Between the Sea and Sky by Jaclyn Dolamore

Between the Sea and Sky by Jaclyn Dolamore

Release Date: October 25, 2011
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA
Age Group: Young Adult
Shelfability: Acquire
Pages: 240
Format: E-ARC
Source: NetGalley
Interest: Author
Challenge: None

For as long as Esmerine can remember, she has longed to join her older sister, Dosinia, as a siren–the highest calling a mermaid can have. When Dosinia runs away to the mainland, Esmerine is sent to retrieve her. Using magic to transform her tail into legs, she makes her way unsteadily to the capital city. There she comes upon a friend she hasn’t seen since childhood–a dashing young man named Alandare, who belongs to a winged race of people. As Esmerine and Alandare band together to search for Dosinia, they rekindle a friendship . . . and ignite the emotions for a love so great, it cannot be bound by sea, land, or air.

This was such a FUN book to read! When I had to put it down I was so excited to step back into the world and visit with these characters.

I first became of fan of Dolamore in her debut novel Magic Under Glass, and I have to admit that Between the Sea and Sky has moved right past Magic Under Glass and into the number one position.

I’ve always been fascinated with mermaid mythology. I really wanted to be one when I was younger. I blame it most specifically on Splash with Tom Hanks. I am absolutely loving all the mermaid books that seem to be hitting the shelves in the YA section and I even more impressive was how Dolamore interprets and represents the siren myth.

The story had a fairy tale feel to fit, it was very whimsical and had beautifully detailed worlds! I was fascinated not only by the world of the mermaids that Dolamore created but also the world of winged people and how she seamlessly intertwined the two!

The romance was so sweet! I could see it coming, but it was still fun watching these to figure out their feelings for one another

This would be a great novel for younger YA readers too!

Daughter of Smoke & Bone by Laini Taylor

Daughter of Smoke & Bone by Laini Taylor

Release Date: September 27, 2011
Publisher: Little Brown
Age Group: Young Adult
Shelfability: Covet
Pages: 420
Format: Advance Reader Copy
Source: BEA
Interest: Story
Challenge: None
Buy the Book:Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Buy the Ebook: Kindle | Nook

Around the world, black handprints are appearing on doorways, scorched there by winged strangers who have crept through a slit in the sky.

In a dark and dusty shop, a devil’s supply of human teeth grown dangerously low.

And in the tangled lanes of Prague, a young art student is about to be caught up in a brutal otherwordly war.

Meet Karou. She fills her sketchbooks with monsters that may or may not be real; she’s prone to disappearing on mysterious “errands”; she speaks many languages–not all of them human; and her bright blue hair actually grows out of her head that color. Who is she? That is the question that haunts her, and she’s about to find out.

When one of the strangers–beautiful, haunted Akiva–fixes his fire-colored eyes on her in an alley in Marrakesh, the result is blood and starlight, secrets unveiled, and a star-crossed love whose roots drink deep of a violent past. But will Karou live to regret learning the truth about herself?

Before I get started, let me just say: I LOVED THIS. Love, love, love this book. One of my favorites of 2011. Before you get started on the review, know that it will never do this book the justice that it deserves. Just go buy the book.

Laini Taylor is a story teller. A master story teller. She’s not a writer she’s an artist. Painting a world only she could create with words. Forming characters that seem as real as the person standing in front of you in line, close enough to touch. I was emotionally invested in this book. In this world and with it’s characters. Even though it was about as “out there” as you can get, I totally believed it was real. I never wanted it to end.

Now that is EPIC.

I finished Daughter of Smoke and Bone and found myself in a daze. It was like waking up from a dream.

I don’t want to divulge too much of the story. As a reader I think it’s more exciting going into a story blind! I didn’t know much about the story when I picked it up, actually I didn’t really know what it was about at all. I think that perhaps that was why I was so taken with this novel. I was expecting a tinge of mystery, but this book was so much more than I could have every imagined.

You, as the reader, know what Karou knows. It isn’t much. We don’t know who she is or where she came from. We don’t know if she’s human or if she’s something more. And we don’t know why a glance from Akiva sets her skin on fire. Believe me, you will have an epic adventure figuring it all out. And good luck with that figuring out part, perhaps you’ll be better at it than me!

Daughter of Smoke of Bone was an epic adventure through worlds that only Taylor could create. I can’t wait to go back.

Witchlanders by Lena Coakley

Witchlanders by Lena Coakley

Release Date: August 30, 2011
Publisher: Atheneum
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages: 411
Format: Advance Reader Copy
Source: Publisher
Interest: Debut Author
Challenge: 2011 Debut Author Challenge
Buy the Book: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Buy the e-book: Kindle | Nook

High in their mountain covens, red witches pray to the Goddess, protecting the Witchlands by throwing the bones and foretelling the future.
It’s all a fake.

At least, that’s what Ryder thinks. He doubts the witches really deserve their tithes—one quarter of all the crops his village can produce. And even if they can predict the future, what danger is there to foretell, now that his people’s old enemy, the Baen, has been defeated?

But when a terrifying new magic threatens both his village and the coven, Ryder must confront the beautiful and silent witch who holds all the secrets. Everything he’s ever believed about witches, the Baen, magic and about himself will change, when he discovers that the prophecies he’s always scorned—

Are about him.

Witchlanders was an interesting fantasy novel. It wasn’t exactly what I was anticipating, but I still enjoyed reading it overall.

The witches in Wicthlanders aren’t the witches I’m used to and not necessarily in a bad way, I enjoyed that aspect of the novel and thought that is was very unique. These witches aren’t your potion mixing, spell casting type of witches. These witches are bone throwers…. reading the bones to reveal a prophecy, or singers.  Which I guess is a little like spell casting.

The world was rather simplistic, and although I’m used to these epic worlds when it come to fantasy, simplistic worked for Witchlanders. The plot was rather slow. Yet, I didn’t have any problems getting through the book, but the second half was definitely an improvement to the first.

There are two main characters, both male. (Despite the girl on the cover, which I think is a little misleading.) And the hinting of Ryder “confronting a beautiful and silent witch” isn’t what you are thinking. There isn’t a romance aspect to this novel, but it doesn’t really need one. The relationship between Ryder and Falpian is really what develops in this novel! And it’s what I enjoyed the most.

I’d recommend this novel for readers that are wanting to try out the fantasy genre and are looking for something a little different to read.

The Gray Wolf Throne by Cinda Williams Chima

The Gray Wolf Throne by Cinda Williams Chima

Release Date: August 30, 2011
Publisher: Hyperion
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages: 528
Format: Advance Reader Copy
Source: BEA
Interest: Series
Other Titles in the Series: The Demon King & The Exiled Queen
Challenge: None
Buy the Book: Amazon

Han Alister thought he had already lost everyone he loved. But when he finds his friend Rebecca Morley near death in the Spirit Mountains, Han knows that nothing matters more than saving her. The costs of his efforts are steep, but nothing can prepare him for what he soon discovers: the beautiful, mysterious girl he knew as Rebecca is none other than Raisa ana’Marianna, heir to the Queendom of the Fells. Han is hurt and betrayed. He knows he has no future with a blueblood. And, as far as he’s concerned, the princess’s family killed his own mother and sister. But if Han is to fulfill his end of an old bargain, he must do everything in his power to see Raisa crowned queen.

Meanwhile, some people will stop at nothing to prevent Raisa from ascending. With each attempt on her life, she wonders how long it will be before her enemies succeed. Her heart tells her that the thief-turned-wizard Han Alister can be trusted. She wants to believe it—he’s saved her life more than once. But with danger coming at her from every direction, Raisa can only rely on her wits and her iron-hard will to survive—and even that might not be enough.

The Gray Wolf Throne is an epic tale of fierce loyalty, unbearable sacrifice, and the heartless hand of fate.

I think I’m just going to copy and paste my review of The Exiled Queen and use it for The Gray Wolf too! Okay, not really…. but it would work!

This series simple continues to get better and better as it goes along. I desperately need book four PRONTO! I’m glad I was able to start The Gray Wolf Throne so soon after reading The Exiled Queen. The characters and the story line were fresh in my mind, and I believe that always makes for a better reading experience. Needless to say, it doesn’t always work out that way for me, but I feel a more instant connection with the characters when it does happen. I will sorely miss this characters as I wait for book four. I feel as though they’ve became my best friends. I’ve watched Raisa grow from a somewhat spoiled and entitled girl to a smart and selfless queen. I’ve watched Han transform from a thief into a powerful wizard. I can always use a little more Han! I love these characters, and I love this story.

This series amazes me… the intricacies of this word, I am seriously awed when I’m reading. Just the imagery and the imagination that Chima possesses. It’s one of those “wow” moments. Everything in these series just comes together and works to beautifully. As I said in my review of The Exiled Queen… it’s addicting!

I’ll say it again… one of my most favorite fantasy series ever! And one of the best books I’ve read all year!

The Exiled Queen by Cinda Williams Chima

The Exiled Queen by Cinda Williams Chima

Release Date: September 28, 2010
Publisher: Hyperion
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages: 586
Format: Hardcover
Source: Bought
Interest: Series
Other Titles in the Series: The Demon King
Challenge: None
Buy the Book: Amazon

Haunted by the loss of his mother and sister, Han Alister journeys south to begin his schooling at Mystwerk House in Oden’s Ford. But leaving the Fells doesn’t mean danger isn’t far behind. Han is hunted every step of the way by the Bayars, a powerful wizarding family set on reclaiming the amulet Han stole from them. And Mystwerk House has dangers of its own. There, Han meets Crow, a mysterious wizard who agrees to tutor Han in the darker parts of sorcery—but the bargain they make is one Han may regret.

Meanwhile, Princess Raisa ana’Marianna runs from a forced marriage in the Fells, accompanied by her friend Amon and his triple of cadets. Now, the safest place for Raisa is Wein House, the military academy at Oden’s Ford. If Raisa can pass as a regular student, Wein House will offer both sanctuary and the education Raisa needs to succeed as the next Gray Wolf queen.

The Exiled Queen is an epic tale of uncertain friendships, cut-throat politics, and the irresistible power of attraction.

I absolutely adore this series. I don’t know why I waited so long to read this book! Although I’m glad that I have a copy of the next book at hand…which now I hear is book three in the four book series!

It has been a while since I read The Demon King but it wasn’t hard to get caught up in the incredible world that Chima created and remember the fantastic characters that seemed like long lost friends! It’s been amazing watching these characters grow, just in these first two novels…. especially Han! Love him!

High fantasy can be amazingly entertaining…. or amazingly boring. Chima is definitely under the amazingly entertaining catagory. These books are epic! And I don’t just mean the size. You feel like you are on these journey’s with these characters. That you’re traveling with Han and Raisa to Oden’s Ford that you are facing their obstacles with them and overcoming them along side them as well. Chima’s writing goes well beyond just creating a fantasy world. It’s addicting.

An intricate plot with betrayals and lies… forged alliances and friendships…. you never know who is trustworthy and what will happen next. The pages fly by much to quickly and you won’t be ready for the story to end! I can’t wait to devour the next book in this series.

One of my favorite fantasy series ever!