Elle Casey put a spell on me!

Everyone: "Kelsie?! Where have you been for the last five days? Were you kidnapped? Were you sucked into another universe?"

Me: "Oh? Me? Well I was hypnotized by this spell caster named Elle Casey. Yes, she has to have magical powers. I am convinced because I haven't been this caught up in a fantasy series since Terry Goodkind. Super serial right now."

The first series I read was her Apocalypsis series books 1-3 (book 4 comes out at the end of March). 

Goodreads Description of Book 1:

My name's Bryn Mathis. I'm seventeen years old, and I live in a neighborhood outside of Orlando, Florida. I live alone because my dad died almost a year ago, along with all the other adults in the world. I'm almost out of food and the gangs of kids that roam around my town are getting more vicious by the day. It's time for me to leave and find another place to live … a place where I can find food and shelter … a place where they won't be able to find me. Alone, it might have been possible; but now I've got company. I'm worried that I don't have what it takes to get from here to my final destination. And I have no idea what might be waiting for me when I get there.

My review of the series so far: 4.5 Stars out of 5!!!

I loved it. Literally LOVED it. I am totally riding this Dystopian gravy train and having a blast. I find it fascinating and scary at the same time which makes it compelling. Bryn is KICK ASS! Her dad prepared her totally for the End of Days. He trained her in krav maga and survival so she is one tough cookie. Her best friend Peter is like Obi Wan. He drops truth and reality on Bryn when she needs is desperately, because Bryn? She gets a little foolhardy.  Then we have sweet, funny, uber German Bodo. I love him. Casey writes his dialogue kind of phonetically to emphasis his accent and it takes a little while to get used to but soon enough your reading it no problem, you hardly notice it. 

There is violence in these books, peeps, and a lot of it. There are a lot of looney's too. The dialogue is so true to teenagers it was kind of startling. One second Bryn is take charge and wise beyond her years, matured from circumstance, and then she's calling some a "ding a ling." I feel like this dichotomy was so powerful because although the world has gone to shit they still were able to hang onto at least that little aspect of their youth. It was so sad and hopeful. Even when I got annoyed with them, I forgave them because you remember they are all so damn young. Also, damn good on you Ms. Casey for injecting the funny into these books. One minute people are getting eaten and then boom you're laughing out loud. I needed it, the characters needed it, and I think you did too. It was the right dosage in order to continue to read through the heavy stuff. You are talented my dear, seriously, seriously, totally unfairly talented. Keeping this short because I have two more series to discuss!! 

Then because I literally was mesmerized by her writing I went and bought War of the Fae, a 4 book series.

Goodreads blurb of book 1: 

WAR OF THE FAE is a 4-book, YA Contemporary Fantasy series, written for older teens and adults.
Jayne Sparks, a potty-mouthed, rebellious seventeen-year-old and her best friend, shy and bookish Tony Green, have a pretty typical high school existence, until several seemingly unrelated incidents converge, causing a cascade of events that change their lives forever. Jayne and Tony, together with a group of runaway teens, are hijacked and sent into a forest, where nothing and no one are as they seem. Who will emerge triumphant? And what will they be when they do?

My review: 4.5 Stars out of 5!!!

Ok so first I was girl crushing on Bryn and then I met Jayne and it was like BOOM major girl crush. She is hilarious. So damn funny and cusses like a sailor. Tony is my hero and I love him so damn much. I love you Tones!!! Actually I think I kinda loved everyone in these books, even the evil dudes. But I have to say, the person who completely stole my heart, the one who I kept coming back for, the one who stole the whole damn show was TIM!!! Tim you farting, foul mouthed, drama lovin diva Pixieman! You are my favorite person in any book ever! These books have so much going on. The world building is fantastic BTW. Just a heads up though, Elle Casey is fond of the cliff hanger WHICH is fine in this case because all the books are out. 

This, my dear blogging/reading/writer friends, is why I was holed up in my room for DAYS. Because there I was, just reading along, every thing's cool and..then..BOMBS. GO. OFF. and I'm like "HOLYEFFINGSHITDIDMYEYESJUSTREADTHATRIGHT???!!!!!!!!! MUST GET NEXT BOOK NOW!!!" And so then I do because it's out. The process was repeated several times which is why I think Elle Casey is a sneaky sorceress. 

Anyhoo! The writing is incredible, the character growth is amazing, the world sucks you right in, the dialogue is spot on and hilarious...seriously? MUST I go on? Go buy it and thank me later. Oh and when you finish reading them all, guess what? There is a continuing trilogy with MOOOOORE!!!! Damn you, Elle Casey!!! My wallet and my "send to kindle" trigger finger hate you. You broke them both, woman! 

So like a Pavlovian trained dog, I went and bought the next series that continues the story of Jayne and Co. Clash of the Otherworlds! 

Goodreads blurb of book 1:

The Light and Dark Fae have come together, a tenuous peace formed at the urging of the Overworld. Potty-mouthed teen, Jayne Sparks, and her fellow changeling friends find themselves once again in the middle of a maelstrom of conflict, mystery, and magic that they must struggle to not only understand but to overcome. Jayne Sparks Blackthorn hereby cordially invites you to follow her into the Gray...
---Clash of the Otherworlds continues where Elle Casey's War of the Fae series left off---

My review: 5 out of 5 Stars!!

This series picks up exactly to the second of where the last book in the War of the Far leaves off. Everyone has come together, joined by a common enemy and this one is a dooooozy. Jayne and Co. have come a long way. They still have some growing to go, but they are all assuming their places in the Fae world and they are becoming influential. A lot has happened in the last series, but this one will knock your socks off. There were times when I would yell, "Holy shit?! What the HELL?!!" when some truths were revealed. I don't understand how Casey does it, all I can say is THANK GOD I have had all these days off because I was useless. This series reads so quickly and it is, by far, my favorite of hers. Guys, it's just that good. Yes, Jayne is going to continue to fuck up and she will piss you off, but you forgive her. I can't explain it, you just let it go, because some how this little chicken always lands on her feet. We also get a definitive love interest for Jayne. All I can say, without giving too much away, is that this one was a loooong time coming. 

Casey ended their story perfectly. All the major issues were resolved, but everything wasn't neatly tied up into bows. There was still enough mystery that today I thinking about what those guys are up to now. It felt like a hug and someone telling you everything was all right. I felt good about all my book friends at the end. I just can't believe I read all this in that many days. Record. Breaking. For me at least. These books just read so quickly. Yes, they are 2-3-sometimes 4 hundred pages long but they honestly read like novellas. I devoured them. My only suggestion is to do so when you have some time on your hands because while the books read fast, you still will be devoting TIME to this endeavor. 

Elle Casey is now in my top 5 for favorite authors. I love her writing. I love her characters. I want to live in her brain. Trust me on this guys. Buy the first one in any of these series, I know you might be leery for about a quarter of the book because you have to get into the rhythm but if you do not buy the second one immediately after then you can yell at me. I'll let you. Promise. Now go, my young padawans! Go and read and be at one with the literary force!!