FCSS - 13 Curses Review

Synopsis
When fairies stole her brother, Red vowed to get him back. Now trapped in the fairy realm, she begs an audience with the fairy court where she strikes a bargain. Her brother will be returned - but only if she can find the thirteen charms of Tanya's bracelet that have been scattered in the human world. Returning to Elvesden Manor, Red is assisted by Tanya and Fabian and a desperate hunt begins. Soon they make a shocking discovery. The charms now have twisted qualities of the thirteen treasures they represent...and the longer they are missing the worse the consequences will be. Can Red, Tanya and Fabian find all the charms? And even if they do, will the fairies keep their promise? 


My Review
I couldn't wait to start reading this book, and I was not disappointed. It begins exactly where book 1 ends. Red is trapped in the fairy world and Tanya and Fabian are home wondering what will happen to her.
This book mainly focuses on Red for at least the first half. You find her in the fairy world and journey with her, not everything goes to plan and she gets caught by an evil witch. When another familiar character turns up they join together and they talk. You learn a lot about Red's past, where she came from, and what really happened to her parents and her brother. I enjoyed this and really felt like i could connect with her.
I found the authors take on the fairy world fascinating and i could really picture the surroundings in my head.
The only thing i would say that from reading the blurb on the book i was slightly confused, as for the first 250 pages, the book has nothing to do with hunting the treasures, last we knew in book 1 was that Tanya has the bracelet at home in one piece, so i puzzled on how she would lose the pieces. When it did get round to revealing this part of the plot in the story, we are closer to 300 pages in, and it's only a 450 page book, therefore the hunt for the charms seems a bit abrupt and rushed. 
In some ways this was a bad thing as i think she could have written so much more about the situations in which they find the charms, but on the other hand, she made it so there was just enough to get you hooked and then pulled you in as it developed. I really enjoyed Red's past and her journey through fairy and it kept the story flowing quickly once they were looking for the charms and so kept the excitement. 
Overall I think Harrison did a very good job with this book and i thoroughly enjoyed reading it, there were a few twists I didn't expect and some i figured out easily, . I can't wait for the next book to come out later this year. 


My Rating
I would give this book 8.5. A definite must read, really good.

FCSS - Waiting On Wednesday 13 Secrets

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill of Breaking the Spine where you can post about upcoming books you're looking forward to.

 

As I am reading the 13 Curses this week, i think it's only appropriate that i do book 3 as my Waiting on Wednesday book.

'The 13 Secrets' is coming out February 2011.

 Red is now living at Elvesden Manor under her real name, Rowan, and trying to put her past behind her. But staying on the straight and narrow isn't as easy as she had hoped...Hounded by fairy messengers who are trying to convince her to participate once more in the changeling trade, Rowan is haunted by dreams of the Hedgewitch's cottage and the chained-up Eldritch, who threatens revenge against her. Her past is about to catch up with her - can Tanya and Fabian prevent it consuming her altogether?

FCSS - Teaser Tuesday 13 Curses

TEAser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along, just do as following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page
• Be careful not to include any spoilers so as not to ruin the book for others!

Make sure to share the title and the author so other TT participants can add the book to their TBR piles!

My Teasers:  The Thirteen Curses by Michelle Harrison

'Where are you taking me? she yelled. 'Please - let me go! you have to let me go!' 

Page 32

"It's not just used by the fairies,' Florence replied. 'It can be used by us too, if we now how to.'

Page 86

What's your teasers?

FCSS - Week 4 Introduction

We are now in Week 4 of 'First Come Second Served' Month,

My next read is '13 Curses'by Michelle Harrison

Synopsis
The Thirteen Treasures have become the Thirteen Curses. When fairies stole her brother, Red vowed to get him back. Now trapped in the fairy realm, she begs an audience with the fairy court where she strikes a bargain. Her brother will be returned - but only if she can find the thirteen charms of Tanya's bracelet that have been scattered in the human world. Returning to Elvesden Manor, Red is assisted by Tanya and Fabian and a desperate hunt begins. Soon they make a shocking discovery. The charms now have twisted qualities of the thirteen treasures they represent...and the longer they are missing the worse the consequences will be. Can Red, Tanya and Fabian find all the charms? And even if they do, will the fairies keep their promise? 

Enjoyed book 1, not sure about this one but i'm happy to give it a go!

What are you reading this week? 

FCSS - Spells Review

Synopsis

It's been almost a year since Laurel discovered that she is a faerie, placed with human parents as an infant to help protect the gateway to the faerie realm of Avalon. Although she's come to accept her true identity, Laurel refuses to turn her back on her human life-and especially her boyfriend, David-to return to the faerie world.
But when she is summoned to Avalon to relearn her long-forgotten faerie magic, Laurel must depend on the charismatic faerie sentry Tamani. Her feelings for him are undeniable, and she is forced to make a choice-a choice that could break her heart.
When a deadly enemy resurfaces and puts both Laurel's life and Avalon in danger, Laurel must draw on all her human strength as well as her faerie skills to save both of her worlds and all of those she holds dear.

My Review

Spells starts six months after Wings ended. Laurel is back in the human world, her relationship with David is growing strong, her parents are coming to terms with what she is and life seems to be going well.

Laurel is summoned to Avalon for the summer to catch up on years of education she missed whilst being a human. Whoever said Summer was for vacations, this is going to be hard work.

Torn once more between her love for the human world, family and friends, and the bright glittering world of the fairies, Laurel must decide what is important to her and when an old enemy appears she has to be ready.

I loved the fact that you got to see more of Avalon, the descriptions are amazing and it sounds beautiful.

You meet a whole host of fairies and enter a whole new world.

The pace of the book is really good; it flows well and draws you in, but was slightly predictable in places. The love triangle between David and Tamani gets more complicated and you will find yourselves picking sides.

The ending of the book was mostly good, the plot is wrapped up in a satisfying way, for the majority, but there is a bit stuck on the end, a conversation between Tamani and Shar (Fairy Sentries) that clearly supposed to lead onto something else but seems entirely out of place.

I think it was put as a ‘cliff-hanger’ for the next book, but for me it was too vague and seemed really strange, it didn’t leave me wondering what was coming next, it just left me confused.

I found this let the book down really, because up to then, it had been an excellent read.

I’m still looking forward to the next in the series coming out in April.

My Rating

I would give this book 8.5/10 Very good, I want more :D

FCSS - Spells Playlist

I found this one quite hard, but here goes:

About You Now - Sugababes
hear it here

When Laurel has relationship trouble, this song seems perfect when she makes her choice.

I know everything changes
All the cities and faces
But I know how I feel about you

There's a mountain between us
But there's one thing I'm sure of
That I know how I feel about you

Can we bring yesterday back around
'cause I know how I feel about you now
I was dumb, I was wrong
I let you down
But I know how I feel about you now

Ace Of Base - Always Have, Always Will
listen here

Think this is a great summer anthem, can see lots of fun and colours with this, just like in Avalon. I also think it rings a bit of truth between Laurel and Tamani's relationship.

I was mesmerized when I first met you
Wouldn't let myself believe
That you could step right out of my wildest dreams
But you didn't know
That secret part of me
Until we kissed an made it open up so easily

I always have
Even when it didn't show
I always will


Aly & AJ - Do You Believe In Magic?
listen to it here

Summer Festival in Avalon and Laurel's new found 'magic'!

Just go and listen
It'll start with a smile
It won't wipe off your face no matter how hard you try
Your feet start tapping
And you can't seem to find
How you got there
So just blow your mind

If you believe in magic
Come along with me
We'll dance until morning, just you and me
and maybe, if the music is right
I'll meet ya tomorrow
so late at night


Hope you like my song choice, any other suggestions? What do you think?  :D

FCSS - Fairy Facts & Wings

I have been reading 'Spells' by Aprilynne Pike this week, which is all about Fairies. The books have a different take on fairies, but i thought i would share some information with you. Most is taken from Wikipedia, but many sites seem to say the same.

In traditional views:

A fairy (also faery, faerie, fay, fae; or wee folk, good folk, people of peace, fair folk, etc.) is a type of mythical being or legendary creature, a form of spirit, often described as metaphysical, supernatural or preternatural.
Fairies resemble various beings of other mythologies, though even folklore that uses the term fairy offers many definitions. Sometimes the term describes any magical creature, including goblins or gnomes: at other times, the term only describes a specific type of more ethereal creature.

Fairies are generally described as human in appearance and having magical powers. Although in modern culture they are often depicted as young, sometimes winged, humanoids of small stature, they originally were depicted much differently: tall, radiant, angelic beings or short, wizened trolls being some of the commonly mentioned. Diminutive fairies of one kind or another have been recorded for centuries, but occur alongside the human-sized beings; these have been depicted as ranging in size from very tiny up to the size of a human child. Even with these small fairies, however, their small size may be magically assumed rather than constant

Much of the folklore about fairies revolves around protection from their malice, by such means as cold iron (iron is like poison to fairies, and they will not go near it) or charms of rowan and herbs, or avoiding offense by shunning locations known to be theirs. In particular, folklore describes how to prevent the fairies from stealing babies and substituting changelings, and abducting older people as well.

In Aprilynne Pike's fiction, the faeries are plant like folk that sprout wings that look like flowers once a year. They live off sunlight, but can eat and depending on when the are born they have different powers and status in society. Pike has moved away from the 'traditional' views and come up with a whole new concept, that sounds just as believable if not more magical.

To finish i thought i would share some designs of Wings i have found on the web that i like.

 These are from a member on Deviantart. All copyright goes to 'customfairywings'

To check out the original post and more designs click here

I love the desing of these wings and the flowers that seem to float on and around them. Truly spectacular

 I found this one on Google. I love the leaf shape and the way it looks like the flower and petals are growing. Very Autumn/Fall feel.

 Love the colours and size of these wings, aren't tehy pretty. More traditional fairy but sweet.

These are from a costume website which can be looked at here

Hope you found this interesting. :D

FCSS - Waiting On Wednesday Wild

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill of Breaking the Spine where you can post about upcoming books you're looking forward to.

 







As I am reading 'Spells' by Aprilynne Pike this week, i thought it appropriate to make book 3 my Waiting on Wednesday book.

Aprilynne Pike announced the release on her blog this week (read it here)
She has introduced it as 'Wild' for the UK, think it will be called 'Illusions' in the US.
It will be out in April 2011, I know that's a long time to wait, but the cover looks fabulous and i'm loving the series so far.

On the first day of Laurel’s senior year there are two new arrivals. Tamani — the electrifying faerie with whom she shares an undeniable connection — appears, posing as a foreign exchange student. And even more disturbing is another foreign exchange student named Yuki whom Laurel quickly realises is a faerie, though the new girl doesn’t seem to have any idea who or what she really is.
Laurel is determined to figure out how Yuki fits into the picture, and what connection she may have to the ever-increasing threats to her family and Avalon. Meanwhile, Laurel struggles to maintain a balance between her human boyfriend David and Tamani, with whom she shares a passionate past. But balancing two worlds is becoming more and more complicated. When the threat to Avalon grows ever stronger, Laurel’s illusion of control of the situation shatters and she must confront a danger even greater than the trolls.

Sounds really good. What are you waiting for?

FCSS - Teaser Tuesday Spells

TEAser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along, just do as following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page
• Be careful not to include any spoilers so as not to ruin the book for others!

Make sure to share the title and the author so other TT participants can add the book to their TBR piles!

My Teasers:

 

"She forced herself to let go and step back. It was like trying to make a river flow in the other direction. But after a few seconds she managed and settled for standing silently,  drinking in the sight of him."

Page 9

"She pressed herself close against his chest and lifted her head to kiss him again."

Page 296

 

What's your teasers?

FCSS - Spells Fantasy Cast

'Spells' by Aprilynne Pike
Here is my Fantasy Cast for the three main characters

Laurel -

Miley Cyrus

 I think she would be good in this part, she has the musical talent of Laurel's guitar playing and i can really picture her with the beautiful wings.


However i can also picture:


Annasophia Robb

 She would also be great in the part, quiet and caring but strong willed if she has to be. Can really picture the wings on her and her walking the woods with Tamani. She also has a beautiful voice so would be able to do the music bit.



David - 

Matt Czuchry
I'm not entirely sure why, but i can picture him in the role. He's got the look.









Tamani - 

Milo Ventimiglia

Do i need to say anything, is he not perfect?
I think so. Can really see him in this role, Fiery tempered when he wants to be, but also sweet and caring, and he looks like he could be a Faerie sentry. :D

FCSS - Week 3 Introduction

We are now in Week 3 of 'First Come Second Served' Month,

My next read is 'Spells' by Aprilynne Pike

Synopsis

It's been almost a year since Laurel discovered that she is a faerie, placed with human parents as an infant to help protect the gateway to the faerie realm of Avalon. Although she's come to accept her true identity, Laurel refuses to turn her back on her human life-and especially her boyfriend, David-to return to the faerie world.
But when she is summoned to Avalon to relearn her long-forgotten faerie magic, Laurel must depend on the charismatic faerie sentry Tamani. Her feelings for him are undeniable, and she is forced to make a choice-a choice that could break her heart.
When a deadly enemy resurfaces and puts both Laurel's life and Avalon in danger, Laurel must draw on all her human strength as well as her faerie skills to save both of her worlds and all of those she holds dear.


I really enjoyed book one 'Wings' and cannot wait to read this book, here's to a good week.

What are you reading?

FCSS - Week 2 Wrap Up

This week I have been reading 'Linger' by Maggie Stiefvater

Sunday - Introduction
Monday - Fantasy Cast
Tuesday - Sequel Special Teaser Tuesday
Friday - Book Playlist
Saturday - Book Review

I know i missed a couple of days this week but with work and Christmas meals i didn't have time to update, but please check out my posts, and comment!

Next Week I will be looking at 'Spells' by Aprilynne Pike

FCSS - Linger Review

Synopsis
 In SHIVER, Grace and Sam found each other. Now, in LINGER, they must fight to be together. For Grace, this means defying her parents and keeping dangerous secrets. For Sam, it means grappling with his werewolf past ... and figuring out a way to survive the future. But just when they manage to find happiness, Grace finds herself changing in ways she could never have expected... 

This will contain some spoilers for 'Shiver' and maybe a few for 'Linger', if you haven't yet read it, this will give some things away. You have been warned :D
 
My Review
I could not wait to get my hands on this book, i have looked forward to reading it for a long time and i am pleased to say i was not disappointed. This book carries on from the first one, but i think about one year has passed.
Sam and Grace are finally together and more in love than ever, they have found each other and Sam is now human, and they don't intend to let each other go.
Isabel is recovering from the death of her brother, but opening up more to Grace and Sam. We meet a new character in this book named Cole. This book is told from these four characters point of view. It was nice to have Grace and Sam back, i still love them as characters and as a couple. I love Isabel's cutting sarcasm, but also the fact that you get to see the person underneath, she does have a heart and feelings, it feels like you are being let into her life and know the real her.
Cole is a famous musician, lead singer in a band, but he wants his life to be forgotten, he wants escape, he wants to be a wolf. At first Cole really annoyed me, i found him irritating and whiny, but as the story progressed i found myself warming to him.
The plot in this book if fairly fast paced but does cram a lot in. New wolves like Cole are joining the pack and now Beck has changed it's up to Sam to watch out for them, Olivia is still 'missing', Grace has struggles and fights with her parents, and something is changing inside her, but she doesn't know what it means. Although there was a lot crammed into this book, i never felt overwhelmed, the story flows well and is easy to read, i literally read this in one sitting and still wanted more.
I must say i felt it all a little predictable, but then again saying that there were some twists in it i really wasn't expecting. The end of the book left me wanting much more and i cannot wait until next Summer for 'Forever'.
The only thing i would say about this was for the first half of the book there is a lot of talk about Olivia and if she will return and where she has gone, but as the other aspects of the plot take over she seems to be just forgotten, no one even mentions her anymore. I confess i found myself thinking she would appear again and i really want to know where she is. Did Maggie just get distracted and forget about her, or is she saving some fabulous revelation for the next book? I wonder!
Overall a fantastic exciting read.
If only all boys were like Sam, us girls would be a lot happier i'm sure. lol!!!

My Rating
i would give this book 9.5/10, a must read and i can't wait for more from Maggie.

FCSS - Linger Playlist

Run - Leona Lewis
listen to it here
(I love the woods in this video too, reminds me of the woods where Sam and the wolves live, and i think the lyrics fit perfectly)

I know we'll make it anywhere
Away from here

Light up, light up
As if you have a choice
Even if you cannot hear my voice
I'll be right beside you dear

Louder louder
And we'll run for our lives
I can hardly speak I understand
Why you can't raise your voice to say

To think I might not see those eyes
Makes it so hard not to cry

My Heart Beats for Love - Miley Cyrus

listen here

I've been stranded on a lonely street
Got lost in the shadows
Fell hard in the battle
Heard the cries and the suffering
I walked through the darkness
Left broken and heartless

I'm calling out, can you hear my voice?
I'm gonna find you through all the noise
Ooh whoa
You know there's nothing that I wouldn't do
So shine your light as I reach for you

My heart beats for love
My heart beats for love
It's the sound that I hear, tells me not to give up
It breathes in my chest and
It runs through my blood
My heart beats for love
My heart beats for love

And I've been told at least a thousand times
It's not worth the struggle, the hurt or the trouble
I keep running up to these front lines
No I won't surrender
I'll wait here forever

Fix You - Coldplay
hear it here

And high up above or down below
When you're too in love to let it go
But if you never try you'll never know
Just what you're worth

Lights will guide you home
And ignite your bones
And I will try to fix you

Tears stream down your face
When you lose something you cannot replace

Hope you like my song choice, any other suggestions? What do you think?

FCSS - Giveaway!!! Fragile Eternity WINNER Selected!!!

I held a Giveaway to celebrate 'First Come Second Served' Month and reaching 50 followers.
I was offering a brand new paper back version of 'Fragile Eternity' by Melissa Marr and 'Skulduggery Pleasant: Faceless Ones' by Derek Landy.

I was so excited by the amount of entries and visits to my blog. Thanks to all the entrants!
Now for the bit you have been waiting for - the WINNER:

I used a random number generator to pick the winning number, and it picked Number 5!:

So congratulations to Heather who blogs over at 'Prue's Book Blog'

The winner has been e-mailed and has until midnight Sunday 19th December to respond, if not another number will be selected.

Thanks again to everyone that entered. :D

FCSS - Teaser Tuesday Linger

TEAser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along, just do as following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page
• Be careful not to include any spoilers so as not to ruin the book for others!

Make sure to share the title and the author so other TT participants can add the book to their TBR piles!

My Teasers:

 

"This was not real life. This was life watched through a window. Life watched on television. I couldn't remember When I hadn't hidden from this."

Page 63

"I didn't mention it to her again. Because she was right: the only person who could talk me into it or out of it was me."

Page 264

What's your teasers?

FCSS - Linger Fantasy Cast

My Linger by Maggie Stiefvater Fantasy Cast.
I actually found this one quite hard and am not entirely happy with my choices.

 Grace - Emma Watson
 I think she would be amazing in this role.

Sam - Steven R McQueen

 I struggled to find a Sam, and this is the closest i could get.

Rachel - Alexis Bledel

Olivia - Dakota Fanning
She is one of my favourite actresses and i think she would play the part well.

 
Isobel - Hayden Panettiere

Beck - Johnny Depp
 Think he would be a good Beck, if not maybe Ulrick?

Cole - Alex Pettyfer
I would upload a picture, but my computer seems to have given up by this point.


That's my Linger Cast, what do you think?
Any suggestions

FCSS - Week 2 Introduction

This is week two in the month of 'First Come Second Served' a month celebrating sequels.
My next read is 'Linger' by Maggie Stiefvater

In SHIVER, Grace and Sam found each other. Now, in LINGER, they must fight to be together. For Grace, this means defying her parents and keeping dangerous secrets. For Sam, it means grappling with his werewolf past ... and figuring out a way to survive the future. But just when they manage to find happiness, Grace finds herself changing in ways she could never have expected...

I absolutely loved book one 'Shiver' and cannot wait to read this one, it's going to be a great week :D

What are you reading at the moment?

FCSS - Week 1 Wrap Up.

This week I have been reading 'Fragile Eternity' by Melissa Marr

Sunday -Introduction
Monday - Fantasy Cast
Tuesday - Sequel Special Teaser Tuesday
Wednesday - Sequel Special Waiting on Wednesday
                   - Fragile Eternity Giveaway
Thursday - Sequels I Love
Friday - Playlist
Saturday - Review


Please check out my posts, and enter my Giveaway.

Next Week I will be looking at 'Linger' by Maggie Stiefvater.

FCSS - Book Playlist Fragile Eternity

1. 'Ain't No Sunshine' - Eva Cassidy version
  hear it here

Ain't no sunshine when he's gone
It's not warm when he's away
Ain't no sunshine when he's gone
And he's always gone to long
anytime he goes away

I wonder, this time where he's gone
Wonder, how long he's gone to stay
Ain't no sunshine when he's gone
And this house just ain't no home
Anytime he goes away.

2. 'My Immortal' - Evanescence
hear it here   I think this so sums up the relationship between Donia and Keenan

first half of the lyrics: 
I'm so tired of being here, suppressed by all my childish fears
And if you have to leave, I wish that you would just leave
Your presence still lingers here and it won't leave me alone

These wounds won't seem to heal, this pain is just too real
There's just too much that time cannot erase

When you cried, I'd wipe away all of your tears
When you'd scream, I'd fight away all of your fears
And I held your hand through all of these years
But you still have all of me

You used to captivate me by your resonating light
Now, I'm bound by the life you left behind
Your face it haunts my once pleasant dreams
Your voice it chased away all the sanity in me

3. 'I'll Try' - Jonatha Brooke
listen to it here   this song is all about belief and trusting in what you have in life and making difficult decisions. nd sums up Aislinn's decision to go to her Summer Court or to stay with Seth


My whole world is changing.
I don't know where to turn.
I can't leave you waiting.
But I can't stay and watch the city burn.
Ohh watch'it burn.

Cause I try but it's so hard to believe.
I try but I can't see where you see.
I try, I try.

I try and try to understand the distance and between.
The love I feel the things I fear and every single dream.

I can finally see it.
Now I have to believe all those precious stories.
All the world is made of faith and trust and pixie dust.

 4. 'Summer Sun' - Texas
listen here


Here comes the summers son
He burns my skin
I ache again
Im over you

I thought I had a dream to hold
Maybe that has gone
Your hands reach out and touch me still
But this feels so wrong

Before you take my heart, reconsider

 I haven't done one of these before what do you think of my choices? 
Got any other suggestions?