The Realms of the Gods by Tamora Pierce

Genre: Young Adult
Sub Genre: Fantasy; Magic, Fantastical Animals, Dragons, The Immortals, Tortall
Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

Back Cover: During a dire battle against the fearsome Skinners, Daine and her mage teacher Numair, are swept into the Divine Realms. Though happy to be alive, they are not where they want to be. They are desperately needed back home, where their old enemy, Ozorne, and his army of strange creatures are waging war against Tortall. Trapped in the mystical realms, Daine discovers her mysterious parentage. And as these secrets of her past are revealed so is the treacherous way back to Tortall. So they embark on an extraordinary journey home, where the fate of all Tortall rests with Daine and her wild magic.

This is the final book in the Immortals quartet. In this book we finally learn of Daine’s father. This story at first was a little confusing as we get to see more of the gods and goddesses in their own setting. Their trials to getting back to their friends brings both Numair and Daine closer, which I loved. I also enjoyed the interaction with the dragons. There is a lot that Daine has to take in and choose as this story goes on. But she ends up returning to Kit and her friends with Numair. I really liked this a lot and was happy with the out come. For another series by Tamora Pierce this was great to have someone who is more of an average girl who becomes extraordinary. The world that started in the Song of the Lioness series has grown rich with the addition of these books, and I love how they just billed on one another. I look forward to reading the next quartet, Protector of the Small which starts with The First Test.
Publisher: Simon PulseISBN: 141690817X
Pages: 368
Series: The Immortals
Volume: 4

Uninvited by Amanda Marrone

Genre: Young Adult
Sub Genre: Urban Fantasy; Vampires

Rating: 3 out of 5 Stars
Back Cover: When rejection comes back to bite you… Jordan’s life sucks. Her ex-boyfriend, Michael, slept his way through half the student body, and then killed himself. But now, somehow, he appears at her window every night, begging her to let him in. Jordan can’t understand why he want her, but she feels her resistance wearing down. After all, her life – once a broken record of boring parties, meaningless hookups, and friends she couldn’t relate to – now consists of her drinking alone in her room as she waits for the sun to go down. Michael needs to be invited in before he can enter. All Jordan has to do is say the words……
Jordan isn’t really happy with how things are going for her. She is being stalked by her ex-boyfriend who begs her every night to him in. As the story goes on she learns she isn’t the only one. This was a very interesting take on the vampire human relationship. The interaction between Jordan and Michael you followed like a ping pong match. I found that the story itself was ok. There are some heavy subjects such as Jordan’s drinking to deal with Michael. But overall it was well written and I liked it.

Publisher: Simon PulseISBN: 1416939784Pages: 224Series: Volume:

Emperor Mage by Tamora Pierce

Genre: Young Adult
Sub Genre: Fantasy; Magic, Fantastical Animals, Dragons, The Immortals, Tortall

Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

Back Cover: Sent to Carthak as part of the Tortallan peace delegation, Daine finds herself in the middle of a sticky political situation. She doesn’t like the Carthaki practice of keeping slaves, but it’’s not her place to say anything – she’s just there to heal the emperor’s birds. It’’s extremely frustrating! What’s more, her power has grown in a mysterious way. As the peace talks stall, Daine puzzles over Carthak’s two-faced Emperor Ozorne. How can he be so caring with his birds and so cruel to his people? Daine is sure he’s planning something. Daine must fight the powerful Emperor Mage, knowing that the safety and peace of the realm depend on stopping Ozorne’s power-hungry schemes.

This is the third book in the Immortals series. Daine travels to Carthak to help the emperor’s birds. Only things are not what they seemed. Ok first and for most I do not like Ozorne at all. Well I guess your not supposed to but he’s just evil. I did like the power that Daine was given for the book. I found that it was great when she handled it quite nicely. I love the relationship between Numair and Daine. But I loved this book as there is so much going on and it just add more to the world of Tortallan. Numair going back to the city that he used to live and go to school. Daine making friends with the heir to the throne. It was very well done. I’m looking forward to reading the next book in this series of the Realms of the Gods.

Publisher: Simon PulseISBN: 1416903372
Pages: 358
Series: The Immortals
Volume: 3

Revealers by Amanda Marrone

Genre: Young Adult

Sub Genre: Urban Fantasy; Witches, Magic, Werewolves, Vampires, Ghosts, Demons

Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars

Back Cover: Witchin’ ain’t easy. Jules has a rebellious streak, a massive crush on Connor, and the abilities of a Revealer witch. By day, she and her coven friends seem like typical high school seniors. By night, they have the power to make werewolves, vampires, and ghosts reveal themselves, so they can destroy them. It’s not exactly cheerleading, but at least the girls know they’re doing the world some good. One by one, Jules’s friends turn eighteen and are initiated into the coven’s inner circle. And one by one, they are getting completely freaked out. Jules is the youngest, and though her friends are to scared to tell her what’s going on, something’s clearly not right. As her birthday approaches, Jules realizes she’s got to find out what’s behind the shadows of her coven before it’s too late to save her friends…and herself. But what she discovers may be too powerful for even the toughest witches to defeat.

In this story we have teen witches who are killing off all other paranormals. They believe that they are doing what they can to help the world keep going. But as their some of them come of age they find out more about what it means to be a part of the coven. Jules is very head strong and notices things aren’t what they seem. As time goes on she learns that her mother is involved in this dark mysterious stuff that just doesn’t seem to be right. I have to say this is a very good story for teens who are realizing that their parents are the sun and stars they thought that they were. There is a lot sub-plots going on through out the story that much it a richer tale. I truly enjoyed this story.

Publisher: Simon Pulse

ISBN: 1416958746

Pages: 268

Series:

Volume:

Wolf-Speaker by Tamora Pierce

Genre: Young Adult

Sub Genre: Fantasy; Magic, Fantastical Animals, Dragons, The Immortals, Tortall

Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

Back Cover: When Daine is summoned by the wold pack that saved her life a year earlier, she knows she has to go. She and Numair travel to Dunlath Valley to answer the call. But when they arrive, Dain realizes with a shock that it’s not just the animals whose lives are threatened; people are in danger too. Dunlath’s rulers have discovered black opals in their valley and are dead set on mining the magic these stones embody. Daine learns that Dunlath’s lord and lady plan to use this power to overthrow King Jonathan – even if it means irreversibly damaging the land and killing their workers. On a mission to save both her animal friends and her human ones, Daine has to master her wild magic in order to fight for the kingdom and triumph over the would-be usurpers.

In this story you get to meet the wolves from Daine’s old village. After learning what has been going on in Dunlath Valley Daine must save everyone. And at one point even have to learn to do some magic on her own. As her powers grow and she learns what she is capable of she has to find away to help those innocent people. I love the way the animals are portrayed in this book. They bring a new light to how the characters don’t have to be human to be significant. I loved the way the wolves interacted together and how they were different from other packs. I also liked the friends that Daine makes here with Maura. She starts to see more of what she can do which at first scares her. But she takes it in strides. It’s a great story can't wait to read the next book, Emperor Mage.

Publisher: Simon Pulse

ISBN: 1416903445

Pages: 368

Series: The Immortals

Volume: 2

Water Song by Suzanne Weyn

Genre: Young Adult

Sub Genre: Fantasy; Fairy Tale Retelling, The Frog Prince, World War I

Rating: 3 out of 5 Stars

Back Cover: Young, beautiful, and wealthy, Emma Pennington is accustomed to a very comfortable life. Although war rages abroad, she hardly feels its effect. She and her mother travel from their home in Britain to the family estate in Belgium, never imagining that the war could reach them there. But it does. Soon Emma finds herself stranded in a war-torn country, utterly alone. Enemy troops fight to take over her estate, leaving her with no way to reach her family and no way out. With all of her attention focused on survival and escape, Emma hardly expects to find love. But the war will teach her that life is unpredictable, people aren’t always what they seem, and magic is lurking everywhere.

This takes the story of the Frog Prince and sets it during World War I. Emma has been left alone and cannot get back to England on her own. She rescues Jack first and then from German soldiers. The story mirrors that of the fairy tale but this one does have intrigue and spying on both sides. The banter between Emma and Jack is very funny. You see the growing relationship between them grow and deepen. I found this to be a very sweet retelling with a bit of danger added in. I really liked this story.

Publisher: Simon Pulse

ISBN: 1416940138

Pages: 194

Series:

Volume:

Wild Magic by Tamora Pierce

Genre: Young Adult

Sub Genre: Fantasy; Magic, Fantastical Animals, Dragons, The Immortals, Tortall

Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

Back Cover: Thirteen-year-old Daine has always had a knack with animals, but it’s not until she’s forced to leave home that she realizes it’s more than a knack – it’s magic. Whit this wild magic, not only can Daine speak to animals, but also she can make them obey her. Daine takes a job handling horses for the Queen’s Riders, where she meets the master mage Numair and becomes his student. Under Numair’s guidance, Daine explores the scope of her magic. But she begins to sense other beings too: immortals. These bloodthirsty monsters have been imprisoned in the Divine Realms for the past four hundred years, but now someone has broken the barrier. It’s up to Daine and her friends to defend their world from an immortal attack.

Daine is a young girl who has been run out of the only place she could call home. She is still fearful of people and what they may do to her if they find out her secret. After helping Numair, he begins to teach her how to use her magic. She still doesn’t tell them everything at first out of fear. But as time goes on she learns that she can trust them. As more immortals show they learn that battle is on its way. Daine actually is a big help even with both her magic and her new friends. I love this world that Tamora has created. I think that it’s great that you get to see the characters who I grew to love from her Song of the Lioness series. I find that Daine is a great new character to add to the growing world of Tortall. I can't wait to read the next book in this series, Wolf-Speaker.

Publisher: Simon Pulse

ISBN: 1416903437

Pages: 384

Series: The Immortals

Volume: 1

The Night Dance by Suzanne Weyn

Genre: Young Adult

Sub Genre: Fantasy; Fairy Tale Retelling, Twelve Dancing Princesses, Magic, King Arthur

Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars

Back Cover: Under the stars, in a secret world... Rowena, the youngest of twelve sisters, loves to slip out of the castle at night and dance in a magical forest. Soon she convinces her sisters to join her. When Sir Ethan notices that his daughters' slippers look tattered every morning, he is certain they've been sneaking out. So he posts a challenge to all the suitors in the kingdom: The first man to discover where his daughters have been is free to marry the one he chooses. Meanwhile a handsome young knight named Bedivere is involved in a challenge of his own: to return the powerful sword, Excalibur, to a mysterious lake. While looking for the lake, Bedivere meets the beautiful Rowena and falls for her. Bedivere knows that accepting Sir Ethan's challenge is the only opportunity for him to be with Rowena forever. But this puts both Bedivere and Rowena in a dangerous situation...one in which they risk their lives for a chance at love.

This story mixes the Fairy Tale of the Twelve Dancing Princesses and the legend of King Arthur. It takes place after the death of King Arthur. The knight Bedivere is on a quest given to him by his dying King. Take Excalibur to the Lady of the Lake so that it will be safe. Then we have Rowena who is the youngest of the twelve princess, she is the one who finds a way out and to the magical forest. She even has a vision of Bedivere when he is on the battle field. I really loved how the two stories where mixed together to create a whole new story of its own. I found that it was very inventive and enjoyed reading it.

Publisher: Simon Pulse

ISBN: 1416961321

Pages: 224

Series:

Volume:

Ironside by Holly Black

Genre: Young Adult

Sub Genre: Urban Fantasy; Faeries, A Modern Faerie Tale

Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

Back Cover: In the realm of Faerie, the time has come for Roiben's coronation. Uneasy in the midst of the malevolent Unseelie Court, pixie Kaye is sure of only one thing -- her love for Roiben. But when Kaye, drunk on faerie wine, declares herself to Roiben, he sends her on a seemingly impossible quest. Now Kaye can't see or speak to Roiben unless she can find the one thing she knows doesn't exist: a faerie who can tell a lie. Miserable and convinced she belongs nowhere, Kaye decides to tell her mother the truth -- that she is a changeling left in place of the human daughter stolen long ago. Her mother's shock and horror sends Kaye back to the world of Faerie to find her human counterpart and return her to Ironside. But once back in the faerie courts, Kaye finds herself a pawn in the games of Silarial, queen of the Seelie Court. Silarial wants Roiben's throne, and she will use Kaye, and any means necessary, to get it. In this game of wits and weapons, can a pixie outplay a queen?

The story of Kaye continues as we see Roiben in his power. How he tries to protect Kaye and at the same time has to giver her a task that would separate them forever. This was the sit on your edge page turner as things got pretty dark for Kaye and her friends. Kaye learning about her magic and what she can do with it to help her and her friends. I hope that Holly continues with this world as I would like to see more of it. I thought that it is a very compelling series. And that it is one of those must haves for your bookshelf.

Publisher: Simon Pulse

ISBN: 0689868219

Pages: 323

Series: A Modern Faerie Tale

Volume: 3

Lioness Rampant by Tamora Pierce

Genre: Young Adult

Sub Genre: Fantasy; Magic, Tortall, Song of the Lioness,

Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

Back Cover: “I’m not sure I want to be a hero anymore.” Having achieved her dream of becoming the first female knight errant, Alanna of Trebond is not sure what to do next. Perhaps being a knight errant is not all that Alanna needs… But Alanna must push her uncertainty aside when a new challenge arises. She must recover the Dominion Jewel, a legendary gem with enormous power for good – but only in the right hands. And she must work quickly. Tortall is in great danger, and Alanna’s archenemy, Duke Roger, is back – and more powerful than ever. In this final book of the Song of the Lioness quartet, Alanna discovers that she indeed has a future worthy of her mythic past – both as a warrior and as a woman.

In the conclusion of the Song of the Lioness quartet you finally see Alanna go off questing. This is to prove to everyone that it doesn’t matter that she is female she can do epic things like any other knight. She even brings Prince Jonathan back a Princess worthy of him. Again there is an epic battle between Alanna and Duke Roger. It was sad how Thom learned to little to late what he had done with his own magic. It made everything wrap up beautifully.

Tamora Pierce is an amazing author. I loved how this quartet was woven in both adventure and magic. Set in a world that is more like our middle ages or renaissance Europe but with magic. Brilliantly executed in the way the story is written the whole grouping is rich in that each story builds on the next. I have read these books so many times that I had to go and order them in hard cover as my original copies started to come apart. A saga that I have on my book shelf for good reason, it’s one of my favorite reads.

Publisher: Simon Pulse

ISBN: 0689878575

Pages: 400

Series: Song of the Lioness

Volume: 4

Tithe by Holly Black

Genre: Young Adult

Sub Genre: Urban Fantasy; Faeries, A Modern Faerie Tale

Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

Back Cover: Sixteen-year-old Kaye is a modern nomad. Fierce and independent, she travels from city to city with her mother's rock band until an ominous attack forces Kaye back to her childhood home. There, amid the industrial, blue-collar New Jersey backdrop, Kaye soon finds herself an unwilling pawn in an ancient power struggle between two rival faerie kingdoms -- a struggle that could very well mean her death.

This is the second book in the Modern Faerie Tale series. In most of the stories that I have read about Faeries one court has always been either the good or the bad. In this one there is just different with all the intrigue of back stabbing politics. Kaye learning that she is actually a Faerie was something I enjoyed. I loved Roiben, a strong character that you couldn’t quite figure what side he was on. I found that I liked this book even more the Val’s story. Learning more about the different Faerie courts brought to life even more of what I read before. Giving it a fuller picture of this extraordinary world. I can't wait to see the next book in this series, Ironside.

Publisher: Simon Pulse

ISBN: 0689867042

Pages: 336

Series: A Modern Faerie Tale

Volume: 2

The Woman Who Rides Like a Man by Tamora Pierce

Genre: Young Adult

Sub Genre: Fantasy; Magic, Tortall, Song of the Lioness

Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

Back Cover: “Let her prove herself worthy as a man.” Newly knighted, Alanna of Trebond seeks adventure in the vast desert of Tortall. Captured by fierce desert dwellers, she is forced to prove herself in a duel to the death – either she will be killed or she will be inducted into the tribe. Although she triumphs, dire challenges lie ahead. As her mythic fate would have it, Alanna soon becomes the tribe’s first female shaman – despite the desert dwellers’ gave fear of the foreign woman warrior. Alanna must fight to change the ancient tribal customs of the desert tribes – for their sake and for the sake of all Tortall.

This is the third book in the Sond of the Lioness series. Alanna gains not only a tribe but a new father that loves her in Sir Myles. Which was one of the characters that I loved from the first time you meet him. This was great as Alanna finally totally embraced her magic and learns along with the young youths that are also gifted. She must train them until they can take over and protect their tribe. She does have a falling out with Prince Jonathan that at first I was very unhappy about. But I realize that I don’t think Alanna would ever be happy as the Queen of Tortall. I did enjoy the growing relationship between Alanna and George. Beautifully written story that I couldn’t put down. I can't wait to read the next book in this series, Lioness Rampant.

Publisher: Simon Pulse

ISBN: 0689878583

Pages: 304

Series: Song of the Lioness

Volume: 3

Valiant by Holly Black

Genre: Young Adult

Sub Genre: Urban Fantasy; Faeries, A Modern Faerie Tale

Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

Back Cover: When seventeen-year-old Valerie runs away to New York City, she's trying to escape a life that has utterly betrayed her. Sporting a new identity, she takes up with a gang of squatters who live in the city's labyrinthine subway system. But there's something eerily beguiling about Val's new friends. And when one talks Val into tracking down the lair of a mysterious creature with whom they are all involved, Val finds herself torn between her newfound affection for an honorable monster and her fear of what her new friends are becoming.

This is the first book in the Modern Faerie Tale series. I’ve always loved books on Faeries. So when I found that Holly Black wrote her own Modern Faerie tale I couldn’t wait to get my hands on it. She didn’t disappoint at all. Valerie and her friends are trying to forget their pasts. Val is one of those great characters that you feel like you're going through everything with her. It has amazing visual descriptions. I loved this story and can't wait to read the next book, Tithe.

Publisher: Simon Pulse

ISBN: 0689868235

Pages: 314

Series: A Modern Faerie Tale

Volume: 1

In the Hand of the Goddess by Tamora Pierce

Genre: Young Adult

Sub Genre: Fantasy; Magic, Tortall, Song of the Lioness

Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

Back Cover: “I don’t want to fall in love. I just want to be a warrior maiden.” Still disguised as a boy, Alanna becomes a squire to none other than the prince of the realm. Prince Jonathan is not only Alanna’s liege lord, he is also her best friend – and one of the few who knows the secret of her true identity. But when a mysterious sorcerer threatens the prince’s life, it will take all of Alanna’s skill, strength, and magical power to protect him – even at the risk of revealing who she really is… Filled with swords and sorcery, adventure and intrigue, good and evil, Alanna’s second adventure continues the saga of a girl who dares to follow her dreams – and the magical destiny that awaits her.

This is the second book in the Song of the Lioness series. Alanna now older but not yet a knight, is strong. She finds out more about her role that the Goddess has for her. Gaining a trusted ally in her kitten, Faithful. The fight between her and Duke Roger was epic. It was sad that her coming out as a girl took place during the fight but I don’t think it could have happened any other way. Her courage to try and make Prince Jonathan safe was amazing. And you can see her friendships grow with the other boys as they all grow up together. Then there is the budding romance between Prince Jonathan and Alanna. Thom has become slightly dark and anti-social, as well as arrogant. Not one of my favorite characters but Alanna loves him a lot. I loved all the different dynamics that take place here. I look forward to reading the next book in this series, The Woman Who Rides Like A Man.

Publisher: Simon Pulse

ISBN: 0689878567

Pages: 288

Series: Song of the Lioness

Volume: 2

Alanna The First Adventure by Tamora Pierce

Genre: Young Adult

Sub Genre: Fantasy; Magic, Tortall, Song of the Lioness

Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

Back Cover: “From now on I’m Alan of Trebond, the younger twin. I’ll be a knight.” And so young Alanna of Trebond begins the journey to knighthood. Though a girl, Alanna has always craved the adventure and daring allowed only for boys; her twin brother, Thom, yearns to learn the art of magic. So one day they decide to switch places: Disguised as a girl, Thom heads for the convent to learn magic; Alanna, pretending to be a boy, is on her way to the castle of King Roald to begin her training as a page. But the road to knighthood is not an easy one. As Alanna masters the skills necessary for battle, she must also learn to control her heart and to discern her enemies from her allies. Filled with swords and sorcery, adventure and intrigue, good and evil, Alanna’s first adventure begins – one that will lead to the fulfillment of her dreams and the magical destiny that will make her a legend in her land.

This is one of those stories that once you read it you can’t wait to see where it’s going to go. It has a fast that quickly introduces our players. Alanna is a strong willed character who knows what she wants to do and how she can do it. The characters are all fairly young at the beginning. But the friendship between Alanna and the other boys grows fast. Even her friendship with George the King of Thieves is great as he is the first one that she tells her secret too so that she can get to a healer. The story is absolutely phenomenal and pulls you in. I can't wait to read the next book, In the Hands of the Goddess.

Publisher: Simon Pulse

ISBN: 1442426411

Pages: 272

Series: Song of the Lioness

Volume: 1

Uglies by Scott Westerfeld

Genre: Young Adult

Sub Genre: Science Fiction; Futuristic, Technology, Uglies

Rating: 3 out of 5 Stars

Back Cover: Everybody gets to be supermodel gorgeous. What could be wrong with that?

Tally is about to turn sixteen, and she can't wait. Not for her license -- for turning pretty. In Tally's world, your sixteenth birthday brings an operation that turns you from a repellent ugly into a stunningly attractive pretty and catapults you into a high-tech paradise where your only job is to have a really great time. In just a few weeks Tally will be there. But Tally's new friend Shay isn't sure she wants to be pretty. She'd rather risk life on the outside. 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 the worst choice she can imagine: find her friend and turn her in, or never turn pretty at all. The choice Tally makes changes her world forever.

Tally has only ever wanted to become a pretty. But after making friends with Shay her world gets turned upside down. Soon she may not even be given the option to be one unless you can find and bring Shay back. The story itself was well thought out and good but I personally wouldn’t read it again. It was a quick read that I felt that something was missing. Then again I’ve never been big on the way people look which was a very big component in this story. But I did like the writing style of this book. The next book in this series is Pretties.

Publisher: Simon Pulse

ISBN: 0689865384

Pages: 448

Series: Uglies

Volume: 1