Silevethiel

***

3 Stars/5

Thanks to Netgalley and Purple Sun Press for giving me this book to review.

After her father’s murder, Princess Irewen is betrayed and left for dead in the forest of Mistwood. She is rescued by the prince of the wood elves, Laegon, and he protects her while she recovers from her attack and realises that she has no idea what to do next as she has no home or country. Irewen, Laegon and the rest of the elves are in danger from an evil king and unusual creature hunting them down. Is Irewen the answer to saving the wood elves home Vaelinel and is she the person talked about in the mysterious elven prophecy?

Silevethiel is a likable and quick fantasy book, with action and romance. I liked the idea of the connection between the protectors and the lion guardians as it was really interesting.

I did not feel I could connect to the 2 main characters Irewen and Laegon, and I think part the reason was that the romance felt very rushed and really unrealistic, as they fell in love after only a day or two. However, I did like Bregen, as he was funny and loyal; I especially like his teasing interactions with Laegon.

I would recommend Silevethiel to fans of YA fantasy Novels.

Halloween

***

3 Stars/5

Thanks to Netgalley and Prime Books for giving me this book to review.

This book is an 18 story anthology of weird and macabre tales revolving around the foremost night of the dead and the paranormal, All Hallows Eve, Halloween.

The Halloween Men by Maria V Snyder

Ever since the Halloween Men arrived, nobody is allowed to leave personal homes without wearing a mask, all except on one day a year, Halloween. Nella works in her father’s mask shop, and is experimenting with making her own designs, however, the Halloween Men do not approve of her designs, and so she has to make them in secret. I really enjoyed this book, especially seeing Nella grow and evolve, which is a considerable feat in less than 30 pages. Maria V Snyder has shown that she can write a short story as well as she can write a novel, as this story drags you in, and I like it if she decided to write any more books set in this universe

We, the Fortunate Bereaved by Brian Hodge

Once a year in the village of Dunhaven, on Halloween, one spirit is allowed back from the underworld, one spirit who has died in the last year since Halloween. Drew, Bailey’s late husband, and Cody’s father, died from a congenital heart condition 8 months ago, and Bailey is hoping, for Cody’s sake, that Drew is the one brought back this year. This short story examines the relationship which both adults and children have with death, and how both look at it. I enjoyed this story and you can tell that the author of this short story is a crime novelist as there is a twist in the tale which will surprise most.

For the Removal of Unwanted Guests by A. C. Wise

Michael has just moved into his new house, when a witch arrives and invites herself to live in his loft, because apparently the house needs a witch in it. This story is quite good, and makes you think about the relationships which we have with other people. My favourite character has to be Spencer, the witch’s cat, because even though she doesn’t say a word, she speaks volumes.

Long Way Home: A Pine Deep Story by Jonathan Maberry

After serving a term in Afghanistan, and being heavily injured, Donny is returning home to the town of Pine Deep, which a few years ago was involved in a large paranormal disturbance. On his way back, near town, he meets Jim, who Donny thought had died. I liked this story even though I have not read the series, and I am considering reading the Pine Deep series.

Trick or Treat by Nancy Kilpatrick

Malina was raised by her mother, a dark witch, and is trying to be an earth witch, and cast off the traditions and superstitions. However, on Mischief Night the town’s children smash her car windows, will she return to what she knows, or will she stay on the path of good? This story reads like a continuation of a series, and that left me feeling a bit confused. 

I also enjoyed the other stories in this anthology, however some were very confusing as they were obviously part of an existing series. I enjoyed this anthology of Halloween stories, and would recommend Halloween to anyone who enjoys books written by any of the authors of any of the short stories in this book.

Beauty

***

3 Stars/5

Beauty and her two sisters Grace and Hope have always lived a comfortable city life until their father’s business collapses. As her family move to the countryside and live a happy, if modest, life next to an mysterious forest until one day her father gets lost and ends up spending the night at a castle in the middle of the forest. While leaving he takes a rose for Beauty, because of this he is forced to promise to Beast, the creature living in the castle, to have either one of his daughters willingly stay with the Beast unharmed or return himself and die. Beauty who is looking for adventure accepts the Beast’s promise and goes to the castle. But the castle is anything but ordinary with no animals, invisible servants and the Beast whose personality is not beastly at all, but does Beauty hold the key to free the Beast and the rest of the castle?

Beauty is an enjoyable Beauty and the Beast retelling; however, it is not my favourite as it felt too similar to the Disney version. That being said this book is full of imaginative descriptions and is full different types of love, both romantic and family.

I like Beauty as she loves her family and is willing to help in any way to support those she loves, plus one thing I love about the Beauty and the Beast story is how Beauty is smart and loves reading. However, I found the beast a bit boring as we did not get a good description of what he looked like; he did not seem to have much personality and he was a push over as he did anything Beauty asked of him. I also found the ending very rushed and anticlimactic, which left me feeling unsatisfied and a bit disappointed.

I enjoyed Beauty and would recommend to fans of Beauty and the Beast and fairytale retellings. 

Unleashed

****

4 Stars/5

Everyone believes that the prophecy has failed, and King Ashan and his dark forces have taken Taramon, now that he has nothing to fear from the prophecy. With Taramon defeated, Ashra and the rest of the men are being forced to tear the city apart brick by brick, while the queen, and the women and children are being taken by Safeer to Mezrah to face Ashan. But the prophecy has not failed; Kyla and Jethro have found all four of the elemental children and have accepted the light. Now Jethro and Kyla must rescue their people and bring light to the world which has for years been overwhelmed by Darkness.

Unleashed is the really good last book in the elements trilogy and it has a lot more action and fighting than the last two books. However, I did feel that this book was a bit rushed and I felt it could have done with an extra 50 pages.

The characters are the same as we have grown to know and like from the first 2 books but one thing I did find irritating was that the characters where either good or bad, and there was no one who was in-between. I also liked the different creatures in this series, but my favourite one is Flynt, and I wish he was real, as he was so sweet.

I will be reading more of Melissa Pearl’s books as I really enjoyed this trilogy. I would recommend Unleashed to fans of the first 2 books, Unknown and Unseen. 

Unseen

****

4 Stars/5

Kyla and Jethro are the seekers of the prophecy and have already found two of the elements, and now have to find the other two immortal elements children of air and fire. At the same time they have to fight their growing love for each other and Kyla is lacking in faith as she is struggling to believe in Oron. The dark forces are willing to do anything to stop the seekers, and make sure the prophecy does not come to pass. In Taramon, Ashra is worried both about his fiancee, and about King Ashan’s darkness threatening his city, but when Ashan’s soldiers commit a terrible crime, Ashra decides he cannot stand idly by, and that Taramon needs to be able to defend itself.

Unseen is the really good second book in the Elements trilogy and it starts right were Unknown left off, and it is just as good if a bit darker. This is because it has more action, romance and with a brilliant adventure that leaves you wanting more.

I really like the sweet romance between Jethro and Kyla as the bond between them was so charming and they would sacrifice so much for the other’s safety and happiness, yet still understand that they have to complete the prophecy and stop the darkness. I also liked how we got to know Ashra better in this book, and we get to see how much he cares for Taramon and the people.

I will be reading the final book Unleashed to see how the trilogy concludes. I would recommend Unseen to fans of YA fantasy novels. 

Unknown

****

4 Stars/5

Thanks to Netgalley and Indie Inked for giving me this book to review.

With darkness spreading over the world, as King Ashan’s growing greed for power; it seems that the light will never return. However, there is a prophecy that when a diamond falls in the north, the god Oron will return and bring the light with him. In Tamamon, princess Kyla and Jethro were best friends and were even born on the same day, but time and Kyla getting engaged to Jethro’s cousin Ashra have created distance between them. But when a star falls next to the city and Kyla and Jethro have unusual reactions to touching it, they discover that they have to set out on a journey into the unknown to find the elements earth, water, air and fire to bring back light to the world.

I really liked Unknown as even though it is a bit predictable, it is a light, addictive YA fantasy book, and I could not put it down until I found out what happened next. Unknown is good as it has adventure, betrayal love and good fantasy world building.

I like Kyla as she is a feisty person who does not want to be a princess instead she wants to escape and have an adventure, I also can sympathise with her struggle to believe in the prophecy and Oron, because of the death of her father and brothers. I also really like Jethro as he acts realistically in his struggles with his feelings for Kyla, while at the same time respecting and not wanting to hurt his cousin. Pearl is really good at writing complex characters such as Ashra and Nikara, but my favourite secondary character is the queen as, while she is weak, she does care about her people and will do anything to protect them, but is still conflicted about how to deal with her daughter.

I will be reading the next book Unseen to find out what happens next to Kyla, Jethro and Ashra, and would recommend Unknown to fans of Slumber by Samantha Young or Broken Aro by Jen Wylie.

Scarlet

***

3 Stars/5

Will Scarlet, one of Robin Hood’s band of outlaws, is not all he seems to be, as he is actually a young woman called Scarlet, and only a few know her secret as she is hiding from a dangerous past. Scarlet is loyal to Robin and is willing to do anything to help the people of Nottingham. That is until the Sheriff of Nottingham hires the thief taker, Gisbourne, someone who Scarlet knows from her old life and could cost Scarlet her life and more. Will Scarlet, Robin and the other outlaws, Little John and Much be able to avoid Gisbourne and raise enough money to cover the high taxes the sheriff is asking of the people of Nottingham?

Scarlet is a twist on the Robin Hood tale and is really enjoyable as there is lots of action and romance. However, even though I am rubbish at geography I am fairly sure Gaughen has underestimated the distances between different places as they seemed to travel dozens of miles in only an evening.

I like Scarlet as she is willing to do anything the boys can, and is loyal and self-sacrificing but is very naïve about boys and romance. However, I felt  she is a bit too self-sacrificing such as her refusing to eat just because others were going hungry, and I felt like it could have been explored and dealt with but near the end it was ignored.  I liked all of the “merry men” (I’m not sure I can call them that) but my favourite is Much as he is the only one who did not want anything out of Scarlet. Out of the other two I preferred Robin as John only felt like an obstacle for the romance between Scarlet and Robin. That being said I did not like Robin much as he either thought he was better than everyone else or was just rude to Scarlet.

While the romance in this book was disappointing, I will be reading the next book Lady Thief to find out what happens next to Scarlet and the gang. I would recommend Scarlet to fans of historical fantasy retellings.