The Coldest Girl in Coldtown by Holly Black

This book was totally not what I expected but completely something I needed.

I discovered Holly Black's writing with the book a while back when I picked up The Darkest Part for the Forest. At the end of that book was a preview of this one, and I actually ready the preview of this book before reading The Darkest Part of the Forest.

Right from the first few pages I was hooked. Holly Black's writing is something I've not experienced anywhere else. She gives you these regular characters with such real lives that when she introduces the fantasy elements, it's like an extra treat.

For some reason when I read the excerpt of The Coldest Girl in Coldtown, I didn't really grasp what it was about, so when I really got into this book, I was surprised. I had no idea what the monsters were in this book and it threw me for a loop at first. I don't even want to tell you in my review since finding out while reading was half the fun.

I adored this book and will continue to read Holly Black's other novels because they are exactly what I am looking for in monster urban fantasy twisted goodness.

Recommendations: For the lovers of urban fantasy and monsters. This is for you. Go in for the ride and you'll be happily impressed.

Carmer and Grit by Sarah Jean Horwitz

I came across this book at the bookstore and it was partially a cover buy. How could you not, though?  This cover is gorgeous!

The story is about two different characters. One is an aspiring inventor and magician who goes by Carmer who is trying to help his mentor win a big competition. The other is a faerie princess who goes by Grit. She's been investigating the mysterious disappearances of faeries, and the two team up to help each other out. Grit uses her magic to help  Carmer and his mentor's act and Carmer helps Grit searching the city for the truth of the missing faeries. 

This fantasy story is in a steampunk world full of faerie magic. It's a middle grade novel, but it's not without the action and drama that you might often find in YA or even adult novels. 

Carmer and Grit was easy to read, and didn't really feel that much like a middle grade book. It felt longer and a little bit more detailed than I guess I expected a middle grade read to be. It's been a little while since I've read a middle grade book, so I was quite happy with this one. 

I do like the details in the story, especially details about the world of faerie that I've read about since childhood. There was intensity in the drama that I really appreciated as well.

Parts of this story felt a little on the slow side, but overall, it was a good read. There is a second book in this series that I might need to get my hands on too. I appreciate the fact it didn't end on a cliffhanger, but more of a nod to further adventures. 

Recommendations: For the readers of faerie, for the lovers of faerie, for the lovers of a good story with steampunk features: this is for you. 

Tithe by Holly Black

So we probably all know about the work of Holly Black because of books like The Darkest Part of the Forest, The Coldest Girl in Cold Town, and most recently because of The Cruel Prince. I found her when I picked up The Darkest Part of the Forest and from there, I decided that I needed to keep getting my hands on her work.

I did a little research and realized she had written a couple of books in this Modern Faerie Tales series  and my bookstore had them!

This is the first one as of publication order and its about a girl named Kaye who ends up going back to her childhood home and reconnecting with her past and those she knew back then. She finds herself in between a war between two faerie kingdoms and could lose her life.

I didn't do the plot justice, but alas, I don't want to give things away. It's a little book, not super hard to read, but totally gripping nonetheless.

What I love about Holly Black's work is that she not only takes you out of your life as it is now and brings you into an urban fantasy story about faeries, but even the real world parts of her her characters lives are so different from my own that it's like I'm transported out of my world twice.

She takes you and shows you the gritty, seedy world out there and then throws in faeries for good measure and you're swept away along for the ride. It's really quite awesome.

I am a big fan of hers and I think I will always be a big fan of hers. I just really love her writing style and faeries were always a huge thing for me growing up and I still love them now.

Recommendation: For the fans of Holly Black, for the lovers of faeries. For the urban fantasy YA lovers. I think this might just be the book for you.