City of Bones ~ Cassandra Clare

Genre: Young Adult Urban Fantasy

Copyright: 2008

Pages: 512

Rating: 5 Crowns

Synopsis: When fifteen-year-old Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder — much less a murder committed by three teenagers covered with strange tattoos and brandishing bizarre weapons. Then the body disappears into thin air. It's hard to call the police when the murderers are invisible to everyone else and when there is nothing — not even a smear of blood — to show that a boy has died. Or was he a boy?

This is Clary's first meeting with the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons. It's also her first encounter with Jace, a Shadowhunter who looks a little like an angel and acts a lot like a jerk. Within twenty-four hours Clary is pulled into Jace's world with a vengeance, when her mother disappears and Clary herself is attacked by a demon. But why would demons be interested in ordinary mundanes like Clary and her mother? And how did Clary suddenly get the Sight?

The Shadowhunters would like to know. . . .

Review: Wow! Utterly astonishing! I know you've heard it all before but Cassandra Clare's Young Adult debut City of Bones is scrumptious!

City of Bones is an epic fantasy expedition that seduced me from the beginning & made me turn into something resembling Jello (the red one)! Yes, I was shivering from my Neiman Marcus Target slippers to my corkscrew curls.

City of Bones was a fast-paced read that was jam-packed w/ action so dynamic I was flushed from excitement. Whew!

City of Bones is not your usual young adult tale littered w/ fluff or recycled plots resembling some overdone vampire theme. Over that. City of Bones is a vivacious saga resplendent in dialogue. Cassandra Clare penned an enthralling safari & her Mortal Instruments series exhibits Clare is one exceptionally talented scribe.

Clare's rendering of Clary as an unparalleled, three-dimensional, empowering heroine is simply a breath of fresh air (am I the only one who thinks Clary Fray is an uber chic rear kickin' fantasy version of Cassandra Clare).

City of Bones is plush in ambiance. Clare simply excels in this gripping young adult fantasy.

City of Bones is as opulent as the highest budget Hollywood production; infact, the book just seems to come to life. It was an electrifying read.

Clare held nothing back when she created this mesmerizing legend. City of Bones delves in dealing w/ family secrets & coming-of-age themes w/ a deft hand.

City of Bones melds humor, romance & magic into exquisite subplots that seem immeasurable.

One word to describe Clare's arresting tale? Spellbinding!

Clary's puzzling feelings for Jace are written w/ compassion & understanding.

Kudos to Clare for handling all the perplexing emotions Clary experiences poignantly.

Clare pulls you into her vibrant world of Shadowhunters, demons, faeries, humans, vampires & werewolves! Whew! Genius!

I did have a few things figured out way before they were unveiled in the story, but that's because I have a vivid imagination.

City of Bones was like watching a movie ~ so darn theatrical ~ it was breathtaking!

What I love especially about City of Bones is the third person narration!

Aahh, Clare showcases more than one character’s experiences! Love that!

City of Bones is truly a jaw-dropping experience.

Grab a copy of City of Bones & be prepared for a thrill ride like no other.

Check out Cassandra Clare's website.


Visit Diane's blog @ The Book Resort

Covet by J. R. Ward

Series: Fallen Angels, #1

Genre: Paranormal

Copyright: 2009

Pages: 474

Rating: 4/ 5

Blurb: Redemption isn’t a word Jim Heron knows much about - his specialty is revenge, and to him, sin is all relative. But everything changes when he becomes a fallen angel and is charge with saving the souls of seven people from the seven deadly sins. And failure is not an option.

Vin Di Pietro long ago sold his soul to his business, and he’s good with that—until fate intervenes in the form of a tough-talking, Harley-riding, self-professed savior. But then he meets a woman who will make him question his destiny, his sanity, and his heart—and he has to work with a fallen angel to win her over and redeem his own soul.

Review: Very very entertaining. If there’s one thing you can be sure of when you begin a Ward book, its that you will want to read it at one go and you will be thoroughly entertained. This book did not disappoint. Covet is set in the same world as Ward's famous Black Dagger Brotherhood (BDB) series, but it is a completely different story and you don’t need to read the BDB books to enjoy this one.

This is basically a battle of good vs. evil and the choices we make in life, all neatly packaged in Ward’s typical writing style of snarky urban slang dosed with lots of male bonding.

I'll try not to give away much of the plot, the blurb explains it all. Jim Heron is a carpenter with a past filled with violence and death - now he's dead and charged with saving the souls of seven people. The fate of all things good in this world and the next depend on him successfully completing this mission. Most of the story is from his point of view, and the stuff in Jim's head really makes interesting reading. "You can do it. You're a carpenter. You build things and you rebuild things. Lives are constructions just the same."

This book is about the first soul Jim has to save - his boss from his construction site who Jim doesn't really like. Or in Jim's words: "..Was he going to have to get this silk-suited, M6-driving, misogynistic m******f****** to renounce everything material and turn his ass into a monk?" Vin diPietro, soul # 1, is guilty of avarice / greed. He's handsome, rich, self-centered, sexy and insanely driven towards all things materialistic. You'll enjoy his journey from anti-hero to realising the important things in his life with help from Jim and his friends. Vin has some horror-inducing 'gifts' which add to the books dark side. His salvation also comes by the way of Marie Terese - a woman on the run from her past and trying to make ends meet. We met Marie Terese in Lover Avenged - the 7th BDB book where she works as a prostitute at ZeroSum. Ward does a good job with explaining her life and tough choices, and you can't help feeling for this woman. The romance between these two is just beginning, but the sex is really hot - with special mention to a very hot shower scene.

The other characters in this book really enhance the story. I love the concept of the 'fallen angels', and the angels in this book are unlike any you've read before. I can't write this review without mentioning the guest appearances from the BDB characters - there's Trez, the moor from Lover Avenged who owns the club Marie Terese works at, detective de la Cruz, and appearances from 2 of the Brothers- a yellow-eyed beautiful-haired Brother on his way to an AA meeting and another with usually seen wearing a Boston red Sox cap.

So despite all the gushing, why the four stars and not five? Because Ward's unique writing style works against her at places. At times I felt that the angsty writing was a bit forced and it definitely got to be a bit too much in places. I felt that simple normal vocabulary would have worked better and enhanced the overall effect of her writing style. My other issue with this book was the easy acceptance by some of the characters of what they're being told no matter how weird. Yup, it is PNR, but Jim accepting so easily that he was dead and hardly asking any questions about this task he was given didn't sit well with me - its not like something like this happens every day. It seemed like the angels basically talk and guilt him into saving the world by reminding him of his mother (small spoiler, I know..but I didn't really spoil anything, I promise).

But don’t let my cribbing keep you from this book, it didn’t stop me from enjoying it. I read this book at one go - happily wondering where the story is going to lead and what's going to happen next. Pick this book up if you want a refreshing change from the normal paranormal stuff out there and also a satisfying good vs. evil story. Jim has six other souls to save, so you can be sure I'm definitely going to read the next one. Crave the second Fallen Angels book comes out next year.


Thanks to Karyn from Slip Carefully for this fantastic guest review!

Legacy by Cayla Kluver

Genre: YA Romance

Pages: 462

Copyright: 2008

Rating: 3.5 Crowns

Series: The Legacy Series

The Crown Princess of Hytanica, Alera, is expected to choose a husband within the next year. She hates her fathers first choice, Lord Steldor, and finds herself in love with another man. In the midst of all kinds of turmoil, and on the brink of war, Alera must decide if she'll follow her heart or her duty to Hytanica.

Alera is both a fascinating and frustrating character to read. I found myself seeing the choices she was making and willing her to make different ones in a lot of cases, hoping she'd make the choices I would make were I in her position. The majority of the story centers around her - whether it's time she spends with Steldor, stubbornly disobeying the adults in her life, or visiting with the mysterious and newly arrived Narian. It's a good story, and an interesting perspective on palace life in a fantasy world.

The author of Legacy is sixteen-year-old Cayla Kluver, I was a little wary about this book given that she is so young. There's no doubt in my mind that a young author can be a good one, but I wondered, will she write something that an adult would also like. The answer is a resounding yes!

I found myself sucked into this story, worrying about all the characters and wondering what was going to happen next. I genuinely feared for some of them during the dangerous parts of the book; hated Steldor's actions and personality; loved the mystery that accompanied Narian. And the Glamour reader in me loved the descriptions of the clothes!

Though the book is over 450 pages, it was one of the fastest reads I've ever experienced. The writing was easy to read and the story so engaging that I was just turning page after page. Each chapter also begins with an intricate drawing around the first letter, which I really loved and found both endearing and fitting with the story. The pictures actually match pretty closely with what happens in the chapter, so I found it quite fun to go back and look at them after reading part of or the whole chapter.

I was especially anxious toward the end of the book, as more and more things start coming together and you really wonder how on earth can everything be resolved! I had no idea, up until the end of the book, that there are at least two more books in the works after this. And as a what happens next kind of person, I am thrilled to see that I'll have more of Alera and her story in the future.



Thanks to Crystal from I'm Totally Paused for this wonderful guest blogger review!

Lovestruck Summer ~ Melissa Walker

Genre: Young Adult Romance

Pages: 272

Copyright: 2009

Rating:

Synopsis:

Austin Music Fest

Yay, summer in Austin!

Good food, good times. Fun for everyone!

Okay, living with my sorority-brainwashed cousin, who willingly goes by "Party Penny," is not exactly what I had in mind.

All your favorite bands

But the cute musicians I've met totally make up for it . . . like Sebastian. Swoon.

All ages welcome

So why can't I stop thinking about Penny's friend All-American Russ and his Texas twang??

Saturday & Sunday, from noon to midnight

Don't wait up!

Sunny days, late nights and a vacation full of possibilities...

This is the story of Quinn, an indie rock girl who came out to Austin, Texas for a music internship.
She also plans to spend long, lazy days in the sun at outdoor concerts--and to meet a hot musician or two. Instead, she's stuck rooming with her sorority brainwashed cousin, who now willingly goes by the name 'Party Penny.' Their personalities clash, big time.

But Sebastian, a gorgeous DJ, definitely makes up for it. Sebastian has it all: looks, charm, and great taste in music. So why can't Quinn keep her mind off Penny's friend cute, All-American Russ and his Texas twang?

One thing's certain: Quinn's in for a summer she'll never forget!

Review:

Lovestruck Summer is one of my all time favorite books. Walker is a genius! This is the way romantic comedy is supposed to be written. Breezy, charming, fun, kicky & memorable.

I feel butterflies flitting in my stomach just thinking about this darling treasure.

Priscilla Quinn Parker ~ Quinn ~ is a fiery, saucy, indie music lovin' chick.

" I live my life in headphones. That way, I can control what I let in."

I just loved this book so much, I didn't want it to end. I was inhaling it until I was closing in on the end. I slowed my reading pace just to savor Walker's delicious nugget.

Walker captured the essence of Quinn & created an impressive spitfire. She is just fun!

I laughed, cried, fell in love & had a blast!

With an industry over saturated w/ paranormal this & paranormal that, Walker's Lovestruck Summer is a refreshing sparkling romantic getaway.

Walker is one gifted writer, she's able to create appealing, invigorating, whimsical three- dimensional characters who rocket off the page.

Quinn is simply remarkable, utterly misguided & thoroughly magnetizing. Quinn’s progression from a snotty show-off into a more unbiased young woman was skillfully devised.

"But really, it's the big picture that overwhelms me: Penny has gone Texas."

Penny aka "Party Penny" is more than Quinn's cousin or your typical sorority babe. She has her own depth, appeal & spunk! I am eager to read more about Penny & hope Walker considers revisiting this character again. *Hint* ; ).

Penny's dog, Miss. Tiara is a riot!

" Oh, Miss. Tiara's a boy" whispers Penny, lowering the dog's ears. "He just likes to be in drag, and he prefers to be referred to as 'she'. There's a really cool cross-dresser named Leslie who walks around town, and Miss. Tiara has just taken to him as a role model."

Penny’s irritating frat-boy/wannabe-cowboy friend & next door neighbor, Russ (sigh) is the guy that no matter how hard Quinn tries she just can't seem to shake. Russ is the one who stimulates her senses, makes her question her beliefs & makes her feel. Russ is always calling Quinn "Priscilla" which steams her to no end. When he starts calling her "Cilla", I am in love ; 9! Let me just say, I so wanted to be Quinn ; )!

Here are a few quotes that made me feel those butterflies in my stomach go bananas:

" You know, when you smile I just want to kiss you," he says.

"I'm sorry I said that," he says, "about the kiss."

"Okay," I say, not sure how to respond.

"I meant it," he says softly. his face hovering just inches above mine. He pauses for a moment there and I stare at his big blue eyes.

Two beats later, he pulls back, sits up, and says, "But I'm sorry I said it."

Chrissy, Penny's friend & neighbor ~ Russ's roommate ~ is more than a buxom, dippy blonde. She definitely is the definition of "never judge a book by its cover".

Walker delivered a striking punch in this feel good read. Walker filled this 272 page light read w/ more substance than a 500 page tome. Brava, Walker!

There has been a bit of buzz on the cover. Some love the bubble gum cover others roll their eyes @ the cutesy presentation; The cover depicts summer romance in the HarperTeen "Beach Reads" category. I love it! I love the "beachy" look & the colors are darling! Afterall, it captures the essence of Austin's Barton Springs perfectly.

You really should grab a copy of Lovestruck Summer. Whenever you need a pick me up, escape or to just feel good inside, Walker's Lovestruck Summer is the perfect prescription.

Psst! If you usually rebuff romance, please give this book a chance to illustrate it is Walker's characters that make Lovestruck Summer radiate.

Check out Melissa Walker's website here.

Order here.



Visit Diane's blog @ The Book Resort

The Sunday Post

This week there are some wonderful new books that are going to be hitting the shelves of a book store near you. We here at Royals are very excited about a few of them!

The wonderful Anna Campbell a fantastic Australian author we love. Her last book, Tempt the Devil, had me reading in front of the air conditioner to try and keep my temperature at a safe level. It was hot, steamy and a fantastic historical romance. Even though Anna is an Aussie, the lucky US readers are getting to see her latest book released on October 27, sadly we won't see it here in Australia until Christmas. You can purchase it from Book Depository (free postage) or Amazon.

He pledged his honor to keep her safe...

Returning home to Cornwall after unspeakable tragedy, Sir Gideon Trevithick comes upon a defiant beauty in danger, and vows to protect her whatever the cost. He's dismayed to discover that she's none other than Lady Charis Weston, England's wealthiest heiress-and that the only way to save her from the violent stepbrothers determined to steal her fortune is to wed her himself! Now Gideon must hide the dark secrets of his life from the bride he desires more with every heartbeat.

She promised to show him how to love - and desire - again...

Charis has heard all about Gideon, the dangerously handsome hero with the mysterious past. She's grateful for his help, but utterly unwilling to endure a marriage of convenience-especially to a man whose touch leaves her breathless. Desperate to drive him mad with passion, she would do anything to make Gideon lose control-and fall captive to irresistible, undeniable sin.

The final book in the Luxe series is much anticipated. I personally loved this series and pre-ordered this book months ago. Anna Godbersen has written a wonderful young adult historical series that has wide appeal. If you haven't read any of the books in this series yet then I urge you to give them a try, I listened to them on audio which was brilliant. You can purchase Splendor from Book Depository (free postage) or Amazon. You can also read an excerpt from Splendor at Harper Teen.

New beginnings.

Shocking revelations.

Unexpected endings.

A spring turns into summer, Elizabeth relishes her new role as a young wife, while her sister, Diana, searches for adventure abroad. But when a surprising clue about their father's death comes to light, the Holland girls wonder at what cost a life of splendor comes.

Carolina Broad, society's newest darling, fans a flame from her past, oblivious to how it might burn her future. Penelope Schoonmaker is finally Manhattan royalty—but when a real prince visits the city, she covets a title that comes with a crown. Her husband, Henry, bravely went to war, only to discover that his father's rule extends well beyond New York's shores and that fighting for love may prove a losing battle.

In the dramatic conclusion to the bestselling Luxe series, New York's most dazzling socialites chase dreams, cling to promises, and tempt fate. As society watches what will become of the city's oldest families and newest fortunes, one question remains: Will its stars fade away or will they shine ever brighter?

This is the second book in the Bride Quartet. I loved the first book, it is a light-hearted romanctic read that can easily be enjoyed in one or two sittings. Another book to be released on October 27th! You can purchase Bed of Roses from the Book Depository (free postage world wide) or Amazon.

Florist Emma Grant is finding career success with her friends at Vows wedding planning company, and her love life appears to be thriving. Though men swarm around her, she still hasn't found Mr. Right. And the last place she's looking is right under her nose...

But that's just where Jack Cooke is. He's so close to the women of Vows that he's practically family, but the architect has begun to admit to himself that his feelings for Emma have developed into much more than friendship. When Emma returns his passion-kiss for blistering kiss-they must trust in their history...and in their hearts.

Tempted is the sixth book in the House of Night series by P.C. and Kristin Cast. Whilst I found this series a little slow to get going I really enjoyed it and am looking forward to the release of this book. You can purchase Tempted from Amazon or Book Depository (free postage) on October 27th.

Zoey needs a break after some serious excitement. Sadly, the House of Night school for vampyres doesn't feature breaks on its curriculum - even for a High Priestess in training and her gang. Plus juggling three guys is no stress reliever, especially when one is a sexy Warrior so into protecting Zoey that he's sensing her emotions. Wider stresses lurk too, and the dark force in Tulsa's tunnels is spreading. Could Stevie Rae be responsible for more than a group of misfit fledglings? And Aphrodite's visions warn Zoey to stay away from the immortal Kalona and his dark allure - but they also show that only Zoey can stop him. She's not exactly keen to meet up, but if Zoey doesn't go to Kalona he'll exact a fiery vengeance on those closest to her. She just has to find the courage to do what's necessary, or everything that's important to her will be destroyed.

What a great month for new releases October has been, with books like An Echo in the Bone by Diana Gabaldon, Fire by Kristin Cashore and Hush Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick just to name a few. If you know of any other great books that are being released this week leave us a note in the comments.

Coming up on Royals this week is another Anything Goes week, this means that we have a variety of genres and reviewers featured. Hope you all have a great week!

Visit Alaine at her blog The Queen of Happy Endings

Salt and Silver by Anna Katherine

Author: Anna Katherine

Publisher: Tor Books, April 2009

Genre: Paranormal romance, fiction

Pages: 368 pages

Book Source: purchased at Borders

From Amazon.comThis lively tale of demons and gods, the debut effort of Katherine Macdonald and former Tor editor Anna Genoese, opens six years after witty, sarcastic Allie, a trust fund baby turned Brooklyn diner manager, inadvertently generates a door to hell in the diner's basement with the help of her childhood friend Stan. Leather-clad demon fighter Ryan shows up in response and soon becomes Allie's love interest. Now new doors are beginning to appear, leaving the human world vulnerable to invaders from the underworld. As Allie, Stan and Ryan join forces with a witch and rival clans of demon hunters in hopes of restoring balance between supernatural beings and human "mundanes," Genoese and Macdonald mix multiple mythologies into a charming, biting cautionary narrative about taking responsibility for one's actions.

My Thoughts:
Allie is the sarcastic, sweetheart proprietor of Sally's diner, and the owner of the doorway to Hell in it's basement. Ryan is the quiet, hot, bad ass demon hunter who shows up instantly to protect both Allie and the world from the demons who emanate from said door way to Hell. You could cut the sexual tension between them with a knife, and rightly so. It has been brewing for six years. That's a lot of smoldering looks and lonely nights, especially after putting your life on the line almost every night fighting demons.

One day everything changes because Allie's Door disappears, throwing the delicate balance of Hell Doors off. Thus begins the quest of Allie and Ryan: to find an answer to the funky Hell Door problem. Other hunters assist with their quest which requires a journey to Hell through on of the Doors. This is where the story really takes off, because we learn a lot more about Allie and Ryan and their respective pasts. Not only must they battle actual demons and roadblocks, they must battle their inner demons as well. Both Allie and Ryan mature along their journey; Allie realizing she is taking responsibility for her past actions and Ryan letting people get close to him. They learn about themselves and each other.

Now back to the story. The paranormal demon parts do not flow very well, in that I was a bit confused from time to time, as if I missed a part somewhere. This could be due to the fact that Allie is the narrator, and as such, does not have full knowledge of the demon history and rules. Ryan likes to protect Allie from the bad stuff (aww). The choppiness of the paranormal tid bits may also be due to the author collaboration as well. Either way, just let that go and read the story. You will not be disappointed. The big battle scene at the end is like something out of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, carnage and destruction everywhere, with one cool chick in the middle of it all.

Here is a taste of the writing:
Here are some important facts about the Door. One: It was Amanda's idea to open it, not mine. Two: It was a joke. We didn't even realize we were opening a Door into Hell, because we were super-drunk at the time, and, seriously, joking around. Now that I know what Doors do and how they work...well, I never wanted something so bad that I'd open a Door for it. Because three: The reason anyone would want to open a Door to Hell in the first place-with the death, and the blood, and the bioluminescent goo that you can't actually ever clean off the floor no matter how harsh the chemicals or how many black cats you drive across the stain (and that's a fun story) - the reason you do it is because the Door...gives you things.
pg. 5
Ryan pushes the cookie toward me anyway, even though I shunned his cookie! I shunned it. But it's the vanilla half of a black and white cookie. It is inevitable that I am drawn to it. I reluctantly take a bite.
pg. 114

Allie and Ryan are two halves of a black and white cookie. They need each other and complement each other perfectly. They are a sweet, kick ass couple.

Salt and Silver was a very entertaining read and I would certainly pick up another of "Katherine's" books.



Thanks to
from Jenny Loves to Read or this great review!

Darke Academy by Gabriella Poole

Genre: YA Paranormal

Copyright: 2009

Pages: 288

Rating: 3.5 crowns

Synopsis: The Darke Academy is a school like no other. An elite establishment that moves to an exotic new city every term, its students are impossibly beautiful, sophisticated and rich. And the more new scholarship girl Cassie Bell learns about the Academy, the more curious she becomes. What sinister secrets are guarded by the Few -- the select group of students who keep outsiders away? Who is the dark stranger prowling the corridors at night? And what really happened a year earlier, when the last scholarship girl died in mysterious circumstances? One thing Cassie will discover is that a little knowledge may be a dangerous thing, but knowing too much can be deadly!

Book Review: I opened Secret Lives with trepidation and frankly, low expectations. What would this be, another vampire novel, something like Claudia Gray's Evernight? A poor, spunky but undefeated girl gets a scholarship to an extravagant and posh boarding school which has a darke sekrit. Ooh, where have I heard that before?

The plot was strikingly similar to many novels which I've read. One good thing about Poole's writing is that the characters are vivid. They seem to come to life when you read them. Cassie was slightly unlikeable; her bravado seems like a pretense. Her roommate and best friend, Isabella, was overdramatic and seemed like an exaggerated caricature of the happy go lucky girl, but she had a lot of presence on the novel.

There were some parts I didn't like, such as Cassie thinking about Philip and Jilly Beaton, two people from her past which frankly, I have no idea what they had to do in Secret Lives, except as a build up and a slight back story for Blood Ties, its sequel. The writing was a bit choppy, and it was hard to get into the story. But a good story has a strong pull, and pulled in I was. (Yoda speak. xD) There was a nice balance between Cassie's school days and nights, between her studying in the day (not that there was much to show why she even got the scholarship, she doesn't really seem very smart) and prowling the school grounds at night to find out why some of the students are acting all mysterious. The ending left me pleasantly surprised. I'll reread the story in an entirely different light.

Thanks to Liyana for this fantastic review, visit her at her blog Liyanaland.

*Another* Another Faust Contest from the Authors

Hi everyone,

Dina and I are about to kick off a month-long tour for our book, Another Faust, and we want to do it by announcing a contest! We are looking for the most promising writers out there (that’s YOU). And then we want to showcase their work, so that all of the Internet can bask in their awesome writing might (and, you know, give them prizes).

HERE’S HOW IT GOES.

We want you to write your own short story, re-imagining of the Faustian Bargain. (For inspiration, check out Bedazzled, Simpsons “Tree House of Horrors IV,” and The Little Mermaid). It can be about anything you like (but let’s keep it PG-13, and under 3,000 words), and it’s open to everyone.

All you have to do is send your entry to dviergutz@gmail.com before January 31.

Rules and details can be found here:

http://www.danielanddina.com/site/2009/10/writing-contest-create-another-another-faust/

Make sure to read them so you don’t get DQed

And the winner gets all kinds of sweetness:

A signed copy of Another Faust

A handwritten deleted scene

A featured article & interview on our site

An author’s galley of the sequel Another Pan

Though we’ll feature the top five on our site for comments, the judging WON’T happen by popular vote (so basically, we don't care which contestant has the most friends).

Dina and I will personally read them.

So, spread the word! Tweet, retweet, forward, thread, spread, embed this post.

Good luck!
D&D

Lycan Tides by Renee Wildes

Genre: Fantasy, Romance

Copyright: 2009

Pages: 152 (e-book)

Rating: 4 Crowns

Book Blurb: Giving in to the lure of passion could lead to disaster…

Guardians of Light, Book 3

Selkie princess Finora is all too familiar with betrayal. Betrayal by her curiosity, which led her from the sea. By her body, which yielded to a handsome human under the full moon. By the human, who hid her skin and took its location with him to his grave. After seven years of searching, she no longer believes in miracles.

Trystan is a werewolf on a mission to find and return dragons to his homeland. He follows a slim lead westward across an unfamiliar sea. Gravely wounded in a pirate attack, his ship foundered in a storm and sinking fast, he comes face to face with the most unexpected rescuers—Finora and her two half-human children.

Selkie and werewolf. Both creatures ruled by the moon. The attraction is instant, mutual, undeniable…and impossible. Trystan is destined to return to the mountains and Finora can’t leave the sea. Their only gift to each other is one night of searing passion—which could lead to the greatest betrayal of all…

Review: Selkie! They rank pretty high on my list of 'most awesome and under rated fae creatures' (almost as high as 'Kelpies', but well those creatures are known to be brutal human liver eating monsters...so I doubt there's a romance there), so its with great happiness I read this. Shame on you if you don't know what a Selkie is.

Unlike Duality or Hedda's Sword this had less of a 'fantasy' feel to me. Or rather, it felt less like a fantasy that had no business with Earth. I could easily have seen this set on the coast of Ireland or Scotland, or even New England perhaps.

This is also just under half the length of Duality and a good seventy pages less then Hedda's Sword so it was a much quicker read. Not a lighter read though, it was emotionally as intense as certain parts of Duality were, but a quicker read by page count.

Trystan, who first appeared in Duality to help Moira (his sister), recounts how his quest began. That is, he promised Dara to go off and look for others like her, his search leading him to Rhattany where he has met Finora and her brood. Sadly his quest decides to be the most complicated thing he could have ever envisioned. Dragons, angry selkies, spiteful mermaids, kids who see things...its an endless tide of misfortune.

Passion is what drives nearly every person in this story--lusty passion, greedy passion, protective passion...its amazing how many different ways a passionate nature can assert itself. I liked Finora, but I liked Anuk so much better. Arrogant, selfish and mostly self-centered, she grows throughout the story as she learns things aren't what she was told. Life isn't exactly like what she was told it was.

In all I enjoyed this the best of the three volumes of the Guardians of Light available so far. It moved at such a wonderful pace and the characters were so full of life! Renee has mentioned that several more books are due out in the series, so take it from me--catch up now while you can.

Thanks to Lexie from Poisoned Rationality for this fantastic review.

Hedda's Sword by Renee Wildes

Genre: Fantasy, Romance

Copyright: 2009

Pages: 290 (e-book)

Rating: 4

Book Blurb: She’s known nothing but pain—but love waits in the arms of one man.

Guardians of the Light, Book 2

Maleta is a true survivor. Attacked and left for dead at a young age, she has traded her heart and emotions to become the ultimate weapon of vengeance for the Grey Goddess, Hedda. She swears to depose Queen Sunniva and restore her ancestral home to her brother, no matter the cost.

Cianan is drawn to the mysterious land of Shamar on the power of a vision—the death of a beautiful swordswoman to an army of skeletons. When he meets Maleta, he recognizes two things. She is his true Life-Mate. And she is the woman fated to die this horrible death.

He vows to change her fate.

Cianan must unite the diverse people of a fragmented land to overthrow a vicious despot and convince their true queen to take the throne. Falling in love with a mortal woman who’s buried her heart and shies from his every touch—that’s the real challenge.

Maleta knows she can trust Cianan to save her country. Can she trust him to help her save herself?

Review: I've often wondered if in romance and fantasy novels a class was taught about 'how to recognize your life mate and ways to ensure they don't run away', it might solve a lot of issues. For one thing, you won't make stupid blundering comments or move too fast when you should be learning the lay of the land (so to speak). I have a feeling Cianan might have taken a class along those lines, for his patience with Maleta is extraordinary.

Cianan has a hard time ahead of himself. Maleta isn't sure she wants Cianan--not because of anything personal, its just...she's had a hard life. Not any easy life. You don't become a tool vengence without giving something up (well not if you're a well-rounded character at least), and Maleta gave up what she thought she didn't need.

I really liked Maleta, her worldview wasn't completely black and white and she straddles the line of 'almost going too far' well. She struggles and tries and understands that not everyone is like those men who used her so long ago, but what the mind understands doesn't mean the heart does. She's a strong woman--her past wars with her present (and future) with equal strength, but its not until Cianan that she consciously works past the issues.

Cianan, as I mentioned, is a patient and gentle guy. Unlike Loren from the first book he recognizes that his life mate isn't going to be on her knees blessing the Lady for the wonderful fortune of having Cianan as hers. He understands that to get to know Maleta, get her to trust him and open her dormant heart to him, he has to work with her. Prove himself. So nice to see in a hero!

This is a shorter novel then Duality was, but it didn't feel like anything was cut out. Wildes does a really good job of keeping the pace moving without sacrificing detail or development. I look forward to seeing what happens in the third book (Lycan Tides) and further adventures!

Thanks to Lexie from Poisoned Rationality for this fantastic review.

Duality by Renee Wildes

Genre: Fantasy, Romance

Copyright: 2008

Pages: 333 (e-book)/304 (print)

Rating: 4 Crowns

Book blurb: Love will give them strength—or prove to be their fatal flaw.

Guardians of the Light, Book 1

Dara Khan Androcles is really in over her head this time. From childhood she’s been forced to hide her half-dragon mage fighting skills behind a public persona as a healer. Now, with a traitor and his demon threatening the throne of Safehold, Dara has no choice but to turn reluctant warrior—and seek help.

She strikes a bargain with runaway Elven prince Loren ta Cedric and his sentient, pain-in-the-butt war mare, Hani’ena. Loren’s not only too handsome for Dara’s own good, the powerful empath can see right through to the pain that drives her.

Loren can’t help but feel Dara’s every hurt, physical and emotional. Though his need for her drives him half mad, he must stay his course to see justice done for his people. Even if it means swearing a Life Debt to the distracting mortal.

That vow, made in the heat of their parallel quests, carries more power than either of them guessed. The power to bond the unlikely pair as Life Mates. The power to lay bare the fears and desires that could bind them to a single purpose—or tear them apart.

All the while a demon awaits, ready to destroy all that they hold dear.

Review: I really like the cover to this e-book/print book (its avail in either form). Its very pretty and is relevant to the story itself (I know such a novel idea!). The author kindly offered up the e-book for me to read and review (loves to Renee!) and before anyone says anything--there's plenty of the evil happening in this story to fulfill my love of dark things.

In fact I kind of loved to hate the evil despot of this novel, but I'm jumping ahead of myself.

The novel begins with a battle and takes off from there. In this land where women are forbidden to heal, to learn to fight for themselves--Dara is both. Through the grace of her adoptive father Rufus she's learned to be deadly with blades and through her adoptive mother's teaching she learned the healing arts. Her meeting with Loren is a fated thing and causes her a certain amount of trouble, but really not anymore then she would have gotten in by herself.

She doesn't really like to follow rules honestly.

This is a pretty standard fantasy--elves, demons, healers, magic--on the surface, but its full of wit, appropriately despotic evil doers and a relationship between Loren and Dara that felt very real. I found it rather amusing that Loren is all gung-ho about being Bonded while Dara is more resistant since she isn't exactly certain life-bonding yourself to a person you just met a couple days before is a really smart idea. For what its worth Loren's war-mare Hani'ena agrees with Dara.

Jalad, the despot I keep mentioning, is a horrible, twisted and dark-souled person. Well 'person' is a loose term for him really. I'm not certain that a human being could be as...evil as he is by themselves. I hated him, but man did he keep me interested to see what he came up with next!

My only problem with the book was that there's a lot of 'apostrophes' and stilted formal speech patterns throughout. While the apostrophes do serve to break up the speaker's dialect and give a sense of difference, they distracted me and had me concentrating too long on deciphering the words. The stilted formal speech was mostly when it came to Loren and his kind, or if Dara was feeling especially ornery. It threw off my flow of reading more often then not.

Duality was recently released in paperback form and has two sequels already out--Hedda's Sword and Lycan Tides, all three avail from Samhain. A fourth book is forthcoming and a fifth is rumored.

Thanks to Lexie from Poisoned Rationality for this fantastic review.

Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen

Genre: Fantasy

Copyright: 2007

Pages: 320

Rating: 5

Book Review: This book is enchanting, lovely and completely engaging from the moment you pick it up. This was another great read recommended to me by The Eclectic Reader. After reading Teddyree's review I ordered the book from my local library and have had it sitting on my shelf for weeks, it is actually due back on Monday. I was just in the mood for something light and magical so I picked this up last night.

I absolutely loved this book, it was a truly magical story about average people and all the problems they have living their lives. It's so exciting when you pick up a book that engages you with every page that you read, it is also a rare treat.

This book is filled with characters that you just have to love and care about. You have no choice!

Evanelle is the wonderful old Aunt that has an overwhelming compulsion to give people things they are going to need before they know they'll need them.

Claire Waverley is one of the sisters who have a lot of issues to work out. Claire has spent her life avoiding people so that she could not be hurt when they leave. She has a catering business and uses special ingredients from her garden that cause magical things to happen.

Sydney Waverley is Claire's younger sister who comes home after 10 years, running from something she is terrified of, but she doesn't share this with anyone and only her daughter Bay knows the truth.

Apple trees are not usually odd or violent, but the Apple tree in the back yard of the Waverley home is a magical tree. It will tell you secrets about your life, some you shouldn't know. It also throws apples at people which is really funny as it has very good aim.

This is an absolutely fantastic feel good story. The authors writing is lyrical and it was just like feeling the touch of a gentle summer breeze as I read this story. I can't recommend this book highly enough to anyone who loves magic, flowers, plants, family love and romance.

You can find out more about Sarah Addison Allen at her website. I have ordered her next book Sugar Queen and am looking forward to The Girl Who Chased the Moon (March 2010). Order any of these books from Book Depository (free international postage) or Amazon.

Visit Alaine at her blog The Queen of Happy Endings

The Sunday Post

This Week on RR: Fantasy Week

Featuring: Maharani of Mayhem & Mysteries, Duchess of the Dark, The Queen of Happy Endings and Guest Blogger Jenny Girl from Jenny Loves to Read

On another note, we'd just like to wish Teddyree - Empress of Good & Evil best of luck today for some minor surgery she's having. We'll be thinking of you and sending lots of love your way!

This Week I'm Loving: Scottish Photo Blogs

Do yourself a favour and check out some of the photo blogs below. They are simply breathtaking and make for a nice surprise in your Google Reader each day!

Scotland in the Gloaming
A few weeks ago, Queen of Happy Endings sent me a link to Scotland in the Gloaming - and I am so in love with it, I just have to share the link. If you're a fan of the Highlands or of Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series then you really have to check out the photos on this site. It seriously makes you want to book a plane ticket!
http://scotlandinthegloaming.blogspot.com/

Flickr Scotland
This photo blog not only showcases some amazing Scottish scenery but it also captures the essence of the people and culture. Get ready to add some more spots to your travel wish list as you browse a collection of photographs from some of the country's finest photographers.
http://flickr-scotland.blogspot.com/

Inverness Daily Photo
Another blog featuring the Scottish Highland (yes, I'm a little obsessed). You won't regret subscribing to this one on your google reader!
http://nessdp.blogspot.com/

Scotland 4 the Senses
This blog is not just photos - it delves into all the things that make Scotland wonderful (and even hosts giveaways). From porridge to ghost stories, I always find the posts entertaining. What can I say, food and scenery?
http://scotland4thesenses.blogspot.com/

Visit Annie @ her blog
Reading, Writing & Ranting

Book of a Thousand Days by Shannon Hale

Genre: YA Romance

Pages: 306

Copyright: 2007

Rating: 3/5

Book Synopsis: When Dashti, a maid, and Lady Saren, her mistress, are shut in a tower for seven years because of Saren's refusal to marry a man she despises, the two prepare for a very long and dark imprisonment.

As food runs low and the days go from broiling hot to freezing cold, it is all Dashti can do to keep them fed and comfortable. With the arrival outside the tower of Saren's two suitors - one welcome, the other decidedly less so - the girls are confronted with both hope and great danger, and Dashti must make the desperate choices of a girl whose life is worth more than she knows.

Book Review: Although I didn't know it when I originally chose to read the book, this story is based on a little known fairy tale from the Brothers Grimm, the same people who brought us the likes of Cinderella, Snow White, Rapunzel, and many others. As one might expect, the tale is as inviting as the others, and I found myself pulled in by the story.

We get to read the whole story from Dashti's point of view, as she writes their days in her book of thoughts. I quite liked this arrangement, because if nothing else, Saren is a bit of a frustrating character and I don't know if I would have wanted to see her thoughts throughout the entire book. We learn early on that Saren cannot read or write, so Dashti gives us both of their lives in journal format.

I really enjoyed seeing the two girls go from a lady and her maid, to friends, all the while seeing how very different life is for the gentry versus the commoners. While Saren is frustrating and I spent much of the time wondering if I should like her or not, Dashti is charming, clever, and loyal to the end.

Although this isn't historical fiction, a lot of it is based on accounts of times long ago on the central Asian steppes. Naturally, the mystical elements of the story are total fairy tale, but otherwise I think the life they lead, the reverence to multiple deities, presents an interesting look into a life we may not know much about.

The love triangle Dashti finds herself mixed up in makes me yearn to be a part of the story, to live in this world and experience their adventures with them. The disguise and drama really make you wonder what's going to happen next, and will love triumph over all?

I found the ending very moving, and I loved the end of the story for each of these characters, I felt it was just perfect. I think this is a really good book for the YA audience it targets, and would be something fun to read with your young daughter. It's also not bad to read just on your own!

Thanks to Crystal from I'm Totally Paused for this wonderful guest blogger review!

Scribbler of Dreams by Mary E. Pearson

Genre: YA Romance

Copyright: 2001

Pages: 223

Rating: 3.5 Crowns

Book Synopsis: Family secrets and long held grudges is the main component to this YA romance. Reminiscent of the feud between the Hatfield and McCoys this book gives you an inside look into Kaitlin Malone’s world where her family’s legacy has been intertwined with the Crutchfield family. For reasons unknown to Kaitlin, the Malone’s and Crutchfields have hated each other for over a century.

Book Review: Her father was recently convicted of manslaughter and is doing time in prison. Money has been tight at her house so her mother has no alternative but to send her and her sister to a public school. Kaitlin’s mom enrolls the girls using her maiden name as their last name. She doesn’t want the girls to experience any type of backlash due to their father having killed a prominent business man, who has also been a family enemy for ages. What no one would be able to foresee is Kaitlin meeting and falling in love with Bram Crutchfield. Bram’s father was killed by Kaitlin’s dad. Kaitlin knows right away who Bram is but she can’t stop herself from feeling such a beautiful and strong love towards him. He’s a gifted artist and she loves to journal. They spend countless hours just enjoying being in each other’s company. Kaitlin allows the relationship to bloom and continue even though she knows that at some point Bram has to know who she really is. Bram’s mother gives Kaitlin the journals of Maggie Crutchfield. Dark secrets come to life in the journal and Kaitlin realizes that she holds the key to unite these two families. But before she can do that her decision not to be honest with Bram may just destroy their new love.

I really enjoyed reading this Juliet and Romeo inspired romance. I thought the author did a great job of clearly defining the relationships and how these two families came to hate each other without really knowing one another. The story is written fairly realistically but at times I felt the writing was a little stilted. I did think the author could have developed the feeling and emotions a bit more. She tended to stay on the safe side. Maybe this is just me because I’ve read so many romance books and I may be judging her unfairly here. My students at the middle school loved this book and I can totally understand. I think this is a perfect romantic book for twelve years and up. I would recommend this for the YA reader out there!!

Thanks to Staci from Life in the Thumb for this wonderful guest blogger review!

Crazy Beautiful by Lauren Baratz-Logsted

Genre: YA Contemporary Romance

Copyright: 2009

Pages: 208

Rating:

Synopsis:

In an explosion of his own making, Lucius blew his arms off. Now he has hooks. He chose hooks because they were cheaper. He chose hooks because he wouldn’t outgrow them so quickly. He chose hooks so that everyone would know he was different, so he would scare even himself.
Then he meets Aurora. The hooks don’t scare her. They don’t keep her away. In fact, they don’t make any difference at all to her.
But to Lucius, they mean everything. They remind him of the beast he is inside. Perhaps Aurora is his Beauty, destined to set his soul free from its suffering.
Or maybe she’s just a girl who needs love just like he does.

Review:

Lauren Baratz-Logsted's exposition is breathtakingly beautiful. I found myself aching @ the raw emotion & losing myself in the sheer creative brilliance that is Crazy Beautiful!

I didn't read Crazy Beautiful, I devoured it! I must admit, I started to drag my feet as I was reaching the end. Why? Because Crazy Beautiful is so hypnotic (thank you my GH lovin' literary angel, Lauren Baratz-Logsted)!

Crazy Beautiful is an unparalleled fairy tale. Baratz-Logsted's interpretation of Beauty & the Beast is absolutely arresting.

Told w/ a modern twist, Crazy Beautiful will have you believing anything & everything is possible thanks to Baratz-Logsted's striking & charismatic prose.

Crazy Beautiful is told in alternating point of views, which is not only refreshing but allows readers to experience the deeply intense emotions that cover Lucius & Aurora like second skin.

Baratz-Logsted weaves an enthralling tale of fractured teens who are destined to be. Not in some mushy/gushy/eye rolling/syrupy/words on paper/teen heart tripping/"who are you again?" /third rate/ straight to DVD nightmare!

Baratz-Logsted scribes a cultivated novel resplendent in exquisiteness! Lucius & Aurora are soulmates. You will become enchanted, bewitched & ravenous for more.

Baratz-Logsted's provocative duo are extremely well written, you can't help but wish them to exist outside of the pages she skillfully crafted.

Every player in Crazy Beautiful is vital to the story ~ the novel just couldn't propel smoothly w/o every cast member sustaining the life Baratz-Logsted created for this remarkable tale.

Crazy Beautiful is rich w/ a sense of strong family dynamics. Aurora's relationship w/ her father is well orchestrated & a breath of fresh air. Lucius' place in his family is realistic & well developed & the author deserves kudos for not sugar coating his role.

I absolutely loved the mall scenes w/ his sister. Misty is a dynamic character & I'd love to see her get her own story.

Crazy Beautiful is a fast, emotional read w/ a unique take on a classic tale.

Now since Baratz-Logsted lightly touched upon Lucius' back story, I am hoping visions of a prequel dance in her head. Hint ~hint! I wouldn't mind if it was told in alternating perspectives as we experience life w/ Aurora's mom.

I loved Lucius! He was such an enthralling character; he simply jumped out of the pages. He was absolutely a three dimensional player. I adored Aurora! She was authentic & not so sweet you develop sugar shock. Aurora popped out of the pages, too. It was like watching a play.

Despite some of the dark undercurrents, Baratz-Logsted shines w/ humor.

Crazy Beautiful is crazy good & made me crazy crazier. Why? 'Cause I wanted more. Much more. I wanted to see Lucius & Aurora outside of the school environment & was spoiled when they had dinner.

To me the end was a bit rushed & I felt a bit cheated because I fell in love w/ these mesmerizing characters, I wanted more Lucius & Aurora. I know there is more to these two & I hope Baratz-Logsted doesn't forget to tap into a prequel & a sequel because this definitely showcases characters worth knowing!

Hurry! Grab your copy of Crazy Beautiful!

Check out Lauren's website here.

Visit Diane's blog @ The Book Resort

HIS EYES by Reneè Carter

Genre: YA Romance

Copyright: August 28, 2009

Pages: 196 pages

J. Kaye’s Rating: 3/5

Nona’s Rating: 5/5


Amy Rose Turner is two weeks from graduating high school. She has been accepted by two colleges. One is a public university, the other, a private and expensive one. Unbeknownst to her parents, she has used all of her savings to reserve a spot at the small, private college, hoping that she’ll earn enough money during the summer to attend. Her first interview is for a babysitting job.

When Amy shows up at the Edmund’s estate, she discovers the job is really to be a companion for Tristan, someone her age who has recently lost his eye site. At first, Amy wasn’t so sure about taking the job. Tristan made it clear he didn’t want her there, but his mother was desperate. Mrs. Edmund was so sure that having someone her son’s own age would bring him out of his shell that she increased the original hourly wage offer. Amy couldn’t refuse.

Even though the two are from different social classes, there is an attraction between the two. Told only from Amy’s point of view, I wasn’t able to deeply feel Tristan’s attraction for Amy. I also wasn’t able to feel his torment of being blind. There were a couple or so scenes in the book I didn’t feel a recently blind person could accomplish. My daughter, having read the book also, disagreed. Our discussion ended with her in a blindfold to prove her point. She won.

Even with my daughter’s insight, I would have loved to see this story from two points of view. Reneè Carter’s talent for telling a story is there. I just think, at least for me, it would have added depth to the story to have Tristan’s point of view also.

Visit J. Kaye at her blog: J. Kaye's Book Blog and a very special thank you to J. Kaye's daughter Nona for her contribution to this review!

My Soul to Take by Rachel Vincent

Genre: YA Romance

Copyright: August 1, 2009

Pages: 384 pages

J. Kaye’s Rating: 4/5

Nona’s Rating: 4/5

Kaylee Cavanaugh attends Eastlake High School and tries to be a normal kid. The only problem is she isn’t normal. She can tell when a person is getting ready to die. Not only that, she has this need to scream when it happens. It’s not these short little screams, but long, loud ones where she loses her voice. It’s something she can’t control and it’s landed her in the mental ward.

When Kaylee and her best friend, Emma, were out dancing, it happens again. This time though, Nash Hudson, a really hot guy from school is there. She’s not sure what he does to her, but his voice has a calming effect and she’s able to control her screaming. Little does she know that Nash understands what’s going on. The secrets he reveals will open up a mythological world of faeries and creatures of the Netherworld.

As Kaylee tries to understand the secrets that have been hidden from her, classmates are dying for no apparent reason. Kaylee and Nash with the help of a reaper, try to uncover the reason before anyone else dies.

This was a fun, fast urban fantasy novel with just a touch of romance. There were a couple of spots that threw me off or maybe it was my narrow mind that couldn’t get around the whole grim reaper thing. Once I was able to relax with that, the story picked back up for me.

My daughter, who also read the book, loved the grim reaper angle and felt it added drama to the story, especially Tod – okay, he was a favorite character of mine too. She felt the love interest that developed between Kaylee and Nash was a bit much at times, but I didn’t feel that way at all.

The ending had the perfect formula. It didn’t leave us just hanging there, but we both are anxious to read the next book in this series..


Visit J. Kaye at her blog: J. Kaye's Book Blog and a very special thank you to J. Kaye's daughter Nona for her contribution to this review!

Intertwined by Gena Showalter

Genre: YA Romance

Copyright: September 1, 2009

Pages: 448 pages

J. Kaye’s Rating:

Nona’s Rating:

When sixteen-year-old Aden first locks eyes with Mary Ann, something wonderful and horrible happened at the same time. For Aden who lives with four souls inside him, there was a blissful peace – no voices calling out to him. For Mary Ann, it was the beginning of a completely new life. Not only can she quiet Aden’s voices, but also there are secrets about her past she will discover.

What neither of them realized was the moment the two visually connected, a surge of energy exploded sending shock waves into the paranormal world. The first to arrive were Victoria, a vampire, and Riley, a werewolf and Victoria’s protector. Although Aden is attracted to Victoria and Riley to Mary Ann, Aden and Riley react towards each other as enemies. Aden and Riley will have to put their differences aside for the battle ahead.

It took me a long time to get into the drama brewing between these teens. I just didn’t feel the passion and wondered if the story would have been better if the relationship between Aden and Victoria would have been highlighted more in this book instead of equally on both couples. My daughter didn’t feel that way. She was hooked from the very beginning. She also feels that this is a great setup for the next book.

What we did agree upon is that the concept of the story was interesting. Aden having four spirits who poses a special ability adds to the flavor of the story. The author did a great job with Aden’s voices as not once did I find it confusing.

We both agree that the ending didn’t leave the reader dangling, but gives enough to interest the reader in the next book. Although I probably won’t be reading the next book in this series, my daughter will. She’s hooked.

Visit J. Kaye at her blog: J. Kaye's Book Blog and a very special thank you to J. Kaye's daughter Nona for her contribution to this review!

The Last Wife of Henry VIII by Carolly Erickson

Genre: Historical Fiction

Copyright: 2006

Pages: 326

Rating:

A novel about Catherine Parr, The Last Wife of Henry VIII. The least known of Henry VIII’s six wives was the cleverest of them all. Alluring, witty, and resourceful, she attracted the king’s lust and, though much in love with the handsome Thomas Seymour, was thrown into the intrigue-filled snakepit of the royal court. While victims of the king’s wrath suffered torture and execution, Catherine withstood the onslaught, even when Henry sought to replace her with wife number seven. She survived her royal husband, and found happiness with Seymour---but it was shadowed by rivalry with the young Princess Elizabeth, whose affection Seymour coveted. Catherine won the contest, but at great cost.

This was a quick, entertaining read following the dramatic life of Catherine Parr from childhood to her death. Told from Catherine's point of view it spans the history of all of King Henry's wives giving the reader a brief overview of  much of Henry's life as king & the ill-fated outcomes of each of his marriages. Cat is familiar with the workings of King Henry's court from a young age, her mother being Catherine of Aragon's lady-in-waiting. She finds favour with the King over her lifetime not only for her fairness but her wise & often refreshingly honest counsel until she finally becomes his sixth & last bride.

 

Erickson takes some liberties re-creating Catherine's life but as this is a work of fiction I wasn't bothered by the inaccuracies, if anything I found the embellishments added to the romance & drama. However if you're pedantic about an author taking artistic licence with history, then this may not be the novel for you. To give you an example, the novel recounts Catherine's 4 marriages, the first to Ned Burgh (Cat's one true love according to Erickson) then John Neville, King Henry VIII and finally Thomas Seymour but Catherine's first marriage was actually an arranged one, to the elderly Edward Borough.

Catherine was quite the humanitarian, skilled with herbs & poultices, well educated & level headed, although I did wonder at her intelligence when she recommenced her affair with Tom Seymour while married to Henry, obviously passion outweighed the possible loss of her head. She skillfully manages the delicate & often dangerous dance between honesty & protecting herself & those she loves.   I thoroughly enjoyed her often un-complimentary thoughts about Henry's character & her opinion of his former wives and I actually laughed at her audacity in voicing some of those thoughts. The following response from Catherine to King Henry, regarding his marriage proposal is a wonderful example of her temerity (and she managed to keep her head lol)

"I still feel fear and revulsion at the memory of you putting your hands on me, kissing me, when I was a young girl. I still feel the fury and anguish I knew when my beloved Ned died, a victim of the heartless demands of your court! I feel sorrow for poor Queen Catherine of Aragon, that noble and gracius lady, and for poor foolish Catherine Howard, and even for the one you call the Witch. They all got entangled in the deadly web of the court, and in the end the great spider at the heart of the web devoured them! As he will no doubt devour me!"

Plenty of page-turning action in this one, the usual court intrigue & treachery, religious turmoil, pilgrim revolts, accusations of heresy & treason. All in all, a fascinating look at the last woman standing.

Visit Teddyree at her blog The Eclectic Reader

The King's Rose by Alisa M. Libby

Genre: YA Historical

Copyright: 2009

Pages: 297

Rating:





Book Blurb:
Life in the court of King Henry VIII is a complex game. When fifteen-year-old Catherine Howard catches the king’s eye, she quickly transforms from pawn to queen. But even luxury beyond imagination loses its luster as young Catherine finds her life—and her heart—threatened by the needs of an aging king and a family hungry for power. Will their agendas deliver Catherine to the same fate as her infamous cousin, Anne Boleyn—sacrificed at the altar of family ambition?

Engaging historical fiction with a throbbing YA heartbeat, this thrilling novel will draw readers into the intrigues and dangers of the Tudor court.

Review:

When I began reading for this week on Royal Reviews, I was worried that I'd saturated my brain with the Tudors a little too much and that as a consequence, these books would have lost their magic. Alisa M. Libby reminded me why I am so morbidly fascinated by these tragic yet spirited women who were the 6 wives of Henry VIII. Turns out, there was still plenty of room in my imagination for this exceptional tale of Catherine Howard - King Henry's 'rose without a thorn'.

What would it be like at fifteen to walk in the shadows of such a tragic past? What would it be like to bed a man who killed your cousin and could do the same to you with enough reason? This novel explores the emotions of a young woman completely out of her political depth with only the band-aid of finery to make up for all she has sacrificed. Catherine is written realisticly but with a complexity that the historical records do not afford her - too often,naive young women were cast as the two dimensional harlotts of history.

Reading this book, you can't help but feel a sense of impending tragedy, knowing exactly what is coming for Catherine and your heart squeezes every time she casts her thoughts to the future. I really felt the author conveyed the weight of the political manipulation this poor girl was subjected to - she never stood a chance! Had she not been young and foolish then their intrigues certainly would've had her beheaded anyway. Young men and women were pawns of their families and their lives were only as valuable as their influence. If I ever travel back in time to Tudor England - can somebody make sure I'm a farmer's daughter or something? I couldn't stand King Henry's court - I have too little a neck.

Utterly tragic yet still thoughtful and elegently phrased, The King's Rose is one of those books I'm glad I chose to review. It's YA because of the age of its main character but due to its subject matter however, it would still be thoroughly enjoyable to most adult readers of Historical Fiction. I highly recommend this book!

Visit Annie @ her blog
Reading, Writing & Ranting