Impossible by Nancy Werlin

Genre: Young Adult

Sub Genre: Urban Fantasy; Magic, Elves, Teen Pregnancy

Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars

Back Cover: Lucy is seventeen when she discovers that the women of her family have been cursed through the generations, forced to attempt three seemingly impossible tasks or to fall into madness upon their child's birth. But Lucy is the first girl who won't be alone as she tackles the list. She has her fiercely protective foster parents beside her. And she has Zach, whose strength amazes her more each day. Do they have enough love and resolve to overcome an age-old evil?

This is inspired by the ballad Scarborough Fair. Lucy knows that her birth mother is crazy and doesn’t really want much to do with her. But after she becomes pregnant herself she finds some information from her mother that sets her on a journey to save herself. All the people who love Lucy come together to help her as well. This is a beautiful romantic tale of love concurring over all. Lucy doesn’t give up even when she’s not entirely sure what is reality. The story is very imaginative in its telling. It is a bit deep at times but with the magic added in I found it to be a very nice story. I can't wait to read the next story in this series, Unthinkable.

Publisher: Speak

ISBN: 0142414913

Pages: 384

Series: Impossible

Volume: 1

Captivate by Carrie Jones

Genre: Young Adult

Sub Genre: Urban Fantasy; Pixie, Fairy, Elves, Valkyries, and Were-People

Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

Back Cover: Zara and her friends knew they hadn’t solved the pixie problem for good. Far from it. The king’s needs grow deeper every day he’s stuck in captivity, while his control over his pixies gets weaker. So when a new, younger pixie king shows up, war is imminent. The new king, Astley, claims he’s not evil, that his pixies can coexist peacefully with humans and weres. Zara’s boyfriend, Nick, isn’t buying it; no pixie could possibly be a good guy. But Zara is half pixie herself, and she is just starting to think Astley could be right when Astley lets her in on another secret: he believes Zara’s relationship with Nick is about to come to an end – and that she is fated to be his queen…

This book takes up soon after Need had ended. Zara and her friends are still on the lookout for pixies. Then when Astley shows up things really start to happen, and as he even says he will only be the first. There are a lot of new aspects to this story that show up like Valkyries and Elves. But it only adds to the story. I was on the edge of my seat while reading this and couldn’t put it down. It’s really that good. I can’t wait to read the next book in this series, Entice.

Publisher: Bloomsbury

ISBN: 159990523X

Pages: 304

Series: Need

Volume: 2

Bound to Love Her by Esri Rose

Genre: Paranormal Romance; Elves, Magic

Sub Genre: Urban Fantasy

Rating: 3 out of 5 Stars

Back Cover: Love may be just around the corner… When Erin Chandler takes her neighbor’s dog for a late-night walk through the Colorado woods, she thinks she’s prepared for anything. The last thing she expects to encounter along the trail is an elf, not to mention an incredibly sexy one… Or under a rock… Attacked by a rival who wants to steal his land and end his life, Galan of Longrail Rock is nearly dead when Erin saves his life by giving him her energy, mysteriously bonding them. They can’t break their link without Galan paying the ultimate price…and Erin can’t stop fantasizing about Galan! Yet the more danger they encounter, the stronger their bond…

This book is one of those where the heroine stumbles upon our hero. Erin is a woman who is kind and generous. Helping out those in need from her neighbor to saving Galan. Galan has always been told not to trust or rely on humans. The two make an unlikely pair but one that works. The story is well done but there where parts that where a little like whiplash. I did like the overall story and look forward to reading the second book in this series, Stolen Magic.

Publisher: Zebra Books

ISBN: 1420102516

Pages: 320

Series: Magic

Volume: 1

The Fire Lord’s Lover by Kathryne Kennedy

Genre: Fantasy; Elves, Magic, The Elven Lords

Sub Genre: Historical Romance; 1700’s

Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars

Back Cover: If his powers are discovered, his father will destroy him... In a magical land ruled by ruthless Elven lords, the Fire Lord's son Dominic Raikes plays a deadly game to conceal his growing might from his malevolent father-until his arranged bride awakens in him passions he thought he had buried forever... Unless his fiancée kills him first... Lady Cassandra has been raised in outward purity and innocence, while secretly being trained as an assassin. Her mission is to bring down the Elven Lord and his champion son. But when she gets to court she discovers that nothing is what it seems, least of all the man she married... Then Dominic and Cassandra together uncover an unspeakable evil, one that threatens the destruction of the magical realm they would give their souls to save...

This is the first book in the Elven Lords series. Dominic is the bastard son of the Fire Lord. He has no connections with anyone. And wants to keep it that way. Cassandra was recruited to kill the Fire Lord after marrying his son. Now the two must learn about the other before they are both found out. This is a good story with a great deal of plot twists. For all of Cassandra’s knowledge she is still very naïve, which just added to the story. I liked this story quite a bit and look forward to see where the series will go from here in the Lady of the Storm.

Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca

ISBN: 1402236522

Pages: 384

Series: Elven Lords

Volume: 1

Dragons of Winter Night by Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman

Genre: Fantasy; Dragons, Magic, Elves, Kender, Dwarves, Gnomes, Goblins, Minotaurs, Gods

Sub Genre: Dragonlance

Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

Back Cover: Now the people know that the dragon minions of Takhisis, Queen of Darkness, have returned. The people of all nations prepare to fight to save their homes, their lives, and their freedom. But the races have long been divided by hatred and prejudice. Elven warriors and human knights fight among themselves. It seems the battle has been lost before it begins. The companions are separated, torn apart by war. A full season will pass before they meet again – if they meet again. As the darkness deepens, a disgraced knight, a pampered elfmaiden, and a rattlebrained kinder stand alone in the pale winter sunlight. Not much in the way of heroes.

This is the second book in the Chronicles series of Dragonlance. It just adds so much more to the series. There is so much that is going on but we get to know the characters so much better. Tasslehoff Burrfoot the Kender is still my favorite character. I cried when I finished this book. This is a great book and it makes you go through all these ups and downs. I loved this book and can’t wait to read the finish the last book in this trilogy,  Dragons of Spring Dawning.

Publisher: Wizards of the Coast

ISBN: 0786916095

Pages: 400

Series: Dragonlance Chronicles

Volume: 2

Birthright by Mari Freeman

Genre: Erotic Romance

Sub Genre: Paranormal Romance; Angels, Demons, Witches, Vampires, Shape-Shifters, Magic, Elves, Gnomes, Imps

Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

Back Cover: A seemingly random attack by mysterious creatures in long cloaks forces Mary Hughes to face the shock of her life – she isn’t human. Well… not just human. With Witch and Demon blood running through her veins, she is Keena, Priestess of the Wild. As her magic emerges, Keena is thrust headlong into the world of the Kith, a world that includes a Gnome stylist, a cat guardian and a kitchen Imp for a best friend. Oh and then there’s her destiny – an ancient battle of birthright with an evil half twin she didn’t even know she had. As she fumbles with potions and spells and unwittingly stumbles into one foible after another, Keena’s also fighting her all-consuming lust for a hot Vamp Lord as well as the Kith’s half-Demon head of security. And Managing her body’s newfound urges isn’t her only battle. Danger is everywhere and enemies are mounting. Certain Kith would love nothing more than to destroy the human race – and its up to Keena to stop them. If she can stay alive long enough…

Mary goes from living a normal unseeming life to learning that she is not even Mary. She is Keena, Priestess of the Wild. Oh and she has a half twin sister who she is destined to battle for her birthright. But she does have help all around her, Tynan, the vampire and Jordan, the half-demon. While Keena is trying to learn and understand her role she also is struggling with her moral compass. All of this makes for one very enjoyable read. Yes it is hot but at the same time there is so much more to this than just the heat. I really loved this book and hope that Mari will revisit this world that she has so beautifully created.

Publisher: Ellora’s Cave

ISBN: 1419958852

Pages: 356

Series:

Volume:

Dragons of Autumn Twilight by Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman

Genre: Fantasy; Dragons, Magic, Elves, Kender, Dwarves, Gnomes, Goblins, Minotaurs, Gods

Sub Genre: Dragonlance

Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

Back Cover: Life-long friends, they went their separate ways. Now they are together again, though each holds secrets from the others in his heart. They speak of a world shadowed with rumors of war. They speak of tales of strange monsters, creatures of myth, creatures of legend. They do not speak of their secrets. Not then. Not until a chance encounter with a beautiful, sorrowful woman, who bears a magical crystal staff, draws the companions deeper into the shadows, forever changing their lives and shaping the fate of the world. No one expected them to be heroes. Least of all, themselves.

This is a story of a band friends who come together to fight for the fate of the World. It is the first book in a trilogy, which follows these not so likely heroes. While weaving a tale of magic and mystery. I found the story to captivate and suck you in. Once I started it I couldn’t stop. Of all the different characters I loved Tasslehoff Burrfoot the Kender. This is one of those epic fantasy novels that you can’t get enough of. It is a brilliantly written book that I loved.

Publisher: Wizards of the Coast

ISBN: 0786915749

Pages: 448

Series: Dragonlance Chronicles

Volume: 1