The Friday 56 (With Book Beginnings)

Welcome to Week 217!


Rules:
*Grab a book, any book.
*Turn to page 56 or 56% in your eReader
(If you have to improvise, that's ok.)
 *Find any sentence, (or few, just don't spoil it)
*Post it.
*Add your (url) post below in Linky. Add the post url, not your blog url. 
*It's that simple.

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It wasn't until I walked around one of the card tables that I saw him. He was lying on the concrete floor in a dark puddle, one leg crumbled under him at an odd angle, his chest a bloody ruin. It was Brian Vanderhall.

Book Beginnings

I should have known better than to let him in. Brian Vanderhall showed up on my doorstep in the falling snow wearing flip-flops, track shorts, and an old MIT T-shirt, the breath steaming from his mouth in little white gusts. It would have saved me a lot of trouble if I had slammed the door in his face, never mind the cold. Instead, like a fool, I stepped aside.

ONLY FRIDAY 56 PARTICIPANTS MAY USE THE LINKY

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Create a Cookbook & Save 20%

**This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links.

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#18: Talon - Julie Kagawa

In Julie Kagawa's groundbreaking modern fantasy series, dragons walk among us in human form. 

Long ago, dragons were hunted to near extinction by the Order of St. George, a legendary society of dragon slayers. Hiding in human form and growing their numbers in secret, the dragons of Talon have become strong and cunning, and they're positioned to take over the world with humans none the wiser. 

Ember and Dante Hill are the only sister and brother known to dragonkind. Trained to infiltrate society, Ember wants to live the teen experience and enjoy a summer of freedom before taking her destined place in Talon. But destiny is a matter of perspective, and a rogue dragon will soon challenge everything Ember has been taught. As Ember struggles to accept her future, she and her brother are hunted by the Order of St. George. 

Soldier Garret Xavier Sebastian has a mission to seek and destroy all dragons, and Talon's newest recruits in particular. But he cannot kill unless he is certain he has found his prey—and nothing is certain about Ember Hill. Faced with Ember's bravery, confidence and all-too-human desires, Garret begins to question everything that the Order has ingrained in him—and what he might be willing to give up to find the truth about dragons.

                                                            Paperback: 464 pages
                                        Publisher: MIRA Ink (15 Jan. 2015)
                                                ISBN: 9781848453371

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Author Bio:

Born in Sacramento, CA, Julie Kagawa moved to Hawaii at the age of nine. There she learned many things; how to bodyboard, that teachers scream when you put centipedes in their desks, and that writing stories in math class is a great way to kill time. Her teachers were glad to see her graduate.

Julie now lives is Louisville, KY with her husband and furkids. She is the international and NYT bestselling author of The Iron Fey series. Visit her at juliekagawa.com.

My Review of The Iron King

My Review of Winter's Passage

My Review of The Iron Daughter

My Review of Summer's Crossing

My Review of The Iron Queen

My Review of The Iron Knight

My Review of Iron's Prophecy

My Review of The Lost Prince
My Review of The Iron Traitor

My Review of The Immortal Rules

My Review of The Eternity Cure

My Review of The Forever Song

REVIEW:

LOVE!!!!

Who wouldn't love a story about dragons living among humans without their knowledge?! That premise alone spells danger to me, and as a reader, isn't that what you want? Julie Kagawa doesn't disappoint, let me tell ya...

Y'know how sometimes in an epic series, the first book is an introduction of sorts? I feel like that is kind of what happened here. All the while reading, Talon, knowing the next book is titled, Rogue, and learning very early on why the title for the next book, leaves you feeling promised nothing but action and adventure throughout the series. You expect more in the next book, knowing what you know after this book.

Ember is awesome! She is so smart, it's impressive. At first you find her very naive, but that's not the case at all. She is actually a very contemplative character and somewhat reserved, although very inquisitive.

I'm glad Garret didn't do what I thought he would. I was surprised for sure, though in hindsight, I wonder if that was naive of me to think otherwise. The hopeless romantic in me would like to think not though. Oh, I know that sounds cryptic, but when you read it, you'll be like... Aaah, I get it. 

The twist ending was not so surprising though. Still, I know what it leads to and I'm excited.

Epic story, go read it!

4.5/5

**No compensation was received for posting. Compensation will be earned if purchases are made from the links within. This copy was won. Opinions are owned by this site.