Graceling (Graceling Realm #1) - Kristin Cashore

 His eyes, Katsa had never seen such eyes. One was silver, and the other, gold. They glowed in his sun-darkened face, uneven, and strange. She was surprised that they hadn't shone in the darkness of their first meeting. They didn't seem human....

Then he raised his eyebrows a hair, and his mouth shifted into the hint of a smirk. He nodded at her, just barely, and it released her from her spell.

Cocky, she thought. Cocky and arrogant, this one, and that was all there was to make of him. Whatever game he was playing, if he expected her to join him he would be disappointed.

In a world where people born with an extreme skill - called a Grace - are feared and exploited, Katsa carries the burden of the skill even she despises: the Grace of killing. She lives under the command of her uncle Randa, King of the Middluns, and is expected to execute his dirty work, punishing and torturing anyone who displeases him.

When she first meets Prince Po, who is Graced with combat skills, Katsa has no hint of how her life is about to change.

She never expects to become Po's friend.

She never expects to learn a new truth about her own Grace - or about a terrible secret that lies hidden far away...a secret that could destroy all seven kingdoms with words alone.
I had just been coming down from my Hunger Games high (as I call it) when I started Graceling, and seeing as both books deal with powerful female main characters, I was extremely tempted to start--and finish--this book.

Graceling starts off well, and I really enjoyed a lot of the character development, not to mention the setting. I loved the relationship between both of the main characters and how it grows, but I wish that it would have been elaborated on a little more. We get that they're in love and they know it but they also don't know it at the same time, but I just felt like there could have been a smoother progression of their imminent love. Another thing that I wasn't really fond of was the detail throughout the end of the book, I felt that some of the detail just wasn't necessary to the story and it distracted me (a little, not as much as the Iron King, which I just couldn't finish) from the plot of the story. Also, much like Breaking Dawn and City of Glass I felt that the ending to the story was just too soon and lacked a lot of detail. Once again, the story was set up for a fantasticly menacing ending, and then it just... ends. Just like that.

Overall, Graceling was a good read. It wasn't one of the best, but it also wasn't one of the worst. I definitely want to continue with the series, but it's not high on my to-buy list.

Lullaby (Watersong #2) - Amanda Hocking

Harper only wanted a safe, normal life. But when her younger sister Gemma runs off with a dangerous clique of beautiful girls, Penn, Thea, and Lexi, everything changes. Vowing to get her sister back no matter what the cost, Harper must face dangers unlike any she's ever experienced. Fortunately, she has Daniel by her side, a gorgeous guy who's devoted to helping her find her sister—and who's immune to the girls' dark powers.

While Harper searches for her sister, Gemma struggles to adjust to her new life. Gemma's powers are growing by the day, and the longer she lives with her new "sisters," the harder it is to resist entering their magical world. It's a realm both dark and beautiful, and where she's plagued by strange hungers and unspeakable needs. Just as she's drifting far away from her old life, Harper and Daniel find her...but no one can deny how much she's changed. All she wants is to return to her family and the mortal world, but how can she do that when she's become something else entirely—and will they still love her once they learn the truth?

Prepare to fall under the spell of Lullaby, the second book in the Watersong series from New York Times bestselling author Amanda Hocking.

It took me about a day to start and finish this book, and I enjoyed it as much, if not more, than I enjoyed the first book. Amanda Hocking is starting to really grow on me, and I want to read her other series... I just have to get through a few more books on my currently reading shelf.

Now, on with the review!

In this book, Gemma has left and Harper and her father have to pick up the pieces of their once again broken family and try to make some sense of this situation. Because of Gemma's decision to run away and be with Penn and the girls, Lullaby focuses mainly on Harper--which I loved. I became more awe-struck and connected with Harper's character, and her friends' as well. I just could not for the life of my put this book down. I just couldn't do it. It wasn't possible. This book started off with a little cliffhanger and then ended with an even bigger one! Please, Ms. Hocking, between The Walking Dead, Cassandra Clare, Supernatural and Sherlock, I cannot handle any more feels. I just can't. So, please, please, please keep what's left of my heart in tact.

I appologise for this small review, my emotions are just to everywhere for me to pin them down and write them out. Just, please, read the seires if you haven't already.