Review: Touch of Frost (Mythos Academy #1) by Jennifer Estep

Title: Touch of Frost (Mythos Academy #1)
Author: Jennifer Estep
Published by: Kensington Books
Pages: 385
Source: Bought
Format: ebook
Rating: 3.5 stars

Summary from Goodreads: My name is Gwen Frost, and I go to Mythos Academy — a school of myths, magic and warrior whiz kids, where even the lowliest geek knows how to chop off somebody's head with a sword and Logan Quinn, the hottest Spartan guy in school, also happens to be the deadliest.

But lately, things have been weird, even for Mythos. First, mean girl Jasmine Ashton was murdered in the Library of Antiquities. Then, someone stole the Bowl of Tears, a magical artifact that can be used to bring about the second Chaos War. You know, death, destruction and lots of other bad, bad things. Freaky stuff like this goes on all the time at Mythos, but I'm determined to find out who killed Jasmine and why—especially since I should have been the one who died. . .

I have always enjoyed stories with any sort of mythology involved so I was instantly intrigued by the Mythos Academy series.  I mean what could be better than Greek gods, Gypsies, Spartans  Amazons, and Native American deities all rolled into one series?

Gwen is my type of main character.  She's not popular or every guys dream.  Heck she wears hoodies everyday and reads comic books.  In fact she's kind of a nerd, but is still outspoken and quite snarky.  She is not this totally fierce, kick-butt character either...actually when it comes to fighting she is kind of horrible at it.  However, what she lacks in skills she makes up for in heart.  Even when something horrible happens to the Academy's notorious mean-girl, she is still determined to find her justice, not matter how cruel she was.    

Touch of Frost was a unique story and while there were elements of familiarity, the plot twist kept the story completely original.  I was actually surprised how fast I read this novel, because every time I tried to set it down I just wanted to know more.  All the situations Gwen finds herself in and each conflict will hook you more until you can wait to see what will happen next and to whom.  

One thing that bothered me about Touch of Frost was the rich kid aspect.  I feel this is a common theme in many YA novels and some of the students (ok most of them) who attend Mythos Academy were ridiculously rich.  Am I the only one tired of reading about what daddy's money can buy?  This led to some characters who were stuck up, snotty, and self-entitled.  Understandable that this story need these types of characters, but they got on my nerves fast and didn't really change (well except a couple) by the end of the novel.  

Even with the money thing and so not so likable characters I really enjoyed Touch of Frost.  I can't wait to see what Jennifer Estep and the rest of the series has in store.  
         

Review: Elixir (Covanant, #3.5) by Jennifer L.Armentrout

Title: Elixir (Covenant, #3.5)
Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout
Published by: Spencer Hill Press
Pages: 80
Source: Bought
Format: Ebook
Rating: 3.5 stars

Summary from Goodreads: Aiden St. Delphi will do anything to save Alex. Even if it means doing the one thing he will never forgive himself for. Even if it means making war against the gods.

Ahh the drama.  To be young, in love, fighting to keep the ones you love themselves, and defying the gods...that is really the life.

This is everything a novella should be.  It was a complete story in itself, yet highly depended on understanding what was currently happening in the series.  I felt like Elixir really had something to add to the Covenant series instead of just telling us a back story.  It had conflict and resolution and I think was a powerful addition to the series.  However if you are not familiar with the series you could not read this novella as a stand alone.  It is highly connected to the series and therefore to truly grasp what is happening one needs to read the previous books before reading this novella.

In Elixir you get to interact on a different level than usual with the characters and understand more of Aiden's perspective.  I love that you see him lose control a bit.  Usually he is so put together and stoic and in Elixir you can see his struggle and raw emotion.   

You hear bits and pieces about the Elixir that is given to Half Bloods previously in the series, but in this novella it hits a bit closer to home.  This is something that Alex (and many other Half Bloods have feared) and yet it may be the only way to not start a war with the gods that will affect everyone.    

One thing I think was done really well was to understand how difficult a decision is.  Sometimes decisions about other peoples lives are portrayed as simple and yet Elixir really shows us the positives and negatives of a decision and how hard they are to make for another person.  Just because it is the easy way (or at times the harder way) is it the right way?  

Who would have thought a short 80 page novella could bring such a heavy topic to life?  Elixir did that and so much more.  

What are your views on novellas?  Do you love them or not really care for them?  How much do they add to a series?

Review of Time Between Us by Tamara Ireland Stone

Title: Time Between Us (Time Between Us, #1)
Author: Tamara Ireland Stone
Published by: Hyperion
Pages: 384
Source: Library
Format: Hardcover
Rating: 3.5 stars

Summary From Goodreads:  Anna and Bennett were never supposed to meet: she lives in 1995 Chicago and he lives in 2012 San Francisco. But Bennett has the unique ability to travel through time and space, which brings him into Anna’s life, and with him a new world of adventure and possibility.

As their relationship deepens, the two face the reality that time may knock Bennett back to where he belongs, even as a devastating crisis throws everything they believe into question. Against a ticking clock, Anna and Bennett are forced to ask themselves how far they can push the bounds of fate, what consequences they can bear in order to stay together, and whether their love can stand the test of time.

A sweet romance that defies time and space.  Time Between Us mixes romance and time travel in a way that will touch your heart and make you smile. 

Anna and Bennett are the type of characters you adore in a novel.  They are both sweet, good kids who like a little adventure, but ultimately are kind and good hearted.  The one problem I had with them was the insta-love thing.  I felt that Anna fell for Bennett extremely fast and that overshadowed some of her decision.  She seemed a bit naive and I had a problem with her not being more cautious with Bennett and his unique ability.  I was also quite upset with her when she put Bennett in a horrible situation and didn't realizing the agony she was causing him.  I'm sure if I was in the same situation I would have gone beyond begging him, but being an outsider I thought it was a bit selfish and unfair of her to ask such a thing. 

The story line was cute and a bit predictable, but I don't think that took away from the novel.  I knew it was going to be a sweet love story and that is what I received.  I also like that Tamara Ireland Stone bought up some interesting questions about how one incident can change the entire course of a person's future.  It's crazy to think about having such an amazing ability, but more crazy about how careful you have to be not to change history or one's life.  That is a lot of pressure for one kid to handle. 

After reading this novel I have a craving to read The Time Traveler's Wife.  I'm sad to say that I have never read that novel and with a story line that mirrors Time Between Us I think I will finally get around to reading it. 

Have you read both of these novels?  How similar are they?

Review of Pivot Point by Kasie West

Title: Pivot Point (Pivot Point, #1)
Author: Kasie West
Published by: HarperTeen
Pages: 352
Source: Publisher/Edelweiss
Format: ARC ebook
Rating: 3.5 stars

Summary from Goodreads:  Addison Coleman’s life is one big “What if?” As a Searcher, whenever Addie is faced with a choice, she can look into the future and see both outcomes. It’s the ultimate insurance plan against disaster. Or so she thought. When Addie’s parents ambush her with the news of their divorce, she has to pick who she wants to live with—her father, who is leaving the paranormal compound to live among the “Norms,” or her mother, who is staying in the life Addie has always known. Addie loves her life just as it is, so her answer should be easy. One Search six weeks into the future proves it’s not.

Addison is one of those special girls in her paranormal society that can search into her future when given a choice and see both outcomes played out.  She's not a very popular girl, but soon gains the notice of the star quarterback around the same time she learns that her parents are splitting up.  Now she is left with a big choice--stay with her mom and keep living in the paranormal compound surrounded by her friends and this new crush, or move with her dad to live among the norms always hiding who she really is.  Of course, left with such a big decision she uses her power to search both futures. 

Pivot Point started off a little slow, but right around the middle of the novel I realized I was hooked as we explored both directions of her choice.  What a choice to have to make when you can see both the good and the bad of what each future holds.  I loved that this wasn't an easy choice for Addison and with both choices she will have to make huge sacrifices.  Kasie West didn't gloss anything over and made the readers realize how complicated each choice we make can sometimes be.  Unfortunately,  and unlike Addison, we cannot see the outcomes of our choices, but it's interesting to think about how things may change depending on what we choose.

The characters in this novel, both the paranormal and the norms, come to life.  They are very real with their issues and interactions, though I found them to be a little predictable.  You could easily guess their roles in Addison's life and how they may influence which future she will chose.  I did like the characters, but a lot of this story was based off the interactions between the characters so I wish they would have had a little more deapth. 

By the end of the book I was a bit heart-broken for Addison.  I couldn't quite believe Pivot Point ended like it did, so I'm happy to hear that this will be a series.  I look forward to seeing how Addison will go on with the future she chose and if there is any possibility of a cross over from the other future. 

Review of Entangled by Nikki Jefford

Title: Entangled (Spellbound, #1)
Author: Nikki Jefford
Pages: 142
Source: NetGalley
Format: ebook
Rating: 3.5 stars

Summary from Goodreads: Two months after dying, seventeen-year-old witch Graylee Perez wakes up in her twin sister Charlene’s body.

Until Gray finds a way back inside her own body, she’s stuck being Charlene every twenty-hour hours. Her sister has left precise instructions on how Gray should dress and behave. Looking like a prep isn’t half as bad as hanging out with Charlene’s snotty friends and gropey boyfriend.

The “normals” of McKinley High might be quick to write her behavior off as post-traumatic stress, but warlock Raj McKenna is the only person who suspects Gray has returned from the dead.

Now Gray has to solve the mystery of her death and resurrection and disentangle herself from Charlene’s body before she disappears for good.

Move over Halliwell witches because a new set of magical sisters are in town.

Nikki Jeffords takes us on an adventure of jealousy, revenge and at time downright pettiness.  Entangled involved a set of witches who happen to be twin sisters.  The dynamic between the sisters in this novel is delicious; Graylee is the well-behaved, respectful daughter, while Charlene is a bit of the wild child with a side of evil.  While I can't understand Charlene's behavior or motives in Entangled I still enjoyed the dramatized sibling rivalry.  It kept the story shocking and at times irresistible. 

I really enjoyed flow the of this story.  It was lively and entertaining.  Something new was always happening or a new secret was waiting to be unveiled.  However, at times I felt that the conflicts were a bit rushed.  I wanted to savor certain scenes and was sad to see them pass by so quickly.  They story was a rather short one so I think adding more detail and flushing out each scene would have given Entangled that extra push towards greatness.

Besides the rushed scenes, I was also a bit confused by the relationship between Graylee and Raj.  He seemed in love with her from the start, but at the same time it was obvious they didn't really interact or like each other.  I felt there was a bit of insta-love (which I am not a fan of), but also this underlying reason for Raj's infatuation that we never told about.  I think they may tie into the fact that we don't know much about the characters besides their current situations and how each person is determined to get what they want. 

As a whole though I really enjoyed Entangled and I can't wait to see what happens to the Perez sisters next. 

Review of Nobody by Jennifer Lynn Barnes & Giveaway!

Title: Nobody
Author: Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Published by: Egmont USA
Pages: 393
Source: Publisher
Format: ARC
Available: January 22nd 2013
Rating: 3.5 stars

Summary from Goodreads:  There are people in this world who are Nobody. No one sees them. No one notices them. They live their lives under the radar, forgotten as soon as you turn away.

That’s why they make the perfect assassins.

The Institute finds these people when they’re young and takes them away for training. But an untrained Nobody is a threat to their organization. And threats must be eliminated.

Sixteen-year-old Claire has been invisible her whole life, missed by the Institute’s monitoring. But now they’ve ID’ed her and send seventeen-year-old Nix to remove her. Yet the moment he lays eyes on her, he can’t make the hit. It’s as if Claire and Nix are the only people in the world for each other. And they are—because no one else ever notices them.

Alluring and enticing.  These are two of the first words that come to mind after I finished reading Nobody.  While the book may have started off a bit slow by the end I was tearing through the pages waiting to see what would happen next. 

The whole idea behind Nobodies are intriguing and a bit heartbreaking.  Can you imagine going through life without the attention of another person, to be completely unnoticed and immediately forgotten?  What a lonely and desolate life.  I'm not really sure how Claire made it on her own until she met Nix.  Throughout the novel these two characters come into their own.  They have a dangerous mission to carry out not only to make their lives better, but also others.  I thought that probably took more strength than anything.  They risked their lives to save others, even though nobody even notices them.   

While the characters were interesting, the main focus of the story was the plot.  The Society wants to control everything and one thing they can't control are Nobodies.  The people in charge want Nobodies eliminated and as soon as Nix and Claire figure this out they know they have to take down The Society.  There were little burst of action throughout the story, all leading up to the battle at the end.  Was this battle epic?  No, but it was nail biting with a couple of twists to keep you glued to the pages.   

Want a chance to read Nobody by Jennifer Lynn Barnes?  Enter the rafflecopter below for a chance to win not only a win one hardcover copy of Nobody, but also the new paperback release of Every Other Day provided by the wonderful people at Egmont USA. 

That means you could win two books by Jennifer Lynn Barnes!

Giveaway rules:
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Review of The Ivy by Lauren Kunze and Rina Onur

Title: The Ivy
Authors: Lauren Kunze and Rina Onur
Published by: Greenwillow Books
Pages: 336
Source: Obtained free from Amazon (on 11/15/2012)
Format: ebook
Rating: 3.5 stars

Summary from Goodreads:  Congratulations! You have been admitted to the most prestigious university in the world. Now what are you going to do?  Callie Andrews may not have money or connections or the right clothes, and she may have way too many complications in her love life, what with Gregory, the guy she loves to hate...Evan, the guy she'd love to forget...Clint, the guy she'd love to love...and Matt, the guy she really should love...all vying for her attention.  But she has three fantastic roommates (best friends or her worst nightmare?) and a wholesome California-girl reputation (oops) and brains and beauty and big, big dreams.  Will it be enough to help her survive freshman year at Harvard?

Ivy League, sexy and completely dramalicious...is there a better combination? 

Small-town, down-to-earth Callie gets the surprise of her life when she heads off to Harvard only to be dumped by her high school sweetheart.  Freshman year can be difficult, but it's been a roller-coaster ride for Callie.  While she can't always keep up with her designer clad roommates, she has caught the eye of a couple of eligible bachelors on campus.  Callie is your typical everyday girl.  She's cute and sweet, but does make mistakes.  At times, you want to shake her and other times hug her, but she does keep the story entertaining.

As for her posse of gentlemen, each one has some great traits to bring to the table.  This part almost seemed too easy.  Not only does Callie have one guy after her, but three.  Seriously, who is this girl?  If only life were that easy to have not only three guys, but three great guys after you while attending Harvard.  I guess it is fiction right? 

Lauren Kunze and Rina Onur being Harvard roommates themselves, brought to life the college campus.  Between the classes, high societies and elite clubs we get a glimpse into the life everyone dreams of.  While at times this felt a bit Gossip Girl-esque there was enough intrigue and creativity to make this story entertaining and bring a fresh twist to the familiar topics.  Plus these ladies and gentlemen did actually study...though not as much as I would imagine being at Harvard and all. 

If you're looking for some mind-candy during this Holiday season, The Ivy is a perfect choice.  Sit back and escape while enjoying your non-fat, no-whip, half cafe, peppermint mocha with soy of course. 

Review of Forget You by Jennifer Echols

Title: Jennifer Echols
Author: Jennifer Echols
Published by: MTV Books
Pages: 292
Source: Won
Format: Paperback
Rating: 3.5 stars

Summary from Goodreads: There’s a lot Zoey would like to forget. Like how her father has knocked up his twenty-four-year old girlfriend. Like Zoey’s fear that the whole town will find out about her mom’s nervous breakdown. Like darkly handsome bad boy Doug taunting her at school. Feeling like her life is about to become a complete mess, Zoey fights back the only way she knows how, using her famous attention to detail to make sure she’s the perfect daughter, the perfect student, and the perfect girlfriend to ultra-popular football player Brandon. But then Zoey is in a car crash, and the next day there’s one thing she can’t remember at all--the entire night before. Did she go parking with Brandon, like she planned? And if so, why does it seem like Brandon is avoiding her? And why is Doug--of all people-- suddenly acting as if something significant happened between the two of them?

Romantic teen drama at its finest. 

Who doesn't love the plot of the bad boy falling for the good girl?  Maybe it's the idea of opposites attract or of trying to reform a "lost cause" but I've always been attracted to the idea of a bad boy and Doug is my perfect kind of bad boy. 

The characters is this story seem a bit naive and at times clueless.  Zoey tries to be perfect, but her life is falling apart.  Instead of facing her issues she holds onto her perception of reality which ends up making her life that much more difficult.  As much as I liked the characters, I had trouble relating to them fully.  At times I connected instantly and then something would come up and I started to be unsure of their intentions.  Nothing is really as it seems in this novel including the characters. 

Besides the relationship drama, Zoey and her family were also going through an intense period.  Jennifer Echols didn't shy away from the difficult (and at times awkward) situations that happen too often in real life.  I thought this added a depth to the novel that is often missing in teen romance.  However, with so much happening in Zoey's life, I felt the novel was rushed at times.  Sometimes we seemed to go from one extreme to another without getting the time to process what had just happened.  This did keep the novel moving though, as it was impossible to put down because you just had to know what happened next and what it all means.

This was my first Jennifer Echols novel and definitely won't be my last. 

 

With all the wonderful "bad boy novels" out there, which is your favorite bad boy?

Review of Half-Blood by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Title: Half-Blood (Covenant #1)
Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout
Published by: Spencer Hill Press
Pages: 281
Source: Library
Format: Paperback
Rating: 3.5 stars

Summary from Goodreads: The Hematoi descend from the unions of gods and mortals, and the children of two Hematoi-pure-bloods-have godlike powers. Children of Hematoi and mortals-well, not so much. Half-bloods only have two options: become trained Sentinels who hunt and kill daimons or become servants in the homes of the pures. Seventeen-year-old Alexandria would rather risk her life fighting than waste it scrubbing toilets, but she may end up slumming it anyway. There are several rules that students at the Covenant must follow. Alex has problems with them all, but especially rule #1:Relationships between pures and halfs are forbidden. Unfortunately, she's crushing hard on the totally hot pure-blood Aiden. But falling for Aiden isn't her biggest problem--staying alive long enough to graduate the Covenant and become a Sentinel is. If she fails in her duty, she faces a future worse than death or slavery: being turned into a daimon, and being hunted by Aiden. And that would kind of suck.

I must start off by saying that I didn't really know much about this book except that a lot of people were loving it and the cover was simply stunning.  I was excited by the mythology in the story and this new form of demi-gods.  After the first couple of pages I saw a striking resemblance to another popular YA series, but that didn't bother me.  I'm sure we could find many similarities in a lot of books if we really looked for it.  Half-Blood did start off a bit slow, but I kept reading because I was eager to see where the story would lead.

Alex is a bit cocky and a little too confident for her own good.  Sure, she was top of her class before she left and she has killed two Daimons, but it won't be smooth sailing to get her back on track.  Alex is a fun character who is fierce and determined, but completely rash.  She had trouble controlling her emotions which often lead her to bad decisions.  I liked this about Alex.  Jennifer Armentrout gave Alex much more dimension than you see in your typical heroine.  Alex may have been brave and deadly, but she also was vulnerable and often her strong facade broke down.  She also had passion and it came through in almost everything she did, especially when it came to Aiden. 

Half-Blood was packed with action and the forbidden love aspect kept the tension high and the romance smokin.  There were some unexpected surprises that will keep you glued to the pages and it become obvious by the nervousness in my tummy that I was completely invested in these characters and their futures. 

Half-Blood is a strong start to what I'm sure is to be a great series. 

Review of Cascade by Lisa Tawn Bergren

Title: Cascade (River of Time #2)
Author: Lisa Tawn Bergren
Published by: David C. Cook
Pages: 295
Source: Bought
Format: ebook
Rating: 3.5 stars

Summary from Goodreads: Gabi knows she’s left her heart in the fourteenth century and she persuades Lia to help her to return, even though they know doing so will risk their very lives. When they arrive, weeks have passed and all of Siena longs to celebrate the heroines who turned the tide in the battle against Florence—while the Florentines will go to great lengths to see them dead.

But Marcello patiently awaits, and Gabi must decide if she’s willing to leave her family behind for good in order to give her heart to him forever.

Who doesn't love time travel, especially when it involves manly knights and epic battles?

Gabi and Lia are at it again.  Once more they return to Siena, but this time they bring along their mother as well.  I loved how their mom fit in so well.  At first she was a little thrown by traveling back in time, she soon fit in seamlessly.  The characters in this series are always a joy to be around.  They are hopeful and daring.  Well most people from the 21st century would complain about hot water and indoor plumbing these ladies not only suffer in silence but also join in the deathly battles.

Florence and Siena are still battling.  The battles sounds dangerous and deadly, but at the same time them seemed more like a story to me instead of actually being in the middle of battle.  For some reason I had a harder time connecting to this book than I did to Waterfall.  There was lots of action and Gabi and Lia were always in the middle of it, but I never really feared something was going to happen.  There was a definitely separation at times in the book where I felt I was reading a great story instead of actually living in it.    

However, there was a new plot point in this novel that I loved.  There is a new character, Lord Greco, completely caught my attention and I want to know more.  There were some definitely twists in this story that keep you on your toes and your nose glued to the pages.  I look forward to seeing where Gabi and Lia's adventures take them next. 

Review of To Kill a Warlock by H.P. Mallory

Title: To Kill a Warlock
Author: H.P. Mallory
Pages: 210
Source: Obtained free from Amazon (July 3, 2012)
Format: ebook
Rating: 3.5 stars

Summary from Goodreads: The murder of a dark arts warlock.A shape-shifting, ravenous creature on the loose. A devilishly handsome stranger sent to investigate. Sometimes working law enforcement for the Netherworld is a real bitch.

Dulcie O’Neil is a fairy. And not the type to frolic in gardens. She’s a Regulator—a law-enforcement agent who monitors the creatures of the Netherworld to keep them from wreaking havoc in the mortal world.

When a warlock is murdered and Dulcie was the last person to see him alive, she must uncover the truth before she’s either deported back to the Netherworld, or she becomes the next victim.

To Kill a Warlock is a hilarious read that is pure enjoyment.

Dulcie is a fun character. She's spunky, quirky and really wants to be a romance writer...oh and she's also a fairy. Dulcie is somehow corralled into working with this gorgeous stranger to catch a murder, and her life gets flipped upside down in the process. While the situation may not be ideal, Dulcie is the type of character to do what is needed of her, even if it means red leather, and black feathers.  I did really liked Dulcie as a character, but I wish she would have had a little more depth.  She was funny, but I felt like by the end of the novel I never really got to know her. For me, if I don't feel attached to the main characters I have a hard time connecting with the rest of the book.

H.P. Mallory made sure to not forget any paranormal creature as she was writing To Kill a Warlock. We've got vampires, werewolves, fairies, witches, loki and even a gnome. I loved the interesting mix of paranormal creatures and the plot that intertwined them all was easy to follow and kept you wanting more.  There are some fun scenes where Knight is partially possessed by the creatures blood and he becomes quite the horny teenage boy.  I was literally laughing out loud and could feel Dulcie’s frusteration. 

To Kill a Warlock was a fast read that quite entertaining.  It is one of those reads I would consider "mind candy", but hey who doesn't like a treat every now and then?  If you're looking for a book that's light, fun and easy to get lost To Kill a Warlock is the perfect choice.

Review of Hammered by Kevin Hearne

Title: Hammered (Iron Druid Chronicles #3)
Narrator: Luke Daniels
Author: Kevin Hearne
Published by: Brilliance Audio
Length: 10 hours
Source: Library
Format: Audio
Rating: 3.5 stars

Summary from Goodreads: Thor, the Norse god of thunder, is worse than a blowhard and a bully — he’s ruined countless lives and killed scores of innocents. After centuries, Viking vampire Leif Helgarson is ready to get his vengeance, and he’s asked his friend Atticus O’Sullivan, the last of the Druids, to help take down this Norse nightmare. One survival strategy has worked for Atticus for more than two thousand years: stay away from the guy with the lightning bolts. But things are heating up in Atticus’s home base of Tempe, Arizona. There’s a vampire turf war brewing, and Russian demon hunters who call themselves the Hammers of God are running rampant. Despite multiple warnings and portents of dire consequences, Atticus and Leif journey to the Norse plane of Asgard, where they team up with a werewolf, a sorcerer, and an army of frost giants for an epic showdown against vicious Valkyries, angry gods, and the hammer - wielding Thunder Thug himself.

There is never a dull moment in an Iron Druid Chronicles novel.  They are packed with action, adventure and tons of mythology.

Atticus is back and this time it's his mission to kill Thor.  I'm not quite sure why Atticus promised Leif he would do this.  It's a dangerous mission and while Thor is a complete number one jerk, Atticus has no personal issues with him.  As we got to know each of Atticus's companions and their reasons for wanting to kill Thor, I was right along with them.  It wasn't enough that I wanted his head on a silver platter, I wanted his death to hurt.  He was a horrible man and I'm happy that this unlikely, but lovable crew came together to plot his demise. 

While this book had tons of action and fighting it was lacking some of the light-heartedness of the other novels.  No matter how dire things got, there was usually some comic relief, but not so much in Hammered.  I missed Oberon, the widow, and some of the other characters who kept things fun and lively. 

The narrator, Luke Daniels, did an exceptional job as always.  I seriously could listen to this guy read books to me all day long.  He does a wide range of voices for each character and puts so much expression into his tones that it makes it quite enjoyable to listen to.  If you are new to audio books or just looking for a great narrator try Luke Daniels.  You won't be sorry.

While this wasn't my favorite book in the series, it was still a great read and I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series. 

Review of Fairy Metal Thunder by J.L. Bryan

Title: Fairy Metal Thunder
Author: J.L. Bryan
Published by: JLBryanbooks.com
Pages: 196
Source: Obtained Free from Amazon on (6/30/2012)
Format: ebook
Rating: 3.5 stars

Summary from Goodreads: Jason plays guitar in a teenage garage band called the Assorted Zebras, but they have no fans, no gigs, and they're going nowhere. Even worse, Jason has a crush on their lead singer, but she doesn't seem interested in him at all.

Then Jason steals instruments from the fairy world. Soon the band is enchanting crowds, and Jason is a step closer to the girl of his dreams, but the new gear is brimming with dangerous and destructive magic they can't control.

Their shortcut to success has cost a troupe of innocent fairies their livelihood and turned Jason and his band into enemies of the powerful Queen Mab, who sends supernatural bounty hunters to track them down, including one of the most dangerous horned creatures in Faerie...a small unicorn named Buttercake.

Fairy Metal Thunder is a fun, quirky read with a storyline that will have you quickly flipping through the pages. 

This is my second J.L. Bryan novel and in both novels he has the most unique elements in his stories.  In Fairy Metal Thunder there are some rockin' musical fairy instruments that are out of this world.  They change everything for the lives of Jason and his band members.  I love that this story centers around the power of these instruments and how they are used.  I have never encountered anything like this, so the idea was fresh and captivating. 

As for Jason he seemed like a genuinely good guy.  Of course he is a teenager and a bit of a rebel at times but the way he cares for is his younger sister is endearing.  Of all the character, we get to know Jason the best with him being the narrator.  I wish that there would have been a little more character development with the other characters, especially Erin.  Maybe in the next books in the series we will get to learn more about each of these characters and see where Jason and Erin's relationship goes.

The music the Assorted Zebras play is explosive.  I really wish there were some mp3 that went along with the book so we could hear it.  I have a feeling it would be quite a psychedelic experience.  Along with the music an interesting part of the story for me was the setting.  The novel was set in Wisconsin...my home state!  Therefore when they mentioned cities and such I knew exactly what they were talking about.  Always a neat experience.

Whether you are a music fan or just like a great twist to a fairy tale try Fairy Metal Thunder.  I think you'll like it. 

Review of Hexed by Kevin Hearne

Title: Hexed (Iron Druid Chronicles #2)
Author: Kevin Hearne
Narrator: Luke Daniels
Published by: Brilliance Audio
Length: 9 hours
Source: Library
Format: Audio
Rating: 3.5 stars

Summary from Goodreads: Atticus O’Sullivan, last of the Druids, doesn’t care much for witches. Still, he’s about to make nice with the local coven by signing a mutually beneficial nonaggression treaty when suddenly the witch population in modern-day Tempe, Arizona, quadruples overnight. And the new girls are not just bad, they’re badasses with a dark history on the German side of World War II.

With a fallen angel feasting on local high school students, a horde of Bacchants blowing in from Vegas with their special brand of deadly decadence, and a dangerously sexy Celtic goddess of fire vying for his attention, Atticus is having trouble scheduling the witch hunt. But aided by his magical sword, his neighbor’s rocket-propelled grenade launcher, and his vampire attorney, Atticus is ready to sweep the town and show the witchy women they picked the wrong Druid to hex.

Atticus and friends are back in another action packed, sword yielding, enemy killing, installment of the Iron Druid Chronicles. 

Atticus's life never slows down, especially now that he's killed Aenghus Og.  He's got friends calling in favors, fallen Angels to kill and a new coven of witches trying to kill him.  To me Atticus seemed a bit younger in this book than in Hounded.  In Hounded, Atticus really thought carefully about every situation and showed the wisdom and restraint of his 21 centuries old self.  However, in Hexed he was a bit more rash and compulsive.  Shouldn't he have grown out of that stage by now.  I felt he should have been a bit more patient.  The book talks about how he was in hiding for so long, and that it took him centuries to connect his charm necklace to his aura and so on, that I think he could have taken a couple of minutes to step back and assess some of the situations.  Especially when it came to those new witches.

The new characters introduced in Hexed are out for blood and a piece of the old druid himself.  Atticus is constantly in battle almost to the point it seems routine.  This is something that didn't sit well with me.  I felt that Atticus went from one death-defying battle to the next without much in between.  I would have liked to see more of a connection between Atticus and his friends, especially Oberon.  Though of the battle scenes they were brutal to all parties involved.  Good thing Atticus can heal himself with the power of the earth or he would have been hospital bound a long time ago.

Luke Daniels did an amazing job reading each of the character in Hexed.   I especially love his voice for Oberon and it is exactly like I imaged a dog's voice would be.  I enjoy that he uses distinct tones for each character as it is easier to keep track of everyone.  He's easy to follow and keeps the story interesting. 

I  enjoyed the audio version of the Hexed and I can't wait to listen to Hammered.   

Review of Legend by Marie Lu

Title: Legend
Author: Marie Lu
Narrators: Mariel Stern and Steven Kaplan
Published by: Penguin Audio
Length: 7 CDs, 9 hours
Source: Library
Format: Audio
Rating: 3.5 stars

Summary from Goodreads:  What was once the western United States is now home to the Republic, a nation perpetually at war with its neighbors. Born into an elite family in one of the Republic's wealthiest districts, fifteen-year-old June is a prodigy being groomed for success in the Republic's highest military circles. Born into the slums, fifteen-year-old Day is the country's most wanted criminal. But his motives may not be as malicious as they seem.

From very different worlds, June and Day have no reason to cross paths--until the day June's brother, Metias, is murdered and Day becomes the prime suspect. Caught in the ultimate game of cat and mouse, Day is in a race for his family's survival, while June seeks to avenge Metias's death. But in a shocking turn of events, the two uncover the truth of what has really brought them together, and the sinister lengths their country will go to keep its secrets.

I love stories that are told in alternating points of view.  There is something about knowing both sides of the story that I find extremely intriguing and it gives me a better understanding of who the characters are.

Marie Lu wrote her characters with much depth and personality. Day and June are two characters that will instantly make an impression on you.  Even though Day is a criminal, the first time you meet him you'll know that he isn't a bad person.  He is strong and self-sufficient.  The government may have cast him aside, but he's not working to take them down, instead he's just trying to keep his family safe.  June on the other hand, starts off as a government prodigy who believes in organization and structure.  She's smart, lethal and is out to hunt down Day.  Girl out to kill cute boy...always a favorite storyline in my book.

Dystopian novels are known for their world building.  Legend was no different.  There is a central government who controls it all and there are rebels trying to overthrow them.  While I did enjoy this part of the novel I didn't feel like there was anything that set this world apart from the other Dystopian novels.  I would have liked to see a more unique world. 

The narrators did a wonderful job.  I loved Stephan Kaplan interpretation of Day.  His voice was soothing and smooth.  I think he made Day's personality stand out and gave us the impression he wasn't one of the "bad guys." At first I wasn't sure about Mariel Stearn who read the part of June, but after a while her voice grew on me.  Her pitch seemed kind of young for how advanced June was suppose to be, but then it helped to remind me that June herself was fairly young. 

If you are a fan of Dystopian I would try Legend; especially because the alternating POVs adds so much to the story. 

Review of Bitten by Kelley Armstrong

Title: Bitten (Women of the Otherworld #1)
Author: Kelley Armstrong
Narrator: Aasne Vigesaa
Published by: Brilliance Corporation
Length: 11 Compact Discs / 13 hours
Source: Library
Format: Audio
Rating: 3.5 stars

Summary from Goodreads: Young, beautiful, and successful, Elena Michaels seems to have it all. Her happy, organized life follows a predictable pattern: filing stories for her job as a journalist, working out at the gym, living with her architect boyfriend, and lunching with her girlfriends from the office. And once a week, in the dead of night, she streaks through a downtown ravine, naked and furred, tearing at the throats of her animal prey.

Elena Michaels is a werewolf.

The man who made her one has been left behind, but his dark legacy has not. And though Elena struggles to maintain the normal life she's worked so hard to create, she cannot resist the call of the elite pack of werewolves from her past. Her feral instincts will lead her back to them and into a desperate war for survival that will test her own understanding of who, and what, she is.

I must admit that it took my a while to get into this book.  I think part of the reason was Elena.  While I admired her strength and spunk, I wasn't a huge fan of her need to pretend to be someone she's not.  I felt like she was putting on an act for her boyfriend and his family.  She was portraying herself as a person she knew he wanted her to be.  If you can't be yourself in a relationship than I don't think that is a real relationship.  She was so much more fun when she was smart-mouthed and feisty with her pack.   

The pack itself was quite interesting.  I really enjoyed hearing about each member and their relationship to Elena.  I fell for Clay hard, but then after hearing what he did, I held a little grudge.  If I was Elena I don't know if this would be something I could get over.  I don't want to give anything away but it was really interesting pulling pieces of Elena's history out and seeing how I would have reacted or handled the situation differently.  She led a difficult life and that definitely contributed to her choices. 

The plot kind of confused me a little.  I'm guessing this has to do with listening to the audio though.  I liked Aasne Vigesaa and thought she had a beautiful voice, I just think that I messed up the characters a lot because of how many there were.  I was confused on who was who and what each person wanted.  I don't think this would have happened if I read it, but the audio itself was really well done.  For me, there was just too many people and too much going on for me to keep it straight while listening to the story.

I am intrigued by this series now and I can't wait to find out what happens next and who I will meet. 

Review of Spell Bound by Rachel Hawkins

Title: Spell Bound (Hex Hall #3)
Author: Rachel Hawkins
Published by: Hyperion Book CH         
Pages: 327
Source: Library
Format: Hardcover
Rating: 3.5 stars

Summary from Goodreads: Just as Sophie Mercer has come to accept her extraordinary magical powers as a demon, the Prodigium Council strips them away. Now Sophie is defenseless, alone, and at the mercy of her sworn enemies—the Brannicks, a family of warrior women who hunt down the Prodigium. Or at least that’s what Sophie thinks, until she makes a surprising discovery. The Brannicks know an epic war is coming, and they believe Sophie is the only one powerful enough to stop the world from ending. But without her magic, Sophie isn’t as confident.

Sophie’s bound for one hell of a ride—can she get her powers back before it’s too late?

Witches, Demons, and Vampires...oh my. That's what you get in a Rachel Hawkins’ novel along with a myriad of other supernatural creatures. One of the things I liked most about this book is that it doesn't involve only one type of supernatural creature. It involves them all.  What’s better than a war involving witches, demons, shapeshifters, fae, etc. all battling it out?

Spell Bound started off right where Demonglass, the second book in the series, ended. In fact, if you don't remember much from Demonglass I suggest you reread it because I was confused for the first couple of pages until I started to remember everything. Sophie is a main character you won’t soon forget.  The best thing about Sophie is that it doesn't matter what type of situation she is in she always has snark and will have you laughing. She is a very relatable character in that even when she is thrust into battle she is still scared and crying. Often times we have these stone faced, unemotional lead characters that are fierce and lethal. Sophie is definitely lethal but she also has a hard time grasping death and difficult situations.  I love that about Sophie.

This book has lots of action and the plot changes and twists a little more with each passing page. You never quite knew what was going to happen next and therefore it was a very gripping read. I enjoyed this novel even though I had a little problem with the ending. I know it had to end and I understand we can't always have these picture perfect endings, but I feel like one character in general definitely got the short straw. I don't want to give anything away and so I won't say anything more than I wouldn't have chosen the book to end the way it did.

After reading Spell Bound I feel a bit sad that the trilogy came to an end, but also satisfied.   

Review of The Boy on Cinnamon Street by Phoebe Stone

Title: The Boy on Cinnamon Street
Author: Phoebe Stone
Published by: Scholastic Inc.         
Pages: 240
Source: Library
Format: Hardcover
Rating: 3.5 stars

Summary from Goodreads: A story about a wounded girl and the boy who won't give up on her.

7th grader Louise should be the captain of her school's gymnastics team - but she isn't. She's fun and cute and should have lots of friends - but she doesn't. And there's a dreamy boy who has a crush on her - but somehow they never connect. Louise has everything going for her - so what is it that's holding her back?

The Boy on Cinnamon Street was a cute book that had a bit more depth than I originally thought. 

I went into this book thinking it was going to be a fun light read, and while it was fun the main character was also dealing with some serious events that had recently happened in her life.  You don't actually find out what those events were until the end of the book, but you can tell that something bad had definitely happened.  Thougout the novel there are clues as to what might have happened and you can tell that it really affected Louise and she is still struggling with it.  This part was a bit confusing for me as we didn't know what actually happened till near the end. 

Louise was a fun character despite her situation.  She was a little lost and sometimes just odd, but still very likable.  One day she finds a love note and her best friend and her think it's from the pizza delivery boy.  They spend the whole novel kind of stalking him and it is quite comical.  Of course nothing ever turns out like they expected and Louise gets a surprise all of her own. 

I really enjoyed the side characters in this story as well.  They were fun and funky, especially Louise's grandparents.  They added a new dimension to the story and helped us understand Louise a bit more.  I think my favorite character in the whole story was Louise's friend, Henderson.  He was so adorkable that you couldn't help but love him.  I'm kind of jealous of Louise and want to steal Henderson to be my new guy friend.  I need a super nice, sort of geeky, science fiction writer, loyal friend in my life....everyone does right?

While I did enjoy the story, I wasn't crazy about not knowing what was going on until the end.  That is a personal preference of mine as I usually like to not be confused when I read a book.  But if you are ok with a little mystery than I think you'll enjoy this one. 

Review of Cinder by Marissa Meyer

Title: Cinder
Author: Marissa Meyer
Narrator: Rebecca Soler
Published by: Macmillan Audio
Length: 8 sound discs (540 min.)
Source: Libaray
Format: Audiobook
Rating: 3.5 stars

Summary from Goodreads: Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl. . . .

Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future.

Revamped fairy tales?  Whether you love them or hate them, they seem to be the big trend right now in YA literature and Marissa Meyer joins the gang with Cinder.

While I'm not a huge fan of science fiction, I do enjoy it every once it a while.  While Cinder was a cyborg, the story went beyond who she was mechanically.  It was a story of not fitting in or being accepted by your family.  It's a story of finding someone who likes you and understands you, but at the same time may not know the real you.  It's the story of Cinderella with a whole new twist. 

One of the great things about this novel is that Marissa Meyer made all of her characters seem real, whether they were cyborg, android, human or lunar.  Cinder is the type of character that everyone can relate to.  Who hasn't felt a little different or left out at times?  While Cinder doesn't have the perfect life she makes the best out of it and every situation she is put in.  She's got enough spirit to be a feisty at times, but she also knows when to back down.  I really disliked her stepmother/guardian and I think she put Cinder in really difficult situations.  She twisted reality and always blamed Cinder.   

The relationship between Cinder and Prince Kai is innocent and fun.  Of course he's the almighty prince and he thinks Cinder is a mechanic, but they seemed to click.  He begins to fall for her without knowing who she really is or her history.  Throw into the mix a spiteful stepmother/guardian, a jealous lunar queen, a deadly disease, and a missing lunar princess and the plot gets more exciting by the minute. 

While I did enjoy the story I found myself drifting off at times.  I'm not sure if that had to do with the story or that I just wasn't engaged enough in the audio.  Rebecca Soler did a good job as a narrator so I'm guessing that the science-fiction parts of the story are what lost my interest.  While this is a retelling of a classic fairy tale and I knew the general plot, I often felt it was predictable.  I wanted a couple of more twists and surprises.   

Cinder is a enjoyable read and as with all fairy tale retellings, it was fun to see how the author changed this well known classic tale. 

Review of Hallowed by Cynthia Hand

Title: Hallowed (Unearthly #2)
Author: Cynthia Hand
Published by: HarperCollins Publishers
Pages: 242
Source: Publisher/NetGalley
Format: ebook
Rating: ★★★and 1/2

Summary from Goodreads: For months part-angel Clara Gardner trained to face the raging forest fire from her visions and rescue the alluring and mysterious Christian Prescott from the blaze. But nothing could prepare her for the fateful decisions she would be forced to make that day, or the startling revelation that her purpose—the task she was put on earth to accomplish—is not as straightforward as she thought.

Now, torn between her increasingly complicated feelings for Christian and her love for her boyfriend, Tucker, Clara struggles to make sense of what she was supposed to do the day of the fire. And, as she is drawn further into the world of part angels and the growing conflict between White Wings and Black Wings, Clara learns of the terrifying new reality that she must face: Someone close to her will die in a matter of months. With her future uncertain, the only thing Clara knows for sure is that the fire was just the beginning.

Love triangle are a very popular trend in young adult fiction right now.  Do you love them or do you hate them?  If done right, where it is not obvious the main character should be with one person versus the other or when it feel natural then I love them.  Cynthia Hand did a wonderful job balancing Clara's feeling between the two main guys in her life.  She actually even has a bit in Hallowed where Clara explains that she has always despised love triangles and didn't see how people got themselves in those situations.  I loved the fact that Cynthia Hand sort of poked fun at the whole love triangle bit, when at the same time she was writing one of the more riveting triangles out there.  Major props to her!

Throughout much of the novel Clara was struggling with the issues in her life.  She felt really lost to me in this novel.  I know she doesn't understand much about who she is and what her purpose is, but instead of dwelling on it, I wish she would have been a bit stronger of a person and realized just to take things as they come.  She definitely needed a confidence boaster and I don't think she got that until the end.  She was so focused on her future that she not only neglected her family, but also her friends.

In Unearthly I was a huge Tucker fan.  He's rugged, cute and impossibly sweet...how could you resist that combination?  If I could clone him and keep him for myself I definitely would.  In this novel we get a lot of Tucker, but not as his usual fun loving self.  He's a bit more intense and serious which matches the mood of this novel.  I'm not sure I like Tucker this way.  I want the carefree cowboy fantasy to live on.  Christian on the other hand really grew for me as a character.  I learned more about him and came to respect his brooding silence.

I'm glad that along with Clara we finally learned some more information about Angel-bloods.  There were so many questions that were answered, but also many that were not.  Hopefully in the next book everything will be answered.