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: Unearthly ARC by Cynthia Hand

Title: Unearthly
Author: Cynthia Hand
Publishes: January 4, 2011
Hardcover: 448 pages
Reading Level: YA
My copy: Netgalley.com
My rating: 5 out of 5 wicked stars

Blurb (from Amazon.com):

In the beginning, there's a boy standing in the trees . . . .

Clara Gardner has recently learned that she's part angel. Having angel blood run through her veins not only makes her smarter, stronger, and faster than humans (a word, she realizes, that no longer applies to her), but it means she has a purpose, something she was put on this earth to do. Figuring out what that is, though, isn't easy.

Her visions of a raging forest fire and an alluring stranger lead her to a new school in a new town. When she meets Christian, who turns out to be the boy of her dreams (literally), everything seems to fall into place—and out of place at the same time. Because there's another guy, Tucker, who appeals to Clara's less angelic side.

As Clara tries to find her way in a world she no longer understands, she encounters unseen dangers and choices she never thought she'd have to make—between honesty and deceit, love and duty, good and evil. When the fire from her vision finally ignites, will Clara be ready to face her destiny?

Unearthly is a moving tale of love and fate, and the struggle between following the rules and following your heart.

My quick wicked thoughts...Oh my...this was one book I could not put down, it was a refreshing new look at angels and I loved it!

Why I was tempted to read this...I thought the blurb sounded interesting but I had no idea how much I would be sucked in on this one.

Cover thoughts...It's pretty amazing

Romance meter...The romance is suspenseful, it kept me interested and wanting to know. The two love interests were somewhat a mystery...who to trust? who not to trust?

Characters and plot...I found it refreshing that that our main character, Clara, wasn't immediately loved by all the boys in the new school where they move to help her complete her purpose as an angel blood. This is more realistic in that she isn't perfect but she is such an engaging character that you just really get involved in her life.  As she see more and more of her visions about her purpose she realizes the guy involved is the hot untouchable popular guy, Christian, who really will not give her the time of day.  She befriends a girl the first day, Wendy, who becomes an ally...and who also has a hot brother...that for some reason has it in for Clara and is giving her a hard time constantly. The characters develop well and the book flows perfectly, I stayed up late to finish this one.  You dont know who to trust, who is telling the truth and how it will all end until...the end, and then everything changes.

The ending...You think everything is all wrapped up...until you read the very ending and you have some unanswered questions...one that obviously won't be answered until the next book.  It was a bit of cliffhanger and I was definitely left wanting more.  I have not seen a date for book #2 yet.

Review: Firelight ARC by Sophie Jordan

Title: Firelight
Author: Sophie Jordan
Hardcover: 336 pages
Reading Level: YA
Published: September 7, 2010
My Copy: Around the World Tours
My Rating: 5 out of 5 wicked hearts

Blurb from author's website:

A HIDDEN TRUTH
MORTAL ENEMIES
DOOMED LOVE

Marked as special at an early age, Jacinda knows her every move is watched. But she longs for freedom to make her own choices. When she breaks the most sacred tenet of her kind, she nearly pays with her life, only to be spared by a beautiful stranger sent to hunt those like her. For Jacinda is a draki--a descendant of dragons whose ability to shift into human form is her best defense.

Forced to flee into the mortal world, Jacinda struggles to adapt. The one bright light is Will. Gorgeous, elusive Will who stirs her inner draki to life. Although she is irrestibly drawn to him, Jacinda knows Will's dark secret: He and his family are hunters. She should avoid him at all costs. But her inner draki is slowly slipping away - if it dies she will be left a human forever. She'll do anything to prevent that. Even if it means getting closer to her most dangerous enemy.

Mythical powers and irresistible passion ignite in this story of a girl who defies all expectations and whose love crosses an ancient divide ...

My quick wicked thoughts...An engrossing YA debut book with romance, action and dragons!

Why I was tempted to read this...The blurb sounded good, I have read only one other book about dragons and loved it.

Cover thoughts...Really amazing.  Love the dragon eyes and scales!

Romance meter...Oh my...yes of course there was some romance as bad as the two lovers tried to deny it...it was something they couldn't control.

Characters and plot...I absolutely loved this book.  I devoured it and definitely lost some sleep getting to the end so I would know how it ended!  The characters were engaging and likable, the conflicts were believable, and I didn't want to punch anyone for being a whiny bag ha ha.  Sophie loves being a draki (descendant of dragons) and loves the freedom it sometimes affords her, even though her pride tried to keep ties on her.  When she breaks a rule and gets into trouble...it is a draki hunter that lets her go.  Little does she know as her mom shakes up her world and moves them away from the pride that she is destined to meet her hunter again...and then the sparks will fly. Sophie is not a wimpy character, she is a take-charge kind of girl and I love that. This book kept me completely enthralled until the very end and left me wanting more.  It just came out last week so definitely go out and get this one.

The ending...The ending was good, you have a partial feeling of happiness that things didn't get completely screwed up but you are also DYING to read the next in the series to see where Sophie takes you next. I didn't see on the author's website when the next in the series will be out, but I will be looking for it! 

Review: The Iron Daughter ARC by Julie Kagawa

Title: The Iron Daughter

Author: Julie Kagawa

Paperback: 368 pages

Published: August 2010

Reading Level: YA

My copy: ARC received from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

My rating: 5 out of 5 wicked stars

Blurb (taken from NetGalley.com)

Half Summer faery princess, half human, Meghan has never fit in anywhere. Deserted by the Winter prince she thought loved her, she is prisoner to the Winter faery queen. As war looms between Summer and Winter, Meghan knows that the real danger comes from the Iron Fey, iron-bound faeries that only she and her absent prince have seen. But no one believes her. Worse, Meghan's own fey powers have been cut off. She's alone in Faery with only her wits for help. Trusting anyone would be foolish. Trusting a seeming traitor could be deadly. But even as she grows a backbone of iron, Meghan can't help but hear the whispers of longing in her all-too-human heart.

My thoughts...

I was late to read The Iron King and finished it last week (loved it!) so when I got a copy of The Iron Daughter you can only imagine how excited I was.  I was hoping The Iron Daughter would live up to the expectations had for a sequel since I devoured The Iron King.  Let me tell you, The Iron Daughter did not disappoint, in fact, I enjoyed it more.

The sequel brings back all the loved characters on a new mission with Meghan; Grimalkin, Puck, and of course Ash...but as things are revealed, Meghan is not sure WHO to trust.  The book is a whirlwind of new seelie, unseelie, and iron fey characters being introduced that shows the depth of Ms Kagawa's imagination...and what an awesome imagination that is.  This books is packed with non-stop action and drama...throw some romance in there with a little heartbreak on the side and you have an unforgettable series.

I want this to be a spoiler-free review, so I won't go in depth on the story line and let you discover it on your own, but I can say that The Iron Daughter gives you some background information on Ash and what has happened in his life to make him the way he is. Also you find out more about why he and Puck are always at odds. OH...and you find out a little bit of info about Meghan's father...the person that she remembers as her father anyway...is that enough teasers for you?? 

Meghan gets an unexpected ally in this book, who became endeared to me before the book was done, but I will let you find that out on your own!  The travels span the mortal realm to the Winter Court and places in between...literally in-between.  Meghan's powers are locked by the Winter Queen but she is finding out that she has more power than she realized and the source of that power could change everything.

The books ending is satisfying but leaves the door wide open for things to happen in the next book, The Iron Queen.  If you loved The Iron King, make sure and pick up a copy of The Iron Daughter when it comes out in August, you will not be disappointed!

Review: Angel Star (ARC) by Jennifer Murgia

Title: Angel Star

Author: Jennifer Murgia

Paperback: 256 pages

Published: May 18, 2010

Reading Level: YA

My copy: ARC from Around the World Tours

My rating: 5 out of 5 wicked stars

Blurb (via Goodreads):

Seventeen-year-old Teagan McNeel falls for captivating Garreth Adams and soon discovers that her crush has an eight-point star etched into the palm of his right hand-the mark of an angel.
But where there is light, dark follows, and she and Garreth suddenly find themselves vulnerable to a dark angel's malicious plan that could threaten not only her life, but the lives of everyone she knows.
Divinely woven together, Angel Star takes readers on a reflective journey when one angel's sacrifice collides with another angel's vicious ambition in a way that is sure to have readers searching for their own willpower.

My thoughts:

Angel Star was in one word...amazing!  I have to say this book makes me believe that angels are the new vampires.  The characters are rich with personality and the drama is nail-biting.  There are parts that are heart-wrenching and others when your heart sings with happiness for the characters.

Our main character, Teagan McNeel, is the quiet girl that always gets picked on in school by the mean-girls.  She has her one best friend since childhood, Claire, that makes being at school tolerable until in walks the hottest guy ever, Garreth.  For some reason unknown to Teagan, Garreth only has eyes for her.  As they spend time together, Teagan learns more about Garreth and his connection to the terrifying dreams she has been having all her life.  She learns about Hadrian and how he is a fallen angel wanting to cause havoc for humans and angels alike.

As light and dark forces start to collide and Teagan figures out she has powers she never knew about, she also is told that she is only person that can save her friends and her angel.  This book had me biting my nails, rubbing the goosebumps on my arms and feeling my heart break at times so I don't want to give too much away to you.  I didn't want to put it down, I had to know how it ended, and while the ending wasn't wrapped up neatly, it was set up perfectly for the sequel, Lemniscate.  This book is a roller coaster of emotions but well worth the journey!