The Lost Prince (The Iron Fey: Call of the Forgotten #1)

5 stars
Julie Kagawa 

ARC from Netgalley 

Don't look at Them. Never let Them know you can see Them.That is Ethan Chase's unbreakable rule. Until the fey he avoids at all costs—including his reputation—begin to disappear, and Ethan is attacked. Now he must change the rules to protect his family. To save a girl he never thought he'd dare to fall for. Ethan thought he had protected himself from his older sister's world—the land of Faery. His previous time in the Iron Realm left him with nothing but fear and disgust for the world Meghan Chase has made her home, a land of myth and talking cats, of magic and seductive enemies. But when destiny comes for Ethan, there is no escape from a danger long, long forgotten

I LOVED this book, I was so excited when I found out that Julie was writing another book pertaining to faery and to top that a book about lovable little Ethan (who isn't the same little boy we meet in the first Iron Fey series). He's all grown up and wanted nothing to do with the world that took his sister Meghan from him. He does everything possible to ignore the Fae who just seem to torment his life. When he starts a new school in hopes of laying low the exact opposite happens. He has a girl take an interest in his bad boy persona and he has trouble on the faery front as well. He doesn't want to get involved, but he finds himself sucked into someone elses problems. He unwilling has to accept the help of a Fae as he is chased from our world to the realm of faery dragging poor Kenzie with him. I can't even go on because it would spoil the book for you (and it is an amazing book), but I'll mention just a few more tidbits. He finds help in faery from a surprise family member, angers more than one faery Queen, helps to right what is going wrong in faery along the way, and meets many the familiar faces on his journey(swooning just thinking about the meetings). He also seems to find love with a girl he wanted to nothing to with. And just when I thought everything would be resolved Julie drops a whopper on poor Ethan (not to mention his sidekick who is very swoon worthy). I do have to say that I was lost prior to reading Iron's Prophecy and afterwards I could see why such great measures were taken to keep a certain two characters (which didn't work anyways) apart. I can not wait for the next book in the series  to come out but considering I just finished read the ARC for The Lost Prince I think it may be awhile, but I know it will be so worth the wait. Keep up the good work Julie you are super-mega-awesome!

Iron's Prophecy (The Iron Fey #4.5)

5 stars
Julie Kagawa

Meghan Chase is finally getting used to being the Iron Queen, ruler of the Iron Fey. Her life may be strange, but with former Winter prince Ash by her side at last, she wouldn’t have it any other way. But when they travel to the Summer and Winter courts’ gathering for Elysium, the oracle from Meghan’s past returns with a dire prophecy: “What you carry will either unite the courts, or it will destroy them.” Now Meghan faces a devastating choice that may determine the future of all fey—and her and Ash’s unborn child… 
A novella from the bestselling Iron Fey series

Let me start off by saying that The Iron Fey Series is one of my favorite series of all times I have all four books in print as well as kindle editions (which rarely every happens, I usually just borrow from the library). I was ecstatic with the outcome for Meghan and Ash in The Iron Knight, so I wasn't expecting anything else from the series so when Julie said she was writing this novella I nearly died of happiness. I finally got to see what life was like for Meghan and Ash in the Iron Realm. It was AMAZING! Julie has done it again I couldn't put it down. It was released at midnight and I simply sat there at my kindle reading until 3 in the morning, I just had to know what was going to happen to their son. I was afraid at first because when authors keep writing stories about some character the characters get boring and all used up, but not Ash, Meghan, Puck, or Grim. (yes Puck and Grim are in here too). It started off with a mysterious dream which just led to more intrigue. Then a hunky scene with Ash and then to a other piece in the plot. The gathering at Elysium of course had a surprise guest, which set the whole book rest of the book into motion. We are then joined by old friends and led on a journey through the wyldwood. Meghan kidnapped by an old acquaintance and forced to fight for her life, when just in time her faery protectors help save her. And just at the last minute when I thought everything was going to workout the key information they needed was snapped from their grasp. I couldn't believe it I was left speechless staring at the book my heart racing and I was crying for them It wasn't fair!! Their unborn son set to destroy the world they had worked so hard to save No this can't be!! Keirran please be good!! Don't destroy anything. You're just too hot like your daddy!(fangirl swooning here) They are left to make their own future and keep the terrible stuff they were shown from happening. Thank You so much Julie for taking the time to write this novella and allowing us another look into faery. I missed this characters and I am glad they came back even if just for a short visit.

My entry for Julie Kagawa Iron Fey boxed set

Here is my entry for the contest  Julie Kagawa is holding on her blog. She is giving away a signed boxed set of The Iron Fey if you take a picture reading the newest release The Iron Legends. I love the series so I couldn't resist entering a contest to get a signed anything from my favorite author.

On the Island

 4 Stars
Tracey Garvis-Graves

When thirty-year-old English teacher Anna Emerson is offered a job tutoring T.J. Callahan at his family's summer rental in the Maldives, she accepts without hesitation; a working vacation on a tropical island trumps the library any day. T.J. Callahan has no desire to leave town, not that anyone asked him. He's almost seventeen and if having cancer wasn't bad enough, now he has to spend his first summer in remission with his family - and a stack of overdue assignments - instead of his friends. Anna and T.J. are en route to join T.J.'s family in the Maldives when the pilot of their seaplane suffers a fatal heart attack and crash-lands in the Indian Ocean. Adrift in shark-infested waters, their life jackets keep them afloat until they make it to the shore of an uninhabited island. Now Anna and T.J. just want to survive and they must work together to obtain water, food, fire, and shelter. Their basic needs might be met but as the days turn to weeks, and then months, the castaways encounter plenty of other obstacles, including violent tropical storms, the many dangers lurking in the sea, and the possibility that T.J.'s cancer could return. As T.J. celebrates yet another birthday on the island, Anna begins to wonder if the biggest challenge of all might be living with a boy who is gradually becoming a man.

  I didn't think I was going to like the book, but once I started reading I couldn't stop. I picked it up in the morning and finished around 2 in the morning. I was thinking that his was going to be just another romance novel were the heroine falls in love with some hunky guy, but Tracey did a fantastic job in building the story. After the plane crash I thought things were going to be all hot, but Anna was a wonderful character that had morals and wanted to do nothing wrong. T.J. was also very mature being a teenager I thought he would have jumped Anna after they crashed her being beautiful, but he built a relationship and I loved that about them. I was cheering for them not to have to deal with so much hardship it truly broke my heart every time something happened to one of them I was so scared they weren't gonna make it out a live. I was yelling at the book at one point because I couldn't believe the last twist Tracey threw in the story (though I guess I should have seen it coming if I had thought about the dates). I loved the how it ended and to know that their love slowly grew and they over came everything that was thrown their way and able to have a happy ending.

Lucretia and the Kroons

1.5 Stars
Victor LaValle
I received this ebook from Netgalley and I started reading it because the description of the book seemed to be interesting. When the book started it just seemed to drag and then as the story went on it picked up speed but it like threw me for a tailspin. I was so confused when Lucretia ended up in the apartment was that real or not real I understand that she was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, but as far as I know bipolar disorder has no such delusions like schizophrenia. I know I may be taking the book a little too serious, but I was really confused as to what the bipolar had to do with the adventure that took place in 6D. I did like how Lucretia was able to say goodbye to Sunny and she was able to let her go and not make her suffer anymore by letting her be taken. I think the point of the book was horror come for children too, but it really wasn't my cup of tea.

The Enchanted Truth

3 Stars
Kym Petrie
In this humorous and insightful tale, a modern day princess finds herself single and asking for magical intervention to change her sorry love life. Rather than casting a spell to bring Prince Charming to her rescue, a savvy fairy godmother gives the tenderhearted damsel an unexpected gift. By entrusting her true thoughts and desires to an unlikely confidant, the young royal soon discovers that the person who could make her life everything she dreamed it would be has been with her all along.As author Kym Petrie herself realized, every woman needs a froggy friend and a secret journal—and enough adventures with the girls to keep her heart pounding and her mind racing. Life is meant to be about happy beginnings . . . you can never have enough of them.

Though it was a short story I did enjoy it very much. It shows that you can't always wait for prince charming to come find you, you shouldn't have to have someone to complete you, you should complete yourself. You should be happy just the way you are and then your prince will find you. You need to love yourself before anyone else will love you. This story actually inspired me to write a list of what I want in my prince charming. I took some tips from the princess and added them to my list and though I am still looking for my white knight I will follow the princesses example and have fun while waiting for him. I loved how the princess grew as the story progressed and by the end she wasn't a damsel in distress waiting she was out their having fun. She learned she must love herself and respect herself enough to be able to find someone to share her life with. The fairy godmother was also another character I found entertaining she was able to help the princess by guiding her not by giving her everything she wanted. "When will they learn that happiness isn't a gift that comes to rescue you on horseback...it's a light you have to reach for inside." Fairy Godmother said it just perfect. The mother was kinda funny she represents the old belief that you must wait for your man which isn't true anymore.

Two and Twenty Dark Tales: Retelling of Mother Goose Nursery Rhymes

4 stars
In this anthology, 20 authors explore the dark and hidden meanings behind some of the most beloved Mother Goose nursery rhymes through short story retellings. The dark twists on classic tales range from exploring whether Jack truly fell or if Jill pushed him instead to why Humpty Dumpty, fragile and alone, sat atop so high of a wall. The authors include Nina Berry, Sarwat Chadda, Leigh Fallon, Gretchen McNeil, and Suzanne Young.

 I was given this ARC from Netgalley, so it doesn't have all the stories that will be in the final edition. I was really excited to read this book a dark twist on Mother Gooses nursery rhymes. I loved how it was put in the foreword "The tales now contain the other side of reality, the darker side of fear. Wishes are not always fulfilled, and the security and permanence of our parents' love is no longer a sure thing." As we grow up the rhymes seem to lose their innocence not because they are any different, but because we learn to deal with the darkness we were once protected from in our youth. Each story I read I found interesting in one way or another but I have to say the ones that I liked the best were usually the ones I knew the rhymes to before hand. I give this anthology 4 stars because over all I really enjoyed the book and I had to give it bonus points for being the only book I have ever read about retelling of Mother Goose Nursery Rhymes.
 
As Blue as the Sky and as Old
Nina Berry
2 stars
A story about Taffy the Welshman This was one of the nursery rhymes I hadn't heard before, so I really didn't understand the story. I was confused why the story was first being told from a completely random person that didn't seem to pertain to the story. There were facts given in the beginning of the story that didn't seem to make sense to til the end. Basically I felt confused about the story.
 
Sing a Song of Six-Pence
Sarwat Chadda
3 stars
Based off blackbirds baked in a pie. Of course I have heard this rhyme before, but it had an edge in this story I had never contemplated that blackbird was a person though I couldn't tell if he was a demon or a fallen angel or what. He description was confusing, I don't understand what he did to get punished by the king but I liked how the story progressed and though it ended with a sad ending I thought was a fitting ending and bought closure.
 
Clockwork
Leah Cypress
4 Stars
A retelling of Hickory Dickory Dock. A story based on a mouse not really being a mouse at all but an enchantment placed upon a girl. The clock being based in magic by the chimes it rings at the top of the hour. Murder and mystery, confusion and magic all coming to together to make this one of my favorite short stories in the book.
 
Blue
Sayantani DasGupta
2 Stars
Loosely based of the rhyme little boy blue. I was confused who the girl was in the story why exactly she was spinning stories or tattooing people or something like that. Didn't really like the story though I have always like the rhyme.
 
Pieces of Eight
Shannon Delany with Max Scialdone
2 Stars
This is again another rhyme I haven't heard before I was intrigued by the lost prince stolen away by his mother to protect to save the kingdom in the end. But the whole in between and the battle scene of the tree didn't really like.
 
Wee Willie Winkie
Leigh Fallon
4 Stars
From the rhyme Wee Willie Winkie, by far one of my favorite stories in the book. It was short but it packed a punch. It took me a while to figure out were in the world I was and then when the story line was told I found I was somewhere in Ireland which makes the plot of this story so much more understandable. Gives a whole new meaning to bedtime and that a price to pay to stay alive may end up being too steep.
 
Boys and Girls come out to play
Angie Frazier
3 Stars
I haven't heard this before but I was able to figure out what was going on in the story and rather liked it. A story based on picking only one and making the children come out to play. Another story of how tricky and cruel witches can be.
 
I come bearing souls
Jessie Harrell
2.5 Stars
This story was based on Hey Diddle Diddle. I didn't see how this had anything to do with the rhyme except the cow god and the fiddle being played in the first scene. Had mythology which was a plus in my book, I think it would make a great stand alone book I would love to find out more about Heather and her family and what Egyptian gods were doing in modern day America. It was too short for my taste.
 
The Lion and the Unicorn: Part the First
Nancy Holder
3 Stars
I love history and though I haven't heard this rhyme before I enjoyed the story that accompanied it. Rumors have always surrounded the monarchs of old and they expands on the notions already out there.
 
Life in a Shoe
Heidi R. Kling
3.5 Stars
Based on Old Woman who lived in a shoe.The story gave depth into why she had so many children, that it wasn't a choice it was forced. It also brought to life her children and I liked how it was told from the daughter's point of view and she wasn't willing to follow her mother. Another favorite of mine.

Candlelight
Suzanne Lazear
3 Stars
I hadn't heard this rhyme either but it was a story that could stand alone from the rhyme. It dealt with what all children want freedom from their parents, though all wishes come at a price something the narrator didn't find out until it was too late. It had just the right amount of resistence to make it seem more real and I think it should have explored how they had to learn how to live on their own how much they missed their mother and how their parent actually did a lot for them. And maybe just a little longer.

One for Sorrow
Karen Mahoney
3 Stars
I had never heard this rhyme but I still thought it was a pretty good story. Basic transformation story with love being the key but in the end the twist where she wants to be a beast with him was what I really liked about the story. Gave her and him a happy ending.

Those who Whisper
 Lisa Mantchev
2.5 Stars
Again a rhyme I have never heard of but I did like the story. It kinda seemed like snow white just a little bit. I would have liked to know why she was able to talk to the birds, but I loved how strong she was despite her horrid beginning.


Little Miss Muffet
 Georgia McBride
1.5 Stars
I didn't like the story was confused about what was going on in the beginning even though I knew the rhyme. Couldn't understand why they were spiders and the ending was a little creepy.

Sea of Dew
C. Lee Mckenzie
3 Stars
I like the story kinda a story about how one choice really does change everything. I hadn't heard the rhyme and I was kinda confused in the beginning but then I figured out what was happening. It did drag a bit in the middle though.

Tick Tock
Gretchen McNeil
1 Star
This was a creepy story and I don't feel like it had anything to do with what the rhyme was about. Like how was murder "what was right". 

A Pocket Full of Posy
Pamela van Hylckama Vlieg
1 Star
I had always heard that this was based on the black plague and I had thought that it would be dealing with that aspect of the story. The whole vampire thing was kinda weird like what did that have to do with the rhyme except the ashes. Yes the author gave everything in the rhyme a link to the story the girl Rosie, the flowers he was going to give her, and the vampire ashes in the ended. But then it just ended didn't even give closure like did the boyfriend get convicted of murder or what?

The Well
K.M. Walton
3.5 Stars
Based off the rhyme Jack and Jill.I don't know if this makes me kinda dark but I had just lately been thinking  about this nursery rhyme and how maybe Jack falling down wasn't really an accident I started thinking that Jill had pushed him down. I didn't have the whole plague involved or that they were twins that really hated each other and where the only two people left in the world. But I did like what the author did with the story.

The Wish
 Suzanne Young
3.5 Stars
I enjoyed this story based on Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. It is a story about to be careful what you wish for I was kinda hoping that the ending wouldn't happen that death would have taken her away to live with him, but like I've said before wishes have a price to pay so be careful what you wish for.

A Ribbon of Blue
Michelle Zink
4 Stars
I had never heard the rhyme before but this was one of my favorites. The story was well written and though it had a sad ending I didn't find anything dark in the story. Ruby was finally at peace and beautiful and happy everything she deserved.

Thank you to Month9Books and NetGalley for giving me a chance to review these Titles.