Paranormal Romance

Review: UnderWorld by Meg Cabot

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UnderWorld by Meg Cabot

Title: UnderWorld (Abandon Trilogy #2)
Author: Meg Cabot
Genre: Paranormal Romance, Young Adult
Publisher: Macmillan (27th September 2012)
Blurb:

PIERCE ISN’T DEAD. NOT YET.

But John Hayden, lord of the Underworld, has taken her to the place where the spirits of the deceased gather. He says it’s for her safety, to protect her from the vengeful Furies. But could he have other reasons for keeping her close?

Pierce might be safe in the Underworld, but she soon learns that the people she loves back on earth are not. Can she convince John to release her in order to save her family – or will the price he asks her to pay be too high?

Rating: *** (3 stars)
Review:

UnderWorld is the second book in Meg Cabot’s Abandon Trilogy, the series re-imagines the Persephone myth in the modern day. I really loved the first book Abandon in the trilogy (you can find my review here) so I was really looking forward to getting my hands on this book.

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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: 13 by Kelley Armstrong

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Women of the Otherworld #13

13 by Kelley Armstrong, UK edition cover.

Title: 13 (Women of the Otherworld #13)
Author: Kelley Armstrong
Genre: Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy
Publisher: Orbit (24th July 2012)
Blurb:

13. The breath-taking, explosive finale to the Women of the Otherworldseries.

War is coming to the Otherworld. A sinister cult known as The Supernatural Liberation Movement is hell-bent on exposing the truth about supernaturals to the rest of the world. Their violent, ruthless plan has put everyone at risk: from werewolves to vampires, from witches to half-demons.

Savannah Levine – fiery and unpredictable – stands at the heart of the maelstrom. There is a new, dark magic inside her, granting her the power to summon spells of terrifying strength. But whether this magic is a gift or a curse, no one knows.

On the eve of battle, all the major players must come together in a last, desperate fight for survival – Elena and Clay; Adam and Savannah; Paige and Lucas; Jeremy and Jamie; Hope, Eve and more . . . They are fighting for their lives. They are fighting for their loved ones.

They are fighting for the Otherworld.

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

13 is the final book in Kelley Armstrong’s brilliant Women of the Otherworld series. This book brings to an end a brilliant series that has featured witches, sorcerers, demons, angels, vampires, ghosts and necromancers – just to name a few. After 13 books I am really sad to see the series draw to a close.

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Review: Insatiable by Meg Cabot

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Insatiable by Meg Cabot

Title: Insatiable (Insatiable #1)
Author: Meg Cabot
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Publisher: Harper Voyager (21st June 2012)
Blurb:

SICK OF HEARING ABOUT VAMPIRES? SO IS MEENA HARPER.

Meena Harper is familiar with the supernatural. After all, she knows how you’re going to die. (Not that you’ll believer her. No one ever does.)

But while she’s always been able to see everyone else’s destiny, she’s never been able to look into her own. Maybe that’s why when she meets Lucien Antonescu – a modern-day prince who also has no destiny she can foresee – she’s instantly attracted.

The trouble is, when an ancient society of vampire hunters shows up  at Meena’s door looking for Lucien, she’s forced to face the truth: that her dream boyfriend might turn out to be more of a nightmare.

So now would be a good time for Meena to start learning to predict her own future . . . if she has one.

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

In Insatiable the brilliant Meg Cabot has decided to tackle vampires. Insatiable tells the story of Meena Harper who has the ability to see how people will die, and a little bit of a hero complex because of it.

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Review: Paranormalcy by Kiersten White

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Paranormalcy by Kiersten White

Title: Paranormalcy (Paranormalcy #1)
Author: Kiersten White
Genre: Paranormal Romance, Young Adult
Publisher: Harper Collins (date)
Blurb:

VAMPIRES
WEREWOLVES
FAERIES
SHAPESHIFTERS

Evie’s always thought of herself as normal. Sure, her best friend is a mermaid, her ex-boyfriend is a faerie, she’s falling for a shapeshifter and she’s the only person who can see through paranormal’s galmours, but stil. Normal.

Only now Paranormals are dying and Evie’s dreams are filled with haunting voices and mysterious prophecies. She begins to suspect there is a link between her abilities and the sudden rash of deaths, and even worse, that she is a the centre of a dark prophecy promising destruction to all paranormal creatures.

Rating: *** (3 stars)
Review:

Paranormalcy is the first book in Kiersten White’s Paranormalcy trilogy. It tells the story of Evie, who thinks she is as ‘normal’ as every other human being – except for being able to see through paranormal’s glamours .

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Review: Destined by P.C. and Kristin Cast

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As this is the ninth book in the series it may be possible that this review will contain spoilers for previous books in the House of Night series.
House of Night #9

Destined by P.C. and Kristin Cast

Title: Destined (House of Night, #9)
Author: P.C. and Kristin Cast
Genre: Paranormal Romance, Young Adult
Publisher: Atom (28th June 2012)
Blurb:

‘Zoey, what is it?’ Stark said softly. I didn’t answer Stark. Instead I faced Neferet. Somewhere in the back of my mind I could hear the buzz and the whispers of the kids around me, and I knew forcing a confrontation with Neferet here and now wasn’t smart. But I couldn’t stop myself . . .

Zoey is finally home where she belongs, safe with her Guardian Warrior, Stark, by her side, and preparing to face off against Neferet – which would be a whole lot easier if the High Counsel saw the ex-High Priestess for what she really is.

But there are new forces at work at the House of Night. An influx of humans threatens its precarious stability. And then there’s the mysterious Aurox, a jaw-droppingly gorgeous boy who is actually more – or possibly less – than human. Only Zoey can sense the human compassion that wars with his Dark calling. Will Neferet’s true nature be revealed before she succeeds in silencing them all? And will Zoey be able to touch Aurox’s humanity in time to protect him – and everyone – from his own fate?

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

Destined is the ninth book in the House of Night series by P.C. and Kristin Cast. The story of Zoey and her friends/circle continues as they struggle against the forces of darkness.

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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: Blood Promise by Richelle Mead

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As this is the fourth book in the series it may be possible that this review will contain spoilers for previous books in the Vampire Academy series.
Vampire Academy #4

Blood Promise by Richelle Mead

Title: Blood Promise (Vampire Academy, #4)
Author: Richelle Mead
Genre: Paranormal Romance, Young Adult
Publisher: RazorBill (4th February 2010)
Blurb:

HOW FAR WILL ROSE GO TO KEEP HER PROMISE?

THE RECENT STRIGOI ATTACKS AT ST. VLADIMIR’S ACADEMY WAS THE DEADLIEST EVER IN THE SCHOOL’S HISTORY, CLAIMING THE LIVES OF MOROI STUDENTS, TEACHERS AND GUARDIANS ALIKE.

Even worse, the Strigoi took some of their victims with them . . . including Dimitri. He’d rather die than be one of them, and now Rose must abandon her best friend, Lissa – the one she has sworn to protect no matter what – and keep the promise Dimitri begged her to make long ago.

But with everything at stake, how can she possibly destroy the one person she loves most?

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

Blood Promise is the fourth book in Richelle Mead’s fantastic Vampire Academy series. At the end of Shadow Kissed Rose made a difficult decision, and in Blood Promise we see her choice played out.

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Review: Angel by L. A. Weatherly

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Angel by L. A. Weatherly

Title: Angel (Angel #1)
Author: L. A. Weatherly
Genre: Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy, Young Adult
Publisher: Usborne (1st October 2010)
Blurb:

Willow knows she’s different from other girls. And not just because she loves tinkering around with cars. Willow has a gift. She can look into people’s futures, their hopes and their regrets, just by touching them. She has no idea where she gets this power from . . .

But Alex does. Gorgeous, mysterious Alex knows Willow’s secret and is on a mission to stop her. The dark forces within Willow make her dangerous – and irresistible. In spite of himself, Alex finds he is falling in love with his sworn enemy.

Utterly intoxicating and deeply compelling, ANGEL is an epic take of love, destiny and sacrifice.

Rating: ***** (5 stars)
Review:

Angel is the first book in L. A. Weatherly’s Angel series. It tells the story of Willow and Alex. At the start of the book Willow thinks she is a pretty normal highschool student, even if she is considered weird by her peers. The narration is a mixture of first – from both Willow and Alex’s point of view – and third person.

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