The Amaranth Enchantment

When Lucinda Chapdelaine was a small child, her parents left for the royal ball and never returned. Ever since, Lucinda has been stuck in perpetual servitude at her evil aunt’s jewelry store. Then, on the very same day, a mysterious visitor and an even more bizarre piece of jewelry both enter the shop, setting in motion a string of twists and turns that will forever alter Lucinda’s path. In this magical story filled with delightful surprises, Lucinda will dance at the royal ball, fall under the Amaranth Witch’s spell, avenge her parents’ death, and maybe—just maybe—capture the heart of a prince.

from amazon.com

Beth says 4 Stars...
I really have a soft spot for fairy tales. It might actually be a problem, but I refuse to acknowledge it. This book really was no different from the countless others that have wormed their way into that spot. The biggest problem that I had with this book was that it was rather predictable. There was the requisite handsome prince and the oppressed, but strikingly beautiful young woman. I liked Beryl a lot, but I felt that she was underdeveloped. I would have loved to have learned more about her in the book. The best part of the book was Dog the goat hands down. He was the perfect comic relief and never seemed out of place. Besides, he's a goat. How much cuter can you get? Seriously, I don't need any further explanation. Minus Dog, most of the characters were rather flat. They really weren't developed and undershot their potential. Despite everything, the tried and true plot flowed well. This isn't for anyone who's really looking for something different and fresh. However, if you're in the mood for a bit of fluff that you know will have a happy ending, then grab this one. It was fun, but nothing really extraordinary.

Waiting on Wednesday

Hunger for nourishment.
Hunger for touch.
Hunger to belong.

Half-human and half-faery, Ani is driven by her hungers.

Those same appetites also attract powerful enemies and uncertain allies, including Devlin. He was created as an assassin and is brother to the faeries’ coolly logical High Queen and to her chaotic twin, the embodiment of War. Devlin wants to keep Ani safe from his sisters, knowing that if he fails, he will be the instrument of Ani’s death.

Ani isn’t one to be guarded while others fight battles for her, though. She has the courage to protect herself and the ability to alter Devlin’s plans—and his life. The two are drawn together, each with reason to fear the other and to fear for one another. But as they grow closer, a larger threat imperils the whole of Faerie. Will saving the faery realm mean losing each other?

Alluring romance, heart-stopping danger, and sinister intrigue combine in Melissa Marr’s next volume of Melissa Marr’s New York Times bestselling Wicked Lovely series.

from wickedlovely.com

This week we don't have a pretty picture for you all, but that doesn't make our pick any less spectacular. This week we're waiting on Radiant Shadows by Melissa Marr. If there's anyone out there who hasn't read the Wicked Lovely series go out and buy it. Right now. We're not playing around. We can't wait to keep reading more about the dark and seductive world of Faerie, and are sure that this will be another delight from Marr's pen.

Prophecy of the Sisters

An ancient prophecy divides two sisters-
One good...
One evil...
Who will prevail?
Twin sisters Lia and Alice Milthorpe have just become orphans. They have also become enemies. As they discover their roles in a prophecy that has turned generations of sisters against each other, the girls find themselves entangled in a mystery that involves a tattoo-like mark, their parents' deaths, a boy, a book, and a lifetime of secrets.
Lia and Alice don't know whom they can trust.
They just know they can't trust each other.

from amazon.com

Beth says 5 Stars...
This book kept me reading until 1 AM, which is something special for an early bird like me. I simple loved it. Besides my love, however, there was nothing simple about this novel. The plot was deftly layered and woven that seemingly insignificant details ended up as important clues. Let me digress for a moment and talk about how amazing the cover is. I think that it captures the eerie feel of the book perfectly and it's just stunning. Now back to the book. I loved all of the detail in the prophecy; everything was meticulously worked and fit together perfectly. The relationship between Alice and Lia is fraught with delicious intensity and depth. Every character had dimension; there was no such thing as pure good or evil. Also meriting a mention is the very proper, yet smoldering romance. This book gave the readers intelligence, and is fantastic. I loved the questions that it posed about fate, and our true natures. This is a must read for everyone, even if you think that you don't like demons and fallen angels. I can't wait for the next book!

Ash

In the wake of her father's death, Ash is left at the mercy of her cruel stepmother. Consumed with grief, her only joy comes by the light of the dying hearth fire, rereading the fairy tales her mother once told her. In her dreams, someday the fairies will steal her away, as they are said to do. When she meets the dark and dangerous fairy Sidhean, she believes that her wish may be granted.

The day that Ash meets Kaisa, the King's Huntress, her heart begins to change. Instead of chasing fairies, Ash learns to hunt with Kaisa. Though their friendship is as delicate as a new bloom, it reawakens Ash's capacity for love-and her desire to live. But Sidhean has already claimed Ash for his own, and she must make a choice between fairy tale dreams and true love.

Entrancing, empowering, and romantic, Ash is about the connection between life and love, and solitude and death, where transformation can come from even the deepest grief.

from amazon.com

Beth says 5 Stars...
This book was powerful. Lo created a richly detailed world out of what could have stayed a children's tale. I really enjoyed how the legends and myths added depth to the story. I could feel the tradition that steeped the country and the conflicts that change created. The characters were all so intense. They had very different personalities and qualities about them. Even though there were some characters that were slightly two dimensional, but their two dimensionality was intentional. Everyone else was so multifacted and interesting. I loved Ash's character; she really grew and developed over the course of the book. Both Sidhean and Kaisa were fascinating in their own ways, and really served to compliment each other. The plot was beautifully rendered, and kept me enraptured. This is a darkly entrancing novel about love, loss, and growing into who you are. It trancends the original story of Cinderella, and shouldn't be passed over because the lesbain content might offend some people. This can open your mind and show that hope and joy can be just around the corner from a dark place. A must read.

The Forest of Hands and Teeth

In Mary's world, there are simple truths.

The Sisterhood always knows best.

The Guardians will protect and serve.

The Unconsecrated will never relent.

And you must always mind the fence that surrounds the village. The fence that protects the village from the Forest of Hands and Teeth.

But slowly, Mary's truths are failing her. She's learning things she never wanted to know about the Sisterhood and its secrets, and the Guardians and their power. And, when the fence is breached and her world is thrown into chaos, about the Unconsecrated and their relentlessness.

Now she must choose between her village and her future, between the one she loves and the one who loves her. And she must face the truth about the Forest of Hands and Teeth. Could there be life outside a world surrounded by so much death?

from carrieryan.com

Beth says 5 Stars...
I read somewhere that this book is being made into a movie. As much as I loved this book, I'm note sure that I could go see it. It might scare me too much. This book is ominous and creepy to the extreme. I definitely wouldn't recommend it for those who are easily creeped out. If that isn't the case, then you are in for a treat. The book is definitely a thriller. It keeps you on the edge of your seat by withholding information, almost to the point of confusion. The plot went extraordinarily fast most of the time, but every once in a while it got a bit slow. At these points it seemed as if the book would never restart, but then something would be revealed and then the story was back on track. The writing and the characters' speach felt a bit antiquated, but it worked beautifully for the books. I loved how the characters had to constantly balance their humanity and their need to survive. Additionally, a creepy secretive church organization is always a bonus. This is for anyone who contemplates the zombie apocolypse. I can't wait for the next book, and will keep a beheadinginstrument nearby.

We Have Our Winners!!!!

The winners of our Geektastic Giveaway are:

The winner of the copy based on the story goes to:
Lexie
for her absolutely hilarious (and super-geeky) story involving a convention, and not one, but TWO Joss Whedon show references. Jayne and Spike in one day is rather spectacular.

And from randomizer we got:(drumroll please)

Ninja Fampire

celi.a

E-mail us with your address and we'll get the books on the way! A big thanks to everyone who participated. Live long and prosper.

Sleepaway Girls + 100th post!

When Sam's best friend gets her first boyfriend, she's not ready to spend the summer listening to the two of them call each other "pookie." Sick of being a third wheel, Sam applies to be a counselor-in-training at Whispering Pines camp in the New York Catskills. But what she doesn't realize is that it's not going to be all Kumbaya sing-alongs and gooey s'mores. If Ashley, the alpha queen of Whispering Pines, doesn't ruin Sam's summer, then her raging crush on the surfer-blond and flirtatious Hunter just might. At least she has playful Cole, who's always teasing her, but is oh-so-comfortable to hang out with, and the singular gang of girls that become fast friends with Sam-they call themselves the Sleepaway Girls.

from amazon.com

Beth says 4 Stars...
I'm not a huge fan of summer camp. Hiking is seriously not my thing. This book, however, was pure summer fun. It was light and fluffy. There were some serious stereotypes among the characters, though. There's the the ever so hot jerk, the guy friend who also just happens to be hot as well, and the mean queen bee. It was more than a bit of a guilty pleasure read for me. The plot flowed well and was interesting. It captured my attention against my will (I've mentioned my prejudice against anything that could be considered chick-lit). I found Sam to be an easy character to like despite her inability to act on occasion. The others were fun as well, particularly where romance novels were concerned. I enjoyed the sub-plot involving Sam's mom; it made the story a bit different and was somewhat unexpected. This is a great summer read. It's funny, light, and fluffy, plus it's about summer camp. How much more summery can you get?

It's crazy to think that this is our 100th post! We've been doing this for longer than I thought. We love it, and love all of you fantastic readers!