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Showing posts with label young adult. Show all posts
Showing posts with label young adult. Show all posts
Thursday, March 24, 2011
The Count Down Is On!
I have definitely not been with "the program" for some time, so it came as a surprise when someone asked me if I knew when The City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare was coming out and for the first time in forever I did not know the answer! While you are likely more "with" the program then I am at the moment, for those of you who don't know, the release date is fast approaching and we will be blessed with the fourth installment in the Mortal Instrument series on April 5th, 2011.
It only took reading the first few paragraphs of City of Fallen Angels to be sucked back into the world of Shadowhunters, vamps and werewolves and after searching for a book to capture my attention for some time now I anticipate that this may be the one to have me curled up on the couch for hours while I read it front to back as I did with the previous three novels in the series.
I gather from the first chapter that the narrator of this novel will be Simon and while I fully expect there will be lots of interaction with all the main characters I hope I enjoy the focus being on him as much as I did with it being on Clary.
What I loved so much about the Mortal Instrument series was its appeal to teens and adults alike as well as being a YA novel enjoyed by both men and women. I remember being at my cottage and watching as the novels were passed from myself to my younger cousin, my aunts, and eventually even to my uncle! The appeal of these novels seemed to stem from a fascination with the concept of Shadowhunters while still having a strong foundation in the ever popular themes of vampires and werewolves.
Below I have attached a few "extras" that I found of interest regarding the City of Fallen Angels and the Mortal Instruments series. I look forward to reading the book when its released and (fingers crossed) posting an ecstatic review of the novel the following day!
Web site: The Mortal Instruments
Author Blog: Cassandra Clare
Click here for the first chapter of City of Fallen Angels
For those of you who have not read the first novel in the series, City of Bones below is the book trailer.
Monday, October 25, 2010
Author: Cate Tiernan
Publisher: Little Brown Books For Young Readers
Published: September 7, 2010
Format: Hardcover $18.99
Age Group: Young Adult
Copy: Provided by publisher
Click here to browse inside this book
Synopsis:
Nastasya has spent the last century living as a spoiled, drugged-out party girl. She feels nothing and cares for no one. But when she witnesses her best friend, a Dark Immortal, torture a human, she realizes something's got to change. She seeks refuge at a rehab for wayward immortals, where she meets the gorgeous, undeniably sexy Reyn, who seems inexplicably linked to her past.
Nastasya finally begins to deal with life, and even feels safe--until the night she learns that someone wants her dead.
My Review:
Immortal Beloved by Cate Tiernan was a captivating coming of age story but with a unique and intriguing twist. Somewhere within the first few chapters I was pleasantly surprised to find out that the main character Nastasya or "Nasty" as she is known by her friends, is actually a 400 year old immortal not just another teenage vampire. The concept of immortals in this novel is slightly difficult to explain but the best comparison I can think of is immortals of the likes you find in the Highlander series.
As a protagonist Nasty is witty, sarcastic and childish despite the four centuries she has under her belt. In the beginning I didn't find her altogether believable or likable but I was so captivated by the story that I couldn't put the book down. As the novel progressed and I learned more about Nasty's history, I began to invest in her as a character and chapter by chapter she grew on me.
The vast majority of this novel takes place in a rehab facility for immortals and the characters you meet there are quite interesting. I enjoyed the magical element that is introduced while Nasty is at the rehab center and as she is taken by visions of her past and the truth about who she was/is is slowly revealed my love of Immortal Beloved solidified.
I would be remiss in my duties as a book reviewer if I didn't mention the romantic element of this novel. Reyn is an interesting love interest in that he sends very mixed signals about his interest in Nasty a la Bella and Edward. There relationship becomes much more complex as the mystery of their past relationship is revealed through Nasty's visions.
My only bone to pick with this novel is the same one I have to pick with all books about immortals written for young adults. Although they may be incredibly entertaining the amount of teenage angst present in the young adult "immortal" characters is not believable because I believe that after centuries of life experience (love, loss, death, joy, pain, etc) you likely would not be an angsty childish individual. With that said without the angst what would there be for us to identify with and alas the book would not appeal so much to young adult and myself. Its a bit of a catch 22.
My Rating: 4/5
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Review: Paranormalcy by Kiersten White
Title: Paranormalcy
Author: Kiersten White
Publisher: Harper Teen
Published: August 31, 2010
Format: Hardcover ($18.99 CDN)
Age Group: Young Adult
Copy provided by publisher
Synopsis:
Evie’s always thought of herself as a normal teenager, even though she works for the International Paranormal Containment Agency, her ex-boyfriend is a faerie, she’s falling for a shape-shifter, and she’s the only person who can see through paranormals’ glamours.
But Evie’s about to realize that she may very well be at the center of a dark faerie prophecy promising destruction to all paranormal creatures.
So much for normal.
My Review:
My favorite thing about Paranormalcy was Evie. She's genuine, honest, funny, sassy, loves pink and names her weapons. She is also lost and a little bit flawed which makes her all the more believable and lovable as a character. My second favorite thing about Parnormalcy is Evie's new love interest, Lend the shape-shifter. For most of us paranormal/urban fantasy junkies, the term "shifter" usually refers to a person who can turn into an animal but in Parnormalcy this is not the case (I am not giving anymore about Lend away you'll have to read it to find out for yourself!).
Kiersten White's character description has enough depth to make the characters believable and kept me turning the pages one after the other until suddenly the book was over. After checking out Kiersten White's website I may not be far off in saying Evie's sass and humour are at least in part a reflection of Kiersten's own personality.
I love the little twists that Kiersten does on "traditional" paranormal myths and I was left wanting a little more description of the world she had created in Paranormalcy. With that said a lot of readers find that to much description actually takes away form the story and they become bored with it. I on the other hand usually enjoy a thorough description of EVERYTHING.
To sum it all up, I love the plot, the characters, the flow of Kiersten's writing and Kiersten's twist on the paranormal but I want more of all of it. Lucky for me there are two sequels to follow with the next installment, Supernaturally due out Fall 2011.
My Rating: 4/5
011.
Extras:
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Review: Prophecy Of The Sisters by Michelle Zink
Author: Michelle Zink
Publisher: Little Brown Books For Young Readers
Published: August 1, 2009
Format: Hardcover ($19.99 CDN)
Age Group: Young Adult
Copy: Provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review
Click here to browse inside the book
Synopsis:
An ancient prophecy divides two sisters-
One good...
One evil...
Who will prevail?
Twin sisters Lia and Alice Milthorpe have just become orphans. They have also become enemies. As they discover their roles in a prophecy that has turned generations of sisters against each other, the girls find themselves entangled in a mystery that involves a tattoo-like mark, their parents'' deaths, a boy, a book, and a lifetime of secrets.
Lia and Alice don't know whom they can trust.
They just know they can''t trust each other.
My Review:
The Prophecy of the Sisters is a well written novel with a complex and mysterious plot that slowly begins to unravel after twin sisters Lia and Alice's father dies and a peculiar mark of a snake eating it's tail begins to form on Lia's wrist. The reader is introduced to a creative tale of an ancient prophecy involving generations of twin sisters and good versus evil when Lia's beau James discovers an ancient text and shares his discovery with her. Michelle Zink's description of the two main protagonists, Lia and Alice, allows the reader to clearly visualize their vastly different personalities. As the story progresses the reader begins to connect with Lia on a deeper level due to her genuine and caring personality while simultaneously being drawn away from Alice due to her secretive and dishonest actions.
While I did not find myself unable to put this book down the story began to slowly weave itself into my unconsciousness and I found myself dreaming of mysterious prophecy's and pondering how much of life is actually within our control and how much is predestined.
For those of you who have read and enjoyed, A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray (the first novel in the Gemma Doyle series) then I believe you will enjoy this series as well. Both books take place in the late 1800's and involve young women in events that were set in motion before their birth as well as share similar themes of prophecy, magic, clairvoyance, friendship and rivalry.
What I look forward to most about reading the second installment of the series, Guardian of the Gate, is furthering to unravel the secrets of the prophecy and witnessing Lia's struggle to fulfill a destiny she was unprepared for.
I have included a book trailer for The Prophecy Of The Sisters below and if you are interested in learning more about the author or the novel please check out the links at the top of this post to both the authors web site and a link to browse inside the novel.
My Rating: 3.5/5
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Review: Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins
 | Title: Mockingjay: The Final Book of the Hunger Games Author: Suzanne Collins Publisher: Scholastic Published: August 24, 2010 Format: Hardcover ($19.99CDN) Age Group: Adult Other Books in the Series: The Hunger Games & Catching Fire My Copy: Purchased |
Synopsis:
Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has survived the Hunger Games twice. But now that she's made it out of the bloody arena alive, she's still not safe. The Capitol is angry. The Capitol wants revenge. Who do they think should pay for the unrest? Katniss. And what's worse, President Snow has made it clear that no one else is safe either. Not Katniss's family, not her friends, not the people of District 12. Powerful and haunting, this thrilling final installment of Suzanne Collins's groundbreaking The Hunger Games trilogy promises to be one of the most talked about books of the year.
My Review:
Despite this being a fictional novel Mockinjay came alive for me in a way that extended past the pages of the book. We may not live in the dystopic society that is an every day reality for Katniss Everdeen and her family but I can see our own failings mirrored in the pages of Mockinjay. I can see it in our capitalistic society that is obsessed with material goods and is driven by consumption, in the genocides that have happened in our past and that go unnoticed by many in our present and the starvation that is a reality for many across the world. As I reconnected with the characters of this novel and experienced with them the horror of their reality I was humbled and became grateful for all that I have.
In each novel of The Hunger Games series it is Katniss's selflessness that stood out to me and her willingness to do anything to protect those she loves. The narration of this novel is very morose but it is occasionally peppered with stories of hope, moments of laughter and touches of kindness. While Mockinjay is not a book with constant action like the first two novels in this series, each moment was well written and I found the change in pace to add to the story rather then take away from it.
Suzanne Collins did not present her readers with a happily ever after story where after accomplishing the goals set out in the novel Katniss catches the man she loves and lives out her life a happy utopian society. This is a novel with pages filled with horror, pain, death, sacrifice and situations I have no name for. This novel is genuine and believable but in a twisted way that had me gasping in horror, clutching the pages in suspense and angry at the author for writing such a emotionally charged novel. With that said Suzanne Collins delivered a novel with a beginning, middle and end that paid tribute to the main characters of the novel without diminishing the sacrifices they had made to bring about a worldwide revolution.
However excellent I feel the book was, in the end it was a simple moment when a mangy cat with a name that does not reflect his disposition reduced me tears and had me unable to fall asleep as I replayed the book in my head. If you haven’t read this series yet I highly recommend you look into purchasing or borrowing a copy of The Hunger Games. This entire series is emotionally charged and it provides the reader with a fictional example of how to have hope when your situation seems hopeless, have courage despite being terrified and how to never give up even when you think you can no longer go on.
My Rating: 10/5
Monday, August 23, 2010
Review: The Eternal Ones by Kirsten Miller
 | Title: Eternal Ones Author: Kirsten Miller Publisher: Penguin Young Reader Group/Razorbill Published: August 10, 2010 Format: Hardcover ($22.50CDN) Age Group: Young Adult Copy: Provided by the Publisher |
From the Publisher:
Haven Moore cant control her visions of a past with a boy called Ethan, and a life in New York that ended in fiery tragedy. In our present, she designs beautiful dresses for her classmates with her best friend Beau. Dressmaking keeps her sane, since she lives with her widowed and heartbroken mother in her tyrannical grandmothers house in Snope City, a tiny town in Tennessee. Then an impossible group of coincidences conspire to force her to flee to New York, to discover who she is, and who she was.
In New York, Haven meets Iain Morrow and is swept into an epic love affair that feels both deeply fated and terribly dangerous. Iain is suspected of murdering a rock star and Haven wonders, could he have murdered her in a past life? She visits the Ouroboros Society and discovers a murky world of reincarnation that stretches across millennia. Haven must discover the secrets hidden in her past lives, and loves, before all is lost and the cycle begins again.
My Review:
I have been in somewhat of a reading rut this past week but The Eternal Ones by Kirsten Miller pulled me out at breakneck speed. I have read a few books that could be considered somewhat similar in regards to the theme of young love and past lives however this novel engaged me so much so that I only put it down when I absolutely had no choice.
In most novels I have pretty good intuition when it comes to “figuring out” the plot and the characters but for the majority of this novel I could not put a finger on who the “evil” characters were. I had my suspicions and in the end they turned out to be correct but I was second guessing myself as I was drawn though the twists and turns of each chapter.
For the most part I enjoyed all the characters of this novel however I will say that Haven is a character who’s indecisiveness drove me crazy from time to time. She was either to trusting or to suspicious but based on her life experiences (constant persecution for her peculiar tendency to black out and talk about a past life, being labeled as demon possessed, and being lied to my trusted members of her family about her early memories of her past life) I could empathize with why she was constantly second guessing herself and those around her. What I really enjoyed about the character development in this novel was learning who in Haven’s present life was also connected to her in her past lives and understanding the role they played in the mystery of this novel.
While I don’t really believe in love at first sight, taking into consideration that reincarnation is a fact of The Eternal Ones, the instant attraction and love between Haven and Ian is believable. This book is incredibly mysterious and from chapter to chapter I was held in a constant state of suspense and anticipation. The idea of reincarnation is incredibly fascinating to me and when paired with a passionate love affair that transcends time, a complex mystery, and a battle between good and evil that is truly sinister this book has rocketed to the top 20 list of my favorite YA reads of 2010.
If your a little tired of vampires and werewolves but still want something with a supernatural flavor I highly recommend The Eternal Ones by Kirsten Miller. If you have already read and reviewed this novel please comment and link to your review as its always nice to read a different perspective!
My Rating: 4/5
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Review: Betrayals by Lili St. Crow
 | Title: Betrayals Author: Lili St. Crow Series: Strange Angels Series Publisher: Razorbill Published: November 17, 2009 Format: Paperback ($12.50 CDN) Age Group: Young Adult Copy: Provided by Razorbill |
Synopsis:
She's no angel...
Poor Dru Anderson. Her parents are long gone, her best friend is a werewolf, and she's just learned that the blood flowing through her veins isn't entirely human. (So what else is new?)
Now Dru is stuck at a secret New England Schola for other teens like her, and there's a big problem—she's the only girl in the place. A school full of cute boys wouldn't be so bad, but Dru's killer instinct says that one of them wants her dead. And with all eyes on her, discovering a traitor within the Order could mean a lot more than social suicide...
Can Dru survive long enough to find out who has betrayed her trust—and maybe even her heart?
My Review:
This series just keeps getting better with each book I read. I am now part way into Jealousy, the third book in the series and I have the same feeling I did reading the Vampire Academy series by Richelle Mead. With both series the first one was good but with each edition the depth of the plot grows in a direction you didn’t anticipate and the romantic intensity thickens until your tearing at the pages to see what happens next. In Strange Angels (the first book in the series) there was a relentless onslaught of action from chapter to chapter and in Betrayals it wasn’t much different. The action was well balanced with Dru’s growing awareness of the depth of the mystery of why her mother was killed, of who within the Order can or can not be trusted, and the growth of her interest in both Christian and Graves.
As a writer Lili St. Crow writes the kind of descriptions that occasionally have me stop just to read the sentence over again. She describes things in often gruesome detail but she describes each moment using all four senses, sight, smell, taste, and touch and then taps into the mystical fifth sense that so often is indescribable. I also enjoy that although Dru is now an orphan St. Crow keeps the relationship between Dru and her father and Dru and her grandmother alive though her recollection of her fathers teachings and her grandmothers mystical owl.
My Rating: 4/5
Friday, August 6, 2010
The BIG List of Zombie Books
Young Adult Zombie Books
 | The Forest of Hands and Teeth Click here to read a review |
 | The Dead-Tossed Waves Click here to read a review |
 | Undead Much |
 | You Are So Undead to Me |
 | I Kissed a Zombie, and I Liked It |
 | Zombie Blondes |
 | Never Slow Dance with a Zombie |
 | Zombie Queen of Newbury High |
 | Generation Dead |
 | Generation Dead: Kiss of Life |
 | Generation Dead: Passing Strange |
 | Soulless |
 | The Abhorsen Trilogy 3 Volume Boxed Set *Guru Recommended* |
Adult Zombie Books
 | Feed (Newsflesh, Book 1) |
 | The New Dead: A Zombie Anthology |
 | Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: Dawn of the Dreadfuls |
 | World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War |
 | I Am Legend *Guru Recommended* |
 | Guilty Pleasures *Book 1 in the Anita Blake Series *Zombies are not the main topic of the novel *Guru Recommended* |
 | The Mammoth Book of Zombie Apocalypse! |
 | Zombie Csu |
 | After Twilight: Walking with the Dead |
 | Dying to Live: Life Sentence |
 | Eden |
 | Autumn |
 | Cell: A Novel |
 | Dead Bitch Army |
 | Pet Sematary *Guru Recommended* |
 | Infected: A Novel |
 | 30 Days Of Night |
 | Boneshaker |
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Review: The Iron King by Julie Kagawa
Author: Julie Kagawa
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Published: February 1, 2010
Format: Trade Paperback ($11.99 CDN)
Age Group: Young Adult
Copy: Provided by Big Honcho Media
Click here to read chapters 1 - 3 of The Iron King
From the Publisher:
Meghan Chase has a secret destiny--one she could never have imagined...
Something has always felt slightly off in Meghan's life, ever since her father disappeared before her eyes when she was six. She has never quite fit in at school...or at home.
When a dark stranger begins watching her from afar, and her prankster best friend becomes strangely protective of her, Meghan senses that everything she's known is about to change.
But she could never have guessed the truth--that she is the daughter of a mythical faery king and is a pawn in a deadly war. Now Meghan will learn just how far she'll go to save someone she cares about, to stop a mysterious evil no faery creature dare face...and to find love with a young prince who might rather see her dead than let her touch his icy heart.
My Review:
It seems that all I have been reading this past month is young adult modern faery tales and while each novel has been unique and entertaining I was at first apprehensive about picking up yet another story about a half human half faery princess. I had thought to myself, how many more times can I read about the seelie and unseelie court and still be entertained? It wasn't long before I realized at least one more time!
The Iron King by Julie Kagawa was the most outstanding young adult faery novel I have read in a long time! As a matter of fact I think it may just have been THE BEST young adult faery novel I have ever read. The Iron King had a Labyrinth feel to it with a darker twist. The pace of the novel was perfect, the plot and character descriptions were done just right but most importantly I was charmed and captivated from the very beginning to the bitter sweet end.
I feel as though Julie Kagawa reached into my brain and took little pieces of all my favorite faery tales and wove it into something that managed to honor the best of traditional feary mythology while adding a unique and modern twist to the story that truly showcased the authors creativity. From the very first chapter the characters came alive for me and through them I saw the feary realm with whole new eyes. Julie Kagawa created a world both beautiful and terrifying with complex and dynamic characters that I fell completely in love with. I can not wait to read the next two novels in this series, The Iron Daughter and The Iron Queen.
If you haven't yet read The Iron King then this novel needs to move up on your summer reading list. I hope you will be as enchanted by this modern faery tale as I was and like me wonder if all those things you "think" you see out of the corner of your eye and quickly dismiss deserve a second look....
My Rating: 5/5
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Review: Wondrous Strange by Lesley Livingston
Title: Wondrous Strange (Click here to browse inside this book)
Author: Lesley Livingston
Publisher: Harpercollins
Published: December 23, 2008
Format: Mass Market Paperbound ($17.99 CDN)
Age Group: Young Adult
Series: Wondrous Stranage, Darklight & (unnamed 3rd novel)
Copy: Provided by Harpercollins Canada
From the Publisher:
Kelley Winslow is living her dream. Seventeen years old, she has moved to New York City and started to work with a theatre company. Sure, she’s only an understudy for the Avalon Players, a third-tier repertory company so far off- Broadway it might as well be in Hoboken, but things are looking up—the lead has broken her ankle and Kelley’s about to step into the role of Titania the Faerie Queen in Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Faeries are far more real than Kelley thinks, though, and a chance encounter in Central Park with a handsome young man named Sonny Flannery plunges her into an adventure she could never have imagined.
Sonny is a Janus Guard, charged by Auberon, the King of Winter, with watching over the gate into the land of Faerie, which lies within Central Park. For Sonny, the pretty, young actress is an enigma. Strong and willful, she sparks against his senses like a firecracker, and he can’t get her out of his mind. As Hallowe’en approaches and the Samhain Gate opens, Sonny and Kelley find themselves drawn to each other—and into a terrible plot that could spell disaster for both New York and Faerie alike.
My Review:
I picked up Wondrous Strange many times while browsing the shelves at Chapters but never could commit to buying the book for reasons I can't remember. This was one of four novels sent to me by Harpercollins Canada and one of the many books I read on my vacation. To say the least I am now kicking myself in the pants for not picking up Wondrous Strange sooner!
In Wondrous Strange Lesley Livingston has created dynamic, endearing and genuine characters that by the end of the book felt like old friends and hated enemies. Her writing and dialogue seemed effortless and while the story itself was not as dark as many of my favorite faery books I found this to be refreshing. I enjoyed the variety of mythical characters that were included in this story which appear to be very well researched. I feel Lesley Livingston did an excellent job weaving mythical characters in a new and modern way that will appeal to fantasy addicts and faery enthusiasts.
The story of Kelley's history and parentage is creative and full of surprises and the plot twists continue to the very end of the story. The book takes place in New York and while I have never been all that interested in visiting the renowned city, after wandering through Central Park with Kelly as the author describes various monuments and later with Sonny as he works to protect the gates of faery I have changed my mind. If ever I get the opportunity to visit Central Park I am sure I will be unable to resist looking for faeries around every tree and under every bridge.
This review wouldn't be complete without mentioning the chemistry filled relationship that develops after a chance encounter in Central park between handsome Sonny Flannery and Kelley Winslow. It won't take long for you to fall a little bit in love with Sonny and by the end of the novel when they are both risking everything they have and everything they have ever known to be together you'll be gripping the pages with white knuckles in suspense and anticipation.
If you enjoy young adult fiction I highly recommend you add this book to your summer reading list. If you have previously read the works of Melissa Marr and Holly Black then I guarantee you will love Wondrous Strange. Darklight, the second book in the planned trilogy is already available and I am sure after reading the first novel you will be as eager as me to get your hands on a copy!
My Rating: 4/5
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Review: Radiant Shadows by Melissa Marr
Author: Melissa Marr
Publisher: Harpercollins Publishers
Published: April 10, 2010
Format: Hardcover ($18.99 CDN)
Age Group: Young Adult
Copy: Provided by Harpercollins
Extra: Click here for the official Wicked Lovely fan site
Purchase: Click here to purchase this novel
From the Publishers:
Hunger for nourishment.Half-human and half-faery, Ani is driven by her hungers.
Hunger for touch.
Hunger to belong.
Those same appetites also attract powerful enemies and uncertain allies, including Devlin. He was created as an assassin and is brother to the faeries' coolly logical High Queen and to her chaotic twin, the embodiment of War. Devlin wants to keep Ani safe from his sisters, knowing that if he fails, he will be the instrument of Ani's death.
Ani isn't one to be guarded while others fight battles for her, though. She has the courage to protect herself and the ability to alter Devlin's plans-and his life. The two are drawn together, each with reason to fear the other and to fear for one another. But as they grow closer, a larger threat imperils the whole of Faerie. Will saving the faery realm mean losing each other?
Alluring romance, heart-stopping danger, and sinister intrigue combine in the penultimate volume of Melissa Marr's New York Times bestselling Wicked Lovely series.
My Review:
I have long been a fan of Melissa Marr and my initial love for young adult "faery tales" began after reading the first novel in the series Wicked Lovely. Over the years I have been very interested in faery mythology and one particular myth I have always been fascinated with is the Wild Hunt so when I began to read this novel and discovered that Ani is the half mortal half faery child of the leader of the Wild Hunt I was hooked.
Of all the protagonists in the Wicked Lovely series I enjoyed reading about Ani the most. I love how her vulnerabilities and insecurities are balanced with inner strength, a courageous attitude and a great love for family. Ani's love interest in this novel Devlin also happens to be an assisin for the High Queen Sorcha and is the brother of both Sorcha and her "evil" twin sister Bananach. You learn early on in the novel that Sorcha ordered Devlin to kill Ani and the suspense of waiting for that information to become known to Ani and my interest in understanding why Sorcha ordered the kill in the first place held me captive and on edge throughout the novel. While I enjoyed the pace and emotional connection between Ani and Devlin I was left with the impression that Devlin was much older then her. At times I feel that a relationship can seem inauthentic when a young protagonists in a novel falls for a man who although may have been their age when they died or were created are now centuries older in maturity due to life experience (such as Devlin or Edward from Twilight). While Devlin did give me the impression of being older then Ani I still felt that they are well matched and I enjoyed reading the progression of their relationship and how they coped with the unusual and serendipitous circumstances of their meeting.
Additionally I found the plot of this novel to be incredibly creative and entertaining and I was fully immersed and captivated by the story from beginning to end. The novel was filled with action, passion, emotion, creativity and clever characters. Radiant Shadows fully met my expectations and at times exceeded them and I think fans of the Wicked Lovely series will not be disappointed. Whether or not you are a young adult if you haven't yet read this series and are a fan the fantasy genre this novel should be at the top of your "to read" list
My Rating: 4/5
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