Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers

Looking for a good mystery, historical-fiction?  This is definitely for you!



His Fair Assassin #1

Why be the sheep, when you can be the wolf?

Seventeen-year-old Ismae escapes from the brutality of an arranged marriage into the sanctuary of the convent of St. Mortain, where the sisters still serve the gods of old. Here she learns that the god of Death Himself has blessed her with dangerous gifts—and a violent destiny. If she chooses to stay at the convent, she will be trained as an assassin and serve as a handmaiden to Death. To claim her new life, she must destroy the lives of others.

Ismae’s most important assignment takes her straight into the high court of Brittany—where she finds herself woefully under prepared—not only for the deadly games of intrigue and treason, but for the impossible choices she must make. For how can she deliver Death’s vengeance upon a target who, against her will, has stolen her heart?

My Review:

First of all, I have to say I really enjoyed this book!  The concept of there being a school that teaches girls to become assassins and Masters of Death was super cool.  I loved the idea that they have to go through training on how to fight and make poisons.

The characters were very likable.  The heroine, Ismae, was not a dumb girl who constantly doubted herself and needed a man to care for her.  She was strong and courageous, which was good to see in a protagonist.  I was rooting for her and her eventual love interest, Duval, the whole time!  That romance and sexual tension was a nice addition to the book.

This was also something of a mystery shrouding the castle where Ismae works.  I figured out the traitor a little bit earlier than it was figured out in the book, but it was a good journey.

Overall, this was a good, fast paced, action-packed read!  The touch of romance and sexual tension made it all the more enjoyable.  Definitely will have to keep tabs on this series!

4/5 Stars  

Panic by Lauren Oliver

Lauren Oliver is one of my favorite authors and when I read the spoof for this book, I knew I had to read it! (Review below)



Panic began as so many things do in Carp, a dead-end town of 12,000 people in the middle of nowhere: because it was summer, and there was nothing else to do.

Heather never thought she would compete in Panic, a legendary game played by graduating seniors, where the stakes are high and the payoff is even higher. She’d never thought of herself as fearless, the kind of person who would fight to stand out. But when she finds something, and someone, to fight for, she will discover that she is braver than she ever thought.

Dodge has never been afraid of Panic. His secret will fuel him, and get him all the way through the game, he’s sure of it. But what he doesn't know is that he’s not the only one with a secret. Everyone has something to play for.

For Heather and Dodge, the game will bring new alliances, unexpected revelations, and the possibility of first love for each of them—and the knowledge that sometimes the very things we fear are those we need the most.

My Review:

Panic. What is it?! That's what drove me to pick this book up.

I read it in one sitting in about 4 hours. But even though I flew through it, there were some things that irked me. The only truly exciting moments of the book were when events of Panic were taking place. The rest of the time, I found myself just reading to get through it. Sometimes, names would come up that I could not put a background to. I felt like there was no connection with even the main characters. Overall, it was wrapped nicely (a little too nicely!). If you're looking for a quick read with some action, this could be it.

The premise of the book had a lot of promise, but I feel like it just didn't really deliver.

3/5 Stars

Cover of the Week!

This week goes to... Teardrop by Lauren Kate!




Never, ever cry... Seventeen-year-old Eureka won't let anyone close enough to feel her pain. After her mother was killed in a freak accident, the things she used to love hold no meaning. She wants to escape, but one thing holds her back: Ander, the boy who is everywhere she goes, whose turquoise eyes are like the ocean. And then Eureka uncovers an ancient tale of romance and heartbreak, about a girl who cried an entire continent into the sea. Suddenly her mother's death and Ander's appearance seem connected, and her life takes on dark undercurrents that don't make sense. Can everything you love be washed away?


This one will have to be added to the To-Read list!

BITTERBLUE COVER!!!

OMG I can't believe it is finally happening! The beautiful cover for Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore has been released- along with the publication date: MAY 1, 2012!! I CAN'T WAIT!

Link to Cashore's blog where she talks about the release of Bitterblue: http://kristincashore.blogspot.com/2011/10/bitterblue-news-ive-been-promising.html

Cover of the Week!

Yay new Cover of the Week!  This week it is As I Wake by Elizabeth Scott.  This was released September 15.  Get it while it's hot!



Ava is welcomed home from the hospital by a doting mother, lively friends, and a crush finally beginning to show interest. There's only one problem: Ava can't remember any of them - and can't shake the eerie feeling that she's not who they say she is.

Ava struggles to break through her amnesiac haze as she goes through the motions of high-school life, but the memories that surface take place in a very different world, where Ava and familiar-faced friends are under constant scrutiny and no one can be trusted. Ava doesn't know what to make of these visions, or of the boy who is at the center of them all, until he reappears in her life and offers answers . . . but only in exchange for her trust.

Insurgent Cover!

Wow, not sure whne this happened but the cover for Insurgent (Divergent #2) is out!! And it looks awesome!



Hurry up May 28!

The Iron Queen by Julie Kagawa

Iron Fey Series #2

Half Summer faery princess, half human, Meghan has never fit in anywhere. Deserted by the Winter prince she thought loved her, she is prisoner to the Winter faery queen. As war looms between Summer and Winter, Meghan knows that the real danger comes from the Iron fey—ironbound faeries that only she and her absent prince have seen. But no one believes her.
Worse, Meghan's own fey powers have been cut off. She's stuck in Faery with only her wits for help. Trusting anyone would be foolish. Trusting a seeming traitor could be deadly. But even as she grows a backbone of iron, Meghan can't help but hear the whispers of longing in her all-too-human heart.

My Review:

I'm falling in love with this series!  It took a few pages for me to get back into the story and remember everything that happened perviously.  Luckily, Ms. Kagawa got right on that and had brief little catch up sessions.  Anyhoo, the book was full of adventure!  And hints of romance and jealousy (my favorite ;) ) between Puck, Ash, and Meghan.  We dive deeper into the rules of fairies and their sparkly glamours.  There is really something that is so... gosh, I don't know how to explain Kagawa's writing.  Light, maybe?  It's so fast and fun to read, but her characters are so intense.  I feel like I really know them!  She writes so beautifully.  I really, really, really love her books.  I'm reading The Iron Queen now so I can read Summer's Crossing from PUCK'S POINT OF VIEW!! AHHHH!

5/5 Stars