ARC Review: Oceanborn by Amalie Howard

Title: Oceanborn (The Aquarathi #2)
Author: Amalie Howard
Publication: July 29th 2014 by Harlequin Teen
Genre: YA Paranormal
Source: Provided by the kind publisher...
Goodreads

The coronation is over. 
But the battle has just begun. 


Nerissa Marin has won her crown. But can she keep it? Already, her ties to the human realm are driving a wedge between Nerissa and her people. When word arrives that her part-human prince consort, Lo, has been poisoned, she makes the difficult choice to leave Waterfell and return landside. As the royal courts debate her decision, even more disturbing rumors surface: a plot is rising against her, led by someone she least expects. 

On land, Nerissa learns another shocking truth: �Lo does not remember who she is. As her choice to try to save him threatens her hold on her crown, changing loyalties and uncertainty test her courage in ways she could never have imagined. Nerissa will have one last chance to prove herself as a queen …and save the undersea kingdom she loves.

-- My Rating --

4/5 Oscars: Really liked it

-- My Thoughts --

     I read the first book in this series a long while ago and it was definitely something unique that I have never seen before,, although I was familiar with the author even before she started this series. So I was anxiously waiting for the second book in this series.
     Nerissa has finally descended into her rightful throne but there is still so much more danger in store of her. Especially after she leaves her love, Leo on land to go into the water. I really can't say anything more because I will ruin it for anyone else who has not read this series yet.
     As always, the thing that interests me the most about this series is the plot. It's such a refreshing one. I love reading about aliens, and this was the first book I read about them, but definitely not the last. Aside from that, there is not much going on and this was the same problem I had with the first book. It was going a bit too slow at times and I got bored.
     The romance is also another subplot of this story but it was almost non-existent. I wanted more development in the romance but nothing happened. It almost felt like the first book was repeating itself considering the romance subplot. There is also the development of some of the minor characters that we didn't see much of in the first book. That was definitely a plus. Specially getting to know more about Speio and what kind of person he is.
     There was a little twist going on throughout the book and although I figured it out much sooner, it was still the most interesting thing about this book. And the end was so exhilarating! I LOVED it. I cannot wait for book three!

ARC Review: Waterfell by Amalie Howard

Title: Waterfell (Aquarathi #1)
Author: Amalie Howard
Publication: October 29th 2013 by Harlequin Teen
Genre: YA Paranormal
Source: Provided by the kind publisher...
Goodreads

THE GIRL WHO WOULD BE QUEEN

Nerissa Marin hides among teens in her human form, waiting for the day she can claim her birthright—the undersea kingdom stolen from her the day her father was murdered. Blending in is her best weapon—until her father's betrayer confronts Nerissa and challenges her to a battle to the death on Nerissa's upcoming birthday—the day she comes of age. 

Amid danger and the heartbreak of her missing mother, falling for a human boy is the last thing Nerissa should do. But Lo Seavon breaches her defenses and somehow becomes the only person she can count on to help her desperate search for her mother, a prisoner of Nerissa's mortal enemy. Is Lo the linchpin that might win Nerissa back her crown? Or will this mortal boy become the weakness that destroys her?

-- My Rating --

4/5 Oscars: Really liked it

-- My Thoughts --

     I have heard of the author and I was familiar with her writing before, since I read her other book, Bloodspell, a while ago. Although I didn't like Bloodspell a lot, I fell in love with this one. And it was a truly delightful read!
     Nerissa has been hiding among humans for a long while. She has to. No one can know her true identity. That she's a princess of a kingdom under the sea. And on her seventeenth birthday, she has to fight the evil ruler who killed her father and take back her kingdom. She can't tell Jenna, her best friend. She can't tell Lo, the human guy that she DEFINITELY shouldn't fall for, but whom she is.
     I love books about creatures under the sea. Kingdoms under the sea. They always sound like fairy tales, things that little girls dream of in the night, and I LOVE that. Amalie Howard has a talent for writing in the paranormal genre. And although her previous book was about witches and vampires and werewolves, this one is about the Aquarathi, the huge creatures living in the Waterfell Kingdom. And Nerissa is their princess. 
     I have to admit that, at first, i didn't like Nerissa at all. She acts like she's above everyone else, and she commandes the guardians she lives with. She was hard to like , but after she met Lo, and turned into a cute teenager and a brave leader, all wrappe into one, I started admiring her. But my favorite character was Jenna, Nerissa's best friend. She is the true role model of how every best friend should be. I so wanted her to be real, only because I wanted a friend like her, once that I could tell my secrets to and not worry about anyone finding out. I adored her.
     This book is full of twists and turns. In the middle , it got a bit boring and slow-moving. But that was quickly replaced by fighting scenes and a lot of things were at stake towards the end. I didn't see the twists coming, and I liked that. Although this book is not the best out there, it was still intriguing enough to keep me turning the pages, and it made me want to read more about the Aquarathi people. So, if you're a fan of the paranormal, and would like a new twist to it, then this is the book for you!

Review: Bloodspell by Amalie Howard

Title: Bloodspell
Author: Amalie Howard
Publication: June 1st 2011 by Langdon Street Press
Genre: YA Paranormal
Source: Provided by the kind publisher...

The spell was simple...

Cruentus Protectum (Defend the Blood)

But what do you do if your blood is your enemy?

Victoria Warrick has always known she was different. An outcast at school, she is no stranger to adversity. But when she receives an old journal for her seventeenth birthday, nothing prepares her for the dark secrets it holds -- much less one that reveals she's a witch with unimaginable power.

What's more, when she meets the dazzling but enigmatic Christian Devereux, she has no idea how much her life is about to change. Enemies will hunt her. Friends will turn on her. The terrible curse that makes her blood run black will stop at nothing to control her. And Christian has a sinister secret of his own...

Without knowing whom to trust, can Victoria survive her blood's deadly desires? Or will she lose everything, including herself?

-- My Rating --

3.5 / 5 Oscars: Liked it...

-- My Thoughts --

     I have not been a fan of vampire stories after Twilight. They just never succeeded in adding something new to the mix of the paranormal genre. I appreciated this one because it combined the witch lore (which I love) and the vampire lore (which I am not a huge fan of).

     Victoria led a normal life, up until the day of her birthday. She is not a normal girl anymore, nor are the people around her. A vampire, a warlock, a witch and an auro-seeker. Her friends and enemies are not, and never were normal.

     The characters were typical in this book. The only word to describe them was typical. They reminded me of my friends, my enemies, and my family. It was a nice connection but there was nothing amazing or unique about them. The plot is moving fast-enough, but at sometimes, I felt like the romance between the two main characters, Victoria and Christian was too fast. They rushed at it, and it sucks, but it kinda reminded me of Fifty Shades of Grey (probably because of the main character's name)

     This book has a couple of flaws, but it was intriguing enough to keep me turning the pages up into the night. Which I appreciated. It kept me distracted, which was the point of reading it. I don't really know if this was a standalone or a series, but either way, I am eager to know more about.