Winter Queen by Amber Argyle

Mortally wounded during a raid, seventeen-year-old Ilyenna is healed by winter fairies who present her with a seductive offer: become one of them and share their power over winter. But that power comes with a price. If she accepts, she will become a force of nature, lose her humanity, and abandon her family.

Unwilling to pay such a high price, Ilyenna is enslaved by one of the invaders, Darrien. While in captivity, she learns the attack wasn’t just a simple raid but part of a larger plot to overthrow her entire nation.

With the enemy stealing over the mountains and Darrien coming to take her to his bed, Ilyenna must decide whether to resurrect the power the fairies left behind. Doing so will allow her to defeat Darrien and the other invaders, but if she embraces winter, she will lose herself to that destroying power—forever.

The synopsis and cover totally drew me to this book. After reading the Amazon “sample” I was hooked and wanted to keep reading. It’s one of those books that is hard to put down, you want to keep reading to see what will happen next and how everything will work out. I liked our heroine Ilyenna, she puts others needs above her own. She doesn’t back down and tries to do the right thing. She has it pretty rough throughout the book and I admired how she was able to stay strong. I also liked our hero Rone. He is loyal, brave and kind. I like that he continued to put Ilyenna first, even above his own needs. I liked their relationship, it did save the book for me. I thought they had good chemistry and I was rooting for them to be together. I had read some reviews that mentioned the violence, but I guess I still wasn’t expecting so much or so detailed. It seems like it was non-stop from start to finish. It seemed like so much time was spent on the violence that the rest of the story suffered. The politics and romance were overshadowed by beatings, wars and pain. I ended up skipping a couple fight scenes at the end because I was just burned out. Too much violence for my taste. I also thought the end wrapped up rather quickly. Especially in regards to Ilyenna and Rone’s relationship, it was rather sudden. The fairy elements were okay, but I’m still on the fence about how everything ended up in that regard. Overall, an interesting read. While I liked the overall story the violence was a big turn off for me. Content: There is sex before marriage and a pregnancy results. Aside from kissing, everything fades to black and there is no details. There are a couple attempts at Ilyenna’s virtue, but nothing goes too far. There is a lot of war, beatings and other violence.

Not Your Average Fairy Tale by Chantele Sedgwick

Synopsis:
Ash Summerland has it all–good looks, popularity, and the best grades at The Academy of Magical Beings. Ready to complete his last assignment in order to graduate, Ash is confident he will get the apprenticeship he wants. When he opens the letter from the Council, he is shocked to discover he has been assigned to apprentice Lady Shenelle, Keeper of Happy Endings. A.K.A. the head fairy godmother. Ash is forced to grant three wishes to a troubled human girl named Kendall, and ultimately give her a "happy ever after". But Kendall turns out to be more than he bargained for. Still grieving over her father's death, Kendall doesn't want anything to do with him. And worst of all, she doesn't believe in happy endings.

Review:

I really liked this one. I was quickly pulled into the story and had a hard time setting it down. I thought it was well written with a fun plot and likable characters. Kendall was likable and easy to relate to. She had been in an accident a few months prior to the story starting, which changed her life forever. She’s still struggling with what happened and is a bit skeptical win Ash shows up claiming to be her fairy godmother. Ash was also really likable. He is frustrated to be a fairy godmother (not a very manly profession where he comes from) and just wants to get his assignment over with, that is until he actually meets Kendall. I thought Ash and Kendall were great together, they have a lot in common, but I especially liked their banter and fun way of being with each other. I thought they had good chemistry. The story moves along quickly, and I was surprised with some of the twists at the end. I thought it was a great start to a new series and I look forward to seeing what will happen with Ash and Kendall next.

Content: Clean

The Iron Daughter by Julie Kagawa

Genre: YA Fantasy

Publication Date: August 2010

One Word Review: Good

Author Website: www.juliekagawa.com

First Line: “Why should I trust you?”

GoodReads Synopsis: Half Summer faery princess, half human, Meghan has never fit in anywhere. Deserted by the Winter prince she thought loved her, she is prisoner to the Winter faery queen. As war looms between Summer and Winter, Meghan knows that the real danger comes from the Iron Fey, iron-bound faeries that only she and her absent prince have seen. But no one believes her. Worse, Meghan's own fey powers have been cut off. She's alone in Faery with only her wits for help. Trusting anyone would be foolish. Trusting a seeming traitor could be deadly. But even as she grows a backbone of iron, Meghan can't help but hear the whispers of longing in her all-too-human heart.

Kathy’s Review: I liked this one a tiny bit less than the first. I’m not sure what it was, but it didn’t grab me like the first book did. I still really enjoyed the story and characters, but maybe it was just middle-book syndrome. I was a little frustrated with Meghan this time around, it was obvious who she was going to choose, but led the other guy on anyway. I really waivered between Team Ash and Team Puck this time. The thing I really like about Puck is that he’s a nice guy, all the pranks aside. He’s known and been friends with Meghan for a long time and they have a great foundation. I’m not sure what he sees in her romantically though, they seem more like friends or siblings. Ash has the whole brooding, handsome thing going for him. I think deep down he is a softy and has a good heart, but he has to put on a mean face. Which brings me to what really bothered me with Meghan. At the beginning she tells Ash that she trusts him, and yet when that trust is put to the test she totally doubts him. She’s spent enough time with him that she should know his motivations, but acts all confused when he acts different around his family. I can understand why she had some doubts, but when she made such a big deal about trusting him I was hoping to see that trust put into action.

The overall story was still entertaining and kept me reading. I liked seeing our old friend Grim and a few new ones. There is a scene near the end that seemed a little out of place with everything going on (high school prom), it was still a fun read and has me looking forward to the last book, The Iron Queen.

Bookworm Rating: 4

Reading Order:
Book One: The Iron King
Book 1.5: Winters Passage
Book Two: The Iron Daughter
Book Three: The Iron Queen

Spells by Aprilynne Pike

Genre: Fairy/Fantasy

Publication Date: April 2010

One Word Review: Okay

Author Website: www.aprilynnepike.com

First Line: “Laurel stood in front of the cabin, scanning the tree line, her throat constricting in a rush of nerves.”

GoodReads Synopsis: It's been almost a year since Laurel discovered that she is a faerie, placed with human parents as an infant to help protect the gateway to the faerie realm of Avalon. Although she's come to accept her true identity, Laurel refuses to turn her back on her human life-and especially her boyfriend, David-to return to the faerie world. But when she is summoned to Avalon to relearn her long-forgotten faerie magic, Laurel must depend on the charismatic faerie sentry Tamani. Her feelings for him are undeniable, and she is forced to make a choice-a choice that could break her heart. When a deadly enemy resurfaces and puts both Laurel's life and Avalon in danger, Laurel must draw on all her human strength as well as her faerie skills to save both of her worlds and all of those she holds dear.

Kathy’s Review: I don’t know how I did it, but I actually found a little time during the week to actually read. Although, it became clear that the days of sitting and reading a book cover to cover are long gone.

I’ve been looking forward to reading Spells for a long time. I wouldn’t say I was disappointed in Spells, but it didn’t “wow” me like Wings did. I think it may have suffered from Middle Book Syndrome. The beginning was fun, I liked Laurel going to Avalon and her time spent there, and of course her relationship with Tamani. Toward the middle of the book she returns to the human world and that’s where things really slowed down for me. Tamani was gone and David is the main focus. For some reason I just don’t like David. The last quarter of the book was still a little slow, even when the “exciting” things are happening it just didn’t seem all that interesting. I was also frustrated with Laurel who is suffering from the Bella Syndrome, where she loves two guys and wants them both, regardless of how it makes them feel. I like Tamani so much and almost wish he would end up with someone else, Laurel doesn’t deserve him. Anyway, I’ll get off my Tamani soap box and just say that while there were things that disappointed me, I still enjoyed the book overall. It’s probably a good set up for the last book and still worth reading. If you enjoyed Wings, then I think you’ll enjoy Spells.

Bookworm Rating: 3.5

Reading Order:
Book One: Wings
Book Two: Spells
Book Three: April 2011

Captivate by Carrie Jones

Genre: YA Fantasy

Publication Date: January 2010

One Word Review: Disappointing

Author Website: www.carriejonesbooks.com

First Line: “There are these bizarre people who actually like physical education class.”

Synopsis: Zara and her friends knew they hadn't solved the pixie problem for good. Far from it. The king's needs grow deeper every day he's stuck in captivity, while his control over his people gets weaker. It's made him vulnerable. And now there's a new king in town. A turf war is imminent, since the new pixie king, Astley, is moving in quickly. Nick nearly killed him in the woods on day one, but Zara came to his rescue. Astley swears that he and Zara are destined to be together, that he's one of the good guys. Nick isn't buying it, though Zara isn't as sure -- despite herself, she wants to trust the new king. But it's a lot more than her relationship with Nick that is at stake. It's her life -- and his.

Kathy’s Review: I hate to write negative reviews and I really think if you enjoyed the first book, Need, then you will probably enjoy Captivate as well. Having said that, I just didn’t enjoy this book. It definitely fell in the “middle book syndrome” where not a lot happens and is more of a filler until the final book comes out. The writing was choppy, the dialog was unbelievable and I just can't relate to Zara. I didn’t really feel any real chemistry between Nick and Zara, even though it’s being shoved in our face. Like the first book, I just don’t like all of Zara’s political ideas and don’t see how any of them are relevant in a story about killer pixies. Zara's character is just okay for me, she is too wishy-washy. The ending was a joke as well; I don’t want to give spoilers so I’ll leave it at that. Again, if you enjoyed the first book you’ll probably like this one, it just wasn’t for me. I do like the covers though.

Bookworm Rating: 2

Reading Order:
Book One: Need
Book Two: Captivate

The Iron King by Julie Kagawa

Genre: Faerie/Fantasy

Publication Date: February 1, 2010

One Word Review: Awesome

Author Website: www.juliekagawa.com

First Line: “Ten years ago, on my sixth birthday, my father disappeared.”

Synopsis: Meghan Chase has never fit in at her small-town high school, and now, on the eve of her 16th birthday, she discovers why. When her half brother is kidnapped, Meghan is drawn into a fantastical world she never imagined--the world of Faery, where anything you see may try to eat you, and Meghan is the daughter of the summer faery king. Now she will journey into the depths of Faery to face an unknown enemy . . . and beg the help of a winter prince who might as soon kill her as let her touch his icy heart. The Iron King is the first book in the Iron Fey series. --GoodReads

Kathy’s Review: Loved it from the first sentence to the last. I was actually sad when it ended. So many series lately always end with huge cliffhangers, and I’m so glad that this one did not. It does leave it where you’re wanting more, and there is plenty of story left for Meghan, but it also wraps everything up nicely providing a little closure up to this point. I thought Meghan’s character was perfect, very realistic. I liked that she was strong, clever and still easy to relate to. The supporting cast was also enjoyable, I loved Puck, Grimalkin and of course Ash. I also loved the Fey world that Kagawa created, she is able to stick to a lot of the traditional fairy elements while introducing some very new ideas. It's also a good reminder that the Fey are not the nicest creatures as Kagawa shows some of the darker sides of faeries, but also the good as well. It’s probably one of the better stories I’ve read lately. Kagawa is a great writer and I can’t wait to read The Iron Daughter in August!

My only complaint was that there is a little swearing here and there. The story was so good though that it was easy to overlook.

Bookworm Rating: 4.8
(because of language)

Reading Order:
Book One: The Iron King
Book Two: The Iron Daughter (August 2010)
Book Three: The Iron Queen (2011)

Secrets of the Dragon Sanctuary by Brandon Mull

Genre: YA Fantasy Fiction

Publication Date: March 2009

Author Website: www.brandonmull.com/blog

One Word Review: Adventurous

First Line: “Kendra Sorenson briskly scraped the head of a wooden match against the rough strip on the side of a rectangular matchbox.”

Synopsis: Brace yourself for a shocking secret. Two hidden artifacts have been found. Three more remain unrecovered. More preserves face destruction as the Society of the Evening Star relentlessly pursues new talismans. Reading in Patton s Journal of Secrets, Kendra learns the location of the key to a vault housing one of the artifacts. In order to retrieve it, the Knights of the Dawn must enter a death trap a dragon sanctuary called Wyrmroost. The mission cannot proceed without stealing a sacred object zealously guarded by the centaurs. Anybody seen Seth? The race is on to acquire all five of the artifact keys to the great demon prison. Will the Knights of the Dawn conquer Wyrmroost? Who can stop the Sphinx? Can Vanessa be trusted to help? What artifact will be found next? --GoodReads

Kathy’s Review: Weighing in at about 527 pages, this book is packed full of adventure, new creatures, new villains, new friends and just about everything else you can imagine. Like always, I’m impressed with all the new creatures he is able to come up with. There are lots of twists and turns and he definitely keeps our heroes Kendra and Seth busy. One of the new “creatures” in this installment was the stingbulb (at least I’d never heard of them before), it was a great idea and fun to read about. Both Kendra and Seth seemed about the same as previous books. Seth continues to get into mischief, which always ends up working out and Kendra is still smart and her goodness seems to help get her out of a lot of scrapes. I think the book is great for its target audience, young kids would really enjoy the story and all the adventures Kendra and Seth get into. Personally, I think the book was a little long, it’s due back at the library so I really had to buckle down and push my way through. I still enjoyed the story though and look forward to reading the series finale in March!

Reading Order:

Book One: Fablehaven

Book Two: Rise of the Evening Star

Book Three: Grip of the Shadow Plague

Book Four: Secrets of the Dragon Sanctuary

Book Five: Keys to the Demon Prison (March 2010)

Silksinger by Laini Taylor

Genre: YA Fiction

Publication Date: September 2009

Author Website: www.lainitaylor.com

One Word Review: Amazing

First Line: “Whisper Silksinger knew two kinds of death.”

Synopsis: “Whisper Silksinger is the last of the secret guardians of the Azazel, one of the powerful Dijnn who dreamed the world into being. Relentlessly pursued by bloodthirsty devils, she flees to the city of Nazneen to restore the Azazel to his temple. At the same time, Hirik Mothmage is also on a secret quest, to find the Azazel and restore his disgraced clan's ancient honor. And behind them all flies Magpie Windwitch, first champion of the new age of faeries, desperate to rescue Whisper and the Azazel alike before the fall in the clutches of a sinister hidden enemy.”-GoodReads

Kathy’s Review: Ever since I read Blackbringer back in April I have been dying to get my hands on Silksinger. I was eager to find out what happens with Magpie, Talon and their flock of lovable crows. I was surprised when I started reading Silksinger to find that the main focus of the story is a new heroine by the name of Whisper. I fell in love with Whisper right off the bat. She is very unique from Magpie, in that she is very quiet, tender, and timid. At the same time she is still very brave and strives to do the right thing. She has a huge responsibility which she takes very seriously. We’re also introduced to a new hero, Hirik, who I also loved right away and was eagerly awaiting the meeting of Hirik and Whisper. They are very cute together and I really enjoyed learning their stories. No worries though, Magpie and Talon are still very present in this story and I was pleased to see that they are still just as amazing as they had been before. We’re thrown into the action from the very first page and it doesn’t let up until the end. The story ends on a cliffhanger and once again I’m left eagerly awaiting the next installment!

I’m still amazed by the world Laini Taylor has created. She is a great writer and has created a very complex world full of amazing places and characters. This is one of my favorite faerie stories and I hope everyone reads it! Its full of fantasy, adventure, friendship, duty, heartache, loyalty, magic, and I could go on and on.

Dreamdark Series:
Book One: Blackbringer
Book Two: Silksinger

Fairy Tale by Cyn Balog

Genre: YA Fantasy

Author Website: www.cynbalog.com

One Word Review: Enjoyable

First Line: “People call me spooky.”

Synopsis: “Morgan Sparks and Cam Browne are a match made in heaven. They've been best friends since birth, they tell each other everything, and oh yeah- they're totally hot for each other. But a week before their joint Sweet Sixteen bash, everything changes. Cam's awkward cousin Pip comes to stay, and Morgan is stunned when her formerly perfect boyfriend seems to be drifting away. When Morgan demands answers, she's shocked to discover the source of Cam's distance isn't another girl- it's another world. Pip claims that Cam is a fairy. No, seriously. A fairy. And now his people want Cam to return to their world and take his rightful place as Fairy King. Determined to keep Cam with her, Morgan plots to fool the fairies. But as Cam continues to change, she has to decide once and for all if he really is her destiny, and if their “perfect” love can weather an uncertain future.” -GoodReads

Kathy’s Review: I started reading this one a little while ago and put it down to read a few other books and I decided today to give it another try. Looking back, I’m not sure why I didn’t get into it right away (maybe I was nervous for the outcome) because I ended up really enjoying the story. For me the whole thing was bitter-sweet, and I’m still a little sad about how everything ended up, even though it’s clear things ended the way they were supposed to. I liked Morgan, Cameron and Pip. It was an interesting love triangle, in which I still feel one of them gets the short end of the stick. I didn’t feel that Morgan’s “abilities” were really explained well enough, but they did add an interesting aspect to the story. I guess I’ve gotten used to reading so many series that I’m a little sad this is a standalone book. I wouldn’t mind a companion novel that follows a certain character and maybe give them a “happily ever after” of their own. A really enjoyable read, unique story and fun fairy lore.

Wondrous Strange by Lesley Livingston

Genre: YA Fiction

Author Site: www.lesleylivingston.com

First Line: “Puck’s tortured words rang in Kelley’s ears as she lifted her head, struggling against the darkness that threatened to descend upon her.”

One Word Review: Satisfying

Summary: “17 year-old Kelly Winslow doesn’t believe in Faeries. Not unless they’re the kind that you find in a theatre, spouting Shakespeare—the kind that Kelley so desperately wishes she could be: onstage, under lights, with a pair of sparkly wings strapped to her shoulders. But as the understudy in a two-bit, hopelessly off-off-Broadway production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, wishing is probably the closest she’s going to get to becoming a Faerie Queen. At least, that’s what she thinks... In this fun, urban fantasy, Kelly's off-stage life suddenly becomes as complicated as one of Shakespeare’s plot twists when a nighttime trip to Central Park holds more than meets the mortal eye.” -GoodReads

My Review: Hmm, so this kind of reminded me a little of Lament and Wicked Lovely. It is entirely its own story though and I did enjoy it quite a bit. I won’t say I was surprised by how everything played out. It was a little predictable, so that did lessen some of the enjoyment. I liked Sonny and Kelley but they were missing some friction that I enjoy so much. They are a good match though and I enjoyed reading the story from both their points of view. Livingston mixes in a lot of Shakespeare references, which if you like Shakespeare then you’ll enjoy that. I was satisfied with how everything ended up and yet still left me wanting more. I definitely plan on reading book two, Darklight, when it comes out.

Reading Order:
Book One: Wondrous Strange
Book Two: Darklight
Book Three:

Lament: The Faerie Queen's Deception by Maggie Stiefvater

Genre: YA-Fantasy

Author Site: www.maggiestiefvater.com

First Line: “He didn’t know how long he’d been clinging there.”

One Word Review: Mysterious

Summary: Sixteen-year-old Deirdre Monaghan is a painfully shy but prodigiously gifted musician. She's about to find out she's also a cloverhand—one who can see faeries. When a mysterious boy enters her ordinary suburban life, seemingly out of nowhere, Deirdre finds herself infatuated. Trouble is, the enigmatic and conflicted Luke turns out to be a gallowglass—a soulless faerie assassin – and Deirdre is meant to be his next mark. Deirdre has to decide if Luke's feelings towards her are real, or only a way to lure her deeper into the world of Faerie. Luke isn't her only problem. A sinister faerie named Aodhan is also stalking Deirdre. Long-time enemies with a common goal, Luke and Aodhan carry the same assignment from the Faerie Queen. Namely, kill Deirdre before her music captures the attention of the Fae and threatens the Queen's sovereignty. Caught in the crossfire with Deirdre is her best friend James whose devotion has been teetering precariously on the line between friendship and love for months – a feeling that Dee doesn't quite reciprocate. It's Luke she can't stop thinking about: Luke, who was supposed to kill her immediately but hasn't. Luke, who cannot refuse the Queen's orders without paying an unimaginable price. Deirdre ultimately must confront the Faerie Queen before she loses everyone she loves." -GoodReads

My Review: Isn’t that a great first line? Who is “he”, where is he clinging and why? You can’t read that first line and put the book down, you have to keep reading. I love a first line like that, which sucks you in and before you know it your 100 pages in and you’ve forgotten lunch. That’s how this book was for me, I was totally caught up in the mystery and trying to figure out who Luke was and why he’s shown up so mysteriously into Deirdre’s life. Deirdre is a likable character. She is obviously very musically talented, clever and pretty. She falls for Luke rather quickly, but I still enjoyed their relationship. James didn’t play a huge role in the story, but he was always in the back of my mind, I always fall for the “nice-guy”. There was some swearing, a couple “F” words, and a few others, but other than that not too bad.

This book reminded me of Wicked Lovely (I liked this much more) and even a bit of Twilight, although it is totally unique from both those stories. Not sure about the ending, there wasn’t a lot of resolution for me with the whole James-Deirdre-Luke situation, as well as her Mom and Aunt Delia situation. I’m sure we’ll learn more in the next book, Ballad, which I can’t wait to read!

Reading Order:
Book One: Lament
Book Two: Ballad

Other Reviews:
Angieville

The Story Siren

BALLAD GIVEAWAY
Over at Maggie Stiefvaters website she is holding a giveaway contest for an ARC of Ballad. I’ve entered a few giveaways and never win, but just a chance at winning Ballad is worth the try. Below is a cool video Stiefvaters put together about Ballad, take a look. And, if you want to enter her contest you can click here (entries must be in by Friday, August 21).

Faerie, Vampire, Werewolf Reviews

I tend to read a lot of YA Fantasy novels, usually about fairies, vampires, werewolfs or your more traditional fairy-tales (or re-imaginings). More for myself, I decided to keep track of the different books (I love making lists), and I thought you might enjoy it as well. I'll be updating it as I go. As with our Previous Reviews, the titles with a "*" are ones that I really enjoyed and would recommend to others.

FAERIE/FAIRY/FAE
*Blackbringer by Laini Taylor
Fablehaven by Brandon Mull
Faerie Path by Frewin Jones

Grip of the Shadow Plague by Brandon Mull

Lament by Maggie Stiefvater

Rise of the Evening Star by Brandon Mull
Spell Hunter by R.J. Anderson
Wings by Aprilynne Pike
Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr

Wondrous Strange by Lesley Livingston

RE-TELLING (Fairytale, Mythology)
A Kiss In Time by Alex Flinn Beastly by Alix Flinn

Daughter of the Forest by Juliet Marillier

*Goose Girl by Shannon Hale

Keturah and Lord Death by Martine Leavitt

*My Fair Godmother by Janette Rallison

Oh.My.Gods. by Tera Lynn Childs
Percy Jackson by Rick Riordan

Princess Ben by Catherine Gilbert

Princess of the Midnight Ball by Jessica Day George

*Radiant Darkness by Emily Whitman

Scarlet Moon by Debbie Viguie

*Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow by Jessica Day George

Swan Kingdom by Zoe Marriott
Wildwood Dancing by Juliet Marillier

VAMPIRE/WEREWOLF
Awakening by Kelley Armstrong
Awakening by L.J. Smith

Blood Bound by Patricia Briggs
Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer (Have read but not reviewed on BWN)
Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer (Have read but not reviewed on BWN)
Evernight by Claudia Gray

Frostbite by Richelle Mead

Iron Kissed by Patricia Briggs
*Jessica’s Guide to Dating on the Dark Side by Beth Fantaskey
Moon Called by Patricia Briggs
New Moon by Stephenie Meyer (Have read but not reviewed on BWN)
The Struggle by L.J. Smith
The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong

*Twilight by Stephenie Meyer (Have read but not reviewed on BWN)

Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead

Faery Rebels: Spell Hunter by R.J. Anderson

Genre: YA Fantasy

Author Site: www.rj-anderson.com

First Line: “'I only want to go out for a little, little while,' the faery child pleaded.”

One Word Review: Charming

Book Synopsis: "Bryony is a faery who has spent her short life longing to leave the Oak tree that forms the boundary of her people's world. The only faeries allowed out in the wild at all are the Gatherers who are sent out to forage for food and the Queen's own hunter--a faery trained to hunt and protect the Oakenfolk and the fragile existence they have carved out for themselves. When she is summoned before the Queen, Bryony is stunned and elated to hear she is to be the new assistant to the Queen's hunter. Proving herself extraordinarly skilled, she changes her name to Knife and determines she will not only protect and provide for her people but discover why they are slowly dying out, unearth their mysterious and forbidden connection with humans, and discover why she is drawn to the stone House on the hill and to the unhappy boy named Paul who lives there." -Angieville (Hope you don't mind Angie, I just really liked your discription!)

My Review: I’ve been reading a lot of “faery” books lately and it seems that each one has a unique take on faery lore. This is no exception! I really enjoyed Spell Hunter (although, I think I like the U.K. title “Knife” better). Knife is adventurous, curious, and brave. Not considered the best attributes to the other calmer faeries that she lives with. Her bravery soon catches the attention of the faery queen and Knife becomes her personal “hunter”. While performing her duties she comes across a human boy, Paul, and soon they become fast friends, which is against all the faery rules. I enjoyed the friendship of Knife and Paul, I wasn’t sure where their story was going but I ended up pleased with how everything turned out. For some reason I had a hard time getting into this book, I ended up really liking it but it was a slow started for me. Maybe it’s because I’ve read too many faery books lately (Wings, Faerie Path, and Blackbringer). I thought it was imaginative, unique and fun. I look forward to reading the next book, Wayfarer, which follows the character Linden (a character from Spell Hunter).

I’m not sure which cover I like more, but I’m leaning towards the U.K. version.

Reading Order:
Book One: Spell Hunter
Book Two: Wayfarer

Other Reviews:
Always Something to Read
Angieville
My Favorite Author

Wings by Aprilynne Pike

Genre: YA-Fantasy

Author's Site: www.aprilynnepike.com

First Line: Laurel’s shoes flipped a cheerful rhythm that defied her dark mood.

One Word Review: Enchanting

Book Synopsis: An ordinary girl named Laurel who discovers she is a faerie sent among humans to guard the gateway to Avalon. When Laurel is thrust into the midst of a centuries-old battle between faeries and trolls, she's torn between a human and a faerie love, as well as her loyalties to both worlds.

My Review:
I was both nervous and excited to start this one. I had read pretty good reviews but wasn’t sure if I was quite in the mood to read another faerie book. Luckily I did because it turned out to be a very entertaining read. Laurel wasn’t my favorite as the story began, she seemed a little too whiney. As the book progressed she grew on me and by the end I was a fan. I liked the faerie world that Pike has created, it is a very unique twist to what faeries are and I thought it was rather refreshing. The first part of the book deals with Laurel and her friend David trying to figure out who she is and where exactly she comes from. The rest of the book is a little more exciting as trolls are introduced and of course the very dashing Tamani, a faerie friend of Laurel's. Of course there is a love triangle...I hate those! I’m pretty sure I know who I want Laurel to end up with, but you can’t help but like both David and Tamani (okay, you can probably guess which one I like more). This is the first in a series of four books and I am already anxious to get my hands on the next one.

I'm a sucker for a good book cover. So, when I was surfing the net and found the above cover on amazon.uk I fell in love. It's just so pretty, I think I like it more than the U.S. edition below.

Reading Order:
Book One: Wings
Book Two: N/A
Book Three: N/A
Book Four: N/A

Other Reviews:
Always Something to Read
Melissa's Bookshelf
Life in the Thumb
My Favorite Author
Exclusively Books

The Faerie Path by Frewin Jones

"Swept away into a court of magic and beauty, she discovers she is Tania, the lost princess of Faerie: the youngest daughter of Oberon and Titania. Since Tania's mysterious disappearance on the eve of her wedding five hundred years before, Faerie has been sunk in darkness and gloom. The courtly Lord Gabriel Drake, who Tania was once to marry, has found her and brought her back. With Tania's return, Faerie comes alive again as a land of winged children, glittering balls, and fantastic delights. But Tania can't forget Anita's world, or the boy she loved there. Torn between two loves and between two worlds, Tania slowly comes to discover why she disappeared so long ago. She possesses a singular magical ability and she must use it to stop a sinister plan that threatens the entire world of Faerie." -GoodReads

I’d say that I enjoyed this book, although I was a little confused about what was going on in the beginning, which I guess is what we’re suppose to feel. Anita (Tania) is drifting between two worlds, that of the “mortal world” and the other “faerie world.” At first she thinks she is dreaming and simply decides to go along for the ride. Soon she realizes that it is not a dream and wants to figure out a way to return home, only she doesn’t know which realm is her true home. I enjoyed the story, although I had a sense for what was going to happen early on. It was still a pleasant read and I plan on reading the other books in the series. The romance left a bit to be desired, I didn’t really feel anything for either Gabriel or for Edric. There needs to be a little more tension, chemistry or something in the next books. We’re told that Tania is in love, but I don’t really feel it. Other than that it was an entertaining read and I think others would enjoy it as well.

Book One: The Faerie Path
Book Two: The Lost Queen
Book Three: The Sorcerer King
Book Four: The Immortal Realm

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Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr

Rule #3: Don't stare at invisible faeries. Aislinn has always seen faeries. Powerful and dangerous, they walk hidden in the mortal world. Aislinn fears their cruelty-especially if they learn of her Sight-and wishes she were as blind to their presence as other teens.

Rule #2: Don't speak to invisible faeries. Now faeries are stalking her. One of them, Keenan, who is equal parts terrifying and alluring, is trying to talk to her, asking questions Aislinn is afraid to answer.

Rule #1: Don't ever attract their attention. But it's too late. Keenan is the Summer King, who has sought his queen for nine centuries. Without her, summer itself will perish. His is determined that Aislinn will become the Summer Queen at any cost-regardless of her plans or desires.

Suddenly none of the rules that have kept Aislinn safe are working anymore, and everything is on the line: her freedom; her best friend, Seth; everything. Faery intrigue, mortal love, and the clash of ancient rules and modern expectations swirl together in Melissa Marr's stunning twenty-first-century faery tale.

I admit I was pretty much hooked from the very beginning. I had a hard time putting this one down and was constantly wondering what Aislinn was going to do. Aislinn was a pretty likable character, she was a good combination of strong and vulnerable. There is a nice love-square going on (Aislinn, Seth, Donia and Keenan), which made for some interesting reading. Aislinn and Seth had great chemistry together (although, the more I think about it I'm not sure what there is to like about Seth? The fact that his is pierced from head to toe? Or the fact that he sleeps around A LOT? But hey, at least he gets tests regularly, thats just great!) , as well as Donia and Keenan (who come to think of it, sleeps around a lot as well. What is it with Marr and liking immoral men?), but towards the end I was kind of hoping Donia and Seth would kind of fade away and allow Keenan and Aislinn to be together. It seemed as though Aislinn was the one to fade throughout the story, by the end we were hearing more from Donia and Keenan than from Aislinn.

However, I might sound like a prude but there were a lot of themes in this book that I just couldn’t agree with, mainly all the sex. It is a sad message the author is pushing on teens that it is okay to have sex as long as you’ve both been tested and are in “love” regardless of no commitment. I was proud of Aislinn for trying to hold on to her virginity but then turns around and gives it up so easily, too sad. I also thought it was sad that the couple who finally end up married each have a lover on the side, again not the best morals we should be teaching our teens.

It’s really quite sad, the book had a lot of potential, it’s a pretty original story and there was enough tension that all the free-love could have been left out.

Book One: Wicked Lovely

Book Two: Ink Exchange

Book Three: Fragile Eternity

Faeries of Dreamdark: Blackbringer by Laini Taylor

“Magpie Windwitch, granddaughter of the West Wind, is not like other faeries. While most of her kind lives in tranquil seclusion deep in their forest, escaped devils are creeping back into the world after millennia of imprisonment, and Magpie is all that stands in their way. With her faithful clan of crows, she travels the world hunting the bloodthirsty snags down, just has her hero, the legendary Bellatrix, did twenty-five thousand years ago. When the ancient evil of the Blackbringer is loosed from its prison, Magpie may be in over her head. This hunt will take her back to the great forest of Dreamdark, a place of legends and Djinn, cunning imps and tattooed warriors, where she must unravel the mystery of the greatest enemy her fold have ever known. Will the determination of one small faerie be enough to defeat the impenetrable darkness that threatens to unmake the world?

I’ve been reading a lot of fantasy books lately, and realized that although fairies are found in so many fantasy books; they usually aren’t the main character. I wanted to find a fun book in which fairies were the main character and was happy to find Blackbringer. I haven’t found one bad review about this book and everyone seems to love it, so I was excited to finally get my hands on it.

I was not disappointed, the story was fantastic! I loved the wonderful world of Dreamdark and the very interesting fairies that lived there. Little Magpie is just an amazing heroine. She is a very complex character. She is a fighter, very cunning, brave and yet also very kind and loving. She is extremely loyal and has a belief in the power of good. Her “clan” of crows are just as lovable. It is so endearing to see how they protect and take care of her. And last but not least, Talon. I just love little Talon, and although he isn’t quite like the other fairies it has made him a far better one in the end. He and Magpie are great together and it was fun watching their friendship develop (although, I hope it blossoms into more than a friendship, wink-wink).

Laini Taylor has created an amazing story, I couldn’t get over how creative the story was and how unique the characters were. I am excited to see what will happen in the next book and what adventures Magpie, Talon and the Crows find themselves in.

Book One: Blackbringer
Book Two: Silksinger