It's time for another books for relaxation post!
If you're in college, it's around midterms time - either you just had them or you're about to have them. And if you're in high school, it's that time of year where the teachers begin to think that piling on work is FUN. And if you don't fall into either one of those categories - well, you're probably still stressed.
For you paranormal fans - or for those of you who have been avoiding paranormal because there's just SO MUCH, or for those of you who read it sometimes but not often - here are a few books to read that will take the edge off of the stress.
Soulless
Author: Gail Carriger
Series: Parasol Protectorate (#1)
Alexia Tarabotti is laboring under a great many social tribulations. First, she has no soul. Second, she's a spinster whose father is both Italian and dead. Third, she was rudely attacked by a vampire, breaking all standards of social etiquette.
Where to go from there? From bad to worse apparently, for Alexia accidentally kills the vampire -- and then the appalling Lord Maccon (loud, messy, gorgeous, and werewolf) is sent by Queen Victoria to investigate.
With unexpected vampires appearing and expected vampires disappearing, everyone seems to believe Alexia responsible. Can she figure out what is actually happening to London's high society? Will her soulless ability to negate supernatural powers prove useful or just plain embarrassing? Finally, who is the real enemy, and do they have treacle tart?
Why?: The books are short and sweet. It's funny. It's an easy read. And the characters are some of the best I've ever read.
Raised by Wolves
Author: Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Series: Raised by Wolves (#1)
Adopted by the Alpha of a werewolf pack after a rogue wolf brutally killed her parents right before her eyes, fifteen-year-old Bryn knows only pack life, and the rigid social hierarchy that controls it. That doesn't mean that she's averse to breaking a rule or two.
But when her curiosity gets the better of her and she discovers Chase, a new teen locked in a cage in her guardian's basement, and witnesses him turn into a wolf before her eyes, the horrific memories of her parents' murders return. Bryn becomes obsessed with getting her questions answered, and Chase is the only one who can provide the information she needs.
But in her drive to find the truth, will Bryn push too far beyond the constraints of the pack, forcing her to leave behind her friends, her family, and the identity that she's shaped?
Why?: I love their take on werewolf culture - it's an interesting blend of contemporary ideas and myths. It doesn't help that the main character can whoop some ass.
Darkness Becomes Her
Author: Kelly Keaton
Series: Gods & Monsters (#1)
Ari can’t help feeling lost and alone. With teal eyes and freakish silver hair that can’t be changed or destroyed, Ari has always stood out. And after growing up in foster care, she longs for some understanding of where she came from and who she is.
Her search for answers uncovers just one message from her long dead mother: Run. Ari can sense that someone, or something, is getting closer than they should. But it’s impossible to protect herself when she doesn’t know what she’s running from or why she is being pursued.
She knows only one thing: she must return to her birthplace of New 2, the lush rebuilt city of New Orleans. Upon arriving, she discovers that New 2 is very...different. Here, Ari is seemingly normal. But every creature she encounters, no matter how deadly or horrifying, is afraid of her.
Ari won’t stop until she knows why. But some truths are too haunting, too terrifying, to ever be revealed.
Why?: Amazing heroine? Check. Well executed plot? Check. Overall amazing story? Triple check.
The Iron King
Author: Julie Kagawa
Series: The Iron Fey (#1)
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.
Why?: Debate-ably paranormal (fairy-normal?), but I love the world and the love triangle enough to throw it in.
Other
Author: Karen Kincy
Series: Other (#1)
Gwen Williams has been hiding a strange and fantastic secret: she's a shapeshifter. Although society may tolerate vampires, centaurs, and "Others" like Gwen, there are plenty of folks in her small Washington town who don't care for her kind.
When a new werewolf pack moves into the area, tensions rise—and Others start showing up dead, including someone close to Gwen. Despite the methodical murders, the police are ignoring evidence that suggests a serial killer. In the midst of terrible loss and danger, Gwen—along with a mysterious and sexy guy who happens to be a Japanese fox spirit—risks her life to find the murderer. But Gwen is already the killer's next target...
Why?: The creatures in Other are absolutely amazing, and the world is awesome. Also, the cover is gorgeous.
What about you, lovely reader? What paranormal books do YOU pick up when you want to relax?
