Review: One Wish - Michelle Harrison

One wish only, understood? There are rules, so listen good . . .

The Spinney Wicket Wishing Tree can grant your heart’s desire – just wish out loud, or hang a message from its branches. It sounds as though the Wishing Tree is just a sweet old tradition, but Tanya is only too aware how real its magic could be.

Tanya can see fairies, and would love to meet someone else can see them too. When she meets Ratty and his cheeky fairy, Turpin, it seems at last she’s found them. But Ratty has a secret, and a dangerous enemy who'll stop at nothing to get to him.

Tanya must use her one wish to save her new friend - but wishes should be used wisely . . .

Thirteen Treasures Trilogy:
One Wish
The 13 Treasures
The 13 Curses
The 13 Secrets

Visit Michelle Harrison's website for more information

Review:
One Wish is a new prequel story for Michelle Harrison's Thirteen Treasures series so it's ideal for fans of the series or anyone who is new to this author. This whole series has been incredibly fun to read and One Wish is no exception to that, it has all the magic and wonder you could hope for from a fairytale and is full of great characters and fun adventures.

Tanya is a young girl with the second sight which allows her to see the fairies and other fae creatures. This rare ability often gets her in trouble, the fairies don't like to be seen and they take great pleasure in tormenting her by causing mischief and because Tanya's mother can't see them it is always Tanya who gets the blame for the things they do. Tanya is thrilled when she meets a young boy called Ratty and realises that he has the same ability as she does, not only can he see the fairies but he also has ways to protect himself against them and he's willing to teach them to Tanya. When Ratty is kidnapped it is up to Tanya, along with Ratty's mischievous fairy guardian Turpin, to rescue him but that is going to be easier said than done.

One Wish is an incredibly whimsical tale full of colourful characters. My favourite would have to be Turpin, she's such a tricky little pest but her heart is in the right place and she would do anything to protect her Ratty. I also really enjoyed the Wishing Tree who always speaks in rhyme. Tanya is a fabulous main character and I've enjoyed following all of her adventures.

Source: Received from Simon & Schuster in exchange for an honest review

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Review: The Stone Demon - Karen Mahoney

The just-unleashed demon hordes have delivered an impossible ultimatum to the Order of the Crow: produce the Philosopher's Stone, or suffer a deadly reaper storm of retribution. If Donna cannot recreate the mythical artefact, the world will be plunged into a devastating modern-day Dark Age.

Pitting her dangerously unpredictable powers against a vengeful demon king, two maleficent faery queens and an immortal magus with his own shadowy agenda, Donna must be willing to make the ultimate sacrifice. But, this time, death may not be enough . . .

The final, breathtaking story in the Iron Witch trilogy.

The Iron Witch Series:
The Iron Witch
The Wood Queen
The Stone Demon

Check out Karen Mahoney's website for more information

Review:
The Stone Demon is the third and final book in the Iron Witch trilogy so this review may contain spoilers for the first two books. The story picks up not long after the end if the last book and there is very little recapping so I really would recommend reading this series in order. Donna has been sent to London as a punishment for freeing the Demon King and his minions and is now continuing her training with the Order of the Crow. The Demon King has demanded that the alchemists hand over the philosopher's stone but the original was destroyed and they have been trying to recreate a new one for decades. Unfortunately their time is running out and if they don't find a way to stop the Demon King for good then the whole world is in danger.

I really enjoyed the first two books in this series so I was disappointed by the long wait between the release of The Wood Queen and The Stone Demon. I was excited to finally get my hands on this one but I have to confess that my enthusiasm for the series had died down a little during the long gap. As someone who reads a large number of books I'm really losing interest in starting series that haven't been fully released - it's just too hard to remember what happened in the first book if you've read over 200 new books in the year or longer gap between publication. Anyway, even though I've had this book for a while now it took me a long time to get around to starting it. Thankfully I found it quite easy to slip back into Karen Mahoney's world and it was good to catch up with Donna and see how she was getting on.

I was expecting big things from this book, a fast paced and action packed finale to the series that would see Donna face some incredibly difficult trials in order for her to keep her friends and family safe. Unfortunately while it delivered this to a certain extent I felt that things came too easily for Donna, she seemed to instinctively know how to solve things that the other alchemists have been working on for centuries and the way things fell into place so easily removed the sense of danger I was hoping for. I liked the story but I just didn't love it as much as I hoped I would.

The stand out character for the whole series has to be Nav and he stole the show in this book too. He added humour to the story and I loved the way he is such a good friend to Donna without expecting anything in return. We didn't see as much of Xan in this story as I'd expected to but I didn't really find myself missing him, in fact I just would have liked more scenes with Nav to make up for it. I don't think the romance was quite as prominent in this book as it was in the previous two and things were left quite open ended so I do wonder if the author will revisit these characters in the future. Even though this wasn't my favourite book in the series if you enjoyed the first two books then I'd say its definitely worth reading The Stone Demon so you can find out how the trilogy ends. I love Karen Mahoney's writing style and this was a quick and easy read that answered the majority of the questions raised throughout the series.

Source: Received from Random House in exchange for an honest review

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Review: The Falconer - Elizabeth May

Lady Aileana Kameron was destined for a life which revolved around Edinburgh's social events - until the moment a faery killed her mother.

Now, between high society balls, Aileana slaughters faeries in secret. Every night, armed with modified percussion pistols, explosives and a killer instinct, she sheds her aristocratic façade and goes hunting.

She's looking for revenge, but she'll kill any fae that crosses her path.

But there's another battle looming - one her mysterious mentor, Kiaran MacKay won't even talk about and it has world-altering consequences.

Aileana will have to decide how much she's willing to lose - and just how far she'll go to avenge her mother.

The Falconer Series:
The Falconer
Further titles and release dates to be confirmed

Visit Elizabeth May's website for more information

Review:
Since the day that Aileana witnessed her mother's murder she has been aware of the faeries that walk amongst us unseen by most humans. At a time in her life when she should be focusing on attending balls and attracting a wealthy husband she is leading a secret double life. While pretending to act like the young lady she was brought up to be she sneaks out at night to hunt and kill the fae with the help of her mentor Kiaran. What she wants most is to track down the faery who killed her mother so that she can have her revenge. It isn't easy keeping her night time activities a secret and she knows that if she is caught she will lose her reputation and be shunned by polite society but that's a risk she is willing to take if it means stopping the fae from killing more innocent victims.

There has been a lot of hype surrounding Elizabeth May's debut novel The Falconer and it's been at the top of my wish list since I first heard about it. Just one look at that stunning cover and I was sold but the blurb hooked me even more especially when I heard Aileana compared to one of Buffy's ancestors who fights the fae instead of vampires. I'll admit I was a little nervous that it wouldn't live up to my expectations but I'm very happy to say that this is a fabulous start to a new series and it's one I can't wait to continue. The Falconer is historical urban fantasy at it's best with a strong, kick-ass heroine, a rich historical setting and plenty of action. It also has a hint of steampunk in the weapons and gadgets that Aileana has designed to help her fight the much stronger, faster fae.

Aileana is a fabulous heroine, she has changed a lot since witnessing her mother's murder and is no longer the spoilt young lady that she once was. She has started to realise how trivial her life used to be, how unimportant balls and afternoon teas really are and how little she cares about finding a suitable husband and getting married. She has more important things to worry about like protecting the city from the murderous fae that seem to be arriving in greater numbers every day. It is very difficult for her to keep quiet about her secret life, especially when the gossips are all talking about her behind her back because of the circumstances surrounding her mother's death. She finds it difficult to hold her tongue but knows that nobody would believe her even if she did tell them what really happened. Aileana has had to learn to become tough, she has put a lot of effort into learning to fight and into creating the weapons she now uses to hunt. Her mentor Kiaran has secrets of his own and she isn't sure how much she can trust him but she didn't have anyone else to turn to for help so they have formed an uneasy alliance.

As much as I loved Aileana I also really enjoyed getting to know the side characters too. I'm incredibly curious about Kiaran and can't wait to learn more about him but I think Derrick, the honey drinking pixie, was probably my favourite, he was always amusing and added a nice bit of comic relief to the story. Where The Falconer really excels is in it's fight scenes, the fae that Aileana must battle against were creepy and well described and it was easy to picture yourself in the middle of the story. I don't want to say too much about the plot because I think it's better to let things unfold as you're reading but I really enjoyed Elizabeth May's take on faerie mythology and I'm definitely looking forward to finding out how events unfold as the series continues. I will warn you now that the story has quite an evil cliffhanger but I was enjoying the book so much that I can't really mark it down for that. The Falconer really is a fantastic debut and one I'd highly recommend to fans of urban fantasy with a historical setting, Elizabeth May is definitely an author to watch out for!

Source: Received from Gollancz in exchange for an honest review

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Review: A Conspiracy of Alchemists - Liesel Schwarz

When dirigible pilot Elle Chance accepts an unusual cargo in Paris she finds herself in the middle of a deadly war between the Alchemists and Warlocks.

The Alchemists will stop at nothing to acquire the coveted carmot stone and its key, and Elle must do everything in her power to thwart their diabolical plans.

Embarking on a perilous cross-continental adventure with the mysterious Mr Marsh, Elle is forced to question everything she ever knew about herself to fulfil her destiny and prevent a magical apocalypse . . .

The Chronicles of Light and Shadow:
A Conspiracy of Alchemists
A Clockwork Heart

Visit Liesel Schwarz's website for more information

Review:
Elle is not your average young lady, she isn't interested in ball gowns or finding the perfect husband and would much rather be independent. She loves to fly and ever since training as a dirigible pilot she has enjoyed travelling across Europe in the ship she is so proud of. When she is employed to carry a mysterious item from Paris back to London she suddenly finds herself caught up in a battle between the Alchemists and Warlocks. Both sides are determined to get hold of her cargo and they will stop at nothing to make sure they come out on top. Elle is forced to join forces with her employer Mr Marsh to prevent the end of the world as she knows it but the deeper she is pulled into the upcoming war the more she starts to discover about her own past and realise that her future will never be the same again.

A Conspiracy of Alchemists is a fantastic steampunk adventure story that will take readers on a journey across Europe, taking in Oxford, Paris, Venice and Constantinople by both air and by train. Liesel Schwarz has created a detailed world where the human realm is closely connected to the realm of shadows, a world that is filled with alchemists, warlocks, nightwalkers and even absinthe fairies who live amongst the human population. This was such a fun story to read and you never knew quite what the author would throw at you next which kept me on my toes as I was reading.

Elle was a great character, I love stories about strong women who aren't afraid to stand up for what they believe in. Elle is a woman of science, she loves to learn and as the daughter of a prominent scientist she has inherited his love of physics. She is also very practical and is able to turn her hand to any technical gadget she comes across. One thing she doesn't believe in is magic, she is much more interested in things that she can see and prove with science. She has no interest in the world of alchemists and warlocks until she is dragged into the whole mess against her will. Elle doesn't have much choice other than to work with Marsh but that doesn't mean she is going to blindly put her trust in him, he is going to have to prove himself to her as they get to know each other better. I liked the way that Elle refuses to just accept what she is told, she needs to find ways to prove things for herself and you have to admire the way she so stubbornly clings to her beliefs.

Marsh has to be my favourite though, he is a complex character who has a lot of secrets and it takes a long time for Elle to start to get to the bottom of them (in fact I'm pretty sure he has plenty of surprises still to come as the series continues). The deeper you dig into Marsh's background the more you start to understand why he has such a hard outer shell and why he plays his cards so close to his chest. As he gets to know Elle you really start to see a softer and more protective side to him and I loved the slowly developing romance between them.

The romance is just a small part of the story though and the plot is focused on the animosity between the alchemists and the warlocks. I loved the detailed descriptions of the various settings throughout the book, it was easy to picture yourself flying alongside Elle and Marsh in her dirigible or sitting next to them on the Orient Express but it was the towns that the author brings vibrantly to life. Although I'm glad to learn that this is the start of a series I'm happy to say that the story did work well as a stand alone. I'm sick to death of series that end on such major cliffhangers that you don't even feel like you've read the whole book so it was nice to see an ending so well handled. If you enjoy steampunk or fantasy stories then I'm sure you're going to love A Conspiracy of Alchemists, it's an impressive debut and has left me excited to read more from Liesel Schwarz in the future.

Source: Received from the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review

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Review: Innocent Darkness - Suzanne Lazear

A steampunk faerie tale with romance, danger, and a strong-willed heroine

When spirited sixteen-year-old Noli Braddock and her best friend Steven "V" Darrow take a flying car out for a joyride, neither expects Noli to be sent to reform school to mend her hoyden ways. While at the dreadful school, Noli's innocent mid-summer's eve wish summons Kevighn, a mysterious man who takes Noli with him to the Realm of Faerie. At first Noli believes she has been rescued. But the sinister reason behind the handsome huntsman's appearance quickly become clear-he wants to use Noli as a blood sacrifice to restore his dying world. V, who has secrets of his own, shows up to help Noli escape and return to the mortal realm-but first, they must navigate the dangerous intrigues of the Otherworld.

If they are successful, Noli will live. But if Noli lives, the entire Otherworld civilization will die.

The Aether Chronicles:
Innocent Darkness
Charmed Vengeance (2013)

Visit Suzanne Lazear's website for more information.

Review:
The thing that drew me to Innocent Darkness was the amazing cover - I think any steampunk fan would see that image and immediately want to read the book. While the story starts off well and has a nice steampunk feel to it with airships and flying cars unfortunately that disappears towards the middle of the book and left me feeling disappointed. Once Noli travels to the Otherworld (the land of the faeries) the only hint at steampunk is in the outfits worn by the inhabitants of faerie queen's court, I found it quite amusing that Noli was so shocked by the idea of women wearing corsets over their clothes or wearing bloomers - that is such a major part of steampunk style but for some reason wasn't something that was part of the human world.

Noli is described as strong-willed and intelligent, in fact when we first meet her she has just finished rebuilding her father's flying car and along with her best friend and neighbour V she takes it on an illegal flight across her neighbourhood. So we have a mischievous character who isn't afraid to break the rules - great news! Noli is sent to a reform school for being a "wilful hoyden" after the incident with the flying car gets her in trouble with the air police and this is where the story takes a turn towards the very dark and Gothic. The torture and abuse that goes on at the school is shocking and the fact that I'm sure this kind of thing did happen in the past just makes it all the more horrifying. Noli manages to remain strong in spite of everything she goes through and even makes plans to escape with her friend which I had to admire her for. Unfortunately as the story progresses Noli seems to lose both her independence and her intelligence, once she travels to the Otherworld she becomes completely dependent on Kevighn for everything. I couldn't understand why she continued to accept whatever he told her and even after she knew for sure that he had lied to her she was still drawn to him.

I had high hopes for the romance between Noli and V but I just couldn't understand what it was that drew her to Kevighn. We were repeatedly told that he cared for her but I just didn't see it and at no point did I believe there was any kind of connection between them. I think the whole love triangle trope is very overdone in YA fiction, very rarely an author manages to make it work but most of the time I'm finding myself rolling my eyes and feeling like it's just been thrown in there to tick a box on a form somewhere.

After a very promising first half I was disappointed with the second half of the story. In some ways it felt as if several different books had been cut in half and stitched together without any real connection between them. The fun and light hearted steampunk gave way to dark, Gothic historical fiction which then turned into a faerie story that could have been aimed at a much younger audience. The later part of the story was much slower paced and more predictable and I didn't enjoy it anywhere near as much as the beginning. I'm only relieved that the story didn't end with a major cliffhanger, there are still unanswered questions but nothing major enough that I feel compelled to pick up the sequel.

Source: Received from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

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Review: The Obsidian Mirror - Catherine Fisher

Jake's father disappears while working with the obsessive, secretive Oberon Venn - and Jake is certain Venn has murdered him.

But what he finds at the snow-bound Windercombe Abbey is far stranger.

A mysterious black mirror.
A hidden diary of lost secrets.
A tribe of supernatural beings who haunt the woods.
A girl pursued by a wolf of ice.

There are life-threatening choices at every turn. But Jake won't stop til he knows the truth . . .

Chronoptika Series:
The Obsidian Mirror
Titles & release dates for future books in the series are to be confirmed

Visit Catherine Fisher's website for more information

Review:
When Jake's father disappears while working on a secret project with his best friend Oberon Venn Jake becomes convinced that Venn must have killed him. Now Jake is determined to prove that and find a way to make Venn pay but on arriving at Venn's remote estate in Devon he uncovers secrets that will change his life forever. Everything comes back to the mysterious obsidian mirror that Venn is convinced can open pathways into the past. Venn needs Jake's help to find his father who was lost in time when an experiment with the mirror went horribly wrong. But Venn isn't the only one who is obsessed with the mirror and as various strangers close in, each with their own very different motives, Jake finds himself caught in a life and death battle. Which of his new acquaintances can he trust and who is going to figure out the secrets of the mirror first? Is it even possible to find Jake's father and bring him home?

The Obsidian Mirror is a story that you need to devour slowly, the plot is told from multiple perspectives and blends the past, present and future in a way that sometimes leaves you unsure which way is up. It can be confusing to work out what the character's motivations are and why the do the things they do but if you stick with it you will quickly find yourself absorbed in trying to unravel the clues. Just when you think you are on the verge of an important discovery Catherine Fisher will throw something else at you that turns everything on it's head. I love it when a book can surprise me and this one certainly managed that!

Anyone who is interested in time travel or who enjoys reading books with a strong sense of mystery will love The Obsidian Mirror. Add in elements of fantasy with the Shee (or fairies) and even a wolf who tracks time travellers for his mysterious owner and you're in for a treat. I don't want to say much more because this is a book you need to go into with no expectations about the story - I would hate to ruin the journey by giving away a spoiler. Instead I'm going to end this review by saying that this is a great start to a new series and it's one that has me excited to see what happens next to Jake, Venn and the various other characters who surround them. Oh and can someone please send Piers in my direction - I really have a craving for a batch of his cookies!

Source: Received from Hodder in exchange for an honest review

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Review: Masquerade - Rachel Morgan

Betrayed by the guy who supposedly loved her, Violet deals with her anger and hurt by teaming up with her archrival Ryn to help him find his missing sister. Hanging out with Ryn isn’t high on Vi’s list of things to do, but she kind of owes him after he inconveniently saved her life recently. As the two of them struggle to put their differences aside, they find themselves drawn into a plot much greater than a single missing child. A plot with Violet herself at the center.

Creepy Hollow Series:
Guardian (Short Story)
Labyrinth (Short Story)
Traitor (Short Story)
Masquerade (Short Story)
Titles and release dates for future instalments to be confirmed.

Visit Rachel Morgan's website or the Creepy Hollow website for more information

Review:
Masquerade is the fourth story in Rachel Morgan's Creepy Hollow series and I would highly recommend reading them in order or you won't be able to follow the ongoing plot. I'm going to warn you now that this review will contain spoilers for previous stories so if you haven't started reading it yet then look no further. I can recommend checking out the first story Guardian though.

After the shocking betrayal at the end of Traitor Violet barely escapes her latest battle with Zell with her life. Badly injured the last person she expects to come to her aid is enemy Ryn but she has no choice but to accept his help. It turns out that Ryn had a reason for helping her though - his sister is missing and he needs Violet to help him find her. As they join together to search for Calla can they put their differences aside and recover the friendship they had many years ago?

Masquerade is a fab instalment to the Creepy Hollow series and I think it was my favourite part of the story to date. It was really interesting to find out more about the background between Ryn and Violet and see just why he came to hate her so much. They lost their friendship thanks to grief and misunderstandings but can they work together to come out stronger on the other side?

I love the way we get regular instalments for this series - it's like watching a TV series in book form and if you've enjoyed the earlier stories then you're sure to like this one just as much. They really are perfect for when you just want something quick and fun to read and I'll be looking forward to finding out what happens next for Violet. I was slightly disappointed that we didn't find out more about the reasons behind Nate's recent actions but seeing a nicer side to Ryn more than made up for it!

Source: Received from the author in exchange for an honest review

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Review: Endlessly - Kiersten White

When your world is paranormal, be glad that you’re human… The breathtaking conclusion to the bestselling Paranormalcy trilogy, which left Hush, Hush author Becca Fitzpatrick exclaiming, “I’m in love!”

After the shocking revelations about her parents and the faeries’ struggle for possession of her soul, all Evie wants is to spend a normal Christmas with her shapeshifter boyfriend Lend. But as usual things don’t turn out as planned for Evie, as suddenly the International Paranormal Containment Agency, the local paranormals and her faery ex-boyfriend Reth are all in need, and only Evie and her powers can save them. Once again… so much for normal.

Paranormalcy Series:
Paranormalcy
Supernaturally
Endlessly

Check out Kiersten White's website for more information

Review:
I really enjoyed Paranormalcy but I have to admit to being disappointed with Supernaturally so I was a bit nervous when I picked up Endlessly. I knew that this was the last book in the series though and I wanted to find out how things ended for Evie and Lend. I'm glad to say that Kiersten White raised the bar again with this book and we're back to the level of the first book in the series. Endlessly was a fun and entertaining read and a fitting end to the series. These books are perfect light hearted summer reading and even if you weren't a huge fan of the second instalment it is well worth reading the final book.

Evie has been longing for normality for most of her life but every time she seems to get close to achieving it something happens to drag her back into the paranormal world. With the IPCA under new management they are determined to bring her back into the fold at any cost - even if it does mean keeping her their prisoner. Not only that but the paranormals all believe that Evie is their only hope to find a way home and are desperate to get her to help them - no matter how much it costs her.

Evie is going to have some very difficult choices to make and she only has a limited time to make them. Whatever she decides will have long reaching effects on not just her but every faerie, paranormal creature and human so she must be careful to make the right decision. Luckily she still has her friends and Lend on hand to help her but she also has a few surprising allies that she isn't quite sure are completely trustworthy. Evie is such a fun character and along with her beloved Tasey (her pink rhinestone covered taser!) she is a force to be reckoned with. The IPCA don't seem to realise who they are messing with and she is equally sure that she isn't going to let the paranormals she considers friends push her into something she isn't sure of. You have to admire her spunky attitude but the best thing about her is the way she always looks at the bright side of things, she has really been through the wringer in this series but she has never let that stop her from looking for the best in everyone.

I don't want to say any more about the story so I'm just going to tell you that if you enjoyed Paranormalcy then you need to read Endlessly. The series has ended on a perfect high note and I'm looking forward to seeing what Kiersten White comes up with next.

Source: Received from Harper Collins in exchange for an honest review

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Review: Traitor - Rachel Morgan

Violet and Nate may have escaped the labyrinth, but only one of them came out unscathed. Nate is now the bearer of a mysterious eye-shaped tattoo, a mark he has no memory of receiving. While Vi is intent on discovering the meaning of the tattoo, Nate seems less interested. His experience in the labyrinth has caused recurring nightmares, and he’d prefer to pretend none of it ever happened. But Vi has never been one to let a mystery go unsolved, and she’ll do whatever she can to discover who’s behind the tattoo—even if it means leaving Nate out of her plan.

Creepy Hollow Series:
Guardian (Short Story)
Labyrinth (Short Story)
Traitor (Short Story)
Masquerade (Short Story)

Visit Rachel Morgan's website or the Creepy Hollow website for more information

Review:
Traitor is the third story in the Creepy Hollow series by Rachel Morgan, these short stories will be published as ebooks on roughly a monthly basis with the fourth story Masquerade due to be released in July. As this review is for the third story it may contain spoilers for previous titles, this series really does need to be read in order for you to follow the ongoing plot.

Traitor picks up the story from where Labyrinth left off, Violet's suspension is finally over and she is allowed to return to her guardian training. Now that she knows Nate isn't human it is no longer forbidden for her to spend time with him but there is no way for her to tell her boss without letting on that she broke the rules in the first place. Since they escaped from the labyrinth Nate has a mysterious tattoo on his back. Vi is worried about where it could have come from and is determined to get to the bottom of the mystery.

I have been really enjoying this series of short stories by Rachel Morgan and Traitor was another great instalment. These stories are perfect for when you want something quick to read because you're short on time. I really enjoyed getting to find out more about the different training that the Guardian's go through in this story. It was nice to see Vi with some of her fellow trainees - both ones she is friendly with and ones like Ryn who is her biggest rival and a bitter enemy. There are also a few really sweet moments between Vi and Nate as they get to go on their first proper date. I really like them as a couple but I did miss the more easy going Nate from the first two stories. He had quite a shock when he discovered his heritage though so I'm not surprised it has had an effect on him emotionally.

As the title would suggest there is a shocking twist at the end when an unlikely traitor is revealed and I have to say this left me desperate to get my hands on Masquerade, luckily I don't have too long to wait for it's release!

Source: Received from the author in exchange for an honest review

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Review: The 13 Curses - Michelle Harrison

When fairies stole her brother, Red vowed to get him back.

Trapped in the fairy realm, Red must beg an audience with the fairy court. There, she strikes a bargain. Her brother will be returned - but only if she can find the charms of Tanya's bracelet scattered in the human world.

Returning to Elvesden Manor, Red is assisted by Tanya and Fabian, and a desperate hunt begins. Soon they make a shocking discovery. The charms are now cursed with the twisted qualities of the thirteen treasures they represent . . . and the longer they are missing, the worse the consequences will be.

Can Red, Tanya and Fabian find all the charms? And even if they do, will the fairies keep their promise?

Thirteen Treasures Trilogy:
One Wish
The 13 Treasures
The 13 Curses
The 13 Secrets

Visit Michelle Harrison's website for more information

Review:
After Red sacrificed herself to save Tanya at the end of The 13 Treasures she is now trapped in the fairy realm. She is determined to use the opportunity to continue the search for her missing brother so she can finally bring him home. When Warwick ends up caught in a fairy ring and taken to the fairy realm himself they both find themselves trapped by the Hedgewitch. Working together to escape they eventually make it to the court where Red agrees to accept a task in order to have her brother returned to her. She must find the 13 charms from Tanya's bracelet and Warwick will be held captive by the fairies until she returns. After enlisting the help of Tanya and Fabian Red begins her search but can they track down the charms before they cause damage in the human realm thanks to the curses the fairies have put on them?

I have to admit that I'm not usually a big fan of books about fairies, they tend to be my least favourite paranormal creature so I'm wary about picking up books about them. Having said that I really enjoyed the first book in Michelle Harrison's Thirteen Treasures series so I was looking forward to finding out what happened next. I don't read a lot of children's literature but this is a fun series and one that I think will be extremely popular with younger children.

I enjoyed the chance to find out more about Warwick's past and what happened to Fabian's mother and it was great to get to see a bit of the Seelie and Unseelie courts when Red goes to them to make her appeal. The fairies in this series are devious and darker than you find in some other books and I actually prefer them that way. You definitely wouldn't want to cross paths with these fairies! It is interesting to see the ways that Tanya, Red and the others have of avoiding notice from the fairies - for example by wearing their clothes inside out or dressing in red to name a couple of them.

I hate to say it but I found that this story dragged a little which is something that surprised me compared to the first book. Although there is some action in the first half of the book as they are captured by the Hedgewitch I felt it was quite slow moving. The main part of the quest doesn't start until around page 300 and then I felt they were able to track down the charms a little too easily, I thought it would have been a much harder task. In spite of those minor problems this was still an enjoyable read and the ending has left me very curious to see how the trilogy ends in The 13 Secrets. I would recommend this series to younger readers who enjoy fantasy and fairy stories.

Source: I was given this book by Kirsty from The Overflowing Library

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Review: Shadow Heir - Richelle Mead

The Otherworld, a mystic land inextricably linked to our own - and balanced precariously on one woman's desperate courage . . .

Shaman-for-hire Eugenie Markham strives to keep the mortal realm safe from trespassing entities. But as the Thorn Land's prophecy-haunted queen, there's no refuge for her and her soon-to-be-born children when a mysterious blight begins to devastate the Otherworld . . .

The spell-driven source of the blight isn't the only challenge to Eugenie's instincts. Fairy king Dorian is sacrificing everything to help, but Eugenie can't trust the synergy drawing them back together. The uneasy truce between her and her shape-shifter ex-lover Kiyo is endangered by secrets he can't - or won't - reveal. And as a formidable force rises to threaten the human world, Eugenie must use her own cursed fate as a weapon - and risk the ultimate sacrifice . . .

Dark Swan Series:
Storm Born
Thorn Queen
Iron Crowned
Shadow Heir

Visit Richelle Mead's website for more information

Review:
Shadow Heir is the fourth and final book in the Dark Swan series so this review will contain spoilers for the previous three books - if you haven't started the series yet you probably want to stop reading now! I'm a massive fan of Richelle Mead, I love her Georgina Kincaid series and her Vampire Academy books make up one of my favourite YA series. I really liked the first couple of books in the Dark Swan series but felt disappointed with Eugenie in the last book, Iron Crowned, I was irritated by her refusal to accept her duties to the Thorn land and the way she let her people suffer because of that. I was also extremely annoyed with the way she kept running back and forth between Dorian and Kiyo! So I'll admit that I was nervous before I picked up Shadow Heir, particularly after reading the blurb and seeing a mention of a truce between her and Kiyo - he tried to kill her and their unborn children in the last book so I couldn't see how there could possibly be any kind of truce between them!

Shadow Heir picks up the story a few months after Iron Crowned ends, Eugenie is five months pregnant, Kiyo and Maiwenn are still determined that her son needs to die before he can fulfil the prophecy about him and Dorian is protecting her as he promised to do but Eugenie is unsure if she can completely trust him after his previous betrayal. I can't really go into any more detail than that without giving spoilers so I'll just say that I was surprised at a couple of places where Richelle Mead took the story.

Since the last book I haven't been Eugenie's biggest fan, I've found her actions to be selfish and I think she has made some incredibly stupid decisions. I'm sad to say that this continued to be the trend in this book. Although I could understand why she made some of the choices she did because she was trying to protect her children I felt that she didn't think things through properly. She could have saved herself a lot of trouble if she had just trusted Dorian but then again he has done some pretty horrible things in the past so I was never particularly his biggest fan either. He did grow on me a lot in this book though and I think he is now my favourite character in the series. I don't think Eugenie deserves him though, especially after her actions at the end of the book (I can't say more because I don't want to give spoilers but I'm sure anyone who has read the book will know what I mean).

I spent most of the book wanting to punch Kiyo and was really surprised that Eugenie didn't take more of a stand against him and Maiwenn. His actions were despicable in the last book and he made no attempt to apologise in this one. I'm annoyed that he never really got what he deserved and I couldn't understand why he continued to support Maiwenn even after the things he admitted near the end of the book. The plot was quite slow moving during the first half of the book during the final months of Eugenie's pregnancy. I did enjoy reading about her reactions to the babies when they were born but that just made her actions after that point even harder to understand. There were two major twists that should have shocked the heck out of me but unfortunately I'd figured them both out in advance so they didn't have the expected wow factor.

Overall I find myself extremely disappointed with the way this series ended, if this hadn't been the last book or if we knew a spin off series was planned then I think I'd have felt more forgiving but we are left with so many questions and I just didn't find Eugenie's actions even slightly believable. I still love Richelle Mead as an author and will look forward to trying her next adult series but in all honesty I don't think I could recommend this series when it ended on such a low note. I would happily recommend her Georgina Kincaid series though or her Vampire Academy books for YA fans.

Source: Library

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Review: Labyrinth - Rachel Morgan

Guardian trainee Violet Fairdale has officially been suspended for bringing a human into the fae realm. No assignments, no training, and goodbye to that position at the top of the class. While this sucks, it at least allows her time to secretly keep visiting Nate, the human boy who caused her suspension in the first place. It’s not the wisest move to continue breaking Guild Law, but no one’s going to find out. And Nate is worth the risk, isn’t he?

To prevent herself from going into assignment withdrawal, Vi throws herself into investigating Nate’s real mother, Angelica, a woman who seems to be mysteriously connected to the world of the fae. Nate’s never given her much thought, but that was before an insane faerie abducted him in order to blackmail Angelica out of hiding. Now Nate wants answers, and Vi’s got the perfect ability to help him.

Creepy Hollow Series:
Guardian (Short Story)
Labyrinth (Short Story)
Traitor (Short Story)
Masquerade (Short Story)

Visit Rachel Morgan's website or the Creepy Hollow website for more information

Review:
Labyrinth is the second story in the Creepy Hollow series by Rachel Morgan, these short stories will be published as ebooks on a monthly basis with the third story Traitor due to be released in May. As this review is for the second story it may contain spoilers for the first instalment of the series.

Labyrinth picks up the story a few days after the ending of Guardian, Violet has been suspended from her guardian training for bringing a human into the fae realm - even though it wasn't her fault. She's annoyed that she is going to fall behind her classmates and will probably lose her place as the top of the leader board. She has a secret though, one that will get her in even more trouble if it is found out - she didn't erase Nate's memory. In fact, she has continued to spend time with him and has even promised to help him find his mother.

I'm not going to say anything else about the plot because I don't want to give spoilers but I think this instalment was even more action packed than the first. One of the suspicions I had after reading Guardian has been confirmed but there were a few surprises in there too. Labyrinth is a great quick read but does leave things on a killer cliffhanger so I'm glad we don't have to wait too long for the next part of the story. If you enjoyed Guardian then I think you'll like Labyrinth even more but if you're new to the series then I'd definitely recommend reading the stories in order. If you're looking for a fun series that can be read in your lunch breaks then it would be well worth giving this one a try.

Source: Received from the author in exchange for an honest review

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Review: Guardian - Rachel Morgan

1. Receive assignment.
2. Save a life.
3. Sleep.
4. Repeat.

Protecting humans from dangerous magical creatures is all in a day’s work for a faerie training to be a guardian. Seventeen-year-old Violet Fairdale knows this better than anyone—she’s about to become the best guardian the Guild has seen in years. That is, until one of her assignments—a human boy who shouldn’t even be able to see her—follows her into the fae realm. Now she’s broken Guild Law, a crime that could lead to her expulsion.

The last thing Vi wants to do is spend any more time with the boy who got her into this mess, but the Guild requires that she return Nate to his home and make him forget everything he’s discovered of the fae realm. Easy, right? But Nate and Vi are about to land themselves in even bigger trouble—and it’ll take all Vi’s training to get them out alive.

Creepy Hollow Series:
Guardian (Short Story)
Labyrinth (Short Story)
Traitor (Short Story)
Masquerade (Short Story)

Visit Rachel Morgan's website or the Creepy Hollow website for more information

Review:
Guardian is the first story in the Creepy Hollow series by Rachel Morgan, these short stories will be published as ebooks on a monthly basis with the second story Labyrinth already available. What I really like about this kind of serialised story is that you never have too long to wait for the next instalment. They also make great quick reads for when you don't have the time to get stuck into a full length book and you just want something that you can read in one sitting.

According to Amazon UK Guardian has approximately 47 pages so it doesn't take long to read but for such a short story the author does a good job of pulling you into the world she has created. I don't want to go into too much detail about the plot because it would be easy to spoil it for you but basically the main character Violet is a 17-year-old faerie who is in training as a guardian to protect humans from the dangerous creatures who escape from the fae realm. There are only 2 rules that Violet must stick to - never reveal yourself to a human and never bring a human back to the fae realm - so things go horribly wrong for her when her assignment Nate is not only able to see her but also manages to follow her home.

The story is fast paced and I liked both of the main characters. Violet is spunky and has a great snarky sense of humour plus you can never go wrong with purple hair! Nate we don't know so much about yet but he seems quite cute and I liked his reactions to Violet and the fae realm he suddenly finds himself in. I also enjoyed the banter between Violet and Ryn who is her main competition for top of the class in her guardian training.

Guardian is a great introduction to the series and left me eager to get started on Labyrinth (I'll be posting my review of that story later today). I'm looking forward to seeing what happens next for Violet and Nate.

Source: Received from the author in exchange for an honest review

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Review: The Wood Queen - Karen Mahoney

Born into the mysterious world of an ancient alchemical order, Donna has always been aware of the dark feud that exists between the alchemists and the fey. Her own mother - bound by a dark Faerie curse - has been confined to a hospital bed for as long as she can remember . . . But now there is a chance to release her, and Donna will stop at nothing until she is free.

Armed with her own brand of powerful magic, Donna must face the fearsome Wood Queen in order to save her mother. But in the Ironwood - a place that haunts Donna's dreams - there is far greater and more dangerous magic already at work . . .


The Iron Witch Series:
The Iron Witch
The Wood Queen
The Stone Demon

Check out Karen Mahoney's website for more information

Review:
I loved The Iron Witch when I read it last year so it has been a very long wait for The Wood Queen - I literally could not wait to get my hands on this book! Karen Mahoney picks up the story not long after the ending of The Iron Witch so Donna finds herself on trial with the alchemists for the loss of the last of the precious elixir. Not only is Donna in trouble with the alchemists but she also has the Wood Queen on her case again and this time Aliette is using Donna's mother for leverage.

So our heroine has a lot going against her but as I would expect she isn't going to go down without a fight. Donna is going to do whatever it takes to save her mum and she isn't going to let the alchemists walk all over her either. It was good to learn a bit more about the alchemists history and the different orders but I still have a lot of questions about them. The more we find out the harder it is to figure out just who Donna should trust but it's quite clear she has some powerful enemies.

I'm really interested in the new abilities that Donna is starting to develop and can't wait to see how that continues in the next book. The author has taken the series in a very different direction to the one I was expecting and I can't wait to see how that plays out - I have a feeling that things are going to get very exciting in The Stone Demon!

I absolutely loved Xan in the first book but I found myself feeling a bit less sure of him in this instalment. I still think he's hot (and there is a fab kissing scene with him and Donna!) but I found myself wondering just what he was up to and I'm not sure if he is 100% trust worthy. He was just a little too secretive at times and it makes me worry about what he could be hiding. I may be proved completely wrong though so I haven't written him off yet but I did find myself routing more for Nav in this book. I have a feeling he's been keeping his feelings for Donna a secret and I'm wondering if we could see them turn into more than just friends. Either way I think Nav is a great character and I love the fact that he is so supportive of Donna and always there when she needs him.

The Wood Queen is a great instalment in the series that has left me desperate for the final book in the trilogy! If you enjoyed The Iron Witch then The Wood Queen is a must read. If you haven't started this series yet then you really should read the books in order but I would highly recommend the series to any YA urban fantasy fans.

Source: Received from Random House in exchange for an honest review

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Review: Supernaturally - Kiersten White

It's been six months since Evie fled the International Paranormal Containment Agency with her shapeshifter boyfriend, Lend, and she finally has the normal life she's always dreamed of.

But when her faerie ex-boyfriend shows up hinting of a battle brewing between faerie courts over Evie herself, she realises that she hasn't left her not-so-normal past far enough behind . . .

Paranormalcy Series:
Paranormalcy
Supernaturally
Endlessly

Check out Kiersten White's website for more information



Review:
It's been six months since Evie left the IPCA (International Paranormal Containment Agency) to live a normal life.  She had always dreamt of going to school and doing all those other things that 16 year old girls do but she is finding it a lot less interesting than she thought it would be.  In fact, she's kind of missing the life she had with the IPCA so when Raquel asks her to work with them again Evie jumps at the chance.  Can she find a balance between the normal and the paranormal or will she be sucked completely back into the world of the IPCA?

I loved Paranormalcy so have been looking forward to Supernaturally for a year now and couldn't wait to start reading it.  Unfortunately I don't think it quite lived up to my expectations and a lot of the things I loved about the first book seemed to be missing in this installment.  In a lot of ways Evie was like a completely different character to the one I remembered.  Instead of being the witty and confident young girl who was never far from her beloved Tasey and was prepared to use it this Evie comes across as selfish, weak and self centred.  Her whole life seems to revolve around Lend and when she isn't complaining that she isn't good enough for him or that he doesn't spend enough time with her she is organising her whole life around fitting in with his plans.  She won't even consider applying to any colleges apart from the one that Lend already goes to.  It isn't even like Lend is asking her to do this, he seems to bend over backwards to show her how much he cares while all she does is lie to him and go behind his back.

That was another thing that really irritated me - Evie is constantly lying to everyone she knows and most of the time she doesn't even have a reason for it.  OK occasionally I could see her logic (even if I didn't agree with it) but when Lend finds out she is working for the IPCA again why does she have to keep lying to Ari about it?  There was also no excuse for not telling Lend what she knows about him.

I do still like Evie's sarcasm but I wanted to see more of the fun banter that was so prevalent in the first installment.  I also would have loved to see her pull out tasey and whip some butt like we all know she is capable of doing.  I enjoyed getting to see more of the faerie realms and am curious to see more of Reth and the results of Evie's actions when she was in faerie so I will be picking up the next book in the series.  I loved getting to see more of Ari and finding out about her past but I have to admit I wasn't a fan of new character Jack though.  I think because I loved Paranormalcy so much I went into Supernaturally with my expectations too high.  Although I didn't love the story I did like it so I would still recommend it to fans of the series, I just hope that Endlessly is even better.

Source: Received from Harper Collins in exchange for an honest review

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Review: Dragon Bound - Thea Harrison

Half human and half Wyr, Pia Giovanni spent her life keeping a low profile among the Wyrkind and avoiding the continuing conflict between them and their Dark Fae enemies.  But after being black-mailed into stealing a coin from the hoard of a dragon, Pia finds herself targeted by one of the most powerful - and passionate - of the Elder Races.

As the most feared and respected of Wyrkind, Dragos Cuelebre cannot believe someone had the audacity to steal from him, much less succeed.  And when he catches the thief, Dragos spares her life, claiming her as his own to further explore the desire they've ignited in each other.

Pia knows she must repay Dragos for her trespass, but refuses to become his slave - although she cannot deny wanting him, body and soul . . .

Elder Races Series:
Dragon Bound
Storm's Heart
Serpent's Kiss
True Colours (Novella)
Oracle's Moon
Natural Evil (Novella)
Devil's Gate (Novella)
Lord's Fall (November 2012)

Visit Thea Harrison's website for more information

Review:
Pia is half human and half wyr but due to her mother's protectiveness she has always tried to remain hidden from the rest of the wyrkind.  When she is blackmailed into stealing from the most powerful dragon she knows her life will never be the same again.  Dragos is incensed when he discovers something missing from his hoard and fully intends to make the thief pay but when he tracks down Pia he is surprised at the response she brings out in him.  He is intrigued by this woman who may be scared of him but still refuses to back down and he is determined to discover the secrets she is hiding.

I've been wanting to read Dragon Bound ever since I first heard about it, I love dragons but you so rarely find them as the main character in books that I automatically want to buy any books I come across.  After seeing nothing but positive reviews for this book and reading the amazing comments on the cover from some of my favourite authors I was expecting to be blown away by the story.  Although I enjoyed the book I found myself somewhat disappointed, it just didn't quite manage to live up to all the hype that I've seen.  Perhaps I went into things with my expectations too high but it was hard not to with the comments I'd read.  Having said that I still liked the story, I like Thea Harrison's writing style and I'm very curious to see where the series will lead to next.  I have already bought the next book Storm's Heart and am looking forward to giving it a try.

As a heroine Pia was full of contradictions, at times she was strong and brave but there were other times she was so weak that I wanted to shake her.  When she was standing up for herself against Dragos I was happily cheering her on but I found it frustrating that there were occasions when she just went to sleep and let him deal with whatever problems came their way.  I was very intrigued to find out what her secret was though and although I'd made several attempts at guessing what kind of wyr she was I didn't come close to the truth, I love it when an author can surprise me.  Dragos was a character I really liked, he was a strong alpha male and could be too protective and possessive but he did learn to temper his behaviour as the story goes on.  The attraction between the couple was intense and just what I look for in a paranormal romance.

I was impressed with the world that Thea Harrison has created, it was nice to read about something other than vampires and werewolves for a change.  In Dragon Bound we see dragons, fae, goblins, harpies and even thunderbirds - I'm looking forward to getting to learn more about them all as the series progresses.  There are some interesting side characters and I was pleased to see that Tricks will be the heroine in the next installment as she was definitely my favourite.  Although Dragon Bound didn't amaze me it was still a good start to a new series from a debut author and I have high hopes for how things will continue.

Source: Purchased

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Review: Iron Crowned - Richelle Mead

An embattled realm mystically entwined with her own, the Otherworld is at the mercy of one woman . . .

Shaman-for-hire Eugenie Markham is the best at banishing entities trespassing in the mortal realm.  But as the Thorn Land's queen, she's fast running out of ways to end the brutal war devastating her kingdom.  Her only hope: the Iron Crown, a legendary object even the most powerful fear . . .

But who can she trust to help her?  Fairy king Dorian has his own agenda.  And Kiyo, her shape-shifter ex-boyfriend, has every reason to betray her.  To control the Crown's all-consuming powers, Eugenie must confront an unimaginable temptation - one which puts her soul and the fate of two worlds in mortal danger . . .

Dark Swan Series:
Storm Born
Thorn Queen
Iron Crowned
Shadow Heir

Visit Richelle Mead's website for more information

Review:
I really enjoyed the first two installments of the Dark Swan series but I found myself getting really frustrated as I was reading Iron Crowned.  Eugenie makes some seriously bad decisions and there were times I was about ready to strangle her!  I'm getting really annoyed that she refuses to accept her role as queen of the Thorn Land, her people are suffering because she won't step up to her responsibilities and it's about time she grew up and did the right thing.

I've also had enough of the love triangle and starting to wonder just how many times Eugenie will jump back and forth between Dorian and Kiyo.  Dorian behaves badly in Iron Crowned and while I don't blame her for being angry I didn't like the fact that she goes running straight back to Kiyo before even talking to him to get his side of the story.  I've gone from really loving Kiyo in the first book to completely despising him now, his actions in Iron Crowned made me want to punch him!  I don't think Dorian is much better though so at the moment I'm not routing for either one of them.  I'd rather see Eugenie on her own and learning to become a decent queen.

I am curious to see if Eugenie can redeem herself in the next installment though and although I saw the twist at the end coming it should make things interesting as the series progresses.  Unfortunately this wasn't my favourite book in the series but I'm hoping things will improve again from here onwards.

Source: Library

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Review: Shadowmagic - John Lenahan

“Hi, my name is Conor. Other than my father being a bit of an eccentric lunatic, my life was pretty normal until I got attacked in my living room and whisked away to Tir na Nog, the mystical land of the ancient Celts, where it turns out Dad is the usurped heir to the throne and everybody wants me dead because of some prophecy. Don’t you just hate when that happens?”

Shadowmagic is a rip roaring fun fantasy adventure novel by John Lenahan very loosely based on Irish mythology where every chapter ends on the edge of a cliff (or at least a high curb.) Join Conor as he grapples with typical teenage problems like, how to deal with a father's high expectations, how to survive in the world on your own and how to woo a beautiful girl – that wants you dead. Shadowmagic a podcast novel for young adults from 12 to 112.

Shadowmagic Series:

Shadowmagic
Prince of Hazel and Oak

For more information visit the Shadowmagic website

Review:

Conor is a normal teenager, about to graduate from school and enjoying spending time with his girlfriend.  He may have an eccentric father who makes him speak ancient languages and teaches him sword fighting but he never really thought much of it.  Not until the day that warriors break into his house and try to kill him that is.  Soon Conor finds himself held prisoner in a strange new land that he didn't know existed, his father isn't the person Conor thought he was and thanks to a prophecy nearly everyone he meets tries to kill him.  Perhaps he isn't quite a normal teenager after all.

I listened to this book as a free podcast found on iTunes, the story is read by the author and was fun to listen to, I enjoyed the author's accents and the way he tells Conor's tale.  The plot is fast paced and I was interested to see what would happen next but for some reason I wasn't hooked into the story as much as I expected to be.  I was really intrigued by the world of Tir na Nog and the different characters who live there but I would have liked more background information and more character development.  It took me 21 days to finish listening to the story as I was happy to settle for 1-2 chapters a day when normally if I'm sucked into a world I'd finish the book within a couple of days, or a week at the most for an audio book.

Although the description calls the novel a story for young adults from 12 to 112 I think it is more suitable for those at the younger end of the scale or perhaps adults who are fairly new to the fantasy genre.  I can imagine it would make great bed time reading material for families to read (or even to listen to the podcast) together.  I am curious enough that I will pick up the sequel but it isn't one I would be in a rush to get started on.  Definitely worth a try if you're looking for a light hearted adventure story though, especially as you can try it for free to see if it is to your taste or not.

Source: Downloaded as a free audio book on iTunes

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Review: Winter's Passage - Julie Kagawa

Meghan Chase used to be an ordinary girl...until she discovered that she is really a faery princess. After escaping from the clutches of the deadly Iron fey, Meghan must follow through on her promise to return to the equally dangerous Winter Court with her forbidden love, Prince Ash. But first, Meghan has one request: that they visit Puck--Meghan's best friend and servant of her father, King Oberon--who was gravely injured defending Meghan from the Iron Fey.

Yet Meghan and Ash's detour does not go unnoticed. They have caught the attention of an ancient, powerful hunter--a foe that even Ash may not be able to defeat....



The Iron Fey Series:
The Iron King
Winter's Passage (Novella)
The Iron Daughter
The Iron Queen
The Iron Knight

Visit Julie Kagawa's website for more information

Review:
Winter's Passage picks up Meghan's story right after the ending of The Iron King and gives us an insight into the journey she takes with Ash to fulfil her promise to return to the Winter Court with him.  While I wouldn't recommend reading Winter's Passage before you read The Iron King as it includes a couple of spoilers I would definitely recommend reading it before you move on to The Iron Daughter.

I thoroughly enjoyed Julie Kagawa's debut novel and am looking forward to continuing to read this series, she has created a world rich in mythology and full of interesting characters that has me hooked.  I love Meghan and Ash but Grimalkin remains my favourite character so I was glad to see him make an appearance in this story.  I can't tell you much about Winter's Passage without giving spoilers so I'll just say that it includes a little romance and plenty of action and is well worth reading, especially since it is a free addition to the series.  I love it when an author gives a little something extra to their fans! 

Source: I originally downloaded this copy via Netgalley but you can also find it as a free read on the Amazon Kindle

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