Review: Billow (Ondine Quartet #2) by Emma Raveling

TITLE: Billow                                         SERIES: Ondine Quartet #2 AUTHOR: Emma Raveling               PUB DATE: 7/5/12 PUB: Mandorla Publishing               FORMAT: ebook SOURCE: from author inexchange for honest review

It has been six months since ondine Kendra Irisavie arrived in Haverleau, the hidden capital of the water elemental world.Six months since she discovered her destiny as the sondaleur.Six months since a series of devastating events left behind their mark. Now, as she enters the chevalier elite program in her final year at Lumiere Academy, Kendra continues forward on her prophesied journey against the Shadow. Obsessed with what she must do to keep those around her safe, she struggles to balance her powerful magic and the demands of her fate with the challenges of friendship, the complications of romance, and the bonds of family. Meanwhile, the threat of the Shadow looms larger. Kendra and her friends investigate a series of puzzling human and elemental disappearances in the city of Lyondale and uncover a horrifying tactic used by the Aquidae in the war.When danger strikes close to home, Kendra must separate the truths from the lies and choose who and what to believe. Even if it means facing what she fears the most.

THREE WORDS: Suspenseful, Superbly Written

MY REVIEW: Whirl (Ondine Quartet #1), with its wonderful world-building, engaging characters and superb storytelling, was one of my favorite reads last year, so I was super excited to dive into the sequel, Billow. And I’m happy to report that the sequel does not disappoint in any way.

Picking up six months after the end of the first book, Billow finds Kendra struggling to understand the role she must play as sondaleur, while dealing with the emotional and mental trauma of the devastating events in Whirl. Kendra must balance her chevalier training, fragile relationships and familial duties, all while an internal war wages within her. And when a rash of mysterious human and elemental kidnappings occur, Kendra and her friends find themselves battling dangerous Aquidae , as the Shadow looms ever closer. Kendra must choose her path and decide what being sondaleur really means.

I loved Whirl because of author Emma Raveling’s ability to create an immensely layered and dimensional elemental world, full of engaging and likable characters, while offering readers a captivating and exciting story; all of which is deftly and effectively carried over into Billow. As a sequel, Billow seamlessly expands the story introduced in book one, while introducing new characters; new dangers and plenty of twists and turns.

Perfectly paced, Billow flows effortlessly and captivated me from beginning to end.  There’s a lovely and eloquent beauty to Raveling’s writing and she creates incredibly stunning images and palpable emotions with her words, yet her writing and descriptions never feel over the top or flowery. The world-building I loved so much in Whirl is laid out even further and deeper in Billow and the political/cultural/societal world of the ondines continues to be intricate, complex and intriguing. I’m still so impressed with how complete and real this world feels!

Our heroine, Kendra, faces a very intense and raw emotional journey in Billow and I love how realistically she reacts to her situation. Kendra is far from perfect- she has a temper, she can be reckless and acts without thinking and is reluctant to ask for help, preferring to do things on her own- but this is what makes her and her story so relatable and easy to connect with. Kendra grows a great deal in this book, both as a leader and as a fighter, and her character growth never feels forced. This is a heroine that readers will not only relate to and love, but believe in.

Two of my favorite characters from the first book, Julian and Tristan, continue to enthrall, enrage and excite me! Now, I’m not a fan of love triangles, but the complicated and often hot relationships between Kendra and these two guys never feels like a love triangle. You can feel the layered and tangible connection Kendra has to both of these swoon-worthy guys because Raveling has crafted them so wonderfully. And at this point I have no idea who I’m rooting for…I just lurve them both so much *sigh*

The darker elemental powers and magic are explored more in-depth in Billow and this leads to some heart-pounding action and heart-breaking events. I really like the villainy of the Shadow and its Aquidaes because these are “bad guys” that aren’t just fun to hate, they’re actually incredibly fascinating.

I love everything about how the book concludes- the tone, the twists and how it sets up book three. And I CANNOT wait to read book three!

MY FINAL THOUGHTS: Billow took me on an exciting journey deeper into the complex and riveting ondine world that Raveling introduced in book one . With heart-racing suspense, excellent and believable character development, enticing romance and exquisite storytelling, this is a must read sequel in a must read series!

MY RATING

Find the author: Website / Blog / Goodreads / Twitter / Facebook

Purchase: Amazon / Barnes and Noble

Emma Raveling is a fantasy author who leads a slightly eccentric life traveling throughout the world with her accommodating husband and charming, neurotic dog. Hopelessly addicted to coffee and diet coke, she has a strange love of spreadsheets and organizational tools because they give her the illusion that she is somehow in control of the chaos that is her life. A dedicated practitioner of vipassana meditation, Emma loves to cook and often spends time scouring the Internet for new recipes. She adores beautiful art such as painting and sculpture, classical music, lyrical writing, and great graphic design.

Whirl (Ondine Quartet #1)

Seventeen-year-old Kendra Irisavie is an ondine, a water elemental caught in the middle of an ancient war with the Aquidae, immortal dark demons who will stop at nothing to destroy the fragile balance of the Elemental world.
Fierce and independent, Kendra has always played by her own rules. Gifted with the powerful magic of Virtue and trained to be a deadly fighter, she has spent her life breaking hearts and getting into trouble.
When her life explodes one violent night in a northern California city, a dark stranger appears, promising answers to her mysterious past. Alone and with no one to trust, she must now navigate through a dangerous new world, face the temptations of a forbidden romance, and remain true to her duty and destiny.
All while the Aquidae continue to hunt her down, in the hopes of eliminating her forever…

Purchase: Amazon l Barnes and Noble l Smashwords

Review: Evertaster by Adam Glendon Sidwell

TITLE: Evertaster                         AUTHOR: Adam Glendon Sidwell PUB: Future House Pub            PUB DATE: 6/14/12 FORMAT: Kindle ebook            SOURCE: purchased

What if there were a taste so delicious that if you found it, you’d never want to eat anything else again?
When eleven year-old Guster Johnsonville rejects his mother's casserole for the umpteenth time, she takes him to the city of New Orleans to find him something to eat. There, in a dark, abandoned corner of the city, they meet a dying pastry maker who tells them of a legendary recipe called the Gastronomy of Peace -- a recipe created hundreds of years ago, shrouded in secrecy, and sought after by connoisseurs everywhere. So begins a perilous adventure that will take Guster, his clever sister Mariah, and the rest of the Johnsonvilles on an adventure to ancient ruins, faraway jungles and forgotten caves, where they discover that their search is more than just a quest to satisfy Guster’s cravings -- it is a quest that could change humanity forever.

WATCH THE AWESOME TRAILER

THREE WORDS: Deliciously Fun & Original

MY REVIEW: Sometimes reading a book- a really, really awesome book- is an experience equivalent to savoring something super yummy. Well, reading Adam Glendon Sidwell’s Evertaster was like snacking on the most delectable, homemade cupcakes...yeah, it’s that good!

Guster Johnsonville takes being a picky eater to a whole new level. Nothing makes his taste buds dance. Fed up with his fickle ways, his mother takes him to New Orleans to find something he’ll eat and they come across a dying baker who changes their lives. The baker tells them of the Gastronomy of Peace, an ancient and secret recipe that could change the world and before he can tell them the whole story they’re attacked by mysterious chefs in red. Suddenly Guster, his mom, his sister and two brothers find themselves on the run from a secret society and in search of the secret ingredients for the Gastronomy of Peace. With only a strange, old egg beater as a map, the Johnsonvilles head out on the adventure of their lives that takes them across the globe.

Smart. Refreshing. Wonderfully written. Full of superb characters and exciting adventure. These are just a few ways to describe this fantastic MG book! Evertaster is bursting with flavor, fun and fabulousness.

Sidwell has created one of the most original, well-crafted and imaginative  MG stories I’ve come across in a long time. I love the idea of being an Evertaster, someone who doesn’t simply taste their food, but taste the soil it grew in, the ocean wind that blew across a lemon, the clovers the cows, whose milk you’re drinking, ate, the rain that fell upon the veggies. Or as it says in the book:

            Someone who tastes every flavor that ever touched every ingredient in his food. They taste time. They taste history. (Kindle, location 1450)

This book pulled me in from page one (I couldn’t put it down!) and held me enchanted till the very last word. The author writes with a clever, addicting voice that will captivate readers of all ages and the settings are vivid and lush. The story is quite cinematic and I could see every detail play out in my mind and almost taste every scrumptious tidbit.

The adventure is exciting and suspenseful with a mystery that is like the Da Vinci code for kids. There are enough thrills, twists and bad guys to keep even the most discerning palates satisfied. And I love that the whole Johnsonville family takes this journey together. Not many MG books feature parental characters that are significantly involved throughout the whole plot, but in Evertaster Mrs. Johnsonville is an important (and great!) character. But that doesn’t mean that the younger characters aren’t courageous heroes and heroines, because they are.  Guster and his siblings are charming, clever young characters that readers will easily relate to.

I love how the book concludes, but I’m ecstatic that the adventures will continue in the sequel.

MY FINAL THOUGHTS: From the spellbinding adventure, original story and engaging characters, I love everything about this dazzling and imaginative debut! This book reminds me of why I adore MG fiction (and makes me want to bake!). A MUST read book that I recommend for readers all ages!

MY RATING

Find the author: Site / Goodreads / Twitter / Facebook

Purchase: Amazon / B&N / Book Depository

In between books, Adam Glendon Sidwell uses the power of computers to make monsters, robots and zombies come to life for blockbuster movies such as Pirates of the Caribbean, King Kong, Transformers and Tron. After spending countless hours in front of a keyboard meticulously adjusting tentacles, calibrating hydraulics, and brushing monkey fur, he is delighted at the prospect of modifying his creations with the flick of a few deftly placed adjectives. He's been eating food since age 7, so feels very qualified to write this book. He once showed a famous movie star where the bathroom was. Adam currently lives in Los Angeles, where he can't wait to fall into the sea.

Review: Fairyland by J.L. Bryan

TITLE: Fairyland                        SERIES: Songs of Magic #4 AUTHOR:J.L. Bryan                 PUB DATE: 6/12 FORMAT: ebook SOURCE: from author in exchange for honest review

Jason and Erin’s urgent mission takes them deep into the colorful and deadly wilds of Faerie, full of bizarre and rude creatures, and past the glittering volcanic islands of the Southward Sea.

In man-world, Mitch and Dred try to prepare for a live concert in front of millions of viewers while half their band is missing. The record company is furious with them, and so are a certain violet-haired fairy and her banshee wolf friend, who finally catch up with them in Los Angeles.

In Faerie, Queen Mab and the leprechaun Aonghus Mac Lobhar enter into a secret agreement over a new kind of magic that will change fairyland forever...

THREE WORDS: Rockin’ Fantastical Fun!

MY REVIEW: So, if you’ve read my previous reviews of books one, two and three of the Songs of Magic Series by J.L. Bryan then you know just how much I love this series! And guess what…book four, Fairyland, is my absolute favorite so far! Which means this book is awesometastic and fantabulous!

Picking up right where book three leaves off, Fairyland finds Erin and Jason in (wait for it)…fairyland! The evil dullahan has taken Katie into Faerie and Erin, Jason and Grizlemor go after them and find themselves up against strange and dangerous obstacles in this fantastical world. After making a deal with some clurichauns the three must go on a mission across fairy land in order to retrieve a special bug in exchange for Katie’s freedom. Meanwhile, in L.A. Mitch and Dred must prepare for a concert without half the Rioting Zebras, with Aoide and Liadan hot on their trail and just a little peeved. And everybody encounters some unexpected surprises.

Author J.L. Bryan really rocked this one! Packed full of fantastical adventure, jamming music, electric romance, awesome characters and superb world-building, Fairyland is the perfect mix of fun, fantasy, humor and excitement.

There’s quite a bit going on in this book, in both Faerie and man-world, but the story flows effortlessly and seamlessly. Bryan continues to bring an absolute wonderful and fresh sense of humor to every page. I love how laugh out loud funny these books are, without ever being cheesy or over the top. And the story is hip and current, while at the same time appealing to all ages.

I was so excited to explore the world of Faerie with Erin and Jason and I’m completely in love with this world! Bryan has created a very eclectic Wonderland meets Narnia kind of world that dazzles and sparkles with fantastical originality. This fairy world is as enchanting as it dangerous and as beautiful as it is forbidding, with frogs the size of mountains, volcanoes that spew jewels, clever pixies, hungry loan sharks (of the oceanic type), hippie mermaid thieves, rivers of chocolate and peanut butter cup flowers, oh my!

I loved journeying with Erin and Jason through Faerie, but Dred and Mitch’s run-in with Aoide and Liadan is as equally entertaining. I’m still Dred’s #1 fan and have a huge crush on this feisty gal! Aoide continues to fall in love with man-made music and there’s a lot of awesome music appreciation in this book, from Ella Fitzgerald to Buddy Holly to Led Zeppelin…for those about to rock, this book salutes you ;)

The love sparks continue to fly between Erin and Jason and there’s even some long awaited smoochin’. I really love these two together and how natural their relationship has progressed. I’ve said it before, but it bears repeating, this is a romance that readers will believe in and be invested in completely! There’s also some long awaited exploration of Erin’s mysterious, otherworldly specialness…I won’t spoil it for you, but I’m totally loving the direction this part of the story is taking.

The book concludes with a little mystery and suspense and excitedly sets up the fifth book and I cannot wait to read the next book!

MY FINAL THOUGHTS: This series continues to captivate and enchant with its humor, thrills and wonderful characters and settings, and Fairyland hums with awesomeness. A MUST read book and series!

MY RATING

Find the author: Website / Goodreads / Twitter / Facebook

Purchase: Amazon / B&N / Smashwords

J.L. Bryan studied English literature at the University of Georgia and at Oxford, with a focus on English Renaissance and Romantic literature. He also studied screenwriting at UCLA. He lives in Atlanta with his wife Christina, dogs Violet and Tiger Lily, and cats Shadow and Sue. 

Review: The Selection by Kiera Cass

TITLE: The Selection                   SERIES: The Selection #1 AUTHOR: Kiera Cass                  PUB DATE: 4/24/12 PUB: Harper Teen                         FORMAT: e-ARC SOURCE: from Edelweiss for review

For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in the palace and compete for the heart of the gorgeous Prince Maxon.But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn't want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks.Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she's made for herself- and realizes that the life she's always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined.

WATCH THE TRAILER

THREE WORDS: WTF

MY REVIEW: I feel the need to emphasize the fact that I was not aware of any of the drama llama-ness surrounding this book and/or author that took place a few months ago, until after I began reading it. My review and thoughts are based solely on the book itself…okie dokie? Oh, and there will probably be slight, general spoilers throughout…

The Selection is every girl’s dream. Every girl except America Singer. In the country of Illea (a future, dystopian USA), the young Prince Maxon will select his future wife from a selection of 35 lucky chosen girls, and this process will be televised for the citizen’s entertainment. America wants nothing to with the Selection, she wants only to marry her secret love, Aspen. But Aspen is a Six and America is a Five and in this world, that is divided into numbered castes, their love is all but impossible. Urged by her mother and Aspen himself, America enters the draw and is chosen. After a heartbreaking break-up with Aspen she’s taken away to the palace and dropped into a lavish, cut-throat world of love and power.

I’m not even sure where to begin with this review except to be honest and say that it was a complete disappointment and not an enjoyable reading experience. There are so many things in this book that I have issue with and I’m going to try and cover a few of them efficiently.

The Selection has been compared to the television show The Bachelor, which is a fair comparison, and The Hunger Games, which is kind of a “you wish” comparison. The only things these two books have in common is 1) a dystopian setting, 2) a competition 3) starving people. I’d call The Selection dystopian-lite and this is my first big issue. Author Kiera Cass has laid out an intriguing premise with the potential to be grand and complex, but it never gets there. I don’t know about y’all, but I like my dystopian settings/worlds to be somewhere in the realm of plausible or at least logical…this story is neither.

The dystopian setting Cass creates makes no sense because no real explanation is given. From the few pages in the middle of the book, I’ve gathered that there was a WWIII and/or a war with China, the US lost, then more fighting, then the US was refigured and renamed Illea, then our republic became a monarchy….I think. There’s no explanation given as to why the country was divided into castes or who/how the purpose of each caste was assigned. At one point during this very brief history lesson, one of the handlers tells the girls “Dear girls, history isn’t something you study. It’s something you should just know.”….The heck is that supposed to mean? 


If this were some fantasy taking place in another world or sci-fi taking place on another planet then I’d be okay with being dropped right into the middle of this cultural/political setting and just accepting it for the way it is. But Cass has chosen to place her story in an altered, but familiar setting and she’s boldly taken the US apart, rearranged; renamed and redesigned it completely, and I would have appreciate at least some detailed backstory/history. Or at least a few simple details: how big is Illea or is there only one royal family? Then there’s the way the author simply combines names of real countries (i.e Swendway, Honduragua): what is this supposed to signify?

There really is absolutely no real world-building as far as the political/social/cultural aspects of this so-called dystopian setting go. And what world-building there is, is vague or confusing. The main focus of the story is clearly on the Selection and America’s story, but Cass insists on interjecting brief subplots, such as the rebel attacks; the plight of poorer castes; and Prince Maxon’s sudden realization that not everyone lives like royalty, throughout the main story, but these subplots feel forced and contrived. It’s as if the author tried too hard to make her story meaningful or thought-provoking, and instead created a disjointed story whose subparts do not mesh or flow coherently.

And the actual Selection portion of the story felt like one long meandering episode of Who Wants To Marry A Prince? And by the ending of the book, the Selection wasn’t even over! From the moment America arrives at the palace to the end of the book, nothing substantial or remotely exciting happens. There’s a whole lot of playing dress-up, catty girl fights, awkward dates, a few rebel attacks and childish behavior, but no real story/character development.  Most of the story literally takes place in  America’s room, the dining room, the Women’s Room, the garden and a brief stint in a basement…for reals! By the end, even I was going stir-crazy.

Unfortunately, the characters are really no more exciting than the story. America is kind of a mess of a character. I think she’s supposed to come across as humble and compassionate, but ends up sounding superior and at times, a little dumb. Her humor falls flat, her obsessive observations of how plain she is and how much prettier the other girls are make her sound shallow and vapid. Her little ‘strong-willed’ and ‘independent’ outbursts of “I’m not gonna change myself for some Prince” or “No one’s gonna tell me what to do/say/wear!” are unconvincing and childish.

Aspen is bad-tempered, easily angered and a bit controlling. Prince Maxon ended up disappointing me greatly because I actually liked his awkward honesty and sincerity when we first meet him, but then he gets all “Me Prince, you silly girl. You listen to me! Nananananana *sticks tongue out*” and turned into a d-bag. There’s a love triangle (as if you hadn’t already guessed) and it’s trite and boring and I could care less who America ends up with.

There are other characters of course. I mean there’s 34 other selected girls, but don’t worry about learning their names because only a handful actually matter. America’s mother acted more like her pimp than her mom (Oh, America you must do this! Think about all the money we’ll receive! Just do whatever they ask you to and don’t scowl and don’t talk back and be a lady and don’t screw this up because our family desperately needs the money. If you love us, you’ll win.  Moneymoneymoney).

 Then there are America’s three maids (why does each girl need three maids?! Sheesh, I get anxious when I have more than one pillow on my bed; I’d have no idea what to do with three maids!). I’m still perplexed as to just what point Cass is trying to make with these three maids. America spends a great deal of time with them (oh, how glorious of her, uh?) and laments on their poor situation, yet constantly thinks things such as “…they were so eager to serve”, “They were just so excited to be so helpful…”, “I’m sure they just live for this”. So which is it: are they poor, disadvantaged things or content, happy gals who are simply ecstatic to live to serve? The way Cass describes them all I can think about is three eager puppies, longing for nothing more than approval and cuddles from their owners. Cass took an opportunity to take three characters and make a really poignant point about the country’s lower castes and instead turned them into something ridiculous and laughable.

The writing in this book is far from spectacular. With the very vague to no world-building and Cass’ habit of telling rather than showing, the book is full of lazy writing (and I hate to use that term). And I don’t want to get nitpicky, but there are some sentences and word choices that just left me baffled:

·         “He was tall, but not too tall. Thin, but not too thin”…really, America? You mean he was average height and average build? This makes her sound smart, but not too smart.

·         “You idiot!” I whisper-yelled at him…how does one whisper yell exactly? Wouldn’t that just be whispering angrily?

·         “…the helpful shelf near the doors..” …man, ya gotta love those selfless, giving shelves. I would have gone with “handy” or “convenient” shelf, but that’s just me.

·         “It was a bizarre mix of rigidity and calm”…why is that a bizarre mix? Technically those two are not opposites or exclusive to one another

I hate to end this review without one positive note, so I’ll admit that the cover is gorgeous.

MY FINAL THOUGHTS: There were a few times when I considered just DNFing this book, and maybe I should have, but I kept trudging on in hopes that it would get better. It never did. The general premise is intriguing, but the execution is severely lacking.  With little world-building, unlikable characters, an illogical dystopian environment, a cliché romance, and ineffectual writing The Selection did not provide an enjoyable reading experience. I will not be continuing with this series, nor can I recommend it.

MY RATING

Find the author: Website / Goodreads / Twitter 

Purchase: Amazon / Barnes & Noble

Review: Closed Hearts (Mindtrack Trilogy #2)

Be sure to check out my Closed Hearts Blog Tour post, where Susan Kaye Quinn stops by for a guest post and giveaway!

TITLE: Closed Hearts                     SERIES: Mindjack Trilogy #2 AUTHOR: Susan Kaye Quinn      PUB DATE: 5/23/12 FORMAT: e-ARC SOURCE: from author in exchange for honest review

When you control minds, only your heart can be used against you.                  Eight months ago, Kira Moore revealed to the mindreading world that mindjackers like herself were hidden in their midst. Now she wonders if telling the truth was the right choice after all. As wild rumors spread, a powerful anti-jacker politician capitalizes on mindreaders’ fears and strips jackers of their rights. While some jackers flee to Jackertown—a slum rife with jackworkers who trade mind control favors for cash—Kira and her family hide from the readers who fear her and jackers who hate her. But when a jacker Clan member makes Kira’s boyfriend Raf collapse in her arms, Kira is forced to save the people she loves by facing the thing she fears most: FBI agent Kestrel and his experimental torture chamber for jackers.

THREE FOUR WORDS: Electric. Relevant. Fantastic Characters

MY REVIEW: Open Minds (book one in the Mindjack Trilogy) was one of my favorite reads last year, so I was super excited to read Closed Hearts. Excited and a tiny bit nervous, worried that Susan Kaye Quinn would not be able to capture again the electrifying essence of the first book…I had nothing to be worried about! Not only does this second volume match the first in excitement, suspense, thought-provoking material and superb world-building, it goes beyond even the awesomeness of Open Minds.

It’s been eight months since Kira Moore revealed to the world the existence of mindjackers like herself. Her family has been forced to go into hiding as the mindreaders’ fears of mindjackers intensify. But Kira secretly continues to see her BFF and boyfriend Raf in secret. But when an old enemy shows up and Kira ends up in Jackertown among a group of mindjacking revolutionaries, Kira must go up against old and new foes to save the people she loves.

I had intended on reading Closed Hearts over the course of several days, but after muttering “Just one more chapter” after each chapter, I found that I had devoured the book in one sitting, simply unable to put it down. It’s THAT captivating and “I gotta know what happens next!” inducing.

In this volume, Quinn continues to expand and explore the frightening, yet completely intriguing world she has created. Kira finds herself in Jackertown, among mindjackers who have been run out of town by mindreaders and I loved this new setting. Quinn adds even more layers to her already intricate and well-developed world by introducing this setting and the complex social issues it brings to light.

And one of the things I find most compelling about this series is how relevant and fresh the social/cultural/political issues are. The world in this series is quite different than our world, but Quinn deftly explores hot topics that mirror many of the ones our society faces today; topics that are really quite relevant in any generation. The mindjackers, people who were born different than most others, are ostracized, feared and punished simply for the differences they have no control over and Quinn crafts a very palpable and realistic look at how this affects Kira’s society as a whole and how it affects people on a personal level.

The story itself continues to be very thought-provoking, but also immensely thrilling and suspenseful. I was completely enthralled by the difficult journey Kira must take in this book and all the unexpected places she ends up. There are quite a few exciting and well-written fight scenes and scenes of peril that had my heart racing.

Most of my favorite characters from the first book make an appearance in this one. Kira remains a very dimensional, engaging heroine  who is easy to like and connect with. But as much as I love her, I really liked getting to know all the new characters Quinn introduces, especially the mindjackers in Jackertown. With these new mindjackers comes new and powerful jacking abilities, and I’m in complete awe of Quinn’s imagination and innovative-ness.

My favorite new character is Julian and I’ll admit that he has me all swoony! I love Raf, but there’s just something so intensely captivating and endearing about Julian. I’ll admit that when he was first introduced I feared that Quinn was setting up a love triangle between Kira/Raf/Julian, but it never felt like that. The feelings Kira experiences for both these guys come across has very natural and believable. She’s simply a girl who is in love with her BFF and best friend Raf, but can’t deny that she has a strong connection to Julian. There’s an absolutely heart breaking event that happens and I’m excited to see what effect this has on Kira’s love life.

I really love where Kira ends up by the end of this book, both the physical and mental/emotional place and I am dying to find out how this trilogy ends!

MY FINAL THOUGHTS: Closed Hearts definitely does not suffer from any sequel slump or second book disappointment. Instead, it surpasses the awesomeness of the first book, making it and the Mindjack Trilogy MUST reads!

MY RATING

Find the author: Website / Goodreads / Twitter / Facebook

Purchase: Amazon / B&N

Susan Kaye Quinn is the author of the bestselling YA novel Open Minds, Book One of the Mindjack Trilogy, which is available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and iTunes. The sequel Closed Hearts has just been released. Susan's business card says "Author and Rocket Scientist," but she mostly plays on Twitter, Facebook, and Pinterest. 

Check out my stop on the Closed Hearts Blog tour

Review: Fairystruck by J.L. Bryan

Be sure to check out my review of Fairy Metal Thunder and Fairyblues

TITLE: Fairystruck                   SERIES: Songs of Magic #3 AUTHOR: J.L. Bryan              PUB DATE:  3/17/12 FORMAT: e-ARC SOURCE: from author in exchange for honest review

The sequel to Fairy Metal Thunder and Fairy Blues.

With their first single shooting up the Billboard charts, the Zebras hit the road as the opening band for an epic stadium tour across America. The future looks bright for the band, if they can survive the rioting fans, Queen Mab of Faerie, the dullahan, and the evil teddy bears.

Aoide the Lutist and Liadan the banshee wolf cross into man-world on the trail of the stolen fairy instruments. Aoide is shocked at the strangeness of life among the humans, but she also learns about a thrilling new kind of music never heard in Faerie...rock and roll.

THREE WORDS: Rock. And. Roll…*throws up the double horns*

MY REVIEW: Sinister teddy bears. Evil dollhouses. Rabid fangirls…no, this isn’t a Justin Bieber music video (eww!!!). It’s the rockin’ fun in Fairystruck, the third book in the Songs of Magic series by J.L. Bryan.

Picking up where the second book leaves off, in Fairystruck we find Jason, Erin, Mitch and Dred- aka the Assorted Zebras, aka the Rioting Zebras- living the rock and roll dream as their #1 hit “The Sugar Dance” skyrockets them to fame. As the opening act on the Smoov-Moov tour, the Zebras find themselves touring across the US, traveling in a rickety old schoolbus with their new tour manager. Aoide the faerie and Liadan the banshee find themselves in man-world, on the hunt for the missing magical instruments. While Aoide and Liadan must navigate in a strange world, the Zebras must contend with enthusiastic fans, eccentric rappers, controlling music execs and sinister teddy bears…yep, teddy bears!

I always have so much fun when reading the Songs of Magic series and in Fairystruck the fun, laughs and music keep flowing! J.L. Bryan continues to expand his enchanting and rocking world, while further developing his engaging characters.

In this volume we find all our favorite characters in new and exciting places. The Assorted Zebras, who have been renamed the Rioting Zebras, are thrust into the spotlight, playing in front of huge crowds, and Bryan has depicted this experience with laugh out loud humor, while keeping the story fresh and hip. The teenage characters get to live out this bigger than life fantasy and I love feeling like I’m experiencing everything with them.

Bryan continues to explore Jason and Erin’s romantic feelings toward one another and I like that we actually get to see these feelings develop naturally, instead of simply having them thrust into our faces. And both Jason and Erin continue to be awesome characters. Mitch, however, is easy to cringe at as he becomes more and more of a greedy sell out. But, I’m glad Bryan has decided to take his character in this direction because it’s a really realistic depiction of how one might act when they’ve been handed the chance at fame and success. Dred just continues to be friggin awesome! I love that snarky drummer girl!

I was a little disappointed that we don’t spend too much time in Faerie with Aoide and her band, but I really loved experiencing our world (man-world) through her eyes. She’s such a cute, endearing character and so much fun to read about.

The path to musical fame and success is not so simple (thank goodness!) and the Zebras must go up against all the things evil Queen Mab sends their way, including gargoyles and teddy bears. Crazy, violent, sharp object wielding teddy bears! You’ll never look at Teddy Ruxpin or Paddington Bear the same way again (not that they weren’t totally creepy before). I love that these books don’t take themselves too seriously and are all about the good humored mockery of pop culture and fun, over the top situations.

In the end we find Jason and Erin in a very unexpected (but awesome!) place and I cannot wait to see what happens next!

MY FINAL THOUGHTS: The Songs of Magic series is my go to series when I want a fun, entertaining read that is guaranteed to make me laugh and Fairystruck is no exception. This book and series are definite MUST reads!

MY RATING

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J.L. Bryan studied English literature at the University of Georgia and at Oxford, with a focus on English Renaissance and Romantic literature. He also studied screenwriting at UCLA. He lives in Atlanta with his wife Christina, dogs Violet and Tiger Lily, and cats Shadow and Sue.