Ruthless Vows by Rebecca Ross (Letters of Enchantment book 2)

 

SPOILER ALERT! If you haven’t read the first book in the series, Divine Rivals, Stop! I don’t want to ruin one of my favorite stories for you.

Please visit the Recaptains blog if you need a refresher of the first book.

Check out Book Series Recaps for a refresher of the first book.

“Two weeks have passed since Iris Winnow returned home bruised and heartbroken from the front, but the war is far from over. Roman is missing, and the city of Oath continues to dwell in a state of disbelief and ignorance. When Iris and Attie are given another chance to report on Dacre’s movements, they both take the opportunity and head westward once more despite the danger, knowing it’s only a matter of time before the conflict reaches a city that’s unprepared and fracturing beneath the chancellor’s reign.

Since waking below in Dacre’s realm, Roman cannot remember his past. But given the reassurance that his memories will return in time, Roman begins to write articles for Dacre, uncertain of his place in the greater scheme of the war. When a strange letter arrives by wardrobe door, Roman is first suspicious, then intrigued. As he strikes up a correspondence with his mysterious pen pal, Roman will soon have to make a decision: to stand with Dacre or betray the god who healed him. And as the days grow darker, inevitably drawing Roman and Iris closer together…the two of them will risk their very hearts and futures to change the tides of the war.” - taken from Goodreads.

This was a satisfying conclusion to this duology. Separated by Dacre, Iris and Roman work to get back to one another and stop the war from coming to their home. In a race against time, can Roman and Iris halt Dacre’s takeover of Oath before it’s too late? Readers will devour the last pages to see how the story ends.

 

Visit Rebecca Ross’ website.

Wicked Saints by Emily A. Duncan (Something Dark and Holy book 1)

“Let Them Fear Her”

“A girl who can speak to gods must save her people without destroying herself.

A prince in danger must decide who to trust.

A boy with a monstrous secret waits in the wings. 

Together, they must assassinate the king and stop the war.

In a centuries-long war where beauty and brutality meet, their three paths entwine in a shadowy world of spilled blood and mysterious saints, where a forbidden romance threatens to tip the scales between dark and light.” - taken from Goodreads.com

Fantasy books are my favorite genre and I was excited to get my hands on this book. The only real problem that I have with starting a new fantasy series is emerging myself in a new world. Loosely based on a Gothic Russia/Poland with a polytheistic religion, it took me a bit to truly get invested in the story. Once I did, there was no going back. I thought I knew where the author was going with the story but it was just a tease before she pulled the literal rug out from underneath my feet with that shocking ending.

I am now eagerly awaiting the second book in the Something Dark and Holy trilogy, Ruthless Gods, due out on April 7, 2020.

Visit Emily A. Duncan’s website.

The Cursed Sea by Lauren DeStefano (The Glass Spare book 2)

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

“Wilhemina Heidle, the exiled princess of Northern Arrod, the girl thought dead by her family and friends, must return home. The only way to save Loom, the cursed prince of the Southern Isles, is to revisit the castle and discover the origins of her own curse.

But home is very different from how she left it—Wil’s unstable elder brother is now king, leading a war against the Southern Isles. And the rest of her family must reckon with the truth of what happened to lead to Wil’s exile. With time running out, Wil must navigate the dangerous secrets within her family if she’s going to find the truth and save the boy she loves.

When she’s finally able to reach Pahn, nothing goes as planned, and suddenly Wil and her allies are fighting for their lives, again and again, as the Southern King is out to punish his children for all they’ve done. Traveling across cursed seas and treacherous kingdoms, Wil, Loom—and his ruthless sister Espel—have to work to make peace with their own struggles if they hope to secure the future of their kingdoms.

But when their plans lead them right back to evil marveler Pahn, and to Baren—who is more dangerous than ever—can Wil and her friends outsmart their enemies, this time, for good?” - taken from Goodreads.com

When Wil returns home to face the fallout from her curse and to find a way to help Loom, she isn’t prepared for what she discovers upon her arrival. Readers uncover along with Wil the origins behind her curse and the royal family. For me, the ending was especially satisfying. Another great fantasy read.

Visit Lauren DeStefano's website.

War Storm by Victoria Aveyard (Red Queen book 4)

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

Check out Book Series Recaps for a refresher of the first three books.

Please visit the Recaptains blog if you need a refresher of the first three books.

Check out Epic Reads if you need a recap of the series. 

“VICTORY COMES AT A PRICE.

Mare Barrow learned this all too well when Cal’s betrayal nearly destroyed her. Now determined to protect her heart—and secure freedom for Reds and newbloods like her—Mare resolves to overthrow the kingdom of Norta once and for all… starting with the crown on Maven’s head.

But no battle is won alone, and before the Reds may rise as one, Mare must side with the boy who broke her heart in order to defeat the boy who almost broke her. Cal’s powerful Silver allies, alongside Mare and the Scarlet Guard, prove a formidable force. But Maven is driven by an obsession so deep, he will stop at nothing to have Mare as his own again, even if it means demolishing everything—and everyone—in his path.

War is coming, and all Mare has fought for hangs in the balance. Will victory be enough to topple the Silver kingdoms? Or will the little lightning girl be forever silenced?

In the epic conclusion to Victoria Aveyard’s stunning series, Mare must embrace her fate and summon all her power… for all will be tested, but not all will survive. “ - taken from Goodreads.com

I'm not really sure what to say about the enormous ending to Mare Barrow’s story without giving anything away. The majority of the 657 pages are told from Mare’s point of view but Evangeline Samos and Iris Cygnet also provide glimpses into the story as well. By the middle of the book, both Calore brothers, Cal and Maven and their thoughts chime in. I enjoyed the story even though it took me a while to find time to read it. At first, I was disappointed by the lack of closure. After thinking about one particular scene, my questions about our characters have doubled.

Although Goodreads lists a forthcoming short story collection, no other information is given. True fans will be hoping that Aveyard will wrap up a few of the loose ends and maybe provide a couple of backstories.

Visit Victoria Aveyard’s website.

The Glass Spare by Lauren DeStefano (The Glass Spare book 1)

“A banished princess.
A deadly curse.
A kingdom at war.

Wil Heidle, the only daughter of the king of the world’s wealthiest nation, has grown up in the shadows. Kept hidden from the world in order to serve as a spy for her father—whose obsession with building his empire is causing a war—Wil wants nothing more than to explore the world beyond her kingdom, if only her father would give her the chance.

Until one night Wil is attacked, and she discovers a dangerous secret. Her touch turns people into gemstone. At first Wil is horrified—but as she tests its limits, she’s drawn more and more to the strange and volatile ability. When it leads to tragedy, Wil is forced to face the destructive power within her and finally leave her home to seek the truth and a cure.

But finding the key to her redemption puts her in the path of a cursed prince who has his own ideas for what to do with her power.

With a world on the brink of war and a power of ultimate destruction, can Wil find a way to help the kingdom that’s turned its back on her, or will she betray her past and her family forever?” - taken from Goodreads.com

This was a unique fantasy Princess Wil discovers that she has a deadly curse that leads to tragedy. Banished by her father, Wil travels to find the one man who might be able to offer her a cure. There are lots of unanswered questions and a heartbreaking ending to set up the second book in this duology one of my favorite reads so far this year.

Book two in this duology is The Cursed Sea due out September 1, 2018.

Visit Lauren DeStefano’s website.

King's Cage by Victoria Aveyard (Red Queen book 3)

SPOILER ALERT! If you haven’t read the first two books in the series, Red Queen and Glass Sword, Stop! I don’t want to ruin one of my favorite series for you.

Here is a quick recap from Epic Reads of Red Queen and Glass Sword.

Please visit the Recaptains blog if you need an in depth refresher on Red Queen and Glass Sword.

Check out Book Series Recaps for refresher on the first two books.

“Allegiances are tested on every side. And when the Lightning Girl's spark is gone, who will light the way for the rebellion?

Mare Barrow is a prisoner, powerless without her lightning, tormented by her lethal mistakes. She lives at the mercy of a boy she once loved, a boy made of lies and betrayal. Now a king, Maven Calore continues weaving his dead mother's web in an attempt to maintain control over his country—and his prisoner.

As Mare bears the weight of Silent Stone in the palace, her once-ragtag band of newbloods and Reds continue organizing, training, and expanding. They prepare for war, no longer able to linger in the shadows. And Cal, the exiled prince with his own claim on Mare's heart, will stop at nothing to bring her back.

When blood turns on blood, and ability on ability, there may be no one left to put out the fire—leaving Norta as Mare knows it to burn all the way down” - taken from Goodreads.com

Wow, the build up! I found the first part of the book somewhat slow. Mare is Maven’s prisoner and we finally see what living with Elera as a mother was truly like and how it affected Maven’s life. Hints, back stories and jaw dropping revelations are slowly revealed building up to the BIG event. (No spoilers!) I flew through the last part of the book but the epilogue Ms. Aveyard wrote has me hoping for a happily ever after even for a character that I use to dislike but now understand so much better. Not quite a cliffhanger but everyone’s futures are definitely left up in the air.

The series will conclude with book four in 2018.

Visit Victoria Aveyard’s website.

The Winner's Kiss by Marie Rutkoski (The Winner's trilogy book 3)

SPOILER ALERT! If you haven’t read the first two books in the series, The Winner’s Curse and The Winner’s Crime, Stop! I don’t want to ruin one of my favorite series for you.

Please visit the Recaptains blog if you need a refresher on the series.

“Some kisses come at a price.”   

Arin has joined forces with Darca to fight back against Valoria and reclaim Herran for it’s people. Kestrel still haunts his memories but the pain of her betrayal no longer stings. What he doesn’t realize is that Kestrel was trying to protect him. Her letter to Arin was intercepted by her father who turned her in for treason against the Empire. She has been sent to the northern tundra to work in the sulfur mines. Kestrel hopes that she was able to pass a masker moth on to a Herrani man who in turn will take it to Arin, who  will realizes that she was his spy and is in danger. She also knows that she cannot depend on Arin and must come up with a plan of escape on her own.

Will Kestrel be able to escape from the work camp? Does the Herrani man take the moth to Arin? What happens when Arin learns of Kestral’s fate? Will Herran be able free itself from Valorian rule? Can the Emperor be defeated? What happens when Kestrel sees her father again? Do these star-crossed lovers be reunited or will war finally tear them apart?

Fans will be eager to see how Arin and Kestrel’s story will wrap up.

Visit Marie Rutkowski’s website.

Burning Nation by Trent Reedy (Divided We Fall trilogy book 2)

SPOILER ALERT! If you haven't read the first book in the series, Divided We Fall, Stop! I don't want to ruin the story for you.

"In the Second American Civil War, Danny Wright follows three rules:

NOBODY GOES ALONE.

After a long standoff, the Federal Government has invaded Idaho - shutting down the state's electricity, suspending all their rights. Danny is Number 1 on the Feds' Most Wanted list, so he has no choice but to go into hiding, and no chance without the help of his friends.

NEVER GO UNARMED.

Then Idaho declares its independence from the United States, rising to become a free republic. Newly energized, Danny and his crew launch a series of daring attacks designed to break the Feds' occupation and drive them out for good.

ALWAYS POST A GUARD.

As more states secede from the US, Idaho gains allies and strenght. But a deep betrayal and stunning sacrifice show Danny that freedom is never truly free - and there comes a point at which everyone must count the costs." - front flap.

In this wrenching sequel to DIVIDED WE FALL, Danny and friends fight to defend Idaho against a Federal takeover and the ravages of a BURNING NATION.

At the end of DIVIDED WE FALL, Danny Wright's beloved Idaho had been invaded by the federal government, their electricity shut off, their rights suspended. Danny goes into hiding with his friends in order to remain free. But after the state declares itself a Republic, Idaho rises to fight in a second American Civil War, and Danny is right in the center of the action, running guerrilla missions with his fellow soldiers to break the Federal occupation. Yet what at first seems like a straightforward battle against governmental repression quickly grows more complicated, as more states secede, more people die, and Danny discovers the true nature of some of his new allies. - taken from Goodreads.com

Danny's story will conclude in 2016 with The Last Full Measure.

Visit Trent Reedy's website.

The Infinite Sea by Rick Yancey (The 5th Wave book 2)

Please visit the Recaptains blog if you need a refresher on the first book in the series.

SPOILER ALERT! If you haven’t read the first book in the series, The 5th Wave, Stop! I don’t want to ruin the story for you.

“How do you rid the Earth of seven billion humans? Rid the humans of their humanity.”

Before Cassie Sullivan and Evan Walker began their mission to rescue Cassie's little brother from Camp Haven, they agreed to rendezvous at a hotel four miles away. Now that Camp Haven is an enormous crater, everyone but Evan is there. Cassie was adamant to go there and Ben/Zombie agreed even though Ringer thought their hideout was too close for comfort. Cassie and Ringer don't agree on Evan's alien/human story. Sam/Nugget is safe but Zombie is wounded where Ringer shot him in the side to keep his promise to Nugget. Knowing that their safe days at the hotel are numbered, Ringer is going to check out a nearby cavern to see if it is safe to inhabit.

Soon after Ringer leaves, their safe haven is compromised. Teacup turns up missing. She has gone after Ringer. Sam is angry with Cassie over the death of their father. Ben tries to mediate between the two of them but Cassie sees just how injured he really is. The inevitable happens and they are discovered. Cassie is stunned to find the roles have been reversed; she is now the caretaker for an injured Even. Evan knows the danger that lurks outside and nowhere is safe.

What does Ringer find at the caverns? Will it be a safe haven for everyone to attempt to ride out the 5th wave? Are there any other human survivors there? Where is Teacup found? Can Cassie’s brother get over his grief to see that his sister isn’t to blame? What danger is Evan hiding from the others? Did anyone else survive the explosion at Camp Haven? Can the 5th wave be stopped?

Readers will be left hanging waiting for the final installment to see if the 5th wave can be stopped and humanity saved.

Visit Rick Yancey's website.

The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey

"They know how we think. They know how to kill us. They've taken everything worth living for. Now they've come to take the things worth dying for."

In the 1st wave, the lights went out. In the 2nd wave, the surf was up. Pestilence came with the 3rd wave. The 4th wave was silence. The Others aren't stupid, not like the aliens of film and television. The Others are much more advanced than human beings. Once they found Earth, humanity didn't stand a chance. They wanted and needed Earth for themselves. David never had a chance against Goliath...

Cassie, short for Cassiopeia, was sixteen when The Others arrived on the planet. Her mother died during the 3rd Wave, from the Red Plague. Sometimes she believes that she is the last human on Earth, even the universe. To Cassie, to stay alive means to stay alone. No one can be trusted. The Others can look and act like humans, up until the moment when it is too late. She lost her father and little brother Sammy at the beginning of the 4th Wave. Living in a refugee camp, The Others came disguised as U.S. military. They wore gas masks saying they didn’t want to risk exposure to the Red Plague. First, they separated the children from the adults and said they were sending them to Wright-Patterson Air Force base on the yellow school buses. Cassie had to stay behind with the adults and that was the last time she saw her brother. He had left her his teddy bear to return to him when they would be reunited. The soldiers collected everyone's weapons before debriefing them. Cassie's father had given her a M16 rifle which she had hidden behind a tree and a pistol that she kept on her. When Cassie realized that the teenage boy who had hit on her was missing from the group, she volunteered to go find him but had to take an escort. She finds him at the ash pit where the dead bodies are buried and her military escort shoots him before she realizes what is happening. Cassie survives because she pulled her pistol and shot the escort. He was too surprised to see that Cassie still had a gun and his reaction was slowed. She heads back to find her father but witnesses him being shot by Colonel Vosch, the man in charge of the military group.

With the two guns her father gave her and Sammy's teddy bear, Cassie decides to fulfill her father's promise; to continue on to a possible refugee camp at the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. On her trek, she smells the stench of Cincinnati as she nears the city. On the highway, she is shot in the leg by what she assumes is The Others. Bleeding under a car and awaiting certain death, Cassie realizes that it must have been a sniper when no one comes for her. While lying on her back and thinking of the refugee camp she had just fled from, it dawns on Cassie that the Others must have wanted just the children. She begins to theorize that after three waves, why they would be interested in saving the children now.

Will Cassie make it to the camp at Wright-Patterson? Is she the last human alive? Who is following Cassie and why? What do the Others want with the children? Do we ever find out just who the Others are and what do they want with Earth? What is the 5th Wave? Who can really be trusted! is Cassie truly alone in her fight? And will staying alive really mean staying alone?

Told from multiple points of view with heavy flashbacks to the first sighting of the mother ship, readers will be shocked to see how the story comes together. The story will be continued in 2014 with The Infinite Sea.

Visit Rick Yancey’s website.
Visit The 5th Wave website.

Prodigy by Marie Lu (Legend book 2)

SPOILER ALERT! If you haven't read the first book in the series, Legend, Stop! I don't want to ruin one of my favorite series for you.

Thirty-five days have passed since Metias’ death and nine since Day and June escaped Los Angeles and the Republic. They have stowed away in a railcar bound for Las Vegas. Day is set on finding the Patriots. He is looking for information on his little brother Eden and to make sure his friend Tess is alright. June is hoping they can help the worsening gunshot wound to Day’s leg. She knows the Patriots will not help them without some sort of payment. Now wanted criminals by the Republic, the two are short on funds.

Las Vegas is a military city, full of soldiers and the worse possible place for the two of them to go. Disguised from the Republic soldiers but marked to find the Patriots, Day is barely able to walk with his wounded leg. The Jumbo Tron screens lining the Vegas strip are displaying a notice that June is missing and a reward is being offered. No mention is made of her being a criminal. When the image of the Elector Primo is displayed and the national pledge begins playing, Day and June must stop and recite the pledge to keep up pretenses. When the broadcast unexpectedly pauses, June and Day notice the surrounding soldiers are holding their rifles as if they are expecting a reaction. Soon, the Elector’s portrait is replaced with a younger version that June recognizes as his son’s, Anden Staviopoulos. They realize that the Elector Primo has died and his son has replaced him. The strip soon returns to business as usual. It is like nothing has happened. Day collapses. His leg has given out.

When questioned by a corporal, they continue to play the drunken soldier and prostitute roles. Wanting to take Day to the hospital, June knows their covers will be blown. Soon a female soldier comes up and plays along with their story. It is Kade, the Patriot who helped Day escape his execution. The corporal leaves them alone and Kade is not happy to see them but takes them back to her barracks. The Patriot headquarters are located inside one of the largest military barracks in Vegas. In fact, the apartment they are using is for high-ranking Republic officers. There, Day is reunited with Tess. Soon Razor, the head of the Patriots, joins them. He has June very convincingly prove her identity. Razor wants to know why Day is there asking for help when he has declined to join them several times in the past. Mo longer needed for his skills, Razor gives them another way to pay the Patriots for what he needs. The Republic is vulnerable and it is the perfect time to spark a revolution. With Day and June’s reputations, they are the perfect for the job he has in mind. They will find Day’s brother, fix his bad leg and help the two of them to escape to the Colonies for one act. Both agree. All they must do is assassinate the new Elector Primo.

Will Day and June agree to the Patriots’ plan? Can June kill the new Elector that she admired at the ball? What happens when Day learns that June has met the Elector before? How will Day and June’s relationship survive when their choices lead them on separate paths? In the end, just who can June and Day really trust?

Day and June’s story will conclude on November 5, 2013 with Champion.

Visit Marie Lu’s website.

Legend by Marie Lu

Los Angeles, California
Republic of America
In the Republic, all children take the Trials at the age of ten. The score determines your future placement. The highest scoring children receive high school and college educations with good paying jobs by the Republic. Low scoring kids are sent to work dangerous jobs. Those who fail the Trials are sent to labor camps and their families are compensated, but that is a lie. The lucky ones die before Congress has a chance to experiment on them.
Day is the most wanted criminal in the Republic, only no one knows what he physically looks like. It is known that he is young and that his fingerprints aren’t on file. He is wanted for assault, arson, theft, destruction of military property and hindering the war effort.” Day makes the Republic look bad. He failed his Trials and feels like his younger brother Eden will as well.
Despite the danger, Day and his friend Tess scavenge for item for his family and monitor their house to see if anyone is stricken with the Plague. When soldiers spend far too long inside Day’s house and then paint an unfamiliar mark on the door, Day will do anything to help Eden and his family. He pretends to be injured and goes to the hospital with the intention of stealing some Plague cure medications. Taking someone hostage in the lab, he is dishearten to discover that only Plague suppressants are available. He grabs those and makes a run for it, leaving behind a pendant his father has given him. Day leaps from a staircase window to fall a couple of stories to the outside. Slightly injured, he is confronted by a soldier, Metais Iparis, as he tries to escape into the sewers system. Before Metais can fire, Day throws his knife, hitting him in the shoulder and knocking him down.
June Iparis is the “Republic’s favorite little prodigy” and the only person to achieve a perfect score on the Trials. She is a senior at Drake, the republic’s top university and is preparing to graduate after only three years with perfect grades. June is training to be a soldier to fight against the Colonies, just like her older brother Metais. She is respected by her fellow students but has trouble fitting in. June is only fifteen years old.
Always in trouble with her superiors June is a bit of a daredevil, pushing herself for the opportunity when she will go after Day. When Metais picks her up at school from her latest suspension, he says to stay in their apartment and he will be back later, Metais needs to be at the hospital to oversee the transfer of some vials of mutant Plague samples. June is preparing to sneak out of the apartment when Thomas, an old friend and one of Metais’ subordinates arrives with the bad news. Metais has been killed. Commander Jameson meets June at the hospital. She informs June that as of this moment her training and coursework at Drake is complete. She is graduating early. They go to Metais’ body and Jameson asks June to describe and analyze the scene. June notices that a knife has been plunged into Metais’ heart and it looks like the killer escaped into the sewer. She gives June a few minutes with her brother’s body before she joins the search. From this point forward, June will be a member of Jameson’s patrol as an agent in training. Her first mission is tracking her brother’s killer, the elusive Day.
June plans a mission for just after Metais’ funeral in an attempt to flush out Day by posing as someone selling Plague medication. She knows he won’t show himself but us pleased when he communicated with her. She is able to pick up a few clues about his background. June then goes undercover as a street urchin in the Lake sector to see if she can find out any information about Day. When she stumbles upon an illegal skiz fight, June realizes the people watching may know something about Day. A fight ends and the crowd calls for the next opponent. Unfortunately a young, frightened girl is pushed forward. Knowing she will probably blow her cover, June steps up to fight instead, unknowingly saving Tess. As Day watches from the shadows, he knows June will be a tough competitor. The fight quickly turns dirty and June is stabbed in the side. She breaks her opponent’s arm to end the fight.
Hurrying to leave, June exits the arena and angers the crowd. Once outside, she dares to peek over her shoulder and sees that several men have followed her. Her injury prevents her from getting away and she is knocked to the ground, hitting her head. Dragging her back towards the fight, she hears a pop and finds herself all alone in a cloud of dust. A beautiful boy offers his hand and takes her to safety.
Weary of one another, June is grateful that the two strangers bandaged her up and allow her to spend a few days tagging along. She hopes to uncover some information about Day’s whereabouts, not realizing until she comes to care about the boy who saved her that he is day. Who murdered Metais and why when Day denies he did it? What happens when June turns Day over to the Republic? What secrets is the Republic keeping covered, especially those concerning Day? Who will June be able to trust now that her brother is dead? What choices will she willingly make that will change the course of her life?
Told in alternating chapters from both Day and June’s points of view, readers are able to keep up through the use of different type fonts. An absolutely engrossing read that will be hard to put down and leave you clamoring for book two, Prodigy on January 29, 2013.
Visit Marie Lu’s website.
Visit the Legend Series website.

Goliath by Scott Westerfeld (Leviathan book 3)

SPOILER ALERT! If you haven’t read the first two books in the Leviathan trilogy, STOP! I don’t want to ruin a great story for you.

It has been two weeks since the events of Behemoth and the airship Leviathan is heading east. Deryn/Dylan Sharp and Prince Aleksander are both aboard. The airship takes a detour to pick up a mysterious stranger in Siberia who promises that his new weapon, Goliath, will end the war. Who is this mysterious passenger and what exactly is Goliath? What happens when Alek finally discovers that Dylan is really Deryn, a girl, and her true feelings towards him? Why is the Leviathan heading east? And can the war be stopped? Join Alek and Deryn aboard the Leviathan as they go on their last voyage on the great airship.

Visit Scott Westerfeld’s website.

Behemoth by Scott Westerfeld

SPOILER ALERT!!! If you haven't read the first book in the trilogy, Levianthan, please don't read any further. I don't want to spoil the series for you.

Behemoth picks up the next morning where Leviathan left off. The Leviathan has left the Italian peninsula behind and is headed for the city of Istanbul. Deryn is still in disguise as a boy in the British Air Service and Prince Alek is hiding his true identity from the British crew of the Leviathan. The crew's mission is to deliver Dr. Barlow's eggs to the Sultan. Alek and Deryn have been taking care of them. The hope is to keep the Ottoman Empire from joining the Clankers in the brewing war. But what will happen when the peace keeping mission doesn't go as planned? Will Deryn and Alek be able to survive in a strange city when they are not only separated from the Leviathan but from each other? Who discovers Deryn's secret? And will Alek be able to find any allies in a city crawling with Germans?

Deryn and Alek's story will conclude with book three in the series due out Fall of 2011.

Visit Scott Westerfeld's website.

The Looking Glass Wars trilogy by Frank Beddor

The start of what I hope will be a great series. Helps to know a little about the Alice in Wonderland story but a quick view of the entry in Wikipedia will do the trick although it’s not necessary for this to be a good read.

The “true story” behind Alice in Wonderland! Princess Alyss Heart is brutally cast out of Wonderland by her vicious Aunt Redd, who beheads Alyss’ mother (Off with her head, she cries!) and begins to rule over Wonderland with an iron fist. Alyss escapes from Wonderland and is exiled to another world entirely–Victorian London–where she is adopted into a new family, renamed Alice, and befriended by Lewis Carroll. At age 20 she returns to Wonderland to battle Redd, reclaim the throne, and lead Wonderland into its next golden age of imagination.

 
 
 

Second book in the Looking Glass Wars series. A great read that picks up with the start of Alyss Heart’s reign as queen of Wonderland and everyone wondering what has happened to Redd and The Cat after their jump into the Heart Crystal. Also a new enemy has entered into the picture. At the end of this book, you will want to pick up the next.

Alyss of Wonderland’s rules has only just begun and already those who prefer chaos to peace are threatening to destroy everything worth imagining. Trailed by newly appointed Royal Bodyguard Homburg Molly, Alyss is doing her best to keep pace with the non-stop demands of being Queen while attempting to evade Molly for a few private moments with Dodge. Alyss’s life is already a challenging mix of duty, love and imagining when a series of phantom sightings set fire to an urban myth of her imperial viciousness’s return and have everyone…Seeing Redd.

The conclusion to the Looking Glass Wars trilogy. A good series but wished the book had ended a little differently. Big build up at the end that falls flat when all of the ends are wrapped up a little bit too quickly. Also there was at least one unanswered question that I had which makes me believe Beddor may have a sequel in mind.

Check out Frank Beddor's website: http://www.lookingglasswars.com/