Book Review: Sands by Kevin L. Nielsen

"Time slowed. Something inside Lhaurel screamed out. Something deep and  primal that she had felt only twice before clawed to the surface and unleashed a torrent of seething energy and rage."
- Sands by Kevin L. Nielsen 

When Future House Publishing asked me to review the Sands and its sequel Storms I was immediately interested. The synopsis made it sound like an action packed book with people with abilities. And it was but there was a lot more to it.

Goodreads Synopsis: 

For nine months of the year, the sands of the Sharani Desert are safe. The genesauri—giant, flying, serpentine monsters who hunt across the desert in enormous packs—lie dormant. The smallest of their kind is able to take down a single man with ease, and the largest is able to swallow entire clans. The people of the desert have always been able to predict the creatures’ appearance, but this year, the genesauri have stopped following the rules. 

When the genesauri suddenly attack her clan, seventeen-year-old Lhaurel draws a sword in her people’s defense—a forbidden practice for women of any clan—and is sentenced to death by her own people. Chained to a rock and left to be eaten by the next wave of genesauri, Lhaurel is rescued by a mysterious, elusive clan said to curse children at a glance, work unexplainable terrors, and disappear into the sands without a trace. 

With the fate of the clans hanging in the balance, Lhaurel discovers she possesses a rare and uncontrollable power—one that will be tested as the next deadly genesauri attack looms on the horizon and the clash between clans grows more inevitable by the hour. 

 At the beginning of this book Lhaurel struggles to find her place in this new world and is trying to figure out what is going on with her magic. Watching her go from the meek girl being forced into marriage into the warrior facing down her enemies was surreal. The author did an amazing job on her character development and it was so refreshing. 

The magic in this book was epic! I hate using that word but I can't think of anything else to use for it.  When I read the synopsis and saw that there was magic I was expecting the typical I can control the elements or stuff like that but the magic in this book was really different. 

Okay lets just take a minute to appreciate that plot twist at the end. Not the end end but like the last fifty pages when you have a pretty good idea about how this is going to go down. No. We get the full blown craziness train. It wasn't just one thing or even two it was like the author suddenly decided to take the story in a whole new direction but it was planed and just wow okay wow. Lets just say that I was grateful I had the second book cause I wouldn't have been able to wait for it. 

There were a couple times when it was hard to keep up with the book. I think maybe there was just a little to much going on and it was to much being thrown at the main character. But just a few instances. Most of the time it was just a smooth ride on the crazy train. I swear I sound like a lunatic.

If you enjoy fantasy, magic, betrayal (oo intrigue), clans, and a crazy, awesome, strong female lead then I recommend this books to you. 

My Rating: 3/5 Stars
Author: Kevin L. Nielsen
Genre: Fantasy
Published: 2015

Book Review: The Demon King by Cinda Chima

“History,' Mari muttered, as if she'd overheard his thoughts. 'Why do we need to know what happened before we were born?' 

'So hopefully we get smarter and don't make the same mistakes again.” 
- The Demon King, Cinda Chima

Fantasy is one of my favorite genres but sometimes it can be hard to find a good fantasy book. It's easy to find a book about dragons, and magic and all that but it's hard to find one with a decent plot that is well thought out. The Demon King was one of those well thought out fantasy books. It had all the wizards and royalty and magic you could want with a good plot to go with it.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Times are hard in the mountain city of Fellsmarch. Reformed thief Han Alister will do almost anything to eke out a living for his family. The only thing of value he has is something he can't sell—the thick silver cuffs he's worn since birth. They're clearly magicked—as he grows, they grow, and he's never been able to get them off.

One day, Han and his clan friend, Dancer, confront three young wizards setting fire to the sacred mountain of Hanalea. Han takes an amulet from Micah Bayar, son of the High Wizard, to keep him from using it against them. Soon Han learns that the amulet has an evil history—it once belonged to the Demon King, the wizard who nearly destroyed the world a millennium ago. With a magical piece that powerful at stake, Han knows that the Bayars will stop at nothing to get it back.

Meanwhile, Raisa ana'Marianna, princess heir of the Fells, has her own battles to fight. She's just returned to court after three years of freedom in the mountains—riding, hunting, and working the famous clan markets. Raisa wants to be more than an ornament in a glittering cage. She aspires to be like Hanalea—the legendary warrior queen who killed the Demon King and saved the world. But her mother has other plans for her...

The Seven Realms tremble when the lives of Hans and Raisa collide, fanning the flames of the smoldering war between clans and wizards.

Han is a quirky, funny character who is trying to take care of his family and figure out his place in life. Hes finding it difficult to get away from his past and when he takes the amulet his life just gets harder. . Raisa is fighting her mother, the queen, on everything in her life. She wants to help her kingdom but she struggles gains the expectations of the court.  I love how we get to see Han and Raisa before they meet and see their struggles. Usually the guy character walks in and the focus is on their love growing through the struggles but not with this one. Their was no love. How great is that? They both had sweethearts from childhood but they were minor parts of the book. It just made me feel like crying. 

Cutthroat, subtle, and awesome. That's how I would describe the action in this book. Clans, magical amulets, and a high wizard as adviser to the queen.The book was full of evil plots and betrayal and it was epic. Every time a problem was solved anther one would appear. At some points of the book I got frustrated because the author seemed to be throwing a little to much at the characters. Obviously the author can do whatever she wants but to me it just felt like a little over kill. 

This book is full of side characters that make he book ten times better.  Cinda Chima not only created two amazing, complex main characters but also an entire cast full of little people who really bring the book to life. The friends, the villains, the people standing in the way of our two heroes. I loved them all. It was even hard to not like our villains. And those, of course, are the best kind.

Recommending this book to all the fantasy lovers out there! I'll definitely be continuing the series:)

My Rating: 4/5 Stars
Author: Cinda Chima
Genre: Fantasy
Published: 2009

Book Review: Fairest by Marissa Meyer

“She cried for the girl who had never belonged. A girl who tried so hard, harder than anyone else, and still never had anything to show for it.” 
- Fairest, Marissa Meyer

When I got this book I was expecting to see tragic things. Because most time, in most stories, that is how the villian is created. Fairest did not disappoint. But it wasn't the tragic I was expecting. I was expecting to feel sorry for Levana and I really tried. But seeing into her mind, what motivated her to do the things she did, killed any sympathy I felt for her. Marissa Meyer really surprised me with this one. 

Goodreads Synopsis:

In this stunning bridge book between Cress and Winter in the bestselling Lunar Chronicles, Queen Levana’s story is finally told.

Mirror, mirror on the wall,
Who is the fairest of them all?

Fans of the Lunar Chronicles know Queen Levana as a ruler who uses her “glamour” to gain power. But long before she crossed paths with Cinder, Scarlet, and Cress, Levana lived a very different story – a story that has never been told . . . until now.

Marissa Meyer spins yet another unforgettable tale about love and war, deceit and death. This extraordinary book includes full-color art and an excerpt from Winter, the next book in the Lunar Chronicles series. 

Seeing Lunar was really interesting. It was actually pretty similar to earth. Except for the fact that everyone uses a glamour and some can manipulate the feelings of others. I guess if I were born and raised there I would be like everyone else and that's how Levana is. She portrays herself as different but shes just the same as every, other cruel person. The "good" characters in this book are few and far between and they seem to be buried in the Lunar ways.

The thing with books like this is we've already seen the future Levana, so we know that she turns out to be a terrible person. It was truly interesting to see her as a young girl struggling with her identity though. Insecure and a joke with the other people of court. You can see how she got to the place shes at in the first three books  of the series. But I really don't think she can blame it on her family. Some things you could blame on them but the way Levana thinks and the little dreams, and ideas she has are just awful. And she doesn't even seem to think that. She thinks she has a right to do everything shes doing. For herself and Luna. And that makes it ten times creepier.

So you're reading all this and you're wondering why you should read it. You don't need it to read the last book so why bother with something so dark, right? Wrong. This book is dark, and chilling but it's also beautiful. Marissa Meyer blows me away with the way she weaves a story together. You can feel the anger, and distrust of the lunar court. The hatred of the two sisters is always a constant. And the evolution of Levana is shocking. Every chapter she gets a little darker, a little more twisted. And it's sad and terrible and gripping. You want to see her become better. Make the kinder choices but you know she won't.

If you love the series, then read this one. Don't skip over it because you hate Levana. You'll regret it.

My Rating: 4/5 Stars
Author: Marissa Meyer
Genre: Fantasy/Science Fiction
Published: 2015

Book Review: The Wrath and The Dawn by Renee Ahdieh

“She was a dangerous, dangerous girl. A plague. A Mountain of Adamant who tore the iron from ships, sinking them to their watery graves without a second thought. With a mere smile and a wrinkle of her nose.” 
- The Wrath and the Dawn, Renee Ahdieh

This book was a bit of a surprise. I read it over the course of three weeks and managed to keep it all together. It's so beautifully put together and the descriptions are so vivid. At times the names were hard to keep up with but that didn't keep me from enjoying the book.

Goodreads Synopsis:

In a land ruled by a murderous boy-king, each dawn brings heartache to a new family. Khalid, the eighteen-year-old Caliph of Khorasan, is a monster. Each night he takes a new bride only to have a silk cord wrapped around her throat come morning. When sixteen-year-old Shahrzad's dearest friend falls victim to Khalid, Shahrzad vows vengeance and volunteers to be his next bride. Shahrzad is determined not only to stay alive, but to end the caliph's reign of terror once and for all.

Night after night, Shahrzad beguiles Khalid, weaving stories that enchant, ensuring her survival, though she knows each dawn could be her last. But something she never expected begins to happen: Khalid is nothing like what she'd imagined him to be. This monster is a boy with a tormented heart. zad finds herself falling in love. How is this possible? It's an unforgivable betrayal. Still, Shahrzad has come to understand all is not as it seems in this palace of marble and stone. She resolves to uncover whatever secrets lurk and, despite her love, be ready to take Khalid's life as retribution for the many lives he's stolen. Can their love survive this world of stories and secrets?

Shazi is a girl determined to kill. She comes to avenge the death of her best friend and she is determined to go through with it. When we begin the story its a bitter self sacrificing one. Shazi knows she will likely die but she is willingly to sacrifice herself to save future girls and families from the pain of losing a loved one. But of course as most stories go the bad guy wasn't what she was expecting. Khalid is quiet and sorrowful and as the story continues we see that he is just as determined to see the kingdom survive as Shazi is to see him dead. Or is she?

The way this story is worded is probably what I loved most. It is so beautifully pieced together and the descriptions literally make you feel as if you've been there before. The stories Shazi weaves are intriguing and oddly familiar. The tension every sunrise brings is a continual build up that keeps you reading long past your bed time. I loved every minute of this story. Until I got to the end. Then I just cried and looked up how long it would be till the sequel came out.

What threw me sometimes were the names. It was very easy to get the characters mixed up and most times the switch of perspectives was hard to keep up with. It would go to a different character and I would be lost for a few paragraphs (pages...?) before it would become clear who we were dealing with. I also got really lost at the ending. I had to reread it a few times to make sense of it all. All of this didn't keep me from loving the story though. It was just a bit faster paced then I would have liked it to be.

All in all the story was great. Shazi was spunky and Khalid was stubborn. The side characters (namely Jalal and Despina:) were awesome. The world was creative and filled with magic and mystery. If you love a good retelling then I would definitely recommend this.

My Rating: 4/5 Stars
Author: Renee Ahdieh
Genre: Fantasy, Retelling
Published: May 12, 2015

Book Review: A Faeries Secret by Rachel Morgan

“I know the evil that exists. I know the terrible things people do to each other. I’ve lived it. I’ve survived it. But just because I’ve seen the palette of dark colors doesn’t mean I have to paint the rest of my world that way. I can choose the bright colors instead. I can see them, paint them, draw them, surround myself with them like a loud, glorious song drowning out all the darkness in the world.” 
- A Faeries Secret, Rachel Morgan

{If you haven't read the first three books then this review will contain spoilers. Check out my review for the third book here}

The fourth book in the series is one of my favorites. Absolutely loved it. I thought I wasn't going to enjoy it since Violet and Ryn weren't the main characters but I think I might actually enjoy Calla more.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Calla Larkenwood wants nothing more than to be a guardian, but her overprotective mother has never allowed it. When circumstances change and Calla finally gets to join a Guild, she discovers guardian trainee life isn’t all she hoped it would be. Her classmates are distant, her mentor hates her, and keeping her Griffin Ability a secret is harder than she thought. Then an initiation game goes wrong, landing Calla with a magical ability she can’t control. She needs help—and the only way she can get it is by bargaining with the guy who just discovered her biggest secret. 

Join beloved characters and new heroes as the bestselling Creepy Hollow series continues.

Diving back into the Fae world with a different set of main characters was a little confusing at first but after a couple of pages I was hooked. Actually I came to enjoy Calla more then I ever enjoyed Violet. I think maybe that was because Calla wasn't quite so good as Violet. Everything seemed to work out for Violet but Calla seemed to have a bit more trouble with her life and that made her a more interesting character.

With that said I did fangirl when Ryn and Violet showed back up. Seriously if you have read the first three books and liked them (*cough, cough* LOVED THEM) then you must read this book. Ten years later and where are Ryn and Violet at this point in their lives? Just go read it please and then we can fangirl together.

Calla is a fighter. She wants nothing more than to go to the Guild and train to be a guardian. She secretly trains for years, and then once her parents agree she takes four years of training and testing in a few weeks. But of course she gets a nasty trainer and mean students who give her an impossible initiation. And when that goes wrong she meets Chase. 

I loved Ryn in the fist three books (if you read my reviews for the first three then you know this) but Chase came out on top.  Hes secretive but at the same time he genuinely cares for Calla. When she gets into trouble hes there to help her get through it.And that ending?! Just wow okay? Wow.

I loved how Rachel brought in some of the old characters and gave them a twist. Of course Calla was there for the first book, but shes all grown up and doesn't need her overprotective older brother there to tell her what to do thank you very much. 

The story is a fresh look into the Fae world and I loved every second of it. If you enjoyed the first three then you need to go get your copy now. 

My Rating: 4/5 Stars
Author: Rachel Morgan
Genre: Fantasy
Published: June 16, 2015

Book Review: The Faerie Prince by Rachel Morgan

“I love the fact that I've know you all my life. It just feels right when you're beside me. It feels like I've been lost in the desert for years, and ... I've finally come home.”  
- The Faerie Prince, Rachel Morgan

{If you have not read the first book, The Faerie Guardian then this post will contain spoilers. Check out my review for the first book here}

I finished the first book a little sad. I finished the second book with a giant hole where my heart should have been. Rachel Morgan completely destroyed me. But in a good way. 

Burying her broken heart deep inside of her, Violet puts here complete focus on graduation. Her lifelong goal has been to graduate at the top of her class, and bringing Nate into the Fae realm has put her behind. 

When she receives her final assignment shes positive she'll finish with top marks. Until she finds out who her assignment partner is. Her ex-friend turned enemy now ex-enemy sort of friend, Ryn. 

Ryn's a great fighter and all but their "friend" status is still new and awkward. Anything could set off the need to kill each other again. But Violets determined to finish as the head of her class and heads off with Ryn to make her dream come true.

 But with a crazy Unseelie Prince still on the lose, collecting talented faeries, and hunting Violet things quickly take a turn for the worst. Throw in a couple magical storms, a faerie queen, a broken heart on the mend, and a murder within the Guild and Violets set for the biggest fight yet. 

I think its safe to say that this book is crazy.  Rachel Morgan takes us on a crazy ride and makes us question everything we learned in the first book. Everything starts to connect and we begin to see the big picture but with some of the pieces missing its so frustrating! All I wanted was for Violet to realize were her heart belongs and for Nate to go find a little card board box to live in.  But no! We have to save the world first. Stupid heroes. 

Creepy Hollow is definitely one of my favorite fictional worlds. One of my favorite parts was the Unseelie court.  Rachel Morgan puts everything into such detail you feel like you've been there before. Oh and mermaids? Yes please. 

If you enjoyed the first book then you'll probably love this one. I definitely liked it more then the first one. And no it didn't have anything to do with the change in Ryn and Violets relationship:)

My Rating: 4/5 Stars
Author: Rachel Morgan
Genre: Fantasy
Published: May 30, 2013

Book Review: The Faerie Guardian by Rachel Morgan

“Creepy Hollow?” He snorts. “Like Sleepy Hollow?”
“No, like Creepy Hollow. It has nothing to do with sleeping.” 
- The Faerie Guardian, Rachel Morgan

So after reading all five books in this series in a little over a week I'm in shock.  Seriously though what the heck just happened.  This series is so different from everything I've read recently and it. Was. Amazing.

Violet is one of the best guardian faeries in training and with graduation coming up shes completely focused and in the zone.  That is until one of her assignments decides to follow her back to the Fae realm.

When Ryn, Violets rival sees her with Nate he immediately tells the Guild.  Facing expulsion, Violet starts on a journey across the Fae realm to return Nate to his human home.  Easy enough for the Guilds top student.  That is until they're ambushed by evil Faeries, encounter a strange metal that can stop magic, and Nate's estranged mother shows up.

With first love in the air and an evil faerie hunting her Violet starts searching for answers.  Special powers, betrayal, and an old friendship gone wrong are only a part of the ride.  Whats happening in Creepy Hollow and can Violet stop it before everything she loves disappears?

As a little girl I had a fascination with all things magical and as a teen that's turned into a love for fantasy.  This book didn't leave my craving for magic unfilled.  Rachel Morgan takes the old idea of Faeries and turns it into a new and unique world full of twists and turns that leave you begging for more.

Rachel Morgan has some of the best characters I've read about. She brings them to life and uses thm to give you the most excruciating feelings.

 Violets a kick butt heroine with a closed off attitude.  Her goal in life is to graduate at the top of her class just like her mom did. Shes had a rough life and it shows in her character. I love how she hates the color purple but everyone gives her purple gifts. The way she opens up to Nate and shows her true self is so sweet.

Nate starts out as one of the most lovable characters out there.  He has no idea that there are fairies and his lack of understanding just makes his character so much more funny. The way he refers to Violet as "Lara Croft" gives you an idea of how he sees her. His wonder at the Fae world is adorable.

Violet's rival Ryn has some issues and he quickly gets under your skin.  His character development throughout the book is amazing.  Hes a jerk and has lot of bad history with Violet, but hes ready to put that aside for family. I love how we get to see what happened between Violet and him as the book progresses.

I highly recommend this book to all the fantasy lovers out there.  I suggest that you get all the books and binge read them with a box of tissues and a cup of tea.

Hope you enjoyed this review.  Thanks for reading!

  

My Rating: 3/5 Stars
Author: Rachel Morgan
Genre: Fantasy
Published: October 27,2012