The Shadow Hour by Melissa Grey (The Girl at Midnight book 2)

SPOILER ALERT! If you haven’t read the first book in the series, The Girl at Midnight, Stop! I don’t want to ruin the story for you.

“A battle has been won. But the war has only just begun.”

“Everything in Echo’s life changed in a blinding flash when she learned the startling truth: she is the firebird, the creature of light that is said to bring peace.

The firebird has come into the world, but it has not come alone. Every action has an equal and opposite reaction, and Echo can feel a great and terrible darkness rising in the distance. Cosmic forces threaten to tear the world apart.

Echo has already lost her home, her family, and her boyfriend. Now, as the firebird, her path is filled with even greater dangers than the ones she’s already overcome.

She knows the Dragon Prince will not fall without a fight.

Echo must decide: can she wield the power of her true nature—or will it prove too strong for her, and burn what’s left of her world to the ground?

Welcome to the shadow hour.” taken from Goodreads.com

This book picks up immediately after the first. Echo is now the firebird and she must decide what that will mean for her life. With her new and old friends, they try and determine how they will save not only themselves but the world from the new Dragon Prince. The action and reveals build slowly but readers will race to the end to see what happens. The last two pages slayed me but excited for book three. A definite read for fantasy lovers.

The final book in the trilogy is The Savage Dawn, due out July 11, 2017.

Visit Melissa Grey’s website.

Daughter of the Pirate King by Tricia Levenseller (Daughter of the Pirate King book 1)

“There will be plenty of time for me to beat him soundly once I’ve gotten what I came for.

Sent on a mission to retrieve an ancient hidden map—the key to a legendary treasure trove—seventeen-year-old pirate captain Alosa deliberately allows herself to be captured by her enemies, giving her the perfect opportunity to search their ship.

More than a match for the ruthless pirate crew, Alosa has only one thing standing between her and the map: her captor, the unexpectedly clever and unfairly attractive first mate, Riden. But not to worry, for Alosa has a few tricks up her sleeve, and no lone pirate can stop the Daughter of the Pirate King.” - taken from Goodreads.com

This is a super cute, super quick, humorous read that doesn't quite end in a cliffhanger but will make you want to read the next book in the series. I loved the snark and tension between Alosa and Riden. Even though the story somewhat ends, readers will definitely be clamouring for book two.

Book two, Daughter of the Siren Queen will be published on February 28, 2018.

Visit Tricia Levenseller’s website.

Wires and Nerve: volume 1 by Marissa Meyer (Lunar Chronicles Series)

SPOILER ALERT! If you haven’t read the first books in the Lunar Chronicles, Stop! This graphic novel series takes place after the events in Winter.

“Author Marissa Meyer extends the world of the Lunar Chronicles with a brand-new, action-packed story about Iko, the android with a heart of (mechanized) gold. When rogue packs of wolf-hybrid soldiers threaten the tenuous peace alliance between Earth and Luna, Iko takes it upon herself to hunt down the soldiers' leader. She is soon working with a handsome royal guard who forces her to question everything she knows about love, loyalty, and her own humanity. With appearances by Cinder and the rest of the Rampion crew, this is a must-have for fans of the bestselling series.” - taken from Goodreads.com

I loved getting back into the world of the Lunar Chronicles and catching up with all of my favorite characters as seen through the eyes of the lovable android, Iko. Iko is on a mission to help Queen Selene (Cinder) rein in Levana’s hybrid wolf pack that is still terrorizing Earth. The only two problems I had with this graphic novel is I wish the artist had used more color and the story is far from complete. Alas, I must now wait a year to see what happens next.

Volume 2 is due out in 2018.

Visit Marissa Meyer’s website.

Visit the Lunar Chronicles website.

Hunted by Meagan Spooner

“A Beauty deadlier than the Beast.”

“Beauty knows the Beast’s forest in her bones—and in her blood. Though she grew up with the city’s highest aristocrats, far from her father’s old lodge, she knows that the forest holds secrets and that her father is the only hunter who’s ever come close to discovering them.

So when her father loses his fortune and moves Yeva and her sisters back to the outskirts of town, Yeva is secretly relieved. Out in the wilderness, there’s no pressure to make idle chatter with vapid baronessas…or to submit to marrying a wealthy gentleman. But Yeva’s father’s misfortune may have cost him his mind, and when he goes missing in the woods, Yeva sets her sights on one prey: the creature he’d been obsessively tracking just before his disappearance.

Deaf to her sisters’ protests, Yeva hunts this strange Beast back into his own territory—a cursed valley, a ruined castle, and a world of creatures that Yeva’s only heard about in fairy tales. A world that can bring her ruin or salvation. Who will survive: the Beauty, or the Beast?” - taken from Goodreads.com

Hunted is a Beauty and the Beast retelling infused with Russian folklore. Don’t head into this book expecting the Disney version of Belle or you will be sorely disappointed. Yeva is a strong female character who stands up for herself and those she loves. When her father loses the family fortune, they leave their town behind and head out into the woods to live in the hunting cabin her father abandoned years ago. Yeva is ecstatic to get back into the forest and hunt. When her father goes missing, Yeva sets out to find him despite her sisters’ pleas not to.

This book did start off a bit slow in building up the background of Yeva and her family, but once Yeva and The Beast begin interacting, this story really picks up speed. Interspersed through the chapters, readers also get brief glimpses into the mind of Beast.

Visit Meagan Spooner’s website.

Empress of a Thousand Skies by Rhoda Belleza

“Take back the throne.”

“Empress

Rhee, also known as Crown Princess Rhiannon Ta’an, is the sole surviving heir to a powerful dynasty. She’ll stop at nothing to avenge her family and claim her throne.

Fugitive

Aly has risen above his war refugee origins to find fame as the dashing star of a DroneVision show. But when he’s falsely accused of killing Rhee, he's forced to prove his innocence to save his reputation – and his life.

Madman

With planets on the brink of war, Rhee and Aly are thrown together to confront a ruthless evil that threatens the fate of the entire galaxy.

A saga of vengeance, warfare, and the true meaning of legacy.”  taken from Goodreads.com.

I was pleasantly surprised by this book. I thought for sure it would be very predictable, and at times it was, but it doesn't follow the same old standard tropes. For one, the two main characters and their POVs only cross once and they never really meet. I cannot wait to see where the story is going from here after the ending.

The story will be continued with book two.

Caraval by Stephanie Garber (Caraval book 1)

“Remember, it’s only a game.”

“Welcome to Caraval, where nothing is quite what it seems.

Scarlett has never left the tiny isle of Trisda, pining from afar for the wonder of Caraval, a once-a-year week-long performance where the audience participates in the show.

Caraval is Magic. Mystery. Adventure. And for Scarlett and her beloved sister Tella it represents freedom and an escape from their ruthless, abusive father.

When the sisters' long-awaited invitations to Caraval finally arrive, it seems their dreams have come true. But no sooner have they arrived than Tella vanishes, kidnapped by the show's mastermind organizer, Legend.

Scarlett has been told that everything that happens during Caraval is only an elaborate performance. But nonetheless she quickly becomes enmeshed in a dangerous game of love, magic and heartbreak. And real or not, she must find Tella before the game is over, and her sister disappears forever.” taken from Goodreads.com

Wow! This book truly lived up to all of the hype surrounding it. I loved how Scarlett’s story was depicted through the letters and clues between her and the mysterious Legend. The writing is absolutely beautiful and makes the reader feel as if they are right alongside Scarlett as she searches for her sister, Tella. Even though the reader may think they know where the story is going, they will be pleasantly surprised to find out that the story isn’t as predictable as thought.

Even though Scarlett’s story is somewhat wrapped up, the last scene in the book sets up for the conclusion due out sometime in 2018.

Visit Stephanie Garber’s website.

United (Alienated book 3)

SPOILER ALERT! If you haven’t read the first two books in the series, Alienated and Invaded, Stop! I don’t want to ruin the story for you.

“After thwarting a deadly coup and saving the alliance between their worlds, Cara and Aelyx have finally earned a break. Their tiny island colony is everything they dreamed it would be―days spent gathering shells on the beach and nights in each other’s arms.

But the vacation is short-lived.

The treaty between Earth and L’eihr has awakened an ancient force that threatens to destroy them all. The Aribol, mysterious guardians charged with maintaining interstellar peace, deem the alliance a threat to the galaxy. They order a separation of the races, decreeing humans and L’eihrs must return to their own planets within the month or face extinction. In fact, they already have agents in place on Earth, ready to begin.

With the clock ticking, Aelyx and Cara assemble a team of colonists and race back to Earth, where they unite with old friends to solve the mystery of who the Aribol are, what they want, and the real reason the alliance has provoked them. As tensions build to a full-scale war, Aelyx and Cara must fight harder than ever―not just for their future, but for the survival of both their worlds.” - taken from Goodreads.com

Not sure how I feel about this book. I had just finished the author’s other series that I loved. Glad to find out the ending to Cara and Aelyx’s story but I didn’t devour it like I did Starfall.

Visit Melissa Landers’ website.