Review - A Breath of Frost (The Lovegrove Legacy #1) by Alyxandra Harvey

Title: A Breath of Frost 

Author: Alyxandra Harvey

Series: 1st

Pages: 496

Published: January 7th 2014 by Walker Childrens

ISBN: 9780802734433

Source: Publisher via Netgalley

 

Description: In 1814, three cousins—Gretchen, Emma, and Penelope—discover their family lineage of witchcraft when a binding spell is broken, allowing their individual magical powers to manifest. Now, beyond the manicured gardens and ballrooms of Regency London, an alluring underworld available only to those with power is revealed to the cousins. By claiming their power, the three cousins have accidentally opened the gates to the underworld.  Now ghouls, hellhounds—and most terrifying of all, the spirits of dark witches known as the Greymalkin Sisters—are hunting and killing young debutante witches for their powers. And, somehow, Emma is connected to the murders…because she keeps finding the bodies. Can the cousins seal the gates before another witch is killed…or even worse, before their new gifts are stripped away? 

First Line: Breaking into a dead woman's house was easy work since she rarely complained.

  

 I Give This ...

 

I tend to gravitate to this author when I see her name pop up on a book.  But, I have to be honest and say I haven't been wowed since her vampire series.  I really hoped this book would spark that interest again.  Sadly, it wasn't quite so.

I really liked how close these three cousins are because when you learn about their mothers, you realize it couldn't easily have been that they have nothing to with each other.  They get through it all no matter what the costs.  When Emma accidentally breaks the binding spell and all hell breaks loose, Gretchen and Penelope never hesitant to be right behind her helping solve their complicated past.

And complicated it is.  I really think that's were this story lost me.  There's just a lot of details that padded the story to the point it was too much.  First the history of witchcraft isn't as simple as one would think.  There's also a hierarchy that's in place that just didn't work for me.   Which is funny because it's really everywhere.  I didn't enjoy how only those from aristocratic backgrounds that demonstrated powers could be trained and attend the academy.  I also still don't understand what The Order does.  Do the protect or control?

I wasn't disinterested to the point that I put the book down though.  I really wanted to know more about Emma's mother and why she put the binding spell in place.  I really enjoyed our brief glimpses we get of who she was and who she is now.  There's also a few great little twists to the story that helped bring the book up a little.  

I'm not giving up on this author yet.  I just don't think I connect with her paranormal historical fiction as much as I would like.  

 

Review - Blood Prophecy (Drake Chronicles #6) by Alyxandra Harvey

Title: Blood Prophecy

Author: Alyxandra Harvey

Series: 6th (Hearts at Stake, Blood Feud, Out For Blood, Bleeding Hearts, Blood Moon)

Pages: 496

Published:  January 8th 2013 by Walker Childrens 

ISBN: 9780802734280

Source: Publisher via Netgalley

Description: Solange Drake has been officially crowned Queen of the Vampires, fulfilling the centuries old prophecy that foretold the rise to power of a daughter born to an ancient vampire line. Except Solange's thoughts and actions are no longer her own—she's been slowly being possessed by the spirit of Viola, the first daughter born into the Drake line, since her bloodchange. And instead of uniting the vampire tribes under the rule of an ancient daughter as the prophecy predicted, Viola would rather destroy them all and enslave humans in a personal vendetta for the devastation both wrought to her life centuries ago. Can Solange break her hold in time to save everyone she loves from a vampire civil war, hunter attack, and each other? Not everyone will survive the prophecy . . . perhaps not even her. 

I Give This ...

 

You ever reach the last book in the series and wonder how the hell the author is going to wrap it all up?  I seriously wondered on this one.  I was hoping I would get to the end and low and behold...book 7.  Pleased to say that wasn't the case.  And this really was a satisfying ending to a great series!

I'm so pleased to be able to like Solange again.  She was really starting to grate on my nerves there.  I know nobody wanted to have to stake their baby sister, but she was beyond reason.  Glad to know there was  reason behind all that madness.  Who knew that vampires could be possessed?  I was also happy to see that once she realized what was going on, she did everything in her power to get Viola out.  She has to piece together Viola's history, which turns out to be a little bit of her own as well.  I found it fascinating.  I especially enjoyed the witches role in the entire scenario.    

And the possession is really just half of the story.  We still have to deal with those who have been kidnapping vampires, killing humans, and basically causing a whole lot of havoc.  This is were the story might have been able to be cut into book 7.  I dislike that feeling you get when you reach what you think is the climax of the story, only to realize your only half way through the book.  The series is definitely been headed this directions, but I wish we wouldn't have reached in at break neck speed in just one book.

I do love the Drake family though.  The brothers are so fiercely protective of each other and will do anything for their baby sister.  Even when they aren't entirely convinced that Solange isn't just reacting badly to the blood change, they still will do anything for her.  They also carry that same loyalty over to their significant others.  Just reading about Nick and Lucy makes me love them.  

I'm so glad I picked up this series.  I was fun to read.  Also equally happy that it's over.  Now on to the next one!

 

Review - Blood Moon (Drake Chronicles #5) by Alyxandra Harvey

Title: Blood Moon

Author: Alyxandra Harvey

Series: 5th (Hearts at Stake, Blood Feud, Out for Blood, Bleeding Hearts)

Pages: 320

Published:  June 19th 2012 by Walker Childrens 

ISBN:  9780802728470

Source: Purchased

Description: When the vampire tribes convene for the rare Blood Moon ceremonies, Solange Drake’s struggle with her feral nature, a mysterious stranger, family secrets, and forbidden magic put her entire family in danger. And when Nicholas Drake is torn between saving his little sister, Solange, or his girlfriend Lucy, who will he choose? 

I Give This ...

 

With the first four books under my belt, there was never any doubt that I would read this book.   It was really just a matter of when because review book seem to take up so much of my time.  When the book six (and final book) was available for review, there was my last motivation for getting this one read sooner rather than later.

I've been patiently watching Solange struggle with her blood change.  She's definitely not adapting well.  I've known what she's experiencing is not the norm, but just wasn't very sure how far outside that range she was.  I sometime wonder if her family wasn't so busy with her mother taking over and the Blood Moon, if she would have gotten help sooner.  She's been left to her own thoughts and devices, and I don't think that has helped any.  I've been extremely intrigued by the little voice in her head.  

The rituals and rules behind the blood moon are very interesting.  The tribes are all represented.  They have their own guard with a no nonsense policy.  With so many vampires in town in bound to attract some attention.  The presence have not gone unnoticed by Helio-Ra.  Lucy gets a lot of flack at the prestigious vampire hunters school.  There's a lot of bad blood there and most are not willing to accept that not all vampires are bad.

Poor Nicholas seems to go through a lot in this book.  His loyalty to both Solange and Lucy are both tested to the extremes.  Odd that he seems to have see events coming enough to be able to plan for them.  I think its a testament to how loyal he is to his family and how much he cares for Lucy.  He know that not everything is going to be perfect, but love that he tries.

I did not like Constantine.  I was honestly wondering the entire time what it was that had Solange so wrapped up in him.  He was the exact opposite of everything that Solange had been taught.  He fed into her blood lust and was constantly making things difficult between her and her family.  But yet nothing anybody said could convince her that he was anything but understanding.  I sometimes I couldn't decide if I wanted to smack her for it or really dig down and figure out what was going on.

This one dragged a little in places, but really set the pace for the finale.   It ends in the typical cliff-hanger that we come to expect from The Drake Chronicles.  But, I'm more the willing to dive into the next book! 

Review - Bleeding Hearts (Drake Chronicles, #4) by Alyxandra Harvey

Title: Bleeding Hearts

Author:  Alyxandra Harvey

Series: 4th (Hearts At Stake, Blood Feud, Out For Blood)

Pages: 304

Published: December 20th 2011 by Walker Books for Young Readers 

ISBN: 9780802722843

Source: Publisher via Netgalley

Description: As vampires from all over the world descend on the Drake farm for the Blood Moon gathering, security is ramped up. Lucy has been temporarily banned, for her own safety—and to allow Solange some time to adjust to her new existence. But their enemies realize how much Lucy means to the family, and plan to abduct her to use her for leverage against the new royal family. Instead, Lucy’s cousin Christabel is kidnapped by mistake—and Connor Drake immediately heads off in pursuit, but isn’t in time to prevent Christabel’s infection by the Hel Blar. He can’t save her human life, but he can still try to save her new vampire life, and is willing to put his own life on the line for the girl he has grown to care so much about. Can he save Christabel, the Blood Moon, and his mother’s newly forged Vampire Alliance?

I Give This ...

 

I've loved the Drake Chronicles to this point.  I like how it's a continuation of the same story, but a new character becomes a spotlight.  It seems like before the character gets their own story, we don't seem to know much about them.  I like how each character find their "perfect" match.  

What I liked about this story is the direction the storyline seems to be taking.  It's getting a little bit darker the deeper in we get.   The transition of power doesn't seem to be easy and it's interesting how it's effecting this family.  I actually hope we might get a book from the parents point of view eventually.  I think their story might be very interesting. There was a short story type of thing at the end, but I'm not sure if that was preview of the next book.  All I can say is I want more.  And I really want to know what the heck is going on with Solange.

I also really liked how we get a little bit more of the characters we've seen in previous books.  Nick and Lucy for example aren't just background characters in this book.  I've missed them!  I also really loved the way Lucy's character has grown.  She's staking her mark on the vampire world.  Even if she's only human.

I did feel the main characters of Connor and Christabel were a bit of a let down.  There was something missing from their story.  Christabel didn't seem to get fired up over anything, which made it hard for me to understand was Connor saw in her.  I did like Connor a little bit more.  It does seem the story played him off as the "geek" enough that I had a hard time getting to know him.

Obviously nothing that will keep me from reading the next book in the series.  The story ended with a cliffhanger, that I have to know what happens next.  Plus, I love enough of the characters that I want to see were the series takes them. 

 

Haunting Violet by Alyxandra Harvey

Title: Haunting Violet

Author: Alyxandra Harvey

Series: Stand Alone

Pages: 352

Published: Available June 21, 2011 by Walker Books

ISBN: 9780802798398
Source: Book It Forward Tours

Description: Violet Willoughby doesn't believe in ghosts. But they believe in her. After spending years participating in her mother's elaborate ruse as a fraudulent medium, Violet is about as skeptical as they come in all matters supernatural. Now that she is being visited by a very persistent ghost, one who suffered a violent death, Violet can no longer ignore her unique ability. She must figure out what this ghost is trying to communicate, and quickly because the killer is still on the loose. Afraid of ruining her chance to escape her mother's scheming through an advantageous marriage, Violet must keep her ability secret. The only person who can help her is Colin, a friend she's known since childhood, and whom she has grown to love. He understands the true Violet, but helping her on this path means they might never be together. Can Violet find a way to help this ghost without ruining her own chance at a future free of lies?

I Give This ...

 

I was really looking forward to this book.  I love the author's Drake Chronicles series.  Will I was a little disappointed in the end, I think it was something I should have expected.

I honestly thinks it because of medium/spiritualism idea that I didn't like this much as I had hoped.  I've read a couple others that dealt with this and I didn't particularly like them a lot either.  I'm not sure why.  I think I was thinking the ghosts would control more of this story than the seance sittings.  By, the time they become more the focus of the story, it was already more than half way though the book.  And that first half was really slow for me.  The last 100 pages were my favorite, but it was almost too little too late.

I did like Violet.  You can tell she really hates what she does, but feels she has no other choice.  Her mother is constantly making her think she owes her this.  Wow, she was one wicked women.  I also thought the ghosts appearing to her was really well done.  I think the mood was correctly portrayed (who wouldn't be terrified by a dead girl suddenly appearing, dripping water, and covered in bruises).  I was a little curious as to why she could suddenly see them.  I understood that it was latent talent, but what triggered it? I also really like her friends Colin and Elizabeth.  But, the rest of the cast of characters were actually hard to keep up with.  There's a lot of them.

I might have to avoid things that deal with the spiritualism movement in the future.  It's just not something that appeals to me.  I think I would have liked this book more without that.  I do think plenty other will like it though!

Out for Blood (The Drake Chronicles #3) by Alyxandra Harvey

Title: Out for Blood

Author: Alyxandra Harvey

Series: 3rd in Drake Chronicles

Pages: 304

Published: December 21, 2010 by Walker Books

ISBN: 9780802721686

Source: ARC from Around The World Tours

Description: Hunter Wild is the youngest in a long line of elite vampire hunters, a legacy that is both a blessing and a curse at the secret Helios-Ra Academy, where she excels at just about everything. Thanks to her friendship with Kieran Black, Hunter receives a special invitation to attend the coronation of Helena Drake, and for the first time, she sees the difference between vampires that must be hunted and vampires that can become friends—or even more. When students at the academy fall victim to a mysterious illness, Hunter suspects they are under attack from within. She will need someone she can trust to help her save the future of Helios-Ra . . . help that shockingly comes in the form of Quinn Drake, a drop-dead gorgeous vampire. Who said senior year would be easy?

I Give This ...

 I love this series!  I think it's an original idea to flesh the background characters out in their own individual stories.  The Drake brothers each have the own personality, but we don't know much about them all yet.  Plus each book brings more of the story to life.  And each faction has had a place in the story.

I loved Hunter.  She reminds me a lot of Lucy except were Hunter was trained to kill vampires from an early age.  I like how normal she seems but with a lot of expectations on her shoulders.  She's responsible, but willing to accept that sometimes change is good.  Things to always have to be done the same way.  I liked seeing the inner workings of the Helios-Ra academy.  

I wasn't sure about Quinn.  He seemed your typical arrogant male who also happens to be a vampire.  He used this to his liking.  But, I think Hunter is just the sort of women he needs to put him in his place.  He's an interesting addition to the Drake household.  He attitude about things seems different that the characters we know so far.  

I was intrigued with how things are going with Solage.  Something is different about her besides what we learned in this book.  I'll be looking forward to what future books say about her.  I'm also interested in the parents.  They still seem to be background characters.  I would be intrigued to see what they think about all their children seeming to find partners so quickly (and with people I'm sure they see as unsuitable at first).

Blood Feud (The Drake Chronicles, #2) by Alyxandra Harvey

Title: Blood Feud

Series: 2nd  in The Drake Chronicles

Author: Alyxandra Harvey

Published: June 22, 2010 by Bloomsbury

Pages: 272

ISBN: 9780802720979 

Source: ARC from Around The World Tours

Description:  It’s been centuries since Isabeau St. Croix barely survived the French Revolution. Now she’s made her way back to the living and she must face the ultimate test by confronting the evil British lord who left her for dead the day she turned into a vampire. That’s if she can control her affection for Logan Drake, a vampire whose bite is as sweet as the revenge she seeks.
The clans are gathering for Helena’s royal coronation as the next vampire queen, and new alliances are beginning to form now that the old rifts of Lady Natasha’s reign have started to heal. But with a new common enemy, Leander Montmarte—a vicious leader who hopes to force Solange to marry him and usurp the power of the throne for himself—the clans must stand together to preserve the peace he threatens to destroy.  

I Give This ...
 

I liked this one, but it wasn't as engaging as the first in the series.  I still liked the dual narratives, but the voices didn't mesh as well.  Logan was different as the male narrative.  He's completely the opposite of most male characters.  But, that was the point.  It's also what drew Isabeau to him.  I liked her as well.  I especially enjoyed the flashbacks to the French Revolution and her life before she was turned.  I just didn't feel the attraction and sexual tension between these two.  It wasn't as intense as the first book.  I liked how the characters that played such a big part of the first book are still prominent in this one while the rest of the brothers are still part of the background.  I would miss Lucy and Nicholas if they weren't still part of the story.  I do wonder were the story is going next.  It seems like too much happened at the end of the second book. In general, I liked this book and would recommend it to those who enjoyed Hearts at Stake.

Hearts at Stake (The Drake Chronicles, #1) by Alyxandra Harvey

Title: Hearts At Stake
Author: Alyxandra Harvey
Published: December 2009
Pages: 256
ISBN: 9780802720740
Source: Around The World Tours

Description: The Blakes are rather different to your usual neighbours. They are vampires and some of the members of the family date back to the twelfth century. One of the children, Solange, is the only born female vampire known and, as such, she poses a direct threat to the vampire queen. Her best friend Lucy is human, and when Solange is kidnapped Lucy and Solange's brother, Nicholas, set out to save her. Lucy soon discovers that she would like to be more than just friends with Nicholas. But how does one go about dating a vampire? Meanwhile, Solange finds an unlikely ally in Kieran, a vampire slayer on the hunt for his father's killer.

I Give This Book 4 Stars!

When this book first popped up on my radar, I didn't even add it to my to-read list.  I felt a little bit burnt out on vampires and this one didn't sound any different than all the others.  It came up on my tours site I belong to, so I thought what they heck.   I am so glad I did.  Sure, it's about vampires.  But, that's were the similarities end.  Solange was not your typical character.  She's not a vampire through out most of the book.  Vampires that are born go through the change with they turn 16.  I thought this was an interesting twist on the theories.  Plus, I think she seemed to really dislike the thought of changing and all the stuff that goes with it (crazy people sending her gifts not to mention the prophecy).  Her best friend Lucy was great.  I enjoyed their relationship.  Adding a human to the mix made for some interesting situations.  Nicholas was just the right mixture of brooding vampire and protective older brother.  Some of the scenes between him and Lucy actually made me catch my breath a little!  There was enough action to propel the story forward and leave you wondering what will happen next.  Needless to say, I was surprised at how much I ended up enjoying the story.  I finished in one day and now I'm eager for the next in the series!  Even if you think you've had enough vampires, I would recommend this one!