Review: Lover At Last by J.R. Ward

Lover At Last

(Black Dagger Brotherhood #11)

 by J.R. Ward

Hardcover: 608 pages

Publisher: NAL Hardcover; 1 edition (March 26, 2013)

Goodreads Description:

Qhuinn, son of no one, is used to being on his own. Disavowed from his bloodline, shunned by the aristocracy, he has finally found an identity as one of the most brutal fighters in the war against the Lessening Society. But his life is not complete. Even as the prospect of having a family of his own seems to be within reach, he is empty on the inside, his heart given to another....

Blay, after years of unrequited love, has moved on from his feelings for Qhuinn. And it’s about time: The male has found his perfect match in a Chosen female, and they are going to have a young—just as Qhuinn has always wanted for himself. It’s hard to see the new couple together, but building your life around a pipe dream is just a heartbreak waiting to happen. As he’s learned firsthand.

Fate seems to have taken these vampire soldiers in different directions... but as the battle over the race’s throne intensifies, and new players on the scene in Caldwell create mortal danger for the Brotherhood, Qhuinn finally learns the true definition of courage, and two hearts who are meant to be together... finally become one.

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My Thoughts:

The title of the book says it all...AT LAST! I feel like I have been waiting forever for Blay and Qhunn's story and I finally got to read it. With so much anticipation and high expectations it is easy to be let down but in this case the wait was worth it because this story was just as good as I had hoped it would be.  Blay and Qhuinn have had a tumultuous friendship with Blay's unrequited love for Qhuinn and Qhuinn's self destructive behavior (plus a bunch of other drama) so it was very interesting to see how they finally began to figure things out with each other and face some realizations about themselves.  I think the author handled the love scenes well (as she always does) and there is just the right level of steam. I hate reading a book that has sex scene after sex scene and too many details that either make it come off as porn or cheesy. I've never felt that way with J.R. Ward's Black Dagger Brotherhood series so kudos to the author. The secondary stories were really good in this book and have been set up well for future installments of the series. I believe there are actually 3 other romances brewing, which I was a little surprised about because usually I think it is only about 1 or 2 per book. I'm guessing that more than one love match will be resolved in the next book. 5/5

Review: Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare

Clockwork Princess (The Infernal Devices #3) 

by Cassandra Clare 

                                                                Hardcover: 592 pages
                                    Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books (March 19, 2013)

                                                           Goodreads Description:

THE INFERNAL DEVICES WILL NEVER STOP COMING

A net of shadows begins to tighten around the Shadowhunters of the London Institute. Mortmain plans to use his Infernal Devices, an army of pitiless automatons, to destroy the Shadowhunters. He needs only one last item to complete his plan: he needs Tessa Gray.

Charlotte Branwell, head of the London Institute, is desperate to find Mortmain before he strikes. But when Mortmain abducts Tessa, the boys who lay equal claim to her heart, Jem and Will, will do anything to save her. For though Tessa and Jem are now engaged, Will is as much in love with her as ever.

As those who love Tessa rally to rescue her from Mortmain’s clutches, Tessa realizes that the only person who can save her is herself. But can a single girl, even one who can command the power of angels, face down an entire army?

Danger and betrayal, secrets and enchantment, and the tangled threads of love and loss intertwine as the Shadowhunters are pushed to the very brink of destruction in the breathtaking conclusion to the Infernal Devices trilogy.

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My Thoughts:

The third installment of the Infernal Devices series does not disappoint. I think the story wrapped up better than I could have hoped for. The only negative is that I am sad that it is over. On the bright side, the Mortal Instruments series in not over with (and there will be a companion series called The Dark Artifices) so there will be more Shadowhunters to read about in the future.  Although there is a lot of great action in the book the best part of the story is the relationships between Jem, Clary, and Will. The three of them are connected in so many ways and it has been a pleasure to read about them throughout the series and watch how they turn out. There were quite a few occasions while reading that I teared up and cried a little. Emotions definitely run high in this book. If  you have loved this series so far I think you will love this book as much, if not more, than the others. 5/5

Guest Review: Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi

Under the Never Sky  (Under the Never Sky  #1)

by Veronica Rossi

Hardcover: 384 pages

Publisher: HarperCollins; First Edition edition (January 3, 2012)

Goodreads Summary:

WORLDS KEPT THEM APART.

DESTINY BROUGHT THEM TOGETHER.

Aria has lived her whole life in the protected dome of Reverie. Her entire world confined to its spaces, she's never thought to dream of what lies beyond its doors. So when her mother goes missing, Aria knows her chances of surviving in the outer wasteland long enough to find her are slim.

Then Aria meets an outsider named Perry. He's searching for someone too. He's also wild - a savage - but might be her best hope at staying alive.

If they can survive, they are each other's best hope for finding answers.

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My Opinion:

This story is told in third person with each chapter alternating between Aria and Perry . The reason I like chapters set up this way is because it helps me to get to know each of them better without lingering in one place long enough for me to forget the feel of the other character.That allows the story to flow more smoothly for me.
I liked both of the main characters straight away. Aria is smart, talented, and very determined to find her mother. She becomes a strong survivor after being dumped in a place with extreme adverse conditions compared to life inside the pod. Perry has not had the pampered and carefree life that those who live behind the domes have. He has to fight for everything he needs and is a real alpha male who comes to Aria's rescue.

These two suddenly find themselves on a journey together, each searching for a missing loved one. Along the way they have to face deadly weather, cannibals, wolves and the people that threw Aria "Outside". I'm sure you have guessed by now that during their travels Aria and Perry start developing some sort of feeling for one another (after a very rocky start) but the pacing was just right I think.
The one criticism I have would be that in the beginning of the book I wish more was written about Aria's life in the pod to give me that day to day feel for it.
Overall I enjoyed this well-written, original dystopian. I'm looking forward to reading the sequel,Through the Ever Night.

4.75/5