From the Stacks: Riddle in Stone by Robert Evert

So far I have to say that I have been very pleased with the books I have received through NetGalley. They have all been really entertaining reads.

Summary:

"Long after the last of the great heroes of old has died, the Undead King is stirring again, amassing a goblin horde ready to sweep out of the mountains and destroy all of humanity. The only thing preventing utter annihilation is Edmund—a stuttering librarian who knows a secret, a secret that every thief, assassin, and king would kill to have. Fleeing from relentless peril, Edmund wages a solitary battle against an ancient evil. But how can one man succeed when so many before him have failed?"

My Thoughts:

Can I just start this by saying that I love stories that have a librarian as a main character? Some of my favorite books, TV shows, and movies have had librarians in them: Libriomancer by Jim C. Hines, Giles in "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," and I adore "The Librarian" movies created by TNT. Riddle in Stone proved to be just as enjoyable.

I actually felt a little sorry for Edmund. So many people make fun of him because he stutters, but he is such a well-educated individual, and I just wished he would get angry enough to where he could just go on a huge rant without stuttering and make everyone else just shut up. Then again, that would have been against his nature and character. Anyway, after being told that the beautiful Molly would not be interested in someone boring like him, Edmund decides to go on an adventure...even though he has no idea how difficult that will be. He's never traveled. All he knows are his books, so well that he has them memorized, which is a very useful skill. I imagine that trying to lug around a number of large tomes would be extremely tedious.

It is because of his exhaustion, sore muscles, and blisters from all his walking in the beginning that we discover that Edmund has magic...nothing too special, though. He didn't take the time to learn much more than a few spells, and not well enough to be able to perform more than one or two a day. I liked that because it didn't make him this amazingly strong and smart and moral compassionate hero. It takes Edmund time to learn and grow and become stronger as he deals with more.

His main companions in this story are Thorax, a dog that starts to travel with him and proves to be quite useful and loyal. (Is it really bad if I admit that she was my favorite character? She was great). Then, about midway into the novel, Edmund meets Pond Scum--and you will have to read the book to find out why his name is Pond Scum--and he quickly becomes quite useful in helping Edmund, so much so that they become partners in this adventure.

Riddle in Stone is filled with magic, trolls, goblins, elves, a riddle to be solved, fights, and an epic journey that really did leave me wanting to read the next one. I have to say one of the really fun parts for me was the image I got in my head when Edmund first set out on his adventure. I just kept picturing Bilbo from The Hobbit movie when he is running out of the Shire, yelling "I'm going on an adventure!" It was amusing and actually helped to draw me into the story even more than I already was.

My main issues though were Edmund's stuttering (so I hope to see that he overcomes that by the trilogy's end), and how a great deal of the book was basically Edmund alone. Yes, from the beginning he was traveling with Thorax, but you can't really have a lot of back-and-forth conversation with a dog. I'm hoping the next book won't have that issue as much, since it seems like Edmund and Pond Scum will be traveling together.

I really did enjoy this book and I look forward to reading the next one. Overall, I give it a 4.5/5. Seriously guys, give it a try. Riddle in Stone is only $2.99

Riddle in Stone at Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/riddle-in-stone-robert-evert/1114700783?ean=2940016203645&isbn=2940016203645

Riddle in Stone at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Riddle-Stone-The-Series-ebook/dp/B00BL09E6O/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1361886905&sr=8-7&keywords=riddle+in+stone

Riddle in Stone can also be found in the iBookstore and via Kobo.

You can also find Robert Evert at his blog: http://robertevert.blogspot.com/

Other Readings:

Currently I am reading The Water Witch by Juliet Dark, Spellbound by Cara Lynn Shultz, and A Conspiracy of Alchemists by Liesel Schwarz. 

From the Stacks: An Elemental Tail by Shona Husk

What can I say? I love stories with some of my favorite beings/creatures in them. Basically that amounts to copious numbers of books revolving around mythology of all kinds, also mermaids, the fae, gargoyles, selkies, dragons, and almost any kind of magician/mutant/wizard/etc. Today is a look at a merman in Shona Husk's An Elemental Tail.

Summary:

"Four hundred years ago, Nik was tricked by his lover and left stranded as a powerless, but immortal, human. Now he craves only one thing: to reclaim the book that was once his tail and become a water Elemental again. Unfortunately, he can only locate the book when someone touches the pages. This time he won't be left high and dry.

Isla is left a beautiful leather-bound book in her great-aunt's will, perfect for using during he life drawing classes. However, she can't bring herself to mark the translucent pages until a compelling crimson-haired stranger strips for art.

Nik is torn. Years of enforced humanity have given him a conscience. Despite his best efforts at remaining a heartless water Elemental, he is failing. He is falling for Isla, who has no idea she holds the power of the oceans, and his heart, in her hands."

My Thoughts:

When I got this I originally thought it was a novel, but it is a novella. Nevertheless it was completely worth it and I enjoyed reading it, even if it only took me about a half-hour (I'm a pretty fast reader). This was an interesting story, and yes, the two main characters do seem to fall for each other rather quickly, but again, this was a novella so it wasn't as if they had a couple hundred pages to progress their relationship. An Elemental Tail had 8 chapters and with the settings I prefer on my NOOK there were only 65 pages in total.

Nik is intense, and from the beginning it is obvious that not having the connection to the water that he was used to is torture for him. Isla is troubled; she is a gifted artist but is running into issues with her professor, which could lead to her losing her scholarship, which would mean no longer being able to attend school. Naturally they meet, and through Isla's gentle caresses of the beautiful leather-bound book that is actually Nik's tail, Nik is able to see what she is thinking and feeling, and he has no choice but to help her.

I really could have seen this story becoming a full length novel. I had just become completely immersed in the story when it ended. Still, I enjoyed it and I do recommend it to others. I look forward to reading more of Shona Husk's work in the future. 5/5.

An Elemental Tail at Barnes & Noble ($0.99 NOOK Book): http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/elemental-tail-shona-husk/1100546511?ean=2940045125833

An Elemental Tail at Amazon ($0.99 Kindle Book): http://www.amazon.com/An-Elemental-Tail-ebook/dp/B00AH2B10O/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1357833945&sr=8-1&keywords=An+Elemental+Tail

Other Readings:

I'm already making decent progress on the books I've chosen to read for March, and there are a couple of books coming out next month that I'm looking forward to getting and reading, namely With All My Soul, the final book in the Soul Screamers series by Rachel Vincent, and the paperback copy of The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa (yes, I know, it's crazy that I haven't yet read this). 

From the Stacks: The Summer Prince by Alaya Dawn Johnson

This book was quite detailed and intriguing and I can't think of anything I could conceivably compare it to. Absolutely outstanding. The Summer Prince by Alaya Dawn Johnson will be released March 1, 2013.

Summary:

"A heart-stopping story of love, death, technology, and art set amid the tropics of a futuristic Brazil.

The lush city of Palmares Tres shimmers with tech and tradition, with screaming gossip casters and practiced politicians. In the midst of this vibrant metropolis, June Costa creates art that's sure to make her legendary. But her dreams of fame become something more when she meets Enki, the bold new Summer King. The whole city falls in love with him (including June's best friend, Gil). But June sees more to Enki than amber eyes and a lethal samba. She sees a fellow artist.

Together, June and Enki will stage explosive, dramatic projects that Palmares Tres will never forget. They will add fuel to a growing rebellion against the government's strict limits on new tech. And June will fall deeply, unfortunately in love with Enki. Because like all Summer Kings before him, Enki is destined to die.

Pulsing with the beat of futuristic Brazil, burning with the passions of its characters, and overflowing with ideas, this fiery novel will leave you eager for more from Alaya Dawn Johnson."

My Thoughts:

In a few words, this book was absolutely stunning. It took me a little while to read it because it is not exactly broken up into chapters, but rather seasons, and I tend to be a read until you get to a chapter break type of person. This book does have section breaks though. Still, I thought it was amazing.

I loved all the art and the dancing and the vibrancy in this book. Though I've never been to Brazil, I found it very easy to believe that I was there. In University I took a ballroom dancing class, and we did learn the samba, and there was something about this book that made me want to get up and dance; it was like I could hear the music pulsing through me, which definitely sucked me even further into the world.

Here is something I found to be very interesting about this book, and I'm really glad that it was mentioned in there (though I am also glad that it wasn't in any sort of graphic detail). I guess I should also say that this is kinda, but not really, a SPOILER. In this book, not only does June masturbate, but she also has sex. She is a seventeen-year-old-girl and these things are to be expected. Yes, not every person does it at that age, but it seems like in society today, a large number of teens are out there doing it, and trying to make books or movies or TV shows seem like they aren't (or that they are worse than rabbits) does not help at all. Really, the focus should be on knowing the risks and consequences, and how to protect yourself.

Anyway, I loved the relationships in The Summer Prince. They were complex and deep and real, and every character felt as if they truly existed. In Palmares Tres, no one has a problem with homosexuality, which is how I think the world should be. I am not bothered in any way, shape, or form, by people who are attracted to the same sex. Love is love, people, and I think this book highlights that. It was wonderful.

I don't want to spoil anything, but the tech in this book, and the twists, and trying to figure out what exactly went wrong with the political system, since it seems that Palmares Tres is on the brink of a revolution, it was all so intense that I was almost desperate to figure it out.

I think that The Summer Prince deals with a lot of real world issues that are taking place now and almost certainly will continue on into whatever our future societies turn out to be as well. I absolutely loved reading this book, and I am grateful that NetGalley gave me the opportunity. I will definitely be looking forward to reading more books by Alaya Dawn Johnson. The Summer Prince is a definite 5/5.

The Summer Prince at Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-summer-prince-alaya-dawn-johnson/1112220579?ean=9780545417792

The Summer Prince at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Summer-Prince-Alaya-Dawn-Johnson/dp/0545417791/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1361373857&sr=8-1&keywords=The+Summer+Prince

Other Readings:

In readings and other fun news, my review of Ellie James's Broken Illusions earned me yet another retweet from the author on Twitter, a thank you, and an offer for a signed copy of the third book, Fragile Darkness. I always feel amazing when given the opportunity to continue doing what I love...reading books and sharing that love with others. It's an amazing feeling. Also, thanks to the wonderful NetGalley, I have managed to snag an advance uncorrected copy of Gameboard of the Gods by Richelle Mead...which doesn't actually release until June. So, though I'll be devouring the book later today, I won't be reviewing it for a few months yet. I may do a tweet or two about it. You can find me on Twitter: @DanielleThamasa. You can even friend me on Facebook; I am Danielle Thamasa there as well. If you do friend me on FB, just let me know that you came over from my blog; you'll be accepted a lot faster that way.

Reading Challenges and Participation

Okay, so this is going to be a relatively short post, but it will give me more entries into a contest to win a book that I've been eagerly awaiting...With All My Soul by Rachel Vincent. The Soul Screamers series has been amazing to read and I own them all (technically two of each since I own the omnibus editions as well). What can I say? I'm a huge fan.

I kept stumbling across the books in the store and they sounded interesting but it wasn't until I just borrowed the first three from the library that I actually read them...and became obsessed. Seriously, these books are outstanding. The characters are great and they all have their issues. It all starts with bean sidhe (banshee) Kaylee, and then there is Nash, who is a male bean sidhe; Tod, Nash's brother who is a Reaper; and Kaylee's best friend, Emma, who is the human of the bunch. Later in the series we also add in Sabine, who is a Mara (think a nightmare for this one).

Seriously, I could never say enough about how much I love this series. Anyway, the final book will be released March 19th, 2013, and I already have it on my From the Stacks review schedule in March, so participation in this challenge is basically easy. All you do is go here and sign up for the challenge. You have to read AND review With All My Soul sometime between March 19th and the end of April. That's it. And for agreeing to do so, you are entered into a chance to win a signed copy. The contest for the free copy ends in another 20 days so you'll want to sign up soon.

I'm in. Are you?

From the Stacks: Broken Illusions by Ellie James

So many of the reviews I saw for this book said that it was much better than the first book, and I was already curious to know what would happen with the whole Chase/Trinity/Dylan issue. I had to read this one, and I'm glad I did, though now I am finding it difficult to get my hands on the third book.

Summary:

"It's almost Mardi Gras, but for sixteen-year-old psychic Trinity Monsour this is no time for celebration. Another girl is missing. Tormented by visions she doesn't understand-of an empty street lined with crumbling old buildings, a terrified voice warning her to be careful, and a body lying motionless in the grass-Trinity embarks upon a dark odyssey she could never have imagined. She'll stop at nothing to better understand her abilities, convinced that doing so is the only way she can make sure the terrifying images she sees never actually happen. But it seems everyone wants to stop her. Her aunt is worried Trinity might discover secrets best left in the past; her best friend, Victoria, is afraid Trinity is slipping away; her boyfriend, Chase, fears she's taking too many chances, and the lead detective will barely let her out of his sight. Only one person stands by her side, and in doing so, Dylan slips deeper and deeper into her heart and her dreams-blurring the lines between reality and illusion. When the dust settles, one of them will be dead."

My Thoughts:

Compared to Shattered Dreams, I felt that Broken Illusions felt much more cohesive and I could actually remember what happened. It definitely did not feel as jumbled. And where the first book started off with so many characters that it was difficult to try and keep them all straight, this book really seemed to just focus on the core group, and that certainly helped.

I still don't like Chase. I've been thinking about it and trying to deduce exactly why I don't like him for Trinity. He is a very caring guy, that much is obvious when you see him with Jessica and how he is there to support her. But I guess that is also part of the problem. He is always postponing time with Trinity because Jessica needs him all the time. I get that she's been through a trauma and she can't be around most people, but come on, Chase...you can't keep ditching your girlfriend for your ex.

Oh, then there are the so-called friends of Chase, people like Amber and Luc who constantly degrade Trinity both verbally and on Facebook...and how does Chase react to that...well he deletes the posts on Facebook and he gets a little upset, but does he really do anything to stand up and support his girlfriend? Not really...and why is that? Well, it might have something to do with the fact that as much as he tries to believe that she's a psychic and has no control over that, really he doesn't know how to handle that. Maybe that's why he is constantly having to tell Trinity that they'll have to put a raincheck on hanging out.

Thank goodness for Dylan. Seriously, I kept waiting and waiting for him to pop into this book because I knew he would just make the story a hundred times better. I liked him immediately upon meeting him, and those feelings certainly haven't changed. It took until about the halfway point in this book before Dylan actually shows up in person; before that it was just basically Trinity remember the events of last book and also, you know, dreaming of him. I'm sorry, Trinity, but if you're dreaming about a guy like that and he's not your boyfriend, you seriously need to step back and consider why that is.

I could probably talk for an hour or more about these characters, without actually even discussing plot details and twists and anything like that, but I won't because I don't think you guys want to read a 12 page book report. Anyway, I thought that the psychic aspect was more understandable in this book. I loved the information provided by new character Julian; it really worked. And for all of Trinity's dreams and all of these girls going missing and the intrigue of this story, it is absolutely perfect to have it take place in New Orleans. I think it really enhances the sensation of what is happening.

We learned a little bit more about Trinity's mom in this book, which was great, and just a little bit more about Jim Fourcade, but I'm still extremely curious. Considering everything that happens at the end of Broken Illusions, I have a feeling that perhaps the Fourcades will play a slightly bigger role in the last book. Also, I applaud Ellie James with the revelation of who the big bad was the whole time because I actually did not see it coming.

Loads better than the first one, Broken Illusions definitely earns a 5/5 from me...and now to try and find a copy of Fragile Darkness...

Broken Illusions at Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/broken-illusions-ellie-james/1107039095?ean=9780312647032

Broken Illusions at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Broken-Illusions-Midnight-Dragonfly-Novel/dp/0312647034/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1361157377&sr=8-1&keywords=Broken+Illusions

Other Readings:

I managed to borrow a copy of Kept by Shawntelle Madison from the library, and I'm really excited about it because I really really enjoyed Coveted. I'm also working on a couple other books I've borrowed from the library, as well as a few of my NetGalley books, so expect some more reviews and bonus reviews coming up.

From the Stacks: The Indigo Spell by Richelle Mead

I literally could not put this book down, and all I can say is that I am already counting down until the release of book four, The Fiery Heart.

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.

Forging 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."

My Thoughts:

This was yet another amazing book by Richelle Mead. I enjoyed the Vampire Academy series with protagonist Rose, but the Bloodlines series has Sydney, and I feel that I can relate to her so much more. Yes, from time to time I may dream of being a hands-on kick-ass heroine like Rose, but in reality I am more of a scholar, trying to use my brain to solve a problem before resorting to violence.

So Sydney is a big reason to love this series, and I love seeing this world through her eyes, and seeing what happens as she learns more about things the Alchemists have kept secret and as she begins to accept the vampire and dhampir friends and trust them more and more, even though it goes against how she was raised. Of course, then you have to add in the use of magic, and it is a lot for Sydney to deal with, but you know, she handles it all fairly well.

Probably the biggest issue (though I don't like thinking of it as an issue) for Sydney to comprehend and accept is Adrian's feelings for her and her feelings for him. They make such a dynamic pair, and in a much different way than Rose and Dimitri did in the Vampire Academy series. Rose and Dimitri were huge physical threats, warriors, and Sydney and Adrian are not. I mean, they can fight and have had lessons on how to do so, but Sydney has magic and Adrian is a spirit user, so their skills lie in other areas. The true strength they have when battling off those against them is their ability to work together and to strengthen the other when they feel weak. Sydney and Adrian are there for each other, and I love watching them grow closer and closer through this series.

Richelle Mead said that The Indigo Spell would have the romance amped up more than the previous Bloodlines books, and she wasn't lying. I was getting Sydrian overload...if such a thing is possible. These two are so obviously meant to be together that the short-lived Rose/Adrian relationship is nothing but a shadow of a memory for me. Seriously, after reading all of this, how could anyone think otherwise. Adrian is becoming a better person in many ways, because of Sydney's influence and also because of his bond with Jill. But Adrian is making Sydney into a better person too. He calls her out when she's being silly, like with her borderline eating disorder, and you know what, I saw improvement on that minor plot in this book. Sydney even said that she isn't counting calories anymore, so hey, good job, Adrian.

Getting to meet Marcus and discover some of his secrets and such was certainly interesting, but I honestly felt it only served as a way to show Sydney some of the downfalls of the Alchemists. They are not what they seem and we are learning more and more about them as the series goes on. It will be very interesting to see exactly what happens when Sydney gets away from the Alchemists, which I think will honestly lead to some sort of battle (whether a physical one or one of wits, I don't know, but major conflict is coming).

I also feel that the person who moved in at the end of The Indigo Spell will only complicate matters for Sydney even more, but I'm not going to spoil that ending for those of you who have not yet read this book. It shouldn't need to be said, but I'll say it anyway: this book is a definite 5/5 from me!

Oh, and one more thing to say about how I excited I am for the next book, The Fiery Heart...it is going to switch perspective and have the POVs of both Sydney and Adrian, so this is going to be quite interesting. I can't wait to delve into Adrian's thought processes. The Fiery Heart will be out November 19, 2013.

The Indigo Spell at Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-indigo-spell-richelle-mead/1112117226?ean=9781595143198

The Indigo Spell at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/The-Indigo-Spell-Bloodlines-Novel/dp/159514319X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1360774168&sr=8-1&keywords=The+Indigo+Spell

Other Readings:

Currently I am reading Broken Illusions by Ellie James, Riddle in Stone by Robert Evert, and Empire State by Adam Christopher. I have three more regularly scheduled From the Stacks posts for this month (Mondays and Fridays) and then there are two bonus posts at the end of the month as well. Having these NetGalley books is definitely making my reading and reviewing schedule interesting.

From the Stacks: A Breath of Eyre by Eve Marie Mont

Okay, sorry for having this up a day late, but my review schedule got a little mixed up and switched around due to some NetGalley reviews I'm getting ready for, one of which is actually the sequel to today's book, hence the switcheroo.

Summary:

"Emma Townsend has always believed in stories-the ones she reads voraciously, and the ones she creates in her head. Perhaps it's because she feels like an outsider at her exclusive prep school, or because her stepmother doesn't come close to filling the void left by her mother's death. And her only romantic prospect-apart from a crush on her English teacher-is Gray Newman, a long-time friend who just adds to Emma's confusion. But escape soon arrives in an old leather-bound copy of Jane Eyre...

Reading of Jane's isolation sparks a deep sense of kinship. Then fate takes things a leap further when a lightning storm catapults Emma right into Jane's body and her nineteenth-century world. As governess at Thornfield, Emma has a sense of belonging she's never known-and an attraction to the brooding Mr. Rochester. Now, moving between her two realities and uncovering secrets in both, Emma must decide whether her destiny lies in the pages of Jane's story, or in the unwritten chapters of her own..."

My Thoughts:

Okay, I'm going to put this out right now...THERE MAY BE SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW. I usually try to avoid it when possible, but I'm sorry, I don't think I'll be able to this time. A Breath of Eyre is the first of a trilogy, with the second A Study in Scarlet being released next month. Based on the titles, you see that book one has parallels with Jane Eyre, book two visits The Scarlet Letter, and the third book, A Phantom Enchantment, shall follow The Phantom of the Opera. All classic pieces of literature, and I'm very curious to see how Eve Marie Mont weaves these stories together.

This was a great first novel, and I really found that I connected with Emma, probably because she is a writer and absolutely loves reading. It was brilliant. However, it is sort of obvious why her dad and her stepmother are worried about her, and think that she may be mentally ill, much like her mother was. Here's where the SPOILERS come into play. In the course of this book, Emma almost drowns, is struck by lightning, gets caught in a burning barn while trying to save horses, and then almost drowns again. Four hospital visits in the one school year that this novel spans. Now, admittedly, most of these occurrences are accidental, and two of them help serve as her gateways into the world of Jane Eyre, but wow. I just have to say that if Eve Marie Mont has to make Emma this accident prone in book two in order to suck her into the pages of each book, I will have reason for concern.

That being said, I read half the book last night in an hour and then read the rest today in about another hour, so it was a really quick read. I do believe that it will appeal to fans of classic literature, but I would not recommend it to people who don't have at least a working knowledge of Jane Eyre. While I would prefer to say that you should read Bronte's novel first, I guess one of the movie or TV-mini-series versions would work as well. Part of me is sad that this will only be a trilogy. The literature geek in me would love to see other classics: Wuthering Heights, any Jane Austen (though maybe not P&P or S&S since they are done so much already, Tess of the D'Urbervilles, ...my brain is seriously going blank right now, but you get my idea. Or maybe there could be some sort of spin-off where the modern character traveling into these books is male, going with The Three Musketeers or something by Thomas Hardy or Charles Dickens. Hey, even Shakespeare would be pretty darn interesting.

I thought A Breath of Eyre was well written, had characters I enjoyed and either related to or at least feel real with depth of character, and the story was interesting enough to keep me in the story the whole time. Because of NetGalley I already have my hands on A Touch of Scarlet, though the release date is March 26, 2013, so there will be a review for it ready for release day. And though they advertise this book for the age range of 14-17, I am 24 and completely enjoyed it. I believe it will appeal to any age, so long as they enjoy the stories of classic literature. Definitely a 5/5.

A Breath of Eyre at Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-breath-of-eyre-eve-marie-mont/1104515885?ean=9780758269485

A Breath of Eyre at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Breath-Eyre-Eve-Marie-Mont/dp/075826948X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1360721046&sr=8-1&keywords=A+Breath+of+Eyre

Other Readings:

Currently I am finishing up The Summer Prince by Alaya Dawn Johnson, as well as finishing Unspoken by Sarah Rees Brennan, diving into Broken Illusions by Ellie James, and The Indigo Spell by Richelle Mead. I'm also sorely tempted to pull Jane Eyre out again for yet another re-read.

From the Stacks: Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks

I guess I will start this by saying that I have read most of Nicholas Sparks's books, and the few I haven't read are on my to-read list. The why of it all will be explained later in the review.

Summary:

"When a mysterious young woman named Katie appears in the small North Carolina town of Southport, her sudden arrival raises questions about her past. Beautiful yet self-effacing, Katie seems determined to avoid forming personal ties until a series of events draws her into two reluctant relationships: one with Alex, a widowed store owner with a kind heart and two young children; and another with her plainspoken single neighbor, Jo. Despite her reservations Katie slowly begins to let down her guard, putting down roots in the close-knit community and becoming increasingly attached to Alex and his family.

But even as Katie begins to fall in love, she struggles with the dark secret that still haunts and terrifies her...a past that set her on a fearful, shattering journey across the country, to the sheltered oasis of Southport. With Jo's empathic and stubborn support, Katie eventually realizes that she must choose between a life of transient safety and one of riskier rewards...and that in the darkest hour, love is the only true safe haven."

My Thoughts:

Okay, yes there are a great number of people who say that Nicholas Sparks is a formulaic writer and that his books are all basically the same story with a few tweaks. And while a part of me can say that yes, that is true to an extent, the other part of me eagerly devours each and every one of his novels, and they continue to have a huge emotional impact on me. I know that something is going to happen in them: two people will fall in love and one will have cancer or Alzheimer's or some other medical issue, sometimes a character will move into town and will have a secret. That predictability means that I can mentally prepare myself, but Nicholas Sparks has a way with creating these extremely real characters and I can't help but grow attached to them.

Take Safe Haven for example. I basically knew that Katie and Alex were going to fall in love with each other. It can be assumed just by looking at the movie tie-in cover. But, what really sold this relationship for me was how Katie acted around Alex's children: Kristen and Josh. Kristen was so adorable and her actions had me melting. I would have fallen in love with the family as well.

I can also say that I adored Katie's friend and neighbor, Jo. She was there to listen to Katie and help her figure things out...and she not so subtly pushed Katie towards a relationship with Alex. You know how earlier I said that there is a predictability in Nicholas Sparks novels...well the truth about Jo truly knocked me for a loop. It was something I didn't see coming, and it was actually that secret that had me crying more than the rest of the story.

Finding out Katie's secret though, I pretty much saw that one coming, and had already guessed that it would lead to some kind of explosive encounter towards the end of the book...and it did. The character of Kevin made me squirm and feel disgusted, and I really wanted to reach through my NOOK screen and kill the guy. So excellent job at creating this horrid character. He definitely falls into the villain category. Seriously, Kevin is a horrible man, and I don't feel at all bad saying that he deserved what happened to him in the end.

Anyway, the film adaptation of Safe Haven is coming out next week, and yes, I am looking forward to seeing it. I can already see a few changes they've made, based on watching the trailer. In the book Katie starts out as a blonde and then dyes her hair to become a brunette, but in the movie it shows her as starting off as a brunette and then becoming a blonde. Okay, not a huge change really but still it could have remained true to the story. Also, in the book Alex is described as being one of those younger men who goes grey prematurely, and I enjoyed that fact, but in the movie he has a nice head of brown hair. Come on, again, it is a small detail, but they could have done it. There are a few other minor story and plot details I noticed have changed, but I can't make a full comparison until I actually see the movie. 

But I did enjoy the book. I kept coming back to it whenever I had a spare moment to read. 5/5.

Safe Haven at Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/safe-haven-nicholas-sparks/1100038515?ean=9781455523559

Safe Haven at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Safe-Haven-Nicholas-Sparks/dp/0446547573/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1359044749&sr=8-2&keywords=Safe+Haven

Other Readings:

Let's see, next week The Indigo Spell by Richelle Mead will finally be out. I've only been waiting since the day the last book came out to read it. The Indigo Spell is my From the Stacks pick for next Friday, and it will be spoiler free, because I try to make all my reviews that way (I don't like to ruin the experience for other readers). Oh, and I'm also looking forward to Mountain Echoes by C.E. Murphy, which will be out in a couple weeks. 

From the Stacks: Dark Secrets by Shona Husk

I received this novella through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Dark Secrets will be released on February 18, 2013.

Summary:

"Six years ago, Haidyn Mast left his home and his betrothed Anisa to follow his magical calling. Too weak to join the Arcane Guild and too ashamed to return home, he has made a life as a prostitute—to all outward appearances. In truth, he sells his mind but not his body, using magic to let his clients experience their most secret fantasies while his hands stay clean. Even the Lawman, the arbiter of justice in Reseda, is one of his clients, but Haidyn would rather not know the extent of that man's depravity.

Though successful, Haidyn is shunned as a whore and his lack of formal training is causing his power to grow out of control. He's ready to retire and leave the city, but when he sees his Anisa standing at the Lawman's side, he knows he must rescue her from the abusive enforcer. Risking his life and his sanity, he devises a plan, knowing that failure will mean death for him, and a lifetime of torment for her…"

My Thoughts:

Okay, so I found out about halfway through reading this novella that Dark Secrets is actually the second in a series, but I can honestly say that it didn't detract from the story in the slightest. I still understood the world and the magic system and the characters. However, now knowing that I will definitely have to get my hands on Dark Vow, which I believe is a full-length novel.

I thought this novella was woven together very well and it very easily paints the pictures of the characters and their personalities. The Lawman was a total creep and a jerk, an easy to dislike villain. However, though Anisa was the main romantic interest, I don't really know that I got enough of her to really form much of an opinion about her. I mean, I know that Haidyn loved her and that gives me a little sense of who she is, but that's about all.

I adored Haidyn though. He made the best of a bad situation and created a fairly profitable life not just himself but for a few others as well. It was easy to connect to him and I could honestly have read a lot more about Haidyn, even with the nice ending of the novella. Overall, I thought that Dark Secrets was well written, had good world-building, was a pretty quick read, and like I said, I was able to get into this story quite easily even if it wasn't the first in a series.

I give it a 5/5.

Dark Secrets at Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/dark-secrets-shona-husk/1113984603?ean=9781426895111

Dark Secrets at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Dark-Secrets-ebook/dp/B00A9V2XFU/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&qid=1360197910&sr=8-10&keywords=Shona+Husk

Other Readings:

When it comes to NetGalley book reviews, I will try to have them up either the day before, the day of, or the day after release, depending on my previously scheduled reviews. Dark Shadows is the exception as I read it so quickly. I am really excited to read a number of these books, so some of them I'm reading are: The Summer Prince by Alaya Dawn Johnson, A Touch of Scarlet by Eve Marie Mont, and Quintessence by David Walton. There is one novel I'm really desperately hoping I'll get approved for on NetGalley...Gameboard of the Gods by Richelle Mead. I totally plan on buying it anyway since I own all of her books, but to be able to read it before the release day would be outstanding.

From the Stacks: Mark of the Witch by Maggie Shayne

So, I saw the second book in this series in the store and I picked it up, thought it looked interesting, and then discovered that it was part of a series. I found it at the library, as well as finding a free prequel novella on my NOOK. The novella Legacy of the Witch was a really quick read and set up the series nicely, which only made me very quickly pick up this book and dive in.

Summary:

"She was BORN to save

what he is SWORN

to DESTROY...

A lapsed Wiccan, Indira Simon doesn't believe in magic anymore. But when strange dreams of being sacrificed to an ancient Babylonian god have her waking up with real rope burns on her wrists, she's forced to acknowledge that she may have been too hasty in her rejection of the unknown. Then she meets mysterious and handsome Father Tomas. Emerging from the secrecy of an obscure Gnostic sect, he arrives with stories of a demon, a trio of warrior witches-and Indira's sacred calling.

Yet there's something even Tomas doesn't know, an inescapable truth that will force him to choose between saving the life of the woman he's come to love-and saving the world."

My Thoughts:

The details of the rituals and spells in this book were stunning. It makes you feel like you are actually there witnessing it all and it was simply breathtaking. Having the whole past life aspect and getting to see the dreams and glimpses that Indy had felt very believable. The novel itself switched from the first person POV of Indira to having third person POV with Tomas, which I thought was handled quite well.

Now, there was the predictability factor of Indira and Tomas ending up together. Between their shared past life and the fact that the only other major characters were Tomas's sister and an old priest, there weren't really any other options. Granted, I did really like that there wasn't a love triangle, because it seems like every book out there has to have a love triangle to be interesting. Here's a clue: they don't. There are perfectly good romance stories (and TV shows and movies) where you only have one main couple and focus on the will-they-won't-they or on how they could possibly overcome the obstacles preventing them from being together.

Speaking of that, I thought Tomas restrained himself fairly well through most of the story, considering how drawn he was to Indy. The big mystery of the story, of course, was who this "demon" was and whether or not Indy would help the demon or Tomas. As Indy remembers more and more of her past life, the truth becomes more clear.

This really was my first foray into Maggie Shayne's novels and I enjoyed it so much that I joined her newsletter (which actually gives me access to free and discounted books) and I also went to the library to pick up Daughter of the Spellcaster, the second book in the series so I can find out what happens next. Mark of the Witch was a great and quick read and I really enjoyed it. 5/5.

Mark of the Witch at Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/mark-of-the-witch-maggie-shayne/1109634756?ean=9780778313335

Mark of the Witch at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Mark-Witch-Portal-Maggie-Shayne/dp/0778313336/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1358822880&sr=1-1&keywords=Mark+of+the+Witch

Other Readings:

Currently I am reading The Summer Prince by Alaya Dawn Johnson. It is a fascinating read so far, and I should have the review up at the end of the month because The Summer Prince will be released March 1, 2013. Yes, I signed up for NetGalley and it has given me the chance to read several books before they are released, which means that I will be having a few Bonus From the Stacks posts. For most of these books I will have the review up either the day before, the day of, or the day after release. The exception will be Dark Secrets by Shona Husk, because I have another book out that same day and both Dark Secrets and An Elemental Tail by Shona Husk are novellas so there will be a double review on February 22.

From the Stacks: Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl

With the movie in theaters on Valentine's Day, I figured that now would be the perfect time to actually sit down and finish this book. I bought the first three books some time in the past year or so and I had read the first chapter or two of Beautiful Creatures before setting it down in favor of grad school homework. This time I finished it...fairly quickly too.

Summary:

"Lena Duchannes is unlike anyone the small Southern town of Gatlin has ever seen, and she's struggling to conceal her power and a curse that has haunted her family for generations. But even within the overgrown gardens, murky swamps, and crumbling graveyards of the forgotten South, a secret cannot stay hidden forever.

Ethan Wate, who has been counting the months until he can escape from Gatlin, is haunted by dreams of a beautiful girl he has never met. When Lena moves into the town's oldest and most infamous plantation, Ethan is inexplicably drawn to her and determined to uncover the connection between them.

In a town with no surprises, one secret could change everything."

My Thoughts:

What can I say about this book? I really enjoyed that it was told from the perspective of the male. YA Literature has become chock full of books where you have a normal human female, or a female who thinks she's normal and she falls for a supernatural being male. I liked that this did the opposite, where the male is the human and the female is the one with the power. Of course, that is stretching just a little, because I think there is more to Ethan than meets the eye, but then again, that special vibe could just come from the depth of feelings shared by Lena and Ethan.

Lena was an interesting character and I very much loved her. If she had come to my school, I would have been right there with Ethan, standing up for her against the other kids who just don't like anyone who is different. And Lena is. It also took quite some time in the book before it was actually revealed that she is a Caster, her family's term for witches. Yes, it was basically assumed from some of the freaky things happening around the school and the town that Lena was a witch, but for her to actually admit it to Ethan took a long time...which makes sense because it can be hard to trust people sometimes, so I liked the realness of the situation.

Obviously, in most stories, an overall theme is light vs dark, good vs evil, and that doesn't change here. There are light Casters and dark Casters, and on her sixteenth birthday, Lena will be claimed for one side or the other, and this first novel in the series takes us right up to Lena's birthday, where she is claimed. I won't say the outcome of the event, just in case there are people like me who are coming into the series late.

There were so many great characters in the series: Ridley was sort of schemer and she used people however she wanted to and that suited her character, Macon and Amma both kept secrets from Ethan and Lena but I understood why because they were trying to help as well as protect the teens so they made good guardians of a sort, and I absolutely adored Marian the Librarian. I looked up the cast list online for the movie and I'm extremely sad that they don't have Marian in the movie. Based on the previews it looks like they basically have Amma taking up that role as well.

Still, I loved the depth and richness of Gatlin and the people who inhabit the town, and I look forward both to seeing the movie and to reading the rest of the series. Beautiful Creatures gets a magical 5/5 from me.

Beautiful Creatures at Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/beautiful-creatures-kami-garcia/1100163906?ean=9780316231657

Beautiful Creatures at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Beautiful-Creatures-Kami-Garcia/dp/0316231673/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1358131206&sr=1-2&keywords=Beautiful+Creatures

Other Readings:

Let's see, right now I'm re-reading Pride and Prejudice because Jane Austen is great to read and I read her books sometimes every year. I'm also getting ready to dive into Unspoken by Sarah Rees Brennan. I have heard amazing things about the book online, and I admit that I'm really curious to see what all the fuss is about, especially since the book apparently has an ending that has readers going crazy and begging for the next one.