Book Review: Scent of Magic (Healer #2) - Maria V.Snyger

YA - Lounge

Book Review:  Scent of Magic - Maria V.Snyder

Scent of Magic ( #Healer 2)  by Maria V. Snyder

Hunted, Killed—Survived?

Release Date: December 18, 2012

Publisher: Harlequin MIRA

Source: NetGalley
Rating: Snore!

As the last Healer in the Fifteen Realms, Avry of Kazan is in a unique position: in the minds of her friends and foes alike, she no longer exists. Despite her need to prevent the megalomanical King Tohon from winning control of the Realms, Avry is also determined to find her sister and repair their estrangement. And she must do it alone, as Kerrick, her partner and sole confident, returns to Alga to summon his country into battle. Though she should be in hiding, Avry will do whatever she can to support Tohon’s opponents. Including infiltrating a holy army, evading magic sniffers, teaching forest skills to soldiers and figuring out how to stop Tohon’s most horrible creations yet; an army of the walking dead—human and animal alike and nearly impossible to defeat. War is coming and Avry is alone. Unless she figures out how to do the impossible ... again.

Death Lilys and the Walking Dead

I loved Touch of Power (Healer #1) the first book in this trilogy
In fact I loved the first book so much that I went on to read the entire Study series and started the Glass series. Healer #1 started my foray into the fantasy genre. I loved to read fantasy when I was a young teen, when Tamora Pierce was one of my favorite authors, but I somehow lost sight of the awesome book-genre that is fantasy and started to read adult contemporary fiction and YA-contemporary. So of course I was over the moon when I finally got my hands on Scent of Magic through the awesomeness that is Netgalley. That was last year. It took me a while to read it.
The Scent of Magic is sadly one of these typical *middle, second in a trilogy book*. It has a slow start, many flashbacks and *explaining the plot from the previous book* and non-logical exasperating decision-making from Avry.

Different to the first book, the story in the second book is told from two POVs. We still have Avry's but now also Kerrick's voice. To be completely honest I found Kerrick's story a lot more interesting than Avry's. He was a mysterious entity in the first book and now we get to see a little glimpse of his thoughts and feelings. But also his storyline was more action filled than Avry's which seemed to be at a standstill.

Avry and Kerrick spend a lot of time apart in this book. I missed the banter and the arguing. For me it also made Avry a much weaker character than in the first book, where she was a headstrong, independent young woman with extraordinary abilities. In Scent of Magic a big chunk of Avry's thoughts are occupied with missing Kerrick, feeling lonely without him, wondering if he's ok and still alive. I missed the slow-burn, the bubbling passion between these two. Now that they are in love and together it got a bit predictable and boring.

Also, what is it with dying in these books? Seriously!

All in all this is just *transition* book for me, a bridge I have to cross to get to the big Finale. But there are still some awesome scenes in it, and it was nice to spend time with Avry and the Monkeys again, to read about the different magicians and all the obstacles this world still has to face before there can be Peace. An enjoyable read with a somewhat slow start. With an ending that makes you want to pick up the third book without delay.

In My Mailbox # 32

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren , find out more about it on her IMM-page.
First of all I'm sorry for my long hiatus. After my first week being sick I got even MORE sick! And yeah, I still don't feel 100% back to normal. And, I somehow (lol)  got all the people around me sick too (imagine that. Hihi). So I've been kind of taking care of them too. Anyway, I have two weeks of awesome books to show. And, I got an iPad. How awesome is that??? I'm sorry for the weird pictures and the bad quality, I had just too much fun playing with different apps.

 Crossed - Ally Condie. (Matched # 2). I just had to get this one, to continue the series, even though I didn't like Matched at all.

Wherever You Go - Heather Davis. I really liked this book, it's a very interesting premise and there are three different POV's that really worked for me!

Little Women and Me - Lauren Baratz-Logsted . I really like Little Women, one of my favourite classics.

Never Cry Werewolf - Heather Davis

Don't Expect Magic - Kathy McCullough. Sounds very interesting and zany.

Amplified - Tara Kelly. This book BLEW me away. I simply loved it!

The Prophecy of the Sisters - Michelle Zink. This was really cheap on bookdepo, so I thought I'd check it out.

Amy and Roger's Epic Detour - Morgan Matson. I already own the Hardback version of this book. But the paperback is soo pretty, I just had to have a second copy :)

The Iron Knight - Julie Kagawa. I already had an e-version of this awesome book, but of course I had to have a finished copy too.

Book Journal - It has pretty stickers :) an awesome way to keep track of what I read, love it!

A Book Lover's Diary - So pretty and it has awesome quotes!

Australian Made:

Days Like This - Alison Stewart

On the Jellicoe Road - Melina Marchetta. I love Marchettas books, but somehow I just couldn't get into into Jellicoe Road when I tried to read on kindle, so now I'll try again :). ( I don't like this cover :/)

Looking for Alibrandi - Melina Marchetta. To complete my Marchetta-collection :)

Saving Francesca - Melina Marchetta. One of my fave books I've read this year, already have the kindle-version.

Chick-Lit Corner:

The Secret of Happy Ever After - Lucy Dillon. Dillon writes the perfect cozy-wintry-warm-charming books.

It Started With a Kiss - Miranda Dickinson

The Summer of Living Dangerously - Julie Cohen. Julie Cohen is one of my all-time favourite chick-lit authors!

Any Dream Will Do - Maria Duffy

Kindle Books:

The Predicteds - Christine Seifert. (NetGalley)

Obsidian - Jennifer L. Armentrout (NetGalley)

Pure - Julianna Baggott (NetGalley)

Harmonic Feedback - Tara Kelly. I was a mess whilst reading this book. It's so real and raw. And I want a poster of that cover, it's so beautiful and there's so much meaning in it!

Zero - Tom Leveen (NetGalley)

Only Us - Susan Mallery

Alias Dragonfly - Jane Singer (NetGalley)

So, that's it from me this week. What did you all get?

Have a nice Weekend and Happy Reading!

In My Mailbox # 31

Awesomesauce Aussie Week!!!!

I've been sick all week and have basically not been able to read or blog, but I got some awesome Aussie books, Yay :)

Muse (Mercy #3) - Rebecca Lim. The third book in the Mercy series. (book got a bit damaged in the mail :( )

Froi of the Exiles - Melina Marchetta. I freakin love Melinas books. She is my new favourite author! This is the second book in the Lumatere Chronicles

Good Oil - Laura Buzo. Another Aussie Book.

Surf Ache - Gerry Bobsien. I love this cover, I just want to join :) Aussie Awesomeness.

Kindle Books:

Kisses for Lula - Samantha Mackintosh. This was for free on Amazon and I thought it sounded cute :)

Don't You Wish - Roxanne St.Claire (NetGalley). I want those glasses, lol

Seraphina - Rachel Hartman (NetGalley). Sounds EPIC!

So, that's it from me this week. What did you all get? 

Hope you all stay healthy and have a good time reading!

Book Review: The Iron Knight by Julie Kagawa

YA-LOUNGE

 Book Review: The Iron Knight by Julie Kagawa

The IRON KNIGHT by JULIE KAGAWA

 My name—my True Name—is Ashallayn'darkmyr Tallyn. I am the last remaining son of Mab, Queen of the Unseelie Court. And I am dead to her. My fall began, as many stories do, with a girl…

Release Date: October 25, 2011

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Source: NetGalley
Rating: Epic!

Ash, former prince of the Winter Court, gave up everything. His title, his home, even his vow of loyalty. All for a girl… and all for nothing.

Unless he can earn a soul.


To cold, emotionless faery prince Ash, love was a weakness for mortals and fools. His own love had died a horrible death, killing any gentler feelings the Winter prince might have had. Or so he thought.

Then Meghan Chase—a half human, half fey slip of a girl— smashed through his barricades, binding him to her irrevocably with his oath to be her knight. And when all of Faery nearly fell to the Iron fey, she severed their bond to save his life. Meghan is now the Iron Queen, ruler of a realm where no Winter or Summer fey can survive.

With the (unwelcome) company of his archrival, Summer Court prankster Puck, and the infuriating cait sith Grimalkin, Ash begins a journey he is bound to see through to its end— a quest to find a way to honor his solemn vow to stand by Meghan’s side.

To survive in the Iron realm, Ash must have a soul and a mortal body. But the tests he must face to earn these things are impossible. At least, no one has ever passed to tell the tale.

And then Ash learns something that changes everything. A truth that turns reality upside down, challenges his darkest beliefs and shows him that, sometimes, it takes more than courage to make the ultimate sacrifice.

The Epic Journey of Ice Boy

It was last Christmas when I finally started reading The Iron King, it had been sitting on my bookshelf for a while, and I was completely blown away by the Iron Fey world. Immediately after finishing the first book I started the second one, The Iron Daughter, and I loved that one even more than the first one. After that the excruciating wait for book three, The Iron Queen began. When I finally held the Iron Queen in my hands I was over the moon, so happy, and when I finished it I was crying like never before. I needed to read The Iron Knight right there and then. Not possible of course.
A few months ago, I finally got my hands on The Iron Knight. The wait seemed eternal. Happy-Dances all day!
But, finally having the chance to read the fourth book in the series made me very apprehensive and scared too. What if I wouldn't like it as much as the previous three? What if the ending wouldn't satisfy me? What if I didn't like to see the story through the eyes of Ash? Would I miss Meghan too much?...I shouldn't have worried of course. Because The Iron Knight was everything I hoped for and more. It is EPIC!

Julie Kagawa is a genius when it comes to storytelling and using words. The Iron Knight has the perfect blend of adventure, action, emotional scenes that made me cry and hilarious banter between Ash and Puck that made laugh so hard I almost dropped my kindle. And lets not forget about Grim (lets hope he'll NEVER change!).

For me, The Iron Knight was the perfect, but bittersweet ending to a series that very much reminded me of the Neverending Story. It was interesting to see the Fey-world through Ash's eyes. To get to know him a bit better (though he'll ever be mysterious Ice-boy for me), to understand his actions, get to see small glimpses of his heartbreaking past, and feel the love he has for Meghan.

So, prepare for an epic journey (yes, I realize I use the word epic way too much in this review, but for me there's no other word to describe this book better), have tissues ready and prepare to fall in love with Ash and Puck and Grim and the Fey all over again!

In My Mailbox # 30

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren , find out more about it on her IMM-page.









 Hi Everybody! I've had an AWESOME book-week. Yay. It's gotten really cold outside, the smell of snow in the air. Perfect weather for reading.

Virtuosity - Jessica Martinez. What an awesome cover!

Audition - Stasia Ward Kehoe. I think this is written in verse..

The Survival Kit - Donna Freitas. Another one I call *sadface-books*. :)

Bunheads - Sophie Flack. I'm really excited about this one. And I lurve the title :)

Girls Don't Fly - Kristen Chandler. Do boys? I must've missed something, lol.

Miracle on Regent Street - Ali Harris

Mostly Good Girls - Leila Sales

The Faerie Ring - Kiki Hamilton

My AUSSIE BOOKS

A Little Wanting Song - Cath Crowley. Love love love this cover

Finnikin of the Rock - Melina Marchetta. Melinas books are the BEST!

The Piper's Son - Melina Marchetta. Sequel to Saving Francesca. Awesome!

Kindle Books:

Hold Still - Nina LaCour. This book is AWESOME! Go read it! Sadface-book

Someone Else's Life - Katie Dale (Netgalley)

My Lunatic Life - Sharon Sala (Netgalley)

My Very UnFairy Tale Life - Anna Staniszewski (Netgalley)

A Map of the Known World - Lisa Ann Sandell.  Sadface-book

The Lifeguard - Deborah Blumenthal. (Netgalley). He does look like Chad Michael Murray, doesn't he?

The Next Door Boys - Jolene B. Perry. (Netgalley)

Between the Sea and the Sky - Jaclyn Dolamore (Netgalley)

Game of Thrones Poster. I'm a BIG Sean Bean fan, and I finally managed to get a poster. Yay!

So, this is it from me this week. What did you all get?

Happy Reading!!

In My Mailbox # 29

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren , find out more about it on her IMM-page.

Sorry I've been AWOL all week, there was some stuff I had to deal with. Anyway, I'm back now, hopefully, I got some awesome books this week and also, I've finally made a Facebook Page for my blog, you can find it here!

Past Perfect - Leila Sales. Everybody has been raving about this book, so I can't wait to finally reading it.

Everleigh in NYC - Cathleen Holst. I've wanted to read this for a while, now I finally get the chance.

Daughter of Smoke and Bone - Laini Taylor. Everybody says it's awesome, and I loooove this cover.

Eve - Anna Carey.

KINDLE BOOKS

Poison Study - Maria V.Snyder. (Gift from a friend). WONDERFUL book!

Assassin Study - Maria V. Snyder. (Gift from a friend)

Magic Study - Maria V.Snyder. (Gift from a friend)

Fire Study - Maria V.Snyder. (Gift from a friend)

Storm Glass - Maria V. Snyder (Gift from a friend)

Sea Glass - Maria V. Snyder (Gift from a friend)

Spy Glass - Maria V. Snyder (Gift from a friend)

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies - Seth Grahame-Smith /Jane Austen. (Bought on a dare!)

So, that's it from me this week. What did you all get?

Happy Reading!

Facebook

I finally got a facebook page. Not quite sure yet how everything works. But I hope I'm able to interact with you all there (maybe even more than I'm here...lol)...so, LIKE my page...and TALK to me :) I appreciate it. See you there...
Here's the LINK (I hope :S)

Talk to you soon :)