Sweet Oblivion (Sweet #1)

Sweet Oblivion

(Sweet #1)

Bailey Ardisone

Release Date:

December 30, 2012

Publisher:

Self-Published

Pages:

386

Source:

My Personal Copy

(Kindle Freebie)

Reading Level:

Young Adult

Description:

 Nariella has a hard life. Hated and beaten by her foster father, she finds solace in the one person who has always been there for her--Rydan, her overprotective best friend. His sheltering only gets worse once Nari collides--literally--with Mycah. a boy being chased by two kinds of evil; a boy who Nari is convinced is either the devil or an angel. But she was wrong. He's something completely different.

 Then there's Namine. A servant who lives in fear for her family, for herself, and for the dying kingdom she lives in. But there is hope, and she's the only one who can bring that hope home to save them all. Namine will risk everything to make that happen, even if it means betraying her king.

People always want the truth until they have it. To be let in on secrets until they get burned by them. Nari is no different. But once she's kidnapped, tortured, and ultimately becomes intertwined in a secret world she never could've imagined existed. She knows there's no going back to blissful ignorance. And maybe she doesn't want to.

If darkness is the absence of light, what results from the absence of truth?

Nothing but Oblivion.

~Amazon

My Thoughts:

 Sweet Oblivion was an extremely confusing read. At one point I told my husband, 'I am 80% finished with this book, and I haven't a clue what is going on.' Most of the book felt plot less. I couldn't figure out what point the story was trying to make or where it was going. The chapters alternate between two point of views- Nariella and Namine. 

 Nariella is girl who is obviously in the real world. That much is easy to figure out, but she is surrounded by characters you know nothing about. Rydan has been Nariella's friend since childhood, but he is so silent and closed off the only thing you really learn about him is he is very talented with music. Then there is Mycah. He just suddenly starts showing up, and when he leaves no one can even remember he was there. Mycah is a very easy to like character. He has a lot of mystery around him that keeps making you want to turn the pages. 

 The Namine chapters give you very little information to help you figure out the story. It is easy to guess that she is in a fantasy world and not Earth. Other than the not-on-earth thing I had no idea what was happening, or even what the point of these chapters were. 

 Then the last 5% of this book happened. Everything started to make sense, and somewhat fall into place. It really left on a huge cliffhanger, but I loved it! I have not purchased the second book in this series yet, but I do plan to do it when I am able. I really can't wait to find out what is going to happen next. And I think I will understand what is going on better in the next book. The ending had several surprises, and really made the other 95% worth it. Sweet Oblivion was on it way to having a low rating from me, but in the end it was a major turn-around. 

The Iron Queen (The Iron Fey #3)

The Iron Queen

(The Iron Fey #3)

Julie Kagawa

Release Date:

January 25, 2011

Publisher:

Harlequin

Pages:

368

Source:

My Personal Copy

Reading Level:

Young Adult

Description:

My name is Meghan Chase.

I thought it was over. That my time with the fey, the impossible choices I had to make, the sacrifices of those I loved, was behind me. But a storm is approaching, an army of Iron fey that will drag me back, kicking and screaming. Drag me away from the banished prince who's sworn to stand by my side. Drag me into the core of conflict so powerful, I'm not sure anyone can survive it.

This time, there will be no turning back. ~Amazon

Teaser Sentence(s):

He favored me with another patient look. "And how much experience do you have with swords and weapons in general?"

"Um." I glanced down at the saber in my hand. "Thirty seconds?"

My Thoughts:

Okay, I am trying to figure out where to even start here. At first I was worried. I thought the book had a really slow start. It took until about half way through before the story picked up. 

The Iron Queen is book 3, so by now I know all the characters pretty well. I was thrilled that Ironhorse was mentioned as much as he was, and in his own way played a very important part in helping make things easier on Meghan and her companions. 

"Be quite, Goodfellow," Ash growled, peering into the shadows with narrowed eyes. "We're not alone."

"Yeah? How do you figure that, prince? I don't see anyone" (Puck)

"The cait sith has disappeared."

"...crap." (Puck)

I love Puck and Grimalkin. Usually, I do not like talking cats. There are very few exceptions to this for me. (Cheshire Cat, Salem) Grimalkin is absolutely one of my exceptions. His attitude is just how I think every cat thinks-a little stuck-up and only looking out for themselves. Although, I do believe Grim helps more selflessly than he is given credit for. He doesn't always make a bargain or gain something in return. 

Puck also has an I-don't-give-a-crap attitude that makes me love him even more. He is continuously loyal to Meghan. Even after she hurt him, and broke his heart. He is still always there when she needs him. Always trying to make her happy, even if it's at his own expense. He is the perfect best-friend.

'And he stayed there, kneeling beside me, holding my hand in his. Something splashed the back of my hand, cold as spring water, crystallizing to my skin. A faery's tears.'

Ash wrecks havoc on my emotions. It only takes about 2 sentences involving him to break my heart. For a dark, winter faery, who hardly ever shows any emotions himself, his scenes get to me the most. I do not know how Julie Kagawa manages this, but Kudos to you, Julie. Ash makes the series for me. I am super excited the next book, The Iron Knight, is his book. (yay!) 

Beyond the Highland Mist (Highlander, Book 1)

Description: He would sell his warrior soul to possess her...

An Alluring laird...
He was known throughout the kingdom as Hawk, legendary predator of the battlefield and the boudoir. No woman could refuse his touch, but no woman ever stirred his heart-until a vengeful fairy tumbled Adrienne de Simone out of modern-day Seattle and into medieval Scotland. Captive in a century not her own, entirely too bold, too outspoken, she was an irresistible challenge to the sixteenth-century rogue. Coerced into a marriage with Hawk, Adrienne vowed to keep him at arm's length-but his sweet seduction played havoc with her resolve.

A prisoner in time...
She had a perfect "no" on her perfect lips for the notorious laird, but Hawk swore she would whisper his name with desire, begging for the passion he longed to ignite within her. Not even the barriers of time and space would keep him from winning her love. Despite her uncertainty about following the promptings of her own passionate heart, Adrienne's reservations were no match for Hawk's determination to keep her by his side... -Amazon

Author: Karen Marie Moning
Release date: 1999
Publisher: Dell
Pages: 416
Source: My personal copy
Reading level: Adult -has graphic sex scenes

Teaser Sentence(s):  I honestly could not decide on just one sentence or small passage to put here. This time I am going to treat you to 3 teaser sentences!

'"He stands almost a hand taller. He has raven hair worn in a sleek tail; smoldering black eyes; the chiseled perfection of a young god and the body of a Viking warrior. It's revolting. May I maim him, my liege? Disfigure his perfect countenance?"'

'Hawk's eyes searched the night sky for yet another falling star. He intended to wish upon every one for the rest of his life if necessary. Surely ten thousand wishes could undo one. But the cloud cover had returned and there wasn't one flicker of a star to be seen in the absolute darkness that surrounded him.'

'In her dreams the Hawk would be waiting for her by the sea's edge; her kilt-clad, magnificent Scottish laird. He would smile and his eyes would crinkle, then turn dark with smoldering passion.'

My thoughts: Well, I was left still craving Scottish men after reading The Scent of a Soul. Especially Scottish men in kilts. I have had this book lying around since I read the Fever series by Karen Marie Moning, so I finally picked it up. I really do not know what to say, or where to even start. I wanted to like this book more, but all I can really say was it's okay. It wasn't terrible, but I barely liked it.
 My main problem with this book was Adrienne, the main female character. Due to some past personal issues she swears off beautiful men, and suddenly finds her self taken from 1999 Seattle to appear in 1513 Scotland. Adrienne is the most annoying main-character I have read in a while. By the time she stopped acting like a pig-headed b*tch it was too late for me. I already disliked her too much to make up for it. The time travel aspect of this book threw me off a little, but without it there would be no Sidheach James Lyon Douglas, or Hawk.
 Hawk was the main male character, and I loved him. Notice how all my teaser sentences have to do with him. He made the book readable for me. But who wouldn't like a medieval, viking size Scottish man wearing a kilt. He was very intelligent, handsome and rugged. I think the reason I disliked Adrienne so badly was because of the way she treated him through most of the book. The ending was really sweet, and definitely won Adrienne some points.
 I don't know yet if I would recommend this book to anyone. It is the first in a series, and I do plan to give the next book a try. I am very curious about Adam Black. I have heard other people talking about him on other blogs, so I want to read his book eventually. I have read some other books of Karen Marie Moning and loved them, so maybe this series will get better. *fingers crossed*

Rating:

and a half.

The Iron Daughter

Description: Half Summer faery princess, half human, Meghan has never fit in anywhere. Deserted by the Winter prince she thought loved her, she is prisoner to the Winter faery queen. As war looms between Summer and Winter, Meghan knows that the real danger comes from the Iron fey-ironbound faeries that only she and her absent prince have seen. But no one believes her. Worse, Meghan's own fey powers have been cut off. She's stuck in Faery with only her wits for help. Trusting anyone would be foolish. Trusting a seeming traitor could be deadly. But even as she grows a backbone of iron, Meghan can't help but hear the whispers of longing in her all-too-human heart. -Amazon

Author: Julie Kagawa 
Release date: August 1, 2010
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Pages: 304
Source: My personal copy
Reading level: Young Adult - very mild language

Teaser Sentence:  'As we escaped SciCorp and fled into the streets, the last thing I remembered was watching the door close behind me on the stairs and seeing Ash's face through the window, a single tear frozen on his cheek.'

My thoughts: I really enjoyed this book. It was a fun, fast read for me. Ash and Ironhorse are my favorite characters. I love it when a book makes your heart flutter with emotion if even for a second, and I got that a couple times out of this book. The teaser sentence I posted was one of those moments. I do plan to continue this series. I am excited to see where Ash and Meghan end up.

Rating: