What Lies Around The Bend...

WARNING: SPOILER ALERT: IF YOU HAVE NOT GOTTEN THIS FAR IN THE SERPENT & DOVE SERIES, STOP NOW. DO NOT READ. THIS IS BOOK 3. CHECK OUT  SERPENT & DOVE   FOR THE REVIEW OF BOOK 1, AND BLOOD & HONEY FOR BOOK 2!   “Evil always seeks a foothold. We must not give it one. Lou has spent her whole life running. Now, after a crushing blow from Morgane, the time has come to go home—and claim what is rightfully hers. But this is no longer the Lou her friends knew. No longer the Lou who captured a chasseur’s heart. A darkness has settled over her, and this time it will take more than love to drive it out.” Review: This was certainly an interesting final installment. The overall feeling I’ve had throughout this whole series has been frustration. I’m frustrated with the plot, I’m frustrated with the pace and I’m frustrated with having to push through this read. Clearly though, I’m invested. I care where this goes, the author has made me care. But at what cost?  I thin...

  “Sixteen-year-old twins Madeline and Catlin move to a new life in Ballyfrann, a strange and isolated Irish town, a place where the earth is littered with small corpses and unspoken truths. A place where, for generations, teenage girls have gone missing in the surrounding mountains. As distance grows between the twins - as Catlin falls in love, and Madeline begins to understand her own nascent witchcraft - Madeline discovers that Ballyfrann is a place full of predators. And when Catlin falls into the gravest danger of all, Madeline must ask herself who she really is, and who she wants to be - or rather, who she might have to become to save her sister.” Review: This read was so much more interesting than I had anticipated. This was an Irish horror story with monsters and witches and more herbs than a horticulturist would know what to do with. Two twins in a town even more creepy than ever thought possible, and sacrifices so gruesome, no one would have ever agreed to come.  Thi...

“Hannah's a witch, but not the kind you're thinking of. She's the real deal, an Elemental with the power to control fire, earth, water, and air. But even though she lives in Salem, Massachusetts, her magic is a secret she has to keep to herself. If she's ever caught using it in front of a Reg (read: non-witch), she could lose it. For good. So, Hannah spends most of her time avoiding her ex-girlfriend (and fellow Elemental Witch) Veronica, hanging out with her best friend, and working at the Fly by Night Cauldron selling candles and crystals to tourists, goths, and local Wiccans.  But dealing with her ex is the least of Hannah's concerns when a terrifying blood ritual interrupts the end-of-school-year bonfire. Evidence of dark magic begins to appear all over Salem, and Hannah's sure it's the work of a deadly Blood Witch. The issue is, her coven is less than convinced, forcing Hannah to team up with the last person she wants to see: Veronica.  While the pair a...

WARNING: SPOILER ALERT: IF YOU HAVE NOT GOTTEN THIS FAR IN THE SERPENT & DOVE SERIES, STOP NOW. DO NOT READ. THIS IS BOOK 2. CHECK OUT SERPENT & DOVE   FOR THE REVIEW OF BOOK 1! "After narrowly escaping death at the hands of the Dames Blanches, Lou, Reid, Coco, and Ansel are on the run from coven, kingdom, and church—fugitives with nowhere to hide.  To elude the scores of witches and throngs of chasseurs at their heels, Lou and Reid need allies. Strong ones. But protection comes at a price, and the group is forced to embark on separate quests to build their forces. As Lou and Reid try to close the widening rift between them, the dastardly Morgane baits them in a lethal game of cat and mouse that threatens to destroy something worth more than any coven." Review: Alright, let me blunt, I’ve not heard a single positive review of this book. So I didn’t begin this with an optimistic mindset. However I think in the end, it was a decent sequel.  The first half of the boo...

WARNING: SPOILER ALERT: IF YOU HAVE NOT GOTTEN THIS FAR IN THE GRACES SERIES, STOP NOW. DO NOT READ. THIS IS BOOK 2. CHECK OUT THE GRACES FOR THE REVIEW OF BOOK 1! "Picking up the pieces after the chilling events of the previous year isn’t easy, but the Graces are determined to do it. Wolf is back after a mysterious disappearance, and everyone’s eager to return to normal. Except for Summer, the youngest Grace. Summer has a knack for discovering the truth—and something is troubling her. After a trail of clues leads her to what could be the key to both her family’s mysterious past and the secret of Wolf, she’s determined to vanquish yet another curse. But exposing secrets is a dangerous game, and it’s not one Summer can win alone. At Summer’s behest, the coven comes back together, reluctantly drawing their erstwhile friend River back into the fold. But Wolf’s behavior becomes unpredictable even as Fenrin’s strength fades, and Summer must ask herself whether the friend she so loves ...

"Bound as one to love, honor, or burn. Two years ago, Louise le Blanc fled her coven and took shelter in the city of Cesarine, forsaking all magic and living off whatever she could steal. There, witches like Lou are hunted. They are feared. And they are burned. Sworn to the Church as a Chasseur, Reid Diggory has lived his life by one principle: thou shalt not suffer a witch to live. His path was never meant to cross with Lou's, but a wicked stunt forces them into an impossible union—holy matrimony. The war between witches and Church is an ancient one, and Lou's most dangerous enemies bring a fate worse than fire. Unable to ignore her growing feelings, yet powerless to change what she is, a choice must be made. And love makes fools of us all." Review: This was such a hyped book, there was no way I was going to skip this one! It was way more interesting than I was anticipating. Lou was so complex and conflicted as a person. I absolutely adored the whole murkiness of th...

It's Spooky Season, ladies and gents! Why not kick it off with an entire world immersed in everything Halloween! "Welcome to a world where nightmarish creatures reign supreme. Five hundred years ago, Jack made a deal with the devil. It’s difficult for him to remember much about his mortal days. So he focuses on fulfilling his sentence as a Lantern–one of the watchmen who guard the portals to the Otherworld, a realm crawling with every nightmarish creature imaginable. Jack has spent centuries jumping from town to town, ensuring that nary a mortal–or not-so-mortal–soul slips past him. That is, until he meets beautiful Ember O’Dare. Seventeen, stubborn, and a natural-born witch, Ember feels a strong pull to the Otherworld. Undeterred by Jack’s warnings, she crosses into the forbidden plane with the help of a mysterious and debonair vampire–and the chase through a dazzling, dangerous world is on. Jack must do everything in his power to get Ember back where she belongs before both ...

"Welcome to the cursed town of Sparrow where, two centuries ago, three sisters were sentenced to death for witchery. Stones were tied to their ankles and they were drowned in the deep waters surrounding the town. Now, for a brief time each summer, the sisters return, stealing the bodies of three weak-hearted girls so that they may seek their revenge, luring boys into the harbor and pulling them under. Like many locals, seventeen-year-old Penny Talbot has accepted the fate of the town. But this year, on the eve of the sisters’ return, a boy named Bo Carter arrives; unaware of the danger he has just stumbled into. Mistrust and lies spread quickly through the salty, rain-soaked streets. The townspeople turn against one another. Penny and Bo suspect each other of hiding secrets. And death comes swiftly to those who cannot resist the call of the sisters. But only Penny sees what others cannot. And she will be forced to choose: save Bo, or save herself." Review: WOW OH WOW. What a ...

“Everyone said the Graces were Witches. Fenrin Grace is larger than life, almost mythical. He’s the school Pan, seducing girls without really meaning to. He’s biding his time until someone special comes along. Someone different, who will make him wonder how he got along all this time without her. Someone like me. Fenrin’s twin, Thalia, is a willowy beauty with rippling, honey-colored hair. Wherever she goes, Thalia leaves behind a band of followers who want to emulate her. She casts spells over everyone she encounters, just like Fenrin - even if they both deny it.  Then there’s Summer. She’s the youngest Grace, and the only one who admits she’s really a witch. Summer is dark on the outside - with jet-black hair and kohl-rimmed eyes - and on the inside. It was inevitable that she’d find me, the new girl - a loner with secrets lurking under the surface. I am River. I am not a Grace. But I’ll do anything to become one.” Review: Good things must come in threes be...

HAPPY FIFTIETH REVIEW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thank you to all who have supported me in my blogging and I hope I can continue for another fifty posts. "It's the summer of 1889, and Amelia van den Broek is new to Baltimore and is eager to take in all the pleasures the city has to offer. But her gaiety is interrupted by disturbing, dreamlike visions she has only at sunset - visions that offer glimpses of the future. Soon, friends and strangers alike call on Amelia to hear her prophecies. But when one of her darkest visions comes to pass, Amelia's world is thrown into chaos. And those around her begin to wonder if she's not the seer of dark portents, but the cause." Review: This book was really, REALLY, good. I've been having a lot of good luck with books lately and this was no exception. I loved how it began in the present, after Amelia's world is ravaged and then goes into what happened in the summer of 1889.What I wasn't expecting was the romance, and even...

"Briony has a secret. It is a secret that killed her stepmother, ruined her sister's mind, and end her life, if anyone were to know. Briony is a witch. And she can see the Old Ones, the spirits that haunt the marshes surrounding the town - The Dark Muse, the Reed Spirits, the Mucky Face, and the Wythes. She is the only one who can, besides the Chime Child who sentences witches to death. Then Eldric comes along with his golden lion eyes and a great mane of tawny hair. He is as natural as the sun, and treats her as if she's extraordinary. And everything starts to change...." Review: When I started reading this novel, my expectations were low. The book was very vague on the time period with which it was set, so it was hard for me to understand the language, however I soon caught on. And with that, the book went into full swing and it was great. The reviews and everything you heard is true. Chime is a classic of this generation and Franny Billingsley is a wo...

SPOILER ALERT: THIS IS THE SEQUEL TO BORN AT MIDNIGHT. IF YOU HAVEN'T READ THIS FAR STOP NOW. CHECK OUT MY REVIEW ON BORN AT MIDNIGHT ! "From the moment Kylie Galen arrived at Shadow Falls Camp, she's had one burning question: What am I? Surrounded by vampires, werewolves, shape-shifters, fairies, and witches, Kylie longs to figure out her own supernatural identity... and what her burgeoning powers mean, And now she'll need them more than ever, because she's being haunted by a new spirit who insists that someone Kylie knows - and loves - will die before the end of the summer. If only she knew who she was supposed to save. And how... But giving Kylie the most trouble is her aching heart. Gorgeous werewolf Lucas left camp with another girl, but he's still visiting Kylie in her dreams. And Derek, a sexy half Fae who's always been there for her when she needed him, is pushing to get more serious - and growing impatient, especially when Lucas returns. Kyl...

"One night Kylie Galen finds herself at the wrong party, with the wrong people, and it changes her life forever. Her mother ships her off to Shadow Falls - a camp for troubled teens - and within hours of arriving, it becomes painfully clear that her fellow campers aren't just "troubled." Here at Shadow Falls, vampires, werewolves, shapeshifters, witches, and fairies train side by side, learning to harness their powers, control their magic, and live in the normal world. Kylie's never felt normal, but surely she doesn't belong here with a bunch of paranormal freaks, either. Or does she? They insist Kylie is one of them and that she was brought here for a reason. As if life wasn't complicated enough, enter Derek and Lucas. Derek's a half Fae who's determined to be her boyfriend, and Lucas is a smokin' hot werewolf with whom Kylie shares a secret past. Derek and Lucas couldn't be more different, but they both have a powerful hold on her hear...