"Fae" by C.J. Abedi

"The battle between Light and Dark is about to begin. 

Caroline Ellis sixteenth birthday sets into motion a series of events that have been fated for centuries. A descendant of Virginia Dare, the first child born in the lost colony of Roanoke, and unaware of her birthright as the heir to the throne of the Light Fae, it isn’t until she begins a tumultuous relationship with Devilyn Reilly that the truth is revealed. 

Devilyn is the only one of the Fae who is both of the Light and of the Dark, and struggles to maintain that precarious balance to avoid succumbing to the power of the Dark within him. He is the only one who can save Caroline from those who would destroy her and destroy all hope for unity among the Fae. He promises Caroline that he will protect her at all costs, even when it means protecting her from himself. 

Told from the alternating perspectives of Caroline and Devilyn, FAE draws on mysteries, myths and legends to create a world, and a romance, dangerously poised between Light and Dark."

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Fae by C.J. Abedi

Completed: 04.08.2013

C.J. Abedi have created a world of their own, based in Roanoke the storyline combines folklore with what I like to call "fae-lore".

I do admit that there is a bit of work to be done when it comes to descriptions (or the lack thereof at certain parts of the book) and the overall editing of the book, but nevertheless, this book was an easy read, I loved that each chapter began with quotes and especially how we got to see things from both Devilyn and Caroline's point of view. It really made all the difference!

I commend the effort put into writing a book; especially the first book. So if anyone were to ask me whether I'd read the next book in this series, I'd definitely say yes, because that ending... MAN, THAT ENDING. I need to know what happens!

*I received this book as an eARC from NetGalley*

Three stars! 

"Summer of Frost" by L.P. Dover (Forever Fae #3)

"The Land of the Fae is strong with all four courts banded as one, but uncertainty still remains as they all work together to end the dark sorcerer’s evil reign. Sorcha—the one and only Winter Court princess—has a secret, a secret that she has enjoyed keeping for the past six months. When a much awaited announcement brings her to the Spring Court, and face to face with the man in her dreams, will she be strong enough to keep up the façade of her icy exterior, or will she melt into his arms like she does in her dreams?

After formally meeting Sorcha at the Winter Ball, Drake—Summer Court prince and army leader—knew there was a fiery passion underneath her winter skin, a passion he wanted desperately to ignite with his own. However, with her frigid responses toward him he’s decided to keep his distance, except how can he when his dreams feel real? Seeing her again only ignites his interest, and this time he’s not going to let his arrogance or her frosty heart stand in his way.

Through unexpected tragedy, Sorcha discovers the one thing the dark sorcerer has spent his whole existence trying to protect, but what makes it more difficult is that only one of the Four is strong enough to retrieve it. The tides have now changed. With Drake’s help, will Sorcha find what she’s searching for? Or will the dark sorcerer beat them to it, shattering all hope of finding out the one thing that could save the Land of the Fae … how to destroy him?"

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Summer of Frost by L.P. Dover
Completed: 26.07.2013

Sorcha is a Winter Court princess, except she acts nothing like a dainty, flowers & butterflies-kinda princess. She's smart, quick, witty and hot headed. Drake is the prince of the Summer court, a prince that has a secret of his own. 

I loved how L.P. Dover continues to blow my mind with her books, I must say though - that this book was really up and down for me, there were some parts that just did not intrigue me as much as others did, I found that some parts of the book lacked in details, and I also felt as though everything between Sorcha and Drake progressed far too quickly. One moment I was watching them fall in love, then the next, BAM! they were kissing and holding hands and claiming each other. Do not get me wrong! I loved this book, and I have loved this series from the very first book, and when the next book comes out later this year, I WILL be in line to get to a copy of it.

I highly recommend this book, for anyone who's into action, romance & one heck of a plot twist. (Do read the first two books in the series first though, you won't regret it.)

Four stars!
:)

"The Faerie Prince" by Rachel Morgan (Creepy Hollow #2)

"Guardian trainee Violet Fairdale is just weeks away from one of the most important occasions of her life: graduation. After messing up big time by bringing a human into the fae realm, Vi needs to step up her game and forget about Nate if she hopes to graduate as the top guardian of her year. Everything would be fine if she wasn’t forced to partner with Ryn, her ex-friend, ex-enemy, current ‘sort of friend’. They might be trying to patch up their relationship, but does she really want to spend a week undercover with him for their final assignment? On top of that, the possibly insane Unseelie Prince is still on the loose, free to ‘collect’ as many specially talented faeries as he can find—and Vi is still at the top of his list. Add in faerie queens, enchanted storms, complicated not-just-friends feelings, and a murder within the Guild itself, and graduation is about to become the least of Vi’s problems."

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The Faerie Prince by Rachel Morgan
Completed: 25.06.2013

Action, romance, a kick-butt heroine, and laugh-out-loud scenes. This book has it all!

When I first got into this book, I honestly did not know what to expect. I read the first book as soon as it came out, but that feels like forever ago. But oh man! After reading The Faerie Prince, I remembered exactly why I loved The Faerie Guardian.

This books starts off right where the last one ended, and as per usual, the story kept getting better and better as it progressed. I found myself completely glued to my kindle, with every page just wanting to know more! At the end of The Faerie Guardian, I believe I was as heartbroken as Vi was, with Nate handing her over to the Unseelie. 

Normally, the second book in the series is a "filler book" but that wasn't the case with this one. Rachel Morgan ramped up the story in every single scene she created! The characters are so refreshing to read about.. Violet is badass, sassy and strong. While Oryn is brooding, mysterious and teasing. The relationship between them both just comes so naturally - I love how the author didn't just jump into their relationship, she builds it steadily and allows the readers to watch while they both sort out their differences. There's an internal battle going on in Violet's heart. She can't seem to decide which to listen to, her heart or her head.

When the final page ended I found myself not believing the book was over! What a cliff hanger! So I guess, i'll be here anxiously awaiting the next book.

Four Stars!

*I received this book through an ARR Program on Goodreads from the author in exchange for an honest review.*

"New World Order" by Elle Casey (War of the Fae #4)

Will the fae will be able to make the sacrifices they must to survive?

Jayne Sparks and her Light Fae changeling friends face off in the final battle against their enemies. But the identify of their true enemies isn't as clear as it once was. Are they the ones breaking down their doors ... or perhaps another entity, hiding in the shadows?

Friends come and go, bridges burned are rebuilt, love is lost and found. The survival of the fae depends on the answer to one question: Which burns hotter ... hatred or hope?

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New World Order by Elle Casey

Completed: 14.06.2013

In the final installment of the War of the Fae series, we find Jayne struggling to understand the extent of her powers, as well as who exactly is in the right (or should I say wrong?). Elle Casey adds new characters to the story plot which makes things a whole load more interesting.

I must say, throughout the whole book, I honestly just wanted to know what became of Chase. I'd been in love with his character since the beginning of the series. The silent tough guy, who lives only to protect Jayne Sparks. *swooooon.* But also, after the ending of the third book, I was so angry at him for some of the choices he'd made.

Many secrets were uncovered in this book, some I saw coming, but others had me face-palming myself like... how on earth did I not see that one coming?! As usual, this book was well written & more action packed than her previous books. Well, duh. What else can we expect from Elle Casey, just when you think she can't make the books any better, she pulls a miracle out of her writing bag. 

I must warn you though, this book is absolutely heartbreaking at certain points. (It definitely had me bawling more bucket loads than usual, or well... considerably more than I thought was humanly possible.)

FIVE STARS!

This series is continued in her Clash of the Otherworlds series. And I certainly cannot wait to pick up the first book! I JUST WANT TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THAT JAW DROPPING CONCLUSION.

*Spins around in my chair like a crazy person.*

"Darkness & Light" by Elle Casey

The animosity between Darkness & Light continues to grow, as do Jayne's supernatural, elemental abilities in the Green Forest. Long-lost friends arrive, new friends leave, passion burns, and mysteries abound. What is Light and what is Dark? Who can the Light Fae trust? Who will be left standing in the end and whose side will they be on? Nothing is ever as it seems, and all is fair in love and War of the Fae.

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Darkness & Light by Elle Casey

Completed: 13.06.2013

Elle Casey does not disappoint with Darkness & Light, this book had me crying from sadness, and from laughing too hard. It was, as usual, well written & action packed. Although there were a few lull chapters I found myself reeling from all the plot twists, some in which had me screaming out in frustration! 

But overall, I enjoyed this book thoroughly and would recommend it for anyone who is looking for an intense, humor-filled read!

Four stars! I can't wait to see how the final book, New World Order, has in store for me.

"Call to Arms" by Elle Casey (War of the Fae #2)

"Call to Arms is Book Two in the War of the Fae, YA fantasy series.

Follow Jayne Sparks, the (still) potty-mouthed seventeen-year-old and newly changed elemental fae and her friends - an incubus, a daemon, a green elf, a water sprite and a pixie - as they struggle to find their places in the Light Fae community of the Green Forest and prepare for the upcoming battle against the Dark Fae."

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Call to Arms by Elle Casey

Completed: 11.06.2013

In the second book of the series, we find Jayne learning to control her powers and just what  they are, being special isn't all it seems to be. She learns that not all people will react positively to her existence in their community... But she will also learn that respect and trust isn't given willingly, it must be earned. 

We learn more about Fae History throughout the book, which thoroughly intrigued me, especially learning about all the different kinds of Fae. We begin to get more in-depth knowledge about all the other characters, and the roles they play within the Fae Society.

There were moments in this book where I just wanted to cry, but thanks to Mrs Casey's undying sense of humor, I always came bouncing back in fits of laughter. The story continues to develop in this installment of War of the Fae, I can't wait to see what happens in the next book!

Four stars!

"The Changelings" by Elle Casey (War of the Fae #1)

"WAR OF THE FAE is a 4-book, YA Contemporary Fantasy series, written for older teens and adults.

Jayne Sparks, a potty-mouthed, rebellious seventeen-year-old and her best friend, shy and bookish Tony Green, have a pretty typical high school existence, until several seemingly unrelated incidents converge, causing a cascade of events that change their lives forever. Jayne and Tony, together with a group of runaway teens, are hijacked and sent into a forest, where nothing and no one are as they seem. Who will emerge triumphant? And what will they be when they do?

**No sex or drugs. Yes, contains some violence and foul language - some might say excessive foul language. Not meant for middle-grade readers (less than 15 years of age).**"
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The Changelings by Elle Casey
Completed: 11.06.2013

I must say that I was rather taken aback by how slow this book started off, but once things picked up - they REALLY picked up, and I was never left without action.

Jane is a character and a half, the blurb really doesn't hold back on how potty-mouthed she is, but I found myself falling more and more in love with her character - there were times that I would grin like crazy at my kindle, and there were others that I would end up fully laughing til my eyes teared up. 

I loved how she didn't learn who or what she was instantaneously, unlike most books that i've read... The character barely develops then, BAM! - they're telling you who and what he/she is and the "destiny" they're bound for. This book definitely kept me wanting to continue reading on just to figure out what happens next! And of course, the infamous cliffhanger ending left me like... WHUUUUUT?! No way in hell am I going to take that as the end of the book, so obviously I had to pick up the next book in the series, like... PRONTO!

Four stars! 

"Reign" by Jenna Bernel (The Secret Trinity #3)

"For Aria Darwin, playing with fire has become a way of life, not because her powers have finally been unearthed, but because she’s drawn to the dormant light sparking behind Clay’s eyes. With every move towards that light, she risks her title as Queen. Even though she’s terrified of getting burned by the backdraft, Aria can’t seem to ignore the tempered blaze buried in her heart.

After a disturbing vision, Aria withholds a deadly secret in order to protect her Kingdom. Her people, her friends, not even Clay knows the truth as she makes peace with her destiny. Aria is looking to the future but the past keeps haunting her dreams, and she fears that the cost to defeat her enemy will be a much greater sacrifice than her soul."

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Reign by Jenna Bernel

Completed: 09.06.2013

In this final installment, Aria is finally sick and tired of running from Liam, it's time for her to take her stand against him and live up to the prophecy she was born for. But trouble comes in the form of Clay, as he makes it so damn difficult for Ari to come up with any plan because if it so much as harms a strand of hair on her head, the idea might as well be thrown out the window, stomped on, ripped to shreds, stabbed a million times then burned.

Some things don't change though, both Aria and Clay are still keeping secrets from each other! Seriously, people. They set themselves up for more heartache and disaster, though I honestly felt a connection to Ari's pain, wanting to hear something so badly for yourself, waiting and waiting for something that may or may not ever come. I'd get tired of it, to be honest.

Nevertheless, this was the perfect ending to the series. Aria has finally grown into the Queen she was always meant to be, taking charge when everybody else doubted her. Also realizing that she isn't the martyr she always thought she was and accepting help from her best friends and everybody who loves her.

This book made my heart stop and beat faster. I think I might just cry myself to sleep tonight cause the series is over... I haven't read a series as amazing as this one was, in such a long time! So thank you goodreads for recommending it to me!

FIVE STARS!

"Ignite" by Jenna Bernel (The Secret Trinity #2)

"If time heals all wounds, then Aria Darwin’s clock has stopped. No amount of magic elixir can repair a broken heart. In the aftermath of untruths and tainted love, Aria is unsure if she will ever recover to see the light of her destiny.

Now living in the enchanted city of Draíochta, along with her two best friends, Aria struggles to find her place in the Kingdom. A plan must be set to ensure the safety of her people, but how can they believe in her if she can’t believe in herself.

With the assistance of her Guard Keeper, Clay, she slowly develops her powers, but will she be strong enough to destroy her enemy? Will she ever remember what was once ignited in her soul, and the real question is will she run or will she fight?"

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Ignite by Jenna Bernel

Completed: 09.06.2013

In this book, we meet a heartbroken, no - heartSHATTERED Aria, betrayed by the one person she thought was being real with her. But she's grown so much as a character, although she occasionally allows herself to wallow in her never-ending misfortune, she's become such a strong female character. (THUMBS UP!) I thoroughly enjoyed the way in which she came to learn of the powers that she had, it kept me entertained and highly intrigued!

Thank the good heavens we got to see more of Clay in this book. I swear if I didn't get my dose of Clay-Aria romance, I would've probably withered away and gotten frustrated. They both kept their guards high around each other, there were moments though where they let their walls down just a little, only to find another reason to throw them back up again. It's so frustrating how oblivious they are to their own feelings, and even when they do acknowledge the way they feel, there always has to be some godforsaken reason that comes up, and they go on trying to convince themselves that there's absolutely nothing going on.

Many secrets are revealed during this book, all of which either broke my heart, or sent it into overdrive. There was also the occasional time or two that I ended up screaming, rather unladylike things, at my kindle. After I finished this book, I couldn't help but pick up the next because... TALK ABOUT A CLIFFHANGER. 

FIVE STARS, AGAIN! :)

"Unearth" by Jenna Bernel (The Secret Trinity #1)

"Aria Darwin has always considered herself cursed. She is obsessed with finding a cure for the bad boyfriend plague. Worse yet, she’s in denial about her weird abilities and terrified of her mysterious stalker who causes the earth to quake violently with the snap of his finger.

With her two best friends, Aria enters her first semester of college armed with a “no more men” pact in an effort to demagnetize the sleaze balls. Unfortunately, the agreement proves difficult when she meets Liam, a charming foreign exchange student, on the first day of school. 

Aria quickly discovers that Liam is not only Mr. Perfect, but he also somehow ignites her supernatural side. Upon the invitation of her dream guy, Aria travels to Ireland through the study abroad program, dragging her friends along with her. But her world of euphoric bliss quickly comes crashing down as she uncovers the truth about her past, revealing who she really is and what she was born to do."

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Unearth by Jenna Bernel
Completed: 09.06.2013

Wow. 
Just, wow. 
I don't even know where to start.

At the beginning, Aria is just an average ordinary teenager, fresh out of high school and on her merry way to college... Or so she thinks. She has the worst luck with guys, attracting jerks everywhere she goes and being too trusting with her heart. I mean seriously, douchebag Doug didn't even deserve any of the attention she gave him! But onto the more swoon worthy Irish men. First, Liam comes into the picture - being all gorgeous and heartmelting, but to be honest, I kind of found him too good to be true. I always believed in the saying: "If you think it's too good to be true, it most probably is." And what's with Aria being so willing to move miles away from home just for a boy? Ridiculous. But oh well, love is blind and OBVIOUSLY makes you do stupid things.

But the mysterious stranger Aria vaguely remembers from the day she nearly drowned in the river behind her house, NOW THAT is what I would call swoon-worthy-plus one! He comes to her from the shadows, always keeping his distance, but always looking out for her. I hated how she thought he was a creep/stalker throughout the entire book when to me, it was so freaking obvious that he's been watching over her to protect her. Sigh... Clay. 

The book gives the reader a great start to a series, and readers will watch characters grow and become more aware of their surroundings. It was definitely fun to watch Ari grow and become more and more confused by the powers that she begins to develop as the book progresses.

A short, sweet read, but full of action and it definitely keeps the reader entranced. (I would know, was glued to my sofa for the better part of a day, and had to finish the series)

What a way to start a series! Well done Ms Bernel! FIVE STARS!