Bewitching

I really enjoy Alex Flinn's books. This one is no different. It takes fairy tales to a new and interesting level. It is the story of the witch Kendra and how she is involved in many of the fairy tales we are all familiar with. She starts with Hansel and Gretel, The Little Mermaid, The Princess and the Pea, Cinderella and Beauty and the Beast. The fairy tales are wound around the main character Emma, who Kendra has decided to help. Emma has a stepsister and stepfather and the story is a twist to the typical Cinderella tale. It got off to a slow start, but once it got going, man it was really clever and enjoyable. Kendra is a witch who admits her faults and mistakes. Emma is a normal girl who is trying to get some self esteem. Together, they really make an interesting friendship. The story gives lots of glimpses into history, as a matter of fact, she has tied the Titanic to the Little Mermaid. So, once upon a time, I read another terrific Alex Flinn book, I hope you find the time to do the same. Happily ever after  reading my friends!

Wentworth Hall

Are you watching Downton Abbey with the rest of the world? Well, I am addicted. So when I saw this book on the shelf, I thought, great, a DA for the YA set. This story is about the Darlingtons. They are an aristocratic family that has seen better days. The daughters, Maggie and Lila, are both trying to figure out how to survive life as a Darlington. Maggie has just spent a year in France and has come back a different person. She won't even look at Michael the groomsmen anymore. Lila is trying to be noticed as the less flashy sister. The people in service are also trying to find their ways. Therese, the mysterious French nanny, Nora, the gossipy maid and Michael the dashing groomsmen all have secrets of their own. And to top it all off someone is writing a satire of life at the manor that doesn't paint them in a good light. But the big question is who is really baby James's mother.... and father for that matter. This was a light, fast read that really wrapped up quickly. I guess I was hoping for more Downton than I got from this version, but is that really fair? It is a great introduction to what life was like when people were in service and girls had little choice in how their lives would turn out. So all and all, I'd say this was a nice book, but won't make my top ten for anything this summer. Happy reading my friends!

Masque of the Red Death

As an eighth grade teacher, I am well aware of the power of Poe. So the title of this book alone intrigued me. In this novel by Bethany Griffin, the world has been infected with a contagion that has wiped out a great portion of the population. Everyone who can afford one wears a mask to protect themselves. Araby is trying to find creative ways to kill herself as punishment for her twin brother, Finn's death. She loses herself in underground clubs to drinking and drugs. Her father is the scientist who created the life saving masks. But since the death of her brother, she feels her parents blame her. When she meets the manager of one of the underground clubs, she is drawn to him. Will saves her life on a few occasions and introduce her to his younger brother and sister who she comes to love. The other angle of this love triangle is Elliot. The brother of her best friend April. He is trying to overthrow his corrupt uncle to take over the city. His Uncle Prospero had killed his father and Elliot is trying to find a way to save humanity. When a new plague, the Red Death, starts to spread to the city, they have to find a way to escape. When Will betrays her, Araby must decide if she should save him or let him die. This book is left in a major cliffhanger with nothing resolved except for the fact that I have to read the sequel. This is a pretty dark book, not for  a younger reader, but perfect for the reader looking to find a modern version of a Poe tale. Happy reading my friends.

Gilt

One of my many reading obsessions is books about Henry the VIII. Up until now, they have been adult books. Katherine Longshore has taken it down to the young adult level. This is the story of Catherine Howard, the fifth wife of Henry the VII. She was a young girl with lofty dreams and the duplicitous nature to pull off marrying the king. It takes the story from the point of view of her friend Kitty, who is brought to the castle to be a chamberer to the new queen. Kitty has a love-hate relationship with Cat and is made to cover up most of Cat's treasonous behavior. She is trying to maneuver through the treacherous life at court. Besides being at Cat's beck and call, she has her own love life to deal with. Does she marry the poxy old man her parents have "sold" her too, or sweet William who wants her to leave court and live in the country with him or Edmund, the sneaky friend, with questionable motives, who wants Kitty for less than chivalrous reasons. As Cat's life and lies begin to unravel, Kitty must decide if she will lie to save Cat or tell the truth to save herself. We know how this story ends, it isn't a happy one, but this is a glimpse at just how dreadful life at court was for women. Henry was a man who wouldn't be crossed and once he was, he was unforgiving. Cat was just not up to the challenge of being his queen for many reasons, but she certainly didn't deserve her fate. This was a great taste of this time period with a story line teens will relate to- intrigue, romance, friendship and loyalty. Happy reading my friends.

Seraphina

For the record, I don't like dragon books.That being said, this is a GREAT dragon book. Seraphina is half dragon, half human, an abomination in this world. She has to keep her true self hidden for fear of the repercussions if she doesn't. She has a band of silver scales around her arm and across her back. She  can speak to other half breeds with her mind. She can speak Dragon. Her uncle is a dragon, which are called Saars in this world. When one of the royal families is murdered and dragons are blamed, Seraphina decides to find out on her own if it is true. Dragons are in human form, but they are in a shaky truce with the humans and this murder could set off a war. Helping Seraphina on this quest is Prince Lucian Kiggs, the future husband of Princess Glisselda. Phina is Selda's music instructor and good friend. Do you see the love triangle forming people? Kiggs only wants the truth from everyone and the only thing Phina can't give him is the truth- about who she really is, about her uncle and grandfather, about how she can speak dragon and about how she truly feels about him. There are many fantastic messages in this book about self image, loyalty, friendship and love. I am not sure how this triangle will be resolved as Selda is a totally likeable character, Kiggs a loyal man not willing to break a promise and Phina, a girl just figuring out who she is and what she wants. Phina's uncle Orma is a hilarious character as the dragon who is not supposed to form attachments to humans, but can't help but love his niece. I truly can't wait for the sequel. It was a well written, very clever take on dragons and has possibly made me change my position on dragon books. This is a can't miss friends. So happy reading.

Iron Daughter

I've been on vacation for a week, so I have three books to talk about. The first one is a sequel in the Iron Fey series by Julie Kagawa. Meghan is the daughter of the Summer Fey King, Oberon. She is in love with the Winter Fey Prince, Ash. She is best friends with Robin Goodfellow, otherwise known as Puck. She has just defeated the Iron King and is fulfilling her promise to Ash to attend the Winter Fey's Court. It is forbidden for Winter and Summer Fey to mix and Ash is torn about following this rule. He loves Meghan and she loves him. He is haunted by the death of his last love and is unsure how to proceed with Meghan. So he does the boy thing, where he pushes her away and says mean things to her. When the Iron Fey kill his brother Sage and steal the Sceptor of the Seasons, Meghan and Ash must go on a quest to find it. Robin goes with them and they are met with peril every step of the way. Ash retreats farther and farther from Meghan as Robin gets closer. When Ash is taken over by the Iron Fey, Meghan must find a way to save him before he kills her. This was book two of at least four books and I must say it had a sort of happy ending, which I love. But I know it won't last... Ash turns out to be worthy of the title Prince and Meghan never gives up on him. They will have to find a way to overcome their differences if they want to be together. And what about Robin? I look forward to more time in Fey land.... just don't eat or drink anything while you are there, and never trust those Redcaps. Happy reading my friends.

In the Arms of Stone Angels

Another tricky title- no angels except the ones in the cemetery. Brenna witnessed what she thought was her best friend committing murder. She calls the police and he is locked up. Her mother moves them out of town and she lives with the guilt and shame of her actions. See, White Bird has been locked in a mental ward and won't communicate with anyone. Two years later, they are forced to come back to town to clean out her grandmother's house and she is compelled to go and see White Bird. She has an instant connection to him and sees into his nightmares. Brenna decides she has to find a way to help him. She enlists the help of Joe Sunne, a tribal healer, who tells her she must walk his vision with him and help him find the way out. In the meantime, the real murderers are plotting their revenge on Brenna. She is beaten, kidnapped and almost killed herself as these bullies try and keep her from finding the real truth. To top things off, the sheriff has it out for her, as his nephew is the biggest bully of them all. This was an enjoyable novel with a great Native American feel. Brenna must go on her own vision quest to figure out her true feelings for White Bird and her true feelings about herself. So even there were no angels, this was a good read. Happy reading my friends, I'm off to the beach to read some more. :)