Blog Tour: ELEMENTAL INFERNO by A.J. Locke

ELEMENTAL INFERNO
Author: A.J. Locke
Standalone
Publication date: 2013
Publisher: - 
Number of pages: 92
Date read: December , 2013
Genre: Adult, Paranormal, Romance
Source: ARC from Itching For Books Tours
Format: Ebook
Add on Goodreads



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(Description source: Goodreads)

Rielle is a Winter Aura who for the past hundred years has held the job of controlling winter weather in her assigned area. During the non-winter months she can live as she pleases, as long as she doesn’t do anything that would make her lose control of herself, which could unleash her power and have it snowing in July. Therefore, sex outside of winter is a big no-no, because what could make her lose control of herself more? 

If Rielle is unable to keep her winter magic dormant during her off seasons, she will be forced to Sleep by the Aura Elders. 

For Auras, it’s a fate worse than death.

When the Summer Aura for her area winds up mysteriously dead, summer weather spirals out of control until another Summer Aura arrives in the nick of time and brings things back to order. Aden is as gorgeous and alluring as they come, and before Rielle knows it, she finds herself with a roommate at the urging of the Elders, who seem uneasy about Aden, and want an eye kept on him. 

Rielle and Aden have a magnetic attraction to each other, and for the first time Rielle is afraid of losing control. However, Aden is much more than he seems, and when he shows Rielle a way to indulge their passions without repercussions, it seems too good to be true.

But Aden’s secrets are ones the Elders fear, and can’t ignore. 

As they close in on him with deadly force in mind, Rielle will have to decide if Aden is in fact too dangerous, or if it’s worth going up against the Elders to save the man she’s losing her body, and heart to.

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Elemental Inferno sounded sexy and intriguing when I read the description, and that much is most definitely true.

Elemental Inferno focuses on Rielle, a Winter Aura - a being who controls the temperature and weather pattern during her designated season, but who must remain completely in control during her off-season which is three quarters of the year. Keeping control means no sex, which was difficult enough to manage before she met Aden...

Summer temperatures rise to insane heights when the Summer Aura suddenly dies, but there is a quick and surprising replacement when Aden shows up. But the Elders don't seem to trust him which results in Rielle gaining him as a roommate for a while, a very, very tempting roommate. Things however, are conspiring against the both of them, with the Elders wanting to take action against Aden for reasons only they and he know...

Rielle is a straight forward character who is bluntly honest and is determined to be grateful for the life she has been given as an Aura - despite its many rules, she would, however, love to be able to indulge during her off-season, but never has due to her fear of losing control.

Rielle is very fearful of losing control and being put to Sleep. It is a lot easier to understand Rielle, at least I found, after learning her back story.

Aden (no pun intended) is smolderingly hot, he is also mysterious due to the pull he seems to have over people and the secrets he keeps. He is sweet and flirty, and instantly has Rielle on edge for the way he makes her feel.

The interactions between Rielle and Aden are at first mistrustful (Rielle knows there is something more about Aden) but soon turn flirty and scorchingly sexy.

For a novella, Elemental Inferno does well to fit in a story that includes characters' back stories, a well thought out plot that makes sense and will fascinate reader, but also builds a world that interest and sometimes enchants as it is depicted in an easy to visualise way.

I rate Elemental Inferno Four out of Five!!!

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Tour Schedule!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

A.J. Locke is a writer of Urban Fantasy, as well as an avid reader. She loves reading both YA and adult novels, and also enjoys post-modern Japanese fiction. A.J. is also an artist, and enjoys drawing, painting, and graphic design. Affairs of the Dead is her debut novel and is available now from Etopia Press.

iqurae.blogspot.com | twitter.com/maqueripe

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Blog Tour: UNDERTOW by K.R. Conway

UNDERTOW
Author: K.R. Conway
Series: Undertow (#1)
Publication date: October 11th, 2013
Publisher: Conway
Number of pages: 398
Date read: November , 2013
Genre: New Adult, Paranormal, Romance
Source: ARC from YA Bound
Format: Ebook
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(Description source: Goodreads)

Eila Walker knows luck is not a friend, so she is downright shocked to inherit a million-dollar Cape Cod home. And yeah, her new town isn't perfect: the cheerleaders are heinous clones, the local undertow can kill ya, and her Great Grams was supposedly fried by lightning in the harbor square. Still, Eila is hopeful her luckless days are in the past . . . until history decides to repeat itself.

When drool-worthy Raef O’Reilly becomes her friendly, yet weirdly protective shadow, Eila thinks life is pretty darn perfect – until she is hauled beneath the waves by an unnatural undertow. Revealing coal-black eyes and iron-like strength as he rescues her, Raef can no longer hide what he is . . . or what she can do. Eila, last of her kind, can supposedly channel the power of human souls, while Raef is more adept at stealing them. Even worse, the legend about her ancestor isn't such a myth, since Eila’s grandmother was one kick-butt warrior until her lightning-like power backfired. A power that is written all over Eila's DNA.

Determined to stay one step ahead of a dangerous clan that is hunting her, Raef, along with three unlikely allies, will do all they can to protect her. But as hidden pieces of their brutal histories unravel, Eila begins to understand just what went down in the harbor square. 

She soon realizes that following in her grandmother’s fearless footsteps may be the only way to save those she loves . . . including Raef.

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Eila is new to Cape Cod, having mysteriously inherited a mansion that once belonged to her ancestors. She makes fast friends with some people and definitely notice how good the new guy Raef looks. But things aren't exactly as they seem - Eila's luck could never allow that...

At first, aside from dealing with a mean girl, Eila's life in the Cape is pretty good, apart from a few strange happenings, until the undertow almost claims her as a soul-less being drags her down. Raef saves her life and then proceeds to turn it upside-down by revealing an old truth about her heritage.

Eila and Raef, yeah they're supposed to be natural enemy - her channeling souls and him stealing them, instead, though, he and a few of her new friends are protecting her and helping her figure out exactly what happened to her powerful great, great (etc) grandmother back in 1850.

Eila soon learn that to save everyone, she may have to figure out how to harness her powers and follow grandma's example.

Eila was a character who I both liked and disliked. It was cool the way she would stand up to Nikki and how she was quick with a come-back. However she did seem a little melodramatic to me, accepting things rather quickly as the undeniable truth without giving herself any substantial time to think it through, her thoughts would leap from thing to thing and she would be laughing like hell while thinking really negative thought. 

She also fell into things quickly, her feelings for Raef were very insta-love-esque while she didn't seem to really learn anything much about his personality and his likes and dislike aside what what she observed.

Raef is friendly and incredibly good-looking whilst seeming to be unreadable, Kian is sarcastic and arrogant, Ana keeps everything close to her chest and M.J. is sweet, goofy and optimistic (M.J. was probably my favourite character).

Each character has secrets and mystical truths that are revealed throughout the duration of the novel. I do wish there had been a little bit deeper character development.

Shock factor was my favourite aspect of this novel, when something would suddenly happen that you don't expect and will open the doorway to the next part of the novel in a memorable way.

The paranormal in this novel was different to what I have read before, though with similar elements. There is mystery, intrigue, strange happenings and a smattering of clues to be pieced together. Danger is rife for these characters and events conspire to set the characters against a time to learn everything they can about what happened back in the 1850's, which we learn from Elizabeth's perspective in the prologue.

Each character had a unique and different back story that very much lends to the plot and is fascinating to learn.

I rate Undertow Three and a Half out of Five!!!

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What readers are saying:
WOrkS of FiCTioN – “All in all Undertow is a great book that not only keeps you guessing, but doesn’t let you set it down. I loved the characters and their interactions and definitely hoping for a continuation of their story.”


Reading Diva – “This series takes paranormal somewhere I haven’t been as a reader and I can’t wait to spend more time at the Cape or wherever Eila’s journey takes her. Do I recommend this book? Yes, Yes, Yes, and YES!” (TOP PICK winner)


Book Talks by the Library Lady – “I could not put this one down! Even when I needed to put it down, I had to almost immediately pick it back up. It took mere hours for me to read this entire book and I am truly ticked that Eila's next story won't be published until
July 2014. I don't want to wait for this story to continue! This is an addictive read.”

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About the Author
I have been a journalist for 15 years and serve on the Board of Directors for the Cape Cod Writers Center. I also drive a 16-ton school bus because I am ENTIRELY NUTS.
In addition to working jobs that should come with a warning label , I hold a BA in Psychos (Forensic Psych), torment the tourists about Jaws, and occasionally jump from the Town Neck bridge in an attempt to reclaim my youth.
I live on Cape Cod with two smallish humans who apparently are my kids, my fishing- obsessed husband, two canines (adept at both flatulence and snoring), and a cage-defiant lovebird that sleeps in a miniature tent. Nope - that's not a type-o. The bird is quite the indoor camper.

http://capecodscribe.com/
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7212275.K_R_Conway
http://www.twitter.com/sharkprose
http://www.facebook.com/pages/KR-Conway/510814265666213

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2 – Signed print copies of Undertow (US only)

1 – ebook of Undertow (INT)

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Blog Tour: AZURE by Chrystalla Thoma

AZURE: Drowning In You
Author: Chrystalla Thoma
Standalone
Publicaton date: September 2nd, 2013
Publisher: - 
Number of pages: 220
Date read: November , 2013
Genre: New Adult, Contemporary, Paranormal, Romance
Source: ARC from Itching For Books Tours
Format: Ebook
Add on Goodreads
Buy on Amazon


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(Description source: Goodreads)

A terrible mistake haunts college student Olivia Spencer. To escape the past, she travels to the Mediterranean island of Crete, hoping for the courage to start anew.

By the sea, she meets sexy and enigmatic Kai. But there’s more to Kai than meets the eye — and nobody wants to talk about it. The locals shun him, accusing him of magic. Kai, apparently, belongs to the sea, no matter how crazy that sounds. 

Kai isn’t free to be with her or live his own life, and this is how he will stay, unless Olivia can break his curse and save him — in doing so atoning for those she failed in the past.

NEW ADULT ROMANCE. Contains mature content. Ages 17+

AZURE (Drowning In You) is a stand-alone novel. No cliffhanger.

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The only New Adult novels I have read have been solely contemporary reads, so Azure was a very different New Adult experience, and the best I could have had branching into paranormal New Adult!

Olivia is vacationing in Crete with her friends Kirsten and Markus, and basically trying to forget her past for a while. Crete seems like an amazing escape: sunshine, gorgeous beaches, and an even more gorgeous boy, Kai.

Kai is different and gorgeous but feared and and prejudiced against by the locals, who accuse him of something that seems impossible to Olivia - magic.

Olivia is determined to learn the truth about Kai, what happened in his past to make him the way he is, why he is accused of magic and who he really is.

One answer she receives is that Kai belongs to the sea, he is cursed, and he can never be free so long as the curse is in place - Kai needs saving and Olivia has her mind set on being the one to do it, but will she be able to make up for a tragic mistake from her past?

Olivia is low on self-confidence, but full of determination, she is flawed and scared, however she doesn't let her fears or her flaws determine how she will act. Despite taking a long while to accept somethings - especially about herself - she does her best to accept others for how they really are and do what she can to make them happy.

Kai is mysterious and has so much going on, he is hot and cold at times in behaviour, but constantly smoldering in the looks department. Mystery, tragedy and seemingly magical binding surround him. He really is adorable in the way he treats Olivia when he's being himself - seriously, I want one of him for myself - he will have a smile stuck on your face as you swoon.

The magic in Azure straddles the line between being crazy superstition and real magic, written in a way that  keeps you wondering and curious. The characters have, each, a lot of hurdles in their paths, both magical and real. This novel contains tragedy, secrets, revelations, love and acceptance.

Olivia and Kai's relationship is full of overcoming obstacles, learning hard truths and accepting another person's flaws, their past and their true self.

Readers will be very happy indeed with the level of sexiness to be found in Azure, scorching hot but always tempered realistically with character reactions and conversations.

Chrystalla Thoma en-captures the magic that the ocean can hold as well as the magic of love, while writing in all different kinds of relationships people may have. I really admired the way Kirsten treated Olivia.

I love, love, love, LOVED the ending, it was seriously the most perfect way this novel could have ended.

Such an interesting novel, full of intrigue, mystery and magic, Azure is captivating - completely and utterly!

I rate Azure Five out of Five!!!

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Greek Cypriot with a penchant for dark myths and good food. Chrystalla Thoma has proven her tendency to settle down anywhere but at home by having lived and studied in France, England, Germany and Costa Rica, before returning to Cyprus two years ago.

Chrystalla likes to write about fantastical creatures, crazy adventures, and family bonds. She lives in Cyprus with her husband and her vast herds of books. She's currently working on a few novels, including a vampire novel set in Cyprus, an epic fantasy trilogy, and a YA science fiction series.

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THE INDIGO SPELL by Richelle Mead

Book Three in the Bloodlines series
Publisher: Razorbill
Number of pages: 401
Date Published: February 12th, 2013 
Date Read: October 17th (re- read)
Genre: Young Adult, Supernatural, Paranormal, Romance, Urban Fantasy
Source: Bought






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(Description source: Goodreads)

In the aftermath of a forbidden moment that rocked Sydney to her core, she finds herself struggling to draw the line between her Alchemist teachings and what her heart is urging her to do.

Then she meets alluring, rebellious Marcus Finch--a former Alchemist who escaped against all odds, and is now on the run.

Marcus wants to teach Sydney the secrets he claims the Alchemists are hiding from her.

But as he pushes her to rebel against the people who raised her, Sydney finds that breaking free is harder than she thought.

There is an old and mysterious magic rooted deeply within her.

And as she searches for an evil magic user targeting powerful young witches, she realizes that her only hope is to embrace her magical blood--or else she might be next.

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“Do you want me to call you Celery Stick instead of Cupcake or Honey-Pie? It just doesn’t inspire the same warm and fuzzy feelings.” 

The Bloodlines series continues to leave me amazed and desperate for more and this latest installment definately does not dissapoint.

The Indigo Spell continues Sydney's story from just after the point that The Golden Lily ended at.

As in The Golden Lily, it opens into a few scenes which remind us how the Alchemists feel towards the Vampire races and provides more insight into Sydney's ralationship with her own race in conrast to that whith her Vampire friends.

As Sydney constantly battles to keep the identity of her Vampire friends a secret from the humans surrounding them she must also hide her friendshipfrom the other Alchemists.
She finds herself getting pulled into a battle of good versus evil to save not only everyone she cares about but the innocents nearby from an scheming witch who could do no limit of bad. On top of these situations she finds herself falling deeply for Moroi Vampire and commonly-known bad boy Adrian.

Despite them having a mutual understanding of each other that runs deeper that she is willing to accept Sydney must decide if she will follow her head or her heart.

With another excessively long list of hilariarity and absoloutely gorgeous moments what isn't to love about The Indigo Spell??

 I for one adore it and found it just as good as it the books before it. The inclusion of magical elements and new characters is something that was well done and didn't feel as though it had been rushed or an after though.

 Marcus was quite a pushy character and im sure that we havnt seen the last of him. Although I disliked him because of his pushiness and self-assured attitude I find that he was quite a well written character besides that and I like the idea behind him and his group.
Quite a few of the plot twists involving Angeline were ones that at this stage seem to be quite unnecessary although I am sure that more shall be revealled in The Fiery Heart.

Aaaaarrgghhh!!! I simply cannot express my excitement for The Fiery Heart it is the book I absoloutely CANNOT wait for this year and would just about kill for!! Aargh! More Adrian!! <3

“Adrian shook his head, still smiling. "I've said over and over, I'd do anything for you. I just keep hoping it'll be something like, 'Adrian, let's go hot-tubbing' or 'Adrian, take me out for fondue.'"
"Well, sometimes we have to--did you say fondue?" Sometimes it was impossible to follow Adrian's train of thought. "Why in the world would I ever say that?"
He shrugged. "I like fondue.”

I rate The Indigo Spell Five out of Five!!!

TORMENTING LILA by Sarah Alderson

Book #2.5 in the Lila series
Publiction date: July 1st, 2013
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Date read: September 28th, 2013
Genre: Young Adult, Romance, Paranormal
Source: Bought
Format: Ebook
Add on Goodreads





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(Description source: Goodreads)

When Lila and Alex sneak off for a romantic weekend away, Lila’s hoping she’ll finally have a chance to work on Alex’s resolve.

But just as things start heating up news reaches them of a serial killer at loose on the island and it isn’t long before their intimate weekend away is interrupted.

A mind reader, a projector, a protective older brother and a serial killer. One of them is going to find Lila first. She's hoping it's the serial killer.

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Tormenting Lila is about Lila and Alex attempting to get away for a little while, for a bit of romantic alone time but, alas, they still don't have much luck. Whether it be an over protective older brother or a serial killer, one will interrupt them...

A very short story, Tormenting Lila is a quick fix for any and all Lila series addicts who after missing the characters after the end of Losing Lila. You get a nice insight into what the characters have been up to , and are like, after the events of Losing Lila.

I LOVE Suki, she is so completely hilarious, Nate is such a cutie, and Alex, well he's just plain sexy. Lila is her typical self, awesome as ever, as is Jack.

Written as superbly as ever, the only thing I wish was different with Tormenting Lila, was that it was longer - I totally need more of these characters, they 100% hook you.

Another interesting thing about Tormenting Lila is that it also that it gives readers a taste of another of Sarah Alderson's novels and the characters within it, that novel is The Sound, which is intriguing and I definitely something I am dying to read.

Anything by Sarah Alderson is a must-read!

"Now I was older and theoretically more mature"

I rate Tormenting Lila Three and a Half out of Five!

THE GOLDEN LILY by Richelle Mead

Book Two in the Bloodlines series
Publisher: Razorbill
Number of pages: 421
Date read: June 12th, 2012 (re-read)
Genre: Young Adult, Supernatural, Paranormal, Romance, Urban Fantasy
Source: Bought






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(Description source: Goodreads)

Sydney Sage is an Alchemist, one of a group of humans who dabble in magic and serve to bridge the worlds of humans and vampires. They protect vampire secrets—and human lives.

Sydney would love to go to college, but instead, she’s been sent into hiding at a posh boarding school in Palm Springs, California–tasked with protecting Moroi princess Jill Dragomir from assassins who want to throw the Moroi court into civil war. Formerly in disgrace, Sydney is now praised for her loyalty and obedience, and held up as the model of an exemplary Alchemist.

But the closer she grows to Jill, Eddie, and especially Adrian, the more she finds herself questioning her age–old Alchemist beliefs, her idea of family, and the sense of what it means to truly belong. Her world becomes even more complicated when magical experiments show Sydney may hold the key to prevent becoming Strigoi—the fiercest vampires, the ones who don’t die. But it’s her fear of being just that—special, magical, powerful—that scares her more than anything. Equally daunting is her new romance with Brayden, a cute, brainy guy who seems to be her match in every way. Yet, as perfect as he seems, Sydney finds herself being drawn to someone else—someone forbidden to her.

When a shocking secret threatens to tear the vampire world apart, Sydney’s loyalties are suddenly tested more than ever before. She wonders how she's supposed to strike a balance between the principles and dogmas she's been taught, and what her instincts are now telling her.

Should she trust the Alchemists—or her heart?

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“Adrian, I'm on a date. Why are you here? On my car?”

The Golden Lily kicks off from immediately after the events concluding Bloodlines.

In the first few chapters, Mead reintroduces the Alchemists and shows us exactly how they feel about Vampires, this resonates in Sydney as she has gotten closer to them than the Alchemists would be accepting of. This is reflected with Sydney getting a look at the effects of getting too close to the vampires (Strigoi especially) and what she would be submitted to if the other Alchemists found out about her strengthening friendships.

Sydney has not only had the impossible task of keeping the vampires in line and from not being discovered by their fellow students and community members in Palm Springs but has also had to deal with the everyday ramifications of living with teenagers and this has not been easy to say the least. But when Angeline joins their 'family' with her more uncivilised mannerisms and expectations, Sydney definitely has her work cut out for her.

Balancing this family life with friendships, a newly discovered love- life and her school time now containing magic use (which the Alchemists highly disapprove of to say the least), if Sydney makes the wrong move, may be sent in for reeducation.

With threats being made to her vampire friends by a dangerous and mysterious Vampire Hunting group, Sydney is torn between her loyalties to the Alchemists and to her new friends.

Okay so it's no secret that I simply LOOOOVE these novels, mostly because of Adrian *swoon*, but I love not only his character development but also that of others such as Angeline, Eddie and Jill and of course Sydney herself.

With Angeline beginning as a quite rough and out of place character she finds her niche in the 'family' and starts to integrate quite well into the human culture and society of school. I like how she changes and begins to learn about respect and love and all manner values and qualities and that she begins to demonstrate these herself. I find that she is a very likable character and her growing relationship with the others is great as well as her growing sense of maturity and responsibility.

Jill is a totally different kettle of fish throughout both Bloodlines and The Golden Lily she certainly has her moments. Her childish side comes through whenever boys or the modelling are concerned and she often does not take others into consideration  Besides that she is has a likable character and I really like the idea of her and Eddie possibly being together in future novels because Eddie seems to ground her and help her to consider other people.

I think that Adrian and Sydney (mostly Adrian though) provide the majority of the humour, so much so that there is an almost endless list of hilarious lines such as these ones:

“But I’m just going to be out there having a tea party with her cats or whatever it is she has in mind."

and

You used nunchucks on a moose?"
Wolfe got a haunted look in his eyes. "I used all sorts of things on that bastard.” 

....that had me laughing so hard every few chapters. I am SO glad that the amount of humour was increased and that it did not seem as though the humour was out of place of forced in any way.

 Although aspects of the plot were quite predictable I found that others were actually quite surprising and unexpected. I think that the balance between character development and storyline plot was perfect and Adrian was PERFECT (as always).

Okay I simply CANNOT wait to re- read The Indigo Spell!! More Adrian!!!!!

"Day 24. Situation is growing worse. My captors continue to find new and horrific ways to torture me. When not working, Agent Scarlet spends her days examining fabric swatches for bridesmaid dresses and going on about how in love she is. This usually causes Agent Boring Borscht to regale us with stories of Russian weddings that are even more boring than his usual ones. My attempts at escape have been thwarted thus far.

Also, I am out of cigarettes.

Any assistance or tobacco products you can send will be greatly appreciated.
-Prisoner 24601"

I rate The Golden Lily Five out of Five!!!

BLOODLINES by Richelle Mead

Book One in the Bloodlines series
Publisher: Razorbill
Number of pages: 421
Date read: September 5th, 2013 (re-read)
Genre: Young Adult, Supernatural, Paranormal, Romance, Urban Fantasy
Source: Bought






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(Description source: Goodreads)

Blood doesn't lie...

Sydney is an alchemist, one of a group of humans who dabble in magic and serve to bridge the worlds of human and vampires. They protect vampire secrets - and human lives.

When Sydney is torn from her bed in the middle of the night, at first she thinks she's still being punished for her complicated alliance with dhampir Rose Hathaway.

But what unfolds is far worse.

Jill Dragomir - the sister of Moroi Queen Lissa Dragomir - is in mortal danger, and the Moroi must send her into hiding.

To avoid a civil war, Sydney is called upon to act as Jill's guardian and protector, posing as her roommate in the last place anyone would think to look for vampire royalty - a human boarding school in Palm Springs, California.

But instead of finding safety at Amberwood Prep, Sydney discovers the drama is only just beginning...

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“Takes a lot of tries before you hit perfection." He paused to reconsider that. "Well, except for my parents. They got it on the first try."

Bloodlines is the continuation of Richelle Mead's Vampire Academy series.

Instead of following the adventures and escapades of Rose, Lissa and Dimitri it follows that of alchemist, Sydney and her trials in keeping a vampire princess safe for a couple of months.

Faced with the expectations of the alchemists community around her, who are waiting for her to screw up and fratanise with vampires again. But Sydney is determined to keep her younger sister out of the alchemists clutches by fulfilling a task which may jepardise her relationships with those she cares most about in the alchemist world.

Syney once again gets to spend time with the shy Jill (sister to Vampire Queen Lissa), the ever flippant party boy Adrian and the protective guardian Eddie.

Battling her instincts to bring her supervisor, Keith, down a few pegs through revealing his dirty lttle secret.

Sydney must tow the very thin line between being friendly and professional towards the vampire group to avoid causing herself anymore trouble and being sent for reeducation, though this may be difficult when there is a traitor amongst them.

  

I LOVED Bloodlines!!! Although I have read it before, it is a novel which I can read numerous times! I really enjoy the development of the characters and the dimension that Mead gives to the who we were able to meet briefly but did not get to properly meet, during the Vampire Academy series.

As a character I simply adore Adrain, I love him!! Since I first met Adrian in Frostbite I fell for him and I'm not ashamed of it hehe, he is gorgeous!! Such a funny, sweet and thoughtful personality I cannot help but adore him <3

The development of Sydney is one that I think was well executed, so much so that her character (which I found I couldn't identify with in past novels) was one that I grew to like and enojy the company of. I found that she grew in herself even just in this novel, as did the others.

I was definately was not expecting the plotline to take the twists and turns that it did and by the end come to many of the outcomes that it did. This was a journey that I found was a rollercoaster of emotion and developing connections between characters. I love the style in which it was written, the plot and its many twists and, of course, the characters!

“Yeah? Can you draw a skeleton riding a motorcycle with flames coming out of it? And I want a pirate hat on the skeleton. And a parrot on his shoulder. A skeleton parrot. Or maybe a ninja skeleton parrot? No, that would be overkill. But it'd be cool if the biker skeleton could be shooting some ninja throwing stars. That are on fire.” 

I rate Bloodlines Five out of Five!!!

LOST SPIRITS by Gabriella Poole

Book Four in the Darke Academy series
Publication date: November 1st 2012
Publisher: Hoddor and Stroughton
Number of Pages: 304
Date read: November 7th 2012
Genre: Young Adult, Urban Fantasy, Paranormal, Fantasy, Romance
Source: Bought   
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(Description source: Goodreads)

A new term, a new location for the Darke Academy - and everything is different for Cassie Bell. 

The beauty of the turquoise Kenyan sea can't make up for the loss of her soulmate, Ranjit. 

  

He's on the run, and Cassie will do anything to find him. 

But when the evil Katerina and her mother appear, more powerful than ever, Cassie has to make a crucial decision.

 And her love for Ranjit might just be her ultimate weakness ...

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Lost Spirits is definately one of my favourite Dark Academy novels by far. In this last novel it keeps the storyline flowing in a way that doesn't seem as though Poole is trying too hard to keep the Darke Academy series going.

Lost Spirits continues to follow Cassie and her best friend Isabella through the trials and hardships of attending a school of prestigious, soul feeding students.
Since the end of the last term Cassie has been trying to cheer Isabella up since her adoring boyfriend Jake was murdered by Cassie's boyfriend at the time, Ranjit Singh.

Since that occasion, Ranjit has disappeared and Cassie is preoccupied wondering where he could be. When Isabella decides to leave the academy Darke decides to take a leap of faith and make a revalation that will permanently alter all ther lives.


I found that the way in which Poole intertwined the character relationships and personalities was creative and well executed. I  overly enjoyed the plot twists that occured and the ways in which the characters grew in themselves and how even they changed over the course of the Darke Academy novels.

There are certainly some characters which I hate with a passion and others which have been developed well and I absoloutely adore! For me this demonstrates the lengths to which the novel has been thought out and how passionate the author is about the world that she has created. The ending wasn't what I expected when I began Lost Spirits but I thought it was a superb way to end this series that I adore!

 

I rate Lost Spirits Four out of Five!

DIVIDED SOULS by Gabriella Poole

Book Three in the Darke Academy series
Publication date: August 5th 2010
Publisher: Hoddor and Stroughton
Number of Pages: 320
Date read: September 1st 2010
Genre: Young Adult, Urban Fantasy, Paranormal, Fantasy, Romance
Source: Bought    



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(Description source: Goodreads)

The Darke Academy is now in Istanbul, and wherever the Academy goes, death is never far behind.

 Death has followed the Darke Academy to the ancient city of Istanbul, where an unseen hunter is on the loose. 

Scholarship girl Cassie Bell is fascinated by the city's beauty, but there's no time for her to relax. 

Torn between an old flame and a new romance, she must also choose between the select world of the Few and her loyalty towards her best friends—and all the time a killer is stalking the Few.

As Cassie is about to discover, no one is above suspicion. Sometimes, the people you love can be the most dangerous enemies of all.

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"Cassie knew how much Isabella loved Jake. She knew her friend’s ferocious, burning loyalty, and how violently she defended those she loved; it was just that she’d never been on the receiving end before.

But there was more. Isabella was hiding something."

Divided Souls is a gripping and superb continuation of the Darke Academy series!
Set in the largest, most historic and exciting city of Istanbul, Turkey it follows scolarship girl, Cassie, on the thrilling adventure  of a lifetime. I

n the end of her first term at the Darke Academy she was implanted with a donor's soul against her will but the ceremony was interuppted part way through and now she is trapped as being part 'few' for the rest of her life. Being stuck with another bitchy and VERY opinionated woman inside your head isn't easy and even becomming overly attractive and gaining powerful connections often can't compensate for the frustrating Estelle.

This is Cassie's third term at the academy and with her best friend Isabella by her side, she can take on anything, except facing her brooding yet charming and breath-taking ex boyfriend Ranjit Singh that is.

Gabriella Poole continues to take you on the roller-coaster journey and certainly keeps everything interesting. She opens in a really enticing way that I really enjoyed, it left me wanting to see why the characters were in the position in which they were.
From the first few opening scenes I reconnected with the characters immediately, it was as though being reunited with old friends.

The style in which the Darke Academy series is written is one that I enjoy reading, it is easy to become absorbed in the world along with the characters and the setting is both vivid and exciting.

The story line that Divided Souls follows isn't one that I found to be too Cliched in many aspects, not all, just many. The classic love triangle-esque aspect was, I thought, tastefully done and didn't drag on for too long. The love interests were handled in a tasteful and quite delicate way, which did not enter into being irritating or slutty (cheating) in any way. 

If any characters annoy me from this novel it is Isabella's, I know and fully understand how unique and difficult her situation is but she really makes NO effort to fit in or to stop complaining so much about her situation. I adore Richard!! His personality is original and he is a genuinely likable character of which I cannot help but be fond of and feel sorry for. He is sweet and genuinely concerned about those that he cares about and would walk through burning fire for them.

I really found Divided Souls to be a great novel and will begin Lost Spirits ASAP

"Single and ready to tingle.
Cassie burst into laughter. ‘Mingle!’
Isabella grinned. ‘Deliberate mistake.’
‘Freudian slip, more like!'"

I rate Divided Souls Four out of Five!