Review: Assassin's Heart by Sarah Ahiers

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Series: Assassin's Heart #1
Pages: 420
Copyright: 2016 
Publisher: HarperTeen
Buy: Amazon

Summary: from Good Reads

In the kingdom of Lovero, nine rival Families of assassins lawfully kill people for a price. As a highly skilled member of one of these powerful clans, seventeen-year-old Lea Saldana has always trusted in the strength of her Family. Until she awakens to find them murdered and her home in flames. The Da Vias, the Saldanas’ biggest enemy, must be responsible—and Lea should have seen it coming. But her secret relationship with the Da Vias’ son, Val, has clouded her otherwise killer instinct—and given the Da Vias more reason than ever to take her Family down.

Racked with guilt and shattered over Val’s probable betrayal, Lea sets out to even the score, with her heart set on retaliation and only one thought clear in her mind: make the Da Vias pay.

Feelings: 
Assassin's Heart by Sarah Ahiers created a world where angry ghosts rule at night except where those faithful to the God Safraella, the goddess of death, murder, and resurrection. Lea Saldana is the first person narrator, and while I liked her character I felt like the story was a little predictable. There was a lot of obvious foreshadowing that took away from any surprise.

Once Lea gets to Yvain and meets Alessio, Les, the story got a little more interesting for me. However, it still remained predictable. Les was probably my favorite character. He was the reason Lea grew throughout the story.

This novel was just alright. I enjoyed parts of it, but I didn't feel like it was anything special.

Review: The Glittering Court by Richelle Mead

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Series: The Glittering Court #1
Pages: 400
Copyright: 2016 
Publisher: Razorbill
Buy: Amazon

Summary: from Goodreads

Big and sweeping, spanning from the refined palaces of Osfrid to the gold dust and untamed forests of Adoria, The Glittering Court tells the story of Adelaide, an Osfridian countess who poses as her servant to escape an arranged marriage and start a new life in Adoria, the New World. But to do that, she must join the Glittering Court.

Both a school and a business venture, the Glittering Court is designed to transform impoverished girls into upper-class ladies who appear destined for powerful and wealthy marriages in the New World. Adelaide naturally excels in her training, and even makes a few friends: the fiery former laundress Tamsin and the beautiful Sirminican refugee Mira. She manages to keep her true identity hidden from all but one: the intriguing Cedric Thorn, son of the wealthy proprietor of the Glittering Court.

When Adelaide discovers that Cedric is hiding a dangerous secret of his own, together they hatch a scheme to make the best of Adelaide’s deception. Complications soon arise—first as they cross the treacherous seas from Osfrid to Adoria, and then when Adelaide catches the attention of a powerful governor.

But no complication will prove quite as daunting as the potent attraction simmering between Adelaide and Cedric. An attraction that, if acted on, would scandalize the Glittering Court and make them both outcasts in wild, vastly uncharted lands…

Feelings:

I enjoyed The Glittering Court by Richelle Mead more than I thought I would. My expectations were lowered a little when I realized the author had written the Vampire Academy series. While I liked The Glittering Court I would not have picked it up and read it if I had realized it was the same author that wrote Vampire Academy. This book was not a vampire book though, and I'm glad I read it.

I really enjoyed Adelaide, Cedric, Tamsin, and Mira. Adeaide was the first person narrator, and we know all of her secrets but we don't know the secrets of the other girls at the school Tamsin and Mira. We know they have reasons they joined the Glittering Court and are willing to make a dangerous trip to a dangerous new world. However, I didn't need to know their secrets. Knowing Adelaide and Cedric was enough for me. They had big secrets.

This was a little like a fantasy period drama and I liked the descriptions of the clothing and the difference between the two cultures. Sometimes I wonder what it would be like to have lived in a time where society was based on your history and your wealth. I imagine it would have felt limiting. The characters in this novel seemed to feel limited by and that was why they were willing to travel to a new world because they hoped it would provide a little freedom.

I recommend this book to anyone that enjoys historical fiction based in Victorian times. Yes, this is fantasy, but it has the same feel as many historical novels. This book stood by itself. It is part of a series but the next book in the series is from Mira's perspective and covers the same time as this book. I think I will probably end up reading it, but I don't feel like I'm missing something if I don't read it.

Review: Snow Like Ashes by Sara Raasch

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Series: Snow Like Ashes #1
Pages: 422
Copyright: 2014
Publisher: Blazer + Bray
Buy: Amazon

Summary: from Good Reads

A heartbroken girl. A fierce warrior. A hero in the making.

Sixteen years ago the Kingdom of Winter was conquered and its citizens enslaved, leaving them without magic or a monarch. Now, the Winterians’ only hope for freedom is the eight survivors who managed to escape, and who have been waiting for the opportunity to steal back Winter’s magic and rebuild the kingdom ever since.

Orphaned as an infant during Winter’s defeat, Meira has lived her whole life as a refugee, raised by the Winterians’ general, Sir. Training to be a warrior—and desperately in love with her best friend, and future king, Mather — she would do anything to help her kingdom rise to power again.

So when scouts discover the location of the ancient locket that can restore Winter’s magic, Meira decides to go after it herself. Finally, she’s scaling towers, fighting enemy soldiers, and serving her kingdom just as she’s always dreamed she would. But the mission doesn’t go as planned, and Meira soon finds herself thrust into a world of evil magic and dangerous politics – and ultimately comes to realize that her destiny is not, never has been, her own.


Feelings: 

The world created in Snow Like Ashes by Sara Raasch was different than any other fantasy world I've come across. I found the idea of a circular world made up of an inner circle and outer circle interesting. The inner circle was composed of four kingdoms that each at one season year round. The outer circle was also four kingdoms, but they cycled through the seasons as our world does. 

I liked the characters but I didn't like any of them enough to say I had a favorite. I thought Meira was a little whinny at times, particularly when she didn't get what she wanted, which was often. Meira was the first person narrator so we see the other characters through her eyes. That may be why I didn't feel much of a connection with the other characters. Meira really likes Mather but I didn't find him to be that interesting of a character. He is the child King of winter, but he is a refugee like Meira and has no power to help his people. Maybe because he is only sixteen years old. The character I ended up liking the most was Theron, the son of the King of Cordellan. Theron had in many ways given up on his dream. However, while he was forced into the role of future king he remained true to who he was, and I liked that about him.

Snow Like Ashes was an enjoyable story of learning to be true to who you are. I recommend this story to those who enjoy very different world. I intend to read the next in the series. 

Review: The Impostor Queen by Sarah Fine

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Series: The Impostor Queen #1
Pages: 415
Copyright: 2016 
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
Buy: Amazon

Summary: from Good Reads
Sixteen-year-old Elli was only a child when the Elders of Kupari chose her to succeed the Valtia, the queen who wields infinitely powerful ice and fire magic in service of her people. The only life Elli has known has been in the temple, surrounded by luxury, tutored by magic-wielding priests, preparing for the day when the queen perishes—and the ice and fire find a new home in Elli, who is prophesied to be the most powerful Valtia to ever rule.

But when the queen dies defending the kingdom from invading warriors, the magic doesn’t enter Elli. It’s nowhere to be found.

Disgraced, Elli flees to the outlands, home of banished criminals—some who would love to see the temple burn with all its priests inside. As she finds her footing in this new world, Elli uncovers devastating new information about the Kupari magic, those who wield it, and the prophecy that foretold her destiny. Torn between her love for her people and her growing loyalty to the banished, Elli struggles to understand the true role she was meant to play. But as war looms, she must choose the right side before the kingdom and its magic are completely destroyed.

Feelings:
I made the mistake of looking at a few reviews as well as the over all rating before I started reading this novel. It had a not so great over all rating. I normally look for an average of 4 stars, and this had 3.7 stars. I didn't think it was the best book, but I really enjoyed the story.

Elli seemed like a real person. She had fears and worries. I liked that about her. She also had disappointment but she learned to live with it and make the best of what she had. She was a very interesting character, and I enjoyed getting to know her as she grew throughout the novel.She knew what her short comings were outside of the temple and she did her best to learn and grow. She made mistakes, but she didn't obsess over them. She did obsess a little over what she wasn't and what sh actually was. It was interesting to see her learn about magic and her lack of it.

Another character I really liked was Oskar. He denied so much of himself because of fear. This is true of so many people, not just in fiction. We let fear hold us back because we are scared of what might happen. I could go off into a rant about the politics of fear, which is applicable to this novel. However, I won't. Oskar does learn from his fear and he changes. It was the growth in both of these characters that made me really like reading about them. I also enjoyed the family dynamic that was present in the outlands rebel camp. It was so different from the city.

I also liked the balance that magic had with fire and ice. Without a balance a person is consumed by the magic. Sarah Fines created an interesting world in The Impostor Queen. I recommend this novel and look forward to the next in the series.

Review: The Shallow Graves by Jennifer Donnelly

Genre: Young Adult Historical Fiction
Series: No
Pages: 487
Copyright: 2015
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Buy: Amazon

Summary: from Good Reads
Jo Montfort is beautiful and rich, and soon—like all the girls in her class—she’ll graduate from finishing school and be married off to a wealthy bachelor. Which is the last thing she wants. Jo secretly dreams of becoming a writer—a newspaper reporter like the trailblazing Nellie Bly.

Wild aspirations aside, Jo’s life seems perfect until tragedy strikes: her father is found dead. Charles Montfort accidentally shot himself while cleaning his revolver. One of New York City’s wealthiest men, he owned a newspaper and was partner in a massive shipping firm, and Jo knows he was far too smart to clean a loaded gun.

The more Jo uncovers about her father’s death, the more her suspicions grow. There are too many secrets. And they all seem to be buried in plain sight. Then she meets Eddie—a young, brash, infuriatingly handsome reporter at her father’s newspaper—and it becomes all too clear how much she stands to lose if she keeps searching for the truth. Only now it might be too late to stop.

The past never stays buried forever. Life is dirtier than Jo Montfort could ever have imagined, and the truth is the dirtiest part of all.

Feelings:
The Shallow Graves by Jennifer Donnelly is set in New York City at the turn-of-the-century when society is obsessed with the old rich, and daughters of the rich are expected to marry for wealth and advantage. Josephine Montfort knows she wants to be a journalist, but she knows it will be looked upon with disdain. When her father died, they tell her it was an accident cleaning his gun and she doesn't believe them. She set out to find the truth with Eddie, a young journalist looking for a big story, to find the truth.

Along the way Joe discovers that her life as one of society's most eligible young ladies is everything she isn't everything she thought it was. With Eddie she begins to discover herself in the city. I liked the story a lot more than I thought I would. Sometimes I find historical fiction to be doll, this wasn't. It didn't reflect the acetic of the time but Joe was not your typical girl. She had an opinion and she stood by it, even if it meant asking questions no one else does and taking risks.

"They teach you anything in finishing school besides embroidery, Miss Montfort?" Eddie asked. "Your uncle had a good reason for bribing the police--you. Suicide is a lot of things. It's ugly and sad, but most of all it's scandalous.  . . . The old New York families--your people--they're not too keen on scandals, are they?" p. 35

After Jo finds out that her father may have killed himself or worse been murdered, she can't let it drop even if it means risking her future as part of New York's elite.

There are many less reasons I recommend the story but the biggest is it's characters stand up for themselves and they aren't fun to read about. A nice stroll through his stork New York City with great people.

Review: The Winner's Crime by Marie Rutkoski

Genre: Young Adult
Series: The Winner's Trilogy #2
Pages: 416
Copyright: 2015
Publisher: Farrar Straus Giroux Books
Buy: Amazon

Summary: from Good Reads
Book two of the dazzling Winner's Trilogy is a fight to the death as Kestrel risks betrayal of country for love.

The engagement of Lady Kestrel to Valoria’s crown prince means one celebration after another. But to Kestrel it means living in a cage of her own making. As the wedding approaches, she aches to tell Arin the truth about her engagement... if she could only trust him. Yet can she even trust herself? For—unknown to Arin—Kestrel is becoming a skilled practitioner of deceit: an anonymous spy passing information to Herran, and close to uncovering a shocking secret.

As Arin enlists dangerous allies in the struggle to keep his country’s freedom, he can’t fight the suspicion that Kestrel knows more than she shows. In the end, it might not be a dagger in the dark that cuts him open, but the truth. And when that happens, Kestrel and Arin learn just how much their crimes will cost them.

Feelings: 
I really enjoyed the first in the series, The Winner's Curse, and I wondered if The Winner's Crime would be as good. The Winner's Crime has espionage, betrayal, and hidden love. It was well written, and I enjoyed the political parts of the book. Yes, I like politics, but prefer the fictional kind.

One thing this book was missing for me was romance. Kestrel denies her feelings because she is scared of what will happen if she doesn't. Arin is still head strong and a little frustrating in the way he jumps to conclusions and doesn't listen. However, I really enjoyed both the narration from Kestrel and Arin's point of view. My favorite new character in this book was Mine, the puppy Prince Verex gives Kestrel. I'm I allowed to pick a puppy as a character? Maybe not. I did find Prince Verex an intriguing character, even though I didn't want to like him at first.

Did I mention how horribly unlikeable the emperor is? He is great to dislike. I enjoy disliking him. He is also a well developed character, which makes disliking him even better.

I'll defiantly be picking up the last book in the series.

Review: The Winner's Curse by Marie Rutkoski

Genre: Young Adult
Series: Yes, The Winner's Trilogy #1
Pages: 355
Copyright: 2014 
Publisher: Farrar Straus Giroux Books
Buy: Amazon

Summary: from Good Reads

Winning what you want may cost you everything you love...

As a general’s daughter in a vast empire that revels in war and enslaves those it conquers, seventeen-year-old Kestrel has two choices: she can join the military or get married. But Kestrel has other intentions.

One day, she is startled to find a kindred spirit in a young slave up for auction. Arin’s eyes seem to defy everything and everyone. Following her instinct, Kestrel buys him—with unexpected consequences. It’s not long before she has to hide her growing love for Arin.

But he, too, has a secret, and Kestrel quickly learns that the price she paid for a fellow human is much higher than she ever could have imagined.

Set in a richly imagined new world, The Winner’s Curse by Marie Rutkoski is a story of deadly games where everything is at stake, and the gamble is whether you will keep your head or lose your heart.

Feelings:
Have you ever been to an auction and gotten so excited that you bid higher than you intended to and won? That is the winner's curse. You regret your purchase because it is not something you intended, but it happens. Here you have the set up for this novel. The Winner's Curse is not set in our world, but a made-up world where an empire the Valorian is expanding and coercing enslaving those they conquer. That Herrani are such a people.

Kestrel, the daughter of a general, buys a slave at auction because she sees something of herself in his defiance. Arin is our second narrator and the slave Kestrel buys. He is haughty and doesn't act like a slave should. This attitude is what draws kestrel to him. I give nothing away, when I say, this is a story of forbidden romance. It is more than that deceit, lies, and betray, but they all playing important part in the story.

This wasn't quite fantasy but it is close. The world is not our world which pushes it towards fantasy. However, I would place this in the general fiction category. A made-up world, though, does that automatically make it fantasy? Should it be considered fantasy? I seen a lot of people considering it such, and I admit I'm tempted to agree. Tempted but I feel like the story doesn't have anything, besides the green storms, that I really make it being fantasy. I'm undecided. It might be, it might not be.

What I liked about this novel was a strong characters. This is adventure, nor is there as much romance as you might expect. It is an engaging story though. I liked the political side of the story. It wasn't what I expected, but when you think about slavery and the turmoil it causes having one group subjugated, the political side of the story rings true. While some people might have found it less then engaging, I found find fictional politics fascinating. Yes, it reflects our past, but it also shows possibilities.

Watching Arin in Kestrel in their game of intrigue was interesting. They know the other is smarter than they anticipated and that draws them to each other. There is a reveal and shadow that happens through out the story. It increased their understanding of the other, but does not reveal the other's secrets.

It was the complexity of the narrative and the strength of the characters that made this a story I can't wait to read more of. I highly recommending The Winner's Curse by Marie Rutkoski. It is a world that is bright yet full of darkness.

Review: Exile by Anne Osterlund

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Series: Yes, Aurelia #2
Pages: 295
Copyright: 2001
Publisher: SPEAK
Buy: Amazon

Summary: from Good Reads
Crown princess Aurelia is a survivor. She survived attempted assassination. She survived the king's rejection. She survived her mother's abandonment. And now, in exile, she must survive her kingdom-from hostile crowds to raw frontier to desert sands. But even as unknown assailants track Aurelia and expedition guide Robert, she knows her greatest risk is falling in love...

Feelings: 
Exile by Anne Osterlund is the second novel in the trilogy and it picks up with Aurelia leaving the castle and her sister, who tried to killer her, to see her kingdom. Soon after they leave Aurelia is threatened again. She and Robert set off alone into the woods and the distance between them that was formed from a misunderstanding begins to fade. 

While I enjoyed this novel a lot, I think it was because I wanted to see the relationship between Aurelia and Robert grow and less about the adventure the characters were having. The relationship between the characters does grow but slowly. There wasn't as much time for them to relax with each other because they were being chased. However, there were a few good kisses. Is it bad that I liked this novel because of the kisses? Oh, well. I enjoy a good fantasy romance every once in a while. Maybe I read this novel partially for the adventure, which was fun, but if I'm honest it was mostly for the romance.

I think I preferred the first novel a little over this one but not much. I'm interested to see where the last novel takes Aurelia. She is such a great character. She knows how to  have fun and that makes her extremely likable.

Before Robert had even finished hitching the stallion, Aurelia had been whirled away into the festivities. She was laughing, her head thrown back, excitement rampant on her face. A far cry from the elegant, fuming princess he had witnessed less than three months ago at her sister's coming-out party. p. 147

I look forward to the last novel in the trilogy and recommend this one.

Review: Aurelia by Anne Osterlund

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Series: Yes, Aurelia #1
Pages: 246
Copyright: 2008 
Publisher: SPEAK
Buy: Amazon

Summary: from Good Reads
An impressive debut, equal parts commercial appeal and literary prowess.

Princess Aurelia is next in line to rule the kingdom of Tyralt, but she would rather be one of the common folk, free to learn and roam and . . . not marry the next tyrannical prince that comes courting. Naturally, the king wants Aurelia to marry for political power. Aurelia wants to marry for love. And someone in the kingdom wants her . . . dead. Assigned to investigate and protect Aurelia is Robert, the son of the king's former royal spy and one of Aurelia's oldest friends. As Aurelia and Robert slowly uncover clues as to who is threatening her, their friendship turns to romance. With everything possible on the line, her life, her kingdom, her heart, Aurelia is forced to take matters into her own hands, no matter the cost.

Feelings: 
This is the second time I have read this book. The first time I read it, it was a stand along novel. This time I read it so that I  could read the next in the series and understand what was going on. Most of the time when I reread a novel I find it to be diluted because I know the outcome. This was a little but I still enjoyed rereading the story.

Princess Aurelia is a likable character and her innocence is sweet. She is also strong and devious. From the minute Robert returns to the castle he is drawn to her. He remembers his childhood friend, but knows that he wants more than just a friend.

I really enjoyed the opening of this novel.

On the night of her younger sister's coming-out party, Aurelia almost died. Of boredom. Her ankle itched as though a single ant were casually creeping over her flesh. ... She longed to reach down and scratch, but years of royal training had not been entirely lost. She could not afford such a dramatic movement while her father was speaking.p.5

It gives you a good feel for the laughter and fun you will find. The book isn't all funny, and I know that part of me liked the novel for the romance, only a kiss. Sometimes it really makes a novel more enjoyable to have a little romance, and it did for this one.

When I first read this novel in 2009 it read like a stand alone novel so I was a little surprised when I realized it was part of a series. The second one came out a few years ago and the third comes out in October of 2016. I thought it was worth checking out the rest of this series and I'm glad I started back with the first one because I had forgotten much of this story. I recommend Aurelia by Anne Osterlund. It has Princesses, romance, poison, and a intrigue. Both Aurelia and Robert are fun characters.

Review: Bride of the Water God, Vol. 3 by Mi-Kyung Yun

Genre: Shoujo
Series: Volume 3
Pages: 186
Copyright: 2008
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Buy: Amazon

Summary: from Good Reads
Humor, drama, and a bit of horror combine, as human bride Soah tries to uncover the truth behind her strange husband's predicament and his previous wife's early, brutal demise. While Huye distracts her with flirtations and the dreadful goddess Murah becomes increasingly jealous, strong-willed Soah is determined to find out why her powerful, moody husband is cursed to live in the form of a little boy during the day, returning to his true, adult body at night. Soah's inner strength and determination saved her village from drought and famine in previous volumes — now she must pit her guts and guile against the unpredictable elemental gods in order to find happiness in the new world she's trapped in.

* Bride of the Water God, with its enchanting, romantic storyline and elaborate, breathtaking artwork, was the top-selling shojo manhwa in Korea in 2006.

Feelings: 
Soah is struggling to find out if Mui and Habaek are the same person, but before she can find anything out for sure she is sent back home. I'm not sure why but one of two things is happening one many of the other people do not know that Habaek and Mui are the same person or two they are all keeping it from Soah. 

Soah is sent back to her village and there she has no memory of her time in Habaek's kingdom. She is torn between wanting to know and not wanting to know. I enjoyed the differences between the world of the Gods and the human world in this volume.

The story does not move quickly between volumes, however, it slow pace of the story is made up for by the quality of the drawings.   

Review: The Heir by Kiera Cass

Genre: Dystopian Young Adult
Series: Yes, The Selection #4
Pages: 342
Copyright: 2015
Publisher: HarperTeen
Buy: Amazon

Summary: from Good Reads
Princess Eadlyn has grown up hearing endless stories about how her mother and father met. Twenty years ago, America Singer entered the Selection and won the heart of Prince Maxon—and they lived happily ever after. Eadlyn has always found their fairy-tale story romantic, but she has no interest in trying to repeat it. If it were up to her, she'd put off marriage for as long as possible.

But a princess's life is never entirely her own, and Eadlyn can't escape her very own Selection—no matter how fervently she protests.

Eadlyn doesn't expect her story to end in romance. But as the competition begins, one entry may just capture Eadlyn's heart, showing her all the possibilities that lie in front of her . . . and proving that finding her own happily ever after isn't as impossible as she's always thought.

Feelings: 
I thought the selection series ended with The One, but then I saw The Heir. First I wasn't going to read it because the end of the America Maxom story felt a little stretched to me, and I didn't enjoy it nearly as much as the first book. I kept seeing this book pop up, so I decided to give it a chance. It was enjoyable, but it isn't going to be one of my favorite books. The beginning felt a little forced and childish. I didn't like Eadlyn, the first person narrator. The first few chapters weren't my favorite and that made it difficult to enjoy the story. I started enjoying the story more when it got more romantic. Princess Eadlyn is a bit of a bitch. 

"Seven minutes. It should have been you. I'd much rather sit alone and scribble away instead of all that stupid paperwork. And this ridiculous Selection nonsense! Can't you see how dreadful this is?" p. 21

I think this a pretty good example of the kind of narrator Eadlyn is. Not my favorite. However, she does improve. Her interactions with the boys when they first arrive is amusing, and it shows that she does have a gentler side when she interacts with Henri.

The story feels like a repeat of the first novels, but with a new political problem. One that came about from the dissolving of the cast system. I'll be interested to see where that aspect of the story goes. As for the Selection from 35 boys for her husband, Princess Evelyn may not have it figured out, but I'm pretty sure I do. At least I have it narrowed down to three and I think I know who she will end up with.

This novel wasn't anything new, but I enjoyed spending a little more time with Maxon, America, and with the characters from the first three novels. Even though I think I know how this will end, I am curious if I will be surprised. I'm going to be continuing to the end. This has had a nice cliffhanger ending and I want to little closure.

Review: Bride of the Water God, Vol. 2 by Mi-Kyung Yun

Genre: Fantasy Manhwa
Series: Volume 2
Pages:  182
Copyright: 2008
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Buy: Amazon

Summary: from Good Reads
Habaek, the mysterious Water God, is cursed to live his days in the form of a little boy-while he turns back to his true adult self at night. His new human bride, Soah, thinks that she's been married to a child and has no idea that the attractive "Mui" is actually the adult Habaek. Surrounded by a cast of colorful elemental gods and their servants, Soah is tempted by flirtations from both "Mui" and the rascal Huye. When Tae-eul-jin-in spills Habaek's surprising secret, Soah audaciously plots to uncover the truth for herself. She has to be careful, though, so she doesn't anger the moody gods-including her powerful new husband!

* Bride of the Water God, with its enchanting, romantic storyline and elaborate, breathtaking artwork, was the top-selling shoujo manhwa in Korea in 2006.

Feelings:
Habaek and Mui are the same person. During the day Habeak is a child and at night he is an adult. In the first volume he mislead Soah into thinking he was two different people. Soah suspects that Mui and Habaek might be the same person, and she tries to find out if they are. 

The drawings are amazing in this volume like the last. I really enjoy that. The story is intriguing and I'm waiting to see what happens when Soah realizes that Mui is Habaek.  

Review: Serafina and the Black Cloak by Robert Beatty

Genre: Young Adult Historical Fantasy
Series: Serafina #1
Pages: 293
Copyright: 2015
Publisher: Disney Hyperion
Buy: Amazon

Summary: from Good Reads
“Never go into the deep parts of the forest, for there are many dangers there, and they will ensnare your soul.”

Serafina has never had a reason to disobey her pa and venture beyond the grounds of the Biltmore estate. There’s plenty to explore in her grand home, although she must take care to never be seen. None of the rich folk upstairs know that Serafina exists; she and her pa, the estate’s maintenance man, have secretly lived in the basement for as long as Serafina can remember.

But when children at the estate start disappearing, only Serafina knows who the culprit is: a terrifying man in a black cloak who stalks Biltmore’s corridors at night. Following her own harrowing escape, Serafina risks everything by joining forces with Braeden Vanderbilt, the young nephew of the Biltmore’s owners. Braeden and Serafina must uncover the Man in the Black Cloak’s true identity . . . before all of the children vanish one by one.

Serafina’s hunt leads her into the very forest that she has been taught to fear. There she discovers a forgotten legacy of magic, one that is bound to her own identity. In order to save the children of Biltmore, Serafina must seek the answers that will unlock the puzzle of her past.

Feelings: 
Mythical creatures prowl the night, and Serafina just might be one of them. In Serafina and the Black Cloak by Robert Beatty, Serafina witnesses the disappearance of a girl and barely escapes. This was an interesting combination of history and fantasy. 

The book started out a bit slow, but it picked up near the end. I like that it included both historical elements about the Biltmore Estate and mythical/magical elements. Part of me wonders if I would have enjoyed the book as much as I did if it wasn't set locally. 

I really enjoyed the character Serafina, which was good because this was limited third person from her point of view. There are plenty of characters in the book but there are only three to five that I would consider well developed characters. Braeden Vanderbilt and Serafina's pa are the most developed of the characters. This is probably because Serafina has been hidden from humans by her father, who is afraid that she is so different she won't fit it. I thought at first I might not like this book because it was from a 12 year-old's perspective but Serafina was not a whiny child but a curious one. That made a big difference in my opinion of her.

Braeden and his dog Gidean make for interesting side kicks for this adventure. Gidean is a typical very loyal dog but he needed to be that in this story.

The man in the black cloak is bad but I never really got a feeling for the character to dislike him. Serafina was scared of him, but she was also curious about him and what the cloak was. Two chapters into the book, I was invested in the story enough to want to learn more.

I will be reading the next book in the series because I'm curious to see what happens with Serafina once she stops hiding. 

Review: Bride of the Water God, Vol. 1 by Mi-Kyung Yun

Genre: Fantasy Manhwa
Series: Volume 1
Pages:  184
Copyright: 2007
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Buy: Amazon

Summary: from Good Reads
When Soah's impoverished, desperate village decides to sacrifice her to the Water God Habaek to end a long drought, they believe that drowning one beautiful girl will save their entire community and bring much-needed rain. Not only is Soah surprised to be rescued by the Water God -- instead of killed -- she never imagined she'd be a welcomed guest in Habaek's magical kingdom, where an exciting new life awaits her! Most surprising, however, is the Water God himself... and how very different he is from the monster Soah imagined.

Feelings:
I really enjoy the drawings in this manhwa (Korean comic). The color drawings at the beginning of the volume are amazingly detailed. The story starts when Soah is sacrificed to the Water God Habaek. She thinks she is going to die but finds herself in a new land with Habaek as a child. She isn't sure what she thinks of the situation but she wants the best for her people who were dying because of drought. 

At the palace we also have Mui, who we only see at night.  Soah is confused about Mui because she only sees him at night. I am interested to see where the series goes. I am enjoying the story as well as the drawings which are the highlight.

Review: The Rose & The Dagger by Renee Ahdieh

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Series: Yes, The Wrath & The Dawn #2
Pages: 416
Copyright: 2016 
Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers
Buy: Amazon

Review of first in series The Wrath & The Dawn

Summary: from Good Reads
The darker the sky, the brighter the stars.

In a land on the brink of war, Shahrzad is forced from the arms of her beloved husband, the Caliph of Khorasan. She once thought Khalid a monster—a merciless killer of wives, responsible for immeasurable heartache and pain—but as she unraveled his secrets, she found instead an extraordinary man and a love she could not deny. Still, a curse threatens to keep Shazi and Khalid apart forever.

Now she’s reunited with her family, who have found refuge in the desert, where a deadly force is gathering against Khalid—a force set on destroying his empire and commanded by Shazi’s spurned childhood sweetheart. Trapped between loyalties to those she loves, the only thing Shazi can do is act. Using the burgeoning magic within her as a guide, she strikes out on her own to end both this terrible curse and the brewing war once and for all. But to do it, she must evade enemies of her own to stay alive.

The saga that began with The Wrath and the Dawn takes its final turn as Shahrzad risks everything to find her way back to her one true love again.

Feelings: 
The Rose & The Dagger by Renee Ahdieh included a little love and betrayal, intrigue and war, a curse, and magic. This was a strong novel and I thought it did an excellent job concluding the series. Shahrzad and Khalid were strong characters and they developed through out the story. My only complaint was the very very ending...not going to include spoilers in here but I felt like the epilogue was not needed. 

The characters in this book and the first are amazing and I loved reading about them. When I fist saw this series I didn't think it would be a retelling of The Arabian Nights, but it is so much more than just a retelling. It take the idea of telling stories to stay a live and gives the back story and so much more. 

I really enjoyed Renee Ahdieh's writing and I look forward to seeing what she writes next. I recommend you check out this series. It is a love story and a story of finding trust in yourself and those around you. 

Black Bird Volume 14 by Kanoko Sakurakouji

Genre: Shoujo
Series: Volume 14
Pages: 200
Copyright: 2012
Publisher: VIZ Media LLC
Buy: Amazon

Summary: from Good Reads
There is a world of myth and magic that intersects ours, and only a special few can see it. Misao Harada is one such person, and she wants nothing to do with magical realms. She just wants to have a normal high school life and maybe get a boyfriend. But she is the bride of demon prophecy, and her blood grants incredible powers, her flesh immortality. Now the demon realm is fighting over the right to her hand...or her life!

Feelings:
Kyo and Sho finally have the sibling fight that their father has seen coming for years. Misao doesn't want either of them to be hurt, but she knows that it isn't possible for them to both live. Sho has made it impossible for Kyo to show mercy.

This volume included a few interludes in the middle after the story arc of Sho finished. The last chapter in the volume began the final story arc for the series. I admit that while I have enjoyed the series to this point, it has begun to feel a bit stretched to me. I intend to finish the series as the end of this last story arc developed characters I'm interested in finding out more about.

Review: The Wrath & The Dawn by Renee Ahdieh

Genre: Fantasy
Series: Yes, The Wrath & The Dawn #1
Pages: 388
Copyright: 2015 
Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers
Buy: Amazon

Review of the second in the series: The Rose & The Dagger

Summary: from Good Reads
In a land ruled by a murderous boy-king, each dawn brings heartache to a new family. Khalid, the eighteen-year-old Caliph of Khorasan, is a monster. Each night he takes a new bride only to have a silk cord wrapped around her throat come morning. When sixteen-year-old Shahrzad's dearest friend falls victim to Khalid, Shahrzad vows vengeance and volunteers to be his next bride. Shahrzad is determined not only to stay alive, but to end the caliph's reign of terror once and for all.

Night after night, Shahrzad beguiles Khalid, weaving stories that enchant, ensuring her survival, though she knows each dawn could be her last. But something she never expected begins to happen: Khalid is nothing like what she'd imagined him to be. This monster is a boy with a tormented heart. Incredibly, Shahrzad finds herself falling in love. How is this possible? It's an unforgivable betrayal. Still, Shahrzad has come to understand all is not as it seems in this palace of marble and stone. She resolves to uncover whatever secrets lurk and, despite her love, be ready to take Khalid's life as retribution for the many lives he's stolen. Can their love survive this world of stories and secrets?

Inspired by A Thousand and One Nights, The Wrath and the Dawn is a sumptuous and enthralling read from beginning to end.


Feelings: 
Shahrzad was looking for revenge for her grief not love.

The beginning of the story shares something with A Thousand and One Nights. However, I felt like this novel gave a bit more of a human side to both Shahrzad and the king. Truthfully, I don't even remember the king's (sultan's) name from A Thousand and One Nights. This story is less about the stories that are told by Shahrzad and more about the relationship between the characters. There is a lot of mistrust between characters; of course there is. You marry a king who has killed all of his past wives after one night, and that is bound to cause a little bit of suspicion.

What I really liked about this was that it went into more of the back story and more of the characters stories. I think I would have been bored with this novel if it had followed the same pattern as A Thousand and One Nights. The Wrath & The Dawn focused more on Khalid so that we begin to feel compassion for him. This compassion is not something that is easily given and as Shahrazad comes to have feelings for him the reader too begins to wonder about the boy-king and what made him the way he is.

At the very beginning of the book we get a hint that the killing is something that isn't a choice.

"It is done."
His father nodded, and the soldier left.
Again, the two men stared up at the sky.
Waiting
A drop of rain struck the arid surface beneath their feet, disappearing into the tan stone. .....Soon, rain was falling around them at a steady pace.
"There is your proof," the general said, his voice laden with quiet anguish. (p. 2)

We don't know why but this opening to the story gives the reader something to question. We realized with the first chapter that the opening happened a while ago and we are put into the middle of the conflict. I liked that. It gave me a reason to keep reading.

What I didn't like was switching between character's perspective. I didn't mind the perspective's of those around Khalid and Shahrzad but I didn't really like those outside of the castle. I know they had a purpose but I didn't enjoy reading those chapters as much. The author did a good job removing any compassion I had for Shahrzad's father and Tariq Imran al-Ziyad. I really didn't like their perspectives. While I didn't enjoy reading from their perspective, I do understand why it was in there and how it added to the story. I enjoy reading from characters perspectives I liked. I'm hoping that the characters I didn't like as much in this end up getting explained a little more so that I can relate to them better in future novels.

I'm looking forward to the next in the series. I highly recommend this to readers who enjoy young adult fantasy with kings, queens, romance, conflict, and a little magic.