Blog Tour Review ~ The Iron Knight by Julie Kagawa

Title: The Iron Knight
Author: Julie Kagawa
Series: The Iron Fey #4

Rating: 4/5

Synopsis:

Ash, former prince of the Winter Court, gave up everything. His title, his home, even his vow of loyalty. All for a girl… and all for nothing.

Unless he can earn a soul.

To cold, emotionless faery prince Ash, love was a weakness for mortals and fools. His own love had died a horrible death, killing any gentler feelings the Winter prince might have had. Or so he thought.

Then Meghan Chase—a half human, half fey slip of a girl— smashed through his barricades, binding him to her irrevocably with his oath to be her knight. And when all of Faery nearly fell to the Iron fey, she severed their bond to save his life. Meghan is now the Iron Queen, ruler of a realm where no Winter or Summer fey can survive.

With the (unwelcome) company of his archrival, Summer Court prankster Puck, and the infuriating cait sith Grimalkin, Ash begins a journey he is bound to see through to its end— a quest to find a way to honor his solemn vow to stand by Meghan’s side.

To survive in the Iron realm, Ash must have a soul and a mortal body. But the tests he must face to earn these things are impossible. At least, no one has ever passed to tell the tale.

And then Ash learns something that changes everything. A truth that turns reality upside down, challenges his darkest beliefs and shows him that, sometimes, it takes more than courage to make the ultimate sacrifice.

Review:

I LOVE The Iron Fey series!  I go all fangirl when I hear news about this series.  I especially love Ash, the brooding former Winter Court prince. TEAM ASH!  All that being said, I was really happy when I was approached about being part of a blog tour for this book.  The conclusion of one of my favorite series.  Now that I've gotten my fangirl moment out of the way now on to the review!

As much as I REALLY wanted to give this book a 5/5 for me the beginning of the book was a little bit slow for my liking.  But once the journey truly begins and Ash, Puck, Grim and the Big Bad Wolf find the seer things really started to pick up and this book had my complete attention.  See Ash made a promise to Meghan that he would not stop until he found a way for him to be with her.  Meghan is now the Queen of the Iron Fey and Iron is BAD for guys like Ash and Puck.  Just to add some "relief" for Ash Puck joins the journey and ok course in addition to making a great team their fighting is always entertaining. One of my favorite passages:

“I’m going to kill you one day,” I told him as we hurried after Grimalkin, back into the swampy marshland. It was not an idle threat.
Puck just laughed. “Yeah. You and everyone else, prince. Join the club.”

Personally, I think that Puck turns the humor up a notch or six in this book.  As much as they fight and shouldn't get along I've always thought that Puck's humor "cancelled out" Ash's dark broodiness.  All of this while still being sad that he lost Meghan to Ash.


Did you know that there is actually an End of the World?!  The seer is going to take this motley crew there and that will be were Ash will take the trials and hopefully earn his mortal soul, which will allow him to live HEA (Happily Ever After) in the Iron Realm with Meghan. A small wrinkle occurs though, Ash has history with the seer and now he has more choices and decisions to make.  After a wild ride down the River of Dreams and a trek through a long lost and forgotten are of fae, our hero Ash arrives at the testing grounds.  Ash must pass three horribly rigorous and gruesome test in order to achieve his mortal soul. The more the tests progress the more you learn about Ash's past and all the horrible mistakes and deeds he's committed.  But Ash remains steadfast, all in the name of love. Overall, I thought this was a great ending to a phenomenal series.  If you haven't checkout this series please do! 

Everneath by Brodi Ashton

Last spring, Nikki Beckett vanished, sucked into an underworld known as the Everneath, where immortals Feed on the emotions of despairing humans. Now she's returned- to her old life, her family, her friends- before being banished back to the underworld... this time forever.

She has six months before the Everneath comes to claim her, six months for good-byes she can't find the words for, six months to find redemption, if it exists.

Nikki longs to spend these months reconnecting with her boyfriend, Jack, the one person she loves more than anything. But there's a problem: Cole, the smoldering immortal who first enticed her to the Everneath, has followed Nikki to the mortal world. And he'll do whatever it takes to bring her back- this time as his queen.

As Nikki's time grows short and her relationships begin slipping from her grasp, she's forced to make the hardest decision of her life: find a way to cheat fate and remain on the Surface with Jack or return to the Everneath and become Cole's...

Review:

Oh my goodness!  I got to read this ARC as part of a tour site and for me I was very sad that I had to send it on to the next person on the list.  I enjoyed this book so very much!  I will definitely be buying a finished copy when they become available.  FOR SURE!

There are so many things questions in this book that it made it a fun read for me.  Is Nikki able to cheat fate?  During the Feed who was the boys face that helped her make the decision to go back to the surface after the Feed?  Are there proper goodbyes?  Are there any goodbyes at all?  For the most part these questions are answered, well partially answered, your just going to have to get a copy of Everneath to find out the answers.

I was really intrigued by Nikki.  She was a mish mash of patience, intelligence, and caring with a healthy dose of dramatic and impulsive.  Nikki ends up in the Everneath by circumstances, ones I'm not going to give away.  Basically, Nikki doesn't want to hurt anymore and Cole comes along and offers her a "chance of a lifetime" kind of deal.  For me Nikki was really easy to connect with.  We've all hurt at some point or another and wished for a way to just make it stop hurting.  I thought the secondary characters were done excellently, even our two love interests.  Which seems to be a reoccurring theme these days in YA but I still liked it a lot.

Overall, I really think this book is the beginning of something really beautiful for this debut author.  If this book isn't already on your wish list, ADD IT IMMEDIATELY!

Mini Book Review ~ Ladies in Waiting by Laura L. Sullivan

Title: Ladies in Waiting
Author: Laura L. Sullivan
Release Date: May 8, 2012
Format: Hardcover, 336 pages
Source: ARC from ATWT

Rating: 2/5

Synopsis:

Eliza dreams of being a playwright for the king’s theater, where she will be admired for her witty turns of phrase rather than her father’s wealth.
 
Beth is beautiful as the day but poor as a church mouse, so she must marry well, despite her love for her childhood sweetheart.
 
Zabby comes to England to further her scientific studies—and ends up saving the life of King Charles II. Soon her friendship with him becomes a dangerous, impossible obsession. Though she knows she should stay away from the young, handsome king, Charles has a new bride, Queen Catherine, and a queen needs ladies in waiting.

And so Zabby, Beth, and Eliza, three Elizabeths from very different walks of life, find themselves at the center of the most scandal-filled court that England has ever seen.

Review:

I really like history and I thought that I would give this book a try.  I unfortunately found out that this book just wasn't the book for me.  I like to feel some sort of connection with the characters in the book and I just didn't connect with the characters in Ladies in Waiting.  I did like that they all got to present their own stories and points of view but there were times I literally thought "I don't care."  Harsh? Maybe, but it is what it is. For me I thought that the story progressed pretty slowly.  This isn't a big "action all over the place" kinda book, this is a book that is about three ladies in waiting and there life inside a most scandalous English court.

It maybe just me, that's happened before, where I seriously dislike a book that it seems so many really enjoyed. But again, just because I didn't care for the book, doesn't mean that you might not really like it.

Book Review ~ Catching Jordan by Miranda Kenneally

Title:  Catching Jordan
Author: Miranda Kenneally
Release Date: December 1, 2011
Format: Paperback, 288 pages
Source:  ARC from ATWT

Rating: 3/5

Synopsis:


What girl doesn't want to be surrounded by gorgeous jocks day in and day out? Jordan Woods isn't just surrounded by hot guys, though-she leads them as the captain and quarterback of her high school football team. They all see her as one of the guys, and that's just fine. As long as she gets her athletic scholarship to a powerhouse university. But now there's a new guy in town who threatens her starting position... suddenly she's hoping he'll see her as more than just a teammate.

Review:

I got the opportunity to be a part of an ARC tour for this book and naturally jumped at the chance.  I LOVE football and I LOVE reading about women who break the "gender barrier" in sports.  Just this morning I read two articles about 2 different female football players (you can read the articles here and here) breaking the "gender barrier." That being said, this review has been tough to write because it seems that "everyone" loves this book and it was barely above "not for me" on my rating scale.

Our main character Jordan is a QB and has high hopes of going to Alabama for college.  That is until Ty transfers into her school and joins the football team and is ALSO a QB from TEXAS.  I thought that all the football talk was authentic and real.  I also really liked how Jordan wasn't "just" a girl on the football team...she was "one of the guys" and a leader.  But there were things about this book that I had issue with.

•  I completely understand Jordan's desire to go to Alabama for college, but I really thought that she was written as a little bit OCD in her preparation for the scouts.
• Every story needs some conflict...it adds substance to the story right?  Well for me anyway there wasn't enough conflict for my liking.
• There were more than a few places where I could guess what was going to happen next, making the plot a bit predictable.
• Then there was the Insta-Love...I'm not a fan of Insta-Love since it happens so much these days in YA.
• Ty, not a fan.  I thought that he was a control freak and was trying to control Jordan.

Overall,  Catching Jordan has it's good moments and it has it's not-so-good moments.  Don't let my mostly negative review color your vision of this book.  Just because I didn't care for doesn't mean that you won't like it.

Review ~ The Scorpio Races by Maggie Steifvater

Title:  The Scorpio Races
Author:  Maggie Stiefvater
Series: N/A
Genre: Young Adult/Paranormal
Format: ARC from ATW Tours
Release Date: October 18, 2011

Rating: DNF

Synopsis:

It happens at the start of every November: the Scorpio Races. Riders attempt to keep hold of their water horses long enough to make it to the finish line. Some riders live. Others die.

At age nineteen, Sean Kendrick is the returning champion. He is a young man of few words, and if he has any fears, he keeps them buried deep, where no one else can see them.

Puck Connolly is different. She never meant to ride in the Scorpio Races. But fate hasn’t given her much of a chance. So she enters the competition — the first girl ever to do so. She is in no way prepared for what is going to happen.


Review:

I've been VERY excited about this book since I heard that it was coming out.  I really enjoyed Shiver and I'm really excited to read the last two books in that series as well.  As much as I really wanted to get into this ARC I was not able to.  In this case it wasn't the story that I had a problem with, the chunk of it that I read I REALLY liked a LOT, it was the layout of the ARC itself that I had a problem with.  I'm hoping that this is changed in the finished copy, because I AM going to go out and by a finished copy.  I WANT to know what happens.

What I noticed first and foremost about Scorpio Races was that it was COMPLETELY different from Maggie's "Wolves of Mercy Falls" series.  The chunk of this book that I did read I thought was unique, different and a breath of fresh air to the Young Adult genre.  I'm all about different and unique these days.

I also noticed, in the ARC anyway, that the story is told from different points of view.  Normally, this isn't an issue for me.  In this case it was a big issue for me.  I felt that the constant changing of POV's was a distraction and ultimately turned me off to the ARC.  I hope that this issue has been dealt with in the finished copies.

Book Review ~ Legend by Marie Lu

Title:  Legend
Author: Marie Lu
Series: Legend #1
Genre: YA/Dystopian
Format:  ARC from ATW Tours
Release Date:  November 29, 2011

Rating: 5/5

Synopsis:

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.

Full of nonstop action, suspense, and romance, this novel is sure to move readers as much as it thrills.


Review:

I really LOVED this book.  I really liked how the book was told from dual points of view, ala Simone Elkeles books.   I really liked the main characters June and Day.  Day is considered a fugitive by the Republic and he lives on the streets with an orphan that he looks after named Tess.  June on the other hand is sort of a child prodigy and is in the process of finding her place in the Republic.  Then her brother is murdered and June goes looking for answers.  All the information that she has leads her right to Day.  And what follows is a roller coaster ride of heartache, action, betrayal, romance and so many twists and turns you won't know up from down....I mean that in a good way of course.

Overall, I was extremely happy with the book.  I most definitely be getting a finished copy and I will for sure be counting down the days until the sequel is released.  Is it time yet!?

Mini Review ~ Dark Eden by Patrick Carman

Title: Dark Eden
Author: Patrick Carman
Series: N/A
Genre: Y/A, Thriller
Format: ARC from AWTW Tours
Release Date: November 1, 2011

Rating: 5/5

Synopsis:





Fifteen-year-old Will Besting is sent by his doctor to Fort Eden, an institution meant to help patients suffering from crippling phobias. Once there, Will and six other teenagers take turns in mysterious fear chambers and confront their worst nightmares—with the help of the group facilitator, Rainsford, an enigmatic guide. When the patients emerge from the chamber, they feel emboldened by the previous night's experiences. But each person soon discovers strange, unexplained aches and pains. . . . What is really happening to the seven teens trapped in this dark Eden?

Patrick Carman's Dark Eden is a provocative exploration of fear, betrayal, memory, and— ultimately—immortality.

Review:

I really enjoyed Dark Eden a lot.  I thought that it was very suspenseful and leaves you guessing right up until the last page.  I found the premise for the book to be very interesting, 7 teenagers who all have phobias.  They are all sent to a rehab center via a suggestion made by their therapist.  Hoping to calm their fears.

I really liked that the story is told from Will's point of view.  Will to me was a very interesting character that I was able to connect to and liked from the very beginning.  For me personally, it was very interesting to watch this story unfold through his eyes.

Overall, I thought that the other characters were pretty well developed.  Though I would have liked to have read a little more about them.  Each phobia is unique and in my opinion well researched.  There were times throughout the book I thought it was moving a little slow, but soon came realize that it was just a build up to major suspense.  This is another one of those books where you have to know what's going to happen next.  It's also pretty fast paced.  I will defiantly be buying a finished copy of this book once they are available!

Mini Review ~ Possession by Elana Johnson

Title:  Possession
Author: Elana Johnson
Series: Possession #1
Genre:  YA/Dystopian
Format:  ARC via AWTW Tours
Release Date:  June 7, 2011

Rating: 5/5

Synopsis:

Vi knows the Rule: Girls don't walk with boys, and they never even think about kissing them. But no one makes Vi want to break the Rules more than Zenn...and since the Thinkers have chosen him as Vi's future match, how much trouble can one kiss cause? The Thinkers may have brainwashed the rest of the population, but Vi is determined to think for herself.

But the Thinkers are unusually persuasive, and they're set on convincing Vi to become one of them...starting by brainwashing Zenn. Vi can't leave Zenn in the Thinkers' hands, but she's wary of joining the rebellion, especially since that means teaming up with Jag. Jag is egotistical, charismatic, and dangerous--everything Zenn's not. Vi can't quite trust Jag and can't quite resist him, but she also can't give up on Zenn.

This is a game of control or be controlled. And Vi has no choice but to play.

Review:

First of all I thought that this book was FAN-FREAKING-TASTIC!  I thought that the book had a very "real" futuristic feel to it.  Everything was well thought out and described to the reader in an excellent fashion.  I really thought that the story flowed and the overall build up was AWESOME and lead to so many different things happening through out.

I really LOVED Vi.  I thought that she was a pretty kick ass heroine.  She's a free thinker in a place where free thinking and free will are a thing of the past. Vi's matched to Zee, who is the "safe" choice, but then she ends up in jail with Jag and that's when things get interesting.  I can say though that the relationship between Vi and Jag drove me up the walls at times. But no relationship is perfect right?

I really loved how this book unfolded.  I had a very hard time putting this book down.  I had to know what was going to happen next.  I became completely engaged in reading this book.  I can hardly wait to read the next book!

Mini Review ~ Blood Wounds by Susan Beth Pfeffer

Title:  Blood Wounds
Author:  Susan Beth Pfeffer
Series: N/A
Genre: YA
Format: ARC from AWTW Tours
Release Date: September 12, 2011

Rating: DNF

Synopsis:



Review:

I had a very hard time getting into this book.  From the synopsis you think your getting a YA "thriller," that is not the case at all.  I felt that I had been duped into the book under false pretenses.  I don't know what it was about the book but I just lost interest in it.  I didn't get very far into the book so I will just touch on the things for the little bit that I did read.

First the positive...I think that the premise and idea for the story are excellent.  I do really enjoy books that deal with "heavy issues" a lot.  I just thought that for the small portion of the book I did read that the execution of  the idea from "notes" to book form left a lot to be desired, again this is just my opinion.

Aside from thinking I'm getting one type of book and getting something completely different.  I overall had a hard time connecting with the book.  Especially the characters. I thought that Willa was a pretty alright character, written in a "real" way.  I felt that the secondary characters were written in a manner that was pretty stereotypical. I know that the author has to build a world for the reader but I thought that the beginning of the book was too much.

Overall, this book was not for me but I've read some pretty good reviews for it elsewhere, so I may just be in the minority about this book.  Don't let my review entirely color your "vision" of this book.
Willa is lucky: She has a loving blended family that gets along. Not all families are so fortunate. But when a bloody crime takes place hundreds of miles away, it has an explosive effect on Willa’s peaceful life. The estranged father she hardly remembers has murdered his new wife and children, and is headed east toward Willa and her mother.

Under police protection, Willa discovers that her mother has harbored secrets that are threatening to boil over. Has everything Willa believed about herself been a lie? As Willa sets out to untangle the mysteries of her past, she keeps her own secret—one that has the potential to tear her family apart.

ARC Review ~ Supernaturally by Kiersten White

Title: Supernaturally
Author: Kiersten White
Series: Paranormalcy #2
Genre: Paranormal YA
Format: ARC from ATW Tours
Release Date: July 26, 2011

Rating: 4/5

Synopsis:



Review:

I read Paranormalcy when it came out and really enjoyed it a lot.  I really connected with Evie and thought that she was a bleeping great heroine!  In this book we get to see a whole different side to Evie.  In Paranormalcy Evie was witty and funny ALL the time, in Supernaturally not so much.  There is much confusion in Evie's life in this book, she's still trying to figure out her place in the world.

One thing that kind of detracted from the book for me was the lack of Lend.  I REALLY enjoyed Lend in Paranormalcy.  He's not your typical love interest and was someone Evie shouldn't have been remotely attracted to, a classic case of opposites attract.  The parts of the book where Lend was around I saw Evie and Lend's relationship grow but I just wish that we got to see more of it through out the book.

A lot of the characters from Paranormalcy are back for Supernaturally too!  Arianna, Raquel, and David just to name three.  Plus, there is the addition of a new character...Jack.  What we lost humor wise through Evie we got back through Jack.  I was laughing out loud a LOT.

I did think that Supernaturally did start off a little bit slow but it didn't take very long for things to pick up the pace.  I thought that there were some questions that went unanswered at certain points in the book.  I'm hoping that these questions get answered in the next book.

Overall, I am really happy that I read Supernaturally.  I'm going to be going out and getting myself a finished copy shortly.  Happy reading everyone!
Evie finally has the normal life she’s always longed for. But she’s shocked to discover that being ordinary can be . . . kind of boring. Just when Evie starts to long for her days at the International Paranormal Containment Agency, she’s given a chance to work for them again. Desperate for a break from all the normalcy, she agrees.
 
But as one disastrous mission leads to another, Evie starts to wonder if she made the right choice. And when Evie’s faerie ex-boyfriend Reth appears with devastating revelations about her past, she discovers that there’s a battle brewing between the faerie courts that could throw the whole supernatural world into chaos. The prize in question? Evie herself.

So much for normal.

Review:

I read Paranormalcy right away when it came out last year and I really loved it a lot.  I thought that Evie was a bleeping awesome heroine in that book!  In Supernaturally, we see a very different side of Evie.  In Paranormalcy Evie was full of humor and the Evie we see in Supernaturally is questioning her place in the world.  I am really watching Evie grow through this series!

One thing that detracted from the book for me was the lack of Lend.  I LOVED Lend in Paranormalcy.  It was a classic case of opposites attract for Evie and Lend.  They should NOT have been attracted to one another at all.  I did like watching Evie and Lend's interactions when Lend did make an appearance, I was just hoping for more.

Many of the characters from Paranormalcy make it back for the second book as well!  Arianna, Raquel and David just to name three are back in Supernaturally.  There is also the addition of Jack in Supernaturally.  What we missed out on humor wise from Evie we got back from Jack.  I laughed out loud a lot through out this book.

I thought that Supernaturally started off a little bit slow but once things started happening the pace picked up REAL fast.  For me there were some questions that went unanswered through the course of reading Supernaturally.  I'm hoping they get answered in the next book.

Overall, I think that this was a really good read.  I still think that I like Paranormalcy just a titch more though.  I'm still going to go out and get a finished copy though.  Happy reading everyone!

Mini Review ~ A Plague Year by Edward Bloor

Title: A Plague Year
Author: Edward Bloor
Series: N/A
Genre: YA
Format: ARC from ATW tours
Release Date: September 13, 2011

Rating: 2/5

Synopsis:

It's 2001 and zombies have taken over Tom's town. Meth zombies. The drug rips through Blackwater, PA, with a ferocity and a velocity that overwhelms everyone.

It starts small, with petty thefts of cleaning supplies and Sudafed from the supermarket where Tom works. But by year's end there will be ruined, hollow people on every street corner. Meth will unmake the lives of friends and teachers and parents. It will fill the prisons, and the morgues.

Tom's always been focused on getting out of his depressing coal mining town, on planning his escape to a college somewhere sunny and far away. But as bits of his childhood erode around him, he finds it's not so easy to let go. With the selfless heroism of the passengers on United Flight 93 that crashed nearby fresh in his mind and in his heart, Tom begins to see some reasons to stay, to see that even lost causes can be worth fighting for.

Review:

I had the opportunity to read this book as part of Princess Bookie's ARC Tours and I thought that the premise was really interesting.  Then the book arrived and I started reading.  It did not take me long to figure out that this book was not for me.  I wasn't really able to connect with the characters and I thought that the dialogue was pretty choppy.  I didn't really get comparing drug addicts to zombies either.  Overall, I think that the author has a very good premise on his hands but in my opinion the execution left a lot to be desired.

ARC Review ~ Fury by Elizabeth Miles

Title: Fury
Author: Elizabeth Miles
Series: The Fury Trilogy
Genre: Paranormal YA
Format: ARC from ATW Tours
Release Date: September 2011

Rating: 3/5

Synopsis:

Sometimes sorry is not enough...

Em loves the winter holidays. And this year, things are really looking up: the guy she's been into for months has finally noticed her. But if she starts something with him, there's no turning back. Because he's going out with her best friend.

On the other side of town, Chase's home life is stressful and his social life's unravelling. But that's nothing compared to what's really haunting him. For Chase has done something cruel -- something the perfect guy he pretends to be would never do. And it's only a matter of time before he's exposed.

Mistakes can be deadly.
And three beautiful, mysterious girls are about to make them pay...


Review:

Fury is a debut novel that is pretty dang electrifying!  It surprised me constantly with very real and authentic characters and plot that has so many twists and turns I felt like I was on a roller coaster.  But there were times I thought that there were too many twists and turns and for me they started to detract from the story.  I thought that the idea and setup for this story was very interesting because of the use of a "plain Jane" setting, Maine, and all of the problems that arise due to the use of karma. 

I really thought that Elizabeth's writing was a bullseye for Fury.  There was more than enough suspense to keep the story moving smoothly, which I really like.  I also thought that the changes between Em and Chase's points of view flowed very smoothly.  There are enough lies, drama and manipulation in the whole book that you get caught in the web and aren't able to get get away.  Another thing that detracted from the book for me was the use of profanity, talk of sexual behavior and use of certain questionable terms, I thought that these things pushed the envelope on the book being slightly more "Adult" than YA.

Overall, I thought that Em and Chase were pretty "normal" characters with "normal" problems and pretty dang likeable.  You see a lot of very noticeable growth in them as the book progresses but I really liked how the growth was not rushed.  They both make mistakes and they both learn from them and grow from them.  Even with their own secrets both Chase and Em are able to have very down-to-earth, normal relationships with their friends.
My overall thoughts on the book are a little mixed.  There were things that I REALLY liked a lot about the book and then there were things that I really DID NOT like about the book.  I'm glad that I read Fury but I'm still on the fence as to wether I will continue on with the trilogy or not.