Furyborn by Claire Legrand

Follows two fiercely independent young women, centuries apart, who hold the power to save their world...or doom it.

This book was a fun read. The plot and characters were outstanding. The world building was amazing! Two kingdoms, over a thousand year apart, and the story flows seamlessly! I was enthralled with the magical structure and the methods the author used to bind these two women together. As the story unravels, you begin to see how the characters are intertwined and its outstanding. The romance in this book is more of a back story for each of the ladies. However it is within these stories that this novel has its major flaw. The sexual scenes in this novel boarder on pornographic. They are not appropriate for the young adult audience this book is intended for. I felt slightly uncomfortable with the sexual explicitness contained in this book. It was a shame too, because the story line was strong and enthralling. There was no need to add this high level of sexuality into this story. There were also hints of bisexuality and homosexuality within this book. A skilled author and a good story, but these negatives will probably prevent me from continuing the series. I do not like watching porn, I do not want to read in in what is suppose to be Young adult fiction either. I caution any parents or educators, I do not recommended for teens. 
A quick note about the audio version of this book. If you decide to listen to this book, the narrator does an excellent job switching between the two story-lines, but because the book does constantly switch between two different women and their lives, you will have to devote more than the usual amount of attention to this audiobook. 
I give Furyborn 2.5 out of 5 stars
I give the audio version of this book 4 out of 5 stars

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 tag-along 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.

Maybe its the high school teacher in me, but I instantly loved this book. I was absorbed in Sophie's initial battle to fit in and to adapt to the high school life as paranormal as it was. Her magical twist just made the story even better. There were the mean girls, the nerds, the cool kids and the friendly kid. I loved it. Then there was this really interesting magical system all wrapped up in a school environment. Enter teacher mode! How cool it would be to be a teacher at a magical school. I kept getting caught up in that idea as I read this book Anyway Sophie has some real serious imperfections, but that makes her more realistic, and more likable. She may not be the perfect student, but she has a good heart. What's more, this school is diverse. There are shapeshifters, werewolves, fae, witches,  vampires, and even demons attending Hex Hall. So many supernatural ethnicities all within the pages on one book!!

I give Hex Hall 4.5 out of 5 stars

I give the audio book performance 4.5 out of 5 stars

Lady Renegades by Rachel Hawkins

Just as Harper Price starts coming to terms with her role as David Stark’s battle-ready Paladin, protector, and girlfriend—her world goes crazy all over again.

Overwhelmed by his Oracle powers, David flees Pine Grove and starts turning teenage girls into Paladins—and these young ladies seem to think that Harper is the enemy David needs protecting from.  Ordinarily, Harper would be able to fight off any Paladin who comes her way, but her powers have been dwindling since David left town…which means her life is on the line yet again.

Lady Renegades completes the Rebel Belle series. In many ways this book was more complete and less rushed than Miss Mayhem, however it in no way came close to the fun and excitement I felt when reading Rebel Belle. The book did end neatly, but almost abruptly. Everything tied up in a neat bow so to speak, but I felt there were still a few questions I wanted answers to. This book was more serious than the original, and although it was interesting, that level of seriousness this book  zapped some of the humor away. Overall this book is worth reading and I would recommend the investment. 

I give Lady Renegades 3.75 out of 5 stars

I give the audio version 5 out of 5 stars

Miss Mayhem by Rachel Hawkins (Book 2 in Rebel Belle Series)

Life is almost back to normal for Harper Price. The Ephors have been silent after their deadly attack at Cotillion months ago, and her best friend, Bee, has returned after a mysterious disappearance. Now Harper can focus on the important things in life: school, canoodling with David (her nemesis-turned-ward-slash-boyfie), and even competing in the Miss Pine Grove pageant.

Unfortunately, supernatural chores are never done. The Ephors have decided they’d rather train David than kill him. The catch: Harper has to come along for the ride, but she can’t stay David’s Paladin unless she undergoes an ancient trial that will either kill her . . . or make her more powerful than ever.

Like most second books this book was not as good as the first installment, however it was still a good book and worthy of reading. It filled in a lot of information about the characters and the relationships between the characters grew. The combo of magic and southern culture were still endearing and lend the book an unique perspective.  The book is action packed and never boring. However, be prepared, this book, like most second-in-the series-books ends in a cliffhanger. 

I give Miss Mayhem 3.5 out of 5 stars
I give the audio book 4.5 out of 5 stars

Rebel Belle by Rachel Hawkins

Harper Price, peerless Southern belle, was born ready for a Homecoming tiara. But after a strange run-in at the dance imbues her with incredible abilities, Harper's destiny takes a turn for the seriously weird. She becomes a Paladin, one of an ancient line of guardians with agility, super strength and lethal fighting instincts.

Sweet, Southern, Sassy, and of course magical powers!?!?  Living in the south and loving magical based novels, I had to give this book a try. I was not let down. The historical and mystical magical world of the Paladins combines with the charming etiquette of a southern belle and creates something that has never been done before. Yes this is a Young adult novel, so it revolves around teenagers, but they do include adults in their saving ventures and even so who can fault a high school teacher for enjoying a bit of YA every once and a while.  This book "is a pearl" and the best part is there are sequels.

I give Rebel Belle 5 out of 5 stars
I give the audio book 5 out of 5 stars   

Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi

Aria has lived her whole life in the protected dome of Reverie. Her entire world confined to its spaces, she's never thought to dream of what lies beyond its doors. So when her mother goes missing, Aria knows her chances of surviving in the outer wasteland long enough to find her are slim.

This summary is so inadequate when describing all the elements within the pages of this book!!! Do not let that dissuade you! If you enjoy dystopian fiction/post-apocalyptic fiction then you will want to read this novel. 
 There are dual point of views used within this novel, however the author makes it clear which character is speaking and switches between voices are done at times when it benefits the storyline. The focus of this story is the characters more than the world building. This means the characters delivered are exceptionally well defined and realistic. However, the world building is not weakly done. It is just not the focus of the author. The reader gets a good idea of the political system, the breakdown between the two distinct groups of peoples and their cultures up to this point, and what is happening to the world at this point in time. To really appreciate this story one needs to combine all the elements of the plot and immerse themselves in the pages of the novel. I have read this book multiple times. I enjoyed all three novels in this trilogy and would highly recommend reading Under The Never Sky and its sequels. Just do not start it if you have to get up early in the morning, you might lose sleep over this one! 
I also find this book appropriate for high school aged students. It has a few scenes that would make it too mature for younger students, but most high school students would watch much worse on TV and movie screens. There are some political undercurrents that could be addressed or of course a teacher could just recommend this book as a pleasure read.

I give Under the Never Sky 4 out of 5 Stars
I give the audio performance 5 out of 5 stars!

The Hundredth Queen by Emily R. Queen

As an orphan ward of the Sisterhood, eighteen-year-old Kalinda is destined for nothing more than a life of seclusion and prayer. Plagued by fevers, she’s an unlikely candidate for even a servant’s position, let alone a courtesan or wife. Her sole dream is to continue living in peace in the Sisterhood’s mountain temple.
But a visit from the tyrant Rajah Tarek disrupts Kalinda’s life. Within hours, she is ripped from the comfort of her home, set on a desert trek, and ordered to fight for her place among the rajah’s ninety-nine wives and numerous courtesans. Her only solace comes in the company of her guard, the stoic but kind Captain Deven Naik.
Faced with the danger of a tournament to the death—and her growing affection for Deven—Kalinda has only one hope for escape, and it lies in an arcane, forbidden power buried within her.

I have mixed feelings about this book. On one hand there is beautiful writing, excellent world building, well defined characters, romance, fantasy, bravery, and of course magic. On the other hand there is slavery, sexual slavery, polygamy, and murder. However, I feel the good balances the bad and the author never condones the negative. It is just presented as the culture of the world these people live in. The evils in this book are never portrayed as acceptable, but as obstacles the heroine has to  overcome if she is to survive. She is strong and smart. The protagonist adapts, she is not a weakling whining and complaining about her plight, but a character we are able to watch grow and evolve into a brave and likable young potential queen. Each chapter is exciting, leaving the reader wanting to know what is going to happen next, and in spite of the obvious negative connotations toward the treatment of women, the author counter balances this with strong female roles, and relationships throughout the story. 

Due to some of the more intense graphic scenes in this novel I would not recommend it for younger readers. There are gory fight scenes and more talk of sexual involvement than I would recommend for children. This book is for a young adult audience and higher. 

I give The Hundredth Queen 4 out of 5 stars

The Forgotten Book by Mechthild Gläser

Emma is used to things going her way. Her father is headmaster of her prestigious boarding school, her friends take her advice as gospel, and she's convinced that a relationship with her long-time crush is on the horizon.
As it turns out, Emma hasn't seen anything yet. When she finds an old book in an abandoned library, things really start going Emma's way: anything she writes in the book comes true.
But the power of the book is not without consequences, and Emma soon realizes that she isn't the only one who knows about it. Someone is determined to take it from her--and they'll stop at nothing to succeed.

This book is supposed to have tie-ins with Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austin. I will try to write this review based on the book itself and not on any relationship it has to Austin's book.
The first thing I noticed about this book was its beautiful cover. Like The Book Jumper, by the same author, it has a lovely cover, but that book did not impress me so I was hesitant. However, I am a sucker for a pretty cover and this time I was rewarded with a better story. The story within these pages is better suited to a younger audience. I believe I would recommend this book for middle school aged students. The relationships and angst between characters tends to be juvenile,  but adequate for that audience. The characters are not overly complex, but developed enough to create an interesting plot, and the story line is interesting. Overall the tale held my attention in spite of being mostly predictable. My own children enjoyed the book far more than I did. 

School aged ranking 4 out of 5 stars for The Forgotten Book
The audio performance 4 out of 5 stars
Overall I give The Forgotten Book 3 out of 5 stars

Seraphina by Rachel Hartman

Four decades of peace have done little to ease the mistrust between humans and dragons in the kingdom of Goredd. Folding themselves into human shape, dragons attend court as ambassadors, and lend their rational, mathematical minds to universities as scholars and teachers. As the treaty's anniversary draws near, however, tensions are high.
Seraphina Dombegh has reason to fear both sides. An unusually gifted musician, she joins the court just as a member of the royal family is murdered—in suspiciously draconian fashion. Seraphina is drawn into the investigation, partnering with the captain of the Queen's Guard, the dangerously perceptive Prince Lucian Kiggs. While they begin to uncover hints of a sinister plot to destroy the peace, Seraphina struggles to protect her own secret, the secret behind her musical gift, one so terrible that its discovery could mean her very life.
Think you have read all the books and tired story lines there are out there when it comes to dragons. WRONG! This book does an excellent job of creating a new world, with new rules for dragons. It is amazing!! Dragons can take on human shape, and with that comes messy human emotions. Needless to say inter-species relationships with humans and dragons are forbidden, enter our protagonist. She has so many issues to juggle and she has to do it from her new post working at the palace. She has extraordinary gifts, but has to be wary or her origins may be discovered.
This YA Fantasy has it all Mystery, intrigue, magic, romance, and of course dragons!

I give Seraphina 5 out of 5 stars
I give the audio performance 5 out of 5 stars

Uglies by Scott Westerfield

Tally is about to turn sixteen, and she can't wait. In just a few weeks she'll have the operation that will turn her from a repellent ugly into a stunning pretty. And as a pretty, she'll be catapulted into a high-tech paradise where her only job is to have fun.
But Tally's new friend Shay isn't sure she wants to become a pretty. When Shay runs away, Tally learns about a whole new side of the pretty world-- and it isn't very pretty. The authorities offer Tally a choice: find her friend and turn her in, or never turn pretty at all. Tally's choice will change her world forever..

This book is WOW! It has so many themes in it!  Ultimately this novel is a coming of age story, but set in the future. Young adults are always obsessed with how they look on the outside, in this book Westerfield forces his protagonist to deal with hard decisions beyond hair style and what party to go to. She had to make choices that impacted not only the rest of her life, but the lives of others. Reality check, I think so. Some of the writing was simplistic, but this book was for a younger audience. Overall I enjoyed the world building and the character development in this novel. 

4 out of 5 stars for Uglies
4 out of 5 stars for the audio performance 

Zeroes by Scott Westerfield, Margo Langan, and Deborah Biancotti

Don't call them heroes, but each of these 6 teens has a power that ordinary people just do not have. That sets them apart, but it can also get them into a lot of dangerous situations because every power has its price.

I found this book interesting. It mixed up the normal Young Adult writing, none of the normal powers here. These kids have powers you have probably never even considered before. Originality meets creativity! What a way to write a book! Whats more these kids have no big plans, they are just there for each other. No get rich schemes, no world domination, they just want to learn more about themselves and be there for each other in the process. Isn't that what we all want? To know ourselves and friends to be with us along this  journey called life. Excellent writing and world building. Awesome, Terrific, Fantastic,  character development.  Great book, and there is a sequel.

I give Zeroes 5 out of 5 stars
I give the audio contend 4 out of 5 stars

The Rose and The Dagger by Renee Ahdieh

In a land on the brink of war, Shahrzad is forced from the arms of her beloved husband, the Caliph of Khorasan. She once thought Khalid a monster—a merciless killer of wives, responsible for immeasurable heartache and pain—but as she unraveled his secrets, she found instead an extraordinary man and a love she could not deny. Still, a curse threatens to keep Shazi and Khalid apart forever.

This book is a solid and satisfying sequel to The Wrath and the Dawn. The set is a duology. The sequel is majestically and skillfully written! All loose ends are tied up, but not until every heartstring has been tugged, no yanked, from your chest. Think you can predict every contingency, think again. There will be surprises, conspiracies, revelations, and finally just when you cannot stand it anymore, resolution does occur, but what type of resolution, you will have to read to find out. I can tell you the magical element is a bit more predominant in The Rose and The Dagger than it was in its predecessor. However, it was not overdone. The world and cultural elements were still just as strong and elegant. The moments between the protagonists were brief, but heart wrenching. This is not your sappy romance or your cliche love triangle, this is the story of strong individuals, fighting against the world in an attempt to try to be together, with absolutely no guarantee of success and every reason to expect failure. 

I give the Rose and the Dagger 4 out of 5 Stars
Audio content 3 out of 5 stars

The Wrath and The Dawn by Renee Ahdieh

In a land ruled by a murderous boy-king, each dawn brings heartache to a new family. Khalid, the eighteen-year-old Caliph of Khorasan, is a monster. Each night he takes a new bride only to have a silk cord wrapped around her throat come morning. When sixteen-year-old Shahrzad's dearest friend falls victim to Khalid, Shahrzad vows vengeance and volunteers to be his next bride. Shahrzad is determined not only to stay alive, but to end the caliph's reign of terror once and for all.

This is a breath-taking book! I was afraid at first this was going to be a sicking case of Stockholm's Syndrome, but it was not. Shazi was so much stronger and so much deeper than I expected. I was hooked from the very beginning of this book.  I am not a big romance reader. I like a good love story, but i do not want it to dominate the book. Well this book is centered around a love story, but it is no cliche, sweet, love story. These are two strong and damaged individuals, both with reasons not to become attached to the other. They have absolutely no intention, or desire, to become entangled in a real relationship, and even as the love begins to grow, they both fight it. Not out of stupidity, or blindness, but these characters have real, tangible reasons not to want each others. The magical element in this book was woven into the background. it had quite a bit of influence over the story's plot, without permeating every move made. The world building was exceptional and the characters were well-developed.  I liked the blend of culture, magic, and wills as they collide to present the reader with this elegant, silky, young adult novel.   

I give the Wrath and the Dawn 5 out of 5 Stars
Audio Content 3 out of 5 stars

Daughter of the Burning City by Amanda Foody

Sixteen-year-old Sorina has spent most of her life within the smoldering borders of the Gomorrah Festival. Yet even among the many unusual members of the traveling circus-city, Sorina stands apart as the only illusion-worker born in hundreds of years. This rare talent allows her to create illusions that others can see, feel and touch, with personalities all their own.

If you enjoyed the story behind Caraval, The Night Circus, and Freeks, you might enjoy this book. I had a lot of likes within the pages of this book. I liked the murder mystery and the magic system that formed. I always enjoy reading a good magic system. Yes I know they are not real, and no I do not practice witchcraft, but I love to read and have a big imagination, and books are meant to be an escape from reality. I did not care for the romance in this story. I do not enjoy Mushy or drown out, complex romance among youth and this book was saturated in it. I also do not support/like reading books with homosexual relationships in them. I acknowledge many of today's books have these themes, but I personally do not support them.   There seemed to be some of those suggestions made in this book. Before you tar and feather me, this is my site and my review, I have the right not to enjoy reading about things I do not support. I did not trash anyone and was not hateful, so I would appreciate the same courtesy.  

I give Daughter of the Burning City 2.5 out of 5 Stars
I give the audio performance for this book 4 out of 5 stars

Soundless by RIchelle Mead

A city in the mountains of China, where everyone has lost their hearing and now they are losing another sense too!  As a special education teacher I loved this book.  The characters in this book did not let their "disabilities" become an excuse to be  labeled victims, instead they created an entire society. Admittedly, some became complacent, but enter our heroine.  The book was a simple read and did not have the complex world building I usually enjoy in fantasy novels, but I appreciated the level of determination in both the lead characters. Tenacity is what is needed to succeed in our world, with or without a disability, and these characters proved they have grit. It was also refreshing to see the back characters working in their community, finding ways to use the abilities they had, rather than focusing on their lack of abilities. This book has been given ratings across the board, because it is not a fast paced adventure, but it is thought provoking and has a beautiful story to tell. As an educator I recommend it to my older students as a story to empower them, to look past what they cannot do and begin to access what they can. As a reader, this novel is a nice easy read, it is predictable in places, but the themes and lessons are redeeming qualities and make it worth the read.

I give Soundless 3.5 out of 5 stars

Legendary by Stephanie Garber

It is not often I like a second book in a series as much, or maybe even more than the first, but enter Legendary.  In this book
 "The air tasted like wonder. Like candied butterfly wings caught in sugared spiderwebs, and drunken peaches coated in luck."  
This line says it all! The book is magical, explosive, suspenseful, and unpredictable!  There are twists and turns you would never expect. It is like riding on a roller coaster blindfolded. You know there are loops, whirls, drops, and spins coming, but you have no idea when or where and that is half of the excitement! Oh to live in this beautiful world where Caraval really exists! Stephanie Garber is a Grandmaster in her own right! she is a Master Legend of creation, she creates a world her readers yearn to be a part of! I was excited and disappointed to complete this book. I was elated to find out the answers to many of my questions, but sad that Caraval had ended again. I will read this book again and again! This book has become one of my new favorites, now to figure out how to update my favorites page.  The best part...... Legendary is not the last book!!! The author has announced there will be another book in this series!!! Oh to receive a ticket to this magical week!! I cannot wait for the sequel.  I did purchase this book in hard copy (it is beautiful) and audio format. The audio is absolutely fabulous. I love the voices the reader uses. The reader does an excellent job of capturing Tella's emotions throughout this book. It adds an extra depth and dimension to the book. If you like the book, you will love the audio version!

I give Legendary 5+++ stars out of 5 stars
I give the audio version 5 out of 5 stars 

The Bone Witch by Rin Chupeco

The first thing about this book that caught my attention was the gorgeous cover. It is unique and absolutely lovely! Then I read the summary and I was trapped. So much is going on in this book. The author very skillfully creates a world revolving around Asian magic and intricacies. The plot unfolds a little slowly for my taste, but I could easily follow the change from present to past tense and back as the main character relays her story. The love story was not the central element in this book, but was evident enough to pique the readers curiosity. The world building is done expertly. The magic system is original and eloquent.  All in all this was an intriguing read and I look forward to the sequel. I do warn the reader this book is a bit dark, but not overly so. I also enjoyed the audio version of this book.

I give the Bone Collector 4 out of 5 Stars
I give the audio version 4 out of 5 stars

First of all I WANT to read a copy of The Hinterland! I keep wishing this book of stories existed outside of The Hazel Wood. Hopefully Melissa Albert will consider writing it out and publishing some of these stories. I for one would love to read the full story of Alice Three Times and some of the other Amazing stories held within this book of tales.   As for The Hazel wood, this author created a world inside of universe, adjacent to another dimension! She did all of this in a way that read smoothly and the world building skills were extraordinary! Way to go Ms. Albert! I have always said I felt like books transported me to another dimension, but within the pages of this book, that seemed a true reality! This little book took my breath away. I had trouble working because I was so anxious to sneak in a few more pages to see what would happen next. An excellent, well paced plot, and all-around splendid read! I highly recommend this book.

I did purchase the audio version of this book as well and I highly suggest you give the audio a listen. The reader was excellent!

5 out of 5 stars for The Hazel Wood

5 out of 5 stars for the audio version of this book as well.

Caraval by Stephanie Garber

Magic, Mystery and Danger are Grand-master Legend's playhouse and these two sisters are playing for their lives! This book has some of the most amazing world building I have encountered in ages. I was immensely impressed with Garber's ability to intertwine so many well built characters into a masterfully developed plot and the story arc was never to slow or never rushed. Ms. Garber was a Grand-Master among Authors!! While many readers are awaiting their letters to Hogwarts, I am hoping for my ticket to Caraval! 

I give this book 5 out of 5 stars!  

Reading  Book 2, Legendary, now! Keep alert for my updated review of this masterful sequel!