The Aether Chronicles #3 Fragile Destiny

Presenting The Aether CHronicles #3 Fragile Destiny by Suzanne Lazear.

Here is the summary of the book:

Noli and her true love V fear the worst if the Staff of Eris—a potent Otherworld relic—falls into the wrong hands. Broken into pieces and hidden in the mortal realm long ago, the staff bestows vast powers on whoever possesses it. Ciarán, the dark king, is trying to rebuild the staff, intending to use it to install a new queen.

In a desperate effort to keep the Otherworld from falling into darkness, Noli and V plot the daring theft of a jewel Ciarán needs to complete the staff. But Ciarán is not so easily defeated. Through his devious machinations, he has set a plan in motion for a final showdown that will decide who rules the Otherworld once and for all.

After Innocent Darkness, and Charmed Vengeance comes 'Fragile Destiny'. A bit more on the emotional iota instead of action. While it felt a little flat, hence the loss of 2 stars but what it lacked in action it made up for with some extreme heavy dosage of drama. And I hope there are going to be more books in the series because while that open-ended epilogue fit in there I do hope that is not the last of it.

The emotional endeavors aside, Fragile Destiny packed a lot of surprise punches. Things we didn't think possible happened and people long gone came back. Noli as usual is quite impulsive and leaps before she sees what is infront of her and her good intentions with that attitude turn to a bad fall.

And it almost breaks V and Noli apart but thanks to James' mediation, the situation was salvaged after he gives the two quite the dressing down if you pardon the pun. Of course it wasn't just a simple small talk but it yielded results and they get their happily ever after.

Of course, Elise and Kevighn too hold a great part in the story. Elise remains the only threat to the High Queen and Kevighn, well he has his own agendas and issues to sort out. I did expect a little bit more from this tale, of course a lot of loose ends tied up well but left the business with the staff wide open to contemplation. I do hope we'll see more books that deal into it Ms. Lazear. Good Job and damn that is one gorgeous cover here. All three books in the series had beautiful cover and it definitely provided a great towards the books too. Also did anyone notice that the whole series released on 8th August for 3 consecutive years between 2012-2014..... Good Job!

"An emotionally charged steampunk-y magical romp"

Genre :     Historical Fiction, Young Adult, Paranormal, Romance, Steampunk

Publisher: Flux

Release Date: 8th August, 2014

My Copy: publisher and netgalley

Rate:             3/5 (Liked It)

Books in Series(review links):
         #1 Innocent Darkness 
         #2 Charmed Vengeance

Buy:         Amazon | Book Depository

The Aether Chronicles #2 Charmed Vengeance

This is an early review...... Innocent Darkness was just the beginning ..... and I will try to keep this spoiler free too if I can. Presenting The Aether Chronicles #2 Charmed Vengeance by Suzanne Lazear.

Here is the summary of the book:

In the Faerie realm, Noli Braddock's relationship with her best friend V has grown into something more. But V's mother, Faerie Queen Tiana, has ruled that they are forbidden to see each other. Returning to the mortal realm, Noli joins the crew of her brother's air-pirate ship, the Vixen's Revenge. There she discovers that her brother has hired the scallywag Faerie huntsman, Kevighn Silver. While serving as shipmates, Kevighn and Noli learn that the Earth Court King plans to find a forbidden artifact--one that will bring destruction to everyone Noli loves.

Innocent Darkness was a fantastic Steampunky-Supernatural introduction to Lazear's imagination of the faery.... Charmed Vengeance on the other hand is the road map, the stage preparation for the next book (whatever it is called).

Essentially the book diverges into three separate journeys or stories, if you would call it. Noli, V & James, and Kevighn Silver-Tongue. They all deal with the consequences of their actions in the first book.... kinda like Newton's third law of motion . Noli fights to keep the foreground against the Sprite that resides in her. V or Steven or Stiofan, at the behest of the High Queen is forced to break his bond to Noli (the command itself is enough for us to want to hurt the Queen) and sent on a quest with James to find an unusual amusement for her. And Kevighn in the human realm after being exiled from Faery.

Noli, still the society rebel now joins her brother aboard the Vixen's Revenge as an engineer, be as far from home as possible while nursing a broken heart. But with faith enough in her love for V to know that this is just temporary before her finds a way for them to be together again. Charmed Vengeance had another plus point in the mix a lot of us complained with the short us of the steampunk mecha and the visibility of the elements that made steampunk what they are..... Rejoice for we finally get our wish, as the author explores the Steampunky side of her universe aboard the Vixen's Revenge and on solid grounds. 

Also, the presence of the Sprite inside Noli gives us a rare view into her mind as she struggles with her twn personality for control. And what began as separate journey converges together at the end, where they find out exactly what is brewing in the land of the Faery at the moment.... Oh ! I am so ending my tirade abruptly because I definitely don't think i can contain it any longer and it would all come out spoiling it for you all.

Suzanne Lazear did a good job with this one. As I already explained, this book is but the bridge that we need to cross that connects Innocent Darkness to the bigger happening of the future. the plot and the way of presentation just like the first book is easy enough to understand and creative enough to keep out thoughts and imagination going like a hyperdrive accelerator (sorry couldn't resist using a futuristic ref. here). The author maintained the dynamics between the characters and i'm definitely happy that the idea of a love triangle remains just an idea and nothing else..... there is a big supernatural confrontation coming in, if Noli's vow at the end of the book is to be maintained..... and might I say i'm already excited for what it would mean for us reader and the characters.

"Charmed Vengeance proceeds to delight us in its own assorted charmed ways"

Genre :     Historical Fiction, Young Adult, Paranormal, Romance, Steampunk

Publisher: Flux

Release Date: 8th August, 2013

My Copy: publisher and netgalley

Rate:             5/5 (It was Awesome)

Books in Series(review links):
         #1 Innocent Darkness

Buy:         Amazon | Book Depository

The Aether Chronicles #1 Innocent Darkness

A beautiful and fantastic Steampunk find...... Presenting The Aether Chronicles #1 Innocent Darkness by Suzanne Lazear.

Here is the summary of the book:

Wish. Love. Desire. Live.

Sixteen-year-old Noli Braddock's hoyden ways land her in an abusive reform school far from home. On mid-summer's eve she wishes to be anyplace but that dreadful school. A mysterious man from the Realm of Faerie rescues her and brings her to the Otherworld, only to reveal that she must be sacrificed, otherwise, the entire Otherworld civilization will perish.

After finishing Innocent Darkness I can safely say that although my reading portfolio for Steampunk is still quite young (it began with Cassandra Clare's Clockwork Angel), I must concur that barring 2 or 3 that i didn't like, the rest of them were simply the best of the best.... and now Suzanne Lazear's Innocent Darkness is added to it and I definitely am more than happy. 

Circa 1901, Innocent Darkness is not just history but also the appropriate amount of Steampunk as well...... hovercraft, and steam engines, and airships, and zeppelins and what not steampunky gadgets and inventions. Add to it the mysterious, mischievous, swoon-worthy, intense, lithe and dangerous Faery of the Otherworld and you have yourself a new favorite and another marvelous edition to the list.

And this is how the story begins with Noli right in the middle of it all. A girl of an era where for a girl to have free independent thinking is frowned upon by society, where the only interest for a girl should be of marrying well. Strong-willed, confident, determined, and as free thinkers, something never seen for the girl of the era, she becomes a favorite character. An affinity for fixing things and test driving without permit is what gets her into trouble and sent off to Findlay, a reform school. Confident at first, she quickly succumbs to the abuse and loss of the only friend at that horrible place. She breaks down and in her grief wishes herself away.

But doing this has some serious repercussions........leading straight into the arms of the Fae hunter Kavighn Silver-Tongue, a ruthless faerie on the lookout for a girl for sacrifice to the high queen to maintain the realm. He is cunning, ruthless, devious and knows how to seduce women (hence his another name "women-maker") but somehow through the course of time he falls for her too....... But it is V/Steven, her neighbor and long time friend gets to her n time and long suppressed feeling and desires are revealed and returned.......

V is another, or should I say one of the main characters after Noli, and while I say he is the good guy.... But he hides a big secret too, he is an exiled Fae Prince and had more than friendly feelings for Noli (*giddily-swoons*) which she returns......... he is quite the dashing Prince too...... What follows is a high octane, tense and passionate romance between them both penned beautifully by Lazear..... And Noli's life gets spared in the process through the most unlikeliest of solutions... you need to read to find that out.

I'd say not does Suzanne Lazear delivers a light read, a passionate read but a balanced read too. It has a wonderful plot, a new re-telling of the Fae myths (very original though)...... and most of all pretty strong characters. I would have liked it if there was a bit more Steampunk in there but i'm pretty happy and satisfied with it. This is a series and only the first book, so there is definitely going to be much more where it comes from.... Definitely excited to read the next one Charmed Vengeance......

"Innocent Darknees had the right mix of YA, the right mix of paranormal and steampunky enough for our tastes"

Genre :      Young Adult, Paranormal, Steampunk, Romance, Historical Fantasy

Publisher: Flux

Release Date: 8th August, 2012

My Copy:  bought (ebook)

Rate:              5/5 (It was Awesome)

Buy:           Amazon | Book Depository