Book Review: Hyacinth (Svatura Book 2) by Abigail Owen

Title: Hyacinth
Author: Abigail Owen
Series: Svatura #2
Pages: 200
My Rating: ❤❤❤❤

Book #2 of the Svatura Series

Selene sacrificed everything when she took her brother’s place as ruler of the Vyusher, including her secret love for her one-time adversary Griffin Aubrey. When nightmares that are just a little too real start, Selene fears she’s turned into a cold-blooded killer…the monster that Griffin thinks she is.

Griffin and Ellie Aubrey are finally safe for the first time in over a hundred years. But when an unknown menace drives Selene to leave her family and ask for help, Griffin must decide. Can he move past his hatred of everything she is? Or will the bond that could bring them both the greatest joy now be the source of their deepest despair?

The threat of the danger stalking Selene in her dreams might be too much even for this powerful group. And Griffin doesn’t want to easily forgive the woman he blames for killing his family…

*I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*

While reading the first book in this series, I found Griffin to be one of my favorite characters. However, he has been surpassed by Selene. It was almost as if the tables had been just completely turned, flipped over, and maybe even thrown around. Because, instead of liking Griffin as I did in the first one, I found myself having a love-hate relationship with him.

Griffin complained about how stubborn Ellie is, but I'm starting to see that this is more of a family trait. He is super stubborn! But, he only thinks he is doing what is best, and you still can't help but love him.

Not only are you introduced to Griffin's stubbornness, but Hyacinth also introduces you to Selene. And trust me, you will absolutely love her too! She has been through so much in her long life and has endured a lot of pain and heartache, which has made her extremely closed off. So, when that shell starts to crack and break you can finally see the true Selene. After all she has been through, she has managed to be a kind and gentle person, which is truly amazing!

All the other characters you came to care for in Blue Violet also have roles in Hyacinth. So, don't worry you will still get to see Ellie, Alex, and company!

"We wouldn't dare. That dragon trick is just too intimidating."
"Wait a minute..." Ellie held up a hand to Selene's forehead. "Was that humor? Are you sure you feel all right?"

"The timing couldn't be more horrible. Or awkward for that matter. But sometimes you didn't get to pick your moments - the moments just sort of happened."

Book Review: The Gathering (Darkness Rising Book 1) by Kelley Armstrong

Title: The Gathering
Author: Kelley Armstrong
Series: Darkness Rising #1
Pages: 359
My Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

Sixteen-year-old Maya is just an ordinary teen in an ordinary town. Sure, she doesn't know much about her background - the only thing she really has to cling to is an odd paw-print birthmark on her hip - but she never really put much thought into who her parents were or how she ended up with her adopted parents in this tiny medical-research community on Vancouver Island.

Until now.

Strange things have been happening in this claustrophobic town - from the mountain lions that have been approaching Maya to her best friend's hidden talent for "feeling" out people and situations, to the sexy new bad boy who makes Maya feel...different. Combine that with a few unexplained deaths and a mystery involving Maya's biological parents and it's easy to suspect that this town might have more than its share of skeletons in its closet.

In THE GATHERING, New York Times best-selling author Kelley Armstrong brings all the supernatural thrills from her wildly successful Darkest Powers series to Darkness Rising, her scorching hot new trilogy.

Before getting this book, I hadn't realized that it was actually said to be a companion series to Armstrong's Darkest Powers Trilogy. I read a review saying it was meant to be. Seeing as how I had never read any of Armstrong's books, I was a little hesitant to go ahead and start The Gathering. As it turns out, reading the other series was not necessary...at all. I knew just as much as the main character did - well, except about sports, she had me beat there.

I don't know anything about Armstrong's other works, but I do know that she painted a pretty great picture with The Gathering. I thought the pace was very steady and not rushed. Instead of hurrying through the plot, things were allowed to develop more slowly, and as a result, were much more detailed. This allowed you to get to know the main players in the game, especially Maya.

I absolutely loved Maya and the town of Salmon Creek! I know it is super small, with a population of less than 200, but it seemed like a great little town. Everybody knew everybody, and of course gossip spread like wildfire. Can you say Stars Hollow (except even smaller, and without all of Taylor's cheesy town functions?). It was just your average tiny town, except of course for the fact that secret medical research is conducted there. However, that isn't all that the town is hiding...

Okay, enough about the cute small town with its adorable 50s themed diner. I get it, I'll move on. Our female lead, Maya has all the athleticism that I wished I had! Seriously, she climbs cliffs! Overall, Maya is a great strong female character. She's not whiny or wimpy, and I can't wait to see more of her!

Book Review: Supernaturally (Paranormalcy Book 2) by Kiersten White

Title: Supernaturally
Author: Kiersten White
Series: Paranormalcy #2
Pages: 336
My Rating: ❤❤❤❤❤

Evie finally has the normal life she’s always longed for. But she’s shocked to discover that being ordinary can be...kind of boring. Just when Evie starts to long for her days at the International Paranormal Containment Agency, she’s given a chance to work for them again. Desperate for a break from all the normalcy, she agrees.

But as one disastrous mission leads to another, Evie starts to wonder if she made the right choice. And when Evie’s faerie ex-boyfriend Reth appears with devastating revelations about her past, she discovers that there’s a battle brewing between the faerie courts that could throw the whole supernatural world into chaos. The prize in question? Evie herself.

So much for normal.

It's extremely rare to find a second installment better than the first. Usually, they pale in comparison, or at most are equally great. However, Supernaturally blew up these stigmas and then ran the remnants over with a steam roller. I would have never thought that I would have liked Supernaturally better than Paranormalcy. But, here I am telling you just that!

Now that Evie is living the life of a normal teenage girl, she finds that the "normal" life isn't all that it's cracked up to be. She goes to school, works at the diner, and gets to hangout with Lend on the weekends. Tasey, her trusty sidekick has now even taken up residence in her sock drawer. So, when she gets the chance to get a taste of the paranormal butt-kicking action she longs for, she accepts.

Between school, extracurriculars of the paranormal nature, and her sassy attitude, Evie has all the makings to be the next Buffy! In Supernaturally, she even gets her own sidekick! Jack is a handful though. He reminded me of a kid on a sugar high throughout the entire book! I can't forget about Lend! He was just his awesome amazing self. No complaints there!

Supernaturally exceeded my expectations, and even threw me for a loop! Just when I thought I knew what was going on, somehow the story made a 180. When this happened, all I could think was "what the bleep?" But, this turn of events made the book that much better! I really enjoyed the ride it took me on! It's a bleep of a good book!

"You're much prettier when you aren't talking. True of most people, I've found."

"Still, if you'd prefer to simply bask in the glory of my company, I understand. You're probably overwhelmed by holding my hand and want to enjoy the moment."

"Yeah, I know you're a creature of the night. Bringer of death, sucker of blood, needer of tans, so on and so forth. And oddly enough, I'm still unimpressed."

"'Fun Run' indeed, what a misnomer. That'd be like saying 'calm gremlin' or 'pleasant hag.' Or 'entertaining history textbook.'"

Book Review: Potential (The Potential Series Book 1) by M.L. Ridener

Title: Potential
Author: M.L. Ridener
Series: Potential #1
Pages: 169
My Rating: ❤❤

"It's been three hundred years, now is the time..."

Eighteen year old Aribelle Weever has been on the run for the past two years. She and her cousin are being hunted by a group of crazed panther shifters. Ari is a Potential. It is said that Potentials unlock a great power from within their fated mates. The panthers don't care about fate though, only power. She will not give up her freedom without a fight, but she can't shake her fear. Everything changes when she moves to the little town of Winago Heights...

"...when the time is right, you will find the one that fate has chosen for you."

Connell O'Reilly has been plagued by the death of his parents for the past eight years. The attack was meant to destroy his brothers, but he was able to save them. Because of the total destruction of the pack that night, he was thrown into the roles of father, provider, and Alpha. It wasn't easy for a boy at fifteen, but you play the hand you're dealt. Life has been quiet, that is until his brothers meet the new girl in town...

When I read the description for Potential, I knew that I would like the story. The plot involved shifters, prophecies, and some hot guys, what's not to love? So, of course I had high expectations for this story, and maybe they were a bit too high. The story was a fun, fast read, but I found myself wanting so much more!

I wanted details! The characters had the potential to be great, but I wasn't really able to get to know them very well. Specifically, I wanted to know more about their past and their feelings. I firmly believe that there is so much more to the characters than what this book offered. I would have loved to meet Chloe's mom. She was hardly mentioned, and when she finally appeared in the book she only said a few words, and that was it. In addition, when the characters would mention the terrible things they had went through, it was at random times. The story would be moving along happily, and then all of a sudden someone would hit the brakes and start getting serious. Then, someone would hit the gas and we would be all hunky dory again. This part just needed to flow a lot better for me.

Despite the technical problems with the book (such as grammar), I still thought it was a nice fast read. For the two hours it took for me to read it, it did keep me entertained. My only hope is that the series gets more detailed as it goes on.

Book Review: Blue Violet (Svatura Book 1) by Abigail Owen

Title: Blue Violet
Author: Abigail Owen
Series: Svatura #1
Pages: 260
My Rating: ❤❤❤❤

Book #1 of the Svatura Series

Ellie Aubrey is a centuries-old gypsy princess whose extraordinary abilities once inspired her Roma ancestors' fairytales (or nightmares). Along with her twin-brother, Griffin, Ellie has spent most of her life hiding from the Vyusher, a rival tribe who destroyed their entire powerful family. But after a mysterious dream, Ellie risks discovery in order to find and watch over the Jenners, another group of similarly gifted people. She refuses to let them suffer the same fate.

Alex Jenner has come home to protect his family. His adopted mother can sense danger coming, but not who or when. Suspicious of the new girl in town, Alex challenges Ellie in ways that will spark one of two possible outcomes: they'll spontaneously combust, or she'll lose control of the one power she's fought so hard to contain.

When the Vyusher once again threaten everything she holds dear, Ellie will have to face her worst fear, and Alex will have to face an impossible decision. In this fairytale, the dragon that the prince must slay is also the princess who holds his heart.

* I received a free copy of Blue Violet in exchange for an honest review *

Blue Violet  follows Ellie, a girl who has had only the company of her twin brother Griffin for the majority of her life, and by life I mean over a century. Ellie and her brother are not normal human beings, they instead belong to an ancient mystical race that has almost been completely wiped out.

Although Ellie does enjoy her brother's company, she yearns to be around other people like her. Being around the same person (and no one else) for years on end can get a bit boring. So, when she gets a strange vision showing her that more of her kind does exist, she jumps at the chance to find them. However, she is not the only person searching for them.

Even though Ellie is supposed to be over a century old, she does not act like it at all. Actually, none of the characters do. I don't know if this is correct or not, but I really liked that about this book! The characters were not depressed and brooding around throughout the book, but instead were a lot of fun. They seemed to get themselves into one sticky situation after another, which was super entertaining!

In addition to having these "old" characters not act their age, I also really liked Ellie and Griffin's relationship. They knew each other extremely well, and some of my favorite parts were when Griffin would make comments about Ellie's behavior! The bickering was absolutely perfect!

"She'd read tons of books with female heroines who swooned at the sight of their true love and had thought them to be incredibly wimpy. Now here she stood, barely able to keep herself upright. Not that she was in love...far from it. But a girl could appreciate a bona fide hottie when she saw one, right?"

"I just finished running, and I look and smell like nothing very pleasant. Why, oh, why did he have to bump into me now?"