Ink Exchange by Melissa Marr

I was so lost for so much of this book. I read Wicked Lovely last year and I guess it didn't really impact me. I spent much of the book trying to remember these characters, and whether or not I should like them.

I didn't like any of them.

The protagonist is in a HORRIFIC life situation, with an absentee dad who can't even manage to pay the power bill and a recent sexual assault and a drug dealer brother. She makes this great ( <-- sarcasm) life choice to get a big tattoo and it manages to wreck her life further by putting her squarely in the middle of a big faery court battle. The guy who gives her the tattoo doesn't warn her and doesn't help her and never falls under any retribution for what he's done. The protagonist's best friend is a queen of a faery court, but she's very laissez-afire about the whole thing and tries to avoid getting involved and helping her friend.

The whole book is so freaking dark and depressing!

But that's just my singular impression.  This series is wide-read and loved by some.  It does have faeries, which I usually love.  These faeries are on the darker side of magic, though.  I could totally see if you like bad-boy romance, you'd like these books.  Also, while not a book series I'd hand to younger teens, I would hand it to an older teen who is looking for edgy romance.  So while I did not get into this book, others may.  Sometimes you just have to be in the right mood.

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Posted by Tynga at 01:00

 Faeries, Fairies, Fairy Tales amp; Folklore, Library, Love amp; Romance, Melissa Marr, Recorded Books, Review, Wicked Lovely, young adult  2 People left their mark

Deceptions by Kelley Armstrong

I absolutely love this series. Anything written by Kelley Armstrong is usually pretty good but Deceptions and the rest of her Cainsville series is amazing. It's creepy and gothic, yet the characters are intriguing and intelligent. I hope this series goes on for a while still because it's fascinating and I feel like there's a lot more to tell.

What's exceptional about this book is that deep down, it's a murder mystery novel with so many paranormal elements. At times, you even start to doubt the heroine, Olivia, wondering if she's imagining everything, wondering if her so called visions are just hallucinations. With her fae blood, she has the ability to read omens and apparently recall long ago event through a collective memory and visions. Her importance to the Cainsville elders was slowly revealed in this book but there's still a lot of mystery surrounding her early childhood and her serial killer birth parents. After three books, we still don't know the whole story behind the murders that happened more than two decades ago but at least we do learn some of the motives behind the killings.

I love the fact that this series doesn't have any werewolves, vampires, witches or zombies. Kelley Armstrong has veered away from the typical paranormal approach. Instead, it has gargoyles, kelpies, hounds, bogarts, fairies and so much more. But these fae are unlike anything we've seen before. They're not all bright and shiny vs dark and spooky, like we've seen in some of the more popular fairy books. These fae are enigmatic, creepy and sometimes dangerous. They all have a second agenda and don't necessarily work together. It's hard to keep track of who's who and their ultimate goal is still unclear. However, one thing is for sure: they have no problem using humans as puppets in their quests.

Kelley Armstrong has perfectly melded Welsh, Cornish and Irish mythology and used its stories to create her own. Her characters have said it themselves; their story isn't a reincarnation or a retelling of the mythological characters. They have been born to play the roles of Mallt-y-Nos, Gwynn Ap Nudd and Arawn. Whether they follow in the originals' footsteps is completely up to them. Like in so many mythologies, cycles must repeat and Olivia, Gabriel and Ricky are stuck in this one, for better or for worse. The three of them form a weird love triangle that I wish a could explain in a few words but it's best if you discovered it on your own. The interactions between the three are so intricate and I admire the author for spending so much time on these little details that don't seem to matter but reveal so much about the characters.

The little town of Cainsville is almost a character on its own and plays an integral part in this series, but it wasn't as important in this book compared to the previous two. However, I love how everything always links back to Cainsville and its fae inhabitants. It might seem like a quaint little town, the Stars Hallow of the supernatural world, but it's creepy and sometimes dangerous. I honestly hope to spend more time in Cainsville in the next book. I feel like it holds the answer to everything.

Kelley Armstrong is a phenomenal writer, keeping you engaged from beginning to end. I'll admit this series isn't made for everyone but I still highly recommend it. Keep an open mind and see for yourself how amazing this story is. It's just too unique to pass up and the secrets are just too seductive to ignore.

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Posted by Tynga at 03:45

 Cainsville, fae, Fairies, Kelley Armstrong, Mythology, Paranormal, Purchased, Random House, Review, visions, Welsh  7 People left their mark

Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr

Wicked Lovely is one of the most popular paranormal books for Young Adults and it has a huge fanbase. Wicked Lovely has received quite mixed reviews and it seems that many readers either love it or hate it. In the right hands, Wicked Lovely will be the perfect book with it's love triangle, irritating main character, and Twilight-esque romance. I wasn't impressed with this book at all and I can't imagine myself reading any more of Marr's books.

Wicked Lovely isn't a terrible book, it's just felt  incredibly cheesy and dull. This is a book that is only romance and the novel's meager plot is driven by the Seth-Keenan-Aislinn  love triangle. I'm fine with a slow moving plot, but I had absolutely no interest in any of the Winter Court's or The Summer Court's affairs. Why should I care if Keenan finds his true love? I wanted Marr to engross me in the cruel. deceptive world of the fairies, but I can't enjoy a book where I don't enjoy the characters or the romance.

Aisilinn  is one of the most bland main characters and I couldn't sympathize with her at all. Aislinn's actions frequently annoyed me and I didn't understand her love for Keenan at all. Keenan acted like such a jerk and yet Aislinn was absolutely enamored with him in certain sections of the book. I wasn't a huge fan of Seth either, but anyone was better than Keenan in my mind.

Marr clearly did a ton of research with Wicked Lovely and it is evident throughout the entire book. If I wasn't so annoyed with the unappealing romance, I definitely think I would've enjoyed the fairies aspects. I wanted to enjoy the fairy political affairs, but I just couldn't make myself care.

Wicked Lovely was a bit of an ordeal for me to read and I was extremely bored throughout. I wasn't a fan of Marr's writing style and the romance she wrote was extremely unappealing and it was extremely irritating. This definitely wasn't the book for me and I wish I had enjoyed it more!

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Posted by Tynga at 01:00

 Fairies, Fantasy, HarperCollins, HarperTeen, Library, Melissa Marr, Paranormal, Paranormal Romance, Review, Wicked Lovely, young adult  8 People left their mark

Charmed Vengeance by Suzanne Lazear

What can I say. I was charmed by CHARMED VENGEANCE. From the first few chapters, I was hooked and could not let go. It's definitely not a book to read as a stand-alone. It should be read as a series, and while book one might not have been a favorite of mine, it's worth pushing through since this sequel is definitely better on so many different levels. It's more steampunk, more adventure and more torturous romance.

So many things are going on in this book, yet Lazear is able to keep track of things wonderfully. One thing flows nicely into another and the result is a fantastic novel. First, Noli is forced by her mother and grandfather to leave Los Angeles, but instead of joining them in Boston, she decided to run away with her air pirate brother, Jeff. She runs away, not only because she despises the idea of taking part in Boston's high society, but also because her "boyfriend" V (Steven) has broken up with her, and fleeing to become an engineer of a pirate ship seems so freeing. Noli suspects there's a reason why V has broken things off and knows he's not allowed to tell her. In fact, V has been ordered by his mother, the Fae Queen to go on a quest to find her something "entertaining". And ordered to break things off with Noli. Kevighn Silver, cast out of the Otherworld, is a fae just living day to day as an air pirate but one thing leads to another and is drawn into Noli and Jeff's pirate life. Like I said, many things happening at once but everything happens for a reason.

The characters remain pretty much the same as in book one yet have grown and evolved because of what they've been through. Noli has been transformed into something fae by the Queen, and she is living with a sprite personality in her head. She's still the same herbal enthusiast/genius mechanic she was in the past but now, with this girly and ditsy sprite personality living in her head, she sometimes has episodes where it's hard to control who's in charge, her normal self or her sprite self. Her brother Jeff notices this, but because she can't fully explain her situation to the mortals she's living with, she feels very alone and confused. I'm still on the fence about believing this split personality because I know deep down Noli would never paint flowers on the engine of an airship, yet for some reason she allows the sprite to entertain the idea that everything can be pretty and paint the engines. I guess "allow" isn't really the right word, because Noli has trouble controlling the sprite but it's still hard to grasp the idea of the dueling personalities, especially since the original Noli was portrayed as such a strong-willed character.

I'm glad we were able to learn more about Jeff's air pirate life. The airship life is definitely steampunk and it gives the novel a more steampunk feel, which in my opinion was lacking in the first book. While INNOCENT DARKNESS concentrated more on fae and Otherworld elements, this sequel allows us to see the characters develop in different situations. Feminism is a strong theme in the book and I particularly like what  Jeff says to his female captain, Vix: "You work for women to have choices. This means they should have any and all options--not just the ability to wear trousers and take on men's jobs, but the right to wear skirts and stay home with the children if they so choose. The point is they have a choice." (p. 73)

Suzanne Lazear succeeded in developing a wonderful alternate reality world. She has envision a steampunk America where Hawaii hasn't join the United States and territories inside the continent exist apart from the USA. The fact that it's steampunk allows her to have some liberties and the paranormal aspect allows her to add an air of mysticism to the story. At the end of the book, many story lines are left open, yet this installment has satisfied me. I'm anticipating a wonderful follow up to this novel and I can't wait to see what happens between Noli and Steven.

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Posted by Tynga at 02:30

 Aether Chronicles, fae, Fairies, Flux, Llewellyn, Magic, Paranormal, Purchased, Review, steampunk, Suzanne Lazear, young adult  Leave your mark

The School for Good and Evil by Soman Chainani

The School for Good and Evil by Soman Chainani

Book stats:
Reading Level: Young YA, 12+
Hardcover: 488 pages
Genre: High Fantasy
Publisher: HarperCollins
Release Date: May 14, 2013

Series: The School for Good and Evil #1

Source: Borrowed from Friend

Reviewed by: Lili

Purchase: Amazon | Book Depository

“The first kidnappings happened two hundred years before. Some years it was two boys taken, some years two girls, sometimes one of each. But if at first the choices seemed random, soon the pattern became clear. One was always beautiful and good, the child every parent wanted as their own. The other was homely and odd, an outcast from birth. An opposing pair, plucked from youth and spirited away.”

This year, best friends Sophie and Agatha are about to discover where all the lost children go: the fabled School for Good & Evil, where ordinary boys and girls are trained to be fairy tale heroes and villains. As the most beautiful girl in Gavaldon, Sophie has dreamed of being kidnapped into an enchanted world her whole life. With her pink dresses, glass slippers, and devotion to good deeds, she knows she’ll earn top marks at the School for Good and graduate a storybook princess. Meanwhile Agatha, with her shapeless black frocks, wicked pet cat, and dislike of nearly everyone, seems a natural fit for the School for Evil.

But when the two girls are swept into the Endless Woods, they find their fortunes reversed—Sophie’s dumped in the School for Evil to take Uglification, Death Curses, and Henchmen Training, while Agatha finds herself in the School For Good, thrust amongst handsome princes and fair maidens for classes in Princess Etiquette and Animal Communication.. But what if the mistake is actually the first clue to discovering who Sophie and Agatha really are…?

The School for Good & Evil is an epic journey into a dazzling new world, where the only way out of a fairy tale is to live through one.

I’ve had my eye on this book for a while because of my love of fairy tales. And, in the end, it did not disappoint. While I enjoyed it, the book fell just short of great in my eyes. I think that this was in part due to the length. I enjoyed the book a lot, but it felt long to me. I would laugh hysterically only to realize that I progressed a mere five pages in the book. I think that such feelings can be attributed to pacing issues that were resolved in the second half of the book. Granted, most of the action and scheming took place in the second half and it was much easier to fly through the book then. Overall, this is a very satisfying two day read.

Agatha and Sophie are best friends for life, despite their being the tender age of twelve. They live in a town that fears and loves fairy-tales. Every four year, the mysterious School Master comes in the dead of night to steal away two children: one who is inherently evil and one who is inherently good. These kids are taken to the School for Good and Evil to train as villains or heroes for their own future fairy-tales. Sophie has dreamed of being taken away by the School Master so that she could attend the School for Good ever since her mother’s death and her lack of a proper relationship with her Father. Agatha, on the other hand, fears the idea of the school because she’s a bit of a loner and unpleasant to eye. She feared that her baggy black clothing and her living in a cemetery will immediately place her in the School for Evil. When Agatha sees the School Master come to take Sophie away, she races after him to rescue her friend, only to realize that she is the second child to be kidnapped in that year’s duo. And, even worse, she was dropped into the School for Good while Sophie suffered in the School for Evil.

As a reader, I found that twist to be great because it’s not the least bit surprising. Agatha has the heart of gold. All she does is worry about Sophie and, in truth, she risked her life to try to save her best friend. She has the biggest heart and her story slowly proves that beauty is on the inside, not the outside. Sophie, on the other hand, totally deserved to be dropped in the School of Evil. Despite looking like a miniature Sleeping Beauty, she doesn’t act like one. She is perhaps the most vain character I’ve ever come across and ninety percent of the time the obnoxious tones that spewed from her mouth often had me rolling my eyes. But, bravo for that Chainani, because that’s just excellent characterization. I found the switch of schools to be great because of the wide difference in personality and such a thing led the way for a lot of shenanigans and fun comparison ranging from prizes, clothing, ideals, classes, and authority figures. I mean, fairies versus werewolves. Of course there’s going to be some interesting twists with that!

My one issue with this novel was the romance. The overall lover boy is Tedros, son of King Arthur, whose awesome sword fighting skills, leadership qualities, and good looks landed him in the School for Good. Granted, he tends to fall for stereotypes a lot. Tedros is the most desirable boy of all so all of the Princesses are swooning over him. Well, them plus Sophie who is convinced that Tedros is the love of her life. Seriously, several times she literally claimed him by saying, ”He’s mine.” It was a little much. What creeped me out was the fact that the girls were twelve and Tedros was old enough to be dealing with a little bit of stubble. And he found them attractive! I understand this is a fairy-tale world, but some inner part of me thinks we have a mini-babyeater on our hands. Then again, the romance really is only as innocent as that of young children anyway.

With an explosive ending that makes you beg for more, Chainani’s captured my heart with his unique world that turns fairytales upside down in the most delicious of ways. I will certainly be keeping my eye out for book two, hoping that the pacing picks up exactly where this one left off.

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Posted by Lili at 06:00

 Fairies, Fantasy, Harper Collins, Magic, Review, soman chainani, young adult  2 People left their mark

The School for Good and Evil by Soman Chainani

I’ve had my eye on this book for a while because of my love of fairy tales. And, in the end, it did not disappoint. While I enjoyed it, the book fell just short of great in my eyes. I think that this was in part due to the length. I enjoyed the book a lot, but it felt long to me. I would laugh hysterically only to realize that I progressed a mere five pages in the book. I think that such feelings can be attributed to pacing issues that were resolved in the second half of the book. Granted, most of the action and scheming took place in the second half and it was much easier to fly through the book then. Overall, this is a very satisfying two day read.

Agatha and Sophie are best friends for life, despite their being the tender age of twelve. They live in a town that fears and loves fairy-tales. Every four year, the mysterious School Master comes in the dead of night to steal away two children: one who is inherently evil and one who is inherently good. These kids are taken to the School for Good and Evil to train as villains or heroes for their own future fairy-tales. Sophie has dreamed of being taken away by the School Master so that she could attend the School for Good ever since her mother’s death and her lack of a proper relationship with her Father. Agatha, on the other hand, fears the idea of the school because she’s a bit of a loner and unpleasant to eye. She feared that her baggy black clothing and her living in a cemetery will immediately place her in the School for Evil. When Agatha sees the School Master come to take Sophie away, she races after him to rescue her friend, only to realize that she is the second child to be kidnapped in that year’s duo. And, even worse, she was dropped into the School for Good while Sophie suffered in the School for Evil.

As a reader, I found that twist to be great because it’s not the least bit surprising. Agatha has the heart of gold. All she does is worry about Sophie and, in truth, she risked her life to try to save her best friend. She has the biggest heart and her story slowly proves that beauty is on the inside, not the outside. Sophie, on the other hand, totally deserved to be dropped in the School of Evil. Despite looking like a miniature Sleeping Beauty, she doesn’t act like one. She is perhaps the most vain character I’ve ever come across and ninety percent of the time the obnoxious tones that spewed from her mouth often had me rolling my eyes. But, bravo for that Chainani, because that’s just excellent characterization. I found the switch of schools to be great because of the wide difference in personality and such a thing led the way for a lot of shenanigans and fun comparison ranging from prizes, clothing, ideals, classes, and authority figures. I mean, fairies versus werewolves. Of course there’s going to be some interesting twists with that!

My one issue with this novel was the romance. The overall lover boy is Tedros, son of King Arthur, whose awesome sword fighting skills, leadership qualities, and good looks landed him in the School for Good. Granted, he tends to fall for stereotypes a lot. Tedros is the most desirable boy of all so all of the Princesses are swooning over him. Well, them plus Sophie who is convinced that Tedros is the love of her life. Seriously, several times she literally claimed him by saying, ”He’s mine.” It was a little much. What creeped me out was the fact that the girls were twelve and Tedros was old enough to be dealing with a little bit of stubble. And he found them attractive! I understand this is a fairy-tale world, but some inner part of me thinks we have a mini-babyeater on our hands. Then again, the romance really is only as innocent as that of young children anyway.

With an explosive ending that makes you beg for more, Chainani’s captured my heart with his unique world that turns fairytales upside down in the most delicious of ways. I will certainly be keeping my eye out for book two, hoping that the pacing picks up exactly where this one left off.

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Posted by Tynga at 02:00

 Borrowed, Fairies, Fantasy, Harper Collins, High Fantasy, Magic, Review, School for Good and Evil, soman chainani, young adult  2 People left their mark

Dust City by Robert Paul Weston

Book Stats:

Reading level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 299 pages
Genre: Fairytale retelling
Publisher: Penguin
Release date: September 20, 2010

Series: none

Reviewed by: Stéphanie

Source: Promotional gift from the publisher

Purchase: Amazon | Book Depository

When your dad is the wolf who killed Little Red Riding Hood, life is no fairy tale.

Henry Whelp is a Big Bad Wolf. Or will be, someday. His dad is doing time for the double murder of Little Red Riding Hood and her grandmother so everyone assumes crime is in Henry's blood. For years, he's kept a low profile in a Home for Wayward Wolves on the outskirts of Dust City--a gritty metropolis known for its black market, mind-altering dust. And the entire population of foxes, ravens, and hominids are hooked. But it's not just any dust the creatures of this grim underground are slinging and sniffing. It's fairydust.

When a murder at the Home forces Henry to escape, he begins to suspect his dad may have been framed. With a daring she wolf named Fiona by his side, Henry travels into the dark alleyways and cavernous tunnels of Dust City. There, he'll come face to snout with legendary mobster Skinner and his Water Nixie henchmen to discover what really happened to his father in the woods that infamous night...and the shocking truth about fairydust.

Fairytale retellings have been quite popular these days, and it seems like each and every one of them are original, despite them being about similar stories. DUST CITY is no exception and it’s without a doubt inventive and one of a kind. Robert Paul Weston did a wonderful job in inspiring his novel from the fairytales of the Grimm Brothers. Little Red Riding Hood, Jack and the Giant Bean Stock and Humpty Dumpty are a few tales that appear in this novel. I really admire how easily Weston included these into his story because even as you read, you don’t automatically realize that new fairy tale details have made their way into the novel.

At first, I was a little confused when it came to the animal characters of the story. I understood that the population of the city was divided into two major groups, the animalia and the hominids. I guess, before even starting to read the book, I  assumed that the main character was a werewolf, however, I was completely wrong. Henry, is in fact a sentient wolf, with only the one shape, the shape of a humanlike wolf. He still has fur, claws, paws and a tail, but his hands and most importantly his mind, work a lot like human ones. It took me a few page to realize this, but still, it really did confuse me a little in the beginning.

The setting is the most notable aspect of the book, in my opinion. A city where animalia and hominids live together, but in fear of  one another isn’t all that fantastic. The prejudice that still exists in our world today because of how people look is very similar to the prejudice encountered in DUST CITY. It’s a reality we try to ignore in our own world, but the fact is, some types of prejudice will always be present whatever the society. Another similarity to our world is the use of fairydust. In the novel, fairydust is used in mostly as medication but some versions of the dust is used as drugs and enhancers. It’s a very sensitive issue to write about, especially in a YA novel, but I think the author did a wonderful job to show the devastating effects of recreational and unknown drugs.

Henry was the perfect narrator for this book. He’s not an overly confident wolf, nor a very street smart wolf, but he does have the heart to do the right thing. When he sets out to find the truth about the disappearance of the fairies, he does it in a manner in which he makes sure will hurt the least amount of people. He’s a selfless young man/wolf that would do everything to help those he loves, even his dead beat dad who’s in prison telling extraordinary and unbelievable tales about the reason why the fairies are gone and why he killed two people in the first place. When he meets Fiona, another young wolf, it’s almost as if he found a reason to start searching for the truth and do whatever it takes to get to it.

DUST CITY is not the type of story made for a series. It stands on its own and entertain a wide range of readers. Robert Paul Weston did a great job in inspiring his story from the Brothers Grimm tales. I’m glad he didn’t expand too much on the fairytales, but simply limited himself to a few notable characteristics here and there. The fairydust will enchant you and the characters will captivate you. While not being my favorite novel about fairytales, it’s still a very entertaining read. Anybody who’s a fan of the Grimm Brothers, and fairy tales in general, will have to read DUST CITY and see a whole new version of the tales.

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Posted by Unknown at 06:00

 Fairies, Fantasy, Robert Paul Weston, werewolf  5 People left their mark

Dust City by Robert Paul Weston

Fairytale retellings have been quite popular these days, and it seems like each and every one of them are original, despite them being about similar stories. DUST CITY is no exception and it’s without a doubt inventive and one of a kind. Robert Paul Weston did a wonderful job in inspiring his novel from the fairytales of the Grimm Brothers. Little Red Riding Hood, Jack and the Giant Bean Stock and Humpty Dumpty are a few tales that appear in this novel. I really admire how easily Weston included these into his story because even as you read, you don’t automatically realize that new fairy tale details have made their way into the novel.

At first, I was a little confused when it came to the animal characters of the story. I understood that the population of the city was divided into two major groups, the animalia and the hominids. I guess, before even starting to read the book, I  assumed that the main character was a werewolf, however, I was completely wrong. Henry, is in fact a sentient wolf, with only the one shape, the shape of a humanlike wolf. He still has fur, claws, paws and a tail, but his hands and most importantly his mind, work a lot like human ones. It took me a few page to realize this, but still, it really did confuse me a little in the beginning.

The setting is the most notable aspect of the book, in my opinion. A city where animalia and hominids live together, but in fear of  one another isn’t all that fantastic. The prejudice that still exists in our world today because of how people look is very similar to the prejudice encountered in DUST CITY. It’s a reality we try to ignore in our own world, but the fact is, some types of prejudice will always be present whatever the society. Another similarity to our world is the use of fairydust. In the novel, fairydust is used in mostly as medication but some versions of the dust is used as drugs and enhancers. It’s a very sensitive issue to write about, especially in a YA novel, but I think the author did a wonderful job to show the devastating effects of recreational and unknown drugs.

Henry was the perfect narrator for this book. He’s not an overly confident wolf, nor a very street smart wolf, but he does have the heart to do the right thing. When he sets out to find the truth about the disappearance of the fairies, he does it in a manner in which he makes sure will hurt the least amount of people. He’s a selfless young man/wolf that would do everything to help those he loves, even his dead beat dad who’s in prison telling extraordinary and unbelievable tales about the reason why the fairies are gone and why he killed two people in the first place. When he meets Fiona, another young wolf, it’s almost as if he found a reason to start searching for the truth and do whatever it takes to get to it.

DUST CITY is not the type of story made for a series. It stands on its own and entertain a wide range of readers. Robert Paul Weston did a great job in inspiring his story from the Brothers Grimm tales. I’m glad he didn’t expand too much on the fairytales, but simply limited himself to a few notable characteristics here and there. The fairydust will enchant you and the characters will captivate you. While not being my favorite novel about fairytales, it’s still a very entertaining read. Anybody who’s a fan of the Grimm Brothers, and fairy tales in general, will have to read DUST CITY and see a whole new version of the tales.

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Posted by Tynga at 02:00

 Fairies, Fantasy, Gifted, Penguin, Publisher, Review, Robert Paul Weston, werewolf  4 People left their mark

Innocent Darkness by Suzanne Lazear

Book Stats:

Reading level: Young Adult
Trade paperback: 391 pages
Genre: Steampunk
Publisher: Llewellyn (Flux)
Release date: August 8, 2012

Series: The Aether Chronicles #1

Reviewed by: Stéphanie

Source: Personal Shelf

Purchase: Amazon | Book Depository

Noli Braddock and her best friend V’s incident with a flying auto have landed them in a heap of trouble. And when Noli is sent to a spirit-squelching reform school in San Francisco, she’s sure that her rebellious adventures are over.

Meanwhile, Kevighn Silver has been ordered by the Faerie Queen to bring a mortal girl back to the Otherworld. The magic requires a blood sacrifice every seven years, and only a mortal girl who shines with the Spark—a girl like Noli—will keep the Otherworld from complete destruction.

When an ill-timed wish sends Noli tumbling into the Otherworld, she’s more homesick than ever . . . until V arrives to save her from an untimely demise. But who exactly is V? And if he helps Noli escape, who will save the realm of Faerie from utter annihilation?

Sweet is the first word that comes to mind when it comes to describing INNOCENT DARKNESS. There’s something sweet and innocent about the main character and the story that makes the transition from the mortal world to the fae world almost believable. Almost everything about the novel is original, whether it’s the characters, the setting or magic. As a debut novel, I think the mash-up between steampunk and fairy is unique and works very well to create an engaging story.

Magnolia, or Noli as her friends call her, started off as a normal girl, despite her keen ability to get into trouble. Crashing an unregistered flying car was the last straw, and the police force more or less forced her mother to send her to reform school. However, Findley School is unlike any normal boarding school. They pride themselves in sucking the life out of girls, or the Spark as the fairies like to call it, in order to create “proper” and “marriageable” society ladies. Personally, I would call it brainwashing.

Noli’s spirit can only endure so much of this torturous school so she does the only thing she can think of: she decides to run away. When she unknowingly wishes to be “anywhere but here” while sitting in a fairy tree, she’s transported to the Otherworld, the world of fairies. Attracted by her Spark, Kevin Silver, the fairy Queen’s huntsman, follows her in the portal and tries to gain her confidence once on the other side. No ordinary huntsman, Kevin’s quest is to find a girl with strong Spark every seven years in order to sacrifice her to stabilize the magic that bind the Otherworld and all worlds together. Unaware of the threat Kevin poses, Noli still doesn’t entirely trust the fae, especially since he never delivers on his promise to bring her back home to her mother.

Steven (or V as Noli likes to call him) is a character I can’t fail to mention. Noli’s childhood best friend, he has secrets of his own and he’ll stop at nothing to bring Noli back home. I admire his tenacity and his dedication to the task, especially since helping a mortal escape the fairy world isn’t a small task. I would love to talk more about him but since I don’t want to ruin the surprise, I’ll let you discover his secrets on your own.

Personally, I find steampunk America and fairy elements work well together to create this unforgettable world. I would have liked to have seen more steampunk elements but since a lot of the story was set in the fairy world, the author was restricted a little bit on that front. I find it interesting that the author used Los Angeles and San Francisco as the settings for the novel instead of using the typical Victorian London that so many others use. The writing is still a bit raw and could use a little work but overall, I found INNOCENT DARKNESS to be an engaging read. Every little element of the book combine to make an excellent young adult read that I would recommend it to anyone who likes the genre. I will definitively read the rest of the series, especially since the ending of INNOCENT DARKNESS sets us up for a interesting sequel. What do you think? Do you find fairy and steampunk work well together?

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Posted by Unknown at 06:25

 Fairies, Flux, Review, steampunk, Suzanne Lazear  1 Person left their mark

Innocent Darkness by Suzanne Lazear

Sweet is the first word that comes to mind when it comes to describing INNOCENT DARKNESS. There’s something sweet and innocent about the main character and the story that makes the transition from the mortal world to the fae world almost believable. Almost everything about the novel is original, whether it’s the characters, the setting or magic. As a debut novel, I think the mash-up between steampunk and fairy is unique and works very well to create an engaging story.

Magnolia, or Noli as her friends call her, started off as a normal girl, despite her keen ability to get into trouble. Crashing an unregistered flying car was the last straw, and the police force more or less forced her mother to send her to reform school. However, Findley School is unlike any normal boarding school. They pride themselves in sucking the life out of girls, or the Spark as the fairies like to call it, in order to create “proper” and “marriageable” society ladies. Personally, I would call it brainwashing.

Noli’s spirit can only endure so much of this torturous school so she does the only thing she can think of: she decides to run away. When she unknowingly wishes to be “anywhere but here” while sitting in a fairy tree, she’s transported to the Otherworld, the world of fairies. Attracted by her Spark, Kevin Silver, the fairy Queen’s huntsman, follows her in the portal and tries to gain her confidence once on the other side. No ordinary huntsman, Kevin’s quest is to find a girl with strong Spark every seven years in order to sacrifice her to stabilize the magic that bind the Otherworld and all worlds together. Unaware of the threat Kevin poses, Noli still doesn’t entirely trust the fae, especially since he never delivers on his promise to bring her back home to her mother.

Steven (or V as Noli likes to call him) is a character I can’t fail to mention. Noli’s childhood best friend, he has secrets of his own and he’ll stop at nothing to bring Noli back home. I admire his tenacity and his dedication to the task, especially since helping a mortal escape the fairy world isn’t a small task. I would love to talk more about him but since I don’t want to ruin the surprise, I’ll let you discover his secrets on your own.

Personally, I find steampunk America and fairy elements work well together to create this unforgettable world. I would have liked to have seen more steampunk elements but since a lot of the story was set in the fairy world, the author was restricted a little bit on that front. I find it interesting that the author used Los Angeles and San Francisco as the settings for the novel instead of using the typical Victorian London that so many others use. The writing is still a bit raw and could use a little work but overall, I found INNOCENT DARKNESS to be an engaging read. Every little element of the book combine to make an excellent young adult read that I would recommend it to anyone who likes the genre. I will definitively read the rest of the series, especially since the ending of INNOCENT DARKNESS sets us up for a interesting sequel. What do you think? Do you find fairy and steampunk work well together?

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Posted by Tynga at 02:25

 Fairies, Flux, Llewellyn, Purchased, Review, steampunk, Suzanne Lazear, The Aether Chronicles  2 People left their mark

SS: Interview with Shona Husk + Giveaway

I'm absolutely thrilled about today's guest, Shona Husk, because once I finished reading THE OUTCAST PRINCE, I became an instant fan her hers. I’ve never read any other books by Shona, but I thought this book was exactly what a paranormal romance should be. Shona graciously answered some of my question in a brief interview for SS, and she’s also offering a copy of THE OUTCAST PRINCE for giveaway. Check it out down below!

----------------------

1. THE OUTCAST PRINCE, will be out July 2nd 2013. In your own words, how would you best describe this first book of your newest series?

The Outcast Prince is a paranormal romance that has all the glamor of the fairy court as well as the danger and desire. It’s the first look at Annwyn and I hope readers find it as enticing as the hero, Caspian, does.

2. Is there a reason you decided that Caspian would be the long forgotten/unknown prince? You could have easily chosen to write about a princess. Why choose a male character for the part?

I actually had Caspian in my mind for a few years before I’d even thought up Annwyn. He was a psychometric hero who’d had his heart broken and who struggled to fit in. At the time I had no idea what his story would be. It was only after I’d started thinking about Annwyn and had plotted what would become book 2 that I realised Caspian was the hero of book 1.

I always get characters before story; sometimes it’s just a case of matching two up in my mind and seeing what plays out.

I do tend to write paranormal heroes and human heroines, that said, the heroine of book 2 is fairy and she pulls off an amazing deal ;)

3. Both Caspian and Lydia have pivotal roles in your book. Do you feel like one of them is your main character, or do you consider both of them your main characters?

They both have their own story and goals as well as mutual ones so I think they are equally main characters. I like giving the hero and heroine their own story/journey as well as one that bring them together I think it makes them better characters.

4. Psychometry seems to be Caspian true strength. Will we see him develop more powers or abilities in the future?

No, each changeling expresses their fairy blood in a different way. For Caspian it’s psychometry, for another it might be seeing the future. Another might be able to do telekinesis. I’m hoping that in future books I get to write a few more changelings.

5. Personally, I've always been interested in fairies. Did you have to do a lot of research to keep your fairy lore as authentic as possible? Or did you improvise and imagine some of the aspects of your world?

I research, but I also make decisions about what I’m going to stick to and what I’m going to put to one side. I can’t put all the good things I find in one book. On the other hand there is so much fairy lore and the names change depending on where it’s from, and some of it is contradictory, that picking what I want to use isn’t hard. I also kept in mind that the lore we have is old and subject to errors plus it was written down by humans…it’s not the tales fairies would tell about themselves and they would view history differently. This gives me license to create their world as I see it while still drawing on some of the fairy lore.

6. How many books do you plan for this series?

At the moment there are three (books 2 and 3 will be out in 2014), but I do have ideas for a few more :)

7. Do you have any teasers for us about the future books?

Book 2 is called Lord of the Hunt, and the hero is Verden, Lord of the Hunt. You meet him briefly in The Outcast Prince when Caspian gets into trouble with the Court. To Love a King is Felan’s story, who you also meet in The Outcast Prince, and as the title suggests he goes after the throne of Annwyn.

Now on to some event themed questions:

8. Have you ever taken part in a summer or winter solstice celebration?

No, but I like to know when the solstices are (especially the winter one so I can look forward to lengthening days).

9. Would you say the summer solstice is an important event in your fairy world?

Yes! The fairies celebrate the solstices and equinoxes as it is how they track time. There is a summer solstice party in Lord of the Hunt that is very pivotal.

10. What is your favorite summer treat?

Homemade ice cream. I make a choc hazelnut and a raspberry flavor. Yum!

------------------------

Thank you so much, Shona! It’s been a real pleasure having you here on the blog!

More about THE OUTCAST PRINCE:

Caspian Mort can feel the history in anything he touches, a gift he inherited from his father, the Crown Prince of Annwyn. Devastated over his ex-wife's infidelity, Caspian has withdrawn from human contact except when working as an antiques dealer.

While assessing the contents of the historic Callaway House he encounters the beautiful Lydia Callaway and senses that her home is haunted by a banished fairy. But what does the dangerous exile want? Unbeknownst to Lydia, she's the owner of the last remaining portal to Annwyn--a mirror hidden somewhere in the house. To keep Lydia safe, Caspian will have to divulge the secrets of his heritage, and risk losing his heart again.

My thoughts on the book

Purchase: Amazon | Book Depository

------------------------

Shona is graciously offering one (1) copy of THE OUTCAST PRINCE to a lucky reader!

To enter, obey the Rafflecopter!

Open internationally

a Rafflecopter giveaway

------------------------

About Shona Husk

Three time ARRA finalist Shona Husk lives in Western Australia at the edge of the Indian Ocean. Blessed with a lively imagination she spent most of her childhood making up stories. As an adult she discovered romance novels and hasn't looked back. Drawing on history and myth, she weaves new worlds and writes heroes who aren't afraid to get hurt while falling in love.

With stories ranging from sensual to scorching, she is published with Ellora's Cave, Samhain Publishing, Carina Press and Sourcebooks. She is represented by the Ruben Agency.

Website | Twitter | Facebook

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Posted by Unknown at 07:00

 Fairies, giveaway, Shona Husk, Supernatural Solstice  20 People left their mark

The Outcast Prince by Shona Husk

Book Stats:

Reading level: Adult
Paperback: 320 pages
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Release date: July 2, 2013

Series: Court of Annwyn #1

Reviewed by: Stéphanie

Source: Netgalley

Purchase: Amazon | Book Depository

Caspian Mort can feel the history in anything he touches, a gift he inherited from his father, the Crown Prince of Annwyn. Devastated over his ex-wife's infidelity, Caspian has withdrawn from human contact except when working as an antiques dealer.

While assessing the contents of the historic Callaway House he encounters the beautiful Lydia Callaway and senses that her home is haunted by a banished fairy. But what does the dangerous exile want? Unbeknownst to Lydia, she's the owner of the last remaining portal to Annwyn—a mirror hidden somewhere in the house. To keep Lydia safe, Caspian will have to divulge the secrets of his heritage, and risk losing his heart again.

I really didn’t know what to expect when I started reading THE OUTCAST PRINCE. Before this, I had never heard of the author, but since I ended up really enjoying this first of her new series, I’ll probably end up reading some of her other books while I wait for book 2 to be published.

THE OUTCAST PRINCE is a great introduction to the fairy world of Annwyn, even though we don’t spend much time in it. Most of the book is spent in the mortal world while beings and fairy forces never fail to plague Caspian “normal” life. All he’s ever wanted is to live his life without being bothered by anything fairy but since politics are unstable in Annwyn, the mortal world is feeling repercussions. Caspian is more or less forced to search for a fairy mirror/portal, which in the wrong hands, could lead to some very awful things, both in Annwyn and in the mortal world. His psychometry ability to see an object’s past just by touching it is what makes him so valuable. As a changeling, a mortal being with some fairy abilities, he shouldn’t be important in this deadly game of fairy politics, but since he’s the son of the fairy prince, he does have a significant role to play.

Overall, I loved Caspian as a character. His generosity and selflessness when it comes to protect those who matter to him is respectable and admirable. In my opinion, him and Lydia might have fallen in love a little too quickly since after just a couple of days, it seemed like they were already in love and were thinking of moving in together. But who wouldn’t want to live together, especially in such a historical house like the Callaway House Lydia inherited from her deceased grandmother.

Lydia has a history of her own and while she’s a well developed character, there’s just something submissive about her that I’m not too crazy about. While I like that she had an open mind and was able to accept Caspian’s parentage and abilities so easily, it just seemed like she could have been a little bit bolder in her thoughts and actions. After just a couple of days, she started to depend and rely on Caspian way to much for my taste, and while I understand she was still grieving her grandmother’s death, she could have made some decisions without relying so much on Caspian’s opinion. Otherwise, I find Caspian and Lydia make a great pair, and they found each other at the perfect time. I think, because they both have their own eccentric history, they are able to understand and accept each other rather nicely.

THE OUTCAST PRINCE is before all a romance book with some supernatural action included. I was sad to leave Lydia and Caspian behind because they had such a great relationship going on. I hope we hear more about them in the future books because from what I understand, the next books will have different main characters. I also hope we get to spend more time in Annwyn. THE OUTCAST PRINCE and its fairy world is very enticing. This first book  feels like a tease because while we learn a lot about Annwyn, there seems to be so much we don’t know about it. Shona Husk created a wonderful world and populated it not only with great main character but also with entertaining secondary characters. I look forward to the continuation of the series and I hope book two will be a page-turner, much like this one was.

Read More

Posted by Unknown at 06:50

 Fairies, Review, Shona Husk, Sourcebooks  Leave your mark

SS: Interview with Shona Husk + Giveaway

I'm absolutely thrilled about today's guest, Shona Husk, because once I finished reading THE OUTCAST PRINCE, I became an instant fan her hers. I’ve never read any other books by Shona, but I thought this book was exactly what a paranormal romance should be. Shona graciously answered some of my question in a brief interview for SS, and she’s also offering a copy of THE OUTCAST PRINCE for giveaway. Check it out down below!

----------------------

1. THE OUTCAST PRINCE, will be out July 2nd 2013. In your own words, how would you best describe this first book of your newest series?

The Outcast Prince is a paranormal romance that has all the glamor of the fairy court as well as the danger and desire. It’s the first look at Annwyn and I hope readers find it as enticing as the hero, Caspian, does.

2. Is there a reason you decided that Caspian would be the long forgotten/unknown prince? You could have easily chosen to write about a princess. Why choose a male character for the part?

I actually had Caspian in my mind for a few years before I’d even thought up Annwyn. He was a psychometric hero who’d had his heart broken and who struggled to fit in. At the time I had no idea what his story would be. It was only after I’d started thinking about Annwyn and had plotted what would become book 2 that I realised Caspian was the hero of book 1.

I always get characters before story; sometimes it’s just a case of matching two up in my mind and seeing what plays out.

I do tend to write paranormal heroes and human heroines, that said, the heroine of book 2 is fairy and she pulls off an amazing deal ;)

3. Both Caspian and Lydia have pivotal roles in your book. Do you feel like one of them is your main character, or do you consider both of them your main characters?

They both have their own story and goals as well as mutual ones so I think they are equally main characters. I like giving the hero and heroine their own story/journey as well as one that bring them together I think it makes them better characters.

4. Psychometry seems to be Caspian true strength. Will we see him develop more powers or abilities in the future?

No, each changeling expresses their fairy blood in a different way. For Caspian it’s psychometry, for another it might be seeing the future. Another might be able to do telekinesis. I’m hoping that in future books I get to write a few more changelings.

5. Personally, I've always been interested in fairies. Did you have to do a lot of research to keep your fairy lore as authentic as possible? Or did you improvise and imagine some of the aspects of your world?

I research, but I also make decisions about what I’m going to stick to and what I’m going to put to one side. I can’t put all the good things I find in one book. On the other hand there is so much fairy lore and the names change depending on where it’s from, and some of it is contradictory, that picking what I want to use isn’t hard. I also kept in mind that the lore we have is old and subject to errors plus it was written down by humans…it’s not the tales fairies would tell about themselves and they would view history differently. This gives me license to create their world as I see it while still drawing on some of the fairy lore.

6. How many books do you plan for this series?

At the moment there are three (books 2 and 3 will be out in 2014), but I do have ideas for a few more :)

7. Do you have any teasers for us about the future books?

Book 2 is called Lord of the Hunt, and the hero is Verden, Lord of the Hunt. You meet him briefly in The Outcast Prince when Caspian gets into trouble with the Court. To Love a King is Felan’s story, who you also meet in The Outcast Prince, and as the title suggests he goes after the throne of Annwyn.

Now on to some event themed questions:

8. Have you ever taken part in a summer or winter solstice celebration?

No, but I like to know when the solstices are (especially the winter one so I can look forward to lengthening days).

9. Would you say the summer solstice is an important event in your fairy world?

Yes! The fairies celebrate the solstices and equinoxes as it is how they track time. There is a summer solstice party in Lord of the Hunt that is very pivotal.

10. What is your favorite summer treat?

Homemade ice cream. I make a choc hazelnut and a raspberry flavor. Yum!

------------------------

Thank you so much, Shona! It’s been a real pleasure having you here on the blog!

More about THE OUTCAST PRINCE:

Caspian Mort can feel the history in anything he touches, a gift he inherited from his father, the Crown Prince of Annwyn. Devastated over his ex-wife's infidelity, Caspian has withdrawn from human contact except when working as an antiques dealer.

While assessing the contents of the historic Callaway House he encounters the beautiful Lydia Callaway and senses that her home is haunted by a banished fairy. But what does the dangerous exile want? Unbeknownst to Lydia, she's the owner of the last remaining portal to Annwyn--a mirror hidden somewhere in the house. To keep Lydia safe, Caspian will have to divulge the secrets of his heritage, and risk losing his heart again.

My thoughts on the book

Purchase: Amazon | Book Depository

------------------------

Shona is graciously offering one (1) copy of THE OUTCAST PRINCE to a lucky reader!

To enter, obey the Rafflecopter!

Open internationally

a Rafflecopter giveaway

------------------------

About Shona Husk

Three time ARRA finalist Shona Husk lives in Western Australia at the edge of the Indian Ocean. Blessed with a lively imagination she spent most of her childhood making up stories. As an adult she discovered romance novels and hasn't looked back. Drawing on history and myth, she weaves new worlds and writes heroes who aren't afraid to get hurt while falling in love.

With stories ranging from sensual to scorching, she is published with Ellora's Cave, Samhain Publishing, Carina Press and Sourcebooks. She is represented by the Ruben Agency.

Website | Twitter | Facebook

Read More

Posted by Tynga at 03:00

 Fairies, giveaway, Shona Husk, Supernatural Solstice  20 People left their mark

The Outcast Prince by Shona Husk

I really didn’t know what to expect when I started reading THE OUTCAST PRINCE. Before this, I had never heard of the author, but since I ended up really enjoying this first of her new series, I’ll probably end up reading some of her other books while I wait for book 2 to be published.

THE OUTCAST PRINCE is a great introduction to the fairy world of Annwyn, even though we don’t spend much time in it. Most of the book is spent in the mortal world while beings and fairy forces never fail to plague Caspian “normal” life. All he’s ever wanted is to live his life without being bothered by anything fairy but since politics are unstable in Annwyn, the mortal world is feeling repercussions. Caspian is more or less forced to search for a fairy mirror/portal, which in the wrong hands, could lead to some very awful things, both in Annwyn and in the mortal world. His psychometry ability to see an object’s past just by touching it is what makes him so valuable. As a changeling, a mortal being with some fairy abilities, he shouldn’t be important in this deadly game of fairy politics, but since he’s the son of the fairy prince, he does have a significant role to play.

Overall, I loved Caspian as a character. His generosity and selflessness when it comes to protect those who matter to him is respectable and admirable. In my opinion, him and Lydia might have fallen in love a little too quickly since after just a couple of days, it seemed like they were already in love and were thinking of moving in together. But who wouldn’t want to live together, especially in such a historical house like the Callaway House Lydia inherited from her deceased grandmother.

Lydia has a history of her own and while she’s a well developed character, there’s just something submissive about her that I’m not too crazy about. While I like that she had an open mind and was able to accept Caspian’s parentage and abilities so easily, it just seemed like she could have been a little bit bolder in her thoughts and actions. After just a couple of days, she started to depend and rely on Caspian way to much for my taste, and while I understand she was still grieving her grandmother’s death, she could have made some decisions without relying so much on Caspian’s opinion. Otherwise, I find Caspian and Lydia make a great pair, and they found each other at the perfect time. I think, because they both have their own eccentric history, they are able to understand and accept each other rather nicely.

THE OUTCAST PRINCE is before all a romance book with some supernatural action included. I was sad to leave Lydia and Caspian behind because they had such a great relationship going on. I hope we hear more about them in the future books because from what I understand, the next books will have different main characters. I also hope we get to spend more time in Annwyn. THE OUTCAST PRINCE and its fairy world is very enticing. This first book  feels like a tease because while we learn a lot about Annwyn, there seems to be so much we don’t know about it. Shona Husk created a wonderful world and populated it not only with great main character but also with entertaining secondary characters. I look forward to the continuation of the series and I hope book two will be a page-turner, much like this one was.

Read More

Posted by Tynga at 02:50

 Court of Annwyn, Fairies, Netgalley, Paranormal Romance, Review, Shona Husk, Sourcebooks  Leave your mark

The Treachery of Beautiful Things by Ruth Frances Long

The Treachery of Beautiful Things by Ruth Frances Long

Book stats:
Reading Level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 363 pages
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Publisher: Dial Books
Release Date: August 16, 2012

Series: n/a

Source: Personal Shelf

Reviewed by: Lili

Purchase: Amazon | Book Depository

A darkly compelling mix of romance, fairy tale, and suspense from a new voice in teen fiction.

The trees swallowed her brother whole, and Jenny was there to see it. Now seventeen, she revisits the woods where Tom was taken, resolving to say good-bye at last. Instead, she's lured into the trees, where she finds strange and dangerous creatures who seem to consider her the threat. Among them is Jack, mercurial and magnetic, with secrets of his own. Determined to find her brother, with or without Jack's help, Jenny struggles to navigate a faerie world where stunning beauty masks some of the most treacherous evils, and she's faced with a choice between salvation or sacrifice--and not just her own.

I’ve been looking forward to this book for a while, so I’m really excited that I was able to have the time to read it. And I’m happy to say that despite the fact that this novel was off to a slow start, I did like it! It’s dark and twisted, but everything you’d want from a fairytale re-telling whose star villain is the famous and hated Mab. Kudos to Long for creating such a unique debut that stands apart from other traditional tales of faerie!

It took about seventy pages for me to get into this book. I enjoyed it, but it was hard to focus. I found myself putting the book down often and picking it up later to read a few more pages. My friend Gillian put it best when she said it was almost too beautiful. The writing has this level of description that is unparalleled. It was so easy to picture everything and Long certainly excels in this department, but it was so overwhelming at first to have such amazing description that I found myself rolling my eyes at the sheer beauty of seemingly everything before I realized that all beautiful things really are treacherous. Once this realization hit, I found it easy to breeze through the remaining portion of the book. It was more or less a scenario where I had to adapt to the unique writing style. And the unique dark world that Long created for us was easy to immerse myself in.

I also struggled with the creatures. As fascinating as the lore was, there was just so much. I was easily overwhelmed because I felt like every time a new creature was introduced there was either an info-dump or a infer-about-the-creature-yourself moment that I failed at epically. I wish that there was more detail aimed towards the clarity of the creations instead of only descriptions of this deliciously dark and magical fairy wood. I think it would have saved me a lot of confusion because I often had to reread certain passages to make sense of things.

However, the overall tale was absolutely amazing. There was twist after twist and there was never any time to breathe. You blink and miss a word and something insane and completely unexpected is suddenly happening. It was great and kept me on my toes in the best possible way. The romance was also amazing. While not a main plot point, the forbidden feelings between Jack and Jenny were perfectly depicted and believable and they acted as the overall driving force some huge plot twists.

With a satisfying ending, I can definitely say that this is a great book to check out if you’re looking for something beautiful to read with a fairy world that is both infinitely creative and dark. However, you need to focus on the details in the very beginning in order to make sense of things.

Read an Excerpt

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Posted by Lili at 05:30

 Fairies, Penguin, Review, Ruth Frances Long, young adult  1 Person left their mark

The Treachery of Beautiful Things by Ruth Frances Long

I’ve been looking forward to this book for a while, so I’m really excited that I was able to have the time to read it. And I’m happy to say that despite the fact that this novel was off to a slow start, I did like it! It’s dark and twisted, but everything you’d want from a fairytale re-telling whose star villain is the famous and hated Mab. Kudos to Long for creating such a unique debut that stands apart from other traditional tales of faerie!

It took about seventy pages for me to get into this book. I enjoyed it, but it was hard to focus. I found myself putting the book down often and picking it up later to read a few more pages. My friend Gillian put it best when she said it was almost too beautiful. The writing has this level of description that is unparalleled. It was so easy to picture everything and Long certainly excels in this department, but it was so overwhelming at first to have such amazing description that I found myself rolling my eyes at the sheer beauty of seemingly everything before I realized that all beautiful things really are treacherous. Once this realization hit, I found it easy to breeze through the remaining portion of the book. It was more or less a scenario where I had to adapt to the unique writing style. And the unique dark world that Long created for us was easy to immerse myself in.

I also struggled with the creatures. As fascinating as the lore was, there was just so much. I was easily overwhelmed because I felt like every time a new creature was introduced there was either an info-dump or a infer-about-the-creature-yourself moment that I failed at epically. I wish that there was more detail aimed towards the clarity of the creations instead of only descriptions of this deliciously dark and magical fairy wood. I think it would have saved me a lot of confusion because I often had to reread certain passages to make sense of things.

However, the overall tale was absolutely amazing. There was twist after twist and there was never any time to breathe. You blink and miss a word and something insane and completely unexpected is suddenly happening. It was great and kept me on my toes in the best possible way. The romance was also amazing. While not a main plot point, the forbidden feelings between Jack and Jenny were perfectly depicted and believable and they acted as the overall driving force some huge plot twists.

With a satisfying ending, I can definitely say that this is a great book to check out if you’re looking for something beautiful to read with a fairy world that is both infinitely creative and dark. However, you need to focus on the details in the very beginning in order to make sense of things.

Read an Excerpt

Read More

Posted by Tynga at 01:30

 Dial, Fairies, Paranormal Romance, Penguin, Review, Ruth Frances Long, Trade, young adult  1 Person left their mark

PSC: Interview & Giveaway with Suzanne Lazear

Steampunk is getting more popular recently in YA fiction and Suzanne Lazear is adding to the genre this summer. Her debut novel, INNOCENT DARKNESS sounds incredible and I can’t wait to read it. Today, Suzanne is here to talk a little bit about her take on summer camps and answer a few questions about her book. Also, don’t miss the book giveaway her publisher is offering at the end of the post!

-------------------------

Camps originated in America in the 1880s part of a back-to-nature trend. They were an attempt to give children from the city a chance to experience “country life.” Around that time we started seeing the long summer vacations we all know and love. “Country kids” had chores to do. But upper-and middle class children, especially, had long summers of idleness. Where part of the camp movement sought to take urban kids, especially the poorer ones, out of the city and give them a childhood and a chance to experience nature, another part sought to save children from a summer of loafing and getting into trouble.

Camps back then were often more rustic than they are now – often campers had to dig their own latrines. Also, many camps were sponsored by religious organizations. They were also mostly for boys in the early years. Yeah, unfair. Why should they have all the fun?

In INNOCENT DARKNESS, Noli, being a girl of “gentle” breeding, with a very old-fashioned mother, was never sent to camp when she was young—even if there had been a suitable camp meeting her mother’s approval. Instead, she, her brother, and her mother would spend much of their summers with Noli’s maternal grandparents at their “summer house.” Many wealthy people had cottages and houses, both large and small, in the country—a place to escape the grime and pollution of the city for the weekend or the summer.

Noli still experienced the outdoors, going on hikes, boating, and other summerly pursuits. Though as she got older they’d be more ladylike – like painting the forest instead of hiking it in. Not that Noli would let propriety keep her from doing what she wanted.

Her grandparents had a grand summer home, and an actual “summer house” – which was more like a gazebo, where Noli could spend lazy summer days, sewing, reading, and playing on the grass with her brother. The experience was probably more like family camp in a mansion with a gourmet cook than staying in a cabin and eating in a dining hall.

As Noli got older and her family’s financial situation changed, she’d spend summers helping out at home while her mother worked, tinkering on her flying car, hoverboarding, getting into mischief with V and James, and doing odd jobs for money when her mother wasn’t looking.

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Steampunk seems to be gaining some popularity lately, especially in YA novels. Did you always plan to write a Steampunk book/series? What other genre would you associate your book with?

I call INNOCENT DARKNESS “fairytale Steampunk” since it blend faery lore, classic fairytale elements, and steampunk. I didn’t set out originally wanting to write Steampunk, but once I discovered it as a genre, I really wanted to write a Steampunk YA – and that story became INNOCENT DARKNESS.

Who is your favorite character in INNOCENT DARKNESS? When writing, with whom did you have most fun with?

I love James, because he is so “devil may care” to his brother V’s “fussy old bodger” nature.

Your book is set in two very different worlds than ours (an alternate Los Angeles and the Otherworld). Did you have any difficulties writing about these worlds? What are some of your favorite aspects about them?

Yes. The mortal realm is very steampunk – flying cars, hoverboards, air pirates, and the like. And we see this when we’re in Los Angeles and San Francisco with Noli. However, the Otherworld is not as steampunk, though the High Queen and her palace is a bit Clockpunk. She has a penchant for clockwork animals and other such amusements, but how much is magic and how much mechanics, we don’t know. Trying to get the balance right between the faeries and steampunk was difficult, especially since we don’t spend much time in book 1 in the mortal realm. I had a lot of fun researching things and using history as a springboard for creating the things in my world.

Because of INNOCENT DARKNESS, we have a couple new words to add to our vocabulary, like dollymop, hoyden and aether. Why was it necessary for you to add this vocabulary in your book?

I wanted to add a little Victorian color while still making the book accessible. Hoyden is the best word to describe Noli. She’s a Victorian tomboy in a society that disproves. Dollymop, well, Noli uses it more colloquially than its true definition of “amateur prostitute.” She uses it more like we might use “skank,” “ho,” or “hoochie mama.” (And I’ve just dated myself because I’m pretty sure no one says any other those any more. Aether is one of those things that sneaks into many steampunk books, though I’ve given it my own twist. The idea of Aether as an element actually goes all the way back to Greek mythology.

According to you, what makes the best scary camp stories? Vampires, werewolves, ghosts or “insert monster here”?

I always was more scared by the realistic stories – like ones about killer dolls and lawn gnomes. Vampires, well, they’re probably not real. But dolls? How do we *actually* know they don’t get up and walk around when we’re not looking? ~shudders~

What is your favorite summer treat and/or drink ?

I like chocolate malts! (with whipped cream and a cherry)

Thanks for visiting us today, Suzanne!

Thank you so much for having me on!

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More about INNOCENT DARKNESS, which was released, August 8th, 2012!

Noli Braddock and her best friend V’s incident with a flying auto have landed them in a heap of trouble. And when Noli is sent to a spirit-squelching reform school in San Francisco, she’s sure that her rebellious adventures are over.

Meanwhile, Kevighn Silver has been ordered by the Faerie Queen to bring a mortal girl back to the Otherworld. The magic requires a blood sacrifice every seven years, and only a mortal girl who shines with the Spark—a girl like Noli—will keep the Otherworld from complete destruction.

When an ill-timed wish sends Noli tumbling into the Otherworld, she’s more homesick than ever . . . until V arrives to save her from an untimely demise. But who exactly is V? And if he helps Noli escape, who will save the realm of Faerie from utter annihilation?

Purchase: Amazon | Book Depository

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Flux is offering a copy of Innocent Darkness to one (1) lucky winner!

To enter the giveaway, fill out the Rafflecopter form below.

Open to US and Canada only

Ends Wednesday, August 5th, 2012
(like all of our Paranormal Summer Camp giveaways)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Suzanne Lazear’s young adult Steampunk dark fairytale, chronicling the adventures of Noli Braddock, INNOCENT DARKNESS, Book 1 of The Aether Chronicles, will be released from Flux in August 8, 2012. Visit her website at www.suzannelazear.com or the series site www.aetherchronicles.com. She’s also part of the Steampunk group blog Steamed http://wwww.ageofsteam.wordpress.com.

 

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