Book Review: Becoming a Legend

I loved the first book, The Legend of the Blue Eyes by B. Kristin McMichael, so much that the author graciously supplied me with a copy of the second book in the series. This in no way effects my final review of this book.

Title: Becoming Legend

Author: B. Kristin McMichael

Series: The Blue Eyes #2

Publisher: Lexia Press

Original Publication Date: June 6, 2013

Format Read: kindle

Genre: YA Paranormal

Purchase: Amazon

Find on Goodreads

Description from Goodreads:
Arianna Grace is about to turn seventeen and her life has been very complicated lately. She is the leader of four clans of night humans: dearg-dul, baku, tengu, and lycan. While the four clans seem to get along better with each other, there is internal conflict on both sides of her family, not to mention the three boys vying for her attention.

Edward Lucan is making a chase for the power to lead the baku clans and is playing his cards by using his nephew Andrew to lure Arianna into a trap. Unfortunately for Lucan, Andrew has his own plans. He has spent the last year waiting for Arianna to see him as more than a friend, and he now finds it necessary to make a move for her affection, despite his uncle.

In the dearg-dul estate, Arianna discovers that the ambitious Lord Seeger has been laying his own strategies for power and is slowly poisoning her. After getting away with her grandfather's murder, he is setting his sights on her. Luckily for Arianna, her team is on to all of the plans and is making some plans of their own. Will it be enough to keep Arianna safe? Several people close to Arianna have been keeping secrets. If Arianna is to take power and control of the night, she will need to know the truth. Will someone finally tell her what it truly means to become the legend everyone is waiting for, before it is too late to turn back?

This book picks up about a year later from the first book. For most of the book Arianna remains just as ignorant about the world of night humans as she did in the first book, except it's a year later. I felt like she should have known a little more at the beginning of this book. I felt like she should have been training both physically and mentally during that year to truly be the leader of the four clans. But clearly she hasn't.

While I liked it, I did not like it as much as the first book. For me, it felt like it suffered a little bit from The Middle Book Syndrome. The entire time I was reading it, I felt like it was just setting me up for the final book in the series. Which I do have to say based on where book two ends, sounds like it will be an awesome end to the series. Plot-wise though, I didn't really feel like this book had it's own individual story arc in the series. Maybe I missed it? That's not to say that you don't continue to learn new things about the world McMichael created, you do. It's a whole lot bigger than we are lead to believe in the first book. You also learn a little bit more about the legend and there is some plotting from various bad guys on how they can either kill Arianna or use her to get the power they crave. 

With all of that being said, I'm still looking forward to the third book, Winning a Legend. 

My Rating:

Book Review: Hex Hall

Good evening everyone! Today I'll happily be reviewing Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins. It is the first book in the Hex Hall series.  

Title: Hex Hall

Author: Rachel Hawkins

Series: Hex Hall #1

Publisher: Hyperion Books

Original Publication Date: March 2nd 2010

Format Read: kindle

Genre: YA Paranormal

Purchase: Amazon

Find on Goodreads

Description from Goodreads:

Three years ago, Sophie Mercer discovered that she was a witch. It's gotten her into a few scrapes. Her non-gifted mother has been as supportive as possible, consulting Sophie's estranged father--an elusive European warlock--only when necessary. But when Sophie attracts too much human attention for a prom-night spell gone horribly wrong, it's her dad who decides her punishment: exile to Hex Hall, an isolated reform school for wayward Prodigium, a.k.a. witches, faeries, and shapeshifters.

By the end of her first day among fellow freak-teens, Sophie has quite a scorecard: three powerful enemies who look like supermodels, a futile crush on a gorgeous warlock, a creepy tagalong ghost, and a new roommate who happens to be the most hated person and only vampire student on campus. Worse, Sophie soon learns that a mysterious predator has been attacking students, and her only friend is the number-one suspect.

As a series of blood-curdling mysteries starts to converge, Sophie prepares for the biggest threat of all: an ancient secret society determined to destroy all Prodigium, especially her.

I've been wanting to read this book for a while now as it kept popping up everywhere with a few places even suggesting it might be the book for me, based on other books I've read. Boy were they right! I really liked this book, it might even be love. I'm sure part of it is because Rachel Hawkins clearly grew up around the same time I did and shares the same wonderful sense of humor I do.  

Like the description states, you follow Sophie, who does quite have a handle on her magic. She discovered she was a witch at the age of 13. She's gotten into trouble a few times, but so far her absent father has been able to get her out of it. But, on prom night when Sophie tries to help out a girl by pulling off a little spell, it goes off a little TOO well. The fall out is that her father can no longer protect her and she is sent off to live at Hex Hall until she is 18. 

However, once Sophie arrives she quickly realizes exactly how woefully unprepared she is to live at such a place and just how ignorant she is about her powers and the world of witches, warlocks, faeries, and shapeshifters. She quickly ends up being the target of mean girls and bumbles her way into trouble. Thankfully, she has one refuge, her room and her roommate, Jenna. Jenna herself is an outcast, the only vampire student at the school. 

This isn't just your regular school book though, there is more to the story. There is a mystery as a few of the students have ended up dead, appearing to have been drained of their blood. Who is there number one suspect? Why Jenna, of course. Sophie just knows that Jenna wouldn't do such a thing, so she works to try to figure out who really did it. 

There is also some budding romance, a ghost, some awesome pop culture references, as well as some surprising twists and turns to the story. It is a pretty fast read, although that could have been because I was so into the story, that I just kept reading, and reading, and reading...

I highly recommend checking out this book and I think Rachel Hawkins has just added herself onto my list of go-to authors. I can't wait to read the next book in the series.

My Rating: 

Novella Review: Dark Child: Episode Three

Good evening everyone! Today I'll be reviewing Dark Child: Episode Three by Adina West. It is the third book in the Dark Child series.  I received a copy of this book for free in return for my honest review, through the Never Too Old For Y.A. Books Group on Goodreads. However, I received a copy of the book directly from the author's publisher. This in no way effects my final review of this book. 

Title: Dark Child: Episode Three

Author: Adina West

Series: Dark Child #3

Publisher: Momentum Books

Original Publication Date: April 1, 2013

Format Read: kindle

Genre: YA Paranormal

Purchase: Amazon

Find on Goodreads

Description from the publisher:

Dead? Kat clenched her fists, her stomach a writhing tangle of knots. Her pulse thundered in her ears.

Had this all been an elaborate ruse to trap her? The platelet study; the offer to come and work at the Hema Castus Research Institute; the special attention from Director Norris … Surely they’d have had no way of knowing who she was. Still, if the Directorate controlled Hema Castus, and the Directorate wanted her imprisoned, even dead, everything took on a much more sinister light. And anyway, why did the Directorate want her dead?

Kat has always known she’s special. Different. But finding out why is still a shock, especially when she discovers the malevolent Directorate, a clandestine organization of untold power, have put a price on her head.

Forced into hiding in the remote White Mountains, Kat’s life is suddenly in the hands of the wild and dangerous unalil. But trusting her new protectors isn’t easy, since they seem almost as terrifying as the killers who pursue her . . .

This is a novella-length episode of Dark Child. This is part three of five.

This novella picks up where the last one left off. Kat is still processing the fact that Char has told her she is not human. So, we finally get into the nitty gritty with this episode a bit with Kat finally no longer being clueless about the world around her. In this episode Kat also has to flee to New York to get away from those that are hunting her. Things definitely are getting more intense too. 

Like with the first two episodes as time goes on our list of characters continues to grow. My favorite of the new characters we meet is Akilina. She is a very old Dark Child, who can craft metal into amulets with protective runes specific to each person after reading them. 

Overall, I liked this episode the same as I liked the first two. I have come to two conclusions at this point though, 1) I would just go ahead and by the complete Omnibus edition and skip buying the individual episodes and 2) At this point I'm not sure how everything is going to get resolved in two more episodes. 

I feel I should also comment that according to the publisher, this series of episodes would be great for fans of The Mortal Instruments. I'm going to have to say I don't necessarily agree with that assumption. Yes, it is an urban fantasy series and yes there are vampires or night children, but I feel that is a completely different world with a completely different writing style. I feel a more accurate statement would to just say that this series would be great for urban fantasy or paranormal readers and call it good at that. 

So, if you are a fan of urban fantasy or paranormal books, I would recommend maybe giving this series a try, but I would recommend just getting the omnibus edition or picking up all five episodes at one time. I look forward to seeing what the next two episodes bring. Happy Reading!

My Rating: 

Novella Review: Dark Child: Episode Two

Good morning everyone! Today I'll be reviewing Dark Child: Episode Two by Adina West. It is the second book in the Dark Child series.  I received a copy of this book for free in return for my honest review, through the Never Too Old For Y.A. Books Group on Goodreads. However, I received a copy of the book directly from the author's publisher. This in no way effects my final review of this book. 

Title: Dark Child: Episode Two

Author: Adina West

Series: Dark Child #2

Publisher: Momentum Books

Original Publication Date: March 1, 2013

Format Read: kindle

Genre: YA Paranormal

Purchase: Amazon

Find on Goodreads

Description from the publisher:
A crawling unease stirred deep within Kat. She shifted a little further away from Char. Finally she spoke, her voice fracturing the tense silence.

“Who are you, Char?”

Kat doesn’t want to question her luck too closely when she lands a fabulous Manhattan apartment only blocks from her new job, even if cab drivers do have a funny habit of driving right past her antiquated apartment building without seeing it.

But the quiet building hides a deadly secret, and when Kat meets Char from down the hall, she’s drawn into a hidden world where humans aren’t welcome, populated by beings as dangerous as they are beautiful. Soon Kat’s neck-deep in trouble and on the run, and discovering the truth about her own unique heritage might just make things worse.

This is a novella-length episode of Dark Child. This is part two of five.

This novella picks up almost where the last one left off. Kat has accepted her new job and is in New York looking for a place to live that is within easy walking distance to work. While she initially has trouble she eventually lucks out. Although there does seem to be something strange about her new apartment building.

Besides Kat, you are introduced to a few new characters in this episode. I found these new characters to be interesting. I normally don't care for more than two or three POVs in a story, but so far the multiple POVs are working for me in this one. I am amused that as I reader I know more about what is happening to Kat than she does.

One of the new characters we meet is Char, who immediately realizes there is something different about Kat. She calls it in to the big guys and is immediately tasked with protecting her until they can send someone over to investigate. 

I'm really hoping to find out more in the third episode, as this one ended a little abruptly. Thankfully, I am in possession of the third episode, that I plan on reading ASAP.

My Rating: 

Novella Review: Dark Child: Episode One

I hope everyone is enjoying their summer so far. Today I'll be reviewing Dark Child: Episode One by Adina West. It is the first book in the Dark Child series.  I received a copy of this book for free in return for my honest review, through the Never Too Old For Y.A. Books Group on Goodreads. However, I received a copy of the book directly from the author's publisher. This in no way effects my final review of this book. Over the next couple of days I'll be posting reviews for the first three episodes.

Title: Dark Child: Episode One

Author: Adina West

Series: Dark Child #1

Publisher: Momentum Books

Original Publication Date: February 1, 2013

Format Read: kindle

Genre: YA Paranormal

Purchase: Amazon (free as of this posting)

Find on Goodreads

Description from the publisher:
Kat can run a marathon without breaking a sweat. Catch anything you throw at her. Differentiate blood types by smell alone. And she’s spent years hiding the fact. But secrets from the past have a way of slipping out when least expected, and a simple blood test is enough to turn her quiet life in the shadow of the Appalachian Mountains upside down forever.

Kat’s been craving raw meat. When she visits a psychic she’s told her life is about to change forever. Kat isn’t so sure change is a part of her plan, but when a fabulous job offer to work for a research organization comes her way, she’s tempted to say yes and make the move to New York. It just might be her chance to find out if there are others in the world like her.

Will her dream job bring answers to her questions or will it lead her into more trouble than she could ever imagine?

This is a novella-length episode of Dark Child. This is part one of five.

In this novella or episode you are introduced to Kat. She lives in South Charleston and works as a pathologist. She hasn't been feeling well lately, so she sneaks a peak at her own blood-work. What she finds isn't normal, but then again she has a bunch of other strange quirks. What does this mean? Well, for Kat her strange blood work just might be the ticket to moving up in her organization with a great job offer in New York. 

In the beginning and the end of this novella, you are also briefly introduced to Amarok. A man who has been secretly keeping an eye on Kat all these years to keep her safe. He thinks she is the one they have been waiting for to save them and bring about peace. 

I have to say, I am intrigued about both of these characters. I have read a few different novella/episode types of books and this is a pretty good start to one. You get to see what Kat's current world is all about, her family, her job, her friend, etc...You know a little bit less about Amarok and his family, but you do get a glimpse and I'm sure there will be more in the upcoming episodes. 

Even within this short novella a fair amount of the mythology is revealed to the reader while still leaving plenty of mystery for the future episodes. You don't fully know what's going on, but want to know more. I look forward to reading more episodes of this story. 

My Rating: