Sapphire Blue by Kerstin Gier

Genre: fantasy
Series and Book #: Ruby Red Trilogy #2
Pages: 384
Summary:

Gwen’s life has been a roller coaster since she discovered she was the Ruby, the final member of the time-traveling Circle of Twelve. When not searching through history for the other time travelers and asking them for a bit of their blood (gross!), she’s been trying to figure out what all the mysteries and prophecies surround the Circle really mean.

 

It’s not easy when a secret society, a dangerous Count, and her own time-traveling partner, Gideon, are determined to keep her from the truth. Especially since Gwen can’t decide whether Gideon really believes she’s a traitor to the Circle or might actually be on her side—and creeping into her heart.

 

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UGH! I wish it didn't take as long for these to reach the U.S. They're so good! Luckily, Sapphire Blue didn't fall victim to the curse of the second book. I'm sure you've all experienced it (and if you haven't, consider yourself blessed). I've always known the second book to be the least interesting of a series, trilogy, saga, whatever. Kerstin Gier's second book is just as great at as the first, and hopefully, the third and final book of this trilogy will be just as fun and thrilling.

Gwen was back, sparkling personality and all. She's an amazing main character. She's so quirky, and funny, and very loyal to those she loves. If that wasn't enough to make you love her, just imagine her drunk singing Memory from the musical Cats, in a time long before Andrew Lloyd Webber makes an appearance *waggles eyebrows suggestively*

Sapphire Blue delivers. Color me impressed! Gwen comes back with a vengeance, bringing her unique, awkward personality. Trust me, it's a page turner, and on the final pages you'll be frantically searching for what you missed. It's a cliffhanger if I've ever read one! If only Emerald Green would come out sooner in the U. S....

The Cover: Again, this is a different edition. I think it's the U. K. version...? Lovely. I like the dress theme continuing.

Steelflower by Lilith Saintcrow

Genre: fantasy
Series and Book #: Steelflower Chronicles #1
Pages: 310
Summary:

Picking the wrong pocket can get a girl in trouble…

 

Thief, assassin, sellsword—Kaia Steelflower is famous. Well, mostly famous, and mostly for the wrong reasons. She’s made a good life for herself, despite being kicked out of her homeland for having no magic. She’s saving up for her retirement, when she can settle down, run an inn, and leave the excitement for others.

 

Then she picks the wrong pocket, wakes up with a hangover, and gets far more than she bargained for. Now she has a huge, furry barbarian to look after, a princeling from her homeland to fend off, and an old debt to fulfill. And for some reason, the God-Emperor’s assassins want to kill her.

 

It’s never easy being an elvish sellsword, and this time it just might be fatal…

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Sequel please! Steelflower was packed with amazing adventures, loveable characters, and a world full of intriguing stories.

Kaia was a great character, although she had a nasty habit of denying anything and everything Darik told her about herself and the Elven world she'd left. She was pretty adamant in her belief that she was magic-less and that she'd been kicked out of her country although with the combination of what Darik said and Kaia's memories, it was hard to believe. Which, I suppose, was the point. Despite her stubbornness, Kaia kicked butt, and she has a heart of gold despite her nickname as an Iron Flower.

Steelflower's world is tricky to delve into right away. Lilith Saintcrow doesn't explain things very well. The language, folklore, and idioms are for the reader to figure out for themselves. But it's not hard to get into the flow of things.

I would love to read sequels to this book. Unfortunately, Lilith Saintcrow says on the Steelflower page in her blog that due to piracy, she's not writing any sequels at this time. Hopefully they'll come around sooner rather than later because I really need to know what happens next! If not because of the plot than because of the characters. Kaia and Darik have finally started to develop a relationship, and they're so cute together!! This book is kind of hidden among the others Lilith Saintcrow has written (Strange Angels, for instance) but I think its wonderful. A++, would recommend.

The Cover: So lame compared to the story. Don't judge this story by its cover. At all.

Strange Angels by Lili St. Crow

Genre: paranormal
Series and Book #: Strange Angels #1
Pages: 293
Summary:

Dad? Zombie. Mom? Long gone. Me? Well, that’s the scary part.

 

The Real World is a frightening place. Just ask sixteen-year-old orphan Dru Anderson, a tough girl who has taken down her fair share of bad guys. She’s armed, dangerous, and ready to kill first and ask questions later. So it’s gonna take her a while to figure out who she can trust…

 

Dru Anderson has been “strange” for as long as she can remember, traveling from town to town with her father to hunt the things that go bump in the night. It’s a weird life, but a good one—until it all explodes in an icy, broken-down Dakota town, when a hungry zombie busts through her kitchen door. Alone, terrified, and trapped, Dru’s going to need every inch of her wit and training to stay alive. The monsters have decided to hung back—and this time, Dru’s on their menu. Chances of survival? Slim to none.

 

If she can’t last until sunup, it’s game over…

 

Dru Anderson’s not afraid of the dark. But she should be.

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I've been meaning to check out this series for awhile, and finally when a friend of mine recommended them to me did I get around to it. I can't say its the greatest choice I've ever made in my literate life, but the book was definitely good.

Dru was a very stubborn and very moody character. She's always wanted her dad's approval, seeing as how her mother is dead, so she's very obedient to him. She's not all-knowing. She has her skills and her weaknesses, and Lili St. Crow does a good job of showing that she is, indeed, a teenager, and there's a lot she needs to learn. Graves was a fun sidekick. He wasn't portrayed as a typical strong-guy type seen in many paranormal YA novels. Dru had to save him from himself, which was a welcome change of pace.

Lili St. Crow's writing during the scenes with the supernatural was excellent. The werewolf jumping through the window at the mall, and the creatures trying to kill Dru in her dreams, and the zombies...I was scared for Dru's life! I'm interested to see how the series continues with the new character introductions at the end and, of course, I want to know what Dru is short for. But I must say, this series isn't my number one must read at the moment. It's one of those books to read in a lull, when you need something good and can commit to an entire series.

The Cover: Wonderful! The darkness, Dru's expression, even the lettering adds anticipation to the book.

Missing In Action

Well, I think I've had a plenty long vacation from this realm of cyberspace. I am back, and I've got troves of books to review for you! Be prepared for lots of ranting, and praising, and all together giving you feedback on the books I've been reading while I've been MIA.

Thanks you all of you for sticking around as long as you have. I appreciate it. :)

Release: Full Moon Kisses by Ellen Schreiber

Full Moon Kisses (Full Moon #3) by Ellen Schreiber

Beware of the full moon.

A werewolf wants to take you into his world. Forever.

Celeste and Brandon know that Nash in werewolf form is bad news. But a new prediction from psychic Dr. Meadows has Celeste wondering: Which of them wants to turn her into a werewolf?

Still on Celeste's and Brandon's minds is the "cure" from Brandon's father. Brandon must face one dilemma he hadn't anticipated—if his dad's serum really does work, is he willing to give up being a werewolf for good? Is Celeste willing to give up her heroic werewolf boyfriend? And when Nash finds out there's a cure, will he try to take it from Brandon as they continue to deal with their rivalry, their competing affections for Celeste, and their struggles with their werewolf identities?

Then things grow still more complicated when a gang of sketchy guys from a neigh-boring town comes to Legend's Run just before the big Werewolf Festival. What, or whom, are they looking for?

Releases: Deadly Little Lessons & The Darkest Minds

Deadly Little Lessons (Touch #5) by Laurie Faria Stolarz

When Camelia escapes to a summer arts program in Rhode Island, she gets caught up in the case of Sasha Beckerman, a local girl who is missing. Will the lessons Camelia has learned about her powers help her save the girl, or will she run out of time?

The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken

When Ruby woke up on her tenth birthday, something about her had changed. Something alarming enough to make her parents lock her in the garage and call the police. Something that gets her sent to Thurmond, a brutal government “rehabilitation camp.” She might have survived the mysterious disease that’s killed most of America’s children, but she and the others have emerged with something far worse: frightening abilities they cannot control.

Now sixteen, Ruby is one of the dangerous ones.

When the truth comes out, Ruby barely escapes Thurmond with her life. Now she’s on the run, desperate to find the one safe haven left for kids like her—East River. She joins a group of kids who escaped their own camp. Liam, their brave leader, is falling hard for Ruby. But no matter how much she aches for him, Ruby can’t risk getting close. Not after what happened to her parents.

When they arrive at East River, nothing is as it seems, least of all its mysterious leader. But there are other forces at work, people who will stop at nothing to use Ruby in their fight against the government. Ruby will be faced with a terrible choice, one that may mean giving up her only chance at a life worth living.

Release: Foretold by Jana Oliver

Foretold (The Demon Trapper's Daughter #4) by Jana Oliver

Now that Riley’s managed to (just barely) fend off Armageddon, everything’s changed. Well . . . most things. After their passionate kiss before the big battle in the cemetery, Beck is back to treating her like a little girl, as if nothing ever happened. While she’d love to just tell him off and move on, Riley vowed to take care of Beck the way he’s taken care of her since her father’s death—but she’s about to get a whole lot more than she bargained for. When she’s commissioned to go with Beck to his hometown and help him care for his dying mother, they stumble too close to a dark and murderous secret, one that Beck fears will drive Riley away from him forever. As chaos breaks loose, Riley may be Beck's only hope for redemption . . . and survival.

Meanwhile, up in Atlanta, it’s quickly becoming clear that Heaven may have won a battle, but the war is far from over. Riley and Beck face a stormy future, as Lucifer's ex-right-hand-man, Sartael, proves himself to be more resilient than anyone thought. He has Atlanta in his grip and is about to begin a brutal war with the prince of Hell. As the seconds tick down toward a final confrontation, it's up to Riley and the man she loves to finally defeat their old enemy, or lose everything they've fought for.