[Review] Spells by Aprilynne Pike

Spells by Aprilynne Pike

Rating: 2 Stars

Series: Wings #2

Release Date: June 23th 2009

Goodreads synopsis:

Although Laurel has come to accept her true identity as a faerie, she refuses to turn her back on her human life - and especially her boyfriend, David - to return to the faerie world.

But when she is summoned to Avalon, Laurel's feelings for the charismatic faerie sentry Tamani are undeniable. She is forced to make a choice - a choice that could break her heart.

FAERIES ARE FLOWERS

Spells is the second book of Aprilynne Pike's Wings series. After discovering that she is a fairy is the first installment, Laurel attempts to learn more about not only what but who she is, and who she wants to become. To due this she visits Avalon, the magical faerie homeland and learns about her powers to protect the ones she loves. There she is both enchanted and disturbed by fairy society. Away from Avalon, life becomes only increasing chaotic as Laurel deals with her family, best friend,old enemies, and new allies who still may be more foe than friend. 

What I liked was the expanded mythology. It seemed so interesting, strange and unique. With out giving specifics away, not only are the fey plants but they have a strict class system based on what season they bloom. This is justify by the increased rareness and power of each class. I found the lifestyles and interactions of various fey very interesting.There are a few hints of Arthurian, Celtic, Japanese, and miscellaneous mythology but so far these are only tidbits as Pike continues to draw primarily from her own imagination for a magical system.

What I disliked was the choose to focus on romance over both plot and mythology.The book starts with the main character ENTERING the faerie realm. Not only that, but she is going to LEARN about magic. Yet Pike doesn't go into much detail about what she's studying besides listing half a dozen random plants and their uses use here or there. I mean their's a scene where Laurel is a room FULL of magical experiments and the narrative focuses on another girl's jealous and Laurel's amazement at seeing serious students. SERIOUSLY I would love to have seen different plant species,potion recipes, a clue to how they work, instead we get one sentence about a plant grow faster. Avalon is used mostly as an excuse for Laurel to spend time with Tamani. Most of story taking place there focuses on their growing relationship. Likewise most of the story outside of Avalon has Laurel spending time with David or thinking of one of them. Even when she is in danger,the moments when the story is most plot driven, she is with one of them. I can't fairly determine how strong a main character Laurel is because she is rarely forced to deal with problems on her own. However, worrying more about boy issues than murderous trolls is never a good sign. 

Overall The thing is I usually like fantasy romance books, but I need there to be a main conflict that supersedes the romance. I need to feel like plot is the prime rib, with action, humor and romance all added to the dish like accentuating flavors, adding to my enjoyment. In this book it was the other way around, the one conflict being addressed continuously throughout the book being the main character's love life. The other (often life threatening) problems were secondary, focused only here and there by the narrative, and consequently the readers thoughts. Overall these conflicts made up a comparatively small portion of the book, leaving the love triangle as the main course. It's not that the Pike's magically mythology didn't stand in it's own right, just not enough.

[Review] Turned by Morgan Rice

Turned by Morgan Rice

Rating: 3 Stars

Series: The Vampire Journals #1
Version: E-book

Release Date: January 24th 2011

Goodreads synopsis:

Eighteen year old Caitlin Paine finds herself uprooted from her nice suburb and forced to attend a dangerous New York City high school when her Mom moves again. The one ray of light in her new surroundings is Jonah, a new classmate who takes an instant liking to her. Before their romance can blossom, Caitlin suddenly finds herself changing. She is overcome by a superhuman strength, a sensitivity to light, a desire to feed--by feelings she does not understand. She seeks answers to what’s happening to her, and her cravings lead her to the wrong place at the wrong time. Her eyes are opened to a hidden world, right beneath her feet, thriving underground in New York City. She finds herself caught between two dangerous covens, right in the middle of a vampire war.

It is at this moment that Caitlin meets Caleb, a mysterious and powerful vampire who rescues her from the dark forces. He needs her to help lead him to the legendary lost artifact. And she needs him for answers, and for protection. Together, they will need to answer one crucial question: who was her real father? Caitlin finds herself caught between two men as something else arises between them: a forbidden love. A love between the races that will risk both of their lives, and will force them to decide whether to risk it all for each other

YES, this in another vampire book, foo, got that off my chest. Now lets get started. 

The novel Turned is meant to be an interest peeking introduction to Morgan Rice's The Vampire Journals series. And at this, for me, it succeeds.

I was intrigued by the mythology,plot and main character in that order. With out giving much away the mythology focuses on the existence of different vampire species and a prophesied war. There are also Biblical allusions. As this is an introductory book much is left to be revealed. The plot revolves around the main character's realization of who she is and the part she will play in the prophecy. And of course her romance between human Jonah and vampire Caleb. Caitlin has grown up constantly moving from town to town as result of her not so good single mother's incapability to keep a job. This has given her an amount of self-sufficiency but has not hardened her into a loner who doesn't want to make a friend or two. In this book she plays both the savior and the damsel in distress (though even then she tries to hold her own.)

What I didn't like about this book was the common typos and romance. Yes there is a love triangle forming is this book, but the boys seem to also represent her conflict over wanting to just be normal or become something more. The main issue I have with this book is that both relationships seem forced. Especially the one between her and Caleb.

Over all I found this book an interesting start to a new vampire series. Those who like vampire or just general paranormal romance should defiantly give this book a try. Those who are not a big fan or looking for a really different or original take should stay clear. This book is new version of an old formula but a good one. Hey if it ain't broke why fix it?