Book Review No. 2 - Firelight

Firelight

By:  Sophie Jordan
Series:  Draki #1
Publisher:  HarperTeen - Sept. 2010
Pages:  323 Hardcover (Own)  
Rating:  5
Book Cover Rating:  5
Read:  Sept. 2011
Genre:  Fantasy Fiction, Young Adult, Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy, Dragons

Morbid Romantica Challenge 2011

By the Mad Scientist

First Line:  Gazing out at the quiet late, I know the risk is worth it. 

Black Disaster Fairy's Take:

Dragons?  Really Dragons?


WOW!  I can't smirk at the concept of dragons no longer.  Sophie Jordan had me deeply enthralled with the draki world she created.  Added bonus... The cover is beautiful!!  


Draki's are descendants of dragons, their secrets must be kept at any price.  They shapeshift into a human form, however, some of their talents are still available.  Jacinda is the first Fire Breather in centuries and she struggles to control her life.  As the soul fire breather her pride has made plans for her future for her.  A future of mating with Cassian, the next alpha, to create more little fire breathers.  Honestly, I think there is a spark between Jacinda and Cassian... Maybe I'm hoping for more in the next book.  *Fingers crossed*


Of course, this leads to the hot headed Jacinda to rebel.  Except she puts her life on the line and risks revealing the secret of the pride.    


She is takes a huge risk... one that changes her life quickly.  Jacinda's mother is pushed into drastic measures, whisking her and her twin Tamra to a town in the desert where they live among the humans.  Against her will she starts to lose her draki side, she will risk even more to keep this part of her alive. 


The chemistry between Jacinda and Will, a draki hunter, is flaming hot.  Smoldering!  LOL!  Will awakens her dying draki senses which is clearly dangerous if she cannot learn to control herself around him.  She has to keep her secret from him, at least for her family and draki everywhere.


Ah, a Forbidden Love!

A hunter in love with his prey. 

It is more then that.  Jacinda struggles to find where she fits in.  What her life is about and where she belongs?  A basic internal conflict of personal identity and purpose that young adults go through.

Sophie Jordan's world flowed wonderfully.  Her characters were diverse with many layers.  I enjoyed finding out about them throughout the book, ALL THE WAY TO THE END!!  Literally!  What an amazing way to end the book!!

Overall, Firelight has wonderful characters and a beautiful world for you to get lost in!  Jacinda will surprise you, the vivid description of the draki's will intrigue you, and a girl fight in the bathroom will draw you in while the uniqueness of the book will keep you reading.

After running for my life from hunters, a girl with too much lip gloss doesn't register on my fear radar.

BDF highly recommends this book!! It is defiantly for more then just the paranormal fan.  Dragons, hunters, and boys!  Oh, My Goodness!

*Recommend by Jen at In The Closet with a Bibliophile*

Book Review No. 1 - Once In A Full Moon

Once in A Full Moon
Full Moon #1

By:  Ellen Schreiber
Publisher:  Katherine Tegen Books - 2010 
Pages:  292 Hardcover (Own)  
Rating:  3
Book Cover Rating:  4
Read:  Sept. 2011
Genre:  Fantasy Fiction, Young Adult, Paranormal Romance, Werewolves

Morbid Romantica Challenge 2011

By the Mad Scientist

First Line:  It began underneath the haunting flow of a full moon.

Black Disaster Fairy's Take:
Once in a Full Moon has not received the best of reviews throughout the blog-o-sphere and GoodReads.  Nonetheless, I decided to push the concern aside and give this book a shot.  It looked like a short read and I couldn't let this signed book sit on the shelf any longer. Too bad the shortness of the book affected the overall quality.


Our cookie cutter good girl is Celeste.  She is lives on the right side of the city, hangs out with the in crowd, and dates the quarterback of the school - Nash.  Celeste's best friends date Nash's friends naturally... it is an ideal sixsome.  Her bland life is launched into a whirl wind of confusion when the mysterious bad boy Brandon shows up at school.

Brandon and his bad rep launch the students into a rumor rage based on a old town legend.  Celeste might just find out how true the werewolf legend is. 


What I didn't like...


I found Celeste to dote on Brandon too much.  All of the obsessive inner monologue bored me and was obnoxious at the same time.  They didn't even know each other!  Her friends did not care for her happiness.  Fitting in and upholding the highest popularity status was more important. 


The werewolf mythology behind this particular lore just does not work for me even if it is original.  It is more cute then scary.  The werewolf is just... hairy.  He speaks like a person and is not destructive.


Once in a Full Moon is just predictable.  


What I did like...


Brandon!  He was very likable and made the book worth reading.  I wish there was more about information about him.  I was on edge whenever he let Celeste treat him badly (it was disappointing a bit actually).


Mr. Worthington.  He was a lovable old man who made his home at the local nursing home.  His manner was great, such a grandpa.


It was a very quick read :)


Overall, Once in a Full Moon is not a book I would recommend.  Ellen Schreiber does not grab my attention or make me enjoy the characters as much as one would hope.

However, this book might make a good Tween book.