Review: The Lost Prince

(© goodreads)

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‘The Lost Prince‘
by Julie Kagawa

The Call of the Forgotten # 1

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First Sentence:
“‘My name is Ethan Chase. And I may not live to see my eighteenth birthday.”

Last Sentence:
“And for the first time, I wasn’t afraid.”.

Synopsis:
Don’t look at Them. Never let Them know you can see Them.
That is Ethan Chase’s unbreakable rule. Until the fey he avoids at all costs—including his reputation—begin to disappear, and Ethan is attacked. Now he must change the rules to protect his family. To save a girl he never thought he’s dare to fall for.
Ethan thought he had protected himself from his older sister’s world—the land of Faery. His previous time in the Iron Realm left him with nothing but fear and disgust for the world Meghan Chase has made her home, a land of myths and talking cats, of magic and seductive enemies. But when destiny comes for Ethan, there is no escape from a danger long, long forgotten.
(Source: Goodreads.com)

My thoughts about the book:
I was back again in the Nevernever and I have enjoyed my visit! Particularly, because it was already a certain time ago that I’ve read the ‘Iron Fey’ series and I’ve missed the world and some characters in it so much.

I’m aware that I’m prejudiced and that I can’t rate the books of Kagawa any more objectively because I am simply just so a big fan of her and her world full of fairies. Other readers might like this book not so much than I did, because I also see the weak spots in the story and within the characters, but nevertheless, I was totally enthused – I think it’s always like that when you’re in love, as well as I’m with her stories. And also her writing style is as usual always just indescribable magnificent, with wonderful and dreamlike descriptions of the scenery – picturesquely like a famous painting.

This book now is about the younger brother of Meghan, Ethan Chase, who isn’t so small at all and nice, like we have got to know him in the ‘Iron Fey’ series, but he has become stubborn, recalcitrant and tall– also built very well and attractively. (You only have to look at the incredible cover! ^^)

Ethan is able to see the fairies since he was born, but he dissimulate this secret because the fairy only gets him in trouble, in big trouble, what leads to the fact that Ethan is reserved and therefore also lives a more or less lonesome, dreary life. The only ones, who know about his ability, are Meghan – who left to life with the fairies – and his mother, who doesn’t speak of these things, because she fears them. So he is totally on his own. Hence it’s understandable that he is quite a sourpuss, at least at the beginning. Of course this changes after his acquaintance with Kenzie, where we are already by the female main character.

I have really liked both, Ethan and Kenzie, and I could get involved with them very well and fast. They were also a great couple and they showed a nice see-saw. And I also must confess that Ethan reminds me a little of Ash, with his often rotten mood and his constant humming. But in return Kenzie is completely different than Meghan! She is a disobedient, headstrong, cheeky and strong personality and has whined not once, although she also has to deal with some hard things. I also think now for me she is one of my newest favorite characters and I find them both great, really great and I’m already looking forward to read more about them in the next part. To be honest – I can’t wait and I’m dying here while waiting for the second book. :/

But unfortunately I couldn’t completely feel with in the same way like I did with the first series (with Meghan and Ash) what is probably due to the fact, that Ethan is telling the story from his POV and therefore it’s clear that there are mentioned less feelings and emotions, which rules in him (but otherwise it also would be a little unsexy ^^). Often I also felt that he brooded constantly and too often over the same problem, although it was already discussed and I fear that this will also go on in the next part.
But nevertheless I’m really looking forward to the second part, because I want to read more about them and I also want to know how it goes on with the other characters. Particularly with Keeiran and Annwyln.

However, I think it’s a little pity that though Ash, Meghan or Puck showed up, they only were present for a very short time and hadn’t an important role in it. For me that would be okay, if it was just Meghan and Ash, but that also Puck and Grimalkin were very absent, has surprised me. I’ve really hoped for Puck that he gets a nice part again and gets this time also his happy-end, but unfortunately no. And instead of Grimalkin,  these Razor got the steadier role beside the main characters and though it was also funny when he has chirped the first time ‘bad Kitty’, it become dull after the third time.

Also the plot wasn’t so very surprising  in the story, because I’ve foreseen parts of it, which were also confirmed later on, for example the thing with the queen or with Kenzie. There Kagawa has probably already pointed to it too early, as well as the thing with the mysterious ‘Forgotten’ was no surprise for me. But I think that I see that rather fast in such a way, because I’ve already read all the other books from her. For somebody who doesn’t know ‘The Iron Fey’ series, the book offers more new things and surprise. However then the joy of seeing all the other characters from the first series again, is missing, which I really liked . So everything has his own advantages.
But I think, one can also read this book without having read ‘The Iron Fey’ series before. Everything is explained and one can follow the story also without foreknowledge.

Cover:
This is an amazing cover which shows Ethan matchless at it. It’s really brilliant and there you only want to start reading the book immediately, right?

All in all:
Not as good as ‘The Iron Fey’ series, because in my opinion there were many similar things in it, but nevertheless still a highlight and Kagawa writes for me the best and most fantastic fairy stories.

Rating:
4 of 5 points – (Great, Great, Great) (

Quotes:

 Kenzie: “No need to be nasty,” she said, seeming unconcerned with my aggressiveness. “I’m not asking for a date, tough guy, just your name.”

Grimalkin: “Well, well,” answered a cool, amused voice from somewhere above us. “And here you are again. Ethan Chase, your family does have a knack for getting into trouble.”

Ethan: ‘The cat trotted briskly ahead, neither slowing down or glancing back to see if we were still there, and we had to scramble to keep up. I wondered if Meghan hat this same problem when she first came to the Nevernever.’

Puck to Ethan: “Sit down. Geez, kid, do I look like a nurse? Why are you always bleeding whenever I see you? You’re worse than ice-boy.”..

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A huge Thanks for the eBooks to:

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Succession:

# 1: Julie Kagawa - The Lost Prince »»
# 2: Julie Kagawa - The Traitor Son
# 3: Julie Kagawa – Untitled

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© goodreads.com

About the author – Julie Kagawa:
She was born in Sacramento, California. But nothing exciting really happened to her there. So, at the age of nine she and her family moved to Hawaii, which she soon discovered was inhabited by large carnivorous insects, colonies of house geckos, and frequent hurricanes. She spent much of her time in the ocean, when she wasn’t getting chased out of it by reef sharks, jellyfish, and the odd eel. (Source: goodreads.com)

Visit her Website »»

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Rezension: The Lost Prince

(© goodreads)

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‘The Lost Prince’
by Julie Kagawa

The Call of the Forgotten # 1

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First Sentence:
“‘My name is Ethan Chase. And I may not live to see my eighteenth birthday.”

Last Sentence:
“And for the first time, I wasn’t afraid.”.

Inhaltsangabe:
Don’t look at Them. Never let Them know you can see Them.
That is Ethan Chase’s unbreakable rule. Until the fey he avoids at all costs—including his reputation—begin to disappear, and Ethan is attacked. Now he must change the rules to protect his family. To save a girl he never thought he’s dare to fall for.
Ethan thought he had protected himself from his older sister’s world—the land of Faery. His previous time in the Iron Realm left him with nothing but fear and disgust for the world Meghan Chase has made her home, a land of myths and talking cats, of magic and seductive enemies. But when destiny comes for Ethan, there is no escape from a danger long, long forgotten.
(Source: Goodreads.com)

Meine Gedanken zum Buch:
Ich war wieder zurück im Nevernever und ich habe den Besuch genossen! Besonders, da es schon eine gewisse Zeit her war und ich auch einige Charaktere darin sehr vermisst habe.

Mir ist bewusst, dass ich voreingenommen bin und die Bücher von Kagawa nicht mehr objektiv bewerten kann, weil ich einfach an Fan von ihr und ihrer Welt voller Feen bin. Andere dürfte dieses Buch vielleicht nicht so gefallen wie mir, ich sehe nämlich auch die Schwachstellen in der Geschichte und bei den Charakteren, aber trotzdem war ich begeistert – so ist es wohl immer, wenn man verliebt ist, so wie ich in ihre Geschichten. Und auch ihr Schreibstil ist wie immer grandios, mit wundervollen und traumhaften Beschreibungen der Szenerie – malerisch wie auf einem Gemälde.

Dieses Buch handelt also nun von dem kleinen Bruder von Meghan, Ethan Chase, der gar nicht mehr so klein und lieb ist, wie wir ihn in der Plötzlich Fee Reihe kennengelernt haben, sondern er ist ganz schön bockig, widerspenstig und groß geworden–gut gebaut und attraktiv. (Schaut euch nur das Cover an! ^^)

Ethan kann seit jeher die Feen sehen, verheimlicht das aber, weil sie ihm nur Ärger einhandeln, mächtigen Ärger, was dazu führt, dass Ethan sich zurück gezogen hat und ein mehr oder weniger einsames, tristes Leben führt. Die einzigen die von seiner Fähigkeit wissen, sind Meghan, die in das Feenland abgehauen ist und seine Mutter, die über diese Dinge aus Angst nicht mit ihm spricht. Er ist also ganz auf sich allein gestellt. Daher ist es nachvollziehbar, dass er ein ziemlicher Miesepeter ist, zumindest zu Beginn. Natürlich ändert das seine Bekanntschaft mit Kenzie, wo wir auch schon beim weiblichen Hauptcharakter wären.

Beide, Ethan und Kenzie, haben mir sehr gut gefallen und man konnte sich gut mit ihnen einlassen. Sie gaben es gutes Pärchen ab, ein nettes hin und her. Wobei ich gestehen muss, dass Ethan mich doch sehr an Ash erinnert, mit seiner oft miesen Laune und seinem ständigen Gebrummel. Dafür ist aber Kenzie komplett anders als Meghan! Sie ist eine widerspenstige, sture, freche und starke Persönlichkeit und hat kein einziges Mal gejammert, obwohl auch sie einige harte Dinge zu bewältigen hat. Ich glaube, für mich ist sie nun eine meiner neuesten Lieblingscharaktere und ich finde sie toll, wirklich toll und ich freue mich schon auf den nächsten Teil um mehr von ihr zu lesen.

Leider konnte ich aber nicht ganz so mitfiebern, wie bei der ersten Reihe, was wohl daran liegt, dass Ethan die Geschichte erzählt und dadurch ganz klar, weniger auf die Gefühle eingegangen wird, die in ihm herrschen. Oft ist es mir auch so gegangen, dass er ständig und zu oft über das gleiche Problem grübelte, obwohl es schon besprochen wurde und ich fürchte, dass dies auch in den nächsten Teil noch so weitergehen wird.
Aber ich freue mich trotzdem darauf, besonders weil ich auch wissen will, wie es mit den anderen Charakteren weitergeht. Besonders mit Keeiran und Annwyln.

Schade finde ich aber, dass wenig von Ash, Meghan dabei war – war ja für mich klar war. Aber das auch Puck und Grimalkin sehr abwesend waren, hat mich doch überrascht. Hatte für Puck gehofft, dass er wieder eine nette Nebenrolle bekommt und dieses Mal sein Happy End kriegt, aber leider nein. Und statt Grimalkin hat diese Razor die stetigere Rolle neben den Hauptfiguren bekommen, wobei es beim ersten Mal ja noch lustig war, als er ‚Bad Kitty’ gezirpt hat, dann aber nicht mehr so. Schade, schade.

Auch ist es von der Handlung her nicht sehr überraschend gewesen, Teile habe ich voraus gesehen und wurden mir dann auch bestätigt, wie zb. Die Sache mit der Königin oder das mit Kenzie. Da hat Kagawa wohl schon zu früh darauf hingewiesen, wie auch die Sache mit den ‚Forgotten’ war kein Überraschungseffekt mehr dabei. Aber ich denke dass sehe ich eher so, weil ich die anderen Bücher schon alle gelesen habe. Für jemanden der ‚Plötzlich Fee’ noch nicht kennt, bietet das Buch mehr neues. Dafür ist aber auch die Wiedersehens-Freude bei den Charakteren aus der anderen Reihe nicht da. Also hat alles seine Vorteile.
Aber ich denke, man kann dieses Buch auch lesen, ohne vorher die Plötzlich Fee Reihe gelesen zu haben. Es wird alles erklärt und man kann der Geschichte auch ohne Vorwissen folgen.

Englisches Cover:
Wunderschönes Cover, welches Ethan darauf klasse zeigt. Wirklich wunderschön und da möchte man doch sofort beginnen zu lesen, oder?

All in all:
Etwas schwächer als die ‚Plötzlich Fee’ Reihe, da vieles ähnlich auf mich wirkte, aber trotzdem noch immer ein Highlight und Kagawa schreibt für mich die besten und fantastischsten Feengeschichten

Rating:
4 of 5 points – (Great, Great, Great)
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Quotes:

 Kenzie: “No need to be nasty,” she said, seeming unconcerned with my aggressiveness. “I’m not asking for a date, tough guy, just your name.”

Grimalkin: “Well, well,” answered a cool, amused voice from somewhere above us. “And here you are again. Ethan Chase, your family does have a knack for getting into trouble.”

Ethan: ‘The cat trotted briskly ahead, neither slowing down or glancing back to see if we were still there, and we had to scramble to keep up. I wondered if Meghan hat this same problem when she first came to the Nevernever.’

Puck to Ethan: “Sit down. Geez, kid, do I look like a nurse? Why are you always bleeding whenever I see you? You’re worse than ice-boy.”..

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Ein herzliches Dankeschön für das ebook an:

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Serienreihenfolge:

# 1: Julie Kagawa - The Lost Prince »»
# 2: Julie Kagawa - The Traitor Son
# 3: Julie Kagawa – Untitled
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(© goodreads.com)

About the author – Julie Kagawa:
She was born in Sacramento, California. But nothing exciting really happened to her there. So, at the age of nine she and her family moved to Hawaii, which she soon discovered was inhabited by large carnivorous insects, colonies of house geckos, and frequent hurricanes. She spent much of her time in the ocean, when she wasn’t getting chased out of it by reef sharks, jellyfish, and the odd eel. (Source: goodreads.com)

Visit her Website »»

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[Leserunde] Gegen das Sommerlicht feat. Sabrina

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Sabrina und ich wollen ab heute unsere Leserunde starten und gemeinsam “Gegen das Sommerlicht” von Melissa Marr lesen, der erste Teil in der “Wicked Lovely”- Reihe.
Dabei haben wir uns entschieden, die Diskussionen rund um das Buch auf unsere Blogs zu verlegen. Nach jeweils zwei/ drei Kapiteln folgt hier immer ein kleiner Zwischenbericht, indem ich über den bisherigen Eindruck schreiben werde. (Daher: SpoilerGefahr!).

Sabrinas Eindrücke über das Buch könnt ihr hier finden: Link folgen »»

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Wer sich bei der Leserunde anschließen und mitdiskutieren möchte, ist natürlich herzlich eingeladen. Wir würden uns freuen. ♥

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Leserunde

Von klein auf kann Ash Elfen sehen, menschengroß, unheimlich, manchmal zudringlich – von klein auf hält sie diese Gabe aber geheim. Einer der Elfen, Keenan, beginnt ihr zu folgen, wohin auch immer sie geht. Wann immer er in Ashs Nähe ist, spürt sie Sommerlicht auf der Haut und riecht den Duft wilder Blumen. Doch da ist auch dieses Gefühl von Bedrohung. Ash und ihr Vertrauter Seth entdecken eine Welt voller seltsamer Regeln und Gefahren, und bald erkennt Ash, dass nicht nur ihre Zukunft mit Seth auf dem Spiel steht.
(Quelle: Goodreads).

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Start-Update: Ich finde das Cover total schön und ich freue mich auch wegen der Inhaltsangabe schon total auf die Geschichte. Das einzige Problem, das ich aber nun ganz am Anfang habe, ist der Name – wie kann ich über ein Mädchen lesen, das Ash heißt und in dem Feen vorkommen…? Da muss ich doch ständig an Prinz Ash von der ‘Plötzlich Fee’- Reihe denken und er gehört zu meinen Lieblingscharakteren. Hoffe das gibt sich nach ein paar Kapiteln!

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1. Update (Nach 2 Kapitel): Nach 2 Kapiteln kann ich sagen, dass ich den Anschein habe, dass dies ein Buch/ Reihe für mich werden könnte. Bisher bin ich positiv gestimmt und ich freue mich schon mehr von der Geschichte rund um Ashlyn zu lesen. Sie ist mir schon jetzt sympathisch und auch Seth ist von Beginn an sehr liebenswert und ‘anders’. Fürchte aber, dass dieser ‘Elf’ Keenan gehörig dazwischen funken wird…

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2. Update (Nach 6 Kapitel): Ich bin jetzt ein Stückchen weiter, weil ich erstens wenig Zeit habe zum Lesen, nebenbei auch ein anderes Buch lese, das auch über Feen handelt und ich ehrlich gesagt gerade nicht so motiviert bin bei diesem Buch. Anfänglich war es gut, Ashlyn und Seth fand ich interessant. Aber dann kam das Kapitel aus der Sicht von Keenan und nun von Donia und beide haben mich jetzt nicht besonders interessiert. Keenan kann ich aus einem bestimmten Grund bisher wenig leiden, er ist nur schlecht gelaunt oder jammert in Gedanken – kann sehr wenig mit ihm anfangen – und Donia schwärmt noch immer von ihm, obwohl er schuld an ihrer Misere ist und sie von vorne bis hinten ‚verarscht‘ hat. Ich hoffe wieder auf eine Besserung!

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3. Update (Nach 28 Kapitel): Okay, ich gestehe – ich habe nun mehr Kapitel gelesen als beabsichtig und bin nun schon fast durch – zum Glück. Wer jetzt glaubt mir gefällt das Buch so gut, dass ich jetzt schon so weit bin, der irrt sich. Ich will momentan einfach nur schnell damit fertig werden, damit ich es wieder weg legen kann. Bis auf Seth, einer der Hauptcharaktere, kann ich wenig damit anfangen. Ist leider wirklich nicht ganz mein Geschmack und ich finde es etwas zermürbend, … hoffe das Ende wird noch ein kleines Highlight hergeben, ansonsten wird meine Bewertung ziemlich schlecht aussehen.

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4. Update (Fertig): Ich bin durch und froh darüber – leider war es kein Buch für mich und nach der anfänglichen Begeisterung hat es mich nur enttäuscht. Warum das genau war, erfährt ihr dann in meiner Rezension.

[Ankündigung] Leserunde mit Sabrina

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Kleinbrina und ich haben uns vorgenommen gemeinsam “Gegen das Sommerlicht” von Melissa Marr zu lesen, der erste Teil der “Wicked Lovely”-Reihe. Ab 20.08.21012 startet dazu unsere Leserunde und wir haben uns dazu entschieden, die Diskussionen rund um das Buch auf unsere Blogs zu verlegen. Nach jeweils zwei- drei Kapiteln folgt immer ein kleiner Zwischenbericht, indem ich über den bisherigen Eindruck schreiben werde. (daher: SpoilerGefahr!).

Wer sich bei der Leserunde anschließen und mitdiskutieren möchte, ist natürlich herzlich eingeladen. Wir würden uns freuen. ♥

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Leserunde

Von klein auf kann Ash Elfen sehen, menschengroß, unheimlich, manchmal zudringlich – von klein auf hält sie diese Gabe aber geheim. Einer der Elfen, Keenan, beginnt ihr zu folgen, wohin auch immer sie geht. Wann immer er in Ashs Nähe ist, spürt sie Sommerlicht auf der Haut und riecht den Duft wilder Blumen. Doch da ist auch dieses Gefühl von Bedrohung. Ash und ihr ertrauter Seth entdecken eine Welt voller seltsamer Regeln und Gefahren. Bald erkennt Ash, dass nicht nur ihre Zukunft mit Seth auf dem Spiel steht. (Quelle: Goodreads).

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Vor-Update: Ich finde das Cover total schön und ich freue mich auch wegen der Inhaltsangabe schon total auf die Geschichte. Das Buch war schon seit ewigen Zeiten auf meinem SUB (so wie auch bei Sabrina) und nun wollen wir es endlich gemeinsam angehen. Es wird sicher spannend, lustig und emotional; zumindest hoffe ich das!

Cover Reveal: Frühlingsnacht

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Cover Reveal for ‘Frühlingsnacht‘
by Julie Kagawa

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© randomhouse.de

Endlich ist das langerwartete Cover für den letzten und vierten Teil der ‘Plötzlich Fee’ Reihe veröffentlicht und ich muss sagen, ich bin begeistert!
Mir gefällt dieses Cover von allen vier Büchern am besten und fast schon besser als das englische Cover (obwohl dort Prinz Ash oben ist ^^)

Für alle, die nun schon mit Spannung auf den letzten Teil auf Deutsch warten – das Erscheinungsdatum ist der: 20.08.2012!

Ihr könnt das Buch bereits vorbestellen:
* Amazon
* Thalia
* Bücher.de
* Libre.de
* Weltbild

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Cover Reveal: The Lost Prince

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Cover Reveal for ‘The Lost Prince‘
by Julie Kagawa

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It’s the first book in her upcoming spinoff series of the Iron Fey. The new series is set some years after the last book ‘The Iron Knight’ and is telling the story about Ethan, Meghan’s younger brother. The new series is called ->
‘The Iron Fey- Call Of The Forgotten‘
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(© goodreads)

I’m a huge fan of the ‘Iron Fey’ series by Kagawa and Prince Ash is one of my all-time-favorite characteres and I just love Kagawa’s writing style and her imagination. Therefore I’m really looking forward to this new series and I’m totally curious about it. So you can be sure that I’ll be one of the first who will order her new book with this awesome cover!! *wohoo*

If you want more information about the book and the new series, here you can visit: goodreads »»
Or the blog of Julie Kagawa »»
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And if you also want to buy the book, here you can visit: Barnes & Noble »»

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Review: My Soul to Take

English Cover

German Cover

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‘My Soul To Take‘
by Rachel Vincent

Soul Screamers # 1
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Synopsis:
She doesn’t see dead people. She senses when someone near her is about to die. And when that happens, a force beyond her control compels her to scream bloody murder. Literally.
Kaylee just wants to enjoy having caught the attention of the hottest guy in school. But a normal date is hard to come by when Nash seems to know more about her need to scream than she does. And when classmates start dropping dead for no apparent reason, only Kaylee knows who’ll be next. (Source: Goodreads.com).

My thoughts about the book:
The book delivers a direct entrance in the story of Kaylee who has the morbid ability to feel the coming death of other people. She doesn’t know it with certainty though, but always when she sees somebody wrapped in shades, the menacing death is omnipresent and she must struggle with all her strength against an ear-deafening scream from her own throat. Up to now she was never sure if the people really died or if she was just crazy. Up to that evening in a disco when she gets this frightening feeling again and can just barely disappear, before the scream leaves her throat. The next day she finds out in the news that her foreboding has become true and the girl has really passed away; without evident reason. Kaylee is despaired and turns to her best friend Emma, and also to the attractive Nash, because of several different circumstances. Both of them stand aside Kaylee to solve her mystery.
From the story and the plot this book was really exciting and a real page-turner but parts of it didn’t work for me, nevertheless. In fact the writing style of the author is okay, but then she writes single words in her sentences over and over again, like Kaylee is thinking them. For example: ‘damned!’ or ‘Oh no!’ which is too sloppy for me and doesn’t fit to the rest of her writing.
Here, moreover, I have AGAIN the same problem, like with many other YA books, that especially the best friend is constantly lifted up and in the foreground, above all because of her extraordinary attractiveness. Emma is blond, brown-eyed, incredibly pretty, has a great body with the right curves and every guy at school would do everything to be together with her. In contrast Kaylee looks with her blue eyes, her slight build and brunette hair totally average and these facts are mentioned in the book every few pages.

If this wasn’t already enough, that it sounded very similar to other books, then there are also some other facts which seemed to me very copied. Namely one of the hottest guys of the whole school falls in love with Kaylee and although he is, actually, a womanizer, he means it serious with the average Kaylee… Okay? To whom this seems familiar and who can’t read it anymore – please, just raise your hand! Thanks – you can take your hand down again.
What I liked in this book was, that it was written thrilling and was an absolutely a fast read, although I could foresee some things in it and they particularly didn’t surprised me. But well, it is just a YA book and hence, I probably must throttle my expectations a little. Unfortunately, the anticipation for the book was once again higher than the actual reading pleasure and in the future I’ll have to pay less attention and better not to listen too much to other opinions and reviews.

Cover:
A great cover which has immediately made me to buy it. Nice and interesting at the same time, and above all once also something different. I really like it very much.

All in all:
An interesting book with an exciting plot but which also possesses a few weaknesses.

Rating:
3 of 5 points

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Succession:

#0,5: Rachel Vincent – My Soul to Lose
# 1:     Rachel Vincent – My Soul to Take »
# 2:     Rachel Vincent – My Soul to Save
# 3:     Rachel Vincent – My Soul to Keep
# 3,5: Rachel Vincent – Reaper
# 4:     Rachel Vincent – My Soul to Steal
# 5:     Rachel Vincent – If I Die
# 5,5: Rachel Vincent – Never to Sleep
# 6:     Rachel Vincent – Before I Wake

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(© goodreads)

About the author – Rachel Vincent:

A resident of San Antonio, Rachel Vincent has a BA in English and an overactive imagination, and consistently finds the latter to be more practical. She shares her workspace with two black cats (Kaci and Nyx) and her # 1 fan. Rachel is older than she looks-seriously-and younger than she feels, but remains convinced that for every day she spends writing, one more day will be added to her lifespan.
(Source: goodreads.com)

Visit her Website »»

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Review: The Iron Knight (engl.)

(© goodreads)

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‘The Iron Knight‘
by Julie Kagawa

Iron Fey # 4

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Synopsis:
Ash and Puck are on their search for the cat sidhe Grimalkin to ask him for a favor, to help them, so that Ash cans earn a soul and become mortal. After their successful search they continue their way to a special seer, who knows the way to the end of the world and can tell them the secret, how a fairy can gain a soul. But when they arrive their Ash has to ask himself if you really want this? If he really wants to stay with Meghan and wants to become a mortal who will die in the end? And if he says ‘yes’, is he doing it because of his own freewill or because of his oath? …

First Sentence:
“Oy, ice-boy! You sure you know where you’re going?”. I  ignored  Robin  Goodfellow  as  we  wove  through  the  gray  murk  of  the  wyldwood,  pushing  farther  into  the  soggy  swamp  known  as  the  Bone Marsh.

My thoughts about the book:
Like in the other books before Kagawa did here a nice and great job as well and her writing is still just admirable. She has a great feeling for writing wonderful descriptions of the surroundings, with all their miracles and colors and extraordinary creatures. Furthermore she came up again with many great and spectacular twists and plot and in my opinion her creativity knows no bounds.
About the plot I’ve to say that it is just ‘top’ and there are just a few points, which I didn’t like so much. On one hand the beginning tracked a little and was not such as thrilling as in the other books. At first they searched for Grimalkin, afterwards they searched for the seer and then they searched for the end of the world. Of course Kagawa didn’t let them just walk around and have a little talk- there were fights, wild creatures, new characters and thrilling moments as well… but not like in the usual style and so it wasn’t so exciting and fresh like in the books before. But on the other hand I really liked it that it was written from Ash’s POV and we got the chance to look behind his façade, and what we saw was just indescribable und beautiful – brave and strong with stamina and in spite of everything he’s still capable of loving completely and with no hesitates. *sigh* If Ash would be a real man und not an imaginary one, then there would be no hold of me and I would try everything to go to this fairyland to get him.
But enough of Ash – we already know what we have with him. Let us talk about the other characters, for example Puck, whom I really like as well and who is still a great and funny character and can always put a smile on your face. And therefore I really hope that Kagawa is continuing to write another book in which Puck find his true love, and I wouldn’t care if there also other characters in it, but want I would want is a happy ending for Puck – he just deserves one In this book I also liked Grimalkin’s quotes again; they were funny and sniffy, like a real cat behaves. I just missed Meghan in it – something that was obvious because she could be with them, but I would have appreciate it, if there would have been more dream frequencies, in which Ash and Meghan could be together. Or I would have liked some reviews of shared moments of Ash and Meghan from the past, to read them from Ash’s POV.

And now – I just have to write some spoilers now – so please stop reading now if you haven’t read the book yet. !! SPOILER ALERT !!

For my taste the ending was there too fast, after the long way and their hard trails, which Ash and his companion had to survive. I would have liked to read more about what happened after their happy meeting in the iron court – did they really get her baby boy? Did they marry as well? What about Puck? Or about the other courts – will there be a war or not? And is Ash now still an immortal fey or not? And what about Meghan’s family in the mortal world – will she see them again or not?
All this questions unanswered questions leave a bitter taste in my mouth after I finished this book (also because I was said it’s really over now). Furthermore the solution Kagawa wrote with Ariella and how everything happened was great and I really thought of this idea in the second and third book. Ariella hast do show up, because Ash would have never been really happy or couldn’t really love Meghan with his pure and full heart, because he was still blaming himself for her death and was still mourning her. And so they got their ending and he could finish it – though some parts of her are still with him and so he can go on now with a new love. So great plot and great idea and great ending – just perfect!
But I also have to admit that from the time she showed up till the time Ash chose Meghan for his future, I had a really hard time to read the book. All this chapters I felt like I had heartache and lost a love… it felt like he was betraying Meghan because he was so confused and couldn’t decided what he want – and it got even worse when he told himself, he has to be with Meghan because of his oath – I really felt like crying because this was befouling Meghan’s and Ash’s moments together… So I really was glad how it turned out in the end. Kagawa did a great job playing with my feelings – it was a steady ‘up and down’ of the feelings. But now with a great ending, which leaves me with a sad heart because it’s over, but also with a smile on my face because it was just a beautiful and unique journey.

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Julie Kagawa wrote a short story especially for Valentines Day 2012 and if you want to read about the date of Meghan & Ash, then
follow the »» LINK!!
 ♥ I really love it, but take care, it also contains spoilers!  ♥

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English Cover:
Like the other covers, this one is great as well and now Ash’s face is gazing at us (though I’ve imagined him more distinctive) and his Cover has also these great lines and ornaments, which I also love on the other books. *nice*

All in all:
For all fans of this series an absolute highlight and a ‘must-read’! For all who haven’t read this series yet – start with the first book right now – you won’t regret it!

Rating:
3,5 of 5 points..

Quotes:

Grimalkin:  “Additionaly, you can paint a neon sign over our heads that says, ‘Easy meal, fol ow the flashing lights.”

Ash:  “I am still yours, my queen, if you’ll  have me.”

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Succession:

# 1: Julie Kagawa – The Iron King
# 1,5: Julie Kagawa – Winter’s Passage
# 2: Julie Kagawa – The Iron Daughter
# 3: Julie Kagawa – The Iron Queen
# 3,5: Julie Kagawa – Summer’s Crossing
# 4: Julie Kagawa – The Iron Knight

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