Dark Faerie Tales

Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales.

Quick & Dirty: Sophie Lawson is one of those rare humans who can see those things that most humans do not such as werewolves, vampires and fallen angels. Because of this she is the only “breather” who works for the Underworld Detection Agency helping to make sure that those who belong to the underworld behave themselves among the human population. Now she must use all that she knows about her work to save her old boss from those who want him dead.

Opening Sentence: You might think that after a visit from my dead grandmother, a run-in with my dead sister, and a rent-controlled apartment shared with an undead vampire fashionista, a visit from the undead wouldn’t be so unexpected.

The Review:

Sophie Lawson is a normal human whose father happens to be a demon. As such she is the only “breather” who works for the UDA. Also, trouble seems to follow her wherever she goes. As such, it is no surprise when her supposed to be dead boss, Pete Sampson, shows up at her door asking for her help to get werewolf hunters off his trail. With the help of her ex-lover and fallen angel, Alex Grace, maybe they can figure out who hired the werewolf hunters and save Sampson’s life and reputation. I had mixed feeling about this book. One moment I couldn’t get into it and other times I couldn’t get enough. I do believe that reading the first books in this series might have made it easier but it is not completely necessary to read them in order.

Sophie was a character I could relate to. She wants to be this super cool detective chick but always seems to fail miserably. Even so she still tries. Throughout the series she is known for backing down, turning into a big cry-baby, scaredy-cat. In this one, that has started to change and she is trying to become a new woman. The only thing I didn’t like about her is her indecision on which of the two guys in her love triangle she actually loves. Pick one already or let them both go.

Will is her Guardian and is there to protect her from those demons and other creatures who would like to use her to cause problems. Unfortunately, he is horrible at his job. He is a good looking man who has blond hair, hazel eyes and is built like a “soccer god”. Sophie has a fling with him while she and her other lover were taking a break. The other guy in her life is Alex, a fallen angel who is a cop trying to do good so he may return to heaven someday. Alex is the complete opposite of Will but still a hunk. He has blue eyes, brown hair, and is very muscular. I get it, both guys are good guys and total hunks, but still it is not right when both care for her to let them keep hanging on. I can’t pick sides because in this novel of the series Will does not show up very often. Alex is in it a lot and he is your typical hero who swoops in and saves Sophie when she gets herself in way over her head.

The other person who plays a big role in the book is Pete Sampson, werewolf and Sophie’s old boss. He was supposedly killed by a mad man, in a previous book, but had managed to escape. Unfortunately, there were those who found out he had escaped and they hired werewolf hunters to finish the job. He comes to Sophie for help to save his life. Of course there may be more that he is not telling Sophie because when he returns to San Francisco a series of very brutal murders start occurring. Could he be a killer seeking revenge for what had happened to him?

This story did have its ups and downs. Some parts were so boring, I had a hard time wanting to continue reading. Then all of a sudden something would make me sit back and go what! Then I would have to just keep on reading to find out what happened. For those who really enjoy anything supernatural, this is a book for you. For those who need to be contently on the edge of their seats then maybe this one would not suit you as much.

Notable Scene:

Will Sherman is my Guardian. And no, I’m not under eighteen_far from it. I’m also not a trust fund baby a la Athina Onassis or Paris Hilton (pre-sex tape/ pantiless partying/ jail time). I’m simply the Vessel of Souls and Will is, simply, my Guardian.

Yeah, I really thought I could get that one past you.

FTC Advisory: Kensington provided me with a copy of Under the Gun. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.

Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales.

Quick & Dirty: This was a steamy young adult contemporary with fun characters, laugh out loud moments, and a heartfelt story.  I really enjoyed it and would highly recommend it.

Opening Sentence: Getting caught wasn’t part of the plan.

The Review:

Derek Fitzpatrick just got kicked out of boarding school in California, for one too many pranks.  It is the end of his junior year and now instead of spending to summer living in the dorms and partying with his friends he has to go and live with his stepmother.  His dad is in the Navy and will be unreachable for at least 6 months, and his mother passed away a few years ago.  His stepmother has decided to move back to her home town in Illinois while Derek’s dad is deployed.  So not only did he get kicked out of school, now he has to move across the country as well.  It’s just one year until graduation than he can leave and never look back.  Derek just wants to get through the year with no drama, but then he meets Ashtyn.

Ashtyn has just been voted captain of her high school football team.  She is the kicker and football is her life.  She has been dating the quarterback for about a year now and is hoping to land a college scholarship, but life doesn’t always go the way you plan.  Ashtyn’s home life has always been far from perfect.  Her mom left when she was little, and her dad quit being a parent when that happened.  She has an older sister who got pregnant and bailed years ago so Ashtyn has pretty much been alone most of her life.  Her sister has decided to come home and with her she is bringing her stepson who happens to be totally gorgeous, but he’s not the type of person she should get involved with.  When Ashtyn’s dreams are threatened there is only one person she can turn to for help.  Trusting Derek is a gamble but it’s one she is going to have to take.

Wild Cards alternates between Derek and Ashtyn’s point of view.   First you are introduced to Derek.  He is a hot California boy with a cowboy accent.  He moved around a lot growing up being from a military family, so he lived in the south for a while and picked up some of their customs.  He has a laid back personality and doesn’t take anything seriously if he can help it.  He doesn’t do commitments, and he doesn’t like drama.  I really liked Derek; he is sweet, respectful, gorgeous, and genuine.  Yeah, he has his flaws but that just made me like him even more.

Next we get to meet the spunky Ashtyn.  She is independent and she loves football.  She is a tomboy, but she is also a total girl. Everyone Ashtyn has ever loved has left her, so she has stopped letting people in.  She has friends and a boyfriend, but she has never truly trusted anyone.  To try and escape from her life she has put her soul into football.  Ashtyn is the type of girl that makes plans and doesn’t do the whole causal hookup scene.  I really loved Ashtyn, she is a strong character with a good voice.

When Derek and Ashtyn meet sparks fly.  They are total opposites, but you know how they say opposites attract.  Derek and Ashtyn drive each other nuts in more ways than one.  They are very attracted to each other, but they don’t see eye to eye on most issues.  Their relationship is rough, but sweet at the same time.  They have amazing chemistry and lots of sexual tension.  They both have had a hard past in their own way, but as they get to know each other they discover that they have more in common than they thought.

I really enjoyed Wild Cards.  This was a great book to satisfy my craving for a good YA contemporary novel.  It piqued my interest right away and the pacing was perfect.  There was just enough drama to keep things interesting.  The characters were well developed and easy to connect with, and the romance was sweet and steamy.  It pretty much had everything a good contemporary piece should have.  I will admit that the plot was predictable, but it was still very enjoyable.  I am super excited to get my hands on book two and read more of Derek and Ashtyn’s story.  I would highly recommend this book to anyone that enjoys romantic contemporary reads.

Notable Scene:

I hold up a hand, halting her tirade for the moment. Me, a thug?

That’s hilarious. This girl’s thug radar is way off. I don’t think I’ve ever been called a thug before. “I hate to break the news to you, sweetheart, but I’ve got no clue where Fairfield is.”

“Yeah, right. I’m not stupid. And I’m not your sweetheart. I don’t even fall for that really bad fake southern accent.” Rustling in the garden captures her dog’s attention. He abandons his post and leaps toward some unlucky critter. “Falkor, come back here!” she orders, but he ignores her.

“Put the pitchfork down, honey.” I take a step closer to her and the exit.

“Not on your life. I’m warning you…take one step closer and I’ll stab you.” One glance at her shaking hands tells me she doesn’t have the nerve to go through with her threat.

I put my hands up in mock surrender.

I wish this girl had an on/off switch so I could permanently shut her down. I’m standing directly in front of her now, the points of the pitchfork an inch away from my chest. “You really don’t want to stab me,” I tell her.

“Yes, I think I do.” The warrior girl blinks her fierce eyes. For a second I’m sure she’s about to lower her weapon, until I hear something creak behind me. As I glance over my shoulder, a bracket holding a bunch of tools on the wall crashes to the ground. The sound startles the girl and she drops the pitchfork. On my foot.

What the—

She stares at the pointed tine sticking out of my left shoe and her mouth opens in shock. Before I know it, she backs up and slams the door shut. I’m swallowed by darkness as I hear the padlock snap into place. Two thoughts cross my mind: she thinks I’m a thug and I think she’s a wackjob.

One of us is right, and it’s not her.

FTC Advisory: Walker Books for Young Readers/Bloomsbury provided me with a copy of Wild Cards. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.

Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales.

Quick & Dirty: Wonderful paranormal story filled with witty banter, fun adventure, a snarky protagonist, and cute romance.  I loved every minute of this book and highly recommend it.

Opening Sentence: Felicia Miller was crying in the bathroom.

The Review:

Sophie Mercer is a witch and has been since she was 12 years old.  Her parents broke up before she was born and her mom never let her meet her dad.  Her magic comes from her father, he’s a warlock and her mother is human.  Sophie has never really stayed in one place for long.  She has lived in 19 different states and gone to many different schools.  She always seems to get herself in trouble and when that happens her and her mom just pack up and move.   Her last mistake (which was a love spell gone wrong) lands her in Hecate Hall.  A school for all different prodigium that can’t fit into normal society, and can’t afford a private school.

Sophie isn’t excited about attending Hex Hall, but she is surprised to find that she fits in there more than she thought.  Yes, there are the mean popular girls and a boy who is way out of her league, but she also makes some great friends.  Unfortunately, there is someone attacking witches at Hex Hall and Sophie’s new best friend is the prime suspect.  The more Sophie learns about herself; the more she realizes how sheltered she has been her whole life, and that she has enemies that she never knew existed.

Sophie is an awesome protagonist.  She is so funny and snarky.  She has a comeback for everything, and her dialog is full of witty banter.  She is a witch with an attitude and I loved her.  There are a lot of layers to Sophie’s character and as the story unfolds you get to see so many sides of her.  She has insecurities like any young girl, and she can be emotional.  But she also speaks her mind and sticks up for those she cares about.  She was such an easy character to like and I loved being inside her head.

Archer Cross is the dreamy warlock Sophie immediately starts crushing on.  Sure he can be a total jerk and his girlfriend is a stuck up snob, but Sophie can’t help but like him.  He can be really sweet when he wants to be and he is just as snarky and witty as Sophie.  It also doesn’t hurt that he happens to be totally hot.  Their relationship is cute and is developed perfectly.

This was such a fun read for me. Laced with mystery, adventure and an adorable romance; this book was impossible to put down.   The pacing is great and there are some big twists that I wasn’t expecting. This was actually my second time reading this book and I liked it just as much as the first time.  The characters are very engaging and fun to get to know.  The story is fun and entertaining.  I love Rachel Hawkins’ writing, and I can honestly say that I will read anything she writes.  I loved this book and I know the rest of the series is going to be great.  I would highly recommend this to anyone that enjoys a fun YA paranormal book that is an easy light read.

Notable Scene:

Suddenly Jenna burst out laughing.

“What?”

She shook her head, her pink stripe falling in front if one eye.  “Just thinking. Man , Sophie, it’s only your first day and you’ve already befriended the school outcast, pissed off the most popular girls at Hecate, and developed a full-blown thing for the hottest guy.  If you can manage to get detention tomorrow, you’ll be like, legendary.”

By Jenna’s definition, it took me a week and a half to become legendary.

FTC Advisory: Hyperion Books provided me with a copy of Hex Hall. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.

Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales.

Quick & Dirty: Strong female character who follows her heart and a hero that is to die for.

Opening Sentence: She heard the music as she ascended the stairs and knew he’d be working.

The Review:

There are not many novellas that I can truly say that I remember after an hour much less days after reading them.  This is a stellar exception.  The story was so well built and consuming that I tumbled into the world and remained there until the final words were read.

Some may wonder about the length of this book and whether it conveys the passion, depth and substance that we get from a full novel and I am pleased to tell you that you will not miss any of these in this supremely well crafted novella.  I don’t even know that I would categorize this as a novella because of how well the story was stitched together and there is a real sense that every word was agonized over and questioned for relevance and only the epic-ness of the story remains.  I think of this as more of a bookette then novella.

So enough of my singing the praises of this book, I’m sure most of you want to know a little bit about our main characters.  Wren Davis is an art student that supplements her income by being a messenger.  Wren acts as a messenger on behalf of Gregori Ivanov’s assistant taking items that require signature and such direct to Gregori’s home and this is how these two meet.

I love that we are given a glimpse of the past in the beginning of the book, but don’t need three chapters of Wren having a meeting with Gregori that isn’t going to result in anything more than frustration on behalf of Wren and the readers.

Now why is Gregori so amazing, let me count the ways.  First, he is an artist with an accent.  Can anybody else say “Heck Yeah!” with me.  Second, in our first meeting we get to see him sans shirt and gaze in the wonder that is this man’s perfection.  Thirdly, he is truly just an interesting individual that has been burned and needs the love of a good woman.  I do believe that is what we call in the romance world “The Male Triple Threat”.

To sum up this book is a great example of what happens when you get amazing authors writing quality work and why Cosmo Red-Hot Reads are currently on my must buy list. Lauren Dane is now an author that I look forward to following more closely in the future.  She is also my new novella or bookette hero.

Notable Scene:

Pale winter sun gleamed against his bare back. Ink trailed along his spine, over lean muscle. Lines of poetry, mainly in Cyrillic, wrapped around his forearms.  Barbed wire marked his ribs, interspersed with more words. When he went shirtless, she’d discovered both his nipples bore silver hoops. He wore fingerless leather gloves, one hand grasping some sort of tool as he prowled around a large metal sculpture he’d been creating for the better part of the past three weeks.

His hair, currently scarlet red, stood up in liberty spikes, but other days he didn’t bother with the full Mohawk effect and he put it in a ponytail to keep it from his eyes. On many it would have looked ridiculous.  But on Gregori? It worked. Like really, really worked.

FTC Advisory: Cosmo Red-Hot Reads/Harlequin provided me with a copy of Cake. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.

Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales.

Quick & Dirty: This is a great book that tears away at you on the inside when you read as real life continues as if nothing has changed. I honestly need a happy book to make up for this one.

Opening Sentence: I’m not gonna lie to you.

The Review:

Crash and Burn centers around the life of two boys who have known each other since elementary school. First meeting during recess in the third grade, Steven “Crash” Crashinsky and David “Burn” Burnett build an unimaginable relationship that is impossible to describe.

The life that these two boys hold together however is in no way normal. Burn is somewhat of a psychopath and Crash is a paranoid kid with ADHD. Burn is definitely the more crazy of the two,  and by their senior year of high school he holds the entire school hostage. It is almost impossible for the school to be saved. Crash, with their long history, is the only one able to really get into Burn’s mind and prevent utter destruction. The mystery lies of what Burn told Crash in those last moments before Burn was turned into the police.

The majority of the book though is describing the life of these two boys from the day they meet, to the day of the hostage crisis, to what is going on in their lives as Burn writes the story. The life of these two boys is definitely filled with parties and girls. Because of this, the book does contain a large amount of profanity and what may be deemed as inappropriate behavior. Many cuss and curse words are used and illegal activities are a common occurrence for these wild teens.

These inappropriate actions however are what really make the characters who they are and even that much more engaging. Burn is definitely a disturbed teenager and smoking marijuana is nothing compared to his other actions.

Honestly the author does a great job of making the book seem as if it were written by a teenage boy. The book is supposedly written and narrated by Crash himself. When reading the book it truly seems as if it is in the mind of a teenage boy who has ADHD, who smokes marijuana, who has newfound fame because of one day, and who has lived a difficult life. For a very long time I believed that the book was based on a true story. It wasn’t until I reached the end that I looked it up and realized that it wasn’t based on a true story. The only reason I ended up looking up whether the book was a true story was that I didn’t want it to be a true story. The ending is so frustrating, so cruel, that I would never want someone to go through so much.

The title of the book is also something that truly amazes me. At first glance I saw the matches and though that an object had crashed and burned. In the first couple of pages I realized that the title represented the characters Crash and Burn. Later, as a friend pointed out, the matches look like the twin towers. One of the matches represents the first tower that was hit by the plane, and the other match represent the second tower that is momentarily unscathed but later also damaged. One has already been lighted while the other one waits. What makes the reference even more relevant is that the twin towers are mentioned several times in the book. In reality Burn was also always like that. He was like a match and any little flame could set him off. Once the flame was lit the outcome was destructive.

Notable Scene:

And then I look at him for the first time since we started playing and I knew, I totally knew that he is holding three aces and two other cards, and I am sure, totally and completely confident, bet on it positive, that those other two cards, whatever they are, are also a pair.

Which would give him a full house.

“Steven Crashinsky.”

I reluctantly raised my hand. I already knew that Lindsey had Connelly as a teacher. She called him the toughest teacher she ever had, one of the few teachers that she had hated. Enough, in fact, to actually feel some level of sympathy for me in getting him.

“Brother of Lindsey Crashinsky,” he said matter-of-factly. “You can relax, Mr. Crashinsky. I see that you are 504. No one is expecting you to be the student that Lindsey was. Lighting doesn’t often strike twice, and I really don’t expect of a spark from you. That is, unless you and Mr, Burnett decide to once again display your pyrotechnical abilities.”

FTC Advisory: Balzer + Bray/Harper Collins provided me with a copy of Crash and Burn. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.

Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales.

Quick & Dirty: Noli struggles with her sprite self and Steven’s break up, while Steven and James go questing for the queen.

Opening Sentence: “Welcome everyone to this special day.”

The Review:

Noli has finally become a lady (according to her mother) but from no help from the “school” Noli was sent to in the previous book. Nope, Noli has the sprite in her head to thank for all of the dainty sewing and mindless curtsies she has perfected in the past two months. But with her previous visit to the Otherworld still looming over her and Steven, home has not been the relief she expected. Especially when her grandfather stops by to visit and discovers her and her mother’s financial needs. Or when Steven is called away to Queen Tiana to finish the “task” he promised her. Or when the sprite takes over and Noli can’t remember what happened five minutes ago. In fact, the highlight of the summer would be her brother Jeff visiting for a day…until that visit turns into an offer as an engineer aboard his pirate ship the Vixen’s Revenge. Stuck between a rock and a hard place, Noli takes the offer until she and Steven can be together again…except it may be more complicated than just fixing the engine fans for a couple weeks. Past promises and future love struggle against each other as the characters are pulled into the Otherworld’s brewing rebellion.

Once the story gets going (as in after the first 100 pages) this story has non-stop twists and turns, revelations and hidden agendas, and introducing a new set of characters you will love and hate. The plot became a bit muddled since the book is really three stories in one: Noli on board the pirate ship, Steven and James questing and Kevighn Silver’s life of exile. And really, the plots only became interesting after they became intertwined in each others’ stories. But enough was happening in Noli’s story that I kept reading. Really, just getting through the first 100 pages is worth it.

Noli’s character developed so much throughout this book. It isn’t often someone has another person (let alone fey) in their head. As Noli fights with the sprite in her head for control, it brings her brother to question her mental state: but also what happened in those two months Noli disappeared. As Jeff inches closer to the truth and the sprite controls more of their life, Noli struggles to manage her new life. I really enjoyed this new Noli, one who is more complex and less naive than before. And although the sprite could be ridiculously annoying, I grew to sympathize with her and by the end of the book, I was surprised how much I appreciated her too.

Once the plot gets rolling and the new characters are introduced, I could not put this book down. From the old and new characters to the mortal world and the Otherworld, the book really is a great read. There is no major cliffhanger, but there is a whisper of rebellion off in the distance. Who knows what the next installment will bring?

Notable Scene:

“Winky, why don’t you ensure Noli knows everything she needs to about the ship.” Vix picked up her coffee mug and shoved it in Jeff’s hands. “Jeff will wash up. I’ll take the helm.” She strode onto the bridge with as much poise as Queen Tiana.

“And that is our beloved ship’s captain.” The corners of Thad’s lips twitched as he leaned on the back legs of his chair, the unpatched eye gleaming.

Jeff shook his head, smiling to himself, as he began to wash up.

Noli brought him the stack of plates. “You sure know how to pick them.”

He laughed. “Oh, Noli, you have no idea.”

FTC Advisory: Flux provided me with a copy of Charmed Vengeance. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.

Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales.

Quick & Dirty: Another look at a beautiful couple filled with romance and angst, perfect for a weekend read.

Opening Sentence: My mother always told me to find a woman who would be equal in every way.

The Review:

It has been difficult for me to begin writing this review. The Beautiful Bastard series by Christina Lauren has become one of my favorites. Where the original story had a different meaning to me, Christina Lauren has turned it into something special, unique, and something to stand on its own.

Beautiful Bitch is the novella that accompanies the story of Beautiful Bastard. This story between Chloe and Bennett take place where Beautiful Bastard left off. Chloe is a driven woman, and her career reflects that. But what Bennett wants in his life isn’t always what Chloe desires. They are alike in so many ways and it is both a hindrance and blessing for their relationship. But while their careers take precedence over their lives, Chloe and Bennett find themselves in a French Villa with beautiful scenery inside and out.

One of the downfalls of Beautiful Bitch is that it wasn’t long enough to satisfy my literary appetite. Christina Lauren knows how to write for themselves, and definitely for their fellow readers. This novella was a good addition into this world and couple. I felt that it was a good companion piece, filled with a substantial amount of plot and dialogue.

The dialogue. Let me talk about this for a moment. If you know the authors, or follow them in any social media outlet, you’ll understand why I loved the dialogue. The banter is witty and snarky. The exchanges are smart and precise. The pillow talk is yummy and worth every word read. To me, the dialogue is one of the best things about this series.

It’s real, genuine, and I just can’t get enough of it.

The important (to me) scenes were deliciously written and highly enjoyable to read. Both Chloe and Bennett were developed in ways that made the overall mood of the story light. There wasn’t a lot of angst, but mostly sweet nothings whispered in my ear.

Beautiful Bitch was highly enjoyable and perfect as a novella piece. I highly urge you to read this. Now (please).

Notable Scene:

“Well, try and enjoy it. Sit in the sun, swim, read something trashy. Walk around barefoot.”

“Walk around barefoot? That’s an unusual request, even for you.”

“Humor me.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

I grinned. “Damn, I think I like this side of you. Pretty sexy when you take orders, Ryan.”

He laughed softly into the phone. “Oh, and Chloe?”

“Hmm?”

“I hope you didn’t pack any panties. You won’t be needing them.”

FTC Advisory: I purchased this copy of Beautiful Bitch.  No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.

Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales.

Quick & Dirty: Great YA paranormal filled with mystery, romance, and magic.  It had a slow start but once it gripped me I couldn’t put it down.

Opening Sentence: I heard the bells that morning as I was entering Washington Square Park.

The Review:

Avaline Hall is 17 years old and getting ready to attend Blythewood, a very elite boarding school.  Ava’s mother attended Blythewood as a girl, but she was expelled her senior year for getting pregnant out of wedlock.  Ava was raised by just her mother and she has never known the identity of her father.  She grew up poor, but she was very happy.  Then suddenly her mother started to drink heavily, and eventually it killed her.  Ava was forced to find work in a factory so she could survive on her own.  She was a seamstress, it was hard work but it paid the bills.  Shortly after Ava started her new job a stranger seeks her out, and starts a terrible fire that kills almost all of the people she works with.  Ava was rescued by a mysterious person with wings.  Afterward she was taken to a hospital and deemed insane because of what she claimed had happened during the fire and her escape.

Ava is released from the asylum by her grandmother. Ava has never met her grandmother.  Her grandmother disowned her mother when she got pregnant and has not spoken to her since.  Ava’s mother came from a very rich family and now that she is an orphan her grandmother feels an obligation to help take care of her.  She decides to send her to Blythewood and hopes that she can become a well breed member of society.  Upon arriving at Blythewood Ava realizes that it isn’t just a school.  It is full of secrets and magic.  Ava has so many unanswered questions about her past and she hopes that within the walls of Blythewood she can find some of those answers.  But the more she digs the more dangerous her situation becomes.

Ava was a fun character to get to know.  She has a lot of determination.  Much of her past is a mystery to her and she won’t stop until she finds some answers.  While at Blythewood she learns a lot about herself as a person.  She makes some new friends that really help her get through some of the tough times.  She also meets some boys that pull at her heart in ways that she has never felt before.  Overall, as a character I found her interesting and very likeable.  She has a strong voice throughout and I can’t wait to read what happens next in her story.

There are a lot of secondary characters that play an integral part in the story.  Ava’s roommate Daisy and Helen become her good friends. Daisy comes from a poor family and she was lucky to get a scholarship to Blythewood.  She is a sweet and very caring person.  Helen on the other hand comes from a very wealthy family from New York. She has lived a very privileged life, but she is a very loyal friend. Nathan is the son of the Headmistress and the only boy attending Blythewood.  He was kicked out of the boarding school he was attending and got special permission to attend Blythewood.  He is a mysterious boy that seems to care about Ava.  She has a hard time reading him, but she feels a connection with him. Last but not least we have Raven.  He is the mystery boy that saved Ava’s life in the fire.  I don’t want to spoil anything so I’m not going to go into detail about his story, but I have to say he is a total hottie.  I love him and Ava together and I am totally cheering for him. These are just a few of the characters and there are many more that I didn’t mention.

This was a fun read for me. I really enjoyed the magical setting and mystery.  The characters were very engaging and easy to connect with.  There isn’t a lot of romance but it was sweet and a great setup for the next book.  There were some good plot twists and once I got into the book it was hard to put down.  My biggest complaint was that this book was 500 pages and there were times when it felt like it.  There were moments that really dragged and I had a hard time getting into the story.  It took me about half the book to really get into the story which was a little hard for me.  The ending was a little abrupt and left you wanting more. Overall, this was a great read for me and I would highly recommend it to anyone that enjoys YA Paranormal with a wonderful magical setting.

Notable Scene:

“Ava!”

I heard Tillie’s voice and looked back to see her on the edge of the roof reaching for me…and someone emerging from the smoke behind her.  It was the man in the Inverness cape. He was looking up at me, but he had his hand on Tillie’s back. His lips parted and a wisp of smoke curled out of his mouth. He smiled wider, revealing a gullet of full of smoke and flames, and then he pushed Tillie off the roof.

I screamed and reached for Tillie. The ladder cracked beneath my feet. I was falling. I felt the air billowing around me, tugging at my clothes, my shoulder blades tingling as if they wanted to break through my skin, as if I’d already hit the pavement and all my bones had shattered. The sky stretched out above me.

And then I felt those strong hands around my waist again, and instead of sky I was looking into dark eyes flecked with gold and, beyond those eyes, black wings spreading over us like a mantle. Like the blessed oblivion of sleep. I closed my eyes to fall into that darkness and was instead lifted into a blinding light.

FTC Advisory: Viking Juvenile/Penguin provided me with a copy of Blythewood. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.

Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales.

Quick & Dirty: Fun YA Paranormal that is brimming with magic, betrayal and action that is all intertwined with sweet romance.   It was a really fast read with an intriguing story line.

Opening Sentence: When the power falls on me, it buzzes in the warm, dark spaces of my skull.

The Review:

Meg Lytton is not your normal young serving girl.  While growing up her aunt taught her to use witchcraft.  She steers clear of any kind of dark magic, but the light magic is harmless to her soul.  Meg lives during a time where magic is considered very evil and anyone accused of witchcraft is sentenced to death.  So she has to be very careful to never be caught using her powers.  She is the maid servant to the exiled Princess Elizabeth, rightful heir to the English throne.  Elizabeth also has the gift of magic, and together they try to learn all that they can without exposing themselves.

Witchcraft isn’t Meg’s only problem, she also is trying to avoid the dangerous Marcus Dent.  Marcus is the current Witch Hunter and he has been vying for Meg’s hand in marriage for years now.  He is much older than Meg and he scares her.  She would rather die as a witch than marry him, but her life is not the only one at stake.  Meg’s aunt is also a witch and if Meg ever gets accused of witchcraft, suspicions will fall on her aunt as well.  To add to her problems, Queen Mary has sent a couple of Spanish priests to teach Elizabeth the Catholic religion.  Now Meg has even more inquiring eyes watching her, especially the young priest Alejandro de Castillo.  Meg doesn’t know who she can trust but when things start to unravel around her she turns to an unlikely source for help.

Meg is a very independent young girl that has a lot to learn about life.  She grows immensely throughout the book.  At first she is shy and afraid of her abilities, but as the story progresses she becomes more confident with herself and her powers.  She is a very loyal friend and really cares about her family.  She is very brave and is willing to risk everything for those she cares about.  When she makes mistakes she owns up to them and tries to right any wrongs she has committed.  I found her very easy to connect with and I can’t wait to read more of her story.

Alejandro is the gorgeous Spanish priest.  He is so sweet and a very loyal person.  I couldn’t help but totally fall for him.  At first he is a little standoffish but as you get to know him he transforms into an amazing man.  Meg has never really had much experience with boys so her romance with Alejandro is a new and exciting experience.  They have great chemistry and so many adorable moments together.  The more I got to know Alejandro the more I liked him.

The first few chapters of this book were a little slow but once I got through them, I completely devoured the rest of the book.  The characters were engaging and easy to like.  The romance was so cute and developed perfectly.  There were a few twists in the story line that surprised me.  I loved the setting, it was intriguing and the way it tied in some historical points was very unique.  The ending was satisfying, but it left me eager for the next book in the series. Overall, this was a really great read and I would highly recommend it to anyone that likes magic or a book with a historical setting, it will not disappoint.

Notable Scene:

The sturdy man with the whip made room for her, his weather beaten face crinkling into a half-smile, half-grimace, though Mistress Parry barely acknowledged his presence, pulling her skirts tight about herself as though she did not wish to brush against him.

Alejandro de Castillo lifted Elizabeth up onto the high stallion’s back, then wheeled the animal in a careful circle. He glanced back at me over his shoulder, an odd little frown on his face, then the small procession started off across the sunlit park towards the woodlands, beyond which stood the ancient Palace of Woodstock and the lodge.

I followed on foot, my feet squelching at every step in the river-clogged shoes, my sodden gown clinging to my body. The dizzy, tingling sensation I had experienced under his gaze seemed to have spread all over my body now. Had the Spaniard put some kind of foreign spell on me? If so, he would soon taste plain English magick, and be sorry for it.

Yet I was uneasy.

Beware a traveler who comes over water, over land.

Perhaps it was the arrival of Alejandro de Castillo that my aunt had seen in the lamb’s entrails

FTC Advisory: Harlequin Teen provided me with a copy of Witchstruck. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.