The Coveted // Laura Thalassa

The Coveted (★★★★☆)
By: Laura Thalassa
Series: The Unearthly (2)
Genres: Young Adult, Urban Fantasy
Pages: 312
Format: Paperback
Features: Vampires, Witches, Fairies, Seers, Shifters

As required:
I received this book through one of the Goodreads giveaways.

Now, for the good stuff.

I haven’t read the first one. Haven’t even LOOKED at the first one. But after reading this, I want to. It’s next on my “to buy” list.

When the “vampire” aspect was brought in, I admit I rolled my eyes – I’m not a big vampire book fan. However, Laura Thalassa definitely put a spin on the whole world that made it an enjoyable read. Seers and Witches and Fairies and… shifters? Point being, it included different types of “supernaturals” or “mythologicals” than just the requisite vampires and shifters and other “baddies” you often find. I mean hey, if you’re going to go creative on one aspect of the supernatural, why not just assume they all exist as well and have as much fun as possible?

Now, while it’s apparent that the heroine could be considered a young adult, this doesn’t necessarily read like a YA novel, which was a VERY pleasant surprise. I find her closest friends to be a good balance for her and actually bring something to the story.

There’s not a lot I can criticize about this book. I wasn’t hopeful at first, but as I read I found myself engaged and unwilling to put the book down. I was worried about the relationship between Gab and Andre, but was pleasantly surprised with their interaction. For the situations they were in, the situation I picked up on them leaving just a few months ago, and for Gab’s headspace, it had just the right amount of tension without going overboard and shattering that element.

I am interested in following this story futher. I want to know why the Devil is after her – and I definitely want to know about this whole “vampire/siren” thing. And what’s up with the fates involvement? There are questions left unanswered that intrigue me, and I definitely want to find out more.

Witchy, Witchy // Penelope King

Witchy, Witchy (★★★☆☆)
By: Penelope King
Series: Spellbound (1)
Genres: Young Adult, Paranormal
Pages: 329
Format: eBook
Features: Witches

I’ve heard a lot of fuss about these books, and I have to wonder why. Then again, I also have to wonder if I read too much or watch too many fantasy-type series on TV, because most of what I read these days reminds me of some other book or show or author. This one… just more of the same.

I had a number of moments where I flashed back to The Craft and The Secret Circle. Only difference is here (so far at least) there’s only 3 witches, but they’re still all teenage girls.

One thing I do like about Witchy, Witchy (though at the same time makes it too YA for my tastes) is these girls deal with normal, every day, teenage girl problems. Not all of their problems are magical, and they don’t try to use their magic to solve those problems, either. What a relief!

I think Penelope King has taken a much more realistic approach to the world of witchcraft in fiction than I’ve seen to date. Real people mean real problems, whereas magic has its own set of problems, and, occasionally, the two will overlap and, well, that’s when crap hits the fan.

I may continue to read on just because there are obviously a number of years ahead of these girls and I hope to see the books grow with them

Hounded // Kevin Hearne

Hounded (★★★☆☆)
By: Kevin Hearne
Series: The Iron Druid Chronicles (1)
Genres: Fantasy ~ Urban
Pages: 303
Format: eBook
Features: Mythology, Witches

I’m used to reading things of the caliber of Robert Jordan, Terry Goodkind and Jacqueline Carey for my fantasy fix. While after reading Hounded I would never put Kevin Hearne in this category, I have to give credit where credit is due. He took a pantheon/mythological race that’s been done before and put a interesting, if not wholly pleasing spin on it.

I had to tell myself within the first 20 pages something I often tell myself when confronted with arguments about how the ancient gods and goddesses are portrayed in pop culture – they are what they are, and we are not, thus simply by being human we have to put them in a “box” of sorts. This is where the interesting spin came from, as Hearne managed a fictional take that I would consider almost believable. There simply is no such thing as a perfect god or goddess.

I do have an issue with how he portrays the witches. Hearne demonstrated enough knowledge of witchcraft, of both the Wiccan and less “traditional” variety that it made me wonder if it was simple creative license or a personal… delusion that caused him to paint them as little more than monsters in human skins.

As to the overall story itself, taking the book as a whole, I simply can’t say it was remarkably good or bad. It had its moments of both. I can say that I will pick up the next book in this series and continue reading, but I will give it only one more book to win me over.