The Isle of the Lost by Melissa De La Cruz and Descendants

I'll admit, I was curious about what the next generation of Disney fairy tale characters would be like. And we have seen a few over the years. Melody is Ariel's daughter. Kiara is Simba's daughter. Neither of these characters are mentioned in Descendants. But Descendants has an intereresting world of its own. 

King Beast and Queen Belle run Auradon, a state system of fellow kingdoms of other Disney royalty. They take care of matters of state between kingdoms run by Aurora, Prince Phillip, Snow White, Prince Charming, Rapunzel, Eugene, annd many other iconic Disney characters. 

The book begins when Beast and Belle's son Ben is preparing to be crowned King himself, and he has a different perspective compared to their generation. Ben is a kind, understanding prince who has Belle's intellect and Beast's determination. He must prove to the council that he is ready to become king. He has done lots of research of Auradon's history to deliver his first official proclamation, and he has discovered the truth behind the Isle of the Lost. 

The Disney Villians live on this island with their descendants, and they have become bored and resentful. They are given very little and their next generation makes due with what they have. 

While all of the villians are unhappy with their situation, Maleficent is the most vengeful, and she trains her daughter Mal to be the same. 

Mal is smart, opinionated and rebellious, but Malificent constantly belittles her efforts to make her proud. As the daughter of a human, Malificent views Mal as weak, insignificant and a failure. 

Mal is used to this, but she doesn't give up, she teams up with Jay (son of Jafar), Carlos (son of Cruella DeVil) and Evie ( daughter of the Evil Queen) to win the approval of their parents. 

The book switches back and forth from Mal and Ben's point of view. Both feel trapped, forced to follow the path of the previous generation.

It's an interesting take on what happens after Happily Ever After, and what kind of generation would follow the Kings and Queens of fairy tales. 

It's also the prequel to the upcoming Disney Channel movie Descendants. 

Descendants focuses much more on Mal, and we follow her plot to turn the tables on good and evil. Mal is a very well thought out character, and her struggle from what she wants to do and what is expected of her is very interesting. Evie, Carlos and Jay are also very well written, and they adapt to the world around them a lot faster than Mal does. 

At times the novel goes overboard with teen lingo, but this is their target audience. 

The story was very interesting, and Mal and Ben were my favorite characters. 

I don't want to spoil the story for the upcoming movie and the book, but I liked it, and I'm going to watch the film. 

Now, there is a similar franchise that has been successful with a similar but very different plot: Ever After High. 

Ever After High follows the life of Raven Queen, the Evil Queen's daughter. She also has pressure to follow in her mother's foot steps, but she is not the same character as Mal. She is much more open minded and trusting. Dexter is also the son of Prince Charming and Cinderella, and he isn't as confident as Ben is, or as social. 

I like both of these stories on their own, because they do different things with fairytale archetypes, and they focus on telling deeper stories. With that said, I'm looking forward to the Descendants and I hope that the movie is similar to the books I read. 

The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater

What if someone told you that you will kill your true love? 

Blue faces that fact every day, and the ominous prediction from countless psychics, including her family, has haunted her since day one. But destiny can only be avoided for so long. 

After a solid record of avoiding boys, she is thrown into the lives of four: the Raven Boys. These boys are on a mission, to find the relic of a lost Welsh king, and each one of them has a destiny of their own. 

Richard Gansley must find the truth behind a dark past, and he walks near death everyday. He leads Noah, Ronan and Adam to learn the pattern of strange events that surround them. 

As Blue becomes attached to these boys, she searches for clues to the strange energy that surrounds them, dangerous magic that threatens her life and theirs. 

This book is intense, comical and entertaining. 

Not only are the characters complex and realistic, but the dialogue is intelligent, and the mystery unravels with every chapter. 

Stiefvater does an excellent job balancing myth and modern day. Her knowledge of folklore and storytelling is plain to see. 

This is a dark series, and it delivers a dark promise from the beginning, but the way the story is told, and the characters in it make you keep reading. You get a good look at every main character, and book one is only the beginning of their journey. 

I give it four out of five tarot cards! 

Kaleidoscope by Tracy Campbell

My friend wrote this book, and it's incredible! 

There are some battles that we face behind closed doors. Those battles can be the most challenging, and for seventeen year old Jade, it's as difficult as piecing together a complex puzzle. 

As Jade searches for her memory, she learns about trust, happiness and love. 

In order to recover the truth, her therapist suggests writing, but Jade enjoys many types of art, and through art she is able to understand the beauty of the world despite its deep dark secrets. 

Her tale is intuitive, inspirational and a beacon of light for those lost in a similar sea. 

I recommend this book to anyone fighting an inner battle, and fans of Sarah Dessen, Laurie Halse Anderson, Meg Cabot and Elizabeth Scott. 

Five out of five Blue Monarch butterflies ^_^ 

You can purchase her book here:

http://www.amazon.com/Kaleidoscope-Tracy-Campbell-ebook/dp/B00S6JBBTQ/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?_encoding=UTF8&sr&qid

Tiger's Destiny by Colleen Houck

The final chapter of Kelsey's journey has arrived, and Kelsey, Ren and Kishan must decide how they will meet their destinies. As the pieces fall into place, Kelsey faces a battle of the heart. 

Even after fighting kappas, metal birds, and dragons this will be the most difficult journey for Durga's champinions. 

The last prophecy leads them to a world of fire, where deception and illusion can only be resolved by truth from the heart. 

Kelsey must determine her fate, but to do so, she will have to make a choice. 

This book was the most exciting of the quartet, and by far the most intense. As Kelsey learns the meaning of inner strength, she grows from the confused girl who began the journey into a determined young woman with an important role to play. 

This was one of those books that subtly hints what's going to happen, but it doesn't hit you until the big reveal. While what I predicted did happen, it didn't happen in the way I expected. 

A part of me is very sad that this series is over. From epic adventure to epic adventure in a modern world, the entire series balanced the elements of the real and majical world. 

I give it five out of five phoenix eggs, and I can't wait for the film adaption of the first book. 

This series was an amazing journey. 

It inspired my writing and gives me hope for my own series. 

Warrior by Sean Golden

This is my Dad's novel, and it's epic! It's a story of magic, myth and adventure that is growing to more than your average hero's quest. It weaves between the philosophies of the world, the ties of myth and the human condition. 

Although he is smart and strong, Lirak is ostracized from most of the Dwon village. His dreams, although useful in hunting, bring great fear to the Elders. With rumors of his missing father and a different looking mother surrounding him, he is able to confide in his older brother Jerok, younger friend Patrick and the fiery Mayrie. At the age of sixteen, he is ready to become a man through the tasks the Elders choose for him, but he has a difficult totem to bear: the Eagle. Those of the Eagle totem are known to journey far and never return, and through their wanderings they can bring with them danger and doom.  

As Lirak grows from a boy to a man, he is destined for a legacy much grander than he can even imagine. Chosen by the goddess Kathoias, both beautiful and ruthless, Lirak begins a grand adventure through the world he once believed to be a mystery. But this adventure requires bravery, intelligence and sacrifice. The more Lirak learns, the more he wonders: is he a pawn of the gods, or is he creating his own legacy?

This story is amazing, and Lirak's journey from a boy to a man is a powerful tale of humanity. What it means to be human, and what it takes to look beyond what you have been told.

I give it five out of five Eagle totems!

I recommend this book to readers of Lord of the Rings, Eragon, Ender's Game, Hyperion, and many more fantasy epics. And it's just the beginning! This book is part of The War Chronicles trilogy, and I can't wait to read book 2! 

Warrior is now available on Kindle here: 

http://www.amazon.com/Warrior-War-Chronicles-Book-I-ebook/dp/B00SGCWXYU/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1421799471&sr=8-5&keywords=sean+golden

For more info on Warrior and The War Chronicles: you can visit the brand new website here: 

https://thewarchronicles.wordpress.com

Tiger's Voyage by Colleen Houck

Here there be dragons, and many more challenges physically, mentally and emotionally for Kelsey, Ren and Kishan. 

As another prophecy unfolds, Kelsey is now at a loss. Ren cannot remember her, and this takes its toll on Kelsey, but more than just matters of the heart are in chaos. Lokesh is determined to find them, and has more of an interest in Kelsey than the princes now. With Durga's guidance, the heroes set of on a voyage, to recover a lost treasure guarded by dragons, and prove themselves worthy as they are challenged from every angle. 

Tiger's Voyage was by far the most exciting book in the series for me. The dragons, and their roles in the tale were very interesting, and a wonderful distarction from the teen angst that Kelsey describes herself as "living a Shakespeare play." 

As the stakes rise higher for the trio, Kelsey must also make her most difficult decision yet, coming to terms with what her heart truly wants, and rising above the turmoil that the fates have set against her. 

This book once again blended many types of mythology together, and it even had a renaissance cameo that was both amusing and frustrating. 

 This was another book I couldn't put down, and I didn't want it to end. 

I give it five out of five dragons. 

Tiger's Quest

"The course of true love never did run smooth." - William Shakespeare

This seems to be the theme of Tiger's Quest as Kelsey tries to make sense of all that has happened around her. She finds comfort in returning home, but something is missing, and as she tries to return to normal everday life, she can never forget her adventures, or the tiger prince. 

As Kelsey tries to avoid her destiny, it follows her, and soon Mr. Kadam, Kishan and Ren are back in her life, but this time, they are in great danger. The powerful wizard, Lokesh- creator of the curse now knows about Kelsey, and he is determined to find her. 

In a desperate attempt to keep her safe, Ren is captured and Kelsey must go on another quest, to save him. 

Kelsey and Kishan, Ren's brother, must follow the propehcy and find where Ren was taken, but along the way, the past threatens to repeat itself, as Kishan develops strong feelings for Kelsey. 

With a new adventure, and a goal to reach, Kelsey must face more tests and overcome more obstacles to save Ren, but in order to save him, something must be sacrificed in return. 

This book was a rollercoaster, from the calm moments in Oregon to the intense challenges of the Spirit World and the threat of Ren's life hanging in the balance. More is at stake in this novel, and Kelsey is tested in matters of the heart and mind as she struggles to save Ren. Kishan is also tested with a different kind of focus, his loyalty. Will he be loyal to his brother, or will he repeat the past? 

With so much threatened in her life, Kelsey takes a stand and decides to stop running from her destiny, but it is no easy task. 

There were many shout outs to different mythologies and they blended together nicely. The Ocean teacher was really cool and a bit of a surprise, and Mount Everest also had a part to play. 

I give this book four out of five tiger lilies. It was a little slow in the beginning with Kelsey and her dating escapades, but the story picks up right where it left off once the tiger princes return. 

This book also has a good cliff-hanger ending which sets the stage for Tiger's Voyage, the next chapter in Kelsey's story.