Title: Trial by Fire
Author: Josephine Angelini
Series: The Worldwalker Trilogy #1
Genre: YA Paranormal, Witches
Format: Hardcover, 384 pages
Release Date: September 2nd 2014
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Source: eARC received from publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

Purchase
Amazon | Indigo | TBD | Goodreads








This world is trying to kill Lily Proctor. Her life-threatening allergies keep her from enjoying experiences that others in her hometown of Salem take for granted, which is why she is determined to enjoy her first high school party with her best friend and longtime crush, Tristan. But after a humiliating incident in front of half her graduating class, Lily wishes she could just disappear.

Suddenly, Lily is in a different Salem—one overrun with horrifying creatures and ruled by powerful women called Crucibles. Strongest and cruelest of them all is Lillian . . . Lily's other self in this alternate universe.

What makes Lily weak at home is what makes her extraordinary in New Salem. In this confusing world, Lily is torn between responsibilities she can't hope to shoulder alone and a love she never expected.


I love Josephine Angelini because she has a way of creating a world so amazing, and characters that intrigue us as readers and I could not wait to get into this new series. And the fact that it has to do with witchcraft made me want to read EVEN MORE!

What I think I liked about this book was the way it was written. It started off as a contemporary and I loved that because it gave us a chance to get to know certain characters without having to explain the surrounding world and have it be a distraction. being about to get to know Lily in today's world made me fall for her way before her world gets turned upside down. Lily was a very different character in the beginning than she was at the end, and watching her go through that growth was amazing.

The world building in this novel was extraordinary, I think what I liked the most about the world in this novel was the fact that it was the same city, but different times in history. Salem is known for Witchcraft and so it makes sense that this book had a lot to do with that topic, and knowing me and my interest in the subject, I was in. What I think I liked the most about this book was its combination of genres. It begins as a contemporary, then leads into time travel because our main character goes back in time to when Salem was run by witches, and then there is the paranormal with magic and the like. All of these different genres were combined to make one of the best books I have read this year.

Characters were very important in this book because they were paralleled in each world and that made for some interesting interactions. On one hand we meet one character that we hate, but then we meet them in another world and they are completely different. Waiting Lily navigate this aspect of the book was great because it showed her growth as a character and how she stopped making assumptions based in that persons "past." Every character in this book had a purpose whether they were in the past or present they had a direct impact on the story and on Lily herself.

There was a subtle love story in this book but it was intense as any I have ever read. There were certain scenes where I had to put the book down because they were so steamy! Not in a overtly sexual way, but just in the sexual tension kind of way and I loved that. I loved their relationship and I cannot wait to see where it goes because the way this book ended makes me want the second book right now!

Title: Hexed
Author: Michelle Krys
Series: Hexed #1
Genre: YA Paranormal, Witches
Format: Hardcover, 384 pages
Release Date: June 10th 2014
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Source: ARC received from publisher in exchange for an honest review

Purchase
Amazon | Indigo | TBD | Goodreads








If high school is all about social status, Indigo Blackwood has it made. Sure, her quirky mom owns an occult shop, and a nerd just won’t stop trying to be her friend, but Indie is a popular cheerleader with a football-star boyfriend and a social circle powerful enough to ruin everyone at school. Who wouldn’t want to be her?

Then a guy dies right before her eyes. And the dusty old family Bible her mom is freakishly possessive of is stolen. But it’s when a frustratingly sexy stranger named Bishop enters Indie’s world that she learns her destiny involves a lot more than pom-poms and parties. If she doesn’t get the Bible back, every witch on the planet will die. And that’s seriously bad news for Indie, because according to Bishop, she’s a witch too.

Suddenly forced into a centuries-old war between witches and sorcerers, Indie’s about to uncover the many dark truths about her life—and a future unlike any she ever imagined on top of the cheer pyramid.


When reading a book, any book the narrator is the key to the readers enjoyment. If you do not like the narrator or their voice, then you can get bored or disinterested very fast. Luckily Michelle Krys created an amazing main character and narrator in Indie, she was fun, sarcastic and extremely independent. I loved Indie's character and her ability to carry the book on her shoulders, with a little help from her friends of course.

What I think i loved that most about this book were the secondary characters. Every single one had a purpose, and not every one of them was likable. The story begins with Indie, her boyfriend and her best friend. Then after one night everything changes and she turns to her neighbor Paige, who I loved. She is like that quiet friend who doesn't really say much until the end. I loved her because she was the rational mind compared to Indie, and if the end of the book is any indication, she will be a very big part of the second book, and I cannot wait to read that! Then there is Bishop. What can I say about Bishop. He was great to read, for one. He was extremely sarcastic, and a little crazy at times but I loved how he brought Indie out of her shell and help through some tough times. I also loved that we got to see a different side of him as the story went on, his character has crazy growth and I loved that.

The magic aspect of the book was great to read and I loved that we discovered it as Indie did. We were as just in the dark as she was and I thought that created a lot of suspense and tension. I also loved that Michelle Krys did something many authors do not. I will not say what it is because it will ruin the book and the surprise, but when you get there you will know exactly I am talking about. It was quite shocking for me.

Overall Hexed was a fantastic read, with all kinds of characters, good and evil, that made the book extremely easy to read. Full of magic, suspense and heartache, Michelle Krys has created a series that will be sure to satisfy all fantasy enthusiasts or those who want to escape into a brand new world.