{A Kelly Coffee Review} Shadow Sight by E.J. Stevens

Title: Shadow Sight
Series: Ivy Granger #1
Author: E.J. Stevens
Genre: Supernatural/Urban Fantasy
Publisher: Sacred Oak Press

Synopsis: Some things are best left unseen...

Ivy Granger's second sight is finally giving her life purpose. Ivy and her best friend Jinx may not be raking in the dough, but their psychic detective agency pays the bills--most of the time. Their only worry is the boredom of a slow day and the occasional crazy client--until a demon walks through their door.

Demons are never a good sign...

A demon attorney representing the water fae? Stranger things have happened. And things are about to get very, very strange as a bloodthirsty nightmare hunts the city of Harborsmouth.

There's blood in the water...

Kelpies have a reputation for eating humans. Unfortunately, Kelpies are the clients. When an Unseelie faerie this evil stalks the waterways of your city, you have to make hard choices.

The lesser of two evils...

For a book that I thought would be right in my wheelhouse, this was not what I expected. There is incredible potential in this book/series, because there are actually a number of interesting ideas and takes on familiar concepts that I appreciated.

To start, she has a world that includes demons, witches, vampires and faeries, and I think she does a reasonably good job balancing all of those magical and supernatural mega-powers.  Just the variety in the base gives the world a lot of places to go and a lot of angles to consider. Second, her main character, Ivy, is psychometric--she gets visions from touching emotionally charged objects/people. That is a tetchy ability to land your main character with because it could be so socially detrimental, and I think that the realities and practicalities of living with a powerful (and uncontrolled) ability like Ivy's are very well addressed and represented. The consequences and hazards of living with psychometry are treated realistically, and Ivy has issues because of it.

I have to say, for such a short book, I really struggled with this one. I liked her take on vampires, couldn't decide how I felt about the demon, and was touch-and-go on her treatment of the fae. I almost feel like the shortness of the novel does it a disservice, because there just isn't that much time allotted to really sink into the world before it's falling apart around the reader. Ivy was an interesting character, but no one really jumped to life for me.

For some reason, it just didn't hold my attention. I was never sucked in, never felt like I couldn't walk away from it, was never emotionally invested. I don't know why, but for me, there was no connect. My overall impression of the book is that it's strangely forgettable. I was left with no strong impression or feeling about it, vaguely annoyed at the love element thrown in at the very end. My suspension of disbelief was stretched to its very limits and I wasn't even annoyed by it. I just didn't get any emotional investment. It's as if the bubble that Ivy tries so hard to live in, to keep herself separate (with good reason, mind) has saturated the story, so that there's a layer of fuzz between the reader and the action. Something about it made me feel like I was reading a premise or an outline--all the big stuff is there, now fill it out and don't forget the emotion.

That being said, I am intrigued enough by the world and the concept that I would read the next one, just to see if it fills out better, if I can sink into her world more and connect. The base its solid. I just need to feel the story, not read the outline.

The Dark Fae by Terry Spear

Title: The Dark Fae
Author: Terry Spear
Independently Published
Published: May 12, 2011
Genre: YA Paranormal Romance

Website ǀ Twitter ǀ Goodreads ǀ Amazon ǀ Barnes & Noble

Synopsis:

Alicia's always known she's different--that she can recognize the mischievous fae when they show up to "play" with the humans. Only now she's faced with one highly annoyed dark fae and she's certain he knows the truth about her. She can see him, which means her life is forfeit.

Add to that, his sister arrives, who wants to play, too. And their mother, the queen of the Denkar, will want Alicia's head, once she learns what Alicia can do.

And all because Alicia was attempting to rescue her friend, Cassie, on their beach excursion at South Padre Island, from the wicked fae. Now, Alicia has really gone and done it--and she's thinking she should have let the fae have his fun. Her friend's broken heart would be a lot easier to deal with, than Alicia losing her life.

But it is too late for regrets. As soon as she threw the soda at the dark fae's chest, she had declared war on the fae. And he is happy to take up the challenge.

Anyone who knows me, knows I love all things Fae. Heck, I even tease my daughters, telling them that my flower bed is a secret faerie garden. When asked by Terry Spears to review The Dark Fae, I jumped at the chance, not to be disappointed. I adored that part of the story took place at South Padre Island...I am from Texas after all, plus I adore the ocean. Deveron and Alicia were fun as guides in their crazy world.

Alicia has always known she can see Fae but she has never known how deeply her sight is implanted in her. When she sees "the evil" dark fae flirting with her best friend, Alicia throws ice cold coke on him. I would have paid to see his face...especially since he is fae royalty. Deveron realizes immediately that there is something different about Alicia. Through several laugh provoking experiments, he figures out that she can see even invisible fae. It doesn't take him long to figure out she needs protection and he is the only one who can help; neither of them know exactly what they are getting themselves into.

While I definitely enjoyed this fantastical tale, I didn't find the world as intriguing as I would have liked. There was something missing that didn't pull me deep into the story. 

The Dark Fae was a quick and fun story. I loved the interaction between Deveron, Alicia, and Ritasia (Deveron's sister). They were quirky, quick-witted, and exciting.  

*I was given an e-book copy of The Dark Fae  by Terry Spear in exchange for my honest review.

Shadowfever by Karen Marie Moning

Title: Shadowfever
Series: Fever #5
Author: Karen Marie Moning
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Publication Date: January 2011
 

Website ǀ Twitter ǀ Goodreads ǀ Amazon ǀ Barnes & Noble

Synopsis:

“Evil is a completely different creature, Mac. Evil is bad that believes it’s good.”

MacKayla Lane was just a child when she and her sister, Alina, were given up for adoption and banished from Ireland forever.

Twenty years later, Alina is dead and Mac has returned to the country that expelled them to hunt her sister’s murderer. But after discovering that she descends from a bloodline both gifted and cursed, Mac is plunged into a secret history: an ancient conflict between humans and immortals who have lived concealed among us for thousands of years.

What follows is a shocking chain of events with devastating consequences, and now Mac struggles to cope with grief while continuing her mission to acquire and control the Sinsar Dubh—a book of dark, forbidden magic scribed by the mythical Unseelie King, containing the power to create and destroy worlds.

In an epic battle between humans and Fae, the hunter becomes the hunted when the Sinsar Dubh turns on Mac and begins mowing a deadly path through those she loves.
Who can she turn to? Who can she trust? Who is the woman haunting her dreams? More important, who is Mac herself and what is the destiny she glimpses in the black and crimson designs of an ancient tarot card?

From the luxury of the Lord Master’s penthouse to the sordid depths of an Unseelie nightclub, from the erotic bed of her lover to the terrifying bed of the Unseelie King, Mac’s journey will force her to face the truth of her exile, and to make a choice that will either save the world . . . or destroy it.

Yep, you counted correctly...5 moon-women. Never in my lifetime have I read a series that left me so completely and utterly satisfied at its ending. Shadowfever is filled with death, loss, darkness, grief, and ultimately, the light that Ms. Moning has promised from the beginning. All the right questions were answered, my fears relieved, and my hopes sated, leaving only positive energy surrounding The MacKayla Lane Novels. My favorite part..."The End..." turn page "...for now." Hmmm...what could that possibly mean?

We find Miss Lane grieving over the death of Jericho Barrons. He died by her hand, causing her to devolve into a grief-stricken frame-of-mind. At this point she only wants to finish what she started and she will do it in any manner necessary, even if it means seducing the Lord Master, or Darroc as she now refers to him. This is the ultimate betrayal to those closest to her. I give her credit though, Mac set her mind to take control of the Sinsar Dubh and she doesn't back down. Too many peopl died at it's hands and Mac is taking over.

The Fever Series is filled with deception and betrayal, making you question every motive of every person surrounding Mac. Shadowfever will leave you screaming "WTF" and "OMG" with every turn of the page. Very few of these creatures are what you have been led to believe. Those closest to Mac will surprise you the most. The world of Dublin has become a terrifying place, filled with unseelie fae and the humans are just going to have to make the best of it, because there is no going back.

The secrets, oh the secrets, of Dublin have left my mind reeling with amazement. So many secrets guarded so closely, right under Mac's nose the entire time. The secrets about Barrons are probably the most notable. I want to tell you all of them...all of the secrets, every last one of them, but like Mac, you must find them out on your own. If you haven't read this series or have been teetering on the edge, wondering if you want to read them, you do. Trust me...you really do.

Okay, because I can't tell you any secrets or give you a great storyline, I am going to give you a few of my favorite quotes...

Jericho Barrons is dead.
He lies on his stomach, motionless. He hasn't moved or breathed in the small eternity that I've been screaming. I can't sense him in his skin. On all other occasions, I've been able to feel him in my vicinity; electric, larger than life, vastness crammed into a tiny container. Genie in a bottle. That's Barrons: deadly power, stopper corking it. Barely. ... The million-dollar question: What are you, Barrons? - Page 7

Suddenly it shot up on all fours, head down. Bone crunched and cracked, settling into a new shape. Shoulders formed - strong, smooth, bunched with muscle. Hands braced wide. One leg stretched back, then bent as it tensed in a low lunge. ... A naked man crouched in the moonlight. - Page 172

He winked. "I'd planned to, anyway."
"Oooh! Then why did you--"
"Pretty girl and all. Asking. Gotta love that. Stuff of heroes. Don't get that role often." - Page 637

...She'd been taken.
He'd loved her for all time.
Before she was made.
After he'd believed she was gone.
Sunshine to his ice. Frost to her fever.
I wished them forever.
You, too, beautiful girl.
The Unseelie King was gone. - Page 653

If you have read this series...who is your favorite character?

Be sure to check out my reviews of the entire Fever Series.

   • Book 1: Darkfever
   • Book 2: Bloodfever
   • Book 3: Faefever
   • Book 4: Dreamfever
   • Book 5: Shadowfever

Dreamfever by Karen Marie Moning

Title: Dreamfever
Series: Fever #4
Author: Karen Marie Moning
Delacorte Press
Karen Moning's Website
Karen's Twitter
Dreamfever on Goodreads

Synopsis:

They may have stolen my past, but I’ll never let them take my future.

When the walls between Man and Fae come crashing down, freeing the insatiable, immortal Unseelie from their icy prison, MacKayla Lane is caught in a deadly trap. Captured by the Fae Lord Master, she is left with no memory of who or what she is: the only sidhe-seer alive who can track the Sinsar Dubh, a book of arcane black magic that holds the key to controlling both worlds.

Clawing her way back from oblivion is only the first step Mac must take down a perilous path, from the battle-filled streets of Dublin to the treacherous politics of an ancient, secret sect, through the tangled lies of men who claim to be her allies into the illusory world of the Fae themselves, where nothing is as it seems—and Mac is forced to face a soul-shattering truth.

Who do you trust when you can’t even trust yourself?

 Be sure to check out my reviews of the entire Fever Series.

   • Book 1: Darkfever
   • Book 2: Bloodfever
   • Book 3: Faefever
   • Book 4: Dreamfever
   • Book 5: Shadowfever

*Adult Fantasy

Another amazing book in the Fever Series by Karen Marie Moning. I was left completely dumb-founded by the ending of Faefever. I don't know what I thought was going to happen but I assure you...it was not this. Mac finds herself fighting to get her life back...not her old life...her life - period. The Sinsar Dubh is the least of her worries for most of Dreamfever. If she's not in trouble, Barrons is. She spends some time in the Hall of All Days becoming more and more confused as time passes. Is it possible that she is in fact the Unseelie King? Things happen that seem to be more than consequences leading her to believe she just might be.

I enjoyed Dreamfever because we finally see a different side of Barrons and start learning some of his secrets. I began to understand his reasons for being so secretive and a royal ass. And, after way too much time, we begin to see his true feelings for Mac. Mac is evolving into a kick-ass heroin by the minute. She is now going head-to-head with Rowena, who may possibly be worse than all her other enemies put together.

Mac definitely has to decide who to trust and soon. Sometimes I just want to slap her and yell for her to look in front of her. It may seem if there are multiple people who want her safe, but that is all a facade. Some are hiding secrets much worse than anything Barrons has to hide.  Regardless of his motives, Barrons continues to dig her out of trouble at every turn in the road. After what he did for her in the beginning of this book, I don't know why she continues to doubt him.

A must read for fans of Fae and lovers of hot steamy men (creatures?).

Thin Air by Lynn Seresin

Title: Thin Air
Series: Thin Air #1
Independently Published
August 7, 2011

Synopsis:

Alice Ayre is no ordinary teenager. She took her first name from a statue in Central Park, pulled her last name out of the air (literally), and she’s actually almost a thousand years old. In fact, the only “ordinary” thing about Alice is that she’s in love.

Alice was a sylphid—a winged air spirit—when she spotted Daniel Field camping in the Adirondacks and lost her heart to the handsome NYU student. Intangible to the human senses, her only hope of winning his heart resides in becoming mortal, even though transmutation is forbidden by Paralda, ruler of the air. Risking punishment, however, seems a small price to pay for a chance at true happiness.

Tracking down Daniel in New York City ends up being surprisingly easy. Getting noticed by him for all the right reasons is another story, especially when the human world keeps tossing challenges in Alice’s path. Just when she’s mastered zippers and buttons, she catches herself dropping a sugar packet into her coffee and mistaking a photo of John Lennon for one of Daniel’s relatives. Her eccentricities raise the occasional eyebrow with Daniel and his friends, but her quirky charm, sweetness, and sincerity win out. Before long, she lands a job, begins a relationship with Daniel, and starts settling into her new life—until her past comes after her.

Enraged over Alice’s departure, Paralda has sent transmuted assassins to pursue her into the human world. A near-fatal fire on a camping trip and the murder of a look-alike employee at the club where Alice works convince her they are closing in fast. Alone with her secret–who would believe her?—Alice must elude a nameless, faceless enemy sworn to destroy the happy, new life she’s risked so much to achieve.

Welcome back for day two of my participation in the Thin Air Virtual Book Tour. Today I bring you a review of an amazing and unique book. I hope you enjoy! You can find yesterday's interview with the author, Lynn Seresin, HERE...along with details about the giveaways. Tomorrow's stop will be...The Bursting Bookshelf. Don't forget to attend every stop so you can enter to win the grand prize.  

I cannot tell you how much I adored this book, especially Lynn’s characters. They are an amazing group of individuals that are bound by friendship and comradery.  As you know, I always like to tell you a little about the characters so you know who you are reading about, so here they are…

• Aeris – (AKA…Alice Ayre) is a sylphid who chooses to risk everything she has ever known for the one she loves. She is beautiful, talented, and…well, lonely as a sylphid. She must leave the only life, the only home, she knows to complete her life.
• Terra – is a good friend to Aeris; although, they have little interaction in this book, I truly enjoyed the small role he played in Thin Air and hope to see more of him in Friendly Fire. 
• Tempesta – is Aeris’s well-meaning sister who fears for her safety and happiness when it comes to love.
• Paralda – is the demanding and vengeful king of the Air Elementals.
• Gob – is the king of the Earth Elementals. He is the only one that can give Aeris what she needs to become human.
• Daniel – is a young man of the human breed that Aeris gives her heart to.
• Delilah – is, well, a bitch! I just can’t describe her in any other way. Even Daniel, her boyfriend, knows she is a terrible example of a human being.
• Rose Quartz – is a lovely woman who helps Aeris, now Alice, find her way into the human world.
• Ignid – is a great help to Alice – assisting her in finding her one true love, Daniel.
• Dante – is my favorite character ever. He is extraordinarily fabulous. He is charming, witty, funny, and a true friend to Alice. Actually, Dante is a true friend to everyone he cares about.
• Shane – is Dante’s other half. They appear to be inseparable. He is loving and supportive of Dante’s singing career and his studies. Shane also helps Alice with some much needed guidance in her new world.
• Wren – is a blind young woman – dating Nicki – who befriends Alice. Wren has a certain “sixth” sense about trouble and is quick to warn Alice when trouble arises.
• Nicki – is Wren’s boyfriend.
• Giovoni – owns the “palace” that is home to Daniel, Shane, Wren, Nicki, and eventually, Alice.
• Ray – is a friend of Dante and Daniel. Ray is the owner of a bar that the gang frequents. He has plenty of his own secrets to hide. Could he be friend or foe? One can only guess.

Now, here are a couple of my favorite passages:

“With Gob having narrowed their search to New York City, Paralda’s assassins will kill every woman who resembles you in the hopes that they’ll eventually find and destroy you. Humans have a special name for murderers of this sort – serial killers, they’re called.” – Ray

“I slid my leg over his and frowned at the rough feel of denim against my naked thigh. “I liked it better when you weren’t wearing any pants.”…Laughing softly, he kissed my forehead. “That can easily be arranged.” Without another word, her reached down and began to wriggle out of his jeans, thrashing against the confines of the sleeping bag as he did so…”

(Sorry, am a sap for a good love scene, and nope…I’m not telling you who said that quote! You will just have to read the book.)

So now that you know something about the characters, I suppose we should talk a little about the story.

I have read plenty of books about Fae and even a couple that mention Elementals; but, Thin Air is enticingly different from any other novel I have read. 

The beginning of the book felt more plot driven and seemed a little sluggish to me; however, by the time Aire meets Terra and starts her voyage to find Gob, I was completely consumed. At this point the book shifts to a character driven adventure and things really come to life. Alice begins to meet all these wonderful characters who create a loving and sometimes turbulent world.

Lynn does an excellent job of bringing her characters to life. I had premonitions of how I should feel about the characters, and for the most part, my feelings were dead on. However, the jury is still out on a few of these “well-meaning” or is it “menacing” works of art. 

Thin Air is filled with love, heart-ache, drama, and danger. The pace of the book was perfect to keep me flipping the pages well past bedtime. If you are a lover of mythology or tales of fae…I believe you will more than love this book – you will covet this book.

Recently, I have read several books that include characters that enjoy an alternative lifestyle and I truly appreciate authors who embrace this element. Lynn made Dante’s and Shane’s relationship seem so effortless and surrounded them with people who truly appreciate them as the wonderful people they are.

You can purchase your copy or find more information about Thin Air at any of these places...

Goodreads | Lulu | Barnes and Noble | Amazon | Facebook

*I was given a free e-book by the author of Thin Air in return for my honest review.

Faefever by Karen Marie Moning

Title: Faefever
Series: Fever #3
Author: Karen Marie Moning
Delacorte Press
Karen Moning's Website
Karen's Twitter
Faefever on Goodreads

Synopsis:

He calls me his Queen of the Night. I’d die for him. I’d kill for him, too. When MacKayla Lane receives a torn page from her dead sister’s journal, she is stunned by Alina’s desperate words. And now MacKayla knows that her sister’s killer is close. But evil is closer. And suddenly the sidhe-seer is on the hunt: For answers. For revenge. And for an ancient book of dark magic so evil, it corrupts anyone who touches it.

Mac’s quest for the Sinsar Dubh takes her into the mean, shape-shifting streets of Dublin, with a suspicious cop on her tail. Forced into a dangerous triangle of alliance with V’lane, an insatiable Fae prince of lethally erotic tastes, and Jericho Barrons, a man of primal desires and untold secrets, Mac is soon locked in a battle for her body, mind, and soul.

As All Hallows’ Eve approaches and the city descends into chaos, as a shocking truth about the Dark Book is uncovered, not even Mac can prevent a deadly race of immortals from shattering the walls between worlds—with devastating consequences.…

Well, that does it. I didn't think it was possible to be anymore addicted to the Fever series than I already was, but...Oh Man. Karen Marie Moning just made it impossible for me to put down this series long enough to write a review. Talk about a cliffhanger of all cliffhangers. This is one of the reasons I am frequently ecstatic that I am late to the game...no waiting on sequels!

I have completed the series and some might disagree, but I believe Faefever is the darkest, most entrancing book in this phenomenal series. It is the perfect pinnacle for center-stage, if you will. If things could get any worse, I am not sure how...short of killing off everyone - which would not set well for the third of a five book series. Ms. Moning does promise this series is about discovering the light; however, this book will leave you doubting that promise and many other things.

Mac begins receiving pages of Alina's journal at Barrons Books and Baubles, leading her to believe that her sister was actually in love with the Lord Master. Is it possible that he returned that love? Hmmm... Things in Dublin are only getting worse...the Sinsar Dubh is on the move, and most disturbing of all is its mode of transportation. Mac has added two more protectors to her list...Christian MacKeltar and Dreamy-Eyed-Guy. Two more men she ends up trying to answer to...for good or bad. V'lane is still hanging around, amping up Mac's libido. Barrons is still Barrons...attempting to conceal his true identity and his feelings for Ms. Lane. The sexual tension in this book is at an all time high. Oh - and did I mention the world as we know it rests in the hands of Barrons, Christian, and Mac?

Faefever is my favorite of the first three books. You will just have to keep coming back and read my reviews for Dreamfever and Shadowfever to discover which of the books is my absolute favorite...or you may already know?!?!

Favorite Quotes:

"I dampened myself greatly. It could have been much more...what is your word? Traumatic. Humans were never meant to carry a Fae's name on their tongue. How does it feel, MacKayla? You have a piece of me in your mouth. Would you like another?" He smiled, and I knew he didn't mean a word, or whatever it was that lay there coiled, slumbering but barely, in a porcelain cage. - Page 89

"You might as well have raped me. In fact, that's exactly what you did!"...He rolled hard and fast, and I was on my back beneath him, with my hands pinned above my head, the weight of his body crushing me to the floor, his face inches from mine. He was breathing harder than the exertion merited..."Make no mistake, Ms. Lane, I didn't rape you. You can lie there on your pretty little P.C. ass and claim with your idealistic little P.C. arguments that any violation of your will is rape and I'm a big, bad bastard, and I'll tell you that you're full of shit, and you've obviously never been raped. Rape is much, much worse. Rape isn't something you walk away from. You crawl." Page 212-213

They were maestros of lust, eternally denied music in their realm, surrounded by others also void, without a human's body to play the melody upon...But with a human, so long as she felt, so did they, and they would gorge on her song, until the concert hall fell silent, the passion turned to ash, and she died, her body gone as cold as that place inside them where life could never fully be realized. - Page 368

Be sure to check out my reviews of the entire Fever Series.
 
   • Book 1: Darkfever
   • Book 2: Bloodfever
   • Book 3: Faefever
   • Book 4: Dreamfever
   • Book 5: Shadowfever

Bloodfever by Karen Marie Moning

Title: Bloodfever
Series: Fever #2
Author: Karen Marie Moning
Delacorte Press
Karen Moning's Website
Karen's Twitter
Darkfever on Goodreads

Synopsis:

I used to be your average, everyday girl but all that changed one night in Dublin when I saw my first Fae, and got dragged into a world of deadly immortals and ancient secrets...

In her fight to stay alive, MacKayla must find the Sinsar Dubh—a million-year-old book of the blackest magic imaginable, which holds the key to power over the worlds of both the Fae and Man. Pursued by assassins, surrounded by mysterious figures she knows she can’t trust, Mac finds herself torn between two deadly and powerful men: V’lane, the immortal Fae Prince, and Jericho Barrons, a man as irresistible as he is dangerous.

For centuries the shadowy realm of the Fae has coexisted with that of humans. Now the walls between the two are coming down, and Mac is the only thing that stands between them.

Bloodfever begins with Inspector O'Duffy blindsiding Mac at Barrons Books and Baubles, her sacred hide-a-way from all that haunts her. Well...except for Barrons, and his intentions for Mac remain to be seen in this book. Sometimes it is so difficult to review a sequal...especially in a series with five books. Moning's world building continues to be fantastical and imaginative in ways that she can't even explain at times.  

Barrons continues to be the King of Evasiveness as he and Mac maintain their search for the Sinsar Dub, as well as other OOPs. Mac continues to doubt anybody's intentions...call her whiny, but can you really blame her? Every time the already overwhelmed girl turns around...someone else wants something that only she can give. You might think she would be well protected...but what happens when they all get what they need? An attempt on her life doesn't leave her feeling anymore loved, even when V'lane, with impeccable timing, shows up to save her life. Just another favor she owes the death-by-sex fae.

While Mac and Barrons journey to the homes of some of Dublin's most infamous characters, searching for Objects of Power (OOPs), a second closer-to-death-than-anyone-should-be experience causes Mac to indulge in the special properties of Unseelie Fae. She finds herself in a precarious situation with Jericho Barrons that leaves her mind and body reeling.  

I enjoyed Bloodfever immensely; however, there were not a lot of questions answered. This second installment served to reinforce the world of Fae, their Objects of Powers, and establishes some more of the major players involved in the hunt for the Sinsar Dubh.

Favorite Quotes:

"Leave me alone. I can't be your friend," I said bluntly.
"That's way too intriguing to pass up. What's your story, beautiful girl?" (Dreamy-Eyed Guy)
"I don't have a story. I have a life. And you don't fit in it." (Mac)
"Boyfriend?" (DEG)
"Dozens." (Mac)
"Truth?" (DEG)
"Is." (Mac) - Page 58

I felt that way about myself lately; turning dark and afraid of what I was becoming. At that moment, I had no idea how light I still was. But then we so rarely understand the value of what we possess until it's gone. - Page 156-157

He grabbed a fistful of my T-shirt, and dragged me up against him until our noses touched. "I'll bring it on, Ms. Lane. But remember you asked for it. So don't even think about trying to tap out on the mat and quit the fight."...He swapped the fistful of my shirt for one in my hair, and ground his mouth against mine. - Page 304

 Be sure to check out my reviews of the entire Fever Series.

   • Book 1: Darkfever
   • Book 2: Bloodfever
   • Book 3: Faefever
   • Book 4: Dreamfever
   • Book 5: Shadowfever

Darkfever by Karen Marie Moning

Title: Darkfever
Series: Fever #1
Author: Karen Marie Moning
Delacorte Press
Karen Moning's Website
Karen's Twitter
Darkfever on Goodreads

Synopsis:

MacKayla Lane’s life is good. She has great friends, a decent job, and a car that breaks down only every other week or so. In other words, she’s your perfectly ordinary twenty-first-century woman.

Or so she thinks…until something extraordinary happens.

When her sister is murdered, leaving a single clue to her death–a cryptic message on Mac’s cell phone–Mac journeys to Ireland in search of answers. The quest to find her sister’s killer draws her into a shadowy realm where nothing is as it seems, where good and evil wear the same treacherously seductive mask. She is soon faced with an even greater challenge: staying alive long enough to learn how to handle a power she had no idea she possessed–a gift that allows her to see beyond the world of man, into the dangerous realm of the Fae….

As Mac delves deeper into the mystery of her sister’s death, her every move is shadowed by the dark, mysterious Jericho, a man with no past and only mockery for a future. As she begins to close in on the truth, the ruthless Vlane–an alpha Fae who makes sex an addiction for human women–closes in on her. And as the boundary between worlds begins to crumble, Mac’s true mission becomes clear: find the elusive Sinsar Dubh before someone else claims the all-powerful Dark Book–because whoever gets to it first holds nothing less than complete control of the very fabric of both worlds in their hands.

As usual, I'm late to the party and kicking myself all the way home. On more than several occasions I have looked at the Fever Series and thought, I should read that, but then I just don't. Who knows why? Too hooked in one genre? Maybe, but I love all things Fae, so that doesn't really explain it. Anyway, finally I decided...I really want to read something different. I went and bought Darkfever by Karen Marie Moning. I always regret putting off reading a book that sounds interesting, and this is no exception.

I love MacKayla. Absolutely adore her constant rambling in and out of her head. Her initial reactions to Jericho Barrons, the Old-Woman, and the many fae only add to the fun. Her born and bread southern raising is something I can relate to, being from Texas and all. Her curse words are phenomenally funny and remind me of a person I know who refuses to let her children use any type of exclamations because "they all mean the same thing."


Darkfever is told in first person from Mac's prospective and her descriptions will leave you laughing, cringing or crying. Barrons is fantastic, although he is quite an enigma. I am over half-way finished with Bloodfever (Fever #2) and I have no idea what this man is, except crazy. Evasive, controlling, mysterious...he is everything Mac should avoid, but can't. He has saved her life once and now he owns her. He's not all bad, just a little rough around the edges...or ripped to shreds, put back together, and ripped to shreds again. I find him charismatic and shockingly charming (shockingly being used in a negative way.)


Then there are the Fae. Wow. The Gray Man, The Rhino-Boys, The Many-Mouthed Thing, and last, but certainly not least...V'Lane - The Death-By-Sex Fae. Moning's use of description for identification allows for much more severe reactions to these deathly creatures. And...V'Lane maybe something that some of us need...if only he didn't kill you after bringing your body to an unfathomable bliss.


These books were under Romance at my local Barnes and Nobles...I'm not sure I would classify them as Romance but as Mystery. Don't get me wrong...I think there is a budding romance, but I cannot be entirely sure of anything in regards to these books. Twists, turns, murder, and intrigue overflow from the pages sifting you into unknown worlds filled with otherworldly creatures. 

 Be sure to check out my reviews of the entire Fever Series.

   • Book 1: Darkfever
   • Book 2: Bloodfever
   • Book 3: Faefever
   • Book 4: Dreamfever
   • Book 5: Shadowfever

Waiting On Wednesday

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:

Synopsis: (Goodreads)

Debut novelist Kiki Hamilton takes readers from the gritty slums and glittering ballrooms of Victorian London to the beguiling but menacing Otherworld of the Fey in this spellbinding tale of romance, suspense, and danger.

The year is 1871, and Tiki has been making a home for herself and her family of orphans in a deserted hideaway adjoining Charing Cross Station in central London. Their only means of survival is by picking pockets. One December night, Tiki steals a ring, and sets off a chain of events that could lead to all-out war with the Fey. For the ring belongs to Queen Victoria, and it binds the rulers of England and the realm of Faerie to peace. With the ring missing, a rebel group of faeries hopes to break the treaty with dark magic and blood—Tiki’s blood.

Unbeknownst to Tiki, she is being watched—and protected—by Rieker, a fellow thief who suspects she is involved in the disappearance of the ring. Rieker has secrets of his own, and Tiki is not all that she appears to be. Her very existence haunts Prince Leopold, the Queen’s son, who is driven to know more about the mysterious mark that encircles her wrist.

Prince, pauper, and thief—all must work together to secure the treaty…
Expected Publication: September 27, 2011

I'm really not a big fan of historical fiction but I am a huge fan of all things Fey. This book just keeps calling out to me...buy me, buy me!

Supernaturally by Kiersten White

Title: Supernaturally
Author: Kiersten White
Publisher: HarperTeen
Copyright by Kiersten White 2011
Kiersten White's Official Website
Kiersten's Blog
Kiersten's Facebook
Kiersten on Twitter

Synopsis:

Evie finally has the normal life she’s always longed for. But she’s shocked to discover that being ordinary can be . . . kind of boring. Just when Evie starts to long for her days at the International Paranormal Containment Agency, she’s given a chance to work for them again. Desperate for a break from all the normalcy, she agrees.

But as one disastrous mission leads to another, Evie starts to wonder if she made the right choice. And when Evie’s faerie ex-boyfriend Reth appears with devastating revelations about her past, she discovers that there’s a battle brewing between the faerie courts that could throw the whole supernatural world into chaos. The prize in question? Evie herself.

So much for normal.

Where to start, where to start. Well, first and foremost…I miss Lish! Why did Viv have to bleeping kill her…UGH! So moving on…

• Evie – Well, aside from having a normal locker and a vampire roommate, not much changes in Evie’s incredibly fascinating and odd life. She still spends much of her time hunting rogue vampires, clueless werewolves, and the occasional troll; but there are many more utterly impossible and exceptionally dangerous assignments that could leave her lost forever.
• Lend – Oh, I really want a sexy waterboy! He is so sweet and cares so much about Evie. Let’s all just hope that she figures this out in time. Lend is away at Georgetown University attending classes so he can save the world, paranormals and all.
• Jack – Hey-Oh, what is there to say about Jack except that he is one crazy guy. I imagine he was hot to the max, but can you say ADHD and then some. Evie was always finding him turning flips off things, cart-wheeling down the halls, creating entrances and traveling Fairy Paths – without being Fey! He turned up at the most inopportune times…like the girls dressing room during Evie’s gym class.
• Arianna – The moody vampire roommate finds herself feeling lonely and, I think, a little betrayed. She spends most of her time in the apartment necromancing Zombies on the computer. I was entranced by her horrific tale of becoming a vampire. It was one of my favorite parts of this book.
• Raquel – The IPCA guru, is back. I wasn’t sure whether to trust her at first but her concern about Evie sold me. I am still wondering what she was thinking by hiring Jack though.
• Reth – You guessed it. He hasn’t gone away into the realm of wherever! He continues to torture Evie on a regular basis. What is up with this guy? Will he never learn?

Well, that is a breakdown of the most important characters involved in Evie’s adventures. So, I loved the book, and I mean everything about it. Kiersten’s storytelling is beautiful. She created characters and paranormals that are so different from anything else that you cannot help but be hooked. Her writing flows perfectly and allows you to experience their feelings in a most unusual way.

Poor Evie. I had hoped that her life would slow down a little bit, but I suppose that would not have made a very interesting book. She has a locker (the one thing she always wanted) and is living a “normal” teenage existence…well, sort of. Her gym teacher hates her (really), her best human friend falls in and out of love daily, her boyfriend is away at college, and her roommate is the epitome of EMO. It seems like there are more and more unusual characters showing up where she lives, including one very strange boy named Jack.

I fell in love Jack. He was so silly that I just couldn’t help it. He was raised by Fey and it certainly showed. He is truly a heart-breakingly broken boy. He was talented in ways he shouldn’t have been. Completely capable of following fairy paths and creating entrances to all types of interesting and sometimes dangerous places, he was the perfect solution to Evie’s mistrust of the Fey.

Evie has been keeping Lend’s immortality a secret from him, causing a lot of turbulence in their relationship. She will have to learn to trust him or things may go awry, permanently. Evie has a substantial amount of stress in her life. Not only is she going to school, hunting paranormals, and attempting to get accepted into Georgetown University so she can be with the love of her life; she is also being kidnapped by Sylphs, threatened by an Uber-Vamp, and dealing with a crazy partner. Then there is Reth, who has one humongous surprise for Evie. Just gotta love those fairies.

Arianna is doing her best to live her life and help Evie; but things just are not going well. Evie becomes so busy and trapped in multiple places because of some unreckoned force that Arianna is left believing that Evie doesn’t care and doesn’t need her, which is completely untrue.

If you love paranormal romance but are looking for a “different” kind of paranormal, you should most definitely check out the Paranormal Series by Kiersten White. In fact, you should check it out even if you are not looking for something different.

The Iron King by Julie Kagawa

Title: The Iron King
Series: The Iron Fey #1
Author: Julie Kagawa
Publisher: HarlequinTeen
Copyright 2010 by Julie Kagawa
Julie Kagawa's Official Website
Julie's Blog
The Iron Fey Facebook

Synopsis:

Meghan Chase has a secret destiny; one she could never have imagined.

Something has always felt slightly off in Meghan's life, ever since her father disappeared before her eyes when she was six. She has never quite fit in at school or at home.

When a dark stranger begins watching her from afar, and her prankster best friend becomes strangely protective of her, Meghan senses that everything she's known is about to change.

But she could never have guessed the truth - that she is the daughter of a mythical faery king and is a pawn in a deadly war. Now Meghan will learn just how far she'll go to save someone she cares about, to stop a mysterious evil no faery creature dare face; and to find love with a young prince who might rather see her dead than let her touch his icy heart.

I have just finished reading The Iron Knight…the last of the Iron Fey Series; but before I write that review, I thought it would be helpful to review the other books in the series. What can I say, I was so hooked on this incredible journey that Julie began, I just kept reading and reading and reading.


I have always loved dark fey stories. Their sneaky, charming, addictive, and sometimes deadly ways fascinate me. Julie put a twist on her stories that I utterly and completely loved. “Fey are born from the dreams of mortals.” Wow! So when all the stories of fey, the big bad wolf, and other things that go bump in the night are forgotten, they will cease to exist! How unbelievably sad that makes me.


I believe the best way to get a feel for a story is know the characters, after all, they are the ones you will love or hate, the ones you will have a vested interest in. So, I shall introduce you to the characters of The Iron Fey Series, as they are in The Iron King. Many will continue throughout the series and all will change with time…for better or worse!

• Meghan Chase – Meghan is the half-blood fairy who this series revolves around. In the human world, she is completely out of place. She is poor, lives in the middle of nowhere, and has one friend…Robbie (more on him later). Meghan has a crush on Scott Waldron, a boy at her school. Sadly, he only lives to torture her. Meghan may have one flaw…personal loyalty. She places the safety of those she cares about above her own safety. Choosing who to save and when may be her downfall!
• Ethan – Meghan’s fully human four-year old brother who finds himself thrown into Their world.
• Robbie – Meghan’s one human? friend. She has known him since before she can remember. He is her closest neighbor, although she has never seen his house. He is also quite the prankster. He is protective of Meghan and may possibly have his own crush on her. However, Robbie aka Robin Goodfellow aka Puck, may have more than one secret to hide.
• Grimalkin – The all knowing Cait Sith that will lead Meghan and her friends through NeverNever.
• Oberon – King of Summer Court, Seelie. Also, the fey half of Meghan’s parentage.
• Ash – Prince of the Winter Court, Unseelie. Unbelievably charming and handsome, he is also cold and dangerous. He is the once best friend turned enemy to Puck. The Winter Court has a long standing grudge with the Summer Court, making Ash and Meghan natural enemies.
• Queen Mab – The Queen of Winter Court. She is a heartless and ruthless ruler who has little regard for any type life…fey or otherwise.
• King Machina – The King of the Iron Kingdom. His fey could be the end of NeverNever and all fey.
• Ironhorse and Virus – Lieutenants to King Machina.

Well, as you can see, there are many players on the field and what will come to pass is only to be seen. Meghan is the only thing that can stop the Iron Kingdom from killing all of NeverNever. Robin Goodfellow and Prince Ash may have to save the killing for another day…not to worry, a squirmish or two may arise. And man, Robin makes me laugh.


In the land of the fey, nothing is free. Any favor done, means a favor in return. Contracts and vows are irreversible. Politics galore…


Julie invented a fascinating world to live and dream in. She pulls you into the story, causing you to invest yourself in the characters life. If you haven’t read this series yet, you should.

Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins

Title: Hex Hall
Author: Rachel Hawkins
Publisher: Disney – Hyperion Books
Published: March 2, 2010
Rachel Hawkins Website
Hex Hall Series Facebook Page

Synopsis:

Three years ago, Sophie Mercer discovered that she was a witch. It's gotten her into a few scrapes. Her non-gifted mother has been as supportive as possible, consulting Sophie's estranged father--an elusive European warlock--only when necessary. But when Sophie attracts too much human attention for a prom-night spell gone horribly wrong, it's her dad who decides her punishment: exile to Hex Hall, an isolated reform school for wayward Prodigium, a.k.a. witches, faeries, and shapeshifters.

By the end of her first day among fellow freak-teens, Sophie has quite a scorecard: three powerful enemies who look like supermodels, a futile crush on a gorgeous warlock, a creepy tagalong ghost, and a new roommate who happens to be the most hated person and only vampire student on campus. Worse, Sophie soon learns that a mysterious predator has been attacking students, and her only friend is the number-one suspect.

As a series of blood-curdling mysteries starts to converge, Sophie prepares for the biggest threat of all: an ancient secret society determined to destroy all Prodigium, especially her.

Rachel Hawkins provides a funny and interesting story for her readers. I enjoyed this book in the end. At first it was slow, with a lot of descriptions about Hecate Hall.

I did not get a good feel for the characters until near the end of the book. I love Sophia…so endearing and loving. Her friends are her friends no matter what. In the beginning she has a hard time trusting others…who wouldn’t when you have been lied to all your life…but she sticks to what she believes to be right. Sometimes only to find that what she thought was not necessarily the correct assumption.


Sophie’s love/hate friendship with Archer had me laughing out loud. Archer was arrogant, cocky, and a little bit bad. The perfect love interest for Sophie. He treated her like an idiot at first, but once he realized that Sophie was unaware of her “heritage” he tried to help her.

I look forward to reading Demonglass and hopefully enjoying it a bit more since the story has been set.