Ink Exchange by: Melissa Marr

Ink Exchange by: Melissa Marr
Publication Date: May 1, 2008
Publisher: HarperTeen
Page Count: 325
Format: Paperback
Series: Wicked Lovely #2
Buy the Book: Amazon

Summary from Goodreads:

 Unbeknownst to mortals, a power struggle is unfolding in a world of shadows and danger. After centuries of stability, the balance among the Faery Courts has altered, and Irial, ruler of the Dark Court, is battling to hold his rebellious and newly vulnerable fey together. If he fails, bloodshed and brutality will follow.

Seventeen-year-old Leslie knows nothing of faeries or their intrigues. When she is attracted to an eerily beautiful tattoo of eyes and wings, all she knows is that she has to have it, convinced it is a tangible symbol of changes she desperately craves for her own life.

The tattoo does bring changes—not the kind Leslie has dreamed of, but sinister, compelling changes that are more than symbolic. Those changes will bind Leslie and Irial together, drawing Leslie deeper and deeper into the faery world, unable to resist its allures, and helpless to withstand its perils. . . .

My Review:

This book was not at all what I initially expected. After reading Wicked Lovely, I thought this would be a continuation of that story, as I am sure a lot of other people thought too. However, Leslie's story was a pleasant surprise once I began reading.

What bothered me, starting off, was that I only got to see Aislinn whenever and however the other characters saw her. This disappointed me a little because I was really looking forward to seeing how she adjusted to being the Summer Queen and being more involved with the Faerie world.

Leslie's life was hard and lots of bad things had happened to her, thus making her stronger and a perfect target for Irial, especially because she thought that getting a tattoo would make things better for her. She was a pretty amazing and resilient character, I think. A lot of times she was kept in the dark about certain matters and even though I know her friends didn't want her involved in Faerie politics, I think she should've been more in the know.

Niall is probably my favorite character in the series so far.  Maybe it was the way he fought his nature or maybe it was the way he would do anything in the world for Leslie, but either way, the complexity of him was so enticing. I loved it.  He was in the first book a tiny bit, and more in this one, and I hope to see more of him later in the series.

The end was kind of heartbreaking to me, but still a proper ending. One of the characters began to gain some serious humanity, thanks to Leslie, and one took on a role that he never intended to play.

This all makes me even more eager to dive into Fragile Eternity!

Official Rating:

Three and a half Un-Birthday Cakes!

The Iron Knight by: Julie Kagawa

The Iron Knight by: Julie Kagawa

Published: October 25, 2011

Publisher: Harlequin TEEN

Page Count: 361

Format: Paperback

Series: Iron Fey #4

Summary from Goodreads:

Ash, former prince of the Winter Court, gave up everything. His title, his home, even his vow of loyalty. All for a girl… and all for nothing.

Unless he can earn a soul.

To cold, emotionless faery prince Ash, love was a weakness for mortals and fools. His own love had died a horrible death, killing any gentler feelings the Winter prince might have had. Or so he thought.

 Then Meghan Chase—a half human, half fey slip of a girl— smashed through his barricades, binding him to her irrevocably with his oath to be her knight. And when all of Faery nearly fell to the Iron fey, she severed their bond to save his life. Meghan is now the Iron Queen, ruler of a realm where no Winter or Summer fey can survive.

 With the (unwelcome) company of his archrival, Summer Court prankster Puck, and the infuriating cait sith Grimalkin, Ash begins a journey he is bound to see through to its end— a quest to find a way to honor his solemn vow to stand by Meghan’s side.

 To survive in the Iron realm, Ash must have a soul and a mortal body. But the tests he must face to earn these things are impossible. At least, no one has ever passed to tell the tale.

 And then Ash learns something that changes everything. A truth that turns reality upside down, challenges his darkest beliefs and shows him that, sometimes, it takes more than courage to make the ultimate sacrifice.

 My Review:
    Since this book is the last in the Iron Fey series, one of my all-time favorites, I felt the need to stretch out the reading time. Well, that kind of worked. And then it didn't. Nevertheless, I think the series came to a comfortable and happy ending.
    At the beginning, and I guess all through the book, Ash and Puck were always in some sort of scuffle. Puck's usual banter made me love him even more, as it always does. That, and Ash's serious and determined state, made for a great pairing to go on an adventure. Maybe not to them, but definitely for the readers!
    I seriously wonder if Grimalkin is based on the Cheshire Cat from Alice in Wonderland. The way he speaks and disappears all the time seems oddly similar. Nevertheless, I really love him! He always knew the answers to things and had a way of making everyone else look oblivious.
   The lack of Meghan's POV had me stopping occasionally to remind myself that Ash was the narrator in this book, not her. I guess that's just because I was so attuned to seeing Meghan's. The POV change I was a little concerned about at first. I don't know why, Ash had amazing thoughts that only proved how loyal and good a character he was. There were a few flashbacks that let us see both the best and the worst of him. To me, It made me further realize the effect that being in love with Ariella, and then Meghan, had on him.
     Unlike the previous books, this one takes place entirely in the Nevernever. Only a tiny scene at the end is in the mortal world. This I just loved, because the way that Julie Kagawa expresses the nature and creatures that roam in the wyldwood other parts of Faery is made of just pure amazement.
     Ash and Puck gain some unlikely companions in this book on their quest for Ash's soul. I am not at liberty to say, so you should go read it and find out! Seriously, go NOW!

Wicked Lovely by: Melissa Marr

Wicked Lovely by: Melissa Marr
Published: June 17, 2007
Publisher: HarperTeen
Page Count: 328
Format: Paperback
Series: Wicked Lovely Series #1
Buy the Book: Amazon

Summary from HarperTeen:

Rule #3: Don't stare at invisible faeries.

Aislinn has always seen faeries. Powerful and dangerous, they walk hidden in mortal world. Aislinn fears their cruelty—especially if they learn of her Sight—and wishes she were as blind to their presence as other teens.

Rule #2: Don't speak to invisible faeries.

Now faeries are stalking her. One of them, Keenan, who is equal parts terrifying and alluring, is trying to talk to her, asking questions Aislinn is afraid to answer.

Rule #1: Don't ever attract their attention.

But it's too late. Keenan is the Summer King who has sought his queen for nine centuries. Without her, summer itself will perish. He is determined that Aislinn will become the Summer Queen at any cost—regardless of her plans or desires.

Suddenly none of the rules that have kept Aislinn safe are working anymore, and everything is on the line: her freedom; her best friend, Seth; her life; everything.

Faerie intrigue, mortal love, and the clash of ancient rules and modern expectations swirl together in Melissa Marr's stunning 21^st century faery tale.

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My Review:

      I was excited about starting this series from the get-go. After finishing the Iron Fey series by: Julie Kagawa, I needed to get started on some more faery stuff! This seemed like the perfect solution, and I had heard lots of marvelous things about this series beforehand. And now I have my own marvelous things to say about it!
    Aislinn's ability to see faeries is apparent on the first pages of the book, which I liked. It automatically hooked me onto something unique about Aislinn's character. She seemed pretty smart about avoiding the faeries, until she met Keenan.
    It seems like Keenan has real feelings for Aislinn, but he also talks about courting her like it is a duty he has to fulfill, all business. It confused me a bit at first as to where his true feelings lay. As for Aislinn, she seemed to be constantly swallowing her feelings for him, no matter that they always came back up eventually. This definitely qualifies as an potential love triangle because of her blossoming relationship with Seth, that she isn't ashamed of.
     Seth was one of those eccentric people who seemed a bit off to me at first but I came to love him a lot. His eccentricity, I found, was what really made him different and compatible with Aislinn and her Sight. The fact that he lives in train cars was so cool and mystic to me!
    My favorite character that I really connected with and understood was Donia. She was in so much pain all the time and she brushed it off knowing that she must fulfill the vow she took when she took on the Winter Queen's chill, all because she loved Keenan that much. She seemed to be just hanging on all through the book until the end, not recognized or credited enough for the risks she took and the love she still secretly held for Keenan.

    The book in all was awesome. It was paranormal fantasy but there was a lot of interpersonal things going on too that would be found in a contemporary novel. The perfect balance. Now my desire to read Ink Exchange has peaked again writing this review!