Review 165. Julie Kagawa – The eternity cure.

Title: The eternity cure.
Author: Julie Kagawa.
Pages: 446.
Published: April 30th 2013
Publisher: Harlequin Teen.
Sort: Part two of ‘Blood of Eden.’
Review part 1: The immortal rules.
Source: Netgalley & Publisher.

Allison Sekemoto has vowed to rescue her creator, Kanin, who is being held hostage and tortured by the psychotic vampire Sarren. The call of blood leads her back to the beginning—New Covington and the Fringe, and a vampire prince who wants her dead yet may become her wary ally. Even as Allie faces shocking revelations and heartbreak like she’s never known, a new strain of the Red Lung virus that decimated humanity is rising to threaten human and vampire alike.

Rating:

Finally! I was so happy when the publisher accepted my request on Netgalley. I’ve been dying to read this book after my love for The immortal rules – and this book definitely didn’t disappoint me. If there is one author who knows how to write an engaging story, it’s Kagawa.

Fairytale news | Jealousy and hauls.

'Mel on reading' is a little feature I created as part of my Fairytale news. It's my way to show my thoughts on topics that go from pet peeves in reading to my favorite things in books.

A tiny forced hiatus.

Hello guys!

I just want to let you know that I'm currently studying for my exams and I need to write some important reports. I want to use all the time I have to complete my last period of this year with good grades. I will post some reviews I've scheduled, but I won't reply to many comments and I won't be able to visit many blogs. I will be back on June 14th and then I will catch up with all the reviews/dicussions etc I missed. I hope to comment between my study time, but now you know why I'm not completely active in the blogsphere.

Keep reading and have a great week! I talk to you soon :)

Review 164. Cameron Dokey – The storyteller’s daughter.

Title: The storyteller’s daughter.
Author: Cameron Dokey.
Pages: 240.
Published: March 6th 2007 by Simon Pulse
Sort: Part of the ‘Once upon a time’ series.

In a faraway kingdom, a king has been betrayed. Deeply hurt and bitterly angry, he vows never to be deceived again. Unfortunately, the king's plan to protect himself will endanger all of the realm's young women, unless one of them will volunteer to marry the king -- and surrender her life. To everyone's relief and horror, one young woman steps forward. The daughter of a legendary storyteller, Shahrazad believes it is her destiny to accept this risk and sacrifice herself. On the night of her wedding to the king, Shahrazad begins to weave a tale. Fascinated, the king lets her live night after night. Just when Shahrazad dares to believe that she has found a way to keep her life -- and an unexpected love -- a treacherous plot will disrupt her plan. Now she can only hope that love is strong enough to save her.

Rating:

From all the books in this series, I enjoyed the ones from Cameron Dokey the most. Her writing-style manages to capture the essence of a fairytale: a magical feeling with great characters, romance, some action and a happily-ever-after.

What I appreciated was the fact that there are stories in this story. Shahrazad is a storyteller and to save the king from his cold heart, she tells a story. After a painful betrayal, the King planned to marry a maiden once a month for only one night. He was planning to have Sharazad killed after their night, but he is captured by the story and night after night, she waves a tale. That is until a treacherous plot tries to ruin Shahrazad plan. Is she able to sees the King’s heart before it is too late and will he see hers?

One thing that bothered me were the difficult, similar names. We have Shahrazad, but also Shahrayar and his brother Sharazam. I think Dokey tried to capture the Arabian feeling, but I had a hard time to get to know them. I had to re-read sentences now and then to truly understand who was talking. Besides that, I really liked Shahrazad and Shahrayar. The king’s plan is ridiculous, but I can understand that his heart was shattered. It’s great that blind Shahrazad looks at him with other eyes and their romance has time to develop. It’s always nice when there is no insta-love, but an insta-connection which deepens when nights pass.

If you are looking for a quick and fun fairytale, this is the one you want to pick up.

Review 163. Bridget Zinn – Poison.

Title: Poison.
Author: Bridget Zinn.
Pages: 288.
Published: March 12th 2013
Publisher: Disney Hyperion
Sort: Stand-alone.

Sixteen-year-old Kyra, a highly-skilled potions master, is the only one who knows her kingdom is on the verge of destruction—which means she’s the only one who can save it. Faced with no other choice, Kyra decides to do what she does best: poison the kingdom’s future ruler, who also happens to be her former best friend. But, for the first time ever, her poisoned dart.. misses. Now a fugitive instead of a hero, Kyra is caught in a game of hide-and-seek with the king’s army and her potioner ex-boyfriend, Hal. At least she’s not alone. She’s armed with her vital potions, a too-cute pig, and Fred, the charming adventurer she can’t stop thinking about. Kyra is determined to get herself a second chance (at murder), but will she be able to find and defeat the princess before Hal and the army find her? Kyra is not your typical murderer, and she’s certainly no damsel-in-distress—she’s the lovable and quick-witted hero of this romantic novel that has all the right ingredients to make teen girls swoon.

Rating:

Guys, this book was awesome! It’s cute, it’s fun and the writing-style reads so fast. The different twists and turns made it exciting and I love all the characters in this book. This book is one that makes you feel good after you finish it. I do think this one comes close to being a MG, but that never bothered me.

Armchair BEA: Keeping it fresh + Children & YA time.

Photo Credit: Nina of Nina Reads

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