Darkest Mercy (Wicked Lovely #5) by Melissa Marr

Genre: romance & fantasy
Series and Book #: Wicked Lovely #5
Pages: 327
Synopsis:

Send the messengers for the Faery Courts. This is the end.

The Summer King is missing; the Dark Court is bleeding; and a stranger walks the streets of Huntsdale, his presence signifying the deaths of powerful fey.

Aislinn tends to the Summer Court, searching for her absent king and yearning for Seth. Torn between his new queen and his old love, Keenan works from afar to strengthen his court against the coming war. Donia longs for fiery passion even as she coolly readies the Winter Court for battle. And Seth, sworn brother of the Dark King and heir to the High Queen, is about to make a mistake that count cost his life.

Love, despair, and betrayal ignite the Faery Courts, and in the final conflict, some will win…and some will lose everything.

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Finally, finally, finally I've been able to read the final Wicked Lovely book! As much as I'd obsessed over it since February, I hadn't been given an opportunity to read it until now. It was such a kaleidoscope of love and loyalty, choices and deaths, and twists that were heart-wrenching and tear-jerking.

I haven't read the previous book, Radiant Shadows, since last year and I had mostly forgotten what had happened in some aspects. Melissa did a wonderful job of filling in the gaps by explaining little things about the prequels. She was also wonderful in developing her characters. During the fight against Bananach, you really are rooting for all the regents and their courts. And when people died (not saying who) I really felt for them, which you don't get to often in books.

What I loved about this finish is that Melissa tied up every loose end and answered every question. She also gave us peeks inside each court and from each perspective, although the Shadow Court wasn't really featured in this book (which I thought was disappointing since I was in love with Devlin and Ani) but you saw glimpses of the Winter, Summer, and Dark courts, and there were thoughts from Aislinn, Donia, Keenan, Niall, and other miscellaneous but important faeries. I thought it brought the story together so you weren't left wondering what was happening elsewhere.

Overall, this was a perfect conclusion to what is one of my all-time favorite series. Melissa's characters really stick to you and you can't help but love them no matter how idiotic they can be. She also added so many different twists in the story that left me speechless. Seriously, if you've been holding off reading this book, don't because it's absolutely amazing.

The Cover: You know what I found interesting? It's the exact opposite of the first cover. On the first one, it was Aislinn holding a frozen flower and on this cover it's Donia holding a flower filled with sunlight. Clever, very clever indeed.

Releases: Sirensong by Jenna Black and Twisted by Sara Shepard

When Dana is invited to Faerie to be officially presented at the Seelie Court, it’s no easy decision. After all, everyone knows Titania, the Seelie Queen, wants her dead. But Titania claims not to be the one behind the death threats; and her son, Prince Henry, makes the decision a whole lot easier when he suggests Dana might be arrested for (supposedly) conspiring with her aunt Grace to usurp the Seelie throne. So she and her father better do as they're told…
The journey through Faerie is long – and treacherous. Dana thought it would be a good idea to have friends along, but her sort-of-boyfriend, Ethan, and her bodyguard’s son, Keane, just can’t seem to get along, and Kimber’s crush on Keane isn’t making things any easier. When a violent attack separates Dana from their caravan, the sexy Erlking saves her just in the nick of time… and makes it clear that he hasn’t given up on making her his own.
Arriving at Titania’s beautiful palace should be a relief. But Dana is soon implicated in an assassination attempt against Titania’s granddaughter, and is suddenly a fugitive, forced to leave her father behind as she and her friends flee for their lives. Will she be able to prove her innocence before the forces of the Seelie Court – or, worse, the Erlking – catch up with her? And will she save her father before he pays the ultimate price in her stead?

 
It’s been a year since the torturous notes from A stopped and the mystery of Alison DiLaurentis’s disappearance was finally put to rest. Now seniors in high school, Aria, Spencer, Hanna, and Emily are older, but they’re not any wiser. The pretty little liars have more secrets than ever—twisted secrets that could destroy the perfect lives they’ve worked so hard to rebuild.
Aria’s jealous of her boyfriend’s new exchange student. Spencer’s getting a little too cozy with her soon-to-be-stepbrother. Hanna’s one scandalous photo away from ruining her dad’s Senate campaign. And Emily will do anything to get a swim scholarship.
Worst of all: Last spring break in Jamaica, they did something unforgivable. The girls are desperate to forget that fateful night, but they should know better than anyone that all secrets wash ashore . . . eventually.

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I've heard great things about the Faeriewalker series, and I plan on reading them soon. And then there's the ninth installment of the Pretty Little Liars series, which I have yet to read but are, again, on my list. These are both such great novels that are sure to be a hit. What are your thoughts?

In My Mailbox (5): June

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren where we share what books we've bought, received, or borrowed over the last week or, in my case, month. I don't get enough books over the week to cover a weekly IMM but I always do one every month. Here's May's! (Some of these books I've already read, so if you click on the links they should bring you to the review)

Bought:

Beauty Queens by Libba Bray

Library Finds:

The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary E. Pearson

Why I Let My Hair Grow Out by Maryrose Wood

Intertwined by Gena Showalter

The Big Crunch by Paul Hautman

White Cat by Holly Black

Going Bovine by Libba Bray

Heist Society by Ally Carter

Darkest Mercy by Melissa Marr

Desires of the Dead by Kimberly Derting

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

Preview and Cover Reveal: The Last Echo by Kimberly Derting

Violet kept her morbid ability to sense dead bodies a secret from everyone except her family and her childhood-best-friend-turned-boyfriend, Jay Heaton. That is until forensic psychologist Sara Priest discovered Violet’s talent and invited her to use her gift to track down murderers. Now, as she works with an eclectic group of individuals—including mysterious and dangerously attractive Rafe—it’s Violet’s job to help those who have been murdered by bringing their killers to justice. When Violet discovers the body of a college girl killed by “the girlfriend collector” she is determined to solve the case. But now the serial killer is on the lookout for a new “relationship” and Violet may have caught his eye....

Thanks to Diana from The Lovely Getaway! I learned about this from her.

I've read Kimberly Derting's The Body Finder (click for review) and I'll soon be reading Desires of the Dead. I wasn't thoroughly impressed with The Body Finder, and I'm hoping for a better experience in Desires of the Dead. I can't wait to find out what happens to Violet in Desires of the Dead, and The Last Echo!

The Last Echo will be released April 17, 2012

The Adoration of Jenna Fox (Jenna Fox Chronicles #1) by Mary E. Pearson

Genre: science fiction
Series and Book #: Jenna Fox Chronicles #1
Pages: 265
Synopsis:

Everything is different.

Seventeen-year-old Jenna Fox has just awoken from a year-long comma—so she’s been told—and she is still recovering from the terrible accident that caused it. But what happened before that? She’s been given home movies chronicling her entire life, which spark memories to surface. But are the memories really hers? And why won’t anyone in her family talk about the accident? Jenna is becoming more curious. Bust she is also afraid of what she might find out if she ever gets up the courage to ask her questions.

What happened to Jenna Fox? And who is she, really?

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This was such a breathtaking read. It's very thought-provoking and raises many questions such as What if? and But why?

Jenna was an intensely strong MC. She was curious and smart and so honest. Since she didnt' remember anything, including feelings, she didn't know how to hurt ones feelings and she didn't realize certain words and actions did hurt others. As she tries to discover herself, she learns more of the "other Jenna" and as she digs deeper into her existence, she learns more and more about who she was and who she's becoming. I loved learning about Jenna. She was a fascinating character to get to know.

The futuristic setting was awesome. Mary did an amazing job of explaining the technological advances that had taken place. Mostly, it was futuristic by way of science and medicine, but there was that undertone of what has happened politically, economically, and socially.

Overall, this was a truly magnificent read with a memorable MC. Jenna raised many questions about herself and the medical world she lived in. Mary was very good at having her characters stick to you and make you care about them. Her novel really begged the question, If you could live forever, would you? This was an amazing book and I can't wait for the sequel, The Fox Inheritance.

The Cover: I love how it's depicting Jenna slowly piecing herself together. It's very symbolic.

The Fox Inheritance is released August 30, 2011

Releases: Fins are Forever by Tera Lynn Childs and The Day Before by Lisa Schroeder

 
On Lily Sanderson’s eighteenth birthday she’ll become just a girl—still a mergirl, true, but signing the renunciation will ink Princess Waterlily of Thalassinia out of existence. That leaves plain old Lily living on land, dating the boy she loves, and trying to master this being-human thing once and for all.
Now that Lily and Quince are together, mer bond or not, she’s almost content to give up her place in the royal succession of Thalassinia. But just when she thinks she has everything figured out, the waves start to get rough. Lily’s father sends a certain whirlpool-stirring cousin to stay with her on land. What did Doe do to get herself exiled from Thalassinia and stuck in trapped form when everyone knows how much she hates humans? And why why why is she batting her eyelashes at Lily’s former crush, Brody?
The sea foam on the raging surf comes when a merboy from Lily’s past shows up—Tellin asks Lily for something that clouds her view of the horizon. There’s a future with Quince on land, her loyalty to the kingdom in the sea, and Lily tossing on the waves in the middle. Will she find a way to reconcile her love, her duty, and her own dreams?

Amber’s life is spinning out of control. All she wants is to turn up the volume on her iPod until all of the demands of family and friends fade away. So she sneaks off to the beach to spend a day by herself.

Then Amber meets Cade. Their attraction is instant, and Amber can tell he’s also looking for an escape. Together they decide to share a perfect day: no pasts, no fears, no regrets.

The more time that Amber spends with Cade, the more she’s drawn to him. And the more she’s troubled by his darkness. Because Cade’s not just living in the now—he’s living each moment like it’s his last.

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First of all, I love mermaid novels! It's followed me through childhood. Second, I've read Tera Lynn Childs first two novels Oh. My. Gods. (click for review) and Goddess Boot Camp (ditto), so I can't wait to read her new series!

I've never read a Lisa Schroeder book but I've heard great things about her novel I Heart You, You Haunt Me. The Day Before sounds interesting, and I can't wait to pick it up!

What are your thoughts? Which is your favorite?

Beauty Queens by Libba Bray

Genre: adventure
Series and Book #: none
Pages: 390
Synopsis:

Survival. Of the Fittest.

The fifty contestants in the Miss Teen Dream Pageant thought this was going to be a fun trip to the beach, where they could parade in their state-appropriate costumes and compete in front of the cameras. But sadly, their airplane had another idea, crashing on a desert island and leaving the survivors stranded with little food, little water, and practically no eyeliner.

What’s a beauty queen to do? Continue to practice for the talent portion of the program—or wrestle snakes to the ground? Get a perfect tan—or learn to run wild? And what should happen when the sexy pirates show up?

Welcome to the heart of non-exfoliated darkness.

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This book was a riot! Libba Bray had it all: a colorful cast of characters, an amazing setting, some form of mystery, and a ton of humor!

Libba had so many diverse characters, ranging from your typical beauty queen to a complete tomboy. Every Miss Teen Dream had a unique personality and a story behind her that I think Libba did an amazing job elaborating. The contestants changes from being all about winning and pageants, to being themselves and following their dreams was pretty awesome. During the beginning, I was like What is this, a book that makes girls feel bad? because off the obsession to be skinny, tan, and drop-dead gorgeous. But this is a book showing you that its okay to be yourself and that you should be yourself, or you will be miserable.

Overall, this is a book you cannot miss. Libba is an amazing author who makes the setting and the memorable characters come to life while adding interesting elements such as commercial breaks, words from your sponsors, and classified information. This is such a great story that has a wonderful message attached to it.

The Cover: I loved it from the moment I saw it! First, the ribbon, second the ammunition belt full of lipstick!