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.