Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry

Let me start out by saying that this story is purely a romance. As more of a plot-focused girl, I don't really do pure romance but I decided to give it a try. I found this when I was looking through the Goodreads' best books of 2012 nominations. Here's the Amazon blurb:

"No one knows what happened the night Echo Emerson went from popular girl with jock boyfriend to gossiped-about outsider with "freaky" scars on her arms. Even Echo can't remember the whole truth of that horrible night. All she knows is that she wants everything to go back to normal.

But when Noah Hutchins, the smoking-hot, girl-using loner in the black leather jacket, explodes into her life with his tough attitude and surprising understanding, Echo's world shifts in ways she could never have imagined. They should have nothing in common. And with the secrets they both keep, being together is pretty much impossible.

Yet the crazy attraction between them refuses to go away. And Echo has to ask herself just how far they can push the limits and what she'll risk for the one guy who might teach her how to love again."

Despite my plot-relishing ways I found myself enjoying the book. It wasn't magnificent, but it was definitely interesting enough to keep me reading, and was pleasantly long to boot. I thought that the gossip about Echo was totally overdone (but then again, maybe high school is actually like that for people. Most books seem pretty intent on playing it up). Personally, I don't think I'd care if some random girl started wearing long sleeves. I mean, whatever. Why should it bother me? I also did not appreciate how her mother was portrayed as a crazed, dangerous lunatic. There is no need for more people to think that people who have psychological disorders are dangerous and out to kill everyone. It's ridiculous how many people have bipolar disorder! If every one of them were that dangerous then there would be a lot more murders going on. 

Let me conclude by saying that though I didn't totally fall in love with the book, and though it has some quirks, it's still a pretty good book. Not my favorite, but I wouldn't mind trying another one of her books.

The Crown of Embers by Rae Carson

I think it will suffice to say that this is the continuation of The Girl of Fire and Thorns and is a significant improvement. I almost feel like I was too harsh in my review of the first book. But, I believe I have found the source of my discontent with the first book! It's simply a flawed decoy (and when I say 'flawed' I just mean that it could use some improvement). It seems to me that Rae Carson had everything planned out from the beginning but needed certain bits to have the story make sense. For example, the king. She couldn't exactly kill him off in the beginning--it just wouldn't work. But she truly intended for Elisa to be queen all along. Her love interest was also a decoy (unfortunately making her feelings come across as totally fake). Splendidly, it turns out that Carson does not, in fact, have difficulty portraying true emotions (at least, she doesn't seem to). So! This is a must read. But, be warned: there is a horrible cliff hanger and the next book doesn't come out until some time in 2013. Which could be December for all I know. (How do I get myself into these situations?).

Thief of Hearts by D.L. Snow

I suppose I could call this a trilogy but there's actually no reason for it to be split up (other than the usual offer-the-first-book-free-so-they-get-hooked-and-have-to-buy-the-others scheme). Basically it's just another Robin Hood spin off. Except this time around the main character is Little John. Or rather, a princess who is fleeing death and is disguised as boy who goes by the name of John. The most distinguishing feature of this story is actually the world it's built in. Snow has (apparently) written other books set in the same world that are spin offs of other well-known tales. This wouldn't be very relevant except for the fact that the stories of these characters intersect. However, I don't actually plan on reading the other stories.
All in all I thought the story was pretty solid. Some events were fairly predictable but it was so exciting that I didn't really take much notice. I think that's what really kept me interested (not to mention the cliff hangers). My problem with the story is that the author decided to include detailed sex scenes and the ever-present thoughts about wanting to have sex. That just ruined it for me. If it didn't include those it would be a perfect story for the so-called "young adult" age group. Unfortunately, it does, leaving it in the category of more adult books in which it really has no place. I simply don't think it's high-level enough in terms of characters, language, and level of thought provokation. From what I've seen review-wise, many of Snow's other books suffer from the same dilemma. But, as long as you don't mind the sex scenes (which are totally unnecessary, by the way) then give it a read.

The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson

Maybe I should just give up trying to write summaries all together... Here's the Amazon version:

"Once a century, one person is chosen for greatness.

Elisa is the chosen one.

But she is also the younger of two princesses. The one who has never done anything remarkable, and can’t see how she ever will.

Now, on her sixteenth birthday, she has become the secret wife of a handsome and worldly king—a king whose country is in turmoil. A king who needs her to be the chosen one, not a failure of a princess.

And he’s not the only one who seeks her. Savage enemies, seething with dark magic,are hunting her. A daring, determined revolutionary thinks she could be his people’ssavior, and he looks at her in a way that no man has ever looked at her before. Soon it is not just her life, but her very heart that is at stake.

Elisa could be everything to those who need her most. If the prophecy is fulfilled. If she finds the power deep within herself. If she doesn’t die young.

Most of the chosen do."

Now, based on this introduction it is likely that you are thinking (as I did) that this must be a terribly predictable and cheesy book. I am happily able to say that it is not, in fact, as terribly cheesy and predictable as I thought it was going to be. Yes, she is still this unoriginal-sounding 'chosen one', but at least there's the option of failure (unlike with most of these 'chosen one' stories) based on the numerous failings of her predecessors. I can also happily say that Elisa is not beautiful. Well, rather the commonly held image of feminine beauty. To be more specific, she is very, very overweight. Which, although admirably feminist of the author, is unfortunately not entirely logical. Personally, if my daughter were the 'chosen one', most of whom are doomed to terribly ugly deaths, I would at least make sure that she were able walk around and preferably be able to run. It strikes me as a glaring error. Additionally, I was bothered by her lack of reaction to one of the deaths that takes place in the book. You can say as many times as you like that a character is in mourning, but if you don't reflect that in their actions then it's entirely impossible to believe. I also had a problem with her husband. I just could not figure him out. He comes off as this extremely kind, noble gentleman but some of the things he does don't match up at ALL. I found him incredibly irritating and could not stand Elisa's reactions to him. I have absolutely no idea what kind of a person he was supposed to be; a jerk or a misguided victim? Am I supposed to hate him or feel bad for him? It drove me crazy! In fact, I think this might be the only book I've read in which a character just doesn't make sense. Usually the problem is unoriginality, not contradictions! I'm just at a loss. Anyway, moving on. 

I'm probably making this sound like a horrible book, but it's really not. I really did enjoy the book and appreciated that it wasn't COMPLETELY predictable--though that might just be due to how predictable Hero's Song was... I might end up reading the next book, but it all really depends on the first few chapters. We shall see.

Hero's Song by Edith Pattou

Hero's Song is about a boy named Collun and his search for his missing sister. Throw in a little magic, a few secrets, and people in pursuit and you've got the whole story. Quite frankly I found it to be extremely predictable and fairly boring. However, to be fair, I believe that's largely because this book is intended for a younger age group (which I didn't realize until I bought it). But at the same time, that doesn't mean that it has to be predictable. It does have some interesting characters but as a whole it falls a little flat. What especially bothered me was how unrealistic it was (ignoring, of of course, the magical element). The challenges they had to face seemed much too easily overcome and the description in general of their trials struck me as lacking. The pain of injuries, for example, just didn't seem real (for lack of a better word). It was just really hard to believe. The best comparison I can think of is good acting versus bad acting. Collun and company's hardships were just as fake as bad acting. I don't know that I'd call it a bad book, but I wouldn't call Hero's Song particularly good either.

Kushiel's Dart by Jacqueline Carey

My synopsis would be WAY too complicated so here's the one from Amazon: "The land of Terre d'Ange is a place of unsurpassing beauty and grace. It is said that angels found the land and saw it was good...and the ensuing race that rose from the seed of angels and men live by one simple rule: Love as thou wilt. 

Phèdre nó Delaunay is a young woman who was born with a scarlet mote in her left eye. Sold into indentured servitude as a child, her bond is purchased by Anafiel Delaunay, a nobleman with very a special mission...and the first one to recognize who and what she is: one pricked by Kushiel's Dart, chosen to forever experience pain and pleasure as one.

Phèdre is trained equally in the courtly arts and the talents of the bedchamber, but, above all, the ability to observe, remember, and analyze. Almost as talented a spy as she is courtesan, Phèdre stumbles upon a plot that threatens the very foundations of her homeland. Treachery sets her on her path; love and honor goad her further. And in the doing, it will take her to the edge of despair...and beyond. Hateful friend, loving enemy, beloved assassin; they can all wear the same glittering mask in this world, and Phèdre will get but one chance to save all that she holds dear."Well. I decided to read this book because it a. kept popping up in practically EVERY category of my Goodreads suggestions and b. because it was one of the few books in my recommendations that was rated 4 or more stars. While I wasn't a fan of the whole "talents of the bedchamber" bits, I thought the idea of getting pleasure from pain (by which I mean the extreme extent it is taken to) and Phedre's resulting conflicting emotions were very interesting. And I did love a certain grumpy-faced body guard. I will warn you now: the book is extremely long and very focused on politics. I spent most of the first third of the book skimming through and skipping large sections of political talking. But once you get past the first third of the book and a certain life changing event occurs, the story becomes terribly addictive. All in all I think that I would've probably appreciated this book better if I had read it later in life because the quality of the writing and depth of the characters and story certainly deserve a much more appreciative reader. It honestly went a little bit over my head with the amount of in-depth politics.

Enigma by Lindsay Buroker

Enigma, a short story, is the sequel to Encrypted and picks up after a very small gap in time. Rias and Tikaya are on a ship headed towards Tikaya's homeland, granted passage only for Tikaya's musical and linguistic background. The captain just so happens to have a priceless Nurian flute and wants Tikaya to figure out how it works. But of course, the ship is being pursued...
There's not much to say about this story due to its shortness. It's a nice little story but not much more than a filler in time. I'm assuming that there will either be a longer sequel or, probably more likely, this bit is necessary (because it establishes their destination; though I suppose you wouldn't really need a totally separate story for that...) for the inclusion of Tikaya and Rias in The Emperor's Edge series. I believe Lindsay Buroker did mention something about that... Anyway, it's probably not necessary to read but if you've been dying for more of those characters then this story has your name on it!
Side Note: No, I did not spend two weeks getting through this short story. I was, in fact (or am, I suppose), in the middle of a much longer, more complicated book. I'll probably be done with it in less than a week.