The Iron Fey: Call of the Forgotten #2 The Iron Traitor

HAPPY RELEASE DAY! From the effervescent author of the Iron fey, and the Blood of Eden series (and he upcoming Talon series). Presenting The Iron fey: Call of the Forgotten #2 The Iron Traitor by Julie Kagawa.

Here is the summary of the book:

In the real world, when you vanish into thin air for a week, people tend to notice.

After his unexpected journey into the lands of the fey, Ethan Chase just wants to get back to normal. Well, as normal as you can be when you see faeries every day of your life. Suddenly the former loner with the bad reputation has someone to try for; his girlfriend, Kenzie. Never mind that he's forbidden to see her again.

But when your name is Ethan Chase and your sister is one of the most powerful faeries in the Nevernever, normal simply isn't to be. For Ethan's nephew, Keirran, is missing, and may be on the verge of doing something unthinkable in the name of saving his own love. Something that will fracture the human and faery worlds forever, and give rise to the dangerous fey known as the Forgotten. As Ethan's and Keirran's fates entwine and Keirran slips further into darkness, Ethan's next choice may decide the fate of them all.

There are only a few authors out there who can illicit such wide range of polar opposite feelings inside us through their text. For me it is J.K. Rowling, Julie Kagawa, Cassandra Clare and a few others who can and have the power of evoking joy to just plain and simple break my heart..... And Kagawa's latest and upcoming 'The Iron Traitor' has broken my heart into smithereens.

Caps Lock is on now.... cover your ears!!!!!! 

HOW COULD YOU KIERRAN???? JUST HOW COULD YOU DO THAT???? HOW COULD YOU BE SO STUPID AND RECKLESS...... YOUR ACTIONS COULD VERY WELL BRING FORTH WAR ON ALL THE THREE COURTS.... AND GOD WHY THAT CLIFFHANGER.......

Pressing Caps Lock off. *Alright Deep Breaths* *Deep Breaths* *sigh* ..... Sorry there is a volcano waiting to burst in me. Of everything I felt reading.... AND I JUST WANT TO BANG KIERRAN's HEAD THROUGH A HEAVY WALL...... but since that might not be possible ... I JUST WANT TO DESTROY SOMETHING and ease that raging volcano inside of me.

People. Not just people but all kinds of mythical creatures it seems can do a lot of stupid things, justified in the name of love. they say love makes you blind to all else in the world. I hope not all blind and going about a certain Iron Prince is though. It is sweet of him to do the extreme and save Annwyl from the Fade. I actually liked him enough for that sweet act.. The strong and silent Iron Prince ready to give up his life to save the summer faery he formed a relationship with..... But there he goes and does the unspeakable..... Dude you are going to get it...... you messed it up man.....

People compare Kierran and Ash. Maybe the dynamic of their mission is similar and yes Ash did go to the end of the world for Meghan but I hardly think he would have been stupid like that son of his. There is one thing I learned of Ash throughout the Iron Fey series, he is passionate, strong & silent, resilient, and determined but he is also cautious and knows when to stop ..... which I don't see in Kierran.... So sorry dude, you maybe your parents child in the true sense, an amalgamation of both of their qualities but your actions young prince..... they don't.

And then there are Ethan and Kenzie. The Ethan form 'The Lost Prince' was all jaded and thought of the fey as just bad..... Well they can be bad if you don't know the proper conduct with them...... Now knows that they are both good and gray as well as bad. Willing to accept these new developments and letting go of that anger. He had progressed a lot since then. Even accepting his weird family, mostly Kierran, a nephew who is the same age as he is and really bond with him. He really wants to help.

Then there is Kenzie. Loved her alright. She is actually the one who forces Ethan to change his angry outlook towards life and the fey in general. She becomes Ethan's reason to open up and share his feelings and see more in life than he thought there was. It is still sad that Kenzie has a terminal illness that is killing her slowly because Ethan is fighting hard to stay with her and love and cherish her like he wants to.

About the plot. What I didn't feel with the lost prince, Iron Traitor makes up for it in a big way. It is always difficult to get used to new characters after spending a whole series with a different bunch. The Lost Prince put Ethan, Kierran, Annwyl and Kenzie at the foreground and put Ash, Meghan, Puck and even Grimalkin in the background. But it is Iron traitor, that gives them the chance to evolve for the good or bad. With the proverbial roller coasters thrice larger and an impeccable plot from the one and only Julie Kagawa. GOD there are enough mind boggling twists & turns here that make a coaster inadequate.....

AND AGAIN I SAY ...... WHAT THE HELL ....... WHAT THE HELL..... A CLIFFHANGER???? I had to read the last few pages at least thrice to ascertain that I didn't miss anything there.....WHY Ms. KAGAWA??? WHY MUST YOU BREAK OUR HEARTS SO??? ........ OHHHHH WHEN IS THE THIRD BOOK COMING........ WHEN...........

"Kagawa has done it again. There she goes writing up a fantastic action-packed and exquisite sequel..... just to break our fragile hearts with the mother of all cliffhangers"

Genre :     Young Adult, Paranormal, Romance, Urban Fantasy


Publisher: Harlequin Teen


Rate:             5 /5 (It was Amazing)

Books in Series(review links):

         #1 The Lost Prince

Other Books by the Author(review links):

         The Iron Fey(series)
          Blood of Eden (series)

Buy:    Amazon | Book Depository

The Aquarathi #1 Waterfell

HAPPY RELEASE DAY. Presenting The Aquarathi #1 Waterfell by Amalie Howard.

Here is the summary of the book:

THE GIRL WHO WOULD BE QUEEN

Nerissa Marin hides among teens in her human form, waiting for the day she can claim her birthright—the undersea kingdom stolen from her the day her father was murdered. Blending in is her best weapon—until her father's betrayer confronts Nerissa and challenges her to a battle to the death on Nerissa's upcoming birthday—the day she comes of age.

Amid danger and the heartbreak of her missing mother, falling for a human boy is the last thing Nerissa should do. But Lo Seavon breaches her defenses and somehow becomes the only person she can count on to help her desperate search for her mother, a prisoner of Nerissa's mortal enemy. Is Lo the linchpin that might win Nerissa back her crown? Or will this mortal boy become the weakness that destroys her?

I'm at the point where I almost neglect to read the book synopsis before I begin. I don't make it a habit of it but when the book in question is published by Harlequin teen.... well I have enough confidence that I will love the book and this conviction has definitely not let me down..... This goes for Amalie Howard's upcoming 'Waterfell' too.....

I went in expecting an underwater mermaid-human love fest with the villain thrown in..... but Howard's WATERFELL pleasently surprised me. Yes there are underwater creatures, but they are definitely bigger and better than the mer-folk..... underwater extraterrestrials more like.... Now i've decided not to include my own synopsis... This is an ARC review and as such readers you need buy it and be amazed by it like I was.

Waterfell tells the story of the Aquarathi Crown Princess Nerissa Marin. Teenager and underwater royalty. She at first comes off as a selfish, mean little girl. Who would rather take the cowardly way than fight for her right. She doesn't want to rule and instead wants to live an anonymous life on land as a human..... But situations do not favor Rissa and she soon realizes what needs to be done and rises to the occasion to fight the evil that not only threatens to destroy 'Waterfell' but the whole wide world and take back her crown.

I didn't like Rissa at first...... but got to say, she grew on me.... her feelings and emotions and the ability to learn from past mistakes are her bonus points and make her seem more real and approachable. Besides Rissa showing her Aqarathi powers (which were so cool), it was her friendship with Jenna & her boyfriend Sawyer that made the second highlight of the story (especially Jenna). Jenna proves to be quite the good listener, and the rock Rissa needs in her dual life. I quite liked the dynamics of it.

Then there is Lo. Sweet and HOT. Which is a killer combination. The new guy, Lo Sevon, catches Nerissa's eye rather fast. Exuding that HOT surfer dude personality, he seems to only have eyes for Nerissa, even when other girls practically throw themselves at him..... and goes out of his way to spend time with her..... I rather liked the fact that it was not insta-love but the gradual ones where they took their sweet time to get to that conclusion. Their chemistry was totally sizzling. Lo does hide a big secret about himself despite what the synopsis says (I did suspect in the beginning) and maybe be what Rissa needs to win.

This is an amazing first book. And I quite liked the way Amalie Howard presented the Aqarathi and their underwater land called Waterfell. I think we can establish a new literary couple with Lo and Nerissa ..... and totally excited to see what 'Oceanborn' will bring to us.

"An exciting, fresh and dynamic series premiere"

Genre :      Young Adult, Paranormal, Romance, Urban Fantasy

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Release Date: 29th October, 2013

My Copy: publisher and netgalley

Rate:              5/5 (It was Amazing)

Buy:           Amazon | Book Depository

Who's 50: The 50 Doctor Who Stories to Watch Before You Die-An Unofficial Companion

Presenting Who's 50: The 50 Doctor Who Stories to Watch Before You Die-An Unofficial Companion by Graeme Burk & Robert Smith.

Here is the summary of the book:

Travel through space and time with this guide to 50 years of Doctor Who

Doctor Who has been a television phenomenon since it began 50 years ago on November 23, 1963. But of all the hundreds of televised stories, which are the ones you must watch? Featuring 50 stories from all eleven Doctors, Who’s 50 is full of behind-the-scenes details, exhilarating moments, connections to Who lore, goofs, interesting trivia and much, much more. Who’s 50 tells the story of this global sensation: its successes, its tribulations and its triumphant return.

One of the longest running sci-fi show on the telly, Doctor Who..... rue the day if you don't know who that is. Nearing its 50th Anniversary..... come on 50 years is a big and the Doctor's wonderfully incredible television experience deserves at the accolades.

So to celebrate this occasion (precisely 23rd November), a lot of brand names are coming up with toys, clothes, replicas, props, books etc. at special prizes and whatnot. Thus Graeme Burk and Robert Smith's "Who's 50" is just one of the many books we can see celebrating the coming anniversary. Consisting of a detailed guide about 50 of the great 'WHO' stories, they claim you should see before you die.

They have taken 50 of the most popular stories of this brilliant show and written up a guide that would point a newbie to the right direction and an oldie to remember the good times they had with this show.

I'm fairly new..... or not really anymore.... I have watched all the 2005 onward till present episodes aka of the 9th-11th Doctor's till date and gotten acquainted with the 1st & 2nd Doctor adventures ..... now going through 3rd ones.... so i'm not really new anymore. But yes i did follow one advice to fruition from the book about the classic series - watch one episode of the particular story per day. There were stories, rather big ones with sometimes 7 or even 9 episodes each and sometimes I tried to finish watching one story per day which tends to make things boring, and the advice actually works much better for me now..... So guys do check this unofficial companion and maybe you will find an unlikely nugget of advice or things you may have never known before.

"A detailed and interesting unofficial companion to DOCTOR WHO"

Genre :      Tv Tie-in

Publisher: ECW Press

Release Date: 1st October, 2013

My Copy: publisher & netgalley

Rate:              4/5 (Really Liked It)

Buy:           Amazon | Book Depository 

The Debt Collector (#1 - 3)

This was one fast read. Presenting The Debt Collector (#1-3) by Susan Kays Quinn.

Here is the summary of the book:

EPISODES 1-3 (Delirium, Agony, Ecstasy) of the Debt Collector serial.Contains mature content and themes. 

What's your life worth on the open market? 
A debt collector can tell you precisely.

Season One now complete!

Lirium plays the part of the grim reaper well, with his dark trenchcoat, jackboots, and the black marks on his soul that every debt collector carries. He's just in it for his cut, the ten percent of the life energy he collects before he transfers it on to the high potentials, the people who will make the world a better place with their brains, their work, and their lives. That hit of life energy, a bottle of vodka, and a visit from one of Madam Anastazja's sex workers keep him alive, stable, and mostly sane... until he collects again. But when his recovery ritual is disrupted by a sex worker who isn't what she seems, he has to choose between doing an illegal hit for a girl whose story has more holes than his soul or facing the bottle alone--a dark pit he's not sure he'll be able to climb out of again.

The first three episodes of the Debt Collector serial are collectively the length of a short novel, or 152 pages. These are the first three of nine episodes in the first season of The Debt Collector serial. This dark and gritty future-noir is about a world where your life-worth is tabulated on the open market and going into debt risks a lot more than your credit rating. For young-adult-appropriate thrills, see Susan's bestsellingMindjack Series. For more about the Debt Collector serial, seeDebtCollectorSeries.com


EPISODE LIST - add them to your TBR!
Delirium - Debt Collector 1
Agony - Debt Collector 2
Ecstasy - Debt Collector 3 
Broken - Debt Collector 4 
Driven - Debt Collector 5 
Fallen - Debt Collector 6 
Promise - Debt Collector 7 
Ruthless - Debt Collector 8 
Passion - Debt Collector 9 

or add the collections

Debt Collector (Vol 1-3) - Delirium, Agony, Ecstasy
Debt Collector (Vol 4-6) - Broken, Driven, Fallen
Debt Collector (Vol 7-9) - Promise, Ruthless, Passion
Debt Collector Season One - in EBOOK AND PRINT

Short Stories. This is a volume of the first 3 episodes in the Debt Collector series - Delirium, Agony & Estacy. 5 chapters each. A fast and exciting read that had been sitting on my netgalley shelf for quiet some time...... And i'm now finally getting to it.

And all 3 episodes tell the tale of a world, a future that is as dystopic as it can be utopic. This us a future where your life gets measured in the open market and when it is time the debt collector comes to collect your remaining life essence, to be given to a person who is doing something for the betterment of the society or somebody who will gain a lot with extra time to live. Kinda like that movie 'In Time' and you can refer to the debt collector as the futuristic Grim Reapers if you want to.

Delirium, agony & Estacy follow the story of a young debt collector Lirium as he meets Elena & Ophelia and gets his world shaken to its roots. LIfe for a collector can take the wrong turn in just one second and even doing the *deed* won't be able to keep it in. The author deftly creates an interesting world, a possible future for mankind and proceeds to tell it in just 5 chapters each. With each episode, unlocking the secrets of Lirium's world. GENIUS.

"A dark and gritty future-noir where your life is taken at market value"

Genre :      Sci-fi, Paranormal, Urban Fantasy

Publisher: All Night Reads

Release Date: 3th April, 2013

My Copy: publisher and netgalley

Rate:            4/5 (Really Liked It)

Buy:           Amazon

Grimm Vol. 1

Presenting Grimm Vol. 1 by David Greenwalt, Jim Kouf, Marc Gaffen, Kyle McVey, Jose Malaga.

Here is the summary of the book:

Set in the world of the acclaimed NBC series, Grimm, by the show creators themselves! Homicide Detective Nick Burkhardt, joined by his mother Kelly, Hank, and Monroe, uncover family secrets long buried during their adventure in Europe. Hunted by Verrat soldiers, their quest to destroy the Coins of Zakynthos reveals dark secrets and promises death for a member of the cast!
Perfectly adapted from the popular NBC show 'Grimm'. If you know of the show or watch it, then you know what this is about.

The first graphic volume titled 'The Coins of Zakynthos', follows after Nick's mum Kelly leaves Portland to go destroy the coins. The entirety of the volume is divided into chapters as Nick, Munroe and Hank go after Kelly, after they receive an SOS signal from her. Leading them on a merry chase throughout Europe, on the backs of the resistance, of the verrat, of new friends and betrayals... and near deaths. Yup Nick Burkhardt has only just scratched the surface if his life as a Grimm.

The chapters are well presented in the volume. Before each one begins you will find the sketch of wesen characters ..... The illustrations befitting of a comic strip, portrays all the shows characters perfectly. And you will be sure to enjoy this action-packed and adrenaline-inducing graphic presentation.

"Fans of NBC GRIMM ... this is for you"

Genre :      Graphic Novel, Paranormal, Urban fantasy, Adventure, Tie-in

Publisher: Diamond Book Distributers

Release Date: 19th November, 2013

My Copy: publisher and netgalley

Rate:              5/5 (It was Amazing)

Buy:           Amazon IN 

Owl Post #12 [September & October, 2013]

Guys, today I'm doing something new on my blog....been coming on for a long time. This meme, called Owl Post is created by Brodie of Eleusinian Mysteries inspired by In My Mailbox by The Story Siren. Been meaning to do this since forever and I just love this idea. I'm being a Ravenclaw since at the age of eleven and couldn't seem to remember to do this....kudos to Brodie for thinking about this!

Before you all proceed further, let me make something clear:-

1. Just like my IMM posts, this will not be done every Sunday but on the last Sunday of each month... the reason why you'll see a lot more books in here than normal.

2. This first Owl Post will have all the books that I received in September & October, 2013.

3. Also it will feature a list of recap link at the bottom of the page, which enlists all the review, interviews and tour posts I have done that particular month. Now I expect you all to visit each link and give out a comment here and there(would very much appreciate it) and you all can link your reviews too, i'd love to comment.

4. You are all welcome to share what you all got in the comment section below....i'd love to visit....

For Review

Netgalley

Hourglass #3 Infinityglass - Myra McEntire

The Baskerville Affair #1 A Study in Silk - Emma Jane Holloway

The Baskerville Affair #2 A Study in Darkness - Emma Jane Holloway

The Baskerville Affair #3 A Study in Ashes - Emma Jane Holloway

At Somerton #2 Diamonds & Deceit - Leila Rasheed

Aberrant #1 Aberrant - Ruth Silver

Janitors #3 Curse of the Broomstaff - Tyler Whitesides

The Naturals - Jennifer Lynn Barnes

The Aquarathi #1 Waterfell - Amalie Howard

The Iron Fey: Call of the Forgotten #2 The Iron Traitor - Julie Kagawa

The Peculiar #2 The Whatnot - Stefan Bachmann

Alienated #1 Alienated - Melissa Landers

The Blackcoat Rebellion #1 Pawn - Aimee Carter

Dark Star #2 Burn Bright - Bethany Frenette

Conquered Earth #2 The Severed Tower - J. Barton Mitchell

After Eden #1 After Eden - Helen Douglas

The Hunted #2 Crystal Fire - Jordan Dane

Edelweiss

Under the Never Sky #3 Into The Still Blue - Veronica Rossi

Revolution 19 #2 Fugitive X - Gregg Rosenblum

The Madman's Daughter #2 Her Dark Curiosity - Megan Shepherd

The Copernicus Legacy #1 The Forbidden Stone - Tony Abbott

Cruel Beauty - Rosamund Hodge

Uninvited #1 Uninvited - Sophie Jordan

Avalon #1 Avalon - Mindee Arnett

For Hachette India

Hachette Indiapedia

The Aryavarta Chronicles #1 Govinda - Krishna Udayasankar

The Ayravarta Chronicles #2 Kaurava - Krishna Udayasankar

The Keepers Trilogy #3 Path of Beasts - Lian Tanner

The Book of Guardians #2 The Bones of Stars - Giti Chandra

The Longest Ride - Nicholas Sparks

Gods, Kings & Slaves: The Seige of Madurai - R. Venketesh

Sycamore Row - John Grisham

For Harper Collins India

Divergent #3 Allegiant - Veronica Roth

BIRTHDAY GIFTS

The School for Good and Evil #1 The School for Good and Evil - Soman Chainani

Doctor Who: Who-ology - Cavan Scott, Mark Wright

Cormoran Strike #1 The Cuckoo Calling - Robert Galbraith (Pseudonym), J.K. Rowling

Bought

Soul Screamers #2 My Soul to Save - Rachel Vincent

Soul Screamers #3 My Soul to Keep - Rachel Vincent

Janitors #1 Janitors - Tyler Whitesides

Janitors #2 Secrets of New Forest Academy - Tyler Whitesides

The Hundred #1 The 100 - Kass Morgan

The Lotus War #2 Kinslayer - Jay Kristoff

White Rabbit Chronicles #2 Through the Zombie Glass - Gena Showalter
The Heroes of Olympus #4 The House of Hades - Rick Riordan
The Madman's Daughter #1 The Madman's Daughter - Megan Shepherd
Revolution 19#1 Revolution 19 - Gregg Rosenblum
Dark Star #1 Dark Star - Bethany Frenette
Robert Langdon #4 Inferno - Dan Brown

RECAP LINKS

Books to Movies GIVEAWAY HOP [INT]

September is for Sequels GIVEAWAY HOP [INT]
Techie @ Heart - Karthik S.
Pax Arcana #1 Charming - Elliot James
Tumble & Fall - Alexandra Coutts
Arrow Vol. 1
The Tudor Witch Trilogy #1 Witchstruck - Victoria Lamb
Countdown - Michelle Rowen
Off to Oz GIVEAWAY HOP [INT]
The Fawn COVER REVEAL (+GIVEAWAY)
Stoker & Holmes #1 The Clockwork Scarab - Colleen Gleason
Ender's Saga #1 Ender's Game - Orson Scott Card
The Brokenhearted - Amelia Kahaney
Lockwood & Co. #1 The Screaming Staircase - Jonathan Stroud
Shadowlands #1 Shadowlands - Kate Brian
Shadowlands #2 Hereafter - Kate Brian
Gideon Smith and the Mechanical Girl - David Barnett
Delia's Shadow - Jaime Lee Moyer
Breathe #1 Breathe - Sarah Crossan
Breathe #2 Resist - Sarah Crossan
My Extraordinary Birthday GIVEAWAY (belated) [INT + INDIA only]
Artemis Fowl #1 Artemis Fowl - Eoin Colfer
At Somerton #1 Cinders & Sapphires - Leila Rasheed
The Peculiar #1 The Peculiar - Stefan Bachmann
The Peculiar #2 The Whatnot - Stefan Bachmann
Anna #1 Anna Dressed in Blood - Kendare Blake

Anna #1 Anna Dressed in Blood

Presenting Anna #1 Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake.

Here is the summary of the book:

Cas Lowood, armed with his late father's athame knife, kills ghosts. In Thunder Bay, Anna, forever 16, drips blood on her white dress from throat slit in 1958, and rips apart anyone who enters her house - except Cas. He makes new friends - high school queen Carmel, jock Will, admiring nerd Thomas and Tom's voodoo grandpa Morfran - to fight this demon.

Ghost Stories. Now you all know I don't read this sub-genre very much except every now and then when I get a craving for it (man i'm making it sound like food aren't I *wink*)..... but yes whenever I do I find books with the ultimate factor, they should be scary enough.... And Kendare Blake's Anna Dressed in Blood fills the criteria rather well (and that's saying something since I was reading it after midnight *shivers).

Theseus Cassio Lowood. A rather mouthful of a name, so i'll use Cas (just like the characters). Born and brought up in a very unconventional family. Mom's a white witch and Dad was the killer of the undead, until he was killed by the ghost or thing he was hunting..... resulting in Cas inheriting the ghost hunting business ever since he was 14 years of age, killing already dead people or rather the echo they leave behind in cases of violent or gruesome deaths.

Why do these ghosts stay behind? Why can't they find rest in the after life? What prompts them to kill? What happens when Cas kills a ghost with his athame? Just where do they go? Questions Cas never asked. Questions Cas had never had to ask, not until he went to Thunder Bay and met Anna Korlov - Anna Dressed in Blood.

A deadly, dangerous and very much murderous. Tied to the house she died in. Slit at the throat and covered in blood. And nobody has lived to tell the tale. Just imagine a pale echo with inky black hair floating and white party dress stained and dripping with blood. She does not take kindly to guests at all....... ripping out their innards *shivers*.

And Cas was rather fantastically written too wasn't he. Strong and aloof. He understands ghost hunting is a deadly endeavor and could get you killed but meeting Anna changes not only him but us as well. Just when we thought we knew Anna. Things unravel. And you just can't help but feel the utmost pity for her..... She did not...... scratch that nobody deserves to die like Anna.

Kendare Blake sure cannot a tale of the ages. This has everything a horror reads needs to flourish. Dark atmosphere. The deadly vengeful ghosts. The blood and gore and the vivid and brutal description of all things ghostly..... looking forward to begin Girl of Nightmares now.

"Look no further than Anna's for the horror you are looking for"

Genre :      Young Adult, Paranormal, Horror, Urban Fantasy

Publisher: Tor Teen

Release Date: 30th August, 2011

My Copy: bought (ebook)

Rate:              5/5 (It was Amazing)

Buy:           Amazon | Book Depository 

The Peculiar #2 The Whatnot

Just as vibrant as the first and just as original as expected. Presenting The Peculiar #2 The Whatnot by Stefan Bachmann.

Here is the summary of the book:

The sequel to Stefan Bachmann's riveting and acclaimed debut novel, The Peculiar, which Publishers Weekly called "An absolute treat for readers of any age" and the Los Angeles Times compared to "Dostoevsky's Crime and Punishment, Charles Dickens's A Tale of Two Cities and more recent classics, such as J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter and Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events."

Twelve-year-old Pikey Thomas is missing an eye, a family, and friends of any sort. Named for the box he was found in-Thomas Ltd. Crackers and Biscuits. Premium Quality-Pikey lives under the chemist's shop and does odd jobs for him. One day, running from bigger boys set on bullying him, Pikey finds himself in front of a grand, beautiful house. There he meets a black-winged faery who begs for his help. The faery's wing is damaged-cricked and hanging at an uncomfortable angle-and Pikey clicks it back into place. It's a small gesture of kindness and bravery in steam-powered Victorian London, where faeries, now banned, are on the run or imprisoned, where the human armies are preparing for war, and where the changeling Bartholomew Kettle, aided by Arthur Jelliby, still searches for his missing sister, Hettie. This is the epic, imaginative, unforgettable, and ultimately hopeful sequel to Stefan Bachmann's acclaimed debut novel, The Peculiar.

Numbered as book 2 but essentially a companion book to 'The Peculiar'. While it is not necessary to read the aforementioned before reading this, but I like to be informed and as such wanted to find out what happened before diving into this story. But yes the main characters are there.

The Whatnot, essentially starts out a few years after the vents of the Peculiar. Hettie is now stuck in the Faery. Barty searches for ways to get there and rescue Hettie. And this enters Pikey Thomas. In Bachmann's Gothic fantasy world, Pikey Thomas starts out as the faery touched boy only thinking about candied apples and keeping his place of sleep intact, unknowingly holding the key to the salvation of all.

Alternation between the point of views of Hettie in the old country and Pikey in England, Stefan Bachmann tells this dark fantasy. The once scared Hettie, now holds even more characters and a much stronger personality. Barty and Pikey end up paired in the search for Hettie..... but the Sly King looms.... an entity you do not mess with.

Maintaining the captivating and imaginative narrative, Bachmann extends this vibrant world. One of the most enjoyable moments for me was the detailed description of the Old Country and the fineness of the Fey.

"An epic sequel to Bachmann's The Peculiar"

Genre :      Middle Grade, Fantasy, Paranormal, Historical Fiction, Steampunk

Publisher: Greenwillow Books

Release Date: 24th September, 2013

My Copy: publisher and netgalley

Rate:              4/5 (Really Liked It)

Books in the series (review links):
          #1 The Peculiar

Buy:           Amazon | Book Depository 

Featuring - Permanent (Indelibly Marked #1)

Book Blurb:-

What is Permanent?

Always on the outside looking in, accountant, Lindsay Stevens, has calculated her transformation from a small town, nerdy bookkeeper to a sleek, high-powered accountant down to the last penny. With all her checks finally in balance, she moves to California to start a new life free of her embarrassing past she never wants revealed.

As Hollywood's hottest tattoo artist, Shane Elliott thrives on standing out. Charismatic and free of commitments, he travels through life with a wink and a smile, hiding the letters he receives from the IRS as if they don't exist. Now with bills to pay and tax collectors breathing down his back, for the first time in his life Shane can't charm his way out of his situation. However, when his new neighbor literally falls into his life, he knows he has struck gold once again.

Though Lindsay tries to keep her distance, she suddenly finds herself trying to hide her true self as she thrust into a world she doesn't think she belongs, but can't resist. In his good-time life, Shane must discover there is more to life than a party if he wants something more.

With their lives intertwined, the two must learn accept each other, themselves and their love.

Worlds collide as they decide what is truly permanent.

Permanent is the first book in the Indelibly Marked Series that follows the lives and loves of those surrounding Permanent Tattoo.

About the Author

Kim Carmichael began writing eight years ago when her need for graphic sex scenes and love of happy endings inspired her to create her own. She has a weakness for bad boys and techno geeks, and married her own computer whiz after he proved he could keep her all her gadgets running. When not writing, she can usually be found slathered in sunscreen trolling Los Angeles and helping top doctors build their practices.

INTERESTED ENOUGH?

Well you can get to know the author and about her books thorough some of the links below....

Website

Goodreads Profile

Twitter

Facebook

AND FINALLY.....

You can the buy the book through here -

Amazon US

Amazon CANADA

The Peculiar #1 The Peculiar

The cover draws you in..... doesn't it. Presenting The Peculiar #1 The Peculiar by Stefan Bachmann.

Here is the summary of the book:

Don't get yourself noticed and you won't get yourself hanged.

In the faery slums of Bath, Bartholomew Kettle and his sister Hettie live by these words. Bartholomew and Hettie are changelings--Peculiars--and neither faeries nor humans want anything to do with them.

One day a mysterious lady in a plum-colored dress comes gliding down Old Crow Alley. Bartholomew watches her through his window. Who is she? What does she want? And when Bartholomew witnesses the lady whisking away, in a whirling ring of feathers, the boy who lives across the alley--Bartholomew forgets the rules and gets himself noticed.

First he's noticed by the lady in plum herself, then by something darkly magical and mysterious, by Jack Box and the Raggedy Man, by the powerful Mr. Lickerish . . . and by Arthur Jelliby, a young man trying to slip through the world unnoticed, too, and who, against all odds, offers Bartholomew friendship and a way to belong.

Part murder mystery, part gothic fantasy, part steampunk adventure, The Peculiar is Stefan Bachmann's riveting, inventive, and unforgettable debut novel.

Of the fey and of the classics, The Peculiars is a brand new and exuberant look to these creatures of magic. An imaginative and creative world successfully illustrated through the words of a young mind. And that vibrant cover is just the cherry on top that sets the show on the road. Stefan Bachmann ties together gothic and steampunk with his middle grade fantasy and that lyrical tone of the written word is just enough to the set the mood for both the genre and the era.

In an incident that changes the course of the history of the world. Faeries are very much alive and real and now living with the humans, trapped and away from their home. Set in the faery slums of Bath. This is the story of Bartholomew and Henrietta "Hettie" Kettle. Both changelings, half-human, half-fey and forever more hidden by their mother because if you get yourself noticed, you get hanged. And all Barty and Hettie want is to belong......

But things are set in motion that have the potential of changing the course of the world. Such untoward acts happen and its not only Barty but also Hettie whose life is in danger. Faeries may not be accepted but half-faeries are neither. And the world at stake, it is an unlikely parliament member, who may be the only ally they have.

This is by no means a common tale and its characters by no means are common folks. Barty is a complex and dynamic character. The Victorian era is by no means a child's play and life as a changeling in the slums is not either. With a sister who has branches for hair, no father and a mother always keeping them hidden. Just like the children of his age, he just wants to belong and play with little ones his age .... a wish that very well takes its toll.

With a solid foundation and profound world building. Bachmann forms together a world like no other. There is the high airs of the aristocracy and the hard life of the slums. Categorized as a middle grade, this is a tale as original as any and can be read and enjoyed by people of all ages.

"Stefan Bachmann breathes new life into the Faery with his youthful mind"

Genre :      Middle Grade, Fantasy, Paranormal, Historical Fiction, Steampunk

Publisher: Greenwillow Books

Release Date: 18th September, 2012

My Copy: bought (ebook)

Rate:              4/5 (Really Liked It)

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