Beastkeeper by Cat Hellisen

Title: Beastkeeper
Author: Cat Hellisen
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co
Release Date:February 3rd 2015
Source: ALAMW

Summary from Goodreads:
Powerful love comes with a price. Who will be the sacrifice?

Sarah has always been on the move. Her mother hates the cold, so every few months her parents pack their bags and drag her off after the sun. She’s grown up lonely and longing for magic. She doesn’t know that it’s magic her parents are running from.

When Sarah’s mother walks out on their family, all the strange old magic they have tried to hide from comes rising into their mundane world. Her father begins to change into something wild and beastly, but before his transformation is complete, he takes Sarah to her grandparents—people she has never met, didn’t even know were still alive.

Deep in the forest, in a crumbling ruin of a castle, Sarah begins to untangle the layers of curses affecting her family bloodlines, until she discovers that the curse has carried over to her, too. The day she falls in love for the first time, Sarah will transform into a beast . . . unless she can figure out a way to break the curse forever.

Review

Beastkeeper is a magical story that takes you by the hand into the mysterious forest full of secrets and adventure.  The beautiful and descriptive writing brings the characters and the setting to life.  At first I thought the story was taking place in an ordinary world until the story progressed and the magic came out of hiding.  Sarah is a strong young lady that uses both her heart and brain when making decisions.  Sarah is faced with difficult circumstances and new life challenges both of which she faces head on.

I thought Beastkeeper was going to be another well done retelling of Beauty and the Beast.  It was far different then I imagined; the story does have some traces of the classic fairy tale but Beastkeeper really makes the story its own.  I really enjoyed that while the curse does revolve around love, this story is not a love story.  It is a true good versus evil kind of fairy tale.

I highly recommend this unique fairy tale if you are in the mood for a feel good, magical, character driven book! Beastkeeper highlights strong moral values and being the better person in the toughest of situations all through the eyes of a young girl.

Ruin & Rising by Leigh Bardugo

Title: Ruin & Rising
Series: The Grisha #3
Author: Leigh Bardugo
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co.
Release Date: June 17, 2014
Pages: 417
Source: Purchased

Summary from Goodreads:
The capital has fallen.

The Darkling rules Ravka from his shadow throne.

Now the nation's fate rests with a broken Sun Summoner, a disgraced tracker, and the shattered remnants of a once-great magical army.

Deep in an ancient network of tunnels and caverns, a weakened Alina must submit to the dubious protection of the Apparat and the zealots who worship her as a Saint. Yet her plans lie elsewhere, with the hunt for the elusive firebird and the hope that an outlaw prince still survives.

Alina will have to forge new alliances and put aside old rivalries as she and Mal race to find the last of Morozova's amplifiers. But as she begins to unravel the Darkling's secrets, she reveals a past that will forever alter her understanding of the bond they share and the power she wields. The firebird is the one thing that stands between Ravka and destruction—and claiming it could cost Alina the very future she’s fighting for.

Review

Over the past three years I have completely fallen in love with these characters and this world that Leigh Bardugo has created. I have had so many smiles and laughs and swoons as well as plenty of well-timed fits and anxiety attacks. I am sad that this series has finally come to an end, but I can’t think of a better conclusion for this story. It was wonderful.

When I look back at this series, I'd say Shadow & Bone was more plot-driven, whereas, Siege and Storm was more character-driven. But Ruin & Rising was a nice balance of both. The second half contained much of the action, but I still loved the first half. How could I not when most of it was filled with witty quips from my boyfriend, Nikolai? But really, I love this set of characters so much that I just love spending time with them. They don't have to be battling the Darkling or hunting down one of Morozova's amplifiers to have my attention.

I really think it is a gift when you can love a set of characters so completely as I do with this series.

I think like things ended the way that they should have – for the characters and for Ravka. It was fitting to the story and provided complete closure. Did everything unfold exactly as I would have liked? No, not exactly. I would have preferred Nikolai be in every single scene. But when you love a series so much, a good, strong ending is the best you can ask for. And I was more than satisfied.

I can't recommend this series enough, but I don't think I have to because it's reputation precedes itself. Every book in this series is strong and the story itself is so unique and fun. The characters are perfect. The writing is superb. I really can't say enough positive things about it. If you haven't started this series, or continued with it, I encourage you to do so.

The Kiss of Deception by Mary E. Pearson

Title: The Kiss of Deception
Series: The Remnant Chronicles #1
Author: Mary E. Pearson
Publisher: Henry Holt
Release Date: July 15, 2014
Pages: 492
Source: ARC, ALAMW

Summary from Goodreads:
In this timeless new trilogy about love and sacrifice, a princess must find her place in a reborn world.

In a society steeped in tradition, Princess Lia’s life follows a preordained course. As First Daughter, she is expected to have the revered gift of sight—but she doesn’t—and she knows her parents are perpetrating a sham when they arrange her marriage to secure an alliance with a neighboring kingdom—to a prince she has never met.

On the morning of her wedding, Lia flees to a distant village. She settles into a new life, hopeful when two mysterious and handsome strangers arrive—and unaware that one is the jilted prince and the other an assassin sent to kill her. Deception abounds, and Lia finds herself on the brink of unlocking perilous secrets—even as she finds herself falling in love.

Review

Hot damn this book was GOOD.

Lia flees her kingdom and duties as princess to escape an arranged marriage. She settles in a distant village and shortly thereafter two strangers arrive - one who is the prince she fled from, the other, an assassin sent to kill her and prevent the alliance her marriage would create. Lia doesn't know the true identity of either, of course, and neither do readers. All we know is that there is a man named Raffe and a man named Kaden, one is the prince, one is the assassin. And Lia's un-princess-like behavior surprises both men, which motivates them to extend their stay and get to know her. Both vie for her attention, and Lia starts to form attachments to each of them, though one more than the other.

I have never read a story told this way and I freaking loved it. Not knowing who was who but knowing that one of them wanted needed to kill her created a whole new layer of suspense and intrigue. The first 300 pages or so take place more or less in the village and are focused on the growing relationship between Lia and these two men. After that, things get even more interesting. I really couldn't read fast enough. I devoured this book.

As great as the plot was, the characters were even better.  I loved Lia - her stubbornness, defiance, willpower, discipline, strength, compassion. She was fierce and intelligent. Everything I could hope for in a female lead. A true warrior. AND THESE MEN! Both of these men were swoon worthy to some degree. Both were handsome, capable, honorable, dangerous, complex, and willing to fight for Lia. There was a bit of healthy competition between them over Lia and I ate it up. The dynamic that Pearson created was irresistible. But don't worry love triangle haters, Lia clearly prefers one over the other. Meanwhile, the secondary characters were just as strong, all with their own stories and admirable qualities. Such a wonderful cast of characters all around.

I can't recommend this book enough. But if I can leave you with a piece of advice, don't try and guess who is who! I thought I was supposed to know but was just dense so I used context clues in the beginning to figure out who was the prince and who was the assassin AND I WAS WRONG. So yeah, I had a bit of a surprise at page 303 and had to realign myself.

Really, I loved this one. It is easily a new favorite!