Review: Touch of Power

Touch of Power (Healer #1)
by Maria V. Snyder

Published December 20th 2011 by Mira

Laying hands upon the injured and dying, Avry of Kazan absorbs their wounds and diseases into herself. But rather than being honored for her skills, she is hunted. Healers like Avry are accused of spreading the plague that has decimated the Fifteen Realms, leaving the survivors in a state of chaos.

Stressed and tired from hiding, Avry is abducted by a band of rogues who, shockingly, value her gift above the golden bounty offered for her capture. Their leader, an enigmatic captor-protector with powers of his own, is unequivocal in his demands: Avry must heal a plague-stricken prince—leader of a campaign against her people. As they traverse the daunting Nine Mountains, beset by mercenaries and magical dangers, Avry must decide who is worth healing and what is worth dying for. Because the price of peace may well be her life...

-goodreads

Rating: 5 stars!
Review:

Oh holy MOLEY. 

I expected this book to be good, and I certainly hoped that I would really like it.... but believe me, I did not expect to LOVE this book as much as I do! 

Just.... ahhh! I don't even know where to begin! 
It. Was. Brilliant. The concept of this novel, the healers, the magicians, and 11 types of magic were so original! I loved learning about the different types of magic and their respective abilities and I can't wait for the next book to learn more! The world-building was impeccable and I could visualize each setting perfectly. ALSO, oh my goodness, Maria V. Snyder is a master at pacing the story! The plot takes place over months, and not once was I bored! In my opinion, Snyder knew exactly when to give the reader a sequence of scenes and when to say that X passage of time had passed.

And I don't know about other people, but I adored the Death/Peace lilies. Maybe it's a girl thing.... Anyways, if you don't know, these lilies are man-sized lilies that can literally grab  and "eat" you (if it's a Death lily). I can't really explain why I loved this aspect of the book so much, but I thought it was very creative and just plain cool! I kind of wish they were real....

And now... on to the CHARACTERS.
I have to say, the characters just MADE the story. I mean, the adventure and magic elements were fantastic. But what really added that little oomph that usually pushes a book from 4 to 5 stars were the characters. 
Avry, the rare healer of the story, is one of the strongest and most brilliant protagonists I've seen in a long time! She's very selfless, risking her own safety countless times to save others, but that doesn't mean she makes stupid decisions. On the contrary, actually. She has a great analytic mind and picks up on great survival cues that I, as the reader, didn't even catch until she pointed them out! She's courageous and fearless and kind and just all sorts of amazing. Oh, plus she's very sarcastic, which I loved! Seriously, I'm sure you'll love her. 
As for the ragtag band of "rogues" mentioned in the blurb, I was initially worried that with 5 of them (Kerrick, Belen, Flea, Quain, and Loren) I wouldn't be able to keep them all straight. But never fear because Snyder is just that awesome and makes each one fairly distinct and memorable! 
(I even remembered how each one of them looked like, even though she only really described them once!)
 I loved how each of them came together to be this little "family" and have joke around despite their daunting mission. Avry's interaction with them was also fun to read--like they got another addition to the gang.
Kerrick is the undisputed leader of the group, as well as the love interest, and.... I don't know... I started off not really liking him because he was not exactly very nice... but then, I don't really know when exactly, but he totally grew on me! It was just one of those things where the culmination of the events of the book made me like him, as opposed to a single event. 
I kind of wish there could have been some more romance, though. At the end, I was all for the Avry-Kerrick pairing, but I wouldn't have minded some more Moments for me to swoon at his finery.   
As for the villain, Tohon, I think he was written wonderfully. A charming megalomaniac. 

All in all, this book was just wonderful all around! Love love LOVED it! I cannot wait for that sequel!!! 
Once you start this book, you won't be able to put it down! Trust me, this book was one addictive read; I started it one morning and pretty much spent the rest of that day reading! I finished the very next day and raced to my computer because I was just so excited to gush about this book! 

Review: The Iron Knight

The Iron Knight (Iron Fey #4)

by Julie Kagawa
Published October 26th 2011 by Harlequin TEEN

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.
~goodreads blurb

Rating: 5++/5
Review- 
MIND-BLOWING. Oh, my goodness gracious. YOU GUYS, this book was absolutely freaking mind-blowingly fantsastic! Honestly, I have nothing negative to say about this novel. 

I started the Iron Fey series by Julie Kagawa last year and fell in love with it! In my mind, Kagawa can do no wrong. Once again, she has worked her literary magic on me; This fourth, concluding novel of the series was my first read of 2012 and boy, I can't think of a better novel to start off the new year. 

This book was from Ash's (*dreamy smile*) POV, which, admittedly, I was a little wary about; normally, I love reading books from a girl's perspective and I had grown to really love Megan's character and narration, so reading another book of the same series, in which she wasn't actually present very much, had me a little worried. But of course, all that worry was completely irrational because, believe me, Kagawa did not disappoint. I got to know the guarded winter prince on a much deeper level, and my literary crush on him grew immensely. 

There's so much to his past that, as a reader, I knew about, but never fully knew... does that make sense? In this book, I got to know more about his history/experiences rather extensively and I understood how he became the cold prince of Winter he was at the beginning of the book. At the same time, I also got to see him change from that emotionally guarded prince into...well, a human. 

And the cast! Oh, my gosh, I already loved every single one of  Kagawa's characters, and the new ones (namely one in particular) was no exception. I loved the people (loosely used term) Ash went on his quest with! Even the one that was BIG and BAD. Each character is just crafted so SO well that you can really connect and love every single one of them. 

The dynamic between Ash and Puck was one of my favorite parts. I adored reading more about their "friendship" and knowing just what Ash thought of the summer prankster. I especially loved how Kagawa resolved their age-old feud.

The plot is mainly about Ash and Co.'s journey... or rather, quest. I originally thought that a simple quest couldn't possibly fill up an entire book.... BUT IT DID! Holy guacamole, there was SO much action and plot twists and turns and developments that I was practically devouring the book, page by page. There was not a single boring moment!


After the tragic ending of The Iron Queen, I was so glad that Kagawa decided to write another book and give it a happy ending. Honestly, the way this book ended was a perfect conclusion to the series. Sigh ohmygoshIamsoinlovewiththisseries! 
Subliminal message: READ THIS BOOK. YOU KNOW YOU WANT TO...


Quotes
“Geez, you guys. I know I'm popular and all, but seriously, you're a bit too co-dependent for me. I'm going to need you to step away from my personal bubble." A wispy vine-woman curled ivy tendrils around his arm, and he sliced through them with his dagger. "No! Bad Wraith! No touchie!” 

-Puck

“You realize you've been duped by a fish," I said, watching the catfish grin at me before slipping into the dark waters, lost from view. Puck shrugged.
"Hey, it was going to name one of its grandfish after me," he said, tossing the line into the water again. "That's one of my rules, you know. I refuse to eat anything that names its kid after me.”
-Ash and Puck

"I was in love. With a human.
I smiled bitterly at the thought. The old Ash, if faced with such a suggestion, would've either laughed scornfully or removed the offender's head from his neck.” 
 
“My fall began, as many stories do, with a girl.” 
-Ash