Review: fabulous follow up :)
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 11 12, 2013
Irresistible Magic. Crescent City Fae: Book 2. Deanna ChaseReview from Jeannie Zelos Book Reviews.I loved the first book, so hoped the second would live up to it - often they don't :( and wasn't disappointed. Its another action packed adventure for faery Willow and her friends. She's finally got a date with Talisen....she's had a crush on him since she was a teenager, and it seems the attraction was mutual though they both kept it hidden well, and just stayed as best friends. The date though...it turns out not to be at all like they hoped, with the danger that's been pursuing Willow getting stronger, and the thread of assassination becoming more and more real.I love Willow - she was heartbroken when David became a vampire, and when Tal stepped up I thought she'd get a chance of happiness finally. Of course fiction land means that won't happen yet! I was so hoping for at least a bit of time together for her and Tal. He's great for her and I really like him- though he's a past as a real ladies man he's promised Willow that she's it for him and that's over. He hates the vampires intervention though  he can see Willow needs the protection. The Void aren't willing to help though, playing down the threat - and after the last disaster with them he's not sure if they're trustworthy anyway. The vampires help always has strings though - and they want in on his latest invention, the drug that creates superhumans, strong people that can stand against vampires.The vampires: David and his Father, head of the New Orleans vamps, they're in on everything it seems. They seem to know what happens almost before it does. Willow has got past her hatred of David, its a fine line between love and hate and the way he dumped her once he became vamp still hurts bit,  but not as bad as it did at the time. We learn much more about his reasons for Changing but she wants to move on with Tal. David makes it clear he still wants her, and will try to get her back. Tal is jealous of David especially after Willow risked her life to save him last time, and there's a real feeling of tension between the two. Then Tal goes missing...and Willow is distraught, and desperate to rescue him.Its an action packed book, with everything taking place over just a few short days. My emotions were torn, poor Willow just doesn't get a break. All she wants to do is help people with her magical cup cakes, and be happy with Tal and yet she's torn into a world of danger through her blood. It seems there's no way out for her, no way to live a normal life but she's trying her best and Tal seemed like a happy break for her at last. I got really cross with his actions  towards the end though....and it didn't seem like him somehow :(I loved the story once again, Deanna creates action and solutions that work. I've said before how I hate books where the hero/heroine gets some new Superpower just at the moment when it looks like there's no way out - that's a cheat to me and a trap Deanna never uses. When Willow and the gang are in trouble it's talents they already have that get used, and that makes everything feel so much more real, even though its fantasy. Its what makes Deanna's writing so good - the way everything is thought out and plots work together. No quick fix solutions, but extensions of ideas already brought forward.I can't leave without mentioning the wonderful Link, her shih-tzu/wolf protector. He's a great character too! Steps in just at the right time, and the image of a tiny dog becoming a huge wolf always gets me thinking of what a shock that must be.Priced at 2.56, $4.10 for 262 pages its good value and one for the keepers files.Stars: five, loved it.NB: ARC supplied via Netgalley