Magic to the Bone, #1

Allie would rather moonlight as a Hound 

ISBN 0451462408
(ISBN13: 9780451462404)

than accept the family fortune - and the strings that come with it. All magic use has costs -- hers include migraines and memory loss. She finds a boy dying from a magic Offload with her father's signature, then her father is murdered. Allie's search for the truth calls on her country friend and the handsome man originally assigned as her bodyguard. Someone is forging magic signatures -- and hers is on her dead father.

355 pages

Published November 4th 2008

(New American Library)

First Impression

Magic to the Bone tells the story of Allie, a down-on-her-luck 25 year old woman who has try and make bed meet with low pay hound work.

Taking her black book and pen to help with her memory loss Allie goes to help the superstitious Mama Rossitto after receiving a call about a boy been hurt. 

Upon arriving and seeing the boy she finds that it is a serious problem and use of magic and begins to deal with the situation.

My Rating ⭐⭐

Changing from 1st person when discussing Allie and to 3rd person when talking about Cody. 

I found Magic to the Bone to be very bland, telling the tale of Allie Beckstrom and how the events of her dad been dead with her own magical signature on him leads to danger and betrayal in unexpected places.

I was disappointed as a there could have been so much more to the plot than there was which I felt let The book down, leaving it a chore to read in some parts.

I also felt The spacing between each paragraph was very off putting. 

I don't know if I would recommend it as it just left me feeling 'meh' but I would be willing to read the next book in the series, Magic in the Blood before deciding whether to give the series a miss it not.

Quotes

“...Magic is a heartless bitch, and she's had me by the throat for years.”

A Discovery of Witches, #1

Deep in the stacks of Oxford's Bodleian Library, young scholar Diana Bishop unwittingly calls up a

ISBN  0670022411
(ISBN13: 9780670022410)

bewitched alchemical manuscript in the course of her research. Descended from an old and distinguished line of witches, Diana wants nothing to do with sorcery; so after a furtive glance and a few notes, she banishes the book to the stacks. But her discovery sets a fantastical underworld stirring, and a horde of daemons, witches, and vampires soon descends upon the library. Diana has stumbled upon a coveted treasure lost for centuries-and she is the only creature who can break its spell.

579 pages

Published February 2011

(Viking Penguin)

First Impression

Set in the 1st person A Discovery of Witches is the first book in the All Souls Trilogy linked to the t.v. show of the same name.

Through the book we learn about the story behind the relationship of Diana a scholar who is a descendant of Bishop witches and the vampire Matthew.  

My Rating ⭐⭐⭐⭐

I found the first chapter very confusing, but found reading easier as I read more. 

A Discovery of Witches gives the viewpoints of both Diana and Matthew.

After Diana calls for the Ashmole 782 her world is turned upside down...daemons, vampires, and witches seem to pop up out over nowhere.

Throughout the chapters we learn of Diana's relationship between Matthew, which comes across as been very mixed in the beginning but also explores her relationships with other characters like Gillian , who I think is a very rude untrustworthy person that is stuck up herself as we see when she is discussing Diana's family.

Also Peter Knox, who  comes across as a power greedy man that can be seen when he discusses Ashmole 782 with Diana.

I enjoyed reading about the connection and bond between Diana and Matthew. I would recommend A Discovery Quotes Witches to anyone who liked Twilight...I look forward to reading the the next book in the series Shadow of Night.

Quotes

“Just because something seems impossible doesn’t make it untrue,”

“It begins with absence and desire.
It begins with blood and fear.
It begins with a discovery of witches.”

“It is a blessing as well as a burden to love so much that you can hurt so badly when love is gone.”

Death in Her Eyes, #1

Since she was four, Elle’s

ASIN BO83N269QL

life has been nothing but pain and death, so it’s not
surprising she ended up jaded.
When Elle’s absentee father kidnaps her from her own mother’s funeral, Elle is forcefully enrolled into Fallen Academy, a school for nephilim like herself.
Mind readers, seers, and elementals? Finally, Elle is with other freaks like herself.
Except, Elle soon finds that even surrounded by her own kind, she might just be too different to fit in.
Will Elle find her place among the other children of the fallen? Or does her father have plans of his own?

Published March 2020

(Embrace the Fantasy Publishing, LLC)

First Impression

Set in the 1st person Death in Her Eyes tells the story of Elle, who has what her mother called a "gift"...but she felt otherwise. 

Elle has visions of Death, triggered by a word or phrase. Sometimes through something small, like a flower in the ground. Especially when she touched someone new.

My Rating ⭐⭐⭐⭐

I was asked by the author to review Death in Her Eyes.

During her mother's funeral Elle watches as her dad, who left when she was 13 appears. 

He kidnaps her and enrolls her into the Fallen Academy after telling her she is a nephilim.

Filled with emotional outbursts, strained relationships and indecision Death in Her Eyes leaves you wanting more.

Quotes

Bloodmaiden

For Crisilin, the concept of human and dragons

ISBN 1939928125
(ISBN13: 9781939928122)

living in harmony with one another is nothing more than a distant dream - especially once she's forced to compete in Tynan's annual ritual. Only one Quelda is chosen every year, which might sound like an honor. In reality, it's a fate worse than death.

Along with her childhood sweetheart Chalom, Crisilin must choose to embrace this cruel tradition, or stand against it. However, taking a stand is no small task. Their only hope lies in rallying the three other dragon dynasties of Sulaimon, but reaching them means fleeing Tynan—a feat that's not only punishable by death, but is so dangerous that no one who's ever tried it has lived to tell the tale. First, there's the infamous Wall. Beyond that, the enchanted expanse of the Ever-White Lake.

Can Crisilin and Chalom be the first to escape and stop Tynan's horrible ritual before it's too late? Or will the dragons, much like the people of Tynan, remain slaves to tradition for all time.

192 pages

Published April 2014 (Old Line Publishing)

First Impression

I feel really sorry for both Crisilin and Chalom as they are forced into a situation that will have dire results. 

Crisilin is a innocent person that has to make a life changing decision.

My Rating ⭐⭐⭐

I was asked by the author to review Blood maiden so here is my thoughts...

Separated into 2 parts Bloodmaiden tells the story of Crisilin and Chalom and the actions they take to save themselves and the people around them from the danger they find themselves in.

I felt myself been transported on the journey with Crisilin and Chalom and wishing for them to succeed in their quest of freedom. I found it a little confusing each time a new character or event was introduced but enjoyed it mine the less. 

I would recommend reading Bloodmaiden as I found it to be very descriptive and felt it had a good message at the end.

Quotes 

"Now the gold, our lives, everything, is marred by the rubies."

A Radiant Sky, #3

Since the night of he seventeenth birthday, Skye

ISBN 0062119656
(ISBN13: 9780062119650)

has been torn between two opposites: Light and Dark, the Order and the Rebellion, Devin and Asher.

But her decision shocked both sides because she chose neither.

With the help of her friends, Skye forges her own path, setting out to gather an uprising of Rogues. The treacherous and elusive half-angels maybe the key to maintaining the balance of fate and free will. But completing the mission her parents left unfinished is more difficult - and dangerous -than she could have imagined. And doing so comes at a cost: her greatest love my now be a lethal enemy. Because it's not just the Order that sees her as a threat that must be eliminated. The Rebellion does, too.

And both sides will do whatever it takes to win.

Dark days lie ahead, and if Skye is to survive, she'll need to rely on her extraordinary powers and the strength of her will. Because she has a future - and a life - that's worth fighting for.

360 pages

Published September 24th 2013  (HarperTeen)

First Impression

From A Fractured Light, everything has gone up in smoke, once friends now enemies. Skye has a big task a head of her as she fights to right everything before time runs out.

My Rating ⭐⭐⭐⭐

The final book in the A Beautiful Dark Series, tells the story of finding balance no matter what. I was captivated by Skye's journey to be herself throughout all the drama that was taking place around her.

I would definitely recommend reading the entire series. The ending was emotional. I had tears but I was moved at the same time.

Quotes

"We would make mistakes, we would argue, we would make up. We would lose the people we love and find new ones, and hold our memories close. We would fight for each other, again and again. We would keep living. We were in love. And we were only human, after all."

A Fractured Light, #2

When she wakes up in unfamiliar

ISBN13: 9780061990670

surroundings, Skye knows something terrible has happened to her. It's not until she hears Asher, the dark, rebellious angel she fell in love with, that the memories come flooding back. She tries to put the past behind her, but she knows she'll be forever haunted by the ruthless betrayal that almost took her life.

Skye returns home, but with the knowledge of who she really is, nothing can ever be the same. As she tests the limits of her newfound powers, Skye discovers that she's capable of far more than anyone could have imagined. Both the Order and the Rebellion want her for their side as war between the fractions looms. She can't forget the terrifying truth she now knows about the Order, but something holds her back from embracing the Rebellion.

337 pages

Published September 25th 2012

First Impression

We learn what has happened and we see how Skye deals with the aftermath of the events of A Beautiful Dark.

My Rating ⭐⭐⭐⭐

There was a lot of things I didn't expect to happen. I was happy that things worked out in the end...

A Fractured Light had twists and soppy moments throughout each chapter. Only thing I will say is that it ended to soon or I just couldn't put it down either way it was worth the read to find out what happened next.

I would 100% recommend reading A Fractured Light especially after reading A Beautiful Dark. 

Quotes

 "I couldn't make a choice between chaos and control. Not because it had been made for me. But because there was no choice to make. It wasn't one or the other. They both were inside of me. They both were apart of me. I was noting without both sides. Take one away and would fall." ~ Skye"

A Beautiful Dark, #1

On the night of Skye's

ISBN 0061990655
(ISBN13: 9780061990656)

seventeenth birthday, she meets two enigmatic strangers. Complete opposites - like fire and ice - Asher is dark and wild, while Devin is fair and aloof. Their sudden appearance sends Skye's life into a tailspin. She has no idea what they want, or why they seem to follow her every move - only that their presence coincides with a flurry of strange events. Soon she begins to doubt not just the identity of the two not, but also the truth about her own past.

In the dead of a bitingly cold Colorado winter, Skye finds herself coming to terms with the impossible secret that threats to shatter her world. Torn between Asher, who she can't help falling for, and Devin, who she can't stay away from, the consequences of Skye's choice will reach further than the three of them can ever imagine.

Pages 390

Published September 27th 2011 (Harperteen)

First Impression

Skye seems like a down-to-earth person. Asher the typical bad boy, and Devin the placid one. 

My Rating ⭐⭐⭐⭐

I felt compelled to read until I had finished, leaving me questioning what would happen till the end....

It's Skye's birthday and her friends have planned a surprise party. When she steps out for a breath of fresh air, this mysterious stranger is there. When she goes back inside she notices that things begin to get strange from that point forward.

Both Asher (the stranger from her party) and Devin turn up at school and put Skye's life apart at the seams. Everywhere she looks one or both of them are there, and she has no idea why.

The ending for me was a big shocker I wasn't expecting it at all...makes you want to read the next book A Fractured Light.

Quotes

"When you like someone you have allow yourself to be vulnerable enough to let them in. Love is messy."

"Love. The great destroyer of worlds."

 "Its wrong to think that you need a heart to love"