Showing posts with label Once Upon a Time 3 Challenge. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Once Upon a Time 3 Challenge. Show all posts

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Red-Headed Stepchild by Jaye Wells

Oh me, oh my I have found a new author that I will most definitely be following! Red-Headed Stepchild was an awesome debut and I'm happy to say the beginning of a trilogy (I believe). Sabina is half vampire and half mage which means she is an outcast amongst the vampires who are her family. She chooses the only occupation offered to her by her Grandmother, one of the head vampires, and becomes an assasin. Trouble begins brewing when Sabina is asked to infiltrate a rival group and assasinate the leader by her Grandmother. Because it seems as if her Grandmother hasn't told her everything including details that deal with Sabina's mage side of her heritage.

I'm going to gush about this book just so you have a heads up. I was completely captivated with this story and couldn't put it down. Sabina was a strong main character that wasn't afraid to get her hands dirty. The reader was able to see her vulnerable side though as she began to question the truths that she had been told about her parents and her mage heritage which was a nice contrast to her tough side. The story itself was fresh and original and kept me turning the pages as fast as I could. This story just pulled me in and wouldn't let go. I just plain loved this book. The ending was tied up enough that I was satisfied while leaving it open for the next part in the trilogy. And I still wanted more! I would highly recommend this one to anyone that enjoys a good urban fantasy as the world Wells' creates is captivating and one that I want to read more of. Awesome read :)


My Rating/Recommendations: 5 out of 5 and recommended to anyone who enjoys a good urban fantasy or paranormal. Loved it!
Challenges: New Author Challenge, 100+ Book Challenge, Once Upon a Time III Challenge, A-Z Challenge ("W" Author)

P.S.- Don't you love that cover?

Sunday, March 22, 2009

Once Upon a Time III Challenge

Color me crazy but I cannot resist joining in on the fun for the Once Upon a Time III Challenge. I've never participated before (although last year I might have signed up and forgotten about it) and I'm looking forward to giving this challenge a try. I don't read a lot of fantasy besides urban fantasy so I'm going to attempt to stretch my limits with this challenge. I've decided to sign up for quest one which means:


Read at least 5 books that fit somewhere within the Once Upon a Time III criteria. They might all be fantasy, or folklore, or fairy tales, or mythology…or your five books might be a combination from the four genres.

I'm pretty sure I can handle 5 books although now I'm thinking that I am already going to have to change my reading list for the Spring Reading Thing. Go figure! Carl, the host, doesn't require a list that you plan to read other than he suggests making a pool of books that I can choose from. Here is what I have so far:

  • Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr

  • The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale

  • Book of a Thousand Days by Shannon Hale ( I will read something by this author for this challenge)

  • Briar Rose by Jane Yolen

  • The Wood Wife by Terri Windling

  • The Little Country by Charles de Lint

  • Sorcery and Cecilia by Caroline Stevermer

Okay, that is what I have come up with on my own and with thanks to Eva's suggestions. I am completely out of my realm so any other ideas of "great or fun" books that fit this genre let me know. Comment away and I will add them to my pool of books!