Immortality: A Love Story by Dana Schwartz (The Anatomy Duology book 2)

 

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

“Hazel Sinnett is alone and half convinced the events of the year before—the immortality, Beecham’s vial—were a figment of her imagination. She doesn’t even know if Jack is alive or dead. All she can really do now is treat patients and maintain Hawthornden Castle as it starts to decay around her.

When saving a life leads to her arrest, Hazel seems doomed to rot in prison until a message intervenes: Hazel has been specifically requested to be the personal physician of Princess Charlotte, the sickly granddaughter of King George III. Soon Hazel is dragged into the glamour and romance of a court where everyone has something to hide, especially the enigmatic, brilliant members of a social club known as the Companions to the Death.

As Hazel’s work entangles her more and more with the British court, she realizes that her own future as a surgeon isn't the only thing at stake for her. Malicious forces are at work in the monarchy, and Hazel may be the only one capable of setting things right.” - taken from Goodreads.

With her family and Jack gone, Hazel is working as a female surgeon at her family's castle in Edinburgh. She has made a quiet life for herself until she saves the life of a young woman that causes her to end up in prison. Resigned to her fate, Hazel is shocked when she is released to become the personal physician of the ailing Princess Charlotte. Quickly immersed in society, Hazel soon learns her fair share of secrets and schemes surrounding the royal family. Will Hazel be able to survive the politics of the day and whatever happened to her beloved Jack? 

Visit Dana Schwartz’s website.

Chain of Thorns by Cassandra Clare (The Lost Hours book 3, Shadowhunters book 15)

 

SPOILER POTENTIAL! This is the third book in this series. Please stop if you haven’t read the first two books.

Check out the Riveted blog for a recap of the Chain of Gold characters.

“Cordelia Carstairs has lost everything that matters to her. In only a few short weeks, she has seen her father murdered, her plans to become parabatai with her best friend, Lucie, destroyed, and her marriage to James Herondale crumble before her eyes. Even worse, she is now bound to an ancient demon, Lilith, stripping her of her power as a Shadowhunter.

After fleeing to Paris with Matthew Fairchild, Cordelia hopes to forget her sorrows in the city’s glittering nightlife. But reality intrudes when shocking news comes from home: Tatiana Blackthorn has escaped the Adamant Citadel, and London is under new threat by the Prince of Hell, Belial.

Cordelia returns to a London riven by chaos and dissent. The long-kept secret that Belial is James and Lucie’s grandfather has been revealed by an unexpected enemy, and the Herondales find themselves under suspicion of dealings with demons. Cordelia longs to protect James but is torn between a love for James she has long believed hopeless, and the possibility of a new life with Matthew. Nor can her friends help—ripped apart by their own secrets, they seem destined to face what is coming alone.

For time is short, and Belial’s plan is about to crash into the Shadowhunters of London like a deadly wave, one that will separate Cordelia, Lucie, and the Merry Thieves from help of any kind. Left alone in a shadowy London, they must face Belial’s deadly army. If Cordelia and her friends are going to save their city—and their families—they will have to muster their courage, swallow their pride, and trust one another again. For if they fail, they may lose everything—even their souls.” - taken from Goodreads.

Our latest Shadowhunters’ tale takes many twists and turns, some you see coming and others that will completely blind side the reader. Without spoiling too many details, fans of Cassie Clare’s long running series will want to see where the characters fall into the history of her Shadowhunter’s realm.

Visit Cassandra Clare’s website.

Visit Shadowhunters.com

A Sorrow Fierce and Falling by Jessica Cluess (Kingdom on Fire book 3)

SPOILER ALERT! If you haven’t read the first two books in the series, A Shadow Bright and Burning, and A Poison Dark and Drowning, Stop! I don’t want to ruin the story for you.

“It’s time for war.

After suffering terrible losses, Henrietta and Lord Blackwood have led their warriors to Sorrow-Fell, a vast estate where only those invited by a Blackwood may enter–and the ideal place to plan a final assault against the Ancients.

It’s time for a wedding.

Henrietta nervously awaits her marriage to Blackwood, but when the ritual to become his bride reveals a dark secret, she realizes that Sorrow-Fell is not a safe haven; it’s a trap. Convincing the sorcerers of this, however, is not easy. So with Maria, the true chosen one, and Magnus, the young man who once stole her heart, at her side, Henrietta plots a dangerous journey straight into the enemy’s lair. Some will live. Some will die. All will be tested.

In this stunning conclusion to the Kingdom on Fire series, Henrietta must choose between the love from her past, the love from her present, and a love that could define her future. While battles rage, the fate of the kingdom rests on her decision: Will she fall or rise up to become the woman who saves the realm?

It’s time for Henrietta to make her stand” - taken from Goodreads.com

I almost didn’t finish reading this series but I’m glad that I changed my mind. It didn’t take me long to pick back up the storyline since the author did a great job recapping the previous books without dragging along the current plot. Several characters don’t make it to the end but they were totally necessary. The epilogue to the book was brilliantly written and provides an incredible end to Henrietta's story. 

Visit Jessica Cluess’ website.

An Assassin's Guide to Love and Treason by Virginia Boecker

“When Lady Katherine's father is killed for being an illegally practicing Catholic, she discovers treason wasn't the only secret he's been hiding: he was also involved in a murder plot against the reigning Queen Elizabeth I. With nothing left to lose, Katherine disguises herself as a boy and travels to London to fulfill her father's mission, and to take it one step further--kill the queen herself.

Katherine's opportunity comes in the form of William Shakespeare's newest play, which is to be performed in front of Her Majesty. But what she doesn't know is that the play is not just a play--it's a plot to root out insurrectionists and destroy the rebellion once and for all.

The mastermind behind this ruse is Toby Ellis, a young spy for the queen with secrets of his own. When Toby and Katherine are cast opposite each other as the play's leads, they find themselves inexplicably drawn to one another. But the closer they grow, the more precarious their positions become. And soon they learn that star-crossed love, mistaken identity, and betrayal are far more dangerous off the stage than on.” - taken from Goodreads.com

I really enjoyed this historical twist involving a murder plot centered around William Shakespeare's play, Twelfth Night. Our assassin, Katherine Arundell/Kit Alban, watched her father killed by the local sheriff during a raid on their house for being practicing Catholics during Elizabeth I’s reign. Protestantism was the official religion of England at the time. Escaping, she travels to London to meet up with one of her father's friends. Disguising herself as a boy, Kit becomes involved in an assassination plot for the queen to take place during a private showing of Twelfth Night.

Her plans become a bit derailed when she meets her co-star. Without going into too many details, this book was a great read. I loved the ending of the story. 

Visit Virginia Boecker’s website.

A Poison Dark and Drowning by Jessica Cluess (Kingdom on Fire book 2)

SPOILER ALERT! If you haven’t read the first book in the series, A Shadow Bright and Burning, Stop! I don’t want to ruin the story for you.

“The magicians want her to lead. The sorcerers want her to lie. The demons want her blood. Henrietta wants to save the one she loves. But will his dark magic be her undoing?

Henrietta doesn’t need a prophecy to know that she’s in danger. She came to London to be named the chosen one, the first female sorcerer in centuries, the one who would defeat the bloodthirsty Ancients. Instead, she discovered a city ruled by secrets. And the biggest secret of all: Henrietta is not the chosen one.

Still, she must play the role in order to keep herself and Rook, her best friend and childhood love, safe. But can she truly save him? The poison in Rook’s system is transforming him into something monstrous as he begins to master dark powers of his own.

So when Henrietta finds a clue to the Ancients’ past that could turn the tide of the war, she persuades Blackwood, the mysterious Earl of Sorrow-Fell, to travel up the coast to seek out strange new weapons. And Magnus, the brave, reckless flirt who wants to win back her favor, is assigned to their mission. Together, they will face monsters, meet powerful new allies, and uncover the most devastating weapon of all: the truth. - taken from Goodreads.com

Once again, this book shows that this series is grossly underrated. Although I thoroughly enjoyed the first book Poison takes Henrietta's story and makes it so much better. Full of heartbreaking moments and shocking twists, a couple that I, unfortunately, saw coming,, This book sets up what will be an epic showdown that will leave no one unscathed 

The story will conclude in 2018 with A Sorrow Fierce and Falling.

Visit Jessica Cluess’ website.

The King Slayer by Virginia Boecker (The Witch Hunter book 2)

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

"I think, in time, you'll either be my greatest mistake or my greatest victory."

“Former witch hunter Elizabeth Grey is hiding within the magically protected village of Harrow, evading the price put on her head by Lord Blackwell, the usurper king of Anglia. Their last encounter left Blackwell ruined, but his thirst for power grows stronger every day. He's readying for a war against those who would resist his rule--namely Elizabeth and the witches and wizards she now calls her allies.

Having lost her stigma, a magical source of protection and healing, Elizabeth's strength is tested both physically and emotionally. War always means sacrifice, and as the lines between good and evil blur once more, Elizabeth must decide just how far she'll go to save those she loves.” - Goodreads.com

Over two months has passed since Lord Blackwell’s masque where all heck broke loose. Blackwell stole the throne of Anglia from his nephew, King Malcolm and Elizabeth Grey killed her closest friend, Caleb, broke the tablet that freed Nicholas from his curse, and relinquished her stigma to John Raleigh so that he would live. Elizabeth is now healed enough to answer her summons to appear before the council to see if she can remain in Harrow. When several of Blackwell’s men are able to break the magical wards around Harrow, Elizabeth realizes that until Blackwell is dead, she will never be free.

A great conclusion to this duology that pits Elizabeth Grey against everyone, including herself. Can Blackwell be stopped? What happens to the kingdom of Anglia? Will Elizabeth Grey find peace for all of her past deeds and move forward? Why is she so special that Blackwell will not let her go?

Visit Virginia Boecker’s website.

Into the Dim by Helen B. Taylor (Into the Dim book 1)

Known mostly as “that homeschooled girl” in her small town, Hope Walton has crippling phobias and an eidetic memory that doesn’t exactly endear her to her adoptive father’s very blond, very southern family. When her mom is killed in a natural disaster thousands of miles from home, the sixteen-year-old recedes even further from her insular life. But after being shipped overseas to an aunt she’s never met, Hope learns there’s more to her mother’s “death” than she ever dreamed.

At her aunt’s manor, high in the Scottish Highlands, Hope begins to unravel the shocking truth about her family. Her mom was more than a brilliant academic but also a member of a secret society of time travelers. And she is alive, though currently trapped in the twelfth century during the age of King Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine. Now, in a last-ditch effort to save her mom, the sheltered teen must join the Viators, a team of time-jumping Indiana Joneses, who have only seventy-two hours to stage a rescue.

Passing through the Dim, Hope enters a brutal medieval world of political intrigue, danger, and violence. A place where any serious interference could alter the very course of history. And when she meets a boy who's face is impossibly familiar, she must decide between her mission and her heart - both of which could leave Hope trapped in the past forever..” - taken from the front flap

I literally devoured this book. Time travel seems to be the current rage in YA literature and this was the third such book I’ve read this year. What I really liked about this beginning of a new series is that the characters travel back to only one point in time. There, they are thrust into the court scene during the time in which Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine are crowned the King and Queen of England. Several historical figures play major roles in this book. This book does leave several plot lines unresolved and readers will be eagerly anticipating the next book.

Who is Hope Walton? Why did her mother keep her aunt from her? Can Hope go back in time and rescue her mother? How does she know this mysterious boy?

Visit Janet B. Taylor’s website.

The Witch Hunter by Virginia Boecker

Nicholas Perevil is a wizard and the leader of the Reformists, a group of wizards and non-wizards who support magic. Their aim is to have the Thirteenth Tablet, the one outlining the the laws against magic and the penalties for those caught practicing, abolished, thus ending the witch burnings. Magic was legal until the plague came. Perevil had the ear of the king and was one of his most trusted advisors. He was the most powerful wizard in all of Anglia. He started the plague in an attempt to kill his enemies and place himself on the throne. He didn’t count on the king’s son Malcolm or Blackwell, his Inquisitor, surviving. Now he is in hiding and King Malcolm and Blackwell are burning suspected witches on a weekly basis.

Elizabeth Grey is hiding a secret that no one, including her friend and partner Caleb, know. Both witch hunters, they live at Ravenscourt to blend in with the king’s servants so as not to become Reformist targets. She has made numerous mistakes over the past month, losing focus, because of her return to Ravenscourt. When the two go to arrest five necromancers, Elizabeth loses focus and one necromancer is killed. Caleb covers for her with the guards who haul the prisoners to Fleet, the prison. The guards leave and Elizabeth tries for some levity but Caleb wants to know what happened. She will have to tell anyone who asks the same story Caleb offered to the guards. If it gets back to Blackwell, he warns her that she knows what will happen. If she is questioned by Blackwell, he will wear her down during questioning and she will confess everything. No one, not even Caleb can learn her secrets. The two head towards The World’s End pub to meet some friends but pass by protests over that morning’s witch burnings. In the pub, Elizabeth is disheartened to realize that Caleb pulled out a chair for himself. When the talk turns to Christmas masque, her hopes are further dashed to hear that he has been seen in the company of Katherine Willoughby, one of Queen Margaret’s ladies-in-waiting. When the boys stand to leave, Elizabeth doesn’t initially notice, lost in her thoughts over Caleb. He is worried when she decides to stay behind, drinking the horrible ale, but she needs to be alone.

She orders lunch and moves to sit by the fireplace. Elizabeth is shocked to see when the door opens, that it is dark outside. She has spent the whole day there. Standing to leave, she finds that she is unsteady on her feet. A man catches her before she can fall and eventually introduces himself as Peter. He goes to lead her outside to get some fresh air and the two come across Peter’s friend, George. George tells Peter that she is the one he is looking for. Even though she is drunk, Peter questions whether or not she is able to talk. George thinks that they need to get her some place more private. The two men offer to take her back to the palace. She notices that they take less traveled paths on their way. Peter begins to question her. Even though she is drunk, Elizabeth is able to stick to her cover story about being a scullery maid. The two are disappointed when they realize that she is just “ordinary”. Peter comments that Veda must have wanted them to find someone else. They get to the palace gates and Peter tells Elizabeth  that George will help her get safely inside. The guard unlocks the gate and lets them inside. George announces that they are home. Looking puzzled, he laughs at Elizabeth and finally tells her that he is King Malcolm’s new fool.

Elizabeth takes George through a hidden passageway and tells him how to get back to his room. He keeps talking with her and she just wishes he would leave. She almost blows her cover when she asks him to the masque. Maids aren’t allowed to attend, but he could take her as his guest. She is able to recover and excuses herself to her room. Elizabeth is shocked to find Caleb waiting for her at the end of the hall outside of her room. He has been worried about her and wants to know where she has been. Still hurt over his unknown rejection earlier, she snaps at him. Caleb comments that she hasn’t seemed herself lately. He tells her that she can come to him for anything. Elizabeth allows him to help her to her room. The two are shocked to see Richard, one of King Malcolm's guards, waiting outside the door. Caleb thinks Richard is there for him but he uncomfortably states he is there to... you know. Caleb wheels on Elizabeth to ask what is going on. Elizabeth is too horrified to speak and Caleb gets agitated, demanding to know what is going on. She begs Caleb to stop, dizziness over taking her. Richard states that she needs to come with him but Caleb isn’t about to let that happen. There is a brief scuffle in the hallway. Caleb pulls a handful of herbs from Elizabeth’s pocket. Caleb realizes that they are witches’ herbs to prevent a woman from having a baby and wants to know why she has them. Caleb asks why she is going to see the king at midnight. Caleb tries to buy Richard’s silence but he will have nothing to do with. Caleb proclaims that Elizabeth isn’t a witch but Richard places her in handcuffs and reads her her rights. Instead of taking her to prison, he will take her to Blackwell immediately. Caleb says that he will be awaiting her return. This is all just a misunderstanding.  

Standing before Blackwell, Elizabeth finally tells him of how the king sends a guard to her room so that she can be escorted to his chambers. Elizabeth tried to avoid the king’s written messages as long as she could. She only had the herbs on her because she doesn’t want to become pregnant with the king’s child and sent away. He wants to know how long she has known that she was a witch. She vehemently denies his accusations. Her behavior is unexpected, especially since she surprised him by living past the first week of training at Ravenscourt. Now she is one of his best witch hunters. Blackwell informs her that she broke the law by possessing the herbs and another by killing the necromancer. He sees her as a liability and she needs to be punished. He hands her a sheet of parchment and asks if she knows what a Bill of Attainder is. Knowing that it isn’t a pardon, Elizabeth is shocked to learn that she is being accused of witchcraft and her punishment is death. She denies his claim and begs. Blackwell doesn’t hear her and has his guards escort her to Fleet to await the pyre.

Caleb finds Elizabeth at the Fleet. He promises to get her out and wishes he had known about the king. He confesses that he hadn’t noticed that she was no longer a scrawny little girl and believes that Blackwell hasn’t seen her for the woman she has become either. Caleb reluctantly leaves her behind to go plead her case to Blackwell. As the days pass and there is no word from Caleb, Elizabeth knows that time is running out. She realizes that she is ill and may actually die from sickness before she is burned. Exhausted, she falls asleep only to be awoken by footsteps. Thinking it is Caleb, she calls out but a man dressed in a robe stands at her cell door. She knows that he is not a guard but she doesn’t know who he is either. Elizabeth realizes that he is a wizard and she pleads for him to leave before Caleb arrives. He disintegrates the door and comes into her cell. He realizes that she is sick and tells Elizabeth that they must hurry. It is Saturday and the guards will be coming soon to take her to the pyre. He was told to find her.  They first thought it was a mistake but now knows that it’s not. He begs her to leave with him. She will be helping him as much as he will be helping her. Elizabeth tries to escape but he thwarts her efforts. She swings a punch but her fist passes through him and then one wizard becomes two. Another swing and two are now four. He begs her to stop and come with him. He can help her, keep her safe. Elizabeth makes another run for it but a coughing fit stops her. The wizard comes to her and pleads again. She sees him as a way to prove her innocence to Blackwell and agrees. Elizabeth ends up collapsing and the wizard picks her up. Walking by the other cells, she is mystified when the prisoners don’t shout for the guards but instead act reverent toward the wizard. She asks who he is. He apologizes for not telling her sooner and introduces himself as Nicholas Perevil. They reach an opening to the sewer and Elizabeth plots her attack to take him down. They hear the guards coming and Nicholas urges her on. She is barely able to follow him through. He carries her through the sewer tunnels until they come to an opening where a horse waits for them. Nicholas helps her on and sits behind her. He promises to take care of her. Elizabeth wonders if Caleb will miss her when she dies.

Is Elizabeth really a witch? What was Blackwell’s reasons for proclaiming Elizabeth a witch? Why did Nicholas Perevil rescue her from the Fleet? Who asked him to and why? Where is he taking her? Why was Blackwell so quick to find her guilty? Who are Peter and George? Who did they think Elizabeth is? Will Caleb come looking for her? What happens when Nicholas discovers that Elizabeth Grey is a witch hunter?

Elizabeth Grey’s story will be continue with book two in the series expected out in 2016.

Visit Virginia Boecker’s website.

Lion Heart by A.C. Gaughen (Scarlet book 3)

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

“We all need something - someone - to fight for …”

Prince John has hidden Scarlet from his mother and her grandmother, Eleanor of Aquitaine. Her hopes of escape or rescue are dashed when he takes the necklace Eleanor gave her and informs her that King Richard, her father, is being held for ransom by the Holy Roman Emperor. If John has her necklace, Eleanor would know that she is dead. When two guards come to her cell, David says that they are just moving her. The other guard, Thomas, informs them both that there has been a change of plans. They are to kill her per John’s orders. When David refuses, a scuffle breaks out and David, who is loyal to Eleanor, overpowers Thomas with Scarlet’s help. The two are able to leave when Scarlet poses as dead.

On their way to London, they run into Allan who has been looking for Scarlet. Prince John had a letter sent to Robin informing him of Scarlet’s execution. Robin never believed it and had sent Allan to look for her. Scarlet is hopeful but Allan tells her that  he hasn’t had time yet to send Robin a letter. Feeling downtrodden, her spirits soar when Allan hands her a bundle of letters that Robin has written to her. Dirty, she doesn’t want to touch them. The innkeeper’s daughter, Kate, takes her to get cleaned up. Afterwards, Kate tells her that everywhere, not just Nottingham, is bad under John’s rule.

Scarlet knows that she needs to get to Eleanor if she has any hope of stopping Prince John. To make matters worse, the Holy Roman Emperor is demanding an exorbitant amount of silver for King Richard’s return. In order to raise the money, Eleanor has levied a stiff tax that the downtrodden people of England cannot afford. Going to Robin’s friend, Lord Winchester, he provides Scarlet with a safe haven.He offers to get word of her safety to Robin, but she must think about it. Scarlet tells him of her thoughts that Prince John plans to kill Richard to claim the throne. Scarlet knows that in order to keep everyone safe, she must remain hidden and await word from Eleanor.

Can Scarlet stopp Prince John? Will King Richard return to England and reclaim his throne and his daughter? Does Scarlet join forces with Eleanor or can she trust her? What did Robin write in his letters to Scarlet? Will Scarlet and Robin be able to live happily ever after?

Visit A.C. Gaughen’s website.

Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein

Oct. 11th, 1943-A British spy plane crashes in Nazi-occupied France. Its pilot and passenger are best friends. One of the girls has a chance at survival. The other has lost the game before it's barely begun.

When "Verity" is arrested by the Gestapo, she's sure she doesn't stand a chance. As a secret agent captured in enemy territory, she's living a spy's worst nightmare. Her Nazi interrogators give her a simple choice: reveal her mission or face a grisly execution.

As she intricately weaves her confession, Verity uncovers her past, how she became friends with the pilot Maddie, and why she left Maddie in the wrecked fuselage of their plane. On each new scrap of paper, Verity battles for her life, confronting her views on courage, failure and her desperate hope to make it home. But will trading her secrets be enough to save her from the enemy? - Taken from Goodreads.com