Thor’s Serpents by K.L. Armstrong & M.A. Marr

Series: The Blackwell Pages (bk. 2)

Genera(s): Paranormal/Fantasy/Adventure

Subjects: gods, magic, mythology, Norse mythology, supernatural, werewolves

Setting: South Dakota

POV/Tense: 3rd person POV, past tense, rotating between Matt, Fen, Laurie and Owen

Age/Grade Level: Middle Grade, 11+

Length: 361 pgs.

HC/PB: Hardcover

List Price: $17.00

Publisher: Hachette: Little, Brown

Summary/ product description: “For fans of Percy Jackson and the Olympians, the thrilling conclusion to The Blackwell Pages, written by New York Times bestselling YA authors, K.L. Armstrong and M.A. Marr.

Thirteen-year-olds Matt, Laurie, and Fen have beaten near-impossible odds to assemble their fellow descendants of the Norse Gods and complete epic quests. Their biggest challenge lies ahead: battling the fierce monsters working to bring about the apocalypse.

But when they learn that Matt must fight the Midgard Serpent alone and Fen and Laurie are pulled in other directions, the friends realize they can't take every step of this journey together. Matt, Laurie, and Fen will each have to fight their own battles to survive, to be true to themselves, and to one another - with nothing less than the fate of the world hanging in the balance.”

My Review:  Thor’s Serpents is the finale to the Blackwell Pages by Kelley Armstrong and Melissa Marr. It’s pretty epic and great for fans of Rick Riordan’s books. It’s may be a Middle Grade series, but it can be enjoyed by all ages. The main characters are 12, 13 or 14 years-old. The writing is clean, and written from the 3^rd person perspective. There’s lots of magic, mayhem and monsters. It’s fun and exciting.

Ragnarok is coming and Matt, Fen and Laurie have no idea how to stop it. It’s their fate as the god’s champions, but they want to stop it. Fen’s trapped with being the alpha of the Raiders wolf pack. Laurie is Loki’s Champion, and Matt is Thor’s. The power goes out in Rapid City and Mara descend on its citizens. Flaming giants attack in Mitchell, and another rooster crows. Stuff’s going down.

The characters are interesting and unique from each other. Since it’s 3^rd person, we don’t get much incite into them, but we know Matt’s an athlete/geek, Fen’s a troublemaker, and Laurie’s smart. The character that I found the most interesting in personality was Reyna. She’s hilarious and her and Matt like each other. She’s acts all tough and sassy. Baldwin’s also cool. He also apparently watches Myth Busters, which I found awesome. Owen’s strange, but he’s got an eye patch. 

The best part of this book was that it’s was set in South Dakota. Most of the places mentioned I’ve been too or past. I never heard of the Journey Museum, or been in the Corn Palace, but I’m very familiar with the Badlands. I’ve been there three times (twice in one trip). I’ve been to Rapid city and the Black Hills (camped in Custer State Park). I’ve been to Deadwood, Mt. Rushmore, and Reptile Gardens. This series is set in summertime and it showcases tourist attractions as setting. Blackwell may not be a real town, but more other places mentioned are real. The authors must have vacationed there and decided to set the series there.

If you’re a fan of mythology, Rick Riordan’s book or the Thor Marvel movies, then check out this series. It’s great for middle schoolers, maybe 5^th graders too. Don’t feel ashamed if you’re a high schooler, collage student or adult. Read this series and enjoy it!

Cover Art Review: Lovely illustrations from a skilled artist. I think it’s a digital painting.

Charmfall by Chloe Neill

Series: The Dark Elite (bk. 3)

Genera(s): Paranormal Romance/Urban Fantasy

Subjects: magic, abilities, supernatural, werewolves, vampires

Setting: Chicago, Illinois

POV/Tense: 1^st person POV, past tense: Lilly Parker

Age/Grade Level: Teen

Length: 242 pgs.

HC/PB: Paperback

List Price: $9.99

Publisher: Penguin: NAL Trade

Summary/ product description: “High school can be a battlefield, but for Lily Parker, surviving at St. Sophia’s School for Girls is a matter of life and death...

Protecting Chicago from the dark side can be an exhausting job, especially when you’re a junior. So when the girls of St. Sophia’s start gearing up for Sneak, their fall formal, Lily decides to join in on some good, old-fashioned party prep—even if it means not giving demons, vampires and the twisted magic users known as Reapers her undivided attention.

But when a Reaper infiltrates the school, Lily doesn’t forget what she’s sworn to protect. She reaches deep into herself to draw out her magic—and finds that it’s gone. And it turns out she’s not alone. A magical blackout has slammed through paranormal Chicago, and no one knows what—or who—caused it. But Lily knows getting back her magic is worth the risk of going behind enemy lines...”

My Review:  This is an interesting, fun finale to a series set in Chicago. It doesn’t really feel like a series finale, but I really enjoyed it. All the Adepts and Reapers in Chicago suddenly lose their magic. This hits them hard. None of them know who’s behind the magic blackout, but each side blames the other.

Lily and Scout go to St. Sophia’s academy for girls and are best friends and fellow Adepts. Lily has firespell (energy blasts) and Scout can write and cast spells. Lily has a werewolf boyfriend named Jason, and Scout is dating another Adept named Michael. If you haven’t read Firespell or Hexbound (the 1^st two books), then this is just a spoiler free refresher.

I love the magic in this series, but this book was about the characters doing what they could without magic. My most favorite part of the series is the setting. I live in the western suburbs of Chicago, so I was able to picture the places mentioned in this book. I don’t go downtown that much anymore, but I’ve seen enough to be more than a tourist. My parents both grew up in the city, which makes them good as any tour guide. My brother goes to UIC. St. Sophia’s is not a real place, but I really enjoy the boarding school setting. There’s lot of paranormal books out there set in boarding schools, but this is a normal boarding school with only a few people who know about magic.

I also love the characters. Through this series I really supported the femship/sisterhood of Lily and Scout. Lily’s pretty typical for a 15-year-old, but not a Mary-Sue. She’s got a sense of humor and personality. So does scout, but Scoat’s punky style and sarcasm fit with Lily’s positive attitude. They both kind of act like Disney Channel/ABC Family characters. I can totally see this series as a TV show, just because the quirky characters.

The book is mostly about trying to get their magic back. I give it 5 stars because I enjoyed it so much, but I’m disappointed that there’s not fourth book. I don’t feel like every issue was resolved. Thing were left kind of open. Sure, the issue of this book was resolved, but there was no over-all series arc that makes it feel like a complete trilogy. It has an episodic feeling. Maybe the author will write more books in the future. Maybe she had plans for more, but the publisher only gave her a three-book deal. Either way, I hope she revisits it. Maybe from a different character’s perspective. A reaper maybe? Possibly Sebastian? With all the wonderful world building of the Dark Elite, this can’t be it. Spin-off please!

Cover Art Review: I love the violet color and the smoke behind the girl. I like the title and the key too.

Sinner by Maggie Stiefvater

Publication Date: July 1^st, 2014

Series: Wolves of Mercy Falls (bk. 4) or a Standalone Spin Off/Companion

Genera(s): Contemporary/Paranormal Romance

Subjects: werewolves, musicians, reality shows, fame, love

Setting: Los Angeles, California, Venice Beach, Santa Monica, and the greater L.A. area

POV/Tense: 1^st person POV past tense, rotating between Cole and Isabel 

Age/Grade Level: Teen

Length: 357 pgs.

HC/PB: Hardcover

List Price: $18.99

Publisher: Scholastic

Summary/ product description: “A standalone companion book to the internationally bestselling Shiver Trilogy.

Sinner follows Cole St. Clair, a pivotal character from the #1 New York Times bestselling Shiver Trilogy. Everybody thinks they know Cole's story. Stardom. Addiction. Downfall. Disappearance. But only a few people know Cole's darkest secret -- his ability to shift into a wolf. One of these people is Isabel. At one point, they may have even loved each other. But that feels like a lifetime ago. Now Cole is back. Back in the spotlight. Back in the danger zone. Back in Isabel's life. Can this sinner be saved?”

My Review:  Sinner is a fun, exciting companion/spin-off to the Wolves of Mercy Falls series. It rotates between Cole and Isabel POVs and is set in L.A. A far cry from Minnesota where the previous books took place. I enjoyed the book thoroughly, but it was nothing like I expected. I loved it, but was slightly disappointed because it was so different from Shiver, Linger and Forever. This book still deserves 5 stars. I love the characters so much and it’s great that Isabel and Cole get their own book about only their relationship.

Cole seems as sunny and exciting as his new L.A. home. He’s always saying and doing the craziest things. Befriending his driver, Leon. Firing the guitarist and bassist that Baby hired for him. Using phrases that normal people wouldn’t use in conversation. Cole’s great at improvising and acting. He can also come up with lyrics out of pretty much anything. Cole is so different from Sam in Shiver. He craves attention and the crowd. I love his narration. He’s like the most interesting guy in the world. He’s got charisma, humor, hotness and depth.

Isabel is very angry and doesn’t seem to care about anything. She’s logical and icy. She wants to be a doctor. She’s working at a clothing store, and taking a CNA class. She’s living with her mom, Aunt Lauren and cousin Sofia, who loves to cook for others. She misses Cole, and Cole surprises her at work with his presence. Isabel’s life has been pretty complicated too. Her brother was a werewolf and he was killed back in Minnesota. Her parents are breaking up. He cousin keeps trying to do stuff for her, but Isabel yells at her. Cole and Isabel try to do stuff together, but sometimes the cameras get in the way and they have to find private places, like the bathroom, to talk.

Sinner is less focus of the werewolf stuff and more focused on Cole’s return to fame and him relationship with Isabel. The story is about Cole dealing with being famous again and making an album. This book has barely any paranormal stuff. Shifting is more like Cole’s addiction since he doesn’t do drugs or drink anymore. Cole become part of a web reality show ran by a lady named Baby who loves to ruin the lives of her subjects. She wants him to look like a mess for good TV. Cole’s running around, doing the crazy thing she suggests. Things that rock stars are supposed to do, and things that someone like Cole St. Clare would do.

Sinner is nothing like you’d expect it to, and everything you never knew you’d want. If this was a contemporary book in which the shapeshifting was replaced with drug using, I still would love the book because it’s written that well. Fame games and fans. Rockstars, music, and all kinds of crazy. I recommend it to fans of Maggie Stiefvater’s other books. Also if you liked Audrey, Wait by Robin Benson, which is a contemporary book about a rockstar and his girlfriend (From Audrey’s perspective), thing book has some similar appeal.

Cover Art Review: I like this vector color with the gradients and silhouette of Cole, a wolf and palm trees and buildings. Goes with the other covers, yet is different.