Land of Strength and Sorrow (Secrets of Orendor #1)

One cure can save them all...

Princess Jovi's sheltered life has taught her nothing about Orendor, the kingdom she will one day rule. Longing for adventure isn't the same as being thrust into the middle of one, which is exactly what happens when the Frost Mages attack the castle in Kingsperch.

Determined to save her kingdom, Jovi must gather an army of brave warriors to defeat the Frost Mages and protect the people she loves. She seeks help from the bravest Mammoth Rider in all of Orendor—her fearless uncle, Meical.

Jovi will endure harrowing trials she never imagined she’d face, but as a daring new enemy emerges from the darkness, Jovi will discover a startling truth about herself that might open the door to a brand new future.

Will she choose the lives of many or the heart of one?

*May Contain Spoilers*

Cassandra Fear begins a new fantasy series with her novel, Land of Strength and Sorrow, in which a sheltered princess finds herself the key to stopping an all-out war -- if she can provide a cure for her father's curse, cast twenty years before. 

Jovi represents the idea of a typical sheltered princess, but she differs from the stereotype through her strong personality, her understanding nature, and her intelligence. It's obvious through the choices she makes that Jovi would truly make a good Queen of Orendor, if she isn't killed by the enemy first. I think readers will like her determination, her caring heart, and her loyalty. Those three things motivate her to make the right decisions and stay calm in the midst of chaos. The only aspect of Jovi's personality that bugged me a bit was that she seemed a little wishy-washy at times. I also didn't really enjoy the love story as a side plot. It felt a bit awkward to me. She falls for a guard within a few days of knowing him. At one point she does admit her feelings could be because he's the first male her age that she's connected with and I think that was exactly what happened. I also struggled with the writing style at times. As the beginning of an epic fantasy, I expected more detail and a bit more weight given to the situations. 

The plot of the novel was interesting and held my attention throughout. To break it down a bit, there are three main groups: Jovi's people, Fire Mages, and Frost Mages. Twenty years prior, Jovi's father (the King) cast a curse on the Mages so that they could never have children because one Mage murdered his only son. Now, the Mages want to be cured of the curse and will either get their way or kill until they do. Thus, Jovi sets out to find the cure to save her parents and her kingdom. Though readers know that Jovi's journey for the cure is doomed from the start, there's still an air of hope that she'll succeed somehow. As this is the beginning of a series, there was a cliffhanger ending that sets up the next book pretty well. I would recommend this book to fantasy lovers who enjoy a female leader who's coming of age and building her strength. 

Rating: 3/5 Cups

The Grumpface

The Grumpface is a poetic fairy-tale that tells the story of Dan, an inventor who ventures into a forest looking for a rose. Instead he finds the mysterious Grumpface who threatens to hold him captive unless he passes some difficult challenges. What follows is a humorous adventure that neither Dan nor the Grumpface could have anticipated.

The Grumpface is a tale in the spirit of any grand adventure. It is about a clumsy young inventor's quest for love and the challenges he must face to find it. It is also a tale of bravery, absurdity and happiness, and the power of these qualities over negativity and sheer grumpiness.

Every parent will be acquainted with their own little 'grumpface' now and then. This story stands as a small piece of hope - that no matter how ingrained the grump, there will always remain in every one of us a smile or a laugh just waiting to come out.

**

The Grumpface by BCR Fegan was a very enjoyable children's book! I always read children's books out loud, to get the sense of how they hear as well as how they read, and this book is perfect for reading aloud. It has a great rhyme scheme with a nice mix of vocabulary. The story itself follows Dan the Inventor on a journey to find a rose when he gets lost and stumbles upon Grumpface. 

Dan is a creative main character who carries little inventions around with him. Most importantly, he's nice to the Grumpface even when the goblin-like creature threatens him with being trapped in the forest forever. When the Grumpface sets tasks for Dan and they aren't as easy as Dan believed, he doesn't get frustrated or upset; he just believes he'll do better on the next task. I think how Dan reacts throughout the storybook is a really good example of how to react when facing difficult challenges. To children, this will help solidify the idea that giving up or getting mad isn't the best reaction when things don't go your way. 

The Grumpface, though, a little mean at the start, is more of a likeable villain. As Dan attempts each task set before him, the Grumpface starts to smile a little more. I like how this demonstrates that any anger can be overcome and with children I'm sure this would be a good talking point when it comes to meeting new people. Just because they seem grumpy doesn't mean that they're actually mean people. I feel like it also promotes giving people a chance before judging them as Dan ends up helping Grumpface make his own big change at the end of the book.

With two nice main themes that jump out and a great poetic style, I think The Grumpface is a really good book for elementary school children. 

Rating: 4/5 Cups

American Gods

A storm is coming...

Locked behind bars for three years, Shadow did his time, quietly waiting for the magic day when he could return to Eagle Point, Indiana. A man no longer scared of what tomorrow might bring, all he wanted was to be with Laura, the wife he deeply loved, and start a new life.

But just days before his release, Laura and Shadow’s best friend are killed in an accident. With his life in pieces and nothing to keep him tethered, Shadow accepts a job from a beguiling stranger he meets on the way home, an enigmatic man who calls himself Mr. Wednesday. A trickster and rogue, Wednesday seems to know more about Shadow than Shadow does himself.

Life as Wednesday’s bodyguard, driver, and errand boy is far more interesting and dangerous than Shadow ever imagined—it is a job that takes him on a dark and strange road trip and introduces him to a host of eccentric characters whose fates are mysteriously intertwined with his own. Along the way Shadow will learn that the past never dies; that everyone, including his beloved Laura, harbors secrets; and that dreams, totems, legends, and myths are more real than we know. Ultimately, he will discover that beneath the placid surface of everyday life a storm is brewing—an epic war for the very soul of America—and that he is standing squarely in its path.

*May Contain Spoilers*

Neil Gaiman's magical realism combines with stories of global gods in his novel, American Gods, in which gods from different lands find themselves in the United States, brought along by the memories of immigrants. Yet, new gods have now materialized as Americans worship new forms of technology. Presently, these gods are in a battle as less and less people believe in the old gods while nearly everyone believes in the new. But the old gods have a plan, at least one of them anyway, and it will culminate in war. 

Shadow, the main character, is a waif of a man. He wasn't always like this, but prison and losing his wife changed him. As an ex-con, he doesn't exactly care about the direction in which his life is going. So when a random (really not so random) man shows up and offers him a job, Shadow refuses until he can't anymore. Then he starts working for Mr. Wednesday, an old god. Shadow is a man carried by the wind of other people's decisions. Yet, he is dedicated, loyal, and has an air of something more about him. He's seemingly fearless with a 'take-it-as-it-comes' attitude. The most interesting thing about Shadow is that all the interactions with other gods, old and new, make readers see him as more important than he initially seems. I think this intrigue is one of the main factors that drive the story and helps build a connection between Shadow and readers. Shadow isn't a bad person, but he kind of lacks any personable qualities. Though as the story progresses, he seems to gain traits one at a time. As his deceased wife tells him, he's more dead than alive. And the story seemingly works backward from his death to his birth, creating an intricate emotional attachment to his character. 

My favorite sections of the book turned out to be the interludes, or the 'Coming to America' stories. These intermediate chapters are sprinkled throughout the novel, sharing stories of how the old gods were carried to America, with insight into how they stay alive. At first, I thought these sections would feel like interruptions, but they turned out to be more of an offering to the reader. A background that the reader could consume that would help them understand why the old gods are struggling to stay relevant in a technologically advanced world. 

The plot of this novel follows Shadow's release from prison leading him to work for Mr. Wednesday in the hope that Shadow can help Mr. Wednesday to rally the old gods in a fight against the new. Though there are many side-stories like a disappearing girl, Shadow's dead wife coming back to a sort of zombie state, and the interludes, the novel tracks Shadow and Mr. Wednesday road-tripping back and forth across America in hopes to create an army of old gods, some named and some nameless. The novel becomes an intricate map of crisscrossed information and ever-changing situations and people. One of my favorite aspects of this novel is, of course, Neil Gaiman's writing style. The words are willowy and the characters are constantly changing, as if no one could ever really grasp these things called gods. And yet, the whole thing is a con and a simple story of the immigration of beliefs and the lengths one would go to to keep those beliefs alive. 

Rating: 4/5 Cups

Sleeper Protocol

Kieran Roark awakens in a wheelchair, unable to remember anything. As part of a classified experiment, he will have one year to learn his identity and recover his memory, or he will be euthanized by the state.

Scientist Berkeley Bennett has one mission: manipulate Kieran’s emotions in an attempt to bring back his memory. But when she falls in love with him, she is forced to make a harrowing decision that may cost Kieran his life.

What Kieran knows could save Earth from a coming war. Whether he believes the future is worth saving is another matter. Racing across an unfamiliar world in a body he does not recall, Kieran needs to discover who he was and, more importantly, who he is.

*May Contain Spoilers*

 

Kevin Ikenberry writes of a future that is peaceful after many years of war, death, and alien invasion in his book Sleeper Protocol. However, some people think that the peace will only last as long as it takes the next wave of alien invaders to reach Earth. Those people want to prepare the world to fight, an action that most have forgotten. And that is exactly where Sleepers come into play.

 

Kieran is the main character of this novel, though readers don't know his name and neither does he. He's the first Sleeper to be awakened for a program that brings soldiers back from the dead in a new and improved replicated body. This is a unique situation because readers get to experience and learn who Kieran is at the same rate that he does. He's on a journey of discovery and readers get to witness him reuniting with himself. This platform creates a strong foundation for a character connection. Especially since he was woken up to save the world. Kieran was a hero in his former life and the people of the future need that heroism. Though Kieran is a bit naïve, falling in love quickly and being too trusting of those around him, he's a good man. He's honest, open, and very loyal.

 

The plot of Sleeper Protocol is like nothing I've ever read about before. Three hundred years into the future, aliens have invaded, flying cars are everywhere, and peace is abundant but on the verge of collapse. The Defense Counsel needs to awaken soldiers from the past in order to inspire the population to fight for their planet. A new experiment has begun in which deceased soldiers are awakened and given a walkabout - a time to find out who they are and integrate. Kieran is the first and he's under heavy observation. Berkeley is sent to make an emotional connection with Kieran in order to promote his integration. Unexpectedly they fall in love, compromising the mission. Also unexpectedly, the Artificial Intelligence embedded in Kieran's brain begins to think she's alive and fights back. Though I fully enjoyed the story, some of the explanations of protocol and missions and technological processes were confusing. It took a bit of the fun away from the story. My favorite part of the novel was Kieran's innate guidance to return to where he originally came from. I found the fact that home transcended death fascinating and original. Sleeper Protocol is a high stakes novel that fights for survival and promises a sequel.

 

Rating: 3/5 Cups

Raining Embers (Order and Chaos #1)

Palmer Tash always follows the path of least resistance. He has an unusual disability involving his hearing. But in theocratic Latysia, being different isn’t a good thing, so he conceals his problem.

Brier Chastain’s malady is even more debilitating, and she often must take to her bed for long periods. Her days are spent in meaningless pursuits as she awaits an arranged marriage.

When Palmer and Brier are kidnapped on the same night, they meet and discover that their so-called disabilities are actually budding powers. They are the incarnations of Order and Chaos. With their country on the brink of war, the two must step into their predestined roles and learn to take control of their own destinies.

*May Contain Spoilers*

 

Jessica Dall incarnates concepts, or gods, in her novel, Raining Embers, a fantasy adventure of self-discovery. Palmer and Brier are young adults who each have no idea who they really are. With odd quirks and abilities, the two are certainly misfits, but when they are brought together and trained... the two become whole.

 

Brier is the embodiment of "Chaos," nothingness. The real Brier died at the age of five in a horrible fire and Chaos took over her body, continuing her life as if nothing happened. She's incredibly powerful and with proper focus and training, she can destroy anything. She's kidnapped by the Goebel family to be used as a weapon. Brier is a character who survives. She's tough, caring, and beyond understanding. Readers will watch as Brier learns of her power to destroy and instead of letting it consume her, she fights to stay level and try to do what's right. Though when  once-trusted people are trying to control and contain Chaos, it can't possibly end well.

 

Palmer is the embodiment of "Kosmos," everything. He has the power to become omniscient, to hear and know everything. The real Palmer died at the age of six, when he drowned in the river escaping the fire that killed Brier. It doesn't seem to be a coincidence that Brier is fire and Palmer is water, as water puts out flames, Palmer learns that he can help Brier control her destructive abilities. He balances out Brier. Palmer is an intelligent character who doesn't often think of the world around him. He came to ignore his powers once he realized that they weren't normal. When he embraces them, Palmer can see visions, hear anything, and communicate with Brier telepathically. Readers will like Palmer as he is the protector.

 

The plot of Raining Embers is journey-esque. Palmer and Brier are forced to acknowledge their powers after they are kidnapped and trained by the Goebel's. Along this journey they meet Rosette, a very little girl who has the power to make anyone sick in anyway she wants. The three characters join together and escape the Goebel's. As they make their way back home, Palmer has a vision that they're headed for war and darkness. The adventure of these three is entertaining, heart warming, and intriguing. Readers will enjoy the detailed account of Chaos and Kosmos, and hope that the characters don't lose themselves to their abilities.

 

Rating: 4/5 Cups

Brightly (Flicker #2)

Lee Capren’s life isn’t exactly normal... but it’s hers. When she’s not slinging spells with her monster-wrangling roommate, Filo, or honing her magical abilities with her boyfriend, Nasser, she’s working in a shop that caters to the magical crowd.

When three strangers arrive with a desperate plea for help, Lee and her friends are swept up in their quest to break the curse that plagues their home. Unraveling the mystery of the curse will take them from an island where merfolk swim in the coves to a city hidden beneath the streets of Seattle and beyond. As the danger grows, relationships are tested, new ones are forged, and in the face of impossible choices, Lee learns the hardest lesson of all: Where there is love, there is also heartbreak.

With time running out, failure could cost their lives—and success could cost them everything else.

*May Contain Spoilers*

From the moment I finished Flicker, and realized that there would be MORE, I've been waiting patiently for my reading list to tell me it's time for Brightly by Kaye Thornbrugh! Filo, Lee, Nasser, Jason, and Alice barely survived Byrony the Dryad the year before and now they're being blackmailed. A small island off the coast is experiencing some troubling magic, and three other gifted humans are forcing the Flicker gang to help cleanse the island of the curse.

Readers of Flicker already have a firm connection with the main characters, especially Lee. With this second book, the scope widens to include Jason and Alice more, as well as keeping focus on Nasser and Filo. The whole group is blackmailed by three islanders, Henry, Clemetine, and Davis, to help them cleanse their home of a merfolk curse that puts humans in a trance, with barnacles growing on their skin, and the overwhelming urge to walk into the ocean. 

Lee has been learning magic from Filo, and as the only one that isn't included in the blackmailing scheme, she has an outsider's perspective of the whole situation. Readers know that she always has a helpful attitude and she is more than ready to stand beside her friends to help them. The relationship between readers and Filo will increase dramatically in this sequel. For one, we get to witness Filo fall in love for the first time. This is huge for his character. He normally keeps his feelings hidden and focuses on surviving. The emotions that readers witness him deal with really opens him up for a deeper understanding of his character, good and bad. A new facet of Nasser's personality is also revealed to readers here. Nasser is painted with a martyr-like personality. With this book, readers get to see him reach his limit. Knowing he has a limit will turn Nasser into a more realistic and down to earth character. Jason and Alice have to make a few hard decisions in this novel and I think those will allow readers to solidify the initial connections made in Flicker.

Brightly is a novel that contains many stories, like a picture within a picture. The main plot is that of Nasser, Filo, Alice, and Jason being blackmailed by the Islanders. That line leads to the Island itself and the curse devouring the citizens that live there. Within those boundaries lie even more subplots including the relationship development between all of the characters and the involvement of the Guild. Each part of the story is in itself intriguing, but when combined the plot becomes incredibly entertaining and emotional. Readers who enjoyed Flicker will undoubtedly be consumed by Brightly. I know I was. And the effects are still lingering. So obviously, the announcement of a third book has me shivering with anticipation!

Rating: 4.5/5 Cups

Just Not Ready Yet

Charlize 'Charlie' McCloud, young widow and mother, is seemingly content with her secluded life on a sprawling Texas ranch. Her moonlit horseback rides provide the perfect dreamscape to obsessively reminisce about her college sweetheart—her first and final love—Cash McCloud.

When intern Hunter Bowie arrives on her ranch to work for the summer, his engaging persona threatens Charlie's treasured reliving. Her interest in moving on as departed as her late husband, Hunter's youthful exuberance and guitar revives dreams she once laid to rest.

Hunter's presence stirs up everyone around the ranch, including her late husband's older brother, Cage McCloud. A near replica of Cash, Cage's very existence is a painstaking reminder of how much she has lost.

Unintentionally revealing the truth about Cash's death, Cage sets off a firestorm of emotions, ultimately propelling Charlie to face her future—hopefully one that includes him.

*May Contain Spoilers*

Oh cowboy love stories, they sure know how to reach the heart of a mid-western girl. Brooklyn James shares the story of loss and discovery in her novel, Just Not Ready Yet. With main characters like the college temptation, Hunter, and the tall, dark, delicious Cage, readers of the romance genre will delight in this book. 

Charlie fell in love with her husband in college. He was a complete surprise for her New York family, but she chose him over everything. Now, three years after his untimely death, Charlie is starting to believe the words "it's time to move on." Charlie is a strong female lead and readers will connect with her aching heart and hope for a blossoming future. 

Cage McCloud has always been there for his family, even though labeled the black sheep. After his brother died, he stepped in to help as much as he can. He definitely didn't expect to fall in love with Charlie. Readers will revel in Cage's character. He's strong, understanding, dependable, humorous and quite attractive. 

The plot follows Charlie's journey to let go of the past and discover her future. The connection between the characters and the reader will start strong and grow as the summer progresses with a new farm hand and a few dangerous situations on the horizon. The obvious framework being the question of whether Charlie is ready yet. The novel does have a few brazen and intimate situations and a couple curse words thrown in (which kind of feel wrong in this book). Just Not Ready Yet is a romantic story for seasoned readers who enjoy the genre. 

Rating: 3/5 Cups

The Iron Knight

To cold faery prince Ash, love was a weakness for mortals and fools. His own love had died a horrible death, killing any gentler feelings the Winter prince might have had. Or so he thought.

Then Meghan Chase - a half human, half fey slip of a girl - smashed through his barricades, binding him to her irrevocably with his oath to be her knight. And when all of Faery nearly fell to the Iron fey, she severed their bond to save his life. Meghan is now the Iron Queen, ruler of a realm where no Winter or Summer fey can survive.

With the unwelcome company of his archrival, Summer Court prankster Puck, and the infuriating cait sith Grimalkin, Ash begins a journey he is bound to see through to its end - a quest to find a way to honor his vow to stand by Meghan's side.

To survive in the Iron Realm, Ash must have a soul and a mortal body. But the tests he must face to earn these things are impossible. And along the way Ash learns something that changes everything. A truth that challenges his darkest beliefs and shows him that, sometimes, it takes more than courage to make the ultimate sacrifice.

*Contains Spoilers*

The final book in the Iron Fey series. Wow, what a whirlwind. Though there are in-between books and another series with Ethan, the original is completed with The Iron Knight. Julie Kagawa gave the readers exactly what they wanted: the fight for a happy ending. 

Readers are well aware that Prince Ash has a dark and stormy history. He was cold, manipulative, feared, and worst of all, he didn't care how his actions effected others. That is, until he met Ariella, his first love. When she was harmed in a terrible accident... well, Ash got even worse. Then Meghan appeared, a simple halfling who wanted to save her little brother. She healed Ash and allowed him to become sweet, caring, and thoughtful, even if he had to give her the cold shoulder a time or two to keep her safe. 

But they could never be together because of her role as the Iron Queen. Thus began the journey to the End of the World, where it is rumored that one can find a soul and become human. The Ash that readers were first introduced to would have never taken the first step of this dangerous adventure. But the Ash that we've all come to know and love commits to finishing his quest or die trying. 

Not only do readers bear witness to Ash risking absolutely everything for Meghan, they watch as he realizes what it is to become human. As the reality of the situation becomes known, readers see Ash weigh his options and choose love every time. Even when a surprise twist brings Miss Ariella back into the land of Faery. 

Though the plot of The Iron Knight follows Ash through his journey to become human and gain a soul, our other favorite characters are still present. Grim and Puck both play large roles where as Meghan only pops in from time to time. The bond between readers and each of these characters only strengthens with this final adventure toward happily ever after. 

Rating: 4/5 Cups

Faery Marked - Blog Tour

Synopsis
When Callie Rycroft wakes to find purple flames flickering on the ceiling, she believes she’s still dreaming. But soon she’s forced to accept that she has magic―a special magic that grants her entrance into the Faery Realm.

For centuries humans have been banned from Faery, but dangerous times call for dangerous measures. Declared Champion by the Faery Queen, Callie is assigned a Guardian, and tasked with finding the Cordial―a magical elixir needed to keep the portal to the Faery realm a secret from humans.

The upside? Reece Michaels, the boy she's been crushing on for years, is her Guardian. Callie hopes that, by spending time with Reece, he'll start to see her as more than just his best friend's sister.

The downside? She's in a race not only against time, but against another Champion, and a rogue Guardian―a Guardian who stands to threaten her developing relationship with Reece.

Magic, mistaken identities, and hidden agendas are the least of Callie's worries when she learns that the Cordial requires a sacrifice. Will Callie be willing to risk everything―even Reece―to complete her task as Champion? Or will she let the portal open, and doom both realms?

Review

Mary Waibel writes of a riddle and a challenge to save the Faery Realm in her new novel, Faery Marked. A human has never been chosen as Champion before, but Callie bears the winged mark. With her Guardian to help her, Callie has one week, after she takes the oath, to unravel the riddle and find the Cordial, ensuring the safety of Faery. 

Callie is an orphaned teenage girl, living with both her brother and foster brother while finishing high school. Just six months ago, she was in a terrible car accident that killed both of her parents. Still dealing with the guilt and mourning her loss, Callie is trying to focus on her future. Until she learns of Faery and her unexpected task. Readers will like Callie as she's a typical high school girl. She isn't stereotyped into any specific group, which makes her more relatable. She's intelligent and brave, willing to risk her life to find the Cordial. Though, I was disappointed in how she treated her best friend in the book, Alyssa. Even if Callie needed to keep her Faery quest a secret, she shouldn't have lied to her best friend and avoided her. Perhaps an all encompassing "I'll explain later" would have sufficed. 

The plot of Faery Marked was fast paced, beginning with Callie's discovery of her awakening powers. Without hesitation, she is taken to Faery and is required to take an oath for the Cordial quest. Soon after, Callie returns and begins training with her Guardian. While trying to crack the riddle, Callie is attacked multiple times and the threat of failure is mounting. But as with most beginnings of series, things don't wrap up nicely in the end and, suddenly, the threat of failure isn't the scariest possible outcome. 

Rating: 3/5 Cups

Meet the Author

YA author Mary Waibel’s love for fairytales and happy-ever fill the pages of her works. Whether penning stories in a medieval setting or a modern day school, magic and romance weave their way inside every tale. 

Strong female characters use both brain and brawn to save the day and win the heart of their men. Mary enjoys connecting with her readers through her website: marywaibel.blogspot.com. 

!Available December 16th from BookFishBooks!

Win Faery Marked/Book Swag Here 

The Iron King (The Iron Fey #1)

Meghan Chase has a secret destiny; one she could never have imagined.

Something has always felt slightly off in Meghan's life, ever since her father disappeared before her eyes when she was six. She has never quite fit in at school or at home.

When a dark stranger begins watching her from afar, and her prankster best friend becomes strangely protective of her, Meghan senses that everything she's known is about to change.

But she could never have guessed the truth - that she is the daughter of a mythical faery king and is a pawn in a deadly war. Now Meghan will learn just how far she'll go to save someone she cares about, to stop a mysterious evil, no faery creature dare face; and to find love with a young prince who might rather see her dead than let her touch his icy heart.

*May Contain Spoilers*

Julie Kagawa writes of the Fey world in her novel, The Iron King, a book I wish I would have known about years ago. After spotting it at the library, I wondered why I had never read it. The novel that opens the Iron Fey series is a portal to the land of mischief and secrets, where saying 'thank you' puts you in debt and everyone is quick to make a deal. 

Meghan Chase is the main character of this book and the series. She's a high school girl who only has one friend and is often at the receiving end of bullying and pranks. Readers will immediately sympathize with her outcast label. Then, suddenly, Meghan's little brother is kidnapped and replaced by a changeling which leads Meghan to a familial revelation: she's the daughter of King Oberon of the Fey. Readers then bear witness as Meghan learns to be self-sufficient, strong, brave, and determined. Her loyalty is truly astonishing but is most often her downfall in the novel. The characteristics that Meghan has make her easy to relate to and give her a dimensional fluidity that allows her to reach the audience on a deeper level. 

The Iron King begins with the veil between Meghan and the Fey world slowly lowering. As she celebrates (or mourns) her sixteenth birthday, all is revealed. Then with Ethan's kidnapping, Meghan becomes determined to traverse the Fey world until she finds him and returns him to the human world safely. With the level of danger in the Fey world, the journey becomes a trial of Meghan's love and loyalty, faith and strength. I wasn't able to put it down until the last battle. And now, my fingers are itching to hold the second book and continue the adventure. 

Rating: 4.5/5 Cups