REVIEW: The Forever Song (Blood of Eden #3)

The Forever Song (Blood of Eden #3), by Julie Kagawa
Published April 15, 2014
Publisher: HarlequinTEEN
Format: e-book, borrowed
Genre: young adult paranormal
To Buy: Amazon * Barnes & Noble

Rating: 5 STARS

(From Goodreads) Vengeance will be hers.

Allison Sekemoto once struggled with the question: human or monster? With the death of her love, Zeke, she has her answer.

Monster.

Allie will embrace her cold vampire side to hunt down and end Sarren, the psychopathic vampire who murdered Zeke. But the trail is bloody and long, and Sarren has left many surprises for Allie and her companions - her creator Kanin, and her blood brother, Jackal. The trail is leading straight to the one place they must protect at any cost - the last vampire-free zone on Earth, Eden. And Sarren has one final, brutal shock in store for Allie.

In a ruined world where no life is sacred and former allies can turn on you in one heartbeat, Allie will face her darkest days. And if she succeeds, her triumph will be short-lived in the face of surviving forever alone.

THE FINAL HUNT IS ON.

Wow. Just... WOW. I mean, this book was... wow. As you can see, I'm still having a bit of trouble finding accurate words to describe how much I loved the final book in the Blood of Eden series. It had absolutely everything I needed, including some things I didn't even know I needed, to make for the most stunning conclusion to a series that I've read in a long time. 

Ali is struggling with maintaining her humanity after the events of the first two books. I mean, hey - who wouldn't? Sarren has tormented her in the absolute worst way - or so she thought. In actuality, the worst is still to come, and when his master plan comes to light, it leaves Ali and those she cares about racing to beat the clock in order to save everyone on the Earth. 

Ali is the most amazing heroine ever. She is incredibly strong - and I'm not just talking about physically. She has been through some truly awful stuff, and despite struggling, she never, ever gives up. She sets a goal, and she goes after it until she's done. Ali is a vampire, so she's pretty rough around the edges. She's hardened and jaded and, especially in the beginning of The Forever Song, downright scary. 

It was hard to read those beginning few chapters. We've seen Ali struggle to keep a firm grasp on her humanity despite Jackal's constant poking at her to embrace her inner monster, and the Hunger that is always, always there, reminding her that she's not the human she used to be. When she believes she's lost the one person who loved her anyway - and that she loved back - she doesn't think there's any reason to try so hard anymore. To read about Ali giving up and becoming the monster absolutely broke my heart. 

The event to finally bring her back to her former self was so poignant, it brought tears to my eyes. It also brought home the fact that Kanin is there when she needs him the most, like a father-figure. And, his council is needed so many times over the course of the book. The differences between Kanin and Jackal are stark. Where Kanin is supportive, Jackal is combative. Kanin builds up and Jackal delights in wearing down. Kanin is nice. Jackal is... not. 

But, the one thing that Jackal IS is hysterical. Thank goodness for his presence in The Forever Song, because this was a dark and heavy book. His snark and antagonistic personality added some much needed lightness. And, as it turns out, Jackal also added some good insight and a bitch slap to the head when it was needed. He's surprisingly insightful when he wants to be. 

The biggest question when I started the book was, what happened to Zeke? His fate was somewhat ambiguous at the end of The Eternity Cure, and we do have to wait a few chapters to find out what he's doing now. And, although I had guessed it to some degree, there was still SO MUCH that I didn't see coming. Zeke's situation was so far beyond frustrating and it had me torn up in knots for a long while. 

The four of them chase Sarren across the terrain as he heads toward Eden with a crazy deadly virus. He is constantly one step ahead of them with barricades and psychological mind screws. I have never wanted to see a bad guy bite it more. The final showdown is suspenseful and impressive and scary and completely awesome. I loved every second. 

The ending - of both the series and the book - was absolutely perfect. There was heartbreak and destruction and death and hope - it was epic. I highly recommend this series to anyone who is in the mood for a darker vampire tale with a romance that you can write home about. And, for a change, the ending of this series was satisfying to the enth degree.

REVIEW: The Iron Traitor (The Iron Fey: Call of the Forgotten #2)

The Iron Traitor (The Iron Fey: Call of the Forgotten #2), by Julie Kagawa
Published October 29, 2013
Publisher: HarlequinTEEN
Format: e-galley obtained from NetGalley
Genre: YA fantasy/paranormal
To Buy:  Amazon * Barnes & Noble

Rating:  5 STARS

(From Goodreads) In the real world, when you vanish into thin air for a week, people tend to notice.

After his unexpected journey into the lands of the fey, Ethan Chase just wants to get back to normal. Well, as "normal" as you can be when you see faeries every day of your life. Suddenly the former loner with the bad reputation has someone to try for-his girlfriend, Kenzie. Never mind that he's forbidden to see her again.

But when your name is Ethan Chase and your sister is one of the most powerful faeries in the Nevernever, "normal" simply isn't to be. For Ethan's nephew, Keirran, is missing, and may be on the verge of doing something unthinkable in the name of saving his own love. Something that will fracture the human and faery worlds forever, and give rise to the dangerous fey known as the Forgotten. As Ethan's and Keirran's fates entwine and Keirran slips further into darkness, Ethan's next choice may decide the fate of them all.

I have to tell you - while I was reading The Iron Traitor, I was an all over the place, emo mess. There was some of this:

 ...followed by some of this (like, when Ash showed up):

...and then I was all:

...and then finally:

Seriously. Just like that. 

So, Ethan is thrust right back in the middle of where he didn't want to be when Annwyl and Meghan come to him at different times to tell him that Kierran, the Iron Prince and Ethan's nephew, is missing. Ethan and Kenzie set off on a trip through the mortal world, the Nevernever and the Between in order to find Kierran and then to help him, sometimes reluctantly and with great consequence, on his mission to save the person he loves. Unfortunately, the price for this help may be higher than Ethan was willing to pay.

I could just wrap up all my silly gifs in one word - AWESOME. The Iron Traitor was a mind-blowing, heart-stopping trip to crazy town, and I loved every single minute. Ethan has come a long way since the beginning of The Iron Prince (The Iron Fey: Call of the Forgotten #1). In it, his anger and disappointment at his sister was infecting every facet of his life. He turned his back on his Sight. He shunned all attempts others made at trying to be friends. He really wasn't a very likable guy. 

In The Iron Traitor, Ethan is shedding his nasty exterior - albeit, slowly - and coming to terms with who he is and who his family is. A lot of that has to do with Kenzie's influence. She's the girl who didn't take any of his crap, and he fell in love with her because of it. She pushes him beyond what he thought he was capable of. Kenzie is the bomb. 

And then there's Kierran. Kierran, Kierran, Kierran. I think he smiled 0.75 times in the entire book. There's several reasons for this - the woman he loves is dying, he's slightly estranged from his parents, and he essentially made a deal with the devil. He had good reasons for making very bad decisions. But, my heart hurt so much for this kid for the entire book.

As in The Iron Prince, we catch glimpses of our very favorite friends from The Iron Fey. We see Meghan, Ash, Puck and Grim, but all the appearances are sadly too short. Puck hangs around the longest while helping Ethan, Kierran and Kenzie out on the final leg of their mission. Sadly, Ash is the one we see the least of. But, when he does show up, you totally take notice.

I love Ethan and Kenzie together. They have a unique relationship. Ethan's always pretending to be uber tough and Kenzie tries to make it seem as if everything happening to her just rolls off her back. Both of them are crazy which is why they're so perfect together. Their moments of sweetness and vulnerability gave me a much needed break from the extreme angst. 

Can I just say a word about the ending? This about sums it up:

The cliffhanger is totally off. The. Hook. I know why Julie Kagawa did it. It really was the perfect ending. That doesn't mean it made me feel happy. Waiting for the resolution is going to be painful. In a wonderfully, bookish way.

The Iron Traitor is everything I love in an epic book. It has love and death, big battles, creatures of all shapes and sizes, old friends and new enemies. How can you say no to all that?

 

REVIEW: The Eternity Cure (The Blood of Eden #2)

The Eternity Cure (The Blood of Eden #2), by Julie Kagawa
To Be Published April 24, 2013
Publisher:  Harlequin Teen
Format:  e-ARC - supplied by NetGalley
Genre:  YA Paranormal, dystopian

Rating:  5 STARS

(From Goodreads) Allison Sekemoto has vowed to rescue her creator, Kanin, who is being held hostage and tortured by the psychotic vampire Sarren. The call of blood leads her back to the beginning—New Covington and the Fringe, and a vampire prince who wants her dead yet may become her wary ally.

Even as Allie faces shocking revelations and heartbreak like she’s never known, a new strain of the Red Lung virus that decimated humanity is rising to threaten human and vampire alike.

I have no words.

Ok - that's not true. That's never true when it comes to books. But, this one blew my mind. 

I hate to say this, but I find myself comparing The Blood of Eden series to the Twilight series. Now, before you get all WTF on me, hear me out. The overarching theme in Twilight is how one self-proclaimed monster can hold on to his humanity or his soul in order to be worthy enough to earn the love of a human being. For those who've read The Immortal Rules, does this sound familiar?

The big difference here is that The Blood of Eden series does it RIGHT.

*There may be some mild spoilers from The Immortal Rules below. You've been warned!*

In The Eternity Cure, Allison is searching for Kanin, trying to save him from all the evil things that the psychotic Sarren is doing to him. She has left Zeke and her other human friends in Eden and, while she misses them (especially Zeke), she takes comfort in knowing that they are safe. Allison is forced to enter an uncomfortable and inconvenient partnership with her enemy, Jackal, as they find themselves heading back to her old stomping grounds to rescue Kanin.

Of course, along the way, Allison does meet up again with Zeke in the most interesting of ways, and he joins in the efforts to go after Kanin. Meanwhile, Sarren, who is the most evil of bad guys that I've seen in a long time, has unleashed a nasty new virus in New Covington that has affected both vampires and humans. So, now, not only do Allison, Zeke and Jackal have to find a way to save Kanin, but they must also save the rest of the city from Sarren's nasty disease.

Once again, Julie Kagawa's outstanding character development and world building take front and center stage. There is no such thing as "blah" or "meh" in this book. Even the supporting characters are painted with such a strong brush that you find yourself genuinely caring whether they live or die. But, Allison - she is the real star of the show.

Allison has been told by so many that the loss of her humanity is a foregone conclusion. And, that makes her even more determined to hold on to it as tightly as she can. Especially after making such a strong connection to Zeke and his group. Despite her immortal condition, she is compelled to try and save the humans around her, rather than simply use them as a food source. It's a hard road for her, and she knows that. But her continued view on the value of things like love, loyalty and loss make her the most reluctant of heroes.

And, Zeke - *sigh*. That is one remarkable boy. He's all you want and more than you expect. Allison has changed his entire outlook on the world. Rather than simply accepting the things he was taught or going the easy route and burying his head in the sand, Zeke faces his questions head-on and puts his life on the line in order to learn more. It makes him a better leader than Jeb ever would have been. He still has his convictions and his line in the sand, but Allison's presence in his life has opened up his eyes and made him see and accept far more than he ever imagined.

I never thought I'd say this, but Jackal was pretty awesome in The Eternity Cure. He was the much-needed comic relief. This book was amazing, but it was pretty dark and generally sad. Jackal added the right dose of humor in the right places. Although I wasn't at first, I became glad for his constant presence.

The ending KILLED me. It does end on a cliffhanger, and a really frustrating one, at that. The worst part about reading ARCs and e-galleys is that you have to wait SO LONG for the next one to come out. And when a book ends like this one does, it's the best kind of torture.

Honestly, even if vampire books aren't really your thing, I hope you will give The Blood of Eden series a try. It will make you think and question things. And really, isn't that the best part about reading??

Book #97 - The Lost Prince (The Iron Fey: Call of the Forgotten #1)

The Lost Prince (The Iron Fey: Call of the Forgotten #1), Julie Kagawa
379 pages
ARC from NetGalley - release date October 23, 2012
urban fantasy
Started 9/2/12
Finished 9/4/12
4 STARS

How I have missed the Nevernever. Everyone who knows me knows that The Iron Fey is one of my all-time favorite series. I've read everything that Julie Kagawa has written (that I know about, anyway). So, when I saw that NetGalley had an advance e-copy of The Lost Prince from Kagawa's new Iron Fey spin-off series available, I did my happy book jig, and clicked the "yes, please" button.

Kagawa's new series follows Meghan's younger brother Ethan. Ethan is no longer a five-year-old boy. Thirteen years have passed, and Ethan is now an 18-year-old cynical, cranky loner who likes to wear his shirts inside out and carry salt around in his backpack. Needless to say, his social life is non-existent as is any semblance of a normal relationship with anyone. His traumatic time in the Nevernever has scarred him - he sees faery creatures all the time, and they know he can see them. They've damn near ruined his life, and his sister has been MIA since she became the Iron Queen and got married. Ethan, bitter and pissed-off, vows to never ever engage anything from the Nevernever again.

That is, until a new breed of creature starts stalking him and he and the school reporter are forced to escape to the Nevernever. Now, Ethan is forced to face his sister and her family for the first time in 13 years, as well as all his fears that he's worked so hard to tramp down. And, the real question in, can he find it in himself to align with the faeries against a new threat?

Although I missed Meghan and, especially, Ash, I was very glad that The Lost Prince kept its focus on Ethan. Meghan's and Ash's story has been told. And it was an entertaining one. But, this is about Ethan's journey and those new characters that he comes in contact with. The extra nice part is that some of our old favorites do still play a prominent role, which succeeds in tying the two series together.

Ethan is a really complex character. You have to feel for the guy - he's had a hard time of things since Meghan left him. And, we know why she did it. But, only Kagawa could make me feel anger and irritation toward a character that I love so much. I feel so badly for Ethan - that he's had to endure so much because of the choices Meghan made.

Kenzie was a welcome edition. She is spunky and accepting and soft and daring. I can't wait to see how Kagawa will get her out of the seemingly impossible situation that she's in.

My only complaint, and it's a small one, is that I never felt entirely connected to Keirran. He seems to dwarf the other big personalities in the book - even those who only appear for a short while like Puck and Ash. He seems superficial and not fully developed. Perhaps this was done on purpose. The next book in the series is called The Traitor Son, so one can only imagine that it's referring to him. Maybe Keirran will go 3D for us in the next book and really show readers what he's all about.

All-in-all, this was a really exciting start to Kagawa's Iron Fey spin-off series. I can't wait to add it to the rest of my collection!