Wildwood Dancing (Wildwood #1)- Juliet Marillier

In the woods of Transylvania live five sisters and their father. The second oldest, Jena spends her time exploring the forests and enjoying her freedom accompanied by her unusual pet frog. Inside the castle where the girls live is a portal to the magical Other Kingdom. Every full moon, the girls pass through the portal and dance through the night with the inhabitants of this world. Their visits are filled with joy up to the point that the eldest daughter, Tatiana, falls in love with one of the more dangerous inhabitants of the Other Kingdom. However, there is little at stake until when their father falls ill and their cousin Cezar comes in and takes control of the household while their father travels south to recover. Cezar tries to prevent the girls from returning to the Other Kingdom to partake in their monthly revelries. Jena will be tested to see if she can save her sister from the clutches of her dangerous paramour and if she can stave off Cezar until her father recovers and returns home.

Overall Merit: This book was filled with standard fairytale elements and the female protagonist was strong yet flawed at the same time--Marillier has a talent for these sorts of leads. The fairytale elements drew a good amount from mythology, but it seemed a bit muddled at times as if she couldn't decide which pantheon she wanted to draw from. The fairy world she crafted was vague, but I guess that was the point. For the most part, it was an enjoyable read even though it used the typical fairytale story structure, quests and true love included, as a crutch. There was a definite "Twelve Dancing Princesses"feel to the novel, but to name that the central thematic fairytale would be a fallacy due to the overwhelming amount of fairytales present. The main thing that bothered me about the story was that it seemed to convenient for the father to be sick and unable to communicate with his daughters, thus leaving an opening for Cezar to come in and take control.  Score-8

Characters: I understand that Jena was the main character, but it would have been nice to flesh out Tatiana and the other sisters a bit more. Tatiana was a moonstruck teenager and didn't progress past that--she didn't need to overcome anything to end up with Sorrow, all the work was done on his end. Jena's flaws were what made her strong, but when the big reveal about her love interest comes to pass, her response was confusing and out of character. Cezar would have been a better antagonist if his motives were more believable. I didn't buy that he was holding on to a grudge from so many years ago and that he still hadn't gained closure from a trauma that occurred so many years in the past. It's fine to have a vendetta or something like that, but the intensity of this one and the reasoning behind it did not   Score- 6

Blush Factor: Gogu and Jena were a cute couple, even with the whole enchanted frog thing going on. However, the Tatiana and Sorrow romantic arc seemed a bit forced. I wasn't getting any chemistry from that couple. I know that Marillier was trying to complicate the romantic arc for Jena and Gogu and make it more hard-won, but there were better ways to go about it. Both Gogu and Jena behaved in ways that were very uncharacteristic. There wasn't any major chemistry in the couplings, unlike in some of Marillier's other novels where the reader is rooting for the lovers the entire time. Not to say that the romantic aspect was bad or unsatisfying, there were just some aspects that were disappointing or unrealistic. Score- 7

Plot: There seemed to be a ton of different plot elements going on at the same time and while they all seemed to stick to the same story, I thought that having so many conflicts going on at the same time was incredibly distracting. The companion book, Cybele's Secret, had the same problem. Mariller had characters running around on quests right and left and trying to dodge Cezar at the same time. It was just way too much going on. None of the elements were inherently bad, but when put together in a slapdash manner it was confusing and disorienting. Score- 6


Structure: This was largely Jena's story and while it's fine to leave the supporting characters to be not as fleshed out, I felt there was an imbalance to the amount of backstory each one got. For example, we get a lot of information on Cezar, Gogu, and Tatiana (to a certain extent), but the other sisters are somewhat ignored as well as many of the other characters who seem thrown in there, but don't serve much of a purpose. As I mentioned earlier, my main issues with the story were the unrealistic aspects. I know that women were supposed to be married young during the approximate time-period of this story, but fifteen seemed a bit too young to me. Jena also didn't really act like a fifteen year old--she seemed to be more around seventeen. Score- 6

Vervain Says: If you liked Marillier's other books then you may as well go ahead and read this one too.

The Marvelous Land of Oz (Oz #2)- L. Frank Baum

Hello non-existent readers! I am back from an extremely long hiatus--my sincerest apologies. It is only now that I have finished writing my infernal papers at University that I have the chance to read books again and share my oh so humble opinions. Shut up Vervain. Yea well right back at you. Sorry about that, she's a bit tetchy today. Nevertheless, I hope you are all having a lovely time with the return of the sun. I, for one, am displeased, but the weather does not seem to hold my opinion in very high regard. Anyway, I'll retreat to my library now and leave you with the following review:

My dear readers, if you have any knowledge about the Oz books that follow The Wonderful Wizard of Oz then you have my temporary respect and perhaps I shall let you live another day. L. Frank Baum--a horrible mortal I'm sure--actually wrote fourteen Oz books all of which I read in my childhood. Since it is summer and the pesky Seelies grow ever bolder, I picked it up again so that I could stay cloistered in my library. True, it is a children's book, but a classic nonetheless and I advise any fantasy readers to look to it for nostalgic value.

The story starts with a boy named Tip who is the ward of a wicked witch named Mombi. He hates his 'foster mother' (for lack of a better term) and decides to play a trick on her. Tip creates a man with a pumpkin for a head and sets him up to frighten Mombi. Mombi, of course isn't frightened and instead uses some of her 'life powder' to bring the man to life. The man is christened Jack Pumpkinhead. Later that night, Tip steals Mombi's life powder and brings a sawhorse to life so he can escape with Jack Pumpkinhead. As all good stories in Oz begin, they decide to run away to the Emerald City. They arrive in the City and all is well until a group of greedy and selfish girls armed with knitting needles invade the city and take over. Their leader, General Jinjur, declares herself queen and kicks out the Scarecrow (anyone who read the first book instead of just watching the movie will know that the Scarecrow was named king of the Emerald City after the Wizard left). The companions must travel through the land of Oz and seek help from the Tin Woodsman and eventually Glinda the Good to put the rightful ruler on the throne of the Emerald City.

Overall Merit:  The word I would use to describe this book, and all the books in the series is: charming. They are adorable and whimsical and although they are written for children (most likely Seelie children unfortunately) I still enjoyed every minute of it. Of course, there isn't a whole lot of action and the enjoyment relies heavily on suspension of disbelief, but it is still a wonderful read (no pun intended, this comment is aimed at someone who knows exactly who he is). I would highly encourage you to read the original Oz book if you haven't already. Score-7 (for sheer nostalgia/charm factor)

Characters: Oh this book. My non-existent feminist readers are going to hate this part of the review. However, I'll preface this by saying that fans of the movie might be disappointed to discover that Dorothy is not a character in this book, but never fear, she shows up later in the series. The main group of characters are just the right combination of quirky and lovable. Now for my feminist readers you will hate the depiction of General Jinjur and her army of foolish, vain girls. For my non feminist readers, you will hate them because they are annoying and stupid (let's keep in mind that this was written in 1904). Mombi was a standard one dimensional villain, in fact all the characters were one dimensional. But my dear readers, it's Oz be a little forgiving. I'm biased of course--these books were a major contributing factor to my childhood. However, when my father discovered that I was indulging in Seelie literature, I was beaten thoroughly. Score- 5 (I'm trying to be realistic)

Blush Factor: N/A

Plot: The plot was predictable, you knew what was going to happen from the very beginning although there was a surprising twist at the end. I won't spoil it for you since it does end up being a large factor in the subsequent books. However, if you are looking for something convoluted and intense you are reading the wrong thing. The plot may be sugarcoated, but it still makes you happy to read it just because it is so lighthearted, which makes it difficult to find fault in it. Score-5

Structure: This was lovely, there is no other way I can describe a return trip to Oz. While the characters weren't complex or conflicted, they were still very creative--I want to spend time with a Highly Magnified Woggle-Bug who spends his time making bad puns and acting better than everyone else. It is a goofy and silly book, but that is what makes it so enchanting. The world that Baum creates is both ridiculous and brilliant at the same time and that is a major factor in what makes the book so thoroughly enthralling. Score- 7

On a side note, I will be writing a guest post for Irritating Paramour's blog, which you can check out here: http://eyeforaneyepiece.wordpress.com. Be warned, his posts are dry as burnt toast, but I plan on adding a bit of butter to them, possibly jam too if he lets me. Until next time, which I promise will be soon!

Vervain Says: It had better be soon, Adriana, or I'll set fire to your skirts.

Kushiel's Dart (Kushiel's Legacy #1)- Jacqueline Carey

In the land of Terre d' Ange, the mantra is "love as thou wilt", and the inhabitants execute this rule with due diligence. Phedre no Delaunay is a girl born with a scarlet mote in her eye, which marks her as the chosen of the god Kushiel, the god of punishment. She will forever experience pleasure and pain as one in the same. Phedre is born into the Night Court, but is sold into service of Anafiel Delaunay. He trains her to be his eyes and ears in the court, by means of scholarly arts and mastery in the bedchamber (a standard training in this world). However, when Phedre stumbles upon a plot that could be the undoing of Terre d'Ange she must do everything in her power to stop those who wish to upset the balance and beauty of her homeland.

Overall Merit: I love this book, and I thought I'd review it since I just finished rereading it. All of the Terre d'Ange books are brilliant and I think I picked the perfect length of time to wait before rereading them. The characters are excellent and I would willingly follow Phedre and Joscelin to the ends of the earth. Carey's alternative historical world is excellent and filled with lavish details that are a feast to imagine. These books are a perfect example of erotica done in a tasteful and effective manner. There is a legitimate storyline and the sexual interludes enhance the characterization and plot rather than distracting from the point. Score- 12

Characters:  Phedre is a great character, I love her to pieces. She is witty and intelligent and brings dignity to the profession of courtesan, that I've never seen in any other book. Joscelin is excellent as well and his character arc is the most dramatic of any of the characters. Other supporting characters like Hyacinthe shine through as well. The main villain is a femme fatale of the worst kind, you love to hate her, but at the same time are loath to hate her. Great characters overall, definitely will make you want to follow them through the rest of the series. Score- 12

Blush Factor: Phedre and Joscelin might be one of my all time favorite fantasy couplings. They complement each other so nicely with contrasting, but not clashing personalities. This book is definitely explicit so keep the children away. Sex is at the forefront of this world and of Phedre's character so keep that in mind. There is also a lot of BDSM so if that isn't your thing, it might be a bit off-putting, but if you can see past that to the excellent story then please try and read this book. Score- 10

Structure: This book follows Phedre's perspective in first person, but she is such a fascinating character that it is effortless and enjoyable to ride along with her. The world structure is fantastic and I love Carey's laissez faire attitude about things that in our world are considered so taboo. Excellent juxtaposition of romance/erotica with plot line. What can I say? I can't stop raining accolades down upon this book. Score- 13

Plot: Courtly intrigue and culture clash. Not much more you can ask for in a fantasy/alternate history book. The civilizations that Carey brings together are each unique and intricate. She definitely did her research for this series. There is just enough magic to keep the story in the realm of fantasy, but not enough so that I'd classify it as strictly epic. However, the present elements are well-executed and the story is tight. The plot is well-thought out and complex enough to keep you on the edge of your seat. Score- 11

Vervain says: "Phedre is a servant of both Namaah and Kushiel, two gods that are usually not juxtaposed. Josceline on the other hand, is a Cassiline, which adds even more absurdity in to the Phedre x Josceline coupling."

Furies of Calderon (Codex Alera #1)- Jim Butcher

In the realm of Alera when people come of age they are bonded with a fury (an elemental spirit). However, fifteen year old Tavi never bonded with a fury and therefore is a bit of an outcast and an unlikely hero. When an agent of the First Lord named Alera runs into him in the middle of the storm, she brings with her a war in which Tavi will prove instrumental in making sure that the 'good guys' win.

Overall Merit: This story was meh. It got really good reviews on Goodreads.com, but to be honest I didn't like it that much. I didn't connect with any of the characters and while the technical writing was strong and cohesive, the story didn't really interest me that much. The plot was complex and well thought out, but for whatever reason I did not like this book. It wasn't bad, like I didn't put it aside for an extended period of time, I just didn't love the story or the characters. Score- 6

Characters: The two main characters, Amara and Tavi were fine I guess. They weren't caricatures or anything, but I couldn't relate to them at all and I didn't feel like I was given enough access to their emotions. I didn't feel their fear or anguish and there was no real tension for me. I mean I rooted for them if only because as a reader I was supposed to, not out of any sense of loyalty or attachment. Between the two, I definitely connected better with Tavi, he was a more convincing character and a bit more sympathetic, but Amara was really hard to link with on any level. For one thing, I didn't know enough about her past and what her story was, heck I couldn't even tell how old she was! She didn't have enough inner turmoil to make her interesting. In terms of antagonists, I felt like there were too many and that made it confusing, but on the other hand, none of them were very strong. Score- 6

Blush Factor: Essentially N/A. This was barely there and what was there isn't worth mentioning.

Structure: Structure was fine. Solid. I swear I did actually read this book, I just have very little to say about it. It switched between three or four perspectives, but mostly stuck to Tavi and Amara, easy to follow. The story was pretty much straightforward. There were a few too many side stories going on and I didn't exactly buy them. Also, I felt like the elemental magic has been done to death and while Butcher tried to make it a bit different, it wasn't different enough to carry the story. Score- 7

Plot: Again. Standard fantasy. There wasn't anything interesting done here. Like really there was nothing interesting done here. This was a fantasy book that didn't bend any boundaries or create anything new. Sure Butcher tried with some weird extra humanoid, but he didn't explain the Marat well enough to make it worthwhile. I really wanted this story to have some kick, to bring in something unique, but I swear he just took a list of fantasy elements, slapped them together into a book, and called it a day. Score-6

 Vervain Says: "The Marat are essentially human, I'm still trying to figure out what makes them different."

The Fairy Godmother- Mercedes Lackey

In the Five Hundred Kingdoms, everyone has a role to play, whether it be that of a normal peasant or noble, or something more important. This role is determined by a force called the Tradition. Once the Tradition decides that a person is useful or important, magic will culminate around said person and push them on a path toward their inevitable destiny. However, sometimes the logistics don't always work out correctly. Elena was supposed to be a "Cinderella" in her world. She has the evil stepmother and sisters to boot, but as luck would have it, the prince of her kingdom is eleven and not a viable candidate. So instead, she finds herself apprenticed to the fairy godmother of her kingdom and is poised to take over her position as soon as she learns how to control and use the magic that the Tradition has bestowed upon her.

Overall Merit: This was a fluffy book. It was fun to read and I did enjoy the world that Lackey created. This was my first Mercedes Lackey book so I don't know a whole lot about her writing style. To sum it up in one word: cute. The book was cutesy and headed for an inevitable happy ending, which I guess is to be expected in a world governed by fairytales. It wasn't anything so amazing, but I liked the concept of the world and it was a quick read. If you're looking for intense, well-written fantasy/characters/plot then this probably isn't your book, but I mean it was a very light read--'beachy' if you will (not that I know so much about beaches, Unseelie is sadly deficient)--so I finished it in a few hours. The main gripe I had was the romance. This romantic sequence pissed me off/confused me to the extreme. More on that in 'Blush Factor'. Score- 7

Characters: Not a whole lot of substance here. As I said, the characters weren't very well-written. I didn't get any real emotion from anyone and I didn't particularly care about Alexander or Elena. They weren't annoying characters, which always buys some points in my book, but they were flat. Elena was ho-hum not that interesting and her personality wasn't there. She never expressed any real emotion--same issue with Alexander. Sure, Lackey told me he was annoyed/wanted to throttle Elena, but she didn't show me his frustration. The other characters were basically sketches, thrown in to help the plot along, but they literally had no personality or were so stereotypical that they may as well have been stick figures. Score- 5

Blush Factor: *SPOILERS* Don't even get me started. This was one of the worst romances I have ever seen. First off, you knew that Elena and Alexander were going to get together as soon as she drags him away from his quest to 'punish' him. Then, he tries to sexually assault her, which I find is never conducive to any sort of kind feelings. After, when he becomes more civil, they start having freaky shared sex dreams and somehow along the lines end up falling in love. And finally, out of the blue he asks her if she's been having the same dreams as him and then when she says yes they go up to his rooms and have a weird variation of sex. What the Hell? Score- 3

Structure: I really did like the world, which is why I give some kudos to this book. I liked the pseudo fairytale setting and the magical rules of the world. Lackey gave good definition to her magic and the rules governing the world, which was amenable since so many writers neglect to do that. The story wove in and out of Elena's and Alexander's perspectives, which was standard, but I wished there had been more definition when the perspectives jumped. I got a line break and that was it, just a formatting issue, but still something to note. If you do decide to check out the book, do it for the world structure. Score- 8

Plot: I mean there was a plot, it wasn't a very good plot, but it was a plot all the same. I hated the ending, it was extremely rushed. It felt like Lackey was trying to avoid major conflict, realized that was impossible, and ended up putting it in at the end and sweeping it under the carpet as quickly as she could. The premise was decent, not super strong, but not awful either. Lackey could have done something much more interesting with the world. There really wasn't enough conflict. Elena mastered her magic in what felt like moments, Alexander was helped by fairies, and the final 'epic' battle was over in a few pages. No one died. Everyone lived happily ever after, even though the message that Lackey kept driving home in the book was that it didn't work like that. Score- 6

Vervain Says: "Fairy Godmothers are responsible for quest giving, testing heros, and keeping magic from running amok."

Warbreaker- Brandon Sanderson

This is the story of two princesses, Vivenna and Siri, one of whom is destined to marry the God King of Hallandren. It is also the story of a minor god who hates his job as one of the Returned, and another immortal who is trying to correct his mistakes made centuries ago. In their world, people who die under the right circumstances join the pantheon of the Returned, and live as gods for the rest of eternity. However, the gods need Breath to live, Breath, which is the source of Biochromatic power that every person possesses to a certain extent. A power that will prove to be the undoing of many and the fortune maker of few. Only through the collective efforts of Siri, Vivenna, Lightsong, Susebron the God King, and Vasher the Warbreaker will an inevitable war come to a less than devastating conclusion.

-I apologize for the vague and patchy synopsis. However, given the contents of the story I had little to work with. Here's an interview with Sanderson that might clarify things a bit.

Overall Merit: First off, the cover is gorgeous, but that's through no merit of the author. I think this book disappointed me more than it would someone else because the Mistborn Trilogy was just fantastic. For some reason, Sanderson was able to capture all of his literary prowess in those books, but fell far from the mark in this standalone novel. I do have to give credit where it's due and say that Sanderson is a genius at creating new worlds. The world in Warbreaker was intrinsically fascinating and thrilling, but the rest of the story, plot, characters, etc fell flat. Score- 7

Characters: Often times when there are a lot of perspectives going on at the same time, a reader will favor one perspective over the other perspectives. In fact, I've yet to find a multi-perspective book where this hasn't been the case for me. Then again, this is all relative because I found nearly all the characters to be annoying. Vivenna was bratty and spoiled and Sanderson kept talking about how she was 'so well controlled', but I never really saw it. Okay, I sort of did, but only through a really annoying plot device that he exploited far more than he should have. Vivenna and Siri, as royal princesses of Idris have the ability to change their hair color based on mood. Sanderson used this as a copout because instead of giving us other indicators as to how the girls were feeling it would just be like "her hair flared red", "her hair bleached", etc. Siri was also annoying because for such a 'rebellious' girl, she really didn't do anything all that rebellious. I don't know, Vin and Elend (Mistborn) were more real for me and I actually liked them as people. Score- 5

Blush Factor: This was a presence in the book, somewhat. I mean it's weird, Mistborn was uber chaste and then Sanderson spends a good deal of time talking about just how big Mercystar and Blushweaver's (two of the Returned) breasts are. Then there's the whole weird thing going on with Susebron and Siri (horrible name choice by the way). I don't know, I mean the Siri x Susebron thing wasn't bad, it was kind of sweet actually so kudos for that, but then he tried to do something with Vivenna and Vasher. The whole book was all over the place. This wasn't a terrible aspect, but neither was it that important. Solid, I guess. Score- 7

Structure: There were too many perspectives and I didn't enjoy reading most of them, in fact I kind of skimmed all the chapters that didn't involve Siri and Susebron--the only side story I found moderately entertaining. Perhaps it had to do with the fact that I didn't really care about most of the characters, but Susebron, the God King intrigued me and I actually somewhat wanted to find out what happened with him, even though I could care less about the rest of the story. Score- 6

Plot: Ok, this was really, really contrived. There were way too many things going on and I even though the book was very long, it wasn't nearly long enough to flesh out all the details Sanderson was trying to cram into 600 pages. To be honest, all I got was there was some kind of conspiracy with the God King and a war was on the horizon. There were about 20 different rebel factions and it was nigh impossible to keep track of. Things were going on with Vivenna and some other things with Lightsong. Like I said, the only chapters I actually liked reading were the ones with Siri and Susebron. Score- 5

Vervain says: "Read the Mistborn Trilogy, but avoid this book unless you're absolutely desperate to read something else by Sanderson."

Masques- Patricia Briggs

Aralorn is a noblewoman turned spy/assassin. She realized early on that she was not cut out for court life and left home to pursue a more fitting occupation. One day, she rescues a dying wolf who turns out to be a powerful mage in disguise. He becomes her companion and after four years eventually learns to trust her. Aralorn has been given a new assignment: spy on the ae'Magi, the powerful and charismatic leader of the mages. With shapeshifting magic of her own, she accomplishes this task, but also learns how cruel the man is behind his charming facade. Few dare speak ill of the ae'Magi as mages are to be respected and feared, but Aralorn sees the evil in him and makes it her mission to see him destroyed. Only with Wolf's help and a great deal of magic will this be a successful endeavor.

A quick note: This book is pretty obscure as in, there weren't that many copies printed. Should you want to read it, I think you'll be hard pressed to find a copy.

Overall Merit: This is very different from Briggs later work (see the Alpha and Omega series). It is unpolished and at times hard to follow. I like her character work so kudos for that. Because this was her first novel and written at the age of 20 nonetheless, I have to cut her some slack. I liked the concept and the relationship between Aralorn and Wolf, but she spent a lot of time describing unimportant things instead of focusing on the plot. There were a lot of extraneous characters and events and I think if the story had been taking in a different, more succinct direction it would have been stronger. Score- 7

Characters: This was the one aspect that Briggs did the best with. I liked Aralorn and Wolf. Wolf's personality and backstory was the stronger of the two, but Aralorn didn't annoy me in the way that so many fantasy heroines manage to do. She was legitimately independent and although her personality didn't smack me in the face with strength, she was solid and more importantly, not irritating. I mean there was no uber strength here, but the characters were enough to make me want to continue on and read the sequel even though I didn't absolutely adore this book or anything. Score- 8

Blush Factor: You can often tell a lot about an author (age, religion, political views) based on how they handle the romance in a novel. That may not sound very plausible, but if you look hard enough, patterns emerge. Look for things like, the presence and usage of homosexuality, waiting until marriage, etc. This romance speaks of an author who is young and worried about being too explicit or too offensive and errs on the side of caution. It was sweet and I'm glad that she exercised restraint instead of throwing Wolf and Aralorn into a head-over-heels smoldering romance. However, there were times where the romance might have been too subtle and easily missed by a careless reader. Score- 6.5

Structure: This bothered me a bit because Briggs switched in and out of perspectives using page breaks, a technique that annoys me at the best of times. It's really more personal preference than anything, but it makes it less confusing for me if the author breaks perspectives up by chapters, rather than having a very long chapter with multiple perspectives. Chapter changes allow the reader to fully depart from one perspective and transition into another whereas page breaks can leave the reader stranded, straddling two perspectives and wondering why the story suddenly changed. Also, her transitions were a bit muddled and often I couldn't follow where the story was going or why she had chosen that specific place to break off. Score- 5

Plot: Yes, this was cliched, but when I started the book I didn't expect anything more. If you can accept the cliches and read without being too critical then the book isn't that bad. If you're a stickler for banalities then you'd best steer clear. I mean there have been several iterations of "kill the evil mage". This story didn't bring anything super new to the table. I gave this book the score I did because it didn't irritate me. I wasn't a phenomenal story and there wasn't anything new here. Score- 6

Vervain says: "Aralorn uses 'green magic', which she inherited from her mother. This means she has the ability to shape shift, but not as effectively as if she were full-blooded instead of half human."

Vengeance Born (Light Blade #1)- Kylie Griffin

Annika is a half-breed demon (Na'Chi) and in her world this puts her lower than even the lowest caste of demon (Na'Reish). She is abused and punished for her lineage and spends most of her time hiding and treating injured prisoners in the dungeons. Through her mortal blood she inherited an unparalleled gift  for healing, which she hides because on the flip side it also allows her to kill. Annika thinks she will spend the rest of her life in her miserable existence until one day she discovers that the newest prisoner is a Light Blade, a warrior of the mortals' Goddess, named Kalan. They make a pact: Annika will help Kalan safely out of Na'Reish territory and Kalan will protect Annika once they reach the human realm. The two embark on a perilous journey that they will only survive if they can learn to trust each other.

Overall Merit: I enjoyed several aspects of this book and for the most part it was a very solid read. Griffin does a good job with the characters at the beginning, but their strength seems to fade as the book goes on. I thought the structure and characteristics of Na'Reish society were interesting and I would have liked more of a background. There weren't any radically new ideas in the book, but Griffin took a pre-established story and wove it into a world of her own making. Some aspects definitely seemed a little too cliched, but I mean while there wasn't anything stunning in the book, it was a quick read and I didn't have any major issues with it. I'd say it's worth checking out if you want a pretty standard romantic fantasy. Score- 8

Characters: I'm all for character change, but this felt way too fast. Over the course of maybe a week Annika goes from being fearful for her life to trusting Kalan absolutely. I mean this is a pretty common issue in novels where romance is present, but I just felt like their relationship was very rushed. Annika is interesting and I liked the way her Na'Chi characteristics presented (color changing eyes, body markings, etc.), but I felt that as she got closer to Kalan her personality got watered down. Kalan was hmm I wouldn't call him an alpha or a beta, maybe somewhere in between? I'm having a difficult time deciding because his personality wasn't very strong in either direction. He needed some serious fleshing out and I felt like he made a lot of threats, but didn't actually do anything. Score- 6

Blush Factor: Ok, if you read this genre you know the deal. This was a basic fantasy smut novel. The sex scenes didn't overpower the rest of the book, but they were definitely a presence. There was the whole "Oh Annika's a virgin, let's take it slow" (but not really). Pretty standard sequence here. If this is your thing then enjoy. I really don't have a whole lot to say or rant about. Score- 7

Structure: For this category, I feel like all the pieces were there, but Griffin didn't utilize them to their full potential. I very much enjoyed learning about Na'Chi and Na'Reish abilities, but I felt kind of jilted because they weren't spelled out enough for me. Yes, I got the body markings and some of the abilities, but I felt like I was missing something. The main problem was that Griffin didn't keep Annika's powers consistent, or maybe she didn't explain them very well. For example, apparently Annika is super strong, but I wanted to know how strong. Like can she lift two men? Five? Laying out the parameters for supernatural powers is essential because otherwise it leaves the reader wondering whether or not they could have used said powers to get out of a difficult situation. Same goes for the Light Blades. I know they're talented with weapons, but is that it? I've said this before and I'll say it again: A reader can't possibly know what's going on in a writer's head. So writers, please spell it out for us. Score- 5

Plot: This gets kudos because it actually existed. Finally, someone remembers to include a plot along with the other elements of a story! I liked that it wasn't just Annika's story, but that we also got to see a side plot weaving in at the same time. I think this really helped the book along because it gave more substance to the story whereas if it had just been about Annika and Kalan, it would have pretty much only had the romance to go on and that would definitely not have been enough. Score- 8

Vervain says: "Annika's eyes change color depending on her mood."

Eternal Eden- Nicole Williams

Bryn is forever alone (pardon my meme). She has no parents and is a social pariah at her obscure college in Oregon. The one day, a new transfer student shows up named William Winters. In spite of her objections and denial, there is an instant spark between Bryn and the new students. Even though every instinct warns her away, Bryn ends up falling in love with William. However, William may not be from the same world as her. Bryn must decide what she will sacrifice in order to spend the rest of her life with the man she loves.


Overall Merit: The only thing that might be worse than Twilight (I don't know why I even italicize; Twilight isn't a real book), is a terrible knockoff of Twilight. This book screams Edward and Bella so loudly that my ears almost shriveled up and fell off. If I listed all the similarities, it would take all night. Maybe the only difference is that Bryn has a bit of a backbone and she's slightly more interesting than Bella. Slightly. The only reason this book doesn't quite get a 0 is because at least Williams made a very minor effort to create something new whereas Meyer took a preexisting idea and threw glitter on it. Also, Williams' writing was a bit tighter in terms of technical skill. Score- 2

Characters: William is overbearing and protective and one day decides to leave because it's "for Bryn's own good". Bryn throws herself into the ocean...jeez where have I heard that before? I'm sorry for the spoilers, but to be honest you shouldn't even be reading this book. Also, of course there's a love rival named Paul who shows up out of nowhere and decides to be madly in love with Bryn. Cough Jacob Cough. The antagonist is predictable and to be honest, stupid. In fact, Bryn is stupid too, since she doesn't catch onto something that is basically stabbing her in the face and screaming at her at the same time. Like it's fine that she's stupid, but apparently she got into Harvard, Stanford, etc. NO. Bryn is an idiot. She should be going to community college. Score- 1

Blush Factor: Don't give me that "I want to wait for marriage bullsh**". Come on. Stop copying Stephenie. PLEASE. The romance in this book is annoying. By the time I got to the middle of the book I was like, "If William uses the word 'temptress' one more time I'm going to go into the book and run him through with a machete". Saying 'temptress' a million times is not sexy. Hell, it's not even sexy the first time. Vixen is a sexier word by far. Or how about minx? I don't know. Something else. I beg you, Nicole. Not to mention: What the BLOODY HELL is with all these guys being like 'I won't have sex until I find the one'? That is crap. Boys like to have sex. Girls like to have sex. No guy is going to wait hundreds of years to have sex, even if the Council orders it. Score- 0 (There is nothing wrong with sex and if you're writing a romance novel about anyone over the age of 17, it's pretty much inevitable.)

Structure: Look at that, another similarity. First person Bryn. Um my bad, first person Bella. The world is horribly structured. I give this book a minor kudo (one kudo, not kudos) because I thought it was interesting that she made the immortals in this book responsible for all the natural disasters in the world. A decent concept. Not great, but decent. Everything else about  the world was crud. Why the Hell would anyone waste so much time making sure that people stayed virgins? I need to do research on this lady, but if she's religious too that would explain a lot. Don't get me wrong, I'm not a sex fiend, and there isn't a place for sex in every book, I accept that, but if you bring up the subject then it needs to be addressed. Score-1

Plot: What plot? Seriously, where is the plot? Oh right, Bryn and William try in desperation to find a way to be together even though the council forbids it. Sound familiar? Then William spirits Bryn away to live with his family, which consists of couples that are eerily reminiscent of Rosalie, Emmet, Jasper, and Alice...wow who would have thought? How creative. And then there's some weird prophecy nonsense that shows up at the end. Yea, maybe Williams should have mentioned that sooner? Maybe then there would be some semblance of a plot. No? Score- 0

Vervain says: "Something very imaginative that Williams does is she gives each immortal a special talent. Just like all of Stephenie Meyer's vampires!"

Katie's Hellion (Rhyn Trilogy #1)- Lizzy Ford

Katie is having a terrible day. First she gets pulled over for driving two miles over the speed limit, and then she gets in trouble for not taking care of a son that she knows she doesn't have. According to everyone around her, she has amnesia due to a rape, but Katie knows that this can't possibly be the case. Her suspicions are confirmed when it turns out her "son", Toby is actually an eons old angel and a mysterious man named Gabriel shows up at her house claiming to be something called a 'Death Dealer'. Apparently, Katie's blood is special and it has something in it that makes her immune to immortals and therefore an immortal's mate. However, she isn't just an immortal's mate, she's an ancient's mate (which is like a step above an immortal's mate). By all rights, she should go to the eldest Ancient, but instead she is claimed by the outcast half-breed, Rhyn who rescues her from the depths of Hell.

Overall Merit: The problem with this book was that there were way too many things going on at the same time. Since the books were short, I read the whole trilogy, but the problem was consistent throughout. There were a million things going on and it was difficult to keep a firm grasp on the storyline. The characters were strong, which is always a plus, but I felt like the story was going in like twenty different directions at the same time and I found myself confused by what was going on and where the plot was going. I think that the other book by Ford that I scored (Damian's Oracle) was a much stronger book. Score- 6

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Characters: Rhyn is interesting. He is definitely a typical bad boy stereotype, but centuries in Hell have made him bitter and at times cruel. He was my favorite character if only because Katie wasn't nearly as solid. Her character tended to waver at times and I didn't get a good sense of who she really was. I do rather detest the annoying sister. I feel like this is an oft used character who is remarkably irritating. True, she can act as a foil for the heroine, but more often than not, she overstays her welcome and starts to get in the way of an enjoyable reading experience. There is a good reason everyone hates their siblings at one point or another. I already hate my siblings, I don't need to hate someone else's too. Score- 6

Blush Factor: To be honest, there wasn't a ton of romance in this book, that didn't come until the later books in the trilogy. I mean you know who's going to end up together from the start and I was a bit disappointed that Rhyn and Katie never really resolved their feelings for each other until later on. Even the end result of their romance was disappointing (by the third book). Not my favorite part, I liked the romance much better in Damian's Oracle. It wasn't horrible, it was kind of just nonexistent. Score- 6

Structure: Nothing new here in terms of writing style. I think Ford's problem is that she tried to cram a ton of information into a small amount of pages without giving the reader a chance to let it all sink in. She could have made the book a lot longer and structured it better so that all the plot lines had a chance to naturally converge. Instead, the writing seemed hurried as if she wanted to get a crazy amount of story down without developing the world or the conflict well enough. Score- 5

Plot: As I've said several times--way too much going on at once. I was incredibly confused. Ford needed to pick one or two subplots max instead of having twenty going on all at once. Also, I kept reading and reading waiting for Katie and Rhyn to get together, but she dragged it out horribly so that by the time I got to the end of the book I basically didn't even care anymore. This book had potential, but I wasn't seeing the necessary execution. Damian's Oracle takes place under a similar premise, in a similar world so go for that instead of this one. Score- 6

Vervain says: "There are seven Ancients, but most of them are dead."

Mistborn: The Final Empire (Mistborn #1)- Brandon Sanderson

In a world where ash rains from the sky and flowers are an impossibility, the skaa toil in misery and live in fear. The Lord Ruler reigns over this world as a 'sliver of infinity', a piece of God. He is invincible and immortal, at least according to most. Hope is such a foreign concept that it has nearly been forgotten until a heart-broken, half-skaa named Kelsier escapes from the Lord Ruler's prison and decides to use his talents to overthrow the Lord Ruler. He recruits the elite of the underworld to help him in his endeavor, but it isn't until he discovers the half-skaa urchin named Vin that his plan has any real hope of succeeding. Kelsier must teach Vin to harness and master her vast powers and to learn to trust again after years of abuse have left her skittish and afraid.

Overall Merit: READ THIS BOOK. Please. Sanderson is a genius. The world is vibrant and original and I found myself incredibly attached to the characters. I had only one small gripe with the story (the romantic sequence), but that was not nearly enough to deter my enjoyment. If you are a high/epic fantasy fan and you read one book this year, make it this one. Yes, it is long, and yes it is a hefty read, but please take the time; it is well worth it. Score- 12

Characters: The characters are phenomenal. They are fresh and real and have the depth and struggles of real people. Vin is captured masterfully and you watch her grow from scared and paranoid to confident and capable. Kelsier grows too in spite of himself as he teaches Vin what he knows about allomancy and learns to care about someone again. Even the side characters have their own story and they feel real as well as opposed to cardboard cutout space fillers, which seem to be employed in so many novels. Even the villain was refreshing. The Lord Ruler was typically wicked, but I've never seen an entity like him in terms of abilities. Score-13

Blush Factor: My one gripe was this category. The romance wasn't bad per se, it was just minimal and the little I saw didn't ring true for me. The romantic leads spent so little time together and then magically woke up and were like "OMG I'm in love with him/her", which is fine, but I really would have liked to see a more realistic progression of feelings. However, I did like the coupling of personalities so this category won't get a horrible score. Score-7

Structure: Vin's perspective was refreshing. I've never met a character quite like her and I was pleased to make her acquaintance. The beginning plodded a bit, but once the action started it was non-stop and kept me reading for hours on end. My favorite part was his new type of "magic"--allomancy it takes brilliance to create an effective new superpower/form of magic and Sanderson did just that. Bravo to him. Score-11

Plot: Wow, talk about an original world and concept. Sanderson's imagination must be boundless for him to have come up with something like this. The story was incredibly complex and must have required an extensive amount of planning on his part. It was an original take on the battle of Good Vs. Evil in a world where Evil originally won out. The ending came as a surprise to me, which seldom happens so kudos for that. I can't wait to read the Well of Ascension (Mistborn #2). Score- 12

Vervain says: "Allomancy is the ingestion and internal combustion of metals. Each different metal allows the user to access a different power, for example, pewter gives the user advanced strength and agility."

Energy- M.J. Schutte

Brighton and Lilian live together in their peaceful mountain town, but it is not long before Lilian's past catches up with her and she is snatched away. Brighton devotes his life to searching for her and hoping that she will return, even after he is told she is dead. At the same time, he must develop the enormous and unique power he has been given--the power to manipulate energy. The world is governed by people gifted with the ability to steal energy from other things, but Brighton's gift is different and this makes him a threat. Brighton is the only one who can save the kingdom from the tyranny of the energy-thieves, but first he must learn how to harness his unwieldy and terrifying abilities.

Overall Merit: When I saw this book online for $ 0.99, I figured it would probably be cliched and stupid, but I was bored so I decided to read it anyway. I was pleasantly surprised. I should warn you that it's very long and the beginning is kind of slow, but once you get into the story the action keeps you on the edge of your seat. Obviously there were still some things that bothered me (aren't there always?). One thing that annoys me in books is when people get resurrected a million times (sorry if this is a spoiler, actually I'm not, I don't really care if I spoil things for you). Once I'll buy, but more than that it's kind of like "Ok, really?" Anyway, it's a good read and definitely worth it if you have a bunch of time on your hands. Be patient though, it takes a while to get into. If it's any indicator, I have plans to read the sequel. Score-9

Characters: Strong characters definitely. They had distinct personalities and I definitely sympathized with them, which doesn't happen very often since usually I want to clock the whining female protagonist on the head with a sledgehammer. Brighton and Lilian were both complex and Schutte did a good job with the supporting characters as well, which is also unusual. This part of the book was very strong and for that Schutte has my commendation. Score-10

Blush Factor: This was sweet, I was a little skeptical at the beginning when Brighton (16) had the hots for Lilian (13), but it was pretty innocent so I didn't mind all that much. Their relationship is sweet, once they finally get back together, although I thought their whole "I've been waiting for you, love at first sight" was a bit much. Schutte should have given them a chance to get acquainted again after a few years of separation before they fell head-over-heels. They had a solid relationship though and it wasn't overly gushy or an overpowering factor in the novel, so I was pleased enough. Score-7.5

Structure: The perspective is third person close, following  Brighton and Lilian for the most part. Nothing unique was done here with perspective or narrative, but it was a solid quick-paced read. My main gripe, as I said earlier, was the slow beginning. Also, the concept of "death" was not as concrete as I would have liked. Score- 7.5

Plot: I loved the world that Schutte created and the magical abilities, while not entirely original, were refreshing. I enjoyed following the characters on their journey, I mean it was a pretty standard fantasy journey, but the fact that there was such conflict on the matter of good vs. evil was a new thing for me. Definitely worth reading if you have the time. Support self-publishing authors! Score-9

In summation: Read this book, please.

Vervain says: "Brighton can take energy from living things and channel it for his own purposes."

Angel Burn- L.A. Weatherly

Willow is gifted with the power to look into the future and decipher the hopes and dreams of others by touching them. She doesn't know where her power comes from as no one else in her family is gifted. It isn't until the assassin, Alex, shows up with instructions to kill her that she finds out what she truly is and why her powers exist. However, Alex isn't the only one who wants Willow, she is also being chased by legions of evil angels and their followers. She must team up with and learn to trust Alex to escape from the angels because she might be the last hope for the human race's survival and freedom.

Overall Merit: When I picked up this book from the YA section of the library, I was thinking one thing: this is going to be exactly like every single angel book out there. Weatherly tries very hard to break out of that mold and in some ways she does, so bravo on that front. Her angels are dark, soul-sucking creatures who lure humans in and feed off them. See this would be original if it didn't sound exactly like another type of supernatural being. Let's think, where have I heard that exact description before...? No way, it's a vampire!  Please, for the love of all things fantasy, come up with some new ideas! To be nice, I did like that people who interacted with the angels slowly withered away from disease. Willow's character disappoints because she is set up to be such a kick ass heroine and then she just isn't. My main issue with this story is the missing plot line. The story plods along for a good 350 some odd pages, but nothing actually happens until like the last 20 pages! Score- 7

Characters: The biggest issue I had with this category was that the antagonists didn't seem to be trying very hard to do anything. It seemed like they were like "oh, well we want Willow, but before we exert any effort getting her let's have some afternoon tea." Willow had the potential to be a badass. I mean come on! She fixes cars for fun and is a psychic, I wanted someone more quirky, someone unique. What I got was a gushing, lovesick girl, "oh Alex, I wanna snuggle!" Where are my villains!? Sure there was Raziel, but he seemed to spend a lot of time bossing people around and gloating about his wickedness as opposed to doing anything proactive. Score- 4

Blush Factor- The entire novel was consumed by a cheesy romantic "subplot" to the point that it would have been more productive to write this as an erotica novel. Weatherly went out of her way to put the characters in situations in which they would have "no choice" but to embrace each other or get all touchy feely. I'm just as much of a sucker as the next girl for a good romance thread in a novel, but this wasn't even well done. It was cheesy and to be perfectly honest a seventeen year old guy is not going to behave like Alex does. (Like I said, it would have made a better erotica, provided the characters were older.) Score- 4

Structure: This might have been the undoing of the entire novel. There were far too many POVs going on at the same time and therefore things were revealed to the reader before the protagonists were aware. If done WELL this can be effective and make a story better, but when I learn what the "villains" are going to do there is no element of surprise and in a story with an already weak plot line this just bangs the final nail in the coffin. As a reader, I want to experience the action along with the protagonists, I should be traveling on a journey with them. If I already know what's going to happen then the impact is minimal. Score- 2

Plot: Hmm...still searching for this...give me a second...ah there we go! 350 pages in, whew thought I'd never get there. I mean there was sort of a premise...? There was a definite deus ex machina employed at the end to try and salvage some sort of action from the extended period of nothingness. There was a lot that could have been done with this concept, Weatherly just didn't take advantage.

Vervain says: "Alex's full name is Alex Kylar, his job title: Angel Killer. If that doesn't make you cringe, shame on you."

Incarnate- Jodi Meadows

In a world where everyone has been reincarnated hundreds of times, Ana is a nosoul. A few years before her birth, a woman named Ciana died, Ciana was supposed to come back, but she never did. Ana was born instead. While all the others in her world remember their past lives, she has none and that makes her a threat--dangerous. Ana's cruel mother, Li casts her out of their home on Ana's 18th birthday. Ana has no choice but to go to Heart and see if she can figure out why she was born and if she will be born again or if her life will fizzle out. Li gives her a faulty compass and she loses her way to Heart. She is rescued from freezing to death in Range by a mysterious man named Sam. They venture to Heart together, a place where he will be her greatest ally and possibly her greatest love.

Overall Merit: First of all, I love the cover so kudos for that. Secondly, the premise was fascinating. Imagine remembering all of your past lives for millennia. However, some of the storytelling didn't ring true for me and I was especially disappointed by the ending. The world didn't make sense because there simply weren't any rules in place. There were dragons and sylphs running around and some god-like entity called Janus, but we never knew whether or not he was real and if he was what purpose he served. Also, in the story, the people just found Heart already built and waiting for them. What?! No, just no. At the beginning, Ana had a motive: find out why she exists, but after about a day she seemed to forget. She was way too busy drooling over Sam for 80% of the novel. This book had so much potential, but it fell flat. There were too many inconsistencies and technicalities that went unexplained. Score-6

Characters: The characters all had a fatal flaw, they were almost good but not enough, the antagonist was almost evil, but not enough, etc. They were boring. Ana was dull, she is a passive character who steps up at random moments to rescue someone, usually Sam. However, how come she can stand up to sylphs, but when she sees Sam sneaking out every night and overhears him talking behind her back, she can't confront him about it? Where is her backbone? Sam wasn't very interesting either and I didn't buy his "crippling" fear of dragons. It was a cop out. Meadows makes him seem like a brooding artist character, only to reveal that he's distant because he's afraid of dragons. Hmm...yea no. Li was the only real antagonist, and well she wasn't even that interesting. It seemed like she was being mean for the sake of being mean. She had some connection with Ciana, but it was never established properly and therefore her animosity wasn't convincing. Score-6

Blush Factor: This consumed the entire story. Literally the whole novel was about the romantic tension between Sam and Ana, which would have been fine if it were actually interesting. It actually got frustrating how slowly it moved. It's like "just kiss her already!" There was nothing unique about their romance and when I can predict exactly what's going to happen, it makes me irritated. Basically it was a standard YA romance that took up more space in the book than it should have. Score-6

Structure: Standard linear first person, but the thing about first person is that it's limiting so unless the narrator is compelling, the reader is apt to get bored. Ana was not a very interesting narrator. For all her abusive upbringing there was no inner turmoil, I could not feel her angst! YA novels are supposed to have a TON of angst! Nothing interesting happened in terms of structure. First person is pretty straight forward so nothing new here. Score-6

Plot: Before I start, I promise that this category will score extremely low. The concept was there and it was brilliant, but the execution was painfully bad. What started as a promising story turned into a long running love story with a protagonist who seemed to forget what she had been looking for in the first place. Sure she spent some time researching in the library, but  most of her time was spent mooning over Sam and learning to play the piano because apparently she had a passion for music. The ending was atrocious, talk about a deus ex machina (literally). I won't say exactly what happens, but just know that you couldn't possibly conceive this ending because no one in their right mind would come up with it and think it was a good idea. No offense to Meadows, but this was pretty sad.

Vervain Says: "Deus ex machina is a Latin phrase and it literally means 'God out of the  machine'. In other words, it is when a writer invokes a god or higher power or even just brings in a character that seems to have all the answers and can put the story to rights with little difficulty. This is a device that should be avoided at all costs." 

A Fistful of Sky (LaZelle #1)- Nina Kiriki Hoffman

In the LaZelle family, each of the members goes through a brutal "transition" and if they survive they awaken with powerful magic. The magic varies for everyone based somewhat on personality type and the rest on chance. However, it is also known that "late-bloomers" tend to end up with a  less desirable gift: the gift of curses. This wouldn't be an issue, but it is also true that if the magic goes unused for too long, it will inevitably consume the wielder. Gypsum LaZelle is nineteen years old and completely "magic-less" in contrast to her powerful siblings and therefore resigned to a mundane existence. Then, one day when her family is out of town she becomes gravely ill and wakes up with a new gift--one that will make her wish she had remained normal.

Overal Merit: I LOVED the concept of this book, so much so that when I found it on goodreads.com, I bought it for my e-reader so I could start immediately. I actually could not tear myself away from it and finished it in about three hours. Gypsum is a great character and her siblings are awesome. However, per usual, I had my gripes. What started out as a fantastic predicament took a turn for the weird. I have no issue with weird, in fact, I adore weird, but this was too weird. The ending also threw me and I wasn't satisfied when it came to a close. The end is bizarre, but that's ok. If you want a new take on magic, read it anyway. Score- 8.5

Characters: Gypsum was fascinating and probably the only heavy female character I've seen who wasn't languishing in self-pity about her weight. She was so real and human that for all her flaws she was still lovable. The supporting characters didn't disappoint either and I loved how it was near impossible to define the antagonist. Strong personalities all around for Gypsum's siblings and her "curse child", Altria. Some of the concepts Hoffman tackled within personalities were heavy usages of Jungian archetypes so if that doesn't sit well with you, you have been warned. Score-9

Blush Factor: This was disappointing as it promised to be present, but wasn't really there. Hoffman teased with a potential relationship, but it fizzled out into nothing of interest. This was probably the weakest point of the novel and Hoffman would have done well to exclude it completely. Score- 4

Structure: The structure was fairly linear and told from Gypsum's perspective. I followed it easily and had no complaints. Nothing innovative was done here. One major gripe I had was that Hoffman brushed on the subject of creatures from alternate worlds, but she never went into any detail, which left me somewhat confused. Also, she didn't define the limits on Gypsum's power, which also annoyed me because I wanted more definition as to what she actually could and could not do. The score would have been higher if Hoffman did a better job of covering her bases in terms of technicalities. Score- 5

Plot: I was completely enthralled by the plot until I got to the ending, which was a bit too forced and philosophical for my taste. I'll not say more than that because of spoilers. The concept was phenomenal and a refreshing addition to the world of magic-weilders. In spite of the flaws, I was able to suspend my disbelief more than usual because of the great cast of characters. Score-7

In summation: if you are looking for something with an excellent plot and great characters and are willing to turn a blind eye to some technical issues and a strange ending, then go for it.

Vervain says: "Gypsum is a crystalline stone that symbolizes stability in the midst of chaotic change as well as growth and improvement."

The Wizard's Ward- Deborah Hale

Maura's world of Umbria was ravaged by Hanish invaders and the only hope of restoring Umbrian power is to find and awaken the mythical "Waiting King". However, the only one who can do this is the "Destined Queen". Maura's guardian, the wizard Langbard informs her on her birthday that she is said "Destined Queen" and she must venture to the magical grove where her husband awaits. That afternoon, Maura finds herself in the woods gathering some magical herbs when she rescues a young outlaw named Rath from some Hanish soldiers. She brings him back with her to Langbard's cottage and the wizard decides that Rath will accompany him and Maura to Maura's Aunt who is in possession of the map that will lead them to the grove of the "Waiting King". Am I the only one who could see what was coming as soon as I read the synopsis on the back of the book?

Overall Merit: I mean, it wasn't a bad book. Then again, neither was it a good book. For all the interesting premise, the story fell rather flat. Not to mention, if I can guess the ending by reading the synopsis on the back it is not a good sign. Same goes for the characters. They weren't bad characters, but I didn't find myself caring about them all that much. By the end of the book I got pretty bored because I knew exactly what was going to happen. Not really worth your time. Score- 6

Characters: They were non-descript. I for one did not take Rath very seriously as an outlaw, he was far too civilized for that and there was not enough inner turmoil over his identity. There should have been more of a struggle between his desire to be good for Maura and his instinct to behave like a thoughtless boor. Maura was ok, she annoyed me a bit at points, but there was nothing so horrendous about her character that made me want to stop reading. I think that Hale tried to make her a plucky, strong female heroine, but the attempt fell flat. Maura was too goody-goody for that. Score- 6

Blush Factor: This aspect of the book irked me. There was all this really horrible attempt at romantic repression where it got to the point where I was just like "either be with her or don't just make up your mind!" Obviously Rath and Maura end up together (if that was a spoiler I'm really not all that sorry). However, the thing that bothered me the most was the gratuitous sex scene at the very end of the book. It really did not fit at all and it made me question the morals of the characters. I'm not a prude by any means and if sex is appropriate then go for it, but going off the basic tone and cultural structure of the book it didn't work. Score- 4

Structure: It was linear and third person from Maura's point of view. Nothing interesting was done here, but it wasn't convoluted or confusing. Score- 5

Plot: This could have been interesting, but it seems like Hale came up with an initial premise and never really did any development beyond that. The stakes weren't high enough, meaning I never felt like the characters were in imminent danger. A good story beats the character over the head with a mallet until they are ready to collapse. Neither Maura nor Rath faced any such predicament. It was far too easy for them to get to the grove and the Hanish threat that was introduced from the beginning wasn't used to its full potential by a long shot. Score- 4

In summation, I strongly advise avoiding this book unless you are given an important puzzle and the only way to solve it is hidden somewhere in the pages of this rubbish.

Vervain says: "There are two types of magic used in this world: mortcraft and vitcraft. Mortcraft calls upon dark powers whereas vitcraft is a nature based form of magic. 

Sword of Fire and Sea- Erin Hoffman

When Vidarian's great-grandfather married a fire priestess, he swore an alliance with the High Temple of Kara'zu (headquarters of the fire priestesses). This agreement is called into play, when the high priestess Endera summons Vidarian to honor his family legacy and escort a promising young priestess named Ariadel to a different temple in the south. Since Ariadel was caught by the Vkortha, a group of rogue magic users, she has been in constant danger of capture. Vidarian's job is to see her safely to the new temple where she can seek refuge from the Vkortha. At least in theory, this is what the story is supposed to be about. 


Overall Merit: I found that the story I was promised fell flat and well I'm amazed I forced myself to finish the book. It wasn't that the writing was inherently bad, it was just the storytelling ability wasn't there and neither was the character development. I don't quite know why I even bothered to finish it, maybe so that I could give an accurate review to the imaginary people who are reading this blog. Anyway, please don't read this book unless your only other option is Twilight, then by all means go ahead. Score- 4 (this is mainly because I really liked the cover...) 


Characters: Were there even characters in this story? No, not really. They were caricatures if anything. I mean I've read flat characters before, but usually there's at least one person who saves the day, even if they're in a supporting role. This book gave me nothing to work with. There was no drive to do anything, the characters simply accepted the roles they were given because either "the goddesses said so" or they had some innate intuition that it was "their destiny". If characters don't have a legitimate reason for going on a quest or fighting against a force then the readers don't care if they do it or not. In fact, I cared so little about these characters that they could have been brutally murdered and I wouldn't have done more than shrug. Also, I couldn't even figure out who the antagonist was supposed to be. The Vkortha were pathetic and played a minimal role, somehow the Imperial Army showed up in the last fifty pages, and then the high priestess suddenly became quasi evil. It didn't make sense at all. Oh, one thing I had a MAJOR issue with was the fact that the chaos goddess comes in and says "Correctamundo" and "See ya later alligator". Even in a realistic fiction book no one says that, but she's a goddess--a chaos goddess nonetheless. Score- 2 


Blush Factor- This was also miserable, but that should be self explanatory because if the characters have nothing to say for themselves, then they certainly can't have interesting relationships with each other. From essentially the first page you knew there was going to be something between Vidarian and Ariadel, which is fine. However, there was no build up. One minute they were simply companions on a journey and the next they were cuddling and kissing. There was no transition and when the romantic bit came about I actually had to go back and reread the section because I thought I had missed something. The romance is misplaced and unrealistic and if anything it detracted from the already pathetic story. Score-2 


Structure- Another thing I had an issue with. The transitions were abominable in this novel, it kept jumping over hours, and even days at a time, leaving the reader confused and disoriented. It's like, "I don't care if you put a little wave icon in between sections every time you shift; I still have no idea what's going on!" Otherwise, the story was traditionally linear and only told from one perspective. Score- 3 


Plot- The plot had potential to be good. I did like the magical hierarchy in the world and I thought that if done correctly the story would have been enjoyable. However, the entire thing was completely botched. The story was trite and it didn't flow at all. There were too many elements going on at the same time. If Hoffman had simply taken out one or two of the irrelevant plot tangents and focused on the main story thread it would have been much more successful. Score- 5 (for potential) 


In summation: Do not read this book unless you somehow find yourself in a Saw movie and you have no other option. 

Mystic and Rider- Sharon Shinn

Senneth is a powerful mystic traveling with a servant boy, Serramarra (Lady) Kirra a fellow mystic and healer, Kirra's loyal servant, and two of the King's Riders. The king has sent them on a mission to travel the country and report back to him on any dissent among the houses. As they travel, they notice a war is brewing, a war over magic. Mystics are tolerated differently throughout the land, but some houses are kinder than others. Now, the house of Gisseltess is making their view quite clear as mystics are continually turning up dead and priestesses of the Pale Mother have swollen in number. It will be up to Senneth and the others to see themselves back through a country filled with animosity and intrigue in order to return safely to the capital.

Overall Merit: The strongest points in the book were the characters. For any fans of the the Lioness Quartet by Tamora Pierce, Senneth was a very near match to Alanna. As far as plot was concerned, there wasn't enough, but the characters were superstars and that was what kept the pages turning for me. If you are ok with character driven literature then definitely read this. Score- 9

Characters: As I said earlier, this book was largely plot driven, I loved the protagonists, mainly Senneth and Kirra, and even though the plot was lacking I kept reading because I wanted to see what happened to them. The antagonists were not as strong as I would have liked. Coralinda Gisseltess wasn't nearly as evil as she could have been and I thought that was a major weak point in the novel. You will very likely fall in love with the protagonists and root for them, but I felt like sometimes they were able to get out of trouble too easily. Score- 8

Blush Factor: This was there, but at barely more than a whisper. Tayse and Senneth's romance was not all it could have been by any means, not to mention it came out of nowhere and the build up wasn't believable in my opinion. As far as the other characters are concerned, there is nothing at all, maybe a few minor flirtations here and there, but nothing worth mentioning. I thought that Shinn should have either gone full out for Tayse and Senneth or just not included it at all. Score- 6

Structure: This was linear and third person nothing new here as far as structure. It was easy to follow and the story moved along in a traditional fashion. Score-8

Plot: This was where I had my largest overall issue. There was essentially very little plot, this wouldn't have bothered me quite as much but there was potential for plot that Shinn completely ignored. The characters were never in nearly enough danger, and there was never anything at stake. I think she should have made it more difficult for the group to pass through "mystic-hating" regions and there definitely should have been some hardcore kidnapping involved. The plot was weak and underdeveloped and without the characters I probably would have stopped reading halfway through. Score-5

In spite of the flaws, the characters were pretty amazing and for that reason, if nothing else, I do suggest picking up this book if you have the time.