Review - Seraphina

by Rachel Hartman
publisher: Random House Children's Books
date of publication: July 10, 2012
format: digital review copy
pages: 464
source: Netgalley
read it in: 8 days

From Goodreads:

Four decades of peace have done little to ease the mistrust between humans and dragons in the kingdom of Goredd. Folding themselves into human shape, dragons attend court as ambassadors, and lend their rational, mathematical minds to universities as scholars and teachers. As the treaty's anniversary draws near, however, tensions are high.

Seraphina Dombegh has reason to fear both sides. An unusually gifted musician, she joins the court just as a member of the royal family is murdered—in suspiciously draconian fashion. Seraphina is drawn into the investigation, partnering with the captain of the Queen's Guard, the dangerously perceptive Prince Lucian Kiggs. While they begin to uncover hints of a sinister plot to destroy the peace, Seraphina struggles to protect her own secret, the secret behind her musical gift, one so terrible that its discovery could mean her very life.

In her exquisitely written fantasy debut, Rachel Hartman creates a rich, complex, and utterly original world. Seraphina's tortuous journey to self-acceptance is one readers will remember long after they've turned the final page.

Seraphina Dombegh is a girl of extraordinary musical talent who has attained a position at court as the court composer's apprentice.  However, Seraphina has a secret, one that could jeopardize everything from her livelihood to her life, itself.  After a much-loved prince is found murdered in the forest, even more unusual occurrences begin to take place that point toward a plot to undermine the tenuous treaty between dragonkind and the kingdom of Goredd.  With her keen intelligence and finely honed powers of observation, Seraphina is well-placed to discover the culprits.  Can she do so without exposing her true nature... or losing her life?

Seraphina is one of those characters that you can immediately hear speaking in your head.  Her voice is developed very well and she has such a strong personality.  As more of her persona is revealed, you can tell that she is a girl who knows what she's about.  Her responses to the events around her are those of a person who doesn't take injustices lightly and show that she has a keen sense of loyalty.  All of these made her a very compelling character to read.  Kiggs is a bit of a mystery, at first.  I couldn't quite pin him down and didn't know what I thought until several chapters had gone by.  I can honestly say, however, that I enjoyed the build-up that his introduction entailed.  It allowed so much time in which to make a well-informed assessment of him.  It was done in such as way as to give the impression that you're meeting a new acquaintance.

Seraphina has a fantastic (in all sense of the word!) plot that, while a little slow-moving at first, builds into a rousing adventure.  The inclusion of such an in-depth dragon lore was nothing short of brilliant and I found the background development as a whole to be very intriguing.  The world building is nicely done, as well, and I loved all of the descriptions of Goredd and the surrounding countryside.  The pacing did take some getting used to but, in the end, it proved well worth it, as the spectacular nature of the story just can't be denied.  You can tell that Hartman takes great care to craft her words into such a wonderful story.

I had such a great time getting to know both the characters and the world that makes up Seraphina.  This is a book that illustrates the importance of patience, because if you don't give it time and quit too soon, you will miss out on a great story.  The imagery is vivid and the premise is spectacular, ensuring that you're provided with a great reading experience.  The writing is precise and is very successful at conveying the full scope of how this world runs.  If you're looking for a well-written dragon tale, you should definitely try Seraphina.  It's a must-read that will pick you up and positively fly away with you.

Buy Seraphina at the Following Locations:

Amazon / IndieBound / B&N / The Book Depository

Obligatory legal statement: This digital review copy was provided to me free of charge by the publisher via Netgalley. No monetary compensation was received in exchange for this fair and unbiased review.

Review - Dreamless

by Josephine Angelini
publisher: HarperTeen
date of publication: May 29, 2012
format: digital review copy
pages: 302
source: Edelweiss
read it in: 4 days

From Goodreads:

Can true love be forgotten?

As the only Scion who can descend into the Underworld, Helen Hamilton has been given a nearly impossible task. By night she wanders through Hades, trying to stop the endless cycle of revenge that has cursed her family. By day she struggles to overcome the fatigue that is rapidly eroding her sanity. Without Lucas by her side, Helen is not sure she has the strength to go on.

Just as Helen is pushed to her breaking point, a mysterious new Scion comes to her rescue. Funny and brave, Orion shields her from the dangers of the Underworld. But time is running out—a ruthless foe plots against them, and the Furies’ cry for blood is growing louder.

As the ancient Greek world collides with the mortal one, Helen’s sheltered life on Nantucket descends into chaos. But the hardest task of all will be forgetting Lucas Delos.

Josephine Angelini’s compelling saga becomes ever more intricate and spellbinding as an unforgettable love triangle emerges and the eternal cycle of revenge intensifies. Eagerly awaited, this sequel to the internationally bestselling STARCROSSED delivers a gritty, action-packed love story that exceeds expectation.

After her world was rocked by an earth-shattering revelation, Helen Hamilton is given little time to come to terms with all that has just happened to her.  Instead, she must set out to track down the Furies so that she may bring to an end their perpetual anger toward the Scions, thus ending the bloodshed of the past thousands of years.  As the Descender, it is up to Helen to do what others can't, all the while trying to hold up the facade of a normal teenage girl and keeping her ever-eroding sanity intact.  As a new ally arrives to lend her aid, a new, even more dangerous adversary has their sights set upon Helen.  If this new enemy succeeds, then life as Helen knows it could come to an end.

Oh, Helen, Helen, Helen.  What ever are we going to do with you?  Helen continues to be ever more stubborn in Dreamless, but there is one little word that makes her stubbornness and poor judgment make sense: hubris.  If Helen's behavior had not been put into such great perspective by one teensy little word, I would have likely been much more upset with her and unable to see the bigger picture.  As it was, I became more disillusioned with Lucas as I watched him go off the deep end.  He surprised me in the end, however, with some well-timed developments and an attitude change.  It is a new character by the name of Orion, however, that caught my attention.  Now this is a guy I can root for for Helen!  Aside from the obvious reason (read Starcrossed if you haven't already, because I'm not telling!), Orion was an altogether more appealing match for Helen.  I found him to be more empathetic and reasonable than Lucas.  As such, I was fairly content with what I read of the characters and look forward to seeing more of what they will be up to in the future.

I found the plot in Dreamless even more appealing than I found the one that makes up Starcrossed.  There are some truly brutal occurrences that show us that the Scions' adversaries aren't messing around.  The plots cooked up by the antagonists and the lengths to which Helen must go in her attempt to put an end to the Scions' hounding at the hands of the Furies made Dreamless so much more compelling and I was easily drawn into the story.  The descriptions of the different areas of the Underworld that Helen visits are so vivid and, at times, absolutely chilling.  I couldn't help but being mesmerized by each and every landscape that was described.  Overall, Dreamless just really worked well for me and I was able to end the book with contentment.  I'm glad to say I will be continuing with this series!  

Dreamless takes the potential that Starcrossed brought to the table and makes it better with even more interesting character interactions, vivid scenery, and a gut-wrenching series of threats.  Angelini skillfully weaves several themes from Greek mythology into a tapestry of tragic, grueling circumstances and challenges.  If you're a fan of mythological variations, you will enjoy Dreamless.  From its interpretations on key figures in mythology to some truly horrific moments, Dreamless catches you up and makes your imagination take flight.  This series is really going places and I can't wait to find out what's next for Helen, Lucas, Orion, and the rest of the Scions.   

Buy Dreamless at the Following Locations:

Amazon / IndieBound / B&N / The Book Depository

Obligatory legal statement: This digital review copy was provided to me free of charge by the publisher via Edelweiss. No monetary compensation was received in exchange for this fair and unbiased review.

Waiting on Wednesday #42

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event from Jill at Breaking the Spine. To participate, simply share that book(s) you are eagerly awaiting the release of and report back to Breaking the Spine with the link to your post. Clicking the link above will take you straight to her post and widget.

It's time to add another 3 books to the list of those I'm absolutely dying to get my hands on!  I am beyond excited for all of this week's picks.

Dark Companion by Marta Acosta (coming July 3, 2012 from Tor Teen)

When foster teen Jane Williams is invited to attend elite Birch Grove Academy for Girls and escape her violent urban neighborhood, she thinks the offer is too good to be true. She's even offered her own living quarters, the groundskeeper's cottage in the center of the birch grove.

Something's not quite right about the school -- or is it Jane? She thinks she sees things in the birch grove at night. She's also beginning to suspect that the elegant headmistress and her sons are hiding secrets. Lucky is the gorgeous, golden son who is especially attentive to Jane, and Jack is the sardonic puzzling brother.

The school with its talented teachers and bright students is a dream for a science and math geek like Jane. She also loves her new friends, including hilarious poetry-spouting rich girl, Mary Violet. But the longer Jane stays at Birch Grove, the more questions she has about the disappearance of another scholarship girl and a missing faculty member.

Jane discovers one secret about Birch Grove, which only leads to more mysteries. What is she willing to sacrifice in order to stay at this school...and be bound to Birch Grove forever?

Why I'm Waiting: Dark Companion sounds like just the right combination of mystery and supernatural.  I'm really looking forward to reading it!

 

 Stormdancer by Jay Kristoff (coming September 18, 2012 from Thomas Dunne Books)

A DYING LAND
The Shima Imperium is verging on the brink of environmental collapse; decimated by clockwork industrialization and the machine-worshippers of the Lotus Guild. The skies are red as blood, land choked with toxic pollution, wildlife ravaged by mass extinctions.

AN IMPOSSIBLE QUEST
The hunters of the imperial court are charged by their Shōgun to capture a thunder tiger—a legendary beast, half-eagle, half-tiger. But any fool knows thunder tigers have been extinct for more than a century, and the price of failing the Shōgun is death.

A SIXTEEN YEAR OLD GIRL
Yukiko is a child of the Fox clan, possessed of a hidden gift that would see her executed by the Lotus Guild. Accompanying her father on the Shōgun’s hunt, she finds herself stranded: a young woman alone in Shima’s last wilderness, with only a furious, crippled thunder tiger for company. Even though she can hear his thoughts, even though she saved his life, all she knows for certain is he’d rather see her dead than help her.

But together, the pair will form an indomitable friendship, and rise to challenge the might of an empire.

Why I'm Waiting: Steampunk!  Japan!  Great plot description!  Gorgeous cover!  Need I say more?

 

The Dark Unwinding by Sharon Cameron (coming September 1, 2012 from Scholastic)

A spine-tingling tale of steampunk and spies, intrigue and heart-racing romance!

When Katharine Tulman's inheritance is called into question by the rumor that her eccentric uncle is squandering away the family fortune, she is sent to his estate to have him committed to an asylum. But instead of a lunatic, Katharine discovers a genius inventor with his own set of rules, who employs a village of nine hundred people rescued from the workhouses of London.

Katharine is now torn between protecting her own inheritance and preserving the peculiar community she grows to care for deeply. And her choices are made even more complicated by a handsome apprentice, a secretive student, and fears for her own sanity.

As the mysteries of the estate begin to unravel, it is clear that not only is her uncle's world at stake, but also the state of England as Katharine knows it. With twists and turns at every corner, this heart-racing adventure will captivate readers with its intrigue, thrills, and romance.

Why I'm Waiting: Sharon Cameron is an author from the state I call home, which is always exciting in and of itself.  When you take into account that she has written what promises to be a story full of mystery, romance, and steampunk goodness... well, I'm a goner!

Top Ten Tuesday - Top 10 Books I Hope People Will Still Read in 30 Years

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme from The Broke and the Bookish.  The purpose of this meme is to create a list based on weekly prompts.  Just link back to The Broke and the Bookish, then add your name and blog post to their link widget.  That's it!

It's been a while since I participated in TTT, but this is definitely a fun list to come back to!  There are so many books that I have read and loved in the past 10 years, but I hope I can do this list justice with my picks.

Top Ten Books Written In The Past 10 Years That I Hope People Are Still Reading In 30 Years

Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys

 The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

The Girl in the Steel Corset by Kady Cross

Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake

Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

The Iron King by Julie Kagawa

Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers

 Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

Review - The Vicious Deep

by Zoraida Cordova
publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
date of publication: May 1, 2012
format: hardcover
pages: 384
source: Southern Book Blogger ARC Tours
read it in: 2 days

From Goodreads :

For Tristan Hart, everything changes with one crashing wave.

He was gone for three days. Sucked out to sea in a tidal wave and spit back ashore at Coney Island with no memory of what happened. Now his dreams are haunted by a terrifying silver mermaid with razor-sharp teeth.

His best friend Layla is convinced something is wrong. But how can he explain he can sense emotion like never before? How can he explain he’s heir to a kingdom he never knew existed? That he’s suddenly a pawn in a battle as ancient as the gods.

Something happened to him in those three days. He was claimed by the sea…and now it wants him back.

Tristan Hart has managed to make a name for himself amongst the girls at his school as a womanizer and, to some, a jerk.  Things are about to change, however, when he is washed out to sea by a freak tidal wave.  When he is found laying upon the beach by his best friend, it is with the realization that he can't quite remember what happened to him and that his feelings for his friend are growing stronger.  There's another problem, however: he was missing for 3 days and no other survivors have been found.  As if that weren't enough, he's beginning to change.  Can Tristan hold the remaining shreds of his life as he knows it together, all the while trying to stop a force that could bring the world to its knees?

I know that Tristan is supposed to be something of a jerk in the process of reforming.  I get that.  However, while I did have problems becoming interested in him as a main character, he isn't the only character that I found myself supremely annoyed by.  I'm just going to say it plainly: Layla drove me absolutely batty!  Sure, her attitude toward Tristan is often warranted, but there are other moments that left me wondering just what was supposed to be so appealing about this girl.  It was all so over-the-top that it became more of a distraction than anything.  I found myself more drawn to Tristan's parents and "cousins" than either Tristan, himself, or Layla.  Neither were exactly my cup of tea.

The settings were much more appealing, as they were written with great attention to detail and no small amount of imagination.  Even if I didn't enjoy the primary character and his best friend, I did enjoy the adventure he set out on.  The villains were threatening and ensured that the story had the level of urgency needed to warrant the troubles Tristan encounters and the tasks he is set are intriguing.  The plot did hit a few snags that left me confused, but it did manage to bounce back and catch me up to speed.  Over all, the story's progression was a good one and I enjoyed the quest aspect more than I would have expected initially.

The Vicious Deep may not have resonated with me as much as I had hoped it would, but I did see the potential in the story by the end of the book.  Having been the first mermaid (merman?) story I had read in quite a while, it did rekindle my interest in the subject, which is always a nice touch.  I will keep an open mind about the next book in the series, but I know that I have some hopes for things I would like to see in it.  It is my hope that I can become more attuned to the characters in the future and that the plot keeps intensifying.  I'll be waiting to see where the story goes from here.

Buy The Vicious Deep at the Following Locations:

Amazon / IndieBound / B&N / The Book Depository 

Obligatory legal statement: This ARC was provided to me free of charge by the publisher via Southern Book Blogger ARC Tours. No monetary compensation was received in exchange for this fair and unbiased review.

Owl Tell You All About It & New to the Nest - May 20-26

Welcome to my weekly recap of events here on Starting the Next Chapter.  Here, you can see what I read, what I'm reading, what I'm reading next, what I've written, where I may be going, and the books I received since last week.  Take a look around and feel free to comment.  I love comments and am always happy to return the visit!

Books Read This Week

Of Poseidon by Anna Banks

Redheads Are Soulless by Heather White

Timepiece by Myra McEntire

Currently Reading

Dreamless by Josephine Angelini
Call of the Sea by Rebecca Hart

Up Next

Arise by Tara Hudson

Monument 14 by Emmy Laybourne

Dark Kiss by Michelle Rowen
Revived by Cat Patrick

Reviews Posted

The Girl in the Clockwork Collar by Kady Cross

Of Poseidon by Anna Banks

Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo
Awake at Dawn by C.C. Hunter

Other Posts

Red Blog Tour - Interview w/ Heather M. White

New to the Nest

I got a very awesome haul this week and I can't wait to dive into each and every one.

 Glow by Amy Kathleen Ryan (bought from Amazon bargain books)

 The Other Countess by Eve Edwards (used)

 Wither by J.G. Passarella (Amazon)

 Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo (from Macmillan/Fierce Reads)

Call of the Sea by Rebecca Hart (from the publicist; thanks, Kelly!)

 Girl of Nightmares by Kendare Blake (from Tor for review)

Undead by Kirsty McKay (from Scholastic via Netgalley)

Red Blog Tour - Interview w/ Heather M. White

Welcome to day 6 of the Red Blog Tour!  This tour is hosted by Heather at SupaGurl Tours and runs through June 18th.  To see the full schedule of events, you can visit the following post: Click Me! 

Today, Heather M. White, author of Redheads are Soulless, is here with an interview.  I hope you all will join me in welcoming Heather to Starting the Next Chapter!

Marla: Hi, Heather, and thanks for stopping by Starting the Next Chapter!

Heather: Thanks for having me :)

M: Where did the idea for Redheads Are Soulless come from?

H: I've had the idea for a while now. One day I was searching Google, trying to prove that redheads are a minority (we are), I came across a page that said redheads are soulless. I laughed. But I thought, that'd make a good book title. So when I started writing this book, I knew the title HAD to be "Redheads are Soulless".

M: How long have you been writing?

H: I have ALWAYS been writing. I have wrote over 500 songs. I wrote a ton of short stories as a kid. I wrote my first book when I was 14.

M: What is the best thing about writing your books?

H: WRITING. I love to just write... My absolute favorite part is writing the first draft :)

M: What was your favorite scene to write in Redheads Are Soulless?

H: In the back of Redheads are Soulless, there is a bonus scene from Robbie's perspective. THAT was my absolute favorite chapter to write!

M: Can you tell us about what you like to read?

H: I love to read ANYTHING that is YA. Paranormal, Fantasy, Contemporary, etc... As long as there is romance, I will love it!

 

M: What do you do when you aren't writing?

H: Reading! :D I loooooove reading. Also, I have an obsession with the TV shows: The Vampire Diaries, Lost, Glee and Supernatural.

 

M: Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?

H: Of course. Just do it. Write. Nobody is going to write your story for you. Sit down each day or night and write. 500 words, 5,000 words, whatever you think you can handle. Set a goal and stick to it. And, once you finish, edit, edit, edit, edit edit!

 

This or That

 

 

Coffee or Tea? Coffee... With extra cream & sugar!

Spring or Fall? Spring :) I love warm weather and flowers

Snow or Rain? Ick... I hate both... But I'd choose rain. Less cold.

Physical book or Ebook? E-book. Sooo much easier to read on my Kindle

DVD or Theater? DVD. I'd much rather sit at home :D

Day or Night? Day

Chocolate or Vanilla? Chocolate of course!

Dog or Cat? Dog (I'm allergic to cats)

At home with friends or Somewhere exotic alone? Hmmm... That one depends on my mood lol.

Read the book or Watch the movie? READ THE BOOK. Always. :)

 

 

Thanks for stopping by, Heather!  

 

 

About Redheads are Soulless

Add it on Goodreads

High school senior, Sofia Black, has had a very hard life. Since her father's death 7 years ago, she has had to look after her drug addicted, alcohlic mother. School isn't any better for her either. The other kids constantly tease, and ridicule her. All she wants is to get out of her small hometown in Alabama.

When new student, Jason, shows up, Sofia's world is turned upside down. She doesn't understand why he wants to befriend her so badly... And, just when she thinks she can trust him, trouble appears.

Jason's twin brother, Robbie, moves into town, and things go haywire. Sofia is now running for her life - and Jason is forced to share hidden secrets with her. She learns the truth about her father's death, and finds out that she may not be as "human" as she once thought. She struggles to accept her fate, while fighting for her life.

 

Find Heather

Heather on Twitter: @heatherstiara

Heather on Facebook: Heather M. White

Heather on Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5408042.Heather_M_White

Heather's Blog: http://heatherstiara.blogspot.com/

Review - Awake at Dawn

by C.C. Hunter
publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
date of publication: October 11, 2011
format: paperback
pages: 383
source: gift from a friend
read it in: 3 days

From Goodreads:

Step into the world of Shadow Falls, a camp that helps teens tap into their special…talents. Once you visit, you’ll never forget it—and you’ll never, ever be the same.

From the moment Kylie Galen arrived at Shadow Falls Camp, she’s had one burning question: What am I? Surrounded by vampires, werewolves, shape-shifters, fairies and witches, Kylie longs to figure out her own supernatural identity…and what her burgeoning powers mean. And now she’ll need them more than ever, because she’s being haunted by a new spirit who insists that someone Kylie knows—and loves—will die before the end of the summer. If only she only knew who she was supposed to save. And how…

But giving Kylie the most trouble is her aching heart. Gorgeous werewolf Lucas left camp with another girl, but he’s still visiting Kylie in her dreams. And Derek, a sexy half Fae who’s always been there for her when she needed him, is pushing to get more serious—and growing impatient, especially when Lucas returns. Kylie knows she needs to decide between the boys, and it’s tearing her up inside.

Yet romance will have to wait, because something from the dark side of the supernatural world is hiding in Shadow Falls. It’s about to threaten everything she holds dear…and bring her closer to her destiny.

Kylie and the gang are back with a whole new set of challenges to face as a mysterious threat menaces Kylie from the shadows.  As if that weren't enough, Kylie is receiving cryptic warnings from a ghostly woman covered in blood.  What's a girl to do when she's in danger, worried about an endangered loved one yet unknown, and has the biggest mess of a love life ever?  It's up to Kylie to figure it all out before it's too late.  Prepare to follow along as Kylie takes on an increasingly dangerous supernatural world.

Since not much time has passed between Born at Midnight and Awake at Dawn, Kylie hasn't really changed all that much yet.  As she begins to learn more about her characteristics, however, that won't be the case for long.  In many ways, Kylie is still the same stubborn girl that we saw before.  However, her approach to some very unusual occurrences is a clue that she is coming into her own at a rapid rate.  She develops some truly kick-ass characteristics that left me shocked and scrambling to come up with an explanation that fits, which is not as easy as it may seem, at first.  Where I liked the changes in Kylie, however, I found myself increasingly annoyed by Derek.  He becomes much more insecure and jealous in Awake at Dawn, which is just not becoming at all.  I came to prefer Lucas much more this time around and am definitely leaning toward that particular pairing at the moment.  He was a much more appealing male counterpart for Kylie this time.  I guess we shall see if that remains true in Taken at Dusk.

I really enjoyed the direction the plot took with Awake at Dawn.  It had every bit as much mystery and tension as Born at Midnight, all the while developing in its own unique way.  There was no repetition here, which I was very glad of.  Instead, the storyline is so fresh that there was no way for me to completely guess what would happen based upon the last book.  The pacing was wonderfully rendered and I was, once again, picked up and carried away along with the characters the plot revolves around.

Awake at Dawn is an excellent continuation to what promises to be a truly fun series.  Though I lost my patience with a couple of the characters, I still enjoyed the interaction between the varying members of the entire cast of characters, as well as the descriptions provided of both their physical appearances and their personalities.  I was fascinated enough with the story that I promptly bought book 3 in the series, Taken at Dusk, as well as preordered book 4.  This speaks volumes as to how much I've enjoyed this series, so far.  I hope for more great things to come. 

Buy Awake at Dawn at the Following Locations:

Amazon / IndieBound / B&N / The Book Depository

Review - Shadow and Bone

by Leigh Bardugo
publisher: Henry Holt & Co. BYR
date of publication: June 5, 2012
format: ARC
pages: 368
source: from the publisher for review
read it in: 2 days

From Goodreads:

Surrounded by enemies, the once-great nation of Ravka has been torn in two by the Shadow Fold, a swath of near impenetrable darkness crawling with monsters who feast on human flesh. Now its fate may rest on the shoulders of one lonely refugee.

Alina Starkov has never been good at anything. But when her regiment is attacked on the Fold and her best friend is brutally injured, Alina reveals a dormant power that saves his life—a power that could be the key to setting her war-ravaged country free. Wrenched from everything she knows, Alina is whisked away to the royal court to be trained as a member of the Grisha, the magical elite led by the mysterious Darkling.

Yet nothing in this lavish world is what it seems. With darkness looming and an entire kingdom depending on her untamed power, Alina will have to confront the secrets of the Grisha…and the secrets of her heart.

In Ravka, there is a place where only monsters dwell and mankind fears to tread.  The Fold is a place of nightmares and, unfortunately, Alina Starkov is part of the regiment assigned with the task of crossing it.  When things go horribly wrong on the journey across this dark wasteland, Alina is found to possess a miraculous gift that could turn back the tides of darkness.  As she undergoes training to become a member of the Grisha, the magical counterpart of Ravka's army, Alina learns that nothing is as it seems.  Will she claim her untapped power and, if so, at what cost?

The characters that make up Shadow and Bone are nothing short of spectacular, especially Alina.  She is a girl who knows what she wants and isn't one to suffer fools.  Even when she is essentially press-ganged into the Grisha fold, she still goes in on as many of her own terms as she possibly can, even going so far as to turn down what to her is an unearned advancement.  She possesses steely determination that left me very impressed with her as the book progressed.  Though she is, at times, self-deprecating and lacks confidence, she eventually grows and becomes a formidable opponent for those who would see her fail.  The Darkling, the mysterious leader of the Grisha, kept me guessing the entire time.  He is the perfect kind of mysterious for this book.  The shocks I experienced at his hands were nothing short of staggering.  As for Mal, I only wish there had been a bit more time to get to know him better.  I spent half the time he appeared being frustrated with him and the other half being intrigued.  I must know more!

I simply adored the world building that Leigh Bardugo accomplished in Shadow and Bone.  Her descriptions of Ravka swirl off the page and almost seem to hover before your very eyes.  I especially loved reading about the Little Palace, the site of Grisha headquarters.  The palace intrigue along with the descriptions of its structure were amazing and I couldn't get enough.  The writing itself was so riveting that I immediately wanted the rest of the series right then and there.  I am sure that I could have read them all back-to-back and been a happy camper.

Shadow and Bone is nothing short of extraordinary.  It has one of the most imaginative worlds I have read about in quite some time.  Its Russian flair made for an intriguing tone and the dangers described were simply chilling.  Chock full of action, magic, romance, and betrayal, Shadow and Bone will pull you in and won't let you go until the last word on the last page has been read.  This is one book that will demand your attention and will compel you to read it time and time again.  This reader just couldn't get enough!

Buy Shadow and Bone at the Following Locations:

Amazon / IndieBound / B&N / The Book Depository

Obligatory legal statement: This advance review copy was provided to me free of charge by the publisher.  No monetary compensation was received in exchange for this fair and unbiased review.

Review - Of Poseidon

by Anna Banks
publisher: Feiwel & Friends
date of publication: May 22, 2012
format: ARC
pages: 324
source: from the publisher as part of the Fierce Reads campaign
read it in: 2 days

From Goodreads:

Galen, a Syrena prince, searches land for a girl he's heard can communicate with fish. It’s while Emma is on vacation at the beach that she meets Galen. Although their connection is immediate and powerful, Galen's not fully convinced that Emma's the one he's been looking for. That is, until a deadly encounter with a shark proves  that Emma and her Gift may be the only thing that can save his kingdom. He needs her help--no matter what the risk.

Emma doesn't know what hit her (or rather, what she just hit) when she stumbles into a gorgeous boy on the beach.  Little does she know, Galen's not just any boy: he's a Syrena prince, and he's searching for a girl with a very rare power.  When tragedy strikes and a startling talent is revealed, Emma's world begins to change in ways she could never have expected.  As the two begin to develop feelings for each other, both will have to come to terms with what all that they thought they knew.  Will things work out in end... or will it all be for nothing?

Emma is such a fun character to read about.  Much of her dialog is just plain funny and I found myself laughing at her quips from the very first page.  She's also stubborn and far more temperamental than she initially gives herself credit for, which gives you the sense of knowing her more than she knows herself, sometimes.  She is very much a firecracker and she can definitely keep you on your toes just as much as she keeps Galen on his!  As for Galen, he does have some irritating, macho qualities, but he does seem to be learning ever so slowly by the end of the book.  Keep it up, Galen!

I really enjoyed the way in which Of Poseidon was written.  The dialog was witty and fast-paced, which made for a smooth ride through the story.  I know some have been thrown off by the transition from first person narration to third person omniscient, but I didn't have any issues with it and think I may even see where Ms. Banks is coming from with it.  The first person narration, in this case depicting Emma's point of view, works as a means of telling the story from the main character's perspective, whereas the third person omniscient narration shows us what Galen is thinking and feeling without adding a second distinctive voice.  It made for an interesting change from what you usually see with dual perspective novels, one which I rather liked.  The only problem I encountered was a minor one in that I kept waiting for a huge threat to be revealed, since there were some allusions made to such an event.  What was revealed was shocking, but not quite what I expected.  If this is the only problem, however, I think it's safe to say that this is an amazing book and I very happy when all was said and done.

Of Poseidon is a delightfully fun read with great banter and an awesome premise.  The characters were easy to get into and the mystery element is imaginative and well laid out.  There's nothing quite like a good story and I can definitely say that Anna Banks has delivered with her oceanic offering.  The cliff-hanger ending left me wanting to keep right on reading and I can't wait to read the second installment.  Of Poseidon is one of my favorite "merpeople-centric" books, so far.  This will be a series to keep an eye on.

Buy Of Poseidon at the Following Locations

Amazon / IndieBound / B&N / The Book Depository

Obligatory legal statement: This ARC was provided to me free of charge by the publisher as part of the Fierce Reads campaign. No monetary compensation was received in exchange for this fair and unbiased review.

Review - The Girl in the Clockwork Collar

by Kady Cross
publisher: Harlequin Teen
date of publication: May 22, 2012
format: digital review copy
pages: 416
source: Netgalley
read it in: 1 day

From Goodreads:

In New York City, 1897, life has never been more thrilling - or dangerous.

Sixteen-year-old Finley Jayne and her "straynge band of mysfits" have journeyed from London to America to rescue their friend Jasper, hauled off by bounty hunters. But Jasper is in the clutches of a devious former friend demanding a trade-the dangerous device Jasper stole from him...for the life of the girl Jasper loves.

One false move from Jasper and the strange clockwork collar around Mei's neck tightens. And tightens.

Finley, Griffin, and crew return in the second book of The Steampunk Chronicles, The Girl in the Clockwork Collar.  At the end of The Girl in the Steel Corset, things looked dire for Griffin's friend, the American cowboy Jasper Renn.  Now, it is up to the team to travel to New York to save him.  As a new enemy is introduced and a new plot unfolds, the faith of everyone from Finley to Griffin to Jasper will be tested.  In this riveting thrill ride, a new city will be traversed, new friends will be made, new enemies will come forth, and love will be tested once and for all.

Finley just keeps getting better and better with every story that I read about her.  Now that her two halves have merged, she is a much more complicated girl, which makes her an even more intriguing character.  As she grapples with who it is she really is, the full extent of her personality is revealed through the things she discovers about herself and the questions she now has about her nature.  Griffin, on the other hand, is beginning to have his confidence challenged, which makes him another interesting character to follow due to the ways in which he handles things.  As if that's not enough, we get to learn more about the charming Jasper Renn as he deals with his own dangers and adventures.  His story was a very welcome addition to this installment in the series, one which I enjoyed very much.  I could go on for lines and lines about all of the characters scattered throughout The Girl in the Clockwork Collar, but suffice it to say that I was thrilled with every bit of the character development within its pages.

The Girl in the Clockwork Collar is possessed of great pacing and a wonderful storyline that I couldn't get enough of.  As I became immersed further and further into the story, I was provided with just enough of a mystery to keep me guessing, but not so many clues that the story got bogged down with excessive details.  The setting made for a great adventure, especially Finley's forays into the Victorian gang territory known as Five Points.  The descriptions of Five Points and all people, places, and gadgets are rich and fully fleshed out, which was also one of the story's key attributes.  When it comes down to it, there isn't a single thing that I disliked about this book.

If this series gets any better, I'm going to feel compelled to pinch myself.  The Girl in the Clockwork Collar has everything I love in a book: strong characters, interesting settings, and an action-packed plot that keeps me reading long after I should be asleep.  If you haven't read The Girl in the Steel Corset yet, trust me when I say you should read it immediately, then pick up The Girl in the Clockwork Collar.  This series is nothing short of phenomenal and I, personally, can't say enough good things about it.  I will be waiting anxiously for the next book.

Buy The Girl in the Clockwork Collar at the Following Locations:

Amazon / IndieBound / B&N / The Book Depository

Obligatory legal statement: This digital review copy was provided to me free of charge by the publisher via Netgalley. No monetary compensation was received in exchange for this fair and unbiased review.