Author: Kathryn Purdie
Series: Burning Glass #1
Pages: 512
Genre: YA, Fantasy, Romance
Date Published: March 1st, 2016
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Format Read: eARC provided by publisher (via Edelweiss) for honest review
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Summary:
Sonya was born with the
rare gift to feel what those around her feel—both physically and
emotionally—a gift she’s kept hidden from the empire for seventeen long
years. After a reckless mistake wipes out all the other girls with
similar abilities, Sonya is hauled off to the palace and forced to serve
the emperor as his sovereign Auraseer.
Tasked with sensing the intentions of would-be assassins, Sonya is under constant pressure to protect the emperor. But Sonya’s power is untamed and reckless, and she can’t always decipher when other people’s impulses end and her own begin. In a palace full of warring emotions and looming darkness, Sonya fears that the biggest danger to the empire may be herself.
As she struggles to wrangle her abilities, Sonya seeks refuge in her tenuous alliances with the charming-yet-volatile Emperor Valko and his idealistic younger brother, Anton, the crown prince. But when threats of revolution pit the two brothers against each other, Sonya must choose which brother to trust—and which to betray.
Tasked with sensing the intentions of would-be assassins, Sonya is under constant pressure to protect the emperor. But Sonya’s power is untamed and reckless, and she can’t always decipher when other people’s impulses end and her own begin. In a palace full of warring emotions and looming darkness, Sonya fears that the biggest danger to the empire may be herself.
As she struggles to wrangle her abilities, Sonya seeks refuge in her tenuous alliances with the charming-yet-volatile Emperor Valko and his idealistic younger brother, Anton, the crown prince. But when threats of revolution pit the two brothers against each other, Sonya must choose which brother to trust—and which to betray.
-Goodreads
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My Thoughts:
This book started out so promising! Death and mayhem filled the beginning, and I thought that I had found a book I would adore. Now, I'm not saying that I didn't enjoy this book, because I did, but I will say that once we made it into the kingdom, it became something I wasn't expecting. Purdie knows how to write gruesome depictions, and swoony moments, and who doesn't love that. I will say that as the story went on, I found that the book became a little too swoony for my taste, and the bloody parts seemed a little less hard hitting because of that. Sonya was a great protagonist though, and even though she seems a bit boy crazy, it's clear that she's got a good head on her shoulders. So, even though this book was middle of the road for me, I'm looking forward to the next installment, and I'm curious to see what Purdie does next.
Rating:
3 Unicorns = I liked it, but it had it's issues!
Author: Melissa Marr
Series: Seven Black Diamonds #1
Pages: 400
Genre: YA, Fantasy, Paranormal
Date Published: March 1st, 2016
Publisher: HarperCollins
Format Read: eARC provided by publisher (via Edelweiss) for honest review
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Summary:
Lilywhite Abernathy is a
criminal. Her father’s “unconventional” business has meant a life of
tightly held secrets, concealed weaponry, and a strict code. But Lily’s
crime isn’t being the daughter of a powerful mob boss. Her guilt lies in
the other half of her DNA—the part that can coax ancient rumors from
stones and summon fire with a thought. Lily is part fae, which is a
crime in her world.
From the time before she was born, a war has been raging between humanity and fae. The Queen of Blood and Rage, ruler of both the Seelie and Unseelie courts, wants to avenge the tragic death of her heir—a death that was the fault of reckless humans.
Lily’s father has shielded her from the repercussions of her ancestry…until she is sent to the prestigious St. Columba’s school, straight into the arms of the Black Diamonds.
Mysterious, glamorous, and bound together in their mission but constantly at odds, Zephyr, Creed, Will, Roan, Violet, and Alkamy are a Sleeper cell of fae, planted in the human world to help destroy it from within. With covers as rock stars and celebrity children, the Black Diamonds carry out the queen’s war against humanity. And unbeknownst to Lilywhite, she’s been chosen to join them.
Now more than ever, Lily’s heritage puts her in peril, and even the romantic attention of the fae singer Creed Morrison isn’t enough to keep Lily from wanting to run back to the safer world of organized crime.
Melissa Marr returns to faery in a dramatic story of the precarious space between two worlds and the people who must thrive there.
-GoodreadsFrom the time before she was born, a war has been raging between humanity and fae. The Queen of Blood and Rage, ruler of both the Seelie and Unseelie courts, wants to avenge the tragic death of her heir—a death that was the fault of reckless humans.
Lily’s father has shielded her from the repercussions of her ancestry…until she is sent to the prestigious St. Columba’s school, straight into the arms of the Black Diamonds.
Mysterious, glamorous, and bound together in their mission but constantly at odds, Zephyr, Creed, Will, Roan, Violet, and Alkamy are a Sleeper cell of fae, planted in the human world to help destroy it from within. With covers as rock stars and celebrity children, the Black Diamonds carry out the queen’s war against humanity. And unbeknownst to Lilywhite, she’s been chosen to join them.
Now more than ever, Lily’s heritage puts her in peril, and even the romantic attention of the fae singer Creed Morrison isn’t enough to keep Lily from wanting to run back to the safer world of organized crime.
Melissa Marr returns to faery in a dramatic story of the precarious space between two worlds and the people who must thrive there.
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My Thoughts:
Out of all the YA fairy stories out there, I always enjoy Melissa Marr's the most. Seven Black Diamonds is no exception to that rule. The plot is intricate, the characters have conflicting motives, the kids feel real, and the magic doesn't seem corny. I did feel like this book was a lot of set up. Not at say that it wasn't good set up, but I am looking forward to the next book in the series, since I feel like I really know the characters now. Trust me, Marr gives a lot of characters a voice in this novel. I also enjoyed how she mixed the fantasy world with one that felt normal, though slightly off. Plus, I enjoy the fact that there is always a slightly sinister angle to Marr's stories. This one was a lot of fun!
Rating:
3 Unicorns = I liked it, but it had it's issues!
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