The Treachery of Beautiful Things by Ruth Frances Long

Title: The Treachery of Beautiful Things
Author: Ruth Frances Long
Publisher: Dial (August 16, 2012)
Length: 384 pages
Format: hardcover


My Blurb/About:

Jenny is a girl on the verge of madness, of belief and disbelief. She will do anything and suffer through everything to get the brother she blames herself for losing back. In doing this she wanders into the woods that took her brother years ago. Along the way she discovers that the stories of old aren't just stories, but the history of the faerie world. Out of all the new mysterious creatures and faeries she meets none of them are quite like Jack. He is wild and sweet one moment and indifferent the next. Jenny is drawn to the need to heal him and Jack is drawn to her innocent heart. However, someone is hiding a secret that could literally tear them apart.

My Thoughts:

     The Treachery of Beautiful Things is a turbulent, vivid, and exquisite ride. While reading this book I felt like Alice down the rabbit hole. Ruth Frances Long has managed to create a unique tale of the much beloved and written about faerie world.
      Jenny is sweet, innocent, brave, loyal, and just a little crazy. What more could you ask for in a character? Her lyrical and free flowing (not sure I'm describing this right) personality fits in with the strange world of the faeries. She is one of those characters that believes in the impossible and has enough belief to make it happen. Jack is jaded, but Jenny's hope shows him that all is not lost. She helps him slowly realize that some things are worth everything. It is hard not to get lost in this book. The writing is vivid and beautiful. The story does not simply flow, but swirls and sucks you in like a vortex. On that same note, the only negative is that at times it is easy to get lost and the book wanders, slowly making it's way to the point. Littered with myth, legend, romance, deception, and hopeless hope Ruth Frances Long has written something lovely. I give this book a 4 STAR rating.

Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr (audiobook)

Titile: Wicked Lovely

Author: Melissa Marr

Narrator: Alyssa Bresnahan

Publisher: Harper Audio (April, 29, 2008)

Series: Wicked Lovely bk. 1

Length: 10 hrs. & 9 mins.

Source: Audible.com

Edition: audiobook

Description from Audible.com:

Rule #3: Don't stare at invisible faeries.

Aislinn has always seen faeries. Powerful and dangerous, they walk hidden in the mortal world. Aislinn fears their cruelty - especially if they learn of her Sight - and wishes she were as blind to their presence as other teens.
Rule #2: Don't speak to invisible faeries.
Now faeries are stalking her. One of them, Keenan, who is equal parts terrifying and alluring, is trying to talk to her, asking questions Aislinn is afraid to answer.
Rule #1: Don't ever attract their attention.
But it's too late. Keenan is the Summer King who has sought his queen for nine centuries. Without her, summer itself will perish. He is determined that Aislinn will become the Summer Queen at any cost - regardless of her plans or desires.
Suddenly, none of the rules that have kept Aislinn safe are working anymore, and everything is on the line: her freedom; her best friend, Seth; her life; everything.
Faerie intrigue, mortal love, and the clash of ancient rules and modern expectations swirl together in Melissa Marr's stunning 21st-century faery tale.
©2007 Melissa Marr; (P)2008 HarperCollins Publishers

My Thoughts:

I'm just going to clear the air before I get into the review and say that I LOVE Wicked Lovely! There I said it. This book is fantastic, Melissa Marr is fantastice, and this series is amazing. I'm a Wicked Lovely fan girl and proud of it. The faerie world and characters of this book are complex and absolutely brilliant. Aislinn is strong, she knows what she wants, has high morals, and at the same time she's just a scared girl. The developement of her relationship  with her best friend Seth is one of my favorite parts of the story. They match perfectly, two unique individuals in a fae fae world. Keenan is a faerie king who acts like he does because taht is al he has ever known. Aislinn and Donia bring a certain humaness to him, that despite his shortcomings allows you to root for him.  As far as Donia is concerned she is one of my favorite character in the entire series. Her scenes are so sad and heartbreaking and Ms. Marr has a way of writing Donia's voice that just speaks to the reader. And let us not forget the Winter Queen, she is one evil villainess who has a genuine love of cruelty.

     Onto the world of Wicked Lovely. I found myself entranced by the ins and outs of the faerie courts. Their rules, myths, and traditions should have their own guidebook. The imagery of the faerie world along with the various quotes about faeries at the beginning of each chapter drive home just how different and cruel their world is.

     Now, this is a review of the audiobook narrated by Alyssa Bresnahan. She did a pretty good job. I didn't really like her reading voice (her voice she used when not reading any particular character), but  her character voices were spot on (I really liked the guys). Will I get another audiobook outside of the Wicked Lovely series by her? I don't know. I give this audiobook a 4 1/2 STAR rating and the hardcopy of the book a 5 STAR rating.

***I love this series (just in case you didn't get that). I have the hardcover, the paperback, the kindle version, and now the audiobook. It is one of my top 5 favorite series of all time. One note before you start this series is that everybook does not star these main characters as the main charcter of that book. Every other book is about Aislinn, Seth, and Keenan. My favorite one of the series is Radiant Shadows. The series in order is Wicked Lovely, Ink Exchange, Fragile Eternity, Radiant Shadows, and Darkest Mercy.

Reign Check by Michelle Rowen

Title: Reign Check

Autor: Michelle Rowen

Publisher: Walker Childrens (May 25, 2010)

Length: 304 pages

Series: Demon Princess bk. 2

Source: Amazon.com

Edition: paperback

Description from Amazon.com:

Fresh from finding out she is a demon princess and meeting her father for the first time, Nikki Donovan is looking forward to getting back to her regular high school life. But then Rhys, the handsome teenage king of the faery realm, enrolls at her school as a "foreign exchange student." Her conflicted feelings for Rhys and her boyfriend are getting in the way of her new relationship with the Shadow-creature Michael. But this love triangle from hell isn't even Nikki's biggest problem: There's a new prophecy that claims she will destroy all the demon and human worlds. Her best friend Melinda just might be a demon-slayer-in-training. Throw in a field trip to none other than the Underworld itself . . . and Nikki's going to be hoping for a rain check on more than just her homework!

Link to description Amazon.com

My Thoughts:

Reign Check is the sequel to Reign or Shine by Michelle Rowen in the Demon Princess series and after the first one...I was a little leery going into this one. I wasn't really too sure how much I would like it since the first one was just OK for me. That said, I liked Reign Check soooo much better! What was better this time around? Everything was. The plot, the characters, and the love story were all more developed and not as predictable.

     Nikki, Michael, Rhys, Melinda, and literally all of the other characters were just more enjoyable. I'm a sucker when it comes to cute teen series and this edition really stepped it up. The romance in this one got a lot more interesting. I must admit that I wasn't a fan of Michael at all in the first book, but he progressed to OK in this one. I like someone else :) The introduction of several more supernatural characters answers some questions I had from the first book, adds much needed twists, and sets the third book up to be pure awesomeness! This is a light, fun, and cute supernatural series that hits the spot. I give this book a 4 STAR rating.

*** Michelle Rowen released the third Demon Princess book on January 1, 2012 as a self-pulished novel! Please support her and this series! Here is a link to buy it off of Amazon. (I don't get anything Amazon is just cheap and I love cheap books!)

Glimmerglass (A Faeriewalker Novel) by Jenna Black

Glimmerglass by Jenna Black

Dana Hathaway doesn’t have to grow up, because she has always been a grown up. That’s what you get when your mother is a drunk. Dana has had enough and is tired of it. She wants to try being a kid before she becomes an adult for real. Her father has always been a mystery and she wouldn’t know anything about him if she hadn’t questioned her mom in one of her drunken stupors. Here’s what she does know- her mom has moved around hiding her all of these years, her dad lives in Avalon where the mortal world and faerie collide, he is a high raking faerie, oh yeah, and that makes Dana half fae. When Dana gets to Avalon it’s not quite what she pictured. She keeps getting kidnapped and attacked by her family, Knights, faerie creatures, and hot fae guys. Why? You might ask. Apparently she is a Faeriewalker. A unique being who is able to do the impossible…bring magic into the mortal world and technology into faerie. People from all sides are after her. They want to protect her, control her, hide her, use her, and some even want to kill her. Whoever said faerietales had to be cute and sweet?

What can I say? I’ll try not to be too biased, but in full disclosure this is one of my favorite book series. Dana is the perfect combination, almost like a real girl. She is “helpless” and “take charge” in all the right moments. Ethan and Kimber are the perfect brother and sister polar opposites. Keane is awesome too. I love his surliness. I’ve read every book in this series and I want to let you know if you love this book, be prepared to be blown away by the rest of them. This series just gets better with every installment. Don’t pass this one up! It’s awesome! I give it a 4 ½ STAR rating.

***Glimmerglass Extras***

Glimmerglass by Jenna Black has approximately 304 pages and was published on May 25, 2010 by St. Martin's Griffin. This is the first book in the Faeriewalker series. Also available in this series are Shadowspell and Sirensong.

Bones of Faerie by Janni Lee Simner

Bones of Faerie by Janni Lee Simner

Liza and her town have lived in fear of all things magic since the War. Before she was born, the world of human and fae collided in a war unlike any other. Magic spread through the human world infecting, plant, weather, animal, and human alike. Magic is the stuff of nightmares. Plants can strangle you, trees have a life of their own, hawks can hunt you as prey, and some children have been touched by magic. Liza’s world changes when her little sister is born with magic. “And cast out the magic born among you, before it can harm its parents.” Her father leaves her baby sister in the woods and the only things left of the tiny life are the bones. When Liza starts showing signs of latent magic she does the only thing she can think of…she leaves. Liza and those she gathers along the way will fight tooth and nail making a journey few if any have ever came back from. They are going beyond The Arch into Faerie. The question is will they make it? Will they come back? Will they ever be the same? Or will they be lost in visions of faerie forever?

Bones of Faerie by Janni Lee Simner is amazing! I am kicking myself because I have had this book for over a year and am just now reading it. This slim book is deep. When I first picked it up I wasn’t expecting a dystopian world filled with magic. I find this a refreshing take on this genre that has become so popular. The way the world has become so desolate and unwelcoming contributes to the haunting voice of Liza. The descriptions of the dying world around her are absolutely beautiful in a dark eerie sort of way. Each character is essential in their own right and has a distinct personality that contributes to the desolation and need to survive in this harsh world. Even those who died haunt the pages of this novel.  The ending of the story is spectacular! While writing this review I learned that there is a part two to Liza’s story. I can’t decide if I am eager to see the evolution of this world or apprehensive. I can’t imagine on another  book living up to the perfection I found this one to be. This is a dark book, but I recommend that all lovers of YA, dystopian, and faeries read it. I give this book a 5 STAR rating!

***Bones of Faerie Extras***

Bones of Faerie by Janni Lee Simner has approximately 256 pages and was published on January 26, 2010 by Random House Books for Young Readers. There is a sequel to this book called Faerie Winter and is available now.