Air Awakens by Elise Kova [REVIEW]

---

TITLE: Air Awakens (Air Awakens #1)
AUTHOR: Elise Kova
PUBLISHER: Silver Wing Press
PUB DATE: Aug 27 2015

A library apprentice, a sorcerer prince, and an unbreakable magic bond...

The Solaris Empire is one conquest away from uniting the continent, and the rare elemental magic sleeping in seventeen-year-old library apprentice Vhalla Yarl could shift the tides of war.

Vhalla has always been taught to fear the Tower of Sorcerers, a mysterious magic society, and has been happy in her quiet world of books. But after she unknowingly saves the life of one of the most powerful sorcerers of them all—the Crown Prince Aldrik—she finds herself enticed into his world. Now she must decide her future: Embrace her sorcery and leave the life she’s known, or eradicate her magic and remain as she’s always been. And with powerful forces lurking in the shadows, Vhalla’s indecision could cost her more than she ever imagined.

Source: Goodreads

Rating:

---

“I am going to go into this world, and I don't care if you and your narrow mind cannot be a part of it.”

At the beginning of reading Air Awakens, I couldn’t help comparing it with The Last Airbender. You know, the cartoon? I haven’t watched every episode of it but enough of it to see the similarity of magic and lore. Although, I have to say while Airbender is a story that focuses on a war between elements against a corrupted army of Firebenders, and the developing friendships of characters with different elemental magic, upon reading Air Awakens, while also has the indications of war, was mainly focused on developing the bond between the protagonists. A love story, if I may say so.

I didn’t particularly like Aldrik at first. I mean, come on, the guy was an arrogant asshole to begin with. But I thought to give him a chance since I’ve read other books depicting snobby guys with layers of something more underneath. Thankfully, he didn’t fail to deliver. I didn’t love him in the end, but he’s tolerable enough and I want to see how far he can go to prove himself to Vhalla.

Warrior Witch by Danielle L. Jensen [ARC REVIEW]

TITLE: Warrior Witch
(The Malediction Trilogy #3)
AUTHOR: Danielle L. Jensen
PUBLISHER: Angry Robot Books
PUB DATE: May 3 2016

The thrilling conclusion to the breakout Malediction Trilogy by Goodreads Choice finalist Danielle L. Jensen.

Cécile and Tristan have accomplished the impossible, but their greatest challenge remains: defeating the evil they have unleashed upon the world.

As they scramble for a way to protect the people of the Isle and liberate the trolls from their tyrant king, Cécile and Tristan must battle those who’d see them dead. To win, they will risk everything. And everyone.

But it might not be enough. Both Cécile and Tristan have debts, and they will be forced to pay them at a cost far greater than they had ever imagined.

Source: Goodreads

Rating:

---

“A life without purpose is no life at all.”

Okay, truth be told, I’d been holding off my review for this one since I finished it a month ago. Why? It just makes the idea that this series has ended all the more real. Not like it’s not, still…

But alas, all things really must come to an end. As for the moment, I am finally saying goodbye to one of my favorite fantasy series, the Malediction trilogy.

I have grown to love Cecile and Tristan since their first book, Stolen Songbird. It was just one of those books that made you see that it was going to be an epic series and that you’ll be on the look out for each book’s release. It was THAT good.

Danielle L. Jensen, did not waste time at all from the start of the Warrior Witch. A year has passed since I read the second installment, Hidden Huntress, so I was kind of lost at the beginning, trying to refresh my memory on who was who and what happened previously. But since I still remember the gist of it, it wasn’t at all that hard to settle in.

Legacy of Kings by Eleanor Herman [ARC REVIEW]

TITLE: Legacy of Kings
(Blood of Gods and Royals #1)
AUTHOR: Eleanor Herman
PUBLISHER: Harlequin Teen
PUB DATE: Aug 18 2015

Imagine a time when the gods turn a blind eye to the agony of men, when the last of the hellions roam the plains and evil stirs beyond the edges of the map. A time when cities burn, and in their ashes, empires rise.

Alexander, Macedonia’s sixteen-year-old heir, is on the brink of discovering his fated role in conquering the known world but finds himself drawn to a newcomer…

Katerina must navigate the dark secrets of court life while hiding her own mission: kill the Queen. But she doesn’t account for her first love…

Jacob will go to unthinkable lengths to win Katerina, even if it means having to compete for her heart with Hephaestion, a murderer sheltered by the prince.

And far across the sea, Zofia, a Persian princess and Alexander’s unmet betrothed, wants to alter her destiny by seeking the famed and deadly Spirit Eaters.

Weaving fantasy with the shocking details of real history, New York Times bestselling author of Sex with Kings Eleanor Herman reimagines the greatest emperor the world has ever known, Alexander the Great, in the first book of the Blood of Gods and Royals series.

Source: Goodreads

Rating:

---

“Because sometimes it doesn’t help to chase after the thing you want. No. Sometimes you have to wait, however long it takes, until what you want most comes to you.”

I have always been a fan of retellings, especially when it comes to fairy tales. The more creative, the better. But rarely do I come across a retelling of Alexander the Great. Who would be crazy enough to give a spin to one of the most successful military commanders told in all of history? I’ll tell you who. Eleanor Herman! And boy, did she give it one hell of a spin!

It’s amazing how one simple thought can create a profound story.

Legacy of Kings is told in the eyes of multiple characters. While it’s easy to recognize characters such as Alexander and Kat, others were a bit confusing for me. Names were never my strongest suit. It may have been a while since I read this book and have only now recently wrote a review about it, but if there was a list of the characters where they belong, and who they are, I’d probably be going back and forth through it while reading.

The Vanishing Throne by Elizabeth May [ARC REVIEW]

TITLE: The Vanishing Throne
(The Falconer #2)
AUTHOR: Elizabeth May
PUBLISHER: Chronicle Books
PUB DATE: Jun 7 2016

The second book in the Falconer Trilogy is packed with surprises and suspense.

Aileana Kameron, the Falconer, disappeared through the portal that she was trying to close forever. Now she wakes up in the fae world, trapped and tortured by the evil Lonnrach. With the help of an unexpected ally, Aileana re-enters the human world, only to find everything irrevocably changed. Edinburgh has been destroyed, and the few human survivors are living in an uneasy truce with the fae, while both worlds are in danger of disappearing altogether. Aileana holds the key to saving both worlds, but in order to do so she must awaken her latent Falconer powers. And the price of doing that might be her life.

Rich with imaginative detail, action, fae lore, and romance, The Vanishing Throne is a thrilling sequel to The Falconer.

Source: NetGalley

Rating:

---

"But after everything I've been through, I'm proud to have a body that's strong, that bears the marks of how much I endured. No matter how painful those memories might be."

Elizabeth May's The Falconer was one of many faery stories I've read. While most of them were told in modern times, or in a dark and brooding historical era, I seldom got to see one mixed with Steampunk. It was a definite factor that made me curious. I finished The Falconer with thoughts that, while I was engrossed with the action scenes, I didn't see much of what it could be other than a faery action romance sort. Moving on to The Vanishing Throne... Well let's just say I'll never look at The Falconer Trilogy the same way again! That was freakin' fantastic!

The Vanishing Throne takes up its predecessor's story to whole other level!

The Golden Braid by Melanie Dickerson [ARC REVIEW]

TITLE: The Golden Braid
(Hagenheim #6)
AUTHOR: Melanie Dickerson
PUBLISHER: Thomas Nelson
PUB DATE: Nov 17 2015

The one who needs rescuing isn’t always the one in the tower.

Rapunzel can throw a knife better than any man around. And her skills as an artist rival those of any artist she’s met. But for a woman in medieval times, the one skill she most desires is the hardest one to obtain: the ability to read.

After yet another young man asks for Rapunzel’s hand in marriage, Mother decides they need to move once again, but this time to a larger city. Rapunzel’s heart soars—surely there she can fulfill her dream. But Mother won’t let her close to a man. She claims that no man can be trusted.

After being rescued by a knight on the road to the city, and in turn rescuing him farther down the road, Rapunzel’s opportunity arrives at last. This knight, Sir Gerek, agrees to educate Rapunzel in order to pay back his debt. She just has to put up with his arrogant nature and single-minded focus on riches and prestige.

But this Rapunzel story is unlike any other and the mystery that she uncovers will change everything—except her happily ever after.

- Source: Goodreads

Rating:

---

"We all have a choice, after all, to be our own person, to be the person we wish to be."

I've come to enjoy Melanie Dickerson's novels. In fact she was the first author who introduced me to Christian romance books, and immediately became one of my 'go to' authors for this genre. Even though this is only the third book I've read from her. I'm definitely watching out for more of her books.

And this here, The Golden Braid, is what I felt was missing from The Princess Spy! This was a story that simultaneously happened while all the events from The Princess Spy occurred. I've always felt like there was something I wasn't seeing with TPS and here was the answer!

The Great Hunt by Wendy Higgins [ARC REVIEW]

TITLE: The Great Hunt
(The Great Hunt #1)
AUTHOR: Wendy Higgins
PUBLISHER: HarperTeen
PUB DATE: Mar 8 2016

Kill the beast. Win the girl.

A strange beast stirs fear in the kingdom of Lochlanach, terrorizing towns with its brutality and hunger. In an act of desperation, a proclamation is sent to all of Eurona—kill the creature and win the ultimate prize: the daughter of King Lochson’s hand in marriage.

Princess Aerity understands her duty to the kingdom though it pains her to imagine marrying a stranger. It would be foolish to set her sights on any particular man in the great hunt, but when a brooding local hunter, Paxton Seabolt, catches her attention, there’s no denying the unspoken lure between them…or his mysterious resentment.

Paxton is not keen on marriage. Nor does he care much for spoiled royals and their arcane laws. He’s determined to keep his focus on the task at hand—ridding the kingdom of the beast and protecting his family—yet Princess Aerity continues to challenge his notions with her unpredictability and charm. But as past secrets collide with present desires, dire choices threaten everything Paxton holds dear.

Inspired by the Grimm Brothers’ tale, “The Singing Bone,” New York Times bestselling author Wendy Higgins delivers a dark fantasy filled with rugged hunters, romantic tension, outlawed magic, and a princess willing to risk all to save her people.

- Source: Goodreads

Rating:

---

The moment I glanced upon the Kingdoms of Eurona and their Rulers list, I knew I was in for a long who's who experience. Why am so bad at names?! Thankfully it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be.

See here's a story that, to be honest, is quite a typical one. You have your lovable female protagonist, all kind and compassionate, the makings of a worthy queen. And you have your swoon worthy brooding male love interest. All the makings of a love story you know would be that instant romance bliss which we all know is getting really old. Ah, but wait!

The Holders by Julianna Scott [ARC REVIEW]

TITLE: The Holders
(The Holders #1)
AUTHOR: Julianna Scott
PUBLISHER: Strange Chemistry
PUB DATE: Mar 5 2013

17-year-old Becca has spent her whole life protecting her brother - from their father leaving and from the people who say the voices in his head are unnatural. When two strangers appear with apparent answers to Ryland's "problem" and details about a school in Ireland where Ryland will not only fit in, but prosper, Becca is up in arms.

She reluctantly agrees to join Ryland on his journey and what they find at St. Brigid's is a world beyond their imagination. Little by little they piece together information about their family's heritage and the legend of the Holder race that decrees Ryland is the one they've been waiting for... but, they are all, especially Becca, in for a surprise that will change what they thought they knew about themselves and their kind.

- Source: NetGalley

Rating:

---

“Love is a cheap word. Anyone can say it, and few truly know what it means.”

I may have been too quick to judge this book. It had been sitting on my TBR pile for so long, it took me three years to finally decide to pick it up. I admit that when I first started reading this, I was hesitant. I don't know why, but for some reason it didn't have the same spark of interest that I felt when I clicked the 'request' button on NetGalley way back then. I thought I'd only be left disappointed and that I would be wasting time reading something I won't like. So yeah, I kept trying to find holes that would eventually lead me to stop trying and move on to something else. Lo and behold, I couldn't be more wrong. I should have picked it up sooner!

The Queen's Choice by Cayla Kluver [ARC REVIEW]

TITLE: The Queen's Choice
(Heirs of Chrior #1)
AUTHOR: Cayla Kluver
PUBLISHER: Harlequin Teen
PUB DATE: Jan 28 2014

Magic was seeping out of me, black and agonizing. I could see it drifting away. The magic that would let me pass the Road to reach home again.

When sixteen-year-old Anya learns that her aunt, Queen of the Faerie Kingdom of Chrior, will soon die, her grief is equaled only by her despair for the future of the kingdom. Her young cousin, Illumina, is unfit to rule, and Anya is determined not to take up the queen's mantle herself.

Convinced that the only solution is to find Prince Zabriel, who long ago disappeared into the human realm of Warckum, and persuade him to take up his rightful crown, Anya journeys into the Warckum Territory to bring him home. But her journey is doomed to be more harrowing than she ever could have imagined…

- Source: Goodreads

Rating:

---

"A long time ago...I'd thought that bravery could be attained with an open mind and heart, by pursuing and facing my demons. Now I considered that fearlessness was the luxury of the cloistered and blind, and that it was too late for me."

Characters. Anya is an incredible protagonist. She's the type of girl that no matter how many times you try to bring down will always be up on her feet, head held high and moving forward. She's strong and patient. I can't imagine how calm and collected she is throughout all the things she's been through, and still focused on her ultimate goal in finding the Prince. As for the others, I didn't put that much thought into them.

Love Interest. There isn't much of a romance within this book, although there is Anya's "fiancé" and another potential love interest, it was almost non existent since the better part of the book was focused on finding the Prince. But I have to say, Anya has a poor choice in picking her partner. I don't believe that a relationship would work if you don't support each other's passions. While I understand the fiancé's qualms over Anya's safety, I feel like he feels her curiosity with the humans is a nuisance he has to bear. Yeah, no!

The Kiss of Deception by Mary E. Pearson [ARC REVIEW]

TITLE: The Kiss of Deception
(The Remnant Chronicles, #1)
AUTHOR: Mary E. Pearson
PUBLISHER: Macmillan, Henry Holt
PUB DATE: Jul 8 2014

A princess must find her place in a reborn world.

She flees on her wedding day.

She steals ancient documents from the Chancellor's secret collection.

She is pursued by bounty hunters sent by her own father.

She is Princess Lia, seventeen, First Daughter of the House of Morrighan.

The Kingdom of Morrighan is steeped in tradition and the stories of a bygone world, but some traditions Lia can't abide. Like having to marry someone she's never met to secure a political alliance.

Fed up and ready for a new life, Lia flees to a distant village on the morning of her wedding. She settles in among the common folk, intrigued when two mysterious and handsome strangers arrive—and unaware that one is the jilted prince and the other an assassin sent to kill her. Deceptions swirl and Lia finds herself on the brink of unlocking perilous secrets—secrets that may unravel her world—even as she feels herself falling in love.

- Source: Goodreads

Rating:

---

Why had I not read this sooner? I'm just realizing now that I had such a great stash of ARCs in 2014 that I hadn't bothered to read until now! Bad Janus! Very, very bad!

"Sometimes a gift requires great sacrifice, but we can no more turn our backs on it than will our hearts not to beat."

I really appreciated how the author wove the story into something prolific. I loved the interchanging points-of-view, and how she mischievously made readers guess between who the Assassin and who the Prince were. Although it had a bit of given clues, there were ticks here and there that tricked you into thinking maybe you made a wrong guess.. And then back to right again.

Lia's character is a force to reckon with. Wow! She may have been a simple stubborn royal who refused to marry someone she doesn't love but grew to be an astonishing person by the end. Someone you can note to be a real change to a world of war and violence.

The Princess Spy by Melanie Dickerson [ARC REVIEW]

TITLE: The Princess Spy
(Hagenheim #4)
AUTHOR: Melanie Dickerson
PUBLISHER: Zondervan
PUB DATE: Nov 4 2014

A new suitor. A shocking discovery.

Margaretha has always been a romantic, and hopes her newest suitor, Lord Claybrook, is destined to be her one true love. But then an injured man is brought to the castle, claiming to be an English lord who was left for dead by Claybrook's men. She convinces herself "Lord Colin" is just an addled stranger, until Colin retrieves an heirloom she lost in a well and asks her to spy on Claybrook as repayment. Margaretha knows she could never be a spy---not only does she tend to talk too much, she's sure Colin is completely wrong about her potential betrothed. But she soon discovers her romantic notions may have been clouding her judgment about not only Colin but Claybrook as well. She soon finds herself running for her life--and it may be up to her to save her father and her family from one man's wicked plot.

- Source: Goodreads

Rating:

---

A whole lot of 'princess' but not enough 'spying'.

Melanie Dickerson has immediately caught my eye with The Fairest Beauty. While I know that it's the third book from the Hagenheim series, it's the first book I've read from her. I liked it enough that it encouraged me to read The Princess Spy when I chanced upon an ARC on NetGalley.

Sadly this one fell rather short for me. I am aware that this is a fairy tale, but the whole gushy instant romance just wasn't working. While the author did put effort to build the romance within the entire book, it still lacked the spark I was hoping for.

Compared to The Fairest Beauty, the characters of The Princess Spy were not as appealing. I found it hard to like Collin and Margaretha. What is up with their planning and execution skills? I feel like they're the worst sort for things like that. Nothing went accordingly. Ha! Ha! I still want them together as a couple though, because well, who else is there to pair them up with?

The Witch Hunter by Virginia Boecker [ARC REVIEW]

TITLE: The Witch Hunter
(The Witch Hunter #1)
AUTHOR: Virginia Boecker
PUBLISHER: Little, Brown Books for
Young Readers
PUB DATE: Jun 2 2015

The magic and suspense of Graceling meet the political intrigue and unrest of Game of Thrones in this riveting fantasy debut.

Your greatest enemy isn't what you fight, but what you fear.

Elizabeth Grey is one of the king's best witch hunters, devoted to rooting out witchcraft and doling out justice. But when she's accused of being a witch herself, Elizabeth is arrested and sentenced to burn at the stake.

Salvation comes from a man she thought was her enemy. Nicholas Perevil, the most powerful and dangerous wizard in the kingdom, offers her a deal: he will save her from execution if she can break the deadly curse that's been laid upon him.

But Nicholas and his followers know nothing of Elizabeth's witch hunting past--if they find out, the stake will be the least of her worries. And as she's thrust into the magical world of witches, ghosts, pirates, and one all-too-handsome healer, Elizabeth is forced to redefine her ideas of right and wrong, of friends and enemies, and of love and hate.

Virginia Boecker weaves a riveting tale of magic, betrayal, and sacrifice in this unforgettable fantasy debut.

- Source: Goodreads

Rating:

---

"Nicholas says that magic isn't inherently good or bad, it's what people do with it that makes it that way. It took me a long time to understand that. Once I did, I realized it isn't magic that separates us from them, or you from me. It's misunderstanding."

There are books that you've read only once and remember for the rest of your life. Funny, I can't seem to recall what I liked about this book. I was probably in a good mood, and it was fun enough for me to give it a 3 star rating. Indulge me as I attempt to recall my experience with the Witch Hunter.

Characters. I suppose they were a passable bunch. I don't find Elizabeth as an incredibly amazing protagonist. She's okay I guess but otherwise not as memorable as expected for a lead role. Her love interest wasn't as exciting either. Sorry but John was rather 'blah' to me. While it was set that they'd be a pair, I don't find their romance invigorating. I don't see myself fangirling and shipping these two, which should be if I totally dig the romance. But with these two? I just settled with it and didn't care.

Back/side stories. See I don't mind when authors plunge you into a certain character's past, and I like that because hey, more information for me. I like getting glimpses of what the characters have done before all the drama began. But I felt this was one strong issue with regards to our protagonist here. Readers are thrown into the scene of the moment where we find Elizabeth being caught and accused of being a witch at the beginning. Pardon this mini-spoiler but the reason she was caught was because she purchased herbs due to the fact that the king has taken a liking to her, if you know what I mean. And while it won't take anyone a while to figure out that she's in deep and hiding something that was a probable cause leading her to that moment, I felt it shouldn't have been a side story. It should have been one of the vital parts of this book. What made it worse was that it was less of a side story, like it wasn't a big deal. Maybe I didn't need a thorough breakdown but it shouldn't be a note that seems to be brushed off after a quick mention.

Spinning Starlight by R.C. Lewis [ARC REVIEW]

TITLE: Spinning Starlight
AUTHOR: R.C. Lewis
PUBLISHER: Disney-Hyperion
PUB DATE: Oct 6 2015

Sixteen-year-old heiress and paparazzi darling Liddi Jantzen hates the spotlight. But as the only daughter in the most powerful tech family in the galaxy, it's hard to escape it. So when a group of men show up at her house uninvited, she assumes it's just the usual media-grubs. That is, until shots are fired.

Liddi escapes, only to be pulled into an interplanetary conspiracy more complex than she ever could have imagined. Her older brothers have been caught as well, trapped in the conduits between the planets. And when their captor implants a device in Liddi's vocal cords to monitor her speech, their lives are in her hands: One word and her brothers are dead.

Desperate to save her family from a desolate future, Liddi travels to another world, where she meets the one person who might have the skills to help her bring her eight brothers home-a handsome dignitary named Tiav. But without her voice, Liddi must use every bit of her strength and wit to convince Tiav that her mission is true. With the tenuous balance of the planets deeply intertwined with her brothers' survival, just how much is Liddi willing to sacrifice to bring them back?

Haunting and mesmerizing, this retelling of Hans Christian Andersen's The Wild Swans strings the heart of the classic with a stunning, imaginative world as a star-crossed family fights for survival in this companion to Stitching Snow.

- Source: Goodreads

Rating:

---

"Slower doesn't sound better, but really, sometimes it is. If you give your mind a quiet moment, that's when the best ideas come."

At first I thought Spinning Starlight was a continuation of Stitching Snow, which I've said in my review was an 'okay' story and was better left a standalone book. So when I saw Spinning Starlight, I was hesitant to read it. Stitching Snow had a fitting ending all on its own, what more could you tell of that book? That was my reaction when I saw the cover design and author's name on Spinning Starlight, and yes, I did jump to conclusions without reading the synopsis yet. Pardon my impulsive retort.

It was a very bold move of the author to choose a fairy tale that isn't as popular as Cinderella, Snow White, and the like - and guess what, it worked!

If you're not familiar with Hans Christian Andersen's The Wild Swans, you may find yourself a little lost. That is, if you're hoping for some fairy tale familiarity of the classics that often get remade and reimagined. This isn't one of those. But get ready for a spectacular sci-fi fairy tale experience! This may even make you want to check out the original.

There are a lot of complexities in Spinning Starlight. Complex setting. Complex time differences between worlds, and what is up with those moons? Complex jump rope game (that's a lot of rules for a kid's game). Complex scientific terms. Heck even their alphabet is also complex! What kind of language does this world have? But do not fear! Lewis does not leave her readers blind. For example, the planetary system of Liddi's world was a lot to take in but the author provides vivid descriptions that readers can fully immerse themselves into these details.