The Falconer by Elizabeth May

The Falconer

by Elizabeth May

392 pages

Published by Chronicle Books

Plot: In 1844, young Scottish aristocrat Aileana Kameron has everything she could possibly need - beauty, wealth, and a large dowry.  Unfortunately, all she wants to do is hunt and kill fairies.  With the help of a powerful fae named Kiaran, Aileana has spent the last year training in order to become strong enough to kill the fairy who murdered her mother when she was a child.  But, when Aileana finds out she is a Falconer, a line of female warriors with the ability to kill fairies, she soon becomes the only person in the world who can stop the fairies from destroying everything and everyone she loves.

Review: The cover of this book really drew me in to find out more.  Once I did and began reading, I couldn't put it down!  I loved the mix of steampunk in this story - as Aileana is an inventor and makes all types of weapons.  She also made some kind of flying vehicle which was a bit of a stretch for me to believe.  There wasn't much in regards to her Scottish heritage, nor was there much history mentioned.  However, that didn't matter to me as much as the story and how it progressed with the plot and the character relationships.  Which I enjoyed very much!

Strangely enough, my favorite character was Aileana's pixie named Derrick. Funny little thing! Aileana and Kiaran are both complex characters with their own imperfections, but we don't get to know too much about Kiaran other than he's a powerful Fae who managed to not get trapped in an underground prison like the rest of the fairies during an ancient war.  Also, we learn he used to be pretty evil until he fell in love with a Falconer a long time ago.  So, can't wait to learn more about this character!

My only frustration with this story was the abrupt ending.  Although the story itself doesn't end with book 1, finishing with a cliffhanger was a little disappointing.  I would have liked some closure even though there is a second book. I do plan to read book 2 though, so I am really looking forward to that!  Recommended for ages 14 and up!

*Recieved a DRC for an honest review.

Rating: 4 Hearts!

The Lovely Reckless by Kami Garcia

The Lovely Reckless 

by Kami Garica

384 pages

Published by Imprint

Plot: After witnessing the brutal death of her boyfriend, seventeen year old Frankie Devereux's whole life changes.  She is no longer the girl she used to be and her new reckless attitude sends her from a privileged lifestyle in the Heights to a school on the bad side of town called the Downs. There she meets Marco Leone.  At first she's absolutely sure she wants nothing to do with Marco or his bad boy persona.  But, charismatic and sexy Marco isn't hard to ignore, especially when he doesn't ignore you.  But Frankie's growing feelings for Marco comes with dangerous, and possibly deadly price.

Review:  I've been waiting to read The Lovely Reckless for months! So glad I was able to pick up a copy from my local library!  This one is going to be a keeper and I'm going to buy my own copy.  I love way Garcia develops the relationships between all the characters in the story, not just Frankie and Marco. I especially liked Cruz, who is the epitome of a tough Latina teenager with heart. What I also loved about this story is that isn't just about two teens from different backgrounds falling in love.  There are some serious issues that come between Frankie and Marco, especially since Frankie's father is an undercover cop and Marco participates in illegal street racing.  To make matters worse, Marco has a secret that not only puts him in danger, but Frankie as well. On top of all this drama, Frankie suffers from PTSD after witnessing her former boyfriend's murder and has horrible flashbacks.  The result is a fast-paced, hard to put down, read in one night, star-crossed romance that shows what family, friendship, and forgiveness are all about.  Recommended for ages 17 and up due to language and sexual references.

Rating: 4.5 hearts!