RECOMMENDED: Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr is $1.99! This is the first book in the Wicked Lovely YA series and features all sorts of faerie creatures. Some reviewers found it boring, though it has over 100K ratings on GR with a standing of 3.7-stars. Many readers feel the book is well worth getting through the breaks in the action.
Sarah says this is one of her favorite YA fantasy novels, and she's recommended it to many, many people. It's absorbing, touching, a little scary, and worth way more than $2.
Rule #3: Don't stare at invisible faeries.
Aislinn has always seen faeries. Powerful and dangerous, they walk hidden in the mortal world. Aislinn fears their cruelty – especially if they learn of her Sight – and wishes she were as blind to their presence as other teens.
Rule #2: Don't speak to invisible faeries.
Now faeries are stalking her. One of them, Keenan, who is equal parts terrifying and alluring, is trying to talk to her, asking questions Aislinn is afraid to answer.
Rule #1: Don't ever attract their attention.
But it's too late. Keenan is the Summer King, who has sought his queen for nine centuries. Without her, summer itself will perish. He is determined that Aislinn will become the Summer Queen at any cost — regardless of her plans or desires.
Suddenly none of the rules that have kept Aislinn safe are working anymore, and everything is on the line: her freedom; her best friend, Seth; her life; everything. Faery intrigue, mortal love, and the clash of ancient rules and modern expectations swirl together in Melissa Marr's stunning twenty-first-century faery tale.
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Angel's Ink by Jocelynn Drake is $1.99 right now. This is a paranormal urban fantasy, and the first book in the Asylum Tales series. The book has a 3.6 average on GR, and readers particularly liked the hero, who is a former warlock who now runs his own tattoo parlor. I'm actually pretty interested in this book, but I'm wary about buying it for some reason. Anyone care to weigh in on whether to buy or bypass?
The second book, Dead Man's Deal ( A | BN | K ), is also on sale for $1.99!
Looking for a tattoo—and maybe a little something extra: a burst of good luck, a dollop of true love, or even a hex on an ex? Head to the quiet and mysterious Gage, the best skin artist in town. Using unique potions—a blend of extraordinary ingredients and special inks—to etch the right symbol, he can fulfill any heart's desire. But in a place like Low Town, where elves, faeries, trolls, werewolves, and vampires happily walk among humanity, everything has its price.
No one knows that better than Gage. Turning his back on his own kind, he left the magical Ivory Tower where cruel witches and warlocks rule, a decision that cost him the right to practice magic. And if he disobeys, his punishment—execution—will be swift.
Though he's tried to fly under the radar, Gage can't hide from powerful warlocks who want him dead—or the secrets of his own past. But with the help of his friends, Trixie, a gorgeous elf who hides her true identity, and a hulking troll named Bronx, Gage might just make it through this enchanted world alive.
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Skinwalker by Faith Hunter is $1.99! It's the first book in the urban fantasy Jane Yellowrock series. With the Native American skinwalker heroine and the inclusion of vampires and werewolves, I'm getting some hefty Mercedes Thompson vibes from this book. I love the Mercedes Thompson series, so I'm definitely wondering if I'll enjoy this one. Reviewers commented that this definitely suffers from “first book-itis,” where a bulk of the book deals with worldbuilding, but the action really picks up during the last half of the book. It has a 3.8-star rating on GR.
Jane Yellowrock is the last of her kind-a skinwalker of Cherokee descent who can turn into any creature she desires and hunts vampires for a living. But now she's been hired by Katherine Fontaneau, one of the oldest vampires in New Orleans and the madam of Katie's Ladies, to hunt a powerful rogue vampire who's killing other vamps…
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The Stolen by Bishop O'Connell is $2.99! This is the first book in An American Faerie Tale series. Since this book only came out a couple months ago, it's hard to get a bearing on whether this is straight modern fantasy or if there are any romantic elements to it. The heroine is a single mother whose daughter has been taken. The only people that can help are three heroes: a wizard, a warrior, and an elven fae. A word of warning, it sounds like this book ends on a cliffhanger.
Tonight, for the first time in over a century, a mortal child will be kidnapped by faeries.
When her daughter Fiona is snatched from her bed, Caitlin's entire world crumbles. Once certain that faeries were only a fantasy, Caitlin must now accept that these supernatural creatures do exist—and that they have traded in their ancient swords and horses for modern guns and sports cars. Hopelessly outmatched, she accepts help from a trio of unlikely heroes: Eddy, a psychiatrist and novice wizard; Brendan, an outcast Fian warrior; and Dante, a Magister of the fae's Rogue Court. Moving from the busy streets of Boston's suburbs to the shadowy land of Tír na nÓg, Caitlin and her allies will risk everything to save Fiona. But can this disparate quartet conquer their own inner demons and outwit the dark faeries before it's too late?
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I picked up Wicked Lovely as an arc years ago at a librarian conference and really enjoyed it. It was my re-entry point back into YA and I liked that it was dark and twisty. Though I’ve always loved dark and twisty fairies.
I read both Asylum Tales books and enjoyed them, but I really can’t tell you more than that. They passed the time on a flight and I remember thinking they seemed Harry Dresden-esque…and that’s about it. They aren’t romances, imo, though there is a love interest, so if you need a romance…
@Heather Greye: A lot of the reviews I read definitely made the Dresden connection. I may hold off. My TBR is big enough and, at this point, if I’m not stupidly interested, over-the-moon-type excited about a book, I’m going to wait. At least until I whittle my list down.
I enjoyed the Jane Yellowrock books enough to read maybe four of them (and I genuinely mean enjoyed—I don’t slog through lousy books out of a sense of misplaced loyalty), but then, as in every other book/television/movie series, she settled on the guy who strongly telegraphs “SCUMBAG!!!” to me for the romantic interest. If I can’t trust the judgment of the protagonist or the author, it’s time for me to go.
But what I consider scumbag characteristics seem to be otherwise universally attractive to women (or it wouldn’t happen on such a consistent basis, right?), so don’t let my negativity there hold you back.
The world building didn’t chafe at me because it’s a cool world. And even as overdone as New Orleans is in the paranormal realm, this done-again was done well enough that it didn’t provoke any memorable eye rolling. The details are specific and relevant, rather than a generic blanket of spooky cred for a story that could otherwise take place anywhere.
I would say Jane is more of a badass than Mercedes. It’s Jane’s job to be a badass and she’s trained for it, as opposed to being roped into situations she’s not necessarily prepared or willing to deal with just because she’s “special.” If you’re looking for a softer heroine, Jane’s not it. Her boob armor ain’t for show.
I love the faith hunter books. I can see the mercy comparison, but mercy made me want to stab people by book 2, and I’m on 4 with Faith and still loving it, so ultimately i think they are waaay better books.
@Ren: The romantic element has been the least satisfactory part of the Jane Yellowrock books, IMO. In fact, Jane had two potential love interests, neither of which made me happy. I won’t say everything’s been happily resolved on that front yet, but I have hope. If that was what precluded you from continuing with the books, you might consider dipping your toe back in the water. And, aside from that, as you note, Jane’s a strong protagonist.