Another short story that I read on Christmas, a science fiction tale of squirrels and what might happen if they were able to learn as humans do.  When a TV is left in an enclosed space in the woods, Mr. Tucker, a squirrel and his other squirrel followers take to watching it and learning from it.  Mr. Tucker likes to takes Sunday drives with the man who left the TV.  When something is different about the gas station that his human companion goes to.  Mr. Tucker and the squirrels use their knowledge to help out.  

Yay for squirrels!  In this short story, a lonely older man finds solace within a special squirrel that has taken to his abandoned television.  Something so ordinary to us has been taken to a different place with Mr. Tucker.  In a weird turn of events at the strange gas station, I'm glad that the squirrels were able to save the day. 

Fifteen year old Alexandria Grimaldi is a hybrid; her mother was a fairy and her father was half demon/ half warlock.  Her father was also heir to the Underworld.  After her birth, there was a power struggle in the Underworld and her father's brother, Sama'el gained power.  Alexandria's parents both died, but not before her father cursed Sama'el to stay in the Underworld. Alexandria was raised by her Grandmother and Aunts in the human realm, believing that she was simply a witch.  However, when Sama'el believes that Alexandria is the key to removing the curse, he sends demons after her.  Alexandria and her Grandmother find asylum in a supernatural realm.  Alexandria must attend a magic school, where she isn't exactly welcome as a demon and where she finds out even more secrets about her past.  

The premise of this book was interesting, and as a young adult paranormal adventure, there was definitely potential with the story line.  Alex's character grew on me as she learned about her powers, past and her potential as a fairy/demon hybrid.  However, this was an early reviewers copy and there were significant editing errors that affected my enjoyment of the story.  Usually, a small error here or there in an ARC can be overlooked, but there were many in here.  For example, there were words missing from sentences: "But for some reason my mother lied to the man and told him all she about was the baby(pg 177)."  Even within the context of the story I did not really know what this sentence meant.  There was wrong usage of words: " You're so insecure that you feel like you have to pick on people who you wrongly thing you're better than (pg 68)." I got what this was saying, but I had to do a double take.  In addition, there was just poor sentence structure: "Well, at least you're convinced. Even my tutoring Mr. Dekker aren't helping. I reply (pg 65)." In the story Alex is receiving tutoring from Mr. Dekker, the sentence makes it seem like she is the tutor.  Overall, this had the makings of a decent story; I did read it all the way through since I wanted to know what would happen.  The ending picks up as Alex figures out how she must fight her Uncle Sama'el, but after that the ending is quite abrupt, it seems like it could use an epilogue or even just a good concluding sentence.   


This book was received for free in return for an honest review. 

A land divided by it's history, Bulikov was once a beautiful city whose people were ruled by six Divinities capable of the miraculous, while the people of nearby Saypur have toiled away without the benefit of anyone Divine and their miracles.  The Kaj of Saypur has long since killed the Divinities of Bulikov and has outlawed the people of Bulikov from  even mentioning the names of their former Divinities.  When a historian is killed in Bulikov after researching the Divinities, Shara Komayd is dispatched to investigate.  Shara is a high level spy and a relative of the Kaj, but has taken the identity of a low-level Cultural Ambassador.  Shara and her Dreyling assistant, Sigrud quickly realize that there is more to the historian's death than they realized and that they Divinities that were supposed to be dead, may not be.

This was an absolutely fascinating read and I'm still having some trouble getting all of my thoughts together about it.  This is an epic fantasy with a wonderful mystery, great characters and a wonderful setting.  It did take me a little while to get into the plot, but once Shara's character hit the scene and began investigating, I was fully committed.   First of all, the world-building and culture building was fabulous.  I felt like I could picture everything in the city of Bulikov as well as understand the Divinities and the magic they used.  Shara was an excellent female lead, she is smart, but very real.  I also fell in love with Sigrud, who at first seems like he is just the muscle behind Shara, but ends up saving everyone more than once and then is given a tender backstory and personality. The mystery aspect of the story, why historian Efrem Pangyui was killed, may have been one small part, but it was also used as a jumping point for a much more complex examination of the politics and hidden secrets of Bulikov that results in an epic battle. Overall, City of Stairs is a well written epic fantasy that I was able to fully immerse myself into.

This book was received for free in return for an honest review. 

Aemi has spent her life as a slave in the Village of the Rocks.  She has grown up hearing stories of the dangerous People of the Sea.  Lately, the Old Man who she works for has been muttering that the People of the Sea have been watching them; everyone thinks that the Old Man is crazy, until the People of the Sea rise out of the water to burn the town and take prisoners.  Aemi is taken along with the Mayor's son, Nol, her village rival.  Aemi and Nol are taken to an impressive city under the sea and made to be indentured servants to a wealthy family.  Aemi, however only has one thing on her mind- escape, and she might just have to work with Nol to do it.  When war erupts under the sea, Aemi discovers something that changes her perspective and that might hold the key for peace in the underwater cities.

A fun and fast-paced young adult read that is set in a beautifully created and interesting world.  Aemi was also an awesome character, though she is a slave, she is confident, strong, and smart.  She has made friends and knows how to throw a spear.  The city under the sea is very well described, the world building was very imaginative; I could picture the gardens, the rooms with the ocean sky-views and even the ships.  Although, I did wish a little more was explained as to why the People of the Sea were down there in the first place and how they had all of this advanced technology when the people on land did not.  Anyway, I enjoyed Aemi and Nol's adventures underwater along with the plot twist about Aemi's past near the end.  Also, there is not really a focus on any love story so far and that was nice to see in a YA novel.  Aemi is left with a lot of decisions to make at the end of Sea and Stone and I will check out the rest of the books in the series to see what happens. 

This book was received for free in return for an honest review.