From the Stacks: Falling for the Wingman by Crista McHugh

For the final From the Stacks post for the day, we have the newest release by Crista McHugh, set to hit shelves March 3rd. I was given the privilege of reading it early thanks to NetGalley, and I can say that I am very much looking forward to the rest of the series. So, the third book in the Kelly Brothers series is Falling for the Wingman, which follows third brother Caleb.

Air Force pilot Caleb Kelly has come back home with one mission in mind-to propose to the woman whose letters and lucky charm helped him survive his deployment in Afghanistan. But when he finds their apartment empty with a note saying she's left him, he arrives at her mother's house in rural Alabama less than a week before Kourtney is about to marry another man. Now he's out to win her heart again and gets some unexpected assistance from her younger sister, Alex. 

Alex Leadbetter has always thought Caleb was too good for her manipulative, social-climbing sister. She had assumed Kourtney's identity to write letters to him and keep his spirits up until he returned home to the hard truth, never expecting to fall in love with him along the way. After he shows up in town, she convinces him that the best way to get Kourtney back is to make her think he's fallen for someone new - her. But when a fake romance becomes all too real, her deception may leave them both grounded.

Overall Rating: 5/5

Plot: Okay, so these are extremely quick reads. I read Ben's book and Caleb's book in about three hours, and that was with working at the same time. This major chunk of this story probably takes place in a shorter time than the others, about a week or so, but it is so adorable and makes you feel good reading it. This is a fun story where guy thinks he's in love with one sister, when he doesn't even realize that he's been conversing with the other the whole time. It's also fun to see how two people pretending to have a relationship can actually turn into a real relationship. Oh, and we get to see further progression of Adam and Lia's relationship.

Characters: Alex is the best leading lady so far in the series. I relate to her so much more than I have Lia or Hailey. You honestly can't help but fall for Alex, so it's no wonder that Caleb does. She is smart, sincere, laid-back, and just everything Caleb needs in his life, even as he basically pines for Kourtney who is the complete opposite of her sister. It was also great to watch as Caleb starts to realize that first he is having a physical attraction to Alex and then that he is slowly starting to fall for the girl who he has been treating as his wingman to win back her sister. Ben and Hailey may have had the most emotional story so far, but Caleb and Alex have the cutest and most simplistic. It was simply adorable. Now I have to wait until this summer to really dig into the story of Dan, who is apparently a huge geek. I so look forward to that.

Get Your Own Copy: B&N, Amazon, BAM, Kobo

From the Stacks: Queen of Hearts, Volume 1: The Crown by Colleen Oakes

Happy Valentine's Day. I guess I'm just in the mood for re-imaginings of stories, plays, etc. that I've been fond of in the past. Last week it was Shakespeare, and this week it is a fascinating take on Alice in Wonderland, more specifically focused on the young woman who is to become the Queen of Hearts.

As Princess of Wonderland Palace and the future Queen of Hearts, Dinah's days are an endless monotony of tea, tarts, and a stream of vicious humiliations at the hands of her father, the King of Hearts. The only highlight of her days is visiting Wardley, her childhood best friend, the future Knave of Hearts--and the love of her life.  

When an enchanting stranger arrives at the Palace, Dinah watches as everything she's ever wanted threatens to crumble. As her coronation date approaches, a series of suspicious and bloody events suggests that something sinister stirs in the whimsical halls of Wonderland. It's up to Dinah to unravel the mysteries that lurk both inside and under the Palace before she loses her own head to a clever and faceless foe.  

Part epic fantasy, part twisted fairy tale, this dazzling saga will have readers shivering as Dinah's furious nature sweeps Wonderland up in the maelstrom of her wrath. Familiar characters such as Cheshire, the White Rabbit, and the Mad Hatter make their appearance, enchanting readers with this new, dark take on Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. But be warned...not every fairy tale has a happy ending. This is the story of a princess who became a villain.

Overall Rating: 4/5

Plot: For the most part I thought this book was far more character driven than plot driven. Yes, we deal with Dinah, the Princess of Hearts, as she goes through her lessons and prepares for her eighteenth birthday where she will join her father on the throne as Queen of Hearts until the day she marries and her father will have to step aside to let the couple rule Wonderland. The beginning of the story starts when Dinah is only a child, her mother has not been dead for very long, and her father brings a bastard daughter to the Palace and bestows upon her all of the affection he doesn't show to his other two children, Dinah and her brother Charles. This obviously creates a great deal of tension between Dinah and her father as well as Dinah and her half-sister. Throughout the story it seems that everything is becoming more difficult for Dinah and that there may be plots to keep her from taking her place on the throne. As she pieces together the clues she sees the villainy of certain people, and after a great tragedy that is used to try and convict Dinah of treason, she has no choice but to run away from her home. But we know she will become the Queen of Hearts, so really, now it is just a matter of seeing how she does it.

Characters: We all know the big characters within the canon of Alice in Wonderland, and a great many of them make appearances in this book. Cheshire, the White Rabbit, and the Mad Hatter are actually fairly large roles, but I also recall Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum being mentioned in a scene. I very much enjoyed the twists of these characters. Cheshire was a character I did not like at all, because I could tell that he was scheming and plotting and that he was not on Dinah's side. I imagine he will continue to play a role in the next two books as well. Though never called the White Rabbit, it is obvious that Dinah's teacher has certainly filled that role. He is constantly mentioning how Dinah is going to be late for practically every event in the Palace, but he was a good-natured caring man and I adored him as much as Dinah does.

The Mad Hatter was a twist I hadn't expected but I absolutely loved it. In this book The Mad Hatter is the Prince of Wonderland, but madness will forever keep him from taking the throne. Charles is still basically a child and is tended by two servants at all times. The reason for his moniker of Mad Hatter is firstly because he is quite insane, but also because his madness leads to the most wild and beautiful hat creations in Wonderland. People go to extreme lengths to own a Mad Hatter creation. I also found Charles to be sweet when he wasn't rambling on about hats and such. It is clear that Dinah loves him very much, and I would kind of like a short story from his point of view. I think it would be quite interesting.

Then we have the Knave of Hearts, Wardley, with whom Dinah is in love and often dreams of one day ruling Wonderland with him as her King of Hearts. Wardley is being trained to lead the Heart Cards and has proven to be quite capable at his tasks. The King of Hearts approves of Wardley, even if he does not care for Dinah at all. The romance between Wardley and Dinah is cute and you can tell that they've been friends and companions for most of their lives. It will be nice to see how their relationship progresses and changes through this trilogy.

Okay, I guess I've talked about Dinah a little, but I was drawn into the story quite quickly by our protagonist and narrator. After the story jumped ahead a few years I felt like everything slowed down a bit and was a little dragged down by description and exposition and of course character development, but Dinah was still an intriguing character. She had an inner strength to her while at the same time being vulnerable. She cares about her brother and her servants and Wardley, and wants to be a good Queen of Hearts for Wonderland. When everything starts to happen, even when she doesn't have all the pieces together, Dinah tries to fight back, and though she doesn't completely win and is currently on the run, I know she will be able to find the strength and courage she needs to take back her rightful place in Wonderland and remove her father from power. I look forward to her journey. It'll be bumpy and possibly bloody, but I think everything will become more intense now that the plot and characters have been laid out.

Get Your Own Copy: Amazon

From the Stacks: Such Sweet Sorrow by Jenny Trout

For those who don't know this already, I have a B.A. in English Literature and a M.L.I.S., meaning that books are basically my life blood. Also, I really enjoyed Shakespeare. So, to find a new story that decides to wonder what would have happened had Romeo survived and discovered a way to be reunited with Juliet by traveling up to Denmark and working with Hamlet...yeah, basically a genius concept that had me drooling and begging for an advanced copy. So, thank you NetGalley, for this great opportunity.

Never was there a tale of more woe than this of Juliet and her Romeo... 

But true love never dies. Though they're parted by the veil between the world of mortals and the land of the dead, Romeo believes he can restore Juliet to life, but he'll have to travel to the underworld with a thoroughly infuriating guide. 

Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, may not have inherited his father's crown, but the murdered king left his son a much more important responsibility—-a portal to the Afterjord, where the souls of the dead reside. When the determined Romeo asks for help traversing the treacherous Afterjord, Hamlet sees an opportunity for adventure and the chance to avenge his father's death. 

In an underworld filled with leviathan monsters, ghoulish shades, fire giants, and fierce Valkyrie warriors, Hamlet and Romeo must battle their way through jealousy, despair, and their darkest fears to rescue the fair damsel. Yet finding Juliet is only the beginning, and the Afterjord doesn't surrender souls without a price...

Overall Rating: 4/5

Plot: The idea for this book immediately grabbed my attention, as it should for any fan of Shakespeare. I know while studying the various plays, it was often pondered what could have happened if certain events had occurred differently, and this book tackles that concept head-on. Plus, hey, on top of all the awesomeness of Shakespeare, let's also throw in the epic idea of Norse mythology, because it wasn't an amazing idea already. Seriously, I thought it was great. As Romeo and Hamlet trek through the Afterjord they run into so many creatures and issues and questions about what they're doing, how they'll get Juliet back to Midgard, and how they'll get home as well  The Afterjord helps us to run into characters/creatures such as the Norns...oh, and Valkyries. I thought the voice and tone of the novel captured the characters and the time period quite well, and I liked how it incorporated the occasional phrase from the Shakespearean plays too, as sort of a memory or as an homage to the works that serve as inspiration for this particular novel. Based on where it all ends, with Romeo and Hamlet still together in Denmark, I honestly think there can and will be a sequel, and I look forward to reading it.

Characters: Here is why my overall rating was a 4 instead of a 5. Honestly, through the first 70% of the book I found myself thinking that Such Sweet Sorrow was going to earn a 3 star rating, but the final 30% really intensified everything and made the characters grow enough that I had to give it an extra star. As much as I love Shakespeare, I have always found Juliet and Romeo to be quite rash, and Romeo's feelings seem to swing from one extreme to the other quite rapidly. Plus he always seemed like such a wimp to me, despite apparently being a great swordsman. Well, true to form, Romeo was still sort of a mopey whiny guy, but he does still feel such an intense...love...for his now deceased wife.

Then there's Hamlet, who converses with the ghost of his murdered father, and drinks a lot, and doesn't throw himself into fights like the rash Italian Romeo. There is great growth from Hamlet as he is dragged into the Afterjord with Romeo and finds himself needing to handle a great deal more responsibility than he originally imagined. With everything he learned throughout the book, I think he actually has become a prince worthy of his father's crown and throne, and it will be interesting to watch him take it away from his uncle.

The character who wins the award for most growth and biggest badass in this book is Juliet, hands down. As those who have read Shakespeare know, Juliet is incredibly young when she dies, and therefore is still quite naive about so many worldly matters. In the Afterjord she holds much more strength and ability than either of her male counterparts, and to see her go from scared young girl to someone who is able to fight to save herself, her husband, and her friends, is an incredible transformation. Juliet is even the one who grows to understand how things work much better than the boys would and finds a way to get the boys home safely while still leaving a possibility that she and Romeo can eventually be together again. It was really her strength and courage and growth that made this book completely worthwhile, so if for no other reason, you should pick this up for Juliet. I was not disappointed by her at all.

Get Your Own Copy: B&N, Amazon, BAM, Kobo

*Oh, and as of writing this (Feb 4, 2014...Amazon has the Kindle version for only $0.99.

From the Stacks: Dirty Magic by Jaye Wells

I was first introduced to Jaye Wells when I found her books while browsing the shelves at B&N. I thought Red-Headed Stepchild sounded good, and it turned out I was right, so I bought the rest of the series. When I got on NetGalley and saw the first book in a new series, I was intrigued by the concept and yet again I have another interesting series to follow.

MAGIC IS A DRUG. CAREFUL HOW YOU USE IT. 

The Magical Enforcement Agency keeps dirty magic off the streets, but there's a new blend out there that's as deadly as it is elusive. When patrol cop Kate Prospero shoots the lead snitch in this crucial case, she's brought in to explain herself. But the more she learns about the investigation, the more she realizes she must secure a spot on the MEA task force. 

Especially when she discovers that their lead suspect is the man she walked away from ten years earlier - on the same day she swore she'd given up dirty magic for good. Kate Prospero's about to learn the hard way that crossing a wizard will always get you burned, and that when it comes to magic, you should never say never.

Overall Rating: 5/5

Plot: Dirty Magic is set in the fictional city of Babylon, Ohio (though I am not at all prejudiced by the fact that the book is set in my home state). I can admit that discovering that fact did make me pay more attention to the setting, which according to the author is sort of based on Cleveland. The city itself is even located along Lake Erie. It makes me think of how much fun a novel set in the middle of winter will be due to all that lake effect snow. Anyway, the world created for this series basically has magic as a drug. There is clean magic and dirty magic, where clean magic is manufactured in pristine labs and uses more expensive and slightly safer ingredients, and dirty magic is done in places like kitchens and bathrooms, using whatever ingredients happen to be at hand, which naturally can cause dangerous side effects. In Dirty Magic the new drug on the street is Grey Wolf and boy, it does have a nasty side effect, namely causing people to wolf out and go on a bloodthirsty rampage. So patrol cop and former magic cooker Kate Prospero ends up getting neck deep in the investigation, even joining a special magic task force. I thought that the investigation and discoveries moved at a decent pace, but it was about the last 25-30% of the novel that made this book impossible to put down. The whole discovery of who was behind Grey Wolf and why, plus all the people who were caught in that crossfire made it all incredibly intense.

Characters: First we have Kate Prospero, who is also called Cupcake by a certain somebody I'll discuss in just a few moments. She walked away from her coven ten years prior to the novel, and even goes to what is basically an AA meeting for magic addicts, though people don't realize that she was addicted to making the magic potions, not using them. Anyway, she became a cop to try and make a difference because she started seeing exactly what these magic potions were doing to people, especially after the death of her mother. It was that loss that left her to raise her little brother Danny and caused her to leave her boyfriend John Volos.

Kate raised Danny away from magic, not talking about it or allowing it in the house or anything, but naturally Danny is now turning 16 and that just leads to all sorts of problems. I thought the kid was pretty endearing, and in arguments with Kate he raised quite a few points as to why he should be allowed to at least learn magic, because it is in his blood. They may be related, but that doesn't mean that he'll have the same problem dealing with the rush/addiction to the power of cooking up potions.

John Volos ends up involved in this story in a couple different ways. In the beginning he is the primary suspect for the investigation into Grey Wolf, but then he is also drawn even further into the story when Danny goes to him in an attempt to learn how to cook behind Kate's back. Obviously there is a lot of tension between Kate and John due to their history, but I can honestly say that I hope Kate has moved on. I think John is too addicted to power at this point and rekindling a romance would be more danger than it's worth.

Speaking of romance, and my mention of Kate being called Cupcake, we have Drew Morales, who is a member of the task force Kate ends up joining. At first I thought he was going to be mostly an antagonist for Kate, but then their banter evolves from a psuedo-rivalry/dislike or each other to something more like the banter of friends, and by the end I think it holds a little flirtation in it as well. Drew is caring and protective, not that Kate necessarily needs an Alpha male to boss her around or defend her since she is pretty badass herself, but still, I liked Drew from the beginning and I really look forward to seeing their relationship develop.

We are also introduced in this book to Pen, who is Kate's best friend, a counselor at Danny's school, and also a member of the support group Kate attends. She helps Kate through a lot of issues, particularly with Danny, and it was nice to see that Kate did have this family she formed after both losing some of hers and walking away from the rest.

Thanks to the task force we are also introduced to Mez, who is a clean cooker, who seems to be a wiz at cooking up some pretty cool protection patches and amulets, as well as potions that seem to do just about anything. I'm thinking that maybe as Kate has to work with magic more now thanks to being in the task force that eventually we might get to a point where she is cooking with Mez, which I'm guessing could cook up some amazing products. We'll see. It's going to be a great series and I very much look forward to seeing what happens with all of these characters and the possible scenarios thanks to the magic as drugs world-building.

Get Your Own Copy: B&N, Amazon, BAM, Kobo, Audible

The next book, Cursed Moon, will be released August 12, 2014.

From the Stacks: Betrayal in the Highlands by Robert Evert

This is the second book of the series and I reviewed the first one, Riddle in Stone last February. I highly recommend this series, seriously. Also, I checked, and as of writing this post (January 16th) you can find Riddle in Stone for NOOK, Kindle, and Kobo (possibly other e-retailers as well) for only $0.99. Go buy it if you don't have it already. Betrayal in the Highlands is only $3.99, too, so you can grab both books for less than you would pay for one book at a bookstore.

Pursued relentlessly by goblin hunters for the ancient secret he knows, Edmund the stuttering librarian fights back in the fast-paced sequel to the epic fantasy novel, RIDDLE IN STONE. 

Edmund’s old, boring life is gone forever. Knowing the answer to a cryptic riddle that, if in the wrong hands, could destroy all of humanity, Edmund is hiding in a sleepy coastal town as far from the frozen mountains of the Undead King as possible. For a moment, he believes he’s finally safe. Then he learns that Molly, the woman he’s loved since childhood, is telling stories about him—stories that will get him and his friends killed. Edmund is forced to embark on a perilous journey home to confront the woman who broke his heart. If he fails, all will be lost.

Overall Rating: 5/5

Plot: This one moved at a much faster pace than the last one, and it is so much improved by the action, and the character interaction, and the suspense, and all of the plot threads that are being woven together and drawing closer around Edmund until he can't really run anymore. The goblins are still a threat, and the magic users are now considerably more active, and everyone is looking for Edmund because of the secret he knows. Betrayal in the Highlands was not just an adventure story, but also certainly a homecoming for Ed. During his travels he speaks of finding a place to settle down, where he can be left alone and not hunted, and upon returning to Rood, it is clear that the place will always be his home. Now it is just a matter for Edmund to realize that he is so much more than just a stuttering librarian.

New characters are introduced in this novel, which makes things interesting, and Edmund has to deal with even more love and loss as he struggles to figure out what to do so he can help his friends and keep everyone he knows and cares for, safe. It doesn't always work out, but I still see so much growth in the characters and in the story. It is enchanting and I very much look forward to reading more.

Edmund's story really is that of an underdog. He is a middle-aged librarian who has turned into an adventurer and has even lost an eye. And hey, if Edmund can find confidence in himself, and use his mind to solve problems and work for a better life and a better world, then there is help for all of us.

Characters: Edmund is back and most of the time it almost seems as if he has some semblance of control over his stuttering. It certainly feels that it lessens quite a bit more as the novel progresses, so I'm hopeful that it will continue into the third book. He is also growing a little more confident about his worth, though not much. Still, he is growing, and his successes and failures only make him more endearing.

Ah, Pond. What can I say about you? Never change. Yeah, I think that about sums it up. Pond is pretty darn awesome and is a worthwhile friend and companion to Ed, which is great. I love that they are so loyal to each other, especially after all they've been through, and that Pond has no problem pushing Ed to broaden his horizons a bit and to step a bit out of his comfort zone, which leads to some fun scenarios involving Pond trying to talk up Ed as a romantic prospect to numerous women.

Becky the dog was not as cool as Thorax, but by the end of the book she had certainly impressed me. We basically follow her from puppy to fully grown and she is a fierce protector who even manages to fight and scare goblins and magic users alike.

And the award for my favorite character in this book goes to...Abby! I'm not going to lie, in the first book I knew that Molly and Ed would not work out, mostly because I thought Molly was not exactly the nicest to Ed, and she just rubbed me the wrong way. That being said, I do feel sorry for how this book ended for her. But, if Ed can finally get over his infatuation with Molly, maybe he'll see that the perfect companion to his life is right there. Abby has a very sharp mind and it is obvious that Edmund finds her attractive. I was almost instantly drawn towards Abby's character, and hoped she would be a main character.

Now I just hope for a happy ending in book three.  Robert Evert is getting better with each book, and I'm sure that the best is yet to come. I will be impatiently awaiting the next installment.

Get Your Own Copy: B&N, Amazon, Kobo, Audible

From the Stacks: Gameboard of the Gods by Richelle Mead

I will read anything and everything published by Richelle Mead and that is the honest truth. I love the blend of drama and humor in her books and the incredible world and character building, and Gameboard of the Gods is no exception.

Summary: 

The truth is, when you banish the gods from the world, they eventually come back—with a vengeance.

 

In the near future, Justin March lives in exile from the Republic of United North America. After failing in his job as an investigator of religious groups and supernatural claims, Justin is surprised when he is sent back with a peculiar assignment—to solve a string of ritualistic murders steeped in seemingly unexplainable phenomena.

 

Justin’s return comes with an even bigger shock: His new partner and bodyguard, Mae Koskinen, is a prætorian, one of the Republic’s technologically enhanced supersoldiers. Mae’s inexplicable beauty and aristocratic upbringing attract Justin’s curiosity and desire, but her true nature holds more danger than anyone realizes.

 

As their investigation unfolds, Justin and Mae find themselves in the crosshairs of mysterious enemies. Powers greater than they can imagine have started to assemble in the shadows, preparing to reclaim a world that has renounced religion and where humans are merely gamepieces on their board.

My Thoughts:

I really like that Richelle Mead can simultaneously work on a YA series and an adult series. She is incredibly versatile and I'm obsessed with all of her books. When I heard about her new adult series, the Age of X, I impatiently waited as more information trickled in and once the ARC showed up on NetGalley, I requested it immediately, all the while thinking that I'd probably be denied, but I wasn't. So, I put aside whatever else I was reading and dove into Gameboard of the Gods at once.

I wasn't disappointed in the slightest. The relationship between Justin and Mae to me, in some ways anyway, seems as if it is a wonderful hybrid of some of Mead's other great characters.Mae is as kick-ass as Dimitri from Vampire Academy but with the cool detachment of Rose's mother. Then there is Justin, who honestly does seem like a perfect Sydrian (that is Sydney and Adrian mash-up). These characters completely embody both studious habits and badassery. 

Plus, can I just say, the whole concept of a society that has basically renounced all religion and what denominations have survived are heavily monitored and limited, and yet the Gods of the world are now coming back and are using people in this shadowy war is incredibly intriguing. When I started to piece together some of the Gods who were in play already in the first book, I'm not going to lie...I geeked out. 

The world is complex and yet I sincerely hope our future does not end up this way because as much as I enjoy reading about it, I really would not want to live in that kind of world. The characters draw you in. I love Justin and Mae and Tessa, and I am very much looking forward to the next installment. Read this book. You won't be disappointed. 5/5.

Gameboard of the Gods at Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/gameboard-of-the-gods-richelle-mead/1113599176?ean=9780525953685

Gameboard of the Gods at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Gameboard-Gods-Age-Richelle-Mead/dp/052595368X/ref=tmm_hrd_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1386503811&sr=8-1

From the Stacks: Spirit by Brigid Kemmerer

The newest book in the Elemental series is just as good as the previous ones. I can't even say enough how amazing this series is.

Summary: 

With power comes enemies. Lots of them.

Hunter Garrity just wants to be left alone. He's learned the hard way that his unusual abilities come at a price. And he can't seem to afford any allies.

He's up to his neck in hostiles. His grandfather, spoiling for a fight. The Merrick brothers, who think he ratted them out. Calla, the scheming psycho who wants to use him as bait.

Then there's Kate Sullivan, the new girl at school. She's not hostile. She's bold. Funny. Hot. But she's got an agenda, too.

With supposedly secret powers rippling to the surface everywhere around him, Hunter knows something ugly is about to go down. But finding out what means he'll have to find someone he can trust. . .

My Thoughts: 

Anyone who has followed my reviews and Tweets while I'm reading this series knows that I flip back and forth amongst the Merrick brothers when deciding which is my favorite, because whatever novella or novel I'm reading, I tend to like that brother best. The lone ranger who doesn't fit into that category is Hunter as he isn't a Merrick, but this book did finally solidify my order on the Merrick list of favorites.

Don't get me wrong; Hunter is a great character, and I like the struggle that he faces with attempting to figure out who exactly he trusts and what he wants to fight for in what is basically becoming a war on so many different fronts. And as the summary of the book says, he has people and issues converging on him from all sides. But that's where my favorite Merrick brother really steps in. Seeing how Michael acts towards Hunter in this book and sort of tries to take Hunter in and treat him much in the same way he does his own younger brothers is wonderful and endearing and I think it is just what Hunter needs, even if it takes him a while to see that.

The one issue, and I guess it isn't a big issue, with this book, and with Hunter's romantic story lines is that he seems to go from girl to girl...and you know, I can totally blame that on him being a Spirit user because much like the Merricks seem to be drawn to their individual elements, Hunter is drawn towards people, who basically embody Spirit. In Storm, Hunter is interested in Becca, and in Fearless he's interested in a different girl (which takes place pre-Storm), and here in Spirit, there's now Kate. I hope that after this book Hunter starts to settle down a bit on all of this, because I think underneath all of his issues and tough exterior, he is a good guy.

I devour these books so incredibly quickly that it makes waiting for the next one even longer and feel too far away for my liking, but they are so amazing that I also want Brigid Kemmerer to be able to have the time to write these books properly. I am so excited to read both Nick's book and Michael's book. Obviously, like every other book in this series, I give Spirit a 5/5. If you haven't started reading this series yet, now is definitely the time to do so. They are amazing. 

Spirit at Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/spirit-brigid-kemmerer/1113944369?ean=9780758272836

Spirit at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Spirit-Elemental-Brigid-Kemmerer/dp/0758272839/ref=tmm_pap_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1386501544&sr=8-1

From the Stacks: Bloodspell by Amalie Howard

This is a book I was able to read from NetGalley and was released in 2011, with the sequel expected sometime in 2014. Hopefully that happens because it seems like Amalie Howard will be quite busy the end of this year and next year, with four books being released. I guess she's making up for that two year gap where she published nothing.

Summary:

"The spell was simple...

Cruentus Protectum (Defend the Blood)

But what do you do if your blood is your enemy?

Victoria Warrick has always known she was different. An outcast at school, she is no stranger to adversity. But when she receives an old journal for her seventeenth birthday, nothing prepares her for the dark secrets it holds -- much less one that reveals she's a witch with unimaginable power.

What's more, when she meets the dazzling but enigmatic Christian Devereux, she has no idea how much her life is about to change. Enemies will hunt her. Friends will turn on her. The terrible curse that makes her blood run black will stop at nothing to control her. And Christian has a sinister secret of his own...

Without knowing whom to trust, can Victoria survive her blood's deadly desires? Or will she lose everything, including herself?"

My Thoughts:

Overall I decided to give this book a 4.5/5, because it was really good, but I did find some minor spelling and grammatical errors throughout. 

I saw some other reviews on Goodreads and such that tried to say that this was yet another book that was basically a Twilight re-write, but I disagree. Yes there is a mortal girl and a vampire boy involved in a romance. Whatever. That happens in so many books, and did for a great number of years before Twilight came out. 

But my main issue with people trying to compare this to that other book is that Victoria is--in my mind--a much stronger female character than Bella was in the whole series. When Christian tries to basically become controlling, telling her where she can go and what she can do, Victoria is quick to stand up for herself and tell him that he does not control her and cannot make her decisions for her. Granted, in that particular scenario where she lashed out at him, Christian was actually right, and Victoria's decision got her into trouble, but still...the point is that she is the one who made that decision and so she now can deal with the consequences of that.

Also, Victoria is far more active than Bella is. Looking at the whole saga, Bella spends most of the time sitting around thinking, or listening to people talk, and she is mostly a very passive person with only a few exceptions (punching Jacob, going to Italy to save Edward, and of course fighting against her enemies after she herself becomes a vampire), but Victoria doesn't just sit around and let stuff happen to her. She researches, and let's also not forget the fact that she is not a normal mortal...she is a witch, so how could people honestly try and compare her to Bella? If anything, I would think they would compare this more to the stories and romances in L.J. Smith's Night World series.

Anyway, this book really did intrigue me. I enjoyed the characters, even though it always bothers me when male characters try to control the females in whom they are romantically interested. I don't care if you are a several hundred year old vampire or if you are the alpha of your wolf pack or whatever...this is 2013 buddy and guess what? Females can take care of themselves. If she asks for help fine, or if she is honestly in way over her head then you can step in to help. Otherwise let her make her own decisions. How is that still such a foreign concept?

Okay, so I think this review may be starting to turn into a tangent, so I'm going to wrap it up now, but I will say that I look forward to reading the sequel to Bloodspell whenever it does come out, and I will be checking out Amalie Howard's other books as well.

Bloodspell at Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/bloodspell-amalie-howard/1031212244?ean=9781936782116

Bloodspell at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Bloodspell-Amalie-Howard/dp/1936782111/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1369841728&sr=8-1&keywords=Amalie+Howard

From the Stacks: Worlds of Arthur by Guy Halsall

Okay, so this is sort of a different area for me to review, but I usually enjoy books about King Arthur so I took a chance. This is my first academic style book since I graduated with my Master's degree in December 2011. Welcome to my first completely random "non-fiction"/historical/academic research NetGalley review.

Summary:

King Arthur is probably the most famous and certainly the most legendary medieval king. From the early ninth century through the middle ages, to the Arthurian romances of Victorian times, the tales of this legendary figure have blossomed and multiplied. And in more recent times, there has been a continuous stream of books claiming to unlock the secret or the truth behind the "once and future king."

The truth, as Guy Halsall reveals in this fascinating investigation, is both radically different--and also a good deal more intriguing. Broadly speaking, there are two Arthurs. On the one hand is the traditional "historical" Arthur, waging a doomed struggle to save Roman civilization against the relentless Anglo-Saxon tide during the darkest years of the Dark Ages. On the other is the Arthur of myth and legend, accompanied by a host of equally legendary people, places, and stories: Lancelot, Guinevere, Galahad and Gawain, Merlin, Excalibur, the Lady in the Lake, the Sword in the Stone, Camelot, and the Round Table.

The big problem with all this, notes Halsall, is that "King Arthur" might well never have existed. And if he did exist, it is next to impossible to say anything at all about him. As this challenging new look at the Arthur legend makes clear, all books claiming to reveal "the truth" behind King Arthur can safely be ignored. Not only the fanciful pseudo-historical accounts--Merlin the Magician, the Lady in the Lake--but even the "historical" Arthur is largely a figment of the imagination. The evidence that we have, whether written or archeological, is simply incapable of telling us anything detailed about the Britain in which he is supposed to have lived, fought, and died.

My Thoughts:

Okay, so this may actually be a fairly short review, and I apologize for that, but I'm really trying to figure out what to say about this one. In the beginning it was a lot of history of Britain and only very tiny mentions of a person who might have been the Arthur of history who became the Arthur of legend. As might be expected, this is one of those reads where some people would groan, their eyes would glaze over, and they would feel like they were being forced to read a text for a college assignment.

Now, that doesn't mean that I didn't enjoy it...just that my brain went to that place when I was about 50 pages in and was trying to make myself continue to read. For the past year and a half I have only been reading fun (and occasionally long, like Kushiel's Dart by Jacqueline Carey) fictional books, so reading this detailing of the facts and stories of history that could help to prove or debunk the existence of Arthur felt a little dry.

This is a fact I found to be ridiculous because I absolutely adore Arthurian legends. Regardless of whether or not Arthur actually existed with Guinevere and Lancelot and the Round Table, I feel like the story of him and how he ruled his kingdom and the valiant behavior by the Knights of Camelot are inspiring and wonderfully imaginative. So, if it's all just an elaborate fantasy, that's fine because I read a lot of those. But I still like to imagine that he truly did exist.

I thought the book was well-written, and while part of me liked that the whole thing wasn't inundated with numerous footnotes, and instead include a chapter by chapter reference list at the end, the scholar in me was not pleased by that. I wanted to know exactly which ideas and details were taken and/or inspired by other texts. Yes, it was easy to tell when a lengthy comment was borrowed from another text because it was centered and sectioned off from the rest, but still, I wouldn't have minded some footnotes.

This book did mostly satisfy my scholarly side, so I don't imagine I'll be running to another non-fiction or scholarly type book for a long while...unless it is one of my writing resource books. I have to give Worlds of Arthur a 3/5, again, not because it was bad, but because it wasn't as enthralling as I expected it to be. Because when I found this book on NetGalley it was in the Fantasy/Sci-Fi section...so I was actually somewhat expecting a historical fiction-ish novel.

Worlds of Arthur at Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/worlds-of-arthur-guy-halsall/1112760405?ean=9780199658176

Worlds of Arthur at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Worlds-Arthur-Facts-Fictions-Dark/dp/019965817X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1364865858&sr=1-1&keywords=Worlds+of+Arthur

From the Stacks: The Sweetest Dark by Shana Abe

This was a very enjoyable NetGalley read for me, and I'm so glad that I've already been granted access to the sequel because I really didn't want to wait to find out what happens next.

Summary:

“With every fiber of my being, I yearned to be normal. To glide through my days at Iverson without incident. But I’d have to face the fact that my life was about to unfold in a very, very different way than I’d ever envisioned. Normalwould become forever out of reach.” 

Lora Jones has always known that she’s different. On the outside, she appears to be an ordinary sixteen-year-old girl. Yet Lora’s been keeping a heartful of secrets: She hears songs that no one else can hear, dreams vividly of smoke and flight, and lives with a mysterious voice inside her that insists she’s far more than what she seems.

England, 1915. Raised in an orphanage in a rough corner of London, Lora quickly learns to hide her unique abilities and avoid attention. Then, much to her surprise, she is selected as the new charity student at Iverson, an elite boarding school on England’s southern coast. Iverson’s eerie, gothic castle is like nothing Lora has ever seen. And the two boys she meets there will open her eyes and forever change her destiny.

Jesse is the school’s groundskeeper—a beautiful boy who recognizes Lora for who and what she truly is. Armand is a darkly handsome and arrogant aristocrat who harbors a few closely guarded secrets of his own. Both hold the answers to her past. One is the key to her future. And both will aim to win her heart. As danger descends upon Iverson, Lora must harness the powers she’s only just begun to understand, or else lose everything she dearly loves.

Filled with lush atmosphere, thrilling romance, and ancient magic, The Sweetest Dark brilliantly captures a rich historical era while unfolding an enchanting love story that defies time.

My Thoughts:

I very much enjoyed this book, and I thought it was an excellent read, filled with just enough historical detail and description to make everything quite believable. Having Lora as the only scholarship aka poor student at this all-girls boarding school definitely cast her as an outsider, but I feel that it also gave her the freedom to get away with a number of things the other girls might not have.

Now, I will admit that for about the first third of the book I really wondered how long I would have to wait to find out who/what Lora is, and discovering that she is a drakon (a dragon) definitely increased my interest in the story exponentially, and I feel that the pace really picked up from that point. 

The romantic leads in this book were quite interesting. I definitely loved Jesse and the connection he and Lora had. With the way it was written I definitely felt pleased about the two of them being together, and I never really saw Armand, or Mandy as he likes to be called, as an honest romantic interest. I could see him as a friend though. But, considering how the story ends, Armand may actually be stepping up to the plate in the sequel to become a true contender.

Speaking of the ending...it actually surprised me and I did cry. I was not expecting the sacrifice that was made and I honestly wonder how the story will play out now. I am very intrigued and will be diving in to the sequel rather soon.

Oh, I really did also start to like Lady Sophia, one of the other girls at Iverson with Lora. Though yes she was a bit snobby and elitist at first, I feel like she actually gave Lora a chance, even if it was for slightly petty reasons, and she may actually turn into a good friend for Lora, so I'm excited for that.

I'm sure that there's plenty more interesting story to tell and I can't wait to read it. The Sweetest Dark is a 5/5 for me, and is out in stores today. The sequel will hit the shelves this August, so there won't be long to wait, which is really nice.

The Sweetest Dark at Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-sweetest-dark-shana-abe/1108022933?ean=9780345531704

The Sweetest Dark at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Sweetest-Dark-Shana-Abe/dp/0345531701/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1364864881&sr=1-1&keywords=The+Sweetest+Dark

From the Stacks: Spellbinding by Maya Gold

Today's review was an extremely quick read, and yet another book I received from NetGalley.

Summary:

Salem is the bewitching backdrop to this lush, fast-paced tale of one girl discovering the source of her powers.

It is during a routine school project that Abby Silva--sixteen and nearly friendless--makes a startling discovery: She is descended from women who were accused of witchcraft back in 1600s Salem. And when Abby visits nearby Salem, strange, inexplicable events start to unfold. Objects move when she wills them to. Candles burst into sudden flame. And an ancient spellbook somehow winds up in her possession.

Trying to harness her newfound power, Abby concocts a love potion to win over her longtime crush--and exact revenge upon his cruel, bullying girlfriend. But old magic is not to be trifled with. Soon, Abby is thrust headlong into a world of hexes, secrets, and danger. And then there's Rem Anders, the beautiful, mysterious Salem boy who seems to know more about Abby than he first lets on. 

A reckoning is coming, and Abby will have to make sense of her history--and her heart--before she can face the powerful truth.

My Thoughts:

Okay, so I think it maybe took me a total of 2 hours to read this book so it at least reads rather quickly, and the story pretty much moves at a good pace. I don't know...I'm sort of conflicted about how I feel about this book. Generally I love stories that have to do with witches, and for some reason it is even more interesting when tying in historical events such as the Salem Witch Trials, but I honestly feel that this story wasn't my absolute favorite YA witch-themed novel.

Abby did feel mostly realistic to me. I mean, upon discovering that you are a witch and actually have the ability to cast spells and move objects, I would probably try using it for personal gain myself, which Abby does, which is very realistic teenage girl of her...she uses it to help pass her driver's test, get a parking spot, get her jock crush to pay attention to her, etc. At one point I was actually concerned that her desire for personal gain and her desire to get payback to those who have basically bullied her would actually make her turn to the dark side. 

So, let's talk about the other characters. First, there's Travis, the jock Abby has a crush on (and has since elementary school)...he seemed to be sort of lacking in personality to me. He's supposed to be this really nice guy who is gorgeous and does things for charities, etc. but really the only big interactions between him and Abby are after he's under her spell and he basically seems like a puppy searching for her approval. It bugged me.

Then there was Megan, Travis's girlfriend, who is a gorgeous mean girl who walks around with her two "friends" who are not as attractive as she is, probably on purpose, and who picks on Abby and calls her Big Bird and all sorts of other things. Really, could this story add some more cliched characters to the mix? There's even the whole prom scene where Megan and her cronies spray paint Abby's dress and chop off her hair. Really? To me that feels mostly like something you see in books and movies. I certainly never saw anything remotely close to that in school.

I did enjoy Rem, though his on-again, off-again attraction/feelings/whatever towards Abby did start to grate on me. Abby spending all that time thinking about Travis, who was unavailable) when Rem was there just made me groan and shake my head. I mean, Abby seemed like a smart chick...didn't she realize that there was practically no chemistry with her and and jock-boy, especially when there's Mr. Hottie Rem around. I really liked him.

Also, based on how this story ends, I'm going to guess that it's a standalone novel. If there's an attempt to turn this into a series, I don't know if I'm likely to read it. The ending seemed to wrap up a lot of things, including the romance story and the witch story. Now, that being said, if Maya Gold wanted to sort of maybe go with a prequel novel that details the events in Salem from the trials then I would probably be okay with that. 

All in all, I think this book was about a 3.5/5 for me.

Spellbinding at Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/spellbinding-maya-gold/1112090670?ean=9780545433808

Spellbinding at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Spellbinding-Maya-Gold/dp/0545433800/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1364863797&sr=8-1&keywords=Spellbinding

From the Stacks: Quintessence by David Walton

This NetGalley book was absolutely stunning. I am so glad to have had the opportunity to read it.

Summary:

"Imagine an Age of Exploration full of alchemy, human dissection, sea monsters, betrayal, torture, religious controversy, and magic. In Europe, the magic is thin, but at the edge of the world, where the stars reach down close to the Earth, wonders abound. This drives the bravest explorers to the alluring Western Ocean. Christopher Sinclair is an alchemist who cares only about one thing: quintessence, a substance he believes will grant magical powers and immortality. And he has a ship."

My Thoughts:

All in all, I'm giving this book a 4.5/5, because at times it really did feel a little slow to me. However, the descriptions were amazing, and the mysterious and amazing island of Horizon is absolutely magical. The summary makes it sound as if the story focuses on alchemist Christopher Sinclair, but really, I found him to be a secondary character to the Parris family. Most of what happens seems to center on Dr. Parris and his daughter Catherine.

Considering the time period and such, I thought the characters felt very true to life, and I really did feel as if I was reading a historical novel, that just happened to have these creatures capable of turning invisible, walking through walls, healing themselves, and forming mind-links.

The slowness I mentioned earlier came from how a great deal of the book is the voyage across the ocean, which I guess makes it all the more realistic because for the characters, the journey would have been long and dull and tedious.

I absolutely adored Catherine Parris. She is a young woman who feels as if she is being pigeon-holed by her mother to dress up, go to dances, and attract a suitable, wealthy, and high-ranking man to marry...which is not exactly what she'd like. Sure, she wants to marry, but she also is intrigued by the work her father does as a physic, especially since he is doing the "appalling" act of dissecting corpses to discover how the human body truly works. Along the voyage she joins in on his studies and shows just how intelligent and clever she is, and I love how some certain characters begin to see just how amazing she is and come to respect her opinion just as well as a man's.

There is so much going on in this story: discovering the alchemical truths of Horizon, basically a coming-of-age story, struggles with religion, science, and morality, as well as life and death, and a definite struggle between the natives of Horizon and these English invaders. I very much enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend it to people who like historical novels, tales of alchemy, and it really does have a sort-of steampunk vibe to it as well. 

Quintessence at Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/quintessence-david-walton/1111298355?ean=9780765330901

Quintessence at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Quintessence-David-Walton/dp/0765330903/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1363698966&sr=8-1&keywords=Quintessence

Other Readings:

Currently I am reading a couple manuscripts for friends, so there won't be any review on them or anything else...yet. When they become published novels, that's a wholly different story. I'm also working on finishing up Dr. Frankenstein's Daughters by Suzanne Weyn, and City of Dark Magic by Magnus Flyte.

From the Stacks: A Touch of Scarlet by Eve Marie Mont

Here is another NetGalley From the Stacks review. The only issues I had with this book had to do with the fact that I was dealing with a wonky formatted proof copy, but I can't hold that against the content of the book or my review, since I knew that NetGalley often gives their reviewers the uncorrected proof copies of books.

Summary:

"The compelling heroine of Eve Marie Mont’s novel A Breath of Eyre returns to find truth and fiction merging through the pages of Nathaniel Hawthorne’s classic, The Scarlet Letter…

Emma Townsend is back at prestigious Lockwood Prep, but her world has altered immeasurably since her tumultuous sophomore year. The best change of all: her boyfriend, Gray. And though Gray is leaving for Coast Guard training, Emma feels newly optimistic, even if the pain of her mother’s long-ago death still casts a shadow.

Yet Emma isn’t the only one who’s changed. Her friend and roommate, Michelle, is strangely remote, and old alliances are shifting in disconcerting ways. Soon Emma’s long-distance relationship with Gray is straining under the pressure, and Emma wonders if she’s cracking too. How else to explain the vivid dreams of Hester Prynne she’s been having since she started reading The Scarlet Letter? Or the way she’s found herself waking in the woods? As her life begins to echo events in the novel, Emma will be forced to choose between virtue and love. But can she forge a new future without breaking her heart?"

My Thoughts:

When I first picked up this book, I was really curious to see how Eve Marie Mont would get Emma into the world of Hester Prynne and The Scarlet Letter. In A Breath of Eyre, Emma ended up going to the hospital four times, and I sincerely hoped that would not be the same method for the translation this time. If you remember from my review of the first book, that was definitely one of the points that really bothered me. Thankfully, it wasn't the same. Instead, Emma goes into a pseudo dream state while running...and she only goes to the hospital once, so that's a definite plus.

Knowing that The Scarlet Letter was central to this book, I really should have known that it would deal with some serious matters in the lives of Emma, Michelle, Gray, Owen, Elise, and Jess. Okay, yes, the adultery issue from the original book is not nearly the same in this...Emma kisses someone in a moment of weakness, and yes, that someone does happen to be in a relationship, but it is not nearly as drastic as what Hester Prynne experiences. Of course, high school being what it is, the gossip mill takes care of everything and the issue blows completely out of proportion. A Touch of Scarlet really is about growing up, figuring out who you are, taking a stand with friends and against injustice, and it also broaches the matter of sexuality. I thought it was all very well done, and even in the midst of some serious bullying and such, Emma and her friends, both old and new, still also find a way to joke around with each other.

Now, like some other reviews I've seen, I did feel like some of the characters changed almost too drastically. Emma was a good strong protagonist in A Breath of Eyre, even standing up for herself and Michelle in front of the honor council, but for a majority of A Touch of Scarlet, Emma seems to have withdrawn from everyone, becoming so attached to Gray that when he isn't around she is basically a mess, not really knowing who she is or what she is doing. (I know in some circles, this is known as the Bella syndrome, because it is basically how Bella acts after Edward leaves her in New Moon). Of course, I also think, considering all the mistakes she has made through the book and because of everything she has learned, by the end of the story Emma has definitely become a stronger person than she was before. So, this book tore her apart and put her back together.

I will be really intrigued to see what happens in A Phantom Enchantment, because seeing Emma in the world of The Phantom of the Opera should be pretty fun, while also dealing with a number of mature themes that I believe teens and young adults deal with quite frequently these days. So, I really look forward to reading the final book of this trilogy. Overall, I really think this book is more a 4.5/5.

A Touch of Scarlet at Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-touch-of-scarlet-eve-marie-mont/1112034923?ean=9780758269492

A Touch of Scarlet at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Touch-Scarlet-Eve-Marie-Mont/dp/0758269498/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1362515424&sr=8-1&keywords=A+Touch+of+Scarlet

Other Readings:

Okay, now I'm getting into some of the books that I've been meaning to read for a while, and even bought, but have sat on my shelf for quite some time. First up on my list: Skinwalker by Faith Hunter, followed by Magic Bites by Ilona Andrews, and Rosemary and Rue by Seanan McGuire.

From the Stacks: Elemental: the First by Alexandra May

Another NetGalley review, but this is one that was released in...2011, I believe. I think the publishers do this sometimes to sort of refresh people on the story and get them ready for the sequel. I believe the next book will be released some time in 2013.

Summary:

"Just who is Halíka Dacomé?

To Rose Frost, moving house every six months is normal. Another new town here, another new school there, her ability to adapt is as easy as breathing. But everything changes when her parents go overseas and Rose moves in with her grandmother. She enjoys meeting new friends and catching up with old ones from her childhood holidays — except now she must hide a precious secret from everyone, a gift from birth that defies modern day science. 

Her dreams become riddled with a warrior woman called Halíka Dacomé, but are they visions or messages from the future? She starts her own investigation but encounters more questions than answers. Living right on the edge of Warminster in Wiltshire doesn’t help with its folklore and myths about strange lights in the sky and ghost stories of the Salisbury Plain

Not only that, her troubles really take hold one night when the mysterious Aiden Deverill with his alluring smile, his gorgeous dark looks and hypnotising blue eyes, saves her from a freak fire. Or did he? 

For Rose, her new life is beginning but she soon realises that despite assurances people are not always what they seem. What she always believed to be a happy family and a friendly town soon turns on its head when she discovers that her family secret, Aiden Deverill and the truth behind Halíka Dacomé is at the heart of the whole conspiracy."

My Thoughts:

When I requested this book from NetGalley I was halfway interested in it, but was a little unsure if I would like it or not. Now that I'm finished, I'm actually still on the fence. I mean, it was a decent story, there was enough description of the setting that I could almost visualize it, and some of the characters were all right...but there were a few things that bugged me about this book.

Namely Rose, the main character. Rose is one of those characters. Everyone else talks about how beautiful she is but she thinks she's kind of plain, maybe pretty on a good day. She's also nice, has loyal friends, is supposed to be smart and athletic...and oh yeah, she also happens to have these special abilities. Come on now...seriously. Where are all of her flaws? Also, for someone who is supposed to be as smart as we are told she is, she really struggles with this mystery, even with all the clues placed in front of her. Just slightly ridiculous.

Again, we have another young adult story with a supernatural love triangle. *sigh* Can we go back to the days when not every YA PNR had to have a love triangle? That would be great. Elemental: the First has the mysterious Aiden, who Rose suspects may have powers and be special like she is. Sorry to spoil this, but yeah, he does. And Rose feels drawn to him despite literally everyone else telling her that is is not a good guy, to be careful around him, and even better, to just stay away from him. But no...not Rose. Even after hearing about all the truly awful things he has done, she still goes off with him.

That brings us to the third point in the triangle: Morgan. He lives in the cottage on Rose's grandmother's property on account of his parents being gone all the time. My favorite part about Morgan: he has a motorcycle. Morgan is somewhat portrayed as the nice, hard-working, sort of guy-next-door...and he clearly has issues with Aiden. Yet he keeps all sorts of secrets from Rose, except when Aiden is involved and then he joins the posse of people telling Rose that Aiden is no good. 

Oh yeah...I totally forgot something else...Rose is followed around by spy/military type guys, and she's not supposed to know it, but finds that out fairly quickly so the one spy/military guy gives her his phone number and says that instead of them trying to guess where she's going to go next, she should just text him so they can be ready...and Rose does. Really? 

Finally, there is the whole Halika Dacome story line. Despite hearing numerous people mention Halika Dacome, and the fact that she has abilities such as healing that everyone speaks of Halika having, plus all of her strange and vivid dreams leading up to her sixteenth birthday, Rose couldn't put it together that she is basically the vessel or reincarnation (whatever) of Halika Dacome? And yet we were told that Rose was smart.

Obviously, there were some definite flaws in this book. Still, I can say that I actually read the whole thing and it only took me a couple of hours, so it is a pretty quick read. So, it gets a solid 3/5 because even though the above points bothered me, I still kinda liked the story. Did I like it enough to want to read the sequel whenever it is released? I don't know. Maybe.

Elemental: the First at Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/elemental-alexandra-may/1111137560?ean=2940011454899

Elemental: the First at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Elemental-The-First-Alexandra-May/dp/1463708343/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1363444494&sr=8-1&keywords=Elemental+the+First

Other Readings:

Goodness, this week With All My Soul by Rachel Vincent is being released. I am so excited and so saddened by this fact, because I really don't want the series to end. I hope the ending is good, but I'm expecting a few exciting twists and turns in the final book. All I'm saying is that if Kaylee and Tod don't end up still together in the end, I will be very upset.

In other news I'm trying to finish up the eight books I have left to finish up my NetGalley reviews and my regularly scheduled reviews through April. I have to get it all wrapped up before April 1st because then I'll switch from reviewer mode to writer mode and be fully ensconced in the first session of Camp NaNoWriMo.

From the Stacks: The Water Witch by Juliet Dark

Happy Monday, everyone! Well, today I am reviewing The Water Witch, which is the sequel to The Demon Lover, a book I reviewed last week.The Water Witch went on sale last month, and I was lucky enough to receive a copy from NetGalley.

Summary:

""You have only to call my name to bring me back," he whispered, his breath hot in my ear. "You have only to love me to make me human."

Seduced by a powerful incubus demon, Callie has succeeded in banishing him to the Borderlands but Liam still haunts her dreams, tempting her with the knowledge of how to bring him back.

But loving an incubus usually ends in death for a human. For her own sake, Callie must learn to control her desires and ensure Liam remains trapped for all eternity in his watery prison.

Only there is a more dangerous creature than Liam in the Borderlands. The Water Witch is looking for a way back."

My Thoughts:

So, I'm not gonna lie...I was blown away by The Demon Lover, and I loved the balance between the plot with the Grove and IMP, and Callie's relationship with her incubus...but in The Water Witch, I felt like the relationship basically took a complete back seat, and I desperately wanted more. Yes, I felt that the issues with the Grove and wanting to close the last door to Faerie was a major one and really needed to be dealt with, but it was that Gothic romance vibe I fell in love with in the first book.

The Water Witch was shorter in length than the first book and so I felt like everything need to be compressed into less space. It only took me a couple days to finish the book, and I do want to find out how the story concludes, but to me, I truly felt like I was missing some of the magic from the first book, which seems ironic considering the fact that Callie is learning more about her own magical ability and casting more spells and such in this book.

Speaking of that...Callie learning a whole bunch of history of magic and so so many spells seemed incredibly too easy. I get that these books are magical in and of themselves, but to pseudo-skim through hundreds of pages and the information is basically magically downloaded into Callie's brain...to me, it just felt like an easy way to move past her training.

The saving grace to this book was "human handyman" Bill. Come on, Callie, how could you not figure out who he was? It seemed quite obvious to me, but you were too busy pining over Liam being stuck in Faerie. Sorry, guys, I don't want to spoil it for you, but sometimes it really bugs me when we have an intelligent protagonist, who is ignorant when it comes to matters that are plainly obvious to the reader, and sometimes to the other characters.

Still, I enjoyed the read nevertheless, and look forward to reading the third book. The Water Witch gets a 4/5 from me.

The Water Witch at Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-water-witch-juliet-dark/1110620826?ean=9780345524249

The Water Witch at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/The-Water-Witch-Fairwick-Trilogy/dp/0345524241/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1362517589&sr=8-1&keywords=The+Water+Witch

Other Readings:

I'm halfway finished with Daughter of Smoke & Bone by Laini Taylor, which is the main pick this month for Vaginal Fantasy (despite being a YA book and not really having the same heat level for the romantic plotline as I'm used to) and I'm getting into Pleasure Unbound by Larissa Ione (the alt. pick for Vaginal Fantasy, which I've been told more than makes up for the main pick).