Shadow Blade
Author: Seressia Glass
Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: Pocket (January 26, 2010)
Full Disclosure: From publisher for review

My Rating: 2.5 out of 5 [interesting read, but not my cup of tea]

Summary:
In all honesty, the best way to describe Shadow Blade, is a roller coaster. One of the big scary ones, that you are really excited to get on and ride, but when it's over you are stuck looking back and asking yourself, what was that!?

Shadow Blade started out pretty slow for me. You meet Kira and find out that she has some kind of power and when she touches someone something bad happens. It then melds into how she was given to The Gilead Commission, by her adoptive parents and how because of the power she has she is taught to be a shadow chaser.

So of course when Kira is given a 4,000 year old dagger that just reeks of magic she is interested in finding out more about it. That is when all the action seemed to start. As soon as Kira got her hands on the dagger, things started happening to her. A friend dies, and Kira meets a sexy 4,000 year old man who just so happens to be the owner of the dagger. It is with that meeting that things start to get even wonkier for Kira. Kira's got to go outside of her comfort zone and start working with other people, and allowing them into her life and personal space.

As a character Kira was pretty cool. She was a big guarded and I totally understand that. The other characters in the book were alright as well. None of them really stuck out to me though. On a whole Shadow Blade was good, but it felt to me as if there was too much down time. The action and everything would really get going, and then suddenly slow right back down again. Plus the ending wrapped up a little too neatly for me.

There are supposed to be other books in the Shadowchasers series, and I will pick them up, because it really was an entertaining read. Just not something I would read again.

Spider's Bite (An Elemental Assasin Book)
Author: Jennifer Estep
Paperback: 432 pages
Publisher: Pocket (January 26, 2010)
Full Disclosure:  Received from publisher for review


My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 [would read again]

Summary:
Gin is a bad ass. Oh my god. I don't know how else to describe her. When I first started reading Spider's Bite I was convinced I was going to hate it. I was expecting it to follow the same pattern as all the other paranormal romances out there.  I have to say I was pleasently surprised.

Spider's Bite starts out with a bang. Gin kills someone and has to escape. From the get go, this book was high action. There wasn't many parts where it slowed down either. I really felt the urgency that Gin felt, and when something bad happened I felt the emotions as well. The attraction she has to Donovan is electric and I could feel the mixed emotions both characters had about it.

My only complaint with Spider's Bite is that it was stated that Gin was a chef at the Pork Pit a couple of times but she never really worked there. I mean I guess I understand that with her handler dying, she wouldn't really be at work, but to me it was just weird. Also I really hated how Gin would refer to a chance to die as a chance to "get dead" or instead of saying that's how he died it was that's how he "got dead" and that just annoyed me a whole lot.

All in all Spiders Bite was a really good read. I'm glad I picked it up, and I'm eagerly awaiting the next installment in the series. I would also recommend this book to anyone who likes mystery and paranormal reading. It really wasn't a romance book, at least it didn't feel that way to me. The romance that was there, wasn't the main focus of the story. The main focus was the fact that someone had double crossed Gin, and she was going to get even.

Shifting Plains
Author: Jean Johnson
Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: Berkley Trade (November 3, 2009)
Full Disclosure: Purchased

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Summary:
Tava is a shifter, but cannot let anyone in the village she resides in know. When her father is brutally murdered leaving her alone in the world, she decides to go out and avenge him. While hunting the band of thieves that murdered her father, Tava encounters a Shifterai warband. Only knowing the horror stories her mother had told her father, Tava is weary of them, and careful to not reveal her true self to them.

Kodan is the leader of the warband, and after watching a shapeshited Tava take down a full grown man, and not recognizing her scent, he wants to know more about her. So when he sees her fighting with one of the men from her village, he strikes up a bargain to bring her with his warband. One way or another, Kodan is determined to show Tava that not all shifters are like the ones her mother warned her about.

I love Jean Johnson, seriously. She is one of my must buy authors. Ever since I read her Sons of Destiny series. And Shifting Plains didn't disappoint. While I didn't fall as in love with these characters as I have her other ones, Shifting Plains had very depth filled characters.

I enjoyed watching Tava blossom from being someone who had to contain her true feelings and thoughts, to someone who could speak freely around her people. It was so amazing. There were a couple of confrontations that I thought could have been drawn out more, but as a whole it was a great read.

Plus some of the scenes between Tava and Kodan, seriously left me wanting to howl at the moon. (HAHA howl at the moon, shape shifters, do you get it!? okay moving on now) This book is not for those who do not enjoy some steamy scenes, not that there were many, and they weren't just randomly thrown in. The sexual scenes fit very well into the story line and weren't abundantly disgusting or graphic. Just the way I like them.

Over all I would recommend this book happily to anyone who had enjoyed her previous novels, or anyone who enjoys a paranormal setting that isn't all about vampires and werewolves.

Stolen
Author: Kelley Armstrong
Paperback: 416 pages
Publisher: Plume (July 8, 2009)
Received: Library

My Rating: 2.5 out of 5

Summary:
I had massive issues getting into Stolen. I don't know if it was because I burnt myself out on books like it, or just because suddenly what I loved about Elana suddenly bothered me. It took me quite a long time though, to get into it, and then with what I'm realizing is a startling trend with me,  once I got into it I couldn't put it down. It was like suddenly something inside me clicked with the book, and I was all about wanting to know what happend next.

Elana is told by a witch, that there is someone out there kidnapping supernatural races, and that possibly Elana's Pack might be next. Of course Elana doesn't believe her, because there is no such thing as witches. When people start breaking into Elana's hotel room, she realizes that these incidents might be more than a coincidence.

Of course Elana gets captured, and the people who captured her get more than they bargained for. It really shakes her beliefs to find out that there really are other supernatural beings out there. Just like in Bitten, there are some parts that are rather ... gruesome. But those parts fit in with the storyline, so it wasn't as if they were just randomly tossed in there.

I would recommend this book to anyone who likes paranormal/urban fantasy stuff with a slight hint of romance.

Bitten
Author: Kelley Armstrong
Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: Plume (December 31, 2002)
Received From: Library

My Rating: 5 out of 5

Summary:
Elena is running from herself. She's trying to be everything that she's not. When she gets a phone call asking her to return home, she does so reluctantly.Upon returning to Stonehaven, Elena is bombarded with reminders of why she ran away and struggles with the desire to go back to Toronto and the life she had just started there.

Now when I started this book, I did it with some trepidation. I've had issues with shifter books before, but a few months ago I had the pleasure of meeting Kelley Armstrong (who is a wonderful person btw) and wanted to see what the draw to her Otherworld series was. Let me say that this book did not disappoint in the slightest. It's been a long time since I had a book that I just could NOT put down.

Elena is a werewolf, and trying to hide it by living an almost all human life. Sure it's a little hard for her having to schedule when she can change and when she can eat her fill, but it's something she desperately wants to do. She gets a phone call from Jeremy, who is the Alpha Leader of her old Pack. And with some gentle pressuring from her completely human boyfriend, heads back home, against her will.

I found Elena to be a wonderful narrator. Things were explained nicely and in time, and all with the biting wit that the character showed other characters. The other cast of characters in this story were amazing as well. I found myself crying at the very sad parts, and I won't give them away here because then it would ruin the story. I also found myself wanting to smack some of the characters, because hey they were being idiots. All in all this was an amazing story. It flowed nicely, the suspense and action scenes were awesome. And being blunt, the sex scenes fit into the story where they should have. Plus they weren't overly graphic.

I would recommend this story to anyone who is looking for a fast paced action novel with a hint of romance. However I would throw the warning on it that there is some very violent scenes that left even me going oh my.

Storm Born
Author: Richelle Mead
Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: Zebra (August 1, 2008)
Received From: Library

My Rating: 4 out of 5

Summary:
Eugenie Markham is a super powerful shaman, she leads a fairly mundane life except for the fact that her job pays her to deal with all sorts of supernatural beings. When a prophecy is revealed she suddenly becomes the most desired woman amongst all of the beings of the other world.

In a short period of time she has to learn to rely on not only her instincts but on the people she thought she could trust. When she finds out that everyone seems to have alternative motives for helping her. She really starts to wonder who she can trust and who is on her side for real.

This book hosts a super colorful cast of characters. Eugenie has two love interests who are so different from one another. Kiyo who is a Kitsune, or a fox shape shifter, and is fiercely loyal. There is also Dorian who is a fey. Eugenie knows she cannot trust Dorian, but finds herself drawn to him anyway. And with Kiyo, Eugenie wants to trust him but when she finds out that he too has an alternative motive for helping her she wonders if there was anything between them at all.

There are also Eugenie's two minions. While they are both secondary characters they made reading this book fun, the two characters always inserted a little bit of comedy into some otherwise serious situations.

I would recommend this book, with no qualms. There is a lot of romance and some steamy parts, but even still, this book was a good read. A constant page turner. I cannot wait to read the next one in the series.

Hunger
Author: Michael Grant
Hardcover: 608 pages
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books (May 26, 2009)

My Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Summary:
Things in the Fayze are getting worse. Food and other supplies are running out. Sam is starting to run low on hope and everything just seems so bleak.

Sam has to be the adult that he doesn't want to be, and it's really starting to wear on him. The kids of the town are looking to him for help, and guidance. He's expected to stop fights and to provide for everyone. He's also expected to be the one with the answers. When all he really wants is to go surfing and be a real kid.

For me this book was not as good as the first one, still a great read and a totally diffrent look on a survivor story. But ultimately not as good. It took me much longer to get into this one than it did Gone.

Hunger was much more violent than the first installment of this series. The violence actually shocked me. There were times when I felt as if I wasn't reading about young children, I had to forcefully remind myself that I was. However, for all the violence and such it felt very realistic. It's something that I'm sure if it were to happen would almost play out exactly the way it was written.

I would still recommend this book to anyone who likes novels like this. I would also still recommend this series to a teenage boy who isn't too fond of reading. My little brother picked it up and was actually interested in it, and he hates to read.

The Forest of Hands and Teeth
Author: Carrie Ryan
Hardcover: 320 pages
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers (March 10, 2009)

My Rating: 5 out of 5

Summary:
The Forest of Hands and Teeth was a truly bone chilling read. I stayed up all night reading it and literally as I finished the last sentence the sun started coming up. It seemed fitting to me that a new day was starting for me, just as it was for Mary.

Mary wants more from her life. She wants to see if there really is an Ocean out there, or if her life just ends where the fence begins. The struggles she goes through, trying to pretend to be happy with the life she has in the compound really made this book for me. Mary seemed so realistic and the way the author described what was going on actually gave me chills.

There were times while reading this that I wanted to put the book down and go to sleep, but I just had to read one more chapter, one more page, one more word until finally the book was done. Even after I finished it I laid there, eyes open wanting more. I wanted to know what happened to Mary at the end.

According to Carrie Ryan's website there is a possibility of a movie. This really excites me. I think this book would translate very well into a movie. And if you doubt that then watch this super amazing book trailer:

Shiver
Author: Maggie Stiefvater
Paperback: 400 pages
Publisher: Scholastic Press (August 1, 2009)

My Rating: 5 out of 5

Summary
Grace is fascinated by the wolves that live in the forest behind her house. Okay, fascinated is a bit of an understatement, obsessed is more like it. They are unlike any wolves she's ever seen. And the wolf with yellow eyes, is her wolf, she misses him when he disappears during the summer months, and cannot wait to see him come winter. He is her soul mate ... in wolf form.

Sam lives two lives, one of which is about to come to a screeching halt, even though he doesn't want it too. He loves Grace, even though he doesn't actually know her, but he's watched her from afar and he knows that she is his.

When Grace and Sam actually meet, while Sam is human form it's amazing, even though it is under less than ideal circumstances. They have a very whirl wind romance. They also try to enjoy every moment they have together, even though they don't have much time. Sam could change back at any moment.

When a newly turned wolf threatens the packs way of life, Sam has to choose between the girl he loves and doing what he feels is right.

This book was astounding. Everything that happened had me on the edge of my seat, and there were parts where I was full out crying. The emotion in this book was thick. The love between Sam and Grace, extremely beautiful. Honestly, I liked this book much more than Twilight. Which is what a lot of people are comparing it too.

I would recommend this book to people who liked Twilight, and who like shifter stories in general. I also made the comment to my grandma that this book is something I wish would have been around while I was in high school. Great beach read, great anytime read actually.

Gone
Author: Michael Grant
Hardcover: 576 pages
Publisher: HarperTeen (June 24, 2008)

My Rating: 5 out of 5

Summary:
Gone is the first book of 6. It is a large book, but was a very quick read. As soon as I picked it up I was immediately sucked into it.

Sam once saved a large group of people, and is now expected to save the group of kids that are left behind when anyone over the age of 15 disappears into thin air. All he wants to do is be normal, but he's anything but. He carries a secret with him, something that he doesn't want anyone to find out, but it looks like once all of the adults disappear the chances of someone finding out is larger than he thought.

Astrid asks Sam for help finding her little brother Petey, and Sam sees it as a chance to get out of town. They set off with Sam's best friend Quinn, and have quite the time trying to find Petey. Once they do though and head back to town, they realize more has changed than just the adults disappearing. The bullies have taken over the town, and are now calling it the Fayz. People are still scared and still looking to Sam for help.

With the help of Astrid, Little Pete, Quinn and Elidio they start to push back against the bullies. They want to find out why this has happened and what's going on. When the rich troubled kids come down from the hill, Sam is relieved. It means that he doesn't have to be the leader. But a few days later they realize that these kids are hiding something else.

I love books like this. It has a very end of the world feel to it, which is something that I enjoy reading about. Plus there is just enough romance in it to make the romance lover in me go AWWWW, but there's also fights and mutants and talking animals.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys action. I would also say that this would be an awesome book to recommend to a teenage boy, maybe one who isn't too fond of reading. Yes, it is a large book, but it flows very well and is super action packed.

No excerpt could be found.

The Mage (Sons of Destiny book 8)
Author: Jean Johnson
Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: Berkley Trade (April 7, 2009)

My Rating: 5 out of 5

Summary
Morg is tired of being the only one of his brothers not to have his wife present yet, so when it's finally time for Hope to come across to his universe, Morg is ecstatic! Of course there would have to be some minor problems to make things more interesting. I won't give them away as it would ruin the whole book, but let's just say they make things juicy!

Hope comes across, and is nervous that she won't be accepted by the people now living on Nightfall Isle. She's worried that they will all expect something great from her. Something she isn't sure she can do. All she wants to do is settle down and open up her chocolate shop.

Meanwhile everyone else on the island is getting ready for the Convection of the Spirits. And the enemies that the residents of the Isle have are getting ready to attempt to sabotage it. Morg has to go toe to toe, finally showing the full extent of his powers in order to make sure that everything goes to plan, and that is bride-to-be isn't hurt.

Overall this book summed up the series perfectly. I really hope that Jean Johnson will publish more stories from this Universe, it was a delightful read. Quick, with just enough drama to keep it going.

I couldn't find an excerpt to place here, but there is one on Jean Johnson's website, which is linked at the beginning of this post.

Hunted
Authors: P.C Cast & Kirsten Cast
Hardcover: 336 pages
Publisher: St. Martin's Press (March 10, 2009)

From the back of the book:
Zoey's friends have her back again and Stevie Rae and the red fledglings aren't Neferet's secrets any longer. But an unexpected danger has emerged. Neferet guards her powerful new consort, Kalona, and no one at the House of Night seems to understand the threate he poses. Kalona is gorgeous, and he has the House of Night under his spell. A past life holds the key to breaking his rapidly spreading influence, but what if this past life unearths secrets Zoey doesn't want to see and truths she can't face?

On the run and holed up in Tulsa's Prohibition era tunnels, Zoey and her gang must discover a way to deal with somethign that might bring them all down. Meanwhile, Zoey has a few other little problems. The red fledglings have cleaned up well - they've even managed to make the dark, creepy tunnels feel more like home - but are they really as friendly as they seem? On the boyfriend front, Zoey has a chance to make things right with super-hot ex, Erik, but she can't stop thinking about Stark, the archer who died in her arms after one unforgettable night, and she is driven to try to save him from Neferet's sinister influence at all costs. Will anyone survive the power evil has to hide among us?

Personal Review:
This book was amazing. I have to say that the House of Night series is quickly becoming one of my favorite Vampire Series.

Zoey had finally pulled it all together or so it seems. Her friends were back to being her friends, and even her relationship with Erick was getting back on track. Until the dreams started. She was having dreams about Kalona, and he kept telling her that she was his chosen mate. Zoey didn't want to be his mate, but what if she was?

When she met a nun who believed that the Goddess Nyx was the Virgin Mary reincorperate, Zoey knew that she had met someone special. So of course when something bad happend, Zoey knew to call on the sister.

This book was fast paced, and neatly tied up some of the story while creating a whole new set of questions. I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

Rating: 5 out of 5

Untamed
Author: P.C. Cast & Kristin Cast
Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin (September 23, 2008)

From the back of the book:
Life sucks when your friends are pissed at you. Just ask Zoey Redbird – she’s become an expert on suckiness. In one week she has gone from having three boyfriends to having none, and from having a close group of friends who trusted and supported her, to being an outcast. Speaking of friends, the only two Zoey has left are undead and unMarked. And Neferet has declared war on humans, which Zoey knows in her heart is wrong. But will anyone listen to her? Zoey's adventures at vampyre finishing school take a wild and dangerous turn as loyalties are tested, shocking true intentions come to light, and an ancient evil is awakened

Personal review:
The more I read this series, the more I love it. Zoey's voice and perspective on things are written almost exactly as a teenager would see them. While I still agree some of Zoey's actions are a bit weird to me, I'm really starting to like her more and more. This book is extremely well thought out and written.

Zoey had to finally tell her friends the truth, either that or risk being ostrichized and chased by whatever it was that was lurking in the dark. As she found out though, her friends could be trusted. The new guy however, threw a kink into her plans, she was so totally over boys. At least that's what she thought. He was too delicous, too perfect though and when something happend to him, she wanted to make sure he would be alright.

As if those problems weren't enough, Erik is now teaching in the school. Things just go from bad to worse for Zoey and her crew.

Rating: 5 out of 5

The Flame (Sons of Destiny book 7)
Author: Jean Johnson
Publisher: Berkley Trade (December 2, 2008)
Paperback: 384 pages

From the back of the book:
Eight brothers, born in four sets of twins, two years apart to the day - they fulfill the Curse of Eight Prophecy. Though no longer trapped in exile, their growing family faces new problems. Now that it's his turn to look for a bride, the seventh born brother burns with curiosity and anticipation...

Koranen of Nightfall is tired of the Curse - in his case, a destructive flame that courses beneath his flesh. His brothers have wives and lovers, but all Koranen has are blistering reminders of a touch that burns ... unless he can find a woman able to endure the literal heat of his passion. Then the Aquamancers arrive, at last affording Koranen the chance to find his Destined bride.

Ostracized for being too good at her job, Danau si resigned to her punishment: never knowing love. But fire and water always create steam, and things do get steamy as Danau and Koranen gradually realize they were ment for each other - even as Nightfall's future becomes flooded with more trouble than either of them could have imagined.

Personal Review:
This book set up for the last book of the series, while holding it's on in that respect. It seems to me that Koranen was an extremely well thought out character along with Danau and her Aquamancers.

The thing to remember, and that was really drove home in this book, is that the brothers are fairly young. Koranen is only 24 or something like that, so he had just been coming into puberty when the brothers were exiled. So he's got all of these questions about girls and courting, and of course he is nervous. It really shows in this book.

For me, reading this book was bitter sweet. On one hand I got to read about another one of my favorite brothers, but on the other I'm that much closer to the end of the series. I really love this series, and the characters in it. I'm anxiously awaiting the chance to read the last book.

Rating: 5 out of 5

The Cat (The Sons of Destiny book 5)
Author: Jean Johnson
Publisher: Berkley Trade (June 3, 2008)
Paperback: 368 pages

From the back of the book:
Eight brothers, born in for sets of twins, two years apart to the day - they fulfill the Curse of Eight Prophecy. Though no longer traped in exile, their growing family faces new problems. For the fifthborn son, it is getting his Destined bride to trust him...

Amara of the Shifterai has good reason to be wary of mages, because mages were responsible for chasing her and her sister out of their homeland. Being on the run for so long hasn't put her in a trusting mood, yet there is something about Trevan of Nightfall - mage or not - that Amara finds difficult to resist. But can he be trusted with her most fiercley guarded secret?

Courting such a pretty yet prickly outlander won't be easy, but Trevan is determined to try. She may be fierce, proud and from a diffrent culture, but he is the Cat, and none but the most fascinating and challenging of women could satisfy him. Of course, it would help if she stood still long enough for him to court her properly ...

Personal Review:
This book was the least conflictual of all of the Sons of Destiny books so far. Yes, the main couple had some conflicts with one another, but there were no disasters, no pending dooms. Just Trevan attempting to court Amara. That is not to say that there isn't a tiny conflict. The Council of Katan does come to the Isle claiming that the residents of Nightfall were guility of Tax Evasion.

It was when the Council does come visit Nightfall, when Amara really proved that she was starting to realize that she does care about the inhabitants on Nightfall.

All in all this book was my least favorite book, mainly because I really didn't like Amara, and Trevan just seemed to be a bit flat for me. He had his own thoughts and ideas, but seemed to be half completed. This book just wasn't as good as the first four that I read. I hope that the last few books in this series stay true to the amazingness, and don't fall to the wayside which is what I feel happens in series this large.

Rating: 4 out of 5

The Song (Sons of Destiny book 4)
Author: Jean Johnson
Paperback: 368 pages
Publisher: Berkley Trade (February 5, 2008)

From the back of the book:
Eight brothers, born in four sets of twins, two years apart to the day - they fulfill the Curse of Eight Prophecy. To avoid tempting their destiny, the brothers are exiled to Nightfall Isle, where women are forbidden. This presents a challenge for the brother whose magic has been destroyed ...

Evanor, fourthborn of the Sons of Destiny, lost his voice- and with it, his powers- in the violent battle that freed his family from their greatest enemy. Thankfully, with the safe return of his twin, Evanor now knows precisely who can bring his songs back to life.

She is the enchanting widow Mariel, a Healer brought to Nightfall to help the brothers in their hour of need. For Mariel and her young son, that means leaving their beloved homeland for the unfamiliar island of Nightfall and it's still-forbidden shores ... and with it, risking the passion she stirs in her intriguing patient's heart.

But a new danger looms when the Council of Katan learns there might be women on the Isle...

Personal Review:
Reading this book, I truly realized how interlocked these books are. It is wonderful, I enjoy being able to point out where and who will be in the following books, because they play a large part in a previous book.

When Dominor was in Natallia with Serina, the brothers were able to talk via a two way mirror. It was through this two way mirror that Evanor saw Mariel, and knew upon first glance that she was for him. Out of all the books so far, Evanor had the easiest time woo-ing Mariel. They both seemed to realize that they were ment for each other right from the start.

The only person that had a bit of a rough time with this instant coupleing was Mariel's son Milkor. But he too eventually came around.

It actually was Milkor who first encountered the Council of Katan, and he was able to stall them long enough for himself to be rescued, without giving away any of the Isle's secrets. However, when the Council showed up it forced the Isle to ring the bell and declare themseleves independant from Katan. Which is now going to be bringing a whole new set of problems around. I cannot wait to find out what happens next.

This book flowed so well, it was a seemless addition into this series. I am currently devouring the next book in this series.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

The Master (Sons of Destiny book 3)
Author: Jean Johnson
Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher: Berkley (May 6, 2008)

From the back of the book:
Eight brothers, born in four sets of twins, two years apart to the day - they fulfill the Curse of Eight Prophecy. To avoid tempting Destiny, the brothers are exiled on Nightfall Isle, where women are forbidden. But when the third-born brother is taken by a powerful and beautiful mage, he wonders if she is the Prophesied Disaster, his foretold wife-to-be...

Kidnapped and taken captive by slavers, Dominor is sold to a lovely mage, who promises him freedom. But Lady Serina has plans for Dominor - to reenact a Tantric mating ritual in order to reverse a spell cast centuries ago. Dominor agrees to help, but doesn't suspect the secret she hides: There is more to this magical mating than she has revealed.

Once the ritual is complete, he will be returned to Nightfall. But when Serina's secret finally shatters, exposing the truth behind the misunderstandings now separating them, Dominor is determined to retake possession of the woman who is his Destiny ...

Personal review:
Dominor was captured in the first book, and was absent for the second, so he didn't get to see his brother Wolfer get married, and he missed his twin Evanor getting wounded. I like how this book takes place somewhere other than Nightfall, I mean yes these brothers are in exile, but I really enjoyed the fact that in order to find his bride Dominor had to go somewhere else.

When the ship Dominor was on was over taken by Natallian's, the female version of the Mandarites, all the people on the ship were taken to auction, to be auctioned off as slaves. It was mighty hand that Serina was at market at the time, looking for a male mage.

Serina is the Guardian to a group of Nuns, she is currently working on restoring the balance between two groups of magic. For this to happen, she needs to find a male mage. When the slave auction begins she notices Dominor and pulls out all the stops to buy him.

Dominor is angry at being bought, and Serina just wants to do this bit of magic and send him home. However all is not as it seems, Dom realizes that Serina needs him, not just for the ritual, but to take care of her. It is a new feeling for him, something he particularly likes. He realizes as time goes on that she is his destined mate, and that he will stop at nothing to have her.

When Dominor learns that his twin has been wounded badly, he wants nothing more then to return home and help find a healer for him. Luckily for both brothers, there is a healer at the Nunnery who might be able to help, but it will take her some time to get ready.

I really liked this book, a lot. I liked how Dom and Serina both butted heads, her stubborn because she just wanted to get the ritual over and done with and because she was afraid that he would think she was entrapping him. Him stubborn because he thought she didn't care, and he was going to make her care one way or the other.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

The Wolf (The Sons of Destiny Book 2)
Author: Jean Johnson
Paperback: 304 pages
Publisher: Berkley (April 1, 2008)

From the back of the book:
Eight brothers, born in four sets of twins, two years apart to the day - they fulfill the curse of Eight Prophecy. To avoid tempting Destiny, the brothers are exiled to Nightfall Isle, where women are forbidden. When a childhood friend seeks refuge among the brothers, it triggers a confrontation with their mysterious enemy.

Alys arrives desprate and afraid, but welcomed by Wolfer, the second-born brother. They have each harbored deep feelings for the other, but Alys harbors a secret as well. It is her very own uncle who torments the exiled brothers, plaguing them with creatures, and who seeks to kill them to secure their ancestral inheritance for himself.

But confessing her uncle's plan to the brothers will put them at even greater risk, for their resistance against the evil mage has stirred his wrath. This time Alys fears her uncle is determined to exterminate the brothers once and for al l- destroying the star-crosed lovers as well...

Personal Review:
The second book in the Sons of Destiny series, did not disappoint. It was a super quick read and neatly tied up some of the questions from the first book, along with raising new ones that will be answered in the following books.

Alys having been forced a life of servitude to her uncle and now being forced into an arranged marriage runs away. She runs to the Isle, not only for her freedom but to her long time crush, Wolfer. After having to use her powers to escape her uncles wrath, she instead faces Wolfers. His feelings for her are the same, but he's unsure of if she should be on the Isle or not. Plus, he can tell she's hiding something, but is unsure what.

Kelly, Saber's wife, imediately takes to Alys, and offers her a protective wing. However, Wolfer isn't happy with that either, but it forces him instead to offer Alys the same protection. A little while later he realizes, that Alys feels for him the same way he feels for her. There is a lot of sexual energy between the two of them, and pretty soon Wolfer realizes that she is his intended.

Alys however, is still keeping her secret. Sure that if she were to ever tell the brothers would reject her, even worse that Wolfer would reject her. When her uncle unexpectadly shows up on the Isle, Alys knows that it's now or never. After her uncle is shown off the isle she spills her guts. Wolfer's reaction was predictable, but some advice from a very unlikely brother has Alys going after him to plead her case.

Wolfer listens, and the more he hears the more he wants to rip her uncles throat out. He forgives Alys for not being up front, and instead is more focused on getting even with her uncle. However, her uncle has a diffrent plan. He breaches the Isle's defenses and is there ready to take the place by storm. All of the brothers show up for the fight, and of course come out the winners. Not before one of them is seriously wounded though.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Chosen
Author: P.C. Cast & Kristin Cast
Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin (March 4, 2008)

From the back of the book:
Bloodlust and Dark Forces are at work at the House of Night, and fledging vampyer Zoey Redbird's adventures at the school take a mysterious turn. Those who appear to be friends are turning out to be enemies. And, oddly enough, sworn enemies are also turning into friends. So begins the gripping third installment of this "highly addictive series" (Romantic Times BOOKreviews), in which Zoey's mettle will be tested like never before. Her best friend, Stevie Rae, is undead and struggling to maintain a grip on her humanity. Zoey doesn't have a clue how to help her, but she does know that anything she and Stevie Rae discover must be kept secret from everyone else at the House of Night, where trust has become a rare commodity. Speaking of rare, Zoey finds herself in the very rare position of having three boyfriends, a situation with the potential to spell social disaster. Then vampyres start turning up dead. Really dead. But as Zoey and her friends find out, things are not always what they seem...

Personal Review:
Book 3 in the House of Night series, and usually by now most series seem to be lagging behind. Not so with Chosen. This book is my favorite so far of the series. Zoey really seemed to come into her own here. She felt some real emotion, and was no longer a whining teenager, instead she transformed herself into a young woman.

Zoey had a lot to deal with. Her bloodlust for Heath, her relationship with Erik and her new found attraction to one of the professors. Plus her best friend was a gross undead thing, it was a lot for Zoey to deal with. She didn't tell her friends what was going on, because she knew that by telling them it would put them in danger as well.

When vampyres start showing up dead, Zoey knows that the people from her Step-Father's religion are involved, so she turns to the only person she could trust, her sworn enemy Aphrodite. The two of them have to squash old issues with one another and attempt to work things out, otherwise it could be the end for a whole lot of people.

Rating: 5 out of 5

Betrayed
Author: P.C Cast & Kristin Cast
Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin (October 2, 2007)

From the back of the book:
Fledgling vampyre Zoey Redbird has managed to settle in at the House of Night. She’s come to terms with the vast powers the vampyre goddess, Nyx, has given her, and is getting a handle on being the new Leader of the Dark Daughters. Best of all, Zoey finally feels like she belongs--like she really fits in. She actually has a boyfriend…or two. Then the unthinkable happens: Human teenagers are being killed, and all the evidence points to the House of Night. While danger stalks the humans from Zoey’s old life, she begins to realize that the very powers that make her so unique might also threaten those she loves. Then, when she needs her new friends the most, death strikes the House of Night, and Zoey must find the courage to face a betrayal that could break her heart, her soul, and jeopardize the very fabric of her world.

Personal Review:
After reading the first book in this series, Marked (review up: HERE) I knew that I would have to pick up the next installment. And boy, oh boy am I glad I did. This book had it all, suspense and mystery, with a touch of romance and realism. I like Zoey's character much more in this book, because she seemed so normal.

Zoey had finally gotten used to everything at the House of Night. Her circle of friends was strong, and her reign as the leader of the Dark Daughters, while making her nervous, was going well. Her love life was confusing. But then again what teenage girl's isn't? She had both the yummy Erik Night and her ex-almost boyfriend Heath fighting over her. Even though sometimes she's not sure if it's really Heath, or his blood that she is attracted too.

Then everything seems to be going wrong. Some human boys that she knew from school wind up missing, and then later are found as dead. Zoey believes that nobody from House of Night would do that, but all the signs are pointing towards them. Zoey's best friend, Stevie Rae, is getting sick. And when Heath ends up missing as well, Zoey knows that it's time to step in and get to the bottom of this mystery.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5