“All Mercy knows is that she is an angel, exiled from heaven for a crime she can’t remember committing.

Last year we were introduced to Mercy series and it got off to an interesting start. A unique concept plus a killer cover made for a great combination. I, like many, were really looking forward to the second book in the series, Exile.

When we last saw Mercy she was in the small town of Paradise as Carmen Zappacosta. After facing a kidnapping and dolling out punishment to her captor with powers she thought were lost to her, she also started to develop feelings for Ryan, a mortal. Before she could even begin to address those feelings, her time as Carmen was up.

In Exile Mercy finds herself in the body of Lela Neill, which comes complete with a dull waitressing job in a not-so-nice part of town, and a mother who is at the end of a battle with her terminal illness. What does Lela’s life have in store for Mercy and how will she ever make her way back to Luc? Looks like Ryan may be the key.

I was really hoping that the series would start to pick up in book two but it just fell a bit flat for me. Just as Mercy starts over in a new life it feels like the story goes back to square one too. By the end we’re no closer to finding out why Mercy is being punished or what she should do about it.

The main focus of the story was more about Lela’s life and problems rather than Mercy’s. Even though I still found that interesting, and the ending will take you by surprise, it didn’t quite have that wow factor. There was something about Mercy this time that made me like her a little less, some of her actions came across as selfish and careless, and since we see her and Luc together in the middle of their relationship it’s hard to understand their attraction or why they’re together.

I liked many of the secondary characters – Justine, Cecilia even Mr Dymovsky, but the villain was a surprise left till the very end. A surprise but also a bit…random?

If you loved Mercy you’ll probably still like Exile, but if you were only on the fence for the first installment, Exile might be a bit disappointing. Will I continue on with the series? Perhaps.

Pages: 293
Publication Date: April 2011
Publisher: Harper Collins
Challenge: n/a
Rating: :

Teaser Quote:  “I think I’m going to scream. Or throw up. ‘Qualis es tu?’ I think, gritting my teeth. ‘What are you?’

‘Te gnovi’, something growls into the space inside my head. ‘I know you.’”

“A small girl called Magenta seeks love with a three-eared bunny and pursues a course to win him. Much to her chagrin she discovers the path is fraught with illusion and disillusion. Perhaps dancing will help?”

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When I first read this book it was about a year or two ago and I was in the middle of a not very interesting class at college. A girl I knew pulled out this book saying she bought it over the weekend, and soon enough a small group of us gathered around to read what looked like a very cute picture book.

The Peril Of Magnificent Love follows a young girl named Magenta as she tries to get the attention of a three eared bunny she’s in love with. Sounds pretty sweet, no? It’s 100% sweet but it’s also completely surprising.

At just under 100 pages the story is simple but the language is beautiful and lyrical. The illustrations are childlike but completely clever and at times metaphorical. The characters are ADORABLE, in particular Magenta’s favorite tree which she decided to leave behind to pursue her magnificent love. But love, Magenta soon finds out, isn’t always as it seems and sometimes we see people only how we want to not for what they are.

Even though I first read it so long ago, I had to get a copy for myself. The Peril of Magnificent Love will sneak into your heart with its childlike illustrations but it’s very grown up message about the love that’s around you that we don’t always see and the love you need to find within you. If you’ve ever been deceived in love by one too many ‘foxes’ then you’ll definitely appreciate this.

I loved this book more than I can express and I can’t help but smile every time I see it on my shelf.

Pages: 96
Publication Date: October 2004
Publisher: Random House
Challenge: n/a
Rating: :

Teaser quote: “Overcome by these new delights, she made an invocation of gratitude to the supreme deity for creating a situation where her biggest love,
deepest secrets
and superb eccentricities
were soon to be understood by a perfect other.”

*Look out for other books by Emma Magenta which are similar in style – The Gorgeous Sense of Hope (which I bought the other day, loved it) and The Origin of Lament.

The hourglass door has closed behind Dante, sending him back in time to hunt down Zo, Tony, and V. Although giving him up was the hardest test she ever faced, Abby knows that Dante is the only one who can stop the others from destroying time itself. But almost immediately, things start to change, and Abby’s worst fears are realized when Zo begins targeting her past specifically.

With each change that ripples into her present, Abby’s life continues to spiral out of control. Her relationships with Jason, Natalie, and even her family are threatened to the breaking point. Zo’s power is greater than Abby ever imagined. Will her love for Dante be enough to turn the tide?

The Golden Spiral picks up right where The Hourglass Door left off. Many of the characters return in this intricately planned sequel – but some return only to be erased from Abby’s life by Zo. With Dante gone for the time-being, Abby finds herself facing off against Zo alone as he’s determined to completely unravel her life and, possibly, the world.

Lisa Magnum is a master at story-crafting. Her lyrical descriptions at times border on poetry and her plot is so unique, full of twists and turns. While Abby solves mysteries from The Hourglass Door, she finds herself unraveling new, more complicated ones. Without Dante by her side, her strength is tested over and over. Abby grows a lot in this book and reasserts her independence, proving that she doesn’t need Dante to protect her, but that the two make each other stronger. Abby also learns to take more risks and trust in herself. Despite the fact that Zo attempts to rip her life apart, she refuses to back down to him, which is admirable given his all-around creepiness and nearly god-like power.

I was also really impressed by Abby’s friends in this book. Natalie really steps up to the plate when Abby decides to confide in her, proving that yes, she is human and therefore needs support and friendship. Natalie’s hesitance is believable, as well as her eventual of acceptance. It’s important for Abby to maintain her relationships with her old friends and I’m glad she acknowledges this, rather than abandon her friends for her gorgeous boyfriend and his complicated life. Speaking of complicated, poor Valerie. Her descent into delirium is equal parts fascinating and depressing. At first I thought she had gone completely crazy, but I was happily surprised to find out she was still hanging on, if just barely. I’m still worried about her, but glad to see that perhaps all hope isn’t lost.

If you thought The Hourglass Door was unique, The Golden Spiral pushes that kind of creativity even further. Abby’s and Leo’s use of photography is downright fascinating. Also, V’s unexpected character development is adorably awesome, though it comes with a price, and Zo’s cryptic messages are creepily alluring. Mangum blurs the line between friend and fo so that you’re left guessing up until the very end, when she drops a few major bombs. The characters are repeatedly tested and while the tests usually leave them stronger, they suffer a few devastating losses by the end of the book. And again, Mangum leaves us with a cliffhanger that leaves me, at least, craving the conclusion to the trilogy.

Pages: 362
Publication Date: May 2010
Publisher: Shadow Mountain
Challenge: N/A
Rating :

Teaser Quote: “He is nowhere. He is everywhere. He is in between. He doesn’t like it. The darkness presses on him and it hurts.”