Review ~ "The Girl of Fire and Thorns" by Rae Carson

Title: "A Girl of Fire and Thorns"
Series: Fire and Thorns, #1
Author: Rae Carson
 
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Published: September 20, 2011
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy, Adventure
Pages: 423
Format: Paperback
Source: Own
 
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Once a century, one person is chosen for greatness. Elisa is the chosen one. But she is also the younger of two princesses. The one who has never done anything remarkable, and can't see how she ever will. Now, on her sixteenth birthday, she has become the secret wife of a handsome and worldly king—a king whose country is in turmoil. A king who needs her to be the chosen one, not a failure of a princess.

And he's not the only one who seeks her. Savage enemies, seething with dark magic, are hunting her. A daring, determined revolutionary thinks she could be his people's savior. Soon it is not just her life, but her very heart that is at stake.

Elisa could be everything to those who need her most. If the prophecy is fulfilled. If she finds the power deep within herself. If she doesn't die young. Most of the chosen do.

"The Pledge (The Pledge, #1)" by Kimberly Derting

"The Pledge (The Pledge, #1)" by Kimberly Derting

 

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Published: October 1, 2011

Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry

Pages: 323

Genres: Young Adult, Dystopia, Romance

Format: Hardcover

Source: MeL Cat

 

Read April 3 to 7, 2015

 

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In the violent country of Ludania, the classes are strictly divided by the language they speak. The smallest transgression, like looking a member of a higher class in the eye while they are speaking their native tongue, results in immediate execution. Seventeen-year-old Charlaina has always been able to understand the languages of all classes, and she's spent her life trying to hide her secret. The only place she can really be free is the drug-fueled underground clubs where people go to shake off the oppressive rules of the world they live in. It's there that she meets a beautiful and mysterious boy named Max who speaks a language she's never heard before . . . and her secret is almost exposed. Charlie is intensely attracted to Max, even though she can't be sure where his real loyalties lie. As the emergency drills give way to real crisis and the violence escalates, it becomes clear that Charlie is the key to something much bigger: her country's only chance for freedom from the terrible power of a deadly regime.

"Wolfsbane (Nightshade, #2)" by Andrea Cremer

"Wolfsbane (Nightshade, #2)" by Andrea Cremer

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Published: January 1, 2011

Publisher: Philomel Books
Genres: Young Adult, Romance, Paranormal
Pages: 390

Format: Hardcover

Source: Library

Read November 27 to 29, 2014

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"Wolfsbane" is the thrilling sequel to much-talked-about "Nightshade". Calla Tor wakes up in the lair of the Searchers, her sworn enemy, and she's certain her days are numbered. But then the Searchers make her an offer–one that gives her the chance to destroy her former masters and save the pack–and the man–she left behind. Is Ren worth the price of her freedom? And will Shay stand by her side no matter what? Now in control of her own destiny, Calla must decide which battles are worth fighting and how many trials true love can endure and still survive.

"Half-Blood (Covenant, #1)" by Jennifer L. Armentrout

"Half-Blood (Covenant, #1)" by Jennifer L. Armentrout

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Published: September 19, 2011
Publisher: Spencer Hill Press
Genres: Young Adult, Mythology, Romance
Pages: 281
Format: Paperback
Source: MeLCat


Read February 4 to 7, 2015


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The Hematoi descend from the unions of gods and mortals, and the children of two Hematoi pure bloods have godlike powers. Children of Hematoi and mortals--well, not so much. Half-bloods only have two options: become trained Sentinels who hunt and kill daimons or become servants in the homes of the pures. Seventeen-year-old Alexandria would rather risk her life fighting than waste it scrubbing toilets, but she may end up slumming it anyway. There are several rules that students at the Covenant must follow. Alex has problems with them all, but especially rule #1: Relationships between pures and halfs are forbidden. Unfortunately, she's crushing hard on the totally hot pure-blood Aiden. But falling for Aiden isn't her biggest problem--staying alive long enough to graduate the Covenant and become a Sentinel is. If she fails in her duty, she faces a future worse than death or slavery: being turned into a daimon, and being hunted by Aiden. And that would kind of suck.

"Entwined" by Heather Dixon

"Entwined" by Heather Dixon

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Published: March 29, 2011

Publisher: Greenwillow Books

Genres: Young Adult, Retelling, Romance

Pages: 472

Format: Paperback

Source: Bought

Read 2012

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Come and mend your broken hearts here. In this retelling of the classic tale "The Twelve Dancing Princesses," the eldest princess must fight to save her family—and her heart—from an ancient dark magic within the palace walls. "Full of mystery, lush settings, and fully orbed characters, Dixon's debut is both suspenseful and rewarding."—ALA Booklist Just when Azalea should feel that everything is before her—beautiful gowns, dashing suitors, balls filled with dancing—it's taken away. All of it. And Azalea is trapped. The Keeper understands. He's trapped, too, held for centuries within the walls of the palace. So he extends an invitation. Every night, Azalea and her eleven sisters may step through the enchanted passage in their room to dance in his silver forest, but there is a cost. The Keeper likes to keep things. Azalea may not realize how tangled she is in his web until it is too late. "Readers who enjoy stories of royalty, romance, and magic will delight in Dixon's first novel."—Publishers Weekly Supports the Common Core State Standards.

"Unearthly (Unearthly, #1)" by Cynthia Hand

"Unearthly (Unearthly, #1)" by Cynthia Hand

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Published: January 4, 2011
Publisher: HarperTeenGenres: Young Adult, Paranormal, Romance
Pages: 453
Format: ebook
Source: OverDrive

Read August 22 to 30, 2013

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In the beginning, there's a boy standing in the trees . . . Clara Gardner has recently learned that she's part angel. Having angel blood run through her veins not only makes her smarter, stronger, and faster than humans (a word, she realizes, that no longer applies to her), but it means she has a purpose, something she was put on this earth to do. Figuring out what that is, though, isn't easy. Her visions of a raging forest fire and an alluring stranger lead her to a new school in a new town. When she meets Christian, who turns out to be the boy of her dreams (literally), everything seems to fall into place and out of place at the same time. Because there's another guy, Tucker, who appeals to Clara's less angelic side. As Clara tries to find her way in a world she no longer understands, she encounters unseen dangers and choices she never thought she'd have to make between honesty and deceit, love and duty, good and evil. When the fire from her vision finally ignites, will Clara be ready to face her destiny? Unearthly is a moving tale of love and fate, and the struggle between following the rules and following your heart.

"Born at Midnight (Shadow Falls, #1)" by C.C. Hunter

"Born at Midnight (Shadow Falls, #1)" by C.C. Hunter

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Published: March 29, 2011
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Genres: Young Adult, Romance, Paranormal
Pages: 398
Format: Paperback
Source: Bought
Read May 13 to 15, 2014

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Don’t miss this spectacular new series that will steal your heart and haunt your dreams, Welcome to Shadow Falls camp, nestled deep in the woods of a town called Fallen… One night Kylie Galen finds herself at the wrong party, with the wrong people, and it changes her life forever. Her mother ships her off to Shadow Falls—a camp for troubled teens, and within hours of arriving, it becomes painfully clear that her fellow campers aren’t just “troubled.” Here at Shadow Falls, vampires, werewolves, shapeshifters, witches and fairies train side by side—learning to harness their powers, control their magic and live in the normal world. Kylie’s never felt normal, but surely she doesn’t belong here with a bunch of paranormal freaks either. Or does she? They insist Kylie is one of them, and that she was brought here for a reason. As if life wasn’t complicated enough, enter Derek and Lucas. Derek’s a half-fae who’s determined to be her boyfriend, and Lucas is a smokin’ hot werewolf with whom Kylie shares a secret past. Both Derek and Lucas couldn’t be more different, but they both have a powerful hold on her heart. Even though Kylie feels deeply uncertain about everything, one thing is becoming painfully clear—Shadow Falls is exactly where she belongs…

"Legend (Legend, #1)" by Marie Lu

5 out of 5 stars

Read February 2 to 6, 2014 and April 11, 2014

Pages: 320

Published: November 29, 2011

Publisher: Putnam Juvenile

These pictures were all by Marie Lu, the amazing author of this trilogy. She writes amazing books and draws amazing pictures!!