Flamecaster

I started this book a month ago, read a few pages, got furious and put it down. See, Cinda Williams Chima writes some of my favorite series'. One of them features a boy named Han who is on my top ten fictional boy list. The Seven Realms series is in my top 2 series. Mrs. Chima killed my Han in the first pages of this book. So I'm sure you understand my closing it and pretending it never happened. But cooler head finally prevailed and Rylee told me it was great so I gave it another chance. This new series is the story of Han's son Ash. Ash witnesses his father's death and feels so helpless that he runs away to figure out a way to get revenge. It is also the story of Jenna. A girl living in the town of Delphi where the best you can hope is to survive another day in the mines. She seems to have a knack with fire and explosives (foreshadowing). Jenna has a mark on her neck and knows that one day, it will cause people to come looking for her, but she doesn't know why. Ash and Jenna's paths cross and they see hope in each other. They have a common goal to kill the King of Arden, a blast from Raisa's past- READ the other series first please!!! He is pure evil. The two of them, with help from Lila (I won't tell you who she is, it's a great surprise!) try to find a way to kill the king, save Jenna from another threat and protect the Grey Wolf Throne. I LOVED this book and these characters definitely live up to their predecessors! Even Amon Byrne makes a small appearance (and the romantic in me hope he and Raisa get another chance now that Han is no longer with us). This book is filled with magic, intrigue and romance and I can't wait for the next chapter! I don't know if I can forgive the loss of Han, but this goes a long way toward that forgiveness that his son is just as fun as he was. So my friends, don't be scared, it's gonna be okay! Happy reading!!

The Crown's Game

Vika and Nikolai are both in possession of magic. They are training to be the Imperial Enchanter of Russia. But what they don't know is that only one of them will survive the Crown's Game. Via is being raised in secret by her father. She is lively and confident and can create the most amazing magic. Her heart is loving and light. She is certain she will be able to help Russia. When she finds out she must battle another Enchanter, she is determined to win so she can be reunited with her father. Nikolai has been raised in the city. He is best friends with the future Tzar of Russia, Pasha. No one knows he is an Enchanter except his mentor. He is also determined to win the game an live. After a chance encounter with Vika, Nikolai is not so sure he wants to win if it means her death. But he doesn't want to die. What to do? As the game begins, the two Enchanters create the most amazing magic and in the process feel the pull they have towards each other. Pasha feels a pull towards Vika too. As the game nears it's end, Pasha feels betrayed by both of them and does something rash. He will be the cause of the death of one of his friends, but which one? Who will make the ultimate sacrifice for love? What other lies have the two of them been told? And who's magic will prevail? I loved this sweet and interesting book. The characters are lovable and complex, the setting is different and interesting and the conflict is seemingly unresolvable. I only hope this is not the end of their story or I think I have to be really sad. I'm going to pretend that this isn't the end so I can go on with my day. Happy reading my friends!

The Rose Society

Let me start by saying the Legend series by Marie Lu is one of my favorites (except for the end). But I really am having trouble connecting to this Young Elites series. I have had this second book sitting on my shelf for a while and decided to give it a try. I guess I just don't like a book told from the villain's point of view. Adeline is unlikeable most of the time. And this book is really all about her and her need to destroy. I realize it comes from a place of insecurity and loneliness but even in her vulnerable moments it is super hard to connect to her. In this novel, she is seeking revenge on everyone. The Inquisitors who tried to burn her at the stake and the Daggers who threw her out of their society. She sets out to build her own group with her sister. They search for the thief Magiano in order to convince him to follow her as she seeks the thrown left behind in Enzo's death. When he agrees to follow her, she is able to collect a band of misfits who the Daggers wouldn't take. Meanwhile the Daggers are attempting to bring Enzo back from the dead. Raffaele, however, thinks this is a terrible idea and encourages them to not do this. They don't listen, Adeline gets involved, and low and behold Enzo is back, but not the Enzo they knew and loved. All the groups converge in a huge battle in which no one is a winner. This is a dark book that has left me ambivalent about the rest of the series. I do like Magiano and Sergio. But I'm not sure if that is enough. I am hoping Adeline is reformed in the next book, but her powers are so dark and twisted I don't know if it can be done. So, read at your own risk if you want a different kind of narrator. Happy reading my friends!

A Court of Mist and Fury

I feel like I held my breath through the last 300 pages of this sequel to  A Court of Thorns and Roses. So I catch my breath, let me say that Sarah Maas creates some of the best characters in YA. This is now the second of her series that is a favorite of mine. That being said, this is NOT for young readers. Onward. This is Feyre's story. She has died at the hands of the evil queen Aramanthra and been brought back by the seven high lords of the realm. So now she is Fae. As she goes home to live with Tamlin, she finds his type of love stifling. Only the thought of spending one week a month with Rhysand of the Night Court was worse. Rhys is her enemy. When he claims her for his week on her wedding day, she isn't sure if she is relieved or not. But Rhys is not what he seems. He sees her wasting away under Tamlin's 'love' and on one of her trips to his kingdom, she decides to stay so she can save herself and learn about the powers she has received from the seven lords. He encourages her to train, learn to read and be herself with no strings attached. War is coming and Rhys knows that Feyre will be an asset in the uncoming fight. He may also have other reasons to want to keep Feyra close. As she learns what it means to have a family and a man who treat her with love and respect, Feyre must decide if she is more comfortable in the Night or in the Spring. Her new family, Cassian and Azriel- Illyrian Warriors who will lay down their lives for her, Mor, her friend, and confidant, and Amren, whose way of showing she cares is downright scary, all show her that her place is with them. Eyre must make an ultimate sacrifice to save them all. Sarah Maas has this way of creating a love interest that has you falling in love, for a book or two and they she has them do something to make them unlikeable. She did it with Chaol and Celaena. (But I still love Chaol) and she does it with Tamlin. But that is okay because she gives you characters like Rowan and Rhys. I am left wondering who would win in a fight between those two! But I digress. I loved this book and these characters. It is for mature audiences as the love scenes are graphic. If you like a Faery Tale, this is a great series for you- Happy reading my friends!!

If I Was Your Girl

Meet Amanda. Hers is a life of fear. Fear what people will think of her. Fear of what people may do to her. Fear of how she thinks of herself. Because Amanda used to be Andrew. After a suicide attempt and a beating at the hand of classmates, Amanda moves to live with her dad. Who she hasn't talked to in 6 years. Amanda starts school and makes friends. She attracts the attention of Grant, the handsome football player with secrets of his own. Amanda is afraid to tell him about her past and the repercussions if her secret gets out. But she and Grant get closer and closer and she realizes she loves him. She has friends, her father seems to accept her changes and she has a date to homecoming. Then someone she trusted, someone she considered a friend, destroys Amanda's world. Now Amanda must decide if she can face the consequences of the betrayal or run back to her former home. Will Grant be willing to see her as she sees herself- a girl who he may or may not be able to love. This is such a timely and heartbreaking novel of not only the transgender world, but the world in general. Everyone has secrets but some are dangerous. And even after you have shared your true self with the world, bad things can happen because people can be close minded and evil. I will be happy to have this book on my shelf for the students who relate to Amanda as well as the students who need to be understanding of Amanda. Happy reading my friends!

The Raven King

Book 4 of the Raven Cycle. Blue, Gansy, Ronan, and Adam. On a quest to wake a long dead king to ask for a wish. Gansy, knowing he is to die. Blue knowing she is the one who will kill him. Ronan and Adam doing everything in their magical powers to stop the inevitable from happening. Many love stories. Many deaths. Many mystical happenings. This series is all about magic and the power of friendship. It is about believing in the unbelievable. And it is about trusting those friends who know you even more than you know yourself. I don't know which character is my favorite- it changed every book and every chapter. The characters dreamed into life by Ronan are fantastic, interesting and complex. The love stories are the same- fantastic, interesting and complex. I have loved every book Maggie Stiefvater has written, but this series is amazing. (Scorpio Races is my very favorite though!) The story line is complex and not for the lighthearted reader, you have to pay attention. But I highly recommend not only this series, but anything by this author. They all contain some supernatural element and all leave you wanting more. If this series interests you- start with book 1-The Raven Boys. But be careful what you wish for, Cabeswater may be listening! Happy reading my friends!

inVision

Nick Gautier is at it again- for the 7th time to be exact. If you haven't started this series- go back to 1 and read Instinct and meet Nick and his world of problems. See, Nick is the big bad- the Malachai who is doomed to end the world and kill all his friends- in the future. This Nick is an awkward 6 ft. 4 inch bundle of insecurity and teen angst. He is surrounded by his ancient posse- Acheron, Kyrian, Caleb, Xev, Simi and Kode. Each doing what they can to help him change the future and stop him from becoming the evil he is destined to be. But changing the future ain't easy, especially when living in the Big Easy. Nick tends to make stupid mistakes with the best intentions. In this volume, he is suddenly without his powers and this can only mean that someone has come from the future to kill him. And that person can only be his son. Unfortunately, Nick isn't even aware he has a son- even a future son. As he starts to get visions of the future, he is even more unsure than ever how to stop the destruction of all he loves. I love this series for a lot of reasons, but sometimes the names and alternate futures can get a bit much. More action, less family tree. But Nick is a first order smart aleck with such a devoted group of friends/protectors that you can't help root for him. Again, there was not enough Kyrian for my taste- he is my favorite, but this was better than the last one and certainly leaves Nick in a precarious position-which he should be used to. I also love the setting even more now that I have traveled to New Orleans and enjoyed my own plate of beignets at Cafe du Monde. So enjoy my chers!   I hope you enjoy Mr. Gautier as much as I do! Happy reading my friends!

Jackaby

What a great little book this was! Abigail Rook, on the run from the boring life her parents have in mind, winds up in America, quite by chance. Fresh off the boat and looking for a job, she runs into Jackaby- picture Sherlock Holmes much younger self. Jackaby notices her and the supernatural beings she brings with her (unknowingly) and Abigail winds up working as his assistant. See, he is a supernatural detective. And something supernatural is on a killing spree in the city. Abigail is of use to Jackaby as she notices the mundane, unimportant things, which he finds interesting. As the crime scenes pile up, Abigail and Jackaby must race to find the culprit- who may or may not be high up in the police department. The are surrounded by an eclectic cast of characters: Douglas the Duck, Jenny the Ghost, Charlie, the cop with an unusual background, as well as a banshee and a troll. Each one makes the story more lively and entertaining. The cover says a cross between Sherlock Holmes and Buffy the Vampire Slayer and that is an apt description. Jackaby is hilarious, Abigail is a delight and Charlie is downright adorable. I look forward to the next adventure of this detective agency. I highly recommend this light, fun, read. Happy reading my friends!

All the Truth That's in Me

The timeliness of my reading this book is interesting. When boys/men continue to minimize crimes against women, society as a whole suffers. This novel by Julie Berry is set in a different time, but could be today. A time when women are vilified and belittled and held accountable for actions they have no control over. Judith was taken. Along with her friend Lottie, she disappears from society for two years. Lottie is found dead, but Judith walks out of the woods and back into her family. But she is different. Her tongue has been partially cut out and she is afraid to speak of what has been done to her. So society decides for themselves what they think must have happened to her. And her silence does nothing to dispel their thoughts. They think she is slow. They think she is not virtuous. They think they can do what they want to her. She doesn't disagree with them. Even her mother has forbidden her from trying to speak. The boy she has loved all her life is about to marry another. Her brother must have his foot amputated. The school master makes inappropriate gestures towards her. And still she won't use her voice. But unlikely allies help her realize if she doesn't speak up, all will be lost. I really loved this book. It was so different from other books I've read. It is much like Speak, where until you find your voice, people will find a way to put words in your mouth, even if they are not accurate. Girls need to understand their worth and power, and it has to start with speaking up for ourselves and not being afraid of the repercussions. We have to show people how to treat us and not stand silently when they do us wrong. What a thought provoking book!  I would recommend it to better readers only because the story plays with time as the story of her kidnapping is told. Don't let that scare you away.
Happy reading my friends!

Morning Star

Oh Darrow, how I missed you! This novel is the conclusion of the Red Rising series by Pierce Brown. It is the story of a society based on colors, where the Golds sought to repress all other colors to their benefit. Darrow is a Red- a lowly miner on Mars. But he is carved into a Gold to overthrow their system after his wife is killed for her resistance. Darrow becomes the face of the Rising- the Reaper and finds a band of loyal friends who are sympathetic to this cause. They come from all colors and each is more interesting than the next. When the book opens, Darrow is at the mercy of the Jackal and is being kept in a box, losing all hope. By some miracle Sevrus- Ares, finds him, frees him and sets in motion a war to end all wars. Darrow must reconcile with his love, Mustang, sister of the Jackal, who has an amazing secret of her own! He must decide if he can once again trust Cassius, who was once like a brother. He must try and get Roque back on his side and he must use Ragnar to control the Valkaries in order to win the day. Much evil is done. Many die. Even your favorite characters. You know who you are! But this is a fitting end to an incredible series. It is not an easy read- there are complicated plots involving government and battle. It reads more adult than YA. But if you can handle some warfare and violence, the pay off is fantastic. But you can't start here, you must go back to the beginning.  I truly enjoyed this series and recommend it to advanced readers. Happy reading my friends- howwwwwllllll!!

Snow Like Ashes

The world is divided into seasons and Winter has the short end of the stick. Their land has been decimated by the other seasons and their people enslaved. All that is left of a once great kingdom is a band of 8 survivors, which includes the King of Winter- Mather- a teenage boy. He is joined by Sir and Meira whose sole purposes are to get back the locket that holds their kingdoms magic so they can reclaim their land and free their people. All Meira wants is to help her king and friend. She wants to be useful, but Sir never lets her do anything dangerous. Her desire to help her kingdom leads her to a marriage with a Rhythym Prince whose kingdom has vowed to help Winter once they are wed. This is not what Meira has in mind of course. She wants to be a soldier and marry Mather and do normal things. But she meets Theron and he is much more that she thought he would be. Unfortunately for Winter, Theron's father is not honorable and brings their enemies to the gate. When Meira is captured and threatened with torture and death, she must use all her senses to find a way to survive. Of course, all is not what it seems and power may be in hands different that what is expected. Lies told over time come to a head and the truth is as explosive as the dark power that is unleashed. Meira must become more than she ever thought she could be to save her people and bring them hope. I had a hard time in the beginning of this book connecting to the characters. I've read many books of this genre and many girls who want to be soldiers etc. and this one didn't catch my attention at first. But I have to say things picked up as the book progressed and I am definitely interested int the rest of the story. Not- I have to run to the store right now and find out what happens- interested, but sometime in the future I can get back to the tale- interested. So, I leave it to you to decide how you feel my friends. It is summer and the books are piled up next to the Barnes and Noble gift cards I was showered with at the end of this amazing school year. Happy reading my friends!