#Review - Cold Iron Heart by Melissa Marr #Urban #Fantasy

Series: Wicked Lovely #0.5
Format: Kindle, 270 pages
Release Date: May 4th 2020
Publisher: Melissa Marr
Source: Goodreads Winner
Genre: Urban Fantasy

How far would you go to escape fate?

In this prequel to the international bestselling WICKED LOVELY series (over a million copies sold), the Faery Courts collide a century before the mortals in Wicked Lovely are born.

Thelma Foy, a jeweler with the Second Sight in iron-bedecked 1890s New Orleans, wasn’t expecting to be caught in a faery conflict. Tam can see through the glamours faeries wear to hide themselves from mortals, but if her secret were revealed, the fey would steal her eyes, her life, or her freedom. So, Tam doesn’t respond when they trail thorn-crusted fingertips through her hair at the French Market or when the Dark King sings along with her in the bayou.

But when the Dark King, Irial, rescues her, Tam must confront everything she thought she knew about faeries, men, and love.

Too soon, New Orleans is filling with faeries who are looking for her, and Irial is the only one who can keep her safe.

Unbeknownst to Tam, she is the prize in a centuries-old fight between Summer Court and Winter Court. To protect her, Irial must risk a war he can’t win--or surrender the first mortal woman he's loved.

Cold Iron Heart, by author Melissa Marr, is the prequel to the Wicked Lovely series. The story, set 100 years before the events in Wicked Lovely, alternates between Thelma (Tam) Foy, Irial (Dark King), and Niall (Adviser to Summer King Kennan). Cold Iron Heart finds Irial, the king of the Dark Court, in 1890's New Orleans entranced by a mortal, Thelma Foy. Is it just a passing fascination, or could it change the course of her life and the world forever?

Thelma aka Tam moved to New Orleans due to the fact that women have little chances of success in a man's world and New Orleans has plenty of iron to keep fey away from her. Tam is a jeweler looking for a break. Her pieces she sells keeps her rent paid and food on the table but not much else. What makes her so special? Tam has the Second Sight which allows her to see through the faery glamours they use to hide themselves from mortals. If her secret is revealed, the fey would steal her eyes, her life, or her freedom. 

Tam wasn’t expecting to be caught in a faery conflict that will see her whole life twisted in ways she could never imagine. Until she encounters Irial. So, Tam doesn’t respond when they touch her, or call out her name, or when the Dark King sings along with her in the bayou. But, Irial pushes all of the right buttons. He makes her feel special and wanted and not just a toss away. Unbeknownst to Tam, she is the prize in a centuries-old fight between Summer Court and Winter Court.

Irial was born to tempt. He's also kind of a real bastard truth be told especially when it comes to Niall. His court is all about debauchery. Fey can't lie, they can't cross moving water, they can't allow anyone to see them, they love sweets, and tormenting mortals. Irial knows that Kennan, the Summer King, has been searching without any luck for his missing Queen for centuries. His search will soon be coming to New Orleans where his court has set up shop. 

With the curse of the court, the world will be growing colder and colder until they find a mortal who carries sunlight. Irial knows there is something different about Tam. She tempts him with desires that could be dangerous. To protect her, Irial must risk a war he can’t win--or surrender the first mortal woman he's loved. A century ago, Tam would have been stolen by Sorcha and brought to Faerie. She still does bring Sighted mortals to her home.

In this world, Keenan searches for his Queen, while Rika, Summer Girl, tries to get the object of his attention to run away. Then, of course, there is Beira, the Winter Queen, who is just plain evil and never wants Keenan to find his match since the longer he goes without his Queen, the longer Winter gets to spread across the world. The story also features a slew of characters like Jenny Greenteeth, Gabriel, Leader of the Wild Hunt, Sorcha, the High Queen, and Bananch, sister to Sorcha. There is also a short story that takes place after the end of the Wicked Lovely series called Love Hurts featuring Irial, Leslie and Niall.  

This is a very adult story with obscenities and sexual situations. It's fair to say that by the end of the story, the author ties up how Tam is connected to the Wicked Lovely characters. The short story ties up loose ends in Irial's wondering if any of his children are still living. Readers of the Wicked Lovely story can easily answer that question. Was this really necessary? Well no, but the author has spent 10 years being bombarded by fans demanding more. So, here you go!   

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Wednesday #Review - One Blood Ruby by Melissa Marr #YALit #Fantasy

Series: Seven Black Diamonds # 2
Format: E-Galley, 368 pages
Release Date: February 28, 2017
Publisher: HarperCollins
Source: Publisher
Genre: Young Adult / Fantasy

The gripping finale to Melissa Marr’s lush return to faery, Seven Black Diamonds.

Now that LilyDark Abernathy is the heir to the Hidden Lands, everything is about to change.

The Queen of Blood and Rage wants Lily to help broker peace with the human world, but Lily knows that harmony won’t come easily. After decades of waging war on the humans, who cost the queen her firstborn daughter, the fae are struggling to accept Lily, a half-human monarch. And the humans, while no match against faery affinities, will hardly agree to the queen’s détente without resistance.

Lily wants to be a fair ruler but fears having to abandon the life she’s known to do so. Now that she and Creed are more than just fellow Black Diamonds—operatives for the queen—her priorities have shifted. But her worries about assuming the throne are derailed when it becomes clear that someone—or some fae—is masterminding violent attacks to discourage peace.

In this gripping follow-up to Melissa Marr’s lush Seven Black Diamonds, Lily and her friends are forced to reckon with the truth of their own parentage and to protect one of their own, no matter what—or who—comes between them.

One Blood Ruby is the second installment in author Melissa Marr's Seven Black Diamonds duology. So, here is where we stand. Lily Abernathy, now LilyDark, has become the heir apparent to the Hidden Lands. She has become a voice for peace between the fae, and humans who have been at war over something that happened years before. But, there are still those who want to continue the war, and are doing everything they can to keep humans separated from the fae. 

Can Lily, who is more of a cardboard heroine than say Violet is, save the fragile peace, find answers to questions about her heritage, and live happily ever after with her scrub Creed? Outside of Lily, the only character less boring is Creed. Yes, yes, their relationship is cute, and adorable, but what do they really accomplish in the end? What can I say? I love Violet. She takes no lip from anyone, including the King and the Queen of the Hidden Lands. I also loved Eilidh. It is because of Eilidh's actions in the past and in this so called finale that lead to a future that may bring a brighter future.  

Speaking of Eilidh. I am curious about what actually happened to her after all her hard work of keeping Lily a secret, and then ensuring that she would become the heir. With her affinities, it makes zero sense that she wasn't chosen to become Queen over Lily who hasn't proven herself. At least Eilidh has the powers to keep people she loves safe, and it's Eilidh who takes the biggest risks and makes the most destruction of her enemies. I find myself liking Zephyr & Rhys relationship better than Lily and Creep, oh, I mean Creed. 

It's nice to see a father and son getting along, and not being at each others throats all the time. I do, however, feel that there are so many unanswered questions. What will happen to the fae world after Lily becomes queen? Was Eilidh actuall meant to be queen, rather than Lily? The land chose her, not Lily, so it makes zero sense to keep up the charade. What the hell HAPPENED to Eilidh anyway? Did she and Torquil ever get to be together after that ending? Did Violet give Erik a chance? Did Zephyr ever heal from his loss? What were the consequences of Will coming out to the press? 

Unfortunately, readers will be left unimpressed by this finale. I join other reviewers in saying that this story felt rushed to make the deadline. Conflicts, relationships, and resolutions were rushed, a character dies for no rhyme, nor reason, and the lead character once again doesn't stand up to scrutiny. Not even her boyfriend can save this story. The King and Queen of the Hidden Lands relationship was more appealing

to me. As I said above, Violet is my idea of what a heroine should be like. She's strong, she has an attitude that takes no prisoners, she doesn't really need a love life, she already has all the support she needs with her group of 7. 

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#Wednesday Review - Seven Black Diamonds by Melissa Marr #YALit #Fantasy @HarperCollins

Series: Seven Black Diamonds # 1
Format: Hardcover, 400 pages
Release Date: March 1, 2016
Publisher: HarperCollins
Source: Publisher via Edelweiss
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy

Lilywhite Abernathy is a criminal. Her father’s “unconventional” business has meant a life of tightly held secrets, concealed weaponry, and a strict code. But Lily’s crime isn’t being the daughter of a powerful mob boss. Her guilt lies in the other half of her DNA—the part that can coax ancient rumors from stones and summon fire with a thought. Lily is part fae, which is a crime in her world.

From the time before she was born, a war has been raging between humanity and fae. The Queen of Blood and Rage, ruler of both the Seelie and Unseelie courts, wants to avenge the tragic death of her heir—a death that was the fault of reckless humans.

Lily’s father has shielded her from the repercussions of her ancestry…until she is sent to the prestigious St. Columba’s school, straight into the arms of the Black Diamonds.

Mysterious, glamorous, and bound together in their mission but constantly at odds, Zephyr, Creed, Will, Roan, Violet, and Alkamy are a Sleeper cell of fae, planted in the human world to help destroy it from within. With covers as rock stars and celebrity children, the Black Diamonds carry out the queen’s war against humanity. And unbeknownst to Lilywhite, she’s been chosen to join them.
Now more than ever, Lily’s heritage puts her in peril, and even the romantic attention of the fae singer Creed Morrison isn’t enough to keep Lily from wanting to run back to the safer world of organized crime.

Melissa Marr returns to faery in a dramatic story of the precarious space between two worlds and the people who must thrive there. 

Seven Black Diamonds is the first installment in author Melissa Marr's Seven Black Diamonds series. Marr does what she does best. She returns to the world of the Fae, while creating a world where Fae and Humans have been at war with each other ever since a fateful happenstance pushed Endellion, the Queen of Blood and Rage, into declaring war against humanity. One could, in fact, say that this story is cross dystopian, and part paranormal.   

The story features several narratives including Lilywhite Abernathy, daughter of mobster Nicolas Abernathy. It also features Roan, one of the Queen's sleeper agents, and Eilidh (Ay-leigh), the Queen's heir to both the Seelie and Unseelie Courts. I have to say, I actually liked Eilidh's narrative. She is the heir, but scorned by Seelie and Unseelie alike because of her features. She has a secret that if revealed too soon, could have serious implications on the Queen's plans. She also has a brother in Rhys who is protective of her, and she has a fiance Torquill who would die for her. 

One could, in confidence, call Seven Black Diamonds meet the characters since that is exactly what is laid out for us. Oh yes, we eventually learn about what drove the war between humans and Fae, but it is more important to learn about the Seven Diamonds while trying to decide whether or not they are worthy of our attention. After all, not all of the characters are impressive, and in some way, they are background fodder for political machinations. We're told that because of Lily's dual heritage, she can be arrested at any time if her fae heritage is exposed to the public. Being Fae is tantamount to being killed on sight.

We're told that she's been trained to become her father's successor, and keeps a fairly good sized amount of weapons on her body which she is skilled at using. We can also firmly say that her own father doesn't explain some really important things to her, before sending her off to a boarding school where she will soon meet the other members of "her" team. We can also say that Lily falls immediately into an insta-romance when she meets Creed Morrison, a singer who is also one of the Queen's Seven Diamonds, aka Sleeper agents who are fighting a secretive war against Humanity. 

Lily lives by what the author has called the Abernathy rules. Don't be upset if you miss any of Lily's rules. She has a tendency of repeating them as she wades through a new reality that fundamentally changes her entire existence, let alone what she is expected to do next. She also ends up making several new ones along the way after encountering other Fae. One of the interesting question is about the Queen's sleepers. Who are they really? Are they half-lings, or changelings, or something else entirely? One can easily call the Seven terrorists, and not be hit upside the head with a large dictionary. That is what they do, after all. They spread fear and terror.

I'm not going to talk all that much about the rest of the so called Diamonds. Especially since the synopsis pretty much gives all that information away. But, I will mention that they as Zephyr, Creed, Will, Roan, Violet, and Alkamy who will later become Lily's flatmate at school. I am happy about one facet about this story. That facet being that Lily doesn't allow herself to be drawn into a triangle. Her feelings for Creed are genuine. She doesn't care about betrothals, or what she is expected to do. She has some courage and strength and some backbone and that comes in handy when meeting and dealing with her new reality. 

Apparently, I have been reading way, way too many books. The big revelation was so apparent, that I almost laughed instead of being impressed. So, no, I am not digging at the author. I am saying that I read way, way too many books that have had similar paths to revelation and conclusions. I like the unknown. I like not knowing what is going to happen to a character or whether or not the character will accept their supposed fate or not. I would honestly love if a character just said, hey, no thank you! But, that would totally ruin an entire series, right? 

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