The choices I had made led to the moment when fate took over. I would learn a lesson I wasn't prepared for. And Death would be my willing teacher.
Five years ago, Abbey Chandler cheated Death. She survived a horrific car accident, but her "lucky" break came at the expense of her mother's life and changed everything. After she crossed paths with Death—by taking the hand of an ethereal boy made of clouds and sky—she would never be normal again.
Now she's the target of Death's ravens and an innocent boy's life is on the line. When Nate Holden—Abbey's secret crush—starts to climb Alaska's Denali, the Angel of Death stalks him because ofher.
And Abbey finds out the hard way that Death never forgets.
- Likes: Abbey, the clean writing. Dislike: Nate's Point of View. I'm not sure his chapters added anything to the story.... But I came into the story, thinking it might be a paranormal romance where Abbey falls in love with Death--I was pleasantly surprised. The book keeps a fast pace, so besides Nate's chapters, it was an entertaining read.
Passion. Fate. Loyalty.
Would you risk it all to change your destiny?
The last thing Kelsey Hayes thought she’d be doing this summer was trying to break a 300-year-old Indian curse. With a mysterious white tiger named Ren. Halfway around the world. But that’s exactly what happened. Face-to-face with dark forces, spellbinding magic, and mystical worlds where nothing is what it seems, Kelsey risks everything to piece together an ancient prophecy that could break the curse forever.
Tiger’s Curse is the exciting first volume in an epic fantasy-romance that will leave you breathless and yearning for more.
- The best book of the saga, in my opinion. It takes a little long for Ren to become the man you already know he is, so the beginning's rather slow, but I really appreciated how it wasn't love at first sight. It was slower burning, and Kelsey struggled to let herself be vulnerable (or as Kelsey says, loving the man since she already loved the tiger). And that's a first in the paranormal romance I've read. Plus, I like Kelsey's sarcasm and strength.
Back in Oregon, Kelsey tries to pick up the pieces of her life and push aside her feelings for Ren. But danger lurks around the corner, forcing her to return to India where she embarks on a second quest--this time with Ren's dark, bad-boy brother Kishan, who has also fallen prey to the Tiger's Curse. Fraught with danger, spellbinding dreams, and choices of the heart, TIGER'S QUEST brings the trio one step closer to breaking the spell that binds them.
- The first 100 or so pages here were also really slow, because it focused on Kelsey ... living ordinary Kelsey's life. There wasn't much conflict, some tension though (she still longs for Ren)... But this book establishes the love triangle and actually gives the other romantic interest the time of day. Think New Moon but with adventure.
In the third installment of the Tiger series, Kelsey Hayes pushes through the pain of lost love and strengthens her friendship with Kishan. Despite his strong feelings for her, Kishan has agreed to be her ally in helping her reunite with the man she still loves. Together, they seek to help Ren regain his memory and begin the search for the third magical gift—an object of power that will help break the curse that causes them to live part of their lives as tigers.
They board a luxury yacht and seek Durga's aid once again, who supplies them with her golden weapons. With Nilima, Mr. Kadam, Ren, and Kishan at her side, she soon learns that the task ahead will be even more difficult than the others. Confronting a dark magician, multiple dragons, and terrifying denizens of the deep seems easy when compared to facing the daunting task of stitching up her heart. Just when she thinks she's ready to set her feet on a new path, she is yanked back with a jolt to the one she's determined to leave behind.
The jarring tug-of-war that ensues for Kelsey's heart leaves her anxious and confused. Combined with the stress of almost being killed every other day, it would appear that saving the tigers is almost more than she can handle. Still, she presses on, knowing that a choice is looming on the horizon. One she cannot put off making for long.
Tiger's Voyage is an irresistible romance with a barrage of action on the high seas, where a reader will find a treasure chest full of dragons, sea monsters, knights in shining armor, fabled weapons, and enduring love. The tropic waters of India create the backdrop for the latest installment in the tiger series. This novel, a multicultural take on the classic Beauty and the Beast tale, delves into the complex emotional turmoil and pressure associated with not only making the best choice for a nation but also the best choice for yourself.
- If you like the love triangle in The Vampire Diaries, you'll probably like it here. I wasn't much a fan of some of Kelsey's choices (see paragraph 2 of the summary), but Colleen Houck has set up an explosive ending for the last two books, and the Tiger's Saga has the same addictive quality that Twilight had when I first read it (and the writing could still be improved).
When Wendy Everly was six-years-old, her mother was convinced she was a monster and tried to kill her. It isn't until eleven years later that Wendy discovers her mother might have been right. With the help of Finn Holmes, Wendy finds herself in a world she never knew existed - a world both beautiful and frightening, and Wendy's not sure she wants to be a part of it.
- I'm conflicted as to how I feel about this book. The Trylle Trilogy seems to have the least narrative of any series I've read. On one hand, that means that there's more room for the plot, and it makes the book go faster. But I actually like narrative. It gives me a sense of the character... and that's mostly what I think was lacking. I feel so detached from Wendy. I like the world-building, the other characters, the clean writing, fast pacing.... but I'm not Team Wendy yet.
When Wendy Everly first discovers the truth about herself--that she's a changeling switched at birth--she knows her life will never be the same. Now she's about to learn that there's more to the story... She shares a closer connection to her Vittra rivals than she ever imagined--and they'll stop at nothing to lure her to their side.
With the threat of war looming, her only hope of saving the Trylle is to marry a powerful royal. But that means walking away from Finn, her handsome bodyguard who's strictly off limits...and Loki, a Vittra prince with whom she shares a growing attraction.
Torn between her heart and her people, between love and duty, Wendy must decide her fate. If she makes the wrong choice, she could lose everything, and everybody, she's ever wanted...in both worlds.
- This book worked for me less than Switched. I'm still not Team Wendy. Sometimes I felt for her when she and Finn argued, but then sometimes I felt for Finn, because Wendy was being difficult. I liked that the book expanded on the world-building and the characters backgrounds without losing its face pacing. And the love triangle isn't bad--Hocking doesn't kill us with it like some others do... I especially liked the short story at the back of this novel. The one at the end of Switched was entertaining, but the one at the end of Torn made me feel for/understand the characters.
Plagued by waking visions and nightmares, inexplicably drawn to the bones of dead animals, Faye thinks she's going crazy. Fast. Her parents beleive Holbrook Academy might just be the solution. Dr. Mordoch tells her it's the only answer. But Faye knows that something's not quite right about Dr. Mordoch and her creepy, prisonlike school for disturbed teenagers.
What's wrong with Holbrook goes beyond the Takers, sadistic guards who threaten the student body with Tasers and pepper spray; or Nurse, who doles out pills at bedtime and doses of solitary confinement when kids step out of line; or Rita, the strange girl who delivers ominous messages to Faye that never seem to make any sense. What's wrong with Holbrook begins and ends with Faye's red hands; she and her newfound friends--her Holbrook "family"--wake up every morning with their hands stained the terrible brown of dried blood. Faye has no idea what it means but fears she may be the cause.
Because despite the strangeness of Holbrook and the island on which it sits, Faye feels oddly connected to the place; she feels especially linked to the handsome Kel, who helps her unravel the mystery. There's just one problem: Faye's certain Kel's trying to kill her--and maybe the rest of the world, too.
A rich and tautly told psychological thriller, Harbinger heralds the arrival of an exciting new voice in young adult fiction.
What's wrong with Holbrook goes beyond the Takers, sadistic guards who threaten the student body with Tasers and pepper spray; or Nurse, who doles out pills at bedtime and doses of solitary confinement when kids step out of line; or Rita, the strange girl who delivers ominous messages to Faye that never seem to make any sense. What's wrong with Holbrook begins and ends with Faye's red hands; she and her newfound friends--her Holbrook "family"--wake up every morning with their hands stained the terrible brown of dried blood. Faye has no idea what it means but fears she may be the cause.
Because despite the strangeness of Holbrook and the island on which it sits, Faye feels oddly connected to the place; she feels especially linked to the handsome Kel, who helps her unravel the mystery. There's just one problem: Faye's certain Kel's trying to kill her--and maybe the rest of the world, too.
A rich and tautly told psychological thriller, Harbinger heralds the arrival of an exciting new voice in young adult fiction.
- This book had one of the best book trailers I had ever seen. And the writing was terrific--the book was really dark and disturbing and a true psychological thriller... until the climax. That made me pause and go, WTF. I didn't want to finish the book anymore. It had taken such a strange turn that I was having a hard time even making myself read... which was kind of disappointing, but I loved the writing and will probably check out Sara Wilson Etienne's other work.
Have any of you read these books? Share or disagree with my opinion of them?
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