The Mirrored Shard by Caitlin Kittredge

Release Date: Out now!

Publisher: Delacorte Books

Pages: 304pgs

The Story

Aoife Grayson must face death to win back Dean—the love who was ripped from the Iron Lands of the living when he was shot in the arctic north. But getting to the Deadlands is something that Aoife can't do on her own. And if she can find a way there, Tremaine would surely never allow it. He has sworn to keep her in the Thorn Lands, the fairie home of her mother, Nerissa. But Aoife is determined to find her way out. And she has no trouble if that means she has to kill Tremain and his queen to do it.

The Review

I adored this series right from the beginning! I really did. I loved the world the author created, the setting (because it was really awesome and so unique) and the whole romantic relationship formed between two of my favourite characters in the entire series, Aoife and Dean. I just loved those two to bits and then the sequel came, The Nightmare Garden, and it delivered such an awful ending for Dean's character . . . I just wanted him back (alive) as much as Aoife did. But unfortunately, at least on my part, this book was a major disappointment and it only became an good and an average read for me instead of being a mind-blowing one that I was desperately seeking for.

Now readers of this series will immediately notice the difference between the books because unlike the previous two installments that were about 500 pages and 400 pages, THE MIRRORED SHARD was just at the 300 page mark and I think that was part of my own disappointment too - the fact that it was far less of a story and how I wanted more added onto it. So while the story itself was solid and straightforward compared to the other two books, but I just wanted more from it instead of it always being about finding Dean again (even though I was still all for it as well). I guess I just found after everything we learned about Aoife and her 'Weird', it seemed like finding Dean put everything we learned into the background and made it fade all over again. Like nothing we learned didn't actually matter anymore and because of that I really missed the initial storyline told from the beginning because this one seemed a little off, you know? Still, the book was good in a general sense but it could have been better as the ending was pretty open-ended with a possibility of more books being written.

In regards to the characters, they were pretty good. Aoife was strong and braver than ever (she really shined in this book compared to the others), Cal was brilliant and supportive than ever before, and even the newer characters that we meet along the way added a great element and depth to the book and were pretty interesting too. But as for Dean . . . well . . . there wasn't much of him I'm afraid. *pouts* While it's understandable why he's not really there in the first place considering, one, Aoife was looking for him, and two, because he's well . . .  he's (spoiler) dead but I wanted to see more of him than we did. He and Aoife have been through so much together and formed a relationship that was full of respect and love, and many tender things, and when he did eventually show up onto the page all of my love for him just deflated. I still loved him of course because he's the Dean I've loved for ages but he just seemed different to me because there was one scene towards the end where he was talking to Aoife and boy it made me throw the book for a second there because I just didn't understand what Dean was thinking at that time . . . so if you've read this book you will know what scene I'm talking about. The scene where he's ready to throw everything away . . . gosh. The old Dean please step up! I miss you terribly! I miss you. I'm glad you're okay but really? I miss you!

Overall, THE MIRRORED SHARD may have been a disappointment to me but, with all things considered and with what went on in the book, it was still a pretty decent conclusion with a possibility of more books to come. At least that is how it felt for me.

The Rating

3/5 stars

The Nightmare Garden by Caitlin Kittredge

Release Date: Out now!

Publisher: Delacorte Books

Pages: 417pgs

The Story

Everything Aoife thoughth she knew about the world was a lie. There is no Necrovirus. And Aoife isn't going to succumb to madness because of a latent strain - she will lose her faculties because she is allergic to iron. Aoife isn't human. She is changeling - half human and half from the land of Thorn. And time is running out for her.

When Aoife destroyed the Lovecraft engine she released the monsters from the Thorn Lands into the Iron Lands and now she must find a way to seal the gates and reverse the destruction she's ravaged on the world that's about to poison her.

The Review

THE NIGHTMARE GARDEN is an absolutely breath-taking sequel with a beautiful descriptive prose and some very delightful steampunk elements added onto the storyline to satisfy any sort of reader out there. With so much love and high praise for the author's first YA book, The Iron Thorn, there's just something otherworldly about Caitlin Kittredge's dark world and it's no matter why she's become a favourite author of mine!

Now I won't talk too much in detail over what happens in this sequel as it would spoil many things as seen and read from the previous novel The Iron Thorn, but the main heroine, Aoife, is one of the best heroines in the steampunk fantasy genre and she's also a very stubborn one at that. In the best possible way of course. From the first book to this next one, I found Aoife has grown so much into her own and while some readers - including myself - may not agree with every single action and decision she makes, which can lead her and her gang of friends to all sorts of trouble, but I respect her for many reasons and in the end she's just trying to do everything she can to keep those she loves safe. With Aoife being a great heroine and all, it partly comes from her being in the company of Dean, the boy we had met from the previous installment and one whom we love dearly. Now Dean had totally stolen the show for me compared to every other character we meet along the journey! Every word, every action and every small affection he shows for our leading lady, Aoife, Dean is - to put it simply - one of the best love interests ever and while Aoife may not always let him in . . . into her heart . . . but boy, this boy right here has a heart of gold and I just want more of him! He's never willing to give up a fight and I love him for it!

Overall, readers who are already familiar with Caitlin Kittredge's work - adult or young adult - will find that it's no real surprise that THE NIGHTMARE GARDEN was a deeply engaging novel and is the perfect addition to the Iron Codex series. And boy, with such a heart-breaking and over-the-top ending that this sequel successfully delivers to us, I have to say the author knows how to really step up the game and I'm really, really looking forward to reading the final installment of this series, which I'm sure is going to blow my mind immediately!

The Rating

4 1/2 / 5 stars

The Iron Thorn by Caitlin Kittredge

Release Day: February 22nd, 2011

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Publisher: Delacorte Books

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Pages: 512pgs

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The Story

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In the city of Lovecraft, the Proctors rules and a great Engine turns below the streets, grinding any resistance to their order to dust. The necrovirus is blamed for Lovecraft's epidemic of madness, for the strange and eldritch creatures that roam the streets after dark, and for everything that the city's leaders deem Heretical - born of the belief in magic and witchcraft. And for Aoife Grayson, her time is growing shorter by the day.

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Aoife Grayson's family is unique, in the worst way - every one of them, including her mother and her elder brother Conrad, has gone mad on their 16th birthday. And now, a ward of the state, and one of the only female students at the School of Engines, she is trying to pretend that her fate can be different.

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The Review

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First of all, let me just say that I absolutely j'adore this book cover - it's dark, eerie, and really sets the mood of the story. As for THE IRON THORN book itself, I love anything that is steampunk and I especially loved the world of Lovecraft - an alternate 1950's Massachusetts, all made of iron and machines! I could literally feel the cold, hard metal every time I turned a page...it kept me there til the very end. Before this book, I've always been a hardcore fan of Caitlin Kittredge's previous novels and since this is her very first young adult novel, I say she is pretty much, well, a genius!

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The main heroine, Aoife Grayson (a beautiful name by the way), is far from the proper standards of a 1950's lady. Her behaviour was like a boy's and her strong-sometimes-stubborn attitude made her stand out from a lot of heroines that I've read in the past, in a great way of course. But the thing that I really came to admire about Aoife's character, was that she doesn't fade out a single inch away from this book, at least not when her two boys keep her company - her best friend, Cal, whom got on my nerves at times but I still loved him, and the new love interest and one of the guides of Lovecraft, Dean, whom I adored completely! What really stood out to me in THE IRON THORN novel, was the magic weaved through the madness of the world...it was beautifully written and executed with such grace in words!

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The best part of the story was Aoife's suppose 'madness', when she will turn sixteen. Her mother was mad, her brother was a mad runaway, and her father...well, he too was believed to be mad. But when she decides to leave Lovecraft, after receiving a cryptic note from her brother, Conrad, she then teams up with Cal and Dean, to find out the real truths of her family...and by that, I mean, she really does make some interesting discoveries about her magical heritage, about the madness that courses through her, and most importantly, about the outlawed witchcraft. Without revealing too much, I will say...oh Dean! He was probably the best part of the book! Cal...well he annoyed me a lot, but by the time I reached a few ending chapters, I came to love him a bit more!

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Overall, THE IRON THORN is creepy, dark, and filled with many things that go bump in the night and to be honest, I didn't want it any other way...cause it was a very cool adventure to read about! With an ending so intense and many secrets revealed, I'll definitely be picking up the next sequel of this series! So please, whatever you do, pick up yourself a copy of this book...you won't regret it!

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The Rating

5/5 stars