Deep Betrayal by Anne Greenwood Brown

Deep Betrayal by Anne Greenwood Brown is the second book in the Lies Beneath series.  The first book, Lies Beneath took readers into the world of Mermaids/Mermen/Mermonsters.  Lily is our resident not special human and Calder is the lovely merman of our nightmares.  What distinguishes this story is the fact that Calder and Merpeople in general are monsters that steal happiness and you know what? This works! Okay so the first book was all about the discovery of these creatures and of course of LOVE, involving Calder and Lily.  The ending of the book however, has us connecting the dots and realizing that the ordinary girl Lily is really quarter breed and her father is a half breed. 

Deep Betrayal picks up almost right where the first book left off.  For this book the main concentration is getting Lily’s father acclimated to the water and to his inner merman.  Calder, now cut off from his sisters and family choses to help Lily’s father.  Of course not everything is as peachy as this explanation of events.  Jack is still out looking for the mermaid that broke his heart, and he is willing to do anything to get people to listen to him about mermaids.  Death is a constant in this book and there are so many ways one could explain those deaths.  Is it Lily’s father, as a new merman can he control his need for joy?  Could it be Calder’s sisters, seeking retribution after losing so many of their family?  Is it Calder?  Perhaps it is a legend, that even Mermonsters consider legends? 

The book did a good job being jumpy and suspenseful. The mythology definitely helps, although looking back on it… why Minnesota?  I definitely enjoyed this book more than the first but at the same time there is something with Lily that I cannot quite express frustrates me.  Perhaps the next book would be less frustrating in relation to her but alas, that is never the case. 

 

I give this book a 3/5.  Thanks Net Galley.

Poison by Bridget Zinn

Poison by Bridget Zinn was published by Disney Hyperion, and you know what you can tell.  The story is about Kyra, a potion master, who is on the run after trying to kill the Princess, her friend.  Kyra is a young woman who loves to work with potions, spend time with Ariana her friend and the Princess and someone who is ridiculously independent.  When the book opens we find the MC to be on the run, trying to find a particular potion, which will kill the princess and accomplish the boshed up assassination attempt 3 months ago.  During her running she encounters Fred, a stranger to her land, the only person that Kyra has interacted with since the assassination attempt.  Kyra, along with a pig, a wolf dog and Fred must figure out what is wrong with Princess Ariana and also how to stop her from getting married and becoming one with the land, a ceremony that Kyra has envisioned will destroy their world.  The thing is that Krya has no proof, but her visions, her visions she reasons because she is a witch, a secret she has hidden all her life.

This book is intriguing because you do not have all the pieces of the puzzles.  As you read, slowly each piece is revealed to you.  By the end of the book things you thought were truths are revealed and connections between characters are exposed.  It is a lighthearted book filled with fantasy and easy to follow and get into.  I would recommend this book for those that like mystery and fantasy books, especially if they are looking for a light read.

 

Thanks Net Galley!

The Nightmare Affair by Mindee Arnett

The Nightmare Affair by Mindee Arnett is the first in the series The Arkwell Academy.  This book is set in an alternative reality where monsters/supernatural beings exist.  The main character is 16 yr old Dusty Everhart, who is none other than a Nightmare.  A nightmare is close to a succubus, creatures that appear at night to sleeping victims and steal their dreams, for Dusty’s purposes she uses the dreams to generate more magic.  The book opens up to Dusty entering a strangers bedroom for her routine and to her shock and horror the stranger is an old classmate, Eli Booker.  Eli is the average good looking popular YA leading male.  Of course, not only is there an embarrassing factor to this particular outing for Dusty, but she discovers that what Eli is dreaming will become reality. This leads to Dusty discovering that they are a rare team of Dreamseers, which is weird because Eli is an ordinary (human).  Now Dusty and Eli must team together to stop more murders from occurring.

There are a few twists and turns during the novel that gives it the proper mystery factor.  You have a power hungry mother, a secret lover and Merlin (loooonng story in that one, which is much appreciated.)  Why is someone targeting the “Keepers” and can Dusty really understand her purpose before it is too late?

With the right amount of romance, mystery and magical world stories this book is a great addition to YA paranormal.  Also, “nightmares” being turned into a supernatural being that happens to not be that much of negative thing is pretty cool.  I find that most YA paranormal stick with the 5 basic “supernatural food groups”; Vampires, Werewolves, Angels/Demons, Fairies, and Witches.  It is always nice to see mythological creatures, trolls, pixies, etc.

I gave this book a high 3.5/5 stars.  Thanks Net Galley!

The Runaway King by Jennifer A. Nielsen

The Runaway King is the second book in The Ascendance Trilogy by Jennifer A. Nielson.  Following the ending of the first book, The False Prince, this book opens up with Jaron/Sage as King to the crown.  Jaron is trying to navigate this new life, which indecently is as criminal as his old life.  This time Jaron doesn’t have to prove he is the long lost prince, but he has to prove that he is a worthy King, one who can give compassion to his people and keep the corrupted at bay.  The only problem is, Jaron, all the corrupted people throughout his kingdom and others are vying for a piece of Jaron, because with his fall comes the spoils of his country.  This time Jaron must face the pirates to find out which of his allies are trying to kill him and take over his lands.

Okay, confession time, I so disliked the first book.  Not because it was terrible or did not have ridiculous moments, but because the book did not really get interesting until the last third of the book.  Apparently the audience was not part of the deep dark secrets of Sage/Jaron (Sage is Jaron’s street name) until two thirds into the story.  So, for the last third of that book I loved it.  This installment is not any different, except that we are privy to most knowledge and the reason behind my initial dislike is Jaron’s treatment of Imogen.  We all know they might end up together, but it is more than that.  Imogen is the only friend Sage/Jaron have both known.  She understands the prince and the pauper.  Jaron, however, decides to rudely turn her away from his castle only leading to more trouble ahead for Imogen. 

The best parts of the book begin and end with the pirates.  Nothing good happens to our characters in Jaron’s castle or after the pirates (by “good” I mean benign not exciting… they could probably use sometime without excitement.  With the pirates we get to see Sage again, and frankly I love Sage.  He is ridiculously great “street rat,” the kind that makes every other criminal mastermind in this book look like a complete fool.  Jaron/Sage does do some growing up in this book and I think he is learning the lesson that he is not alone.  For fans of the first book, you will not be disappointed in this one.

 

Thanks Net Galley! 3.5/5 stars! 

Revenge of the Girl with the Great Personality by Elizabeth Eulberg

             

               Imagine Toddlers and Tiara and all the drama of high school.  That was the initial experience of Revenge of the Girl with the Great Personality by Elizabeth Eulberg.  Lexi is the main character.  She is also the smart, less flashy sister of Mackenzie who is the ultimate beauty queen (she’s 7 yrs old).  Lexi’s weekends and life revolve around her mother’s obsession of getting Mackenzie into pageants.  She realizes that perhaps she will always be destined to be the girl that doesn’t get the guy’s attention but has a great personality.

                The book deals with how Lexi transforms herself into a bombshell and receives crazy attention from the guys in her school, including her crush Logan.  But underneath the superficial parts of the book, there are deeper questions that are answered by the characters through their words and experiences.  Is it worth being friend or liking someone who only notices you physically?  Do you lose something of yourself playing into the new role of popularity?  Is what you want really all what is cracked up to be?  I will say that her transformation teaches Lexi a lot more about who she is and who she wants to be.  There are awful mistakes that the readers can see coming but even more surprising outcomes than Lexi would have ever imagined.

3/5 stars!  Thanks NetGalley!

Wicked Kiss by Michelle Rowen

Wicked Kiss is the second book in Michelle Rowen’s Nightwatchers series.  This story is about good vs evil; however, it is also about how good and evil work together to ensure the balance in the world.  This is not to say that everyone involved is on program but it does make some great comedic moments.  In the first book we meet Samantha Day, an ordinary girl who goes out to the club with her friend and makes out with a former senior from her school.  Little does she know that this senior’s kiss has stolen her soul and made her into the same monster he is now. 

Enter Bishop and Kraven.  Bishop is the leader of the good and evil team sent to Samantha’s city to rid the monsters whose kisses steal souls.  Bishop was not supposed to have a soul given to him because he is an angel and if he is not fallen it eventually causes a mental breakdown; however, Samantha’s touch helps with his sanity (she just can’t kiss him, because he has a soul and would die… no biggie).  Kraven is Bishop’s brother (there is some juicy family secrets there).  Kraven is a demon who was sent to hell by his brother (you find out why in this book).  He is also the one who brings her back to her senses when she is in her hunger zone, with his kiss.

This particular book deals with the Grays (the ones that kiss for your soul) and how they are becoming more powerful.  It is up to Samantha and the good/evil gang to set things right in order to lift the barrier around the city so that the demons and angels are free to return to their homes.  Not only is Samantha dealing with that but she is also dealing with cryptic messages that tie into her parentage, specifically her demon father, but she also is trying to get her soul back so that she does not remain a soulless monster forever.

The pace of this book matched the first and the twists and turns are worth the effort to unravel.  Is Samantha the solution or problem for what is happening?  Will she ever get her soul back?  Will she ever kiss Bishop again (you know without people tackling her before he dies)?  Why won’t Bishop reveal his true name?  And when Samantha finds out about Kraven and Bishop’s past will she be able to move forward or will she have to leave one of them behind?

4/5 Stars.  Thanks NetGalley!