Need, Captivate and Entice by Carrie Jones

This is a series, and I decided to wait until I finished all the ones that are out now (the fourth comes out in May of this year) to review this book. I don't think this was such a good idea anymore, so this is going to be a fairly truncated review.

This book was really great in terms of its mythology: pixies, elves, weres, Norse gods etc. As someone who absolutely loves folklore and such, I really appreciated all the details that Carrie Jones included. This book was also a quest/adventure type plot and who doesn't like that? Plus, the romance aspect was really great. You're supposed to be rooting for her and Nick, but I found Astley (cool name, no?) to be much more compelling and much more my type. If you've read the book, you know that probably says something!

Final Score: 8.5/10

I enjoyed these books and I will pick up the next one, but I wasn't absolutely floored by them like I was by Angel Burn by L.A. Weatherly or Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi. So, read them if you like adventure/romance/folklore, but I wouldn't say these are going to be classics.

Next on my reading list is Angel Fire by L.A. Weatherly :)

Angel Burn by L.A. Weatherly

Oh my God! This book was fabulous! It takes place in a world where angels are actually evil (well, most angels) and they feed on the life force of humans, giving them angel burn, which can be anything from cancer or MS to depression or other mental illnesses. The main female character is Willow Fields, half-angel and psychic.  The male lead is Alex, Angel Killer (or AK) and assassin sent to kill Willow. However, he realizes she's different and that Project Angel (run by the CIA) has been infiltrated by the angels. So, they embark on a mission to save the world from the next wave of angels...falling in love in the process!

My Thoughts:

1. Wow! This book was VERY good! It's another one of those books where I almost don't want to try to pick out individual things I liked, because it was all so great that it almost didn't feel like a plot and characters and a setting and such, but just this world with no edge or formula to it. 
2. First off, the book is given through multiple perspectives. Mainly through Willow (in first person) and Alex (in third person) and some from Raziel (head of the bad angels) and their contact inside the Church of Angels. First off, hearing a romance from both perspectives is something I absolutely adore! Especially since Alex is so very romantic about Willow and Willow is such a lovely character. Another thing I liked about this was that lots of books sort of do alternating chapters, like Simone Elkeles' Perfect Chemistry series, which is great, but this one just shifts whenever it suits the plot, kind of like what Cassandra Clare does. I think it gives the story a more natural flow, I guess, and I really like it. 
3. Willow is great! I find it hard to like a book if I don't like the main character, and I absolutely loved Willow! She was fun and sweet and spunky and selfless and romantic and just a perfect heroine. 
4. Alex! Oh, wow, Alex! First off, dark hair and blue-gray eyes? SO hot! He was so so so great! You think he's this tough guy type, just into killing angels, but when you get his thoughts about Willow, you find out that's he's really pretty romantic and sweet and when he thinks about his brother Jake there's just so much vulnerability I wanted to cry for him! He is an AMAZING love interest! I would so brave the angel apocalypse if it meant spending time with him! 
5. The Alex and Willow romance is to die for! Oh, wow! I haven't read a romance this believable but still compelling since Etienne and Anna in Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins! Their physical scenes are just so ... so ... charged! It's amazing! It's the perfect combination of just lying next to each other or Alex commenting on how soft Willow's hair is and heated kissing. My heart was all a-flutter the entire time :). This, to me, was the perfect romance. So many relationships that I see in real life are purely physical and/or between two people who don't think they're old enough to know what love is and I just hate that. This relationship is a full on, love at first sight, undying devotion, I would DIE for you love. And that is the only kind of love worth having. And reading about, of course. 
6. The style was just so expressive. I finished this last night around 11 o'clock (which I blew off reviewing my friend's essay to do, but no sacrifice is too great when a book is concerned) and I can honestly tell you I cried non-stop for the last 30 or so pages. I cannot believe I have never heard of L.A. Weatherly until now. I got some BN gift cards for my birthday (Woo! I'm an adult.), and I plan to purchase everything she's written tomorrow. 
7. This book had a very satisfying conclusion AND a sequel! It's the best of both worlds! 
8. The actual plot of this book was great! Adventure, action, save-the-world type awesome! 
9. This book is just one of those books that is amazing! I can't explain it, it just is. I haven't done the book justice, but I hope I've given you an idea as to how amazing this book is!

Who Should Read It:

• Romance fans! Oh, my God, you will die!
• People who are looking for a new take on a supernatural element. 
• People who like to read! L.A. Weatherly just does an amazing job!

Final Score: Infinity/10!

For more info, check out the author's website here. I recommend you go to the UK one. They have an about the author section then links to different blog posts she's done, and they are AMAZING!

I'm going book shopping tomorrow, so who knows what will be next!

Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi

Oh my God! This book was so amazing I can barely make my thoughts coherent enough to form a post! It takes place in a dystopian future where the environment has gotten so bad (plagued by Aether storms etc.) that people have resorted to living in Pods and experiencing things virtually (in the Realms). However, unlike the Dwellers, some people lived outside these things - they're known as the Outsiders or Savages and are a primitive, tribal people. Some of them have been Marked by the Aether with special abilities. Unfortunately for Aria, a terrible situation leads to her being exiled from her Pod, where she meets Perry, a "Savage." At first, they both just use each other to try to get back something of theirs, but, you know what they say about opposites.

My Thoughts:

1. I picked this book up on a whim from the Teens' New Releases section on Barnes and Noble's website. It came at 6 PM from UPS yesterday, and I've just finished (8:45 PM Thursday). This book was just so riveting and gripping. It's like the entire thing could have been italicized it was such an invigorating rush of a read. 
2. This book was perfect. Absolutely perfect! I can barely go into what I liked about it because everything was just a seamless whole. It was an experience! An enigma! Oh my God! Go read this book! Stop reading this review and go and read this book!
3. Aria was a great heroine. She was tough, but relatable and she opened up to Perry/was sweet to him in a decent amount of time. (As you know, I love the hate turns to love type romance, but if they're awful to each other for too long, I tend to not go for that.)
4. Perry. Oh, wow. Just wow. He was perfect. Handsome in a rugged sort of way, brooding, protective, caring, sweet, strong, sensitive - oh, he was just wonderful! There was a line of his that was just so lovable I might have wept a bit from happiness. *squee!*
5. The romance was beautiful. It was sensuous and sweet and passionate and heart-wrenching. This relationship was so beautifully rendered I can honestly say I had moments of doubt about my intended future of solitude and cat lady-dom. The build-up was great, but the crowning moments were even better. It was magnificent. 
6. The world. Oh, my God! It was perfect. You don't know everything and it's tantalizing yet not annoyingly out of reach. It's rich and fully realized in a way that the young adult genre rarely sees. 
7. The plot was also very captivating. So much is left to discover, but the journey they've already taken was very fulfilling. It's like a classic, fairy tale quest but re-imagined so fully as to warrant its own genre. 
8. It was just so almost luscious in tone. I can't place it, but my heart was in my throat the entire time. It just felt luxuriant in it's emotion. It was genuine and engaging and just something I've never really experienced before (and I read A LOT).
9. It has it. That undefined, undefinable essence that I peruse shelf after shelf searching for. I finally understand why the Romantics appreciated the unclassifiable. 

Who Should Read It:

• Literate people of the world: you NEED to read this book. If you have an ounce of emotion in your body, you will appreciate this book. 

Final Score: There is no numerical value I can give this book that will do it justice. This is a masterpiece. This will be the classic of our generation. (Apart from Harry Potter, of course, which is a given.) I'm not sure if people who read the literary canon as new releases knew what they held in their hands, but I know that Under the Never Sky is something special. 

For more info, check out the author's website here. I have tons of new books, but I'm thinking either Overbite by Meg Cabot or Entice by Carrie Jones will be next. 

The Gathering Storm by Robin Bridges

This book centers around Katerina, Duchess of Oldenburg in 1888 Russia and necromancer. Different supernatural groups are vying for the throne/choosing one side or another (including revenants, witches, vampires, fairies and werewolves). Katerina's power is sought after my member's of all sides and she is forced into a relationship with the evil Prince Danilo...but wait! Will she be rescued by the utterly amazing Grand Duke George Alexandrovich?

My Thoughts

1. First and foremost: the relationship between Katiya and the George was just amazing! He starts out hostile towards our heroine, but he gradually warms to her and it's just so charming. And, of course, he's dashing and sexy but cute and sweet too (especially when he's jealous...aw!) This is one of those romances that I'm not even going to describe because I can't find the words! And Princess Alix and the tsar's eldest son were just adorable!
2. You know I love historical fiction, and the portrayal of the Russian Imperial Court was just great - it was like Anastasia, only without the songs!
3. In that vein, most historical fiction books are either centered in England or France or America, and I'd never really read one centering on Russia before. I was a little wary (you know me and change), but I absolutely loved it! The author provided a little info on some stuff at the beginning and it was definitely a nice change. 
4. Also, I'm not familiar with Russian folklore, so all the aspects of it the author included were completely new to me - which I loved, since I am such a nerd about stuff like that. 
5. I feel like I'm not explaining this book well, but it was a really amazing and engaging read. I probably spent a total of five hours on it over two days, since it was so good.
6. The overall plot was also really amazing. It was very complex and kept you guessing, but never to the point where you couldn't make a guess about what might happen. I loved the elements of mystery and intrigue that flowed seamlessly with the supernatural elements and the personal drama of Katiya and her relationships. 

Who Should Read I

• Romance fans who want to read about a really awesome romance with a really wonderful love interest!
• Fans of historical fiction!
• Fans of paranormal or supernatural or folkloric literature!

Final Score 10/10 A very enjoyable read!

I really recommend you check this book out, since it was something I really liked and I feel like you might like it too! For more info (it's part of a trilogy! YAY!), check out the author's website here. 

The stuff I ordered from Barnes and Noble came in the mail today, so I'm starting Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi!

The Faerie Ring by Kiki Hamilton

This book is about Tiki, a young woman from a well-to-do family forced by circumstances to pick pockets on the streets of 1871 London. When she steals the Queen's ring, which binds the fairies to a truce with the English, she then embarks on a quest to recapture it and save her "family" of fellow pickpockets. Also, this really hot guy, Rieker, turns out to be more than he seems. *wink*

My Thoughts:

1. First off, Tiki is so cool! I was originally wary of this book, since I like to identify with the hero or heroine of any story I read, and I've never had to be a pickpocket, but Kiki Hamilton is amazing with Tiki's characterization. She was relatable, but not in a bland, every-girl kind of way. She was stubborn and confrontational when she needed to be, but also very caring and compassionate. 
2. The faerie element of this book was absolutely amazing! It is absolutely seamless in terms of integration into the real world and just a very engaging universe. Some of the phrases/terms/names inspired me to Google around and read up on faeries and such and it is absolutely fascinating. I also really like how much actual faerie lore Kiki Hamilton put into this story; that makes it all the better!
3. Rieker. Oh, wow, was he great! It's like Kiki Hamilton took every desirable trait from every fictional crush I've ever had and lumped them into one amazing man. He has EVERYTHING! Long, dark hair - a strong profile - brooding eyes - a tragic past - a compassionate side - fashion sense - a soft spot for children - a bit of vulnerability - an all-consuming love for the heroine ... he was just impeccable! Sometimes, I get upset that I'll never have a functional relationship because no man will ever be as amazing as the fictional heroes of the novels I've read...but fictional Rieker versus real-world Mr. Average? He makes me look forward to being an old cat lady with nothing but a cottage and my books. 
4. This was a really solid, great book. The writing, the plot, the universe, the characters, the ending, just everything. 

Who Should Read It:

• Fans of romance! This is a good one!
• Fans of supernatural/faerie stuff. 

Final Score: 9.5/10 (for not being longer!)

I really recommend this book, even if it doesn't sound like something you're interested in. For more info, check out the author's website here. Next, I'm not sure what I'll be reading, but I have about five books coming from Barnes and Noble as soon as UPS gets here. 

Stardust by Neil Gaiman

I absolutely loved the 2007 movie version of this book (which I watched because it had the always scrumptious Ben Barnes in it :) ) so when I saw the book version of this, I immediately picked it up. It was also recommended to me by the coolest person ever, Laura, who has a blog you should check out. Anyway, this book is about Tristran Thorn who lives in the village of Wall and ventures into the magical land of Faerie to find a shooting star to bring to his love, Victoria, so she will marry him. Little does he know, the star is actually a woman named Yvaine.

*Here, there may be spoilers*

My Thoughts:

1. First off, for those of you that are thinking "Neil Gaiman is a children's author, I'm not reading this!" know that it is not a children's book. The f-word is used and there is sex. That being said, I don't want to say that it's not a children's book either. It's like a book that transcends age groups or something, which is one thing I liked about it. 
2. I have to save the movie was better in several respects. First off, the pirates weren't in the book! I loved them! Second, the ending! The movie ending was infinitely better! The whole thing about Tristan living forever because he captured Yvaine's heart? That was beautiful! Also, the scene where Yvaine was walking and Tristan was running and Una was driving the cart? That was so great! In the book, he just tells  Yvaine she'll turn to dust in England. And the coronation? And the music? This is one of those cases where I prefer the movie. 
3. That being said, I really liked the feel of this book. It evoked a very classic tale, I think. I mean, is there any more traditional a story than one about a quest? Just, the way it was written was very good. People don't write books like this anymore and I can't quite put my finger on why, but it's something I really like.

Who Should Read It:

• Fans of fairy tales! This is amazing in that respect!
• Fans of the movie! I didn't think it was as good, but you may think differently. Even if you agree with me, I think the book is still very much worth reading. 

Overall Score: 9/10

I debated for a while on what to give this. I can't say that I liked the way it ended, but I certainly didn't dislike the story. It made me sad, but it's one of those books you may not end up liking, but you just have to read anyway. I liked the movie more, but the book was ... was ... almost magical, in a way. To cut a long story short, this book took me about 3 hours to read, and they were 3 hours well spent. I recommend you read this book. 

I just started The Faerie Ring by Kiki Hamilton, and it is AWESOME!

The King's Daughter by Christie Dickason

This book is about Elizabeth, daughter of King James I of England and her slave (and later friend) Tallie. The book follows Elizabeth being implicated in a treasonous plot through various suitors to her eventual marriage.

My Thoughts:

1. Just a warning, this book is ... I don't want to say explicit ... but I recommend it for like 13 and up. 
2. Elizabeth is a very relatable character and so is Tallie - if you can't identify with something in the one, you'll probably find something in the other. 
3. There were some genuinely tragic moments - tears welled in my eyes (though I wasn't overcome enough to actually shed any).
4. The relationship between Elizabeth and Frederick is endearing and enticing at the same time.

Who Should Read It:

• Fans of Christie Dickason
• Fans of historical fiction/romance

Final Score: 6.5/10

This wasn't a bad book, I just don't think it was for me. 

I am currently reading the second book in Carrie Jones' Need series and OH MY GOD it is absolutely amazing! I'm going to wait 'til I finish the series to do a review, but I highly recommend you check it out!