Midnight in Austenland by Shannon Hale

Title: Midnight in Austenland (Austenland #2)

Author: Shannon Hale

Publisher: Bloomsbury 2012

Genre: Fiction

Pages: 272

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Library; A to Z - M; Seriously Series

When Charlotte Kinder treats herself to a two-week vacation at Austenland, she happily leaves behind her ex-husband and his delightful new wife, her ever-grateful children, and all the rest of her real life in America. She dons a bonnet and stays at a country manor house that provides an immersive Austen experience, complete with gentleman actors who cater to the guests' Austen fantasies.
Everyone at Pembrook Park is playing a role, but increasingly, Charlotte isn't sure where roles end and reality begins. And as the parlor games turn a little bit menacing, she finds she needs more than a good corset to keep herself safe. Is the brooding Mr. Mallery as sinister as he seems? What is Miss Gardenside's mysterious ailment? Was that an actual dead body in the secret attic room? And-perhaps of the most lasting importance-could the stirrings in Charlotte's heart be a sign of real-life love?

A lovely little breezy book to start off the year right. I didn't love this one as much as the first in the series, but it was still a treat. We get to see some familiar characters (Miss Charming, Colonel Andrews, and of course Mrs. Wattlesbrook), plus some great new ones. Miss Gardenside was my favorite. I figured her twist out right away, but she was a nice character to follow. My main issue was with the main character. I wasn't huge fan of Charlotte, but grew to like her more as the story progressed. The murder mystery was a bit forced at times, but was still enjoyable. A nice companion novel to Austenland.

Austenland:

#1 Austenland
#2 Midnight in Austenland

Evernight by Kristen Callihan

Title: Evernight (Darkest London #5)

Author: Kristen Callihan

Publisher: Hachette Book Group 2014

Genre: Paranormal

Pages: 385

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Fall into Reading; Mount TBR; Seriously Series; 52 Books - W47; Monthly Motif - December That's a Wrap

Once the night comes . . . Will Thorne is living a nightmare, his sanity slowly being drained away by a force he can't control. His talents have made him the perfect assassin for hire. But as he loses his grip on reality, there is no calming him-until he finds his next target: the mysterious Holly Evernight.
Love must cast aside the shadows Holly cannot fathom who would put a contract on her life, yet the moment she touches Will, the connection between them is elemental, undeniable-and she's the only one who can tame his bouts of madness. But other assassins are coming for Holly. Will must transform from killer to protector and find the man who wants Holly dead . . . or his only chance for redemption will be lost.

After two good, but not great volumes, Callihan redeems herself with this awesome engaging book from the Darkest London series. Immediately I fell in love with Will and Holly. Of course, I knew that they would end up together at the end, but I loved their journey. I loved watching the characters grow and open up. I loved their little fights and arguments. I loved the background story and additions to the world of the series. Finally we get to hear more and the fae! We even get a few appearances from previous characters. Thank you Jack Talent! I was engrossed in this novel from page one and couldn't put it down until the end. Can't wait until book six is released next year. I'm betting it will be about Sin and the mysterious lady at the party...

Darkest London

Acceptance by Jeff Vandermeer

Title: Acceptance (Southern Reach #3)

Author: Jeff Vandermeer

Publisher: FSG 2014

Genre: Thriller

Pages: 340

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Fall Reading Challenge; Read Your Freebies; Seriously Series; 52 Books - W46

It is winter in Area X, the mysterious wilderness that has defied explanation for thirty years, rebuffing expedition after expedition, refusing to reveal its secrets. As Area X expands, the agency tasked with investigating and overseeing it--the Southern Reach--has collapsed on itself in confusion. Now one last, desperate team crosses the border, determined to reach a remote island that may hold the answers they've been seeking. If they fail, the outer world is in peril.

Meanwhile, Acceptance tunnels ever deeper into the circumstances surrounding the creation of Area X--what initiated this unnatural upheaval? Among the many who have tried, who has gotten close to understanding Area X--and who may have been corrupted by it?

A fitting and satisfactory end to a very strange science fiction trilogy. I'm still working through all the information presented in this last volume. We get answers, but those answers aren't always so clear. I like the ambiguity in the hows and whys of Area X. I liked getting into the brain of Ghost Bird and the Director a bit more. But my favorite part was learning more about Saul. I found the sections about the lighthouse keeper to be my favorites. Very well written character and great back story. I wanted to know more and more about him. Sadly I knew it was all going to end. I'll just have to fill in the gaps with my own imagination. Overall, a great unconventional trilogy.

Southern Reach:

1. Annihilation
2. Authority
3. Acceptance

Authority by Jeff Vandermeer

Title: Authority (Southern Reach #2)

Author: Jeff Vandermeer

Publisher: FSG 2014

Genre: Thriller

Pages: 340

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Fall Reading Challenge; 52 Books - W45; Read Your Freebies; Seriously Series

After thirty years, the only human engagement with Area X—a seemingly malevolent landscape surrounded by an invisible border and mysteriously wiped clean of all signs of civilization—has been a series of expeditions overseen by a government agency so secret it has almost been forgotten: the Southern Reach. Following the tumultuous twelfth expedition chronicled in Annihilation, the agency is in complete disarray.
John Rodrigues (aka "Control") is the Southern Reach's newly appointed head. Working with a distrustful but desperate team, a series of frustrating interrogations, a cache of hidden notes, and hours of profoundly troubling video footage, Control begins to penetrate the secrets of Area X. But with each discovery he must confront disturbing truths about himself and the agency he's pledged to serve.

I felt like this volume started off slow. Maybe it's the curse of second books in trilogies. but it took me awhile to really get into this book. I did not like Control and was left with a confusing sense of why. That is until little tidbits about Area X started revealing themselves. Then, I dove into the book and didn't come back up until I was done. The twists and turns in this one are even more sinister than the first book. You think that everyone is okay because you're not in Area X. Wrong! Nothing is safe, even on this side of the border. I was thankful for some answered questions, but those answers were very disturbing. I'm interested to see how Vandermeer ends this trilogy.

Southern Reach:

1. Annihilation
2. Authority
3. Acceptance

Annihilation by Jeff Vandermeer

Title: Annihilation (Southern Reach #1)

Author: Jeff Vandermeer

Publisher: FSG 2014

Genre: Thriller

Pages: 209

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Fall Reading Challenge; New Author; Read Your Freebies; Seriously Series

Area X has been cut off from the rest of the continent for decades. Nature has reclaimed the last vestiges of human civilization. The first expedition returned with reports of a pristine, Edenic landscape; the second expedition ended in mass suicide, the third expedition in a hail of gunfire as its members turned on one another. The members of the eleventh expedition returned as shadows of their former selves, and within weeks, all had died of cancer. In Annihilation, the first volume of Jeff VanderMeer's Southern Reach trilogy, we join the twelfth expedition. The group is made up of four women: an anthropologist; a surveyor; a psychologist, the de facto leader; and our narrator, a biologist. Their mission is to map the terrain, record all observations of their surroundings and of one anotioner, and, above all, avoid being contaminated by Area X itself. They arrive expecting the unexpected, and Area X delivers—they discover a massive topographic anomaly and life forms that surpass understanding—but it’s the surprises that came across the border with them and the secrets the expedition members are keeping from one another that change everything.

This one was downright scary! And I have to say that it takes a lot to unnerve me while reading a book. This one did it. The summary sounded liked a fun little science fiction book to help pull me out of the reading slump. In reality, I got an intense psychological thriller and loved every page of it. The narrator is deliciously unreliable. I kept changing my mind about her: good intentions? manipulative? making it all up? I loved the first person narrative as a structure. We get to see the events through the biologist's eyes for better or worse. While the whole book was very scary and suspenseful, I almost had to put it down during the biologist's final descent into the tower. Holy crap that was scary! But also amazingly good! I ended up knocking off a star because I was left with more questions than answers by the end. I will be reading the rest of the series, but felt like we could have had a bit more reveals in the first book.

Southern Reach:

1. Annihilation
2. Authority
3. Acceptance

Shadowdance by Kristen Callihan

Title: Shadowdance (Darkest London #4)

Author: Kristen Callihan

Publisher: Hachette Book Group 2012

Genre: Paranormal

Pages: 427

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Fall Reading Challenge; Mount TBR; 52 Books - W42; Seriously Series

Once a heart is lost in shadow . . .
Life has been anything but kind to Mary Chase. But the Society for the Suppression of Supernaturals has given her purpose. Now she's been tasked with catching a vicious murderer dubbed the Bishop of Charing Cross. But someone is already on the case-and the last thing he relishes is a partner.

Only someone who lives in darkness can find it.
Jack Talent has been alone with his demons for many years. He never expected to have the willful Mary Chase assist him on the Bishop case. Their age-old rivalry reaches new heights-even as their desire for one another reaches a fever pitch. Though he aches to bring her close, Jack's dark secrets are a chasm between them. With dangerous enemies closing in, Jack must find the strength to face the past . . . or risk losing Mary forever.

Another good but not great book in the Darkest London series. I was never interested in learning more about Mary or Jack from the previous books. While I may not have loved the characters, the storyline was much better than the previous full novel. I enjoyed learning more about the Nex and the fallen and the other demons. I will have to pick up the next volume soon to get my paranormal romance fix.

Darkest London

#0.5 Ember
#1 Firelight
#2 Moonglow
#3 Winterblaze
#3.5 Entwined
#4 Shadowdance
#5 Evernight
#6 Spellbound
#7 Forevermore

Entwined by Kristen Callihan

Title: Entwined (Darkest London #3.5)

Author: Kristen Callihan

Publisher: Hachette Book Group 2012

Genre: Paranormal

Pages: 120

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Ebook; Read Your Freebies; 52 Books - W41; Seriously Series

Eamon Evernight has always lived in his older brother's shadow. While his brother is fair of hair and lithe in body, Eamon sparks fear with his fiery locks and massive frame-and rumors of a mysterious power. But when his brother has the good fortune to be betrothed to a beautiful stranger, it's Eamon's help-and quick wit and romantic heart--that he needs. Eamon agrees to write the noble lady...a generous offer that will forever leave him a changed man.
Lady Luella Jane Moran has no interest in an arranged marriage and tries valiantly to dissuade her betrothed from afar. Though her own letters plainly state her case, the words her husband-to-be writes her leave her aching for his touch. Will Lu give in to the desire the missives have kindled within her? Or will desire turn cold when she discovers their true author?

Such a fun little novella to expand the Darkest London universe. I didn't realize how this story fit into the larger one until the last page, but the story itself was worth it. I loved following Luella and Eamon as they discover one another and their own destiny. It was a real treat. Can't wait to read the next volume.

Darkest London

#0.5 Ember
#1 Firelight
#2 Moonglow
#3 Winterblaze
#3.5 Entwined
#4 Shadowdance
#5 Evernight
#6 Spellbound
#7 Forevermore

Fairest: The Return of the Maharaja

Title: Fairest 3: The Return of the Maharaja

Author: Bill Willingham

Publisher: Vertigo 2014

Genre: Fantasy Comics

Pages: 144

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Mount TBR; 52 Books - W38; Read Your Freebies; Seriously Series

When Nalayani seeks the help of the Maharaja to save her village from the Dhole, she uncovers a secret that could change the Fables Universe forever: the still alive and long-thought dead Prince Charming!

Oh yes! I love this series almost as much as I love the original series: Fables. We get some of the characters from the original series (hello Prince Charming!), but expanded storylines. We also get to explore some of the other worlds alluded to in Fables. In this volume, we get to travel to Indu where Mowgli was from. I loved Nalayani's character. She's a strong, nonsense woman. The perfect foil to Prince Charming. And the ending was fantastic. I hope we get to see these two again in the series.

Fairest:

#1 Wide Awake
#2 Hidden Kingdom
In All the Land
#3 The Return of the Maharaja
#4 Cinderella - Of Mice and Men

Winterblaze by Kristen Callihan

Title: Winterblaze (Darkest London #3)

Author: Kristen Callihan

Publisher: Hachette Book Group 2012

Genre: Paranormal

Pages: 411

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Mount TBR; Seriously Series; 52 Books - W37

Once blissfully in love . . . Poppy Lane is keeping secrets. Her powerful gift has earned her membership in the Society for the Suppression of Supernaturals, but she must keep both her ability and her alliance with the Society from her husband, Winston. Yet when Winston is brutally attacked by a werewolf, Poppy's secrets are revealed, leaving Winston's trust in her as broken as his body. Now Poppy will do anything to win back his affections . . .
Their relationship is now put to the ultimate test. Winston Lane soon regains his physical strength but his face and heart still bear the scars of the vicious attack. Drawn into the darkest depths of London, Winston must fight an evil demon that wants to take away the last hope of reconciliation with his wife. As a former police inspector, Winston has intelligence and logic on his side. But it will take the strength of Poppy's love for him to defeat the forces that threaten to tear them apart.

I really wanted to like this volume. I loved the first and second books in the series. I thought I would continue to enjoy this series. I did like the storyline involving the demon Isley. It was interesting was we got an expansion of the Darkest London world. But there were two things that turned me off from the book: main characters and sex scenes. The main characters, Winston and Poppy, paled in comparison to Archer and Miranda or Ian and Daisy. I just could not like these characters no matter what they did. Because I didn't like the main character, I found myself yelling at the book more than enjoying it. My other issue was with the constant sex scenes. Now I like a good steamy sex scene in my books, but it seemed that every other chapter was a sex scene. After awhile, I started skimming those sections. Too much and too much almost sex. It got old after awhile. This novel isn't billed as erotica but paranormal romance. I expect a few sex scenes, but more plot and character development. I didn't get it. Unfortunately this volume fell a bit flat for me. I hope the next in the series is better. I own Shadowdance and I would like to read about more in the world. I guess we will see next month...

Darkest London

#0.5 Ember
#1 Firelight
#2 Moonglow
#3 Winterblaze
#3.5 Entwined
#4 Shadowdance
#5 Evernight
#6 Spellbound
#7 Forevermore

Moonglow by Kristen Callihan

Title: Moonglow (Darkest London #2)

Author: Kristen Callihan

Publisher: Hachette Book Group 2012

Genre: Paranormal

Pages: 382

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Mount TBR; Seriously Series; Monthly Motif - Alternate Reality

Once the seeds of desire are sown . . . Finally free of her suffocating marriage, widow Daisy Ellis Craigmore is ready to embrace the pleasures of life that have long been denied her. Yet her new-found freedom is short lived. A string of unexplained murders has brought danger to Daisy's door, forcing her to turn to the most unlikely of saviors . . .
Their growing passion knows no bounds . . . Ian Ranulf, the Marquis of Northrup, has spent lifetimes hiding his primal nature from London society. But now a vicious killer threatens to expose his secrets. Ian must step out of the shadows and protect the beautiful, fearless Daisy, who awakens in him desires he thought long dead. As their quest to unmask the villain draws them closer together, Daisy has no choice but to reveal her own startling secret, and Ian must face the undeniable truth: Losing his heart to Daisy may be the only way to save his soul.

I thought I really enjoyed the first volume in this series, Firelight. How is it that the second volume is even better? I immediately fell for Daisy and Ian. I was rooting for them the entire time. The complications were riveting. The world expansion was a nice surprise. As was the inclusion of Miranda, Archer, Poppy, and Winston. I was lost in this book until the very end. I could not put it down! Definitely a winner! I can't wait to read the third volume. I hope we get to see more of Poppy and Winston and special appearances by all the already know characters and a few shadowy figures. I want more!

Darkest London

#0.5 Ember
#1 Firelight
#2 Moonglow
#3 Winterblaze
#3.5 Entwined
#4 Shadowdance
#5 Evernight
#6 Spellbound
#7 Forevermore

Ten Things I Love About You by Julia Quinn

Title: Ten Things I Love About You (Bevelstoke #3)

Author: Julia Quinn

Publisher: Avon Books 2010

Genre: Historical Romance

Pages: 377

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Mount TBR; Seriously Series; Monthly Key Word - September (Number); Lucky No. 14 - First Letter's Rule

Ten Things You Should Know About This Book
1. Sebastian Grey is a devilishly handsome rogue with a secret.
2. Annabel Winslow's family voted her The Winslow Most Likely to Speak Her Mind and The Winslow Most Likely to Fall Asleep in Church.
3. Sebastian's uncle is the Earl of Newbury, and if he dies without siring an heir, Sebastian inherits everything.
4. Lord Newbury detests Sebastian and will stop at nothing to prevent this from happening.
5. Lord Newbury has decided that Annabel is the answer to all of his problems.
6. Annabel does not want to marry Lord Newbury, especially when she finds out he once romanced her grandmother.
7 is shocking, 8 is delicious, and 9 is downright wicked, all of which lead the way to
10. Happily. Ever. After.

I started this book on the strength of the second in the series. I was not disappointed. It turned out better than the second book. I loved the characters of Annabel and Sebastian. I loved their predicament. I loved the storyline. Until we got to the last 30 pages. A bit disappointed about the almost deus ex machina, but then fake out. The writing got a bit clunky at the end. But overall, a solid historical romance.

Bevelstoke

#1 The Secret Diary of Miss Miranda Cheever
#2 What Happens in London
#3 Ten Things I Love About You

Sunrise by Mike Mullin

Title: Sunrise (Ashfall #3)

Author: Mike Mullin

Publisher: Tanglewood Press 2014

Genre: YA Thriller

Pages: 554

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Mount TBR; 52 Books - W33; Seriously Series; Chunkster

The Yellowstone supervolcano nearly wiped out the human race. Now, almost a year after the eruption, the survivors seem determined to finish the job. Communities wage war on each other, gangs of cannibals roam the countryside, and what little government survived the eruption has collapsed completely. The ham radio has gone silent. Sickness, cold, and starvation are the survivors' constant companions.
When it becomes apparent that their home is no longer safe and adults are not facing the stark realities, Alex and Darla must create a community that can survive the ongoing disaster, an almost impossible task requiring even more guts and more smarts than ever—and unthinkable sacrifice. If they fail . . . they, their loved ones, and the few remaining survivors will perish.

While I've really enjoyed this series, the last book in the trilogy was a bit of a letdown to me. The writing and storyline were a bit uneven. I found my mind wandering during the story. Bad things keep happening to Alex and company. At a certain point, it almost becomes like a comedy. "Oh the cannibals are attacking again... didn't this happen last week?" And the problem of redundancy got to me at a certain point. I just wanted to find out what happened at the end. I did, and it was fairly satisfying, but wasn't the best book I've ever read.

Ashfall

What Happens in London by Julia Quinn

Title: What Happens in London (Bevelstoke #2)

Author: Julia Quinn

Publisher: Avon 2009

Genre: Historical Romance

Pages: 372

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Mount TBR; Women Author; Seriously Series; 52 Books - W30

When Olivia Bevelstoke is told that her new neighbor may have killed his fiancée, she doesn't believe it for a second, but, still, how can she help spying on him, just to be sure? So she stakes out a spot near her bedroom window, cleverly concealed by curtains, watches, and waits . . . and discovers a most intriguing man, who is definitely up to something.
Sir Harry Valentine works for the boring branch of the War Office, translating documents vital to national security. He's not a spy, but he's had all the training, and when a gorgeous blonde begins to watch him from her window, he is instantly suspicious. But just when he decides that she's nothing more than an annoyingly nosy debutante, he discovers that she might be engaged to a foreign prince, who might be plotting against England. And when Harry is roped into spying on Olivia, he discovers that he might be falling for her himself . . .

I was with this book all the way up to the last 30 pages. And then it just went off the rails for me. We get this story of two interesting characters who eventually fall in love. I loved it! However, the ending involves a kidnapping, an extortion plot, a sudden reversal of character, and a hasty gimicky marriage proposal. No thank you. I could have done without those plot turns. What's so bad with having a nice romance novel focused on characters instead of a cliched plot devices? My advice, read the novel until they arrive at the ball. Then, just quit reading. It's a much better story that way.

Bevelstoke

#1 The Secret Diary of Miss Miranda Cheever
#2 What Happens in London
#3 Ten Things I Love About You

Fairest: In All the Land

Title: Fairest: In All the Land

Author: Bill Willingham

Publisher: Vertigo 2013

Genre: Fantasy Comics

Pages: 160

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Mount TBR; Seriously Series

FAIREST has explored the secret histories of the most stunning beauties in Fabletown: Cinderella, Snow White, Briar Rose, Rapunzel, and the list goes on and on. In FAIREST IN ALL THE LAND, the best names in comics take their turns fleshing out the pasts of the loveliest Fables in existence. For all those wanting to dive into FAIREST or FABLES, this original graphic novel is a fantastic entry point, as well as a great new chapter for those that have been following Bill Willingham's fairy tale epic for years.

Oh I liked this one a lot. Cinderella gets a starring role in a murder mystery starring all our Fairest ladies. We even get to see what's been going on in the Business Office since it was cut off from Fabletown. A very interesting little tale. Even I didn't foresee the entirety of the ending. Nicely constructed storyline giving the readers just enough clues to figure it out with Cindy.

Fairest:

#1 Wide Awake
#2 Hidden Kingdom
In All the Land
#3 The Return of the Maharaja
#4 Cinderella - Of Mice and Men

Fairest: Hidden Kingdom

Title: Fairest 2: Hidden Kingdom

Author: Bill Willingham

Publisher: Vertigo 2013

Genre: Fantasy Comics

Pages: 160

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Mount TBR; Seriously Series; 52 Books - W29

And then, in a 6-part epic, Rapunzel lives one of the most regimented lives in Fabletown, forced to maintain her rapidly growing hair lest her storybook origins be revealed. But when word of her long-lost children surface, she races across the sea to find them--and a former lover.

Oh! I really really enjoyed this volume. Rapunzel was always a small side character in the original series; it was nice for her to get her own story. And what a story it is! This volume got dark and then just when you thought it couldn't, it got even darker. A very interesting storyline about Rapunzel's past colliding with her present featuring some well-known characters (Bigby, Tottenkinder) and some new ones (Tomoko, Mayumi {so creepy!}). A great addition to the Fables universe!

Fairest:

#1 Wide Awake
#2 Hidden Kingdom
In All the Land
#3 The Return of the Maharaja
#4 Cinderella - Of Mice and Men

Firelight by Kristen Callihan

Title: Firelight (Darkest London #1)

Author: Kristen Callihan

Publisher: Hachette Book Group 2012

Genre: Paranormal

Pages: 372

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Mount TBR; Women Authors; Monthly Key Word - December; Seriously Series

London, 1881 Once the flames are ignited . . . Miranda Ellis is a woman tormented. Plagued since birth by a strange and powerful gift, she has spent her entire life struggling to control her exceptional abilities. Yet one innocent but irreversible mistake has left her family's fortune decimated and forced her to wed London's most nefarious nobleman.
They will burn for eternity . . . Lord Benjamin Archer is no ordinary man. Doomed to hide his disfigured face behind masks, Archer knows it's selfish to take Miranda as his bride. Yet he can't help being drawn to the flame-haired beauty whose touch sparks a passion he hasn't felt in a lifetime. When Archer is accused of a series of gruesome murders, he gives in to the beastly nature he has fought so hard to hide from the world. But the curse that haunts him cannot be denied. Now, to save his soul, Miranda will enter a world of dark magic and darker intrigue. For only she can see the man hiding behind the mask.

I was intrigued by the prequel, but was wary of what would actually happen in the series. I need not worry. This series started off amazing! I immediately fell for Miranda and Archer. I rooted for them to finally confess their feelings and their secrets. Of course it happened in the last 20 pages, but that's okay. I was enjoying their journeys. And we get some very interesting side characters. I figured out that the series will continue with some of the side characters and not focus on Miranda and Archer. I'm a little sad to lose them, but this volume explored most of their story. A great start to a hopefully great overall series. Can't wait to read to the next one.

Darkest London

#0.5 Ember
#1 Firelight
#2 Moonglow
#3 Winterblaze
#3.5 Entwined
#4 Shadowdance
#5 Evernight
#6 Spellbound
#7 Forevermore

Fairest: Wide Awake

Title: Fairest 1: Wide Awake

Author: Bill Willingham

Publisher: Vertigo 2012

Genre: Fantasy Comics

Pages: 160

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Mount TBR; Seriously Series

New York Times bestselling, award-winning creator Bill Willingham presents a new series starring the female Fables. Balancing horror, humor and adventure in the Fables tradition, Fairest explores the secret histories of Sleeping Beauty, Rapunzel, Cinderella, The Snow Queen, Thumbelina, Snow White, Rose Red and others.
The first 6-issue tale follows the misadventures of Briar Rose immediately after the events of Fables #107 (collected in Fables Volume 16: Super Team), in which she was stolen away by the goblin army. Following this first collection, Willingham will serve as a consultant on all story arcs and introduce new writers from other mediums to the Fables mythos.

A very delightful spinoff series from the Fables series. I loved hearing more about Briar Rose after she fell asleep to defeat the emperor. And we get Lumi and Ali Baba as great side characters. I had to remind myself of what happened in Fables 16, but once I jogged my memory, it was a great ride. And we even get a bonus story starring a film noir Beast. This volume really peaked my desire to read the rest of this series. Off I go!

Fairest:

#1 Wide Awake
#2 Hidden Kingdom
In All the Land
#3 The Return of the Maharaja
#4 Cinderella - Of Mice and Men

Locke and Key Vol. 6: Alpha and Omega

Title: Locke and Key Vol 6: Alpha and Omega

Author: Joe Hill, Gabriel Rodriguez

Publisher: IDW 2014

Genre: Graphic Novel

Pages: 212

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Mount TBR; Seriously Series; Well-Rounded Reader

The shadows have never been darker and the end has never been closer. Turn the key and open the last door; it's time to say goodbye. The final arc of New York Times bestselling Locke & Key comes to a thunderous and compelling conclusion. An event not to be missed!

A fitting conclusion to a great series. I love just how dark this series gets before the end. This series is not for everyone. It certainly is an adult series dealing with many adult themes. But I love that the protagonists are teenagers. Somehow it makes the story seem more believable. I loved seeing how the final keys came into play and how each side used them. Great conclusion!

Locke and Key:

The Zombie Whisperer by Jesse Petersen

Title: The Zombie Whisperer (Living with the Dead #4)

Author: Jesse Petersen

Publisher: IGLA 2013

Genre: Zombie

Pages: 174

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Ebook; Seriously Series; Lucky 14 - (Not So) Fresh from the Oven; 52 Books - W13

Once a zombie, always a zombie?
Dave and Sarah are pretty happy in the Middle-of-Nowhere, Montana. They’ve done their part in saving the world (kind of) and now they’re settling in for a long life of killing straggler zombies. Well, they think that’s what they’re doing until a helicopter lands on their front lawn with old friends Nicole Nessing and Robbie “The Kid” on board. They propose a dangerous plan: Dave and Sarah must return to Seattle and use Dave’s Superpowers to help with the final stages of a formula that will not only wipe out most of the zombies, but innocluate humans against the virus.
Going back to Seattle was never in the plan. Especially since Sarah has a few secrets of her own that could change her marriage, increase the danger they’re facing and even alter the future they’re so desperately trying to save.

A fitting end to the series, but it felt a bit rushed. I would have like a bit more drawn out storyline and action. Maybe a bit more character development. It felt a little odd to see all the old characters in one place, but of course it's all a plot device. I did like the idea of returning to the scene of the crime, so to speak. And the big surprise... guessed it in about the first 5 pages. Overall, I still love traveling the zombie filled west with David and Sarah. I was just wishing for a little more something to give them a proper send-off.

Living with the Dead

#1 Married with Zombies
#2 Flip This Zombie
#3 Eat, Slay, Love
#3.5 Shambling with the Stars
#4 The Zombie Whisperer

The Iron Traitor by Julie Kagawa

Title: The Iron Traitor (The Iron Fey: Call of the Forgotten #2)

Author: Julie Kagawa

Publisher: Harlequin Teen 2013

Genre: YA Paranormal (Fey)

Pages: 342

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Library; Seriously Series; 52 Books -- W10; Well-Rounded Reader -- YA/NA

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.

Much better than the first one in this series. We actually get more of the underlying storyline and more characterization. I loved seeing how Ethan and Keirran evolved throughout the novel. I loved the appearances by Puck and Ash. I loved the concept of the almost final action sequence. I loved the set-up for the third books. I loved the journey Kagawa takes the reader on. The only thing I'm not crazy about: the cliffhanger ending. I figured that was how it was going to end, but reading the actual last page just threw me. I want more! I want to read how this all ends. I want to see where the characters go and how they resolve many of the conflicts. I want to see more of Keirran and Ethan and Kenzie and the Lady and Puck and Ash and even Razor (he really grew on me!).

The Iron Fey