Review: Gameboard of the Gods by Richelle Mead

Gameboard of the Gods (Age of X #1) by Richelle Mead
Publication Date: June 4, 2013
Publisher: Dulton Adult
Number of Pages: 448
Format: Hardback
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In a futuristic world nearly destroyed by religious extremists, Justin March lives in exile after failing in his job as an investigator of religious groups and supernatural claims. But Justin is given a second chance when Mae Koskinen comes to bring him back to the Republic of United North America (RUNA). Raised in an aristocratic caste, Mae is now a member of the military’s most elite and terrifying tier, a soldier with enhanced reflexes and skills.

When Justin and Mae are assigned to work together to solve a string of ritualistic murders, they soon realize that their discoveries have exposed them to terrible danger. As their investigation races forward, unknown enemies and powers greater than they can imagine are gathering in the shadows, ready to reclaim the world in which humans are merely game pieces on their board.

Gameboard of the Gods, the first installment of Richelle Mead’s Age of X series, will have all the elements that have made her YA Vampire Academy and Bloodlines series such megasuccesses: sexy, irresistible characters; romantic and mythological intrigue; and relentless action and suspense.

I was a little hesitant to read this since I heard a lot of people gave it bad reviews and didn't like it. Not to mention I had forgot about the book, but I had saw it in Books a Million for half off, which I didn't take as a good sign for it to be marked that low so soon after it's released. But I love Richelle, and haven't found a book by her I didn't like.

If you've noticed I've tagged this book both as sci-fi and paranormal. Is that even possible? I couldn't decide what genre this book would fall under. At first it seems sci-fi, but as you get deeper in it, there's some paranormal aspects to it. Hence I put in both.

Right off the bat, this book is completely different from Mead's other works. It doesn't read like anything she's written, and it's in the third person. It had me wondering if the negative feedback was because the book was so different, fear of the unknown?  I do have to say there was a scene where Mae is remembering how she met her ex, it felt outplace and like it was just stuck in placement.

I really enjoyed the book. The world it is set in is interesting, and has more of a dystopian feel to it. The humor that is presented in all her other books was missing in this one. She keeps strong characters, and even a kick ass heroine.

I wouldn't say this is her best work. I didn't love it. But I really did enjoy it. And curious on how things will play out. More curious about Mae and her past. And I can't help but shipping her and Justin.

Rating: 4/5

 

Review: If I Should Die by Amy Plum

If I Should Die (Revenants #3) by Amy Plum
Publisher: Atom
Publication date: May 1st, 2013
Number of pages: 408 pgs
Format: Paperback
Purchase: Amazon | The Book Depository

I will not lose another person I love. I will not let history repeat itself.

Vincent waited lifetimes to find me, but in an instant our future together was shattered. He was betrayed by someone we both called a friend, and I lost him. Now our enemy is determined to rule over France s immortals, and willing to wage a war to get what they want.

It shouldn t be possible, none of it should be, but this is my reality. I know Vincent is somewhere out there, I know he s not completely gone, and I will do anything to save him.

After what we've already fought to achieve, a life without Vincent is unimaginable. He once swore to avoid dying - to go against his nature and forsake sacrificing himself for others - so that we could be together. How can I not risk everything to bring my love back to me?

If I Should Die is the final in this romantic and dark trilogy. The end of the previous installment we saw Kate discovering her beloved could very well be dead after his body being taken and burned by a bitch from hell.
Just when you thought things couldn't get any worse, the events that take place in this final book just about break your heart, but also melt it too.

I've been a pretty big fan of this series. It's a series that sets itself apart from all the other things in YA right now, which was a breath of fresh air. It took on a unique thing and made it into so much more than I could have even anticipated.
I couldnt have imagined how much I would adore these characters, the setting and everything they all endured between the first and third books.
I looked forward to seeing how everything would end for these characters, and I was very satisfied.

There was a couple things that stopped from giving this a full 5 star rating. The way Jules ended up and how something that happened felt contrived when I read it. I suppose now that I think about it, it does make sense going back to the beginning, but still.. highly coincidental.

The story picks up pretty much where the previous book left off. Kate is in shambles as she goes to alert the others as to what had happened. Of course, everyone then bands together to try find a way to fix what has happened and bring him back, but that proves not as easy as one might think. I suppose one thing that helped if that while Vincent's body was gone he was still there in spirit and was able to communicate to Kate on such things.
Violette is determined to gain power from Vincent, who she sees as the champion, but she didn't count on Kate and the others hell bent on getting him back no matter what it took.
What I did admire was the love Kate has for Vincent. It goes beyond anything else in this world, it's the kind of love that she would die for..
Kate is a very tough and kickass character. She has grown so much since she arrived in Paris with her sister, Georgia after the death of their parents.

After reading Jules's novella, it made me feel so bad for him because he was in love with Kate so painfully, it made me want her to love him, but I knew that was impossible. I just hope one day he finds someone to love that would be his only. A spinoff would be perfect actually.. HINT HINT, Amy.
But I loved his friendship with Kate, with Vincent.  I think everyone in this group has grown and matured from the people they were to begin it. It's a natural process the things they had to overcome since Kate came into their lives, but in another way, she made their lives so much better. So much more alive, as much as one can be when you die and then return time and time again.

Toward the middle of the book things become very intense. Secrets are revealed. Characters come into place you don't expect and discover whether or not Vincent is the champion after all.
A shocking revelation involving two characters come to light, one more shocking than the other, but interesting peices of information nonetheless.
The conclusion to this story was bittersweet but happy. All in all, a great ending to this unique series.

Rating: 4.5/5

Review: Kiss Me First by Lottie Moggach

Kiss Me First by Lottie Moggach
Publisher: Pan Macmillan
Publication date: July 4th, 2013
Number of pages: 320 pgs
Format: Trade Paperback
Purchase: Amazon | The Book Depository | Bookworld Australia

A chilling and intense first novel, this is the story of a solitary young woman drawn into an online world run by a charismatic web guru who entices her into impersonating a glamorous but desperate woman.

When Leila discovers the website Red Pill, she feels she has finally found people who understand her. A sheltered young woman raised by her mother, Leila has often struggled to connect with the girls at school; but on Red Pill, a chat forum for ethical debate, Leila comes into her own, impressing the website's founder, a brilliant and elusive man named Adrian. Leila is thrilled when Adrian asks to meet her, and is flattered when he invites her to be part of "Project Tess."

Tess is a woman Leila might never have met in real life. She is beautiful, urbane, witty, and damaged. As they email, chat, and Skype, Leila becomes enveloped in the world of Tess, learning every single thing she can about this other woman--because soon, Leila will have to become her.

An ingeniously plotted novel of stolen identity, Kiss Me First is brilliantly frightening about the lies we tell--to ourselves, and to others, for good, and for ill.

A big thank you to Pan Macmillan giving me this chance to read and review this riveting tale. The moment I saw the synopsis of it, I knew I wanted to read this.
Something that was different from my usual genres. Something that was a woman's journey, real, honest and exciting adventure.

This is a unique story of mystery, intrigue, love, tragedy and friendships. From an Australian author comes a story which I was enticed by before I had even read it.
It all comes down to the life of a young woman, Leila. She had an ordinary life, but after the death of her mother, Leila suddenly finds comfort in a philosophical website forum in which she can talk to others about the same kind of views as she.  Quickly, she became closely acquainted with the owner of the website, Adrian.
Leila becomes involved in a deep and secret project organised by Adrian called "Project Tess," this is one thing that will change her life forever, make her question everything, but also will open up so much opportunity for her.

As Leila gets to know and understand Tess, she becomes her friend, her confidant and only person who knows and understands what she is going through. But is Tess telling Leila everything she needs to know? Everything is vital for when the time comes when Leila is to become Tess. As Leila gets involved with Tess's life and world, Leila starts to notice not everything matches up... is there a possibility that not everything as it seems, and Tess is holding back more than she should?

This book surprised me.  I wasn't sure what I would think of it, but I loved it.  From the different characters, to the world that Leila was drawn into.  It was part mystery, part thriller.

Rating: 4/5

Review: Darkness Unmasked by Keri Arthur

Darkness Unmasked (Dark Angels, #5) by Keri Arthur
Publisher: Signet Select
Publication date: June 4th, 2013
Number of pages: 372 pgs
Format: Mass-market Paperback
Purchase: Amazon | The Book Depository

The sexy, exciting, suspenseful adventures continue in New York Times bestselling author Keri Arthur's Dark Angels series, starring Risa Jones, a half-Aedh/half-werewolf. She can speak to the souls of the dying and the dead, and can see Reapers, the collectors of souls.

Shortly after her fight on the astral plane, Risa receives a phone call from Madeline Hunter, the leader of the vampire council, ordering her to investigate the death of Hunter's close friend and lover - Wolfgang Schmidt. His body has been discovered wrapped in a web-like substance and has been completely drained. As the body count continues to grow, Risa must summon her gifts to find the dark spirit before it strikes again.

Meanwhile, as the search for the keys that keep the gate to Hell closed grows more intense, Risa begins to unravel mysteries that will have startling consequences for her.

This recently installment to Keri Arthur's Dark Angels saga is downright my favourite in the series thus far. We get a few answers to some lingering questions, but there was progression in terms of the romantic entanglement with Azriel.
But Risa herself gets caught up time and time again in another adventure.

Just when Risa was recovering from her latest near death experience, she is then called pretty much right away to deal with another important case, and this time it's Hunter's lover who has been found dead in a way that's even more gruesome than most murders.
Risa doesn't have much time to solve this, because if she doesn't, then not even Azriel's healing abilities can stop the wrath that would be coming for her.

The relationship between Risa and Azriel really heats up and comes to a head in this book. It was everything I hoped it would be and more. But par usual, things with Keri Arthur do not come easy, or at a cost. They may finally give in to all those feelings that's been underlying under the surface, but Azriel breaks all the rules he is bound to as a reaper for Risa, and everything he does comes at a massive cost. A cost that does not come to light until later on in the book, and it's something Risa herself will not be happy with.
The things you do for love.... hopefully Risa will come to forgive and understand eventually, but until then, things are not going to be easy.

Not to mention we have the return of Lucien, I always knew there was something off about him, and so did Azriel.  It isn't until this book where his true colours get exposed and you see him for what he really is.
There was parts of this book where I was shocked. I couldn't see coming, but then I think back to previous ones and everything makes much sense.
Lucien reminds me of one of the characters from Riley's series. He makes some really bad decisions and those that affect Risa so very much.  Decisions that will have consequences not only on herself, but also to Illiana, one of her best friends.

Everything changes in this installment. There is no going back to how something was before now. It's only dealing with what has happened and how to proceed forward from here on out.

It's only  been two months since the release and I am aching for the next book. The wait until November is terrible and I wish it would hurry up because I need to know what happens next for these characters.

Rating: 5/5

Review: The Farm by Emily McKay

The Farm (The Farm, #1) by Emily McKay
Publisher: Berkley Trade
Publication date: December 4th, 2012
Number of pages: 420 pgs
Format: Paperback
Purchase: Amazon | The Book Depository

Life was different in the Before: before vampires began devouring humans in a swarm across America; before the surviving young people were rounded up and quarantined. These days, we know what those quarantines are—holding pens where human blood is turned into more food for the undead monsters, known as Ticks. Surrounded by electrical fences, most kids try to survive the Farms by turning on each other…

And when trust is a thing of the past, escape is nearly impossible.

Lily and her twin sister Mel have a plan. Though Mel can barely communicate, her autism helps her notice things no one else notices—like the portion of electrical fence that gets turned off every night. Getting across won’t be easy, but as Lily gathers what they need to escape, a familiar face appears out of nowhere, offering to help…

Carter was a schoolmate of Lily’s in the Before. Managing to evade capture until now, he has valuable knowledge of the outside world. But like everyone on the Farm, Carter has his own agenda, and he knows that behind the Ticks is an even more dangerous threat to the human race...

Have you ever come across something in a particular genre that was very unique? That is what The Farm is for me. While this story involves vampires, but McKay has written it in a very unique and special way, it will blow you apart.

McKay builds such ground-breaking worldbuilding for this story. tragic and courageous characters, with heartbreaking revelations and developments. This is a story which it's impossible not to fall in love with.  The way the author hooks you in, makes you care about these main characters and the world around them is utterly astounding.
Our main characters are twin sisters, Mel and Lily.  They are trapped at a camp they are desperately trying to escape from.  Lily has been looking after her sister for as long as she can remember. Mel has autism and is only able to communicate in specific ways.  When someone new and someone from her past comes crashing back into Lily's life, she needs to decide whether she can trust him. Is he there to help them, or capture them?

Lily will soon discover more about the Ticks, aka Vampires than she ever wanted to know before. It's the choice to stay and die, or leave and survive. There really isn't much choice, is there? Leaving the compound is only just the beginning of their journey. It's what happens after what matters. After things happen, Lily and her new friends have to decide what action needs to be taken, and if they can reach safety.

This is a very different kind of vampires than you have ever seen before. When I saw the word 'tick' I didn't actually realize it meant vampires, I thought they were actual ticks, you know.. those blood sucking insects. I can understand the relation to them though, so it kind of makes sense why they would be called ticks rather than the normal term of vampires.

The story is separated in three POVS.  Lily, Mel and Carter.  Mel's was a little bit getting used to given her thoughts are all jumbled from her disability, but the more you read of it, you soon understand that she is talking, but it's not in the normal words and sentences that we talk.
One final bit of thought, I really loved the relationship between Lily and Carter.  It's something that was taken from their past, and to realize there were those feelings still present... well, it drew me in and I wanted to learn more about them, and himself. Carter was an interesting character. He wasn't a victim. He wasn't afraid nor did he fear the vampires. he was prepared for them and had help. He wanted to make a different and rid the world of them, and get others out of these such camps.

I look forward to the sequel upcoming, to see where these characters take me next in the next installment to this series. To go along with the ride to wherever they go next.

Rating: 4.5/5

Review: The Originals by Cat Patrick

The Originals by Cat Patrick
Publisher: Hardie Grant Egmont
Publication date: May 1st, 2013
Number of pages: 298 pgs
Format: Paperback
Purchase: Amazon | The Book Depository

Ella, Betsey and I look like sisters: triplets, you might think.

But that's not what we are at all.

We are clones in hiding. We split our lives and exist as one person in the outside world. And we've always been happy.

But now I've fallen in love ... and that changes everything.

Because to let love in, I need to be allowed to be Me.

I've read a couple of Cat Patrick's books and they are quite enjoyable. She knows the way to get someone hooked on the story, and world she has created.
This book is no different. It's kind of unlike anything else she has done before, and I loved it.

This story consists of three girls who are identical.  One may think they are triplets, but what the public doesn't know is that they are clones. Three clones who was saved by their adoptive mother from birth. They have kept this secret all their lives, always being on the run for fear of being discovered what they are.
But when one of them falls in love... they want to be able to lead their own lives, not to be able to fear of what may come of them, and for that, there is only one person who has the answers they desperately seek: their mother.

The three girls who have grown up as close as any sisters could be, band together and find themselves deep in a world of mystery, secrets and danger.  Can they find out the very truth which has been kept from them their entire lives.

This is a story about family, romance, loyalty and the bond of these girls who know everything there is to know about one another.

I think the relationship between the girls was my favourite part of the book. The bond and connection they have for one another is very sweet. They have to learn to stick together under extreme circumstances, and when things happen..

I was glad I decided to pick up this book. It was a very enjoyable read overall.

Rating: 4.5/5

Review: Pivot Point by Kasie West

Pivot Point by Kasie West
Publisher: HarperTeen
Publication date: February 12th, 2013
Number of pages: 343 pgs
Format: Hardcover
Purchase: Amazon | The Book Depository

Knowing the outcome doesn’t always make a choice easier . . .

Addison Coleman’s life is one big “What if?” As a Searcher, whenever Addie is faced with a choice, she can look into the future and see both outcomes. It’s the ultimate insurance plan against disaster. Or so she thought. When Addie’s parents ambush her with the news of their divorce, she has to pick who she wants to live with—her father, who is leaving the paranormal compound to live among the “Norms,” or her mother, who is staying in the life Addie has always known. Addie loves her life just as it is, so her answer should be easy. One Search six weeks into the future proves it’s not.

In one potential future, Addie is adjusting to life outside the Compound as the new girl in a Norm high school where she meets Trevor, a cute, sensitive artist who understands her. In the other path, Addie is being pursued by the hottest guy in school—but she never wanted to be a quarterback’s girlfriend. When Addie’s father is asked to consult on a murder in the Compound, she’s unwittingly drawn into a dangerous game that threatens everything she holds dear. With love and loss in both lives, it all comes down to which reality she’s willing to live through . . . and who she can’t live without.

There was so much talk about this book. A friend of mine loved it so much that it convinced me to buy it. Normally I would wait for a paperback, but I took the risk that I could like it enough to buy the paperback which was the only format available.

The moment I started reading it, I knew this was definitely my kind of book. I thought at first that it was a contemporary book, but when I read it, it was something else. I think it was probably half contemporary and half fantasy with special elements included.

This story, we are introduced to Addison has grown up in a world where everyone has a different ability. For Addison, her ability is to be able to search through different futures depending on what she or someone may or may not take. 
After her parents drop a bomb shell upon her that threatens to tear her family apart,  she has to decide who she would rather live with, her Mom in the place she has grown up in, or venture to somewhere new with her Dad, the human world where everything will be so unfamilar to her.
Deciding to search through her possible futures, Addie finds out what would happen if she stays or if she happens to leave.
In one possible future, Addie stays with her Mom and ends up dating the school's quarterback, and finds herself in a position and relationship she never wanted ton be in, but other than that, she couldn't be happier.  In the other future, Addie sees herself setting to her new surroundings, and for the first time, falls in love with a human boy.  But things become complicated when she gets involved in one of her mother's murder cases, and Addie finds herself in a position where not everything is what she thought it would be.

This novel battles many decisions.  From what you think you should do, and what your heart is telling you. From dating someone who everyone wants you to date to someone who fall in love with against your own judgment. From a world full of supernatural elements to one that has none of that.

Addison was someone who I adored right off the bat. She was a character I think many people could relate on, especially when it comes to when she was dealing with her family and personal issues, even her issues when it comes to her lovelife.  She was a great character. She has to make decisions based on what she felt in her heart, and what was best for her and in the long run, no matter what consequences may occur.

At first,  I enjoyed both love interests, but as the story went on... my perspective changed and I definitely leaned more towards one than the other when information came to light about one of them and things started to change with particular actions taken.

I even loved the supernatural elements to this story. I can't wait for the sequel to see what will happen with Addie next.

Rating: 5/5

Review: Rise of the Gryphon by Sherrilyn Kenyon and Dianna Love

Rise of the Gryphon (Belador #4) by Sherrilyn Kenyon and Dianna Love
Publication Date: July 30, 2013
Publisher: Pocket Books
Number of Pages: 480
Format: Paperback
Buy: Amazon | Barnes and Noble
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To prevent a genocide, Evalle is forced to embrace her destiny…but at what cost?

As an Alterant who fights everything from trolls to demons, Evalle has lived as an outcast among the Beladors, but can now change all that…and find answers to her origins as well. Those answers and a traitor hide within the Medb coven, an enemy poised to destroy the mortal world and all that Evalle holds dear. While her best friends Tzader and Quinn want to help, they have their own conflicts and face unthinkable choices as relationships with the women they love twist in unexpected directions. With time ticking down on a decision that will compel allies to become deadly enemies, Evalle turns to Storm and takes a major step that only complicates matters more when the witchdoctor he’s been hunting now stalks Evalle.

 Evalle is running out of time to find five Alterants to swear loyalty to Macha, and to find Tristian to find out their true origins. But first they must find a way into an illegal beast fight club, one that if she gets caught nobody will able to save her. Not to mention succeeding means going with the Medb, where she might not have a way out of their plans for her.

I didn't enjoy this book as much as the others. Don't get me wrong I still loved the book, but it felt like something was lacking. Maybe barely any scenes with Evalle, Quinn, and Tzader. Also we only got one scene with Isak. But on the plus side this book is filled with Storm and Evalle moments. I felt like some scenes were a little too cheesy, but I've been waiting since book one for these two to get with the program.

A little change from previous books, this one focus a lot less on the other characters and subplots, and focus mainly on Evalle. We do get a few answers in this book. We find out about Evalle's past, which I'm sure most of us had already figured out what had happened. Also we FINALLY get to know the other half of Alterants origins. And I was shocked. Thinking back, it kind of made sense. But still.

There's a significant death, that was both shocking and unexpected. I wanted this character gone from the beginning, but when it came down to it, well I realized I came to kind of like this person. Plus along with the death came a shocking revelation. The ending came with a few other surprises. Without giving anything away, Evalle stands up to Macha and basically tells her they will doing things her way from now on.

Giving how everything is coming together, I'm sure the next book will be the last. I can't wait to see how everything is wrapped up.

Rating: 4/5

 

Review:Belle Noir: Tales of Love and Magic by Ava Zavora

Belle Noir: Tales of love and Magic   by Ava Zavora
Publisher: Self Published
Publication date: June 3rd, 2013
Format: Eformat
Purchase:  Amazon  

Enter a world of dark beauty…

This collection of enchanting and disturbing stories ranging from fantasy to speculative fiction will leave you spellbound! (Includes retellings of Beauty and the Beast)

Transfigured - The Beast has changed back to a handsome prince, yet Beauty finds out that although some curses may be broken, they are never completely destroyed.

No Loyal Knight and True – In this modern-day retelling of Tennyson’s The Lady of Shalott, a boyhood encounter with an odd girl who lives in a tower alters the course of Ryan’s destiny.

Belle Noir – Young Jane flees from her abusive father into a seemingly perfect marriage only to find that the darkest hearts are never revealed until it is too late.

Grotesque - A woman hardened by a difficult past witnesses a horrifying tragedy and undergoes a magical transformation.

Mirabilis (A Novelette) - Rosaria's life changes the day the veiled and mysterious Lord Devlin hires her to cure him of a terrible curse.

***Some stories contain mature subject matter. 18+***

I'd like to thank Ava for giving me this chance to review her book in exchange for an honest review.

This is a collection of short fairytale stories.  I don't often read anthologies before, so I wasn't sure what to expect.
I was pleasantly surprise at how unique these stories were. They gave you a general idea for different things, but Ava then took on her own twist to it.

These stories deal with many issues and aspects which also are personal and relate to real life.  From heartbreak, family, with adding magic to the equation.

Each story has a different style and theme. With strong characters, great storyline and even romance to boot, this collection of stories is worthy to be up there with any other fantasy anthology that's currently out in the literary world.
Ava found a way to bring me into such exciting and extraodinary worlds to the point you just want to keep reading and see where the story takes you.


If you like fairytales and fantasy, then this one is for you.

Review:  3.5/5

Review: Storm by Brigid Kemmerer

Storm (Elementals, #1) by Brigid Kemmerer
Publisher: Allen & Unwin
Publication date: May 1st, 2012
Number of pages: 368 pgs
Format:  Paperback
Purchase: Amazon | The Book Depository

Earth. Fire. Air. Water.

When Becca Chandler saves Chris Merrick from being beaten-up in the school car park, she has no idea how dramatically this one action will change her life. Chris is no ordinary guy and neither are his three older brothers. The Merrick boys are Elementals. Hot. Powerful. Dangerous. Marked for death.

Then there's Hunter, the mysterious new kid around school, turns up with a talent for being in the wrong place at the right time. With her life at stake, Becca doesn't know who to trust or whose secrets she should keep. and with two boy vying for her affections, and pressure rising all around her, will she find out in time who's hiding the most dangerous truth of all?

Take Cover.
The storm is coming!

The debut novel to this outstanding new series blew me away more than I could ever say. I had heard so much about this breathtaking series to a point where I thought maybe I would be let down with the hype I had been hearing.
I gotta say --  I was thankful where the hype lived up to my own view on this book.

When you have interesting characters, a world that hooks you in and with mythology to boot, that is a recipe for a great series to come.

Becca Chandler was just an ordinary teenage girl, but after witnessing the beating of a boy after taking some defense classes, she does the crazy thing --  scare off the attackers and rescue the boy who is wounded and bleeding to a pulp. It turns out that this boy ends up being one of the brothers who are known for their bad boy status.
This very act pushes Becca into a world she never would have expected, but one she can't help but involved in.  The moment she takes Chris Merrick home, that is the very very moment when things change for Becca, and for Chris.  These two will find themselves so involved in one another's lives.
Then she meets Hunter... he is the new boy in town and finds himself helping Becca.

I fell in love with these characters right away. From Becca and Chris --  who I wished would get their act together and realize their feelings for one another, to Hunter and the other Merrick brothers. I didn't like Michael in the beginning, but as the story went on, I slowly began to understand why he is the way he is.  It helps to read the prequel to this story, which is Michael's story and what happened to bring him to this position he is in.

The mythology which Brigid created with this series I loved just as quickly. The fact that a group of brothers each have an individual ability, who have a curse. They are dark, but they feel so much emotion.

I bought the next two books very quickly, I now have to get to reading them.

Rating: 5/5

Review: Natural Born Angel by Scott Speer

Natural Born Angel (Immortal City, #2) by Scott Speer
Publisher: Razorbill
Publication date: April 17th, 2013
Number of pages: 368 pgs
Format: Paperback
Purchase: Amazon | The Book Depository

Life turned upside down for Maddy Montgomery when she found out she was half-Angel and was catapulted into the scene of flashbulbs, paparazzi, and the fervent adulation that comes with being in the celebrity Angel world. She's trying to juggle her ordinary life—high school, family, friends—with the intense demands of being in the public eye as heartthrob Angel Jackson Godspeed's girlfriend.

And now Maddy must face the most difficult choice of her life. She's been offered the chance to become a Guardian. This means entering into dangerous and high stakes training, with no guarantee that she can succeed. But more than that, it would mean leaving her mortal life behind—forever—and allying with the Angels at a time when their relationship with humans is heading for war. . . .

I fell in love with Immortal City last year. I read it on the plane when I was holidaying in the US late last year. It was hands down one of my favourite books of 2012, and my fav that involved angels. I fell for the relationship between Maddy and Jacks, and the love they have for one another.
Not only that, but the mythology and the world which Scott has created I loved immediately.
I was looking forward to this sequel and couldn't wait to find myself in this world once again.

The relationship between Maddy and Jack didn't really feel like the same one I had fallen in love with. There were things, people that came in between them. But it was also Maddy and Jacks themselves. Jealousy and Jack's ego forced him to a point where he was pushing Maddy away even if he didn't know it. Maddy was becoming the new hottest thing in Angel city, where it was Jacks before now, and when since Jacks is recovering from something horrible that happened to him, it takes him away from the boy she fell in love with. It brings out different sides to Jacks that aren't exactly loveable.

When everything goes to shit, Maddy is forced to make the choice between the humans, and the angels, and this is a choice that could change or end her relationship with Jacks forever. No matter if she is half angel, the fact she grew up human, have human family... she begins down a road where she and her loved one is on different sides of an oncoming war.  It's a war that could break the world down the middle.

I knew there was a triangle starting up in this book before I read it. I didn't like it. I just wanted my Maddy and Jacks. I wanted to see the love from book 1. But I don't think it was more about choosing one or the other, it seemed to be more about choosing humanity over angels.

I am looking forward to the next book, and hopefully Scott will bring back the Maddy and Jacks that we love.

Rating: 4.5/5