The Forever Song (Blood of Eden #3)

4.5 stars
Julie Kagawa

I received this ARC from NetGalley

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.

I just wanna start out by saying how much I loved how this all turned out. I mean true the death toll could have been lower, but then it wouldn't have been a book about a sadistic lunatic vampire insistent on bringing the world to an end. The book begins with Allie, Kanin, and Jackal tracking Sarren through the wilderness and discovering all the lovely surprises he has left along the way for them. Whole slaughtered towns just for dramatic effect. Allie has given up on her humanity because she lost the person she was hanging on for. She becomes the monster everyone has always thought she is and when she finally comes to realize she doesn't want to give into the monster and pulls herself together a huge surprise awaits her in Old Chicago. ARGH! I can't go into too much detail, but lets just say that SURPRISE is an understatement. Julie once again delivers on a book that will keep you on the edge til the very end. With selfless acts preformed by all, allegiances and betrayals you never saw coming. And just when you think it is over BAM!! There is more action. I'm glad the way this all turned out and have nothing but praise for Julie! Well Done again!!

Allegiant (Divergent #3)

2.5 Stars
Veronica Roth

 The faction-based society that Tris Prior once believed in is shattered—fractured by violence and power struggles and scarred by loss and betrayal. So when offered a chance to explore the world past the limits she’s known, Tris is ready. Perhaps beyond the fence, she and Tobias will find a simple new life together, free from complicated lies, tangled loyalties, and painful memories. But Tris’s new reality is even more alarming than the one she left behind. Old discoveries are quickly rendered meaningless. Explosive new truths change the hearts of those she loves. And once again, Tris must battle to comprehend the complexities of human nature—and of herself—while facing impossible choices about courage, allegiance, sacrifice, and love. Told from a riveting dual perspective, Allegiant, by #1 New York Times best-selling author Veronica Roth, brings the Divergent series to a powerful conclusion while revealing the secrets of the dystopian world that has captivated millions of readers in Divergent and Insurgent.

This book really killed me I couldn't believe how this ended. Veronica Roth basically took my heart ripped it outta my chest and stomped on it. I don't know if I can do this review without spoiler, but I sure will try. First the book started off with a really fast pace which I felt very rushed. I mean I know it is the third book, but I want to feel like reading not like I'm running a race. Basically I didn't like the story telling in this book it just felt different from the first two that I really enjoyed. I don't know if it was the ending or just the actual style so that's why this has a 2.5 stars. The think that the thing that changed the story was the fact that it kept alternating view points between the two characters. I would just start getting into the story when I switched points of views. I wish I had enjoyed this more and since I really don't have much more to say I'm gonna stop now and not repeat again.

Princess of the Silver Woods (Princess #3)

 

3 stars

Jessica Day George

When Petunia, the youngest of King Gregor's twelve dancing daughters, is invited to visit an elderly friend in the neighboring country of Westfalin, she welcomes the change of scenery. But in order to reach Westfalin, Petunia must pass through a forest where strange two-legged wolves are rumored to exist. Wolves intent on redistributing the wealth of the noble citizens who have entered their territory. But the bandit-wolves prove more rakishly handsome than truly dangerous, and it's not until Petunia reaches her destination that she realizes the kindly grandmother she has been summoned to visit is really an enemy bent on restoring an age-old curse. The stories of Red Riding Hood and Robin Hood get a twist as Petunia and her many sisters take on bandits, grannies, and the new King Under Stone to end their family curse once and for all.

I  really enjoyed this series and have been looking forward to this final book.  This story follows Petunia, the youngest of the dancing princesses. I liked Petunia, she was pretty feisty. Her older sisters tend to baby her and she is tired of being babies and overlooked. She really comes into her own in this one. Our hero in this book, Oliver, was likable. I think I liked Galen and Christian a bit more, but he still had his own charm. I guess he came across a little young to me. While I enjoyed the book, I think I liked the first two a bit more. The plot seemed a little too similar to the first book and it did get a little confusing with so many characters (all twelve princesses, some of their husbands, and the remaining evil princes and a handful of other side characters). It moved along nicely though and kept me turning the pages.

Princess of the Midnight Ball (Princess #1)

 4 stars
Jessica Day George

 Galen is a young soldier returning from war; Rose is one of twelve princesses condemned to dance each night for the King Under Stone. Together Galen and Rose will search for a way to break the curse that forces the princesses to dance at the midnight balls. All they need is one invisibility cloak, a black wool chain knit with enchanted silver needles, and that most critical ingredient of all—true love—to conquer their foes in the dark halls below. But malevolent forces are working against them above ground as well, and as cruel as the King Under Stone has seemed, his wrath is mere irritation compared to the evil that awaits Galen and Rose in the brighter world above. Captivating from start to finish, Jessica Day George’s take on the Grimms’ tale The Twelve Dancing Princesses demonstrates yet again her mastery at spinning something entirely fresh out of a story you thought you knew.  


George starts with a familiar fairy tale; this time, it's "The Twelve Dancing Princesses". Rose is the eldest princess, cursed along with her eleven sisters (all named after flowers) to dance every night at the ball of the King Under Stone. Galen is an soldier returned from war, now an undergardener with some unusual skills. Now they must work together to free Rose and her sisters from the dreadful bargain made long ago between the King Under Stone and the queen, who died years ago. As in most fairy tale retellings, the author has to add complexity in order to make a short tale into a longer book, and George does a good job with this. She adds political intrigue around the proposed betrothals of the princesses, so that their kingdom is threatened not only by the King Under Stone but by enemy countries above ground. It's tough to make the twelve princesses distinguishable from each other, but she manages at least to give each one or two unique characteristics, and some are more complex than that, notably Rose. Though it was a bit confusing in trying to keep all the princesses names straight And I really loved Galen -- he knits! And it's an important plot point! More than that, he and Rose develop a nice relationship and make it believable that they would end up together at the end, beyond the simple "and the soldier chooses the eldest daughter" solution at the end of the fairy tale. I would recommend this book to any who would enjoy a fairytale with a bit of flair.

The Highlander's Touch (Highlander #3)

4 Stars
Karen Marie Moning

A Warrior of Immortal Powers 
He was a mighty Scottish warrior who lived in a world bound by ancient laws and timeless magic. But no immortal powers could prepare the laird of Castle Brodie for the lovely accursed lass who stood before him. A terrible trick of fate had sent her 700 years back in time and into his private chamber to tempt him with her beauty—and seduce him with a desire he could never fulfill. For this woman he burned to possess was also the woman he had foresworn to destroy.

A Woman Caught in the Mists of Time 
When Lisa felt the earth move under her feet, the fiercely independent 21st-century woman never dreamed she was falling... into another century. But the powerful, naked warrior who stood glaring down at her was only too real... and too dangerously arousing. Irresistibly handsome he might be, but Lisa had no intention of remaining in this savage land torn by treachery and war. How could she know that her seductive captor had other plans for her... plans that would save her from a tragic fate? Or that this man who had long ago forsaken love would defy time itself to claim her for his own....

 I have been exploring genres other than YA and happened to stumble upon the Highlander Series by Karen Marie Moning. I'm not one who usually gets into romantic novels, but as far as books go this series is pretty good. As you can see this is the third in a series of 8 and though the previous two books were intriguing they did not add up to this book. I LOVED this book which is why I gave it 4 stars. All the other books have the woman time traveling meeting a glorious warrior and losing him and then in the end getting back together, this book had so many curves in it I was always wondering what was happening next. Lisa is taken from the 21st century and thrown back in time to the 14th century now normally a pretty horrible thing all things considered she leaves behind a pretty crappy life, she would most likely leave it all behind and live in the 14th century if not for her dieing mother. In comes Circenn Brodie Scottish Warrior extraordinaire who accepts her being from the future and has many secrets of his own. He ends up engaged to her and unable to help her return to her century sets about to making her the most comfortable in his century. They form a lovers bond so strong it bares all emotion for their partner to see which is how Lisa comes to find the Circenn is hiding something. When he finally reveals his secret he is forced to ride off into battle, leaving Lisa to sort through everything by herself. She calls upon the fairy Queen who offers her two choices stay or go back, Lisa knowing not what to choice becomes a fairy toy (as all mortals do). Circenn feels the moment she leaves time and is thought that she is lost. Vowing to get revenge upon Adam Black whom he has built up great anger and resentment for making him what he is  and thinking he has killed Lisa. Adam Black is the key to understanding what he is and when the last piece of the puzzle is revealed I was left ambushed by a fact I didn't see coming. Things turn out well though and with his new knowledge Circenn even makes Lisa's life all better againm bringing them back together with a happy ending. I don't know if I will like all the stories this much but I just had to share this one.

The Iron Traitor (The Iron Fey: Call of the Forgotten #2)

5 Stars
Julie Kagawa

ARC provided by Netgalley

In the real world, when you vanish into thin air for a week, people tend to notice. After his unexpected journey into the lands of the fey, Ethan Chase just wants to get back to normal. Well, as "normal" as you can be when you see faeries every day of your life. Suddenly the former loner with the bad reputation has someone to try for-his girlfriend, Kenzie. Never mind that he's forbidden to see her again. But when your name is Ethan Chase and your sister is one of the most powerful faeries in the Nevernever, "normal" simply isn't to be. For Ethan's nephew, Keirran, is missing, and may be on the verge of doing something unthinkable in the name of saving his own love. Something that will fracture the human and faery worlds forever, and give rise to the dangerous fey known as the Forgotten. As Ethan's and Keirran's fates entwine and Keirran slips further into darkness, Ethan's next choice may decide the fate of them all.
  
 Julie how could you! How could you just leave me hanging with an ending like that? I don't know how I'm going to make it til the next book comes out. This book was amazing I couldn't set it down I had to make sure I read it when I was off work just make sure I could concentrate. Ethan is back and just as awesome as ever! And let me just tell as much as I love Ethan this book seemed to really be focused more on Kierran (who is really beginning to make me hate him more as much as I love Ash and Meghan I hate their son) I know that the prophecy of faery's destruction is based around Keirran ,but let Ethan have some story time please. I would have loved for Kenzie's and Ethan's story be brought to light more. Ethan doesn't have much time after getting back to the real world before he is swept up in the craziness of faery and of course you can't stop Kenzie so it as interesting adventure. Keirran just seems to be in trouble no matter when we see him and with him losing his love just how far will he go to keep her from fading away? That's our biggest problem. We have a few glimpses of the old quartet which is always exciting! Puck was on parts of the journey which is probably why the three of them are alive for the most part and though there are only small parts of Ash being seen I was still pleased. The prophecy foreseen is coming true and the last battle seems to be unavoidable. Everything we have been waiting for has led to this moment which part of Keirran will win out the Human or the Faerie? What will become of our beloved cast? You'll just to have to read to find out and I promise you won't be dissapointed.

Rise

2 Stars
Anna Carey

When she lost her soul mate, Caleb, Eve felt like her world had ended. Trapped in the palace, forced to play the part of the happy, patriotic princess of The New America—and the blushing bride of her father's top adviser—Eve's whole life is a lie. The only thing that keeps her going is Caleb's memory, and the revolution he started. Now, Eve is taking over where Caleb left off. With the help of Moss, an undercover subversive in the King's court, she plots to take down The New America, beginning with the capital, the City of Sand. Will Eve be able to bring about a new, free world when she's called upon to perform the ultimate act of rebellion—killing her father? In Rise, Eve must choose who to leave behind, who to save, and who to fight as Anna Carey's epic tale of romance and sacrifice in the chilling dystopia of The New America comes to a stunning conclusion.

This series started slowly and I was hoping it would get better with the other books that followed, though it did answer a lot of questions I wanted answers to I never seemed to understand the characters. I tried to understand Eve and her reasoning of things, but she just never seems to learn from her mistakes. She just seems selfish to me, even after she finds out she is pregnant and claims that she is doing this for her baby, it just is another petty reason to do something stupid. She claims that love is what makes her do this, but that doesn't make sense! Be reasonable Eve stop endangering the people around you. She manages to poison her father and things seem to be working out, but then when going gets tough she doesn't care to get anyone else out except herself and her cousin who just happens to be with her. Not the man who has been her husband and protected her for months risked his life for her oh no just leave him behind. In the end she succeeds in killing her father and liberating the people of New America. The book ending leaves so much unacknowledged it just annoys me, we never know what happens to women she was with or Ruby or anything. Other than she finds Caleb is alive and rush to meet him. Well I hope they make a happy family.