Wanderlust Wednesday Review: The Eternal City by Paula Morris

 

Check out my previous Wanderlust Wednesday posts.

The Eternal City by Paula Morris
Series: Standalone
Published: May 26th, 2015
Publisher: Scholastic
304 pages (eARC)
Genre: Young Adult Urban Fantasy/Mythology
Acquired this book: Via Edelweiss in exchange for honest consideration
Warning: May contain spoilers
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Laura Martin is visiting Rome on a class trip, and she's entranced by the majestic Colosseum, the Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon. . . . Everything in this city seems magical.

That is, until the magic seems to turn very dark.

Suddenly, statues of Cupid and ancient works of art come to life before her eyes. Earthquakes rumble and a cloud of ash forms in the sky. A dark-eyed boy with wings on his heels appears and gives her a message. Laura soon realizes she is at the center of a brewing battle -- a battle between the gods and goddesses, one that will shake modern-day Rome to its core.

Only she and her group of friends can truly unravel the mystery behind what is happening. As tensions mount and secret identities are revealed, Laura must rely on her own inner strength to face up to what may be a fight for her life.

The synopsis for The Eternal City immediately piqued my interest, mostly because when I first heard about it I was just months away from my first visit to Rome, plus I love books with foreign settings. While the synopsis sounds exciting and different, and I liked the premise of the book, the execution was lacking. The story felt like a series of random events and strange things happening to the main character, Laura, but the characters were completely flat and the attempt at romance seemed like an after thought.

Laura is on a school trip to Rome, the Eternal City, a beautiful city rich in history. The vivid descriptions of Rome are pretty much the only reason I gave this book 3 stars instead of 2. It was easy to picture the places Laura visited, and I really liked that. So Laura's trip is moving along nicely until Laura is almost mugged at the Trevi Fountain, and then odd things begin happening, all of which seem to be centred around her for some reason. We come to find out that she’s in possession of the Eyes of Minerva, and ancient gods are battling to retrieve them. As I said, the premise was good, but there were a lot of things that didn’t quite make sense. It didn’t help that the characters were completely one-dimensional, so there was nothing to connect to. I usually prefer character-driven books, or if the books have a lot of action and fantasy elements, I want to at least get a sense of who the characters are, what drives them, what they’re like outside the events that are happening, and I never got that from The Eternal City. The action scenes were good, but they weren’t enough to carry the story on their own. The romance was just sort of thrown in and wasn’t believable. They had no chemistry and didn’t get to know each other at all - they were just thrown together by circumstances. 

Overall, The Eternal City wasn’t what I was hoping for. It had a beautiful setting, but the characters and story itself were lacking and fell flat. Despite not really enjoying this one, I bought Morris’s Ruined awhile ago and I’m still eager to read it.

There were quite a few scenes in The Eternal City with seagulls and crows (as part of the fantasy/mythology aspect of the story), so when I saw this seagull at the top of Palatine Hill in Rome and he kept creeping closer and closer, all I could think of was their role in The Eternal City!

  

Have you read The Eternal City? What did you think? If you haven't read it, do you plan to? Have you read any of Paula Morris's other books? Do you have any favourite books that deal with Roman mythology? Let's talk here or on Twitter! 

   
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Review: All That Glows by Ryan Graudin

All That Glows by Ryan Graudin

Series: Standalone

Published: February 11th, 2014

Publisher: HarperTeen

300 pages (eARC)

Genre: Young adult urban fantasy

Acquired this book: From the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review

Warning: May contain spoilers

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Emrys—a fiery, red-headed Fae—always embraced her life in the Highlands, far from the city’s draining technology, until she’s sent to London to rejoin the Faery Guard. But this isn’t any normal assignment—she’s sent to guard Prince Richard: Britain’s notorious, partying bad boy and soon-to-be King. The prince’s careless ways and royal blood make him irresistible for the dark spirits that feed on mortals. Sweet, disheveled, and alive with adventure—Richard is one charge who will put Emrys’s magic and heart to the test.

When an ancient force begins preying on the monarchy, Emrys must hunt through London’s magical underworld, facing down Banshees, Black Dogs, and Green Women to find the one who threatens Richard’s life. In this chaos of dark magic, palace murders, and paparazzi, Emrys finds herself facing an impossible choice. For despite all her powers, Emrys has discovered a force that burns brighter than magic: love.

 

 

I love books about faeries, so when I heard about All That Glows, I was really excited. While I didn’t love the book the way I’d hoped to, I also didn’t hate it…it was pretty middle of the road for me. The story started out fairly strong and drew me in; I’d say I was really enjoying it up until about the 25-30% mark when things started to unravel somewhat.

There were quite a few aspects of this book that were unbelievable. I realize it’s fantasy so there are going to be some things that obviously suspend belief, but considering it was set in the real world, surrounding the British monarchy (albeit fictional royals), there were a few things that seemed really unrealistic, especially toward the end. One of the things I found hardest to believe was when Richard discovered Emrys was a faerie and that he’d had a Faerie Guard his whole life and he was basically like ‘okay sure’. I don’t know about you, but if I found out faeries really did exist, and that they’d been watching me my entire life, I would freak the hell out. But not Richard…he was all tra la la, business as usual.

There was also a major case of the dreaded instalove in All That Glows. Emrys and Richard met and fall almost instantly in love. Richard was a pretty bland, one-dimensional character, so it was hard to imagine why Emrys fell in love with him, let alone instantly and to the point of being willing to give up everything. She was hundreds of years old, seemed fairly intelligent and worldly, and yet she meets a cute boy and completely comes undone. Because of that and a few other things, it was hard to believe she was actually a centuries-old faerie - she seemed very much like a normal teenage girl except with magical abilities.

There were times I thought the writing was really beautiful, but then other times it was so flowery it made me roll my eyes. I don’t mind a well-placed metaphor - in fact, I like them, and even really enjoyed some of the ones in All That Glows - but it felt like almost every other sentence was a metaphor. I don’t think I’ve ever read a book with so many metaphors before.

Things I did like about the book: the fae aspect. There was a bit of faerie lore and some explanations about how things worked, which I really enjoyed. In books, faeries seem to either be portrayed as good or evil, but All That Glows we got to see both kinds. I thought the parts with the Green Women, Banshees, and Black Dogs were really interesting. There was also some great action in the book, and I liked the suspense woven throughout. It kept me guessing, and the climax of the book had me really engaged and wondering what was going to happen.

Overall, All That Glows was just an okay read for me. It had a great, unique-sounding concept, and while it was well executed in some ways, it fell short in others. I think it could have been stellar if the characters were fleshed out more, and if we’d gotten to see Emrys and Richard falling in love instead of just being told they were in love and never really understanding or seeing why. As always, I encourage readers to make their own decisions - if you enjoy faerie stories, or even stories about monarchy, give this book a try. 

 

 

Have you read All That Glows? What did you think? If you haven't read it, is it on your TBR? Do you like books about faeries?

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Review: Unhinged by AG Howard

Unhinged by AG Howard

Series: Splintered, Book #2

Published: January 7th, 2014

Publisher: Amulet

384 pages (eARC)

Genre: Young adult fantasy

Acquired this book: From the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Warning: May contain spoilers

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{Read my review of Splintered}

Alyssa Gardner has been down the rabbit hole and faced the bandersnatch. She saved the life of Jeb, the guy she loves, and escaped the machinations of the disturbingly seductive Morpheus and the vindictive Queen Red. Now all she has to do is graduate high school and make it through prom so she can attend the prestigious art school in London she's always dreamed of.

That would be easier without her mother, freshly released from an asylum, acting overly protective and suspicious. And it would be much simpler if the mysterious Morpheus didn’t show up for school one day to tempt her with another dangerous quest in the dark, challenging Wonderland—where she (partly) belongs.

As prom and graduation creep closer, Alyssa juggles Morpheus’s unsettling presence in her real world with trying to tell Jeb the truth about a past he’s forgotten. Glimpses of Wonderland start to bleed through her art and into her world in very disturbing ways, and Morpheus warns that Queen Red won’t be far behind.

If Alyssa stays in the human realm, she could endanger Jeb, her parents, and everyone she loves. But if she steps through the rabbit hole again, she'll face a deadly battle that could cost more than just her head.

 

I just finished reading Unhinged a few minutes ago and I sat down immediately to get my thoughts out but I can’t seem to grasp anything coherent. Splintered is one of my all-time favourite books, so I went into Unhinged with high hopes…and high expectations. I’ve seen the sophomore slump more times than I can count, and I hoped and prayed Anita’s brilliance would carry on to this second book. It did.

Picking up a year after where Splintered left off, things are very different in Alyssa’s world. Her mom is home, her artwork is changing in unexpected ways, Jeb’s busy with his budding career, and Morpheus haunts her dreams.

I loved both guys in Splintered but ultimately I considered myself Team Jeb. He seemed better for Alyssa for so many reasons, and he sacrificed so much for her. However, that didn’t stop me from thinking Morpheus was incredibly sexy and charming. I expected to remain Team Jeb in Unhinged, but I quickly began to fall harder and harder for Morpheus. We learned new things about him, and even though a part of me knew I shouldn’t love him, his seductive pull sucked me in and I was a goner.

Now I’m torn…Team Jeb? Team Morpheus? I was talking to Anita on Twitter and she was joking about ‘Team Jebpheus’ and that’s pretty much how I feel. I don’t think I’ve ever been this torn before when it comes to a literary love triangle. Both guys are great in their own ways, both could be right for Alyssa, and yet both could also be wrong for her. Anita is a master of drawing you in and jumbling up your emotions, making you root for one guy one minute but the other guy the next minute. It made the book even more entertaining. 

Of course, the book isn’t just about Alyssa and the two hotties vying for her attention. *loses train of thought thinking about said hotties* The story is brimming with breath-taking action, twists and turns, events and characters that are often horrifying and gruesome, and flights of fancy that will leave you spellbound. Anita is one heck of a storyteller; I have a pretty vivid imagination, but I’d love to be inside her head for even a day just to see how she comes up with all the fantastic little bits and pieces that make her stories so utterly captivating.

This isn’t the Alice in Wonderland you grew up with. Anita has taken Wonderland as we knew it, flipped it on its head, and given it wings (moth wings, heh heh). There are some truly spine-tingling moments in Unhinged. Just thinking about them sends delicious shivers all through me, and makes me want to go back and reread it already. The ending was absolutely brilliant and left me feeling like I would come unhinged knowing I have to wait over a year for the third book.

Dark, seductive, action packed, thrilling, and completely enchanting, Unhinged is the perfect sequel to Splintered. I can’t begin to imagine how things are going to turn out, but I can’t wait to be reunited with Alyssa, Morpheus, Jeb, and the rest of the Wonderland gang to see what happens next.

 

Have you read Splintered or Unhinged? What did you think? Are you Team Jeb? Team Morpheus? Team Jebpheus? Do you enjoy fairytale retellings?

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Review: The Calling by Kelley Armstrong

The Calling by Kelley Armstrong

Series: Darkness Rising, Book #1

Published: April 5th, 2012

Publisher: HarperTeen

326 pages (hardcover)

Genre: Young adult paranormal/urban fantasy

Acquired this book: From the library

Warning: May contain spoilers

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{Read my review of The Gathering}

Maya Delaney's paw-print birthmark is the mark of what she truly is -a skin-walker. She can run faster, climb higher, and see better than nearly everyone else. Experiencing intense connections with the animals that roam the woods outside her home, Maya knows it's only a matter of time before she's able to Shift and become one of them. And she believes there may be others in her small town with surprising talents.

Now Maya and her friends have been forced to flee from their homes during a forest fire they suspect was deliberately set. Then they're kidnapped, and after a chilling helicopter crash, they find themselves in the Vancouver Island wilderness with nothing but their extraordinary abilities to help them get back home.

In THE CALLING, the sizzling second book in the Darkness Rising trilogy, New York Times bestselling author Kelley Armstrong pumps up the romance, danger, and suspense that left readers of THE GATHERING clamoring for more.

 

I’ve been a fan of Kelley Armstrong’s books since before I started blogging, and I continue to love her books more and more. The Calling is the second installment in Armstrong’s Darkness Rising trilogy, and it picks up right after where we left off with The Gathering. In the first book, things ended in the midst of a seriously stressful situation, and the tension, fear, and worry are not only carried over into the second book, it feels like the stakes are even higher somehow.

Armstrong has a real knack for pulling you into the story and making you feel like you’re right there. I was able to feel Maya’s apprehension, anger, worry, confusion. I felt like I was right there with her and her friends, trekking through the forest, trying to figure things out, trying to escape, trying to make it to safety. The book was mostly fast-paced, but it did have a lot of Maya’s internal dialogue as she tried to figure things out. While this would usually detract from my overall enjoyment, the story never failed to hold my interest, and I devoured this book, unable to put it down until I found out what was going to happen.

I loved the supernatural aspect of the book, and getting to see the teens’ powers coming to the surface, and how they dealt with them, especially Maya. I also loved how the book was subtly tied into the Darkest Powers trilogy; it makes me even more excited for the final book in the trilogy, because it seems like there’s a lot yet to happen. 

Intense and action-packed, with plenty of suspense as well as twists, turns, and surprises, The Calling is a fantastic middle book in a thrilling trilogy. I have no doubt the final installment in this trilogy, The Rising, is going to be incredible, and I can’t wait to find out what happens to Maya and her friends.

 

  

Have you read The Calling? What did you think? Are you a fan of Kelley Armstrong's books?

 

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Book Review: Splintered by AG Howard

Splintered by AG Howard

Series: Standalone

Published: January 1st, 2013

Publisher: Amulet Books

384 pages (ebook)

Genre: Young adult fantasy

Acquired this book: From NetGalley

Warning: May contain spoilers

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This stunning debut captures the grotesque madness of a mystical under-land, as well as a girl’s pangs of first love and independence. Alyssa Gardner hears the whispers of bugs and flowers—precisely the affliction that landed her mother in a mental hospital years before. This family curse stretches back to her ancestor Alice Liddell, the real-life inspiration for Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Alyssa might be crazy, but she manages to keep it together. For now.

When her mother’s mental health takes a turn for the worse, Alyssa learns that what she thought was fiction is based in terrifying reality. The real Wonderland is a place far darker and more twisted than Lewis Carroll ever let on. There, Alyssa must pass a series of tests, including draining an ocean of Alice’s tears, waking the slumbering tea party, and subduing a vicious bandersnatch, to fix Alice’s mistakes and save her family. She must also decide whom to trust: Jeb, her gorgeous best friend and secret crush, or the sexy but suspicious Morpheus, her guide through Wonderland, who may have dark motives of his own.

 

I read Splintered several weeks ago, and I’ve been writing bits and pieces of my review without being able to complete it because I didn’t feel like I could do the book justice, no matter what I said. Quite simply, Splintered was brilliant. It’s not often that I call a book brilliant, but Splintered was brilliant. Not only was this one of my favourite books of 2012, it was one of my favourite books ever. It was enchanting, mesmerizing, sexy, disturbing, creepy, absorbing, twisted, funny, and beautiful.

This book made me laugh, it made me cry, it made me fall in love, it made me gasp out loud. It made me feel so many things, and often all at once. I absolutely loved Alyssa. It was her job to untangle the secrets of her family and its ties to Wonderland, and I thought she was strong, brave, genuine, independent, and relateable. Her actions and reactions were genuine, her voice authentic, and I absolutely adored her.

I also loved the interactions between both Alyssa and Jeb and Alyssa and Morpheus. This was one love triangle I had absolutely no problem with, and while I thought both boys were super sexy, I was Team Jeb all the way. He was loyal, steady, and protective - everything Alyssa needed in her crazy, messed-up life - while Morpheus was dark and mysterious, seductive and dangerous. Alyssa shared a history with both of them, but she and Jeb shared more than that; they understood each other's emotional and physical scars.

I’ve always been a fan of Wonderland in its many incarnations, but this could possibly be my favourite. Howard’s version of Wonderland is lush and vivid. I was right there with Alyssa, seeing it all, feeling it, tasting it, experiencing it. The way Howard took the well-known Alice story and turned it on its head, playing with little details to make them fit into the story was absolute genius, and made me more and more excited with each new revelation.

Full of twists and turns, action, romance, and beautiful writing, Splintered is an unforgettable story that will grab you and never let go.

Disclaimer

In accordance with FTC guidelines, I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. No money or compensation of any sort exchanged hands. I review books to share my love of reading, and I'm always completely honest in my reviews, good or bad.

*Thank you to Amulet Books and NetGalley for sending me an ARC of this book for review.*

Have you read Splintered? What did you think? Are you a fan of Alice in Wonderland?

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Book Review: Wake by Amanda Hocking

Wake by Amanda Hocking

Series: Watersong Book #1

Published: August 7th, 2012

Publisher: St. Martin’s Griffin

309 pages (hardcover)

Genre: Young adult paranormal/urban fantasy/mythology

Acquired this book: From the library

Warning: May contain spoilers

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Gorgeous. Fearless. Dangerous. They're the kind of girls you envy; the kind of girls you want to hate. Strangers in town for the summer, Penn, Lexi and Thea have caught everyone's attention—but it’s Gemma who’s attracted theirs.  She’s the one they’ve chosen to be part of their group.

Gemma seems to have it all—she’s carefree, pretty, and falling in love with Alex, the boy next door.  He’s always been just a friend, but this summer they’ve taken their relationship to the next level, and now there’s no going back.  Then one night, Gemma’s ordinary life changes forever.  She’s taking a late night swim under the stars when she finds Penn, Lexi and Thea partying on the cove.  They invite her to join them, and the next morning she wakes up on the beach feeling groggy and sick, knowing something is different.

Suddenly Gemma is stronger, faster, and more beautiful than ever. But her new powers come with a terrifying price.  And as she uncovers the truth, she’s is forced to choose between staying with those she loves—or entering a new world brimming with dark hungers and unimaginable secrets.

I’ll be honest - the beautiful cover of Wake is what initially drew me to the book. I didn’t know much about the book before I read it, but I’d seen dozens of other bloggers talking about it, so I was curious.

Unfortunately - and I really do hate to say this - the cover was one of the only things I liked about Wake.

I didn’t really like Gemma or Harper, nor was I able to connect with them. I didn’t feel like there was much depth to them, and neither of them really developed as characters. Gemma’s love of the water was pretty much the only thing that defined her, and Harper’s domineering personality was a bit much to take at times. At one point Gemma called her sister ‘a bossy, know-it-all control freak’ and that pretty much sums it up.

Daniel was pretty much the only character I liked, and that was really only because he had more personality than any of the others. Alex was okay, but I got tired of hearing about how he’d gone from a geek to a total hottie practically overnight without anyone noticing, as if he wasn’t worth noticing until he became hot.

The pacing of the book was really slow, and I thought Hocking probably could have written one really good book instead of breaking this into a trilogy. Not much happened in Wake - in fact, it felt like the book was mostly made up of dialogue, and I found myself skimming a lot. What little there was about siren mythology was interesting, but I wish it had been expanded upon.

Overall, Wake just didn’t do it for me. I wasn’t able to connect with the characters or the story, and I felt like I waited most of the book for something - anything - to happen. If you enjoy stories about mermaids/sirens or mythology, this book might be for you. 

2.5 stars

Have you read Wake? What did you think? Do you enjoy books that weave in elements of mythology?

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Book Review: Switched by Amanda Hocking

Switched by Amanda Hocking

Series: Book #1 in the Trylle Trilogy

Published: January 3rd, 2012 (originally self-published July 12th, 2010)

Publisher: St. Martin’s Griffin

293 pages (paperback)

Genre: Young adult urban fantasy

Acquired this book: From the library

Warning: May contain spoilers

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Synopsis: When Wendy Everly was six years old, her mother was convinced she was a monster and tried to kill her. Eleven years later, Wendy discovers her mother might have been right. She’s not the person she’s always believed herself to be, and her whole life begins to unravel—all because of Finn Holmes.

Finn is a mysterious guy who always seems to be watching her. Every encounter leaves her deeply shaken…though it has more to do with her fierce attraction to him than she’d ever admit. But it isn’t long before he reveals the truth: Wendy is a changeling who was switched at birth—and he’s come to take her home.

Now Wendy’s about to journey to a magical world she never knew existed, one that’s both beautiful and frightening. And where she must leave her old life behind to discover who she’s meant to become…

I’ve been looking forward to reading this book for a really long time. Like many other indie authors, Amanda Hocking’s success was a huge deciding factor in my very long and difficult decision to self-publish. I knew the chances of reaching her success were slim, but knowing it was possible was a huge motivator for me. I’m happy that I can now say I’ve read a book by Amanda Hocking, although I really do wish I’d been able to read one before she was traditionally published.

I thought the concept of Switched was really cool. I’ve always been interested in the idea of changelings, because I’ve always been obsessed with faeries, and I liked that this was a different species of creatures switching out human babies for trylle (troll) babies, and the reasons behind the switch. I thought it was quite original.

Wendy is a very likeable character. She almost shouldn’t be because she’s got such a difficult, contrary personality, but she tries so hard to redeem herself, and she’s not a bad person. She had a horrific, traumatic childhood, and eventually she realizes how lucky she was to have her brother and aunt in her life, because they loved and accepted her unconditionally. There was this innocence about her that I found really endearing.

I enjoyed the secondary characters, too, especially Matt, Finn, and Rhys. Willa ended up being a good character too, despite how she seemed at first. I have to admit, I definitely did develop a crush on Finn, and I loved how protective he was of Wendy, and how he wanted to keep her safe, no matter what - even if it meant hurting them both emotionally. Elora was very believable as the cold, calculating, disapproving mother, and I found myself wanting to punch her a number of times - but I always enjoy characters that you love to hate!

I can’t really say that there was anything I didn’t like about this book. So why only 3.5 stars? It was good, but it didn’t really grab me. The pacing was decent, the characters were good, the world-building was pretty good. It definitely had its moments, but it wasn’t incredible. That being said, I’m anxious to find out what happens in the next book. I’m hoping it’s a little more past-paced and exciting now that the main characters have been introduced and the reader understands what’s going on.

Have you read Switched? What did you think? Have you read anything else of Amanda Hocking's? What do you think of her going from an indie author to a traditionally published author?

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Canadian Spotlight Month: Review - Stolen Away by Alyxandra Harvey

Stolen Away by Alyxandra Harvey

Series: Standalone

Published: January 17th, 2012

Publisher: Walker Childrens

288 pages (hardcover)

Genre: Young adult fantasy

Acquired this book: From the library

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For seventeen years, Eloise Hart had no idea the world of Faery even existed. Now she has been abducted and trapped in the Rath of Lord Strahan, King of Faery. Strahan was only meant to rule for seven years, as Faery tradition dictates, and then give up his crown to another. But he won't comply, and now chaos threatens both worlds.

The only one who can break his stranglehold on the Faery court is his wife. . . Eloise's aunt Antonia. Using Eloise to lure Antonia, Strahan captures his wife, desperate to end the only threat to his reign. Now Eloise must become the rescuer. Together with her best friends Jo and Devin, she must forge alliances with other Fae, including a gorgeous protector named Lucas, and Strahan's mysterious son, Eldric-who may or may not betray them.

Stolen Away was a great, original story about friendship, love, and the fae. I love anything to do with faeries, and I always appreciate a unique spin, something that hasn’t been done over and over, and this book definitely delivered in that respect. It was really cool that the fae weren’t typical fae, and that the royal courts weren’t what every other faerie story has already done.

This book had a lot of really well-developed characters. The point of view alternated between best friends, Eloise and Jo. Eloise is seemingly quiet and shy, but she’s much tougher and stronger than she appears. Jo is the outgoing one, and she’s absolutely boy crazy. Their friend and sidekick Devin lives in a fantasy world, which is ironic because as things unfold, it’s like he gets to live in one of his fantastical stories for real. Lucas and Eldric, the love interests, were possibly my favourite characters. Lucas was old-fashioned and chivalrous, and Eldric was sexy and mysterious.

I particularly enjoyed the descriptions of Faerie. From beautiful to dark and dangerous, it was vivid and enchanting. The story held my interest throughout, and I found myself always wondering what was going to happen next.

I’m not going to lie, I prefer Harvey’s Drake Chronicles, but Stolen Away was a nice break from the norm, and readers get a chance to see just how far Ms. Harvey’s imagination can stretch, and what a true creative talent she has. Overall, Stolen Away has a bit of everything - fantasy, romance, action, humour, intrigue. I definitely recommend this one.

 Have you read Stolen Away? Do you enjoy books about the fae? Have you read Alyxandra Harvey's Drake Chronicles? 

Be sure to come back next week (and, of course, hopefully sooner!), because Alyx is going to have a guest post and giveaway for us as part of Canadian Spotlight Month.

 

This post has been part of the Canadian Spotlight Month. Click the graphic below to check out the schedule and all things Canadian here at Ramblings of a Daydreamer. 

 

Book Review: Supernaturally by Kiersten White

Supernaturally by Kiersten White

Series: Book #2 in Paranormalcy trilogy

My review of Paranormalcy

Published: July 26th, 2011

Publisher: HarperTeen

366 pages (hardcover)

Genre: Young adult paranormal romance/urban fantasy

Acquired this book: at the library

Warning: may include spoilers

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Synopsis: Evie finally has the normal life she’s always longed for. But she’s shocked to discover that being ordinary can be . . . kind of boring. Just when Evie starts to long for her days at the International Paranormal Containment Agency, she’s given a chance to work for them again. Desperate for a break from all the normalcy, she agrees.

But as one disastrous mission leads to another, Evie starts to wonder if she made the right choice. And when Evie’s faerie ex-boyfriend Reth appears with devastating revelations about her past, she discovers that there’s a battle brewing between the faerie courts that could throw the whole supernatural world into chaos. The prize in question? Evie herself.

So much for normal.

I really enjoyed Paranormalcy, but I think I liked Supernaturally even better.

I love that this series has a bit of everything - humour, romance, mystery, action. It carries on nicely from Paranormalcy, but the story and characters evolve and keep you interested. Despite her supernatural abilities, Evie is such a real character. Her emotions and actions are believable and relatable. She discovers that ‘normal’ life isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, and even though she’s no longer part of IPCA, it’s impossible to escape the supernatural world when she’s surrounded by it. She doesn’t really fit into either world, and she’s struggling to find not only her place, but also who she is, all while trying to assert some independence and enjoy her new-found freedom.

Jack was a great addition to the cast of characters. He’s funny, energetic, and a bit of a wild card. I didn’t really know what to think of him at first - or really, through the whole story - or whether to trust him…but that’s really all I can say without going into a major spoiler about Jack!

My favorite part of the book was when Evie and Jack were in Faerie. I’m obsessed with all things fae, and I loved White’s description of the faerie realms. I know I probably shouldn’t like Reth, but I loved him in the first book and I still love him…he’s just so dark and dangerous, but he’s charming and chivalrous and that gets to me. I’m such a girl lol.

And of course, I love Lend. He’s so sweet and kind, and so good for and to Evie. He’s patient and understanding, and makes Evie feel like she belongs, even when she doesn’t really know which world she belongs to. He makes her realize that home isn’t always a place, and I love that.

I cannot wait for Endlessly, the third and final book, to be released. Even though I’m anxious to find out what happens, I know I’m going to be sad to see this series come to an end!

Book Review: My Soul to Take by Rachel Vincent

My Soul to Take by Rachel Vincent

Series: Soul Screamers #1

Published: August 1st, 2009

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

279 pages (paperback)

Genre: YA paranormal romance/urban fantasy

Acquired this book: From the library

Warning: may include spoilers

{GoodReads || Buy this book}

Synopsis:

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.

 

I’m always interested in books that try to incorporate mythology or folklore into the story. I’m obsessed with all things Irish, and I’ve never read anything about banshees in fiction, so I was excited about this book. My Soul to Take had a fantastic concept - bean sidhes (more commonly known as banshees) - but I thought the book dragged quite a bit.

But, like I said, I thought it had a fantastic concept. I loved the twist and new ideas about bean sidhes, and thought the idea of grim reapers was terrific and fresh, and added more depth to the story. The mystery of the girls’ deaths kept me curious throughout, and I was shocked in more than one place, especially the ending.

I enjoyed the relationship between Kaylee and Nash, but it annoyed me after awhile how Kaylee couldn’t do anything without Nash there. She had to know he was within reach, feel him at her back, be touching his hand, etc. I realize that he brought her a lot of comfort and that she was going through a lot and it must have been scary, but it just seemed like it could develop into an unhealthy, dependent relationship. That being said, I did think they were sweet together, and I thought Kaylee’s feelings were realistic and relatable - at first wondering why the hot guy wanted her and what his ulterior motive could be, and then just trying to figure out their relationship. They worked well together, and not just because of what they had in common; Nash grounded Kaylee in more ways than one, and I liked watching their relationship progress. 

I also liked how there was no beating around the bush with their relationship - it was straightforward and simple - I like you, you like me, let’s be together. No waiting and wondering, no second-guessing, and no love triangles - very refreshing, especially in a paranormal book!

Overall, despite the fact that the book dragged quite a bit for me, I enjoyed it and I will likely continue with the series.