Extraordinary - Nancy Werlin

What does it mean to be extraordinary?

Phoebe finds herself drawn to Mallory, the strange and secretive new kid in school. Soon the two girls are as close as sisters. . . until Mallory's magnetic older brother, Ryland, appears. Ryland has an immediate, exciting hold on Phoebe--but a dangerous hold, for she begins to question her feelings about her best friend and, worse, about herself.

Soon she'll discover the shocking, fantastical truth about Ryland and Mallory, and about an age-old debt they expect Phoebe to pay. Will she be strong enough to resist? Will she be special enough to save herself?

Title: Extraordinary

Author: Nancy Werlin

Genre: Young Adult, Faeries

Publisher: Dial Books an imprint of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.

Publication Date: September 7, 2010

Source: Received from publicist. Many thanks goes to Vimala from Penguin Canada for sending me this book for review. This book was received free of charge in exchange for an honest review.

My Rating: 4/5

WARNING: May contain mild spoilers.

Extraordinary is a compelling story about the journey one girl will take to discover herself, and learn what makes a person truly extraordinary. Phoebe becomes fast friends with the new girl at school, Mallory. Everything is going quite well until Mallory's older brother enters the picture. Ryland immediately captures Phoebe's interest, but something doesn't feel quite right.

I found that Extraordinary unfolded slowly with a natural and elegant grace. The story was brilliant in its execution. I was really enjoying the storyline, until Ryland made his presence known. 

Ryland was a character that I despised. He was manipulative, abusive, and controlling towards Phoebe. He was insulting, and he did everything he could to hurt Phoebe. He only cared about calling in her "debt". With that said, I have to say that he really did love his race, as he went to great lengths to save them. 

Phoebe was at first, a mouse of a girl. She was timid, and didn't really know herself. She didn't ever have to examine herself closely, and so had never gone out of her way to learn more about her true self. I really liked her character, and felt bad when she took to heart every cruel comment uttered by Ryland. I loved her development though, and found myself appreciating her standing up for herself. 

Mallory had been best friends with Phoebe for 4 years, and I found that she was a truly complex character. She spent 4 years forming a strong connection with Phoebe, yet was torn by the duty imparted to her by her Queen. She faced a moral dilemma, and I empathized with her. With that said, I didn't agree with the route she took, but I could understand why she did what she did.

At times, I found myself disgusted with the book (more so with Ryland), but ultimately, it was an astounding read. I will admit, that I would have loved to have read more about Benjamin, as I found I really enjoyed his character.

All in all, this book shines a hard, and unbiased light on the topic of abuse, and manipulation. I have some qualms with the ending, but it still was a good, solid read. It was emotionally draining, yet remarkable in the message that it ultimately imparted.

Winter's Passage - Julie Kagawa

Meghan Chase used to be an ordinary girl...until she discovered that she is really a faery princess. After escaping from the clutches of the deadly Iron fey, Meghan must follow through on her promise to return to the equally dangerous Winter Court with her forbidden love, Prince Ash. But first, Meghan has one request: that they visit Puck--Meghan's best friend and servant of her father, King Oberon--who was gravely injured defending Meghan from the Iron Fey.

Yet Meghan and Ash's detour does not go unnoticed. They have caught the attention of an ancient, powerful hunter--a foe that even Ash may not be able to defeat....

(Synopsis taken from goodreads.)

Title: Winter's Passage (Novella)

Author: Julie Kagawa

Genre: Young Adult, Faeries

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Publication Date: June 1, 2010

My Rating: 4/5

This (free) novella transpires between the books The Iron King and The Iron Daughter. It chronicles the events that take place while Ash and Meghan are traveling to the Winter Court.

It immediately picks up where The Iron King left off and gives you a "behind the scenes" look at the relationships between Meghan and Ash, and also Puck. Needless to say, they are also being tracked by a relentless hunter and it will take all of their wits to win this battle.

The story was concise, and stayed true to the realm that Kagawa has created. It also brings up some interesting lore which just makes it that much more interesting.

All in all, a great read to tide us over until The Iron Daughter comes out.

Disclaimer: This free novella was obtained through netgalley. Many thanks to Harlequin Teen for sending me this copy.

The Iron King - Julie Kagawa

MEGHAN CHASE

HAS A SECRET DESTINY-

ONE SHE COULD NEVER

HAVE IMAGINED...

Something has always felt slightly off in Meghan's life, ever since her father disappeared before her eyes when she was six. She has never quite fit in at school...or at home.

When a dark stranger begins watching her from afar, and her prankster best friend becomes strangely protective of her, Meghan senses that everything she's known is about to change.

But she could never have guessed the truth--that she is the daughter of a mythical faery king and is a pawn in a deadly war. Now Meghan will learn just how far she'll go to save someone she cares about, to stop a mysterious evil no faery creature dare face...and to find love with a young prince who might rather see her dead than let her touch his icy heart.

Title: The Iron King

Author: Julie Kagawa

Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal, Faeries

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Publication Date: February 1, 2010

My Rating: 4/5

I really enjoyed this book and don't know why I waited so long to read it! It starts out with Meghan being ridiculed at school, so immediately we are sympathizing with her and rooting for her. She realizes that things are decidedly peculiar, especially when her brother has been replaced with a changeling. She embarks on a journey to Faery to save him, all the while learning a few startling facts about herself along the way.

The detail was amazing, it felt like I was part of the entourage, and was experiencing everything firsthand. The characters were well developed, though I didn't actually like Meghan on the first leg of her journey. As she grew as a person, I found that I enjoyed reading about her more and more. I absolutely loved Grimalkin, and found his mannerisms completely true in keeping with his breed. Why? Because he is a cat. He definitely acted like one, and I loved his sarcastic and all-knowing voice.

I haven't decided yet whether I like Ash or Puck more. They both bring different qualities to the table. They are both intricate characters, and I can't wait to learn more about them throughout the rest of the books.

I enjoyed the references to Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan, A Midsummer Night's Dream, and Stardust.

The only thing that I thought detracted from the story, was the ending. There was a lot of build up, and I was waiting, and waiting for Meghan to come into her own, and realize her potential, especially in the final "fight" scene. For all of the buildup, the scene was too short. I would have enjoyed it more had it been fleshed out more and the struggle more of a struggle. Things just seemed to be too easy. However, the attention to detail with the Iron King's territory was excellent.

All in all, I'd say that this was an excellent debut. The story was fresh, fun, and enjoyable. I felt we were immersed fully into the Faery world, and I wouldn't have it any other way. I look forward to the next book in the series, as well as any future works from Kagawa.