Review: The Iron King by Julie Kagawa

Title: The Iron King

Author: Julie Kagawa

Release Date: February 1^st, 2010

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Age Group: Young Adult

Pages: 363

Source: Library

Series: The Iron Fey (#1)

Other Titles in the Series: The Iron Daughter (#2), The Iron Queen (#3), The Iron Knight (#4, out in stores in October)

Summary (goodreads.com): 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.

My Review:

It starts off great and only gets better! The Iron King starts off like a ghost story with bogeymen in closets and seemingly possessed little brothers. The story moves into a world that slightly resembled that which Alice finds when she falls through the rabbit hole, complete with a snarky talking cat (who, by the way, I love). In the end, it is a fantastic adventure story full of danger and magic, love and laughs that I couldn’t put down! I adore Meghan, who is so strong and selfless! I also love her best friend who is so funny at the most inappropriate times. There’s also an Ice Prince who is quite intriguing. The Iron King has it's share of bad guys too, one of which is called Ironhorse. He is supposed to be rather scary and fierce, but everything he says is in capital letters even when he isn’t necessarily yelling. I found this to be extremely funny. I imagined this horse to be really aggravated with everything and if it was possible for a horse to flail, I’m pretty sure Ironhorse would. I could go on and on about this book and never get tired of it. I can’t wait to get the rest of the series from my local library. I urge you to check this out if you like tales of the Fey.

Review: Blood Magic by Tessa Gratton

Title: Blood Magic

Author: Tessa Gratton

Release Date: May 24^th, 2011

Publisher: Random House

Age Group: Young Adult

Pages: 405

Source: Library

Series: The Blood Journals (#1)

Challenge: Debut Author Challenge (Hosted by the Story Siren)

Summary (goodreads.com):

It starts off simply.

Draw a circle ... place a dead leaf in the center ... sprinkle some salt ... recite a little Latin ... add a drop of blood ...

Maybe that last part isn't exactly simple. Yet somehow it feels right to Silla Kennicott. And nothing in her life has felt remotely right since her parents' horrific deaths. She's willing to do anything to uncover the truth about her family—even try a few spells from the mysterious book that arrived on her doorstep ... and spill some blood.

The book isn't the only recent arrival in Silla's life. There's Nick Pardee, the new guy next door who may have seen Silla casting a spell. She's not sure what he saw and is afraid to find out. But as they spend more time together, Silla realizes this may not be Nick's first encounter with Blood Magic. Brought together by a combination of fate and chemistry, Silla and Nick can't deny their attraction. And they can't ignore the dark presence lurking nearby—waiting to reclaim the book and all its power.

Tessa Gratton's intoxicating first novel will keep pulses racing, minds reeling, and pages turning right up to the very last drop of blood.

My Review:

I have really mixed feelings about this book. At times I hated it and had to stop reading because I didn’t agree with what was happening in the plot lines. Overall, though, I liked it. Would I reread it? I don’t think so. Will I read the next book? Maybe. Do I recommend you read it? Absolutely. Just because it’s not precisely my taste doesn’t mean I will tell people not to read it. I liked all the characters and for the most part I enjoyed the plot. But at times Silla, Nick, and Reese’s casual blood spillage just sickened me. It was incredibly interesting, but very twisted. The writing was suburb, though, which really made this book work. I really liked the switching narratives (this book is told from Silla and Nick’s POVs as well as journal entries from the antagonist and a surprise character later on). All the history and flashbacks and journal entries were all presented at the right plot point so they didn’t bog down the story, but greatly enhanced it. Anyway, my advice is to try this book out because it never hurts to try.

A Letter to The Boy Who Lived.

Dear Mr. Potter,

The seventh book has come and gone. We know who survives and who dies, we know who marries whom and what their children are called. We know all that and more. So why does the end of the seventh movie mean so much to us? When we turned the last page of the seventh book, to keep a level head we told ourselves "It’s not over yet! There are more movies left to watch!" Well the time has come, there are no more movies left to look forward to. It seems to all the world as if the time to say goodbye has finally arrived. But for me it hasn't. There is still Pottermore to look forward to, a place in which wands will choose us and the Sorting Hat will finally put us in our proper houses; it will provide many new words about you and your world that we have been interested in learning about for years. And of course, there are still many visits to your theme park that have yet to be planned. In the meantime, however, I will continue to re-read the books that tell your life story. I will pour over the facts provided in your old textbooks in a very Hermione like fashion. I will also read my children the same bedtime fairy tales that you are reading yours, with the same colorful embellishments that Ron added when you, yourself first heard the tales. I will relive your triumphs and mourn your losses over and over again in the years to come because as your famous creator once said "Hogwarts will always be there to welcome you home".

Lots of love,

Laura.

Review: Mercy by Rebecca Lim

Title: Mercy

Author: Rebecca Lim

Release Date: May 17^th, 2011

Publisher: Hyperion

Age Group: Young Adult

Pages: 288

Source: Won ARC at TBF ‘11 (also ebook from publisher via Netgalley)

Series: Mercy (#1)

Summary (goodreads.com): A fallen angel haunted by her past. Yearning for her immortal beloved. Forever searching for answers.Who will show her Mercy?

Mercy has lost herself. She can’t count how many times she’s “woken up” in a new body, and assumed a new life, only to move on again and again. During the day she survives in the human world on instinct and at night her dreams are haunted by him. Mercy’s heart would know him anywhere. But her memory refuses to cooperate.

But this time is different. When Mercy wakes up she meets Ryan, an eighteen year old reeling from the loss of his twin sister who was kidnapped two years ago. Everyone else has given up hope, but Ryan believes his sister is still alive. Using a power she doesn’t fully comprehend, Mercy realizes that Ryan is right. His sister is alive and together they can find her. For the first time since she can remember, Mercy has a purpose; she can help. So she doesn’t understand why the man in her dreams cautions her not to interfere. But as Ryan and Mercy come closer to solving the dark mystery of his sister’s disappearance, danger looms just one step behind.

Will Mercy be able to harness her true self and extraordinary power in time?

The first in a dazzling new series, Mercy masterfully weaves romance, mystery and the supernatural into a spell-binding tale.

My Review:

I really like these kinds of books. You know the ones where you think you’re going into a book where everything will be just so and you’re sure you know what you’re in for and then you start reading and it takes you by surprise? Mercy is like that. I thought I was going to be reading another fallen angel book. And yeah I guess I was but this was more of a mystery, thriller type book and I wasn’t expecting that. I loved Mercy; she’s one tough cookie! I didn’t fully comprehend how Mercy’s powers work though, or how she starts a new life or why or, well, anything to do with Mercy’s background. Most of the story was about the girl she was “possessing” or whatever it is she was doing. I’m glad there are more books in this series because I would love to know more about Mercy (and what will happen to her relationship with Ryan)! A very good read for a sunny summer day!

Review: An Abundance of Katherines by John Green

Title: An Abundance of Katherines

Author: John Green

Release Date: September 21st, 2006

Publisher: Dutton Juvenile

Age Group: Young Adult

Pages: 227

Source: Library

Summary (goodreads.com): When it comes to relationships, Colin Singleton’s type is girls named Katherine. And when it comes to girls named Katherine, Colin is always getting dumped. Nineteen times, to be exact.

On a road trip miles from home, this anagram-happy, washed-up child prodigy has ten thousand dollars in his pocket, a bloodthirsty feral hog on his trail, and an overweight, Judge Judy-loving best friend riding shotgun but no Katherines. Colin is on a mission to pro

ve The Theorem of Underlying Katherine Predictability, which he hopes will predict the future of any relationship, avenge Dumpees everywhere, and finally win him the girl.

Love, friendship, and a dead Austro-Hungarian archduke add up to surprising and heart-changing conclusions in this ingeniously layered comic novel about reinventing oneself by Printz medalist John Green, acclaimed author of Looking for Alaska.

My Review:

This is the first John Green book that I’ve read and I thought it was brilliant. I liked how diverse it was. Hassan, Colin’s best friend, made this book awesome for me. He was just so different from any other character I’ve ever read (meaning he was the first Muslim character I’ve read about). It’s also got a quite a lot to do with math (which I try to avoid at all costs), but in a cool way. Who would have thought to make a theorem about old girlfriends? Colin did because that’s the kind of kid he is and that’s why I liked him! The characters in this book and their dialogue is just amazing. The plot is completely original and totally hysterical. What I like most about An Abundance of Katherines is it's contemporary. There are no fantasy creatures and no magic, but it feels as if there is. It’s essentially about a sad kid who goes on a road trip with his best friend to get away from it all and along the way he has a bit of a crazy adventure! Which I for one would love to do! Read this you won’t be sorry (especially since the math is optional)!

Review: Forever by Maggie Stiefvater

Title: Forever

Author: Maggie Stiefvater

Release Date: July 12, 2011

Publisher: Scholastic

Age Group: Young Adult

Pages: 386

Source: ARC from publisher

Series: The Wolves of Mercy Falls #3

Other Titles in the Series: Shiver (#1), Linger (#2) (click links for my reviews of these previous titles)

Summary (goodreads.com):

then.

When Sam met Grace, he was a wolf and she was a girl. Eventually he found a way to become a boy, and their love moved from a curious distance to the intense closeness of shared lives.

now.

That should have been the end of their story. But Grace was not meant to stay human. Now she is the wolf. And the wolves of Mercy Falls are about to be killed in one final, spectacular hunt.

forever.

Sam would do anything for Grace. But can one boy and one love really change a hostile, predatory world? The past, the present, and the future are about to collide in one pure moment - a moment of death or life, farewell or forever.

My Review:

I’m so sad that this series is over! I feel like Sam and Grace have been a part of me since I Shiver. I loved how Sam and Grace’s relationship developed in Forever. I especially loved how Isabel has changed as a person; she’s not as annoying to me anymore. Forever took me a long time to read though. I’m not sure if it’s because I didn't want it to end or if it was because it was slightly boring. It felt like I was always waiting for something to happen, but it never did. However, if there’s any book series that I would like to just read about the characters’ daily lives it would be The Wolves of Mercy Falls because of Maggie Stiefvater’s exquisite writing. It’s so simple and yet so beautiful. I’m not exactly impressed with how it ended. I expected more of the major plot points to come to a close instead of being left to the reader’s imagination. All in all, Forever was a glorious book that I’m sure will be in the heart of readers forevermore.

Review: Beastly by Alex Flinn

Title: Beastly

Author: Alex Flinn

Release Date: October 1st, 2007

Publisher: HarperTeen

Age Group: Young Adult

Pages: 304

Source: Bought then waited a lifetime for it to come after it was backordered.

Summary (goodreads.com):

I am a beast.

A beast!

Not quite wolf or bear, gorilla or dog but a horrible new creature who walks upright. I am a monster.

You think I'm talking fairy tales? No way. The place is New York City. The time is now. It's no deformity, no disease. And I'll, stay this way forever ruined unless I can break the spell.

Yes, the spell, the one the witch in my English class cast on me. Why did she turn me into a beast who hides by day and prowls by night? I'll tell you. I'll tell you how I used to be Kyle Kingsbury, the guy you wished you were, with money, perfect looks, and the perfect life. And then, I'll tell you how I became perfectly...beastly.

My Review:

I am crazy about this book (and the movie, but more the book). I love the Beauty and the Beast tale, there are so many different versions and Beastly combines them all in an ingenious way. I liked how she stayed true to the story, but also gave it a modern feeling. It’s definitely the best retold fairy tale that I’ve ever read. I was properly annoyed at Kyle, who is so ridiculous in the way he believes the perfect people are better nonsense. And my heart bled for sweet Lindy whose life just wasn’t going the way she wanted (or how anybody would have wanted it). However, my favorite character was the tutor Will, whose wit kept the story super enjoyable. Since having read this I have lent my copy out to a couple people and they love it as much as I do.

I won The Versatile Blogger Award!

Hey there, a big thank you goes out to Scarlette from The Secret Book Lover for this award! Her blog is awesome and you should really go check it out!

Now, 7 random facts about me:

1) I love Ron Weasley!

2) I was on the Dean’s List both semesters of my Freshman Year of college!

3) I’ll be a sophomore this fall.

4) I was nominated for this award on my 19th birthday (July 1st).

5) The late Princess Diana of Wales and I share the same Birthday!

6) I went to the Teen Book Festival in Rochester in May and I still haven’t posted about it (but I will soon I promise), and

7) I love getting blogging awards. It’s nice to feel appreciated!

And so, I nominate these 5 blogs because its fun to spread the feeling around:

• Peace, Love, Teen Fiction
• Books make Great Lovers
• The Book Bubble
• The Book Girl Reviews
• Cari’s Book Blog

Award Rules:

1. Thank the person who gave you this award.

2. Share 7 random things about yourself.

3. Nominate 5 blogs that you have recently discovered.

4. Contact the bloggers you’ve picked and let them know about the award.