Book Review & Giveaway: Snow Bound




Snow Bound (More Than Magic #2) by Elizabeth Kirke
January 19, 2013
Anchor Publishing Group
313 pages
Source: Won ebook
(honest review)


Goodreads Summary:

After learning how to use magic and fighting vampires, anyone would be bored going back to normal college life. As if that wasn’t enough, Jen didn’t realize how hard it would be to tiptoe around her non-magic family and friends. She can’t even talk to her familiar, Rak, without making sure no one else is around! Worst of all, Jen misses the friends she made over the summer. Aside from Rak, they’re the only other magics she knows and she hasn’t seen them in almost five months!

Jen is all too happy to accept an invitation to go skiing with the gang. She gears up for two weeks of snow, magic, and fun. Just when everything seems to be going great, an uninvited guest turns up. Soon the skiers aren’t the only things going downhill. Jen thought that vampires were just about the most dangerous thing the magical world could throw at her. Unfortunately, she’s about to learn that people with no magic at all can be just as deadly ...

My Review:

I really liked Semester Aboard, but I can honestly say that I liked Snow Bound even better. I love the characters that Kirke has created, and what we loved about them in the first book, we love even more about them here. I want to vacation with these guys (although maybe without being in mortal danger). What starts as a "normal" vacation quickly turns into the craziness we grew to love in Semester Aboard. But while I predicted a thing or two, most of the detours Kirke takes us on are surprise after surprise. I love that she kept me wondering what would happen next. Her pacing was great, alternating action scenes, romantic scenes, and informative scenes.

The best part of this series is the characters. The book is once again narrated by Jen. While I felt like Jen was doing too much observing at times and not getting in the action and dialogue when she could have, I also loved how we get to know so much more because of the curiosity and intuition of her character. I also loved her boldness with one character in particular, helping him get over his insecurities (yay). Thomas remains my favorite character, with his low-key, sweet side, his vulnerability and sensitivity, but also his strength. I love that he was so much more powerful in this book. Danio is my second favorite. He has so much depth that still remains a mystery, but he can be super funny and patient, yet fiercely protective. Okay, I really like everyone.

I don't want to give the story away, because even talking about the first few chapters could give away spoilers. But I will say that that Kirke does a great job combining a plot-driven novel with a character-driven novel. Snow Bound combines both of these brilliantly, and I can't wait to see what happens next to these characters.

 

5 STARS

 

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About the Author:

Elizabeth Kirke wanted to be an author before she even knew what an author was. She used to say that she wanted to be an artist, but that was only because she was too young to write and had to tell stories with pictures instead. She hasn't stopped writing since she learned how. It wasn't long before she dreamed of becoming an author and couldn't be happier now that that dream is a reality.

If she isn't writing...well, let's be honest; if she isn't writing she's probably on Facebook thinking that she should start writing. But, if she isn't writing or on Facebook, she's probably doing something involving books, baking, gardening, or yarn. In an ideal world, she'd be reading and knitting while something from the garden is in the oven. Then again, in an ideal world, she'd have a flock of ducks and a couple of goats.

Like most slightly-nosy, avid readers, Elizabeth can't resist trying to catch a peek at books she sees people reading when out in public to see if she can figure out what it is. While doing just that one day, she realized that it would probably be the coolest-thing-ever if she caught a complete stranger reading one of her books. That's her new dream.