Book Review: Hex Hall

Three years ago, Sophie Mercer discovered that she was a witch. It's gotten her into a few scrapes. Her non-gifted mother has been as supportive as possible, consulting Sophie's estranged father--an elusive European warlock--only when necessary. But when Sophie attracts too much human attention for a prom-night spell gone horribly wrong, it's her dad who decides her punishment: exile to Hex Hall, an isolated reform school for wayward Prodigium, a.k.a. witches, faeries, and shapeshifters.

By the end of her first day among fellow freak-teens, Sophie has quite a scorecard: three powerful enemies who look like supermodels, a futile crush on a gorgeous warlock, a creepy tagalong ghost, and a new roommate who happens to be the most hated person and only vampire student on campus. Worse, Sophie soon learns that a mysterious predator has been attacking students, and her only friend is the number-one suspect.

As a series of blood-curdling mysteries starts to converge, Sophie prepares for the biggest threat of all: an ancient secret society determined to destroy all Prodigium, especially her.

Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins has been on my shelf for way too long. I bought it when it came out, and I got it signed when I met Rachel, who (btw) is really funny. I'm so glad I have all three books on my shelf though because now I don't have to wait to read Demonglass.

I loved this book so much. Gush, gush, gush... sorry. I can't help it. I'm practically kicking myself that I didn't pick it up sooner. It was such a fun book. Hex Hall was somewhat inspired by the British show, Hex, which I LOVE! And I'm drawn to anything and everything witchy.

Sophie is such a fun character, and she's very easy to relate to. Despite being a witch, she's still very human, making mistakes and going through the troubles that come with being a teen. Getting into trouble, being sent to a school for delinquents by her non-existent father, starting off at that school on the wrong foot. Poor Sophie. But at the same time it's hilarious to watch all that she goes through, and you'll want to root for her.

My only complaint is the way "bad language" was handled. Basically, there is a sentence of dialogue which contains a mildly inappropriate word like "shit" and then the following sentence of internal dialogue goes something like "Well, I didn't say shit. What I said was much worse." I'm sure that's a thing with the editor and/or publisher (instead of the author), but it really annoys me when it comes up. Which, thankfully, isn't often. It pulls me right out of the story. I actually have to pause for a few minutes because it's that ridiculous. Teens curse. It happens everyday. There's no reason to dial down language, when there's only one instance of "bad language" in a book. And I really doubt the word Rachel Hawkins had originally put in there was that bad.

Aside from that one little complaint, this really is a fantastic book! I couldn't put it down. It's fast paced and tons of fun. If you haven't read it yet, you are so midsing out!

PS> I'm including the cover to the left because I find it kind of amusing. I guess this is how teen witches dress in Bulgaria. You certainly won't find this cover in the US on a YA book. Especially that girl in the middle.

Book Review: The Unnaturalists

In an alternate London where magical creatures are preserved in a museum, two teens find themselves caught in a web of intrigue, deception, and danger.

Vespa Nyx wants nothing more than to spend the rest of her life cataloging Unnatural creatures in her father’s museum, but as she gets older, the requirement to become a lady and find a husband is looming large. Syrus Reed’s Tinker family has always served and revered the Unnaturals from afar, but when his family is captured to be refinery slaves, he finds that his fate may be bound up with Vespa’s—and with the Unnaturals.

As the danger grows, Vespa and Syrus find themselves in a tightening web of deception and intrigue. At stake may be the fate of New London—and the world.

I received an arc of The Unnaturalists by Tiffany Trent for review. It's set in an alternate Victorian London and follows Vespa Nyx and Syrus Reed. Vespa is a young woman who lives with her father and aunt (her father's sister) and lives for working in her father's museum. This museum is filled with "unnaturals" which includes a sphinx, silphids, and other oddities. She longs to be a Pedant, but women aren't allowed to become take on that role. Syrus is a tinker. He lives with his family in the forest. They have their own village and way of life. They practice magic and are feared. But i much preferred their way of life over the "normal" people.

I don't want to say too much because there are a lot of twists and turns, and Tiffany Trent definitely keeps us guessing. Vespa is not who we initially believe her to be. Neither is Syrus. In fact, Pedant Lumin, Vespa's father, and a whole host of characters have secrets that you'll be dying to figure out. I really liked Vespa and Syrus. I loved that in this world Charles Darwin is considered a saint. And Arthur Rackham is named. There were a lot of little things that made my geeky self grin while reading.

One thing I really liked about The Unnaturalists, one thing that stood out and deserves a mention, was the lack of romance between the two main characters. Most every YA book I've read has romance. And while I'm not opposed to romance, it tends to be as big a plot point as the paranormal stuff going down. So this was a refreshing change. And have you seen this cover? The picture in this post is pretty, but you really must hold it in your hands to fully appreciate it. It's one of my favorite covers of all of 2012. And while you have this book in your hands, check out the first few chapters. Trust me, you'll not want to put this book down.

Book Review: Storm

Becca Chandler is suddenly getting all the guys - all the ones she doesn't want. Ever since her ex-boyfriend spread those lies about her. Then she saves Chris Merrick from a beating in the school parking lot. Chris is different. Way different: he can control water just like his brothers can control fire, wind, and earth. They're powerful. Dangerous. Marked for death.

And now that she knows the truth, so is Becca.

Secrets are hard to keep when your life's at stake. When Hunter, the mysterious new kid around school, turns up with a talent for being in the wrong place at the right time, Becca thinks she can trust him. But then Hunter goes head-to-head with Chris, and Becca wonders who's hiding the most dangerous truth of all.

The storm is coming.

After reading Elemental (a prequel to the Elemental series) I was excited to pick up book one, Storm by Brigid Kemmerer. Once again, I didn't read the synopsis and was slightly disappointed in the beginning that it wasn't a continuation of the novella. While Michael Merrick was a main character in Elemental, his younger brother Chris was the main character here. Well, him and Becca Chandler.

Becca has a reputation with the boys at school. They think she's a slut, that she sleeps around, and she gets harassed about it. Chris never really paid attention to Becca until she saved his life. And he finds himself trying to protect her. But she has another boy protecting her. New guy, Hunter.

I had a bit of difficulty getting into this one. There are four Merrick brothers. Michael is the oldest and has custody of his three younger brothers, all of whom are in high school. They are all elementals, the strongest of their kind. Michael is earth. Chris is water. And the twins are fire and air. To be honest, all four of them were assholes in the beginning. I didn't like any of them, and that's a big thing for me. How can I like a book if I think the love interest is a d-bag? They were aggressive and crass and like a lot of guys I went to high school with. Except for the elemental thing. And the guys that these characters reminded me of... they weren't friends. They were the kind of guys who teased me and treated me badly. It took a while for me to get past that.

Hunter was very helpful at this point. I didn't completely trust him, but at least he was sweet and kind and appeared to actually care about Becca. I enjoyed reading Hunter and Becca and I eventually warmed up to Chris. There were several times when I almost put the book down, but I'm glad I didn't. I ended up liking it quite a bit, and I'm excited to read the next novella in this series, Fearless, and then the second novel, Spark, which comes out next Tuesday. Definitely give this one a shot.

Book Review: Thirteen

The #1 New York Times bestselling author Kelley Armstrong delivers the novel her fans have been clamoring for: The epic finale of the Otherworld series.

It’s been more than ten years, a dozen installments, and hundreds of thousands of copies since Kelley Armstrong introduced readers to the all-too-real denizens of the Otherworld: witches, werewolves, necromancers, vampires, and half-demons, among others. And it’s all been leading to Thirteen, the final installment, the novel that brings all of these stories to a stunning conclusion.

A war is brewing—the first battle has been waged and Savannah Levine is left standing, albeit battered and bruised. She has rescued her half brother from supernatural medical testing, but he’s fighting to stay alive. The Supernatural Liberation Movement took him hostage, and they have a maniacal plan to expose the supernatural world to the unknowing.

Savannah has called upon her inner energy to summon spells with frightening strength, a strength she never knew she had, as she fights to keep her world from shattering. But it’s more than a matter of supernaturals against one another—both heaven and hell have entered the war; hellhounds, genetically modified werewolves, and all forces of good and evil have joined the fray.

Uniting Savannah with Adam, Paige, Lucas, Jaime, Hope, and other lost-but-notforgotten characters in one epic battle, Thirteen is a grand, crowd-pleasing closer for Armstrong’s legions of fans.

Oh... mai... goddess... I'm going to apologize upfront for my fangirly review of Thirteen by Kelley Armstrong. She is a writing goddess. I've loved everything I've read of hers, and this last book is no different. I stayed up until after midnight, waiting for it to download on my Kindle. And I read for two hours, before sleeping until 9 and waking up to finish it. It was read, more or less, in one sitting.

Thirteen picks up right where Spell Bound left off, with Savannah drenched, Jeremy and Adam looking like they'd been playing in gravel, and Jaime... all neat and put-together. Jaime and Savannah run off in search of clothing, so Jeremy, Adam, and Bryce can come out of hiding. You don't want to be seen walking around near an explosion, looking like you were involved. But Jaime and Savannah are the two characters in this series that are most likely to get into trouble. They found trouble alright. Savannah is arrested, and to keep the team together, Jaime mock attacks one of the officers, and is carted off with her.

Things are not looking up for these two heroines when they're thrown in jail, without being booked, and find they aren't the only supernaturals at this police station. Something is definitely up.

I'm beyond sad that this is the final book in the series. I'm able to go on only because Kelley has promised us anthologies, novellas, short stories, and more novels (possibly... at one point in the future). I cried when I closed the book. Not because the ending is sad. But because it's over!!!!!! *re-read that last part very dramatically* I've read many series that ended with a weak book. And I've read many series that went way past where it should have ended. But I think Kelley did an amazing job wrapping this series up while leaving enough loose ends.

Things I personally loved about this book... While it was told from Savannah's point of view, Jaime, Eve, Elena, Paige, and Hope all had a chapter written from their point of view in third person. There was a lot of Jaime. And Jaime is my favorite character from this series. It brought together almost everyone from the entire series. Things I would've liked to see... More Paige. More Cassandra and Aaron. But all-in-all... one of the best books of the series.

And I can honestly say, I can't wait for the next book. Kelley has a novella (which I've pre-ordered from Subterranean Press) coming out this December. There is a reason to go on!

The Women of the Otherworld has been a favorite series of mine since there were only two books... which has been for about a decade. It breaks my heart that the series is done, but it's not completely over. Kelley has said there will be more novellas (frex, the one coming out this December) and short stories. If you haven't read these books yet, you're missing out:
1. Bitten
2. Stolen
3. Dime Store Magic
4. Industrial Magic
5. Haunted
6. Broken
7. No Humans Involved
8. Personal Demon
9. Living with the Dead
10. Frostbitten
11. Waking the Witch
12. Spellbound
13. Thirteen

Currently, there are two anthology collections:
Men of the Otherworld
Tales of the Otherworld

And don't forget to check out these novellas from Subterranean Press:
Angelic (available only as an ebook at this time)
Counterfeit Magic
Hidden
Forbidden (coming this winter)
Becoming (graphic novel)

Novella Review: Elemental

Earth, Fire, Air, Water – they are more than you dream.

As an air Elemental, 17-year-old Emily Morgan doesn’t have much power. That’s okay—she knows what happens to kids who do.

Like Michael Merrick. He’s an earth Elemental, one with enough power to level cities. Which makes him sexy. Dangerous. And completely off limits. At least according to Emily’s family.

But her summer job puts her in close contact with Michael, and neither of them can help the attraction they feel. When forces of nature like theirs collide, one misstep could get someone killed. Because Emily’s family doesn’t just want her to stay away from him.v
They want him dead.

I must admit that I picked up Elemental by Brigid Kemmerer because I was curious about this new series. As a pagan, I know what true elementals are, and I was curious as to how they were being written in novels. I wasn't sure what to expect, but this novella surprised me. I really enjoyed it.

Emily is an air elemental with little power and Michael is an earth elemental, the strongest around. And they are forbidden from associating with each other. Many of the elementals want to kill Michael. They fear his power and are sure the world would be better off with someone who wasn't so powerful. Emily has been warned to stay away from him, as he's incredibly dangerous, but when he walks into her place of work, the two are forced to be around each other. And neither of their families want them going back to that location.

Michael might be as powerful as Emily's family believes, but is he as dangerous? Emily begins to think not, as she begins to fall for him. This was a quick, cute read, and it surpassed my expectations. I definitely recommend checking this one out. I plan to read the first novel of this series, Storm, soon.

Book Review: The Calling

Maya Delaney’s paw-print birthmark is the sign of what she truly is—a skin-walker. She can run faster, climb higher, and see better than nearly anyone else. Experiencing intense connections with the animals that roam the woods outside her home, Maya knows it’s only a matter of time before she’s able to Shift and become one of them. And she believes there may be others in her small town with surprising talents.

Now, Maya and her friends have been forced to flee from their homes during a forest fire they suspect was deliberately set. Then they’re kidnapped, and after a chilling helicopter crash, they find themselves in the Vancouver Island wilderness with nothing but their extraordinary abilities to help them get back home. Plentiful action and romance in this second installment in the Darkness Rising series will keep readers enthralled to the very last page!

I love everything I've ever read by Kelley Armstrong, and The Calling is no different. I will honestly be surprised if I ever read anything of hers that I don't love. This one picked up right where The Gathering left off. Maya, Daniel, Hayley, Nicole, Sam, and Corey are on a helicopter being taken away from their home town as flames engulf the area. We know some of them are supernaturals, and our main character knows there's a reason the six of them are on this chopper. And the reason isn't good. None of the adults can be trusted.

They fight to escape the bad guys and find the truth about who they are. But who are the bad guys? The St. Clouds? The Nasts? They can't even trust some of their parents. Like Kelley's other YA books, and The Women of the Otherworld series (adult books set in the same world), this story is a non-stop ride, full of action and adventure, mystery and suspense. We're reading through Maya's eyes, so like this skinwalker, we aren't sure who to trust or where to turn next. The twists and turns just keep coming. There are still many questions left unanswered and new problems have arisen.

I'm very excited to read The Rising, the conclusion to the Darkness Rising trilogy. And I'm even more excited to see Maya and Chloe's groups meet up. If you haven't read anything by Kelley Armstrong, you are seriously missing out. In addition to The Darkest Power and the Darkness Rising trilogies, she has short stories in The Eternal Kiss, Kisses From Hell, and Enthralled. Trust me, you won't regret it.

Book Review: Hidden

Hiking through the snow, holiday baking and playing board games by the fire – what’s not to love about an old-fashioned family Christmas?

Werewolves Elena Michaels and Clayton Danvers want to give their four-year-old twins, Kate and Logan, something their parents never had: a nice, normal holiday. No Pack responsibilities, no homicidal half-demons or power-hungry sorcerers to deal with – just the four of them, alone, at a chalet outside Ontario’s Algonquin Park.

Then a strange werewolf shows up at their door…while the town is buzzing about a young man, back from college, found half-eaten in the woods. And there’s the missing little girl …

With all the signs pointing to a rogue mutt with a taste for human flesh, Elena and Clay have no choice but to investigate. But are they the hunters – or the hunted?

I am a huge fan of Kelley Armstrong. I jump all over everything she writes, so forgive me if this review is a bit fangirly. Hiddenis a novella, the third that Kelley has written which was published through Subterranean Press. The picture above is the cover for the trade edition, but being the fan that I am, I have the limited edition, the cover to your right.

Despite me being a huge fan of Kelley's and the Otherworld, I am not a huge fan of Elena Michaels Danvers. And I say that because she was Kelley's first character and typically the most popular. Elena has narrated Bitten, Stolen, Broken, and Frostbitten in the past. And Hidden has been my favorite story revolving around the pack.

Elena and Clay have taken their kids on a Christmas vacation, and will spend Christmas, for the first time, as just the four of them. I love the twins. Kate and Logan are about four or five, but they act much older. They are much smarter than the average preschooler. Too smart for their own good. They're very inquisitive.

I think the twins may have been the biggest reason Hidden is my favorite Elena narrative. They make the entire story much more fun, and they bring out sides of the pack members we've not seen before. We've seen Clay, Elena, and Nick in action before, but now they're Dad, Mom, and Uncle Nick. Another thing I loved about this novel is Reese. He was introduced in Frostbitten and has a short story called "Chivalrous", and I absolutely adore him. So I was glad to see him included so much here.

If you haven't read the series, this novella may not be for you. It's definitely geared towards fans. And if you haven't read the book, you won't have near enough back story. But that's no problem, as this series is amazing. Thirteen, the thirteenth and final novel in the Women of the Otherworld series comes out this summer, so now is the perfect time to pick up Bitten and cruise right on through this amazing series.

Book Review: City of Fallen Angels

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

But nothing comes without a price.

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

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

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

I bought City of Fallen Angelsby Cassandra Clare when it came out. I liked the first three and loved her spin-off series, so I was excited to read this one. But... I hadn't heard the best things. So, sad, I put it off. I finally picked it up in December, and... I loved it.

I had heard a lot of negative reviews and comments about how Cassie Clare only wrote this as a quick money-maker and other negative assumptions. My biggest issue with the first three Mortal Instruments was that Clary was whiny, Jace was cocky, and they were predictable. But here I liked Clary and Jace, and the plot kept me guessing.

There was more Simon than in the previous books, which made me happy. I loved his scenes with Izzie. We had a few new characters and someone from the Infernal Devices shows up. Honestly, though, the thing that excited me the most about this new trilogy (and I call it a new trilogy since it's a new arc in this series) is the potential for Tessa to come into this world. It may not happen, but I've got my fingers crossed.

I'm super excited for City of Lost Souls to hit shelves this year. And have you seen the new cover? It's my favorite of the series!

Book Review: Revealers

Witchin' ain't easy.

Jules has a rebellious streak, a massive crush on Connor, and the abilities of a Revealer witch. By day, she and her coven friends seem like typical high school seniors. By night, they have the power to make werewolves, vampires, and ghosts reveal themselves, so they can destroy them. It's not exactly cheerleading, but at least the girls know they're doing the world some good.

One by one, Jules's friends turn eighteen and are initiated into the coven's inner circle. And one by one, they are getting completely freaked out. Jules is the youngest, and though her friends are too scared tell her what's going on, something's clearly not right. As her birthday approaches, Jules realizes she's got to find out what's behind the shadows of her coven before it's too late to save her friends...and herself. But what she discovers may be too powerful for even the toughest witches to defeat.

I was pleasantly surprised by Revealers by Amanda Marrone when I read it a few years ago. Honestly, though, I wasn't expecting much considering the reviews I had read. But I picked it up anyway because it looked like a quick read. And I like stories about witches.

This is the first book I remember reading that was set in present tense. When I read the first few pages, I thought it would bother me, but I was quickly swept up in the story and forgot about that. It was fast-paced, so I think present tense worked well.

I liked the main character, Jules. I found the characters to be interesting, and I liked their interaction. I also found it interesting to see witches as the monster hunters. So often they're just another race of supernaturals who co-exist with vampires, werewolves, and the like. 

I really enjoyed Revealers and am looking forward to more books by Amanda Marrone. 

Short Story Review: Dark Beauty

For fifteen-year-old Seeker, Isabelle Crowe, ridding the Houston streets of the undead is an inherited duty, passed down from her Cherokee ancestors. During her first night without her mentor, she encounters Abram, a more experienced Seeker from Chicago looking to avenge his cousin's death. Isabelle quickly learns she must work with Abram to protect her city. With one Seeker already dead, Isabelle's love of the hunt becomes a fight to survive.

"Dark Beauty" is a short story prequel to the novel Dark Seeker by Taryn Browning. Isabelle is a Seeker, trained to hunt vampires. On her first night out alone, she runs into another Seeker. He's in Houston tracking something. Not vampires. Something new. Something worse. Isabelle's not too keen on this new Seeker, but agrees to work with him to destroy this new vampiric race.

"Dark Beauty" was a bit too predictable for my taste. I often felt like I knew what was going to happen before it did. I didn't feel connected to any of the characters. They felt more like stereotypes then actual characters. This could be due to the fact that it was a short story. I plan on reading Dark Seeker and hope I enjoy it more than this short story.

Book Review: Solid

Solid by Shelley Workinger is a self-published novel about a teenage girl who was the subject of a military experiment. She and a hundred others are sent to a summer camp where the government can figure out what happened to them. The doctor who conducted the experiment did so without sharing much of anything.

Once there, they are sorted into groups, separated out by interests. There are the jocks, the art people, and everyone else. Clio and her friends know that there is more going on than what they've been told.

The story is fun, and the characters are interesting. (There were a couple of crush-worthy guys in this one!) I didn’t want to put it down. My only complaint was the climax scene. I was surprised by who the "bad guys" were, but... it was a bit anti-climactic. But still, I really enjoyed this one. Probably my favorite of all the self-published novels I've ever read. If you’re sick of the regular vamps and weres YA urban fantasy, check out Solid. 

Synopsis:

Eighteen years ago, a rogue Army doctor secretly experimented with a chromosomal drug on unknowing pregnant women. When he was killed not long after the children were born, any knowledge and evidence seemed to die with him - except the living, breathing, human products of his work.

Almost two decades later, the newly self-proclaimed "open-book" military unearths the truth about the experiment, bringing Clio Kaid and the other affected teens to a state-of-the-art, isolated campus where they soon discover that C9x did indeed alter their chromosomes, its mutations presenting as super-human abilities. The military kids, who come from across the nation and all walks of life, come into their own as lighter-than-air 'athletes'; 'indies' as solid as stone walls; teens who can make themselves invisible and others who can blind with their brilliance. 

As Clio comes into her remarkable ability, embraces new friendships and embarks on first love, she also can't shake the suspicion that the government has not been as forthcoming with their attentions as they claimed...

And don’t forget to get your pre-orders in for Settling, book two in the Solid trilogy! It comes out July 4th!

Book Review: Dime Store Magic

I absolutely adored Dime Store Magic. While we are still in Kelley Armstrong’s The Women of the Otherworld series, the narrator is no longer Elena. Paige Winterbourne, whom we met in Stolen, gets to take center stage and tell her story. It picks up shortly after Stolen left off. On the first read-through of this book, I had trouble getting into it. I had trouble with Paige, to be honest. I was used to Elena, and Paige had such a different voice. Couple that with the fact that I wasn’t a fan of Paige’s in Stolen.

But once I got into it, I found that Paige is very different than when we saw her through Elena’s eyes. So if you have trouble getting into it, keep going. ;) I found that I had a lot in common with Paige, including a crush on her love-interest, Lucas Cortez. She’s young, but she’s smart and ambitious and strong.

As a pagan, I love reading books about witches, but I also do so with trepidation. I’ve read books that have offended me, and I’ve read others that have some amazingly accurate details. Paige is a witch, a full-blooded supernatural… which is nothing like the pagan religion. However, I have to admit that I was a bit miffed by the scene with the wiccan girls, but I quickly got over it.

Dime Store Magic is a fantastic book. I love the expansion of Kelley’s Otherworld. Look for my review of Industrial Magic coming soon.

Original US cover

Synopsis:

Forget the cackling green hag in The Wizard of Oz, forget Samantha from Bewitched. Real witches are nothing, NOTHING like this. For years real witches have hidden their powers, afraid of being persecuted. They have integrated so well into the community, you could have a witch living right next door and never know about it. Take Paige, for instance, whom we first met in Kelley Armstrong’s novel Stolen. Just an ordinary twenty-something who runs her own website design company, worries about her weight and wonders if she’ll ever find a boyfriend. Okay, so she’s leader of the American Coven and guardian of Savannah, the teenage daughter of a black witch. Really, life is ordinary. But then a telekinetic half-demon, Leah O’Donnell, shows up to fight for custody of Savannah. And although Paige is ready for her, she’s not quite so prepared for the team of supernaturals that Leah brings with her, including a powerful sorcerer who claims to be Savannah’s father.

When all hell breaks loose -- literally -- and Paige is accused of witchcraft, Satanism and murder, the Coven, fearing exposure, abandons her. Cut off from her friends, Paige is forced against her better judgment to accept the help of a young sorcerer lawyer. And she quickly comes to realize that keeping Savannah could mean losing everything else.

Breathtakingly thrilling, hip and funny, this new novel is another page-turning triumph from an author who is going from strength to strength.

Book Review: Stolen

Stolen is book two in The Women of the Otherworld series by Kelley Armstrong. The first book, Bitten, focused on Elena Michaels, the only female werewolf in the only werewolf pack in North America. In this installment, the werewolves learn they aren’t the only supernatural race. First, Paige and her mother, witches, show up. And before long we meet sorcerers, shamans, vampires, half-demons, and more.

The story in this book isn’t my favorite. In fact, Stolen may be my least favorite in the series, story-wise, but I love the inclusion of other supernaturals. Not only did werewolves not know about other supernaturals, but most supernaturals didn’t know there were still werewolves. The cast gets expanded, and many of the new characters are wonderful to see play against the wolves we met in Bitten.

If you enjoy urban fantasy, be sure to check this series out. You won’t be disappointed! It's one of two adult series that I didn't drop. 

New US cover

Synopsis:

Elena Michaels is back-and she has company. Lending a mission of vampires, demons, shamans, and witches, Elena is lured into the net of ruthless Internet billionaire Tyrone Winsloe, who is well on his way to amassing a private collection of supernaturals. He plans to harness their powers for himself-even if it means killing them. 

For Elena, kidnapped and imprisoned deep underground, unable to tell her friends from her enemies, choosing the right allies is a matter of life and death.

New Canadian cover

Book Review: Bitten

I first read Bitten by Kelley Armstrong back in 2003 when only Bitten and Stolen were available. It caught my eye as I was browsing, and I picked up both titles. I had graduated from high school only a few years earlier and, unfortunately, due to my busy schedule I hadn't had time for reading for pleasure. Everything I had read for years was for school, and I fell out of love with reading.

I devoured this book in only a few days. It starts off kind of slow, but once Elena is thrown back into life with the pack, it really takes off. She is the only female in a world full of men. As far as they know, no other female werewolves exist. Clayton was her mate until she left the pack years ago, to try to live a normal life. But once back with them she can’t ignore Clay. Personally, I’m not a fan of Clay… at all. But the rest of the pack is great.

New US Cover

One thing I love about Bitten is that it was new and different at the time that I first read it. The main character was a normal woman who happened to be a werewolf. She isn’t a blood-thirsty, killing animal, as was the previous norm. Also, it doesn’t pick up when she was bitten… it’s ten or so years down the road. More and more books are being written in the urban fantasy genre that follows those rules, too.

Kelley weaves the paranormal with mystery in a way that constantly leaves you guessing. I know I’ve said it in other reviews, but I’m going to say it again… I love when books leave my guessing what’s going to happen next. I seem to forget the point of reading when I figure out the end in the beginning.

The Women of the Otherworld is one of my favorite series, and in anticipation of book 12 that will be available this summer, I’m re-reading the entire series. If you haven’t picked these up, do it quick! And for those of you who weren't familiar with the series before, the entire series has just been or is in the process of being re-jacketed. (I think the US and UK are still being released, but Canada is done. ;) ) This wonderful book helped me remember why I loved reading. And I can’t thank Kelley enough for that. I'm off to read Stolen.

New UK Cover

Synopsis:

Elena Michaels seems like the typically strong and sexy modern woman, She lives with her architect boyfriend, writes for a popular newspaper, and works out at the gym. She's also a werewolf. 

Elena has done all she can to assimilate to the human world, but the man whose bite changed her existence forever, and his legacy, continue to haunt her. Thrown into a desperate war for survival that tests her allegiance to a secret clan of werewolves, Elena must recon with who, and what, she is in this passionate, page-turning novel.

New Canadian Cover

Book Review: Wicked Lovely

Despite the fact that I’ve already read Darkest Mercy, I’m rereading the entire series to prepare for the release. I just finished rereading Wicked Lovely. This is the third time I’ve read it, and I love it more every time.

One thing that I love about this story is the modern story-telling mixed with centuries old faery lore. I’ve always had an interest in faeries, and I love researching when it comes to folklore. It’s very interesting to me the way Melissa weaves old tales with something new.

In the beginning of the series we meet Aislinn, a mortal with the Sight. She can see faeries, and she was raised to believe they are all dangerous. Keenan, the Summer King wants her for his queen. He normally doesn’t have much of a problem with girls, but Aislinn knows what he is. And she knows to stay away.

Not only is the story-telling amazing, but the characters are interesting and well-developed. I love the descriptions of the faeries… beautiful and terrifying. Faeries (like other supernatural beings) have a different idea of what is right and wrong. Their behavior is fun to watch. Although, if I was Ash, I doubt it would be so fun.

If you need another reason to read this book… a movie is in the works. And you want to read it before you see it, right?

Synopsis:

Rule #3: Don't stare at invisible faeries.

Aislinn has always seen faeries. Powerful and dangerous, they walk hidden in mortal world. Aislinn fears their cruelty—especially if they learn of her Sight—and wishes she were as blind to their presence as other teens.

Rule #2: Don't speak to invisible faeries.

Now faeries are stalking her. One of them, Keenan, who is equal parts terrifying and alluring, is trying to talk to her, asking questions Aislinn is afraid to answer.

Rule #1: Don't ever attract their attention.

But it's too late. Keenan is the Summer King who has sought his queen for nine centuries. Without her, summer itself will perish. He is determined that Aislinn will become the Summer Queen at any cost—regardless of her plans or desires.

Suddenly none of the rules that have kept Aislinn safe are working anymore, and everything is on the line: her freedom; her best friend, Seth; her life; everything.

Faerie intrigue, mortal love, and the clash of ancient rules and modern expectations swirl together in Melissa Marr's stunning 21^st century faery tale.

Book Review: Pretty Souls

I was asked to read and review an arc of Pretty Souls by Julie Particka. I read a lot of urban fantasy, so I wasn’t sure what to think of this one. The main character, Elle, is a werewolf. Her foster sister, Cass, is half-vampire. I admit I was a bit wary picking it up because I had high hopes for it. I’ve been an acquaintance of the author for almost a year, and I wanted to really like it. And I was worried it would be just another YA urban fantasy that wouldn’t leave much of an impression.

I’m pleased to say that it isn’t just another YA urban fantasy. I really enjoyed this book Elle lost her family and became a werewolf, changing her world forever. Years later she finds herself in foster care with a vampire. Cass and Elle have a great relationship. They really are sisters. They love each other unconditionally. But… they don’t always get along. Enter Jaxson aka Jax. *swoon* I fell in love with him instantly. Didn’t mean I trusted him, though.

One thing that disappoints me more than anything else is when you see the end way up at the beginning of the book. There’s a lot of mystery in Pretty Souls, and Julie does a fabulous job of not letting you figure it out. I was pretty much on the same page as Elle the entire way through, so that when the mystery was revealed… I was shocked. And I LOVE that! That doesn’t happen enough, in my opinion.

Now where is book 2? Seriously… I need it now, Julie!


You can visit Julie on her website at JulieParticka.com and you can bug her on Twitter here.

Synopsis:

Elle hasn’t been afraid of the things that go bump in the night since she became a werewolf. She'd happily give up her inner monster to get her family back though. Hell, she'd give up the beast for nothing. Of course her foster sister doesn't get it. After all, she doesn't battle with her own darker half, but vampire blood can do that to a person. 

Their nightly patrols have become more habit than necessity—until a demon spawn comes to town, ripping souls from strangers, enemies, and friends alike. When it threatens her foster mom, Elle's peaceful life is shattered, but she's not going to give up without a fight. Fighting the beast for control at the same time is more than she can handle though. Armed with more attitude than experience, Elle and her sister have to track down the demon spawn before it collects enough souls to fulfill its birthright and open a doorway to hell. 

For the first time in years, Elle is scared. She's willing to lose herself in the beast if that's what it takes, but saving the world could cost her soul.

Book Review: Waking the Witch

Let me start by saying that I love Kelley Armstrong, and her Otherworld series. Which, by the way is now The Otherworld and no longer Women of the Otherworld. She opened it up so now she can write from a male's POV. However, she is currently contracted to 13, and 11-13 will be Savannah's novels. I've been reading her series since there was only two novels. And I've loved Savannah from the beginning. So I've been waiting seven years for this novel.

WAKING THE WITCH came out today. I ran to the bookstore this morning to pick it up. Thankfully, I got off early, so I came straight home to start reading. I finished it in a few hours, taking a break only for dinner. I've never read one of her books so fast. Usually I try to slow it down and make it take a few days, savor it, since I know the next book in the series won't come out until a year. But I couldn't control myself.

This was definitely one of the best books in the series. It surpassed expectation. The writing and the story-telling get better with each novel. And I love how the series has evolved, adding characters and different races of supernaturals. Despite the paranormal aspect, the world Kelley has created feels real, and she makes the reader feel like a part of that world.

We've known Savannah since she was 12. And Kelley said long ago, she wouldn't write a Savannah novel until she became an adult. So now Savannah is 21. It's interesting to see Savannah as an adult, especially since we've "seen" her grow up. I don't want to say too much because I don't want to spoil anyone. But I love that Jaime was in it. She is, as some of you know, my favorite character in the series.

If you haven't read the series, you need to do so. And if you've read the series, but haven't picked up WAKING THE WITCH, get it ASAP. You won't be disappointed.

Synopsis:

The orphaned daughter of a sorcerer and a half-demon, Savannah is a terrifyingly powerful young witch who has never been able to resist the chance to throw her magical weight around. But at 21 she knows she needs to grow up and prove to her guardians, Paige and Lucas, that she can be a responsible member of their supernatural detective agency. So she jumps at the chance to fly solo, investigating the mysterious deaths of three young women in a nearby factory town as a favour to one of the agency’s associates. At first glance, the murders look garden-variety human, but on closer inspection signs point to otherworldly stakes.

Soon Savannah is in over her head. She’s run off the road and nearly killed, haunted by a mystery stalker, and freaked out when the brother of one of the dead women is murdered when he tries to investigate the crime. To complicate things, something weird is happening to her powers. Pitted against shamans, demons, a voodoo-inflected cult and garden-variety goons, Savannah has to fight to ensure her first case isn’t her last. And she also has to ask for help, perhaps the hardest lesson she’s ever had to learn.

And below is the cover for the Canadian version. One of my least favorite Otherworld covers.

I wanted to share this with you, in case you hadn't seen it. This image was released as the cover for the US, but it got changed. I do like the new one more. So I'm happy they changed it, but really wouldn't have been disappointed if they hadn't.

I'm going to reread the entire series, and will review them as I go. These books are so great, they need written reviews. Maybe after I finish my stack of ARCs.

Book Review: Black Magic Sanction (and contest winner)

*Slight spoilers for past books in the series. Skip to the bottom for contest announcement.*

I think this may be my new favorite book in The Hollows Series, by Kim Harrison. I find myself having more and more in common with Rachel. Though, with her being a witch, her problems are on a larger scale. Against popular opinion, I'm a huge Trent fan. I don't know what it is about that elf. And I also love Pierce. So far, he's my favorite potential boyfriend for Rachel. Bis has a greater role in this book, and I'm definitely a fan. Have tissues handy. My copy was covered in tear drops on a few pages.

Synopsis:

Rachel Morgan has fought and hunted vampires, werewolves, banshees, demons, and other supernatural dangers as both witch and bounty hunter - and lived to tell the tale. But she's never faced off against her own kind... until now. Denounced and shunned for dealing with demons and black magic, her best hope is life imprisonment - at worst, a forced lobatomy and genetic slavery. Only her enemies are strong enough to help her win her freedom, but trust comes hard when it hinges on the unscrupulous tycoon Trent Kalamack, the demon Algaliarept, and an ex-boyfriend turned thief.

It takes a witch to catch a witch, but survival bears a heavy price.

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And now the contest winner!!!

Congrats, Karen. I'll drop your book and swag in the mail this weekend.

Book Review: Demon Ex Machina

What would happen if Buffy the vampire slayer went into retirement, got married, and had kids, then was forced out of retirement. That's what happened to Kate Connor. I love this series. I just read DEMON EX MACHINA, book 5. The plot keeps getting more complicated and more twisted, and I love it. It's urban fantasy, but there's definitely comedic genius here. If you'd like to read the entire series:

CARPE DEMON
CALIFORNIA DEMON
DEMONS ARE FOREVER
DEJA DEMON

DEMON EX MACHINA

I can't wait for the next one. I hope there is a next one.

Synopsis:

Demon Hunter Kate Connor is having one hell of a month...

In between demon patrols and teaching self-defense classes to the local moms, Kate has to deal with a teenage daughter who's gung-ho on being a demon slayer in training and a toddler son entering a tantrum phase that rivals anything from the pits of Hell.

That's a lot for one woman to juggle, but on top of it all, Kate has to find a way to release the demon possessing her first husband, Eric, without destroying the man inside. Because if the demon within Eric gets free, it just might be more than one seriously stressed suburban mom can handle.

Book Review: White Witch, Black Curse

I'm going to be reviewing books, movies, etc from here now. I've been meaning to do so, but... I haven't.

Anyway, I just finished White Witch, Black Curse by Kim Harrison. I adore the Rachel Morgan series. I've been reading it for years. This book was definitely one of my favorites. There were some characters that were missing from this particular story, but I'm hoping they'll be up in the next novel. Rachel is a witch, and her partners are Ivy (the living vamp) and Jenks (the pixy). These books are filled with magic, action, adventure, and a good amount of comedy to balance it out. As the books go along, there are individual storylines wrapped up in each book, while there is a good over-arching storyline. The story continues to get more complicated and leaves you anticipating the next one the moment you put it down.

If you're interested in the series, here is the order:
Dead Witch Walking
The Good, the Bad, and the Undead
Every Which Way but Dead
A Fistful of Charms
For a Few Demons More
The Outlaw Demon Wails
White Witch, Black Curse