Fallen by Lauren Kate

Fallen is a romance story with gothic overtones. Luce Price is held responsible for inexplicable behavior. She is sent to the Sword & Cross boarding school which seems to be a thinly disguised reform school. The story plot involves the mysterious events that then occur.

Ms. Kate does a good job portraying teenage angst. Several of the characters were recognizable from my days as a counselor. Sadly I am not overjoyed with romance stories. I suspect this book will be a huge hit with teenage girls. Luce is a sad character that you would like to reach out and help.

Body of work of Lauren Kate
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Bitter Night by Diana Pharaoh Francis

A young woman is given extraordinary powers by her friend, a witch. In exchange for these powers she must serve the witch for eternity. Her struggle with her identity and her ethics while immersed in a violence prone culture defines the story. A war among immortals plays second chair to Max’s search for self.

Frankly when I requested this book for review I did it with skepticism. I wasn’t sure it was my cup of java. Once again I am glad I pushed aside my cynical bent and tried someone new. I am now a fan. I truly enjoyed the emotional interplay between the characters. Francis imbues realism into her fantasy world. Max’s self destructive urges are sublimated by her loyalty to those dependent on her strength. Honor and loyalty are sure fire captivators of my literary interest and Francis illustrates them quite graphically. I will do my best to follow up on this review by reviewing the next in the series. There is plenty of action and good solid character development. I heartily enjoyed the book.

I recommend the book.

Body of work of Diana Pharaoh Francis

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