Pull out your tissues, girls, because Queen of the Masquerade will draw tears. Co-written with Amanda Jenkins, this fifth installment in Tiffany Trent’s Hallowmere series once again left me mourning the fact that only one book remains.  In Queen of the Masquerade, Christina finds herself in an unknown rath with no memory of who she is or why she is there.  Taken in by a fey family, Christina is known by the name of Brigitte, and struggles to discover who she is and help to ease the burdens of the fey by helping them find a stone.

However, when Christina catches a glimpse of the handsome Rory, from whom she was separated in the portal, her memories and identity come rushing back to her, revealing the reasons for her presence in the rath and reminding her that she can trust no one, especially none of the fey. As Christina reunites with Rory, her one true love, she discovers that finding her way home and escaping with her life will be more complicated that she had imagined.

Filled with countless questions, frail loyalties, and loads of magic, Queen of the Masquerade left me turning page after page with the hope that at least one of the ladies in the Hallowmere series would escape with her one true love.  But of course, I will give away nothing! What I will say is that once again, Trent, with the help of Jenkins, left me spellbound and entranced in this story of impossible love, fragile trust, and the mysterious realm of the fey. …» more

 After reading the first three books in Tiffany Trent’s Hallowmere series, I wasn’t sure how I would feel about the fourth, Maiden of the Wolf , which Trent co-authored with Angelika Ranger, because it is told entirely from the point of view of Ilona.  After reading three novels from Corrine’s perspective and liking her as a strong protagonist, I was wary to switch to the perspective of Ilona because I didn’t know much about her other than she likes to fight and is good friends with Christina. However, I must say that after the first few pages, I was hooked. Ilona defies the stereotypes of women during the Civil War era and even today. With her strength, courage, and determination to free the victims of the fey, Ilona has all the qualities I value in a great female protagonist. …» more

By Venom’s Sweet Sting, the second installment in Tiffany Trent’s Hallowmere series, was even better than the first, filled with more action, more mystery, and more of the dark Unhallowed. 

After Corrine discovers the mystery behind the strange disappearances and the dark Fey destroy Falston Manor, Corrine flees to Scotland with Father Joe, Miss Brown, and the remaining girls in order to find Rory and fight the Fey on their own ground.  However, disaster befalls them at every turn, first with the destruction of the ship they take to Scotland, then with mysterious attacks, disappearances, and of course, Corrine’s strange dreams and visions. …» more

 I first stumbled upon the Hallowmere series by Tiffany Trent at my friendly Books-A-Million a couple of weeks ago, and when I read the author information, I decided immediately to purchase the first two books. You see, finding another YA author who grew up in Southern Appalachia makes me happy, so I thought I would check out the books. Much to my delight, I am enjoying every word, as I have read the first three and plan to read the rest this summer. I was hooked  by the first book in the series, In the Serpent’s Coils, as it is filled with mystery, magic, and a wide variety of characters.

Set in 1865, Corrine has just lost her father, a soldier, and her mother, a nurse, to the Civil War and is sent to live with her cold and callous Uncle William in Virginia. However, when she begins to hear strange voices coming from a Hawthorne bush in the yard, voices that bid her to steal a unique stone in her uncle’s study, Corrine is sent away to Falston Manor, a home for girls like Corrine–girls who have problems, girls who are unwanted by their families. …» more