Series Review: Alpha & Omega by Patricia Briggs (#0.5 & 1)

If you've been noticing lately, I've gone through a bit of a Patrica Briggs binge. In fact, a "bit" is a major understatement. I recently reviewed the first couple of Mercy Thompson novels (HERE) and moved on promptly to the spin-off series, Alpha and Omega. Now, having finished it, I can honestly admit to liking this spin-off even more than the original.

Title: Alpha & Omega (A&O, #0.5) 

Author: Patricia Briggs

Rating: 4 Stars

Without a doubt, Alpha & Omega surprised me. For one, I wasn't expecting this prequel novella to be so integral to the plot line of this series. I actually only picked it up before Cry Wolf because I was in the mood for something shorter at first, but very quickly, I realized that Alpha & Omega is, in fact, a must-read before beginning this series. And what a beginning it is. 

Alpha & Omega begins with Anna, a submissive in her Chicago pack, phoning Bran to report that she saw a local missing boy being tortured by her pack alpha, Leo. For those of us who have read Moon Called, the torture of the missing boy in question is no surprise and the story line quickly begins to fall into place. Charles, the enforcer/assassin and son of Bran flies into Chicago, intent on investigating the strange doings of the Chicago pack. What he doesn't count on, however, is being instantly attracted to Anna when she greets him at the airport. Even more surprising, though, is that his wolf quickly claims Anna as his mate, but Anna's past may be darker than Charles anticipated and their mating not quite as easy as he plans. 

What I loved about Alpha & Omega, right off the bat, was Anna. Mercy and Anna are as different as heroines can come, but that doesn't make Anna any less fierce, strong, or brave. If anything, she is more. Anna, unlike most wolves, was changed into a werewolf without her consent and then told that she was a submissive in the pack. Just to add insult to injury, Leo, the alpha, passed Anna around like a whore to be brutalized by dominant wolves. As we soon find out, there is a reason for this disgusting behavior, but that doesn't change the fact that Anna is fearful of men, and dominant wolves in particular. 

Charles, as we all know by now, is as dominant as they come. Yet, being the only werewolf to be born in his wolf form, he is different from most. Although it is his wolf that first recognizes Anna as his mate - and his protective instincts kick in almost immediately - he slowly begins to care for Anna as a person too. Underneath her rigid and fearful exterior, he sees the inner strength that has kept Anna alive for three years as a wolf and he appreciates what she is. Moreover, he recognizes that she is no submissive, but an Omega, or one who obeys no dominant wolf and instead brings peace to those around her. 

Despite the fact that Alpha & Omega is a short novel, we are able to become thoroughly invested in the sweet romance at play here. Of course, it reads much like love-at-first-sight, but the undercurrents of deeper affection are easily felt. Even more so, our two leads, Anna and Charles, come into their own and become just as important and interesting as Mercy or Adam are as well. Furthermore, I loved the mystery of unraveling what had happened to the Chicago pack. It was different from the usual cases that Briggs has written and had much darker undertones, but perhaps I enjoyed it all the more because of that. Or maybe it was just the length - intriguing, short, and a quick conclusion without long and drawn-out details. Either way, Alpha & Omega is the perfect hook to what promises to be an excellent spin-off series and if you go into this expecting a quick read, you'll likely surprise yourself by scrambling to get your hands on Cry Wolf very quickly after.  

Title: Cry Wolf (A&O, #1) 

Author: Patricia Briggs

Rating: 3 Stars

For some reason, I thought I'd enjoy Cry Wolf a little more than I did. Alpha & Omega had me completely - hook, line, and sinker - for this spin-off series and even with such a short novella, I already felt invested in the lives of Anna and Charles. As such, it came as a surprise to find that, at the end, I only just liked this book. It wasn't mind-blowing and it certainly wasn't on par to Iron Kissed or Bone Crossed, but I have high hopes for the next two installments. Patricia Briggs has not disappointed me yet and I doubt she's planning to start now.

Cry Wolf picks up directly where we left off in Alpha & Omega with Anna adjusting to life in a new pack as Charles heals. Very quickly, however, Bran sends the two off to deal with a rogue wolf in the woods. As it turns out, however, there is more at stake than just a rogue wolf Charles and Anna may find themselves facing something - or someone - they are wholly unprepared for.

What Cry Wolf excels in, just as its predecessor did, is the characterization of Anna. I really enjoyed the balance that was reached both within her inner strengths and her outer weaknesses. At times, Anna can be a difficult character to understand, especially with the dual narration from both her perspective and that of Charles, but all-in-all, I couldn't find fault with her growth throughout this book. Charles, on the other hand, though kind and full of good intent, was ever-so-slightly irritating. For someone who has lived on this planet for nearly two centuries, he acted completely immature when it came to his relationship with Anna. At times, I wasn't sure who was more insecure - Anna or Charles - and Charles has no excuse, really. 

Nevertheless, I thoroughly enjoyed the banter, mood swings, and creeping relationship between these two. Where Cry Wolf lost me, unfortunately, was in its mystery. Although it was very different from the norm and it pleasantly surprised me with its originality, I felt as if it dragged too much. I kept waiting for it to get over sooner for it didn't keep my attention or prove how high the stakes were really raised. I suspect part of this has to do with the fact that Cry Wolf takes place before Bone Crossed, the last MT novel I read, and I already know that these characters turn out to be fine, but if the ending hadn't left me feeling so relieved, I would have definitely enjoyed this one more. Nevertheless, Anna and Charles are a charming set of new leads, ones to rival my love for Mercy and Adam (Actually, who am I kidding? NO ONE rivals Adam. Except maybe Curran. Possibly.) and Cry Wolf, while not impressing me, has be thirsting for its sequel already. At the rate she's going, I have to presume that Patricia Briggs doesn't know the words "disappointment" at all. And I am so glad she doesn't.  

Jessica Darling: The Adult Years

It is undeniably nostalgic to arrive at the end of a beloved series, but doubly so when it is a series so close to your heart. While I can't say the conclusion was as perfect as promised, the series as a whole is one that changed me greatly and I have already bought the entire set in anticipation of all my future re-reads. In case you missed them, you can read my spoiler-free reviews of Book 1 and 2 HERE and Book 3 HERE. 

Title: Fourth Comings (Jessica Darling, #4) 

Author: Megan McCafferty 

Rating: 5 Stars

I honestly did not expect to like Fourth Comings as much as I did. If anything, I opened this book with trepidation, fully planning to give it four stars at best, but it wound up just blowing me away. While Sloppy Firsts and Charmed Thirds remain the most life-changing of all the Jessica Darling books for me so far, I think Fourth Comings is easily the most brilliant. It isn't the one I'll re-read the most or even return to too many times, but the clues scattered throughout this book, the intelligent conversations, the maturity of Jessica...and the manner in which it all comes together and ties up with that second-to-last word? Incredible.

Fourth Comings stands out as the most mature of the Jessica Darling books. In this, Jessica fully acknowledges her selfishness, her nuttiness, her insecurities, the TRUTH about her relationship with Marcus... And as someone who thrives on drawn-out drama and realistic, ambiguous endings, this was kind of perfect. It's so easy to get caught up in that magic of Jessica and Marcus but this book puts their relationship in an entirely new light - one that scrutinizes their flaws, destroying the idealistic image of these two we may have harbored before. 

Fourth Comings starts out with Jessica prepared to break up with Marcus, but before she can quite do so, Marcus abruptly proposes, leaving on a trip for a week and giving her those seven Marcus-free days to decide whether or not she wants to be with Marcus till death do them apart. As an individual who doesn't believe in the institution of marriage - and who was prepared to break up with her boyfriend - a marriage proposal is outrageous to Jessica. And yet, she cannot bring herself to give an outright rejection either. As Jessica embarks on her achingly normal day-to-day activities, though, she slowly comes to realize what she really wants from life - and whether Marcus really factors into that picture at all.  

For me, what makes Fourth Comings so phenomenal is the mere fact that by the end, everything comes together. Although dispersed with small meetings and intimate stories, all these separate journeys make a full circle, helping Jessica to become the self-assured person she is by the end of the novel. Fourth Comings continues to build upon the familial relationships Jessica sustains, both with her sister - who isn't the complete blonde airhead she once though - and her parents. I particularly loved this latter plot line as it was such a different, yet inevitable, type of relationship bred out of the follies of youth. Its contrast with the other romantic relationships in this novel, from Jessica and Marcus, Bethany and G-Money, or even Bridget and Percy, was stunning in its depth and subtlety. 

One of my favorite aspects of this novel, however, is the fact that we finally meet the elusive Hope Weaver. Although we don't know Hope intimately, mostly because her interactions with Jessica, though important, have been few-and-far-between, we have come to love and cherish her in our hearts. Quite simply, the ambiguity of Hope's character allows us, as the reader, to project our own ideals of the perfect best friend onto Hope - or even qualities our own best friends possess - which is what makes the interactions between Hope and Jessica in this novel so bittersweet. Not only does Jessica begin to realize that she has other friends besides Hope - that their lives don't revolve around each other anymore, but rather other subjects - but she also comes to recognize that there is still so much she doesn't know about her best friend. And although the scenes between these two could be laced with awkwardness and made me want to cry out for Jessica, I love the realistic path it took and its solid resolution as well. 

All in all, Fourth Comings is yet another unflinchingly honest installment from Megan McCafferty. Jessica, struggling to find a job, pay her rent, and find her place in the mesh that is NYC, is still the endearing character we first met. Although she has come a long way, she will always have so much more to go and it pains me to be so close to saying goodbye to her forever.

But. 

However. 

Unfortunately... 

As they say, all good things must eventually come to an end. While I wish there could be permanent AND postcard when it comes to this series, I am both excited and nervous to find out what finally happens to Marcus and Jessica. 

It could be FOREVER.

Or, you know, just WHATEVER. 

Title: Perfect Fifths (Jessica Darling, #5) 

Author: Megan McCafferty 

Rating: 3 Stars

At this point, the only option left for me is to take every single series/trilogy/duology finale and dump it into a giant cardboard box, tightly wrapped with duct tape, haul it into my attic and then write "Do Not Open Until 2014" on it. Quite simply put, this year is just not my year for series conclusion. I have yet to read a satisfying end to a series I have stuck with and loved and while Perfect Fifths may be the best series finale I read this year, that really isn't saying a whole lot. Unfortunately.

Frankly speaking, though, I was thoroughly enjoying this book until the last third emerged. While most readers found the shift into third person perspective jarring, I found it fit into the narration beautifully, switching between the thoughts of both Jessica and Marcus as these two bump into each other - literally - and later catch up through that ever-so-awkward conversation that laces the nostalgia and memories of their past. And all this was perfect. Granted, their conversation may have been a little pretentious, but it was real for these two and their time spent together was so heavily palpable with strangeness and connection. Moreover, the underlying theme of destiny and fate was beautifully interwoven into the tale - the utter inevitability of their meeting as if pre-destined by the heavens.

And yet, while this book is a enjoyable novel, it is not the satisfying ending I was hoping for. A quick analogy first though, yes?

Charmed Thirds:

I WISH OUR LOVE WAS RIGHT NOW AND

Fourth Comings:

I WISH OUR LOVE WAS RIGHT NOW AND FOREVER. WHATEVER.

Perfect Fifths: (Expectation)

I WISH OUR LOVE WAS RIGHT NOW AND FOREVER. WHATEVER. FOREVER.

Perfect Fifths: (Reality)

I WISH OUR LOVE WAS RIGHT NOW AND FOREVER. WHATEVER. AND

For me, at any rate, Perfect Fifths was not the finality of FOREVER or WHATEVER but rather the continuation of AND. Jessica and Marcus meet in an airport and catch up and realize they still have feelings for one another and...and...and what Megan McCafferty? What happens next? After Fourth Comings, which was both realistic in terms of their relationship and moving in terms of growth, I truly expected Perfect Fifths to solidify exactly why Marcus and Jessica were perfect for each other - not just RIGHT NOW but FOREVER. Not just in this re-incarnation of Marcus Flutie, but in every re-incarnation of Marcus Flutie.

And while I don't deny that the events of Perfect Fifths are utterly plausible for the romance arc between these two, it didn't wholly tie up the loose ends. Jessica and Marcus, for all I know, could break up again after this book. Since Jessica's feelings were realized in such a flimsy and rushed manner, that utter finality I wanted, that feeling that everything was going to be alright for these two no matter what hurdles came their way, was absent. And frankly speaking, I will probably be eighty with gray hairs and still wondering if these two really made it and got married and lived imperfectly ever after or not. Of course, this probably has something to do with my love of ambiguous endings (and the fact that I totally adored the ending of Fourth Comings) but I suspect much of it lies with the fault of this novel as well.

Even romance aside - for this book really does read like a romantic comedy movie script in prose - what makes Jessica Darling novels so special for me is not simply the characters or their lives, but rather the lessons learned in each novel. And I think the only lesson I took away from Perfect Fifths is the utterly cheesy realization that things happen for a reason. While this is all well-and-good, I was disappointed by the lack of insight into Jessica or Marcus's adult lives. I really enjoyed seeing the people they had become, molded by their pasts and yet the same. And yet, these plot threads were hanging by a bare string for I never felt the depth of feeling Jessica harbored for the students she taught and one in particular, Sunny. I never felt the passion that Marcus had for helping construct homes in New Orleans. All I felt was the whirlwind adventure of this eighteen-hour romance and even that didn't end the way I expected it too.

I don't deny that Perfect Fifths is an excellent ending for these two, I have never read this series for these two, so perhaps Perfect Fifths will be the perfect ending for readers who are more invested in seeing Marcus and Jessica wind up together. Yet, despite the fact that Perfect Fifths is my least favorite of the series, I cannot thank Megan McCafferty enough for giving me these characters and their lives. The Jessica Darling Series has changed me - profoundly - and I cannot recommend it enough. If there is one series any teenage girl should read, it is this one.

Series Review: Mercy Thompson (#2-4) by Patricia Briggs

Ever since I read Moon Called by Patricia Briggs a short while back, I've been itching to finish the rest of her acclaimed Mercy Thompson Series. Although I am making a conscious effort not to lunge for books and devour them, I seem to be doing a terrible job. I finished the next three novels in this series over the span of a week, which unfortunately doesn't say a lot about my self control. Nevertheless, I have compiled my reviews together (the next three reviews will be separate) and I can assure you that none of these reviews contain spoilers for the series. Also, you don't need a lot of background on this particular to read and understand the reviews if you haven't read this series before, but just in case, you can check out my review for the first novel, Moon Called, HERE.

Title: Blood Bound (Mercy Thompson, #2) 

Author: Patricia Briggs

Rating: 3.5 Stars

Mechanic Mercy Thompson has friends in low places-and in dark ones. And now she owes one of them a favor. Since she can shapeshift at will, she agrees to act as some extra muscle when her vampire friend Stefan goes to deliver a message to another of his kind. But this new vampire is hardly ordinary-and neither is the demon inside of him. 

As with most UF Series, Blood Bound marks the moment where this series really begins to take off and, to be honest, I am more than a little excited to see how much better each installment gets. Patricia Briggs has solidified herself as another favorite urban fantasy writer of mine with this installment and although she may have made her way into that list rather quickly, I don't regret my quick decision.

While Moon Called was solely focused on the werewolves in Mercy's world, Blood Bound revolves around the vampires. For me, what made this novel in particular so spectacular was the chilling plot line. It was creepy, with a healthy dose of legitimate Dracula-esque vampires - a nice change from the sparkly monsters we've been seeing for the past few years. Yet, what really makes this incredible is that although Stefan is a vampire and we are shown the true horror of what it is to be a vampire - something Mercy never realized since Stefan was relatively normal around her - we are still able to recognize Stefan for the monster he is, but appreciate him at the same time. It's a delicate balance, one that involves bringing in a lot of depth to Stefan's character, but it worked perfectly.

Nevertheless, while I couldn't stop flipping the pages of this one frantically until the end, I felt a little aloof from Mercy herself in this installment. It was engaging, but the connection I'd established with Mercy in the beginning of Moon Called faded away, which I wasn't a big fan of. I certainly liked this book much better than its predecessor - which unfortunately fell flat for me during the middle and part of the second-half - but I'm hoping for more depth to Mercy with Iron Kissed. If Patricia Briggs keeps writing like this, I suspect I'll be giving her next novel a solid 5 Stars.

Title: Iron Kissed (Mercy Thompson, #3) 

Author: Patricia Briggs

Rating: 5 Stars

Mechanic Mercy Thompson can shift her shape - but not her loyalty. When her former boss and mentor is arrested for murder and left to rot behind bars by his own kind, it's up to Mercy to clear his name, whether he wants her to or not. Mercy's loyalty is under pressure from other directions, too. Werewolves are not known for their patience, and if Mercy can't decide between the two she cares for, Sam and Adam may make the choice for her...

It took three books for Patricia Briggs to get a 5 Star review out of me. I'd say that's pretty damn good. Iron Kissed is simply...breath taking. Not only did it center around the fae - easily the most mysterious and subtly dangerous of the three paranormal species that feature heavily in this series - but it also contained an unexpected depth of insight into Mercy herself. And, of course, for those who have already read this book, the end chapters will come as both a shock and an inspiration, a saddening act of events and one that is courageous and compelling at the same time. More than anything else, it is the perfect balance between plot and character, feeling and emotion that Briggs has managed to achieve with this novel that has made me love it so. 

What makes the Mercy Thompson Series so unique is simply how well-plotted they are. With the other UF novels I've read - Kate Daniels and Downside Ghosts - each book is a separate adventure that is loosely connected to the previous novels, mostly because of the secondary characters. While this works perfectly and keeps me enthralled, I'm both surprised and enamored by the clear-cut cause-and-effect method of Briggs' plots. Each novel builds off the events of the previous installment, making even the first book one of utmost importance. 

With Iron Kissed especially, the repercussions of past situations have come back to haunt Mercy and she finds herself suddenly in the debt of the fae. More than that, though, she finds herself forced to choose between Adam and Samuel. What I love about the love triangle in this series is that it isn't overwhelming or dramatic in any way - perhaps because it takes place between mature adults. Instead of a plethora of making out and then guilt and then a ridiculous death to get rid of the third - and unfortunately un-chosen guy - in the love triangle, the romantic entanglements in this novel work so that Mercy can clearly think through what she wants from life before rushing into any type of romantic relationship at all. 

Although I usually shy away from love triangles, I absolutely loved the way it was solved in this - the understanding, the friendships, the bonds. Iron Kissed is practically a perfect book in the sense that we really get inside Mercy's head - well and truly in it - and our understanding of her, of the other wolves in Adam's pack, and of the mystery at hand in this novel. With these three elements working seamlessly together, it's no wonder that this is the best of the series yet. 

Title: Bone Crossed (Mercy Thompson, #4)

Author: Patricia Briggs

Rating: 4.5 Stars

By day, Mercy is a car mechanic in the sprawling Tri-Cities of Eastern Washington. By night, she explores her preternatural side. As a shapeshifter with some unique talents, Mercy has often found herself having to maintain a tenuous harmony between the human and the not so human. This time she may get more than she bargained for. Marsilia, the local Vampire Queen, has learned that Mercy crossed her by slaying a member of her clan—and she's out for blood. But since Mercy is protected from direct reprisal by the werewolf pack (and her close relationship with its sexy Alpha), it won't be Mercy's blood Marsilia is after. It'll be her friends'.

It always takes me awhile to really get into the groove of a series. In fact, I'm not much of a series reader to begin with. My shelves are either stocked with stand-alones or, if there are any series on my shelves, most of them are incomplete since I only buy the installments I've loved. Even worse, though, series usually drop steam after hitting a climax and from there on out, it's a downward spiral. As such, I was ever-so-slightly apprehensive about opening the cover of Bone Crossed, despite lunging for it the moment I finished the cliffhanger ending of Iron Kissed. Quite thankfully, though, this series only seems to be getting better or maintaining its excellency and as a follow-up to what is sure to be a favorite of the year, Bone Crossed is stunning.

Bone Crossed continues to amp up the stakes in terms of plot, throwing in even more mysteries, secrets, and danger. Yet, what it mostly focuses is on are the characters themselves. Not only is the tenuous friendship between Stefan and Mercy truly tested, but Mercy herself is forced to face her inner fears and overcome them, displaying an admirable amount of inner strength. More than even her, though, Adam completely won me over. We see Adam for the dominant Alpha male that he is, but the sweet side of him is just as prevalent as the protective. With every passing moment that Adam and Mercy spent together, simply understanding one another inside and out, talking with one another, and enjoying each other's company, I fell harder and harder for their romance. It is one where they both share their strength and power, trusting one another completely.

Nevertheless, I will admit that after the incidents in Iron Kissed, I was a little surprised at the speed at which romantic situations unfolded in this installment. Everyone deals with situations differently, and I think Mercy's reactions were quite realistic, actually, but one can never fully be sure. I have no complaints about the pace of her growth, but it did stick out a little to me, although I have no actual qualms with it. Like Iron Kissed, this sequel has just the right blend of everything - depth, romance, mystery, danger, and, of course, the slow unraveling of new information. It makes you wonder how much more Briggs has up her sleeve, especially with the mind-blowing plot twists she churned out in this book. I, for one, cannot wait to see where Briggs takes Mercy and Adam next.

Jessica Darling: The College Years

Megan McCafferty became one of my favorite authors the instant I finished her first novel, Sloppy Firsts. The Jessica Darling Series is so very close to my heart and despite a few mixed reviews for this series after the first two books, I decided to continue - and I'm so glad I did. You can see my reviews for Sloppy Firsts and Second Helpings HERE, but my review is spoiler-free for the first two novels in this series. At least, for the most part. 

Title: Charmed Thirds (Jessica Darling, #3) 

Author: Megan McCafferty 

Rating: 4.5 Stars

When you finish a Jessica Darling novel, there is only one thing to say: "OMIGAWD" (Or, you know, quote oh my gawd! unquote).

Whether it be after Sloppy Firsts when that heart-breaking cliffhanger just makes you want to rip your hair out. 

Or after Second Helpings after Jessica and Marcus finally, finally, finally get together. 

Or after Charmed Thirds when you are simply unable to digest the sheer magnitude, truth, and scope of one book, four years, and so many journeys. 

Quite honestly, I picked up Charmed Thirds more skeptic than excited. After two such poignant Jessica Darling books, I wasn't quite sure if the college years would live up to be just as powerful as the high school years had proven to be, especially as I have yet to experience college for myself. With Jessica Darling, so much of the punch is in the nostalgia, in the experiences long forgotten but still so pivotal and important to growth. Surprisingly, though, Jessica's thoughts in Charmed Thirds continue to mirror my own, even where her experiences are so different from mine. It seems almost strange now that I ever imagined that Jessica and I would be unable to relate to one another just because she went off to college while I'm still slaving my way through high school. Yet, Megan McCafferty continues to prove what I always suspected: Jessica Darling is timeless. 

Of all the Jessica Darling books, Charmed Thirds is easily the most messy of the lot. Not only is its format slightly different in that Jessica journals only rarely, skipping months altogether, but also in that this novel expanses an entire four years of Jessica's own life. In parts, it almost feels a little jarring to see Jessica remain the same from one month to a month five months down the road and yet, her growth is forever. Where the previous two Jessica Darling books chronicled every single slight detail about high school, from the people to the teachers to the homework assignments, Charmed Thirds has little to do in way of teachers and students. Instead, it is a deeper, more introspective look at Jessica's own college experience - her struggles to find a job, her stress at discovering her major isn't what she thought it would be, her ever-changing relationship with the elusive Marcus Flutie, and most of all, the crazy experiences she undertakes in trying to find herself. 

And while I may not agree with everything Jessica chose to do (and know for a fact that I will NOT be making many of the mistakes she made), these years are a true testament to just how difficult it is to find who you are and what you want from life. Jessica remains to be as witty and intelligent as ever, her insights both monumental and increasingly silly when it comes to the opposite sex. And, best of all, one of my favorite themes is still present in this series - that of impact. Just the fact that Marcus and Hope remain so important to Jessica while simultaneously being the people most apart from her continues to be such a realistic theme in this series. While Jessica and Marcus' relationship has its ups-and-downs, so does the one between Jessica and Hope. And yet, while Jessica is out feeling guilty, passionate, regretful, and everything-but-happy, the other people in Jessica's life provide us with immense insight into the college experiences of other people. Whether it be Bridget, whose relationship is a model of perfection, or Hope, who manages to achieve so much from her college years, or even Marcus, who finally finds who he is after years of misbehavior, not everyone's experience is like Jessica's. And yet, hers is by far the most realistic, messy, and poignant by the end. 

Perhaps best of all, though, is the mere fact that Jessica comes to learn more about her parents, her sister, her niece, her boyfriend, her school friends... Where before they faded into the background of Jessica's story as her journal entries were filled with increasingly anxious remarks about Marcus or high school or college, now her journals become an insight into the people who have made her, molded her, and continue to do so. What I love best about Jessica is that she thinks she has everything figured out, but she truly doesn't. By the end of Second Helpings, Jessica seems to be a self-confident individual, ready to tackle on everything the world has to offer, but she could not be further from the truth. With college comes an exposure to entirely different people and the shocking truth that contrary to popular belief, Jessica does not know what she's doing with her life. And that is okay. Easily the best part about these novels is the plain truth that it is perfectly normal to not know where you want to go in life. And while we all know this, Jessica included, coming to really know it is an entirely different journey altogether. 

Charmed Thirds is a collection of stories. While it is predominantly Jessica's story herself, it encompasses so much more, tackling on the world in entirely new and insightful ways. Although my review itself is conspicuously romance-free, Jessica's love story continues to be as messy and delightful as it always was, not to mention shockingly realistic. (You will cry. You will scream. You will often find yourself telling Jessica, "NO! NO! NO!" to no avail. And yet, you will love it. Just trust me on this one, okay?). All in all, Charmed Thirds has shaped up to be the most unforgettable of all the books in this series so far and I cannot wait to see where the adult years continue to take Jessica. 

Series Review: Scarabaeus Duology by Sara Creasy

I wound up reading this duology in the span of two days; maybe three. I'm featuring my reviews for both her books today and although they're long, I can promise that there are no spoilers in either of these reviews. With that, I hope I can convince you to pick up this series. It really is just so, so very good.

Title: Song of Scarabaeus (Scarabaeus, #1) 
Author: Sara Creasy
Rating: 5 Stars

Fine, I'll admit it: I lost faith in the science-fiction genre. I did. Completely. Granted, I haven't read all that much science-fiction in the past two years as I may have wanted to, but the ones that I have read have been disasters of monumental proportions. As such, I was a little skeptical about Song of Scarabaeus when I went into it. I was more than a little eager to read a duology (for once!), but I was not keen to be burned by science-fiction, yet again. Sara Creasy's debut, thankfully, is science-fiction done right; a masterful blend of world-building, action, and romance that leaves your heart beating erratically, the wheels in your brain turning to keep up, and a smile of relief plastered on your face by the end.

Song of Scarabaeus starts out with a kidnapping and from there, it only gets better. Edie is a cypherteck working for the Crib, an international space company. Edie is the best-of-the-best and her job entails terraforming new planets for habitation. Yet, Edie is a slave for Crib. As a native Talasi, Edie cannot leave her planet without a certain toxin. Ironically enough, though, she is only half-Talasi and the same planet she is tied to is full of people who despise her for being a half-breed. It is because of her estranged childhood that she entered into a contract with the Crib - one that she now sorely regrets. As such, when a gang of mercenaries threaten to kidnap her, planning to use her talents for their own profit, she becomes stuck between a rock and a hard place. And, to make matters worse, her life is tied to that of a serf, Finn. Finn has been assigned as Edie's bodyguard and, to give him incentive to keep her alive, he will die if she does or if he travels out of a certain range. If Edie thought things couldn't get worse, though, it turns out they could, for Edie's first mission aboard the merc ship? Scarabaeus.

What makes Song of Scarabaeus so instantly compelling is its rich world-building. Although Sara Creasy never tells us what became of our own planet, Earth, it isn't difficult to surmise that extenuating situations forced mankind to look to space for habitation. And, with terraforming capabilities, any planet with minimal complex life forms could be transformed into habitable areas for human survival. In addition to this entirely unique idea, though, Creasy's world is full of spaceships and advanced brain technology. With each passing chapter, our understanding of the world deepens and it is shocking to take a step back, re-read your page, and wonder how you are able to understand pages and pages of complex terminology with such ease. Honestly, that is the degree to which Creasy enables her reader to enter her world and, just when you think you know it all, a curveball still manages to surprise you.

Yet, Song of Scarabaeus didn't garner 5 Stars from me based solely on its unique exploitation of science-fiction capabilities, or its thrilling plot line. Instead, what makes me such a huge fan of this debut is Edie herself. Edie is not made of the same stuff that fist-punching, pelvis-kicking heroines are. Instead, her power lies in her talent, which in turn renders her quite vulnerable. As a pawn in the game of space politics, alone and without anyone to turn to, Edie is easy to view as a weak heroine. Yet, her strength comes from within, from her stubborn refusal to treat Finn as a serf, instead treating him as another human being. From her moral values of never usurping the power she has over Finn. From the manner in which she puts the well-being of Fringe planets, whose are under the controlling thumb of the Crib, before herself.

In all this, Edie is a good, righteous protagonist, one whose cunning and stealth we cannot help but root for. As the story unravels, so does Edie's own past and her strange connection to the planet Scarabaeus. Thus, by the end, we have not only allowed Edie into our hearts, but find ourselves additionally marveling at the clever manner in which everything has been brought together. Finn, unlike Edie, is not as vulnerable or see-through. Instead, he's the typical strong-and-silent type who we cannot help but fall for - every time. Although he initially distrusts Edie, their gradual companionship develops over time and is heart-warming to see unfold. Moreover, the sexual tension between the two is practically palpable, ricocheting off the page in heady waves and forcing us to wait in anticipating. Obviously, it's the best type of medicine for a masochist like me who thrives on putting my heart through high patient zones.

While Song of Scarabaeus is one of those books I cannot find fault with, I know plenty of other readers who can, have, and will. Unfortunately, I doubt it is for everyone. Edie is the type of heroine you will either love or find yourself irritated by and the plot of this novel, focusing mostly on time spent on a spaceship before delving into the planet of Scarabaeus itself, is another decision some readers may find to be grating. Yet, for me, every aspect of this novel melding together perfectly, from Edie, to Finn, to the score of other characters gathered in this sparkling debut as well. Scarabaeus, too, as a planet is breath-taking to behold, reminding me of the very first time I saw "Jurassic Park." It is a dangerous place, but one with beauty side-by-side with death. As such, it piqued my interest almost at once and simply never let go. Sara Creasy, mind you, is an author to watch out for, as her debut most certainly proved, and by the end of this installment, I find myself already scrambling to get my hands on the sequel.

Title: Children of Scarabaeus

Author: Sara Creasy

Rating: 4 Stars  

*No Spoilers for Book 1*

The irony is not lost on me that I began this series because it was a duology and am ending it now wishing it was one of those never-ending, seven-and-counting UF Series. If only. Nevertheless, with just two books, Sara Creasy has managed to make me a life-long fan. Although this series can very easily be extended, in some ways, I'm glad my journey with Edie and Finn is ending here. I'd much rather have two books of utter perfection than six of mere average standing. As such, I find myself finally saying - as I have not had the pleasure of saying for most of the series that I finish - that Children of Scarabaeus is a heart-stopping, action-packed, and utterly satisfying conclusion to an unforgettable duology.

Children of Scarabaeus picks up directly where Song of Scarabaeus ended, only this time, Edie swiftly finds herself back under control of the Crib. Now, back under the thumb of Natesa with the leash between herself and Finn still very present, Edie has nowhere to run. As such, she is forced to begin work on Project Ardra, the plan that will somehow enable advanced planets to be controlled by the Crib. Yet, as Edie begins to realize, Natesa's dream project has more flaws than can be controlled. Natesa is dependent on Project Ardra in order to keep her career, though, and even more people are concerned with Scarabaeus, the planet Edie herself has been tinkering with. In a game of politics where Edie's life is not her own and her existence as a human is barely acknowledged in favor of her talents, Edie must find a way to free herself, Finn, and the world they live in - or die trying.

As with its predecessor, Children of Scarabaeus is a page-turner. It seems as if Edie and Finn can never catch a breath or even a spare moment of time together, for both are rare and far-between. Yet, as a finale, Children of Scarabaeus succeeds in tying up all loose ends successfully. Each and every decision taken by Edie and Finn brings them closer to a solution and the clever manner in which everything is brought around to a full circle is the epitome of satisfying. Children of Scarabaeus still manages to introduce us to new characters, each of which make their place in our hearts, but Edie and Finn still steal the show - every time. Even the plot twists, although not wholly unexpected, are surprising and the depth of world-building, of creativity, and of knowledge that Creasy demonstrates of her world continues to be astonishing.

Yet, what Children of Scarabaeus excels in is the sexual tension still very prevalent between our two main leads. Although we were introduced to the rough past of both Edie and Finn in Song of Scarabaeus, this installment brings forth a larger understanding of these two. Now, Edie finds herself face-to-face with people from Finn's past - Saeth, like him - and she must acknowledge the fact that once the leash is cut, Finn may no longer want to remain by her side. What makes Edie such a compelling heroine, to me at least, is the fact that she is so strong, but so vulnerable too. Edie lacks the physical prowess that marks the kick-ass protagonists of novels such as Kate Daniels or Mercy Thompson. Instead, she reminds me more of Chess Putnam from the Downside Ghosts Series - intelligent, cunning, and used for her unique talents, but ultimately still alone at the end of the day. For Edie, Finn is a life-line of sorts; proof that someone out there cares what becomes of her and, perhaps even more, trusts her. As such, the emotional upheaval that Edie faces throughout multiple scenarios in this novel tore my heart, merely because she feels to very real to me.

Although I will admit that I hoped the romance in this installment would be slightly steamier, I am overall not disappointed in the least. If anything, I am continually surprised that Creasy steers clear of drama and instead imbues her writing with careful subtleties, never fully spelling out the depth of connection between these two lovers, but rather showing us and allowing us to infer on from there. Finn and Edie have come a long way since they first met and even more, their relationship has solidified into one of ultimate faith. Working together, side-by-side, both of these have managed to find equal footing in their relationship. Song of Scarabaeus revealed their imbalances, with Finn at the will and mercy of Edie, but Child of Scarabaeus proves just how much these two mean to one another when their lives aren't being controlled and when, at last, they have some modicum of free will. It is true that I am desperate for more of Finn and Edie, to see how their relationship evolves in the future, but they've left off at such a strong, realistic end, that I'd rather just leave the rest to my imagination.

Children of Scarabaeus is a sequel that is equally as strong as its predecessor, that cannot be denied. With such a tight, well-formed plot line and subtle, but deeply felt romance, it can't go wrong. Yet, there were a few small issues that irked me as I read through this installment. For one, I was ever-so-slightly disappointed by the black-and-white characterization of the villains. Natesa, though proving to have a few shades of gray, was not entirely convincing as a character with more than simple surface depth. For a woman who played such a large role in this novel, I still remained utterly convinced of her evil intentions. Granted, this issue never took away from my enjoyment of the novel, but it makes me reflect upon the sacrifices Creasy has made in ensuring this series is a duology. As I said before, there is room for a sequel and even in this installment, I don't doubt that Creasy could have very easily split Children of Scarabaeus into two books, allowing for a trilogy instead.

Yet, it is hard to say whether Book 2 would have fallen into MBS in that case. Although I wanted a few instances to be taken slower, for even more depth to be infused into the main characters, for a larger understanding of the future of this realm, I am unable to distinguish how much of this is my own yearning for information on a series I love or whether I genuinely felt the loss of these traits in this novel. I suspect it is the former and not the latter, but it seemed worth mentioning. Creasy's debut series is a duology - and it works well as a duology. It never seems contrived, rushed, or flawed in any way, and I suspect that as a trilogy, it might have seemed too forced. Nevertheless, I cannot help but wish this book were longer, if only to prolong my time with these characters, if only to add more insight into the villains, if only to paint an even deeper image of this futuristic world in my brain. If only.

As John Green would say, though, "...the world is not a wish-granting factory." Thus, in the way only a greedy human can be, I am content with what I have been given. Although it has been quite a few years since Creasy has published another novel, I retain hope that she will write another series, just as good - if not better - than this one. I know, for certain, that I will be the first one in line if she does. Honestly, this series is just that good.

Series Review: FBI/US Attorney Romance Series by Julie James

I've been on a small huge contemporary binge lately. I usually steer away from this genre, but when I'm in the mood for it, I devour it like no tomorrow. Thus, as you can see, you're getting a flood of romance/contemporary novels in the upcoming weeks even though Valentine's Day is FAR away. I really don't know how to review romances, so any/all feedback would be great! :) 

Title: Someone Like You (FBI/US Attorney, #1) 
Author: Julie James 
Rating: 4.5 Stars

Of all the hotel rooms rented by all the adulterous politicians in Chicago, female Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron Lynde had to choose the one next to 1308, where some hot-and-heavy lovemaking ends in bloodshed. And of all the FBI agents in Illinois, it had to be Special Agent Jack Pallas who gets assigned to this high-profile homicide. The same Jack Pallas who still blames Cameron for a botched crackdown three years ago—and nearly ruining his career. Work with Cameron Lynde? Are they kidding? Maybe, Jack thinks, this is some kind of welcome-back prank after his stint away from Chicago. But it’s no joke: the pair is going to have to put their rocky past behind them and focus on the case at hand. That is, if they can cut back on the razor-sharp jibes—and smother the flame of their sizzling-hot sexual tension…

Julie James is easily one of the most well-known authors of chick-flick/contemporary novels, so when I went into Something About You, I was expecting a ton of laughs, a good romance, and had just a tiny seed of doubt in my mind, wondering whether the novel would live up to all the hype. Well, it did. Goodness, did Something About You deliver! 

I think what makes this novel such a hit, at least with me, is the joint collaboration of a steamy, sweet, and compelling romance along with an intriguing murder mystery. When we are first introduced to Cameron, the lawyer who is the protagonist of our tale, it's impossible not to fall in love with her endearing voice. Not only is she hilarious, snarky, and full of sass, but her close friendships define her and she truly came alive as the novel progressed. 

Yet, while Cameron was a heroine I loved, I couldn't help but fall for Jack - hard. I don't know why, but there's something about a rugged guy with just the perfect amount of stubble that is irresistable. Now, not all guys can pull it off, but the Jack in my mind definitely can! ;) Jack is an interested character, one whose past has been tough and molded him into a solitary individual, yet one who is deeply caring beneath that taciturn exterior. Jack and Cameron have a past that neither of them is particularly fond of, but the undercurrent of chemistry and tension between them is undeniable. I adored their witty banter and their slow road to romance was excellently written. For something that starts out as a purely physical attraction, it definitely turns into something infinitely deeper which I loved. Nevertheless, Something Like You isn't a perfect novel. It has its cliche moments, but most disappointingly, the murderer is revealed to us at around 25%. While this method worked perfectly in Libba Bray's The Diviners, I would have liked a little more of "the guessing game" before the reader found out about the murderer. Overall though, this tactic definitely worked well into the plot and the collaboration of the mystery and romance was seamlessly woven. With just one novel, Julie James has definitely earned a fan in me and if her other books are anything like this one, I can admit that the hype surrounding her novels is truly well-deserved. 

Title: A Lot Like Love (FBI/US Attorney, #2)

Author: Julie James

Rating: 2 Stars

The FBI wants her cooperation. As the daughter of a billionaire and the owner of the city's top wine store, Jordan Rhodes is invited to the most exclusive parties in Chicago. But there's only one party the FBI wants to crash: the charity fundraiser of a famous restaurateur, who also happens to launder money for the mob. In exchange for her brother's release from prison, Jordan is going to be there—with a date supplied by the Bureau. Agent McCall just wants her. As the top undercover agent in Chicago, Nick McCall has one rule: never get personal. This "date" with Jordan Rhodes is merely an assignment— one they're both determined to pull off even if they can't be together for five minutes before the sarcasm and sparks begin to fly. But when Nick's investigation is compromised, he and Jordan have no choice but to pretend they're a couple, and what starts out as a simple assignment begins to feel a lot like something more.

You’d think that after reading and loving one Julie James novel, I’d enjoy the other just as much, but unfortunately, that simply wasn’t the case. A Lot Like Love follows a different storyline from Someone Like You, one just as intriguing, mysterious, and crime-filled, but unfortunately, its characters fell flat for  me.

It is evident, even from my second Julie James novel, that the woman follows a formulaic plan – one that evidently works. We have Nick, our standard rugged, handsome, and utterly sexy FBI agent who is both dangerous and appealing at the same time. We have Jordan, a rich, beautiful, and utterly captivating woman who is sassy and becomes easily riled by Nick. Thus, we have our basic set-up for any Julie James love story. Yet, somehow, I wasn’t won over by this magical formula this time. With Someone Like You, not only was the romance a slow-burner, but it was one where the personalities of the characters were so easily distinguishable. I felt as if I knew Cameron and Jack intimately as people before I knew them as a couple but somehow, that simply wasn’t the case in this scenario. I felt as if I barely knew Nick or Jordan, let alone why they were constantly at each other throats. Furthermore, the chemistry in this one seemed to sizzle and fade away for me. 

Ultimately, I think I may be a black sheep for this novel. Julie James is still an author I am pining to read more of as I adored Someone Like You, but it seems as if my enjoyment of her novels is dependant on her character development – as it is with most books I read. Thus, I will hopefully have more success with her romantic novels outside of the FBI Series. Nevertheless, A Lot Like Love, was certainly fun and had the perfect series of elements to make a romantic novel sure to make women swoon everywhere – I just wasn’t one of them. 

Title: About That Night (FBI/US Attorney, #3)

Author: Julie James

Rating: 3.5 Stars 

Though Rylann Pierce tried to fight the sparks she felt for billionaire heir Kyle Rhodes the night they met, their sizzling chemistry was undeniable. But after being stood up on their first date, Rylann never expected to see him again. So when she finds herself face to face with Kyle in a courthouse nine years later, she’s stunned. More troubling to the beautiful Assistant U.S. Attorney is that she’s still wildly attracted to him. Just released from prison, Kyle Rhodes isn’t thrilled to be the star witness in a high-profile criminal case — but when Rylann comes knocking at his door, he finds she may be the one lawyer he can’t say no to. Still as gorgeous and sharp-tongued as ever, she lays down the law: she doesn’t mix business with pleasure. But Kyle won’t give up on something he wants — and what he wants is the one woman he’s never forgotten...

After my disappointments with A Lot Like Love, I took a break from James’ FBI/Attorney Series and tackled both of Julie James’ stand-alone romances. In all honesty, I feel really bad for this book and its characters – it isn’t easy to follow-up a couple like J.D. and Payton from Practice Makes Perfect, my previous Julie James read, so really, I would have probably enjoyed this book a lot more if I hadn’t read it after what is, in my opinion at least, James’ best work. Yet, About The Night reminded me again of why I love the steamy lawyer/criminal/FBI agent pairings that James usually writes about, at least in this particular series, and in my eyes, it was a definite improvement from the last installment.

About That Night is really, at the core of it, the most cliché of all James’ romances. Or second-most cliché after The Sexiest Man Alive. Either way, it has a fairly predictable plot and after the initial court meetings in the beginning of the novel, our protagonists, Kyle and Rylann, have little to do with law. If anything, About That Night focuses more on their own journey, both in trying to convince themselves that they don’t want to have an emotional relationship with one another as they wind up having just that. Sound familiar? It is, but yet, it’s a formula that never fails to work.

Furthermore, I loved these two. Not only was their chemistry sizzling, but their banter and slow understanding of each other through conversation warmed my heart. I’m a sucker for those “I-Met-You-Years-Ago” romances and About That Night definitely delivered. While I was disappointed that its plot wasn’t as involved in mystery as I would have liked, James has an addictive writing style that is impossible to not enjoy. If you’re looking for something light, fun, cute, page-turning, and steamy, Julie James is one go-to author you can’t miss out on! ;)

Series Review: Kate Daniels (#2-5) by Ilona Andrews

For those of you who actually look at my "Currently Reading" sidebar, you'll have noticed that I sped through this series last week. Thus, instead of bombarding you all with four long, drawn-out, and rather similar reviews, I figured I'd condense them all into one giant series review below. None of these reviews contain spoilers for the series, but the blurbs do. You can read my reviews without needing to know too much about the series itself, but if you want a background, you can check out my review for the first novel, Magic Bites, HERE. Once again, none of these reviews contain spoilers for the series and are perfectly understandable even without prior knowledge of these books. 

Title: Magic Burns (Kate Daniels, #2)
Author: Ilona Andrews
Rating: 4 Stars

As a mercenary who cleans up after magic gone wrong, Kate Daniels has seen her share of occupational hazards. Normally, waves of paranormal energy ebb and flow across Atlanta like a tide. But once every seven years, a flare comes, a time when magic runs rampant. Now Kate’s going to have to deal with problems on a much bigger scale: a divine one. When Kate sets out to retrieve a set of stolen maps for the Pack, Atlanta’s paramilitary clan of shapeshifters, she quickly realizes much more at stake. During a flare, Celtic god Morfran supersedes goddess Morrigan for witch coven worshippers of the Crow, and sea monsters from the Underworld enter via the Cauldron of Plenty. Kate starts looking for Pack maps and 13-year old Julia's witch mother, and ends up uniting shapeshifters and vampire zombie controllers to save the world.

Well, consider me humbled. The Kate Daniels Series is easily the most popular UF/Paranormal Adult Series out there, but after reading Magic Bites, the first novel, I wrote the entire series off. Magic Bites was decent. It wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t anything mind-blowing either. Magic Burns, on the other hand, is simply amazing. Ilona Andrews seems to have taken every qualm I had with Magic Bites, built upon it, developed it, and turned this series into one I just love.

With Magic Burns we begin to see Kate Daniels – the real Kate Daniels. Underneath her tough, mercenary exterior, she is every bit as vulnerable, human, and relate-able as we’d like her to be. Not only is she far more fleshed out, real, and flawed, giving her a three-dimensional and realistic appeal, she’s sarcastic, amusing, and her dialogue is never boring, even for a minute. Furthermore, with a new story line, better world-building, and the introduction of Julie, a young girl who brought out the best in Kate, Magic Burns was off to an excellent start. Now, just throw in a super sexy shape shifter, who just happens to be the Beast Lord, and we have a novel to simply salivate over.

Needless to say, Magic Burns utterly mesmerized me. I read the majority of it staying up late into the morning and later finished it while brushing my teeth, pulling on my clothes, and eating my breakfast. I just couldn’t take my eyes off the page and the feel-good, warm, and homely feeling it left me with wasn’t something I could resist for very long. If you weren’t a fan of Magic Bites, I’d urge you to pick this one up at once! It isn’t worth missing.

Title: Magic Strikes (Kate Daniels, #3) 

Author: Ilona Andrews 

Rating: 4.5 Stars 

Investigator for the Order of Knights of Merciful Aid, Kate Daniels keeps humans safe in Atlanta. But when her werewolf friend Derek is dying in human form, from attack by the mysterious Reaper team at the Midnight Games, she and Curran, the Beast Lord, must fight together to win the Wolf Diamond topaz and save his Pack and her friends.

I’m telling you, this series just keeps getting better and better. While the greatest asset this novel has going for it is the attraction between Curran and Kate – and that may just be the reason I picked it up so quickly after Magic Burns - it blew me away in every other aspect as well. Magic Strikes amps up the stakes, not only on the general plot line, but especially on Kate, her life, and her past. If we thought we knew Kate before, she’s now become a confidant as we are privy to her inner secrets, understanding her like never before. Furthermore, this series finally seems to have some type of direction – a villain – to guide it. (Not like it needed one, mind you.)

Yet, what stands out the most to me is how much growth Andrews’ characters experience. It is an extremely gradual, extremely realistic kind of development that goes to show just how well Andrews’ know their characters, their limitations, and just what makes them tick. In addition, this husband and wife duo never loses their witty humor, entertaining banter, or sarcastic remarks that keep you flipping the page and mark a classic Kate Daniels novel. Perhaps most intriguing, though, is the amount of research these two put into their work.

Every Kate Daniels novel is relatively formulaic – Kate encounters a problem that she, as a merc, has to undertake and solve. Usually, these problems cause her to need to work closely with the Pack, and by default, Curran, and they all have some sort of mythological lore driving it. It is this aspect of it that grants so much mystery to the series as the research is authentic, the lore fascinating, and the ultimate incorporation of it into the novel phenomenal. It seems as if with every book I read, I keep becoming a bigger and bigger fan, not only of this series, but of this amazing duo as well.

Title: Magic Bleeds (Kate Daniels, #4) 

Author: Ilona Andrews

Rating: 5 Stars 

Kate Daniels keeps the peace in Atlanta for the Order, humans caught between the vampire controlling People led by her biological father and best kept secret, Roland, and the shape-shifter Pack, led by her mate-to-be Curran, the Lord of the Beasts. But her look-alike aunt Erra, Babylon's god of chaos and terror, has come to town controlling seven naked warriors: Deluge (flood water), Tremor (earth quake), Gale (hurricane wind), Torch (fire inferno), Venom (disease poison), Beast (animal monster), and Darkness (overpowering dread).

Magic Bleeds is, without a doubt, my favorite of all the Kate Daniels novels. Not only does it center around my favorite plot line yet, one with an evil villain, cruel family members, and past vengeances, but the sexual tension between Curran and Kate is off the charts. Seriously. It seems as if these two have taken forever to get together, but it is so worth the wait. Needless to say, I was re-reading their interactions throughout this novel with a silly grin plastered to my face and absolutely no regrets about how ridiculous I looked. It was all just so, so worth it. *sigh*

For me, Magic Bleeds was special merely because of Kate and what her romance with Curran meant to her. It seems as if, for the first time in this series, we see Kate for her inner insecurities – she, like every human, wants to be loved. Just because she’s a killer doesn’t mean she doesn’t yearn for the type of happily-ever-after romance that every woman wants and with Curran, she allows herself that hope – that area for vulnerability. For Kate, this is HUGE. Thus, seeing her struggle to reach a level ground with Curran, meet his terms while staying true to herself, trusting him to love her, believing that she can actually receive love, is all so endearing. Magic Bleeds definitely focuses on a mysterious plot with a killer, battles, and epic villainous encounters, but it also has something the other novels seemed to have lacked just a little bit – heart. 

Title: Magic Slays (Kate Daniels, #5) 

Author: Ilona Andrews 

Rating: 4.5 Stars

Plagued by a war between magic and technology, Atlanta has never been so deadly. Good thing Kate Daniels is on the job. Kate Daniels may have quit the Order of Merciful Aid, but she’s still knee-deep in paranormal problems. Or she would be if she could get someone to hire her. Starting her own business has been more challenging than she thought it would be—now that the Order is disparaging her good name, and many potential clients are afraid of getting on the bad side of the Beast Lord, who just happens to be Kate’s mate. So when Atlanta’s premier Master of the Dead calls to ask for help with a vampire on the loose, Kate leaps at the chance of some paying work. Turns out this is not an isolated incident, and Kate needs to get to the bottom of it—fast, or the city and everyone dear to her might pay the ultimate price . . 

Magic Slays wasn’t nearly as good as Magic Bleeds, but it was pretty darn close. I’ve said it before, but it deserves repeating – this series excels because of its characters. Its formulaic-ness never becomes a problem simply because the characters are so lively and real. Even secondary characters such as Jim, Curran’s best friend; Derek, a werewolf who’s good friends with Kate; Julie, the orphan child Kate is guardian too; and especially Andrea, Kate’s best friend, have all played HUGE roles throughout this series and their continued presence, depth, and dialogue just contributes towards making this series as amazing as it is.

With Magic Slays, we begin to see the potential cracks in Kate and Curran’s relationship as they transition from their honeymoon phase to truly needing to work together, all within the constraints of Pack Laws. Much like with Magic Bleeds, it was Kate’s inner reflections that made this novel as remarkable as it was for me. Kate learns more about her past, her parentage, and her true purpose in life and with all these heady revelations, there is bound to be backlash, confusion, and worry. Ilona Andrews manages to convey these emotions so perfectly that, despite the fact that Kate is different from any of us, we can still understand and empathize with her. Even her relationship with Curran, although strained at times, was a pleasure to watch unfold merely because it was so realistic, all while maintaining a strong and healthy companionship.

It’s tough to pinpoint exactly what makes this series brilliant. It’s a combination of everything really; intriguing plot, hair-raising mysteries, well-researched lore, unique world-building, incredible romance, and, at the heart of it all, a protagonist who is impossible not to love. Kate is someone I actually look up to now, someone I admire, and she is just that real to me. Ilona Andrews has gained a fan in me and I only hope that, despite the disaster that was Magic Bites, this series continues to receive the hype and popularity it maintains – and rightfully deserves. 

A huge, huge, HUGE thank you to Maja from The Nocturnal Library and Heidi from Bunbury in the Stacks for encouraging me to continue reading this series. I absolutely LOVED it, so you should definitely check out their reviews for these novels HERE and HERE!

Series Review: Lux by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Title: Obsidian (Lux, #1) 

Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout 

Rating: 3 Stars 

Unless you’re a hermit, you will have no doubt heard about this series by now. Not only are the cover models on over 50% of most covers these days, the cover for this novel has also become the new ‘most popular’ profile image, not to mention the fact that there are girls all over the country swooning over Daemon Black. Thus, despite the mixed ratings, I just had to pick this one up and frankly speaking, I was quite confident that I would hate it. Yet, surprisingly enough, I wound up frantically flipping through the pages of this book, laughing, having my jaw drop, and ultimately needing the sequel immediately! Obsidian, like most paranormal novels, has its fair share of flaws, but it is also a really fun story that is bound to suck you in and force you to like it, even against your better judgment.

I suppose from the surface, Obsidian can be called ‘just another Twilight’ and that would be an accurate description – from the surface. Yes, we have our classic ‘girl meets hot guy’ and ‘hot guy is a paranormal creature’ and ‘hot guy warns girl to stay away from him’ and ‘hot guy falls in love with girl anyway’ type of story arc, but there are also some major differences that make this novel better than your average Twilight. For one, Katy is an awesome protagonist. When she moves to West Virginia and befriends her neighbor, Dee, she refuses to let Dee’s twin brother, Daemon, intimidate her into staying away from their family. Furthermore, instead of being a sparkly vampire, fallen angel, hot demon, mesmerizing mermaid, or a sweaty werewolf, Daemon and Dee are aliens! (Unfortunately, they aren’t from Gallifrey, but one day my alien in a blue box will come…even though I live in America…)

I’ve said it before and it demands to be said again: Katy is awesome. Not only is she a book blogger (Woo-hoo!), but she also stands up for herself and knows how to hold her own. She’s fiercely loyal to her friends, intelligent, witty, and quick to put together the facts in front of her and accept who Daemon and Dee really are. While Katy is an incredible protagonist, Daemon is a guy I really couldn’t warm up to in this novel. I know girls are swooning over him left, right, and center, but I didn’t see the appeal. Frankly speaking, Daemon is a jerk. He does everything in his power to break up the friendship between Dee and Katy and while we do slowly begin to understand his motives, I never truly got him until I read the prequel novella, Shadows, so when I originally read this novel, it’s safe to say I hated Daemon with a passion.

Overall though, Obsidian is a great novel. It has an awesome protagonist, wonderful bonds of friendship, creepy alien battles, and a love interest who the main character isn’t swooning over. If that isn’t enough to make you pick this one up, then I don’t know what is! ;)

Title: Onyx (Lux, #2) 

Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout 

Rating: 3.5 Stars  

So…remember how I said I hated Daemon in Obsidian? Well, I was more-or-less determined to continue to hate him and suddenly…I didn’t. Onyx, the sequel to Obsidian, focuses on the relationship between Katy and Daemon as Daemon tries to win over Katy and prove that he really does like her, despite their previous interactions. In the process, Daemon winds up winning over the few readers (like me) that he hasn’t already won over and you finish this novel utterly swooning over this green-eyed alien. Yet, even beyond the romance plot, the Department of Defense senses something suspicious with the Luxen in West Virginia and is out to investigate. While dealing with the Arum, the sworn enemies of the Lux, was bad, the DOD is even worse and what Katy and Daemon could uncover about them will be life-changing.

While Obsidian seems to follow the typical Twilight type of plot line, Onyx is a completely different novel. For one, the plot is much more dangerous, intriguing, and the stakes are much higher. If you thought Obsidian sucked you in, think again because Onyx is un-put-downable. I loved the overall plot of this one much more than the one in Obsidian and it had so many jaw-dropping moments that all I could do was flip the pages in awe. If the plot has a flaw, it’s the cliffhanger ending which makes me want to fast-forward to December when Opal releases, but either than that cruel, cruel, ending, Onyx is astounding.

Thus, while it is better than Obsidian plot-wise and Daemon improves drastically, completely winning over everyone, what Onyx lacks is the kick-ass Katy I fell in love with before. Katy is still as stubborn, witty, and intelligent as she was before, but her constant denial of her feelings for Daemon became extremely irritating after a point. Furthermore, the friendships that were prominent in Obsidian completely disappeared and I was so disappointed in Katy for forgetting about her friends in this installment. While Katy and Daemon had some truly phenomenal conversations where they really talked and grew to understand one another and even accepted their previous mistakes and errors, I was disappointed by Katy in this one. I still really like her, especially compared to other protagonists, but I hope we can see more of the Katy from Obsidian in the sequel.

Ultimately, Onyx is a sequel that is even better than its predecessor. It has a heart-pounding plot, an incredible romance, and characters that truly worm their way into your heart. If it wasn’t for Katy’s strange personality/priority shift, this book would definitely be receiving a solid 4 Stars from me, but regardless, I’d encourage you to pick it up. If you didn’t like Obsidian, chances are you’ll enjoy this one much better and if you did love Obsidian, I doubt I have to tell you to pick this one up. Now, if only December would arrive sooner… ;)

Title: Shadows (Lux, #0.5) 

Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout 

Rating: 4 Stars 

Wow! Seriously, this novella was awesome! I liked it a lot better than both Obsidian and Onyx, so that really surprised me. First and foremost, Shadows is the story of Dawson, Daemon's twin brother, and how he falls in love with Bethany. While you should chronologically read this before Obsidian, it doesn't contain too many details, so I'd recommend reading it after Obsidian or even after Onyx like I did as it shed a lot of details on some of the plot lines in Onyx. 

Ultimately though, why I loved this story so much was because of Dawson. We all know Daemon is a jerk and we hate him inObsidian and then come to love him in Onyx, but Dawson is a real sweetheart. I loved him from the start and his kindness, courage, and determination was all so sweet. Bethany too is an awesome heroine, although she isn't quite as kick-ass as Katy was. I still really liked her though and her love story with Dawson was very different from that of Katy and Daemon, which is interesting to note as both couples are perfect for each other in their own ways. 

Yet, what really made this novel so wonderful was the sibling relationship with Daemon, Dawson, and Dee. We don't really get to see much into their lives in the Lux Series, but with the multiple POVs in Shadows, we really got to understand the depth of their love for one another. Plus, Daemon's actions in Obsidian make so much more sense after reading this, so I'm glad this was able to shed some light on that as I have a new amount of respect and even more love for Daemon now than I did before. 

Overall, if you're a Lux fan, this is a must-read. If you're on the fence about this series, it's also a must-read. If you don't like the series because of Daemon, then you definitely need to check this one out as it'll change your opinions drastically. If you haven't read this series yet...then what are you waiting for? Go! You won't be disappointed - that's for sure! ;)