Discern (Katon University #1) by Andrea Pearson (Review)

Nicole Williams is an Arete—a fourth child with magical abilities—yet no matter how hard she tries, she can’t Channel her power. In fact, she seems to be the only student at Katon University who fails at magic.

That doesn’t stop magic from finding her. It starts with possessed books and cursed spiders before moving quickly to freaky shadows and magical currents. Nicole turns to her best friend for help, along with fellow student Austin Young, who is considered by all a magical rarity. He also happens to be the hottest guy on campus and just might be interested in her.

Nicole soon finds herself competing to be included on a university-led expedition to Arches National Park. She is determined to show everyone, but mostly herself, that she does belong. Yet, to qualify for the trip, she must produce at least a speck of Wind magic, and that appears to be impossible.

As the competition progresses, Nicole wonders if she’s making the right choice—especially when she learns that the strange fossils they’ll be studying in Arches might not be as dead as everyone thinks.

I GIVE THIS BOOK:

The Iron Daughter (The Iron Fey, #2) by Julie Kagawa (Review)

Half Summer faery princess, half human, Meghan has never fit in anywhere. Deserted by the Winter prince she thought loved her, she is prisoner to the Winter faery queen. As war looms between Summer and Winter, Meghan knows that the real danger comes from the Iron fey—ironbound faeries that only she and her absent prince have seen. But no one believes her.

Worse, Meghan's own fey powers have been cut off. She's stuck in Faery with only her wits for help. Trusting anyone would be foolish. Trusting a seeming traitor could be deadly. But even as she grows a backbone of iron, Meghan can't help but hear the whispers of longing in her all-too-human heart.

I GIVE THIS BOOK:

MY THOUGHTS:

I greatly enjoyed reading The Iron King, but The Iron Daughter was so much more enjoyable! I don't know if it's because I know more of the characters and the world, but I was much more invested in the story this time. If you've read the first book you should definitely read this one. Recommended to fans of young adult fantasy.

If you found this review helpful, will you please click yes HERE. Thanks!

Winter's Passage (Iron Fey, #1.5) by Julie Kagawa (Review)

Meghan Chase used to be an ordinary girl..until she discovered that she is really a faery princess. After escaping from the clutches of the deadly Iron fey, Meghan must follow through on her promise to return to the equally dangerous Winter Court with her forbidden love, Prince Ash. But first, Meghan has one request: that they visit Puck--Meghan's best friend and servant of her father, King Oberon--who was gravely injured defending Meghan from the Iron Fey.

Yet Meghan and Ash's detour does not go unnoticed. They have caught the attention of an ancient, powerful hunter--a foe that even Ash may not be able to defeat....

An eBook exclusive story from Julie Kagawa's Iron Fey series.

I GIVE THIS BOOK:

MY THOUGHTS:

Winter's Passage picks up right where The Iron King left off. It was interesting reading about their journey to the Winter palace and it has made me want to read The Iron Daughter even more!

If you found this review helpful, will you please click yes HERE. Thanks!

The Iron King (The Iron Fey, #1) by Julie Kagawa (Review)

Meghan Chase has a secret destiny; one she could never have imagined.

Something has always felt slightly off in Meghan's life, ever since her father disappeared before her eyes when she was six. She has never quite fit in at school or at home.

When a dark stranger begins watching her from afar, and her prankster best friend becomes strangely protective of her, Meghan senses that everything she's known is about to change.

But she could never have guessed the truth - that she is the daughter of a mythical faery king and is a pawn in a deadly war. Now Meghan will learn just how far she'll go to save someone she cares about, to stop a mysterious evil, no faery creature dare face; and to find love with a young prince who might rather see her dead than let her touch his icy heart.

I GIVE THIS BOOK:

MY THOUGHTS:

I haven't read too many fey novels, so I wasn't sure what to expect. The beginning was a little weird for me, as it felt like I had read something very similar before, but besides that it was easy to read and drew me in right away.

There's a little romance in the book, but not too much as it's more about Meghan's journey to rescue her brother. I loved the adventure feel to the story and plan on continuing this series.

If you found this review helpful, will you please click yes HERE. Thanks!

The Black Shard by Victoria Simcox (Book Spotlight and Giveaway)

Kristina's stay at summer horse camp is horrible to say the least, and it's all because Hester and Davina are there as well, making her life miserable. When Hester's cruel prank goes terribly wrong, it's actually what sends the three girls back to the magical land of Bernovem. In Bernovem, Kristina is very excited to see her former friend, Prince Werrien. When he invites her to sail with him on his ship to his homeland Tezerel, putting it simply, Kristina can't refuse.

Reunited with her gnome, dwarf, animal, fairy friends ... and best of all, Werrien, things seem like they couldn't get any better for Kristina. But when Werrien becomes fascinated with an unusual seeing stone, the "Black Shard," Kristina is haunted by a ghostlike old hag. Struggling against suspicion, guilt, illness, and ultimately the one who wants to possess her soul, Kristina will see it's in her weakest moment that she will encounter more strength than she has ever known.

EXCERPT FROM THE BLACK SHARD:

Chapter 3 - Return to Bernovem 
“Kristina?” a male voice called to her from the nearby trees.
The voice caused a shiver to run up her spine. “Who said that?”
Kristina said, looking around, slightly confused.
A young man suddenly appeared. Kristina looked bewildered.
“Who ... are you?” she asked.
“Come on—has it really been that long?” he said, just before
cracking a familiar smile.
Kristina’s stomach flooded with butterflies.
It can’t be, she thought.Her heart began to pound. He was taller, more muscular, and his
voice was deeper—and he was more handsome than she could ever
have imagined.
“Werrien!” she cried.

• BOOK DETAILS:

• Reading level: Ages 9 and up
• Book two in series, book one is The Magic Warble 
• 266 pages with 1-2 pages per chapter
• Publisher: Two Harbors Press (October 4, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1937293149
• ISBN-13: 978-1937293147
• ASIN: B0084AA7RO
• Available to purchase at Amazon: PRINT & KINDLE ($2.99)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Victoria was born in Scarborough, Ontario, Canada, to an Austrian immigrant mother, and a Dutch immigrant father. She now lives in Western Washington with her husband, Russ and their three children, Toby, Kristina, and William. Her other family members are a Chihuahua, named Pipsy and two cats, named Frodo and Fritz. Besides being an author, Victoria is a home-schooling mother of twelve years and an elementary school art teacher of eleven years. In her spare time, Victoria enjoys managing her two older children's Celtic band. She also loves writing, reading, painting watercolors, hiking, good movies, and just simply hanging out with her family and friends.

• Victoria's Website: www.themagicwarble.com
• Victoria's Blog: www.victoriasimcox.blogspot.com

GIVEAWAY:

Enter to win a copy of The Black Shard by Victoria Simcox - there will be four winners! One winner will receive a printed copy (US only) and three winners will receive an e-copy (Int.).

To enter, all you have to do is follow this blog in at least one way, follow Victoria in at least one way, complete the mandatory entries and then complete whichever extra entries you want in the Rafflecopter form below. If you are not familiar with how to use Rafflecopter HERE is a link to a how-to video. Giveaway ends August 5th at 11:59p.m. (e.s.t.). Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway