Book Review of SHADOW OF THE MARK by Leigh Fallon

I have been waiting for the sequel to Carrier of the Mark for a long time.  Shadow of the Mark by Leigh Fallon, takes up pretty much exactly where the first in the series leaves off.

This book series is a unique, although there could be others like it out there.  I haven't read any, so for me I love the unique supernatural YA plot and characters in this story.

We learned in Carrier of the Mark that Megan is one of the marked ones and harnesses one of the four elements of power.  She is air.  Her love Adam is water and his siblings Aine and Rian are Earth and Fire.  They have a relationship that could destroy them as well as everything.

Shadow of the Mark takes right off from that as Megan's powers are getting stronger and stronger and the unknown is becoming more and more important.  As she becomes stronger, Adam soon realizes that the closer they get, the closer he comes to being destroyed.  As they continue their training for the combining of the four elements they know is coming.  Mystery's evolve, and a few unexpected twists take place.  This novel brings the supernatural powers out in ways that keep you wondering what will happen next, and who and when death will be coming to.

There is just as much suspense and intrigue in this novel as there was in the first.  I am assuming this will be a trilogy.  Although I really enjoyed this book, I felt it lacked a little something that the first book in the series had.  But not so much that it has turned me away, in fact just the opposite.  I can't wait for the next book to see what happens next.
I think a few things I missed were in the first, the descriptions in Ireland were a bit more dominant throughout, and this one didn't invite you into the scenery as much.  But I guess the author wanted us more into the supernatural and relationship portions of the story rather than the scenery this time.

I recommend this Supernatural YA to anyone 14 and up.  Being an adult who loves YA, this series is one I recommend.  The characters seem older than the high school students they are, which is possibly why this one seems geared towards teens as well as adults.

Disclaimer:  I was not asked to read and review this book.  All thoughts, opinions and pictures are my own.

Book Review ASHES ON THE WAVES by Mary Lindsey

This was the second book of Mary Lindsey's I have read, and I loved her first Shattered Souls.  Ashes on the Waves was just as great, and possibly I even liked it more than her first novel.  I loved this book and found it to be a refreshingly wonderful writing.  Lindsey brings mythical characters to life and mixes them with modern day time.  This isn't a sequel to her first book, but a book on it's own.

Liam MacGregor has been stuck in the poor village of Dochas his entire life.  Labeled from birth as a demon and never accepted or treated fairly by anyone in town.  Liam's had nothing go right with him his entire life.  That was until Annabel Leighton arrived and threw his sad world into more than he could have ever hoped.

Annabel, a rich socialite who's parents sent her to live at one of their properties on the island to keep her out of trouble.  She dreaded being there, and had no intention of staying any longer than she could talk her father into sending her back to the big city.

However, fate had something else in store for Annabel, and she meets Liam and realizes she is quickly falling in love with him.  She soon discovers she has been sent to an island inhabited by mythical Otherworlders who exist both on land and by sea.  A wager has been made by the Otherworlders to test the couples faith and love they are put through trial after trial.  The only problem is, the wager doesn't just stay with the Otherworlders, it may cost them everything as well as destroy their love

This is a fast paced novel based on Edgar Allan Poe's poem "Annabel Lee"  Ashes on the Waves takes you on a fabulous reading adventure.
If you enjoy a Young Adult read, that is a little dark and a tad Gothic with a twisted love story, then you'll love Ashes on the Waves!  This is one of those reads, that may be YA, but it was clearly written in my opinion with adults in mind.  It's extremely hard to put down.  In fact, I read it cover to cover and couldn't put it down because I had to find out how it ended.  (Yes it made for a very late night!  But it was worth it!!!)

Disclaimer: I was not asked to review this novel, all thoughts, opinions and pictures above are my own.