"Darklight" by Lesley Livingston

24 Jan, 2010 by in review, YA ficiton Leave a comment

published by HarperTeen
Released December 22nd 2009

Hardcover, 312 pages
4 stars

Summary from Goodreads “Much has changed since autumn, when Kelley Winslow learned she was Faerie royalty, fell in love with changeling guard Sonny Flannery, and saved New York City from a rampaging Faerie war band. When a terrifying encounter in Central Park sends Kelley tumbling into the Otherworld, her reunion with Sonny is joyful—but cut short. For they’ve been plunged into a game of Faerie deception and wavering allegiances in which the next move could topple a kingdom…or part them forever.

The fans who flocked to Lesley Livingston’s Wondrous Strange will fall hard for Darklight, the soaringly romantic second book in the trilogy. Breathless high stakes and vividly magical characters make this a can’t-miss fantasy for readers of Melissa Marr and Holly Black.”

Summary from Harper Teen “

Since the dawn of time, the Faerie have taken. . . .

For seventeen-year-old actress Kelley Winslow, faeries are just something from childhood stories. Then she meets Sonny Flannery, whose steel-gray eyes mask an equally steely determination to protect her.

Sonny guards the Samhain Gate, which connects the mortal realm with the Faerie’s enchanted, dangerous Otherworld. Usually kept shut by order of icy King Auberon, the Gate stands open but once a year.

This year, as the time approaches when the Samhain Gate will swing wide and nightmarish Fae will fight their way into an unsuspecting human world, something different is happening . . . something wondrous and strange. And Kelley’s eyes are opening not just to the Faerie that surround her but to the heritage that awaits her.

Now Kelley must navigate deadly Faerie treachery—and her growing feelings for Sonny—in this dazzling page-turner filled with luminous romance.

Wondrous Strange is a richly layered tale of love between faerie and mortal, betrayal between kings and queens, and magic . . . between author and reader.”

I just put this book down after tearing through it in 24 hours. What amazing ride. I loved Wondrous Strange, the prequel, but I must say Darklight blew me away.

Kelley is plagued by dark dreams as she is separated from her new found warrior love, Sonny. She begins to see in night visions, his dark side and the power of destruction and loyalty which lies within his heart. Meanwhile, Sonny, a Janus warrior for the fairy King, is stuck fighting alone for his life in the fairy realm.

As Kelly is left in the mortal world, she seeks the comfort and protection of Sonny’s friends left behind. Danger lurks for them and her in Central Park as they step knee deep into a danger. The story uncovers Kelly’s deep rooted royal power., royal secrets from four fairy realms, hidden pasts and plots for murder. Darklight will have you on the edge of your seat with all of the plot twists and rich imagery. It is a tale woven with all you could ever imagine. Leprechauns, fairies, sirens, wolves and mortals become wrapped up in a battle that puts both human and fae worlds at risk.

Visit Lesley Livingston’s website here: http://www.lesleylivingston.com/home.html

Freebie Friday- Handmade Journals

22 Jan, 2010 by in etsy, free stuff, giveaway, scrapbooking, YA fiction 26 comments

YAY it is Friday…could NOT be happier! For our freebie we are giving away one handmade journal of your choice. To enter simply leave your emial address in the comments below. And watch for more new designs being added later today. Contest is open to International participants and will end February 5, 2010.

Additional entries:
+5 for adding this contest to your blog
+3 for following us on Facebook or Twitter
+5 for adding our button to your site
+2 for adding us as a friend on Goodreads
+2 for a retweet

Wondrous Strange By Lesley Livingston

21 Jan, 2010 by in review, Wondrous Strange 2 comments


published May 7th 2010 by HarperCollins Canada

details Mass Market Paperback, 336 pages

isbn 1554682746

17 year-old Kelley Winslow doesn’t believe in Faeries. Not unless they’re the kind that you find in a theatre, spouting Shakespeare—the kind that Kelley so desperately wishes she could be: onstage, under lights, with a pair of sparkly wings strapped to her shoulders. But as the understudy in a two-bit, hopelessly off-off-Broadway production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, wishing is probably the closest she’s going to get to becoming a Faerie Queen. At least, that’s what she thinks… In this fun, urban fantasy, Kelley’s off-stage life suddenly becomes as complicated as one of Shakespeare’s plot twists when a nighttime trip to Central Park holds more than meets the mortal eye.

You probably have figured out by now that I really love books about fairies. What drew me into this debut novel by Lesley Livingston was the combination of Shakespeare, folklore, history, changelings,and spicy personalities. The rich artistic descriptions of the siren, “Lucky” the kelpie, the Hunt and faerie queen Titania paint a landscape of mythical magic inside New York’s Central Park. Sonny is tender with Kelley and the ending chapters speak from his point of view. Reading the saga unfolding made me wish i could visit Avalon, the Green and New York to peak for a portal myself. I am excited to read the sequel! 3.5 out of 5 stars!

Trailer Thursday Steam Punk Style

21 Jan, 2010 by in magic under glass, scott westerfield Leave a comment


Steampunk is a sub-genre of science fiction and speculative fiction, frequently featuring elements of fantasy, that came into prominence in the 1980s and early 1990s. The term denotes works set in an era or world where steam power is still widely used—usually the 19th century, and often Victorian era England—but with prominent elements of either science fiction or fantasy, such as fictional technological inventions like those found in the works of H. G. Wells and Jules Verne, or real technological developments like the computer occurring at an earlier date…Wikipedia

Trailer Thursday is a collection of my newest clock piece jewelry and some YA book trailers for “magic Under Glass” by Jaclyn Dolamore and “Leviathan” by Scott Westerfield. I wish I had a trailer for Cassandra Clare’s Infernal Devices, but alas…there isn’t one out yet. What is steam punk to you and what are your favorite books inspired by it?

Contest Winners

21 Jan, 2010 by in contest winners, giveaway 2 comments

Congrats @bookcrazyjen for winning our Frozen Fire giveaway! Send us your address to fireandice.heather@gmail.com and we will ship your book today.

Congrats @intlgiveaways Internaional Giveaways for winning our Sara Zarr Sweet Treats contest Graef family 2nd place and @umeplusone 3rd place. Winners have 48 hours to contact us 🙂

Divider

Twilight MOMS/ Eve’s Fan Garden Vendor of Month

20 Jan, 2010 by in etsy, fire and ice, giveaway, Heather Gardner Photography, michael martinez, twilight moms, twilight music 4 comments

We are thrilled to have been picked as the vendor of the month for Twilight MOMS and their new affiliate site Eve’s Fan Garden! Special Thanks go out to Britten and Kirsten for all of their support! Check out the post here:

http://twilightmoms.net/viewtopic.php?p=1939576#p1939576
And in celebration we are giving away a free CD to the first five new blog followers. Comment when you add us and Email your address to fireandice.heather@gmail.com

Waiting On Wednesday "Sisters Red"

20 Jan, 2010 by in sister red Leave a comment

Checking my mailbox every day for this one which is on ARC tour…
Summary From Goodreads:
Scarlett March lives to hunt the Fenris– the werewolves that took her eye when she was defending her sister Rosie from a brutal attack. Armed with a razor-sharp hatchet and blood-red cloak, Scarlett is an expert at luring and slaying the wolves. She’s determined to protect other young girls from a grisly death, and her raging heart will not rest until every single wolf is dead.

Rosie March once felt her bond with her sister was unbreakable. Owing Scarlett her life, Rosie hunts fiercely alongside her. Now Rosie dreams of a life beyond the wolves and finds herself drawn to Silas, a young woodsman who is deadly with an ax– but loving him means betraying her sister and has the potential to destroy all they’ve worked for.

Twenty-five-year-old Jackson Pearce delivers a dark, taut fairy tale with heart-pounding action, fierce sisterly love, and a romance that will leave readers breathless.

Coming June 7th 2010 by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Teaser Tuesday- The Iron King by Julie Kagawa

19 Jan, 2010 by in book trailer, new YA fiction 1 comment

AHHHHHH… I can not wait!

Meghan Chase has a secret destiny – one she could never have imagined…

Something has always felt slightly off in Meghan’s life, ever since her father disappeared before her eyes when she was six. She has never quite fit in at school…or at home.

When a dark stranger begins watching her from afar, and her prankster best friend becomes strangely protective of her, Meghan senses that everything she’s known is about to change.