Ever Near by Melissa MacVicar

June 11, 2014 By 2 Comments

NEAR
Ever Near by Melissa MacVicar
Secret Affinity Book 1
Publisher: Red Adept Publishing
Genre: Young Adult, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Paranormal, Contemporary
Length: Full Length (199 pages)
Age Recommendation: 16+
Heat Level: Sensual
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Love is ever near. But trouble is never far.

Nantucket Island is haunted, but only sixteen-year-old Jade Irving knows it. Ignoring the disturbing spirits isn’t an option, because one dwells in the enormous historic home she shares with her newly blended family. Jade is finding it more and more difficult to explain away Lacey’s ghostly, anguished tantrums, especially with Charlie, her gorgeous, almost step-brother, living right across the hall.

When a power-hungry ghost hunter tracks down Jade and blackmails her, Jade’s secret teeters on the edge of exposure, and her entire future hangs in the balance. If anyone finds out Jade can talk to ghosts, her life will be forever changed.
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Can she save herself, free Lacey, and hang on to her tenuous connection with Charlie? Or will everything she ever wanted slip through her fingers?

Some gifts come with strings attached to them. What’s worse is that Jade couldn’t reject her gift or know ahead of time just how disruptive it would be in her otherwise ordinary life.

Jade is an intelligent protagonist who has never quite managed to get used to seeing the dead. While she can be snarky and a bit too serious at times, I liked her sharp-tongued approach to the things that she knows she can’t change. Her nonchalant approach to her own sexuality was also refreshing. She’s not embarrassed by the idea of preparing for safer sex ahead of time, but neither does this part of her life take up a great deal of her time.

It would have been helpful to know more about the past and personality of a secondary character who becomes interested in Jade’s life. Some of his actions come across as inappropriate given that he’s an adult stranger who follows a teenage girl around. From what I understand, this book is the beginning of a new series. I hope that more answers are given about his behaviour in the sequel.

Not every ghost is cute and cuddly. Encountering violent, unpredictable spirits without ever being able to opt out of the experience isn’t exactly what I’d consider to be a good time. Lacey’s backstory was particularly frightening. What I liked most about it was how slowly it was revealed. Some of the other paranormal scenes are pretty intense, though, so for this reason I strongly recommend sticking with the age recommendation.

The romantic elements were out of place in an otherwise dark plot. The characters involved in it meet under an odd set of circumstances to say the least. While they aren’t doing anything illegal, their actions do cross certain social boundaries in ways that I found disturbing. I never quite understood why this particular subplot was included, but this tale would have earned a much higher rating without it.

I didn’t know much about Nantucket before reading this book, but it’s an intriguing setting for a ghost story. There’s a big difference between how certain residents have projected themselves in public and what’s really going on behind closed doors. Everyone carries a few secrets around with them. It’s how they react when they thinks those secrets are about to be revealed that makes Jade’s journey such an interesting one.

Ever Near Book 1: Secret Affinity has piqued my curiosity. This is a good choice for anyone who thinks that paranormal activity isn’t necessarily something anyone in their right mind would seek out.

Filed Under: Reviews, Science Fiction/Fantasy, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

Essence by A. L. Waddington

June 4, 2014 By Leave a Comment


Essence by A. L. Waddington
The Eve Series Book 1
Publisher: Booktrope
Genre: Contemporary, Historical, Young Adult, Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Length: Full Length (308 pgs)
Age Recommendation: 14+
Rating: 3.5 stars
Reviewed by Ginger

Jocelyn Timmons does not believe she is anything special — just an ordinary high school senior, living an ordinary life full of school-work, volleyball and friends. She’s about to find out how wrong she is.

Jackson Chandler moved in to the house across the street. His dark wavy hair, green eyes and charismatic personality draws everyone to him. Everyone, but Jocelyn.
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Whenever Jackson gets near Jocelyn she feels ill and dizzy. When he touches her, she blacks out and has visions of another life, in another time. As the odd hallucinations evolve and become clearer, she feels a strong pull towards the people she sees there. Frightened, she watches her once stable life begin to crumble around her and she begins to question her own sanity.

Could it be possible that these episodes are actually her own memories of a life she is living somehow, somewhere, some-when? Maybe this is time-travel or some other paranormal mysticism? Our minds often wander, but can our souls?

Essence is a novel with a very interesting concept that tells of a genetic gift passed on through family members. Jocelyn Timmons is a normal high school student in the year 2009. When a new neighbor moves in by the name of Jackson Chandler, her life changes to something more than normal. Just the simple touch of Jackson causes Jocelyn to faint. During the fainting spells Jocelyn’s find herself living in the year 1878.

This is a deeply enjoyable novel that shows the author’s superb talent at story telling. I found the story fascinating and a joy to read. Such a warm romance with a speck of time travel and a mystic plot. Jocelyn’s family and friends are very concerned because the fainting seems to be happening more often. Jocelyn has narrowed down the cause of her fainting spells but never reveals her assumption to anyone. For Jocelyn to have such close family and dependable friends it really bothered me that she felt she could not confide in anyone about what was happening to her and what she was experiencing. During this time of the novel it seem to be long and slow. At some point after so many fainting spells I was wishing she would please tell someone so we can get this story moving along.

The 1878 story did not really seem to revolve around Jocelyn, instead it was more her brother William and her best friend and neighbor Olivia. I found this part less interesting as it was long and drawn out. Still, I continued to read to see how it all tied in. The author went into quite a bit of detail in the sub-story of William and Olivia and after reading it I was left wondering why was so much time spent on telling their story? After reading through Jocelyn’s brother story the novel continues and the 1878 Jocelyn finds out that she too can travel to a future time. By this time it is pretty much explained to the 2009 Jocelyn what is happen to her and why she is able to cross between different time eras.  I must mention that the servant’s dialogue was hard to understand in the year 1878.

As I stated this is an enjoyable novel, that I found very entertaining. Yes it had a few slow spots but they were never completely boring. The story still flowed and had my attention to continue reading. Without giving away the mystery of EVE, although this is a book of fiction, the explanation and idea really got me to thinking and wondering how neat it would be to live life in two different time eras. I am curious to see how the author carries the story on in the next installment. It is a series that I would likely follow.

If you enjoy a novel of young love, charged with an intriguing fantasy this is a novel you would not want to miss.

Filed Under: Reviews, Science Fiction/Fantasy, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

The JAX Chronicles: Initiation by Jen Lemons

June 3, 2014 By Leave a Comment

JAX
The JAX Chronicles: Initiation by Jen Lemons
Publisher: Self-published
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Action/Adventure
Length: Full Length (276 pages)
Age Recommendation: 16+
Heat Level: Sensual
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Samantha Withers is a troubled 18-year-old, who is desperate to break ties with her overbearing father and escape undeserved blame for her mother’s rape and murder. She struggles with her caged inner demons, afraid of the havoc she’ll wreak if she gives in to her anger. It begins the night Sam is recruited by a mysterious man named X for a job that may be a little too perfect for her situation: hit man. X can give Sam everything: money, freedom and his sexy employer, Ace.

All Sam has to do is become an adversary to society. Sam agrees, justifying it as vigilante work. Through her unorthodox training at Ace’s secret base of operations, Sam’s strength and skills intensify, as does her “friendship” with X and obsession with Ace, and she learns she’s not the only one struggling with personal demons and a haunting past.

Synopsis: Take the sexual pleasure you levitra fast delivery give to your lady love unsatisfied, it is a concern for both of you. Once, you are sensually provoked then released nitric oxide in your body assists cGMP for sufficient blood circulation towards erectile organ followed with the widening of order sildenafil the tensed penile routes for allowing more amount of blood to flow into the penile region. These medicinal drugs must be consumed 30 minutes before the commencement of the foreplay on line cialis wherein, the effect could last for up to two hours. brand cialis no prescription Dose:You may bring it by mouth with a glass of water. After her first hit Sam unleashes her demons, transforming into her alter ego, Jinx. Armed with twin pistols and daggers, Jinx has a dark, calloused view on humanity, like her beloved Ace. But Jinx’s new world is threatened when her father comes searching for her, demanding she return home. And with each new hit Ace assigns, Jinx unearths new and shocking information pertaining to her mother’s death, with evidence pointing to daddy. The revelation leads to a father and daughter reunion neither will soon forget.

Every choice has a consequence, but not every consequence can be anticipated ahead of time.

Trauma might as well be Samantha’s middle name. Her tumultuous childhood has left behind deep psychological scars that make themselves known from the beginning of this tale. Certain words and gestures that the average person would interpret as friendly or harmless carry much darker connotations to this character. What I found most interesting about her, though, were the brief glimpses of the young woman behind her emotional anguish. Samantha is a well-rounded protagonist whose raw reactions to everything she has endured so far are painfully realistic.

Uneven pacing shows up fairly early on. So much time was spent explaining Samantha’s backstory and showing how she adjusts to her new life that there wasn’t as much time left to explain all of the clues about her mother’s death that she discovers at each hit as I would have preferred to see. Even though it was full length, certain aspects of the plot felt like they weren’t given enough time to fully develop. This could have easily been a much longer story.

Far too often justice only applies to people who aren’t wealthy or powerful enough to outrun it. What I found most fascinating about this tale was how the assassins attempt to level the playing field by ending the lives of people who should have been stopped much sooner. The most memorable scenes discuss the morality of what Samantha and X are doing. From what I understand, there is a sequel in the works to The JAX Chronicles: Initiation, so I’m looking forward to seeing how the moral codes of these characters develop as they complete even more hits.

I was confused by some of the rules of this universe. Characters say one thing but then do another without a compelling explanation for their apparent change of heart. It was never quite clear to me if these reversals were intended to erase what had been previously revealed about those characters or if there was something untrustworthy about their personalities that I never picked up on.

As soon as I read the premise, I knew I had to give this novel a try. The idea of a teenager becoming an assassin is as riveting as it is disconcerting. Ms. Lemons embraces the dark side of Samantha’s new identity, and the results are inappropriate for anyone under the age recommendation. In some ways this didn’t sound much like a young adult novel at all given the violent setting and graphic flashbacks to Samantha’s childhood.

The JAX Chronicles: Initiation straddles the line between young adult and adult fiction. I’d particularly recommend it to anyone who is interested in dipping their toes into a young adult novel or who is ready to start reading something gritty.

Filed Under: Reviews, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

The Road to Nyn by Brian G. Michaud

June 3, 2014 By 1 Comment

NYN
The Road to Nyn by Brian G. Michaud
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, YA
Length: Full Length (269 Pages)
Age Recommendation: 10+
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Reviewed by Cyclamen

In a land where magic is outlawed, a young boy is living a double life. Although Kay is training to be a knight, he has been secretly studying the forbidden ways of magic with Alamin, a powerful but eccentric wizard.

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Kay is thrilled when he succeeds in the Squire Trials and advances from page to squire. But before he has a chance to find out what that means, goblins attack his village, enslaving his family and friends. Even though he wants more than anything to be a knight, he has been secretly studying magic with Alamin, a powerful and eccentric wizard, despite the fact that magic is forbidden. Without any hesitation at all, Kay sets out across the Kingdom of Gaspar, determined to rescue his family.

Kay is a very likeable young man, and he is accompanied by a mischievous sprite named Felix who is able to change his shape into a variety of creatures. The two of them set out with Alamin, but soon are on their own.

The story is filled with adventures, surprises on every page. Kay has never had a lot of success with his spells. They usually backfire on him, but now he needs to learn as quickly as he can. Along the way, Kay and Felix meet others, some of whom are helpful as others try to stop them. My favorite supporting character was Bibo, a Telok or tree person. He is very small and very scared, but he is determined to help, leading Kay and Felix to Nyn.

Tension mounts as Kay and Felix get closer and closer to the Lord of Nyn. I found that by the middle of the book I was totally unable to put it down. The author has done a fantastic job of picking up the pace as the book moves forward so that the conclusion is spine tingling and very suspenseful.

Readers of fantasy are sure to be thrilled by The Road to Nyn. The Kingdom of Gaspar is a wonderful place and I really hope that the author gives us even more adventures with Kay, Felix, and their friends.

Filed Under: Reviews, Science Fiction/Fantasy, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , , ,

The Recruit by Fiona Palmer

May 28, 2014 By Leave a Comment

RECRUIT
The Recruit by Fiona Palmer
Publisher: Escape Publishing
Genre: Contemporary, Suspense/Mystery, YA
Length: Full Length (199 pages)
Age Recommendation: 14+
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Quince

Jasmine Thomas may not be completely normal, but she’s a pretty typical seventeen-year-old girl. She hates the rich mean kids, loves her best friends, and can’t wait to get out of school each day. Her spare time is spent at The Ring — a boxing gym where she practically grew up — learning karate, boxing and street fighting. So, yeah, Jaz can kick some major butt.
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Life seems pretty normal until the day Ryan Fletcher enters her gym…mysterious and hot with heaps of bad boy charm. Sure, she checks him out. Who wouldn’t? But what doesn’t show on his gorgeous abs are secrets and lies that dominate his very grown-up world. Now Jaz has to figure out just how far she is willing to go to know more. Could Ryan really be offering the life-fulfilling life path she’s always dreamed of?

If I have to make a subtitle for this book it will be: How Jasmine Thomas became a MTG agent and fell in love in the process. Because, this is what The Recruit is about.

Jasmine (Jaz) Thomas is a seventeen-year-old tomboy. She likes to spend her time in the gym or at the shooting range, and she also has some other skills that make her a perfect candidate for an agent. Because of that, Ryan Fletcher approached her and asked her to become a recruit for the MTG agency.

The Recruit is a great story. It has the right amount of action, romance, friendship and teenage drama. It is supposed to be a fast paced story, but unfortunately there are a few chapters that slowed it down a bit. Also, it would be a more perfect story if it was deprived of predictability and clichés. But on the other hand, the romance part of the story is crafted magnificently. The chemistry between Jasmin (Jaz) and Ryan is palpable and it made my heart beat faster. I am sure that the fact that their love is forbidden, due to many reasons, made their romance even more interesting and exciting, for me. The story does not have cliffhanger, but it is obvious that there will be at least one more sequel. Some secrets have to be revealed and Jaz and Ryan’s relationship is far from reaching HEA. I also hope that Ms. Palmer will dedicate at least one story in the series (even the short one) to Taylor and Anna.

I enjoyed reading The Recruit tremendously. Regardless of above mentioned flaws it is a good, interesting and entertaining story. Therefore if you love good romance with a pinch of thriller this is a story for you. I am looking forward to the second installment in the series. But, also I am adding other Ms. Palmer’s novels to my TBR pile.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews, Romance, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Letting Go by Bridie Hall

May 26, 2014 By 4 Comments

GO
Letting Go by Bridie Hall
Publisher: Evernight Teen
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary
Length: Short Story (118 pages)
Age Recommendation: 14+
Heat Level: Sensual
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Isabelle is left stranded at the airport, and her only chance of getting home is with her boyfriend’s older brother, Harper. When this good girl and bad boy set off towards home, it turns out that maybe she’s not such a good girl after all. And even bad boys have reasons for their bad behavior.
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The road trip is full of shocking revelations and unexpected emotions, bringing the two of them closer than Isabelle ever thought possible. Maybe too close.

Few things are more awkward than going on a road trip with someone you have mixed feelings about, especially when it’s a trip for two.

Strong character development made me wish this story had a sequel. Isabelle and Harper reveal their rough edges almost immediately, but I didn’t realize how fascinated I was by both of them until I got to know the real people behind the masks they carry around. To be honest, I was a little annoyed by certain quirks until I learned how and why Harper and Isabelle developed them. It isn’t easy to develop such well-rounded characters in a short story!

The chemistry in this book never quite felt right to me. Isabelle doesn’t seem to have a great deal in common with her boyfriend or his brother. All three characters are intriguing as individuals, but I never really understand why she was attracted to either one of the brothers. While the rest of the plot was well-suited for something this length, I did wonder if the romantic elements would have worked better if they’d been given the chance to unfold more slowly in a full-length novel.

One of the most interesting things about this novella was how accurately it captures what it feels like to be a teenager. The dialogue flowed so smoothly that I often felt as though I were eavesdropping on Isabelle and Harper’s conversations instead of reading a book. It was also interesting to see how quickly these characters’ experience shifts in their emotions. One minute they’re happy, and the next one they’re frustrated or sad. Not everyone is moody as a teenager, of course, but including those scenes made these particular characters feel even more authentic to me.

Letting Go is a story I’d recommend to adult and young adult readers alike. I’ve always thought that road trips are nearly universal appealing, and this particular one is no exception to that hunch.

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Werewolf Defender by Marisa Chenery

May 22, 2014 By 2 Comments

DEFENDER
Werewolf Defender by Marisa Chenery
Publisher: Forever More Publishing
Genre: Young Adult, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Paranormal
Length: Short Story (104 pages)
Age Recommendation: 14+
Heat Level: Sensual
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Jerrica Barnes has longed to experience life outside her settlement’s walls, but living in a post-apocalyptic world where zombies outnumber the living, she knows she’ll never get to fulfill her dream. But the day Calan, the werewolf defender, comes and saves her from a zombie attack, she finds her life turned upside down.

Calan has never allowed anyone close since he was turned a hundred years before at age eighteen, but Jerrica makes him long for things he hadn’t known were missing in his immortal life.

Jerrica and Calan have to overcome those who would keep them apart while Jerrica has to make a decision that could keep them together for all time or have Calan walking out of her life forever.

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One of the things I enjoy the most about zombie stories is seeing how the characters adjust to living with such a dangerous threat. Ms. Chenery’s approach to this topic was unique given that no one in Jerrica’s village can remember what life was like before the zombie invasion. It’s such a normal part of their existence that these characters are accustomed to things that I would find pretty scary in real life. Comparing their reactions to how I imagine I’d would approach certain situations was quite fascinating.

I would have liked to get to know Jerrica better. So much time was spent focusing on the romantic elements of the plot that I had trouble getting to know her as an individual. After finishing the last chapter, I’d still be hard-pressed to describe her personality or list her interests outside of her relationship with Calan. The passages that are dedicated to her interest in archery are intriguing, and I would have really enjoyed it if they could have been expanded.

The descriptions of the village where everyone lives made me want to learn more about it. Growing up in such a rigid society can feel stifling under the best circumstances, but what makes Jerrica’s situation unique is that she knows she’ll never be able to move away due to how dangerous it is in the outside world. I was even more intrigued by the rationale her parents and the other adults use for all of the rules they’ve created. I sympathized with their points of view almost as much as I did with the main character.

This book would have benefitted from another round of editing. There were multiple instances of run-on sentences and punctuation errors. While I generally understood what the sentences were trying to say, it was distracting to pause and figure so many of them out.

It took some time to figure out the most appropriate age recommendation. Jerrica is 18 when the plot begins, but she comes across as someone several years younger than her chronological age. Her innocent reactions to the opposite sex in particular felt like they belonged to someone in her early teens. There are some violent scenes, though, and the inclusion of them makes this book a better choice for high school aged readers.

I’d recommend Werewolf Defender to anyone who enjoys paranormal romance novels. This is a good introduction to that genre for young adult readers.

Filed Under: Reviews, Science Fiction/Fantasy, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

The Secret Hum of a Daisy by Tracy Holczer

May 21, 2014 By Leave a Comment

HUM
The Secret Hum of a Daisy by Tracy Holczer
Publisher: Putnam
Genre: Contemporary, Suspense/Mystery, Young Adult
Length: Full Length (312 pgs)
Age Recommendation: 10+
Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by Thistledown

Twelve-year-old Grace and her mother have always been their own family, traveling from place to place like gypsies. But Grace wants to finally have a home all their own. Just when she thinks she’s found it her mother says it’s time to move again. Grace summons the courage to tell her mother how she really feels and will always regret that her last words to her were angry ones.

After her mother’s sudden death, Grace is forced to live with a grandmother she’s never met. She can’t imagine her mother would want her to stay with this stranger. Then Grace finds clues in a mysterious treasure hunt, just like the ones her mother used to send her on. Maybe it is her mother, showing her the way to her true home.

Lyrical, poignant and fresh, The Secret Hum of a Daisy is a beautifully told middle grade tale with a great deal of heart.

What if you lost the only home you ever had? How far would you go to find it again?
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Grace and her mother are each other’s family. Going place to place, they never call one place home for long. A terrible accident happens and Grace loses her mother to a fall in the river. For the first time, Grace has to navigate a life that is very different from the one her mother had carved out for them. Her writing, once so precious to her is bottled up inside, just like her feelings. Grace’s grandmother claims her and she struggles to adjust to “The After.”

How can she live without her mother? How can she find her place in a world where she doesn’t belong? She wants to return to her friend and live with her-a place her mother would have approved of. Only the plans we make are not always the ones laid out for us. Grace begins to find this out as she follows clues that lead her to find her new life. There is new friendship, family issues, loss, exploration and just a little bit of romance to be found.

This book was a journey into the mind of a child who has lost everything. Grace’s mother was her world. The small origami paper cranes she folded and the little birds her mother made out of spoons become stars to travel by in this uncharted voyage to find the center of grief and move beyond it. Grace wants no part of her grandmother-the woman who turned her back on her very pregnant mother. She can’t stand the sounds of the river so she stays in the shed, keeping her distance from everyone and everything.

The thaw is slow. Once it comes it unfolds like the petals of a flower in the garden Grace’s grandmother so lovingly tends. We are all a part of each other’s lives. The decisions we make do affect other people and sometimes you make mistakes that you want more than anything to take back. And sometimes you just have to accept the strange things about people are the parts that make them who they are and love them just the same.

This book had me in tears more times than I could count. It is a middle grade read that really reaches into the feelings of devastation you can have when your whole world gets turned upside down. Where is home? Is it a person or a place? The Secret Hum of a Daisy also made me think about imagery of origami birds and the wonderful story of Sadaku and the paper cranes. It also hit on poetry, specifically Robert Frost. Lyrical in the structure of the story and the inclusion of art and poetry, I really felt the exploration and tender unfurling of Grace’s spirit as her new world is revealed to her step by tentative step.

I cannot recommend this tale highly enough. It is a book that could help so many kids deal with grief-and adults too. It made me think of my father and his passing and just how hard it was. I looked for signs from him forever just so I knew he was still up there watching. And you know what? They are everywhere. The ebb and flow of our life is poetry in motion. It is art and substance made real by every breath we take. And sometimes, if you listen there really is a secret hum in the background telling you the way…

You have to read this book.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Fallen Grace by Katie Roman

May 19, 2014 By Leave a Comment

GREACE
Fallen Grace by Katie Roman
Publisher: Whiskey Creek Press
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Action/Adventure, YA
Length: Full Length (243 pgs)
Age Recommendation: 14+
Rating: 4.5 stars
Reviewed by Poinsettia

Branded a witch and exiled after a dishonorable display at the king’s annual tournament, quiet Grace Hilren is forced to uproot her life of luxury as a lord’s daughter and move to the slums of the port city, Glenbard. But Grace carries a secret. Though trained to be a fine lady, she also learned to handle a sword and has made it her mission to eradicate evil and injustice where she finds it. Even in exile, Grace continues her work under the given name of Death Dealer. Her nightly deeds bring her to the notice of the self-proclaimed King of Thieves, Marcus. When the king’s power is threatened by a rival named Mac, the Death Dealer unwittingly becomes a pawn in the struggle between thieves for control of the lower city. The game becomes dangerous as Grace realizes she may not be able to best this usurper.

A foolish mistake costs Grace everything.
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Grace is a beautiful young woman, but she chafes at the role women are expected to play in her world. Even though Grace conforms outwardly to most of society’s expectations, she relishes slipping into the role of the Death Dealer at night. Grace balances the demands of her daily and nightly activities very well. Unfortunately, a lapse in judgment has consequences that will change her life forever. Can Grace adapt to her new lot in life, or will she meet an ugly fate on the streets of Glenbard?

Grace is certainly an interesting heroine. She is smart, courageous, and fiercely determined to accomplish any task she sets her mind to. Despite her outward bravado, Grace is also a little naïve concerning love, life, and death. I don’t view her naivety as a flaw, rather it softens her personality a little and makes her a much more believable character given her age and upbringing.

I also really like Grace’s sense of ethics. Her nightly escapades as the Death Dealer often put her in the position of having to make some difficult choices. She is even forced to take a life. Even though she kills a man while saving the lives of others, the death weighs heavily on Grace. I think this is very realistic. Too often I’ve read books that treat death in a cavalier manner. I’m pleased that Ms. Roman treats death with the seriousness it deserves.

The ending of Fallen Grace is certainly satisfying, but leaves plenty of wiggle room for future stories. I’m very curious about what happens to Grace next. Does she continue to live in Glenbard? Is she ever accepted back into the ranks of the nobles? Will her budding relationship with Jack blossom into true love? I certainly hope Ms. Roman has a sequel planned to satisfy my curiosity.

Reading Fallen Grace was a pleasure. Grace is a wonderful, realistic character, and I thoroughly enjoyed tagging along on her adventures. Anyone looking for a fantasy laced with action and a touch of romance would do well to pick up a copy of Fallen Grace today.

Filed Under: Reviews, Science Fiction/Fantasy, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Ticket to Faerie by F.I. Goldhaber

May 15, 2014 By Leave a Comment

FAERIE
Ticket to Faerie by F.I. Goldhaber
Publisher: Uncial Press
Genre: Young Adult, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Contemporary
Length: Short Story (27 pages)
Age Recommendation: 10+
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

For ten years, Alyssa’s grandmother sent her magic gifts that didn’t work. But, when Alyssa correctly, for once, follows the instructions that came with her 16th birthday present, she finds herself in Faerie, desperately trying to bring home a way to save her grandmother’s life.

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Faerie is full of surprises. The best scenes in this book involve Alyssa’s reactions to the unexpected things that happen to her while she is on her trip. It wasn’t always easy to understand why she reacts the way she does in certain scenes, but her behaviour makes more sense when she is confronted with the lighthearted side of the magical world she is visiting. If a sequel is ever written about more of her adventures I would be interested in seeing her visit the areas of Faerie that piqued my curiosity when they were briefly mentioned in this piece.

Alyssa is described as a sixteen year old, but she acts like someone much younger than her chronological age. At times her immature reactions to certain experiences made it difficult for me to relate to her because they were so at odds with how most older teenagers behave. Had her behaviour either been better explained or her character been written as someone several years younger this piece would have earned a higher rating.

With that being said, Alyssa’s responses make more sense if I assume that this book is intended for a preteen audience. I chose the 10+ age recommendation due to the inclusion of some dark themes in one particular scene. The rest of the tale is appropriate for slightly younger readers if they are not easily frightened.

I’d recommend Ticket to Faerie to middle school readers who love the fantasy genre. This is a good choice in particular for students who are beginning to transition to more mature young adult fiction.

Filed Under: Reviews, Science Fiction/Fantasy, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , , , , ,
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