Review - Misguided Angel (Blue Bloods, Book 5) by Melissa De La Cruz (3/5 stars)

Reading level: Young Adult
Genre: Paranormal
Size: 272 pages
Publisher: Hyperion
Release Date: October 26, 2010

ISBN-13:  978-1423121282
Stand Alone or Series: 5th book in the Blue Bloods series
Source: Borrowed from Library
Rating: 3/5 stars


This is the fifth book in the Blue Bloods series by Cruz.  There is a novella due out for this series in December 2010 called, Bloody Valentine; the sixth book is going to be titled, Lost in Time, and is planned for an October 2011 release.  This was the weakest book in this series by far.  The story doesn't progress much and we are only given painfully short glimpses into what is happening to Schuyler and Jack.  Many of the major players from previous books are not even mentioned.

The book starts with Jack and Schuyler and we get a brief glimpse of them escaping captivity and taking off to try and find the last gate.  We don't spend much time with them before Cruz switches to telling the story from Mimi Force's perspective.  Mimi is now leading the Conclave and trying to solve a crime involving an internet video that shows a vampire being burned alive; if she can't figure out where the information is being leaked she is in trouble.  The Conclave is threatening to take the vampires back underground.  After hearing about this for a while we switch to another perspective, this time from a new character named Deming Chen.  Deming is a Venator from Shanghai that is trying to help Mimi solve this case. 

Jack and Schuyler don't get much page space and this is disappointing.  Blyss is left out of the story completely, leaving me puzzled as to what has happened to her.  It does look like Cruz is trying to expand the storyline by telling more of it from Mimi's perspective and by adding in the new character of Deming.  Mimi is quickly becoming a favorite character of mine; as a reader you begin to sympathize with her in this book and learn more about why she is who she it.  Deming looks to be a promising character and brings some interesting background to this story.

As with all of Cruz's book this book was well-written and easy to read.  I just felt like Cruz is either running out of ideas for this series or confused about where she wants to take the story.  This was such a short book and briefly touched on a number of things without really advancing the story.  Very much a transition novel.

Overall I have really enjoyed this series, but this book left me somewhat disappointed.  I don't feel like much happened, it was kind of boring, and I felt like this was more of a transition book or a book where Cruz was confused on where to take this series.  So, it was okay but not great.  Hopefully the sixth book is better because if the sixth book is like this book...well then I am not sure I will keep reading this series.

This book goes to the following reading challenges:
- The Young Adult Reading Challenge
- The 100+ Book Reading Challenge

Waiting on Wednesday - 11/24

Okay "Waiting On Wednesday" is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine.

This week my waiting on wednesday book is: Wolfsbane (Nightshade, Book 2) by Andrea Cremer.  This is the second book in the Nightshade series; I absolutely loved Nightshade and can't wait for the story to continue.  It doesn't hurt that these books have absolutely stunning covers :-)

Wolfsbane by Andrea Cremer
400 pages
Publisher: Philomel
Release Date: July 26, 2011
ISBN: 978-0399254833

Teaser Tuesday - 11/23

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!

This week my teaser is from The Iron Queen (Iron Fey, Book 3) by Julie Kagawa.

Here it is: "For a few seconds, I could only lie there with my mouth gaping, crushed under the body of the killer feline. Up close, the dead cat was a strange metallic gray, its fur short and shiny like a mirror." Locations 2290-98

Review - The Iron Queen (The Iron Fey, Book 3) by Julie Kagawa (5/5 stars)

Reading level: Young Adult
Genre: Fantasy/Urban Fantasy
Size: 384 pages
Publisher: Harlequin
Release Date: January 25, 2011
ISBN-13:  978-0373210183
Stand Alone or Series: 3rd book in the Iron Fey series
Source: ARC from NetGalley.com
Rating: 5/5 stars

This is the third book in the Iron Fey series by Julie Kagawa. The fourth book in the series The Iron Knight is due out some time in 2011. I got an advanced reading copy of this book through NetGalley(dot)com. This was an excellent addition to the series and a great place to leave things with Meghan. I am not sure how she does it but Kagawa sure does know how to write a story that draws the reader in and totally captures your imagination. Can I give this book more than 5 stars?

Meghan and Ash have been cast out of Nevernever. Meghan is determined to go home to her human family but on her way up the driveway is attacked by the false Iron King's minions. Now she realizes she can't go home until the False Iron King is dealt with. To do that she needs to learn both how to fight and how to use her magic reliably. When she sets on the path to destroy the false Iron King she has no idea that her path will take her to an epic battle between the False Iron King and the rest of the fey; the very existence of the Nevernever will depend on Meghan's resolve.

This is a wonderful wonderful book in what has been an absolutely stellar series. Kagawa creates characters that are complex, easy to engage with, and so easy to care about. The world she has created is amazingly complex, but never feels too complicated. At every turn we see new fascinating places, people, and creatures. Kagawa always keeps you guessing. There is a ton of action here, some true love, adventure, quests, epic battles...really this book has everything any fantasy fan could ever hope for.

Gone is the Meghan who couldn't take care of herself; she is replaced with a girl with more backbone, more know how, and more resolve than ever before. The Winter Prince Ash has finally thawed, gone is the stoic Prince from previous books...now he is showing us how he feels and giving us glimpses into his past that help to explain his actions. To keep the story from getting too intense we have Meghan's sharp sense of humor and the presence (and sudden absences) of the wonderful Grimalkin...he continues to be mysterious, funny, and very Cheshire-cat-like. Grimalkin is hands down my favorite character in this series.

Kagawa does such an excellent job describing environments, I actually feel like I am there with Meghan. Her action scenes are creative and you never know what is going to happen when you turn the page. And this book was a page turner. I read the almost 400 page book effortlessly and couldn't believe I had already reached the end. It was soooo hard to put down. As for the characters, well this book is quite a rollercoaster...the characters are put through a lot. You will laugh, you will hold your breath, and you will cry a few times...it takes a great author to pull a reader through all this emotion and that is what Kagawa is. At times in this book the story becomes truly epic and I was impressed that Kagawa handled massive battle scenes just as wonderfully as the other types of scenes in this book.

My only complaint is that I want more. I will warn that some readers may be disappointed in how this book ends....the fact that there will be a book dedicated to Ash's story called The Iron Knight should give a bit of insight into the ending of this book. I personally thought it ended well and realistically, although it did feel a bit rushed and I was surprise that Meghan didn't struggle a bit more to change things.

Overall this is absolutely, hands-down the best fae based story I have ever read. Kagawa is a writer to keep you eye on; this blows all of those other YA faerie series out of the water. I just don't know how she does it; the pacing, the creativity, the wonderful world and characters; it is all spot on. I am super excited to see what The Iron Knight brings us and I thoroughly enjoyed this series. I highly recommend it to any fantasy fans out there; not just the female set either...there is enough fighting, action, and epic battle to make this book appeal to any fantasy fan in the young adult or older age category.

This book goes towards the following reading challenges:

- The Young Adult Reading Challenge

- The 100+ Book Reading Challenge

The Iron Queen

2011 Debut Author Reading Challenge

I am signing up for 2011 is the "Debut Author Reading Challenge" hosted by the Story Siren. Read below or follow the image below to sign up and get more information on this challenge.

2011 Debut Author Challenge participant information:

• The objective of the DAC is to read at least twelve novels from Young Adult or Middle Grade Authors. 
• While twelve is the minimum there is no maximum limit! I encourage readers who can read more than twelve to do so! 
• Anyone can join. 
• You don't have to be a blogger, and you don't have to live in the United States.
• You do not have to have an blog written in English to participate.
• You can join at anytime. The challenge runs from January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2011.

My books will be listed below as I read them:

1.   Vesper (Deviant's, Book 1) by Jeff Sampson

2.   Lost Voices by Sarah Porter

3.   Unearthly (Unearthly Trilogy, Book 1) by Cynthia Hand

4.   Here Lies Bridget by Paige Harbison

5.   Wither (Chemical Garden Trilogy, Book 1) by Lauren DeStefano

6.   Cinderella: Ninja Warrior (Twisted Tales) by Maureen McGowan

7.   The Demon Trapper's Daughter by Jana Oliver

8.   The Emerald Atlas (The Books of Beginning, Book 1) by John Stephens

9.   Divergent by Veronica Roth

10. Luminous by Dawn Metcalf

11. The Girl in the Steel Corset (Steampunk Chronicles, Book 1) by Kady Cross

12. Kat, Incorrigible by Stephanie Burgis

13. Blood Red Road by Moira Young
14. Moonglass by Jessi Kirby
15. The Dagger Quick by Brian Eames
16. Janitors by Tyler Whitesides
17. Ashes, Ashes by Jo Treggiari
18. The Undrowned Child by Michelle Lovric
19. Fury by Elizabeth Miles
20. Touch of Frost (Mythos Academy, Book 1) by Jennifer Estep
21. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
22. Blood Rights (House of Comarre, Book 1) by Kristen Painter
23. The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson
24. The Mephisto Covenant: The Redemption of Ajax by Trinity Faegen
25. Blood (The Mercian Trilogy, Book 1) by K.J. Wignall
26. Slayers by C.J. Hill
27. All Men of Genius by Lev AC Rossen
28. The Apothecary by Malie Meloy
29. Dearly, Departed by Lia Habel
30. The False Princess by Eilis O'Neal
31. Waterfall (River of Time Series) by Lisa T. Bergren
32. Anya's Ghost by Vera Brosgol

Review - Rise of the Darklings (The Invisible Order, Book 1) by Paul Crilley (5/5 stars)

Reading level: Middle Grade
Genre: Fantasy
Size: 352 pages
Publisher: EgmontUSA
Release Date: September 28, 2010
ISBN-13: 978-1606840313
Stand Alone or Series: 1st book in the Invisible Order series
Source: ARC from Amazon Vine
Rating: 5/5 stars

I got an advanced reading copy of this book through the Amazon Vine program.  The synopsis of the book sounded wonderful; a young girl in Victorian London stumbles upon another world.  I absolutely loved this book.  This is the first book in The Invisible Order series by Crilley.  The characters and story were very engaging and the atmosphere dark and mysterious.  Excellent middle grade fantasy that even adults will get into.

Emily and her brother are orphans trying to scrap buy in the Cheapside part of London.  Emily sells Watercress at market and tries to make enough money for them to eat.  One day on her way to the market she stumbles upon an epic battle happening in the streets on London; but the people fighting it are peculiar and...small.  From there Emily finds herself drawn into an adventure under the streets of London, on a quest to save her brother and possibly her parents, dealing with the horribly unpredictable fairy folk.

I loved this book.  The whole book has a dark Victorian atmosphere to it and the descriptions pull you right into your surroundings.  The plot is full of twists and turns and you never know what you are going to find with each page you turn.  Emily is a wonderful character; she is realistic, plucky, takes on a ton of responsibility for her age, has a lot of backbone, and at times is quite witty and sarcastic.

The surrounding characters are all quirky and interesting.  I enjoyed the complicated politics between the Fairy King, Fairy Queen, and the Invisible Order.  This is a middle grade book that assumes its readers are intelligent people who love a good story.  At times this story channels some dark fairy tale-like elements too.

The writing was easy to read and very well done.  The pace perfect, I never got bored and never felt overwhelmed.  This book was very hard to put down and I read it in record time.  The story is well wrapped up, but leaves some open story threads for the next book.  I am really looking forward to reading more of this series and so glad I decided to read this book.

Overall a wonderful new book in a great new series.  The setting is dark and Victorian, Emily makes a wonderful heroine with a bit of a sense of humor and a strong sense of self.  There are unexpected things happening at every page turn and I just loved it.  Fans of The Last Apprentice series by Joseph Delaney, Fablehaven by Brandon Mull, Percy and the Olympians by Rick Riordan, Cornelia Funke's Reckless, Catherin Fisher's Incarceron and the Bartimeus Trilogy by Jonathan Stroud will find a lot in this book to love.  Great for all ages of readers.

This book goes towards the following reading challenges:
- The Young Adult Reading Challenge
- The 100+ Book Reading Challenge

 

Thank You Giveaway!

Hi Guys!  I am so thankful that I have a lot of great people who follow this blog and actually find my reviews helpful occasionally :-)  So I want to say THANK YOU!

Hope that you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving.  And as part of wishing you a happy Thanksgiving I am doing a Giveaway to show you all how thankful I am!

There are two packs of books that I am giving away.  These books have been read through once, but are in great condition.  The contest will be open until Monday, November 29th at midnight.

YA Book Pack:

The Otherworldlies by Jennifer Anne Kogler

Matched by Ally Condie (This is an ARC)

Middle Grade Pack:

The Kneebone Boy by Ellen Potter (This is an ARC)

The Familiars by Adam Jay Epstein and Andrew Jacobson (This is an ARC)

Hero by Mike Lupica (This is an ARC)

You can enter for either pack or both.  Please read the rules below and fill out the form below!  Happy Thanksgiving :-)