Review: Starling by Lesley Livingston

There was something so naked in his expression, Mason thought. And then she started to actually blush at the memory of what he’d looked like just a few moments ago. Okay, not naked… more like raw—uh, oh. That wasn’t helping either. She winced inwardly. How about… vulnerable?

Yes. That was exactly it. ~ARC p. 30

WHAT THE HELL DID I JUST READ?!?!?!?! I can barely wrap my head around the EPICNESS that was Starling! Lesley Livingston drops a bomb on you and afterwards it rains sexy Norse mythology and naked blonde wolves! 

Starling 

by Lesley Livingston 

*I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review*

"Love is just the beginning... of the end."

Mason Starling is a champion fencer for Gosforth Academy, but she’s never had to fight for her life. Until now. When a ferocious storm rips through Manhattan and unleashes terrifying creatures onto Gosforth’s campus, Mason barely escapes alive. Without help from the mysterious stranger who appeared in the midst of the storm, she might not have made it at all. But now, in the aftermath, Mason’s life begins to spin dramatically, mystically out of control, and the only one who seems able to help her is the stranger who can remember nothing but his name: Fennrys Wolf.

As Mason and Fenn uncover more about Fenn’s past and the strange events that surround them, they realize that Mason’s family — and its dark allegiance to the ancient Norse gods — is at the center of everything. A predetermined fate seems to be closing in on Mason, but is it possible to change one’s destiny?

Readers who fell in love with Lesley Livingston’s Wondrous Strange trilogy and those who love Cassandra Clare’s Mortal Instruments series will be captivated by the sweeping romance and pulse-pounding action of Starling.

I would try to summarize the story and everything that is going on, but I'm not writing a paper for a World mythology class! There is SO much that goes on in this book its amazing!

“How will I be able to contact you?” she asked.
“I'll come to you,” he said. “ I have very high tech method of communication. Just don’t bump your head on the sill next time a pebble hits yourw indwo.” ~ARC p. 137

In a nutshell? Mason is the daughter of a crazy original family that once served the Norse Gods. Part of a big prophesy, she is a key unlocking the end of the world. During a fencing practice one night, a huge storm comes and unleashes shadow zombies and a SEXY naked man with no memory (who is also part of this big prophesy thing.) After that night, more and more crazy things keep happening to them. That is my general overall, spoiler free summary of this book. There are so many twists and turns in this book you feel like you are driving down Lombard Street!!!

I really loved this book! It was totally different than anything that I have read before and I have to say that I LOVE that it’s a new folklore for us to explore. And it totally helps that I am on an Avengers high!!! Just the though of Thor gets me all excited!!!

Through the windows, Mason saw thick, bruise-black clouds boiling over one another, moving with a swiftness that was almost frightening. ~ ARC p. 5

But, I have to say that the information drop and world development is a hard one to wrap your head around. It’s done beautifully but it’s just a lot of new information for me to handle. And it’s not in the easiest language to understand. I’m not one to always pick up a fantasy book so that could be part of the problem that I had. However, this was so amazing and wonderfully written that I didn’t care! And I will for SURE be stalking someone to get me the next book!

Mason has a wonderful voice and is a very interesting character to follow. But this book is told in I think MPOV. You get a bit of everyone! What I got form it, it’s like watching a TV show. And almost like Vampire Diaries read. You get to see what Mason is doing, and then we follow Fenn for a while. And then we see Heather and Rory (who is crazy) and then we follow Cal. It’s a great world that has been created and the characters are supurb!

I found that I LOVE Heather and Roth (oh sexy baby, Call me!) the most. These two are truly amazing characters and I can’t wait to see what happens to everyone. Heather brings the funny and snark (which is something I LOVE in my books) and Roth brings…hehe he brings the sexy!!!

“Why do you think that’s not the reason I'm jaded? I see people every day who are hopeless for each other. And most of them are too stupid to do anyting about it. either that, or they're in love with the wrong person. And they can't see the right person standing in front of them because, you know what? Love isn’t blind. It's blinding.” Heather had gone from picking at the cushions stitching to punching it, like she was trying to soften it into shap. “It turns perfectly normal, rational people, into drooling brain-deads. The whole Hallmark image of the chubby little naked kid with the blindfold and arrows? Seriously. I think the real Cupid is probably more like some psycho juvie with dark glasses and a taser.” ~ARC Heather p. 145

“Go to bed, will you?” Heather waved her toward the door. “But before you do, bring me back your chem homework to copy. Payment for Heathers Advise to Lovelorn Losers.” ~ARC Heather p. 146

I think that the next book is going to be BEYOND AMAZING!!! With everything that was set up in this book and what not, it can’t be anything less than Fantasimal!!! This book was a lot of world building, character building and information dropping. The action is crazy and beautiful and Lesley has amazing detail in this book. And now that all the world building, character development and stuff is out of the way, we can get to the nitty gritty story!!!! For being a first book in a series it really stands out as an amazing way to introduce us to the world of Starlings! Some book series don’t set up the world building well, but Lesley was spectular!

Surprising... the things one might find floating in the waters
around Manhattan these days...

If you love high fantasy and feel like learning more about Norse mythology and lore, this is DEF one you need to get your hands on!

Ghost shrugged, his balck eyes glittering. “Death tends to give one a unique perspective on things.” He raised a hand, and the fog bank started to shape itself into the image of another place, another time. “But then… you'd know all about that, wouldn’t you, Fennrys?” ~ARC p. 291

Oh and did I mention that our hottie love interested makes his first appearance all naked and sexy?!!? Um yea! You all need it!!

*A special thanks to Lesleys Pinterest page for the photos*

“No! I totally would have done that too!” Heather shook her head enthusiastically. “What a great way to get his shirt off. And then you could totally be all ‘oh baby, doe it hurt?’ And sexy-nurse his hot blond hotness.” She leered wickedly. ~ARC Heather p. 249