Stolen Away ~ Alyxandra Harvey (eARC) review

Stolen Away
Walker Children's
January 17, 2012
288 pages
add to Goodreads/buy on Amazon

After bringing us humor, romance, a little violence and a lot of adventure (along with some some vampires) in her Drake Chronicles series and romance, humor and a very swoon-worthy boy in the spiritualist era stand-alone Haunting Violet Alyxandra Harvey is back, this time with the fae, in Stolen Away.

Eloise is a normal seventeen-year-old, spending early days of fall with her friends, trying to escape the oppressive summer hear that won't seem to break. She is eating ice cream with her best friends Jo and Devin when a strange young man approaches her. It's his attire (easily something more out of A Knight's Tale era than today), calling her Lady Eloise while kneeling, and insisting she come with him to be safe that disconcerts Eloise. Of course, he is gorgeous, too, but that's not really of issue at the moment.

The three friends are able to get away from Lucas. But it's definitely not the only time they see him and he is definitely not their only problem. In fact, his warnings might have been right.

Eloise is stolen away by Lord Strahan and imprisoned in his Rath. She knew little to nothing about the fae beforehand but now she is their prisoner. Strahan is only meant to rule for seven years, as faery law dictates but he refuses to comply. He hopes to use Eloise to lure her, somewhat elusive and mysterious Aunt Antonia, his wife to him as she is the only thing threatening to end his reign. A continued reign that is wreaking havoc on both worlds.

Eloise knows, as everyone works to rescue her, that she is going to have to rescue her aunt - even if it means working with the fae.


Stolen Away  is another absolute stunner of a book from Alyxandra Harvey. She has taken all of her strengths from her previous novels, the humor, the romance, the action and adventure and introduced them - and readers - to an entirely new world and characters. And the fae.

Harvey has a talent for writing best friend relationships that seem so absolutely real that you, as a reader, just almost need to be their friend, too. There's closeness, humor, background, history, jokes, sometimes fights, everything in those relationships that make them honest and realistic and amazing. She writes my favorite best friend relationships in books. (Besides the friend relationships in The Drake Chronicles and in Haunting Violet, the only other best friend relationships that good are in Jennifer Lynn Barnes' Raised by Wolves series - maybe it's something with the Devon/Devin name?)

I think I really, truly adore that Alyxandra Harvey's books have characters that are sneaky and backstabbing and manipulating . . . unless they're supposed to be.

This is a story that - when it's not making you just that little bit anxious as to the outcome and sometimes even then - makes you happy to read. There are lines that make me smile, the characters interactions are sweet or snarky - or both. The way they work together is brilliant and refreshing. It's a book that will make you smile.

The only, only thing I didn't love to pieces was that I thought Jo was 'in love' a little fast with her guy. I don't think it affected the plot any (in fact, I think it actually helped it) but I just wasn't seeing where her words came from, personally.

The faery lore used is really great. While I don't read a ton of fae themed/focused books, I do read quite a few and there were several things in Stolen Away that either I hadn't heard before (or had possibly forgotten) or they were things that were rarely, rarely used. Alyxandra Harvey really draws from outside of the commonly used faery mythology in Stolen Away.

After reading Stolen Away (and Bleeding Hearts just about a month ago), Alyxandra Harvey is in my top three favorite author - if not the very top!


Rating: 9.5/10  . . . so we'll round up for tagging purposes and such ;-)



Thank you to Bloomsbury and NetGalley for my digital galley

A Breath of Frost ~ Alyxandra Harvey (earc) review [@AlyxandraH @BWKids]

A Breath of Frost (The Lovegrove Legacy #1)
Walker Children's
January 7, 2014
496 pages
add to Goodreads/buy from Book Depo/or Amazon

In 1814, three cousins—Gretchen, Emma, and Penelope—discover their family lineage of witchcraft when a binding spell is broken, allowing their individual magical powers to manifest. Now, beyond the manicured gardens and ballrooms of Regency London, an alluring underworld available only to those with power is revealed to the cousins. By claiming their power, the three cousins have accidentally opened the gates to the underworld. [. . .]

By unknowingly unlocking their magical abilities, the girls have not only opened an entire, previously unknown, world, full of magic, spells and creatures, but put themselves in danger as well.

Now they have so much more to worry about than simply  navigating parties and society as debutantes. Hiding in the library (Gretchen), looking for the most suitable dance partner (Penelope) and staying out of sight (Emma) isn't going to be the easiest way to get by any more. Not with the bodies of dead girls appearing, ones that Emma keeps finding. And dangerous warlock sisters , thought to be gone, now back and wreaking havoc.

If they can keep themselves safe, if Emma can figure out the forever hot and cold actions of Cormac, then maybe they can figure out their new-found magic . . . and the murders.


The Drake Chronicles series, Stolen Away and Haunting Violet have made it pretty clear that I love Alyxandra Harvey's storytelling but A Breath of Frost was really something else. That same spark, humor and wit that I love from her characters was definitely present once again. While it was Regency London and the plot seemed to hold true (while involving witchcraft), the characters - the female characters, especially - had that little extra something separating them from the status quo.

The girls aren't so different that they seem modern day or out of place, but they also have a bit more audacity, maybe more mettle than one might expect. It makes them and the story superb.

Emma, Penelope and Gretchen are not Lucy and Solange from Harvey's Drake Chronicles series but that strong friendship, that almost sisterly bond that was done so well in that series is present with the cousins here. It's different as they are different characters in a different setting, situation but the love, the fierceness of their will to protect each other is there. It's a bond I hope to see grow over the series.

Much of the novel focuses on Emma and her story - with her mother, with Cormac and with her magic. We learn a lot about her in this first book, some things that are easier to see coming than others. It will definitely be interesting to see how each of the things that happened, that she uncovered affects her, the other characters and the story down the road.

The glimpses we got into the other girls lives very much left me wanting to know more about them - and wondering if we'll find out even a third as many secrets as we did with Emma. (Penelope's character and what we saw with her has me especially intrigued.)

Cormac and his sisters are kind of a fantastic addition to the story. His sisters were not a big part of the story but I loved the little bits that they were in it and hope that was not all we will see of them.

As for the plot, it's kind of really great. With witches, warlocks, society, societies, madcaps, gargoyles, enchantments, and familiars all with family drama, school, possible mean girls and confusing boys, A Breath of Frost has it all. Alyxandra Harvey weaves a brilliant tale, told at a great pace that connects readers with all of the characters and the (slightly modified?) Regency London world they're living in.  You'll love not only where things end up but how it got there -- all while eagerly waiting to see where they things go next.

My review is really long already but it needs to end with this: Alyxandra Harvey's books? <3


Ratiing: 10/10


You may also enjoy: Haunting Violet by Alyxandra Harvey and Blood Magic by Tessa Gratton


digital galley received for review, via NetGalley, thanks to publisher


I think my WOW post for this has it listed as Moonlight and Madness and/or Witching Season: Stormcaster so I'm listing those just for search purposes :)

Cover Reveal: Love Me, Love Me Not ~ Alyxandra Harvey [@chapterxchapter @entangledteen @AlyxandraH]

YA Fantasy/Fairytale retelling of The Swan Maiden with a blood feud twist like Romeo & Juliet? Say whaaaat?

Welcome to the cover reveal for

Love Me, Love Me Not by Alyxandra Harvey

presented by Entangled Teen Crave!

Who else is excited for this book???

Sign up here to join the tour!

Dating isn’t easy when you’re in the middle of a blood feud.

Anastasia Vila’s family can turn into swans, but just once she’d like them to turn into responsible adults.

After hundreds of years, they still cling to the blood feud with the Renard family. No one remembers how it started in the first place—but foxes and swans just don’t get along.

Vilas can only transform into their swan shape after they have fallen in love for the first time, but between balancing schoolwork, family obligations, and the escalating blood feud, Ana’s got no time for love. The only thing keeping her sane is her best friend, Pierce Kent.

But when Pierce kisses Ana, everything changes.

Is what Pierce feels for her real, or a byproduct of her magic? Can she risk everything for her best friend? And when the family feud spirals out of control, Ana must stop the fight before it takes away everything she loves.

Including, maybe...Pierce.

This Entangled Teen Crave book contains language, violence, and lots of kissing. Warning: it might induce strong feelings of undeniable attraction for your best friend.

Love Me, Love Me Not by Alyxandra Harvey
Publication Date: February 22, 2016
Publisher: Entangled Teen Crave

Alyxandra Harvey lives in a stone Victorian house in Ontario, Canada with a few resident ghosts who are allowed to stay as long as they keep company manners. She loves medieval dresses, used to be able to recite all of The Lady of Shalott by Tennyson, and has been accused, more than once, of being born in the wrong century. She believes this to be mostly true except for the fact that she really likes running water, women’s rights, and ice cream. Aside from the ghosts, she also lives with her husband and their dogs. She likes cinnamon lattes, tattoos and books.

Connect with the author:
Website

Sign up for the tour!

Out for Blood ~ Alyxandra Harvey review

Out for Blood (Drake Chronicles #3)
Walker Books for Young Readers
December 21, 2010
304 pages
Buy/info at Amazon



Alyxandra Harvey's third Drake Chronicles book, Out for Blood, focuses on different characters than the first two books in the series (as each of them did) but still utilizes characters from those books. The main characters of this book are Hunter Wild, a student at the Helios-Ra school and Quinn, one of the Drake brothers.

Hunter is friends with Kieran Black--one of the more central characters of Hearts at Stake, the first book. Hunter, a model student, is returning for her senior year at the school that trains hunters-vampire killers. It looks like it's going to be a normal year (albeit with some vampire interaction thanks to Kieran and his relationship with the Drakes). That is until things begin happening barely a few days after the students arrive.

The school year hasn't even technically started yet and already students are mysteriously ill and the school looks to be under attack.

Hunter will have to find out who she can trust (and surprisingly that just might include a vampire) in finding out what is happening.


Out for Blood is a real treat. After Hearts at Stake and Blood Feud, I'll admit that I was expecting to enjoy it, but not nearly as much as I did. It was like thinking you're getting a chocolate chip cookie--one that you'd be completely happy with--then getting a hot fudge sundae complete with whipped cream and a cherry on top. I thought I knew what I was getting and would have loved it--but was blown away with what I got instead.

I loved Blood Feud because I love the story that Alyxandra Harvey weaves and the different characters and backgrounds she works in. I loved Hearts at Stake super much because I loved the characters, the humor, the action, and the way everything worked together.

Until now Hearts at Stake was my favorite of the series but now I think Out for Blood has taken the crown. And for one reason: Harvey's writing has reached a whole new level.

The characters in Blood were as great as in Hearts (I didn't like Isabeau and Logan quite as much), the plot was great and it was really nice to see a look inside the world of the Helios-ra, but it was all so fantastic because of the quality of the writing.

Blood was so well, well written that I am now very, very much looking forward to anything (and maybe everything) from Alyxandra Harvey. The writing of this is so fantastic that I know I can enjoy any world she crates--even one without the Drakes and the Helios-Ra and the other characters that I love so much.




10/10

Thank you to Bloomsbury for this book for review.


Giveaway!!
Also, thanks to the publisher, I have one copy to giveaway to one of you lucky readers. I really loved this book so I hope you will enter--and encourage others to do so as well.

Details: Winner must have a US mailing address (no PO Boxes) and be 13 or older. Contest ends January 10, 2011 at noon Eastern.

Fill out the form below to enter--comments won't enter you but they'd be greatly appreciated :)

ENTER HERE

Blood Moon ~ Alyxandra Harvey review

In honor of yesterday being Canada Day, who deserves some celebration? Justin Bieber? No. Ryan Gosling? Nope, not even him (well not here).  Joshua Jackson? Nope, not even as much as this past week makes me want to watch Dawson's Creek.

Who does then? Alyxandra Harvey, of course, author of The Drake Chronicles - the latest installment of which Blood Moon came out in June!

[ If for some kooky reason you haven't read the other Drake Chronicles book yet, don't start with Blood Moon -not because it lacks brilliance, but because they're all brilliant and don't work as stand-alone books! My reviews of #1: Hearts at Stake, #2: Blood Feud, #3: Out for Blood, #4: Bleeding Hearts ]

Blood Moon (Drake Chronicles #5)
Walker & Company
June 19, 2012
320 pages
add to Goodreads/buy from TBD/or Amazon

With the blood moon only days way and the vampire clans already converging on Drake land, Blood Moon, shows us what Bleeding Hearts only started to: with Solange fighting a war within herself, the greatest danger the Drakes face might not be from visiting vampires.


Seriously? Seriously? You're doing this to me again Alyxandra Harvey? After the ending of Bleeding Hearts, I was dying and now you're ending Blood Moon like this? Admittedly it might not be as bad . . . then again when you pair the two of them together (or all of the books/the story as a whole), it might be worse. Worse, as in really better, or Do-I-really-Have-to-Wait-for-the-Next-Book-to-Come-Out-because-You're-Killing-Me-With-These-Endings worse.

While I have loved seeing more of the different brothers in each book, it was nice to have this one brought back a bit. Blood Moon is told from Lucy, Nicholas and Solange's perspectives. Not only was it necessary for the plot (especially considering the ending of the previous book) but it was also nice to 'hear' from them again.

Lucy will always be one of my favorite characters - this series or any other - and it's great when she's balanced out with Nicholas. As the book involves Solange warring with herself, Lucy needed to be one of the narrators, not having her perspective, insight on all of it would have made the story feel less than whole.

One thing that can't go unnoticed with Blood Moon or any other Alyxandra Harvey book, is her writing. Her love of poetry comes through in not only her characters quoting it, but also her own writing. It's not flower-y and a lot of descriptions come from character observations (as opposed to author statements) but the analogies and similes, brilliant and/or quirky phrases and descriptions she does use catch me nearly every time.

They're phrases you might expect to see kept for the end of a paragraph or until a break in the text but in Blood Moon they're just part of the text. It really makes the book that much better.

A lot of series can't make it to five books while still holding - if not exceeding - the quality present in the first book. The Drake Chronicles has proven able to do that with Blood Moon. The characters are still as enjoyable, the plot is developing and thickening, the new characters that are being added add things.



Rating: 10/10


giant thank you to Bridget at Bloomsbury for my copy to review!

Haunting Violet ~ Alyxandra Harvey (ARC) review

Haunting Violet

Walker Children's

June 21, 2011

352 pages

Goodreads/Amazon


Violet Willoughby has spent her life as part of her mother's fraudulent medium/spiritualist act. More skeptical than not only those who come to her mother's readings, but just about anyone else, Violet does not believe in spirits or ghosts.

Except they seem to believe in her.

A very persistent, very stubborn ghost is now making herself known to Violet. A ghost who seems to have died a violent death and won't just go away.

Violet's going to have to figure out what the ghost wants and if she can accomplish it.

That and if this new found ability is going to ruin Violet's plans of getting away from her mother once and for all through marriage. Of course, the only person who can help her is Colin, the friend she's had since childhood who works for her mother - and might pose a different sort of problem for her potential marriage.

Can Violet manage to resolve it all --and without her life falling apart?

There are not enough good things I can say about this book! Haunting Violet is the kind of book that makes me love that I have a blog because maybe just one person will read this post who wasn't planning on reading the book already and then will . . . and maybe then they'll tell someone how splendiferous it is! (Well, maybe not using that exact word.) It's just that good of a book.

Set in the 1870s, Haunting Violet is historical fiction and the historical details seem to be accurate and really add to the story's depth and the readers' enjoyment of it.

Chock full of mystery, intrigue and drama, but also the humor and kick butt heroines that Alyxandra Harvey displayed such a talent for in her Drake Chronicles series, this standalone has something (so much, really) for everyone. And while her heroine might not be one to swoon, Harvey has once again created a very swoon worthy male character in Colin (I'm more than a little bit in love with him, I think).

Alyxandra Harvey crafts such brilliant stories and (as with the Drake Chronicles books) I love the relationships between her characters so, so much that I almost hate for the book to be over - except that they all find such brilliant resolutions that I can't really hate it.

(Can't say that I would hate for this to be a series, though-or for the characters to happen to show up in another of the author's books ;-))

A magnificent mystery, love story, historical fiction tale, and ghost story to boot, I cannot recommend this one enough!

42/10 stars

Ginormous thank you to Kate at Bloomsbury for my review copy of this book

(Trailer in my right sidebar or here is a link to a longer one)

Love Me, Love Me Not ~ Alyxandra Harvey Tour Review + Guest Post + Giveaway [@chapterxchapter @AlyxandraH @entangledteen]

Love Me, Love Me Not
Entangled: Crave
February 22, 2016
200 pages
add to Goodreads/buy from Amazon/B&N/iBooks/Kindle/Kobo
on Entangled Publishing

Dating isn’t easy when you’re in the middle of a blood feud.

Anastasia Vila’s family can turn into swans, but just once she’d like them to turn into responsible adults.

After hundreds of years, they still cling to the blood feud with the Renard family. No one remembers how it started in the first place—but foxes and swans just don’t get along.

Vilas can only transform into their swan shape after they have fallen in love for the first time, but between balancing schoolwork, family obligations, and the escalating blood feud, Ana’s got no time for love. The only thing keeping her sane is her best friend, Pierce Kent.

But when Pierce kisses Ana, everything changes.

Is what Pierce feels for her real, or a byproduct of her magic? Can she risk everything for her best friend? And when the family feud spirals out of control, Ana must stop the fight before it takes away everything she loves.

Including, maybe...Pierce.

This Entangled Teen Crave book contains language, violence, and lots of kissing. Warning: it might induce strong feelings of undeniable attraction for your best friend.

I was surprised when I saw that Love Me, Love Me Not is just two hundred pages. Not because it feels long (or too long) but because it felt like a full, novel length story.

Love Me, Love Me Not is a 'YA Fantasy/Fairytale retelling of The Swan Maiden with a blood feud twist like Romeo & Juliet,' which sounded like a lot of fun to me even though I know next to nothing about The Swan Maiden story. (Of course, I do need to admit that because of who the author was the description could have just been, 'It's about something," and I would have wanted to read it.)

What I ended up really loving about Love Me, Love Me Not was that there really was a nice mix of Ana's family, the swan girls and the rules and mythos about them; the 'blood feud' between the Vilas and the Renards; and Ana's hopes to fall in love.

At first, I had wanted Pierce, or whomever it was that would be Ana's potential love interest, to be part of the Renard family. I am so, so happy that was not the case. The animosity between the Vila family and the Renard family is serious - it's bloody and death filled and spiteful. And it makes the story better.

Especially next to how fed up with it Ana can be.

I liked that the girls had to fall in love before they could turn into swans. Through the different members of Ana's family - and even Ana herself - we see the myriad of ways how falling in love, not falling in love and all of the missteps, attempts and confusion impact a life.

I loved Ana's character and her desire to just finish high school, but to still be loyal to her family and honor them and her magic . . . even if they are difficult and frustrating and troublesome.

I also really loved Pierce - him giving his dog a 'why' for something would have been enough but add in his honesty, his crazy grandmother, his concern for his brothers, his love of books, how he felt about Ana and how he dealt with it and he's brilliant.

Love Me, Love Me Not is a fun fantasy tale of friendship, love, identity, family (both the good and the bad), oh, and that blood feud. All of the characters are fantastic and are characters whose stories I would gladly read.





About the Author:

Alyxandra Harvey lives in a stone Victorian house in Ontario, Canada with a few resident ghosts who are allowed to stay as long as they keep company manners. She loves medieval dresses, used to be able to recite all of The Lady of Shalott by Tennyson, and has been accused, more than once, of being born in the wrong century. She believes this to be mostly true except for the fact that she really likes running water, women’s rights, and ice cream. Aside from the ghosts, she also lives with her husband and their dogs. She likes cinnamon lattes, tattoos and books.

Website

Guest Post: 

Book Sp(l)ot: You have created some brilliant friendships in your novels, is there a character () that you would most want as a friend?'

Alyxandra Harvey: I would love to hang out with Ana from Love Me, Love Me Not because she’s so grounded and wry. And she could clear the rainclouds away—but just over my head. I love rain, I’m just very cat-like in my dislike of getting drenched.

I’d also like to hang out with Lucy from The Drake Chronicles because she’s so irreverent and irrepressible. Also, she’s always around the very yummy Drake brothers.

She’s a magnet for trouble though, so I might need to bring some muscle with me. ;)

From the literary world at large, I’d love to make friends with Anne of Green Gables for her humour and courage. I’ve been to Green Gables in P.E.I. and it was just so lovely. The red clay and the sea and the farmhouse all tucked away.

And I already consider Elizabeth Bennet my BFF. Possibly, it’s a problem. : p

Also: Luna Lovegood because she’s quirky and rooted and Hogwarts! Ravenclaw Common Room! Hogsmeade!

Add some cake and we have a pretty good party I think!

Thank you! Those are some great characters individually but now I love the idea of them together so much more.

Tour Schedule

Giveaway:

$200 Amazon Gift Card + Feather Pendant Necklace inspired by the one that Ana, from Love Me, Love Me Not wears

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Top Ten Tuesday [Fave Heroines]

hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

This week's Ten: Top Ten Favorite Heroines From Books

1. Detective D.D. Warren ~ from Lisa Gardner's D.D. Warren series My review of the latest book in the series, Crash & Burn.
   
2. Taylor Jackson ~ from J.T. Ellison's series. My reviews of Books 1-4, 5 and 6 and 7.
   
3. Kathryn Dance ~ from Jeffery Deaver's series. The Sleeping Doll review and Roadside Crosses review. I didn't review XO but I absolutely enjoyed and recommend it.
   
4. Lucy and Solange ~ from Alyxandra Harvey's Drake Chronicles series. My reviews of Book 1, 2, 3, 3.5, 4, 5, 6
   
5. Gretchen, Emma and Penelope ~  from Alyxandra Harvey's Lovegrove Legacy series. Review of A Breath of Frost and Whisper the Dead
   
6. Sophronia, Dimity and company ~ from Gail Carriger's Finishing School series. Reviews of Books 1, 2, and 3
   
7. Bryn ~ from Jennifer Lynn Barnes's Raised by Wolves series. Trial by Fire (#2) review and Taken by Storm (#3) review
   
8. June ~ from Marie Lu's Legend series. My reviews of Legend and Champion
   
9. Cora ~ from Frankie Brown's Until We End. My review
   
10. Lola ~ from Stephanie Perkins' Lola and the Boy Next Door. My review

This post would turn into something epically long (and take me forever) if I tried to say what it is I love about each of these characters, so I've linked to my reviews of the book(s) they're in.

I did kind of cheat on 4, 5, and 6 as I didn't pick just one character but I don't think I could single out just one of heroine from those series! It's also their relationships/friendships and their interactions with each other that are a large part of why I adore those series and the characters so much. (So singling out just one of the girls would seem unfair.)

So, those are my Top Ten(ish) Favorite Heroines - what are yours?  Let me know in the comments and/or link me to your own Top Ten Tuesday post!

Video Veneris

My Video Veneris is going to be a bit different this week in that it won't be a book trailer . . .

You may have noticed that I've posted one of the trailers to Alyxandra Harvey's amazing book Haunting Violet on my sidebar - you didn't? Well, you should go look now!

I've also posted a link to one of the others (there are three) on my review (it is here).

This week, though, the great folks at Bloomsbury, Flora Willis to be precise, was kind enough to let me know about some other videos involving Haunting Violet and it's uber talented author.

It's with that knowledge that I present to you this week's Video Veneris, Alyxandra Harvey talking about the paranormal (and some Haunting Violet):

A Killer First Date ~ Alyxandra Harvey mini review

A Killer First Date (Drake Chronicles #3.5)
Walker Childrens
February 14, 2012
40 pages
add to Goodreads/buy from Amazon/or B&N (where it's a LendMe ebook)

**spoilers through Out for Blood, book three**

Nicholas and Lucy have known each other for most of their lives, but now that they've finally admitted their feelings for each other, Nicholas wants to take her on their official first date-away from all the life-and-death drama that has surrounded them lately. Is it too much to ask for just a fun double date at the local carnival with his older brother, Quinn, and Quinn's new girlfriend, Hunter?

'A Killer First Date' is an e-novella in the Drake Chronicles series by Alyxandra Harvey. Though published between books four and five - Bleeding Hearts and Blood Moon it takes place prior to Bleeding Hearts.

Telling the tale of both Lucy and Nicholas as well as Quinn and Hunter's first dates - which take place together, 'A Killer First Date' is an enjoyable interlude that stays true to the rest of the series. It doesn't really need to be read in between books three and four, it just fits best there plot wise.

To avoid character spoilers, it shouldn't be read earlier - but then, reading this review or the synopsis of the story would already tell you the characters are dating. I read it after Blood Moon and after that book's more heavy story line and its ending, the lighter short story, the interaction of the characters and the bit of fun was incredibly refreshing. Almost like a flashback.

When short stories are done well, as this one very much is, I love to read them as it shows just how well the author know their characters and gives me yet another peek into the lives of the characters I've grown to love.

From Hearts at Stake (aka My Love Lies Bleeding) the first book, I've been in love with the Drake Chronicles series and I'm happy to say that the short stories are just as fantastic. (Lost Girls was in the back of some editions of Blood Moon and it was brilliant as well.)

Rating: 4/5

Thursday Thirteen

In honor of Valentine's Day being this week, here are 13 book couples (not necessarily romantic) that I find fantastic:

Great Book Couples

1. Ember and Chase (Article 5 by Kristen Simmons)
2. Luke and London (Forgotten by Cat Patrick)
3. Lola and Cricket (Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins)
4. Violet and Colin (Haunting Violet by Alyxandra Harvey)
5. Quinn and someone that if I remember stating here might be spoilery (Lovestruck Summer by Melissa Walker)
6. Jo and Devin (Stolen Away by Alyxandra Harvey)
7. Bryn and Devon (Raised by Wolves - series, actually - by Jennifer Lynn Barnes)
8. Cody and Abby (Fancy White Trash by Marjetta Geerling)
9. April and Hudson (Ten Things We Did by Sarah Mlynowski)
10. Cass and Gideon (Time After Time by Sue Haasler)
11. Jordan and Courtney (Two Way Street by Lauren Barnholdt)
12. Kat and Hale (Heist Society by Ally Carter)
13. Sylvie and Rhys (The Splendor Falls by Rosemary Clement-Moore)

Like my new layout??

Whisper the Dead ~ Alyxandra Harvey (earc) review [@bloomsburykids @alyxandrah]

Whisper the Dead (Lovegrove Legacy #2)
Bloomsbury USA Children's
October 7, 2014
408 pages
add to Goodreads/buy from Book Depo/or Amazon

See my review of A Breath of Frost (Lovegrove Legacy #1) here to find out how the story starts meet the cousins as they discover their magic

Cousins Gretchen, Emma, and Penelope are all dealing with what it means to be a Lovegrove. For Gretchen, it means she often feels like her head is going to explode. As a Whisperer, Gretchen constantly hears the whispers of other witches' spells. And while this does help her to know when one of her own spells is going wrong, the incessant buzzing and pain the whispers cause makes it difficult to use her gift.

But when something evil begins to menace Mayfair, Gretchen must find a way to master her power. Along with her cousins, a madcap named Moira, and the icy yet irresistible Tobias Lawless, Gretchen faces deadly threats and unimaginable loss in the hopes of preventing the terrible Greymalkin Sisters from rising again.

The second book in The Lovegrove Legacy trilogy, Whisper the Dead will leave readers spellbound.

In the same way that A Breath of Frost focused more on Emma and her life, Whisper the Dead is more Gretchen-centric. While focusing more on one particular, different character for each of a series' books isn't something new, how Alyxandra Harvey does it feels different. This was Gretchen's story, but not at the expense of the other characters. Their lives are so intertwined, their bond so strong and each of them so much a part of the others' lives, that readers won't feel their characters are neglected.

The increased attention on Gretchen, her personal life and relationships is done so subtly, so seamlessly that it's only if you're really paying attention or looking back after finishing the novel that you realize more happened with her character. It may be my favorite example of 'Book 1 is Character A's book, Book 2 is Character B's book, etc.'

With all of the main characters so involved throughout the story, you also don't forget who they are, what you love about them or how they're apart of the characters' lives and world. At the end of Whisper the Dead, you'll only love all of the characters - new ones included - more than you already did. Or, you know, despise them if that was the plan.

Set in Regency London, the characters, events and word choice of the Lovegrove Legacy books will pull readers right into the time period. Even while the cousins spend most of the book flouting nearly all of the social norms of the time. Their defiance of the customs somehow makes them feel more apart of the period rather than less.

In Whisper the Dead, with Gretchen being more at the forefront, we see more of some characters who were part of A Breath of Frost but not as centrally. We have a better understanding of who they are and the part they play. We also get to see different sides of some of the characters we met in the first book. It's particularly enjoyable how they all come together, in their own ways, to play a part in the story. No one sticks out or doesn't fit.

Especially once the action really kicks in towards the end of the novel, this is one book you will not want to put down. It is great fun seeing the girls learn more about their magic and how to use it - and, perhaps, not use it. This magical London that the author has created is very inventive, unique and fun to read about. Some of the more usual magical ideas are present but most is new and so creative and fun.

The characters and the magic combine for an ending that is oh so good, but also has me ready to count down the days until the third book's release. Though I do wish there were going to be more than the three books.





review copy received from the publisher, through NetGalley, for review

Waiting On Wednesday

Waiting On Wednesday is hosted by Breaking the Spine

It should be fairly obvious by now that I am a pretty big fan of author Alyxandra Harvey. I loved both her Drake Chronicles series books and the standalone Haunting Violet (which you should totally buy in ebook format right now because, well, it's great and also because it's only $2.51 right now - Kindle and Nook).

So, when I saw that Stormcaster the first book in a new series (Witching Season) out soon, t jumped to the top of my list for books that needed to be WOW'ed!

In 1814, three cousins-Gretchen, Emma, and Penelope-discover their unknown family lineage of witchcraft. Beyond the familiar manicured gardens and ballrooms of Regency London, a dangerous, alluring new underworld visible only to those with power is now open to the cousins. But unbeknownst to them, by claiming their power, the three cousins have inadvertently opened the gates to the Underworld. Now the dead, ghouls, hellhounds-and the most terrifying of all: the spirits of dark witches known as the Greymalkin Sisters-are hunting and killing young debutante witches for their powers.
And, somehow, Emma is connected to the murders...because she keeps finding the bodies. Can the cousins unravel the clues and mystery behind their heritage and power before their gifts are stripped away ...or even worse, another witch is killed?

Witches, family, paranormal creatures and historical fiction, all from an author who seems to do it so well? !!!!!!!!!!!

Stormcaster will be out January 7, 2014 (why so far away?) from Walker Childrens -- you can add it to your Goodreads shelf; pre-order on Amazon; or pre-order from Book Depository


(Book Depo and Amazon are calling it Moonlight and Madness: The Lovegrove Inheritance (Regency Witches) but Bloomsbury, Goodreads and Alyxandra Harvey's site have it as Witching Season Book 1: Stormcaster)

Bleeding Hearts ~ Alyxandra Harvey (eARC) review

Bleeding Hearts (Drake Chronicles #4)
Walker Children's
December 20, 2011
304 pages
add to Goodreads/buy on Amazon

Vampires from all over are descending on the Drakes because of the Blood Moon approaching, for the first time eve Lucy has been banned from the Drake household - for her own safety as Solange gets used to er new . . . existence, and Lucy's cousin Christabel is living with her

Things are definitely different around Violet Hill.

One thing hasn't changed, though. The Drakes still have their enemies.

Enemies who have realized just how much Lucy means to the family. When they attempt to kidnap Lucy and get Christabel by mistake, the entire Drake family is in pursuit . . but Connor especially.

Christabel who doesn't know about vampires and doesn't understand why  she has to stay inside after dark has found her attention to the 'nice' Drake boy. The one who offers to fix her computer.

When she's threatened by Hel-Bar, will he be quick enough to save her?


Arghh! Okay, now that I'm done screaming about the ending of Bleeding Hearts, let's get to how amazingly awesomely fantastic it was. I absolutely love the Drake Chronicles series and Bleeding Hearts just might be my favorite of all of them.

The Drake Chronicles is a fantastic series; it's one of the very few that easily brings your right back into the story and the characters' lives. With so many series, by the time a successive book is released it's near impossible to remember what's happening with the plot and/or the characters, not so with The Drake Chronicles.With this series - and this book in particular - a few well places sentences throughout the beginning bring the reader up to speed and they remember what's happening. It's great.

All the best snark, humor and romance of the earlier three books are present in this book - in spades. Not to mention it's probably the plottiest (not a word, I know, but still very fitting) of all the books in the series. Plot points from all the previous books come to a head in this the fourth book, yet it's not too heavy, either.

Christabel and Connor are near perfect as the romantic leads. Chritabel has her book geekiness and her has his Star Wars, computer, etc geekiness - they're so lovable and fit together so perfectly. It's also great that their traits aren't used as ways to single them out (in a bad way) or exclude them from everyone else. They are different from, say, Lucy or Nicholas or Solange but in Bleeding Hearts it makes them great.

New characters are introduced to this series with each new novel and I love that they're each given their own story line and background, one that expands on the central story of the series. None of the characters seem to pop up out of nowhere or distract from what'a been happening in the series thus far. Kudos to Alyxandra Harvey for continually expanding the Drake's world so well.

The ending did make me want to scream - that or have Blood Moon (the next book in the series) in my hands ready to read - but only in the best way possible.


After the ending of Bleeding Hearts there is a short story (about 50 pages), "Lost Girls," about some of the adult Drake Chronicles characters as teens. It's a glimpse into the characters and how things all started. And will likely leave you wanting a book about some of them at some point, too! (I think "Lost Girls" is in print versions only.)


If you're not reading this series yet, I can't recommend highly enough that you start - like right now and get this book on the 20th!!

Rating: 10+/10


Read thanks to NetGalley and the publisher Bloomsbury - ginormous thank you!!

Blood Prophecy ~ Alyxandra Harvey (earc) review

Blood Prophecy (Drake Chronicles #6)
Walker Children's
December 24, 2012 (ebooks)/January 8, 2013 (print)
496 pages
add to Goodreads/buy from Book Depo/or Amazon

Solange Drake has been crowned queen and the ancient prophecy foretelling that a daughter born tot he Drake family - known for only bearing sons - will rule, has been fulfilled. Only, it's not exactly Solange that has come to power. For some time now the young vampire's thoughts and feelings have not been entirely her own, influenced (from inside her own head) by Viola.

The change has been happening to Solange since the change that everyone was aware of, her bloodchange, on her sixteenth birthday. As Viola works to gain full control of Solange and enact her revenge, to split the vampires apart, rather than unit them as Solange wants, will anyone notice it's not really her?

With everyone gathered together for the Blood Moon, things were already testy, but with Solange (or Viola) working to tear them apart, no one is safe. Perhaps, not even Solange.


Blood Prophecy is the conclusion (at least the foll length novel-wise conclusion) to the Drake Chronicles series that started with Hearts at Stake/My Love Lies Bleeding. I was incredibly sad to see this series come to a close as I've loved it from the first book, right on through all of the others (e-novellas included). But I really can't think of a better way for it to have ended.

This last book in the series takes things back full circle with most of the story being form Lucy, Solange's perspectives just as Hearts at Stake was. It's great to see so much of their friendship come out and to see how they've dealt with everything that's been thrown at them (especially in this book and the previous one) and to have it be in the first person.

There are also chapters from, I believe, everyone who has been a narrator/central character in any of the other novels: Nicholas, Kieran, Hunter, etc.  As this book is focused more on a big picture and on ending the series, not as much a single romantic relationship the way previous books were, we get much more from all of the characters. The major relationships are already established, we know who the key characters are (and who makes them - and readers - swoony and who they're likely to punch in the nose).

In this book, we get to see both how those relationships are now and also how everyone works together against a larger foe. Yes, brilliant romances with the pretty Drake boys do make this series effortlessly fun to read, but it's the friendships, the snark, the teamwork that's always there as well that make it perfect.

Pretty boys aren't enough if you don't have a best friend (and excessive amounts of chocolate) to crush on them with and that's why I adore this series. Nicholas and Quinn and Logan are kind of fantastic, but it's Lucy's relationship, the friendship they've had since they were little girls that's withstood the fact that Solange is a vampire and now has Lucy still backing Solange even if she might be looking like she's gone evil-crazy!pants, that brings me into full in love land.

So, thank you Alyxandra Harvey for writing a series that has boys that has boys we can all have crushes on, has some violence when it's necessary (your vampires don't sparkle and I heart that), but also has strong female relationships that don't go wonky when boys are added to the mix.

And yes, my review did diverge a little bit but really, you shouldn't be reading this book yet if you haven't read the previous ones because it's a perfect conclusion. Little things mentioned in the series that could have just been, well, little things mentioned are brought back in this book and you see that they're actually relevant and part of the story. Love when that happens.

I'm sad to see this series go, but not at all sad with how it went.


Rating: 10/10




thank you to NetGalley & Bloomsbury for my digital galley

Red ~ Alyxandra Harvey (earc) review [@AlyxandraH @EntangledTeen]

Red
Entangled Teen
March 10, 2015
ebook only
add to Goodreads/buy NOOK book/or Kindle

Bad girls burn hot…

Red is the color of Kia Alcott's hair.
It's her temper, which blazes hot and always gets Kia into way too much trouble.
And it's the color of fire. Fires that Kia can start…just by thinking about them.

When her latest “episode” gets her kicked out of school, Kia is shipped off to her grandmother, who works for the wealthy Blackwoods. It's an estate shrouded in secrets, surrounded by rules, and presided over by a family that is far from normal…including the gorgeous and insolent Ethan Blackwood.

Ethan knows far more about the dangers of the forest surrounding the estate than Kia can ever imagine. For this forest has teeth, and Ethan is charged with protecting the outside world from its vicious mysteries.

But inside, even the most vibrant shade of red doesn't stand a chance against the dark secrets of the Blackwood family…

Red is a creative and fun read. The tale begins as we're introduced to Kia who is being sent (by her father who lives in the city) to live with her grandmother (very much in the country). Kia can start fires with her mind and it was one of those fires that got her expelled from school and exiled to her grandmother's.

Abby, her grandmother, isn't what Kia thinks of as the typical grandmother (she's younger, for one) and where she lives is certainly not our typical anything. She works for the very wealthy Blackwoods and its in their home (or castle, really) that Kia will also be living.

The house is intimidating and Kia doesn't quite like being 'the help.' Especially when it comes to serving the teenaged Ethan Blackwood and his friends. But is Ethan, with his off putting attitude, really all Kia thinks?

There's clearly more Kia's new home than first meets the eye . . and maybe more to Ethan, as well.


I really loved the combination of Kia, this girl who can start fires with her mind, and Ethan the rich boy who seems to have his own secrets. It got even better once we (and Kia) being to discover some of those secrets.

We get sections from Ethan's point-of-view and ones from Kia's and it helps the story develop at a very nice pace. We see what Kia thinks of Ethan, him home, his friends and his family. We being to see what Ethan thinks of Kia, of Abby and of his home, family and friends.

The more the characters' secrets and pasts and how they could best interact - and even why they had such adversarial interactions - was revealed, the better and better the story became.

In the beginning, it didn't flow quite as well as I would have liked. It seemed there would be the hyped up lead up to some big event, only to have the next time we saw those characters be after whatever had happened, with no indication given of how or what had happened exactly.

With things more out in the open and the characters able to include each other on what was happening, on their lives and activities, it became a really fantastic story.

While it was a smaller part of Red, my favorite part of the novel was Kia's friendship with another character. Girls' friendships have been some of my favorite parts of the authors other novels (Lucy and Solange in Drake Chronicles and the cousins in Lovegrove Legacy). If my life ever becomes some multi-writer version of Ruby Sparks, Alyxandra Harvey is definitely, absolutely in charge of penning all of my friendships.

I don't know if Red is a standalone or if there will be any follow-up(s), but after the ending, knowing all of these characters and being introduced to their world, I sincerely (and fervently) hope there's more to come.





Check out the author's Red Pinterest board - I love this idea of Kia!








digital review copy received, via NetGalley, thanks to publisher

Top Ten Tuesday: Imagined Co-Authorings

hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

This week's Ten:

Top Ten Author Duos You'd LOVE To See Write A Book Together 

Lisa Gardner & Jeffery Deaver

Gardner's DD Warren character (and series) and Deaver's Kathryn Dance character (and series) are two of my favorites. While I would love if they created a whole new character together, I think I might most like to see these two in a book (or more) together.

Alyxandra Harvey & Kady Cross

These authors come up with great characters and fantastic fantasy/paranormal worlds. I would love reading how Harvey's great characters (I adore her her girl-friendships) and the steampunk worlds (and also, characters and relationships I love) that Cross creates would work together.

Gayle Forman & Stephanie Perkins

They are two of my favorite, favorite contemporary YA romance authors and I absolutely love the characters and romances they create. They are also not afraid of some conflict and both keep things very real - but still swoon worthy. If they wrote something together (especially with an international setting) I'd be right there, ready to read it.

JT Ellison & MJ Arlidge

This one feels a little like cheating since I've read so many more of JT Ellison's books than MJ Arlidge's (the discrepancy in how many each has published in the US helps), but I think it would work. Some of the plot lines in Ellison's Taylor Jackson titles and what her Samantha Owens has been through/deals with seem like a great fit with Arlidge's Helen Grace and those novels' content. The initial first names is just a bonus! (My reviews of Eeny Meeny and Pop Goes the Weasel should be up soon.)

Jennifer Lynn Barnes & Kiersten White

I really want to know how the authors of the Raised by Wolves series and the Paranormalcy series would write together! They have creative, original books and I love, love, love their characters, their relationships and their smart, funny writing.

AJ Pine & Jennifer Comeaux

AJ Pine's One Night books and Jennifer Comeaux's Crossing the Ice were two great new adult reads . They both have a limited amount of sexual content, but it really works for the stories. The two authors books also involved sports and characters who had something holding them back from relationships, I would definitely be interested in what they'd create.

Cat Patrick & Jennifer Lynn Barnes

If this actually happened, someone would quite possible have to sedate me or something. This could be a really fantastic almost-contemporary with a bit of science (real or fictitious - or some combination) included. Patrick's books (like Forgotten and Revived) are some of my favorite, favorites - add in Barnes' and it would all be more than perfect! Ooh, I really do like this idea! 

Marie Lu & Ryan Graudin

Between the Legend books, The Young Elites, All that Glows, All that Burns, The Walled City and Wolf by Wolf these authors have shown that they can do magic/fantasy or more contemporary (if dystopian) and I would be so excited to see what kind of world and characters they would create.

Mindy McGinnis & Mikaela Everett

Okay, this one may just be because of how much I love A Madness So Discreet and The Unquiet. But, also, McGinnis wrote Not a Drop to Drink so she can do dystopian. I think their writing styles are complimentary and they can both give you characters who are flawed and in horrible situations but who you still, very much, relate to. I would really love to see what sort of setting (past, present, real, imagined) they created.

Francesca Zappia & Anna-Marie McLemore

I loved the writing in both Made You Up and The Weight of Feathers. Though the first was more contemporary and the latter a bit fantasy, they had strong, unique characters and (though in quite different ways) that question of what was real. I think they could write a really beautiful book together, even if I don't know what genre!

Please leave a comment and let me know what authors you would love to see co-write something - and/or what you think of my picks!

Top Ten Tuesday [Auto-Buy Authors]

hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

This week's Ten:

Top Ten Of Your Auto-Buy Authors

I didn't actually come up with ten but I did decide to split it between YA and adult. There's a link to each author's Goodreads Author Page and to any posts and/or reviews I've done.

The book covers of books I've read by each author don't link, sorry!

Three are a few authors that almost made it to the list but I need to read just one more book by them to be sure.

YA Authors:

Alyxandra Harvey

Posts/Reviews

Books Read:
The Lovegrove Legacy:

The Drake Chronicles:

Standalones:

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Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Posts/Reviews
Books Read:

Raised by Wolves:

The Naturals:

The Fixer:

Standalone:

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Ryan Graudin

Posts/Reviews
Books Read:

All that Glows:

Standalone:

Reading Soon(!):

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Adult Authors:

Lisa Gardner

Posts/Reviews

Books Read

Tessa Leone:

DD Warren:

(and The Survivors Club - almost forgot that one!)

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JT Ellison

Posts/Reviews
Books Read:
Taylor Jackson:

Samantha Owens, ME

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Heather Gudenkauf

Posts/Reviews

Books Read

Please leave a comment and let me know your auto-buy authors! (And, let me know if you've read any of the books by the authors in this post - and what you thought!)