Review: Conspiracies by Mercedes Lackey and Rosemary Edghill

Name of book: Conspiracies (Shadow Grail #2)
Author(s): Mercedes Lackey and Rosemary Edghill
Publication: July 5th 2011 by Tor Teen
Genre: YA Paranormal Fantasy
Source: Purchased

The second book in the Shadow Grail series by the New York Times, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly bestselling authors Mercedes Lackey and Rosemary Edghill

Spirit and her friends Burke, Loch, Muirin, and Addie have managed to defeat the evil force that has been killing students at Oakhurst Academy for the past forty years—or so they think. When a series of magical attacks disrupts the school, Doctor Ambrosius calls upon alumnus Mark Rider to secure the campus—and start training the students for war. The only student without magic, Spirit doesn’t trust Mark or his methods. She knows that Oakhurst isn’t safe. And if Spirit and her friends want to live long enough to graduate, they have to find out what is really going on—before it’s too late.

-- My Rating --

4.5 / 5 Oscars: Really liked it...

-- My Thoughts --

     I love co-authored books. It is always fun to figure out which author wrote which part. But sometimes, like this book, the writing is so in harmony that you can never figure it out. Which points to the authors' unique writing style.

Minor spoilers if you have not read Legacies (my review here)...

     Spirit White has survived the Wild Hunt with her friends. But the enemies of Oakhurst academy have much more in mind. Suddenly,students are being taken away again. There is a cold, raw fear circling through the academy whenever all the students are in the same room. New teachers arrive and insure them that they will bring safety. Her friends are slipping further away and her heart is torn between Loch and Burke. What will happen in Spirit's not-so-perfect life? Find out when you read this imaginative, captivating novel, Conspiracies...

     I loved this. Legacies was a very adventurous and mysterious read, this was even more so. Many new things happen in the creepy academy and we see a whole new side to the characters. Spirit's struggles are believable. she is cautious, curious, and she doesn't fit in. Easy to relate to. The pack of secondary characters are well though-out and very easy to relate to, too. The love interests are both great, sweet guys. I couldn't pick a side, until....

     There are some huge twists in this book that you will definitely not expect. Every time I tried to go with the flow, another twist was thrown in, and I was swept off my feet again. Conspiracies will not bore you! Not even one page will pass without something important and valuable that adds to the story. I cannot wait to read the third book! Recommended to everyone who likes some fantasy!

Review: Legacies by Mercedes Lackey & Rosemary Edghill

Name of book: Legacies (Shadow Grail #1)
Author(s): Mercedes Lackey & Rosemary Edghill
Publication:  July 6th 2010 by Tor Teen
Genre: YA Paranormal
Source: E-book Owned

Spirit White has survived from a deadly car crash that has killed her mother and father and her sister. She has been discovered by a school with special talents, called magic. A couple of months after staying, people begin to disappear, some vanish to be never seen again, so Spirit and her new friends begin the investigation. But will they find out the truth of what is going on? Or will Spirit and her friends suffer a terrible fate from which they don't know about yet?

-- My Rating --

-- My Thoughts --

     I LOVED the cover of this book, it drew me right into the story. I admit it, I haven't read the blurb, yet. But I dove blindly into this one, and I don't regret a second spent reading this wonderful work of art!

     Spirit (don't you just ADORE her name!) had loving parents, and a wonderful sister, but she didn't appreciate it. Until the day they were all taken away from her by a car crush. Spirit saw something on the road before the car crushed, it was something dark, unimaginable, and she was sure that no one would believe her if she described it.

     So Spirit hides away in her world on a hospital bed, until an organization, called Oakhurst take her to their mansion (private school). But teaching in Oakhurst isn't about History and Biology only, it's also about magic. Every student in Oakhurst is a mage from one of the different element schools. Still, Spirit makes many new friends, the mysterious Loch, the adorable Burke, the sweet Addie, and the sarcastic Muirin. But Oakhurst isn't all fun and magic, there is something sinister going on. Suddenly, students are disappearing and nobody knows why.

     What was the creature on the road when Spirit had the accident? Who is abducting the Oakhurst students? What is Spirit's school of magic? And can she be able to trust anyone in the school? Find out much more in this action-packed, thrilling, and magical adventure, Legacies..

     I liked this book soooo much! Ok, so I have read quite a few books about magic, but what surprises me is; every magic-related book is different from the other. They all take very different turns and work on specific aspects. I have loved every one of them! And this book was no exception! I don't know how the two authors blended their writing together, since it's in third person,  but it was perfect and spotless!

      The main characters are all three-dimensional, with back-stories and all. But my favorites were Spirit and Burke, I would love to see them as a couple! Lacey and Edghill did a great job at creating a mystery filled with intrigue. Even though half way through the book, we know who the villains are (kind of...) , it's still lovely and exhilarating.