Book Review: Darklight

Darklight

Author: Lesley Livingston

Publish Date: December 2009

Publisher: HarperTeen

Much has changed since autumn, when Kelley Winslow learned she was a Faerie princess, fell in love with changeling guard Sonny Flannery, and saved the mortal realm from the ravages of the Wild Hunt.

Now Kelley is stuck in New York City, rehearsing Romeo and Juliet and missing Sonny more with every stage kiss, while Sonny has been forced back to the Otherworld and into a deadly game of cat and mouse with the remaining Hunters and Queen Mabh herself.

When a terrifying encounter sends Kelley tumbling into the Otherworld, her reunion with Sonny is joyful but destined to be cut short. An ancient, hidden magick is stirring, and a dangerous new enemy is willing to risk everything to claim that power.
Caught in a web of Faerie deception and shifting allegiances, Kelley and Sonny must tread carefully, for each next step could topple a kingdom . . . or tear them apart. (From Goodreads)

Second books are a tricky thing. The first book sets everything up, introduces the characters and provides us with a basic problem. The second book, makes or breaks the series. The reason begin is that it can pull us deeper in thrall OR give us the WTF? Moment and ruin the entire series. 

Luckily, Darklight is not a WTF book. Our characters are the same as previous. We have no mysterious new characters that severely damage our knowledge of the story. Nor are there any surprise visits from “oracle” characters. (You know what I’m talking about. Those characters that only show up to guide the characters back onto the plot line then vanish for the rest of the story.)

The plot is fast paced. It’s not frantic but the book does move by pretty quickly. Thankfully there are no rapid jumps that require rereading to understand. It’s a little predictable, but not so much it makes it unenjoyable. My heart fell out at the end. Just fell right out. I know why it was done, but at the same time I’m not sure who needs cuddling more anymore. 

This book definitely redefines the wondrous beauty of this series. I’m really happy I’ve picked this series up and I’m really looking forward to reading the next one. ^_^ 

My Rating:

Book Review: Abandon

Abandon

Author: Meg Cabot

Publish Date: April 2011

Publisher: Scholastic, Inc.

Though she tries returning to the life she knew before the accident, Pierce can't help but feel at once a part of this world, and apart from it. Yet she's never alone . . . because someone is always watching her. Escape from the realm of the dead is impossible when someone there wants you back.

But now she's moved to a new town. Maybe at her new school, she can start fresh. Maybe she can stop feeling so afraid.

Only she can't. Because even here, he finds her. That's how desperately he wants her back. She knows he's no guardian angel, and his dark world isn't exactly heaven, yet she can't stay away . . . especially since he always appears when she least expects it, but exactly when she needs him most.

But if she lets herself fall any further, she may just find herself back in the one place she most fears: the Underworld.(From GoodReads)

Walking through the bookstore the cover immediately caught the eye. Oh, pretty.  Then the synopsis. Oh, intriguing. Look at the author, I’ve never heard of this woman before. Maybe I should try it out. Yes, I have never heard of Meg Cabot before. 

Pierce is a sweet, confused child. I instantly want to hold her hand and take her under my wing. She’s not as crazy as everyone makes her out to be, but you know that old say, “Here it often enough and it must be true?” Poor Pierce. She tries really hard to keep her life whole and it just seems to keep falling apart the harder she tries. 

Then enter our bad boy, John. Such a simple name. I still wonder if it’s his real name or if that’s a name he just hands to everyone to keep his real name protected. Always dressed in black, always tucked in shadows.  Always appears when he’s needed most. And he has a chip on his shoulder to rival Atlas’s. Throughout the book I kept thinking, seriously what it this guy’s problem. He’s very closed mouthed about his reasoning until the very end. What is it with guys?

 The story was cute. It’s not a difficult read, unless you count the jumping back and forth in time difficult. The plot doesn’t follow a clear concise line (or at least it didn’t seem that way to me). It’s more like pieces of a puzzle being handed out at different intervals and you have to wait until the end to put them all together. I’ll be on the lookout for the second book just to see what happens next. ^_^ In the meantime I'm going to look up the other Meg Cabot books. ^_^

My Rating:

Book Review: My Soul To Take

My Soul to Take

Author:  Rachel Vincent

Publish Date: August 2009

Publisher: Harlequinn

She doesn't see dead people. She senses when someone near her is about to die. And when that happens, a force beyond her control compels her to scream bloody murder. Literally.

Kaylee just wants to enjoy having caught the attention of the hottest guy in school. But a normal date is hard to come by when Nash seems to know more about her need to scream than she does. And when classmates start dropping dead for no apparent reason, only Kaylee knows who'll be next. (From GoodReads)

I never thought a story like this possible. In knowing a great deal about Irish legends, myths, faery tales, or what have you I was skeptical. After all how good can a story be that’s centered on a banshee? I’m very pleased my skepticism was thrown in my face so to speak. 

Kaylee is an enjoyable character.  She’s been dealt a lot of issues she really has no understanding of.  Instead of buckling under the pressure she sucks it up. She doesn’t have anyone to talk to that actually knows what’s going on so it’s like a pressure valve building up.  There’s only so much she can take before she’s going to go off the deep end. 

Nash is… adorable. He’s got some gentlemanly principles that aren’t really common in today’s society let alone today’s books. He’s funny and charming and while he doesn’t always have all the answers he knows how to make even a bad situation seem okay.  Nash is the reliable sort.  He can be leaned on and confided in without judgment. 

The story is unique and original. While I never thought there’d be much to write about concerning a banshee, Ms. Vincent takes the concept and runs the triathlon with it. There are so many twists and turns and surprises that leaves the reader’s on the edge of their seat wanting more. The book is definitely a page turner. 

My Rating: