Fairy Keeper by Amy Bearce

Original Title: Fairy Keeper

Year Published: 2015

Published by: Curiosity Quills Press (an arc was kindly provided via NetGalley)

Number of Pages: 238

First Sentence: "The last drops of fairy nectar clung to the edge of the jar fourteen-year-old Sierra Quinn held, poised aboved the vial containing that day's harvest."

Goodreads Rating: 4/5

Plot:

Forget cute fairies in pretty dresses. In the world of Aluvia, most fairies are more like irritable, moody insects. Almost everyone in the world of Aluvia views the fairy keeper mark as a gift, but not fourteen-year-old Sierra. She hates being a fairy keeper, but the birthmark is right there on the back of her neck. It shows everyone she was born with the natural ability to communicate, attract, and even control the tiny fairies whose nectar is amazingly powerful. Fairy nectar can heal people, but it is also a key ingredient in synthesizing Flight, an illegal elixir that produces dreaminess, apathy and hallucinations. She’s forced to care for a whole hive of the bee-like beasties by her Flight-dealing, dark alchemist father.

Then one day, Sierra discovers the fairies of her hatch are mysteriously dead. The fairy queen is missing. Her father’s Flight operation is halted, and he plans to make up for the lost income by trading her little sister to be an elixir runner for another dark alchemist, a dangerous thug. Desperate to protect her sister, Sierra convinces her father she can retrieve the lost queen and get his operation up and running.

The problem? Sierra’s queen wasn’t the only queen to disappear. They’re all gone, every single one, and getting them back will be deadly dangerous. 

Sierra journeys with her best friend and her worst enemy -- assigned by her father to dog her every step -- to find the missing queens. Along the way, they learn that more than just her sister’s life is at stake if they fail. There are secrets in the Skyclad Mountains where the last wild fairies were seen. The magic Sierra finds there has the power to transform their world, but only if she can first embrace her calling as a fairy keeper.

My thoughts:

I did not expect to like this book as much as I did. Why? Because the first chapter had me feeling a bit meh about the rest of it. But from then on it picked up and I only put the book away to sleep. Fantastic little book, with a good twist on magic worlds.

You really do need to rid yourself of your preconceived ideas of fairies. Bearce has made them very much like wasps, they even have the stingers. But they are still creatures of magic and love, and in the end I actually wanted a fairy of my own. Wish is amazing since I'm deadly allergic to wasps and usually the idea of anything like them give me the creeps. Well played Bearce, well played.

Sierra is an interesting main character. She is flawed, but with a good heart. Her childhood has not been easy, growing up with a horrible father and with a gift that she sees as more of a curse. But when her fairy queen disappears she goes on a dangerous search for her. Although her initial reasons for doing so might not be as selfless and good, they become more and more so as the journey goes on. It was nice to get such a good character development in this book since book like this tend to have very static characters. In fact, several of the minor characters have some kind of development in character, which was really nice to see.

I thought this was just going to be a cute little book about fairies, but it turned into so much more. It is about finding yourself, fighting against those who wish to destroy what's good in the world and the importance of family and friends.

Do I recommend it? 

Yes, I do!

Tied by Laney McMann ( Fire Born #1)

Original Title: Tied

Year Published: 2013

Published by: J. Taylor Publishing (an arc was kindly provided via NetGalley)

Number of Pages: 208

First Sentence: "My window opened easily."

Goodreads Rating: 1/5

Plot:

Normal people don't believe their nightmares stalk them. They don’t fall in love with boys who don’t exist, either.

Seventeen-year-old Layla Labelle, though, is far from normal. Her delusions walk the earth. Her hallucinations hunt her, and her skin heats to a burn every time her anger flares.

Or is that all in her head?

Layla doesn't know what to believe anymore because if none of that’s true, Max MacLarnon must be an illusion, and her heart must still be broken.

No matter how much she wants to believe Max is real, doing so would mean everything else is, too. How, then, is that possible?

The answers lie in an age-old legend the supernatural aren’t prepared to reveal, and with a curse that could tear Layla and Max apart forever—if it doesn’t kill them both first.

In TIED, book one in the Fire Born trilogy, learning the truth will mean fighting an arsenal of demons, and being with Max will put Layla on a path toward her own destruction.

Just how far will Layla go to protect the one she loves?

The answer may never be far enough ... away.

My thoughts:

The basic idea for this book is a good one. However, the execution of said idea is not very good. Why? Well, the entire book was confusing. The location kept shifting and it didn't make any sense. It's like the characters randomly teleported in the middle of a sentence without breaking stride. This made the setting of the book very confusing and quite difficult for me to keep up with what was happening. 

The main character, Layla or "Teine", is super annoying. Instead of coming off as confused by the strange things happening to her, she comes off as really bratty and like a proper drama queen.  To me, none of the characters was likeable and most actually made me feel quite annoyed. 

To be completely honest, this felt more like a disorganised fanfic than a published book. Had the book been better organised then it would have been so much better. As it is right now, I just felt confused and honestly annoyed reading this book. If this book were to be revised and rewritten it would have the potential of being very good, but in it's present state it just isn't worth it. At least not for me. 

Do I recommend it? 

No. It just wasn't a good book, but since I received this as an arc, I felt obliged to finish it. Had it been purchased I wouldn't have bothered finish it. I will definitely not read the rest of the series

The Thirteenth Tower by Sara C. Snider (Tree and Tower #1)

Original Title: The Thirteenth Tower

Year Published: 2014

Published by: Double Beast Publishing (acquired through NetGalley)

Number of Pages: 271

First Sentence: "Emelyn awoke, as always, in darkness."

Goodreads Rating: 3/5

Plot:

In adversity lies strength beyond imagining.

Abandoned as a baby, young Emelyn’s life as a housemaid in the quiet village of Fallow is unremarkable—and empty. That is, until a host of magical creatures arrives and inflicts terrible misdeeds on the townsfolk. Inexplicably immune to their enchantments, Emelyn joins a pair of Magi intent on stopping the cause of the trouble—and who claim to know of her parents, promising Emelyn answers to a lifetime of questions.

But the answers Emelyn seeks prove to be more elusive than she hoped, and the world outside Fallow more perilous than she imagined. Magical creatures roam the land over, attacking yet another town before coming after Emelyn. The key to her survival—and finding her family—lies deep within her, if only she can conquer her doubts and believe she is more powerful than she ever dreamed.

My thoughts:

I liked this book. It takes you on a journey where you, alongside the main character, get to see many new amazing things and get acquainted with many interesting and unique individuals. It is also about learning how there is so much more to the world around us, and that we are capable of amazing feats if we only believe in ourselves.

The main character is a girl named Emelyn. She is a maid and an orphan. After her village falls under a strange spell she follows two magis, wielders of the "art", on a journey after they claim to know who her parents are. Little does she know that they also have a hidden agenda. Emelyn is a sweet girl and easy to like. She works well as the protagonist of this story, but sometimes she seems to be overly meek. Perhaps this is the point, but it did get slightly annoying at times.

My favourite character in the book is a strange creature named Cobbe. She is a Wylkin, a filthy creature, but kind although slightly grumpy. She brightens up many passages of the book that otherwise would be boring. She is the type of friend everyone needs, someone who doesn't coddle you but still does everything they do to help or protect you.

So, why only a rating of 3? Well, there were many times where I had to stop and wonder what the actual plot was. We are on an amazing journey, but it was very easy to forget why. To be completely honest, I didn't see the overall plot of the book until the final three chapters. That's when I had a proper aha-moment and went; "oh, that's why!".

Do I recommend it? 

Sure, since I do believe that this can be turned into a great series. I think that Snider does well with this book, and I think that with a clearer plot in the following books, the other ones will turn out the be epic fantasies.

Awaken by Meg Cabot (Abandon #3)

(Yes, that is my cat. Say hi to Kattla)

Original Title: Awaken

Year Published: 2013

Published by: Macmillan Children's Books

Number of Pages: 348

First Sentence: "In school they told us to follow the rules."

Goodreads Rating: 4/5

Plot:

Seventeen-year-old Pierce Oliviera knew that by accepting the undying love of John Hayden she’d be forced to live forever in the one place she’s always dreaded most: the Underworld. The sacrifice seemed worth it, but now her happiness and safety in the realm are threatened. The Furies have discovered that John has broken one of their strictest rules and revived a dead soul. If the balance of life and death isn’t restored, both the Underworld and Pierce’s home on Earth will be wiped out by the Furies’ wrath. Pierce has already cheated death once . . . can she do it again?

My thoughts:

This is the final book of the Abandon trilogy. It was a good ending to the trilogy, but it also made me want more books with these characters. It picks up right after book number 2, which left us in the Underworld facing chaos. There is a really unexpected and dramatic start to this book which I can't go into detail of since it would only mean spoilers for you. In fact, there isn't really possible to do an in-depth review of the book without spoiling it. 

I will tell you this though. There is a lot of action going on, and all the loose ends are being tied up. We get to learn a lot more about Isla Huesos history, and a lot more background information which leads to so many aha moments. That is actually the main reason for why I gave this book a 4 instead of a 3. Because, to be honest, there are lots of things in these books that can be seen as quite bad (I mean, it's not the Princess Diaries). However, I really enjoyed them, hence the 4 rating. 

Do I recommend it? 

Yes, I do, along with the first two books. It is an enjoyable trilogy and worth reading. 

Emerald Green by Kerstin Gier (The Ruby Red Trilogy #3)

Original Title: Smaragdgrün

Year Published: 2014

Published by: Square Fish

Number of Pages: 480

First Sentence: "'That's going to leave a nasty scar', said the doctor, without looking up."

Goodreads Rating: 5/5

Plot:

Gwen has a destiny to fulfill, but no one will tell her what it is.

She’s only recently learned that she is the Ruby, the final member of the time-traveling Circle of Twelve, and since then nothing has been going right. She suspects the founder of the Circle, Count Saint-German, is up to something nefarious, but nobody will believe her. And she’s just learned that her charming time-traveling partner, Gideon, has probably been using her all along.

My thoughts:

I loved this book, and I thought it was an excellent conclusion to the trilogy. All the loose ends are tied up in a very good and satisfying way, and I put the book down with a happy little sigh. No really, I did. I even squealed happily and did a little mini-dance. Like I said, I loved it.

The mystery deepens but secrets are starting to be revealed, slowly but surely. We get to learn more about the history of the guardians, and also a little bit more about the other time-travelers. Lucy and Paul's history finally gets revealed and it is both beautiful and heartbreaking. Gwen starts to get a grip on the whole time-travelling business but struggles with her feelings towards Gideon, especially since she has found out that he has played her on the Count's instructions. Gideon himself also comes to some conclusions that change things drastically.

Sadly enough, I don't feel like I can do a proper review of it, because I don't want to spoil it. However, it is a fantastic ending to the trilogy like I said before, and the whole trilogy is just magical.

Do I recommend it?

Yes, I really do. Like I've said, many times now, this is a great trilogy and I would recommend it to anyone. 

Underworld by Meg Cabot (Abandon #2)

Original Title: Underworld

Year Published: 2013

Published by: Macmillan

Number of pages: 309

First Sentence: “Pierce keeps having the most terrible nightmares.”

Goodreads rating: 3/5

Plot:

Seventeen-year-old Pierce Oliviera isn't dead.

Not this time.

But she is being held against her will in the dim, twilit world between heaven and hell, where the spirits of the deceased wait before embarking upon their final journey.

Her captor, John Hayden, claims it's for her own safety. Because not all the departed are dear. Some are so unhappy with where they ended up after leaving the Underworld, they've come back as Furies, intent on vengeance . . . on the one who sent them there and on the one whom he loves.

But while Pierce might be safe from the Furies in the Underworld, far worse dangers could be lurking for her there . . . and they might have more to do with its ruler than with his enemies.

And unless Pierce is careful, this time there'll be no escape.

My thoughts:

This is the second book in a trilogy of three. I liked the first book and I liked the second one as well. But that is about it. There is no wow feeling when reading these books. Yes, they are entertaining and worth reading, but they lack that umpf-feeling.

Pierce, once again, finds herself in the Underworld. This time there seems to be no way out. So she slowly starts to learn more about her new home and the other inhabitants there. I liked Pierce, although she can come off as whiny and selfish. Other than that, she is an okay main character.

I also have to say that I've come to realise when reading the second book that I have issues with the male main character. He is over-controlling and dominant, which is for Pierce's safety. He also literally tricks her into doing the one thing that will keep her in the Underworld. Come on! Do all YA-writers have to make their guys like this? There is nothing romantic about it, it is just someone who wants to control every step you take and that is verging on abuse. Write male characters who want to protect, yes, but also allow the woman freedom to make her own choices.

Despite this, the book is good. It is a really interesting take on the Hades/Persephone myth, and the whole basic idea of the book seems really great. It is too bad that the execution is rather lacking.

Do I recommend it?

Well, yeah, although you could probably find other books that are much better than this. It wasn't a complete waste of time though and I did find it really entertaining at times.

Sapphire Blue by Kerstin Gier (The Ruby Red Trilogy #2)

Original Title: Saphirblau

Year Published: 2012

Published by: Square Fish

Number of Pages: 354

First Sentence: "The streets of Southwark were dark and deserted."

Goodreads Rating: 5/5

Plot:

Gwen’s life has been a rollercoaster since she discovered she was the Ruby, the final member of the secret time-traveling Circle of Twelve. In between searching through history for the other time-travelers and asking for a bit of their blood (gross!), she’s been trying to figure out what all the mysteries and prophecies surrounding the Circle really mean.

 

At least Gwen has plenty of help. Her best friend Lesley follows every lead diligently on the Internet. James the ghost teaches Gwen how to fit in at an eighteenth-century party. And Xemerius, the gargoyle demon who has been following Gwen since he caught her kissing Gideon in a church, offers advice on everything. Oh, yes. And, of course, there is Gideon, the Diamond. One minute he’s very warm indeed; the next he’s freezing cold. Gwen’s not sure what’s going on there, but she’s pretty much destined to find out.

 

My thoughts:

Book number two is just as good as book number one. It picks up immediately after the first book.

 

Gwen is slowly getting used to her new powers as a time traveler, but it is not easy. There is so much she needs to know about how to behave, what to say and how to navigate society in the past, so she does not get caught and their secret revealed. It also becomes more and more obvious that the Guardians are keeping secrets from her, even information that she should probably know.

 

Gideon is not helping matter much either and confuses poor Gwen by being hot and cold (just like the Katy Perry song). It doesn't help that he is also very open about his distrust in her loyalties which only angers Gwen.

 

The rest of the book is just as good as the first one. It keeps you engaged and interested in what will happen next.

 

My thoughts:

I loved it and if you've read the first book then you should definitely read this one as well.

Ruby Red by Kerstin Gier (The Ruby Red Trilogy #1)

Original Title: Rubinrot

Year Published: 2012

Published by: Square Fish

Number of Pages: 322

First Sentence: "As she fell to her knees and burst into tears, he looked all around the park."

Goodreads Rating: 5/5

Plot:

Although I had never seen him before, I recognized him immediately. I'd have known his voice anywhere. This was the guy I'd seen on my last journey back in time.

Or more precisely, the one who'd kissed my doppelganger while I was hiding behind the curtain in disbelief.

Sixteen-year-old Gwen lives with her extended - and rather eccentric - family in an exclusive London neighborhood. In spite of her ancestors' peculiar history, she's had a relatively normal life so far. The time-traveling gene that runs like a secret thread through the female half of the family is supposed to have skipped over Gwen, so she hasn't been introduced to "the mysteries," and can spend her time hanging out with her best friend, Lesly. It comes as an unwelcome surprise when she starts taking sudden, uncontrolled leaps into the past.

She's totally unprepared for time travel, not to mention all that comes with it: fancy clothes, archaic manners, a mysterious secret society, and Gideon, her time-traveling counterpart. He's obnoxious, a know-it-all, and possibly the best-looking guy she's seen in any century . . .

My thoughts:

I loved this book! It was so good. I really loved the idea of time travel and the way it was used in this book. The fact that there is a whole secret society dedicated to the time-travelers and the accuracy of the times they could travel to. It's just brilliant. I loved the writing as well, it was fast paced, funny and overall entertaining. 

Gwen is a great main character. She is put in a situation she is totally unprepared for but braves it anyway. She is funny and compassionate and I just really loved her. 

The rest of the characters are just as intriguing as the book itself, and help create the amazingness that is this book. There are so many secrets and so much mystery, but not too much, that it will have you itching to read the next two books (as I am writing this I am reading the third and final book). 

Do I recommend it?

YES! If you want to get away from vampires and werewolves and the rest of mythology that young adult fiction has honestly bled dry (although there are many good books with these themes) then this book is definitely for you. Actually, you should read it anyway. Just go... read... now!

Tidal by Amanda Hocking (#3 in the Watersong Quartet)

Original Title: Tidal

Year Published: 2013

Published by: St Martin's Press

Number of Pages: 342

First Sentence: "Gemma loved the way it felt when he kissed her, and his mouth was hungry and eager on hers."

Goodreads Rating: 4/5

Plot:

he magical world of Watersong is about to change forever. The answers Gemma and her friends have been searching for are finally revealed - but evil is closing in and time is running out....

Gemma and Harper Fisher are facing the fight of their lives. Gemma has been cursed with extraordinary powers that have a terrifying dark side, but she's finally found what she needs - a way to break the curse and become human again. However, finding the means to do it will be her greatest challenge yet. And now Penn, Lexi, and Thea - the gorgeous but deadly creatures who cursed her - are determined to kill her before she has a chance. Making matters worse, Penn has her sights set on Daniel - the guy Harper loves - and Penn always gets what she wants.

As Gemma and Harper race to break the curse before it's too late, they're thrust deeper into a mythical world of immortal secrets. They must look into their enemies' past to find the answers they need, even if it means being drawn deeper into their savagely beautiful world. But one of the girls is not what she seems...and Gemma finds an unlikely ally as she struggles to save herself. Will it be enough to break an ancient curse that no one has ever escaped from alive?

My thoughts:

I really liked it. It is a little slow at times, but it is still an entertaining read.

Gemma finally discovers a way to win over the sirens, now all she has do to is find the object needed, which turns out to be easier said than done. She is also still struggling with her siren side and the hunger that is slowly growing inside her. She is also trying to get over Alex, which is proving to be extremely difficult. Especially since he is acting so very different after their break-up.

Harper is struggling with her need to protect Gemma and her desire to go to college. She is also still on the fence when it comes her feelings for Daniel. Daniel is just so lovable, and we also finally find out the reason to why he is immune to the siren song.

We get to know a lot more about the sirens and their background which was really interesting and explained some of their behaviour.

The tension between the sirens and Gemma does reach a breaking point in this book which leads to a surprising conclusion.

I have to be honest and say that I probably liked this book as much as I did because I was already so invested in the characters. I can easily see why people who say they dislike it do so. However, for me it was still a good read.

Do I recommend it?

Well, yes but it is the third in a series, so if anything I do recommend the first book. If you've already read the first two then sure, go ahead and read this one as well.

The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan (Book #1 of Percy Jackson and The Olympians)

Original Title: The Lightning Thief

Year Published: 2006

Published by: Disney Hyperion Books

Number of Pages: 377

First Sentence: "Look, I didn't want to be a half-blood."

Goodreads Rating: 5/5

Plot: 

Percy Jackson is a good kid, but he can't seem to focus on his schoolwork or control his temper. And lately, being away at boarding school is only getting worse-Percy could have sworn his pre-algebra teacher turned into a monster and tried to kill him. When Percy's mom finds out, she knows it's time that he knew the truth about where he came from, and that he go to the one place he'll be safe. She sends Percy to Camp Half-Blood, a summer camp for demigods (on Long Island), where he learns that the father he never knew is Poseidon, God of the Sea. Soon a mystery unfolds and together with his friends -- one a satyr and the other the demigod daughter of Athena -- Percy sets out on a quest across the United States to reach the gates of the Underworld (located in a recording studio in Hollywood) and prevent a catastrophic war between the gods.

My thoughts:

I loved this book! It felt fresh and new (yes, I do know it was published quite a while ago but sometimes I'm slow), and I quickly got sucked into the story. The idea of writing a YA series about demi-gods and the Greek Gods is a brilliant one and I really loved how the Greek Gods were portrayed. 

Percy is a good main character that you really care for. It was really nice reading a book with a male lead for once since a lot of YA books have females as the main character (not that there is anything wrong with that). I love the fact that he isn't overly cocky and self-confident, but instead have insecurities and knows that he isn't invincible. What makes him a hero is that he does the things he is scared of. That is the mark of a true hero. 

Annabeth is a mystery for a long time, and it's hard to see if she is one of the good guys or just indifferent to the whole thing. She is driven and proud, but then shows great sides of herself. Without her, Percy would not make it far. 

Grover, on the other hand, is a bit of a clown and mostly serves as a comic relief (at least that is how I perceived him). He has moments of greatness as well, and the trio slowly melds together during this book to make up a well-functioning team of three. 

I was also positively surprised about this book. I had seen the film first (what a mistake) and had never really fallen in love with the story. I didn't have high hopes when I started the book, but oh boy was I surprised. It is just great and I suggest that you just don't watch the films. They have botched the books terribly and are not good representatives of the books. 

Do I recommend it?

Yes, I do. It is a really entertaining story and I'm really glad that I bought the whole set at the same time. Looking forward to reading the rest.

Lullaby by Amanda Hocking (#2 in the Watersong Quartet)

Original Title: Lullaby

Year Published: 2012

Published by: St Martins Press

Number of Pages: 200

First Sentence: "Harper woke up when the sun was just beginning to set, and squinted at the dim orange light streaming in through her curtains."

Goodreads Rating: 4/5

Plot:

Harper only wanted a safe, normal life. But when her younger sister Gemma runs off with a dangerous clique of beautiful girls, Penn, Thea, and Lexi, everything changes. Vowing to get her sister back no matter what the cost, Harper must face dangers unlike any she's ever experienced. Fortunately, she has Daniel by her side, a gorgeous guy who's devoted to helping her find her sister—and who's immune to the girls' dark powers. 

While Harper searches for her sister, Gemma struggles to adjust to her new life.  Gemma's powers are growing by the day, and the longer she lives with her new "sisters," the harder it is to resist entering their magical world.  It's a realm both dark and beautiful, and where she's plagued by strange hungers and unspeakable needs.  Just as she's drifting far away from her old life,  Harper and Daniel find her...but no one can deny how much she's changed.  All she wants is to return to her family and the mortal world, but how can she do that when she's become something else entirely—and will they still love her once they learn the truth?

My thoughts:

The book picks up just where the first one left off. Gemma has left to be with the sirens and Harper is devastated. She does everything in her power to try and find her sister. She gets help from both Alex and Daniel, and then from a somewhat unexpected source. Harper also struggles with her feelings for Daniel, who just keeps surprising her. 

Gemma on the other hand struggles with being a siren. She refuses to enjoy her enhanced abilities which have led to her being quite ill.  She is afraid that she will lose her humanity if she gives in to her siren urges. 

It also turns out that one of the sirens isn't as bad as she first seemed and the other two are even worse than they first seemed. We also get to know a little bit more about the myth around sirens as Hocking sees them. I really like the way she has written the sirens and developed the idea around them. 

I really liked this book. It was a great continuation of the first book, and I'm looking forward to reading the rest.

Do I recommend it?

Yes I do!