Half Wild by Sally Green

Genre:  YA Paranormal Fantasy

Half Bad Trilogy, Book 2

Sally Green's website

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Note:  This is the second book in a series.  You have been warned.

Description (taken from Sally Green's website):

"You will have a powerful Gift, but it’s how you use it that will show you to be good or bad."

In a modern-day England where two warring factions of witches live amongst humans, seventeen-year-old Nathan is an abomination, the illegitimate son of the world’s most powerful and violent witch. Nathan is hunted from all sides: nowhere is safe and no one can be trusted. Now, Nathan has come into his own unique magical Gift, and he’s on the run–but the Hunters are close behind, and they will stop at nothing until they have captured Nathan and destroyed his father.

This story picks up right where the last one left:  with Nathan on the run from White Hunters.  He was separated from Gabriel in the last book and now he's waiting to meet up with him.  While he did have his Giving ceremony, so many other things have gone wrong.  And it's going to take a lot to make them right again.

This story is more about Nathan exploring his gifts and meeting his father, Marcus.  It's also about a rebel group of Black and White Witches uniting against the Council.  But it's going to take a lot of powerful witches to overcome the Council and Hunters.  And with Nathan trying to figure out how to control his Gift, a lot of things can go wrong.

I love the grit that comes with the main character.  This book is very different from what I'm used to reading.  It's from the point of view of a teenage boy who isn't that sociable.  Yet he's still very much in love with a girl and willing to do anything to be with her.  But he's also got a power that comes from a history of witches who have done terrible things.  So he doesn't want history to dictate his future.  I enjoyed reading this.  And I'm looking forward to the next one.

I think this is a fun and easy read.  You're either going to love Nathan or you're not.  But at least give the series a try.

Half Bad by Sally Green

Click here to enter a giveaway for this series.

Genre:  YA Paranormal Fantasy

Half Bad Series, Book 1 

Sally Green's website

Amazon | Book Depository | Goodreads

Description (taken From Sally Green's website):

Wanted by no one. Hunted by everyone.

Sixteen-year-old Nathan lives in a cage: beaten, shackled, trained to kill. In a modern-day England where two warring factions of witches live amongst humans, Nathan is an abomination, the illegitimate son of the world’s most terrifying and violent witch, Marcus. Nathan’s only hope for survival is to escape his captors, track down Marcus, and receive the three gifts that will bring him into his own magical powers—before it’s too late. But how can Nathan find his father when his every action is tracked, when there is no one safe to trust, not even family, not even the girl he loves?

Nathan's world is made up of fain (non-magic people) and two kinds of witches: White and Black.  The White witches are the witches who practice good magic and use it to promote mankind.  However the Black witches are evil and kill other witches for their power.  Or that is what the witch-order would like us to believe.  Being a half black and half white witch, Nathan's not so sure which side is good and which side is evil.  So far all he's known from the governing white witches has been cruelty and evilness.  Maybe Nathan will be able to find his father to prove to himself that not all black witches are evil.

After Nathan is taken from his home, he begins to learn bits and pieces about his family history as well as prophecies.  But there's not much sense in these prophecies if Nathan can't figure out half of what's going on.  As the White Witches Council tries to shape him into a half-starved animal, he escapes.  And before he can become a full-fledged witch, he needs to receive three gifts from a family member.  So now he's even more convinced that he needs to find his father in order to understand the past that haunts him.

This book is like Harry Potter goes goth.  The prejudices that Nathan undergoes; it's shocking.  He's like the black sheep that everyone tries to paint white before giving up and killing the thing.  And the story moves forward.  And builds.  Suddenly you're engrossed and need to know what's going to happen.  And you realize the ending is coming soon, but it's still climaxing.  And then you're like OMG, WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?  And the title of the next chapter is "Acknowledgements," and you realize you're at the end of the story.  The only thing you can think of clearly is how much of an improper ending that was.  And where's the next book?

This is a good starter novel.  It has you wanting more pretty quickly.  And then you hit the end of the book without getting a good ending.  I'm off to get the second one now.

Thanks goes to Penguin Random House for providing me a review copy.

Click here to enter a giveaway for this series.

Firewalker by Josephine Angelini

Genre:  YA Fantasy

Worldwalker Trilogy, Book 2

Josephine Angelini's website

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Note:  This is the second book in a series and can spoil pieces from the first book.  You've been warned.

Description (taken from Josephine Angelini's website):

Lily is back in her own universe, and she's ready to start a new life with Rowan by her side. True, she almost died in the Pyre that fueled their escape from New Salem, and must hide her magic for the safety of everyone she cares about, but compared to fighting the Woven, the monstrous creatures inhabiting the alternate Salem, life is looking pretty good.

Unfortunately, Lillian, ruthless ruler of the 13 Cities, is not willing to let Lily go that easily. If she can’t persuade Lily to return to her world, she will force her to come back by doing away with the ones she loves.

Picking up right where Trial By Fire left off, Firewalker is another sexy, fast-paced, and heartbreaking thrill ride.

Lily has returned home to her own universe after just surviving a brutal battle against her otherworld self: Lillian.  She brought Rowan home and is finally ready to settle into a life on Earth without magic and the Woven.  The only problem is it's hard to let another world that's dying go when you could possibly save it.  And not everything is as peaceful as it seems on Earth.  Will Lily get her happily ever after or will she decide to save Lillian's world?

While Lily is healing, Lillian enters her mind to show her Lillian's past.  This is literally living through memories that turned Lillian into the evil tyrant she is.  Only problem is Lily can see where she's coming from and begins to question what she once thought was black and white.  Meanwhile, Rowan is encouraging her to let her friends know about magic and witches.  She needs to gain mechanics to protect her in case Lillian comes after her.  Only Lily's not so sure that's all necessary yet.

It's hard to review this book without giving it all away.  Needless to say, stuff happens.  And it's been so long since I read the first one that I honestly forgot why I was supposed to hate Lillian.  Because this book made me sympathize with her.  If there was any hating to go around, I kind of hated the immaturity with the relationship between Lily and Rowan.  They do some pretty stupid and childish things to each other considering they're supposed to be soulmates or whatever.  Regardless, that's pretty much my only complaint to this book.  I was hooked from the beginning and in love with the multiple universe and magic concept.

Fans of Josephine Angelini are not going to be disappointed.  And if you're one who's interested in multiple universes, I'd suggest picking this one up.

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

The Witch Hunter by Virginia Boecker

Genre:  YA Historical Fantasy

The Witch Hunter Series, Book 1

Virginia Boecker's website

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Description (taken from Virginia Boecker's website):

The magic and suspense of Graceling meet the political intrigue and unrest of Game of Thrones in this riveting fantasy debut.

Your greatest enemy isn’t what you fight, but what you fear.

Elizabeth Grey is one of the king’s best witch hunters, devoted to rooting out witchcraft and doling out justice. But when she’s accused of being a witch herself, Elizabeth is arrested and sentenced to burn at the stake.

Salvation comes from a man she thought was her enemy. Nicholas Perevil, the most powerful and dangerous wizard in the kingdom, offers her a deal: he will save her from execution if she can break the deadly curse that’s been laid upon him.

But Nicholas and his followers know nothing of Elizabeth’s witch hunting past–if they find out, the stake will be the least of her worries. And as she’s thrust into the magical world of witches, ghosts, pirates, and one all-too-handsome healer, Elizabeth is forced to redefine her ideas of right and wrong, of friends and enemies, and of love and hate.

Elizabeth has survived life as an orphan by following Caleb, her best friend and knight-in-shining-armor.  He was the one who brought her to the king's palace to seek work, shelter, and food.  He was the one who introduced her to Blackwell and witch hunters.  And now she's one of the best witch hunters around.  But Elizabeth's life isn't as simple as right or wrong, witch or human.  She finds there's a lot of things that motivate people when she's accused of being a witch.

Nicholas seeks Elizabeth and saves her from the dungeons.  When she realizes he's not Caleb, she knows there's some other sinister plot going on.  And of course there is.  Nicholas needs Elizabeth's help to release the curse that's killing him.  But as she learns more, will she remain the witch hunter she is or will she join the other side?  Is it really that simple?

I was kind of surprised to see the web of plotlines in this story.  They tie together very nicely.  But I never really became super interested in Elizabeth's character.  Let's face it, yes some plots are obvious in this book.  But it's the emotion and motivation behind the character that makes it seem real.  I either missed all of the subtlety or Elizabeth just did a full 180 within the pages of this book.  Not exactly like getting whiplash, but more of "you girly girl, you."  Changing sides all in the name of girly-girl love.  And no, that's not a bad thing.  I just want more than that I guess.

I think there are going to be a lot of people who enjoy this book and will continue the series.  Unless I get out of my reading rut, I probably won't continue this one.  Not enough to pull me from the real-world but nevertheless, still entertaining.

Sisters' Fate by Jessica Spotswood

Genre:  YA Historical Paranormal Romance

The Cahill Witch Chronicles Series, Book 3

Jessica Spotswood's website

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Note:  This is the final book in a trilogy.  Reading anything below without having read the first two books could spoil earlier plot lines.

Description (taken from Jessica Spotswood's website):

A fever ravages New London, but with the Brotherhood sending suspected witches straight to the gallows, the Sisters are powerless against the disease. They can't help without revealing their powers—as Cate learns when a potent display of magic turns her into the most wanted witch in all of New England.

To make matters worse, Cate has been erased from the memory of her beloved Finn. While she's torn between protecting him from further attacks and encouraging him to fall for her all over again, she's certain she can never forgive Maura's betrayal. And now that Tess's visions have taken a deadly turn, the prophecy that one Cahill sister will murder another looms ever closer to its fulfillment.

This book picks up right where the last one left off: with Maura betraying Cate by erasing Finn's memory.  Cate has lost the very reason she has worked to destroy the brotherhood and free their hold of the community.  But Maura has joined a bigger movement.  She's going to help Inez, the one now in charge of the Sisterhood, who plans on taking over the city and destroying every last member of the brotherhood, regardless of guilt.  But Cate just can't let that happen.

Cate has joined the resistance, a group of misfits who want to rid the brotherhood's stranglehold on society.  But this ragtag of men wouldn't go so far as to give women the right to vote; that's another conversation for a later time.  But Cate gets a chance meeting here with Finn that will begin to rekindle a romance from the past.  Meanwhile, Tess, the prophesied most powerful witch of New London, is being plagued with visions and illusions.  She can't determine truth from fiction and is beginning to go mad.  But can Cate help her before it's too late?

So this book brings in an element that wasn't touched on much earlier: a fever plaguing the village.  And it felt a little off base from the previous books.  I remember having so much emotion at the end of the second one that I wanted to scream, and this one just didn't keep up the steam for me.  I felt like this huge Cahill prophecy about Tess was such a let down.  It's like witchcraft was just a tiny part to the whole story.  I don't know.  I guess I just lost interest in the characters once we turned it into a classical plague/witch hunt.

This is a historical fiction series that kind of goes through the witch trials from the past.  It's one that's sure to rile with emotions and keep the reader interested.  I think I'm just getting tired of young adult, and that's why it didn't sit well with me.

Only Gingers can be Witches by JA Trevor

Genre:  Middle Grade Urban Fantasy

JA Trevor's website

Amazon | Goodreads

Description (taken from Goodreads):

Two weeks ago, thirteen year-old Ally would have laughed at the thought of running around in the middle of the night, waving bundles of herbs at imaginary ghosts. But the new girl in town, Hanna, is into that sort of thing.

When the two girls become unlikely friends, Hanna's world of witchery invades Ally's own and turns decidedly dangerous. Flocks of crows descend on the streets, shadow-men stalk Ally's front yard, and a ghoul nests like a spider in the local library's basement. Together, the girls set out to quickly uncover the sinister culprit behind it all--before someone gets hurt.

But then a mysterious stranger emerges from the shadows to snatch Hanna off the streets for use in a nefarious plan. Ally has never had to save anyone before, and isn't sure she's up to the task. In fact, magic in general is out of her experience entirely; because as everyone knows, only gingers can be witches... or can they?

Ally lives in a small town where new things like recycling and the internet are barely beginning.  Yes, we're moving back in time a bit before phones and mp3 players became a thing.  Ally is one of those do-gooders that's trying to do well in school and get her parents to go a little green by recycling.  Basically, she's the girl that's going to make things happen when she grows up.  But our story happens now, and someone new is going to push her to be amazing.

Hanna is that one who dresses a little differently, acts a little strangely, and couldn't care less about what anyone think.  But as all newcomers going to school know, she's still looking for a friend.  So when she meets Ally who's willing to go with her 'only gingers can be witches,' attitude, it's a match made in heaven.  The only problem is Ally will soon realize Hanna's not just imagining things, she's actually a witch.  And something wicked in town is brewing.

Ally and Hanna's personalities compliment each other really well in this story.  I loved watching their friendship grow and the witch history/teaching was all intermingled into the story.  And there was magic, rune stones, ghouls, and talk of other nefarious creatures.  I had fun with it.  When the supernatural occurrences happened, I loved seeing Hanna's can-fix-it attitude come out.  But we also got to watch Ally shine when she was faced with a sinister plot.  My only drawback was I felt like the characters behaved a little younger than their age (13), but I'm used to stories regarding older characters (so what do I know?).

This is definitely a story for middle grade students that shows two very strong female characters.  We don't get too many stories like that, do we?  In my opinion, we need more.  A fun one I would hand to kids ready for big-kid chapter books.

Trial by Fire by Jospehine Angelini

Genre:  YA Fantasy

Worldwalker Trilogy, Book 1

Jospehine Angelini's website

Expected publication date:  September 2, 2014

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Description (taken from Josephine Angelini's website):

Love burns. Worlds collide. Magic reigns.

This world is trying to kill Lily Proctor. Her life-threatening allergies keep her from enjoying many of the experiences that other teenagers take for granted...which is why she is determined to enjoy her first (and perhaps only) high-school party. But Lily's life never goes according to plan, and after a humiliating incident in front of half her graduating class Lily wishes she could just disappear.

Suddenly Lily is in a different Salem - one overrun with horrifying creatures and ruled by powerful women called Crucibles. Strongest and cruellest of all the Crucibles is Lillian . . . Lily's identical other self in this alternate universe. This new version of her world is terrifyingly sensual, and Lily is soon overwhelmed by new experiences.

Lily realizes that what makes her weak at home is exactly what makes her extraordinary in New Salem. It also puts her life in danger. Thrown into a world she doesn't understand, Lily is torn between responsibilities she can't hope to shoulder alone, and a love she never expected.

But how can Lily be the saviour of this world when she is literally her own worst enemy?

In Lily's world, she's the sickly outcast that everyone tries not to notice too much.  But with her allergies worsening, she knows she's not going to be able to do a whole lot of normal things for very much longer.  And she's dying to get her best friend, Tristan, to notice her.  When he finally does and decides to take her to a party, Lily thinks it might finally be her dream come true.  But things happen and Lily finally gets noticed, just not in the way that she wanted people to notice her.  And when someone offers her a way out of her humiliating experience, she decides to take it.

But where she ends up isn't what she expected.  An alternate universe where the Lillian here is in full control of the world.  Her allergies are suddenly explained as power Lily wields.  She's strong; she's a witch.  And the hesitant Rowan, who's been burned by Lillian already, must teach her how to wield her magic.  As their world fights a revolution against the witches' tyranny, Lily finds everyone trying to use her how they see fit.  But all Lily wants to do is learn enough to get herself home.  No matter how good this world turns out to be, it's not her home.

Josephine Angelini is one of my favorite story-tellers.  The fact that I stayed up hours into the night reading this book even though I wasn't sold on the concept is proof.  After finishing the book, I still didn't know what to think.  I mean alternate universes where magic rules instead of science?  It's cool, but the whole alternate universe thing has been done before.  It seems like dystopians are going to step down and make way for alternate universes, but that's a rant for another day.  Back to the book, I honestly have a love-hate relationship for this book.  The characters kept me very entertained, and I loved their determination to fight for what they believed in.  But I felt like a lot of them gave up too early and lost their flame; plus Lily is just weird.

This is a series that is going to captivate an audience.  Fans of Josephine Angelini's writing are not going to be disappointed.  And after I let the story settle in my mind for a day, I realized I will plan on reading the next book.  I do want more of the story even if I wasn't exactly sold with the first book.

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

Witchstruck by Victoria Lamb

Genre:  YA Historical Fantasy

The Tudor Witch Trilogy, Book 1

Victoria Lamb's website

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Description (taken from Goodreads):

If she sink, she be no witch and shall be drowned.

If she float, she be a witch and must be hanged.

Meg Lytton has always known she is different—that she bears a dark and powerful gift. But in 1554 England, in service at Woodstock Palace to the banished Tudor princess Elizabeth, it has never been more dangerous to practise witchcraft. Meg knows she must guard her secret carefully from the many suspicious eyes watching over the princess and her companions. One wrong move could mean her life, and the life of Elizabeth, rightful heir to the English throne.

With witchfinder Marcus Dent determined to have Meg's hand in marriage, and Meg's own family conspiring against the English queen, there isn't a single person Meg can trust. Certainly not the enigmatic young Spanish priest Alejandro de Castillo, despite her undeniable feelings. But when all the world turns against her, Meg must open her heart to a dangerous choice.

Take the scene from the Tudor era and throw in a couple of witches.  Sounds like a good mix, right?  I have to admit that I don't read a whole lot of young adult fiction set in the Tudor era.  But I was super excited when I heard about this one.

Meg has been serving Princess Elizabeth ever since Elizabeth was exiled to Woodstock, a palace in the countryside.  Even though Queen Mary would like nothing better than to put Elizabeth's head on a pike, Elizabeth still sees a future on the English throne.  And she uses Meg, a witch, to see into the future to do everything to make this happens.  But Meg is just an apprentice of a witch, and there are others in her life who would gladly see her fail.

When all was said and done, I felt like the plot was a little small for the size of this book.  I loved seeing Meg and her aunt work magic together and seeing the tragedies that followed them.  However, the amount of magic I saw from Meg left me lacking.  I felt like I got the watered-down version of the Tudor witches.  There just wasn't enough excitement to keep me on the edge of my seat.  And the love interest, Alejandro?  I loved seeing him play a really good supporting character, but there wasn't a whole lot of romance (other than smoky eyes and thin lips - is this really sexy?).

I don't think I'm going to continue this series.  Because what I envisioned wasn't what I got.  And the opinion I'm left with is 'it was okay.'  Check out other reviews if you're considering this one.

Tangled Up in Trouble by Olivia Hardin

Genre:  Adult Urban Fantasy

MAUCs Series, Book 2

Olivia Hardin's website

Amazon | Goodreads

Description (taken from Goodreads):

Lynlee Lincoln isn’t just a witch, she’s also a Neutralizer. Her job is a juggling act to keep magical and undead clients out of trouble. But getting back together with her old flame throws one more ball into the mix and romance with a guy who has two kids can get complicated. When her old mentor asks her to investigate the goings-on of a dark witch, things turn messy. The witch is stalking supernatural creatures to collect ingredients for a potion that Lynlee can’t seem to figure out. To keep those closest to her from becoming the next victims, she may have to confront the demons within herself.

One of the things I like about this series is it kind of portrays love in the real world, err paranormal world (close enough).  It's about established adults that have a past behind them, and the romance isn't all hunky-dory new and fresh.  It's something that takes work, as I imagine most romances in the real-world would be.

Lynlee is still attempting to establish herself in a relationship with Beck when she hears from her old mentor, Tig.  Beck, the handsome flame from her past, has two kids that he's raising and trying to do right by.  And very slowly does the responsibility for the welfare of these kids move to Lynlee.  And it puts her in some situations that she hasn't seen before, moments to do right by the kids, moments to mess up, and moments to fall in love with Beck.  Anyways, back to Tig, the one who interrupts this romance.  Tig asks Lynlee to investigate a witch.  And once she starts, she realizes there are some ulterior motives in play.  And soon, everything begins to come full-circle on her and cause a whole lot of chaos.

As you saw above, I'm enjoying this series.  It makes me laugh, and I like watching the average in-and-outs of a Neutralizer who also happens to be a witch.  We see friendships, a paranormal job go awry, more paranormal creatures popping up, romance, and happy moments.  I guess it's more relatable to me than some other books.

I think those looking for an everyday adult paranormal novel should give Trolling for Trouble a go.  It's a short story and pulls you in easily.  And who knows, you might find a favorite series in it.  I'm definitely looking forward to more of Lynlee's adventures.

Thanks goes to Olivia Hardin for providing me a review copy.

Trolling for Trouble by Olivia Hardin

Genre:  Adult Urban Fantasy

MAUCs series, Book 1

Olivia Hardin's website

Amazon | Goodreads

Note:  Ebook is currently free on Amazon.

Description (taken from Olivia Hardin's website):

Lynlee Lincoln is a neutralizer. Her job is to get MAUCs (Magical And Undead Creatures) out of sticky situations. Her busiest night of the year is finally over and she wants nothing more than to get a long night’s sleep.

Finding two small children scavenging through her refrigerator isn’t at all what she’s expecting when she gets home.

Discovering the kids’ father is the man she’s spent years trying to forget about is almost too much to handle.

But how can she deny Beck Hale when he pleads for help to save his sickly daughter?

Now Lynlee’s in a race against time to save them.

A short and sweet novel that someone can read in between tasks.  I would say this is like the magazine-version of a big-time novel.  Maybe that makes sense to someone...

Lynlee is a witch who helps keep the magical and undead creatures under wraps.  They do something that reveals their true identity or magic to the world, and Lynlee will step in to do damage control and keep the magic world hidden from human eyes.  So when her exe shows up with two children in tow, what is a girl like Lynlee to do?  Especially when said exe is against this whole magic business.

This book goes straight into the motions of the problem and fixing the problem.  There isn't no background setup, no secret innuendoes that take some page building, just a simple story that goes from start to finish.  I read this in one setting and found it refreshing to not have to think too much.  And I could kind of relate to the overworked Lynlee we saw trying to help those in need.  But as far as my lasting impression?  I need to read more.

I'm usually not a novella type of girl, but I could see this as a series that grows on you.  I have a feeling the world will continue to grow through these short stories.  And the best thing about them?  They're easy to get into quickly making them great reads for short periods of time.

Challenges:  Paranormal Reading Challenge