The Darkest Passion - Gena Showalter

Goodreads description: For weeks, Aeron, once an immortal warrior of the gods, has sensed a disturbing presence. A presence about to make herself known. Olivia is an angel–a demon-assassin–and rather than destroy him as ordered, she chooses to save him. The price, however, is high. Her wings are cruelly removed, and her immortality stripped. But for Aeron, who has always despised weakness, trusting–and loving–Olivia will mean ruin.

I adore this series. Gena is such a brilliant writer and I love every single one of these novels. Each of the characters are beautifully written and you can't help but love these warriors. This was not my favourite of the series but I did enjoy it immensely.

The recurring storyline in each of these novels is brought forward throughout this book and the plot is starting to really come together.

The individual storylines in this novel are also excellently written. Everything about these characters is believable. The twists in these storylines are well executed and definitely a surprise.

It is not a lie to say that I CAN'T wait for The Darkest Lie which is out in a few weeks. This is one of the best paranormal romance series out there!

Evernight - Claudia Gray

Goodreads description: Bianca wants to escape.

She's been uprooted from her small hometown and enrolled at Evernight Academy, an eerie Gothic boarding school where the students are somehow too perfect: smart, sleek, and almost predatory. Bianca knows she doesn't fit in.

Then she meets Lucas. He's not the "Evernight type" either, and he likes it that way. Lucas ignores the rules, stands up to the snobs, and warns Bianca to be careful—even when it comes to caring about him.

"I couldn't stand it if they took it out on you," he tells Bianca, "and eventually they would."

But the connection between Bianca and Lucas can't be denied. Bianca will risk anything to be with Lucas, but dark secrets are fated to tear them apart . . . and to make Bianca question everything she's ever believed.

This is a very easy read. I really enjoyed it. This was a take on a myth that I have never seen before and it really worked. The setting for this novel was absolutely perfect and it was described so well that I could see it clearly in my head.

The characters in this novel are very well introduced and developed. For the most part they are very believable and their interactions are very well written. I do have one problem though and that is Bianca and Lucas' relationship. After certain events I found their relationship very hard to believe and completely immature.

On the whole though I did enjoy this book. I will definitely be reading the rest of the books in the series, in time.

Some Girls Bite - Chloe Neill

Goodreads description: Sure, the life of a graduate student wasn’t exactly glamorous, but it was Merit’s. She was doing fine until a rogue vampire attacked her. But he only got a sip before he was scared away by another bloodsucker—and this one decided the best way to save her life was to make her the walking undead.

Turns out her savior was the master vampire of Cadogan House. Now she’s traded sweating over her thesis for learning to fit in at a Hyde Park mansion full of vamps loyal to Ethan “Lord o’ the Manor” Sullivan. Of course, as a tall, green-eyed, four-hundred- year-old vampire, he has centuries’ worth of charm, but unfortunately he expects her gratitude— and servitude. But an inconvenient sunlight allergy and Ethan’s attitude are the least of her concerns. Someone’s still out to get her. Her initiation into Chicago’s nightlife may be the first skirmish in a war—and there will be blood.

It would be an understatement to say that I struggled with this book. I saw so many reviews that said this book was brilliant but I really struggled to see it. It took me weeks to motivate myself to finish this book.

I found Merit to be a really whiny character and I found her unbelievable. She flipped from someone hating this new lifestyle she has to defending it within pages and it did not feel genuine.
I also found the romance element of this novel to be very weak and lukewarm. I do not feel that it was properly developed or explored.

Unless the next few books in this series come with an excellent recommendation I will not be reading them!

The Way of Shadows - Brent Weeks

Goodreads description: For Durzo Blint, assassination is an art-and he is the city's most accomplished artist.

For Azoth, survival is precarious. Something you never take for granted. As a guild rat, he's grown up in the slums, and learned to judge people quickly - and to take risks. Risks like apprenticing himself to Durzo Blint.

But to be accepted, Azoth must turn his back on his old life and embrace a new identity and name. As Kylar Stern, he must learn to navigate the assassins' world of dangerous politics and strange magics - and cultivate a flair for death.

This is the first straight fantasy book I have read in a long time. It took me quite a while to get into it but when I did it was very good. I really enjoyed following the characters' stories throughout this book. The narrator changed every few chapters so I always got a very broad view of what was happening. The novel was difficult to follow at some parts but once I got back on track with what was happening the other parts did make sense.
The new world that Weeks has created is full of corruption which makes for addictive reading. Conspiracy is rife throughout this novel and I do think that is part of the reason why I found the story so hard to follow at some times.

This book is part of a trilogy and I think I would read the other two books but I am not desperate to read them.

Flesh Circus - Lilith Saintcrow

Goodreads description: The Cirque de Charnu has come.

They will clean out the demons and the suicides, and move on. As long as they stay within the rules, Jill Kismet can't deny them entry. But she can watch--and if they step out of line, she'll send them packing.

When Cirque performers start dying grotesquely, Kismet has to find out why, or the fragile truce won't hold and her entire city will become a carnival of horror. She also has to play the resident hellbreed power against the Cirque to keep them in line, and find out why ordinary people are needing exorcisms. And then there's the murdered voodoo practitioners, and the zombies.

An ancient vengeance is about to be enacted. The Cirque is about to explode. And Jill Kismet is about to find out some games are played for keeps...

I have read all the books in this series and I have to admit this is my least favourite of the series so far. I really struggled to get into this book and Jill just annoyed me so much throughout this book. I found her to be really insensitive and selfish. Her treatment of Saul during the course of the book was unbelievable. She kept saying throughout the book that she understood that he had lost his mother but she certainly didn't act like it.

I also felt that the plot of the book was really weak and I did not enjoy it.

I really hope that Heaven's Spite is a lot better because I do like this series and would hate for this to be a downward spiral.

Shadows - Amy Meredith

Goodreads description: Fifteen-year-old Eve Evergold is cute, sassy and enjoying a busy social life. What she doesn't know yet is that someone close to her is an evil demon that only she has the supernatural power to defeat. She needs to work out who it is - and fast! Because although there's something very attractive about the dark side...dating a demon? Pure hell!

I was really intrigued by the blurb of this book but I have to say I was slightly disappointed. The characters are very superficial and there is way too much talk of shopping and Jimmy Choos.

I don't feel like the storylines were developed well at all and the premise for the novel was so original I was just so disappointed with this.

I don't think there is really much else I can say about this book. I know I won't be reading any of the others in the series without a serious recommendation.

Evermore - Alyson Noel

Goodreads description: Since a horrible accident claimed the lives of her family, sixteen-year-old Ever can see auras, hear people’s thoughts, and know a person’s life story by touch. Going out of her way to shield herself from human contact to suppress her abilities has branded her as a freak at her new high school— but everything changes when she meets Damen Auguste. Ever sees Damen and feels an instant recognition. He is gorgeous, exotic and wealthy, and he holds many secrets. Damen is able to make things appear and disappear, he always seems to know what she’s thinking— and he’s the only one who can silence the noise and the random energy in her head. She doesn’t know who he really is— or what he is. Damen is equal parts light and darkness, and he belongs to an enchanted new world where no one ever dies.

I'd heard quiet a few things about this book before I read it but I had never heard any details so I had no expectations.
I actually really enjoyed this book! It's a very easy read and was a good filler book while I was gearing myself up for a more substantial read.
Ever is understandably a very mixed up character and at some points throughout the novel my heart really breaks for her. As an outcast she also has some very strange friendships. These friendships, however, are very well written and really ring true to everyday life for some teenagers.

For me personally, the only downside to this novel for the romance element. There is something about this storyline which did not feel genuine or believable and that really frustrates me!

I would recommend this book to those looking for a filler read as there is nothing substantial in this book.