River Marked by Patricia Briggs

River Marked by Patricia Briggs 
Series: Mercy Thompson #6
Source: Bought Paperback
Publisher: Orbit
Publication Date: March 3rd 2011
Age Genre: Adult
Challenges: TBR-Cleaning my Shelves
Challenges: Sequel-Prequel
Challenges: Flights of Fantasy

Mercy Thompson is a shapeshifter, a talent she inherited from her long-gone father. And she's never known any others of her kind. Until now. As Mercy comes to terms with this new information, an evil is stirring in the depths of the Columbia River. Something deadly is coming, facts are thin on the ground and Mercy feels ill at ease.

You guys, it's so great to be back with Mercy and Co.! I've been putting off reading this one until I finished with my re-read of the series up to this point, and while I enjoyed that, I also forgot how fun it is to discover everything fresh alongside my favorite characters!

Adam and Mercy are officially husband and wife as of this book (happy dance!) and their honeymoon is... eventful. To say the least. But this is Mercy we're talking about. None of us expected differently. I'd have been way more surprised if their honeymoon was just a fun, sweet vacation filled with rainbows and puppies. (And concerned, because then... who knows what would've happened afterwards. Mass murder of the pack? End of the world?)

This time, the story is very Indian centered, and we learn a lot about Mercy and her heritage, which was extremely fun and interesting.

But the truly awesome stuff? First, extra time with Adam!!! This book is all Adam, and it is all super delicious. It's no secret I have the hots for the Alpha Werewolf (and I love him and his little coyote together), so this was like a birthday treat to me.

Second, Coyote. Who's Coyote? Well, he's SPOILER Mercy's kind-of-maybe-it's-complicated father END SPOILER, and he is such a colorful character! Every scene with him was just so much fun! He's golden. I am looking forward to seeing him around more from no on. He better be! I mean it! I will not accept any other solution!

Only complaint? This book should have come with "No real children were harmed in the making of this novel" sticker, or something...

 Nitzan★

DNF: Dead Witch Walking by Kim Harrison (Rant)

Dead Witch Walking by Kim Harrison 
Series: The Hollows #1
Source: Bought Paperback
Publisher: Harper Voyager
Publication Date: January 5th 2012
Age Group: Adult
Challenges: TBR-Cleaning my Shelves
Challenges: Flights of Fantasy

Welcome to the Hollows...
Forty years ago a genetically engineered virus killed half the world's human population and exposed creatures of dreams and nightmares that had, until then, lived in secret alongside humanity.
Rachel Morgan is a runner with the Ireland Runner Services, apprehending criminals throughout modern-day Cincinnati. She's also a witch.
Used to confronting criminal vampires, dark witches and homicidal werewolves, Rachel's latest assignment - apprehending cable-stealing magic students and tax-evading leprechauns - have prompted her to break her thirty-year contact with the I.S. and start her own runner agency.
But no one quits the I.S.
Marked for death, Rachel is a dead witch walking unless she can appease her former employers and pay off her contract by exposing the city's most prominent citizen as a drug lord. But making an enemy of the ambigous Trent Kalamack proves even more deadly than leaving the I.S.

DNF Review

Why is this series so popular?

Normally, I don't rate books I DNF. However, since I DNFed this one because I couldn't really stand it, I felt like I would be forgiven for passing judgment in the form of stars.

I've been really looking forward to reading this book. I heard so many great things about this series, from great sources. I was expecting a kickass witch, in a kickass world, with shipping to be had that will make me want to read sequel after sequel (I guess, in other words, I was expecting nothing less than the Kate Daniels series, or the Charley Davidson, or The Others, or Mercy Thompson. All great series you should read).

Alas, none of my wishes came true.

In retrospect I a) shouldn't have read it straight after a mindblowingly awesome book such Written in Red and b) should've known to lower my expectations when a first attempt to read this book a couple of weeks back resulted in me dropping it after a couple of pages.

I don't know Brit... I honestly don't know. 

Dead Witch Walking is told from the point of view of Rachel Morgan, which means that if you don't like Rachel, you won't like the book. Can you guess what I thought of Rachel? That's right. Hated her.

Seriously, she's just one of those characters that constantly pisses me off.

It's started with how she refused to accept the idea her ex-boss will put a price on her head, even though everyone warned her, and her boss literally told her he will. In no uncertain terms. I frowned at that.

Then, she's supposed to be a witch of some powers (or else, people won't be so interested in her / she wouldn't be the damn good runner she claims she is). And yet she decidedly lacks in powers. By page 90, she's been almost killed about 5 times, and four of those times she was saved by others who happened to be around and she didn't even realize she's been in danger until they nullified it. And you expect me to believe you're capable? You, lady, are no badass. 

Second, she treats her friends awfully. From page one, she is pretty much condescending, judgemental and unforgiving. Her friends help her. Does she thank them? Umm... nope, she complains. She get's angry. She feels justifies at being so. She never shows them any gratitude. And she hurts them constantly, and so callously!

(It's like she thinks Ivy being a vampire means she has no feeling. I'm not a particularly big Ivy fan, and STILL I was just indignant on her account.)

And let's not get me started on Jenks, the only likable character in this whole fiasco. Jenks is awesome. He is by far the most badass of the lot - saving Rachel constantly. He does a lot more than Ivy or anyone else. And yet he is treated as mere comic relief, with Rachel turning decent toward him only when she's turned his size and realizes that, hey, he's pretty hot!

Then, there's the world. For the life of me, I don't understand why the IS operates the way it does. Why can't it just fire people? Why is getting out a death sentence? Seriously, why would they go through all the hassle of hiring assassins of all kinds? It seemed so stupid and over the top to me when you can just fire someone. And considering this is a huge part of the story, it made the whole thing hard to swallow.

But the real reason I put the book down at page 190 instead of braving the rest of it as I already got so far has to do with Trent. Now, I have this thing. When I'm not clicking with a book that's part of a series, I tend to go read spoilers (I know, WHAT?) so I could make an informed decision on whether I want to read of those events, or rather pass. Which is what I did here.

This is why I know SPOILER Trent is end game END SPOILER. I was on board with that, for a while there. Until he killed that man. The whatever-he-is is a psychotic, murdering SOB. And I honestly don't want to read of him redeemed because, there is no good excuse for that murder and cruelty.

Too bad, too, because the book did start picking up around page 150...

   Nitzan★

Written in Red by Anne Bishop

AN UPDATED VERSION OF THIS REVIEW CAN BE FOUND ON AFTERWORDS!

Written in Red by Anne Bishop
Series: The Others #1 
Source: Kindle Copy
Publisher: Roc
Publication Date: March 5th 2013
Age Genre: Adult (graphic violence)
Challenges: TBR-Paid For
Challenges: Flights of Fantasy

Meg Corbyn is on the run. Alone and desperate, she stumbles into the Lakeside Courtyard, where the Others reside. Meg knows entering a Courtyard is a dangerous risk - most people who tangle with the Others end up dead - but it's the only place she'll be safe from the people chasing her.
For Simon Wolfgard, leader of the Others residing in Lakeside, Meg is a puzzle and he has to decide if she is worth the fight to keep her in the Courtyard. It will be a fight not just with the humans hunting her down, but with some of the Others - as well as a fight with his own confusing feelings towards Meg.
For Police Officer Montgomery, Meg is the property he's supposed to recover - and the spark that could start a confrontation with the Others that would wipe out the human city of Lakeside.
And for Meg, who has seen her own future, living in the Courtyard is a chance to have a life - for what little time she has left.
(I chose this summary because it is the least revealing, and I think you should go into this book with as little background as possible to feel the full impact)

I'm not even sure if I have enough words to describe the amazingness of this book. And certainly I don't have enough words to explain what's so amazing about it. I don't even know how to explain that to myself, but I will try to anyways. Don't ever say I don't love you guys.

Have you ever read a book so good you just... want to re-read it the moment you finish it? Like, you know you've got other books that need your attention, but you want to go back to these characters and world you almost don't care? You just crave to be there again? Written in Red is literally THAT book. I applaud my self discipline for not re-reading it again immediately. I did, however, had to order the sequel.

The world in Written in Red is beyond incredible, both in the way it's built up throughout the book and the way it just is. It's all constructed slowly, sometimes between the lines, and so believably and seamlessly; from the mythology and the creation story, to the dynamics, the multiple povs and the un-romanticization of the supernatural.

That's right. Written in Red doesn't gloss over the reality of The Others. That is, they're the predators... and we're the prey. You're going to see your favorite characters kill, and they never hesitate about it. They never second guess. They never show remorse. And it's not going to make you love them less. If anything, you'll love them more for being so blatantly what they are. 

That said, they do... soften, throughout the book... thanks to Meg. 

Meg's the girl on the cover--though that's hardly how I imagine her. She's the human that starts to change things. She's running from something (and trust me, it's way creepy and way worth discovering on your own when you read it), and to escape, she applies for the job of the human Liaison in the Lakeside courtyard, where human laws do not apply.

Throughout her stay, she wins over both the humans and Others at the courtyard, with her kindness and innocence that kind of clash with her spunk and bravery (which she shows even in the face of Big Bad Wolves). And she just may be the bridge to create a different world. Already, the Others who have met her start to show more... considerations to the useful humans they don't plan to eat.

Others like Simon, Meg's surly boss and the leader of the courtyard; Vlad (can you guess what creature he is?), Sam (cutest cub ever), Tess, Winter, Jester.... And all of these characters, while being so Other, are also so very lovable. I adore each and every one of them--even when they murder in cold blood!

And while I can't categorize this book as romance, there is a big enough hint of it to LET THE SHIPPING BEGIN!

Luckily, I'm pretty sure my ship is going to be cannon, and I am going to have SO much fun seeing it come to life!

And finally, I could not stop reading this book. Like, for reals. It's been a long time since a book managed to hold me prisoner like that--and it's not like the book was filled with excitement all the time (a huge part of it is day-to-day life). It didn't need that to keep me interested.

My message to you? Read this book. RIGHT NOW. Go, do it! you're not going to be sorry!

Nitzan★

Sins of the Night by Sherrilyn Kenyon

Sins of the Night by Sherrilyn Kenyon
Series: Dark Hunter #6
Source: Bought paperback
Publisher: Piatkus
Publication Date: November 1st, 2011
Age Genre: Adult
Challenges: TBR - Cleaning my Shelves
Challenges: Sequel-Prequel
Challenges: Flights of Fantasy

In the realm of the Dark-Hunters there is a code of honour that even immortal bad boys must follow: harm no human; drink no blood; never fall in love. Alexion is the defender of that code. He is judge, jury and executioner; if they step over the line it's his wrath they will face. For centuries Alexion has survived alone. Isolated and haunted by his human past, he has learned to distance himself from his emotions and his role ensures that even his fellow Dark-Hunters give him a wide berth.
However, this time the rouge Dark-Hunter is an old friend. Alexion cannot destroy him without at least allowing him one last chance at redemption. But to do this he needs the help of a female Dark-Hunter who goes by the name Danger. And the last time Alexion ran into her, she tried to kill him...

It's been a few months since I last read a Dark Hunter novel. But for the life of me, I can't figure out what changed. I used to really enjoy these books, but if this one is any indication... I am no longer impressed. It was so mediocre. 

This review is going to be written in points.

THE BAD

1. The writing. I came into reading Sins of the Night from reading The Woman Who Rides Like a Man. I know, a bit of a leap. But had I not done that, I would've never realized I don't notice much different between the two, writing wise. And considering I feel The Song of the Lioness series is kind of childish in it's writing style, I suddenly noticed I feel the same way about this book. I don't remember feeling that way about the rest of the books, though...

2. Insta love - yes, all the DH novels have a very Insta Love vibe to them. But this was probably the worst of the lot. You know right ahead this has to be insta love, as Lexi only has ten days in his human body. But did it have to be... this bad? Did they have to sprut words of deep understanding of each other and undying love by the end of those ten days? guh.

3. Danger is not kick ass. Aside for her name, Danger reads like any other heroine out there. I was so excited to be in the head of a Dark Huntress, but was sorely disappointed by how un-kickass she was. She lacked an edge that all the counter male Dark Hunter in the series so far had, and I was looking forward to seeing that specific edge play in a woman.

4. It wasn't hot. Maybe it's me. Maybe I've read so many "adult" novels by now that this no longer impresses me. But these books were synonymous with "Hot" in my head before, and after reading this book, I'm wondering if my memory is playing tricks on me. This... didn't do much for me. It felt so very blah. 

5. How can the Dark Hunters be so stupid? I swear, after seeing them fall for that stupid lie about Acheron from the mouth of a freaking Daimon, their enemy, my respect for them was taken down a notch. Like, seriously? Maybe I'm biased cause we've freaking read of him being whipped for these ungrateful brats, but shit! THEY'RE YOUR ENEMIES! why do you trust them!?

6. No cameos! I love seeing old characters, and that's the main charm of series like Dark Hunter. I was waiting to see some of my friends to alleviate my sinking thoughts on this book, but it was not meant to be.

THE GOOD

1. SIMI! my god, the only redeeming feature in this book was Simi and Acheron. I love these two, especially together, and I loved watching their family dynamics - especially with the added role of Lex. Though, correct me if I'm wrong, but we haven't heard a peeps on Lex before, did we? That left a sour taste in my mouth, considering he's apparently one of the only things Acheron truly loves...

2....

   Nitzan★

The Woman Who Ride Like a Man by Tamora Pierce

The Woman Who Ride Like a Man by Tamora Pierce
Series: Song of the Lioness #3
Source: Bought paperback
Publisher: Atheneum Books For Young Readers
Age Genre: Young Adult
Challenges: Flights of Fantasy
Challenges: Prequel-Sequel
Challenges: TBR-Cleaning my Shelves

Alanna fights on...
Newly knighted, Alanna of Trebond seeks adventure in the vast desert of Tortall. Captured by fierce desert dwellers, she is forced to prove herself in a dual to the death. Although she triumphs, dire challenges lie ahead. As her mysterious fate would have it, Alanna soon becomes the tribe's first female shaman, despite the desert dwellers' wariness of the foreign woman warrior. Alanna must battle to change the ancient tribal customs of the desert tribes--for their sake and for the sake of all Tortall.

That's me. With everyone else clapping in the background.

Once again, I find myself unimpressed with the Song of the Lioness. It's not that I dislike the books. It's just that they've never blown my mind away. The writing has never felt exceptional to me. And the characters... nothing unique.

In fact, if anything, the characters have always been merely okay to me. Especially Alanna. She grows more and more "merely okay" with every book. Jonathan is turning into a douche. George is pretty great, but I'm not head over heels. The only one I truly adore isn't even human - he's a cat!

I would support you, Salem Faithful!

I truly think these books may be a bit too young for me. Like, if I read it at 12, I would praise the heck out of them, as so many do. As it is, at twenty, I don't find much in them. I don't think they're exciting, I don't think they're overly clever. I mean, J.K Rowling put hints to stuff that would be important in the seventh book in the freaking first book. That's clever. In Song of the Lioness, things just happen, usually without too much warning or hints. 

This book was a bit better on that front - definitely an upturn from the first book, where the last chapter just whacked me in the face because where the heck did that come from? it was like I was suddenly in a different story! Ahem. Anyways...

The plot in this one was... okay. Didn't much like how the romance overtook everything once Jon appeared, or how quickly SPOILER Alanna turned to George once things fell apart END SPOILER and it was definitely less exciting than the last two books. I felt like this book was written just so Alanna would accept her magic, so it could be used in the final installment. Let's at least hope the last one is even a tiny bit epic due to that.

Anyways, I will finish this series. Only one book left, after all, and it's a pretty fast and meaningless past time for me. But I'm sorry - still not the biggest fan...

Nitzan★

Spy Glass by Maria V. Snyder (Spoilers)

Spy Glass by Maria V. Snyder
Series: Glass #3/Chronicles of Ixia #6
Source: borrowed from library (on wishlist)
Publisher: Mira Ink
Publication Date: Sep 6th, 2013
Age Genre: Young Adult
Challenges: TBR
Challenges: Prequel-Sequel
Challenges: Flight of Fantasy

After siphoning her own blood magic in the showdown at Hubal, student glass magician Opal Cowan lost her powers. Immune to the effects of magic, Opal is now an outsider looking in, spying through the glass on those with the powers she once had. Powers that make a difference in the world.
Suddenly the beautiful pieces she makes begin to flash in the presence of magic and Opal learns that someone has stolen some of her blood. Finding it might let her regain her powers or discover that they're lost forever...

BE WARNED: UNHIDDEN SPOILERS AHEAD FOR THIS BOOK

Honestly, I am not 100% certain how I feel about this book. I enjoyed it, no doubt about that--I mean, how can you not enjoy a Maria V. Snyder book? But at the same time, I liked it less than the first two. I liked the characters less. The romance a bit less. The villain was creeptastic though - full points for that!

There were two things that made me enjoy this book less. First, Opal. In the last book, Opal gained an edge that made me love her so much. She was still the same kind, sweet, self-sacrificing person, but she was also a little jaded and bitter. I felt like for most of this book, she reverted back to who she was before. She did kickass things, no one could counter that, but the way her voice worked thorough all those sounded to me more like Old Opal than New Opal, if that makes any sense. I didn't like that.

Second, the romance. If you read my review of the second book in the series, you saw I completely fell for Devlen. Like, it came to the point I was Team Kade for Opal, and Team Devlen for myself. I felt like there was no way Opal would give up the great relationship she had with Kade for Devlen. Especially considering, as much as I adore the guy, he did some unforgivable stuff... didn't he?

Turns out, I was completely wrong. And you can feel that vibe pretty early on, with Ari accusing (well, saying, not accusing, but whateves) Opal of loving Devlen. Now at this point, I was like... what? Cause yeah. They were getting closer. But love? I wasn't feeling that. Not yet anyways.

Which, I guess, is where my issue with this romance comes from. Again, I adore Devlen. I'm actually extremely happy he got the girl. But I didn't feel like the book convinced me Opal truly loved him. Especially not with her track record.

She had Kade. Wonderful, sweet, loving Kade. And she stopped thinking about him completely when Devlen came into the picture, offering her a "sweeter deal", so to speak. Same with Ulrick, in a way. She had a guy she said she loved, but when he changed (i.e: Devlen) she was all for that. And when the deceit was proven, she was running to Kade. And when Kade and her had a few issues, she ran to Devlen. I guess, as a character, I no longer trust her love.

Aside for that, I really enjoyed this book. I loved seeing so much of Valek, specifically the way he was here; among friends, a bit more open. I loved getting more of Nic and Eve, and Teegan and Reema were a really nice addition. I know it soon, but I kind of ship Reema and Fisk. Especially cause she dislikes him so much, lol.

And the villain? My god, how I loved to hate him! I mean, the things he did... and than there's the cult leader *shudder* I.  Hate. Cults. They're so creepy! And Opal's brush with them is one of the creepest things I ever read of!

So, yes. There are reasons to rant in this book. But I had fun reading it and finishing this journey alongside these characters.

Nitzan★

Of Beast and Beauty by Stacey Jay

AN UPDATED VERSION OF THIS REVIEW CAN BE FOUND ON AFTERWORDS

Of Beast and Beauty by Stacey Jay
Series: N/A
Source: Bought hardcover
Publisher: Delacorte Books
Publication Date: July 23rd, 2013
Age Genre: YA
Challenges: TBR
Challenges: Flight of Fantasy
Find on Leafmarks!

In the beginning was the darkness, and in the darkness was a girl, and in the girl was a secret...In the domed city of Yuan, the blind Princess Isra, a Smooth Skin, is raised to be a human sacrifice whose death will ensure her city’s vitality. In the desert outside Yuan, Gem, a mutant beast, fights to save his people, the Monstrous, from starvation. Neither dreams that together, they could return balance to both their worlds.
Isra wants to help the city’s Banished people, second-class citizens despised for possessing Monstrous traits. But after she enlists the aid of her prisoner, Gem, who has been captured while trying to steal Yuan’s enchanted roses, she begins to care for him, and to question everything she has been brought up to believe.
As secrets are revealed and Isra’s sight, which vanished during her childhood, returned, Isra will have to choose between duty to her people and the beast she has come to love.

Oh my. Oh my. I never expected this book to be... this book. I mean, it was on my GR TBR for so long. First, I saw the gorgeous cover, than read the title and found out it was a Beauty and the Beast retelling (duh), and I was sold. But I did not expect this world, which is actually a bit of sci-fi and a lot of magic, or the beautiful writing, or the captivating characters. And I did not expect to feel like calling this a retelling is belittling it.

In Of Beast and Beauty, there is no clear "beast" and no clear "beauty".

Isra is a blind princess doomed to a horrible fate. She is strong, opinionated, kind, but also very much a prisoner in her own city. She thinks herself "tainted" by the mutation her people fears so much, and instead of being Belle enslaved by the beast, she is the one who does the enslaving when she meets Gem, a Monstrous, as he is infiltrating her city and makes him a prisoner.

Gem may be a beast in his appearance, but he is such a good person. He only thinks of the best of his people, can't kill even when his duty tells him he must. He tries to hate and yet he can't. And no matter his motivations, he treats Isra with kindness and attention. The (almost) only person in her life who does.

These two are just... *sigh* I mean, seriously, the shipping is crazy. They just... work! They bring the best in each other, they encourage each other to be better, they open each other's eyes. They're also HAWT like lava and so very delicious. And the best part? It takes time for their relationship to grow. They start as semi enemies, then reluctant partners, then friends, then... more. It's beautiful!

Then there's Gaston--I mean, Bo. Occasionally, we get a glimpse into his pov. That was smart, because Jay lets us see Gaston Bo is not a bad person. He is a product of years of prejudice and false information. He truly believes what he's doing is right, and he does have a heart and a sense of right and wrong. He just can't look past all he's been told to see the truth.

okay, Bo is no monster, but how was I supposed to resist?

Another character worth mentioning is Needle, Isra's maid. I love this girl, and I kind of really really wanted to see her happy with someone. I'm all for Jay writing a sequel for Needle, maybe with Gem's brother? I feel like she could really teach him compassion and love...

The ending of this book was so amazing! And quite different than the Disney ending.

Honestly, I don't have enough words to recommend this book with. Just read it, please. It deserves more love!

   Nitzan★

Sea Glass by Maria V. Snyder

Sea Glass by Maria V. Snyder
Series: Glass #2/ Chronicles of Ixia #5
Source: bought paperback
Publisher: Mira Ink
Publication Date: Sep 6th, 2013
Age Genre: YA
Challenges: TBR - Cleaning my shelves
Challenges: Prequel-Sequel
Challenges: Flight of Fantasy
Find on Leafmarks!

Like the colorful pieces of sea glass washed up on shore, Opal has weathered rough waters and twisting currents. But instead of finding a tranquil eddy, Opal is caught in a riptide. Her unique glass messengers which allow instant communication over vast distances have become a vital part of Sitian society. Once used solely by the Councilors and magicians, other powerful factions are now vying for control. Control of the messengers equals control of Sitia. Unfortunately that also means control of Opal.
If that isn’t enough of a problem, Opal’s determination to prove blood magic is still being used is met with strong resistance. The Council doubts her, her mentor doubts her, and even her family is concerned. When her world is turned upside down, she begins to doubt herself. In the end, Opal must decide who to believe, who to trust, and who has control—otherwise she will shatter into a million pieces and be swept out by the tide.

It took me way too long to read this book. Seriously, five days is like twice my standard reading time, especially for books I love. And make no mistake - I loved Sea Glass. Possibly more than I loved the first in the series. I blame the fact I had so little free time those five days, and the fact I was coming down from a book binge for my tardiness.

First of all,  I can't express enough how much I adore Maria V. Snyder. It's rare a person can create such a seamless fantasy world, and make not one but two series in it, with two different mcs, and have both feel so different from each other. Opal is not Yelena, and her journey is another thing completely - and that's why it's so fun to read.

In the first book, Opal was still a bit naive. Mostly optimistic. Trusting. Loving. In this book, we see her slowly change and grow. We see her become someone strong and jaded. Someone who wields sarcasm as well as a sword. Someone a bit bitter. Someone with trust issues and a certain lack of gives-a-shit.

And at the same time, someone caring and loving. Someone who is still so inherently good it doesn't matter how jaded she becomes. And her transformation doesn't happen overnight. It takes a while (and many blows and hits) and it makes perfect sense. In fact, is she had remained the same person she started as in Storm Glass, I would've found the book lacking. She went through too much to be at the starting point. 

Now, one of the best aspects of this series is the romance. We have a sort of love triangle (quartet?) but it's not the kind you should run away from. And trust me, as an avid hater of love triangles, I don't say that lightly. You can relax and know that Opal choses, instead of jumping back and forth in indecision. And the romance is simply delicious! 

In this book, something SHOCKING happened. I actually... liked Devlen?! Like, really really liked? 

For the first part of the book, where Opal was traveling with Devlen, I found myself falling for this guy. Even though I never properly hated him in the first book, I never expected to like him. Not to mention love him! I mean, he's the villain. And there is Kade.

Who's Kade, you ask? Kade is Opal's true love. He's the person that truly cares for her, and worries for her, and trusts her. He's also 100% swoon worthy. And once he was in the picture again, he definitely stole the show. But even though I'm Team Kade for Opal, I may be a bit Team Devlen for myself. Might be the first time that happened. 

Another wonderful part of this story is Janco. We didn't get any Valek time *sniff* but at least we got to see our favorite Ixian again! And a lot, too! 

The book ends in a very definite place. Ther is no cliffhanger. If anything, there is a feeling of completion, which makes me wonder what the next book will be about. I've got a pretty solid theory based on one of the side plotlines of this novel, but we'll see where it goes...

If you haven't picked up a Maria V. Snyder novel yet, I really suggest you get on with it! 

 Nitzan★

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness

A Mosnter Calls by Patrick Ness
Source: bought hardover
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Publication Date: Jan 1st, 2011
Age Genre: Middle Grade
Challenge: TBR - Cleaning my Shelves
Challenge: Flight of fantasy
Add on Leafmarks!
Check out the beautiful trailer!

The monster showed up after midnight. As they do. But it isn't the monster Conor's been expecting. He's been expecting the one from his nightmare, the nightmare he's had nearly every night since his mother started her treatments, the one with the darkness and the wind and the screaming...
This monster, though, is something different. Something ancient, something wild. And it wants the most dangerous thing of all from Conor.
It wants the truth.

I know, I know. What the heck? How could you've given this book three stars!? Well, it's... complicated... I... I mean... I think... I think I missed something, with this whole book.

I love Patrick Ness. His Chaos Walking trilogy is one of my favorite series - and quite possibly the most gut-wrenching and painful series I've ever read. I know he can wreck havoc on someone's emotions, that he can totally tarnish and destroy your soul (and repair it with the same expertise). So, I had no trouble believing all those reviews saying how this book made them into a sobbing mess. I was even eagerly waiting for it to happen!

But then it didn't.

I know. I can't really wrap my head around it either, but the fact is... for most of the book, I felt nothing. Not toward Conor and his struggle, not toward the monster... I was just reading it, nothing else. Around the end, when his mother had The Talk with him, I finally felt a little wet in the eyes, and I was hopeful the ruthless sobbing will be coming next.

But it didn't. Thirty seconds later, my eyes were dry, and stayed that way. I honestly feel like I might've missed something. I mean, I should've felt something. Why didn't I?! The book was well written, and had the classic Ness imagery. And still... nothing!

Another thing that was hard for me is that this book is super short. It's only 205 pages, and that's while counting in all those wordless pages of illustrations. So, really, it's probably more around 160 pages, if that. It felt short, to me, too. Like, I didn't really have enough time to get to know everyone and everything. Maybe that's why I wasn't moved by the story.

Writing this review - giving the book this rating - was so hard. I really, really, really wanted to love it. But I don't regret getting this book. If anything, it's a gorgeous addition to my shelves - what with the stunning illustrations and the gorgeous second cover...

   Nitzan★