Review: Darklight

Book: Darklight
Author: Lesley Livingston
Pages: 312
Published: December 22nd 2009 by HarperTeen
Source: Bought

Much has changed since autumn, when Kelley Winslow learned she was Faerie royalty, fell in love with changeling guard Sonny Flannery, and saved New York City from a rampaging Faerie war band. When a terrifying encounter in Central Park sends Kelley tumbling into the Otherworld, her reunion with Sonny is joyful—but cut short. For they’ve been plunged into a game of Faerie deception and wavering allegiances in which the next move could topple a kingdom...or part them forever.

Wow. I thought Wondrous Strange was a fantastic debut, but Darklight completely blew me away! I was stunned by how much I enjoyed this one and the speed at which I absorbed it.

Kelley was reliably stubborn and I remember that as being one of my favorite things about her. I didn't have to worry about her -- I knew she'd stand up for herself and for the ones she loved, and she'd do absolutely anything to protect them. Sonny was brilliant, still sweet and maybe a little naive, but always wanting to protect Kelley at all costs. Seriously, I think if every guy in the world was a little more like Sonny, there'd be a hell of a lot less sadness. Bob, better known as Puck, makes more appearances in this novel than in WS, and there wasn't a scene of his I didn't love. I also liked the inclusion of Fennrys Wolf, one of the Janus Guard -- he's kind of underdeveloped in the first book, and I really liked seeing more of him in Darklight. What I most liked about the characters though is the fact that you really get a sense of who they are and how they act, and I was impressed with the author's ability to do that with her characters.

So, you know how in trilogies, the middle book has like this thing where it feels just kind of like a filler? Yeah, so, that completely was not the case with Darklight. It hooked me from the start and kept me on the edge of my seat -- I hated putting it down, but luckily I only had to do that once! There were lots of plot twists in this book that really threw me, and a lot of mystery elements as well. Faerie politics and hidden secrets start to blend together to bring a lot of revelations and realizations, and I was totally in love with it. Everything kept me wanting more and I am not kidding when I say that I was screaming 'OHMYGOD!' every time something happened.

I think I mentioned it in my review of WS, but I'll say it again -- Lesley Livingston is an extraordinary writer! The pages are filled with amazing descriptions and action-packed and romantic scenes. I could practically feel the tension vibrating out of this book! I could imagine everything that was happening, and I really liked the images that Livingston puts into your head.

This book ended with a freaking major cliffhanger that ensures I'll be running all around the city trying to find it once the next book, which is currently untitled, is released! I can't wait!!!

Overall: 5 out of 5 stars

Cover: I like that they used the same cover model for this one. I love the magical feel of it and the model's pose and expression, even though she still doesn't look like Kelley to me. I love the font they used too! Beautiful cover.

Review: Graceling

Book: Graceling
Author: Kristin Cashore
Pages: 471
Published: October 1st, 2008 by Harcourt Children's Books

In a world where some people are born with extreme and often-feared skills called Graces, Katsa struggles for redemption from her own horrifying Grace, the Grace of killing, and teams up with another young fighter to save their land from a corrupt king.

General Overview: A highly impressive debut. Incredibly original and imaginative, Graceling wowed me and I completely loved it.

Characters: Katsa took me a couple chapters to warm up to. She seemed brutal and harsh at first, and I just wasn't sure about her. After a while, though, I found that she was brutal and harsh only because her nature demanded her to be, and that she was really courageous and honorable and smart. Po demanded a lot of attention as well, and I was glad to give it to him. I loved his and Katsa's scenes, they were perfect and masterfully balanced. The villain of this story seriously scared me -- he was wonderfully crafted and despicably evil. But that's why he's the villain.

Plot: The idea of Graces is intriguing, to say the least. I'd never heard of anything like that in books before, and I have to admit that Cashore executed that idea very well. The plot was tense and full of action; there wasn't a single dull moment in the book! While at times it may have moved a little too quickly, it's not confusing, which is really the problem when a plot rushes. I was very interested in the politics of Katsa's world, it seemed like such an interesting one and Cashore described it so well that I could imagine how it would look and how the kingdoms would work.

Writing: Cashore's writing is beautiful. The words bring waves of images into your mind, and hold such a power over you that won't let go. I truly believe that Kristin Cashore is a fantastic writer, and I could not have guessed that this was her first book!

Cover: I really like this cover. I love how you can only see just her eye, and the color of it -- it makes her seem normal. The sword is totally like Katsa, if I really think about it, and describes her Grace as well as her personality. I love the font used, too!

Overall: 5 out of 5 stars