Ice Like Fire by Sarah Raasch (Ice Like Fire book 2)

SPOILER ALERT! If you haven’t read the first book the series, Snow Like Ashes, Stop! I don’t want to ruin one of my favorite series for you.

Check out Epic Reads if you need a recap of Snow Like Ashes. Please visit the Recaptains blog if you need a refresher on the first book in the series.

Three months have passed since both Meira and Mather’s worlds were turned upside down when Sir told the truth about who they really were. Meira is the true heir of Winter whereas Mather is really the son of Sir(William), Hannah’s guard and his wife Allyson. Both are struggling to accept the roles they were handed and overcoming the lies of the past. The kingdom of Cordell is aiding Winter to regain its footing since the defeat of King Angra of Spring. Since King Noam of Cordell nullified the engagement between Prince Theron and Meira, Winter’s repayment for accepting Cordell’s help is to locate the lost chasm of magic beneath the Season Kingdoms, as well as jewels mined during the search. Theron is not ready to give up on Meira. Mather hasn’t talked to her since their return to Winter but he still loves the girl he grew up with.

Finn and Greer searched throughout Primoria to see if they could find evidence of Angra’s survival. The appearance of two Winterians in the Rhythm Kingdoms of Yakim and Ventralli was noticed. The queens from both kingdoms sent gifts to Meira to congratulate Winter on its victory over Spring. They also issued invites for Meira to visit each of their kingdoms. Greer speculates that with Noam’s hands in both Autumn and Winter, Spring would be an easy conquest. He believes that Angra is nowhere in Primoria. Everyone on Meira’s Winterian council believes Angra to be dead. Knowing that a ruler becomes the conduit when the Royal Conduit is broken in defense of a kingdom, Meira fears that Angra is alive and now holds Spring’s magic, just as she does Winter’s. If he does, she is terrified that the Decay would become limitless.

When Meira infuses magic into her subjects upon the opening of the Tadil Mine, she has already grown weary of the process. She fears magic will once again become uncontrollable and the Decay will become rampant if the chasm is found. When an explosion occurs shortly after, she and the council rush to see the damage. A miner resurfaces with the news that they believe the lost chasm has been found. Meira’s dead mother, who is able to communicate with her now that Meira is Winter’s conduit, cannot believe that they were so close to finding it before being conquered by Spring. Everyone enters the mine and finds the other miners standing outside of a chamber. Meira enters and sees that Theron has come with her into the chamber. Seeing that there is a door in the chamber, she and Theron examine it. They see three symbols with a keyhole under each. The words, ”Order of the Lustrate”, are carved on the door. Fearing what Noam will do now that the chasm has been located, she is dismayed to see Theron is excited over the find. Trying to get away from Theron, the two trip and fall, touching the door. When they touch it, Meira finds that a burning heat consumes the ice that is usually in her veins. Unable to communicate with her mother, Meira sees that Theron is unaffected. Screaming in pain, she blacks out. While out, Meira gets a glimpse of what may have happened to Theron while he was held prisoner by Angra in Abril. Angra remarks that his father won’t save him. He and Theron are more alike than he realizes. Theron screams that he didn’t kill her.

Meira awakes in a small room watched over by Theron and Sir. She tries to tell them about the chasm being dangerous and it shouldn’t be opened. Theron disagrees and says that is exactly what needs to occur. Wondering if what she dreamed about his interaction with Angra, Meira suddenly finds her magic gathering and this time she is unable to control it. It strikes Sir and his strength causes him to break the door off the hinges. He asks her why she did that and Meira says that her magic was affected in the chamber. Sir tells her that they will work it out and send someone else down to investigate who isn’t tied to a conduit. Meira objects that it is too dangerous but Theron is adamant that they explore it for the good of the kingdoms.

When Noam arrives in Jannuari for the payment ceremony, Meira feels as if Theron has betrayed her when he informs his father that the lost chasm has been found. Heading into the palace, Sir join them, dismayed by the turn of events. Theron tells Meira to trust him, that they need Cordell to open the door and harness the power before Angra resurfaces. Sir believes that Angra is dead. While telling his father about the find, Meira sees how excited Theron is and suddenly recalls where she saw the Order of the Lustrate before. It was in a book called The Magic of Primoria that she and Theron read back at the palace in Bithai. Meira knows that she could never recover the book with rousing Noam’s suspicions. Theron suspects that the three symbols carved in the door are clues to where the keys are hidden; the kingdoms of Summer, Ventralli and Yakim. Noam wants no one else to know about the possible link to the other kingdoms. He is sending Meira and Theron to look for a way to open the chamber. She is looking to get some answers while Theron seeks a way to unlock the door. Meira is determined to find a way to keep Winter safe.

Has the lost chasm of magic really been found? Who is the Order of the Lustrate? Can Meira and Theron find the keys? Why do the kingdoms of Ventralli and Yakim want Meira to visit? Will Meira forgive Theron for telling Noam about their discovery? What happened to Meira’s connection to Hannah when she touched the chamber door? Can Mather forgive William about lying about his parentage? What happened to Theron while he was held by Angra? What are Noam’s real motives for helping Winter? Can Meira and Mather repair their strained relationship? Who will capture Meira’s heart; Theron or Mather?

Fans will be eagerly waiting for the final book in this trilogy in 2016. In the meantime, readers can enjoy this short story, Flames Like Vines about Ceridwen on Wattpad.

Visit Sara Raasch’s website.

Denton Little's Deathdate by Lance Rubin

“Imminent death has never been so funny….”

“Tomorrow is the day I’m going to die.

I don’t mean to get all dramatic about it. I’ve known that tomorrow is the day I will die since I was born. Just like almost everyone else in the world knows the date when they will die, thanks to the group of doctors, scientists, statisticians, and astrologers who pioneered the field of AstroThanatoGenetics (ATO).

Is it still weird and anxiety-provoking that my death is tomorrow? Hell to the yes. But do I need to get movie-preview-voice-over-guy intense about it? Probably not.

Well, um...

If Denton Little knew what was in store on his last day --hangovers, love triangles, jealous exes, shotgun standoffs, and mysterious rashes -- he probably wouldn’t be so calm.

And did I mention that Denton’s death date is the same day as senior prom?

Oh yeah. Good times…” - front flap

“Denton Little's Deathdate takes place in a world exactly like our own except that everyone knows the day they will die. For 17-year-old Denton Little, that's tomorrow, the day of his senior prom.

Despite his early deathdate, Denton has always wanted to live a normal life, but his final days are filled with dramatic firsts. First hangover. First sex. First love triangle (as the first sex seems to have happened not with his adoring girlfriend, but with his best friend's hostile sister. Though he's not totally sure. See: first hangover.) His anxiety builds when he discovers a strange purple rash making its way up his body. Is this what will kill him? And then a strange man shows up at his funeral, claiming to have known Denton's long-deceased mother, and warning him to beware of suspicious government characters…. Suddenly Denton's life is filled with mysterious questions and precious little time to find the answers.” - taken from Goodreads.com

Denton’s story will continue with Denton Little’s Birthdate out on April 12, 2016.

Visit Lance Rubin’s website.

The Immortal Heights by Sherry Thomas (The Elemental trilogy book 3)

SPOILER ALERT! If you haven’t read the first two books in the series, The Burning Sky and The Perilous Sea, Stop! I don’t want to ruin the series for you.

Please visit the Recaptains blog if you need a refresher on the first book in the series.
Check out Epic Reads if you need a recap of the series.

Only six months have passed since Prince Titus VII, Master of the Domain, and Iolanthe Seabourne, aka Archer Fairfax, a great elemental mage of her time, met when she summoned her first lightning bolt. The Bane, head of Atlantis, the mightiest empire in the mage world, is hunting Iolanthe in order to sacrifice her to “prolong his life and maintain his choke hold on power.” Picking up immediately where The Perilous Sea ended, Atlantis has Titus and Iolanthe trapped underneath a bell jar dome where she is unable to access her control over lightning. They came to three days earlier in the middle of the Sahara Desert, only knowing that they must not be captured by Atlantis. Now, they are in the fight for their very lives.

Since he has deployed the war phoenix, Titus now has seven days to report his location to Alectus, his regent. Alectus is also a puppet of Atlantis. If Titus doesn’t make himself known, then the regent assumes the crown. All Alectus would have to do is hand over the reins of government to Atlantis. It would take Titus many lives and years to reclaim the crown. Three days have already but Titus also has a seventy-two hour grace period. In total, the trio has a seven day window to succeed in killing the Bane. Titus and Iolanthe know that if they go to Atlantis, the prophecy states that Titus will die. When the Bane issues an ultimatum for Iolanthe’s surrender or the destruction of Titus’ people, Titus’ hand is forced to finally make the decisions he dreaded facing.

Can the Bane be killed before Titus must make his appearance known? Does the crown pass to the regent? Will Titus survive the trip to Atlantis, despite his mother’s vision? How accurate are Princess Ariadne’s visions? Who turns out to be The One from the prophecy? What part will Kashkari play in the mission? Can his visions be trusted or are they open to interpretation like he believes? Is the Bane successful in his attempt to complete the sacrifice? How will the story of Titus and Iolanthe end? What truths will they discover about their lives?

Visit Sherry Thomas’ website.

Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo (Six of Crows book 1)

“Six dangerous outcasts. One impossible heist.”

SPOILER ALERT! If you haven’t read the Grisha trilogy, you might want to stop. Even though this is a new series, some spoilers may occur but I don't think it will ruin the enjoyment of either book for you.

Six of Crows takes place two years after the end of the Ravkan civil war, so the effects of that are still being felt throughout the world. A few characters are mentioned briefly in passing.

The Dregs are all liars, murderers and thieves. Kaz Brekker became a member when he was twelve and the gang of street urchins and hustlers were the laughing stock of Ketterdam. In the years since, Kaz has made the Dregs feared. They now have their own territory, gambling hall and the Slat, a warm, dry place to hang out if needed. Even though Per Haskell is the head of the Dregs. Kaz is the brains and brawn behind the gang.

After a successful confrontation with a rival gang over territory, Kaz walks alone through an alley. Usually aware of his surroundings, he is surprised when he is attacked by an unseen assailant. Kaz wakes up chained to a chair in a study, to his surprise. Taking in the man behind the desk in front of him, he realizes the man is Van Eck, a Kerch merchant. Van Eck tells Kaz that the Merchant Council has a proposition for him. Kaz wants to know if all Council negotiations start with a beating. Van Eck tells him to consider it both a warning and a demonstration. Kaz asks why the interest in him. In the past three years, Kaz hasn't served any time in prison. He states that he has cleaned up his act but then Van Eck calls him a liar. He continues to read through his file on Kaz, detailing his life with the Dregs while unbeknownst to him, Kaz is setting himself free from the chains. Kaz is able to vault from his chair and hold Van Eck hostage before any of his guards can react. Kaz just want someone to show him the door but Van Eck responds that he can change his mind. He calls for Mikka and Kaz sees a boy, pale as a corpse, walk through the wall. Dressed in a Grisha Tidemakers coat, Kaz thinks he has been drugged. Van Eck will explain once he has been released but Kaz refuses. Mikka is under the effects of jurda parem.. Kaz is aware that jurda is a stimulant but Van Eck warns that jurda parem is completely different and definitely not harmless. Kaz knew he had been drugged but then realizes that Van Eck is talking about the Grisha.

Van Eck explains that a scientist by the name of Bo Yul-Bayur sent a sample to the Kerch Merchant Council. He wish to defect to keep the drug out of the hand of other governments. The drug has been tested by the Council on a Grisha from each of the three orders. The drug almost acts as an amplifier, but instead of increasing their powers, it alters a Grisha’s perception. To the non-Grisha, param is lethal. A Fabrikator is able to turn lead into gold. Bo Yul-Bayur, a member of the Shu, feared the Shu government would have abused the drug and caused the world economy to collapse. The Merchant Council want Kaz to kidnap Bo Yul-Bayu,r who was seeking asylum. The government doesn't want to be tied to Bo Yul-Bayur. Kaz doesn't think he is still alive but the Council knows that that Bo Yul-Bayur is being held at the Ice Court. Kaz is ready to leave but then Van Eck offers him five million kruge. Kaz remarks that he values his life more than that. Van Eck offers 10 then 20. Kaz stops him at 20 and Van Eck doesn't look happy. He will need to convince a team into taking what is essentially a suicide mission. The Ice Court has never been breached. Van Eck states that time is of the essence and greed begin begins to speak to Kaz. He realizes that he will need a specialized team that knows they may not survive. He will have to find people outside of the Dregs. If Kaz is successful, his reputation will soar and he can be out from under Per Haskell. Kaz wants to know why Van Eck wants him for the job. Van Eck states that Kaz has the one quality he needs most in a criminal, he doesn't get caught. He also knows that Kaz was the person who robbed him of an expensive painting from his home six months earlier. Kaz admits nothing.

After seeing and hearing about the effects of jurda parem, Kaz wants 30 million kruge to do the job. He knows that the Merchant Council is desperate. The two men shake on the deal and Van Eck then asks Kaz why he wears gloves. He states that everyone has heard the stories and Kaz replies that they are all true. Leaving, Kaz knows that he is going to need more help than the Dregs can offer him. After giving Per Haskell his 20 percent of the payout, each of the six member will receive 4 million kruge if they survive. Kaz’s crew consists of “a convict with a thirst for revenge, a sharpshooter who can't walk away from a wager, runaway with a privileged past, a spy known as the Wraith, a Heartrender using her magic to survive the slums, and a  thief with a gift for unlikely escapes.” Meet the Six of Crows.

Will Kaz’s crew be able to breach the Ice Palace? Is Bo Yul-Bayur is alive? Who makes up Kaz’s crew? Can Kaz move on past his greed? Does someone else beat them to the Ice Palace? What are the Merchant Council's plans for Bo Yul-Bayur? How does the ultimate heist turn out?

Readers will be eagerly anticipating book two to see what happens to Kaz and his crew next.

Visit Leigh Bardugo’s website.

Walk on Earth a Stranger by Rae Carson (Gold Seer trilogy book 1)

January 1849

Leah Westfall is fifteen years old and has the ability to divine gold from the Earth like others can dowse or witch for water. Since the Georgia gold rush has dried up, Leah has only found some dust in the creek beds after floods. While tracking a deer she shot, Leah finds a significant gold nugget, her first in more than a year. When she shows her father Reuben, nicknamed “Lucky” by the townsfolk because Leah’s ability is a closely guarded secret, the nugget, he wants to know where she found it. They both realize that she tracked the deer to their neighbor’s land, the McCauley’s. Even though they need it, the McCauleys’ are worse off than they are and it rightfully belongs to them. With her father ill, he hasn’t been able to take what gold dust they have hidden to the mint in Charlotte to exchange. They don’t want to draw suspicion in the town of Dahlongea. Her father tells her that he will take the nugget back to the McCauleys.

At school the next morning, Jefferson McCauley shows her a newspaper clipping from a month earlier where President Polk announced to Congress that gold had been discovered in California. Leah notices that he has the same look in his eyes that must be in hers. She thinks that life might be better if her family started over and her abilities could go unnoticed. Jefferson is ready to go but the money for the supplies to cross the country is exorbitant. He tells Leah that he only comes to school to see her and he knows that she works his family’s claim just like he works his for his drunken father. He asks her to go west with him as either his wife or they could pose as siblings. It could be their one chance but Leah shakes her head. Unlike Jefferson whose Indian mother left his father and went to the Oklahoma territory, she loves her family. Even if her father wants to go, her mother would talk him out of it because of his illness. After spending the day in a daze, pondering her future, Leah heads home and decides to talk things through with her parents.

On the ride home, Leah hears two gunshots in the distance. At home, she discovers her father shot dead on the porch. He has a small caliber bullet hole like from a Colt between his eyes. Remembering hearing two shots, she beings to look for her mother. Finding her nowhere, she uses her sense to locate her mother’s gold locket. Leah finds her shot behind the barn. She is barely alive. She whispers that they were wrong to be alone. Leah needs to trust someone. Her mother tells Leah to run just before she dies. She hears something in the woods and knows that she must go to the McCauleys’. She grabs her mother’s locket and heads to the house, grabbing the pistol. Jefferson comes back with her to make sure it is safe. Now that the rush of panic has died down, Leah realizes that her family’s stash of gold is no longer calling out to her. Inside the house, Jefferson helps her right the table and chairs and Leah confesses that their stash of gold that is missing. He is hurt that she didn’t believe she could trust him. Then Leah hands him the nugget she found on his place the night before. He pockets it. Jefferson wants her to find a safe place in town to stay but she refuses to leave her home.

Before her parents’ funeral service begins, Jefferson comes back to see her. He asks her to sell the home place and go west to the goldfields with him. He sold the nugget and bought his way onto a wagon train. Leah comes up with several excuses; the funeral, cleaning up and settling the estate. Jefferson says that he will wait for her in Independence, Missouri. As he leaves, he comments that he has been waiting his whole life for her to come around but he cannot wait forever. After the funeral in which the Reverend preaches a sermon on how “the love of gold is the root of all evil”, Mr. McCauley is the first to speak to Leah. He wants to know if she has seen Jefferson. She sees the advertisement in his hand that everyone was talking about during the funeral. It states that the Pacific Mail Steamship Company will take passengers to California for $200. in the spring. Remembering the bruises on Jefferson’s face, Leah lies to him, saying that if he left now he could possibly catch up with him in Savannah. Her father’s friend, Free Jim, informs her that her Uncle Hiram has settled the family’s debts with him. Hiram, her father’s brother and a lawyer who lives in the capital, walks forward in his fancy clothes. Leah notices that he has a shiny new Colt pistol on his hip. What really sets off the alarms in her head is the fact that she can sense traces of gold dust on him. Thinking back to how she found her father and her mother’s words, Leah suspects that Hiram killed her parents.

After everyone leaves, Leah is left alone with Hiram. He treats her as if he is the man of house, wanting her to pull off his boots and cook his meals. The situation darkens when he informs her that he is her guardian now and that her father’s will left everything to him. Hiram is moving into the house. Leah knows that he cheated his own brother. He has big plans for her, including sending her to finishing school and making a proper lady out of her. When Hiram tells Leah that her father has told him about her abilities, she realizes that he killed his own brother to get to her. Heading out to the barn seeking comfort from her horse, Leah formulates a plan to meet up with Jefferson in Independence. She knows that she will have to disguise herself as a boy and wait for the right time.

How does Leah escape Hiram and Dahlongea? What obstacles does she encounter along the way? Who does she meet up within Independence? What happens when Jefferson discovers Leah’s ability? Is Jefferson really in love with her or just after her abilities? Will Hiram be able to catch up with Leah? Did he kill his brother?

A mix of fantasy and historical fiction, Dahlongea, Georgia is the sight of the first major gold rush in the United States, Walk on Earth a Stranger, is the first book in a trilogy.

Visit Rae Carson’s website

Dumplin' by Julie Murphy

“Go big or go home.”
“If you got it, flaunt it.”

Willowdean Dickson is a self-proclaimed fat girl. She describes herself as not being so fat that she has to wear elastic waisted pants because they don’t make pants with buttons in her size, like Millie Michalchuk. Willowdean looks at Millie and always thinks that things could be worse in considering her size. Nevertheless, Willowdean is the complete opposite of her skinny, blond and tall best friend, Ellen Dryver. The two bonded over their love of Dolly Parton songs the summer before first grade. Ellen’s mother was friends with Willowdean’s Aunt Lucy before she died six months earlier. Weighing almost 500 pounds, Lucy rarely left the house. She died of a massive heart attack while watching tv by herself. She was only in her mid thirties. Willowdean’s hometown, Clover City, is home to the Miss Teen Blue Bonnet Pageant, the oldest pageant in Texas. The pageant is also her mother’s greatest accomplishment. She has nicknamed her daughter, Dumplin’. As head of the planning committee and hostess, each year she wears the dress that she wore the night she won the crown. Willowdean is self conscious about her body but for the most part, she is comfortable in her own skin.

Ellen isn’t happy that she and Will don’t work together. Ellen works at Sweet 16, a clothing store where Will is too large to wear the clothes that they sell. Instead, she works at Harpy’s Burgers & Dogs with Bo Larson. Bo attends a private Catholic school and Will has had a crush on him from the moment she laid eyes on him. Just as Will has finished her sophomore year of high school, Bo begins to pay attention to her. The two end up watching a meteor shower after work one night. Will begins to notice that Bo seems to be paying closer attention to her. The next night after a busy shift, Will & Bo carry out the trash. Bo throws the bags in the dumpster, turns around and kisses Will by surprise. Turns out it’s her first kiss and she responds but isn’t sure what to do. Bo doesn’t stop her when she goes back inside.

Dashing to her car when her shift ends, Willowdean thinks she is safe when a horn honks at the stop light. Seeing nothing behind her, she turns and sees Bo in his truck beside of her. She rolls down her window and Bo asks her to follow him. Knowing that it is a bad idea, Willowdean complies. They park at the condemned elementary school  that caught fire several years ago and get out. Bo tries to explain why he kissed her. He just couldn't stop himself. Furthermore, he remarks that Will kissed him back. Commenting that it was just an okay kiss, Will asks him why he did it. Before he can answer, it begins to rain and the two climb into Bo’s truck. Bo wants her opinion on how good his kiss was. Will says that maybe the second one would be better. Bo asks if she is sure but she beats him to the punch and instigates the kiss. Bo moves his hands to Willowdean’s waist and she suddenly becomes self conscious of her body. They break apart. Bo apologizes but Will doesn’t want to be that girl who worries over her body image. She is embarrassed but isn’t quite sure why. Her world is further rocked when Bo tells her that he has too much going on in his life at the moment and shouldn't be dating. She makes an excuse about it being late and runs through the rain to her car but not before Bo tells her that he’ll see her at work. Willowdean doesn’t share any of the details about Bo with anyone, including Ellen. Knowing that Ellen would believe her, Will isn't so sure herself what happen. She promises herself not to kiss Bo Larson again. She breaks that promise the next time they work together.

Two months later, Willowdean and Bo are still kissing. She is still embarrassed about Bo touching her body and she tries not to get into any situation where that will happen. Before school begins, Willowdean and Ellen go to the mall to pick up Ellen’s paycheck. While in the back trying on clothes, Willowdean overhears Ellen’s coworkers talk about her size and how nice it is that Ellen is her friend. Angry, Willowdean storms out of the store and sits on a bench. She is startled when Bo sits down with her. Soon, Ellen comes out and sees them together, but so does Bo’s stepmother and little brother. His stepmother comments on how pretty Ellen is and Bo tries to make her see what kind of person Willowdean is. The bottom comes out of her world when Bo’s stepmother comments that both of the boys will be attending Clover City High School in the fall. At Harpy’s, Willow does her best to ignore Bo. She is fortunate that she doesn’t see him very often during the school day. That reality is shattered when Bo is transferred to her fifth period class. Unable to deal with what she sees as his betrayal, embarrassment over her and the feelings of inadequacy over her body that he causes her, Willowdean takes a new job.

Soon, everything about Willowdean’s life is turned upside down. Her mother starts to clean out Lucy’s room so that she has more space for the ever consuming pageant and Willowdean isn’t happy. She lashes out that her mother is trying to forget her sister. She feels like Ellen is pulling away from her in favor of her coworkers. She also begins to doubt her body image and feels embarrassed by Bo and another boy’s attention to her.It isn’t long before Wilowdean does the one things she never thought she would do, she enters the Miss Teen Blue Bonnet Pageant as do Millie and two other larger girls.

What happens when Willowdean enters the pageant? Can she and her mother overcome their grief over Lucy’s death and attempt a relationship with one another? What does Willowdean discover about herself and her aunt Lucy as she goes through some of her stuff? Will Willowdean forgive what she sees as Bo’s betrayal and give him a second chance? Is Ellen pulling away from Willowdean or can the two repair their friendship? Dows Willowdean find it in herself to accept her body once again? How does she and her friends do in the pageant?

Visit Julie Murphy’s website.

Fire Walker by Josephine Angelini (Worldwalker trilogy book 2)

SPOILER ALERT! If you haven’t read the first book in the trilogy, Trial by Fire, Stop! I don’t want to ruin Lily’s story for you.

“Two versions of the same world. Two versions of the same girl. Love took them home. Now evil wants them back.”

After being missing for three months, Lily's mother Samantha knew exactly where to find her and Rowan on a snow covered road two towns away from Salem. Her sister Juliet is horrified to see how badly Lily is burned. Juliet seems to be the only one who doesn't know what is going on. When Samantha takes charge, it's the first time in years that Juliet had seen her mother look and act sane. Back at the Proctor house, Rowan has Juliet help him save Lily’s life. Juliet is mystified that her mother seems to know and trust Rowan. Watching him use his magic, she is impressed at the lengths at which he goes to safe her sister’s life. While she is being treated, Lily floats on the edge of reality. With her guard down, Lillian is able to reach her through mindspeak and attempts to plead her case. Everything she has done, she did for Rowan. If she can find a way to rectify the mistake of the Woven, everything will have been worth it. Lillian shares some of her memories with Lily on the promise that she doesn’t tell Rowan. Lily agrees.

When she is sufficiently healed, Lily wakes up and finds that she has been back in her world for over a week. A lot has happened while she was gone, including the FBI becoming involved in what they saw as a missing person case. Everyone, including her father and Tristan were questioned. Her mother came up with a cover story stating that she had forgotten her daughter had gone for radical subcutaneous exposure therapy for her life threatening allergies. It would also explain her appearance except Agent Simms from the FBI isn’t buying Lily’s story. Forced to go back to school, Lily finally comes face to face with Tristan. Having already met Rowan at her house when he tried to come see her, Rowan warns her that Tristan is just like the Tristan from his world. He will be drawn to her because of her magic and willstones. And he is in love with her. Lily begins to block Lillian’s attempts at mindspeak. She still believes that Lillian’s actions are evil and in no way are for Rowan’s benefit.

At school, Lily meets with Tristan before the day begins. He is furious that she has been avoiding him but wraps her in a tight hug. She promises to work for his forgiveness. Breakfast walks by and joins the conversation. The three of them, along with Breakfast’s girlfriend Una, hang out a lunch, amidst all of the stares Lily continues to receive. She has already survived the inquisition the superintendent, principal and school nurse put her through before she could go to class. Tristan asks her who Rowan is and her answer is her holistic life coach. The three of them are interested to meet him but Lily puts them off. She is unable to keep them from meeting when they show up on a Saturday morning with bagels. Rowan and Breakfast hit it off immediately, which annoys Tristan. Lily tells them that Rowan is Native American and Una is interested in his abilities. He comments that she has the same talent that both he and Tristan have. Tristan explodes, saying they are nothing alike. Rowan thought that he wanted to become a doctor. Tristan tells them that his dream died when he was thought to be involved in Lily’s disappearance. He now has a police record and Lily is devastated. Rowan begins dropping hints about the group’s abilities but Lily eventually gets him to stop. The five spend the day together.

Lily converses in mindspeak with Rowan and slips up by saying something she shouldn’t know. She is saved from further questioning when Samantha comes down the stairs. Rowan offers to make everyone dinner. Lily and Juliet each offer to take their mother for a walk to keep her away from their friends. Breakfast suggests they all go after dinner and has Samantha sit next to him. Lily is grateful to Breakfast but he tells her that he has an uncle like her mom. Rowan picks up on the fact that spirit walking runs in his family. The group goes out for a walk. Rowan mindspeaks with Lily and tells her that Tristan loves her but not to push him away. He suddenly stops and pulls Lily behind him. He tells everyone to go home. Lily sees Carrick (Lillian has sent him after Lily to bring her back to their world) and she gives Rowan what energy she has to chase him down. Everyone sees what is happening including her willstones flaring to life. Tristan wants to know where Lily has really been for the past three months.

When Rowan returns after losing Carrick, he and Lily explain to Tristan, Breakfast and Una what is really going on. Rowan knows that Carrick is there for Lily and she will need a coven in her world to help her fight. Her three friends have the ability to become her mechanics and they readily agree. Rowan already has grown willstones for them to bond with and will train everyone to the best of their abilities. The three each bond with a stone and are claimed by Lily.

Will Lillian be able to lure Lily back to her world? Why does she need Lily? What happened when she met with the shaman and began spiritwalking? Can Lily and Rowan be safe in her world? What role will Samantha play in all of this? What happened to Lillian’s Samantha? Will Agent Simms continue to hound Lily about her disappearance? What happens when Tristan finds out about his other self from Rowan’s world? Will Rowan discover Lily’s “betrayal” over mindspeaking with Lillian? Does Lily see why Lillian has done off of the “evil” things that she has done? Can the two of them make a life in Lily’s world or will they be driven apart?

The Worldwalker trilogy will conclude in the fall of 2016 with Traitor’s Pyre.

Visit Josephine Angelini’s website.