Although not all my reviews are spoilery, which I do not consider this one to be, here is a little warning just in case.

Review Written: 3rd October 2012

Stolen Away by Alyxandra Harvey

Alyxandra Harvey pretty much has the supernatural covered.

Vampires? Check.

Ghosts? Check.

Fairies? Check

All we need now is a werewolf book to complete the set. While this may sound like a moan, I reassure you that it is not. Although Harvey does write about a range of supernatural creatures, she does it all rather well. Her vampire books about the Drake family are refreshing, and the one off Haunting Violet made use of the mystery genre too. Once again, with Stolen Away, we have a slightly different use of fairies. Okay, it’s not completely different because the whole point of evil fairies is to at least be taken, which happens to one of the main characters Eloise Hart.

The book doesn’t have one main character like most teen books. While the blurb focuses on Eloise, the other main voice we hear is from best friend Jo. [Harvey does this often in her books – use different character POV.] The two are rather different. Eloise appears to be the quieter of the two, although she get’s grouchy without food, and Jo is the confident one who makes flirting with guys seem like a breeze rather than the nerve wracking thing it is to most people. Two girls means two different guys. Lucas is a Prince, and clearly on the good side whereas Eldric is the son of evil Lord Strahan and the line between good and evil is less clear cut. Of course Eloise is attracted to good Lucas and Jo is attracted to mysterious, brooding Eldric – both men are almost personifications of the conflicting personalities of the best friends.

We also have Devin. I’m not quite sure why he is in the book. You never get his point of view and he isn’t there for romantic attachment, he’s not even the ‘best friend who is in love with the main character’. He just kind of the tag-along boy. However, I did want him to end up with fairy ally Isadora. I didn’t want him to be the only character who failed to end up with a fairy lover.

The main plotline of the book is stopping evil Lord Strahan and Eloise finds out home truths about her mysterious disappearing aunt Antonia. The book is only small and can be read in one sitting so there is no waiting around within the pages of the book – the action is fast paced, to the point, from beginning to end.

My only moan of this book was the use of the ‘I love you’ phrase after roughly three days. I do not believe in the ‘love at first sight’ existence. The only time it is acceptable to use is when you have children and therefore, that unconditional love at first sight is acceptable. However, this isn’t a fault that Harvey has. It happens in every teen book. It is just the done thing.

A thoroughly recommended book  for those who want a novel to read in one sitting.

NEXT REVIEW:  JOSS STIRLING'S STEALING PHOENIX

THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS

 

Review Written: 28th August 2012

Endure by Carrie Jones

The previous three books have seen the rogue pixies become stronger in their world domination quest. In this novel, the evil pixies are going wild and attacking everyone, not just teen boys. Zara and Co form an army to 1) fight the pixie threat and 2) stop the end of the world. An end that could be brought about by Norse God Loki. In Entice, Zara met Odin and Thor and if you know your Norse mythology or even your Marvel universe, you should know: Odin/Thor - good, Loki - bad. The problem with this, is that I now had the image of Tom Hiddleston in my head while reading. I say problen, having an image of Tom Hiddleston in your head is never a problem, it's just I see him more as 'misunderstood' than 'taking over the world.' 

Zara also meets Hel, the daughter of Loki who looks after the dead. So when one goes to 'hell', it is not in the Christian sense of Heaven & Hell. People go to 'Hel' if they die of old age or disease rather than to Valhalla as a warrior. She helps Zara by giving her tips to defeat the pixies....and letting her see her stepfather again. I read this book on the train (I know, I do that often) and I almost cried; yes, I do that often too. Turns out, Loki is just as misunderstood as he is in the Thor movie, and he isn't going to bring about the end of the world at all. He admits he will fight in it, against Thor and Odin, but he will not cause it. The pixies do. I forgot to mention that they had to travel to Iceland in order to achieve this.

I was disappointed about the whole Nick/Zara breaking up thing. She went to Valhalla and back to rescue him, becoming pixie in order to do so and they both just seem to give up on the relationship. It falls apart but it's accepted. Like, shrug of the shoulders disappointed. Shrug of the shoulders but it's okay because I, Zara have Astley to fall back on, kind of disappointed. As a reader of the previous 3 books who found their relationship sweet, it is sad. I know hardly anyone stays with the first boyfriend they have, but this is a teen book and they tend to. To see a book breaking the mould, even though I constantly complain about that mould, makes me sad. I like Nick, and I never warmed to Astley.

I assume the series has finished. The pixies have been stopped, the state of Maine seems to be in peace and we are left with Astley, Zara and Issie making their way to Astley's villa in Europe. We are left with a remaining thought which suggests that Jones can always return to Zara's world if need be. I'm sad to say goodbye to it.

NEXT REVIEW: SOPHIE KINSELLA'S MINI SHOPAHOLIC

THIS REVIEW CONTAINS MAJOR SPOILERS - I haven't written a spoiler review in a while so I thought it was about time. 
Review Written: 5th August 2012

Ascend by Amanda Hocking

This is the third and final book in the Trylleology (See what I did there?) which begs the question on whether the characters get given a happy ending. This book starts with a wedding and ends in a baby. Although the path between the two is not so smooth and it involves 2 different men. Wendy Everly is to marry Tove, from one of the most influential families in Trylle except the two only love one another as friends, and Tove does not have a thing for women at all. Before the wedding, Loki from the Vittra tribe asks for amnesty. A Prince, or there abouts, in his own land he is forced to flee after being abused by his King. He loves Wendy, and as the book progresses, it is clear she loves him. Chapter 16 includes a moment of passion between the pair as Wendy loses the virginity she assumed she'd lose on her wedding night; not with Tove, but with Loki.

The middle part involves a war. The night of Wendy's wedding to Tove, the town of Oslinna is attacked, 2000 estimated dead. Here begins her role as leader. She makes a deal with her father, the evil King of the Vittra, which on the surface makes it look like she's handing over her kingdom. Really, she's just buying time until she can find a way to kill him. The main battle is over really quickly. One minute the Trylle are attacking the Vittra and the next, peace has been achieved.

The baby at the end is Wendy and Loki's - a boy named Oliver. The two wed after Wendy's wedding to Tove is annulled. Willa ends up with Matt, a move that would previously been disallowed as she is a powerful Troll and he is a human. However, it's still not fully accepted and Willa had to give up her role as Marksinna. What happens to Finn you say? Well, during the rescue mission to Oslinna, before war is declared, Wendy meets a female tracker named Mia and her baby daughter Hanna; she had become a widow. During the extra story 'Ever After', we discover Finn and Mia have married, with a son on the way. Tove is also in a relationship with new Chancellor Bain. I am truly glad Wendy chose Loki. As she says herself Finn is not happy around her, not the way he is around his future with Mia. I preferred Loki as a character anyway. The ending was sickly sweet but I liked it. I'm sad that the series has come to an end but I am looking forward to Hocking's Watersong series.

NEXT REVIEW: ALYSON NOEL'S FATED

 This review contains a minor spoiler, consider this a warning

 Review Written: 2nd June 2012

Torn by Amanda Hocking

The last book ended with Wendy running back to her brother Matt. This book starts with her being kidnapped by the rival Vittra tribe and finding out a few secrets about her family and heritage. There, she meets the rather mysterious, and I’m assuming good-looking, Loki. Wendy is rescued, returned to Förening and the remainder of the story continues with her struggles between love and becoming the Queen the tribe deserves. Time is running out before she will sit on the throne so ‘Princess practise’ as I shall now dub it, is progressing at full speed.

In the third book, I want her to be with Loki. I’ve been reading a few reviews of this book online and I don’t quite understand the Loki hate. I prefer him to Finn – because Finn isn’t the ‘innocent’ guy some reviews tend to portray. Wendy and he argue, he leaves without explanation causing her to spend her time agonising over him like some sort of New Moon scenario and he doesn’t even try to fight the system to be with her. Loki may be a tad arrogant and a total pretty boy but at least he tells it like it is, which I admire. Now everyone is aware of what I think of the two love rivals, we can move on.

We see a slightly softer side to Elora (her actual mother) in this book. The reasons for this are rather sad, but a softer side was bound to appear eventually. I wouldn’t go as far as to say Wendy is now bonding with the mother who gave her up as a child, but at least she is beginning to understand Elora’s reasoning. 

This here is a spoiler – Wendy must get married. What I won’t spoil is who she gets engaged to. There is also a little shock about her fiancé. Wendy does not wish to have an arranged marriage, and rightly so and I’m hoping in the third book, a suitable conclusion shall be reached.

NEXT REVIEW: Well, you know I caved with The Hunger Games, I’ve caved with George R.R. Martin’s ‘A Game of Thrones’. I’m halfway through at the moment, this book is a monster, so I’m not sure when my next review will be.

  Although not all my reviews are spoilery, which I do not consider this one to be, here is a little warning just in case.

 Review Written: 1st May 2012

Switched by Amanda Hocking

Switched is a fairy story. If I ever find the inspiration to get past 20,000 words when writing a story, I would like to write my first book about fairies. Oh, I should confirm that when I say ‘fairy story’, I mean ‘a book about fairies’ not a prince/princess/talking animals/amusing sidekick kind of fairy story. Disney this is not. 

The story starts with 6 year old Wendy Everly being almost killed by her mother who believes she was switched at birth. The ultrasound said she was having a son, yet a daughter arrived. Back to the present day, Wendy and her overprotective brother Matt now live with their aunt Maggie. They’ve had to move house yet again as Wendy has been kicked out of school. Where does this romantic interest come in I hear you ask? He’s also a newbie at school who also happens to like staring at our main character. Cue awkward situations between them and one night, he turns up at her window and proclaims she’s a Trylle. She’s kind of important in Förening (that’s the place the Trylle live) so she needs to return. The remainder of the book is Wendy attempting to settle in to her new role and fight her feelings for Finn. Oh, and the must have fight scene between good and bad.

For those who know their fairy creatures, the title itself gives away part of the fairy element.  If you are not familiar, you can read the book and be surprised. The actually species, if species is the right word, of fairy that the Trylle tribe are took me by surprise. It’s not a stereotypically glamorous fairy but again, it’s all down to the way the author wants to portray their characters. 

Hocking has taken the title of ‘book with the coolest character names’. Not that I’m hosting an official award ceremony or anything but Wendy, Finn & Tove? These are hardly names you hear every day! (Unless you watch Peter Pan or Glee daily)

The book was fast paced – I read it in a space of a few evenings (yes, I normally read faster but I still have university work to complete.) Wendy as a main character, is certainly a feisty one and Finn has that whole ‘mysterious, sexy’ guy thing going on. There are a number of strong supporting characters, Tove, Rhys & Willa but to name a few. Her mother in Förening from first viewing appears just as loveable as her ‘human’ mother even though everyone tells her differently. I hope Wendy and the reader soon starts seeing this in the sequels.

Talking of sequels I currently have Torn on my bookcase. I think I should start reading it.

NEXT REVIEW: RACHEL CAINE'S BLACK DAWN (Yes, I know I said I'd start reading Torn but reading the next Morganville Vampires is a matter of life and death for me. Seriously)

Although not all my reviews are spoilery, which I do not consider this one to be, here is a little warning just in case.

Review Written: 25th February 2012

Arrow by R.J.Anderson

Get ready for the briefest summary the world has ever known: Book one began with Knife, a fairy with the same name, living in the Oak at the bottom of Paul's garden. They fall in love, and she becomes human under her true fairy name - Peri. Book two, Rebel, brought us the fairy Linden & the human Timothy as the battle against The Empress begins and the hunt for the Stone of Naming is a success. Book three, Arrow, focuses on Rhosmari, a fairy from 'The Children of Rhys'. She wants to get back the Stone of Naming which belongs in the 'Children's' possession but it's not going to be easy.

First, she has to get past her mother who won't allow her to go as humans are dangerous. Second, she has to find out the hard way whether Martin (the fairy who initially helps Rhosmari) is friend or foe. Finally, she has to escape the Empress who has found out her true name and now controls her. It's what every teen fairy has to go through, right?

Luckily Timothy is to the rescue! The love interest. I was confused at first as I thought he was originally a love interest for Linden, but you discover in the beginning of this book that they are just friends. So, I now wholeheartedly ship Rhosmari and Timothy.

The fairies at the Oak are explored in more detail, everything isn't as harmonious in this camp as it first seems. The oncoming battle that begins in Rebel progresses in this book, you find out the Empress' plans if she takes over and everything comes to a climax. I am hoping book four deals with the aftermath as well as a continuation of Rhosmari and Timothy's relationship as it only starts in the final pages of this novel.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book, and I love how Linden, Peri (Knife) & Paul all make a reappearance. I adore fairy novels anyway and traditional fairy conventions, like having a true name that is kept secret is a nice feature. (If you've read Holly Black's Tithe, aimed at an older teen audience, you will see it mirrored) I am very much looking forward to the next one.

NEXT REVIEW: LAUREN DESTEFANO'S FEVER