Review: Mephisto Covenant by Trinity Faegen

Title: Mephisto Covenant: The Redemption of Ajax
Author: Trinity Faegen
Hardcover: 448 pages
Reading Level: YA
Publishing: September 27, 2011
My Copy: NetGalley
My rating: 5 out of 5 wicked hearts

Blurb (from Goodreads.com):

Sasha is desperate to find out who murdered her father. When getting the answer means pledging her soul to Eryx, she unlocks a secret that puts her in grave danger—Sasha is Anabo, a daughter of Eve, and Eryx’s biggest threat.

A son of Hell, immortal, and bound to Earth forever, Jax looks for redemption in the Mephisto Covenant—God’s promise he will find peace in the love of an Anabo. After a thousand years, he’s finally found the girl he’s been searching for: Sasha.

With the threat of Eryx looming, Jax has to keep Sasha safe and win her over. But can he? Will Sasha love him and give up her mortal life?

My quick wicked thoughts...This is one of those books that sucked me and kept me hanging until the end.  Loved the drama, the romance and the storyline.

Why I was tempted to read this...The premise sounded good, if not a little different.

Cover thoughts...The cover is cool, dark and spooky...but doesn't relate to anything in the book that I can remember.

Romance meter...Off the charts!  Once Sasha gives in and realizes that Jax is more than just a son of hell, their romance takes off!  I do have to warn those people that really like their books rated G to PG...this one does go a little farther in the "romance" department than most YA books, but this was a nice surprise for me!

Characters and plot...I loved so many of the characters in this book!  Sasha was a strong character, but also real in the term of feelings and emotions.  Jax was just all that is awesome and he has a great group of brothers.  I am hoping each future book focuses on another brother and his struggle to overcome the dark side.  I will say if you are one to be sad when some main characters (good and bad) are eliminated in the book, be wary of this one.  I found the change of pace refreshing and keep me on my toes because I really wasn't sure what would happen next.

The ending...It was great and the end result wasn't necessarily a surprise by the way it took to get there was a ride!  I can't wait for the 2nd in the series, per the author's website set to release Fall 2012, ugh the waiting!

Review: Legacy by Cayla Kluver

Title: Legacy
Author:  Cayla Kluver
Hardback: 496 pages
Reading Level: YA
Published: June 28, 2011
My copy: Net Galley
My rating: 4 out of 5 wicked hearts

Blurb (from Amazon.com):

The first boy disappeared on the day of his birth, on a night when the pale yellow moon that ruled the sky turned red and bathed the heavens in the ghastly color of blood, the same night the Kingdom of Cokyri abruptly ceased its merciless attack.

Across the land of Hytanica, in the villages, infant boys continued to vanish. The King turned a blind eye somewhat foolishly, seeking no explanation, needing to refortify his Kingdom’s defenses for fear that Cokyri would resume its brutal onslaught. He was finally forced to take notice when children inside the city’s walls began to disappear. A count was made of the number missing, but before the King could determine what action should be taken, the disappearances stopped as suddenly as they had begun. The last Hytanican child to vanish was the newborn son of a wealthy baron and baroness.

Within the week, as the bleeding moon waned, the decomposing bodies of the infants were found outside the gates of the city, a final word from the greatest enemy Hytanica had ever known. Grieving parents collected the rotting bodies of their sons, but there was one mystery that would for many years remain unsolved. Forty-nine babies were taken, but only forty-eight bodies were returned.

No one knew why the Cokyrians had withdrawn from the land or why they had not been able to destroy Hytanica and her people. The Cokyrians were superior to the Hytanicans as fighters and strategists, and did not adhere to any code of honor in war, but still Hytanica had not fallen. Some thought the Cokyrians had abandoned the effort out of frustration, for they had many times been poised to win; others thought the Cokyrian rulers had finally come to believe the ancient story of Hytanica’s conception.

According to lore, the first King of Hytanica, seeking to protect his foundling home, had been advised by his priests that a sacrifice of blood both royal and innocent would hallow the ground and make his Kingdom invincible. After much soul-searching, the King had taken the life of his own infant son, and placed drops of the boy’s blood at each corner of the land to forever shield the people he loved.

My quick wicked thoughts...This book was a refreshing break from paranormal with historical fiction...romance...and cliffhangers!

Why I was tempted to read this...I am a lover of historical romance so I have been wanting to read this for awhile.

Cover thoughts...Love the cover, the scrolls and the elegant historical feel to it

Romance meter...The attraction is there, but romance was hard to come by because Alera and Narian were not allowed much time together.  
 
Characters and plot...Alera is the daughter of the king and as such, must marry the person that is approved by her father to be a successor to the throne.  Her father pretty much has her decision mapped out for her with his choice, Steldor.  Steldor is arrogant, mean and cocky and Alera has never been able to stand him.  In an interesting twist to the story, Steldor as a person, evolves in the book, and towards the end, I wasn't sure what to think of him.  Alera is a strong character and her personality was not at all desirable back in the era that the book takes place, I liked that she stood up for what she wanted and tried to be involved in things the men in her life did not want her to be involved in.  This book is pretty lengthy at almost 500 pages and it covers a year of time in the life of Alera, so there are lots of details and situations thrown at you.  I found this book hard to put down because I had to know what happened because there were so many ways it could go...and the way it went...was shocking. 

The ending...A shock...and a cliffhanger.  I will leave it at that and I can't wait to read the next in the series, Allegiance.

Review: The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab

Title: The Near Witch
Author: Victoria Schwab
Release Date: August 2, 2011
Hardcover: 288 pages
Reading Level: YA
My Copy: NetGalley
My Rating: 4 out of 5 wicked hearts

Blurb (from Amazon.com):

The Near Witch is only an old story told to frighten children. 
 
If the wind calls at night, you must not listen. The wind is lonely, and always looking for company. 
 
And there are no strangers in the town of Near.

These are the truths that Lexi has heard all her life. 
 But when an actual stranger—a boy who seems to fade like smoke—appears outside her home on the moor at night, she knows that at least one of these sayings is no longer true.The next night, the children of Near start disappearing from their beds, and the mysterious boy falls under suspicion. Still, he insists on helping Lexi search for them. Something tells her she can trust him.As the hunt for the children intensifies, so does Lexi’s need to know—about the witch that just might be more than a bedtime story, about the wind that seems to speak through the walls at night, and about the history of this nameless boy.Part fairy tale, part love story, Victoria Schwab’s debut novel is entirely original yet achingly familiar: a song you heard long ago, a whisper carried by the wind, and a dream you won’t soon forget. 

 My quick wicked thoughts...a story weaved around old fables that turn out to have some truth to them, a unique and interesting book but it didn't WOW me.

Why I was tempted to read this...i thought the write up about it sounded interesting

Cover thoughts...It isn't final...but the one they have up...I think they can do better :)

Romance meter...Romance is about a 4 out of 5....the interest and attraction starts from the first but the boy is quite mysterious...so it drags a bit until he tells her what is going on with him and his history.

Characters and plot...I liked Lexi...she is a take-charge type of girl with a undeniable love for family.  The mysterious aura around Cole kept me interested in him...but something about the book drug for me.  It was not uneventful because there was a lot going on, I just didn't have a burning desire to get back to the book, so it took me longer to read.  The story was fanciful and unique and I loved how the author wove in town fables that everyone thought were just stories...into something that actually happened.  The ending wrapped up nicely so you aren't let hanging, but there were a few things I wish I could have found out! Overall I enjoyed it and I would read more by this author.

Review: Spellbound by Cara Lynn Shultz

Title: Spellbound (ARC)
Author: Cara Lynn Shultz
Paperback: 352 pages
Reading Level: Young Adult
Release date: June 21, 2011
My copy: Net Galley
My rating: 4.5 wicked hearts

Life hasn't been easy on sixteen-year-old Emma Conner, so a new start in New York may be just the change she needs. But the posh Upper East Side prep school she has to attend? Not so much. Friendly faces are few and far between, except for one that she's irresistibly drawn to—Brendan Salinger, the guy with the rock-star good looks and the richest kid in school, who might just be her very own white knight.

But even when Brendan inexplicably turns cold, Emma can't stop staring. Ever since she laid eyes on him, strange things have been happening. Streetlamps go out wherever she walks, and Emma's been having the oddest dreams: visions of herself in past lives—visions that warn her to stay away from Brendan. Or else.

My quick wicked thoughts...I really fell into this book and loved the romance and action!  If you love a good love story, this is for you.

Why I was tempted to read this...It sounded pretty interesting and an interesting twist to the paranormal genre.

Cover thoughts...It's pretty cool..a little plain.

Romance meter...At first...not so much. I was more mad at Brendan for being so nice and then rude, and I wasn't sure what his deal was.  When he came clean with what was going on, the romance heated up in big way.

Characters and plot...I liked both the main characters in this book.  I thought Emma was engaging and funny and I liked that she stood up for herself against the popular bullies.  I did question her judgement a couple of times for doing things that she obviously shouldn't have done, but it made a great storyline.  Brendan was HOT...so of course you gotta love that.  He was rich but not at all stuck up or showy.  I liked that he was his own person and did not try to mold himself to fit in, regardless of how much his parents pushed him.

The ending..the ending was great, I would love to see a spinoff or a second book in this series!

Review: Hereafter by Tara Hudson

Title: Hereafter
Author: Tara Hudson
Released: June 7, 2011
Hardcover: 416 pages
Reading Level: YA
My Copy: Net Galley
My Rating: 3 out of 5 wicked hearts

Blurb (from Amazon.com):

Can there truly be love after death?

Drifting in the dark waters of a mysterious river, the only thing Amelia knows for sure is that she's dead. With no recollection of her past life—or her actual death—she's trapped alone in a nightmarish existence. All of this changes when she tries to rescue a boy, Joshua, from drowning in her river. As a ghost, she can do nothing but will him to live. Yet in an unforgettable moment of connection, she helps him survive.

Amelia and Joshua grow ever closer as they begin to uncover the strange circumstances of her death and the secrets of the dark river that held her captive for so long. But even while they struggle to keep their bond hidden from the living world, a frightening spirit named Eli is doing everything in his power to destroy their new-found happiness and drag Amelia back into the ghost world . . . forever.

Thrilling and evocative, with moments of pure pleasure, Hereafter is a sensation you won't want to miss. 

My quick wicked thoughts...This book had an interesting premise but I had a hard time keeping my attention.

Why I was tempted to read this...The blurb sounds great.

Cover thoughts...The cover is amazing..love the ghostly look

Romance meter...There was a definite draw and attraction with Amelia and Joshua and some sparks involved...but was missing an element of excitement.

Characters and plot...Amelia being a ghost and unable to feel or speak to anyone was woken up when trying to save Joshua from drowning and their connection started there.  I almost can't put into words the element that is missing from this book that kept it from just wowing me, it was maybe...lackluster? All the ingredients were there from forbidden romance to action and adventure...but maybe it was the romance was too easy...there was no chase, only mutual obsession.  The story progressed slowly at points where I considered stop reading it but it would pick back up and then I would be interested again.  I think it could have been a little shorter with more drama and I would have had an easier time with it.  But that said, the book was an original premise and I definitely wanted to stick it out until the end to see how it was going to end up.

Review: The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter

Title: The Goddess Test
Author: Aimee Carter
Release Date: April 19, 2011
Paperback: 304 pages
Reading Level: YA
My Copy: Net Galley
My rating: 4 out of 5 wicked stars

Blurb (from Amazon.com):

It's always been just Kate and her mom—and her mother is dying. Her last wish? To move back to her childhood home. So Kate's going to start at a new school with no friends, no other family and the fear her mother won't live past the fall.

Then she meets Henry. Dark. Tortured. And mesmerizing. He claims to be Hades, god of the Underworld—and if she accepts his bargain, he'll keep her mother alive while Kate tries to pass seven tests.

Kate is sure he's crazy—until she sees him bring a girl back from the dead. Now saving her mother seems crazily possible. If she succeeds, she'll become Henry's future bride, and a goddess. 

 My quick wicked thoughts...An interestingly unique look at mythology and an unlikely love story.

Why I was tempted to read this...I love mythology, although I don't really remember much about the exact stories...so I am not one to comment on how the story goes with the actual myth...but I think the author twisted this one in just the right way to make it interesting.

Cover thoughts...It is eye-catching

Romance meter...Not so much at first....but it ramps up later.  I couldn't tell if Henry was going to be the love interest or not, considering he is Hades and is perceived in the first part of the book as being much older than her.  I couldn't tell if it was going to give me the creepy-old-guy factor the rest of the book, but it actually wasn't too bad.

Characters and plot...I liked Kate, she seemed to have a good head on her shoulders and she actually accepting things quite well for someone that thought she was quite average to begin with.  Like I already said about Henry...there was a beginning creep-factor with him, but as the story went along and you got to know him...it wasn't too bad.   This book was easy to get into and interesting enough to keep my attention and want to get to the end. 

The ending...It pretty much ques you up for the next book, which I will definitely be reading.  Goddess Interrupted is book two due out February 2012.

Review: Waterfall (River of Time Series #1) by Lisa T. Bergren

Title:  Waterfall (River of Time Series #1)
Author: Lisa T. Bergren
Release Date: February 1, 2011
Paperback: 384 pages
Reading Level: YA
My Copy: Amazon Vine
My rating: 4.5 out of 5 wicked hearts

Blurb (from Amazon.com):

Gabriella has never spent a summer in Italy like this one.

Remaining means giving up all she’s known and loved…

and leaving means forfeiting what she’s come to know…and love itself.

          Most American teenagers want a vacation in Italy, but the Bentarrini sisters have spent every summer of their lives with their parents, famed Etruscan scholars, among the romantic hills. Stuck among the rubble of medieval castles in rural Tuscany on yet another hot, dusty archeological site, Gabi and Lia are bored out of their minds… until Gabi places her hand atop a handprint in an ancient tomb and finds herself in fourteenth-century Italy. And worse yet, in the middle of a fierce battle between knights of two opposing forces.

            And thus does she come to be rescued by the knight-prince Marcello Falassi, who takes her back to his father’s castle—a castle Gabi has seen in ruins in another life. Suddenly Gabi’s summer in Italy is much, much more interesting. But what do you do when your knight in shining armor lives, literally, in a different world?

 

 

My Wicked Thoughts....

I have to say that this book was surprisingly fun to read.  It combines two of my faves...paranormal (in the way of time travel) and historical fiction!  Gabriella is a likable character with determined will to things as she sees fit..and you know that always gets people into trouble!  The book starts off in present day when Gabi and her sister wander into a forbidden archeological dig site and find hand prints in the wall...when both sisters press their hands there...the world changes..big-time - to the degree of 700 years.  When Gabi comes to her senses she is in the same site, alone...and in the middle of battle!  She is saved by Marcello, the 2nd son of the Lord of Castello Forelli.

Their attraction in undeniable but doesn't come at the best time, since he has been betrothed since birth to Lady Rossi, who of course is a jealous shrew.  So they deny it for as long as they can...all the while constantly in search of Gabi's sister...who didn't come thru the portal when she did.  Marcello is in the dark as far as the time travel situation, he just believes she has been separated from her sister and mother and is determined to help her find them.

I gave this book 4.5 stars because it was a little too convenient that Gabi knew how to do so many things out the norm...like how to use a sword, speaking Italian and some Latin and some of the plot was fairly predictable.  That aside, I enjoyed the book and finished it fairly quickly.  It is YA and honestly a little "cleaner" than average, but that doesn't take away from the story and the drama.  The characters are well developed and engaging, you really want to know how things work out in the end.  The ending is a bit open with lots of loose ends.  I look forward to reading the next book in the series, Cascade, due out in June 2011.