Evernight - Claudia Gray

Bianca's parents are hired to teach at Evernight Academy, a Gothic boarding school, effectively forcing Bianca to enroll there as a student. Immediately upon arriving, she realizes that Evernight is not where she wants to be. She misses her old school and the friends she made there. So she decides to run away, to show her parents that she'd rather be anywhere than at Evernight. Her escape is thwarted by Lucas, a fellow student at Evernight. Bianca feels an instant attraction to Lucas, a connection that she's never felt before. But after that first encounter, Lucas acts distant, aloof, and Bianca doesn't quite understand his behavior.

More than anything, Bianca wants Lucas. He's a rule breaker, someone who doesn't fit in with the rich, snobby Evernight crowd. He's a lot like Bianca, in fact, and she craves his attention. Lucas warns Bianca to be careful; Evernight can be a dangerous place. But Bianca will risk anything to be with Lucas.

Soon, Bianca and Lucas can no longer fight the temptation to be together. But there are secrets being kept. Secrets that could threaten everything they know.

Going in, I thought this book would be somewhat Twilight-esque. And it was, to a certain degree. Boy and girl from opposite walks of life falling in love, like Romeo and Juliet. Even some of the descriptions (e.g., Lucas' bronze hair and sculpted body, just like Twilight's Edward) seemed a bit too similar. But there were more differences than similarities. I was actually relieved that the books weren't too much alike; Twilight is my favorite book, and while I don't mind reading books with comparable storylines, I don't want to be reading anything that's too similar to Twilight.

There were a couple of twists in Evernight that kept me on the edge of my seat. I obviously hadn't known what to expect going in, and the twists were amazing and very unexpected. I thought I had everything figured out. Boy, was I wrong! I couldn't have been more wrong.

I truly enjoyed Evernight. For the most part I didn't want to put it down, but there were a few sections of the book that were difficult to get through because I was either annoyed with some character, or bored. The good parts of the book far outweighed the bad, though. I'm really looking forward to getting my hands on the second book in the series, Stargazer . . . if my local library ever gets a copy!

4/5

Lonesome Dove - Larry McMurtry

Wow! What can I say about this massive (945 pages) book? I loved it. It took me some time to get into the story, and to keep all the characters -- of which there are many -- straight, but once I was able to sit and read for longer stretches of time, I found myself completely sucked into the world of Lonesome Dove, and that of Gus, Call, Pea Eye, and the rest of the gang.

In a nutshell, the book is about ex-Texas Rangers out to start a new life in Montana. The journey north is an extremely difficult one, and terrible things happen along the way.

Someone on Goodreads said that Lonesome Dove is "a rare novel that, after 940 pages, seems to have just begun." I couldn't agree more. I was frustrated that the story ended where it did; I felt like there was more of the story waiting to come out. I may have to pick up the sequel, Streets of Laredo.

I have the TV minseries of Lonesome Dove on hold at the library (how is it that I haven't seen it before?), and am looking forward to seeing Gus and the gang brought to life on the small screen.

4.5/5

Year of Wonders - Geraldine Brooks

In Year of Wonders, Geraldine Brooks describes the far-reaching effects of bubonic plague on a small English village in the year 1666. Anna Frith, an 18-year-old widow, is the narrator of this sad tale. Needing to earn extra funds to provide for her young sons after the death of her husband, Anna takes in a boarder, a tailor who unknowingly carries the plague in the bolts of cloth he works with. On his deathbed, the tailor warns Anna to burn everything he brought with him, now perceiving the cloth to be the culprit of his illness. Anna, though, allows the villagers to take the items the tailor had worked on, feeling she has no right to withhold them from those who had already paid for his labors. This decision would play a part in deaths of two-thirds of the villagers.

The local vicar urges the villagers to quarantine themselves, lest the plague spread to other towns in the area. The confinement and constant death leads to madness among the villagers, who take matters into their own hands, accusing some of witchcraft and exploiting and murdering others. Anna, the minister, and his wife, must overcome their own fears to help those suffering around them, even though Anna herself loses those closest to her.

The horrors depicted in Year of Wonders held my attention. I found myself appreciative that I haven't had to witness such suffering and affliction. And I thought a lot about not only how terrible the plague must have been, but how difficult everyday life itself must have already been, without adding the plague to the mix. The story is a compelling one, and Anna lends a courageous voice to it. In brushing aside her own grief, she helped others who had nowhere to turn and no one to turn to. And the year of plague became a year of wonders for her, as she grew in strength and knowledge.

3.5/5

Princess of the Sword - Lynn Kurland

 As the mercenary daughter of Gair, the black mage of Ceangail, Morgan is the only one who can stop the terrible sorcery her father unleashed. To do so, she must race against time and find the spell that will allow her to close the well of evil he opened. But that quest will lead her to places she never dreamed existed and into a darkness she would give anything to avoid.

The fate of the kingdom of Neroche is intertwined with the closing of Gair's well. Miach, the archmage of Neroche, is determined to help Morgan find what she needs, not only because the safety of the Nine Kingdoms hangs in the balance but also because he will do anything to protect her. Together they must search out the mysteries of Ceangail, and the dangers of Morgan's own bloodline.

A wonderful conclusion to the Nine Kingdoms series, Princess of the Sword continues the tale of Morgan of Melksham and her beloved Miach, youngest prince and archmage of Neroche. The first two books set up the the big fight of good versus evil (in the form of Lothar, the black mage of Wychweald) that occurred in this final volume, but I found myself a bit disappointed when the fight turned out to not be so big after all. I felt there was so much buildup for something that was over a short while after it began. Once Lothar was defeated, I thought that would be the end of the book, but it wasn't . . . which was actually a nice surprise, as I got a look into what the life of Morgan and Miach was like once the threat of evil was gone.

It was nice, as a reader, to "see" Morgan 's transformation from sword-yielding shieldmaiden to Princess Mhorghain of Torr Dorainn, while not losing herself in the process; to see the bravery of Miach and Morgan as they joined together to defeat Lothar and his evil cohorts; to be witness to their growing love and affection for each other. Morgan and Miach are two characters who won't easily escape my memory.

Lynn Kurland has become one of my favorite new authors, and her Nine Kingdoms series is fantastic. Highly recommended.

4.75/5

As Shadows Fade - Colleen Gleason

While Sebastian Vioget appears to be both the perfect warrior and lover to ensure the Gardella Legacy, Victoria cannot forget Max Pesaro – the former slayer still haunted by the vampire queen Lilith's obsession with him.

But it is Lilith's obsession that may save all of humanity. Demons, enemies of both mortals and the undead, have found their way to earth. To defeat them, vampires and slayers must fight side by side. But Lilith wants Max in return for her cooperation – a small price for the world, but too high a price for Victoria.

This concluding book in the series was bloody fantastic, as Max might say. Victoria's choice (between Max and Sebastian) was made in book 4, so it was fun to read how she went about getting her man in this installment. The demons were more powerful and dangerous than ever before, and the passion in this book -- both between Victoria and her chosen, as well as the passion displayed by the Venators in the fights against the demons and Lilith -- was breathtaking.

I loved this book. There were a couple of things that bothered me, but not enough to really affect my rating. I will say that something completely shocking happens to one of the characters, but I won't go into any detail. You'll have to read it to find out!

Like I said in the previous post, As Shadows Fade is a fabulous ending to the Gardella Vampire Chronicles, and I definitely recommend it. I read the entire book in one day, and that's saying something. I couldn't put it down. I will give fair warning that there are some sex scenes in these books, so if those in any way make you uncomfortable, I'd recommend skipping this series.

5/5

As Shadows Fade

I won't post a review because Beth hasn't read it yet, but I will say that it was FABULOUS!! I loved it, and I'm actually sad that the series is over and done with.

5/5

I'll write a real review some other time, after Beth's read the book. At least I hope I'll be able to, since our internet hasn't been working!

The Mage's Daughter - Lynn Kurland

 Book 2 in the Nine Kingdoms series continues the adventure of Morgan the mercenary, as she fights for her life, her future, and the one man who can save her.

Neroche is under assault by a mysterious magic that has stripped its king of his powers and unleashed nightmarish creatures as weapons in a war of evil. Morgan of Melksham is fighting against that menace as well as for her life. Struggling to regain her strength after a near-fatal attack, Morgan realizes that she must decide between two fates: that of being a simple shieldmaiden or accepting her heritage as an elven princess. If only she could forget that she was the daughter of the perilous black mage of Ceangail.

Duty bound to aid his king, Miach of Neroche is torn between what his responsibilities demand and what his heart desires. He is willing to risk his life to rescue Morgan from the darkness that haunts her, but he must do so at the peril of his realm. Forced to choose between love and the burden of his mantle, Miach sets out on his most deadly quest ever.

Beautifully written and delightful to read, The Mage's Daughter is as good as, if not better than, the first book. The storytelling and character development are superb. Miach and Morgan's love for each other continues to grow beyond definition -- they are so romantic -- and the two of them together are quite a force. Seriously, I have no words to adequately describe my love of this series. It's difficult trying to get something written down. Just read the series. You'll hopefully love these characters as much as I do.

My friend still has book 3, but I can't wait to get it back so I can delve back into the world of Miach and Morgan as they finally face the darkness that awaits them. Every difficulty they've faced, every detail of Morgan's past that's been revealed, all the heartache and anguish they've endured . . . it all leads to this final showdown. Together they can do anything, even defeat the black mage Lothar. Or at least I hope they can...

5/5

Star of the Morning (The Nine Kingdoms, Book 1) - Lynn Kurland

Darkness covers the north, since the black mage has begun his assault on the kingdom of Neroche. Legend has it that only the two magical swords held by Neroche's king can defeat the mage. Now the fate of the Nine Kingdoms rests in the hands of a woman destined to wield one of those blades...

The Mercenary

Morgan is a practical woman with no use for magic. Yet she feels compelled to offer her sword to the sorcerer king of Neroche. Her fateful decision will lead her to a magical destiny...and a man whose love will change her life forever.

The King

Adhémar of Neroche's connection to the magic of the land is fading. Helpless to defend his country against the black mage's forces, his only hope is to travel in disguise, searching for the one who was foretold to bring victory.

The Mage
Miach, the archmage of Neroche, is Adhémar's youngest brother -- and duty bound to aid his king. Though they find what they seek, Miach will lose his heart in a way he never could have foreseen.

In this land of dragons and mages, warrior maids and magical swords, nothing is as it seems. And Morgan will find that the magic in her blood brings her troubles she cannot face with a sword --and a love more powerful than she has ever imagined.

I LOVED this book! It was so much fun to read, and such an interesting story. I haven't read much in the fantasy genre, so this was a new and refreshing experience for me. Miach and Morgan are incredible characters, and their journey together, along with Adhémar and Morgan's gang of friends, was exciting. I loved their playfulness towards each other, and the fact that Morgan lightened up when Miach was around. The blossoming romance between them was sweet (and clean), and I look forward to reading more about their adventures together in the next two books in the series (the second is in transit to the library, but the third I'll have to buy, since the library doesn't have a copy. I don't mind, though, since I'll end up buying them all eventually anyway.)

5/5

Graceling - Kristin Cashore

Lady Katsa is a Graceling, a person born with an extreme skill, called a Grace. Gracelings are easy to detect in the land of the seven kingdoms, for they have eyes of two different colors. Katsa, with her one blue eye and one green eye, is well-known throughout the kingdoms. Her Grace is killing, and her uncle Randa, King of the Middluns, exploits her Grace by forcing her to do his dirty work, killing people who displease him.

By the time she's 18, Katsa has founded a secret council whose members work to rid the kingdoms of corruption. It is during one of her Council missions that Katsa meets Po, Prince of Lienid, whose kidnapped grandfather Katsa has just rescued. Po, too, is Graced, and his gold and silver eyes mesmerize Katsa.

Katsa and Po join together to unravel the mystery surrounding the kidnapping of Po's grandfather. As they travel together, it is Po who makes Katsa question the path her life is on, Po who makes her heart race, Po who truly understands her. Their journey leads them to the Monsean kingdom, where Po's aunt is queen. It is in Monsea that Po and Katsa find themselves in the middle of a dangerous conspiracy, one that threatens their very lives.

I really, really liked this book; it was a captivating read. There were a couple of things that bothered me, but I still highly recommend Graceling! Read it. You'll fall in love with Katsa and Po, and find yourself sighing with pleasure as they fall in love with each other. Po not only took Katsa's breath away, but mine as well, and I have to give kudos to Kristin Cashore's writing skills. She not only wrote a beautiful love story intertwined in a story about killing and survival, but she has written two very strong characters, who will stay with me for a very long time. It's hard to believe that Graceling is her first novel! I look forward to reading more from her in the future.

4.5/5

The Hunger Games - Suzanne Collins

There were thirteen "Districts" in the nation of Panem, once called North America, but District 13 led a rebellion against the all-powerful Capitol and was destroyed as a result. To keep the other 12 districts in line, the Capitol devised the Hunger Games, an annual televised fight to the death. Two tributes from each district, one boy and one girl aged 12 to 18, are chosen to compete in the Hunger Games. Of the 24 tributes thrown together, there can only be one winner; the tributes must do whatever they can to be the last person standing.

When 16-year-old Katniss Everdeen's younger sister Prim's name is chosen as the female tribute for District 12, Katniss steps in and volunteers herself to take Prim's place. Prim asks Katniss to survive; Katniss tells Prim that she'll try her best to get back to Prim and their mother.

The male tribute chosen from District 12 is Peeta Mellark, the baker's son who had once showed compassion for a starving Katniss by sneaking her two loaves of bread from the bakery.

Katniss and Peeta join the other tributes in the Capitol, where they are prepped for the big fight. They are given a team of stylists, whose job it is to make the tributes look as attractive as possible in the hopes of obtaining sponsors who will donate gifts of food and medicine during the Games. These gifts could mean the difference between life and death.

It is during their time in the Capitol that Katniss and Peeta's mentor, Haymitch -- a former District 12 winner of the Hunger Games -- encourages Katniss and Peeta to act like they are in love with each other, hoping to attract fans and support. Peeta is only too happy to comply with Haymitch's idea, and does a great job of acting the part of a young man in love. But Katniss finds the task difficult. When she, Peeta, and the other tributes are left to fend for themselves in a Capitol-controlled environment, anything can happen. Should Katniss and Peeta keep up their lovers' charade for the people watching the Games at home, and try to help each other stay alive? Or should they split up, knowing that one or both of them may be killed?

I loved this book! It was compelling, exciting, and a wonderfully captivating read. I couldn't put it down. My only disappointment came at the end, when the story ended without a resolution and I discovered that The Hunger Games is only the first book in a planned trilogy. I'm not disappointed that I'll have to read the remaining two books to continue the story -- in fact, I am very much looking forward to reading more about these characters (I ended up with quite a crush on Peeta!), and resuming the story where it left off (with quite a cliffhanger) -- but I'm disappointed that I have to wait until the next book comes out in September!

Read this book. You won't regret it.

5/5