WINTER’S PASSAGE by Julie Kagawa

Part of the Iron Fey Series, book 1.5 in series
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Date published: June 2010
ASIN: B003N2QUZG
Fantasy Young Adult
E-book
Reviewed by Dawn
Obtained by Publisher


Meghan has just found out she is half-fey and a princess to boot. After the battle with the iron Fey, Meghan and Ash go back to her home to go to the Winter Court. Meghan asks to visit her friend Puck, a servant to her father, King Oberon. On the way to visit Puck, Meghan and Ash find out that something is hunting them and it may be that Ash isn’t able to stop whomever it is in time.

I absolutely loved THE IRON KING (Book 1 in series). It was a wonderfully told story that had fairies, magic, secrets and more all wrapped up in the pages and in this short novella, we get to see what happens in between THE IRON KING ending and the beginning of THE IRON DAUGHTER. Writing in the same way as her first book, THE IRON KING, Ms. Kagawa delivers a story that is full of action, mysteries and more that will hook you until the very end. I don’t want to say too much as this is a short story (about sixty pages) and I don’t want to give away too much.

In WINTER’S PASSAGE, Meghan and Ash have left her home in the human world and are traveling in the Fairy world. On their way to visit Puck, who was injured in the fight against the Iron King, Meghan and Ash find themselves being hunted by a foe that Ash may not be able to defeat. Can they figure who is hunting them and survive to get to the Winter Kingdom? A great cast of characters continue in this short book. We have got some returning friends (Meghan, Ash) and a few new ones to enjoy in WINTER’S PASSAGE. I loved how multi-dimensional the characters are. They fairly simmer with emotions and literally step off the pages and into your living room. The secondary characters keep the story flowing smoothly and enjoyable.

Tight writing, fast paced storyline and more make up the Iron Fey series. If you haven’t picked up THE IRON KING yet, I highly suggest you do before reading WINTER’S PASSAGE. It might confuse you on events that happened in the first book in WINTER’S PASSAGE. Julie Kagawa has a surefire hit in her series, The Iron Fey, and one I am eager to know more of. I am looking forward to reading more of her Iron Fey in the future. Run-don’t walk-to grab the Iron Fey series. This will truly deliver an afternoon of reading pleasure in more ways than one.

This is an objective review and not an endorsement of this book.

THE IRON KING by Julie Kagawa

Publisher Harlequin Teen
Date published February 2010
ISBN 978-0-378-21008-4
Young Adult/Fantasy/Contemporary
Mass Market Paperback
Obtained via: Library
Reviewed by Dawn




Meghan Chase is a lonely, unpopular girl who is about to find her entire life as she knows it is about to change when she turns sixteen and finds a past and a future about to collide in a way that will change everything she ever knew. Sixteen was to be the year for Meghan…what she gets instead is secrets, wars and a life irrevocably changed…for good or bad even Meghan doesn’t know. Can Meghan steer her way thru faerie court and rescue her brother before it is too late…for herself, her family and the faerie world?

THE IRON KING is a story that will leave you spellbound. I could not put this one down, it was that good. It has been a bit since I read a young adult story that has kick butt action, intriguing characters, a new spin on faerie worlds and has me eager for the next book in the series. Ms. Kagawa does an amazing job incorporating faerie myths into her new take on it and delivers it with a dash of the matrix, romance, danger and some interesting secondary characters that had me grinning in delight. A new to me author, Ms. Kagawa writes an intriguing story that will have you flipping the pages to see what would happen next.

Meet Meghan Chase, a girl who thinks the best thing in her life is getting her permit when she turns sixteen. What she gets instead is secrets revealed about who and what she is and danger on every corner. Meghan was a fun heroine to read-sassy, vulnerable and determined to do the right thing even if it meant her death. She was a strong and intelligent heroine who connected with me as a reader. It was a nice change of pace to see how this author created such a wonderfully complex character in THE IRON KING. Then you have Puck and Ash, two very different heroes yet they really keep the reader glued to the pages as well. Puck made me laugh as he tried to lighten up things and Ash was the opposite with his sometimes stern and cold demeanor. Total opposites but both held a place in Meghan’s heart. Ms. Kagawa delivers some wonderful secondary characters as well to keep the story flowing smoothly.

THE IRON KING is a story that will literally transport you into this wonderful world Ms. Kagawa created. Full of interesting and complex characters, a fast paced storyline and a romance that leaves you wishing for a happily ever after, this is an author that must be on your reading list. The setting itself was a contrast, one minute all sweetness and light, then next it was edgy and danger filled. It was a nice mixture to keep the reader entertained till the very end. THE IRON KING is a story that will literally keep you guessing from all the plot twists. One minute you might have figured out what happens next then this author will turn it on its head and deliver something else that has you go “oh my god!”. If you haven’t picked up THE IRON KING, then I urge you to do so quickly. Ms. Kagawa is a masterful storyteller who will literally keep you spellbound until the very end. I am eagerly waiting the next book The Iron Daughter, in August and cannot wait for more adventures of Meghan, Puck and Ash in the world of faerie. Run; don’t walk, to grab this one. This is one book I am definitely reading again.


THIS IS NOT AN ENDORSEMENT OF THIS BOOK. THIS IS AN OBJECTIVE UNBIASED REVIEW

MY SOUL TO SAVE Soul Screamers Series Book 2 by Rachel Vincent

Publisher: Harlequin Teen Date published: December 2009 ISBN: 978-0-373-21004-6 Paranormal YA Paperback Reviewed by Dawn Obtained by Library Kaylee Cavanaugh is a banshee and when she screams, someone dies. When a popular pop star dies in front of Kaylee, she anticipates the wail that comes but is surprised to find that she can’t wail for someone who has no soul. Now it is a race against time as she, Nash and her friends try to stop the next person who is due to die: Addison Page. Kaylee will do anything to stop the deaths even if it means losing everything, including her own. Oh man, Ms. Vincent’s new series is unbelievable. This picks up six weeks after the end of the first book, MY SOUL TO TAKE and frankly, I was enthralled with it within a matter of minutes. I love Nash and Kaylee together. With some subtle twists and turns, Ms. Vincent keeps the adrenaline running until the very last page. Tight writing, fast pace and countless twists keep the reader glued to the edge of their seats till the very end. I closed the book and breathed a sigh of pure pleasure and had to race to see when book three comes out. Kaylee has been trying to get used to being a banshee- Some days it works great; other days, not so great. When she is drawn into the netherworld and demon breath, she finds herself in over her head. I was eager to read more about the netherworld and though some of the secondary characters made me want to slap them sometimes in disgust, Ms. Vincent does a great job in keeping the reader intrigued by what would happen next. The only drawback was the way Tod, Nash’s brother & reaper was portrayed. He felt off to me and half the time I wanted to tell him to go jump off a cliff. He didn’t have the same connection as in the first book and it came across in the pages as he joined Kaylee and Nash on their mission into the netherworld. I am hoping in future books Tod gets his sense of humor back and stop being so morose. It kind of got old pretty quick. In all, MY SOUL TO SAVE was a fun and entertaining read that I read in less than three hours. I am eager to see what other adventures Kaylee has in the future. If you are looking for a fun, paranormal young adult series to enjoy, then grab Soul Screamers book 1 and 2 (MY SOUL TO TAKE and MY SOUL TO SAVE). I do recommend reading the first book to understand some of the back-story mentions that are sprinkled throughout MY SOUL TO SAVE. Overall, Ms. Vincent is a wonderful author who completely captivates her readers’ with her books. I am highly anticipating her next Soul Screamer book. THIS IS NOT AN ENDORSEMENT OF THIS BOOK. THIS IS AN OBJECTIVE UNBIASED REVIEW.

INTERTWINED by Gena Showalter

Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Date published: September 2009
ISBN: 978-0-373-21002-2
Urban Fantasy/Young Adult
Hardcover
Obtained via: self-purchase
Reviewed by Dawn



For 16-year old Aden Stone, having some peace and quiet was out of the question. Aden was unusual as he had four living souls inside him. One that time travels; another who has visions; One who raises the dead and one who can possess another human. Hearing their voices for years, Aden is surprised to find one day that one person negates those voices and powers- Mary Ann Gray. How and why she does this to him is a mystery that he is determined to solve. What he doesn’t expect is to find a world where werewolves, vampires and more, are alive and after Aden for some reason. For Aden, Mary Ann and their friends, life is about to get messy as secrets come out that will either kill them all or make them hope for a future.

I love Gena Showalter’s Lords series and thought I would try one of her young adult books for a spell. INTERTWINED is an interesting story about a boy with living souls, a mystery that sucks the reader in and a relationship that grows between friendship and romance. Ms. Showalter definitely keeps the reader entertained but at times, I was thrown for a loop when some secondary characters came in and then left again with no end in their storyline. I am not sure if that was intentional or not by the author since there is another book coming with Aden Stone in the future. Ms. Showalter definitely delivers a spine tingling story though that had me entertained straight through the evening. I was fascinated by the way Aden moved through life and dealt with the fact that he had souls living inside him and they have caused him problems in the past. Ms. Showalter keeps the pace even and builds it up as the cast of characters grows to include Mary Ann, a girl who negates Aden’s powers, vampires and a werewolf.

INTERTWINED is an interesting story that young adults will enjoy and Ms. Showalter keeps the tension on high as the pace picks up as it speeds toward a climatic ending, which left me with more questions. I enjoyed the way Aden grew as a character as he found friends and a destiny that has him reeling in shock as well as a love with a girl that is as unusual as him. Ms. Showalter is a fantastic storyteller who delivers a story full of mysteries, a great cast of characters and tight writing that will leave you gasping for more. Can Aden survive to see another day? Find out in INTERTWINED. I just hope the wait isn’t long for the next book starring the unusual Aden Stone and his friends.


THIS IS NOT AN ENDORSEMENT OF THIS BOOK. THIS IS AN OBJECTIVE UNBIASED REVIEW