Steampunk Saturday: Fragile Destiny (The Aether Chronicles #3) by Suzanne Lazear

This week for Steampunk Saturday, I have a review of the third and final book in the Aether Chronicles series. Check out the cover of Fragile Destiny.

Noli and her true love V fear the worst if the Staff of Eris—a potent Otherworld relic—falls into the wrong hands. Broken into pieces and hidden in the mortal realm long ago, the staff bestows vast powers on whoever possesses it. Ciarán, the dark king, is trying to rebuild the staff, intending to use it to install a new queen.

In a desperate effort to keep the Otherworld from falling into darkness, Noli and V plot the daring theft of a jewel Ciarán needs to complete the staff. But Ciarán is not so easily defeated. Through his devious machinations, he has set a plan in motion for a final showdown that will decide who rules the Otherworld once and for all.

This book is the lovely fairy tale ending that Noli and V need. But I lost the fact that Noli can save herself and V, even if she doesn't mean to, but she doesn't need V to be her night in shining armor. James is a sweet and study advisor to Noli and V as they move forward together. I love all of the imagery in this story as we see the palaces of the Otherworld and all of the beauty that dwells there. It was nice to see more of Ciaran and Kevighn. The dark court is a deeply interesting place. I loved seeing the younger royals become friends and set out on their own little adventures. Miri was a nice touch of levity to the Earth Court. I love that V realizes that Noli is strong and that she loves him beyond all else and is willing to do anything to keep him safe. V and Noli are capable of such great things when they work together. I loved this book! I hope that Suzanne Lazear will have more to come!

You can click here to find The Aether Chronicles Series on Goodreads. Author Suzanne Lazear can be found on her blog, Tumblr and Twitter. You can learn more about the Aether Chronicles on the series website and Facebook pages. I give Fragile Destiny 4 Fairies being a series finale befitting a fairy tale.

Steampunk Saturdays: Charmed Vengeance (The Aether Chronicles #2) by Suzanne Lazear

This week for Steampunk Saturday, I have a review of the second book in The Aether Chronicles series. Prepare to join a crew of Air Pirates!

In the Faerie realm, Noli Braddock's relationship with her best friend V has grown into something more. But V's mother, Faerie Queen Tiana, has ruled that they are forbidden to see each other. Returning to the mortal realm, Noli joins the crew of her brother's air-pirate ship, the Vixen's Revenge. There she discovers that her brother has hired the scallywag Faerie huntsman, Kevighn Silver. While serving as shipmates, Kevighn and Noli learn that the Earth Court King plans to find a forbidden artifact--one that will bring destruction to everyone Noli loves.

Noli makes a pretty good Air Pirate but Vix and her cohorts are EVERYTHING! I loved how special and different each of the pirates were, not only on the Vixen's Revenge but on the other ships that we saw. It was neat to get to see how Noli responded to meeting Vix, who is so like her but also so different. It was nice to see Noli with her brother. We also got to see V and James romp across the country to try and finish their mother's quest. This story really brings to life the world of the Airship Pirates. You can almost imagine the sights and smells on board the ship. We also get to see more from Noli's family. I love this series and am almost fearing the end!

You can click here to find The Aether Chronicles Series on Goodreads. Author Suzanne Lazear can be found on her blog, Tumblr and Twitter. You can learn more about the Aether Chronicles on the series website and Facebook pages. I give Charmed Vengeance 4 Fairies for a wild ride on board an Air Pirate ship and a trip into faery for a nap... in a tree.

Steampunk Saturday: Innocent Darkness (The Aether Chronicles #1) by Suzanne Lazear

Wish. Love. Desire. Live.

Sixteen-year-old Noli Braddock's hoyden ways land her in an abusive reform school far from home. On mid-summer's eve she wishes to be anyplace but that dreadful school. A mysterious man from the Realm of Faerie rescues her and brings her to the Otherworld, only to reveal that she must be sacrificed, otherwise, the entire Otherworld civilization will perish.

I have long loved Suzanne Lazear but have only just gotten the chance to sit down and read her books. I tore through the whole series over the course of a few days. I loved the mixture of faery and steampunk. Noli is a girl who doesn't quite fit in with society's expectations of her. I loved that she is so strong in her self. She doesn't need to fit the expectations of others as long as she fits her own. I loved how sweet her friend Steven was as well. He made a pretty good foil for Noli. His brother James was funny and interesting. Noli's experience at the reform school is horrendous. It may be a trigger for some readers so if light torture and heavy punishment are issues for you, be wary. This series is going to be one of my all time favorites because it combines two things that I love: steampunk and fairies. I hope you will give it a try if you have not already.

You can click here to add Innocent Darkness to your Goodreads. Author Suzanne Lazear can be found on her blog, Tumblr and Twitter. You can learn more about the Aether Chronicles on the series website and Facebook pages. I give Innocent Darkness 4 Fairies for a great steampunk adventure with a great side trip to the faery realm.

Shiver of Light (Merry Gentry #9) by Laurell K. Hamilton

I have been waiting for the next Merry Gentry book for years!  I was so excited to see that Shiver of Light was finally out.  Check out the cover and the Goodreads blurb:

I am Princess Meredith NicEssus. Legal name Meredith Gentry, because “Princess” looks so pretentious on a driver’s license. I was the first faerie princess born on American soil, but I wouldn't be the only one for much longer...

Merry Gentry, ex–private detective, now full-time princess, knew she was descended from fertility goddesses, but when she learned she was about to have triplets, she began to understand what that might mean. Infertility has plagued the high ranks of faerie for centuries. Now nobles of both courts of faerie are coming to court Merry and her men, at their home in exile in the Western Lands of Los Angeles, because they will do anything to have babies of their own.

Taranis, King of Light and Illusion, is a more dangerous problem. He tried to seduce Merry and, failing that, raped her. He’s using the human courts to sue for visitation rights, claiming that one of the babies is his. And though Merry knows she was already pregnant when he took her, she can’t prove it.

To save herself and her babies from Taranis she will use the most dangerous powers in all of faerie: a god of death, a warrior known as the Darkness, the Killing Frost, and a king of nightmares. They are her lovers, and her dearest loves, and they will face down the might of the high courts of faerie—while trying to keep the war from spreading to innocent humans in Los Angeles, who are in danger of becoming collateral damage.

I have loved the Merry Gentry for years. I first started reading this series when I was in college, my roommate shared her books with me. I love the books so much that my husband and I named our middle son Rhys. I really enjoyed most of the book because it was like a warm blanket, reminding me of all of the characters that I loved for so long. The ending, however, gutted me. It left me both sad and so angry that I could kick something! It was the most angry an ending to a Laurell K. Hamilton book has ever left me. I loved seeing all of the characters from before but I wanted more.  I want to see Merry get her happily ever after.  I want to see Taranis and Andais gone.  I wanted so much more from this book and did not get it so I hope that there is a next book in the works.

You can find the rest of the Merry Gentry books on Goodreads by clicking here. Laurell K. Hamilton can be found on Twitter, Facebook and on her website.  I give this book 3 Fairies for reminding me why I've loved Merry Gentry for the last 12 years and then destroying me emotionally.

Artemis Fowl (Artemis Fowl #1) By Eoin Colfer

I recently took the time to read Artemis Fowl because my eldest son loved it.  It was definitely an interesting book.  I think I'll have to find time to read the rest of the series.  Here's the cover and the Goodreads blurb:

Twelve-year-old Artemis Fowl is a millionaire, a genius—and, above all, a criminal mastermind. But even Artemis doesn't know what he's taken on when he kidnaps a fairy, Captain Holly Short of the LEPrecon Unit. These aren't the fairies of bedtime stories—they're dangerous! Full of unexpected twists and turns, Artemis Fowl is a riveting, magical adventure.

Artemis is a creepy little child criminal. He's a scary little genius. I found the juxtaposition of the modern world and the fairy world interesting. This is one of the few times that I have seen an author talk about the fey as keeping up with the advancement of humanity or even surpassing them in their technology. Artemis Fowl is a kid that any child would love to be. He's smart and interesting. He can function as well as any adult in the world... or better. I highly suggest this book for kids who love to read and even kids who hate to read. This is a book that will appeal to lots of readers. I also think it could be a great book for families to read together.

Eoin Colfer can be found on his website, on Twitter and on Goodreads. You can also find the world of Artemis Fowl here. I give Artemis Fowl 3 Fairies for a great book for young and old readers alike.

The Iron Traitor (The Iron Fey: Call of the Forgotten #2) by Julie Kagawa

Julie Kagawa is easily one of my favorite authors ever. She is an amazing woman who I had the pleasure of meeting twice during BEA over the past couple years. I love the Iron Fey series and I was so excited to read Iron Traitor.

In the real world, when you vanish into thin air for a week, people tend to notice.

After his unexpected journey into the lands of the fey, Ethan Chase just wants to get back to normal. Well, as "normal" as you can be when you see faeries every day of your life. Suddenly the former loner with the bad reputation has someone to try for-his girlfriend, Kenzie. Never mind that he's forbidden to see her again.

But when your name is Ethan Chase and your sister is one of the most powerful faeries in the Nevernever, "normal" simply isn't to be. For Ethan's nephew, Keirran, is missing, and may be on the verge of doing something unthinkable in the name of saving his own love. Something that will fracture the human and faery worlds forever, and give rise to the dangerous fey known as the Forgotten. As Ethan's and Keirran's fates entwine and Keirran slips further into darkness, Ethan's next choice may decide the fate of them all.

This book was both thrilling and heartbreaking. I loved seeing Ethan really become more comfortable with his part in his sister and nephew's world. Kenzie and Ethan worked well together again in this one even if they had some issues. That's the best part of any relationship: when each person brings something different to the table so that they work together better to get through things. Annwyl was amazing as well. She cares so much for Keirran and she is willing to do anything to keep him safe. He feels the same way but he is so hard headed and in the end, he risks so much when he should have gone to his parents for help before he did something that he'd regret. I loved that Ash is such a great father and that he and Puck have reconciled. So much good stuff in this one but the ending gutted me!

You can click here to add this book to your Goodreads. You can also check out Julie Kagawa's website or follow her on Twitter.  If you haven't read the Iron Fey Series yet, you must try them!! I give The Iron Traitor 3 Fairies for book with so much emotion and great characters... but the ending will kill you!

The Lost Prince (The Iron Fey: Call of the Forgotten #1) By Julie Kagawa

I am so glad that I finally got around to reading this one! Julie Kagawa is one of my very favorite authors and I adored the previous Iron Fey books. I am so glad that with Call of the Forgotten is showing us what happens to Ethan as well as Meghan and Ash.

Don’t look at Them. Never let Them know you can see Them.

That is Ethan Chase’s unbreakable rule. Until the fey he avoids at all costs—including his reputation—begin to disappear, and Ethan is attacked. Now he must change the rules to protect his family. To save a girl he never thought he’d dare to fall for.

Ethan thought he had protected himself from his older sister’s world—the land of Faery. His previous time in the Iron Realm left him with nothing but fear and disgust for the world Meghan Chase has made her home, a land of myth and talking cats, of magic and seductive enemies. But when destiny comes for Ethan, there is no escape from a danger long, long forgotten.

I loved this book!  We get to really know Ethan and how his time in the Nevernever changed his life.  I was crossing my fingers all through the beginning chapters that we would get to see Meghan, Ash and Puck again and we did!!! How awesome!  I enjoyed the addition of Kenzie and Kierran but I am not liking where I see Kierran going in the next book.  Ethan is different than Meghan in that he has so much piled on him.  He wants to be safe from the fey.  He wants to keep his parents safe.  He hates Meghan for leaving and Ash for taking his sister from him.  All these things just weigh on him so much that he has little to no chance at a real life.  Kenzie brings him out of his Batman worthy broods though and that is awesome.  She has this great attitude of striving to see and experience as much as she can.  She lives life to the fullest.  Ethan needs someone like that in his life.  Razor was adorable and Grimalkin made me again thankful that I have never heard a cat talk.  What a great way for Julie to bring us back to the Nevernever!  I hope to start the next book tonight!

Click here to add the Iron Fey series books to your Goodreads.  You can also check out Julie Kagawa's website or follow her on Twitter.  If you haven't read the Iron Fey Series yet, you must try them!! I give The Lost Prince 4 Fairies for a great book that took me right back to the Nevernever.

Ironside (Modern Tales of Faerie #3) by Holly Black

Ironside is the third and final book in the Tales of Modern Faerie series from Holly Black.  Here is the cover and blurb:

In the realm of Faerie, the time has come for Roiben's coronation. Uneasy in the midst of the malevolent Unseelie Court, pixie Kaye is sure of only one thing -- her love for Roiben. But when Kaye, drunk on faerie wine, declares herself to Roiben, he sends her on a seemingly impossible quest. Now Kaye can't see or speak to Roiben unless she can find the one thing she knows doesn't exist: a faerie who can tell a lie.

Miserable and convinced she belongs nowhere, Kaye decides to tell her mother the truth -- that she is a changeling left in place of the human daughter stolen long ago. Her mother's shock and horror sends Kaye back to the world of Faerie to find her human counterpart and return her to Ironside. But once back in the faerie courts, Kaye finds herself a pawn in the games of Silarial, queen of the Seelie Court. Silarial wants Roiben's throne, and she will use Kaye, and any means necessary, to get it. In this game of wits and weapons, can a pixie outplay a queen?



Holly Black spins a seductive tale at once achingly real and chillingly enchanted, set in a dangerous world where pleasure mingles with pain and nothing is exactly as it appears.

I really liked this ending.  It showcased exactly how tricky it can be to deal with the fae.  They are all manipulative little creeps whether Seelie or Unseelie and Holly Black makes sure that we see that.  I liked how Corny came into his own in this book.  He has decided to no longer be a victim of the fae and he starts to fight back.  He also got his version of a happily ever after, which is great.  He deserves it.  Roiben's time spent with Kaye has made him more human than fae but he benefits from it, I think.  In the end, all of the characters from the books come together and hammer out a new order for the fae and I think that they all make better friends for each other because of how the events of the books brought them together.  Highly recommend.

You can also find out more about Holly Black and her other books on her website and you can follow her on Twitter!!  Click here to add Ironside to your Goodreads.  I give Ironside 4 Fairies for a satisfying ending to the series.

Valiant (A Modern Tale of Faerie #2) by Holly Black

If you know me, you know that I LOVE fairies.  I have them all over my house and in the garden.  So I have been really enjoying getting to read Holly Black's Modern Tales of Faerie.  Valiant is the second story in the Modern Tales of Faerie by Holly Black.  Here's the cover and Goodreads blurb:

When seventeen-year-old Valerie runs away to New York City, she's trying to escape a life that has utterly betrayed her. Sporting a new identity, she takes up with a gang of squatters who live in the city's labyrinthine subway system.

But there's something eerily beguiling about Val's new friends.
And when one talks Val into tracking down the lair of a mysterious creature with whom they are all involved, Val finds herself torn between her newfound affection for an honorable monster and her fear of what her new friends are becoming.

Valiant was neat because it did not jump right back in with Kaye and Roiben.  It introduces Val and shows how she gets drug into the world of fairy.  Val leaves home after finding out that her mom has been sleeping with her boyfriend.  Totally gross.  So Val leaves for the city and ends up running into a couple of kids who live in the subway.  Oh yeah, the kids also work for a troll by delivering his potions to fey exiles across the city.  I can't say that I much cared for Lolli and Dave but Luis seemed to be pretty awesome.  I hope we see more about him in Ironside.  Val's relationship with Ravus was pretty awesome.  It's definitely a new take on the troll, that's for sure.  This book is Young Adult but it contains homelessness, sexual scenes with dubious consent, drug use, under age drinking and under age smoking.  Please take all that into consideration.

You can also find out more about Holly Black and her other books on her website and you can follow her on Twitter!!  Click here to add Valiant to your Goodreads.  I give Valiant 3 Fairies for a super scary fairy story with some great twists.

The Iron Witch (The Iron Witch 1) by Karen Mahoney

I have had this book on my to read list for a long time.  I finally got a chance to sit down and read it.  Karen Mahoney's beautifully urban tale of fairies in our modern world did not disappoint!  Here is the lovely cover and the Goodreads blurb:

Freak. That's what her classmates call seventeen-year-old Donna Underwood. When she was seven, a horrific fey attack killed her father and drove her mother mad. Donna's own nearly fatal injuries from the assault were fixed by magic—the iron tattoos branding her hands and arms. The child of alchemists, Donna feels cursed by the magical heritage that destroyed her parents and any chance she had for a normal life. The only thing that keeps her sane and grounded is her relationship with her best friend, Navin Sharma.
When the darkest outcasts of Faerie—the vicious wood elves—abduct Navin, Donna finally has to accept her role in the centuries old war between the humans and the fey. Assisted by Xan, a gorgeous half-fey dropout with secrets of his own, Donna races to save her friend—even if it means betraying everything her parents and the alchemist community fought to the death to protect.

If you know me, I love fairies.  Love them.  They are EVERYWHERE in my house.  There are almost as many fairies in and around my house as there are action figures in my sons' room.  (And that is alot.)  I try to get my hands on every fae book I can and when I first saw The Iron Witch, I had to read it.  It sounded great and the cover is gorgeous.  (This is also a recurring theme with me, I often buy books and comics based on an awesome cover.)  After looking into Karen Mahoney herself, I have to say that she gets the highest of fives from me.  She loves Wonder Woman (my daughter's room is done in Wonder Woman) and she is as big a geek as I am.  I highly approve of her.  But on to the Iron Witch.  This book is so intriguing.  It reminded me slightly of Melissa Marr's Wicked Lovely books in how it manages to capture the feel of fairy existing in our modern world.  It felt so real, as if you really could happen upon a wood elf in the park.  This book also deals with the darker side of the fae which gives it an almost paranormal feel.  I just loved it.  The characters were also a home run, in my book.  I really enjoyed that Navin and Donna are such good and close friends.  It was a great dynamic.  Donna also refuses to play the whiny, needy girl who has to be saved.  Screw that!  Donna saves herself and her BFF while she is at it.  Xan is an interesting character as well because he is a slightly conflicted guy who just wants to belong.  He's also perfectly happy working with Donna and supporting her without trying to be her savior.  He's comfortable with a strong female in his life.  All around this story is amazing and it reeled me in.  I have to say that maybe my favorite moment in the book is when Navin calls Donna Wonder Girl.  It made me geek out more than a bit because the original Wonder Girl (who no longer exists thanks to the DC reboot of 2011) was named Donna.  I love those geeky moments in books when you see something and it just makes you giggle.

You can click here to add The Iron Witch to your Goodreads.  You can find Karen Mahoney on her website, LiveJournal, Twitter, Facebook and Tumblr.  The second book in the Iron Witch series is The Wood Queen which is already out.  The third book, The Stone Demon, will be released in April of this year. I give The Iron Witch 4 Fairies for a highly anticipated read that completely met my expectations.

The YA Faeries and Fantasy Giveaway Hop!

Hello and Welcome to my stop on the YA Faeries and Fantasy giveaway hop!  I have a real soft spot of faeries as is evidenced by my ever growing collection of fairies all over my house and yard.  I am going to be giving away one of my favorite fairy books of 2011:  The Replacement by Brenna Yovanoff.  I'm giving away my ARC of the book (it's already out but I got myself a hardcover so I can reread it and the arc is in great shape) and a The Replacement bookmark.  I loved this book.  The Replacement is about the idea of changlings in fairy lore.  A changling is the frail child of fairies left in the place of a perfectly healthy human child.  Usually the changling dies in the story and the family never sees their infant again.  This happening was a very real fear on the British Isles in the past.  People had all kinds of ways to keep it from happening.  Here is the Goodreads blurb:

Mackie Doyle is not one of us. Though he lives in the small town of Gentry, he comes from a world of tunnels and black murky water, a world of living dead girls ruled by a little tattooed princess. He is a Replacement, left in the crib of a human baby sixteen years ago. Now, because of fatal allergies to iron, blood, and consecrated ground, Mackie is fighting to survive in the human world.

Mackie would give anything to live among us, to practice on his bass or spend time with his crush, Tate. But when Tate's baby sister goes missing, Mackie is drawn irrevocably into the underworld of Gentry, known as Mayhem. He must face the dark creatures of the Slag Heaps and find his rightful place, in our world, or theirs.

You can find my review here.  This giveaway will run from January 6 at midnight EST to 12:01 January 13th.  You must have a US mailing address and you must be over 13 years of age.  To enter, please fill in the Rafflecopter below.  If there is a problem with the Rafflecopter, please feel free to email me at the address in the upper right hand corner.  Thanks so much for hopping by !!

Lament: The Fairy Queen's Deception (Books of Faerie Book 1) by Maggie Stiefvater

Lament is the first of Maggie Stiefvater's Books of Faerie and it's been on my To Read list for about a year.  I finally got my hands on a copy when the library recently bought one.  This book was a fast paced read that I just could not put down.  I started and finished it in one night because it just sucked me in.

Deirdre Monaghan is a brilliant harp player whose stage fright is so bad that she routinely gets sick before a performance.  Then, she is approached by Luke who is handsome and talented with the flute.  When they play together, she is not as nervous and actually enjoys playing for the crowd.  It's as if the crowd has melted away and all there is is Luke.  But Luke is no ordinary boy and Deirdre is no ordinary girl.  She learns that Luke is the fairy queen's gallowglass or soulless, former human assassin.  Deirdre also learns that she is a cloverhand, someone who can see fairies.  He grandmother, mother and aunt have all had issues with fairies in the past.  Now Deirdre must face her growing feelings for Luke and the fact that her best friend, James, has feelings for her too.  The fairy queen herself is after Deirdre and she won't stop until Deirdre is no longer a threat.  What will they all do and how will they all survive the ordeal?

I loved this one.  I love fairy lore as it is but Maggie's interpretation was a little different from a lot of the fey stories out there and it was refreshing.  My favorite characters were Luke and James.  James is a piper, as in he plays the bagpipes and wears a kilt.  Yum!  He's also fiercely loyal and protective of Deirdre as well as being funny and charming.  Luke is mysterious and kinda like that kitten that wanders up to your porch and you feel the need to cuddle it even though you know you shouldn't.  He's not inherently evil but no matter how much he fights the Queen's orders, he is stuck.  When he meets Deirdre, she intrigues him and he falls for her. She gives him the strength to fight harder and to stand up to the Queen.  Deirdre is pretty cool too.  I love that she starts out very meek and constantly being pushed around by her mother and treated poorly by her aunt but by the end of the book she stands on her own against the Queen to save the two people who mean the most to her.  Deirdre is a positive female lead and I love how she grows over the course of the book.

This book is a great read for all teens.  There is some violence and some sensuality but nothing half as bad as prime time TV.  I highly recommend this one and can not wait to get my hands on Ballad, the next book in this series.  You can learn more about Maggie Stiefvater and her books by visiting her website, Twitter or her Facebook Page.

Lament earns 4 Fairies for a great modern fairy tale and for James the hot piper!

Tyger Tyger by Kersten Hamilton (Goblin Wars Book 1)

Tyger Tyger is the first book in the Goblin Wars Series and it first came out back in November.  I remember seeing some of the hype leading up to the release but after reading this book, I think it deserved a lot more hype.  I loved this book, plain and simple.  I loved the lore that Kersten used for her story.  She made a really vivid world that you could easily be sucked into.  My absolute favorite character is Finn.  He's just so Irish, heroic and downright yummy!! Finn is epic.  Really.  I liked Teagan because she was brave and smart.  But Teagan never could have made the journey on her own.  She needed Finn and even her little brother, Aiden, to make it through to the end.  The entire story is somewhat dark and at times depressing because so many things go wrong for Tea after the Goblins enter her life.  I didn't think that the story or it;s ending was predictable.  I enjoyed every moment of the ride and was sad when it was over.  I felt like I could connect with Teagan because she is a biologist, a lot like me (or at least like I was in college).  It's really great to have a female lead who is into science and not boys.  (Granted, I was into boys and science in college but I know all too well that the interest in boys can lead to loss of time for science!! Just ask my kids.)  Finn was awesome.  I just loved Finn because he was like the modern, teenage embodiment of the classic Irish/Celtic hero.  He is so young but already carries so much responsibility.  Finn just accepts that this is his lot in life and he does what he has to.  He's very strong in that way but matters of the heart are a different story.  He tries to come across as sure of himself but their grandma lets Teagan see that he isn't always the strong and sure man that he puts out to the rest of the world.  He can still have his heart broken.  I really loved Finn, I can't say it enough.  He made this book for me.  Without him, it still would have been good but Finn made it amazing.

Teagan is a teenage girl with a plan.  She works at the zoo and is going to go to college.  Boys do NOT factor into her plan.  When her "cousin" Finn comes to stay with them, her world is thrown into a disarray in more ways than one.  Will Finn derail her Plan?  Are the Goblins real and are they really coming for her?  Tea and Aidan must go with Finn on a journey into the world of the Goblins to get their father after he is stolen by the goblins in the weeks following their mother's death (also, due to Goblins).  Finn takes them first to their adopted grandmother, the woman who is head of Clan Mac Cumhaill and who took their mother in after finding her trying to escape the Goblins.  They then decide to travel into the goblin world to free their father.  Will they find him in time?  Will things ever go back to the way they once were? 

Tyger Tyger earns 5 Fairies for The Mac Cumhaill, Tea the chimp whisperer and Aidan with his angel voice.

I know I am waiting with bated breath for the next book in the series, In the Forests of the Night, which is due out on October 3rd.  You can find out more about Kersten Hamilton on Goodreads and on her website.  Check out the cover, I really like it.  If I were you, I would make sure that I'd read Tyger Tyger before October so that I could enjoy In the Forests of the Night when it comes out!  You won't be disappointed, this series is like nothing that you've read before!

Iron Daughter by Julie Kagawa (Iron Fey Book 2)

The Iron Daughter is the second book in the Iron Fey series and the cover is just as great as the previous one.  Between Iron King and Iron Daughter, there is a little novella that follows the trip that Ash and Meghan take when Ash turns her over to the Winter Queen.  The Novella is called Winter's Passage and you can find it on Amazon for the Kindle (at least, that is how I bought and read it).  Winter's Passage for the Kindle is $2.39 and worth every penny, in my opinion.  Plus, the "Cover" graphic is pretty wicked.  I really liked Winter's Passage because it was a great way to get into Ash's head (and heart) a little.  Ash is really a wonderful character because there are just so many layers to him.  The courtly facade.  The lost boy.  The heart of gold.  All of these are parts of Ash but he rarely shows all of them to others.  I totally heart Ash, Prince of the Winter Court.  * Sigh *

Iron Daughter begins once Meghan has already been turned over to Queen Mab of the Winter Court and Ash has seemingly returned to the usual icy facade that he wears at court.  Meghan feels like she is all alone.  She doesn't even have her magic because it has been locked away.  Will she be left in the Winter Court forever, alone and friendless?   Or is there another path for her?  Whichever path she chooses, will she travel it alone?

This book was wonderful.  I actually got into it a lot easier than I did with Iron King.  I really liked the interaction between the characters, especially Puck and Ash.  Puck is a great character but I just never really saw him ending up with Meghan but I do still love him as a character.  He always brings levity to the scenes, which can be needed when Ash can be really severe sometimes. 

I loved the way that Ash came across in this book!! I'm trying to not spoil it for you but it was epic.  He is a true romantic hero.  Team Ash! 

This book is a great YA read that isn't terribly graphic so I think it is safe for all teens and older readers.  I highly recommend this series so give it a try if you haven't already.  You can find out more about Julie Kagawa and the Iron Fey Series on her website/blog and you can follow her on Twitter.

Iron Daughter earns 5 Fairies for an epic fairy tale with lots of delicious fey boys! 

So, what Team are you on???

Iron King (Iron Fey Book 1) by Julie Kagawa

Okay- I admit it.  I TOTALLY came late to the Iron Fey Party.  Until this past fall, I didn't know that these books existed and BOY, was I missing out!  If you know me at all, you know that I have a fairy fetish.  They are everywhere in my house, around my house, on my blog profile, just everywhere.  I fell in love with Celtic Fairy Lore and Culture after my college roommate (Thank You, Brianne!) got me hooked on the Merry Gentry Series by Laurell K. Hamilton.  Now, lots of people out there absolutely loathe these books- and that's cool, to each his own- but you can't fault Laurell's research.  I own a number of the books that she used to create her fey world and I love every one of them. The Celts are responsible for the fairy beliefs all over the world.  Fairies, sprites, pixies, morrigans, doxies, will o wisps, the sidhe, goblins, the Wild Hunt, fairy mounds, brownies, boggarts and kelpies.  So many creatures and stories come from the Celts and their belief that the fey captured the British Isles from it's original inhabitants, the Fir Bolgs, and that the fey have since lived on the isles.  They believe that in the past, and sometimes even today, the fair folk will come out of their fairy mounds and into our world to aid or wreak havoc upon the mortals they find.  This world of the fey, or the sidhe, is what helped inspire Shakespeare when he wrote A Midsummer Night's Dream.  The story of the fey in MND sounds much like all the epic tales of the fair folk- such as the classic tale of Cuchulain.  Julie Kagawa further marries the Shakespearean tale with the legends of the fair folk- and then she makes it her own.

I absolutely loved this book.  I really did.  Although I do have to call out Kendra from Books Complete Me- she thought I'd be Team Puck and I have to say that she was wrong.  I love Puck, I do, but Ash.  *Sigh*  Where was I?  Oh yes, Iron King.  Basically, Meghan Chase is the daughter of the fairy king.  Her mother took her and ran after her human father disappeared.  She has since been living on a pig farm with her mother, step-father and half brother.  Meghan's best friend, Robbie, lives nearby and attends school with her.  When he starts to act strangely overprotective and even stranger things start happening around Meghan, the life that she thought she knew starts to unravel.  When her brother is taken into the Nevernever, or the fairy world, Meghan has to go after him.  "Robbie" goes with her and they begin the journey that will change Meghan's life forever. 

I found this book to be fun, exciting and interesting.  The writing was vivid and expressive, so much so that you really could visualize yourself there in the Nevernever.  So much of the world that Julie is writing is "real," meaning that the creatures or characters come from the traditions of the Celts.  My favorite example is the Kelpie that Meghan has a run in with in the Nevernever while she and "Robbie"/Puck race for the Summer Court.  Kelpies are believed to be the basis of the Loch Ness Monster legend.  Kelpies are fey that can look like beautiful women or gorgeous horses but that guise is only used to help them lure men to the water's edge.  Once the man is at the water's edge, the kelpie bites down on the man's arm and drags him into the water to drown.  Some believe the kelpie does it for fun, others believe that kelpies eat their prey.  Either way, it's a pretty wicked fey creature.  I love the character of Grimalkin.  He reminds me of the old fairy legend about the woman who messed around with another woman's husband and got pregnant, the man's wife said that the hussy's outside should match her inside and turned her into a cat.  The woman as a cat gave birth to a kitten who would be a boy.  But the fairy boy always wore the signs of his mother's shame because even as a human shaped sidhe warrior, he was calico colored.  Fairy cats.  Very cool. 

Overall, I would say that this book comes highly recommended.  As in go buy it now, if you don't already own it!  The Iron Fey books are suitable for all teens.  The books contain little to no graphic sexuality and in general, they are light hearted and fun- even in grim circumstances.  So give them a try!

Iron King receives 5 Fairies for a wonderful modern fairy tale with plenty of Puck.

W... W... W... Wednesday

W... W... W... Wednesdays is a weekly feature at Should Be Reading. To play along you just have to answer three simple questions:

1. What Are You Currently Reading?
2. What Did You Recently Finish?
3. What Do You Think You'll Read Next?

My answers for this week:

1. What am I currently reading?  The Iron Daughter by Julie Kagawa
2. What did I recently finish reading?  The Iron King by Julie Kagawa 
3. What will I be reading next?  The Iron Queen by Julie Kagawa

Teaser Tuesday

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

My Teasers are from The Iron Daughter by Julie Kagawa:

"I try."  Puck, looking very human now, crossed the room and reached for my hand, slipping a white corsage onto my wrist.  "You look gorgeous, Princess."

 

Wings by Aprilynne Pike

Wings is the debut novel from Aprilynne Pike that came out in May of 2009. I have been wanting to read this for over a year, since I saw it featured on the TwilightMoms Books of the Month Club. Living in a small town, I was lucky to find that our library had a copy because they really don't get new releases of YA books that reliably. They just don't. As it is, the second book in the series, Spells, has been out since May of 2010 and they still haven't gotten around to getting a copy. Long story short, I have been on the waiting list for this book for months and I FINALLY got it- and proceeded to read it in one evening, of course!!



Anyone who knows me even a little bit can tell you what really drew me to this book: FAIRIES! I love fairies. I have at least two huge books on fairy lore research, my house has fairies strewn throughout it, my garden has fairies all through it, my profile icon is a fairy, one of my favorite book series is about fairies. Fairy lore has always fascinated me. I love that nearly every country that the Celts ever touched has a rich fairy history. It's one of the things that makes Ireland, Cornwall, Scotland, Wales and Brittany so intriguing. Now, while the fairy lore is what drew me to the Wings Series, it is also what kinda ruined the book for me. It didn't ruin it completely but it left me a little... dissatisfied. Most of the research that I have seen from the Celtic lore and beliefs is a bit different from the direction that Aprilynne took her fairies and that made it uncomfortable in the sense that Stephenie Meyer's sparkly vampires make die hard, old school vampire fans. It was unsettling, but the book was still really good. Another thing that grated a tiny bit was that there is a love triangle. It's like a current requisite for YA books. Must have a love triangle. But again, the little bit of annoyance was easily overcome by a great story.



Basically, the story follows Laurel as she realizes that not only is she weird, but she is not human. She can not eat processed foods, meat, anything with salt, she doesn't bleed, she's 15 years old and never started her period, and she wakes up one morning with a flower blooming out of her back. Yeah... not normal or human. She meets David, a human who she attends high school with, and he helps her come to terms with what she is and what she is not. David is so sweet, patient and kind. He doesn't get discouraged even when Laurel blows up at him or repeatedly refuses to go out with him. He sticks it out and is a true friend to her through it all. Laurel also meets another fairy, Tamani, on the land that her old house sits on. He is the one who tells her why she has sprouted the blossom and that she is a Fall Fairy. He makes her feel things that she doesn't understand and he makes it very clear that all he wants in the world is for her to be his forever. Laurel, David and Tamani have to work together over the course of the book to keep Laurel, her parents and the land on which their old home sits safe from harm.

In the end, this was a wonderful book and I am looking forward to hunting down a copy of the second book in the series, Spells, so that I can read it before May when the third book, Illusions, is released. I would suggest this book to anyone who likes fairies, supernatural books and/or clean YA reads. It is really very clean. There is some kissing and that is about it. Not much in the way of swearing either. Adults can enjoy this book as much as teens. It is a thin little book and a quick read, about the same size as a House of Night novel. I hope you'll give Wings a try if you haven't yet!!

Wings earns 4 Fairies for a wonderful modern fairy tale.

You can find Aprilynne Pike on her WEBSITE, on Twitter and on Goodreads. Check her out!