Book Review: Kill Me Softly

Kill Me Softly by Sarah Cross

Publisher: EgmontUSA

Release Date: 4/10/12

Rating: 4 Stars.

Synopsis:

True love’s kiss just may prove deadly....

Mirabelle’s past is shrouded in secrecy, from her parents’ tragic deaths to her guardians’ half-truths about why she can’t return to her birthplace, Beau Rivage. Desperate to see the town, Mira runs away a week before her sixteenth birthday—and discovers a world she never could have imagined.

In Beau Rivage, nothing is what it seems—the strangely pale girl with a morbid interest in apples, the obnoxious playboy who’s a beast to everyone he meets, and the chivalrous guy who has a thing for damsels in distress. Here, fairy tales come to life, curses are awakened, and ancient stories are played out again and again.

But fairy tales aren’t pretty things, and they don’t always end in happily ever after. Mira has a role to play, a fairy-tale destiny to embrace or resist. As she struggles to take control of her fate, Mira is drawn into the lives of two brothers with fairy-tale curses of their own ... brothers who share a dark secret. And she’ll find that love, just like fairy tales, can have sharp edges and hidden thorns.

I should go on record as saying I ADORE fairytale retellings. A whole city where fairy tales are walking around? Yes, please! And I wasn’t disappointed. It was a fun light read, predictable in parts but still enjoyable. And it was a slightly darker look at fairy tales than the traditional happily ever after, which I particularly liked, because original fairy tales were a bit on the dark side.

Mirabelle, I will admit started off a bit weak willed and naive for my personal taste, but I was okay with that as I watched her grow as a character, from a quiet obedient girl who never questioned anything to a feisty smart young woman who needs no saving by a prince. I also really liked the romance here. I suppose it could be called a love triangle, since there are two boys she’s torn between, but as its fairly obvious who she’ll be with from the start, I’m more inclined to call it a bumpy romance.

There was a lot of stories left open—supporting characters in this book, that I’d enjoy learning more about, but I suppose we’ll have to wait to see if that happens. In any case, if you enjoy a light read and twisted fairy tales—or even a blue-haired cutie with a bad attitude—I highly recommend Kill Me Softly.

Review: A Temptation of Angels

A Temptation of Angels by Michelle Zink

Publisher: Penguin Group

Released: 3/20/12

Rating: 4 stars—I loved it!

Synopsis:

Even angels make mistakes in this page-turning epic romance

When her parents are murdered before her eyes, sixteen-year-old Helen Cartwright finds herself launched into an underground London where a mysterious organization called the Dictata controls the balance of good and evil. Helen learns that she is one of three remaining angelic descendants charged with protecting the world's past, present, and future. Unbeknownst to her, she has been trained her whole life to accept this responsibility. Now, as she finds herself torn between the angelic brothers protecting her and the devastatingly handsome childhood friend who wants to destroy her, she must prepare to be brave, to be hunted, and above all to be strong, because temptation will be hard to resist, even for an angel.

Michelle Zink masterfully weaves historical fantasy with paranormal romance to create a gripping tale of love and betrayal.

Michelle Zink’s new book (after the Prophecy of the Sisters trilogy) is an angel book. And I’ll be the first to admit that I’m not crazy about angel books, but, I am a huge fan of Michelle’s work, and I was really excited to see her spin on them.

And I was totally not disappointed. Helen is a character I really enjoyed watching grow from a girl shoved into a closet, to one willing to face her fears and her past. Perhaps more than Helen, though, I really liked the boys in this story. Helen is paired with a set of brothers who are Keepers like she is. All of them are now orphans, and when we learn that the one responsible for their murders is Helen’s childhood friend, Raum, the tension skyrockets.

Zink carefully balances romantic tension with plot, and for a bit, your left wondering if Helen will choose the noble Griffen Channing or the beautiful, broken Raum. It’s an excellent read, with enough alternate history to leave you wondering if your reading historica, steampunk or fantasy. I highly recommend it, and all of Michelle’s work.

And, because she’s fabulous, Michelle Zink will be joining us on Monday for an interview about writing!