Fallen and Torment by Lauren Kate

The cover is what first pulled me in to want to read this book. The tale alone that picture tells is absolutely phenomenal. And then the prologue was enough to seal the deal for me, I knew that I wanted to figure out just what this whole book was about.

Lucinda Price, or Luce, starts out being enrolled at Sword & Cross, a boarding school for troubled teens, as a last resort. Yet, it becomes very apparent that Luce isn't like the others. If anything, it seemed like she had been in the wrong place at the wrong time.

She doesn't really remember what happened. Only that there was a fire that killed the first boy she had liked and Shadows, the same Shadows that have haunted her for her entire life. What really happened? That's the question everyone has been asking her, but she doesn't know.

When Luce finally meets Daniel, everything else changes. She wants to understand why the shadows are chasing her, but more than that she wants to figure out why he seems to hate her so much. They've only just met right?

Lauren Kate builds a fantastic tale with Fallen, bringing in a wonderful cast of characters that help set the stage for Luce and Daniel's story. She never could have imagined falling in love so deeply, and with a fallen angel no less. Luce also learns there's more to her than she realized. Something that's a danger to her.

Again the cover is what first pulled me in, absolutely beautiful. I also love that the Prologues and Epilogues are in Daniels points-of-view.

The sequel to Fallen, Torment, picks up right where the first left. Luce finally knows the truth about Daniel, but he's not telling her everything. There is still so much that Luce doesn't understand and she's willing to find out from anyone who will tell her.

In order to protect Luce, Daniel takes her to Shoreline, a boarding school for Nephilim. Along the way he only gives her parts of the story, hoping to satisfy her curiosity for the time being, but Daniel should have known better.

Each new bit that she learns, Luce only wants to find out more. Her curiosity is piqued, and with a chance to better understand why Daniel chose her, why wouldn't she take it.

Again Lauren Kate lays a beautiful foundation for her characters, answering some questions, but leaving more left. Luce is growing into her own, wanting to figure things out for herself instead of blinding following the others along for once. I loved the "backbone" Luce seemed to grow in this book and definitely wanted to see more.

Yet at the same time I felt for Daniel. All he wanted was to protect her, for fear of losing her again. Luce is the love of his life, the one person he risked everything for.

The ending of Torment left me begging for more and I honestly can't wait for "Passion", the third book in the series to come out. There's only so much I can say in these reviews without giving away the entire plot, I want to leave that up to you guys. And I can honestly say that if there is one series that you won't want to put down, it is the Fallen series.

For more information about the series and author you can check out her website and blog at: http://www.laurenkatebooks.net/ or follow her on twitter at: http://twitter.com/laurenkatebooks

Firelight by Sophie Jordan

From the moment I read the summary of this book I was sucked in and finally being able to read the book was just the same. Sophie Jordan has created a master piece that I can't wait to learn more about.

In this first installment we mean Jacinda. She is a descendant of dragons called a draki and a novelty even among her kind. She was one of the few fire breathers left. One afternoon, she and her best friend sneak out to fly during the day and are nearly captured by hunter's. Jacinda actually comes face to face to with one, a boy about her age who, surprisingly lets her go.

When the rest of her pride, and mother find out, Jacinda and her twin sister are taken away during the middle of the night to live amongst the humans. This is where I feel the books summary lacked a little, which is even better as a reader because I wasn't expecting the turn the story took.

Not only is Jacinda's mother unable manifest, or to change from her human form into her draki, but her twin sister was never able to. She is an outsider in her family and among her new human peers, fighting to keep the only part of herself that's ever made sense to her. And when she comes face to face with the hunter, Will, that could have killed her, Jacinda has to fight the feelings she feels toward him as well.

In my opinion, Sophie Jordan hit the mark with this story, her first foray into Young Adult, and can only go higher. Not only was the storyline intriguing and wonderfully thought out, but her descriptions really made Jacinda come to life. As a fire breather she has to not only fight her base instincts to manifest into her draki form, but to blow fire and smoke at the most inappropriate of times.

The connection between Jacinda and her hunter are what really bring this to life for me as well. He's the one thing that allows her to hold on to her draki and she doesn't know why. All of her instincts tell her to fight it and to stay away from him, but what happens when she can't anymore? And when it becomes apparent that the life she left behind with her pride is catching up with her, Jacinda will have some even more difficult decisions to make.

Even though it hasn't been that long since this book first came out, I already can't wait for the second book in the series to be released. Uncovering more about the draki and the beautiful relationship between Jacinda and Will is what awaits us!

So, if this books catches your interest and you want to learn more about it and Sophie Jordan you can check out her website at: http://www.sophiejordan.net/ and follow her on Twitter: http://twitter.com/SoVerySophie

Blogiversary Giveaway

Babbling Flow's Blogiversary is this month and she's celebrating with a fabulous giveaway! So stop on over and see if there are any books you'd like to when. Also, you get 20 extra entries if you send people to follow her blog, so if you decide to please let me know with a comment on this post so I add them to my form as well.

Contest ends October 31st! Good luck to everyone and here's the link: http://babblingflow.blogspot.com/2010/10/blogiversary-arc-giveaway.html

Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick

Crescendo picks up right where Hush, Hush left off and brings you on even more emotional roller coaster than before. Some questions are answered, but more are brought up and you are left wondering what could possibly happen now.

Nora and Patch have grown closer together, but as with any budding relationship, that first fight can be a doozy, and the close bond they once shared is broken. Patch begins spending more time with Nora's nemesis Marcie, and she finds herself thrown together with the new guy in town Scott.

Each new encounter brings trouble and heartache, especially now that Nora has learned about the Nephilim and her connection to them. And as she starts seeing the ghost of her father again, she starts to wonder if she's really going crazy. Dreams and memories, fights and sacrifices, secrets and betrayal, this sequel has it all and so much more. I found myself relating to Nora's desperation to protect those she loves and wanting what she can't have.

Becca Fitzpatrick does an absolutely amazing job of expanding the world she's created and really delving into the difficult emotions that they were experiencing. Relationships aren't always easy, especially when you're dating an angel.

This next installment in the Hush, Hush series was enthralling, I couldn't put it down. The ending is a true cliffhanger in which I couldn't believe that the story was actually over, it just didn't seem right that it should end there. But, like any author worth her salt, Becca Fitzpatrick set her fans and future readers up to want to continue this journey with Nora and Patch. And hopefully Tempest, the third book in this series, will answer all of our questions and more. This was definitely my favorite book so far and I have no doubt the next one will be even better.

Paranormalcy by Kiersten White

 I can't say enough good things about this book. First and foremost, it was not at all how I expected it to be, and that made it even better. Kiersten White weaved a great tale, and created some pretty amazing characters that I can't wait to read more about.

Evie is special, she can see through the glamours that paranormals show and is the only one in the world who can do it. Her days consist of bagging and tagging dangerous paranormals for the International Paranormal Containment Agency, when all she really wants is to have a normal life. How can your life be normal when you travel by fairy paths and your expected to bring in werewolves, vampires, and even hags.


She has an astounding whit and is very much a teenage girl that loves pink and dreams of being asked to prom by the perfect guy. Only difference is that she carries a taser with her, is best friends with a mermaid, Lish, and had even been involved with a fairy, Reth. And Reth doesn't seem to know how to take no for an answer, he still continues to come after her and is doing something to her than none of them can explain. He's literally heating her up.

When Lend, a shape-shifter about Evie's age, breaks into IPCA, everything that Evie thought she knew is turned completely upside down. Not only is the Agency she's worked for and lived at not what she thought it was, but neither is she. There's more to her special ability than anyone could have imagined and there are very people she can trust.

Kiersten White did a phenomenal job with this story and I for one can't wait to find out what else happens. It's not your typical high school romance story, or your typical paranormal story either, but that's what makes it even better. I couldn't put it down and I expect with will you. For more information on Paranormalcy and the other books in this wonderful series check out her website: http://www.kierstenwhite.com/, blog:
http://kierstenwrites.blogspot.com/, or follow her on Twitter: http://twitter.com/kierstenwhite