it's now one of those books I wouldn't want to read in front of other people. As I'm old and he's clearly a teenager. :) But seriously, just a shirt would have helped.

I think any fans of the original Iron Fey series will love this book. It's very similar, but it's more of a human view of Nevernever. I guess that means it's more like the first Iron Fey book in that way. But I love how you get dropped into a whole other perspective and take on the life. I'm definitely a Kagawa fan and I look forward to the next book! Whenever that might be...

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Other Blog Reviews:

Alexia's Books and Such...

Librarian Mouse

Electrifying Reviews

Awesomesauce Book Club

Ravenous Reader

Obsession with Books

Anna Reads

Much Loved Books

That's What She Read

Above by Leah Bobet

Title: Above
Author: Leah Bobet
ISBN: 9780545296700
Publisher: Arthur A. Levine Books
Released: April 1, 2012
Series: N/A
Page #: 358
Source: ARC from the publisher

Summary:
"Matthew has loved Ariel from the moment he found her in the tunnels, her blond hair shining and her bee's wings falling away. They lived together in Safe, a refuge deep underground for those fleeing the harsh city Above - as does Whisper, who speaks to ghosts, and Atticus, who has thick claws for hands, and Jack Flash, who can shoot lightning from his fingertips.

But one terrifying night, an old enemy invades Safe with an army of shadows, and only Matthew, Ariel, and a few friends escape Above. Forced to survive in the most dangerous place her can imagine, Matthew strives to unravel the mystery of the shadows' powers and Safe's own secret history. For he must find a way to remake Safe - not just for himself and his friends, but for Ariel, who's again faced with a life she fled, and who needs him more than ever before."
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First Lines:

"My last supply duty before Sanctuary Night, I get home and Atticus is waiting.
It's half past three already, and nobody awake except for Hide and  Mack and Mercy and  Me, unloading our week's ration of scuffed-up bottles and tins into the broadwide kitchen cabinets."
Page 1
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Review:

Bee girl. Boy with lion feet and scales on his back. And a mismatched family of freaks. They all live together underground to stay away from ridicule. Very interesting premise.

Matthew found Ariel in an abandoned alleyway. She seemed lost and scared, so he took her underground with him. But she is used to being Above, so he constantly has to go after her to bring her back. Until one day their Sanctuary is attacked by a previous tenant. She/He/It kills their leader and all of the inhabitants scatter. Matthew and Ariel have to find their way Above now and find out how to take back their home underground.

Okay, you guys... I had a hard time with this one. It's not often that I really dislike a book, but there was something about the way this book was written that made it really hard for me. I thought the whole idea of freaks living undergound (a little x-men-like) seemed like a fun idea. And the fact that some of these people could pass for normal and go scouting for supplies.

I think what really held me up on this book was the language. There was something very awkward and stilted about the structure. I had a hard time following things - and sometimes realizing I didn't read something right and having to go back. I do think it was partially because the writing was meant to sound like Matthew - who is mostly uneducated and speaks the language of the Sanctuary. But for my reading, it felt very difficult and awkward.

Honestly, I wanted to love this book. But it was just too hard - and it took me a long time to wade through. I do think that it will find its readers. It's a very specific style of story and I know some people love that. It just wasn't for me. I did find several bloggers who loved it, so I know there's a niche for it somewhere! :)
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Other Blog Reviews:

Justin's Book Blog
Black Gate
Coffee and Wizards
Diary of a Book Addict
Hooked on Books
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Forgiven by Jana Oliver

Title: Forgiven
Author: Jana Oliver
ISBN: 9780312614805
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Released: March 27, 2012
Series: Demon Trappers #3
Page #: 354
Source: My own copy

Summary:
"The days are growing darker for seventeen-year-old demon trapper Riley Blackthorne. With her father's reanimated body back safely, Beck barely speaking to her because of a certain hunky fallen angel, and a freshly made deal with Lucifer, she has enough on her hands to last a normal teenage lifetime. Though she bargained with Haven to save his life, her ex-boyfriend, Simon, has told the Vatican's Demon Hunters that she's working with Hell. So now she's in hiding, at the top of everyone's most-wanted list.

But it's becoming clear that this is bigger than Riley, and rapidly getting out of control: Something sinister is happening in Atlanta... or someone. Caught between her bargain with Heaven and her promise to Lucifer, Riley fears the final war is coming - and it may be closer than anyone thinks...."
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First Lines:

"Riley Blackthorne's tears were no more. She'd cried herself dry, yet she still lingered in the arms of a dead man. If given the chance, she would remain in her father's arms for the rest of her life."
Page 1
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Review:

I'm not sure what has drawn me to these books so hard, but I absolutely love the Demon Trappers series. They don't seem to be written like other YA novels, but I really have a hard time putting them down - this book included.

Riley has gone through a lot in the first two books. Crazy demon attacks, her father becoming a reanimated corpse, Beck acting odder and odder, angels making demands and promises, and the Italian demon trapping force coming to town to take over. And in this third book, things just get worse. The demons are starting to work together and the end of the world is coming. Too bad Riley has to figure out how to stop that. And the Vatican thinks she has something to do with all of the bad things that are happening.

Oh, Riley... how do you get in these messes? I have mentioned before how much I love these books - and I still think it's awesome that they're set in Atlanta. It's just one of the few things that really sets this series apart. I also think that having her as our first female trapper gives the story an edge of hard-ass-ness. :)

The love interest has grown even more in this latest installment. Denver Beck has become a force to be reckoned with. He's been hurt by Riley's actions - especially with the fallen angel.. and I was a little worried that things would fall through. I'm not going to spoil it for you, but he's still in Riley's life. And has a few issues on the side. Darn other women!

These books are seriously action-packed. You can't go a few chapters without some crazy demon attacking - and the cover up and the drama the ensues. It's a lot of fun and I find myself fearing for all of my favorite characters. Lots of, "No! Don't die!" and such :). But all of that really makes it an easier sell for boy readers - even though your protag is a girl. There are some universal survival things going on that makes it for everyone.

I almost threw this book across the room when I realized it wasn't the last one. I was hoping for some conclusion to a few story lines. You do get a little bit of that, but there's more to come. Which I guess I'm excited for... but man! This is one of the few series' that I have actually purchased. I don't typically purchase books (because I would be more broke than I already am), but this one just seemed worth it. And I haven't been disappointed yet.

I sort of feel like this series is under the radar of many teen readers. I'm not sure why, but that makes it easy to recommend. Which I do so... often. It's a worthwhile story and I cannot wait to see what happens in the next book - which comes out in December. I'm sure it will be epic and amazing - just like the rest of them. If you haven't read the first book, I highly recommend it.
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Other Blog Reviews:

Geek Girl's Book Blog
Katie's Amazing Book Reviews
Feeling Fictional
Realm of Fiction
Down the Rabbit Hole
A Night's Dream of Books
Amy's Book Den
Cheezyfeet Books
Sassy Book Lovers

The City's Son by Tom Pollock

Title: The City's Son
Author: Tom Pollock
ISBN: 9780738734309
Publisher: Flux Books
Released: September 08, 2012
Series: The Skyscraper Throne #1
Page #: 480
Source: ebook from Netgalley

Summary:
"Running from her traitorous best friend and her estranged father, graffiti artist Beth Bradley is looking for sanctuary. What she finds is Urchin, the ragged and cocky crown prince of London's mystical underworld. Urchin opens Beth's eyes to the city she's never truly seen-where vast spiders crawl telephone wires seeking voices to steal, railwraiths escape their tethers, and statues conceal an ancient priesthood robed in bronze.

But it all teeters on the brink of destruction. Amid rumors that Urchin's goddess mothwer will soon return from her 15-year exile, Reach, a malign god of urban decay, wants the young prince dead. Helping Urchin raise an alleyway army to reclaim his skyscraper throne, Beth soon forgets her old life. But when her best friend is captured, Beth must choose between this wondrous existence and the life she left behind."
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First Lines:

"I'm hunting. The sun sits low over Battersea, its rays streaking the brickwork like warpaint as I pad through the railway tunnels. My prey can't be far ahead now: there's a bitter, burned stench in the air, and every few yards I find another charred bundle that used to be a rat."
Page 3
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Review:

This may be one of the strangest books I've read in a while. There's a lot of visualizing and imagination... but I'm not sure if it adds up to amazing. There are some crazy beasts, interesting friends, and a weird amount of lamp people. So yeah...

The boy is the son of the streets. His mother is actually London - like, for real. The city. The girl is a rebellious teen who has just gotten expelled from school for drawing her teachers face outside the building. And her father is totally zoned out since her mother's death. These two meet on accident, but the adventures they have from there are nothing short of intense. There's a war coming and they have to work together to keep it from destroying the city.

So... I wasn't expecting this book to be high fantasy. I mean, I got that it was going to be urban and gritty, but there was much more to it. The characters are all ones you have to get set in your head before you can move forward. It doesn't help that one of the characters changes every time you see them - conforming to whatever trash is handy. You have people trapped in statues, mirror people, voice-stealing spiders, lamp people, a creature made of trash, and a boy made of concrete, oil, and gasoline. And those are just the semi-good guys! Yeah, it gets a little confusing. I found myself stopping and having to reimagine some characters as the story went along.

I thought it was interesting the way that the city was its own character. Not in a setting sort of way - but the city actually comes to life. Cranes are characters... bricks are people... Everything is alive in some way - not that people notice it. But once you're aware of the way things really are, you can see it all. It's that whole see what you want to see thing. I do feel like I needed to know more about London to get some of the references to locations.

Because of all the strange characters and situations, it took me a while to get into the story. Once I sort of had things straight in my head, I could get into the battles and relationships. The ending is sort of heartwrenching, but I think it keeps me curious about the next book.

I cannot deny that this story is insanely imaginative. If you're looking for something really different and thought provoking, then I definitely recommend this book to you. If you're looking for something easy and fun, look elsewhere. It's an interesting book and I think it will find the right audience... I'm just not sure I'm in that group. And there's more to come from these characters, so I'll be interested to see how things pan out.
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Other Blog Reviews:

Book Review Blog for Caroline Hooton
A Mad Man with a Blog
The Book Zone
Fantasy Bytes
Bart's Bookshelf

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
The Book Barbies
My Heart Hearts Books
A Little Shelf of Heaven

Immortal City by Scott Speer

Title: Immortal City
Author: Scott Speer
ISBN: 9781595145062
Publisher: Razorbill
Released: April 3, 2012
Page #: 368
Series: Immortal City
Source: My public library


Summary:
"Jackson Godspeed is the hottest Angel in a city that revolves around idolizing Immortals like him. He great up in the spotlight, and in less than a week he'll become the youngest full-fledged Guardian ever. People around the world are lining up to pay for him to keep them safe. His lifelong dream of becoming a hero is finally within his grasp - and he can't afford to let the parties, paparazzi, or red carpets distract him.

But Jackson's high-profile life takes an unexpected turn when he meets seventeen-year-old Maddy. She's smart and down-to-earth, and sees Jackson for who he is and not for his celebrity. They forge an instant - and electric - connection. Their vastly different backgrounds seem like the only obstacle in their path to being together... until something much more dangerous threatens to destroy their chance at love.

Because not everyone worships the Angels: a bitter killer is murdering the Guardians one by one. And it's up to Maddy to save Jackson - he's next in the killer's sights. Set in a reimagined Los Angeles that sparkles with glamour and celebrity worship, Scott Speer's Immortal City is charged with passion and haunted by themes of power and idolatry."
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First Lines:

"At 3a.m., the Pacific Coast Highway was nothing more than a gray ribbon winding through the ocean fog. Despite being more than a little buzzed, Brad downshifted, smashed the gas pedal, and sent his BMW M5 surging forward."
Page 1
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Review:

In all honesty, I thought I was going to hate this book after the first few chapters. I was really worried it was going to be totally vapid and carbon copy-like. I'm happy to report I was wrong. It turned out much better than I expected.

Maddy is your typical teen - she goes to school, she works at her uncle's diner, she has friends who push her to be more social, and she sees visions moments before something bad is going to happen. Okay, so maybe she's not 100% normal. She meets a new guy named Ethan who she could fall for in a heartbeat... that's just not her thing. And then there's Jackson - the most famous Angle-of-the-moment who is constantly being watched, being talked about, and having girls swoon all over him. And on top of it all - there's something killing Guardian Angels. Oh the drama!

As I said in the beginning, I was worried the book would suck x10 after the first few chapters. There's an intense amount of brand name dropping, super obvious characters, and a little Twilight-like lurve action. I found myself thinking, "oh, Twihards are gonna love this." There's even a scene where he watches her sleep. I mean, come on! Ahem, anyway... the book gets tons better after that. Things start falling into place and the mystery really picks up. So don't give up! It'll get better. I promise.

I think one of the things that really drove this story for me was the mystery around the Angel deaths. Without it, the book might sink. But there's rampant speculation about who could pull these murders off and how it would have to be someone in the Angel community. Everyone starts getting nervous and pointing fingers and the NAS fails to do much of anything. While it broke up the story a bit, I enjoyed getting the perspective from the detective - his background and his knowledge really helped me get a better handle on the world they live in.

The whole idea of Angels being used for protection - to the highest bidder - seemed a bit... blasphemous (I think that's the right use of that word). I really had to put my whole idea of what Angels are on the back burner for the length of this book. There's really very little mention of the divine - just that the archangels are connected to something bigger, but now they're a governing power on earth. As opposed to answering to any higher authority. I mean, the idea that they would be rich and famous sort of stretches my idea of what an Angel is all about.

That being said, I thought the idea was really clever. And it really brings to light the craziness around celebrity and people's focus on the things around them. So I thought that was well done and I'm sure that comes from the author being based in LA. And if you just take Angel to mean Immortal Life Saver, then you're good to go. But putting all that aside, I pretty much read this book in one day. So, take what you will from that.

I will definitely recommend this book along to all of those paranormal romance lovers :). I think it's a great addition to the genre - and I love that it's just different enough to pique interest. I'll absolutely pick up the second book whenever that is published. I can only imagine the story from here... there's plenty more drama to be had. Just as a note: I'm going to start a rumor that the cover model is the author. I mean, have you seen pictures? Yes, please, and thank you. All in all, while it's not in the running for best book of the year, I'm a fan.
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Other Blog Reviews:

whnbstihosoft
Just Add Water and Blog
Zoey's Uncreatively Titled Blog
The Book Faery
WhatchYA Reading?
The Flutterby Room
whY.A. Not?
Catching Books
Literary Exploration

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
The Sweet Bookshelf
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

Geek Girl's Book Blog

A Bookworm's World

There's a Book

Reading Rock Books

Refracted Light Reviews

What's Your Story

Justin's Book Blog

SpadesHighReviews

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
Paranormal Indulgence
Coffee Table Reviews
IceyBooks
Diary of a Book Addict

Everneath by Brodi Ashton

Title: Everneath
Author: Brodi Ashton
ISBN: 9780062071132
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Released: January 24, 2012
Page #: 370
Source: My public library

Summary:
"Last Spring, Nikki Beckett vanished, sucked into an underworld known as the Everneath. Now she's returned - to her old life, her family, her boyfriend - before she's banished back to the underworld... this time forever. She has six months before the Everneath comes to claim her, six months for good-byes she can't find the words for, six months to find redemption, if it exists.

Nikki longs to spend these precious months forgetting the Everneath and trying to reconnect with her boyfriend, Jack the person most devastated by her disappearance - and the one person she loves more than anything. But there's just one problem: Cole, the smoldering immortal who enticed her to the Everneath in the first place, has followed Nikki home. Cole wants to take over the throne in the underworld and is convinced Nikki is the key to making it happen. And he'll do whatever it takes to bring her back, this time as his queen.

As Nikki's time on the Surface draws to a close and her relationships begin slipping from her grasp, she is forced to make the hardest decision of her life: find a way to cheat fate and remain on the Surface with Jack or return to the Everneath and become Cole's queen."
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First Lines:

"I was picturing his face - a boy with floppy brown hair and brown eyes - when the Feed ended.
At first I didn't know what had happened. I didn't know where I was or why it was so dark. I knew only that the pain inside me - the feeling that I was being drained from the inside out - had subsided, and now everything was numb. Maybe I no longer existed."
Page 5
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Review:

I'm not gonna lie... I was so very confused for the first, about, half of this book. I think I got everything figured out in the end, but it took me a little while to get there. All the same, I thought it was a really interesting book.

Nikki has spent the last century in Everneath being drained of her energy/life force by Cole. Typically, this causes the person to wither up and die soon after. But Nikki survives and Cole is convinced this means she is the one he's meant to rule the underworld with. But Nikki has another plan - there is one face she pictured through the entire Feed... Jack. Her boyfriend on the Surface. She has to go back to him and her family to explain why she was gone (since it was only 6 months of real time). She soon realizes going back was harder than she imagined. And that she won't be allowed to stay. She has six months to put everything back to normal.

So, this is less of a retold myth - more of a story built on top of a myth. Making it bigger, more interesting, and possibly true. I was expecting a Persephone story - which it sort of is... but really isn't. You have the whole six months up, six months down thing, but it's not a permanent arrangement. The Everlings (like Cole) take different people down each time to get the energy they need to survive. It just so happens that Nikki survived - I do think that the myth-like story will show through in the next book. If things go like I think they might.

Can I just tell you that I hated the ending of this story. No really. It does NOT turn out the way I imagined it would. I do wonder if part of that is the setting up for the next story (I checked the author's blog and it looks like there will be another one). I definitely will have to read the next book because I have to find out if things turn out better. But be aware... you may want to throw this book against a wall when you get to the ending. I sure did.

At the start of this story, I was really worried that Nikki would be a pushover character. She seemed weak and sad and just sort of pathetic. I did realize that was part of the draining that happened occurs before the start of the book... but it's hard to put those pieces together. You do have some flashbacks to her personality and such before, but I wished for more of that. I almost wish the first book had been before the Feed - it would have given me more to work from, I think.

Okay, so I realize that I've wished several parts of this book were totally different... but that doesn't mean I didn't enjoy it. Honestly, I thought it was a really smart and interesting story. It weaves in the mythology with ease and you are left wondering if it all might be possible. I know that many readers of paranormal stories will really get into this one. I'll definitely be recommending it. It's worth your time and I'm absolutely ready for the next book... whenever that might be.
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Other Blog Reviews:

YA Books Central
My 5 Monkeys
Simply Stacie
Let Them Read Books
Teens Read and Write
Hopelessly Devoted Bibliophile
Novel Novice
Nicole's YA Book Haven