Dead Heat by Patricia Briggs

Genre:  Adult Paranormal Romance

Alpha and Omega Series, Book 4

Patricia Briggs' website

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Note:  This is the fourth book in a series, not to mention the twelfth in two series from the same universe.  If you haven't started it, beware that anything said below kind of let's you know what happens in earlier books.

Description (taken from Goodreads):

For once, mated werewolves Charles and Anna are not traveling because of Charles’s role as his father’s enforcer. This time, their trip to Arizona is purely personal, as Charles plans to buy Anna a horse for her birthday. Or at least it starts out that way...

Charles and Anna soon discover that a dangerous Fae being is on the loose, replacing human children with simulacrums. The Fae’s cold war with humanity is about to heat up—and Charles and Anna are in the cross fire.

Anna, an omega werewolf, is living the dream with her mate, Charles.  Only thing is they haven't really taken a real vacation.  So when Charles gets a call from an old friend, they decide to make their way to Arizona with the sole purpose of buying a horse.

But all things supernatural tend to follow Anna and Charles anywhere they go.  While the Fae have all but left the human world and holed up on their faerie reservations, Anna and Charles soon find out not all of them have left for good.  In fact, one has been released, and he is hell bent on doing what he's always done: feeding off of children.  As the two race to figure out what's going on and protect their own, they find a war is brewing.  Only question is which side will the werewolves be on?

I really don't have anything negative to say when it comes to Patricia Briggs' novels.  I love diving into her stories.  And I find I enjoy the Alpha and Omega series more because it changes points of view in order to get the whole story.  It actually makes it flow better and has no confusion when switching narrators.  And there's nothing bad to be said of the relationship between Anna and Charles.  This book definitely appeases the paranormal romance lover in me.

If you're a paranormal romance lover and you haven't read Patricia Briggs, shame on you.  Consider this as me throwing my copies of her books at you and telling you to read them.  Now.

A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J Maas

Genre:  New Adult Fantasy

A Court of Thorns and Roses Series, Book 1

Sarah J Maas' website

Expected publication date:  May 5, 2015

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Description (taken from Sarah J Maas' website):

When nineteen-year-old huntress Feyre kills a wolf in the woods, a beast-like creature arrives to demand retribution for it. Dragged to a treacherous magical land she only knows about from legends, Feyre discovers that her captor is not an animal, but Tamlin-one of the lethal, immortal faeries who once ruled their world.

As she dwells on his estate, her feelings for Tamlin transform from icy hostility into a fiery passion that burns through every lie and warning she’s been told about the beautiful, dangerous world of the Fae. But an ancient, wicked shadow over the faerie lands is growing, and Feyre must find a way to stop it . . . or doom Tamlin-and his world-forever.

When I first picked up this book, my immediate thoughts were why did I want to read this again?  I was not the biggest fan of Sarah J Maas' other book, so why would I want to read this one?  Quite honestly, it was the description that caught my eye.  We're in a world of faeries and magic.  What more could a girl ask for?  How about a Beauty and the Beast retelling?  Score!!

Feyre promised her dying mother that she would look after her older sisters and father.  So she's off hunting for food in the middle of winter in the woods where wolves have been known to prowl.  Due to her need for survival, actions occur that bring home food as well as a certain faerie's wrath.  In order to pay for her actions, Feyre ends up on the other side of the wall in the Spring court.  While she tries to figure out how to get home, she finds she needs to learn more about her captor, Tamlin.  And the more she learns, the more Feyre seems to blur the lines between fae and human.

I feel like this is one of those books that ripped the Y from YA (young adult) and replaced it for an NA (new adult).  But I can't really complain about that because I felt like the story had a little more depth.  In the beginning, I thought Feyre (and her older sisters) were setting me up for disappointment.  I mean, what mother in her right mind demands her youngest kid to take care of her elders?  But once I got out of the human world and into the fae world, the fantasy part of mind quickly over-ruled that doubtful one.  This story is a beautifully laid out Beauty and the Beast retelling that doesn't take a lot of thought to get through.  There were parts of the story where I was  absolutely swooning over the characters.

I think Sarah J Maas fans are going to enjoy this one.  And for those who despised Throne of Glass, you might enjoy this one.  Yes, I will say the characters can be a little one-dimensional, but the story pulled me in and forced the characters to grow on me.  I will be reading the second one...

Thanks goes to Around the World ARC Tours for providing me a review copy.

The Exile by CT Adams

Genre:  Adult Urban Fantasy

The Fae Series, Book 1

CT Adams' website

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Description (taken from Goodreads):

Brianna Hai runs an occult shop that sells useless trinkets to tourists—and real magic supplies to witches and warlocks. The magical painting that hangs in Brianna's apartment is the last portal between the fae and human worlds.

A shocking magical assault on her home reveals to Brianna that her father, High King Liu of the Fae, is under attack. With the help of her gargoyle, Pug, her friend David, and Angelo, a police detective who doesn't believe in magic, Brianna recovers what was stolen from her and becomes an unwilling potential heir to the throne.

Brianna is your typical occult shop owner.  You know the kind that is half-witch-half-fae.  She left the fae world to join her mother in the human world.  And while she collects and sells magical artifacts, her father watches from the only known portal between the two worlds.  Needless to say, it only takes a small catalyst to bring her back to the fae world.

After receiving a gift from her father, King Liu, Brianna has to find something to send in return.  With the help of her coworker and friend, David, she's able to find the perfect piece of art.  When they struggle to get it home, David's brother, Nick, just happens to be in the neighborhood to offer them a ride back to the shop.  Seems like the perfect opportunity to introduce the magic and the fae.  In an attempt to save what's hers, she along with her two companions end up in the fae world.  But it's kind of hard to not make an attempt at war when the other side is willing to kill her.  And of course it draws the attention of her father.  Brianna is now back as princess of the fae.

I loved this book from start to finish.  While I had a hard time with the intro and sticking with the characters as the narrator changed, I was captivated by all of the action.  There were so many side stories keeping up with the main plotline that I felt like I was in an actual person's world.  The only issue I had is I felt like everything tied up too nicely with the ending.  It set everything up perfectly and didn't offer too many twists.  But the story itself is still worth it.

This is a definite for urban fantasy fans.  It has just a dash of romance in it (almost non-existent); it's more focused on Brianna's past and her path forward.  It's good!

Thanks goes to Tor for providing me a review copy.

Shifting Shadows by Patricia Briggs

Genre:  Adult Urban Fantasy

Stories from the World of Mercy Thompson

Patricia Briggs' website

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Description (taken from Goodreads):

Mercy Thompson’s world just got a whole lot bigger…

A collection of all-new and previously published short stories featuring Mercy Thompson, “one of the best heroines in the urban fantasy genre today” (Fiction Vixen Book Reviews), and the characters she calls friends…

Includes the new stories…“Silver”“Roses in Winter”“Redemption”“Hollow”

…and reader favorites“Fairy Gifts”“Gray”“Alpha and Omega”“Seeing Eye”“The Star of David”“In Red, with Pearls”

Are you anxiously awaiting the next Patricia Briggs book?  Are you a fan of the Mercedes Thompson series?  Then this collection of short stories is for you, even if you've read some of them.

In addition to seeing a story from Mercy's point of view, we get to see other supporting characters shine.  There are stories involving Warren, Ben, Ariana, Sam, and an outtake from Adam's point of view.  And even if you've read a few of these, it's still good to check this book out if your a fan.  Because the new stories don't disappoint.  I actually read it from start to finish including the stories I have read before.  And it was super refreshing and brought my love for reading back.

Honestly, this book is for those who can't get enough of Patricia Briggs' urban fantasy.  And I don't think fans will be disappointed.  It'll just keep them wanting more.  Now I've got to wait until the next Alpha and Omega book...

City of Heavenly Fire by Cassandra Clare

Genre:  YA Paranormal Romance

The Mortal Instruments Series, Book 6

Cassandra Clare's website

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Note:  This is the last book in a series.  If you haven't jumped onto the Shadowhunter train yet, get your butt on it.  I'd recommend not reading the stuff below if you're unfamiliar with the series...

Description (taken from Goodreads):

In this dazzling and long-awaited conclusion to the acclaimed Mortal Instruments series, Clary and her friends fight the greatest evil they have ever faced: Clary's own brother.

Sebastian Morgenstern is on the move, systematically turning Shadowhunter against Shadowhunter. Bearing the Infernal Cup, he transforms Shadowhunters into creatures out of nightmare, tearing apart families and lovers as the ranks of his Endarkened army swell.

The embattled Shadowhunters withdraw to Idris - but not even the famed demon towers of Alicante can keep Sebastian at bay. And with the Nephilim trapped in Idris, who will guard the world against demons?

When one of the greatest betrayals the Nephilim have ever known is revealed, Clary, Jace, Isabelle, Simon, and Alec must flee - even if their journey takes them deep into the demon realms, where no Shadowhunter has set foot before, and from which no human being has ever returned...

Love will be sacrificed and lives lost in the terrible battle for the fate of the word in the thrilling final installment of the classic urban fantasy series The Mortal Instruments!

Sebastian is going to destroy the Shadowhunter society by turning them against each other.  Using the Infernal Cup, he takes away their will and souls turning them into a fighting army that reports to him.  But when Sebastian's plans come to fruition, he decides it's not enough.  He has a different goal in mind.

Clary has just survived a battle between her brother and the Endarkened.  When the Clave deems Sebastian and his army a small threat, Clary finds herself battling against the Clave to get them to understand the seriousness.  But with the small steps taken forward in regards to Downworlder relations, we find everyone running backwards to their old prejudices.  But Clary's going to do her hardest to bring peace to the Shadowhunters and Downworlders.

The last book in a series, and it was huge (~725 pages).  We've got some fighting, some love stories, some paranormal species, and learning moments.  I was so excited to read this last book, and I plowed right through it.  And while I loved the story, I hated to see it end.  And I felt like the ending wasn't enough of a bang for me (I might be a little too hard on last -books-in-a-series).  But that shouldn't stop anyone from reading these books.  They're good.

For anyone unfamiliar to Cassandra Clare, I highly recommend you read her books in the order they were published.  And keep going even if you're not quite sold on City of Bones.  My favorite books were from The Infernal Devices series.  But you need both series to get the whole story.  (By the way, having stories from the other series tie into this one was sweet!!)

Bad Luck Girl by Sarah Zettel

Genre:  YA Historical Fantasy

The American Fairy, Book 3

Sarah Zettel's website

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Description (taken from Sarah Zettel's website):

After rescuing her parents from the Seelie king at Hearst Castle, Callie is caught up in the war between the fairies of the Midnight Throne and the Sunlit Kingdoms. By accident, she discovers that fairies aren't the only magical creatures in the world. There's also Halfers, misfits that are half fairy and half other--laced with strange magic and big-city attitude. As the war heats up, Callie's world falls apart. And even though she's the child of prophecy, she doubts she can save the Halfers, her people, her family, and Jack, let alone herself. The fairies all say Callie is the Bad Luck Girl, and she's starting to believe them.

Callie is a fourteen-year-old girl who has worked to free her parents from the Seelie king.  And now they're trying to hide while a war rages on between the Seelie and Unseelie fairies.  The only problem is Callie's conscience won't let her step aside as she watches innocent victims being dragged into the fairy kingdoms.

After finally meeting her father, the Unseelie prince who abdicated, she sees how the fairy nature affects him even though he's drunk off of the love her mother gives him.  And how he was raised and his values of the magical beings blind him to what's really happening.  Callie, a half-black-half-white girl, isn't going to let this blindness stop her.  Even Halfers deserve a fair chance at life and to be free from others.  Even though Callie wants to obey her parents, she's not going to stand aside while all magical mayhem occurs.

This book had the perfect ending.  I absolutely loved how it ended and would love to tell you all about it, but then you'd all hate me for ruining it.  While Callie's character is a little young for me, I loved watching her grow and gain confidence.  When she stood up to her father and held true to her ideals, I was cheering her on.  And the never-ending trust she had for her parents and Jack.  This book is sweet.  And I think it does a really nice job of tying societal issues into fantasy plot lines.  We get the opportunity to see what was wrong with our past (and how it affects our present) without judging (and we get a fun story of fairies to go with it).

This is a fun series that I'd recommend for tweens.  It's sweet, has character-building, and it has fairies.  And while there is a very small bit of romance, it's something that gradually builds and is not the main part of the story.  Plus, the magic is ever-changing.

Thanks goes to Random House Children's Books for providing me a review copy.

Golden Girl by Sarah Zettel

Genre:  YA Historical Fantasy

The American Fairy, Book 2

Sarah Zettel's website

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Description (taken from Sarah Zettel's website):

Callie LeRoux has put her grimy, harrowing trip from the depths of the Dust Bowl behind her. Her life is a different kind of exciting now: she works at a major motion picture studio among powerful studio executives and stylish stars. Still nothing can distract her from her true goal. With help from her friend Jack and guidance from the great singer Paul Robeson, she will find her missing mother. But as a child of prophecy and daughter of the legitimate heir to the Unseelie throne, Callie poses a huge threat to the warring fae factions who’ve attached themselves to the most powerful people in Hollywood . . . and they are all too aware that she’s within their reach.

This book dives right into where Callie's life left off with the last book.  Callie, the Unseelie Court heir, is on a mission to find her parents.  And while the fae will stop at nothing to control Callie due that pesky prophecy surrounding her, she's not going to let them stop her.

Callie and Jack have landed themselves in California trying to locate the entrance to the Seelie Court.  They have her parents, and she wants them back.  While merging into the movie star spotlight, they meet some interesting characters.  One is a girl named Ivy who is a little spoiled starlet, but all she wants is a friend.  As things are revealed and Callie finds her way into the fairy world again, she finds there's a lot more to these people than she first thought.

Again, I enjoyed the story-telling and the world building set in the 1930s.  We're in the world of old Hollywood (or early Hollywood, whatever).  And we get to see a lot of behind-the-scenes scenes that are used for those movies.  In addition, there's a lot of fairy magic involved.  Every time I think I've got the magic figured out, something new pops up and I can't quite comprehend how it works.  Regardless, it's fun to try to follow.  The only complaint I have about this book is it seems slightly childish to me, but that just means I'd recommend this one for tweens in addition to young adults.

An American Fairy series that I'd recommend for anyone looking for a good fantasy set in the past.  It's fun to follow, and before you know it, you're at the end asking for more.

Thanks goes to Random House Children's Publishing for providing me a review copy.

Indelible by Dawn Metcalf

Genre:  YA Paranormal Romance

The Twixt, Book 1

Dawn Metcalf's website

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Description (taken from Dawn Metcalf's website):

Some things are permanent.
Indelible.
And they cannot be changed back.

Joy Malone learns this the night she sees a stranger with all-black eyes across a crowded room-right before the mystery boy tries to cut out her eye. Instead, the wound accidentally marks her as property of Indelible Ink, and this dangerous mistake thrusts Joy into an incomprehensible world-a world of monsters at the window, glowing girls on the doorstep and a life that will never be the same. Now Joy must pretend to be Ink’s chosen one-his helper, his love, his something for the foreseeable future…and failure to be convincing means a painful death for them both. Swept into a world of monsters, illusion, immortal honor and revenge, Joy discovers that sometimes, there are no mistakes.

Somewhere between reality and myth lies…

Joy is out dancing with her friend, Monica, one night when she sees two strange strangers.  They look like gothic twins, but their eyes are pure black.  One of them attacks her which leaves her marked.  After a couple of weird happenings, the twins formally introduce themselves, and Joy finds out she belongs to Ink because of the mark.

With these strange happenings, Joy begins to become immersed in the Twixt.  The Twixt is a world of anything magical: faeries, sprites, trolls, banshees, etc.  They coexist with humans; this coexistence is made possible by the twins.  They help mark humans as theirs instead of putting themselves and magic in danger.  Joy has to make appearances as Ink's helper and lover in this strange world.  Only problem is the act begins to become reality.

I had a couple of reservations with this.  I didn't fully understand Ink and his sister's purpose with marking people to keep the Twixt safe.  It just didn't make sense enough for me to go with it.  However, I liked Joy's character.  She was a girl dealing with loved ones failing her, failing loved ones, trying to grow up, and trying to do something good with her life.  But...  The romance felt too perfect.  Like there wasn't enough conflict to make it real.  It just kind of worked to everyone's romantic advantages.

Is this an interesting take on the fae?  Absolutely.  Did I enjoy it?  Yes.  Would I recommend it to any young adult paranormal romance lover?  Yes.  But I just didn't love it...

Frost Burned by Patricia Briggs

Genre:  Adult Urban Fantasy

Mercy Thompson Series, Book 7

Patricia Briggs' website

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Note:  This is the seventh book in the series.  Obviously there are some spoiler alerts if you're not caught up yet.  (But if you're like me, you'll keep reading because a description plus review usually pushes you to read the series faster --or you just don't like surprises.)

Description (taken from Goodreads):

Mercy Thompson’s life has undergone a seismic change. Becoming the mate of Adam Hauptman—the charismatic Alpha of the local werewolf pack—has made her a stepmother to his daughter Jesse, a relationship that brings moments of blissful normalcy to Mercy’s life. But on the edges of humanity, what passes for a minor mishap on an ordinary day can turn into so much more…

After an accident in bumper-to-bumper traffic, Mercy and Jesse can’t reach Adam—or anyone else in the pack for that matter. They’ve all been abducted.

Through their mating bond, all Mercy knows is that Adam is angry and in pain. With the werewolves fighting a political battle to gain acceptance from the public, Mercy fears Adam’s disappearance may be related—and that he and the pack are in serious danger. Outclassed and on her own, Mercy may be forced to seek assistance from any ally she can get, no matter how unlikely.

Patricia Briggs has made a comeback with this novel for me.  With the last book, I was kind of left unimpressed and felt the series might begin to lag for me.  But this book has turned me around.  Because of this series, I can truly say I like werewolves (best viewed from afar).

As the description states, Mercy can't get ahold of Adam and his pack.  This book lets us see what happens when the werewolves become the prey.  And it's a mystery that Mercy must work to solve quickly if she hopes to save those she holds dear.  In fact, it's the kind of mystery that I didn't figure out all the way on my own.  I was too busy enjoying the story of course.

Fans of adult paranormal stories need to give this series a try.  I've officially thrown my shoes at urban fantasy lovers who haven't read this series yet...

Challenges:  Paranormal Reading Challenge