Fae

Review: The Lost Prince by Julie Kagawa

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The Lost Prince by Julie Kagawa UK edition cover

The Lost Prince by Julie Kagawa (UK edition cover)

Title: The Lost Prince (The Iron Fey – Call of the Forgotten #1)
Author: Julie Kagawa
Genre: Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy, Young Adult
Publisher: MiraInk (6th January 2013)
Blurb:

DON’T LOOK AT THEM
DON’T SPEAK OF THEM
NEVER ENTER THEIR WORLD

Those are the rules that Ethan Chase live by when it comes to the dark fairies that robbed him of his sister.

But they are still on his trail and Ethan can’t fight fate forever.

Now the deadly fey are a his school, colliding with his real life, Ethan will sacrifice everything to keep his mortal friends safe, even if it means becoming entangled in the world he’s spent his whole life trying to deny.

His destiny and birthright are calling.

And now their’s no ESCAPE.

Rating: *** (3 stars)
Review:

The Lost Prince is the first book in the spin-off series from The Iron Fey by Julie Kagawa. This time the story focuses on Ethan Chase, brother to the Iron Queen. If you have read the short story collection The Iron Legends then you may have a good idea about what is going on in the background of this book, as I think that one of the short stories in the collection hints at how the events in this new series could play out.

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Review: Fae Guardian by Nicolette Reed

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Fae Guardian by Nicolette Reed

Title: Fae Guardian (Soulstealer Trilogy, #2)
Author: Nicolette Reed
Genre: Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy
Publisher: Nicolette Reed (8th December 2012)
Source: Nicolette Reed, the author.
Format: E-book
Blurb:

Dealing with wedding day woes, naked elven rituals, a best friend with a biting problem, dragon battles, and a war brewing between the selkie and the fae are only the beginning for Valora, the Fae Guardian.

Valora needs to get Aric out of her mind if she’s going to live happily ever after with Dooley. But nothing is ever easy with magic. Tying herself and Dooley to Aric becomes a matter of life and death, not just for them but for all of the Realms and even those beyond the portals to Earth.

But can Valora handle the affections of two half-fae brothers? She has to if she wants to save the Realms — a world filled with cloud cities, volcanic mountains mined by dwarves, deserts inhabited by dragons, and lakes teaming with ferocious selkie. And getting the two of them to get along may be her biggest battle yet.

Rating: **** (4 stars)
Review:

Fae Guardian is the second book in Nicolette Reed’s brilliant Soulstealer Trilogy. It continues Valora’s story from Fae Hunter (you can find my review here) – although the events of Mane Attraction (you can find my review here) takes place in between the books, and I would highly recommend reading it before you start Fae Guardian as it does answer some questions.  Like Mane Attraction, this is very definitely an adult book!

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Review: Mane Attraction by Nicolette Reed

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Mane Attraction by Nicolette Reed

Title: Mane Attraction (A Soulstealer Novella, Book 1.5)
Author: Nicolette Reed
Genre: Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy
Publisher: Nicolette Reed (14th November 2012)
Source: Nicolette Reed, the author.
Format: E-book
Blurb:

Being a demon trapped in an elves body seemed a prison at first, but Mane has gotten used to his new home in the Riparian forest amongst the elves. When the waters of Lake Mavrovo start to run red it seems a sure sign that the demon king that cast him out may rise again. In order to investigate he will need to navigate the dominion of the selkie, and they aren’t known for playing nice.

Going from an apartment in the suburbs of Seattle to living in a castle at the bottom of a lake in the Realms was one change that Kit had to get used to, being half-selkie was another. Now she has to get used to the changes she undergoes after the selkie sleep. One that involves bloodlust and lust of a whole different kind. A problem she is hoping Mane will help her with.

Rating: ****(4 stars)
Review:

I really enjoyed Fae Hunter (read my review here) the first book in the Soulstealer ‘verse, so when Nicolette kindly offered me the chance to read this book I jumped at the chance. This book really lived up to my expectations. It is very definitely an adult book, as there are “sexy times” in it – so not one for younger readers!

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Review: Fae Hunter by Nicolette Reed

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Title: Fae Hunter (Soulstealer Trilogy, Book #1)
Author: Nicolette Reed
Genre: Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy
Publisher: Nicolette Reed (23rd June 2012)
Source: Nicolette Reed, the author.
Format: E-book
Blurb:

Who is the enemy when you hunt your own?

Valora Delos is a Hunter, charged with tracking the treacherous Soulstealers and bringing them to justice. Unlike the other fae of her kind, Valora was born with stunted wings that render her flightless, driving her to prove herself in the eyes of King Aric, with whom she has been infatuated since she first set eyes on him as a young prince.

She descends to Earth and finds herself trapped in suburban Seattle after the portal to her world closes. With the help of a sexy half-fae named Dooley, Valora must find her way back to save Dell’Aria. Dooley uses his own brand of magic to help Valora discover memories buried deep within her, which produce more questions than answers- questions about her growing attraction to Dooley and her devotion to her King. Uncovering who the Soulstealers are and who is behind the destruction of Dell’Aria brings Valora a truth she may not be able to handle.

Rating: **** (4 stars)
Review:

Fae Hunter is the first book in Nicolette Reed’s Soulstealer Trilogy. In it we are introduced to Valora Delos who is a Hunter and fae, despite this she doesn’t really fit into her world – and her colleagues are sure to let her know this. By order of her king she ends up in Seattle.

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Review: Torn by Amanda Hocking

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Trylle Trilogy #2

Torn by Amanda Hocking

Title: Torn (Trylle Trilogy #2)
Author:  Amanda Hocking
Genre:  Urban Fantasy, Young Adult
Publisher:  TOR (1st March 2012)
Blurb:

Acknowledging that she was different from everyone else wasn’t difficult for Wendy Everly – she’d always felt like an outsider. But a new world and new family is a little hard for any girl to accept. Leaving behind the mysterious country of her birth, she is determined to fit back into normal life. But the world she’s left behind won’t let her go that easily . . .

Kidnapped and imprisoned by her family’s enemies, Wendy soon learns that the between good and evil aren’t as defined as she thought. And those things that she’d taken for granted may have been lies all along. With the help of the dangerously attractive Loki, she escapes back to the safety of Förening – only to be confronted by a new threat.

It’s time to make a choice – can she put aside her personal feelings for the sake of her country? Torn between duty and love she must a choice that could destroy her one chance at true happiness.


Rating: *** (3 stars)
Review:

Torn is the second book in Amanda Hocking’s Trylle Trilogy. It continues Wendy’s story after the events of Switched.

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Review: The Iron Queen by Julie Kagawa

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The Iron Fey #3

The Iron Queen by Julie Kagawa

Title: The Iron Queen (The Iron Fey #3)
Author: Julie Kagawa
Genre:  Urban Fantasy, Young Adult
Publisher:  Mira Ink (21st October 2011)
Blurb:

In less than twenty-four hours I’ll be seventeen.

Although, technically, I don’t actually be turning seventeen. I’ve been in the Nevernver too long. When you’re in Faery, you don’t age. So while a year has passed in the real world, age-wise I’m probably only a few days older than when I went in.

In real life, I’ve changed to much I don’t even recognise myself.

MY NAME IS MEGHAN CHASE.

I thought it was over. That my time with the fey, the impossible choices I had to make, the sacrifices of those I loved, was behind me. But a storm is approaching, an army of Iron fey will drag me back, kicking and screaming. Drag me away from the banished prince who’s sworn to stand by my side. Drag me into the core of conflict so powerful, I’m not sure anyone can survive it.

THIS TIME, THERE WILL BE NO TURNING BACK.


Rating: **** (4 stars)
Review:

The Iron Queen is the third book in Julie Kagawa’s The Iron Fey series. The ending of The Iron Duaghter was pretty dramatic, and this book takes off pretty much where that one left-off.

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Review: The Iron Daughter by Julie Kagawa

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The Iron Fey #2

The Iron Daughter by Julie Kagawa

Title: The Iron Daughter (The Iron Fey #2)
Author: Julie Kagawa
Genre:  Urban Fantasy, Young Adult
Publisher:  Mira Ink ( 15th April 2011)
Blurb:

I’ve been in the palace of the Winter fey for a while now. How long exactly? I don’t know. If I ever get out of here, I might find a hundred years have passed and all my family and friends are long dead.

I try not to think about that, but sometimes I can’t help but wonder.

My name is Meghan Chase

Half Summer faery princess, half human, Meghan has never fitted anywhere. Deserted by the Winter prince she thought loved her, she is prisoner to the Winter faery queen. As war looms between Summer and Winter, Meghan knows that the real danger comes from the Iron fey – ironbound faeries that only she and her absent prince have seen. But no one believes her.

Worse, Meghan’s own fey powers have been cut off. She’s stuck in Faery with only her wits for help. Trusting anyone would be foolish. Trusting the prince who betrayed her, deadly. But even as she grows a backbone of iron, Meghan can’t help but hear the whispers of longing in her all-too-human heart.


Rating: *** (3 stars)
Review:

The Iron Daughter is the second book in Julie Kagawa’s The Iron Fey series. It continues an indefinite amount of time after the events of The Iron King.

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Review: The Iron King by Julie Kagawa

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The Iron Fey #1

The Iron King by Julie Kagawa

Title: The Iron King (The Iron Fey #1)
Author: Julie Kagawa
Genre:  Urban Fantasy, Young Adult
Publisher:  Mira Ink (21st January 2011)
Blurb:

My name is Meghan Chase.

In less than twenty-four hours I’ll be sixteen. Countless  stories and songs have been written about this wonderful age, when a girl finds true love and the stars shine for her . . .

I DON’T THINK IT WILL BE THAT WAY FOR ME.

MEGHAN CHASE HAS A SECRET DESTINY – ONE SHE NEVER COULD HAVE IMAGINED . . .

Something has always felt slightly off in Meghan’s life, ever since her father disappeared before her eyes when she was six. She has never quite fitted in at school . . . or at home.

When a dark stranger begins watching her from afar and her little brother is taken, Meghan senses that everything she’s known is about to change.

She could never have guessed the truth. Meghan is the daughter of a faery king and a pawn in a deadly war. Now Meghan will have to choose between a normal life and her magical destiny – and between her best friend and a darkly dangerous prince.

It’s time for Meghan to enter the faery world . . .


Rating: **** (4 stars)
Review:

The Iron King is the first book in Julie Kagawa’s The Iron Fey series. Mum got me this book because of my interest in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, as some of the characters in the play feature in the series.

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Review: Switched by Amanda Hocking

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Trylle Trilogy #1

Switched by Amanda Hocking, UK edition cover.

Title: Switched (Trylle Trilogy #1)
Author:  Amanda Hocking
Genre:  Urban Fantasy, Young Adult
Publisher:  TOR (5th January 2012)
Blurb:

Wendy Everly knew she was different the day her mother tried to kill her and accused her of having been switched at birth. Although she’s not the monster her mother claims she is – she does feel that she doesn’t quite fit in . . .

She’s bored and frustrated by her small town life – and then there’s the secret that she can’t tell anyone. Her mysterious ability – she can influence other people’s decisions, without knowing how, or why . . .

When the intense and darkly handsome newcomer Finn suddenly turns up at her bedroom window one night – her world is turned upside down. He holds the key to her past, the answers to her strange powers, and is the doorway to a place she never imagined could exist: Förening, the home fo the Trylle.

Finally everything makes sense. Among the Trylle, Wendy is not just different, but special. But what marks her out as chosen for greatness in this world also places her in grave danger. With everything around her changing, Finn is the only person she can trust. But dark forces are conspiring – not only to separate them, but to see the downfall of everything that Wendy cares about.

The fate of the Förening rests in Wendy’s hands, and the decisions she and Finn make could change all their lives forever . . .


Rating: *** (3 stars)
Review:

Switched is the first book in Amanda Hocking’s Trylle Trilogy. It is a multimillion copy international bestseller.

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Review: Tempestuous by Lesley Livingston

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Sequel to Wounderous Strange & Darklight

Tempestuous by Lesley Livingston, US edition cover.

Title: Tempestuous
Author: Lesley Livingston
Genre: Young Adult (YA), Urban Fantasy, Paranormal Romance
Publication Date: 21 December 2010

Blurb:

“I don’t love Sonny Flannery.”

That’s the lie Kelley Winslow told to protect the boy she loves from a power he doesn’t know he possesses. Devastated, Sonny retreats – to a haven for Lost Fae that’s hidden deep underneath New York City.

But Kelley’s not about to let things end in heartbreak. To get Sonny back, she’s got to find out who’s after his magick – and how to use her own. She’s got to uncover who’s recruiting Janus Guards to murderously hunt innocent Faerie. She’s got to help rebuild the shattered theater company she called family. And she’s got to do it all without getting dangerously distracted by the Fennrys Wolf, whose legendary heart of stone seems to melt whenever he’s around Kelley.

The intrigue and romance that began with Wondrous Strange and Darklight comes to a stormy head in Tempestuous, the breathtaking conclusion to Lesley Livingston’s ravishing urban Faerie trilogy.

Rating: *** (3 stars)
Review:
Let me preface this review by saying that I read both Wondrous Strange and Darklight before I read this book, and I liked the way Livingston handled both the plot and the world in both books – Livingston remembered when writing about this world that according to the old stories the Fae/the Fair Folk are not nice and not human, whatever they pretend.
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