THE ASSASSIN'S BLADE (THE THRONE OF GLASS NOVELLAS)                                                                                                                          BY SARA J. MASS

Goodreads Summary                                   5 STARS!!!

Contains all five novellas.

Celaena Sardothien is Adarlan's most feared assassin. As part of the Assassin's Guild, her allegiance is to her master, Arobynn Hamel, yet Celaena listens to no one and trusts only her fellow killer-for-hire, Sam. In these action-packed novellas - together in one edition for the first time - Celaena embarks on five daring missions. They take her from remote islands to hostile deserts, where she fights to liberate slaves and seeks to avenge the tyrannous. But she is acting against Arobynn's orders and could suffer an unimaginable punishment for such treachery. Will Celaena ever be truly free? Explore the dark underworld of this kick-ass heroine to find out.

MY REVIEW

So this was the last book in my november book haul, i planned on finishing it earlier but my aunt from New Zealand arrived and i haven't got much time to go through this book. But it is 23:30 on november 30 and i'm proud to say i've pulled an all-nighter and finished all by books for november 30 minutes earlier than the deadline which would be at 12.00! 

This book was filled with adventure and we got to see the REAL Adarlan's assassin. Celaena is as deadly and beautiful as she was in the throne of glass series but you could sense how lethal she was. I liked that the novellas were connected and in order so it seemed more like a novel instead of small stories of her adventure. This is the awesome and astounding life of Celaena before she had to leave for Endovier...

So the first novella is what sets EVERYTHING into motion, Celaena and Sam are sent to meet a Pirate lord for a contract. During their stay. Celaena discovers that the contract was one that involved slaves. She works up a plan to save the slaves with Sam but she knew there was going to be consequences... After thrashing and beating her, Arobynn sends her to train in the desert with another guild, It's amazing to see Celaena out of her comfort zone and training. There, she befriends a girl and everything seems to be going dandy until a treachery she could have never foreseen puts at risk the bonds she's made at the guild. The two last novellas are about Celaena's return to the guild and her fight to escape Arobynn's control and live a life of her own with Sam.

This is not a spoiler, since i'm sure you've all read throne of glass before this book. You all know Sam dies. I know i said i'm team Dorian but if Sam were still alive-TEAM SAM!! I literally bawled when Celaena found out he was dead. And when at first, she was denied to see his body, i had this glimmer of hope that he might not be dead..i mean he might make a sudden appearance in the coming novels!! But then she did see his body and smelt the lavender soap she'd told him not to use on him. I truly honestly believe Sam was Celaena's soulmate. There could never be someone that was as perfect as him for her.

I'm seriously not that into novellas, i always get the feeling they'll steer me away from the main story but i'll say this again-this book is not a normal novella. I treated it like a prequel book because it had such a great flow without creating new conflicts that would need a couple of books to be solved.

THAT ENDING!! We all know how it ends, Celaene goes to Endovier but her journey, full of grief and anger at her betrayer was so emotional. Especially when she walks into Endovier murmuring the words that Sam used to say to himself when he was scared...I've really HATED Arobynn. He treats his assassin's as PROPERTIES and he is a worthless guild leader that deserved to be drowned in a sewer!!

Apart from that, I hope Celaena rips that traitor's head off and sees fear in his eyes. The author does an amazing job at stirring all those emotions in me throughout Celaena's adventures and i still, still hope that Sam is alive!!???

THE FOREVER SONG (BLOOD OF EDEN BOOK 3)                                                                  BY JULIE KAGAWA

Goodreads Summary                                    4 STARS!!!

Vengeance will be hers.

Allison Sekemoto once struggled with the question: human or monster? With the death of her love, Zeke, she has her answer.

Monster.

Allie will embrace her cold vampire side to hunt down and end Sarren, the psychopathic vampire who murdered Zeke. But the trail is bloody and long, and Sarren has left many surprises for Allie and her companions - her creator Kanin, and her blood brother, Jackal. The trail is leading straight to the one place they must protect at any cost - the last vampire-free zone on Earth, Eden. And Sarren has one final, brutal shock in store for Allie. 

In a ruined world where no life is sacred and former allies can turn on you in one heartbeat, Allie will face her darkest days. And if she succeeds, her triumph will be short-lived in the face of surviving forever alone.

THE FINAL HUNT IS ON.

MY REVIEW

Wow, the thrilling adventure that has enraptured us throughout the trilogy has finally come to an end!! From the cliffhanger of book 2, i knew that Allie would not be the same. She became what she feared most-a monster. She accepted and gave in to the hunger that was always present in her. But she soon realized her mistake and she was back to being this kick ass heroine again with a katana at her side.

Kanin and Jackal were as awesome as ever. I found myself smiling throughout this book during the sibling banter between Jackal and Allison, then Kanin was always there like an exasperated fatherly figure..i just loved these three. Jackal was as loud mouthed as ever, never allowing a dull moment to arise. Sarren was as psychotic as ever-making things SO much more interesting. I mean you can't go wrong with a psychopathic vampire!


Unfortunately, and i hate to say this-i still don't feel anything for Zeke..He really irritated me a lot in this book, he was always complaining about what he'd become and crying to Allie to kill him. I really wanted him to shut up. Then Jackal said something to him that made me like him even more, if that is remotely possible! Here's the quote:

“… Remember what you told me, then? You said I’m not a monster, and I’m not evil. Why is it different for you?”
“Because I am a monster!” Zeke snarled back. His fangs flashed as he whirled around, glaring at me. “This is what I am, Allison! I’m a demon-you know it as well as me.”
“Oh, for fuck’s sake!”
Jackal abruptly shoved himself off the truck and came stalking forward, eyes glowing yellow, his lips curled into a grimace of disgust. “Puppy, I am getting so tired of listening to you wine about this,” he snarled to Zeke. “This isn’t rocket science. If you don’t want to be a monster, don’t be a bloody monster! Be an upright stick in the mud like Kanin. Be a self-righteous bleeding heart like Allison. Or you can stop agonizing about it and be a fucking monster, it’s actually a lot of fun.” He narrowed his eyes at Zeke and I stared at him, stunned. “But for the love if piss, make some sort of decision. If you don’t want to eat babies and nail bloodbags to walls, that’s your choice. What Sarren did or made you do in the past has nothing to do with it now. You’re a vampire. Do whatever the hell you want.”

He mirrored my thoughts exactly!! Then there is the fact that Jackal has stopped referring to Zeke as a 'bloodbag' and now calls him 'puppy' and i find that extremely accurate. This makes me think about my review of 'The Eternity Cure' when i mentioned that Zeke did not make  a good match for Allison, he's too whiny and Allie's always trying to hold his hand and comfort him. Grow up Zeke! You don't have to feed on humans but you're a vampire, the least you could do is stop trying to make your girlfriend act like your mom!! Anyway Jackal...
RIGHT ON!!

Kanin, i will miss so much...He was a real hero and his sacrifice was so noble and selfless. It literally broke my heart! Allison,i was so proud at the end of the book, she's come a long way throughout the trilogy and has finally become the best she could ever be with Jackal and Zeke at her side. Eden is safe again and the cure has been found. It was beautiful heartbreaking conclusion that left me staring at the book for a few seconds after i'd read the last sentence. Julie Kagawa is such an emotional and amazing writer that never fails to leave me awed after i read one of her books!

WICKED: WITCH & CURSE (WICKED#1-2)                                                           BY NANCY HOLDER AND DEBBIE VIGUIE

Goodreads Summary                             2 STARS

Complete text of Witch and Curse in a single volume.

Holly Cathers's world shatters when her parents are killed in a terrible accident. Wrenched from her home in San Francisco, she is sent to Seattle to live with her relatives, Aunt Marie-Claire and her twin cousins, Amanda and Nicole.

In her new home, Holly's sorrow and grief soon give way to bewilderment at the strange incidents going on around her. Such as how any wish she whispers to her cat seems to come true. Or the way a friend is injured after a freak attack from a vicious falcon. And there's the undeniable, magnetic attraction to a boy Holly barely knows.

Holly, Amanda, and Nicole are about to be launced into a dark legacy of witches, secrets, and alliances, where ancient magics yield dangerous results. The girls will assume their roles in an intergenerational feud beyond their wildest imaginations...and in doing so, will attempt to fulfill their shared destiny.

MY REVIEW

i bought this book because it was big and cheap. Yeah i know it was a dumb reason but it was also about witches so i went for it. Big Mistake. first off i'd like to say that the author is very talented because the way she wrote and the descriptions of the settings and spells were really amazing.i also liked the alternating chapters between the ancestors and the present. The plot was extremely well thought out. She has amazing writing skills that's for sure.                            

But then...the bad stuff. for starters the characters were not warm. you didn't have any insight of their personalities, to me they were just names on a page. You don't know what they like, what they dislike or anything. You can't relate to them at all or get a feel for their personalities, then the thing that made my blood BOIL was the FRENCH. If you decide to use a foreign language in your book, write it correctly PLEASE!!! i found like 5 grammar mistakes and i was just MAD.I am not exaggerating when i say an eight year old Mauritian could have corrected these errors. 


The other thing i didn't like was the love story it just wasn't well elaborated. and Holly and Jer met literally twice i think and that's it. TWICE!! and they're already in love??? They have barely exchanged more than thirty words and they're in LOVE??!!! There was absolutely no build up to their relationship! Then a lot of time passes between Holly's discover of her powers and her actually using it. We don't know how she learned or practiced or anything-a few pages after her discovery she ALREADY mastered her powers like a pro, but how??? And then, shocking part, Hollie just KILLS and animal that she trusts without proper motivation!! I HATED her in that moment, how could you kill your pet???? There was no girl power considering Hollie was supposed to be with her two cousins...



so the 2 stars go for the amazing writing skills and the plot itself because i liked the story of the Deveraux wanting to kill all the Cahor witches and their old feud and so on. I'm really sad i didn't like it because the plot looked very promising. But definitely not continuing or rereading this series...

CROWN OF MIDNIGHT (THRONE OF GLASS BOOK 2)                                          BY SARAH J.MASS

Goodreads Summary                                 4.5 STARS!!!

"A line that should never be crossed is about to be breached.

It puts this entire castle in jeopardy—and the life of your friend."

From the throne of glass rules a king with a fist of iron and a soul as black as pitch. Assassin Celaena Sardothien won a brutal contest to become his Champion. Yet Celaena is far from loyal to the crown. She hides her secret vigilantly; she knows that the man she serves is bent on evil.

Keeping up the deadly charade becomes increasingly difficult when Celaena realizes she is not the only one seeking justice. As she tries to untangle the mysteries buried deep within the glass castle, her closest relationships suffer. It seems no one is above questioning her allegiances—not the Crown Prince Dorian; not Chaol, the Captain of the Guard; not even her best friend, Nehemia, a foreign princess with a rebel heart.

Then one terrible night, the secrets they have all been keeping lead to an unspeakable tragedy. As Celaena's world shatters, she will be forced to give up the very thing most precious to her and decide once and for all where her true loyalties lie...and whom she is ultimately willing to fight for.

MY REVIEW

Going into this book, i didn't think i'd like it better than the first one. This one was way better because there was way more action on Calaena's part as an assassin. The book starts off revealing that Calaena has faked all the deaths the king ordered her to do. Instead she offers her targets the chance to vanish while she uses another dead body-disfigured enough to pass for them-and delivers to the king as proof her loyalty. Calaena is an intriguing character whom never failed to astonish me. She mostly comes out as this ruthless killer but then she's suddenly into sparky dresses and literature? She's complex and definitely mysterious. The mysteries about her also grow in this book as well as some EPIC answers in the end, where Calaena's secrets are revealed.

I've always liked Dorian to Chaol, he's a prince with a good heart whereas i never really got to know who Chaol really was. In this book, i saw how much he loved Calaena, and i did warm up to him a bit...BUT still TEAM DORIAN!! I have not given up on Calaena and him yet, the story is involving him WAY more than i'd imagined, which makes me feel like Chaol does not have a role in the plot of the wyrdmarks and all. Sure he loves Calaena and all and he protects her but we find out that Dorian has magic!! And he's really important in the plot so maybe just maybe these two will get back together. I hope so! Imagine what awesome queen Calaena would make ruling alongside a just King like Dorian!
Apart from that, i loved that we get to discover so much more about the time of the Fey and how the King got his power. Mort-the talking sarcastic door knocker- is AWESOME! Not sure how i feel about Roland yet but i think he'll play a big role in the next book since he also has magic as well as Kaltain so we can expect to see her again soon.

I guess my favorite part of the book is when-not gonna say who-someone dies and Calaena goes nuts and vengeful, cold, distant and a lot of other tings. By the way Dorian was the one comforting her all along-just wanted to throw that in there:) Anyway so when she stalks into that bar looking for that someone's killer with a cold and beautifully deadly smile along with a flowing black cape, i was like-WOW. THIS is Adarlan's assassin. I guess this was the moment when i really saw her as this awesome and legendary fighter..

Beautifully written sequel with twists at every chapter, Crown Of Midnight is book for which you'll forget to eat!!

                                                            




You guys are probably wondering why this book review has a shiny title while the others do not. And if you're not wondering-i'm still gonna tell you why!! It's because if you've seen the mini slideshow on my sidebar, SERIAL HOTTIE is one of the BOOX I'D DIE 4!!! I actually read this in one go last night and i though-man i really need to rant/ fangirl over this book...so here goes!!!

Goodreads Summary      DO I REALLY NEED TO SAY ITS 5 STARS??? I mean the shiny title says it all :D

Hockey-obsessed tomboy Eleanor Westley has never been the object of a guy's affection before. So when the hottest boy she's ever seen moves in across the street and starts treating her like she's the center of his universe, naturally she's going to be a little skeptical. But everything starts to make sense when girls who look just like Ellie start dying all around the city. Obviously the new guy is the killer, and of course he only likes her because he wants to slice her into tiny pieces. Right? The more Ellie gets to know Seth the more she's convinced he's a psychopathic killer. Problem is, he's the sweetest psychopathic killer she's ever met. Not to mention he's brutally hot. No matter how hard she tries, she can't help but fall for him. Will Ellie find true love, or will her summer of firsts turn out to be a summer of lasts?

MY REVIEW

Let's talk about Ellie fist. AWESOME. KICK ASS. HILARIOUS. HAS THE UNCANNY ABILITY TO THINK OUT LOAD WITHOUT REALIZING IT. I LOVE Ellie as a protagonist, she's hilarious and strong. Mentioned that already didn't i? She's absolutely tomboy and has three guy best friends which she calls the J's, and when they go to hockey camp for the summer-Ellie's life is over. Until she catches a peek at the hot new guy that moves in next door! And she also has a total girly girl sister so you know the humor can't go wrong there. Here's a little quote to show you Ellie's kick ass awesomeness side:

“She questioned my sexual preference in a highly offensive way, so my fist questioned the proximity of her face in an even more offensive way.” 


So anyway while Ellie starts a totally awkward cat and mouse relationship with Seth, there's a serial killer that kills a read headed girl every saturday night! So of course Ellie starts to freak because she fits the profile. There's also a part where Ellie kind of comes out of her shell throughout the novel so it was really nice to see her evolve but not forget her real self completely. 

As soon as Seth saw Ellie he fell for her and she-well she was freaked!

 Then one day, Ellie sees Seth practicing throwing knifes at a target and she freaks even more! Suddenly she thinks he's the serial killer.  That's when things start spicing up. Angela, her sister, tries to set them up and after a long time when Ellie actually falls for Seth, Angela starts thinking he's the killer! Now let me tell you something-this author is a GENIUS!! she had me doubting Seth along with Ellie every single time!!
Seth did act weird but he really did like Ellie, so i thought, Nah he ain't the killer. But then he'd say stuff like:

“El-lie, Come out, come out, wherever you are! The cat's finally away. Time for the mouse to come out and play.”

and i'd be like-OHMIGAWD IT'S HIM!!!!NOOOO



But then he'd be sweet and i'd be like-Nah it's not him

Then this cycle repeats AGAIN AND AGAIN!! Is it him or not?? If he isn't why does he act creepy?? why is he with Knives??? TORTURE BEING EFFECTED ON MY MIND!!
Then i started questioning myself. would it matter if he was the killer?? at times i was like -i don't give a crap if he's the killer!! He's incredibly sweet and he's like puzzle you WANT to solve desperately!        
In the end-throughout the book my reaction has literally been nail biting, and indecisive hair pulling...

But then it's revealed that Seth actually has a personality disorder because he saw his parents being stabbed to death when he was a kid and also got stabbed. Hence explaining his knife habit and his weird behaviour. But we're still not sure he's not the killer, he has NO alibi and he's meeting cops at the mall??

The ending was so sweet and unique to the characters..IT WAS BEAUTIFUL




I cannot get enough of this book. And the reason it's my favorite it's because it brings out TONS of emotions in me. Not just sadness or awe but pity, happiness, joy, irritation, indecision, suspicion, love, hate, intrigue and a lot more. And that's what a favorite book is to me-it's a book that brings out so many emotions in you-good and bad-that you're overwhelmed!!

Well you guys have witnessed my first blog rant! Leave comments on your thoughts about this book! And remember just because i like it doesn't mean everyone will! We're all entitled to our opinions and respect each other! So if you didn't like this book, still comment and say what you didn't like:)

THE ETERNITY CURE (BLOOD OF EDEN BOOK 2)                                                               BY JULIE KAGAWA

 Goodreads Summary                                     5 STARS!!!
In Allison Sekemoto's world, there is one rule left: Blood calls to blood
She has done the unthinkable: died so that she might continue to live. Cast out of Eden and separated from the boy she dared to love, Allie will follow the call of blood to save her creator, Kanin, from the psychotic vampire Sarren. But when the trail leads to Allie's birthplace in New Covington, what Allie finds there will change the world forever—and possibly end human and vampire existence.
There's a new plague on the rise, a strain of the Red Lung virus that wiped out most of humanity generations ago—and this strain is deadly to humans and vampires alike. The only hope for a cure lies in the secrets Kanin carries, if Allie can get to him in time.
Allison thought that immortality was forever. But now, with eternity itself hanging in the balance, the lines between human and monster will blur even further, and Allie must face another choice she could never have imagined having to make.

MY REVIEW

Wow, i have to say i liked this book way more than the first one. Maybe because the first book was way too long and had many small action scenes but never a climax. However in this book i still got the dragging on feelings at times but the whole thing was so engrossing. There were so much more shocking revelations and things that kept me glued to the book. This sequel definitely does not disappoint!

What made the book so engrossing and never boring was due to the presence of one vampire. If Allie had been journeying on her own, i would have really been bored. But Jackal was there!!! Arrogant and hilarious, he never allowed a dull moment to peek through the journey. I was so happy when Allie started realizing that she actually cared about her blood brother!

Allie is still a kick ass fighter and i found myself liking her way more than in the first book. Her determination to find Kanin was so admirable. Now for Zeke. I'm sorry to say that i did not find myself liking Zeke more than the first book. His romantic act of leaving Eden to find Allie was pretty courageous but somehow i'm just not getting him. For me, Allie is so awesome, she need someone as awesome to stand by her side. I'm not saying Zeke is week because he's human-he has a lot of guts and courage-but i don't see him as an equal match for Allie. 



sorry Zeke, but this is how i feel about you...

Now for one of my favorite parts....KANIN IS BACK!!! i really wanted to meet him again and it did not fail to amaze me! My heart broke for Kanin as he was tortured savagely by Sarren and he just could not get a break! After being freed by Allie he had to go through an encounter with one of his long lost off springs then he had to meet Salazar who hates him. After that he has to go find the cure-which is with Sarren- while he is infected and starts dying at a slow pace!! And then on top of that, Kanin agrees to sacrifice himself to get the cure?? Kanin what the freak are you going through right now??


But then all along Kanin was



 Next thing that got this book entertaining?? SARREN!!! Yep that's right that psychopath kept things interesting till the very end with that killer cliffhanger!!



AWESOME book and glad i bought the whole trilogy cause that cliffhanger is killing me!!!

THE KEEPER'S VOW                                                                                                                                  BY B.F. SIMONE

Goodreads Summary                                  5 STARS!!!
From the day he showed up on her front porch, he desperately needed three things: a new beginning, a place to belong, and someone to stand beside him.
By the time she figured that out, it was too late.
In a world where being half-vampire is a dark secret that tears families apart, 16 year-old Katie Watts must untangle the web of lies that is her so-called life. No one is who she thought they were. Her father is keeping secrets, and everyone knows the darker truth except her. She has no direction, no answers, and—when she searches for the truth—no home.
As the web untangles, the truth pulls Katie and Tristan closer together they find themselves connected in more ways than she can believe. But—is honesty worth more than blissful ignorance? Can she live with the truths that begin with her dead mother and end with The Keeper’s Vow?

MY REVIEW

This book was amazing!!! The start was pretty straight forward and the author managed to skip the dramatics. It's action packed and thrilling from the very start with never a dull moment. I loved all the characters and the author did a great job at describing them. The plot was complex with a lot of shocking revelations throughout the book.

Tristan and Katie- SWOON!! I absolutely adore these two and they were absolutely hilarious especially that part when Katie had put a shirt that was too tight on! I was laughing throughout that scene. Stuff happened with Tristan as we discovered his past and i felt so bad for him. I loved that there love story was not from the start-they worked through problems and came out together in the end.

I really did not see the Larry part coming or the ending but it was absolutely well written. Katie was a selfish protagonist and i did get irritated with her but then i realized that this is what the author wanted all along. Katie's selfishness was one of the main catalysts of the plot and there was a kind of self-discovery thing going on as Katie rose above her selfishness. There were times when everyone wasn't talking to her, i wanted to crawl under the bed of her, i kept asking myself how she was going to get out of this. But Katie managed to stay strong and put everything right.

Overall this is definitely one of my favorite books-so good i read it one sitting last night!! and i cannot wait to read more of Tristan and Katie!! 

DARK HOPE                                                                                                                                     BY MONICA McGURK

MIDNIGHT STAR                                                                                                                                            BY DANIELLE WARD

Goodreads Summary                                5 STARS!!!

Vegas Hart is walking a thin line between fact and fiction, only she doesn't know it yet. A star-gazing freak, musician and songwriter, a typical day in Vegas' life revolves around her music, her perfect boyfriend, Gage and trying hard not to take her mother's lack of parenting skills personally. But when a sexy professor subs for her astronomy class, the facts of Vegas' life turn into a twisted work of fiction, as sultry visions of him and her lead her to uncover she's not who she thought she was...not even close.
Vegas is forced to embrace her hidden identity as the physical embodiment of the Vega star, an immortal constellation and granddaughter of the gods. And although that would have been spectacular, especially considering that totally explained why she'd always felt spiritually connected to the stars, she discovers her destiny is to imprison a sinister predator threatening the immortal family she never knew existed.
If that isn't enough, add in an undying and passionate past love that threatens her current relationship, a serious bout with memory loss, three wicked sisters spinning a future Vegas yearns to change, and a moody Oracle and you've got a twisted romantic tale of epic proportions. In order to save her family, Vegas must accept her divinity and make gut-wrenching sacrifices that leave her questioning everything she's ever known.

MY REVIEW

Thank you to the author for giving me a free copy for an honest review!

This book was filled with action and romance! I love Greek mythology but this book had such a unique twist in it. It had constellations instead and it clearly showed how much research the author put into this. To think out such an amazing plot with those twists and turns just...WOW. The writing was beautiful; just simply breath taking. My favorite part had to be the library at Beck. i mean the description was just soo perfect and i just want that Library!! i want it bad people, very bad!!!! I loved the character development in this story. Vegas was just a normal whiny teen at first but then she merged into this fierce and intelligent goddess.

i don't really like love triangles because they make me so hopeful and i tend to go for the unlikely choice. But this book...it was just soooo refreshing to see that both guys had an equal chance with Vegas. It didn't make me feel like i knew who she'd choose in the end. Leo and Gage are both just perfect and real. I understand why Vegas loves them both equally. And i loved that the author stressed that she felt equally about them both. I know a lot of people will be Team Leo and i adore him, i really do. But... I have to say Gage won my heart<3

He was just so strong even if he was just a mortal. he was thrown into an unknown world with gods. he'd been kidnapped, trampled with by Circe and all he cared about was Vega. My heart was literally just swooning when Vega told him the whole truth. He just showed unwavering loyalty towards her, he didn't doubt her for a second! He loved her soo much he would believe anything he told her. He fought against a constellation, Leo, for Vega and that was just so courageous. He didn't demand answers from Vega, he was just simply there for her.
"Not as much as i love you, Vegas. I could live without the sun; i could even live without the moon, but i could never live without my midnight star."
That did it for me, I was on Team Gage even though i loved Leo.

Then came the last part of the book which was EPIC! And Gage was the hero of the story, i'm not exaggerating. and well the fight made me soo incredibly sad after what happened (Not gonna spoil people-just know it's full of emotion, awesomeness and shock) 


And then that epic cliffhanger that made my heart sore with hope...





and do you guys know what that means????

A BREATH OF FROST (THE LOVEGROVE LEGACY)                                                                                     BY ALYXANDRA HARVEY

Goodreads Summary                                  5 STARS!!!

In 1814, three cousins—Gretchen, Emma, and Penelope—discover their family lineage of witchcraft when a binding spell is broken, allowing their individual magical powers to manifest. Now, beyond the manicured gardens and ballrooms of Regency London, an alluring underworld available only to those with power is revealed to the cousins. By claiming their power, the three cousins have accidentally opened the gates to the underworld. 

Now ghouls, hellhounds—and most terrifying of all, the spirits of dark witches known as the Greymalkin Sisters—are hunting and killing young debutante witches for their powers. And, somehow, Emma is connected to the murders…because she keeps finding the bodies. 

Can the cousins seal the gates before another witch is killed…or even worse, before their new gifts are stripped away?

MY REVIEW

The cover of the book drew me in from the start and being a fan of the Victorian era, i couldn't resist grabbing this book of the shelf. Our main character Emma was absolutely fantastic to read about. She doesn't cower behind men but she's extremely headstrong and outspoken. Her past was quite mysterious since her mother was crazy and sat in front of the window all day, singing weird songs and her father outright ignored her. I kind of hated him for his complete indifference to his daughter but at the end due to the EPIC twists i was completely relieved. 

The plot was well developed and intricate with loads of sub plots and stories behind each action. I loved that the author included Emma's mother's love story. One of the things i absolutely adored was the relationship between the three cousins. They have such an amazing and strong bond!! They all had their individual personalities but you could clearly see how much they love each other. The magical aspect of the book was unique and well described and so were the extremely nerve racking fight scenes.


Cormac. Oh boy. He was supposed to be this arrogant jerk  from Emma's narration but when the book switched to his, we saw how utterly sweet he really was. He was deeply in love with Emma but had to stay away from her because she was a Lovegrove witch and her mother had once defied The Order in which Cormac has sweared to protect. So there is a kind of forbidden love thing going on but there was no drama and it was nice to see their relationship evolve. So basically Cormac and Emma, this is how i feel about you:

THE IMMORTAL RULES (BLOOD OF EDEN BOOK1)                   
BY JULIE KAGAWA

Goodreads Summary                              4.5 STARS!!!

To survive in a ruined world, she must embrace the darkness…

Allison Sekemoto survives in the Fringe, the outermost circle of a walled-in city. By day, she and her crew scavenge for food. By night, any one of them could be eaten. Some days, all that drives Allie is her hatred of them—the vampires who keep humans as blood cattle. Until the night Allie herself dies and becomes one of the monsters.

Forced to flee her city, Allie must pass for human as she joins a ragged group of pilgrims seeking a legend—a place that might have a cure for the disease that killed off most of civilization and created the rabids, the bloodthirsty creatures who threaten human and vampire alike. And soon Allie will have to decide what and who is worth dying for… again.


Enter Julie Kagawa's dark and twisted world as an unforgettable journey begins.

MY REVIEW

Allison Sekemoto lives in one of the sectors surrounding the vampire city and she's constantly hiding and hunting for food. From the very start you can see she's one of the kick ass heroines. She survives. She does everything to survive because survival is her only instinct. I liked the beginning of the book where the world building was well explained and described, there was nothing i didn't understand. However i was a little bit irritated with her when she didn't mourn the loss of her friends but somewhere i understand her.

I have a soft spot for Kanin, he was incredibly strong and distant but those few times when he actually did smile it made me like him even more. He was with Allie throughout her transformation and helped her survive. And one of the best things in this book-the vamps don't shine, they cry blood! This book is extremely dark and adventurous with not a moment of boredom. I can't say i like Zeke a lot but his dedication to Allie even after finding out she was a vampire was pretty sweet. 

The book had a lot of twists and turns especially when me met Jackal in the last part. I'm hoping to see more of him in book 2, i love his snarky attitude! However what i didn't like about this book was the length. It was never boring or anything but the amount of time in between the start of the plot to the actual ending was a huge time lapse. Everything came together in the end but i kept having this 'dragging on' feeling. 

Julie Kagawa has again captured me in her unique and magical world building. The iron fey series was full of magic  but The Immortal Rules was dark and mysterious, full of action and kick ass characters. Looking forward for book 2 where we'll hopefully see loads more of Kanin and Jackal!!