Review - The Forever Song by Julie Kagawa

by Julie Kagawa
publisher: Harlequin Teen
date of publication: April 15, 2014
format: digital review copy
pages: 416
source: Netgalley
series: Blood of Eden (#3)
buy it: The Forever Song (Blood of Eden)

From Goodreads:

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, triumph is short-lived in the face of surviving forever alone.

At last we have come to the end of Julie Kagawa's astounding Blood of Eden series.  The Forever Song follows Allison Sekemoto, teenaged girl turned vampire, as she makes the journey to save the world for vampire and humankind alike.  The journey is wrought with danger, sadness, temptation, and grief, but for Allie failure is not an option.  Not when so much is at stake and revenge is on the line.

Allie is going through a lot this time around.  In fact, I'll give a word of warning: If you're going through a time of emotional turmoil, yourself, beware.  Allie is a girl full of conflict, rage, grief, and bitterness.  This can wear on already frazzled feelings, as it did mine.  Even with all of that, however, The Forever Song really brought on the suspense and excitement.  Sarren is just as insane as ever, Kanin just as brooding, and Jackal just as smart-assed.  Each character breathes life into an already riveting story and makes everything oh, so much better.

The landscape of The Forever Song is as terrifying as it is stark.  Picture a winter wasteland mostly devoid of human life, littered with broken cars and inhabited by raging, rabid vampires.  This, folks, is not somewhere you would want to find yourself unexpectedly.  As with the previous novels in the series, the setting is transformed into a character in its own right.  The story really comes to live thanks to the stellar combination of character and setting.

The Forever Song proved to be a great end to a great series.  I'm not usually one for vampire stories, but this series really captured my interest and my imagination.  Paranormal romance and horror fans, take note.  The Forever Song, along with The Immortal Rules and The Eternity Cure, has something for most everyone.  I found it all to be unbelievably thrilling and, at times, moving.  You can't go wrong. 

Reading Into Romance - Guest Post w/ Cayla Kluver

Hello, all!  I'm happy to have the chance to host a stop on the Harlequin Teen Reading Into Romance blog tour today.  Stopping by today we have Cayla Kluver, author of the Legacy trilogy.  Cayla will tell you all about a vital key to romance in her books: kissing.  I hope you enjoy and don't forget to enter the giveaway at the bottom of this post.  Good luck!

First Kisses

As we know from the beginning of Legacy, Steldor is a lady’s man, well-experienced in wooing women, and an excellent kisser.  This is clear from Alera’s reactions to some of his advances.  Even though she dislikes him, she recognizes his masculinity and inherent attractiveness, noting after one kiss: “…he departed, leaving me slightly off balance, as I had not anticipated such tenderness from him, and highly unsettled by the knowledge that I had enjoyed both his kiss and his touch.”

As for Steldor, his first kiss with Alera is one he will never forget, for it was the first time a woman ever rejected his advances.  He is at his romantic best, having taken her to dinner and then for a walk in the Palace gardens.  But when he sits with her on a bench and leans in to kiss her, she pulls away, appalled that he would make such a presumptuous move on her.  Before he can kiss her again, she springs to her feet and hastens to London.  Certainly not the way Steldor is used to having his evenings end!  This was, of course, not only Alera’s first kiss with Steldor, but her first romantic kiss, period.  And even though it was entirely unwelcome, she admits to London that “when we were sitting on the bench, I couldn’t think.  He has this amazing… scent.”

Interestingly, up until this first kiss, Steldor was pursuing Alera primarily because she was his way to the throne.  But after this experience, he sees her as a challenge, a handful, and well worth pursuing in her own right.  As strange as it seems, her rejection makes her more attractive to him.

Alera’s first kiss with Narian occurs later in Legacy, and is presumably the first time he has kissed a woman.  It is a forbidden kiss, and comes in the aftermath of Alera learning about the Legend of the Bleeding Moon and being advised to stay away from him.  He has just defeated Steldor in the Exhibition at the Harvest Festival’s Tournament, and she seeks him out in his tent, where his injuries are being treated.  She confronts him about the legend, and the kiss is his way of telling her that he loves her and has no intention of hurting her or her kingdom.  Alera describes the kiss in this way:  “His vivid blue eyes captured mine of deep brown.  As my heart pounded, his lips met mine, lightly at first, then more insistently, and I succumbed to his embrace.  I melted against him, my hands upon his back, all reason having abandoned me.  After several moments, our lips reluctantly parted…”  While she has long been attracted to Narian, this may be the moment when she realized she has fallen in love with him.

So what’s the power of a kiss?  Both Steldor and Narian would seem to be excellent kissers, which would indicate the magic is not in the manner of the kiss itself.  But perhaps a kiss helps to identify your true feelings about someone.  In the case of Steldor, it strengthens Alera’s dislike of him.  With Narian, it confirms that she loves him.  So don’t take a first kiss too lightly, or engage in one too soon.  And above all, pay attention to what your instincts are telling you!

About the Author

With the book industry currently in a debate over print vs. digital, Cayla Kluver, born October 2, 1992 in Wisconsin, truly embodies the next generation of author. At just 19 years-old, Cayla has already published her debut novel Legacy in three different formats.

It all began with self-publication and the creation of her own publishing house (with the help of her mom, called: Forsooth Publishing) in 2008. Cayla was then offered a digital debut with Amazon (was the premier title for Amazon’s self-publishing program, Amazon Encore) in 2009. Finally in 2010 Cayla was signed to a three book publishing deal with Harlequin TEEN.

She has cats, dogs and horses, and watches more crime shows than is probably healthy.  Her office is filled with twinkly lights, candles and fun colors.  She loves Robert Louis Stevenson and the Beatles, and you can follow her on Twitter @CaylaKL, as well as join her fan page on Facebook.

Check Out the Other Stops

Monday, March 4th - Karen Ann Hopkins and Temptation:

• Bittersweet Enchantment

• The Cozy Reader

• Paulette's Papers

Wednesday, March 6th - Liz Fichera and Hooked:

• Bumbles and Fairy-Tales

• IB Book Blogging

• Chick Loves Lit

Friday, March 8th - Cayla Kluver and the Legacy series:

• YA Bibliophile

• Rex Robot Reviews

• Starting the Next Chapter

Monday, March 11th - Aimée Carter and The Goddess Test series:

• Coffee, Books and Me

• Book Nook

• Bookshelf Banter

Wednesday, March 13th - Julie Kagawa and The Iron King series:

• Refracted Light Reviews

• Page Turners

• Mundie Moms

Friday, March 15th - Katie McGarry and Pushing the Limits:

• Alice Marvels

• Bewitched Bookworms

• Katie's Book Blog

Monday, March 18th - Rachel Vincent and The Soul Screamers series:

• Fiktshun

• Parajunkee

• The Bookish Brunette

Wednesday, March 20th - Hannah Harrington and Saving June:

• A Bookish Escape

• The Book Cellar

• Basia's Bookshelf

Friday, March 22nd - Jordan Dane and In The Arms of Stone Angels:

• Moonlight Gleam's Bookshelf

• Fantasy Book Addict

• Swoony Boys Podcast

The Giveaway

Today's Daily Prize:

Your Choice of 1 of the Books in the Legacy Trilogy

The Grand Prize:

HarlequinTEEN dresses you for a romantic date with this beautiful, unique heart shaped locket! And in case it’s a chilly spring evening, don’t forget the matching beautiful Pashmina!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blog Tour - Sacrifice by Cayla Kluver

Welcome back, dear readers, for another awesome blog tour.  Today I am happy to be able to play host to the final stop on the Sacrifice Blog Tour.  I first started reading this series shortly after I began this blog, so it has pretty much been with me from the beginning.  I have enjoyed reading this series so much, so I'm very glad to get to be part of the tour for the last book.  Today, I am going to give you the top 5 things I love most about the Legacy series.  Feel free to chime in with all the things you like about it, as well.

Top 5 Things I Love About the Legacy Trilogy

1. The World-Building: I have always liked the ways in which the kingdom of Hytanica are described and brought to life on the page.  You can really get a sense of what you would see around you if you were to be transported into the book to see for yourself.

2. The Characters: Watching the various characters develop and change has been a great experience, especially when it comes to Alera.  Seeing her morph from a princess whose days are filled with the social engagements expected of her to a strong queen more than willing to lead her people has been simply great.

3. The Intrigue: Just when you think you have things all figured out, something will happen to make you think twice.  The nature of the conflict between Hytanica and Cokyri is one of intimidation and mystique.  It's hard to know who is on which side, but it sure is a lot of fun trying to figure it out!

4. The Society: When I get down to the sheer base of things I find interesting about this series, underneath it all is an appreciation for the social gatherings Alera gives and frequents.  From the fashions to the friendships and acquaintances, there is so much to observe. 

5. The Adventure: I couldn't get enough of the sense of adventure that is present in this story.  That it builds and builds through each book just makes things even better.  C'est magnifique!

About the Author

With the book industry currently in a debate over print vs. digital, Cayla Kluver, born October 2, 1992 in Wisconsin, truly embodies the next generation of author. At just 19 years-old, Cayla has already published her debut novel Legacy in three different formats.

It all began with self-publication and the creation of her own publishing house (with the help of her mom, called: Forsooth Publishing) in 2008. Cayla was then offered a digital debut with Amazon (was the premier title for Amazon’s self-publishing program, Amazon Encore) in 2009. Finally in 2010 Cayla was signed to a three book publishing deal with Harlequin TEEN.

She has cats, dogs and horses, and watches more crime shows than is probably healthy.  Her office is filled with twinkly lights, candles and fun colors.  She loves Robert Louis Stevenson and the Beatles, and you can follow her on Twitter @CaylaKL, as well as join her fan page on Facebook.

About the Book

Click the Cover to Add to GR!

This is not the time for the fight to end. Now is when the fight will begin. This is the time to regain what has been lost.

This is a story told by two:

ALERA – Queen of a fallen kingdom, secretly in love with the enemy.

SHASELLE – Daughter of a murdered father, rebel with a cause.

One was ruler of Hytanica, but now walks the razor’s edge to keep the fragile peace in her beloved homeland.

The other slips through the war-torn streets, seeking retribution for her family’s tragedy, following whispers of insurgency.

Both face choices that will separate them from those they cannot help but love. As their stories intertwine, a conspiracy ignites that may end in slavery or death—or lead to freedom anew, if only each can face what must be sacrificed. Told in part from within the castle by Alera and in part outside the walls by a new character, Shaselle, SACRIFICE showcases the final epic battle for love and freedom.

The Giveaways

One reader of this blog will win a copy of Sacrifice, the third and final book in the Legacy trilogy.  The grand prize that will be awarded to one winner from the entirety of the tour includes all that you see below:

Good luck, everyone!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review - Covet by Melissa Darnell

by Melissa Darnell 
Paperback, 488 pages

September 25th 2012 by Harlequin Teen

Source: ARC, NetGalley

From Goodreads:

Dangerous to be together. Painful to be apart.Savannah Colbert knows she broke up with Tristan Coleman for the right reasons. Most of all, to keep from killing him with her new vampire abilities. But try telling her heart. Now, lost in a sea of hostile Clann faces, Sav tries to come to terms with what she's becoming and what that means for her future. And that someone is doing their best to bully her into making a terrible mistake.

Tristan can't believe Sav won't even talk to him. If being apart is her decision, fine. Just don't expect him to honor it. But even as he prepares to fight for the girl he loves, forces beyond their control take them both in directions neither could have foreseen or prepared for.

A reckoning is coming …and not everyone will survive.

Covet throws us back into the world of the star-crossed teenagers, Savannah and Tristan. I couldn't wait to find out where Darnell took our teens in this book, especially after the ending of Crave. Just when things couldn't get worse for our heroes, they of course do. 

Savannah was a quick and snarky character in the first book. Unfortunately, the events she goes through then and now brought her spirits down and it shows in this installment. She still has the strength that carries her through the tough times, but she is definitely more reserved this time around. You will understand why when you go through the personal and relationship events of the book with her, my heart broke with hers. I do like the details Darnell added in for Savannah. I can a definite advantage for these in the future. It may sound sad for me to say it, but I like Savannah better this time around. She actually stands up for herself and you will get to see her mature more this time. Tristan is very much the same person to me this time around. He does have his moments, but I am still not too attached to him. Something I did adore this time was Sav's friends. You will grow to love them for antics they pull off. A surprise for me was Sav's father. I actually enjoying reading his scenes. There is a lot of background info in them and a lot of  heart felt sentiments in his actions.

The plot really improved a lot as well. It held a better speed and balance of action, turmoil, and romance. The situations that the characters have to go through are heart-breaking, inspiring, and thought provoking. Darnell provides a good ride for readers this time, a definite step up from Crave. If I had to complain, it would be the amount of angst. A good helping is ok, but both Tristan and Savannah go over the top a few times with it. It will be interesting to see where Darnell takes the teens next time. There is a whole lot new concepts to incorporate and it definitely has the makings of a grand finale!

  

Buy the Book!   Amazon : B&N : IndieBound : The Book Depository

Review: Alice in Zombieland

by Gena Showalter
publisher: Harlequin Teen
date of publication: September 25, 2012
format: ARC
pages: 404
source: Around the World ARC Tours
score: 4 out of 5

From Goodreads:

She won’t rest until she’s sent every walking corpse back to its grave. Forever.

Had anyone told Alice Bell that her entire life would change course between one heartbeat and the next, she would have laughed. From blissful to tragic, innocent to ruined? Please. But that’s all it took. One heartbeat. A blink, a breath, a second, and everything she knew and loved was gone.

Her father was right. The monsters are real….

To avenge her family, Ali must learn to fight the undead. To survive, she must learn to trust the baddest of the bad boys, Cole Holland. But Cole has secrets of his own, and if Ali isn’t careful, those secrets might just prove to be more dangerous than the zombies….


I wish I could go back and do a thousand things differently.
I'd tell my sister no.
I'd never beg my mother to talk to my dad.
I'd zip my lips and swallow those hateful words.
Or, barring all of that, I'd hug my sister, my mom and my dad one last time.
I'd tell them I love them.
I wish... Yeah, I wish.

When I first heard about Alice in Zombieland, I was expecting a tale mixing the peculiarities of Alice in Wonderland with the dessicated or oozing horror that is the usual zombie.  What I found, however, was something a bit different.  Rather than the usual flesh-eating zombies, Gena Showalter has created an unseen world in which zombies take on a different form and role.  The result is a story filled with danger, tragedy, friendship, and romance.  The trip from start to finish is a wild one, so get ready for some action.

I am a bit conflicted about the characters found in Alice in Zombieland.  Alice, for example, has survived a horrible tragedy and sets out to make a difference so that it doesn't happen again.  However, her tendency to moon after Cole was a little too much for me at times, and his frequent attempts to push her away by being a grade A jerk got old really fast.  I really was not impressed with that aspect.  When she gets down to the business of zombie slaying, however, she begins to shine.  That and her interactions with her best friend, Kat, were my favorite aspects about her.  Cole, on the other hand, is your typical bad boy with a more intimidating effect upon the high school's students.  I wasn't entirely sold on him until he started to become a little bit less of a hard ass.  Even now, I'm feeling lukewarm about his character.  I do have to admit, though, that Alice and Cole have some interesting chemistry.  I'll just say that you can expect some steamy kissing scenes and leave it at that.

Some of the sites featured throughout the story have a definite feeling of foreboding.  They made for excellent backdrops for zombie attacks and creepy nocturnal jaunts.  The battles are fierce and the casualties gruesome.  That coupled with the warrior-like group dedicated to eradicating the zombies make for some really action-packed sequences that kept me riveted.  The writing was easy to keep up with, although I will say that the ARC had a slight issue with continuity.  To say exactly what might be a bit of a spoiler, but it was noticeable.  I don't know if it will remain in the finished copy or not, but it is something of note.  Otherwise, the pace of the story was great and it made for a pretty quick read.

Overall, I enjoyed Alice in Zombieland and would definitely like to keep up with the series.  Even though the zombies weren't what I expected, the novelty was enough to keep me interested.  It is my hope that a bit more about their origins and the founding of the slayers will be revealed as the series continues.  I would love to know more about the world Gena Showalter has created.  If you enjoy a little steam with your romance and zombie invasions, you should check out Alice in Zombieland.

Buy Alice in Zombieland at the Following Locations:

Amazon /  IndieBound  /  B&N  /  The Book Depository

Obligatory legal statement: This ARC was provided to me free of charge via Around the World ARC Tours. 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.

The Lost Prince Cover Reveal

Hello there, readers!  If you missed the The Immortal Rules Twitter party, you might not have had the chance to see the big reveal of the The Lost Prince cover!  Feast your eyes!

What say you, readers?  Are you looking forward to October 23rd?  (see it with less compression HERE)

Exciting New Cover This Week!

Yesterday, Harlequin Teen revealed the third and final cover for Cayla Kluver's Legacy series.  I thoroughly enjoyed both Legacy and Allegiance and I can't wait for the third book, Sacrifice, which will be released this October 30th!  Isn't this cover gorgeous!?

It doesn't appear as though there is a plot description yet, but based on the events at the end of Allegiance, I just know it's going to be fabulous!

Review - The Immortal Rules

by Julie Kagawa
publisher: Harlequin Teen
date of publication: April 24, 2012
format: eGalley
pages: 504
source: Netgalley
Amazon / IndieBound / B&N / The Book Depository

From Goodreads:

In a future world, Vampires reign. Humans are blood cattle. And one girl will search for the key to save humanity.

Allison Sekemoto survives in the Fringe, the outermost circle of a vampire 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 is attacked—and given the ultimate choice. Die… or become one of the monsters.

Faced with her own mortality, Allie becomes what she despises most. To survive, she must learn the rules of being immortal, including the most important: go long enough without human blood, and you will go mad.

Then Allie is forced to flee into the unknown, outside her city walls. There she joins a ragged band of humans who are seeking a legend—a possible cure to the disease that killed off most of humankind and created the rabids, the mindless creatures who threaten humans and vampires alike.

But it isn't easy to pass for human. Especially not around Zeke, who might see past the monster inside her. And Allie soon must decide what—and who—is worth dying for.

What I Thought

Julie Kagawa writing vampire novels: you just know that this combination is going to be a winner.  When the news came out that The Immortal Rules was in the works, I felt very hopeful.  As a teen, I read a lot of vampire novels by the likes of Anne Rice and Amelia Atwater-Rhodes.  These books provided hours of entertainment and enjoyment.  Over the years, however, I haven't quite been able to find anything that appealed to me as much as those books did.  That is, nothing really, truly appealed to me until I read the plot description for The Immortal Rules.  I immediately knew that this was a book I could get behind, so prepared myself to wait for my opportunity to read it.  That opportunity finally came and, now that I have read The Immortal Rules, I can officially say that this is what I expect out of a vampire novel.

To say that Allie is fierce is an understatement.  From the very first page, you just know that this girl brooks no nonsense.  Her independence and level of confidence is amazing and she made for such a great heroine.  Underneath her flinty exterior, however, is a degree of compassion, as evidenced by her treatment of Stick, the odd man out in Allie's group of street rats.  Though he is an extremely frustrating character, Allie manages to lend treat him with kindness.  It is Allie's transition from human to vampire, however, that really gives you a sense of who she is.  All of her strengths and weaknesses come to the forefront and make her an even more compelling character.  Zeke, Allie's surprisingly human love interest, complements Allie very well.  He, too, is strong of will, but has an added touch of kindness that aids Allie in figuring out what it is she wants out of her immortality.  Together, they are a very dynamic couple that sparked off each other well and provided some sweet moments.

The storyline that makes up The Immortal Rules absolutely blew me away.  The premise is every bit as dark and harrowing as one would expect and the pacing is phenomenal.  The world-building is superb and has the perfect amount of horror and grit.  It was very easy to sink into the story and picture the settings thanks to Julie Kagawa's considerable talent with description.  All in all, this story is amazing and you'll be hard-pressed to find another quite like it.

Now that I've read The Immortal Rules, I just know that the rest of the series is going to be fantastic.  The Immortal Rules is an amazing first book in series and I expect that this series is going to surpass all other vampire novels in my eyes.  Fans of horror, postapocalyptic, and vampire fiction are going to enjoy this series.  Julie Kagawa fans, hold onto your hats.  You're in for a real treat.  I recommend getting your hands on this title as soon as possible.  You definitely do not want to miss out on this book for very long!

Obligatory legal statement: This eGalley 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 - Goddess Interrupted

by Aimee Carter
publisher: Harlequin Teen
date of publication: March 27, 2012
format: eGalley
pages: 299
source: Netgalley
Amazon / IndieBound / B&N / The Book Depository

From Goodreads:

Kate Winters has won immortality.

But if she wants a life in the Underworld with Henry, she’ll have to fight for it.

Becoming immortal wasn’t supposed to be the easy part. Though Kate is about to be crowned Queen of the Underworld, she’s as isolated as ever. And despite her growing love for Henry, ruler of the Underworld, he’s becoming ever more distant and secretive. Then, in the midst of Kate’s coronation, Henry is abducted by the only being powerful enough to kill him: the King of the Titans.

As the other gods prepare for a war that could end them all, it is up to Kate to save Henry from the depths of Tartarus. But in order to navigate the endless caverns of the Underworld, Kate must enlist the help of the one person who is the greatest threat to her future.

Henry’s first wife, Persephone.

What I Thought

Goddess Interrupted, the next installment in the Goddess Test series, picks up 6 months after the events from The Goddess Test.  As a result, a certain level of continuity is achieved, though it wasn't the type of continuity I was expecting.  Where I expected amazing advancements in the story, I just didn't get what I had hoped for.  In many ways, continuity isn't the best thing.

Kate, Kate, Kate: what can I say about Kate?  I wasn't very sure how I felt about her this time around.  While she had a certain amount of uncertainty in The Goddess Test, Kate was well beyond that in Goddess Interrupted.  Instead of wary uncertainty, she is one big bundle of insecurity.  As for Henry, all I can say is, "What the heck?"  Truthfully, he's a pretty big jerk in Goddess Interrupted.  It's almost as if his behavior from The Goddess Test was kicked up a few notches into the realm of insensitivity and inconsiderateness.  All in all, both Kate and Henry continued down the path their attitudes and issues were leading toward and didn't really branch out into very much positivity.  With the exception of Diana, I just couldn't get behind most of the characters this time around. 

The plot had a nice amount of tension behind it, which is just what you would expect when Kronos is gunning for Kate and her new Olympian family.  Calliope is a formidable foe thanks to her mental status and the belief that she has nothing to lose.  That she believes she can order a Titan about attests to her instability and delusions.  I know I wouldn't want to come up against someone like her.  The premise serves as the highlight of this book and I can at least say that I enjoyed that aspect.

I had seriously hoped to be blown away by this book.  However, that just didn't happen.  While the premise is a good one, the behavior of the characters was enough to turn me off and made enjoying the book difficult.  I know I will likely be the odd duck with my rating.  Nevertheless, I felt that Goddess Interrupted didn't quite come up to the standard presented by The Goddess Test.  As a result, I have chosen to give Goddess Interrupted 2 hoots. 

Obligatory legal statement: This eGalley 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 - Spellcaster

by Cara Lynn Shultz
publisher: Harlequin Teen
date of publication: March 27, 2012
format: eGalley
pages: 376
source: Netgalley
Amazon / IndieBound / B&N / The Book Depository

From Goodreads:

Finding your eternal soulmate - easy.

Stopping a true-love-hungry evil - not so much…

After breaking a centuries-old romantic curse, Emma Connor is (almost) glad to get back to normal problems. Although...it's not easy dealing with the jealous cliques and gossip that rule her exclusive Upper East Side prep, even for a sixteen-year-old newbie witch. Having the most-wanted boy in school as her eternal soul mate sure helps ease the pain-especially since wealthy, rocker-hot Brendan Salinger is very good at staying irresistibly close....

But something dark and hungry is using Emma and Brendan's deepest fears to reveal damaging secrets and destroy their trust in each other. And Emma's crash course in über-spells may not be enough to keep them safe…or to stop an inhuman force bent on making their unsuspected power its own.

What I Thought

It's a little hard to believe that just a year ago Spellbound was one of my first ever Netgalley review books.  That was my introduction to the awesomeness that is Cara Lynn Shultz.  I adored Spellbound with every fiber of my being, so imagine my excitement when Spellcaster popped up on Netgalley.  Though I had to wait to read it, I was still just as excited to begin as the day I received it.  Now that I've read it, I find myself in a bit of a quandary.  You will soon see why.

Emma and Brendon are back in all their witty, sarcastic glory.  After surviving the violent attack of their former classmate, Anthony, the happy couple are ready for rest, relaxation, and lots of kissing.  Little do they know, however, that things are about to get dangerous once more.  As Emma and Brendon face this new enemy, they remind us about who they are and how they operate.  As Emma develops magically, she also begins to grow stronger as a person.  She learns much more about herself than she could have bargained for, which adds even more interest to the story.  Brendon, however, is thrown into unfamiliar territory when he learns just what fear is.  He, too, must learn more about himself in order to grow in strength and perseverance.  All of these character developments combined with loads of witty banter that kept me giggling throughout the book makes for a really fun, engrossing read that I simply couldn't get enough of.

Spellcaster improves upon all that I enjoyed about Spellbound, in that the threat is so much more insidious and spine-chilling.  Ms. Shultz has really ramped up the effectiveness of Emma and Brendon's opponent this time.  I found myself beyond creeped out by all that is thrown at the two this time.  The amount of magic involved is also much more, which definitely made me very happy with the plot.  The pacing of the story was all the more stimulating because of these factors.  I had to know what was going to happen next, making it very hard to put the book down.  I couldn't have asked for a better storyline.

Now we arrive at the dilemma.  What do you do when you're so pleased with a book that you don't feel your top rating is enough?  Spellcaster has definitely made me reconsider my rating system to the point that I am contemplating an addition.  In any case, Spellcaster is one of those books that will have you reading all through the night or, in my case, until the battery in the ereader is depleted.  If you're looking for a read with both humor and chills, Spellcaster is the way to go.    

Obligatory legal statement: This eGalley 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 - The Goddess Test

by Aimee Carter
publisher: Harlequin Teen
date of publication: May 1, 2011 (first published April 19, 2011)
format: ebook
pages: 216
source: purchased
Amazon / IndieBound / B&N / The Book Depository

From Goodreads:

It's always been just Kate and her mom—and her mother is dying. Her last wish? To move back to her childhood home. So Kate's going to start at a new school with no friends, no other family and the fear her mother won't live past the fall.

Then she meets Henry. Dark. Tortured. And mesmerizing. He claims to be Hades, god of the Underworld—and if she accepts his bargain, he'll keep her mother alive while Kate tries to pass seven tests.

Kate is sure he's crazy—until she sees him bring a girl back from the dead. Now saving her mother seems crazily possible. If she succeeds, she'll become Henry's future bride, and a goddess.

What I Thought

At long last I finally read The Goddess Test after struggling with much trepidation.  I was concerned about a few opinions I initially heard about the book, but after being reassured by a friend, I bought a copy and gave it a go.  I was happy to find that my concerns were unfounded.  Though The Goddess Test contained a few minor details that didn't really sit right with me, it ended up being a quick, fun read with a lot of imagination and an intriguing mystery.

I found Kate to be a fairly decent character.  Though she has a lot to deal with for one so young, she manages to be a pretty well-balanced protagonist.  I found myself responding well to her moral make-up and straight-forward manner.  The only thing about Kate that bothered me was the seemingly rapid change in her feelings toward Henry.  The transition from frustration and anger to love and devotion was a little to whiplash-inducing for my liking.  Likewise, the development of Henry's feelings for Kate left me feeling as though I had missed something.  I did, however, enjoy trying to guess which character corresponded with which Olympian.  Some were relatively easy while others took me completely by surprise.  It definitely added a level of interactivity to the novel.

The pacing of The Goddess Test was great.  It moved along at a nice pace and made the reading experience go very smoothly.  That the book includes the Persephone myth made for a very appealing aspect that I, myself, loved.  Aimee Carter took just enough artistic license with the myth to put a fresh spin on it, which I very much appreciated.  Overall, the style in which the book was written was probably my favorite aspect of the reading experience.

When all was said and done, I had a lot of fun reading The Goddess Test.  It was perfect for a fast, light weekend read.  The incorporation of Greek mythology was well done and the character interactions were, for the most part, easy to read and the guessing game aspect was a lot of fun.  Add in the threat of a would-be murderer and you have quite the read.  If you're looking for a fun read that will whisk you away for a little while, try The Goddess Test.  I am definitely looking forward to seeing what direction is taken in Goddess Interrupted.  I definitely thing the series has room to grow, so I have decided upon a rating of 3 hoots.

Allegiance Tournament - Why Hytanica is the Place to Be

Greetings, dear readers.  I hope you are all ready for an extra special treat today.  It is my pleasure to take part in the blog tour for Cayla Kluver's Allegiance by telling you why Hytanica trumps Cokyri and deserves your vote.  I invite you all to sit down, view the evidence put forth by myself and all of the other tour participants, and come to your own conclusions.  If you choose, you will be in the running to win the amazingly awesome grand prize at the end of the tour!

 
So, What's So Great About Hytanica?

• What a view!  Hytanica: a vibrant city surrounded by lush forests and rolling countryside.  Whether you enjoy serene walks or horseback riding, Hytanica is the place for you.  How can you deny the beauty of such a place? 
• You won't go hungry!  Why on earth would you wish to live in a desert that doesn't easily support the growth of food crops when you can live in such an idyllic setting that is able to provide ample sustenance to its citizens?   Hytanica doesn't have to raid neighboring kingdoms for resources!
• Fashionistas welcome!  Hytanica is THE place to be if you enjoy things such as fashion.  You have to admit, there are some gorgeous dresses worn in both Legacy and Allegiance.   The guys do pretty well, too, judging by Steldor's wardrobe.
• Party on!  Parties and balls are in pretty regular occurrence at the palace and at various manors dotted throughout the countryside.  From tea parties to balls, Hytanica offers many opportunities to have fun and socialize.
• It's raining men!  Two words: eye candy!  Yes, ladies, there are some fine, strapping young men to be found in Hytanica.  The best part?  You don't have to worry about some evil overlord coming along to terrorize you at a given moment (unless, of course, he invades your city).  Just be prepared to keep them in line.  ;-)

Series Information

Book 1: Legacy (July 2011)
Book 2: Allegiance (March 2012)
Book 3: Sacrifice (November 2012)  

About Allegiance:
Goodreads / Amazon / B&N / IndieBound

AN EIGHTEEN-YEAR-OLD QUEEN IN LOVE WITH THE ENEMY AS THEIR COUNTRIES PASS THE POINT OF NO RETURN…

Bound to a man she cannot love, Queen Alera of Hytanica must forget Narian, the young man who holds her heart. For Narian is destined to conquer Hytanica at the behest of his master, the powerful magic-user known as the Overlord. Alera doesn’t truly believe Narian will fight against Hytanica—until Cokyrian troops attack with Narian commanding the charge.

Faced with the greatest betrayal a heart can know, Alera must set aside personal feelings and lead her kingdom through its darkest time. And when all hope, will and courage seem lost, she must find strength and remember that even the blackest night must have a dawn….

About Cayla Kluver

Cayla Kluver was born on October 2, 1992, in Wisconsin. She has cats, dogs and horses, and watches more crime shows than is probably healthy. Her office is filled with twinkly lights, candles and fun colors. She loves Robert Louis Stevenson and the Beatles, and you can follow her on Twitter @CaylaKL, as well as join her fan page on Facebook.

Website / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads 







Contest Info

Allegiance is on tour with daily giveaways of Allegiance and a Grand Prize giveaway of a Kindle Touch skinned in the sumptuous Allegiance cover art.

To win the Grand Prize of the Kindle Touch you will be able enter at the end of the Tour by guessing which Champion won The Tournament! Be sure to check out all the tour stops!

  

Monday, February 20th - YA Bibliophile
Wednesday, February 22nd - For Those About To Read
Friday,February 24th - Books With Bite

Monday, February 27th - Harlequin Blog
Tuesday, February 28th (Book Birthday!!) - Hippies Beauty & Books
Wednesday,February 29th - Starting The Next Chapter 
Friday,March 2nd - A Cupcake and A Latte

Monday,March 5th - Electrifying Reviews
Wednesday,March 7th - Kindle Fever
Friday,March 9th - Unabridged Andrea

Daily entries for the copy of Allegiance are managed through the Rafflecopter widget below.
Open US/Canada. See full contest rules here. 

  

Review - Allegiance

by Cayla Kluver
publisher: Harlequin Teen
date of publication: February 28, 2012
format: eGalley
pages: 490
source: Netgalley
Amazon / IndieBound / B&N / The Book Depository

From Goodreads:

Only I saw Narian for who he truly was: a young man with courage and an independent mind, and made to pay for what was outside his control. He couldn't help his past any more than he could help the way those intense, deep-blue eyes pierced me and held me captive.

An eighteen-year-old queen in love with the enemy as their countries pass the point of no return...

Bound to a man she cannot love, Queen Alera of Hytanica must forget Narian, the young man who holds her heart. For Narian is destined to conquer Hytanica at the behest of his master, the powerful magic-user known as the Overlord. Alera doesn't truly believe Narian will fight against Hytanica-until Cokyrian troops attack with Narian commanding the charge.

Faced with the greatest betrayal a heart can know, Alera must set aside personal feelings and lead her kingdom through its darkest time. And when all hope, will and courage seem lost, she must find strength and remember that even the blackest night must have a dawn...

What I Thought

When sitting down to read Allegiance, I did so with the knowledge of how wonderful the previous book, Legacy, had been.  Little did I know, I was in for a treat.  Not only is Allegiance a likewise wonderful book, I am happy to say that it is even better!  Cayla Kluver's historically-inspired fantasy world was about to push the bounds of everything I thought I knew of the atmosphere in which this series takes place.  This novel, detailing the conflict of duty vs. love and good vs. evil, provides a smooth plot progression that makes it so very easy to sink into the story, thus allowing hours to pass by before coming up for air.  This well-written, descriptive novel is everything a fan of fantasy fiction could want.

Alera, Steldor, Narian, and Hytanica all come into their own within the pages of Allegiance.  Alera begins to leave behind childhood and develops an inner strength that will get her through many struggles and allow her to become a ruler that even the patriarchal, misogynistic society of Hytanica will respect; Steldor, the reprehensible, egotistical young man whom Alera now finds herself shackled to by the bonds of duty reveals some surprising character traits; and Narian finds himself trying to balance allegiance by way of love and allegiance by way of coercion.  These characters, as well as others scattered throughout the story, have developed so much past what they were in Legacy.  Each has newly found strengths and weaknesses that make them such well-rounded characters.  I couldn't help but question with whom my sympathies lay the most.  I was absolutely blown away by the time the last chapter was complete that I immediately wanted the next book to read.  It was just that phenomenal.

If you, yourself, enjoyed Legacy, don't hesitate.  You will want to read Allegiance as soon as possible.  If you haven't yet begun to read this series, I must urge you to do so.  Cayla Kluver's books will not leave you wanting.  With its smooth plot progression and propensity for detail, Allegiance will leave you stunned and craving more.  Fans of both historical fiction and fantasy can find enjoyment in this series due to its historically-inspired world-building and the presence of a mysterious Cokyrian magic.  I can not wait to house this entire series on my shelves.

Obligatory legal statement: This eGalley 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.