The Raven Boys - Maggie Stiefvater
Schoolastic - Available, its brand NEW y'all!
Well, Maggie's done it again! another tale I can't get out of my head and yet again I find I'm having trouble surmising into words what I feel or what it was all about except that I loved it and need more.
What I love most about Maggie's writing is her characters - they are warm, familiar and incredibly sensible, so much so that no matter what weird situation they get themselves into you can't help but take it as seriously as they do, be it boys that are also wolves (Shiver, one of my all time fave series) or mystic happenings on a magical ley line as its the case in this new series.
Like her previous stories the plot line is fractured into 3 or more view points which I always find engrossing, the different perspectives make for a very well rounded story and allow for greater character depth. Set in Henrietta USA we first meet Blue Sargent and her mother's entertaining female household of clairvoyants, Blue is individuality personified and while she has no psychic abilities herself, her special talent is amplifying the energies around her and helping others to 'see' more clearly. Now you may think that living in a house full of seers would be interesting and at times helpful unless of course the future they predict is yours and involves you killing your true love with a kiss, poor Blue!
Enter the Raven Boys - rich entitled youths playing with their parents money and Blues last choice as love interests until fate brings them together and seeing their depth blurs the lines between what Blue thought she knew and what she wants to know more of…it would seem even sensible girls can be seduced by the best of intentions.
The Cabeswater Chronicles will be a four book series and I eagerly await book 2.
Beautiful Disaster - Jamie McGuire
Simon and Schuster - Available Now
"Why don't you just read the whole thing in 48 hrs then?" When my Fiancé mutters these words it means two things, 1. He's not getting enough attention because 2. whatever I'm reading is just too good to leave alone for any period of time. Sadly I am by no means a fast reader, I've tried believe me, but I end up missing things and its the 'Great' books I often try to savour - so to finish something in two days means I'm irrevocably hooked and will make no time for anything else until its finished (sound familiar to anyone else?).
And this is a 'Great' book - sure the storyline isn't ground breaking…A tale of unrequited love set in college, young smart girl (Abby Abernathy) falls for bad boy (Travis 'Maddog' Maddox, and this guy is seriously a disaster, he sleeps around, fights for a living and rides a Harley - yep) who then turns his world upside-down to claim her... but its the things that make it unique that sets it above the norm - the back story for example is slowly revealed, building good suspense (no I'm not going to tell you what it is - it'll ruin the surprise!) the characters are real making me feel like a part of their world and the writing is clear - it flows and I can't wait to see more of it!
Luckily we don't have too long to wait as the second book Walking Disaster is due out April 2013 which I am super excited for as its the other side of the story as told by the bad boy Trav himself! I have craved a good "his side of the story" ever since Midnight Sun was axed (Grrr Stephanie) and theres another treat for those of you who, like me are fresh to Jamie's writing there is a whole previous series we can sink into - her paranormal Providence series is available on ebook comprising of Providence, Requiem and Eden.
Beautiful Days - Anna Godberson
Penguin - Available Now
Firstly I need to apologise for all of the sequels I have been reviewing lately of which this is another - due to all of this free time I'm actually finishing series rather than reading the first and having to move on, thank the Gods.
So, this is the follow on from Bright Young Things and another glamorous offering highlighting the lives of New Yorks brightest young stars in the era of Jazz, speakeasies and danger masquerading as a good time, where life as you know it can turn on a dime and your next big break is just around the corner...
Featured are the same three hopefuls of the last book: the self named starlet on the rise Letty Larkspur, self involved good time girl Astrid Donal and the mysterious heir to a rum running empire Cordelia Grey and now is the time for each girl to find her destiny! You may fondly remember Anna's previous series the 'Luxe' based in the same town in an earlier time (late 1800's turn of the century for those of you who don't) which I absolutely loved - I have to be honest with you this series doesn't manage to hit the same height, don't get me wrong its still gorgeous and fun like only she can do but the characters I found a little grating at times as each of the three girls take turns self obsessing and whining as things don't go their way, which I suppose in a way is quite true to life as we all grow up and realise the sky isn't falling each time we have a set back (hell I think I'm still learning this one).
At this stage there is only the two books available but this makes them a quick and enjoyable read with enough closure and perfect for those roaring 20's fans! I found by doing some minor detective work that book 3 The Lucky Ones should be out via Harper in December this year so keep your eyes peeled for another beautiful package from Anna around Christmas.
The Queens Lady - Eve Edwards
Penguin - (Books 1-3) Available Now
Blending just the right amount of suspense and drama this is a historical love story not to be missed!
I have to admit I'm a huge fan of the period drama as it provides a fascinating look into the past while remaining relevant and entertaining, The Lacey Chronicles with plenty of humour and gorgeous gowns are a sure winner in this genre with each volume telling a different character's tale from the branches of the Lacey family tree making each story fresh with some new faces but without loosing the progress of the previous character.
This is part two for the series and picks up exactly where book one left off and while they can be read as stand alone's I highly recommend giving your attention first to book one - The Other Countess for greater understanding and of course just for the sheer fun of it! Set in the late 1500's Tudor England we continue the story now following the hazardous romantic tale of the newly widowed Lady Jane (at the ripe old age of 18 mind you) and her downtrodden hero Master James Lacey as Jane is set upon by one villain after another and James unable to help after having felt himself worthless and undeserving of her love takes himself off on a risky voyage to the new world - The Americas. Suffice to say it makes for a lot of nail bitting and as I'm not a fan of the unknown it took me a mere 48 hours to finish (and that was dragging it out).
Now if you'll excuse me I'm off to read the third and hopefully not final volume - The Rouge's Princess in the hope that I can stretch it out to at least two days...though I don't like my chances :)
Beautiful Chaos - Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl
Penguin - Available NOW!
Firstly - Two authors, yes I know, but it totally works!
This is the third instalment of the Caster Chronicles as told by Ethan Wate a true Southern gentleman, I always find it refreshing to read from a male perspective but this would have to be one of my utmost favourites - just to give you a glimpse this is from page 477...
"Please have a seat, Ethan."
I automatically sat in the flowered chair, then stood right up, because there was nowhere else to sit in the room. No son of Gatlin would sit while a lady stood. "I'm fine standing. You go a ahead, ma'am."
*Swoon*
Set in the small Southern town of Gatlin which is pretty much a character in itself, what with all its God-fearing yet highly superstitious, pie-making, civil war re-enacting town folk. I swear you can even hear the Southern drawl in your head as you read!
Due to the cataclysmic ending in the previous book where Lena, Ethan's Caster girlfriend claimed herself to be both light and dark - indadvertedly throwing out the balance and bringing on the beginning of the apocalypse unless they can figure out how to return the order of things and bring an end to the chaos.
Be warned - it will leave you on a massive cliff hanger, but now for the good news - thankfully we don't have long to wait for the 4th book Beautiful Redemption due out October and for those of you who haven't had the pleasure of book one through three yet then you get all four at once, all I can say is set aside the weekend and enjoy :)
Succubus Revealed - Richelle Mead
Available - NOW
lately I've had quite a bit of "down time" and it has afforded me the rare opportunity to read unfettered - for the first time in a long time I have been able to choose any book I wish from my expansive To Read pile without suffering any guilt over the fact that I should be reading something else! Which leads me to discussion of a book that Ive been saving for years now the 6th and final instalment of Richelle's Succubus series, so long put off because it has been a series so consistently enjoyable that I knew seeing it end would bring me physical pain, and so it was that I entered the turbulent and familiar world of Georgina Kincaid for the last time....
Honestly these books have it all - razor sharp wit, giggle out loud humour, saucy sex scenes (though a little lacking in this final volume sadly), action, drama, secrets and love as we follow Georgina and her likewise dammed colleagues antics in their battle of good vs evil (or evil vs evil via bowling, oddly enough).
Georgie you may be surprised to hear is on the side of evil, Hell to be exact who own her immortal soul after she brokered a deal with an Imp to escape past mistakes. Sadly we all know that running away is never the answer and all bad deeds will catch us in the end: this being the theme for our final adventure.
I was extremely happy with the ending of this tale and gasped while gripping my fiancé's arm quite a few times (he wasn't as enamoured with the unfolding events as me, especially as he began to loose sensation in his left bicep), I think I've spilled enough suffice to say that all will indeed be revealed!
GO, BUY, DEVOUR!
