Between These Broken Hearts by Lexi Ryan (These Hollow Vows book 4)

 

SPOILER ALERT! If you haven’t read the first book, Beneath These Cursed Stars, Stop! I don’t want to ruin the story for you.

“Princess Jasalyn has eleven days to live.

Jasalyn is facing the repercussions of a deadly bargain. Her life, and the future of the shadow court, are forfeit on her birthday unless she can stop the evil fae king Mordeus. She needs to face her greatest fears and find him before she runs out of time, but even after everything, Kendrick won’t let her face this alone.

Shape-shifter Felicity has vanished.

Felicity disappeared from King Misha’s dungeons, and her friends have been searching for her to no avail. But even if she’s found, Felicity will never be able to escape the oracle’s tragic prophecy for her and her family. In her lonely battle with fate, Misha is the last person she can ask to stand by her side, but the first one she’ll need.” - taken from Goodreads.

A good ending to not only the duology but the overall series as well,

Visit Lexi Ryan’s website.

Violet Made of Thorns by Gina Chen (Violet Made of Thorns book 1)

 

“Violet is a prophet and a liar, influencing the royal court with her cleverly phrased—and not always true—divinations. Honesty is for suckers, like the oh-so-not charming Prince Cyrus, who plans to strip Violet of her official role once he’s crowned at the end of the summer—unless Violet does something about it.

But when the king asks her to falsely prophesy Cyrus’s love story for an upcoming ball, Violet awakens a dreaded curse, one that will end in either damnation or salvation for the kingdom—all depending on the prince’s choice of future bride. Violet faces her own choice: Seize an opportunity to gain control of her own destiny, no matter the cost, or give in to the ill-fated attraction that’s growing between her and Cyrus.

Violet’s wits may protect her in the cutthroat court, but they can’t change her fate. And as the boundary between hatred and love grows ever thinner with the prince, Violet must untangle a wicked web of deceit in order to save herself and the kingdom—or doom them all.” - taken from Goodreads.

This is one of my favorite reads of the year. Violet is torn between love and duty. A Seer, Violet came into her position after she saved the prince from death as children. Years later, both are struggling to live under the former Seer's prophecy. Violet is torn between her head and her heart, serving Cyrus's father or being with Cyrus. When her visions turn dark, Violet must make a choice that affects everyone.

The ending was fantastic and I can't wait for the second book.

Visit Gina Chen’s website.

The Star Touched Queen by Roshani Chokshi (Star Touched Queen book 1)

“Fate and fortune. Power and passion. What does it take to be the queen of a kingdom when you’re only seventeen?

Maya is cursed. With a horoscope that promises a marriage of death and destruction, she has earned only the scorn and fear of her father’s kingdom. Content to follow more scholarly pursuits, her whole world is torn apart when her father, the Raja, arranges a wedding of political convenience to quell outside rebellions. Soon Maya becomes the queen of Akaran and wife of Amar. Neither roles are what she expected: As Akaran’s queen, she finds her voice and power. As Amar’s wife, she finds something else entirely: Compassion. Protection. Desire…

But Akaran has its own secrets—thousands of locked doors, gardens of glass, and a tree that bears memories instead of fruit. Soon, Maya suspects her life is in danger. Yet who, besides her husband, can she trust? With the fate of the human and Otherworldly realms hanging in the balance, Maya must unravel an ancient mystery that spans reincarnated lives to save those she loves the most…including herself.” - taken from Goodreads.com

Princess Mayavati of Bharata was born under a cursed horoscope. Death is attached to it and no one wants to be around her. She is blamed for death around the palace, including her mother’s. With Bharata on the verge of war, her father, the Raja, has the idea to hold a  . He plans to invite the rulers of the  kingdoms to come and Maya will choose her husband. It is a trick to lure the enemy to the Raja. She is disappointed because, with her horrid horoscope, she hoped to be left alone to do as she pleased. Now she will be married off. At the  , Maya’s father tells her that the only way his plan will work is if she kills herself with the poison he gives her. She is crushed by his request but knows that it will probably be for the best. After the introductions, Maya goes to contemplate her decision. Just as she is about the drink her father’s poison, the bottle is knocked from her lips. A young man stands in front of her and says that he is the Raja of Akaran. He keeps the top half of his face covered. Maya has never heard of the kingdom. He points outside that the visiting dignitaries have laid their own plans for an invasion. Having nothing left in Bharata, Maya throws her lei over Amar’s head. This signifies that the two of them are married and leave. She soon begins to suspect that she doesn’t really know what she has gotten herself into.

This book is elegantly written, pulling from Indian mythology and folklore. Readers will be left scrambling to find out what happens to Maya when she begins to unravel what she believes to be the truth.

The story continues with book two, A Crown of Wishes in 2017.

Visit Roshani Chokshi’s website.

The Bitter Kingdom by Rae Carson (Fire and Thorns book 3)

SPOILER ALERT! If you haven't read the first two books in the trilogy, The Girl of Fire and Thorns and The Crown of Embers, Stop! I don't want to ruin one of my favorite series for you.

For a recap of essential characters and the top five moments from the previous two books in the trilogy, go to http://www.epicreads.com/blog/series-recap-the-girl-of-fire-and-thorns/

The Inviernos have captured Hector to lure Elisa to the icy mountains of their country.  Her companions for the rescue mission include Belen, an assassin, Mara, her lady-in-waiting, and Storm, a failed sorcerer and fugitive from Invierne. The four of them "have less than two months to cross the Sierra Sangre, sneak into enemy territory, free Hector, and escape." Failure will result in Hector's death and her country of Joya  d'Arena will fall into civil war. Rebellion has been the plan of Conde Eduardo for a long time. One of Joya's "most powerful and trusted lords", he is also member of the Quorum of Five. He is ruthless in his ambition to divide Elisa's country and claim the throne for himself. Eduardo's men have orders to kill Elisa on sight but the weary travelers are in desperate need of horses in they hope to complete their mission in time.

Can Elisa rescue Hector in time to save her throne and the love of her life? Will Conde Eduardo's rebellion be stopped? What happens when Storm and Elisa help each other tap into their respective Magic? Why do the Inviernos want Elisa in their country? What do they think she can do? Will Hector learn of his betrothal to Elisa? Is Elisa able to meet up with Cosme and her sister Alodia for the council she has called? What happens when Elisa learns that there is a second living bearer of a Godstone? Just how does Elisa's story end; what is her purpose as a bearer of a Godstone?
A thrilling conclusion to a fantastic high fantasy trilogy that is one of my favorites. A definite read!

There are two short novellas that take place before The Girl of Fire and Thorns that go into some background about two beloved characters. The Shattered Mountain tells how Mara escaped from her burning village and came to join the rebels. The King’s Guard tells of how Hector became Alejandro’s trusted friend and an important role he played in the future of Joya  d'Arena.

Visit Rae Carson’s website.

The Crown of Embers by Rae Carson (Fire and Thorns book 2)

SPOILER ALERT! If you haven’t read the first book in the series, The Girl of Fire and Thorns, Stop! I don’t want to ruin one of my favorite series for you!


When an animagus appears in the city during Queen Lucero-Elisa’s birthday parade, Joya d’Arena is thrown into turmoil. The animagus declares that Elisa, the only living bearer of the Godstone, belongs with them. Fear ripples through her citizens as rumors of another invasion by Inviernos begin. Locked out of the palace by one of her Quorum members in the ensuing panic, Elisa and her private guard, Hector, sneak back in through a hidden passageway. Once back inside, her right hand men all claim someone else made the decision to close the gates.

Elisa is seen by some of the Quorum as being too young and inexperienced and talk of a regent soon turns towards a political marriage. Knowing she is being set up and deciding to play along, Elisa goes to Alejandro’s tomb in the catacombs to pray in solitude. Unfortunately, she is attacked by an unknown assailant and left for dead. Barely alive when she is found, Elisa recovers quickly from the injury because her Godstone deflected the knife and speeded her recovery. Determined to uncover who in the palace is undermining her efforts, Elisa quickly realizes there are few people whom she can trust; Ximena, her nurse, Mara, her lady-in-waiting and Hector, her personal guard and friend whom she is slowly developing feelings for.

Trying to rebuild her country, Elisa is faced with the possibility that her prophecy has yet to be fulfilled. Ximena believes that the gates or paths of the enemy and of life are real places that she must go. As she continues to meet with an Invierno defector from the Wallows named Storm, he tells Elisa of the legend of the place where the Earth’s magic flows near the top and is easily tapped. Only those chosen by God can find the gate of life and pass through. Elisa knows that Storm speaks the truth because her Godstone flares to life, bringing her to her knees. Storm knows she will go searching for it and asks to go along.

Under the pretense of betrothal negotiations, Elisa, Hector and some of the others head off for the southern islands in search of zafina, the legendary gate of life. Soon after their departure into the desert, they discover that someone is following them. Who want Elisa dead and what are their political reasons? Will Elisa be able to fulfill her destiny and tap into her magic or is she setting herself up for failure? Can Elisa rise to be a great queen? What happens when Elisa realizes that one of her closet advisors doesn’t have her best intentions at heart?

With spine chilling action and a dramatic cliff-hanger in the final chapter, readers will be left clamoring for the dramatic conclusion to Elisa’s story in The Bitter Kingdom out in the fall of 2013.

Visit Rae Carson's website.

Endlessly by Kiersten White (Paranormalcy book 3)

"The clock is ticking on the entire paranormal world. And it's fate rests solely in Evie's hands."

SPOILER ALERT! If you haven't read the first two books in the series, Paranormalcy and Supernaturally, Stop! I don't want to ruin a fun series for you.

One month has passed since the events that occurred in Supernaturally. Evie found out that her father is a drunken faerie. Jack abandoned her in the Faerie Paths and she found her way back to Lend. Evie is determined to live her life in the moment and is currently happy. She is not happy when Anne-Laurie LeFevre, her new supervisor at IPCA, turns up on her doorstep one night. It turns out Raquel is no longer her supervisor and Evie is to report back to work at IPCA immediately. She slams the door and flatout refuses to speak to anyone but Raquel. Evie arranges to meet with Raquel who asks her to come back to IPCA in a formal capacity. Agitated and in a hurry, Raquel offers her time to think about it and says she will see her again at the end of the week.

For her birthday, Lend throws her a fabulous surprise masquerade ball with all her friends from school in attendance. Thinking that the lights out by the pond is a part of Lend’s continuing surprise, Evie finds that most of the paranormals she knows, including Lend’s missing mother Cresseda. Cresseda lets her know that it is time to take her path and follow the prophecy pertaining to letting the souls go. Evie states that she has already completed it with Vivian but Nona lets her know that she can open a gate to send them all back. They are only here on Earth because the faeries brought them here. Evie runs back to Lend’s house.

Lend and his father speaks with Evie and gets her to meet with Nona and talk. Evie is adamant that she doesn’t want to rectify the damage the faeries did. When Reth steps through a faerie door, Evie throws her hands up. He is there because the Dark Queen has discovered their intentions. She is there for Evie. A battle ensues and several of Evie’s paranormal friends fall. Wanting to keep any more of her friends from dying, Evie agrees to go with her. With Reth holding her back and silencing her voice, Lend kisses Evie goodbye. He changes his glamour to replicate Evie and turns himself over to the Dark Queen.

Things get even worse for Evie when she is arrested by the IPCA. Depending on Reth and Jack to escape, Evie is determined to rescue Lend. Will she be able to get Lend away from the Dark Queen before she learns of the deception? Can she trust and be able to work with Reth and Jack? Will Evie have the ability to send the paranormals through the gate? What is happening at IPCA? And will Evie ever get to live the normal life she craves?

Kiersten White has a new book, Mind Games, coming out on February 19, 2013.

Supernaturally by Kiersten White (Paranormalcy book 2)

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

Evie finally has the normal life she always craved while she lived at the International Paranormal Containment Agency (IPCA). She is attending high school where she even has a locker and spending time with her boyfriend Lend. Unfortunately, normal isn’t always what it is cracked up to be. Lend is busy attending classes at Georgetown and high school is nothing like Evie’s favorite TV series, Easton Heights. So when Raquel offers Evie the opportunity to work part-time at IPCA on her terms, she eventually agrees.

New to IPCA is Jack, a guy around Evie’s age who is capable of traveling the faerie paths without relying on a fey. His job is to take Evie the places she is needed but usually pops up at the most inappropriate places and times, like the girls’ locker room, especially since her gym teacher hates her. Evie quickly realizes that part-time work isn’t simple and each new mission becomes a catastrophe. Lend isn’t happy to find out about Evie’s reemployment but after several brushes with disaster, he helps comfort her.

Soon Evie begins to notice an increasing presence by previously unknown paranormals, especially faery sightings around the diner. Also several air and water elementals, including Lend’s mother Cresseda, have disappeared. When her former boyfriend Reth comes to visit, he drops hints about how the mortal world is not safe for Evie and offers top protect her back at the faery court. She refuses.

Determined to lead as normal a life as she can, Evie focuses on spending time with Lend and applying to Georgetown. But life is far from normal. Who and what is Jack and what are his true motives? What is happening to the elementals? Why is Evie suddenly noticing paranormals watching her? What did Reth mean by his warning to Evie? And does Evie get her dream to be accepted to Georgetown?

Evie’s story and the Paranormalcy trilogy will conclude with Endlessly on July 24, 2012.

Visit Kiersten White’s website.

The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson (Fire and Thorns book one)

Once every century, God chooses one person who is destined for greatness. They are marked with the Godstone in their navel. Lucero-Elisa de Riqueza, Princess of Orovalle, is now the chosen one.

Elisa, the younger daughter of King Hitzedar, is not destined to become queen. That role will fall to her older sister Juana-Alodia. Instead on her naming day, Elisa was chosen by God to bear the Godstone. So on her sixteenth birthday, Elisa finds herself becoming an unwitting bride to King Alejandro de Vega of neighboring Joya d’Arena. As Lady Aneaxi and Nurse Ximena help her into her too tight wedding gown, Elisa hopes that her new husband will be old and fat, as she is overweight. When Alejandro lifts her veil for a kiss, she realizes that he “is the most beautiful person I’ve ever seen.”

Elisa and Alejandro spent a chaste wedding night and he tells he that he could use a friend back at court. The next morning, they begin their journey to Joya. Elisa travels with Aneaxi and Ximena. Along the way, their caravan is attacked in the jungle. Elisa and Ximena pull Aneaxi to safety after she breaks her leg. Elisa then grabs a knife and kills one of the three men attacking Alejandro. He lets her know that he is grateful and that she can decide the fate of the one prisoner. When Elisa questions him, he realizes she is the bearer of the Godstone. Before he can say anything, Ximena stabs him through the neck with her hairpin. Elisa realizes that she knows very little about her lifelong companions. Just before they reach Alejandro’s castle in the city, Elisa realizes that Aneaxi is mortally injured and is with her when she dies.

When the group arrives at Alejandro’s castle, it is late at night and no one is there to greet them. Alejandro asks Elisa to keep their marriage a secret for the time being and she is greatly disappointed. The next morning, a young maid named Cosme knocks at her door to help her get ready for breakfast. Elisa soon meets the people at the court and she feels out of place. When Alejandro comes to her room late one night, he informs her that he will be gone for a month to Puerto Verde to visit his mother and retrieve his son. Elisa is crestfallen but he reminds her of their wedding night chat about him needing a friend. He tells Elisa that he needs her to be his eyes and ears around the palace while he is away. She reluctantly agrees.

Upon meeting Father Nicandro, Elisa finds a friend and possibly someone who will tell her about her destiny with the Godstone. Elisa soon learns by what her family meant by when they said she would be safer in Joya because she was too well known as the bearer in Orovalle. She sneaks out late one night to meet with Father Nicardro to learn more about her destiny and decides to confront Ximena with what she has learned. But before that can happen, she is drugged and kidnapped one night from her bed. Soon she is being dragged through the desert and learns that Cosme is behind her predicament. Surprisingly her brother Humberto turns out to be her protector.

What exactly will Elisa’s destiny be as the bearer of the Godstone? Why has her father made a political marriage for her with Alejandro? What secret is being kept from Elisa? Will Elisa and Alejandro have a real marriage? Why has Cosme kidnapped Elisa? And will sparks fly between Elisa and Humberto? Join Elisa on her journey as she discovers not only her future, but her past as well.

The trilogy continues with The Crown of Embers in the fall of 2012 and The Bitter Kingdom in the fall of 2013.

Needless to say, this series is quickly becoming one of my favorites. Elisa reminds me of Raisa from Cinda Williams Chima’s Seven Realms series. Definitely looking forwarded to where Elisa’s adventures take her.

Visit Rae Carson's website.

Paranormalcy by Kiersten White

Evie works for the International Paranormal Containment agency (IPCA). She is the only human on earth who can see through a paranormal's glamour to see their true facades. In the crazy world of vampires, werewolves, etc. which she takes part, she considers herself normal, even though her best friend is a mermaid and her ex-boyfriend is a faerie. Evie has resided at the IPCA center since she was eight-year-old. Never knowing her parents, she spent her early years in foster care until the day she wandered into a graveyard and started screaming. That's when the APCA found her and took her in. Other paranormal agencies where clamoring for Evie's services so the IPCA was formed.

For the past eight years, Evie's job has been to "bag and tag" paranormals around the world to save them from humans. Her life is on the solitary side since she is one of the few normal people who work there. But things change when an unknown paranormal breaks into the center and takes Evie's boss' form. Evie is able to see through his glamour and captures him. She soon finds herself drawn to the shapeshifter known as Lend. They are close in age and Evie is lonely for companionship since Reth, her faerie ex-boyfriend did something to repel her. She begins sneaking into Lend's cell and a friendship soon forms. Evie's boss, Raquel, is not happy and orders her to stay away. Since IPCA doesn't know who or what Lend is, they keep hin prisoner. When Lend informs Evie that someone or things is killing paranormals, she realizes that IPCA has been less than truthful with her.

As Evie and Lend's friendship grows, Reth starts to become meddlesome. When Evie starts to have weird dreams about a prophecy and Reth becomes possessive, she begins to wonder who or what she is. When the paranormal killer breaks into the IPCA center, Evie breaks protocal and escapes with Lend. Why are the paranormals dying and who is doing it? What is with Reth's possessive nature and why the werid dreams? What is Lend's secret, but more importantly what is Evie's? Join Evie on a fast paced and hilarious adventure to find where she belongs in the world. Her story will be continued in Supernaturally in 2011.

Visit Kiersten White's website.