Review: Fallen by Lauren Kate

Book Description:

Some Angels are Destined to Fall

There’s something achingly familiar about Daniel Grigori.

Mysterious and aloof, he captures Luce Price’s attention from the moment she sees him on her first day at the Sword & Cross boarding school in sultry Savannah, Georgia. He’s the one bright spot in a place where cell phones are forbidden, the other students are all screw-ups, and security cameras watch every move.

Even though Daniel wants nothing to do with Luce–and goes out of his way to make that very clear–she can’t let it go. Drawn to him like a moth to a flame, she has to find out what Daniel is so desperate to keep secret . . . even if it kills her.

Dangerously exciting and darkly romantic, Fallen is a page turning thriller and the ultimate love story.

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Review: Another beautiful YA cover yields yet another beautiful read.

Some Angels are Destined to Fall

Why did the back cover have to have that statement?  Talk about spoiling your own book.  The fallen angel element of this book isn’t revealed outright until much later in Fallen.  I realize that with the success of Hush, Hush, many people were already talking about the inclusion of fallen angels in both books, but that revelation is kind of a big deal when it comes, or at least it would have been if the back cover hadn’t announced it before I’d even started reading.  Are book covers becoming the new movie trailers, where entire plots are revealed in a matter of minutes?  I don’t know about you, but I still enjoy not knowing major plot points prior to reading a book. 

That being said, I loved falling for Fallen.  The reform school that Luce is sent to is almost its own character.  It’s dark, depressing, and inescapable.  Yet within its prison walls and barred windows, there are places of beauty and cruelty, mystery and answers, even life and death. Sword & Cross boarding school in sultry ‘Savannah, Georgia’ is one of the things I’m most excited about seeing (and most afraid they will ruin) in the movie adaptation.

Did I mention that there is sort of a gothic feel to Fallen? The atmospheric school and the memories that Luce can’t quite recall clearly enough to know if they are real or not.  If anything, Fallen is evocative of Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier, with Manderlay as a kind of Sword & Cross.

I mentioned Hush, Hush already and wanted to clarify that although both books focus on fallen angels, they could not be more dissimilar.  The tone, characters, and even angel mythology differs greatly in each book.  I enjoyed them both, but if I had to pick, Fallen would be my favorite.

I almost would suggest waiting until Torment (Fallen, book 2) comes out in September 2010 before reading Fallen as there are a lot of unanswered questions at the end of Fallen.  In fact, almost all of Luce’s questions are left unanswered. But if you can stand a good cliffhanger ending, this ones a doozy. 

YA Warning: The tone of this book grew increasingly darker as the story progressed culminating with some potentially unsettling horror elements. 

Sexual Content: (YA books receive a more thorough breakdown)  a scene of mild sensuality.

My Rating (out of 5):

Click HERE to read an excerpt of Fallen

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Product Details

• Reading level: Young Adult
• Hardcover: 464 pages
• Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers (December 8, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0385738935
• ISBN-13: 978-0385738934

Disagree with my review?  Email me your review for this or any other book I reviewed and I might use it for 2nd Opinion Review

Cover Art: A Wild Light by Marjorie M. Liu

Marjorie M. Liu revealed the cover for the next Hunter Kiss novel, A Wild Light. Craig White is a master.  His work on this series is always gorgeous, but this it the best one yet IMO.

Yes, the new cover.  I’m in love with it.  Craig White is a remarkable artist. Here’s his website. -Marjorie M. Liu

For too long Maxine Kiss has felt an inexplicable darkness inside her—a force she channels into hunting the demons bent on destroying the human race.  But when she finds herself covered in blood and crouched beside her grandfather’s dead body with no memory of what happened or the man she loves, Maxine begins to fear that the darkness has finally consumed her.

With blood on her hands and her sanity in question, Maxine must face the truth about who she really is and embrace the love of the only man who can help her—before she loses what she cares about most: her family.

A WILD LIGHT hits shelves in August. 

Cover Art: The Replacement by Brenna Yovanoff

You may have spotted this cover over the weekend for Brenna Yovanoff’s The Replacement.  The cover was designed by Natalie Sousa, and photographed by Jonathan Barkat.

I don’t much about it, but only seeing the cover:  I WANT TO GO TO THERE.  Throw in the description (see below) and the blurb from Maggie Stiefvater, I’m sold. Due out Sept 21st.

Mackie Doyle seems like everyone else in the perfect little town of Gentry, but he is living with a fatal secret - he is a Replacement, left in the crib of a human baby sixteen years ago. Now the creatures under the hill want him back, and Mackie must decide where he really belongs and what he really wants.

Also, it is a love story. Just so you know. –Brenna Yovanoff

Cover Art: Labyrinth by Kat Richardson

Tez Says recently spotted the latest Greywalker cover.  Labyrinth (Greywalker, book 5) by Kat Richardson.  Due out Aug 3rd.  Hopefully I’ll be able to catch up on this series by then.  And by catch up I mean start :)

No summary yet.

All Things Urban Fantasy is now on Twitter!

I finally added a Twitter account for All Things Urban Fantasy.  You can follow me @Abigail_ATUF

Inked by Eileen Wilks

Book Description:

Four tales of urban fantasy and paranormal romance explore body art that is more than it seems—in a world of magic and mayhem that always leaves it mark . . .

New York Times bestselling author Karen Chance's "Skin Deep" tells the tale of a war mage in Las Vegas who stumbles across an ominous magical ward that appears as a dragon on her skin--and has a mind of its own…

When New York Times bestselling author Marjorie M. Liu's demon slayer Maxine Kiss investigates a grisly murder at a high-class soirée, she finds herself involved in a conspiracy dating back to World War II--and a secret mission that her grandmother may have carried out for the US Government, one that involves the mysterious "Armor of Roses."

In USA Today bestselling author Yasmine Galenorn's "Etched in Silver," a supernatural agent is on the trail of a sadistic serial killer, when an unexpected ally comes to her aid, setting in motion a magical ritual that may end up binding them together, body and soul.

When the heavily tattooed body of a man is found in a Northern California town, FBI Agent Lily Yu is drawn into the case. Trouble is, the victim wasn't human--and the killer isn't finished in USA Today bestselling author Eileen Wilks's "Human Nature."

*Note* I will be reviewing each story in this anthology in separate posts.

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Review:
“Human Nature” by Eileen Wilks

If you'd like to read World of the Lupi series in order it would be:
1: "Only Human" in Lover Beware - July 2003
2. Tempting Danger - October 5th, 2004
3. "Originally Human" in Cravings - July 2004
4: Mortal Danger - November 1st, 2005
5: Blood Lines - January 2007
6: "Inhuman" in On the Prowl - August 2007 My Review
7: Night Season - January 2008
8: "Human Nature" in Inked - January 2010
9: Mortal Sins - February 2009
10: Blood Magic - February 2010

Here is the detailed description from Eileen Wilks site:

Humans have long been aware of the others in their midst—and not particularly happy about it. Until the Supreme Court’s ruling, it was legal in several states to shoot lupi on sight. Times have changed. Some don’t appreciate that. In "Human Nature," Lily Yu turns twenty-nine—a marker she’s decidedly ambivalent about. Her birthday celebration is cut short when the naked, heavily tattooed body of a man is found in a California town. At first it seems like a bizarre ritual killing, but there’s more than magic afoot. The victim, David Pruitt, wasn’t human . . . and years ago, he was Rule’s Turner’s closest friend.
(Note: If you’re following this series, you need to know that the events in “Human Nature” occur before those in MORTAL SINS. It’s April, four months after the Turning; Cynna and Cullen are still in Edge.) –Eileen Wilks

In Human Nature, Lily Yu, San Diego police detective, is looking into the death of the childhood friend of her mate, Rule Turner prince of the lupi.  Not only does Lily need to find out how the Were was murdered (using magical tattoos), but also clear the other Were that the authorities have charged with the murder. Her investigation leads her to the home of Robert Friar, the leader of the notorious hate group Humans First.

The World of the Lupi is is an amazingly detailed magical world. Every aspect of normal life has been impacted and irrevocably transformed since 'The Turning.'  Lily is one of the Gifted. Some Gifts manifest themselves as abilities with healing, persuasion, or even controlling the elements. Lily's Gift is much less flashy, though arguably more useful. She is what's know as a Sensitive. With one handshake she can identify someone's Gift.

Beneath some of the uglier aspects of the murder investigations, the love story between Lily and Rule is the beautiful thread tying them together. Both are strong and capable on their own, but there is a tenderness and selfless quality that they exhibit towards each other that speaks of real love.

Eileen’s story is a tightly written Urban Fantasy police procedure with a fascinating and fully nuanced werewolf society. Occasionally playful and flirtatious, but fiercely loyal, it’s the timeless romance of Lily and Rule that pushes this story to the next level. I'm definitely going to be digging up the earlier stories featuring these two.

Sexual Content: A rape is referred to. Some discussion of sex.

My Rating (out of 5):

Click HERE to read an excerpt of Human Nature

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Product Details

• Paperback: 448 pages
• Publisher: Berkley; Original edition (January 5, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0425231976
• ISBN-13: 978-0425231975

Disagree with my review?  Email me your review for this or any other book I reviewed and I might use it for 2nd Opinion Review

Review: Wings by Aprilynne Pike

Book Description
Laurel was mesmerized, staring at the pale things with wide eyes. They were terrifyingly beautiful—too beautiful for words.

Laurel turned to the mirror again, her eyes on the hovering petals that floated beside her head. They looked almost like wings.

Laurel discovers she is a faerie, sent among humans to protect the gateway to Avalon. Thrust into the midst of a centuries-old battle between faeries and trolls, she's torn between a human and a faerie love, as well as her loyalties to each world. In this extraordinary tale of magic and intrigue, romance and danger, everything you thought you knew about faeries will be changed forever.

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Review:  I bought this book because Stephenie Meyer told me to.  Or at least that’s how I translated her cover endorsement, “A remarkable debut.”  Stephenie is the reason I found out about the phenomenal Hunger Games, so I take her book recommendations seriously.  And once again I’m glad I did.

Wings is a sweet love story about fifteen year old Laurel, who moves to a new town, meets the affable David, and finds out she is a fairy.  When she seeks out answers about her fairy heritage, she meets the charismatic Tamani who offers her a tantalizing glimpse into the world of the fey. 

The character of Laurel was believable from page one.  Her reactions and emotions were completely in keeping with her age and background, they never once rang false.  Her conflicting feelings for David and Tam were likewise genuine.  She knew she wasn’t just choosing between two boys, she was choosing between two worlds, and the implications of that choice were never lost to her. 

This book would be especially great for younger teens as this love story is appropriately chaste while still being deliciously romantic.  The little floral twist on fairies was a fun unique element, as was the multiple love interests that Laurel faced (no wonder Stephenie Meyer liked it). 

Wings is the first of four books. Book Two is titled Spells. It will be released May 4, 2010. The movie rights to Wings have been optioned by Disney and Miley Cyrus is set to star as Laurel. Here’s hoping they recast. 

Sexual Content: (YA titles get a more thorough breakdown) One reference to sex leading to pregnancy, a few references to sex amongst teenagers.  A few kissing scenes.

My Rating (out of 5):

Click HERE to browse inside of Wings

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Product Details

• Reading level: Young Adult
• Hardcover: 294 pages
• Publisher: HarperTeen; 1st edition (May 5, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0061668036
• ISBN-13: 978-0061668036

Disagree with my review?  Email me your review for this or any other book I reviewed and I might use it for 2nd Opinion Review