Review: Innocent Darkness by Suzanne Lazaer

Title: Innocent Darkness
Author: Suzanne Lazear
Format: E-book - Galley
Read: May 13-14 2012
Rating: 3.5/5
Recommend: Maybe.

Summary: This book has a unique premise: Steampunk faerie tale.  Magnolia has been sent to a school for troublesome girls, but ultimately she is broken out of the school with the aid of a Faerie.  She is slated to be the sacrificial lamb to save Otherworld.

Review:  I was given this book as an ARC/Galley copy from Netgalley, and the prospect of Steampunk mixed with faerie did seem intriguing especially since it raises so many questions about how the two would intermingle especially with Fae being known for having a strong allergic reaction to all things iron and frowning on the inclusion of too much mortal world technology.
There were things that I liked in this book and things that irritated me with this book.  Multiple names for each character tended to get confusing, especially since each character had a nickname and their actual name but went by one or another name throughout the entirety of the book.  That was one of the things that rubbed me the wrong way, and I also disliked the sudden drop off of the steampunk part of the story.  The devices that were used at the beginning of the story were among my favorite and it upset me that once things shifted there was little to no more steampunk influence on the story.
Okay, so Noli is a hoyden, but there was no closure given to the harsh and unacceptable treatment she'd received at the school.  It kinda irked me that there were no lasting, lingering effects (as their should have been from such treatment) and everything was suddenly overshadowed by the fact that she had to be sacrificed to save Otherworld, and ultimately the romance took over as well.  While, I do like a good romance, it to me is not something that should have taken center stage when there were more pressing issues that needed to be dealt with.
Will I continue to read this series? I am on the fence about picking up the second book simply because there was a lot that had left me wanting with this one.  We will see, I may pick it up just to see what twists are in it and if there is further inclusion of the steampunk or if it has merely turned into another faerie story.

Galley Galore 2.0

Hey all! Welcome to Wednesday.  On this spectacular hump day, I am featuring some reviews of galley copies of books that I'd been privileged enough to receive through Netgalley.  This edition of Galley Galore will be featuring five books total, four of which are in one singular series.  I've still got a couple of fantastic galleys to review for you, but for some of them you are just going to have to wait a while because they aren't due out for another couple of months yet.  The books featured in this edition of Galley Galore are: Beneath the Shadows by Sara Foster, Moonstone, Moon Rise, Moon Spun, and Shadow Moon all by Marilee Brothers and make up the Unbidden Magic series.

Without further rambling from me, here is the first book up for review today...

Book blurb: When Grace's husband, Adam, inherits a cottage on the Yorkshire moors, they leave London behind to try a new life.  A week later, Adam disappears.  The following year, Grace returns with her baby daughter Millie.  She is desperate for answers, but resigned to preparing the cottage for sale.  With no one prepared to divulge their secrets, Grace finds herself unwilling to trust anyone.  Then, just as snow fall threatens to cut her off from the rest of the world, she makes a terrible discovery.  In the aftermath, she realizes that she has been looking in the wrong place for answers all along.  In the wild winter weather she sets out to reclaim her daughter from the one person seemingly intent on taking Millie away, praying that she will reach them in time.

This book was awesome and earned four stars from me, and I highly recommend it to anyone who loves reading mystery and thriller books because while there are some gothic undertones, it is quite a thrilling read!  Review: Beneath the Shadows by Sara Foster

Moonstone book blurb: A sickly mother.  A tiny house trailer.  High school bullies and snarky drama queens.  Bad-guy dudes with charming smiles.  Allie has problems.  And then there's that whole thing about fulfilling a magical prophecy and saving the world from evil.  Geez.  Welcome to the sad, funny, sometimes-scary world of fifteen-year-old Allie Emerson, who's struggling to keep her and her mom's act together in the small-town world of Peacock Flats, Washington.  An electrical zap from a TV antenna sets off Allie's weird psychic powers.  The next thing she knows she's being visited by a hippy-dippy guardian angel, and then her mysterious neighbor, the town "witch," gives her an incredible moonstone pendant that has powers only a good-hearted "Star Seeker" is meant to command.  "Who, me?" is Allie's first reaction.  But as sinister events begin to unfold, Allie realizes she's got a destiny to live up to.  if she can just survive everyday life in the meantime. 

This is the first book in the Unbidden Magic series by Marilee Brothers, and I'd actually received all four books from the publisher via Netgalley and so did not get a chance to look at any of the cover art until after I'd read the books and added them to my completed reads over on Goodreads.  I do like the covers of all four books and am quite glad I got the chance to read this series.  Review: Moonstone (Unbidden Magic #1) by Marilee Brothers

Moon Rise book blurb: Her mom's still dating losers. Her boyfriend's gone back to Mexico. Dad still hasn't told his wife and kids that she exists. At school, the drama queens and bullies still rule. But worst of all for Allie Emerson--aka the Star Seeker of an old Gypsy prophecy--is that her powers have taken a hike. She can't read minds anymore. She can't move stuff just by looking at it. The other Star Seekers are counting on her psychic gifts more than ever, and the evil Tri-marks are closing in, eager to snatch her magic moonstone necklace while she's helpless. The hot new guy at school is ready and willing to fight her battles, but he comes with some wicked baggage. Dear Diary: I'm a little worried. My new BF is a demon.

Welcome again to Allie Emerson's funny, scary, amazing, and always unpredictable life, as the girl voted least likely to save the world from evil.

Moon Rise is the second book in the Unbidden Magic series, and is just as good as the first in the series.  We learn more about Allie, and in this part of her life her newly found powers have done what she initially wanted them to do - gone away - she can no longer do the things that she could before, and evil is closing in, but Allie has no way to stop them with her powers gone.  Oh, and lets start dating a demon while we are at it!  It yet another page turner by Marilee Brothers.  This one, like the first got four stars from me. Review: Moon Rise (Unbidden Magic #2) by Marilee Brothers 

Moon Spun blurb: Junior's back from Mexico with his movie-star entourage. Beck's using his half-demon charms to "heal" a new girl. Mom's still wacky and now she's dating Principal Hostetler. High school is still an obstacle course of drama queens, bullies and nutjobs. The Trimarks are still a menace, and the moonstone pendant has revealed even more mind-boggling powers. In other words, Allie Emerson's life as the Girl Voted Least Likely To Save The World From Evil has gone from Weird to Super-Charged Super-Weird, and it's about to get even weirder. You're a faery princess. So says the mysterious Ryker, whose handsome talents include turning himself into a hawk. By the way, he and Allie are destined to marry. In faery land--Boundless. If they can save it from forces even more deadly than Trimarks and high school. The third book in the Unbidden Magic series plunges readers into a rich other-world of danger, humor, romance, fable, fairytale and magical destiny.

Moon Spun is the third installment of the Unbidden Magic series, and another reason for me to love Allie all the more.  Lots of interesting things continue to happen to dear Allie since her discovery of her powers.  Oh, wait, now we add faery blood into the mix - as if she didn't have enough to worry about.  Thanks Ryker, who can turn himself into a hawk...and is destined to marry Allie (GAH! Boy #3 already!).  This book pulls you into a rich other-world, Boundless, the faery land that is under threat greater than the Tri-Marks and high school.  What will happen to Allie in this installment? Oh, and did I mention that JUNIOR IS BACK FROM MEXICO?! Beck is still around too.  Dreamy, dreamy, and dreamy that is what Allie's got before her. Review: Moon Spun (Unbidden Magic #3) by Marilee Brothers

Shadow Moon blurb: Allie Emerson is hoping for a few quiet months to catch her breath after a summer that included the discovery she is not only a twin and of faery blood, but also destined to play a pivotal role in faery world. School has barely begun when Allie must kiss her hope of a normal year goodbye.

She can't escape her unfinished business with the fae, the Trimarks, or Junior Alvarez, who is making it clear he plans to win her back. Signs, portents and whispers are pushing Allie to "find the girl" before it's too late. Hoping her twin can help her solve the riddle of their destiny, Allie uncovers old secrets and begins a cross-country journey that puts her in more danger than ever before. If she succeeds, she may just find the answers that can save everyone she loves.

Allie is a twin and part faery! Right, so much for being a normal teenager, and some downtime.  Seriously, I think my head would explode if I didn't at some point get a nice long vacation and some time to myself.  However, Allie's hopes for a normal year are dashed right at the beginning of the school year.  There is unfinished business abounding from the fae, to Junior, and the ever present menace of the Tri-Marks.  

Junior wants her back, like with a vengeance.  Also, everything is pushing Allie to find "the girl" and in the mean time, she ends up having to travel cross-country and hopefully save everyone she loves if she can find the right answers!  Definitely a fantastic installment to this series and by the Gods I want more! Review: Shadow Moon (Unbidden Magic #4) by Marilee Brothers

So, there you have Galley Galore 2.0.  Five EPIC stories that you must read! 

See you next time! 

Cae 

Review: Shadow Moon (Unbidden Magic #4) by Marilee Brothers

Title:  Shadow Moon (Unbidden Magic #4)
Author:  Marilee Brothers
Rating: 5/5

Summary:  Allie is a faerie princess, destined to marry Ryker, and she’s a twin.  After all these discoveries, all she wants is some down time to process it and catch her breath, however, that is not going to be allowed.  Any hope that Allie had of a normal school year is gone, and she has countless levels of unfinished business with the fae, the Tri-Marks and the returned Junior Alvarez, who wants her back in a major way.  This danger filled cross-country journey will provide more twists and turns into Allie’s already convoluted life and hopefully she will find the answers and save everyone she loves.


Review:  Two words: CLIFF HANGER! Dear god, I am restraining myself from tracking down Ms. Brothers and begging for an ARC of book number five that she is working on.  Seriously, I want it that bad.  This book was fantastic, this book was even more of a rollercoaster than the other books in the series.  The adventure and excitement in Moon Spun have NOTHING on the twists and turns of this book. 

The play on government conspiracies, the threat from our own government added to the mix, was something expected yet unexpected.  Something I once thought as filler has become its own full blown storyline, and there was absolutely nothing that I could find fault with aside from the fact that it ends on a cliff hanger and those drive me crazy with want for more.

I seriously had to struggle to put this book down and do other things, like work and tend to household chores.  It was that good, and you cannot look away. She has a twin, and an evil looking fae who pops in and out at the weirdest times.  Also, there is the fae posing as a preacher who has evil motives.  Then we meet Sammie, who Allie has a psychic connection to.  A suspension right before the holiday, Allie is vindicated by Nicole, and this opens up the path to begin searching for her sister.  A unique mix goes along for the ride: Junior, Faye and Sammie.  However, things take a drastic turn and this search soon becomes a fight for Allie and Sammie’s life.

I wish Beck had gotten a bit more page time aside from a phone call every now and then, but perhaps it  is a good thing, because of Beck’s succubus heritage.  Junior has fallen out of favor with me, but he regained a lot of it in this installment, and I’m looking to see what develops between him and Allie in the future installments.  Another beau that is absent in this installment is Ryker, but there are some hints that lead me to believe that there maybe some kin between he and Beck.  However, the hawk feather comes through.

Sammie has become one of my favorites and I love the connection between she and Allie.  One that we do not know how close it is until the very end of the story, and I can’t wait to see more of her.

If you’ve not read this series, it is never too late to start.  There is something in it for everyone, and I am anxious to see what else is in store for Allie and her band of merry misfits. 


If you have any questions, comments or recommendations you can contact me at simplicity.kindreth@gmail.com
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Review: Moon Spun (Unbidden Magic #3) by Marilee Brothers

Title:  Moon Spun (Unbidden Magic #3)
Author:   Marilee Brothers
Rating:  4/5

Summary: Beck is healing a new girl.  Junior and his entourage are back from Mexico.  Mom is now dating Principal Hostetler.  Tri-Marks are still a menace and the pendant has revealed even more mind-boggling powers.  Allie Emerson’s life as the Girl Voted Least Likely To Save The World From Evil has gone from Weird to Super-Charged Super-Weird, and the rollercoaster ride of weirdness is not over yet.  Enter the mysterious Ryker, who can turn himself into a hawk btw, divulges that Allie is a faery princess and destined to be his bride.  Wait, what?! Yeah.  Oh yeah, and the faery land, Boundless, is dealing with a threat bigger than the Tri-Marks and Allie and Ryker gotta save it.


Review:  This one is just as compelling as the first two in the series, but this one has a flavor all its own.  It picks up shortly after where Moon Rise left off, summertime is here and the faeries are out to play.  Beck is in Seattle and with his departure Junior returns.  However, we also have mysterious boy number three, Ryker, who is now after Allie’s heart.

The threat in this book, thankfully is not the Tri-Marks, but in a whole new world, the Faerie Land of Boundless.  Allie’s grandmother needs her help to free the faeries of the forest from the prison they’ve been in for years.  There is a changling who wants to return to Boundless, and oh yeah, if Allie goes to Boundless, the land of her grandmother, she may never be able to return to her home.  Sounds good right?!  We learn more about her heritage in this book, her grandmother is a faerie queen, and her father has a mysterious heritage as well.

Another well written installment to this series, and kudos to Ms. Brothers for creating such a wonderful world and delightful characters – that I adore! Also, I do have to feel for Allie, I mean, the boys keep coming out of the woodworks to woo and protect her regardless of what she wants.  Allie would be just peachy settling down and being a normal teen, but that isn’t in her cards.  I love that we get this glimpse into her grandmother’s world and what it means for Allie’s future.  I love how she is further coming into her own as she bargains and stands up for what she wants.  I am more than ready for the next book in the series to see what twists and turns Allie comes across and if any more woo and protect hotties come out of the woodworks.


If you have any questions, comments or recommendations you can contact me at simplicity.kindreth@gmail.com
My reviews can be found here:
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Review: Artemis Fowl: The Time Paradox by Eoin Colfer

Title:  Artemis Fowl: The Time Paradox
Author:  Eoin Colfer
Rating: 4/5

I received a copy of this book from the publisher, Disney-Hyperion, via netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.  I thank the publisher for this opportunity.

Summary:  Three years later, Artemis returns and his mother has contracted a deadly disease, whose only cure lies in the brain fluid of the African lemur, however they are extinct, and have been for five years.  Thanks Artemis! Yup, it’s his fault that they are extinct.  So, time to play with time, as Artemis has to go back in time with the aid of his fairy friends and confront his most deadly enemy, himself, to save the lemurs.


Review:  The sixth book in the Artemis Fowl series, delivers yet again.  Eoin Colfer has thrown so many twists and turns to what could have been a potentially simple, easy retrieval mission.  We see a resurgence of the time-traveling demon from The Lost Colony, and he helps Artemis go back in time where he now must come face-to-face with his devious, Machiavellian younger self in an attempt to retrieve and save the African lemur.

But, something happens, and things as usual become infinitely more complicated when Artemis learns that he can no longer trust his memories of what happened all those years ago.  Will Artemis be able to save his mother? To undo the damage his younger self caused by selling the African Lemur to the extinction cult?


If you have any questions, comments or recommendations you can contact me at simplicity.kindreth@gmail.com
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Review: Philippa Fisher and the Fairy's Promise

Title:  Philippa Fisher and the Fairy’s Promise (Philippa Fisher #3)
Author:  Liz Kessler
Rating:  5/5

Summary:  Philippa is excited to spend her vacation with her friend Robyn, but she has no idea just how much excitement awaits. When a magic spell carved on a mysterious circle of rocks transports Philippa to fairy godmother headquarters, she learns that her own mother is in danger. To protect her mom from a serious accident, Philippa must pretend to be a fairy, while Daisy, her fairy godsister, returns to Earth as Philippa! And that’s just the beginning of their adventure. After passing a harrowing test of their loyalty to each other, Philippa and Daisy undergo a fantastic journey to rescue a lost fairy who has devoted her powers to maintaining the portal of the stone circle. With time running out, and the worlds of humans and fairies at risk of being severed, Daisy finds herself facing an extraordinary choice that has the power to change her life forever. (taken from Goodreads.com)

Review:  Okay, so I had my usual final book in a series anxiety with this one, because it is just that, the final book in the Philippa Fisher series, and I have to say it is my favorite book of the series.  Things get way more complicated than they have been in the books prior to this and there are more mysteries than ever before! The trio of friends in this book is something else, and I love them to pieces: Philippa, Robyn and Daisy. 

There is suspense in this book, something that isn’t so much in the others.  It isn’t a good or bad feeling, just the addition of a little drama that makes things a bit more interesting as the story progresses.  I also do like the way that this is written, much like the rest of the series there isn’t so much “chapters” but noticeable shifts from person to person, so we actually get to experience the thoughts and feelings of each character individually throughout the book.  Also, we meet some new faces, and the ending does leave the hope that there may be a fourth installment to the Philippa Fisher series.

The setting is the same as in the previous book, Philippa Fisher and the Dream-Maker’s Daughter, but the season is different.  This time the Fishers are visiting Robyn and her Dad over the winter holidays, and are going to be spending New Years with them.  Robyn’s dad doesn’t make much of an appearance in this one, and isn’t really a major player in the story, however we do get to see another side to the eccentric and artsy Mrs. Fisher in this story. 

The stone circle, Tidehill Rocks, is the scene of the event, which I am certain you can guess, if you know some of the mythology and magical history surrounding stone circles, and brings about the start of another adventure for this trio of best friends.  It is easy to read, and darn it I want more Philippa Fisher!

If you have any questions, comments or recommendations you can contact me at simplicity.kindreth@gmail.com
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Review: Philippa Fisher and the Dream-Maker's Daughter

Title:  Philippa Fisher and the Dream-Maker’s Daughter (Philippa Fisher #2)
Author:  Liz Kessler
Rating:  4/5

Summary:  Philippa Fisher is trying to have a good time on vacation with her parents, but she’s feeling lonely. When she meets Robyn, a girl with sad eyes and a strict father, she enjoys the company, but can’t help wondering what Robyn and her dad might be hiding. Meanwhile, Daisy, Philippa’s best friend (and fairy godsister), sneaks into her former charge’s room for a visit, but now has a furtive new mission and must dash away. Philippa longs to uncover the reasons behind her friends’ odd behavior, but friendships can be tricky when there are secrets — and unexpected danger — involved! Best-selling author Liz Kessler is back with a sympathetic story about navigating between old friends and new, a tale full of mystery, whimsy, and all the magic tween readers could wish for. (Taken from Goodreads.com)

Review:  I liked this book better than the first book in the series.  This one has a bit more action and reveals a bit more of the mystery that surrounds the fairies and we meet a Dream-Maker.  One of my favorite scenes is how the selection of the vacation spot is made, they are looking at a map, trying to figure out where to go for the tickets that Philippa won.  The decision is ultimately made when a butterfly (or a fairy disguised as a butterfly) lands on a particular spot on the map.  The Fisher’s see this as an omen and head out for this location for their vacation.

While in this fantastically wonderful spot, Philippa meets Robyn Fairweather, the daughter of the owner of the used book store in the town where they are staying.  Philippa and Robyn meet in the local ceramics shop run by Annie (the mastermind of the beginnings of the Philippa and Robyn friendship) who is also Robyn’s best friend, and has been since Robyn’s mother died.  However, Robyn’s father doesn’t want her around Annie at all and summons her home when he catches her at the ceramics shop.

There are too many secrets that are tearing apart a friendship and tearing apart a family.  Can Daisy help bring them all together? Some of the secrets nearly made me cry when they were revealed.  Overall a good read.

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Review: Philippa Fisher's Fairy Godsister

Title:  Philippa Fisher’s Fairy Godsister (Philipa Fisher #1)
Author:  Liz Kessler
Rating:  3/5

Summary: Philippa Fisher is just your average eleven-and-a-half-year-old girl. She's a bit shy and not the most popular girl at school. But all that changes one day when a new girl named Daisy arrives at school and reluctantly confesses that she is Philippa's very own fairy godsister.
Unfortunately for Philippa, Daisy is a fairy who is not too fond of humans, and so she is not pleased about having to help Philippa. In fact, she wants nothing more than to grant Philippa her three wishes quickly so that she can move on to a new assignment.
However, things are not that simple. Philippa and Daisy just cannot seem to get along, and Philippa's wishes keep making her life worse rather that better. Will Philippa and Daisy be able to come together to solve the mess they have created before it is too late?  (Taken from goodreads.com)

Review:  A couple of things irked me about this book, but not so much to put me off reading it or recommending it if the need arose.  The title comes from one line in the book, and it is the only time any reference to it is made, otherwise it is the standard cookie-cutter reference of “fairy godmother” when speaking of Daisy (our Fairy God-mother or –sister).  Daisy is only referenced as a fairy godsister simply because of her closeness in age to eleven year old Phillipa Fisher, daughter of scatterbrained, artsy parents. 

The story is cute, but tends to rely a bit too much on message, and cramming as many life lessons as possible into the book.  This, unfortunately reduces the plot to little more than a checklist of things that need to be done.  It is not a book that I probably would have remembered if I’d read as a kid, even now, having read it 4 months ago, some of the details are sketchy at best.  If there had not been the reduction into the former formalities of “fairy godmotherdom” and it had remained light-hearted and stayed in the realm of “fairy godsisterdom” it would have been much, much more entertaining and would have left me with a more lasting impression.

If you have any questions, comments or recommendations you can contact me at simplicity.kindreth@gmail.com
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