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. 

Not Just a Feyse

Over my almost three years as a book blogger, I've read all kinds of YA. Despite pushing beyond my own reading comfort zone on occasion, I gravitate to those stories involving the paranormal or the supernatural, in other words, books that often involve creatures or magic of some kind.

When I began diving into YA, I thought, knowing that I loved vampires and magic, that reading novels involving the fey, fairies, sprites, forest-dwelling magical creatures, and the like, would be right up my alley.

(click on a book's cover to be taken to its Goodreads page)

Turns out, I was mostly wrong.

I started with books like Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr, Tithe by Holly Black, and Need by Carrie Jones. All three are fey books, but pretty different from each other as well. While there were good things about each, none of them really grabbed me and I was quite surprised with my reaction to them. It wasn't just that I came away not really feeling the books, but I was honestly put off.

But I kept trying. I read Wings by Aprilynne Pike, which was a nice read but the fey aspect was removed enough from the traditional fairy scenario that it didn't feel like a fey book to me as much as the others, more like fey-lite. Glimmerglass by Jenna Black came after that, but again, they fey did not do it for me.

Still, I kept trying, choosing next The Iron King by Julie Kagawa. And here is where things changed: I loved it. Absolutely adored it. Now, I know that the fey being the focus of these books does not make all things equal (as there are a lot of factors that go into whether or not I like and enjoy a book), but here is the odd part: after reading and loving The Iron King, I have read two more books that center on the fey and really enjoyed them both.

The first was The Poison Eaters and Other Stories by Holly Black, a book of short stories. Not every story focuses on the fey, but of the ones that did, I loved them way more than I liked Tithe. Same author, different reaction.

Next I read Brenna Yovanoff's The Replacement. Not only did this novel have much the same feel to me as Holly Black's work, but I was enthralled. Was this change of opinion due to reading a fey book that I loved? Maybe. But does that mean that a book like The Replacement gets the highest rating that I can give a novel? No.

After examining my experience with these books, here is what I have determined: I like well-written, action-packed, fantastical stories that involve the fey. But if the fey are too twisty, too dark, or just too much in general, I can't love the book. I can't love something that either grosses or creeps me out too much. The Replacement is the only fey book of that type that has come close.

So what does this mean going forward? Well, I'm not ruling out fey novels. I'm going to try to be open and hope I pick one up that really captures my interest and attention, but I'm also going to do a little research before diving in to give myself the best chance of an enjoyable read.

What do you think of YA fey novels? Have you read any that I mentioned? Got any recommendations?

Authors Are Rockstars Tour - Julie Kagawa

I'm late, I'm late, to a very important date!  After 3 days of a malfunctioning internet signal, I am here to tell you all about why Julie Kagawa is a rockstar.  Last year right after I started this blog, I began trying different YA books after a long absence.  I was looking for something different that would kick-start my imagination and keep me well entertained.  One of the very first books I tried was The Iron King and, needless to say, I was a goner.  I finished the first book late at night and immediately went right out to buy the next 2.  The Iron Fey had stolen me away (I promise, I'll refrain from spouting some W.B. Yeats right now a la "The Stolen Child") and there was no turning back.  I had the pleasure of meeting Julie last August at the Ash2Nash author tour, where I was tracked down in the store after tweeting that I had spotted her.  That was such an unforgettable moment, and having the chance to hear about the writing of the series in the author's words was great.  I also found that we have a few things in common, which is an awesome thing to discover about a favored author.  She continues to be amongst my top 5 favorite YA authors and shares a spot at the top of the list.

As a part of today's festivities, the awesomely funny Meghan, Ash, Puck, and Grimalkin dropped by to talk about why Julie is a rockstar, what she has them up to these days, and more.  I hope you enjoy reading the interview as much as I did conducting it!

Marla: Hey, guys, gal, and cat. Welcome to Starting the Next Chapter! It's great having you here.

First off, as you already know, this is the Authors Are Rockstars Tour, so tell me, what makes Julie a rockstar in your eyes?

Meghan: Well, I know that she loves her fans and she loves what she does; that's kind of rockstar-ish, right?

Ash: I'm afraid I don't know enough about rockstars to properly answer this question.

Puck: She has freaky hair.

Grimalkin: *Yawn*

Marla: Meghan, how is life in the Iron realm treating you these days? What's it like being queen?

Meghan: Busy. Lots of responsibilities, being the Iron Queen, especially when dealing with the other courts. But, I love it. I finally feel this is where I'm supposed to be, what I'm meant to be doing. And, of course, Ash is with me, too. That's the best part.

Marla: Ash, how are you finding the Iron realm? What have you been up to?

Ash: I'm rather enjoying it, actually. It's a lot different than Tir Na Nog, and its queen is much easier to get along with. Usually. *Dodges wad of paper hurled by Meghan* As for what I've been doing, I usually work with Glitch in training the guards, keep up with the castle's security defenses, and serve as a personal bodyguard to The Iron Queen.

Puck: Yeah, I bet you guard that body well, ice-boy.  

Ash: Shut up, Puck.

Marla: So, Puck. Have you been on any good capers lately? Have you been behaving yourself? (I know, I know, we probably ALL know the answer to that already. *wink* )

Puck: What? Moi? Capers? Look at this face, how could you suggest such a thing? I am the picture of innocence and childlike virtue.

Ash: Right. And Titania's bedchamber erupted with frogs by itself.

Meghan: And the Summerpods crawled into the wine at last Elysium on their own.

Ash: And Ororobos the dragon went on a rampage through the wyldwood because he misplaced his entire hoard himself.

Puck: What can I say? Life is strange sometimes.

Marla: Grimalkin, my next question is for you. Be honest: do you miss going on adventures with these three? I'll bet life is pretty quiet now.

Grim: Hummmm, what was that, human? I was taking a nap. Miss these three? Miss the chaos, the noise, the constant bailing them out of trouble? What do you think? *Goes back to sleep*

Marla: Meghan, what do you think of your little brother being featured in his own series?

Meghan: I don't know if I like it, honestly. I know how dangerous this world is, and all I wanted for Ethan was to have his own life, away from all the craziness. But, if Faery comes for him, at least I'll be there to help him through it.

Marla: I know all of you must be busy, so I have one last question for all of you.
If you were to write a book, what would it be called and what would it be
about?

Meghan: "The Complete Idiot's Guide to the Nevernever." Self-
explanatory. Wished I had something like that when I first came here.

Ash: I don't do a lot of writing, but if I had to, I'd compose some sort
of hunting journal for all the creatures in the wyldwood; strengths,
weaknesses, how to kill them, something like that.

Puck: I'd write a story about four humans who get lost in the forest, a
jealous faery king, a love potion, a queen who falls in love with a donkey,
and a brilliant but charming prankster who gets caught up in all of it. And
I'd call it..."Robin Goodfellow's Day Out." Catchy, eh?

Thank you all so much for stopping by today. Safe travels to you on your way back to the Nevernever!

If you want to check out the other blogs and authors on the tour, you can find the entire list HERE.  Thank you so much for stopping by, and feel free to leave your own thoughts on why Julie Kagawa is a rockstar.  It will get you an entry to win one of her books (sorry, US & Canada only per the publisher's request)!

The Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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)

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.

Waiting on Wednesday - December 14, 2011

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.

I have another two picks this week.  The first is by someone who has become one of my favorite YA novelists since I started this crazy adventure in book blogging.  In fact, one of her books was the first novel that I read upon my return to reading YA and can definitely be credited with my newly found enthusiasm for this particular area.  The book in question is the beginning of an entirely new series that I can't wait to dig into.  That book is The Immortal Rules, book 1 in the upcoming Blood of Eden series, by Julie Kagawa.  The Immortal Rules will be released in hardcover by Harlequin Teen on April 24, 2012.

From Goodreads:

You will kill. The only question is when.

In the dark days since the insidious Red Lung virus decimated the human population, vampires have risen to rule the crumbling cities and suburbs. Uncontested Princes hold sway over diminished ranks of humans: their "pets." In exchange for their labor, loyalty and of course, their blood, these pets are registered, given food and shelter, permitted to survive.

Unregistered humans cling to fringes, scavenging for survival. Allison Sekemoto and her fellow Unregistereds are hunted, not only by vampires, but by rabids, the unholy result of Red Lung-infected vampires feeding on unwary humans. One night, Allie is attacked by a pack of rabids, saved by an unlikely hero...and turned vampire.

Uncomfortable in her undead skin, Allie falls in with a ragtag crew of humans seeking a cure, or cures: for Rabidism and for Vampirism. She's passing for human...for now. But the hunger is growing and will not be denied. Not for friendship—not even for love.

 My next pick is a new YA fantasy novel that revolves around the world of faeries.  Faerie novels are always welcome in my home, so imagine my excitement when I found out about the book in question.  The Treachery of Beautiful Things by Ruth Frances Long will be released on August 16, 2012 by Dial Books.

From Goodreads:

The trees swallowed her brother whole. And Jenny was there to see it. Years later, when she returns to the woods where Tom was taken to say good-bye at last, she finds herself lured into a world where stunning beauty masks the most treacherous of evils, and strange and dangerous creatures await—creatures who seem to consider her the threat. Among them is Jack, mercurial and magnetic, with allegiances that shift as much as his moods. Determined to find her brother, with or without Jack’s help, Jenny struggles to navigate a faerie world where nothing is what it seems, no one is who they say, and she’s faced with a choice between salvation or sacrifice—and not just her own. 

Review: The Iron Knight

by Julie Kagawa
publisher: HarlequinTeen
date of publication: October 25, 2011
format: eGalley
pages: 386
source: Netgalley
Amazon / Goodreads / B&N

From Goodreads:

My name—my True Name—is Ashallayn'darkmyr Tallyn.
I am the last remaining son of Mab, Queen of the Unseelie Court. And I am dead to her.
My fall began, as many stories do, with a girl…

What I Thought

We have come to the end of the Iron Fey series. What a great trip it has been. I have been sitting on this review for quite a while, unsure what to say about The Iron Knight that wouldn't be one long gush or give away too many details. This book meant a lot to me to read, as this series is what re-introduced me to YA literature. Having been long absent at the time, it was a fantastic way to get back into this area of literature. I feel as if I have come full circle with this review, so I definitely hope to do the book justice.

The Iron Knight picks up where The Iron Queen left off. If you haven't read The Iron Queen, read no further, because it is nearly impossible to talk about this book without mentioning hints of what happened in the previous installment. If you're still with me, I will now begin this review in earnest. At the onset of this book, Ash and Puck are on a mission to discover a way for Ash to be with Meghann. The journey is long, perilous, and enlightening for both Ash and Puck as they each face their inner conflicts and issues. It is a harrowing, emotional journey that will put their tenuous friendship to the test and make them question themselves, as well as each other. There is action, suspense, and lots of creepy elements, not to mention Puck and Ash. What more could you want?

If you have read the rest of the series, Ash and Puck need no further introduction. However, I will say that these two are even more fully developed as characters, something I hadn't even thought possible. If you thought you knew them before, just wait. There is more to learn and you will be intrigued. As this is primarily Ash's story, why don't we take a brief look at him? This journey is a very important one for him. He will learn, love, grieve, and struggle to figure out what it is that he really wants. It is an emotionally-charged aspect of this book that really surprised me, though it probably shouldn't have. I laughed, I gasped, I cried. There is so much to take away from this book that my mind was left reeling at the end as I read about Ash's thoughts, desires, fears, and decisions. It was beautifully written and absolutely wonderful.

There are multiple settings in The Iron Knight, each one weirder than the last. From a mysterious river to a creepy, fog-shrouded town, you will be kept wondering and in suspense. There are any number of fascinating scenes to behold, all of which do faerie proud. There is a strange beauty about many of the locations our band of adventurers find themselves traveling through. If you are like me, you'll be mesmerized and eager to continue reading just to find out where they will go next.

What else can I possibly say about The Iron Knight? It was the perfect end to a wonderful series. I couldn't be more happy with how everything was wrapped up. I will impart one piece of crucial advice, however: keep a box of tissues handy. You may need it! I can not wait to see what the future has in store with Julie Kagawa's up-coming series. If they are as good as this one, we will be entertained for years to come. I give The Iron Knight 5 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.

Ash2Nash: The Nashville Stop

Yesterday was absolutely fantastic! Nikki and I drove to Nashville again for another awesome author event, this time the final stop of the Ash 2 Nash book tour, featuring Victoria Schwab, Myra McEntire, and Beth Revis, with special guests Julie Kagawa, Rachel Hawkins, and Ruta Sepetys. We reached B&N super early with the intention of getting coffee and getting some reading time in. We both had coffee and were also intrigued by a little something called the "blackout" cupcake.



I just have to say it: that cupcake kicked my butt. I only finished half of it before I had to call it quits. Nikki looked like she felt a little ill after hers. Evil, evil cupcake! It's as menacing as it looks, folks. Beware!

We both got in some much-needed reading time, which was excellent. After a while, though, the chairs became uncomfortable, so we decided to look for empty arm chairs. They were all full, so back to the cafe we went. When we walked back in, I looked up only to notice that Julie Kagawa was sitting 2 tables away. I mentioned this on Twitter while having a "holy crap!" moment, only to notice Victoria Schwab walking across the parking lot outside. Yup. The time was drawing near!

Shortly thereafter, Shannon from Stalking the Bookshelves arrived, and while she was getting a cup of coffee, we had some unexpected visitors drop by our table. I saw someone out of the corner of my eye, then heard, "Marla?" It was Julie Kagawa and Victoria Schwab. (insert shock here) Apparently, my tweet didn't go unnoticed. LOL! I (obviously) couldn't see my own face, but I'm pretty sure it looked something like this when I looked at Nikki:


Introductions were made, my inner voice did much squealing, and then it was time to head back to the event area. Also, I can definitely say that they are both as awesome as their books. It was great talking to them.

Let me preface the next pictures by saying that these ladies are utterly hilarious. The discussion portion of the event was very funny and a good time was had by all. I wish I could have gotten video for you all. Unfortunately, I was seated behind some ladies who were roughly my height, which was both unusual (I'm rather tall) and prevented me from getting any direct shots of the whole panel. I had to make do with ducking and weaving the camera around heads and over shoulders. Thanks goodness for 18X zoom!

After the discussion, chaos ensued. There were people everywhere waiting to get their books signed. Any thought of a queue was out the window. It was a free-for-all! Luckily, there was plenty of time left, so everyone had the chance to get their books signed and chat with the authors for a bit. This was truly awesome, as Nikki and I didn't have to rush off this time and could stay until the end. We even found out that Ruta has a home near us and that she is in our town fairly often! She was very nice and a lot to fun to chat with. We got to talk with most of them for a fair amount of time and snapped several pics in the process.

We also snapped some pics with Shannon. It was really awesome to get to meet another book blogger.

It was a fantastic night and I sincerely hope that they can all make it back to Nashville someday. If you ever get the chance to attend an event with one of these ladies, do it! You won't be sorry and I can guarantee that you'll have a great time.

Be sure to visit my IMM post on Sunday to see all of the books I got signed last week, as well as at Ash 2 Nash. Also, make sure to keep an eye on my blog in the weeks to come. I brought back something special that I will be giving away at a later date. What is it, you ask? Well, you'll just have to wait to find out. ::wink::