Entries Tagged 'Advance Reader Copy Review' ↓
August 4th, 2010 — 4.5-5 Treasure Chests, Action & Adventure, Advance Reader Copy Review, Fantasy, J-L, Romance
by First Mate Keira
Title:The Iron Daughter (Book 2 in Iron Fey Series)
Author: Julie Kagawa
Format: Kindle ebook
Page Count: 304 (Paperback)
Grade Reading Level: Grade 7+
Summary: Meghan Chase is prisoner in the Winter Court waiting for Queen Mab to request her presence. She’s having trouble accessing the glamour… in fact she can’t even make the air shimmer. It’s as if going to the Iron Court and coming into her powers never happened. She doesn’t know why this is happening and she doesn’t know where Ash has gone or why when he comes back he’s so cold and distant. When the Scepter of the Seasons is stolen and the Crown Prince is murdered Queen Mab imprisons Meghan in ice, refusing to listen to her story that the Iron Fey did it, and calls for war on the Summer Court. A new battle to save the Nevernever begins, but first Meghan’s got to free herself.
Why I started this book:
I love the first novel and short story of Iron Fey Series and requested the book from the publisher.
Likes:
- Grimalkin is still my favorite snarky cat. I love him to pieces.
- Iron Horse comes back and is developed past the steaming loudmouth from the first book and really becomes quite likable. It makes his fate very sad.
- Puck recovers and is back to his usual merrymaking and has a blast fighting against the Iron Fey. He declares himself to Meghan and they share some kisses.
- Ash is the damaged hero of my dreams. He’s constantly struggling with himself. He knows he should push Meghan away and does so but then he does what he feels and that’s pulling her closer.
- Virus is one fun power tripping bad gal. Too bad she can’t be swayed to the good side; she’d make an excellent lieutenant.
- The double crossing and back stabbing betrayal of certain members of the Winter Court. Hehe. Nobody saw that coming did they? Wink.
- Meghan’s accidental discovery of Iron glamour.
Toss-Up:
- Leanesidhe is a toss-up for me. I’m not for or against her at this point. She’s very interesting being the first fey to build a Court for herself outside of the Nevernever by using the In-Between. She’s helpful because it’s in her best interests, but if it’s not, watch out!
Dislikes:
- It seemed obvious to me why Ash was acting as he was to Meghan and considering he told her time and again he’d have to act a certain way in the Winter Court, so when she acts surprised and is hurt I just wanted to shake her. That girl thought up all sorts of wrong reasons why he’s cold and distant (mean) to her instead of just listening to him and going with what he said. He was very upfront and was trying to protect her from the shenanigans that would have happened had others known of his interest.
- The Puck/Meghan relationship isn’t fleshed out convincingly enough to make this a strong love triangle. The decision seems so clear and in the end Meghan really didn’t have a choice to make, she already knew what she was going to do.
Last Minute Thoughts: I’m ready for The Iron Queen. Are you?
Buy: The Iron Daughter (Paperback)
, The Iron Daughter (Kindle)
Rating: 5 Treasure Chests
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July 31st, 2010 — 3.5-4 Treasure Chests, Action & Adventure, Advance Reader Copy Review, Coming of Age, Fantasy, J-L, Romance, School Situations
by First Mate Keira
Title: The Dream Maker in the Desert (Society Series, Book 1)
Author: Marie Krushing
Format: Trade Paperback
Page Count: 527
Grade Reading Level: 7+ Grade
Summary: Emmet Watts was an outcast in school. Students labeled him a freak and as a result nobody was brave enough to be his friend. One night while taking out the garbage, Emmet is confronted by a creepy man and rescued from him by a team of others. In the world he’s whisked away to, Emmet learns one thing was true. He was a freak – a superhero with powers as yet undiscovered. He’s given a choice. He can return home, no questions asked or he can stay and discover who he was really meant to be. In the end there was only one choice Emmet could live with…
Why I started this book:
It was offered to LYAF as an ARC which we accepted.
Likes:
- This is a very boy friendly novel and book series with lots of action, fighting, sparring, and a general cool factor due to superhero powers. It’s even got elements that will make it girl friendly too.
- Chris is Emmet’s mentor and team captain within the Society and is a pretty awesome guy. He trains Emmet, defends him, sticks up for him, and talks sense into him whenever the occasion demands it. That makes him a very good friend. His superpower is night vision but that also makes darkness his greatest fear.
- The Kelly/Emmet relationship is cute and I definitely want to see it developed more.
- It was very cool to see what superheroes feared. I already mentioned Chris' fear, I won't mention the others. You will have to read and find out for yourself.
- Braeden is a well drawn bad guy. I liked very much how Krushing used his power to manipulate fears and dreams against him at the end. I wasn’t expecting it at all.
Dislikes:
- While wrapping up the first Society series novel in a very clean and tidy way, I have to wonder who will be running the Dark Ones next? I can think of two from those mentioned already in the series, but they were followers first, it might be hard to reconcile them as leaders in the next book.
- Kenny is the standard YA school bully. I feel he needs a little more to his character. He’s not really a threat and is drawn in a rather pathetic light as his arrogance and entitlement make him delusional. There’s no way right now he’d stand a chance against Emmet ever yet he keeps picking (verbal) fights. I want him to get superpowers. That would up the rivalry.
Last Minute Thoughts: The Society series is slated to be a trilogy. I’m interested in seeing what happens to our hero, Emmet Watts.
Buy: The Dream Maker in the Desert
Rating: 4 Treasure Chests
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July 27th, 2010 — 4.5-5 Treasure Chests, Advance Reader Copy Review, Fantasy, J-L, Romance
by First Mate Keira
Title: Winter’s Passage (Book 1.5 in Iron Fey Series)
Author: Julie Kagawa
Format: Kindle ebook
File Size: 211 KB
Grade Reading Level: Grade 7+
Summary: Winter’s Passage explores the gap of time between Iron King and Iron Daughter. If you remember, Meghan Chase made a deal with Ash, prince of the Winter court, to go with him willingly back with him to the heart of Unseelie territory and into Queen Mab. Winter’s Passage starts when Ash comes to collect on this promise. The journey is not without its challenges. On the way to Tir na nog an ancient rarely seen enemy begins to hunt them…and according to Ash nobody ever wins against it.
Why I started this book:
I just finished reading Iron King and wanted to know what happened next and didn’t want to wait for the release of Iron Daughter. I got a copy from the publisher. It's a free ebook for a limited time online and might still be—you will have to check it out.
Likes:
- The ancient scary enemy is the Big Bad Wolf. Kagawa writes deliciously thrilling fight scenes between the Big Bad Wolf, Ash, and Meghan.
- That Meghan isn’t a complete dead weight in a fight. Yay girl power!
- When Meghan doesn’t abandon Ash during a golden opportunity, it confuses him and yet shows him just how human she is… which frightens him because he knows this loyalty of hers will get her hurt in his home court. Poor faery boy.
- The continuance of Meg and Ash’s relationship. He drops his icy demeanor around her and they get very close. You can’t question his love for her even if his loyalties must go to his mother, Queen Mab.
- I think fans of the series should read this before starting Iron Daughter because it’s very illuminating, and while portions of it are found in reminisce on Meghan’s part in the second book, they have a stronger punch set within the novella.
Buy: Winter's Passage (Kindle)
Rating: 5 Treasure Chests
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July 15th, 2010 — 4.5-5 Treasure Chests, Advance Reader Copy Review, Fantasy, J-L, Romance
by First Mate Keira
Title:The Iron King
Author: Julie Kagawa
Format: Kindle Ebook
Page Count: 368 (Paperback)
Grade Reading Level: Grade 7+
Summary: Meghan Chase is just your ordinary unpopular girl trying to navigate the hierarchy of high school, get her driver’s permit, and possibly a date with the hottest boy. Her best friend, Robin Goodfellow, calls her princess, an endearment she despises. What she doesn’t know is just how apt that nickname is because she is the bastard daughter of Oberon, King of the Seelie fairies and of Summer. When her younger half brother, Ethan, is kidnapped and taken to the Nevernever, Robin sheds his glamour and reveals that he is her protector and Puck, yes that Puck, from Shakespeare’s play A Midsummer Night’s Dream. In very little time Meghan finds her whole world turned upside down and that rescuing her brother will require help, loads of help, in the form of a cat, an Unseelie prince, and her best friend.
Why I started this book:
I requested a reader copy from the publisher because I love romances and was eager to read something from Harlequin’s new teen romance line. I picked this novel also because I had seen the title appear a lot on the YA blogosphere.
Likes:
- Julie Kagawa is absolutely brilliant. Her world building is vibrant, full and lively, and it literally leaps off the page. I enjoyed her new type of fairy species—a masterful stroke that really gives the story a new dimension. I would go into more details but it’s so much more fun discovering the answer for yourself.
- Ash, the Unseelie prince, is a spectacularly drawn character. He’s that aloof hero whose motives are hard to determine. He hides a soft heart behind a cold hard façade and makes for a truly forbidden love interest. Yum.
- Puck, he’s the wayward merrymaker who at times isn’t the best judge of when too far is too far. I have a feeling he’s also in love with Meghan but as of yet hasn’t made his feelings known and Meghan views him as her best friend, not a love interest.
- Grimalkin or Grim, the cat. He reminds me of the Cheshire Cat from Alice in Wonderland and is another fantastic well drawn character. He’s sarcastic, condescending, and witty. He trades favors and barters without a plan seemingly in mind in order to extract another promise or favor from someone else. You can find him wherever something interesting is taking place.
Last Minute Thoughts: The worst part of the book is that it ended! The next in novel in the series cannot come too quickly for me. I can’t wait to read The Iron Daughter.
Buy: The Iron King (Harlequin Teen)
Rating: 5 Treasure Chests
P.S. The Iron King is the perfect story to read for any Twilight fan looking for a new series to love.
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March 19th, 2010 — 4.5-5 Treasure Chests, Advance Reader Copy Review, Book Review, Historical Fiction, Mystery, Romance, U-W
by First Mate Keira
Title: The Temptation of the Night Jasmine
Author: Lauren Willig
Format: Trade Paperback
Page Count: 468
Grade Reading Level: Ages 15+
Summary: One heroine is researching for her dissertation on the Pink Carnation. The other heroine is living it. Both heroines are already set on the path of love, but the road is bumpy and not without potholes. Can they successfully navigate their way through to happily ever after?
Likes:
- You can read this novel without picking up the others in the Pink Carnation series first. However, I am definitely most eager to check them out. This looks like a very promising book series.
- Eloise and Charlotte Lansdowne, the heroines of both the present and past love stories, are a gem. Eloise was amusing and Charlotte sweet. I found a little of myself in both of them.
- Robert, Duke of Dovedale and Charlotte’s love interest, is the type of hero who understands that knights in shining armor are important and tries to make himself into one. He doesn’t yet realize he’s already a prince among men and that is his largest appeal.
- The vivid imagery and adept storytelling woven by Lauren Willig will suck you in and not let you up for air until the very last punctuation mark. You will find humor, romance, intrigue, kidnapping plots, secret clubs, nefarious doings, and more within these pages.
Dislikes:
- Charlotte’s friend Penelope reminds me too much of a character from another novel which is coloring my view of her. I want to shake some sense into that girl. She’s the only fly in the ointment as far as I’m concerned.
Buy: The Temptation of the Night Jasmine
Rating: 5 Treasure Chests
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