Category: Magical Realism

Review: Magic Bites

7/11/2016

Magic Bites
Kate Daniels #1
by Ilona Andrews

Synopsis

Kate Daniels is a down-on-her-luck mercenary who makes her living cleaning up magical problems. But when Kate’s guardian is murdered, her quest for justice draws her into a power struggle between two strong factions within Atlanta’s magic circles. Pressured by both sides to find the killer, Kate realizes she’s way out of her league—but she wouldn’t want it any other way…

Review

I had been curious about books by the author Ilona Andrews (the husband and wife writing duo), and I thought I would try out this series. I'm very glad I did, as it was a very different book than I'm used to. I usually like my fantasy/urban fantasy with some romance, and this had a very small inkling of that - but it was not the focus of it at all. I really enjoyed that change because it meant I got to focus on the world-building which is done well.

Now, I'm going to be honest - it took me awhile to get into this book. The world-building took a bit to take shape, and it was a slower-moving story. All these facets add to what makes the book interesting - I just had to get used to the pace. Now, Kate Daniels is a different story. I loved her from the very beginning. There isn't much focus placed on her looks (or lack thereof, which seems to be the case in some moments) which I LOVED. Instead, the emphasis is on her badassness....badassery? You know what I mean. Kate Daniels is a strong woman and she feels no need to hide it, nor does she play the damsel. Her thoughts are always on what she's doing and what has to be done.

I especially enjoyed the sparring between Kate and Curran, the Beast Lord. Curran is the leader of the shape-shifters. Their banter bordered on flirting, which was a little something extra I enjoyed. Needless to say, I'm looking forward to the next book in the series!

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Review: Dark Touch

5/11/2016

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Dark Touch
by Aimee L. Salter

Synopsis

Tully isn't alone in her skin. Whenever she touches someone, they feel everything she feels. All her ugliness. All her darkness. All her pain.

The only thing she wants is to be left alone--and to finally get out of her small Oregon town.

But then she meets Chris. He's everything she's not. Light. Trusting. Innocent. And he wants Tully.

Tully knows she should spare him the heartache of being with her. But when he touches her, she's not sure she'll have the strength to push him away--until he learns about her dark past, and what really goes on in her ever-decaying home.

From the author of Every Ugly Word comes a poignant, emotionally raw story about the violence that plays out behind closed doors and the all-consuming passion of first love.

Review

I received an ebook copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book! It was unlike other YA books that I've read...and I've read quite a bit.

Tully is a young girl who has gone through some very tough times in her life that started with the death of her mother. Now, without her, she's stuck in a home, terrified of her father who doesn't know how to be a father, and with a special "gift" of her own. Whomever she touches ends up feeling whatever she is feeling. Not the best thing when Tully is already feeling isolated.

Then Tully meets Chris and all bets are off.

I don't need to feel the pull toward him,
to be measured by him and know I come up short. - Tully

Salter did a wonderful job in combining a true-to-life kind of story, that of a young girl struggling through losing those closest to her while having to isolate herself, and adding a magical element to it.

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Review: The Stone Prince

4/28/2016

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The Stone Prince
by Gena Showalter

Synopsis

Reduced to kissing the marble statue in her garden, Katie James is amazed when it warms to life in her embrace. Trapped for many years as a statue, Jorlan en Sarr must convince Katie to fall in love with him or he will once again turn to marble.

Review

Romance Read Thursday is back readers! Sorry for the hiatus - let's get back to it!

That super short synopsis does not doe this book justice! This is my second Showalter book and I think she's become one of my go-to authors. Possible spoilers ahead.

Katie is a strong and independent woman who is embarrassed by the stone prince that sits in the garden of her newly acquired house. Unable to help herself, she gives the statue a kiss - and feels it come alive beneath her touch. Jorlan en Sarr is a being stuck in a curse/spell on earth when his actual home seems to be among the stars (yup, an alien folks). Jorlan will slip back into that spell if he doesn't get Katie to fall in love with him. Katie finds herself endeared to him - but will it be enough to stop the spell?

I LOVED this book! It was adorable and just the right kind of light and funny read I needed. I have been reading the Fever series and it has done a number on my nerves - so I definitely needed this. Katie and Jorlan are so funny together, but also very sweet. I enjoyed reading from both of their POVs and especially Jorlan learning about modern times. If you are looking for something short, sweet, and funny to read - look no further.

I'll tell you what a woman's job is, it's building her self-discipline
so she doesn't kill every man she sees. - Frances

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Review: Love me, Love Me Not

2/22/2016

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Love Me, Love Me Not
by Alyxandra Harvey

Synopsis

Dating isn’t easy when you’re in the middle of a blood feud.

Anastasia Vila’s family can turn into swans, but just once she’d like them to turn into responsible adults.

After hundreds of years, they still cling to the blood feud with the Renard family. No one remembers how it started in the first place—but foxes and swans just don’t get along.

Vilas can only transform into their swan shape after they have fallen in love for the first time, but between balancing schoolwork, family obligations, and the escalating blood feud, Ana’s got no time for love. The only thing keeping her sane is her best friend, Pierce Kent.

But when Pierce kisses Ana, everything changes.

Is what Pierce feels for her real, or a byproduct of her magic? Can she risk everything for her best friend? And when the family feud spirals out of control, Ana must stop the fight before it takes away everything she loves.

Including, maybe...Pierce.

Review

I enjoyed reading this book that is loosely based on Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. I really enjoyed the magical realism in making the characters be swans (this is not a spoiler, you find out on the first page). Ana is the main character of the story and she comes from the family of Vilas. In order for a Vila to turn into a swan, she needs to fall in love. Ana is a pretty busy human and has absolutely no idea that her best friend Pierce is actually super adorably in love with her. I loved Pierce for his bookishness and all around - niceness. It was also such a great thing to read about a boy falling in love with the girl and the girl being oblivious.

Due to the story being based on Romeo and Juliet, the opposing family turns into foxes (get it?). There is reason to believe the treaty between the two families is broken, but both parties deny it. So what is causing things to go wrong? That is what Ana decides to find out.

I recommend this read to anyone who enjoys magical realism. I don't come across it that often - and my best example of it is Francesca Lia Block. If you find yourself a fan of hers or would like to try it out, you will be happy you did!

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Review: Magic Bites

Review: Dark Touch

I don't need to feel the pull toward him,
to be measured by him and know I come up short. - Tully

Review: The Stone Prince

I'll tell you what a woman's job is, it's building her self-discipline
so she doesn't kill every man she sees. - Frances

Review: Love me, Love Me Not

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Review: Magic Bites

Review: Dark Touch

I don't need to feel the pull toward him,​to be measured by him and know I come up short. - Tully

Review: The Stone Prince

I'll tell you what a woman's job is, it's building her self-discipline ​so she doesn't kill every man she sees. - Frances

Review: Love me, Love Me Not

Want to receive monthly highlights from Book Fidelity? Sign up!

2020 Reading Challenge

Archives

Categories

I don't need to feel the pull toward him,
to be measured by him and know I come up short. - Tully

I'll tell you what a woman's job is, it's building her self-discipline
so she doesn't kill every man she sees. - Frances