Night of Cake and Puppets

I lied. This will be my last book of the year, not the first of next. This is the story of how Mik and Zuzana finally get together. They are characters in the unbelievable Daughter of Smoke and Bone series. It tells the tale of how Zuzana led Mik on a fairy tale adventure fueled by magic that led him to her. And he followed the treasure map willingly, adding his own magic along the way. It was nice to see Karou again, I've missed her. And the book is filled with amazing illustrations to add to it's own magic. You could read it on its own as a cute little love story, or you could read it as an insert to an amazing series where you will fall in love with the characters even more. Either way, don't miss your chance to read Laini Taylor. She will take you on adventures BEYOND your wildest imaginations! Happy reading my magical friends.

This Savage Song

August was born of tragedy. The aftermath of an event beyond his control. He is a monster to the outside world. A Sunai- one of only three. They can take the souls of sinners through music. All August wants is to be human. Kate Harker is the daughter of the great monster hunter. All she wants is to have her father's approval. She manipulates her way back home so she can stand side by side with him in the fight against monsters. Her father has made pets of the Malachai and Corsai variety of monsters- mindless, bloodthirsty things and offers protection- for a large fee- to humans who fear these monsters. Kate wants to get into the fight. just like August. August is sent the the same school as Kate to get to know her, to get an inside scoop on the Harkers. His brother Leo, a ruthless Sunai, wants him to unleash his inner monster. But August finds that family loyalty may cost him more than he is willing to sacrifice. They find themselves on the run together as an evil plot is beginning to unfold that will cause a war between the two sides and end the truce. They must decide who the real monsters are and then find a way to prevent the end of the truce.  I really enjoyed this story, a little twist here and there made it thought provoking. Who are the real monsters? Do they hide behind human faces? Looking forward to ordering the next one in the series to find out what happens to Kate and August. This was a good way to end my year of reading. I plan to start the year with one of the best- Laini Taylor's Night of Cake and Puppets, which will have to get me through until a Strange the Dreamer sequel. Hope it was a good year for you and wishing you more great books in 2018. Happy reading my friends!

An Enchantment of Ravens

Isobel is a human living in Whimsy. It is always summer there. She is a talented painter who has made quite a name for herself. Only problem is, her clientele are fairies. And everyone knows, you can't trust fairies. They are not the cute little garden gnomes you think they are. They are mean, vicious, and have no regard for human lives. So Isobel must tread carefully around them. When the Autumn Prince, Rook, comes to have his portrait painted, Isobel makes a deadly mistake. She paints him with human emotion on his face and this makes him look weak among his people. When he finds out what she has done, he drags her into Fairy to stand trial for her crimes so he can save face. The problem is, that all the while she was painting him, they were falling in love. And that my friends is a high crime in Fairy. As they battle their way to the Autumn court, many trials await them, thanes, the Wild Hunt, Gadfly and all the while, they must fight their feelings. It is only Isobel's quick thinking that may save them from certain death. Can they pull it off? I love a good fairy tale- ha! get it? And this one was nice. It was missing that something that really makes you connect to the characters. I like Rook and Isobel enough, but I don't think their courtship was interesting enough. I wasn't sorry it was over, but I wasn't mad I took the ride. So this one gets an eh. Happy reading my friends and beware of deals made with Fae.

Undertow

Lyric Walker has been keeping a secret that can get her and her family killed. So she must be quiet and fly under the radar. See, the Alpha have arrived and they are on the brink of war with the humans on Coney Island. Her school is about to be integrated with Alpha teens and she has been told to stay away from them by her father the cop. Their family depends on it. But Lyric is tasked with making friends with the Prince of the Alpha- Fathom. The reward for this will save her family and allow them to escape the Zone. As she spends time with Fathom teaching him to read and the ways of humans, feelings begin to develop between the two. Star crossed lovers doesn't even begin to describe it. He has a fiance, he is not human and he is the heir to the civilization, while she is just a simple human girl trying to save her family. It could never work out. But on the eve of war, something even worse than the Alpha are coming to destroy everything in it's path, Alpha and human alike. It is time for Lyric to admit what she really is and unleash her powers as a wild thing. This is a great story with ties to reality- the oppressed rising up to take their place in society, the fear of people who are different than us, civil rights etc. Totally thought provoking while entertaining. I will definitely follow Lyric's journey in the next book. Vacation is upon me and the stack of books await- along with gift cards to buy more. Happy reading my friends!

Being Fishkill

I read a review of this book and it sounded unlike something I would normally read but I took a chance. This is the story of Carmel Fishkill, who was named as her teenage mother was giving birth on the freeway near the Carmel, Fishkill exit. Thus begins the devastating tale of Fishkill's life. Raised by an abusive grandfather and equally abusive mother, Fishkill has had to develop survival skills. Be tough, don't cry, strike first, don't get attached. This works fine until she meets Duck Duck- her gang name. She quickly initiates Fishkill into her gang and brings her home to Molly. Molly watches Fishkill with her 'squinty blue eyes' and realizes that this girl is on her own and in need of a family. As Fishkill learns to trust Molly and Duck Duck she realizes that family isn't what she was raised to believe. It is pink sheets, roasted chicken and hugs. But Fishkill doesn't trust this will last and has one foot out the door. And then her mother comes back and throws a wrench in the happy life Fishkill was making for herself. As the book cover says, tragedy ensues and Fishkill must find her way back from despair to try and create home for herself among strangers who have every right to hate her. This book was both funny and heartbreaking in turns. Fishkill's life lessons are so spot on as to be crushing. And Duck Duck's zest for life is inspiring. So I recommend this book as long as you have some tissues handy, it will stay with you for a while. Happy reading my friends.

Dazzling Heights

Who will die next? Living in the Tower in NYC is not the safest for your health. Ask Eris, the victim in the first book. Those left standing face the consequences of their actions in this sequel to The Thousandth Floor. Leda must deal with the guilt of having killed her friend. Watt, Avery and Rylin have been blackmailed into being silent in what they saw. And those around them don't understand the way their friends are behaving. Throw in new character Calliope, the con artist who has a strange history with Atlas. Each character is keeping deadly secrets that may derail the wishes of their hearts. Rylan finds herself with a scholarship to the very school the rich kids attend and is thrown into the world of moviemaking with one of her teachers. She just wants Cord back and of course he is in all her classes. Then there is Watt, who along with Nadia, must find a way to defuse Leda and get her to trust him enough to admit her crime. But low and behold, a romance develops to both of their suprise.  Of course, don't forget Avery who longs for a life with her adopted brother Atlas, but her father may suspect their romance and is sending Atlas away to run a new tower. Throw into that mix, Calliope who has her own designs on Atlas. Unbeknownst to all of them, though, the biggest threat is waiting in the wings to get revenge for her dead girlfriend. Couldn't put this down, which is surprising since there were no supernatural elements. lol. It will be a long wait to August to finish the series, but there are plenty of books to occupy my time until then. So be careful not to find yourself alone along the edge of anything my friends and happy reading.

The Assassin's Blade

So this is where it all begins. The birth of Celaena Sardothien who later becomes Aelin Galythinious greatest warrior princess of all time. Sorry Xena. This prequel to the Throne of Glass series is heartbreaking as I have read all the other book before this one. (Sorry Jael) I knew things would happen and they were as terrible as I thought they would be. But- there were glimpses of the characters that I have come to love above all others. A quick look at Dorian. Chaol guarding him. Lysandra driving her crazy. Yrene- oh Yrene- to know where you have come from only makes you more intriguing. And Sam. And Arobynn. And the Silent Assassins. And the pirates. Each story brought a new piece to the legend that is Aelin. I loved this book and have officially decided this is my favorite series. Oh, others are close but this one has never disappointed. Such great characters on such great quests it really leaves you wanting more. Thankfully, Sarah Maas's other series has a new tome on the way- back to Feyra and Rhysand. If you have never started the series, start here. If you are already on the journey, take a side trip through these novellas. I have to reread Empire of Storms now, because I think I missed a moment I need to recapture. I envy you my friends, if this will be your first experience. Enjoy every page. Happy reading my friends.