Mundie Moms

Monday, August 1, 2011

Book Review: Circle of Fire

Published by: Little Brown Books
To Be Released on: August 3rd, 2011
Source: from the publisher to review & bought
5 stars- A Perfect Conclusion To A Great Series

With time dwindling but her will to end the Prophecy stronger than ever, Lia sets out on a journey to find the remaining keys, locate the missing pages of the Prophecy, and convince her sister Alice to help--or risk her life trying. Lia has her beloved Dimitri by her side, but Alice has James, the man who once loved her sister--and maybe still does. James doesn't know the truth about either sister, or the prophecy that divides them. And Alice intends to keep it that way.

There are some secrets sisters aren't meant to share. Because when they do, it destroys them. This stunning conclusion to Michelle Zink's Prophecy of the Sisters trilogy will make saying good-bye bittersweet for readers.

I have completely fallen in love with this series and Michelle Zink's writing. There's such a great cast of characters, an addicting romance, a well written lore and not to mention a setting I love in this series. I get so caught up with the storyline and it's lawless plot, that before I know it I've sat and read the whole book, which is what happened with Circle of Fire.

With the conclusion of the series, Circle of Fire wraps things up nicely and also takes things up a notch, i.e. fabulous chemistry that continues to heat up between Dimitri and Lia. I liked the twists that Michelle threw into the story with one of the sisters, and how she tied up a few things from earlier on in the series. There's some fabulous sites via the journey Lia and Dimitri take from England to Ireland and back to Lia's home in search of answers. Speaking of the time period, I loved the Masquerade that takes place at the beginning of the book.

I really adored Lia in Guardian of the Gate, but the character who really stole the show for me in Circle of Fire is Dimitri. If I listed all the things I loved about him and the lines he says, this review would be extremely long. I don't think I could love Dimitri more than I already did, but Michelle proved me wrong yet again. I adore some his unconcern for the lesser cares of society during this time period (which has to do with some of the more comical lines he says to Lia) and I absolutely adore the way he treats Lia. Let me give you a teaser,

Dimitri, his voice a murmur in my ear, speaks to my hesitation. "I love you, Lia. We don't speak of it often, but know it now. Know it, and tell me your fears so that I can rid you of them."

I'm not one who sighs often when I read, but I sighed out loud as I read that. Talk about a Knight in shining armor. The chemistry and connection that Lia and Dimitri have is so beautiful. The love they have for each other, the respect, admiration, and trust is so well developed. I also enjoyed settle sense of humor they have with each other during their private conversations. Gareth is another character I have come to really like in this series. His fierce devotion to both Lia and Gareth is more than commendable.

I enjoyed being whisked away with this story, and I highly recommend picking up this series if you haven't already. Circle of Fire is the perfect conclusion to a great series. If you've already read Prophecy of the Sisters & Guardian of the Gate, than I definitely recommend picking up Circle of Fire when it's out on Wednesday.

Mundane Monday #95


She turned, but Jem had already appeared at her side, and he pushed the window open. As the dark shape fluttered inside, it flew straight for Tessa. She raised her hands and caught it out of the air, feeling the share metal wings flutter agains her palms. As she held it, they closed, and it's eyes closed too. Once more it held it's metal sword quietly, as if waiting to be wakened again. Tick-tick went it's clockwork heart against her fingers.

Jem turned from the open window, the wind ruffling his hair. In the yellow light, it shown like white gold. "What is it?"

Tessa smiled, "My angel," she said.

- Clockwork Angel, page 472

*Image found here.

August 2011 YA Releases

Wow, this month has a ton of great releases! Here's a list of this months YA releases (all links go to Amazon):

August 1st
  1. Dark Souls by Paula Morris
  2. Misfit by Jon Skovron
  3. Always a Witch by Carolyn MacCullough
  4. Ravenwood by Andrew Fusek Peters
  5. Want to Go Private by Sarah Littman
  6. Crossroads by Mary Ting
August 2
  1. The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab
  2. Dream Dark (eBook) by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl
  3. Epic Fail by Claire LaZebnik
  4. Eternal by Gillian Shields
  5. Blood Ties (A Blood Coven Vampire Novel) by Mari Mancusi
  6. *Delirium SPECIAL EDITION by Lauren Oliver
August 3rd
  1. Circle of Fire by Michelle Zink
  2. Dark Parties by Sara Grant
August 4th
  1. Dark Angel by Eden Maguire
August 9th
  1. All You Desire (The Eternal #2) by Kirsten Miller
  2. The Margrave (Relic Master #4) by Catherine Fisher
  3. Hunted by DJ DeSmyter
  4. Juliet Immortal by Stacey Jay
  5. A Long, Long Sleep by Anna Sheehan
  6. Michael Vey: The Prisoner of Cell 25 by Richard Paul Evans
  7. Hooked by Catherine Greenman
  8. Ingenue (The Flappers) by Jillian Larkin
August 15th
  1. The Secret of Spruce Knoll by Heather McCorkle
August 16th
  1. Chain Reaction by Simon Elkeles
  2. Bargains & Betrayals (13 To Life Book 3) by Shannon Delany
  3. The Death Catchers by Jennifer Anne Kogler
August 23rd
  1. Nocturne (Claire de Lune Book 2) By Christine Johnson
  2. This Dark Endeavor: The Apprenticeship of Victor Frankenstein by Kenneth Oppel
  3. Sweetly by Jackson Pearce
  4. Bloodlines by Richelle Mead
  5. The Power of Six (Lorien Legacies) by Pittacus Lore
  6. Possess by Gretchen Mcneil
August 30th
  1. Witchlanders by Lena Coakley
  2. Damned (Cruscade Book 2) by Nancy Holder & Debbie Viguie
  3. Hades (Halo book 2) by Alexandra Adornetto
  4. The Fox Inheritance (The Jenna Fox Chronicles) by Mary E Pearson
  5. Fury by Elizabeth Miles
  6. Dust & Decay by Jonathan Maberry
  7. Twisted by Gena Showalter
  8. Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake
  9. The Gray Wolf Throne (A Sevene Realms Novel) by Cinda Williams Chima
I've posted a list of some of this month's Middle Grade releases here on Mundie Kids.

If there's a YA title you know releases this month and is not listed, please leave the book's title, author and release date in the comments and I'll add it.

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