THE GLASS BUTTERFLY by A.G. Howard

Title: THE GLASS BUTTERFLY (Haunted Hearts Legacy #3)

Author: A.G. Howard

Pub. Date: August 15, 2018

Publisher: Golden Orb Press

Formats: Paperback, eBook

Pages: 278

Find it: Goodreads, Amazon

All other formats and vendors will be available on the official launch date: August 15, 2018

For close to a decade, twenty-five-year-old Felicity Lonsdale has masqueraded as a dowager almost twice her age—selling caterpillars to butterfly consortiums—enabling her to hide an ill-fated past while raising her late brother’s daughters. Together, the three live on an isolated Irish estate bequeathed by a dying earl. When the earl’s estranged son arrives to claim his inheritance by threatening to expose Felicity’s true identity, she longs to pack up her nieces and run. But a ghostly secret within the castle’s turret holds her captive. 

Nick Thornton—a Roma viscount’s heir—is also captive. After a tryst with an investor’s wife nearly destroyed his family’s holiday resort, Nick forsook everything to elope with her. However, a tragic mistake at his hand led to her and his baby’s deaths. Refusing to turn to the family he shamed, Nick travels to seek the countess who once co-wrote a romance with his sister. There’s rumor of a special butterfly in her keep—a transparent-winged species with ties to the afterlife. Nick hopes to contact his dead wife and child, for only their forgiveness can free him. 

Upon his arrival to Felicity’s estate, Nick offers to help her defeat the earl’s son, on the condition she allow Nick to investigate her glass butterflies. Felicity agrees, though fears the closer he gets to the ghosts of his past, the closer he’ll come to uncovering her own. As Nick spends time with Felicity and her nieces, he realizes the mystery enshrouding this fragile countess and her castle is more intriguing than the ghosts he originally came to find. And perhaps putting his dead to rest and helping her do the same will be his true path to redemption.

My review:

Rating: A-

My thoughts on the book:

When I saw that The Glass Butterfly was a book by A.G. Howard, I jumped at the chance to review it. Howard is a fantastic author, and I love her Splintered series. When I requested this book for review, I wasn't aware it was the third in a series. It read as a standalone, so I actually didn't know it was a part of a series until I started working on this review. I want to read the other two books, now that I know that there are more novels in this series, and I'm confident that they will read like standalone novels as well. 

This novel was very different from Howard's Splintered series in most ways, but one thing was very similar. The obsession with butterflies throughout the book reminded me of Splintered and Alyssa's hangup with bugs. However, that is where the similarities end. The main characters in this novel are adults, and they have very different goals and personalities than anyone in the Splintered series. The story and world are extremely well-developed, especially with this being the third book in the series. I didn't feel lost at all. The plot was extremely intriguing and kept me reading into the early morning. 

The two main characters, Nick and Felicity, are well-developed and extremely complex. I love how their stories unraveled throughout the narrative instead of just having one major info dump at the beginning. Their secrets were slowly revealed to each other and to the reader, and that seemed much more organic. Neither character is perfect, and while they have a past connection, neither character has a "good" past. They are both broken in many ways, and I really appreciated that about them. The secondary characters were also well-developed, and I really loved Felicity's two nieces. 

The writing for this book was beautiful, of course. I've come to expect nothing less from Howard. The world-building was fantastic, and the descriptions were wonderful. The pacing of the story was perfect, and there was enough mystery to keep me guessing throughout the entire novel. The characters' growth throughout the book was also really great to watch. The romance between Nick and Felicity is natural and progresses at a normal speed. They have a great chemistry. My only problem with this book is that it felt like Howard was trying to use Jane Austen's free indirect discourse, where the third person limited narrator skips between characters to allow for a range of thoughts to be shown to the reader, but it didn't work out. There was no separation between Felicity and Nick, as far as narrative voice went, and it got confusing from time to time. I couldn't figure out whose thoughts I was privy to, which pulled me out of the story. Aside from that, the book was amazing, and the ending was lovely.

BLACK BIRD OF THE GALLOWS by Meg Kassel

Rating: B+
Synopsis:
A simple but forgotten truth: Where harbingers of death appear, the morgues will soon be full.

Angie Dovage can tell there’s more to Reece Fernandez than just the tall, brooding athlete who has her classmates swooning, but she can’t imagine his presence signals a tragedy that will devastate her small town. When something supernatural tries to attack her, Angie is thrown into a battle between good and evil she never saw coming. Right in the center of it is Reece—and he’s not human.

What’s more, she knows something most don’t. That the secrets her town holds could kill them all. But that’s only half as dangerous as falling in love with a harbinger of death.

My thoughts on the book:
Black Bird of the Gallows is one of the strangest novels that I've ever read, and I mean that in a good way. I like different and bizarre, and this novel definitely has those two qualities. In addition to being completely unique, the characters are well-developed, the writing is gorgeous, and the pacing and plot are fantastic. The world-building is a little sparse, which is the only reason I rated the book lower than an A. While this is a standalone story, there is another novel coming out that's set in this world, and I can't wait for Keeper of the Bees to come out in September!

Angie was a great main character. She was flawed and broken, but still a good person. She was an easy character to connect with, and I really enjoyed reading from her perspective. She was strong and capable and intelligent. Reece was an interesting male lead, and I thought for a bit that this book was going to go Twilight on me and make Reece out to be some billion year old creeper, but it didn't, thankfully. He was selfless and he tried to make the best of his curse and tried to do what was right. I really had a lot of sympathy for him because he had a rough life to say the least. The secondary characters weren't overly developed, but they had their own personalities, and I think they contributed nicely to the story. I would have liked a bit more background on Deno and Lacey, but they felt real nonetheless.

The plot for this story was a bit complex, and I enjoyed that. Nothing really was what it seemed, and it kept me engaged. The pacing was spot-on, and I didn't get bored and nothing felt rushed. The writing was well-done, and the descriptions were wonderfully written. Some parts of this book are horrifying and not for the faint of heart, and the author doesn't pull any punches. That being said, there are no gratuitously violent scenes. There was a lot of heart put into this book, and I did tear up a few times, and I also had quite a few laughs, so I was also emotionally engaged with these characters and the story. My only complaint is the world-building. While the different creatures did a bit of explanation of the magic and their world, I still don't feel like I fully understand what was going on. That could have been the reason. It was the first book in this series, and even though it can serve as a standalone, since the sequel will have new characters and a new location, I assume the world will keep building in the next installment. The ending tied things up nicely for these characters. 

Overall, I'd recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a slightly horrifying and bizarre YA paranormal romance. The premise is extremely interesting and it's executed very well. 

A PROMISE OF FIRE by Amanda Bouchet

Rating: A
Synopsis:
KINGDOMS WILL RISE AND FALL FOR HER...
BUT NOT IF SHE CAN HELP IT

Catalia "Cat" Fisa lives disguised as a soothsayer in a traveling circus. She is perfectly content avoiding the danger and destiny the Gods-and her homicidal mother-have saddled her with. That is, until Griffin, an ambitious warlord from the magic-deprived south, fixes her with his steely gaze and upsets her illusion of safety forever.

Griffin knows Cat is the Kingmaker, the woman who divines the truth through lies. He wants her as a powerful weapon for his newly conquered realm-until he realizes he wants her for much more than her magic. Cat fights him at every turn, but Griffin's fairness, loyalty, and smoldering advances make him increasingly hard to resist and leave her wondering if life really does have to be short, and lived alone.

My thoughts on the book:
I picked up A Promise of Fire at BEA in Chicago, back in 2016. Between all of the moves and life disasters and events since then, I never got around to reading it. When I was looking at my bookshelf yesterday, trying to decide what to read, it jumped out at me, and I'm glad it did. This is a fantastic novel. The characters are so well-developed, they feel like real people. The writing is superb; the pacing is spot-on. There is the right balance of action and romance, and the ending ties things up while leaving room for the sequel, which I've already bought and downloaded on my Kindle. 

Cat is a fantastic heroine. She has just the right amount of sass. Her horrific past is heartbreaking, and while she seems too combative and flat out abusive, it starts to make sense the more Cat reveals about herself. Griffin was a bit too "macho" for my tastes. He needed a course on toxic masculinity and then he needed to tone it down a bit. Cat can more than stand up for herself, though, and at least she called him out on his crap. Also, he took a lot of Cat's abuse, and even though he abducted her (when looking at this through an Ancient Greek mythological lens and all of the events surrounding it, it's not as annoying or awful as it would be in other contexts), he was kind and didn't deserve her wrath to the extent that she dealt it. I liked that both characters were flawed and that I didn't love everything about them, though. It made them more real. The secondary characters were just as well-developed, and I really loved Flynn and Carver. They were my two favorites, I think. 

The world-building and descriptions were well done, and I felt like I was there in this fantastical realm with Cat and Griffin. The plot was sound, and with all of the Greek mythology woven into a fantasy realm, that couldn't have been easy. Normally I get annoyed with characters who seem to develop Stockholm's Syndrome, I don't think that was really the case in this instance. There were a lot of sociopolitical, cultural, and religious things surrounding Cat's abduction that made it less of an abduction and more of a fate type of thing. Anyway, potential Stockholm's Syndrome aside, there was just the right mix of action and romance, and our heroine is no pansy. She can fight just as well, if not better than, the men. One thing that struck me as different in this novel is that there were large sections devoted to Cat developing relationships (friendships and a romantic relationship) with different people, and while I would have thought that would annoy me, it actually made the relationships feel more realistic and really created a rich emotional story. 

Overall, I'd recommend this novel to anyone who loves paranormal romance, fantasy novels, and Greek mythology. It's a wonderfully unique and genuine read.

BEYOND A DARKENED SHORE by Jessica Leake

Rating: A+
Synopsis:
The ancient land of Éirinn is mired in war. Ciara, Princess of Mide, has never known a time when Éirinn’s kingdoms were not battling for power, or Northmen were not plundering their shores. 

The people of Mide have thankfully always been safe because of Ciara’s unearthly ability to control her enemies’ minds and actions. But lately, a mysterious crow has been appearing to Ciara, whispering warnings of an even darker threat. Although her clansmen dismiss her visions as pagan nonsense, Ciara fears this coming evil will destroy not just Éirinn, but the entire world. 

Then the crow leads Ciara to Leif, a young Northman leader. Leif should be Ciara’s enemy, but when Ciara discovers that he, too, shares her prophetic visions, she knows he’s something more. Leif is mounting an impressive army, and with Ciara’s strength in battle the two might have a chance to save their world. 

With evil rising around them, they’ll do what it takes to defend the land they love…even if it means making the greatest sacrifice of all.

My thoughts on the book:
I absolutely loved Beyond a Darkened Shore. This novel is brilliant. The writing, the character development, the plot, everything is beautiful and wonderful. Leake did a fantastic job with the mythology, and I loved seeing ancient mythological creatures come to life in a historical narrative instead of in contemporary society. That being said, not everyone will love this novel. It's heavy on the medieval history and Leake was brave to write a story like this, especially as a YA trope. I could clearly picture medieval Ireland as if I were there. I felt like I was back in Ireland, visiting Dublina and being immersed in the long history of the land. This novel is exquisite. 

Ciara is a strong female lead, and I really enjoyed reading from her perspective. She can be stubborn at times, but can't we all? She is extremely loyal and loves deeply, even though no one gives her a chance. She's better than her entire clan combined, in my opinion. She learns a lot and grows so much throughout her journey. I really admire her resilience and adaptability. Leif is a great love interest. He is also strong, and while he is more open-minded, he still grows and changes throughout the narrative as well. 

The writing in this novel is fantastic. The world-building and setting descriptions are beautifully done. This book has so many messages in it: don't judge people who are different (they just may save your life); generalizing, prejudging, and dehumanizing groups of people is wrong; everyone has a place where they belong; you have to accept yourself before you can accept others; a relationship should be an alliance, a partnership, not some co-dependent nightmare... I could go on. I love that this book is pushing back against prejudice and judgment. Additionally, the novel is fairly fast-paced, and it will keep you on the edge of your seat. I've read and heard stories about all of the mythological creatures that are in this book, but Leake's rendition did the Irish fables honor by being truly horrifying. I really enjoyed the fact that Ireland had the Irish Celtic deities guarding it and the Nordic region had the Norse deities guarding it. The religions co-existed beautifully together, and it also gave another meaning to home: you were cut off from your own deities, more or less, when you were in another land. It also showed that truth is a matter of perspective when it comes to beliefs. The mythological creatures truly came alive under Leake's pen (or keyboard, I guess). The twist in the novel wasn't super surprising, but the outcome of the twist did shock me. The ending was beautiful and tied things up wonderfully. 

This is the first book I've ever read by Jessica Leake, but after devouring it, I will definitely be reading the other novels she's written. 

EVERY LAST BREATH by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Rating: A-
Synopsis:
Some loves will last ’til your dying breath

Every choice has consequences—but seventeen-year-old Layla faces tougher choices than most. Light or darkness. Wickedly sexy demon prince Roth, or Zayne, the gorgeous, protective Warden she never thought could be hers. Hardest of all, Layla has to decide which side of herself to trust.

Layla has a new problem, too. A Lilin—the deadliest of demons—has been unleashed, wreaking havoc on those around her…including her best friend. To keep Sam from a fate much, much worse than death, Layla must strike a deal with the enemy while saving her city—and her race—from destruction.

Torn between two worlds and two different boys, Layla has no certainties, least of all survival, especially when an old bargain comes back to haunt them all. But sometimes, when secrets are everywhere and the truth seems unknowable, you have to listen to your heart, pick a side—and then fight like hell…

My thoughts on the book:
Clearly I'm in a JLA mood lately, since this is the second book of hers that I read in a row. Every Last Breath did not disappoint. On the surface, this novel is a YA paranormal romance, but it has so much more going on than that. There is a lot of mythology, philosophy, and ethics thrown in there. It really makes you think. Also, JLA's writing is flawless. She made me both laugh and cry with this novel, and I needed both forms of catharsis very badly. The romance in this book is more cute than steamy, since it's a YA novel, but it's by no means G rated. The characters are wonderful, as usual, and the plot is engaging. My only problem with this book is the love triangle. I hate love triangles.

Layla grew up a lot in this book, and I appreciated that. She handled most things like an adult, and she really made some tough decisions. My heart broke for her several times because of all of the stuff she was going through, but she emerged from each battle stronger. That's always inspiring to me when characters do that. It gives me hope that I, too, can overcome my obstacles and emerge stronger than before. Roth was Roth, and I loved him as always. The familiars were fantastic, and I really felt like I got to see another side of Cayman in this novel. Zayne was Zayne, and I didn't like him that much still. He was a good guy, but not for me. 

The romance was adorable and sweet and somewhat steamy... It was pretty damn steamy for a YA novel. The writing was wonderful, and there was actually one quote that made me laugh until I cried: "He’s as old as time and has the temperament of someone who shit the bed and has been rolling around in it all day.” Cayman said that, and I laughed for at least 15-20 minutes before I could collect myself. My cats thought I'd lost my mind. There were also some heartbreaking moments that had me in tears because I was so sad for the characters. I love novels that can make me feel what the characters are feeling, and this one definitely did that. 

The action was nonstop, and this was a fast-paced book. Every time I thought the characters would get a break, something else was thrown at them. I mean I thought my life was a shit show, but Layla had me beat by a long shot in this novel... and at least my problems are mine and don't affect the entire world. 

Overall, I'd recommend this book and series to anyone who loves mythology, loves books that make you think, and loves books that make you feel. Armentrout did not disappoint with this trilogy's ending. 

FIRE TOUCHED by Patricia Briggs

Rating: B+
Synopsis:
Mercy Thompson has been hailed as “a heroine who continues to grow and yet always remains true to herself.”* Now she’s back, and she’ll soon discover that when the fae stalk the human world, it’s the children who suffer...

Tensions between the fae and humans are coming to a head. And when coyote shapeshifter Mercy and her Alpha werewolf mate, Adam, are called upon to stop a rampaging troll, they find themselves with something that could be used to make the fae back down and forestall out-and-out war: a human child stolen long ago by the fae.

Defying the most powerful werewolf in the country, the humans, and the fae, Mercy, Adam, and their pack choose to protect the boy no matter what the cost. But who will protect them from a boy who is fire touched?

My thoughts on the book:
When I saw this novel on NetGalley, I was so excited. Patricia Briggs is one of my favorite authors, and this is one of my favorite series, even though a couple of the most recent efforts in Mercy's world have fallen flat for me. However, this novel was a refreshing change from the past few books. The action starts in the first couple of chapters and doesn't end until the very last page. Some of the new characters introduced were extremely interesting, and aside from Mercy randomly throwing in ridiculous words in an effort to prove she's intelligent, the writing was top notch. Fans of the series are going to devour this book.

Mercy is one of my favorite Fantasy heroines. She's tough, smart, and able to take care of herself. She has a man in her life because she loves him, not because she needs him to be fulfilled. She continues to grow throughout the series, but she doesn't change so much that the growth seems out of character for her. She has issues and PTSD and a bit of anxiety, but she overcomes that to help others. She's a great example of a flawed, but still wonderful and strong, heroine. Adam is a fantastic complement to her, and the way he's evolved over the series is also organic. I really like who he's becoming, and I love how Mercy has challenged him, and his whole pack, to open their minds and accept people for who they are instead of trying to change them. This novel illustrates more of that kind of pack growth, and I feel that it's much needed and really added to the tapestry of the pack and their bonds. 

The world-building and descriptions were beautifully done in this book, but Briggs seemed so hung up on showing that Mercy wasn't an idiot that she used some really random, what I like to call "GRE words" to prove it... words that no one uses because you can express things in a much simpler manner. This hasn't happened in the past, and I'm not sure why it happened now. Those words really broke up the flow of writing, though, because even though I knew what they meant, as many readers will, they just didn't come across naturally. That was my main pet peeve with this novel and why it got a B+ instead of an A. The pacing was super fast, but not rushed, the story itself was well-told and interesting, and the alternating of action scenes vs. emotional scenes kept me emotionally engaged. The ending tied things up nicely, and after this book, I can't help but think that Mercy's story is about to come to an end. I feel like she's about to get things squared away enough that she can have her happily ever after. We'll see if I'm right or not, but that's the feeling that I got. 

Overall, I'd recommend this book to anyone who enjoys this series. I'd also recommend this series to anyone  who loves Urban Fantasy with strong female characters. Briggs is an amazing author, and she will not disappoint. 

REAWAKENED by Colleen Houck

Rating: A-
Synopsis:
When seventeen-year-old Lilliana Young enters the Metropolitan Museum of Art one morning during spring break, the last thing she expects to find is a live Egyptian prince with godlike powers, who has been reawakened after a thousand years of mummification.

And she really can't imagine being chosen to aid him in an epic quest that will lead them across the globe to find his brothers and complete a grand ceremony that will save mankind.

But fate has taken hold of Lily, and she, along with her sun prince, Amon, must travel to the Valley of the Kings, raise his brothers, and stop an evil, shape-shifting god named Seth from taking over the world.

From New York Times bestselling author Colleen Houck comes an epic adventure about two star-crossed teens who must battle mythical forces and ancient curses on a journey with more twists and turns than the Nile itself. 

My thoughts on the book:
I really enjoyed this novel. Reawakened is my first book by Colleen Houck, though I'd heard amazing thing about The Tiger's Curse series. I can easily say that I was not disappointed. This book is unique and full of action and adventure with a hint of romance. The characters are multifaceted and intriguing, and the plot kept me engaged until the very end. The pacing was a bit slow in the beginning and middle, but the concept and world were interesting enough that I was kept engaged. I'd recommend this novel to just about anyone!

Lily was a logical protagonist, and I really enjoyed reading from her perspective. Her denial of the situation lasted a long time, but that made it a bit more realistic. Lily is no Bella Swan, and for that I'm grateful. She may not have been kick ass in the way that some of the physically tougher heroines are, and her obsession with her own money got on my nerves, but she was strong and likable in her own way. Amon was extremely interesting, and I really liked watching him learn about our modern world. Some of his actions and reactions were hilarious, and it added some humor to an otherwise intense novel.

The prologue really created the setting for this novel, even though the book itself was set in many different locations. The mood and supernatural world were explained in those few pages, and it gave the book a sense of urgency. The romance was there, and there was a lot of tension and chemistry between Lily and Amon. However, we didn't get much of them as a couple past that. The world-building itself required some info dumps, and it was clear that Houck did her research in Egyptian history and mythology. The pacing, while a bit slow at times, really sped up at the end, and the ending left me wishing it was 2016 so I could get my hands on the next installment. This ending tied up most of the questions raised in this book, but set the stage for the sequel. 

Overall, I'd recommend this book to anyone who is looking for something a bit different in the YA Urban Fantasy market. Houck's use of Egyptian mythology is refreshing, and a mentally strong, yet vulnerable protagonist is a nice change from the weak minded and/or physically strong girls in most of today's YA books.

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THE BEAUTIFUL ASHES by Jeaniene Frost

Rating: B-
Synopsis:
In a world of shadows, anything is possible. Except escaping your fate. 

Ever since she was a child, Ivy has been gripped by visions of strange realms just beyond her own. But when her sister goes missing, Ivy discovers the truth is far worse—her hallucinations are real, and her sister is trapped in a parallel realm. And the one person who believes her is the dangerously attractive guy who's bound by an ancient legacy to betray her. 

Adrian might have turned his back on those who raised him, but that doesn't mean he can change his fate…no matter how strong a pull he feels toward Ivy. Together they search for the powerful relic that can save her sister, but Adrian knows what Ivy doesn't: that every step brings Ivy closer to the truth about her own destiny, and a war that could doom the world. Sooner or later, it will be Ivy on one side and Adrian on the other. And nothing but ashes in between…

My thoughts on the book:
The Beautiful Ashes is Jeaniene Frost's first endeavor into the world of angels and demons. It's also her first New Adult novel. While I wasn't as blown away by this effort as I was the Night Huntress Series when I first began it, I did enjoy the book. The pacing was pretty fast, the characters were well-developed, and the plot was intriguing enough to keep me interested. The story wasn't perfect, but I'll definitely be reading the sequel.

Ivy is likeable enough, though a bit less complicated than Cat, and Adrian is no Bones. I know I shouldn't compare the two sets of characters, since they are from two very different stories, but I can't help it. Also, Ivy is kind of immature. Sometimes she seemed to overreact about really stupid, childish things. And at other times she didn't react enough. I never felt her mourning for her family. She just kind of brushed that aside. Adrian was a bit too tormented and angsty for my tastes, but that's okay. He's still a relatively strong character, and I look forward to getting to know him some. The secondary characters were interesting, especially Costa.

Some of the characters' actions in the story seemed too convenient, like when they changed long-held beliefs almost instantly in the name of love, etc. However, for the most part, things flowed naturally. As previously stated, the pacing was spot-on. Nothing dragged. The romance tried to be steamy, but didn't quite make it. Again, the passion was nowhere near the level of Cat and Bones' lusty encounters. That being said, I'm hopeful that the next installment will bring more to the table, romance-wise. Frost is an excellent romance author as her Night Huntress series and its spin-offs illustrate, so I have faith that she can bring this lukewarm love some much needed heat. The ending tied things up from this novel nicely but set the stage for book two, which I am looking forward to.

Overall, I'd recommend this book to fans of Frost's writing (she definitely has her trademark sense of humor in this novel) and people who love stories about angels and demons. I enjoyed the book, and I'm sure many of you will, too.

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OF NEPTUNE by Anna Banks

Rating: B
Synopsis:
Emma, who is half human and half Syrena, and her Syrena love, Galen, need time together. Alone. Away from the kingdoms of Poseidon and Triton. Emma’s grandfather, the Poseidon king, suggests the two visit a small town called Neptune.

Neptune is home to both Syrena and Half-Breeds alike. But Emma and Galen didn’t sign up to be peacemakers between the ocean-living Syrena and the land-dwelling, freshwater counterparts. They didn’t bargain for meeting a charming Half-Breed named Reed, who can barely disguise his feelings for Emma. And they especially didn’t expect to find themselves in the middle of a power struggle that threatens not only their love, but their ocean kingdoms.

In this stunning conclusion to her bestselling Syrena Legacy, Anna Banks thrills fans with more action and romance than ever.

My thoughts on the book:
Of Neptune is an excellent conclusion to this trilogy. Banks does not disappoint with this thrilling conclusion. Told from alternating viewpoints, Emma's first person and Galen's third person accounts of the story add depth to the already complex world that Banks has created. Additionally, the setting for the book, Neptune, Tennessee, is almost a character of its own. While the story drags in a few places, for the most part, this novel is action-packed and full of suspense and romance. The Epilogue adds a beautiful end to Emma and Galen's story. This is one book and trilogy that mermaid fans cannot miss. 

Emma really shows how much she's grown in this story. She's still not quite as strong as she could be (in my opinion), but she's certainly strong enough to search for the life she wants. She sticks to her beliefs and refuses to compromise them for anyone. I really respect that about her. She's also loyal, though she does have moments of weakness, and intelligent. Emma approaches many of the problems in this book with logic, though her emotions still run amok while she does so. This contrast makes her feel like a real, live human girl. Galen is a bit more two dimensional, but he still seems as real as any mermaid can. He is a bit more focused on Emma than she is on him, though he just seems like the type to go overboard with anything he does. He wants to protect the ones he loves, and while his temper gets the best of him sometimes, he tries to do what's best. I really love that Banks created flawed, but still likable characters. Reed is no exception. I feel like we don't get to know Reed as much as we could have, considering his part in the book. What we do learn about him is commendable, though. He is a good character, and he offers (and represents) an entirely new set of options for Emma. Antonis really surprises me in this novel, and I found that by the end of the book, I really loved the old mermaid. 

This plot is a bit darker than the previous two novels, and Galen's part in particular is a bit rough to read sometimes. There are plenty of bad guys in this book, and every time you think the characters have gotten rid of one, another one appears. Also, it's hard to tell who is working with whom, which leads to a feeling of suspense and mystery throughout the course of the novel. Romance takes a back seat to the action this time around, and I enjoyed that. Also, Banks does a fantastic job of showing that while Emma and Galen feel like the world revolves around them, often times (as many couples in love do), their actions and decisions have big implications for the entire Syrena world. The balance between Syrena law and the evolution of their society and Emma and Galen's romance is nicely done. Furthermore, the world-building and setting descriptions for Neptune are perfect. 

Overall, I'd recommend this book and trilogy to anyone who loves mermaids. Banks offers a unique view on the mermaid myths, with the two different branches of the Syrena family tree, and the characters are realistic and complex. This trilogy definitely stands out among all of the mermaid tales out there. 

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PROMISE BOUND by Anne Greenwood Brown

Rating: B+
Synopsis:
Calder and Lily never imagined falling in love would mean breaking apart. But ever since Lily started wearing a glass pendant that once belonged to Nadia, Calder's adoptive mother, she's been having vivid dreams of what life was like for the mermaid matriarch. In fact, she's been dreaming as if she were Nadia! And Nadia, it seems, made a promise before her death. A promise to reunite Calder's biological mother with her son. Lily knows merfolk are bound to keep their promises. Calder's not buying into it, though. He chalks up the dreams to stress. He wants Lily to focus on the future—their future, not the past. Which forces Lily to send Calder away. Calder goes, feeling rejected and more than a little tempted to revert to his hunting ways.  

What both of them overlook is the present: Calder's sisters, Maris and Pavati, are fighting for control of the mermaid clan, and now that Lily and her dad have transformed into mer-creatures, both mermaids vie for daughter and father as allies. Which of the two mermaids can be trusted? Will Lily make costly mistakes, forcing her to descend to the depths of Lake Superior? And if Calder returns, will he be the same merman Lily grew to love? The stakes are high, with many lives at risk, but Calder and Lily must confront the past as well as their darkest impulses if they want a chance at being together.

My thoughts on the book:
Promise Bound is an excellent conclusion to the Lies Beneath trilogy. Calder grows quite a bit, as does Lily, and Brown manages the alternating viewpoints in this novel like a pro. I could clearly hear every character's voice during their chapters. The characters are also faced with tons of challenges, which I liked. However, this book isn't perfect, and there are a few things that I would have liked to have seen, such as a clearer, more definite ending and more steady pacing. For the most part, though, I really enjoyed this novel. 

Brown pulls out all of the stops when it comes to the characters in this installment. We get to hear from Calder, Lily, Maris, Pavati, and Daniel. Also, the reader gets to learn a lot from Nadia through Lily's dreams. This caused me to view all of the characters as more well-rounded and real. I could connect with, or at least understand the motives of, everyone after reading from all of these different perspectives. I know the last book was really Jason-heavy, and he wasn't as prominently featured in this novel. I would have liked to have learned a bit more about how he was dealing with being a mermaid. I also would have liked to have seen more of Sophie. It would have been nice to get at least a chapter from her perspective. 

The pacing was pretty slow for part one of the book. The second part was a bit faster, and the third part flew by. I really liked the ending, but I feel that Brown left too many loose ends. I won't say what they are here because I don't want to spoil it for you. Also a couple of things could have been explained a bit more clearly. The plot itself was easy to follow, but there were a few twists at the end. Some of which I really liked and one of which didn't feel realistic to me. When there's a mystery being solved, a few clues should be dropped so it at least makes sense to the reader in the end. As it stood, things just felt too manipulated by the author for one event. Also, Calder didn't need to state he was fully evolved. That would have been better left unsaid. We could get that without being told. 

Overall, I really enjoyed this book, but as I mentioned, some things were lacking. It held my interest to the very end, and while the conclusion isn't completely satisfying, it's not exactly unsatisfying, either. I'd recommend this series to anyone who likes good mermaid tales. 

Buy Promise Bound

SENTINEL by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Rating: B+
Synopsis:
It's a beautiful day for a war.

As the mortal world slowly slips into chaos of the godly kind, Alexandria Andros must overcome a stunning defeat that has left her shaken and in doubt of their ability to end this war once and for all.

And with all the obstacles between Alex and her happily-ever-after with the swoonworthy Aiden St. Delphi, they must now trust a deadly foe as they travel deep into the Underworld to release one of the most dangerous gods of all time.

In the stunning, action-packed climax to the bestselling Covenant series, Alex must face a terrible choice: the destruction of everything and everyone she holds dear… or the end of herself.

My thoughts on the book:
Let me start off by saying that I absolutely adored Sentinel, and it is probably my favorite book in the series. That being said, I had to knock a letter off because apparently there was a copy editor strike during the printing of this novel. There were tons of glaring mistakes, and that kept pulling me out of the story. The narrative itself was outstanding, and the character growth was fantastic. The ending was satisfying and unique, and the pacing was spot-on. This book would have been perfect had there not been so many typos and grammatical errors. 

Alex really grows up in this book, and I really enjoyed seeing who she became. She becomes very strong, and even though she feels broken for a good part of the novel, she still does what she can in order to make things right. I really grew to respect her a lot. Aiden also completely won me over. His loyalty and dedication to Alex were beautiful. Seth surprised me a few times as well, and so did Apollo. I also enjoyed seeing a little bit more of Alex's dad. 

The pacing was spot-on, and I flew through the pages of this book. I wasn't bored once because it was non-stop action, adventure, and romance. Alex's POV, as usual, is humorous, and I found myself laughing, even at inappropriate times. The world-building continued to be fantastic, and the book has a nice balance of emotions. The ending is unique and satisfying. I never would have thought that things could have ended that way, and in my opinion, everyone go the ending he or she deserved. My only complaint is the fact that there were so many grammatical and typographical errors. I don't blame JLA for this because it's nearly impossible to flawlessly proofread your own work, but I hope that Spencer Hill has a copy editor go over the book before they print more copies. As it stands, I'm not sure I want to buy it because of the errors (I checked out a copy from the library). 

Overall, I'd recommend this book and series to anyone who wants a unique spin on Greek mythology. JLA gives the gods hilarious personalities, and as with all of her books, you'll be hooked from the first page. Give this series a try, if you haven't already. You won't be sorry.

Buy Sentinel today!

KILLER FROST by Jennifer Estep

Rating: A
Synopsis:
I’ve battled the Reapers of Chaos before–and survived. But this time I have a Bad, Bad Feeling it’s going to be a fight to the death … most likely mine.

Yeah, I’ve got my psychometry magic, my talking sword, Vic–and even the most dangerous Spartan on campus at my side, in Logan freaking Quinn, but I’m no match for Loki, the evil Norse god of chaos. I may be Nike’s Champion, but at heart, I’m still just Gwen Frost, that weird Gypsy girl everyone at school loves to gossip about.

Then someone I love is put in more danger than ever before, and something inside me snaps. This time, Loki and his Reapers are going down for good … or I am.

My thoughts on the book:
Killer Frost is an excellent finale to a fantastic series. Jennifer Estep is one of my favorite writers, and this ending did not disappoint. It was action-packed and full of romance. Estep also highlighted the importance of friendship and family bonds. Gwen grows into a wonderful character, and the ending is fulfilling. I couldn't have asked for more. 

Gwen continues growing until the very end of this novel, but she never acts out of character. At times I was extremely frustrated at her stubbornness, but I also understood it. Logan surprised me a few times in a good way, and I am extremely happy with the character he became. Grandma Frost is featured more in this installment than she was in the previous novels, and I enjoyed learning more about her. Logan's dad got on my nerves, as usual, but I feel like he's on the path to becoming a decent person. 

The plot is fast-paced, and I wasn't bored for a second. There is a lot of action surrounding Gwen and her friends, and I wondered several times who would and would not make it out of this alive. Gwen has to rely on both new and old friends in order to take on her nemesis, and the suspense was close to unbearable toward the end. The ending is satisfying and ties up loose ends. I felt resolved, yet sad when the story ended. This is an excellent YA series, and I am sad to say goodbye to the characters. However, I feel that Estep gave them each the lives and endings they deserved. 

Overall, I'd recommend this book and series to anyone who enjoys YA paranormal/mythological books. Estep mixes all mythologies together to create her warrior races, and the idea is refreshing. Give this series a try. You won't be disappointed. 

Check out Killer Frost!

SWEET LEGACY by Tera Lynn Childs

 

Rating: A-

Release Date: 09/03/13

Synopsis:

The stunning conclusion of Tera Lynn Childs's Greek mythology–based Sweet Venom trilogy is perfect for teen fans of Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson series.

The girls cannot hesitate as they seek the location of the lost door between the realms, even as monsters and the gods of Olympus descend on San Francisco in battle-ready droves.

Greer must use her second sight to step up and prevent anything from stopping her sisters' mission, even though a god is playing with her mind. Grace wants to trust her adopted brother, Thane; but will his secret put the girls in even more danger? And Gretchen has trained her sisters to stop the monsters, but her role as a huntress comes with more responsibility than she ever imagined. What will the girls' immortal legacy be? Three teenage descendants of Medusa must unite to restore balance to the world in this action-packed series with plenty of romance.

My thoughts on the book:

Sweet Legacy is an excellent conclusion to this unique and action-packed series. Childs does a fantastic job of wrapping things up for all three sisters and leaving the reader both satisfied with the ending and sad that it's over. This is by far the best in the series, illustrating how the characters have grown and the plot has developed over the course of the trilogy. Furthermore, this book managed to be even more action-packed and intense than the first two! The pacing is super fast, but never rushed, and Childs throws in lots of plot twists to keep the reader on his or her toes. This is one novel (and series) you won't want to miss.

Each sister has grown immensely over the course of the novels, and I am most impressed with how much braver Grace has gotten. She's still the softest of the bunch, in my opinion, but she isn't a complete doormat anymore. Gretchen has softened some, but she's still a complete bad-ass. Greer really shows her strength in this installment. Thane surprised me, but his true colors finally show. Nick grew on me some, and I absolutely adored Grace and Milo.

The plot is full of action, suspense, and romance. The fate of the world literally depends on these girls. Childs writes excellent fight scenes, and I was kept on the edge of my seat throughout this entire novel. Some of the plot twists genuinely surprised me, and the pacing is so fast that I flew through this book. The ending wraps everything up nicely, and the entire book is well-written.

Overall, I completely enjoyed this novel. I love mythology, and I love Childs' take on it. This book and series are unique and full of adventure. If you like mythology of all, this series is a must-read for you. And if you enjoyed the first two books of the series, then you will absolutely LOVE this last one!

Pre-order Sweet Legacy!

 

MIST by Susan Krinard

Mist
Susan Krinard

Rating: F
Synopsis:
New York Times bestselling author Susan Krinard launches her first urban fantasy series

Centuries ago, all was lost in the Last Battle when the Norse gods and goddesses went to war. The elves, the giants, and the gods and goddesses themselves were all destroyed, leaving the Valkyrie Mist one of the only survivors.

Or so she thought.

When a snowy winter descends upon modern-day San Francisco in June, Mist’s quiet existence starts to feel all too familiar. In quick succession, Mist is attacked by a frost giant in a public park and runs into an elf disguised as a homeless person on the streets…and then the man Mist believed was her mortal boyfriend reveals himself to be the trickster god, Loki, alive and well after all these years.

Loki has big plans for the modern world, and he’s been hanging around Mist for access to a staff that once belonged to the great god Odin. Mist is certain of one thing: Loki must be stopped if there is to be any hope for Earth. But the fight is even bigger than she knows….

Because Loki wasn’t the only god to survive.

My thoughts on the book:
I wasn't sure what to expect with Mist, but I felt like the concept was unique and was willing to give it a try. Unfortunately I didn't enjoy it very much. The writing was subpar at best and terribly bland at worst. The characters are not well-developed, and come across more as cookie-cutter characters instead of real beings. The pacing is slow as molasses, and the plot is a lot more dull than the synopsis lets on. The mythology is unclear, and it seems as if the author expects her readers to be Norse experts already. I just really did not like this book at all.

Mist is a boring and unlikable character. I really didn't care what happened to her in the least. She was apparently perfect, because the way she was written, she had no faults, and she knew it. So yes, she was conceited, too, which to me is a fault, but apparently to the author that's a wonderful quality. Whatever. Gabi, the Latina character, is a bit of a racial stereotype, and I did not like that either. It's never okay to stereotype people, and any time I read a book that does that to a character, I automatically don't like it. In short, the characterization was terrible. I'm just going to stop talking about it now so that I'm not irritated about it all over again.

The plot was so boring. The mythology was correct, I guess. I'm no expert, even though it seemed that Krinard expected me to be. I had to constantly Google references. When working with an obscure branch of mythology, it's best to explain things a bit better. This also extends into the world-building (obviously), so I felt lost quite a few times. The pacing was so slow, and I had to force myself to finish this book. The only reason I did force myself to read this is because it was sent to me for a review, and I refuse to review a book that I haven't read. Also, I really did not like the writing. It was bland. Furthermore, if I had lower self-esteem, this book may have actually made me feel bad about myself because of its delusions of grandeur that tried to make me feel stupid for not being a Norse expert and/or perfect like Mist. As it stands, I just got irritated at an inanimate object for talking down to me, haha.

Overall, I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone. I didn't like it, and if it's a series, I certainly won't continue it.

STALKED BY DEATH by Kelly Hashway Review + Interview!!

Stalked by Death
Kelly Hashway

Rating: B+
Synopsis:Jodi knows that any slip-ups made by the Ophi--a special group of necromancers born under the 13th sign of the zodiac--will fall on her shoulders... and that Hades is just waiting for them to screw up so he can wipe out the Ophi line.

Unfortunately, Jodi has only convinced one Ophi to join her school: A hot guy named Chase who jeopardizes her relationship with Alex. Jodi loves Alex, but Chase can enhance her powers with just a touch—making her stronger than any Ophi has ever been.

Her mixed emotions send her powers surging out of control, and the dead start rising without her conscious summoning—exactly what Hades doesn't want! If she chooses Alex over Chase, she may lose the battle to Hades, leading the Ophi race to extinction. If she chooses Chase, she might be able to stop Hades for good… but lose everything else.

Jodi needs to figure things out fast--because death is stalking her at every turn.

My thoughts on the book:
Stalked by Death is a huge improvement over the first installment. While I enjoyed the premise of Touched by Death, there were quite a few problems with the book. However, because of the unique concept, I gave this series another chance, and I'm so glad I did! The characters are better developed and actually grow as the novel progresses this time. The plot is much stronger, and Hashway's writing is also improved. After reading this book, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this series to anyone!

Jodi is a much more likable character in this novel. She still does some dumb things, but she's not half as ignorant about what's going on. I actually enjoyed reading things from her perspective and was able to sympathize with her quite a bit. Alex got on my nerves for the first 3/4 of the book, though. He is so childish and temperamental that I wanted to hit him. Maybe if he'd acted differently then things wouldn't have gone to crap... maybe not, though because Jodi has a lot going against her and her relationship with Alex. I hated Chase from the beginning. He just seemed slimy. My opinion of him did not improve as the novel progressed. I enjoyed getting to know more about the secondary characters, and I came to especially like Tony. I hope we get to see more of him in the next installment. 

The plot is pretty solid and extremely intriguing. I figured out what was going on, to an extent, pretty early on, but Hashway still managed to surprise me quite a bit. I really did not see the ending coming, and I have no idea what Jodi and company are going to do now. The ending is a bit of a cliffhanger, which as you guys know, I don't like, but it did resolve a lot of the problems from this novel, so I'm not too angry about it. The ending definitely left me wishing book three would hurry and come out, though! 

Overall, I'd recommend this series to anyone who enjoys mythology inspired literature but is tired of the same retellings of the Hades and Persephone myth. The Touched by Death series focuses mainly on Medusa and her lineage, and it's quite interesting. If you enjoyed the first book, you will absolutely adore Stalked by Death. Give this series a try. You won't be sorry. 

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Here is my interview with Kelly Hashway!

Amber: I absolutely love that your novels are a unique spin on Greek mythology. What made you choose Medusa as the main mythological character? 

Kelly: I'm terrified of snakes, so Medusa scared me a first. But then I found a lesser-known myth about her and I thought maybe she got a bad reputation and was wrongfully cursed. So I looked into it more and decided I wanted to show a very different Medusa in my books.

Amber: For those who haven't read your books yet, can you describe this series in five words or less?

Kelly: Necromancers, zombies, Medusa, and Hades

Amber: Can you name a few of your favorite books and/or authors?

Kelly: I love Rick Riordan and his Percy Jackson series. The man is a genius with words. I also fell really hard for Patch in Becca Fitzpatrick's Hush, Hush series.

Amber: If you could have dinner with any of your characters, who would you choose and why?

Kelly: Alex. Wow, I didn't even have to think about that one. ;) I'd like to share a bowl of mac and cheese with him because while he's really tough, he has another side to him that's almost broken. I'd comfort him in a heartbeat. (Sorry, Jodi!)

Amber: What song makes you think of Alex and Jodi?

Kelly: "Just Tonight" by The Pretty Reckless and "Dance with the Devil" by Breaking Benjamin. Jodi and Alex go through so much together so the emotions are always on high.

Amber: Where is your favorite place to write?

Kelly: I almost always write at my dining room table, but I can write just about anywhere.

Amber: We all know Alex loves mac and cheese, but what's Jodi's favorite food?

Kelly: Filet mignon. Because her mom never had a lot of money, Jodi didn't get to eat filet mignon often but she loves it.

Amber: Is Hades really as bad as he seems?

Kelly: Well, he is the god of the underworld, so what do you think? ;)

Amber: What advice would you give to aspiring writers?

Kelly: Read great books. It's the best form of research. And then take that inspiration to write as much as you can.

Amber: Thank you, Kelly, for taking the time to answer these questions!