The Lost Prince (The Iron Fey: Call of the Forgotten, #1) by Julie Kagawa ~ Review

Source:  Purchased audiobook

Don’t look at Them.
Never let Them know
you can see Them.

That is Ethan Chase’s unbreakable rule. Until the fey he avoids at all costs—including his reputation—begin to disappear, and Ethan is attacked. Now he must change the rules to protect his family. To save a girl he never thought he’d dare to fall for.

Ethan thought he had protected himself from his older sister’s world—the land of Faery. His previous time in the Iron Realm left him with nothing but fear and disgust for the world Meghan Chase has made her home, a land of myth and talking cats, of magic and seductive enemies. But when destiny comes for Ethan, there is no escape from a danger long, long forgotten.

My name is Ethan Chase.
And I may not live to see my
eighteenth birthday.

Review...

In my current paranormal love-fest, I am devouring books I missed along the way.  And this is one series I can't believe I didn't read.  I waited way too long to read it!

Ethan Chase.  Oh, I so love this boy.  Tortured by the Fae for his sight, he hasn't had the easiest childhood.  Though his sister rescued him when he was four years old, he hasn't seen her in years and he feels the lose deeply.  Starting at yet another school for the pranks the Fae have got him blamed for, Ethan tries very hard to keep to himself.  But Ethan is good guy.  He won't walk by a half-fey being bullied at school and he can't keep pushing the school reporter away.  As he is dragged into the Never Never again, he brings his knowledge and his Kali skills.  No one is messing with him again.     

I so enjoyed this world again.  It was nice to be in the never never again.  I enjoyed seeing familiar characters and meeting a few news ones as well.  I admit to being shocked by Keirran.  The cover of book two may have colored my beliefs but I wasn't expecting to like him let alone trust him.  And I do like him.  Something is up with that boy.  Him and Ethan definitely have the Ash/Puck thing going but it's more than that.  I can't wait to find out more.

Besides all the characters that I love and the world I so enjoy, this one is just a great story.  It can certainly stand alone without the first series.  Parts of it I was guessing right at but this author tends to take a different path than I ever expect.  It's refreshing.

And I so need more books like this.  Books I enjoy and speed through.  Books where I love the characters and a kiss is enough to satisfy me. Books that make me want to start the next book as soon as finish the first.  Books that are just great stories, great reads, great experiences.  The good stuff.  

If you missed this along the way, like I did, then make sure and get to it.  It's so worth the time and such a great diversion from the real world.  I want a Razon.  Want him on my shoulder.  And an Ethan.  I hope he gets his happy.  I hope Keirran does too.  

Paranormal Fae at it's best.  Don't miss this one. 

                      

Speechless by Hannah Harrington ~ Review

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Source:  Received eBook copy form publisher in exchanged for a fair and honest review.

From Goodreads:

Everyone knows that Chelsea Knot can't keep a secret

Until now. Because the last secret she shared turned her into a social outcast—and nearly got someone killed.

Now Chelsea has taken a vow of silence—to learn to keep her mouth shut, and to stop hurting anyone else. And if she thinks keeping secrets is hard, not speaking up when she's ignored, ridiculed and even attacked is worse.

But there's strength in silence, and in the new friends who are, shockingly, coming her way—people she never noticed before; a boy she might even fall for. If only her new friends can forgive what she's done. If only she can forgive herself.

My Thoughts:

4 stars - A great read for any audience but especially teens

This is a thinking book.  It makes you think about things.  Having made a mistake that almost gets someone killed, Chelsea decides that her talking is the problem.  So she stops.  Talking that is.  Lack of talking causes her to think, a lot.  She thinks about the life she lost and how to get it back but later if she wants it back.  She thinks about how her former best friend treats people or how she used to treat people.  She thinks about the rippling effects of choices.  She thinks about why her body reacts to certain..boys.  She thinks about how those reactions change over time.  She thinks about why some people give her a chance while others can't leave the past alone.  She thinks... a lot.

While she's thinking and not talking, she meets Sam.  I love Sam.  He's got reason to hate Chelsea but he sees some good in her, enough to give her a chance.  I love that about him.  He's not interested in more hate but starts with working together, becoming friends and then maybe a  little more.  There's this whole group of supporting characters that work through this process, some faster than others, with Chelsea.  I was so happy to see it.  Chelsea's mistake was not the big one.  She so didn't deserve the misery she received.  I loved that there were people willing to support her.

The best at supporting her was Asha.  Love that name.  She was the best.  I wish we had maybe learned more about her.  She had some things going on that we never really got to be involved with but she was such a good friend.  I really enjoyed her.

The pace of this book was perfect.  I read it in a day, a few hours really.  Had to stay up late because I couldn't put it down.  I was surprised a few times, which I like.  I did figure out a few things, which I also like.

There is some lessons in this one.  I love the focus on treating everyone fairly and losing the hate.  I think that's such an important topic for teens.  This book deals with hate crimes but there are lots of ways that teens persecute each other for a variety of reasons and it's just not okay.  I really hate that the teachers didn't seem to notice what was going on.  As a teacher, I hope I never seem so blind. 

This one has been on my list for a while and I'm so glad I made the time for it.  It's a great read that anyone would enjoy.

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