Challenge Review: With All My Soul by Rachel Vincent

Title: With All My Soul
Series: Soul Screamers #7

Author: Rachel Vincent

Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Supernatural Fiction

Elements: Bean sidhes, Reapers, Demons, Psychic Abilities, Necromancers

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Format: Paperback, 377 Pages

ISBN: 9780373210664

Release Date: March 26, 2013

Source: Borrowed from Wentworth Library
Rating: 5/5

Purchase Here: Kindle // Paperback

Tagline(s): What does it mean when your school is voted the most dangerous in America? It's time to kick some hellion butt...

Summary: After not really surviving her junior year (does "undead" count as survival?), Kaylee Cavanaugh has vowed to take back her school from the hellions causing all the trouble. She's going to find a way to turn the incarnations of Avarice, Envy and Vanity against one another in order to protect her friends and finish this war, once and forever.

But then she meets Wrath and understands that she's closer to the edge than she's ever been. And when one more person close to her is taken, Kaylee realizes she can't save everyone she loves without risking everything she has....

Review: 

I'm so incredibly sad that the series is over! This final book in the Soul Screamers series pack quite a punch, emotionally and mentally. Kaylee is truly amazing in With All My Soul. Her sacrifice was so selfless, it just stunned me. The love between Tod and Kaylee left me emotionally wrecked. It was so beautiful in its pureness and depth. And as we learn in With All My Soul, their connection is a lot deeper than it ever was. Their love for each other is what saves them both in the end. There were a few very powerful moments for the other characters too. Nash realizes just how much Tod loves him and what he gave up so that Nash could live. And Sabine shows that she really does care about everyone in their group, more than they ever thought. 

Now this is probably wishful thinking, but I think it would be incredibly awesome if there were a spinoff series written that explored more of the afterlife, maybe from Tod's POV or another reaper or something. Because there is one loose end that wasn't tied in With All My Soul. As far as I know, Thane is still out there.

About this Author:

A resident of San Antonio, Rachel Vincent has a BA in English and an overactive imagination, and consistently finds the latter to be more practical. She shares her workspace with two black cats (Kaci and Nyx) and her # 1 fan. Rachel is older than she looks-seriously-and younger than she feels, but remains convinced that for every day she spends writing, one more day will be added to her lifespan.

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Tour Review: The Beast Within by Jonathan Yanez

Title: The Beast Within
Series: The Elite #1

Author: Jonathan Yanez

Genre: New Adult Fiction, Supernatural Fiction

Elements: Shapeshifters

Publisher: Limitless Publishing

Format: Kindle Edition

ASIN: B00BZHNV76

Release Date: March 22, 2013

Source: Tour Host {Reading Addiction Book Tours}
Rating: 5/5

Purchase Here: Kindle

Tagline(s): ~NONE~

Summary: Once eighteen-year-old Connor Moore stumbles across an almost human species, he is faced with history's darkest secret, a daunting future, and a love life he can't even begin to explain.

Concealed throughout the pages of time, there has been a powerful race of human-like creatures manipulating mankind. This Elite race is made up of five ruling families, who have obeyed The Law and remained content to keep their identities a mystery. Now after centuries of secrecy, an ancient foe is forcing them out of hiding.

When a dark-haired mystery woman named Laren crosses Connor's path his life is turned upside down. Soon Connor is taken on a heart-pounding journey that leads to a startling discovery of who he really is and a daunting future of what he is to become.

Short Review:

I absolutely love this book. I really liked the male POV. Most books are from the female POV, so reading from the opposite side is nice every once in a while. I thought that the premise of the book was interesting, and I was left wanting more by the end.

About this Author:

Jonathan Yanez was born and raised in a Christian household in Oxnard, CA. He was involved in everything from piano and saxophone lessons to swimming and track. Growing up his parents encouraged him to read, and he did - anything he could get his hands on. Soon he developed a fascination with storytelling and characters that would follow him the rest of his life.

Graduating from BIOLA University with his BA in English Literature he never lost his love for writing and creating. He now works part-time as a personal trainer and hopes to one day make the move to writing full-time.

Other than reading and writing, his passion is living life to the fullest. He loves; spending time with his wife and pets, watching movies, participating in mud runs, traveling, going to the gym and pushing his limits in everything. This desire takes him anywhere from skydiving and motorcycle riding, to surfing in Hawaii and various types of martial arts. He has his eyes set next on archery and running with the bulls in Spain.

He is married to the love of his life and resides in Southern California with his husky, Daphne and cat, Helen.

Author Links:

@JonathanAYanez

http://www.facebook.com/JonathanYanezAuthor 

thebeastwithinbook.blogspot.com 

http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/13858613-jonathan-yanez 

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Tour Review: Angel Bait by Tricia Skinner (Giveaway)

Title: Angel Bait
Series: Angel Assassins #1

Author: Tricia Skinner
Genre: Urban Fantasy Fiction, Supernatural Fiction
Elements: Angels, Fallen Angels, Nephilim, Elves, Deities, Vampires, Shapeshifters, Werewolves, Fae
Setting Location: Detroit, Michigan

Publisher: Crimson Romance
Format: PDF, 143 Pages
ISBN: 9781440565151
Release Date: February 18, 2013
Source: Tour Host {Bewitching Book Tours}
Rating: 5/5

Purchase Here: Kindle

Tagline(s): ~NONE~ 

Summary: Saved by the angel sent to kill them, four half-angel boys are trained and employed as Heaven’s assassins. Jarrid and his nephilim brothers are raised as members of The Eternal Order, and must enforce Heaven’s laws by hunting down those who defy the Directorate.

His only shot at freedom is Ascension, but his employers won’t permit the ancient ritual. Then Jarrid learns a Renegade angel is in Detroit. Such a high-level take­down is the answer to his prayers—all the leverage he needs to Ascend.

For freedom, Jarrid is willing to do anything to lure his elusive enemy out of hiding.

Even use an innocent woman as bait.

News reporter Ionie Gifford has no clue an angel outlaw wants her dead. She agrees to help Jarrid, the enigmatic nephilim with penetrating silver eyes and a worship-worthy body, but only because he accepts her terms. He’s her all-access pass into the city’s supernatural underworld where she hopes to locate her mother’s killer.

Blind­sided by Ionie's beauty and tenacity, Jarrid soon finds the eternity-old glacier around his heart thawing. With duty and desire at war within him, he’s forced to make a choice—either save Ionie from the trap he snared and stay chained to Heaven, or allow her to become collateral damage.

Review:

REVIEW WILL BE POSTED AFTER 12PM.

About this Author:

After spending several years as a newspaper reporter and corporate communications director, Tricia Skinner cast off traditional journalism for the freedom of novel writing. ANGEL BAIT is her urban fantasy romance debut. Her reading tastes are all over the place, but she’s mainly drawn to fantasy (and its sub genres), paranormal, sci-fi, and history.

In those rare moments when she’s not writing, Tricia is a newbie “green” practitioner, a fitness procrastinator, and a technology geek. She is a mother and a wife. Her family includes two Great Danes.

Tricia stays active in various writing communities. She’s the Web Editor for Pony Express(ions), the online literary journal of the Masters of Liberal Studies Program at Southern Methodist University; a volunteer with SMU’s The Writers Path; the Newsletter Editor and a Mud Puddle Critique Group moderator for the Fantasy, Futuristic, and Paranormal Chapter of Romance Writers of America. . In December 2012 she received a master’s degree with a Creative Writing focus from SMU.

She welcomes correspondence from readers.

Visit her online at www.TriciaSkinner.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AuthorTriciaSkinner
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/triciaskinner
Twitter: @KaziWren

GIVEAWAY:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Tour Review: Desert Flower by Angela Scott

Title: Desert Flower
Series: Book #2 (Series Name Unknown)

Author: Angela Scott
Genre: New Adult Fiction, Contemporary Fiction
Setting Location: Arizona

Publisher: Evolved Publishing
Format: PDF, 177 Pages
ISBN: 9781622538607
Release Date: January 24, 2013
Source: Tour Host {Reading Addiction Book Tours}
Rating: 5/5

Purchase Here: Kindle // Paperback

Tagline(s): ~NONE~ 

Summary: Bodies have a canny way of finding Samantha Jean Haggert. The first, the dead body of her mama. The second, a naked man in the middle of the Arizona desert. For Sam, dealing with one dead body in her lifetime is more than unfair. Two, is downright cruel.

Seven years after running from West Virginia, Sam's now a young woman of nineteen, trying to put the pieces of her life together with the help of her family—Jacob, Boone, and Laura. But the naked man in the desert spirals her world out of control, resurfacing past hurts, revealing old secrets, and pitting her between two men who via for her heart. Carson, her friend, her first kiss, and the one man who knows everything about her past and loves her despite it. And Turner, the stranger who knows nothing, but who excites and frustrates her all at once.

When bad choices made as a child leads to more bad choices as a young adult, Sam finds herself at a crossroads and is forced to face her demons head on if she plans to have any future at all—with Carson, with Turner, or with anyone. But fixing the wrongs of the past takes time, and learning to forgive herself is damn near impossible.

Short Review:

This is one powerful book! It's real. It's honest. It's heartbreaking. It has everything. There were even part of Desert Flower that were difficult for me to read. I had to stop at moments to collect myself before continuing. This is a book that I highly recommend!

About this Author:

I hear voices. Tiny fictional people sit on my shoulders and whisper their stories in my ear. Instead of medicating myself, I decided to pick up a pen, write down everything those voices tell me, and turn it into a book. I’m not crazy. I’m an author. For the most part, I write contemporary Young Adult novels. However, through a writing exercise that spiraled out of control, I found myself writing about zombies terrorizing the Wild Wild West—and loving it. My zombies don’t sparkle, and they definitely don’t cuddle. At least, I wouldn’t suggest it.

I live on the benches of the beautiful Wasatch Mountains with two lovely children, one teenager, and a very patient husband. I graduated from Utah State University with a B.A. degree in English, not because of my love for the written word, but because it was the only major that didn’t require math. I can’t spell, and grammar is my arch nemesis. But they gave me the degree, and there are no take backs.

As a child, I never sucked on a pacifier; I chewed on a pencil. I’ve been writing that long. It has only been the past few years that I’ve pursued it professionally, forged relationships with other like-minded individuals, and determined to make a career out of it.

You can subscribe and follow me on my website, where I blog obsessively about my writing process and post updates on my current works. I’m also on Twitter and Facebook, but be forewarned, I tweet and post more than a normal person.

Author Links:

Website: www.angelascottauthor.com
Twitter: @whimsywriting
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AngelaScottWriter

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Challenge Review: Spell Bound by Kelley Armstrong

Title: Spell Bound

Series: Women of the Otherworld #12
Author: Kelley Armstrong
Genre: Urban Fantasy Fiction, Supernatural Fiction
Elements: Witches, Demons, Necromancers, Sorcerers, Ghosts, Shamans, Zombies, Vampires
Setting Location: Columbus, Washington // Los Angeles, California // Miami, Florida
Publisher: Dutton Books, Penguin Group
Format: Hardcover, 325 Pages
ISBN: 9780525952206
Release Date: July 26, 2011
Source: Borrowed from Wentworth Library
Rating: 5/5

Purchase Here: Kindle // Hardcover

Tagline(s): ~NONE~ 

Summary: Savannah Levine has grown up to become a paranormal-investigating knockout. As a witch endowed with an array of spells, she is a force to be reckoned with. But, in her last case, innocent lives were lost and a family was torn apart. To put right the mess she helped create, she swears she would give anything...even her powers. Little does she know that someone or something has taken her up on that.

Defenseless and on the run from the witch-hunting assassins who are following her every move, Savannah soon stumbles upon a gathering storm that may tear her entire world apart. The danger is real. The whole Otherworld will have to come together to fight the dark force that threatens its very existence.

Savannah has no idea how to restore her powers just when she needs them the most, facing a host of deadly enemies bent on destroying not only her, but the very fabric of the supernatural world. As dark forces gather, Savannah isn't just fighting for her life, but for everything and everyone she loves....

Review:

In Waking the Witch, Savannah lost her powers due to a poison that inhibits spell power, but she got them back after taking an antidote. In her grief and guilt over what happened to Paula and Kayla, she made a wish that she would gladly give up her powers if everything was put right again. Well, someone or something heard her, granted that wish, and Savannah is left without her powers once again. And it couldn't be a worse time to be powerless. Being hunted by a witch-hunter and trying to stop a supernatural rebellion are not easy when you can barely defend yourself. But Savannah needs to learn how...and fast.

Without her powers, Savannah feels useless and out of her element. This keeps her from doing what she actually can do, like when Clay came to help her and ended up having to fight a demon. She just stood there and watched! This upset Clay and Savannah knew she lost any respect he may have had for her. Clay gives her this advice: Grow up. She needs to grow up and be respectful and considerate to those she claims to care about. Because behavior that was okay at 16 is not okay at 21.

This is especially important where Adam is concerned. Everyone knows that Savannah has been in love with Adam since she was twelve years old, except Adam himself. Her lack of respect and consideration for Adam, according to Clay, is going to keep him from ever seeing her as anything more than a friend. I have to agree. The way she treated Adam in L.A. was horrible and it's understandable that he would want some space and take a step back. I'm glad that they were able to work out their differences, and I absolutely loved their little moment at the end of the book.

Savannah's power loss has drawn the attention of both the celestial and demonic. The Fates have Eve investigating who took Savannah's powers. Adam's father, Asmondai, and Savannah's grandfather, Balaam, are on opposing sides on the reveal issue of Savannah's missing powers. What she does learn is that powerful forces are behind what's happening and Savannah is a target. A powerful ally, a tool to be used. And immortality is only a part of a much bigger plan.

"If you want to find your spells, dig deeper. Too much power has made you lazy. Complacent. Dig deeper. Work harder. Fight smarter. A war is coming. Wars need champions."

There are many who believe that the events of the past 10 years are sign and portents of the Phalegian Prophecy coming true. Kate and Logan, Hope and her unborn baby, Jaz and Larsen (Adele's son), Savannah and another witch-sorcerer just coming into her powers (who I believe is Tori from the Darkest Powers) are the signs of something big coming. And the Supernatural Liberation Movement is trying to gather them all together.

Savannah has a lot of growing up to do in a very short amount of time. Will she be able to find her powers in time? With the build up over the past two books, Waking the Witch and Spell Bound, I sure hope she does, because what's coming isn't going to wait for her to be ready. The "end" is coming and it's bound to be explosive. I can't wait to read Thirteen, the conclusion of the Women of the Otherworld series, and see how it all ends.

About this Author:

Kelley Armstrong has been telling stories since before she could write. Her earliest written efforts were disastrous. If asked for a story about girls and dolls, hers would invariably feature undead girls and evil dolls, much to her teachers' dismay. All efforts to make her produce "normal" stories failed.

Today, she continues to spin tales of ghosts and demons and werewolves, while safely locked away in her basement writing dungeon. She's the author of the NYT-bestselling "Women of the Otherworld" paranormal suspense series and "Darkest Powers" young adult urban fantasy trilogy, as well as the Nadia Stafford crime series. Armstrong lives in southwestern Ontario with her husband, kids and far too many pets.

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Challenge Review: Waking the Witch by Kelley Armstrong

Title: Waking the Witch

Series: Women of the Otherworld #11

Author: Kelley Armstrong

Genre: Urban Fantasy Fiction, Supernatural Fiction

Elements: Demons, Witches, Angels, Ghosts, Necromancers

Publisher: Dutton Books, Penguin Group

Format: Hardcover, 309 Pages

ISBN: 9780525951780

Release Date: August 2010

Source: Borrowed from Wentworth Library
Rating: 5/5

Purchase Here: Kindle

Tagline(s): ~NONE~

Summary: At twenty-one, Savannah Levine-orphaned daughter of a notorious dark witch and an equally notorious cutthroat sorcerer-considers herself a full-fledged member of the otherworld. The once rebellious teen has grown into a six-foot-tall, motorcycle-riding jaw-dropper, with a full arsenal of spells that she's not afraid to use when she gets caught in a bind. There's only one small problem--her adoptive parents, Paige and Lucas, don't always trust her. Of course, she's given them plenty of reasons...but those are in the past. People can change, right?

When Paige and Lucas take off on a romantic vacation alone, leaving her in charge of their detective agency, Savannah is presented with a case that she can't turn down, and one she can finally call her own. Recruited by another supernatural detective, she travels to Columbus, Washington--a small, almost shell of a town. Two troubled young women have been found in an abandoned warehouse, murdered. Now a third woman is dead, and darker forces seem to be at play.

Savannah feels certain she can handle the case, but with supernatural activity appearing at every turn, things quickly become more serious--and far more dangerous--than she realizes. Caught up in a web of lust, false identities, and lies, Savannah must summon strength from her depths and fight like she's never fought before.

Review:

Our favorite pre-teen sorcerer-witch is now a powerful 21-year-old knockout. Savannah Levine has grown into a gorgeous, kick butt member of the Otherworld, and it's finally her turn to take center stage. In Waking the Witch, Savannah is brought a case that she can't turn down. Determined to prove that she can handle a case solo, she travels to Columbus, Washington where three young women have been found murdered. But what should have been a simple case soon becomes deadly when an old enemy returns. Savannah will need to find the strength to overcome a potentially deadly poison inhibiting her spell power if she wants to make it out alive.

Before Waking the Witch, we only got to see small moments of Savannah growing up in the 10 years since she became Paige's ward. We knew her as a young girl who did what she wanted whenever she wanted, no matter how much trouble she caused. Now Savannah has grown into a clever and cunning investigator. She's still sassy and sarcastic, but it's more tempered now. As we find while reading Waking the Witch, the deaths of her parents, Eve and Kristoff, have left their mark.

When Savannah meets Kayla Thompson, the daughter of one of the murdered women, she feels an instant connection with the young girl. Savannah can understand what Kayla is going through and how important it is for her to have her grandmother, Paula, in her life, just as Savannah has Paige and Lucas. As the case progresses and Savannah gets to know Kayla better, she begins to feels obligated and responsible for her, so when something happens to tear Kayla's family apart, Savannah feels at fault. And Savannah will do anything, give up anything, to fix what happened.

As Savannah is investigating, she meets Michael Kennedy, a Dallas detective who came to Columbus to investigate his sister, Claire's, death. Though Savannah has, and probably always will, feelings for Adam Vasic, she takes a chance on Michael. I feel that Michael will have a lasting effect on Savannah. Their short and tragic beginning is really heartbreaking, and he is someone Savannah will likely never forget.

Savannah's magic seems to be failing just when she needs it the most. With Adam's help, she learns that a witch-hunter may be after her. The Benandanti started as demon-hunters, hunting down anything evil, but were wiped out by a group of priestesses claiming they were the very evil they hunted. These priestesses then took the Benandanti's place and switched their focus to hunting witches. No one believes these witch-hunters to still exist, but there is one in Columbus, and she's after Savannah. This is a storyline that continues in Spell Bound. And it's not as simple as this young woman being a witch-hunter. It's much, much more dangerous. This is definitely something to look out for in the next book.

The small town of Columbus, Washington started out with three deaths upon Savannah's arrival. Upon her departure, Columbus is left with five additional deaths, bringing the total to eight people dead. This town has seen a lot of tragedy that could have been avoided had Savannah never gone there, because with her arrival she lead an old enemy with a dangerous and obsessive connection to her into the lives of the people of Columbus. People who would have otherwise lived, ended up dead at the hand of this enemy. But the blame can't be put totally, if at all, on Savannah's shoulders, because the appearance of this person was only the beginning of an even more dangerous plan.

The ending of Waking the Witch will continue right off in the beginning of Spell Bound. If you thought Savannah had it tough in Waking the Witch, her trials don't even compare to what she'll face in Spell Bound. This is the beginning of the exciting conclusion to the Women of the Otherworld series.

About this Author:

Kelley Armstrong has been telling stories since before she could write. Her earliest written efforts were disastrous. If asked for a story about girls and dolls, hers would invariably feature undead girls and evil dolls, much to her teachers' dismay. All efforts to make her produce "normal" stories failed.

Today, she continues to spin tales of ghosts and demons and werewolves, while safely locked away in her basement writing dungeon. She's the author of the NYT-bestselling "Women of the Otherworld" paranormal suspense series and "Darkest Powers" young adult urban fantasy trilogy, as well as the Nadia Stafford crime series. Armstrong lives in southwestern Ontario with her husband, kids and far too many pets.

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Challenge Review: The Darkest Lie by Gena Showalter

Title: The Darkest Lie
Series: Lords of the Underworld #6
Author(s): Gena Showalter
Genre: Paranormal Romance, Supernatural Fiction

Elements: Demons, Immortals, Angels, Deities

Setting Location(s): Budapest, Hungary ; Hell ; Titania ; Chicago, Illinois ; Greece
Publisher: HQN Books, Harlequin Books

Format:  Mass Market Paperback, 444 Pages
ISBN: 978037377416
Release Date: June 29, 2010
Source: Borrowed from Wentworth Library
Rating: 5/5

Purchase Here: Kindle // Mass Market Paperback

Tagline(s): ~NONE~

Summary: Forced to his knees in agony whenever he speaks the truth, Gideon can recognize any lie—until he captures Scarlet, a demon-possessed immortal who claims to be his long-lost wife. He doesn’t remember the beautiful female, much less wedding — or bedding — her. But he wants to . . . almost as much as he wants her.

But Scarlet is keeper of Nightmares, too dangerous to roam free, and a future with her could mean ultimate ruin. Especially as Gideon’s enemies draw closer . . . and the truth threatens to destroy all he’s come to love . . .

Review:

As Keeper of Lies, Gideon can recognize when he's being lied to, but when he meets Scarlet, the Keeper of Nightmares, and she tells him that she's his wife, Gideon can't tell if she speaks true or false. I won't say much on the truth of the matter, but I will pose these questions: What if someone caused you to believe something so completely that there is no room for doubt? What would you do if it all turned out to be false? Where Scarlet remembers a whole life with Gideon before their possession, Gideon only remembers snippets, and none of it is what Scarlet remembers. So who's memory is correct? Even with this possible falsehood between them, Gideon and Scarlet still manage to love each other. It's a painful road they take to get to that point, but it's also beautiful. We also find out an interesting tidbit about their demons, Lies and Nightmares.

While Gideon and Scarlet's story is the main one in The Darkest Lie, there are three smaller plotlines that set up the stories for future books. One is about Amun and how he was overrun by demons while helping Aeron free Legion from Hell. The next is about Sienna and how she feels used and betrayed by Paris, but her rage at Cronus for making her the new Keeper of Wrath has her trying to escape and find Paris for help. And the final one is about Strider and how he finds Haidee, who is actually Hadiee, the woman responsible for Baden's death, and captures her to bring back to the fortress. Like I said earlier, these three plotlines will set up the next three books in the Lords of the Underworld series, so they're kinda important to pay attention to.

Some observations I noticed in The Darkest Lie are that Cronus, as his age regresses, seems more friendly than when he was first released from Tartarus. This really shows that age does make your more cranky, LOL! And another that should be watched for is that William may or may not be Lucifer's brother. He also may or may not have a connection to the Four Horsemen. Nothing about William is made clear, but we are given small nuggets to keep us guessing.

The Darkest Lie is about uncovering what is true and false. It's about finding what's worth risking everything for. It's about knowing when it's time to let go and when it's time to keep holding on. And it's about realizing that though your mind may not know the truth, your heart will always lead you true. Truth and lies were the foundation for Gideon and Scarlet's relationship, but their hearts never lead them astray. While the lies caused them untold pain and sorrow, the truth gave them unknown joy and happiness.

I can't wait to read Amun's story in The Darkest Secret. How will he rid himself of the demons overrunning his body? How can one female, hated by the Lords for centuries, save Amun in his darkest hour?

About this Author:

Gena Showalter sold her first book at the age of 27 and now, four years later, is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of thirteen books, with eleven more on the way in a thrilling blend of genres: breathtaking paranormal and contemporary romances, cutting edge young adult novels, and stunning urban fantasy.

Her novels have appeared in Cosmopolitan Magazine, MTV, Seventeen Magazine, and have been translated in French, Italian and Korean. The critics have called her books "sizzling page-turners" and "utterly spellbinding stories", while Showalter herself has been called “a star on the rise”. 

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Challenge Review: The Calling by Kelley Armstrong

Title: The Calling
Series: Darkness Rising #2
Author: Kelley Armstrong

Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Supernatural Fiction

Elements: Shapeshifters, Psychic Abilities, Demons
Setting Location: Salmon Creek, Vancouver Island, Canada (fictional)

Publisher: Harper Teen, Harper Collins
Format: Hardcover, 326 Pages
ISBN: 9780061797057
Release Date: April 10, 2012
Source: Borrowed from Wentworth Library
Rating: 5/5

Purchase Here: Kindle // Paperback // Audiobook

Tagline(s): ~NONE~ 

Summary: Maya Delaney's paw-print birthmark is the mark of what she truly is -a skin-walker. She can run faster, climb higher, and see better than nearly everyone else. Experiencing intense connections with the animals that roam the woods outside her home, Maya knows it's only a matter of time before she's able to Shift and become one of them. And she believes there may be others in her small town with surprising talents.

Now Maya and her friends have been forced to flee from their homes during a forest fire they suspect was deliberately set. Then they're kidnapped, and after a chilling helicopter crash, they find themselves in the Vancouver Island wilderness with nothing but their extraordinary abilities to help them get back home.

In THE CALLING, the sizzling second book in the Darkness Rising trilogy, New York Times bestselling author Kelley Armstrong pumps up the romance, danger, and suspense that left readers of THE GATHERING clamoring for more.

Review: 

Maya and her friends are being evacuated from a burning Salmon Creek when they notice something isn't quite right. Mayor Tillson is unresponsive and Maya finds signs that he's been drugged. The pilot is acting suspicious, and as the helicopter loses control, a friend is lost. Injured, but having escaped their kidnappers, they find themselves lost in the wilderness of Vancouver Island. As they make their way back to Salmon Creek, secrets and revelations are brought to light, some of which are better left in the dark. 

Project Phoenix is an experiment where the St. Clouds are trying to resurrect extinct supernatural types. Mina Lee had given Daniel a list of terms that included: benandanti, yee naaldlooshii, xana, and sileni. We know that the yee naaldlooshii were an extinct Native American skinwalker, and that that's what Maya, Rafe and Annie are. Sam reveals herself to be a benandanti and that she believes Daniel is one too. The benandanti were an extinct race of demon hunters who evolved into general evil hunters. Like the skinwalkers, the demon hunters hid their powers through intermarriage and the St. Clouds resurrected the genes to bring them back.

SPOILERS AFTER THIS POINT!!

Now, it isn't said in The Calling what the xana and sileni are, but I looked them up and found out what they are. The xana (ha-na) are female water nymphs or fairies. They are extraordinarily beautiful, usually small, slender, with long blonde or light brown hair. Their hypnotic voices can make one feel a sense of peace and love or feel suffocated and driven insane, depending on the purity of the soul. They can be kind, but are territorial. Serena, Hayley, and Nicole all fit this description. It would also fit with Sam's suspicion that Nicole was responsible for Serena's death. Nicole thought of Daniel as her territory and destroyed Serena for invading it.

Sileni were drunken followers of the Greek dog, Dionysus, who ruled over the grape harvest, wine, ritual madness and ecstasy (or possibly followers of his tutor, Silenus, the oldest, wisest, and most drunken of Dionysus's followers). Silenus was believed to possess special knowledge and the power of prophecy when drunk. I feel pretty bad for Corey in this case, because this fits him and the emergence of his powers. Corey is known for his drinking and it seems to help keep his headaches away. It is while he is drunk that his visions come.

There have been some developments in each of their powers, but it'll be interesting to see how much  more they could change in The Rising, especially when those who don't know what they are find out.

The man that held a gun on Maya and looked like her in The Gathering when they were escaping turns out to really be her father, like she suspected. But he's aligned himself with the Nast Cabal to search for her and her friends. He claims to have been searching for her and her brother ever since her mother ran off with them. Do I believe that? I'm not sure. Calvin Antone seems suspicious to me and like he's still hiding something.

Then they made it back to Salmon Creek, the town was completely deserted, their parents believing them to be dead. But the St. Clouds haven't given up on capturing them. Maya, Daniel, Corey, and Rafe split up. Rafe and Corey act as decoys so Maya and Daniel can get away and get help--they end up captured. As they are running, Daniel gets shot with a tranq and tells Maya to keep going. But Maya's not going to leave her friends behind and waits for her chance to rescue them. She Shifts into a cougar and...well...it's really awesome, she was amazing. But while Maya was able to free Daniel and Corey, they didn't make it in time to the helipad to get Rafe, Annie, Sam, and Kenjii.

Before all this happened, Rafe gave Maya a note, and it turned out to be memos on the Buffalo escape and the failed Genesis Project. Rafe left a contact his mother gave him and told Maya to find him and then come back for them. I believe this contact to be Simon and Derek's dad, Kit. The moment I've been looking forward to the most in this series is when the groups from the Darkness Rising and Darkest Powers series come together. I have a feeling it's going to be amazing.

About this Author:

Kelley Armstrong has been telling stories since before she could write. Her earliest written efforts were disastrous. If asked for a story about girls and dolls, hers would invariably feature undead girls and evil dolls, much to her teachers' dismay. All efforts to make her produce "normal" stories failed.

Today, she continues to spin tales of ghosts and demons and werewolves, while safely locked away in her basement writing dungeon. She's the author of the NYT-bestselling "Women of the Otherworld" paranormal suspense series and "Darkest Powers" young adult urban fantasy trilogy, as well as the Nadia Stafford crime series. Armstrong lives in southwestern Ontario with her husband, kids and far too many pets.

 

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Challenge Review: The Gathering by Kelley Armstrong

Title: The Gathering
Series: Darkness Rising #1
Author: Kelley Armstrong

Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Supernatural Fiction

Elements: Shapeshifters
Setting Location: Salmon Creek, Vancouver Island, Canada (fictional) // Nanaimo, Vancouver Island, Canada

Publisher: Harper Teen, Harper Collins
Format: Hardcover, 359 Pages
ISBN: 9780061797026
Release Date: April 12, 2011
Source: Borrowed from Wentworth Library
Rating: 5/5

Purchase Here: Kindle // Paperback // Audiobook

Tagline(s): ~NONE~ 

Summary: Sixteen year old Maya is just an ordinary teen in an ordinary town. Sure, she doesn't know much about her background--the only thing she really has to cling to is an odd paw-print birthmark on her hip--but she never really put much thought into who her parents were or how she ended up with her adopted parents in this tiny medical research community on Vancouver Island.

Until now.

Strange things have been happening in this claustrophobic town--from the mountain lions that have been approaching Maya to her best friend's hidden talent for "feeling" out people and situations to the sexy new bad boy who makes Maya feel...different. Combine that with a few unexplained deaths and a mystery involving Maya's biological parents and it's easy to suspect that this town might have more than its share of skeletons in its closet.

In The Gathering, New York Times bestselling author Kelley Armstrong brings all the supernatural thrills from her wildly successful Darkest Powers series to Darkness Rising, her scorching hot new trilogy.

Review:

Strange and unusual things happen in Salmon Creek, one of them being Maya Delany's best friend Serena drowning. How could a star swimmer have drowned in a lake she swan in her whole life? Maya has never gotten over her friend's death, and she's never forgotten how strangely it happened. She's still looking for answers.

Maya is a half-Native who was adopted by her parents when she was a baby. They moved to Salmon Creek when she was 5 years old. And she has a faded mark on her hip that looks like a paw print. There is a lot that she doesn't know about her birth parents, and therefore herself. And it's never bothered her until an old woman called her a witch.

Through varying sources, but most importantly from Rafe, a new student and resident in Salmon Creek, Maya learns that she's a Skinwalker. That definitely explains why she feels most energetic outside and how she can wield some control over animals, as well as being able to heal them. Turns out that when their mothers found out about the testing being done on them, they went into hiding. Maya's mother's family hid by intermarriage--that's why she's half-white. She even learns that she has a twin brother out there somewhere.

Now the baddies are, of course, the St. Cloud Corporation, better known to the supernatural world as the St. Cloud Cabal. Dr. Davidoff makes annual visits to Salmon Creek, and you can bet that nothing good happens anywhere that man goes. There's even a statue of Samuel Lyle in the town center! If that isn't a clue that these are the same people behind what happened in the Darkest Powers series, I don't know what is.

Mina Lee, a "reporter," was working with someone to get information on the town and the kids that live there, but mostly those who weren't born there--Rafe, Maya, and Sam. There's mention of the Nasts and Cortezes, rival Cabals. The screw up in Buffalo that happened in the Darkest Powers series is brought up, along with Project Genesis and even an Elizabeth Delaney. Someone Maya is related to?

Then the woods surrounding Salmon Creek catch on fire, sending everyone fleeing from the town. But Maya notices that the fire is headed straight for Salmon Creek in an unnatural way, and there are armed men searching the blazing forest. But the most shocking thing is that one of the men who tried to get Maya to follow him looks just like her! Could he really be Maya's father?

I loved the Darkest Powers series, and this first book in the Darkness Rising series was just as exciting. There is so much left unsaid that it leaves you wanting to know what's going to happen next. I can't wait to read The Calling to see how things turn out for Maya and her friends.

About this Author:

Kelley Armstrong has been telling stories since before she could write. Her earliest written efforts were disastrous. If asked for a story about girls and dolls, hers would invariably feature undead girls and evil dolls, much to her teachers' dismay. All efforts to make her produce "normal" stories failed.

Today, she continues to spin tales of ghosts and demons and werewolves, while safely locked away in her basement writing dungeon. She's the author of the NYT-bestselling "Women of the Otherworld" paranormal suspense series and "Darkest Powers" young adult urban fantasy trilogy, as well as the Nadia Stafford crime series. Armstrong lives in southwestern Ontario with her husband, kids and far too many pets.

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Review: Poison Princess by Kresley Cole

Title: Poison Princess
Series: The Arcana Chronicles #1

Author(s): Kresley Cole
Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Dystopian Fiction, Supernatural Fiction

Elements: Zombies, Psychic Abilities, Magicians

Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Format: Hardcover, 369 Pages
ISBN: 9781442436640
Release Date: October 2, 2012
Source: Book Depository
Rating: 5/5

Purchase Here: Kindle // Hardcover // Free Preview

Tagline(s): She could save to world--or destroy it. But she can't do either alone. Who can Evie trust?

Summary: Sixteen year old Evangeline “Evie” Greene leads a charmed life, until she begins experiencing horrifying hallucinations. When an apocalyptic event decimates her Louisiana hometown, Evie realizes her hallucinations were actually visions of the future—and they’re still happening. Fighting for her life and desperate for answers, she must turn to her wrong-side-of-the-bayou classmate: Jack Deveaux.

With his mile-long rap sheet, wicked grin, and bad attitude, Jack is like no boy Evie has ever known. Even though he once scorned her and everything she represented, he agrees to protect Evie on her quest. She knows she can’t totally depend on Jack. If he ever cast that wicked grin her way, could she possibly resist him?

As Jack and Evie race to find the source of her visions, they meet others who have gotten the same call. An ancient prophesy is being played out, and Evie is not the only one with special powers. A group of twenty-two teens has been chosen to reenact the ultimate battle between good and evil. But it’s not always clear who is on which side….

Review:

Poison Princess begins with Evie meeting Arthur, a young man with a hidden (from Evie, at least) agenda, and recounting her story from 6 days before the Flash to 246 days after the Flash. There are a couple of things that make this dystopian tale unique. One is that we get to see the events leading up to the apocalyptic event. We see Evie's life before the Flash and the horrific end-of-the-world visions she has. Then the actual event itself that changes the world irrevocably. The other is the use of the Major Arcana of the Tarot. This is something that's never been used before. Evie is a part of a group of teens that represent one of the 21 Major Arcana and have the powers of that character. Evie is the Empress Card. So while there are a few general dystopian elements in Poison Princess, there are many that make this novel utterly unique.

As the Empress Card, Evie has power over plants. She can control them, use her blood to grow them, and she has thorn claws that are poisonous. Though she had visions of the coming Flash, that was not her power, but another Arcana's who wanted her to be ready. Evie is the Card that doesn't attack outright, but beckons her enemies to her and waits for that perfect moment to strike. One thing to watch out for if the Empress's connection to the Red Witch. It's important to Evie's development as the Empress.

Death is an enigmatic Arcana. Not much is known about him. He's very old, 21 centuries to be exact. He's the most beautiful boy Evie's ever seen. (Death always turns out to be incredibly gorgeous, though, doesn't he?). Now this is where is gets a little unclear. The Empress is the Card that Death covets the most. How exactly does he covet her? The relationship between the Empress Card and the Death Card can be confusing at times.

The other Cards that join Evie on her quest are Selena, the Moon Card; Matthew, the Fool Card; and Finn, the Magician Card. Aside from these three Arcana, Evie has met only one other in person so far, the Hermit Card. I won't say who the Hermit is so that it's not spoiled for readers. Out of these four, Evie is closest to Matthew. She only just met him in person, but feels are very strong bond with him. Besides Evie, Matthew is my favorite Arcana so far in the series.

One thing I'm really curious about concerning the Arcana is what the rain does, how it's supposed to affect them. According to Matthew, the rain weakens Evie, or the "good" Cards, and strengthens the "bad" Cards, like Death. Clouds on the horizon are a bad omen for Evie and her group.

Outside of all things Arcana is the relationship between Evie and Jackson. Before and After the Flash, they are at each other's throats. But as they struggle to survive in the newly dangerous and ruthless world, they learn more about each other and slowly grow closer. But when you think that they are finally going to take that last step and be together, something or someone comes between them. Evie and Jackson have a very bittersweet relationship that seems doomed from the start in this first book in the Arcana Chronicles. It'll be interesting to see where things go after the events at that end of this book.

I absolutely loved Poison Princess and I believe that it's a must read for any fan of dystopian fiction looking for something different from the usual in this genre. Kresley Cole did an amazing job writing her first Young Adult series. The Arcana Chronicles is a series that I'm going to be keeping a close eye on.

About this Author:

Kresley Cole is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the electrifying Immortals After Dark paranormal series and the young adult Arcana Chronicles. She has also written five award-winning historical romances.

Since her first novel was released in 2003, Kresley has published nineteen books with Simon & Schuster and has seen her releases translated into more than eighteen foreign languages. She has traveled over much of the world and draws from those experiences to create her memorable characters and settings. Two of her favorite places to visit include the rain forests of Central America and the Queensland area of Australia.

Cole’s trademark action, sensuality, and humor are exemplified in her popular Immortals After Dark Series, which revolves around the Lore, a secret stratum of hundreds of immortal creatures--ranging from Vampires to Lykae, Furies to Shifters, and Fey to Valkyrie--that each have their strengths, weaknesses, and age old prejudices against the others. Though they secretly live among humans, they constantly war among themselves, which gives her a lot of material.

In 2007, Kresley won the prestigious Romance Writers of America RITA award for best paranormal for her novel A Hunger Like No Other, and in January 2009, she became a #1 New York Times and Publishers Weekly bestseller with her sixth IAD installment, Kiss of a Demon King. In 2010, Kiss of a Demon King earned Kresley her second RITA award. 2011 brought Cole her second #1 NYT bestseller with Dreams of a Dark Warrior.

She lives in Florida with her husband and far too many animals. She spends any free time traveling and enjoys all things related to boats and water. You can learn more about Kresley at www.kresleycole.com.

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Challenge Review: Halfway to the Grave by Jeaniene Frost

Title: Halfway to the Grave 
Series: Night Huntress #1

Author: Jeaniene Frost

Genre: Paranormal Romance, Supernatural Fiction

Elements: Vampires, Ghosts, Ghouls

Publisher: Avon Books, Harper Collins

Format: Mass Market Paperback, 358 Pages

ISBN: 9780061245084

Release Date: November 2007

Source: Borrowed from Wentworth Library
Rating: 5/5

Purchase Here: Kindle // Mass Market Paperback

Tagline(s): Sometimes you have to fight the undead with the half-dead... / Flirting with the grave...

Summary: Half-vampire Catherine Crawfield is going after the undead with a vengeance, hoping that one of these deadbeats is her father--the one responsible for ruining her mother's life. Then she's captured by Bones, a vampire bounty hunter, and is forced into an unholy partnership.

In exchange for finding her father, Cat agrees to train with the sexy night stalker until her battle reflexes are as sharp as his fangs. She's amazed she doesn't end up as his dinner--are there actually good vampires? Pretty soon Bones will have her convinced that being half-dead doesn't have to be all bad. But before she can enjoy her newfound status as kick-ass demon hunter, Cat and Bones are pursued by a group of killers. Now Cat will have to choose a side . . . and Bones is turning out to be as tempting as any man with a heartbeat.

Review: 

Cat has been told that all vampires are evil. After all, her mother was sexually assaulted by one, resulting in Cat's birth. Being a half-vampire gives her abilities perfect for seeking revenge against the creatures that once hurt her mother. So every night Cat goes out hunting...and on one such night she meets a vampire that changes everything she thought she knew about the undead she's been killing.

You would think right away that any relationship between Cat and Bones would be doomed from the start. Although she's half-vampire, Cat hates vampires with a passion. There isn't a vampire she's met that she hasn't tried staking before anything else, and that includes Bones. But being a Master vampire, Bones is a lot stronger than any of the others Cat has met before him. Cat's attempted staking of Bones is how their working and personal relationships began.

Though their working relationship starts before their personal one, I'll talk about their personal relationship first. We know that Cat hates vampires, so how could she possibly fall in love with one, right? Well, it definitely wasn't simple or easy. As Cat and Bones work together and she learns more about vampires, Cat comes to respect and admire Bones. That respect and admiration--slowly--becomes more. But there are namely three things driving a wedge between them--Bones being a vampire, Cat's own half-undead state, and her mother. While Cat comes to terms and accepts the first two, her mother is not so easily won over (in fact, she can't and won't be won over). Cat and Bones's relationship definitely has its bittersweet moments. "If you run from me, I'll chase you. And I'll find you."

Now back to their working relationship. When Cat tried to stake Bones, being the Master vampire that he is, he knocks her about the noggin and chains her up at him place. At first he doesn't believe her claims of being a half-vampire, but then she flashes her green eyes, a trait all vampires have, and after they tussle a bit, a partnership is struck. In exchange for helping Cat find her father, Bones wants her help with a bounty he's currently hunting. Being a half-vampire has given Cat a natural beauty that humans have to work hard for and the strength to take on the undead. Her human side gives her the beating heart and pulse to fool vampires into complacency. In other words, she's the perfect bait, while Bones is the extra muscle.

Which brings us to our villain. Bones has been tracking a vampire named Hennessey that he believes is behind hundreds of girls going missing--from Maine to Mexico, the Great Lakes area to now Ohio. He's running a kind of Meals on Wheels operation and he's got help in high places among the humans. Cat feels a personal need to take Hennessey down since she almost became one of those missing girls, and he took her mother hostage. "We're going to get him. We're going to stand over him on the ground, and every greedy bastard on his team, too, and then they'll know they were taken down by you...and your little Grim Reaper, who hasn't met a vampire she didn't try to kill first." Cat was amazingly awesome during their assault on Hennessey's hideout. Those vampires (and some humans) were just dropping like flies!

While the first battle against the "bad" vampires was a success, the war is just beginning.

Cat is approached by a special branch of the FBI called the Paranormal Behavior Division. Don William, the head of the division, claims that they've been looking for someone like Cat, and offers her a job. She knows that taking the job is the best way to protect both her mother and Bones. But accepting the job offer comes with sacrifices.

I loved everything about this book and I can't wait to read the next one!

Quotes:

"You're not a woman. You're the Grim Reaper with red hair!"

"I want you to know that despite everything, I'm so glad I met you. It was the luckiest day of my life. If I hadn't, I never would have known what it was like for someone to love me, all of me, even the parts I hated. I would have gone through life empty and guilt-ridden, but you showed me a whole new world, Bones. I'll never be able to thank you for all you've done for me, but I will love you every day until I die."

About this Author:

Jeaniene Frost is the New York Times, USA Today, and international bestselling author of the Night Huntress series, the Night Prince series and the Night Huntress World novels. To date, foreign rights for her novels have sold to nineteen different countries. Jeaniene lives in North Carolina with her husband Matthew, who long ago accepted that she rarely cooks and always sleeps in on the weekends. Aside from writing, Jeaniene enjoys reading, poetry, watching movies with her husband, exploring old cemeteries, spelunking and traveling – by car. Airplanes, children, and cook books frighten her.

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Challenge Review: The Darkest Passion by Gena Showalter

Title: The Darkest Passion
Series: Lords of the Underworld #5
Author(s): Gena Showalter
Genre: Paranormal Romance, Supernatural Fiction

Elements: Demons, Immortals, Angels, Deities, Fallen Angels, Harpies, Psychic Abilities
Publisher: HQN Books, Harlequin Books

Format:  Mass Market Paperback, 442 Pages
ISBN: 9780373774555
Release Date: May 21, 2010
Source: Borrowed from Wentworth Library
Rating: 5/5

Purchase Here: Kindle // Mass Market Paperback

Tagline(s): ~NONE~

Summary: For weeks, the immortal warrior Aeron has sensed an invisible female presence. An angel-demon-assassin has been sent to kill him. Or has she? Olivia claims she fell from the heavens, giving up immortality because she couldn't bear to harm him. But trusting - and falling for - Olivia will endanger them all. So how has this mortal with the huge blue eyes already unleashed Aeron's darkest passion?

With an enemy hot on his trail and his faithful demon companion determined to remove Olivia from his life, Aeron is trapped between duty and consuming desire. Worse still, a new executioner has been sent to do the job Olivia wouldn't...

Review:

Aeron, Keeper of Wrath, has been freed from his blood lust curse thanks to the sacrifice his friend Paris, Keeper of Promiscuity, made by giving up the one woman he can't forget. Aeron has taken it upon himself to care for Paris, who has fallen into a dangerous depression, as a way to repay his friend for saving him. But Aeron can't understand Paris's draw to a human, with their short lifespans and weaknesses. And he feels that he has no need for such things.

"One day, someone's going to fascinate you, draw and ensnare you, and you'll crave her with every cell in your body. I hope she drives you insane. I hope, for a little while at least, she denies you, leading you on a merry chase. Perhaps then you'll understand a glimmer of my pain."

These men are more honorable and unselfish than their counterparts, the Hunters. Would a Hunter give up his own happiness to save another Hunter, like Paris did for Aeron? From what I've seen of them so far in the series, I think not. The Lords are far from the evil the Hunters accuse them of being.

After Aeron pretty much dares Cronus to bring him a woman who will "torment and deny" him, he meets Olivia. Only thing is, Cronus didn't send her and it's Aeron who torments and denies her. Olivia is the angelic presence that Aeron had felt watching him. But unable to fulfill her orders to kill him, she fell from the heavens. "So here I am. Yours." She fought her way out of hell to be with Aeron. The Problem? Legion hates Olivia and wants to kill her. But because of the sacrifice Olivia made to save Aeron's life, he won't allow it. Thus begins the catfight to end them all. Legion won't let Olivia have Aeron without a fight.

This leads Legion to literally make a deal with the devil. Lucifer offers Legion a human body more beautiful than Olivia's, and she'll be able to keep it as long as she can seduce Aeron into sleeping with her. But such deals are never that easy. Let's just say that if Legion fails, Lucifer's revenge against the One True Deity will be way easier to achieve. And he wants his High Lords to make it possible.

We meet a new Lordess in The Darkest Passion. Her name is Scarlet, she's Rhea's daughter, and the Keeper of Nightmares. Scarlet seems familiar to Gideon, Keeper of Lies, but he can't remember from where. "Well, well, well. Lies. It really is you. We're together again at last." Scarlet apparently knows Gideon very well, she even claims to be his wife. TO PART IS TO DIE. This line will be very important in the future.

A few other tidbits we learn in this book are that The Unspoken Ones will give the Lords the Paring Rod for Cronus's head; Olivia reveals some details about Ashlyn and Maddox's babies (yes, I said babies);  and Cronus and Rhea are more like the Lords than they ever thought. Quite a lot happens in this book.

**SPOILERS** Finally, Danika finishes a new painting that fortells Aeron's death. According to Lysander, the only way to protect those he loves is for Aeron to die. Let me tell you, it broke my heart when Wrath said goodbye to Aeron, then my heart was shattered when the other Lords came out and saw what happened to Aeron. Their grief was palpable and I get teary just thinking about these strong warriors weeping for the death of their friend.

Something good did come of Aeron's death. There may be a way to free Baden, the former Keeper of Distrust and Aeron's best friend, from the afterlife realm Zeus created for the Lords. Aeron swears to Baden that he will find that way to release him.

The Darkest Passion, I feel, is the most emotional book in the series so far. My favorite book in the Lords of the Underworld series was Maddox's story, that is until I read Aeron's in The Darkest Passion. The next Lord to have his story told is Gideon in The Darkest Lie. Is Scarlet really his wife, or have they both been lead to believe in a lie?

About this Author:

Gena Showalter sold her first book at the age of 27 and now, four years later, is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of thirteen books, with eleven more on the way in a thrilling blend of genres: breathtaking paranormal and contemporary romances, cutting edge young adult novels, and stunning urban fantasy.

Her novels have appeared in Cosmopolitan Magazine, MTV, Seventeen Magazine, and have been translated in French, Italian and Korean. The critics have called her books "sizzling page-turners" and "utterly spellbinding stories", while Showalter herself has been called “a star on the rise”. 

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Manga Review: The Deathberry Returns 2 by Tite Kubo

Title: The Deathberry Returns 2
Series: BLEACH #53 
Manga-ka: Tite Kubo
Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Graphic Novels, Teen Ages 13+
Publisher: Viz Media, Shonen Jump Manga, Shueisha Inc.
Format: Paperback, 216 Pages
ISBN-13: 9781421543048
Release Date: December 4, 2012
Source: Borrowed from Wentworth Library
Rating: 5/5

Purchase Here: Paperback

Tagline(s): The fact that I am so young
                   So immature
                   Seems unforgivable to
                   The decrepit
                                                                Perfect and faultless adults
                    
Summary: Ichigo is rescued from the pit of despair once again by Rukia. And she's not the only member of the Soul Society who shows up to help out. Now having finally regained his true Soul Reaper powers, Ichigo faces off against Ginjo with no restraints.

Review:

Rukia has given Ichigo Soul Reaper powers once again! Now the whole of Xcution enters the battlefield. But Ichigo's not alone in the fight. He has so friends from the Soul Society to help him out.

Urahara created a sword that enabled Rukia to give Ichigo Soul Reaper powers again. And it wasn't just Rukia's spiritual pressure that did it this time--everyone in the Soul Society helped out.

"Soul Reaper power is something that springs from within him. You couldn't steal it from him even if you wanted to! Ichigo! They must be ignorant. They think this is enough to fill you with despair! They don't know the struggles you've lived through! Show them, Ichigo! That they cannot stop you with despair!"

Okay, first of all, Ichigo has always worn his power, just as Chad had said when he saw Ichigo's Fullbring. With his Soul Reaper powers back, thanks to his friends in the Soul Society, he has the Soul Reaper shihakusho, but there are also parts of his Fullbring in his new get up. And wow, his power now is far greater than before, thanks to what he learned of Fullbring. It's off the charts!

"That power you received is the result of the changes you made in the Soul Society in all of your battles. Accept it with honor."

Renij, Byakuya, Toshiro, Kenpachi, and Ikkaku also came with Rukia to restore Ichigo's powers, but there was another reason too. The second reason was Ginjo, the first deputy Soul Reaper. Ginjo gives all the other members of Xcution some of Ichigo's stolen power and the battle begins.

It was amazing how easily Kenpachi defeated Giriko. Kenpachi definitely got the weakest of the Xcution members as evidenced by his statement, "What a bore."

Ichigo is paired up against Ginjo, of course, but he's not alone. Uryu is there to help him out, although I really don't think Ichigo needs help. But we don't see any of their fight in this volume.

Toshiro is up against Yukio, and though Toshiro is having trouble finding Yukio, it's more of an annoyance than anything else.

Rukia is fighting Riruka, and we all know how Rukia loves stuffed animals. This could be a very difficult battle for her. "Don't think you can tempt me with these things!!"

Byakuya is against Tsukishima--this battle will be interesting.

Ikkaku is pounding fists with Shishigawara. Some of the hits they make make me cringe, it looks so painful.

And Renji, who never makes the first move against a woman, is fighting Jackie.

Some of the battles start and end in this volume, while others have yet to begin. Of course, the battle I'm most looking forward to is the Ginjo V.S. Ichigo and Uryu battle. Ichigo's battles are always really awesome and I can't wait to see this one in Volume 54. I'm also curious to see how Rukia gets herself out of the trouble she's in.

About this Manga-ka:

The son of a town council member in Fuchu, Aki District, Hiroshima. He never took drawing seriously until he was 17; after reading Dragon Ball he knew he wanted to be a manga artist. At the age of 18 he submitted his first concept for the series Zombiepowder but it got rejected. Zombiepowder was rejected multiple times until Kubo was 22, when it finally was accepted by Shonen Jump. It did not last long; it was cancelled after four volumes in late 2000.

His next series, Bleach, about a high school student who becomes a shinigami and fights hollows, was not such a failure. Bleach began regular publication in 2001. It has been running in Weekly Shonen Jump ever since.

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