Review: Lark

Lark - Erica Cope
Genre - Young Adult Fantasy
Released - February 5, 2013

The last time she checked, Mia Carrington was pretty sure that she was a normal girl with a completely ordinary life.

She goes to high school, has a crush on the gorgeous and mysterious new boy in town, and has strange dreams that she can’t help but feel are real somehow.

Okay, so maybe she’s not all that normal after all.

A freak accident changes Mia’s life forever when she is thrown into another world and left to deal with the revelation that she is the daughter of the King of the Light Elves. Throw in an ominous prophecy predicting that Mia will break a curse unleashing the Dark Elves on the world and well, things don’t look too good.

There is danger lurking at every corner in this strange world and Mia isn’t sure who she can trust…
The only thing she is certain of is that the Dark Elves know about her, and they will stop at nothing until they have her.


*WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD*

I was lucky enough to be one of the first people to read this book and since that moment I fell in love with the story, the characters, and the fantastical world of Alfheimr.

Mia is an interesting protagonist and you get swept up in her journey as she discovers her identity as a Half-Blood and daughter of the King of the Light Elves. I especially enjoyed the history of the Light Elves and the Dark Elves. The prophecy was well-written and the plot was strong and engaging. The world-building was done well, the pacing was great and there was a lot of action that left me turning the pages.

Oh, and I have a new book boyfriend! Jacoby, oh Jacoby! Swoon! The banter between Jacoby and Mia was so witty and left me with this goofy smile on my face. There is also another love interest in the form of Greyson, and believe me when I say that he is just as swoon-worthy as Jacoby is.

Erica Cope’s debut novel is well-written, fresh, and entertaining. I was left feeling satisfied at the end, but also eager for the sequel. All in all, a fantastic debut! I highly recommend it!

Recommended: If you enjoyed Julie Kagawa's Iron Fey series.

Review: The Owens Legacy: Revelations

The Owens Legacy: Revelations by Michelle Flick
Genre: Young Adult Paranormal
Published: February, 2012

When telepathic twins, Piper and Ryder Owens are dumped at Evermore Academy, they thought that the only thing they’d have to worry about was Piper staying out of trouble long enough for them to graduate. They will not, for any reason, be separated. But someone at Evermore knows about their secret and wants to separate them permanently.

But then Piper’s Achilles Heel shows up: a good looking guy. Victor Mira is everything Piper is supposed to avoid, yet she feels drawn to him in a way she never imagined. But Victor is hiding a dangerous secret too, and what he knows could be the one thing that could divide the sisters. Forever.

Michelle Flick's debut novel is a fresh take on the vampire lore that we have come to know. At a time, when the market is flooded with numerous vampire novels, I was glad to find that The Owens Legacy: Revelations has its own mythology.

What I really loved about this novel was the two main characters, Piper and Ryder. You can't deny how much the two of them grow on you, and I found myself 100% invested in what was happening to them.

And that ending! Oh my gosh! I'm still recovering from it! The twists that Michelle had skillfully woven into the story had me reeling. I can't wait to find out what comes next in this brilliant new series.

View all my reviews

Review: Onyx

Onyx - Jennifer Armentrout
Genre - Young Adult Paranormal
Released - August 2012

Being connected to Daemon Black sucks…

Thanks to his alien mojo, Daemon’s determined to prove what he feels for me is more than a product of our bizarro connection. So I’ve sworn him off, even though he’s running more hot than cold these days. But we’ve got bigger problems.

Something worse than the Arum has come to town…

The Department of Defense are here. If they ever find out what Daemon can do and that we're linked, I’m a goner. So is he. And there's this new boy in school who’s got a secret of his own. He knows what’s happened to me and he can help, but to do so, I have to lie to Daemon and stay away from him. Like that's possible. Against all common sense, I'm falling for Daemon. Hard.

But then everything changes…

I’ve seen someone who shouldn’t be alive. And I have to tell Daemon, even though I know he’s never going to stop searching until he gets the truth. What happened to his brother? Who betrayed him? And what does the DOD want from them—from me?

No one is who they seem. And not everyone will survive the lies…

Onyx is the sequel to Jennifer's bestselling novel, Obsidian, and I absolutely loved it! Jennifer has this way of making you really root for her characters and become invested in what's happening to them. Also, there is this amazing character in the book called Daemon Black--sexy, arrogant, brooding and sexy--who you need to acquaint yourself with immediately. Jennifer has this way of writing swoon-worthy male characters that stay with you and Daemon is definitely is someone you don't forget.

Moving on, we see Katy really evolve in this book. Sure, she has her moments where she makes stupid decisions, but she really does stand up for herself and doesn't let anyone boss her around. The secondary characters really took a backseat to the Katy and Daemon romance. I really wanted to see more of Dee. Katy spent the majority of the book avoiding her which was the reason Dee was barely in it. Still, I would've loved to see more of her!

The plot was fast-paced, full of action and had an amazing cliffhanger. I was so hurt/upset/shocked by the end of it and that cliffhanger just killed me. I really, really want to know what happens next. I cannot wait for the next book in this amazing series! Be sure to pick this one up!

Review: While it Lasts

While it Lasts (Summer Breeze #3) - Abbi Glines

Genre - New Adult/Adult Contemporary Romance

Released - July 28, 2012

Maybe driving home after a few (or more) shots of tequila had been a bad idea, but hell, he did it all the time. The cops had to have been freaking bored to have pulled him over. He wasn’t even swerving! That’s Cage York’s story and he’s sticking to it.

Unfortunately, his baseball coach isn’t buying it. Cage has a free ride to the local junior college for baseball -- or he did, until he’d gotten a DUI. Now, Cage has to decide: does he drop out and give up his dream of getting noticed by a college in the SEC, and possibly making it into the Major Leagues -- or does he give in to his coach’s demands and spend his summer baling hay?

Eva Brooks planned out her life step by step when she was eight years old. Not once over the years had she lost sight of her goals. Josh Beasley, her next door neighbor, had been the center of those goals. He’d been her first boyfriend at seven, her first kiss at ten, her first date at fifteen, and her first tragedy at eighteen. The moment she’d received the phone call from Josh’s mother saying he’d been killed along with four other soldiers just north of Baghdad, Eva’s carefully planned life imploded in the worst way possible.

Cage isn’t real happy with his closet-sized bedroom in the back of a foul smelling barn, or his daily interactions with cows, but he knows that if he doesn’t make his coach happy then he can kiss his scholarship goodbye. Only a sick and twisted man would decide his punishment was to be working on a farm all summer. No hot babes in bikinis waiting to meet a Southern boy to make her vacation complete. Just him and the damned cows.

Oh -- and an uptight, snarky brunette with the biggest blue eyes he’s ever seen. But she doesn’t count, because as hard as he’s tried to charm her out of her panties - he’s pretty sure she’d rather see him hung from the rafters than let him get a taste of her pretty little lips.

Here I was, thinking that Abbi Glines couldn't give me another male character who I would swoon over as much as I did for Beau Vincent from The Vincent Boys. Boy, was I wrong. I swooned, I fell in love, I laughed and I even cried. While it Lasts is an amazing, fabulous novel, so I don’t know why you’re still here reading this review…go and buy it now!

For those of you who do want to know a bit more about this novel, I will say two words only: Cage York. Those are the only two words you will need to know going into this novel and the only two words you will remember having finished it.

First, let me just say that While it Lasts is part of a series (Book 3, in fact), but you don’t need to read the previous books to be able to understand this one. I didn’t and I loved it just the same, although I am going back to read the other two now.

Eva Brooks is another great character, courtesy of Abbi Glines. She has lost her fiancé and wants to heal and move on with her life, but she just can’t let go. You really feel for her and you want the best for Eva so, when Cage York enters the scene he might not be the best choice to help her along. He’s arrogant, cocky, a player but he’s pretty darn sexy too and ladies, you are going to fall head over heels for Cage.

The book is about Eva and Cage’s hot and cold relationship (aren’t they the best kind to read about?) and the struggles they face as they change each other into better people. Eva learns to move on from her past and Cage learns that he is capable of being with one woman for the rest of his life.

There are some pretty steamy scenes in this book, so I would recommend it for Adults only. I really enjoyed this book, and now I’m going to go and devour the remainder of Abbi Glines’ books! I recommend this if you enjoy steamy, summer romances and Adult Contemporary Romance novels.

Review: The Vincent Boys

The Vincent Boys - Abbi Glines
Genre - Young Adult Contemporary
Released - October 12, 2011

Being the good girl isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Ashton Gray has grown weary of playing the part to please her parents, and to be worthy of the town’s prince charming, Sawyer Vincent. Maybe That’s why she’s found herself spending time with Sawyer’s cousin, Beau, while he’s away for the summer camping with his family. 


Beau is nothing like her perfect boyfriend. He’s the sexiest guy she’s ever seen, dangerous in ways she’s only day dreamed about, and the one guy she should stay away from. Beau never envied Sawyer his loving parents, his big nice home, or his position as quarterback. He loves him like a brother. Which is why he's tried everything in his power to keep his distance from Sawyer’s girlfriend. Even if he has loved her since the age of five, Ashton is Sawyer’s girl, so therefore she’s off limits. 


But when Sawyer leaves for the summer, Ashton, the one girl Beau would move Heaven and Earth for, decides she wants to get into trouble. Stabbing the one person who’s always accepted him and stood by him in the back, is the cost of finally holding Ashton Gray in his arms. Is she worth losing his cousin over?.... Hell Yeah.

Sigh. It has been a long time since I've read a book this good. I mean, I cannot tell you how amazing this novel is. What I really loved about this book was (let's be honest) Beau. He is so passionate and rebellious and dreamy. He was the perfect male lead for all of us to swoon over.

The other great thing about The Vincent Boys was how it was written in first person from both Ashton and Beau's perspective. This dual narrative allowed us better insight into the characters heads and we got to see how they both felt about each other and their actions.

Even though Beau and Ashton betray Sawyer, we still loved them and the credit should go to the author for making us invested in what happens to her characters. Despite Ashton cheating on Sawyer, I still wanted her to have her happy ending with Beau and I still cared about what happened to her.

This book has everything. An amazing romance, two hot boys, drama, tears and a satisfying conclusion. You must pick up The Vincent Boys if you're a fan of YA contemporary romance. This one is for you!

Review: Guardian

Guardian - Rachel Morgan
Genre - Young Adult Paranormal
Released - February 29, 2012

1. Receive assignment.
2. Save a life.
3. Sleep.
4. Repeat.

Protecting humans from dangerous magical creatures is all in a day’s work for a faerie training to be a guardian. Seventeen-year-old Violet Fairdale knows this better than anyone—she’s about to become the best guardian the Guild has seen in years. That is, until one of her assignments—a human boy who shouldn’t even be able to see her—follows her into the fae realm. Now she’s broken Guild Law, a crime that could lead to her expulsion.

The last thing Vi wants to do is spend any more time with the boy who got her into this mess, but the Guild requires that she return Nate to his home and make him forget everything he’s discovered of the fae realm. Easy, right? But Nate and Vi are about to land themselves in even bigger trouble—and it’ll take all Vi’s training to get them out alive.


I think I have a new favourite series! Before I gush insanely about this book, let me just say that it was too short! I know it was described as a novelette, but I wanted to find out so much more about this amazing world we are introduced to. Then I discovered that the next one comes out in April...I'm happy now!

I loved everything about this book! The protagonist, Violet, is very driven and wants to do well on her assignments. Nate, the human (or is he?), is new to the world of Creepy Hollow so we get to experience the magic of Creepy Hollow as he does. I loved that this time around the girl was saving the guy and doing a good job of it. Each character we meet, even briefly, all left an impression on me.

What really stood out to me the most was the world-building. Considering how short the book was, the world-building was done incredibly well. I want to find out so much more about this amazing world that Rachel Morgan has created. I also enjoyed the humour and Nate's pop culture references that went over Violet's head.

This novelette sets up what is to come. We are left with a mystery about Nate's mother and his connection to Creepy Hollow. There is also something very special about Violet and I can't wait to find out more about her and her unique ability. There was a lot of action packed into it and I loved every second of it! The premise of this series is fresh and exciting, and I can't wait to read more!

Recommended: If you like a twist on the faerie myth, then this is for you! Think of the Paranormalcy series by Kiersten White with a kick-ass heroine!

Review: Shadows

Shadows - Jennifer Armentrout

Genre - Young Adult Paranormal (Novella)

Released - February 20, 2012

The last thing Dawson Black expected was Bethany Williams. As a Luxen, an alien life form on Earth, human girls are…well, fun. But since the Luxen have to keep their true identities a secret, falling for one would be insane. Dangerous. Tempting. Undeniable.

Bethany can’t deny the immediate connection between her and Dawson. And even though boys aren’t a complication she wants, she can’t stay away from him. Still, whenever they lock eyes, she’s drawn in. Captivated. Lured. Loved.

Dawson is keeping a secret that will change her existence…and put her life in jeopardy. But even he can’t stop risking everything for one human girl. Or from a fate that is as unavoidable as love itself.

I will absolutely devour any book by Jennifer Armentrout, and Shadows was no exception. Shadows is the prequel to Obsidian (the first book in the Lux series). Shadows gives us insight into the relationship between Dawson, Daemon and Dee's brother, and Bethany, a human.

After finishing Obsidian, I really needed something to fill the gap until the second book came out, and Shadows did that for me. I really enjoyed meeting Dawson and Bethany, and I thought they were great characters. Since we are already aware what their fate is to be, it made their moments together a little sad.

We get to learn more about the siblings and their bond. Shadows also gives us insight into the mind of Daemon, as the story is told in third person. We quickly find out how important his family is to him and why he acts the way he does in Obsidian towards Katy. We get a few answers but are left with more questions. Considering Dawson and Bethany's narrative was unclear towards the end, I am hoping that things turn out well for them and that Jennifer Armentrout has a nice twist in store for her fans.

The romance was written well and the characters were engaging. There wasn't a whole lot of plot going on, but that's okay because the story was mainly about Dawson and Bethany's romance (which was very sweet). I think I am more in love with Daemon and I am dying to read the next book in the series! I haven't been this excited about a series in a long time!

Really, I can't say much more about Shadows without ruining Obsidian for you. If you haven't picked up this exciting new series already, what are you waiting for?

Review: Destiny Binds

Destiny Binds - Tammy Blackwell
Genre - Young Adult Paranormal
Released - March 3, 2011

Scout Donovan is a girl who believes in rules, logic, and her lifelong love of Charlie Hagan. Alex Cole believes in destiny, magic, and Scout. When Alex introduces Scout to the world of Shifters, men who change into wolves or coyotes during the full moon and Seers, women who can see your most private thoughts and emotions with a mere touch, the knowledge changes everything and everyone Scout thought she knew.

Before I begin, I have to thank the awesome Erica Cope for recommending this book to me. See, I'm not that big on the whole werewolf/shifter thing so I tend to avoid these books as a rule. If Erica hadn't recommended it to me, I probably would never have read it and I'm so glad I did!

First of all, the main character, Scout, is witty and has great commentary on everything. She's the kind of MC you want in a book. She sounds and acts like a teenager, she has common sense and she asks the right questions. The supporting characters are all great too! There are two love interests, Alex and Charlie, but they're both written so amazingly well that I had a hard time deciding who I loved better. I also loved that Scout actually had two decent choices regarding her love life and that neither of them were bad boys, arrogant or jerks.

Speaking of supporting characters, there was also Jase, Scout's brother, who was just awesome too! It was good to see a sibling relationship that was actually well-developed. Scout's little sister, Angel, was also a delight to read about! Each character had a back story and, sometimes, even an anecdote which made you feel like you already knew them.

There is, of course, the whole werewolf thing going on but it was actually refreshing to read a story about teens who happened to be shifters and not shifters who happened to be teenagers (if you get what I mean). The ending just about killed me and I gasped and did a very cliche, "Noooooo!" I was devastated, I was torn and then I picked myself up and kept going. There is a brilliant cliffhanger at the end, so be warned.

Tammy Blackwell did an amazing job with Destiny Binds. I am so glad I read this and I cannot wait to read more of this exciting new series! This is another self-published gem!

Recommended: If you enjoy the werewolf myth with a bit of shape shifters thrown into the mix and great characters that you won't forget.

Review: Moon Spell

Moon Spell - Samantha Young

Genre - Young Adult Paranormal

Released - October 10, 2011

It’s bad enough feeling different among the human crowd, but feeling different among wolves?

No one said returning to her pack would be easy, especially after ten years without them, but seventeen year old Caia Ribeiro is unprepared for the realities of the transition. Raised in a world where kids aren’t scared by bedtime tales of the bogeyman but by the real life threat of enemy supernaturals who might come creeping into their community to kill them in their sleep, Caia is used to the darkness; she’s used to the mystery and the intrigue of the ancient underworld war she’s bound to by chance of birth. What she’s having trouble with are pack members treating her with wary suspicion, the Elders tucking secrets behind their backs, and her young Alpha, Lucien, distracting her with a dangerous attraction from her decision to uncover the truth.

But as the saying goes ‘the truth will out’ and when it does, Caia will only have so long to prepare herself before the war comes pounding on their door threatening to destroy the safe, secret lives of the wolves… and the girl they protect.

I really enjoyed Moon Spell despite the typical YA Paranormal formula it followed. Girl is new in school. Girl has super powers. Girl can do no wrong. Girl has two boys in love with her. I liked it because, for a self-published book, it was written well and I think the author did a great job of hooking you in and making you want to find out what happens next.

I decided to read this book based on the positive reviews of it. Honestly, I'm not that into werewolves or vampires so the premise has to be really good to convince me to read it. I'm glad I gave it a go! The main character, Caia, was intriguing and I was curious to find out what the mystery surrounding her was all about. Lucian was a good love interest but sometimes he seemed a bit overbearing with the whole "fated" thing.

The story about the Lunarmorte was very interesting and I hope we get to see more of it in the series. The bad guy was bad. Very bad. He made me squirm with his sadistic nature. There was also a fantastic twist about the hunter. I did not see that coming at all! Caia's development is also done well. She starts out as a timid character but grows so much and becomes stronger in the end.

Recommended: If you enjoy the paranormal genre with werewolves, magic and romance then this is for you!

Review: Fury

Fury - Shirley Marr

Genre - Young Adult

Released - May, 2010

Let me tell you my story.
Not just the facts I know you want to hear.
If I’m going to tell you my story,
I’m telling it my way.
Strap yourself in...

Eliza Boans has everything.
A big house.
A great education.
A bright future.
So why is she sitting in a police station confessing to murder?

There were so many great things about this novel that I don't know where to start. First off, let me just say that I haven't read anything quite like this before. There is so much complexity and so many layers to this book and once all those layers fell away, you were left with such an amazing, heart-wrenching conclusion.

Eliza is one of those characters who has flaws. Many, many flaws. The biggest one? She killed a person. But that is not the story. No, the story is about WHY she killed a person. The story is about the mistakes you make as a teenager and how you grow from them. In this instance, Eliza has to grow from a death that she brought about.

The characters are well thought out and I like how they each have their own part to add to the story. The story is told in a combination of flashbacks and the present so you are left turning the pages, eager to find out what comes next. What really holds the story together is Eliza's unique voice. Despite the situation she is in, she has a sense of humour and that's what really stands out.

This book is a little hard to track down as Shirley Marr is an Australian author, so I have included a link to her website where you can purchase Fury.

Recommended: This book is a cross between Gossip Girl and Pretty Little Liars but a lot better!

Review: Crossroads

Crossroads - J.J. Bonds

Genre - Young Adult Paranormal

Released - November 9, 2011

As if high school isn’t miserable enough, try being uprooted and dropped fangs first into an uptight prep school where everyone knows your name and they’ll stop at nothing to uncover the secrets of your past.

When Katia enrolled at Crossroads Academy she knew things weren’t exactly going to be easy. The sole heir to the worlds’ most powerful vampire, her presence was bound to cause a stir. But nothing could have prepared her for this. Whispers follow everywhere she goes. So does trouble.

But Katia will do her time at Crossroads. After all, she’s only enrolled at the prestigious school for pure blood vampires to fulfill a promise to her Great Uncle Aldo. Tucked away in the Green Mountains of Vermont, Katia hopes to shed the demons of her past and focus on her education. Raised blissfully unaware of the entire vamp world, she’s got a lot of catching up to do.

As Katia learns more about this dark society and her own legacy, protecting her past becomes increasingly difficult. Bodies start turning up in nearby Rutland and Katia is sucked into a twisted web of danger and deceit. Haunted by nightmares she can’t explain and a thirst for blood that is never sated, Katia will do whatever it takes to keep her past buried. What choice does she have? Exposure will shake the Elder’s Council to its core and likely result in a death sentence at the hands of the Linkuri.

Nothing at Crossroads is what it seems and Katia’s secrets may be the darkest of them all.

I purchased this book on a whim based on the positive reviews of it. I didn’t have high expectations of it because we see these kinds of novels popping up a lot. Well, let me tell you that I was pleasantly surprised by Crossroads. Actually, I was more than pleasantly surprised. I was absolutely blown away! The premise of this book doesn't sound fresh: Girl has a tragic past, she goes away to an academy, she has private training lessons with a hot guy and she’s a vampire.

Really, though, this novel is a hundred per cent original. The main character, Katia, is antisocial and we find out that this is because she has experienced something in her past which has made her this way. We are left to wonder what it is, as Katia is very good at keeping her secret from everyone, including the reader. Believe me, I formulated numerous theories as to what her secret was. I didn’t even come close to guessing it. That’s how original Crossroads is.

I liked the hint of romance in the novel between Katia and Nik, but was glad that it took a long time for it to build up. I also loved how Katia is independent and not thinking about boys all the time. She is reserved and doesn’t have many friends and I’m glad we got to see a main character who is a social outcast by choice. By all means, she is not weak from it. She is so strong.

This didn’t seem like a self-published or debut novel. It was pretty much error-free and the writing flowed well. The execution was done like a pro and the only thing disappointing about the novel is that the sequel isn’t done yet. I want to read more from the Crossroads world and more from J.J. Bonds.

I paid 99 cents for this book. I would have happily paid a lot more money for it. Add this one to your TBR list, guys! You are going to love it!

Recommended: If you enjoyed the Vampire Academy series or the House of Night series.

Review: White Cat

White Cat - Holly Black
Genre - Young Adult Urban Fantasy

Cassel comes from a family of curse workers -- people who have the power to change your emotions, your memories, your luck, by the slightest touch of their hands. And since curse work is illegal, they're all mobsters, or con artists. Except for Cassel. He hasn't got the magic touch, so he's an outsider, the straight kid in a crooked family. You just have to ignore one small detail -- he killed his best friend, Lila, three years ago.


Ever since, Cassel has carefully built up a facade of normalcy, blending into the crowd. But his facade starts crumbling when he starts sleepwalking, propelled into the night by terrifying dreams about a white cat that wants to tell him something. He's noticing other disturbing things, too, including the strange behavior of his two brothers. They are keeping secrets from him, caught up in a mysterious plot. As Cassel begins to suspect he's part of a huge con game, he also wonders what really happened to Lila. Could she still be alive? To find that out, Cassel will have to out-con the conmen.

There is such a big hype about White Cat that I knew I had to read it to see what all the fuss was about. It tells the story of Cassel who is the black sheep in a family of curse workers. I liked Cassel - at least I think I did. Sometimes I wasn't too sure because Cassel doesn't seem to know who he is. He is complicated, messed-up and there is a lot going on in his life that he is not fully aware of.

The concept of curse workers is so interesting and I love the direction that the story went in. It was so unique and really caught you off guard. You had Cassel's sketchy brothers and you never knew what was going on with them because they were so good at conning. The plot revolving around Lila and the white cat was so amazing! And don't even get me started on the ending. Just when you thought things might look up for Cassel that happens.

Am I glad that I did read it? Of course! White Cat is a book like no other. It's unique, original and creates a world so fantastical that I didn't want to leave. You travel through the book not really sure about what's really going on, but that's not a bad thing. It just lets the revelations at the end hit you all that harder.

All I can say is, I don't want to spoil this book for anyone, so go out and read it! ASAP!

Review: Mortal Obligation

Mortal Obligation - Nichole Chase
Genre - Young Adult Urban Fantasy
Released - July, 2011

Ree will face the darkest form of betrayal before the year is out.


Seventeen year old Ree McKenna has three goals: get through high school, convince her crush she is more than his best friend's little sister, and save money for college. Fate, though, has other plans for her. After the untimely death of her older brother, Ree is haunted by dreadful nightmares and terrifying visions. To make matters worse, Ree has started to suspect that something dangerous is stalking her from the shadows.


A night full of frightening surprises leaves Ree with unsettling news. Gifted by the Gods with unusual powers, she must devote herself to a battle that could very well lead to not only her death, but the demise of everyone she knows and loves. After all, Ree is the only mortal standing between the Earth and utter darkness.

You know one of those books that you read and then go to bed thinking about it? Well, that's what Mortal Obligation was like for me. I read the first few chapters and put it away and could not stop thinking about it. The reason for this was because Nichole Chase weaved such an exciting plot and wonderful characters together to make one hell of a story.

What I love the most about Mortal Obligation is that it's something completely different. Nichole created her own mythology and brought a brand new twist to, well, everything. You spend a lot of time getting to know the characters and watching them grow. The story is paced well and had a cinematic quality to it because you could easily  visualise every thing that was described.

The main character, Ree, and her friends don't become warriors in a day. They train their butts off. Everything seemed realistic, and don't get me started on the training and fight scenes. Honestly, every bit of description was written extremely well and had this great rhythm to it. I actually had to double check that Nichole was a self-published author because Mortal Obligation was that good. For her debut novel, she did a great job!

The twist at the end caught me completely off guard and I didn't even see it coming. Let's just say, the cemetery on the front cover is a very important part of the story. I really look forward to reading more from Nichole Chase. Pick this one up, guys. You won't be disappointed.

Recommended: If you are looking for something different in the YA genre.

Review: Obsidian

Obsidian - Jennifer Armentrout

Genre - Young Adult Paranormal

Released - December 6, 2011

Starting over sucks.

When we moved to West Virginia right before my senior year, I'd pretty much resigned myself to thick accents, dodgy internet access, and a whole lot of boring...until I spotted my hot neighbor, with his looming height and eerie green eyes. Things were looking up.

And then he opened his mouth.

Daemon is infuriating. Arrogant. Stab-worthy. We do not get along. At all. But when a stranger attacks me and Daemon literally freezes time with a wave of his hand, well, something unexpected happens.

The hot alien living next door marks me.

You heard me. Alien. Turns out Daemon and his sister have a galaxy of enemies wanting to steal their abilities, and Daemon's touch has me lit up like the Vegas Strip. The only way I'm getting out of this alive is by sticking close to Daemon until my alien mojo fades.

If I don't kill him first, that is.

Oh. My. Daemon. Move over Dimitri Belikov, I have a new fictional boyfriend! *giggles like a school girl* Right...I'm supposed to be doing a review here.

Obsidian is a brilliant book. I absolutely loved it. I have never read a book about aliens before so this was something different for me. It was very refreshing to get away from the usual vampire, faerie, angel trend and lose myself in something new. Jennifer has re-booted the alien genre for me. Big time.

If I'm going to be completely honest then I have to admit that not a lot happens in this book. A lot of banter takes place between Katy and Daemon as she discovers his secret. But you know what? I really didn't care. I loved the arguments between the two of them because you know what it was leading up to.

The other issue for me was Katy. She hates Daemon, she doesn't hate Daemon. She couldn't make up her mind about what she really wanted. I don't blame her though. Daemon is pretty hot. The supporting characters were great too. I was curious about Dawson so I'm glad there's going to be a prequel explaining exactly what happened with him.

I really think if you love YA Paranormal and are looking for something refreshing then you should pick up Obsidian. You will not be disappointed. Jennifer Armentrout is definitely one of my favourite Young Adult authors at the moment.

Recommended: If you're looking for aliens with a twist, a hot romance and something different.

Review: Half-Blood & My First Giveaway for 2012!

Half-Blood - Jennifer Armentrout

Genre - Young Adult

Released - October 18, 2011

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.

Let’s address the elephant in the room and get it out of the way. Yes, Half-Blood bears a striking resemblance to Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead. Did I love the book regardless of the similarities? Absolutely!

Alex is a character very much like Rose Hathaway from VA. She runs away from school due to an unexplained threat. She is a Half-Blood and is looked down in a society run by Pure Bloods. There are dark beings called daimons that are similar to Strigoi. She has a forbidden romance with her older mentor, Aiden. There is a potential love triangle with the introduction of Seth.

Now, let me tell you what I loved about this book. About mid-way the resemblance to Vampire Academy disappears. We are dealing with a completely different world and a different mythology. I loved the introduction of the Apollyon and Solaris story. After that, I kind of guessed what Alex’s secret was so I wasn’t too surprised by it. However, I am eager to know what is going to happen to Alex on her eighteenth birthday and what this all means for her.

The twist about Alex’s mother was brilliant! I did not see that coming and I loved the end scene. I liked the back story about Aiden and the chemistry between Alex and Aiden was amazing! Seth was such an interesting character and I can't wait to learn more about him as well as find out what Lucian has in store for Seth and Alex.

All in all, this was a great book and I flew right through it and wanted to read more. Jennifer Armentrout’s writing style was easy to read and flowed well. The action scenes were done nicely and the emotional scenes were touching. I am curious to know what comes next and will definitely be picking up the sequel!

Recommended: If you enjoyed the Vampire Academy series by Richelle Mead and love Greek mythology.

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I had the opportunity to interview the lovely Jennifer Armentrout last May and I was so excited for the release of her books. You can check out the interview here. 

So, I want to give one lucky person the chance to read Half-Blood! I will be sending it through Amazon so you need to have a a Kindle or something that allows you to read Kindle books on.

To enter you must:

- Be a follower of this blog

- Leave a comment with your name and email

The giveaway is open internationally and closes on January 18. I will randomly select a winner out of my ice cream bucket.

Good luck everyone!

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED.

Review: Shadow Heir

Shadow Heir - Richelle Mead
Genre - Adult Urban Fantasy
Released - 27 December, 2011

Shaman-for-hire Eugenie Markham strives to keep the mortal realm safe from trespassing entities. But as the Thorn Land's prophecy-haunted queen, there's no refuge for her or her soon-to-be-born-children when a mysterious blight begins to devastate the Otherworld...


The spell-driven source of the blight isn't the only challenge to Eugenie's instincts. Fairy King Dorian is sacrificing everything to help, but Eugenie can't trust the synergy drawing them back together. The uneasy truce between her and shape shifter ex-lover Kiyo is endangered by secrets he can't--or won't--reveal. And as a formidable force rises to also threaten the human world, Eugenie must use her own cursed fate as a weapon--and risk the ultimate sacrifice...

I am a huge Richelle Mead fan and the Dark Swan series is my favourite Adult series by far. The previous book, Iron Crowned, left me feeling angry at Eugenie but desperate to know what was going to happen in the final installment. I am still reeling from Shadow Heir so there are major spoilers ahead.

The first half of the book was sluggish. It mainly involved Eugenie's pregnancy and hiding from her enemies in the Otherworld, Kiyo and Maiwenn. Nothing really happens and Eugenie sort of drifts through the first few chapters not doing much. I feel like the book should have started with the twins being born or very close to being born. I didn't enjoy the new characters she meets while she is hiding out and it didn't do much to further the story.

The real plot kicks in close to halfway with the winter blight that is destroying the Otherworld and its various kingdoms. Eugenie, her allies and frenemy, Kiyo must travel to the Yew Land to break the spell. I think this plot should have been incorporated much earlier on around Chapter 3, not Chapter 11. It was all very interesting. You get to find out what the deal with Volusian is and I loved his whole back story.

What really ruined the book for me was the end. I completely understand why Eugenie did what she did but I truly believe that she had other options. Better ones. Like maybe not lying to Dorian. I'm pretty sure he deserved to know the truth. It's kind of ironic because in the previous book Eugenie gets angry at Dorian for keeping the true nature of the Iron Crown from her. What she keeps from him is a million times worse than that. I hated her for it because Dorian was so genuine about building their trust back up and Eugenie was so dishonest. In the end she ran straight into his arms and acted like nothing was wrong. Ugh.

The book had its high points, like the twist towards the end regarding Pagiel. That caught me completely off guard and I loved it. Unfortunately, it also had a lot of low points for me and I couldn't help but feel that the series needed one more book to tie everything together a lot better. There needed to be a last stand between Eugenie and Maiwenn, or Dorian needed to take action for what happened to Pagiel. Despite that, I feel that if you have read and loved this series then you should definitely pick up Shadow Heir.

Recommended: If you are a fan of Richelle Mead's novels, or if you enjoy Adult Urban Fantasy.

Review: Her Dark Baron

Her Dark Baron - Nadja Notariani

Genre - Adult Romance

Release Date - 3 December, 2011

Scottish marauders, incensed at England's King Charles I and emboldened after achieving the upper hand in the Bishop's War of 1640, wreak havoc on the inhabitants of Northumberland, England, and Lady Mariel Hayes finds herself at the mercy of the land hungry Baron Harold Flanders after her father is killed in a border raid. Powerless to save herself from being forced to wed the vile Flanders, Mariel prays for divine intervention. But when her salvation comes, it proves more terrifying than comforting as Mariel learns that by order of the crown, she is to wed the dark and mysterious Baron Gervace Daltry, known far and wide as the Hound of Hell.

Mariel seeks to accept this new life with her dark Baron, a man whose secrets haunt her even as his touch inflames her body. But before her mind can reconcile the sinner she knows him to be with the seductive lover she willingly surrenders to, Mariel must confront the fears that whisper to her, as evidence mounts that her life may soon be forfeit, and decide whether to trust the man she begins to love, or betray the man rumored to be the Devil's instrument of destruction.

Her Dark Baron is written beautifully. The words flow well and the descriptions are vivid and transport you immediately to a different time period with ease. The novella has just the right touch of intrigue, mystery and sensuality to it to make it a great romantic read.

I was drawn in from the very first chapter. Mariel, our leading lady, is such a great character and what I loved about her was that she was strong-willed. Yes, she did need saving. Yes, she did what she was ordered too, but there is some part of her that doesn’t conform to the ideas around her. She thinks for herself and it was great to see her interaction with her husband.

So, we come to Gervase. He’s mysterious and dangerous, and I was curious about his character from the beginning. Was he a murderer? What did he want with Mariel? Was he going to hurt her? Nadja Notariani answers all our questions in due time and I was satisfied with what I learned. The steamy scenes are written well but, keep in mind, this is a book for adults not teens. When Mariel and Gervase consummate their marriage, it is well worth the wait.

A mystery kicks in midway and I’d already made my deductions about who was behind it. I ended up being half wrong so that left me feeling surprised. It was a well-incorporated plot twist so I have to give Ms Notariani points for that. The side characters weren't just there for the sake of being there. They each had a purpose and a strong personality, and were memorable in their own way, especially Baron Flanders. I appreciate how difficult this must be considering it is a novella and there is a limit on words.

The only thing I wished was different was that it had been a full length novel instead of a novella. I was so absorbed by this world that I didn't want to leave so soon. I wanted to learn more about Mariel and Gervase’s relationship and would have loved if there was even more tension between them. As a novella, I felt that everything tied in together well with no loose ends.

Recommended: For lovers of Adult Historical Fiction, such as Gabrielle Bisset’s novels.

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Many thanks to Nadja for sending me a copy of Her Dark Baron.

Review: Daughter of Smoke and Bone

Daughter of Smoke and Bone - Laini Taylor
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy


Errand requiring immediate attention. Come. The note was on vellum, pierced by the talon of the almost-crow that delivered it. Karou read the message. 'He never says please,' she sighed, but she gathered up her things. When Brimstone called, she always came.


In general, Karou has managed to keep her two lives in balance. On the one hand, she's a seventeen-year-old art student in Prague; on the other, errand-girl to a monstrous creature who is the closest thing she has to a family. Raised half in our world, half in 'Elsewhere', she has never understood Brimstone's dark work - buying teeth from hunters and murderers - nor how she came into his keeping. She is a secret even to herself, plagued by the sensation that she isn't whole.

Now the doors to Elsewhere are closing, and Karou must choose between the safety of her human life and the dangers of a war-ravaged world that may hold the answers she has always sought.

My Review *Spoilers*

"Once upon a time, an angel and a demon fell in love. It did not end well."

I absolutely loved The Daughter of Smoke and Bone! It’s such an amazing story and Laini Taylor does her best to keep everything from the reader until the very last minute. The story is set in beautiful, beautiful, Prague, where Karou lives. Karou is not your average 17 year old; she has her quirks such as unusual eye tattoos on her palms, blue hair, a narcissistic ex (Stupid ex), an awesome best friend and an odd job where she collects teeth for Brimstone, her otherworldly guardian.

Oh, did I mention that Brimstone is some sort of demon thing called a Chimaera, and his workshop is in a place called Elsewhere which has a door that can open anywhere in the world? Very Howl’s Moving Castle - loved it. There is also another door in Brimstone’s workshop and Karou, with her healthy curiosity, is determined to find out about the secret of the door. For her unusual occupation, Karou gets paid in wishes, each holding a different level of power.

The problem with Karou is that she’s lonely and has this emptiness inside her that can’t be filled. I thought it was pretty deep for a 17 year old, but it all makes sense in the end. There is also this super-hot seraph angel guy, Akiva, who is Karou’s love interest, but there is so much more to it than that. Much, much more. When I found out why the book was called Daughter of Smoke and Bone, it gave me shivers.

What Worked: The fantasy world that Laini Taylor created is amazing, and the bits of jargon that go with it are so interesting, especially with the wishes - I loved that. I loved Karou, just loved her. She’s mysterious, but not in a brooding way. More like, you can’t stop turning the pages to find out more about her way. I loved the way the plot unravels. I loved the flashback from Madrigal’s POV and my last thought, as I shut the book, was how amazing Brimstone was.

What Didn’t Work: Towards the end of the book you start finding out a lot about Akiva and Madrigal. Maybe too much. You’re suddenly thrown into not one, but two completely different worlds, trying to figure out what on Eretz an Evorrain was. Don’t get me wrong, I loved the fantastical worlds, but maybe the sudden rush of information could have been toned down a bit.

Recommended: If you enjoy fantasy novels like Philip Pullman's, His Dark Materials trilogy. It also has a Howl's Moving Castle vibe to it.

Review: Uglies

Uglies - Scott Westerfeld
Genre: Young Adult Dystopian

Tally can't wait to turn sixteen and become Pretty. Sixteen is the magic number that brings a transformation from a repellent Ugly into a stunningly attractive Pretty, and catapults you into a high-tech paradise where your only job is to have a really great time. In just a few weeks, Tally will be there.


But Tally's new friend, Shay, isn't sure she wants to be Pretty. She'd rather risk life on the outside. When Shay runs away, Tally learns about a whole new side of the Pretty world - and it isn't very pretty. The authorities offer Tally the worst choice she can imagine: find her friend and turn her in, or never turn Pretty at all. The choice Tally makes changes her world forever.

My Review *Spoilers*

Uglies is one of the best books I've read in recent times. What immediately grabbed me was the protagonist, Tally Youngblood. The great thing about Tally is that she's not necessarily the heroine that you might expect in a dystopian novel because Tally spends most of the book believing in the procedures put in place by the government. Sure, she's rebellious and breaks the rules, but her ideals follow the government's - she wants nothing more than to turn sixteen and have her operation to become a Pretty.

The real driving force behind the story is the customary best friend, Shay, who is the instigator of a series of events which changes Tally's perception of the operation. When Shay runs away to the Smoke, a group of people living in the wilderness, the government recruits Tally to go after Shay and find the location, and Tally goes because she wants to become Pretty. Quite selfish for a heroine, I would say.

Actually, a lot of things that Tally does are selfish but that's why I love her. Her behaviour is realistic because if you have been taught to live a certain way your entire life, you can't just change yourself because someone says so. Tally only changes when she arrives at the Smoke. There she meets David, whose ugliness she manages to get past, and there is a love triangle which I found refreshing. She begins to see the Smoke differently and has a change of heart, and that's why her transformation is believable.

What Worked: I really enjoyed the way the story unfolded. Tally wasn't the one trying to figure out a mystery, she was the one keeping the secret. I really liked the characters in this book such as Shay and David. who were both very strong and independent. The best part was Tally's realisation that being ugly wasn't as bad as she had always believed.

What Didn't Work: The book was great overall. Towards the end when Tally was trying to rescue her friends, I got a bit muddled with what was going on because there was so much action.

Recommended: If you enjoy YA Dystopians like The Hunger Games or Divergent.

Review: Anna Dressed in Blood & Giveaway

Anna Dressed in Blood - Kendare Blake
Genre - Young Adult Horror/Paranormal

Cas Lowood has inherited an unusual vocation: He kills the dead.

So did his father before him, until his gruesome murder by a ghost he sought to kill. Now, armed with his father's mysterious and deadly athame, Cas travels the country with his kitchen-witch mother and their spirit-sniffing cat. Together they follow legends and local lore, trying to keep up with the murderous dead - keeping pesky things like the future and friends at bay.

When they arrive in a new town and in search of a ghost the locals call Anna Dressed in Blood, Cas doesn't expect anything out of the ordinary: move, hunt, kill. What he finds instead is a girl entangles in curses and rage, a ghost like he's never faced before. She still wears the dress she wore on the day of her brutal murder in 1958: once white, now stained red and dripping blood. Since her death, Anna has killed any and every person who has dared to step into the deserted Victorian she used to call home.

And she, for whatever reason, spares his life.

My Review *Spoilers*

Nowadays, many Young Adult novels are dominated by female voices, so it was refreshing to have a male as the protagonist this time around. Cas Lowood is a 17-year-old ghost hunter who travels around the country banishing ghosts with a magical athame. This is a profession which he inherits from his deceased father, and it leads him to a new town where a ghost, known as Anna Dressed in Blood, has haunted the town for many years.

Enter Anna. Holy smokes, is she fantastic! I loved Cas from the beginning, but Anna just fascinated me. She was so cruel and full of rage and she ripped people apart; it was awesome! I kept wondering what made her that way and I found out, and I wished I hadn’t found out. As vengeful and scary as she is, you can’t help but feel sorry for her. The visual which Kendare Blake puts into your head of Anna in her white, bleeding dress is hard to get rid of.

The other amazing part of this novel is the imagery. For example: “Dark, purplish veins cut through her pale white skin. Her hair is shadow-less black, and it moves through the air as though suspended in water, snaking out behind and drifting like reeds. It’s the only thing about her that looks alive.” You just don’t forget descriptions like that. Kendare Blake’s writing has this way of getting into your head…and, ok, I admit it. I was a little spooked out by this whole novel.

What Worked: Many things. Cas Lowood was a great protagonist. He was strong, confident without being arrogant, and he was humorous at times which really worked amidst the horror. Anna was a great antagonist for the first half of the book, but after that she becomes someone who you pity, very much like Cas begins to. Imagery was great and the spooky bits really did freak you out. Also, the minor characters didn’t have stereotypic roles and actually added to the story, so that was great.

What Didn’t Work: I have very little to say here, but I will mention something about the ending. There seems to be this expectation that YA books need to have a romance in them, which I disagree with. I think ANNA would have been just as enjoyable without romance. Anyway, it does make things interesting for the sequel.

Recommended: If you enjoy the TV show, Supernatural, or even if you’re a Ghostbusters fan.
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This review is part of the New Author Blog Hop and giveaway, so leave a comment here for your chance to win a $25 e-gift card for Barnes & Noble.


Giveaway Requirements:


- This is an international giveaway
- You must be over 13 to enter
- You must be a follower of this blog
- You need to leave a comment with your email on this post or on the Kendare Blake interview


This giveaway is now closed.